Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - May 17, 2015

Good morning! It's Sunday morning. You know what that means. It's time for my off television topic review of the week gone by in both words and photographs I've taken along the way.

Spring finally has its sturdy foothold here in my area of New Jersey. We've had at least one 90 degree day (boo) and a few overnights have been a bit more than chilly. Yet, there has been no mention of snow. Woot, woot!

It's also apparently heavy-duty construction time. I realize that spring always brings about some construction and road projects. But I've never seen so many everywhere like I am this year. In Plainfield, they opened the Park Avenue bridge by the Plainfield Train Station just in time to shut down the Watchung Avenue bridge on the other side of the station and keep traffic north/south crippled and detoured. Things have been going on on East Second Street (which really, really needs repaving -- I almost fell stepping in a pot hole) for the last six weeks or so. Now they're calling East Second Street the detour for East Front Street as they pave and re-line from Watchung Avenue to Terrill Road, thus crippling east/west travel.

Even by my workplace, construction has tied up the roads and they've done some mighty strange reworking of the travel lanes. In one place, it's definitely more dangerous for pedestrians in the crosswalk. In other places, it's going to create traffic issues as they took out lanes.

Here are some random thoughts and observations coming from the past week:

• The railroad bridge work crews use an air horn to get their people off the tracks when trains are coming.
• I'd like an air horn to blast bicycle riders on the sidewalks. Sure, I stand my ground and make them go around me. However, an air horn would be a lot more fun. No bicycling on the sidewalks!
• I feel safe riding the train. In view of the distance covered and the commute time involved, I'd venture to guess my commuter train might hit 60mph or so. We have no curves on my work commute route. Now they're saying that the train in the horrific Philly crash might have been hit by a projectile. I've seen people (mostly kids) do that. Once a rock hit the window by my head. It didn't break the window, but it did make me almost jump out of my seat.
• The Plainfield Police are making people move their parked cars on my street (for repaving) by sitting there with their sirens on early in the morning. That's annoying. Just tow the darn cars. The signs are up all over the place. If they don't get it, they deserve to pay the towing charges.
• I am exhausted. At times I feel my work is crushing my soul. I'd rather work with big cats or other animals. People are draining me dry. I can only hope retirement in a few years is financially doable. Then I can pursue things I enjoy doing and, hopefully, have a more positive outlook. Right now, I'm just too tired to do much other than work, sleep and eat.
• I'm going to go through Letterman withdrawal later this week. Sniffle. The big Survivor three-hour finale/reunion and Letterman's last show air on Wednesday night.

Onto this week's photos -- clicking on an image will bring it up in a larger window gallery thingee ...

Just Chillin'

The Plainfield area skateboard/bicycle-tricks teenage crowd has a new hangout. It looks like a combination skateboard, tattoo and skateboard culture gear store has opened on East Front Street. It's just up the block from their skating "arena" near the Park-Madison complex. Now, if I were a parent, I'd have plenty of worries as these kids never wear safety gear and the tricks they do involve a lot of falling on pavement. As a citizen (and they're not doing it outside my windows at home), I think it's just fine. If these guys are focused on learning new skateboard tricks and having fun ... go for it. It's 100% better than other things they could be doing and what many kids are involved in around town.

Pretty in pink

These have been planted near town homes on East Front Street in Plainfield. Whatever they are, they're certainly very pretty.

I am PIGEON!

A pigeon on North Avenue in Plainfield shows off his impressive wingspan.

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

The Amazing Race 26 - Season Finale Blog Party

 

It's Friday night -- time for The Amazing Race! Tonight we're in for a one-hour season finale with four teams starting the leg. While Mike and Rochelle came in last in the prior leg, they're still in it. However, Phil hinted that one team would be eliminated during the leg last week. I've taken a liking to Mike and Rochelle, but I don't think they can compare physically or perhaps even mentally to the remaining teams. They're the only not blind dates remaining on the show. I would be thrilled if they won the million.

As the show 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

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

Aly and Steve - Jackie, SueGee 

Matt and Ashley - Delee, Merrilee

Let's get this show on the road!

Teams are flying to Dallas. Phil told Mike and Rochelle that a team will be eliminated before the finish line.

