Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - November 6, 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 photographs I've taken along the way. This is a regular Sunday part of this blog in addition to the television posts. Right now I'm covering Big Brother: Over the Top daily -- you can find those posts at this link. I'm also live blogging Survivor episodes as they air on Wednesday evenings. Come join the blog parties!

Well, the election will be over in a few days. But we all know that, with all of the issues, it will never be over. No matter who wins, the folks on the side that lost will continue the hate. I'm tired of it all. I fear for the future of the United States and the world on the whole. In addition to society's radical elements and religious zealots, we now have radical political zealots in our midst. Well, many have been vocal for a number of years, now they're coming out of the woodwork. I'm so tired of all of the hate without rationality. 

I was sick most of this past week with a bug that seems to be going around -- very sore throat, fever and no appetite at all. While I'm still not 100%, I've been going to work, missing a few days mid-week. 

This coming week, I only have four work days and a personal day. I'm taking next Saturday off for the Plainfield Public Library Photo Exhibition and Awards. If you're in the area, stop on by and see what Plainfield (and I) can do with our cameras and a theme!

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

Despite frost on the pumpkin ...

... the displays still look good in Bridgewater. This past week, the landlord's new public display (whatever) person had benches installed throughout. Very nice!

ATTN: NJ Transit and Plainfield Police!

When I arrived home from work to the Plainfield Train Station on Saturday evening, about 7:45pm, this is what I saw when I opened the elevator door on the Track 2 (eastbound) side. It's bad enough that when I want to go through the tunnel to the other side of the station I have to hold my breath due to the constant stink. But now they've moved in, mattress and all? SERIOUSLY NOW. Something has to be done. Start giving out trespass warnings, then follow through with arrests. This is beyond ridiculous. 

I work for a living. I use the train station. I pay taxes. I'm not responsible for the bad life choices the riff-raff who hang around the train station have made. I fought my own demons in life decades ago and have always worked to keep a roof over my head. I don't squander what little money comes my way in life on drugs and alcohol. In a space such as the Plainfield Train Station, honest working people who actually use NJ Transit should not have to deal with this!

Avoiding the pigeon-neck harvesters

These pigeons heard word on the streets that the next delicacy will be pigeon necks sauteed in a garlic-butter sauce. Necks? We have no necks! Atop the Chotola Apartment building on North Avenue in Plainfield.

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

BBOTT: Some Are Safe - Through Saturday, November 5

Will it be her week to GO HOME?

I've decided I like the Safety Ceremony and "block passes" lighting up much better than the way they've been naming the nominees the last few seasons on BB. I used to like the keys in the lazy susan thingee. But the pictures appearing on screens has turned me off since they started it. The safety necklaces are more interesting and suspenseful (even though we know what they're going to do from the live feeds).

• It was a relatively lazy Saturday in the house with the exception of the Safety Ceremony.
• Even then, with dwindling hamster numbers in the house, the action didn't last long.
• As we knew from previous conversations between Jason and Shelby, Shelby saved Morgan and Jason saved Kryssie.
• That was it for the Saturday night Safety.
• We know, however things go down, Danielle will go on the block. Shelby and the girls want that and Jason has all but offered her up on a silver platter.
• It's a bit trickier on the other side. The girls don't really want Alex to go up as she just might go home. They'd prefer Whitney.
• (Remember, Jason and Shelby agreed to put up one from each side.)
• The girls are very worried about "what if" Danielle wins veto.
• As annoying as Danielle can be personality-wise in the house, she has proven that she can win comps. They should worry.
• The girls (Shelby, Alex and Morgan) are very worried about Whitney's reaction if she goes on the block.
• Well, I don't think Whitney is a stupid girl. I think she must realize that she's the low end of the totem pole with the girls. At this point, I think she'd have a better chance of winning if she flipped to the other side. 
• Whitney would actually need to win some comp to better her position with either side at this point. Other than basically being a decent person, she's pretty much nothing other than a vote number.
• A lot will depend on whom America nominates, as has been the case all season. The ONLY guaranteed safe hamsters are Shelby and Jason. 

The numbers are dwindling

Morgan is safe

Jason saves his choice

BBOTT: America's Co-HoH Care Package and Stuff - into Saturday, November 5

Have Nots can chow down

Once again, things have gone topsy-turvy in the BBOTT and America has thrown a monkey wrench into the best-laid plans of hamsters.

• Well, we've done it again. We're keeping the house interesting this season! It also helps that recruits are few and far between among the hamsters and we don't have people working to just stay to get in the jury for the full stipend.
• This week's care package -- Co-HoH -- went to JASON.
• The note said that, if the vote came to a tie, the best player on veto (Jason or Shelby) would cast the deciding vote.
• They're actually working together pretty well ... until Shelby broke down later. They think they should nominate one from each side.
• They're talking about themselves each putting a person up from their own side.
• Jason is leaning towards putting up Danielle.
• He's pushing Shelby to put up Alex, telling her than Alex has been working behind her back.
• Even before that, Shelby told Jason that her "must keep" person is Morgan. She doesn't think Morgan would beat her in the finals. Jason said his is Kryssie.
• The Have Nots will not be voted on this week due to dwindling numbers. By default, they are Alex, Danielle and Morgan. They will be the last Have Nots of the season.
• While, when they were talking together, Shelby and Jason really talked down to earth and worked together well. They worked out an every other night deal for the room.
• That is, until the breakdown. Shelby cried and cried. Her HoH has been stolen! She can't nominate who she wants to nominate! He's never done anything but be on a previous season! He didn't win anything! Her family didn't send her a letter! Wah! Wah!
• Of course, she didn't do that in front of Jason.
• Now, I'm not saying that I wouldn't break down if I were in the house. I probably would have on Day Two. I think all the stress just caught up with her.
• Oh. And Alex had a breakdown, as well. She was irked about Shelby's breakdown and I think she thinks she might be targeted this week. I don't know.
• And the drama goes on ...

