Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - April 26, 2015

Good morning! Since it's not just a morning, but a 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. Tune in on Wednesday and Friday evenings for the Survivor and Amazing Race blog parties!

It seems much of this week was windy or rainy or very cold (freeze warnings out and about) and rather sucky for taking photos. Yet I got some decent ones. At least I think I did. Of course, I was better off with more stable objects. No bugs! I had more failed flowers photos due to the wind, too. Grr.

Once again, I don't have much to report on regarding happenings during the week. Work, eat, sleep, give a cat attention, rinse, repeat. So, I'll offer up some random ponderings and observations:

• NJ Transit is considering up to a 9% increase in bus, light rail and train tickets. They could probably get at least 5% of that if conductors in every train collected/checked tickets of every passenger instead of not bothering. That and actually enforcing the $5 surcharge for buying tickets on the train itself instead of via online, machines or ticket agents.
• While they're at it, they seriously need to enforce the "no feet on the seats" rule. I remember decades ago getting bopped with a nightstick on my toe when I did that on the subway in NYC.
• I hear no coyotes at night around here. Yet they've been spotted in Manhattan.
• Good manners in public go a long way -- it doesn't matter whether you're a child or an adult.
• I'm looking forward to summer TV series. Big Brother will premiere on June 24. Under the Dome will be following BB on either Wednesday or Thursday nights, can't remember which one. Woot! I just saw a commercial for Falling Skies. So You Think You Can Dance should be popping up again. I'm also interested in the upcoming James Patterson series Zoo even though it brings back memories of the defunct whacked series When Good Pets Go Bad.
• What is the record for the length of time a cat can purr?
• I saw a Lamborghini this week during a rare moment without my camera. It was dirty. If I owned a Lamborghini, I'd pay someone to wash it. 
• They ripped out the hedge where I used to shoot periwinkle growing underneath. I wish they'd stop doing things like that. It's bad enough they removed the flowering bushes which used to attract butterflies and bees up by the TD Ball Park in Bridgewater. 
• I'm looking for the snakes to reappear at the Bridgewater Train Station. Although, it could be like the Year of the Snails there -- only showing up one year, then gone.

Onto the photos -- clicking on an image will open it up larger in a gallery doohickey!

The moon last night

Rockin' Robin

Tweet, tweet.

Looking more like spring in da 'hood

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

The Amazing Race 26 - April 24 Blog Party

 

It's Friday night! I hope you haven't forgotten that it's time for The Amazing Race! The last time out, my own blog pool team got Philiminated. Five teams remain. Who will be eliminated next?

As the show airs here, I'll update this entry with the major happenings. Refresh the page to get the latest news! As always, the real party is in the comments area. I hope to see you there. (And bring snacks. And beverages.)

Here's the blog pool standings presented by the Magnificent Margo:

Mike and Rochelle - Cheryl in NC, Laurie

Matt and Ashley - Delee, Merrilee

Blair and Hayley - Terry in TX, Margo, Chris

Jelani and Jenny - Marlo, Lynn 1, dla

Tyler and Laura - Ed in OH, David, Nickelpeed

PHILIMINATED:

Jeff and Lyda - Jennasmom, Paula Bell, meb

Lebya and CJ - Donna in FL, PDXGranny 

Harley and Jonathan - Becky, Willie J 

Bergen and Kurt - Nana in NW, Rbennie

Jeffrey and Jackie - Brian, Donna in AL, ORKMommy

Aly and Steve - Jackie, SueGee

Let's get it on! 

Teams are heading to Amsterdam. Jenny and Jelani are ticked at Matt and Ashley for U-Turning them and will seek revenge if possible. 

The Roadblock has teams seeking a matchingpair of clumpets? (Wooden shoes).  The person has to match two individual shoes out of a gazillion pairs.

Jenny and Jelani get through the Roadblock first and they're riding bicycles to the ferry to get their next clue. Laura and Tyler next through.

Matt and Ashley are the only ones remaining at the Roadblock. Matt has touched the correct shoe several times and is growing more and more frustrated. On his 43rd attempt he made the match.

Detour - Soak or Shuffle. Floating hot tub looking for the clues or play a Dutch version of shuffleboard. 

Haley continues to freak out on Blair. I think it might be cause for a justifiable homicide on his part.

Tyler and Laura have their clue to the Pit Stop. 

1. Laura and Tyler - won a trip to Seoul, South Korea 

2. Haley and Blair 

3. Jelani and Jenny 

4. Mike and Rochelle 

5. Matt and Ashley - A non-Philimination! They're still in it!

Survivor: Worlds Apart - April 22 Blog Party

Survivor fans ready?

From the promos, it's the loved ones episode we'll be seeing tonight, plus what looks like a lot of acrimony going on betwixt the castaways. This should be interesting!


As the show airs here, I'll update this post with the major happenings. Refresh the page to get the latest news! As always, the real party is in the comments area. I hope to "see" you there!

Before we get into the show, here are the latest blog pool standings from that Rockin' Lifeguard Laurie:

Carolyn - Jackie, TerryinTX
Dan - Brian, CherylinNC 
Jenn - Merrilee, Becky
Mike - meb, Nickelpeed 
Rodney - Margo 
Shirin - NanaintheNW 
Sierra - Jennasmom 
Tyler - Donna in Alabama, ORK Mommy
Will - Rbennie 

Jury
Hali 
Joe

Let's get started!

Rodney is trying for a "Get Mike Out" now move with Will, Tyler and Carolyn. Mike knows about this. 

It's Survivor Auction time. Will bought a note telling him that he just bought himself out of the auction, head back to camp. Eep. That was the first covered item. Now Jeff is showing fried chicken and waffles -- Shirin bought it for $300. 

