Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - December 30, 2012

It's the last Sunday of 2012! Why, that must mean it's time for my last off television topic photo post of the year. Woohoo! Of course, I haven't really been posting about television lately as everything is in repeats for the holidays. I did watch the Kennedy Center honors show this week and enjoyed it immensely. The ballet dancer seemed a bit out of her element, but I found the rest of the folks being honored people who have indeed played roles in my own life to a certain extent -- Dustin Hoffman, David Letterman, Buddy Guy and Led Zeppelin. I'm just not a big ballet fan albeit I find it beautiful when I do watch.

Last week I had a dearth of photos. This week, probably too many. You just might want to grab a big mug of coffee and some snacks before getting too involved in this. Not only did I find some things of interest in a bit better weather week locally to photograph, but I went into Manhattan on a whim on Christmas Day. 

Since I actually (for a change) had two days off -- Christmas and the day after -- with no real plans other than a quiet holiday at home with Vincent the Cat ... I decided to hop a bus into town. That means I walk about one minute to the bus stop and soon I'm dumped in Midtown. A storm was due Wednesday, but Christmas day was nice. Overcast, but I prefer that for taking photos anyway.

So, after I talked to my brother in California on the phone for a while, I was on my way. I thought it might be a bit quieter with all the big stores closed. Um. No. All the people just mobbed the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center instead of shopping! Oy. I will say that it wasn't as bad with the crowding as was the Chinese New Year parade in the city last year. I was concerned I might have a rib broken in the crowd crush for that.

I walked from the Port Authority Bus Terminal, through Times Square, over to Fifth Avenue, up to Rockefeller Center, back over by Saint Patrick's Cathedral (which had huge crowds, but scaffolding all about as they rehab the exterior), back down Madison Avenue to escape the crowds and breathe, back through Times Square, then back home. Yeah, that was one sentence. Want to make something of it? Uh-oh. I was in my travel in crowds in Manhattan persona. Oops!

The knees held up just fine. I only sat for a few minutes on a chair in Bryant Park. (Oh yeah, I went there, too.) For some reason, five different people stopped me to ask directions to five different places. Hey, just because I'm walking alone in the city doesn't necessarily mean I know where everything is! Thankfully, they all asked for places I do happen to know like Grand Central Station, Rockefeller Center and such. So I guess I was a good one to ask. I couldn't answer the folks who asked me a bus question, though. I have never been on a New York City bus. Subways, taxis and on foot, yes. Bus, no. 

Three separate groups of people -- an older white couple, a group of five black hip-hop garbed teenagers, and a family who seemed to speak either Russian or Polish -- handed me their iPhones and asked me to take photos of them. Don't they know that Mayor Bloomberg claims the rise in the robbery rate is due to iPhone and iPad thefts? Do I NOT look dangerous and thuggish? Sheesh. Yeah, I took their photos for them and handed them back their expensive playtoys. I figured I could probably only outrun the elderly couple.

Other than the trip into the city, it was a quiet week. Some real icky weather at times, but quiet for me. How was your week?

Onto the MANY photos -- clicking on an image will open it in a new Photobucket window, clicking again will make it larger. To return here, just close out the Photobucket window.

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

The holiday light show at Saks Fifth Avenue ...

Empire State Building

The lights are even better now! They replaced the old lighting system with new LED lights and can actually do "light shows." Before, every time they wanted to change colors, they had to physically remove a huge colored lens from each light. Now, it's computerized. Since the colors atop the building change per event, celebration, whatever ... this is going to be fantastic now!

Bryant Park tree and skaters

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Merry Christmas!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas! Vincent sure is!

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - December 23, 2012

It's Sunday morning. G'morning, y'all. Of course, that would mean that it's time for my weekly off television reflection on the week gone by in both words and photos I've taken. Hmmm ... it hasn't been the best of weeks for my photo taking. To think about it, although not horrible by any means, it has been a nondescript kind of week in my life. Perhaps nondescript tinged with a bit of sadness and fatigue. Yeah, that's it!

The holidays aren't always a great time for me on a personal basis. My parents died decades ago, my brothers and I are spread across the country and I have no family (as defined) here. My workplace is always extremely busy this time of year and I don't have any extended time off to go anywhere. I've grown used to all of that. I have my own little things I do on the day and consider my cat Vincent a member of my family! However, it can still be a bit rough as everyone's talking about spending the holiday with their families and, what little family I have left, is scattered far and wide. 

But that's not the cause of the sadness. I'm still reacting to the shootings in Newtown. I tear up just thinking of those children and their surviving families. I'm still in shock every time I hear the town name "Newtown" so casually added in with places I don't personally know such as Columbine. I know Newtown. I lived near it for years. I have old friends in Newtown. 

