Um… okay. I didn’t see the Annie thing coming (CA, I know you asked, and I thought it might be Britney), but already CBS has managed to launch something that COULD be cool, and end it – all in one week. The tag line for the season is “The Summer of Sabotage,” so now that the saboteur has been voted off after only 4 shows, goodness knows that CBS must be hard at work trying to write in other ways to leverage this theme. I really, really love this show… but for some unknown reason it’s already irking me this year.

You know what really bugs me about Big Brother casts? Alliances that think they’re “the best alliance” in BB history when we’ve just barely started the season. I swear this happens every year. There will never be another “Four Horsemen” or “Chilltown,” and by even stating that you think you are means that the end is in sight for these fools. I bet $5 that Enzo had the name “The Brigade” picked out before he even stepped foot on the set. My favorite alliance is still Jason and Danielle from season 3. What can I say? I’m old school.

Take note: I think that Brendon and Rachel are going to put up either Hayden and Matt or Hayden and Enzo. Why? Because Brendon’s no dummy, and he needs to use Rachel to take out his physical competition. Rachel probably won’t make it to the end because the couple has the ‘Jeff and Jordan’ mark on them, but Brendon has the potential to go far if he can break up the boysome early.

So… what else is there to say? I’m going to miss most of BB12 this week while I trek to Indy for my first ever NASCAR experience, so I’ll have to get caught up next Sunday/Monday and chime in then. The highlight of the season so far for me was watching Kristen during the live vote. Why, you ask? Because I already forgot about her completely. It was like the first episode all over again… “Look! A new player!”

And so Season 12 of Big Brother begins, and I completely forgot about it. Luckily I was cruising the Comcast guide for something interesting, and there it was: Big Brother Season 12. Sweet.

But here’s the thing: So far, no one is really catching my eye. There are some pseudo-interesting folks for sure, but no tattoo-covered punks, pair of middle-aged player outcasts, or token nerdy female like in seasons past. I give CBS a little credit, though, for the token African-American, token gay, and a (surprise!) Jewish cast member – yarmulke and all – but I gotta say that at least from first glance, the cast looks pretty bland. In fact, you know what they look like? They look like the cast of Real World! (And we don’t really need another Real World, do we?)

So Episode 1 (at least for me) was a let down. Sure, it’s interesting that there’s a saboteur, but he or she hasn’t done much yet, so that’s not too exciting; and besides, what’s with the creepy saboteur videos? Is that really necessary?

My highlight of the week? “I lost my dignity on a slippery wiener,” said Britney. Priceless.

I don’t know what’s wrong, but I don’t feel well. I felt hot/warm all day, then slight dizzy/nausea set in around 5 PM. I came home, ate a cold slice of pizza, and I’ve been on the couch all night. I even took my temperature when I got home – first 92, then 94, and last I checked it was 98. Weird, right? I just feel yucky. Not flu like, really… But I feel weak – like my muscles don’t want to work. Ugh.

On the positive side (I try), I watched all of the Big Brother 10s I’ve missed, so I am up to speed. The number one most disturbing thing about Big Brother 10???? Michelle’s last name is Costa. Yes. So here’s the thing: I am Scottish-Irish and Italian, but “Costa” is actually a Portuguese name. I know. So, to make a long story short, a long, long time ago there was a guy named Alfredo Costa that assassinated the Portuguese king. It’s true. Read about it here. So rumor has it that the family likely fled Portugal in disgrace, shame, whatever, and it’s possible that some of them settled in Italy. Do I know for sure? No. But I am Italian and my name is Portuguese, so let me know if you have any other ideas.

That said… Michelle REALLY gets on my nerves. She’s so irritating. The whole alliance is irritating and their treatment of Dan is atrocious. It makes me sick. So, no, I don’t know if I’m related at all to her (like 10th cousins, right?), but I’m not a Michelle fan. And we’re both Costas… ugh. Shameful.

Lastly… my sister owns a dog. His name is Wimbly and he’s an Eski-poo. OMG. OMG. OMG. OMG. (Yes, that’s what is going through my head.) Antonio has a dog-cousin. OMG. OMG. OMG. I’ll post a pic as soon as I have one… OMG. (And ugh.)

And there you have it… Eric did a great job in the final stages of his America’s Player game, because Dick won the season finale of Big Brother 8. Before Eric started talking to the jurors in the jury house, I thought I had a really good chance to win, but Eric’s powers of persuasion have definitely improved over the last 80 days or so.

I was also very impressed with how everyone took Eric’s news. I loved that whole five minutes or so of video where they showed all of Eric’s tasks and we watched the reactions of the players live on camera. That was fun for me. Good job, Eric… I certainly don’t know how I would have pulled off what you’ve managed to do so very well.

So Sandi is the winner of our Fantasy Big Brother 8 competition. I will be writing her a check for fifty buckaroos quite soon, and with any luck, Richie will have to take her to a fancy dinner for his portion.

Congratulations, Sandi. And thanks to you both for playing.

Aaarrrggh. I am so frustrated by Big Brother. I have completely come to hate Daniele and Dick, yet Daniele is on my Fantasy Big Brother team. My heart wants them to go down in flames, yet in order have a good chance to win $100, I need both Zach and Daniele in the final three. Killer, isn’t it?

So I was first thinking that I needed Zach to win HOH. I certainly do if I want him to win the whole game, but in order for me to win money, it doesn’t matter who wins because I’ll have a shot no matter what. Here’s how I see it:

Dick wins –> he votes off Zach
Daniele wins –> she votes off Zach
Zach wins –> he votes off Daniele

There is simply no combination that will put Daniele and Zach in the final two, so I’m not going to allow myself to get too worked up over it. The same actually goes for Sandi, because none of the scenarios above involves Dick being voted out, so we both have 50/50 odds to win the $100 pot. When is the season finale again?

Damn, do I feel like shit. It’s like my pain levels are snowballing out of control this week. My boob hurts (yes, I said boob). My head has been pounding all day, despite the large quantities of ibuprofen. The ibuprofen was used to mute the pain in my boob. And after an hour and a half nap after work, my neck is cramped and killing me, only compounding my already painful headache.

And I can’t find my Excedrin. wtf.

Tomorrow morning I have an ultrasound on el boob, and right now I wish I didn’t have to get out of bed anytime soon… let alone in nine hours. We have NFL shirt/jersey day at work, which I so want to do… but I’d better feel better in the morning. I cannot work all day feeling like this. I just can’t.

Quickly, for the sake of Big Brother, here are my five fire drill comments after today’s Big Brother double eviction.

1. It was hard to see Jess and Eric go. These feelings are totally against my Fantasy Big Brother 8 gameplay, but I admit that I learned to like them.
2. Poor Jameka. Will we ever know if she was set up or not?
3. What is up with Daniele’s socks? How is that trendy?
4. Could Zach be any more of an idiot? He had a huge opportunity to back door Daniele and force her dad to nominate her if he used to POV. It would have been awesome.
5. I have two players in the final four. Richie is unfortunately out of our game (sorry, friend), so only Sandi and I are left. I have 50% odds to win the Fantasy BB8. Not bad. I have my fingers crossed. Current Standings:

Sandi’s Team
Dick
Dustin
Jameka

Charissa’s Team
Daniele
Zach
Kail
Amber

Richie’s Team
Jen
Eric
Nick
Jessica