The Amazing Race: May 18, 2017 Episode(s) Blog Party

I'll be live bloggig the show's events as they air here on the East Coast. Refresh this page to get the latest news! The real party is in the comments area -- come join in on the fun!

Tonight is actually two episodes in a row. Fun, fun, fun. Keep in mind that I'm going into this tired. But I'll do my best to keep up with what's going on.

Lifeguard Sharon C has made the random match-ups for the blog pool:

London/Logan - Delee, Sharon N
Brooke/Scott - Chrob61, Becky
Tara/Joey - SueGee, Willie J, Monty924
Becca/Floyd - Janice, Brian
Matt/Redmond - MerriLee, Jackie

PHILIMINATED:
Jessica/Francesca - Brenda, David, Sharon C
Seth/Olive - ML, Cheryl in NC
Shamir/Sara - Indiana Jane, Jenna's Mom
Vanck/Ashton - Nickelpeed, Donna in FL
Liz/Michael - Judi Sweeney, Dolores in Hollywood, Ed in Ohio

Last week was a non-Philimination leg so Michael and Liz (last place) will encounter a Speed Bump tonight.

Are we ready? Yes, we are! 

Teams are heading for a canal. Joey and Tara have it out for Brooke and Scott due to the U-Turn of Michael and Liz.

Roadblock - Who's ready for the long stretch? It's bungee jumping.

From there, they're heading to Hanoi, Vietnam. 

Scott fusses and whines about doing the Roadblock. If I were there, since he's all strapped up and stuff, I think I'd push him just to make him stop whining! 

All five teams are on the same flight to Vietnam. After finding a clue among a gazillion women exercising with fans, teams head to a BuddhistTemple. Floyd and Becca are currently in the lead. 

Detour - Bamboo Climb or Window Design. Retrieve bird cage from a roof with a bamboo ladder or design a store window with three mannequins.

Scott and Brooke are having a meltdown because they can't get a ladder. Too bad, so sad. 

Floyd/Becca followed by Redmond/Matt finish the Detour and are headed to the Pit Stop. 

Pit Stop 
1. Floyd and Becca - won a trip to the Galapagos Islands
2. Matt and Redmond 

Ack! Joey and Tara misread the mannequin clue -- Tara takes the blame. They forgot the child mannequin. Hopefully Brooke and Scott won't get by them. GAH. They did. 

3. London and Logan 
4. Brooke and Scott
5. Joey and Tara - Non-Phimination leg! 

I figured it would be because they will go into the finale next week with a final four. I just would have preferred Brooke/Scott to be last. Even though the clue misread was all Tara, Joey didn't berate her. 

Teams are headed to another location within Vietnam.Ninn Binh (sp?)

Becca/Floyd and Matt/Redmond made the first bus. The other three teams are all on the next bus. 

Bicycle to a temple and pick up a Traveling Gnome.

Roadblock - Who's feeling trapped? Carrying shrimp traps to fishermen. Oh, my. Floyd isn't doing too well on this. He's dropping traps and he fell over just before the commercial. The boys will probably finish the Roadblock first. The other three teams aren't at the Roadblock yet.

Speed Bump has Tara/Joey collecting six dozen duck eggs before they can continue on. 

Meanwhile Matt finishes the Roadblock. Floyd is still struggling. Matt helps him. Floyd thought he could unload what he has and go back for the fallen. But he has to take the whole thing back to pick them up.

The next clue leads them to rowing a boat of supplies ... with their feet and gnome, too. 

Oh, geez. Scott beat out Floyd on the Roadblock. 

Matt and Redmond are heading to the Pit Stop. Gah! London is having trouble on the Roadblock and is calling for Floyd to help her. Don't do it, Floyd! You have to stay in this thing! He helps her, but doesn't realize he dropped a trap. He has to go back for it. Meanwhile, Joey is loaded up and going.

Joey beats London back. 

Pit Stop
1. Matt/Redmond - won a trip to Costa Rica 

Uh-oh. Floyd is in rough shape. He may have just passed out. I fear they won't be in the final four. Sigh. 

2. Brooke and Scott (Wah)

Floyd is getting medical care. It looks like heat exhaustion to me. 

3. Joey and Tara
4. London and Logan 

Phil comes to Floyd and Becca. Philiminated. Sigh. My favorite team out.

Survivor: Game Changers - May 17 Episode Blog Party

Everybody ready? Got your snacks? Got your tasty adult beverages? As the show airs here on the east coast, I'll be live-blogging with all the major happenings. Refresh the page to see the latest news! But, as always, the real party is in the comments area. I hope to see you there!

