Off Topic - That Was the Week It Was 11/01/09

It's Sunday morning and time to ramble through the past week in words and photos I've taken. Although it was a rather uneventful week in my life I certainly took a slew of photos I want to post here this week. Mind you, I don't think all that many are truly works of art or anything. A lot of them I just want to share with you.

The weather has been iffy once again this week with lots of rain amongst a few days of sunshine. In observing nature around me, all I can think is Dorothy's line from The Wizard of Oz once she was in the Emerald Castle ... something about things happening so fast there. Well, that's how nature is. One day the trees have glorious colorful leaves, the next day they're barren.

I saw Vincent intent on looking out the window the other day. A gang of squirrels were building a nest. Now, I've seen squirrel nests in trees before, but I've never seen them being built. It was amazing. The squirrels (about four of them) were taking death-defying leaps grabbing onto loose leaved twigs and forcing them off the tree with the weight of their little bodies. Then the squirrels would actually fall to a lower branch with their prize nest fodder, scurry back up to the nest site, and stamp the new material into their nest. Alas, none of the pictures turned out. But once the leaves are off the tree, I should be able to capture the nest.

Other than that, life goes on. Vincent is doing well. However, what I thought was a real sleepy and somewhat lethargic cat in the beginning is really a ball of energy in disguise. I'm wondering if he might be younger than the estimated five years from the shelter. His favorite toy of all is the collar from the shelter which I cut off of him weeks back. He carries it around in his mouth, throws it in the air, chases it ... and I keep finding it in his food dish. I do NOT put it there!

Work is work. Halloween came and went, wet and murky. Since I was at work, I didn't see any children. I didn't even buy any candy for them this year knowing that since it would be a Saturday I wouldn't be home until after 8 PM. I wouldn't answer the door that late here since I've never had any trick or treaters in the earlier hours.

Onto the photos from this week, clicking on them will open them larger in a new window:

Vincent

I did my layering, black and white with a color bit to this photo. His nose is really pink, not a light grey. But the nose didn't turn out right, so I kept the color to his magnificent green eye(s).

Ohh ... a TV camera!

This is on Watchung Avenue across from the Plainfield police station earlier in the week. My camera wants to grow up to be a TV camera. I told it to dream a bit lower.

So this is it?

It was for some Spanish language station and, from my limited understanding of Spanish, something about New Jersey towns with large Hispanic populations. Yes, Plainfield ranks.

Danny's Bakery, Plainfield (edited)

Yeah, I did all kinds of messing with this photo and my photo editor. And, yes, it was raining again, or still.

Plainfield Train Station View

Yes, I edited this shot, too. I made the background black and white focusing on the leaves, neon window and its reflection, in color. I should have done the fallen leaves in color, but that was way too much work. The tree was barren the next day.

Serenading Sombrero Man

He was playing guitar and singing at Danny's Bakery at Watchung and North in Plainfield last night. Just to himself, no audience (they were ready to close). Nor was it for Halloween. It's just one of those cook perks which come with having a diverse town.

Radioactive Icicles

These icicles are some sort of corrosion effect in railroads and subways. The icicles and patches of ice where they've dripped on the ground exist year 'round, even when the temperatures are in the 90s. Very weird and I won't stand under dripping ones! I took this last night at the Bridgewater Train Station (NJ) and you can see the rain in the background. No wonder the World Series game three was so delayed!

My Cool Office Watercooler

TBS sent me this neat little George Lopez Tonight show promotion -- "watercooler talk" -- in anticipation of the new show. To be honest, my 11 PM TV viewing is kind of set, news and then Letterman. But the water cooler has been PERFECT for my office at work which isn't really close to a water or refrigeration source. I've been freezing about a third of the bottle each night, retrieving it in the morning, and adding fresh water. Yay, cold water in my office!

Look what that bike did!

Er, no. That tree has always been at that angle. Once again, outside of Danny's Bakery in Plainfield.

Who let the cat out of the bag?

Um, INTO the bag. That's my little bottle and can recycling bin with a fresh Trader Joe's grocery bag insert ... and a Vincent. I had to give him a Trader Joe's bag of his own for a fort.

The Kale Season Returns

Over at the Westfield (NJ) Train Station, they've planted a wide variety of kale plants. It's that time of year again!

More Kale

Even More Kale

Yet More Kale

One Giant Step

They must really be tiny steps if they're counting 75 of them. The sign is across one lane in the parking lot from Cheeburger Cheeburger. I don't care much from them because they glare at me for ordering Hamburger Hamburger. Westfield NJ Train Station.

