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

Good Sunday morning to you! Since it is Sunday, it's time for my off television topic reflection of the week gone by in both words and photographs I've taken along the way. Later tonight, I'll be posting the blog party post for The Amazing Race. I expect the show to be delayed due to March Madness basketball, but I'll put the post up at 8pm ET anyway.

There hasn't been a heck of a lot going on here this week. Our weather is still in a holding pattern with winter wanting to hang on. We're expecting more snow tomorrow -- one to three inches. It won't stay around long. Even with the cold temps, once the sun comes out, the snow melts. 

I hear that there's one winner of the big Powerball lottery jackpot. That winner is in New Jersey. I don't often play the lottery, maybe just a handful of times a year. Well, I bought a ticket for this one! Put your minds at ease. You don't have to worry about how the wealth will throw my life into heck in a handbasket. I didn't even have one number. I spent two bucks! I want a refund!

The new neighbor upstairs has been less quiet this week. He still walks in sock feet, but I'm hearing his stereo more. It's still not unreasonable and it's not gangsta rap or hip hop with a thumping beat. It's actually rather mellow and pleasant. However, it has to be loud IN his apartment if I can hear it down here. He still has the rating of best upstairs neighbor yet here, so I can't complain. I still have no clue what he looks like or who he is.

Meanwhile, new tenants in the front of the building are keeping with the stereotype of front of the building riff-raff. Last week they had a big party with the police responding to break it up. This week, when I went to get my Sunday newspaper before someone stole it, a woman was on a cell phone screaming at somebody that "If you don't let me in to get my clothes, I'm calling the cops!"

She rushed right into the building when I opened the door. I wasn't going to fight with her! She obviously wasn't a burglar. She went to the door right next to the landing and started pounding on it, still screaming on her cell phone. Now, that apartment had been empty for a good eight months and they just moved in this month (same as my upstairs neighbor). I predict they will break their year lease, the only kind offered, within two months. They don't really affect me as I'm on a different floor in a different wing of the building. But they can go. Buh-bye!

I'm only grateful that they're not who moved in upstairs from me!

Onto this week's photos ... 

A Bridgewater sunrise

Determined dandelion

Bridgewater, NJ

Squirrel king of the tree

This squirrel posed on a branch over Watchung Avenue in Plainfield. What a cooperative little fella!

As the sun sets

Pretty, but cold. Bridgewater Train Station on Saturday evening.

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

Survivor: Caramoan - Fans vs. Favorites - March 20 Episode Blog Party

Well, I'm not sure tonight's episode can beat last week's in the outrageous aspect. But, with the promise of the tribes switching up (not necessarily merging, I don't think), it should be interesting.

As the show airs here on the East Coast, I'll update this entry with the major happenings. So, be sure to refresh the page for the latest! As always, the party is down in the comments. Be there or be a Hantz. EW! I can't believe I said that. My apologies to mankind.

Drop your buffs ... we are switching tribes.

They have to smash an egg, inside the color will dictate tribe.

Orange - Gota - Brenda, Eddie, Malcolm, Erik, Reynold, Sherri, Andrea 

Purple - Bikal - Dawn, Phillip, Matt, Cochran, Julia, Michael, Corinne

Reynold is already playing up to Erik that Sherri needs to go while Sherri is telling the girls that Reynold needs to go.

Phillip is driving Corinne bonkers.

Immunity Challenge time! Rolling six large crates, build staircase which reads "Fans vs. Favorites" with them.

Gota wins Immunity while Bikal was pathetic.

Phillip enlists Matt and Mike in StealthRUs.

At Tribal, both Mike and Matt vote for Julia. The tally -- Julia, Julia, Dawn, Matt, Matt, Matt, Matt.

The Bearded One is gone! I really thought they'd vote for Julia.

The Amazing Race: March 17, 2013 Episode Blog Party

Yipes! The promos say that one team will quit tonight, another will be eliminated! I fear it may be David and Connor quitting. I sincerely hope not as they are very enjoyable to watch and they're pretty darn incredible, too. But, with David's Achilles tendon injury and being on crutches, I don't see how they can last much longer.

The show is going to be on time again here -- I believe that just might be a world record. As it airs, I'll update this entry with the major happenings. So, if you're trying to keep track, refresh this page to see the latest. But, as always, the real party is in the comments. Come join us!

Teams are on their way to Hanoi, Vietnam. Sigh. Dave said they're going to fly to Hanoi and be eliminated since doctors recommended surgery on his leg within seven days.

Caution -- U-Turn ahead.

They hit a bunching up point in Hanoi and still don't know who was eliminated in the prior leg.

Yes, Dave and Connor went to the mat early ... to disqualify themselves. What a great father and son team! Now, they're someone I'd like to see be given another chance in the future.

The rest of the teams plan on targeting the Roller Derby Moms and YouTube couple (Joey and Meghan) with the U-Turn.

The Roadblock sounds way complicated. Listening to a song touting Vietnam socialism, finding a poster with phrases used in the song, etc. After completing the Roadblock, the teams have to take part in a Vietnamese bamboo stick dance which looks like another level of Double Dutch without ropes to me!

Detour: Make Your Move -- a giant chess game using people. Or Make Your Meal, pick up live chickens, purchase ingredients, prepare two dishes of a cultural Vietnamese dish.

It's a Double U-Turn and they remain anonymous doing it. Pam and Winnie, first there, U-Turned Meghan and Joey.

1. Pam and Winnie - also won a trip to Whistler Ski Resort. They're my blog pool team. Yay!

Joey and Meghan U-Turned Chuck and Winona, a team which has all but U-Turned themselves anyway.

