Thanks to Danieubleau, Kumu and of course Scout!

Dear SurvivorSkills, I'm happy to answer your questions. Thanks for your support this season. -Scout Cloud Lee

dcbiker: Was there really more between Julie/Chris than what they appeared to show?
Scout: Jules is adopted. She was placed in a family then removed to her present family. They are wonderful people. However, I believe that the "brother" assumed relationship and the "betrayal" may have touched a very deep cord in Jules. She is usually a very cool and easy going person. Chris unwittingly hurt her. Totally understandable. There was no romance between them. Jules came to the show with a real affection for Jeff. That has paid off for her. She is a cutie and deserves the best.

Sole Survivor: Other than Twila, who was your favorite person on the island?
Scout: LeAnne gave me the most laughs. She is a funny girl. She doesn't really mean to be. She just has these great expressions. I liked Chad's intelligence and stories of his life experiences in other countries. I also have great respect for several of the producers, Jeff Probst (who is fabulous in his job) and John Kirhoffa, the captain of the "Challenge Design Team".

gemaedhi: Did you or anyone else initially think the earthquake was a volcano erupting?
Scout: I knew immediately that it was an earthquake. I've been in two. You can hear them rolling in and feel the initial shaking of the ground. It was very scary. I had just climbed out of the creek from taking a bath. I was butt naked, clinging to a fallen tree...and being thrown back and forth. Coconuts were flying everywhere. We actually had three quakes, but the one you saw was the biggest one. The ground continued to roll for days.

Bill A: I want to know how much everyone got for their finish position.
Scout: The longer you are in the game, the more money you make. I made slightly less than Twila. I suppose it continues to decrease down the line. CBS has not released our payments, so neither will I. However, I think CBS is very generous.

survivor_10_is_mine: My question is, how did you find the inner strength to keep with the show due to, what seemed like, the immense pain you were in because of your knee?
Scout: Great question. First of all, my knee was not my greatest pain. It took a second seat to being so intensely cold!! It is winter in Vanuatu during our summer. Thus, we nearly froze to death. It was cold, damp, and raining. With no fleeces or rain gear, and very few clothes, we just had to spoon each other, huddle up, and pray for day light. I was also thirsty. It was a long walk to water and we had to make it often. My strength comes from years of hard work and very much discipline. I am also committed to living a peaceful life. Being able to remain composed in the face of some very challenging personalities was my greatest test. I suppose being 60 helps. I don't have as many hills to die on as I used to. I've learned to walk and pray. I'm close to Nature. Thus, I always found comfort in my environment.

dcbiker: Tell us about "the magic stump" for the coffee maker. And thanks!!
Scout: That was cool, huh? Think I'll let that be a mystery (smile). The producers want a few secrets.

Bill A: What is the deal with the purple rock tie vote ?
Scout: Ties take up too much time at Tribal. Thus, if there is a tie, the two people getting the tied vote are granted immunity, along with the person who wins immunity. The rest of the tribe must then reach in a bag and draw a rock. The purple rock goes home. One therefore, will not risk a tie. This became a strategy for moving alliances. We knew that Eliza would not risk the purple rock, even for Ami

survivor_10_is_mine: Other than what was shown, how did the other castaways react to your knee problem?
Scout: No one seemed to care or to try to overly help me. We would sometimes walk slower through the vines so I wouldn't trip. My knee didn't slow us down in immunities because we found ways to get around it. I was great at strategy, memory, sling-shot, and puzzles. It all balanced out. We all had our good and bad days.

Bluntman: Was there ever a time that you got really angry on the island?
Scout: Yes. After Ami was voted off, I marked our calendar the next day. Eliza had a fit and fell in it!!! She can be sooooooooooo disrespectful. I felt like pushing her face in the sand. However, I walked away, collected myself and came back to talk with her about it peacefully. She apoligized and we went on. There were times when Twila frustrated me because she was moody, and Ami became hostile around the time of departure. However, I wasn't angry. Just glad to see her go.

survivor_10_is_mine: Did you ever believe you would make the Final Four?
Scout: I actually did. I strategized to keep my name off the little piece of paper. I knew that if I could make it to the merge, I would not be threat. Before the merge, I made myself very useful. I choregraphed the building of our hut, found food and water from bamboo, knew about watercress and heart's of palm. I also cut my hair and hid it in bamboo to dry so we would have something dry to start our fire. I've got great building and survival skills. The tribe valued me for my work ethic. This is what I believe kept me in the game until the merge. Also, I listen to other's and keep my mouth shut to avoid conflict. This helped build relationships. This game is all about relationship. But so it the game of life.

