Off Topic - That Was the Week It Was - March 20, 2011

SPRING COMES TODAY! YAY!

Sorry ... I had to get that out of my system. My absolute favorite season is autumn, but spring is second to that. I love temperatures in the 60s, crisp and cool mornings. In spring, when everything comes alive and the greens are light and vibrant, it can be a wondrous world for a photography addict.

We're not quite there, though.

But, since it's Sunday, it's time for my off television weekly reflection on the week gone by in both words and photographs I've taken. However ... mentioning television -- I'm now hooked on the new A&E series Breakout Kings. And, the guy who plays David Letterman's "Lyle the Intern" is my favorite character. "I'm NOT a mouth-breather! I have a deviated septum!"

As for the week, well it was one. We've had very chilly temperatures and one day (Friday) when the high hit near 80 degrees. But then it turned again yesterday and there might even be a slight wintry mix coming down early in the week.

In the 'field (Plainfield), there was another murder and a separate shooting. Both incidents were a bit closer to home than usual. The majority of gang issues and shootings are generally on the west side of town. I live on the east side. This week's violence was on the east. While neither shooting was all that far from me, where they occurred is no way my 'hood.

I continue to have folks (ahem, Dan and Pete, not together) yell hello to me from cars. One of the skateboard kids I previously featured went zooming down East Front street on his board yelling, "Hi, Miss Jackie!" Folks say hello on the sidewalks. I realize I'm far from the demographic involved in the violence in town, yet it worries me. There are so many good people in Plainfield that we shouldn't have this going on! Yet I have no solutions.

Another homicide(s) delayed my commute home last night. Trains on the Raritan Valley Line were suspended due to what I was told was a double homicide execution style on the railroad tracks in Bound Brook. I ended up hanging out at the Bridgewater Train Station for over an hour while police helicopters kept buzzing me and shining spotlights on me.

I finally got a train over an hour later than usual (the train before mine was canceled). I saw the scene with a gazillion cops in Bound Brook. When I got out in Plainfield, two NJ Transit cops boarded the train. That just doesn't happen. I mean, occasionally they'll be around the station. But I've never seen them actually come aboard and ride. When I got home, the NJT website said trains were suspended once again.

As I get this written up, details are very sketchy. The police are being very tight-lipped about it all. Some sources said one person is dead, another airlifted to a trauma hospital. One bit I read said the incident happened at the laundromat across the street and they ran onto the tracks. All I really know is exactly where whatever went down happened as we went by it -- by the sitting freight train cars on the eastbound track just past the Bound Brook Train Station partway to Bridgewater. Oh ... and the fact that I was very late getting home. Grr.

Oh, well. At least I've had a bit better photo fodder this week. And, the days it was a bit warmer, I was a bit more inspired. Clicking on an image will open it larger in a new window, then hit your browser's back button to get back to the blog.

Police Activity

I spliced these two together to show the whole message. What you don't get is the voice of the announcement -- "Attention, Raritan Valley passengers, may I have your attention please. Attention. Attention, New Jersey Raritan Valley Line passengers, attention, attention ..."

Whenever I hear her voice and her numerous mentions of "attention," I think I'm watching a Blue Man Group show. All I need to do is flash the floppie the banjo clown hand puppet, Rock Concert Movement #37.

So, I took a photo of the train wheel.

This was the train before mine, sitting at the Bridgewater Train Station. They said a bus would take us to Dunellen, but they didn't know when it would get there. Meanwhile, they announced that an eastbound train would pick us up on the westbound tracks. The bus came and went (full of folks) as we saw the train light in the distance. We took the train. My train buddy Donald was stuck with me, so all was good. Oh, just okay. I would have rather have gotten home on time.

I shot the moon.

I'm disappointed that I didn't get detail. It was so bright and the sky was so dark. I suppose I could have played with my settings. It didn't help that police helicopters kept flying over me with their spotlights. I tried shooting them (with my camera), but none of those shots came out well.

BRRR!

Now, on Friday, this would have been fine. But this is Saturday morning. It was 42 degrees with gusty winds making it feel colder. Not quite shorts weather, no matter if they're long floppy shorts! That boy needs a jacket.

Plainfield Train Station

I forgot to mention -- my train into work on Saturday was delayed a half-hour, too! So I lurked taking photos.

When is Plainfield going to take care of this?

Although boarded up on the side facing North Avenue, this place is about to crumble. Since the town already spent a fortune taking down the other building on North Avenue last year without going through proper bidding for the lowest demolition price ... is that what's going to happen with this one, too?

