Survivor Nicaragua - November 10/10

Thanks, Lynn, for doing the update last week while I visited son Dan in Vancouver. I was nice to be able to just read the update without having to create it. And a fine update it was!

We rejoin our little band of schemers and plotters on Night 22, following the removal of Alina to the jury. As a result of their comments at Tribal Council, the relationship between Marty and Jane has reached the boiling point. However, among the youth of the former LaFlor, sympathies are definitely running with Jane. Marty admits he has a giant target on his back and so sets about trying to get people to vote against Jane.

All strategizing pauses for a reward challenge. Survivors are randomly divided into two teams and by some massaging of the laws of probability, they end up with an all male and an all female team. There is one Survivor left over (Chase) so Dimples tells him to pick the team he thinks will win. If they win reward he gets to go along. Chase elects to go with the women in order to show them they can trust him. The challenge involves the teams working together to get through an obstacle course made up of hay stacks, bamboo barricades and brick walls. Along the way they must collect three keys. The first team to collect their keys and open three locks wins reward. The men take an early lead and are able to hold on for a win. The women work hard and Jane is close to exhaustion when the challenge is finished. Dimples gives the men the option of trading their place with a deserving woman from the other team but none are willing to give up their reward - a tour of the Nicaraguan jungle canopy via a zipline, followed by a barbeque. While heading off to the reward, Marty wonders why Chase would stay with the women. Seeing Chase and Jane walk off together reminds him of Dumb and Dumber, says Marty.

And so the men head off to zip over the Nicaraguan jungle, eat chicken and drink beer, while planning their next moves. Marty wants them to vote for Jane, but let NaOnka think she is getting the votes. That will flush out the idol, get rid of Jane and isolate Chase. He pitches his plan to Sash who agrees, but tells us privately that he and Brenda are the two brightest minds in the group and that they have to power to send home anyone they see fit.

Back home, the girls are making their own plans. Brenda is concerned that Chase made a bad choice and that he doesn't make smart moves. Chase is also concerned because he and Brenda don't talk much anymore. When he asks Brenda (over and over and over) if she is uncertain about something, all he manages to do is annoy her further. Meanwhile Jane is hoping that "diabolically evil" Marty will be sent to the jury.

The immunity challenge turns out to be a memory game. Dimples gives them a series of six symbols to remember. Each time someone gets one wrong they are eliminated. It comes down to Brenda and Marty, with Brenda going on to win. The anti-Marty faction breath a sigh of relief believing he will soon be gone.

Back at camp Marty approaches Brenda with "Sash's" idea about getting rid of Jane and flushing out NaOnka's idol. Brenda outwardly agrees with him but tells us that it is she and Sash that re running the camp, not Marty. Still, both Brenda and Sash agree that they are not quite ready to send Marty to the jury yet, since he trusts them and tells them what is going on. One thing is sure, says Brenda, tonight's vote will tell everyone what side they are really on.

At Tribal Council Dimples reminds NaOnka about her food stealing. NaOnka goes off on a rant that is unprecedented in Survivor history. She drops several f-bombs, and acts like a guest on a Jerry Springer segment. Dimples is left speechless. She even gives Marty the finger when he imitates her walk as he returns from casting his vote. But a confident NaOnka does not play the immunity idol and when the votes are counted it is Marty who is joining the jury. Joining Marty in the jury is our own pool-dweller, Debbie. Kathy, Lisa and Debbie all picked Marty to win the million but none of them will be wearing that Survivor Nicaragua buff, I'm afraid.

Remember to take some time out of your day tomorrow to remember all of the victims of war, both military and civilian.


Until next week
Outwit, Outplay, Outlast
Pat (aka Jill missed the jury by thaaaat much Behm)