Sunday, May 15, 2016

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - May 15, 2016

Good morning! Since it's a Sunday morning, that means 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. Please stop by on Wednesday evening at 8pm EDT for east coast live blogging and the blog party for the season finale of Survivor: Kaoh Rong!

After having an entire week of rain the previous week, this past week was more sunny and spring-like here in New Jersey. Oh, sure ... we had some stormy weather. But, thankfully, not an entire week of grey dismal cloudy skies and rain!

As for me, just another week in the life of work, home, eat, (not enough) sleep, pay attention to a cat and then rinse, repeat. I didn't do anything exciting, nor did I go anywhere except to work. I often feel like I'm doomed to complete exhaustion and will end up working until the day I die. With my luck, I'll probably die AT work. Gah. I so want to retire and move onto doing something I actually enjoy doing and have less stress in my life. I'm tired of being so tired.

Wah. Sniffle. Sniffle.

Now that my whining is done, here are some random takes on the week gone by:
  • The Somerset Patriots at the TD Ball Park in Bridgewater were rained out one night, but played last night as the dark stormy skies were rushed away by strong winds. Their ballpark food always smells SO good as I walk by on my way to the train station! 
  • Other than some rare random hammering as they hang pictures or something, I haven't heard a peep out of the new neighbor(s) downstairs. Hopefully they can say the same about me. Well, except for the hammering part, that is. While I actually own a hammer, I can't tell you the last time I used it!
  • On the other hand, my upstairs neighbor had his stereo going full blast in short spurts Friday night. Hmm. I've come to the conclusion that he's a loud guy whenever he has guests over. Unfortunately, he has guests every weekend. I have to work on Saturdays. If I were new here, I'd just think sound travels. But I know better. In the time I've been here, there have been a handful of different tenants in that apartment. He's the ONLY one with a pounding bass stereo at an unreal volume. He's also the ONLY one whose conversations I can hear when they're not even arguing/fighting. You pretty much have to shout for me to make out the words in my apartment and he does. Sigh.
  • We might have record cold temperatures tonight. Eek. I hope some of this chilliness carries on through the summer. I wouldn't be upset at all if we had no heat waves!
  • Is Norma really dead on the Bates Motel
That's all I have for you! It's onto the photos I've taken this past week. If you click on an image, it will open in a larger gallery version.

Spotlight on the azaleas

I edited this shot with the Google NIK Color Efex Pro 4 photo editor to darken the edges and bring out the color on the row of blossoms a bit more. These are growing outside of the TD Bank Ball Park in Bridgewater.

Red pansy

I used the same effect on this shot, but made the edges even darker. There were not so healthy blossoms nearby this beauty. By using this vignette filter, they were taken out without cropping the photo and they no longer distracted from the beauty of the red pansy.

How do these things happen?

This is right down the street from my apartment. There is no cross street there. Plus, traffic shouldn't be moving all that fast if adhering to the speed limit. That's a cast iron fence. Sheesh. A drunk driver is the most likely cause.

Pretty pansies in a row

I did absolutely nothing other than resize this photo down for posting. It's all just plain ol' nature's beauty.

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

Friday, May 13, 2016

The Amazing Race: Season Finale Blog Party - May 13, 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
Sheri & Cole- Donna in FL, Merrilee, Becky
Dana & Matt- Grandi, Nicklepeed

Philiminated:
Marty & Hagan- Jackie, Willie J
Cameron & Darius- chrob61, PDXGranny
Jessica & Brittany- Donna in AL, Monty924
Erin & Joslyn- Brian, Margo, Rbennie
Scott & Blair- Meb, Jennasmom
Zach & Rachel- Sharon N, Nana in NW
Kurt & Brodie- David, Ed in OH
Burnie & Ashley- Buzzmaam, Delee

Yikes, it's the season finale! My blog random pick team was the first one out, so I've been a free agent. I'd love to see Sheri and Cole win this. I'm amazed that they're still in it! But, I doubt that will happen. I guess we'll just watch and see.

Ready to race?

Recap, recap, season recap.

Teams will be racing to Los Angeles in the final leg and are getting an upgrade to premium class -- a first for the show. Whoa! That's some digs on that plane!

Roadblock: Who's ready to take a leap of faith? Jumping off a skyscraper to grab a clue. If they miss, then they have to rappel back down and try again.

Dana and Matt are in the lead and are headed for a helicopter ride to Santa Barbara. Sheri and Cole beat out Korey and Tyler TO the jump site. But Sheri is starting to freak out. Can she do it?

No, she flubs and has to re-do it. Tyler is up next. He flubs it.

The helicopter was waiting with Dana and Matt, but left after both teams failed.

They move the clue closer for the second try. Sheri got it. Tyler misses it! He gets it on his third try. Both other teams are in their helicopters. Will they catch up?

Matt and Dana borrowed the taxi driver's cell phone, so they kind of know what they're looking for -- a marked dinghy and eventually a boat named the Theresa Ann. They got it. They're on their way to Gibralter Rock.

BUT ... they made the mistake of letting their taxi go and are now waiting. Meanwhile, Sheri and Cole went right by the Theresa Ann. Eek! The boys aren't at the water yet.

Heh. Sheri and Cole fooled the boys into thinking they didn't have a clue. But Sheri and Cole didn't keep their taxi. The boys are now ahead of them. They get a cab. The boys' driver doesn't know where Gibralter Rock is.

Matt and Dana arrive. Are you ready for some synchronized mountaineering? Working together to get the next clue. Each gets a half of the clue and meet together at the end.

The next clue is at a vineyard.

Sheri and Cole are starting the high over the ground mountaineering. Uh-oh. Tyler and Korey have the fate of the Bad Cabbie. Sheri and Cole did it! The boys are there working hard and fast at it!

