Off TV Topic: Jackie Does the Tourist Thang

Well, I had today off and my knee is doing well. Plus, it was a gorgeous day! Since the first surgery on the knee, I've done very little photo-stomping. Manhattan (NYC) is one of my favorite places to to go said photo-stomping. And, the holiday doings are still going strong. So I did it. I took a gazillion photos, but here's a sampling of my day. I still have to go through the photos more thoroughly.

I started by taking the train from Westfield as I had a few errands to run before going in. I feared the toy soldier would attack me! But, no. I should have just watched where I was walking. My nightmare happened -- I tripped on a curb, falling on both knees and both palms. Ow. But the knee replacement knee did well. I even got up well. But the "good" knee is all black and blue tonight.

Clicking on any of the images will make them larger.


I took one of the fancy-schmancy double-decker NJ Transit trains in. One of my regular conductors was on it. He just placed a seat check on my seat without thinking that this wasn't my work commute time or direction.


So I got a free ride to Penn Station Newark. My line has to transfer at Penn Station Newark to go to Penn Station New York as its diesel and NYC only allows electric trains in the city. The ticket I bought is good for a year, so I'll use it another time.



Hey! Amtrak gets a food service car? SOOO not fair! I remember the Metro North trains from CT often had a bar car. NJ Transit is bring your own food, bring your own booze.


I didn't take the PATH train from Newark Penn into Manhattan as it wouldn't take me really where I wanted to go. I bought a ticket for the leg on NJT to Penn NY.


Ah, Penn Station! Look -- some people are in shirtsleeves! It wasn't THAT warm, I don't think. The high was in the high forties today. Since the Empire State Building got whited-out in my bad exposure shot above, here it is below.


The top of the Empire State Building is lighted in red and green at night for the holiday.


A kid catches some air outside of the Borders connected to Madison Square Garden.


I decided to hit Grand Central Station to catch the holiday laser light show. And, sheesh ... you'd think it was Grand Central Station with the crowds!


Above is the laser light show on the ceiling of Grand Central -- it was moving all around and changing, thus a bit of a blur. And, below ... I'm two days early for...


... Times Square.


Now I remember why I avoid Times Square even when it's not New Year's Eve. The crowds! Ack. I always love that NYPD station with its pink and blue neon, though.


Look WAY up (above) ... it says 2009. I will NOT be there to greet it!


The humanity! The humanity! What have I stumbled onto? I can't breathe! I can't move! Did that man pinch my butt?


Oh. Never mind. It's just Rockefeller Center. You don't want to know how much it costs to skate there. No, I didn't skate.



Above is the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. Below are ...


HORSIES! I don't often see the mounted cops in Manhattan, but there were six of them sitting there. When I told one he was going on my blog, he schnuffled me and got horse drool on my jacket.


I can't help it. I'm a sucker for horses.


Yeah, more horses. Got a problem with it? :-)


"This is our holiday. This is our New York." No, I didn't go to the Top of the Rock. I thought it was enough to be at the bottom of the Rock.


And now I'm home and so tired (see above). Mind you, not tired enough to panhandle in a subway tunnel under Times Square. They have these weird Burma Shave type signs on the ceiling. This woman set up under "So Tired." I decided to follow the direction of the one which read "Go Home."

Rerun City and Off Topic Photos, RoofusToo!

Oh my gosh, isn't television horrid with reruns this week? I guess they think that everyone is out of town visiting relatives or something. But some of us had to work. Last night my police scanner was much more interesting than my television. There were two shootings and two cars were torched in my city (Plainfield, NJ), yet nothing in the local news. Thankfully, none of the incidents were in my particular neighborhood, but it's quite peaceful where I live. Well, except for new tenants downstairs who think the hallways are a place to have their children exercise everyday -- thump, thump, thump as they run the halls for at least an hour every night! Ack. THAT is going to stop!

Due to the dearth of anything to watch on TV this past week, I'll give you some photos I took. In the beginning of the week we had snow and ice. Yesterday it was foggy all day and pea soup at night. Today it's supposed to get up to the mid-sixties. Clicking on any of these images will bring up a larger image.


