Off Topic - That Was the Week It Was - June 13, 2010

It's Sunday morning, the start of another humid and perhaps storm-laden day here in New Jersey. But, more importantly, it's time for my weekly off television topic look back on the week gone by in words and photos I've taken.

Sigh. When I was a child, I think I lived for the summer. Well, the summer, my birthday and Christmas. Although I tended to look like a lobster with sunburn all summer long, I loved it. I never sat around sunning or anything, but loved to swim and play outside.

As I've grown older, I don't like the heat. I don't like being sweaty. I definitely don't like being sunburned. I never tan. So, as you can see, I'm not all that keen on the heat and humidity we're in right now. We did have a few gorgeous days this week with temperatures in the 70s, dry and sunny. I liked those days. All of summer should be like that!

In my local area, there was a heated city council primary election going on. I'm just an innocent bystander to a lot of the local politics here. However, I probably see and know a lot more than I than I actually would ever talk about. I'm so not a political activist type person. That said, I want to congratulate blog reader Rebecca Williams on her win.

I just couldn't come out and say during the campaign period that I first "met" her on this blog due to her interest in the Big Brother show. Hopefully she'll have time in her busy schedule to keep up with the show this summer! I think, if elected, she'd do well in the new position and know that she's dedicated, honest and intelligent. Yay, Rebecca! Her own personal blog is a fascinating read.

Even closer to home, otherwise known as my apartment building, there have been noted improvements with the bank running the operation and the receivership appointed for us. First, apparently the extermination worked. Vincent no longer stares at the radiator. I know he loved catching mice, but I really never liked Wild Kingdom going on in my living room. Plus, I was very worried he'd actually eat one and get ill. He's back to paying more attention to his toys.

Second, the elevator is working again! Yes! I came home with a ton of groceries and didn't have to lug them up the stairs! Not only that, but it's working more smoothly and better than it has in years. It no longer provides a rather jolting ride and the door closes once again after you get out. That's the way it should be working -- the last few years, the door would sit open until someone pushed the button on another floor.

Third, I finally know that my security deposit does indeed exist and has been transferred to a different bank. Connolly never did that right and I should have exercised my right to use it for rent at one point or another because I never received my interest payments and such. Now that a bank owns the building again, I received a W9 form to fill out and notification from TD Bank (hello, Regis!) exactly how much is there and the interest rate. I was very worried that my security deposit would have been squandered by him or "lost" in the shuffle.

I still don't know anything about whether I'll be living here come fall or not. Since that whole foreclosure went down right around the time I should have gotten my lease renewal, I never got the renewal form this year. I don't think they'd want me out as I'm a good tenant, not destructive, no complaints about me, never pay my rent late, quiet, etc.

I've lived in this apartment for nine years. I like the town, the location, the neighborhood, most of my neighbors, the access to public transportation and stores, the elevator, laundry room in the basement and all. I'd rather not move. I guess I'll see. I can't make arrangements to have the other knee replacement done until I'm sure I won't have to move in the middle of recovery.

Onto this week's photos -- clicking on an image will open it larger in a new window:

Scout

I'm sure he's just watching for humans to swoop down upon.

I Met a Cat

Sigh. I believe this cat is "owned" by the people who live in the house. But it saddens me to see pets allowed to roam on busy city streets. When I was a child, I thought the life expectancy of a cat was only two years because they kept getting hit by cars and suffering other injuries due to roaming about freely. East Front Street, Plainfield.

A Tainted Sun

Well, maybe tinted at the very least. This is the view of the upcoming sunset as seen out the train window on my way home from work last night. Hazy, humid and even tinted by the slightly darkened train windows, it seemed almost other-worldly.

Whazzat?

Has there been a horrible accident? Is it a BEAR? (Since NJ freaks out so much about them, I always look for a good bear to shoot with my camera.) I sneak up, sneak up and ...

... he runs!

You know, it's hard to sneak up on a chipmunk! Bridgewater Train Station.

Plainfield Train Station

Obviously, I edited this shot. I left the guy and signal lights in color, making the background black and white and "posterized." On a fashion note -- if I wore pants like that, people would probably point and giggle. Well, they may point and giggle anyway, but I'm talking pants here. That style is almost as bad as "pants on the ground."

Chicory

Growing wild at the Plainfield Train Station until they mow the grass once again.

Deadly Nightshade has gone berries on us

I guess these are what you're not supposed to eat. East Third Street, Plainfield.

HEY! How 'bout ME?

