Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - May 29, 2016

Good morning! Since it's a Sunday morning, that means it's time for my weekly off television topic reflection on the week gone by in both words and photos I've taken along the way.

However ... a brief mention of television before I start rambling about other stuff -- you might want to keep tuned here or on my Big Brother on Jackie's TV Blog Facebook page as I watch for news on the upcoming season of Big Brother 18! The season premiere is less than a month away!

We jumped from a very chilly spring into a pre-summer heat wave here in my part of New Jersey. That's just not fair at all. I wanted a real spring, not a winter/summer combination of a spring. Grr.

I actually have a three day holiday weekend for a change. Normally I work on Saturdays, but I had requested a vacation day so that I'll make this into a bit of a mini-vacation. I need it. Yesterday I went to nearby Scotch Plains to visit the farmers' market (which I always miss because I work practically every Saturday of my life), stop in at CVS and hit up Park Beverage for some alcohol-laden goodies. I don't care for the liquor stores in Plainfield, at least the downtown ones near me. They tend to have limited selections, high prices and attract panhandlers and ne'er-do-wells. I don't want or need alcohol enough to deal with that. Park Beverage is huge compared to them and has a great selection of microbrew/craft beers and all kinds of fancy stuff. So, when I'm in Scotch Plains, I tend to stop by there.

I got attacked by mosquitoes one humid night at the Bridgewater Train Station. Unfortunately, that allergy I developed to them about five years ago is still in full swing. Besides the huge swelling into red blisters that last about a month, I've been running a low-grade fever all week. (Thus the CVS stop.) Woe is me. How did I ever develop an actual allergy to mosquito bites?!?! At least now I'm geared up with repellent, anti-itch spray, Benadryl and Aveeno bath treatment.

Alas, the Benadryl makes me sleepy and I live my life perpetually exhausted to begin with. And, yeah. I'll end a sentence with a preposition if I want to. Call it literary license!

My upstairs neighbor has been quiet since my latest complaint. He seems to be gone for the weekend. Yay. I'm probably sticking around the apartment today. I was tempted to go into the city (Manhattan) for some Fleet Week stuff. But it's supposed to be another hot and sticky kind of day. I'd rather stay in my air conditioning!

I finally broke down and bought the book The Girl on the Train. Folks recommending it were right. It's mesmerizing. I should finish it today.

If the weather holds up tomorrow, I might go to the Memorial Day service in downtown Plainfield. There are also pretty flowers around City Hall I've been meaning to photograph. However, the weather prediction sounds very stormy. If it's bad, I'll just stay in again. I certainly have enough diversions and things to do at home.

Onto this week's photos -- clicking on an image will bring it up in a larger version.

Vietnam War Memorial

I guess it's been a while since I actually went by the front of the Scotch Plains Municipal Building. They now have a very impressive memorial to those who served in Vietnam just out front of the building. I found this very touching to encounter on this three-day Memorial Day weekend. 

Memorial Day

This is another shot I took of that Vietnam War Memorial in Scotch Plains, this time from the side. I played with editing on this one. I'm pleased with the results.

Clover blossoms

I saw these growing by a tree and felt the need to shoot them.

After the rain

Pansies in a planter.

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The Price is Right Special - The Amazing Race Edition - May 25

CBS

Tonight, it's The Amazing Race teams appearing on a special The Price is Right. And, on Wednesday, it's The Amazing Race competitors. I will be watching the show tonight. However, I'm not much of a game show fan (other than Jeopardy) and I probably will hang out in comments rather than live-blogging it, per se. But, since folks would like a place to discuss this show, here you go!

In addition to a Phil Keoghan appearance, the following teams will compete:

Leo Temory and Jamal Zadaran, Season 23 and 24
Tyler Oakley and Korey Kuhl, Season 28
Erin Robinson and Joslyn Davis, Season 28
Joey Buttitta and Kelsey Gerckens, Season 27 (winners)
Natalie "Nat" Strand and Katherine "Kat" Chang, Season 17 (winners)
William "Bopper" Minton and Mark Jackson, Season 20
Tiffany Chantell Torres and Krista DeBono, Season 27
Brook Roberts and Claire Champlin, Season 17
Nathaniel "Big Easy" Lofton and Herbert "Flight Time" Lang, Seasons 15, 18, and 24

Teams ready? Go!

