The Amazing Race 27: October 9 Blog Party

I see you remembered the show is on tonight! I'm expecting a light turn-out as a few of our regulars can't make it tonight. Darn that Friday night time slot!

As the show airs here tonight, I'll be updating 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!

The latest blog pool update as per The Marvelous Margo --

Cindy and Rick #ChacAttack - Donna in AL, Donna in FL, Jennasmom, Sharon N
Denise and James Earl #TeamAlabama - Becky, Ginniejulie, ORKMommy, Willie J
Ernest and Jin #TheDancers - Glenn, Marlo, Nancerella, Russ
Jazmine and Danielle #TheTrackStars - Joanie, LafayetteLisanne, Margo, Merrilee
Justin and Diana #TheGreenTeam - Chauncey, Cherry Pie, Monty924, Nickelpeed
Kelsey and Joey #TheReporters - beachmom, ChicMc, David, Grandi in MD,
Logan and Chris #ThePaparazzi - Delee, PDX Granny, Rbennie, SueGee
Tanner and Josh #TeamTexas - Buzzmaam, chrob61, meb, ML
Tiffany and Krista #TheCheerleaders - Brenda, Brian, Cheryl in NC, Ed in OH, Nana in NW

Philiminated
TMZ girls (not in pool)
Adam and Alex #TheCousins -Anonymouse, DKNYNC, Jackie, Kelsey, Sharon C

Ready? Let's GO! 

Teams are headed to rural town in Argentina. Josh and Tanner have the added problem of Tanner's injured hamstring. Or is it Josh's injured hamstring? One or the other! 

Josh and Tanner keep up their campaign against Justin and Diana. Now they're promising the unused Express Pass (after they use one) to whatever team U-Turns them. 

Roadblock: Gaucho Grill. Who is smoking hot? Hanging racks of beef to be flame-grilled. It looks like street fair food I see in NYC! 

Oh. It's Josh's injured hamstring. Thanks to Tanner calling him by name. 

Josh and Tanner are done first. The dancers are the only ones not at the Roadblock yet. Joey and Kelsey through. Justin's cockiness has cost him. Chacattack passed them. Justin finally made it through the Roadblock.

Detour: Horse or Carriage. Polo or detail a carriage. Both entail delivering their horse or horse and carriage to get their next clue. The polo horses they have to dress are fake.

Uh-oh -- everyone is through with the Roadblock and Ernest and Jin haven't gotten there yet! ChacAttack has to go back because they didn't read their clue and they need to retrieve a buggy whip.

Whoa! The dancers got the meat done on the first try! Will they have a chance? (I like them.)

Teams seem to be getting lost on the way to the Pit Stop.

Pit Stop:
1. Tanner and Josh - won a trip to Cambodia
2. Justin and Diana
Phil warns of a Double U-Turn as he knows the two teams are in contention.  
3. Kelsey and Joey 
4. Jazmine and Danielle
5. Denise and James Earl -- 30 minute penalty because Denise shouted out what James needed to do in Roadblock. 

Tiffany and Krista forgot the whip to their carriage and have to go back for it. 

5. Logan and Chris take over the spot.
6. Denise and James Earl 
7. Cindy and Rick
8. Tiffany and Krista
9, Ernest and Jin -- Philiminated. (Sigh.)

Survivor: Cambodia, Second Chance - October 7 Blog Party

Survivor fans ready? 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 -- come join in on the fun!

To remind folks, Lifeguard Laurie has made the random picks for the blog pool and here they are:

Bayon Tribe
Andrew Savage - Jennasmom, JoyzJenn, Silk
Ciera Eastin - chrob61, Jackie, Russ
Jeremy Collins - Brian, meb, Nickelpeed
Joe Anglim - Delee, Mother Guru, PDX Granny
Kass McQuillen - Donna NY, Marlo, Petals
Keith Nale - Tammy, gaylos, Margo
Kimmi Kappenberg - Glenn, Nana in the NW, Rbennie
Monica Padilla - ChicMC, Kelsey, sanra
Stephen Fishbach - Brenda, Matt, Rochelle
Tasha Fox - Donna in AL, Jennamom, Stephanie in Baltimore

Takeo Tribe 
Abi-Maria Gomes - Nobody is stuck with her!
Jeff Varner - Donna in FL, Linda in MA, SueGee
Kelley Wentworth - monty 924, Grandi, RENOthunder
Kelly Wiglesworth - ML, Sharon N, Indiana Jane
Peih-Gee Law - Becky, David, Joanie,
Spencer Bledsoe - Ellen vdW, Nancerella, Terry is a Texan
Terry Deitz - Anonymouse, Merrilee, ORKMommy
Woo Hwang - Ed in Ohio, LafayetteLisanne, Laurie

Out
Vytas Baskauskas 
Shirin Oskooi - Cheryl in NC, Kelly D, Sharon C

Tonight we'll see them break into three tribes and witness how that shakes 'em up. Woot woot! 

