Survivor: Cambodia, Second Chance - Blog Party November 4

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!

The merge is on tonight! This should be very interesting indeed. Here's the latest blog pool standings from that lovable Lifeguard Laurie:

Bayon
Jeremy Collins - Brian, meb, Nickelpeed
Kelley Wentworth - monty 924, Grandi, RENOthunder
Joe Anglim - Delee, Mother Guru, PDX Granny
Stephen Fishbach - Brenda, Matt, Rochelle
Kimmi Kappenberg - Glenn, Nana in the NW, Rbennie
Keith Nale - Tammy, gaylos, Margo
Tasha Fox - Donna in AL, Jennamom, Stephanie in Baltimore

Takeo
Andrew Savage - Jennasmom, JoyzJenn, Silk
Spencer Bledsoe - Ellen vdW, Nancerella, Terry is a Texan
Kass McQuillen - Donna NY, Marlo, Petals
Abi-Maria Gomes - Nobody is stuck with her!
Ciera Eastin - chrob61, Jackie, Russ
Kelly Wiglesworth - ML, Sharon N, Indiana Jane

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
Monica Padilla - ChicMC, Kelsey, sanra
Terry Deitz - Anonymouse, Merrilee, ORKMommy
Woo Hwang - Ed in Ohio, LafayetteLisanne, Laurie

Survivor fans ready?

Savage is feeling betrayed by his tribe's blindside of his boot Spencer plan. He's trying to figure out how to get in with them until the merge. Spencer has come to the realization that he needs to rely on Kass. Oh my.

They get tree mail which tells them they'll meet with visitors. Meanwhile, Takeo's mail has them gathering up their belongings and heading to their new home. Both tribes are thinking merge.

It is indeed the merge even though there's a lot of people -- 13 -- left in the game at this point. They get to feast.

Savage warns Jeremy to watch out for the ones who turned on him. Kass is thinking she now can work with Spencer since saving him. They're all wheeling and dealing trying to build alliances. Savage works on getting Joe onboard. But Joe, though he likes Savage, might have his own plans. More scheming and alliance planning. Tasha tells us she will not allow Kass to ruin her game again. Meanwhile, Kass had been sincere about working with her and now is dead set against her.

Now chaos ensues. Seeds are planted. But, so far this episode is mostly talk. Finally, it's the the Immunity Challenge. Good. Standing on a narrow beam balancing a ball on a little platform. At intervals, to a narrower section of beam and they have to move their hand down farther on the pole with the ball.

Fishbach out in three seconds. Keith out. Ciera out. Kimmi out. Second round -- Abi out after one second. Kass out, Wiglesworth out, Wentworth out.

Third round. Savage out. Tasha out. Jeremy out. Only Joe and Spencer remain. Spencer lost this one to Tasha in his season. Spencer out. Joe wins first individual immunity!

Savage really wants Ciera to go while Kass seems to be the target for most. They decide to split the vote between Kass and Ciera in case Kass has an idol. Since this is so blatant, it's probably not how it's going to go down. Kass wants Tasha. Spencer is caught in the middle. He likes Tasha, but Kass and Ciera saved him last Tribal.

Tribal Council -- Ciera tries to get everyone to play for themselves while the targets are three women (Ciera, Kass and Tasha).

The tally --
Kass, Ciera, Tasha, Kass, Ciera, Tasha, Kass, Ciera, Savage, Kass, Ciera, Kass, Kass.

It's Kass out of there tonight!

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - November 1, 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:

• My apologies for being so late with this today. I was exhausted after coming home last night and it continued through this morning. Also, I've been having to go downstairs every half-hour looking for my Sunday newspaper. This makes three weeks out of four with no Sunday paper -- the ONLY day I have delivery. Courier-News SUCKS.
• It was the big Halloween week. On Friday I went by the City Hall Trunk or Treat event. While it was great for the costumed car owners and the costumed kids, it wasn't good for photo taking as it was so dark there. I didn't want to run around with my flash going off. I ended up taking the bus home from there accompanied by a rather strange woman who snagged her own huge bag of candy at the event. A man sitting nearby and I had rolling eye contests going on as she talked about each piece of candy.
• This is also the weekend of the big Watchung Avenue bridge replacement with no rail service between Westfield and Dunellen train stations. I planned ahead. It did no good. Saturday morning was a debacle. Ack.
• While I plan and watch out for these things, many commuters don't or don't have internet access to see details. If you called NJ Transit on the phone over the weekend, they said there were no traffic alerts.
• Meanwhile, special buses were shuttling passengers from Westfield, Fanwood, Netherwood and Plainfield train stations to the Dunellen Train Station where rail service west of the shutdown resumed (and, the reverse trip as well). Going eastbound from before Dunellen, the trains were running a half-hour or so early to make up for the wasted half-hour bus commute and the trains from Westfield east were supposedly to run on time. Arrival at points Dunellen and west was a half-hour or so later than it should be.
• I had new hires to start at my workplace, so I figured I'd go in early and tried for the first bus/train combo west.
• My bus for that was late after one went whizzing right by and the bus going the other direction was right on time.
• Then two buses came (late for that second run) and no bus for the other direction came anywhere near on time.
• The bus driver was going crazy as people were all shouting at her. She had just been asked to work the day as overtime and thought she was running a regular bus route. She had a bus following her that had no idea where he was going and she didn't dare lose him in traffic.
• She told the screaming eastbound people to get on her bus and she was just doing the turn in Dunellen and then would be heading to Westfield. She had no idea where the bus(es) headed to Westfield were but would get them there.
• One woman was totally unreasonable. Now, I had talked with her while we're were waiting and I knew she was unreasonable. I just decided I wasn't going to argue with a stranger. She had arrived five minutes after the first Westfield-bound bus left and kept insisting it never came. It did. I saw it. It was on time to the minute. I even asked the driver where it was going. (That's when a bunch of people realized they boarded the wrong bus and got back off.)
• While I wasn't foolish enough to argue with an unreasonable crazy woman, another woman on the bus did. It almost got to fisticuffs. Meanwhile, the bus driver just kept pleading with them to stop fighting. 
• I suggested singing "99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall." The guy next to me and the driver joined in as we tried to sing over the arguing women. 
• Then this Jamaican dude decided to ring the bell to get off.
• "No stops! Dunellen Train Station only!"
• "These ladies are giving me a headache!"
• The night trip home went better as NJ Transit actually had a guy at the Dunellen Train Station communicating with the bus drivers and passengers. Once again we led a second bus (inexplicably with the lighted sign for IVY HILL, NEWARK on its front while all the rest read RARITAN VALLEY LINE) who didn't know where he was going.
• As it was Halloween night and costumed people were heading to the Village (NYC) for the big costume parade, some of the people on the bus were in costume. It made for a rather surreal trip to Plainfield. Unfortunately, people were so grouchy over the bus/train situation that I didn't think it a good idea to try to get photos.
• While I knew what was going on, NJ Transit dropped the ball with the lack of communication with its bus drivers (who know nothing of rail services) and its customers on the whole.
• We'll see if everything is really back to normal Monday.

Onto the photos for the week -- clicking on an image will bring it up in a larger version.

Vincent conquered his Halloween costume

There are more photos of his Halloween costume adventure after the jump. I had to bribe him with catnip to slip it on. But it didn't last long. He thinks it's a cat toy and was walking around with it in his mouth last night, throwing it up in the air and then pouncing on it. Silly cat.

Not taken this week, but ...

... since I didn't get any good Halloween-themed photos this past week, I thought I'd add this one in. I took it a few years ago in Manhattan. It's the skeleton costume in a store display with the reflection of nearby buildings in the window.

The new bridge sections await placement

More photos of the big Watchung Avenue bridge replacement project are after the jump. In this one, taken last night after I got home from work, the old bridge is out and the new sections are lined up on Watchung Avenue and North Avenue awaiting their mission in life.

Monday night's full supermoon

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The Amazing Race 27: October 30 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!

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
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
Jazmine and Danielle #TheTrackStars - Joanie, LafayetteLisanne, Margo, Merrilee

Ready? Let's GO! 

Whoa, starting off with a Roadblock! They have a jump (bungee, I assume) and then check their Fitbits. They have to write down their heart rate. The jump is from the Victoria Falls bridge. It's a gathering point with the teams going in order of arrival. Yes, it's bungee indeed. 

From there they're on their way to Paris, France. All the teams are on the same flight. Green Team gets the jump on the others.

