I'm BACK!!!

Thankfully not mine

However, the brick building in the background is my apartment building.

After 10 nights and 9 days without power, I seem to be back. Hopefully my power will stay on. Right now outside it's snowing pretty good with more than a few inches on the ground and the wind is whipping.

I appreciate the good wishes from all!

The Amazing Race - October 28 Blog Party

Who's ready for some Amazing Race? I am! It's actually starting on time here tonight although I'm worried about storm related news interrupting it. The storm here so far is just a bit windy, not bad yet. 

As the show airs here, I'll update this post with the major events. However, as always, the real fun is in the comments area. Come join us!

The Roadblock has them weighing wood with rocks as a counterbalance. They're still in Bangladesh. Onto the Detour with Abba and James in the lead. Straw Dogs or Bamboo Jungle. Most seem to be going for transporting bamboo on a rickshaw type vehicle. Straw dogs has them manufacturing jute bags.

1. James and Abba again! They won a trip to Malaysia's tropical rain forest.
2. Abbie and Ryan
3. Natalie and Nadiya
4. Rob and Kelly
5. Trey and Lexi
6. Jaymes and James
Last ... Josh and Brent, but it's a non-Philimination leg. They're still in it!

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - October 28, 2012

Good morning! It's Sunday morning, therefore it's time for my weekly off television topic reflection on the week gone by in both words and photographs I've taken along the way.

Have any of you folks heard that there's some kind of storm heading towards the Mid-Atlantic and East Coast? Apparently it's supposed to be a whopper, eh? I read that the weather people (as opposed to the Weathermen) want people to stop calling it silly names like "Frankenstorm" because it's just so darn dangerous.

Now, I'm not doubting it's going to be serious. But, sheesh. I think the media makes people panic about it. Someone even stole my Sunday newspaper this morning, possibly thinking it has the latest up to the minute storm details. 

Me? I'm not all that worried. I live in a very populated area. I have enough food to last a number of days if need be. I have candles, batteries, one of those stick on lights and a good flashlight. I have plenty of water, plus my water doesn't go out even if the power's out. Normally my landline stays working, too. Plus I have my cell phone and police, weather alert (etc.) scanner. 

If, for some reason, there's a really long power outage, it's not like there's no other people around. One of the shelters set up is a five minute walk away. Getting to work may be another issue. I doubt I'll be going in until after my next day off. They're already talking about shutting down the NJ Transit trains and buses. Heck, work might not even be open! I have plenty of paid time off in the bank, so I might have a little vacation!

Right now, it's not doing anything out there. But, yesterday, I returned home from work to find the notice below shoved under my door. I think I prefer Chinese menus, thank you very much! (And in the 12 years I've been here, I've only seen flooding once -- during Irene.) I don't doubt there will be street flooding because the city never bothered to pick up the huge piles of leaves at the curb!

Clicking on an image will open it in a new window, clicking on it again will result in a larger image. Just close that new window to return to the blog.

Oh my

Plainfield Train Station lamp

On Monday, I spent an inordinate amount of time at the Plainfield Train Station. I'll get into that later. But I was there after the sun started shining.

Squirrel!

The squirrels have been extremely active lately. Beside gathering their goodies, they're chasing each other around and chattering at people for daring to come near them. This was on East Front Street in Plainfield.

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

Survivor: Philippines - October 24 Episode Blog Party

Survivor fans ready? The show is about to start here on the East Coast. Nope, no World Series watching for me! It's Survivor, then Criminal Minds. Perfect in my book. 

From the promos, it sounds like Penner and Skupin might be in a bit of trouble tonight. Hopefully that keeps any target off my new favorite player Denise. I'm not all that keen on Penner back for a third time. Mike Skupin, on the other hand, was so long ago in his one previous season and his injuries (the burns) were horrifying. He definitely deserves a shot this season.

As the show airs here, I'll update this entry with the major news. But, as always, the real action is in the comments area. Hopefully the ballgame won't steal many of our party people!

Almost right into the reward challenge -- pushing a large wicker ball through a goal while the other tribe tries to stop you. Reward is a visit to a dry hut with sandwiches, soup and more. Said wicker ball is huge and the field is mud. It's kind of like mud wrestling! This is done with teams of three. With the first group, they're stalemating. They have to score three and it's well over an hour stuck with the first group.

It's over. In a deal worked out, Kalabaw gives all their rice to Tandang and wins reward. Now, Skupin had eaten most of Tandang's rice and they do need it. But Artis (for one) doesn't seem pleased with the deal at all.

Aw, they got their letters from home at the hut. But they're soon hungry once again.

Immunity challenge time -- launching balls out to field, others catch. Each catch worth a point, five points is the winning tribe. Abi is sitting out AGAIN.

Tandang wins immunity with newbie on the tribe Malcolm being their hero.

Jeff wants to go for Penner. The other alternative is Katie. Thankfully, although Denise is new in the tribe, they're liking her.

Lots of blindside talk at the Tribal Council. The tally -- Katie, Penner, Katie, Katie. Bye-bye, Katie. Overall, a wiser decision than Jonathan. After all, he can do quasi-well in challenges. She's pretty much worthless. Then comes Carter in that tribe -- the kid seems stoned all the time and I know he can't be.

The Amazing Race: October 21 Blog Party

I'm not thrilled, but they're learning. The show isn't scheduled until 8:30 tonight here in the NYC viewing area due to football coverage. That's certainly better than pretending it will air at 8pm, but it still can throw my live TV watching askew with the odd half-hour. Oh well.

Although I'm putting this post up for the 8pm ET start, I probably won't really be here until the show starts. Feel free to hang out and have a beverage or two. Once it starts here, I'll update this entry with the major happenings as they air. But, as always, the party is in the comments. Come join us!

Okay then ... we're now talking about almost 9pm ET. Grr.

8:56 and it's finally on.

They're heading to Bangladesh. All the teams make the same flight.

Roadblock -- Teams have to repair buses. There is a fast forward available, but no one on the first few teams has gone for it ... yet.

The Fast Forward has them collecting dead rats. Ew. It looks like James and Abba are going to go for it.

The next clue is at a marketplace where they have to find a TAR flag colored dried fish in barrels of stinky dried fish. Ew.

The twins continue to be super annoying. Ew.

Detour -- Pound metal, pound out a spike. Pound the cotton has them beating cotton for a mattress.

James and Abba finished the rat collecting Fast Forward and are heading to the Pit Stop. They're the first team there and won a trip to Antigua.

2. Abbie and Ryan
3. Natalie and Nadiya
4. Rob and Kelly ... didn't take the right boat, must complete the course and come back.
4. Josh and Brent
5. Rob and Kelly
6. James and Jaymes
7. Trey and Lexi
8. Gary and Will ... Philiminated.

There goes my blog pool team, but no great loss. I'm liking so many teams much better! Well, I wouldn't shed any tears if the annoying twins vanished.