Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - September 16, 2012

Good Sunday morning, world! Since it is Sunday morning, this is my weekly off television topic post reflecting on the week gone by in both words and photographs I've taken along the way. If you're looking for Big Brother content, never fear ... it's right here. But if you want a peek into my life, feel free to read on.

After a spritz of overnight rain early in the week, it was glorious weather here for the remainder. On the anniversary of 9/11, the weather was hauntingly like it was that day. Teenagers and college kids don't remember that we didn't used to have huge planters around the corners at Penn Station. They've grown up with security checks at airports. Not me. I remember a day with more innocence. I will never forget 9/11/01, the lives lost and the way the world has changed.

On the home front, the not as new now landlord had new washing machines installed in the laundry room. Oh my. An incentive to do laundry before it grows to two loads! They also put down gray carpet on the stairway and landings in the front of the building. That, at least for the immediate entry area, might be a mistake. The floor covering right at door level was some kind of fake stone-looking stuff. People entering the front door in bad weather make a mess. Oh, well. At least the carpet is gray already!

There is another thing about the landlord, this one a bit disturbing. For the second time, I noticed Craigslist apartment for rent advertisements for units in the building ... only in Spanish. Um. Is that even legal? It's not that they (landlord and company) even speak Spanish although many of their workers do. It sounds like they want Hispanic tenants rather than any other to me. I personally just want decent neighbors in the building -- I don't care Hispanic, black, white, Indian ... whatever. But many folks won't even know the apartments are available if the ad is solely in Spanish. Hmm.

We had a fire alarm go off in the building yesterday. As usual, I went out to make sure there was no real fire. It's always either a malfunction or someone's bad cooking. I know not to open my door if my cooking sets off the little alarm within my apartment (which it does sometimes as the CO/smoke alarm is way too fussy!). But, when fools open their doors, the main building alarm goes off and we get fire department response and all.

When I went out to make sure there was no fire, there was a tiny elderly black woman who looked very frightened and disoriented. She was obviously blind, about 90 years old and she just clutched my arm when I asked if she was okay. She was saying something, but I couldn't make it out. I've never seen her before in my life.

I released myself from her grasp when I saw a fire engine pull up, went and told them there was no fire, but I was worried about an elderly woman in the hallway. They didn't have much better luck communicating with her than I did. They called for an ambulance. She had house slippers on and obviously couldn't have come far. No one passing by in the halls recognized her, either.

One firefighter decided to check all the doors on the second floor. I was thinking the front of the building as I didn't know her. What? The apartment next door to me was unlocked and, upon opening it, there was a heater on (yikes, it had to be 90 in there) and the apartment even smelled like the elderly woman! Mind you, that's not a good thing. Now, I know the man who lives there. He's lived there for about four years now. I thought he lived alone. 

When I mentioned his name to her, she nodded. He's her son. Oh my. The firemen got her to call him. Upon discovering where she lives, I realized why she wasn't talking to us. I know the man living there is from Africa, although he speaks English. She doesn't speak English. She speaks Swahili. The poor woman. The fire alarm scared her and she left the apartment, but didn't know how to get downstairs. Between her blindness, her language barrier and probably what seems like a bit of dementia ... it's all a bit sad. At least if I ever see her again, I know where she belongs.

In other news, it was indeed my birthday yesterday. I want to thank everyone who sent me greetings and cards. Vincent didn't give me anything! 

Onto the photos for the week. Clicking on an image will open it on a Photobucket page, clicking again will make it larger. To return here, simply close that page.  

My new friend

I met this beautiful python walking on Watchung Avenue in Plainfield yesterday. No, the snake wasn't walking, I was! When I asked the man carrying it if I could take a photo, he offered to take photos of me holding it. I figured if he ran off with my camera, I'd take off with his snake.

The Alley

This is an alley off of East Front Street (Plainfield) leading to what's normally a parking lot. There were dueling Hispanic festivals going on yesterday in two adjacent city parking lots. One has been held for four years now in celebration of the independence of Mexico and Central America. It gets a huge turnout and I've enjoyed it each time I've attended. I'm about as non-Latina as one could be. But it's a fantastic thing for the city and draws more folks from all over the state each year. This year, with a second Hispanic festival adjacent, the crowds had to be several thousand. 

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

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - September 9, 2012

Good morning, world! Or, at the least, a little bit of the world. I don't think I'd want the whole world here anyway. I'd have to get out of my fuzzy slippers. This is 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 might want to skip this post and head here instead.

