Hey Jim (I'm assuming that's your name)

I'm glad you like the show - It's pretty interesting, and as far as I can tell everybody is being portrayed accurately.

As for your queries, I offer this:

1)cameras - let me set-up the production crew for you all. There are two crews, a morning/afternoon crew and a night crew. Often, the nite crew would go ahead to the place we thought we would end up later that nite (you can imagine the logistical problems when we left the map behind...we were supposed to be in Atlanta that night) The crew consists of 3 camera people, a couple sound-techs, and a production assistant (gopher)
Two of the camera guys were usually around us in a way that we wouldn't necessarily notice them. The other camera person is the main producer. He/she was always in the car with us when we got a ride and also always slept in the same room with us at night...we aren't all sleeping in the same room because we wanted to, it's because we had to...OK I'm getting off track, sorry - OH YEAH, the camera crew - It never bothered me because the cameras are relativley small, and unobtrusive. Like anything, you get used to it - and you know what, these people become your friends, so it's like one of your buddies walking around with a camcorder.

2)You know what - we really did rush around. It was a pretty constant cycle of: sleep, hop around a city, attempt a task, travel to next city, eat, sleep. During the day was pretty frantic, because, as you saw in the first episode, just because you get to the location or get the player, it doesn't mean you'll complete the task (I still can't see from the damn swimming thing)The only time we sat and chilled for a little was when we voted off Kerri. We spent some down time in a park eating all the food that Dan bought for us (which was an absolute feast) That was the only time it felt like I wasn't playing the game.

3)As for keeping in touch - yes, I speak with some more than others, but they all mean a lot to me. I talk with Charles, Doug and Kristin once a week or so, AnneMarie and communicate multiple times a day through e-mail...I even spoke with Eric this weekend. Each time I've gone to LA since the show, I've seen everybody and we go out to dinner. All good people, just not all people you'd want on your team.

sorry this got a little lengthy (slow day at work)

cheers

greg