Happy Holidays to everybody reading this. Hope you were able to relax and spend some time with family and friends. We have been to a few Holiday Parties with one more this weekend. Was good to enjoys good food and drink and spend times with friends.

Got to spend Christmas with my wife’s side of the family. We spent the day at my mother-in-laws house (She passed earlier in the year and we will be selling the house), so it was kind of a last hurrah. It was fun talking and remembering all the good time spend with my wife, daughter, nieces and nephew had at the house over the years. We even watched some old home movies (using an old projector and screen) But life moves on, and next year we will be starting a new tradition, where ever that might be.

It’s been a week since Dee Valladares was crowned winner of Survivor 45. While I enjoyed this season, I did feel a bit let down by the final. Once Emily Flippen and Drew Basile were voted off, I really did not have favorite in the Final 5. While they all seemed like nice people, I just didn’t connect with any of them, so really didn’t care who eventually won. I was surprised when Katurah Topps switched her vote from Dee to Julie, especially after explaining how Dee would win if she survived the vote. I know it’s hard to understand moves people make while sitting at home, but it was a bit strange. Things like this are one of the main reasons I would love to be a contestant on Survivor #NeverToOldForSurvivor, #GiveMeAChance. I am constantly wondering what I would do in certain situations; Would I tell anybody if I found or recieved an advantage. Would I tell people information that I was told not to share. It’s always fascinating to see different way people handle things

As for the Final 4, I really dislike the Fire Challenge (never liked it going back to when Chrissy Hofbeck got screwed after playing a great game) The winner Ben Driebergen lost the final challenge, and should have been voted off. But they added the fire challenge which gave him a 2nd chance. It again played a roll when Chris Underwood was able to use the fire making to his advantage, and win despite being the 3rd person voted off and spending most of the season at Extinction Island. He was able to return at the end, then give up immunity in order to make fire. The Jury found this to be a big move and awarded him the prize. They basically ignored everything that happened on the real island, and instead voted to for Chris because they spent time and got to know him on Extincion Island, more than getting to know Julie Rosenberg or Gavin Whitson

It seems now, that winning the final challenge is almost a disadvantage. Unless you have a super compelling story to give the jury, you need to throw away all your work and give up immunity to make fire in order to get jury votes. I almost think that just throwing the final challenge and saying to whoever wins, that I will go to fire could be the best strategy.

All in all, this season was a mixt bag. But I will be back for Survivor 46, and will be submitting applications in 2024 for future seasons. Hopefully soon, #JeffProbst, #JesseTannenbaum and the rest of the casting crew will decide to give an old timer like me, who have been there from the beginning, a shot to live out my dream of being on Survivor

The NY Football Giants lost to the Philadelphia Eagles on Christmas Day to fall to 5 -10 on the year, and officially be eliminated from the play-offs. While they were in a lot of game, they simply do not have the winning mentality team need. Most games are close, and the teams that can dig deep and make plays are the ones that come out on top. The will need to do some soul searching as they are not a good team should not be fooled that they are close. Not going to get a total overhaul next season, but the coaches cant use any excuses, and need win or they will all be gone in 2025

Happy New Year and here’s to a great 2024

Peace

AverageAndy