Off Topic - That Was the Week It Was - January 9, 2011

Yep, it's time for my weekly off television topic look at the week gone by in both words and photographs I've taken. I realize I haven't been posting much ON topic as of late and I apologize. Television shows are finally out of the repeat season, so things should be changing. I wrote up my CliqueClack TV review on the new episode of The Big Bang Theory, but forgot to post about it here. (Oops.)

I watched the People's Choice Awards, too. I was a bit disappointed that Neil Patrick Harris won the best actor in a comedy over Jim Parsons. I really like NPH and think he has talents beyond HIMYM. But I thought it would be great if Parsons snagged this one. The awards show itself didn't rock my world. Queen Latifah, someone I often enjoy watching, was getting on my nerves.

Today's CBS Sunday Morning will have a segment on New Jersey by Mo Rocca. I like his sense of humor and here I am in Jersey. So I'll be watching that. I haven't checked to see what's on in the evening yet. It's odd to have no BB or Amazing Race on, isn't it?

Outside of television, there's life in the fast lane. Er, well ... perhaps life in the slightly slower lane for me. Our snow from the big blizzard is still gathered in piles all over and it snowed both Friday and Saturday. All those days brought us was what they call "nuisance snow." It's enough to make the roads a bit slippery, but not really enough to plow. While it is a nuisance, it's a pretty snow -- making things go all Currier and Ives on us. Black ice at night and early mornings has been an issue, though. Thankfully I haven't fallen. I've seen more than a few people go down!

Onto this week's photos -- clicking on an image will open it larger in a new window:

Oh, Christmas tree ... isn't your time up?

This is one of the trees outside of the Plainfield Police Department, still with holiday lights and a covering of "nuisance snow." I edited it to leave it in black and white except for the tree lights itself. You might want to beware of the dude carrying the brown (yes, it's really brown) paper grocery bag and wearing no shoelaces. That's how they come out of the city lock-up.

No, I don't know that from personal experience. Sheesh!

Winter blues

I realize that this shot isn't really much. But the blue in the sky was so great that I had to share it. Of course, we do have some more of that pesky pretty nuisance snow going on, too. Bridgewater Train Station.

Cast to the curbside

I always find it a bit sad after the holiday when the trees which provided such a centerpiece for the festivities are thrown to the curb. East Front Street, Plainfield.

Sunrise

Looking at houses on East Second Street via East Front Street as dawn arrives.

Sunset

From in front of the TD Ballpark in Bridgewater.

YOU tell him he's not welcome to flock with us!

At least birds aren't falling out of the sky here.

Don't you hate when that happens?

A lone glove on the pavement at the Bridgewater Train Station. I always prefer to lose a whole pair rather than just one. At least, if I lose a pair, someone who needs them might pick them up and use them.

Pssst ... wanna buy some real NJ snow?

Despite really warm temperatures and a bit of rain last Sunday, the snow piles remain. After one day of warmth, it got cold once again. Church Street, Plainfield.

They really shouldn't sleep near me!

Often people fall asleep on the train and then take it out on the conductor when they miss their stop. That's not the conductor's job. There are piped announcements, plus the conductors usually make their own announcements of each stop. Not only that, but there's a lighted panel in the front and rear of each car which tells you the next stop. I personally can't sleep on the train. I'm worried that people would take photos of me and put them on the Internet.

Ahem, PMUA!

This was the fifth blocked sidewalk instance I encountered one morning on my walk to the train. I don't understand why they don't just block the driveways with the empty bins. After all, the owners have to take 'em on back anyway. By the way, PMUA is not to be confused with PUMA. One is an elegant cat with big teeth, the other is black and smelly in the summer. (PMUA is Plainfield Municipal Utilities Authority.) East Front Street, Plainfield.

Just after sunrise

I edited this one to leave only that upper floors and glorious sunrise reflections in the windows in color. North Avenue, Plainfield.

Um, okay.

There's no grass to be found at Richmond Towers on East Front Street where I shot this sign.

Say what?

I guess the new landlord/receivership/whatever is having trouble finding tenants. I came home to this on my building last night. There are also studio apartment vacancies going on. On my floor in my wing of the building, the only empty apartment is where the Riff-Raff moved out next door to me. That's a two bedroom. I wouldn't mind if it stays vacant for a while!

