Sunday, October 06, 2013

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - October 6, 2013

It's Sunday morning. Good morning to ya! A bit later I will post the blog pool picks for The Amazing Race and the blog party post as the show airs here on the East Coast. But, you're at my weekly off television topic post reflecting on the week gone by in both words and photographs I've taken along the way.

We had another rather muggy and warm week here in this area. While the temperatures weren't bad at all, muggy isn't my favorite kind of weather. It's supposed to rain tomorrow night and the weather following that should be more seasonable for this time of year here. Good. Of course, I think all of us have a bit of trepidation as we head to the year anniversary date of Sandy. I don't particularly want to be a Rider on the Storm again this year!

My week was a bit uneventful once again. Work, home, eat, sleep and pay a lot of attention to a certain cat. I received my box of goodies ordered from Amazon.com with a gift certificate from my brother. So, I've started reading Stephen King's newest book (hardcover first release, half price!), enjoying new bath salts (not the drug kind, mind you) and bath foam, and playing with my new knives. Er, cutlery set. My other set was about 35 years old, its block discolored over the years and some of the knives broken or missing. It was time. I have a Peapod grocery delivery coming today and will get a chance to test out the slicer knife on a small roast. Woot.

Y'see, it's the little things. As the Rolling Stones say, "You can't always get what you want, you get what you need." I needed relaxing baths, an interesting book and knives!

Otherwise on the home front, all is quiet for the most part. The upstairs neighbor is still the best one ever up there and it's a relief to not worry about my bathroom ceiling flooding.

Last night coming home, it was dark but the streets in Plainfield seemed quite alive with skateboarders, couples walking, families with children in strollers and it all seemed very mellow. Probably there won't be too many evenings like that left. When I got to the bodega near my apartment, someone was playing P-Funk and people were nodding their heads to the music and they said hello. It all seemed so urban, yet so small town homey.

Oh well, the super just knocked on my door. Yes, on a Sunday morning. He wanted to set up a date to put new windows in. When they replaced the windows on the first floor last year, they told me not all the apartments will be getting them. I've noticed more and more getting them over the past few weeks. While new windows are going to be nice, it's definitely worrisome with Vincent and my work schedule. We decided he'll come by next Saturday around 8am before I leave for work. I'll put Vincent in my big old cat carrier crate thing before I go and they'll set him loose in the apartment when they leave.

Onto this week's photos, nothing really fancy once again ...

Mums photo IMG_0073a_zps21fd998b.jpg
Who's your mum(s)?

Yep, 'tis the season of the mum. I found these on Berckman Street in Plainfield.

Roses photo IMG_0106a_zpsfb1a6dc5.jpg
Let there be roses

Still hanging in nicely on East Front Street in Plainfield.

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

Wednesday, October 02, 2013

Survivor: Blood vs. Water - October 2 Blog Party


Guess what day it is! Why, it's Survivor day, silly camel! Maybe tonight we'll see Colton (who should never darken my silver screen again) quit ... once again. As the show airs here, I'll update this entry with the major happenings. Y'all know the real party is in the comments, right?

A few things before we get started:
  • If you want in on the blog pool for The Amazing Race run by the Amazing Margo, you need to go to this post to sign up. The deadline is Friday, midnight ET. 
The current blog pool standings (LifeGuard Laurie rocks!) for Survivor: Blood vs. Water going into tonight's show are:

Galang
ARAS -- Donna in FL, MikesGirl
COLTON -- Gaylos, Nickelpeed
GERVASE -- Jackie, Pam in NJ
KAT -- Jig, Petals
LAURA B -- Buzzmaan, Laurie, SueGee
LAURA M -- AlbGlinka, JOKATS, rbennie
MONICA -- Becky, KayBeeRN, Russ
TINA -- Cheryl in NC, Lynn1, Terry in TX
TYSON -- Delee, meb

Tadhana 
BRAD -- Brent McKee, Kelly D. Sharon N.
CALEB -- Glenn, ORKMommy
CIERA -- Andrea J, Karen in CA, Rochelle
HAYDEN -- Joanie, Quixotic Elf
JOHN -- Ed in Ohio, Nana in the NW
KATIE -- David, Margo, Zoetawny
VYTAS -- Donna NY, ML

Redemption Island
CANDICE -- Dusty, Monty924
MARISSA -- Jennas Mom, PDX Granny
RACHEL -- Donna in AL, Merrilee

Off the Island 
RUPERT -- Brian, Kelsey NY, Sharon S.
    Survivor fans ready?

    Redemption Island time. Tyson realizes Rachel was ousted in the hopes of getting him to take her place. He's staying with his tribe. Colton's crying (AGAIN) and says he doesn't want to be there any longer.

    I say, don't let the palm frond hit you on the way out, Colton.

    Ah, Jeff brought up that his last exit was faked! He fusses more and then quits. He then runs to Caleb and cries. Caleb stays! Cool. I have no issues with Caleb other than his weird affection for Colton.

    The duel is a dominoes type challenge. Candice wins! Marissa comes in second. Rachel (Tyson's gal) is sent packing. Candice give John a second clue to the hidden idol.

    John decided to share the idol clues with Brad. But Brad isn't sure that John really trusts him or, for that matter, that he might not really trust John.

    The Immunity Challenge has them dueling their loved ones a pair at a time on a platform on the water. The reward is either comfort (mosquito net, etc.) or fishing gear.

    Galang wins Immunity once again. They get the comfort items as they already won fishing gear.

    Brad, worried that John will go with Candice after the merge instead of him, wants to break up the Five Guys (no burgers and fries) alliance and blindside John. The guys are suspicious and think they should vote out Brad. Brad told them the clues to the idol.