Spencer tries to work himself back into the good graces of his tribe while Terry Dietz might be just a bit too smug.

Uh-oh. Right to a Jeff. Drop your buffs. Switching tribes -- two tribes to three tribes. Three tribes of six, one has to build a new camp and all. They each select a box which, upon direction from Jeff, they open to find buffs.

Bayon - Spencer, Kimmi, Stephen Fishbach, Monica, Jeremy, Kelly Wiglesworth.

Angkor - Woo, Savage, Tasha, Abi, Jeff Varner, Peih-Gee 

Takeo - Cier, Joe, Kass, Keith, Kelley Wentworth and Terry Deitz.

For the most part, many are happy with the switch-up. We'll see how long that lasts!

Heh. Spencer is trying something new with this new tribe -- he's trying to show feelings and form bonds. He opens up to Jeremy, a good choice.

Tasha thinks the friction between Abi and Peih-gee will work in her favor. She works on Abi. She also plays up to Varner and Savage. Savage is a bit leery of their promise to get him as far as jury.

Fishbach and buddies start an idol search. Jeremy finds a clue to the idol -- set up like the one Kelley found during an Immunity Challenge.

Immunity Challenge time. Push cart, keys, chests, disassemble and reassemble cart, complete puzzle. Losing tribe goes to Tribal. Two are safe. Jeremy pocketed his idol without being seen.

Takeo wins Immunity! Bayon wins Immunity! Angkor heading to Tribal. Unrest with Angkor with Tasha yelling there's a rat. Jeff was her target. Now it's hard feelings between Woo, Tasha, Savage and Jeff. Meanwhile, no one is noticing Abi Maria. Oy.

Andrew Savage uses the Varner meltdown to better his position as he was sure he was a goner. Abi Maria talks with Tasha and agrees to vote out Varner. She's not so sure that's the right move. Abi-Maria goes on to alienate Peih-Gee and Woo. Hmm. The Jeff vote-out is getting foggier. Now it looks like it might swing towards Abi. Maybe Tasha? Nah.

Tribal Council time! Varner claims that Andrew and Tasha are in charge of the votes. Abi votes Peih-Gee and vice versa.

The tally -- Abi, Peih-Gee, Abi, Peih-Gee, Peih-Gee, Peih-Gee

Abi-Maria stays, Peih-Gee is gone.

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - October 3, 2015

Good morning! Welcome to my weekly off television topic reflection of the week gone by in both words and photographs I've taken along the way. I'll be posting about television soon. I promise!

This week started out very nicely ... and then went downhill.

On Sunday, I went to neighboring Westfield for my first visit to their 26th Annual FestFall street(s) fair. Wow. They know how to put on a street fair! Most of their downtown business section, made up of several streets, was involved. There were foods of every kind imaginable, crafts booths, bakery booths, even a Polska Kielbasa booth! At least two streets were dedicated to children with rides, activities and booths with stuff kids enjoy. Local businesses had sales. There was an artist who does drawings and paintings of your home. His work was truly detailed. There were civic groups and a local ski club I knew nothing about. I haven't skied since moving to New Jersey after being a ski addict for years.

There was something for everyone there -- something I feel lacking in Plainfield street fairs. Almost everything street fair I've attended in the downtown area has seemed focused on either hip hop or Hispanic and definitely geared more towards the young crowd. Sure, I have missed some street fairs because I work on Saturdays. The FestiFall is on Sundays, a day off (usually) for me. But we don't have anything this huge with something for everyone to enjoy all in one fair, either.

On Monday I got good news at work. So, the start of the week went well.

Then came the downhill -- bad weather, constant rain and a virus going around my workplace caught me. Gah. I'm still under the weather, both figuratively and literally. Okay, my roof is under the weather more so than I am. However, it's still grey, cloudy, rainy and windy here. Due to the bad weather and the fact that I haven't felt well, my photos this week ended up being mostly the Westfield FestiFall. Oh, well.

Clicking on an image will bring it up in a larger version.

Proving once again ...

... that flowers DO bend with the rainfall.

It made me want to be 10 again

They didn't have stuff like this when I was ten years old! One side has a rock-climbing wall, but it's the bungee/trampoline side that's so cool! The kids sit in harnesses and bounce off the trampolines high up in the air. They can do all kinds of acrobatic feats. I wanted to do it. I refrained.

