I actually think what Rob did was ok (but he is an idiot)....you've got to take advantage anyway you can in this race.....that being said....it wasn't fair that he didn't chip in and also I wished the bus driver hadn't waited so long for the back doors to be open.

I thought what Rob did was fine (underhanded, but this is a contest) until he bribed the bus driver not to open the back doors. That was a stupid move. He had just pissed everyone off about the bus thing, and by bribing the bus driver (and pissing other racers off even more) he and the other 3 teams could get -- what -- a 1 minute lead? One minute is irrelevant at that stage of the Race. Just ask Cheryl, who was one of the first off the bus and one of the last to finish shining shoes.

Sly is fine, but a racer should be sly carefully and calculatedly, not just 'cause.

Sidenote: Wondering if anyone else has read Phil's new book: No Opportunity Wasted: Creating a List for Life? My sister- and brother-in-law gave it to me for my birthday, and I'm actually enjoying it. Reading it, you get a real sense for how and why the task on TAR race -- including the gross food ones -- are chosen.

Debbie and Bianca- cant take them. I dont like the kissy stuff with them and I just cant handle how they are. I dont think Ill be able to take much of them.

Mother and Son- Also dont like them. I thought I would, but they annoy me a lot and he is a whiner.

The two teams I seem to root for and I totally didnt think I would is the marine and his gf and Rob and Amber. He is so scheming, but he cracks me up. I hope they dont win the million, they dont need it, but I hope they make it far, just so I can be entertained. I think they will have some problems though, teams are gonna start doing things to spite them. They dont want them there.

I didnt really like the brothers much, but at the end of last night, I did. They actually were crying cause the girls got kicked off. I did think theyd be stronger. I wonder if thats their strategy to seem weak or behind and then come out of nowhere. I like them though.

The two boyfriends, I can tolerate them. I laughed when they called the fish market guys bitches. It made me crack up.

My hubby likes the Ohio couple, from Youngstown. I agree they remind me of Bolo from last season so I dont care for them.

The grandparents seem to be doing a lot better than most odler couples from the past go them.

My overall hope is that the marine and gf win, but time will tell....

I love Amazing Race. I thought about applying for the family season, but I dont know who besides my hubby, Id take on it.

I really like the show better when it's farther into the season and we get to know everyone a little better.

So far, I actually like everyone except Rob & Amber, Deana and bandanahead and the POW/Pageant queen couple.

Rumor has it that the ex-POW and beauty queen break up during the race. I read it on television without pity. They were griping at each other last night a little. I hope they make it to the end and win it. I like what his plans for his share are.

I also like the brothers. I think that it is a good thing the girls were eliminated last night. Distraction!

The boyfriends are wearing thin on my nerves, as are the mother/son pair.

As for last night's episode being boring, I think it was too short. By 9:30 the first team had checked into the pit stop. GRRRRR....It was Rob and Amber. What do they need the money for?

Last night's episode was quite boring - I need a little drama. I really liked the hillbillies and was sad to see them go last week, but I am happy the 2 blondies are gone. The gay couple are starting to annoy me a little. My faves so far are the brothers and the mum & son. Rob and Amber aren't really bugging me that much.

After last night, I hate Rob and Amber even more. I don't think he's entertaining. He's a sneaky bastard.

I could see the POW and the Beauty Queen breaking up.

Last night's episode did seem like it went by really fast.

Glad the Brothers made it in (just barely). They're so funny and cute. I couldn't tell the blonde girls apart and I didn't really care about them, so no loss about them going home.

Me either, and I couldn't care less that they (she really) already have a million dollars. This is a contest, not a needs-based scholarship. I like watching him be sly, although as I have said before I think he needs to be more careful about it. But he and Amber are good racers, and that's what it's all about.

totally agree Mystic. In fact, I love when they are sneaky. I mean if I was on there, Id be doing the same. I know everyone says people should be nice, but its a game and you are trying to win, man if I was trying for a million, Id do whatever I had to do so I could win it. Being sneaky gets you places, but they need to watch it as well. Too much of that people will figure it out and get right back at you. You need to figure out when its best to use it to your advantage. No offense, but I wouldnt offer to join any alliances or groups, I may pretend I was gonna help you just to advance myself further. I love seeing the sneaky stuff they do. Its too bad though everyone found out about the earlier bus ride. It would have been funny if they didnt. It was good to pay the driver not to opent he back door. I loved that lol.