Most admit they're waiting for an advantage, not food. Rodney went for food. Now Jeff is offering them love from home. Sierra offers $20 and Jeff offers the rest of them the same offer. Everyone goes in on it for that price. Then they'll worry about the advantage. Ohh ... Mike didn't do it. Now he has more money than anyone else for the advantage clue.

Now they don't trust him. Carolyn gives back her clue and Dan gets back in, too. All three had to draw rocks -- Dan has the advantage.

Meanwhile, Will found a clue waiting for him back at camp. It leads him to a private box of rations he can share or not. He decides to share.

Mike calls out the alliance against him. Rodney gets a bit over-excited in denial. Ha. 

Tears as they all read their letters from home. Mike feels guilty that he ruined the moment. Rodney wants to take advantage of that. 

Dan's advantage is that he gets an extra vote in Tribal. He has to cast it after Jeff says he'll go tally the vote. 

As I figured, they now think Will didn't share all the food he found. Mike starts the buzz over that and they all believe it. Will brings the empty box, but took his ire out on Shirin rather than Mike. 

Immunity Challenge time. Will says he's willing to take himself out of the challenge in return for the letter home. Jeff says all must agree to it. Shirin objects. Will must compete. 

Transporting six balls with huge tongs across teeter-totters. Mike wins Immunity! His only allies now are Jenn and Shirin, so he needed it.

Mike wants to get Dan in with them and blindside Carolyn. The others want to split the vote between Jenn and Shirin. Mike is blue, blue, blue-ing Dan. Carolyn is worried. She tells us she might have to use her idol.

Ohh ... Dan tells his "allies" that whatever choice he makes is his. He will make either a million dollar decision or a mistake.

Tribal Council time. Fireworks ensue. Carolyn does NOT play her idol, Dan doesn't use his clue.

Jenn, Shirin, Jenn, Shirin, Jenn, Carolyn, Shirin, Jenn, Jenn.

Jenn is voted out.

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - April 19, 2015

Good morning! Since it is indeed Sunday, you know what that means. It's time for my weekly reflection on the week gone by in both words and photos I've taken along the way. Remember to come back on Wednesday and Friday evenings for Survivor and The Amazing Race blog parties!

Let's see ... what has been happening with me this past week? My Killer Cold has lessened a great deal. What I have now is either leftover remnants of the cold and/or allergies kicking in. All day yesterday I was sick to my stomach, but that seems to be gone today. I have no clue what's up with that. I feel better today in that aspect. Perhaps it was something I ate.

Spring has finally taken hold here. I wouldn't mind if it lasted until autumn. I'm not a summer heat kind of person. While I love a cool storm, I'm not into extremes of temperature -- either heat or cold. I can actually take cold weather better than hot and humid.

Random bits:

• I bought Vincent some fresh catnip yesterday and he loves it. Yes, I'm an enabler.
• Seriously, if you get off the train, do NOT stand on the stairs blocking others while you mess with your smart phone.
• Sometimes you have to grin and bear it. But that doesn't mean you're happy inside.
• If you forget to give your Peapod grocery delivery dude your coupons (they double up to 99 cents), you can mail them in for credit.
• Yes, I forgot to give him about $12 worth of coupons.
• Peapod drivers who get this route with Plainfield like it more than the Manhattan routes. Too many walk-ups there, too much traffic and no parking.
• I need to clean my windows.
• But most of the "dirt" is on the outside. I have to remember how they put them in so I can take out the panes to clean the outside. I don't have a squeegee on a pole to reach up from outside.
• Hmm ... maybe I'll just do the insides.
• NJ Transit cops or the Plainfield police really have to get someone stationed at the Plainfield Train Station from late afternoons into late late nights. The bums, druggies and street people loitering is ridiculous. They ought to limit it to ticketed passengers. That would clear up the problems there.

Onto the photos for the week. Clicking on an image will bring up larger versions of the photos.

Sunset at the Bridgewater Train Station

Complete with the edge of woods, birds on a wire, stadium lights and the back side edge of the scoreboard doohickey for the TD Ball Park.

Love me some forsythia!

Basic yellow daffodil

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

The Amazing Race 26 - April 17 Blog Party

 

It's Friday night! I hope you haven't forgotten that it's time for The Amazing Race! Not only is the show on tonight, but it's TWO HOURS worth!  We have a Double U-Turn ahead in the double show, too.

As it airs here, I'll update this entry with the major happenings. Refresh the page to get the latest news! As always, the real party is in the comments area. I hope to see you there. (And bring snacks. And beverages.)

Here's the blog pool standings presented by the Magnificent Margo:

Mike and Rochelle - Cheryl in NC, Laurie

Aly and Steve - Jackie, SueGee

Matt and Ashley - Delee, Merrilee

Blair and Hayley - Terry in TX, Margo, Chris

Jelani and Jenny - Marlo, Lynn 1, dla

Tyler and Laura - Ed in OH, David, Nickelpeed

PHILIMINATED:

Jeff and Lyda - Jennasmom, Paula Bell, meb

Lebya and CJ - Donna in FL, PDXGranny 

Harley and Jonathan - Becky, Willie J 

Bergen and Kurt - Nana in NW, Rbennie

Jeffrey and Jackie - Brian, Donna in AL, ORKMommy

Let's get it on! 

Teams are flying ten hours to Namibia (wherever that is!). All the teams are to be on the same flight. Once there they get on individual bush planes. Hayley and Blair, first to leave the Pit Stop, are at the end of the bush planes. They then have to drive themselves to the Bushman Village and need to pick up a salt lick on the way.

Roadblock - Who's feeling grassy? They have to help bushmen build a hut. Teams are fairly quick making the huts. Tyler/Laura. then Matt/Ashley head off.

Detour - Track, an elephant. Pack, feeding wild dogs wildebeest meat. Pack was taken up quickly, so teams are being steered to Track.

Mike and Rochelle are at the tail end of the pack. Hayley and Blair are second from last. 

The Pack Detour is definitely easier. But the elephant one is much cooler.