Last night it was foggy as I caught the NJ Transit train home from work.



The fog didn't stop Roofus the cat from making his usual Saturday appearance as I headed to work. He seems to be taking quite the cat nap!


Is that a skunk or is it our buddy Roofus the cat up there in the morning fog?


Yesterday the ornamental kale was covered with dew from the fog and condensation from our last snow.


Here's what the kale looked like on Friday as I went to work (above).


This is what it looked like on Tuesday as I headed to work.


Again, the bunch o' ornamental kale in the snow on Tuesday morning.


This was my Plainfield 'hood on Tuesday morning, similar to the shot I posted last week.


"Go home --> your in the wrong hood." Um, I found the misspelled graffiti in Bridgewater, NJ. Bridgewater is generally upper middle-class to wealthy. Huh. Let them come to my town and see if they're in the right 'hood or not! @@

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!

I know I'm a bit late for the start of Hanukkah, but here I am. I hope everyone has a great holiday no matter what you might celebrate. We have a new holiday graphic from Zoetawny and, well ... you'll see.

And now you'll see why my cat Scherzo isn't earning the big bucks by being a television cat. She's only good on camera when she can lick your hand ...

Bereft Without Survivor!

I was so bereft with no Survivor on TV last night that I didn't post anything! Er, well, actually ... I wrote an entry and my Firefox browser decided to change to a new version, thus freezing up my computer and making it lose my entry. So I hit the sack instead. Below is the weather pic I was going to post from last night. I live right directly to the right of his thumb -- the pointy part of Union County. The island directly along the line of his thumb is Staten Island (a borough of NYC), the island above that is Manhattan. The long island on the right is Long Island (duh) ... or, as they say out there, Lawn Guyland.

So far we have about four inches slushed down from sleet, rain, and freezing rain. It's turned back to snow. I don't think we'll get the eight inches, but we might get six.


Here's a bit more Jersey culture for you. I like Taylor Ham (but call it pork roll), but I'm more of a Scrapple person at heart.

Ledger Live - 12-18-08

Television itself is kind of repeats, holiday specials, and such. I may go to bed early again tonight. What are you up to?

Today's musical non sequitur:
If you want to find all the cops
They're hanging out in the donut shop
They sing and dance (oh whey oh)
Spin the clubs, cruise down the block
-- "Walk Like an Egyptian" by The Bangles

Wednesday TV ... and Off Topic Day

Hmm ... I used to get all excited about Wednesday night television. Now, I'm not too thrilled about the 8 PM hour (no new Bones). I've watched The Secret Millionaire a few times. It's okay, but it bugs me to no end about the huge dilemma they make about "lying." Sheesh. The folks are going to be thrilled about the money. Knock off the guilt trip about lying. @@ I may or may not watch it tonight.

I've grown tired of Christine and haven't gotting into Gary Unmarried. Maybe I'll watch The Muppets! At 9 PM ET/PT, I'll be watching Criminal Minds on CBS. That's a given. At 10 PM ET/PT, I'm undecided. A new CSI: NY or a new Top Chef. Cable has a few interesting offerings. But there isn't anything I MUST see.

How about you?

In Off Topic ramblings, here's my commuting day:


We had about three inches of snow, but it turned to rain and this is what my NJ neighborhood looked like as I started off to the train station.


Here's our ornamental kale we've been watching on the blog. It likes the snow. Really, it does!


The Plainfield, NJ Train Station is a slushy ... er, winter wonderland.


Snow on the tracks and I always like to take pictures of the lighted lamps at the station.


On the way home, we're talking "police activity." This time the police apparently caused it. My apologies for the quality of the photo -- it was dark and cops were all over the place. I didn't want them yelling at me. What a witness told me was the cop blew the light with lights and siren turning right. He (she?) hit the other car head-on and pushed it ten feet onto the sidewalk by a bank. I walked around them and saw it from the front angle, but didn't dare take a shot. The whole front end of the police car is missing.

And, now I'm home! We're under a winter storm watch for Friday. Sigh.

