The Amazing Race 30: January 24 Episode Blog Party

I'm ready for tonight's show! How about you? I'll be live blogging the major happenings the best I can as they air here on the East Coast. But the real party is in the comments area -- come join in on the fun! Remember -- tonight's show is TWO hours!

The Left Coast Lovely SqueeGee SueGee has updated the blog pool -- since last week was a non-Philimination leg, all the prior teams remain. The NBA guys, Cedric and Shawn, will face a Speed Bump tonight. I'm still in it to win it!  

#TeamBigBrother (Cody & Jessica)    DeLee, ChicMc, Megan H
#TeamChomp (Joey & Tim)    David, Chrob61, tbc
#TeamExtreme (Kristi & Jen)    Janice from GA/FL, Kristen From Ohio
#TeamFirefighters (Eric & Daniel)    Judi Sweeney, Indiana Jane
#TeamIndyCar (Alex & Conor)    SueGee, Brian, Brenda
#TeamOceanRescue (Lucas & Brittany)    Donna in FL, Glenn Allen
#TeamSlamDunk (Cedric & Shawn)    Nickelpeed, Willie in NC
#TeamWellStrung (Trevor & Chris)    Fred aka TwoBlackAces, Petals
#TeamYale (Henry & Evan)    Jackie, Ed in Ohio

Philiminated    
#TeamRingGirls (Dessie & Kayla)   
#TeamGoatYoga (April & Sarah)    Sharon N, Merrilee

Are we ready? Yep! Let's get this show ON!

Nine teams remain. Who will be eliminated next?

Teams are heading to France, to Saint Tropez. 

At Saint Tropez, they're faced with a Roadblock which has them sailing a dinghy without a lesson and picking up two parts of a clue.

Kristi makes it through the Roadblock first. Detour -- Make baguettes or ...? I guess I missed the other part. Please excuse me -- I'm not feeling well. Update - assemble a pair of sandals is the other part.

NBA and the Twins are both woefully behind the pack. As are Brittany and Lucas.

Cedric and Shawn are finally at their Speed Bump, stacking small sailboats in numerical order on a rack. They seem to be making quick work of it. They and Brittany/Lucas are finally doing the Roadblock. The Twins are still having issues driving the car.

Now it's the Twins and NBA struggling for last place in the dinghies. 

Meanwhile, Kristi and Jen head off to the Head to Head Battle (no one else is there yet). It's a game of Pétanque. 

They go against Alex and Conor. 

Pit Stop:
1. Alex and Conor -- won five grand each. 

Kristi and Jen are now against Cody and Jessica. 

2. Cody and Jessica 

Kristi and Jen against Trevor and Chris.

3. Kristi and Jen 

Trevor/Chris against Joey/Tim

4. Joey and Tim

Going against Lucas and Brittany now.

5. Trevor and Chris 

Henry/Evan against them.

6. Henry and Evan 
7. The Twins 
8. Lucas and Brittany
9. Cedric and Shawn -- Philiminated. Sigh. I liked them. 

Teams are now driving to Les Baux, France. Something about a Medieval Chateaux. It's going to be a bunch-up as it doesn't open until 8:30am.

Definitely Medieval. And, it's a Roadblock. Teams must make a catapult thing while one team member is in the stockade.

Lucas and Brittany take over the lead. 

Onto a Detour -- Pull a Bull or Colorful. Teams have to remove three things from numerous bull statues or a Van Gogh puzzle thing.

Lucas and Brittany get through the Detour first and are on the way to the Pit Stop. 

Pit Stop:
1. Lucas and Brittany -- won a trip to Bali 
2. Kristi and Jen 
And, we cut to commercial just as Lucas is about to propose. 
So, he does. Touching indeed.
3. Eric and Daniel arrive to witness it. 
4. Henry and Evan
5. Alex and Conor 
6. Cody and Jessica
7. Trevor and Chris
8. Joey and Tim -- Philiminated 

The Amazing Race 30: January 17 Episode Blog Party

I'm ready for tonight's show! How about you? I'll be live blogging the major happenings the best I can as they air here on the East Coast. But the real party is in the comments area -- come join in on the fun!

The Left Coast Lovely SqueeGee SueGee has updated the blog pool! I'm still in it to win it!  

