outwit. outlast. outplay.

The reality show that started all reality shows: Survivor.

I had never really followed Survivor until last season's All-Stars series.

I was living at home last spring, and it became mine and Mom's bonding time (along with a number of other guilty pleasure reality shows of the Real Housewives variety).

For fall's Survivor season, the contestants are in Nicaragua and I'm back in Tuscaloosa.

My passion for Survivor has only grown, although I'm the only twenty-something I know that watches.

I love to hate the villains: NaOnka, a PE teacher straight out of Compton with the worst imaginable attitude; Brenda, a snake in the grass former professional cheerleader; and Sash, who frankly just gives me the creeps.

I love to love the loveable ones: Chase, who is pathetically in love with Brenda but still adorable; Fabio, who is a walking caricature of a surfer dude; and Kelly B, who competed with a prosthetic leg... and was incredible.

And I forget about the ones who fly under the radar: Dan (why is he still there??), Kelly Purple, Holly, Benry... there are probably others...

For months now I've had a dream: I want to try out for Survivor. Some people laugh when I say this, but I think they're underestimating my capacity for roughin' it.

I don't know if I'll ever pull the trigger. I think I could live in Survivor, but I'm not sure how well I would do in the challenges. Some of them are pretty crazy, but then I look at the people doing them and can't help but think, "If they can do it, surely I can." Surely. Maybe.

So we'll see. Maybe one night I'll get crazy and put in an application. Otherwise, I'll keep watching as long as they keep Surviving.