Looking at the Survivor Heroes

Here we are in countdown for the start of the next season of Survivor. It's just a week (and a day) away! Margo has the blog pool rolling along, but there still are openings for those who want to join in. The deadline for joining in on the blog pool is noon (ET) on February 9. The prizes? Um, well ... you get to brag about your winner! It's still a lot of fun even if the winner won't win a million dollars.

Most of us are dedicated show fans, so we've seen our "Heroes and Villains" in action before. However, I figured I'd refresh your memories with some images, a few facts, and my own opinions. Please feel free to jump in with your thoughts in comments ... and may the fun begin.


Amanda Kimmel, 24, from Kalispell, Montana, currently living in Los Angeles. She was the second runner-up in China and the runner-up in Micronesia. Former Miss Montana and Miss Earth, she wants to prove she can win. My thoughts? Well, she's certainly better than the winner of the past season -- at least she plays the game. That said, she's not my personal favorite for the win and I think the competition might prove too tough for her.


Candice Woodcock, age 27, from Fayetteville, North Carolina, currently residing in Washington, D.C. She was the 13th out and 5th jury member on Cook Islands. Um, okay. I'm not quite sure why she was chosen. While I have nothing against her, I barely remember her. I get the feeling she won't make it to the jury this time around. It's up to her to prove me wrong.


Cirie Fields, age 39, from Jersey City, New Jersey, currently living in Norwalk, Connecticut. Okay, her showing on the show wasn't any better than Candice's finish -- 12th out and 6th jury member in Panama; 15th out and 7th jury member in Micronesia. But Cirie, unlike Candice, made a real impression on me. Her sense of humor, her "least likely to succeed on Survivor" background ... I enjoyed watching her on the show. Well, except for the icky underwear on Panama. I really don't think she can win against this group, but I'll be cheering her on just because I truly enjoy her.


Colby Donaldson, age 35, from Christival, Texas, now residing in Los Angeles. Colby should have been the winner of Australia, but he practically handed it over on a silver platter to Tina Wesson. On All-Stars, he had a rather rapid exit as the 5th out. His hair seems to have thinned some, but that winning smile is still there. Colby was definitely my eye-candy for the Australia season. Plus, he just came across as such a nice guy. I remember them shutting him down quickly on All-Stars. If he can get a good alliance going with his heroes buddies, he could very well last a long time.


James Clement, age 32, from Lafayette, Louisiana, he currently has homes in both Lafayette and Malibu, California. James was 10th out in China and, due to an injury, he made it to 4th jury member in Micronesia. James is another person I'm looking forward to watching -- he has these cool James-ism expressions which definitely reflect on his background and not necessarily his age. I should have known, but it's odd that he's only 32. In so many ways, he's an older soul than that. Definitely nice eye-candy for me with that physique and I love his voice. I hope he goes far and doesn't get hurt!


James "JT" Thomas, Jr;, age 25, from Samson, Alabama, currently living in Mobile, Alabama. JT was the winner of Tocantins. He's going to be a force to be reckoned with this season on the show. While he's one of the good guys, he's one of the fiercest competitors ever on the show. Unless he's targeted early, he's likely to make it to at least the final four. I like him, but he's not my favorite personality-wise to watch. Okay, okay, I know that's not what the show is all about. But he's like a friendly pitbull to me. Sure, he wags his tail and smiles, but when action is called for, he will risk his own self to win.


Rupert Boneham, age 45, from Indianapolis, Indiana (and still there). Rupert was the 8th out, 2nd jury member in Pearl Islands and 15th out, 6th jury member in All-Stars. He also won the first (I think, correct me if I'm wrong) fan favorite prize. Rupert's perhaps one of the most animated and colorful characters ever on the show. He's positively a good guy in real life, dedicating time and money to his charity helping kids. I know he's a favorite of many show fans, but not necessarily my own personal favorite. I'm not sure he can hold up to the heavy hitters this season. We'll see.


Stephenie LaGrossa, age 29, from Briarcliff, Glenolden, Pennsylvania, currently living in Philadelphia. (Huh ... why was I thinking she was from New Jersey?) She was the 10th out and 3rd jury member in Palau, runner-up in Guatemala. She's one tough cookie. She was the surviving Ulong member and went through some really hard times that season. I think she's the best bet for a female win on either heroes or villains. That is, unless they also figure that and target her to get her off before she wins it all.


