Big Brother 17: Live Feeds Into Thursday Morning - September 3

M&M strategy outlining

Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of Will They Flip the Vote or Not:

• Johnny Mac is really pushing Steve to flip the vote and keep Meg.
• He thinks, if they do, Meg and James won't put them on the block and will instead target Austliz and Vanessa.
• Of course, Johnny Mac didn't mention them targeting Vanessa to Vanessa.
• He might be goofy, but he's not dumb.
• When he talks to Vanessa about flipping, she acquiesces ... it would only work if they could push the idea that Austin was behind it to Liz.
• Eventually she brought it up to the twins that the only way Julia would be going home was if Austin approved it.
• Oh my.
• Vanessa told Liz that she can't tell Austin she said anything, but should go talk to him to make sure the vote won't flip on them.
• Meanwhile, after fussing about how mean James is, Julia told Liz that she thinks Austin is not the right guy for her -- she thinks he's mean and he's "sketching her out."
• Hey, he sketches me out every time I see him, too.
• James thinks Steve is working with Austin.
• I think it's time for Steve to decide with whom he's working. He can't work with them all when they are starting to work against each other!
• Heh. James said he doesn't know if he can be friends with Austin outside the house because he's too tall.
• Liz tells Austin that she'll never talk to him again (and other various threats) if Julia gets voted out this week.
• Steve and Johnny Mac talked more about flipping the vote.
• Steve is afraid that, if Meg stays, she and James will target him.
• Then he thought about how Austwins would probably put him and Johnny Mac up together on the block again.
• He sat alone figuring out final end games with a mix of hamsters portrayed by M&Ms.
• Y'know, there are hours to go to eviction as I write this, but things just might have turned around in Meg's favor.
• We'll see.

Will things flip to keep her?

James and his indoor shades

We should vote out Julia

Big Brother 17: Live Feeds Wednesday into the Evening - September 2

Workin' out

Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of What Do We Do Next?:

• Johnny Mac told Vanessa he'd be voting Meg out unless she (Vanessa) changed her mind.
• Now, would Vanessa ever change her mind? I guess she more often can't make up her mind!
• But she's definitely changed her mind more than a few times.
• Steve once again said he made his super fantastic wonderful insightful speech last week so that he could win America's Player.
• @@
• But, wait ... Austin thinks HE'S America's Player!
• Will we have two America's Players this season? Wow, these hamsters are just so darn good!
• Ahem.
• They were allowed to practice for an HoH comp (photo below). They had to roll a ball up a doohickey and get a turn on it so it goes left instead of straight off the end.
• Everyone, including Vanessa, was encouraged to try it out. Vanessa wondered if this might mean a double eviction.
• That idea was rather pooh-poohed in a discussion with Austin. He said there could be a lot more to it than what they did or it could be for a luxury comp, etc.
• They still don't think it's a double eviction coming up tomorrow.
• Austin thinks his (disgusting nasty) ponytail beard is his trademark.
• He talked about his (now) ex-girlfriend with Steve and Vanessa. They were having problems, mostly because he had no desire to work a real job, nor work much.
• Apparently she had a real job and earned decent money.
• She's better off without him.
• He honestly thinks being on the show will open doors to show biz, comedy and more for him.
• Oh my. It's more likely to open the door to the psych ward.
• James thinks everybody is scared to do anything crazy this year and are walking on eggshells.
• Yup, most are. 
• Johnny Mac proposed that he and Steve should save Meg and wondered if Meg and James would work with them.
• Steve thinks it's too risky.
• Sigh.
• Julia tried to decide on a quick speech, fussed about James and exercised with Liz.
• Steve said that the twins need to be broken up.
• (Jackie says they should have never been let in the house since they knew about them and could have voted out Liz before Julia stayed.)
• Vanessa doesn't think it's the right time.
• Long, long talk with Steve and Vanessa, trying to figure out their best end strategies and how to get there.
• Austin told Steve and Vanessa he'd never break up the twins until the final three.
• Um, Austin ... you're talking to fourth and fifth place. Is that wise?
• D'oh!
• Nonetheless, Vanessa wants Meg out this week.
• The Queen has spoken, so it shall come to pass.

The sink cam

HoH comp practice

The claws come out!

