Off Topic - That Was the Week It Was - May 15, 2011

It's Sunday morning, time for my weekly off television topic reflection on the week gone by in both words and photographs I've taken. Compared to last week, things have been a bit tame here. We actually had a fantastic weather week, a bit warm for spring, but not hot. No rain for a week? How will we cope?

Oh. We'll cope by having at least some rain for a six day stretch or so. Oh well.

Midweek there was some sort of huge Blogger breakdown. While they managed to restore posts, all of the comments from the Survivor blog party on Wednesday have been cast off the island. I'm not sure if they'll return from Redemption Island or not. But I didn't vote them off! Remember, tonight is the big three-hour finale and reunion! Bring snacks and beverages!

On the home front, I'll have yet another landlord before long. The apartment building is going up on the auction block in a few weeks. On Wednesdays, which are usually my day off, they've been having building inspections for prospective bidders. I didn't hear anyone until this week. I peeked out the peephole. Eh, middle-aged in a suit. Okay. I did hear him ask the super if it's always this quiet here (supposedly 92% occupancy). I felt like telling him, "Yes. Except when the riff-raff children from the front of the building whose parents don't care run screaming through the hallways."

But I kept quiet. I usually let Crazy Joe across the hall scream right back at the kids. Yes, Crazy Joe is what they call him. I'm not sure why. He only seems crazy when he's yelling at kids playing in the hallways. I figure he scares them more than I would because he goes a bit berserk telling them to get out of "in front of my house." He's older and retired so I can usually depend on him to give them what for!

My left knee had its 3rd birthday yesterday. I still think of it as one of the scariest best things I've ever done for myself. I've named it "Smith." Now, the right knee's date is creeping up (June 16). Once that's done, I'll call that one "Nephew." I'm not all that imaginative. Both knees are manufactured by Smith and Nephew. I picked my surgeon and that's the brand he works with. I have no complaints about the first one, so the second one will likely be the exact same.

I got my pre-admission testing date as well as the required knee replacement class. Interesting ... it's the Tuesday after Memorial Day. I'm taking a week's vacation the week before. So it looks like it's extended a bit. Eventually I'll have to go donate blood to be transfused back into myself if needed. I'd rather they take my blood than give me random blood. I am a bit nervous about all of this, but not scared to death like I was the first time. I keep telling myself I'll have the summer off.

That's about it. This week hasn't been a thrill a minute. Onto the photos! Clicking on an image will open it larger in a new window. Then you can hit the back button on your browser to return to the blog.

It must be the early bird

Why? Because it looks like it's had plenty of worms! Chubby little guy, eh? East Front Street, Plainfield.

I want to go!

Promo poster at the Bound Brook Train Station. They never put Broadway/Radio City stuff up at Plainfield even though we're closer to the city. We keep getting Union County College posters. Sigh.

Oh no! How sad! A crashed bird!

Not really ... he's fine.

He was just taking a dust bath at the Plainfield Train Station.

New tree blossoms this week

During the winter these small trees bear red berries which not even birds eat.

Fleeing felons?

Nope, I just happened to scare a couple of rabbits as I climbed the stairs at the Bridgewater Train Station.

"If I turn my back to her, she can't see me."

Stadium lights

The ball park in Bridgewater is all active once again. The green shadowing was the reflection off the scoreboard.

Not cool, buddy.

THIS is why the train windows have head glop and smudges on them. Since I DON'T sleep on the train and I sometimes DO want to take photos out the window, it annoys me. The whole line probably takes an hour from start to finish. People who do this tend to get irked when they miss their stop and blame the conductors. Raritan Valley Line of NJ Transit.

Amongst the tombstones

The Friends Meeting House cemetery sports this beautiful flower. East Third Street, Plainfield.

Coffee klatch sans coffee

Usually railfans gather in that corner at the Bound Brook Train station, but I don't see any tripods or other equipment with this bunch. Railfans love the place as they're sandwiched between NJ Transit commuter trains and freight trains.

I must be a railing fan!

Looking up the railing at the Plainfield Train Station.

El Especialito

North Avenue, Plainfield. Edited for the black and white/color effect. The man had way greasy hair. If he gets on a train, he just better not lean his head on the window!

One of Dave's pigeons

The Indian gentleman, Dave (yeah, I know), who runs The Corner Store on Watchung and East Second puts bread out for his pigeons every day. The Corner Store is an interesting place -- incense burning, some Hindi chanting, some Spanish dialect and lots of lottery players.

