Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - March 27, 2016

Good morning! Happy Easter to you all! (Unless you don't celebrate the holiday ... then it's just Happy Sunday to you!) This is my weekly off television topic reflection of the week gone by in both words and photos I've taken along the way. If you're a fan of Survivor or The Amazing Race, please stop by during East Coast showtimes for my live blogging of the shows. We have blog parties with fans and a good time is generally had by all!

I haven't seen any rabbits yet this spring or I'd have one leading off the photos. Oh, well. Easter is coming early this year. Since it is the holiday, I'm pretty much going to go straight into the photos.

Clicking on an image with bring up a larger version ...

Easter in my Plainfield 'hood

Buds are starting to form on the larger trees. This magnolia tree across the street is the only one in full spring mode.

Wildlife at the Bridgewater Train Station

I'd rather see the garter snake than the homeless dude who's been living there despite my complaints to NJ Transit. Although, I must admit, the homeless guy slithers away like a snake when I'm surly to him. But the snake doesn't panhandle and isn't annoying.

I'm SO confused

What holiday is this? Even though it's Easter, this home on East Second Street is perpetually in a Christmas kind of mood. As long as it doesn't invite snow and I don't live there, live and let live. 

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

Survivor: Kaoh Rong - March 23 Blog Party

Survivor fans ready? As the show airs, I'll update this entry with the major happenings -- refresh the page to get the latest news! As always, the real party is in the comments area. Please join us there. We like snacks. And beverages. Don't forget the beverages!

Lifeguard Laurie is running the pool and, supreme lifeguard she is, has the new tribes all down pat for us --

Blue - Chanloh
Cydney Gillon - Leo Lionharted, PDX Granny
Kyle Jason - Nana in the NW, Sharon N.
Michele Fitzgerald - Brian TCC, Kelsey NY
Nick Maiorano - Laurie, ML Debbie Wanner - meb, Rbennie
Neal Gottlieb - Merrilee, JoyzJenn

Yellow - Gondol
Tai Trang - Margo, anonymouse
Scot Pollard - Delee, Pinky
Joseph Del Campo - Grandi, Petals
Julia Sokolowski - Indiana Jane, Nickelpeed
Peter Baggenstos - Jackie, Tammy
Aubry Braco - Jennasmom, Glenn

Torchless
Darnell Hamiltonn - free play!
Jennifer Lanzetti - David, Paula Bell
Elizabeth Markham - Donna in FL, Terry is a Texan
Alecia Holen - Becky, Donna NY
Anna Khait - monty924 , SueGee from the Left Coast

Medical Evac
Caleb Reynolds - Ed in Ohio, Stephanie in Baltimore

Despite technical difficulties for most of the day with my Comcast signal, things seem to be working. I'm keeping my fingers crossed even though it makes for more typos.

Okay ... let's see how the new tribes rock the boat! (Although Lifeguard Laurie cautions that rocking the boat while in the pool is frowned upon.)

Hmm. Peter is trying to align with Tai and plant seeds that Joe needs to go if they head to Tribal again. That could backfire, y'know.

On the other tribe, Debbie is working on Nick. Now, I'm not thrilled with Nick. But he's smart enough to see through her. She's claiming to once modeling. Eek.

Tree Mail -- tribes release buoys from the floors of the ocean and throw them into baskets. Yikes. Now Debbie is referring to Nick as "Adonis." I personally don't get the beauty of Nick. Maybe it's just me.

Reward Challenge is the one to which tree mail referred. It's a Survivor picnic that's at stake. (Or, perhaps at steak.) What a surprise -- Scot is shooting the baskets for his tribe. It's Nice on the other side. Scot isn't doing any great moves. Nick is running ahead. Now they're tied. Scot redeems himself. Gondol wins the feast!

Since Michele set her tribe back originally by not quickly releasing the buoys, she feels she needs to get back in favor. Although, in the long run, they almost won despite her failure to do her part fast.

Huh. Now Peter has latched onto Julie with plans to get Aubry out, then Joe. Aubry thinks Julia should go. Both Joe and Aubry are a bit suspicious of Peter, Aubry more than Joe.

Michele got Debbie to say they're going to go after Jason. She goes to Nick and he tells her that she's the target. He wants to "keep her under his wing." She sees through that.

Joe knows that Peter is working against him. So, he confronts him and asks him to his face if he's trying to take him out. So, Peter lies. And Joe knows he's lying.