Here's the updated pool from the Lovable Lifeguard Laurie:
 
Andrea Boehlke - Indiana Jane, ML
Aubry Bracco - Ed in Ohio, meb
Brad Culpepper - Brian, Sharon N
Cirie Fields - Leonia Hart, Terry is a Texan
Michaela Bradshaw - David, Jackie
Sarah Lacina - Delee, Rbennie
Tai Trang - Cheryl in NC, Sharon C
Troyzan Robertson - Donna in Alabama, Lifeguard Laurie

JURY
Hali Ford
Ozzy Lusth 
Debbie Wanner
Zeke Smith 
Sierra Thomas 

Survivor fans ready?

Andrea is a bit leery of Sarah. Of course, she doesn't know that Sarah hoodwinked Sierra, turning the vote against her to get the promised Legacy Advantage. Now Sarah has two advantages -- a steal a vote one and the Legacy one which promises her immunity when the castaway count is down to six. Meanwhile, Cirie knows that Sarah's up to all kinds of sneaky stuff. But that's okay with her -- it would make her easier to win against at the end.

Whoa! Right to an Immunity Challenge. One hand steadies a balance board while the other hand builds a house of cards. Hmm. Aubry wins it in six minutes!

Aubry wants Brad out. Michaela goes out in the woods to see if Brad is looking for an idol. She suggests he needs to go fishing and bring back some fish. He doesn't buy it. Andrea is still leery of Sarah. Cirie and Sarah are contemplating ousting Andrea.

Right to Tribal. They're wasting no time tonight! A lot of questions about good game play or good relationships winning the game. Culpepper votes Andrea for the third time.

The Tally:
No, it's a commercial.
Andrea, Brad, Andrea, Brad, Andrea, Andrea, Andrea.

She's the sixth member of the jury. 

Cirie now thinks Aubry needs to go, she can't really trust her. Cirie is thinking Tai consoling Aubry is suspicious. Uh-oh, Tai! 

Yikes! It's immediately time for Immunity on the show (albeit daylight for them). Perched on a post in the ocean, bucket, pour water down a chute to raise key, unlock puzzle pieces, solve puzzle. 

Hey, Michaela is actually in the lead, followed quickly by Troyzan. Cirie, as usual, is rather sucking at this one. She almost wins it.

Brad Culpepper wins Immunity!

Cirie says, that since Brad is safe, someone who's a threat to her must go. Hmm. Sarah? Tai?Aubry?

Troyzan says he'll bring his idol and use it if needed at Tribal. 

Aubry thinks it's Tai who needs to go. Sarah gives Cirie her advantage of steal a vote to get her trust. Now, she plans to take Sarah's vote. Oy! Cirie wants to convince Tai he's safe in case he has an idol (he has two). She works on him. She tells him all will be voting for him. He's a bit skeptical. He's terrified, he says.

Tribal time once again. 

Cirie stands up and says there's a rat in the group and takes away a vote from Sarah. Sarah points out that the advantage isn't transferable. Oh my. She's right! Sarah is the only person who can use it! Yipes, Cirie! All goes to whispers about voting out Tai or Cirie or Sarah. 

Sarah takes Tai's vote. She will vote twice, Tai won't vote. 

The tally ... Tai does not play an idol.

Tai, Tai, Aubry, Michaela, Michaela, Michaela, Michaela.

Wah! She's my pool gal!  

Next week is the two-hour season finale and hour reunion!

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - May 14, 2017

Happy Mothers Day!

Good morning! Welcome to my weekly off television topic reflection on the week gone by in both words and photos I took along the way. If you're here for Survivor -- you can find any Survivor posts I make at this link right here.  You can find any posts I make about TAR at this link -- The Amazing Race.

My best wishes for a happy Mothers Day to all the mothers out there reading this! 

I didn't really take a ton of photos this past week. It was the week of my vascular surgeon procedure for my severe varicose veins on my right leg. The procedure (Varithena foam injection into the veins to collapse them) seems to have gone fine. But, right now I'm wrapped up tightly with foam cylinders under tight pressure bandaging under a thigh high compression stocking. I have no clue what the leg looks like under all of this. The back of my knee is severely itchy with no relief.  Due to my rather chunky (okay, fat) thighs, the top rubbery part of the stocking wants to roll up and cut into me.  I can't sleep well, not at all.

I have to keep the whole thing on until late this afternoon -- 48 hours from the procedure. Then I get to remove the bandages. But I'm supposed to wear this thigh-high stocking for two weeks, night and day. I'm not sure how that's going to work out.

I go to the hospital to have a Doppler ultrasound test on Thursday to make sure the procedure didn't create any blood clots and that it worked properly to close down the problem vein(s). 

