Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - September 8, 2013

Good morning! It's Sunday morning. You know what that means. No, it doesn't mean a camel is going to walk around the office on hump day. It 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.

If you're looking for my latest news on Big Brother TV show/live feeds happenings, my posts for there are at this link ---> Horrid Hamster House. Heehee. I'm just finding this bunch of them on the whole as rather unlikable this season despite fairly solid strategical moves.

At least we had better weather this week with a few days of absolutely PERFECT thrown in for good measure. I'm loving the cool evenings and the fact that we've seen the sun for most of the week for a change. The children around here started school this week and, while I have none of my own, I rejoiced. This means that if I go out and about on my weekday off to a park in Westfield or something, I'm not inundated with teenagers. I don't have to hear kids running around and misbehaving daytime in stores. No kids screaming in the hallways or parking lot of my building, at least during the daytime hours. Yay.

I had a four-day work week this past week due to the holiday. But then I went and ended up working extra hours just due to circumstance. (Grr.) This week I also have a four-day work week coming up as I'm taking a vacation day for Saturday leading into my next staycation. My boss asked me if I wanted to work my normal weekday that I usually have off instead. Oh, silly man! NO. I said I wanted vacation time for one day. That means I want my regular days off PLUS one vacation day off. I really need the rest!

Not too much happening on the home front this week. Vincent the Cat is still super spoiled and I wish I had never introduced him to Temptations cat treats. He's become an addict. I can't open a bag of anything without him running thinking I'm going to give him cat treats.

And, last night it was midnight before the Plainfield Police succeeded in shutting down the huge party with the live Mexican polka band right in back of my building. This time the police weren't all that happy that they were starting the music up again as soon as the police drove away. But, hey ... their backyard is about thirty feet from the bedroom windows of my next door apartment neighbors and about 100 feet from mine. Live bands playing (badly) all day and into the night are not acceptable under city ordinances for a reason! Bring it inside, rent a hall, whatever. There's a reason I would never live over or next door to a bar.

Oh, well. I've fussed enough. Onto the photos I've taken this week ...

Glorious morning!

Might as well start it off with a morning glory blossom! These are still growing along the back fence of my apartment building's parking lot. Blooming every morning, closing up at night. Kind of like ME!

Google this!

Ohhh! Plainfield's Google Street View map is going to be updated. I was walking along East Front Street when it sneaked up in back of me. Yep, it had all the Google markings and the camera globe set high atop it! By the time I got my camera out and shot it, it was already a half-block away. Cool. Although now I suppose I'll be on the map. I hope they blur and slim me.

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

Big Brother 15: Live Feeds Saturday into the Evening, PoV Winner - Sept. 7

Spencer in his new shirt

Yes, I know I'm a bit late with this. My apologies ... real life cut into blog life for a bit tonight. But here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of Battle Wounds:

• Not much happened between the time they woke up and the feeds were blocked for the veto comp.
• Oh my. McCrae won the veto.
• It's almost like he's a different person without Amanda. I have noticed he's awake more and biting his nails way less.
• Ian was the guest (maybe host?) of the veto comp. I'll be happy to see him again. This season I pretty much forgot what it's like to have a favorite player I wanted for the win!
• The Exterminators ain't too happy because they wanted McCrae out this week. 
• The alternate plan was to put Judd up in his place if McCrae won it.
• Now is the time for Judd to be totally on the ball with his buds.
• Oh noes!
• Judd is throwing a temper tantrum!
• Apparently he totally QUIT the comp!
• He's fussing that he was all worn out from the drill sergeant making him exercise, it wasn't fair, his knees are all cut up yet GM's cut knee gets all the attention.
• He's throwing stuff, slamming stuff, yelling at the cameras, flipping off the cameras.
• Oh my.
• Still waters with the dude have turned into raging rapids.
• Meanwhile, GinaMarie has one leg all bandaged up and it's the OTHER foot that's messed up.
• She's a wreck.
• But at least she isn't having a full blown temper tantrum!
• McCrae's knees are bleeding under his yellow tights, too.
• Oh. I didn't mention they're wearing superhero tights and capes?
• Well, they are.
• Thankfully, Spencer had changed out of his or I just didn't see it.
• I don't need to see that. No need to go there.
• Spencer told GM that he wants her around.
• Andy told McCrae that he thinks Judd is sketchy.
• Judd thinks that he's been set up and will probably go home (jury) come Thursday.
• In listening to and watching the many conversations, it seems like they're leaning a bit more towards keeping GM than Judd.
• But I don't think they've decided yet.
• Spencer doesn't want it to be a tie -- he doesn't want to cast the tiebreaker vote.
• Judd fussed some more -- it was too hot, Ian hated him and was cheering on McCrae, his knees are scarred forever and BB better do something about them and on and on.
• And on.
• It sounds like the medic might have attended to GM's knee, but they deemed Judd's more superficial and won't take care of it.
• @@
• GM can barely walk. If she does stay, I can't see her doing well in any physical kind of comp.
• Maybe if it's a mental comp.
• Oh, wait. We're talking GinaMarie.
• ;-)
• Andy started to fake cry because he doesn't want anybody to go home.
• @@
• Did he forget why he's in that nut house?
• Oh geez. Spencer put on his superhero outfit.
• You don't need to see that.
• I wish I didn't see it. Now I'm going to have nightmares.
• GinaMarie was crying on and off throughout. At least she didn't throw things and blame others, though.
• McCrae told Judd he'd rather keep him than GM. I believe he also told GM he'd rather keep her than Judd.
• And on it goes.
• Oh my. GinaMarie got medical aid -- nine stitches in her knee.
• Um, yeah, Judd. GM has reason to fuss. You went and got what are called minor lacerations, no butterfly bandage even needed!
• And then she cut her finger! Sheesh! That girl is going to have to be taken out in a wheelchair. Judd might have to be taken out in a straightjacket.
• Yet GM cooked dinner for all of them.
• Heh. Andy said maybe the twist this year is that they put a bunch of bigots in the house.
• Snicker.
• Oh, well. Right now the only thing that seems certain is that Judd will go on the block when McCrae (once again) saves himself.
• There's a lot of time between now and Thursday. 
• The target could go either way. 

