Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was 8/30/09

Yes, it's Sunday. You know what that means -- it's time for my off topic ramble through the week in thoughts and photographs I've taken. If you're looking for Big Brother 11 news, head to the BB blog tag. If you want to take a walk with me, stay right here.

We've had yet another week of muggy and often stormy weather. Even on the days when the temperatures were fairly low, the humidity was right up there. I want it to end. I want crisp clear autumn weather ... and I want it now. Do you think that will work?

I really don't have any excitement for you. I, once again, didn't win the Mega Millions. But I did only spend a dollar on each big jackpot. I suppose that made the odds go way against me. However, I didn't want to throw away more than a dollar on it. You see, I'd never be a good one to go to Atlantic City or Las Vegas. It bothers me to throw away money.

I worked all week as I'm wont to do. My life outside the day job is still tied up with all the Big Brother doings. While I enjoy the excitement in the blog and the freelance TV Squad writings during the live feeds, I'm always ready for them to end when it comes time. More than four or five hours sleep is so welcome.

While I'm here and off topic, I want to give a shout out to Bernice of the Plainfield Plaintalker and Dan Damon of Plainfield Today and Clips. Thanks go to Bernice for bringing up my blog once again. Thanks go to Dan for adding my link to his Clips blog. You both rock! Although my own blog tends to focus on television, I always read those blogs to find out what's going on in the city around me. I find this city very interesting and a friendly place in which to live. Plainfield often seems to have a bad reputation, but it's a place where almost everyone greets me with a friendly hello when I'm walking on the sidewalk. That just doesn't happen everywhere.

Onto the photos for the week - clicking on them will open them larger in a new window:

Feral cat at the Plainfield (NJ) Train Station

He looks hefty in this photo, but he's pretty thin when he stands. This one, or one who looks like him, has been around for more than a year. I feel sorry for him, but he doesn't trust people at all.

A slice of sky

Plainfield Train Station with a double-decker in port. Um ... in track. Something like that. At least the rain stopped for a few minutes.

Is it autumn yet?

The poison ivy in Bridgewater (NJ) is starting to pick up its first hint of fall color. That is, the leaves not attacked by the poison ivy leaf gall mite.

Same bees, new flowers

The flowers the carpenter bees were on last week have passed, so they're on these now. I was taking shots as it started to rain and the bees started to come after me like it was my fault that it was raining. Eek!

Planning to overthrow democracy

I know they're up to something. Something sinister would be my guess. Bridgewater, NJ.

Moth in the wind

I haven't seen too many butterflies this year. It should be Monarch season soon. However, this yellow moth was willing to pose for me until the wind flapped its wing. That irked it and it flew away.

It IS a stinkhorn!

I was reluctant to outright declare the shot I took in last week's post as a stinkhorn mushroom as the colors weren't just right. I took this shot earlier in the week this week and the colors match the website information I found. Supposedly the tip smells like carrion. I'll take their word for it.

The stinkhorns yesterday

They droop over next. Minds, gutter ... I know.

Scott Drugs in Plainfield

I used the illustrator mode plus sepia in this photo. It's too bad they misspelled "neighborhood" on the awning, eh? I believe that's been there, misspelled as it is, since I moved to town eight years ago.

Waiting on a train

Bound Brook Train Station, New Jersey

Eek! A spider!

This little guy (maybe a half-inch) was zooming around building a web. I took dozens of shots, but in most he was just an orange/red blur. Such a busy guy ... he makes the ant look lazy.

Now defunct Telephone Building in Plainfield

I imagine at one time this building was full of Ernestines. Nowadays, the front doors are padlocked. I can't help but wonder what this town was like 70 years ago.

Big Brother 11 Live Feeds Into Dawn Sunday 8/30

They spent most of the day comatose and now they're up most the night again. Not helping matters is that BB gave them alcohol once again. In a way, the Natalie age lie keeps her from imbibing and she's often the straightest thinker on alcohol nights. Occasionally she slips and drinks, but Natalie doesn't get drunk. I think all BB hamsters should take a clue from that -- why do they go ahead and get drunk? Loose lips sink ships!

