Happy Holidays!

I will be spending Christmas with family. My husband's busy travel schedule has slowed down, son has been living at home for the past year trying to write and doing voice auditions, daughter is home from college for the holidays, and the corgi is doing well after a scary emergency surgery.

Wishing you well, safe, and happy through the season and into the New Year.

If you're looking for some good reading or gifts, try:

Monster Classics:
Grave Expectations (Gallery Books, September 2011)
Jane Slayre (Gallery Books, April 2010)

Paranormal Romance:
To Hell with Love (Zebra Books, July 2008)
Naughty or Nice (Zebra Books, September 2009)

or for your new e-reader device,
Masters of Seduction, a romance anthology featuring authors Marsha Canham, Virginia Henley, Jacquie D'Alessandro, Jill Gregory, Sherri Browning Erwin, and Julie Ortolon.

Cheers!
Sherri

Survivor South Pacific: Power Rankings Finale

Xfinity's Gordon Holmes(156) and his partner in ranking, Andrea Boehlke(156) have had a great season, and finally ended up in a tie. I've almost caught up, at 154, which really isn't bad considering how  I tanked early on.  Here are my predictions for the finale:


RI: It's down to Brandon and Ozzy and someone's coming back in the game. I think it's Ozzy. Which means Brandon goes to the jury and let's go from there...

1. Sophie has played a solid game, going along with Coach when it suited her, keeping Albert in check when necessary, using shrewd strategy, and sharing witty asides with the camera. I hope she wins.

2. No question that Coach kept control of his tribe and made some really strong moves, like swaying Cochran to Upolu's side by playing on his fear of drawing rocks, and telling Brandon he had to wait to see what God wanted him to do... that was all a strategy, right? Hmm. Unfortunately, I think he played a little too hard to win over the jury. 

 3. Albert had a bad time at the last Tribal Council. Brandon's little "gift" of the immunity necklace will get Albert into the final three, but not in the way that he intended, as a beloved hero and wise player. Albert now looks like a jerk to the jury and can't win-- which makes him a perfect candidate to bring to the end. 

4. Rick simply hasn't been heard from enough for me to think he goes much further. He's in with the right people, but someone's gotta go... and it might all come down to who wins immunity. And I don't think it's Rick for the win. 

5. Ozzy (or Brandon)- whoever comes back in the game will need immunity to stay in the game, and I'm not sure that's going to work out for Ozzy. Though it most certainly could, which would give him a shot at winning over the jury. But I'm going to say he ends up on the jury, and not making a final argument to win. 

Survivor South Pacific: Power Rankings Week 12

Xfinity's Gordon Holmes(152) and his partner in ranking, Andrea Boehlke(152) are racking up the points while I'm still down a few, at 149. Here are my predictions for the week:

1. Team Sophie! I just can't rank her second. She's my top pick.

2. He's using the Boston Rob playbook, but will his team finally turn on him or will he skate to success?

3. I think Albert rocks the boat, but maybe not hard enough to make it capsize. His alliance with Sophie could hold him in another week. 

4. Crazy enough to bring to the end, if everyone can stand him that long. 

5. We haven't heard enough from Rick to make me think he makes the final four-- but stranger things have happened. 

Bonus: Another RI editing fakeout. Do they really expect me to believe that Edna beats Ozzy? I'm not buying it. (Though, they did make it look like a pretty certain Edna victory... why would they do that if it really happened?)

Survivor South Pacific: Power Rankings Week 11

We're getting down to the wire. I'm locked in competition with Xfinity's Gordon Holmes(146) and his partner in ranking, Andrea Boehlke(145), and let's face it-- I'm not catching them. It's all due to a bad decision I made early on, but never say quit. I'm at 141. Here are my predictions for the week:

1. Sophie, playing a smart, strong (but not too strong), safe game is in a good spot headed toward the end. 

2. I think they will continue to let Coach think he's calling all the shots, and maybe he is.

3. People have to know who he is in order to vote him off. 

4. He's unstable, creepy, and misguided-- and still the best bet to take to the end.

5. I wish he could make it all the way, but I have a feeling he might be a little too outspoken.

6. If things go according to previously revealed plans, Edna is next to go-- but maybe there will be some surprises. I don't like being wrong, but I love surprises.  

