Big Brother 15: Nominations Show Blog Party (Returning Hamster, new HoH) - August 25

Oh my gosh ... I forgot that people who only watch the show don't know who the returning hamster is, nor the winner of the HoH. As the show airs here on the East Coast, I'll update this entry with the major happenings. Refresh the page to get the latest news!

The real party is in the comments ... come join us!

The HoH comp continues -- Spencer and McCrae down almost simultaneously. Helen is handing out intel on the house to the jury competitors as they play. Jessie, Elissa and Amanda are doing the best. Andy is down.

Jessie falls, yelling at Amanda on her way out. Amanda acts shocked. Helen falls followed immediately by Candice but the show really stretched that out with filmed commentary. And we go to commercial without her falling! Sheesh.

Judd returns to the house! He falls, so he won't win HoH. But he does return to play the game.

Elissa wins HoH! Only Amanda and GM were still up there at the time.

Elissa wants to target Aaryn. Amanda thinks she needs to put GinaMarie on the block with her so Aaryn will go. But ... Elissa is getting a kick out of causing issues between Aaryn, McCrae and Amanda by putting one of the other two up on the block with Aaryn. Heehee.

Judd aligns with Elissa. Aaryn worries. Amanda is upset because she has no control.

Time for nominations! Key order -- Judd, GinaMarie, Spencer, Andy, Amanda. Aaryn and McCrae are on the block. Elissa tells McCrae she hopes he wins the veto. She tells Aaryn now she knows how she has felt all along.

Big Brother 15: Live Feeds Saturday night into Sunday - August 24-25

McCrae has to know we'll mock his fashion "sense"

Here's what happened last night into the wee hours inside that Big Brother House of Devious Dolts:

• Amanda and McCrae are conflicted over the "who will go home" dilemma.
• Amanda would like to keep Aaryn around doing their dirty work for them while McCrae doesn't want to lose others and doesn't really like Aaryn.
• Amanda keeps coming up with new ruses to make Elissa think Aaryn will stay no matter what.
• Ultimately, McCrae and Amanda would prefer Elissa put GinaMarie on the block as she's extremely expendable in view of their cause.
• They don't think they can control GinaMarie.
• Heck, GinaMarie can't control GinaMarie. What makes anyone think they can?
• Amanda thinks that Spencer can't be trusted at all.
• McCrae trusts Spencer.
• They occasionally talked about the Zingbot. Apparently it was a fat joke about Spencer and the Zingbot was mean to GinaMarie.
• I personally think jokes at the expense of weight or looks tend to fall in with a lot of the cruel behaviors we've seen in the house itself. Not cool in my book.
• However, I snickered when Spencer said that the Zingbot referred to Amanda's tramp stamp (tattoo or lifestyle, take your pick).
• The Zingbot's floater comment to Andy was about a pale ghost who likes to float.
• Judd is still sick from the comp.
• But his head is in the game even if his stomach isn't.
• Elissa went back to her rather bizarrely timed laughter.
• Elissa told Judd that she tried to work with Aaryn, but Aaryn is brainwashed by Amanda.
• Judd told Elissa that Amanda needs to go before McCraa,
• That's like preaching to the choir. Elissa knows this.
• Judd and Elissa giggled over the thought of telling everybody threw the comp to Amanda so she could finally win something.
• It cracked GinaMarie up when they told her, too.
• McCrae laughed about it when he heard them say it.
• But Amanda seemed to actually take pause and think about it.
• Aaryn got all suspicious seeing Judd and Elissa whisper about it, then Judd whispering to McCrae.
• She's sure they're conspiring against her!
• Amanda boiled until finally she went on a rant screaming expletives at Elissa and yelling that she wasted a HoH.
• Oh, well.
• Amanda told GM that Elissa is using her.
• Now Amanda thinks GinaMarie is back in their camp, especially if Aaryn remains in the house.
• I'm not so sure of that. 
• But, then again, it's GM. Whichever way the wind blows.
• Judd, Spencer, Andy and Elissa had a long, long talk in the cockpit room.
• Amanda was very suspicious about that.
• It looks like Andy is finally realizing that he might be better off with the group of free agents rather than tethered to the Amanda/McCrae train.
• They believe, as long as they can keep GM in their camp, they have the votes to get Aaryn out.
• When Amanda gave Judd the third degree prying for information about what happened in the cockpit room, he was very close-mouthed.
• True, he doesn't open his mouth or move his lips when talking anyway.
• But more so than usual close-mouthed.
• Andy is scared that Aaryn will throw him under the bus and expose the 3AM alliance trashing him.
• Oh, not to worry there, Andy. That's already been done.
• Spencer and Judd are very, very tired of Amanda claiming to run the house.
• Then change it, I say.
• Judd thinks that they would have a better chance to get Aaryn out if GinaMarie was put up. Andy agrees with him.
• (Of course, Andy realizes that he's an option for the block, so anyone other than him is agreeable in his eyes.)
• I don't think Elissa will do that. She made a promise and she (so far) has stuck to her word in the game.
• Andy and Judd have come to the realization that they don't want to be portrayed as people who did whatever Amanda dictates.
• We have another full day of this until the veto ceremony.
• While Amanda is safe for the week, I do think she is damaged.
• I think she knows it, too. 

