Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - November 16, 2014

Good morning! It's Sunday, time for my weekly off television topic reflection on the week gone by in both words and photographs I've taken along the way. My next post will be about television -- stay tuned!

Gah, What a week. I had banged my head at work last Saturday. Throughout the day Sunday and into Monday morning, I was having nausea and bad headaches, ringing in my ears and more. So I went off to the doctor's office approved by our workers compensation insurance carrier. That office was in the middle of nowhere. I was diagnosed with a concussion there and had a follow-up reevaluation on Thursday. I was still having issues, so now I've been trying to get an appointment (as referred by the doctor) with a neurologist on the WC carrier insurance list. So far, I've striked out. I can't go back to work without clearance from one and I'm still having problems.

Enough about that.

The Plainfield Library Photo Competition was yesterday. I won first place and felt honored to receive that with all the talent out there. This year was their largest amount of entries, lots of new photographers and some very amazing shots. I'm going to have to step up my game!

Onto this week's photos. Due to the doctor's visit, I took many shots in Somerville where the train stops (and then took a taxi to Hillsborough where the doctor's office is). I also took shots around Library Park in Plainfield yesterday and, when my friend Barbara gave me a ride home, we took a scenic leaf and house-ogling ride through the mansions and expensive homes on winding roads in Plainfield. 

Autumn Library Park Lamp

The trees are in that odd stage of many barren, some still brilliant reds and yellows and even a few greens. Thankfully a colorful tree was near this lamp! Library Park, Plainfield.

Stylin' in da 'hood

Okaaay ... skinny jeans and leather while bearing a red-tipped squared-off flat-top 'fro. Yep, that's my Plainfield neighborhood!

Ex-Governor McGreevey's mansion

Jim McGreevey, the Governor of NJ prior to the Chris Christie regime, the one of "I am a gay American" fame and controversial resignation bought and lives in this ivy-covered mansion in Plainfield. While this mansion isn't all that far from my apartment building, it's definitely not in my 'hood.

This week's flowers and foliage slideshow features one of my favorites -- ornamental kale! I found flowers and kale growing in planters when I was in Somerville this week. The foliage shots are from Plainfield, Somerville and Hillsborough.

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

Survivor: San Juan Del Sur Blog Party - November 12

Hey, welcome to the blog party! Due to some health issues (concussion), I don't think I'm going to be able to update this entry while watching the show. It's going to be hard enough for me to concentrate on the show! So, I ask folks to put updates in the party comments below.

The latest blog pool standings from Lifeguard Laurie:

Alec = Karen in Case, Merrilee
Baylor = Glenn, maquinn78, Sharon S
Jaclyn = CYW Coleman, rbennie
Josh = crob61, Rochelle, Jackie
Wes = Buzzmaam, ORKMommy, sanra
Jeremy = Becky, Nana in the NW
Jon M = Donna in Alabama, Laurie
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
Dale = Brian, Margo
QUIT -- Julie = Donna NY, meb

On with the show and my apologies for not being able to keep up with updating this entry ...

Brief update -- Jeremy won Immunity.

Josh was voted out with one more vote than Baylor. He's the first member of the jury.

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - November 9, 2014

Good morning! It's Sunday. Yes, it is. That means it's time for my weekly off television topic reflection on the week gone by in both words and photos I've taken along the way. My last post and my next one will be all about TV! I swear!

There's really nothing remarkable to report this week. It was warmer, then it got colder. It was sunny, then rainy and windy. Today is fairly seasonable. After all, it is getting that time of the year. Right now I'm sporting a bump and bruise on my left temple, making me look like I've been beaten. No, I haven't been beaten. I'm just a dummy and hit my head on a very solid object as I bent down. Foolish me. Clumsy me. Gah.

Other than that, it's been another week in the life ...

Onto the photos I've taken this week. If you click on an image, a Photobucket page will appear and you can make the image larger there, then just close out the page to return to the blog.

The Beaver Moon

The full moon earlier this week was the Beaver Moon. Back in the day, it was named such to signal colonists and American Indians to set their beaver traps before the swamps froze. That way, they'd have furs to keep warm for the winter. Unfortunately, I couldn't get a totally clear (and definitive) shot of the moon, thus this obscured a bit by a building one.

On Friday, a tractor trailer truck rammed and got stuck under the bridge at the Plainfield Train Station, Park Avenue. Thankfully, they let my train pass over the bridge coming into the station. They were off-loading the cargo and the tires were all hissing as they deflated them when I went by. I think it will need to lower more than that! The trailer was two feet higher than the clearly marked bridge. There were industrial tow trucks at either side. I guess they have to unhitch the trailer and tow the tractor and trailer out separately from either side. Here's a slideshow of the stuck truck ... clicking on the diagonal arrow on the bottom right will make it full screen --

Colorful sunrise

My timing on my early days now with the change back to standard time coincides with the sunrise. I took this shot looking at the end of the platform at the Plainfield Train Station.