Bonus: Are we supposed to believe Cochran will beat Ozzy at R.I? I don't think so. 

Survivor South Pacific: Power Rankings Week Ten

Xfinity's Gordon Holmes(140) and his partner in ranking, Andrea Boehlke(137) continue to outdo me (133), but I'm chock full of determination. Here are my predictions for the week:

1. Sophie is the safest for the week, as far as I can see. She's got some moves, but Albert is more vocal, therefore, more likely to go before Sophie. Team Sophie!

2. Isn't it time someone turned on Coach, questioned Coach, maybe made a big move? Yes, but doesn't seem to be happening. Coach has borrowed the Boston Rob rulebook and it seems to be working for him. 

3. After watching last week's recap show (parts of it, while baking T-Day pumpkin pies), I was surprised no one booted Brandon sooner. Since when are chicken shenanigans swept under the rug at Survivor Central? But since he's still there, I have to think that someone wants to bring him to the end. 

4. Hey, there's a guy named Rick on the show. You didn't notice? 

5. Albert has made some noise of disagreement with Sophie and Coach, and that might make him stand out a little. But I don't think Albert's time has come. 

6. Not a lot of positive things to say about Edna. She's there. Coach seems to want to keep her. But what does she bring to the table? The fact that no one will vote for a coattail rider in the end? Might keep her around. I'm thinking it won't.

7. Cochran's time has come. Upolu has been all about sticking together and I can't see them screwing that up now. Plus, the ads for the week make it look as if Upolu starts turning on each other, and I can't see it happening until all the Savaii have been cooked. Cochran could be a good one to bring to the end, but can they trust him that far? Selfish schemers are dangerous. I would be happy to be wrong and see Brandon sent packing, but I think this is how it has to be. The good news? Ponderosa will get a lot more interesting. Or annoying. Hmm. 

Bonus: Let's see... Ozzy vs Dawn vs Whitney? Ozzy hangs on at R.I.

People's Sexiest Man Alive

Bradley Cooper! Charlotte agrees wholeheartedly. She still sees him as the perfect St. John Rivers for the film version of Jane Slayre.

Who do you think is the sexiest man alive?

Survivor South Pacific: Power Rankings Week Nine

After a heart-stopping moment last week when I thought Dawn was on the chopping block after I gave her an honorary number one top spot, I am done with tempting the Ranking fates. Didn't I learn my lesson earlier this season? 

Xfinity's Gordon Holmes(122) and his partner in ranking, Andrea Boehlke(120) continue to outdo me (115), but for how long? (Well, okay, it looks like I'm not catching up. They have been spot on.) Here are my predictions for the week:

Team Erwin:

1. Maybe a little favoritism at work here, but I think she's playing a solid game. 

2. Sophie and Albert seem tight, but I wonder what happens when it comes down to remaining Upolu? 

 

3. He gives the appearance of running the Upolu show, and I think he believes that he is. 

                                         
4. He's probably the best bet to bring to the end, but that doesn't mean I want to rank him any higher
until necessary.

5. Speaking of those you want to take all the way, Cochran might be looking good about now.

6. Still not making any waves, or scoring any big immunity wins. 

7. I don't see her making a case to save herself if it comes down to it. I'm not sure Sophie and Albert like her, or trust her, and that side alliance with Coach could end up costing her. 

8. I think Dawn might have pushed the envelope with trying to win over Upolu, giving Whitney the edge to stay a little longer. 

9. Being too nice to her new Upolu friends might have marked her as a strategist willing to do anything to stay in the game-- which is dangerous for people who don't want you to endear yourself and stick around. Plus, I don't want to risk overestimating Dawn again. :)

RI Bonus:

 Ozzy is determined to cook fish for all his friends. I think he stays around. 

