The Amazing Race: Double Episode Blog Party - April 20, 2017

We're in for a double episode tonight. And, I'm coming into this tired and a bit under the weather. I will do my best to live blog the show's events as they air here on the East Coast. The real party is in the comments area -- come join in on the fun!

The Lovely Lifeguard Sharon C has made the random match-ups for the blog pool:
 
Shamir/Sara - Indiana Jane, Jenna's Mom
London/Logan - Delee, Sharon N
Brooke/Scott - Chrob61, Becky
Tara/Joey - SueGee, Willie J, Monty924
Becca/Floyd - Janice, Brian
Liz/Michael - Judi Sweeney, Dolores in Hollywood, Ed in Ohio
Matt/Redmond - MerriLee, Jackie
Vanck/Ashton - Nickelpeed, Donna in FL

PHILIMINATED:
Jessica/Francesca - Brenda, David, Sharon C
Seth/Olive - ML, Cheryl in NC

Are we ready? Yes, we are! 

Teams are off to Stonetown, also in Tanzania ... they're going to the childhood home of Freddie Mercury in Zanzibar.

Detour - Lock or Knock. Looking for a key in a hidden compartment in a room of chests or looking for one of three royal doors, then delivering.

Uh-oh -- Vanck and Ashton are arguing. 

Michael and Liz are leading the pack, first to find the clue in the detour.  Vanck and Ashton continue to disintegrate. They're in a marketplace, not near the detour choices. 

Cool. Scott had two keys and gave one to Becca and Floyd. I like Becca and Floyd. But Brooke is ticked at Scott. Shamir is being an idiot again. London and Logan are totally lost in the chests, they switch. Teams are all boarding the ferry except for Sara and Shamir.

Back in Tanzania, they face the Roadblock -- making a ladle from a sheet of aluminum. Brooke is almost in hysterics because she doesn't think she has the strength to do it. Finally Shamir and Sara find the key back in Zanzibar. Becca helps Brooke do the cutting because Scott had given them the key. How sweet. Brooke continues to freak.

Joey and Tara, then Becca/Floyd head to the Pit Stop. 

1. Tara and Joey -- won five grand each
2. Becca and Floyd 
3. Michael and Liz
4. Matt and Redmond
5. Logan and London  
6. Vanck and Ashton 
7. Brooke and Scott

Shamir and Sare are still at the Roadblock as Phil approaches them. They're Philiminated.  

Second episode --
Teams are on the way to Norway. It's the last chance for Becca and Floyd to use the Express Pass. All teams are on the same flight.

They have to eat very salty fish before getting the next clue. Brooke is once again freaking. 

Becca and Floyd go for the Fast Forward. They don't know they'll have to skydive 10,000 feet. 

Roadblock - Who wants to break a world record? Stacking wooden pallets that will be the world's tallest bonfire. 

Teams then must search for fire trolls (protecting the buildings) and then recite a poem to free them or go fishing in a kayak. Then they'll be on their way to the next Pit Stop.

Yikes! Ashton's pack is missing. And, Michael and Liz are falling apart. Uh-oh.

Becca and Floyd are in 7th heaven after the jump. They earned their Fast Forward.

The teams on the kayaks are having all sorts of problems. 

Pit Stop
1. Tara and Joey
2. Matt and Redmond
3. Becca and Floyd
Michael had a car accident. Will it be the end for them? (Or course, I'm thinking this might be a non-Philimination leg.) Great! The other vehicle owner said it was no problem!

4. Vanck and Ashton.

Michael and Liz take an elevator!

5. Logan and London
6. Brooke and Scott
7. Liz and Michael

NON-Philimination!  

Survivor: Game Changers - April 19 Double Episode Blog Party

Everybody ready? Got your snacks? Got your tasty adult beverages? As the show airs here on the east coast, I'll be live-blogging with all the major happenings. Refresh the page to see the latest news! But, as always, the real party is in the comments area. I hope to see you there!

I don't think anything could be so astounding as last week's Tribal Council. But tonight we see the reactions of Zeke's tribe and the merge will be on. We're in for two episodes in a row. Bring on the cyber-beverages!