2. Max and Katie
3. Mona and Beth
4. Bates and Anthony
5. Caroline and Jennifer

Chuck and Winona are pitiful. 

6. Joey and Meghan
7. Chuck and Winona ... NOT Philiminated because Dave and Connor left the race. Apparently they don't have a Speed Bump ahead either like in a non-Philimination leg.

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

Happy St. Patrick's Day to y'all! Erin go Bragh and all that stuff. While I'm saying "Forever Ireland" and I do have red hair, I'm not Irish. Neither is my old high school friend who played the bagpipes in the NYSDOC marching band in yesterday's big parade in Manhattan. She's Italian and about 5'1" tall. She grew up to be a NYS corrections officer and play bagpipes. Who woulda thunk it? 

Since it is Sunday, it's time for my off television topic reflection on the week gone by in both words and photographs I've taken along the way. Later tonight, we'll have the blog party for The Amazing Race. I fear it will be the father/son team quitting due to Dave's injury. Sigh. Stop back and enjoy the show with us starting at 8pm ET!

I scored a good buy on corned beef yesterday at Target. I had checked their prices the week before and the briskets were just too costly. Yesterday I went in there on my way to work and one brisket remained in their sale bin -- less than $6. Yay! So, today (although I'm not Irish), I will have traditional corned beef and cabbage, then have some leftovers for sandwiches during the week. I like corned beef, but the only time it's reasonable is on sale during St. Patrick's Day. I should check at Target again tomorrow. Perhaps the sale goes to midweek. I could stock up.

I'm still suffering from the daylight savings time change. Wah. I'm walking to the train station in the dark once again. The sun isn't quite up as I get into work.

My new upstairs neighbor is still a mystery. It's definitely only one person up there who takes off his shoes for walking around on the hardwood floors. He's taken showers without flooding my bathroom, so it can be done! Every now and then when I don't have my television or music on, I can hear muted sounds of music or television from up there. Nothing unreasonable, so he's still the best upstairs neighbor I've had in a dozen years of living in this building. We're talking two weeks now!

In other apartment building news, I've mentioned before that the front of the building is like a revolving tenant door. My hallway/wing/floor is very quiet with long term tenants. Who knows who lives in the front wing? I had my police scanner on shortly before hitting the sack last night. What? A three car call to MY building? Yikes! Someone in the front wing, first floor, was apparently having a party with people going wild in the halls, etc. I couldn't hear a peep from my apartment. Apparently it wasn't too wild as the first cop who arrived called in that the tenant is turning the music off and people are going home. I really didn't see any signs of hall abuse when I went out early to get my newspaper this morning.

Also on the scanner last night ... I heard a definite firework sound -- the whistle and bang -- coming from East Second Street in back of me. Nothing all that unusual. Well, a cop responding to an alarm call up the street reported it to headquarters as shots fired! A second one whistled and banged. The whole police department went rushing to the apartment complex further down the street from me. The Shot Spotter technology didn't report it although some civilian also called it in as gunfire. It was fireworks, people, fireworks. Apparently the Mexican Polka Band in the summer people who shoot off fireworks (and sometimes guns) for every holiday must have been celebrating St. Patrick's Day. 

It snowed all day yesterday, but didn't stick. It's supposed to snow tomorrow night into Tuesday. I want spring. Although, looking back on some old photos, I noticed that in 2004 we had deep snow cover and at least two decent sticking snow storms around this time. Eep. It can stop. I want spring.

Onto this week's photos ... 

Just before the sun rises

Bridgewater, NJ

Predawn K Radiator

One morning my now dark walk to the Plainfield Train Station had a stunning velvety blue sky. I took this looking at K Radiator down Church Street.

Plainfield Train Station

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

Survivor: Caramoan - Fans vs. Favorites - March 13 Blog Party

Ready for some action tonight? The promos have Brandon losing it, running about destroying things and being a general idiot. Why does that not surprise me? What is surprising to me is that they haven't aired him crying yet this season!

As the show airs here on the East Coast, I'll update this entry with the major happenings. So, if you're looking in from elsewhere, refresh the page now and then to get the latest! The real party is in the comments area, though. Come join us!

Oh geez ... Brandon is missing his family. He actually volunteers to be the next one out if they go to Tribal Council. He admitted his "pee on the rice" plan to the others. @@

Then he decides he's going to give it his all and play his best game ever. 

Sigh.

It's Reward Challenge time. Two members from each tribe hold a rope from which hangs a rope basket. The others throw coconuts in it. Brandon was out first. Phillip - once again the hero - wins it for the favorites. Steak and all sorts of goodies go their way!

Heh. Reynold found his second idol! Hopefully he'll keep it a secret this time. He tells his boy Eddie.

Meanwhile, Unstable Brandon goes for Phillip. What a whack job! It's all so odd that it makes Phillip look normal.

"I'm a Hantz. I feed me!" Gah. They get tree mail which indicates the Immunity Challenge has to do with boxing. Phillip thinks they should throw it to get rid of Brandon.

Brandon lost it. He sabotaged the food and yells for Phillip to vote him out. Phillip walks away.

Immunity is up for grabs! Brandon decides to talk to the other tribe -- tells them he's their second chance and not to let Phillip win. The favorites decide to forfeit the challenge. Brandon throws Phillip under the bus and screams at him. He goes on about not crying this season.

No. He's whacked out instead.

The Fans get the idol due to forfeit. Tribal starts right at the site of the challenge. Everyone votes for Brandon. WHACKO IS GONE!

No, Brandon. You weren't the author of your elimination. You were an idiot once again -- this time a dangerous idiot instead of merely unstable.