Mike and Rochelle were so much later that the Pack opened up again. So they might just make it!  Everyone is getting lost or at least lost-ish.

Pit Stop --

1. Matt and Ashley - win $5000 each.

2. Laura and Tyler

3. Hayley and Blair 

4. Jelani and Jenny 

5. Mike and Rochelle

6. Aly and Steve 

It's a non-elimination leg, so all are still in it for the next hour. 

Teams are heading into town and must read something in German. Some teams are talking about U-Turning Jelani and Jenny. J and J are guessing Matt and Ashley might U-Turn them -- but they do have the Express Pass. 

The clue turns out to lead them to a skydiving place. 

Roadblock - They must find a case dropped from a plane and there's a gnome involved in the skydiving. The teams themselves don't get to skydive.

For their Speed Bump, Aly and Steve must make a toy.

Detour - Work or Play. Dragging five tires for five miles with their trucks to smooth out road. Play has them sand skiing on the dunes.

Jelani and Jenny (wisely) use their Express Pass as other teams are heading to the Double U-Turn. Matt and Ashley U-Turn Jelani and Jenny while Laura and Tyler U-Turn Aly and Steve.

Teams have to bring an exotic animal to the Pit Stop.

1. Laura and Tyler - won a trip to Queenstown, New Zealand

2. Matt and Ashley

3. Blair and Hayley 

4. Jelani and Jenny

5. Mike and Rochelle

6. Aly and Steve (my blog pool team) - Philiminated

Survivor: Worlds Apart - April 15 Blog Party

Survivor fans ready?

I hope you've all filed your taxes! Remember, the original sole Survivor, Richard Hatch, tried to not file with his million. You know what that got him -- time in the hoosegow! (I've had a yearning to use the word 'hoosegow' in correct context and now I've gone and done it. I'm livin' the wild life, y'see.)

As the show airs here, I'll update this post with the major happenings. Refresh the page to get the latest news! As always, the real party is in the comments area. I hope to "see" you there!

Before we get into the show, here are the latest blog pool standings from that Rockin' Lifeguard Laurie:

Carolyn - Jackie, TerryinTX
Dan - Brian, CherylinNC 
Hali - Zoetawny, monty924 
Jenn - Merrilee, Becky
Joe - SueGee, Chris 
Mike - meb, Nickelpeed 
Rodney - Margo 
Shirin - NanaintheNW 
Sierra - Jennasmom 
Tyler - Donna in Alabama, ORK Mommy 

Will - Rbennie 

Out 
WC - So
NC - Vince - Delee 
NC - Nina - Lynn1 
BC - Lindsey - Donna in FL, David 
Max - PDX Granny, Marlo
Joaquin - Laurie, Rochelle
Kelly - Petals, Ed in Ohio
Hali - Zoetawny, monty924

Let's get started!

Dang. Joe looks like Bozo the Clown under the night vision lights. A lot of focus on Shirin in the beginning of the show. 

Reward Challenge -- Two teams of five, race in water through obstacles to platform, grapple hook to collect five rings. The winners will be taken to the "Chocolate Cafe" chock full of candy. Mike, Tyler, Shirin, Dan and Sierra win. It had been a schoolyard pick for the teams.

Jenn has "nothing out here except despair." And they killed one of "her" chickens. As Rodney mocks Mike (who's on the chocolate binge), Joe picks up on it and hopes he can use Rodney against Mike ... if he (Joe) makes it that far.

Tree Mail warns them to stay on their toes for the next challenge. Jenn, who now wants to go home, told Joe that if she wins Immunity, she'll give it to him.

Immunity is now up for grabs. Balance on your toes with a block balanced on your head under a frame. The block falls, you're out. Carolyn, then Will, out. Shirin out, Rodney out. Dan gone. Sierra out. Joe is out. Mike out. Jenn out.

Tyler wins Immunity!

Jenn vows to us that she will do something to protect Joe and "screw up their game." I hope she does. 

Shirin thinks a numbers split will be made. She and Joe will vote for Jenn. Mike, of course, wants Shirin to vote for Joe to go. Jenn wants to go home. Shirin is worried that Joe is more of a threat in the game. Joe decides to make a fake idol. He makes a pretty good one. He tells Mike (of all people) that he will give him the idol after tribal if he flips his vote. Mike thinks he just might have a different idol.

At Tribal, Mike asks Jeff to verify his idol. Jeff says only after it's used. Everyone is confused. Jenn says she wants to go home, but won't quit to do so.

Mike plays the real idol! He does it for Will.

Jenn, Joe, Jenn, Joe, Dan, Jenn, Joe, Jenn, Joe, Joe.

Sigh. Joe is now the second member of the jury.

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - April 12, 2015

Good morning! This is my weekly off television topic reflection on the week gone by in both words and photographs I've taken along the way. My apologies for posting so late today, but I've been a bit under the weather. I hope you'll join me later in the week for Survivor and The Amazing Race blog parties!

Until yesterday, this past week was mostly chilly and rainy with night time lows hovering around freezing. Now it looks like we might have finally turned the corner. Every day this coming week is forecast to be above 60 degrees. Yes!

As for why I'm under the weather -- I've caught the Killer Cold that's being passed around throughout the Northeast. Now, it's just a cold. But it's knocking me (and everyone whom I know who has caught it) for a loop. I can't breathe. My sinuses are whacked. My ears are even all stuffy. I felt it coming on Tuesday and it hasn't left me yet. As a result I'm not sleeping well, either. Y'know, I'm getting really tired of one health woe after another. I should be due for a good health streak.

Today is simply beautiful outside. High expected around 64, sunny and dry. I plan on pretty much hanging low, staying inside, staying in bed a lot hoping to finish off this cold.

Oh, well. I should get this posted. Clicking on an image will bring up a larger shot ...

It's finally SPRING!

Crocuses! Spring! Yay!

Early in the week ...