Here's the latest from that Big Brother House of Smoke and Mirrors:

• Smoke and mirrors describes the night well. Schemes and dreams could do it, too.
• Jordan, forgetting that she is trying to win a half million dollars to help her family as well as herself, is willing to blow it all for Jeff to stay in the game.
• Jeff, on the other hand, doesn't want Jordan to ruin her own chances in the game. Yay, Jeff.
• Natalie is the one most antsy trying to find out how much money the hamsters won in the Pandora Box yesterday.
• BB ain't tellin'.
• Jeff says he really can't trust Kevin again because he broke his word and put him on the block.
  
• Jeff broke his word and put Russell on the block.
• Jeff admits that it's a game and he got got. But he won't trust Kevin again nonetheless.
• He shouldn't have trusted Kevin and Natalie in the first place!
• However, Jeff still trusts Natalie, as does Jordan.
• Ack. Fools and their money will soon part.
• But do Natalie and Kevin dislike Michele more?
• Jeff can't think of a scenario in which he can make it through this week.
• Yet, there are schemes.
• Jordan is willing to go home in his place.
• Natalie, Kevin, and Jordan came up with a new scheme -- Kevin will "betray" Natalie. He'll get Michele to use the veto to save Jeff and promise to put Natalie in his place on the block with Michele. He will trash talk Natalie and convince her that he wants her out.
• Then they'll vote out Michele.
• I don't think that Michele is that dumb. I doubt she'll fall for it.
• Michele is acting like she wants Jeff to stay. She told Kevin she wants him to stay.
  
• But who can tell with her?
• Michele knows that of the people left, Natalie would be her most likely adversary.
• But no one is close to her in the house still ... near the end of the season and no one can really declare her as a friend.
• Meanwhile, Jordan has really worked herself in well with Kevin and Natalie.
• I think they'd like her in the final three, but boot her before the final two because she's too popular with everyone. No one wants her against them with the jury.
• No one has approached Michele with the latest scheme yet.
• They're muddled with alcohol.
• I'm muddled with all the schemes and dreams, smoke and mirrors.
• We'll see what happens, but I can't think of Michele pulling a Marcellas.
• Jeff himself thinks it's pointless to try.
• Jordan and Natalie think Jeff should flirt with Michele.
  
• If Natalie and Kevin do this, one of them deserve to win ... even if they save Jeff.
• Whether it's better for Jeff or Michele to leave for them, I don't know. Jeff is a strong player, but he's predictable. Michele is proving herself a strong player, but is very unpredictable and a lone wolf.
• Then again, going against Michele in the final two might be a guaranteed win for anyone. Going against Jeff may be a bit trickier.
• I just don't know.
  

Big Brother 11 Live Feeds Saturday Daytime 8/29

Scroll down.
There. That's as exciting as it gets.

I think today has been the dullest day ever in the house. Well, sometimes when they have that silly extended stay time with the final two, maybe that's worse. I'm basically posting this so you don't think I forgot about you.

Here's the latest from the Big Brother House of Snoozing Losers:

• Jeff is dreading going to the jury house with the people he evicted and watching [bleeping] movies and [bleep].
• Jeff doesn't want to campaign to stay because it would mean Jordan goes home.
• We need to remind ourselves that the veto meeting hasn't happened yet.
• But I don't see Michele pulling a Marcellas.
• Natalie mentioned how often Michele goes to the bathroom. (I told you there's nothing happening!)
• Jeff told Jordan that Michele has no reason to save him.
• Kevin thinks Michele needs to go next because she's a strong player and not to be trusted.
• If Michele is HOH and Kevin or Natalie win veto, they would get Jordan out.
• Well, duh.
• Natalie thinks she could beat Michele in a comp.
• Yeah, right.
• Jeff isn't really talking to anyone but Jordan and no one is talking to him ... but Jordan.
• He drank an entire bottle of wine last night and probably is feeling that a bit, too.
• They're all napping except Michele. She's staring off into space.
• Um, okay. I must stare into space now.
  

