Happy Mothers Day to all the moms out there!
Yes, it's Sunday and time for my weekly off TV topic look back on the week gone by in words and photos I've taken. I think I can sum up this past week in just a few words -- work, hectic, annoying weather. Yep, that's it! G'bye!
Er ... well. I guess I can go into a little more detail. The weather just won't stay nice here. We went from too warm last week to tons o' rain to high winds and frost warnings. Last night the local police ran themselves ragged trying to respond to all of the downed trees/wires calls. Of course, those calls were in addition to the regular "It's Saturday night, I'm gonna get drunk and fight with people or crash my car" calls.
My work wish for this week is just one day without crises. It seems that every single day lately has some sort of drama or critical emergency going on. I hate coming home and just wanting to collapse day after day. Please ... just one day. Thank you.
In regard to the writing work, a feature I wrote about my favorite moments from this season's The Amazing Race should go live a little after 1 PM (ET) today on TV Squad. The easiest way to see if it's up is to go to my individual blogger link on the site. The big season finale is tonight. Of course, I'll have a blog party post here for it as well as writing a review for TVS. I was offered the opportunity to interview the teams by TVS, but can't do it due to my day job. Now, if they want to have me go to the Survivor finale next Sunday in the city ... I have time to alter my work plans!
On the home front, nothing much is going on. Vincent is fine and the elevator is still broken. The season of mice in the walls might be over. Vincent isn't staring at the radiator anywhere near as much as he had been. I spotted the four and five year old kids from the apartment next door a block and a half away on their own. I shouldn't be surprised since they're allowed to play in the hallways at all hours. Why aren't parents licensed? I swear animal shelters take more care to find caring homes for pets than some people put into the thought of parenthood. I realize that's not a great topic for Mothers Day, but I'm jus' sayin' ...
Onto the photos -- clicking on an image will open it larger in a new window.
From Manhattan to Queens skyline
I'm not sure if I've ever seen the Manhattan skyline from this vantage point before. I took this from the shuttle bringing me to LaGuardia for my vacation trip. I generally don't have many reasons to go to Queens and, if I do, I tend to take the subway. I recall as I rode the shuttle bus, as I watched the skyline the song which came on my not-an-iPod was "I Guess the Lord Must Be in New York City" by Nilsson. Last Saturday night might have been proof of that, eh?
Fortitude
Nah, I'm not talking about character traits. I'm talking the lion. Also taken from the shuttle bus window that day, this is Fortitude -- one of the two lions gracing the entrance of the main New York Public Library in Manhattan. The lion to the left of the steps is Patience. They're rehabbing the building. If you visit the city and haven't been before, it's a free sight not to miss -- stunning and intricate architecture. And lions. Can't forget the lions.
Speaking of famous lions
Lion at rest, master of his domain (so to speak), Vincent naps. His latest thing is he wants to be carried around. Y'know ... it makes me walk crooked to have a cat draped over my shoulder and it's hard to hear anything over his purring! No, he's not spoiled. Not much.
Spring is still springing in between wind gusts
Berckman Street in Plainfield
He didn't watch the gap
See? No feet, no hand, no entire arm! That's what happens when you step into the gap. Plainfield, NJ
Vroom
I edited this one to leave only the car in color. Watchung Avenue and East 4th Street in Plainfield.
Wall of Azaleas
Bridgewater, NJ
Love the metallic appearance of the hmm ... anthers?
North Street demolition "fixing" still going on
Now they've filled where the basement was with dirt and are shoring up the walls. The other building wall is the one which presents more problems -- a "party wall" with exposed shared fireplaces between the ex-building and its neighbor. No sign of Roofus.
From the house for all seasons
The flowers are stunning at the house located on the corner of East Front and Richmond in Plainfield. Every season, the woman who lives there has something going on. I think she hires men to do a lot of the work!
Rainy Monday Morning
It's now light when I go to work earlier for my early day(s). Looking up East Third Street from the Plainfield Train Station platform.
Saturday night odd skies
With the wind roaring, the sunset took on strange hues last night. Looking up Watchung Avenue to East Front in Plainfield.
Same sunset, different location
North Street looking up Gavett Place towards the back of East Front in Plainfield. You understand if you live here.
Same shot, edited with the "posterization" mode in GIMP.
Transportation
Bike to the train, train to the plane ...
Deadly Nightshade
Growing along the cemetery fence in back of the Friends Meeting House on Watchung Avenue/East 3rd Street in Plainfield.
Poison Ivy berries
Bridgewater Train Station
How was your week? I leave you with one last slideshow of Texas photos --
