August 9

[Brendan Synnott]

So I'm back and able to play and now Peter and Sierra are gone from our tribe. If Sierra was more active, I think John might have gone home, but I'm not sure.

So, I am able to talk easily to Lydia, Stephenie, and Jenna, but I haven't really talked to J.P. and John and John wants me to form an alliance with him and J.P.? Something just isn't right and I would rather both of them leave next so I don't have to deal with them in jury.

So whenever I left to go on vacation, I was actually hoping to get voted out. I tried to stay off this site as much as possible while on vacation so I didn't have to stress for it. While I was on vacation, I remembered why I didn't play these games any more... because I always have my mind on these games! I LOVE REALITY TV!!! Big Brother, Survivor, Amazing Race. I love it! Playing it is different and I can't help but getting involved.

But I didn't get voted out... and while I was gone, 3 people got voted out... and none of them me. I'm fortunate to still be here and while I'm here, I might as well try to play the game. I have a feeling there's quite more inactives on the other tribe. Only 12 feet in the second immunity challenge? Something isn't right there. I hope we keep winning immunity so we don't have to worry about losing someone and I can at least make jury. I only have to survive 3 more tribal councils.

So Peter and Sierra were relatively easy tribal councils. If I had to choose who to vote out next, it would be either John or J.P. I can't see myself aligning with someone who I can't talk to easily. Jenna is someone who I would like to align with especially after talking to her. Lydia seems like another strong player who is nice and so is Stephenie. I would rather be loyal to any of those 3 ladies. I don't want to go to tribal council again because if I do, I'm going to have to choose who I want to align with. Right now, I would like to consider myself a free spirit that isn't sure what he wants to do right now.

I shouldn't get voted out at this next tribal. I looked to see when players posted during the immunity challenge...

Lydia - 9:30 PM
Jenna - 12:09 AM
Stephenie - 12:30 AM
J.P - 1:34 AM
John - 11:05 AM
Me - 1:08 PM

Either Jenna or John may be shooting themselves in the foot considering how far apart they posted. I feel confident because of this that I won't be a target this round.... unless there is a secret alliance and a blindside happens.

Lydia - 1:17 PM
Jenna - 2:54 PM
Stephenie - 3:03 PM

Now, we're waiting on JP and it's been 1 hour 17 minutes.

[Brendan Synnott]

I just checked the board and saw Ashley hasn't signed in since Saturday. Yep, we're winning immunity. No doubt about it. Now I have a 1 in 11 shot at this game.

[Brendan Synnott]

So just as I guessed, Guananico lost. But they didn't even start the challenge? It makes sense now. Ashley was the first person on the boat. They couldn't start the challenge without her! I didn't even think about that. I feel bad for the other tribe, but it is Ashley's turn to go.

It's funny. I started the game to get the reality gaming out of my system... and just play one game. Then after the first elimination, I was hoping my vacation was going to be my downfall so I can get voted out without any hard feelings. Now, I have survived five eliminations. It's amazing when you think about it considering I didn't participate in one immunity challenge and survived a tribal. We should have lost this immunity if it wasn't for Ashley being missing in action.

As the game progresses, the game becomes more personal. As I get to know my tribemates better, the harder it will be to vote them off...

I still haven't revealed my identity to anyone and haven't had any more AIM convos... I have had messages sent between me, lydia, stephenie, and jenna. I'll post them.

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Lydia:
"Well, Peter is gone. Hopefully our tribe will be a lot stronger at this next challenge without him. But anyways, wanted to say to have fun on your vacation! You'll be missed! And no worries...I think you have proven yourself an asset to the tribe, so don't stress out too much about getting voted out while you are gone or something. I am definitely not writing your name down while you are gone!

And best case scenario, we won't even have tribal council!"

Me:
"Awesome job on this past immunity challenge, Lydia! I should call you MVP because you posted the most out of everyone! Thanks for the kind words. I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to read it until I left because I was worried we were going to tribal since none of us could sit out of this challenge. But no worries anymore! Awesome job and hopefully we can talk on aim soon after i get back from vacation!"

