Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Survivor: Redemption Island - 5/11 Episode Blog Party

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The show will be starting in about five minutes here on the East Coast. As it airs, I'll update this post with major news while sharing some opinions on what I see both here and in comments. Of course, the comments area is where the real party is! Everyone is welcome to join in, the water's fine! Oh. And bring snacks. Snacks are always good.

Remember to bring your drinks for SAM events -- every mention Phillip makes about being a SAM (special agent man), we drink. Even if it's close. I hope everyone has their designated drivers with them! We're into the penultimate evening of the series. Do you think he'll make it to the final four?

The duel is on -- Andrea is feeling betrayed. Too bad, so sad. Another puzzle ahead, using a handle through a table maze, smashing a tile and doing a puzzle "One Step Closer to Redemption." Three move on. Mike is moving on. Matt and Andrea get it almost simultaneously. Ralph goes to the jury.

Back at camp, Rob wants Ashley out next.

Immunity challenge -- more puzzles. This time with one arm tied behind their backs. Oh, and they have to retrieve piece bags with a huge fishhook. The reward is "room service."

Heh, so much for Rob's plan -- Ashley won immunity and reward! She picks Natalie to have reward with her.

Now Rob is going with the Ashley plan of voting off Grant. Gee, Grant gets a good vibe from Rob. So did Lex. He seems to be waffling, but I think Grant will go. We'll see.

Tribal council.

The tally: Natalie, Grant, Grant, Grant. He's gone to Redemption.

Sunday, May 08, 2011

The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business Season Finale Blog Party


Wow, it's actually starting on time again this week for the big season finale! That might be more amazing than the race itself.

Once it starts, everyone is welcome to join in with comments as it airs -- that's where the real fun is! I'll be updating this post with any big news as I watch it here on the East Coast. Stop on by and jump in the pool!

Who's going to win? My personal hope is that Justin and Zev get the million. But I'm pretty much okay with any of the remaining teams winning since Kent and Vyxsin got the boot last week. I SO didn't want them to win! My blog pool team is the Globetrotters.

They're off to Brazil. Due to bad cabbie luck, the Globetrotters are a half-hour behind the other teams. The Roadblock has them dancing the samba. Gary and Mallory have taken over the lead. Zev is having dancing troubles.

Yipes, hair waxing ahead!

Detour - On the Rocks or On the Beach -- making local drink, sell bikini tops.

YES! Zev finally got the dance down! Gary and Mallory in the lead, then Kisha and Jen, Zev and Justin, the Globetrotters. Uh-oh, Zev and Justin lost, Globes pass them. Zev and Justin are the only team choosing to sell bikinis. Justin speaks Portuguese (or at least Spanish).

It looks dismal for Zev and Justin.

Pit Stop
1. Gary and Mallory - won a Mediterranean Cruise
2. Kisha and Jen
3. Globetrotters

Rats, my favorite team is last to the Pit Stop. They're eliminated.

Now the remaining three teams are heading to Miami, Florida.

Roadblock - dry-docking a boat. Gary and Mallory have a bad cabbie and aren't to the Roadblock yet.

Roadblock - searching for a treasure chest in a submersible.

After finding yet another clue, they have to set up a trailer site. Jen and Kisha currently in the lead, Globes at their heels. Gary and Mallory behind and using the same bad cabbie they had before.

Kisha and Jen in the lead, Globes right behind them riding tricycles over the 7 Mile Bridge.

Jen and Kisha WIN The Amazing Race!

Off Topic - That Was the Week It Was - May 8, 2011

It's Sunday morning, Mother's Day! So, if you're a mother, I hope you're being pampered by family today (as you should be every day, but that should go without saying). It's also time for my weekly off television topic reflection on the week gone by in both words and photos I've taken. I warn you -- it's going to be active in both arenas today. You might want to grab a cup of coffee.

The biggest news week was the death of Osama Bin Laden. While I'm not going to jump up cheerleading, I must say it's about time and best for the world on the whole. Great job, Navy Seals! What would be better would be if we could turn time back and he never rose to such a power for evil. Alas, that can't be done and our lives are forever changed.

It came to my mind last Sunday night that his followers would be angry and we're always going to have to worry about terrorism. Then I heard an explosion outside. Huh? Already? Targeting my little New Jersey 'hood?

Nope. Yet another drunk driver plowed into parked cars on the street in front of my building. This time I didn't go out to take photos. It was late Sunday night, I was ready for bed and was just waiting for the President to come on television to talk about Bin Laden's demise.

