Off Topic - That Was the Week It Was 11/01/09

It's Sunday morning and time to ramble through the past week in words and photos I've taken. Although it was a rather uneventful week in my life I certainly took a slew of photos I want to post here this week. Mind you, I don't think all that many are truly works of art or anything. A lot of them I just want to share with you.

The weather has been iffy once again this week with lots of rain amongst a few days of sunshine. In observing nature around me, all I can think is Dorothy's line from The Wizard of Oz once she was in the Emerald Castle ... something about things happening so fast there. Well, that's how nature is. One day the trees have glorious colorful leaves, the next day they're barren.

I saw Vincent intent on looking out the window the other day. A gang of squirrels were building a nest. Now, I've seen squirrel nests in trees before, but I've never seen them being built. It was amazing. The squirrels (about four of them) were taking death-defying leaps grabbing onto loose leaved twigs and forcing them off the tree with the weight of their little bodies. Then the squirrels would actually fall to a lower branch with their prize nest fodder, scurry back up to the nest site, and stamp the new material into their nest. Alas, none of the pictures turned out. But once the leaves are off the tree, I should be able to capture the nest.

Other than that, life goes on. Vincent is doing well. However, what I thought was a real sleepy and somewhat lethargic cat in the beginning is really a ball of energy in disguise. I'm wondering if he might be younger than the estimated five years from the shelter. His favorite toy of all is the collar from the shelter which I cut off of him weeks back. He carries it around in his mouth, throws it in the air, chases it ... and I keep finding it in his food dish. I do NOT put it there!

Work is work. Halloween came and went, wet and murky. Since I was at work, I didn't see any children. I didn't even buy any candy for them this year knowing that since it would be a Saturday I wouldn't be home until after 8 PM. I wouldn't answer the door that late here since I've never had any trick or treaters in the earlier hours.

Onto the photos from this week, clicking on them will open them larger in a new window:

Vincent

I did my layering, black and white with a color bit to this photo. His nose is really pink, not a light grey. But the nose didn't turn out right, so I kept the color to his magnificent green eye(s).

Ohh ... a TV camera!

This is on Watchung Avenue across from the Plainfield police station earlier in the week. My camera wants to grow up to be a TV camera. I told it to dream a bit lower.

So this is it?

It was for some Spanish language station and, from my limited understanding of Spanish, something about New Jersey towns with large Hispanic populations. Yes, Plainfield ranks.

Danny's Bakery, Plainfield (edited)

Yeah, I did all kinds of messing with this photo and my photo editor. And, yes, it was raining again, or still.

Plainfield Train Station View

Yes, I edited this shot, too. I made the background black and white focusing on the leaves, neon window and its reflection, in color. I should have done the fallen leaves in color, but that was way too much work. The tree was barren the next day.

Serenading Sombrero Man

He was playing guitar and singing at Danny's Bakery at Watchung and North in Plainfield last night. Just to himself, no audience (they were ready to close). Nor was it for Halloween. It's just one of those cook perks which come with having a diverse town.

Radioactive Icicles

These icicles are some sort of corrosion effect in railroads and subways. The icicles and patches of ice where they've dripped on the ground exist year 'round, even when the temperatures are in the 90s. Very weird and I won't stand under dripping ones! I took this last night at the Bridgewater Train Station (NJ) and you can see the rain in the background. No wonder the World Series game three was so delayed!

My Cool Office Watercooler

TBS sent me this neat little George Lopez Tonight show promotion -- "watercooler talk" -- in anticipation of the new show. To be honest, my 11 PM TV viewing is kind of set, news and then Letterman. But the water cooler has been PERFECT for my office at work which isn't really close to a water or refrigeration source. I've been freezing about a third of the bottle each night, retrieving it in the morning, and adding fresh water. Yay, cold water in my office!

Look what that bike did!

Er, no. That tree has always been at that angle. Once again, outside of Danny's Bakery in Plainfield.

Who let the cat out of the bag?

Um, INTO the bag. That's my little bottle and can recycling bin with a fresh Trader Joe's grocery bag insert ... and a Vincent. I had to give him a Trader Joe's bag of his own for a fort.

