Happy New Year!

I hope everyone has a happy and prosperous New Year!

May 2016 give us some great television watching times!

Taking a Photo Week Off

I'm taking this week off from the photo post. I took this shot at Rockefeller Center in Manhattan (near the tree) back in 2011. Unfortunately, this past week hasn't been photo-productive and yet has been totally exhausting for me.

I hope everyone is having a great holiday season! 

Merry Christmas!

I hope everybody is having a wonderful holiday!

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - December 20, 2015

Good morning! It's Sunday morning -- time for my weekly off television topic reflection on the week gone by in both words and photos I've taken along the way.

Unfortunately, I'm a bit under the weather (which was very warm until the last few days) and seem to have caught the stomach bug going around at my workplace. I don't have a ton of photos for you, but here we go:

Clicking on an image will bring up a larger image in a gallery ...

Watchung Avenue on a rainy evening

I miss the wreaths, but the huge lighted snowflakes are festive when they light up and don't have gaps in working bulbs.

Close-up of a flake

Not all are working

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

Survivor: Cambodia, Second Chance - Season Finale Blog Party

Good evening! 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!

I hope you brought plenty of beverages and snacks! It's going to be three hours, four Tribal Councils and a reunion show! Thankfully, Abi-Maria is NOT among the crowd left going into the finale tonight. Phew!

Here's the latest blog pool update from the Lovable Lifeguard Laurie:

Jeremy Collins - Brian, meb, Nickelpeed
Keith Nale - Tammy, gaylos, Margo
Kelley Wentworth - monty 924, Grandi, RENOthunder
Kimmi Kappenberg - Glenn, Nana in the NW, Rbennie
Spencer Bledsoe - Ellen vdW, Nancerella, Terry is a Texan
Tasha Fox - Donna in AL, Jennamom, Stephanie in Baltimore

Jury
Kass McQuillen - Donna NY, Marlo, Petals
Andrew Savage - Jennasmom, JoyzJenn, Silk
Kelly Wiglesworth - ML, Sharon N, Indiana Jane
Ciera Eastin - chrob61, Jackie, Russ
Stephen Fishbach - Brenda, Matt, Rochelle
Joe Anglim - Delee, Mother Guru, PDX Granny
Abi-Maria Gomes - Nobody is stuck with her!

Survivor fans ready?

Kimmi, thinking she's low man on the totem pole with her own alliance, wants to flip the game and join Keith and Kelley in a scheme to blindside her allies. Hmm.

It's straight to the first Immunity Challenge -- racing to collect puzzle steps, get to the top and solve a slide puzzle. Every challenge from now on will be fresh to this season, no second chance repeat challenges. The stairs they have to assemble have holes in them which will only fit one step. Spencer is the first working on the slide puzzle. Tasha and Kimmi are trailing behind.

Spencer wins Immunity!  

Tasha wants Keith or Kelley gone. She thinks that Kimmi is still with them. Kimmi tells Keith that they'll blindside Jeremy. Spencer is suspicious of Kimmi getting close to the other two.

The four agree to split the vote in case there's an idol. That's Kimmi with Jeremy, Tasha and Spencer. Both Spencer and Tasha distrust Kimmi. Jeremy is way too trusting! Uh-oh. This could be interesting!

Tribal Council time. 

Spencer says that he, Jeremy and Tasha are voting three strong. He left Kimmi out. Keith promises a showdown.  

The tally - Kelley plays her idol because she doesn't trust anybody! Good move, I'd say.

The tally --
Wait ... Jeremy plays his idol, too!

The tally --
Kelley, Jeremy, Kelley, Jeremy, Kelley, Jeremy.

No votes count! I'd say they need to go to Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard, Spock!

No, it's a revote -- they can only vote for Tasha, Keith or Kimmi. 

Heh, Jeremy finger-wagged at Kimmi much like Alicia did in her season! 

The tally --
Tasha, Kimmi, Tasha, Kimmi, Tasha, Kimmi.

