Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - May 18, 2014

Good Sunday morning to you! As it is indeed Sunday morning, 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. If you watch The Amazing Race, stop back later tonight for the season finale blog party. But, until then, it's off topic.

Since I have an abundance of photos this week -- baby squirrels, a day in the park -- I'm doing something a bit different. I'm posting three slideshows of related photos along with the links to look at the photos one by one. This probably isn't something I'll do every week. But I had just too many photos I wanted to post this week.

Not a heck of a lot is going on here. Thankfully, after this coming week, I'll be on a staycation. I wasted so much of my paid time off from work being in ill health this year that this is the first real ME time I've taken since last fall. Oy! I really need it.

My apartment hallway has been a bit quieter since my neighbors and I all said something about going to the landlord about too many people living in that one one-bedroom apartment. I'm sure the quiet won't last. But now we know that they know they could get the boot. I really can't imagine so many people in this place -- at least seven! Heck, I've got enough room for Vincent and me!

Oh, well ... onto the photos!

Hanging in there

The now adolescent squirrels are exploring and playing all over the bridge at the Bridgewater Train Station. A metal mesh covering attached over part of the bridge near their nest provides the perfect place for them to hone their climbing skills. One of the slideshows after the page break has more coverage of their antics. I've discovered there are three babies, not just the one I initially saw with Mom Squirrel. They're exploring their world, but aren't to the point of leaving the bridge itself on their own yet.

Tough love

Sink or swim, ducky boy! The mother duck at Mindowaskin Park in Westfield pushes her young into the pond. One of the slideshows included on the next page has many more ducking photos.

Early morning Presbyterian

The early sun catches to top of the local Presbyterian Church in my 'hood. The dogwood is blooming and a bush of red azaleas brightens the hedge. Some years back I wouldn't be able to see that red door from this angle due to all the trees. Storms, not only but including Sandy, have blown down more trees than those remaining on the property.

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

Survivor: Cagayan - 'Straw That Broke the Camel's Back' Blog Party - May 14

Well, this show is getting down to the wire, too. Will Tony not mess totally up and blow his chance of making it to the end? With his idols, he should be sitting pretty. But, with his cockiness ... who knows? They might just keelhaul him.

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! As always, the real party is in the comments -- come join us!

The latest blog pool standings from Lifeguard Laurie:
Pool 
Kass McQuillen -Delee, MikesGirl
Spencer Bledsoe - Becky and Monty924
Tony Viachos - Lynn1, Zoetawny
Trisha Hegarty - Jackie
Woo Hwang - Laurie, SueGee

Jury
Sarah Lacina
Morgan McLeod
LJ McKanas
Jeremiah Wood
Jefra Bland
Tasha Fox

Survivor fans ready?

Reward Challenge -- Dive into mud, scrape off into bucket, most mud in ten minutes wins. Winner wins hot pizza delivery.

Tony's bucket is overflowing with mud -- no one else is close. He can choose one person to join him. He chose Trisha. He thinks she needs it the most. (He's probably right; she's SO skinny!)

Tony wants to convince the others that he has the special idol and its power is that it can be used by the final three. In reality, both idols he has have to be used when there are five left.

He tried to make Kass comfortable by telling her Woo told him that she plotted against him. She went to Woo. Now there's a kerfuffle going on.

Immunity Challenge -- Untangle braided rope, release key, build staircase, solve sliding puzzle.

Despite a huge lead, Tony blew it on the puzzle. Spencer wins Immunity once again!

Ah, Trish lights into Kass about her passive aggressive game. Spencer and Kass think they need to get Woo on their side. Woo went to Kass and told her and Spencer that he will vote out Trish. Meanwhile, Tony eavesdrops on that deal. Uh-oh.

At Tribal, it's actually funny as they trade barbs at each other. Tony brings out his special idol, but doesn't explain its powers. Spencer votes Trish. Trish votes Kass. Tony is mum on playing the idol, but then plays the regular idol.

