Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - September 4, 2016

Good morning! Since it's Sunday morning, 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. If you're here for Big Brother news, everything I have for you can be found at this link. I'll be posting another live feeds report late tonight as well as live-blogging the aired show. But this ain't that. This post is a year-round regular "feature" while Big Brother is a summer obsession. Or, something like that.

It hasn't been a good week for me (or for my photography desires, either). I fell and sprained my right ankle, missing three days of work when I'm out of paid time off as my 25 years back with the company anniversary was yesterday and my PTO won't be able to be accessed until the end of this upcoming week. Added to the nine years working for the same company before a break in service, I have 34 years in there. Gah. The doctor examining my ankle wrapped it up and put an Aircast on it, telling me to keep weight off of it for a week. Now, I went to have it checked on Wednesday and he gave me a note to return to work this Tuesday. Um. That's no good financially. It's not long enough for me to claim the missed time with my short term disability (seven days). And, it would blow my holiday pay for Labor Day. So, I went back to work yesterday. It's not like this BB season on the blog can pay the bills. I need the money despite the pain. Sigh.

Since I only worked two days last week, I didn't take many photographs. Clicking on an image will open a larger version ...

Colorful carnations grow ...

... in the planters on East Front Street in Plainfield.

Latino Corner ... really?

Nothing like jumping on the bandwagon. This was The Corner Store, owned and managed by an older Indian couple named "Dave" and Shah. It was a dark cave with phone calls going on in Hindi, incense burning and Indian music. They retired and sold it to younger Indian men. The new owners completely rehabbed the place. It's now clean, brightly lit, has longer operating hours and so much more merchandise. The language among the staff remains Hindi. Maybe Punjabi, but I doubt that. It most certainly isn't Spanish! They took down the old The Corner Store sign and renamed the business ... Latino Corner. Say what? The next thing you know, there will be a taco truck on every corner!

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

Flowers of summer are fading away

The berries have changed

These berries at the Bridgewater Train Station have now gone blue. Still, nothing is eating them. I won't either.

Grr ...

Aggressive panhandler alert. This guy was demanding money from everyone passing by yesterday at the corner of Watchung and North in Plainfield. Then he'd get mad and curse when no one gave him money. There I was on crutches across the street and he kept screaming for my attention. I ignored him. Let him either get a job or sell his not needed pleather coat if he needs money. I was going to work in pain. Any sympathy I might have had for his plight was ruined by my own plight and his attitude.

Turkey vulture

The vultures were having tons of fun in the windy skies yesterday. I swear seagulls, vultures and hawks enjoy soaring around on days like that!

Bad dream, Vincent?

Aw, look at the cat with the puffy tail! It was actually puffier, but it took a moment to get the camera and I accidentally woke him up. In conscious life, I've never seen Vincent puff up his tail. But, in his dreams, it often puffs.