J-U-D-D in a F-E-D-D ... er, Fedora

Wake up and smell the broccoli, GM

Pop rocks or wicked witch? Take your pick.

Channeling Madonna

Ditto

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - August 25, 2013

Happy Sunday morning, world! Welcome to my off television topic weekly reflection on the week gone by in both words and photographs I've taken along the way. If you're looking for Big Brother show or live feeds posts, you can find the latest at this link. This here post is done weekly throughout the year and is, as labeled, off topic. Hey, that's how I roll. You've been warned.

That said, I can't believe we still have about another month of Big Brother! I've gone around feeling like a zombie for weeks. There's but a small group of us who have had blogs or websites covering the show for years. Others show up, last a season or two, then fall off the radar. Yet, those of us who have covered it for years are almost like a family. I found out from That Dingo (hamsterwatch.com) that one of our own, DogDave (a.k.a. Aldav), who has done fantastic work on his website over the years, suffered a massive stroke this past January. Unlike many trying to struggle to make a living with the websites, I have a "real" job with real health insurance. I don't think he does. If you are a show fan still reading this off topic post, check out the link above. DogDave has been a constant all the years I've blogged. He followed this blog and we're Twitter buddies although I noticed he stopped tweeting sometime over the winter. Very sad news indeed.

On more of the local really off television topic stuff -- someone stole my newspaper this morning. I only get the Sunday paper hard copy as it allows me full online daily access at the website. I didn't get the paper delivered before that because someone would steal them. I'm usually up by five and generally have no problem because what other fool is up at five on a Sunday morning around here? I overslept today. Went down at 6:30 for it. It wasn't there. I suppose the delivery dude may have screwed up, but I'm fairly sure someone stole it. Yeah, I'm cynical like that. Grr.

We had a few 90 degree days, one day of torrential never-ending thunderstorms -- I can't recall thunderstorms lasting for hours and hours like that -- then it went back to my kind of weather. Cool overnights, low humidity, temperatures around 80. I wouldn't even mind a few degrees cooler. Come on, fall ... you know I love you!

I'm counting the days until my next staycation, the third week in September. It lines up with the Feast of San Gennaro week in Little Italy (NYC). So, dependent on weather, I might go there for a day. Whatever I do, I know I will get some rest. Woohoo. I forgot what that's like.

Onto the photos I took this week ... 

As the sun sets

I took this shot last night upon arriving home from work. Well, not home home. I don't live at the Plainfield Train Station. The days are definitely getting shorter.

What says summer better?

But it's definitely still summer! The sunflowers seem to be blooming more, yet smaller blossoms than I've seen some years. East Front Street, Plainfield.

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

Big Brother 15: Live Feeds Saturday into the Evening, PoV Winner - August 24

Could it be a dunce cap?

Well, well, well ... the more things change, the more they remain the same. Here's what happened today in that Big Brother House of Dollar Store Toys for All the Girls and Boys:

• An extended feeds block went down shortly after the hamsters got up.
• Yep, it was the PoV comp.
• And, Amanda finally won something.
• Wah. Woe is me.
• All of them have dunce party hats and gift bags of dollar store toys like finger Rock 'em Sock 'em robots, whoopie cushions, noisemakers, and such.
• Those precious little hamsters are so easy (and cheap) to amuse!
• Spencer checked with McCrae to make sure he'd be safe on the block against Aaryn. Both guys agreed that Aaryn is shady.
• Only after Amanda won the veto did Aaryn tell her that Elissa had planned to backdoor her (Amanda).
• Amanda told Aaryn that she (Aaryn) will be safe because she (Amanda) will make sure GinaMarie is the replacement nominee.
• Now, how is she going to do that?
• Elissa outright promised Judd, GinaMarie and Spencer safety.
• That would leave Andy (who isn't trusted by Elissa) to go up replacing McCrae.
• Amanda told Aaryn she would keep her over anyone, including Andy.
• Hmm.
• Truth or lie?
• Aaryn thinks Elissa will try to work with Amanda now and told her as much.
• Amanda said she'd murder her eat her in her sleep.
• Oh my.
• Oh, I don't think seriously murder her. No need to involve the authorities.
• Elissa told Judd she doesn't trust Aaryn.
• Well, duh. We knew that.
• She also told him that she would put Andy on the block as the replacement nominee.
• Well, I had that one right!
• Elissa isn't laughing now like she did yesterday. She's very worried that she'll be going home next week. She really didn't think Amanda had it in her to win a comp.
• Judd told her that if he wins HoH next week, he'll keep her safe.
• Aaryn tried to convince Elissa she's on her side.
• Oh, yeah, right. Elissa ain't buyin' those goods.
• Amanda thinks the only person next week who might put her (Amanda) on the block is GinaMarie.
• Thus and therefore, GM must go!
• Amanda gave Aaryn a week to either get GinaMarie on the back or back under her (Aaryn's) control.
• Oh my.
• Andy fussed because the Zingbot called him a floater. Apparently the Zingbot made an appearance in the house today before the comp.
• I say Andy's not a floater. He thought he was some kind of double agent, but he's just a spying lying tattletale who can't be trusted unless he's with the almighty Queen Amanda.
• McCrae and Andy think if Spencer goes up, they'd rather keep him than Aaryn.
• Meanwhile, Elissa and GinaMarie confirmed they had each other's backs. GM has lost all trust in Aaryn.
• Amanda told Spencer and Judd that it's best to keep Aaryn as they can use her to go after targets as Amanda dictates.
• @@
• Elissa told GinaMarie that Andy must go on the block.
• Judd, Andy and Spencer all tried to convince McCrae that they wouldn't be able to get Elissa to put GM on the block.
• They're right.
• But that's what AMANDA wants! And, if Amanda wants it, she should get it! [stamping feet]
• McCrae thinks that Aaryn is lying and that Elissa isn't getting close to GM. He thinks Aaryn is just saying that because she doesn't want to be on the block with GinaMarie.
• Ha. Right. No.
• Amanda's new plan -- convince Elissa they have the numbers for Aaryn to stay no matter who is put up.
• Aaryn tried to convince Elissa that GinaMarie won't still be working with Elissa next week.
• GM told Aaryn that if she (GM) wasn't on the block, she'd vote for her (Aaryn) to stay.
• Elissa confirmed with Spencer that he and Judd are safe this week.
• Amanda's new plan -- a fake fight so they're all safe this week.
• @@
• It dawned on Andy that he's likely to be the replacement nominee.
• Andy cried.
• Andy vowed if he wins HoH next week, his targets would be Judd, Elissa or GinaMarie.
• Then he cried again.
• Spencer told Andy that McCrae told him that his (McCrae's) only chance of winning the game is for him (McCrae) to take out Amanda around the final four time.
• Andy told Spencer about the 3AM alliance.
• Aaryn told GinaMarie she realizes that Amanda isn't trying to keep her. If she were trying to keep her (Aaryn) in the house, she wouldn't want GM to be on the block as that would be a vote for her to stay.
• Meantime, Andy's working himself into a frenzy about being put on the block.
• Poor guy.
• He cried to Amanda. He cried to McCrae. He cried to Spencer. He cried to himself.
• Amanda started yelling at Elissa to go ahead and put Andy up! They will vote for Aaryn to stay no matter what and they'll all come after her.
• Well, except Andy because he'd be home.
• Hmm.
• Amanda declared war. (She said that, not me. I'm just the messenger.)
• McCrae told Amanda it doesn't matter that Andy goes -- it would be a vote for them in the jury house not done in by them. Same if Aaryn goes.
• Andy cried to Elissa.
• Spencer told McCrae that he thinks Elissa and Judd have a final two deal.
• What's Spencer? The new Andy?
• Spencer pledged loyalty to McCrae, Amanda and Andy.
• Hmm.
• All Elissa wants now is a nap.
• Andy, too.
• Me, too.
• Laters! 

Maybe the noisemaker will keep him from biting his nails

Oh geez ... look who won PoV

Exhausted

Big Brother 15: Live Feeds Overnight Friday into Saturday - August 23-24

You want a piece of me? You lookin' at ME?