Then there was the talk that trains were planning to be targeted. Okay, I take NJ Transit trains all the time. I, when my knee is feeling up to it or I have something I want to do, am in and out of Manhattan ... via train. There's no way they can screen train (or bus) passengers like they do at airports. Society around this area (Greater NYC Metropolitan) would come to a standstill.

I'm not really concerned on my regular line for my work commute. I suppose we could be tipped over because it's only double-decker trains on the line and they seem a bit top-heavy anyway. But I ride off peak direction -- away from NYC in the morning, towards it in the evening. We'd be a boring target.

In other news, I met my classic rock playing new(ish) neighbor. My curiosity was a bit piqued because I'm probably the only one in my building of 40 (or so) apartments who plays classic rock. He was coming out of his apartment and I introduced myself. I mentioned the classic rock and, lo and behold ... this is good neighbor material ... his first words about that were, "I'm sorry. Did it bother you? If my noise ever bothers you, just knock on the wall and I'll understand."

:::thunk::: A considerate neighbor in that apartment where the Greta Garbo Home for Wayward Boys and Girls existed before?

I explained to him that I LIKE classic rock, just haven't heard anyone other than me playing it here. Plus, just because I can hear something doesn't mean it really bothers me. Fighting bothers me. Music cranked so loud that my walls and floor vibrates bothers me. Even slightly less louder music extremely late at night or early in the morning bothers me. But his classic rock in the afternoon or early evening, just loud enough for me to discern the song, isn't an issue.

He reminds me of Pat Morita in looks (Happy Days and original Karate Kid movie). But he's actually a mix of Chinese and Costa Rican named Carlos. He's in his fifties, lives with his wife and they're taking care of his mother-in-law. That's a two-bedroom apartment as opposed to my one-bedroom. So much better than the last tenants! He told me he hasn't heard me at all. I should be louder, I guess. Yay, good neighbors in that apartment finally!

In yet other news (I warned you this would be long), I went to my orthopedic surgeon's office to sign all the papers for my June 16 knee replacement. Ack. Since the hospital became some sort of top ten in the nation in joint replacement, they've instituted a whole new approach to knee replacement.

I'm not really all that keen on a lot of what they're doing. You see, I'm not great with strangers. I'm a bit of a lone wolf. So, what do they do? They went and started this huge huggy-feely group support stuff.

They want me to have a coach. I'm not going to have a coach. I'm not a pregnant woman with a husband at my side coaching me to breathe right during contractions. I'm not having a mutual interest love child. I'm having a knee replacement meant solely for me. I'm not going to have a friend miss work to go to courses and therapy sessions in the hospital with me. I don't need it. I've had one already.

I know what I'm getting into. I'm grouchy when people hover over me. It's bad enough that the hospital expects me to get into all these group related things (meals with the group, therapy with the group). It's also bad enough that I MUST attend a course prior to my surgery (with the group). They even gave me a huge binder of material to study. At this point I wouldn't be surprised if they decided to give me a pop quiz as I'm coming out of anesthesia!

The good thing is that they are pushing going home after three days and not into rehab. I went home after seven days before due to the blood clot. I was supposed to go to rehab, but didn't as I was doing well at getting around once they let me out of bed. Hopefully I'll be out in three days this time. I know I'll need to get away from all the group hugs from strangers. That will be good until the reunions start. (Yes, they have group reunions, too. ACCCCCCCCKKKKK!)

Onto the photos for the week. I hope you like flowers. Clicking on an image will open it larger in a new window, then hit your browser's back button to return to the blog.



Don't do it! Don't do it!

I watched this tall truck approach the low bridge on Watchung Avenue near the police station last night. He realized it and started creeping under it. Thunk. Oops. So then he decided to back up in traffic. The traffic was about as smart as he was -- getting right in his blind spot as he was backing up! Sheesh!


Here she is to save the day!

A Plainfield police officer happened to be passing by, blocked the intersection of Watchung and East Fourth Streets and got him backed out of there. But the real question is why is Plainfield pink?


This is why

Red skies at night, sailor's delight. The sky over the intersection of the truck incident. Well, it was kind of orange-ish, but there were also pinks and reds.


Tall and tanned and young and lovely ...

... the Girl From Ipanema goes walking to Latino Heat on Watchung Avenue. Obviously, I'm not the only one noticing. I watched the elderly man peek his head around the corner then duck back a good half-dozen times.

