Off Topic - That Was the Week It Was - April 10, 2011

It's Sunday morning, a bit later than I usually do this, but ... it's time for my weekly off television topic look back on the week gone by in both words and photos I've taken. Although it felt good, I conked out early last night and slept in this morning. Thus, this is going up later than usual. I tell you -- eleven hours of sleep is indeed refreshing! I rarely do that.

It was a hectic week for me with tons o' stuff still going on in my regular job. I believe I've mentioned in the past that I do not like chaos and running around to put out fires. I'm more of a "do something right the first time, then move onto the next thing" kind of person. I swear I work with "let's do stuff fast and then have to redo them because we didn't do a good job" kind of people. Ack. My only saving grace is that I know, although it has its own stress, I'll be having time off this summer with my upcoming right knee replacement.

On my day off from my day job, I got fired from my main paying writing job. No, I did nothing wrong. I was amongst almost all of the freelancers fired from writing on contract at AOL due to Arianna Huffington's "vision." Getting fired via a non-personalized form email is very irking. I posted more about it on Wednesday here. It's nothing earth-shattering, although I'll miss being a part of it. But it's not like in my heyday when I was earning enough to pay my rent just from that site.

The folks who permalanced there and were dependent on the income are the ones really hurt in the wallet. For me, freelance has always been just that -- I have my day job. My eggs aren't in any particular writing basket. But, as I would like to continue freelancing, now I have to go through all of the connections hassles to see if I can find a paying home for my Big Brother live feeds reports for the summer. Not to worry, they'll always have a home right here on this blog too even if I do pick up a gig. I do know that I won't be posting them anywhere else for "free." There is an income stream from this blog although it's hardly a get rich quick scheme.

I wish the folks remaining at AOL the best of luck. But I'd advise them to have their resumes ready. I was looking at the HuffPo and, although other AOL weblogs blogs are incorporated into it, TV Squad is not (at least at this point). I believe it's going to definitely be a case of job insecurity.

I'll miss my private jet and comfy corner office with the windows I enjoyed at TV Squad. Um ... okay, I lie. There is no comfy corner office and AOL didn't even give me a used bike to get around on! One thing I won't miss is that, on a night like tonight when it's expected that The Amazing Race will be delayed by sports, I won't have to stay up late to write good copy on it and then get up at 5 AM on Monday for my most hectic day of work on my day job! Plus, I'll be able to record other shows I like while watching TAR and I'm not obligated to record TAR to double-check my facts as I write. Nor do I have to sit there and take notes during the show! It's fun to say you get paid to watch television. But in actuality it makes the watching far less enjoyable.

That's not to say I won't take more paying gigs reviewing shows, mind you.

Work (day job) and no work (AOL) issues dominated my week. However, we had a taste of spring with temperatures warming up a bit this week. Although we were off to a cold start and had more than our share of (cold) April showers, yesterday and today are actually spring-like. Tomorrow will be summer-like. Oh come on ... I want SPRING not SUMMER. Sheesh!

Onto this week's photos -- clicking on an image will open it larger in a new window, then hit your back button on your browser to get back to the blog --

I'd like to propose a toast.

This was on the sidewalk in Bridgewater. It brought to mind the midnight showings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show back in the late 70s. I was tempted to get a squirt gun, some rice and a newspaper to go with it.

In other odd sidewalk food sightings, there's a trail of wrapped hard candies leading from 520 East Front Street to downtown.

The daffodils are finally looking healthy.

Plainfield Train Station just after sunset.

This was last night as I got off the train. Gorgeous!

Red sky at night.

Last night looking towards the Plainfield Train Station from East Fourth Street.

Coming to life.

In a few months I'll be photographing the bees who frequent the blossoms on these bushes. No, don't ask me what they are. I'm rather flora-ignorant except for the basics.

Man vs. Nature

Nature will win this one. Abandoned railroad tracks outside of Bound Brook, NJ. Our train had to stop and sit yesterday morning as an eastbound train went by. We were down to one track due to track work. But, not on this track!

Man vs. Nature Part Deux

The forsythia is so much more magnificent than the chain link fence. Bridgewater, NJ.

Walk This Way

I edited this one to leave only the pigeon in color. And, I still have "Walk This Way" stuck in my mind from last week's CMA show with Steven Tyler and Carrie Underwood performing it. So, there you go. Taken at the Plainfield Train Station.

Only the yellow.