... the daffodil buds were showing on Berckman Street in Plainfield.

1955 Chevrolet Nomad

Although my train to work yesterday passed over the Revolutionary War Battle of Bound Brook re-enactment too quickly for photos, another treat was in store for me at the TD Ball Park adjacent to the Bridgewater Train Station. Vintage cars were all backing up the sidewalk and parking along the front of the stadium. I sat on a bench photographing some of them. But then I ended up standing up near the bench after I saw this particular car hit a lamp post with its driver side. Love them fuzzy dice! More car photos (and others, too) after the jump.

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

The Amazing Race 26: April 10 Blog Party

 

It's Friday night! I hope you haven't forgotten that it's time for The Amazing Race! While I personally haven't forgotten it, tonight will be a bit hit or miss for me. Y'see ... I have the Cold From Hell that's been going around here on the East Coast. I can't breathe, sleep, think, etc. Tonight's updates will be the major major happenings without much detail because my mind is so fuzzy. I think I should invest in the facial tissue industries!

Plus, several of our regulars here won't be able to make it tonight.

Double whammy.

Here's the blog pool standings presented by the Magnificent Margo:

Mike and Rochelle - Cheryl in NC, Laurie

Aly and Steve - Jackie, SueGee

Matt and Ashley - Delee, Merrilee

Blair and Hayley - Terry in TX, Margo, Chris

Jeffrey and Jackie - Brian, Donna in AL, ORKMommy

Jelani and Jenny - Marlo, Lynn 1, dla

Tyler and Laura - Ed in OH, David, Nickelpeed

PHILIMINATED:

Jeff and Lyda - Jennasmom, Paula Bell, meb

Lebya and CJ - Donna in FL, PDXGranny 

Harley and Jonathan - Becky, Willie J 

Bergen and Kurt - Nana in NW, Rbennie

Teams are headed to Monaco. After a Roadblock with chocolates and flowers, teams are off the Casino Royale in Monte Carlo where they'll gamble to determine their Detour.  

Win by a Nose has them making perfume and cologne.  Don't Slack Off has them ziplining down and walking a rope back up.

Pit Stop Order:

1. Blair and Hayley - Won a trip to South Africa

2. Aly and Steve

3. Mike and Rochelle

4. Matt and Ashley

5. Jelani and Jenn

6. Laura and Tyler

7. Jeff and Jackie -- Philiminated

Next week is a two-hour episode.

Survivor: Worlds Apart - April 8 Blog Party

Survivor fans ready?

It sounds like Idol Fever is going to take over the castaways tonight ... and I'm not talkin' American Idol. Thankfully, my blog pool random pick person already has one. I still think it's not great that she (Carolyn) told Tyler about it, but they always seem to tell someone. Why, I don't know.

As the show airs here, I'll update this post with the major happenings. Refresh the page to get the latest news! As always, the real party is in the comments area. I hope to "see" you there!

Before we get into the show, here are the latest blog pool standings from that Rockin' Lifeguard Laurie:

Blue - Escameca
Dan - Brian, CherylinNC
Joe - SueGee, Chris 
Mike - meb, Nickelpeed 
Rodney - Margo 
Sierra - Jennasmom 
Tyler - Donna in Alabama, ORK Mommy 

Red - Nagarote
Carolyn - Jackie, TerryinTX 
Hali - Zoetawny, monty924 
Jenn - Merrilee, Becky 
Shirin - NanaintheNW 
Will - Rbennie 

Out 
WC - So
NC - Vince - Delee 
NC - Nina - Lynn1 
BC - Lindsey - Donna in FL, David 
Max - PDX Granny, Marlo
Joaquin - Laurie, Rochelle
Kelly - Petals, Ed in Ohio

Let's get started!

Rodney thinks he has Tyler, Carolyn and Will as allies against Mike. Mike calls Jenn's playing of the idol "sweet." Rodney does a lot of talking.

Onto the Reward Challenge. Walk across balance beams, retrieve puzzle pieces, three vie for the win. The Reward is a zipline trip and pizza picnic. Joe, Mike and Hali go for the puzzle solving part. Joe wins Reward! He picks three people to join him -- Tyler, Will, Carolyn. One more -- Shirin. (Eek.)

Carolyn unknowingly got an idol clue in her soda. She gave Joe the rest of her soda -- he had seen the note in it. Tyler saw Joe get the clue. The plot thickens. Joe gets Tyler to follow him in the night. Mike follows the both of them.

Oh my gosh! Joe goes missing and Mike freaks! 

Mike tries to convince the others that Joe has the idol. Ew, Mike eats termites while he searches for the idol. And ... then he finds the hidden idol!

Immunity Challenge is ON! They have to race to move a puzzle piece through three slide mazes, then solve a slide puzzle. Heh. Rodney is still on the first slide maze while just about all the others are solving the puzzle. Dan thought he had it. He didn't. Twice. 

JOE wins Immunity once again! (And he needs it, too.)

Shirin and Hali's names are being thrown about. The girls want Dan out. 

Tribal Council time. Probsting questions indeed. 

The Tally -- No idols played:

Dan, Hali, Dan, Hali, Dan, Hali, Dan, Hali, Hali, Hali.

Hali is voted out. It should have been Rodney, methinks.

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - April 5, 2015

Good morning! And, I wish everyone who celebrates the holiday a Happy Easter! This is my weekly off television topic post in which I reflect on the week gone by in both words and photographs I've taken along the way. Later this week you can find both Survivor and The Amazing Race blog parties right here!

Hmm ... what happened this week? Well, I'd say we got out of winter, yet even this morning the temperature remained below the freezing mark. One day we got up near 70 degrees but it was a grey rainy day. Looking at the week ahead, it seems like the temperatures won't be bad but we're due quite a bit of rain. Oh, well. It's better than snow.

