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

Vincent says hi

It really wasn't much of a week. I didn't take any good photos. I went nowhere. It rained a lot. My mind is fuzzy.

The Amazing Race 25: December 5 Blog Party

Wow, time is flying this season! We're down to the final four. As the show airs here, I'll do my best to update this entry with the major happenings. My mind is still on the fuzzy side, but I'll do my best. Refresh the page to get the latest. As always, the real party is in the comments area. Come join us there!

Here's the latest blog pool standings from the Magnificent Margo:

Adam & Bethany - chrob61, Kathy in Brooklyn, Kelsey NY, Zoetawny
Brooke & Robbie - Caela, Sharon, Sharon N, Willie J
Maya & Amy - Ed in OH, Karen in CA, Lynn1, Margo
Misti & Jim - Cheryl in NC, Laurie, ML, OrkMommy

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
Tim & Te Jay - Babs, Brent McKee, Dusty, Monty924
Kym & Alli - Brenda, meb, Nicklepeed, Rochelle, Terry in TX

Since there are two more episodes after tonight to air, I predict a non-Philimination leg. What do you think?

Are you ready? Let's GO!

Teams are flying from Singapore to Manilla, the Philippines.

Ah, good. The dentists are on a different flight, getting in a little later than the others. That might not mean much as they could catch up, but ...!

It won't mean much. They all have to wait for a flower vendor at 6:30am.

Detour - Catch or Coach. Filling three buckets of fish or mounting a sidecar to a bike. Maya and Amy are behind because they didn't follow a clue and lost time. Robbie is freaking out about handling fish.

Brooke and Robbie, the only ones doing the fish, finish first and head off for the next clue. Then Bethany and Adam finish the bike first.

Yay! It's the "I broke my ox" challenge. They have to use a water oxen to find a clue in a huge mud field.

Jim and Misti find the clue in the mud first, then the scientists. It's off to the Pit Stop on foot.

1. Jim and Misti - won a trip to Vietnam
2. Maya and Amy

The wrestlers and surfers were almost simultaneous in finding the clue.

3. Bethany and Adam
4. Brooke and Robbie.

I was right. It was a non-Philimination. All teams still in.

Survivor: San Juan Del Sur Double Episode Blog Party - December 3

Well, this is going to be an interesting challenge. I'm not sure how well I'll be able to do with a double episode tonight. I'll give it my best shot to update this entry with the major events as they air here on the East Coast. Refresh the page to get the latest.

As always, the real party is in the comments area ... please join us there!

Here's the latest on the blog pool from the Luverly Lifeguard Laurie:

Alec = Karen in Case, Merrilee
Baylor = Glenn, maquinn78, Sharon S
Jaclyn = CYW Coleman, rbennie
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

Jury:
Josh = crob61, Rochelle, Jackie
Jeremy = Becky, Nana in the NW
Wes = Buzzmaam, ORKMommy, sanra

Survivor fans ready?

Ah, good. Jon and Jaclyn are arguing.

Reward == How well do you know your tribemates. The chopping at a rope one. The reward is a horse ride to a resort, barbeque, overnight.

Reed is the first one out of the challenge due to being chopped by the others. Alec out.  Keith out.

Since the rest were so friendly about it and wanted Missy to win, Jeff gave it to her. Jon goes to Exile. Missy can bring two people -- Baylor and Natalie.

Stand off between Reed and Missy because Reed called Baylor a brat.

Jon found another idol. Oh, well.

Baylor and Natalie are upset that Alec and Jaclyn are flirting (after they return from reward).

Immunity Challenge -- Balance oversize paddle on a stand, roll balls into holes, must get six. Keith wins immunity!

Huh. Jon and Jaclyn had another argument. Reed tried to get J/J to work with his side. Jaclyn is pouting. Jon told Missy he found the idol before even Jaclyn knows (unless I missed that).

Tribal - Missy votes Reed, Reed votes Missy. No surprise there.

The tally - (no one plays an idol) --
Reed, Missy, Reed, Reed, Reed, Reed.

Reed is gone. Whoa ... even Alec voted Reed!

Jon thinks he's controlling the game. Huh.

Reward - Standing on a small block holding a ball with a thing against a frame.  Winner gets a king size canopy bed and feast.  Alec out. Missy out. Keith out. Baylor out. Jon out. It's Natalie and Jaclyn left. Jaclyn out. Natalie wins reward! She sends Alec to Exile. She chooses to share the bed with Jaclyn, then Jon, too.

Heh. Natalie is being strategic. She tells us she wants to build Jon's trust, then wham him out! Good for her. She wants revenge for his part in getting Jeremy out. Meanwhile, Jon is getting cocky, sure he has Natalie in his back pocket.

Immunity Challenge -- Pull on a rope balancing a table, retrieving blocks, first one to stand all their blocks wins.

Gah. Jon wins Immunity.

He wants Keith to go, as does Missy. They plan to split the vote between Keith and Alec. Natalie and Baylor are not happy.

Natalie is talking to Keith, but thinks she could flip the game, get Alec out and use Keith to get rid of Jon. Meanwhile, Baylor is getting smitten with Alec.

Tribal - Natalie knowing it's not time to make her move, talks about the solidarity of the alliance of five. We'll see the vote.

Tally --
Keith, Alec, Keith, Alec, Keith, Alec, Alec.