The forsythia on East Second Street in Plainfield seems to be the only color outside of brake lights.

The crocuses bloomed

Finally the YWCA crocuses on East Front Street bloomed earlier this past week. But they were all awkward and ungainly. Now they're already past.

Some looked "normal."

Dandelion

"Don't tell no lies. Dandelion will make you wise." - The Rolling Stones

Watch out worms!

Robin is heading your way! Until I got into photography I didn't realize robins had that white/black marking around their eyes. Odd.

Bunny in da 'hood

East Front Street, next to next door to my apartment building. Plainfield, NJ.

Boys in da 'hood

I've known these two since they were babies. They tell me they're big boys now. They're definitely more streetwise than I was at their ages -- six and seven. I don't know how I attract kids. I seem to be some sort of child magnet. When these two were younger I had to keep telling them they couldn't follow me home.

SAM!

For those who blog party on Wednesday nights, would this count as SAM? I know it's SPECIAL Agent Man instead of SECRET Agent Man, but ...! Drink up!

This was Tuesday late afternoon near the Plainfield Police Station. A bunch of strange cops were about the area going in and out of where the narcotics team offices are located. It seemed to be visiting police, mostly not in uniforms but with badges and guns. Perhaps they were touring the narcotics team's lovely digs?

Spring!

Y'know ... I DO see you!

This chipmunk thinks he's hiding behind the fence. It was hard to get my camera to focus on him -- it kept wanting to make the fence clear and the chipmunk fuzzy! Bridgewater, NJ.

Breakfast of Champions

I shouldn't say anything. My legs NEVER looked that good! North Street and Gavett Place in Plainfield.

Now all I need is ...

... opposable thumbs. Yep, I can walk on two feet. Give me those thumbs and I'll take over the world. Plainfield Train Station.

Forsythia against grey skies.

Plainfield Train Station.

Coming along.

The buds are really getting big on the Church Street trees. Soon it will be a spring wonderland of blossoms.

Vincent, you silly cat.

"I'm a cat. I can't be silly. You're the human running around taking pictures of me. Who's the silly one?"

My condolences to DonnaInAL on the loss of her beloved cat Fluffy. I know how much the loss hurts.

How was your week, folks?

Big Bang Theory Review Posted, American Idol ... say what?

My review of The Big Bang Theory is up on CliqueClack TV. Tonight's show was a fun little romp with the ensemble cast not split up by gender. If you watch the show, give the review a gander! (No, not a water fowl! Sheesh.)

Now, I'm behind on my American Idol as I watch Criminal Minds and Survivor in its place on Wednesday nights. I record AI, but haven't had a chance to watch it yet. I have caught a few of the performances from last night online, but haven't seen the whole thing. So this might be based on rumor and innuendo ...

• It sounds like Jacob Lusk deserved to be in the bottom three just based on the smug smart-alecky comment he made about the folks voting.
• What? Pia is out? How did that happen? I thought she was one of the more talented girls!

What the heck is going on? I probably won't get a chance to watch all of the performances until Saturday.

Survivor: Redemption Island - 4/06 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.

Tonight should be a big night -- the merge is on and, if promos can be believed, Redemption Island starts all over again!

I so hope Matt hangs in there over Sarita!

Everyone from both camps are going to go to the duel on RI. They're thinking merge. Uh-oh -- Matt has a bad cut on his foot. The winner of the duel will go back in the game. Double uh-oh -- it's a balance duel using feet.

Woohoo! Matt's back in the game, cut and all! And, the merge is ON. A new beach and with the next TC, RI starts all over again. Heh ... the "Spanish" name for the tribe Rob suggested means nothing -- it's the ringleader of Amber's stuffed animals.

An interesting and different challenge. Each is balancing on a log, with a dish balancing a ball. Matt might not do well. He's still limping. Phillip is shaky. "I've got rhythm, baby." (What does that have to do with balance?) It's down to Mike and Natalie.

Natalie wins first individual immunity!

Matt told Rob he wasn't going to flip and then told Rob about the idol Mike offered to use on him. Now Rob doesn't trust him and wants him out.

Ralph used the idol on Mike.

Grant, Grant, Grant, Grant, Grant, Steve, Matt, Matt, Matt, Matt, Matt, Matt.

Ack, Matt is out again!

The Grim Reaper visits AOL Freelance Bloggers

Yes, that would include me. It's been a fun four-year run on TV Squad, but it's all over now. Today all MOST* of the freelancers were dismissed. I was asked to submit a resume for a full-time writing job with the Arianna Huffington led new AOL incarnation.

