The Amazing Race: Blog Party - February 24, 2013

Tonight, tonight ... the Oscars are tonight! But so is The Amazing Race! I anticipate our party might be a bit quiet due to the Oscars, but we're here anyway. Not only that, but the show will be starting on time tonight. So there, Hollywood!

As the show airs, I'll update this entry with the major happenings. But (unless everyone is watching the awards), the real fun is in the comments area. Come join us!

The teams all have to take a water taxi which doesn't leave until morning ... so the four hour penalty teams will start off a bit more even than expected, I believe. Dave and Conner expect the second Express Pass to be given to them, but it might not come about that easily.

Detour -- Pick a Pearl, diving for pearls or Take a Trunk, diving for trunks and set up an underwater dining experience.

Gah, Dave and Conner were in first, but had to go back for their snorkeling gear. The twins can't swim well and are talking about taking the penalty. @@ The lagging two teams haven't arrived yet.

The last two teams will only be an hour and a half behind with the water taxi schedule. The twins decided to try. Too late, they've already disappointed me! Dave and Conner made excellent time and are in second at this time, only team ahead is the YouTube couple.

The Roadblock has them kicking a coconut across the beach on stilts. Who's a well-balanced individual?

1. Bates and Anthony - won a trip to London
2. Dave and Conner - Dave may have ruptured his Achilles tendon
3. Jessica and John
4. Joey and Meghan
5. Chuck and Wynona

The twins are still struggling with the Detour. Now the two last teams are heading to the Roadblock. Pamela and Winnie are lost on their jet ski heading to the Roadblock.

6. Mona and Beth
7. Caroline and Jennifer

The twins switched Detour tasks but they're woefully in last so far.

8. Max and Katie

Pamela and Winnie are struggling with the Roadblock while the twins are heading their way. They're through it!

9. Pamela and Winnie
10. Idries and Jamil -- Philiminated

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - February 24, 2013

Once again it's Sunday. Odd how that seems to happen once a week, huh? Well, 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 along the way.

I realize the Oscars are on tonight, but there will also be a new episode of The Amazing Race. Despite the red carpet, the blog party for the show will go on as scheduled. You're all free to wear gowns and tuxedos if you wish. Check back at 8pm ET for that post!

I have a lack of photos this week, so you're going to get a lot of Vincent. I was on a staycation and the weather was mostly dreary and warmish or really cold. Thus, I napped a lot. I stayed home for the most part. Yeah, I got some of the chores I planned to do done.

But I really napped a lot.

And it felt great!

Onto the photos I took ...

Damp and dreary

It seems like most of the week was damp and dreary. But I didn't mind. I feel rested for the first time in months! This is looking down Berckman Street towards East Third Street in Plainfield.

Vincent in B&W and green

In this shot, I left only Vincent's eyes in color. In fairly close up shots like this, his scar on his nose shows. I always wondered how he managed to get such a scar in his previous life. It was already a well-healed scar when the shelter got him, so it either didn't happen while he was a stray or he was a stray for a really long time.

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Survivor: Caramoan Fans vs. Favorites - February 20 Blog Party

Okay, one favorite down ... who will be next? How many times will Phillip refer to his Secret Agent Man days? Will Baby Boy Hantz actually be able to go bad boy without crying? Will we have enough booze on hand? Who's got snacks?

As the show airs here on the East Coast, I'll update this entry with the major happenings. But, as always, the real party is in the comments area. Come join in on the fun!

Immunity Challenge time! Done in threes, three to a raft, three pull them out to platform, three play huge ring toss. Reward is a fishing kit.

The Favorites win immunity and reward!

Reynold found a hidden immunity idol. There are factions for both Shemar going home, as well as Allie. One of the ones who want Allie out thinks he has it. She outs him for it at tribal council.

Reynold does NOT play the idol.

The tally: Shemar, Shemar, Shemar, Shemar, Allie, Allie, Allie, Allie, Allie, Allie.

GAH! She was my pool pick! She's gone. 

The Amazing Race: Season Premiere Blog Party and Pool Picks!

Come one, come all! It's time for the new season of The Amazing Race! We can only hope it's on time on the East Coast more often than not this season. (Sigh.) Whoa! A few minutes after 7:00 (ET), the golf on CBS actually switched over to the Golf Channel. I fainted. So, we may be a few minutes late tonight, but they're apparently learning.

The Esteemed Margo (rockin' Margo) has the pool picks chosen for the season. You can still jump in the pool by choosing a team and cheering them on your own if you missed the cut off! Now, TV Guide et al are saying that three teams quit in the first Roadblock. I'm thinking that they just quit the Roadblock, not the entire race, and suffer penalties. If we do indeed lose three teams in the season premiere, Margo will juggle around the picks. If only one team goes home in the premiere, then the pool picks remain as they stand.