Huh? As I was shooting the deadly nightshade on East Third Street, I heard someone yelling to me. Um. Okay. I shot him. I don't know who he is, never saw him before. He's wearing a jacket (and shorts) when it's hot and humid out. He wanted his picture taken. I obliged. In back of him is the embankment up to the railroad tracks. It was all a bit odd. But he moved along after I shot him. (So I must not have seriously wounded him, eh?)

Piñatas over produce

Hmm. In the Supremo Supermarket in Plainfield, they now have piñatas hanging all over looking down on the produce department. Cool. I was tempted to pick up a yucca root and test 'em.

Who you gonna call?

I don't think you could even call GhostBusters on most of the public pay phones in Plainfield. This particular one on East Front Street has had a broken receiver for more than a couple years. Most either have receivers in this shape or the phone has been removed completely, just leaving the shell. I guess it's because, with the prolific use of cell phones and increased vandalism, it's just not a money making business. I edited this shot to make it look a bit more like an illustration than a photo.

In the early morning rain

"You can't jump a jet plane
Like you can a freight train
So I best be on my way
In the early morning rain" - Gordon Lightfoot

Not all that far from the freight train tracks, I had to be on my to work in the early morning rain in Bridgewater, NJ.

Also in the rain that morning

Mickey D Tea is for the birds

East Second Street in Plainfield.

YWCA

I edited this one to leave the reflection of trees in one window in color, the rest black and white. East Front Street, Plainfield.

Tiger Lily

Berckman Street, Plainfield.

Vincent

"Will you turn off that air conditioner and open this window, please?"

How was your week?

Monday Night TV Notes - June 7, 2010

I'm not coming up with anything regular on Monday evenings. I recorded The Good Guys on FOX and probably will give that a watch before long. I don't know why I watched what I did watch for two hours, though. It's two hours of my life that I'll never get back.

Yes, I watched The Last Comic Standing. I've only watched that one season before and only because I personally wanted to support someone I know. I'm talking know, like in see at my day job on occasion or sometimes just out and about. I'm not talking "have seen that comic before." So I watched the season with local Plainfield dude Rich Vos. I've seen him since. He's gotten a tan.

But it all comes back to me as I watch the show. Many of these folks just aren't funny. They're weird, some are retreads. I'm not saying I don't like comedians. I was a big fan of George Carlin, Steve Martin, Cheech and Chong (heh, they qualify), Richard Pryor, Steven Wright and even Jerry Seinfeld. But most of those were firsts and very unique. I'm watching this group of wannabes and thinking it can't be them. It must be me. I've gone and lost my sense of humor somewhere along the highway of life. Yeah, that's it.

Then I watched Persons Unknown. Oh my. I don't know what to say. It's very odd. I can never watch Jason Wiles without thinking Bosco (Third Watch) will run amok and get into a police chase. Okay, they're all abducted and put into a hotel. Then a Chinese restaurant with a large staff of men who don't speak English opens. Um. With all the cameras it's like Big Brother gone psycho and scripted. I'll be watching next week.

Later on, Letterman is going to have Lee DeWyze, the winner of American Idol, on. I'm sort of surprised he actually got the winner this time. I figured all he'd get would be the losers.

What did you watch?

Off Topic - That Was the Week It Was - June 6, 2010

It's Sunday morning. That means it's time to settle in with a cup of coffee, an old Law and Order episode on TNT in the background, and get to posting my look back on the week gone by in words and photographs I've taken. It hasn't been a great week for me. I'm SO not a heat and humidity kind of person and that's what the weather has been like all week. I also had some sort of stomach bug during the week, gah!

Huh. The actor who played Bunk (Wendell Pierce) on The Wire is playing a Nigerian on the old L&O episode, accent and all. I know I haven't been writing a lot about TV as of late. Of course, that will change come Big Brother! I have been watching a few shows -- So You Think You Can Dance and America's Got Talent. Both of those are still in their beginning phases. I also found THE BEST alternate ending for Lost -- it's Vincent's dream!

On the home front things are same old, same old. The elevator still isn't working. I still have annoying neighbors on the one side. I finally met the guy on the other side (the bedroom in that apartment is up against my bedroom wall). I knew someone has been living in there for months, but never hear any noise. He's pleasant enough and seems to work all the time.

At least he's not like the children raising children on the other side -- no one works there, boyfriends come on their bicycles (yes, you heard me, bicycles), doors slam all the time, people argue, people party, children scream. Sigh. I don't even know who all lives there. The children I know. I know them because they keep playing in the hallway and their mother(s) haven't a clue where they are. I'm talking under five years old. They're not bad kids, but I fear for their future. It's sad that I hope they aren't paying their rent (or share thereof since no one works) and get the boot.

