CHRISTINE HA THE BLIND COOK HOUSTON MASTERCHEF CONTESTANT

I'm not sure how many of you are watching, but this season of the FOX TV show MasterChef has been great.  One of the standout reasons to watch is a local favorite of ours, fellow Houstonian Christine Ha.

MasterChef, courtesy of FOX TV

She is very talented, genuine and kind and she is an awesome inspiration to everyone.  Why is she such an inspiration?  She is legally blind!  Yes, blind.  She suffers from a degenerative condition that is called  Neuromyelitis Optica and has gradually lost her vision over a period of years.  But that diagnosis didn't and hasn't stopped her from living her life to the fullest.  That means she's not just a nice "feel good story" for the show's backstory, she really is a valid contender and potential winner that we hope goes all the way. 

We are continually amazed as week after week she competes with the other home cooks to win the coveted title of MasterChef, which also includes a cookbook deal.  She certainly doesn't let her limitation hold her back and quite the contrary, she fights even harder to overcome it, winning several challenges, and being team leader as well.  She does things with food I couldn't hope to do, and I'm sighted.  It's really nice to see that the judges don't give her any special treatment (and something tells me she wouldn't let them anyway).  She's expected to do the same thing that everyone else in the competition is doing and she does it with grace and determination.  We will even admit to shedding a tear or two as she pushes herself to the limit in every episode.  Does she win every time?  No.  In fact, she has ended up in the bottom group a number of times (last night to be one of them) but she always takes her criticism from the judges, learns from it and comes back better the next week.

To me, it's just fascinating to see her in action while cooking in the kitchen.  It doesn't matter what, chopping, slicing, frying, baking, she does it all.  In recent interviews, she has explained that her other senses have come to help her in cooking in ways you wouldn't expect.  For example, she listens for the sound of water sizzling in a hot pan to know when it's ready. The smell of garlic in time to catch it before it becomes bitter.  The feel of meat to know what temperature and doneness level it's at.

Christine Ha, courtesy of The Blind Cook

I think that is one of the things that appeals to us about her; she's a breath of fresh air in the world of "reality television".  She is humble and genuine and truly an inspiration to everyone, sighted or not.

Her 'about me' quote on her homepage says it all...

"feeling my way through food, tasting my way through life".

You go Christine, we're with you all the way!

1st Man and 2nd Man are firmly TEAM CHRISTINE!

Please click here to visit her blog The Blind Cook

A LITTLE BLOG LOVE, LET'S TRY THIS AGAIN

OK, let's try this again!

1. Where is your favourite place in the world? Tell us why?

Other than our farm (even though it's not finished!), I would have to say it was a vacation spot we went to a few years ago; San Miguel de Allende in Mexico. If you've never heard of it, google it.  It's the most amazing place. It's in the mountains, it's an old town with cobblestone streets and hills and awesome old world European style buildings and gorgeous flowers and plants everywhere, beautiful weather and great food.  Oh and the friendliest people we've ever met.

2. What person has inspired you most?

I would have to say my Mom.  We lost her a few years ago, and I miss her terribly, but she was one of the kindest, nicest, most generous people you'd ever want to meet.  She welcomed 2nd Man into the family just as if he was her own and never thought twice about it.  She had some major back problems in her life, several surgeries, etc, but she never once complained, always had a smile on her face and never wanted anyone to feel sorry for her.  My friends say I'm a lot like her, and to me, that's some big shoes to fill but I'll gladly try my best.

3. Who would you like to with have over for dinner (famous or not, currently living or not)?

Betty White, The Clintons, Carl Sagan, Princess Diana, Dalai Lama, Martha Stewart, Hugh Jackman, and of course, my parents.

4. Where were you born?

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.  Have lived all over, we were only there until I was about 5, but I have lived in in Rhode Island, California (twice), Arizona, North Carolina, finally here in Houston, TX, where I've been for more than 30 years.

5. City, coast or country?

110% without a doubt, country!

6. What is the best surprise you've ever had?

Two, both involving my birthdays.  A few years ago (back in the 90's!), my friend Laurie had a surprise party for me. I had no clue at all.  She brought together all my friends and had a huge three tier cake made for me with a dolphin theme (I have a thing for dolphins) and it was the one and only time I've had a surprise party and it was a blast.  The other was when 2nd Man bought me a MacBook Air, the first few months after they came out.  I had no clue, I never asked for it, my other laptop was OK but I had never even owned an Apple.  He saved up for months and months when he heard they were coming out, just so he could buy me one for my birthday.  I was stunned.  Of course, it may have backfired on him, now I will only buy Apple and have to have the newest thing they come out with..iPad, iPhone, iPods...etc LOL!

7. What is your favorite song and why?

Just one?  Dang...if I HAD to choose, it would be a tie between "The Rose", as performed by Bette Midler, and "At Last", by Etta James.  A close runner up would be "Unchained Melody" by the Righteous Brothers and "Greatest Love of All" by Whitney Houston.  No particular reason other than they are haunting and beautifully sung...what can I say, I'm a sap for love songs.

8. What are you most passionate about?

Becoming more self sufficient and trying to live as green as possible.  It's often hard being in the city, and that's one reason we bought this property.  We want to start from scratch and create a place that's self sufficient, and when we do things and purchase items, we buy as green and Earth friendly as we can.

9. What were you like as a 3 year old? (as far as you know)

Not much memory of it, but I'm told I was always outside, I was always digging or playing in the dirt, they could not keep my clothes on (no worries, I grew out of THAT phase, LOL), and I had an imaginary friend that I talked to constantly.  My Mom said she'd walk past my room and I would just be carrying on a conversation that was so real, she would have to stop and make sure no one was in the room with me.

10. Describe your most cherished photograph?

Just one?  Any with my parents in them are cherished but I remember one in particular, we were on a beach, I was about 8 yrs old, we had our dog, and it was just my parents and me.  I can close my eyes and see that picture now.  It was a happy time.

11. What have you done that you are the most proud of?

Back in the 90's, I volunteered, after work, with a group that provided counseling of a sort to end stage HIV patients.  I was kind of a candy striper (no uniform, ha), for lack of a better term, but the candy was just a means to get them to open up and talk.  Sometimes it was just listening to them tell me their life stories, other times it was more about them asking questions, and still other times it was just sitting there quietly and holding their hands.  Sadly, almost all eventually passed away but I feel honored that I was able to share their life in some small way, toward the end.  I kept a journal during that time, and I treasure that...it's almost as if they still live on, every time I read about them.  Unfortunately, HIPAA laws in hospitals have done away with that program (bureaucracy!), but I'm glad I was able to do it while I could. I wouldn't trade that experience for anything.

------------------------------------------------------------

SO, there you have it, a little more about me, your friendly blogger.
Thank you Bee Girl of Sky Minded and Ever Growing and Angela of High Desert Chronicles.  Thank you for thinking of me and thanks for the questions.
It's a fun project.