Talking Lost ...

I won't be getting my Lost post up until tomorrow. I'm totally exhausted and will end up totally lost if I write about the episode while watching it tonight. My apologies ...

The Amazing Race 4/04/10 Episode Blog Party Post

The show is actually starting on time here on the East Coast! As it airs, I'll update this entry with major events including the Pit Stop order and Philimination. My actual show review will be posted late tonight over on TV Squad. But the real fun (and most information) will be right here in the comments area. Everyone is invited to join in with your thoughts!

Pit Stop
1. Jet and Cord -- won a trip to Maui
2. Carol and Brandy
3. Louie and Michael
4. Brent and Caite
5. Dan and Jordan
6. Steve and Allie -- Philiminated

Off Topic - That Was the Week It Was - 04/04/10

I hope everyone is having a great Easter! Zoetawny created the holiday tag for us ... she does always rock, right? It's Sunday, time to take my weekly off topic trip reflecting on the week gone by in photographs and words. This week's big news is that we had no flooding this week! While the week started off rainy, it all changed and we're in for actual spring days.

I love living where the seasons actually change. I did a couple of years in California as a child and it just wasn't the same. Each season has its own particular beauty. Winter's snow and ice are often a spectacular sight. In autumn, the trees go out in a blaze of glory for their winter nap. Summer is my least favorite season these days, especially late summer when everything just looks worn and burnt. Then there's spring, a time when everything begins anew. The changes happen so fast that if you miss a day, you miss a bloom. So I tend to go a little camera crazy. Bless digital!

Other than catching nature all around me, it's been a bit uneventful this week. On Tuesday morning, in a vicious evil rainstorm, I managed to sort of half-trip and aggravate my knee. I think it's safe to say that before (or during) the next winter, my knee will be full of titanium and plastic like the other one.

This week's Sunday Seven Songs randomly picked from my not-an-iPod --
"Rock the Casbah" by The Clash
"Let's Go Crazy" by Prince
"Sweet Baby James" by James Taylor
"Without Me" by Eminem
"Expressway to Your Heart" by The Soul Survivors
"Way Down in the Hole" by The Five Blind Boys of Alabama
"Geek in the Pink" by Jason Mraz

What's on your MP3 player?

Onto the photos -- clicking on an image will open it larger in a new window.

Yay, spring!

I "posterized" this shot of leaves coming to life on a small tree. Don't ask me what kind of tree it is. I'm lucky to be able to tell a conifer from a deciduous.

Holding up the railing ...

... at the Plainfield NJ Transit Train Station

Spring is in the air!

A man walks down East Front Street in Plainfield dressed for the season. I edited the shot to leave him in color, the background black and white and posterized.

Pretty Police

The trees and bushes are in bloom and the lawn is a lush green at the Plainfield Police Station. Well, the lawn is a lush after drinking all that rain the past few weeks!

Church Street (Plainfield) lined with blossoms

Again, don't ask me what the trees are. This is before the peak Saturday morning. By Monday, they'll all be in full bloom or blowing in the wind.

Church Street blossoms a bit closer

The Heard One complex is in the background.

Even closer

These are what they are. What are they? ;-)

Then there's this yellow stuff

On Church Street, but in my yard and everywhere else, too.

Is it a bird? Is it a plane?

Nope. It's a fancy-schmancy digital antenna gleaming in the early morning sun. North Street in Plainfield (adjacent to a gaping hole on the left).

Yet another tree awakening

Whatever this one is, it blooms in red and white. At the Bridgewater Train Station.

Is it? Could it be? Have I encountered the Easter Bunny?

Our conversation went like this:
Rabbit - "There's a human in my way."
Me - "There's a rabbit in my way."
Staredown ensued while I grabbed my camera. The rabbit backed down and ran away.
Bridgewater Train Station.

Downtown Cat

I've spotted this small cat twice near the Watchung Avenue and East Fourth Street intersection in Plainfield. He seems street-savvy and fed well enough, but it's really not a good location for a cat.