Immunity Challenge time! Both tribes work together to get through obstacles, two knock blocks down, then they stack the blocks. Tribe with the best teamwork will win.

Chanloh wins Immunity!

Now Aubry is having second thoughts about getting rid of Peter. She thinks they won't have the numbers if he goes. She wants Joe to talk to Peter and work it out. Peter still lies to him. Now Peter is turning towards getting Julia out with Joe and Aubry. Peter tells Scot they'll be voting Julia. Scot knows Peter is a snake. Tai and Julia try to convince Aubry that Peter's been scheming against her. Joe tells Aubry he's sticking to the plan to vote out Julia.

Well, we'll know soon ... it's time for Tribal Council and Jeff's Probsting questions to rile things up a bit.

Heh. They're all whispering Peter.

Time to vote.

The tally --
Peter, Julia, Peter, Julia, Peter, Peter.

There goes my pool pick. I'm a free agent.

The merge is on for next week!

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - March 20, 2016

Good morning! It's Sunday! That means (a.) I have a day off from work and (b.) it's time for my weekly off television topic reflection of the week gone by in both words and photos I've taken along the way. If you're a Survivor fan, stop on back Wednesday evening during the East Coast airing of the show for my live blogging and blog party in the comments area! If you're an Amazing Race fan, you'll have to wait until the next show on April 1. We're going two weeks without that one due to March Madness college basketball.

Even though spring arrives today (yay!), we have the threat of at least a coating of snow later today and tonight. Thankfully, the storm is moving more out to sea and won't live up to the dire predictions of a nor'easter we had earlier in the week. It's unfortunate for more coastal areas of New England, for fortunate for us! We're only predicted to get a dusting or up to two inches. I'm so over it. I want spring to be spring!

Other random notes:

• Although the NJ Transit rail workers strike was averted, three of the five trains to work I took this week were late and one going home was late. It's a good thing I deliberately build in a time cushion for my to work commute. If I'm not early, I consider myself late. So, even though the trains were late, I made it to work on time. 
• Speaking of NJ Transit -- true, they opened the Watchung Avenue rail bridge to street traffic once again. But now they've shut down the Park Avenue street traffic at the bridge on the other side of the Plainfield Train Station once again. They've milked these bridge projects for 13 months now. Yeah, they were using the marvelous new doings which placed the bridge sections in over a weekend. Otherwise, I could see the projects lasting five years!
• A drunk woman riding a bicycle on the sidewalk annoyed me yesterday morning. She could barely keep upright. I have a personal policy that I do not move for bikes on the sidewalk -- they're supposed to be on the street by law. THEY need to alter their path, not me the pedestrian. Since she almost fell over, I did move. But I was nasty to her and she quickly (as slowly as her quick was) moved out into the street. I have little tolerance for adults riding bicycles on the sidewalks, nor for drunks.
• There was also a very drunk guy dressed in summer shorts and a tank top (when I dragged my winter jacket back out for yesterday) on the train. The conductors had given the two-buzz signal that the doors were closed and the engineer could move the train when the man started yelling he had to get out. Usually the train will just keep going, but they did stop again and let him stumble out. They probably preferred he get off the train.
• Train etiquette deems that you should be out of your seat and ready to exit by the time you get to your stop. First off, the departing passengers need to get off before the new passengers board the train. Second, the train will leave and you're stuck until the next stop ... usually.
• Why did I see two drunk people before 10am on a Saturday morning? What's up with that?
• While I will drink alcohol, I don't believe I've been actually drunk since about 1976 or so. I don't like the feeling. I get sick to my stomach and I really hate stumbling around or falling over. I learned my lesson way back then!

Enough of all of that. It's onto the photos for the week! Clicking on an image will bring up a larger version. Have a good week, folks ... and Happy Spring to y'all! (Even though it's a last hurrah of winter here tonight!)

Are you looking at me?

Are YOU looking at ME?!?! There's no one else here. Are you looking at ME? -- said in my best DiNiro impression. If the pigeon pulls out a gun, run for the hills.

No strike, yay!

Yet this train seems to be dirty and running dirty. While that locomotive is a dual diesel/electric powered one, it's diesel until it goes into the tunnels into Manhattan. Diesel isn't allowed in the tunnels. I find the diesel trains much more reliable in bad weather than the electric ones. NJ Transit, unlike the MTA, uses overhead wires instead of the third rail system for electric trains. Since the line I take (Raritan Valley Line) used to be all diesel until they bought the dual-powered locomotive engines, we used to have to transfer trains in Newark to go into Manhattan. Now, with the new locomotives, there are many trains that are one-seat rides into the city. But, not all of them.

