BB18: Live Feeds into Sunday Evening - July 31

Breakfast small talk

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

• It was your typical boring Sunday in the house with a few strategic discussion exceptions.
• The "boys" -- Paul, Paulie and James -- talked more about getting the "girls" shot down one by one ... and using Bridgette to do it.
• James piped up that Natalie isn't a threat to anyone in the game, making a case for keeping her around as long as possible.
• Paulie did not say the same of Zakiyah ... another one who's no real threat.
• The Backdoor Da'Vonne plan is in full motion with almost all aboard.
• Not aboard are Da'Vonne (d'oh!), Zakiyah and Natalie to an extent.
• Da'Vonne has an idea that something might be going on and keeps trying to talk to people, including Bridgette.
• She's getting very paranoid.
• She's still pushing a Backdoor Nicole plan and thinks it might be a possibility ... but is very nervous.
• She cried to Zakiyah about it.
• Meanwhile, in the HoH room, Bridgette and Paul had a long long talk.
• Well, Paul talked more than Bridgette did.
• But you know that.
• It goes without saying.
• But, like Paul, I said it anyway.
• He informed her of the Backdoor Da'Vonne plan. He told her that he had vowed to get her out this week, but would accept what happens as the will of the house. And, he's willing to work with her.
• She said what he wanted to hear -- she wants to work with the guys to get the women out.
• Bridgette told him that Da'Vonne keeps popping up where she is and has been trashtalking Nicole.
• Bridgette also told Paul that it was more Nicole and Frank talking while she and Corey chillaxed during their brief working together stint.
• Both she and Paul think Nicole has been a bit shady, but not like Da'Vonne. 
• In another Paul talk, this one with Da'Vonne, he lied to her and told her she should have no worries if she goes on the block in Paulie's place. In that one, she sold out her buddy Zakiyah even.
• If nothing else, Da'Vonne's actions have made her probably the most disloyal person in the house ... out of many disloyal persons.
• No fisticuffs, no kerfuffles, some tears but no hysterics.
• And, that's how the day went.

Catching some sun

All about being Victor

Boys summit meeting

How come no one cares when I'm paranoid?

BB18: HoH Comp Finish, Nominations Episode Blog Party - July 31

Hamster watchers ready? The show is running late here on the East Coast due to the PGA golf thing. That's near where I live. I wanted to go over there and give them what for! Let's get this show going! Please! It looks like it should be starting at about 8:41pm ET or so here. I'm posting this at the regular live blog party post time, but won't be live-blogging the episode until it starts. I'm not sure if the delay is on all the East Coast or not.

As the show airs here on the East Coast, I'll be constantly updating this entry. Refresh the page to get the latest news! As always, the real party is in the comments area!

8:41pm here and we finally have a recap! 

Finally picking up with the HoH comp. They're all doing the comp practicing with their yellow balls.  Paulie doesn't want to win and get blood on his hands, so he just tosses his red ball, getting a score of six. Victor rolls his red ball, gets a 14, now in the lead. Paul gets a 21 with his red ball. That's the highest score possible without getting the ball in the box at the end of the "alley."

Michelle got a perfect shot with the yellow ball, as did Natalie. Natalie did it three times in a row, but got a two with her red ball shot. Corey got a yellow in, but overshot with his red. Nicole got a 19. Zakiyah overshot. Michelle, 16. Da'Vonne, 19.

Paul is HOH. He has vowed to get Bridgette evicted. Da'Vonne thinks she's buddies with him. Paulie wants him to fry bigger fish. 

Paul approaches Corey and Victor about pawning possibilities. Neither want to go on the block. There's friendship for you, buckaroo. 

Paulie really wants Da'Vonne out, telling James and Corey about it. James isn't really keen on the idea, but doesn't tell Paulie that. Paulie is having trouble convincing Paul that Da'Vonne should go instead of Bridgette. He finally says that if the veto is used, he'll put Da'Vonne up. 

HoH room reveal. He does look a lot better without that beard. 

Paul continues to try to get pawn recruits. No one is volunteering. Nicole finally said she would if they thought she was strong. She regrets it to us. 

After a rather odd and unnecessary Corey/Nicole visit, Bridgette approaches Paul and Paulie. She doesn't trust Nicole or Da'Vonne. She thinks they're working together. Paul doesn't really commit, but leaves the door open to make her think he promised safety. 

Now a Paul/Paulie "twinsy" bit. Eww. 

