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

Yo, good morning, peeps. Oh, did I say that? You'll have to forgive me. I just looked up who's doing the cover of "All Along the Watchtower" in the commercials for the new upcoming Stephen King TV series Under the Dome. It's a rap group called Devlin out of the UK. Very catchy although it's definitely not Dylan or Hendrix. A good song holds up no matter what. Leave it to King who owns (owned?) a classic rock radio station up in Maine to come up with this version for the promos.

Anyway ... it's Sunday morning. Welcome to my weekly off television topic reflection on the week gone by in both words and photographs I've taken along the way. Not to fear, TV fans, it won't be long until this television lull is in the past. I have a bunch of screeners from TNT to cover in the upcoming days. Big Brother is back in the last week of June. There's the series mentioned above which I find very intriguing because I'm a huge Stephen King buff. We will have our television fodder!

Last week's weather here in my corner of New Jersey ran the gambit from almost winter-like to summer heat and humidity with very little spring tossed in there. The wind howled a lot. Yesterday was cold and raw with high wind warnings -- not a good start to a three day holiday weekend to kick off the summer for many folks.

I actually was off yesterday on a Saturday. My original plans had been to visit the farmers market in nearby Westfield. I have never been to that one and thought it would be nice. Thankfully, I looked up online to see if they were started yet this year. What? They've canceled it for this season? They want to go another direction? Sheesh. So, I decided I'd hit up the even closer Scotch Plains one instead. The only farmers market that comes to Plainfield comes during my working hours on a weekday. I so rarely have Saturdays off that I thought it would be fun. Alas, due to the weather, I stayed inside all day yesterday. Since I'm on a staycation this week, I'll hit up the Scotch Plains one next Saturday and I'll also see if the Plainfield one is up for this Thursday.

Since I have a Peapod grocery delivery scheduled for today which includes a ton of fruit (five dollars off when ordering $20 worth), it's not that I need the farmers market anyway. So there, Westfield! I'm looking forward to making up a fantastic fruit salad to last a few days. Plus, I'm going to make me a blender-full of chocolate-banana shakes. Mmm.

This past week was one struggling through weather and trying to wrap up loose ends at work so I felt okay leaving it behind for a week. I do know I'll come back to a mess and I'll also have a new manager to train in my office. I surely will rest up this week! I don't have many plans at all other than spring cleaning and possibly checking out the Westfield Memorial Day Parade on Monday morning. Perhaps I'll go into Manhattan one day. Or, maybe I'll take the cameras to a strange town along the bus or train route just to explore. Gosh, I love staycations! My next one in July is a mix of staycation with a few days away for my 40th high school reunion in upstate New York.

Onto the photos I took this past week. Once again, the flower shots are heavy. If you don't see rain in the photos, that means it's hot and humid.
 

Into the iris

I'm in awe at Mother Nature when I look into an iris. What stunning beauty! Growing on Berckman Street in Plainfield.

Rhododendron beauty

Growing on Berckman Street in Plainfield.

Colorful on a dreary day

Growing in the yard at the corner of East Front and Richmond in Plainfield.

Plainfield Fire Rescue 1

I edited this one to leave only the firetruck in color. This was on Berckman Street responding to a fire around the corner on East Second Street. More in the next photo ...

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Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - May 12, 2013

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there! I hope you get deservedly pampered!

Since it is Sunday morning, it's time for my off television topic reflection on the week gone by in both words and photographs I've taken along the way. But, as usual, I have a few television topics to touch on first:

• Tonight is the two-hour season finale of Survivor: Caramoan Islands Fans vs. Favorites. It will be followed by the hour long reunion show. So, the prime-time block of 8pm - 11pm ET/PT will be Survivor! Hopefully it will start on time here on the East Coast. I will have the blog party post up by 8pm ET. Come watch the show with us!
• I have watched all five of the screener episodes of Falling Skies and will be posting a bit on them during the upcoming week. Right now I'll just lament that it will be about July something before I see a fresh episode of the show. Wah!
• Big Brother is set to debut on June 25 this year, earlier than just about ever! For the last several seasons, it's been premiering right after the 4th of July weekend. I've heard that Real.com is NOT handling the live feeds this season, but I will be posting live feeds reports from wherever they're available. Rumor has it CBS itself will be hosting them. I have no idea of the costs.

Onto other stuff ...