Yellow and white daffodils make me happy

Well, at least when I'm looking at them.

I'm still waiting for good blossoms!

The magnolia tree across the street decided to blossom right at the beginning of a cold snap! The blossoms haven't really opened wide as of yet. Or, if they have, it's been during times I've been at work. Today's prediction of cold and possible snow covering isn't going to help them any. 

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

No Amazing Race tonight!

Just a reminder --

Due to March Madness basketball, The Amazing Race isn't on this week, nor next week. It will return April 1.

Survivor: Kaoh Rong Blog Party - March 16, 2016

Survivor fans ready? As the show airs, I'll update this entry with the major happenings -- refresh the page to get the latest news! As always, the real party is in the comments area. Please join us there. We like snacks.

Lifeguard Laurie is running the pool and here's the latest update:

Chan Loh - Brains
Peter Baggenstos - Jackie, Tammy
Neal Gottlieb - Merrilee, JoyzJenn
Debbie Wanner - meb, Rbennie
Aubry Braco - Jennasmom, Glenn
Joseph Del Campo - Grandi, Petals

Gondol - Beauty
Tai Trang - Margo, anonymouse
Nick Maiorano - Laurie, ML
Anna Khait - monty924 , SueGee from the Left Coast
Michele Fitzgerals - Brian TCC, Kelsey NY
Julia Sokolowski - Indiana Jane, Nickelpeed

To Tang - Brawn
Kyle Jason - Nana in the NW, Sharon N.
Scot Pollard - Delee, Pinky
Cydney Gillon - Leo Lionharted, PDX Granny

Torch has been snuffed:
Darnell Hamiltonn - free play!
Jennifer Lanzetti - David, Paula Bell
Elizabeth Markham - Donna in FL, Terry is a Texan
Alecia Holen - Becky, Donna NY

Medical Evac:
Caleb Reynolds - Ed in Ohio, Stephanie in Baltimore

We know a "drop your buffs" time is coming tonight. Will it be a reshuffling or the merge? I tend to think it's the former as there seem to be too many right now for a merge. Let's get this party started!

Ew. Joe has an infected looking finger. Peter, who knows he's a target, goes into his doctor mode and tries to help out. Neal thinks one of them need to find the hidden idol so it doesn't get into Peter's hands. Sure enough, he finds the clue and the padlocked box like the other tribes found. Yep, he gets it along with the clue that it fits with another idol and, if found, it could be used to save someone after the vote in Tribal.

Immunity Challenge time. Drop your buffs! Switching things up!

Original plan was two tribes of seven. Then Caleb went. Six blue buffs, six yellow, one red. Red buff goes off to Brawn Beach, but won't compete, will join tribe that loses at tribal council.

Julia draws the red.  

Blue: Two brain, two beauty, two brawn -- Cydney, Jason, Michelle, Nick, Debbie and Neal.  

Red: Three brains, two beauty, one brawn Tai, Scot, Joe, Peter, Anna, Aubrey.

Debbie is already in action, working on Cydney, then goes after Jason. With Neal, she thinks she's the mastermind they won't see coming and the beauty folks will be out.

On the other tribe, Tai has worked his way into Scot's heart. Heh, Scot says he has a man-crush on Tai. Now, Caleb was also a bit smitten. Tai must be very endearing! Aubrey and Anna are scheming against Tai. Interesting.

Nick wants to try the same thing Debbie has already done. Jason knows he and Cydney are in a good spot.

Meanwhile, Julia is having a rough time alone. She feels dehydrated and feels so all alone and paranoid.

Immunity Challenge time! Swim out, retrieve fish puzzle pieces, carry them on a pole, solve puzzle. The Blue Tribe (still don't have the name down here) wins!

Tai is worried. He doesn't want to use the idol he possesses, nor does he want to go home with it in his pocket. A move is afoot to target Anna. Tai thinks he can take Peter out because he's arrogant (Peter, not Tai). He tells Scot the girls and now Peter becomes the target. Scot thinks Jason's idol could be used with Tai's down the road and Anna could go tonight. He tells Tai not to use the idol, he's safe.

Tribal Council time! Heh. Joe doesn't think there are any idols. And, when asked, Tai explained he looked for one. But, he doesn't say whether he found one or not!

The tally (Tai does not use the idol) --
Peter, Anna, Anna, Anna, Anna.
Anna is gone.