Speaking of the train ...

This is my NJ Transit train approaching the Bridgewater Train Station one afternoon this week as I headed home. The double-decker trains always look short in photos, but they're actually pretty long. Oh, not like being stuck at a crossing waiting for a long freight train to pass. Not long like that at all!

My flowers and foliage slideshow this week is colorful. While we're past peak in autumn foliage, we still have some brilliant colors and even some green leaves left. Soon we'll be ankle-deep in leaves on the sidewalks as freezes hit more steadily. I took most of these shots in and around my neighborhood and the Plainfield Train Station --

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

The Amazing Race 25 - November 7 Blog Party

Good evening, folks! Ready to race? Er, let me rephrase that ... ready to party? Ah, much better.

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. I hope to see you there!

Here's the latest update on the blog pool from the Magnificent 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
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
Shelly & Nici - Buzzmaam, Merrilee, Rbennie, SueGee

Are we ready? GO!

Starting out in Morocco, they're flying to Sicily. The dentists have found a flight which will get them in at 8pm. The cyclists book the same flight. Kym and Alli decide the dentists are TeamNoFun.

They dance the night away and leave at set intervals. The cyclists were working with the dentists. Only due to need, of course. It's not like they like them or anything.

Roadblock - They have to race cool go-carts! Brooke and Robbie can't find a taxi to get there. After they complete the Roadblock, they're off in coo classic cars to meet up with their partners.

Detour - Painters - restore a fresco. Posers - listen to ten opera singers, writing the characters and operas on a board. Only four teams can do the painting, the more popular task. The scientists have to head over to the opera task. Robbie and Brooke already decided to go for that one.

Sigh. The dentists are on their way to the Pit Stop. The cyclists are just behind them.

The 300th leg Pit Stop -
1. Jim and Misti ... won another trip.
2. Kym and Alli

Brooke/Robbie and Maya/Amy worked together on the opera task (which is actually easier than the painting) and finished. The opera task was actually remembering the costumes in order.

3. Maya and Amy
4. Broooke and Robbie
5. Adam and Bethany
5. Te Jay and Tim ... non-Philimination leg ... they're still in the race!

Survivor: San Juan Del Sur Blog Party - November 5

Well, the merge is supposed to be on this week. That will certainly change the dynamics a bit. Will we see those with loved ones try to ally with the like? Or the singles? At the very least, we won't be seeing Coyopa continue to decimate weekly. Or, is that weakly? Of course, there might be some tribal loyalties going on there and the old Hunahpu members could still trounce the ex-Coyopa. It's all so complicated! That's why I sit at home at watch.

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 -- come join in on the fun!

Before it's on with the show, here's the latest blog pool standings from Lifeguard Laurie --

Coyopa
Alec = Karen in Case, Merrilee
Baylor = Glenn, maquinn78, Sharon S
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
Dale = Brian, Margo

Survivor fans ready?

Keith is predictably disturbed about getting votes in the last tribal. Missy and Baylor owned up to it. Now he knows how much he can(not) trust them.

Tree mail has Hunahpu packing up for the merge. Coyopa got a similar email. Hmm. Where are they going to set up shop?

We have the usual feast going on.

Ah, they're going to the former Coyopa home.

Jeremy wants to get together with some singles, plus John/Jaclyn and Missy/Baylor. Huyopa is the new tribe name. And now it's Wes's birthday.

Josh wants to get the couples together. Surprise, surprise.

Aha! They found out that Julie was hoarding a supply of trail mix from their feast. Oh noes for her!

Immunity Challenge time. Josh is worried that his name will be on the chopping block. They have to balance a ball on disks supported by ropes and it gets tougher as time goes by.

Whoa! Jeremy is out first! Missy out, then Julie.

Second round starts. Reed out, Baylor, Alec out, Jaclyn out. Natalie out.

Josh, Wes, Keith and Jon left in.

The next round has two balls balancing on the disk. Josh out. Jon out. Keith and Wes, father and son, are the last two vying for victory. Keith wins the first individual immunity!

Jon told Jeremy that Josh is the target. While Josh wants Jeremy out, he also ponders breaking up Jaclyn/Jon. Lots of scheming going on. Now Jon wants Jeremy out and the couples stick together. Oy!

Uh-oh. Will Julie quit? She met Jeff away from camp. She is bereft without John. Poor baby.

She quits the game.

Jeff meets up with the others and tells them.

No tribal council tonight with Julie quitting! Jeremy stays another day.