Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - July 30, 2017

Good morning! Since it's a Sunday morning, this is my weekly off television topic post taking a look at the week gone by in both words and photographs I've taken along the way. This weekly post is done year in, year out. Big Brother, the main draw for so many of you, only lasts about three months -- although sometimes it seems to be a lifetime. If you're here solely for the BB posts, please feel free to skip this post. You can find my latest BB19 posts by using this link.

I really don't have much for you this week. I spent the week working, blogging Big Brother shows and live feeds, slept when I could and entertained a certain cat named Vincent. I'm tired. 

The weather wasn't so bad this week here in the NJ/NYC Greater Metro Area -- we had some glorious temperature days during which it only got into the mid-70s! Sure, the beach crowd might not like that, but I love it! It's been nice to have my windows open and the air conditioner off.

Other than flowers, I really didn't get much in the way of photos this week.  Clicking on an image will open a larger version ...

Rose of Sharon

Pretty pinks on Berckman Street

Little crumbsnatcher!

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

BB19: Live Feeds into Sunday Morning - July 30

Drinks out of a gallon jug of water

Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of Weird Wackadoodles:

• Going back to before the PoV comp yesterday, back to the Paul/Cody brouhaha ... Jessica talked with Cody afterwards.
• She was livid.
• She didn't puff herself up to look bigger like Cody did to Paul.
• It was all verbal. Basically, she told him he was wrecking what little chance they have to get anywhere in the game. She called him a hothead. She ended up distancing herself from him. Paul was actually the only one to go to her to make sure she was okay and said he's willing to talk with her. He told her that she is liked -- it's just her relationship with Cody and the perception of it in the house that was keeping her apart.
• Now, Paul might be faking any and all concern he has for others in the house. But, a good social game is such a huge part of gameplay in the BB house. If he makes it to the finals, the jury will remember his support, real or not, in the vote.
• Meanwhile, Cody and Mark talked. Both were adamant that their showmances were over.
• Cody claimed that Jessica would always blame him for anything that goes wrong in a future relationship, he'd be the default for blame. Mark said that when Josh was banging pots and pans at him, Elena didn't speak up to defend him at all -- as a matter of fact, she laughed.
• All the love they both have to offer for nought.
• Back to the latest ... Cody and Jessica are snuggling again and Mark is still agog with Elena.
• Paul had a long talk with Mark when Mark asked him how he can save his game. Paul's advice could be wheedled down to back away from Cody.
• The brouhaha between Paul and Cody solidified just about the entire house against Cody.
• But Cody still can't see that his making lone wolf decisions as HoH, lone wolf actions by isolating himself from others, being physically threatening and moody, lying about his age ... nah, none of that stuff is his fault in regard to being a big target and alienation!
• Jessica realizes all this ... and went back into his arms anyway.
• Now Cody is all cynical about the game and is trying to give a "whatever" attitude.
• The Weatherman Veto Comp should be interesting. Apparently Raven and Kevin tied for second to Paul, Jessica got third.
• Most of them, sans Jessica, Cody, Raven ... stayed up all night preparing after BB put out the weather bulletins on the television screen.
• Most of them are wondering how Raven did so well since she didn't study with them.
• Both Cody and Jessica are shocked they did so well in the comp.
• Cody had told Elena earlier in the day that he wanted to quit the game and Jessica won't let him. Hmm.
• Mark is on his second week (bad pick) of Have Not and this week's Have Nots are Christmas, Alex and Elena. Elena had a bad pick this week and will face two weeks of slop. Aw, too bad, so sad for her.
• Oh noes! Someone accidentally broke Alex's cat ears! Kevin was trying to fix them first, then told the cameras Jason broke them! I can see that friendship go on the rocks!
•  Josh seems to be pining for Elena. Ew. Double ew even.
• Paul told others he repeatedly asked every way he could in the Diary Room and found out that no one is guaranteed safety for a matter of weeks.
• He said the rules say they can't lie about the temptation, but they can talk about it.
• So far, we know Jessica lied about it when telling the others she and Cody were safe for at least a few weeks.
• Back to after the brouhaha, Jessica told Paul that the hex would affect the HoH (Paul) more than anyone else. She was no longer claiming she and Cody were safe for a few weeks. She told him that she didn't want to use it bit this week she'd have to with both of them on the block and he would find out on Thursday.
• Paul may or may not take Jason off the block with the veto.
• We know it will make no difference. If Jessica and Cody remain on the block, she'll invoke the Halting Hex. 