Jessica "Sugar" Kiper, age 29, from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, now residing in Los Angeles. Sugar was the 2nd runner-up on Gabon. Now, she's not going to win. Just the thought is preposterous. She gets rattled too quickly and is too emotional. Sure, she made some good moves in her season. And, yes, I really enjoyed watching her. She, for the most part, is a good judge of people. Hopefully she'll make strong allies. I want her to do well. I just don't think she will.


Tom Westman, age 45, from Long Island, New York, currently living in New York, New York. Tom was the winner of Palau and he deserved it. Until JT came along, I think Tom held the record for consecutive individual immunities. He's someone who has represented the FDNY so well on the show -- a nice guy, played the game with integrity as well as amazing physical feats. I like Tom. I wouldn't mind seeing him win again. But I don't think the villains will let him get that far.

Your thoughts?

Photo Credit: CBS

Tonight Will Be a Lost Evening for Me

Yep, it's back! Lost returns this evening with a big three-hour ordeal a'goin' on. From what it looks like, the first hour (although listed as new material) answers some questions and points out remaining mysteries. Then it's onto the two-hour actual season premiere. Most likely I'll NEED to watch that first hour as I've totally forgotten what happened last on the show!

Now, I don't think I'll be blogging the show in-depth as I'm so lost to begin with and it will take me some time to catch up. But if folks want to comment on the premiere, I'm sure to join in. It's the last season of the show and they did promise us answers. We better get them and it better not be a "Who shot JR?" scenario!

I'll be recording tonight's American Idol audition show due to Lost. What are YOU watching tonight?

Off Topic - That Was the Week It Was - 01/31/10

Yay, another winter month GONE! A step closer to spring! And, of course, another week has gone by. So it's time for my weekly off topic post reflecting back on the week in words and photographs I've taken.

The weather here in the NJ/Greater NYC Metropolitan Area has been crazy this past week. We started out with near record highs (and a monsoon) early in the week, then dipped to way below freezing for the end of the week. In both extremes, we had heavy duty winds. Oh. And we had an unexpected snowstorm early Thursday morning which wreaked havoc on the local roads. That's on top of the flooding earlier in the week.

I braved it all. Rain, sleet (we had none of that), snow, gloom of night ... I slogged through it daily for work. I had my trusty warm waterproof Totes winter boots -- not fashion boots for sure, but very functional in bad weather and they don't slide on snow, either! My big umbrella met an unfortunate demise in Monday's rain and wind. The second time it turned inside out, it was time to say goodbye.

It seems most of my co-workers are sick, mostly bronchitis and laryngitis. I have neither and I don't want to catch anything. Hand sanitizers have been my best friend along with their friend, antiseptic wipes. I've been wiping down my computer keyboard at work as I know I'm not the only one to touch it, just the main person. I've been wiping down phones. I've had a slight cold for a while, but if I can avoid the severe stuff, I will. I do have chapped lips. Grr.

Thankfully the heat in my apartment has been working fine since Monday. With the weather the way it's been, all I want to do is get home from work and hibernate in my warm robe and slippers. Someone let Jehovah's Witnesses (the Jesus people!) in the building and I ignored them as I was already all warm and comfy the other day. Yeah, I knew it was them ... I heard them knocking on every door. (Grr.) FIOS people have also been in the building this week soliciting. I want to know who's letting these intrusions in now that all the building doors actually lock! Hey, if I'm not expecting anyone, I'm not answering the door except for police or firemen. Even they had better have a good reason to be bugging me. Yes, I've turned into a winter curmudgeonette.

My life continues to be so exciting, eh? For an extra thrill, I have to go to my office for a few hours today as it's the closing of the fiscal year at work. Joy, joy. Onto the photos I've taken this week -- clicking on an image will open it larger in a new window:

Plainfield Train Station in a mini-snowstorm

This is the side where I wait for my train to go to work. We have no heat on the westbound side and they turn our lights out early. The other side has the main train station which is open from about 5 AM to noon (or so), along with the ticket machines. They have heat.

