Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - April 19, 2015

Good morning! Since it is indeed Sunday, you know what that means. It's time for my weekly reflection on the week gone by in both words and photos I've taken along the way. Remember to come back on Wednesday and Friday evenings for Survivor and The Amazing Race blog parties!

Let's see ... what has been happening with me this past week? My Killer Cold has lessened a great deal. What I have now is either leftover remnants of the cold and/or allergies kicking in. All day yesterday I was sick to my stomach, but that seems to be gone today. I have no clue what's up with that. I feel better today in that aspect. Perhaps it was something I ate.

Spring has finally taken hold here. I wouldn't mind if it lasted until autumn. I'm not a summer heat kind of person. While I love a cool storm, I'm not into extremes of temperature -- either heat or cold. I can actually take cold weather better than hot and humid.

Random bits:

• I bought Vincent some fresh catnip yesterday and he loves it. Yes, I'm an enabler.
• Seriously, if you get off the train, do NOT stand on the stairs blocking others while you mess with your smart phone.
• Sometimes you have to grin and bear it. But that doesn't mean you're happy inside.
• If you forget to give your Peapod grocery delivery dude your coupons (they double up to 99 cents), you can mail them in for credit.
• Yes, I forgot to give him about $12 worth of coupons.
• Peapod drivers who get this route with Plainfield like it more than the Manhattan routes. Too many walk-ups there, too much traffic and no parking.
• I need to clean my windows.
• But most of the "dirt" is on the outside. I have to remember how they put them in so I can take out the panes to clean the outside. I don't have a squeegee on a pole to reach up from outside.
• Hmm ... maybe I'll just do the insides.
• NJ Transit cops or the Plainfield police really have to get someone stationed at the Plainfield Train Station from late afternoons into late late nights. The bums, druggies and street people loitering is ridiculous. They ought to limit it to ticketed passengers. That would clear up the problems there.

Onto the photos for the week. Clicking on an image will bring up larger versions of the photos.

Sunset at the Bridgewater Train Station

Complete with the edge of woods, birds on a wire, stadium lights and the back side edge of the scoreboard doohickey for the TD Ball Park.

Love me some forsythia!

Basic yellow daffodil

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

The Amazing Race 26 - April 17 Blog Party

 

It's Friday night! I hope you haven't forgotten that it's time for The Amazing Race! Not only is the show on tonight, but it's TWO HOURS worth!  We have a Double U-Turn ahead in the double show, too.

As it airs here, 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. I hope to see you there. (And bring snacks. And beverages.)

Here's the blog pool standings presented by the Magnificent Margo:

Mike and Rochelle - Cheryl in NC, Laurie

Aly and Steve - Jackie, SueGee

Matt and Ashley - Delee, Merrilee

Blair and Hayley - Terry in TX, Margo, Chris

Jelani and Jenny - Marlo, Lynn 1, dla

Tyler and Laura - Ed in OH, David, Nickelpeed

PHILIMINATED:

Jeff and Lyda - Jennasmom, Paula Bell, meb

Lebya and CJ - Donna in FL, PDXGranny 

Harley and Jonathan - Becky, Willie J 

Bergen and Kurt - Nana in NW, Rbennie

Jeffrey and Jackie - Brian, Donna in AL, ORKMommy

Let's get it on! 

Teams are flying ten hours to Namibia (wherever that is!). All the teams are to be on the same flight. Once there they get on individual bush planes. Hayley and Blair, first to leave the Pit Stop, are at the end of the bush planes. They then have to drive themselves to the Bushman Village and need to pick up a salt lick on the way.

Roadblock - Who's feeling grassy? They have to help bushmen build a hut. Teams are fairly quick making the huts. Tyler/Laura. then Matt/Ashley head off.

Detour - Track, an elephant. Pack, feeding wild dogs wildebeest meat. Pack was taken up quickly, so teams are being steered to Track.

Mike and Rochelle are at the tail end of the pack. Hayley and Blair are second from last. 

The Pack Detour is definitely easier. But the elephant one is much cooler.

Mike and Rochelle were so much later that the Pack opened up again. So they might just make it!  Everyone is getting lost or at least lost-ish.