WHOA! She did it! Alec joins the jury. Jon and Missy are befuddled.

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - November 30, 2014

Good morning! I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! This is my weekly off television topic post in which I reflect on the week gone by in both words and photographs I've taken along the way.

Speaking from Concussion Land here, while I've rested a lot this past week, it hasn't been necessarily easy. The fuzziness is really bothering me. I'm not used to thinking of each word I want to say, nor taking five minutes to write a coherent sentence.  I have found that I'm better at typing than actual writing. But, still ...

My only outing this week was to the neurologist follow-up on my brain MRI. The results of the MRI were good (which I already kind of determined from looking at the CD the MRI place gave me -- no huge splotches, etc.) So, the doctor says it will just take time and told me to take another two weeks.

My own Thanksgiving was quiet, just Vincent the Cat and me. I roasted a chicken, made stuffing, cheated with frozen Brussels sprouts, frozen Green Giant garlic-roasted potatoes, canned cranberry sauce and triple chocolate gelato for dessert. My appetite and sense of taste seem a bit off. I'm still living off the leftovers. Vincent had turkey with gravy canned cat food.

I find the events of Ferguson this past week incredibly saddening. It seems hard from all sides. Living in a black majority community (with Hispanic rising) here, I can't imagine a basically all white police force. While Plainfield definitely needs more Spanish-speaking officers to keep up with the population influx and language barrier, this traditionally diverse town has a majority of black officers.

The community here still bears the scars of racially-incited riots back in 1967. While I was aware of the Newark and Watts riots of the 60s, I was young and living in upstate New York at the time. I didn't know about Plainfield. I was advised upon moving to New Jersey, NOT to live in Plainfield, mainly due to racial and crime issues.

Guess what? I've lived in town for thirteen plus years now. While I've seen the increase of Hispanics and do have a bit of communication issues with them due to the fact that my Spanish is horrible, I've had absolutely no problems with the black folks in my community. If anything, the people here are the friendliest of any place I've ever lived. People are people. There are good and bad, wise and foolish, people of every kind.

That said, I can't imagine a situation like Ferguson going down here in Plainfield these days. First off, a one-man unit would call for back-up in a situation like that. It sounds like back-up wasn't called for until after Michael Brown was already down on the ground. Wilson shouldn't have even left his car until he had back-up. He knew the kid was shot and would have to seek medical help. He didn't see a weapon other than his own. Maybe it's not typical of Ferguson, but there seemed to be no common sense in how the officer handled the situation. Brown himself was no angel. It's a shame that his own actions paint him in the light they do (as a faraway observer), but Wilson was also wrong. Brown didn't deserve death for being a stupid big kid pushing his weight around. I really don't think the situation would have gone down the way it did had Brown been white.

It saddens me to think that there is still such a racial divide in our world. I'm glad there's not that kind of hate within me, but wish everyone would just accept folks as inherently the same regardless of color, religion, etc.

I have no answers. I can only do my part by thinking every person I meet on my path might add something positive to my own life, every interaction might be warming or thought-provoking.

If only ...

This post at the Friends (Quakers) Meeting House in Plainfield has the saying in four different languages. This past week's events across the nation and some of the hate I've seen on the internet is disturbing and very sad. What does it say for us as a people? I mean ALL of us.

Tom Turkey and wreaths

This duplex on Berckman Street in Plainfield is always symmetrically decorated each season. I always wonder if it's one person's doing or a joint effort. Either way, it's always pleasant. This house also had the ONLY clear sidewalk perfectly shoveled and salted on the block last winter. I caught a woman doing that. Go figure.

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

The Amazing Race 25 November 28 Blog Party

Hello, Black Friday survivors! As it is the Big Shopping Day of the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, we might not have a big turnout at the blog party. My concussion-related issues may make my updating this post as the show airs here may end up being a bit muddled, but I'll try. You've been warned. The real party is in the comments area ... come join us!

Here's the latest blog pool update 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

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
Tim & Te Jay - Babs, Brent McKee, Dusty, Monty924

Are you ready?

Teams are off to Singapore with a Double U-Turn ahead. Most of the teams have made a pact to U-Turn the cyclists. I'd rather they did it to the dentists.

Uh-oh, due to a bad move by Bethany/Adam, they are on the second flight with the dentists.

Fast Forward - Riding the Wave - surfing in a special water park type place. The cyclists are going for it.

Roadblock - Tightrope walking 600 feet from the ground between hotel towers.

Surfers Adam and Bethany head for the FF even though they were on the second flight. Maya and Amy are currently in first place having finished the Roadblock.

Detour - China cups - removing toxins by getting cups applied to skin, Chili Crabs - preparing local dish crabs.

Adam and Bethany WIN the Fast Forward!

Pit Stop -
1. Adam and Bethany - Also won a trip to Bali

Maya/Amy and the wrestlers decided to U-Turn the surfers and cyclists. Maya/Amy got there first, U-Turned Bethany and Adam. Good luck with that, girls. Brooke and Robbie didn't U-Turn anyone. They figured the surfers would go and the cyclists were way far behind them. Jim and Misti (dentists) also don't U-Turn anyone.

Duh. Amy and Maya believed the lies the wrestlers told them about not finding the clue to the Pit Stop and are wandering about.

2. Brooke and Robbie
3. Jim and Misti
4. Amy and Maya
5. Kym and Alli -- Philiminated