Um. Well. Ah, I've got it!

It rained for a good portion of the past week. We are now caught up to the levels expected. It can stop for a few days now. To be honest, I don't mind a light rain if I'm outside with an umbrella. I don't care for downpours when I'm stuck in them, though. I do love a good thunderstorm when I'm inside and my power remains on. I also like to sleep to the sound of rain. But it can stop for a few days anyway!

The not so new landlord here continues to do various things. We got new fancy-schmancy side and front glass and metal doors the week before last. They installed new brighter lighting at the entrances and by the elevator on the first floor. Heck, they even mulched the bushes which haven't been mulched in all the time I've lived here. 

As far as neighbors in the building -- I still haven't seen or met the upstairs neighbor who arrived in March. He also remains the least noisy person who's ever lived up there in the dozen years I've been here. Sure, he makes some noise, but not bad at all. The worst of the playing in the hallway children upstairs seems to have moved out. I haven't heard that in a while. And, as I could hear him when he arrived home from school because he always runs on his heels and never walks ... I'm thinking gone. YAY!

Work remains quite workish. I hope you're all aware that the government has issued a new version of the I-9 form. It comes with nine pages of instruction! Whoopie! The HR Think Tank thing I'm a part of at my workplace has been analyzing it and setting up tips for the company to use so we'll pass audits and any possible government inspections. Yeah, I get to have all the fun on my job. I bet you're jealous!

Onto this week's photos: 

Pink azalea

New growth

Bee on honeysuckle

This bee looked like he was trying to match his body weight in pollen. I love to sniff the honeysuckle at the Bridgewater Train Station. I don't really like to sniff bees. Nope.

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

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - October 28, 2012

Good morning! It's Sunday morning, therefore 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.

Have any of you folks heard that there's some kind of storm heading towards the Mid-Atlantic and East Coast? Apparently it's supposed to be a whopper, eh? I read that the weather people (as opposed to the Weathermen) want people to stop calling it silly names like "Frankenstorm" because it's just so darn dangerous.

Now, I'm not doubting it's going to be serious. But, sheesh. I think the media makes people panic about it. Someone even stole my Sunday newspaper this morning, possibly thinking it has the latest up to the minute storm details. 

Me? I'm not all that worried. I live in a very populated area. I have enough food to last a number of days if need be. I have candles, batteries, one of those stick on lights and a good flashlight. I have plenty of water, plus my water doesn't go out even if the power's out. Normally my landline stays working, too. Plus I have my cell phone and police, weather alert (etc.) scanner. 

If, for some reason, there's a really long power outage, it's not like there's no other people around. One of the shelters set up is a five minute walk away. Getting to work may be another issue. I doubt I'll be going in until after my next day off. They're already talking about shutting down the NJ Transit trains and buses. Heck, work might not even be open! I have plenty of paid time off in the bank, so I might have a little vacation!

Right now, it's not doing anything out there. But, yesterday, I returned home from work to find the notice below shoved under my door. I think I prefer Chinese menus, thank you very much! (And in the 12 years I've been here, I've only seen flooding once -- during Irene.) I don't doubt there will be street flooding because the city never bothered to pick up the huge piles of leaves at the curb!

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Oh my

Plainfield Train Station lamp

On Monday, I spent an inordinate amount of time at the Plainfield Train Station. I'll get into that later. But I was there after the sun started shining.

Squirrel!

The squirrels have been extremely active lately. Beside gathering their goodies, they're chasing each other around and chattering at people for daring to come near them. This was on East Front Street in Plainfield.

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Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - October 7, 2012

To start things off this morning, how about some action?

The 007 of Plainfield, NJ? Cool. Apparently the John McClane character is from Plainfield, NJ. Bruce Willis is most certainly not. He's a Jersey boy after spending his first few years in Germany. But he's from the northeast corner of the state. McClane wouldn't have been from there! He's definitely more of a Plainfield kind of guy. Mind you, the movie is set in Russia ... not NJ or NYC.

Anyway, it's Sunday morning. Welcome to my weekly off television topic post. I usually reflect on the week gone by in both words and photographs I've taken. I really don't have a heck of a lot to say this week. I've been ill. I'm feeling somewhat better. I worked. I slept. Vincent still thinks I'm his own personal sofa. I guess, without further ado, it's onto the photos I took.

