Big Brother 12 - Sunday's Live Feeds, July 18

Laying his finger upside his nose ...

This is horrible. No, not Andrew in particular. I'm talking the activity or lack there of on the feeds today.

• No PoV meeting today, expect it tomorrow.
• No NOTHING today.
• They're bored, I'm bored.
• Still no definitive replacement for when Britney saves herself from the block. It's looking like Andrew will go up with Monet being the target.
• Monet mingled with the others more today. She isn't as bad when she's away from Britney.
• Rachel and Brendon made out in the Have Not room
• They played pool.
• They talked about small stuff.
• They talked golf.
• Andrew gave a talk on the Ten Commandments.
• Britney sneered at and shunned her fish sticks.
• There are probably starving children in China who would love fish sticks!
• I really have nothing here.
• Something needs to happen.
• Most boring day ever on the live feeds.
• Woe is me.
  

What the heck is with the boots? Sheesh.

For a bean bag toss

Big Brother 12 - Episode 5 - Nominations Blog Party

The show is actually starting on time here on the East Coast once again! As it airs, I'll post important updates in this entry. But the real fun is in the comments section. Everyone is invited to join in with your thoughts! Later tonight (or, worst case scenario, early in the morning), my full show review will be posted over on TV Squad.

Enzo, Britney, Monet, and Brendon are the new Have Nots -- they have fish sticks and fruitcake. Annie was revealed as the saboteur.

Britney and Monet are on the block ... but we knew that.

Big Brother 12 - Live Feeds Into Sunday Morning, July 18

This is how I feel, too.

My apologies for the long gap. I had to sleep in this morning, kind of like the hamsters. Without further ado, here's what's happened in that Big Brother House of Odd Bedfellows:

• Yet again this year, the house has an ant problem. I guess I'm lucky I've never had an ant problem -- I'd probably freak out worse than Kathy with the bug spray!
• Rachel got irked by her love bunny Brendon as he told Andrew that she was going to put him on the block as a pawn against Monet.
• Rachel cried. Again. As I said, way too sensitive for the game. She needs to be ruthless or she'll just end up being a boob ... or a pair of 'em.
• Andrew went back up to Rachel, telling her he'd be willing to do it but is very worried he'd go home.
• He should worry. They need to put up someone less likely to get eviction votes.
• Rachel cried more after he left.
• Brendon told Rachel that she's his queen and knows more about the game than he does, he'll do whatever he wants. Oh, gag me right this moment, please!
• Matt and Lane think that Enzo might talk too much to both Monet and Britney. They called him a loose cannon.
  
• I say "loose lips sink ships." But I wasn't the first one to say that.
• Matt volunteered to go on the block.
• Say what? And he's a MENSA member? Rescind that application!
• Kristen noted that none of the girls want the girls around in the house. Alas, that's often the case. Although I do didn't like her on the show, that's what Maggie did right some seasons back -- she had a girl alliance going.
• Britney can't wait to go into Wal-Mart back in Arkansas as a celebrity. @@
• Rachel and Ragan think that Matt is working both sides.
• They're right.
• There are stocks (like the old time public punishment without flogging) in the yard. For four days, some have to be in them, others for just a day. It must have to do with the POV comp.
  
• Weird and kind of kinky, I say!
• Brendon and Rachel had a minor spat. She thinks he's being a baby about a lot things.
• At least he doesn't cry over and over again in the HOH room.
• Enzo says he doesn't want to evict Monet, but if she's up against Matt, he must keep Matt.
• Rachel told Brendon she won't put Andrew on the block (his choice) and they continue to tiff. Brendon tells her he's (Brendon, not Andrew) sensitive.
• He's sensitive, she's sensitive. ACK! Why are they in the house? I like a good brouhaha, but I hate whining and sniffling on the feeds!
• Oh, she HURT him. @@
• So he ends up crying and sniveling. Oh geez.
• Rachel told Brendon her own crazy idea for the replacement is Enzo. But then she retracted and told him she was kidding. Hmmm ...
• Brendon told Rachel he would go home for her and told her to put him (Brendon) on the block. She said that wasn't an option she'd consider.
• Brendon thinks Enzo, Matt and Lane are in an alliance. Rachel doesn't think so.
• I think Enzo's getting a bit worried about the Brigade. He complained they can't get alone together to talk.
  
• The other showmance couple, Hayden and Kristen, smooched in bed.
• Kathy thinks Enzo's treating her differently since the Britney/Monet noms. She also pondered if Britney may have deliberately kicked her in the head in the Have/Have Not comp.
• Hayden and Kristen kissed some more ... and more and more. They think Andrew's the only one who knows about them.
• They're wrong. We all know.
• Rachel tried to figure the votes if Andrew is put up. She definitely wants Monet to go.
• Right now, she could go with either the volunteer Matt or Andrew. I think putting Matt up would ensure Monet goes. But it would be far wiser of them strategically to get rid of Matt.
  