Thinking back on the week, it wasn't really all that remarkable in the greater scheme of my life. Yes, it was a four day work week at my day job and I did have an extra day off. But, with the BB live feeds coverage going on, a day off doesn't necessarily mean a day off. However, the end is in sight -- the finale is September 19. The live feeds cut down drastically before then.

The weather here hasn't been cooperative in light of my photo taking, either. It's been immensely humid and/or raining half the time as I made my commute back and forth. Since I didn't really go elsewhere with my camera(s), my photos this week are a bit limited.

A few random thoughts from the week:

• It's bad enough that some high school age kids called me "ma'am." But when an Emminem thug lookin' wannabe in his mid-20s wearing a "wife-beater" shirt called me "Ma'am" ... GAH! I feel suddenly OLD.
• I got hit on by a drunk Mexican man downtown. Why? Very annoying. I pretty much had to turn him around and give him a push to make him go away. He didn't respond to "Shoo!" with my hand motions.
• Vincent hasn't done not a thing around the house. I would expect he'd at least do the dishes now and then or Swiffer up his own cat fur. 
• One morning on the train, I saw two deer and a snowy egret. Alas, the train was going too fast for clear photos. But I like to think it's a lucky day when I spot wildlife on my way to work.
• I should clarify -- the deer and egret were not ON the train. I saw them out the window.
• Once the leaves start falling, I'll be able to see more. In a way, summer makes my train ride more boring as it hides things with all the leaves.
• The days seem to rapidly be getting shorter even though we aren't anywhere near losing Daylight Savings Time yet.
• I like the new angles from the sun, especially in the mornings.
• Starting today, the oppressive humidity we suffered through for most of the week should lessen. Good.
• We were under tornado watches for several hours yesterday. I had my camera ready, but no tornadoes here -- the closest one struck in Brooklyn.

That's just about it. Onto the photos -- clicking on an image will open it in a new window, clicking again will result in a larger image. Closing out that window will return you right here.  

Lonesome dove

I believe he (she?) was indeed lonesome. I believe mourning doves pair up and are  monogamous for life. This sole dove perched atop the flag pole in front of the Plainfield Police Station, observing traffic and probably thinking, "Look at those silly humans."

Man vs. Nature

The skies were spectacular one morning. You'll see that I took advantage of that for several of my photos this week. This one was taken looking through the parking lot fence at Union County Community College on Church Street in Plainfield.

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

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - Sept. 2, 2012

Good Sunday morning to y'all. No, I haven't gone all Southern on you. It just didn't sound right for me to address you as "youse guys." This is my weekly off television topic post which reflects on the week gone by in both words and photographs I've taken. If you're looking for the latest news from inside the Big Brother house, hit this link. Otherwise, grab a cup of joe and settle in.

Although Hurricane Isaac wreaked havoc down near the Gulf, our own weather has been rather unspectacular. We did have some rain in the beginning of the week, then some days which were summer done right. I'm talking highs in the low 80s, low humidity and gentle breezes. That would be my hope for every summer all summer! I'm so not a summer person these days. 

Work continues to be busy. It used to be that we had lulls through the year, not so much anymore. I guess it provides more job security, but it also adds in a bit more stress. Lately I've been training people. I relish the days I'm actually alone in my office now. Add work to the BB14 live feeds coverage and you have one really tired Jackie. Thankfully I have a four-day work week ahead this coming week and another one the week after.

I have today and tomorrow off. Two days off in a row is a rarity for me. So, did I make big plans? Nope. I have a Peapod grocery delivery coming in this morning. I definitely have some housekeeping to do. I believe I might have some napping to do as well. The beach? No way am I go "down the shore" (as they say here) on a summer holiday weekend! Ew. All those sweaty people! Social hermit that I am, I'll have a mellow two days and my mindset will be better for it.

Let's see ... what's left? Oh. The home front. Nothing of any note has happened in the apartment building. I know that if I lived in the front wing, I'd be moving out. This morning I went to get my newspaper and noticed that the riff-raff in the front wing have trash sitting outside their doorways. Well, not all of them, but enough of them to be irking. Candy wrappers are abandoned on the floor. You go to my wing and the hallway is spotless; the only items in the hallway are door mats. I know it's silly on the second floor. But I put one here. No matter how much I clean, if I step out directly on the dark green carpet in the hallway, I track white Vincent fur. 

