Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - November 2, 2014

Welcome to my weekly off television topic post! Each week I take a journey through the week gone by in both words and photographs I've taken along the way. My next post will indeed be about television -- stay tuned!

Random musings about the week:

• I could do this get an extra hour of sleep thing every day.
• We had nice temperatures and some nice days, then some really icky cold rain. Now it's just cold. I guess it's really late autumn. Sigh.
• At least it didn't rain for the kids on Halloween. Not that I had any trick or treaters knocking on my door. I never do here.
• My superintendent told me the person upstairs is a younger guy. I think the "younger" bit is relative. He can't be too young or he couldn't afford to live alone there. I'm think probably 30ish-young. But I did kind of call it right. I still haven't seen him. He's still not annoying. Yay!
• I'm tired. Can I retire yet? I'm really getting tired of being exhausted day in and day out. There has to be a better way!
• While I had way too many "out of stock" items on my Peapod grocery delivery order this week -- they're still adjusting to the new huge distribution center in Jersey City -- they more than made good on it. They told me they'd remove the delivery charge and put the sale items missed in my cart at the sale price for my next order. Well, since I ordered on Super Saver Wednesday, instead of $6.95 delivery, it was $5 off, then another $1 off as I chose the wide delivery window which they narrow down to two hours the day before. So, technically, my delivery cost a 95 cent delivery charge. (I also get $1 off for paying by electronic check, so ...!) I received an email from them. They took $10 off the order.
• I also received an email from the Plainfield Library in regard to the photo contest. I won something, but don't know what. The awards presentation and exhibition is slated for November 15th.

Onto the photos for this week -- clicking on an image will open it larger in a new Photobucket window. You can make it even larger there and just close out that window to return to the blog.

A touch of color

I took this shot of ivy on a building adjacent to the Plainfield Train Station.

Oh my

What the heck broke into that locomotive engine car? This is one of the new fancy/schmancy locomotives which runs diesel and can convert to electric for a one seat ride on the Raritan Valley Line into NYC. Since our line is diesel, we've always had to switch trains in Newark as diesel locomotives can't run in the tunnels. Now, with these new locomotives, some of the trains run directly into the city, but not every train. There are also tunnel crowding logistics running amok in the planning. I'm thinking this locomotive might have struck a tree branch. I'm innocent. Plainfield Train Station.

This week's Flowers and Foliage slideshow has photos taken in Plainfield, Westfield and Bridgewater. Clicking on the diagonal arrow on the bottom right will make it full screen for you!

Yes, I see you, Squirrel.

Is it Rocket J. Squirrel? East Front Street, Plainfield.

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

The Amazing Race 25 - October 31 Episode

Happy Halloween, folks! I'm anticipating few to attend this blog party due to Halloween plans. But, if you do come by, stop in the comments section! 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!

Here's the latest blog pool standings from the Marvelous Margo --

Adam & Bethany - chrob61, Kathy in Brooklyn, Kelsey NY, Zoetawny
Brooke & Robbie - Caela, Sharon, Sharon N, Willie J
Kym & Alli - Brenda, meb, Nicklepeed, Rochelle, Terry in TX
Maya & Amy - Ed in OH, Karen in CA, Lynn1, Margo
Misti & Jim - Cheryl in NC, Laurie, ML, OrkMommy
Shelly & Nici - Buzzmaam, Merrilee, Rbennie, SueGee
Tim & Te Jay - Babs, Brent McKee, Dusty, Monty924,

Sorry you have been PHILIMINATED
Lisa & Michelle - Becky, Delee, dla, Donna in AL
Dennis & Isabelle - Auntie Leigh, Brian, David, Donna NY, sanra
Michael & Scott - Donna in FL, Glenn, Jackie, Marlo
Keith & Whitney - Jean, Jennasmom, Nana in NW, PDXGranny

Ready for the race?

Kym and Alli leave the Pit Stop first -- have to deliver hay with a horse-drawn carriage, reward the horses with an apple each, and then get their 'product placement' vehicle. Ah, good. Bethany and Adam have pulled into the lead.

But Kym and Alli get to the next clue first. Detour -- Camp, set up a camp to exact specifications. Cream has them milking a goat and making butter with the milk. Rats. Misti and Jim are there.

Oh geez. Jim and Misti are the first through the Detour. Grr. Shelley and Nici are totally lost and are the only team who hasn't made it to the Detour.

Roadblock -- Teams have to go over canyons on ziplines and swinging bridges and solving a puzzle.

Jim and Misti are heading to Casbah Dif, the Pit Stop. Oh my gosh. Bethany chose to do the Roadblock despite having one arm. Yikes!

