Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was 8/23/09

Welcome to my weekly off TV topic look at the week behind me and what caught my attention (and my camera's attention) here in um ... I guess it's called north central New Jersey. If you're looking for Big Brother live feeds news, just head to my BB posts here. If you want a ramble through the week and a peek at some things I saw and experienced this past week, read on.

We started the week with the first official heat wave of the summer -- highs in the 90s and high humidity levels. When it went down into the 80s, the humidity went up even more. That is, when it wasn't storming. Some terrific storms came through, but it's still just hot and sticky. I don't like sweating. Make it stop.

I actually saw Roofus the Cat from the Plainfield Train Station two separate mornings this week. One day was overcast, the other was horribly hot. I don't blame him for staying off the hot tar roof in the summer.

My week isn't much to write about:

• Write up BB11 live feeds reports and show posts for here and TV Squad.
• Watch BB11 live feeds.
• Work.
• Eat.
• Sleep a bit.
• Sweat a lot.
• Turn up my air conditioning in my apartment.
• Rinse and repeat.

Here's some of what I saw during the week -- clicking on an image will open it larger in a new window:

Roofus and the people below him

Yep, people are in three of the four windows below our beloved Roofus the Cat ... and they don't even know he's up there! I messed around with editing this photo to highlight the windows a bit more. Since Roofus is a black and white cat, there's not much I can do to highlight him. This photo is probably best viewed larger.

Hey! He buzzed me!

Cicadas do NOT belong indoors. This one was in the laundry room. Eek. He came out of nowhere and I thought it was a teeny helicopter attacking me. You know, with teeny aliens and all.

When good sunflowers go bad.

This one is the size of a dinner plate. Some of those leaves are longer than my forearm. East Front Street in Plainfield.

It must be love -- the US Open

I prefer this normal NJ Transit bus advertising over their tendency to shrink-wrap advertise. When they do that, it's hard to tell if it's an NJT bus and, if you sit looking out the window, you're looking through dots. I hate looking through dots. I'm a window sitter and observer and dots make me go dotty! Plainfield, NJ

Roofus the Cat before the roof gets hot.

Obviously, this was the sunny morning I saw him. North Street, Plainfield.

Goldfinch in flight

I really need more shutter speed. Bridgewater, NJ

Goldfinch on the rocks

Sounds like a tasty beverage, eh? Just mix it in the blender ... heehee! I also need a better zoom. One of these days, when I win the Mega Millions, I'll get a fancy-shmancy camera with all those cool lenses. Bridgewater, NJ

Walking in black and white

Urban image I took as I sweated in Plainfield, NJ.

What? The Yellow Cab Company went yellow?

The Plainfield Yellow Cab Company has always had puke neon green cabs. Well, they have all new yellow yellow cabs now. Yikes! They compete with orange, red, blue and other cab companies in town. Taking a cab here is very different from taking one in the city (NYC). About the only thing in common is that you might share a cab with strangers these days.

Red sky at night

This was no sailor's delight as it was Friday evening over Westfield, NJ, after a tremendous storm passed through. It rained all day Saturday.

Two in the door!

A friend and I went to the new Five Guys burger place in Westfield, NJ. I could never work there. They're all too energetic for me! But they do have good burgers and great fries.

Yay! A bat in Bridgewater!

I know the image quality isn't the best, but this is important to me. For years there have always been several bats up in the corners and eaves here from May until October. I've taken some amazing photos of them in the past right at eye level. This week I saw not one, but two, back at home. I feared white nose syndrome had gotten to them all. Yes, I like bats. I don't like them in my apartment, no. But they're really neat animals who eat evil insects and they have cute little faces.

The pit bull is waiting for the train

Sigh. This poor dirty pit bull was hanging around the Plainfield Train Station the other day. He's either lost or abandoned. While he wasn't vicious, he was very shy. Another commuter and I tried to give him water, but he slunk away from us and hid behind a trash can.

I got very nervous when he was on the platform as the train was arriving. However, he just waited amongst the crowd and tried to board the train. The conductor said he didn't have a ticket, so he couldn't ride. Maybe he just wants to get out of town. I hope the poor doggie finds his way home or some kind of help.

Get your minds out of the gutter!

It's a MUSHROOM. I think it's a stinkhorn or, as it's more officially noted, a member of the phallus family of mushrooms. I'm not kidding.

