Post by Mark "Papa Bear" Caruso on Jan 9, 2013 1:55:05 GMT -5
Got a few things on my mind....
- This was not a round where I wanted to lose a challenge and be headed back to tribal council. A couple of rounds ago, I had talked to Dawn and toyed with the notion of throwing a challenge soon so that we could get rid of Ozzy. Well, my sentiments are completely different now. Frankly, I would have been just fine if our tribe would've won every immunity challenge until merge. Sure, I would've longed for the day that we could get rid of Ozzy the whole time, but I kind of got used to the feeling of being immune after our short-lived streak of two wins. Now, going back after people have had more time to potentially get the idol scares me. Hell, people have even had a couple of rounds to cook up some brilliant scheme now, too. I'll admit that I'm often overly paranoid, but I feel like I'm somewhat justified this time. This tribal council has potential to get dicey.
- Our showing as a tribe in that challenge was comically bad, too. I don't know this for certain, but I dare say that was probably the biggest blowout in the game so far. It was almost like our tribe didn't even care and had no desire to win the challenge, a notion that only contributes to my extreme paranoia. However, it was what happened at the beginning of the challenge that irked me the most. I'm pretty certain I was the first one to read the challenge, as I was online the very minute it was posted. Upon reading it, I realized the necessity to have everyone online at the same time to work together. When I pitched that idea to Cochran, Elyse, and Dawn, Cochran and Dawn seemed to be automatically on board, but Elyse wasn't really having it. She initially opted out of my original convening time, and when I came up with one that would suit her, she continued to make excuses about how it wouldn't work. To me, that is very alarming. One only has to read my last couple of confessionals to realize that Elyse and I aren't always on the same page despite being in an alliance together. But this topped it all. She more or less was having nothing of a plan that wasn't her own creation. I fear that she and I are going to continue to butt heads and compete for power until we get a little distance from one another.
- Only fueling my paranoia, Ozzy's post on the board is absolutely driving my mind crazy. I can't figure out the logic behind someone coming out and openly declaring that they do not have an idol. It seems so bizarre to me. Then again, Ozzy has never been anything less than a wild card since the moment the game began. Still, I can't help but wonder if he is being truthful. Dawn and I both agreed that we want to cast all votes for Ozzy so as not to step on Whitney's toes right before the merge. But if Ozzy somehow does have an idol and plays it, it will almost definitely come at the expense of Dawn or myself. The stakes are definitely high this tribal council, and I'm not looking forward to seeing the results.
- Looking ahead to the merge, I cannot believe which members compose the Upolu tribe as it stands now. I clearly know nothing, because I would've sworn that people like Edna or Stacey would be gone by now. While strong in (some) challenges, the constant drama does not seem worth keeping around in my book. I continue hoping that there are some navigable cracks within that tribe, but only time will tell. The fact that people like Elyse and Ozzy are already close with some of the members of the other tribe definitely doesn't make me look forward to the merge more. I think all hell will break loose when that day comes; I just hope I'm around to participate in it.
- Knowing how little time those who go to Redemption Island have before the merge is definitely influencing my strategy a little bit. Obviously, my ideal situation would be for an idol-less Ozzy to go there and get slaughtered right off the bat. Once again, that may be wishful thinking. However, knowing that if something terrible happens and I end up going there is not quite as disturbing knowing that I would potentially only have to duke it out with someone once or twice before having my chance to re-enter the game. And then yet another option had crossed my mind. Because I feel like the votes could potentially be split a little bit here, I thought it might be the perfect opportunity to approach Dawn about flipping the script and taking out Elyse early. But knowing her time would be so short on Redemption Island before potentially coming back into the game like an angry hornet is no risk I want to mess with. So much thinking to do just to make sure I'm making the smartest, safest plan for myself. I'm afraid I'm going to have to just get tough and go with my gut.
- One last thing. I was completely insincere in my tribal council answer. Of course everyone is not pulling their weight! Ozzy has been a complete joke for us in challenges lately. Hell, even Whitney could stand to step it up a few notches. And even though I love her, Dawn will never be mistaken for the MVP of a challenge. But saying any of those things in a tribal council would be a death sentence for me, especially when the person who is doing the least is somewhat feared of having an idol while being targetted. So I decided to play it safe and then smooth it over at the end so that everyone would be happy and play nice. Just be aware - deep down, it's not at all how I feel.