Paul reads a care package announcement. The recipient must open it in front of the others. The first one comes today. A voice screams for them to head to the backyard. It comes down with a little parachute attached. It's for NATALIE! Socks, floss, Never Not Pass -- she cannot be named a Have Not. She was supposed to be a Have Not due to her low score in HoH. Corey wishes he had it this week, but hopes others might be better! 

Nicole tells Corey that she volunteered to be a pawn. He tells her he'll do it for her. But, in a meeting with Paul, Paulie, Zakiyah and Corey, Paulie volunteers to go up as a pawn. Of course, Paulie wants to pull himself off and get Da'Vonne backdoored, but ...!

Time for the nominations ceremony. But we all know what will happen. Bridgette, then Paulie. Bridgette because of you and Frank, promised last week. Paulie, you're my buddy and pawn, want to make sure PoV ends up in the right hands.

Not friendship, Paul according to Bridgette.

Da'Vonne is suspicious because she knows Nicole volunteered.

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - July 31, 2016

Good morning! Since it's Sunday morning, 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. If you're here for Big Brother news, everything I have for you can be found at this link. I'll be posting another live feeds report late tonight as well as live-blogging the aired show. But this ain't that. This post is a year-round regular "feature" while Big Brother is a summer obsession. Or, something like that.

It was another miserably hot and humid week here in New Jersey. On Monday we had a storm which almost rivaled Hurricane Sandy in intensity, albeit much more brief. It only lasted about an hour. It seems my workplace, where I was when it hit, was on the edge of what they call a "micro-burst." I was just glad I wasn't out in it!

We seem to have had pop-up storms almost daily. Unfortunately, I must have left my best big umbrella somewhere on Thursday. I didn't realize it had gone missing until late last night. Thinking back, I might have left it at the bodega around the corner on my way home from work on Thursday. I only brought a smaller umbrella to do my work commute yesterday. I don't really plan on going out today. But tomorrow, I'll ask at the bodega if anyone turned the good one in. Oh, well.

Work remains work. Gah. After six weeks come and go, I'll be into my next staycation and the weather should be a lot more bearable. Until then, I guess I'll just sweat (er, perspire, glow) and keep on working. I had to cancel the order for the Lamborghini when I heard someone in some obscure state won the Powerball Lottery after I invested two dollars in it! How dare they!

That's about it for today. Onto the photos! Clicking on an image will open a larger version.

Eastern Cicada Killer Wasp

These are so cool. Not only are they colorful and harmless, but they're a hoot to watch while they battle each other! The wing beatings actually make quite a noise. With the rain deluges we've been having, I've worried that the burrows -- they're digger wasps -- might be destroyed. But I keep seeing the males protecting them, so things must be okay. Bridgewater Train Station.

The Plainfield Train Station Groundhog

He is SO chubby! People keep feeding him bread, donuts, pizza and more. While he's still skittish around people -- he won't just walk up to them -- once they toss food, he'll certainly eat it. I would guess none of it is good for him. But, where he is, he's safe from predators and probably doesn't leave his little woodsy territory in search of food. He most likely will never get hit by a car or a train as he doesn't need to really forage. He looks healthy. Chubby, but healthy.

Honeybees are good bees!

While I'm severely allergic to bee stings, I rarely worry about your basic honey bee. It's wasps (not the Eastern Cicada Killer Wasp as it's the males you see and they have no stinger at all) and yellow-jacket hornets that worry me -- they're aggressive. Honey bees, carpenter bees, bumblebees ... they're all all rather mellow. Unless they feel really threatened, they aren't aggressive at all. Bees don't seem to mind cameras.

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

BB18: Live Feeds into Sunday Morning - July 31

I'm HoH! Friendship!