Steve has a ball

Don't ask me what Johnny Mac has

Exercise session

Big Brother 17: Power of Veto Show Blog Party - September 2

Good evening! Ready for a blog party?

As the show airs here on the East Coast, I'll update this entry with the major happenings. Refresh the page to get the latest. As always, the real party is in the comments area. I hope to see you there!

Aw, Meg cries. She's upset to be on the block with her buddy James. Vanessa talks and explains herself ... too much.

Veto players pick -- Vanessa draws Julia. James draws Liz. Meg draws Austin. No Houseguest Choice chip selected. 

James can make Meg laugh even when she's so down. Perhaps no romance, but that's one solid and caring friendship. 

Johnny Mac, red shirt and bowtie, is the PoV host. The comp is called Hide and Go Veto. They go into the house separately and each hide a veto card. Then they have two minutes to find the veto cards. The last card not found, the hider wins. Watching them tear apart the house is always fun.

Meg couldn't find any. Nor can Austin -- he's more intent on further hiding his own by making a mess.

James is bent on destroying the house, gets nothing. Julia didn't find any. Liz didn't, either. Vanessa has one. Four more left to be found. Julia found one. Meg has one. Vanessa found the last card. The big reveal - Liz, Vanessa, Julia, Meg (James found her card!), Austin. 

James wins the Power of Veto!

And, now they have a giant mess to clean up! 

Vanessa is in a quandary. Who to put up? Who to put up? She doesn't want to put up Johnny Mac or Steve for her own reasons -- the vote might flip to get rid of one of them and she wants Meg to go. 

James vows vengeance on Vanessa. Austin runs and tells Vanessa. In an Austwins meeting with Vanessa, she tells them that the only safe option is to put Julia up as a pawn. Austwins want Johnny Mac out. Vanessa is adamant on Meg going. 

James goes to talk to Vanessa, hoping to save Meg. They argue. Vanessa is upset that James told her she plays the game too hard. 

Veto meeting time. James saves himself. Vanessa nominates Julia in his place after going on about how difficult it is for her.

Big Brother 17: Live Feeds into Wednesday - September 2

Meeting of the minds

Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of Scampering Hamsters:

• Yes, I'm going to start off with yesterday morning. I had posting issues yesterday. 
• Johnny Mac told Vanessa that he told Meg if he got HoH he'd target Steve and her (Vanessa). Now, that was just to make Meg (and James) think that.
• Vanessa and Johnny Mac tried to go over what events happened on what days in prep for a comp. They don't know that comp will happen, but they want to be prepared.
• They're not.
• The Gronk parties are all a jumble in their Gronked-Out minds.
• Johnny Mac wants to throw the HoH and Vanessa wants Steve to win. Of course, that would put the "blood on his hands" and lessen any likability with the jury for Steve.
• Vanessa got the HoH camera and the usual posed photos went down.
• Eh.
• Julia, the unwilling pawn, is worried the vote might flip and she might go home.
• Of course, she would blame that on Steve.
• Poor Steve. I think they guy seems to be the easy scapegoat for them all.
• Lots of napping went down on and off all day and evening. They've actually been turning in earlier in the evenings -- no dawn greetings as of late. I don't know how they can sleep so much!
• Vanessa and Austin talked about Steve and Johnny Mac. Austin thinks they can get JM to work with them. Vanessa said it would be better to take out Steve and work with JM. According to her, they have to get rid of Steve soon because he'll win all the comps.
• Huh. There goes Steve again!
• Of course, Austin has no clue that JM, Steve and Vanessa are all working together.
• And, Steve and Vanessa have had a final two pact for some weeks now.
• But, when you think about it, while Steve can work with her to get her to her goal, she probably doesn't want to be in a final two with him. He just might win! Her actual best bet in a final two (of those left in the house) would be Julia -- a latecomer who doesn't win much of anything and is tainted by Austwins. Either her or Johnny Mac -- evicted once and none of them can figure him out, Enigma Man.
• Vanessa worked on trying to spin things to vote out Julia this week. That, of course, would be blamed on Steve. It would alienate Steve from many and she could play innocent.
• Lots of talk about who they'd nominate if they won HoH.
• We'll just see about that.
• Right now I think Meg will still be evicted although Julia might be in a bit of danger. I doubt that will come to fruition, though.
• I could be wrong.

