Amazing Race 12: Final Episodes

I only recently caught up with season 12 of the Amazing Race and I am 4 or 5 episodes behind on season 13. That is one downside of having a DVR -- I can delay watching something practically forever. The technology is still not perfect. I may have missed an episode or 2 along the way, and I think I lost my notes on another episode.

I will only make my comments brief, so I can start watching Season 13. Hopefully, I will figure out how to balance work, housework, a social life, and all my various interests and hobbies so I can write more in my blog in the future.

First of all, congratulations to TK and Rachel for winning this race. It is always great when the team with the most good karma wins. I think they were my favorites from the beginning (it has been a long time and I did not go back to review my notes from Episode 1). Those two really had a cool way approaching life, the challenges of the race, and each other. It is sort of an attitude I strive for and hopefully achieve from time to time. Perhaps being cool and nice does not create many dramatic, exciting scenes, but it would be nice to see more of that on TV and in real life for that matter.

Jen and Nate were practically a polar opposite of TK and Rachel. They were focused so much on winning each leg and were pretty much selfish and self-centered to the point where they could not work with other teams or with each other. But as annoying as they were portrayed, I still felt bad that they were eliminated on Jen's birthday. When the race ended for them, I did get a gut feeling that they realized what their problems were, and that learning from their experiences would help them mature.

I hated Ron in the first few episodes of the season. Fortunately, it turned out he was a good man at heart. It was interesting that as his attitude toward his daughter improved, the team's standing in the race improved. They may not have won the race, but the father and daughter developed a bond that is worth more than a million dollars.

The funniest moment of the final 2 episodes was Nate thinking that he would get great Thai food in Taiwan. I am sure there are good Thai restaurants in Taiwan (and the rest of the world for that matter). Hopefully, Miss Teen South Carolina 2007 gives Nate a map later.

Another slightly funny moment, that happened so quick you could miss it,was when Ron was filleting a huge cod. He told his daughter not to stand so close because he was not sure how to handle a knife. I am not sure why I thought it was humorous. Maybe because I don't trust myself with a knife either...

I probably would have made my teammate ride the jeep underwater. I think I can hold my breath for 15 or so seconds, but that water just looked very dirty. I wonder how many people ruined their cars trying the same thing at home and not knowing how important it is to have a car with a snorkel attached to the engine.

Someday I hope I can get back to Anchorage, Alaska. I booked a helicopter tour there that included walking on a glacier, but the weather was unsafe only day I was there. The speed boat ride looked fun too. If I do take another cruise to Alaska I will try to check out the Icy Strait Zip Line. It may not have existed when I was there.