Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - August 17, 2014

Good Sunday morning to you all! Welcome to my weekly off television topic post in which I reflect on the week gone by in both words and photos I've taken along the way. If you're looking for Big Brother live feeds (or show) content, you can find all of that right here at this link. No television content in this weekly post that I make year 'round -- you've been warned!

That said, it's basically been just another week of hectic stuff between the blog and my "real" job. Nothing earth-shattering happened in my personal life. I didn't win the lottery, nor did I have much time to do much other than work and blog. I felt like I was running late all week and didn't seem all that inspired to take photos. Sigh.

This week's random ramblings:

• They're demolishing that building by the Bound Brook Train Station with the structural cracks and caved-in roof I've been photographing for a few years now. I think they're just taking down that rear addition with the issues, not the whole building. It's about time. I couldn't get any decent shots of the demolition from the train, though.
• OCD Guy has been missing from the train for a good three weeks now. 
• That's how trains go -- people ride them for a while, then lose their jobs, change their work hours, perhaps decide to drive, etc. But I remain.
• I expect NJ Transit to give me flowers when I retire!
• My new upstairs neighbor is even more quiet than the last one although I have yet another person who's up late and up again early above me -- kind of like my own hours. I hear footsteps, not in shoes, above me and nothing else. I think I heard music coming from there one evening, but I couldn't tell. It was faint -- could have been from a car in the parking lot or next door. It didn't bother me, mind you. I could just hear it.
• Speaking of music from cars -- there needs to be a law outlawing those ridiculous sound systems they're putting ATOP cars these days! OMG, who came up with that? It's bad enough the huge systems IN cars! 
• And, while I'm fussing, they definitely need to crack down on bicyclists on the sidewalks here in Plainfield. I stand my ground on the sidewalk. I figure if they hit me, it's the bicyclist who will fall, not me. I'm rather solid.
• One of the Plainfield Narcotics/Gang cops bought me a cold bottle of water when he saw me waiting for the bus. Aw, how sweet of him! I really like those guys!
• A month from now I'll be on staycation. I can't wait! I need the sleep.
• My latest rent increase for the new yearly lease is $7. I guess I can afford that even though there are cheaper places to live. I do like this location and these landlords now are the best yet -- new windows, they maintain the elevator, new machines in the laundry room, new drainpipes, quasi-landscaping (mulch, hedge trimming and such), things fixed quickly, no regular $50 yearly increases like the past criminal landlord, good neighbors on my wing (most there for years although the apartment above has turned over about four or five times in my years here), location is good for public transportation and walking places.
• Moving would also be a huge hassle. So, I'm staying. Now it's going to be on 14 years. Oy.

Onto the photos for the week. Clicking on an image will bring it up in a Photobucket page. From there, you can increase the size twice by clicking on the magnifying glass. Just X out of that page to return to the blog.

The Plainfield Train Station groundhog

He thinks he's hiding from me. But I see him. Alas, I had no bread for him. He doesn't look like he's starving to me!

Spiderweb in the morning sun

No spider, though. This is on the railing alongside the parking lot of the Bridgewater Train Station. It's HUGE!

Chicory blossom, Plainfield Train Station

The blossoms close up overnight and open in the morning. They're usually unfurling their petals on my early work commutes. This and more in this week's flowers slideshow after the jump!

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

This week's flower slideshow isn't all that exciting. I've known something's been missing this year and saw mention on the news -- no hydrangeas! The "polar vortex" extended winter did them and the magnolias in this summer. I'd imagine some more are amongst the numbers, too. These shots were taken mainly in Plainfield -- in yards, planters and hanging outside of Hugo's Bar on the corner of East Front and Church Streets. To see the slideshow fullscreen, click on the diagonal arrow bottom right.

Near the groundhog

This squirrel in still laying about discarded Hurricane Sandy brush is what first drew my attention to the elusive groundhog in the previous photo. I saw movement, took a shot of the squirrel and then noticed the groundhog hiding in the background. I shot him then, too! (Only with my camera, only with my camera ...)

Waiting for it to open?

A bicyclist rests on a bench on East Front Street (Plainfield) in the early morning hours. I personally don't like those benches that face the businesses. I'd rather face the street if sitting. Then again, I'd rather my back up against the building so no one can sneak up behind me. No, I'm not paranoid! I just like to know who's coming up on me.

Is it autumn? Is it autumn?

Nope, not even close. But the different angle of the sun as of late has some leaves starting to turn. Bridgewater Train Station.

Plan Atlantic route? I'm confused!

Why would I swing by Atlanta while walking to the Plainfield Train Station? Oh. Alternate route. That makes a difference. I refuse to plan ahead. I doubt they're paving the sidewalk. If they ever do, I can give them a list of sidewalks in town which need it! East Second and Church Streets, Plainfield.

Woody!

I love the hardwoods in the overhangs at the Plainfield Train Station. I only wish my apartment's hardwood floors looked that good!

Not a Plainfield truck

Another graffiti-laden truck from out of Chinatown, Manhattan, seen on Watchung Avenue in Plainfield. It was coming from the lot behind the Chinese restaurant near the corner of Watchung Avenue and East Second St. I think that one's Goody's -- they keep changing the name. I'm not quite sure I want food from there if that's the truck that delivers the stuff to make the dishes!

In other Chinese food news, I came home last night to find a new Chinese delivery place menu under my door. It's in South Plainfield, just over the city border. Why am I thinking that this one's Grand Opening is just a re-opening of one of the restaurants that's been putting fliers under my door for years? Yummy Kitchen. Why does every local Chinese food restaurant have a "chef with 30 experience years cooking" in the business? Ah, well. They do have decent prices and good coupons in the menu. I stuck in on my refrigerator for future ordering. (Although I'm sure that it's the same place I've ordered from on and off for years now!)

Isn't Vincent just so dainty?