Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - November 20, 2016

Good morning! Since it's Sunday, 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. This is a regular Sunday part of this blog in addition to the television posts. Right now I'm covering Big Brother: Over the Top daily -- you can find those posts at this link. I'm also live blogging Survivor episodes as they air on Wednesday evenings. Come join the blog parties!

It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving will be upon us in just a few days! Around here, we've had more warm days than cold so far. Of course, Thanksgiving is early this year, so there's that. I wouldn't mind temperatures in the 50s all through the winter season, though! But it's already changed. They don't expect temperatures to get out of the forties starting today and remaining for the rest of the week. They predicted snow not far north of here and flurries for here overnight leading into today. I saw no flurries.

With the exception of a Red-Tailed Hawk sitting atop the Chotola Apartment Building on North Avenue (across from the Plainfield Train Station) one morning as I headed to work, it wasn't a great photo week. But I certainly took advantage of the hawk sighting! One of the best things about digital photography is the ability to shoot and shoot ... and shoot. I think I took a total of about fifty shots of him before he flew away!

I found out that the Trader Joe's in Westfield will be reopening in about two weeks. I'm SO looking forward to that! I'm still going through Trader Joe's withdrawal pains since their roof collapsed in a blizzard last January. I have a Peapod grocery order set for Wednesday. But, since it's the day before Thanksgiving, I doubt all items will be in stock. I just know I'll be way busy at work from Friday on, have to work weird hours Monday and Tuesday ... Wednesday is my only day to get groceries other than today. I don't want to go out there today! After making the mistake of going into a food store the day before Thanksgiving in the past, I also refuse to madhouse once again. I figure if Peapod is out of the turkey breast I ordered, they will have the Porterhouse steak and I'll have a good meal on the holiday no matter what.  

Today I'm making up a big batch of beef stew in my crock pot. That will last me through Wednesday for my main meals. When you're me and live with a cat, you don't mind living off of leftovers for three days! I only cook things I like because I have no one to please with my cooking but myself. Often I'll make a big dish on a day off to have for a few days so I don't have to cook on workdays. When you only have one day off at a time and no "weekend" to speak of, it makes life easier. 

Anyway ... onto the photos. Clicking on an image will bring up a larger version.
  

Artsy Red-Tailed Hawk

I edited this shot to highlight the hawk. Deadly to some, yet a magnificent bit of nature.

Morning moon and the hawk

I was so happy to see the hawk sit in place for so long! It's hard to capture them in flight.

The original Hawkeye

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I just kept shooting him

But he didn't fall down. Maybe my camera wasn't loaded! 

Turn around, hawk!

Although he turned his head a few times, I really wanted him to turn his entire self around. But did he listen to me? Nope! At least shots like this allowed me to capture his red tail quite nicely. Definitely a Red-Tailed Hawk!

Reclaiming their roost

They were nowhere in sight when the Red-Tailed Hawk was there. But, once he flew away, a whole flock of pigeons came out of nowhere back to their favorite spot atop the Chotola Apartment Building.

On a Pair of Wings and a Prayer

THIS is what happens when a Red-Tailed Hawk meets a pigeon. He leaves behind wings and a collarbone. This wasn't the work of the hawk I saw in Plainfield, but a hawk near my workplace in Bridgewater. The very first time I saw this kind of carnage years back, I blamed odd religious sacrifices. But then I came to the realization that it's birds of prey. The wings are too bony and feathery for their liking.

Supermoon

Monday night's supermoon obscured by a fine haze of clouds.

A new lone Azalea

Yes, in Bridgewater where I noted the last out of season lone azalea, there's a new one. This one is about ten feet away from the last one which has now been gone for about three or four weeks. 

See! It's the only Azalea blossom in sight!

The saga continues ...

... I see dead people on NJ Transit trains. I will be considerate of dead people, but will take the photo nonetheless. (The "be considerate" on the sign is a scrolling message regarding cell phone usage. Like that ever works!)

Blast from the past on Friday

On my way to work on Friday, a single level Raritan Valley Line (NJ Transit) was my ride. Huh? Although I see one such train in the mornings going the other way and one in the afternoon going the opposite direction of where I'm heading, my trains are always the double-deckers. I forgot where I want to sit on the single levels! The train looks empty, but that car is at the end of the train. When I get out at Bridgewater, the only door opening there is between the last two cars because of a short platform. Plus, I travel the off peak direction -- I go west when most of the passengers go east and vice versa. My commute, unlike many on NJ Transit, always has plenty of seats even if only two cars of the train are open.

Ah, back to normal

On Saturday, it was back to my regular double-decker. Another quiet car (not to be confused with the Quiet Car) but I see Seamstress on a Train Lady is over there on the left. 

Trendsetter on a Train

I have no words about these socks and color-coordinated cuffed short pants. Yes, the other sock matched. Yeah, it was a guy. I just don't know. I don't want to know.

Oh my!

This IS the car which usually occupies that space at my apartment building. But, until this week, it was in nice shape. The accident had to happen elsewhere as, where it's parked, it would be impossible to gain the speed needed to do such damage. Even if it had been in the travel lane of the lot, no way could that kind of speed be attained. Plus, there are no car bits about. They had to have it towed there. It needs to go away. It's unsightly and a danger as children sometimes (illegally) play in the lot. I doubt the landlord or the parking company will let it remain there for long.

Vincent's Saturday Caturday activities

Yup! Rolling in catnip and napping were on his agenda. Of course, I had to go to work to keep him in catnip with a roof over his head. In other Vincent news, the Brave Killer of Mice is AFRAID of catnip-scented soap bubbles! I bought some because my past cats enjoyed chasing the bubbles so much. Not Vincent! He gets a terrified look on his face, runs a distance away and just watches the bubbles fall to the floor and pop with his wide scared eyes.