Superheroes and a capeless crusader

Losers

Winner

Helping a fallen comrade

Big Brother 15: Live Feeds Friday Night into Saturday - Sept. 6-7

Lots of B&W on the wall

Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of Rallying Riff-Raff:

• Despite all the trash-talking about Elissa, at least GinaMarie spoke up about how horrible it was that Amanda bullied her so much.
• GM and McCrae remained tethered together throughout the evening, finally getting released at midnight.
• Spencer's leave of absence from work only lasts until October 1st.
• He wants Judd to try to work for the railroad, says it's a good job.
• Judd said he's always lived where you could hear train whistles in the background.
• I myself hear the NJ Transit commuter trains in the distance where I live. It is a relaxing sound ... as long as it's in the distance!
• But I'm talking an entirely different kind of train!
• Judd wishes they had a dog there.
• I think, PUGITA! Remember Pugita?
• Of course, with their record for killing fish, I wouldn't wish that on a poor little doggie!
• If you're watching the feeds and see them talking with either McCrae or GM about (once they got separated), it might be confusing who the actual target is this week.
• The key to it all is when Andy and Spencer are alone.
• They are the big power couple right now.
• And they want McCrae out, keep GM (for this week anyway).
• If McCrae wins veto and takes himself down, Judd goes up.
• That's where a bit of wavering goes on -- between Judd and GM.
• They still want to make McCrae feel that he's safe this week.
• Meanwhile, they also have GM thinking she's safe this week.
• Only one of them is right and she's a blonde. Well, at least a fake blonde, that is.
• They all had a long talk with McCrae about his relationship with Amanda.
• Hmm ... it sounds like he's not as into her as she is to him.
• What a surprise!
• Not.
• McCrae says he'll always have a job available at the pizza place.
• @@
• I doubt Amanda would like that, either.
• I mean, it's okay if you're a kid living at home or paying $100 a month to live with friends. But if you actually want to have much of anything, something with more future is going to be needed somewhere down the line.
• Andy hated on Elissa a lot more.
• Okay. Whatever. I think his biggest problem with her is that she is the first (and only) one who figured him out when he was Amanda's puppet. He thought he was so darn cool and she made him in a minute.
• Every season, there's a whole lotta hate in the house. This year I see even more outside the house. 
• Me? I've watched the show and the live feeds every single season (including the first) and I've seen things blown up every year. I've always been either in the place of blogging the show and feeds or monitoring them for AOL.
• I recall calls of evict him against Eddie the first season when he said he wanted to "clothesline" Jamie. I recall Chicken George nudging Pugita out of his way with his foot when he carried food. That got turned into him punting the pug across the kitchen.
• Fans tend to get a bit rabid about the show.
• But it is indeed a show for us. It's entertainment. You can turn it off if it bothers you. Take deep breaths ...
• It doesn't matter who wins. It ain't no skin off my nose!

Bugs and mildew in the shower

Chewing on his nails a bit less, I notice

Um. Um. Spencer has nice eyebrows, I guess.