Brilliant Colors of Autumn

Field Lights and Gathering Birds

I tell you, those birds are planning to overthrow the human race. The ball stadium lights at the TD Bank Stadium, home of the champion Somerset Patriots, in Bridgewater, NJ.

They Will Be Led By a Seagull

Beware. Remember, I warned you.

In the spirit of the World Series

Remember, you can't sue. At least not in New Jersey. Again, at the Somerset Patriots field where they play teams like the Newark Bears. Da Bearss.

The Numbers Increase

Run for your lives while you can!

Man On a Train

Don't sleep near me on the train or you might end up photo fodder. NJ Transit Raritan Valley Line.

Tim Burton Exhibit at MoMA!

Oh, I must go. How come they advertise Broadway shows and other NYC happenings at the Dunellen Train Station and not in Plainfield? We have a much cooler station! For those not familiar with it, MoMA is the Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan.

Watchung Avenue in Plainfield

A Plainfield Police Department Harley is parked in front of Rosalina's where a small sign reads "We do doobies!" Hmmm, that had an entirely different meaning for me as a child of the 60s and 70s. It's a hairstyle.

Union County College Plainfield Campus

Red leaves lined the way earlier this week.

Droplets on a web

Ignore the small ladybug carcass. I didn't see the spider, it's possible he was evicted for poor housekeeping.

Steeple at Sunset

The Methodist Church steeple in the waning light of day. East Front Street, Plainfield, NJ.

An Autumn Afternoon in Plainfield

Taken from the 4th Street side of the Plainfield Train Station when it wasn't raining one day.

Fall Leaves and a Streetlight

Predawn one morning -- East Front Street in Plainfield near the YWCA.

Supremo Before the Dawn

A lone figure walks in front of the Supremo Supermarket in the predawn hours. Plainfield, NJ

Boulevard of Broken Dreams

My predawn walk to the train station takes me past the silliness which is the Monarch Luxury Condominium building in Plainfield. Talk about a project which was poorly planned, there you go. Well, it's better than walking by the vacant field for so long and I do like the sidewalk with its benches.

Jackie's 'hood at sunset

The building on the right, a senior citizen mid-rise, has its own generator for when there's a power outage. On the left is the lower two-story Norwood Gardens apartments. East Front Street in Plainfield. I live in neither place, but nearby.

How does this keep happening?

I've posted before about really horrible off the road crashes in my neighborhood. I just don't understand why this keeps happening. Here you see the tracks narrowly missed a tree and did indeed kill the NJ Transit Bus Stop sign. This is at one corner of my East Front Street block in Plainfield.

Some people go both ways.

As said the scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz. East Front Street, Plainfield, NJ way close to home.

Not too much Halloween this year

I noticed far fewer homes all decked out this year. The economy? I don't know. This home on East Second Street in Plainfield usually has the entire yard done up. Not so this year. Yes, I used layers for the B&W with some color effect.

The other end of my block

I live on a really long block.

When the white eagle of the North is flying overhead
The browns, reds and golds of autumn lie in the gutter, dead.
Remember then, that summer birds with wings of fire flaying
Came to witness spring's new hope, born of leaves decaying.
Just as new life will come from death, love will come at leisure.
Love of love, love of life and giving without measure
Gives in return a wondrous yearn of a promise almost seen.
Live hand-in-hand and together we'll stand on the threshold of a dream.
- "The Dream" from "On the Threshold of a Dream" by the Moody Blues

Cloudy Morning Lights

The Plainfield Train Station has the kewlest lamps in town.

How was your week?

Happy Halloween!

I hope everybody has a spooktacular day! And, take a look at what Zoetawny made for us ... she rocks, y'know.

Survivor Samoa: 10/29 Show 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.

The guys of Galu elected Shambo their leader so they can use her. Galu won reward -- a sailboat/lunch outing as well as tarp and a fire making kit. Shambo sent Laura to Foa Foa for the "spy mission."

Galu wins immunity again.

Liz was voted out.

The Amazing Race Blog Party Post 10/25/09

Yikes, the show is actually starting roughly on time here tonight. Football only delayed the start of 60 Minutes by a few minutes.

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.

Pit Stop order:
1. Megan and Cheyne -- each won a personal watercraft
2. Maria and Tiffany
3. Sam and Dan
4. Brian and Ericka
5. Gary and Matt
6. Flight Time and Big Easy
7. Mika and Canaan last and didn't complete the water slide -- Philiminated

Yeah, she did let Canaan down and herself, too. But I'm glad the Globetrotters are still in.

