Off Topic: That's the Week It Was - October 25, 2015

Good morning! Since it's indeed Sunday morning, that can just mean one thing. Yep, it's time for my weekly off television topic reflection of the week gone by in both words and photographs I've taken along the way. Please, if you're a fan of either show, join us for the live update/blog party posts for both Survivor and The Amazing Race on Wednesday and Friday evenings respectively.

Here are my random thoughts, happenings and observations on this past week:

• I have a new boss at my workplace. It should be better, but I don't know if my sucked-out soul can be redeemed.
• I received an email that I won something in the Plainfield Public Library Annual Photography Contest. The awards ceremony is on November 14. I will be attending. I doubt I won first place again this year -- it wasn't a great theme for me.
• Since I long ago, before the date for the awards was announced, requested the first two Saturdays of November off from work, I decided Saturday the 7th would be the perfect day to go see Misery on Broadway at the Broadhurst Theater in Manhattan. Bruce Willis and Laurie Metcalf are the stars of the show. I ended up getting a better (and more expensive) ticket than I planned as it seems to really be selling out. I have a first row center mezzanine seat -- no one's head will be in front of me and I'll have a complete view of the stage! I'm considering it my Christmas gift to myself.
• I finally made up my mind, ordered and received the birthday gift my brother Russ gave me last month (an Amazon gift card). It's heaven to have a new toaster! I've been fighting with my old one for the past few years and kept forgetting I need a new one, so I got one. I also got Stephen King's Finders Keepers hardback, a new wall calendar for next year, some Dr. Teal's Epsom Salt Vapor Bath (with menthol and eucalyptus!) and, last and definitely least, a four-pack of Magic Erasers. That last was just to use up the gift card and they had a dollar off online coupon at Amazon for them. 
• Did you realize that they have plain old TOASTERS that cost a few hundred dollars or more? Who uses them? The one I replaced cost $10 about 15 years ago. I splurged on the new one I bought -- $22. I expect it to last me the rest of my life!
• Of course, I'm someone who still has my first microwave oven. It's so old (how old is it?) that I bought it at Caldor a good ten or so years before Caldor went out of business! It's a Sharp Carousel microwave vintage about 1988. Hey, it still works. I use it mainly for heating up stuff and popcorn. I have an oven and a crockpot for outright cooking needs. 
• Thankfully, my killer cold lessened by Wednesday and I feel sort of human once again. Sniffles, sneezing and an occasional cough remain. But I feel so much better than I did!
• For the first time in three weeks, I have my Sunday newspaper. After looking for it every half-hour starting at 6am, it was there at 8:30am ... late. I'm so not happy with the Courier-News!
• It's kind of damp and gloomy outside. I'd say it's a perfect day for using that Epsom Salt Vapor Bath while playing some soft classical or jazz on my stereo. Hmm.
• If a cat would stop hogging my attention, this post would be more timely.

Here are the photos for the week -- clicking on an image will bring it up in a larger version:

Getting near peak

This is a ridge of trees near my workplace. There's a lot more color there than I'm seeing just east here in Plainfield.

Monday night's moon

I really like how my point and shoot Canon and its great digital zoom capabilities work with moon shots. I've always considered moon shots a challenge and you don't want to know how many white blobs I've deleted off of memory cards over the years. But, with this camera and its zoom, I end up with more decent shots than blobs!

Plainfield Train Station at night

The Monday night late train to New York City isn't a busy one. I get off in Plainfield. I keep telling myself now that the Raritan Valley Line has the combination diesel/electric trains and there are one-seat rides into Manhattan, I'll use it. They used to be just diesel and you can't run diesel in the tunnels under the rivers to NYC. But then I end up taking the bus because that leaves from right by my apartment. After all, that's one-seat ride, too! My next planned trip to the city will be bus, too. The Port Authority Building is closer to Times Square and the theater district. So, on both ends the bus will win.

Turkey Vulture in flight

Up close, their faces are ugly as all get-out and, to be honest, they're rather disgustingly dirty birds. But ... in flight, they're majestic. This one was circling overhead at the Plainfield Train Station on Saturday morning as I headed to work.

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

The Amazing Race 27: October 23 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!