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

The Amazing Race 27 - October 2 Blog Party

I see you remembered the show is on tonight! Er, either that or you're looking in after the police broke up the wild blog party!

As the show airs here tonight, I'll be updating 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!

The Marvelous Margo (quite possibly with Mom) has made the blog pool match-ups --

Adam and Alex #TheCousins -Anonymouse, DKNYNC, Jackie, Kelsey, Sharon C
Cindy and Rick #ChacAttack - Donna in AL, Donna in FL, Jennasmom, Sharon N
Denise and James Earl #TeamAlabama - Becky, Ginniejulie, ORKMommy, Willie J
Ernest and Jin #TheDancers - Glenn, Marlo, Nancerella, Russ
Jazmine and Danielle #TheTrackStars - Joanie, LafayetteLisanne, Margo, Merrilee
Justin and Diana #TheGreenTeam - Chauncey, Cherry Pie, Monty924, Nickelpeed
Kelsey and Joey #TheReporters - beachmom, ChicMc, David, Grandi in MD,
Logan and Chris #ThePaparazzi - Delee, PDX Granny, Rbennie, SueGee
Tanner and Josh #TeamTexas - Buzzmaam, chrob61, meb, ML
Tiffany and Krista #TheCheerleaders - Brenda, Brian, Cheryl in NC, Ed in OH, Nana in NW

The TMZ gals were Philiminated last week and aren't a part of the blog pool. I don't believe any of us shed any tears about them leaving.

Are you ready to race? 

Teams are headed to Buenos Aires, Argentina. They have to find the church where Pope Francis was baptized. A few of the teams are working together using strangers' phones to find the information. This is as they wait at the airport. Tanner and Josh are NOT working with Justin and Diana. They don't trust them and think they're a strong team they need to beat.

At the right church, they have to wait and will get admitted in the order of arrival. Stunningly gorgeous church!

Justin and Diana get there first. Detour -- Cartenaros or Fletero -- loading and carting cardboard or transporting a statue. Most are choosing cartenaros because, as one person put it, it's finite. But there are only eight openings for that. Jazmine and Danielle can't do the recycling cardboard. A few other teams are already doing the statue -- they have to put it back together once delivered.

Justin and Diana are maintaining their lead and are the first done. They gave their cart to Jazmine and Danielle. Logan and Chris are second.

Roadblock - Must learn a Tilted Tango. Oh my. It's a tango done on the wall. "Who wants to get sideways?" They are suspended with rappel wires.

Justin and Diana are headed to the Pit Stop after Diana nailed the tango. Justin is a bit loud in his exuberance which is ticking off the other teams some. Logan and Chris are on their tails. The alpha male team is not doing so well at the tango. Ah, they made it through.

Pit Stop:
1. Justin and Diana - also win a trip to Morocco.  
2. Josh and Tanner - Josh injured his leg in a footrace
3. Denise and James
4. Logan and Chris 
5. Cindy and Rick
6. Tiffany and Krista 
7. Kelsey and Joey 
8. Jazmine and Danielle
9. Jin and Ernest 
10. Alex and Adam ... Philiminated

Aw, there goes my blog pool team. I won't have trouble finding another team to cheer on on my own. And, it won't be Josh and Tanner. 

The Amazing Race 27: Blog Pool Match-Ups Revealed!

Do NOT forget -- the show airs tomorrow (Friday) night at 8pm ET/PT!

The Marvelous Margo (quite possibly with Mom) has made the blog pool match-ups! Cheer on your team as they race tomorrow night!

Adam and Alex #TheCousins -Anonymouse, DKNYNC, Jackie, Kelsey, Sharon C
Cindy and Rick #ChacAttack - Donna in AL, Donna in FL, Jennasmom, Sharon N
Denise and James Earl #TeamAlabama - Becky, Ginniejulie, ORKMommy, Willie J
Ernest and Jin #TheDancers - Glenn, Marlo, Nancerella, Russ
Jazmine and Danielle #TheTrackStars - Joanie, LafayetteLisanne, Margo, Merrilee
Justin and Diana #TheGreenTeam - Chauncey, Cherry Pie, Monty924, Nickelpeed
Kelsey and Joey #TheReporters - beachmom, ChicMc, David, Grandi in MD,
Logan and Chris #ThePaparazzi - Delee, PDX Granny, Rbennie, SueGee
Tanner and Josh #TeamTexas - Buzzmaam, chrob61, meb, ML
Tiffany and Krista #TheCheerleaders - Brenda, Brian, Cheryl in NC, Ed in OH, Nana in NW

May the best team (Adam and Alex) hit the Welcome Mat first in this leg!
Oh, yes. That's the team I have in the pool. So, I can do that.