#TeamBigBrother (Cody & Jessica)    DeLee, ChicMc, Megan H
#TeamChomp (Joey & Tim)    David, Chrob61, tbc
#TeamExtreme (Kristi & Jen)    Janice from GA/FL, Kristen From Ohio
#TeamFirefighters (Eric & Daniel)    Judi Sweeney, Indiana Jane
#TeamIndyCar (Alex & Conor)    SueGee, Brian, Brenda
#TeamOceanRescue (Lucas & Brittany)    Donna in FL, Glenn Allen
#TeamSlamDunk (Cedric & Shawn)    Nickelpeed, Willie in NC
#TeamWellStrung (Trevor & Chris)    Fred aka TwoBlackAces, Petals
#TeamYale (Henry & Evan)    Jackie, Ed in Ohio

Philiminated    
#TeamRingGirls (Dessie & Kayla)   
#TeamGoatYoga (April & Sarah)    Sharon N, Merrilee

Are we ready? Yep! Let's get this show ON!

Ohh ... teams are going to Tangier, Morocco. The have to find a clue in the "Sea of Chaos" -- a rather crowded and unorganized seaport. Then they have to meticulously stack fish in a crate thingee. Both Cody and Evan speak some Arabic, a rarity in cast members these days! 

The fish smell is really affecting NBA, as well as the others. More the NBA guys, though. Heehee, Jess is being distracted by the stray cats hanging out at the fish stacking! Unfortunately, the TeamExtreme gals are totally lost. I think they might be the only team not yet making it there.

Jess and Cody make it out of the fish first. Other teams finishing up. The Ski Gals finally arrive at the fish. Teams will head out and pick up the TAR traditional Roaming Gnome. Whoa! The gals beat out Alex and Conor, now they're in last.

Roadblock -- Who's ready to rock the Casbah? -- The Roaming Gnome will get to ride a zipline! Once the gnome does the zipline then the chosen team member must go find it. Interesting and different. They don't just have to do it one time -- once they find the gnome, they have to go to a second zipline. The leading teams are working together. They did well the first time. Not so good the second time. Jess and one of the Indy Car drivers seem to be getting very frustrated. The local cats still like Jess.

CEDRIC of the NBA is in the lead! How cool is that? He loses that, though. Sigh. 

Now the Yalies are in the lead, Detour. Pick up foodstuffs and deliver them. Or belly-dancing. Oh my. 

Oh-uh. Brittany forgot her gnome at the Roadblock. Jess knows that she's one of the last two teams and just can't call her back to retrieve it without putting her own race in peril. I don't really blame her.

Yay! My blog pool Yalies are now in the lead, first out of the belly-dancing! No, they didn't have to really belly-dance so much themselves. It was more like dancing around reading clues. Conor and Alex are on their tails.

Pit Stop:
1. Evan and Henry! Won a trip to Switzerland. 
2. Alex and Conor 
3. Kristi and Jen
4. Trevor and Chris
5. Cody and Jessica

Joey Chestnut is totally screwing up finding the clues at belly-dancing.

6. Joey and Tim
7. Eric and Daniel
8. Lucas and Brittany 
9. Cedric and Shawn ... and it's a non-Philimination leg! YAY!

Next week is a two-hour episode and another head-to-head challenge.

The Amazing Race 30: January 10 Blog Party

I'm ready for tonight's show! How about you? I'll be live blogging the major happenings the best I can as they air here on the East Coast. But the real party is in the comments area -- come join in on the fun!

SueGee, or as we affectionately like to call her, SqueeGee, has made the random picks for the blog pool. We don't start with the first team out because we don't even get to know them. (Sorry, Ring Girls.) Here are the picks:

#TeamBigBrother (Cody & Jessica) DeLee, ChicMc, Megan H
#TeamChomp (Joey & Tim) David, Chrob61, tbc
#TeamExtreme (Kristi & Jen) Janice from GA/FL, Kristen From Ohio
#TeamFirefighters (Eric & Daniel) Judi Sweeney, Indiana Jane
#TeamGoatYoga (April & Sarah) Sharon N, Merrilee
#TeamIndyCar (Alex & Conor) SueGee, Brian, Brenda
#TeamOceanRescue (Lucas & Brittany) Donna in FL, Glenn Allen
#TeamSlamDunk (Cedric & Shawn) Nickelpeed, Willie in NC
#TeamWellStrung (Trevor & Chris) Fred aka TwoBlackAces, Petals
#TeamYale (Henry & Evan) Jackie, Ed in Ohio

Ready? Let's GO! 

Ten teams remain. Who will be eliminated NEXT? 