Survivor South Pacific: Power Rankings Week Eight

By my counting, it would be Week Nine, but I'm going to switch to Gordon Holmes numbering after missing last week due to power outage (8 days without power!). I did manage to get on Twitter to say I think Keith was going next (I might have mentioned Albert and Edna, too, but I'm taking the points, and the bonus for Ozzy beating Christine- which I did guess). Big cheers for Comcast for restoring my cable and Internet. I know the crews have been working hard.  

Xfinity's Gordon Holmes(101) and his partner in ranking, Andrea Boehlke(100) continue to outdo me, but for how long? (Well, okay, it looks like I'm not catching up. They have been spot on.) Here are my predictions for the week:

Team Erwin: 96 points.

1. Is Dawn really at the top? Probably not, but I'm giving her the honorary spot this week because she lasted much longer than I initially thought she would, and I feel bad for counting her out too soon. Go Dawn! Or should I say, stay Dawn!

2. My favorite, and a really great player with fun and shrewd insights. I don't see the possibility for her to misstep so soon after merge. 

3. Edna is another player I counted out too soon. It seems annoying the tribe might not be such a big deal when there are bigger targets around. 

4. Urgh. Still here. Doesn't seem to be catching anyone's particular notice at this point in time. I fear for this one hanging on to the end. 

5. He should be a target at this point, but he seems to have avoided notice in favor of... Rick?! I have no idea how that happened. Maybe I missed something in my rushed watching of last week's show after the fact, but the vote went to Rick. 

5. Yes, my top is former Upolu heavy. But that's where the numbers are after Cochran's TC choice to vote Keith and I'm sticking with it. 

6. A Coach blindside would be the way to go if anyone was looking to take out the most obvious leader of his former tribe out there. But I think he's safe. 

 7. He's a flipper and a weasel to some, but a good prospect to take to the end for a savvy player who might sense the fact that no one from either side would currently choose to give Cochran the prize. Otherwise, he might still be useful in the numbers game. 

8. She might want to start to worry, but I think there are bigger targets to steal the attention of voters before they turn to Whitney. 

9. Finally perhaps ready to reap the rewards of being outspoken (read as loud, cocky, and occasonally bullying).

10. He came back from RI once. It makes sense to let him go take his chances there again after a) playing his idol last week and b) playing the tribe with his terrible acting job after merge. 

Survivor South Pacific: Power Rankings Week Seven

I'm not catching up to Xfinity's Gordon Holmes(78) and his partner in ranking, Andrea Boehlke(75) for as long as they keep riding their hot streak, but I want to think I'm getting there. This week, I have no choice but to go for the obvious. All signs (meaning CBS promos and extraneous Probst commentary) point to Redemption Island in a big risk move for... wait for it...  Here are my predictions for the week:

Team Erwin: 71 points.

1. My new favorite, the one with the most sense, and most intriguing insights, of the game. More Sophie, please!

2. Jim's scheming has him on top for this week, but I suspect not for long. Depends on where the numbers fall at merge.

3. Sophie's partner at the top, but now that Albert's starting to put himself out there, can he last? 

4. and 5. The dynamic duo of Keith and Whitney could go far if they stick together. Time for an adorable nickname. Wheith? Kwhitney?

 6. Maybe not as powerful as he wants to believe, if he keeps thinking he calls the shots.

7. Who? Yeah. That guy.

8. Shudder.

9. Dawn has the good fortune to have Cochran around to take the spotlight off her.

10. Cochran, not exactly a challenge master, and I'm not sure I could live with him long out there.

11. Edna survived last week, when I was pretty sure she was going to go. This week? Still not sure.

12. Does he really think he can go to RI and still get back in the game? Stranger things have happened. But his team will have to lose this week, and it could be one big tease. I'm taking the gamble (again, things don't go well for me when I gamble, but...)

Bonus: I can't bring myself to bet against Christine.