Time for bugs ...


Ant on a leaf



Not sure what kind of bug on a leaf

Maybe a baby wasp? It was very small.


Beetle on a leaf


No bugs

These bushes turn bright red in the fall. But, if not for my photography addiction, I never would have noticed these teensy doohickies growing within the bush in the spring. Nature is always amazing!


The pink blossoms at the Plainfield Train Station

History this week, but they went out with a flurry of pink!


A littered ledge

A lot better than beer bottles and Chinese food containers usually resting on it. North Avenue by the Plainfield Train Station.


We're talkin' FULL gospel.

No half-gospel, no almost full. We're talkin' FULL. East Front Street.


Supremo's remodel

The grocery store a few blocks from me, Supremo's, is still undergoing a massive remodel. They have new aisle signs (amongst a lot of other changes). Since this town has so many folks from so many places, many countries get their own aisles. Another aisle has West Indies, Chinese, Vietnamese, etc. Although I'm really a very tame eater, I've found some foods I really enjoy that I never saw in Wegmans or Pathmark!

One thing to note, though. When reading down the list on the right (for example), "galettas" doesn't belong in a list of countries. Galettas are cookies, crackers and biscuits dependent on what type of galetta it is. Even with the new remodel, checking expiration dates is definitely a needed practice at Supremo's. But it's close to my apartment. I can deal with that. Their produce is fantastic and there are butchers right there to serve you. Oh ... and they sell Mexican Coca-Cola in classic glass bottles with sugar in it for sweetener.

Back to spring ...


Now appearing at the Plainfield Train Station


Dogwood on East Third Street in Plainfield


A stunning baseball blossom! What a find!

Er, this is at the TD Ball Park where the Somerset Patriots play near my workplace in Bridgewater. The season has opened. I often pick up the new-looking balls and give them to Vincent or local children. This one didn't come home with me.
******************************
Here come the flowers! When I walked from the Bound Brook Train Station to my doctor's office on Friday, the entire neighborhood was flower heaven. Here's a bit of what I saw ...












Snap back to reality ...


I'm always drawn to this sign

This is at the Bridgewater Train Station. Different places where parking lots and roads used to be for the old Calco plant still have signing although the plant has been gone for decades. The poison ivy is also drawn to the sign.


'shrooms again

This bit o' land at the Bridgewater Train Station is odd. One day last year, tons of mushrooms. Gone the next day. Last week, tons of mushrooms. Gone in two days with rain. Now they're back and almost gone again.


NJ Transit sandwich

Yes, the bus fits under the bridge. New Jersey Transit - "It's the way to go!" That's the 114 bus heading to Bridgewater from Manhattan. The train is heading to Newark with a transfer to Manhattan. I wasn't heading to Manhattan. I was, however, heading to Bridgewater. But not on the bus.


Guarding the Plainfield Train Station

Attack birds. They taught angry birds what it's all about!


The winter wonderland house in spring glory

The woman who lives at this house at Richmond and East Front has caught me taking photos of her flowers. She's happy about it. Her lawn makes me smile, no matter the season.


Lots of things to come


Oh my

I don't know if this is a robin egg hatched or one stolen by another bird or even blown out of its nest. I didn't see a nest around, nor have I heard the baby birds in the underpass (Bridgewater Train Station) yet this season. The parent birds are very busy building in the eaves of the underpass. Soon it will be a cacophony.


Last flower ... for now


Vincent sound asleep

He has no issues with insomnia. As a matter of fact, he's the most solid sleeping cat I've ever known. I can poke him and he often won't wake up easily. Especially when he's on me. Maybe he's just pretending to be asleep, eh?

How was your week?

Wednesday, May 04, 2011

Survivor: Redemption Island - 5/04 Episode Blog Party

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The show will be starting in about five minutes here on the East Coast. As it airs, I'll update this post with major news while sharing some opinions on what I see both here and in comments. Of course, the comments area is where the real party is! Everyone is welcome to join in, the water's fine! Oh. And bring snacks. Snacks are always good.

Remember to bring your drinks for SAM events -- every mention Phillip makes about being a SAM (special agent man), we drink. Even if it's close. I hope everyone has their designated drivers with them!

Tonight should be interesting with so many on Redemption Island!

Product placement phones with video. Yep, the loved ones call. Even Redemption Island got their calls.