The Kale Season Returns

Over at the Westfield (NJ) Train Station, they've planted a wide variety of kale plants. It's that time of year again!

More Kale

Even More Kale

Yet More Kale

One Giant Step

They must really be tiny steps if they're counting 75 of them. The sign is across one lane in the parking lot from Cheeburger Cheeburger. I don't care much from them because they glare at me for ordering Hamburger Hamburger. Westfield NJ Train Station.

Brilliant Colors of Autumn

Field Lights and Gathering Birds

I tell you, those birds are planning to overthrow the human race. The ball stadium lights at the TD Bank Stadium, home of the champion Somerset Patriots, in Bridgewater, NJ.

They Will Be Led By a Seagull

Beware. Remember, I warned you.

In the spirit of the World Series

Remember, you can't sue. At least not in New Jersey. Again, at the Somerset Patriots field where they play teams like the Newark Bears. Da Bearss.

The Numbers Increase

Run for your lives while you can!

Man On a Train

Don't sleep near me on the train or you might end up photo fodder. NJ Transit Raritan Valley Line.

Tim Burton Exhibit at MoMA!

Oh, I must go. How come they advertise Broadway shows and other NYC happenings at the Dunellen Train Station and not in Plainfield? We have a much cooler station! For those not familiar with it, MoMA is the Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan.

Watchung Avenue in Plainfield

A Plainfield Police Department Harley is parked in front of Rosalina's where a small sign reads "We do doobies!" Hmmm, that had an entirely different meaning for me as a child of the 60s and 70s. It's a hairstyle.

Union County College Plainfield Campus

Red leaves lined the way earlier this week.

Droplets on a web

Ignore the small ladybug carcass. I didn't see the spider, it's possible he was evicted for poor housekeeping.

Steeple at Sunset

The Methodist Church steeple in the waning light of day. East Front Street, Plainfield, NJ.

An Autumn Afternoon in Plainfield

Taken from the 4th Street side of the Plainfield Train Station when it wasn't raining one day.

Fall Leaves and a Streetlight

Predawn one morning -- East Front Street in Plainfield near the YWCA.

Supremo Before the Dawn

A lone figure walks in front of the Supremo Supermarket in the predawn hours. Plainfield, NJ

Boulevard of Broken Dreams

My predawn walk to the train station takes me past the silliness which is the Monarch Luxury Condominium building in Plainfield. Talk about a project which was poorly planned, there you go. Well, it's better than walking by the vacant field for so long and I do like the sidewalk with its benches.

Jackie's 'hood at sunset

The building on the right, a senior citizen mid-rise, has its own generator for when there's a power outage. On the left is the lower two-story Norwood Gardens apartments. East Front Street in Plainfield. I live in neither place, but nearby.

How does this keep happening?

I've posted before about really horrible off the road crashes in my neighborhood. I just don't understand why this keeps happening. Here you see the tracks narrowly missed a tree and did indeed kill the NJ Transit Bus Stop sign. This is at one corner of my East Front Street block in Plainfield.

Some people go both ways.

As said the scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz. East Front Street, Plainfield, NJ way close to home.

Not too much Halloween this year

I noticed far fewer homes all decked out this year. The economy? I don't know. This home on East Second Street in Plainfield usually has the entire yard done up. Not so this year. Yes, I used layers for the B&W with some color effect.

The other end of my block

I live on a really long block.

When the white eagle of the North is flying overhead
The browns, reds and golds of autumn lie in the gutter, dead.
Remember then, that summer birds with wings of fire flaying
Came to witness spring's new hope, born of leaves decaying.
Just as new life will come from death, love will come at leisure.
Love of love, love of life and giving without measure
Gives in return a wondrous yearn of a promise almost seen.
Live hand-in-hand and together we'll stand on the threshold of a dream.
- "The Dream" from "On the Threshold of a Dream" by the Moody Blues

Cloudy Morning Lights

The Plainfield Train Station has the kewlest lamps in town.

How was your week?