Off Topic - That Was the Week It Was - March 6, 2011

It's Sunday morning -- you know what that means! RAIN! Er, well ... rain and my weekly reflection on the past week in both words and photos I've taken. I'm still pretty much in my photo rut here. It was quite cold most of the week until yesterday when it got up to around 60 degrees. It's warm now, but we're under flood warnings.

My week was rather uneventful. I worked, I ate, I slept, I watched television, I read, rinse and repeat (not necessarily in that order). My knee has been bad most of the week. I blame the cold and now the dampness. I know the doctor would give me pain meds, but I don't really like how they make my mind feel. Also, when I have the surgery in a few months, the pain is much easier control with pain meds if you're not already on them. So, it's ibuprofen for now.

On the home front, several other tenants have issues with the new ramp out the building's side door. At least I now know I'm not just a total klutz almost falling out the door. One person actually fell. One of the tenants in the building told me he's going to call inspections about it. Meanwhile, now that I know the incline is right there when I step out, I'm no longer almost falling.

Also on the home front, I opened my windows when I got in last night as it was stuffy in here and the outdoor temp was around 60. All of a sudden, Vincent went wild chasing after something! I thought at first it was a Japanese beetle, then realized it was a stinkbug. ACK! I've never had one of them in here before although I've seen them outside. Thankfully I realized what it was before Vincent or I squished it. Flush!

In the good news department, the company I work for had another banner year (despite the economy) and they added another 15% atop their match in my 401K for last year. Amazing ... looking at the pension, social security and 401K ... I might actually eventually be able to enjoy a few years of retirement!

Well ... um, I don't have much more for you. Except for the photos and the accompanying stories on some of them, that is! Clicking on an image will open it larger in a new window, then hit back on your browser to get back to the blog.

Great Skates

On Friday, despite the cold temperatures, I came across a group of teenage boys skateboarding in the Plainfield Train Station parking lot. They were thrilled to have me take photos of them. However, my settings on the camera weren't really right for action shots. So most of their best tricks went blurry on me.

In watching the kids have innocent fun, it made me glad to live in an area where there's such diversity. The group of seven were white, black and Hispanic and obviously all good friends. Not only that, but I'd love to meet their parents and tell them how polite and friendly their boys are! Each one introduced himself and shook hands with me, then thanked me for taking the photos of them.

Yeah, big bad Plainfield.

He has the moves

Hang Ten

Sure, their parents might have to worry about broken bones. But there are so many worse things teenage boys could be doing with their time. A skate park would probably be popular in the area. However, I'm sure liabilities would be prohibitive.

Spontaneous Combustion?
Weird religious ritual?

Nope, doubt it was either. I'd say a red-tailed hawk had dinner and doesn't care for wings. This was on East Third Street near the Friends Meeting House (Quakers) cemetery.

Ice Cave

Okay, it's not really an ice cave. Or, if it is, it's a tiny one. This is at the bottom of one of the remaining nasty snow piles on Church Street in Plainfield. I'm surprised they haven't found any missing people thawing out in some of the piles!

Sundown ...

"You better take care, if I find you been creepin' 'round my back stairs." - "Sundown" by Gordon Lightfoot.

I realize they aren't technically back stairs, nor are the mine. Plainfield Train Station just after the sun went down.

Comet?

Nah, just a contrail which looks like the setting sun's tail. Bridgewater, NJ.

Yes, I know it's still winter.
You don't need to remind me.

Icicles under the railroad bridge in Bridgewater.

Yes, I am. But what are you?

You're an alleged criminal, that's what you are! The fool who spray painted "DRONE" all around the train station and surrounding blocks was caught and arrested. This is the sign at the East Fourth Street entrance by Vest Pocket Park at the Plainfield Train Station. The other side of the sign has parking directions on it; this side had been blank. As of Saturday evening, it's once again blank.

Blues and golds

I didn't really do anything to this shot. This was early Monday morning just before sunrise. The golden lamps of the Plainfield Train Station highlighted the brown grass and leaves in gold while the background, looking up East Third Street, appeared blue.

I wish!

This is another billboard/poster in the mattress ad campaign I photographed last week. Dunellen Train Station.

The SPECIAL bus

I keep thinking it should pick me up. It's always empty. I guess no one in town is special enough, eh? The corner of Watchung Avenue and East Fourth Street in Plainfield.

Is spring ever coming?