Duel Time -- Winner will spend time with loved one in person. Breaking tiles. One goes home, three stay, winner gets loved one visit. Mike (not Matt) wins the duel and the visit! Matt and Ralph stay in and Steve goes home (jury).

Mike can visit his mom or give the Matt and Ralph their visits. Or ... he can let everyone on Ometape have a visit. He chose to give the visit to his enemies.

Tree mail - another immunity challenge ahead. Rob wants Andrea gone. Uh-oh, lots of stairs. Puzzle staircase risers, first one to solve it and build their stairs wins. Phillip, Ashley and Natalie won't win.

Rob wins!

Tribal Council -
The tally -- Andrea, Phillip, Andrea, Andrea, Andrea ... bye-bye Andrea. She's off to Redemption.

Sunday, May 01, 2011

The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business 5/01 Episode Blog Party


Wow, it's actually starting on time an this week here in the East! Once it starts, everyone is welcome to join in with comments as it airs -- that's where the real fun is! I'll be updating this post with any big news as I watch it here on the East Coast. Stop on by and jump in the pool!

The teams will be taking helicopter trips to "the unknown" in five-minute intervals. Zev and Justin, of course, are first. Jen and Kisha caught up, snowing heavily. Heh -- Gary and Mallory got a cab before Kent and Vyxsin. Now the Globes are in a cab while Kent is still fussing.

Detour - Search or Rescue. Search for a training dummy on glacier, dig him up. Rescue - rappel into a crevice to rescue a victim.

Gary and Mallory accidentally ripped the legs off their dummy while saving him. Jen and Kisha have taken over the lead. Zev and Justin are having problems. Gah. The Goths caught up. The Globes did, too.

Uh-oh, Zev and Justin are having REAL problems and missed the train everyone else took. Now they have its legs.

Roadblock - Who wants to make a new friend? They have to make a Roaming Gnome out of chocolate.

Finally Zev and Justin are waiting for the train to the next clue. All the others have started the Roadblock. There may be hope for them yet as other teams quibble.

Argh ... Kent and Vyxsin are out of the Roadblock first. Zev and Justin still last. Wait! K&V are taking a cab while the rules are to go on foot! YES!

Pit Stop -
1. Globetrotters - won a trip to the Cook Islands
2. Kisha and Jen
3. Kent and Vyxsin - 30 minute penalty
3. Gary and Mallory
4. Zev and Justin!!! Yes!
5. Kent and Vyxsin PHILIMINATED!

Off Topic - That Was the Week It Was - May 1, 2011

It's a beautiful spring Sunday morning here in New Jersey. And, because it's Sunday, it's time for my weekly off television topic reflection on the week gone by in both words and photographs I've taken.

It's been some week in the world, eh? The Royal Wedding (and all those bizarre and sometimes stunning hats) and the weather dominated the past week. My heart goes out to all of the tornado victims in the South. Thankfully we had early word that blog friend DonnaInAL made it through okay.

I don't have a clue what's going on with the weather these days. From the record snows of the winter to floods and tornadoes, it's been a roller coaster ride. While we didn't have the tornado threats here, we did have a lot of rain (once again) and some pretty nasty storms. I believe this is the first week in a long time that the temperatures were generally along the lines they should be.

On the first actual spring day with sunshine and low humidity, I noticed the difference in my knee. The weather definitely affects it. I thought the knee has been more painful ever since I set the surgery date, but it may have just been the chilly damp weather. By the way, the elevator in my apartment building is once again fixed. Now I feel safe to go do my heavy grocery shopping day!

I really haven't had much going on myself this week. Work, more work. Sleep, eat, read, watch TV and let Vincent (the cat) drape himself across my lap or shoulder. I caught the repeat of The Voice and enjoyed it. So I might be watching that one. Did you see it?

As I took photos this week I came to the realization that there's something other than the moderate temperatures which make me enjoy both spring and fall so much. It's the changes. Every day something is different -- a new bloom, a tree's leaves changing. Every day is full of glorious sights.

In the winter and summer, things remain pretty much the same. Sure, a huge snowstorm or ice storm give me some incentive. But for the most part, both seasons tend to be routine. In the summer at least there are bugs to liven things up. In the spring, each day is an adventure with the camera!

Onto the photos I took this week -- clicking on an image will open it larger in a new window, then use your Back button on your browser to return to the blog.


Busy Ant

You can't ever guess how hard it was to get a decent shot of this little guy. He kept running all over the place. He's larger than the ants which tend to invade homes, but only about a quarter of the size of a carpenter ant. Maybe it's a baby carpenter ant? I don't know. Bridgewater, NJ.