The other apartment was vacant for months after the last tenant left. I still have memories of her as I bought the TV she had purchased for her adult son with developmental needs. He didn't like it, nor understand the controls. I found that he had accidentally set parental controls on it and, while he had some issues, he didn't want to watch children channels. But he already had another TV by then and I now had a brand new larger one for $75 from them. That's my "good" TV these days.

Oh well, I've fussed and moaned enough ... onto the photos for the week, clicking on an image will open it larger in a new window.

Monday was Memorial Day

My father served in WWII, my grandfather served in WWI sneaking in underage, then re-upped for WWII. Although I'm an anti-war kind of person (there really have to be better ways to solve problems!), I salute all of those who have risked or lost their lives to protect our freedom.

Pigeon Mutt

Looking like Heinz 57, this pigeon has a conglomeration of patterns and colors. It's like he doesn't know if he wants to be brown, black, gray or iridescent purple.

Weeds

Flowers get all the attention, but I enjoy a good weed bloom now and then, too. Since I don't personally have a lawn, I don't need to pull them!

Plainfield Rescue Squad

Now, why couldn't I have gotten this shot when I pitched the plea for donations? Of course, it looks like a pedestrian with no feet or hands is trying to climb in. The man has no neck! (Tell me what film that's from!) East Front Street, Plainfield.

Potted Flowers

A Wild Animal!

What is it? A bear? A badger? A bobcat? Oh. A groundhog. Move along, nothing to see here.

Future Sunflowers

Those leafy plants on the right will be my sunflower photo fodder before long. East Front Street, Plainfield.

Honeybee on a flower

These flowers are on the edge of my neighbor's lawn. The honeybees seem to like them. I haven't seen many bees yet this season -- an occasional wasp or hornet, a few carpenter bees, and (oddly enough) more honeybees than anything else. Last year they were talking about the severe decrease in honeybees. Go figure. I'm still allergic, I'm sure.

Early Morning at the Train Station

Another hot day dawns at the Plainfield Train Station.

It's MY Ramp!

Yes, I lay claim to the ramp. It's mine. Plainfield Train Station.

Vincent looking inquisitive

He sees something. He hasn't been staring at the radiator, so hopefully the mice are gone. He did freak out when a fly got in the apartment. Sheesh! Knocked over a lamp and all! It didn't break, but it took a while before I figured out what was going on. My protector. He's really a great cat. To think he would have probably been euthanized at New York City Animal Care and Control because he's "older." But he lives the good life now -- cat treats, cat toys, food, water, shoulder, lap, bed and affection.

How was your week?

Happy Birthday Chuck Barris!

While we have America's Got Talent, American Idol, and So You Think You Can Dance these days, we had The Gong Show back in my formative years. Chuck Barris is 81 today and was born in Oakland, New Jersey. Don't ask me where Oakland is -- it's nowhere near me! He was the force behind The Dating Game and The Newlywed Game as well as my personal favorite ... The Gong Show.

Happy birthday Chuck and let's take a peek at Gene, Gene, the Dancing Machine from back in the day. In the first clip, a young David Letterman looks a bit confused as Arte Johnson, Jaye P. Morgan, and Chuck Barris (and the crowd) go wild.

'America's Got Talent' - New Season, New Judge, New Talents

Huh. I must be out of the loop. I didn't realize that David Hasselhoff has left his judging slot on the show. I'm sure it's because he has such other fantastic things happening in his career, right? When I heard Howie Mandell was taking on the judge position, I was a bit leery. I liked Howie when he started out as a stand-up comedian, but I was SO not into Deal or No Deal that it actually soured me on him. Plus, he's all kinds of OCD and stuff. I'm OCD enough for my own life, thank you very much.

But, surprise, surprise. He works for the show! Just like Nick Cannon is so much better than Jerry Springer in the host role, Howie is perfect for judging. He, unlike Sharon Osbourne who gets all emo (as the kids say) with Piers, challenges him and doesn't back down. He's actually funny with the contestants, too. It's a shame that the show will eventually butt up against Big Brother 12 next month and I won't be able to keep track of it. But, until I can't, I will.

I don't care for all who went through last night. I was familiar with one group -- The RingMasters out of Brooklyn. For some reason, this contortionist break dance crew is down to two members and there was no mention of them appearing on Randy Jackson presents America's Best Dance Crew (MTV) a few seasons back. They didn't win, but they were pretty amazing. I found a break.com video of one of their appearances on that show with the crew intact --


The RingMasters - Watch more Funny Videos

They had a woman with a cat-woman outfit and a whip who enthralled both Howie and Piers with her "painting" act. More like pole-dancing sans the pole! The only good thing about that act was the very end when she placed the painting bits together and posed. It actually was her face in the cat mask. She can go away now.