Here they are:
Idries & Jamil - Donna in AL, Monty924
Mona & Beth - Laurie, Margo
Chuck & Wynona - JOEY, SueGee
Max & Katie - MEB, PDXGranny
Anthony & Bates - Merrilee, Rbennie
David & Connor - Auntie Leigh, Delee, Lynn1
Pamela & Winnie - Jackie, Zoetawny
Matthew & Daniel - Ed in OH, Karen in CA, Sharon S
John & Jessica - Becky, Brian, Jennasmom
Caroline & Jen - Brent MeKee, Nana in NW
Joey & Meghan - Donna in FL, Glenn

As the show airs here in the East, I'll update this entry with the major happenings. But, as always, the real party is in the comments area. Come join us!

Teams ready? GO!

We're starting from Los Angeles. This season the first leg winner wins not just one Express Pass, but two. They have to give the second one to another team of their choosing. They're heading to Bora Bora.

Who's ready to take a giant leap? Tandem skydive Roadblock from a helicopter.
A second Roadblock -- who likes to play in the sand? Searching through sandcastles for a clue. They have to rebuild sandcastles if they don't find the clue. It's tougher than the skydiving.

Phil said the last team WILL be eliminated. So, someone will go tonight. No one has quit at anything yet.

1st at Pit Stop == Jessica and John. They have to give the second Express Pass before the fourth leg.
2. Bates and Anthony
3. Dave and Connor
4. Pam and Winnie
5. Mona and Beth
6. Joey and Meghan
7. Chuck and Wynona
8. Idries and Jamil

The final three teams are discussing quitting the Roadblock and taking the four hour penalty. It's down to a canoe build/race to the Pit Stop for them. Uh-oh, the firefighters are behind.

9. Mona and Beth
10. Max and Katie

Both will start out four hours later at the next leg.

The firefighters, Matthew and Daniel, were Philiminated.

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - February 17, 2013

It's Sunday morning. You know what 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 along the way.

Before I get really into things, I want to touch on television for a moment. Tonight is the season premiere of The Amazing Race. I made a post for folks to sign up for the blog pool right here. Poolkeeper Margo hasn't announced a cut-off, but you best get your name in there this morning if you want to take part in the pool!

Let's see ... onto the week gone by. Well, it was an odd week in the world, for sure -- a Pope resigning for the first time in six hundred years, a disgruntled ex-LAPD officer manhunt in California, a meteor damaging buildings and injuring 1200 people in Russia. My thoughts? Well, I would guess the Pope made the right decision in view of his health and age. Although, it would have been more interesting if he had chosen to retire because he wanted to get married and have a family! As for Dorner, the ex-cop, I just don't know. His manifesto was definitely wrong-minded. But, I can't help but wonder if he did have something in his original impetus to his trail of destruction. Not the way to go about things, though. The meteor? Eek.

My own personal life has been quiet for the most part. The old work, home, sleep, eat, work, on and on all over again. Yet I knew I was working for a goal -- yes, it's a staycation this week! Unlike last year, I will NOT go to the Lunar New Year Parade in Chinatown. I almost died in the crush of the crowds last year there. Well, didn't really almost die, but I did fear ribs would be broken in the crush! I have no real plans. I do have some housework stuff I plan on doing -- sorting through closets and such. I also plan to take a lot of naps! It's quite likely, weather permitting, that I'll take some walks around with the camera.

But, for the most part, I just plan to relax for the week. Yay!

Onto the photos ... 

Deploy landing gear

As the sun rises, the seagulls claim their places atop the parking lot lights in Bridgewater.

Cooper's Hawk on Watchung Avenue

I believe this is the same hawk that buzzed me last week. It followed pretty much the same flight path. However, I was a few feet away this time. It swooped across the street to the bushes at the front of the police station. Then, without stopping, it flew to a tree branch at the far side of the lawn. Although he's not huge, his wingspan is certainly impressive.

Hopefully not too near me

And, while I'm right on Watchung Avenue by the police station, congratulations to the newly promoted Sergeant Fusco! Others were promoted, as well. But I don't believe I know any of them. I seem to only know narcotics and gang unit detectives in town. Mind you ... that doesn't mean I'm into drugs or gangs! My drugs of choice are ibuprofen and caffeine. My gang, I guess, is Vincent the cat. Probably not the stuff of good busts. I know them because their annex is where I often wait for a bus when I don't feel like walking home after work. The bus is free on my monthly train pass.

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