In the ongoing noisy neighbors saga, it sounds like they've put carpet down on the hardwood floors. I hear muffled thumping and my own floor in the dining room does still move some with the thumps. It still can't be good for the neighbor underneath them. I can hear the occasional scream from the child, yet nowhere near like it was. Yet, I was in the hall corridor and could hear the child screaming away loud and clear . I went in my apartment and could no longer hear him. Huh. Not sure how they did that, but I'll take it.

I really don't have much more to report. This past week was neither great nor terrible ... just another week in the life. Onto this week's photos -- you can see larger versions by clicking on the images.

Happy Ester

No, I didn't do this to the bench. If I had, I would have spelled it right. The bench at the corner of Watchung and North Avenues in Plainfield was covered with egg, chicken and other ink stamps accompanied by the holiday greeting.

A cloudy morning ...

... at the Plainfield Train Station.

The "charcoal drawing" version

If you like messing with photos you've taken, this PhotoCat website is fun. It's very simplistic, online interaction (you don't need to download a program), free and has a lot of cool options.

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

The Amazing Race 26: April 3 Blog Party

 

It's Friday night! I hope you haven't forgotten that it's time for The Amazing Race! It's been bad enough that people haven't been adjusting to the Friday time slot. But now, after a two week absence due to March Madness basketball, my hopes are just that someone shows up for the blog party!

Here's the blog pool standings presented by the Magnificent Margo:

Mike and Rochelle - Cheryl in NC, Laurie

Aly and Steve - Jackie, SueGee

Matt and Ashley - Delee, Merrilee

Bergen and Kurt - Nana in NW, Rbennie

Blair and Hayley - Terry in TX, Margo, Chris

Jeffrey and Jackie - Brian, Donna in AL, ORKMommy

Jelani and Jenny - Marlo, Lynn 1, dla

Tyler and Laura - Ed in OH, David, Nickelpeed

PHILIMINATED:

Jeff and Lyda - Jennasmom, Paula Bell, meb

Lebya and CJ - Donna in FL, PDXGranny 

Harley and Jonathan - Becky, Willie J

As the show airs here, I'll update this entry with the major happenings. Refresh the page to get the latest news! As always, the real party will be in the comments area. Come join us there!

The teams are flying off to Germany where they will end up being part of Oktoberfest. All teams are on the same 17-hour flight. In native garb, they have to climb to the top of a tower, find their cars and head off. One team switched cars and left behind a fanny pack ... probably containing the important stuff. It's Tyler's fanny pack -- Jackie and Jeff find it. For doing so well before, they're quibbling now!

Their destination inside what looks like an old factory is actually a winter wonderland. They have to drive their product placement cars backwards using the rear view camera through it. 

This must be the Quibble and Bicker Episode. 

Tyler and Laura get through the backwards snow course first, but now have to wait for the other car to show up with his fanny pack.

Kurt and Bergen decide to give up the car, take a taxi and the penalty. They won't be able to do that because they need the car for the challenge. 

Now Aly and Steve are leading the pack, rowing away.

Detour - Stein or Stack.  Deliver many steins of bear without spilling. Stack is stacking crates.

Kurt and Bergen are allowed a two hour penalty.

Roadblock has them singing a song.  Sing it wrong and get drenched.

Jeff and Jackie tried to lie about the fanny pack. Didn't work.

Aly and Steve are the first heading to the Pit Stop. Hayley is getting more and more annoying. Not only does she have a Bernadette voice (from The Big Bang Theory), but she won't stop nitpicking at Blair. Laura referred to her as the Wicked Witch of the West.

Pit Stop --

1. Aly and Steve -- each won a 2015 Ford Focus (product placement vehicle) 

2. Matt and Ashley

3. Jeff and Jackie

4. Jelani and Jenny

5. Hayley and Blair 

6. Laura and Tyler 

7. Mike and Rochelle

Bergen and Kurt are totally lost trying to take the train. Phil has to go find them at the train station. They are Philiminated. And, it's all Kurt's fault. Poor Bergen. He seems to be a decent guy who was trying to be in it to win it. Kurt wanted love. Blech on him.

Survivor: Worlds Apart - April 1 Blog Party

No party tonight. I'm giving up on Survivor.

April Fool's!
Heehee.

Survivor fans ready?

Judging from the promo for tonight's show, it looks like the individual game might be on. If so, that's probably a good thing because it's not a fair fight if physical challenges pit the present two tribes together. All the alpha males are on one tribe! Had they not thrown the challenge last week, they would have won once again.

As the show airs here, I'll update this post with the major happenings. Refresh the page to get the latest news! As always, the real party is in the comments area. I hope to "see" you there!

Before we get into the show, here are the latest blog pool standings from that Rockin' Lifeguard Laurie:

Blue - Escameca
Dan - Brian, CherylinNC
Joe - SueGee, Chris 
Mike - meb, Nickelpeed 
Rodney - Margo 
Sierra - Jennasmom 
Tyler - Donna in Alabama, ORK Mommy 

Red - Nagarote
Carolyn - Jackie, TerryinTX 
Hali - Zoetawny, monty924 
Jenn - Merrilee, Becky 
Kelly - Petals, Ed in Ohio 
Shirin - NanaintheNW 
Will - Rbennie 

Out 
WC - So
NC - Vince - Delee 
NC - Nina - Lynn1 
BC - Lindsey - Donna in FL, David 
Max - PDX Granny, Marlo
Joaquin - Laurie, Rochelle 

Let's get started!

Rodney isn't a happy camper and perhaps even less so when Mike tries to reel him back in.

Tree mail hints at the merge.

Yes, the merge and its related feast is on. Tyler is relieved as he was Joaquin's buddy. Carolyn tells us that, although she has a strong bond with Tyler, no one is going to know about it. I'm liking my pool pick so far this season. She found an idol without a clue and has been flying under the radar a bit while making quietly strategic moves.

They find the camp is basically gone and they have to start from scratch again.