Today's musical non sequitur:
Once I built a railroad, I made it run, made it race against time.
Once I built a railroad; now it's done. Brother, can you spare a dime?
Once I built a tower, up to the sun, brick, and rivet, and lime.
Once I built a tower, now it's done. Brother, can you spare a dime?
Say, don't you remember, they called me Al; it was Al all the time.
Why don't you remember, I'm your pal? Buddy, can you spare a dime?
-- "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime" as sung by Bing Crosby, Rudy Vallee and a gazillion others.

Winter Freakin' Wonderland ... and TV Stuff

Sure, yesterday we were near 70 degrees and look at tonight! I didn't bring either my hat or gloves because they weren't calling for snow. Above is the Plainfield Train Station and below is a nearby street. As I type this, we now have about an inch on the ground.


Since both Survivor and Amazing Race have wrapped up, I want to thank both ORKMommy and RBennie for running the pools in the comments area. You both added a fun dimension to the seasons here and it's very appreciated!

Tonight is a fairly quiet TV night for me. Leverage (good show) is on TNT at 10 PM ET/PT. However, it's one of the ones I've already seen in the press kit screeners. I might check out Momma's Boys, a new reality show on NBC at 10 PM ET/PT. It has the mothers of men living with romance contestants for said men. It sounds like fuel for brouhahas for me! The Biggest Loser has its finale tonight, but I've never watched it. At 9 PM ET/PT, there's a new Mentalist on. I might try to fit in my two recorded Bonnie Hunt Shows and David Letterman from last night as I went to bed early and recorded it.

Gack. Even on a quiet TV night, too much TV, too little time! What will you be watching?

Tonight's musical non sequitur:
Jackie is just speeding away
Thought she was James Dean for a day
Then I guess she had to crash
Valium would have helped that dash
She said, hey babe, take a walk on the wild side
I said, hey honey, take a walk on the wild side
-- 'Walk On the Wild Side" by Lou Reed

Survivor Gabon Bob Gets His Check and Stuff

Bob Crowley, the big winner of last night's Survivor finale, appeared on The Early Show this morning and picked up his check. Aw, he's such a nice guy!


Watch CBS Videos Online

In other news, my Survivor finale review is up over on TV Squad. And, over on CliqueClack TV, my latest Reality Clack column is up and running. Late tonight, my review of tonight's The Big Bang Theory will go up there.

Today's musical non sequitur:
Say what do you think of gentlemen wearing mink?
Gentle and soft
But who'd just as soon off you
For looking the wrong way as not
Jojo, Jojo
-- "Jojo" by Boz Scaggs

Survivor Gabon Finale Post

This is it! It's the big three-hour finale and reunion show! Zoetawny has made us a new season finale graphic to lend to the party atmosphere. Alas, football has delayed the show here, but I will update this post with the major updates. My full review will be up on TV Squad later tonight or early tomorrow morning. Please join in down in the comments area -- that's where the real party is!

I'm expecting the show to start about 8:30 ET here. Sigh.

And ... it's ON! 8:30 PM ET start time here in the NYC area.

BOB WINS IMMUNITY AGAIN!

Kenny was blindsided. What comes around goes around, eh? Bye-bye Kenny.

Memory walk time. Corinne likes not being nice and Randy found out he can make friends.

Yikes ... Susie won the final immunity challenge. There goes my night!

It's a tie between Bob and Matty being voted out, onto a firemaking challenge. Bob has been practicing.

Bob wins the tiebreaker! Matty is out of it and the final three are Bob, Sugar, and Susie.

BOB WINS SURVIVOR GABON! Sugar got no votes, Bob 4, Susie 3.

BOB also won the 100 grand from the viewers. Sugar was #2, Matty #3.

Off Topic Kale and Roofus, On Topic TV Doings

Here's an update on the local ornamental kale. As you see, its edges are turning white. As the winter progresses, it will all turn an off-white and look a lot more like a cabbage sitting in the snow.