A peaceful Plainfield Train Station

It's not always peaceful. I have noticed more NJ Transit cops around, as well as Plainfield officers, since the increased terror worries on trains. I still contend that street drunks, panhandlers and druggies are more likely than terrorists. I know one regular, Omar, seems to worry folks a bit. But Omar does really help people unfamiliar with the ticket machines and such. He probably HOPES someone will give him a tip, but never voices it. Oh. And he's not like Omar in The Wire although he could be a character on that show! He'd be more of a Bubbles.

The babies have arrived

Walking under the railroad overpass in Bridgewater is a trip now -- there have to be fifty (or more) bird nests with baby birds calling for food. The bird parents are constantly swooping around bringing in food.

Wildflowers on a lawn

Berckman Street, Plainfield. They'll last until it's mowed.

Pansies

More pansies

Azalea

Lots o' azaleas

Plainfield Police Gang Unit Gathering

I know I'll never be a client! It's a shame that such a unit is needed in a relatively small town. East Fourth Street by the police station.

Even MORE uncool!

What part of "no feet on seats" is so hard to understand? As a rider I not only don't want to sit where your nasty feet in shoes were, nor your nasty socked feet! Can't folks act like adults and just sit quietly? Why do they have to sprawl out all over the place? Speaking of which ... why can't the buses heading to the city have seats that actually sit upright? They recline too much to begin with -- I don't know why people must lie down for a trip into the city as it's not that far. But even when not reclined, I feel like I'm in a gangsta car or something.

Uh-oh. Spellcheck recognizes "gangsta." That can't be good for vocabulary on the whole, can it?

Hey, Vincent.

Vincent might end up with a bit of culture shock when I have the knee done. I won't be able to carry him around for at least a few weeks. Shhh ... don't tell him. Let him sleep.

How was your week?

Survivor: Redemption Island - 5/11 Episode Blog Party

The show will be starting in about five minutes here on the East Coast. As it airs, I'll update this post with major news while sharing some opinions on what I see both here and in comments. Of course, the comments area is where the real party is! Everyone is welcome to join in, the water's fine! Oh. And bring snacks. Snacks are always good.

Remember to bring your drinks for SAM events -- every mention Phillip makes about being a SAM (special agent man), we drink. Even if it's close. I hope everyone has their designated drivers with them! We're into the penultimate evening of the series. Do you think he'll make it to the final four?

The duel is on -- Andrea is feeling betrayed. Too bad, so sad. Another puzzle ahead, using a handle through a table maze, smashing a tile and doing a puzzle "One Step Closer to Redemption." Three move on. Mike is moving on. Matt and Andrea get it almost simultaneously. Ralph goes to the jury.

Back at camp, Rob wants Ashley out next.

Immunity challenge -- more puzzles. This time with one arm tied behind their backs. Oh, and they have to retrieve piece bags with a huge fishhook. The reward is "room service."

Heh, so much for Rob's plan -- Ashley won immunity and reward! She picks Natalie to have reward with her.

Now Rob is going with the Ashley plan of voting off Grant. Gee, Grant gets a good vibe from Rob. So did Lex. He seems to be waffling, but I think Grant will go. We'll see.

Tribal council.

The tally: Natalie, Grant, Grant, Grant. He's gone to Redemption.

The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business Season Finale Blog Party

Wow, it's actually starting on time again this week for the big season finale! That might be more amazing than the race itself.

Once it starts, everyone is welcome to join in with comments as it airs -- that's where the real fun is! I'll be updating this post with any big news as I watch it here on the East Coast. Stop on by and jump in the pool!

Who's going to win? My personal hope is that Justin and Zev get the million. But I'm pretty much okay with any of the remaining teams winning since Kent and Vyxsin got the boot last week. I SO didn't want them to win! My blog pool team is the Globetrotters.

They're off to Brazil. Due to bad cabbie luck, the Globetrotters are a half-hour behind the other teams. The Roadblock has them dancing the samba. Gary and Mallory have taken over the lead. Zev is having dancing troubles.

Yipes, hair waxing ahead!

Detour - On the Rocks or On the Beach -- making local drink, sell bikini tops.

YES! Zev finally got the dance down! Gary and Mallory in the lead, then Kisha and Jen, Zev and Justin, the Globetrotters. Uh-oh, Zev and Justin lost, Globes pass them. Zev and Justin are the only team choosing to sell bikinis. Justin speaks Portuguese (or at least Spanish).

It looks dismal for Zev and Justin.

Pit Stop
1. Gary and Mallory - won a Mediterranean Cruise
2. Kisha and Jen
3. Globetrotters

Rats, my favorite team is last to the Pit Stop. They're eliminated.

Now the remaining three teams are heading to Miami, Florida.

Roadblock - dry-docking a boat. Gary and Mallory have a bad cabbie and aren't to the Roadblock yet.

Roadblock - searching for a treasure chest in a submersible.

