Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - September 10, 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.

My apologies for not posting last Sunday. I've been under the weather and under severe stress at my workplace. Between that and all of the turmoil of having to filter hate on the BB19 blog posts, I'm wiped. I never understand it when people get so hung up on that show that they have to either love or hate cast members with little leeway for just realizing that the actions of the cast have no effect on their own lives. I see Dingo at Hamsterwatch is pretty much in the same state of mind as I am. But she pretty much does the site for a living. If I had to live off the pennies from my blogging the past few seasons I wouldn't be living. I remember when it used to cover the rent all summer when I got actually paid to write.

Sigh.

At least I'm on my latest staycation this week. I really need it. I wasted most of yesterday napping. Well, I wouldn't call it wasted. It felt good! I'm actually a bit refreshed today!

My thoughts and prayers go out to those being affected by Hurricane Irma. I have relatives and friends living there. Please be safe and update us when you can!

It doesn't seem right, but our weather here is glorious -- dry, beautiful blue skies and daytime temperatures in the 70s. That's my favorite kind of weather. It's been dipping down a bit low during the overnights, but I can cope with that.

Onto this week's photos (with a few from the week before) --

A marvelous marigold blossom

As seen in Bridgewater, NJ.

The I See Dead People saga continues

This past week a silly college girl made social media and news reports because she ended up waking up in the Raritan train yard on a parked train. The Raritan Valley Line isn't a tremendously long trip end to end. People, especially those unfamiliar with the train system, either need to stay awake or set their phone alarm to wake up before their expected stop. Or, even ASK the conductor questions -- let them know you're not familiar with train travel. Every conductor I know on the line would be glad to help you out if you ASK. But don't expect them to just babysit you. I do know from knowing the conductors that suspension is probable for the conductor who's responsible if a passenger is left on the train at the train yard. Yes, they are indeed responsible to make sure no one remains on the train. They screwed up. But, so did the girl. She's lucky the lights were still on.

Kousa Dogwood last week

The Kousa Dogwood tree at the Plainfield Train Station has started bearing fruit. This is actually a shot that I didn't post last week. The fruits are all red now and getting bigger.

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

BB19: Live Feeds into Sunday - Sept. 10

Kevin is smiling a bit ... for now

Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of Not So Lovable Lemmings:

• As you know from my last brief post, Paul won the comic book veto. 
• To be honest, when you consider the skill sets involved in that comp, I think Alex might have been the only other one who could have won. If not for Christmas's foot, she could have been a real contender for the win.
• But, if not for Christmas's foot, I think we might have seen an entirely different game from her this summer.
• Everyone thinks they will have a final two with Paul.
• Hmm.
• It's highly unlikely, impractical and possibly impossible that Paul will use the veto to save either Kevin or Alex.
• Since Alex is next on the hit list for Josh, Christmas and Paul, Paul's winning keeps her on the block.
• If Paul were to use the veto to save either of them, Christmas would be the only one who could be put up as the renom.
• No, no, no ... Paul doesn't want that. He knows he for sure can beat Christmas in the comps going into the final two. He's not so sure about beating Alex.
• Josh continues to worry that he's made grave errors by leaving Paul in the house.
• But it's too little, too late.
• Alex feels on solid ground thinking Paul's the only one she can trust.
• Of course, when Paul doesn't use the veto to save her Monday, he'll try to turn the blame on the others, thus keeping his hands "blood-free."
• Since Josh can't do the blindside of Paul, right now he just wants to talk to Alex and let her in on Paul's ways so she can go into jury with that knowledge.
• I think that will backfire as she totally trusts Paul.
• I guess we'll see how things go after the veto meeting.
• But, since she sat around telling us she believes in friendship, she believes in Paul ...
• ... she might as well believe in Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy.
• (Sorry, I did label this post as SPOILERS and that would include news of Santa and the Tooth Fairy, too!)
• Kevin and Josh sat around talking friendly, smiling and all ... just like old times in the early days.
• Josh made nicey-nice with Alex.
• Christmas and Paul are a bit suspicious about the niceness with Josh and Alex.
• Oh, well. It will all be over soon.
• Perhaps not soon enough. 

Hamsters loving their yard

I used to be able to hula hoop

I believe in friendship. I trust Paul.

BB19: Live Feeds PoV Bulletin - Sept. 9

'nuff said

The Power of Veto comics comp is over. 

I think I prefer to remain quiet at the moment and avoid all the fan brouhaha for a bit. It's draining me this season.