A commuter is all bundled up waiting for her train at the Plainfield Train Station.

77¢

Supremo, on East Front Street, was having a big 77 cent sale. They're redoing the inside of the store and adding much needed new frozen food cases. I hate getting lost in there as they move everything around! But I did find Scrapple after it's gone missing for two years from the store. Coolio.

99¢

Adjacent to Supremo on East Front Street, there's the 99¢ Plaza.

$3.24!!!

Say what? This is at the corner of Church and East Second Streets. Yes, I've featured their signs with their "breaks" and "alingments" before. How much is gas where you live?

The Target Snow Mountain is Melting

This was once over twenty feet tall, a good 400 feet long, and took up about 20 parking spots as well as blocking two "roads" in the lot. Bridgewater, NJ.

No wonder it's cold!

It's still January 17th! No, they still haven't changed the papers in this honor box. They did put up two new Star Ledger boxes but only one has the current day's paper. The window is all foggy on the other and they haven't put new papers in it since the day they put the box there. Meanwhile, the five NY Post boxes vanished as quickly as they arrived. Bridgewater Train Station.

Emergency! Call the fashion police!

It's thirty degrees with a wind chill of about twenty. This teenage boy is wearing huge loose white shiny gym shorts and Uggs? Bridgewater, NJ.

First outside arachnid of the season!

As I waited for my train last night, I saw something small go running in front of me. It was too small to be a rabbit, goose or deer -- the regular wildlife I've seen for the last few months. Why, it's a spider! It must be spring. I think I scared him with the flash.

Vincent, all of your blood is going to rush
to your head if you keep doing that.

"Got any catnip? Are you going to play with me? Can I get on your shoulder?"

How was your week? Don't forget to stop back for the Amazing Race blog party tonight!

Survivor: Redemption Island - 3/02 Episode Blog Party

The show will be starting in about five minutes here on the East Coast. As it airs, I'll update this post with major news while sharing some opinions on what I see both here and in comments. Of course, the comments area is where the real party is! Everyone is welcome to join in, the water's fine! Oh. And bring snacks. Snacks are always good.

Apparently the person winning the duel ends up dueling everyone who comes there before returning. Two people from each tribe are getting a trip there. The duel is just another challenge. No jousting or swords. Rats.

Matt won. Francesca is going home.

Zapetera threw Immunity/Reward in a plot to boot Russell.

Russell is reminding me of Charlie Sheen and his "goddesses."

3-way tie - Ralph, Stephanie and Russell. Re-vote.

Russell voted to Redemption Island.

Amazing Race Review is up on TV Squad, Plus Phil's Diary!

My review of last night's show is up on TV Squad -- please check it out!

For a peek behind the scenes, we have Phil's Diary:

The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business 2/27 Episode Blog Party

The show will be starting soon here in the east. Everyone is welcome to join in with comments as the show airs -- that's where the real fun is! I'll be updating this post with any big news as I watch it here on the East Coast. My full review of the show will be posted on TV Squad either late this evening or early tomorrow. I'd love to have you visit there, too!

Lifeguard Laurie should be along to update the blog pool in comments (especially since she did it in the Survivor party this week -- talk about diligent!). Cheer your team on and let's have a party!

Jet and Cord are still in it, but way behind. They've caught up and now it's Christina/Ron and Amanda/Kris vying for last place.

1st to Pit Stop -- Zev and Justin! Won a trip to Cancun.

2. Globetrotters
3. Jet and Cord
4. Kisha and Jen
5. Margie and Luke
6. Mel and Mike
7. Kent and Vyxsyn
8. Jaime and Cara
9. Gary and Mallory
10. Ron and Christina
11. Amanda and Kris -- Philiminated

Off Topic - That Was the Week It Was - February 27, 2011

Why, it's Sunday morning once again! That means it's time for my weekly off television topic reflection on the week gone by in both words and photographs I've taken.

Winter is winding down a bit here despite some snow we had on Monday. On Friday we had steady, then heavy, rain accompanied by a few thunderstorms. That's the second time we've had thunderstorms in the past few weeks. Usually February goes by without a hint of thunder. But we all know this season's been anything but normal. In between the snow and rain, we had a few nice days with temperatures in the forties and sunshine ... and we had bitter cold and wind.