They're headed to Antwerp, Belgium. Mmm ... chocolate! All teams will be on the same flight. Well, of course, as long as all make the flight! Once they land in Amsterdam, they need to take a train to Antwerp. 

Oh, the Roadblock is WAY up high on a crane, called Sky Climb. Oh my. Cedric and Shawn find it first. They have to climb a chain ladder and get their next clue before the crane descends.

Onto the Detour. Printing presses are the topic. They need to print a clue. Or the have to evaluate three diamonds. 

Cody seems to be taking to the printing idea. But then the Yale team came along and they figured out holding the card backwards to the light gives them the exact mirror image they need for the letters. 

Whoa! The NBA guys figured out the printing and are currently in 1st place! They are followed by the Ski Girls.

Now it's "Time to go head to head." A member from each team must race in a French Fry costume steering a dolly of "frites", loser races the next team. Jess and Cody will go against the NBA guys as the Ski Gals got a bit lost. The last loser from the race will result in that team being eliminated.

Cody wins over Cedric.

Pit Stop:
1. Cody and Jess -- won $2500 each

Uh-oh -- the Twins (Firefighters) switch from the printing Detour to the diamond one which actually seems a lot harder.

To the race - Shawn against Henry. 

2. Cedric and Shawn

Race -- Evan against Kristi.  

3. Ski Girls

Race - Henry against Chris. 

4. Team Well Strung 

Race - Alex against Evan 

5. Alex and Conor - The Indy Racers

Now Henry is trying again against Lucas

6. Lucas and Brittany 

Wah ... the Yalies are my blog pool team. They're wearing themselves out racing and not winning!

Race - Evan against Tim 

7. Tim and Joey Chestnut 

Race - Henry against April ... FINALLY

8. Henry and Evan! 

April against Daniel

9. The Twin Firefighters

Team Goat Yoga -- April and Sarah have been Philiminated. 

Next week has another U-Turn and ... and ... swapping partners?!?!?!

The Amazing Race 30 Blog Pool Sign Up!

Welcome to The Amazing Race 30 blog pool! The esteemed SueGee, also affectionately known as Squegee, is running the pool this season. Want in?

I want in! What do I do?

If you want in to the blog pool, you need to sign up in the comments of this post and this post only! Please don't try signing up on any other posts -- we might miss your comment.

Is there money involved in this?

Of course not! You needn't pay anything to get into the pool. You don't need to buy a pool pass or anything! Mind you, you don't win any money either. What you do win is bragging rights until the next season and the smugness that goes with it.

How does it work?

 SueGee makes random picks for the teams and the blog folks. You cheer on that team all season until they either win or get their torch snuffed along the way.

When is the cut-off for entering?

All pool requests must be in comments to this here post and submitted by midnight Monday, January 8. Be there or be square. 

We skip the first team out on the premiere as we never really get to know them.
Here's a bit on the remaining teams who will indeed be competing in our blog pool --

 

#TeamIndyCar

Alexander Rossi and Conor Daly

Both are 26 years old, both are race car drivers 

#TeamGoatYoga

April Gould and Sarah Williams

Both are 39 years old and both are from Arizona 

#TeamBigBrother

Cody Nickson and Jessica Graf

Cody is 32 years old while Jess is 26.

BB fans know all about them

#TheFirefighters or my own #TheTwins

Eric and Daniel Guiffreda

Amazingly, these twins are both 33 years old!

They hail from Louisiana

#TeamYale

Henry Zhang and Evan Lynyak

Dating debaters, they're both 22 years old and live in California

#TeamChomp

Joey Chestnut and Tim Janus

Joey is 33 years old; Tim is 41

Competitive eaters -- Joey from California, Tim from NYC

#TeamExtreme

Kristi Leskinen and Jen Hudak

Kristi is 36 years old, Jen is 30

Both are professional skiers and and more towards the X Games kind of skiing

#TeamOceanRescue

Lucas Bocanegra and Brittany Austin

He's 35 years old, she's 33

Dating Miami lifeguards

 #TeamSlamDunk

Cedric Ceballos and Shawn Marion

Cedric is 48 years old and Shawn is 39

Retired NBA players

#TeamWellStrung

Trevor Wadleigh and Chris Marchant

Trevor is 31 years old, Chris 33

Both are musicians (violin) from NYC

The Amazing Race 30: Season Premiere Blog Party

Wow. It's the 30th season of this show? It's hard to believe, isn't it? It looks like we have a very strong cast this season -- almost all of the teams seem to be very competitive. I guess we'll see what happens!

