Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Survivor: Caramoan - Fans vs. Favorites - March 20 Episode Blog Party


Well, I'm not sure tonight's episode can beat last week's in the outrageous aspect. But, with the promise of the tribes switching up (not necessarily merging, I don't think), it should be interesting.

As the show airs here on the East Coast, I'll update this entry with the major happenings. So, be sure to refresh the page for the latest! As always, the party is down in the comments. Be there or be a Hantz. EW! I can't believe I said that. My apologies to mankind.

Drop your buffs ... we are switching tribes.

They have to smash an egg, inside the color will dictate tribe.

Orange - Gota - Brenda, Eddie, Malcolm, Erik, Reynold, Sherri, Andrea 

Purple - Bikal - Dawn, Phillip, Matt, Cochran, Julia, Michael, Corinne

Reynold is already playing up to Erik that Sherri needs to go while Sherri is telling the girls that Reynold needs to go.

Phillip is driving Corinne bonkers.

Immunity Challenge time! Rolling six large crates, build staircase which reads "Fans vs. Favorites" with them.

Gota wins Immunity while Bikal was pathetic.

Phillip enlists Matt and Mike in StealthRUs.

At Tribal, both Mike and Matt vote for Julia. The tally -- Julia, Julia, Dawn, Matt, Matt, Matt, Matt.

The Bearded One is gone! I really thought they'd vote for Julia.

Sunday, March 17, 2013

The Amazing Race: March 17, 2013 Episode Blog Party


Yipes! The promos say that one team will quit tonight, another will be eliminated! I fear it may be David and Connor quitting. I sincerely hope not as they are very enjoyable to watch and they're pretty darn incredible, too. But, with David's Achilles tendon injury and being on crutches, I don't see how they can last much longer.

The show is going to be on time again here -- I believe that just might be a world record. As it airs, I'll update this entry with the major happenings. So, if you're trying to keep track, refresh this page to see the latest. But, as always, the real party is in the comments. Come join us!

Teams are on their way to Hanoi, Vietnam. Sigh. Dave said they're going to fly to Hanoi and be eliminated since doctors recommended surgery on his leg within seven days.

Caution -- U-Turn ahead.

They hit a bunching up point in Hanoi and still don't know who was eliminated in the prior leg.

Yes, Dave and Connor went to the mat early ... to disqualify themselves. What a great father and son team! Now, they're someone I'd like to see be given another chance in the future.

The rest of the teams plan on targeting the Roller Derby Moms and YouTube couple (Joey and Meghan) with the U-Turn.

The Roadblock sounds way complicated. Listening to a song touting Vietnam socialism, finding a poster with phrases used in the song, etc. After completing the Roadblock, the teams have to take part in a Vietnamese bamboo stick dance which looks like another level of Double Dutch without ropes to me!

Detour: Make Your Move -- a giant chess game using people. Or Make Your Meal, pick up live chickens, purchase ingredients, prepare two dishes of a cultural Vietnamese dish.

It's a Double U-Turn and they remain anonymous doing it. Pam and Winnie, first there, U-Turned Meghan and Joey.

1. Pam and Winnie - also won a trip to Whistler Ski Resort. They're my blog pool team. Yay!

Joey and Meghan U-Turned Chuck and Winona, a team which has all but U-Turned themselves anyway.

2. Max and Katie
3. Mona and Beth
4. Bates and Anthony
5. Caroline and Jennifer

Chuck and Winona are pitiful. 

6. Joey and Meghan
7. Chuck and Winona ... NOT Philiminated because Dave and Connor left the race. Apparently they don't have a Speed Bump ahead either like in a non-Philimination leg.

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

Happy St. Patrick's Day to y'all! Erin go Bragh and all that stuff. While I'm saying "Forever Ireland" and I do have red hair, I'm not Irish. Neither is my old high school friend who played the bagpipes in the NYSDOC marching band in yesterday's big parade in Manhattan. She's Italian and about 5'1" tall. She grew up to be a NYS corrections officer and play bagpipes. Who woulda thunk it? 

Since it is Sunday, it's time for my off television topic reflection on the week gone by in both words and photographs I've taken along the way. Later tonight, we'll have the blog party for The Amazing Race. I fear it will be the father/son team quitting due to Dave's injury. Sigh. Stop back and enjoy the show with us starting at 8pm ET!

I scored a good buy on corned beef yesterday at Target. I had checked their prices the week before and the briskets were just too costly. Yesterday I went in there on my way to work and one brisket remained in their sale bin -- less than $6. Yay! So, today (although I'm not Irish), I will have traditional corned beef and cabbage, then have some leftovers for sandwiches during the week. I like corned beef, but the only time it's reasonable is on sale during St. Patrick's Day. I should check at Target again tomorrow. Perhaps the sale goes to midweek. I could stock up.

I'm still suffering from the daylight savings time change. Wah. I'm walking to the train station in the dark once again. The sun isn't quite up as I get into work.

My new upstairs neighbor is still a mystery. It's definitely only one person up there who takes off his shoes for walking around on the hardwood floors. He's taken showers without flooding my bathroom, so it can be done! Every now and then when I don't have my television or music on, I can hear muted sounds of music or television from up there. Nothing unreasonable, so he's still the best upstairs neighbor I've had in a dozen years of living in this building. We're talking two weeks now!