Looking through the window

This is peeking into the window from the train station platform. Can you say asbestos? I thought you could! While I'd love to explore some old abandoned places (but have a fear of being arrested), I wouldn't trust this building. Not at all.

Two doors down

And even worse as I think people live in this one. That roof is about to cave in.

Maybe he's calling Jenny?

867-5309. The corner of North Avenue and Gavett Place, Plainfield.

Why are these people lining up?

They're waiting for the bus to Atlantic City. I don't do that. I'm not big on gambling. Unfortunately, a lot of folks I see taking the bus regularly are the very ones who don't really have money to lose. Just like the folks who spend a small fortune every day on the lottery, it's sad. Speaking of which, I need to get my quick pick for the Mega Millions. I blow a good ten dollars a year on the lottery! East Second Street and Gavett Place.

Grown man / bicycle / sidewalk

AAAAAAAAARGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHH! As a pedestrian, I'm so sick of this. It might help to have bilingual signs instead of just the ones in English banning this practice. I've gotten to the point that I just hold my ground and they need to go around me. Unless they're flying (which most don't), if they hit me, they'll fall and I'll remain upright. I can be a very solid object. East Front Street.

Thursday

Friday

I'm eating. Leave me alone.

The price of gas

Gas went up two cents here this week. If you get a brake, let me know the price where you live. Remember to check your alingment! Church and East Second Streets, Plainfield. Saturday morning.

This is it!

Last week I photographed fresh green little shoots coming up. Here they are! Plainfield YWCA, East Front Street.

This, too!

And this!

The geese love the new greenery.

Although this is the "field of geese" near the Bridgewater Train Station complete with a pond in the background, they can't get too comfortable. This is the field where the ball stadium sets up their fireworks.

No Right Turn

Now, if you turn upside down to read it, your left is a right. Watchung Avenue and East Third Street looking towards Danny's Bakery.

I see dead things.

Early in the week when it was still so chilly, I saw little fresh life. So I shot dead things. Bridgewater Train Station.

More dead stuff

These are all but petrified poison ivy vines. As you'll see, I found them fun foto fodder. Bridgewater Train Station.

And the pigeons all flew away.

Just before my train arrived Tuesday morning, this fellow swooped over onto a TV antenna. Before he could get close, all of the pigeons on the Chotola building took off. The last hawk I photographed on North Avenue was a red-tailed hawk. I'm not sure if this is a Cooper's hawk or a sharp-shinned hawk. The banded long tail feathers indicate one or the other, but he didn't turn around before my train arrived. Both hawks look a lot alike. He, although likely a she due to size, was bigger than a large crow but nowhere near as large as the red-tailed hawk.

SPRING!!

I'm waiting for the trees to bloom on Church Street. It's always such a beautiful sight to behold.

You just wish you were this flexible!

"Yes, my back foot is attached to my body. You're just jealous that you never get as comfortable as a cat while in bizarre positions!"

"Whatever, Vincent."

How was your week? Don't forget to stop back for the blog party tonight at 8 PM ET!

Survivor: Redemption Island - 3/16 Episode Blog Party

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.

I wonder how many times they'll work Russell mentions in even though he's gone!

Matt won the duel -- he stays in. My pool person Kristina is history.

Thanks to Rob, Ometape won reward and immunity.

Krista voted out.

Amazing Race Review Up on TV Squad and BB is Casting!

Just a quickie for now --

My review of last night's The Amazing Race non-complete leg is up over on TV Squad. Give it a gander, if you'd be so kind.

Also ... I noticed a tweet from @Robyn Kass welcoming new Big Brother hopefuls. So, the casting process is starting!

The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business 3/13 Episode Blog Party

The show will be starting soon here in the east. Everyone is welcome to join in with comments as the show 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. My full review of the show will be posted on TV Squad either late this evening or early tomorrow. I'd love to have you visit there, too!

1. Margie and Luke - Won a trip to Aruba

Still racing again ...

2. Jet and Cord
3. Gary and Mallory
4. Ron and Christina
5. Jen and Kisha
6. Flight Time and Big Easy
7. Jaime and Cara

To be continued ...

Zev and Justin are on the Detour. Kent and Vyxsin were heading to Detour when they discovered they were missing their fanny pack with the passports and money.

Since it's a to be continued, they're probably all still in the race after the Pit Stop. I think.