Yesterday was Saturday and, almost as if on schedule, I had a date with Roofus the Cat as I headed into work. You can click on any of these images to get a larger picture. Here he is at about halfway zoom on my camera from the station platform. My full zoom ones from yesterday turned out too fuzzy. He's grooming away.


This is what the scene looks like totally unzoomed. Ignore the icky green "Yellow" cabs! The building on the right is the condemned one. Its entire roof and back wall are caving in. The two in the center have businesses on the first floors, apartments on the upper floors. Right now, I think only one apartment facing the street has anyone living in it. Very transient area and many of the immigrants who take those places go away for the winter due to lack of work. The Chotola apartment building tends to get a bit more stable tenants and is usually fully occupied.


This is where I first spotted Roofus the Cat from the street level yesterday. Can you see him?

Onto television doings!
Tonight is the big three-hour Survivor finale and reunion show! Can you believe it's gone by this fast? At 8 PM ET, I'll open up a post in which I'll give the big updates East Coast time and the comments will be your Survivor finale party place! Graphic arteest Zoetawny has made us all a new finale graphic and everyone is invited. Bring your own bottle and snacks, please!

In yesterday's mail I received a cool screener of TCM's (Turner Classic Movies) The Age of Believing: The Disney Live-Action Classics. I haven't watched it yet and the show itself is on tonight at 7 PM ET/PT on TCM. It's interviews with folks like Kurt Russell, Dick Van Dyke, Dean Jones, Tim Conway, Michelle Lee ... and many more. It delves into the move to live-action from strictly animated Disney films. Unfortunately it's 90 minutes, so it would buck up against the first half-hour of Survivor tonight. But it is being re-aired next Sunday at 11:45 PM if you wish to watch or record it. Angela Lansbury is the narrator. This one is dear to my heart as the Disney movies, both live-action and animated, played such a role in my younger days. I figured, due to the ages of many of the readers here, you might feel the same.

Actually, TCM has a great movie roster for today, too (all times ET/PT):
Noon: The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes (1970) - Kurt Russell, Cesar Romero
1:45 PM: The Strongest Man in the World (1975) - Kurt Russell, Cesar Romero, Phil Silvers, Dick Van Patten
3:30 PM: The Absent-Minded Professor (1961) - Fred MacMurray, Nancy Olson, Keenan Wynn, Tommy Kirk
5:15 PM: Son of Flubber (1963) - Fred MacMurray, Nancy Olson, Keenan Wynn, Tommy Kirk, Ed Wynn
7:00 PM: The Age of Believing: The Disney Live-Action Classics
8:30 PM: The Apple Dumpling Gang (1975) - Tim Conway, Don Knotts, Bill Bixby, Susan Clark
10:15 PM: The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again (1979) - Tim Conway, Don Knotts, Tim Matheson, Kenneth Mars, Jack Elam

I know I'll be watching The Absent-Minded Professor -- I haven't seen that one since I was a child!

Today's musical non sequitur:
Caviar and cigarettes
Well-versed in etiquette
Extraordinarily nice
She's a Killer ... Queen
-- "Killer Queen" by Queen

Just Some TV Stuff ... and Stuff

I haven't seen Roofus the Cat since Saturday but the weather has been icky. He's probably under a roof, not atop one. But I went to GoogleEarth and pulled up this satellite image of the area (obviously not really current as we have no leaves these days). You can click on it to make it larger.

The yellow dot is where I stand at the Plainfield Train Station taking Roofus photos. The red dot is the "Chotola" apartment building where he rests on the bay roof between the front fire escapes. The purple dot is the ex-Budget Car Rental where the elderly man feeds all the feral cats. The big aqua arrow means it's two more blocks that-a-way to my apartment building.

My latest Survivor review is up on TV Squad. And, over on CliqueClack TV I have my latest "TV Shows Off the Beaten Path" column posted. This one is about the show Cold Case. Bob Sassone over at TVS has spilled the beans about the next location for Survivor -- Brazil. Actually, Jeff Probst spilled the beans to Ryan Seacrest and Bob must have been eavesdropping.