• But when do they let strategy get in their way?
  

Off Topic - That Was the Week It Was - July 18, 2010

It's Sunday morning, time for my weekly off topic look back at the week gone by in words and in photos I've taken. I'll be posting the late night/overnight hijinks of those lovable (cough) Big Brother hamsters a bit later this morning.

This week, like so many this summer, found us in yet another heat wave. While I have air conditioning I can adjust to my suiting (as long as I'm willing and able to pay the bill) at home, my office at work leaves a bit to be desired. The commute, especially in the afternoons going home, has been horrendous.

I don't like being sweaty just walking out the door. The latest heat wave is expected to last well into the week. Then it will drop down to 89 and not be classified as a heat wave. In my mind, it's a heat wave until I stop being miserable in the weather!

I don't know if it's the weather or what, but I took many odd photos this week, nothing artsy. I seemed to be running too late or sweating too much to really be energetic about the camera. Work and the BB coverage added to the weather seems to be taking a toll on me. Onto the photos -- clicking on an image will open it larger in a new window.

Can I get a witness?

Yep, I've been summoned. In a way, I'm looking forward to it -- things like jury duty can be interesting for someone like me who likes to observe and write. Plus, it will give me a chance to roam around Elizabeth (NJ), camera in hand. For BB fans -- Elizabeth, the county seat, is adjacent to Bayonne (where Enzo's from) and Staten Island, a borough of NYC. It's one of the cities/surroundings used in the opening of The Sopranos. I've been through it, but never explored it. This will give me a reason to explore.

On a quasi-related lawyer related note -- I saw that Robert Shapiro, the attorney who represented OJ Simpson in his murder case, is now representing Lindsay Lohan. Did you know he's from Plainfield, NJ? Born here, currently elsewhere.

Resting damselfly

I'm not seeing my regular amount of bugs in this weather. However, the blue damselflies are darting all about in Bridgewater, NJ.

One day of rain and ...

We got ourselves some fungi (other than stinkhorns).

In which I defy authority

Yes, that's my foot. I turned the image upside down so the tape was right-side up, if you follow that! And, no. I'm not being defiant. There's been a long piece of police tape tied at one end and drifting all over the sidewalk at the TD Ball Park near the Bridgewater Train Station for weeks now. The crime? Um ... no crime. I think it was used to channel a queue and never taken away.

A bumblebee enjoys the sunflower

My flash went off accidentally while I was taking this. The sky isn't usually really that color, although that was a cloudy grey morning. East Front Street, Plainfield.

Skinnier stalks and smaller blooms this year

I blame the weather -- the excessive heat and lack of rain. While any sunflower is impressive, other years the blooms have been the size of dinner plates here. East Front Street, Plainfield.

'shroom in dry grass

This grass is in a shady area. Much of the grass around here looks like the kindling you use to start a fire.

When men on the chessboard
Get up and tell you where to go
And you've just had some kind of mushroom
And your mind is moving slow
Go ask Alice
I think she'll know - "White Rabbit" by The Jefferson Airplane

No, don't eat the mushroom! I don't know my poisonous ones from the safe ones. But since I don't really care for any mushrooms, it's not a problem. Photographing them is always safe.

Explosion of the stinkhorns

Surely you don't want to eat these mushrooms! They're popping up (heh) overnight and deflating by evening. Bridgewater, NJ

Surrounded by Jesus People

I witnessed an ambush in front of Danny's Bakery at the corner of Watchung Avenue and North in Plainfield. Four, count 'em, four Hispanic Jehovah's Witness street patrol people snagged this single dude coming out of the bakery.

When you walk through the garden
You gotta watch your back
Well, I beg your pardon
Walk the straight and narrow track
If you walk with Jesus
He's gonna save your soul
You gotta keep the devil
Way down in the hole - "Way Down in the Hole" by Tom Waits

Two dead soldiers still stand guard

As I mentioned, the yellow jackets have taken over this prime piece of real estate. They've grown more ornery with the heat, so no close-ups this week! I can't afford to get stung.

But I can see where the nest is

No, I'm not opening that door. Maybe in February I will. Sheesh, and they wonder why the housing market is down. The yellow jackets have taken it over!

These vagabond shoes ...

... are longing to stray
Right through the very heart of it,
New York, New York. - "New York, New York" as popularized by Frank Sinatra

A pair of shoes waits at the Plainfield Train Station, probably heading to the city. Frank Sinatra was a Jersey boy, of course. But not from Plainfield.

