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

I hope everyone is having a fine Sunday morning! Since it is indeed Sunday (and even still morning), welcome to my weekly off television topic reflection on the past week in both words and photos I've taken along the way. If you're looking for the latest Big Brother postings, they can be found via this link right here. The show and live feeds only last three months while this off topic weekly post is year 'round. You are free to skip over it if you wish!

It's really hot, hazy and humid here this weekend although we had a few beautiful dry and reasonable temperature days during the week. Once again, my windows are closed and the air conditioning is on. It was nice while it lasted! Today we're back to heat advisories and air quality warnings. I believe I'll stay in all day.

I saw my downstairs neighbor for the first time since the Screaming Child Thumping Family neighbors moved downstairs next to him. He says they're horrible. I knew that. I doubt their lease will be renewed in February. He also complained to me that they raised his rent $40 more a month. Hmm. I didn't tell him mine only went up $5 again. I think they want him out, too. I find it disturbing that he told me he had a kitchen fire due to leaving food cooking on the stove -- a grease fire that destroyed his cabinets over the oven and damaged the wall. I didn't know about that. He doesn't have renter's insurance (which we're supposed to have) and the landlord is suing him for $3,000 in damages. He also keeps sneaking in dogs against the No Pets rules; I have special grandfathering for Vincent. To be honest, if he's getting that careless (he's had a stroke, heart issues and more and yet likes his alcohol a bit), I'd rather he move.  His case worker is working on finding him a new place. Mind you, he's a few years younger than I am and hasn't worked in the ten years or more that I've known him!

That said, I myself have set off the smoke/carbon monoxide detector in my apartment while cooking. But there was never any fire! It's just a touchy alarm! And, I've never set off the main building fire alarm! The only thing I ever leave cooking while I'm not in the apartment is my slow cooker on low. They're made for that kind of thing and I make sure nothing is near it on the counter. I do have renter's insurance but have no desire to use it.

Onto this week's photos -- clicking on an image will give you a larger version.

Islamic Center at night

When I arrived at the Plainfield Train Station very late on Monday night, I saw the Islamic Center on North Avenue was all lighted up and folks were coming and going. Ramadan ended on Friday with Eid al-Fitr -- thus breaking the month-long fast from sun up to sundown for Muslims.

Plainfield Train Station busker?

I didn't see any obvious place to leave tips, so he might not be a busker. Plus, the Plainfield Train Station is not a good place to earn tip money. Yet, there he was, playing his keyboard and he was actually pretty decent. It was kind of refreshing to get off the train to peaceful organ music and not walk through a crowd of drunken bums using the outlets to charge their phones.

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

Big Brother 17: Live Feeds Overnight into Sunday - July 19

Will he stay off the block?

Despite last night's PoV comp, won by Vanessa, and the uncertainty it brings about, there was some fun overnight in the BB17 house. Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of Dancers and Pranksters:

• After everybody cleaned off the paint from the PoV comp, they were summoned to the HoH room.
• It's Have Nots again after a week's respite!
• Jackie, Becky, John and Audrey are the unlucky ones -- none of them have been Have Nots before.
• They get gravy with their slop, lucky devils!
• As a punishment from the BotB comp -- John, Jason and Liz have to do song and dance routines (while wearing white) as a bad 90s boy band.
• And, yes, they're so bad.
• But it's funny.
• Much better than watching Shelli cry.
• Audrey thinks Vanessa won't use the veto and the nominations will remain the same. 
• Of course, that goes with her hope that Jason goes home.
• Jason thinks that Vanessa will do whatever Shelli wants her to do with it.
• Of course, he's thinking he'll be saved and Audrey will go on the block.
• Meanwhile, Vanessa definitely wants to use the veto to save Jason.
• Now we just have to see if Shelli has the guts to put Audrey up.
• Jason thinks the only "ally" he has in the house is Meg and, if he were voting between himself and Johnny Mac, he himself would vote to keep Johnny Mac.
• Confuse you with that one?
• No?
• I'll have to try harder.
• Audrey thinks that, if Vanessa does use the veto, the replacement nominee will be Steve.
• Gosh, I hope not!
• I personally would prefer Jackie going, but she's safe from nomination this week due to winning the BotB.
• If I were in the house, I'd probably move to get either Audrey or Lizia out. With the latter because it's two for the price of one and that much closer to a win for me.
• As the night waned on, James and Audrey pulled pranks with James in the trash bag in the storage room.
• First, Audrey called in Lizia and felt she had to tell her that James had such a crush on her. Thankfully, Lizia reacted with "Oh, he's so adorable," not "That ugly little creep! I hate him!"
• Then he made his trash bag move! She spilled her drink and everything.
• Then he got Steve really good while Austin was in there.
• Jackie didn't fall for it as well as the others. She didn't get close to the bag and he accidentally moved.
• Remember kids ... trash bags are not play toys! James could suffocate!