Reality News Online has an interview with ousted Survivor castaway Crystal posted. Gee, she did so poorly on the physical challenges because she "threw her physicality out the window." Um, yeah. That's what she said --

Crystal: That just went out the window after I had a chance to run up the first hill. It’s hot as hell, I’m hungry. It just snowballed downhill. I think I had one good challenge, when I pulled Paloma off the pole.

RNO: But why did you go downhill?

Crystal: The challenges are not devised for everyday things that people do. They were hard as hell. For a person who’s been in tip-top shape, those challenges were hard. So I threw my physicality out the window and [decided to] play a social game.

Whatever. I'm just glad she's gone. And she is NOT in "tip-top shape."

RNO: What do you think of the reason behind you being voted off?

Crystal: I thought of the fact that I was social threat out there. I think folks didn’t want to go to the finals with me because I would have won. I think I had a great relationship with many of the castaways out there. To some extent, we had some sort of connection with every single one of the castaways. I would have won.

Delusional, I say!

So ... any C.S.I. fans out there? What did you think of the introduction of the Lawrence Fishburne character (to replace William Petersen) last night? I like Fishburne, so I think it might add a new dimension to the show.

Today's musical non sequitur:
Uno, dos, one, two, tres, quatro
Matty told Hatty about a thing she saw.
Had two big horns and a wooly jaw.
Wooly bully, wooly bully.
-- "Wooly Bully" by Sam the Sham and The Pharaohs

Survivor Gabon: 12/11 Show Post

The show has started here on the East Coast. My full show review will be up later over on TV Squad. I'll update this post with major events, but the real fun is in the comments. I hope to see you there!

Bob continues his streak by winning reward. He chose to bring Crystal and Kenny with him to visit a gorilla sanctuary, overnight with a meal and all. He chose to send Susie to Exile Island. Matty hopes to flip Sugar while they're alone.

Bob wins Immunity! Four challenges in a row!

Whoa! Sugar saved Matty with the hidden idol and Crystal got the boot!

Tuesday's Crime TV Night for Me

Nah, this isn't a television image. It's a sign at the NJ Transit Train Station near my workplace. Perhaps it's decorated for the holidays? I just thought it was fitting for an entry about crime TV.

I haven't been watching The Mentalist, but I know that's on tonight. What I will be watching in the 9 PM hour is the new The First 48 on A&E. You have to remember, I'm the one whose guilty pleasure (other than reality television) has been Cops since its inception. The First 48 goes so much further with the investigation of actual homicides. I'm so there. But if I were ever a suspect, I'd surely lawyer up! Not that I will ever be a murder suspect, mind you. I hold the limit to killing insects. And, even then, only when they need to die. You know ... like mosquitoes on my arm, moths in my apartment, and houseflies. Sometimes they just need killing.

Then, at 10 PM, I have a minor dilemma. I want to watch Leverage on TNT, but I'll be recording Manhunters: Fugitive Task Force on A&E. I went from nothing in that time slot I want to watch to two shows this week.

How about you? What are you watching (or did you watch) tonight?

The Amazing Race Final Three Teams on The Early Show

Here's the video from this morning's The Early Show. I love the "worst team ever" bit!

The Amazing Race - Season Finale Show Post

Yes, the show is starting only about two minutes late here in the NYC area. I'll be putting the major updates here and my full show review will be posted over on TV Squad later tonight. But the real fun is in the comments and you're all invited to join in! Who will win the million? Nick and Starr? Dandrew? Tina and Ken? We'll know soon!

In Portland, OR -- Nick and Starr in the lead, Tina scared of heights and slowing herself and Ken down, Dandrew stuck in a bad cab.

UPDATE: Nick and Starr leading, Tina snarling, Dandrew dragging.

UPDATE: Dandrew SO out of the running. Tina and Ken and Nick and Starr tied at this point, both teams looking for a taxi to the finish line.

NICK AND STARR HAVE WON THE AMAZING RACE!

Roofus the Cat, 'tis the Season, and Some TV Doings

The holiday season is in full swing in the shopping district of Westfield, NJ. I always enjoy the decorations at the James Ward Mansion Building, but find the Ann Taylor store on its first floor a bit too pricey for my budget. (Clicking on the images will make them larger.)


