Last night on Amazing Race, the show decided to find out just how far it could test the patience and good will of all of the contestants. Results? Pretty damn far.

All of the teams struggled for the most part of the various tasks during their journey through Chile and Argentina. Beautiful, beautiful country, so it was hard to be watching, knowing what Chileans are facing right now.

I’m still not sure I love any of the teams, although a few are starting to climb up in estimation. Which wouldn’t include Team Girlfriends. They started to get on each other’s nerves, but they seem to at least realize that’s not a healthy way to behave. Only dating for 5 months and they go on a race around the world? That’s a little new-relationship dicey anyway.

Team Joe Is The Leader started to get on my nerves a little. I figured his He-Man-Order-My-Wife-Around part would start to emerge at some point, and it did on this leg. But not only did he think that a compass means you don’t have to count steps to know when to change direction, he also face planted off the big wooden polo horse. Twice. His wife, however, had neither of these issues. Which begged the “Gee, it looks like Joe needs to get down off his high horse” response and made me laugh. A lot.

Did you know there is a Team Father/Daughter team on this race? I’m not sure the show does since it rarely gives them screen time. And they seem like good racers with a great relationship, so that would be nice to see a little more of. I liked their second place finish and how dad swapped his beanie for the gaucho’s cowboy hat.

Team Miss USA spent a night in the hospital with food poisoning before running the leg. And while they’re not my fave team, I have to give them props for not only racing, but completing a leg that was fairly taxing both physically and mentally, and with very little sniping or losing of patience.

Team Bro/Dude also did fairly well. I liked Just Jordan’s need to make sure his polo jersey was cute. They did well with the steer roping task, and though the polo tested their patience, they got through that, too.

Team Big Brother needs to learn to Read Their Clue. Even after Joe asked them where the station was, they couldn’t figure out they were bringing their loot to the wrong bandit. But for as frustrating as it all was for them, they sort of just bumble along and seem to laugh at their own ineptness. I thought Jeff’s comment on how they might want to think twice before procreating was funny. Especially since you known darn well they will anyway. Your mileage may vary.

Team Police Detectives... Sigh. I think I know how they got off work long enough to go on this race. Their respective departments were happy to get them off the streets for a while. Wow, they’re really not great. Three legs and I think they’ve come in next to last each time. I’m going to start calling them Team Get Smart. MIssed it by that much!

That leaves Team Mom Lawyers coming in last, who just got that haystack leg they couldn’t get past. They couldn’t get that steer roped no matter how patient they remained, and then the polo game pretty much did them in completely. I felt bad for them and was hoping, as clearly they were, that it was a non-elim leg. No such luck and we say goodbye to the moms.

Winners of the leg? Why Team Cute As Gravy Cowboys, of course! I am starting to like these guys a lot. I loved how tickled they were when they got a fake gold tropy for completing the polo task. These boys like their bright shiny objects, don’t they! Then had to laugh when Cord started to make his acceptance speech. And speaking of our cowboys — you guys think we novelists make up our rough, tough hero names, but I’m here to tell you….we don’t have to! Jet and Cord? Seriously? Come on. But these guys race with common sense, seem to be having a lot of fun, are quick to make fun of themselves, but also seem to have a good sense of when to roll their eyes at their competitors. So far, they’re the fun bunch team for me. And did you see how excited they were about their 10-day Patagonian prize for winning their leg? Certainly more suitable for the two of them than the sailboats they won on the last leg!

Okay, so the Olympics are over. I loved the hockey game, and feel pretty dang good about our silver medal performance! The closing ceremonies were fun, especially loved how they made fun of the non-performing arm of the indoor torch. The highlights were great and I feel like my vacation is over and now I have to go back to my regular life. I will miss you, Olympics!

On to Free Stuff Friday! I’ll be giving away a book from my website bookshelf this week. Alls ya gotta do is send an email to donna@donnakauffman.com with “Now what? I need a book!” in the subject line. I’ll draw a name from the pile and announce it here in Friday’s blog. Good luck!

But right after you enter, come back here and DISH! Are you watching the Race? Does it seem like Phil’s eyebrow has gone mysteriously quiet. Where are the pops, Phil!? Who is your favorite team? Has anyone seen the movie Valentine’s Day and found it as surprisingly charming as I did? My hopes, they were not high, but I actually enjoyed it. Tonight is the Bachelor finale. I will watch through the fingers of the hands that will be covering my eyes. Chris assures us its the most romantic ever and that Jake is happy… I wonder about this. But will be checking it out. So, is it Tenley or Vienna? I don’t even know who to root for…so I won’t. Are you?

DISH!!

Tags: Writing //