Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - May 22, 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.

Speaking of television (even though I'm not speaking of television on this post), on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, CBS will air reality TV guests on special The Price Is Right shows -- 8pm ET/PT. The shows involved, respectively, are: Survivor, Big Brother and The Amazing Race. I won't be able to watch on Monday night or Tuesday nights, but will set up posts for those who wish to discuss the shows as they air East Coast time. I will post and live blog the show on Wednesday night. But, mind you, I'm not a big The Price is Right fan and I'm not quite sure how good my live blogging of the show will be. I'll probably make more mocking (or otherwise) comments about the show's guests!

Random notes on the week:

• The landlord will get another call about the guy upstairs with the booming bass stereo. He blasted it for over an hour Friday evening, vibrating my whole apartment. Then he and he guests left. I went to bed only to be rudely awakened at 1:38am by the thumping of the bass on his stereo. It wasn't AS loud as earlier in the evening. But it did wake me up and I had trouble getting back to sleep. I ended up going to work yesterday on all of about three hours of sleep. I work Saturdays despite his belief that Friday nights can be wild. The stereo was still on when I left for work.
• Thankfully, he and his buddies seem to have gone elsewhere (probably to annoy other people) for last night and I actually got some sleep.
• I'm looking forward to two weeks of four day work weeks ahead. Woot! Woot! I actually have a three day holiday weekend next week. Hopefully I won't be tempted to sleep it all away.
• People who walk and text do things like fall over benches and walk into poles. Ha. 

I don't have much more for you except for the photos ... clicking on an image will bring up a larger version.

Vincent tries to make a friend

Oh my. A young dove made the mistake of sitting on one of my windowsills cooing. Coo coo. Vincent tried to befriend the lonely dove. Wisely, the dove flew away. (Of course, the window is closed and there's a screen. Vincent couldn't have gotten the dove if he lunged.) Sorry about the quality of the shot, but I only had a moment to take it!

Pretty planter

One of the townhomes on East Front Street in Plainfield always has beautiful planters of flowers in their yard.

Live CRAWLfish?!?!

I don't want them crawling around my kitchen! Eek! (I assume they mean CRAWfish.) A sign in the window of Pete's Fish Market on East Second Street in Plainfield.

When a tree falls in Plainfield ...

... it closes down a major thoroughfare for nearly 24 hours! On Monday morning, a tree fell from the north side of East Front Street. It fell across the street severely damaging two parked cars and snapping the utility pole (leaning on the left of the photo) on the south side of the street.  The tree saga continues after the jump.

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

Survivor: Kaoh Rong Season Finale Blog Party

Survivor fans ready? It's the big season finale with folks I wouldn't have predicted in the final four. 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 has been keeping up with the pool --

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

Jury
Neal Gottlieb
Nick Maiorano
Debbie Wanner
Scot Pollard
Julia Sokolowski
Kyle Jason 
Joseph Del Campo (medical evac) - Grandi, Petals

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

The scene is set in Los Angeles. A mention was made that Mark the Chicken made it further than any other chicken without being eaten. Jeff promises us a first time new twist which could mean the difference between winning and losing for a castaway. Hmm.

Now it's just recapping all the difficult times.

At camp Tai is worried ... worried that people will get mad about Mark crowing and blame on him, worried that he can't use his idol as they're at the Final Four, worried if he can win anyone over other than Aubry.

Aubry thinks that Michele is the one who's the biggest threat for winning jury votes.

Michele thinks Tai is dangerous. Cydney thinks everyone wants to take her to the final three.

Reward Challenge is on! Obstacle course, puzzles and a locked box. Steak, vegetables, drinks and a protein bar are the reward.

Aubry wins Reward! It's her first individual win. She's offered the opportunity to bring one person ... or not. She chooses Cydney. Hmm. She says it's so they can beat Michele in Immunity. But, of course, we know that Michele and Cydney are big allies. Hmm.

Meanwhile, Michele is working on Tai to vote out either Aubry or Cydney. She wants Aubry and gets Tai to agree with her. Once again, he's willing to try for the million at any cost even if it means betraying his one true alliance.

Time for the Immunity Challenge. Race into ocean, retrieve a key, stairs, another key, race back out, drop a ball, key, puzzle. Aubry led for until the puzzle, then Tai (and Michele) took over the lead. Cydney and Aubry are out of it for all it's worth.

Michele wins Immunity!

