BB18: Live Feeds into Wednesday - September 7

Mmm! A half-gallon of ice cream!

Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of Loquacious Louts:

• Still no fisticuffs.
• But there was a bit more excitement in the late night hours than there was all day yesterday.
• BB gave them alcohol, a rarity this season.
• Not that they gave them enough to really do any damage. It was like a six-pack of beer and a couple of bottles of wine for six people.
• Unless one person hogs that all, there really isn't much to get excited about!
• The big excitement started with someone outside the yard and a megaphone.
• Ah, memories of Kitty, the Megaphone Lady of BB2 (if memory serves), memories of fans throwing candy and notes over the fence, memories of banner planes ... the good ol' days of Big Brother!
• We got fish and then into Jeff highlights loops.
• From the context of what little was said without being interrupted by fish or Jeff, it was something about James and Nicole in an alliance.
• Well, WE knew that they did have one. But is there too much water under the bridge since the beginning? Are they deep down that loyal to each other to be such good actors? Hmm. They were friends outside the house before going in together. Hmm.
• The other big news is that James finally woke up and realizes that he and Natalie will never be a couple.
• Well, duh.
• She went off to bed to sulk while James talked everything out with the rest of the hamsters.
• Interesting.
• So, James keeps (whether it's his intention or not) working his way into the midst of the others while Natalie continues to alienate them.
• Yet James keeps caring about her and doesn't want to see her hurt.
• Gah!
• Natalie told James she never threw him under the bus.
• I say, "Did too!"
• I have to admit that she does seem to be a bit torn between wanting to stay and wanting to go.
• She told James she wants him to stay and can't campaign against him.
• Yet, we know she has.
• I have a personal bias in this because I think James is an honorable truly nice kind of guy. But I also don't think Natalie ever really intended this to turn into such an infatuation on his part. She's looking for friends and good times. He's looking for the love of his life.
• At this point, they're both hurting in different ways.
• It seems the latest Natalie crisis had to do with the megaphone and an Nicole/James pre-show final two deal.
• Hmm.
• I don't see Corey getting all up in arms about it.
• But we did see Nicole tell Corey she wants the final three to include James with them.
• Hmm.
• The Natalie/James "discussion" went on for HOURS and isn't really resolved although by before dawn she was scarfing down ice cream while he joked around in the kitchen. 
• She even wanted to self-evict at one point. James "shattered her heart," y'know. 
• I hate to quote Paul but, "Go ahead. Never cared."
• Of course, James apologized to her.
• Sheesh. She should be apologizing to him!
• But that's how James is.
• It's looking quite possible that he will stay this week instead of Natalie.
• I think Nicole wants him to stay (final two deal?). Corey will vote whatever Nicole decides. That would be all he needs to stay. Paul is likely to vote with the other two.
• I hope that's the case even though I've been very disappointed with him this season.

Most likely to remain a couple afterwards

So, this is my neck?

I won't miss these two.

I've invested too much in her. (D'oh!)

Whazzat? I hear something!

BB18: Live Feeds into Tuesday Evening - September 6

Boring

Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of Boring Boredom:

• I really have almost nothing for you today.
• If there was any game talk, it was off camera.
• There were no kerfuffles, fisticuffs or brouhahas.
• Victor got his HoH camera.
• And fun was had by all.
• One interesting note is that Natalie and Nicole talked.
• That in and of itself is a bit unusual these days.
• But they weren't talking game.
• They were talking marriage and children.
• Nicole wants both before she's 30.
• Natalie isn't interested in either marriage or children.
• Things that make you go, "Hmm ..."
• I wish I had more.
• Maybe there will be fisticuffs overnight.

