Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - February 24, 2013

Once again it's Sunday. Odd how that seems to happen once a week, huh? Well, 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 along the way.

I realize the Oscars are on tonight, but there will also be a new episode of The Amazing Race. Despite the red carpet, the blog party for the show will go on as scheduled. You're all free to wear gowns and tuxedos if you wish. Check back at 8pm ET for that post!

I have a lack of photos this week, so you're going to get a lot of Vincent. I was on a staycation and the weather was mostly dreary and warmish or really cold. Thus, I napped a lot. I stayed home for the most part. Yeah, I got some of the chores I planned to do done.

But I really napped a lot.

And it felt great!

Onto the photos I took ...

Damp and dreary

It seems like most of the week was damp and dreary. But I didn't mind. I feel rested for the first time in months! This is looking down Berckman Street towards East Third Street in Plainfield.

Vincent in B&W and green

In this shot, I left only Vincent's eyes in color. In fairly close up shots like this, his scar on his nose shows. I always wondered how he managed to get such a scar in his previous life. It was already a well-healed scar when the shelter got him, so it either didn't happen while he was a stray or he was a stray for a really long time.

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

Survivor: Caramoan Fans vs. Favorites - February 20 Blog Party

Okay, one favorite down ... who will be next? How many times will Phillip refer to his Secret Agent Man days? Will Baby Boy Hantz actually be able to go bad boy without crying? Will we have enough booze on hand? Who's got snacks?

As the show airs here on the East Coast, I'll update this entry with the major happenings. But, as always, the real party is in the comments area. Come join in on the fun!

Immunity Challenge time! Done in threes, three to a raft, three pull them out to platform, three play huge ring toss. Reward is a fishing kit.

The Favorites win immunity and reward!

Reynold found a hidden immunity idol. There are factions for both Shemar going home, as well as Allie. One of the ones who want Allie out thinks he has it. She outs him for it at tribal council.

Reynold does NOT play the idol.

The tally: Shemar, Shemar, Shemar, Shemar, Allie, Allie, Allie, Allie, Allie, Allie.

GAH! She was my pool pick! She's gone. 

The Amazing Race: Season Premiere Blog Party and Pool Picks!

Come one, come all! It's time for the new season of The Amazing Race! We can only hope it's on time on the East Coast more often than not this season. (Sigh.) Whoa! A few minutes after 7:00 (ET), the golf on CBS actually switched over to the Golf Channel. I fainted. So, we may be a few minutes late tonight, but they're apparently learning.

The Esteemed Margo (rockin' Margo) has the pool picks chosen for the season. You can still jump in the pool by choosing a team and cheering them on your own if you missed the cut off! Now, TV Guide et al are saying that three teams quit in the first Roadblock. I'm thinking that they just quit the Roadblock, not the entire race, and suffer penalties. If we do indeed lose three teams in the season premiere, Margo will juggle around the picks. If only one team goes home in the premiere, then the pool picks remain as they stand.

Here they are:
Idries & Jamil - Donna in AL, Monty924
Mona & Beth - Laurie, Margo
Chuck & Wynona - JOEY, SueGee
Max & Katie - MEB, PDXGranny
Anthony & Bates - Merrilee, Rbennie
David & Connor - Auntie Leigh, Delee, Lynn1
Pamela & Winnie - Jackie, Zoetawny
Matthew & Daniel - Ed in OH, Karen in CA, Sharon S
John & Jessica - Becky, Brian, Jennasmom
Caroline & Jen - Brent MeKee, Nana in NW
Joey & Meghan - Donna in FL, Glenn

As the show airs here in the East, I'll update this entry with the major happenings. But, as always, the real party is in the comments area. Come join us!

Teams ready? GO!

We're starting from Los Angeles. This season the first leg winner wins not just one Express Pass, but two. They have to give the second one to another team of their choosing. They're heading to Bora Bora.

Who's ready to take a giant leap? Tandem skydive Roadblock from a helicopter.
A second Roadblock -- who likes to play in the sand? Searching through sandcastles for a clue. They have to rebuild sandcastles if they don't find the clue. It's tougher than the skydiving.

Phil said the last team WILL be eliminated. So, someone will go tonight. No one has quit at anything yet.

