Off Topic - That Was the Week It Was - 04/04/10

I hope everyone is having a great Easter! Zoetawny created the holiday tag for us ... she does always rock, right? It's Sunday, time to take my weekly off topic trip reflecting on the week gone by in photographs and words. This week's big news is that we had no flooding this week! While the week started off rainy, it all changed and we're in for actual spring days.

I love living where the seasons actually change. I did a couple of years in California as a child and it just wasn't the same. Each season has its own particular beauty. Winter's snow and ice are often a spectacular sight. In autumn, the trees go out in a blaze of glory for their winter nap. Summer is my least favorite season these days, especially late summer when everything just looks worn and burnt. Then there's spring, a time when everything begins anew. The changes happen so fast that if you miss a day, you miss a bloom. So I tend to go a little camera crazy. Bless digital!

Other than catching nature all around me, it's been a bit uneventful this week. On Tuesday morning, in a vicious evil rainstorm, I managed to sort of half-trip and aggravate my knee. I think it's safe to say that before (or during) the next winter, my knee will be full of titanium and plastic like the other one.

This week's Sunday Seven Songs randomly picked from my not-an-iPod --
"Rock the Casbah" by The Clash
"Let's Go Crazy" by Prince
"Sweet Baby James" by James Taylor
"Without Me" by Eminem
"Expressway to Your Heart" by The Soul Survivors
"Way Down in the Hole" by The Five Blind Boys of Alabama
"Geek in the Pink" by Jason Mraz

What's on your MP3 player?

Onto the photos -- clicking on an image will open it larger in a new window.

Yay, spring!

I "posterized" this shot of leaves coming to life on a small tree. Don't ask me what kind of tree it is. I'm lucky to be able to tell a conifer from a deciduous.

Holding up the railing ...

... at the Plainfield NJ Transit Train Station

Spring is in the air!

A man walks down East Front Street in Plainfield dressed for the season. I edited the shot to leave him in color, the background black and white and posterized.

Pretty Police

The trees and bushes are in bloom and the lawn is a lush green at the Plainfield Police Station. Well, the lawn is a lush after drinking all that rain the past few weeks!

Church Street (Plainfield) lined with blossoms

Again, don't ask me what the trees are. This is before the peak Saturday morning. By Monday, they'll all be in full bloom or blowing in the wind.

Church Street blossoms a bit closer

The Heard One complex is in the background.

Even closer

These are what they are. What are they? ;-)

Then there's this yellow stuff

On Church Street, but in my yard and everywhere else, too.

Is it a bird? Is it a plane?

Nope. It's a fancy-schmancy digital antenna gleaming in the early morning sun. North Street in Plainfield (adjacent to a gaping hole on the left).

Yet another tree awakening

Whatever this one is, it blooms in red and white. At the Bridgewater Train Station.

Is it? Could it be? Have I encountered the Easter Bunny?

Our conversation went like this:
Rabbit - "There's a human in my way."
Me - "There's a rabbit in my way."
Staredown ensued while I grabbed my camera. The rabbit backed down and ran away.
Bridgewater Train Station.

Downtown Cat

I've spotted this small cat twice near the Watchung Avenue and East Fourth Street intersection in Plainfield. He seems street-savvy and fed well enough, but it's really not a good location for a cat.

Is this what a thorny snit looks like?

Distracting the enemy

Throw the pigeons crumbs and run for your lives! The birds are gathering!

More trees in bloom

This one is outside the Methodist Church on East Front Street in Plainfield. It's blooming oddly this year. Every other year, it bloomed evenly. This year one side is lagging after the other.

Close-up

This is a closer shot of the blossoms from the previous shot.

Berckman Street, Plainfield

I messed with the editing, posterizing it, cartooning it, bumping up the contrast ... just having a grand old time with it.

My Landlord's Landscaping

Oh, what pretty flowers!

Odd Subject Matter

Okay, it's a restroom. But it's the restroom at Five Guys Hamburgers and Fries in Westfield. Why? First, it's so shiny and clean. Second, it matches the red and white checkered scheme of the restaurant itself. It also has a super most powerful on earth electric hand dryer which all but blows the skin off your hands. My shots of that in action didn't work out.

Old Reiss Tavern Sign

This is near the south side of the Plainfield Train Station. I wonder how long it's been since there was a bar there to match the sign?

Reiss Tavern, the other side

I edited this shot leaving the sign as is while posterizing and making the background black and white.

Pre-Dawn deli

North Street in Plainfield.