Mmm ... DONUTS!

If you travel through Plainfield, you NEED to stop at the Plainfield Donut Shop on Watchung Avenue. Nowhere near the cost of those chain donut shops, these are fresh from the ovens and served with a smile by Maria and her husband Tom. They have a full breakfast and lunch menu, too. Originally from Greece, they've made the donut shop an institution in town.

How much is gas in your area?

In NJ, all service is full service as it's against the law to pump your own gas. But since our state tax itself is low on it, our prices are the cheapest in the tri-state (NY, NJ, CT) area. Note that this shop still offers "break" work and "alingments." I'm not talking one sign, I'm talking two with the same misspellings on FOUR sides.

Since NJ dropped the safety inspection on cars (WHAT? WHY? Isn't that going to lead to even more moving wrecks?), a lot of these some guys are probably going to be hurting. They charge $75 for that service, pass or fail. Church St and East Second in Plainfield.

Even the flag is wilted

You can almost see the humidity in the air in this shot of Richmond Towers on East Front Street.

Another blue damselfly

We're all Bozos on this bus

Tell me where that line's from or who is involved! I took this shot Saturday with my cell phone camera, then edited it to bring out the clown. I don't know why there was an excessively tall clown shopping in the store. It's not Halloween. It's way too hot for clown make-up and clown clothes. Maybe he's related to Pennywise the Clown.

"We all float down here" - Stephen King, It


Eep, another one

Forget the birds! Forget the Russians! The clowns are coming, the clowns are coming!

But where are the clowns?
Quick, send in the clowns.
Don't bother, they're here.

Isn't it rich?
Isn't it queer,
Losing my timing this late
In my career?
And where are the clowns?
There ought to be clowns.
Well, maybe next year. - "Send in the Clowns" by Judy Collins

And Vincent yawns at it all

Leading the life of luxury on his own chair, he doesn't even know there's a heat wave.

How was your week?

Big Brother 12 - Live Feeds, POV, Saturday, July 17

Monet has more reason to worry this week -- Britney won Power of Veto. No, I'm not kidding. Mean Blonde Gal did it.

Here's how the day went down in the Wonderful World of Habitrail:

• BB woke them up very early. I'm talking before 8 AM their time. Maybe they'll eventually learn to go to bed earlier.
• Kathy thinks Monet is giving her the cold shoulder and might be upset that she (Kathy) isn't a Have Not while she is.
• Gee, Kathy is talking more to Rachel this week. What a shock. I wanted so much for Kathy to be a good player. But she's horrible in comps and a true floater, following the power. She generally gets along with everyone. But instead of Olivia Benson we have Barney Fife.
• Britney, playing cards of her own, cried to Kathy. She said someone (Monet) is throwing her under the bus.
• After the pick for POV, Monet claimed she was going to go after Kathy.
• Britney said she didn't want to campaign against Monet, but her back's up against the wall.
• Matt and Kristen commented on how it's four days of nothing, then boom-boom with challenges.
• Tell me about it.
• The POV comp was blocked to the feeds (of course). Ragan was the host while Brendon, Enzo and Lane played.
• Then Britney won it.
• Argh.
• Rachel actually tried to talk Britney into not using it.
• Mind you, Britney is mean ... not stupid.
• Rachel really doesn't want to nominate anyone else. She's a bimbo with an annoying laugh who latched onto a guy right away, but she seems to be sensitive.
• Sensitive isn't a good quality for a BB hamster.
• They want to put a pawn up, but not one that would vote to evict Monet as they don't want to lose a vote.
• They're thinking of Lane as the pawn.
• They want to get a deal with Matt not to put them up if they don't use him (Matt) as a pawn. They think he's sneaky.
• They're right.
• They, but of course, are Brendon and Rachel.
  
• But you knew that.
• When Rachel talked to Lane, she told him he was safe. He told her he planned to vote out Monet.
• Britney went to Rachel to tell her Andrew should go up.
• That would probably split the vote because Andrew isn't too good with his people skills.
• Maybe that's why he's a foot doctor. He doesn't need to make a lot of eye contact or interact with as many situations which call for a good bedside manner.
• Hayden of the quieter showmance with Kristen says that the Brendon/Rachel showmance is disgusting.
• Monet is also pushing an Andrew nomination. She seems to realize that he might be the only one she might be able to beat.
• Rachel is worried that the girls will be taking one after the other girl out.
• Didn't I say that before?
• Rachel and Brendon talked about a "big move" in the game, but I'm not certain what's going on.
• Right now I'm not even sure who she'll put up. Maybe Lane as a pawn, then go for the backdoor? I don't know.