The Amazing Race: December 1, 2013 Episode Blog Party

After two weeks of the show actually airing on time (8pm ET), tonight it's scheduled to start at 8:30pm ET after football and 60 Minutes. Now, we know that's no guarantee that it will even really air at that time! But, I'll be putting this post up at its standard time -- by 8pm ET. I will take off the word verification once it starts here.

As the show airs, I'll update this entry with the major happenings. Refresh the page to get the latest! Need I remind you, the party is in the comments area? Nah, didn't think you needed that reminder at all. Come join us there!

The Magnificent Margo's latest blog pool standings --

Jason And Amy - Nicklepeed, PDXGranny, Brian, DLA
Leo And Jamal - MEB, Margo, Brenda, Caela
Tim And Marie - SueGee, DKNYNC, Rbennie
Travis And Nicole - Delee, Laurie, Lynn1, Merrilee

Sorry you have been PHILIMINATED
Hoskote And Naina
Rowan And Shane - ML, Becky, Cheryl in NC, KayBeeRN
Chester And Ephraim - Buzzmaam, Donna in AL, Sharon S
Brandon And Adam - Donna in FL, Monty924, Sharon
Tim And Danny - JOKATS, Dusty, Zoetawny
Nicky And Kim - Nana in NW, Jennasmom, David
Ally And Ashley - LafayetteLisanne, Jackie,Tammy

Ready to eat funky stuff? Let's race party!

UPDATE: The show will start approximately 8:51pm ET. Grr. See you then!

Finally ... four teams remain. Who will be eliminated NEXT?

The teams have to eat grilled cobra in order to get their next clue. Although I'm horrible with weird foods, I bet I could do that! Ah, two entrances, north and south, and Tim and Marie went to the wrong one. Plus, Marie is a finicky eater. I hope this knocks out my fellow New Jersey team. I don't like them.

Roadblock has a team member boiling eggs in volcano steam.

Detour -- Paint your partner or turn over a new leaf. The first has them painting partner as a Japanese bride. The latter has them delivering tea leaves.

Heh. Kim doesn't know how to boil eggs. She doesn't even have them in the water!

Pit Stop -
1. Jason and Amy have their first win! They also won a trip to Cancun.
2. Tim and Marie (grr)
3. Nicole and Travis
4. Leo and Jamal

It's non-Philimination leading into next week's season finale. All four teams are still in it.

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - December 1, 2013

Good morning! It's Sunday morning. You know that that means, right? 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. Later on tonight I will get back on the topic of television with The Amazing Race blog party post. If you watch the show, c'mon back for the party as it airs!

Let's see ... what happened this week? Oh, right. Thanksgiving! I hope everyone had a good holiday with family, friends, food, whatever brings contentment to your soul. I'm thankful for a lot of things, too many to name. I'm thankful for the friends I've met through the blog. You all rock!

I had a quiet holiday at home. As I have no family nearby and don't really have enough time off to travel any distance, I usually fix a small feast for myself and spend the day with the cat. Often, when people hear I'll be alone for the holiday, I'll get invites. But I'd feel out of place trying to fit in with a family I don't really know. I'm a bit of a strange duck ... I really enjoy my holiday in the comforts of my own home, eating what I want, enjoying the company of a certain cat and just doing my own thing.

This year, instead of my usual turkey breast, I made prime rib with mashed potatoes and broccoli. For dessert, I had Trader Joe's Ultra Chocolate ice cream topped with Kahlua (also bought at Trader Joe's). It's odd they have hard liquor there now. When I was in there, I swear I heard the Kahlua calling my name. I haven't had any in years and the price seemed quite reasonable. That was my little feast and I was very pleased with how it all turned out!

I made my Trader Joe's run to nearby Westfield on Monday after work, just staying on the train a few more stops and then taking the bus home. I figured I'd avoid the bad weather expected Tuesday and Wednesday and the crowds on Wednesday. Well, I avoided the bad weather. The crowds were so bad that they had someone in their parking lot directing traffic. Yipes! But, in the newly expanded store with many more registers, the wait in line wasn't bad at all. It was much shorter than the wait people had trying to get through the parking lot. Just walking across the street to the bus was so much easier, too!

