*takes opening offered by Jbug*

OK, let's call it what it is.

Michel has a deal with Jbug to vote me out.

This is no surprise to me.

Pull up a chair, folks.

Here is some background for the jury, particularly Wayne and Dear Abby who have not heard a lot of this yet. And some may be a surprise to the other jury members.

Let's go way back to the beginning of the game. How much time does this game take, I innocently ask? Turns out it takes a lot of time, lol!

I started the game a newbie. I frequent the AI and BB boards here on RTVW and not much else. I don't have long standing OT friendships, and did not "know" many of the players; I knew I was at a disadvantage to play the game to win so I wanted to play the game for the experience and have fun. And I have tried to make the Hamster House a fun place, and I have enjoyed the challenges from Zenbot.

Week One:

In the beginning I approached Jbug and Corvis for an alliance because I knew them from the AI board. Corvis agreed, Jbug would not commit, being foxy about the question. So, duh, no alliance with her. She's otherwise committed, and I am not surprised because she's likely with some of the other longtime RTVW members. Then Michel comes along and offers a sort of cryptic "I wouldn't nominate you" message and I reply:

"Yes! Now...if you write that pm >as: >I, Mike, promise that I will >not nominate you, zazzy....then I'll >buy it and do likewise. Deal? Hope to hear from >you."

Note that *week one* I am trying to get Michel to be clear about his promises.

Mike replies: "LOL! Here goes: I, Mike, promise that I will not nominate you, zazzy. PS. When you do the same, please reverse the positions of the names!!"

Meanwhile, Corvis and I are trying to figure out Jbug. and I have completely tipped my hand to Jbug that Corvis agreed to an alliance. According to Corvis, Jbug does not respond to him, either, with any definitive answer.

Now Jbug is HOH.

She nominates Wayne and Kris.

Kris approaches me for my vote. Sure, no one else asked or tried to ally with me, so, yes.

Then Wayne sends me an "if it is not too late" request. I'm sorry Wayne, but it was. I had already said yes to Kris. Besides, you did not offer to keep me safe as in not voting me out. Kris agreed to that.

Then I win POV...and now the squirrelyness starts.

Jbug, who will hardly answer my pm's before this, first won't tell me her thoughts on the POV, and then at the last minute was trying to get me to use the POV, take Wayne off the block so she can change the noms and put up Suzzee and get Suzzee voted out.

(Yes, Suzzee, she was bussing you back on week one).

Jbug: “I was really wanting to keep Kriss safe, but.... now I want Wayne safe & need you to take him off; then Wayne & Kriss are both safe. or if you take Kriss off, I'll still put up Suzee & tell everyone to vote for her. Please take Wayne off!”

I had already promised Kris. and I did not know if Jbug was shooting straight that Suzzee was really to be the target, because she was not very forthcoming at first and I did not want to see Corvis or Michel put up at that point so it was best for the noms to stay the same.

Here's the arrangement I had with Michel:

zazzy: ">Would you like to extend our >agreement this week into a >more formal alliance? > As in I won't >vote for you if you >are nommed or put you >up if I am HOH >and you agree to do >the same on both things? "

Michel: "We made our deal when there was nothing on the line, when we were equals and that's how I like to operate. But certainly, I accept your offer to prolong our deal and I wouldn't vote to eliminate you if you get on the block and I won't nominate you if I win HOH. "

*week one, Folks, week one*

So I PM Jbug that I am not going to use the POV.

Here's the PM Jbug finally sent about the POV:

"please please please! reconsider!!!!
Who's wants you to not use it? Only 1 prson will be unhappy - Suzzee Please take Wayne off!!!! please!!!!"

Now, if she has decided to be in an alliance with Wayne, taking him down would only help her ...and she never wanted to play ball with Corvis and me... not too sure what alliances Michel is in at this point.

So I did not use the POV and post my decision on the HH board... and then Jbug frantically pm's me and asks me to edit that post and change it to that I am using the POV! LOL! After I had already posted it. What?

Jbug: "GO BACK & EDIT - FAST!!!!"

That would be a squirrely thing on my part! No sale.

Meanwhile, the pm's are flying about who to vote out.

Michel: "From what I have observed, I feel Wayne could be a dangerous player, someone to fear." (guess you are to be complimented, Wayne!)

Michel, Corvis and I agree to keep Kris and I let Kris know the votes are secure.