After finding yet another clue, they have to set up a trailer site. Jen and Kisha currently in the lead, Globes at their heels. Gary and Mallory behind and using the same bad cabbie they had before.

Kisha and Jen in the lead, Globes right behind them riding tricycles over the 7 Mile Bridge.

Jen and Kisha WIN The Amazing Race!

Off Topic - That Was the Week It Was - May 8, 2011

It's Sunday morning, Mother's Day! So, if you're a mother, I hope you're being pampered by family today (as you should be every day, but that should go without saying). It's also time for my weekly off television topic reflection on the week gone by in both words and photos I've taken. I warn you -- it's going to be active in both arenas today. You might want to grab a cup of coffee.

The biggest news week was the death of Osama Bin Laden. While I'm not going to jump up cheerleading, I must say it's about time and best for the world on the whole. Great job, Navy Seals! What would be better would be if we could turn time back and he never rose to such a power for evil. Alas, that can't be done and our lives are forever changed.

It came to my mind last Sunday night that his followers would be angry and we're always going to have to worry about terrorism. Then I heard an explosion outside. Huh? Already? Targeting my little New Jersey 'hood?

Nope. Yet another drunk driver plowed into parked cars on the street in front of my building. This time I didn't go out to take photos. It was late Sunday night, I was ready for bed and was just waiting for the President to come on television to talk about Bin Laden's demise.

Then there was the talk that trains were planning to be targeted. Okay, I take NJ Transit trains all the time. I, when my knee is feeling up to it or I have something I want to do, am in and out of Manhattan ... via train. There's no way they can screen train (or bus) passengers like they do at airports. Society around this area (Greater NYC Metropolitan) would come to a standstill.

I'm not really concerned on my regular line for my work commute. I suppose we could be tipped over because it's only double-decker trains on the line and they seem a bit top-heavy anyway. But I ride off peak direction -- away from NYC in the morning, towards it in the evening. We'd be a boring target.

In other news, I met my classic rock playing new(ish) neighbor. My curiosity was a bit piqued because I'm probably the only one in my building of 40 (or so) apartments who plays classic rock. He was coming out of his apartment and I introduced myself. I mentioned the classic rock and, lo and behold ... this is good neighbor material ... his first words about that were, "I'm sorry. Did it bother you? If my noise ever bothers you, just knock on the wall and I'll understand."

:::thunk::: A considerate neighbor in that apartment where the Greta Garbo Home for Wayward Boys and Girls existed before?

I explained to him that I LIKE classic rock, just haven't heard anyone other than me playing it here. Plus, just because I can hear something doesn't mean it really bothers me. Fighting bothers me. Music cranked so loud that my walls and floor vibrates bothers me. Even slightly less louder music extremely late at night or early in the morning bothers me. But his classic rock in the afternoon or early evening, just loud enough for me to discern the song, isn't an issue.

He reminds me of Pat Morita in looks (Happy Days and original Karate Kid movie). But he's actually a mix of Chinese and Costa Rican named Carlos. He's in his fifties, lives with his wife and they're taking care of his mother-in-law. That's a two-bedroom apartment as opposed to my one-bedroom. So much better than the last tenants! He told me he hasn't heard me at all. I should be louder, I guess. Yay, good neighbors in that apartment finally!

In yet other news (I warned you this would be long), I went to my orthopedic surgeon's office to sign all the papers for my June 16 knee replacement. Ack. Since the hospital became some sort of top ten in the nation in joint replacement, they've instituted a whole new approach to knee replacement.

I'm not really all that keen on a lot of what they're doing. You see, I'm not great with strangers. I'm a bit of a lone wolf. So, what do they do? They went and started this huge huggy-feely group support stuff.

They want me to have a coach. I'm not going to have a coach. I'm not a pregnant woman with a husband at my side coaching me to breathe right during contractions. I'm not having a mutual interest love child. I'm having a knee replacement meant solely for me. I'm not going to have a friend miss work to go to courses and therapy sessions in the hospital with me. I don't need it. I've had one already.

I know what I'm getting into. I'm grouchy when people hover over me. It's bad enough that the hospital expects me to get into all these group related things (meals with the group, therapy with the group). It's also bad enough that I MUST attend a course prior to my surgery (with the group). They even gave me a huge binder of material to study. At this point I wouldn't be surprised if they decided to give me a pop quiz as I'm coming out of anesthesia!

The good thing is that they are pushing going home after three days and not into rehab. I went home after seven days before due to the blood clot. I was supposed to go to rehab, but didn't as I was doing well at getting around once they let me out of bed. Hopefully I'll be out in three days this time. I know I'll need to get away from all the group hugs from strangers. That will be good until the reunions start. (Yes, they have group reunions, too. ACCCCCCCCKKKKK!)

