Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - September 7, 2014

Good morning! It's Sunday morning and I'm late, I'm late! This is my weekly off television topic reflection on the week gone by in both words and photos I've taken along the way. It's a weekly year 'round staple of this blog -- if you want my Big Brother television show/live feeds blog posts, head to this link right here.

Have I mentioned that I really really need a vacation? Not a go away type one, a staycation for rest and relaxation. That's what I need! And, I will be getting one. It's right over there on the horizon! Yes, this coming Saturday starts my staycation. Woot! Woot! I have a four day work week leading into it which is actually a three day actual working week as I'll be in a meeting in Parsippany (NJ) all day one day. I don't really count that as working although it is indeed work.

This week for me was just about as boring as the hamsters in the Big Brother house ... work, home, rain, sleep, heat, work, humidity, eat ... you get the picture. I swear the only thing relatively interesting that happened is that I got bit by a dog this week. Yep, I was attacked by a Chihuahua. The owner was walking two of them, one dog stopped and was wagging his tail at me. I looked down and said, "Aw, you're a cute doggie."

The owner: "He just wants to be petted. He doesn't bite."
Me: "Okay." I reach down, let the dog sniff the back of my hand, he wags his tail more. I turn my hand over to pet him on the head and WHAM! Bite! The guy who owns the dog actually reacted more than I did! To be honest, it didn't break the skin and was more of a violent nip than a bite. But the owner was in shock and all kinds of apologetic. (As he should be!) I assured him I was fine, no damage done, not even really a mark other than indents on my finger. Not even a scrape or anything. I did advise him not to encourage people to pet his dog, though!

Now, I can encourage people to pet Vincent. The worst he'll do is purr all over and get white cat fur on them.

Onto the photos for the week -- clicking on an image will open the image in my Photobucket where you can make it larger twice by clicking on the magnifying glass you see at the bottom right of the photo. To return to the blog, just X out of the Photobucket page.

Early morning at the Plainfield Train Station

The darkness hangs on longer these mornings as I head off to work on the early train. When it's overcast, it seems a bit like night. However, if not overcast, the sun is rising as I walk to the train station. This shot is looking to the west from the westbound platform.

Early evening at the Plainfield Train Station

The sun was down when I arrived to the train station last night. That's a bit of a shame because it had just shown itself after a day with torrential rain and thunderstorms. Thankfully, the second wave of thunderstorms waited for me to be nice and comfy inside. As long as my power stays on, I love a good thunderstorm! This one is looking to the west from the eastbound platform.

**CLICK THE 'READ MORE' LINK TO SEE THIS WEEK'S FLOWERS SLIDESHOW AND THE REST OF THE PHOTOS**

Big Brother 16: Live Feeds Bulletin - PoV Winner - September 6-7

Grr

There is good news and there is bad news.

The bad news first: Frankie won the PoV comp -- BB Freakshow, sounds like a morphing type ordeal.

The good news: None of his HoH or PoV win matter because they all pushed the rewind button.

Phew!

They need to get him out. I can see them going for the next chance (if there is one). Derrick and Cody are not happy.

Sequestered in beehive room

Sequestered in fire room

Sequestered in storage room

Sequestered in HoH room

Big Brother 16: Live Feeds Friday into Saturday - September 6

How I feel watching them this season

First off --- my apologies. I jumped the gun for the first time ever in the blog by calling the nominations with scant proof. The particular long Jeff interviews feed blockage was NOT the nominations. I'll explain what it was in a moment.

But then the nominations came down later and I was right with my call that it's Cody and Victoria on the block with Victoria the probable target of all (even though Derrick would probably personally prefer to keep her in his own game). I was just wrong about the WHEN on the nominations.

• The initial Jeff interviews feeds blockage was due to Jeff himself (and Jordan). As promised on the show Thursday, they showed up at the house.
• Why?
• So Jeff could propose marriage to Jordan in the backyard complete with champagne and a band and all.
• Caleb thought the instruments meant they expected him to play/serenade the couple.
• @@
• Caleb also thought that they would get to bring the leftover champagne back into the house.
• He was mistaken.
• In the house, Jeff reamed them for being slobs.
• Good.
• Eventually through the evening, they went on a housecleaning mass effort.
• The bathroom actually looks good without clutter all over.
• I'd mock them for being so excited when they found a Swiffer in the storage room, but I'd have to mock myself as well. 
• I love a Swiffer.
• Seeing the storage room all stocked with goods reminds me of a survivalist shelter of some sort. I could have used a stocked storage room when I was laid up with knee surgery! I still want one.
• Conversation of Christine getting booed continued to arise now and then. They have come to the conclusion that she played them all and was cruel in Diary Room sessions or the married woman hanging all over Cody or she's just plain a mean person.
• I must be a mean person, too. I'm kind of enjoying them all worrying about possibly being booed. 
• Heehee.
• Out of the remaining hamsters, I can only see Frankie being booed. Post-Amber Caleb has been bearable, albeit full of himself and delusions of grandeur. Heck, Caleb has even been entertainment in a house of dullards since Zach and Hayden left. Yeah, I've been staunchly a Derrick fan since the start and think his puppetmaster powers are amazing. But, as for his entertainment value? That's so lacking, dude!
• They continue to worry and question what pushing the button did/will do to them.
• They're not close at all to the real answer.
• They'll find out Wednesday.
• Donny holla: "Fear the beard, holla!"
• They want Zach to record more hollas.
• The hollas have actually slowed down a lot.
• Holla! I ain't no hollaback girl!