Pre-dawn bar windows

I messed with the colors and posterizing, leaving the Miller signs as they really are. My, isn't that the champagne of bottled beers?

Mouse Killer at rest

Trust me ... if he hears anything, he springs to life.

In closing, I took an abbreviated video of my daily NJ Transit Train commute. Of interest to folks who follow the blog -- look for scarf lady! The ride to work (although I didn't record the last station where I get off) was Good Friday and the train was fairly deserted and kind of quiet. The clip heading to Plainfield was that evening with NJ Devils fans, tourists, and loud children. No, I didn't film them, but you can hear them. Enjoy!



How was your week?

Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains Blog Party Post 4/01 Episode

The show is starting in a minute or so. This post will be updated with the major events as they air here on the East Coast. Late tonight, my full review will be posted on TV Squad. But, until then, the real fun is in the comments area right here -- feel free to jump in with your thoughts on the show, everyone is welcome! Survivors ready?

Wow, Heroes won reward!

Heroes won Immunity!

Oh my. Boston Rob is gone.

Talkin' American Idol

Oh my gosh ... I hate to use the expression "jumped the shark," but it comes to mind with this season's American Idol. I don't think I can blame my doldrums with the show entirely on the contestants this year. I think the increased judges comments have made the should-be an hour show into two hours as of late. You know, while I always enjoyed the judge commentary previous seasons, now they've expanded it to way too much. I can certainly draw my own conclusions without listening to them bicker for five minutes after each contestant sings.

But there was some good in last night's show. Although I definitely respect what Usher does, I've never been an avid fan of his. That said, I think he just might have been the best "mentor" I've ever seen on the show. The advice he gave each contestant was spot on and supportive. You go, Usher!

Then there's the talent (or lack thereof). We always have someone who shouldn't be in the Top Ten. At least, in his own way, Sanjaya Malakar was entertaining enough -- the different hairdos, the personality. Tim Urban, dimples and cute grin, has the personality of a washboard and the talent of fabric softener. I'm sure Vote for the Worst and teenage kiddies will keep him on, but he needs to go far away.

I'm still really liking both Crystal Bowersox and Lee Dewyze -- both have great distinctive voices and I could see both becoming commercially successful down the road. Lee took strides last night in his efforts to gain his confidence. That's his biggest downfall. Even Usher recognized that Lee has a remarkable and unique singing voice. Casey would be good in a country-rock kind of venue or as the front man in a rock group with an emphasis on country rock.

I'm not on the Sioban (sp?) train, nor am I enamored with any of the others. I think the youngest male, Aaron, has a beautiful voice. Yet, he doesn't have the David Archuletta cuteness about him, nor the charisma. I guess I'd like to just fast-forward this season to a Lee/Crystal showdown and hope they both do well in the future.

Your thoughts?

Lost - "The Package"

The show is starting here. As it airs, I'll be jotting some quick notes in this entry. Anyone watching (or who has watched) is welcome to join in down in the comments section.

On the island, Sayid tells FLocke he doesn't feel anything anymore. Jin wants out from the FLocke. Whoa! Uprising with the Tina Fey gang and darts of some type. They want Jin.

FLocke wants Sun, tells her he has Jin (little does he know). Instead of going with him, she flees. Um. Okay, she trusts no one, I guess. Ben finds her and rescues her while FLocke finds his camp people attacked and Jin gone. Now she can only speak Korean again.

Tina Fey is holding Jin in the old Dharma Initiative's Room 23. "Take me to your leader." He gets a meet and greet with Charles Widmore. He tells Jin that if Locke ever gets off the island, there will be chance to reunite with Sun.

FLocke says he has to take all of the people whose names were on the wall to get off the island. Claire's name wasn't on the wall, but he needs her anyway. He wants Jin back.

FLocke met up with Widmore who knows he's not Locke.

Sideways Sayid rescued sideways Jin while he killed the men who killed his brother. Oh no, sideways Sun was accidentally shot by Jin. I'm so lost.

Ohhh... Widmore's group has Desmond!

The Amazing Race 3/28/10 Episode Blog Party Post

The show is once again delayed here on the East Coast due to March Madness. 60 Minutes started at 7:30 PM ET, so The Amazing Race should begin at around 8:30 PM. Once it starts, as it airs, I'll update this entry with major events including the Pit Stop order and Philimination. My actual show review will be posted late tonight over on TV Squad. But the real fun (and most information) will be right here in the comments area. Everyone is invited to join in with your thoughts!

It's 8:30 now and we're starting ...