I shouldn't be on the block

Shoveling down the slop

Kid in the pool

Mac Attack

Melancholy Meg

Late night meeting

Big Brother 17: Live Feeds into Tuesday - September 1

Chess with the enemy

Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of Wonky wombats:

• A whole lotta nuthin' goin' down overnight.
• Steve realized that while he works his mind a lot, he's physically lazy. Five minutes of working out tires him.
• Vanessa thinks they should plan just in case this week is double eviction. She and Steve tried to figure out the timing of last season's double evictions.
• Vanessa also toyed with the idea of voting Julia out with Johnny Mac.
• I don't think Steve would go for that, though. He has a crush on her.
• So far, everyone has been thinking it should come next week.
• BB gave them alcohol.
• Of course, half the house can't drink it because they're Have Nots.
• Meg thinks Vanessa putting her up is personal, not strategy.
• Johnny Mac told Meg he's mad at them all for evicting him and would target Steve and Vanessa if he won HoH.
• Yeah, right. 
• Austin and James agreed not to put each other up if they (one of them) win HoH.
• While I understand James wanting to vote out Vanessa, need I mention TWINS and a TWIN'S "BOYFRIEND" in the house?
• If the Austwins do make it to the final three, I guess they will have earned it.
• Sigh.

Johnny Mac and Meg hot tub it

Loyola wants their shirt back

Mingling at the hot tub

Big Brother 17: Live Feeds Monday, PoV Meeting - August 31

Does John know James picks his teeth?

Here are today's happenings from inside that Big Brother House No Surprises Today:

• James had his morning talk with Vanessa offering the deal to keep Meg safe. Vanessa nixed it.
• She asked his advice about what to say at the veto meeting so she wouldn't hurt Meg's feelings (any more than she already has hurt them).
• She also told him that he should try to enjoy his last few days with Meg.
• Awww ...
• Meg cried some more.
• The veto meeting went down. No surprises there for us. James saved himself and Julia was put up in his place.
• James told Meg that if he didn't have a family, he would have saved her with the veto.
• Meg told James she thinks Vanessa wants to work with him. He nixed that one -- said he's going to be a solo act and get Vanessa out.
• Julia claimed that she knows for a fact that Audrey was America's Player.
• She doesn't even know what America's Player is. She was recruited because she's a twin.
• Julia, ticked that she's on the block, a Have Not with both Meg and James and just plain grumpy started fussing about James.
• She said he has no chance with Meg.
• No, I don't think he has any romantic chance with her, but I imagine they'll be dear friends for years to come.
• John and Vanessa discussed how they were going to get out Austwins.
• Vanessa thinks it will be better to take out Liz than Julia next week (they don't realize this week is a double eviction -- the last time they were pretty set for it).
• Well, duh. Liz is a stronger competitor that (probably) Austin and (definitely) Julia.
• Liz and Austin spent a lot of time frolicking under covers. I didn't watch. It's bad for my digestion.
• James told Meg that, if he got HoH, he would definitely nominate Vanessa and Steve.
• That's about it for actual game stuff. They exercised, played chess and had many non-game talks.
• It's going to be a long few days.

Please don't obstruct your microphone

Cap and glasses for James talk

Knit hat, no glasses for John talk

Showers with his ponytail beard untouched

Big Brother 17: Live Feeds into Monday - August 31

All asleep as I post this

Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of Let's Wait Until October for a Big Move:

• James practiced his veto speech (in which he saves himself).
• Meg is hoping that the upcoming HoH comp won't be physical so she can wear nice clothes for her eviction.
• Oh, this doesn't mean they've given up trying to grasp straws so that she can stay!
• It just means that they realize that it's probably going to take a miracle that Meg will make it through the week.
• No one is thinking that Thursday is a double eviction. They all think that will come about next week.
• Austin is leery of Johnny Mac.
• As he should be.
• Julia is still not keen on the idea of going up as a pawn against Meg. 
• Austin told Meg that he's trying to get Vanessa to put Johnny Mac up on the block as the re-nom. He claims that John would go home over her.
• Well, yeah.
• But he's been trying to get Johnny Mac on the block all along. The Austwins wanted Vanessa to nominate Steve and Johnny Mac.
• But we know why that's not something Vanessa would even consider right now. She wants to work with Steve and Johnny Mac so THEY can break up the Austwins and she remains smelling like a rose.
• Meg and James came up with a convoluted proposal to try to save Meg -- if James wins HoH, he would put Meg up on the block with one of his targets in lieu of Vanessa, no front door or backdoor for Vanessa.
• Of course, James isn't into backdoors anyway.
• Meg went to Vanessa with the proposal and said James wouldn't only be making a promise to Vanessa, he'd be promising her (Meg). So, he would indeed do it.
• It would buy her another week.
• Vanessa listened and told Meg that she wants to talk to James in the morning before the veto meeting.
• Austin really really REALLY sucked up to James, throwing everything on Vanessa.
• Well, it was Vanessa's doing. But only Steve and Johnny Mac know the real scoop on things.
• Of course, Austin ran and reported to Vanessa every bit of everything James said -- but didn't mention he (Austin) threw Vanessa under the bus to James and Meg.
• Despite everything, I still think Julia will go up on the block with Meg and Meg will go home.
• But the double eviction might be interesting! 

Everybody except ...

James teaches Meg pool

Johnny on the hamMAC

Meg proposes a deal

Meg reports to James

Lots of college, video games and home talk

Big Brother 17: Live Feeds Sunday into the Evening - August 30

Vanessa befuddles Meg

Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of Misguided Malcontents:

• It's Sunday, so it's rather quiet in the house.
• The only thing looming ahead is the PoV ceremony tomorrow. James is sure to save himself. So, the only real action is trying to come up with the replacement nominee.
• As of now, that's still looking like Julia.
• Vanessa offered to give her $10,000 out of her pocket if she went up as a pawn and ended up going home this week.
• BB dragged Vanessa into the Diary Room and pooh-poohed that deal.
• Vanessa had to renege and reword things as it being a "gambling expression."
• Meg talked to Vanessa, trying to get the target off of her.
• That didn't really work.
• Vanessa found out that James was told two things that she said to Austin in confidence.
• Will she throw Austin on the block?
• Nah.
• She'll let one of her new minions do that bidding. Gotta protect her jury ratings!
• But it does give her more ammunition against Austin. She knew she was lowest on the totem pole before. However, now she knows that Austin continues to betray her confidence.
• Julia is a "safe" pawn as only three votes are needed to keep her. She automatically has Austin and Liz. And, Steve has a crush on her.
• James and Meg vow to not play pot ball or take photos or anything because they're on the block.
• Meg thinks that, as long as she does go out, she'll go out on an hour-long episode.
• Heh.
• Of course, all the shows are an hour, but they're thinking one eviction.
• They are so not expecting double eviction again this week. They figure it will be next week.
• If you hear the expression "camping," it's a euphemism for something else.
• The photo booth opened. It's losing its fun factor.
• That's about it!

Johnny Mac knows he's safe ... for now

Twinz

Wants to win HoH

 

Friends fun

Big Brother 17: HoH and Return a Hamster Outcome, Nominations Show Blog Party - August 30

Good evening! Ready for a blog party? While many of us already know the results of the PoV comp, tonight's television episode will focus on the  HoH comp outcome from Thursday evening including which jury member returns, as well as the nominations.

Surprisingly, the show is on time tonight despite the Barclays PGA golf (from about a mile away from where I live). I'll update this entry with the major happenings as it airs here on the East Coast. Refresh the page to get the latest. As always, the real party is in the comments area. I hope to see you there!

Already they've made the comp longer than it was in actuality. 

Julia out first. Steve out. Meg out. (That's by the time the show ended although they stretched it out now.) James out. Liz out. It's down to four jurors and Vanessa. Jackie out. Becky out. Shelli out. So, John has earned his way back into the house. 

Vanessa tells JM he's safe. JM says he has stuff to do. He doesn't want the others to think he might work with Vanessa. Johnny Mac is down and Vanessa is the new HoH. 

Johnny Mac knows that Vanessa is the biggest liar ever, but will work with him because she's the low person on the Austwins totem pole. The twins are super upset that he's back in.