No way this poison ivy will be stopped

In looking at this one, I believe I had turned the camera and it's probably supposed to be portrait, not landscape. Oh well. I still like it. The "hairy" stuff coats the huge vines which have taken over the fences at the Bridgewater Train Station. Even though they chop it away each season, they'll never stop it. It's probably been growing there for more than a few decades.


Are ya getting itchy yet?

I can't help it! I find poison ivy a very photogenic subject! You can't get it over the computer. Er, don't rub your hand on the photo just in case!


I tell you ... they're not going to stop it!

You can see how the vines have taken over this section of fence. Soon it will be all densely filled in with leaflets of three.


Something safer

Well, last year it kept bonking me on the head as it shed its acorns, but ...! This is one of the oak trees at the Plainfield Train Station in its spring glory.


Two days later

As I said, spring is constant change. That's Cleveland Avenue in the background. (Plainfield).


Double header


Marvin and Princess in the 'hood

I asked him once why he carries the baseball bat. It's because of the horse-sized rottweiler a woman walks in the neighborhood. Now, I know that dog. That bat would be like hitting him with a toothpick. As a pedestrian I'm leery of it. You know if an owner sees someone coming and deliberately crosses the street or goes up someone's driveway, that's no nice puppy. The dog probably outweighs the woman. She obviously is concerned about the dog attacking people/pets. I couldn't live with a dog like that.

Princess, on the other hand, is a sweetie of a dog. East Front Street, Plainfield.


Whatchoo lookin' at?

One of the little shiny blue beetles checks me out in Bridgewater.


Already gone

Yes, by Friday the blossoms were done and over with. Such a short time, but what a splendid sight while they were here. Bridgewater, NJ.


When these go, more will arrive

Nah, you don't want them on the lawn. But they're good photo fodder.


Spring!

I took this one from the westbound platform of the Plainfield Train Station looking towards Watchung Avenue.


The buds bloomed this week

Last week I showed this tree's buds. This week beauty took over. It was foggy the morning I took this and that's the sidewalk which was blocked by snow and ice all winter. Obviously no one uses it, huh? Looking up North Avenue and the Plainfield Train Station from the intersection of Watchung and East Third.


Spring debris

The white petals of the probably apple trees on Church Street in Plainfield leave traces that are reminiscent of snow ... but not snow!


Tulip Row

This is the house on the corner of East Front and Richmond -- the one which decorates for every season. While her holiday decorations are amazing, her flowers always catch my attention.


Fog in the 'hood

We had more than a few really foggy mornings this past week. East Front Street.


Bridgewater Train Station tree


Plainfield Train Station tree

As a disclaimer, at the Bridgewater Train Station, there's one of these trees in the field of geese, too.


Uh-oh

They're starting to emerge.


After the rain

After a particularly nasty thunderstorm and downpour, many of the blossoms were turned inside-out.


Others merely drooped


I met a cat

I believe this might be the same cat/kitten at the time I photographed a year or two ago in the driveway of this yard. I commented at the time how unsafe it is to allow the cat to roam a busy city street. It's obviously not a stray, but this cat's life expectancy is far shorter than any indoor cat's. East Front Street.


Weedz


The tulips got bonked by the rains, too.

Most of the tulips in this patch had their petals ripped off in the storm that passed through. Bridgewater, NJ.


First azalea

This is the first bloom I found. In this section there are red, pink, and white. Every year the pink blooms first, then the white, then the red bushes. I don't know why. This particular bloom must be the leader! Within a day, the blooms were sprouting up all over the bushes.


Posing for animal crackers?

Plainfield Train Station squirrel.


White leaving green leaves staying

The trees on Church Street are past the blossom stage. Still pretty, but not as striking.


Achoo!

I don't miss parking a car under trees in the spring! I cut through the U-Haul lot on my way to the train station. The trees in the adjacent rowhouse courtyard do a job on everything. Roosevelt and East Second Streets


Ongoing bird feeder saga

I told you that the bird feeder people returned to East Front Street. Well, where they put the feeder on a post in the front lawn didn't get the bird action they wanted (which is why I haven't posted more photos of it). What to do?

They tied the old dead tree (which originally held the bird feeder) to their fence. If nothing else, they're determined.


Spring!


C'mon, Vincent. Move your paw.

"No. You talked to another cat."

How was your week?