Pit Stop
1. Steve and Allie - won a dinner, massage, 7 grand each, and all the 7-Up they can drink
2. Jordan and Dan
3. Brent and Caite
4. Louie and Michael
5. Jet and Cord -- didn't follow clue, left bottle on boat!
5. Argh - Carol and Brandy
6. Jet and Cord ... NON-PHILIMINATION - YAY!

Off Topic - That Was the Week It Was - 3/28/10

It's Sunday, time to take my weekly off TV topic jaunt through the past week in photographs I've taken and words. The weather hasn't been the best this past week. We started out rainy, then cleared up some but with colder temperatures. Now I hear we can expect yet another five inches of rain between tonight and Tuesday. We don't need it, for sure. With the local floods, I hate to see what April showers will bring!

The big event of the week was the demolition of one of the historic buildings on North Avenue in Plainfield (NJ). I've been taking photos of that row of buildings since I've been taking the train ... we're talking more than five years. I honestly don't see what the rush was to immediately take down the building after the city ignored its dilapidated state for so long. Yes, it needed to come down, I guess. But, long ago they could have done something other than letting it rot. Now my blockscape view from the train station has a gaping hole in it.

Roofus the cat, who used to use said building to access the roofs on the block, is still sequestered in the old ex-rental car building. I saw footprints in the snow leading to the door over the winter and local blogger Bernice reported that she recently saw him. He's okay, someone's feeding him. However, I really don't know how long that building will last (although it's small and looks structurally secure).

I ran into Bernice as we were both photographing the demolition on Thursday. I played some with my video on my camera (see previous post) and in the YouTube video I'm including here. I was even mentioned in the local newspaper. No, not in the police blotter! Sheesh! Here's the Courier News mention -- way down in the article.

A point of interest in the North Plainfield home falling into the Green Brook -- I've photographed it before and my infamous squirrel in a pumpkin shot was in the home across the street which mirrored the ruined one. But the one across the street is occupied and well-kept.

Yes, I saved a hard copy of the paper. I can put it in with old dean's list announcements and my old police blotter articles. Ahem.

I want March Madness to be OVER.

Thank you.

Let's see ... what else happened this week? I seem usurped by the demolition, editing videos and such. Well, there was a full week of work, too. I filled up my not-an-iPod this week and had to take some songs off. Yikes! As I was going through that, I was thinking I should do a random Sunday Seven Songs on my not-an-iPod each week. You can feel free to reciprocate!

This week's Sunday Seven Songs:
"Addicted to Love" by Robert Palmer
"If I Were a Rich Man" by the original cast of Fiddler on the Roof
"Smooth" by Carlos Santana/Rob Thomas
"Honky Cat" by Elton John
"When I Ruled the World" by Coldplay
"Word Up" by Cameo
"Für Elise" - Beethoven

Oh my. I think I'm just weird. Onto this week's photos (clicking on them will open them larger in a new window) --

Tuesday Morning

I took this photo of the doomed building on Tuesday morning about 7:30 on my way to work. I noted that the left parapet and part of the corner had fallen. On Wednesday, the Courier News published an article saying bricks came down between 7:00 and 8:00 on Tuesday evening thus throwing the situation into dire mode. Huh? The way the back of the building was described was the condition it's been in for over a year -- chimney leaning, wall crumbled away, BIG corner missing.

Thursday Morning

I had to go in to work pre-dawn on Thursday (was off on Wednesday). So this is after all the hoopla panicking. The parapet and corner don't look much different than they did on Tuesday morning.

Brightly Lighted and Blocked Off

Thursday morning still.

Demolition In Progress

By the time I came home from work at about 5:30 PM on Thursday, most of the building was down. If you go to Bernice's blog linked pre-photos here, she caught a lot that I didn't. Of course, once we saw each other, we hung out together taking shots.

Where is his hardhat?

All of the other guys were wearing hardhats (as they should be). This one man was in and out all around the destruction with a baseball cap on. What? He seemed to be directing a lot of the action. But I thought on a scene like this, everyone had to wear them.

Sigh

Claw of Death

I edited this one -- didn't do that much this week, did I? It's "posterized."

Saturday Morning Gap

From the train window Saturday morning

Arriving home Saturday

Something is just wrong.

Train Station in the hole

I took this shot from the back of the scene looking towards the Plainfield Train Station. Talk about jury-rigging wires! Look at those!

Let's have some non-North Avenue destruction photos ....

Sheesh! Is it contagious?