On the larger home front, the people who live on the street in back of me with their yard facing my windows (perhaps 300 feet away), continue to have live bands and parties which last all day Saturdays and into the night. I swear if the police didn't get called, they'd go overnight. If it were a rare thing, my "live and let live" personal policy would kick in. But this happens almost weekly. This is a residential neighborhood. I don't live over a bar which features live bands. I shouldn't have to put up with live amplified Mexican bands, loud Spanish over loudspeakers and party animals 300 feet from my bedroom window. That's not how to behave in a city environment. Go rent a park somewhere!

I filmed them for a minute from inside my apartment just to show how disruptive and inconsiderate it is. I called the police, which I hate to do because I know they have more crucial matters than noise complaints on a Saturday night. It eventually got shut down around 11 PM. Sigh. Here's the short video:




Onto this week's photos ...

Childhood abandoned

This abandoned rocking horse sat in front of the Dumpster at the U-Haul building on East Second Street in Plainfield for four days before it vanished. I hope it found a home and didn't just ride off into the sunset.

Pink!

Lots of flowers are still in bloom. These are growing in the planter lining the front of Union County Psychiatric Center on Roosevelt Avenue in Plainfield. No, I'm not a patient there. If I walked in the door, they just might keep me!

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

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - August 26, 2012

Good Sunday morning to you! 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. If you're looking for the latest on Big Brother, you can see all of those posts using this link. I'll be writing up the overnight events soon. If you want to stick around, feel free to do so. If you're not interested, I totally understand.

The weather has been what summer should be instead of tropical. But we really can't forget (in this area) that we're coming up on the anniversary of the Hurricane Irene hit. Last year I was recovering from my knee surgery and, other than being without power for a few days, the hurricane didn't personally affect me so much after the waters on my street receded. I hope this hurricane season goes easy on everyone. 

A side thought -- who was the genius who planned the Republican Convention in Florida at what's usually the height of the hurricane season? Duh!

Although we've had little rain this past week, the mosquitos are out and about. I haven't been bit by one for a good ten years locally (in the Outer Banks last year, I was their daily meal), then a bite on the wrist a few weeks back. Now, in one evening, I have a bite below the elbow and one on my butt. Yes, you read that right! I seem to be having really bad reactions to the bites as far as inflammation and swelling go. Not cool. It's like I have a second elbow! And ...

"Does this mosquito bite make my butt look big?"

Couple that with the fact that I saw a dead bird on the sidewalk by the Union County College Campus, I'm leery of the mosquitos. Supposedly, dead birds can be indicative of West Nile Virus. This bird didn't look like it suffered any trauma from an automobile or hawk. I was on my way to the train station and hope that, since it's a college, they had it tested. Since there has been nothing in the news, I'm guessing they just threw it away or did have it tested and it tested negative. No, I'm not feeling ill. I'm fine. I just have a second elbow on my right arm and a big butt.

Other than that, it's been life as usual -- work, BB live feeds reports, sleep very little, eat (probably more than I should), rinse and repeat. For some reason, most of my photos are bugs this week. They gave me the best fodder. I met two different butterflies in the same spot two days in a row, thus I have two butterfly series in this post. 

Eastern Swallowtail

I met this male Eastern Swallowtail butterfly yesterday on my way to work. I know it's a male as it has very little blue on the wings. Yes, I Googled them. Bridgewater, NJ.

Monarch

The day before (Friday), I met a Monarch butterfly in just about the same spot on the same bush. 

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

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

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

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - July 29, 2012

Good Sunday morning, folks! Welcome to my weekly off television topic reflection on the week gone by in both words and photos I've taken. If you're looking for Big Brother content, you can find all my latest posts right at this link. I posted a live feeds report last night and will be submitting one with the late night and overnight happenings in a few hours. You might want to skip this post, but you're indeed welcome to stay!

It was another Super Summer week here in the NJ/NYC Greater Metropolitan Area. I'm SO ready for the summer to end. Heat and humidity? I'm not a fan. Oh, sure ... I love a way cool thunderstorm now and again, but not if it knocks my power out. 

On the Jersey 'hood front, the Demon Hello Ice Cream Truck is still terrorizing the streets. I still have not bought any ice cream from it. I fear I'd start shouting "Hello! Hello!" and start beeping and making farm animal noises.

Speaking of farm animal noises, the urban rooster in the 'hood no longer crows. No, I don't think his goose (rooster) was cooked. I believe the entire Deliverance Family has up and left. For some reason, I think they probably rented out that house and lived there long enough to get evicted for non-payment of the rent. 