Early in the week I caught some kind of bug which cranked my own temperature up. Perhaps it was my misguided wishes for warmer weather? Whatever it was, it kicked my butt for a few days. But it has left me kind of grouchy. What do I do when grouchy? I lash out!

• Excuse me, fool on the cell phone walking towards me ... I'm just going to keep walking the way I'm going. You NEED to pay attention to where you're going. After all, I could be a solid object!
• Do NOT walk out of a store door and just stop while looking dumb! Move along! I want to get out of the door!
• Do NOT get off the train and stop on the stairs either! I'm walking bone-on-bone in one knee and I want that railing. You do NOT want me to fall on you, do you? I thought not. Move along!
• Stop riding that bicycle on the city sidewalk, grown man.
• If you're pushing a shopping cart, don't go all zombie looking at stuff to buy and wheel your cart into people. If you must go all zombie over merchandise, pull to the side of the aisle and park it. Either that, or watch where you're going.
• I thought I was grocery shopping. I didn't realize that it's obviously some sort of social event or reunion with people blocking the aisles to talk.
• How come in this day and age, there's a two-year old all by himself near the exit door to the parking lot? Oh, parent(s)? Where are you?
• That yappy little dog downstairs is getting yappier.
• The big red stop sign on the automatic store door means it's an exit. You enter the automatic door with the green sign. Sheesh.
• Bon Jovi fans on NJ Transit trains are as odd as NJ Devils fans on NJ Transit trains, just a different kind of odd.
• Just because you don't think I speak Spanish doesn't mean I don't understand what you're saying.
• But, no. I don't understand the Mandarin Chinese you're shouting into your cell phone while I just want a peaceful commute.

There. I feel better now.

On the home front, the new neighbors seem bearable. I heard classic rock music playing one day -- not really, really loud. I occasionally hear muffled voices. One night I came home to them hammering on their/my dining room wall. Those kinds of noises should vanish once they're settled in. They're quite quiet as the evening goes on. I still haven't met or seen them yet. But they're there.

Also on the home front -- maintenance dudes put some sort of poorly done ramp out the middle door of the building. I assume it's for accessibility. Yet, it's so poorly done that I keep almost falling every time I go out that door. I don't think a ramp is supposed to start flush with the doorway itself. Shouldn't there be door to flat section or landing to the ramp? If someone tries to come in with a wheelchair, they're going to keep rolling backwards into the lot!

Oh well ... onto this week's photos. I'm really wanting spring shots. I'm growing bored with my photo fodder. Plus, I missed one day's walk and it was bitter cold with wind or raining another day. Clicking on an image will open it larger in a new window, then just go back on your browser.

Mouse Ears

Yes, I messed with the editing of this photo. The identical two doors themselves with their identical parking meter shadows caught my eye as I waited for my train. Yet the busyness of the surroundings sort of drowned them out. So I edited the colors and used the "posterization" doohickey on my photo editing software. The doors are in the original colors. North Street, Plainfield.

Angry Clouds and Contrasts

As the storms moved away driven by wild winds on Friday, the sun came out shortly before sundown. The color differences between the clouds and the barren trees and poison ivy vines made me go for this one. If you look closely, that's Route 287 in the background. Yes, it leads to the NJ Turnpike. No, don't ask me what exit. I took this at the Bridgewater Train Station looking to the east.

Gordon the Goose entertaining the chicks

"So this human walked into a bar ..." No, that's not a small pond. We were under a flood watch on Friday. This is the first time I've ever really seen water gather there. There is a pond on the other side of the fence. Bridgewater Train Station.

The glow of Danny's Bakery

I edited this one to just leave the bakery windows and the reflection on the rain-soaked street in color. North Avenue at the corner of Watchung Avenue, Plainfield.

Plainfield Train Station Lamps in the Rain

Also edited for the color/B&W effect. Yes, I know I've taken similar shots to this before. But I was stuck in place at the train station in the rain Friday morning.

Definitely!

Looking out my train window into that train window, I mysteriously wanted a nap. A clever billboard campaign by Sleepy's Mattresses which can be seen at the Dunellen Train Station. Of course, if I had a mattress and fell asleep on the train, I'd be like ol' Charlie on the MTA.

Lonesome Dove

Even though birds are plotting to overthrow mankind, I found this a bit sad. Doves are almost always in pairs. I don't think it's the right time of the year for this to be a young dove without a mate.

Look! Spring! Spring! Spring!