I suppose the assumption is that most people who wait for the train are heading into the city (NYC) and when they arrive home on the westbound side, they don't wait in the elements and just go on home -- so they don't need heat. NJ Transit does the same thing with the bus stops. Eastbound has shelters and benches, westbound stands on the corners. I scream discrimination against against the flow travelers!

Dedicated Railfan

Despite the fact that the windchill is about 3 degrees, this brave railfan has his tripod and camera set for the action at the Bound Brook Train Station. Until I started taking the train and noticing the groups of railfans, I had no idea the cult exists. Bound Brook is a favorite setting for them as there are two freight lines (in background) and the NJ Transit commuter line. They're more interested in the freight trains than the commuter trains. This guy got his prize as two freight trains were going opposite directions as I rode through on NJ Transit. I took this shot from the warmth of inside the train.

Paying respects to a fallen comrade

The cones gather to mourn their loss on East Front Street in Plainfield.

Barren branch shadows

The early morning sun casts shadows of barren limbs on the Friends Meeting House (Quakers) on Watchung Avenue in Plainfield. I edited the photo to leave only the meeting house in color.

Ingles computacion y classic soulfood

You know, I think life is much more interesting when there's diversity all around you! I can recommend the restaurant, but I'm not really suited for taking computer classes in Spanish teaching me English software programs. Watchung Avenue in Plainfield.

Just hanging around

I spotted this upside-down owl in the doorway of 116 Watchung Avenue in Plainfield. Huh? What's that all about? No, it's not a real owl. I'm thinking it may have been put there to keep pigeons from nesting, kind of like a scarecrow. But since it's upside down, the pigeons probably point and laugh at it.

Every snowflake is unique

Yep, we're all special snowflakes.

East meets West

In the snow at the Plainfield Train Station the other day. While cars were slipping and sliding all over the roads, I had a pleasant commute. Layers are the key.

On the down-low again

This time I set my camera on the platform looking the other way in the snow squall. Plainfield Train Station.

State News in the snow

The corner of Watchung and East Front early Thursday morning (Plainfield).

Do the star-spangled banners yet wave?

Yep, they do. East Front Street in front of the Monarch.

Bridgewater Train Station

This NJ Transit rail station is more of a stop than a station. Yet, they remain true to the fact that eastbound towards NYC has a little building with heat while westbound has benches out in the elements. I edited this with GIMP's "posterize" to give it the illustration effect. We have a better station and much better lamps in Plainfield.

Sunrise in my crystal ball

Okay, it's a lamp outside the main post office on Watchung Avenue in Plainfield. I left the globe of the lamp in color, slightly posterized and made the rest of the image black and white. It's not quite as good as I hoped it would be.

In training

Uh-oh. They're working out, readying to overthrow mankind!

The geese, not as professional

I don't know what's become of the younger generation. It's supposed to be a V in formation, gaggle! Oh my. I think they're skywriting. Oh no! "Surrender Dorothy!" Eep.

Two defectors

Going AWOL into the angry clouds. Perhaps they'll fly to the sun, melt their wings and they'll fall into the sea like Icarus.

A note on the clouds -- this was Monday's sunset after our monsoon-like day. Gorgeous, but it signaled the cold front moving in.

The geese keep trying

Well, now they're in a straight line, kind of sort of. They really need discipline.

Sunshine caught in the gaps

The late afternoon sunshine lights up the gaps on this old bridge at the Bridgewater Train Station.

I've said it before

Don't sleep near me on the train.

In the early morning rain

With a dollar in my hand, an aching in my heart ... and an inside-out umbrella. Looking up East Front Street from in front of the Plainfield YWCA pre-dawn Monday morning in the MONSOON.

Roughly the same view

Three days and an hour later. Thursday morning in the snow.

Supremo arket in the rain

Monday pre-dawn. Purty lights, but I was soaked clear through. Well, except for my feet. East Front Street, Plainfield.

Wake up, Vincent!

Hey, Vincent! It's a wolf moon outside! It's the biggest full moon you'll see all year! Okay, you won't see it. You prefer to nap. I don't know how you're ever going to be a well-rounded cat. You didn't want to see the last blue moon either.

How was your week?

This Week's American Idol Auditions

Has American Idol jumped the shark even though Simon Cowell is still there? Sure, I know we're in the auditions, the riff-raff of the season. But usually someone's voice really catches my interest by now. Yes, there have been some decent voices, a handful probably better than some recording artists out and about today. But no one has made me sit back and go "WOW!" I want my WOW and I want it now!