It's a tie. No revote as they claim they're good with their votes. Everyone must come up with an unanimous decision on who goes home. If they can't decide, Keith will go. What? Keith says he'll go? Yikes! Kelley wants him to stay. Kimmi is unanimously voted out.

Time for Immunity once again. Race through a giant obstacle course gathering six bags of puzzle pieces, solve puzzle. 

Kelley is in the lead, Spencer is running last.  Whoops ... he passes Tasha! Kelley and Keith are leading. Spencer is sucking at this. Kelley Wentworth wins Immunity! Keith is sure it seals his doom in the game.

Kelley makes a fake idol for Keith to hopefully keep him in the game. Jeremy is very worried that one of them will use an idol and go after him. (Exactly what they want him to think!) 

Jeremy hinted to Keith that he and Kelley should vote for Spencer to go. 

Tribal Council time once again. Keith hints that he has an idol.

The tally:
Spencer, Keith, Spencer, Keith, Keith.

It didn't work. Keith is out.  

Final Immunity Challenge -- One hand tied behind back, drop a ball down a chute which is like a roller coaster and catch it. After a while, another ball added. Then another. Gates in the chute will open to divert balls to trhow them off. They're up to four balls and Kelley is the first out. Tasha out. Spencer out!

Jeremy wins his first individual Immunity Challenge ... and cries. Kelley cries too, but mainly because she probably just lost her chance at the million.

Will Jeremy turn on either Spencer or Tasha to improve his own chances of winning? Hmm. 

Tribal Council time. Yeah, again. Whoa! Spencer says that if they decide to take Kelley to the final three, she would win and he'd vote for her. Spencer is really laying it on thick. That alone might do him in.

The tally:
Spencer, Kelley, Kelley, Kelley

She fought hard and played a good game. But it's a final three of Tasha, Jeremy and Spencer.  

Final Tribal --

Savage up first, talks about honesty. Calls Spencer out on his arrogance against Jeremy, almost threatening him at the last tribal. Spencer doesn't regret the move, but does regret his presentation. He calls Jeremy out on his arrogance about Kimmi. He claims it's because she hurt his feelings.

Stephen -- Jeremy, trust, honor and integrity. Tasha did Jeremy's dirty work? No one dictates anything to her! Spencer, willing to betray people? Didn't really have relationships, had to do what I had to do.

Ciera -- Flippers rarely make it to the end. This season voting blocks which require flipping. Why should it be rewarded? Jeremy thinks it was the blocks moving not individuals. Tasha said it was due to the tribe swithes. Spencer said he had to take advantage of blurred lines to move forward.

Keith -- Being humble. Jeremy, convince me that Spencer should win. If you do, then I'll vote for you. Spencer had to do the same thing.

Abi -- She has notes. What was your subtle move that got you here. Tasha said working with Spencer. Spencer said Joe because they were both in the middle and he had to shift distrust. Jeremy said he hunted for idols and saved Stephen.

Kimmi - Spencer, you were a bully at tribal. Jeremy, what happened to our alliance -- you, me and Tasha?   

Joe -- My vote is open tonight. Tasha, game within a game. What did you do other than work under Jeremy? 

Wiglesworth -- Pick a number between one and ten. Jer, 2, Tasha 3, Spencer 4

Kass -- You played like Chaos Kass (to Spencer). He believes he's changed. 

Kelley -- Still processing, wanted to play as an individual. Tasha, build and maintain relationships. Spencer teetering between his past and present, working on his people skills. Jeremy is here for Val and his children, all for them. (Plays the pregnant wife card.)     

Time to vote ...

And it's off to Los Angeles! No jetski. 

Jeremy, Jeremy, Jeremy, Jeremy, Jeremy, Jeremy 

Jeremy wins! No surprise there. He played the game well AND had the family angle.  All ten votes were for him.

Next season, number 32 ... the cast is introduced. Sigh, it's Caleb. Most punishing season in Survivor history. Looks like lots of medical issues. Brain vs. Brawn vs. Beauty.