Is this what a thorny snit looks like?

Distracting the enemy

Throw the pigeons crumbs and run for your lives! The birds are gathering!

More trees in bloom

This one is outside the Methodist Church on East Front Street in Plainfield. It's blooming oddly this year. Every other year, it bloomed evenly. This year one side is lagging after the other.

Close-up

This is a closer shot of the blossoms from the previous shot.

Berckman Street, Plainfield

I messed with the editing, posterizing it, cartooning it, bumping up the contrast ... just having a grand old time with it.

My Landlord's Landscaping

Oh, what pretty flowers!

Odd Subject Matter

Okay, it's a restroom. But it's the restroom at Five Guys Hamburgers and Fries in Westfield. Why? First, it's so shiny and clean. Second, it matches the red and white checkered scheme of the restaurant itself. It also has a super most powerful on earth electric hand dryer which all but blows the skin off your hands. My shots of that in action didn't work out.

Old Reiss Tavern Sign

This is near the south side of the Plainfield Train Station. I wonder how long it's been since there was a bar there to match the sign?

Reiss Tavern, the other side

I edited this shot leaving the sign as is while posterizing and making the background black and white.

Pre-Dawn deli

North Street in Plainfield.

Pre-dawn bar windows

I messed with the colors and posterizing, leaving the Miller signs as they really are. My, isn't that the champagne of bottled beers?

Mouse Killer at rest

Trust me ... if he hears anything, he springs to life.

In closing, I took an abbreviated video of my daily NJ Transit Train commute. Of interest to folks who follow the blog -- look for scarf lady! The ride to work (although I didn't record the last station where I get off) was Good Friday and the train was fairly deserted and kind of quiet. The clip heading to Plainfield was that evening with NJ Devils fans, tourists, and loud children. No, I didn't film them, but you can hear them. Enjoy!



How was your week?

Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains Blog Party Post 4/01 Episode

The show is starting in a minute or so. This post will be updated with the major events as they air here on the East Coast. Late tonight, my full review will be posted on TV Squad. But, until then, the real fun is in the comments area right here -- feel free to jump in with your thoughts on the show, everyone is welcome! Survivors ready?

Wow, Heroes won reward!

Heroes won Immunity!

Oh my. Boston Rob is gone.

Talkin' American Idol

Oh my gosh ... I hate to use the expression "jumped the shark," but it comes to mind with this season's American Idol. I don't think I can blame my doldrums with the show entirely on the contestants this year. I think the increased judges comments have made the should-be an hour show into two hours as of late. You know, while I always enjoyed the judge commentary previous seasons, now they've expanded it to way too much. I can certainly draw my own conclusions without listening to them bicker for five minutes after each contestant sings.

But there was some good in last night's show. Although I definitely respect what Usher does, I've never been an avid fan of his. That said, I think he just might have been the best "mentor" I've ever seen on the show. The advice he gave each contestant was spot on and supportive. You go, Usher!

Then there's the talent (or lack thereof). We always have someone who shouldn't be in the Top Ten. At least, in his own way, Sanjaya Malakar was entertaining enough -- the different hairdos, the personality. Tim Urban, dimples and cute grin, has the personality of a washboard and the talent of fabric softener. I'm sure Vote for the Worst and teenage kiddies will keep him on, but he needs to go far away.

I'm still really liking both Crystal Bowersox and Lee Dewyze -- both have great distinctive voices and I could see both becoming commercially successful down the road. Lee took strides last night in his efforts to gain his confidence. That's his biggest downfall. Even Usher recognized that Lee has a remarkable and unique singing voice. Casey would be good in a country-rock kind of venue or as the front man in a rock group with an emphasis on country rock.

I'm not on the Sioban (sp?) train, nor am I enamored with any of the others. I think the youngest male, Aaron, has a beautiful voice. Yet, he doesn't have the David Archuletta cuteness about him, nor the charisma. I guess I'd like to just fast-forward this season to a Lee/Crystal showdown and hope they both do well in the future.

Your thoughts?