Trish, Kass, Trish, Trish.

My blog pool pick is snuffed.

Dang. Even Tony voted out Trish. He knew she was the target and probably thinks he'd rather sit in the finals with unlikable Kass.

The Amazing Race All-Stars: 'Hei Ho Heidi Ho' Blog Party - May 11

I hope everybody has had a nice Mother's Day! But, it's on with the show here. (And the blog party!) We're coming down the home stretch tonight. Unless it's a non-Philimination, tonight's episode will determine the final three teams running for the million dollars. I know many folks were upset with the ouster of Jet and Cord last week. However, they did mess up in addition to being U-Turned. That's the way the cookie crumbles and the race is lost.

The only team I personally don't like seeing in the final four is Jennifer and -- they've been helped way too often! I'm not all that thrilled with Brendon and Rachel, but I realize most of my "not thrilled" has to do with their many other times on shows I watch. Enough already! I'd be most happy with a Dave/Connor win, but I wouldn't mind it if Leo and Jamal won it all.

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! As it always is, the real party is in the comments area ... come join us as we watch the show!

The latest blog pool standings from the Magnificent Margo:

Jen & Caroline - Lynn1, Buzzmaam, DLA
Dave & Connor - Becky, Auntie Leigh, Rochelle
Brendon & Rachel (Brenchal) - Terry in TX, Brian
Leo & Jamal (Afghanimals) - Jackie, Jennamom, Merrilee

Philiminated --
Mark & Mallory - SueGee, jonMD1627, Margo
Joey & Meghan - Brenda, Zoetawny, Dusty
Margie & Luke - Donna in AL, Monty924, PDXGranny
Jessica & John - Sharon S, David, Rbennie
Flight Time & Big Easy - Laurie, Donna in FL, nicklepeed
Cord & Jet (Cowboys) - ML, Nana in NW, Delee

Teams ready?

The teams are headed to London, then Liverpool. They'll each have to score two soccer goals against a pro goalie to get their next clue. Leo and Jamal, soccer enthusiasts, get there first. They finish and it's on to an historic raised aqueduct for the next clue. Brenchel is through next. Dave/Connor arrive at the soccer stadium last.

Roadblock - Learn and perform a verse of traditional Welsh poetry. "Hei ho Heidi Ho." They learn it while on a boat on the aqueduct.  Brendon got the difficult poem first, then the girls got it. Uh-oh ... Dave and Connor are in last place right now.

Shoot it or Boot It -- Shooting a target in the sky or booting with Wellingtons.

Now Leo and Jamal are the ones trailing.

The girls get through the clay pigeon shooting first and are the first headed to the Pit Stop. Dave and Connor are right after them. They go different directions. Someone must be wrong. Brendon and Rachel are almost through the Wellington toss. Leo and Jamal finally arrived at the Detour clue.

OH NOES! Brenchel didn't read the clue right! They have to do it over! Rachel breaks down.

Pit Stop --
1. Dave and Connor!!! Also won a trip to Fiji.
2. Caroline and Jennifer -- actually did well on their own this leg.

Brenchel finished the re-do while the cousins are still shooting. Now both teams are heading to the Pit Stop.

3. Brendon and Rachel. (Sigh.)
4. Leo and Jamal -- Philinated.

There goes my blog pool pick. Now I can give Dave and Connor my FULL support!

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - May 11, 2014

Happy Mother's Day to all!

Since it's also Sunday, it's time for my weekly off television topic look back on the week gone by in both words and photographs I've taken along the way. Later on tonight, I'll post The Amazing Race blog party -- that show's getting down to the wire with the finale next week. Stop on by if you watch the show!

This week? Hmm ... it rained, it had lots of fog, the temperatures were nice and springlike until mugginess (and more storms) hit yesterday. Thankfully, we didn't have any horrific storms like the Midwest did.