dcbiker: What's the deal with Julie, Chris, and Jeff? Julie and Jeff are very much in love. I'm thrilled for both of them. They make a cute couple. Chris just used Jules. He played the game in his way. I prefer integrity....didn't need the money...and feel that I gained "a million dollar integrity".

march: Which survivors do you still keep in contact with?
Scout: Sarge, Jules, Eliza, Twila, Chad, Bubba, Lisa, Rori, and Ami.

lionslady: When you got the staph infection in your leg...did the show step in and provide you with medications?
Scout: Finally. The infection was very near my prosthesis.

survivor_10_is_mine: How long were you a Survivor fan before being selected for the show, and did your Survivor "stint" live up to every expectation you had?
Scout: I applied for Survivor 7 and almost made it. I was told to reapply...I did and got accepted. The experience was beyond any level of expectation. The production crew for this show and CBS totally Rock! They are the most professional people in the world. Seeing how it all works was a gift that will be with me forever.

lionslady: This is a little personal,but I just have to ask,I got the impression that Leann could swing both ways am I way off base? Can you even answer that question?
Scout: LeAnne was in the middle of a divorce during the show. She has a wonderful boyfriend now and is very happy.

DanieuBleau: Good going in the game Scout! When you arrived at Yasur, were you aware or told that the tribe was surrounded by the ni-Vanuatu gardens, or did you only find that out when Dah arrived, and how was your time with Dah?
Scout: Yes, I saw the gardens and knew about Taro, coconut, watercress, hearts of palm, etc. Dah showed us additional edible roots, leaves and nuts. I also knew bananas and plaintain. Twila and I made the most of Dah. We stayed up during the night to crab with him. He was an amazing gift. What a guy. He hunts, cooks, builds.....We need more men like Dah!!

You can find more info about Scout her official website http://www.scoutcloudlee.com

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Part 2

march: We didn't see or hear any mention of survivor's bringing a luxury item this season. Were you allowed to bring something and if so what? Also what did any other the other bring if you can remember?
Scout: We were told to bring luxury items, but none of us had them when we opened our duffels. Big surprise. No rain gear. No fleece. No food. No luxury items. I brought a nose flute. I believe that Ami brought makeup. Jules brought a ball and glove. I can't remember the others.

survivor_11_is_mine: Since the prize money was not your primary motivation for being on the show, what was?
Scout: I've spent 27 years taking youth groups and corporate executives into the wilderness and putting them thru challenges for a week at a time. Survivor is the ultimate "Challenge". I wanted to have the experience and see how the actual documentary is documented. Most don't realize that Survivor is a "documentary". Mark Burnett is a master. He takes you to Hell, puts you in extreme situations, and documents every minute of it, 24-7. It takes an amazing team to pull it off. I wanted to study his artistry and that of his team. While "Survivor" forces you to vote someone off.....it takes an amazing, talented team to document the process. I love watching "excellence" at it's best. I developed "The Challenge of Excellene" and "The Ultimate Challenge" and love seeing professionals do their job well.

survivor_11_is_mine: While on the island, does the camera crew give you any "private time" for bathroom breaks/bathing? I think I could pee in front of anyone, but the other "business" scares the bajeepers out of me.
Scout: The only real privacy is when you sneek into the woods to pee or take a crap! Then you simply tell them that you're going to the bathroom. They sometimes follow you, but turn around when you do your deed. (I hope)

survivor_11_is_mine: Why was Eliza so mad about Twila hiding the bananas? And, we had some discussion as to WHY they were buried. Can you enlighten us?
Scout: (My theory was to let them ripen.) Yes....I had told everyone that bananas would ripen if we buried them. Thus, we did. Eliza, Jules and Ami would eat the food we had without really contemplating how long it would last and how we could divide it up. Thus, Twila, buried the bananas to ripen them, and would unearth them and share them each day. Eliza was pissed and wanted more....Now! Funny! The really funny thing was that Twila and I had to dig quite abit to find those damn bananas. It's easy to be off course of where they are buried on a beach!