Some buds are forming on the trees with the wonderful spring blossoms on Church Street in Plainfield. Happy dance time! Of course, the cemetery is still mostly snowed in as it's in the shadows and there are huge ugly snow piles nearby. But ... LEAF BUDS!

I am Tyrannosaurus Rex Squirrel!
Fear me!

Lesser creatures run from the towering squirrel with his dangling little front legs as he stomps the church grounds on East Front Street in Plainfield.

Posing for animal crackers?

A squirrel on Berckman Street freeze-framed as if posing for my camera.

Yes, it did snow this week!

Looking at the house which still has all of its holiday decorations up through the snow-laden tree Monday morning. Near the corner of East Front and Richmond, Plainfield.

Snow from the platform

Plainfield Train Station, again Monday morning, again snow. I edited it to leave just the red banners in color.

Those lamps again

Well, not the same ones as in the other photo. This is looking towards East Third Street from the westbound platform.

Silent snowy morning

Because it was a holiday (not for me), there was little traffic as I headed in to work Monday morning. Trains were on a holiday schedule, so it was daylight when I walked to the station. Due to warm weather the week before, the snow melted for the longest time on the roads and really didn't accumulate all that much on the sidewalks, either. East Front and Church Streets.

Snow Depth Guide

Some helpful person set this fine chair outside just so I could tell how much snow had actually fallen. About two inches as I went through. East Front Street.

A snowy day in Jersey,
A snowy day in Jersey,
Sometimes I think it's
Snowing all over the world.

East Front Street, Monday morning. My apologies to Georgia.

"Damn snow."

His expression says it all. Plainfield Train Station.

"You know ... I do see you."

But Vincent, you're so photogenic!

How was your week?

Survivor: Redemption Island - 2/23 Episode Blog Party

The show will be starting in about five minutes here on the East Coast. As it airs, I'll update this post with major news while sharing some opinions on what I see both here and in comments. Of course, the comments area is where the real party is! Everyone is welcome to join in, the water's fine! Oh. And bring snacks. Snacks are always good.

Yikes! Ralph found the hidden idol while collecting rocks!

Zapetera (Russell's tribe) won Immunity and Reward (combined).

Rob engineered a vote for Matt because Matt is close with one of the girls and congratulated the other tribe. We'll see.

The plan worked - Kristina used her idol, Matt blindsided.

TAR Review up on TV Squad

My review of last night's The Amazing Race is up on TV Squad. Stop on by!

The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business Season Premiere Blog Party

It's back and it's even in HD this year! Everyone is welcome to join in with comments as the show airs -- that's where the real fun is! I'll be updating this post with any big news as I watch it here on the East Coast. My full review of the show will be posted on TV Squad either late this evening or early tomorrow. I'd love to have you visit there, too!

Lifeguard Laurie has the blog pool set. If you didn't make the cut-off, just jump in the pool and cheer on your favorite team. Here's the breakdown:

* Amanda & Kris - meb, Nana in NW, DKNYNC
* Gary & Mallory- Karen in CA. Becky, Laurie
* Flight Time & Big Easy - Terry in PA, Jackie, Monty934
* Jaime & Cara - Donna in AL, JoyN
* Jet & Cord - ML, Margo
* Kent & Vyxsin - Rbennie,
* LaKisha & Jennifer - PDX Granny, Donna in FL
* Margie & Luke - dla, Merrilee
* Mel & Mike - Jenna's Mom, Sydney
* Ron & Christina - Lisanne, SueGee
* Zev & Justin - Zoetawny, Brent

Teams ready? GO!

The winning team of the first leg will get an Express Pass allowing them to skip a task. Teams need to find an item for Phil in the desert before getting their clue. The first eight teams go on the first flight, the others 90 minutes later. The last team has a U-Turn to start out the race.

Kris and Amanda got the penalty.

Pit Stop -
1. Gary and Mallory - won Express Pass - race still on new clue
2. Amanda and Kris
3. Kisha and Jen
4. Zev and Justin
5. Globetrotters
6. Jaime and Cara
7. Marge and Luke
8. Ron and Christina
9. Mel and Mike
10. Kynt and Vyxsin

The cowboys, Jet and Cord, are clueless on the puzzle. But, since it's a "to be continued," they probably won't be Philiminated.