Then there's all of the controversy what should be done to stop events like this from happening again. I don't think you can stop anyone determined to "go out with a bang." I recall the horror of Charles Whitman way back in 1966. Gun laws or not, it will keep happening. And, that indeed is a sad thing. It's not the gun laws per se (although we seriously need to clamp down drastically on those assault rifles -- no hunter or person protecting their property or life needs that amount of firepower), it's not necessarily mental illness (if every person with a mental illness went around shooting people, there would be few folks left on Earth), it's not the fact that prayer isn't allowed in schools, it's certainly not Asperger's Syndrome. I've grown tired of zealots on each issue arguing. Arguments tend to make my head hurt. Make it stop.

So, those things have been bothering me as we head into Christmas. The weather this week hasn't helped any. It's been warmer than usual, then cold blasts, then monsoon rains and wind. Now that the trains are finally back on their normal schedule, it's dark when I go to work and it's dark when I come home. It's been overcast (or raining) every morning except one on my way to work. I only saw the start of one actual sunrise this week once I arrived at work.

Speaking of trains back on schedule, lots of folks are probably complaining. My morning train, the first westbound train of the day, has arrived and left the station five or so minutes early each day. That's a no-no. It hasn't affected me as I always plan to get to the station ten minutes early. However, all of those folks who always have to run to make it on time when the train is on time or late ... well, they're missing the boat. Er, train.

As a result of the weather and the darkness, my photos this week are severely lacking. My apologies.

Chotola pigeons

Pigeons hunker down in the winds on Saturday, one of the few days I saw daylight. This is the Chotola apartment building on North Avenue in Plainfield, where the long gone Roofus the Cat used to bask on the ledges.

Abandoned

Kind of says it all for the week, eh? I managed to kill one of my best umbrellas battling the wind and rain on Friday morning. Just as I decided I was soaked and it wasn't doing me any good so I might as well close it, the wind ripped it inside out and damaged the framing (spokes? whatever). This is not my umbrella. Mine was better. Wah.

I know you're not there

I don't think parking this empty Community Patrol (COPS) van all around the Plainfield Train Station will stop the ne'er-do-wells who inhabit the benches. I realize it's popular to park an empty decoy police car around trouble areas to give the illusion there's a cop nearby. But not for days at a time!

Bridgewater sunrise

The one start of a sunrise I witnessed this week.

Christmas oasis

The house at the corner of Richmond and East Front in Plainfield.

Wet branches

I used GIMP photo editor's illusion filter on this shot of dripping branches lighted up by a street lamp.

Apartment door wreath

My neighbor's door wreath. It sheds little stars each time the door opens or closes.

Santa, I've been a good cat all year!

Well, for the most part. I seem to recall some toilet tissue incidents and attacks on my bare feet. But, yeah. You're a great cat, Vincent, although you're not always perfectly behaved.

Survivor: Philippines - Season Finale and Reunion Show Blog Party

Why oh why do they schedule a three-hour show to air after football on a Sunday evening? ARGH! As I type this up to post, the football game in question is in overtime and 60 Minutes has yet to air. They had already delayed the start of the finale here, scheduling it to start at 8:30pm ET. 

Anyway ... as to tonight's show, I don't think I'd mind if any of the final four won. For me, each comes with their own merits. Skupin, horribly burned in his first shot at the show, would be on the top of the world if he won. Lisa has grown tremendously since Blair days and honestly seems like a very nice person. Malcolm is just darn good, as is Denise. My personal favorite for the win would be Denise. How about you?

Once the show starts, I'll update this post with major events. However, the real fun is always in the comments area. Come join in!

Okay, the game just ended. It's 7:52pm ET here. Expect Survivor (and me!) to start at about 8:55pm ET ... and end near midnight. Sigh.

After a shortened 60 Minutes and an Obama speech from Newtown, we're on at 8:56pm ET. Did I call it or what?

Recap blah-blah-blah. Now it's time for the Reward Challenge -- race through obstacles, collect bags, solve dragon puzzle. Winning the challenge gives the winner an advantage in the final Immunity Challenge. Malcolm wins!

Fallen comrade walk time. Ritual, of course.

Immunity Challenge time. Balancing a ball on a wooden "pole" made up of wooden pieces added to make it longer as time goes on. Malcolm's advantage is that he can have a second shot if he drops the ball. He does drop it first and resets.

Malcolm is OUT! Even with the advantage, this wasn't a challenge made for him! Argh ... now DENISE is out! Lisa is out. SKUPIN WINS IMMUNITY!