The guest judge thing has been different this year. I wasn't impressed with Avril Lavigne and her little horned hoodie on Tuesday evening. She really didn't add much as far as input on the auditions, either. However, she played with the horns on her sweatshirt. Maybe she got it from a boi.

Last night we had Neil Patrick Harris for the first day in Texas, a Jonas brother (Joe?) for the second day. True to form, NPH jumped right in and got involved. If you've ever seen him on talk shows or when he's substituted for Regis ... he's good at these things. The Jonas was a bit like Avril Lavigne sans an horned hoodie.

As for the auditions themselves, the Tourette's guy sang decently and his little sad story was a nice touch when he really could sing. Did he blow me away? Nope. Nome of them did. We need a Melinda Doolittle methinks. How about you?

Off Topic - That Was the Week It Was - 1/24/10

It's Sunday, time to take an off topic look back at the past week in words and photographs I've taken. We had a fairly mild week here weather-wise. It amazes me how warm 40 to 45 degrees can feel after we had such frigid cold just a few weeks back. Of course, the nights are still below the freezing mark. It is still winter after all.

On the home front things are quiet. I didn't win the Mega Millions. Hey, I spent a dollar. I should have won, right? They say "a dollar and a dream." Well ...? Where's my hundred million? I spend a good ten dollars a year on the lottery. I want a refund! Okay, I'm not a big gambler, I guess. It bugs me when I see the folks with a gazillion lottery numbers playing every game imaginable. It usually seems to be the people who can least afford to do so.

Instead of throwing vast amounts of my money away, I prefer to keep the bills paid and a roof over my head. If I make it to retirement alive, hopefully my 401K, retirement pension (yeah, I actually have one, but it's nothing exciting), and social security just might let me continue to spend ten dollars a year on the lottery. But you won't see me acting like it's some sort of daily ritual.

The Conan/Leno/Letterman/Kimmel shows should be calming down this coming week. Well, we know Conan will quiet down as he's now history at NBC. As Letterman loyal as I am, I recorded Conan's last show and will watch it later today. In poking around, I found out that Conan was the valedictorian of his high school class and graduated from Harvard. Impressive. I knew he was a writer on SNL before he hit late nights, but I wasn't aware that he had that sort of educational background. I'm sure he and his staff (along with the several million bucks) will land on their feet. And I'll continue to not watch Jay Leno.

I watched the celebrity-laden telethon for Haiti on Friday night -- 57 million dollars raised and they're still counting. I still can't imagine what the people of Haiti are going through. My company (the one I work for, not one I own) is providing $100 calling cards and offering free counseling for Haitians who work for us. Plus they're sending support to Haiti. That made me feel good about the corporation on the whole. I first started with them (when I obviously was a child) in 1977. I don't recall them ever doing anything like that before. I know they did a lot for 9/11, but the company itself lost several people on one of the planes. So, that one really touched home.

Hmm ... as I type this, I notice my heat isn't working once again. Grr. While it's supposed to go into the 50s later on, this isn't good. They're also predicting thunderstorms and heavy rain during the time I head out to work Monday morning. Grr again. I suppose rain will wash away the really dirty remaining snow piles. Shame on me, but I hope we don't see any more snow this season. I could live with that.

I was saddened to hear of some deaths in the news this past week, outside of the Haiti tragedy. Survivor Palau's Jennifer Lyon, only 37 years old, died of breast cancer having fought the disease since shortly after her television series. That is too young to die. Another death which I took particular note of was the passing of author Robert B. Parker. Police, crime, and mystery buff that I am, I have many of his Spenser books in my collection, including a few signed copies as I met him a couple of times. His character Spenser, a Boston private detective, was the focus of television's Spenser For Hire starring Robert Urich some years back. Parker was 77, but not known to be ill, and was working on yet another Spenser novel at the time of his death. Author Erich Segal also died last week. He wrote Love Story, which was one of the big tear-jerkers of my high school era, as well as the screenplay for the Beatles movie Yellow Submarine.