Off Topic - That Was the Week It Was - February 20, 2011

It's Sunday morning! You know what that means -- it's time for my off television topic reflection on the week gone by in both words and photographs I've taken. It has been a weird weather week here in New Jersey. On Monday, we were up to around 60 degrees. Tuesday we had bitter cold. Then we had record warmth into the sixties and even to 71 on Friday. We had a short yet vivid thunderstorm Friday night. Then Saturday had temperatures back to winter with a high winds warning.

Oy. Oh. And I should probably mention that snow/ice/sleet is expected tonight into Monday and then again the next day, too.

I tasted spring this week and I want it. I want it now. To be honest, the temperatures don't bother me all that much. It's just all of the ice and snow we've had this year. With sunshine and the few days of real warmth, much of our snow is gone. The shady areas still sport snow cover and the huge mounds are down to manageable sizes, but nasty dirty. Christmas trees, broken street benches, the debris of a gazillion litterbugs and folks who don't pick up their dog waste abound. Eww. But it's nice to walk without thinking any step could bring me down if I slip on ice.

On the home front, I guess I have new neighbors. Yes, an odd time for them to move in -- immediately after the apartment rehab and mid-month. But they seem to be there. I hear movement and voices (can't hear what they're saying, just muffled voices) at various hours. So far, they don't seem rowdy or into heavy-duty arguments. That's all I really ask from a neighbor sharing a wall. I don't need to be friends. I just want them to be considerate of others and realize they're not alone in a house.

The Survivor: Redemption Island premiere this week was an excellent start with a Tribal Council we're never going to forget. If you're watching the show, please stop by the weekly blog party. We have commentary as the show airs East Coast time and sometimes even have a contingent of West Coasters picking it up again three hours later.

The new season of The Amazing Race begins tonight. If you want to be in the blog pool, you have until 3 PM ET to email LifeguardLaurie@gmail.com to join. At approximately 8 PM ET, I'll get that blog party post up. I'll also be writing up the review for TV Squad, but I'm not sure when that will end up getting posted as I think the editors at AOL might have a long weekend.

Enough ... onto the photos! Clicking on an image will open it larger in a new window.

New York Post Army o' Honor (Boxes)

I don't know why, but all of a sudden five new NY Post honor boxes appeared at the Bridgewater Train Station. Mind you, this is the station which still sports the January 17 copy of the NJ Star-Ledger for sale even though the snow which blocked the box for a few months is now gone. Unless they plan to put two issues in each of these boxes, I don't see a sell out. I usually read left behind NY Post copies on the train.

The Pigeon Lectures

Two pigeons lecture lesser birds on the front of the Chotola building on North Avenue in Plainfield. Okay, I made that up. The birds are huddled there trying to avoid both the wind and the cold Saturday morning.

The white pigeon reminds me of the episode on The Wire when the kids thought all white pigeons were "homers" and worth big bucks. Nope, he (she?) is a plain old pigeon. I've seen this white one hanging around that block for almost two years now. Well, I think it's the same one. It's hard to tell one pure white pigeon from another.

Winter Weed

Even in this shape, it kind of makes for a neat photo.

Stepping Back

Here's where I got the last shot -- frozen weeds against a chain link fence in front of a mound of snow.

Winter Morning at the Plainfield Train Station

Monday morning, just as dawn is about to break, my train arrives. On day, later in the week on my way home, I had to explain to a fellow passenger the difference between the Devils and Rangers fans on the train and what sport it was. Hockey, Devils fans wear red. Rangers fans wear red, white and blue with the major color being white. They don't like each other and they're all obnoxious on the trains. They should have their own cars while normal human beings are seated separately.

The passenger was an intern at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in Manhattan and was heading to Newark to catch a plane home to Ohio for a long weekend. She had just put in over a hundred hours working Fashion Week in the city and was questioning her own career aspirations. Poor kid. But she'll bounce back. If she wants a career in fashion, she's definitely on a solid path as an intern there!

Sure, wait until the temperature is expected to be 60!

This was early Monday morning on East Front and Watchung Avenue in Plainfield. Oh, they're finally taking down some of the shoulder-high snow mounds? Now that they started to melt and are dwindling on their own? Why bother now when pedestrians have had treacherous sidewalks for two months?

Most of my shortcuts are back! Yes!

No, I don't walk across lawns and such. But I do often cut through the U-Haul lot and it's been blocked by snowbanks on the sidewalk and monster snow mounds blocking the lot. While this is still sizable (it's less now as I took this Monday morning), I can cut through the lot once again. Yay! East Front and Roosevelt, Plainfield.