Here's the updated pool! Lifeguard Laurie is back from Paradise --

MANA
Aubry Bracco - Ed in Ohio, meb
Brad Culpepper - Brian, Sharon N
Cirie Fields - Leonia Hart, Terry is a Texan
Hali Ford - Buzzmaam, Nana in the NW
Michaela Bradshaw - David, Jackie
Sierra Thomas - Becky, monty924
Troyzan Robertson - Donna in Alabama, Lifeguard Laurie

NUKU
Andrea Boehlke - Indiana Jane, ML
Debbie Wanner - Glenn, tbc
Ozzy Lusth - KelseyNY, Margo, PDX Granny
Sarah Lacina - Delee, Rbennie
Tai Trang - Cheryl in NC, Sharon C
Zeke Smith - Janice from GA, Paula Bell

No more fire!
Ciera Eastin
Tony Vlachos
Caleb Reynolds
Malcolm Freberg
JT Thomas 
Sandra Diaz-Twine
Jeff Varner

Survivor fans ready?

We see Varner getting voted out again although there never was a vote. Sarah and Tai are talking. Her eyes have been opened. She loves Zeke and thinks that, if anything, it makes him stronger. Zeke tells them he's touched by how everyone spoke up for him. But he still didn't want to be seen as anything other than Zeke.

Right to a challenge we go. A covered table, a table of food, hmm ...  Before they merge and feast, one person from each tribe must volunteer to not take part. Hmm. If two don't volunteer the merge will go on and all they'll get is a cracker and tea. Brad volunteers. Zeke thinks it's purely a game move. Tai volunteered for his tribe. Different reaction from a tribemate -- he's selfless.

The merge is on. Brad and Tai are off down the beach to get their yellow buffs.

Brad thinks he's taken over Tai's Caleb position. He starts talking strategy with Tai. 

Ick. As one of them said, "Debbie is going Debbie on us." She thinks it's the alcohol. Debbie told us she didn't drink any, it's strategy.  

Debbie plays nicey-nice with Brad. Zeke tells the Varner Tribal story. All seemed to support him as his own tribe did.

Uh-oh. The move is on to get Michaela (my blog pool pick) first. They all seem good with it. Ah, but Zeke wants to work with Cirie and Sarah. Should they try to recruit Michaela? 

A hen lays an egg on the roof of the shelter. "The laughs before the bloodbath." 

Hali wants to work with Michaela. Michaela thinks she needs to approach Cirie and needs people on her side. Cirie is giving her good advice.

Time for the first individual Immunity Challenge. Stand on toes with a block wedged between their heads and frame. Last blockhead wins! Heehee. I couldn't resist that.  

Hali, Troyzan, Zeke, out soon. Cirie out. Debbie out. Michaela out. This was all in the first five minutes. Ozzy out. Aubry out. Brad out. Sierra out. Tai and Andrea remain. Tai out! Andrea wins Immunity, the first woman to ever win this challenge!

Andrea thinks Hali might have an idol. She wants to flush it out -- leaning towards Michaela leaving.  They're telling Hali and Micahela that Zeke is the target because he has such a good backstory. Cirie is Cirie-ously trying to save Michaela. 

Tribal Council time. Hali tells them they can pat her down -- she doesn't have an idol. Hmm. Cirie votes Michaela to save them both.

The tally:
Zeke, Zeke, Michaela, Hali, Michaela, Hali, Michaela, Hali, Michaela, Hali, Hali, Hali ...

Hali is voted out.  She's the first member of the jury.

Cirie is ready for war. She, Zeke and Aubry want to target Brad and Sierra. Andrea also wants to get them out. Is it a coup? 

Zeke thinks that Andrea and Cirie are actually bigger threats in the game. Will he be a game changer? 

Reward Challenge -- Two teams of six -- two swim out, retrieve fish puzzle pieces, two hook them up and the other two put it together. Schoolyard pick. A day of luxury is the prize.

Andrea, Zeke, Debbie, Troyzan, Ozzy and Tai win Reward! 

Oh my, the Marshalls Spa is from Marshalls the store -- all kinds of products from Marshalls. Tai streaked. 

Zeke takes his Andrea target to Debbie and Tai. Debbie is skeptical. 

Immunity Challenge -- Hang onto a pole the longest you can. The classic wrap yourself around a pole -- Ozzy has won it the two times he did it. Cirie lost it before. It's new to the others.

Cirie out first. Brad is out. Aubry out. Debbie out. Zeke out. Sierra out. Troyzan out. Sierra out. 
Andrea, Michaela, Tai and Ozzy remain. 

Michaela drops saying Ozzy won't come down. He's told them that he plans on beating his own record. 

Andrea falls hard.  Ozzy is OUT!

Tai wins Immunity! It's like he was Tai-ed onto the pole! 

