Happy Turkey Day week everyone!

A special SHaQ Attack this week for the holiday. I know, I know, I said we were going to skip a week over the holidays, but it just doesn’t seem right not to be SHaQ’n! So…since we all have either traveling, or cooking, or both to handle this week, I’m going easy on you. Everyone who responds or comments on the blogs this week (which will run every day but Thursday!) will be entered in the drawing. I will pick a name from the pile on Friday morning and that Blog Babe will win an advance copy of THE GREAT SCOT (yep, the one with that gorgeous new cover!)

So…to kick off the week, we’re starting with a little Amazing Race MAC.

First up, was Phil looking incredibly fine last night or WHAT? Not too many guys can pull off the white pants look, but that kiwi certainly can. (And yes, yes, I could make the pulling the pants off pun here, but…it’s too easy. If only Phil were also so…)

But I digress.

We get a recap leading up to last week’s To Be Continued and this week we pick up right where we left off, with the remaining racers facing that Angel Dive face first rappel straight down the side of the Olympic tower in Finland. This would be the tower that cost me a million dollars folks. I mean, the heights thing is bad enough, but to have to look down the whole time? Eeeek! I didn’t feel so bad about my apparent wimpitude when every single team was shaken up by the ordeal. Pretty wild stunt! (And man, Erwin…dude….doing the helmet grind all the way down. Shudder!)

The teams are exhausted at this point and none too happy to get their clue and instead of directions to the pit stop, it tells them to keep on racing! Poor tired racers. But fun for us!

They head to the Ukraine, Kiev to be exact (or Keev if you want to pronounce it like Rob and those who actually, you know, have a foreign accent.) Once in the Ukraine, (Donna inadvertantly deletes her entire MAC recap from this point onward. Sigh. I hate not having a “back” key while typing in this format. Sigh. From now on I’m typing this in Word and cutting and pasting. Arrrrrrrrrrgh!)

So, to continue….

Once in the Ukraine, they get the most awesome roadblock ever. Driving Soviet tanks through a training course in the mud and slop complete with shooting of guns by Russian guys in gun turrets. Fun!

The BQ’s and A(AM!) are out in front, as usual, but in this case, well deserved. They are really good racers and, I will say, laudable in terms of getting along with their race partners and really seeming to enjoy this incredible adventure they are on. As opposed to the teams who are so caught up in the competitive nature of the race they hardly take the time to notice what it is they’re getting to do. (Yes, Romberly, I’m looking at y0u. And the *lyns, though they do occasionally take a peek and sigh in awe.) The BQ’s occasionally annoy me with their smug entitlement stuff, but this leg they were quite tolerable. (Except girls…Chernobyl? Not the site of the atomic bomb drop. Sigh.)

Romberly finds the tank course next and Kim takes on the challenge. Tank chick! Which seems to really turn Rob on. This is a good thing. I think. I think these two would be better racers if Rob would mostly calm the hell down. I don’t mind them so much as they do seem to try and make things work, but they do get in their own way an awful lot. The Chos and *lyns are up on the course next. The Chos finish first and wait…for the*lyns. In a race. For a million dollars. Yeah, I know. Five teams left boys, and thus far, your big alliance has gotten one team creamed, and the other two of you perennially in the last slots. The alliance? She ain’t workin. Time to raaaaaaaace!

But no. So off they go together to find their way back to Kiev. And, FINALLY, after following Erwin and his endless need to confirm his directions, the *lyns strike out on their own. I could not blame them, even though it seemed to sadden Godwin. Godwin? Get over it. And raaaaaaace dangit! These two teams are their own worst enemies. If they could just get out of their own way, they might be even better racers. (And they are, at least, good racers, despite their silly alliance, as they are in the final 5.) Although Karlyn? How dare you, after following Erwin’s directions-asking behind for a million miles, complain for even ONE SECOND when they follow you. You wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for them. Sheesh.

Oh yeah, and Lyn in a tank? With her “Sunday driver” comment afterward? Pure gold!

We’re off to Kiev, where they have to find a certain apartment building where a, shall we say, intimidating local women in colorful Ukraine garb, meets them at the door to hand them their next clue. I wouldn’t want to wrestle her for it, but I’d hire her as my bodyguard. Or a bouncer.

Detour! The teams have to choose between rapping for their next clue, or doing a double needle-in-a-haystack at the conservatory. The BQ’s take the rap challenge while the boys head to the conservatory. While the girls are putting on their hilarious rap duds, the boys are looking amazingly fine in their tux and tails. Each sets about their task and both do very well. (Gee, maybe the BQ’s will rap during the talent portion of their next pageant. Ha!)

Romberly’s car breaks down, slowing them down from catching up with the lead pack, but they do make the disco and rap their little hearts out. Kimberly? Has more going on than you’d think. Golf rap clap.

The *lyns take the rap, the Chos take the conservatory (because they should also be seen in tails….and ymmmy.) Then it’s off to the pitstop!

The A(AM!) do beat out the BQ’s this leg and come in first, which was their goal. (And how cute was Phil telling them, yep, you did it! Very cute, I say.) I really enjoyed their friendly rivalry this leg. They push each other and are good spirited about it. It was fun to watch and they’re both good teams who deserve the lead they have.

The BQ’s are next and happy with second. Romberly is third and also happy to be still in the middle of the pack. But for a bit of bad luck and Rob needing to calm way the hell down more, they would be contenders with the leaders. Their temperament just doesn’t lend itself well to racing that hard. Whereas the BQ’s and A(AM!) seem to take it mostly in stride.

The *lyns hit the mat next, and are safe. The Chos hit the mat last, and are out. Which, you know, I love these guys, but dudes? You deserved it. I admire the whole integrity thing, but you could have run a better race than that and still been able to look yourself in the mirror. I just don’t think these boys are competitive enough to handle this. The *lyns remarked that they felt bad, but, after all, it was a race. And, uh, yeah. Exactly. I wonder if they’ll be better racers when they had no one to depend on but themselves. If Romberly doesn’t shape up, they could make final 3. But I’m not holding my breath. And, oh by the way….final four? Women outnumber the men 5-3. Ha!

Buh bye, Cho boys. Thank you for being you. And for looking so fine while doing so.

Next week? More merry mayhem! Chariot rides! Yields! Tensions mount! Phil smiles!

Happy Monday everyone!

Tags: Writing //