Plainfield Train Station lamps

As a light nuisance snow falls.

Saturday evening

With the latest light snowfall. Plainfield Train Station.

"Dive Naked" and he carries a cone.

Oh my. Parked in Bridgewater. I don't really want to see the diver, um ... driver. (I obscured the license plate on purpose.)

Snowy morning

Approaching the train station from East Third Street. I don't know why I walked this way. It's not like I can continue to walk on the sidewalk once I cross the street to North Avenue. Why not? BECAUSE NO ONE EVER SHOVELS THE SIDEWALK IN FRONT OF THE TRAIN STATION ON NORTH AVENUE.

GRR.

And, so I walk in the street

North Avenue in Plainfield where I have to walk WAY out of my way to get to the train station. Why? BECAUSE NO ONE SHOVELS THE SIDEWALK!

Yes, this really bugs me. I fell once trying to walk on ice there. It's a lawsuit waiting to happen.

Supremo in the snow

Yep, we're talking the nuisance, not the blizzard. But it did make the roads and sidewalks slick. East Front Street.

Look! A train in the snow!

Plainfield Train Station, wait ... make that two trains.

Phew, they missed each other!

She's dead, Jim

This bike has been at the Bridgewater Train Station for weeks now. It's in good shape. Well, except it's probably rusting in the snow.

Bigfoot lives in New Jersey!

See! Photographic proof! I have big feet (10 ... they keep me from falling over). I'm even wearing my big clunky, yet highly practical, snow boots and don't have my heel backed all the way up to the start of the toe in the footprint. Yikes! I hope it's not Naked Diver, although it might explain the cone.

Bridgewater sunset

Whazzat? An alien ship?

Oh. It's a train. Never mind.

I don't know why my camera did that in these shots, but I thought it was cool. This was at the Bridgewater Train Station just after sunset on Friday evening once the snow stopped.

I know you're up there. I'm ignoring you.

Fine, Vincent. Refuse to look at the camera just because you think I don't spend enough time with you draped over my shoulder. You may think you're a lightweight, but you're at least 12 pounds now! My right shoulder is starting to droop!

How was your week?

The Bachelor Winter 2011 Blog Discussion Post

Another season of The Bachelor is at hand. This is your place to discuss the show with friends! The show's official website is right here. Now, I don't watch this one. But isn't this guy a lout from a previous season or something?

Off Topic - That Was the Week It Was - January 2, 2011

It's a new day, it's a new dawn ... it's a new year! Yes, it's Sunday morning, time for my weekly jaunt through the week gone by in words and photos I've taken. I apologize in advance for the amount of photos in this entry. The blizzard early in the week gave me a ton of photo fodder. With all the repeats on television and being in between seasons, I haven't posted much about television -- I think my favorite programming has been the New Year's marathon of The Twilight Zone on SyFy. But, boy do I have photos for you!

So, it's 2011, eh? When I was a child I focused on 2000 and thought I'd be "so old" by then. I have to admit I'm not in my fighting shape (whatever) of three decades back, but I don't feel that old. I think the biggest secret of life our parents never told us is that you never really grow up. Sure, you take on adult responsibilities, work, pay taxes, do what society expects of its adults, but you still have the child within you ... in awe of a huge snowstorm, delighted with the lights of the holiday season and more.

As I bid adieu to 2010, I think of it as one of my better years in many ways. My financial position is better than it's been in years despite the failing economy. My new cat Vincent has really settled in and we've bonded -- since I live alone, he's my faithful companion. I had a wonderful vacation in Texas with good friends I made on this very blog. On Facebook I've reconnected with friends from my teen years and found out they feared the "mean girls" too! My landlord lost the building and it's in better hands with the bank running the show. My loud and rowdy neighbors have moved away.

The down side of the past year hasn't been horribly down. My health only gets a C this past year, mainly due to the right knee needing its surgery. My favorite boss ever at my workplace moved on and was replaced by someone I like okay, but is really challenged in the job. TV Squad, after increasing my work with a huge assignment on celebrity bios in the beginning of the year, cut me off of Survivor reviews -- something I've always done. It was nice to watch the show without taking notes, but I did miss the income and the readers there.

On a sad note, I want to pass condolences onto blog reader Petals whose mother passed on earlier this week. Her mom, Loneseven, was a part of our community here and her contributions have been missed as her health failed. Hang in there, Petals.