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Waning moon

It's as dark as night when I leave for work most mornings. This is the (slightly) waning moon Monday morning as I walked out the door. I always think photographing the moon is a challenge. Challenge met this time; I got detail!

Carpenter at work

Carpenter BEE, that is! Although almost the size of small flying mice, these bees are quite docile and make for good photo fodder. Bridgewater, NJ

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

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - Sept. 30, 2012

It's Sunday morning. That means that 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. Tonight will be the big season premiere of The Amazing Race. I will be posting a blog party post for the show and would love to see you there!

Hmm ... my week, eh? Well, it was nothing for the history books of most fantastic times of my life, for sure! I'm still under the weather. However, I did return to work on Thursday. Sure enough, the rain came to join me for my work return. It's held off for the most part for the past few days. But I ended up making sure I had my umbrella with me anyway.

On Tuesday I dropped off my entries for the Plainfield Library Photo Contest. It was also my first time in the library since they remodeled and reopened a few weeks back. Wow. I'm impressed with the changes! It's definitely a change from the libraries I grew up loving. Heck, all they had were books! I really enjoy the staff working there, as well. Good people, some fantastic artwork, BOOKS and more. If I lived next door, I might just develop an addiction.

I think I'm just going to head into random notes of the week or my observations. Yeah, I know it's cheating, but ...!

• There is an elderly man on my street who has a motorized wheelchair. He has a boom box on his wheelchair. He plays Jamaican music. It's like it's coming over a PA system. He needs to stop.
• Then again, there are also those fools who feel they need to use their cellphones as mini-boom boxes. It's all tinny and annoying. They need to stop, too.
• Sure, just as I was walking up to my building, I hear a voice shout, "Do you need a ride?" I turn around and it's a police car. It was one of the narcotic detectives, albeit it in uniform and on patrol. He's a good guy I know from the bus stop downtown. I told him I lived here.
• I guess it's good that the narcotics/gangs cops "know" me, but haven't a clue where I live.
• Not that it would matter if they did. I lead the ultimate in boring well-behaved lives these days. My drugs of choice are ibuprofen and caffeine. My only "gangs" I might belong to are fellow local bloggers and folks who say hello on the streets.
• The school year has resulted in more school kids on the morning train. Their conversations SO differ from when I was in high school. Three boys were talking about how many lives they had gone through and how to get a special weapon to get to the next level.
• We talked about rock concerts at Saratoga and anti-war protests.
• Vincent the Cat is now addicted to Temptations cat treats. It's my fault. I'm an enabler.

Onto the photos for the week. Clicking on an image will open it larger in a new window, clicking again will make it even larger. To return to the blog, just close the Photobucket window.

Late season bee

I'm really not liking the yellow jackets who have started to bumble around bumping into me. They can be aggressive. But the bumblebees themselves are always laid back and good photo fodder. East Front Street, Plainfield.

Uh-oh, walking upright!

If they get opposable thumbs, we needn't fear a takeover from birds anymore. It will be squirrels overthrowing mankind. East Front Street.

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Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - August 19, 2012

Good Sunday morning to you! 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 looking for Big Brother content, you can pull up all of those posts with this label link and might want to skip over this particular post. Don't worry, my feelings won't be hurt. But, for those who remain ...

This coming week will break the pattern of hot, humid and stormy. It will keep the stormy part now and again, but the temperatures will be slightly below normal. I'm more than ready for the temperatures to ease. I was probably ready before it ever got hot!

Vincent has fared fine through the hot weather as, in the worst of it, I've left the air conditioner on low for him. However, I'd rather just have the windows open with a gentle breeze wafting in and a lower electric bill. Unfortunately, I have to go out back and forth to work as I am not a spoiled cat. 

Let's see ... I seem a bit discombobulated this morning. So, maybe I should just send out random thoughts on the week in my BB live feeds reporting style. Yeah, that's easier than paragraphs! Here we go!

• I hurt a finger at my workplace. It's making typing a bit hard. I think it might be sprained.
• I saw a whole bunch of bats in the skies downtown last night as I returned home from work. Cool.
• The days are getting shorter. Last week it was too rainy, but would have been too light for the bats on my Saturday later return home.
• I did not win the big Powerball lottery drawing. I bought one ticket. Never gamble more than you wish to throw away.
• I have been contacted with an intriguing offer to work for a start-up on the Internet which (hopefully) might become another social networking way of life. I'll know more next week after I talk to them on the phone.
• But, of course, I'll keep my day job. Internet income is so up and down.
• Right now it's way down.
• No one stole the cameras at my apartment building. For some reason, the landlord took them down, every one but the front door.
• I don't use the front door.
• Even the one in the laundry room is gone.
• I don't know what's up with that.
• And now, the front door which had been red, has been painted black.
• Enough of this, onto the photos! 