Heehee. Dana and Matt went way beyond the clues stuck in a bale of hay at the vineyards. Maybe the other teams will catch up!

They found it Roadblock. They have to hashtag all the clues on barrels of wines spelling out cities on the race in order. Dana is going through it quickly. She got the clue. They have to go to the finish line at a lake.

Cole is the one doing the barrels for them. Now Korey is starting. Dana and Matt can't find the lake.

DANA AND MATT win The Amazing Race! (Not my personal choice of the three teams remaining, but kudos to them!)

2. Sheri and Cole!
3, Tyler and Korey

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Survivor: Kaoh Rong - May 11 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! They promise us a shocker tonight. I worry it might be Tai!

Lifeguard Laurie has been keeping up with the pool --

Aubry Braco - Jennasmom, Glenn
Cydney Gillon - Leo Lionharted, PDX Granny
Joseph Del Campo - Grandi, Petals
Michele Fitzgerald - Brian TCC, Kelsey NY
Tai Trang - Margo, anonymouse

Jury
Neal Gottlieb
Nick Maiorano
Debbie Wanner
Scot Pollard
Julia Sokolowski
Kyle Jason - Nana in the NW, Sharon N.

Let's get this show going! Not to mention, the party ...

Tai knows he's in hot water with the others. They bring up that he's turned on alliances three times so far. Michele, of course, is very irked knowing he targeted her. Meanwhile, Tai thinks Aubry betrayed him.

Reward Challenge time -- race into jungle, climb ladder, collect sandbags, throw them into five targets. Survivor Spa is the reward, including food and spending the night in a real bed.

JOE wins reward! He chooses Aubry to go with him. One more ... he picks Cydney at Aubry's request. At Reward, Joe thinks he's reinforcing the final three. But, in actuality he just opened Aubry's eyes to how dangerous Cydney actually is in the game. Meanwhile, Michele and Tai bond back at the camp.

Aubry is hoping her, Joe and Tai are the final three. She wants to make amends with Tai. She sells him on it. They're a pair once again.

Cydney is suspicious of Tai and Aubry. She goes to Michele. She really wants Tai out next. Michele now thinks they can get out either Joe or Aubry.

Joe's not feeling well. He overdid it at the Reward. Aubry is worried. Uh-oh. Medics are coming to take a look. After medication, Joe is still feeling horrible. He's in a lot of pain. This could be serious. Tai cries ... again. They're all upset. He sees the doctor once again. His prostrate issues could cause long term kidney damage.

Yep, Joe is getting pulled from the game.

This season has a record for people getting pulled from the game for medical problems -- three.

No tribal tonight. Our final four are Cydney, Michele, Tai and Aubry. Hmm.

Sunday, May 08, 2016

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - May 8, 2016


I hope all of the mothers out there have a day full of love and family!

Since it's a Sunday morning, that means 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. Please stop by on show nights for east coast live blogging (and blog parties) for both The Amazing Race and Survivor!

I really don't have much for you this week. It was dreary, chilly, rainy, misty and grey for most of the week here. That's not very conducive to taking photos!

My new neighbor(s) moved in downstairs. I'm thinking it might be a middle-aged couple. Or, possibly one person. I saw a man moving in boxes last Sunday. But I don't know if he was the one moving in or was just helping the move. Other than some moving in noises, I really haven't heard anything from downstairs. Obviously, no kids. (Yay!) Chances are that I might not ever really meet them -- different floors, different halls used, etc. Heck, we won't even be sharing the elevator!

I invested two dollars, yet did not win the Powerball.

Onto this week's photos -- clicking on an image will open a larger version.

Ch-ch-ch-changes

I really don't know how quickly the luxury apartments in that new building and in the rehabbed old Miron Warehouse (in the backgrount) will rent out. The rental prices are a bit high for the neighborhood in its current state. As the Transit Village near the train station gets more underway, these downtown changes are definitely welcome. East Second Street, Plainfield.

I'll try not to be cynical

This post on the lawn of the Friends Meeting House (Quakers) on Watchung Avenue is a bit more optimistic about the state of the world than I am.

Rain, rain and more rain

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

Friday, May 06, 2016

The Amazing Race Blog Party - May 6, 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, birthday girl, (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
Dana & Matt- Grandi, Nicklepeed

Philiminated:
Marty & Hagan- Jackie, Willie J
Cameron & Darius- chrob61, PDXGranny
Jessica & Brittany- Donna in AL, Monty924
Erin & Joslyn- Brian, Margo, Rbennie
Scott & Blair- Meb, Jennasmom
Zach & Rachel- Sharon N, Nana in NW
Kurt & Brodie- David, Ed in OH

Last week we lost the Alpha Male team. Who gets Philiminated next?

Ready to race?

Teams are on the way to China. All teams are on the same flight. They have to trek by bus and train to the Eiffel Tower. No, not the one in Paris! There's a bit of a rift going on because Tyler/Korey were exposed when they said they hadn't found the clue, but they did. Poor Sheri and Cole!

Who wants to see the world? A theme park has many iconic structures from around the world. Tyler works with Dana. Burnie is on his own. Sheri and Cole missed the bus. Sheri us doing well once she gets going. But she's still behind. Burnie passed out Dana and Tyler.

Detour - Commuter Cycle or Master of Arts. Travel on a cycle scooter thing or find an artist with a marked paint brush, deliver and post paintings.

Pit Stop:
1. Tyler and Korey
2. Dana and Matt
3. SHERI AND COLE!!!
4. Burnie and Ashley

The last team was Philiminated. But I'm so happy for Cole and Sheri!