I'm not in actual pain, per se. Just a heck of a lot of discomfort. Oh, well ... onto the photos. Clicking on an image will bring up a larger image.

Colorful lawn

Berckman Street in Plainfield

The deadly pollen shark

We need a bigger box of tissues. As seen looking for victims on East Front Street in Plainfield.

**CLICK THE 'READ MORE' LINK TO SEE THE REST OF THE PHOTOS**

The Amazing Race: May 11, 2017 Episode Blog Party

I'll be live bloggig the show's events as they air here on the East Coast. The real party is in the comments area -- come join in on the fun!

Lifeguard Sharon C has made the random match-ups for the blog pool:

London/Logan - Delee, Sharon N
Brooke/Scott - Chrob61, Becky
Tara/Joey - SueGee, Willie J, Monty924
Becca/Floyd - Janice, Brian
Liz/Michael - Judi Sweeney, Dolores in Hollywood, Ed in Ohio
Matt/Redmond - MerriLee, Jackie

PHILIMINATED:
Jessica/Francesca - Brenda, David, Sharon C
Seth/Olive - ML, Cheryl in NC
Shamir/Sara - Indiana Jane, Jenna's Mom
Vanck/Ashton - Nickelpeed, Donna in FL

Last week was a non-Philimination leg so Michael and Liz (last place) will encounter a Speed Bump tonight.

Are we ready? Yes, we are! 

Teams are headed to Greece. Both the Redmond/Matt and Becca/Floyd teams remark about how well they're getting along. Meanwhile, there's Brooke and Scott -- no drama ... ha! All the teams are on the same plane, then will be on a sixteen hour ferry. There will be a Double U-Turn ahead.

Brooke and Scott U-Turn Michael and Liz. Joey and Tara U-Turned Becca/Floyd to give Mike and Liz a chance ... they say. Mike and Liz are already lost. Sigh. So are Becca and Floyd.

Detour - For the Bride or For the Groom --  Greek customary treatment for the bride racing up a gazillion steps or delivery of milk for cheese on a donkey for the groom.

They head next to a stadium where they must complete one "Lap of Honor" to get their next clue. Tara and Joey are in the lead. 

Mike and Liz are really ticked off that Scott and Brooke U-Turned them after Michael had helped Brooke and she had promised not to do so. Becca and Floyd name their donkey Speedy McSpeederson. Mike and Liz are actually ahead of Becca and Floyd right now, but haven't done the Speed Bump.

Roadbock - Must master traditional choreography. 

Uh-oh. Mike and Liz didn't do the second part of the Detour right and have to go back.

I know I'm being partial, but I certainly hope Becca and Floyd put it in gear and beat them. I enjoy watching them!  

Tara and Joey are the first heading to the Pit Stop at the Acropolis.  

Pit Stop:
1. Tara and Joey - won $7,500 each
2. Matt and Redmond 
3. Brooke and Scott 

Mike and Liz have to wrap meat in intestines before they can run the lap. Of course, Mike is a butcher, so that will help them. 

4. London and Logan

Becca and Floyd are starting the Roadblock before Mike and Liz. Whoa! They finish with Mike and Liz on their tails.

5. Becca and Floyd
6. Michael and Liz -- Philiminated 

Next week is two hours. 

Survivor: Game Changers - May 10 Episode Blog Party

Everybody ready? Got your snacks? Got your tasty adult beverages? As the show airs here on the east coast, I'll be live-blogging with all the major happenings. Refresh the page to see the latest news! But, as always, the real party is in the comments area. I hope to see you there!

Here's the updated pool from the Lovable Lifeguard Laurie:
 
Andrea Boehlke - Indiana Jane, ML
Aubry Bracco - Ed in Ohio, meb
Brad Culpepper - Brian, Sharon N
Cirie Fields - Leonia Hart, Terry is a Texan
Michaela Bradshaw - David, Jackie
Sarah Lacina - Delee, Rbennie
Sierra Thomas - Becky, monty924
Tai Trang - Cheryl in NC, Sharon C
Troyzan Robertson - Donna in Alabama, Lifeguard Laurie

JURY
Hali Ford
Ozzy Lusth 
Debbie Wanner
Zeke Smith

Survivor fans ready?

After his allies voted against him, Tai is worried. Brad, Sierra and Tai are certainly on the list for next out at this point. Sierra wants to mend fences with Sarah. So, she tells her of her Legacy Advantage. She tells her that if she goes, she will will it to her. She will do whatever is needed. So, it looks like Brad will be the main target.

But we'll see how that all works out. 

It's time for the Reward Challenge. Winners will have an American barbecue and it's tearjerker time -- they are playing for their loved ones. Sarah immediately bursts into tears.Tethered together groups of three, race obstacles, keys, sandbags, knock down articles. The respective loved ones will go with the winning teams.