Pit Stop--
1. Jim and Misti - Won a trip to Brazil
2. Adam and Bethany
3. Kym and Alli
4. Tim and Te Jay
5. Brooke and Robbie
6. Amy and Maya
7. Shelley and Nici

And, they have been Philiminated

Survivor San Juan Del Sur Blood vs. Water Blog Party - October 29

Will Jeff give in and give Hunahpu more food? And, if so, at what cost? No tribe has ever begged for food before! What about Coyopa? Will they continue to lose even with the reshuffling of tribes? Then there's Dale's fake idol. Are they gonna buy that it's real? These questions and many more should be answered in tonight's episode.

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 area -- come join in on the fun!

But, first ... the blog pool update by that Lovely Lifeguard Laurie:

Coyopa
Alec = Karen in Case, Merrilee
Baylor = Glenn, maquinn78, Sharon S
Dale = Brian, Margo
Jaclyn = CYW Coleman, rbennie
Josh = crob61, Rochelle, Jackie
Wes = Buzzmaam, ORKMommy, sanra

Hunahpu
Jeremy = Becky, Nana in the NW
Jon M = Donna in Alabama, Laurie
Julie = Donna NY, meb
Keith = Donna in FL, PDX Granny  
Missy = Ed in Ohio, Monty924, Sharon N
Natalie = Jennasmom, Kelsey NY
Reed = David, Kathy, Lynn1

Out: Nadiya
Val = Brenda, Nickelpeed
John R = Cheryl NC, MikesGirl, Terry in TX
Drew = Delee, Petals, SueGee
Kelley = Babs Dud, ML, Russ

Survivor fans ready?

Dale showed John his fake immunity idol. John thinks it's real. Silly John. Jeremy thinks it's stupid to ask Jeff for rice -- they should suck it up. After all, they might win food tomorrow!

Jeff arrives with a huge bag of rice. Jeff lectures them about losing their flint and eating all the rice. He wants all of their comfort items. They'll only keep a machete, a pot and a flint. He thinks they've been winning because they've been eating better than the other tribe. I think he's right.

Reward challenge has one person from each tribe racing blindfolded through obstacles studying masks by touch and then recreating them. The reward is a Survivor BBQ feast. It's Reed against Baylor.

Reed wins for Hunahpu! Now they have food. Baylor goes to Exile. Reed picks Julie to go, but Natalie volunteers. Natalie "wins." She goes to Exile with Baylor.

Baylor got the clue to the idol and showed Natalie. I find Natalie much more bearable without Nadiya. Natalie thinks that she's in with Missy, Balyor's mom. She is. Now she thinks she's in with Baylor, too.

It's raining on the tarp-less Hunahpu tribe. Sucks to be them, eh? Julie is crying. Jeremy hopes she goes home before him.

Immunity Challenge time! Race up and over a wall, push a cube through posts, collect puzzle pieces, solve puzzle.

Jeremy got his bag stuck on the coil they have to remove it from. Will Coyopa actually win a challenge? Maybe not. Hunahpu has taken over the lead. Hunahpu wins Immunity again!

Heh. Dale told John that if he (Dale) isn't voted out tonight, he'll give John his "idol." He wants Missy targeted.  They all (not Dale or Keith) decide they should split the vote between Dale and Keith. John thinks it might be best to align with Dale. He really wants himself and Jaclyn to be a "power couple" after the merge.

Tribal -- lots of talk about loyalty. Keith votes Dale

The tally -- Dale, Keith, Missy, Keith, Dale, Dale.

Dale is voted out.

Next week is the merge!

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - October 26, 2014

Good morning! It's Sunday morning, time for my weekly off television topic reflection of the week gone by in both words and photos I've taken along the way. If you're looking for TV stuff, my last post and my next post will have some.

We had several days of rain this week. But I did take advantage of the few nice days when I could take some photos going to work and coming home. Alas, my day off on Wednesday was raw, chilly and rainy ALL DAY. I didn't even step out of my apartment all day. On the days it was nice, it was VERY nice with warmish (for this time of the year) temperatures and sunny skies. On the days it was not nice, it was dismal with a cold, cold rain and grey skies.

I personally prefer brisk temperatures over the heat (and humidity) of the summers here. I actually don't even mind the cold of winter. I can always layer and dress warm enough. But in the heat and humidity of summer, there's only so much you can take off! And, you could be naked and still sweating! Ew! If we could train the ice and snow to stay off the roads, parking lots and sidewalks, I'd have no complaints about winter whatsoever.

Two years ago at this time we were anticipating being in the "cone of concern" for Hurricane Sandy. There are still signs of the superstorm all about in mismatched roof shingles, tree damage, trees gone and such. I must admit I enjoyed the excitement of the storm, but the aftermath was way too much. Almost two weeks without power, four months of train issues, a wacko snowstorm a few days after the hurricane while I had no heat (or lights or anything). It was a surreal kind of existence for weeks after the storm. I don't want to go through that again. Thankfully, there isn't anything like that in the forecast here now.

