Sunday, September 11, 2011

Off Topic - That Was the Week It Was - September 11, 2011

If you're looking for my latest Big Brother post, this ain't it. It's here.

It's Sunday morning, time for my weekly reflection on the week gone by in both words and photographs I've taken along the way.

This isn't just any Sunday morning -- it's the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Our lives around here were forever changed on that day. The skyline of my favorite city isn't the same, but the lives lost and the loss of a sense of a secure homeland will be with us forever. The images are ingrained in our minds. We will never forget.


The Scotch Plains (NJ) 9/11 Memorial

This won't be truly unveiled until today, but I took some photos of it Thursday.


The covered piece is part of one of the towers.

Onto the more trivial things of the week gone by. Of course, it rained some more. We needed that, right? On the day I trekked to both my orthopedic surgeon's office in Bound Brook and then to physical therapy in Scotch Plains it was periodic monsoons. I needed that ... right?

The doctor and the PT are pleased with the way my patella subluxation (kneecap dislocation) is coming along. Now, it still has put the knee replacement recovery a bit on hold. My surgeon suggested buying a brace for it. Sigh. I didn't get a knee replacement so I could wear a brace! I'm holding off on a brace for now. I want to build up the quad muscle and pray the kneecap never again dislocates.

Oh well, onto the photos ...


Did another business move in?

The restaurant for rent signs have vanished, but no new signs are in place. I didn't go over there and peek in because I was waiting for a bus ... in the rain. Watchung Avenue, Plainfield. I edited this one to leave just the restaurant in color.


Sad

At least Luigi's is a constant. Watchung Avenue, Plainfield. Why is this happening? The rent is just too damn high!


Underside of a HUGE mushroom

No, I didn't do this. Irene probably did. While I love to take photos of them and I am curious, I won't damage nature ... not even a mushroom. My grandfather told me when I was young that I need to put every rock and stick I moved back as everything in nature is someone's home. Maple Avenue, Bound Brook.


Another mushroom fatality on Maple Avenue


Rainy day flower

The flower garden on Maple Street is no longer in its heyday, but there still are some blooms. It was only raining lightly on my walk from the bus to the surgeon's office. So I could take photos, but no bee shots!


Same flower garden


And again ...


And again ...


One more Maple Avenue flower garden shot!


Torrential rains after my surgeon visit

This is Mountain Avenue near the intersection of West Union Avenue. My un-sheltered bus stop is across that street on the right. Thankfully I waited out the worst of the downpour under the eaves of a church.


Happy Halloween!

Alfonso's Pizza in Scotch Plains has decorated their back door. Yes, it's raining.


Fall flowers are coming in!

A planter on Park Avenue in Scotch Plains ... in SUNSHINE on Friday.


Keep your eyes on the prize, Vincent

Yes, it's catnip ya little feline catnip freak!

12 comments:

RJM in SC said...

I think none of us will be the same after 9-11. One odd thing I think about is our beloved show Big Brother that we have followed for years through Jackie on here, 10 years ago watching the show and knowing the three people left in the house that year, DR. Will being one of them, were probably the last three people on earth to know about 9-11 because of the sequester and the decisions BB had on what to do. stop the show? let them out? Tell them? They finally told them and one of the players had a relative that was killed that day in the towers. we lived with BB through that little piece of history. Saw Julie talking about this and I cried as she cried. So sorry for what all the families and the American public has been through. Bless us all

RiseandShine said...

Good Morning.
10 years, and I don't think a day has gone by that I haven't remembered. I'm one of the people who watch/listen to planes now. Sigh.
I like the memorial you posted, especially the part about celebrating those who survived. I always watch the shows about 9/11. I am drawn to the stories about those who survived the attacks, what they think now, how they live. But the stories of the surviving families are truly inspiring, those who lost a loved one and are left to move on. God bless and thanks to them for sharing.
The rain! At one point I was sure you could wring me out like a sponge. What wacky weather we've had - really since the Christmas snow until now. Crazy!
Here's hoping you get what you need from your quad muscle, the words about the brace must have been disheartening.

Ed in Ohio said...

9/11....NEVER FORGET!

Sissy said...

I can't believe it's been 10 years, I remember it so vividly. I was working at the time and we opened the bank a little before 9:00 when our first customer came in and told us.WE turned the tv n in the break room right about the time the second plane hit. That day everyone was working in a fog, listening to the radio, watching tv when we could and hearing the events of the day... all planes were grounded, thhey couldn't bring down one plane, turned out to be United 93, the twin towers falling. I never cried, I just walked around in shock. We even closed the bank early that day. The next morning while getting ready for work, I was listening to the radio and they played "Proud to be an American" and I cried and cried. I guess I just had a delayed reaction. God Bless all.

monty924 said...

***NEVER FORGET***

Like everyone else, I remember where I was when I heard. I was off that day and just sitting at my computer catching up on email. I had the volume down on my TV but saw the footage of the second plane out of the corner of my eye. I turned up the volume and just sat there in shock for most of the day. My sister was stranded in Ohio and couldn't get back to Florida because all the flights were canceled. She ended up finding one of the only rentals left within about a 150 mile radius and my other sister drove her to pick it up and she drove home to Florida.

9/11 was also my mother's birthday but there was no celebrating on that day.

God Bless All!

Sally said...

Your grandfather sounds like he was a wise man: everything in nature is someone's home. I'll remember that.

Nice photo of Vincent. I picked some of the last catnip of summer from my garden this afternoon. As usual, my cats had a grand time, then left bits of stems and leaves all over the living room carpet.

Cheryl said...

We had 10 inches of rain in 2 days, 9 inches within 24 hours. First the creek went over flood stage and 2 feet of the creek was in our garage. Then the Susquehanna River crested over flood stage and more flooding. The water receded finally and then we had to clean all weekend and it continues. Fortunately it did not invade our living space as our living areas are 2nd and 3rd floor and the garage is on the ground floor.

But it is the smell, the stench which is just beyond awful. It takes a lot of washing with bleach and thank goodness for the power washer and shop vac.

Jennasmom said...

Jackie, loved your rain & flower photos. It's been so long since we've seen either around here. : (

Margo said...

**Survivor Pool Match - Ups**
Upolu Tribe
Albert - Jennasmom, Margo
Brandon - Zoetawny, Keith
Christine - JOEY, Ed
Edna - Glenn, Monty 924
Mikayla - Rbennie, Becky,
Rick - SueGee, Auntie Leigh
Sophie - Jackie, Delee,
Stacey - meb, Sharon S
Coach - Donna in AL, ML

Savaii Tribe
Dawn - PDXGranny, lynn1
Elyse - Buzzmaam
Jim - Pam, DKNYNC
John - Caraleigh, Nana in NW,
Keith - Terry in PA, Dora M
Mark - Lisanne, Donna in FL
Semhar - Sydney, Laurie
Whitney - Karen in CA, Lorraine
Ozzy - Teri, Petals


Did I miss anyone??

Margo

monty924 said...

Thanks Margo. I have to go check out my castaway now. :)

JOEY said...

Thank you Margo for adding Joey name to the pool. I really appreciate your kindness and how it will help.
Thank you Jackie and all the kids as well.
You all are in my heart and prayers,
Thank you.
Julie

Lars said...

Jackie--
I wanna say Happy Birthday for tomorrow September 15, 2011..