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By Chico Alexander
Reality Editor, StormSeeker.com

Day 31:  During the morning hours, Ethan had some time to himself and
Lex.  Lex was making a bracelet, but fashionable wristwear was the last
thing on Ethan's mind. "I'm surrounded by these wonderful people, but I am
so alone." As the tribe shrank in size, the sense of family grew. But so
did feelings of isolation and solitude.

And just as soon as he reveals that... They've got mail! A diary with the
message, one page at a time.

"You think you know them and that they know you.
It's time to find out if that's really true.
For the winner, a prize that will take you away.
That's just the beginning of an unforgettable day."

The tribe was greeted by Jeff who showed us various videograms of family,
friends, and loved ones. Nearly everyone was brought to tears. Again
proving that the power of distance and video is enough to bring out the
true emotions of your tribemates.  But they didn't come without a hitch,
because they would be one half of a video version of the Newlywed Game.

R-CHALLENGE - Know Your Loved One (Masai Mara Safari, complete with bed,
shower, and food)

Jeff offered the prize, charged to Visa, the official card of
Survivor. But not just ANY Visa... His own (cue closeup for proof. Don't
try to buy anything, though. It's a prop made for today's episode).  He
then asked tribe members four personal questions which their family had
previously been asked on videotape. If each tribe member's answer matched
the answer their family gave, they would score a point. Most points wins.
Lex matched Most Embarrassing Moment (vomiting during a sex education
class), Biggest Fear (something happening to his wife or sons), and
Biggest Achievement (his two boys). Lex may have won the challenge, but
props to all of the players for not holding back at the sight of visions
back home.  As Lex was about to board the plane for Masai Mara, he was
given the opportunity to choose someone to accompany him. He chose Big
Tom, and they hopped on the small plane and took off for the resort.

After what seemed like a short plane flight, Tom and Lex arrived at the
campsite, a far cry from Boran Camp, our home away from home.  Lex was
admiring the lushness (it was on the greenest oasis near the equator). Tom
was paying less attention to the environs and more attention to the
facilities. "Our own pooper!" he said, having been without a loo for a
month. As they stuffed themselves with snacks, drinks, and beer, Tom
noted, "We've eaten more right now than we have in 30 dirty days."  The
two lucky sons of guns vowed to keep the details of the luxury to
themselves, as, the next day, they boarded a car to the safari.

Day 32: During the drive and subsequent safari, Lex was at a loss for
words. Tom, on the other hand, couldn't hide his amazement, especially
with the wildebeest. "They're as ugly as a girl I used to date back
home!" After a long night of feasting on lamb and drinking bourbon, Lex
and Tom took off in a hot air balloon. Cruising over the African veldt,
they spotted a lion stalking a wildebeest. It looked like the lion gave up
on it, but eventually, he caught up and killed his prey. And the circle of
life continues.  After an intense 24 hours, Lex, once again stating the
obvious, said, "Going back to camp at this point is going to be
miserable. I'm feeling sick about it.  It means going back to the
game." Speaking of which, he added this prognostication: "I'm going to be
the last person standing."

MEANWHILE...

Back at camp, everyone was waiting in quiet anticipation for two
things: the return of Lex and Tom and the upcoming immunity challenge.

I-CHALLENGE: Pot Shots 2

A Ringa is an African weapon used by tribesmen to hunt their prey. It is
also the substitution for the slingshot in the Outback, as this challenge
proves.  The six remaining Moto Maji have three pots hung by a string. The
players must use their Ringas to chip, destroy, or otherwise knock off
their opponents pots. Last one hanging wins immunity.  In one round,
Teresa nicked her own pot, sending her back a step. Ethan was less than
quiet about Tom nicking his. After a heated race, Older Kim found herself
matched up against Big Tom, who still had two pots hanging to her one
pot. Her Ringa hit its mark, knocking out one of his pots. But Tom had two
pots, as opposed to Kim's one, and  hit his mark, winning the necklace,
gaining himself Immunity. "Somebody's gonna leave tonight, and it ain't
gonna be me."

But who? Back at camp, that was the primary focus. The women (primarily
the Kims) entertained the notion of splitting alliances along gender
lines, with Lex being the main target (also among the ideas was Tom being
a sway vote). Older Kim, on her voting strategy: "This is the time to
start thinking who do you want to go to the end with and who do you want
off."  But would it work? Tom already stated that he still has his
preexisting grudge with Lex for voting against the alliance when Brandon
was kicked off.  One of his mottoes from before: "I forgive, but I don't
forget." 

Meanwhile, Lex expressed his concern over Teresa, whom he marked as having
"fire in her belly." Lex continued, "There's nothing more dangerous than a
desperate animal."

Night 33: TRIBAL COUNCIL

Going back to the reward challenge, Jeff asked about what they missed from
back home. Everyone mentioned their families and loved ones (except Tom,
who misses cheeseburgers). Also going back to the reward, Tom and Lex
maintained their enjoyment for the trip.  Lex admitted he knew what it
felt like to have votes against him and "almost take that walk of
shame." As with that other voting game show, it's the votes that count,
and here is the one that would hold.

Older Kim: LEX. Pure strategy.
Little Kim: LEX.

More of a strategy vote than anything else, the old alliance held. But who
would be their sacrificial lamb?

Teresa, Lex, and Ethan: LITTLE KIM.

So far, Little Kim, 3-2. But will Tom's vote hold with the alliance or
will he be the swing and force overtime?

Tom: LITTLE KIM. By a vote of 4 to 2, Little Kim, THE ALLIANCE HAS
SPOKEN.  Kim joins Brandon, Kelly, and Frank in the jury.

Final notes: First off, Merry Christmas to all, I hope the holiday treated
you well, and hope that 2002 will treat you even better.  Well, Lex beat
the odds. I personally didn't think he stood a chance last week. Again,
I'm sticking to the alliance (or at least 3/4 of it) to make it to the
final four. Ethan and Tom stand the best chance. Lex may be a bit of a
grey area thanks to Tom's preexisting grudge. Teresa is another grey area
because of her "fire in her belly".  As for Older Kim, if she doesn't win
immunity next week, it's game over, almost guaranteed.

Tom and Ethan: 100%
Lex: 66%
Teresa: 66%
Kim: 100% (if she wins immunity), 10% if she doesn't.