Reflective bling on the train

I actually wanted more from this photo when I took it. It does look a bit like the giant watch is over the Dunellen NJ Train Station, eh? What got me was the guy with the bling watch had the dirty t-shirt and jeans of a day laborer. The bling was so incongruous!

Roofus' downstairs neighbor at the window again

I'm not sure why this woman is always looking out the window. The apartments in the building tend to be seasonal migrant sort of folks. No screens, no air conditioning, and across the street from the Plainfield Train Station. I couldn't live there. But I bet some nights it's better than watching TV ... but I wouldn't be hanging out the window!

Big Brother 11 Live Feeds Into Sunday Dawn 8/23

Talking, talking ...

Kevin works his matchmaking mojo guessing Jeff's type of gal.

Okay, it's official. I would like Natalie's head to blow up the next time she calls someone, especially a woman, "dude." I've had it! If someone called me "dude," I'd probably go into my Robert DiNiro Taxi Driver character mode ... "Are you talkin' to me? Are YOU talkin' to ME?" Bam!

I live in a very urban mean streets kind of area (well, not so much right in my neighborhood) and I don't hear the women her age call other woman "dude." I saw a guy address an NYPD cop as "dude" once. I thought the cop was going to go all Taxi Driver, but he just lectured him.

Here's what's been happening in that Big Brother House of Underlying Psychosis:

• Jordan didn't realize the "90210" part of Bevery Hills 90210 was the zip code.
• Jordan and Jeff are seriously considering backdooring Russell.
• Jeff said he'd take Kevin off the block and put up Russell. He didn't tell Kevin, of course.
• Jeff, Jordan, Kevin, and Natalie trashtalked about Jessie.
• Kevin said that Jessie was the hated fool last season and should have expected it this season.
• Russell and Michele are both bothered that Kevin and Natalie are spending so much time with Jeff and Jordan.
• Jeff brought up Russell's vote to keep Jessie. Russell once again said he promised him.
• Russell told Jeff that he keeps his word.
• Jeff told Jordan he's a bit worried about trusting Kevin and Natalie because he really hasn't talked to them much since the start. He thinks they'll owe him big time if he saves them and backdoors Russell.
• Kevin and Natalie are already talking about knocking Jeff out next week if one of them get HOH.
• But Jeff doesn't know this.
• Of course, Russell and Michele are talking about taking Jeff out, too.
• The only one not talking about taking Jeff out is Jordan.
• Bless her heart.
• Jordan feels uncomfortable around Russell. She thinks he used them to get Chima out of the house.
• Jeff made a deal with the devil ... er, Natalie. Oh, and Kevin.
• Yep, the final four deal is that he saves them this week by backdooring Russell. Natalie promised not to put him on the block.
• Kevin said (if he won HOH), he'd put up Natalie and Michele and they'd vote Michele out.
• Jeff is doing this thinking they'll honor the deal as he would have saved them twice now.
• I don't think honor is a part of the BB backstabbing greed.
• Then, after all that, Jeff told Jordan he's not 100% sure he'll use the veto.
• Waffles, anyone?
• Ohh ... Natalie and Kevin discussed game strategy in Spanish and got busted for a rules violation.
• Heh.
• BB apparently went as far as to tell them they could be expelled from the house for the violation. Oh, big time crime! They're both mad and Kevin is blaming Natalie.
• Natalie wants to find it in the rule book.
• Kevin said just not to do it again.
  
• Kevin told Natalie she should work on being more positive around Jeff. He pointed out that he's stopped doing things he know annoy Jeff like complaining about things in the house, etc.
• Then Natalie and Kevin once again schemed to get rid of Jeff next week.
• In English, mind you.
• Lots of small talk and laundry doing ... apparently the PoV comp really did a job on their clothes.
• Jordan was surprised when Russell referred to her and Jeff as the showmance of the season. She thinks they're good friends who hang out a lot together.
• Kevin still seems to think Natalie's older than she says she is. He's right, of course. The only people who knew her real age are gone (Chima and Jessie).
• Russell and Michele talked some more. Russell claims he likes Jeff and Jordan but feels they're (Russell and Michele) getting played.
• Russell and Michele think Jeff wanted Kevin to win the PoV so he would have "no blood on his hands."
• Jordan thinks Natalie sounds sincere.
• I think Natalie is only sincere when she's sleeping.
• Russell told Michele he'll unleash holy hell if he gets backdoored.
• Oh, my. Russell is so ... so ... Chima-esque!
• Jeff told Jordan that he thinks Russell would keep him (Jeff) next week, but not Jordan. He thinks Jordan is more safe with keeping Natalie and Kevin.
• Yikes!
  