They go to another Roadblock. This one has them on biplanes doing loops. Oh, they're not piloting the plane, mind you. They have to look for three clues -- the motto of the French Republic -- from the plane.

Justin and Diana remain in the lead. Now Logan and Chris are trailing once again -- Logan missed the third clue, so she has to do the Roadblock over. Logan and Chris miss the train.

Detour -- Drop a Mic or Bust a Crab. Singing French rap or working in a restaurant. Diana and Justin are over the honeymoon -- they're arguing a lot tonight.

Despite disagreements and quibbles, Justin and Diana are the first heading off to the Pit Stop. James Earl and Denise are lost in Paris.

Heh. Justin and Diana didn't read the final clue thoroughly. They're at the Arch de Triomphe (sp?) when they should be across from it! 

1. Justin and Diana -- the race continues and they need to keep their heart rate listings going.
2. Tiffany and Krista 
3. Kelsey and Joey
4. Cindy and Rick
5. Tanner and Josh
6. Chris and Logan

I might be off on the middle of the list because teams were coming in as I was typing.

James Earl and Denise are still having problems with the Detour and the "to be continued" episode ends.

Survivor: Cambodia, Second Chance - October 28 Episode 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!

Judging from the promos, someone is removed from the game for medical reasons tonight. We've seen that before, but it's always scary. Since we haven't heard that anyone died in the news, all should be okay. 

Lifeguard Laurie's Pool Update (yay, she's back from Hawaii!):
Bayon -
Spencer Bledsoe - Ellen vdW, Nancerella, Terry is a Texan
Kimmi Kappenberg - Glenn, Nana in the NW, Rbennie
Stephen Fishbach - Brenda, Matt, Rochelle
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
Monica Padilla - ChicMC, Kelsey, sanra

Survivor fans ready?

Uh-oh. It's not an accident on the show. Jeff tells Terry Dietz that his son is in the hospital and doctor and his wife think it's serious enough for him to go home. How sad. I found out more about his son's health issues in this article.

Yipes! Another switch! Drop your buffs. It's back to Takeo and Bayon, no Angkor.

I'll fix these if I'm wrong -- hard to figure out who's where at first --
Takeo: Savage, Woo, Spencer, Kass, Abi-Marie, Ciera and Wiglesworth

Bayon: Jeremy, Wentworth, Joe, Fishbach, Kimmi, Keith, Tasha

Reward Challenge - One member each tribe race, grab ring, throw it, first tribe to get three rings on target pole win. The winning tribe gets a feast with fried chicken and all. Takeo wins!

Spencer is worried that Kass will be a problem for him while Savage is thrilled ... he likes his new tribe and knows that he might be able to work Kass against Spencer. Huh. Savage decides it's a good idea to tell Spencer everybody is voting out Ciera. Ciera ain't too cool wit' that. She can take a hint.

On Bayon, Joe wants to protect Kelley W. and target Kimmi. Kelley has an idol, but she'll take his protection! Fishbach is worried about Joe and tries to work Tasha his way. He cries to us. @@

Immunity Challenge -- It's the local delicacies food challenge -- always a winner. First up are tarantulas, not alive. Giant waterbeetles are next. Third food is pig snout. Deep-fried frog next. Ah, pig brain. Scorpion -- looks deep-fried. The epic balut is next -- embryo with feathers and all, if memory serves. Bayon wins Immunity!

Kass, though she did poorly in the challenge, still wants to target Spencer. The others want to target him, too. Actually, it sounds like it's so much of a done deal that I doubt he'll go. Spencer foolishly trusts Savage who's bent on taking him out because Savage thinks he's such a big threat. Ciera is also ticked that her name is thrown in there.

Uh-oh. Has Ciera changed Kass into wanting to keep Spencer? Kass tells Spencer that Savage is targeting him and saying Ciera. Will they really work together? Kass and Spencer? Hmm.

Tribal Council time. Jeff will ask his Probsting questions.

Savage votes for Spencer. Spencer goes with the Woo vote as per Kass.

The tally:
Spencer, Woo, Spencer, Spencer, Woo, Woo, Woo.

Savage looks very uncomfortable that his buddy is taken out and his alliance betrayed him.

Heh. I love a good blindside even though I'd love for Woo to remain.

The merge is on for next week!

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.

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