Grave Expectations: Howling Happy!

I love the cover for August release GRAVE EXPECTATIONS!

It's not even a full moon yet, but I was howling with joy when I saw it. The blue, the tagline, and especially the quote from Library Journal. Wow! I'm excited. Is it August yet? What do you think of the cover?

Survivor Finale!

It is down to the final four-- but wait! There's four more at Redemption Island! How will it all shake out? My prediction:

TEAM SHERRI

First, for a change, let's tackle the Redemption crew. When does the RI player come on board? It seems they are going for the third of the final three. I'm not happy with this season's RI twist. I think it was a good idea. I understand they need to keep shaking up the formula, trying new things. But it should have ended at the merge. The RI players don't have to play the same social game. As a result, I would be disappointed if Matt came back to win it all, because he really hasn't had a chance to play his game out. Sure, he can win challenges, but the whole strategy part falls off, and that's my favorite part of Survivor.

I'm hoping Mike and Grant go down first. Mike was part of Zapatera, and none of them deserve to win, to me, after they did themselves in with throwing that challenge. Though, good riddance to Russell Hantz. After he was allegedly responsible for releasing spoilers on past seasons, I don't think he deserves to be brought back again. I'm shocked that the producers allowed him back. Grant, great player, but he stayed loyal to Rob to the end, and I seriously fault him for that. So, my RI pick to win is...

Andrea had to play a social game, and she made a conscious decision to make some moves. Unfortunately, they were stupid moves that kept her from a possible win. She should have worked against Rob, not with him. But I would still love to see her win if only to show up the Mean Girls who pretended to be her friend while talking smack behind her back. Mean Girls suck. Go Andrea.

But let's face it. Andrea has won a few challenges, but can she beat Mike, Grant, or Matt? Any one of them could come back in it to win it. And then, it remains to be seen if Rob and Phillip are battling it out in place of any of the current RI four. In that case, Rob remains a contender. My second place pick to move on is Matt.

So how does it shake out to the finals?

I think Ashley is finally making moves, and those moves will be to pair with Natalie in getting rid of Rob and Phillip, probably in that order. Unfortunately, I think we will see Natalie and Ashley in the final. And since Natalie hasn't ticked anyone off, as Ashley has, she is a strong possibility to win it all.

#1 Natalie

#2 The winner of RI. I'm going to say that's Andrea, but it could be Matt. Or Mike. Maybe Grant. I'm ruling out the others.

#3

#4

Crazy might make it pretty far in the game, but can it ever really win? No, Phillip. No, it can't.

#5

Rob is the most deserving of a win, having controlled his tribe for nearly the entire game, not to mention winning many challenges, and making some pretty shrewd decisions. His experience shows. But that's also why I have been rooting against him. I don't like it when Survivor brings back old favorites.

What I want to see is an old school Survivor season. No big gimmicks or twists, back to basics. Sixteen strangers (not straight from central casting) stranded with very little, and lots of time to scheme. Those were the days.

And there we have it! How did you feel about this season? Who do you pick to win?

Survivor Power Rankings- 5/11

The agony of defeat, yet another week of losing to Gordon Holmes. My record is getting shaky now, almost as many wins as losses. Check out the Survivor Power Rankings of Gordon Holmes on Twitter for XFinity, and his top rival Sash (Matt Lenehan), then compare mine, and feel free to make your own. Sliding into the last week, who will outwit, outlast, outplay? This week, like last week, the better question is who will start to play against Boston Rob?

TEAM SHERRI

#1 I've been back and forth between Ashley and Natalie at the top. This time, I give it to Ashley. She might be seen as more of a competitor and less of Rob's dishrag.

#2. Natalie has played it safe. Too safe to win jury votes? But safe enough to stick around.

#3 Grant. Strong, and I'm hoping, smart. Smart enough to take Rob out before Rob starts gunning for him?

#4 Phillip's special brand of crazy, act or no act, could earn him a spot at the final tribal council. Or get him sent home next.

#5 Rob has played the game. Perhaps he has played it so well that he doesn't realize he's going to need to use that Immunity Idol? Maybe not so masterful after all, Mariano. (Or my desperate attempt to beat Gordon and Sash with a whacked-out theory of Rob's departure goes awry and Rob wins it all...we'll see.)

I'm hoping RI goes down to two players, or one, and showmancers Matt and Andrea are the final two, going against each other to get back in the game. My money's on Andrea. Sorry Matt. I think you're finally outplayed.

There we have it. What do you think? Share your power rankings in the comments, if you dare.

Survivor Power Rankings- 5/4

Oof! Another bad week for me. Defeat! Six weeks of Power Rankings (which I just misspelled as Wankings, then corrected- that's a whole other game, LOL) and four wins over Gordon, one over his cohort Matt. Check out the Survivor Power Rankings of Gordon Holmes on Twitter for XFinity, and his top rival Sash (Matt Lenehan), then compare mine, and feel free to make your own. Sliding into the last few weeks, who will outwit, outlast, outplay? This week, the better question is who will start to play against Boston Rob?

TEAM SHERRI

#1. As much as I hate to put Natalie at the top of the pack, the safest move now seems like making no move, and not standing out. Natalie doesn't stand out. She stands behind. Which, in some weird twist of fate, makes her stand above the others. Unfortunately, I prefer players who play to the end instead of taking a ride there.

#2 Ashley is like Natalie, only more disappointing because I thought she would have a brain. She's more outwardly bitchy than Natalie, so more likely a target.

#3 Rob is still the man around camp. But are his days numbered? I keep hoping, and then I'm on the fence because he is the one player who has consistently played the game.

#4 Phillip, the ever-annoying. Taking Phillip out would be a great precursor to blindsiding Rob.

#5 Grant. Strength is dangerous when Rob wants to keep control badly enough to try to convince you to take your chances on Redemption Island. Grant, don't be a hero. Stay and send Rob packing instead.

#6 Things are looking pretty grim for Andrea after she sold out her showmance lover Matt. Expressing remorse for dirty deeds gets you a ticket to Redemption Island when you're dealing with Mean Girls Ashley and Natalie. But will it be a one way ticket? Time will tell.

I think Matt is due for retirement, but might stick it out another week. Steve and Mike could be strong RI players. Ralph? I don't think he stands a chance.

There we have it. What do you think? Share your power rankings in the comments, if you dare.