Off Topic - That Was the Week It Was - 10/25/09

Another Sunday morning, another off topic look at the past week in photos I've taken and words. My cough is better this week but I've been SO sleepy! Friday night after I came home from work, I curled up on the couch after dinner to watch the weekly mini-marathon of Criminal Minds on A&E. I'm talking 8 PM. I woke up at 4 AM and went to bed. This morning I slept past 9 AM. I usually wake up my own before 7.

The weather here yesterday was horrible. Any baseball fan must have seen the rain at Yankees Stadium which canceled last night's play-off game. Well, I got caught in that. My umbrella didn't help much at all when the rain was blowing sideways. I was totally soaked by the time I got home. Thankfully the temperatures weren't bad and I wasn't chilled to the bone -- just dripping wet. Vincent, in his "Jackie's home, I must leap on her shoulder" routine seemed to think it was a bit odd that I was actually dripping, but it didn't stop him.

I'll be glad when the elections are over. I'm getting way annoyed with the Bloomberg/Thompson race in NYC, albeit finding Bill Thompson's expressive eyebrows way cool. In the NJ governor race, I don't really like Corzine, I don't like Chris Christie, and the independent candidate Chris Daggett is not going to win. I'm tired of the ad campaigns for both races on television. November 3 can't come soon enough and get it over.

That said, I'm still pitching my extremely local vote for Jim Pivnichny for mayor here in Plainfield, New Jersey. The incumbent, Sharon Robinson-Briggs and her mentor Jerry Green seem totally ineffective, more reactive to photo opportunities than proactive to solving issues in town. Piv, although not experienced in the political arena, seems to be full of passion and a love of Plainfield. I don't expect miracles, but it's time for a change. He's offering to do a full-time job, complete with all of its headaches, for no monetary cost to taxpayers. Perhaps he's insane, but I really think he's intent on improving the city. I hope he makes it. At least we don't have annoying TV commercials for this mayoral race!

The autumn leaves are going wild here this week. After fifteen years in New Jersey, I'm still not used to how late they turn. Back in my stomping grounds of upstate New York, the leaves are long past peak. Even in my adopted for decades state of Connecticut, they're mostly down by now. But here, they haven't peaked yet and are still around for the kids on Halloween.

I so love the fall -- brilliant bursts of color against grey skies, the crunch of leaves under my feet, (often) crisp and cool temperatures with sunny skies, enough chill in the evening air to warrant a nice cup of hot cocoa. I actually miss the days when folks burned leaf piles. I know it's dangerous and probably polluting, but I loved the smell of burning leaves.

When I was young, we used to make bike paths through the fallen leaves and have our own little motocross events on our bicycles long before motocross really had its title. Here in NJ, they sweep all the leaves into piles in the streets. Then they get matted down and people park on them creating a fire risk and definitely unsightly. I find that odd. Often the first snow hits before the city scoops up piles.

Enough -- onto this week's photos. Clicking on a photo will open it larger in a new window.

Get that camera out of my nose

And stop calling me "Vincles."

Photo op with Vincent

Unlike Scherzo who always closed her eyes and wasn't a great photo subject, Vincent is tolerant of the camera.

More Vincent

He's being comfortable, what can I say?

Morning Journey

Looking up Richmond Street from East Front (Plainfield, NJ) in the pre-dawn hours on the way to my train.

Signs of the times

Autumn leaves and politics -- they go together like milk and cookies. Plainfield Train Station.

Weeds and a rusted fence

I don't know. It was there.

Watchung Avenue entrance to the Plainfield Train Station

I love the steps cut into stone, but don't use them due to the knees.

Jus' a parkin' lot

But the reds and yellows make it all so awesome, don't they? The Union County College parking lot in Plainfield this week.

Jackie's 'hood in Autumn

No, I don't live in the high-rise towers you see. But I do live very nearby. This is my block, this is my Plainfield 'hood.

Supremo at dawn

They're still closed. Yes, Plainfield's Supremo has a restaurant. But more importantly, it's my local supermarket. They have a fantastic produce section, an amazing array of ethnic and foreign foods, and reasonable prices. They slice the packaged steaks too thin for my liking, though.

Creeping poison ivy at night

Yes, I used the flash on this one. I think the colorful autumn poison ivy leaves creeping up the rather ill pine tree interesting photo fodder. Bridgewater Train Station.

The Methodist Church in my neighborhood

I liked the shot and the clouds, but didn't like the wires and power pole. What to do? What to do? East Front Street in Plainfield, NJ.

Voila!

I took out the wires and power pole using the clone feature on my not-Photoshop program. This was a relatively easy task because the clouds were so random and simple to recreate in place of the wires and pole.

Are you going to let me sleep now?