Zeke pushes his Andrea agenda to Sierra. She doesn't trust him. Andrea hears it and is now ticked at Zeke. Ozzy is with Cirie. Now they're all abuzz about voting out Zeke. Whoa! Debbie has started a blindside Ozzy movement.  

Tribal Council time. They talk about how the game seems higher stake and cagier this season.  

Debbie uses her Advantage of an extra vote. 

The tally --
Ozzy, Zeke, Sierra, Ozzy, Zeke, Ozzy, Zeke, Ozzy, Zeke, Ozzy, Ozzy, Ozzy 

Sorry, Petals. Ozzy is outsy.   

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - April 16, 2017

Good evening! I hope everybody had an enjoyable Easter Sunday! My apologies for posting this so late in the day. But that's sometimes how things go! This is my weekly off television topic reflection on the week gone by in both words and photos I took along the way. If you're here for Survivor -- you can find any Survivor posts I make at this link right here.  You can find any posts I make about TAR at this link -- The Amazing Race.

Once again this week, I don't have a whole lot going on. We're finally having spring here ... that's news! Flowers are blooming, people are sneezing. I even saw a ladybug riding the train one day. Unfortunately, I didn't get a good photo of her/him. I also didn't find out if the proper fare was paid for the trip.

Yesterday I witnessed a woman arguing with a man about which corner would be "her corner." Gee, whatever could they be up to on the city streets?

I'm glad that most of the kids around here will be going back to school tomorrow. They've been on spring break. Now, it's is I who could use a spring break! I personally would have no issue with children going to school year-round. I didn't think that way as a child, of course. But these many weeks off and long summer vacations certainly don't prepare kids to adult in the real world.

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

No, it doesn't

This sign is posted on the lawn of the Friends (Quakers) Meetinghouse on Watchung Avenue.

Fullish Pink Moon

I took this shot Monday night, but the moon wasn't actually full until Tuesday. There was a bit of haze around it, but I was able to get detail. It isn't called the Pink Full Moon because it's supposed to be pink -- it's called that because it's time for flowers to bloom. (And they're starting!)

Everybody loves a pansy

Queen City Pride billboard

This billboard is at the Watchung Avenue underpass adjacent to the Plainfield Train Station. I don't work in town, but I certainly do live here. I enjoy seeing all of the revitalization going on. 

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

Happy Easter!

I'd like to wish everyone who celebrates the day a Happy Easter! My weekly off television topic photo post will be posted later today.

The Amazing Race: April 13 Blog Party

I'm going to keep having trouble with this later hour for the show! Please bear with me as I'm way tired after a very hectic day at my workplace. I will do my best to live blog the show's events as they air here on the East Coast. The real party is in the comments area -- come join in on the fun!

The Lovely Lifeguard Sharon C has made the random match-ups for the blog pool:
 
Shamir/Sara - Indiana Jane, Jenna's Mom
London/Logan - Delee, Sharon N
Seth/Olive - ML, Cheryl in NC
Brooke/Scott - Chrob61, Becky
Tara/Joey - SueGee, Willie J, Monty924
Becca/Floyd - Janice, Brian
Liz/Michael - Judi Sweeney, Dolores in Hollywood, Ed in Ohio
Matt/Redmond - MerriLee, Jackie
Vanck/Ashton - Nickelpeed, Donna in FL

PHILIMINATED:
Jessica/Francesca - Brenda, David, Sharon C


Are we ready? Yes, we are! 

Sara is still not happy with Shamir -- as she should be. Most of the teams are getting along fine. The teams are off to Tanzania next. There's a Blind Double U-Turn ahead. Will Vanck and Ashton get even with Matt/Redmond for not keeping their deal on the last leg? They're all on the same flight. 

Uh-oh -- Matt/Redmond alienated more teams by cutting in line.

U-Turn - Seth and Olive U-turned by Joey/Tara
             Matt and Redmond U-Turned by Vanck/Ashton

Detour is either Build It or Weave It. They're building a wooden desk or weaving two baskets. Aw, Shamir got a splinter.

Roadblock -- They have to find foods from a list at a marketplace and deliver it. 

Michael knows his foods! He and Liz are the first team heading towards the Pit Stop. 

Pit Stop
1. Liz/Michael -- won a trip to Amsterdam
2. Tara and Joey 
3. Vamck and Ashton
4. Matt and Redmond 
5. Becca and Floyd 
6. Scott and Brooke 
7. London and Logan

OH NOES! Becca and Floyd don't have their passports, they have to get them before they can check in!

8. Shamir and Sara
9. Becca and Floyd
10. Seth and Olive -- Philiminated