Mike and Kelly renew their bonds. It looks like the five remaining Blue Collars might be a power to be reckoned with. The No Collars want to hook up with the White Collars. Rodney wants to get recruits against those who "disrespected him" by voting out Joaquin.

Dan got stung by a jellyfish. Poor baby.

Mike comes up with the tribe name of Merica. @@

Okay, time for the first individual immunity challenge! It's endurance, hanging onto a pole. Dan's out first. Now Will is out. Then Tyler. Sierra out. Then Shirin, then Kelly. Mike falls. Rodney asks Momma C (Carolyn) if she has it. Now Rodney out. Jenn got stung by a bee in the um ... upper thigh. Hali is out. Now it's raining. Jenn is out. They've been up about an hour. It's down to Joe and Carolyn.

Carolyn falls. Joe wins Immunity!

Mike thinks Jenn or Hali should be the targets. He thinks Will will be swayed by Rodney. Will thinks the first vote will show loyalty. That's their plan. Shirin thinks the old BC hate each other, but vote as a block. The WC players are in the middle. The NC want to target Kelly.

Tribal Council. Shirin denies being a swing vote after Jeff mentioned that the numbers make old WC swing votes.

The tally -- Jenn plays her idol.

Hali, Jenn, Jenn, Jenn, Jenn, Jenn, Jenn, Jenn, Kelly, Kelly, Kelly.

Kelly is voted out. Rodney's reaction, although blurred, is almost as good as his reaction when Joaquin was voted out.

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - March 29, 2015

Good morning! Welcome to my weekly off television topic reflection of the week gone by in both words and photos I've taken along the way. During the upcoming week, we'll have both Survivor and return of The Amazing Race. The latter has been off the schedule for a few weeks due to March Madness basketball.

I'd kind of like to know who watches March Madness basketball myself. With all the hype about "brackets" and other hoopla, I don't think I know anyone who's personally into it. Oh, I can see if your alma mater is involved. I noticed my old alma mater was in it at the beginning and was rather surprised -- it was known as more of an academic college when I attended rather than having much more than losing sports teams. I guess times have changed.

Oh, geez. I sneezed and Vincent just realized I'm here. He came bounding from the other room and leaped on me. Sheesh. It's like he was launched like a kitty cannonball.

Ahem.

Not much going on here this past week. In the ongoing unreasonable and disturbing noise issues from the new neighbors, progress has been made. The downstairs people called the police and I backed them up on their complaint. Then I called the landlord and filed my first official complaint against another tenant in the 14 years I've lived here. It's been quiet over there since. We'll see.

Work remains work. Sigh.

Onto the photos I took this week. Clicking on an image will bring it up in a larger version.

Colorful bike

I wonder if it's his primary bike! Heehee ... I crack myself up. Parked at the Plainfield Train Station. Note that the snow piles are still existent, albeit dwindling, near the building.

Look out!

Coming in for a landing atop a roof on North Avenue in Plainfield.

Oh, deer

Just after sunset last evening I saw a deer at the Bridgewater Train Station. I didn't really have the opportunity to do more than get out my camera and shoot, thus getting really sketchy photos. She was wary of me and kept watching me. I kept trying to get to the opening in the fence near me so I could take photos. She watched me. I watched her. She edged away. I edged towards her. And so the story goes.

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

Survivor: Worlds Apart - March 25 Blog Party

Survivor fans ready?

It's post-merge into two tribes with a really uneven playing field tonight. I can't believe how the one tribe is all guys except for one and the other one is mostly female. Yeah, that second tribe did vote out Max, a rare guy, but he's not such a great loss. I personally would have gone for Shirin out first due to the annoyance factor. However, I wasn't there.

I'll update this post with the major happenings as the show airs here East Coast time tonight. Refresh the page to get the latest news! As always, the real party is in the comments area. I hope to see you there!

Here's the latest on the blog pool from the Lovely Lifeguard Laurie:

Blue - Escameca
Dan - Brian, CherylinNC 
Joaquin - Laurie, Rochelle 
Joe - SueGee, Chris 
Mike - meb, Nickelpeed 
Rodney - Margo 
Sierra - Jennasmom 
Tyler - Donna in Alabama, ORK Mommy 

Red - Nagarote
Carolyn - Jackie TerryinTX 
Hali - Zoetawny, monty924 
Jenn - Merrilee, Becky 
Kelly - Petals, Ed in Ohio 
Shirin - NanaintheNW 
Will - Rbennie 

Out 
So
Vince - Delee NC Nina Lynn1 
Lindsey - Donna in FL, David 
Max - PDX Granny, Marlo

On with the shenanigans! Er, show. On with the show! 

Aw, Shirin feels like she's all alone. "Is it me?" Yes. Yes, it is.

The Joaquin/Rodney bromance is getting its start. 

Reward Challenge time -- race up a tower through obstacles, launch sandbags to hit six targets out in the field. They're playing for a trip to a turtle sanctuary to watch turtles migrate and lay eggs. They're also to have a feast. No. Not turtle soup. Dan sits out. 

OMG! Nagarote wins Reward! Now, that was unexpected! 

Uh-oh. Sierra wants to link up Joaquin. Actually, it's the other way around. Rodney and Sierra both think they need Joaquin and Tyler to get ahead, though.

Rodney tells Mike that he has Joaquin like a puppetmaster and they have to throw the challenge to get Joe out. Meanwhile, Mike isn't against throwing challenges because it would keep his ally Kelly safe on the other tribe.

The Immunity Challenge is memorizing objects in a certain order. Carolyn blew Rodney out of the water in the first round. Hali also does well. If Will gets it, they can win in this round. Joe beats him. Shirin vs. Dan now. That ties it up. Either tribe can win now. Mike vs. Kelly ... hmm. Both are wrong. Mike threw it. They go again. He tells her he's giving it to her. Mike is wrong, so is Kelly. Down to five items. The blatant throw finally works. Nagarote wins. Kind of sort of.

