Off Topic - That Was the Week It Was - April 1, 2012

It's Sunday? Really? Already? That means it's my day off! Yay! Happy dance time! Er, well. It also means it's time for my weekly off television topic reflection on the week gone by in both words and photographs I've taken. 

But let me first mention television ... remember, The Amazing Race won't be on this evening due to the Country Music Awards show. TAR must be delayed a full week instead of portions of hours and beyond! Out of curiosity I looked up when Falling Skies makes its second season return. That's not until June. I guess I'll just have to wait, huh?

Winterish returned here this past week. The temperatures have been below normal with freeze warnings north of where I live. That four-letter S word has also been mentioned, but we've seen none of it here. Although I loved our glorious week of foggy mornings and daytime clear 70s, I'm okay with the cooler wave. After escaping winter without horrible cold spells or tons o' snow, I can't complain about a chilly week. 

On the work front, they fixed my software program I need to do my work. Unfortunately, when they installed a new hard drive, they zapped all of our saved documents and forms plus blew out the computerized time clock for hourly employees. So, instead of adding machine tapes, each punch had to be entered manually into the computer -- or they wouldn't get paid. I didn't think they'd be happy with the latter.

I visited local blogger Dan Damon at his physical rehab home across the street a few times. He's looking better each time I see him. He will soon be fitted for his prosthesis and I have faith that he'll do well with it. I admire how he's taking all of this in stride. I also chatted with local blogger Bernice on the bus this week. It must have been a blogger meet-up kind of week!

Other than that, I've got nothing for you ... other than photos I've taken during the past week. Clicking on an image will open it larger in a fancy-schmancy gallery doohickey.   

The magic of spring

I'm in awe of nature's magical ways. Of course, the buds and blossoms of spring often seem to pass in the blink of an eye. East Front Street, Plainfield.

Keeping an eye out for worms

Even though this robin is chubby guy, he's quick. He'd keep one eye to the ground looking for worms and dart at them. He was quick, but not really effective. I saw three worms escape the mighty bird hunter. Also East Front Street, Plainfield.

Stairway to spring

Coming up from the tunnel under the Plainfield Train Station. I edited the photo to leave only the "spring" in color. If our winter hadn't been so mild, I'd say it's symbolic of the dark depths of winter bursting into spring.

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

 

Whazzat?

I took this shot from the corner of Watchung and East Second in Plainfield as I arrived home Thursday afternoon. I had to get closer.

Whoa! Smokey!

Oh my. Very acrid smoke. It smelled almost like burning rubber rather than any kind of wood structure.

Get close and the smoke stops

Sure, I'm close enough to take cool action shots of a fire in progress and even the smoke stops!

South Plainfield assisted

Plainfield had its ladder truck (and other trucks, too) there. But South Plainfield joined in on the action. For those who aren't local -- there are three different Plainfields. There's the city of Plainfield where I live. There's North Plainfield where I used to live before moving a mile away into Plainfield. Then there's South Plainfield where I've never lived. They're totally different places and each is in a different county. Plainfield is Union County, South Plainfield is Middlesex County and North Plainfield is Somerset County. Scotch Plains (not a Plainfield at all) also assisted at the fire scene.

No "eatin" for a while!

I don't frequent or order from this particular Chinese restaurant which is located on Watchung Avenue next to the Chez Marie nightclub. I also don't frequent the nightclub, but that would be a given if you know me.

Not pitch dark anymore

It's noticeably lighter as I head out into the 'hood for my early morning walk to the train station. Of course, if not for daylight savings time, it would be totally daylight.

Getting lighter out

By the time I get to Union County College on East Second and Church Streets, it's even lighter.

Almost daylight

Had it not been somewhat overcast, it would have been even lighter when I caught my train at the Plainfield Train Station.

My first tulip sighting

Berckman Street in Plainfield.

Another bunny in the 'hood

It could be the same bunny I photographed last week. This one was on my building's lawn as I left for work one morning. I had to use the flash, thus the eye is a bit reflective. I tried editing it, but then it looked like he was giving the camera the evil eye. Can't have that! So, it's back to red eye.

Pole of power

Bridgewater, NJ

Glorious skies, glorious blossoms

Also Bridgewater, but these same trees are in bloom everywhere around here.

Springing

The trees I mentioned last week that were in bloom in Plainfield but not eleven miles away in Bridgewater are now making up for lost time.

Budding

East Front Street by the Presbyterian Church (Plainfield)

Blossoming

Bridgewater Train Station

Rare March rain

Had it not rained Friday night into Saturday, we would have had the driest March on record.

Nifty weed

Way cool.

Using the flash

Blossoms on Church Street in Plainfield.

Pansy power

Bridgewater, NJ

Blown away

Wild winds make quick work of those beautiful magnolia blossoms across the street from my apartment building. There was magnolia litter throughout the whole block by Monday afternoon.

First documented T-Rex in centuries

And I found it! What do I win? Abandoned toy in Bridgewater.

King of the jungle

Vincent has once again saved my life from a deadly catnip mouse. What a brave cat!

How was your week?