Sunday, October 17, 2010

Off Topic - That Was the Week It Was - October 17, 2010

Sunday morning is here, time for my weekly reflection on the week gone by in words and photographs I've taken. I'm finally over that bug I had. Man, that was a doozy. It seems like it's going around. I don't think I've been that sick for that long in years. The only problem remaining is that I could probably sleep around the clock for a day or two if not for that pesky thing called my job. Oh well.

Unfortunately, due to that tired factor, I fell asleep early on and off through the week and missed shows I like to watch. Now, if I had planned to fall asleep, I would have recorded them. But there was no plan. It was "I'm just going to close my eyes for five minutes" and then I'd wake up at 3 AM. Argh! There's not much to do at that point other than to head to the bedroom and go to bed. Thankfully, most of the shows I missed can be found online.

We continue to have wacky weather here. One day will start out beautiful, then end with an inch of hail on the ground at nightfall. A nor'easter is finishing out now. Due to the temperatures, there obviously wasn't any snow. We didn't even get horrible rains. But there was the wind. Usually I love autumn weather -- more typically it's highs in the 60s to around 70, cool overnights, dry and sunny skies. That's what I want. Please.

I heard the news that Barbara Billingsly died. For those of my generation, that was June Cleaver, the Beaver's mother. She was 94, but I've seen her on a few things in recent years. She was the epitome of the mother of the 1950s. I blamed a friend for her death. He's a punster and before her death was announced, he came up with this one -- "I hear all the boy bands have disbanded. They decided to leave it to Bieber." Rest in peace, Barbara Billingsly (who always made me wonder why my own mother didn't wear pearls around the house and had no patience with children).

I really don't have much news here. I've worked, slept, hid from the rain, ducked the hail and acorns and had a pretty standard week. I hope your weeks went well! Onto the photos -- if you click on an image, it will open larger in a new window.


Bad Formation

Hey, geese ... it's supposed to be a V. I hope you're not heading to Newark to bring down a plane.


The Sun Also Rises ...

On North Avenue in Plainfield. I enjoy the angles of the sun this time of year. It's not quite as harsh as it is in the winter. Plus, I actually see sunrises and sunsets. It had rained most of the night before I took this shot. My apologies to Ernest Hemingway.


Sunrise


Sunset


Sunrise


Sunset

Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset

Swiftly fly the years

One season following another

Laden with happiness and tears

- From "Fiddler on the Roof"


The train arrives with the dawn

Monday morning, moments before the sun came up, I saw the light. Plainfield Train Station.


Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning

Plainfield Train Station the morning of the torrential evening downpours and hail.


Me and my shadow

Okay, not me ... HIM and his shadow. North Avenue, Plainfield.


Dave's birds

Dave, the Indian gentleman who owns The Corner Store on Watchung and East Second in Plainfield must figure that if he feeds the birds daily, they'll spare him when they take over the world. And don't ask me about his name being Dave. I'm sure it isn't. But that's how he introduces himself and what everyone calls him.


Seasons change with the scenery
Weaving time in a tapestry
Won't you stop and remember me
At any convenient time
Funny how my memory slips while looking over manuscripts
Of unpublished rhyme
Drinking my vodka and lime.
-- "Hazy Shade of Winter" by Simon and Garfunkel

Okay, it's not winter. Nor have I ever had a vodka and lime. I've had plenty of unpublished manuscripts, though. Does that count?



The Autumn Reds

This is on East Front Street in Plainfield. This tree is usually beautiful, but this year the leaves are a bit sparse due to all of the wind we've had the last few months. Plus, we went through long hot periods in the summer with no rain, then had terrific storms. That's not too cool with the fall foliage.


Reds and Golds


Warming their feet ...

... before they swoop down and attack us, that is! I know I've taken similar photos of this before, but not with so many birds. Taken at the Dunellen Train Station from inside the train.


Heading away from Newark

Plainfield Train Station


All set for the fall

When winter comes, it will be all decorated with lights and moving things. The house at the corner of East Front Street and Richmond in Plainfield.


Fall flowers abound


Look! A mouse!

It was running along the sidewalk and people scared it. So it hid up there on the wall. Isn't he cute? (As long as he's not inside my apartment!)


VINCENT! Now, stop that!


Sure, she sees a mouse and doesn't bring it home for me. I never have any fun anymore!

Don't forget to stop back tonight for The Amazing Race!

6 comments:

RJM in SC said...

Loving the fall pictures. Leave it to Beaver was a staple in my youth, I was always so envious of that family and Father Know Best!

meb said...

'My, what big teeth you have grandmother'... Oh, that's Vincent!

Good Morning Jackie... Love the reds and golds.

So glad you're finally better. You really did have a time of it.

The pictures are great. I love the house with the beautiful flowers, which brings attention to the much needed paint on those steps.

Sunrise, sunset... gorgeous!

Thanks.

joyn said...

The fall pictures are beautiful! And two of Vincent! Bonus!

Barbara Billingsly was a class act. I remember asking my mother once (about age 10) why she didn't wear high heels when she did the dishes. And I had such a crush on Tony Dow.

Sally said...

Love the rich colors and cleverly matched lyrics. Guess that old "red sky in the morning" adage is true. Great photo of Vincent, the lion-hearted!

I used to watch Leave it to Beaver too. I remember carefuly writing my first-and-only fan letter to the very cute Tony Dow, who played older brother Wally.

RyzandShyn said...

Glad you are feeling better at last.
I also had that TV parent envy and hoped for fun parents like Barbara or Donna Reed or Jane Wyatt or even Danny Thomas.
Your picture of the sunrise and engine headlight remind me of my life montra that the light at the end of the tunnel always seems to be that of an oncoming train.

SueGee said...

Glad to hear you are feeling better and I hope you get some heat in your building soon!! Great pictures as usual...

So what I remember about June Cleaver is that she never lost her temper...and she and the other Moms of the 50's always had a dress and heels on (and usually some sort of necklace). Right now I can't remember the last time I actually had a dress on ROFL!

Sue on the left coast