Thank you. That's why I can't stand it when people say, "Why does she need another million dollars?"

Phil was interviewed once and he said that the couples chosen for the show are chosen based on their potential to strengthen/weaken their relationship, not how much they want the $1 million dollar prize.

That being said, I hope Rob and Amber win -- just because everyone else doesn't like them. :p

You have to admit it, Sandy, we're biased because Amber is a sister. However... They are racing really well. They work together as a team, keep level heads, don't panic or yell at each other and therefore, are doing well. I heard Phil say in an interview before this season began that Rob and Amber worked very well as a team and I have to agree, from what we've seen so far. During the part last week when they had to carry baskets on their backs, Amber was telling Rob the easier way to do it, not just yelling at him for being slower or almost dropping it. She helped him do better.

If a couple was on there who were millionaires from something other than another reality show, would people be slamming them as much for being "money hungry"?

Dee

I agree with all you wrote - I was one of those who (quietly) was mad that Rob and Amber were getting another chance at a million ;) but as it is right now, they are doing some smart moves (maybe not so smart that they're doing them *openly*, but at least they're doing what they can to get ahead)

I'd probably slam "the millionaires" on the show as well - I think a lot of those who watch the show watch it because they'd like to see themselves in the contestants' shoes (I know I would!), and may see Amber and Rob as being a team to get "more publicity" for themselves (not saying that that is the case, but maybe some people perceive it in that way). Personally, I'd prefer to see people I've never seen before, so even teams like the ex-POW/beauty queen are pushing it a little :)

Me? Biased? Never! ;) :p

I think a lot of this attitude against Rob and Amber has tons to do with a) the money they already banked and b) the fact that Rob is just a plain asshole. In a way I feel sorry for her because she's always making alliances with the most questionable people -- first Jerri, then Rob. :( Still, she's become more assertive since her days in the Outback. I think so, anyway.

We've seen before with other pairs that it's super easy to lose your cool in the direst of situations. I wonder how she does it.

Those are pretty much my exact thoughts. Plus pretty much everyone else bores and annoys me and i want to fast forward through them. They at least make it semi-enjoyable for me.

I'd be annoyed by any really rich person on the show -- the same way I'm irritated by famous or semi-famous people on shows like the Bachelor. I just think shows like TAR should be for people who aren't already famous in some way or rich. If they were playing for charity I probably wouldn't feel the same way.

I don't know how many of you saw the show, but I was laughing at "him" doing it again! :)

If you don't know which "him" I'm talking about, watch the show! ;)

I'm not saying that I condone what he did, but I do admire him using the rules in order to play and stay in the game.


I just loved the conversatioin between the mother and son, of course if I did that my mother would have put me in the ground, not what he necessarily said but the look that went with it.....that would have gotten me killed.

I am starting to like the boyfriends


edited b/c I realized that I had some missing words

He does talk back to his mom alot. I couldn't do that. But, then, I'd never run the race with my Mom in the first place. I thought it was sweet when she said that she wanted him to find a boyfriend. She's very accepting.

Yeah for the Boyfriends coming in first. As long as they, the Mom & Son, and Brothers are still in it, I'm fine.

4 pounds of beef is a LOT. I'm pretty sure I could have handled the ribs, sausages, and intestines. Cow's intestines are yummy, especially when fried. Even better when dipped in vinegar and chili sauce.

I'll pass on the kidneys though.

Rob's one smart cookie. They're still in the race and he didn't have to suffer through the major shits the other people probably suffered through.

I was ready to strangle the kid who's on there with his mom. There is no way in hell my mother would let me talk to her the way he did.

