Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - November 20, 2016

Good morning! Since it's Sunday, 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!

It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving will be upon us in just a few days! Around here, we've had more warm days than cold so far. Of course, Thanksgiving is early this year, so there's that. I wouldn't mind temperatures in the 50s all through the winter season, though! But it's already changed. They don't expect temperatures to get out of the forties starting today and remaining for the rest of the week. They predicted snow not far north of here and flurries for here overnight leading into today. I saw no flurries.

With the exception of a Red-Tailed Hawk sitting atop the Chotola Apartment Building on North Avenue (across from the Plainfield Train Station) one morning as I headed to work, it wasn't a great photo week. But I certainly took advantage of the hawk sighting! One of the best things about digital photography is the ability to shoot and shoot ... and shoot. I think I took a total of about fifty shots of him before he flew away!

I found out that the Trader Joe's in Westfield will be reopening in about two weeks. I'm SO looking forward to that! I'm still going through Trader Joe's withdrawal pains since their roof collapsed in a blizzard last January. I have a Peapod grocery order set for Wednesday. But, since it's the day before Thanksgiving, I doubt all items will be in stock. I just know I'll be way busy at work from Friday on, have to work weird hours Monday and Tuesday ... Wednesday is my only day to get groceries other than today. I don't want to go out there today! After making the mistake of going into a food store the day before Thanksgiving in the past, I also refuse to madhouse once again. I figure if Peapod is out of the turkey breast I ordered, they will have the Porterhouse steak and I'll have a good meal on the holiday no matter what.  

Today I'm making up a big batch of beef stew in my crock pot. That will last me through Wednesday for my main meals. When you're me and live with a cat, you don't mind living off of leftovers for three days! I only cook things I like because I have no one to please with my cooking but myself. Often I'll make a big dish on a day off to have for a few days so I don't have to cook on workdays. When you only have one day off at a time and no "weekend" to speak of, it makes life easier. 

Anyway ... onto the photos. Clicking on an image will bring up a larger version.
  

Artsy Red-Tailed Hawk

I edited this shot to highlight the hawk. Deadly to some, yet a magnificent bit of nature.

Morning moon and the hawk

I was so happy to see the hawk sit in place for so long! It's hard to capture them in flight.

The original Hawkeye

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

BBOTT: Hamsters, Hamsters - into Sunday, November 20

Easy noms decision this week

Oh my gosh. I really have little for you today.

• Since Justin saved himself with the care package and Shelby is Morgan's best and only ally in the game, the nominations are obvious.
• Kryssie and Jason will be on the block.
• (Even though the safety ceremony is down to one and it will be later tonight.)
• There will be no America's nominee this week.
• Justin and Shelby will be the only hamsters voting. We (America) will vote.
• Although Morgan and Shelby want Jason out -- Kryssie to the final three would guarantee someone else a win at the end -- I would guess that America will more likely vote to evict Kryssie over Jason.
• So, that would leave Justin as the deciding vote.
• Even though Jason tried to get Justin out with a deal the week Danielle ended up gone, I think Justin will be loyal to Jason.
• I guess we'll see.
• Meanwhile, the day was uneventful.
• They laid about.
• They ate.
• They all got along together when together, but sniped about each other when apart.
• They are bored.
• They are boring. 

Playing a good game. Will she make it?

Who will win? Jason or Jason? Pool, I mean.

Works too hard at being a misfit

Missing his home

BBOTT: Care Package Challenge Day - into Saturday Pre-dawn - November 19

Ready to go home, but not just yet.

Yesterday's care package from America could only go to one person since Danielle got the boot last week. We're talking Justin.