Onto this week's photos -- clicking on an image will bring you to its Photobucket page where you can make it larger. Just X out the Photobucket page to return here to the blog.

Downtown autumn colors

The trees surrounding the Park-Madison complex are turning all kinds of pretty colors for autumn. I took this shot looking at the corner of Park Avenue and West Second Street in Plainfield. To my right (off camera) is East Second Street -- Park Avenue in Plainfield is the dividing line between East and West.

Pretty pre-sunrise

The sun is actually rising after I get in the door to work these days. Well, except for Saturdays when I go in to work later. With our three (four?) days of rain this past week, I had rather dismal non-sunrises most of the week. But this one was nice. Bridgewater, NJ

Ladybug, ladybug ...

... fly away home. Your house is on fire and your kids are alone. Eep! What a HORRIBLE little saying! Bridgewater, NJ

This week's Flowers and Foliage slideshow is once again probably more foliage. I took some shots of flowers in the dark with my flash. And, the rain and some warmer temperatures have some of the roses blooming again! The shots were all taken in Plainfield and Bridgewater as I went nowhere and did nothing this week (except work). You can make the slideshow full screen by clicking on the diagonal arrow lower right of the window.

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

The Amazing Race 25: October 24 Blog Party

Please, please, please ... go away dentists! Well, him more than her. I only wish last week hadn't been a non-Philimination leg and, at the very least, they would have used up that Save they hold!

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 party is in the comments area. Everyone is welcome to join in on the fun!

The latest blog pool standings from Marvelous Margo are the same as last week (sigh) --

Adam & Bethany - chrob61, Kathy in Brooklyn, Kelsey NY, Zoetawny
Brooke & Robbie - Caela, Sharon, Sharon N, Willie J
Keith & Whitney - Jean, Jennasmom, Nana in NW, PDXGranny
Kym & Alli - Brenda, meb, Nicklepeed, Rochelle, Terry in TX
Maya & Amy - Ed in OH, Karen in CA, Lynn1, Margo
Misti & Jim - Cheryl in NC, Laurie, ML, OrkMommy
Shelly & Nici - Buzzmaam, Merrilee, Rbennie, SueGee
Tim & Te Jay - Babs, Brent McKee, Dusty, Monty924,

Sorry you have been PHILIMINATED
Lisa & Michelle - Becky, Delee, dla, Donna in AL
Dennis & Isabelle - Auntie Leigh, Brian, David, Donna NY, sanra
Michael & Scott - Donna in FL, Glenn, Jackie, Marlo

Ready to race?

Starting out in Copenhagen, the teams are off to Morocco. They'll have to search a marketplace in Marrakesh to find the next clue.

The other teams aren't happy to know that Misti and Jim still have their save. Nor am I.

It's a bunching as all make their way to Morocco. Nici negotiated with their cabbie for a flat fare to wait (and keep their luggage in the car).

They have to "Cart it Out" and help set up a restaurant food cart in the marketplace. Jim and Misti's speed bump has them hanging rug-like banners for markets. And, mind you, U-Turn ahead.

Keith and Whitney are the first done with the task. More teams are finishing and Misti/Jim just got to the marketplace task.

The next clue is in the tannery, Roadblock. Keith and Whitney are having trouble finding it. Uh-oh! Ew -- they have to finish preparing three hides by pulling the hair off and then delivering them. Jim and Misti are twelves minutes behind the last of the other teams. Good.

It sounds like feathers are getting ruffled between the Dentists and Shelly/Nici as both teams are in the tanning. The dentists finish first. Oy!

All the teans bunch up trying to deliver the skins. Pushing! Now Nici/Shelly are squabbling with Keith.

Detour - Twirl Time has them spinning a tassel on their heads and playing trance music. The Tea Time has them presenting tea in a very complicated task.

Cool! Bethany and Adam are done first! They did the tea Detour. Kym and Alli did the music task and are in second place. Misti keeps using two hands to hold the tea tray and fail. Of course, Bethany could only use one. Neither Kym/Alli (now leading) or Bethany/Adam U-Turn anyway.

Pit Stop --
1. Kym and Alli - also won $5,000 each
2. Bethany and Adam

Shelly/Nici U-Turned Keith and Whitney. Grr. Dentists, I say!

3. Tim and Te Jay
4. Shelly and Nici
5. Misti and Jim
6. Brooke and Robbie
7. Maya and Amy
8. Keith and Whitney -- Philiminated

They would have also been Philiminated even without the U-Turn. They did that badly.