Off Topic - That Was the Week It Was - March 13, 2011

It's Sunday morning, perhaps an hour later than you think it is if you didn't set your clock forward an hour. I never mind getting that extra hour of sleep in the fall. But take it away from me in March? Ack! Maybe if we just keep setting the clocks back an hour twice a year we can revisit history and right wrongs! (Not to mention getting more sleep!)

However, since it's Sunday, it's time for my off television topic reflection on the week gone by in both words and photographs I've taken in my daily travels. Once again our weather has been weird -- deluge of rain, freeze, nice day, deluge, deluge and ending on a nice note on Saturday.

Although Northern New Jersey has had severe flooding, we were basically spared. In the town where I live (Plainfield) flooding is generally limited to street/poor drainage flooding in storms such as this. While it's deep at the time, it goes down rather quickly. My neighbor's yard which goes downhill and was already saturated, is still ponded.

The local area which almost always gets flooded by the Raritan River, Bound Brook, fared great through this storm. Outlying areas and the one road under the railroad which always floods flooded. Yet the downtown area, twice under water last spring, didn't get flooded! Woohoo! The Raritan didn't seem to overflow its banks all that much at crest. It was definitely high as I could see the water from the train and it should be in a valley. I usually don't see the river water from the train at all.

It's been quite the week what with a tsunami, earthquakes, possible nuclear meltdowns, floods, a Chinatown bus accident which had its roof sheared off by a sign as it skidded on its side killing 14 people in this area. My thoughts are with all of the folks whose lives have been impacted by these horrible occurrences.

My own week has been quiet enough. My big excitement was coming home to my entire apartment TP'd (toilet-papered) by a certain cat. You see, I set a new roll of toilet tissue on the sink and forgot to put it in its roller-doohickey. Apparently Vincent thought I left it there for him to play with while I went off to work. He unrolled the whole roll, bit pieces off everywhere and had a grand old time of it.

On Celebrity Apprentice, I think Trump made the right call. Richard Hatch was definitely harsh with David Cassidy, but David (no matter how cute I thought he was when he was 21 and I was 16) had to go. He was the weak link on the team. He hasn't aged too nicely either. I'll be posting the Amazing Race blog party later tonight, so please stop back for that!

Oh. I mentioned a few weeks back that I had some good news on an artsy endeavor. Details are a bit sketchy as of yet, but I'll let you know the bare basics. I won't be participating in the Plainfield Library Photo Contest for the win this fall. I might submit some photos on the theme, but I can't win.

Why not? Well, that's because my photography, along with the works of two others, will be on exhibit through the summer at the library. It was an honor to be asked and I'm excited about it

That said, I'm still in my lackadaisical photography mood. I really think it's due to the weather. I want spring and fresh fodder. Now that the snow is mostly gone except for a few die hard dirty piles, I'm just not all that inspired. Give me inspiration, surroundings!

Clicking on an image will open it larger in a new window, then hit your browser's back button to get back on the blog.

SPRING ALERT! SPRING ALERT!

I don't know what it is. But it's something and it's green. SPRING! Taken at the Plainfield YWCA on East Front Street.

What's the price of gas where you are?

This was Saturday morning on East Second and Church Streets in Plainfield. We generally have lower gas prices than the neighboring states due to the fact that gas is about the only thing we don't get taxed to death on in this state.

They're back!

The bird feeder family has returned to the (murder) house on East Front Street. Apparently, like many immigrants in this area, they were gone for the winter. The bird feeder is back up and kids toys are in the yard once again.

As the skies clear ...

Friday morning ended two days of rain. Although overcast for part of the day, blue skies and sunshine teased us. Plainfield Train Station on my return home from work.

Rent me
No, rent ME

Every time the town of Bound Brook is expected to flood, this one company moves all of its trucks and, I don't know ... stuff, to higher ground in Bridgewater.

SPRING SPRING SPRING SPRING SPRING

Look! A worm! This isn't the first one I've seen lately. However, it's the first one that didn't emerge early then freeze and die.

Does anybody really know what day it is?
Does anyone really care?

I told you about the two new Star Ledger honor boxes at the Bridgewater Train Station. The one on the left hasn't had its papers changed since the day the box appeared. The one on the right has fresh papers. Of course, six boxes to the left (not in photo), it's still January 17.

Uh-oh. I believe I've been spotted.

Plainfield Train Station on Tuesday morning -- no rain, but quite cold!

Goodness gracious, great balls of pigeon!

Pigeons sleep all rolled up trying to get a bit of the sunshine's warmth on the Chotola Building on North Avenue in Plainfield.