Boring

Bored

BB18: Live Feeds into Tuesday - September 6

Figuring days left vs. hamsters

Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of Paranoid Players:

• When I last left you, James had blown his own game by throwing Nicole under the bus to Paul.
• But, as we know, this is Big Brother and waffles are a favorite feast in the house.
• We still have until Thursday evening for them to change their minds again ... and again.
• All along, the HoH (Victor) has wanted James out this week. That was his intention when he put him on the block. He even told Natalie that she was a pawn.
• The trouble with that is that the HoH doesn't have a vote. Not even a tiebreaker vote in sight this week.
• The votes are Paul, Nicole and Corey.
• They had swapped favor for James staying until yesterday when James blew up Nicole's game to Paul.
• Now they're waffling back a bit ... again.
• But first ... there's the Wednesday controversy. Y'see, Paul told the other that Julie had said she'd see them Wednesday, thus putting a panic into them that the eviction night changed for this week.
• I saw (and heard) James ask Paul about whether he was certain Julie said Wednesday while Paul was playing pool yesterday. He said, "Yes, Wednesday, September 21st."
• D'oh! That's the finale night and YES, she will see them all that night!
• So, I'm not sure why they're all still fussing about the eviction night changing.
• Out of boredom, Paul tried to access the tunnel from the phone booth to no avail. Poor Paul.
• Paul and Victor had another talk with James. Hmmm. Now they're thinking that Natalie might be the mastermind of the pair and that James is just starting to realize what she's been doing.
• Hmm.
• On the other hand, Natalie went into one of her "no one talks to me" hissy fits with James.
• Well, yeah. The rest are more likely to be talking about her rather than to her. But a lot of that is her own doing. James actually mingles more with the others and his results are different.
• Paul talked to Corey.
• It sounds like the Keep James Plan is once again in effect.
• Paul thinks that James is sure that he's going home and keeping him will rattle him and he'll do poorly in the HoH comp.
• Hmm.
• Nicole told Corey she wants the final three to be them ... and James.
• Hmm.
• Of course, this is all subject to change ... again.

Victor is a folding maniac

They finally got to play dominoes

James mingles during the night

BB18: Live Feeds into Monday Evening, PoV Meeting - September 5

Hang down your head, James Huling

Hang down your head and cry

Hang down your head, James Huling

And kiss your game goodbye

He met her in the BB house

He thought he met a spouse

He met her in the BB house

And went from a man to a mouse

 Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of Loose Lips Sink Ships:

• First off, my apologies to songwriter Thomas Land, popular performers The Kingston Trio for mangling the lyrics to 'Tom Dooley'
• When I last left you, it seemed the tides had turned and Paul, Corey and Nicole would rather keep James over Natalie.
• As I said, nothing is ever certain until it happens.
• We all know that James threw whatever game he had in him in the gutter in his showmance with Natalie.
• Well, this time he blew up game he didn't realize he had.
• While the powers that be decided to keep him, they didn't tell him.
• They let him think he was still the target.
• James STUPIDLY for some reason decided to throw Nicole under the bus to Paul.
• Who told Nicole.
• Who told Corey.
• I'm wondering if James's intent when telling Paul was to "save" Natalie.
• Because that's what it looks like he did.
• Now the three votes that were going to keep him are all focusing on evicting him once again.
• We have until Thursday for waffles, though.
• Oh, yeah ... the one thing I said was for sure was --
• The veto was not used at the veto meeting.
• Natalie and James remain on the block.

Oh noes! I blew up my OWN game!!

I see dead people

This is a skinny baseball bat!

I see dead people, the saga continues

Getting antsy as the end nears

BB18: Live Feeds into Monday - September 5

The Up All Night Boys

Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of Not So Dynamic Duos:

• First, I hope everyone has a fine Labor Day. I foolishly said I'd go in and work the office for a few hours. So, I'll be working. But not a full day. My sprained ankle doesn't want to go. Wah.
• Things could be worse. 
• I could be in the Big Brother House.
• Not that I would ever do that, mind you.
• Why am I just wasting space and time?
• Because those hamsters are back to separating into their pairs and being BORING!
• Nicole got all emotional fussing that she hasn't had her period since she came into the house and kept fussing and snapping at Corey.
• Corey got ticked that she made a scene and it might be on television.
• "Don't do that again! Bite your tongue if you're going to do that."
• Then they kissed and made up.
• How exciting is that?
• Nicole thinks she really needs to study for HoH comps because, if it's days or something like that, Paul will win.
• Hmm ... I thought she had trust in her final four?
• They played dominoes.
• Of course, the "they" who keep playing dominoes doesn't include Natalie or James. It's always a mix of the other four or all four playing.
• Nicole cleaned the kitchen.
• Not up to Victor's standards, I'm sure.
• Heck, it didn't even look up to MY standards! I really don't understand leaving all the beverages which should be refrigerated, cleaning supplies, nail polish, etc. all over the counters!
• James did mingle some, playing pool with Corey.
• That's more of an attempt than Natalie made to mix and mingle.
• James still thinks he's the one going home this week. Unless things change (which is very possible), he'll be staying.
• Natalie acts like she thinks she's going home, but James is saying she's staying and Victor told her she's the pawn. I think she thinks she's staying.
• Heh.
• Both Natalie and James talked about the show not bringing them fame, but earning a place on their resumes.
• Natalie said she considered going on The Bachelor but didn't want to kiss a guy sixteen other girls were kissing.
• Well, when you put it that way ...!
• I'm trying to think ... when I was her age, had there been reality television shows, would I have wanted to go on them? About the only one I'd have really wanted to go on at that age would be The Amazing Race for the worldwide travel and adventure, if not for the win.
• The most game talk of the overnight was Victor and Paul confronting James with things Natalie said when she threw him (James) under the bus.
• James looked hurt.
• They told him that Natalie is playing the victim as a strategy and using him.
• James looked hurt.
• James later joined Natalie at the hot tub, still looking hurt.
• Natalie asked if he was okay.
• He told her he was just sad because one of them will be going home.
• Maybe he'll wake up and PLAY THE GAME.

Hanging out with Jamesy

Less grumpy since he got off slop

They have straws. They could make shakes!

BB18: Live Feeds into Sunday Evening - September 4

Natalie wasted those tomatoes!

Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of Duplicitous Dopes:

• Okay, so last night Natalie threw James under the bus in her ploy to stay in the game.
• She doesn't have a clue that Nicole, Paul and Corey think Natalie going this week instead of James is better for their games.
• Now, Victor is the Head of Household. Actually, keeping Natalie would be better for his personal game than keeping James would be.
• But he's only HoH ... why should his personal game matter to his Final Four Ride or Dies?
• THEY vote.
• HE doesn't.
• So, whether he's putting on a show of things and going along or whether they really have him convinced that Natalie is more of a threat, he's on board with the plan.
• Then Natalie goes up to Paul and Victor today telling them how James deserved to stay in the game more than she does.
• Heck, if they hadn't already decided to switch it up and target her, that talk would have done it.
• Paul thinks she's trying to use reverse psychology.
• Both laughed about her turnaround from the conversation last night.
• Paul and Victor also discussed what happens after both James and Natalie are gone.
• Who to cut first? Nicole? Corey?
• They decided Corey would have to go first.
• It's nice they can make all these plans, isn't it?
• The only plan I can rightfully predict is that the veto won't be used tomorrow.
• Beyond that, who knows?
• Maybe if James stays, he'll come to life.
• Maybe Victor will lose a comp.
• Maybe Corey will earn a doctorate degree.
• BWAHAHA! Like that will happen!
• Until tomorrow ... 

Natalie using reverse psychology?

Stop picking at yourself, Paul! Disgusting!

Has he any fight in him if he stays?

Yeah, enjoying their last week together.

Corey naps. Nicole worries.

BB18: HoH Comp Completion, Nominations Show Blog Party - September 4

Hamster watchers ready?! What fox will rule the chicken coop and be the new HoH?

As the show airs here on the East Coast, I'll be constantly updating this entry. Refresh the page to get the latest news! As always, the real party is in the comments area!

Previously on Big Brother and blah-blah-blah ... 

After the recap, we pick up on the eggs/chicken wire comp in action. They're wasting FOOD, I say in my best Victor impersonation. 

Flip back to right before the eviction. Nicole warns James and Natalie that they're probably going to evict Michelle tonight because she hasn't approached them at all. Some last minute tears and scrambling from Michelle. But we know it's to no avail. 

Back to the comp and many broken eggs. 