Aubry (of course) wants to target Cydney, but doesn't quite trust Tai, either. They think a tie and the fire-making to solve it. Meanwhile, Cydney and Michelle talk. Michele wants to target Aubry because she would do better with the jury than Tai would. They want to bring Tai into it. Aubry is right to worry.

Aubry promises us she won't go down without a fight.

Tribal Council. Uh-oh. Tai mentions alliances are out the door now. It's a me game, not a we game according to Cydney.

The tally:
Aubry, Cydney, Aubry, Cydney -- it's a tie! Onto the fire-making challenge? I don't know. I do know we're onto a commercial.

The votes won't change and it is fire-making -- Cydney vs. Aubry.

Aubry wins and Cydney goes to the jury!

Michele thinks Tai gave Aubry a million dollars by voting Cydney.

They find out it's a final two, not three. There's one more challenge and the winner chooses who they're taking with them.

Immunity is NOT up for grabs. They ARE the final three! They get to plead their case to the jury. But they will vote someone out. The winner gets to vote out a jury member. Interesting.

They have to balance on wobbly (huge springs) platforms while stacking balls and stands with a pole.

Michele wins! Not only does she get to vote off a jury member, she gets to be the one to tell them.

Michele is thinking of taking Joe out as she's sure he would vote for Aubry. Tai brings up Neal, who might persuade the others more than Joe. Aubry thinks that Tai might have more power with the jury than they think. She suggests Scot.

Jury questioning time! Michele reads the announcement -- the jury member voted out won't be here for the questioning, nor the vote. After much reasoning why the vote of whom ... Michele votes.

She takes out Neal. Whoa, he tosses some insults at her comparing her to a whining little puppy. Nasty dude. The right choice? He tells us that both Tai and Aubry played better than Michele.

The castaways get a scale and a mirror. Yikes all about! They get their last day feast. Each one tells us about their game, why they need to win and their fear of the jury.

Mark accompanies them to the jury questioning.

Nick: Giving advice, some animosity, Michele show intelligence, Tai awareness, Aubry confidence. Be honest.

Debbie: Tai, inexplicable switching votes, multiple personality? Tai says he didn't. Protected Aubry when Scot and Jason targeted his ally. Stayed true, but had to make a big move. Aubry - I helped keep you in the game, would you do the same? Yes, heat stroke, gamewise you were too much of a threat. No questions for Michele.

Julia: Michele, you were the weakest link on the Beauty Tribe, brought along as a number after the merge. I was proud of you when you made the big move to vote me out. Michele said she had to prove she was capable. Tai - you started out strong, huge threat, things went crazy, deteriorated. He says he followed his alliance to the end.  Nothing for Aubry.

Joe: Michele, know what your game is about. Tai - Selfless, hardworking, truthful. Why you, not Aubry? Tai talks of idols, getting Scot out. Aubry - how did your game differ? Tai came to her with info, if Tai didn't have her, nothing would have gone on, she had the right side for votes, he didn't.

Jason: Truth time. I don't know who I'm voting for. Michele, you weren't in on the Scot vote. When did things change? She says she worked her way in and didn't flip-flop like Tai did. Tai - Why did you leave us (Scot and Jason)? I got scared, got scared of your relationship with Scot.

Cydney: Aubry - Always a plan to get me out? Aubry says it was supposed to be Michele, but she had immunity. Michele - Did you know that it would be a tie. I wanted to be here with you, says Michele.

Scot: Tai, got an idol, didn't use it, didn't use your advantage right. Aubry - started out well. Why would I vote for you? Because you're a competitor and I am in my own way. Michele - You out-toughed those two. Well done, Michele.

Jeff gives the three a chance to talk:

Aubry - Managed to change, tried hard, played my heart out.

Tai - Game is hard, believes in goodness and humanity, each is a hyacinth plant floating on water. Teary.

Michele - I was playing an intelligent game, had to fight her way against roadblocks, believed in self. Proud of herself.

Jeff gives Tai a chance to set Mark free and they all say goodbye to their chicken.

It's onto Los Angeles and the cleaned-up final three.

The votes:
Michele, Aubry, Aubry, Michele, Michele, Michele.

Fellow Jersey Girl Michele wins Survivor: Kaoh Rong!

Whoa ... in the reunion, pop star Sia gives Tai 50 grand for himself and another 50 grand to the animal charity of his choice.

Drew Carey segment about the Survivor people on The Price is Right to air Monday 5/23 at 8pm. 

Next season will be set in Fiji. 33rd season, 20 castaways, Millennials vs. Gen X.

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**

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

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.