Onto the photos for the week. I hope you like flowers. Clicking on an image will open it larger in a new window, then hit your browser's back button to return to the blog.

Don't do it! Don't do it!

I watched this tall truck approach the low bridge on Watchung Avenue near the police station last night. He realized it and started creeping under it. Thunk. Oops. So then he decided to back up in traffic. The traffic was about as smart as he was -- getting right in his blind spot as he was backing up! Sheesh!

Here she is to save the day!

A Plainfield police officer happened to be passing by, blocked the intersection of Watchung and East Fourth Streets and got him backed out of there. But the real question is why is Plainfield pink?

This is why

Red skies at night, sailor's delight. The sky over the intersection of the truck incident. Well, it was kind of orange-ish, but there were also pinks and reds.

Tall and tanned and young and lovely ...

... the Girl From Ipanema goes walking to Latino Heat on Watchung Avenue. Obviously, I'm not the only one noticing. I watched the elderly man peek his head around the corner then duck back a good half-dozen times.

Time for bugs ...

Ant on a leaf

Not sure what kind of bug on a leaf

Maybe a baby wasp? It was very small.

Beetle on a leaf

No bugs

These bushes turn bright red in the fall. But, if not for my photography addiction, I never would have noticed these teensy doohickies growing within the bush in the spring. Nature is always amazing!

The pink blossoms at the Plainfield Train Station

History this week, but they went out with a flurry of pink!

A littered ledge

A lot better than beer bottles and Chinese food containers usually resting on it. North Avenue by the Plainfield Train Station.

We're talkin' FULL gospel.

No half-gospel, no almost full. We're talkin' FULL. East Front Street.

Supremo's remodel

The grocery store a few blocks from me, Supremo's, is still undergoing a massive remodel. They have new aisle signs (amongst a lot of other changes). Since this town has so many folks from so many places, many countries get their own aisles. Another aisle has West Indies, Chinese, Vietnamese, etc. Although I'm really a very tame eater, I've found some foods I really enjoy that I never saw in Wegmans or Pathmark!

One thing to note, though. When reading down the list on the right (for example), "galettas" doesn't belong in a list of countries. Galettas are cookies, crackers and biscuits dependent on what type of galetta it is. Even with the new remodel, checking expiration dates is definitely a needed practice at Supremo's. But it's close to my apartment. I can deal with that. Their produce is fantastic and there are butchers right there to serve you. Oh ... and they sell Mexican Coca-Cola in classic glass bottles with sugar in it for sweetener.

Back to spring ...

Now appearing at the Plainfield Train Station

Dogwood on East Third Street in Plainfield

A stunning baseball blossom! What a find!

Er, this is at the TD Ball Park where the Somerset Patriots play near my workplace in Bridgewater. The season has opened. I often pick up the new-looking balls and give them to Vincent or local children. This one didn't come home with me.

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Here come the flowers! When I walked from the Bound Brook Train Station to my doctor's office on Friday, the entire neighborhood was flower heaven. Here's a bit of what I saw ...












Snap back to reality ...

I'm always drawn to this sign

This is at the Bridgewater Train Station. Different places where parking lots and roads used to be for the old Calco plant still have signing although the plant has been gone for decades. The poison ivy is also drawn to the sign.

'shrooms again

This bit o' land at the Bridgewater Train Station is odd. One day last year, tons of mushrooms. Gone the next day. Last week, tons of mushrooms. Gone in two days with rain. Now they're back and almost gone again.

NJ Transit sandwich

Yes, the bus fits under the bridge. New Jersey Transit - "It's the way to go!" That's the 114 bus heading to Bridgewater from Manhattan. The train is heading to Newark with a transfer to Manhattan. I wasn't heading to Manhattan. I was, however, heading to Bridgewater. But not on the bus.

Guarding the Plainfield Train Station

Attack birds. They taught angry birds what it's all about!

The winter wonderland house in spring glory

The woman who lives at this house at Richmond and East Front has caught me taking photos of her flowers. She's happy about it. Her lawn makes me smile, no matter the season.

Lots of things to come

Oh my

I don't know if this is a robin egg hatched or one stolen by another bird or even blown out of its nest. I didn't see a nest around, nor have I heard the baby birds in the underpass (Bridgewater Train Station) yet this season. The parent birds are very busy building in the eaves of the underpass. Soon it will be a cacophony.

Last flower ... for now

Vincent sound asleep

He has no issues with insomnia. As a matter of fact, he's the most solid sleeping cat I've ever known. I can poke him and he often won't wake up easily. Especially when he's on me. Maybe he's just pretending to be asleep, eh?

How was your week?