Thursday, July 12, 2012

Big Brother 14: Blog Pool Picks and Schtuff!

First off, I'd like to extend a big thank you to ORKMommy for running this season's blog pool. She rocks and so do all of you with your excitement over the upcoming season! I think we're in for a lot of fun!

Here are the random picks -- you can cheer on your pick until they get the boot. Of course, if they never get the boot, you get bragging rights until next season!
 
Ashley Iocco - JonMD1267, Cha Cha, Monty924, Auntie Leigh
Danielle Murphre - Laurie, Ayana, Petals, Terry in TX
Frank Eudy - Micaela, Donna, ORKMommy, Serina Cox
Ian Terry - Rbennie, Brenda, QuixoticElf, MEB
Jenn Arroyo - AmyTL, Jessica, Michi, Marlo Lee
Jodi Rollins - Joey, Gaylos, Witt, Nana in NW
Joe Arvin - bbbw_princess, Janice/GA, Karen from CA, Glenn
JoJo Spatafora - Brent McKee, Donna in FL, Alicia, Jennasmom
Kara Monaco - Lynn1, Nina, Sasha, PDXGranny
Shane Meaney - Buzzmaam, Jackie, SueGee, Sydney
Wil Heuser - Delee, Dierdre, Merrilee, Becky
Willie Hantz - M&M, Chris, Sister Sue, Tammy

Cool. I ended up with Shane Meaney. I personally don't know how great he'll do since he was never a fan of the show, but is a recruit. If memory serves, he was the sexiest man in Vermont in Cosmopolitan magazine. So, he's eye candy for me. Plus, he's from Bennington, VT. I'm quite familiar with Bennington as it's nearby (and a part of) family stomping grounds.

Onto SCHTUFF --
  • At 9 PM EDT tonight, I'll put up a blog party post. Everyone is invited to party and comment as we watch the show together!
  • The live feeds don't go live until after the West Coast premiere -- at 1am EDT. I will gather some fodder for a post a few hours after they start.
  • The hamsters have already been in the house since this past Saturday, so the feeds tend to be a bit confusing at first as we don't know what's already gone down. Bear with me.
  • My plan for posting this season is three live feeds updates per day -- early morning, early evening and late evening based on my own East Coast times. Of course, there may be extra posts when things warrant.
  • I will be including screen caps from the live feeds, but they've really come down on any videos posted. I don't want to lose the blog by posting videos even though I do have the technology to do it. Anyone you see post extended videos of the feeds or posting the feeds themselves are exposing themselves to fines and shutdowns of their accounts. The videos of mine on YouTube date back before the crackdown.
  • I do ask that folks remain fairly civil and PG-rated here. I know it's prudish, but ...! 
  • Not everyone is going to like or dislike the same hamsters. Speak your mind about the hamster, but treat other members of the blog with respect, please! I reserve the right to remove any comments which disrupt the community.
  • Just a personal request -- even when posting about the hamsters, it tends to creep me out when folks make personal appearance insults. Sure, this cast is "pretty," but I'd prefer you post about their ACTIONS, not insults about noses, waistlines, etc. Your choice, of course. But I just wanted to get that out there.
Hamster watchers ready?

Monday, July 09, 2012

Blog Pool is ON! Get your names in here!


We have a volunteer to run the pool -- the same person who started it so long ago! Woohoo! Thank you, Theresa! We also might have something going on with a pool for the "mentor" twist. Stay tuned!

To get into the pool, your name MUST be submitted by noon EDT on Thursday! Be there or be square! Or something like that ...

Volunteer Needed for Pool!


Folks ... if someone wants to run the blog pool for Big Brother 14, I'd really appreciate it! It would entail a random pick of blog readers and hamsters, as well as an update regarding who's out with each eviction.

Any takers?

Sunday, July 08, 2012

Off Topic - That Was the Week It Was - July 8, 2012

What? It's Sunday? I guess it must be time for my weekly off television topic reflection on the week gone by in both words and photographs I've taken along the way.