Big Brother 11 Live Feeds Into Saturday Dawn - POV - 8/29

There are aliens in the mirrors.

After a night during which the feeds were blocked a good portion, the power of veto comp is over. And, look who's wearing the necklace -- Michele. Now, all of a sudden, Natalie and Kevin are her new best friends. It was an odd evening before the feeds block. Here's how everything went down:

• They ate together, but separately bashed each other. Kevin and Natalie bashed Michele and Jordan/Jeff dependent on occasion. Jeff and Jordan bashed Michele.
• All in all, there are two distinct camps -- Kevin/Natalie and Jordan/Jeff. Michele is a lone wolf and no one really has her figured out. She has different tales for whomever is listening and no one really knows her at all.
• Then came the aliens. We've seen this before. Jordan spotted one first in the mirror in the kitchen while Michele was washing dishes.
• Jordan thought it was funny, not scary. Michele didn't quite believe her.
• That is, until Michele went to the bathroom. When she saw the face in the mirror, she laughed and said it was amusing.
• There was another one in the splish splash room and yet another one appeared in the HOH room as Jordan tried to tell Kevin and Natalie about them.
• Kevin seemed to think they're a bit creepy but just about everyone else think they're funny.
• Kevin thinks they opened Pandora's Box in the earlier not-a-luxury comp in the yard -- now evil will unleash.
• They were told it would be a midnight PoV.
• So there was a scurry of studying.
• Michele and Jeff clashed. She said he called her a liar and made her look bad in the Pandora's Box.
• He said it was because he thought she was lying.
• Michele cried.
• She muttered to herself that she hates him. I think the latest him is Jeff, not Russell.
• Jeff and Jordan think Michele is going crazy and that it's funny.
• Jeff (once again) told Jordan how important it is to focus.
• For some odd reason, all of the others think Michele knows what's behind the Pandora's Box story and just isn't telling them.
• They were getting clues in the Diary Room for something.
• Jordan assured Jeff that Natalie told her the plan is to get Michele out of the house.
• Michele told Natalie that her (Natalie) performance in the last HOH was so horrible she had to throw it. Natalie denied throwing the comp.
• Finally, when pressured, Natalie just said, "Okay, I threw it." I think she did it to shut Michele up.
• Then the PoV went down, so did the feeds.
• From what they're saying, it sounds like the face morphing comp again.
  
• Michele to America, "Your boyfriend is going home."
• Michele told Natalie and Kevin that her plan all along was to take out Jeff and Jordan.
• Michele, Kevin, and Natalie all say they have to get Jordan out of the house before the final three as she would win the jury vote over them.
• Natalie is sure she will win HOH next week. Yeah, right.
• Jordan told Natalie that she's willing to go home instead of Jeff this week.
• Oh my.
• Natalie told Jordan that if she wants her to vote her out, she will.
• I doubt she will if she has the chance to get Jeff out.
• Jeff found out Jordan was campaigning to leave over him and told her to stop it.
• He told her she was the sweetest girl in the world.
• Jeff admitted he got too cocky and said that Kevin's move to put him on the block was the right move for Kevin.
• Jeff is sure he will be evicted this week.
• I personally don't see any other scenario myself.
  

Big Brother 11 Live Feeds Bulletin - Nominations 8/28

After a long (two hours-ish) feeds block, they're back. As Kevin indicated to both Jeff and Michele earlier ... they're both on the block.

There are no fireworks. Michele stocked the toilet tissue and Jeff is cooking.