    Tribal Council time -- the tally --
    Cierra, John, John, John, John. John goes to Redemption Island. Thanks, Candice!

    Sunday, September 29, 2013

    The Amazing Race: Season Premiere Blog Party!


    Yep, it's the big night -- the season premiere of The Amazing Race -- and it's delayed due to a football game here on the East Coast. Grr. I believe it's going to start about fifteen minutes late here even though I'm getting this post up on time at the right time! (Grr.) This isn't a good way to start out the season, for sure. Once again I implore CBS to revamp their lineup on Sunday evenings! Go ahead and SCHEDULE 60 Minutes at 8pm ET instead of 7pm, schedule the prime time shows accordingly and drop one from the evening. If no sports run over 7pm, use sports filler until 8pm. It's not so much that our show comes on later -- it's more of a bother to me that it's so unpredictable week to week!

    </ vent>

    Once again, there will be a blog pool going for the show. I know Merrilee was the winner last year (and she kept reminding us, as she should). Who will win this year? We're starting the pool with the second week (next Sunday). Please sign up on the blog pool sign up post as your message might be missed elsewhere. Margo is the lady in charge and she always rocks! Please have your name in by Friday night, 10/05, by midnight ET!

    As the show airs here, once it starts, I'll update this post with the major happenings. But, as always, the real party is in the comments ... come join the fun!

    They're starting off in the "old Wild West" and heading off to South America. The first place winner of the first leg gets two Express Passes -- one they keep, the other to give to a team of their choice. Heading to Chile, two flights available.

    The Roadblock has one partner on each team paragliding while the other follows them.

    A second Roadblock has them collecting fish from fishing boats while in a rowboat and delivering them to the fish monger.

    Uh-oh. The doctors team -- Nicole and Travis -- in first place takes a cab to the Pit Stop instead of walking as per the clue. 30 minute penalty.

    Pit Stop --
    1. Tim and Marie (locals from Morristown, NJ) won both Express Passes.
    2. Doctors Nicole and Travis (after their penalty)
    3. Rowan and Shane
    4. Chester and Ephraim
    5. Nicky and Kim
    6. Ally and Ashley
    7. Leo and Jamal
    8. Jason and Amy
    9. Tim and Danny
    10. Brandon and Adam

    Hpskote and his daughter Naina were the last team to arrive. Philiminated. That's okay. I don't think I could deal with watching that father much longer!

    Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - September 29, 2013

    Good Sunday morning, world! Welcome to my weekly off television topic reflection on the week gone by in both words and photographs I've taken along the way.

    A few quick television topic things, first --
    • The Amazing Race starts tonight. If you wish to sign up for the pool, check out this post right here. Please limit sign-ups to that post -- otherwise they might be missed.
    • There will be a blog party post for TAR tonight at 8pm ET. However, as we know, there's always a chance it might be delayed by some sport or another. But the party post will be up on time even if the show doesn't start on time!
    Back to being on my off topic ...!

    Um. Well. I don't know what was wrong with me this past week. I overslept. I fell asleep watching television after work. I actually missed my train one morning and was late to work. I just don't know! Ack. Thankfully, the TV shows I missed are online, so I have caught up/will catch up with them.

    I submitted my photos to this year's Plainfield Library Photo Contest. The theme for the year isn't something with which I'm overwhelmed with photo fodder. "Plainfield Celebrates." Now, many of the fun happenings in town are on Saturdays when I work. I really don't have anything to do with the local high school or sports. I don't have family or celebrations of my own so much here. I made due with some photos I had taken over the last couple of years. We'll see.

    Oh! I did have some excitement this week! Oh! Vincent had been staring at the wall in the kitchen once again. When he did that for extended periods of time before, there were mice in the wall. Apparently he can hear them while I can't and there must be a small hole where the baseboard heat attaches to the wall that I can't even find. Sure enough, Tuesday afternoon after work, he was out in the kitchen staring at the wall. Then ... THUMP!!! Next thing I know, Vincent is prancing into the living room with a mouse in his mouth. He tossed it in the air, played and tormented it for a few minutes before I deemed it deceased and buried it "at sea." I let the landlord know because the other tenants don't have a Vincent, Mouser Cat Extraordinaire.

    Onto this week's photos. I'm not really thrilled with my efforts this week. But, if nothing else, it will give you a chance to see what I see ...

    Mums photo IMG_0044a_zps1c93b098.jpg
    Mums time!

    I'm seeing homes decked out with pumpkins and baskets of mums on Berckman Street in Plainfield!

    Sunrise 3 photo IMG_0029a_zps443c387e.jpg
    Sunrise on my commute

    Soon it will be dark when I arrive and getting dark when I come home.

    Roses photo IMG_9990a_zps016c2868.jpg
    Roses by flash

    Despite the chilly nights, these flowers are still doing well on East Front Street in Plainfield. It's so dark when I pass them that I have to use the flash on my camera, though.

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

    Saturday, September 28, 2013

    The Amazing Race: Blog Pool Opens!


    Come one, come all! The Amazing Race blog pool is open and the water is fine despite the chill in the air! The season premiere is tomorrow night (Sunday, 9/29) after 60 Minutes or 8pm ET (whichever). However, our pool is starting from the second episode ... that way no one is out the first night. Woot!

    Here's the latest from that rockin' pool maven Margo:

    I'll do a pool but we can start with week 2 therefore no one gets out first week.
    I have
    monty924
    Merrilee
    Caela
    DKNYNC
    Nicklepeed
    lynn1
    margo
    Jackie
    Zoetawny
    anyone else?


    I know David also threw his name in there. If you've asked on another post, please get your name in on this one if you don't see it above.

    And, of course, come to the blog party tomorrow night.

    And bring snacks.

    And beverages!