Big Brother 13 - Aug. 7 Nominations Episode Blog Party

The show is about to start here on the East Coast. As it airs, I'll update this entry with major events. But the real fun is in the comments and I hope you all join in!

Ready for drama?

Okay, Rachel cried a lot, then tried to suck up to Kalia. Adam de-elfed.

Have Have Not -- Bad food gone bad drinking game. You know, the disgusting challenge!

Jordan, Jeff, Shelly and Rachel are the Have Nots. America voted coconut and catfish to accompany slop.

Sidenote: If fools vote Brendon back in, this week will be anti-climactic. They would make a deal, Brendon would come back in the house, Rachel to jury, they both get the full stipend for the summer. Anyone but Brendon, PLEASE.

Nominations - Key order - Happy birthday Adam, Porsche, Daniele, Jordan, Lawon, Shelly. Jeff and Rachel are nominated. Kalia says it's her own decision.

Off Topic - That Was the Week It Was - August 7, 2011

It's Sunday morning, once again time for my off television weekly reflection on the week gone by in both words and photographs I've taken. If you're looking for the most recent BB13 live feeds update, check out the post previous to this one. I'll be posting more on that a bit later today.

One nice thing (for me) with recovering from the knee replacement surgery is that the hectic pace of life gets slowed down a bit. I know some people are antsy and have to be on the run doing this or that all the time. But that's not me. I actually enjoy having time to smell the roses and be an observer of life. My job will still be there when I return (as a matter of fact they just called me this week with a "what do I do" panic). It's so relaxing to take an extended break, yet not be in a horrible recovery like the left knee was.

This past week, I thought of the three downtown areas I tend to frequent here in New Jersey -- Plainfield (where I live), Scotch Plains and Westfield. For towns so close together, they immensely differ.

Plainfield's downtown is a bit urban gritty, dollar stores and ethnic (or ALL kinds, with an emphasis on Latino) eateries abound. People say hello, g'morning and "howyadoin" as I pass by on the sidewalks which are mainly frequented by folks outside of my own personal demographic -- a middle-aged Caucasian woman. Yet I feel it's a friendly place. Kids don't gather in huge groups bothering pedestrians, yet the occasional street person might ask for money. I will admit I rarely roam the streets at night, but in the daytime hours I feel perfectly safe.

Westfield is the other extreme with its Coach, Ann Taylor, etc. top of the line stores. I do like Westfield, often going to Trader Joe's, Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Coldstone Creamery or just to photostomp Mindowaskin Park. People don't say hello often in Westfield. Huge throngs of teenagers block the sidewalks, often making me feel uncomfortable as I try to get through them. In Plainfield, groups of kids that large would be moved along. In Westfield, they apparently own the streets. Well, them and the outdoor seating for the eateries. Some of the restaurants take up most of the walking areas and make walking by a bit tricky at times. Oh ... and the diversity level is markedly different from Plainfield.

Then there's Scotch Plains, the smallest of the three towns. I like its little downtown swath I frequent for my physical therapy. The mix of folks on the sidewalks is pretty much a cross between Plainfield and Westfield. But I don't get the hellos as often on the sidewalks as I do in Plainfield. I like both meat markets in town, so that makes it a destination place for me. But other than physical therapy, a branch of my bank and a CVS, there isn't much for me to browse about like I have in Plainfield or Westfield.

Overall, I'll take Plainfield, warts and all. It's the friendliest place I've ever lived and it doesn't matter that I'm different from most of the folks living near me or frequenting the downtown area.

Okay, now that I'm through with that -- my knee is doing well again after a setback last week. The quad muscle, which is one of the hardest things to heal after it's cut or "divided" in the surgery, managed to suffer a strain or pull in physical therapy. It's still more puffy than it was pre-strain and is giving me some issues, but not crippling like last week. My stamina level is still a bit off, but getting dressed for the day or washing my dishes no longer exhausts me. I only went back and forth to PT this week, did my exercises at home and took it relatively easy, not doing anything at all which put a strain on the knee. So it should be good!

Because I didn't do a heck of a lot, my photo taking was a bit limited, too. Here are this week's photos -- clicking on an image will open it larger in a new window.

What the Scotch Plains 9/11 Memorial will look like.

They did a lot more work on the memorial this week. I'm thinking they might want it done for the 10th anniversary next month.

Pheasant, elk and alligator, oh my!

This is a sign in the window of John's Meat Market in Scotch Plains. Although not in my regular diet and some years back for some of these, I believe I've eaten everything but elk and alligator in my lifetime. I'm not sure what alligator tastes like. Chicken?

