Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was 8/02

It's time for reflection and some photographs I've taken of the week gone by. If you're looking for Big Brother show stuff, wait for the next post or check back on the previous one. Or, just use this Big Brother blog tag!

It's been humid and stormy most of the past week here in New Jersey. The state even had a tornado which did quite a bit of damage on Wednesday. I'm nowhere near where that was (or I would have taken some cool photos!).

I've had a rather subdued week -- some issues at the workplace nagging at me, an empty apartment without my cat, Verizon FIOS irking me to no end coming in while I wasn't home making a mess installing their junk I don't want in my apartment (I refuse to get FIOS and wish I could have barred them from coming into my home), fighting a $50 late rent fee when the check posted on June 2 (I have until the 5th each month, usually mail it before the 1st). Argh. Maybe I'd be better off in the BB11 house! Oh! And Verizon FIOS idiots also left my apartment not secure by not re-locking my deadbolt! The regular door lock is flimsy -- anyone could have forced the door open. Grr.

Let's see ... there had to be some plus points for the week. Um. Um. Well, the elevator in my building is finally working. It's only been out of order since January. I felt like I was living in The Big Bang Theory. The slumlord landlord also installed a new intercom system, but it's not functional yet. Gee, maybe he'll get those fire extinguishers tagged 2005 attended to next, as well as get the fire alarm for the building operating again. That would be nice.

I also received word that I'll be getting nearly a year's worth of retroactive pay on a raise which never came at my workplace. That I can use. But it will be in a lump sum, so taxes are going to whack it. Yeah, I know in these economic times I should be thankful to have a job. But I've never not had a job (or two or three) and have nearly thirty years invested in the company. All I ask is to be treated fairly when it comes to benefits and salary reviews. I shouldn't have to fight for what's supposed to come my way on schedule.

Oh, well ... onto this week's photos. I don't think I had any really fantastic images this week although I came across a few good local finds. Clicking on an image will open it larger in a new window.

No Loitering

I've been trying to get a picture of this public bench near the Plainfield (NJ) courthouse for weeks, but people are always loitering on it. Um ... what other purpose is there for a bench other than loitering? It's actually a bench for the bus stop. However, the issue is street people doing their thing loitering which seems to be the problem.

Street Art in Plainfield, New Jersey

I took a walk down a street I don't normally travel and came across this find in the parking lot for the YMCA buses. I couldn't get real close as I was photographing it through a fence. Now, I'm not an advocate for plain old graffiti, but I do like the more artistic doings. This was tagged by the NYC X-Men who hit the train station with tags a while back but no real art.

Plainfield Street Art Continued

It looks like they first painted their canvas black, then went to work. I wonder how long this took them to do?

More Plainfield Street Art and the fence between us

See! I told you there's a fence! I guess I could have walked around the block to get better shots.

Abandoned

This little office (?) is part of an abandoned garage on a lot owned by the city of Plainfield, NJ.

Flowers never bend with the rainfall

"So, I'll continue to continue to pretend that my life will never end and flowers never bend with the rainfall" - Simon and Garfunkel. Photo taken on East Front Street in Plainfield, NJ.

Goldfinch (?) on a dead tree

I spotted this bird on the same dead tree where I previously photographed a woodpecker. I believe it's the New Jersey State Bird -- the goldfinch. I could be wrong, though. Birds aren't quite my area of expertise. Bridgewater, NJ.

Plainfield NJ Train Station in sepia tones

I'm in a Simon and Garfunkel mood right now ... "Sitting in the railway station, got ticket for my destination...."

Living in America

This group of (possibly) homeless (probably) undocumented guys were enjoying a patch of shade in yesterday's one day of sunshine. The one guy obviously wanted his picture taken when he saw the camera, but two others scooted away fearing their images being captured. Plainfield has a large number of men like this -- day laborers who tend to live in apartments by the dozen, abandoned buildings, some handmade shelters along the railroad tracks. I know there are a lot of social ramifications, but their presence doesn't really bother me. And, I'm taller than all of them!

Big Brother 11 Live Feeds Into the Dawn Sunday 8/02

I'm playing a bit of catch up here today. Zoetawny created this Chima image a week or so ago when Chima just wouldn't shut up! Things have changed a bit in the house. However, when Chima gets on the subject of Chima, a piece of duct tape might just do the trick! Thank you Zoetawny!



I'm also including the CBS video interview with Casey and fan questions. What I find the most interesting with this is his take on Russell. As I watch the feeds and the show, I've found my own opinion on Russell changing. At first I thought of him as a bully thug. Now not so much. True, he can bully. But he's kind of a stand up guy who's playing the game with at least a semblance of integrity. I don't expect any of them to be honest all the time -- that's just not Big Brother. Do I want him to win it all? Nah, not at this point.