• In order to win his safety this week, Justin had to walk across a slack line that I'm thinking looked maybe 20 feet or so and ring a bell once he completed it.
• He was given two hours to practice.
• They have had a smaller slack line in the yard all summer. I can recall both Danielle and Justin messing around with it. But nothing serious. No one really used the equipment in the backyard religiously all summer.
• After diligently using his practice time and often not making it, Justin had one shot to make it across for safety.
• And, he did it!
• He's guaranteed a spot in the final four!
• Justin seems to have forgotten all about his deal last week to align with Kryssie, Shelby and Morgan.
• Now, it's all again about the Late Night Jamboree group ... including Jason.
• We know that Morgan will put Jason and Kryssie up on the block.
• But ... if one of the LNJ people win veto and either come down, Shelby will go up and the LNJ will control the vote.
• America has no nominee this week, if memory serves.
• As for Shelby and Morgan ... they still want Jason out. 
• The two sides are still getting along fantastically on the surface, yet sniping at each other behind their backs.
• I think the person most likely to be in the final three at this time is Kryssie. Both sides want to take her because she has no real chances of winning. Poor performance in comps plus poor sportsmanship have done her in. Anyone going against her should win.
• We're going to be pretty much at a standstill until Monday with the veto comp. We already know who will be the nominees even though the safety ceremonies have yet to be held. 

Slack line practice

Justin losing it during practice

I predict: Not a chance of the win

Ready for Justin's challenge

Dishing celebrity gossip

BBOTT: Thursday Doldrums - Into Friday, November 18

I quit my job for a second time ...!

Thursday was a heck of a lot of nothing going on in the hamster house.

• Whenever all the hamsters got together, all was cordial and even to the point of friendly.
• When the two sides -- Morgan/Shelby vs. Jason/Justin/Kryssie -- were separated, it was a whole 'nuther story.
• Jason is miserable. He went on and on about quitting his job for a second time and how he doesn't want to be evicted by those "stupid" girls.
• Stupid? I don't think so. They've gotten this far in the game. Plus, as they all know now, Shelby has her law degree.
• Kryssie fussed about her old car and how she needs to be a newer old car. She's also tired of working 50 hours a week to make ends meet.
• I kind of think 50 isn't bad at her age. I know there have been times in my life (and probably yours if you're older) that I worked many more hours and multiple jobs. 
• On the other hand, Justin still loves us all.
• But they all think that Shelby and Morgan have always had easy lives and trust funds.
• Hmm. When Morgan took an HoH bubble bath, she talked to us. She says she wants to go back to school, but is "drowning in student debt" plus owes her parents a lot of money.
• Jason thinks that Morgan and Shelby are just about already thinking he's gone.
• Justin says being in the house has been a rehab for him because at home he was drinking and smoking pot every day.
• Meanwhile, Shelby and Morgan do intend to target Jason.
• It seems that they'd rather go into a final three with Kryssie more so than Justin even though they've "worked more" with him than with her.
• Oh, well.  

HoH perks bubble bath

Loves us all, no matter what

Has high hopes

I'm not going to keep in touch with "them"

BBOTT: HoH Quiz/Endurance Comp - November 16

Like they didn't know

Yet another rather convoluted comp. They first have to lock in answers for questions that the answer would be either male or female. Then they all go stand on a peg for a period of time. After time passes, the questions are tallied. If they have an answer incorrect, they must move to the next smaller peg. Last one standing wins.

Answering male/female answers

Yes, she is

Questions like these

Boring

Still boring

All got the first two questions correct and remain on the first peg platform.

This is moving along VERY slowly. 

On the third question of seven, Justin was the only one to get it wrong and must move to a smaller post platform. He has the biggest feet. It doesn't look all that good for him now.

Jason has joined Justin as a second smaller post platform person. 

Justin is wrong on the fifth question and has to move to the next smaller post. 

Geez, Justin. He got the next question wrong, too. Onto a smaller post!   

Biggest feet, smallest post

The questions have ended. Now every five minutes they must move forward to the next (smaller) post. That will continue until they're all at the smallest post.

11pm ET - They all move forward a post. Justin is on the smallest post. Jason is on the third post; Kryssie and Morgan on the second. Wait ... Jason falls before really getting his balance! He's out! 

11:02pm ET - Justin down. Jason down.

Losing!

11:10pm ET - Both Kryssie and Morgan move forward to the next smaller peg. Morgan tries to deal with Kryssie to no avail. 

11:15pm ET - In the transition to the next post, Kryssie lost her balance. Morgan is the new HoH! 

Messing around after Morgan wins