In other apartment building news, I've mentioned before that the front of the building is like a revolving tenant door. My hallway/wing/floor is very quiet with long term tenants. Who knows who lives in the front wing? I had my police scanner on shortly before hitting the sack last night. What? A three car call to MY building? Yikes! Someone in the front wing, first floor, was apparently having a party with people going wild in the halls, etc. I couldn't hear a peep from my apartment. Apparently it wasn't too wild as the first cop who arrived called in that the tenant is turning the music off and people are going home. I really didn't see any signs of hall abuse when I went out early to get my newspaper this morning.

Also on the scanner last night ... I heard a definite firework sound -- the whistle and bang -- coming from East Second Street in back of me. Nothing all that unusual. Well, a cop responding to an alarm call up the street reported it to headquarters as shots fired! A second one whistled and banged. The whole police department went rushing to the apartment complex further down the street from me. The Shot Spotter technology didn't report it although some civilian also called it in as gunfire. It was fireworks, people, fireworks. Apparently the Mexican Polka Band in the summer people who shoot off fireworks (and sometimes guns) for every holiday must have been celebrating St. Patrick's Day. 

It snowed all day yesterday, but didn't stick. It's supposed to snow tomorrow night into Tuesday. I want spring. Although, looking back on some old photos, I noticed that in 2004 we had deep snow cover and at least two decent sticking snow storms around this time. Eep. It can stop. I want spring.

Onto this week's photos ... 



Sunrise3 photo IMG_5461a_zpsb4a74c65.jpg
Just before the sun rises

Bridgewater, NJ

K Radiator photo IMG_5456a_zps98a74e8c.jpg
Predawn K Radiator

One morning my now dark walk to the Plainfield Train Station had a stunning velvety blue sky. I took this looking at K Radiator down Church Street.

Plainfield Train Station photo IMG_5474a_zps3e967621.jpg
Plainfield Train Station

**CLICK THE 'READ MORE' LINK TO SEE THE REST OF THE PHOTOS**

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Survivor: Caramoan - Fans vs. Favorites - March 13 Blog Party


Ready for some action tonight? The promos have Brandon losing it, running about destroying things and being a general idiot. Why does that not surprise me? What is surprising to me is that they haven't aired him crying yet this season!

As the show airs here on the East Coast, I'll update this entry with the major happenings. So, if you're looking in from elsewhere, refresh the page now and then to get the latest! The real party is in the comments area, though. Come join us!

Oh geez ... Brandon is missing his family. He actually volunteers to be the next one out if they go to Tribal Council. He admitted his "pee on the rice" plan to the others. @@

Then he decides he's going to give it his all and play his best game ever. 

Sigh.

It's Reward Challenge time. Two members from each tribe hold a rope from which hangs a rope basket. The others throw coconuts in it. Brandon was out first. Phillip - once again the hero - wins it for the favorites. Steak and all sorts of goodies go their way!

Heh. Reynold found his second idol! Hopefully he'll keep it a secret this time. He tells his boy Eddie.

Meanwhile, Unstable Brandon goes for Phillip. What a whack job! It's all so odd that it makes Phillip look normal.

"I'm a Hantz. I feed me!" Gah. They get tree mail which indicates the Immunity Challenge has to do with boxing. Phillip thinks they should throw it to get rid of Brandon.

Brandon lost it. He sabotaged the food and yells for Phillip to vote him out. Phillip walks away.

Immunity is up for grabs! Brandon decides to talk to the other tribe -- tells them he's their second chance and not to let Phillip win. The favorites decide to forfeit the challenge. Brandon throws Phillip under the bus and screams at him. He goes on about not crying this season.

No. He's whacked out instead.

The Fans get the idol due to forfeit. Tribal starts right at the site of the challenge. Everyone votes for Brandon. WHACKO IS GONE!

No, Brandon. You weren't the author of your elimination. You were an idiot once again -- this time a dangerous idiot instead of merely unstable.

Sunday, March 10, 2013

The Amazing Race: March 10, 2013 Blog Party



The show is starting on time here once again tonight! Miracles will never cease, eh? As it airs, I'll update this entry with the major happenings. However, as always, the real party is in the comments.

Will the father/son team of Dave and Connor make it through this "longest leg ever" with Dave's injured Achilles tendon? I'd love for them to do so, but I can't imagine they'll be able to hang in really long.

The teams are off to Bali, Indonesia. No one was eliminated at the very brief "Pit Stop." Chuck and Winona were last, but no mention of a speed bump.

Detour - Sandy Bottom or Fruity Top. River sand to the brick maker or fashioning a "hat" of fruit.

Roadblock - Who's ready to get totally tubular? Selecting the right surfboard and heading to the Pit Stop.

1. Connor and Dave! Won $5,000 each
2. Pam and Winnie
3. Max and Kate

Caroline and Jennifer got the wrong board and had to head back. Then they got the wrong board again.

4. Caroline and Jennifer (finally)
5. Joey and Meghan

Mona and Beth -- wrong board.

6. Mona and Beth

Chuck and Winona -- wrong board

7. Bates and Anthony
8. Chuck and Winona
9. Jessica and John, Philiminated still holding the Express Pass.