In happier news, local blogger Bernice got a great shot of Roofus the cat as she ventured out after the snowstorm. She gave me permission to post it here as she knows the readers enjoy seeing him.

He's gotten so FAT!

Life indoors inside the Budget car rental building must be more posh than it looks!

Last Sunday afternoon

Not long after the snow started, I decided to make a run to the bodega around the corner. The sidewalk in front of my building (no longer run by my landlord) was the only one already salted. Um, not that it would do much good in the hours to come, but ...!

I wouldn't advise sweats for protection

But she was busy talking on her cellphone, oblivious to the world around her. East Front Street, Plainfield.

Da Bodega

The snow is really starting to come down.

Monday afternoon

I didn't go/couldn't get to work on Monday. But I decided to go out in the afternoon with my camera. Alas, the only sidewalk on my side of my long block which was cleared was my own building's. This guy was actually about a half-block away from me and seemed to be getting frustrated. I like my zoom capabilities. East Front Street, Plainfield.

Across the street

A neighbor digs out his car on East Front Street.

Dude! Where's my car?

Monday afternoon on East Front Street in da 'hood.

Oops ... out of sequence!

Thursday night on Watchung Avenue, Plainfield. I messed with the editing, yes. Want a seat?

Tuesday train

The NJ Transit schedule was way messed up for the first few workdays. The trains were running on a weekend schedule (fewer trains) and the buses didn't run at all for two days. Unlike Metro North and Long Island Railroad, both of whom shut down, NJ Transit doesn't work with an electrified third rail which stops travel when covered by snow.

My line, the Raritan Valley Line, is diesel. We can't do a one-seat ride to Manhattan and have to change trains at Newark to an electric train as that's all they allow in the city. The electric trains on NJ Transit are run with overhead wires instead of the third rail system. So, out of the three major commuter lines in the area, NJ Transit trains did the best. They even did better than the subways as subway trains on elevated outdoor areas got stuck and stranded people.

Speaking of stranded ...

Rear wheel drive taxi cabs have a rough time in the snow. This one is stuck on North Avenue in Plainfield on Tuesday morning.

It's a freaking winter wonderland!

Men, likely day laborers, wait on the corner of Watchung and North in Plainfield on Tuesday morning. That's the Post Office across the street. Street? What street? Do you see a street? Yes, it's even a main drag.

Not great biking weather

I can't imagine even trying a bike in this weather. This was Tuesday morning. Most sidewalks and streets were treacherous.

Ahem, NJ Transit

This is the disabled walkway leading to the ramp for the westbound platform at the Plainfield Train Station. Tuesday morning.

I said AHEM!

Yeah, it's great that trains are running. But shame on NJ Transit! The ONLY actual shoveled areas were the parking lots and from the parking lots to the stairs, etc. Other areas are trampled by use and dangerous. The station is NOT CLEARED properly. Unacceptable!

US Post Office ... unacceptable!

This was Tuesday morning more than 24 hours after the storm ended. One small path was shoved from the steps to the street. Neither the sidewalk in front of or the one alongside the main Post Office on Watchung Avenue were shoveled.

At least there's a claustrophobia-inducing path!

Pete's Fish Market and the Corner Store on Watchung and East Second (across the street from the Post Office above) have a scary path cleared. That snow is higher than I am. Eek.

Same path from the other direction

Tuesday evening. Can't get there from here even though I took this from the crosswalk. There are paths cut in the snow elsewhere to get through.

Back to Tuesday morning

Another tight path through the snow on East Front Street. This one was only shoulder-high.

Looking down Richmond Street from East Front

Tuesday morning. Snowpack on the roads, slippery, snowbanks blocking pedestrians at intersections, some sidewalks not done.

It's shoveled ... really!

Tuesday morning heading to the train station. It is shoveled, but far from clear. Wind gusts kept sending more snow over it. But, due to parked cars, the street is too narrow to dare walk in unless I have to.

Plainfield Police Station

New Year's eve at about 6 PM as I headed home from work.

Dawn

Looking down Watchung Avenue as the sun rises.

Church Street

Thursday morning, still in bad shape.

Dawn on East Front

Thursday morning and the lights were on.

Dawn in da 'hood

Friday morning. East Front Street

AHEM ... sidewalk?