This was on Church Street (Plainfield) as I walked to the train Saturday morning. Sure, I didn't get hurt at the major demolition, but this guy managed to flick a brick right in front of my shoulder. And, I even went into the edge of the street to be away from him. He had no police barriers.

Love, Light, Life

The Plainfield YWCA building on East Front Street in Plainfield. I hope they take care of this gem.

My first dandelion sighting of the season

Resting and nesting

The Bridgewater field of geese near the train station. I know they'll nest, but they really shouldn't. The ball park sets up their fireworks on the field.

Crocuses! Or, is it Croci? I just don't know.

Tulips!

In a planter in front of Hugo's Bar on Church Street in Plainfield.

Yo, bud

This was taken near City Hall on Watchung Avenue in Plainfield.

Then there's the daffodils

Berckman Street, Plainfield

Then there's Vincent

What's up, Vincent? Do you hear a mouse?

In closing, I'll leave you with my spliced together clips of the demolition on North Avenue. It's long, but if you stick with it, you'll hear me offer to Bernice to go over to ask the demolition guys pose the two claw machines juxtaposed. Then again, you might want to miss that. I'll see you later for The Amazing Race!

Off Topic - History Lost

Tonight is a boring television night for me. So, I'm giving you a sneak peek at something which will be more fully covered in Sunday's "That Was the Week It Was" post. The condemned building which used to provide Roofus the Cat access to the roofs on North Street in Plainfield (until the back portion of the building and roof collapsed) had a partial collapse on Tuesday. Today they tore it down. I was there with my camera for the tail end of the demolition. I included some photos taken before today's demise.

Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains Blog Party Post 3/24 Episode

Thanks to Msrch Madness, we're on Wednesday this week. This post will be updated with the major events as they air here on the East Coast. Late tonight, my full review will be posted on TV Squad. But, until then, the real fun is in the comments area right here -- feel free to jump in with your thoughts on the show, everyone is welcome! Survivors ready?

The castaways are fighting for individual immunity within their tribes. Both tribes will go to Tribal Council. Candice won for the Heroes. Rob wins for the Villains. Rob won the showdown - Villains get hot dogs, soft drinks, and sit in on the Heroes Tribal Council.

Woohoo, Russell did it! He schemed, gave the idol to Parvati and TYSON got voted out!

Colby beat out James! James is going home.

Reminder - Survivor TONIGHT and ...

Just a quick reminder that Survivor will be on at 8 PM ET/PT tonight, not tomorrow. I'll have the usual blog party post going on for it. Plus, I missed Lost last night and have to catch up online. My apologies. I was out later than I thought I would be for dinner with a friend after work.

Oh ... Robert Culp died. It was just on the news. Rest in piece, Mr. Culp. I was a fan of I Spy way back when.

Dancing With the Stars Spring 2010 Blog Discussion

Dancing With the Stars returns Monday, March 22, at 8 PM ET/PT. All new stars, all new action! Here's the place where you can discuss the show with your friends. The official website for the show is right here. You can find this post listed under blog discussion posts in the sidebar or use the show title in a search.

Margo is kind enough to run the blog's pool and here's the random pool picks:

**DWTS POOL**

LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!!

Aiden & Edyta - Delee, Terry in CA
Buzz & Ashley - ML, Donna in AL
Chad & Cheryl - Donna in FL, Laurie
Erin & Maks - Rbennie
Evan & Anna - Margo
Jake & Chelsie - PDXGranny, JoyN
Kate & Tony - Tessa
Nicole & Derek - Meb, Brent McKee
Niecy & Louis - Becky
Pamela & Damian - Sydney, Monty 924
Shannon & Mark - Jennasmom, Nana in NW


THE POOL IS NOW CLOSED - Everyone is welcome to play along - just not in the "official" pool.

The Amazing Race 3/21/10 Episode Blog Party

The show is delayed here on the East Coast due to March Madness. Grr. If you care, Perdue won. 60 Minutes started at 7:50 PM ET, so The Amazing Race should begin at around 8:50 PM, nearly an hour late. Once it starts, as it airs, I'll update this entry with major events including the Pit Stop order and Philimination. My actual show review will be posted late tonight over on TV Squad. But the real fun (and most information) will be right here in the comments area. Everyone is invited to join in with your thoughts!

8:50 PM and we're starting ...

Pit Stop
1. Louie and Michael -- each won a trip for two to Mexico
2. Carol and Brandy
3. Steve and Allie
4. Jet and Cord
5. Dan and Jordan
6. Brent and Caite
7. Jeff and Jordan, Philiminated