BB19: Live Feeds into Friday Night, Nominations - Sept. 8

Girl talk

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

• I wonder how long Alex will wear her superhero host outfit. Or, for that matter, how long will Paul wear his suspenders from the comp more than a week ago? He wore that silly fur thing from a comp for a few weeks straight.
• It seems some of them latch onto any new item of clothing they get in a comp. I recall a few saying they have more sneakers than they own at home in real life.
• That said, at least Alex's superhero garb doesn't leave her chest hanging out!
• The big news of the day would be the nominations.
• As expected, Josh nominated Alex and Kevin.
• Now, the plan with this and Josh, Paul and Christmas is that Alex will be voted out. If Alex happens to win veto, then Kevin would be voted out despite who else is on the block. 
• The eviction order would just shift to Kevin then Alex rather than its present Alex then Kevin.
• If Kevin wins veto .... BWAHAHAHA! 
• Ahem.
• I'm sorry. I really enjoy the dude, more than any of the rest of them in the house when he's himself. However, I've lost faith that he could be some sort of comp beast just waiting for the moment.
• There is a slight glimmer of hope.
• I doubt it will come to fruition, though.
• Y'see, Josh had one of his long talks with the camera. While these nominations are indeed what Paul (and thus Christmas) want ... Josh seriously wants to make the move ... try to get Alex to win the veto, save herself, put Paul up in her place and blindside Paul.
• Paul out this week! And, out at the hands of Josh!
• Can you imagine it?
• Sorry, I can't. IF he gets the nerve to put Paul on the block (and that's a big IF), I think Alex and Christmas (the only two who can vote) won't go with his plan. 
• They both trust Paul, foolish hamsters that they are.
• Alex doesn't like Kevin, not at all. She would vote him out.
• Christmas was once attached to Kevin at the hip. Paul is her more recent attachment figure.
• Josh thinks that if he saves Alex or, more preferably, she saves herself -- he just needs to tip her vote to Paul so it would be a tie. He'd be the tiebreaker and blindside Paul.
• True, it would be the power move of the game. And, it just might tip the scales in Josh's favor with the jury if he can get it done and makes it to the final two.
• Unless it happens, I don't think it's going to go down that way.
• I think both Christmas and Alex are too blinded by Paul to understand that would put the rest of them -- Josh, Alex, Christmas and even Kevin -- on more solid ground going into the finals.
• I guess we'll see.
• As for the nominations staying as they are -- Alex is in tears tonight. She thinks it will be a split vote and, because she doesn't get along well with Josh, he will vote her out.
• Not to be outdone, Josh also cried. He told Paul and Christmas that he feels horrible about Jason and Alex. He claims that he likes them the most after Paul and Christmas.
• Hmm.
• He also told Paul and Christmas that he wants to see Kevin go next.
• I remember when he and Kevin were a loving fun heterosexual couple!
• Can Josh really pull the big move off?
• We know, that if he does indeed do the deed, we can expect a lot of tears. 

Paul is committing the house to memory

Real men wash dishes

Nap time! I could use a nap myself.

BB19: Live Feeds into Friday, New HoH - Sept. 8

Aw, he doesn't want to be alone

Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of Jerky McJerkfaces:

• Dang, Josh really has it out for Kevin. I can't recall exactly when it started -- they were friends and confidants for the first half of the season. 
• Now Josh would have preferred Kevin go over Raven in the second eviction last night.
• And I know he doesn't like Raven!
• So, what might be the worst that can happen as far as Kevin goes?
• What if ...? What if ...?
• What if Josh won HoH?
• That's exactly what happened.
• It was the BB comic book comp (as we all knew it would be).
• You know that, despite his realization that Paul is playing only for himself, he's not going to have the nerve to try to blindside Paul.
• Not that anyone other than perhaps Kevin would vote to evict Paul, mind you.
• Paul has worked it so that Alex thinks he's the only one in the house she can trust.
• Christmas seems to have an inking about Paul, but I don't think she'll challenge him at all. She's too busy caressing him.
• Ew.
• We know that the eviction order was Jason, Alex, Raven, then Kevin until it's down to Josh, Christmas and Paul.
• So, it will surely be Kevin and Alex on the block.
• Alex and Josh both want Kevin out. In this scenario, neither could vote.
• Only Christmas and Paul will vote in that scenario. Both should follow the plan and vote out Alex.
• What if Alex wins veto?
• No harm, no foul for Paul -- he would vote Kevin out as per her wishes.
• But, meanwhile, Paul thinks it would be great if Kevin won the veto. Of course, then either he or Christmas would go up, Alex would still be voted out and there would be no "blood on his hands."
• Josh was telling people they're welcome to come up and sleep in his HoH room.
• He doesn't like being up there alone.
• Oh, poor baby.
• He got his Justin Bieber music to console him. (Why am I not surprised?)
• Oh, well ... this train wreck will be ending soon.
• Yay. 

Bound to be on the block

Didn't want to win

Alex got her basket o' cat ears and stuff

Her cool HoH comp hosting costume