Mark sits and makes duck faces

Jessica and Paul fist bump

Kevin makes a point

Public Enemy #1

BB19: Live Feeds Power of Veto Bulletin - July 29

After several hours of blocked live feeds, the storm reporter Power of Veto comp is over.

Paul won the PoV.

BB19: Live Feeds into Saturday Dawn, Brouhaha Afoot - July 29

Late night studying.

Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of Hotheaded Hamsters:

• Oh my.
• Paul, not quite believing that Jessica has some power to save both her and Cody for a few weeks, put both Jessica and Cody on the block.
• They're on the block with Jason, the third nominee who lost the Temptation Challenge.
• Mark won that challenge, so he can't be nominated this week.
• Paul says if both Jessica and Cody are indeed safe, no harm no foul. He has back-up nominees and, in his worst case scenario -- Josh might go home.
• But, of course, Paul thinks it's some kind of safety and doesn't realize that his entire HoH might go moot if Jessica uses the Halting Hex.
• Paul told Jessica time and time again that she's safe. She's only in the mix because of Cody.
• Cody (and Jessica) confronted Paul about the nominations.
• Eep.
• I thought there would be fisticuffs!
• Not on either Paul or Jessica's part, mind you.
• But Cody's rage was almost to that point.
• He seemed to make himself bigger -- like you're supposed to do if you come upon a bear.
• Seeing as Cody's only bigger than Paul as far as men go in the house, it wasn't really needed.
• He got in Paul's face almost egging Paul to hit him.
• Paul told him to leave the room.
• "What are you going to do about it?!?!" -- Cody.
• Paul called him emotional and just held his ground, telling Cody to leave the HoH room.
• Jessica escorted Cody out.
• Paul told Jessica he's willing to talk to her anytime.
• Then, Paul's bravado returned and he shouted things that Cody had said in the room from the balcony and calling Cody out as an emotional baby.
• Cody had claimed that Paul treated the others like dogs and bragged about how great he is in the game.
• Paul yelled it to all the others, rallying them too against Cody.
• Of course, the lesser than alpha males had to get into the fray, too.
• Josh started yelling at Mark about how he mistreated him last week and how they will pay.
• Oh my.
• Out of the four guys involved in the shouting matches, only Paul came off as quasi-reasonable. He would not let himself be egged into something he'd regret.
• Yet he would shout things after the threat of a punch in the face left the room.
• Heck, this was better than TV!
• Heh.
• I love me a good brouhaha.
• In other news, Elena told Mark that she cannot go home this week. She's counting BB as a career move and needs to stay in entertainment. She has no job to go back to, nor a home to return to come October. Her mother has her dogs. She told him BB is her job.
• I say, she better learn how to flip burgers or something. She's not going to make it in Hollywood! 
• They got BB Storm Watch bulletins on the video monitor. So, most of them studied through the night expecting that to be the veto comp. 

A cat and a cowboy.

For her, every day is Christmas.

I must stay. I have no job, no home.

Happiness is a tutu and lint roller.

Nobody likes Cody!

Posturing for a brouhaha.

BB19: Nominations Are In - July 28

This is just a quick update -- Paul went with his Plan A for nominations. Jessica and Cody are on the block.  Cody got angry, yelling at Paul. Paul yelled back at Cody. There were no fisticuffs and it didn't rise much about the level of a kerfuffle.

So, it's Jessica, Cody and Jason (due to the earlier comp) on the block. We still have to go through veto. If Jason saves himself, Paul cannot replace him. 

WE know that the Halting Hex will likely stop everything on Thursday.

But Paul doesn't.