Will there be a blog pool this season? Why, yes! I'm glad you asked! SueGee has offered to run it. We're going to skip the first team out. After all, we hardly get to know them. I will be posting a separate blog pool sign up post later tonight after the show airs here. Please do not ask to join here on this blog party post! Your request might be missed! Watch for the actual blog pool sign up post.

As the show airs here on the East Coast, I'll be live-blogging the events to the best of my ability. It's often rough at the beginning as I'm try to get used to the new teams. So, bear with me. 

Amazing Race fans ready? Let's GO! 

Phil promises us the most competitive teams ever as the teams head to the starting point at Washington Square Park in NYC. (Had I known, I would have headed there for photos!) We're getting team intros now. 

They have to all go in the fountain to get the clue to where they're going. It's Iceland! 

It's gorgeous in Iceland. The teams have to pick up an Icelandic flag from a zip line. So far, all the teams seem to be likable. That, of course, may change. Some of the teams are having problems finding where they need to go.  

Uh-oh, the Goat Yoga Girls are bickering a bit. More than a bit. Not good, even if they are lost. Other teams had problems finding the zip line place, but no quarreling!  

Roadblock! The teams have to traverse in a dune buggy looking for letters and the correct order to spell the location of their next clue. 

Whoa! Cody and Jess are now in the lead! The Yale Debaters are in second place.

At the location, Jody are serenaded and asked questions to which they must find an answer. They each have to drink a shot of "The Black Death" -- a potent drink indeed.

Jess and Cody are now headed to the Pit Stop. The Skiing Women are right on their tails. Now Jess and Cody are lost. Cody won't stop to ask for directions. The Ski Women asked before they headed out.

Hmm.

Pit Stop:
1. The Ski Women -- won a trip to Greece. 
2. Cody and Jessica
3. Yalies
4. Trevor and Chris (Daytona Dudes)

Uh-oh. The Goat Yoga Girls were inadvertently assisted by the NBA Guys at the Roadblock. Now the NBA Guys are in last place. 

5. Joey Chestnut and partner
6. Who are they??? 
7. ?
8. NBA but not allowed to help -- one called out to the other. Penalty.
8. Twins
9. NBA
10. Goat Yoga Girls
11. Ring Girls

It all came down to the last few seconds as the NBA waited out their penalty and both women teams raced in.  The Ring Girls have been Philiminated.

The Amazing Race 30: Meet the Cast

Tomorrow night -- Wednesday, January 3. at 8pm ET/PT. it's the season premiere! Had I known they were taking off from Washington Square Park when they did it, I would have been there. It looks like a strong cast; hopefully it will be a good season! I only "know" three of them -- Cody and Jessica from BB and Joey Chestnut because he's always in the big Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island every summer. I'm wondering if the twins might have an edge because twin's are so bonded together. We'll see!

Off Topic: That Was the Year It Was - 2017

It's not only a Sunday, but it's the last day (Sunday or otherwise) of the year. This is my last off television topic photo post of the year. Television fans should make note that The Amazing Race season premiere will air this coming Wednesday, January 3, at 8pm ET/PT. I will be posting about the cast before the premiere and, of course, live blogging the show and hosting the blog party as it airs.

So ... to the off television topic stuff. Between really feeling horrible and the bitter cold this past week, I don't think I took any photos at all. That's a first in years. What I did do for this week's post is go through photos I've taken during 2017 and pick out my personal favorites, one for each month. Then I threw random photos I took of Vincent the Cat just because he's such a big part of my life.

To be honest, I won't be sorry to see 2017 go away. Between the political landscape disharmony, my increasing dissatisfaction with my workplace, declining health and more ... it's not been a good year for me. For years I had planned to retire this year. Health insurance costs, not a benefit for retirees in my company, have made that impossible. Maybe in 2018 I'll have some way to get out of the rat race. 

I even had more problems on the blog this year than in the past. I was about ready to throw the towel in on it with the Big Brother blogging this past summer. I find it ridiculous that people get so hung up on the show that they feel the need to turn their vitriol on "fans" of cast members they don't like. Sheesh. Not only was there controversy, but BB used to be my summer cash cow. I once got paid good freelancing money to cover the shows and live feeds. Neither the ads revenue nor the donations make the work I put into it worth the headaches I had this past year with it.