Big Brother 11 Live Feeds Friday Daytime 8/28

Yes, here I am ... down here! And, here are the happenings from today inside that Big Brother House of Looney Toons:

• It started off slow today. Apparently BB wanted them to clean house. No, I don't mean of Russell -- that was last night!
• Nominations are today according to the plasma screen. Well, duh. I think they should know that by now.
• Jeff plans to campaign to get Michele out.
• Well, duh. He knows that Kevin won't put Natalie on the block. Either he or Jordan will be on the block with Michele. It's not like there are plenty of hamsters to choose from.
• Jeff thinks he'll be backdoored this week.
• He could very well be right.
• Once again they have an ant problem in the kitchen. This happens every season.
• I don't have ants in my kitchen.
• BB called an indoor lockdown and ... surprise, surprise ...
• ... it's not the mystery door.
• They were told it wasn't a luxury competition.
• But it was indeed a luxury -- money hidden all over the yard. They each gathered a bunch.
• Of course, the feeds were blocked, so we didn't see it.
• Kevin is talking to everyone to "see where their heads are at."
• Natalie told Michele that she would put her up if she were head of house, but she isn't.
• Michele thinks she for sure will be on the block.
• I'm pretty sure she's right there.
• Kevin told Jordan that if he does put her on the block, she isn't the target and if it's a tie, she won't go home.
• I'm really not sure what he'll do. Getting Jeff out would be a smart move. But if Jeff wins veto, the target would go right on Kevin.
• He's hinting to Jordan and Jeff that he wants Michele out this week.
• But, as far as I know, both Natalie and Kevin still want to go after Jeff.
• In a talk with Jeff, Kevin pretty much said it will be Jeff and Michele on the block.
• Jeff says that if he (or Jordan) don't win the veto, he'll be going home.
  

Big Brother 11 Live Feeds Into Friday Dawn 8/28

This is the first time there haven't been distinct "I hate you" sides with a HOH win. No one in the house doesn't like Kevin. But that doesn't mean that everyone is necessarily thrilled to death that he won.

• Natalie told Kevin that she wanted to win the comp to vindicate Chima and put Michele on the block. She had her speech all prepared and everything. But she calls it "vindiction." I just can't do that.
  
• Then why didn't she try to win the comp?
• Michele cried. And cried. I believe she thinks it's the beginning of her end in the house.
• I don't know if Kevin will do Natalie's bidding, but he's often said he doesn't trust or care for Michele.
• She probably should cry.
• Natalie is sure she will win the next HOH. She thinks it will be a memory-based comp.
• I'm sure she'll continue her streak of not winning.
  
• Michele cried some more.
• Natalie seemed to automatically assume she would be moving into the HOH room.
• Kevin didn't invite her, nor did he protest her assumption.
• Natalie, Kevin, Jeff, and Jordan sat around Russell-bashing.
• Kevin said Michele has thrown him under the bus many times.
• Jeff is sure that they'll put Michele on the block (probably right) and that she's the target this week (possibly not).
• Jeff has washed his hands of Michele.
• Kevin told Jeff and Jordan that Russell told him he had Jordan's vote to stay.
• Now, that would have been ludicrous! He called her fat!
• Kevin got his HOH room. He was super emotional with his letter from his partner.
• Natalie went through his basket of goodies as if they were hers. She claims the Mike's Hard Lemonade for herself.
• Gee, is she old enough to drink?
  
• I would so love it if Kevin abandoned Natalie.
• But I doubt he'd do that.
• He got an Enrique CD and they're all playing up on Enrique.
• Natalie keeps saying she wants Michele gone.
• Jordan thinks she herself will be going home.
• Jeff thinks he'll be backdoored.
• Yet, no one has said anything bad about Kevin.
• You know, Kevin is growing on me.
• They think there will be a luxury comp today.
• Natalie told Kevin they should stick to their original plan - get rid of Jeff.
• Kevin thinks production likes him now and the HOH comp was made for him.
• Kevin thinks they have to get Jeff out now before the final three round of competitions. He thinks no one would be able to beat Jeff in them.
• I like Jeff, but I think Kevin's right.
• They stayed up all night talking downstairs and upstairs. No brouhahas although Michele cried us a river.
• Boy, I'd love if Kevin turned on Natalie just because she irks me and she has attached herself to power all season while doing horrible in comps.
  

