Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - June 26, 2016

Good morning! Since it's a Sunday morning, that only means one thing -- 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 here strictly for Big Brother, feel free to skip over this post. You can find all of my latest on BB18 at this link right here. There will be at least one more live feeds report much later today (they're sleeping) and live-blogging/blog party tonight at 8pm ET. BB only lasts three months; this blog is year 'round and the off topic post is a Sunday morning staple.

Now, with Big Brother starting this week and working my real job, I'm already running on empty. Every year I wonder if I'll make it through the summer! But, I always do. It was a lot easier when I had knee surgeries keeping me out of work a few summers.

Thankfully, I only have a three and a half work day week looming ahead. I'm taking a day and a half vacation at the end of the week leading into a week off. Yay!

It's a good thing I have no plans to go anywhere today. There's a big bike race event tying up all the streets any bus I might want to take would go. While the bike race is good for the city of Plainfield promotion-wise, it's not all that great for those living in the area. I'm just outside of the taped off blocks. Of course, I could walk anywhere on foot. But I don't want to walk on foot! People in the taped off blocks can only escape by foot unless they've parked their cars elsewhere. While it's tempting to walk downtown and photograph the action, I feel more like staying in today.

I don't really have much more for you this week. Work has been work. Summer has been summerish. That's about it. Onto the photos! Clicking on an image will bring it up in a larger version.

Love me some flowers

Don't bite off more than you can chew

The full Strawberry Moon on Monday

"See, hear and shut up"

Why has this nasty MS-13 gang graffiti remained so long right off of East Front Street in the business district? Although it seems like black gangs may have been more involved in local violence recently, the history of the Latino gangs in town is deadly. We ought to start a Normal People Sick of Gangbangers Gang.

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

BB18: Live Feeds into Sunday - June 26

Leaning on the fish

Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of Lonesome Losers:

• Jozea picked up on something which already caught my attention this season -- when Da'Vonne speaks, she often covers her mouth with her fingers. I don't recall her doing that last time. I thought it looks like she's covering bad teeth (but her teeth seem okay). Jozea thinks it might be covering lying to him. But she's doing it all the time, not just to him. Hmm.
• Now that I mentioned it, you're going to be seeing it all the time, as well. Very odd.
• Do Paulie and Zakiyah have a thing going on? It seems like it might be getting there!
• Da'Vonne and Tiffany had a long talk. They're a bit suspicious when it comes to Corey and, to a lesser extent, Paulie. They're also leery of being completely honest with Frank, James and Corey as they think the guys are in a bit of a boys alliance. Of course, they're in a girls alliance, so ...
• They think they need to stick to their alliance of eight (Tiffany, Da'Vonne, Michelle, Nicole, Frank, James, Corey, Paulie, Zakiyah -- I count NINE -- I guess Paulie is their iffy one) for now. But then they'll just be loyal to each other.
• Frank thinks Jozea calls for meetings so he can get air time on TV. No sh__, Sherlock!
• Jozea is still sure he rules the house and everybody loves him. There is no worry about being on the block because no one would vote him out.
• Ha. I so hope the majority house target remains Jozea and he gets the boot on Thursday. Epic. Legendary. Not a night to miss!
• Frank told Paulie he needs to act like he's worried about going home so that Jozea won't get suspicious.
• BB gave them more alcohol. Whooppie!
• Lots and lots of small talk.
• Nicole thinks alcohol makes her flirty and chooses to abstain.
• Zakiyah tried to take a bottle for the girls later on and got called out on it.
• Frank was apologetic for yelling at Tiffany earlier in the evening.
• So thrilling.
• Tiffany's mother got kicked off the live feeds chat room last year, probably getting upset with what was being said by Vanessa.
• Victor is still clueless about BB in general (as is Jozea, Paul and some others). Nicole had to remind him again that she can't vote this week. He probably thinks the nominees can vote.
• James is pranking again although he said earlier that he let loose last year and this year he's in it to win. He put Cool Whip on Paul as he napped.
• Jozea continued to talk about how great he is. Did you know that even though he's gay, he's strong? (As if they're mutually exclusive.)
• James's pranking is addictive. Accompanied by James, Nicole sneaked up on a sleeping Corey, put shaving cream in his hand, then tickled his nose.
• Things turned into a shaving cream war.
• They're easily amused.
• As I post this, all are in bed.