Ms.X: Please don't take this as a put down or anything.... but do to the fact your leg was in bad shape.... do you feel let down with yourself for not being able to do any of the challenges?? (especially the last one.... that could've gotten you even closer to the million)
Scout: I went through moments of extreme saddness about my leg. As a stellar athlete (voted most athletic in highschool, and college, etc.) it was hard on my ego and my spirit. As a coach, I know how to encourage an athlete who is giving their best, even when their best is not enough. I had to coach myself constantly. It was somewhat sad to line up for an individual challenge with a great reward, i.e. the car or the change for an overnight with food and a shower,...and know that I didn't not have a chance in hell of getting it. I still went for it full on, just to assure myself that I gave my best. That is all we can ever do...give our best. In life, we are often "beginners" at something. Many say, "Oh, I'm just a beginner...and that seems to give them the excuse for not really going all out and trying their best. In truth, we must always be damn good "beginners"...no matter what, give our all. I finished each event knowing that I gave all I had. That is what I have to live with. On the last event, I had a piece of corral in my foot and a very bad infection. It was almost unbearable pain to stand on that log with that infection. The sweat you saw was from pain. When I shifted my foot to relieve the pain, the arrow pierced the sheath. It would have been kick ass to win that thing. But, I always found it rewarding to cheer for others and really feel good about their victories. Hell, you might as well feel good about it. Look how stupid it looks to get down about it (Eliza, LeAnne, Ami, etc.)

survivor_11_is_mine: During the last episode when Chris asked you if you had a F2 alliance with Twila, why didn't you lie and say that you did? You had already said that honesty was no longer part of your strategy and that you were ready to lie, cheat and steal.
Scout: Chris and I had already talked the night before the challenge. He told me that if he won he couldn't take me because he thought I would beat him. Also, from the beginning of the game, I felt like Twila really needed the money. There was no sense in lying then because Chris would not have choosen me anyway....In addition, I would have pitted him against Twila, and in my mind, she already had enough trouble. I'll lie bold faced if I believe that what you want to know is "none of your damn business".....But to hurt a woman who works three jobs....Nah! I'm financially in a much better position than Twila. For that, I'm blessed and grateful.

march: The tribes lived by the water yet we didn't see anyone fishing or the tribes ever eating fish, why?
Scout: The native corral was sharp, slippery, and went on forever. The eatable fish were way out in the ocean. The only fish in the corral were two inches long!! Also, the jelly fish and the sea snakes can kill you in a heart beat. While they only bite if you annoy them, they cause instant cardiac arrest! That pretty much made me settle for snails, roots and leaves!

Jynx: What was your reaction when you first heard Rory's confessional when he said, "I've decided that I will go into self-destruct mode, I'm going to institute a slash, burn and salt the earth policy. If I get voted off this island, the Yasur tribe will burn." ?
Scout: Rory is blow and go! Once he was voted off the island, he was taken immediately off the island. He didn't have a clue where Yasur was in relation to tribal council and he wouldn't have been allowed back in camp by production. Rory likes to run his mouth and make speeches. He'd make a good orator of something...don't know what, but he does love to talk!

Skyler: It was easy to see that Twila and you connected early in the game. When it came to mixing up the tribes, why did you put Twila on the tribe that would wind up not having a majority of women? (Wound up being 4 men/2 women, would have been 3 men/3 women if Sarge chose the other tribe.)
Scout: That division came very fast. I had no time to think or to ask opinions. I tried to divide the tribes so that I would be happy with either one. Sarge got to pick and his pick made it 4-2. If he would have picked Rory and Bubba, it would have been 3-3. There was really no way to divide it to avoid that. Can you figure out a way?

Bill A: Which challenge was Scout's personal favorite ? and which one would you NEVER want to do again ?
Scout: Obviously I liked the sling shot and shuffle board challenge because I did well in both. However, I also liked all the swimming. I was amazed at the vertical maze and loved doing it, although I was slow. I would not want to do the narrow balance beam again...The first one. We ALL had bruised public bones for weeks. It was too narrow to walk, so we all have to pull along on it. Ouch! Obviously I liked the sling shot and shuffle board challenge because I did well in both. However, I also liked all the swimming. I was amazed at the vertical maze and loved doing it, although I was slow. I would not want to do the narrow balance beam again...The first one. We ALL had bruised public bones for weeks. It was too narrow to walk, so we all have to pull along on it. Ouch!

Now here is information for all of you: Lots of people have wanted a hat like the one I wore. You can get one by calling Stillwater Building Center in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The phone is (405) 372-5959. They have about 20 left. When they are gone they are retiring the hat for the sake of it's history on Survivor. Secondly, when we won the coffee shop experience and letters from home, my letter from Annie told me...."Hang Tuff! Hang Loose!" I can't tell you how encouraging that was to me. Sooooooooooooo we have hats that read SURVIVOR "Hang Tuff!" (on the front) and "Hang Loose" on the back. You can order them from us for $15 plus shipping. See www.scoutcloudlee.com Shirts are also available...and the new brown with blue writing will be ready in January. That's it for my commercial. Back at ya!

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