Too much talk about Joe going home. So, I kind of doubt he will. 

Both sides are after Sierra for the vote.

Tribal Council brings out honesty from Sierra. Lots of talk of trust or the lack thereof. A teaser with the Sierra vote -- she's shown writing JO ..

Joe, Joaquin, Joe, Joaquin, Joe, Joaquin, Joaquin.

Good. I like Joe more than I like Joaquin!

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - March 22, 2015

Good morning! It's Sunday morning. You know what that means ... it's time for my weekly off television topic reflection on the week gone by in both words and photos I've taken along the way.

As we're in the March Madness phase (which I am SO not into), most CBS shows are preempted anyway. There will be a new Survivor episode this week, but no Amazing Race. Tonight's CBS schedule is still intact, but the only show I watch in that Sunday line-up is Battle Creek. Nope to CBS, I'll be watching Brooklyn Nine Nine on FOX, then The Walking Dead on AMC.

They held an open casting call yesterday for Big Brother in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan. Derrick and Cody from last season were there. I wasn't there.

Meanwhile, life goes on. Work goes on. (And on and on and on.) Vincent is doing well and living the life of King of the Apartment. Alas for him, but good for me, we haven't had any mice issues although he's gone on alert and stalked the kitchen wall a few times lately. We heralded the arrival of spring with a snowstorm. I have two stitches in my back due to the removal of a cyst. I'm getting very weary of health problems. I would like my body to be 25 years old once again, please.

But I did win two dollars on a two dollar purchase of the Cash4Life lottery. My plan had been to win $1,000 a day for life. Or, even the second place win -- $1,000 a week for life. At least I got my investment back.

Onto this week's photos -- clicking on an image will bring it up in a larger version.

Walking in the spring wonderland

It was still a (freakin') winter wonderland Saturday morning at the Plainfield Train Station. Due to the fact that Friday's snow was a wet and sticky kind of snow, it etched all of the trees and was truly a pretty snow. It was the kind of snow that's good for snowball fights and snowmen. But, still ... enough already.

The Polar Express, NJ Transit style

This was my train home from work on Friday pulling into the Bridgewater Train Station. Yay, spring is here!

The Bull Durham building is coming down

I call it such due to a very cool large ghost sign on its side before a fire four years (or so) ago took out the back half of the building. Then it became the Bull Building, Durham gone from view and amongst the rubble. The building should have been torn down after the fire, yet it sat with its entire rear half gone missing all this time. Now it's an emergency to tear it down tying up North Avenue from Gavett Place to Park Avenue. Plainfield. Go figure.

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

Survivor: Worlds Apart - March 18 Blog Party

Survivor fans ready?

Tonight's show is a two-hour ordeal, most likely because March Madness basketball is going to bump it for a week or two. The promos show a bad accident during a challenge, plus the inevitable "drop your buffs" which heralsd the merge. As the show airs here on the East Coast, I'll be posting the major happenings in live time here on this entry. Refresh the page to get the latest news! As you all know, the real party is in the comments -- I hope to see you there!

The Lovely Lifeguard Laurie is once again running the blog pool (thank you!) Here's the latest --

Blue Collar
Dan - Brian, CherylinNC 
Kelly - Petals, Ed in Ohio 
Lindsey - Donna in FL, David 
Mike - meb, Nickelpeed
Rodney - Margo 
Sierra - Jennasmom

No Collar
Hali - Zoetawny, monty924 
Jenn - Merrilee, Becky 
Joe - SueGee, Chris 
Will - Rbennie

White Collar
Carolyn - Jackie TerryinTX 
Joaquin - Laurie, Rochelle 
Max - PDX Granny, Marlo 
Shirin - NanaintheNW 
Tyler - Donna in Alabama, ORKMommy

Out! 
So
Vince - Delee
Nina - Lynn1 

Okay, it's on with the show we will go!

On NC, Will is rightfully concerned that if they go to Tribal again, he's gone. BC catches a snake for food.

Whoa ... it's right to an Reward Challenge! It's one of those with callers and blindfolded tribe members searching for stuff. First tribe gets three egg laying hens and a rooster. Second tribe gets ten eggs. From the promo, this has to be where the accident happens. They have to pull the items up to a platform. No Collar is ahead.

Kelly gets hit by the dropping platform from her tribe. Medical gets called and we're in commercial land. The medic tells her he can bandage it and she can continue the challenge. There is a lot of blood, but apparently not a major injury.

No Collar wins Reward! White Collar takes second place.

While the others eat chicken, Jenn searches around and found the idol.

Kelly ended up with six stitches.

Lindsay and Rodney are going after each other, mainly because Rodney's ideas of women are antiquated in view of Lindsay's.  Meanwhile, on WC, Shirin told the others that she slaughtered a rabbit in prep for the show. That turns Joaquin off. Max wants to sit Carolyn out of the next challenge because he doesn't want Shirin to be upset. Carolyn tries to convince the guys Max needs to go.

Immunity Challenge time! Each tribe attached to a rope, go through a course, retrieve bags, get three balls to the top of a maze to win. Shirin does indeed sit out.

No Collar wins! White Collar takes second place. Blue Collar goes to TC for the first time this season. For all his brawn and mouthiness, it was Rodney who screwed up for them during the challenge.

Lindsay tries to get Dan to agree that voting out Rodney is the move. Meanwhile, the guys and Kelly seem to have an alliance. But neither Mike nor Kelly (close) trust Rodney. It sounds like either Lindsay or Rodney will go.

Tribal Council time.

The tally --
Rodney, Lindsay, Rodney, Lindsay, Sierra, Sierra.

Three way tie. Re-vote with Mike, Dan and Kelly only.

Re-vote tally -- Lindsay, Lindsay

She's voted out, smug sexist Rodney stays. All three voted for her, though. Now, Sierra is all bummed.

