Sunday, April 10, 2016

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - April 10, 2016

Good morning! Since it's Sunday morning, it's time for my weekly off television topic reflection on the week gone by in both words and photos I've taken along the way. If you're a fan of either Survivor or The Amazing Race (or both), please stop by on show nights as they air East Coast time for live blogging and blog parties in the comments area. It makes the show even more fun to watch when you watch it with friends!

Our weather here this past week has been more like winter than spring. I'm so tired of putting away my winter jacket thinking it's all over only to get it out once again ... or shiver in my fleece. Although we've had the threat of snow more than a few times this week, I only saw some flurries once. Nonetheless, I'm tired of it. We need spring!

My downstairs neighbor passed away in either a hospital or a hospice (not here in the building) a few weeks ago. I didn't realize it until some men were emptying out his apartment and bringing most of his stuff to the dumpsters and stacking furniture around the dumpsters. Most of his stuff was either fiberboard type furniture or incredibly worn stuff that might have been nice 30 years ago. The men cleaning out the apartment took the nicer pieces and I noticed some things seemed to disappear to scavengers overnight. It's very sad that that represented a man's life. He was my downstairs neighbor for about twelve years, my source for building gossip and he'd often offer me a ride home if he saw me downtown on foot. He didn't make a lot of noise and, if he did, I always felt free to go down and say something to him. But, I never had to do so. Rest in peace, Lee.

Meanwhile, my upstairs neighbor of about a year and a half is growing more annoying. He's extremely quiet on weekdays. But, on weekends he turns into some sort of party animal with a horribly loud thumping bass stereo. I've lived in this apartment for 16 years. There's been about six different tenants upstairs from me during that time. With all of them, I could only hear conversation if they were shouting at each other. I rarely heard more that a hint of music from upstairs.

None of them had carpet -- he does. I hear him shouting in "normal conversation" over the "music." I can't really call it music as all I hear is the bass thumping. I know some other people, perhaps his neighbors on either side, have called the police on him. I've been tempted to do so. The noise hasn't started up yet as I get this posted. But the landlord will get a call tomorrow if it does. I have to work on Saturdays and don't get home until around 8pm. I don't want to hear, nor should I hear, a constant thump of bass which sounds like a mallet pounding on my ceiling. Nor should my one day off on Sunday be noise from early in the morning until midnight. Grr.

I finally figured out how to use the now free Google NIK photo editor I downloaded a few weeks ago. I couldn't see where it went in my computer! All I could read online had it used as plug-ins for Photoshop or other expensive photo editing software programs I don't own. I discovered I can open photos with the various six programs of NIK. But then I couldn't tell the system where to save them and found they were being saved under documents. Now I have it all under control. I think.

Work has been totally exhausting. But, what else is new?

Onto this week's photos! Clicking on an image will bring up a larger version.

My ride home from work

It's too bad it doesn't take me right to my door! But I do prefer to hear train whistles from blocks away rather than right outside my window. I edited this shot of my train arriving at the Bridgewater Train Station. It's nice to leave when there's some daylight. Now it it could just warm up a bit!

Welcome, Love, Justice, Peace

Banners were flying yesterday at the Friends (Quakers) Meeting House on Watchung Avenue in Plainfield. By the time I noticed them to take photographs, I was up on the westbound platform of the Plainfield Train Station. So, Justice is a bit obscured ... as it sometimes can be in real life.

It's a cold, cold rain

No, we didn't get the snow they predicted. But, man, that rain was COLD. This is a shot of my arrival home from work last night at the Plainfield Train Station.

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

Friday, April 08, 2016

The Amazing Race Blog Party - April 8, 2016



The show is starting! As it airs here on the East Coast, I'll post the major happenings live. Refresh the page to get the latest! However, as it always is ... the real party is in the comments area. Please join in on the fun! (And bring tasty beverages and snacks!)

The Magnificent Margo (and Mom) have made the random picks for the blog pool and here they are ...
Tyler & Korey-P- Paula Bell, Bruce & Ray, SueGee
Burnie & Ashley- Buzzmaam, Delee
Sheri & Cole- Donna in FL, Merrilee, Becky
Zach & Rachel- Sharon N, Nana in NW
Dana & Matt- Grandi, Nicklepeed
Scott & Blair- Meb, Jennasmom
Kurt & Brodie- David, Ed in OH

Philiminated:
Marty & Hagan- Jackie, Willie J
Cameron & Darius- chrob61, PDXGranny
Jessica & Brittany- Donna in AL, Monty924
Erin & Joslyn- Brian, Margo, Rbennie

Since last week was a non-Philimination, Sheri and Cole should be facing a Speed Bump this leg. Amazing Race fans ready? Let's GO!

All the teams are on a midnight train to Georgia (not the United States Georgia), so it's all an even playing field again. That is with the exception of the Express Pass (Kurt and Brodie) and the Speed Bump ahead.