1st at Pit Stop == Jessica and John. They have to give the second Express Pass before the fourth leg.
2. Bates and Anthony
3. Dave and Connor
4. Pam and Winnie
5. Mona and Beth
6. Joey and Meghan
7. Chuck and Wynona
8. Idries and Jamil

The final three teams are discussing quitting the Roadblock and taking the four hour penalty. It's down to a canoe build/race to the Pit Stop for them. Uh-oh, the firefighters are behind.

9. Mona and Beth
10. Max and Katie

Both will start out four hours later at the next leg.

The firefighters, Matthew and Daniel, were Philiminated.

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - February 17, 2013

It's Sunday morning. You know what 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 along the way.

Before I get really into things, I want to touch on television for a moment. Tonight is the season premiere of The Amazing Race. I made a post for folks to sign up for the blog pool right here. Poolkeeper Margo hasn't announced a cut-off, but you best get your name in there this morning if you want to take part in the pool!

Let's see ... onto the week gone by. Well, it was an odd week in the world, for sure -- a Pope resigning for the first time in six hundred years, a disgruntled ex-LAPD officer manhunt in California, a meteor damaging buildings and injuring 1200 people in Russia. My thoughts? Well, I would guess the Pope made the right decision in view of his health and age. Although, it would have been more interesting if he had chosen to retire because he wanted to get married and have a family! As for Dorner, the ex-cop, I just don't know. His manifesto was definitely wrong-minded. But, I can't help but wonder if he did have something in his original impetus to his trail of destruction. Not the way to go about things, though. The meteor? Eek.

My own personal life has been quiet for the most part. The old work, home, sleep, eat, work, on and on all over again. Yet I knew I was working for a goal -- yes, it's a staycation this week! Unlike last year, I will NOT go to the Lunar New Year Parade in Chinatown. I almost died in the crush of the crowds last year there. Well, didn't really almost die, but I did fear ribs would be broken in the crush! I have no real plans. I do have some housework stuff I plan on doing -- sorting through closets and such. I also plan to take a lot of naps! It's quite likely, weather permitting, that I'll take some walks around with the camera.

But, for the most part, I just plan to relax for the week. Yay!

Onto the photos ... 

Deploy landing gear

As the sun rises, the seagulls claim their places atop the parking lot lights in Bridgewater.

Cooper's Hawk on Watchung Avenue

I believe this is the same hawk that buzzed me last week. It followed pretty much the same flight path. However, I was a few feet away this time. It swooped across the street to the bushes at the front of the police station. Then, without stopping, it flew to a tree branch at the far side of the lawn. Although he's not huge, his wingspan is certainly impressive.

Hopefully not too near me

And, while I'm right on Watchung Avenue by the police station, congratulations to the newly promoted Sergeant Fusco! Others were promoted, as well. But I don't believe I know any of them. I seem to only know narcotics and gang unit detectives in town. Mind you ... that doesn't mean I'm into drugs or gangs! My drugs of choice are ibuprofen and caffeine. My gang, I guess, is Vincent the cat. Probably not the stuff of good busts. I know them because their annex is where I often wait for a bus when I don't feel like walking home after work. The bus is free on my monthly train pass.

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

The Amazing Race: Cast Video and Blog Pool Sign-Up!

The new season of The Amazing Race makes its debut this coming Sunday evening, February 17th! The Esteemed Margo has been kind enough to once again take charge of the blog pool for the show. I do apologize for getting this post up a bit late -- real life and all that mundane stuff, y'know.

The way the pool works is: Margo's Mom randomly picks names out of the hat (perhaps bowl or other such container of said names) and each blog member is randomly assigned a team to cheer on until they get Philiminated or win The Amazing Race. Nah, the winning blog members unfortunately don't go home with a million. But they do get bragging rights to hold near and dear until the next season comes around!

The official CBS website with the bios is here for you to check up on them.

Here's Phil's introduction to the cast:



If you want in on the pool, please respond here on this very post in comments. If you're signing on as Anonymous, we do need some sort of sign off name on your comments. Heck, you can be a boy named Sue if you wish, but we do need a name. Please get your name in there as soon as possible as we'll have to cut off the entries sometime Saturday!


Then join the blog parties during the shows as they air in East Coast time! Hang out with a great bunch of friends and get ready for a whirlwind trip around the world ... from the safety of home.