Well, yeah ... it's a firetruck.

It wasn't going anywhere. Um, well, it was going somewhere because it was out on the street. But there were no lights and sirens. Watchung Avenue and East Fourth, Plainfield. I edited the shot to leave only the firetruck in color.

Take the bike to the train

Yes, bikes can go on the trains with the exception of peak periods -- heading to Newark/NYC in the morning hours or coming from there in the late afternoon/early evening hours. Of course, the conductors get a bit irked if bicycles are ridden up and down the aisles and stairs.

I'm not the only one
on the train with a camera!

However I might be the only one who knows where to sit. He's in the seat in front of me. His field of vision is obscured by the window frame/post/wall ... whatever. NJ Transit.

Symbolic?

Perhaps we should all throw winter gloves on train tracks to welcome the spring! Bound Brook Train Station.

Vincent in black and white.

"Toilet paper? I don't know anything about that. Maybe it was the dog."
"I don't have a dog, Vincent."
"Maybe it was the kid."
"I don't have a kid, Vincent."
"Burglars. It had to be burglars!"

How was your week?

Survivor: Redemption Island - 3/09 Episode Blog Party

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.

Could it be the end of Evil Russell?

Russell lost the duel and is crying! Uh-oh, he's going to play vicariously through Phillip.

Rob found the hidden immunity idol in his camp.

Zapatara won reward and immunity.

They voted out Kristina, the person I have in the pool. Hmmm ... who to cheer on now?

The Amazing Race Review is up on TV Squad!

My review of last night's show is up on TV Squad

Please check it out!

The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business 3/06 Episode Blog Party

The show will be starting soon here in the east. Everyone is welcome to join in with comments as the show 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. My full review of the show will be posted on TV Squad either late this evening or early tomorrow. I'd love to have you visit there, too!

They're off to Japan on two different flights. It looks like once again the earlier flight will be later.

1. Zev and Justin - trip to Costa Rica!
2. Gary and Mallory
3. Globetrotters
4. Ron and Christina -- now in 3rd, Globetrotters took bag, 30 minute penalty
5. Jen and Keisha
6. Jet and Cord
7. Kent and Vyxsin
8. Margie and Luke
9. Jaime and Cara
10. Mel and Mike - eliminated

Off Topic - That Was the Week It Was - March 6, 2011

It's Sunday morning -- you know what that means! RAIN! Er, well ... rain and my weekly reflection on the past week in both words and photos I've taken. I'm still pretty much in my photo rut here. It was quite cold most of the week until yesterday when it got up to around 60 degrees. It's warm now, but we're under flood warnings.

My week was rather uneventful. I worked, I ate, I slept, I watched television, I read, rinse and repeat (not necessarily in that order). My knee has been bad most of the week. I blame the cold and now the dampness. I know the doctor would give me pain meds, but I don't really like how they make my mind feel. Also, when I have the surgery in a few months, the pain is much easier control with pain meds if you're not already on them. So, it's ibuprofen for now.

On the home front, several other tenants have issues with the new ramp out the building's side door. At least I now know I'm not just a total klutz almost falling out the door. One person actually fell. One of the tenants in the building told me he's going to call inspections about it. Meanwhile, now that I know the incline is right there when I step out, I'm no longer almost falling.

Also on the home front, I opened my windows when I got in last night as it was stuffy in here and the outdoor temp was around 60. All of a sudden, Vincent went wild chasing after something! I thought at first it was a Japanese beetle, then realized it was a stinkbug. ACK! I've never had one of them in here before although I've seen them outside. Thankfully I realized what it was before Vincent or I squished it. Flush!

In the good news department, the company I work for had another banner year (despite the economy) and they added another 15% atop their match in my 401K for last year. Amazing ... looking at the pension, social security and 401K ... I might actually eventually be able to enjoy a few years of retirement!

Well ... um, I don't have much more for you. Except for the photos and the accompanying stories on some of them, that is! Clicking on an image will open it larger in a new window, then hit back on your browser to get back to the blog.

Great Skates

On Friday, despite the cold temperatures, I came across a group of teenage boys skateboarding in the Plainfield Train Station parking lot. They were thrilled to have me take photos of them. However, my settings on the camera weren't really right for action shots. So most of their best tricks went blurry on me.

In watching the kids have innocent fun, it made me glad to live in an area where there's such diversity. The group of seven were white, black and Hispanic and obviously all good friends. Not only that, but I'd love to meet their parents and tell them how polite and friendly their boys are! Each one introduced himself and shook hands with me, then thanked me for taking the photos of them.

