It's Sunday morning and, guess what? 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. Later on tonight, I'll post the blog party for
The Amazing Race. If you watch the show, c'mon by!
It turned cold this past week. I fear that's here to stay for a while. This year I'll face it in a new winter coat with the best hood ever. While I'm a firm believer in layering and usually tend to layer with a hoodie ... forget that hoodie hood! This one is down, fluffy and warm. It was more than I usually spend on a winter coat which I mainly use to go back and forth to work. But I had the last coat for the past three seasons or so. So, if this one lasts as well as that one did, it will be worth it! (No, I'm not talking thousands of dollars. But I do tend to jackets and coats under $100. This was more than that.)
It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving is upon us this week. I know they're going on about it being the latest possible day for that holiday, but it still seems like I blinked my eyes and it's here. Perhaps our bouts of warm weather confused my mind; I don't know. It just all of a sudden is looming at me. It will be a four-day work week for me, something that's always welcome. I hope everyone has a nice holiday and a safe one if you're out on the roads.
Hmm ... I don't really have much to say about this past week. I guess I'll get on to the photos --
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| Hawk in flight |
The late day sun was at a perfect angle to photograph this hawk. I only wish I had a closer shot. Over the Plainfield Police Station.
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| Dawn's reflection |
After a dismal walk to the train station, the sunrise was trying to do its stuff on Monday morning. Bridgewater, NJ.
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| What's this? |
I went in late to work on Tuesday and came across a huge amount of fire apparatus for what apparently was a rather small fire in the Chotola apartment building on North Avenue in Plainfield. The fire was on the first floor rear of the building isolated to one apartment. One resident of the fourth floor was treated on the scene for smoke inhalation.
Responding companies: Plainfield Police and Fire Departments, Scotch Plains, North Plainfield, South Plainfield, Westfield, Union County OEM, Haz-Mat and EMS. Oh my. By the next day, I saw the taxi place on the first floor open for business and the residents were back in. Well, except perhaps for the one apartment where the fire was contained. More photos to follow ...
***CLICK THE 'READ MORE' LINK TO SEE THE REST OF THE PHOTOS***
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| My gosh! Everyone was here! |
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| There is a hose in the doorway |
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| Officer leads tenants to warmth |
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| Westfield has yellow fire engines |
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| Evacuated residents watch |
Yes, this is out of order. The officer leading them away actually took place after this. I'm just being lackadaisical.
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| Open windows |
The windows were opened to air out the apartments. Brr.
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| I could smell smoke |
But I couldn't see any. The two buildings adjacent to the Chotola are being renovated on the upper floors. That's not fire-related.
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| Union County OEM |
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| Union County Ambulance on the scene |
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Onto other stuff ...
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| Where's the sidewalk? |
Where? Where? I already fell once! East Front Street, Plainfield.
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| Same hawk, different view |
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| Brockend iPhone |
It took me a moment to understand they mean "broken." I'm sure the parents had their child write this notice as her English is better. In the hallway of my apartment building, Plainfield, NJ. No, I didn't see a brockend iPhone.
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| Something's going on! |
Usually this Methodist Church in the 'hood is dark in the evenings. They might still give out food to the homeless on Monday evenings; I don't know. But this was Wednesday evening. East Front Street, Plainfield.
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| Yes! |
While certain professions, even in retail (convenience stores come to mind), are pretty much always open, more and more larger stores are opening on Thanksgiving Day. I personally think they're diluting their Black Friday sales while paying staff overtime. Yes, it's greed for the sales. But the shoppers are just as much to blame. Heaven forbid you can't shop 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Everyone talks of convenience. Huh. For decades we did without stores open every minute of the year. I refuse to patronize any department store open Thanksgiving. I avoid them on Black Friday because I don't like the madness, too. However, that's another story in itself.
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| Red berries, blue skies |
Although I like the color contrast, I prefer the spring blossoms on this tree! It's going to be a long time before I see them again. Wah. Bridgewater, NJ.
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| Waist high and five parking spaces |
Some people are actually parking on the piles of leaves. All I can think of is AJ Soprano parking on leaves and
his SUV blowing up. Although I'm showing some precipitation photos here, it's all very dry. These piles are a fire waiting to happen. Plus, it's New Jersey. Y'know, there could be dead bodies in there! East Front Street, Plainfield.
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| Mockingbird in charge |
This mockingbird intimidated smaller birds to take the top perch in the tree. While very territorial, they were even worse when they had young babies. Bridgewater, NJ
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| Rainy days and Monday mornings |
To be honest, it was a rainy night, not day. It had stopped by the time I walked to the train station. When it's overcast, you can't tell that the sun is due to rise soon. Roosevelt Avenue, Plainfield.
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| Gaggle |
A small gaggle, but a gaggle nonetheless. Bridgewater, NJ.
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| Excuse me ... SNOW? |
I came home last night just in time to get caught in a rather vicious snow squall as the cold front hit the area. I'm glad I decided to wear my new winter coat for the first time this season!
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| Eek! Snow squall! |
The wind was gusting up to fifty mph and the snow was sideways. Visibility was practically down to nothing for about ten minutes. Saturday evening, Watchung Avenue and East Fourth Street, Plainfield.
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| A dusting left behind |
Plainfield Police Department after it got down to flurries. Watchung Avenue.
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| Why can't I go to work with you? |
Oh, I know, Vincent. I never pay any attention to you. I never play with you. I never pet you. I never let you conk out totally asleep on me like I'm your own personal bed. I never give you cat treats. I never give you catnip. Life is so rough on poor little Vincent because I get to go to work all the time and have fun (cough) while leaving you home to guard the apartment. (On a side note: In shots like this, the scar on his nose really shows. That must have been some cut! He came to me with the scar there. I don't know what happened.)
6 comments:
Great pictures this week.
Some years back a group I belonged to met at someone's house. There were piles of leaves by the curb. One of the women parked on top of a pile. A few minutes later a late arrival came running in and said there is smoke billowing out from beneath the car. The heat from the muffler or something cause the leaves to ignite.
The fire dept. came out. There were no blazes or flames, just smoldering leaves with lots of smoke. The car was moved and as far as I know was not damaged.
It certainly made for a memorable gathering of friends.
In case I don't get a chance later in the week I hope you and Vincent have a happy Thanksgiving.
I will be spending Thanksgiving with my mother and brother and his family. My Mother will celebrating her 90th birthday on Thanksgiving Day!
Mother has Alzheimer's so she doesn't really get Thanksgiving and Birthdays other than she gets to have cake and ice cream which she loves.
What is the name of the business that is closed on Thanksgiving?? They deserve a shout-out & a pat on the back!
Love the blue skies with the hawk and the berries. So pretty!
Glad to see someone is taking a stand and closing for Thanksgiving. Let's hear it for them!!
The sign in in a Marshalls window although I did notice a similar sign in the Bed Bath and Beyond window, too.
A couple of years ago, I went into a Kohl's on Black Friday late in the afternoon just to check it out. It looked like a tornado had run through the store. I avoid all stores on the weekends from Thanksgiving until after New Years, I dislike crowds!
I was going to say what Lynn said about leaves catching on fire from a catalytic converters heat. Take you chances parking on leaves or tall dry grass.
Everyone have a marvelous Thanksgiving and may your turkey be golden/delicious!
Jackie, an outstanding week of photos. My favorite one this week (other than Vincent) was Dawn's reflection. This one captivated me.
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