Who wants to score? They're at the AT&T Stadium and Mike/Rochelle make it there first! Haley/Blair is last. Fireworks, marching band, Mike on the Jumbo Screen. They have to do football stuff (technical term on my part) first hanging up in the air. Somehow Jelani is getting the clue in the air last.

Tyler and Laura get through it first. 

Now Hayley/Blair are in the lead. They head to a ranch and ride horses to drive cattle. 

Sigh. Rochelle/Mike's taxi wouldn't wait at the stadium and now their new cab has to go out of the way for gas. Meanwhile, the other teams are all at the ranch. 

Sigh even more. Phil greets Mike and Rochelle and Philiminates them. They take it well and their relationship seems stronger for the experience. 

Teams have to go to a tower, climb and rappel down. While going down the team member has to locate the clue.

Heh. It looks like Hayley got them lost. Yay! Laura and Jill do the rappel together and spot flags -- the real next clue.

There are monster trucks they have ride through a bog pit, then a memory test. Right now Laura and Tyler are in the lead. In the memory test, they get locations, come up with the leg number and open a lock. 

Hayley is redoing the rappel and spots the red and yellow flags. 

Jelani/Jill get the lock first. They then have to place several dozen selfies on the map. Laura and Tyler are stumped on the lock. 

Laura and Tyler finish it first and are driving their monster truck back through the bog. They have the clue for the finish line. Jelani and Jill are coming behind them.

YES! Tyler and Laura win The Amazing Race!

2. Jelani and Jenny

3. Hayley and Blair

All blind date couples winning.

Survivor: Worlds Apart - May 13 Blog Party

Survivor fans ready?

Mike no longer has an idol and everyone knows it. Dan still has his two vote advantage and a few people know about that thanks to Tyler (booted last week). Carolyn still has an idol and no one knows it except Tyler who's off relaxing at the Ponderosa. We still have six castaways going into tonight's penultimate episode. Next week's (Wednesday night) season finale is to be two hours followed by the hour-long reunion show. (Followed by Letterman's last show later on!)

Will they oust Mike? Perhaps blindside Dan tonight? I just don't know. 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! And, as always, please join in on the party down in the comments area. Bring snacks ... and cold beverages, please!

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

Carolyn - Jackie, TerryinTX
Dan - Brian, CherylinNC 
Mike - meb, Nickelpeed 
Rodney - Margo 
Sierra - Jennasmom 
Will - Rbennie 

Jury
Hali 
Joe
Jenn
Shirin
Tyler

Let's get started!

Mike knows he won't last long without either an Immunity idol or winning Immunity each challenge. Carolyn wants to keep Mike as an ally option and focus on getting Dan out. She tells Mike about Dan's extra vote advantage.

Rewards Challenge - Two teams, race obstacles, untie knots, hatchet ropes, all leading to a puzzle. It's a helicopter tour of Nicaragua and a feast. Rodney whines more at Jeff's prompting.

Both teams are stumped on the puzzle. They're both stumped still at an hour into the puzzle. Finally Carolyn, Mike and Will win Reward. Rodney is out AGAIN. Heh. Carolyn is the one who finally realized what the puzzle clue was ... now she's on the fence about giving Rodney his turn. Nope. She keeps it for herself. Good for her! He hasn't won it!

Rodney whines and whines about Carolyn not giving him her Reward. Meanwhile, Dan finds some unknown watermelon-like fruit and wins both Rodney's and Sierra's favor. 

Tree mail hints that good hand, eye, coordination and patience will be virtues in the next Immunity Challenge. Mike is trying to scheme. He tells Sierra of Dan's advantage. But she also doesn't want to be with Mike at the end -- everyone is afraid of that. 

Immunity Challenge time. Retrieve three bags with grappling hooks. Bags contain balls. Solve a table maze. Mike WINS IMMUNITY! (And he needs it.)

Dan pushes the Carolyn must go move. Meanwhile, they're thinking it's Dan that should go.

Will Carolyn heed the warning from Mike that Will, Dan and Rodney will be voting for her to go?

It's Tribal Council time. They're not showing any of the votes.

Dan uses his advantage -- two votes.  He goes off to cast his second vote. I'd say Carolyn needs to use her idol. YES! She plays it! Dan and Rodney don't look too happy.