Rob & Amber I am so tired of Rob and his awful voice. I sometimes wish Phil would go "Rob, Amber you're the first to arrive. But because nearly all of America hates you, you have been eliminated. Thank you for playing, and try again".

I'm bummed that Debbie and Bianca were eliminated -- I actually liked them. I LOVE the brothers -- they're my favorite -- they're HOT and FUN.

As much as I hate Romber, you have to give him props for figuring out a way around the road block. Then to convince other teams to do the same!

Not sorry to see the Debbie and Bianca gone. How the most fluent in Spanish contestants got THAT lost is beyond me.

Oh yes, the brothers are HOT.

I cannot stand the boyfriends. Something about really flamey blowtorchey gay men annoy the shit outta me.

I agree completely. While his voice would get on my nerves if I had to listen to it all the time, he is a very smart racer, and that's what's it's all about. And he and Amber talk nicely to each other in process. I'll take Rob and Amber over Jonathan and Victoria -- or most of the other teams -- any day.

I thought the boyfriends were entertaining at first, but they're getting on my nerves now. The lost me with their hissy fit at the Chilean fish market.

Oh man, can you IMAGINE if Rob ever treated our Amber like how Jonathan treated Victoria?

Do you know how many AGDs would march their asses to Boston (and probably shack up with Nic) to rip Rob a new one? LOL

Am I the only one that thinks Rob doesn't have that strong of an accent? I've heard way worse, especially when heading towards "Reveah" aka Revere.

All I can say is that to a Southerner (or at least, this Southerner and his Southern wife), it sounds very strong.

Wow. I hope mine's not that bad then. But then again, I don't think that I have an accent.

I LOVE Boston Rob & Amber. I love the fact that they've been using their heads in order to get ahead in the game.

Yes, you're the only one. His accent is terrible.

It *IS* pretty brutal, isn't it? The son and Mom team are starting to annoy. Considering they wanted to "be responsible" for Rob and Amber's demise, they sure did a shabby job driving around. It took them, what....an hour and 40 minutes just to navigate out of the city? DUH...

I really liked the 2 girls who spoke Spanish, but how dumb can you be when you see OCEAN and you're supposed to be going through the mountains? Ai yi yi.......

I don't think his accent is that bad. I guess when you live in SO CA and hear a zillion different accents every day, Rob's isn't too bad.

So glad Debbie and Bianca are gone. Couldn't stand them.

DaffyKD

Thank goodness Debbie and Bianca are gone is what I thought. I just didnt like them at all.

As for Rob and Amber, another GREAT week for them... I swear its things like that that makes me love them more and more each week, though I liked them a lot during Survivor.

I thought it was soooooo smart of Rob to drop out and then get other teams to do the same. Really I think he helped them get further because I know that one girl wasnt gonna finish all that meat if she didnt quit and neither was the old man. It was brilliant and them quitting made sure Rob and Amber were still in it. Loved it......

Phil laughing when they came in made me laugh. He was shocked and I think thought man they know how to work this game. It was funny.

I really want them to make it to the end, unfortunately it looks like someone gets mad at each other next week, I just hope they get through it. They are a strong couple who has gotten along so well. I really am rooting for them all the way.....

with all the natural beauty and legitimate challenges, why do they feel they have to have a gross eating challenge each time?

interesting...
 

I was surfing the Web, as usual, and discovered that Meredith (the old guy) is a veteran of the U.S. Army and was a member of the U.S. Army Old Guard, and was a guard of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, DC.

http://www.barefootsworld.net/graphi...wn_sunrise.jpg

The following letter is posted on the Old Guard Society's webpage, and is interesting for AR fans, atleast imho.


http://www.tombguard.org/members.html
Dear friends....

Gretchen and I dropped out of sight for five weeks beginning November 15. Prior to that some of you heard that we had tried out for the CBS TV show known as The Amazing Race and made it to the finals...but that we had been "passed by the producers". It was an experience to get that far and we said so in an earlier email. Well, as it turned out ,we were NOT passed (that is another story in itself) but rather asked a couple of weeks later if we would come to Los Angeles for a "possible opportunity". We did and after a whole lot of near cloak and dagger stuff we were told we had made the Race...two out of 25,000 applicants!