Brad, Aubry and Andrea win. They can choose one player abd loved one to join them. They choose Cirie and her son. One more ... Sarah and her husband. 

Michaela thinks it's time she works with Tai -- after all, her "friends" didn't pick her to spend time with her Mom. And Sierra wants to bring Tai back into the fold along with perhaps Michaela. An oust Andrea plan is now afoot. 

Immunity is once again up for grabs. Balance on a narrow perch while balancing a buoy between two handles. The handles are small poles, they have to hold with the pokey ends. Aubry out. Sierra out. Andrea, Sarah out. Cirie out. Troyzan out. Michaela out. It's between Brad and Tai. Tai out. Brad Culpepper wins Immunity!

Welp, Brad won't go home tonight!

The names being tossed around are Sierra and Andrea. Tai and Michaela are sought after by both camps. Sarah wants Sierra voted out due to the Legacy Advantage. She tells Michaela about the advantage, but leaves out the fact that Sierra plans to will it to her. 

Tribal Council time is here. No fireworks this week.

The tally:
Sierra, Andrea, Sierra, Andrea, Andrea, Sierra, Sierra, Sierra.

Ah, so Sarah will get the Legacy Advantage.

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - May 7, 2017

Good morning! Welcome to my weekly off television topic reflection on the week gone by in both words and photos I took along the way. If you're here for Survivor -- you can find any Survivor posts I make at this link right here.  You can find any posts I make about TAR at this link -- The Amazing Race.

Another week in the life down. We've gone into a chilly time weather-wise as well as plenty of rain. One day (Thursday) we had nearly three inches of rain! I know that come August we'll be praying for rain. But, sheesh. Enough already. The saying is APRIL showers, not MAY downpours!

I thought it was storming late one night when my apartment building actually shook. I mistook it for thunder. Nope. Just Trump's entourage flying extremely low heading to Bedminster. His golf course is in the next county over, not all that far from my workplace. I know he'll never show up in Plainfield!

Last night when I got home from work, I noticed the yellow caution tapes were lining Watchung Avenue in anticipation of today's New Jersey State Bicycle Championship Race today in downtown Plainfield. If I felt better, I'd go take some photos of the action. This is the second year in a row that we've had the privilege of hosting the race. (And the second year I've missed it.) The weather is a bit chilly and skies are overcast but not really expecting rain. I'd say it's probably perfect weather for it. 

Some of the hall kids have already started again -- not really the ones from the overcrowded apartment in my hallway. I've got some names now -- Brian and Kevin from the third floor, Nigel from the first floor -- and will be calling the landlord's office tomorrow. Last night they were running back and forth (and back and forth) for almost two hours in the third floor hallway. You can hear that all the way down on the first floor when they run back and forth (and back and forth). Plus, when I came home from work one day I caught the three of them with a POGO STICK on the first floor! A pogo stick! That is SO not an indoor toy! I sent them outside with that. I notice that whatever parent(s) had to pay for the broken security glass in the back first floor door to the staircase must have paid for it. There's new glass.

I have just a three day work week ahead of me (yay!). It's not all fun and games, though. On Friday I have to go to the vascular surgeon for the first phase of healing my out of control varicose veins. I don't care about pretty. My legs are too scarred up from knee replacements and more to be "pretty." I just want to feel better! It's more of a treatment than a surgery, per se. I'll be getting Varithena foam shot into my great saphenous vein on my lower right leg. It will fill the vein, then collapse it. It sounds a lot easier to deal with than the old-fashioned vein stripping remedy! I'll be bandaged and wearing a thigh-high compression stocking for 48 hours afterward. I don't know if I'll be able to bend the leg much, but I guess I'll find out. I do have a three day weekend next weekend. So, if I feel okay, I might do something other than nap it away.

Onto this week's photos ... clicking on an image will open it in a larger format. 

I said DON'T ruffle my feathers!

See! See! This is what happens! A starling at the Plainfield Train Station.

The prettiest time of the year

Okay ... autumn is very pretty with its brilliant foliage. Winter is pretty when the world is white and quiet. Summer, not so much as things around here tend to dry out and lawns turn brown, especially in the late summer. But spring is a renewal -- flowers are blossoming and the array of greens is amazing to behold. Yes, it wreaks havoc with my sinuses, but I still love the spring sneezes aside.

Uniquely marked pigeon in Plainfield

All pigeons do not look alike! This pigeon hangs out on North Avenue in the vicinity of the Plainfield Train Station.

Coral-colored azaleas

As seen on Berckman Street in Plainfield

Here I am, but the action is behind me!