The tally: Malcolm, Denise, Malcolm, Malcolm. Aw, the kid is gone! He played a very good and honorable game. Well, as honorable as Survivor can be.

Jury time --
Denise is proud to be there and built alliances, workhorse, valuable in challenges, made moves. Survived every single TC. Outwitted, outplayed and outlasted.
Lisa - we did it in different ways. Strategy wasn't pretty, run, fall down, get up, played own game. Brother told her to trust her gut.
Skupin - Returning player not expected to progress, did things with fire because his back was against the wall, respected core of the game, love the game.

Jury:
Artis -- Cannot congratulate them as they had holier than thou actions. Karma is a bitch.

Carter -- Good job, Lisa. Good job, Skupin. Skupin, when did you know I was going home. Skupin says so likeable, friendships in the game sometimes have to be separated.

Pete -- Lisa, hiding behind not voting for people when she knew they were going home. She said she didn't know. Denise said going tribe to tribe, etc. Worked with fractures in the tribes.

RC -- Wanted Lisa out because she was sneaky and sweet, proud of her. Skupin said he thought Penner was going home, not her.

Malcolm -- Denise, stop appeasing everyone. Why do you deserve it more? No appeasing! There is value playing social game, playing the game although it may come across as appeasing. 

Jeff -- Bitterness. Three kinds of people -- make things happen, watch, clueless. Skupin said he makes things happen. His name came up so much. Lisa -- didn't float? Her Malcolm blindside moves. 

Abi -- All about her, most unlikeable, heart broken. Asks why she should vote for Lisa. Lisa said loyal until things disintegrated. Michael, outwit, outplay, outlast. Denise apologizes if she was truly traumatized.

Penner -- Congratulations! Denise -- I'm confused. You've shown the world you're a bitch. Skupin -- Your name hasn't been written down as much as you say. Lisa -- Friend, close ... share? He says she was a television star. Exposes her. Two have been ridden in, yoked like oxen ... 

RC - Lisa
Penner - Denise
Carter - Skupin

Well, it won't be unanimous this time!

Onto live in Hollywood!

Moment of silence for the victims in Newtown.

The votes:
Lisa
Denise
Skoopin (Carter's vote)
Denise
Denise
Denise

DENISE HAS WON SURVIVOR: PHILIPPINES!!!

Closest vote ever on the 100K favorite, Lisa and Malcolm in the running. Lisa won!

Next season -- fans and favorites again. 

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - December 16, 2012

It's Sunday morning. That means it's time for my weekly off television topic reflection on the week gone by in both words and photographs I've taken. Later on tonight, it will be time for the Survivor three-hour season finale and reunion party. Hopefully we'll have a great blog party for that one right here!

Unfortunately, this past week took a tragic twist. While I'm not a parent and I couldn't fathom what it would be like to lose a very young child in those circumstances, the school shooting hit close to home for me. Before I was transferred to New Jersey by my workplace, I lived for nearly two decades in Danbury, CT. My workplace was located on Newtown Road in that town. Newtown is adjacent to Danbury.

Many of my co-workers there were from Newtown. Many folks in the Danbury Ski Club were from Newtown. Friends of mine have children and grandchildren in the school district there. No one I know seems to have been directly involved. But still ... very close to home.  I personally know the school. I personally know the town. I'm still in shock.

If someone were to ask me what Newtown would ever be famous for, I'd have two answers. Olympic swimmer Bruce Jenner graduated from Newtown High School. And, years ago, the general store (which still exists since 1847) was the backdrop for a Breyer's ice cream television commercial. Now, it will forever be linked with tragedy. Newtown doesn't deserve that. Honestly, no town, village or city deserves such a horrific act. But, Newtown. It's a sleepy, spread-out almost rural-ish in some areas, picture perfect New England small town. A good place to raise your children. Sigh.

Anyway ... onto this week's photos. Clicking on an image will open it in a Photobucket window, clicking again will make it larger. To return to the blog, just close out the Photobucket window.

Lamps at sunset

As you'll see, I took advantage of this sunset this week. We've had so much icky weather that, when I see beauty, I must take action! Plainfield Train Station, early Friday evening.

Rolling in catnip

Vincent is a silly cat!

I gots an ORANGE!

From my apartment window, I watched this squirrel struggle up the tree carrying an orange in his mouth. He's a good thirty feet up -- I'm shooting from the second floor with a zoom lens. Unfortunately, I still have Sandy storm dirt on the outside of my windows or the photo would be more clear. Before he could get through the orange peel, the orange plummeted to the ground where another squirrel snagged it and took it out of sight behind the neighbor's garage.

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