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A weed flower

Yes, even a weed can be pretty.

A paler shade of bee

I messed with the saturation in this photo. I don't know why, but I like it in paler pastels. East Front Street, Plainfield.

Red sky in the morning

Sailors take warning. And sure enough, it rained later that day. This is the Plainfield Train Station as I waited for my train about 6:30 AM one day.

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Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - August 12, 2012

Good Sunday morning to y'all! No, I'm not from the South. However it's better than welcoming youse guys, right? As it is 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 searching for Big Brother content, use this link to pull up those posts. Otherwise, sit back with a cup of coffee and visit my world for just a bit.

First, I realize I sound like a whiner ... but I'm so tired of this summer. We've had one heat wave after another and the humidity level is horrible even on the "nicer" days. I heard they're predicting a very snowy winter. To be honest, I think I'll like that better as long as I don't fall on ice.

My own life has become super mundane as of late. I work, I sweat, I eat, I watch BB live feeds and write up reports, I spoil Vincent the Cat. That's about it. With it so hot and me hating to sweat so much, I haven't really been going anywhere that I haven't had to go.

I have made a new friend at the bus stop near the train station. Now, tell me ... why would I (of all people) attract a 25-year-old goth/industrial music type with black fingernails? No, I'm NOT a cougar. It's not that kind of friendship! He's a smart kid, yet unemployed. When he told me I was "lucky" to have worked so long for the same company, I told him it wasn't luck at all. It was a lot of hard work and dedication, sometimes when I didn't feel like working hard or being dedicated. But I had to do it anyway. Perhaps the only luck involved was picking a company which has lasted and done well over the years back when I was about 22 or so.

Anyway, onto the photos. Clicking on an image will open it in a new window, clicking again will make it larger. Closing out that window will land you right back here where you left off.

Sunflower with a bee

The reluctant sunflowers by the edge of the sidewalk are finally in bloom so I can get some shots without dealing with a fence. East Front Street, Plainfield.

Almost idyllic

Yet in Plainfield just at the edge of the business district!

I guess he is a she

This is the same orchard spider I photographed last week. She's still hanging in there and now has a very interesting egg case. Bridgewater, NJ

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Off Topic - That Was the Week It Was - July 15, 2012

Good morning, people! If you're a Big Brother fan looking for a live feeds report, check out the post before this one. I will be getting the latest update up in just a bit. This is my weekly off television topic photo post reflecting on the week gone by in both words and photographs I've taken along the way.

I had a staycation this past week. Unfortunately, a stomach bug of some sort took up a good portion of my time off. On Wednesday, feeling a bit better, I thought I'd venture out to photograph the wildlife at Mindowaskin Park in Westfield, then hit up Trader Joe's for some goodies. 

What a mistake! They've let the park get all rundown, its pond covered with algae and smelly. I got a few shots, but saw no ducks or geese, my planned targets. The neglect of a park which had always drawn in such water fowl is sad indeed.

I took so many much better photos stopping by Bernice's garden after attending the opening of the Summer Invitational Photo Exhibit at the Plainfield Public Library. Once again, the photos at the exhibit were truly inspiring! I felt so proud to be a part of it last year and actually even a bit proud of Plainfield itself! Congratulations, Bernice!

I spent some time at the big Citizens Appreciation Day BBQ put on by Plainfield Firefighters, ate a bit and headed on home to catch up on my Big Brother live feeds. Yes, it's that time of year again. I return to work tomorrow already having received a text message from my boss warning me of a very busy week ahead. I guess it all keeps me off the streets and out of trouble!

Onto the photos -- clicking on an image will open it in a new window, clicking again will make it larger, closing that new window will send you right back here. 

Beeware!

This is one of the shots I took in Bernice's flower garden. What a sweet little oasis in the middle of downtown! Thank you for showing me around, Bernice!

Orange happiness

Also at Bernice's.

Pleased to meet you!

One of Bernice's little friends.

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