The Price is Right Special - Big Brother Edition - May 24

CBS

Tonight, Big Brother hamsters appear on a special The Price is Right. And, on Wednesday, it's The Amazing Race competitors. Unfortunately, I won't be around for tonight's show. I'm actually not quite sure how I'd live-blog a game show anyway! But, since folks would like a place to discuss this show, here you go!

In addition to an appearance by Julie Chen, this is the guest list for tonight:

Frankie Grande, Season 16
Britney Godwin, Seasons 12 and 14
James Huling, Season 17
Will Kirby, Seasons 2 (winner) and 7
Janelle Pierzina, Seasons 6, 7, and 14
Rachel Reilly, Seasons 12 and 13 (winner)
Da'Vonne Rogers, Season 17
Jeffrey Schroeder, Seasons 11 and 13
Ian Terry, Season 14 (winner)

Have fun and I'll check in on comments a bit later!

The Price is Right - Survivor Edition - May 23

CBS

Tonight, Survivor castaways take over a special edition of The Price is Right! Tomorrow night, it's Big Brother folks and on Wednesday, The Amazing Race competitors. Unfortunately, I won't be around for tonight or tomorrow's show. I'm actually not quite sure how I'd live-blog a game show anyway! But, since folks would like a place to discuss this show, here you go!

In addition to an appearance by Jeff Probst, this is the guest list for tonight:

Natalie Anderson, Season 29 (winner)
Joe Anglim, Seasons 30 and 31
Rupert Boneham, Season 7, 8, 20, and 27
Jeremy Collins, Seasons 29 and 31 (winner)
Cirie Fields, Seasons 12, 16, and 20
Woo Hwang, Seasons 28 and 31
Rob Mariano, Seasons 4, 8, 20, and 22 (winner)
Kelley Wentworth, Seasons 29 and 31
Tina Wesson, Seasons 2 (winner), 8, and 27

Have fun and I'll be checking in on the comments later this evening!

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - May 22, 2016

Good morning! Since it's a Sunday morning, that means it's time for my weekly off television topic reflection on the week gone by in both words and photos I've taken along the way.

Speaking of television (even though I'm not speaking of television on this post), on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, CBS will air reality TV guests on special The Price Is Right shows -- 8pm ET/PT. The shows involved, respectively, are: Survivor, Big Brother and The Amazing Race. I won't be able to watch on Monday night or Tuesday nights, but will set up posts for those who wish to discuss the shows as they air East Coast time. I will post and live blog the show on Wednesday night. But, mind you, I'm not a big The Price is Right fan and I'm not quite sure how good my live blogging of the show will be. I'll probably make more mocking (or otherwise) comments about the show's guests!

Random notes on the week:

• The landlord will get another call about the guy upstairs with the booming bass stereo. He blasted it for over an hour Friday evening, vibrating my whole apartment. Then he and he guests left. I went to bed only to be rudely awakened at 1:38am by the thumping of the bass on his stereo. It wasn't AS loud as earlier in the evening. But it did wake me up and I had trouble getting back to sleep. I ended up going to work yesterday on all of about three hours of sleep. I work Saturdays despite his belief that Friday nights can be wild. The stereo was still on when I left for work.
• Thankfully, he and his buddies seem to have gone elsewhere (probably to annoy other people) for last night and I actually got some sleep.
• I'm looking forward to two weeks of four day work weeks ahead. Woot! Woot! I actually have a three day holiday weekend next week. Hopefully I won't be tempted to sleep it all away.
• People who walk and text do things like fall over benches and walk into poles. Ha. 

I don't have much more for you except for the photos ... clicking on an image will bring up a larger version.

Vincent tries to make a friend

Oh my. A young dove made the mistake of sitting on one of my windowsills cooing. Coo coo. Vincent tried to befriend the lonely dove. Wisely, the dove flew away. (Of course, the window is closed and there's a screen. Vincent couldn't have gotten the dove if he lunged.) Sorry about the quality of the shot, but I only had a moment to take it!

Pretty planter

One of the townhomes on East Front Street in Plainfield always has beautiful planters of flowers in their yard.

Live CRAWLfish?!?!

I don't want them crawling around my kitchen! Eek! (I assume they mean CRAWfish.) A sign in the window of Pete's Fish Market on East Second Street in Plainfield.

When a tree falls in Plainfield ...

... it closes down a major thoroughfare for nearly 24 hours! On Monday morning, a tree fell from the north side of East Front Street. It fell across the street severely damaging two parked cars and snapping the utility pole (leaning on the left of the photo) on the south side of the street.  The tree saga continues after the jump.

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