The Stage House Tavern

I'm always tempted to peek in, but I'm always in Scotch Plains in fairly early daytime hours. I don't want to eat alone, nor do I dare get a drink because if I'm there, chances are I've taken my pain meds (for physical therapy).

Beware, speed and the cannon goes off!

The cannon in the median on Front Street at the intersection with Park Avenue in Scotch Plains.

Gazebo gazing

The inside of the gazebo roof in the park in Scotch Plains. I did a bit of photo editing on this shot to give it more intense detailing. When I have my noon appointment at PT, there's always an older gentleman sitting there. I've started talking to him as I pass by. His English is very limited. The first day I greeted him, he told me, "Little English, I'm Egyptian ... CHRISTIAN!" I felt bad that he feels he needs to add the "Christian" bit. Heck, I have lots of friends dealing with fasting right now for Ramadan. It makes things more interesting when everyone comes from different walks of life.

Battle of the brews?

A Miller Lite truck vs. a Bud Light truck as they deliver to the Stage House Tavern.

A shame I only had the knee replaced, huh?

Out of context, this part of a sign conjures up all sorts of one-liners. It's at a manicure/pedicure/waxing place in Scotch Plains.

National Night Out set-up in Scotch Plains

I stayed in. I was thinking of stopping by the festivities in Plainfield, but didn't want to stress my knee by being on my feet for so long.

Hey! My bus stop is blocked off!

This was Tuesday morning on East Second Street and Berckman in Plainfield. A house fire up the street had everything blocked off. There was quite a bit of damage to the house, but thankfully no or just minor injuries. And, yes, my bus stopped for me even though I was on the wrong corner.

Am I boring you, Vincent?

The least you could do is cover your mouth when you yawn like that! Vincent is still enjoying more attention from me every day. I've decided that his previous "master" must have taught him to heel as he walks right beside me like a dog room to room. He's a good companion, for sure!

How was your week?

Big Brother 13 Live Feeds Into Saturday Afternoon 8/06

For me, Jeff will always be the clear choice to stay.

Okay, so we had more mini-brouhahas in the house. The surprising part was some of the action was Jordan-based. Yes, dear sweet never gets riled Jordan. She's ashamed of her behavior and hopes her mother and grandparents aren't embarrassed. Of course, what she did is SO minor compared to the behavior of other hamsters!

Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of Frustrated Froot Loops:

• Last night, before the nominations, Jeff and Jordan confronted Kalia.
• Everyone figured Rachel would be on the block. That was a no-brainer.
• But Kalia told Jeff she wanted him to win the veto. Later he said he first thought she meant to pick him as a houseguest's choice.
• Nope, she wants him to win it by putting him on the block with Rachel.
• Jeff is the remaining alpha male in the house and the most likely to win a comp outside of Rachel.
  
• Jordan automatically thought that the plan would be to put her up as a pawn against Rachel.
• She apparently slammed her key down and yelled at Kalia that she might as well keep her key out, too!
• This, of course, was blocked to us feedsters.
• Jeff has been losing his temper, but Jordan had a really, really bad day yesterday -- going on slop with a fish alternative once again (she hates fish) after barely eating last week, Jeff (and Rachel) on the block, thinking she'll go on the block if either pulls themselves off.
• Jeff and Jordan have taken their vows to take care of Rachel much too seriously.
• I mean, being nice to her is one thing.
• But the girl is definitely poison in the game. They should be backing away from her a bit as if she just might have leprosy and they could catch it if they grow too close.
• The good news is they got a gas grill yesterday. The bad news is that Jeff, the main grill and cooking dude, is on slop.
• Being around all of the crying women is driving Jeff crazy.
• He's point-blank asked Rachel how Brendon puts up with her and told her she's crazy.
• Jordan told Rachel she's like a cyclone or hurricane destroying everything in her path then coming back to normal like nothing ever happened.
• Surprisingly, Rachel is taking all of this well and takes no offense.
• Kalia will NOT put Jordan on the block, not even as a pawn. She won't. She promised Jordan and will stick to it.
• Jordan and Jeff are still leery that Jordan will go up.
• Kalia, Rachel, Jeff, Jordan, Adam and Shelly played for veto.
• Kalia decided that whenever Rachel was down, she could give up. The main thing she told Adam was that she did NOT want Rachel to win.
  