On the apartment building front, they finally have all of the video cameras filming the three entry doors to the building. I pretend I'm on Big Brother and peek at them out of the corner of my eye as entering or leaving. How much do you want to bet that someone will eventually steal the cameras?

Once again, I didn't have a great photo-taking week. I got a few decent shots, but I was hot and sweaty or it was raining or I seemed to be running late for the part of the week. Work itself was a bit less hectic, but I'm not getting a lot of sleep due to the BB live feeds reporting atop of trying to lead a normal working life.

Here's what I took to share with you this week:

Lightning bug up close and personal

Once again, a lightning bug was in the hallway. This time it was up on the wall allowing for a better shot. The windows by the elevator have no screens (although they do have child guards) and people keep opening them as the corridors have no AC. Thus, bugs come in. Look! He has little HANDS!

The 'shroom family

Obviously heading out for a day of summer fun. Bridgewater, NJ

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

Off Topic - That Was the Week It Was - July 22, 2012

Good Sunday morning to y'all! For those folks looking for Big Brother live feeds reports, my most recent one is here. I will be posting another one sometime this afternoon -- there hasn't been much happening since the last one. You may want to skip over this post. Every Sunday I post an off television topic reflection on the week gone by in both words and photographs I've taken. And, this is it! You've been warned.

As for this week ... I've met the Zombie Apocalypse and its name is Jackie.

Returning to work after vacation is always a challenge for me. Various people have been in my office filling in for me. So, returning is always greeted with bizarre things done, my office stuff moved around and you name it. This past Monday I was also greeted with training a new manager in there while it's all discombobulated. Sigh.

Then I was informed that on Tuesday we would be receiving a visit from (afar) to certify us as a "University" location ... training any and all new management. I had to get the layout of my office up to their specs and make sure everything was perfect. I was there nearly 12 hours on Monday. Sigh.

Mind you, I had also been sick the first part of my vacation and was still feeling not quite up to par.

There was also yet another heat wave. I hate heat waves. With all the science and technology, you'd think that climate control could be an actuality. It's bad enough we don't have flying cars in every garage. Is climate control too much to ask? It could be the end of droughts ... and severe heat waves!

Then, of course, it was the first full week of my busy blogging season, too. I have to get back into the swing of that. When you blog Big Brother live feeds reports two or three times a day atop a really full time job, well ... it's not the easiest thing and sleep gets cast aside for a few months.

Between being the Walking Dead and the weather being a gazillion degrees with high humidity or raining, I really didn't feel inspired to take many photos. But I did take a few I like and want to share with you. Clicking on an image will open it on a new page, clicking again will make it larger. Just close out the new page to return back here to the blog.

Woody!

I heard him before I saw him. This was early in the morning as I headed to the train, so the light wasn't really great. But there he (she?) was on East Front Street in Plainfield. Because I'm not really seeing the top of the head, I'm taking a guess that it's either a Hairy Woodpecker or a Red-Bellied Woodpecker.

Mothy!

Don't even expect me to know what kind of moth this is! Also on East Front Street.

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

Off Topic - That Was the Week It Was - July 8, 2012

What? It's Sunday? I guess it must be time for my weekly off television topic reflection on the week gone by in both words and photographs I've taken along the way.

But, first ... (as says the ChenBot), I do have to touch on all of the Big Brother 14 news just a bit. If you haven't noticed, I've started posting about the cast. I plan on posting more a bit later today about our new hamsters. They actually entered the house last night, but the live feeds don't start until after the premiere airs. I posted cast interviews over on my Big Brother Facebook Page for this blog. Please feel free to like the page -- I link all my BB blog articles there, as well as some additional content.

On more personal non-television matters, I received word from the new landlord that Vincent can indeed stay despite the new "no pets" lease. YAY! I really didn't want to move. But if they said he had to go, we would find another place to live. I did make it clear to them that I would be moving if they didn't allow him. I know this area isn't the easiest to find good tenants and, apparently, so do they.

As for my knees mishap last week, they seem to be okay. I couldn't make an appointment due to the holiday week, but really need to call back this week. The left (older) knee swelled up for about three days and is still sporting all kinds of beautiful colors. The right (new) knee has a scrape and a small bruise in addition to some residual pain around the kneecap. Both seem to be stable enough. I'm not going to have them redone no matter what! At least not for the next twenty or thirty years, I hope.