• To be honest, I think at this point, any scenario is dangerous for Jeff and Jordan. I think Russell may actually have Jeff's back to a point due to giving his word. But all bets are off with the others -- Michele, Kevin, and Natalie.
  
• Jeff and Jordan are going to have to keep having the power as they're the main targets in the game now.
  
• No one wants to be with Jordan in the final two (except Jeff). Her niceness paints the bullseye smack dab on her back. Since Jeff has started winning, it's all that much more important to get him out.
  

Russell worries. As he should.

Michele takes off her slippers and puts on her socks to go to bed with Russell. I don't think her husband has any worries.

Big Brother 11 Live Feeds Saturday Daytime 8/22 - POV

Well, since I'm running behind today, I'll start with the big news -- Jeff won the power of veto. I like to think this is karma for the folks who thought he's been dead wood and was given the coup d'etat for doing nothing. He's got game!

Here are the happenings from inside that Big Brother House of Regional Accents:

• Jeff made the best breakfast sandwich ever this morning. He's still talking about it going into the evening.
• Michele asked Jeff who he wanted voted out this week (Natalie or Kevin). He told her it depends on the PoV, but Kevin is stronger player than Natalie.
• In other words, Kevin.
• Jeff and Michele discussed the blow-up ball of confusion spool of lies between Russell and Michele.
• I'm the one calling it a ball of confusion spool of lies, not Jeff.
• Michele's latest is that she's a bit deaf in one ear and doesn't always hear right.
• Yeah, sure.
• Thankfully, Jeff is still talking of getting Natalie out next week if someone from their own side wins HOH.
• Russell is paranoid, nothing new.
• Natalie is all of a sudden a social butterfly ... sort of a street gang oriented one, but one nonetheless.
• Then the feeds got blocked for the POV. We're talking more than a couple of hours.
• From what they said, Jordan was the first one out.
• Russell is not a happy man between losing POV and his paranoia demon.
• The comp had a taped Casey and something to do with bananas, a slippery banana peel lined track, and done in rounds.
• I guess you have to see it.
• Which I haven't.
• Natalie said the track was hot.
• BB swapped out for a smaller kitchen table.
  
• Russell is laying around moping. And Kevin is ... well, look at the screencap below.
  

Big Brother 11 Live Feeds Into Saturday Dawn 8/22

Then numbers are dwindling in the house and Jeff's nominations are in. Kevin is a poor lost soul who's looking each moment like he would go for a do-over and pick a different alliance in the beginning of the game. Natalie, on the other hand, spent the first part of the season sleeping all the time with Jessie (while plotting, but still avoiding the rest of the house). Now she's out there mingling and playing her game. The dynamics are changing, but Jeff and Jordan are a constant. As Jeff says, "We're stuck with each other."

Here's the latest from the Big Brother House of Loquacious Louts:

• Jordan has gained 10 pounds while in the house. She's still stinging from the "fat" comment Lydia made about her.
• I don't think she's skinny, but I surely wouldn't call her "fat."
  