I last left you before nominations stating that Elissa would nominate Aaryn and McCrae to go on the block. Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of Whichever Way the Wind Blows:

• Elissa put Aaryn and McCrae on the block.
• Amanda told McCrae he'd be fine.
• Of course, he will be fine. It's Amanda's future that may be in jeopardy.
• Aaryn went off to sulk alone in the Have Not room.
• Aw, poor baby.
• Amanda thinks she and McCrae will have to fight hard to win the veto. She just can't believe GinaMarie will last longer in the house than her.
• Hmm. She's already putting herself on the block as a replacement nominee.
• Of course, if McCrae wins the veto, he takes himself down and Amanda goes up.
• If Amanda wins the veto, she could take McCrae down and remain safe herself.
• Andy told Elissa that if he gets chosen to play, he'll try to win and keep the nominations the same.
• I'm sure he will ... unless she tells him to save someone in particular.
• Amanda's newest vitriol target is GinaMarie.
• I'm waiting for fisticuffs. MEOW.
• From what they said, the key order was: Judd, GinaMarie, Spencer, Andy and Amanda.
• Sounds logical to me!
• Aaryn went crying to Amanda. Amanda told her if she (Aaryn) is taken off the block, she (Amanda) will be going home.
• Yep, I think that's just about right!
• Amanda then worked her anti-GinaMarie case to Aaryn.
• Aaryn is really upset that, not only is Judd back in the house, but his key was pulled first and he is SO working with Elissa.
• Yes, I had to chuckle. Didn't you?
• She's also upset that GinaMarie wouldn't commit to using the veto on her if she won it.
• Heehee.
• Amanda told McCrae that she'd do anything except shave her head to win the veto.
• To give her credit, Amanda definitely has many more good hair days than does any other woman in the house.
• Maybe that's because she's not a fake blonde.
• Amanda and Aaryn are also ticked at GM because she was nice to Candice at the comp.
• Well, yeah. Whatever way the wind blows.
• Aaryn, alone with GinaMarie away from Amanda, kept trying to convince GM to stick with Amanda, McCrae and herself.
• Um. GM may be dumb, but even she knows that's a sinking ship ... at least for this week.
• Aaryn does admit that she can't really be mad at Elissa for putting her on the block as she put her (Elissa) on the block twice.
• Amanda said she recognized one of the guys "throwing" the balls in the comp.
• Well, that didn't help her any, did it?
• GinaMarie told Elissa she thinks Amanda and Co. are trying to get her (GM) put on the block.
• They are.
• Elissa already knows it without GinaMarie telling her.
• She told GM not to worry.
• GinaMarie reminded Elissa that she (GM) is always positive and upbeat.
• Oh my. I had her all wrong all along! I thought she was more of a vicious little stray dog!
• As GinaMarie and Elissa were whispering in the kitchen, Amanda kept walking back and forth.
• Every time she passed, they stopped talking.
• Then, as Elissa was taking a sip of her drink, Amanda apparently stopped and stared at her.
• Elissa did a Hollywood-perfect spit take, spitting out her sip all over the counter with a burst of laughter.
• Amanda got defensive and sweet and gentle upbeat and positive GinaMarie lit into her ... pretty much telling her she'd stomp her.
• Later, as Amanda talked to Elissa in the HoH room trying to plead her cause that they work together and GM had always trashed her (Elissa) ... Elissa just kept bursting out in laughter.
• She refused to promise Amanda anything saying that she hadn't even thought of what to do if the veto gets used.
• Amanda wanted a promise she won't go on the block.
• Elissa laughed some more.
• Of course, in a talk with Aaryn, Elissa told Aaryn she's not the target, Amanda is.
• It's hard to figure Elissa out as she is a rather odd duck. But I feel she wants either of them -- Aaryn or Amanda -- out this week.
• Needless to say (but I'll say it anyway), Amanda then cried to McCrae that Elissa just kept laughing at her.
• I love it!
• Elissa told GinaMarie she doesn't feel she can trust Andy.
• Good for her. Too bad Helen trusted him.
• Andy seems to be abandoning ship with McCranda. It might be a tad too late. He's now tainted goods.
• They picked veto players.
• That was blocked to the feeds, but Amanda says that Elissa was noticeably upset when she pulled her (Amanda) to play.
• Aaryn picked Judd as HG choice, thus upsetting Spencer.
• The only one sitting out this veto is Spencer. Andy is hosting.
• They couldn't decide whether to stay up expecting veto as the players usually aren't picked at night or to go to bed.
• Sleep gave in.
• All are asleep as I get this posted.

Trying to hold back laughter

Aaryn and McCrae's keys missing

J-U-Double D in da house

Perfect spit take at Amanda's expense