Pit Stop --

1. Matt and Ashley - win $5000 each.

2. Laura and Tyler

3. Hayley and Blair 

4. Jelani and Jenny 

5. Mike and Rochelle

6. Aly and Steve 

It's a non-elimination leg, so all are still in it for the next hour. 

Teams are heading into town and must read something in German. Some teams are talking about U-Turning Jelani and Jenny. J and J are guessing Matt and Ashley might U-Turn them -- but they do have the Express Pass. 

The clue turns out to lead them to a skydiving place. 

Roadblock - They must find a case dropped from a plane and there's a gnome involved in the skydiving. The teams themselves don't get to skydive.

For their Speed Bump, Aly and Steve must make a toy.

Detour - Work or Play. Dragging five tires for five miles with their trucks to smooth out road. Play has them sand skiing on the dunes.

Jelani and Jenny (wisely) use their Express Pass as other teams are heading to the Double U-Turn. Matt and Ashley U-Turn Jelani and Jenny while Laura and Tyler U-Turn Aly and Steve.

Teams have to bring an exotic animal to the Pit Stop.

1. Laura and Tyler - won a trip to Queenstown, New Zealand

2. Matt and Ashley

3. Blair and Hayley 

4. Jelani and Jenny

5. Mike and Rochelle

6. Aly and Steve (my blog pool team) - Philiminated

Survivor: Worlds Apart - April 15 Blog Party

Survivor fans ready?

I hope you've all filed your taxes! Remember, the original sole Survivor, Richard Hatch, tried to not file with his million. You know what that got him -- time in the hoosegow! (I've had a yearning to use the word 'hoosegow' in correct context and now I've gone and done it. I'm livin' the wild life, y'see.)

As the show airs here, I'll update this post with the major happenings. Refresh the page to get the latest news! As always, the real party is in the comments area. I hope to "see" you there!

Before we get into the show, here are the latest blog pool standings from that Rockin' Lifeguard Laurie:

Carolyn - Jackie, TerryinTX
Dan - Brian, CherylinNC 
Hali - Zoetawny, monty924 
Jenn - Merrilee, Becky
Joe - SueGee, Chris 
Mike - meb, Nickelpeed 
Rodney - Margo 
Shirin - NanaintheNW 
Sierra - Jennasmom 
Tyler - Donna in Alabama, ORK Mommy 

Will - Rbennie 

Out 
WC - So
NC - Vince - Delee 
NC - Nina - Lynn1 
BC - Lindsey - Donna in FL, David 
Max - PDX Granny, Marlo
Joaquin - Laurie, Rochelle
Kelly - Petals, Ed in Ohio
Hali - Zoetawny, monty924

Let's get started!

Dang. Joe looks like Bozo the Clown under the night vision lights. A lot of focus on Shirin in the beginning of the show. 

Reward Challenge -- Two teams of five, race in water through obstacles to platform, grapple hook to collect five rings. The winners will be taken to the "Chocolate Cafe" chock full of candy. Mike, Tyler, Shirin, Dan and Sierra win. It had been a schoolyard pick for the teams.

Jenn has "nothing out here except despair." And they killed one of "her" chickens. As Rodney mocks Mike (who's on the chocolate binge), Joe picks up on it and hopes he can use Rodney against Mike ... if he (Joe) makes it that far.

Tree Mail warns them to stay on their toes for the next challenge. Jenn, who now wants to go home, told Joe that if she wins Immunity, she'll give it to him.

Immunity is now up for grabs. Balance on your toes with a block balanced on your head under a frame. The block falls, you're out. Carolyn, then Will, out. Shirin out, Rodney out. Dan gone. Sierra out. Joe is out. Mike out. Jenn out.

Tyler wins Immunity!

Jenn vows to us that she will do something to protect Joe and "screw up their game." I hope she does. 

Shirin thinks a numbers split will be made. She and Joe will vote for Jenn. Mike, of course, wants Shirin to vote for Joe to go. Jenn wants to go home. Shirin is worried that Joe is more of a threat in the game. Joe decides to make a fake idol. He makes a pretty good one. He tells Mike (of all people) that he will give him the idol after tribal if he flips his vote. Mike thinks he just might have a different idol.