• Russell has also gained 10 pounds. But since he's a have-not this week, some of that should go away.
• I think Jeff has lost weight. He was more muscular in the beginning of the season.
• He's still a cutie-patootie.
• After nominations went down, Russell told Jeff he once again owes him -- he won't put him on the block or vote for him to go.
• I think he'll keep his word. But I also think he wouldn't mind if someone else did his dirty work for him. cough:::Michele:::cough
• Kevin tried to make Jordan think that Michele and Russell are bigger threats than he is. Michele and Russell have won comps!
• But, guess what ... Kevin has won, too. He's also often right up there in second place. Compare his record with Natalie and he should be perceived as a greater threat than her. That's basing on comps only.
• I want Kevin to stay merely for his diary room takes on people on the show. In the house, he's nowhere near as insightful or humorous.
• Kevin said his target all along has been Russell while Natalie claims hers was Lydia.
• Neither claim to have ever in their lives been after Jeff and Jordan.
• Jordan's period finally came. You needed to know that.
• Jeff and Jordan argued, she blamed her period. He said he wants a divorce.
• He wants her to focus on her game so they'll go to the final two together.
• They're a hoot when they fight. They'll get snapping at each other, then both will crack up.
• Russell and Michele talked. Russell claims the HOH comp was geared for Kevin to win because it needed a delicate and precise touch. Russell says he himself is a bit clumsy with anything that precise. Michele said they knew she's scared of heights.
• Russell thinks the producers wanted a Kevin win to shake up the house again.
• But Kevin didn't win. Almost doesn't count.
• Jeff thinks they should keep Natalie because she's the weaker player of Natalie and Kevin.
• He probably has a point there although I'd personally prefer Kevin to stick around.
• But they didn't ask me.
• Jeff and Jordan are still talking the possibility of backdooring Russell if the veto is used. I doubt either of the would use the veto, but if someone else wins and either Natalie or Kevin are saved.
• In that scenario, I think they just might vote out Russell.
• Jeff warned Jordan about getting too close and trusting Natalie too much.
• Jeff and Jordan think they need to get Michele in tighter with them and away from Russell.
• As they should because Russell and Michele are still talking about targeting Jeff.
• I'm sure Michele will lie, get flustered, and forget about the most recent Jeff target talk if confronted.
• They're all asleep as I get this posted. Sometime later today, the POV comp will take place.
  

Big Brother 11 Live Feeds Bulletin - Nominations 8/21

As he said he would, Jeff nominated Kevin and Natalie for eviction. Natalie is taking it all in stride, but Kevin is really down. More later. (Long day even the feeds haven't been all that exciting.

Big Brother 11 Live Feeds Into Friday Dawn 8/21

Duh. I kept Natalie in the house. Duh.

I had to do something with the expression on Jeff's face in my screen cap! He won HOH last night, but sheesh ... he kept Natalie over Lydia in the house. What kind of gameplay is that?

My show review and HOH spoilers posts are up over on TV Squad. But, what's been going on lately in the Big Brother House of Benevolent Hohs?

• Heh. Kevin mentioned how stingy with prizes the show is and that caused a feeds blockage. They're so touchy!
• Apparently in the comp, they announced that Kevin was in the lead and he didn't realize how close Jeff was.
• Somehow, they could pause people in the comp. Kevin paused Russell and they claim that's what made for a Jeff win.
• "So, I helped you win. I should be safe," Kevin joked (although probably with hope).
• Natalie told Kevin that Jeff told her she was safe yesterday and she indeed was.
• Russell and Michele are definitely have-nots. Don't ask me why or how. It went down with the blocked live feeds in the comp.
• Jeff was going on an adrenalin rush, but most of the others just wanted to nap last night.
• Lucky Jeff, Michele kept him company!
• Jeff hopes his HOH music is Bob Marley. Hmmm ... not quite what I would have figured him to enjoy.
• Russell told Kevin that being a have not without candy or alcohol is going to kill him. Me? I'd be fussing about the FOOD.
• Well, well. He got his Bob Marley in the HOH room. We jammin.
• One childhood photo with a bowl-cut made Jordan say he looked like the character in Dumb and Dumber.
• Ahem. They kept Natalie. Jordan and Jeff may qualify for the roles in the movie.
• Everyone thought he was a cute child and fun was had for all. And blah, blah, typical HOH room reveal stuff.
• Natalie worked on Jordan. She told her how nervous she already is about going on the block again.
• Jordan questioned Kevin about the physical aspects of gay sex.
• Oh my. I've known so many gay guys over the years and have never, would never, ask.
  
• Natalie told Kevin he should try it with a girl. Now, who's to say that has never happened?
• Jeff and Jordan discussed his nominations. The early plan (always subject to change) is Natalie and Kevin on the block, backdoor Russell if veto is used.
• Not unexpected.
• Michele told Russell she felt threatened by Jeff and Jordan last week -- that's why she said all the stuff about him.
• Um, I thought she didn't remember.
• Michele told Jordan that Russell is acting crazy and paranoid again.
• Ah, so it starts all over once again.
• Will she claim not to remember when she gets confronted?
• What the heck is really going on with Michele and Russell?
• I think they're both sketchy and couldn't tell you which one is sketchier!
• That's it for now. I don't see anything on the schedule except nominations today since they combined the have-have not with the HOH.
• Seize the day!
  

