Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - October 6, 2013

It's Sunday morning. Good morning to ya! A bit later I will post the blog pool picks for The Amazing Race and the blog party post as the show airs here on the East Coast. But, you're at my weekly off television topic post reflecting on the week gone by in both words and photographs I've taken along the way.

We had another rather muggy and warm week here in this area. While the temperatures weren't bad at all, muggy isn't my favorite kind of weather. It's supposed to rain tomorrow night and the weather following that should be more seasonable for this time of year here. Good. Of course, I think all of us have a bit of trepidation as we head to the year anniversary date of Sandy. I don't particularly want to be a Rider on the Storm again this year!

My week was a bit uneventful once again. Work, home, eat, sleep and pay a lot of attention to a certain cat. I received my box of goodies ordered from Amazon.com with a gift certificate from my brother. So, I've started reading Stephen King's newest book (hardcover first release, half price!), enjoying new bath salts (not the drug kind, mind you) and bath foam, and playing with my new knives. Er, cutlery set. My other set was about 35 years old, its block discolored over the years and some of the knives broken or missing. It was time. I have a Peapod grocery delivery coming today and will get a chance to test out the slicer knife on a small roast. Woot.

Y'see, it's the little things. As the Rolling Stones say, "You can't always get what you want, you get what you need." I needed relaxing baths, an interesting book and knives!

Otherwise on the home front, all is quiet for the most part. The upstairs neighbor is still the best one ever up there and it's a relief to not worry about my bathroom ceiling flooding.

Last night coming home, it was dark but the streets in Plainfield seemed quite alive with skateboarders, couples walking, families with children in strollers and it all seemed very mellow. Probably there won't be too many evenings like that left. When I got to the bodega near my apartment, someone was playing P-Funk and people were nodding their heads to the music and they said hello. It all seemed so urban, yet so small town homey.

Oh well, the super just knocked on my door. Yes, on a Sunday morning. He wanted to set up a date to put new windows in. When they replaced the windows on the first floor last year, they told me not all the apartments will be getting them. I've noticed more and more getting them over the past few weeks. While new windows are going to be nice, it's definitely worrisome with Vincent and my work schedule. We decided he'll come by next Saturday around 8am before I leave for work. I'll put Vincent in my big old cat carrier crate thing before I go and they'll set him loose in the apartment when they leave.

Onto this week's photos, nothing really fancy once again ...

Who's your mum(s)?

Yep, 'tis the season of the mum. I found these on Berckman Street in Plainfield.

Let there be roses

Still hanging in nicely on East Front Street in Plainfield.

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Here comes the train!

Yesterday it was daylight when I headed to work as I go in later on Saturdays, but it was muggy, misty and foggy. As you can see, we don't have a lot of color in most of the trees yet. This area doesn't have peak foliage until near the end of the month. Where I grew up, by Halloween the trees were barren and spooky. Here, not so much. They're usually very colorful by then. Plainfield Train Station.

Patch of red amidst yellows

I love the colors of fall! Nearby the Bridgewater Train Station.

Bridgewater sunrise

The sun was rising pretty much right about the time I got off my train most of my workdays.

Same sunrise, different view

Train in waiting

I went to work later one morning this week due to an afternoon meeting. When I take the 8:30ish train, this train is always on the other side waiting to leave. Plainfield to Newark is its run, leaving out all the stations west of Plainfield. The big locomotive engine depicted on my previous train photo is at the rear of this train and will push it rather than pull it. You didn't think they turned these things around, did you? I'd like to see them parallel park one! Plainfield Train Station.

A bigger touch of red

More red is appearing on the tree I photographed last week. The color is mainly on the side which gets the morning sun. Watchung Avenue, Plainfield.

I see dead people, continued

Raritan Valley Line of the NJ Transit rails.

Getting spooky

Sure, there are inviting harvest decorations leading up to ... the GHOULS who will eat you! I edited this shot to leave only the mums and harvest dolls in color. Berckman Street, Plainfield.

Just waiting

I wonder how much of our lives are spent waiting. Dunellen Train Station.

I found a little gourd!

I'll hug it and squeeze it and call it George! I actually did take it. It's neat, has green squiggly markings on the bottom. I am calling it George and it's sitting in the window. Found at the Bridgewater Train Station.

Good morning, glory!

With the warm temperatures, the morning glory blossoms are still thriving on the back fence at my apartment building.

Smattering of fall color

As I mentioned before, many trees are still green. It's mainly the small trees, sumac and such that are sporting color other than green. But one of the big oaks at the Plainfield Train Station has color here and there. It definitely has acorns. It's another heavy duty acorn year!

Red Hat Ladies

Yesterday as I headed to the train station, the local Red Hat Society ladies were filing out of the Senior Citizen Center to board a charter bus. Where were they going? I don't really know. However, I'm sure an adventure was ahead of them! East Front Street, Plainfield.

Autumn is here

Although with the muggy warm days and evenings this week, it's a bit hard to tell. East Front Street, Plainfield.

Getting the Run for Life started

Many of the downtown streets were closed yesterday in town for the Plainfield 5k Run/Walk for Life activities. I saw this crowd raring at the bit to get going as I walked to the train station on my way to work. Had I not been going to work, I would have definitely taken more shots. It looks like they had a great turnout! Watchung Avenue, Plainfield.

Dandelion, make me wise

I know they can be pesky. But they're really quite intricate and cool in their own way.

Vincent the Invincible

This is my hand trying to keep Vincent from climbing on me. I was unsuccessful. Had I been successful, he would have tossed himself on the floor at my feet looking forlorn. Or, he would have gone about ten feet away, sprawled on his back and watched me with upside down cat eyes. What a cat!