Apparently Saturdays on my way to work are the scheduled nap times for Roofus the Cat by the Plainfield Train Station. Yesterday was cloudy and grey, but there he was napping away.


Then there's Friday's sunset full of contrails taken at the Bridgewater, NJ Train Station. One of these days, I'm going to knock down those power poles so it comes out unobscured! This is over the field of geese who mysteriously stay through the winters now. I'm still waiting for the deer to show up.


And then there's television. You know ... what brought us all together here!

Tonight is the season finale of The Amazing Race. I'll be opening a post for comments at 8 PM ET even if it doesn't start on time due to sports. Unfortunately, the season finale is only one action-packed hour, but I'm really looking forward to it! Bonnie Hunt has said that she will have Phil Keoghan and the winners on her show this week. I'm thinking probably Tuesday because that's the day she's been having the Philiminated on. I record her show every day anyway, so I'll catch it. She's rooting for Dandrew. And, to think I like her! Argh!

Tonight is also the premiere of Leverage on TNT (10 PM ET/PT). Since I missed the first two episodes of screeners, I MUST watch how it all starts.

On Tuesday night, up against Leverage, is a new real life cop series called Manhunters: Fugitive Task Force on A&E (10 PM ET/PT). It's a show following the Fugitive Task Force in the NJ/NYC area. I know they're in action around here, but my own lifestyle doesn't warrant them pounding on my door. That's a good thing, of course. I have enough stress with knee woes and working for a living -- I don't need arrest issues, too! Like their series Jacked (with the Auto Theft Task Force), this is going to be a show I'll be either recording or watching as they air it at other times. I love that about the cable stations -- you can usually catch the shows re-aired at other times and don't have to wait for reruns!

Today's musical non sequitur:
Take me to another place
Take me to another land
Make me forget all that hurts me
Let me understand your plan
-- "Tennessee" Arrested Development

Sneak Peak -- Leverage on TNT

Ah, this is my Leverage beverage. Alas, I think it's a Red Bull in Leverage clothing. Unfortunately, I lost a game of FedEx tag a few weeks ago and a package was sent back. I think it was the first two episodes of Leverage. FedEx doesn't always work out when you work through their delivery hours. But, not to fear -- I got another package which contained the second two episodes (and my can of Leverage beverage which I'll keep but won't open).

I wasn't sure I'd enjoy the show due to its premise. I'm not all that keen on lawbreakers as hero protagonists. That's one reason I never got into Prison Break. However, I'm finding this a bit different. The team led by Nathan Ford (Timothy Hutton) works along the lines of Robin Hood, but their "victims" are the real bad guys. I watched the episodes scheduled for December 16 ("The Two-Horse Job") and December 23 ("The Miracle Job").

Not only is the casting excellent (I mean ... Timothy Hutton!), but I found the writing to be clever and even witty at times. It's the sort of ensemble casting I enjoy on Bones, but with way different characters. The humor in the writing is what keeps this show from being just another action show. For example, one of the women on the team has a fear of horses (Dec. 16 ep). Why? Because she saw a horse kill a clown once. Then we see the flashback scene which reminded me of Chuckles the Clown being killed by the elephant on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. No parade, but equally bizarre.

I'm really excited about this one. Its debut is this Sunday, Dec. 7 at 10 PM ET/PT on TNT. Then it goes into its regular Tuesday 10 PM ET/PT time slot with another episode on December 9. Yay, I have a new show to watch Tuesday nights at 10!

Survivor Gabon: 12/04 Show Post

The show has started here on the East Coast. My full show review will be up later over on TV Squad. I'll update this post with major events, but the real fun is in the comments. I hope to see you there!

Bob wins reward! Pizza, beer, brownies, and an extended message from home. Now they're all getting a visit, but only Bob got pizza and beer. Matty just proposed to his girlfriend. It was a yes.

Bob won immunity! It's a Bob night!

Despite a valiant effort with another fake idol built by Bob, Corinne was voted out.