My latest staycation started yesterday. Supposedly the latest heat wave should end tonight and I might be able to enjoy roaming about with the camera or take a run into the city. I'd go to the beach but too many people go there this time of year!

Onto the photos I've taken this week -- I had some extra photo fodder because the Plainfield 4th of July Parade was held yesterday, on the 7th. Don't ask. I watched the parade because it goes right by my apartment building. But I didn't partake in any of the other events of the day because it was just too darn HOT. Clicking on an image will open it in a new window, clicking again will make it larger, then close that window to return here. 

Horse in the 'hood!

I edited this to leave only the horse and rider in color. Obviously, this is from the parade. We rarely have horses just roaming around here in the 'hood.

Early morning Presbyterian

I like the way the early morning sun played out on the local Presbyterian Church. East Front Street, Plainfield

I see the bee's knees!

The bees are still busy in Bridgewater!

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

Off Topic - That Was the Week It Was - July 1, 2012

It's once again Sunday morning. You know what that means. It's time for my weekly off television topic post reviewing the week gone by in both words and photographs I've taken along the way.

Briefly visiting the actual topic of this blog -- television, really -- I expect there to be announcements perhaps as early as tomorrow regarding the cast of the new season of Big Brother. They should be in sequester at this time filming teasers for commercials and avoiding the outside world. My personal educated guess is that they will enter the house next weekend (July 7, 8) although the live feeds won't start until after the season premiere. When I know news, I'll get it posted.

In other TV news, I'm now on individual waitlists for every single America's Got Talent live show in Newark through August. I really hope to snag tickets to go with friends to at least one show! In looking at the times of the shows which vary from 5:30pm to 6:30pm, I'd have no trouble getting to Newark on time on the train after working. It's only a two block walk from Newark Penn Station to the Prudential Hall where the shows will be filmed. And, it's FREE. The only real problem is actually getting the tickets!

In other news, it's just been one of those icky weeks for me. The weather was either stormy or heat wave. I hate the heat and humidity. I don't like to sweat while just walking. I wrote the letter pleading that Vincent be grandfathered with the new landlord, but haven't heard back yet. I didn't take ANY photos this week that excited me. But, then the week got worse.

I fell. I fell due to an idiot putting a dark duffel bag on the floor of a dimly lit corner store directly in the only path one has to approach the register area. I already get irked by the people who just mill around in that store on Saturday mornings buying bus tickets to Atlantic City or spending their government issued monies on scratch off tickets and Lotto. Now I will regard them all with distrust and venom in my eyes.

I fell directly on both knees (replacements). The pain was unreal. I yelled at the woman who had no reason on earth to leave that bag on the floor! It wasn't even near her. It was five feet away next to the Drake's Cakes rack. I went ahead to work as I was nearby the train station already.The left (older) knee immediately swelled up. The right (new) knee had a scrape on it, but didn't swell. I worked a shortened day, did what I had to get done, then headed home to elevate and ice.

That was yesterday. Today both knees seem to be stable enough, but the left one is still quite swollen, the right one a bit swollen. Both still hurt. There's no sense in going to the Emergency Room as, while they might take x-rays, there's nothing they could do about knee replacement damage other than to give me painkillers. I don't need painkillers bad enough to pay the deductible for an ER visit. I have needed to set up my yearly follow-up on both knees with my orthopedic surgeon. He takes x-rays then. I'm not sure if I'll be able to get in during the holiday week, hopefully next week. I'll live with the pain ... as long as the knees seem to be stable. Hopefully I did no damage to the mechanisms. Sigh.

In better news, I only work three days this week. It should be four days due to the holiday, but I also added a personal day in for Saturday. Then I'm on my last staycation before my paid time off hours switch over on September 1st (anniversary with the company). I get several weeks vacation and a number of personal days yearly. If I don't take those hours, I lose them come my anniversary date. On the other hand, my sick hours can accrue up to six weeks, then they add up no more. If I leave the company, I can collect any vacation or personal days due, but not the sick time. The sick time just vanishes. I think I might be sick a lot the year I retire. :-)

Onto my rather lackluster photos of the week. Clicking on an image will open it in a new window, clicking again will make it larger. Just close out that window to plunk you right back here on the blog. 

Hey, everybody, have you heard?

He's going to buy me a mockingbird. If that mockingbird don't sing, he's going to buy me a diamond ring. This mockingbird I spotted at the Bridgewater Train Station was surely going through an array of songs ... in between dive-bombing any other bird in sight. What a violent little bird!