The cold rain and winds started here on Tuesday. Although I had to fight through the weather on my way home from work Tuesday, I had Wednesday and Thursday off from work -- regular day off and paid holiday. I made sure there was no need for me to go out in it on Wednesday. And, no sales will ever drag me out on Thanksgiving Day even though I'm usually alone on the holiday. I know that if I need something grocery-wise in an emergency, the bodega around the corner is open every single day of the year. Since the owners also man the store, that's their decision and holidays are lucrative for the small business. But I made sure I needed nothing!

How was your holiday?

As a result of the shortened work week out and about and the bad weather for part of the week, I don't have a lot of great photos this week. Most of them, I took the day I hit Westfield after work. But, here goes ...

Happy Hanukkah!

This is the Menorah at the Westfield Train Station. None of the lights are lit as I took the photo on Monday. 

Mums

I'm surprised some of the mums in planters in Westfield are still hanging in there. Most around here have been taken by the cold nights (and some days!). I was going to take a shot of a dead rose on East Front Street in Plainfield, but it was all too darn sad.

With a red bow

Watchung Avenue in Plainfield on Tuesday afternoon as I headed home from work. Despite the fact they said the rain would start in the evening, it started by noon. Grr. I edited this shot leaving only the bow in color. After the jump, I have a similar photo in actual color.

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

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday with fine food, family, friends! I'm thankful for all the friends I've met through blogging over the years!

Survivor: Blood vs. Water - November 27 Episode Blog Party

Happy first night of Hanukkah and Thanksgiving Eve to all! I realize many folks might be on the road tonight or getting ready for the holiday, but the party is still on here at the blog! It seems that, unlike other years, this is actually a new action-packed episode tonight instead of the clips show. Woot!

As the show airs here on the East Coast, I'll update this entry with the major happenings. Refresh this page to get the latest! But, as always, the real party is in the comments area. Come join in on the fun!

The latest blog pool standings from the Esteemed Lifeguard Laurie:

End of Week 11/20
CALEB -- Glenn, ORKMommy
CIERA -- Andrea J, Karen in CA, Rochelle
GERVASE -- Jackie, Pam in NJ
HAYDEN -- Joanie, Quixotic Elf
KATIE -- David, Margo, Zoetawny
MONICA -- Becky, KayBeeRN, Russ
TYSON -- Delee, meb

Redemption Island
VYTAS -- Donna NY, ML
TINA -- Cheryl in NC, Lynn1, Terry in TX
LAURA M -- AlbGlinka, JOKATS, rbennie

Jury
ARAS -- Donna in FL, MikesGirl

Survivor fans ready?

While Vytas wonders why no one votes out Tyson, the duel is about to happen. Much ado about Ciera voting her mom out of the game.

The Redemption duel -- retrieve and stack four color cubes so that no one color is repeated on any side. Laura wins! Thanks to Laura's help, Tina came in second. Sigh. Vytas will go to jury with his brother. Laura gives the idol clue to Ciera. Ciera burns it.

Tyson tries to work all against Katie. Hayden want to blindside Tyson. I knew the kid could think! Gah! Ciera rats them out to Tyson! Tyson thinks Caleb should be the target.

Immunity -- Holding onto a rope with a bucket containing 25% of their body weight. Twist -- if someone feels secure, they can feast instead of trying. Tyson, Gervase and Ciera decide to eat. Hmm. Katie is out first. Caleb is out. It's down to Hayden and Monica now. Hayden's out. Monica wins her third individual immunity!

Aha! Hayden and Caleb convince Tyson that Ciera's trying to turn them on each other. He's not sure he trusts them that much, but is definitely suspicious of Ciera.Now Ciera seems to the the latest target.

Tribal Council time. The tally -- Whoa! Tyson plays the idol! Now, the tally -- Ciera, Caleb, Ciera, Ciera, Caleb, Caleb, Caleb.

Caleb is off to Redemption. It's a shame it wasn't Ciera! But Tyson's idol was totally wasted. Heehee!

Happy Hanukkah!

It's rare indeed that Hanukkah coincides with Thanksgiving! I wish all those who celebrate, the best Hanukkah ever!