I am grateful for the friends I have, the roof over my head, enough money to live on without worrying that there will be more bills left than month to pay them in. I've certainly gone through worse financial years in my life. I've also gone through worse personal loss times in my life -- flashing back on decades (scores) of years ago when I lost my parents five months apart. So, it hasn't been a good year for me ... but, in many ways, it hasn't been the worst year of my life, either.

I hope 2018 is a better year for everyone!

January

My train home arrives in Bridgewater as the snow comes down. I must have left early that day because it was still daylight! I probably headed out early due to the snow.

February

Historic train wheels captured in a sculpture at the Somerville Train Station.

March

After snow cover went and before new snow cover arrived, this is a shot of the main building at the Plainfield Train Station.

April

A hawk on the stadium lights at the TD Bank Ball Park in Bridgewater. He seemed to be watching the game.

May

The coolest looking potato beetle (or false potato beetle, not sure which) posed for me at the Bridgewater Train Station.

June

Making eye to eyes contact with a starling.

July

I took so many photos of the Plainfield 4th of July Parade that it was hard to pick just one. So, I picked none. Instead, I went for this photo I took of one of the painted utility boxes in Plainfield. This one is at the corner of Watchung Avenue and East 4th Street.

August

Gull on a lamp post on North Avenue in Plainfield.

September

The marigolds in planters at my workplace were fun and colorful to photograph.

October

Yep, like birds, the trains and train stations are repeating photo fodder for me. This was taken as the sun was setting at the Bridgewater Train Station.

November

What year would be complete without a moon shot from me? This one is the Full Beaver Moon.

December

The great escape from the rat (pigeon) race. I envy that bird.

And then there's Vincent ...
He isn't always sleeping, mind you. But it's easiest to photograph him when he is! 

Off Topic: That Was the Week(s) It Was - December 24, 2017

An oldie, but a goodie

I'm not sure where the Santa suit is these days. Vincent probably destroyed it!

Another oldie, but goodie. This was created some years back for the blog by Zoetawny. I miss her! Not quite the best photo of Vincent, though.

I apologize for my absence the past few weeks with the exception of covering Survivor. I've had a mix of bad health issues, overwork and severe stress on my job, a lost camera memory card and, to be honest, the holidays in general aren't a good time of the year for me. They were great when I was a child and I do have precious memories of those days. 

Tomorrow I'll cook the small ham I bought on sale, make some side dishes and bake the Mrs. Smith's apple pie to round out my feast. Vincent and I will be alone for the day. That's been the story of my big holiday doings for most of my life. Well, not always with Vincent, but with a cat or two. Oh, well. It could be worse. I could have to work. I've had to do that some Christmas days in the past.

I hope those of you with families and loved ones have a good Christmas -- but try not to overeat!

The majority of the photos this week were taken with my cell phone camera. Although I have a different memory card in my camera, I just didn't see much in the way of photos to take this past week.

Brightly lighted these days

The white lighting at the Plainfield Train Station does seem to cut down on the vagrants hanging out at night. Yet, they're still there in the daytime.

Crescent moon

My camera picks up detail not noticed by the naked eye. You can actually see the whole moon, even a touch of detail with the markings.

**CLICK THE 'READ MORE' LINK TO SEE THE REST OF THE PHOTOS**

Survivor 35: Heroes-Healers-Hustlers - Season Finale Blog Party

As the show airs here on the East Coast, I'll be updating this entry with the latest happenings during the two-hour finale. Refresh the page to get the latest! The party itself is in the comments -- join in on the discussion! Come the reunion show in the final hour, I'll more likely be hanging out there than posting on this entry.

Lifeguard Laurie has updated the blog pool and here ya go:

Survivors 
Ben D. - Donna in FL, Merrilee, Tammy.
Chrissy H. - Donna in Alabama, meb, SueGee, KelseyNY
Devon P. - David, Margo, Laurie, Fred aka TwoBlackAces
Mike Z. - Becky, Janice, Rbennie, PDX Granny
Ryan U. - Anonymouse, Glenn Allen, Nickelpeed

Jury
Desiree W.
Cole M.
JP H. 
Joe M.
Lauren R.
Ashley N.

Five are left. Who will be the sole Survivor? 

Hmm. Los Angeles once again for the show. They used to flip back and forth each year between NY and CA. I should mention that two fellow New Jersey people are still in it to win it --Chrissy and Ryan.