My favorite act of the night were the two little kids who started out the show, Future Funk. If they succeed, they're probably going to have to go for a name change. When I was searching around, I found someone else already has the name going. Sigh. The kids are cute and extremely talented for the tender ages of five and nine. They seemed to be having a ball, too. Hmm ... what was I doing at five? Um, well. I was taking tap dancing lessons. But let's not go there, please.



One of my other favorites was the French street performer dude, Haspop. As they did the pre-interview, I was expecting a dud. Well, how wrong was I? Folks like this guy are why I pay attention to street performers in the city. Some of these people are incredibly talented. I also must give a nod to one of my other summer show passions, So You Think You Can Dance. One of the reasons I'm hooked on that show is that they find people with Haspop-esque talents.



The sentimental favorite of the evening would be the ex-homeless veterans group who sang "Old Man River." They were perfect!



Did you watch? Your favorites? Remember, the auditions continue tonight!

The Bachelorette Summer 2010 Blog Discussion

I received a few requests for a blog discussion post for the new season of The Bachelorette which airs on Monday evenings at 8 PM on ABC. The official website is right here. I don't watch this one, so I won't be blogging about it. However, this is a place where you and your friends can comment on the episodes. Enjoy!

Off Topic - That Was the Week It Was - 5/30/10

Sunday morning is upon us once again. Gee, it seems like this happens every week at this time! Go figure. What it means for me (and anyone reading this) is that it's time for me to take an off TV topic look back at the week gone by in words and photographs I've taken.

It's the Memorial Day holiday weekend and lots of folks are hitting the shore here in New Jersey (going down the shore, as they say), but I'm only a Jersey shore person when others aren't. I like the shore during stormy winter days, off season, and away from the sweaty crowds. I'm also a bit leery about swimming in the ocean since a rip tide at Jones Beach snagged me back in the early 80s. It took me away a good two hundred yards, almost drowned me and wrenched my arm in back of me so hard I thought it broke. It didn't. But my will to swim in the ocean has been broken ever since that incident.

I actually have two days off in a row from my workplace, an oddity for me. I plan to stay in today, catching up on some chores and watching TV shows I've recorded. Oh. I must give Vincent some quality time, too. That could mean anything from running around the apartment playing with him to sitting reading a book while he conks out on my lap or shoulder. Silly cat! It's supposed to be very hot with high humidity today, not my favorite weather to be out and about.

My living situation sans the landlord seems just about the same as when he was here. The elevator, not working for a month before the bank booted the landlord, hasn't been working. I came home one day through the front door of the building and immediately trudged up the stairs only to pass the elevator with its door open and fan blowing on my floor. Yay! The next morning, I gathered my trash to take out on my way to work only to find the door still open, yet the elevator car sitting about two feet low. Sigh. Now it's all closed up and turned off once again.

The elderly woman from upstairs had some sort of operation and is in the nursing home/rehab center across the street -- the one I was set to go to with my knee replacement rehab, but didn't go. They won't let her out until the elevator is fixed. I plan to visit her tomorrow.

Onto the photos I took during the week ... clicking on an image will open it larger in a new window:

New batch of deadly nightshade

This is on Church Street in Plainfield, NJ. The blossoms are tiny, but I wouldn't suggest eating them. I took the shot on the way to the train station after a night of rain.

Beauty in weeds

This was taken at the Bridgewater Train Station (NJ). It's not quite a clover, I don't think. The plants are fairly tall and quite rampant.

Spotted Knapweed

Also taken at the Bridgewater Train Station. I edited this photo to leave only the spotted knapweed in color while also muting the background some.

The return of the stinkhorn mushrooms

These popped up overnight in Bridgewater. No, I'm not going to smoosh that icky stuff on their ends. I'll take the word of the Internet that they smell like rotting carrion.

Cardinal

As I was walking to the train, I saw a flash of color. A quick shot and he was gone. I edited the shot, leaving only the cardinal in color. East Front Street, Plainfield.

Supermarket cacti

I swear this is the same cactus I saw growing wild all over Texas when I was there. I took this at Supremo Supermarket on East Front Street in Plainfield. They have a great produce department full of all kinds of Latino, Jamaican, and other ethnic favorite fruits and vegetables. I wouldn't know how to prepare cacti for consumption. All the card in front of it said was "Product of Mexico." Um. Okay.

Blue-eyed Grass

Thanks to Bernice, I now know what this cute little flower is! The shot I took of them last week was in bright sunshine. A cloudy day makes the colors turn out much more vibrant. Bridgewater Train Station.