As I waited for my train home in Bridgewater last night, a baseball game was in full swing at the adjacent TD Bank Ball Park (home of the Somerset Patriots minor league baseball). Although sunset hadn't hit yet, all of the stadium lights were lit and ready for the dark. I saw a big hawk fly over me and didn't get my camera out in time to catch him in flight. But I saw where he landed -- right on one of the stadium lights stanchions! You'd think he'd be looking for prey and would shun the cheers, music and other noise at the ball park. Nope. He eventually went to the top of the lights and appeared to be watching the game in progress. Now, the crowds there for games usually measure in the thousands and, unless he plans to grab the ball, I can't see why a Red Tailed Hawk would watch the game. He is probably trying to figure out humans, I guess. (More on the hawk after the jump!)

**CLICK THE 'READ MORE' LINK TO SEE THE REST OF THE PHOTOS** 

The Amazing Race: May 4, 2017 Episode Blog Party

I'll be live bloggig the show's events as they air here on the East Coast. The real party is in the comments area -- come join in on the fun!

Lifeguard Sharon C has made the random match-ups for the blog pool:

London/Logan - Delee, Sharon N
Brooke/Scott - Chrob61, Becky
Tara/Joey - SueGee, Willie J, Monty924
Becca/Floyd - Janice, Brian
Liz/Michael - Judi Sweeney, Dolores in Hollywood, Ed in Ohio
Matt/Redmond - MerriLee, Jackie

PHILIMINATED:
Jessica/Francesca - Brenda, David, Sharon C
Seth/Olive - ML, Cheryl in NC
Shamir/Sara - Indiana Jane, Jenna's Mom
Vanck/Ashton - Nickelpeed, Donna in FL

Are we ready? Yes, we are! 

Liz and Michael are missing their families. He's especially missing his daughter and is in tears. But they can't sit around because the teams are going to be heading to Venice, Italy. There are two buses, a four-hour bus ride. From there they need to take a water taxi and it's finding a clue held by a sweeping worker next. Scott is bummed that he's stuck with Brooke because she's a "glass half empty" pessimist type person. I don't blame him.

Detour -- Sing It or Bring It. They have to learn and perform an Italian song or lug much luggage up into a hotel. 

Matt and Redmond took the physical detour and are now the first team to complete the Detour. Joey practically hauled the luggage by himself. They're running in second.

Who has Masked Intentions is the Roadblock. They have to pick an actor and recreate the mask. There is a demo going on, so they're not totally clueless. 

Finally, Becca and Floyd finish singing. They're on the way to the Roadblock.

Brooke is fussing once again. 

Redmond finishes his mask just as Joey and Tara are arriving. Redmond and Matt are headed to the Pit Stop. Floyd arrives at the Roadblock and follows the painting instructions which he mentions to us that Tara isn't doing.

Michael called out LoLo (London/Logan) for not helping him find an earlier clue after they had helped LoLo a lot before.

Pit Stop order:
1. Matt and Redmond, won a trip to Grenada 
2. Becca and Floyd
3. Tara and Joey

Brooke is running around asking so many others and no one wants to help her. Liz is doing the mask wrong. But it's getting so it's every team for themselves a bit. Tara finished her mask.

4/5 Logan and London, Brooke and Scott
6. Michael and Liz -- NON-PHILIMINATION LEG

All teams are still in it. Michael and Liz will encounter a Speed Bump in the next leg.

Survivor: Game Changes - May 3 Episode Blog Party

Everybody ready? Got your snacks? Got your tasty adult beverages? As the show airs here on the east coast, I'll be live-blogging with all the major happenings. Refresh the page to see the latest news! But, as always, the real party is in the comments area. I hope to see you there!

Here's the updated pool from the Lovable Lifeguard Laurie:
 
Andrea Boehlke - Indiana Jane, ML
Aubry Bracco - Ed in Ohio, meb
Brad Culpepper - Brian, Sharon N
Cirie Fields - Leonia Hart, Terry is a Texan
Michaela Bradshaw - David, Jackie
Sarah Lacina - Delee, Rbennie
Sierra Thomas - Becky, monty924
Tai Trang - Cheryl in NC, Sharon C
Troyzan Robertson - Donna in Alabama, Lifeguard Laurie
Zeke Smith - Janice from GA, Paula Bell

JURY
Hali Ford
Ozzy Lusth 
Debbie Wanner

 Survivor fans ready?

The blindside of Debbie hit Brad. It's a subdued group back at camp after the Tribal Council. Cirie knows they can't get complacent.  

Straight to the Reward Challenge. Two teams of five, one person race to a chair, team will lift chair, person will retrieve numbered blocks, 30 bats in all, solve puzzle. A helicopter ride to a luxury resort with a feast, overnight in a real bed. It's a schoolyard pick. It's a very tough puzzle. It's taking forever.