Onto the late night and overnight feeds scoop (or lack thereof):

• Blog reader Petals from comments wants to know what college Natalie attended -- Arizona State University. No, I don't know the degree if any exists. After all, she's only 18. @@
• Between Kevin and Jessie, lots of squid has been tossed out. I think BB should take the cost out of their stipends.
• Michele drank a wee bit too much last night. In a way, I feel sorry for her -- she's a bit of an outcast, not really in with either group in the house.
• Ah, but she has the power of veto.
• Chima told Natalie that she (Natalie) won't get the wizard powers.
• I don't know how Chima can really say that, but I'm sure she's right. I bet Natalie is way low on the totem pole with the viewer votes.
• Not only did Russell get shorts from Casey, but Jeff did too. He put 'em on and declared they felt "mingly." (Casey's DJ name is Mingle Mixx.)
• I don't think I'd wear used shorts, but that's just me.
• Russell and Michele think they're both in the same boat -- on the periphery of the basic house alliances. Neither have anyone really close close for protection.
• Russell told Michele he owes Chima nothing and really isn't impressed with her or her lifestyle.
• They will work together, Russell and Michele.
• That boy does have game! He has Jessie, Jeff and Jordan, and now Michele.
• Ronnie has been trying to pretend he has the wizard power.
• Since voting ends Tuesday, no one knows. But the hamsters don't know when -- they were just told some sort of magic power would be bestowed this week.
• Natalie told Russell that Lydia and Kevin said they wanted to get the stronger players out next week.
• Natalie would actually rather Lydia go this than Ronnie.
• Russell seems to know Natalie's anti-Lydia bias.
• He isn't thrilled with Lydia, but wants Ronnie gone this week more.
• Michele once again said she won't be using the veto.
• I really think Michele is not going to use it -- she despises Ronnie.
• Ronnie went to the HOH room and tried to plea his case with emotion and all.
• Ronnie might have a new career ... Oscar-winning actor. He apologized, he threw the entire world under the bus ...
• Did Russell buy it? I don't think so. I don't think Russell is that naive.
• Ronnie then pulled his act once again with Michele.
• Did Michele buy it? Nah, i doubt it. She's set in despising him and there's not much he can do to change that.
• They're all sleeping as I get this posted.
  

Big Brother 11 Live Feeds Saturday Into the Evening 8/01

Jordan is telling Jeff that her dream job would be to be a dental hygienist because they work regular hours and earn good money -- she wouldn't need a man to support her if she got a divorce. Um, lofty goals. For me, a dream job isn't something which is entirely doable.

My dream jobs: Bestselling novelist, working with big cats or doing studies of wild animals in a faraway land. Oh, maybe I'll just be a ballerina!

Here's what's been happening in that Big Brother House of Turning Tides:

• Jessie whined a lot that his neck has been bothering him. He blames the problem on having to look up so much during the HOH comp. @@
• Kevin told Jessie his goals in life are/were: get on Big Brother, work for an ad agency, and have a family.
• Chima denied anything is going on between her and Russell. After all, he's only 25. Oh, five or six years difference. She's not even old enough for it to be cougar lust.
• Ronnie kept trying to be Michele's buddy and confidant.
• She doesn't seem to be buying what he's selling.
• The veto players were chosen -- Jessie, Kevin, and Michele.
• Jessie fears that if wins the veto and saves Ronnie, Russell might put Natalie on the block.
• Kevin told Michele she yelled NO in her sleep last night. She's done that before. Hmmm ... maybe she thought Ronnie was sneaking into her bed or something.
• They've all been talking about the secret power and calling it the wizard. Jeff said America hates him and he's not the wizard.
• I think he's wrong and lying.
  
• Jessie, out last year in the fourth week, is scared someone will use the wizard power and get him evicted this week (week 4). He wants Russell to throw the veto to him so he can keep the nominations as they are.
• Jessie told Michele everyone is sticking to the plan to vote out Ronnie.
• We know how well these folks stick to a plan!
• Chima is the host for the PoV comp. She comes complete with a toga.
• I guess now that they've graduated, they can have a toga party.
• TOGA, TOGA, TOGA
• Ahem. Just reliving the 80s for a bit.
• Michele won the veto and had Ronnie at her side begging her to save him almost immediately.
• He told her she can prove she wants to be a part of the five by using it.
• The comp had something to do with counting (feeds were blocked) rats, graves, feathers, etc.
• Not feeling really successful, Ronnie worked on Chima to go work on Michele to save his butt.
• Natalie told Jessie he should go to the diary room to complain about Kevin eating grapes while a Have Not.
• Michele told Jeff she won't be using the veto.
• Michele really, really doesn't like Ronnie.
• Michele and Jeff talked and talked ... more than they've talked so far in the game.
• Jeff said that unless she was on the block with Jordan, he wouldn't vote for her to go home.
• New alliance in da house! Jeff, Jordan, Michele ... with a bit of Russell on the fringes.
• I think Russell will remain loyal for the most part as long as he can with Jessie. But I don't think he has any loyalty to Natalie, Lydia, or Chima.
• So, there you go. I think we'll see the noms remain the same this week. At least until the coup d'etat.
  