But I just can't do that. I have a full-time job already -- one which is stable with a retirement pension I can actually collect anytime I leave now, good benefits and, most of all ... did I mention it's stable? I know from working with AOL for years that there is no job security with them, none at all. The majority of my friends at AOL outside of the freelancers have all been laid off.

So, you see why I can't just jump on the bandwagon for a full-time position which might even pay well, but may not last. Nor can I juggle both jobs, especially when Arianna has this vision of all of the writers and editors reporting 9-5 daily in one of three huge newsrooms. I'm close enough to the NYC headquarters for commuting, but I don't want to! Plus, how can TV reviewers be working those hours and amongst others? Perhaps they'll can all of the show reviews and just go with silly videos; I don't know.

What I do know is that I'll land on my feet in the long run. I'm not going to venture into the fickle.

What does this mean for my blog readers here? It's probably going to get even better! I'm shopping around for a paying home for my Big Brother live feeds reports. Whether that happens or not, I'll still be posting them right here on this very blog starting in July! Plus, I'm planning on posting more television content here once again and getting a Facebook Fan Page set up for the blog. Having the AOL gig made me lazy here. That is going to stop!

I'd like to give my thanks to both Sandy Deane and Kelly Woo (TV Editors at AOL), both of whom were my champions getting me aboard at TV Squad. As far as I know, one is still employed by AOL; the other moved on just prior to their recent layoffs. They're two great women who have always been supportive of my work and I can only hope they both do well in the their current and future endeavors.

I'd also like to give a shout-out to my fellow TV Squad freelancers. I know some make the bulk of their income from the site and it's going to be rough. I'm just grateful I was older and more settled when I came aboard in 2007. I knew not to quit a sure thing for something which might not last. While I'll miss the income, it's my day job which keeps the roof over my head (as well as catering to a cat named Vincent). Hang in there, guys!

If, for some odd reason, an editor at a paying site (I won't write for the Huffington Post for free) is reading this, my contact information is in my sidebar. Not only have I been a writer at TV Squad for four years, but I've written for Blogcritics, too. I was also the TV Editor at Blogcritics prior to going to TV Squad. I come with a following of fantastic folks and I'm willing to write about any television show I enjoy. If I don't like a show, it's only good for one scathing post. I'm great with deadlines and dependable. I speel well and have gots good grammar, too! (Kidding!)

As for you folks, my regular readers ... get ready. This plane is about to take off once again. Stay tuned!

Here are some links regarding this for your reading pleasure and (dis)pleasure:

• My TV Squad profile page -- don't know how long that will last. But since some of the forum pages I programmed in Rainman for AOL more than a decade ago can still be accessed, it could be forever.
• My Blogcritics interview with (then) Big Brother Executive Producer Arnold Shapiro.
• My Blogcritics profile page
• AOL cuts freelancers loose at mediabistro.com
• Keith McDuffee's commentary on the situation at CliqueClack -- which, by the way, I'm still writing my The Big Bang Theory show reviews there.
• Huffington axes scores of AOL writers from newser.com
• Sigh ... goodbye, Patricia from All Things Digital
• A Google news search for the phrase "aol freelance."

Oh, well. Thanks AGAIN for all the fish, AOL. This should be the last time, I guess. We have to stop doing this.

Don't forget to stop back for the Survivor: Redemption Island blog party tonight!

* I've been informed that a few remain.

Off Topic - That Was the Week It Was - April 3, 2011

It's a sunny Sunday morning in April. The birds are singing outside and the local television news is on in the background. The really big news is that it's not snowing and the temperatures are actually supposed to be spring-like here today -- in the 50s! It's time for my weekly off television topic reflection on the week gone by in both words and photographs I've taken.

This past week was yet another adventure in winter wonderland around here. Oh, not so much snow perhaps. But the cold temperatures hung in there. Between cold rains, winds and brief snows, I'm getting really tired of this. I've lived in New Jersey over fifteen years now and this is the coldest spring I've seen here. Usually by this time trees and flowers are in full bloom and it's a joy to walk to the train station. Not so much so right now.

I want to retire my winter coat. I want to see flowers and fresh new green leaves on the trees. I want inspiration for my photos instead of just taking shots because they're there. That's not too much to ask, is it?