Hey, Nicole ... how a bun is done!

Remember, cameras 24/7

Here it comes!

Sharing the roost with Shelby

BBOTT: Julie Announces Upcoming Double Eviction - Thursday, November 3

Don't call me "Baby."

For the most part, yesterday (Thursday) was a day of nothingness in the BBOTT house. The big event of the day was the weekly Julie Chen live video visit.

• Julie asked them about Scott leaving. Kryssie and Alex said nice things about him. She didn't ask Danielle much about him.
• In the talk, Danielle said that she didn't want Whitney to go, so was happy when America gave her Scott on a silver platter.
• I personally don't think that statement was all that great for Whitney's game. While her allies figured she made a deal to stay, they could say it was to save her own game. Now they find out Danielle WANTED her to stay? Hmm.
• Justin called Julie "baby" again, immediately apologizing.
• He claims it's a New Orleans thing. Perhaps it is. It took me a while to get used to being called "Mami" with the increased Hispanic population where I live. At first I thought, "I'm not your mommy!" But then I realized it's just a harmless greeting, even one with a bit of respect.
• Julie showed them video of the Halloween veto comp. Being the pragmatic I am, I'm not sure why any of them were acting so terrified during the comp. It's not like BB would allow an actual chainsaw murderer in there!
• Then came the big announcement -- next week will be a double eviction. 
• Thankfully, things will start off a bit earlier with the weekly "show" starting at 8pm ET. I'm glad the show is just a recap of the week as I have a date with Survivor at that hour! The first eviction is after the show. I can do that. 
• In other news, apparently they really liked Scott more in absence than they appeared to like him in the house.
• Alex thinks that Scott has an actual real social life while Jason's whole social life is BB.
• Hmm.
• Both Scott and Jason probably have more active social lives than do I. So, I can't say much. (But, when I was their ages, I too had an active social life.)
• Kryssie and Justin think America won't want to watch Shelby, Morgan and Alex all alone in the last week or so. After all, THEY (K&J) are the entertainment.
• Hmm. Yes, they can be entertaining. Or, Justin can be. But he's just kind of floating through the game being himself. And, while Kryssie has great moments at times, she tends to take the game so personally and lets her frustration bring out the worst in her. The three girls are definitely strategizing and playing the game.
• Justin really really doesn't like Shelby.
• Other than the constant faces and chewing her lips, she's not that bad. She's a pretty smart cookie.
• Danielle made comments about Shelby being a nobody, just a waitress in a restaurant. First off, those kind of statements bug me. Everybody is somebody and a waitress often has to work hard for a living. But, of course, Shelby has a law degree. Would knowing that make her "someone" in Danielle's eyes?
• Ha!
• All is still up in the air over nominations. They want to see who receives the care package and what powers the recipient receives.
• But, Shelby is certain to target Justin ... if not Jason and Justin. 

Split ends splitting is big entertainment

No social life outside of BB???

Lip chewing is worse with lipstick on

Trendsetter - leopard spots and plaid

BBOTT: HoH Comp - into Thursday, November 3

Has she a reason to smile?

Nah. She didn't win HoH this time 'round.

• The comp was a face morph one. While they expected it, they all didn't think it would come so soon.
• In this face morph, it was only a mix of two faces for each picture.
• Yet, it was quite the challenge ... more for some than for others.
• Kryssie, in tears, timed out when the time limit was still 30 minutes.
• Shelby rocked the comp, coming up with a 3.42 minute time to beat by the remaining players.
• Jason was so lost in the comp that he couldn't even find his own face parts in there!
• But it was Justin who totally screwed up. The way he was hopping around and correctly naming a face to each picture, he then ...
• ... kept going for the buzzer.
• He didn't listen to the instructions! It's a morph! Two slots, two names! 
• Watching the reaction of those waiting inside the house was just about as priceless as watching him keep thinking he was right with one name under each picture.
• Silly boy.
• Even his allies all had to laugh.
• But he wasn't laughing after the comp.
• Y'see, while Justin is popular in the house, there's one person he claims he hates and she hates him.
• Yep, that would be Shelby.
• I personally have been liking the sides changing power changing in the house. So, a Shelby win is okay with me.
• But, who will she nominate?
• She was angry and suspicious when Whitney was taken off the block the other day. She's sure Whitney flipped and made a deal with Danielle.
• (And, Whitney did make a deal with Danielle.)
• And ... Shelby doesn't care for Justin. 
• Hmm.
• Whitney and Justin are still tight. But I think any of the other girls on that side would just as soon Justin might go. None of them want to be with him in the final three and they're thinking game.
• Shelby made note that Whitney didn't hug her when she was officially pronounced HoH. Not a good move for Whitney there.
• Meanwhile, especially after last week's care package, Shelby wants to see what the care package is and to whom it goes before she makes any big decisions.
• It should probably go for granted that Morgan and Alex will NOT be nominated this week. Anyone else is fair game, methinks.
• Justin is sure it will be him.
• And, it very well could be. 

Oh my!

The time to beat ended up being 3.42

Now, that is scary!

Thankfully all didn't take the 30 minutes each!

Justin! Two names! Morph! Combination!

What the hell is Justin doing?

Who wants to see my HoH room?