Here's to hoping this isn't my last confessional!
Papa Bear
- This was not a round where I wanted to lose a challenge and be headed back to tribal council. A couple of rounds ago, I had talked to Dawn and toyed with the notion of throwing a challenge soon so that we could get rid of Ozzy. Well, my sentiments are completely different now. Frankly, I would have been just fine if our tribe would've won every immunity challenge until merge. Sure, I would've longed for the day that we could get rid of Ozzy the whole time, but I kind of got used to the feeling of being immune after our short-lived streak of two wins. Now, going back after people have had more time to potentially get the idol scares me. Hell, people have even had a couple of rounds to cook up some brilliant scheme now, too. I'll admit that I'm often overly paranoid, but I feel like I'm somewhat justified this time. This tribal council has potential to get dicey.
- Our showing as a tribe in that challenge was comically bad, too. I don't know this for certain, but I dare say that was probably the biggest blowout in the game so far. It was almost like our tribe didn't even care and had no desire to win the challenge, a notion that only contributes to my extreme paranoia. However, it was what happened at the beginning of the challenge that irked me the most. I'm pretty certain I was the first one to read the challenge, as I was online the very minute it was posted. Upon reading it, I realized the necessity to have everyone online at the same time to work together. When I pitched that idea to Cochran, Elyse, and Dawn, Cochran and Dawn seemed to be automatically on board, but Elyse wasn't really having it. She initially opted out of my original convening time, and when I came up with one that would suit her, she continued to make excuses about how it wouldn't work. To me, that is very alarming. One only has to read my last couple of confessionals to realize that Elyse and I aren't always on the same page despite being in an alliance together. But this topped it all. She more or less was having nothing of a plan that wasn't her own creation. I fear that she and I are going to continue to butt heads and compete for power until we get a little distance from one another.
- Only fueling my paranoia, Ozzy's post on the board is absolutely driving my mind crazy. I can't figure out the logic behind someone coming out and openly declaring that they do not have an idol. It seems so bizarre to me. Then again, Ozzy has never been anything less than a wild card since the moment the game began. Still, I can't help but wonder if he is being truthful. Dawn and I both agreed that we want to cast all votes for Ozzy so as not to step on Whitney's toes right before the merge. But if Ozzy somehow does have an idol and plays it, it will almost definitely come at the expense of Dawn or myself. The stakes are definitely high this tribal council, and I'm not looking forward to seeing the results.
- Looking ahead to the merge, I cannot believe which members compose the Upolu tribe as it stands now. I clearly know nothing, because I would've sworn that people like Edna or Stacey would be gone by now. While strong in (some) challenges, the constant drama does not seem worth keeping around in my book. I continue hoping that there are some navigable cracks within that tribe, but only time will tell. The fact that people like Elyse and Ozzy are already close with some of the members of the other tribe definitely doesn't make me look forward to the merge more. I think all hell will break loose when that day comes; I just hope I'm around to participate in it.
- Knowing how little time those who go to Redemption Island have before the merge is definitely influencing my strategy a little bit. Obviously, my ideal situation would be for an idol-less Ozzy to go there and get slaughtered right off the bat. Once again, that may be wishful thinking. However, knowing that if something terrible happens and I end up going there is not quite as disturbing knowing that I would potentially only have to duke it out with someone once or twice before having my chance to re-enter the game. And then yet another option had crossed my mind. Because I feel like the votes could potentially be split a little bit here, I thought it might be the perfect opportunity to approach Dawn about flipping the script and taking out Elyse early. But knowing her time would be so short on Redemption Island before potentially coming back into the game like an angry hornet is no risk I want to mess with. So much thinking to do just to make sure I'm making the smartest, safest plan for myself. I'm afraid I'm going to have to just get tough and go with my gut.
- One last thing. I was completely insincere in my tribal council answer. Of course everyone is not pulling their weight! Ozzy has been a complete joke for us in challenges lately. Hell, even Whitney could stand to step it up a few notches. And even though I love her, Dawn will never be mistaken for the MVP of a challenge. But saying any of those things in a tribal council would be a death sentence for me, especially when the person who is doing the least is somewhat feared of having an idol while being targetted. So I decided to play it safe and then smooth it over at the end so that everyone would be happy and play nice. Just be aware - deep down, it's not at all how I feel.
Here's to hoping this isn't my last confessional!
Papa Bear