• Jeff, Jordan and Rachel have really twisted around what Julie Chen said to them about this week's evicted hamster MIGHT HAVE A CHANCE to come back into the house.
• They're acting like it's a done deal -- whomever is evicted WILL come back and all three will go after Kalia.
• Jeff, of course, won the veto (as I announced earlier).
• Rachel, after the requisite ton o' tears, actually went and had a long civil talk with Kalia.
• She falsely thinks that she has a chance to stay in the house if Kalia puts the right person against her (Porsche), but names no names.
• She's worried that if Adam goes up against her, she will be voted out.
• Kalia has been thinking Adam as the pawn but has no idea how Rachel heard about it.
• Kalia also thinks, going over the numbers, that anyone she puts up against Rachel would mean a Rachel exit.
• All she needs is three votes and she's the tie-breaker.
• Once again, she said she will never put Jordan on the block.
• She's thinking Shelly or Adam, but wants Rachel out even though she admits she's seen a more human side of Rachel.
• We won't know until Monday who's going up as Jeff's replacement.
• One thing we can be sure of ... Jeff will NOT use his PoV to save Rachel!
  

Shelly is still trying to play both sides

Big Brother 13 Live Feeds - Veto Winner 8/06

A full report will be posted a bit later, but here's the skinny:

Jeff won the power of veto!

Big Brother 13 Live Feeds Through Friday 8/06 - Nominations

Gee thanks, BB. Give Kalia crunchy snacks!

I was ready for a total Rachel meltdown and didn't get it. Sure, there were sniffles and snuffles here and there, but no major freak-out. Good for her! How is Kalia handling being the first newbie Queen Bee?

Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House Fighting Factions:

• Porsche seems to be one confused gal. After all, she's been Rachel's buddy, Jeff and Jordan's buddy and Daniele's buddy. I guess this week she'll be Kalia's buddy.
• That's a bit different from Adam who gets along with everyone and just tends to vote as to not rock the boat.
  
• Lawon, of course, has become Kalia's pal despite all of the pushing she did early on to get him on the block.
• Maybe she just wanted the golden key float.
• Alas, true to their word, Jeff and Jordan have taken Rachel under their wing.
  
• They keep pep-talking her and massaging her self-esteem.
• Kalia thinks Jeff and Jordan are mad that she won HoH.
• Well, probably. It may have to do with the Daniele connection rather than Kalia herself. They had the deal with Daniele to remain safe this week, no such deal with Kalia.
• Of course, Kalia and Jordan still have that deal to never put each other up.
• But that doesn't include Jeff.
• They're all thinking whoever gets voted out this week will come back.
• Except Adam, that is. He thinks it will be more like a Redemption Island twist.
• He's right.
• Daniele told Kalia that her targets are Rachel, Jeff and Jordan in that order.
• Shelly keeps rotating around, siding with whatever side is within earshot and eavesdropping on them all.
• Jordan and Rachel think that Porsche should go home because she's a "total floater."
• When are these hamsters going to get it through their heads that floaters often have their own game. Adam comes to mind..
• But, yeah ... Porsche is a floater.
• And Adam's game is sorely lacking any skill other than being a good bacon buffoon.
• Rachel tried to suck up to Kalia telling her she's proud of her win -- first newbie HoH. She told her she doesn't really expect anything, but if she doesn't get nominated this week and wins HoH next, she won't nominate her (Kalia).
• She actually handled it well. Brendon is probably thinking, "You're not supposed to talk game without ME!"
• Daniele, unlike Kalia, can't bear to converse civilly with Rachel. She doesn't want to talk to her at all.
• Kalia still feels the sting from NO ONE cheering her on in the endurance comp.
• Then the food comp came, sinking Jeff, Jordan and Rachel down a bit deeper.
• Jeff, Jordan, Rachel and Shelly are Have Nots.
• I got my wish, though -- they have catfish and coconuts.
• Unfortunately, Jordan hates fish. She barely ate last week, now has another week of it ahead.
• Jordan is pouting and in tears on and off.
• But she's better at it than Rachel -- she actually growls on and off.
• Kalia told Jeff that if she puts him up, he's the pawn.
• He blew up at her.
• After a long feeds block again ... it's Rachel and Jeff on the block.
• Rachel is freaking out at Jordan, of all people.
• She wants to quit the game.
• Jordan, of course, is in her own tough spot -- she might lose Jeff!
• Yet she's trying to deal with Rachel.
• Rachel claims that she figured she was being nominated, but that Kalia didn't have to tell her she was catty and everything.
  
• It's going to be a long week in the house ...
  

Doing better than I thought she would

Not a happy camper

Almost sorry she got HoH