East Second Street on Saturday afternoon. This is a sidewalk, Plainfield! SHEESH!

A partridge in a pear tree?

Well, I know it's not a partridge, nor is that a pear tree. But I have no clue what the bird is -- he has touches of orange and sings a pretty song. I couldn't get close due to snow obstruction. Bridgewater, NJ.

Unacceptable

Plainfield thinks that NJ Transit should shovel this and NJ Transit thinks Plainfield should. As a result, no one does. Look, Plainfield ... there are parking meters on it. You charge people to park there. You shovel the walks on North Avenue except this stretch ... every year, every snowstorm. Buck up and take responsibility!

Stranded in the snow

It's a good thing the storm hit after Christmas. East Front Street, Plainfield.

Solitary man

A man waits alone for a New Jersey Transit bus on Watchung Avenue on Thursday evening.

Not much better on Friday morning

Path to handicapped ramp at the train station.

Snow Removal

Taking it away in front of the Post Office on Thursday morning ... FOUR days after the storm. Watchung Avenue.

East Front Street Business District sidewalk

Friday morning.

So much for that shortcut!

I usually cut through the U-Haul lot on my way to the train station. East Front Street, Plainfield.

"No Parking When Street is Covered With Snow"

Ahem. Why don't they tow the snowbirds? Some of these cars have been sitting on this main drag (East Front Street) for almost a year without moving. Due to the cars parked on the street, the plowed area is narrow and two trucks/buses coming at each other from opposite directions have to creep through. BTW -- that is the bus I'd take into Manhattan if I were heading to Manhattan. Dis is my 'hood. And I want the street really cleared!

Shame on 612 East Front!

They were the ONLY people on the entire side of the long block where I live who didn't shovel their walk! It still wasn't shoveled as of yesterday although some brave people trampled a path through it. This is the same house whose summer landscapers start up horrible noise early summer mornings and throughout the fall with their leaf blowers. Hello? Snow ... people need to walk through here! Shame on you!

Happy New Year!

An abandoned noisemaker on the sidewalk outside of a bar on Church Street. Saturday morning.

Vincent's not impressed with the snow

He's comfy watching television.

Happy New Year, everybody!

Happy New Year!

My best wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year for everyone who's been a part of the community we've built here on the blog. If not for the readers and commenters turned friends, this blog wouldn't be a home.

I'll be posting my Sunday photo post with a bit of reflection on the year gone by and lots of snow photos. That's because one person kept wanting snow pictures, you see.

Oh. And Vincent the cat always hopes everyone has a purrfect New Year.

Southland - 'Let It Snow' - Season 3 Premiere Preview

I just finished watching my screener copy of the season premiere of Southland thanks to the kind folks at TNT. The show is set to air on Tuesdays at 10 PM ET/PT starting on January 4. With the weather here on the East Coast, it can only be a bit amusing that the episode title is "Let It Snow," eh?

I like this show. The creative staff on Southland are the same folks behind the NYPD-based police drama Third Watch. It's a bit grittier and more graphic perhaps than that show, but many series are these days. However, while many police dramas are either "just the facts" or boast characters who have odd quirks which make them a bit implausible (yes, L&O: Criminal Intent and Detroit 1-8-7 -- shows I enjoy, but ...), Southland has police characters I myself have known over the years.

The Superman on the job isn't always the real Superman. Sometimes he's just a hot-dogger. Police might have that thin blue line, might at times seem to be a separate society, but in the final determination ... they're human. They have warts, personal demons, personality clashes with their co-workers just like anyone else. Often coming into the job with rose-colored glasses, cynicism might change them over the years. But they don't necessarily have to develop odd quirks. They just need to be human. That's what this show does very right.

So, we have believable characters, what else do we need?

Action.

And we get plenty of it in the Southland setting. The city has a million cop stories to be told. The storytellers on this show could easily go years. I only hope the ratings keep things going. Since NBC canceled the show after its first season and TNT picked it up, I've enjoyed it more. They seem to have a bit more leeway with content.

I realize I haven't talked much about the episode itself. But I don't really want to spoil it. If you like police dramas; if you like good characters combined with riveting action ... tune in next Tuesday. Oh. And there's snow, too. No, that's not unrealistic. I recall when I was a child in Southern California it actually snowed once. It didn't last long, but there it was.

Are you watching Southland?