It's that time of the week again ... a look at the week behind me in words and photographs. If you're looking for the latest Big Brother news, hit the Big Brother blog tag and you'll be there.
"By the time we got to Woodstock, we were half a million strong ..." - Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young. "The New York State Thruway is CLOSED, man!" Ah, the memories! No, I didn't go. My mother forbid me to do so even though I bought a ticket with my babysitting money. We lived about 90 minutes north of Bethel, NY at the time. My mother told me there would be too many drugs and things going on. Gee, y'think? On reflection, I wouldn't let an almost 14-year-old girl go to Woodstock either.
It's hard to believe that was forty years ago ... as were the Manson killings. I did manage to go to Watkins Glen a few years later and, while cool, it was no Woodstock. But I was in college by then. Life was different with free rein.
To this week -- bleh. It's been humid all week here, my cat adoption fell through (although some angles are still being worked on), the bank has foreclosed on my apartment building, and my landlord has declared bankruptcy. Life as usual, huh? Actually, while I prefer the landlord being bankrupt rather than me being bankrupt, I'm not sure what's going to happen.
I've never owed anyone over 40 million dollars. That, of course, is a good thing. As David Letterman would say, "I wouldn't give anyone his problems for a monkey on a rock." As long as a roof is over my head, I'll be fine. We're talking thousands of tenants in the major bankruptcy, plus his bankruptcy actions elsewhere. They can't kick us all out and a new landlord could only be an improvement. My water, trash pick-up, and heat (come winter) just better all stay on. Those are included in the rent.
As for my photography this week, I had nothing really great on an artsy perspective. So, these are more or less, a slice of life here in New Jersey ... clicking on any of the images will open them larger in a new window.
Yeah, it's the (probably) carpenter bees again.
Well ... they're there. I can't resist trying to shoot them. I just wish they'd pose!
While pretty, this can't be healthy for the building structure.
Can it? Doesn't that ivy eat into the brick? I don't know. Plainfield, NJ
Parking Wars Plainfield Style
Unlike the Philadephia Parking Authority folks featured on A&E's Parking Wars, the Plainfield Parking Bureau is just a tad more laidback. At least, in appearance, they are. I always see 'em out there issuing the tickets, though.
NJ Transit, the Way to Go
That's their logo, anyway. I caught the double-decker (also known as fancy-shmancy) commuter train and the bus working their way through the rush hour in downtown Plainfield, NJ.
Jesus Ladies on a Mission
They're really Jehovah's Witnesses spreading the word. I call 'em The Jesus Ladies. They're out pounding the sidewalks everyday in their sensible shoes. There are two contingents in force here -- the Black Jesus Ladies and the Latina Jesus Ladies. I do my best to avoid both groups. If I haven't made my own mind up about religion by this time in life, I don't need to be brainwashed. I don't mean to demean anyone's religion -- I just think that everyone should be free to follow their own faith without people bugging them on the streets or at home. Plainfield, NJ.
The Morning Commute
A cup of coffee and either the free Metro or AMNewYork on the train to work. Both papers are free, but I have no clue when or how they infiltrate the trains. I'd rather they infiltrate my life than the Jesus Ladies. In reference to this particular issue: I'll be able to watch Mad Men once again now that I once again have AMC on my cable due to going digital and I did not win that big Lotto. I'll spend two bucks again this week. You never know. But I will never be one of those fools who invest money in Lotto day after day.
You have to have a lot of gall to live on poison ivy.
Yep, they're called poison ivy gall mites. They're microscopic and what's visible is the plant's reaction to them. Have I mentioned how much I love the Internet? I wish all of this knowledge had been available to me so easily during my school days. I don't know something and I want to learn about it? I have not only the world, but the universe right here in my home! I remember when I was about 20 I wanted to be a professional student for life. Well, I am. But it's just not a paying profession.
It's a bird! It's a plane! It's product placement!
Usually these blimps are for MetLife or Saturn cars. I've never been in a blimp. Have you? (Disclaimer: I'm NOT endorsing DirectTV. I don't have DirectTV. Gee, if they want to give me free DirectTV, I'd glady endorse them. I'd even speak kindly of Comcast if they weren't charging me an arm and a leg for basic *now digital* cable.)
Where is the Plainfield Parking Bureau now?
This is just laziness. It's late enough that there are tons of spaces in the parking lot at the Plainfield Train Station. Behind the NJ Transit Police vehicle are street bums drinking their beers. Where's the cop? Oh, he's up on the Newark/NYC platform yawning and looking bored. And he's parked crooked taking up two handicapped spots. True, no one is using the others. But he should be setting the example, shouldn't he?
Mr. Toady
I found a toad near the Bridgewater (NJ) Train Station. I suppose it could be a frog, but I don't think so. There's no body of water in easy hopping distance. Hmm ... maybe one of those tree frogs? I'm just not sure. All I know is that he was tiny (perhaps 3/4 inch) and didn't like to stay still.
