Thursday, December 10, 2009

Survivor Samoa - 12/10 Episode Blog Party Post



The show is about to begin here on the East Coast. As it airs, I'll update this post with any major happenings. However, the real action is in the comments section! Please feel free to join in with your thoughts while having fun with friends. Late tonight my show review will be posted on TV Squad.

No reward challenge -- Jaison won immunity. In the first tribal council, Dave was voted out.

Second immunity challenge -- Brett (Russell's new target) won. Monica was voted out.

Sunday, December 06, 2009

The Amazing Race 15 - Season Finale Blog Party Post



Oh my ... what a shocker ... the finale is going to actually air on time here tonight! I'm a bit disappointed that it's only an hour as I'd like to see Phil interview the teams, but I'll take what I can get. I love the show so much!

As it airs here on the East Coast, I'll update any major happenings in this entry. However, the real fun (and most of the information) will be in the comments. Everyone is welcome to join in. My actual show review will be posted over on TV Squad sometime late tonight.

Megan and Cheyne just won The Amazing Race. Sam and Dan second.

That Was the Week It Was - 12/06/09

It's Sunday once again. Don't these weeks go by way too fast? Of course, since it's Sunday, it's a time to reflect on the week gone by in words and photos I've taken. Later tonight, please stop by for the big Amazing Race season finale blog party post. I should have no problems with the new computer.

That was my big happening this week -- for the first time, missing a review deadline on TV Squad, not showing up here. Argh. Of all times for my computer to crash ... just before Survivor! A new computer wasn't really in my budget. But to not get one would mean the big check from the bios writing project would go kerflooey. I really had no choice.

The computer itself? It's nice and I'm getting settled in. It's a Dell. I took their little cowprint Gateway wallpaper down first thing and put up a photo of mine. It has Windows 7 which doesn't seem all that different from Vista. So, it's familiar enough for me to move on in. Had this been a planned purchase, I would have scoured the web for the best deal. But it does have 750 GB of storage. Let's see if it lasts long enough for me to fill it up!

Then there was a mouse. I know I ignored my downstairs neighbor when he knocked on my door twice late in the evening a few nights before. I'm sorry, but once I'm in my bedclothes, I don't answer the door for anyone, including him. I knew I didn't flood anything, so I ignored him. I figured he wanted to borrow something or get a cigarette. I heard his door close (weird things you hear from the floor above and below). I rarely hear any noise from down there, but I always hear him coming and going. I just don't know which it is -- coming or going.

He must have wanted to tell me he heard scratching in the wall. This happened three years ago just about this time of year. Teaser got that mouse. Now Vincent has a notch in his um ... tail? Poor deceased mouse. But he picked the wrong apartment to emerge. After all, I have Jaws of Death living here.

Other than the eventful Thursday evening, I worked a lot. I slept not enough. I ate more than I should. And I took photos as I traveled about. Clicking on an image will open it larger in a new window.


Plainfield (NJ) YMCA

This building is way cool. And I thought it needed to be in sepia with old image edges. Yeah, I edited its edges. East Front Street.



Deck the Halls and all that ...

They usually put lights up in that big pine tree (fir? whatever) on the left. I like these quirky Victorian style homes. East Front Street, Plainfield.


Tested positive for performance enhancing? Oh no!

The NJ Transit cop must be wondering if that's a crime has been committed on NJ Transit property. This was at the Dunellen Train Station. I've noticed more transit cops around. But are they ever around when someone is acting up on the train? Nope.


Jaws of Death

Jaws, Paws, and Claws of Death -- Vincent is a walking (ex)terminator. According to him, "Best toy EVER!"



The Bread Man

America's Bakery delivers the rolls. And a dude rides his bike on the sidewalk which irks me to no end as a pedestrian. Not allowed, dude! North Street, Plainfield.


The Other Bread Man

It used to be every Saturday, now it seems down to every other Saturday. This man sets up his tables and gives free bread to folks. We're talking loaves, buns, rolls, you name it. People wait in line. One person I know told me I could get some as she talked to me when I was passing by. But I figure I can pay for my bread ... let folks who need it more than me take it. I don't know where the bread comes from. I do know it's been going on for the four years I've been walking through there on Saturdays. Church Street, Plainfield, NJ.


Sigh. Still no Roofus.

I'm beginning to think that his access to the roofs might have changed as the back of the condemned building deteriorates. Note that three of the four apartments are vacant. Only where the woman looks out the window (in previous photos) is occupied. Those apartments go through this every year. Seasonal laborers tend to live in them and move once winter knocks on the door. North Street, Plainfield.


