Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - October 18, 2015

Good morning! It's Sunday, so it's time for my weekly off television review of the week gone by in both words and photographs I've taken along the way. I've really been hit hard by a vicious cold since about Wednesday or so, so this will be a bit short and sweet.

Random thoughts on the week:

• I'm so tired of being sick. I blame the general public for breathing on me.
• We were set for our first freeze of the season overnight last night. I think we got it.
• Not that I could tell inside my apartment. I had to get up and turn down the heat as it got so warm in here.
• Of course, that might also have to do with my not feeling well.
• But it felt like an oven! Wah!
• For the second week in a row, my Sunday morning Courier News didn't come. This is ridiculous. Today I checked for it at 6am and every half-hour since. I doubt it was stolen this week. They credit my account mere pennies claiming I can read it online. But I don't have the inserts and lose out on using coupons (many of which Peapod doubles) in my grocery shopping. 
• We're getting some fall foliage colors now, but nowhere near peak.
• I think I need more colds meds.

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

Church steeple at sunset

Wednesday early evening, East Front Street in Plainfield.

Sneaker salesman

Business must be slow. I saw this get-up on East Front Street in Plainfield. I was a bit dismayed that it was just a rack of sneakers underneath.

It's definitely mums season

This mums shot and the ones that follow after the jump were all taken of planters lining a porch on Berckman Street in Plainfield.

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

The Amazing Race 27: October 16 Episode Blog Party

Hi, everybody! 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!

I'm thinking tonight could very well be a non-Philimination leg. We know there's a Double U-Turn ahead and that the Texans are gunning for Justin. This could be very interesting!

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
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
Ernest and Jin #TheDancers - Glenn, Marlo, Nancerella, Russ

Ready? Let's GO! 

Tanner and Josh continue to push for other teams to use the Double U-Turn on Justin and Diana, promising them the Express Pass. Teams are heading to Zambia with the first flight only holding four teams. There's a fifteen minute difference. Justin and Diana and Texas make it on the first flight.

Roadblock - Who wants to rise above the smoke that thunders? Riding a glider motorized thingee to find a clue over Victoria Falls. Josh and Tanner use their Express Pass. 

Justin approaches Joey for an alliance. Of course, Joey and Kelsey are also in on the U-Turn Justin and Diana plan, too. 

The Texans go from Zambia to Zimbabwe. They really screwed up. They used the Express Pass before the Roadblock, now have to wait for 8am to get the next clue (or Detour). Ha. 

Double Ha. The Texans and Justin/Diana are both the only teams going at 8am. The next team got an 8:10am key. Huh. Both teams promise not to U-Turn each other.

Detour: Co-op or Croquet. Staining and polishing a native ornamental giraffe or playing croquet. James Earl pronounces it "crokette."

Justin and Diana get through first and get a clue to head to the Pit Stop at an orphanage. Josh and Tanner are on the heels and now both teams are kind of even looking for taxis.

Justin and Diana do NOT use the U-Turn. They make it to the Pit Stop first and donate all they have.

Pit Stop ...
Still racing and and get a clue to carry on.

Josh and Tanner do not use the U-Turn and have respect for Justin and Diana for not using it on them.

Phil tells them they need to decide NOW who will get their second Express Pass.

Of course, it's not NOW and it's to be continued next week.

Survivor: Cambodia, Second Chance - October 14 Blog Party

I hope you all brought snacks and tasty beverages! 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!

Lifeguard Laurie's Pool Update:
Bayon -
Spencer Bledsoe - Ellen vdW, Nancerella, Terry is a Texan
Kimmi Kappenberg - Glenn, Nana in the NW, Rbennie
Stephen Fishbach - Brenda, Matt, Rochelle
Monica Padilla - ChicMC, Kelsey, sanra
Jeremy Collins - Brian, meb, Nickelpeed
Kelly Wiglesworth - ML, Sharon N, Indiana Jane

Angkor -
Woo Hwang - Ed in Ohio, LafayetteLisanne, Laurie
Andrew Savage - Jennasmom, JoyzJenn, Silk
Tasha Fox - Donna in AL, Jennamom, Stephanie in Baltimore
Abi-Maria Gomes - No body is stuck with her!
Jeff Varner - Donna in FL, Linda in MA, SueGee

Takeo -
Ciera Eastin - chrob61, Jackie, Russ
Joe Anglim - Delee, Mother Guru, PDX Granny
Kass McQuillen - Donna NY, Marlo, Petals
Keith Nale - Tammy, gaylos, Margo
Kelley Wentworth - monty 924, Grandi, RENOthunder
Terry Deitz - Anonymouse, Merrilee, ORKMommy

Out
Vytas Baskauskas
Shirin Oskooi - Cheryl in NC, Kelly D, Sharon C
Peih-Gee Law - Becky, David, Joanie

Survivor fans ready?

Jeff is thrilled he didn't get one vote, but now he feels indebted to them for keeping him. Sasha is working a movement against him behind his back, though. Abi-Maria wants to target Woo because he's voted for her twice. Savage thinks Abi is unpredictable. Y'think?

Jeremy is happy to have his idol and claims he won't tell anyone about it. Let's see if he keeps with that.

Angkor is lamenting on their camp (or lack thereof) -- no resources, no real shelter, nothing.

