Thursday on Today 9/27

New and noteworthy on Thursday's third hour of Today was a segment about Stopping Emotional Abuse. "The Bully In Your Relationships" is a new book by Anne-Renee Testa about how to stop being bullied. A bully demeans you, takes advantage of you and makes you a low priority--like you mean nothing. She suggested some tips to stop being put down by first getting out of denial. Acknowledge that it's happening and assess your options. Confront the bully and don't back down. Take action and tell him/her "I don't like the way you're treating me and the kids. This behavior will stop or I'm changing the locks." Well, that threat might work on a reasonable person but aren't most bullies unreasonable? Ironically, they had a segment on prior to this about sex and how to get a better sex life with your partner. Maybe if they focused on fixing the relationship in other ways, such as this, they might have an easier time getting what they want in bed.

The best sandwich in America was revealed, but I missed what it was. But you can now vote for a name for the new baby walrus that was born recently at the NY Zoo. It's adorable but the names you get to choose from aren't so cute. You can visit http://todayshow.com/ for more information and to see the choices.

Melissa Ethridge closed the show with a song from her new CD Awakening. She also joined the cohosts on the fourth hour to discuss life and music. She said she wants to do everything and have everyday for love and joy and love fully. She has four kids and she waits for them to finish school at the end of the year before going on the road so they can all go with her. She faces life without fear. After cancer I guess that becomes easier. Seeing her recover so well is an inspiration. My sister is now battling breast cancer and I hope she fares as well.

Sex therapist, Laura Besman was a guest for a segment called Great Sex After 40. There are many women who lose their desire at this age so it's a big problem that no one is talking about. Nobody is talking about it? That's all anybody ever talks about. They just did a sex segment on the third hour. Look at all the magazines on the newstand. We're bombarded with it. She says to put your relationship before the kids. The kids will be better off when their parents are happy. This is true. So many couples put their lives on hold--including their relationships--after having kids. But kids are happier when their parents aren't fighting and bickering and are in a loving marriage. And she also suggested the opposite of what the third hour experts said and that is to schedule sex. On the third hour, they claim it becomes too routine when it's scheduled. Well, better routine than nonexistent, right? If you don't schedule it, it becomes a low priority.

Trace Adkins was a guest and has a new book, "A Personal Stand: Observations From A Free Thinking Redneck." He was also a judge for the dancing that Hoda Kotb did with her partner who taught her the Texas Two-step. He obviously did a good job because she won the dancing contest they had this week among all the cohosts on the fourth hour. Natalie did the Tango, Ann did some hip-hop and Tiki Barber danced a waltz. But viewers voted and gave Hoda 53% of the vote. I guessed that she would win. Her dance looked like the most fun, too.

And that's a wrap.