Corey goes for the Have basket and makes it. Victor gets a target, then Natalie does the same. Then Corey got one. Paul got one. Corey has two letters of the three down, then Victor does the same. Natalie has her second letter. Lots of close calls. Natalie broke an egg on her ramp thus making it even harder for her.

Paul finally got his second letter. They haven't mentioned that both James and Paul have eggs in the Have basket, along with Corey.

James finally got his first letter. 

Victor gets his third letter, acts like a testosterone injected idiot and wins HOH. 

James knows his butt is going up, as does Natalie.

Paul says a Victor win is a Paul win. Nicole and Corey ingratiated themselves to both Victor and Paul last week, keeping them safe and giving Victor the five grand "gift" bribe. 

Heh. They went back to Michelle grabbing Pablo and Paul's reaction. BB had a photo of Pablo, the inflatable pelican floatie, turn to black and white.

Lots of self-congratulations going on with Paul and Victor. 

Natalie fusses that she will either be alone in the house without James or be in jury without James. They promise to use the veto on each other. Gah. 

After a few puff filler segments, James goes to Paul and Victor and tells them that they were working with Nicole and Corey. Victor points out that they (Natalie and James) flipped and betrayed them after the Paulie exit. 

Nominations ceremony -- Victor nominates Natalie and James, tells Natalie she's the pawn.

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**

BB18: Live Feeds into Sunday - September 4

What? I'll be on the block next week!

Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of Want a Waffle With That?:

• Okay, we all know Victor is HoH and he wants James out with a passion. After all, it's James who last evicted him.
• But, if Victor is HoH, we all know that Paul is HoH.
• It should go without saying.
• Corey won veto.
• We didn't see the veto comp itself on the live feeds. It was obviously a dirty veto comp and physical.
• They all talked about how Michelle would have done poorly in it.
• But they got rid of her.
• I guess Natalie gave 'em a run for the money in the veto.
• Now Nicole is pushing for Natalie to go instead of Victor's prime target James.
• Oh my.
• Paul took up her cause.
• His reasoning is that Natalie has come close to winning against Victor in more than a few comps. James has not done as well. Plus, if they pull a total blindside and evict Natalie on Thursday, James will be alone and bereft going into the HoH comp and lose.
• Corey is agreeable to it all.
• Victor is reluctant. But we all know he'll do what Paul wants until Paul puts that knife in his back for the win.
• In other news, Corey won a trip to Atlanta in the veto comp. How special is that?
• And, it yet other news, remember that Victor took Natalie aside and told her that she would be going on the block but wasn't the target this week? Well, James keeps telling her that once Victor sets his sights on a target, that's it.
• Guess what?
• Victor doesn't have a vote this week -- Corey, Paul and Nicole do.
• Victor is sure that, if James stays and wins HoH, it will be him and Corey on the block.
• Nicole thinks that, if Natalie stays and wins HoH (a better chance than James winning), she will be on the block and go home.
• Victor doesn't think Natalie is any threat to him while James is.
• But it's not his vote, not his decision.
• Meanwhile, James still feels the need to protect and mollycoddle Natalie.
• SHE HAS RUINED YOUR GAME, JAMES!
• Sheesh.
• Natalie turned on James, saying that she knew she would be going home and suggesting that James and Nicole had an alliance.
• She roughly threw James under the bus to the others.
• Keep in mind that no one has confirmed the "blindside" to her. She just suspects it.
• All along, James is sure he's the target.
• It's a lot of days between now and Thursday.
• We'll see.

The new target? Shh ...

Well, her hair always looks like that.

Will he stay? Too soon to tell, I say.

BB18: Live Feeds Power of Veto Winner - September 3

Nicole didn't win

Another day of doldrums. Another day of James being stupid, telling Natalie that if won veto, he'd take her off the block.

It doesn't matter.

Corey won the Power of Veto.

