Off Topic - That Was the Week It Was - February 26, 2012

Yes, it is indeed Sunday morning and I'm back! My apologies for skipping last week's off television topic photo post, but I was really hurting and discombobulated. My apartment is still a bit discombobulated as I get this written. However, I no longer ache and I should get things back in place later today.

For those who didn't catch last week's post -- my apartment underwent some renovation work. Painting throughout, new kitchen floor, new bathroom ceiling, new bathroom sink with vanity, and new bathroom medicine cabinet. While I didn't have to do all this work, I did move everything to the center of my rooms, climbed up and down removing things from the walls (and the knee doesn't really climb well), helped the contractor move my refrigerator (which really wanted to remain in place), etc.

I was exhausted and ached all over. It takes a good year to eighteen months to recover completely from a knee replacement. Not only is the knee a bit iffy still, but my stamina and strength aren't 100% yet. Plus I started all this work ill with a fever and stomach bug. GAH! 

I've been working on getting things back in place ... or in new places as it gives me an excuse to rearrange things ... bit by bit after work. I'm not quite under the deadline I was for throwing and shoving everything in the middle of the rooms! I also have decided to purge some of my belongings. I will probably never be a size 10 again, those clothes can go. I have a pair of practically brand new Chicago inline roller skates. While I might venture out on quad (old school) skates again, I hated the inline and used them a few times years ago. Size 9 -- anyone wanna buy?

Work has been a nightmare for most of this week with computer issues. Supposedly the DSL at work isn't working and we're only communicating via satellite. That was fixed, but amidst the problems, my software I use for my work somehow got corrupted (they think). I've had to use a chisel and a slab of granite in lieu of modern technology. Er, okay ... adding machine tapes and notes. Once things come up, I have to enter each day's work into the computer. Sigh. 

On this Sunday, my thoughts go out to local Plainfield bloggers Dan Damon and Bernice Paglia. Dan was hospitalized with some serious issues earlier this week and Bernice, a fellow car-free pedestrian, has been having horrible knee issues. I know what knee issues are like, especially as a pedestrian! May both of my friends feel better soon!

Onto the photos for this week -- clicking on an image will open a larger view.

Call me Mr. Chubbs

This squirrel was hanging out at the Plainfield Train Station yesterday morning as I waited for my train. He was a bit of a ham (even though he's obviously a squirrel!). I have a mini-series of shots of him later on in this entry.

Winter budding

We've had some cooler temperatures the past few days. But the winter is still so warm and mild that the trees are confused. Bridgewater Train Station.

Pinks of dawn

The days are getting longer. It's no longer pitch black when I leave my apartment heading to the train station. The sunrise actually occurs while I'm aboard the train on my way to work. Soon it should be rising while I'm at the Plainfield Train Station.

***CLICK THE 'READ MORE' LINK TO SEE ALL THE PHOTOS***

Survivor: One World - February 22 Episode Blog Party

The show is about to start here on the East Coast. I have a feeling that tonight we'll find out exactly how annoying Colton Cumbie can be. Hopefully the gals will get their act together. I was quite disappointed in them last week.

I'll be posting major updates here in this entry. However, the real fun will be in the comments section -- feel free to join the party and let the rest of us know what you think of the episode! Survivor fans ready?

The men won the reward challenge and gained themselves a tarp. The women didn't really screw up; they did well. But the men were quicker.

Colton told Troyzan and Jonas that he has the idol. He wants to team up with them to get Michael (my pool dude) out. He only went to the guys because he annoyed the women so much they made him go away.

The immunity challenge has the tribes lined up on balance beams. One by one, they have to pass each other until all are on a platform. Now, the women sucked. The men won the challenge with ease.

Tally: Nina, Kat, Christina, Nina, Nina, Naina ... they kept the very pretty but totally inept Kat! Argh!

The Amazing Race 21 Season Premiere Blog Party

Yep, tonight's the night! Unfortunately utterly clueless CBS has NOT addressed the problem of airing sports which chronically cause delays in airing primetime shows on Sunday evenings. This time it was golf delaying a season premiere.

They desperately need to change to only TWO primetime shows -- airing 60 Minutes at 8 P ET, TAR at 9 PM, etc. That way we could depend on a standard time even if it is (technically) an hour later. 60 Minutes started at 7:21 ET, so although I'm putting this post up on time, expect TAR east coast approximately 8:20 PM .

Here's Phil Keoghan's take on this season's cast:

Margo has graciously offered to host the pool once again -- three cheers to her! Here's the random match-ups:

Art & J.J.- Auntie Leigh, Caela, Sydney
Brendon & Rachel - Donna in FL, Jennasmom, Lynn 1
Dave & Cherie - JOEY, MEB, SueGee
Dave & Rachel - Pam in NJ, Rbennie
Elliot & Andrew - Becky, DKNYNC, Donna in AL
Joey "Fitness" & Danny - Brent McKee, Karen in CA, Indiana Jane
Kerri & Stacey - Ed in OH, Margo
Mark & Bopper - Delee, Nana in NW, Petals
Misa & Maiya - Laurie, Terry in PA, Zoetawny
Nary & Jamie - Merrilee, PDXGranny
Vanessa & Ralph - Jackie, ML, Monty924

Although I'm hoping for an early exit for Brendon and Rachel, I do understand that some folks might like them. So far I don't have a favorite yet and I know it will take a few weeks to figure out the names on the teams.