Monarch Before Dawn

This was also Monday morning before the sunrise. That snow is now all gone, too. East Front Street, Plainfield.

Grr

This is the section of North Avenue sidewalk in front of the Plainfield Train Station I've groused about all winter. NO ONE TAKES OWNERSHIP AND NO ONE SHOVELS IT. Now what's left over is pure ice. If the sun comes out, it's water on ice. Yes, that's extremely dangerous. I took this Tuesday, but as of Saturday morning there was still a fifteen or twenty foot section of ice down by the corner necessitating a walk into the street to pass.

Winter took its toll on the streets

This pothole is at the entrance to Union County College on Church Street. Under that water, the hole goes down about four inches. I noticed they tried filling it with rocks on Friday. Yeah, that'll work!

Look! The wall of snow behind the bench is gone!

Oh yeah ... because those guys were breaking it up and throwing it in the street to damage passing cars. Church Street.

Methinks time for a new box

This is one of those mailbox but not a mailbox doohickeys that the mailmen ... er, mail people, are in and out of throughout the day. It's definitely seen better days. The corner of East Front and Roosevelt, Plainfield.

Stop in the name of love

Before you break my heart. Think it oh-oh-ver ... (The Supremes). I couldn't resist, but you really don't want to hear me sing it. Only Vincent should suffer that much! Valentine's Day on East Front Street. I edited it to leave the crossing guard's stop sign and the balloons in color while the rest went black and white.

Take time to smell the rose

A teen waits for his train in Bound Brook holding a single flower on Valentine's Day. His girl? His Mom? Either one makes it a touching scene. Also edited to leave him in color.

Bird on a wire

His throat is all fluffed out because he was holding an animated discussion aimed at um, I don't know. But he certainly was noisy! He's probably talking about the bird takeover of the world.

Historic Home

In the Crescent Area Historic District on Crescent Avenue in Plainfield, this home sports well-kept original detail. So many of the homes through there are absolutely stunning.

Then there's this one across the street

What the heck is that gook they've put on the sides? Not only that, but the turret is in shambles. Obviously cut into apartments, I can't help but wonder what it looked like when it was a single family home.

The Plainfield Library

I renewed my books twice because I didn't feel up to fighting the snow and ice to get there. But with the nice weather on Thursday, I finally returned them. No, these aren't the steps to the entrance. I'm pretty sure this snow is probably gone or near gone after Friday's warmth. I edited the shot to leave the library flags in color. Park Avenue, Plainfield.

Design and Texture

A boarded up window surrounded by brick. East Fourth Street, Plainfield.

But can you get there from here?

Signs at the intersection of West Eighth Street and Park Avenue in Plainfield. No, don't ask me what exit we are off the NJ Turnpike. I can tell you how to get on the NJ Parkway, though.

Excuse me

Can you get that camera ANY closer to my face?

But, Vincent ... you're such a good subject!

How was your week?

The Amazing Race Blog Pool

Folks ... last chance! If you wish to participate in The Amazing Race blog pool, you need to sign up with Laurie at this email address -- lifeguardlaurie@gmail.com

Hopefully she knows I'm signed up! It's all in fun, no prizes beyond bragging rights if your randomly picked team wins. Come join in on the fun! On Sunday evening, I'll be posting the blog party post at 8 PM ET; everyone is invited whether you come by zipline or bungee!

Survivor: Redemption Island Season Premiere Blog Party

It's here! Zoetawny was kind enough to once again make a blog logo for the show, too. She really does rock and I appreciate all of her efforts -- I can't make those animated logos at all. Thank you, Zoetawny!

Margo is running the blog pool and, as I've mentioned in previous posts, set up a separate site for joining in. The participants are assigned castaways randomly by Margo's Mom. While winning basically means bragging rights, we get to cheer on our castaway until they're, well ... cast away. The pool is closed at this time, but if you didn't get in it, just cheer on your favorite and join in on the fun!