So far they're being directed from Freedom Square to another location where they have to ride a gondola to an extremely old church/fortress.

Detour - Either Georgia winemaking or making a string. They have to clean pots or make a candied wine string thing.

From the Detour, it's onto the National Opera for the next clue. Zach and Rachel are in the lead, first ones off the Detour. Uh-oh ... Korey and Tyler are switching to the cleaning the wine pots. That's not easy, either.

Roadblock -- Who's light on your feet? Ballet. Yikes. It's not ballet as we think it. Think of an Irish jog mixed with a Russian wedding dance, but certain moves which must be done.

The Pit Stop is coming up!

1. Zach and Rachel - won a trip for two
2. Burnie and Ashley
3. Brodie and Kurt
4. Sheri and Cole (Apparently no Speed Bump. I just assumed, I guess.)
5. Korey and Tyler
6. Scott and Blair -- Philiminated.

Aw, I liked them. All the teams are likeable this season. 

Wednesday, April 06, 2016

Survivor: Kaoh Rong - April 6 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!

Oh ... in Big Brother news, Jeff and Jordan got married and they're expecting a baby! Check it out on my BB Facebook page.

Lifeguard Laurie has been keeping up with the pool --

Aubry Braco - Jennasmom, Glenn
Cydney Gillon - Leo Lionharted, PDX Granny
Debbie Wanner - meb, Rbennie
Joseph Del Campo - Grandi, Petals
Julia Sokolowski - Indiana Jane, Nickelpeed
Kyle Jason - Nana in the NW, Sharon N.
Michele Fitzgerald - Brian TCC, Kelsey NY
Nick Maiorano - Laurie, ML
Scot Pollard - Delee, Pinky
Tai Trang - Margo, anonymouse

Jury
Neal Gottlieb (when the infection is gone) - Merrilee, JoyzJenn

It should be interesting watching these folks scramble for numbers. It will be the first out by Tribal Council since the merge as last week Neal left for medical reasons.

Joe's worrying about the ex-Brains players being the odd men/women out. Well, most certainly I'd say Debbie is odd! However, it's more Aubry who is being targeted. She knows it. She's hoping to find a crack or start some trouble to keep in the game.

Kyle Jason tells the others of his daughter's problems with autism. Cydney points out to us that it will make him harder to beat at the end and that's something they need to think about.

Rewards Challenge has them split into two teams of five. They're playing for ice cream. It's a schoolyard pick. Julia, Scot, Nick, Debbie and Tai vs. Aubry, Cydney, Jason, Michelle and Joe. They have to support teammates on posts through the water. Then all five have to balance on a small platform. It's not easy!

Scot, Nick, Debbie, Tai and Julia win the ice cream! Bond-forming time for a few!

Meanwhile, Cydney is suspicious about Nick working his way in with Jason and Scot. Hmm.

Immunity Challenge time. They have to balance on a very narrow perch holding a handle behind their heads. Jeff is trying his best to annoy, antagonize and destroy them. He offers a temptation in the form of food for ones who feel they're safe tonight.

Julia steps down before the food. It's pizzas, hot dogs, brownies, chicken. Jason, Scot, Joe and Michele take the food.

Tai lets it slip he doesn't want a Brain to win.

Debbie is out. When Nick said Brains were targets, Cydney smirked. Nick and Aubry are out.

Tai and Cydney are the only ones left in.

TAI wins Immunity after Cydney looked like a rock through it all!

He tells us the Brawn and Beauty remainders will split the vote between Debbie and Aubry. I think Cydney might have other plans. We'll see.

Nick advises Aubry to vote Debbie and tells her there will be a split vote. He acts like the vote will be Joe or Debbie. Cydney wants to target Nick. She approaches Debbie and Aubry with the idea. She approaches Michele and Julia. Michele, of course, is in an alliance with Nick. So, she's iffy.

Tribal Council time. Nick is his arrogant self claiming a Brain is going home on a split vote. Tai mentions the super-idol abilities, surprising some who know nothing about it.

Jason votes Aubry, Nick votes Debbie. Debbie votes Nick.

The tally:
Aubry, Debbie, Nick, Aubry, Jason, Nick, Nick, Nick, Nick.

HA! Nick is out!

Sunday, April 03, 2016

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - April 3, 2016

Good morning! It's Sunday morning ... 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 fan of either Survivor or The Amazing Race (or both!), please stop by on show nights as the shows air East Coast time for my live-blogging of the episodes and the blog parties in the comments area!

My apologies for getting this post up so late today. Last night's wild weather awakened me several times with hail and winds which sounded like freight trains! There have been several trees down around town and power outages. My power has stayed on (so far), but many areas in Plainfield are out as I get this written up. And now, several hours into these winds, I just got a Nixle Alert on my cell phone advising me to stay inside due to dangerous conditions outside. Well, duh. I took trash out to the dumpster and snagged my Sunday newspaper from the front of the building. The wind was ridiculous. I'm glad I don't have to go to work today.