Huh. Charlie Sheen's "concert tour" is NOT A WINNER. Duh. I could have predicated that one. And, in New Jersey news, a coyote jumped through the basement window of someone's home in Bergen county. Animal control came, captured her and relocated the pregnant coyote in deep woods -- but not before the homeowners took some photos.

Me? I'm still watching for bears. Now, that would be a good photo opportunity! The last time I saw one around here (in my Dumpster in North Plainfield) was before I started carrying a camera with me all the time.

Onto this week's shots. Once again, I'm really wanting for inspiration. Clicking on an image will open it larger in a new window.

Look around, there's a patch of snow on the ground.

The snow from the week before lasted in patches confined to shady places well into this week. On Friday a predicted snowstorm ended up being mostly rain. However, while I was trapped in my windowless office for a few hours, the snow started coming down. Sticking to vehicles and grassy areas, it quickly added up to two inches with only slush on the roads. Then it turned back over to rain and washed away before I left for home. Bridgewater, NJ.

Obviously I'm bored

This is one of the lamps at the Bridgewater Train Station. I used GIMP's "retinex filter" to do odd things to it.

Bunny alert! Bunny alert!

A rabbit grazes in the field of geese (and robins and starlings). Bridgewater, NJ.

Feed me! FEED ME!

Not quite the Little Shop of Horrors, this crocus should be in full bloom by now. Instead, it's almost scared to fully open up. Plainfield YWCA, East Front Street.

Hanging in there

The crocuses aren't drooping like many of the other flowers wounded by the weather. They're just in some sort of waiting pattern.

I am Squirrel. This is my pedestal.

Well, it's not really a pedestal. He was posing on the steps of a nearby church on East Front Street, Plainfield.

Drooping Forsythia

After the cold weather, snow and ice, the forsythia doesn't seem as exuberant this season. Plainfield Train Station.

Drooping Daffodils

In the cemetery at Church and East Third Street behind the Friends Meeting House in Plainfield.

Some even more so ...

Berckman Street, Plainfield.

Not drooping.

Hardy souls that they are, the squirrels are fat and active. I think they must be thrilled not to have to be digging through snow cover for their goodies. Last year was a big acorn year, too. So they seem to be happy. East Front Street, Plainfield.

In which I continue my linguistic knowledge.

Hmm ... it's easier to say "keep out" than "prohibido la entrada." My Spanish continues to flourish by reading signs and eavesdropping on folks. Cleveland Street, Plainfield.

Back to shooting curly twisty dead vines

Bridgewater, NJ.

Just before the dawn

Plainfield Train Station way early on Monday morning.


A goose watches his field of geese in dismay as it's covered with bunnies and robins. Bridgewater, NJ.

Aha, I found out the mystery!

I took a shot sometime ago of a weird message on my NJ Transit train accompanied by some sort of alarm chimes. It happened again this week. Thanks to a (rather loose-lipped) conductor's announcement -- "Some rocket scientist found out you can't exit through a closed door." Of course, the rocket scientist was off of the train by the time.

Apparently this is what that little red emergency button by the doors does. What would possess someone to push that button while others are walking out of the open door not eight feet away, I don't know. Oh well. At least he didn't pull the emergency brake.

A bit of color

The cemetery behind the Friends Meeting House in Plainfield is usually a vibrant place in the springtime. The daffodils and forsythia are both suffering this year due to our extended winter.

Slow but sure

These trees are usually in glorious full bloom by now. Church Street, Plainfield.

Utilitarian

Interesting homemade trailer on this bike on East Front Street. Alas, the owner was more than annoying as I was stuck behind him in Everybody's Food Market. I was on my way to work. He was there buying a gazillion lottery tickets and praying to hit the big one as he needs the money so badly. I don't know. I think a job and working for a living is probably more of a sure bet.

Vincent

His scar on his nose really shows in this close-up. I often find myself wondering about his life previous to the one he has here.

On a related note, my thoughts and prayers go to blog reader and commenter JeanneMarie as she continues to fight the effects of her infected cat bite. It almost cost her life and she was hospitalized for ten days. Something that all cat owners tend to shrug off as innocuous -- just a little bite from a loving pet -- became a life-threatening infection. Hang in there and get healthy again, JeanneMarie!

My thoughts and prayers are also with my cousin John this week as he undergoes chemo for numerous brain tumors. No one can rock that shaved head with a long ponytail look quite like him, though. Still crazy after all these years.

Sorry for the downers, but that's what's been on my mind. How was your week?