Goodbye, James

At least Paul didn't win

Yes, Corey won PoV

BB18: Live Feeds into Saturday Morning - September 3

Cap'n Crunch from the box

Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of Pain:

• Yes, pain.
• Pain because all involved in the HoH comp have sore hands and little cuts on their fingers.
• Pain because I'm watching them do nothing but cook, eat, and play dominoes.
• Pain because Natalie keeps fussing that she will miss James, can't win comps and no one talks to her (other than James).
• Pain because James keeps showing compassion to Natalie, the person he let lose him the game all summer.
• Other than James coaching Natalie what to do after he goes, there's no strategy talk.
• This is what boredom on video is, BB18 when there's no hope for excitement to come.
• If James or Natalie win veto and one gets taken off the block, there's no expectation that there will be a blindside and someone other than the remaining one will go home.
• Gah.

Paul never cooked before this summer

But they don't even talk to me!

The dudes

BB18: Live Feeds into Friday Evening, Nominations - September 2

You two did too much of this all summer

Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of Domino Daze:

• Oh, gee. James and Natalie slept most of the day away.
• Even when they were awake, they stayed away from the others.
• Of course, it's a lost cause at this point anyway.
• Natalie asked James if he threw last night's HoH comp.
• He told her he didn't.
• But, what of all of the ones he DID throw all summer long?
• Nicole, being the paranoid woman she is, worried if they made the right decision keeping Paul and Victor for the final four with her and Corey.
• It's also a little too late for that.
• Victor and Paul made it clear in the late night hours that James would be the target, Natalie would be the pawn this week.
• And, so it came to be.
• Natalie and James are on the block.
• One will go home even if the other is saved by the veto.
• In other news, the Chosen Final Four played dominoes peppered with loud profanity from the boys.
• I had to keep turning down the volume because I don't think my neighbors would appreciate such outbursts. 
• Ain't really got nuthin' else to say.

Comeback kid will need protection next week

Dominoes and profanity

BB18: Live Feeds into Friday - September 2

Who wants to see my HoH room?

Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of Goodbye Sweet Baby James:

• But first ... a quick recap of last night ...
• No one is a Have Not. Corey, James and Paul are the three who got the eggs in the safety basket. Natalie has her Never Not pass from her care package. And, Victor, who won the HoH is exempt from Have Not because of his win.
• James absolutely sucked at the comp with Paul sucking not far behind him.
• For the longest time Natalie, Corey and Victor were tied.
• An egg broke on Natalie's ramp which might have cost her the win, maybe not. It's egg under the bridge at this point.
• James had a sit-down with both Victor and Paul, explaining why he's voted the way he has, why he's aligned with whom he's aligned, etc.
• It was all very amicable and straightforward.
• But, too late and the explanations didn't reveal much Victor/Paul didn't already know.
• A key point for Victor/Paul is that James/Natalie switched their alliance to Corey/Nicole AFTER Victor ousted Paulie for the cause.
• James made a plea for them not to oust Natalie.
• They don't intend on doing so anyway.
• Both Victor and Paul want James out and pretty much told him so.
• After their talk with James, Victor went to Natalie to give her a heads up that she will be on the block but James is the target.
• So, the writing is on the wall. James, in his showmance stupor, has blown his second try for the BB win. Had he been focused on the game at hand instead of the showmance, he could have been a contender.
• Of course, James will have the chance to save himself with the veto ... and Natalie wants him to do just that. She seems to realize the win would mean more for him than for her.
• James told Natalie that, if she wins veto, she needs to take herself down.
• Mind you, the nominations technically haven't been announced yet.
• James is sure that Victor will be the next target after they go.
• Nicole is worried that James is talking trash about them.
• She doesn't have to worry. She won't go home this week, neither will Corey.
• But, after James and Natalie, they'll be next unless Victor gets the boot next week when he can't play for HoH.
• As James said to Natalie tonight, it's to the point where you win comps or you go home.
• James also advised Natalie to put up Nicole and Paul if she wins HoH next.
• In lighter news, Victor got dominoes in his HoH basket. That's more entertaining to watch than them playing chess.
• Paul has already settled into the HoH room, listening to the music and bopping around to it before Victor had a chance.
• Well, all I can say is ...
• Rockabye, sweet baby James. 

What does the fox say?

The writing is on the wall, James.

Dominoes came in Victor's HoH basket

Clearing the air won't help now

Stop pulling your leg hairs. Ew!

Oh, Jamesy, I can't play without you!