Mike is grateful that they voted Ashley out instead of himself. Once back at camp from Tribal, Ben is already out looking for an idol. Ben is once again named Public Enemy Number One, this time by all four with him.

Ben is determined he will find an idol while the rest sleep. So far, nothing. 

And, then ... he finds it!  

Oh my. Chrissy decides that she will make up with Ben. Of course, she's using him. Will he fall for it? Nah. He thinks she's his biggest competitor and wants to blindside her at the next Tribal. 

Right to the Immunity Challenge! Swim to platform, climb stack of crates, leap, retrieve keys, balance board, more keys and then a roulette type puzzle thing. Reward is a chicken feast. 

CHRISSY WINS IMMUNITY AGAIN! 

She brings Mike, then Devon. Hmm. Ryan and Ben get nothing. 

Mike has them looking for a clue, but obviously the last idol isn't there for them. Chrissy wants a contingency plan in case Ben has an idol. Mike wants to use Chrissy's dead super immunity necklace. They figure they can trick Ben with it. No, they don't think he has one.

She shows Ben her necklace and the letter from Ryan. Ryan and Chrissy think Ben bought the story. Meanwhile, Ben is laughing about the fake idol. 

Ben tells us he will decide who goes home. His strongest competitors are Devon or Mike. He dismisses Ryan. And, of course, Chrissy is safe. Devon is considering a Mike vote just to make sure his own butt is safe.

Tribal Council time. Chrissy puts on the necklace. She talks about finding a clue to the idol and digging it up. Ben admits she told him about it. He plays being dumb at an Oscar level. Ben claims she gloated about the idol. He's really putting on an act. Heh. While I want Ryan or Chrissy to win, Ben does deserve it. Or Chrissy. 

Heehee. Ben pulls out his idol and shocks them all!

The tally:
Ben, Ben, Ben, Mike, Devon.

It's a tie. Ben, Ryan and Chrissy must re-vote for either Mike or Devon. 

Re-tally:
Devon, Mike, Mike

Mike is out. He takes it well.

Caution: Twist Ahead. 

At camp, they talk about a record for playing idols in a row. Ben knows no one will take him to the end. If he doesn't win Immunity, he'll lose it all.

Immunity Challenge time, for the last time. Stack letter blocks on a wobbly platform. Must spell Heroes Healers Hustlers. Twist is the winner receives a final secret advantage in the game. 

Ben is done, but a letter is upside down. Whoa, he loses almost all. Then Ryan and Chrissy and then Devon. It's anyone's game.

CHRISSY WINS IMMUNITY ONCE AGAIN! 

She reiterates the idea that Ben will go home. 

Ben tries to schmooze Chrissy. She promises him that she will hear him out at Tribal. She tells us Ben needs to go. She runs off to read her advantage. She has won information. Tonight she will cast the final vote. She will sit next to one to "save" him. The other two will do a fire challenge for the final spot in the final three. She thinks Devon will do better. She warns Devon. She tells Ryan. 

As Ryan says, his inability to make fire will get him into the final three.

Devon starts practicing to make fire. He broke the flint. He decides it's meant to be. He doesn't want to expend more frustration. Ben still has no clue. 

Tribal Council time!

Jeff asks if Chrissy shared the advantage. She admits sharing it with Devon and Ryan. Then she reads it to the jury. 

As discussed, she chooses Ryan to sit next to her. So, Devon and Ben must make fire. 

BEN WINS THE FIRE CHALLENGE!

The final three are Chrissy, Ryan and Ben. 

Ryan knows he's the underdog. He feels he needs to convince the jury that he's been in control of the game all along. He admits that's not true, but ...! 

Time to face the jury.
Jeff tells them it's all about Outwit, Outplay and Outlast. 

Outwit:
Desi -- Ryan, all thought they could beat him. He tells of finding the advantage, building alliance with Chrissy and Devon. Had to depend on social game. Devon admits that Ryan's social game was sent via him. Joe tells Ben and Chrissy that their social games were horrible. Ben says he's been trying to work on his social skills. Chrissy said her social game was remaining loyal to her alliances. She points out that she remembers all that people told her. Ryan is really playing his social game even now. Oh my, Chrissy is being rude to Ryan. 

Outplay:
Cole respects the shelter building, Chrissy wins challenges, Ben finds idols. What has Ryan done? Ryan claims he's never done any of the things and didn't want to mess up. He says it wasn't his strength in the game. He then talks about the advantage and finding the idol. The jury brings up that women won eight of the nine challenges. Chrissy talks about her wins. Ben talks about knowing no one was on his side and how hard he looked for idols.

