Cheat Work Thursday

"IT'S A 'ME' GAME, NOT A 'WE' GAME" It's either I've become too desensitized to Survivor drama, or the expectation has become too high for a good episode, or I'm just looking for an excuse to justify my lack of motivation to continue writing about it. But it feels like there's not much left to talk about this season. It doesn't mean I'm bored with Survivor. That's impossible. I'd need help if the show ever ends. And I don't think this is a bad season either. I watched Thailand , SJDS and Fiji . A less than stellar season of Survivor is still Survivor; it still makes me giddy even after these two million episodes. So, after Scot's vote, people are regrouping. While Tai makes an attempt to mend his relationship with Jason to a lukewarm welcome, Julia seems to be drawn back to Jason. At the reward, won by Michele and Cydney, Michele tries to rebuild her bonds with Aubry and Cydney. Back at camp, Jason and ...

"I'M NOT HERE TO MAKE GOOD FRIENDS" "We like providing for you, but you have to do what we want you to do. We are nice people like that." ~ Essentially what Scot is saying to Aubry the morning after Debbie's vote, his idea of mending fences, being the bigger person and showing maturity. Good line: " Okay. It's a lot to say first thing in the morning, but... " ~ Aubry. I love that the players get to choose the reward they are competing for at the reward challenge. Julia outlasts Joe for the letter from home, Michele defeats Scot and Jason for food, and Tai beats Aubry and Cydney for an advantage: an extra vote at tribal. This is one of the good episodes. Julia proposes to Aubry and Michele that they vote Tai out. After striking out Julia's name and replacing it with Peter, then blindsiding Debbie, very few things scare Aubry now. She goes to Tai, pulling him to her side, and out-spits Jason at the immunity challenge in style. On...

Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash Go away, people who are trying to make me feel guilty for not doing something that most people do. For the purpose of this post: for not being on WhatsApp. In my mind, I know why I'm not on WhatsApp: 1) lack of privacy is annoying 2) being trapped in so many conversations that I don't want to be in takes so much work, time and patience. I'll text you if there is a need to, or even when I'm just thinking about you, or if I find something funny or something that you'd like. But I won't do it incessantly all day, not even every other day or week. I understand space. I love space! My texts are well spelled, have purpose and are often funny! Ok, some recipients may argue otherwise. Small detail. The point is, I put effort into them. If I want to talk more, I'll call or we can meet up. If I like you, I'd like seeing you in person too. We'll hear each other laugh (well, subject to factors, of course), and we...

"IT'S PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE" Apparently, another plan for the big group last tribal was to vote for Jason. Tai missed the last minute memo to change it to Nick, thus his vote for Jason. In panic, he tells Jason that he voted for Debbie, and now he's stuck in an alliance with Scot and Jason. So Tai, Scot and Jason turn themselves into J'tia and the Three Amigos: hiding axe and machete, dumping water on the fire, and flaunting idols like a**holes at tribal council. To be clear, it's not a compliment. At the reward challenge, the schoolyard pick for teams spells war: - Joe volunteers to sit out. He'll join the group that he's rooting for if they win; he bets on the women. - Scot, Jason and Tai stick together and open a spot for one of the women. Julia volunteers herself. - The other team of Aubry, Debbie, Michele and Cydney loses the challenge. Julia is expanding her options. Going to the finals with two unlikeable players like Scot and Jaso...

"THE JOCKS VS. THE PRETTY PEOPLE" Oh edit, and the good old times when we didn't care about it. So, Jason and Scot got a little "heartwarming" edit with their family story this week. Did it melt my cold heart a little? Not at all. So, no, this is not it. Jason and Scot are not going to win. The next question is, why only now does Storm decide to grace us with her presence ie when she's questioning her fellow Brawns on why she feels like her allegiance is being checked by them after she went out paddling with the girls and Tai? Boot episode, next week? 😉 Five minutes into the immunity challenge, Jeffrey offers everyone food, a lot of food, if they drop out of the challenge. Jason, Joe, Scot and Michele choose pizzas, brownies, drumsticks, hotdogs and cold drinks; Nick steps out after the last Brain is eliminated, announcing it's one of the Brains leaving that night; and Tai wins the challenge. The Brawn-Beauty's plan is to split the vote be...

Photo by Ben Kolde on Unsplash On most days, the hour before and after a work meeting is the hour that I'm drowning with all kinds of stuff in my car -- work bag, laptop, makeup bag, extra shoes, phone, pens, papers -- which are never in order no matter what system I try. There will also be racing thoughts: Did I get everything that I should just now? How many minutes do I have to reach the next meeting place? I'm lucky if I can do calm and collected in real life. During work meetings, I just try my best to pretend that I can. So, technology is hard. I don't use Waze. My problem is usually when it says "In 200 metres..." How do I know how far 200 metres is? I prefer the have-been-used-for-thousands-of-years-for-a-reason-obvs way: looking for landmarks, reading the signboards and asking people for directions. But I rarely ask people for directions these days because apparently it's now illegal. Everyone gives me a murderous look if I do. This is 2016, as...