Big Brother 11: Live Feeds Bulletin - POV 8/01

Late once again (I wish they'd do this later on Saturdays as I'm just getting in) -- Michele won the power of veto.

More later!

Big Brother 11 Live Feeds Into the Dawn Saturday 8/01

Oh, geez. Jessie and Natalie apparently are too good for the Have Not room. They refuse to sleep in it. Now BB won't let them sleep anywhere else but the bedroom at night, so they're up all night. Is this going to go on all week?

Here's what's been going on in that Big Brother House of People of Suspected Vampires (most are still up when it's going on 4 AM there):

• Jeff is great in the kitchen. Chima keeps telling him he should try out for Hell's Kitchen. I think he should just take over Jackie's Kitchen ... maybe in a cute little pool boy toy outfit. Oops, I digressed.
• Chima and Natalie are upset that Russell put Ronnie on the block. They think Russell was unnecessarily mean in his speech. But they will put on happy faces because they fear going on the block if he gets himself off.
• They both think if the veto is won, it can't be used as one of them or Jessie might go up.
• Natalie says sleeping in the Have Not room will ruin her chances at PoV. Jessie says the food will upset his system and ruin his chances at PoV.
• Aw, poor babies. It's a shame that they're the first ones in this position, eh? After all, no one else has had to eat slop (and squid and squash), take cold showers, and sleep in the Have Not room. It sucks to be the first, huh?
• They did their little Jessie and Natalie Show (which I've tried to ignore before) making a plea for votes for the secret power.
• Jessie told Natalie it might be time to distance themselves from Ronnie.
• Lydia told Russell he didn't have "the balls" to put up Jessie or Natalie.
• Russell told her she'll be safe, he only wants Ronnie out. Lydia said that if Jordan was on the block she could just sit there and look pretty once again and Ronnie would go.
• Russell's intent on getting Ronnie out this week -- before the first hamster is sent to the jury house.
• Ronnie and Chima think whoever is portrayed as the underdog will win the power -- they say that's why Kris Allen won American Idol.
• Jeff said he's a sucker for voting for the underdog.
  
• I say it's because Underdog fights Riff Raff and I don't like no Riff Raff (Jessie and Natalie!).
• Michele told Ronnie she thinks he's a liar.
• You don't say!
• Russell told Natalie and Jessie that everyone in the house wants Ronnie out. He wants them to go with the flow.
• Ronnie campaigned with Michele for her vote. He told her his loyalties are with Jessie, Natalie, Chima, and her.
• Michele still doesn't trust him. Good.
• Ronnie told her if he leaves this week, Russell will flip the alliances. Now, would that be a bad thing? Not for me, no. And, actually not for Michele. She's a peripheral player at the best. She can be peripheral for either side and the target (or lack thereof) wouldn't change one iota.
• Chima wants Lydia to go home this week, but says she'll vote the way Russell wants.
• Jeff and Jordan miss having Casey in the house. He was entertaining.
• Jordan told Jeff, "Surely they (America) won't vote for Jessie (for the secret power)." Heh. She thinks that this coming Thursday could be the "night of their lives." Methinks she's right. I think Jeff has it in the bag.
• Chima and Russell joked that if Jordan wins the power, she won't know how to use it and will ask Jeff for advice ... thus losing the power.
• Kevin told Natalie that he hasn't heard Ronnie specifically say anything bad about her but that he stirs up trouble in the house on the whole.
• Kevin said that if he wins PoV, he won't use it. He shook hands with Jessie. Ronnie is the one who will get voted out (as long as the nominations remain the same).
• Jessie, for all of his great intentions when first being a Have Not, fussed on and off ever since becoming one.
• Ronnie is sure that America will vote for someone who can think out the power ... you know, someone like him.
• Now Natalie and Jessie have flipped. They want to keep Ronnie.
• @@
• Jessie fussed about how he was portrayed last year and how America's Player did him in.
• As I post this, Jessie, Natalie, and Chima are still up scheming. They want to keep Ronnie now and go against Russell's wishes.
• They think if he can win over Michele's vote, they'll have the majority.
  
• We'll see.