But, first ... (as says the ChenBot), I do have to touch on all of the Big Brother 14 news just a bit. If you haven't noticed, I've started posting about the cast. I plan on posting more a bit later today about our new hamsters. They actually entered the house last night, but the live feeds don't start until after the premiere airs. I posted cast interviews over on my Big Brother Facebook Page for this blog. Please feel free to like the page -- I link all my BB blog articles there, as well as some additional content.

On more personal non-television matters, I received word from the new landlord that Vincent can indeed stay despite the new "no pets" lease. YAY! I really didn't want to move. But if they said he had to go, we would find another place to live. I did make it clear to them that I would be moving if they didn't allow him. I know this area isn't the easiest to find good tenants and, apparently, so do they.

As for my knees mishap last week, they seem to be okay. I couldn't make an appointment due to the holiday week, but really need to call back this week. The left (older) knee swelled up for about three days and is still sporting all kinds of beautiful colors. The right (new) knee has a scrape and a small bruise in addition to some residual pain around the kneecap. Both seem to be stable enough. I'm not going to have them redone no matter what! At least not for the next twenty or thirty years, I hope.

My latest staycation started yesterday. Supposedly the latest heat wave should end tonight and I might be able to enjoy roaming about with the camera or take a run into the city. I'd go to the beach but too many people go there this time of year!

Onto the photos I've taken this week -- I had some extra photo fodder because the Plainfield 4th of July Parade was held yesterday, on the 7th. Don't ask. I watched the parade because it goes right by my apartment building. But I didn't partake in any of the other events of the day because it was just too darn HOT. Clicking on an image will open it in a new window, clicking again will make it larger, then close that window to return here. 

Photobucket
Horse in the 'hood!

I edited this to leave only the horse and rider in color. Obviously, this is from the parade. We rarely have horses just roaming around here in the 'hood.


Early Morning Presbyterian
Early morning Presbyterian

I like the way the early morning sun played out on the local Presbyterian Church. East Front Street, Plainfield

I see the bee's knees
I see the bee's knees!

The bees are still busy in Bridgewater!

**CLICK THE 'READ MORE' LINK TO SEE THE REST OF THE PHOTOS!**

Thursday, July 05, 2012

Big Brother 14: Meet the Cast

My personal jury is still out. I will need to know more before I can draw conclusions other than young and can spend three months away from life as they know it. But I wanted to get the photos and basics up for you. More as I delve into them to see what makes 'em tick. Four "mentors" would bring the cast to 16.

Top Row: Danielle, Frank, Shane, Ian, Willie, Jenn /Middle Row: Joe, Kara, Jodi /Bottom: Jojo, Wil, Ashley



Jenn Arroyo, 37
From: Brooklyn, NY
Current City: Brooklyn, NY
Musician - former bass player for the female metal group “Kittie”

Joe Arvin, 41
From: Lexington, KY
Current City: Schererville, Ind.
Chef

Frank Eudy, 28
From: Marion, AR
Current City: Naples, FL
Unemployed

Jodi Rollins, 42
From: Englewood, CO
Current City: Calipatria, CA
Restaurant server

Willie Hantz, 34
From: Vinton, LA
Current City: Dayton, TX
Tankerman

Wil Heuser, 24
From: Louisville, KY
Current City: Louisville, KY
Marketing consultant

Ashley Iocco, 26
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Current City: West Hollywood, CA
Owner of a mobile spray tanning company

Shane Meaney, 26
From: Bennington, VT
Current City: Bennington, VT
House flipper

Kara Monaco, 29
From: Orlando, FL
Current City: Los Angeles, CA
Model

Danielle Murphree, 23
From: Grant, AL
Current City: Tuscaloosa, AL
Nurse

JoJo Spatafora, 26
From: Staten Island, NY
Current City: Staten Island, NY
Bartender

Ian Terry, 21
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Current City: New Orleans, LA
Engineering student