Reinventing how the game is played is the answer. Zeke, Aubry, Andrea, Brad Sarah win.

Uh-oh. Zeke and Brad are bonding. That raises Anrea's eyebrows. She and Zeke just worked things out before on the Debbie vote. Aubry is leery now of Zeke. too. Heck, even Cirie seems to be on the Oust Zeke Train.

In order to tell Cirie why and how she wants to keep Zeke right now, she tells her of the advantage she has. She thinks Zeke could be useful now and eliminated easily with her advantage to steal a vote later. 

Zeke notices the mood at camp seems to have changed. Sarah tells us it's Zeke she trusts, not the girls. Zeke tells her that he wants to make a final five deal with her, Brad and Troyzan. He tells Troyzan and Brad. Oh my. The plot thickens.

It's time for the Immunity Challenge. Stack blocks on a beam while avoiding a trip obstacle, the blocks to eventually fall like dominoes. Brad is the first one to hit the obstacle and have to start over.

Andrea wins Immunity! 

She wants to go after Zeke. She thinks her plan is brilliant because he won't see it coming. She goes to Cirie. Cirie tells her she doesn't know if Sarah would go for it. They go to Sierra.  

Time for them to talk to Sarah. Sarah isn't too pleased with it -- she needs Zeke for a few more votes, but doesn't want to push the issue and put the target on herself.Michaela isn't too keen on the plan. She talks to Sarah. Hmm.

It's to Tribal Council. Sarah tells Jeff she owned up to flipping last week. Tai is worried because he feels like he's on the bottom. He thinks he might be going home tonight. 

The tally --
Tai, Sierra, Tai, Sierra, Tai, Zeke, Zeke, Zeke, Zeke, Zeke

Tai is stunned. Michaela cries. Yet another blindside for the season.

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - April 30, 2017

Good morning! Welcome to my weekly off television topic reflection on the week gone by in both words and photos I took along the way. If you're here for Survivor -- you can find any Survivor posts I make at this link right here.  You can find any posts I make about TAR at this link -- The Amazing Race.

Yup, yup ... it was certainly a week. 

The landlord/management company has indeed REALLY cracked down on the children running amok in the hallways. It's been so peaceful that I had forgotten what real peace outside my apartment door was like. Another long-term tenant shared that she was told that parents of one of the kids are being made to pay for the security glass in the broken door down on the first floor. Good!

But they're still not being good parents. (I should note that some parents here are good parents -- it wasn't their children creating the chaos.) Now the same bunch of kids who were unchaperoned in the hallways and staircases are now hanging out unchaperoned in the parking lot -- outside my windows for the most part. It turns out that my neighbor downstairs is one with one of the ringleaders of the Kid Crew. Last night they were out there past 10pm. That's dangerous! The oldest kids in the crew are about ten or eleven! It's a PARKING LOT. People drive fast through there sometimes! No parent is out there with them. The youngest kids are about four or five years old! Have these people no parenting skills? Do they not care about their kids as long as they're not bothering them in their apartments? Have they no common sense? I decided if they were still out in the lot at 11pm I'd call the police to have them round them up. It's dangerous for unsupervised children to be out there that late at night. It's child neglect if nothing else.

But it's not as loud when they're out there as when they're in the hallways.

I can sympathize that rents are high and many probably cannot afford larger apartments. I know that's why people are cramming kids into one-bedroom and studio units. I don't really have the answers other than, if they do that, they can't just let their kids run loose. They need to spend time with them, take them to parks, get them involved in some of the low-cost or free programs offered by the city of Plainfield. They need to be PARENTS. I never lived in apartments as a child. But my parents didn't let us go crazy in the house, had set bedtimes and taught us to be responsible in public.

Oh, well. Nothing much else going on this past week. I'm tired. But I'm always tired these days. I worked and then worked some more. I'm tired of working but don't see money falling from the skies.

In today's photos I'm posting, it's a lot of squirrel pictures. Y'see, once again this year, a squirrel family has a nest up under the eaves of the overpass at the Bridgewater Train Station. Kind of like the apartment kids, the young squirrels were left home alone and decided to have adventures. I took many shots as their antics were so entertaining. I hope the photos entertain you, too.

Clicking on an image will bring it up in a larger version ... 

Starling with nest fodder

Bridgewater Train Station -- the birds and squirrels share nesting spaces under the eaves of the two overpasses.

THE SQUIRREL CHILDREN HOME ALONE

(continued after the jump, don't miss it!)

Yes, Sis ... there's a world out here!

Y'know, I want to explore!

What's up there?

I really want to go up there to see!