Yeah, big bad Plainfield.

He has the moves

Hang Ten

Sure, their parents might have to worry about broken bones. But there are so many worse things teenage boys could be doing with their time. A skate park would probably be popular in the area. However, I'm sure liabilities would be prohibitive.

Spontaneous Combustion?
Weird religious ritual?

Nope, doubt it was either. I'd say a red-tailed hawk had dinner and doesn't care for wings. This was on East Third Street near the Friends Meeting House (Quakers) cemetery.

Ice Cave

Okay, it's not really an ice cave. Or, if it is, it's a tiny one. This is at the bottom of one of the remaining nasty snow piles on Church Street in Plainfield. I'm surprised they haven't found any missing people thawing out in some of the piles!

Sundown ...

"You better take care, if I find you been creepin' 'round my back stairs." - "Sundown" by Gordon Lightfoot.

I realize they aren't technically back stairs, nor are the mine. Plainfield Train Station just after the sun went down.

Comet?

Nah, just a contrail which looks like the setting sun's tail. Bridgewater, NJ.

Yes, I know it's still winter.
You don't need to remind me.

Icicles under the railroad bridge in Bridgewater.

Yes, I am. But what are you?

You're an alleged criminal, that's what you are! The fool who spray painted "DRONE" all around the train station and surrounding blocks was caught and arrested. This is the sign at the East Fourth Street entrance by Vest Pocket Park at the Plainfield Train Station. The other side of the sign has parking directions on it; this side had been blank. As of Saturday evening, it's once again blank.

Blues and golds

I didn't really do anything to this shot. This was early Monday morning just before sunrise. The golden lamps of the Plainfield Train Station highlighted the brown grass and leaves in gold while the background, looking up East Third Street, appeared blue.

I wish!

This is another billboard/poster in the mattress ad campaign I photographed last week. Dunellen Train Station.

The SPECIAL bus

I keep thinking it should pick me up. It's always empty. I guess no one in town is special enough, eh? The corner of Watchung Avenue and East Fourth Street in Plainfield.

Is spring ever coming?

A commuter is all bundled up waiting for her train at the Plainfield Train Station.

77¢

Supremo, on East Front Street, was having a big 77 cent sale. They're redoing the inside of the store and adding much needed new frozen food cases. I hate getting lost in there as they move everything around! But I did find Scrapple after it's gone missing for two years from the store. Coolio.

99¢

Adjacent to Supremo on East Front Street, there's the 99¢ Plaza.

$3.24!!!

Say what? This is at the corner of Church and East Second Streets. Yes, I've featured their signs with their "breaks" and "alingments" before. How much is gas where you live?

The Target Snow Mountain is Melting

This was once over twenty feet tall, a good 400 feet long, and took up about 20 parking spots as well as blocking two "roads" in the lot. Bridgewater, NJ.

No wonder it's cold!

It's still January 17th! No, they still haven't changed the papers in this honor box. They did put up two new Star Ledger boxes but only one has the current day's paper. The window is all foggy on the other and they haven't put new papers in it since the day they put the box there. Meanwhile, the five NY Post boxes vanished as quickly as they arrived. Bridgewater Train Station.

Emergency! Call the fashion police!

It's thirty degrees with a wind chill of about twenty. This teenage boy is wearing huge loose white shiny gym shorts and Uggs? Bridgewater, NJ.

First outside arachnid of the season!

As I waited for my train last night, I saw something small go running in front of me. It was too small to be a rabbit, goose or deer -- the regular wildlife I've seen for the last few months. Why, it's a spider! It must be spring. I think I scared him with the flash.

Vincent, all of your blood is going to rush
to your head if you keep doing that.

"Got any catnip? Are you going to play with me? Can I get on your shoulder?"

How was your week? Don't forget to stop back for the Amazing Race blog party tonight!

Survivor: Redemption Island - 3/02 Episode Blog Party

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.

Apparently the person winning the duel ends up dueling everyone who comes there before returning. Two people from each tribe are getting a trip there. The duel is just another challenge. No jousting or swords. Rats.

Matt won. Francesca is going home.

Zapetera threw Immunity/Reward in a plot to boot Russell.

Russell is reminding me of Charlie Sheen and his "goddesses."

3-way tie - Ralph, Stephanie and Russell. Re-vote.

Russell voted to Redemption Island.