Meanwhile, a certain cat keeps jumping on me to purr in my ear. Don't get me wrong. I love the cat. But, sheesh ... he sure can be an affection mongering kind of cat! Once he's on my shoulder, I can't type at all.

Random notes on the week:
  • We keep alternating between winter and spring. Unfortunately, most of the warmer days, we've had rain.
  • We started the week with high wind warnings. We ended the week (and started this week) with high wind warnings.
  • I keep having to get out my winter jacket, then putting it away.
  • I worked extra hours this week and I'm totally exhausted.
  • I actually have three of four days off starting today. I work tomorrow, but have off both Tuesday and Wednesday. I volunteered to take a paid vacation day to help with a budget cut this week at work. Good for them; good for me. I need the rest. I've been running on empty.
  • We didn't get the overnight snow coating they predicted for last night. However, I'm sure we had a hail coating in the middle of the night!
  • I bought a package of peanuts to feed squirrels. I'm weird like that.
  • The Walking Dead season finale is tonight. Gulp. They better not kill off Darryl. Or, if they do, perhaps they could bring in Larry and his brother Darryl and his other brother Darryl from Newhart. I bet they'd be quite capable in the zombie apocalypse. 
Onto this week's photos -- clicking on an image will bring up a larger version.

On a wing and a prayer?

More like on wings and wind currents. A turkey vulture was having the time of its life gliding about in the high winds earlier in the week. He's probably hiding with the hurricane-force winds we're getting today!

Daffodils are still growing strong

Despite some outright overnight freezes, they're hanging in there!

First bum of the day

No Plainfield Train Station ticketed passengers can use that platform shelter in this photo. The bums hang out all day and most of the night there. They're responsible for all the trash on the grass in that area, too. It's sad that new apartments have been set up on North Avenue in rehabbed buildings, commanding a luxury rent price ... and they look out on the Plainfield Train Station bum gathering. The police regularly stop by and move along those on the East 4th Street side of the station. Yet this spot is almost totally ignored. I doubt those new apartments will ever have good quality tenants until the loitering issues are solved. 

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

Friday, April 01, 2016

The Amazing Race Blog Party - April 1, 2016



The show is starting! As you all know, it's been off for a few weeks due to basketball. (Grr.) As it airs here on the East Coast, I'll post the major happenings live. Refresh the page to get the latest! However, as it always is ... the real party is in the comments area. Please join in on the fun! (And bring tasty beverages and snacks!)

The Magnificent Margo (and Mom) have made the random picks for the blog pool and here they are ...
Tyler & Korey-P- Paula Bell, Bruce & Ray, SueGee
Burnie & Ashley- Buzzmaam, Delee
Sheri & Cole- Donna in FL, Merrilee, Becky
Zach & Rachel- Sharon N, Nana in NW
Dana & Matt- Grandi, Nicklepeed
Scott & Blair- Meb, Jennasmom
Kurt & Brodie- David, Ed in OH

Philiminated:
Marty & Hagan- Jackie, Willie J
Cameron & Darius- chrob61, PDXGranny
Jessica & Brittany- Donna in AL, Monty924
Erin & Joslyn- Brian, Margo, Rbennie

Amazing Race fans ready? Let's GO!

Teams are on their way to Armenia. All teams are on the same flight. So, any one could win this leg ... theoretically. There is an Express Pass waiting for the winner of the leg. The teams are bunched waiting to purchase opera tickets. They're not going to see the opera -- their next clue is hidden in the theater.

Teams have to climb a gazillion steps next -- Cascade.

The Alpha Boys are leading the pack, followed by Cole and Sheri.

Detour: Thread - Make a rug or ... Bread - making traditional bread. Both tasks are difficult.

Tyler/Korey and Blair/Scott are the last ones out of the theater.

The Alpha Boys are the first on their way to the next clue. No real surprise there. They have to take a certain bus and pick up the clue along the roadside at a stand.

Roadblock -- Who's feeling drained? They have to do an oil change. Only two cars at a time can be on the ramp.

Alpha Boys are heading to the Pit Stop.

Pit Stop:
1. Kurt and Brodie - won Express Pass (to be used before the 9th leg)
2. Burnie and Ashley
3. Zach and Rachel

Sheri at first didn't have the tool to loosen the oil filter. Then she keeps trying to loosen it in the wrong direction. That might cost them the leg/race (dependent on whether it's a non-Philimination or not). We're probably due for a non-Philimination. But I could be wrong.

4. Dana and Matt

Scott helps Sheri!

5. Scott and Blair
6. Tyler and Korey
7. Sheri and Cole -- NON-PHILIMINATION!

They're immediately going to start on the next leg!