New recruit

This young robin doesn't fly well yet. He kind of hopped/flew away from me, yet I shot him anyway.

Grown robin

Oh my, nowhere near as cute, eh? Plainfield Train Station.

Not the weekday crowd

I worked this past Sunday and noticed the crowd heading to Newark/New York City is much different from the business suit folks of the weekday mornings. Plainfield Train Station.

North Street Demolition Site

It's coming along. They've filled in the basement and have sealed the wall. Although someone other than the city of Plainfield owns the property, this is MY proposal for what should be done. I think grass should be planted, perhaps a small flower garden, too. Benches. And, people (artistic ones, not me) should paint a huge mural of what the block USED to look like on the side of building on the right of the cavity. On the left, perhaps a sunny scene with children playing? Anything is better than a plain wall and gap.

Mr. Lee in his Sunday Best

Well, he told me it's his pimp suit, but he was coming from church. The pants match and he's even wearing white shoes while showing off a pink Bic lighter. My downstairs neighbor -- he usually wears jeans, sweatshirts, or overalls. Plainfield, NJ.

My Elite Bus

Yep, it's my tour bus! Okay ... it's not. I saw it parked at the ball stadium in Bridgewater, NJ.

Flower in the rain

Vincent pays homage to Kliban Cats

I came home on Friday to find a little mouse body in one spot with its head a foot away. Who could have done this crime? Why, Vincent, Jaws of Death! Now, the exterminator was just in the building on Monday, so I'm glad the mouse was just brutally murdered and beheaded, not eaten. Thankfully, it's hardwood floors, not carpet. But I really want this to stop. While Vincent might think it's the best toy ever, I'm not into killing or having dead little bodies in my apartment. However, when I saw the mouse, I couldn't do anything other than think of Kliban Cats and the blues song. Although B. Kliban (a true cat genius artist) passed on some years back, his website lives on. And, it's on the eatmousies.com domain. Heh.

How was your week? Doing anything exciting this holiday weekend?

American Idol Finale Rocks the House

I watched in fear and admiration as Bret Michaels sang with Casey on the American Idol finale. I know his doctors were probably aghast about him doing the show. He rocked and looked good, too. With all that's been going on with him, I've developed a new respect for the man. Well, a respect, I guess. I wasn't a fan of his at all until his Celebrity Apprentice days and his health battles.

What a night on the show! Not only would either Crystal Bowersox or Lee DeWyze be crowned the new idol, but it's Simon Cowell's final hurrah on the show. Rock stars from the 70s were dredged up from wherever they've been all these years -- Hall and Oates, Chicago, Alice Cooper, Joe Cocker, and more. Joe Cocker looked like a real pale Fred Sanford playing a pirate. Janet Jackson, Cristina Aquilera, and every contestant ever on the show. Well, some were missing. I didn't see Corey Clark there, did you? Paula and Simon reunited and it felt so good.

The real shocker other than Bret's amazing performance was that Lee DeWyze won. I've been on the Lee train since early in the show, saying all along that there was something about his voice I like. But I like Crystal Bowersox, too. I think she's very special and has an incredible voice. I thought it would definitely be a Bowersox win, but nope. Lee got it! They'll both do well in their careers.

You don't have to win Idol to get a career jump start from it. In local news here, Diana DeGarmo is now starring in Hair on Broadway. I saw the announcements for ticket sales for the Jordin Sparks concert tour this summer.

I'm going to miss Simon on the show and, while I'll give the next season a shot, it won't be the same.

What do you think of the finale?

PHOTO CREDIT: TMZ

LOST Alternate Endings from Jimmy Kimmel Live

Being who I am, I like the Jeff Probst Survivor ending the best --

"Sayid, the tribe has spoken."
"I didn't spend five years in the Republican Guard, get shot, get drowned in a pond, take a bomb to the stomach on a submarine ... just to get eliminated by Jeff [bleeping] Probst!"

Loved the Newhart ending, too!

LOST - "The End" Series Finale Blog Party

Well, this is it. It's the series finale for a show which brought us both smoke monsters and giant polar bears. Will our questions be answered?

What better time for me to include various Lost logos made for us by Zoetawny over the past five seasons? Enjoy!

I won't be live-blogging the show because I actually want to WATCH it without typing or taking notes, but I will be piping in during some commercials, for sure. Everyone is invited to party and hang out in the comments section. It's BYOB and snacks!

So far they're each reminiscing about their characters. "If we can't live together ... (dramatic pause) ... we're going to die alone!"

Ah, I was right. The smoke monster only threw Richard Alpert. He's still alive.

No. Wait. Everyone's dead. Um. Okay.

Lost Series Finale as done by cats

This was too cute not to share --