It's Reward Challenge time. They have to race out running/swimming, retrieve bags, then launch them into a net by jumping on a plank. The Reward is a BBQ set, the next tribe winning a smaller set. They choose who has to run for the bags. Savage wins it for Angkor! Dietz wins second place for Takeo.

It does look like Takeo is living in the lap of luxury, resting in their hammocks. Kass read 'How to Win Friends and Influence People' thinking it would help her do better this season. Meanwhile, some don't trust her when she's merely making a birthday gift for someone else.

On Bayon, Spencer is throwing Kelly Wiglesworth under the bus to make himself more in with the others. Those two are the only two from their tribe on the new tribe.

Immunity is up for grabs again! Blindfolded with one tribe person calling out commands for them collect puzzle pieces. Bayon wins Immunity! Takeo wins Immunity! It's back to Tribal Council for Angkor for the second time in a row.

Tasha is still working her agenda to get Jeff Varner out. Jeff thinks he might have Abi's support. Woo is trying to get back in Abi's good graces. Hmm. Oh my gosh ... everyone is catering to Abi's whims ... including Tasha! Heck, they should just all vote Abi out!

TC has Woo and Varner vying against each other for the stay. Woo has the physical side while Varner has the loyalty edge.

The tally --
Jeff, Woo, Jeff, Jeff.

Jeff Varner is out.

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - October 11, 2015

Good Sunday morning to y'all! I hope all is well with you. Welcome to my weekly off television topic reflection on the week gone by in both words and photos I've taken along the way. Remember -- on Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm ET, I post live updates on Survivor and The Amazing Race respectively. If you watch the show(s), this blog is the place to comment on them with fellow show fans! It's really a great bunch of folks and the internet trolls have learned their comments are deleted practically as they post them. If you're looking for a fun place to discuss either show, please feel free to stop by one of the blog parties ... and bring snacks!

Because I have a lot to say in the photo paragraphs, it's random notes in this beginning of the post:

• I'm ready to welcome back The Walking Dead tonight and Fargo tomorrow. Well, the latter I'll watch on Tuesday. 
• I obviously have problems staying totally television topic free in these posts, huh?
• Although this time of year is my favorite weather of all, I'm dismayed by the shortening of the daylight hours. It's staying dark so long in the mornings and the sun is setting way too early in the evening. Wah.
• Now I remember how the extended power outage in Sandy taught me to make the most of the hours during which there is daylight.
• Someone stole my Sunday newspaper today or it wasn't delivered. That hasn't happened in months now. I'm assuming stolen rather than not delivered. We have new tenants in the front of the building. I guess I have to start going out for my paper before 6am once again to keep it from being stolen. Sigh. Wah. I'm usually awake at that hour, but not really wanting to throw clothes on and go downstairs and to the front of the building.
• If I ever saw the actual newspaper delivery guy, I'd see if I could get him to toss it up on my fire escape. Then I wouldn't have to get dressed to go get it and no one could steal it! With my luck he'd throw it up on the neighbor's fire escape.
• I've noticed the Super Mario (not the game, the superintendent) has been working seven days a week lately rehabbing some apartments as people move out. My wing remains the same with long-term tenants, but the front apartments have a higher turnover. I saw a boxed new toilet in the elevator. I want one!
• I was fighting the virus that seems to be going around well into the week this past week. I think my immunity to such things seems to be decreasing as I get older.
• I don't know my own strength -- I broke my floor mop this past week. Truth to be told, it was a cheap one I've had for years, but it could have waited until I was on my last mop stroke, couldn't it? The mop stick just broke in two. Eep! I'm just so darn strong!
• Work remains work. Four more days and one worry will be out of my life. Mind you, I still have to work and the damage is already done. But things should improve some.
• But I'd still rather retire from there and do something I enjoy doing instead. It's just that the latter doesn't keep the roof over my head and give me health insurance for $25 a week!
• It's a beautiful day out there today. Maybe I'll walk downtown and buy me a new cheap floor mop!

Onto the photos -- more stories than artistic endeavors this week, but that's how it sometimes goes. Clicking on an image will open it in a larger version.

It's time for the mums!

As the flowers of summer fade into the past, planters with mums emerge on Berckman Street in Plainfield.

Been on the right track ...

... must have been the wrong train. I've been in the right place, must have been the wrong time. Ack! All the promos for the new season of Fargo have got Dr. John's 70s hit stuck in my head! I'm looking forward to the show's return tomorrow night. In this photo, I was on the right track and that is the wrong train. I'd rather take that train and skip work, though!

Assembling bridge faces

For months we've been rotating between shutdowns of the railroad bridges on either side of the Plainfield Train Station. If Park Avenue is open, then Watchung Avenue is closed. And, then vice versa. Now they have all of Gavett Place (all short block of it!) closed and they're assembling the bridge "faces" which will supposedly be set in place without huge shutdowns of the streets. We'll see how that goes. I swear more construction -- streets, gutters, underground stuff, curb cuts, sidewalk sections and buildings, too -- has gone down in the past six months than I've seen in the past three years.

Stop, drop and roll!

While it's easy for us to remember the saying, I'd be willing to bet most people on fire aren't quite thinking of it. Then it's up to us to knock 'em down and cover. I think most people on fire probably run in panic. Not that I've seen all that many people on fire, mind you. But I do know it's instinct. I watched them set up yesterday's annual Plainfield Fire Department's Fire Prevention and Safety Fair yesterday as I waited train. More shots of the set-up phase follow the jump.

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

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.)