The Amazing Race: November 24, 2013 Episode Blog Party

Oh my. Yet another week on time here on the East Coast? Sure, spoil us. Then crush our dreams of a show which actually airs at its scheduled time!

As the show airs, I'll update this entry with the major happenings. Refresh the page to get the latest! But, as always, the real party is in the comments area. Please come in and join in on the fun!

The Magnificent Margo's latest blog pool standings:

Ally And Ashley - LafayetteLisanne, Jackie,Tammy
Jason And Amy - Nicklepeed, PDXGranny, Brian, DLA
Leo And Jamal - MEB, Margo, Brenda, Caela
Tim And Marie - SueGee, DKNYNC, Rbennie
Travis And Nicole - Delee, Laurie, Lynn1, Merrilee

Sorry you have been PHILIMINATED
Hoskote And Naina
Rowan And Shane - ML, Becky, Cheryl in NC, KayBeeRN
Chester And Ephraim - Buzzmaam, Donna in AL, Sharon S
Brandon And Adam - Donna in FL, Monty924, Sharon
Tim And Danny - JOKATS, Dusty, Zoetawny
Nicky And Kim - Nana in NW, Jennasmom, David

Are you ready? ...

The teams are flying off to Indonesia. Once there, they need to transport two rams to an event in which the rams butt heads, then transport them back. I'm not talking Dodge Rams, either.

They're off to a train station for the next clue.

Detour -- For the elephants -- feeding elephants or For the Birds -- deliver love birds and encourage the birds to sing.

Tim/Marie and Jason/Amy are an hour behind the other teams. But Ally and Ashley are lost.

The Roadblock has them building a local wood instrument and then playing it to a student's satisfaction.

Pit Stop --
1. Leo and Jamal - won $7,500 each
2. Tim and Marie (boo)

Nicole is falling apart at the Roadblock. They were the first team there and everyone is passing them. Amy is helping her. Now the stragglers, Ashley and Ally have arrived.

3. Jason and Amy
4. Travis and Nicole
5. Ally and Ashley - Philiminated

There goes my blog pool pick. I'm a free agent now!

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - November 24, 2013

It's Sunday morning and, guess what? 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. Later on tonight, I'll post the blog party for The Amazing Race. If you watch the show, c'mon by!

It turned cold this past week. I fear that's here to stay for a while. This year I'll face it in a new winter coat with the best hood ever. While I'm a firm believer in layering and usually tend to layer with a hoodie ... forget that hoodie hood! This one is down, fluffy and warm. It was more than I usually spend on a winter coat which I mainly use to go back and forth to work. But I had the last coat for the past three seasons or so. So, if this one lasts as well as that one did, it will be worth it! (No, I'm not talking thousands of dollars. But I do tend to jackets and coats under $100. This was more than that.)

It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving is upon us this week. I know they're going on about it being the latest possible day for that holiday, but it still seems like I blinked my eyes and it's here. Perhaps our bouts of warm weather confused my mind; I don't know. It just all of a sudden is looming at me. It will be a four-day work week for me, something that's always welcome. I hope everyone has a nice holiday and a safe one if you're out on the roads.

Hmm ... I don't really have much to say about this past week. I guess I'll get on to the photos --

Hawk in flight

The late day sun was at a perfect angle to photograph this hawk. I only wish I had a closer shot. Over the Plainfield Police Station.

Dawn's reflection

After a dismal walk to the train station, the sunrise was trying to do its stuff on Monday morning. Bridgewater, NJ.

What's this?

I went in late to work on Tuesday and came across a huge amount of fire apparatus for what apparently was a rather small fire in the Chotola apartment building on North Avenue in Plainfield. The fire was on the first floor rear of the building isolated to one apartment. One resident of the fourth floor was treated on the scene for smoke inhalation.

Responding companies: Plainfield Police and Fire Departments, Scotch Plains, North Plainfield, South Plainfield, Westfield, Union County OEM, Haz-Mat and EMS. Oh my. By the next day, I saw the taxi place on the first floor open for business and the residents were back in. Well, except perhaps for the one apartment where the fire was contained. More photos to follow ...

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