Big Brother 11 HOH Comp Update Post (Live Feeds)

As I get this up, the feeds are still blocked. We know they only have an hour (or to 24 cans). I'll update when we're unblocked.

9:14 PM ET - Feeds on red and another (maybe green) (?) tubes almost full. Argh. Feeds blocked again. I THINK Kevin's tube was one of the ones almost full.

9:33 PM ET Feeds still blocked. The one almost full tube glimpsed was definitely Kevin's. As a commenter pointed out, the other almost full one was the second from the end. -- Russell's.

9:34 back on. Everyone's inside. Not sure who won. Hmm ... they're talking about shutting each other down in the comps. They could use the gold cans, too.

Is that an HOH key JEFF is wearing? Or is it his mic? False alarm ... mic. Still no reveal. It's not Kevin, though.

YES! Jeff just said he won HOH!

Big Brother 11 Live Eviction Show Blog Party Post 8/20

The show has started here on the East Coast. This post will be updated as it airs, but the real fun is in the comments section. Everyone is welcome, bring your own snacks and beverages! Later tonight my show review will be posted on TV Squad.

Lots of filler -- 8:25 PM POV starts. Russell sits out. It's down to Jordan and Michele. JORDAN has won the Power of Veto! She did not use it. The live eviction is next.

The voting to evict:
Russell --> Lydia
Michele --> Lydia
Jeff --> Lydia
Kevin --> Natalie

Lydia is evicted.

HOH is on ... NOT an extensive endurance as many expected. They're dropping cans in tubes. The first to 24 or the one with the most at the end of the hour wins. I'll be updating with a new post from the live feeds when they go on.

Project Runway Blog Discussion Post

You asked for it, you got it! This is your place to discuss Project Runway. I don't watch the show myself. However, a lot of the commenters do. The show airs on the Lifetime network Thursday nights at 10 PM ET/PT. The official show website is right here.

Enjoy!

Big Brother 11 Live Feeds Into the Dawn Thursday 8/20

While tonight's show should be interesting (although it can't top Tuesday's Chima Blow Out), the house itself has been relatively quiet. Here's the news from inside that Big Brother House of Feisty Fibbers:

• Before BB could block him, Jeff sang a line from "Jessie's Girl" to the amusement of Natalie and Kevin. Lydia didn't think it was funny.
• Natalie accidentally broke her microphone. "Uh-oh, I'm going to get sent home!"
• They got the materials for tie-dyed t-shirts, a BB standard diversion.
• The instructions were no dye fights, shout-outs, or messages.
• The shirts can't be worn on the live show.
• Lydia acted like a fussy child who thinks she's an expert with the shirts.
• But she was good at it.
• But it's supposed to be fun, not art!
• Natalie is still harping on the Russell problems.
• Michele is, too.
• So much for the big happy family.
• They talked over scenarios if someone uses the veto to save either Lydia or Natalie. It seems to be Russell in the glare of the headlights.
• Jordan has a hankering to backdoor Russell because Natalie told her if she wins HOH, she'd nominate Lydia or Michele.
• Um ... what's wrong with Jordan's logic?
• Well, chances are that Lydia won't be around if Natalie's around.
• Jeff said he doesn't trust Russell.
• Once again, I think Jordan and Jeff can only really trust each other. I don't know why they don't get that yet.
• Jeff thinks they need to keep Russell even though he doesn't trust him.
• I think he's right there.
• Jordan has developed a soft spot for Natalie. Argh!
• Kevin and Natalie studied for comps.
• Everyone to bed rather early for them.
  

Big Brother 11 Live Feeds Through the Daytime Wednesday 8/19

Should we confront him? Do we want to do this?

Russell! What have you been saying about us?

