BB19: Temptation Challenge and Nominations Show Blog Party - August 13

As the show airs here, I'll be live-blogging and constantly updating this entry -- refresh the page to get the latest! As always, the real party is in the comments area. Come join in on the fun! 

The show is starting late here. But I don't know how late. It's past 8pm ET and 60 Minutes is still on. 

Finally, at 8:19pm we have the show. Recap, recap.

Cody is alone. He's happy Jess isn't stuck with the others. He wants to strip the big prize money from "as many of these idiots as possible." Raven would like Mark and Elena targeted because they're too close to Cody. Josh thinks so, too. Christmas is leery, as well. 

Everyone is going to play in the Temptation Challenge to attempt to keep Cody from winning safety. Alex wants to target a showmance -- first choice is Mark and Elena, second is Matt and Raven. If she can't get Cody out, she wants to split up one of the couples. 

Cody tells Kevin that he would never target Alex, doesn't know why she wants to target him. Kevin is worried what the others think about him talking with Cody but figures if Cody stays and wins HoH, he won't be targeted.

The others think Kevin is being sketchy by talking to Cody. They plan a sort of intervention. 

Mark suggests targeting Paul to Jason.  

Alex recruits someone to throw the Temptation Comp so they would be the third nominee ... Matt volunteers. Alex's plan is working -- put Mark and Elena on the block (one couple), third nominee a part of another couple. If they can't backdoor Cody, it will break up one couple.

They hear a baby crying. Then a dog barks. Lawnmower? Drums. And on and on. Paul makes up a song to memorize the order of the sounds. 

They all drink the green potion in the Den of Temptation to participate in the challenge. 

The comp has the yard in a big blueprint of the house. It's not the order they need to remember, it's where they were when they heard the particular noise. Cody plans to throw it so he can be the third nominee and play for veto. He decides to stand in Have Not because he wasn't in that room for any of the noises. Oops! He was indeed in the Have Not room for one of the noises. He got one right!

Mark wins safety while Matt is the third nominee as planned. 

Cody knows he's cornered and thinks he needs to wake the others up about Paul being more of a danger to their games than he is.

Jason tells Alex he's willing to go up as a pawn with Elena. Paul comes in and acts like he himself is willing to be a pawn with Elena. Elena is not happy -- "Perpetual Pawn Elena!"

Cody talks to Elena. Cody tells her about Kevin's proposed deal last week. He tries to build trust with Elena, that she will always be on the bottom with Paul's group and Paul needs to go. The others are all doing Paul's dirty work for him. 

Cody agrees to take Elena off the block if he wins veto. But, as Christmas points out to us, Mark and Elena aren't working together. Kerfuffle between Mark and Christmas ensues. Mark and Elena are accused of being flip-floppers. Well, they are. Mark even admits it to us.

Nominations today!

Alex says Matt is the third nominee. She nominates Elena, then Jason. Elena, nothing personal. Jason, want to compete in the veto with you.

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - August 13

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.

Yep, yep ... another week gone and another week closer to my next week off from my workplace. Now, that won't be until mid-September, mind you. But it's on the horizon. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel ... or something like that.

Between work, the blog and the fact that I'm certainly no spring chicken these days, I'm SO EXHAUSTED all the time. Yes, I take vitamins. Yes, I'm still exhausted all the time. On Tuesday night I fell asleep for about ten hours and I was amazed at how good I felt when I awakened. I wish I had the time in my life to get the proper sleep amounts. But it's just not happening for me now. Wah.

It's just been another week of summer -- work, heat, storms. You know, the usual. I really don't have any exciting happenings to tell you about. So, I guess it's onto the photos I took this past week. Clicking on an image will open it up in a larger version.

As seen on Berckman Street

Striking a pose for me

This crow at the Plainfield Train Station is in his glossy glory for the shot.

Yak, yak ... don't talk back!

Between the seagulls and the crows hanging around the Plainfield Train Station, it's LOUD. Throw in all the sparrow and starling noise and you have an Ornithological cacophony.

Y'know ... I can still see you

A small wild rabbit ran and hid under a bush at the Bridgewater Train Station. 

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

BB19: Live Feeds into Sunday - August 13

Jason is 6'5" tall already

With his unitard punishment, he has to duck to go in or out of rooms. Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of Malicious Malcontents:

• The reward/punishments veto comp has changed lots of the house happenings.
• It's no wonder that Alex is ticked at Elena for taking the $5,000 she held and getting the punishment that Elena had won instead.
• Alex has to tote around all kinds of camping gear all the time with her. When she hears the bugle sound, she has to get supplies for hot dog cooking, set up a tent, cook hot dogs for everyone, then take down the tent. 
• It reminds me a bit of the punishment Paulie got last year baking and waving the flag.
• She is taking it much better than he did and her punishment is much more labor intensive.
• However, she's not letting Elena forget that it was HER punishment.
• Mark, however, thinks that Alex should have gone ahead and taken his trip as a second place winner. 
• But she didn't. 
• Supposedly they had a deal not to give each other punishments if they received them in the comp.
• Elena didn't stick to that deal.
• Due to the broken foot and scooter, Paul and Christmas being tethered together is more of a challenge than the usual tether together punishment. They both have helmets because they're supposed to be tandem skydivers and just might need them if they tangle with the scooter!
• Jason's unitard adds about another foot to his already tall self. He looks foolish but seems to be taking it in stride. He has to yell "I'm so X-TREME!" each time he hears the BB voice announce that Jason is doing something extreme. The costume weighs about fifty pounds. Oy.
• With Jason in mind, this came to me as I watched Alex and Jason talk last night -- while they're a duo in the house, I like that they're not physically involved except in tomfoolery situations. It bothers me when I see Christmas or Elena caressing Kevin, a married man. Maybe I'm just old-fashioned or something. But it's refreshing to see Alex and Jason being just true good friends with no sexual innuendo going on.
• I wish they'd stop talking about evicting Kevin, though!
• In other news, Kevin told Cody he can't help him. Then Kevin told others he told Cody he can't help him.
• Cody was invited to and joined in with others in the HoH room. If he had mixed like that in the beginning, he just might not be the Dead Man Walking he is today.
• Thankfully, the others were all cordial with him and they all had a good time with laughs and all.
• I've grown tired of all the mean-spirited moves by so many this season.
•  Josh and Cody played pool together. There was no circus music.
• Probably because of his earlier lies about his age (and the fact they don't like him), Paul thinks the Cody's daughter story is made up.
• This goes to show you -- if you lie about yourself in the beginning of BB, stick to it. If you admit that lie, no one will believe truths.
• Paul thinks Cody made up the daughter for sympathy reasons.
• Elena is worried that she's the bottom of their group and a target.
• And, on the block.
• To be honest, there is some scuttlebutt about voting Elena out instead of Cody.
• And, the fact she went for the money instead of the veto because she assumes she's safe speaks volumes. She just might ...!
• I personally wouldn't mind that.
• But I doubt it will happen.
• With Alex's punishment, no one is supposed to help her.
• Jason got reprimanded by the BB voice for trying.
• But the BB voice didn't stop Cody from telling Alex how to work the grill after she initially burnt the fake grass with it.
• Cody was actually a big help to her not only with the grill workings itself, but dealing with all the packing and backpacks. It's all quasi-military and he has a bit of expertise with it all. Except perhaps the actual cooking of the hot dogs, that is.
• Jason and Cody talked about going hunting together after the season is over. Alex wants to join them. Hmm.
• At the moment, they're all liking Cody more than they like Elena!
• But, it's set Cody must go this week. If it's a double eviction (which it will be), Mark/Elena will be the targets.
• Cody actually talked to the cameras (us) for the first time this season. He knows the backdoor plan is in the works. But he's hoping the fact that Elena has so ticked off HoH Alex that he might have a chance.
• Sigh. He probably won't. It's too late for redemption in the house. 

Really wants an ice cold beer

Paul and Christmas and a scooter

Gruesome threesome

Gotta set up camp and make hot dogs

BB19: Live Feeds Saturday, Power of Veto - August 12

Josh, it's "stole" not "stoled"

Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of Despicable Dawgs:

• The veto players were picked this morning.
• Cody's chip wasn't picked out of the bag, thus sealing his Backdoor fate this coming Thursday.
• Blocked to the live feeds, but talked about -- it was the veto in which, as they got eliminated, they picked a prize and could switch prizes with those out before them.
• Matt won the veto.
• Elena got $5,000 which she apparently took from Alex saying she needs the money. (Remember, she's told us and everyone often enough she has no job, no home and BB is her job!)
• Mark won a trip for two to Colorado. Wow! Heh. He said he took it because they had all talked about just making the veto comp fun.
• Jason gets a unitard. Alex has some kind of curse. Paul must be chained to Christmas.
• Some will be attending an Outback Dinner (in the yard). I'm not sure right now who they are. I know it's not Christmas or Kevin.
• Sooo ... since Matt is the third nominee due to the Temptation Challenge, he cannot be replaced if he removes himself.
• He'll have to remove either Elena or Jason so they can get Cody up there.
• It will most likely be Jason being saved.
• Elena whined to Cody that all she is to them is their perpetual pawn.
• Heh. Every time they pawn her, I think "pawns sometimes go home ... please."
• Cody is mingling more (although he played a game of chess alone).
• He told Kevin in confidence about his daughter and how he was hoping to win for her sake.
• Kevin, although not a cool move, went and told Paul. Paul was shocked and said it brought a whole different perspective on him.
• Not different enough to stop the backdoor, mind you.
• Josh, Paul, Alex and Jason continue to talk about Kevin being sketchy.
• Sigh.
• Alex and Paul are pretty sure it will be a double eviction this week. Paul told her she will be protected.
• Raven, Elena and Cody talked about needing four votes for someone, likely Paul.
• Since Matt won't save Elena, it must be for the eviction after? I dunno.
• Hmm ... Christmas was talking to Jason and Alex about Elena going home and Cody staying. 
• Nah. I just can't fathom them not taking the shot at Cody with the set-up they have in place. 