Outlast:
Ryan couldn't rely on winning challenges. His name never on chopping block, not due to pity but due to the social bonds, finding an idol, finding an advantage. He says he's now looking introspectively. Ben said all the others were hurdles, wanted to win for family. Joe tells him he needs more and Mike wants to know why he should win. Ben says he got himself there and fought all the way. As expected by me, he brings up the military and PTSD. Chrissy says she came in underestimating herself. She thinks she kicked ass in challenges, played a good clean solid game, all Moms are heroes. They're also healers and hustlers. She's been applying for 16 years.  

Lauren votes Ben. Devon votes Ryan. Ashley votes Chrissy. They show no more.

Back to California --
The tally:
Ben, Ryan, Chrissy, Chrissy, Ben, Ben, Ben.

BEN WINS! 

Next season - Ghost Island. 

Jeff tells us that bad decisions by former players will come back to haunt the Ghost Island season.

The "reunion" show is only going to be a half-hour. 

Congratulations to blog pool winners - Donna in FL, Merrilee, Tammy.
If I'm not mistaken, this might be the fourth blog pool win for Merrilee.  

Survivor 35: Heroes-Healers-Hustlers - December 13 Blog Party

As the show airs here on the East Coast, I'll be updating this entry with the latest happenings. Refresh the page to get the latest! The party itself is in the comments -- join in on the discussion!

Lifeguard Laurie has updated the blog pool and here ya go:

Survivors
Ashley N. - Donna NY, MikesGirl, tbc.
Ben D. - Donna in FL, Merrilee, Tammy.
Chrissy H. - Donna in Alabama, meb, SueGee, KelseyNY
Devon P. - David, Margo, Laurie, Fred aka TwoBlackAces
Mike Z. - Becky, Janice, Rbennie, PDX Granny
Ryan U. - Anonymouse, Glenn Allen, Nickelpeed

Jury
Desiree W.
Cole M.
JP H. 
Joe M.
Lauren R.

I'm not sure how well I'll be able to keep up with updates tonight -- I've been having some rather severe sciatica issues. But I'll try.

Six are left. Who will be voted out tonight?

Ben tells us it was all a ploy to keep Chrissy in the game by deflecting the votes to himself and using the idol. Of course, now they're all more determined to send him home and he (currently) doesn't have an idol. Devon tells him that he won't be winning immunity because he (Devon) won't let him.

Ben gets up before the rest and goes off idol searching in the guise of collecting firewood. A few get up and realize what he's up to.

Reward Challenge time. Divided into pairs, tied together, obstacles, target toss. Feast on a private island is the reward -- with an overnight stay. 

Devon and Chrissy win! They can choose one person to go with them. Chrissy suggests Ryan and Devon agrees. Ashley is upset. But, heck. Ryan needs the food!

Mike thinks Ryan was the least deserving one to go and he's upset. He's also suspicious that Devon is trying to flip Ryan back. Ben thinks that both Ashley and Mike are whiners. Ben tells us that Mike is his next target because Mike wants him gone. Ben tries to work on Ashley to little avail. So he goes idol hunting.

Par for the course, the ones on Reward decide to make a final three pact. So, Devon is back with his buddy Ryan. 

Chrissy tells us that she thinks it makes more sense to vote Ashley out first because of the Devon connection, then Ben next (as he's not really attached to anyone). 

Time for the Immunity Challenge. Race through articles, release two different ladders and climb, solve cog puzzle. 

CHRISSY wins Immunity! 

Ben offers to get water for people to go idol searching. He's surprised no one is following him. I am, too. Ashley thinks they should split the vote between Mike and Ben to flush any idol. Chrissy still wants Ashley and tells Mike, Ryan and Devon.

Devon isn't too pleased with that idea.  

Meanwhile, Ben finds the clue to the idol which is hidden right in their shelter at camp. They don't show him actually getting the idol, but I would guess he has it.

They go to Tribal Council. Jeff rubs the salt in the wound over Ashley not going to Reward. He continues to ask his Probsting questions. As the questions go on, Ben pulls out his idol even before the vote. Then he plays it before the vote.

The tally --
Mike, Ashley, Ashley, Ashley, Ashley.

Ashley is gonzo, just as Chrissy wanted. Not that it went down quite the way she planned, mind you.