Right into another challenge. Drop your buffs.

No more collars, Blue and Red tribe only.

Red - Max, Will, Hali, Jenn, Kelly, Shirin, Carolyn
Blue - Joe, Dan, Sierra, Mike, Tyler, Joaquin, Rodney

The challenge looks a bit lacrosse-ish. They launch a ball to be caught in a net.

Blue wins its first Reward Challenge!

Shirin tries to win over Kelly to join the WC members of the new tribe. On the other tribe, Tyler likens Sierra to a broken puppy. Both her old tribemates and the new ones need her. Shirin is already alienating new people. Max got stung twice by a stingray. Carolyn would love for either Max or Shirin to be blindsided.

Dan totally screws up his "apology" to Sierra, just as Mike had advised him not to do so.

Immunity Challenge time! Placing pots on a sled through obstacle course, put them on stands, one member uses a wrecking ball to kill the pots. The tribe with all the guys is not surprisingly doing much better hauling the heavy sled through the mud in the obstacle course.

Blue wins. Not a shock seeing all the muscles. Max says he's happy to go to Tribal and change the dynamic around his camp. He might have to eat his words if he's the dynamic that goes ... or his main ally Shirin gets the boot.

Max wants to blindside Will. Shirin thinks she's orchestrated everything. Meanwhile, Carolyn is thinking a totally different blindside. The others agree with her but can't decide who's more annoying -- Max or Shirin.

The tally --
Will, Will, Max, Max, Max, Max.

Bye-bye, Mr. Survivor Professor. I wanted to like him, but I just couldn't.

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - March 15, 2015

Good morning! It's Sunday morning. You know what that means. It's time for my weekly off television topic reflection on the week gone by in both words and photos I've taken along the way. Today is the Ides of March. Beware. You've been warned.

After a big blast of winter last week, we finally got a touch of spring this week! I wasn't necessarily pleased with all the rain we got, but it's better than snow. It was nice to be able to crack the windows open on the warmer days and to not have to wear my big coat ... not even once!

I also got to play more with the new camera as my fingers weren't freezing and I wasn't shivering. I still long for time spent in the park or in the city (NYC) photostomping, yet this past week's weather was certainly more conducive for taking photos.

I'm still having some headaches and dizziness and I fear that might never stop. But I have been going to work. I'm counting the years to retirement. I wish it could be counting the days, but that would be unrealistic. Sigh. I'd love to have the time to pursue pursuits I enjoy rather than come home exhausted every day just to have it all happen again the next day. But, for the meantime, I need to keep the roof over my head and the company health insurance.

Without further ado, it's on to the photographs from the week. If you click on an image, you can see a larger version.

I see the silhouetto of a bird ...

Gotta fly, gotta fly.
I'm just a poor bird, nobody loves me.
He's just a poor bird from a poor family.
Spare him his life from this monstrosity!
-- My apologies to Queen

Zoo York

I bet some of the kids who use downtown Plainfield as a skateboarding mecca would love the meet this guy. He skateboards for Zoo City, a company based in Manhattan which makes fancy skateboards, hip-hop skateboard clothes and accessories as well as putting on shows and exhibitions which you can find on YouTube. He was on the train last night on my way home from work and I had to ask him about the skateboards. He was kind enough to balance a few for a photo for me.

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

The Amazing Race 26: March 13 Blog Party

 

It's Friday night! I hope you haven't forgotten that it's time for The Amazing Race! It looks like there will be a kerfuffle or two tonight  Plus, Jonathan and Harley will face a speed bump as they came in last with the non-Philimination leg.

Here's the blog pool standings presented by the Magnificent Margo:

Mike and Rochelle - Cheryl in NC, Laurie

Aly and Steve - Jackie, SueGee

Harley and Jonathan - Becky, Willie J

Matt and Ashley - Delee, Merrilee

Bergen and Kurt - Nana in NW, Rbennie

Blair and Hayley - Terry in TX, Margo, Chris

Jeffrey and Jackie - Brian, Donna in AL, ORKMommy

Jelani and Jenny - Marlo, Lynn 1, dla

Tyler and Laura - Ed in OH, David, Nickelpeed

PHILIMINATED:

Jeff and Lyda - Jennasmom, Paula Bell, meb

Lebya and CJ - Donna in FL, PDXGranny

As the show airs here, I'll update this entry with the major happenings. Refresh the page to get the latest news! As always, the real party will be in the comments area. Come join us there!

Teams will be flying to Bangkok! The blind daters are starting to quibble.

Detour -- Water or Wheel -- The water taxi seems to be chosen by all so far. But there are only five boats, so they will have to go for wheel. Hayley's voice is reminding me of Bernadette on The Big Bang Theory. Scratch off the thought of her and Blair as a couple.The "wheel" is a moped-ish pedi-cab kind of thing called a tuck-tuck.

Once they arrive at their destination, Water must eat a 1,000 year-old egg.

Ew.

Once they arrive at their destination, Wheel has to play Snooker and hit a red ball into a pocket.

Now teams must take part in a traditional high prayer. 

The Speed Bump has Harley and Jonathan making a grasshopper "sculpture" from river reeds.

The teams who picked up a milk clue at the temple must feed cats at the Caturday Cafe.

Roadblock -- Who is feeling Clutch? They have to remove a transmission and find a misplaced screwdriver. Inside the screwdriver is a clue to the Pit Stop -- "Metal Castle."

Pit Stop:

1. Kurt and Bergen - won a trip to Puerto Vallarta (sp?)

2. Haley and Blair

3. Aly and Steve

4. Laura and Tyler  

5. Jackie and Jeffrey

6. Michael and Rochelle

7. Jelani and Jenny 

8. Matt and Ashley

9. Harley and Jonathan -- Philiminated 

Due to March Madness, the next episode isn't until April 3rd.