Here's the updated list of pool participants and their castaways:

Andrea Boehlke - Auntie Leigh, Suzanne
Ashley Underwood - Sydney, Monty924
David Murphy - Jeannemarie
Francesca Hogi - Petals, ML
Grant Mattos - Gayle, Joy N
Julie Wolfe - Lars, Karen in CA
Krista Klumpp - Jennasmom, Donna in AL
Kristina Kell - Jackie, Merrilee
Matthew Elrod - Zoetawny, MEB
Mike Chisel - Lanell, Chris
Natalie Tenerelli - PDX Granny, Laurie
Phillip Sheppard - Rbennie, Lisanne
Ralph Kiser - Becky, Brent McKee
Rob Mariano - Gaylos, Donna in FL
Russell Hantz - Margo
Sarita White - SueGee, DKNYNC
Stephanie Valencia - Nana in NW
Steve Wright - delee, Terry in PA

The show will be starting in about ten minutes here on the East Coast. As it airs, I'll update this post with major news while sharing some opinions on what I see both here and in the comments area. Of course, the comments area is where the real party is! Everyone is welcome to join in, the water's fine! Oh. And bring snacks. Snacks are always good!

Survivor fans ready?

Kristina (I believe it's her) found an idol without clues. Watch out, Russell!

Zapatera, Russell's tribe, won the first immunity challenge.

Whoa! Phillip just called out Francesca and Kristina out on their plan to vote out Rob! And, told about the immunity idol ... sheesh, ex-Fed agent. Loose lips sink ships.

Francesca was voted out (to Redemption Island) and Kristina did not use the idol.

Tonight is Survivor Night! - Rob/Russell Video, too!

Tonight marks the season premiere of Survivor: Redemption Island. The pool players for the blog have been randomly selected and will be included in tonight's blog party post.

I didn't realize that Rob and Russell were set to appear on The Early Show this morning and just happened to catch it. If you missed it, here's the video --



I'll make a separate post Friday, but with the new Amazing Race season starting Sunday evening, that pool is open for the swim right now -- to get in on the action, contact lifeguardlaurie@gmail.com

Survivor: Redemption Island -- Cast Quick Takes Part 4

The official CBS website for Survivor: Redemption Island is up and running. The show premieres this Wednesday evening, February 16 at 8 PM ET/PT. After a lengthy and really inexcusable delay, I'm here to post about the last group of men castaways.

The much beloved Margo has offered to run the blog pool once again. Remember, there's no wagering, per se. You'll be assigned a castaway to cheer on and bragging rights if that person is the sole survivor. You can sign up for the pool at this link. Margo rocks, doesn't she?

This post covers the final group of men castaways. To check out the others I've "quick-taked," hit the link to the show at the bottom of my post. Let's get on with it ...

Name (Age): Ralph Kiser (44)
Tribe Designation: Zapatera
Current Residence: Lebanon, Va.
Occupation: Farmer



Ralph -- Well, golly-whillikers, I just don't know. He seems to have a pretty high opinion regarding how likable he is. Whether that will translate to being sole survivor is the question. I will say he's probably going to do well at the physical actual surviving in the environs, if not at surviving the mind games.

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Name (Age): Steve Wright (51)
Tribe: Zapatera
Current Residence: Huntington Beach, Calif.
Occupation: Former NFL Player



Steve -- I guess he's not to be mistaken with comedian Steven Wright. Rats. Steven Wright's commentary would be cool on the show! Another NFL dude, eh? In a way, he does remind me a bit of Tom Westman. He could do well and recognizes that the game is highly social, especially in the end.

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Rob Mariano (35)
Current Residence: Pensacola, Fla.
Previous Seasons: "Survivor: Marquesas," "Survivor: All-Stars" and "Survivor: Heroes Vs. Villains"



Boston Rob -- What can I say about him? I didn't like him so much on his first season. I thought he became overly-hyped by CBS and had a finger in every reality pie for some time. But then something happened. The dude grew on me. I'd like to see him do well and I'm definitely hoping for some good Rob/Russell clashes. But I do think he'll be seen as a threat and will probably go home without the million once again.

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Russell Hantz (38)
Current Residence: Dayton, Texas
Previous Seasons: "Survivor: Samoa" and "Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains"



Russell -- I like him and I don't all at the same time. I really believe in his first season, he was absolutely what was needed to bring entertainment into the show. It's magical watching him find hidden idols. Yet the dude, for all he is good at in the show (including challenges), can't play the social game for nuthin'. Now that he's well-known, he's not going to last long as they should be onto his snake oil salesman ways. Hopefully he'll be entertaining while he's there. It's hard to believe he's only three years older than Rob.

Stop back Wednesday evening at 8 PM ET for the blog party! Bring snacks!