The tally --
Carolyn, Carolyn, Carolyn, Carolyn, Carolyn, Dan, Dan.

HA! Dan is gone!

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - May 10, 2015

Good Sunday morning to you! And, my best wishes for a happy Mother's Day to all! You've reached my weekly off television topic reflection on the week gone by in both words and photos I've taken along the way. Be sure to return on Wednesday evening for Survivor and then Friday night for The Amazing Race finale blog parties!

Some rather random thoughts and observations from this past week:

• I think I'm going to have to start wearing one of those surgical masks like many do in Japan. I seem to catch every bug going around the last few years. I had a stomach virus in the beginning of the week. The general public really needs to stop breathing on me!
• Along the lines of health (or lack thereof) -- they're dubbing this season the Pollen Tsunami. Achoo. Sniffle, sniffle.
• A 3,500 pound great white shark named Mary Lee has been swimming along the New Jersey shore. They've had a tracker on her since 2012. She hasn't attacked anyone ... yet. Cue the cello and get a bigger boat!
• Spring and autumn beauty passes way too quickly while winter white and drab lasts forever and summer seems to get stuck in time as well.
• I'm loving the nightly old clips on Letterman. I'm so going to miss him when he retires on May 20. The special this past Monday evening brought back many fond and funny memories. I wonder if he might have Richard Simmons back before the finale?
• My cat Vincent is way too spoiled. Too late to change things now!
• There's a ton of construction going on everywhere this spring -- Plainfield, Bound Brook, Bridgewater. I swear they must have save projects for a few years and then decided to do them all now. In my neighborhood, they redid all of the curb cuts. At work, they redid the entire road, curb cuts and installed a new sidewalk (for the first time). With all this road work going on in Plainfield, they seriously need to address some of the sidewalks.

That's about it. Onto the photos! Clicking on an image will bring up a larger version in a gallery.

There's been a horrible accident

Or ... was it a double flamingocide? Two fallen pink flamingos on a lawn at the corner of Richmond and East Front in Plainfield. Could the survivor be the murderer? I don't know. We should leave it up to the authorities and a jury of his peers.

Pink Azaleas

In the pink azaleas, the anthers boast an almost metallic look. No wonder bees don't seem to be attracted to them as much as some other flowers.

Pretty in purple-blue

Growing in a flower bed contraption outside of a mental health clinic on Roosevelt Street in Plainfield. I'd say flowers are good for mental health.

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

The Amazing Race 26 - May 8 Blog Party

 

It's Friday night -- time for The Amazing Race! Tonight is the penultimate show of the season, with the finale airing next Friday in the regular 8pm time slot.

As the show 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

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

Aly and Steve - Jackie, SueGee 

Matt and Ashley - Delee, Merrilee

Let's get this show on the road! Teams are headed to the lower altitude area of Peru where they must search South America's largest mosaic tile wall with a magnifying glass to find their next clue.

Detour - Perform a national dance or make bricks for archeologists.

Mike and Rochelle are the only real dating couple -- not blind daters -- remaining in the race. I've grown to like them. Although unlikely, I would love to see them win.  Their car to the wall is not a healthy car. Fingers crossed for them! Uh-oh. Laura and Tyler, the last team to leave the Pit Stop, passed them. I do like Laura and Tyler, though. If I had my druthers, it would be one of the other two teams going home. I'm not keen on either Hayley or Jenny.

Hayley and Blair actually worked well together in the brick making/delivery detour and are in the lead. Mike and Rochelle are running last. 

Roadblock - Who wants to ride a seahorse? Has them going through the surf on a native handmade boat doohickey. 

Hayley and Blair are on the way to the Pit Stop. If Hayley had all season been as pleasant as she's been on this leg, I'd like her.

But I don't and she was nasty! 

It's looking dismal for Rochelle and Mike. They switched from bricks to dancing and are definitely trailing.  

Pit Stop --

1. Hayley and Blair - won a trip for two to India 

2. Jelani and Jenny 

Mike and Rochelle are finally on the way to the Roadblock while Laura and Tyler are finishing it up. 

3. Laura and Tyler 

4. Mike and Rochelle

HOWEVER, YOUR RACE IS NOT OVER! Whoopie! The final leg starts right now! They're still in it, but a team will be Philiminated before the finish line.