I know I can climb up there!

What Mom and Dad don't know won't hurt them! I'm BIG now!

**CLICK THE 'READ MORE' LINK TO SEE THE REST OF THE PHOTOS**

The Amazing Race: Blog Party April 27, 2017

Thankfully we're back to just an hour episode tonight! I'll be live bloggig the show's events as they air here on the East Coast. The real party is in the comments area -- come join in on the fun!

The Lovely Lifeguard Sharon C has made the random match-ups for the blog pool:

London/Logan - Delee, Sharon N
Brooke/Scott - Chrob61, Becky
Tara/Joey - SueGee, Willie J, Monty924
Becca/Floyd - Janice, Brian
Liz/Michael - Judi Sweeney, Dolores in Hollywood, Ed in Ohio
Matt/Redmond - MerriLee, Jackie
Vanck/Ashton - Nickelpeed, Donna in FL

PHILIMINATED:
Jessica/Francesca - Brenda, David, Sharon C
Seth/Olive - ML, Cheryl in NC
Shamir/Sara - Indiana Jane, Jenna's Mom

Are we ready? Yes, we are! 

The teams were given the clue to the next destination as they arrived at the Pit Stop. They're heading to Italy and going in the order they finished last at the Welcome Mat. Caution: Double U-Turn ahead. 

Liz and Michael hugged it out. We'll see how long that lasts! Brooke and Scott started the movement to oust Vanck and Ashton on the U-Turn. Supposedly, all teams agree. Plus they want to blank out the second option so that Vanck and Ashton couldn't U-Turn another team.

Roadblock: Who's hungry for the next clue? Teams do a lap around the city in a roaming restaurant trying to locate three signs and eat the meal at the same time. Logan has to wait for the next tram.

They're next on the way to Lake Como, a cruise across the lake. 

Joey and Tara are in the lead, but are indecisive about whether to U-Turn or not. Into commercial. They don't use it.

Make a Move or Grab Ahold - Make s ghost appear or climb up a vertical rock wall. Michael and Liz U-Turn Vanck and Ashton. Becca and Floyd U-Turn Michael and Liz because they know that those two can't be U-Turned. Becca is excited about the rock climbing because she's a rock climbing instructor. She gives Floyd a quick rundown.

Matt/Redmond and Becca/Floyd have taken over the lead and are heading neck in neck to the Pit Stop. Brooke is freaking out that she won't be able to do the climb. She certainly can be annoying.

Pit Stop:
1. Becca and Floyd - won a trip to Argentina
2. Matt and Redmond 
3. Tara and Joey
4. Liz and Michael
5. Brooke and Scott
6. London and Logan 
7. Vanck and Ashton -- Philiminated

Survivor: Game Changers - April 26 Blog Party

Everybody ready? Got your snacks? Got your tasty adult beverages? As the show airs here on the east coast, I'll be live-blogging with all the major happenings. Refresh the page to see the latest news! But, as always, the real party is in the comments area. I hope to see you there!

Here's the updated pool! Lifeguard Laurie is rockin' as always!
Andrea Boehlke - Indiana Jane, ML
Aubry Bracco - Ed in Ohio, meb
Brad Culpepper - Brian, Sharon N
Cirie Fields - Leonia Hart, Terry is a Texan
Debbie Wanner - Glenn, tbc
Michaela Bradshaw - David, Jackie
Sarah Lacina - Delee, Rbennie
Sierra Thomas - Becky, monty924
Tai Trang - Cheryl in NC, Sharon C
Troyzan Robertson - Donna in Alabama, Lifeguard Laurie
Zeke Smith - Janice from GA, Paula Bell

JURY
Hali Ford
Ozzy Lusth

 Survivor fans ready?

Debbie thinks she and her allies are six strong and will systematically vote the other five out one by one. Zeke knows Andrea is targeting him. Is Sarah still on his side? It's hard to say in this game. It's everyone for themselves.

Reward Challenge -- Two teams of five, each individually race through series of obstacles in water, ring toss. Schoolyard pick, one will sit out. Michaela sits out and can't be eligible for reward -- a trip to an island and picnic. 

Brad, Sierra, Debbie, Aubry and Andrea win Reward. Cirie did terrible and they're letting her complete it. Michaela really should have been chosen over Cirie. They're making a big deal over Cirie pushing her way through it. 

All the time Michaela sat there, she had a secret advantage at her feet. She never noticed it, but Sarah did. Sarah snagged it. It's an extra vote at Tribal which can be used only until the final five.

cirie tries to convince Sarah that she (Sarah) is at the bottom of the Brad/Sierra, etc. alliance. Cirie has her thinking. But she is wondering if the time is right for a big move or not. 