As you can tell, it's been another quiet week for me. At least, by not driving, I have enjoyable commuting times. I can listen to my not-an-iPod, look around for interesting photo shots, and get to know the people in town. That and patronize local businesses, mind you. It's so much better than sitting in traffic in New Jersey. Here are my shots for the week, clicking on a photo will open it larger in a new window --

J.D. Loizeaux Lumber Company

It's long gone from 470 Watchung Avenue in Plainfield, but its ghost sign remains in the brick.

Yikes!

He looks intent on something ... perhaps overthrowing humanity!

Papa John's

This is a few blocks away from where I live. Yes, I messed with the colors with my photo editor. It's early in the morning. I guess there's not much demand for pizza at 7 AM. Unless, of course, it's cold leftovers for breakfast! East Front Street, Plainfield.

Huh? Whazzat?

Yes, I know it's the local Presbyterian Church. I mean on the pole!

It's one of those solar panel doohickies!

I read in other local blogs that these were popping up in various places all over town. Now there's one in my neighborhood. I hope it doesn't fall on anyone! It's HUGE. And, the wire leading to the other side of the street is just flopping around. East Front Street, Plainfield.

Striped sunset

Taken from the Supremo Supermarket parking lot (Roosevelt Avenue-ish, Plainfield) at sunset on Wednesday evening. If I had more energy, I'd edit out the pole and wires. I still might ... some day.

Jus' resting

He seems to have his own special nook. Or is it a cranny? East Front Street, Plainfield.

Poison Ivy

"Late at night while you're sleepin' poison ivy comes a'creepin'" - "Poison Ivy" as sung by The Coasters. Here's another look at the dormant poison ivy vines growing near the Bridgewater (NJ) Train Station. Now, I know it's poison ivy because I see it growing through the other seasons. But another way to tell is by the "hairy" vines.

Etched in frost

We've had a number of warmer days with high temperatures in the 40s. But at night, it's dipping way below freezing. The result? Some really cool heavy frosts before the sun melts 'em.

A frosty close-up

If this wasn't the dead of winter with many sub-freezing days behind us, this would be a killing frost. And, no. The killing frost did not kill Wildfire. Frost can't kill a horse, just plants. Horses generally don't care about frost.

Am I boring you, Vincent?

Apparently he's tired. Or bored.

Sigh

Some fool(s) went and covered up the cool street art I previously featured with this junk. Non-stop fun, eh? Off of East Fifth Street in back of the YMCA in Plainfield.

Alone

Been down so long it looks like up to me. Watchung Avenue, Plainfield.

Valdez Supermarket

Yes, I edited this one to have only the store windows in color. Watchung Avenue.

Spoonful of supplies

The E&A Restaurant Supplies place on East Fifth Street and Cleveland Avenue in Plainfield really spiffed up their building with new graphics!

Gangster Whitewalls

This was my find for the week. It's definitely a Cadillac LaSalle. I believe, from poking around on the Internet, that it's a 1946 one. They added another trunk emblem on the models from 1947 on. Obviously restored nicely, I found this on Cleveland Avenue in Plainfield.

"Though you may not drive a great big Cadillac
Diamond in the back, sunroof top,
Diggin' the scene with a gangsta lean,
Gangsta whitewalls, TV antennas in the back." - "Be Thankful for What You Got" by William DeVaughn

Another view of the Cadillac

It's sitting outside of Wreck-A-Mended, an auto body repair business.

Pigeons plot in secrecy

I seem to be in a lyrical mood today. Hamsters turn on frequently. That is "At the Zoo" by Simon and Garfunkel. However, these pigeons are plotting on the streets of Plainfield, NJ.

View From the Down Low

I took this shot from the ground level of the platform at the Plainfield Train Station. I didn't stoop -- I just didn't go up the stairs/ramp to the platform, setting my camera on the platform. It had stopped raining a few hours before, so the ground (and platform) were still wet. Pre-dawn, not at night ... per se. I suppose pre-dawn could be night. But night has a totally different crowd.

Bad Sneakers

... and a pina colada, my friend. Eep, there I go with more lyrics. I have too many songs in my head. That one's Steely Dan. Actually, it's more like bad steps than bad sneakers in this shot. I hope they didn't pay a contractor to do them. East Second Street, Plainfield.

Raising capital

Uh-oh. They're gathering funds to overthrow mankind. Bridgewater, NJ.

How was your week?