At Tribal, Mike asks Jeff to verify his idol. Jeff says only after it's used. Everyone is confused. Jenn says she wants to go home, but won't quit to do so.

Mike plays the real idol! He does it for Will.

Jenn, Joe, Jenn, Joe, Dan, Jenn, Joe, Jenn, Joe, Joe.

Sigh. Joe is now the second member of the jury.

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - April 12, 2015

Good morning! This is my weekly off television topic reflection on the week gone by in both words and photographs I've taken along the way. My apologies for posting so late today, but I've been a bit under the weather. I hope you'll join me later in the week for Survivor and The Amazing Race blog parties!

Until yesterday, this past week was mostly chilly and rainy with night time lows hovering around freezing. Now it looks like we might have finally turned the corner. Every day this coming week is forecast to be above 60 degrees. Yes!

As for why I'm under the weather -- I've caught the Killer Cold that's being passed around throughout the Northeast. Now, it's just a cold. But it's knocking me (and everyone whom I know who has caught it) for a loop. I can't breathe. My sinuses are whacked. My ears are even all stuffy. I felt it coming on Tuesday and it hasn't left me yet. As a result I'm not sleeping well, either. Y'know, I'm getting really tired of one health woe after another. I should be due for a good health streak.

Today is simply beautiful outside. High expected around 64, sunny and dry. I plan on pretty much hanging low, staying inside, staying in bed a lot hoping to finish off this cold.

Oh, well. I should get this posted. Clicking on an image will bring up a larger shot ...

It's finally SPRING!

Crocuses! Spring! Yay!

Early in the week ...

... the daffodil buds were showing on Berckman Street in Plainfield.

1955 Chevrolet Nomad

Although my train to work yesterday passed over the Revolutionary War Battle of Bound Brook re-enactment too quickly for photos, another treat was in store for me at the TD Ball Park adjacent to the Bridgewater Train Station. Vintage cars were all backing up the sidewalk and parking along the front of the stadium. I sat on a bench photographing some of them. But then I ended up standing up near the bench after I saw this particular car hit a lamp post with its driver side. Love them fuzzy dice! More car photos (and others, too) after the jump.

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

The Amazing Race 26: April 10 Blog Party

 

It's Friday night! I hope you haven't forgotten that it's time for The Amazing Race! While I personally haven't forgotten it, tonight will be a bit hit or miss for me. Y'see ... I have the Cold From Hell that's been going around here on the East Coast. I can't breathe, sleep, think, etc. Tonight's updates will be the major major happenings without much detail because my mind is so fuzzy. I think I should invest in the facial tissue industries!

Plus, several of our regulars here won't be able to make it tonight.

Double whammy.

Here's the blog pool standings presented by the Magnificent Margo:

Mike and Rochelle - Cheryl in NC, Laurie

Aly and Steve - Jackie, SueGee

Matt and Ashley - Delee, Merrilee

Blair and Hayley - Terry in TX, Margo, Chris

Jeffrey and Jackie - Brian, Donna in AL, ORKMommy

Jelani and Jenny - Marlo, Lynn 1, dla

Tyler and Laura - Ed in OH, David, Nickelpeed

PHILIMINATED:

Jeff and Lyda - Jennasmom, Paula Bell, meb

Lebya and CJ - Donna in FL, PDXGranny 

Harley and Jonathan - Becky, Willie J 

Bergen and Kurt - Nana in NW, Rbennie

Teams are headed to Monaco. After a Roadblock with chocolates and flowers, teams are off the Casino Royale in Monte Carlo where they'll gamble to determine their Detour.  

Win by a Nose has them making perfume and cologne.  Don't Slack Off has them ziplining down and walking a rope back up.

Pit Stop Order:

1. Blair and Hayley - Won a trip to South Africa

2. Aly and Steve

3. Mike and Rochelle

4. Matt and Ashley

5. Jelani and Jenn

6. Laura and Tyler

7. Jeff and Jackie -- Philiminated

Next week is a two-hour episode.