We're having a heat wave, a tropical heat wave

One morning, it was already really warm and sticky as I headed to the train station a bit after six in the morning. The sun just hung in a haze. Yet, in the other direction, storm clouds darkened the skies. I took this shot at the fence for the Union Community College parking lot on Church Street in Plainfield.

Bees don't care

With the exception of torrential downpours, bees don't care about the weather. They have stuff they have to do! If these bees sit still enough, they're great photo fodder. They're not aggressive at all. But I did see some yellow jackets this week. I'm leery about them. I am allergic to bee stings, so I have to be careful with more aggressive bees.

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

Off Topic - That Was the Week It Was - June 24, 2012

Yep, yep, yep. It's once again Sunday morning. 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. 

First, I do want to discuss the television topic for a moment. Remember, Falling Skies is on tonight! I've already seen this episode in screeners and recommend it. Second, I want to mention Glass House. I accidentally napped the evening it was on and only caught the last twenty minutes or so of the show. I wasn't impressed. There was some obnoxious dude deliberately being obnoxious to the others and it all came across as staged to me. The feeds have only been available select hours and days when I'm at work. While I plan to catch a bit more, I just can't see myself getting too involved in the show. Big Brother will keep me more than busy enough through the summer.

The season premiere of Big Brother is Thursday, July 12, That would put the hamsters in the house the weekend before. So, it's not all that far away! With the live feeds from BB, I can watch any time day or night. If I want to see something that happened while I was at work, I can use their rewind function. While the Glass House feeds are free, they're really limited.

Okay, let's get back to off topic! 

After a week like this past one, I'd love to rescind my adulthood. The beginning of the week was a bit chilly and the end of the week was a heat wave with temperatures in the high 90s and high humidity levels. As I get older, I really don't tolerate that kind of weather well. I actually like winter temps better -- I can always bundle up! The heat? Well, I can't take off all my clothes and walk to the train station. Even if I did (and didn't get arrested, only mocked), I'd STILL get all sweaty!

Then, on the work front, everyone and his brother were off for one reason or another. I had to take on lots of responsibilities that I don't normally do. While I don't mind helping out, I don't like to impromptu deal with computer programs that I'm very iffy on yet I need to have accurate results. Oh, the pressure!

Then the kicker was on the home front. The new landlord mailed me a new lease to sign and return. It's about twenty pages long! I actually haven't signed a lease here since the first landlord a dozen years ago. But, the bad part of this new lease is that not once, but twice, they mention "No pets." Ack. I plan to write them a letter pleading Vincent's cause. I believe I could very well have a case -- their people have been in here and know that Vincent only uses the litter box and has done no damage. Plus, I know I'm the kind of tenant they would or should want here. I'm quiet, never pay my rent late, not destructive, get along well with the neighbors, responsible, low maintenance and more. My original lease here said "No pets" and the landlord at the time okayed my two cats (at the time). We'll see.

If they won't allow Vincent, I will move. I need to sign the lease or tell them before the end of July for a September 1 lease end. So I have time. I already poked around a bit online and see some places cheaper than what I'm paying here. There's one (which will surely be gone by the time I really look if I need to look) only a two-minute walk to the train station, two bedrooms instead of the one I have here and almost $200 less a month!

Also on the home front, two brothers have been charged with that murder back in May. Yes!

Onto this week's photos -- clicking on an image will open it in a new window, clicking again will give you a larger image. Closing out the Photobucket window will zap you right back here to the blog. Huh. That's almost like time travel! 

Peeping Lily

Day lilies are growing like crazy all over the place these days. They're so magnificent that I always want to shoot them. But, after a while, the shots all look alike. So I went for a different angle with this shot. Berckman Street, Plainfield.

Monday Morning blues

The heat didn't hit until Wednesday. Plus, some folks with longer commutes tend to be a bit more bundled up due to the air conditioning on the trains. Me? I wear short sleeves! NJ Transit Raritan Valley Line.

Recognize this?

There I was, near the elevator in my building, when I spotted this. At first, out of the corner of my eye, I thought COCKROACH. Eeek! Nope. Closer inspection revealed it to be a beetle I absolutely adore. It's a lightning bug or firefly (if you prefer). I think these are a magical part of my youth that still put me in some sort of fairyland trance when I see them at night. After taking this little guy's photo I gently picked him up with a piece of paper and put him outside.

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