I will update this with the (possible, probable) elimination, but I'm not going to post a blow-by-blow account. Everyone is invited to join in with comments! Who's got the booze?

Rachel and Dave (no, not Rachel and Brendon) came in first and got the Express Pass. Brenchel was second. Art and JJ, three. Mary and Jenny, Vanessa and Ralph ... oops lost track!

Misa and Maiya totally blew it. They were next to last and got screwed up finding Phil. They're Philiminated.

Life Interrupted

I will be hosting (and participating) in the big blog party for the season premiere of The Amazing Race tonight starting at 8 PM ET. Be there or be square!

However, I will not be putting up my weekly photo post this morning. My apartment has been undergoing painting and kitchen renovations for the last few days. I took it upon myself to move all my furniture away from the walls as well as get everything off the walls. He finished the painting yesterday and I just collapsed. I still have to move everything back (or rearrange!)

He has to come back tomorrow although I'll have to be at work -- new bathroom sink and medicine cabinet, possibly new tiling around the tub. If they're going to do all that, they might as well give me a new toilet and tub, too!

The bathroom sink replacement is my own doing. The night before he first showed up, I leaned on it and it fell off the wall! I scrambled to catch it before it ripped the water lines out of the wall and then strained about 15 minutes to get it up on its brackets. When I finally got it up there, I noticed the big S pipe underneath disconnected. I asked him to fix the pipe and he told me he'd get me a new sink in a vanity. Yay! But, in a way, boo as under the sink was Vincent's litter box. The bathroom is tiny. I have to come up with a new place for it.

Between moving my whole darn life of stuff, straining with a deceptively heavy bathroom sink and helping the 4'10" Ecuadorean contractor dude move the refrigerator ... I'm hurting all over. And I have so much yet to do moving things all back. Sigh.

But do come back tonight for the show! 

Survivor: One World - Season Premiere Blog Party

Welcome one, welcome all! Yep, it's a new season of Survivor at hand! Zoetawny was kind enough to create a new blog logo for the show and, knowing what she's been going through, she rocks indeed!

Lifeguard Laurie is running the pool -- the random draw has these picks:

Troy Robertson -- Lynn1, Margo
Sabrina Thompson -- Leigh, meb
Nina Acosta -- Laurie, ML
Monica Culpepper -- Jenna's mom, Monty 924
Michael Jefferson -- Jackie, Nana in the NW
Matt Quinlan -- Glenn, Pam
Leif Manson -- Estelle, PDX Granny
Kourtney Moon -- Ed in Ohio, Petals
Kimberly Spradlin -- Dusty, rbennie
Kat Edorsson -- Donna, Rochelle
Jonas Otsuji -- dla, Sue Gee
Jay Byars -- DKNYNC, Tammy
Greg Smith -- Delee, Terry
Colton Cumbie -- Caela, Zoetawny
Christina Cha -- Buzzman
Chelsea Meissner -- Brent McKee
Bill Posley -- Becky
Alicia Rosa --Ann


If you didn't make the pool cut-off, feel free to cheer on your favorite team for the win anyway! I was in shock that my pool pick actually won last season. I guess I can't depend on that two seasons in a row, eh? Well ... maybe I can! We'll see.

Margo will be running the TAR pool -- if you want in on that one, please reply to the cast post I made earlier today!

Survivor fans ready?

Jeff divided them into two tribes -- men and women. But we knew that would happen. They have 60 seconds to strip any goods they can off the truck they arrived in, but they don't know they'll be sharing a camp ... yet. Uh-oh. My pool pick stole from the women!

Jeff gave each tribe a map to the camp, yet still hasn't told them it's the same camp. He told them hidden idols will be in play, but no Redemption Island. (YAY!) The girls are already forming a "final five" as they hike to the camp. They arrive to the camp first and see both flags, so the cat is out of the bag.

They're all chasing chickens. One girl catches TWO -- Chelsea. Now the guys are hitting them up to share. Colton is already alienating his tribe by hanging around the girls. Will he spy for the guys or just hang with the women on his own?

The guys got a fire going first. Sabrina offered a chicken for fire. Hmmm. One gal wants the axe back that they stole. Heh, the girls went to go steal back the axe while the men slept and stole fire instead.

The women now are weaving twenty fronds for the guys in exchange for fire because their stolen fire pooped out.

One of the women (still not good on names yet, black woman) found the Manano (mens tribe) idol and must give it up before Tribal Council. She chooses Colton who has already groveled around for it with the women.

Immunity Challenge time! It's physical -- jumping into a net, balance beam. Uh-oh -- it looks like Kourtney might have broken her wrist. She needs x-rays. Due to her dropping out, the men win by forfeit. They have the choice to take the win and run or continue the challenge. The guys take the win.

Tribal Council time ... Kourtney still not back. She's their major pick to go. But one of the girls (Alicia) wants to get Christina out as she thinks she's in too much with the men. Whoa! Christina/Alicia cat fight ... MEOW.

Kourtney's wrist is broken in a few places, she'll need surgery. She's out of the game. No one is getting voted out.

My verdict? This could definitely be an interesting season, for sure! I just hope the women get together a bit more. The cohesiveness of the men (so far, except Colton) is going to hurt them.