Immunity Challenge time! Pull on a rope balancing wobbly table, stack letters spelling "Immunity." 

Troyzan wins Immunity! 

Sierra is glad part of her Power Six won. She is sure Andrea will go home. (So it probably won't be Andrea going home!) 

Brad is annoyed by Michaela, as is Debbie. But they agree Andrea is a bigger strategic threat. Sarah takes being left out of the decision as another hint she's at the bottom of the pack. She talks to Zeke. They need to bring in Zeke's nemesis Andrea.

Uh-oh. Sierra tells Sarah that she wants the final three to be them along with Debbie. Now, will Sarah flip or not? Debbie still wants Michaela out. 

Now they're all turning against Debbie. 

What a quandary!

It's time for Tribal Council. Lots of talk of the six at the top. Andrea and Michaela's names have come up. Debbie is being too smug. 

The tally:
Andrea, Debbie, Andrea, Debbie, Andrea, Debbie, Andrea, Debbie, Andrea, Debbie, Debbie.

Debbie is voted out! Troyzan looks stunned as was Brad!

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - April 23, 2017

Good morning! Welcome to my weekly off television topic reflection on the week gone by in both words and photos I took along the way. If you're here for Survivor -- you can find any Survivor posts I make at this link right here.  You can find any posts I make about TAR at this link -- The Amazing Race.

Random stuff o' the past week:

• My health insurance company has approved the procedure to do the vein work on my right leg. The vascular surgeon will be inserting a foam to close off the saphenous vein in the lower part of my leg -- the source of the worst swelling and a bundle of veins that stick out like a bunch of snakes under my skin. This will take a few treatments to do the entire leg and the left leg will most likely be laser treatment. I go on May 12, a procedure done right in his office. He tells me I'll walk out feeling better.
• I got stuck in the elevator at the Plainfield Train Station late Monday night (about 10:15pm) -- the doors wouldn't open in the tunnel and it wouldn't return to any other floor (ground or platform). The smell was HORRENDOUS! I usually hold my breath to take the elevator down to the tunnel that late at night as I catch a taxi home. Thankfully, it's the Plainfield Police dispatcher answering the emergency phone from the elevator and the Plainfield Fire Department who rescued me. Had I had to wait for NJ Transit, I'd probably still be stuck in the elevator, probably deceased from the odor. As of last night, the elevator still hasn't been fixed. Get on the ball, NJT! 
• On the home front, I complained to the landlord's office about the kids running amok in the hallways for hours daily into the night, littering, breaking things, scuffing up the walls, staining the hallway carpet, etc. -- and all the people (kids and adults) crammed into one one-bedroom apartment which doesn't even have the child window guards. Those kids are the ringleaders of the Hallway Hellions. Within a few days after my phoned/then written complaint, the kids haven't been hanging out in the hallways. Instead, they're hanging out in the parking lot, mostly under my windows. My complaint or nicer weather? They're not supposed to be in the parking lot either -- it's dangerous. But their parents obviously don't care. At least it's not as loud as them right outside my door in the building. If I had a car out there, I'd be yelling at them, though.
• Also on the home front, my upstairs neighbor has sporadically been booming his stereo once again. You'd think if the cops come to his door twice withing 12 hours, he wouldn't do it again. How many times have the police been at my door in my 40+ years of apartment living due to complaints from neighbors? NONE. NADA. NEVER. Maybe if I make it that bad for him to play his music so loud, he'll move on his own. Since I just complained about the kids, I don't want to file another complaint about him right now. I don't want the landlord to think I'm some sort of chronic complainer. But, sheesh. Have people no consideration for others these days? Right now as I write this up, his stereo is vibrating my ceiling with its bass. Every Sunday morning. I only get one day off at a time and Sunday is one of them. I'm tired of this idiot. No one else in my wing of the building does it and no other tenant up there has made the kind of noise he makes. And he's the first one with carpet instead of hardwood up there! Grr.
• Rant over

 Onto this week's photos. Clicking on an image will open a larger version. 
 

Let there be spring pink!

Plainfield Train Station

Earth Day

Volunteers cleaned the grounds of the Plainfield Train Station. All of the bums went away as they cleaned. Of course, they'll return and litter all over again. Sigh. Something seriously needs to be done to keep unticketed passengers from loitering around the train station!

A patch of pretty

Bridgewater, NJ

Play ball!

It's baseball season once again at the home of the Somerset Patriots -- TD Bank Ball Park in Bridgewater. The game seemed to be in a rain delay as I headed to the train station after work. As I walked up the steps leading to my platform, they were playing the theme to 'Jaws.' NOT COOL! I expected to find a bear at the top of the stairs smiling at me or something!
 

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