Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - February 17, 2013

It's Sunday morning. You know what that means! It's time for my weekly off television topic reflection on the week gone by in both words and photographs I've taken along the way.

Before I get really into things, I want to touch on television for a moment. Tonight is the season premiere of The Amazing Race. I made a post for folks to sign up for the blog pool right here. Poolkeeper Margo hasn't announced a cut-off, but you best get your name in there this morning if you want to take part in the pool!

Let's see ... onto the week gone by. Well, it was an odd week in the world, for sure -- a Pope resigning for the first time in six hundred years, a disgruntled ex-LAPD officer manhunt in California, a meteor damaging buildings and injuring 1200 people in Russia. My thoughts? Well, I would guess the Pope made the right decision in view of his health and age. Although, it would have been more interesting if he had chosen to retire because he wanted to get married and have a family! As for Dorner, the ex-cop, I just don't know. His manifesto was definitely wrong-minded. But, I can't help but wonder if he did have something in his original impetus to his trail of destruction. Not the way to go about things, though. The meteor? Eek.

My own personal life has been quiet for the most part. The old work, home, sleep, eat, work, on and on all over again. Yet I knew I was working for a goal -- yes, it's a staycation this week! Unlike last year, I will NOT go to the Lunar New Year Parade in Chinatown. I almost died in the crush of the crowds last year there. Well, didn't really almost die, but I did fear ribs would be broken in the crush! I have no real plans. I do have some housework stuff I plan on doing -- sorting through closets and such. I also plan to take a lot of naps! It's quite likely, weather permitting, that I'll take some walks around with the camera.

But, for the most part, I just plan to relax for the week. Yay!

Onto the photos ... 

Deploy landing gear

As the sun rises, the seagulls claim their places atop the parking lot lights in Bridgewater.

Cooper's Hawk on Watchung Avenue

I believe this is the same hawk that buzzed me last week. It followed pretty much the same flight path. However, I was a few feet away this time. It swooped across the street to the bushes at the front of the police station. Then, without stopping, it flew to a tree branch at the far side of the lawn. Although he's not huge, his wingspan is certainly impressive.

Hopefully not too near me

And, while I'm right on Watchung Avenue by the police station, congratulations to the newly promoted Sergeant Fusco! Others were promoted, as well. But I don't believe I know any of them. I seem to only know narcotics and gang unit detectives in town. Mind you ... that doesn't mean I'm into drugs or gangs! My drugs of choice are ibuprofen and caffeine. My gang, I guess, is Vincent the cat. Probably not the stuff of good busts. I know them because their annex is where I often wait for a bus when I don't feel like walking home after work. The bus is free on my monthly train pass.

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

Bridgewater sunrise

Except for the barren trees and the snowbanks, it looks like a hot summer day. With the days getting longer, the sunrise is happening while I'm on the train as of late.

Waitin' on a train

A man waits for the train in the golden glow of the lights at the Plainfield Train Station. After the snow last weekend, it got warmer. With the warmer air hitting the snow on the ground, all became foggy with a mist rising.

One way to my heart

Valentine's Day at the corner of Watchung and East Fourth Street in Plainfield.

Winter skies

Just a hint that sun exists through the grey skies after work one day this week. I took this at the Plainfield Train Station parking lot, eastbound track side.

Sole berry

This is the only berry on this whole little tree (bush, whatever). Yet, there are many thorns. I suppose one could draw parallels to life, but it's too early to wax philosophical.

Sleeping AND feet on seat! Argh!

Even though I'm occasionally guilty of sitting alone in a four-seater on the train, I wouldn't mind if they banned single passengers from them. It's not license to put your feet all over the seats! And, of course, if I do sit alone in a four-seater, I do NOT sprawl all over with my feet on the seats. Each level of the train cars contains four four-seaters, the rest are seats for two and there's nowhere to sprawl your feet other than the floor (as it should be).

Accident waiting to happen

A lawyer's office across from the police station on Watchung Avenue never shoveled the snow from the big snow storm. It was walked over enough to become ice. This is also an NJ Transit bus stop. If I fell, I think I'd go to the new personal injury lawyer who set up under the police annex next door. He was out there himself chopping the ice from the front of his business. Why isn't Plainfield issuing summons over this stuff? As a pedestrian (with two knee replacements), it's a real danger!

As dawn arrives

Interesting skies at the Bridgewater Train Station.

Foggy Plainfield Train Station

Misty!

Seagull on duty

Prettier with snow

I begrudgingly admit that the snow does make things look like a real winter. With some rain and no snow, everything just looks dirty and dead. We needed a change of scenery. East Front Street, Plainfield.

No parking when snow covered

I don't know. Maybe I'm just too much of a stickler for rules or something. East Front Street is a snow emergency route. Cars are supposed to be moved for plowing. They aren't. They don't get towed, nor do they get tickets. The street plowing ends up haphazard. What's the point of having the signs?

Shoveling variety

My landlord shovels the entire width of the sidewalk (good!). The neighbor makes a narrow goat path (bad!).

Who's been rolling in catnip again?

It's Mr. Catnip Fur Vincent, of course! He's going to be a happy cat with his best buddy around all this week!