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

• Da'Vonne thinks Paul will put Natalie on the block when Paulie takes himself off.
• Michelle, who knows otherwise, agreed with Da'Vonne.
• We all know that, unless Paul thinks with his own mind and sticks to his guns that Bridgette is going home this week, it will be Backdoor Da'Vonne in motion.
• James knows, but isn't telling Natalie.
• He told her "someone" will be backdoored.
• Michelle told Da'Vonne that she doesn't mind Bridgette as much now that Frank is gone.
• Y'know, they can bake cookies and all together!
• Throwing marshmallows and jumping in the pool have ticked off the BB piped voice in the house lately.
• "I said, STOP THAT!"
• Despite Paulie telling all the guys he wants to drop Zakiyah and wouldn't mind if she got evicted, he still lets her hang all over and snuggle him.
• They're bored.
• I'm bored.
• They get silly.
• I do not.
• I yawn.
• That should all change when (if?) Da'Vonne goes up on the block with the PoV meeting!
• Eep. Michelle has around 40 grand in college debt. Natalie has 80 grand in college debt. I'm glad I went to college back in the dark ages and had a merit scholarship to help pay some of my way! Plus, worked full time. Plus, didn't go on reality TV shows hoping to win to pay the bill.
• Michelle's parents paid off her credit card debt. Yep, that's the way to teach a kid how to handle finances!
• Michelle told Victor all of her self-esteem woes. He told her that she can change all of them.
• Actually, I think most of them are in her mind.
• It has to be some sort of sociological statement that most of the girls in the house have low self-esteem issues while most of the guys have delusions of grandeur. What does it say of us as a society? Or, is it just casting?
• Natalie also tried to talk up Michelle.
• Paul told Zakiyah that he wants Bridgette to go home, but will put Da'Vonne up if the veto is used because "she isn't as paranoid as everybody else."
• Meanwhile, Paulie thinks Nicole might have told Zakiyah that Da'Vonne will go on the block.
• Paulie wants to use Bridgette to get out Michelle and Zakiyah.
• Then he'd be finished with her.
• Da'Vonne is talking scenarios with a final four of her, Zakiyah, Paulie and Michelle.
• Let's see what happens ... 

He has to wear that HoH robe ALL THE TIME

Someone will be backdoored says James

Zakiyah, please remove your hair from the mic

She clings; he doesn't turn away

BB18: Live Feeds into Saturday Evening, PoV Winner - July 30

Now he looks like Clark Kent with fake glasses

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

• Now, keep in mind that Pawnie Paulie was placed as a pawn by Paul to prevent PoV being purloined by Pridgette. Er, Bridgette.
• I'd like you to say the above sentence three times fast.
• Are you done? Was it fun?
• That's the sole reason he's a pawn, though.
• Natalie was one of the veto players chosen. James told her that if they want her to use it to save Paulie (he knows Da'Vonne would most likely be the renom) -- make a deal for safety next week, no veto, no nominations, no backdoor.
• This, of course is coming from James, the one who broke his word/deal with Frank and Bridgette last week.
• Nicole hosted the comp. The other two chosen players were Corey and Victor.
• Paulie told Nicole and Corey that he wants Da'Vonne to go out instead of Bridgette.
• He thinks the only people pushing for Bridgette to go are Zakiyah, Da'Vonne and Michelle.
• He left out Paul, who has vowed to oust Bridgette this week.
• Paulie has grown weary of Zakiyah. I think he'd rather she get evicted than to tell her.
• Everybody is planning on Da'Vonne going home as a renom no matter who is taken off the block.
• But Paul, the one who will make the renom, isn't in these conversations.
• I'm pretty sure he'd go along with the plan. It's his best buds, after all. But nice of them to discuss it with him!
• The feeds were blocked for the comp.
• And, a rather odd and disturbing statement from Corey (who was upset that he lost). He said he wished his father would come and beat him so he could get his head in the comps. He's tired of doing poorly. 
• Oh my. This is the jock dude. Is that something that kept him going in sports all along? Sad.
• So, Corey didn't win Veto.
• Who did?
• Why, Paulie won the Golden Power of Veto!
• He's been telling Bridgette that she's safe.
• No, he'll save himself, for sure.
• But Da'Vonne will go up and they'll vote her out instead of Bridgette.
• That's his plan, anyway.
• James has come to the realization that he, Zakiyah, Da'Vonne and Natalie are no longer in with the in crowd.
• He thinks something is very wrong because Paulie seems to be working with Bridgette.
• Uh-oh.
• If I could offer him consolation, I'd let him know that he isn't as out of the in crowd as the other three.
• James knows of the Backdoor Da'Vonne plan, but kept mum about it with Natalie.
• He told Natalie that the guys will use Bridgette to go after the girls.
• Well, then ... you KNOW Michelle is on that list, too!
• The problems between Bridgette and Michelle have not been fixed and they probably can't be fixed.
• You know. Bridgette STOLE Frank from Michelle!
• Natalie tried to work things to her favor with Bridgette, telling her that she won't vote for her this week, nor nominate her if she (Natalie) wins HoH next week.
• It looks like the Backdoor Da'Vonne plan is in motion.
• Will it stick?
• I don't know. it would be a smart move on their part.

Crying! (Because he laughed too much.)

Not crying ... for now

Rolled her ankle. Ow.