Big Brother 11 Live Feeds - HOH Comp 8/27

10:25 PM ET - Feeds finally returned. As expected, Kevin is wearing the HOH key.


10:10 PM ET - We've had a long feeds blockage (about 7 minutes). Methinks there is a winner.

10 PM ET - Natalie is beginning to remind me of one of the crypt creatures from Michael Jackson's "Thriller" video in this comp. Kevin is just about there. He is SO going to deserve the win. He's jogged for about an hour now.


9:50 PM ET: Kevin is jogging back and forth and barely slipping. Michele isn't as fast, but doing well. Jordan went down, but is back up. Natalie whined about losing her cup in the barrel and probably wanted to use that as an excuse to quit.



9:40 PM ET - Heh. Michele is the only one wiping the top of her contraption each time after pouring a cup. It must be the lab rat in her. Unless something happens, this is going to be Kevin's game to win.


9:30 PM ET - Kevin in lead, Michele second, Jordan third ... who knows what Natalie's doing. She's more interested in cheerleading Kevin and talking than doing the comp. BTW - Feeds are horrible tonight technical-wise. I lost mine and had a heck of a time reloading them.




9:09 PM ET - Feeds return ... looks like Kevin is in the lead followed by Jordan. Here's a shocker -- Natalie has the least.


As I get this posted, the feeds are still blocked. Once they're up, I'll update. But feel free to mingle, snack, and imbibe in comments while we wait.

Big Brother 11 Live Eviction Show Blog Party Post - 8/27

The show has started here on the East Coast. This post will be updated with the major events as it airs, but the real fun is in the comments section. Everyone is welcome, bring your own snacks and beverages! Later tonight my show review will be posted on TV Squad.

Yay! We got footage of Jordan chest-bumping Russell! Of course, we got a lot of the Russell/Jeff verbal brouhaha, too. Upcoming is the vote (of course) and Jessie gets his new jury house roomie -- Lydia.

Julie announced that Have - Have Not is over for the season.

The vote to evict:
Jordan --> Russell
Kevin --> Russell
Michele --> Russell

Russell is evicted. He went out totally classy (although a bit backpedalling).

The HOH comp started. It's going to go on beyond the show as the four are running across a slick "graham cracker" filling a 16 gallon bowl with 8 ounce mugs of hot chocolate. I'll be setting up a separate post after the show ends to monitor the HOH comp on the feeds. While not an endurance, it's going to take some time.

Julie said there will be a new twist to HOH next week which will affect everyone.

Big Brother 11 Live Feeds Into the Dawn Thursday 8/27

Gee, at least when Russell was rampaging, things were interesting. Here's the news from the late night/overnight hours in that Big Brother House of Survivor Will Be Here Soon:

• Michele once again said that she wouldn't bring Russell to the final two -- why would she give him $50,000?
• Jeff thinks Michele will target Natalie and Kevin if she wins HOH. Then they can stab her in the back the next week.
• Natalie plans to put Michele and Jeff on the block if she wins HOH, with Jeff as the target.
• Of course, she told Russell this, not Jeff.
• Kevin and Natalie are taking this all seriously. They've been studying for any possible question-based comp for hours.
• Russell has been nearby occasionally mentioning things or correcting facts.
• Kevin is tired of Jeff thinking he's a god in the house because America voted for him for the coup d'etat.
• Kevin and Natalie are very worried that America might have a hand in the jury vote -- they believe America and the show producers love Jeff and Jordan.
• Natalie and Kevin went through Michele's drawers and duffel bag looking to steal Michele's gloves because they can't find Natalie's.
• They didn't find them and BB told them they had to go to bed by 2 AM.
• Kevin and Michele think they have secured the jury vote of Russell by their recent bonding (and Natalie's lie telling about Michele).
• Jeff and Jordan cuddled and talked a long time.
• All are asleep as I post this.
  

Big Brother 11 Live Feeds Into the Evening Wednesday 8/26

Lots of fingernail interest going on.

What? Together again?