Pranksters Audrey and James

Whackstreet Boys

Performing live in the BB House

Jus' restin' his eyes a moment

Table for one, please

Big Brother 17: Live Feeds Saturday, PoV - July 17

Meg with fruit

Here's the latest from today inside that Big Brother House of Froot Loops:

• Clay is pushing a Jason Off the Block, Audrey Up Movement.
• Shelli cries.
• And cries some more.
• Sheesh. If she didn't want to win HOH and have the responsibility, why didn't she throw it?
• Audrey wants Jason out. Still.
• Audrey cried.
• Austin did not cry. At least, not that I witnessed.
• Chelli is a bit leery of Austin, but don't think it's time for him to go. Yet.
• Shelli cried some more.
• After a feeds block, they had to get into white costumes for some sort of punishment from the Battle of the Block. 
• BB doesn't allow them to have white clothes.
• They're contradicting themselves!
• Shelli cried some more. She and Clay (Chelli) talked about how "pissed" Vanessa is.
• Hmm.
• They said Shelli has to do what's best for her game.
• Hmm.
• Ah, it's because Shelli apparently agreed to Clay's wish of putting Audrey as a backdoor.
• Commence waffling now.
• "If you don't do it, I'll do it next week," says Clay ... as if he actually wins anything ever.
• Playing for veto are Lizia, John and Jason along with Meg, Vanessa and James. Steve is hosting.
• Before the feeds were cut for the PoV comp, Shelli was still waffling over the Audrey backdoor. She called it a "mob mentality" going after Audrey.
• Shouldn't that be good for her own game? As in no one other than Audrey would be upset?
• Finally, the feeds are back after the comp.
• Vanessa won the Power of Veto! And, it was messy. It sounds like the blowing up bombs and get paint all over you redone.

Lizia, actually Julia right now

Are we boring you, Austin?

Waiting on a comp

I think it's Johnny Mac

Cleaning up after PoV comp

Big Brother 17: Live Feeds Overnight into Saturday - July 18

Oh my, Audrey

So, after the Battle of the Block was done and over with, Shelli remains HoH and Jason/Johnny Mac remain on the block. Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of Talk Talk:

• I'm not sure if Johnny Mac threw it or not -- Clay told him to, Shelli told him he could play to win.
• I don't think Shelli wanted to be in the position of power again.
• She hates deciding things.
• Plus, she has Clay telling her to do things which are Clay's things he wants to do, not necessarily what she wants.
• Gee, if Clay wants to be HoH, why doesn't he win it? Win something. Make himself useful instead of ornamental!
• Audrey cried. She's sure she's in danger.
• I guess it must be time for her to plant more seeds of insecurity!
• Clay told her not to worry, she's safe.
• I'm so happy he's HoH again this week! He's my hero!
• Gag.
• Shelli herself (remember Shelli? the actual HoH?) told Vanessa that she trusts Johnny Mac and tried to convince her to do the same.
• There was a very brief power outage there. Not sure what that was all about. But it made them panic for a moment!
• Clay keeps pushing Shelli to backdoor Audrey.
• Wait.
• Isn't he the one who's been reassuring Audrey that she's safe?
• The two mysterious hinky votes speculation saga continues.
• Audrey cries some more.
• Jason, demanding HoH talk time, pretty much kicked Audrey out of the HoH room so he could plead his case.
• His personal targets are Audrey, Steve and Austin.
• He thinks he needs to come off the block instead of Johnny Mac because he's in more danger of going home.
• Well, yeah. That was the original plan!
• (That he would go home and Johnny Mac would remain in the house.)
• He also made a case for getting Lizia out before the twin enters to play -- an additional person would make it to the jury.
• Shelli was receptive to the Jason pleadings. She told him she would put someone who's more likely to go home next to him if he remains on the block.
• Now, who could that be?
• Audrey started planting anti-Austin seeds with Shelli.
• Hmm.

Rabid Steve?

Making Austin jealous?

Gonna have to scramble

SO TIRED OF CLAY BEING THERE!

Becky who?

Who's that new dude?

Big Brother 17: Live Feeds Battle of the Block Bulletin - July 17

Jackie and James won the Battle of the Block. Liz is dethroned. Shelli (or, Chelli) remains the HoH with John and Jason on the block.

It was very messy. Jackie threw up. It was smelly, too.

There ya go.