Lydia:
"Well, thank you! I would've rather been crushed by that boulder then have to go to Tribal Council for a second time in a row. Glad to see you were able to hop on to a computer and get a bit caught up while you have been away. This round should be pretty crazy with the double Tribal Council at all. Lately, it seems like we have been plagued with another inactive -- Sierra. Kinda hoping she will go this round so our tribe will be at it's strongest for the next challenge. Also glad that you will be back part-way through the next challenge as well! So hopefully we can pull out another win.

Would love to chat with you on AIM sometime! Hopefully we will catch each other on when you get back. Enjoy the rest of your vacation. Lucky you getting off the island for a bit. "

Me:

"Yes, I saw the computer and it was like the heavens opened up... then closed again because I realize I couldn't help as much as I wanted to with immunity challenges. lol. And it seems I'm thinking like everyone else here is with voting off Sierra, which makes me feel good.

Hopefully, our tribe stays active... and I hope there is another inactive on the other tribe so we can win this challenge! We still have about.. 8 hours to win this... I'm going to be gone in about 30 minutes and stay gone for hopefully no more than 2 hours, then get back and plant my but next to my laptop lol. I'm not on AIM right now but will be later!

C ya soon! "

Lydia:

"Well, it seems like we have an extremely good lead right now since Ashley was supposed to start the rowing rotation for the other team, and she hasn't been on since the challenge started. With the hours remaining to do the challenge dwindling, it is almost safe to say we have this in the bag.

That is such a relief assuming we do merge at 10, we won't have to stress about merging in the minority. I would love to beat them at the next one as well just to secure our numbers at the merge.

Glad to have you back, by the way! Luckily, your absence didn't really hurt us since we had a double tribal council instead of an immunity challenge last round."

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Stephenie:

"Hey Brendan hope all is still well with you...we won immunity yay! I'm glad we don't have to go to tribal again. Hopefully we can continue winning and get a streak going on. What do you think about that Poll in the treemail? I'm thinking there's going to be some sort of twist like maybe the strongest player will come to our tribe or something? Who knows, what do you think? I saw you were on AIM the other day and wanted to IM you but then I kept getting kicked offline. Hopefully we're on at the same time again so we can chat more. I'll talk to you later "

Me:

"Awesome job on the immunity challenge, Stephenie! I was stressing over that immunity challenge and not being able to participate. I haven't checked treemail yet, but I"m about to. And I also hope to talk to you soon on AIM!"

Me:

"I just read tree mail. Congratulations on your ... exiling? lol At least you don't have to participate in tribal council. Those are always doozies.

Hopefully, I'll be seeing you again once I get back from my vacation and we'll get to know each other better. Here's hoping!"

Stephenie:

"Haha yeah it's cool not having to go to tc but at the same time I wish I was there to help vote. Hopefully I'll be seeing you as well, Sierra looks inactive so i'm thinking she might go? Talk to you soon"

Me:

"Sierra was going to be my vote, but I'm kinda waiting and see what else everyone else is going to do if anyone gets online while I'm online. She's the only person I haven't talked to yet, so for me it's not that tough... a bit tougher than Peter though."

Stephenie:

"Yeah, that's probably who I would vote for if I was. It stinks because in the beginning of the game she did seem active and talkative and now she just disappeared. "

Me:

"But onward we go! Hopefully the other tribe still has an inactive or two and we can pull out another win. I mean... I saw the results for the last challlenge. 59 to 12? come on! someone on that tribe has to be inactive! lol"

Stephenie:

"haha I know we creamed them in that last challenge! When I looked last night I was trying to follow their players and when they logged on and camparing it to their rowing order. I think we are leading but I don't want to jynx us! So far wel are doing well so fingers crossed"

Me:

"I just checked to see who has logged in too. Ashley hasn't been on the board since Saturday... so we got this challenged locked as long as she doesn't show up."

Stephenie:

"Yeah, awesome!!"

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Jenna:

"Hey Brendan! <3 Just thought I'd say hello to you - hope you are having a great time in your vacation. I am leaning towards voting for Sierra this round, so if you want, you can join me. Hear from you soon!"

Me:

"Hey Jenna! I voted for Sierra. She was the only one who I didn't talk to, so I can't really say that it was a tough decision. I am back now. I still have a doctor's appointment this afternoon, so I'm going to try and stay near the computer as much as possible and hopefully we can pull off a win!"

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(Note to self... no PM's in this post are after 11:00 PM central August 9)