Off Topic - That Was the Week it Was - 02/21/10

Another week gone by, another Sunday morning here. Since I generally don't work on Sundays, the morning is my favorite one for relaxation -- a good breakfast and settling in to watch CBS Sunday Morning. But it's also time for an off TV topic look back on the past week in words and photos I've taken.

I'm tired of winter. It's really bothering the non-replaced knee. All of the snow, while beautiful when it's falling and fresh, creates all kinds of pedestrian obstacles. I've lost shortcuts due to snowbanks higher than my waist. The daytime temperatures have been rising above freezing (a good thing), but then dipping down low again every night. Thus, I have to deal with black ice patches. I've been having to leave earlier for my walk to the train every day. Grr.

I want spring. I want daffodils and crocuses. Yes, I'm getting some really good snow photos. However, I'd just as soon shoot flowers and bugs.

My return to work from vacation was pretty much what I expected -- more work trying to figure out what was done, rearranging my office back to my suiting, catching up on things which weren't done, reading a gazillion emails, and being exhausted by the end of each day. Don't get me wrong. I'm grateful to have a job with sort of decent pay, paid holidays, several weeks of paid vacation, retirement pension, paid sick time, short term disability pay, 401K, and all. But, gosh ... if time could just stand still when I go away on vacation, it would be so much easier when I return!

This week has really been uneventful. Go to work, come home, eat, sleep, rinse, repeat. My "happy night" guy (the one who speaks Spanish but has really been working on his English for more than a few years) on the train had a new language dilemma last night. He got a text message and couldn't understand it. He showed it to me. "I am in Philly." I told him whoever sent it says they're in Philadelphia. "Liar!," he said. Apparently it's a girl who's standing him up and he knew she was at work because someone else told him she was. So I had to teach him how to spell "you are lying." I don't think he's going to see that girl anymore. But he learned how to spell a new sentence in English!

Oh, well ... onto my photos for the week ...

Vincent in B&W

When he's not in color, he has a clown nose! No more mice this week, but that isn't for a lack of him staring at the radiator.

Stalactite/Stalagmite Chainlink Fence

Nope, this isn't regular ice. It's the radioactive (yes, I'm sure) stalactites and stalagmites growing under the New Jersey Transit Bridgewater railroad overpasses. Since part of the wall fell down last winter, they fenced it off. Yes, that's a great fix. Now the fence is growing these on it.

Sunset over the Plainfield (NJ) Train Station

Aw, purty, ain't it?

Roadblock

I edited this one to leave the police car in color while the rest is in black and white with slight "posterizing." The latter is the GIMP (photo editor) term for it. Is a criminal on the loose? Nope. It was "snow removal." All it means is that there were guys with shovels and a payloader doohickey shoveling off the benches and making paths through the snow. East Front and Roosevelt Streets in Plainfield, NJ.

New Jersey Transit - The Way to Go

I used the same effect on this shot, leaving the windows in color reflecting the Plainfield Train Station lamps.

More daylight is a good thing

Same day, no editing. It's nice to see daylight when I'm coming home from work. Will spring be here soon?

Bicycle Parking -- Vacancies!

Although these are unused, there are still plenty of folks on bikes. Unfortunately, so many think the sidewalks are acceptable while the law says STREET. Grown men are the worst offenders. With the sidewalks so narrowed by snow, it's almost impossible for both a pedestrian and an illegal bicycler to pass on them.

Uh-oh

It looks like the birds are having a major gathering in their efforts to overthrow mankind. Taken from inside the train at the Dunellen (NJ) Train Station.

Plainfield Train Station lamp in snow

Because snow is EVERYWHERE!

The Queen City

Railroad underpass on Watchung Avenue in Plainfield, NJ. Elizabeth is the county seat while Raritan is where there's a railroad yard for NJ Transit. Now you know all about New Jersey. ;-)

Okay, it's pretty, but ENOUGH

Looking down East Third Street at the Watchung Avenue intersection after a clinging light snowfall one morning. I edited it to leave the yellow schoolbus and the golden glow from a streetlamp intact while the rest is black and white. I couldn't get to the sidewalk without climbing a snowbank. Traffic was light, so I was walking in the street. That's not my train at the station -- it's a delayed one going the other way.

No, that doesn't mean I'm a streetwalker. Sheesh!

Snow on Supremo

The snow is melting quicker on that side of the street. It gets more sun. Roosevelt and East Front Streets in Plainfield.

SnoCone

Heehee. I crack myself up.

Ahem. Never mind.

Chainlink Snow

Are you sensing a theme here? East Front Street, Plainfield.

Go Snow

East Front and Richmond Street in Plainfield.

Religious snow

I'm sure that solar panel in front of the Presbyterian Church on East Front Street is having a grand old time.

Branches and Wires ... and snow

I have no snowy words left to say.

Snow on the bush

This was taken from the driveway to my apartment building. Now, had I gone for rehab for my knee replacement, I was set to go right to the beige-ish building you see on the left (not the brick one -- that would be someone's apartment and they probably wouldn't want to put up with a knee replacement patient).

Eek! Psycho Killer Bunny!

Heh. This was at the Bridgewater Train Station. Apparently the rabbit doesn't like getting his sensitive little paws in the snow. Someone was coming up the path from the other direction and he was darting right along the path directly into ME. I think I stunned him with the flash. He quickly decided to take his chances with snowy paws.

ATTENTION NJ TRANSIT -- THIS IS A SIDEWALK!

What is wrong with them? I have to hang onto the fence to get over this! Bridgewater Train Station.

Plotting in strategic groups

Birds of a feather gathering together -- geese and sparrows (wrens? chickadees?) discussing just how they will take over the world.

Snow kidding

That's it. I'm out of snow humor!

I'll join Vincent for a cat nap.

Look at that Paw of Death! And, he looks so innocent, doesn't he?

How was YOUR week?