BB has scarred his knee for life!

Big Brother 15: Live Feeds Friday, Nominations - Sept. 6, 2013

Spencer and Marilyn in HoH photo

Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of Pest Control:

• Comparing notes, the Exterminators had earlier realized that McCrae has offered each and every one of them a final two deal.
• Yet, with McCrae and GinaMarie tied together, they've got a crimp in their communication.
• But, the key thing through all of this is that there is NO Boys Alliance. 
• The Exterminators have made it clear amongst themselves that McCrae must be the one to go.
• I have to say I'm pleased that they are considering GM ... after all, she put their whole plan in motion. But, with the rampant betrayals this season, I was at first thinking they were going to throw her to the curb without so much as a thank you.
• I'm not saying she'll last much beyond the four if she makes it there. She will need to win comps.
• Spencer told everyone (including the future nominees which is against the rules last I knew) that he planned on putting McCrae and GinaMarie on the block.
• The plan is to make McCrae sure there is a Boys Alliance so he'll let his guard down and not try real hard to win veto.
• McCrae when his game life is on the line can be a veto winning machine.
• So, they want him sure they're all gunning for GM.
• GM knows otherwise.
• All during the day, the whistle would sound and the drill instructor would yell for Judd to do various calisthenics. Typical drill sergeant, the commands would be followed by insults.
• Poor Judd. 
• But he's probably the only one who could make it through that punishment.
• It seems Spencer chose who would get what during the HoH comp. 
• Andy hadn't won any money this season, so he got the chance at the 5,000.
• By the way, Andy ended up with $94. Not quite the big jackpot!
• When nominations time came, there were no surprises.
• The feeds were blocked, they came back and it's GinaMarie and McCrae on the block.
• The plan is that McCrae will go.
• If McCrae wins veto and saves himself, Judd will go up.
• Both Andy and Spencer have said they'd keep GM over Judd.
• And on it goes.

Andy, the Exterminator

Chained together, nominated together

Give me twenty squats, dirtbag!

Big Brother 15: Live Feeds - HoH Winner - Thursday into Friday - Sept. 5-6

There's a new HoH in town. Oh my.

When we last left the show, we had no new HoH. Welp, we do now. Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of Dwindling Days:

• The live feeds returned not long after the live show ended. But, the HoH comp was not underway.
• Instead, the remaining five were trash-talking Elissa as they mocked her belongings.
• Finally BB called GinaMarie into the Diary Room and told her to pack Elissa's stuff, not the guys.
• Mind you, while she made an effort to get everything, she does not (or did not) fold. All of it is wadded and crammed.
• But part of that is Elissa's fault -- she had things all over the place and a ton o' stuff! Spencer said she told him she had to pay $200 in overweight luggage fees traveling there. I believe it!
• McCrae isn't sitting about lovelorn and pining for his love Amanda.
• Instead, he's happy he doesn't have to share cigarettes with her anymore.
• McCrae even admitted that GM got the two worst "B's" out of the house -- Elissa and Amanda.
• The Exterminators did their pest control pump and spray dance at one point when McCrae was in the Diary Room.
• So, what do we have? A boys final four or an Exterminators final four?
• Hmm.
• Then we had over an hour of trivia as the HoH comp went down.
• When they came back on, it seemed like something had gone wrong.
• I'm SO confused!
• Wait ... wait ... it sounds like it was the morph comp!
• And, SPENCER is the new HoH!
• Oh my.
• There were punishments along with the win.
• GinaMarie and McCrae must be tied together for 24 hours.
• For 24 hours, whenever a drill sergeant barks out orders to Judd, he must do calisthenics as ordered.
• Andy has a "chance to win $5,000" but that hasn't gone down yet as of the time I'm writing this.
• They rejoiced more about Elissa being gone.
• @@
• McCrae got his HoH basket. He started crying as he read his letter from his sister.
• It's kind of refreshing, crying aside, that McCrae is actually a part of the house instead of being an appendage of Amanda. It's too bad he spent just about the entire season as Amanda's attached boy toy.
• Spencer told Judd that he'll put McCrae and GinaMarie on the block to "keep up the boys alliance."
• Hmm. I'm still a bit confused whether they're faking it with McCrae about the boys alliance or if it's real over the Exterminators.
• I guess we'll know before long.
• BB gave them all of four beers for the five hamsters.
• How generous!
• As I get this posted, Spencer hasn't gotten into his room yet.
• But he sure does have that key!

McCrae got a new shirt in his HoH basket

Judd has to do calisthenics on command

The final five

The bear shirt should have won HoH

GM and McCrae are tied together for 24 hours