Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - January 26, 2013

Yes, 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. Yes, yes ... I know I've promised some television posts. I have a few underway in draft now. Expect one posted TONIGHT!

I returned to work this week after my self-imposed exile from the world trying to calm my sciatica. That did work to an extent. While it's not completely gone, it has lessened to the point that I'm not in total agony. That, of course, is a good thing. I've got enough of it left to every now and then really kick in to remind me of what sciatica can do, though. I slipped on some ice yesterday and managed to cripple myself up for a few hours. I didn't even fall! I must have twisted just right trying not to fall. Grr.

The big local news around here is the winter weather. It's been extremely cold and we've had more snow. Our previous snow cover was pretty much gone except for dirty clumps here and there and plowed piles of dirty snow. Well, now it's all white and pristine once again. I actually don't mind the cold so much as I know what to wear for it and my heat in the apartment works just fine.

It's the icy sidewalks that scare me. After Tuesday's big snowstorm (about ten inches), some folks didn't clear their sidewalks. Also, some folks did clear their walks down to dry pavement, but where their driveways are is a mess from cars driving over where the city plowed.

It snowed all day yesterday, but I think we only got a few inches. With temperatures not due to break the freezing point this week, it's not going to go anywhere soon. How long is it until spring?

The snowstorm came earlier than expected on Tuesday and I ended up getting caught in it. Oh, well. If nothing else, it was good photo fodder. That said, it would have been nice not to have to walk home from the train station in the wind and snow due to late buses and taxi issues.

I decided to give my Tuesday afternoon snow arrival at the Plainfield Train Station the black and white treatment for a few shots ...

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Strangers on a strange train

Due to the Superbowl and the fact that 80,000 people are expected to attend the game at a stadium with only 18,000 parking spaces, they're touting this as the first Mass Transit Superbowl. As a result, they've taken most of our Raritan Valley Line double-decker trains and given us the single level old ones. I've been getting old train in the morning, double-decker for the commute home.

Retro train car

I've been riding NJ Transit long enough to be familiar with these trains. But, since they haven't been used on our line for a good four years or so, lots of folks are very confused. No, the middle door does NOT open at low platform station, guys! Walk all the way to the end of the car! Yes, they're l-o-n-g cars.

Yep, blast from the past

It must be SPRING! Yay!

This robin was out in the snowstorm on Tuesday. Silly robin. Bridgewater, NJ.

Rip in the sky

A bit of the sunset shows between heavy layers of clouds at the Bridgewater Train Station.

Plow vs. Train

NJ Transit plow waiting for the train to pass at the Bridgewater Train Station.

Plainfield Train Station snow

STOP snow, STOP

North and Watchung, Plainfield

Snow in the city

Watchung and East Front

Texas Weiner Snow

Watchung Avenue, Plainfield.

Icy!

This is attached to my apartment building. I'm surprised there's been enough snow melting on the roof to do it.

Berries in the snow

More and more berries are dying. I fear the winter is going to outlast the berries. Bridgewater, NJ.

They actually shoveled!

Usually this accessible walk to the platform at the Plainfield Train Station is a sheet of ice better used to practice the luge. But take notice of all the ice between the stairs and the street. Plus, there is no shoveled area to the street itself for cab drop-off or shuttle bus boarding. You have to climb over snow to board them.

As Plainfield awakens

I can't believe the amount of people riding bicycles on this stuff (note chained to pole bike). Before the dawn at the Plainfield Train Station.

Here comes the train

And, man, it's cold out! Plainfield Train Station, early in the morning.

What the ...?

I mentioned a few weeks ago that the stairs at the Bridgewater Train Station are crumbling. So, what does NJ Transit do? Plywood. Yeah, that's really going to last, right?

Oh, much better

They nailed metal pieces on them. I wonder how long before they actually repair the stairs.

Afternoon snacking

The snow is/was full of squirrel tracks from tree to tree. They're definitely hardy little critters to keep going in these temperatures! Plainfield Train Station.

Solar panel fail

The snow is supposed to slide off, not stick and form icicles! Berckman Street, Plainfield.

Again with the monster snow guides!

Where did they get these snow guides? Siberia? Buffalo? Berckman Street, Plainfield.

If it wasn't way over there

This little food truck has been setting up in the parking lot at the Bridgewater Train Station. I just noticed it this past week. There used to be clothes donation boxes there. The location isn't really good for business. He's in the farthest most desolate corner of the parking lot. If I walked over there to grab a coffee, I'd end up being late to work.

Time and Temperature

The lighted billboard nearby the Bridgewater Train Station mocked me as I walked from the station to my workplace. Minus 6 at 7:03am. Grr. This was Friday morning.

Vincent braving the elements

Poor kitty.