I haven't posted before this because the house has been so boring today. Same lies, different day. The PoV hasn't gone down and I last left you with the idea that Jeff and Jordan have doubts about Russell. Here's the day's scoop from the Big Brother House of Talking In Circles Makes Me Dizzy:

• Kevin told Natalie that if he wins veto, he'll take her off the block instead of Lydia. He claims Lydia no longer has any interest in playing or winning the game.
• Jordan got her HOH camera and fun was had by all. Okay.
• Michele went on with her stories of Russell to Jordan and Jeff. She claims he's all weird and psycho each time they enter the room.
• Michele claimed that Russell didn't want to talk to Jeff and Jordan.
• Michele told Jeff about Russell saying he wanted to work out with Jeff to wear him down going into an endurance comp.
• Jordan is considering backdooring Russell if the veto is used.
• Jeff said that it doesn't make sense to get rid of Russell if he's an ally. But if he isn't ...
• Jeff said that if they talk to Russell now, he'll deny everything and paint Michele as a liar.
• Then Michele said that Russell wants Kevin on the block next week and not Jeff.
• Are you dizzy yet?
• Michele's tales to Jeff and Jordan about Russell perfectly play in with Natalie and Kevin's made up tales about Russell.
• Michele is not in cahoots with Natalie and Kevin.
• Jordan now thinks they should keep Natalie, not Lydia. She thinks voting out Lydia will give them a new ally.
• New allies at this point? Hmm. Not sure what sense that makes.
• Jordan decided she had to confront Jeff.
  
• Russell told Jeff and Jordan he only voted for Jessie because he gave him his word he wouldn't put him up, nor vote him out.
• They called Michele in. As usual, when she lies (and sometimes when she's quasi-truthful), she got all flustered and nervous. She can never be pinned down on specifics or times.
• Russell denied he was gunning for Jeff.
• Jeff called in both Natalie and Kevin who backed up Michele's story of Russell targeting Jeff in the Splish Splash room.
• The both confirmed they overheard Russell plotting the demise of Jeff ... so to speak.
• Jeff wants to keep the final four intact.
• He doesn't think they can lose a member know.
• Now they're bringing up Michele's Colt 45 bit with Jeff.
• Jeff thought it was a beer, Russell thought gun. I'm confused. I ask again ... Colt 45? Is it a beer or a gun?
• Okay, all are nicey-nicey now. The final four alliance of Jordan, Jeff, Russell, and Michele all together again. They don't want the other three to think they've weakened as a team.
  
• I expect boredom again.
• Wait -- Michele is still fussing!
  
• Jeff is saying things were misconstrued and it's over.
• Okay. All hunky-dory again.
• For now.
• Now they're having a brainstorm about who should go. Russell says Natalie because Lydia can't play well at anything. Michele is iffy.
  

Big Brother 11 Live Feeds Overnight Into Wednesday 8/19

Gosh, this is the most wrapped-up and clothed Big Brother ever. Has California been having a record cold wave or what? I'm just as happy not to see nearly naked people all the time, but these folks act like it's November in New Jersey.


And here is little lying mastermind. I don't care for her. But if she successfully convinces everyone and stays in the game, she just might win it all. And, if it gets to that point, I'd have to give her kudos for playing everyone.

Yes, I feel that Jordan and Jeff just could be falling under the spell of Natalie. Scary, eh? I can't understand how anyone thinks a woman who calls other women "dude" is an upstanding ally. Yeah, I'm nitpicking, dudes. Here's the latest from that Big Brother House of All the Young Dudes:

• Michele has become increasingly paranoid and was crying on and off.
• She finally talked to Jeff, bringing up odd things like she thought he said "Colt 45" when he actually said, "Good night, talk to you in the morning."
• He consoled her and reaffirmed that she's in with him and Jordan.
• Jeff claimed he has no clue what Colt 45 is and wouldn't have said it.
• I'm trying to remember if it's a beer or a gun myself.
  