Despite the excitement this afternoon, things have been rather dull this evening. Odd, perhaps. But dull, for sure.

• Odd: Jeff refers to Russell and himself as "kid.' Now, I might think of them as kids at 25 and 31. But when I was 25 and later 31, I didn't think of myself or my friends as "kids." I joke about the kid inside, but I can't help but wonder what happened to the generation?
  
• Michele continues to befuddle me. She's in with Jeff and Jordan, out with Russell. The next moment she's in with Russell again and he's making her dinner.
• Russell doesn't befuddle me. He's working every angle he can to stay in the house.
• He tried to convince Kevin that if he were to vote out Natalie, he'd be in an alliance of three (Russell, Michele, Kevin) against two (Jordan, Jeff).
• Kevin may be scheming to get Jeff out, but I get the feeling he likes Jeff.
  
• He doesn't like either Michele or Russell.
• He's frightened of Russell.
• Natalie, Jeff, Jordan, and Kevin gathered in the HOH room for Russell and Michele bashing.
• None of them can read her.
• Neither can I.
• Nor can Russell, methinks.
• Natalie had the gall to say that Michele didn't take a shower after one of the comps.
• You heard me.
  
• Michele reported back to Jeff that Russell thinks he has Kevin's vote.
• She does seem a bit more at ease talking with Jeff.
• I still can't say I can read her.
• Now Natalie, with Kevin eating Russell's gastronomical goodies meal, is reporting to Russell everything Jeff said about Michele.
• I'm confused. That's all for now.
• I want Jordan to beat up Russell just for my own entertainment.
  

Russ is cooking for himself and Michele.

Jeff hangs out with his buddies Natalie and Kevin while Jordan is in the diary room.

Big Brother 11 Live Feeds Wednesday Daytime & Brouhaha 8/26

No, he didn't get socked in the jaw, not because he didn't try to provoke a punch, mind you.


Natalie is such a pig when she eats. She eats with her mouth open and takes huge chomps, often talking with a mouth full of food.


Jordan went through a freak-out rant on Russell, tears, and now is just very subdued.

Yep, I wanted a brouhaha and I got one today. Here's the scoop:

• Michele talked to Jeff -- she's worried that Russell is working on Kevin to vote to keep him.
• Not all that long after they got up (late), Russell started the brouhaha by taunting Jeff in the backyard.
• He exhibited the same behavior he showed when following/teasing/taunting Ronnie.
• Jeff is no Ronnie.
• He shouted back.
• All of a sudden, Jordan rushed into the middle of it totally going off on Russell.
• She screamed in his face!
• She actually BUMPED Russell who, despite his propensity for bullying, would draw the line at hitting a girl.
• "I'm not scared of you," Jordan screamed at the top of her lungs.
• Fine, now I have a fear of Jordan. She's dangerous!
• Jeff, in some weird guy kind of thing, told Russell that he (Russell) wanted to have sex with him.
• Of course, that gave Russell ammunition to declare Jeff gay.
• Jeff told Jordan to stay out of it, it's not her fight.
• Jordan socked Jeff a good one.
• Okay, I made that up.
• Scream, gnash, holler, hoot!
• Finally, BB shut the fight down before fisticuffs could go down.
• I think my money would have been on Jordan. I didn't think she had it in her to be so angry!
• Natalie told Kevin if he votes to keep Russell in, she'll stab him in the heart.
• I'm sure she said it with love.
• Now Kevin is once again scared of Russell.
• Everyone is avoiding Russell, for obvious reasons.
• Russell is acting very weird. One moment he'll be walking along and give a camera a huge grin, then he's moping, then -- when he saw Jeff -- he went into his sing-song bully voice taunting Jeff about being gay.
• I think Michele has washed her hands of Russell.
• Natalie told Russell that Michele reported all of her conversations with him to Jeff.
• So Russell has washed his hands of Michele, too.
• Russell is a man alone. I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't have more meltdowns up his sleeve.
• As I get this posted everyone but Russell is having fun with the HOH camera.