I like to photograph decrepit things

It's almost time for the Super Bowl again! East Second Street, Plainfield.


View from my window

This is the squirrel nest I mentioned a while back -- the one I watched them build. Now that the leaves are down, it's entertainment for Vincent. Oh heck, it's entertainment for me, too. As long as they don't start throwing wild parties and make me have to call the cops, they're cool neighbors.


Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

And, so it did. It snowed like it was a blizzard going on for a while. But it only stuck to cars, trees, and lawns. The ground is still too warm for snow to stick around long right now. Saturday night in New Jersey.


The Latino Jesus Men

Yes, it's not just the Jesus Ladies, the men are in the act, too. North Street, Plainfield. And yes ... I did some creative editing. I did it because the focus was blurry, so I kind of made it something else to cover a bad photo.


Look what I found!

It's that 1923 fire engine I photographed back at the Fire Safety Fair some time back. It's in an empty closed (yet secure) car dealership garage. There's also some big military kind of vehicle in there. The image isn't the best because I was taking it through a grungy window.


Vision

I liked the neon eyeglasses and the reflection of the other buildings in the window. East Second Street, Plainfield.


Moon over Presbyterian

The moon was full earlier this week and hanging out in the morning over the Presbyterian Church on East Front Street in Plainfield, NJ.


Jersey Boys

Kids heading into the city (NYC) for the evening. Bridgewater Train Station.


The birds are getting bigger

You know that I've mentioned how the birds are planning to overthrow mankind. Now the big guns are arriving. Sorry he's so far to the left, but he refused to fly still for me. A hawk in Bridgewater, NJ.


Oh, Plainfield Parking Authority?

Is there any time left on this meter? Tow it on outta here! I still don't get this piling the leaves in the streets bit in New Jersey. By the time they scoop 'em up, there could be dead bodies under there! Plus, they take up parking spaces.


After the storm

A wild storm went on all night as a cold front arrived earlier this week. This is what it looked like just after sunrise as the fair weather moved in. Plainfield, NJ. Looking at East Second Street homes via East Front Street.


If I flatten my butt, she won't see me.

But I did.


We refuse to leave(s)

Some leaves just don't think they should give it up for the winter.


Stripped

There are two bikes (well, kind of sort of) in this condition parked on the north side of the Plainfield Train Station. Somehow I doubt they were parked and locked in this condition. Unlike the Bridgewater deconstruction, I didn't see these happen slowly piece by piece. Just WHAM -- two bike frames hanging by chains. I declare this one my picture of the week. I like the way it turned out.

So, how was your week?

Friday, December 04, 2009

I'm Alive

My apologies for last night. I was so glad that Sydney called me so I could let you know I was okay. My computer is dead, my ex-computer doesn't want to work despite me working hours trying to fix it. With the writing project deadline for AOL, I can't afford the time for the computer to sit in the shop. So, now ... a few hundred dollars later, I have a new cheapest computer I could find without going online to look for bargains. And, I'm dead tired.

Oh. And Vincent shall be known as Jaws/Paws/Claws of Death from now on. I couldn't believe a real mouse got in my apartment just as my computer died and Survivor was starting last night. It's too bad the mouse had to die, but he chose the wrong apartment, and Vincent had a great old time ... until mean Jackie took the mouse away.

I never did write up the review for the show on TV Squad. It's too late now. And, after getting less than two hours sleep last night, working all day, hooking this computer up, I'm ready for bed.

Thanks again everybody for your concern. I'm alive. Vincent's alive. The computer is dead. The mouse is dead. The budget is dead.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

The Amazing Race - 11/29/09 Episode Blog Party Post



I think the show is delayed slightly here -- I wasn't watching 60 Minutes, so I'm not sure.

As it airs here on the East Coast, I'll update any major happenings in this entry. However, the real fun (and most of the information) will be in the comments. Everyone is welcome to join in. My actual show review will be posted over on TV Squad sometime late tonight.

Okay, 8:04 PM ET and we're starting.

Brian and Ericka got through their (easy) speed bump and passed out the slowest team (Globetrotters) at a roadblock. The Globetrotters chose to take a four-hour penalty in lieu of completing the roadblock. Big Easy couldn't unscramble five letters to spell "Franz."

Pit Stop
1. Megan and Cheyne - each won a 52" TV
2. Sam and Dan
3. Brian and Ericka

Instead of doing the next task, the Globetrotters were sent to the Pit Stop where they got Philiminated.