James and Meg hope Vanessa will be ready to take out one of the Austwins trio. Steve and Johnny Mac think working with Vanessa is going to give them safety this week. 

Who wants to see my HoH room?
Not me. I'll pass. 

Talks time. First, Austwins. She tells them that Steve and Johnny Mac are a layer of protection and she has to do what's best for her own game. She wants to target James and Meg.

James and Meg think she should target Steve because he does whatever Austwins want. Vanessa reports back to Austwins that James and Meg want to target them. 

Oh, geez. Liz agrees to be Austin's girlfriend. Gag me now. 

Julia wants to prank Austin because she can't get James. He laughs more than being scared, but she and Liz declare victory. 

Vanessa pries James and Meg for info (dirt) on Austin. She gets some info, but not on Austin. She wants to know if they're willing to be a pawn (against Johnny Mac target). They argue over who should be a pawn ... both James and Meg offer to go up. James said he'd target Austwins. But Vanessa had wanted him to give her a reason to target Austwins (to see if she could work with them).

Nominations Today. Vanessa nominates Meg, then James. Game move, not personal. 

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - August 30, 2015

Good morning! Welcome to my weekly off television topic reflection of the past week in both words and photographs I've taken along the way; This post is a year 'round "feature" on the blog. If you're looking for Big Brother posts, they can all be found at this link right here. If you're not interested in this particular post, please feel free to skip on by it. I'll be posting a Big Brother blog party post coinciding with the East Coast airing of the show and, late this evening, another live feeds post. Stay tuned.

Yet another week in the (seemingly never-ending) countdown to Staycation for me. Here's some random notes on the week:

• I woke up very early one morning this past week smelling smoke -- like house-burning smoke -- in my apartment. That was one of the first nights that I had turned off the air conditioning and threw the windows wide open as the heat had lessened.
• It turns out that two homes were destroyed and one damaged in a huge three alarm fire with 80 firefighters responding right on the street in back of my building. The fire was actually across the street from the Mexican Polka live band people. I'm so running on empty these days that I slept through all the hoopla.
• (Side note: The Mexican Polka live band people were at it until nearly midnight last night. Grr.) 
• In the urban jungle news arena: There I was, resting on the ledge by the Plainfield Police Annex waiting for the bus home from the train last night and this creepy drunk non-English speaking dude plopped down practically on top of me. "Ola!" I reacted with exaggerated shoo hand motions and "Go away! Shoo!" I already had plans to knock him to the ground if he didn't go away -- I'm larger and sober, he's drunk. I scared him. He stumbled away. A cop who had been sitting at the traffic light watching called out to me, "Nicely played!"
• I find it very depressing that I'm old enough to join the Plainfield Senior Center which I don't have time in my life to join because I'm not old enough (or financially set) to retire.
• Not that I'd really want to join. I'd probably rather do something like join a whitewater rafting club than do many of the activities they have going on for seniors.
• In more urban jungle news: One early evening on the 59 bus, a guy tried to board with one of those personal shopping carts well overloaded with scrap metal (he probably stole). The bus driver wouldn't let him board and started screaming, "No! No! NO!" -- thus scaring an innocent dude who was paying his fare. I was looking at the scrap metal pieces haphazardly piled atop the cart and thinking it would be dangerous. I was glad the bus driver told him no and drove off forcing the guy to get his foot out of the bus door.
• We're expected another heat wave this week.
• Wah.

That's about it. Onto this week's photos! Clicking on an image will open it in a larger window.

I love the flowers

But I'll love autumn temperatures a lot more! Of course, autumn has its own flowers, plus glorious fall foliage.

Fireworks at the TD Ball Park

On Monday night, just as the 10pm train was coming in, they started the after game fireworks in Bridgewater.

East Second Street fire scene

Despite the local newspapers saying the fire was at 240 East Second Street, it was not. It apparently started in the attic of 640 and spread to 642. Both of those homes seem totally destroyed, with the roofs caving in on them. 644 has its siding all melted, but the building didn't catch on fire. No one was hurt. More of the fire scene photos after the jump ...