Huh. I really can't think of anything noteworthy to discuss this week. I worked. I ate. I slept. I gave a certain cat a lot of attention. My neighbors and I decided that we need to go to the landlord to complain about the overcrowding in one particular apartment in our hallway. It's a one-bedroom with four children and three adults. Those are "at least" figures. They've started sending the kids out to the hallway to scream, play, ride bikes, shoot rubber pellet guns, play ball and more. Sorry, Charlie. That's not going to fly here. The lease says no loitering in the common areas. One of the women always looks incredulous at us when we tell the kids not to play in the hallway. It's time the landlord dealt with the overcrowding in the apartment and the people there found something more suitable. The noise the children make is akin to having them stand outside your closed bedroom door and screaming.

Oh, well ... onto the photos from the week ...

Azaleas in bloom

Although, for the most part, the red and white azaleas haven't blossomed yet, the pink and light purple ones came to life this past week in Bridgewater.

Undivided attention

Er, okay ... divided non-attention. This bird couple has a nest under the bridge at the Bridgewater Train Station. Bringing materials for the nest, they tend to sit on the wire before swooping down to their home. It's quite an eclectic bunch down there -- grackles, starlings, pigeons and even a squirrel family.

Spring is coloring the trees

Although, I'm very disappointed with spring this year. First, it didn't come anywhere near on schedule. Second, the trees are blooming late yet the time span of the blooms seems to be very short. It's like the season is trying to catch up on lost time. The trees aren't as full and the blossoms aren't lasting long at all. This shot is a scene in front of Richmond Towers on East Front Street in Plainfield.

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

Survivor: Cagayan - 'Havoc to Wreak' Blog Party - May 7

Welp, I guess with the title of the episode, it's going to be another Tony-heavy show. His detractors probably won't be too pleased with that. Well, unless he gets the boot, that is. I don't know ... I'm personally glad Tony is on the show this season. The rest of the castaways tend to be a bit lackluster. With the exception of Spencer and Tasha, no one really seems to be seriously playing the game. Woo has his moments, but he's got to bring more to the table. He's a follower.

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. As always, the real blog party will be in the comments. Come imbibe and discuss the show with us as it airs!

The latest on the blog pool from the Lovely Lifeguard Laurie --
Pool
Kass McQuillen -Delee, MikesGirl
Spencer Bledsoe - Becky and Monty924
Tasha Fox - DKNYNC, Rochelle
Tony Viachos - Lynn1, Zoetawny
Trisha Hegarty - Jackie
Woo Hwang - Laurie, SueGee

Jury 
Sarah Lacina
Morgan McLeod
LJ McKanas
Jeremiah Wood
Jefra Bland

Survivor fans ready? Let the show begin!

Kass is going up against Tony ... for both real and imagined (misunderstood) reasons. This isn't going to be pretty.

Gah. Tony tells Kass he has a special idol. Thankfully, she doesn't believe him. He hasn't told her its powers, but ...! Sheesh, Tony. Loose lips sink ships.

It's Reward Challenge time -- two teams of three throwing sandbags to destroy the other team's wall, one member rebuilds the wall. Nourishment for the soul -- a trip to a local elementary school to bring supplies, hamburgers and such.

Spencer, Kass and Woo win reward!

Kass has a plan to flush the idol from Tony with Woo and Spencer. Woo is thinking it's time to cut off Tony. We'll see.

Spencer went to Tasha with the plan to split the votes between Tnoy and Trish. Woo told Tony that Kass wants to go for Tasha. Hmmm.

Immunity Challenge time. Will Tasha go for four? Race out, count items at six stations, unlock a lock, break a tile.

Spencer wins immunity!

Tribal Council time ...

Tony does not play an idol.

Tasha, Tony, Trish, Tasha, Tasha.

Argh. I'd prefer Kass going! Tasha was such a strong challenge player and even strategic with the odds against her in numbers.