• Jeff and Russell talked. Russell said if the noms remain the same, the strategical choice to to home would be Natalie. Jeff agreed.
• They both know that if Kevin wins the veto and takes Lydia off, either Russell or Michele will go up.
• They're all trying to figure out the show and comps schedule.
• So are we, the viewers.
• Jeff thinks that Russell isn't being 100% honest with them (himself and Jordan).
• Michele keeps planting more anti-Russell seeds once again.
• So much for their final two plan (Russell and Michele) ... or, is it all to throw folks off?
• Natalie apologized to Lydia for fighting with her but reminded her that Jessie is an ass if she goes to the jury house.
• Jordan's in a quandary. She knows either Michele or Russell is lying about things like targeting them, but can't figure out which one.
• The Kevin and Natalie lies about Russell targeting Jeff have really taken seed and sprouted.
• Russell mocked a man who will go around wearing a shirt with his own picture on it.
• Well, he does have a point there!
• They talked of Chima disposing of Little Jeff (the clay figure) in the storage room trash.
• Jeff thinks Little Jeff had an escape plan out of the house.
• Michele and Russell are still together (or are they?) -- they talked about how Russell is worried because Jordan is acting like she's having second thoughts. They think Russell will have the edge in an endurance comp if they can get Jeff to keep exercising and wear himself down some beforehand.
• Jeff told Jordan everyone is lying and she shouldn't be so nice to the other side because they haven't had their backs for the entire game so far.
• Jeff wants to confront Russell and Michele, yet he doesn't want to as he doesn't want a blow-up. They have conflicting stories. Who's lying?
• They played cards forever. And a day. Take those cards away, BB!
• Natalie came across as quite the pro for her tender years. She talked of playing in tournaments.
• Isn't the age 21 for tournaments? Danger, Will Robinson, danger!
• Jordan told Michele that she might trust Kevin more than Russell.
• Michele says that Russell might want Kevin gone because he could easily replace him in the final four scenario.
• Jordan and Michele confirmed their final three deal -- Jeff, Jordan, and Michele.
• But what of the final two pact between Russell and Michele?
• Meanwhile, Jeff and Natalie bonded. Oh, make it be just for show! Make it be not real! Jeff, DANGER! DANGER!
• Uh-oh. My warnings aren't working.
• Natalie is working her way into the Michele, Jeff, and Jordan circle.
• Say it ain't so!
• I'd rather Kevin work himself in there than Natalie!
• Natalie gave them her word that if they save her this week, she will be with them all the way.
• DANGER! DANGER! DANGER, WILL ROBINSON! DANGER!
• OMG, it's ridonculous (as Kevin would say).
• Maybe Natalie will usurp the position of the true puppetmaster from Dr. Will.
• Jordan and Jeff are totally buying into her act.
• I feel a bit ill.
• My show review was posted at TV Squad in the wee hours. Give it a gander if you wish!
  

Big Brother 11: Chima Blow Out Show Blog Party

The show has started here on the East Coast. This post will be updated with major events as it airs, but the real fun is in the comments section. Everyone is welcome, bring your own snacks and beverages! Later tonight my show review will be posted on TV Squad.

Are you ready for the Chima meltdown?

Mic thrown in pool, refusing commands. Allison Grodner herself called her to the DR and told her there was no need to sit ... "go out this way." Um, I call she got the boot even though she was saying she wanted to quit.

It's scary that Lydia is being the voice of reason with Natalie over it.

Since Michele's nominee Chima left, they're playing for HOH. It was a comp in which they could take prizes won by those eliminated before them. Jordan won and snagged the HOH key from Lydia -- Jordan is the new HOH. And Lydia is one mad little so-and-so.

Jordan nominated Lydia and Natalie.

It sounds like Thursday might be an endurance ... they said POV, eviction and "start of another HOH." We'll see!

Big Brother 11 Live Feeds Tuesday Daytime 8/18

OMG, I made my bed, now I must lie in it.

As I get this posted, we still have no POV comp. I don't know what's up with that, neither do the hamsters. Here are the non-events from today in the Big Brother House of Bored Bimbos and Manly Mimbos:

• Lydia complained about there being no music for the wake-up call.
• Michele talked with her re-buddy (kind of like re-gifting) Russell. She's very upset that people were talking about her as she slept and that Jeff actually played cards with Lydia.
• Russell told her they're still partners and that Kevin, Lydia, and Natalie are just buttering up Jeff and Jordan as they expected.
• Both Michele and Russell feel like they're on the fringes of Jeff and Jordan, nowhere near solid with them.
• As they should feel.
• Russell told Michele that she's the strongest woman in the house this season, not Chima or Natalie.
• Michele and Russell agreed to keep apart for most of the day as they don't want to look like they're together.
• But they are.
• Natalie got her phone call from her father (won last Friday). She told Lydia both she and her father cried.
• But she told Jeff she never cries. She told Jeff she didn't cry about Jessie at the "wake," either.
• But she did cry then.
• She cried as she told Kevin and Lydia about the call.
• But I'm sure she'll deny it.
• Natalie, Lydia, and Kevin decided they won't mention Jessie's name anymore as it just causes problems between them.
• So they keep mentioning his name.
• Natalie told Jeff he's hot.
• But she has indeed said that before ... just not to Jeff.
• Hopefully POV will be sometime soon. But chances are we won't know the results for hours.
• Please stop back for the show blog party starting at 9 PM ET -- there will be a new post up and everyone can party in comments!
  