Vincent being comfortable in front of the camera. He thinks he's a star.

Last hurrah of the stinkhorns

They had this burst of activity this week. But I think they're now gone for the season.

More playing with photo editing

The people in this shot came out slightly blurry, making the photo not so great. But I played with it some -- making the leaves stay in color, all else black and white. Then I found out I could make the black and white part even blurrier while keeping the leaves relatively in focus. With editing, a bad shot became a bit intriguing, I think. North Street in Plainfield across for the train station.

My typical editing

North Street in Plainfield across from the train station, as well. This is more of what I've been doing leaving some in color, the rest in black and white. No blurring on this one.

Heh

I saw this plaque in Marshalls. I really wanted to buy it for my office at work. But I fear they'd realize that I'm really not a team player.

How was your week?

Survivor Samoa Blog Party Post - 10/22/09

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.

"Good" Russell passed out during reward as shown in the promos. To Commercial.

Jeff decided no one wins reward, both tribes to TC, both will vote someone out. Russ still with medics.
"Good" Russell is out -- dangerously low blood pressure, passed out twice.

At Tribal, Jeff announced no one would be going home from either tribe.

The Amazing Race DELAYED 10/18 Blog Party

It's almost time the show SHOULD start but football is still on here in the NYC area. That means that once the football ends, we still have 60 Minutes to go until they air TAR. I hate this.

Once it starts, 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 or tomorrow morning. If the show is airing on time in your area, feel free to fill us in! I don't mind episode spoilers.

UPDATE 8:15 PM ET -- The Jets lost and 60 Minutes is just starting. So we can expect TAR at 9:15 PM ET. Sigh.

9:15 PM ET and we're starting.

Megan and Cheyne got the only Fast Forward for this season. They came in first, winning a trip to Jamaica.

Pit Stop
2. Brian and Ericka
3. Flight Time and Big Easy
4. Gary and Matt
5. Sam and Dan
6. Maria and Tiffany
7. Mika and Canaan
8. Lance and Keri -- PHILIMINATED (and they were almost bearable tonight)

Off Topic - That Was the Week It Was 10/18/09

Yes, it's Sunday morning and an off topic look back at the week in photos I've taken and in words. Once again, I have no "I'm thrilled by this" photographs. The weather has been icky this week here. Right now we're in our second nor'easter in a row. For those of you on the left coast, that's a storm with heavy northeast winds and rain (or snow) heading up the coast and socking the area with a huge punch. It's rain here, but a wicked cold rain as the temperatures are in the low 40s. Thankfully I'm in for the day. Between all the rain and dark morning commutes, I haven't had much fodder for fotos.

CBS Sunday Morning has a segment on nerds being the In Crowd these days. Hey, where was that popularity back in high school when it would have meant something to me? I so wanted to be in with the in crowd back then. Now, it doesn't really matter anymore. I've gotta be me; I've grown accustomed to being me. It would have been nice to be me with Mega Millions, but that didn't happen. I lost two bucks! (You must understand I'm never a big gambler.)

On the home front, my Bernie Madoff in NJ and PA real estate "investment company" wannabe landlord hasn't paid the water bill for my apartment building. A notice was posted (now gone) on the front door Friday when I got home from work. The water for the building will go off on November 3 if payment isn't made. Of course, the trash people might stop, too. I pay what bills I'm responsible for -- rent, electric, cable TV, phone, Internet ... I don't have the money to pay his bills. At least the heat finally came on. ARGH! I want my old landlord Fred Tedesco back! I also want the front door of the building fixed so I don't have to call the police because a homeless person is sleeping on the back staircase. Well, sleeping or dead. I didn't investigate. I had to go to work so I can pay my bills.

Healthwise this week, my cough still wants to bother me from the bout with bronchitis. Bless Riccola. My knee replacement knee is doing great, but the other one has been painful with all the rain and cold. I've postponed the knee replacement for the time being, though. I really have to have more of a nest egg gathered.

Local Plainfield blogger Bernice, the wonder that she is, found my bug from last week -- it's a crane fly. I was right that it doesn't bite but I counted its legs wrong.

Onto the photos for the week -- clicking on them will open them larger in a new window --

Where have all the squirrels gone?

Vincent, just about a half hour ago, watching the rain and wind from his perch. As you see, I don't have much color in the leaves here yet. You can also see why he loves the window -- for him, it's like TV for cats. Some of the local autumn reds are showing here, red maple I believe. But none of those are in my window view. Whatever kind of trees those are at the parking lot edge and in the neighbor's back yard only turn yellow each year. The leaves on them turn late in the autumn and bloom late in the spring.