• The Team America mission chosen (obviously chosen by show only viewers) is to convince them there's a rodent in the house and stay up all night to catch it.
• Now, the fast would have been more interesting. This one is too much like the neighborhood patrol one.
• I personally think Team America should have ended when one was voted out.
• Derrick is scrambling to find a way to save both Cody and Victoria. If he wins veto and takes Cody down, Caleb goes up ... can they get rid of Frankie without Caleb's help?
• Hmm.
• Little does he know, the pushing of the button killed this whole week's HoH and nominations anyway.
• Maybe they can get it right on the second try -- Frankie on the block, Frankie goes home.
• Lots of small talk.
• Yawn.

They'll be knocking down my door with offers

Everybody's best F2 partner

Just a joker

Channeling Caleb? Ew.

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Big Brother 16: Live Feeds Nominations Bulletin - September 5

Nominations seem to be in. No surprises -- it's what Frankie said he was going to do. Victoria and Cody on the block; Victoria is the target. Cody has been assured safety by Caleb. We keep getting interference with random Jeff interviews. However, due to extended Jeff interviews before the conversation between Cody and Caleb about Derrick and him not voting him out if the veto isn't used ... I'm calling it. If I hear different, I'll update.

Of course, none of them know this is all for naught as they pushed the reset button.

Big Brother 16: Live Feeds Thursday Night/New HoH into Friday - September 5

The final five

Well, Christine's out, but we still have Frankie. Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of Pushing My Buttons:

• They're all amazed at the boos they heard when Christine walked out.
• Cody is really worried that he'll be booed when he goes.
• Derrick thinks America might hate her due to both the married woman hanging out all over Cody thing plus mean things she's said.
• Spot on.
• We just don't like her.
• They noted the boos for Christine were louder than they were for Aaryn and her racially charged behavior/words last season.
• They also thought that Ariana might be in the DE audience and led the booing. Nicole told them that she had been in the audience at the first DE.
• Did you realize that Frankie has a famous sister named Ariana?
• Did you realize that Frankie himself is famous?
• Oh my.
• BB let them in the ex-Have Not room. It's now all red and black "Game" print with a huge mirror on one wall and it has the pedestal with the button. The latter is covered with a plexiglass box.
• The words 'The choice is yours' are flashing on a marque.
• The feeds went to Jeff interviews and, on BBAD, Derrick sitting alone, as the HoH comp was played.
• Sigh.
• Frankie won HoH.
• Sigh.
• Wah.
• Of course, Victoria will be the target.
• Wah.
• Derrick doesn't think she should be told until the very last moment.
• Then they had the choice to push the button -- the plexiglass box covering it was gone.
• Holla!
• Even though Derrick was very reluctant, the peer pressure was too much.
• They all pushed the button in unison.
• They house blew up.
• BANG.
• Er, no. The marque changed to a countdown -- Five days, 19 hours, ten minutes.
• They figure that would be Wednesday.
• Derrick, Caleb and Frankie talked about being the final three.
• It sounds like Cody will go on the block with Victoria. According to Frankie he'll put up the one who's most likely to put him on the block.
• Well, yeah. That would be Cody. But I'd definitely want Cody to be in there longer than Frankie.
• Holla!
• Frankie told Derrick he might say he's going to put up Derrick as he's never been on the block.
• But that won't be what happens. 
• Frankie doesn't care that his HoH will be "wasted" by voting out Victoria.
• Derrick got his HoH basket. He didn't like the picture and didn't show it to the others.
• Hmm.
• Maybe he's a cop!
• Then he makes it sound like it's something that might hurt his wife or daughter.
• Hmm. I doubt we'll ever see that picture!
• Then every time he or another mentioned his wife, we got blocked feeds.
• Curiouser and curiouser.
• Then Derrick went in and out of the Diary Room with a handprint, picture of Tenley and a letter/poem from his wife in which she said how much she loves him.
• Huh.
• Maybe it's something as simple as her being in her work clothes and exposing her company (against many rules with many companies) or something.
• We just don't know.
• They think it's better they all pushed the button at once.
• They think BB figured someone would sneak in and push it.
• Either way, there was a button. It would be pushed.
• Zach's voice is shouting, "Holla! Froot Loop dingus!"
• They also got Donny, Jocasta and Hayden hollas.
• Can I get a HOLLA?
• Frankie's room reveal was late.
• They're all still awake as I post this.

Cody worries about being booed

Wondering what's in that room

Game - "It's your choice"

This can't be good

And, now he's HoH. Wah!

Do we really want to do this?

They all push the button