Last week the leg didn't really end and all teams are still in it. I wonder how the Texans and Justin/Diana will get along now since the teams promised not to and didn't use the U-Turn. Then there's that pesky leftover Express Pass that Texas has to give to another team (after they screwed up and wasted the use of their own pass). Will they be smart enough to pass it on to the worst team? Who is the worst team right now? Hmm.


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! 

Okay, the Texans decided to give the Express Pass to Denise and James Earl because they've worked with them before and they also don't consider them a threat for the win. 

The other teams are going through the Pit Stop with the continuation. Hmm ... Denise and James Earl are running in third. Were they the right choice? 

Roadblock: Who wants to gorge themselves? It's a revisit of the first challenge ever on the show ... a zip line over the Zambizi (sp?) River gorge.

Detour: Crocs or Canoes -- Feed a crocodile *while in a protective cage. Or, canoe down the (dangerous) river and retrieve the clue from a vulture's nest.

Cindy and Rick are team five at the first pit stop. Logan and Chris are six and didn't want to give all the money to the orphans. Huh.Jazmine and Danielle number seven. Krista and Tiffany are eight and U-Turned the Green Team (which is already way ahead of them, D'oh!)

Cindy/Rick and Logan/Chris both went the wrong way (one team following the other) to the Roadblock and now the other remaining teams are ahead of them. 

The clue after the Roadblock heads them to the "Lion Encounter." Justin and Diana remain first, the Texans second. 

At the crocodiles, Denise and James Earl use their Express Pass.

In Lion Encounter, they must walk with lions to find their next clue. Justin and Diana go first, followed by James Earl and Denise. Logan and Chris are behind everyone. Logan fusses and they decide to go to the Canoe Detour. Now they decide to stay at the crocodiles.

The Pit Stop is the Masuwe Wild Game Reserve and they must deliver fruit to it -- in baskets on their heads!  

Pit Stop:
1. Denise and James Earl -- win a trip to Slovakia
2. Justin and Diana 

Jazmine and Danielle screw up and go to the pit stop instead of the Lion Encounter. They head back.

3. Tanner and Josh 
4. Kelsey and Joey 

Then Jazmine and Danielle didn't read the clue and now have to do it over again with the lions. 

5. Tiffany and Krista 
6. Logan and Chris 
7. Cindy and Rick
8. Jazmine and Danielle -- Philiminated

Survivor: Cambodia, Second Chance - October 21 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 (even though she won't be able to join us this evening as she's having a wonderful family time!):
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 - Nobody is stuck with her!

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
Jeff Varner - Donna in FL, Linda in MA, SueGee

Survivor fans ready?

Recap of Woo saving his butt and Varner going home. Hugs all around and they're worried about the future of Angkor.

Monica is getting down on Kimmi catching so many big clams and depleting the food source. It's making Kimmi go wacky as she tries to control her tongue. She does have a point ... they need to eat.

Reward Challenge time. Three tied together, fourth in a barrel, roll, insider collects bags, all three bags, six balls rolled tossed in target holes. First prize - comfort with chairs and even food. Second prize - tarp.

Takeo wins first place. Angkor gets second place.

Dietz loves how things are going in camp. Joe is worried about the merge. He's trying to pull others into an alliance with him. The only one not in the alliance of five is Dietz. Hmm.

Meanwhile. Spencer is trying to bond with Jeremy.

Sigh. Abi thinks Woo told the story of his mother's heart replacement just for sympathy. She goes to Tasha with her complaints. Tasha is basically just working to stay cool with her.

Immunity Challenge time! Race up through obstacles to a tower, hit targets with sandbags. Heh. Fishbach got a target for Angkor! WHOA! Finally, Angkor wins Immunity! Takeo also wins, so it's Bayon to Tribal Council tonight!

As outsiders on Bayon, it's Kelly Wiglesworth and Spencer the targets. Spencer's really trying so hard to fit in. Monica is pushing for a girls alliance keeping Wiglesworth much to the dismay of Kimmi. Kimmi runs to Jeremy and Fishbach about it and proposes they keep Spencer and possibly send Monica herself home.

Tribal Council. The talk turns to trust and Bayon vs. Wiglesworth and Spencer.

The tally --
Kelly, Spencer, Kelly, Monica, Monica, Monica.

They did it! They voted out Monica!

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.