Big Brother 11 Live Feeds Into Tuesday Dawn 8/18

Here's the scoop from inside that Big Brother House of Tall Tales and Blocked Stories:

• I know they can't get releases from everyone, past and present, in the lives of the hamsters. But sheesh ... about 90% of personal stories they tell end up getting blocked on the feeds.
• Jordan is expecting her period.
• Russell and Jeff look so uncomfortable whenever she mentions it.
• Natalie will be getting her phone call from her father sometime today.
• The Russell, Michele, Jeff, and Jordan contingent talked about their first impressions of everyone in the house.
• Natalie, Lydia, and Kevin were off playing cards or sleeping.
• Natalie told Lydia that she (Lydia) is wasting all her time away sleeping.
• Natalie has a short memory -- she and Jessie slept 3/4 of the day just two weeks ago.
• Natalie told Jordan that Chima thought if she left, Jessie would come back.
• Ew! I'm glad that didn't happen!
• Although Natalie is with Kevin and Lydia all the time, she says she's alone in the game and specifically denies any friendship with Lydia.
• Natalie said that Jessie wanted a relationship with her and "poured his heart out to her." @@
• Russell isn't buying any of the Jessie/Natalie relationship tales. He knows Jessie wasn't interested in Natalie except for gameplay.
• Jordan can't HOH Twitter yet because it hasn't been revealed on TV that she's the HOH.
• Lydia whined and fussed to Kevin. She can't tan in the unitard! Worlds are collapsing all about her private little universe!
  
• Sigh ... more card playing. I want BB to take those cards right back. Give 'em a Twister game instead ... heck, even Scrabble.
• Lydia and Natalie are still calling Michele psycho-sleeper (amongst other things). That's because of her night terrors and screaming out during the night.
• Barring any POV changes, the Kevin/Lydia/Natalie group is sure Lydia will be going off to the jury with Jessie.
• Little do they know, the Michele/Jordan/Jeff/Russell group (if everyone cooperates) will be targeting Natalie.
• POV should be sometime today.
• With my luck it will be while I'm at work or while we're all watching the show.
  

Big brother 11 Live Feeds Into Monday Evening 8/17

Yawn. The hamsters are feasting because at 9 PM they could go off slop.

Here are the events from the evening in that Big Brother House of Dubious Superheroes:

• Natalie denied crying about Jessie at the wake (this was to Jeff).
• You know, she never cries and she didn't care that much that he's gone. She was only staying with him for her game.
• If Jessie could hear her, he'd turn over in his grave.
• Oh wait. After the wake, I forgot he actually lives.
  
• Natalie also told Jeff that neither he or Russell have ever been her targets. She wanted Michele and Lydia out.
• Jeff told her that he felt he had to get Jessie out because he needed to get the king of the house out.
  
• Natalie feels guilty because she told Chima to go to the Diary Room to confront the producers.
• At least she says that.
• She also said that Chima was deliberately pushing the limits and wanted out.
• Jeff told Jordan that the others seem to be gunning for Michele and now Russell isn't in their sights.
• Jordan thinks that Russell and Michele might be working together. She thinks they should get the remaining two from the other side to target one of them.
• Jeff told her not to get too far ahead in planning. They haven't played POV yet.
• Jeff still has some suspicion about Michele "playing a Ronnie" on them. But he also wants the four to look solid to the other side.
• The playing cards they now have show why they don't usually get playing cards. They sit around playing cards half the day.
• Russell got a massage from a massage therapist. Lydia told him that now all the toxins have been released and he won't feel well.
• Lydia fussed that the Diary Room told her to get a scarf or hoodie because they didn't want her pink hair showing.
• They must be planning on some sort of continuity, eh?
• I keep expecting them to show the margarita party.
• At one point Lydia misplaced her cape. She was bereft.
• Yawn.