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

Big Brother 17: Live Feeds into Sunday - August 30

Read the body language

Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of Pancakes:

• It sounds like Johnny Mac, Steve and Vanessa just might be really working together again ... until they're not.
• Obviously, nothing is forever in this house of hamsters!
• The Austwins really want Vanessa to put Johnny Mac up to replace James when he saves himself.
• They want that so bad that they tried to convince James and Meg to go throw JM under that horribly driven reality bus.
• When Meg talked to Vanessa, she was given false hope by Vanessa. I know from watching Vanessa all summer, that was just her jury talk -- she'll blame Meg's ouster on others, claim she had no vote and was under the impression Meg was safe.
• Yessirree! That's Vanessa!
• When James talked to Vanessa, he told her what she wanted to hear. He has Vanessa pretty well figured out.
• He was honest (it seems) with her when asked about Johnny Mac.
• He really has no clue who Johnny Mac would target.
• Yup, Johnny Mac, Enigma Man.
• James did his best to throw Austin under that bus, though.
• JM and Steve have agreed to put last week's throwing each other under the bus to try to keep afloat in the past.
• They think that they might even to bring James aboard (despite James's threats about Vanessa).
• They also think no way would James ever work with Vanessa if she wasn't with them (Steve and Johnny Mac).
• Meanwhile, Julia's name keeps getting mentioned as the pawn against Meg.
• Now, she probably would be safe against Meg.
• The two of Austwins who would be true target pawns would be Austin or Liz.
• Both Liz and Austin seem to be on board with Julia going up as a pawn.
• Julia, not so much.
• We have until tomorrow, but it seems most likely that Julia will be up with Meg. 
• While Austwins were pushing for Johnny Mac to go up, Vanessa pretty much shut them down.
• We'll see.

James talks to Vanessa

Wearing her green hat ... again

Don't do it, Steve!

Vanessa no hat, different look

Big Brother 17: Live Feeds Saturday, Power of Veto - August 29

Vanessa's smiling? Not for long.

Here are today's happenings from inside that Big Brother House of Lackluster Loonies:

• The feeds were blocked for more of their awake time than they've been running.
• Why?
• First, the veto players pick.
• Besides Vanessa, James and Meg ... they drew Austin, Liz and Julia.
• Oh my. That sounds like it should be good for Vanessa, doesn't it?
• Heh.
• Johnny Mac was the host.
• I guess Steve sat around and did nothing.
• While so many prepared for the Fold or Stay comp, it wasn't that at all.
• Heh.
• It was one where they had to run through the house searching for something ... thus tearing apart the house and making a huge mess.
• I'm surprised they're cleaning up the mess. Sometimes the house looks just about that bad when they're just plain living in it!
• The big news is ... JAMES WON THE POWER OF VETO.
• Did you hear that?
• Liz made a point of bragging that she deliberately took all Meg's stuff and threw it around.
• Mean girl.
• Austwins and Vanessa are very unhappy.
• Too bad, so sad.
• Vanessa thinks they planned a comp that James would win.
• Huh? How can you even predict who would win something like that? Meg with her hurt leg could have won!
• James told Meg he's thinking of trying to make a deal with Austwins that he'd go after Vanessa if they'd vote to keep Meg this week.
• Hmm. I doubt that would fly.
• I'd imagine that Meg's days in the house are up. I've really enjoyed her, but she so sucks at comps and the general cut-throat kind of game BB is.
• She's too nice.
• Vanessa doubts James will use his veto to save Meg.
• I doubt it, too.
• Vanessa wants to put someone on the block that will be a guarantee Meg will be the one voted out.
• Gee, put AUSTIN up! Go for it, Vanessa, he's so loved in the house!
• Heehee.
• Julia suggested Johnny Mac. Vanessa nixed that.
• Of course, if Johnny Mac goes up there would be the chance Meg would stay.
• Ohhh ... Vanessa suggested to Austin that she put up Julia as a pawn.
• Now, that's something she mentioned last night if James got himself off the block.
• Uh-oh. Paranoid-Vanessa is starting to worry that Johnny Mac is spending too much time with Meg and James.
• And that's where we are.
• At the moment.
• Things could change -- we're talking Vanessa. But, she has been talking all along since HoH about getting Meg out. She usually accomplishes her goal.

Johnny Mac sports a new look.

James sports the Power of Veto!