This is kind of sad

A smile is just a frown turned upside down

"I'm just their perpetual pawn, Cody!"

BB19: Live Feeds into Saturday Dawn - August 12

Laughter ... for now

  
Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of Miserable Mice:

• Nominations went down last night.
• As I said it would be -- Elena and Jason are nominated with Matt being the third nominee due to losing the Temptation Challenge.
• Christmas accused Mark of all sorts of double agent activity and then Josh joined in. Mark was accused of both working with Cody and turning against Cody at the same time. 
• Of course, we know he was trying to play both sides and, at this time, still is to an extent.
• Cody eavesdropped on the whole argument.
• There were no fisticuffs.
• I know Josh has mentioned he's under warning about physical fighting. I would assume Cody probably is and probably Mark, too. 
• Geez, all they need in there is that Hantz bro who was booted for violence or that guy (Scott?) who threw the chair and got ousted. Or perhaps Justin Sebik of knife and BB2 fame!
• I think this season has the record for the number of dudes under warnings for physical altercations or the threats thereof.
• Mark denied knowing that Paul would be backdoored in Week One.
• No one knew. That's what triggered off the whole thing against Cody in the first place. He was supposed to be part of the huge alliance, made the decision to backdoor one of the alliance (Paul) and didn't tell anyone, including Jessica. 
• We know no one knew. But they don't know.
• Josh tried to get Cody to admit to Mark working with him. Cody told him he was over talking game.
• Josh kept at Cody trying to get information on Mark.
• Cody told him he has no friends in the house.
• Kevin finally rescued Cody from the questioning.
• There were no pots and pans nor any circus music.
• Then Paul asked Cody if he had said Mark was loyal to him (Paul) before he (Cody) left before. Cody said as far as he knew, Mark never betrayed Paul. He didn't want to discuss it anymore. 
• Mark has safety this week due to winning the Temptation Comp. So, I'm not sure what the urgency is about what he's said or done before.
• Josh is thinking Cody has checked out. Paul isn't so sure -- veto has yet to be played.
• Mark tried to defend himself to Alex and Jason.
• Oh, give it a rest, hamsters!
• Paul and Alex are upset because Mark didn't trust them and saved himself with the veto last week.
• Really? Really?
• I think saving oneself with the veto should be an act without question. 
• Paul and Alex also talked about how they could work better with Christmas if she wasn't as close as she is with Kevin. They want, after Cody is gone, to make sure that Christmas and Kevin don't make it much further in the game.
• Oh my.
• Now, neither seem to realize that Christmas has her own willing puppy dog in Josh. But I'm not sure how effective a weapon he could be.
• They trashtalked Kevin, both agreeing he has a mean streak and he's weird.
• Hmm.
• Well, he is weird. That's something I like about him. And, they're ALL weird this season, so ...!
• Rumors are getting around that Kevin has a deal with Cody. Well, they knew about the deal before the chaos. All of a sudden it's twisted and Kevin alone is in it with Cody? Nope! The actual deal was for Paul and Alex to work with Cody, along with Kevin. All bets are off on that one.
• Yet it's being used as ammunition against Kevin.
• Meanwhile, Cody went into cleaning mode and ripped apart the kitchen cleaning and putting all back together again.
• I'm surprised he didn't give Jessica his cap when she left.
• Everyone is now treating Cody okay -- no harassing.
• Yet he knows he's outside looking in.
• He's mixing a bit more.
• It won't help him.
• Paul is thinking it will be a double eviction week. We know he's right.
• Cody is the (backdoor) target this week. Next, Paul wants Mark out.
•  I would SO prefer they target people who annoy me as a feed watcher -- Elena or Raven. Paul can be super annoying, too -- but watching him work the people saves him from my list. Elena and Raven, to me, are worthless in the game.
• Jason told Paul and Alex that he thinks Kevin is acting weird because he's worried about the perception from outside the house -- apparently specifically concerning his relationship with Christmas.
• Now, Christmas is all over Kevin an awful lot.
• Kevin doesn't stop it, either.
• Hmm. Methinks Kevin has a crush growing. And, it shouldn't be.
• I don't think Christmas would ever be interested in him outside the house.
• But the world, including his family, see what's happening inside the house.
• Oy.
• Oh noes! KEVIN is now crying! I think his BB and real life worlds are crashing in on him.
• It does get his "friends" who were in the midst of trashtalking him a bit ago back in his camp a bit, though.
• In other news, everyone was all compliments to Cody for cleaning the kitchen so well. He said he was bored and they sent his girlfriend home -- he had to do something.
• Now if he could just clean the rest of the house!
• And come over here and clean my apartment!
• Paul told Cody he's willing to talk to him on a personal level, not game talk.
• Cody reacted okay. But he knows that Paul will never be a friend or confidante.
• Elena is wondering who might play veto and will they pull her off the block.
• Yep, it's all about her. 

Discussing anger with rolling pin in hand

Oh, Hollywood ... here I am!

Cody on a cleaning mission