From there our lives went into overdrive as we now had just two weeks to prepare...including buying whatever we determined we might need for such an adventure...at our expense! (This was the beginning of the "You figure it out folks. You won't get any more help from CBS phase). The world is a big place with a lot of different climates, etc.! Then there were physicals and shots for everything from cholera to Japanese encephalitis, etc. etc. Closing our house and getting bills paid for the next ???,etc., etc., etc. and a lot of other details like passport photos kept us at race pace and we had not yet begun the real challenge. By the time we reached our take off destination we were already tired and looking at each other in disbelief asking " what have we done???".

Well ,what we had done was to make our way into a group of VERY competitive young people who wanted the $1,000,000 first prize A LOT more than we did . At the time we had both agreed that we had probably been invited on the show to be the sacrificial two that would be looked upon as nice guys who would be quickly eliminated...after all it is a physical grind and we are more than 30 years older than the next oldest racing couple. What happens next will amuse and astound you (at least we think so...) so if you like that kind of TV, tune in CBS next Tuesday (Feb.8 at 9:00PM) for the final episode of the current race ...episode 6... where the competitors/cast of The Amazing Race 7 will be announced. If you don't want to stay up that late and are still interested, tune in The Early Show on Feb.9. The real thing... TAR 7... will be aired on March 1.

We took so long to let you in on this amazing event in our lives because we were bound by contract ( allot of 'em) not to say anything until we were given the go ahead. Of course some of it leaked a little here and there but ...we are now out and it is one great big' huge relief to be able to tell our friends what has happened to us. The suspense and secret keeping has been awful...especially for Gretchen who has been known to articulate her views/observations, given the opportunity (smile).

So, there you have it. We have no idea of how we will be portrayed...Dumb and dumber? Mom and pop? Mr. and Mrs. ASAP? Or a couple of lunatics who shoulda stayed in their Lazy Boys and watched rather than been TV like the rest of the normal world. We will find out right along with the rest of you willing to see us make fools of ourselves. It should be fun. We hope so. Really... you've got to laugh at the whole crazy thing when you think about what actually happened ...there's a sit com here, believe me..

Take care...root for us. We will tell you more...if you can stand it... when the producers give us another green light.
Meredith Smith

Now I have a lot of respect for Meredith. Thanks, docetboy, to help me seeing a contestant as a person, as one of us (and as a service man). This is the first time I encounter a letter from a TAR contestant.

I too have to say thank you docetboy for posting that information and letter. I have nothing but the upmost respect for the Tomb of the Unknown guards. I now finally have a team to ROOT for out and out.

Go Meredith and Gretchen!

I thought this leg would be a non-elimination one. Sorry to see Patrick and Susan go. I liked that she wouldn't give up despite Patrick's negativity.

Can't stand Ray. He needs to stop talking shit about Meredith and Gretchen. He 's almost as bad as Jonathan form last season.

I loved Lynn's line about Rob & Amber: "There like an STD." So funny.

Next weeks episode looks extra dramatic. :eek:

I absolutely cannot stand the boyfriends. I'm so glad they came in 5th tonight!

I also thought this leg was going to be a non-elimination one. As much as I couldn't stand Patrick and the way he spoke to his mom, I thought they did pretty well so far and I would have preferred to have other couples eliminated before they were.

From the looks of several spoiler sites I read, the coming episodes prove to be goooood ones.

Agree completely. Their Romber obsession is so counter-productive and I'm way tired of their whining. The first episode they were entertaining; now they are way too annoying.

Quote:

I also thought this leg was going to be a non-elimination one. As much as I couldn't stand Patrick and the way he spoke to his mom, I thought they did pretty well so far and I would have preferred to have other couples eliminated before they were.

I thought it would be non-elimination, too.

Patrick needed to go -- badly -- but Susan needed to stay. I think she should have told Patrick that he could walk home from Argentina.

Ray is the one who needed to go much worse than anyone. What a supreme jerk.