Girls hang out - note Da'Vonne's pose

Not quite a Blue Bloods table gathering

What's with Victor?

Is Paul becoming human?

Coreygator

Oh my

BB18: Live Feeds Report - Into Saturday Evening - June 25

Searching for the meaning of life?

Just a note: You can tell by the number of screen caps in an entry how exciting the day was. The more screen caps, the more ... BORING. Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of They Opened The Yard, Let's Laze Away The Day:

• Frank was up and out in the yard alone for quite some time. He talked to us! Yay! That's one thing I always liked about Evel Dick -- he took the time to talk to the live feeders.
• Overall, Frank's happy to be working with the vets, happy to be back in the house. He fussed about how uncomfortable his pixel-naked costume is and how he won't be able to work out in it. He fussed about the ants and talked to the birds. He also mentioned how the newbies hammed it up for the cameras.
• Paulie eventually joined up, also lamenting on the pixel-naked uncomfortable costume.
• Paulie thinks Jozea is lying to others and working to get him voted out.
• Frank assured him that they're just playing Jozea along and Paulie is safe.
• (If they can keep Jozea thinking he has it in the bag, this eviction will be epic!)
• Jozea trusts Da'Vonne.
• BWAHAHAHAHA! She's taking him for a ride ... right out the door! She's been against him since he made that "I'm the Messiah of the house" comment.
• But, more seriously, Paul seems to be liking the vets more and more. Yes, he who spearheaded the Get Them Out Plan. Now he's finding out he actually LIKES Frank and James quite a bit.
• Victor is still snowed over by his friendship with Jozea. He thinks Jozea is playing a good game and no one would ever vote him out.
• Ha. I think Paul is leaning towards voting Jozea!
• The fish are already being neglected.
• Jozea and Victor turned on Bridgette because she went to the HoH room instead of Jozea's "meeting."
• Oh, geez. Politics raised its ugly head. I'm not even going to go there on this blog!
• Jozea thinks he's going to be a star or, at the very least, the next Mario Lopez. Keep dreaming.
• Not a heck of a lot going on. Have some screen caps!

Frank talked to us

And talked some more

Paul does have a very impressive tattoo

We should all love each other and me

Girl talk

Jozea doesn't know she's his nemesis

Victor, you're known by the company you keep

Now Zakiyah has gotten into the hat craze

BB 18: Live Feeds Report - Into Saturday Morning - June 25

Shades of Cody

Yep, Paulie has Zakiyah sprawled all over him, caressing him. At least she's not a married woman with a husband watching from home!

Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of Blowhard Buffoons:

• Paul may have the record for wearing his PoV the longest. 
• I forgot to mention in my last report that an unfortunate happening goes on when the feeds are blocked for a comp (so far) this season -- we got the Jeff cast interviews with commentary between each one with Jeff and JESSE Goddard. Eek. Give me back neverending fish and the theme music loop, please!
• Jozea admitted that his real name isn't "Jozea" and that's just his "stage name." It sounds like he's really your average Jose.
• It seems like it might be Frank naming the nomination replacement. Perhaps because it's Frank's Road Kill nominee? I could be wrong on that.
• Frank, Tiffany and Michelle talked about putting Bridgette up.
• Of course, the others on the Dark Side don't know that it's Frank who put Paul up on the block in the first place.
• Meanwhile, just watching her, I don't think Bridgette is entirely comfortable with the side she chose. 
• Jozea wants to call another house meeting even though everyone went to bed and his last meeting called never happened. Heh.
• Tiffany is a bit suspicious about Paulie. Hmm. Paulie is quite in with Jozea and Paul. Hmm.
• Others might be, too. Paulie doesn't know it's Frank who put Paul on the block.
• After all, loose lips sink ships and all.
• Frank thinks Victor needs to go (after Jozea) while Corey wants Paul out.
• Corey has worked his way right into the veteran's bunch. I believe he's loyal to them, not a double agent. The newbie crowd not in with the veteran's already bunch him with them.
• Paul told Paulie that he won't vote for him to go. Huh. So, he'll vote Jozea or the Mystery Replacement?
• Once again, Corey mentioned he doesn't want his family (or others) to think he's gay. This time it was because Jozea flirted with him. Corey seems to be a nice guy overall, but he does seem to have some kind of issues with either self-identity or homosexuality. 
• He also told his bunch that, at eviction, he wants to say "I gaily vote Jozea out." The others squashed that. Good.
• For most of the meeting, Jozea kept talking about how they're running the house and running the show.
• We'll see about that.
• Oh ... and James was in on the meeting! Like Jozea has any loyalty from him ... AS IF.
• Paul is pretty sure the live eviction is Sunday. The rest of the world knows better. This is what happens when you bring in a hamster because he has a beard.
• Bronte and Natalie continue to bond. Not that they'll have much power ever with the rest of the house.
• Frank, for the most part, is playing quite low-key at the surface. I think he's going to be one to watch for the win, though. He's personable and knows the game. I would have liked him better in his own season had he not clicked with Boogie.
• Frank told Paul that a comment he made to Nicole, calling her a female dog, wasn't cool. Paul said he'd apologize and knows it was wrong. Hmm.
• Frank also doesn't think it's right that Bridgette feels bullied, mostly by Jozea. (Also Victor and Paul.)
• I'm not so sure she'd be the best nomination replacement for them. I bet she'd swap sides. She's getting quite upset with Jozea and Victor. Paul made an effort to talk to her more sincerely at one point during the night.
• Interesting -- James told Tiffany he still talks to Shelli, but not to Clay. (They broke up.)
• James is also playing a great social game. I'm not too keen on returning hamsters with newbies but they made some good choices with this group, methinks.
• BB gave them alcohol. It's the equivalent of one and a half beers or wine each. Go wild with that, kiddies.
• Natalie doesn't drink. (And yet they allowed her on the show?)
• In their big drinking game, Victor had to streak naked through the house.
• Frank thinks he can flip Bronte, Paul and Natalie. Hmm. He has done a lot of work (socially) on improving Paul's social game. 
• Jozea remains the number one target. If Paul's stupid and saves Jozea with the veto, he'd go home. He's not BB-savvy, but I doubt he's that dumb.
• Meanwhile, Jozea keeps sinking his own ship as he keeps talking about how great he is. I think Victor's the only one remaining loyal in his camp.
• They're all asleep as I post this.
• And, no ... Corey is not sleepwalking!

That bunny hat gets around

Cool table, I miss the key box

Naked and afraid

Will make it further this season

BB18: Live Feeds Report into Friday Evening, PoV Winner - June 24

Corey bunny

Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of Clueless Recruits:

• Well, we found out why it sounded like there were three people on the block.
• It's not that Paul was the chosen one to take place in a possible PoV save.
• It's that Paul, Jozea and Paulie are all on the block.
• And, it's Frank's doing, but Paul and his buddies are unaware of who exactly did it.
• Apparently, they had some competition (before the feeds went on and, remember, last night's show wasn't live) called Roadkill.
• No one was told the winner. It was Frank. And, it gave him the power to put a third person on the block.
• So, he did. He told his inner circle, but neither Jozea nor Paul know who did it.
• Heehee.
• Natalie and Bronte are developing a strong alliance of two. They think they need to play more like Michelle and Natalie, not allowing the guys to manipulate them.
• Oh, by the way ... Jozea's big meeting for 2am never happened.
• Silly boy.
• The veto players were chosen: Nicole, Paul, Paulie, Jozea, Corey and Da'Vonne. Michelle will host. I'm not quite sure how those numbers work out or how they did it. If the HoH and each nominee for eviction picked someone, there should be eight.
• Jozea kept saying how he thinks production rigs the comps and has a set outcome. @@
• When he was talking to Michelle and Bridgette, Jozea showed how absolutely clueless he is about BB. He didn't know who Ian Terry is. He knows who Frankie is, but not that he's Ariana's brother? 
• That says right there that he isn't a show fan. We knew all too well -- Frankie didn't let us forget!
• The feeds were down for a few hours for the PoV comp.
• They're back.
• Lord have mercy, Paul won.
• Jozea and Paul are wearing dog costumes.
• Michelle is wearing something very red. Is she a tomato? Ah, she finally stood up. She's a fire hydrant.

James is James is James

Hanging out (or not)

Frank had the power and used it

Nicole making a point

Waiting for the comp

Jozea doggie

Lord have mercy ...