North Street in Plainfield at night

Yes, I messed with editing this one. I take most of my night images without a flash. The key is to hold your breath so whatever lights in the photo don't blur a lot or show motion. I took this last night waiting for a bus by the train station as I returned home from work. It was between rain storms. The (still gray) building on the right is a mosque. The changes around Plainfield are interesting to observe. When I first moved to the area, there were the bow-tied Black Muslim men handing out pamphlets on the streets. Now, it's more Moslem than Muslim. I haven't seen the bow-tie guys in a long time. But I do see a lot of burqas and men with long flowing garments (along with high-top sneakers which look a bit incongruous, but if they're good with it, so am I).

More catnip please

This is what happens when you use a flash on a (mostly) white cat. This is Vincent's little catnipped cardboard chaise lounge. He loves it, but I'm sweeping up cardboard multiple times daily.

Plainfield NJ Transit Train Station

As I was getting off the train ... and a momentary respite from rain! The conductor in the shot is Scotty. He's a kindred spirit -- we both growl about NJ Devils fans on the train.

Let's get Mikey!

Mikey will eat anything! Berries of some sort growing near the Bridgewater (NJ) Train Station. Not even the birds or deer are eating these.

Autumn poison ivy colors

The urushiol veins really show in the poison ivy right now. If you were to rip the leaf, the black poison inside is still there. You do not want to rip the leaf. You do not want to eat the leaf. The advent of the poison ivy leaf gall mite has done a job on many of the plants this season.

More autumn poison ivy

I'm weird for liking this plant, eh?

Squirrel on a wire

Downtown Plainfield near the East 4th entrance to the train station.

Don't do it!

He kept wanting to make the leap to the point of making false starts. His goal was a nearby tree. Finally he climbed down and then ran up the tree. Wise choice, little squirrel.

Sunrise via billboards in Bridgewater

The sun is rising even later and, on my early mornings, it's just coming up as I hit Bridgewater, NJ. I tried to remove the billboards with my non-Photoshop program but it didn't look right. I don't have those mad Photoshop skillz. So, the billboards over the highway remain.

Why I'm not seeing Roofus

It's DARK when I get to the Plainfield Train Station a few mornings a week when I must go in early. And, this week, it's been raining on the days I get there in the daylight.

Predawn at the Plainfield Train Station

Remember, hold your breath and take the shot without a flash. ;-)

It lies

It is NOT open. But I had a nice talk with the scarecrow anyway. A business on Watchung Avenue in Plainfield in the predawn hours.

Hey, more predawn!

This is a section of East Front Street near the YWCA (not to be confused with the YMCA on Watchung Avenue). I actually enjoy the walk at this hour. Any denizens of the night are off the streets and what few people are around are heading to work.

Mums the word

A little more blurry than I like, plus there are pesky raindrops.

I do NOT like sharing my train with these people!

Yes, I said "these people." I'm talking NJ Devils fans. No normal human being outside of Halloween appears wearing little devil horns and creating a ruckus on the trains! The only thing worse than drunken loud NJ Devils fans going to the games are more drunken louder NJ Devils fans coming home from the games. Some of us are just plain commuters coming home after a long day of work. These devils should be isolated to their own cars on the trains.

A study of North Street in Plainfield

I used layers to keep the neon window and its glow on the wet street in color while making the rest black and white. This is the view from the westbound platform of the Plainfield Train Station. And, gee ... it's raining.

Newark-bound doubledecker

This car is empty as it's a closed car. Once they hit Westfield, I'm sure it will be open and filled. NJ Transit at the Plainfield Train Station.

Friend or F.O.E.

The old Fraternal Order of Elks building on Church Street in Plainfield. I love the sign and am glad they didn't remove it. Right now the building houses not only the Investors Mutual, but a banquet hall, too.

We needed ...

... a new Chinese restaurant less than six buildings away from another Chinese restaurant. Hmm ... not sure what's up with that. Neither Chinese place delivers. So, even though this is on the next (long) block away from where I live, I probably won't be frequenting them. For me, the joy of Chinese food at home is the delivery. Even though they don't deliver, somehow their menu ended up under my door. Remember, anyone can get in the building through the unlocked front door. They don't have shrimp toast. Now I can see no reason to go there at all! I would have preferred a Five Guys burger place in that spot. I took this shot fairly early in the morning when only the laundromat and Mi Ranchito restaurant were open.

How was your week?

Survivor Samoa - 10/15 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.

Galu won reward -- a BBQ. "Good" Russell sent Shambo to Foa Foa until immunity.

Galu wins immunity.

Ashley was voted out.