BBOTT: Hamsters, Hamsters - into Sunday, November 20

Easy noms decision this week

Oh my gosh. I really have little for you today.

• Since Justin saved himself with the care package and Shelby is Morgan's best and only ally in the game, the nominations are obvious.
• Kryssie and Jason will be on the block.
• (Even though the safety ceremony is down to one and it will be later tonight.)
• There will be no America's nominee this week.
• Justin and Shelby will be the only hamsters voting. We (America) will vote.
• Although Morgan and Shelby want Jason out -- Kryssie to the final three would guarantee someone else a win at the end -- I would guess that America will more likely vote to evict Kryssie over Jason.
• So, that would leave Justin as the deciding vote.
• Even though Jason tried to get Justin out with a deal the week Danielle ended up gone, I think Justin will be loyal to Jason.
• I guess we'll see.
• Meanwhile, the day was uneventful.
• They laid about.
• They ate.
• They all got along together when together, but sniped about each other when apart.
• They are bored.
• They are boring. 

Playing a good game. Will she make it?

Who will win? Jason or Jason? Pool, I mean.

Works too hard at being a misfit

Missing his home

BBOTT: Care Package Challenge Day - into Saturday Pre-dawn - November 19

Ready to go home, but not just yet.

Yesterday's care package from America could only go to one person since Danielle got the boot last week. We're talking Justin.

• In order to win his safety this week, Justin had to walk across a slack line that I'm thinking looked maybe 20 feet or so and ring a bell once he completed it.
• He was given two hours to practice.
• They have had a smaller slack line in the yard all summer. I can recall both Danielle and Justin messing around with it. But nothing serious. No one really used the equipment in the backyard religiously all summer.
• After diligently using his practice time and often not making it, Justin had one shot to make it across for safety.
• And, he did it!
• He's guaranteed a spot in the final four!
• Justin seems to have forgotten all about his deal last week to align with Kryssie, Shelby and Morgan.
• Now, it's all again about the Late Night Jamboree group ... including Jason.
• We know that Morgan will put Jason and Kryssie up on the block.
• But ... if one of the LNJ people win veto and either come down, Shelby will go up and the LNJ will control the vote.
• America has no nominee this week, if memory serves.
• As for Shelby and Morgan ... they still want Jason out. 
• The two sides are still getting along fantastically on the surface, yet sniping at each other behind their backs.
• I think the person most likely to be in the final three at this time is Kryssie. Both sides want to take her because she has no real chances of winning. Poor performance in comps plus poor sportsmanship have done her in. Anyone going against her should win.
• We're going to be pretty much at a standstill until Monday with the veto comp. We already know who will be the nominees even though the safety ceremonies have yet to be held. 

Slack line practice

Justin losing it during practice

I predict: Not a chance of the win

Ready for Justin's challenge

Dishing celebrity gossip

BBOTT: Thursday Doldrums - Into Friday, November 18

I quit my job for a second time ...!

Thursday was a heck of a lot of nothing going on in the hamster house.

• Whenever all the hamsters got together, all was cordial and even to the point of friendly.
• When the two sides -- Morgan/Shelby vs. Jason/Justin/Kryssie -- were separated, it was a whole 'nuther story.
• Jason is miserable. He went on and on about quitting his job for a second time and how he doesn't want to be evicted by those "stupid" girls.
• Stupid? I don't think so. They've gotten this far in the game. Plus, as they all know now, Shelby has her law degree.
• Kryssie fussed about her old car and how she needs to be a newer old car. She's also tired of working 50 hours a week to make ends meet.
• I kind of think 50 isn't bad at her age. I know there have been times in my life (and probably yours if you're older) that I worked many more hours and multiple jobs. 
• On the other hand, Justin still loves us all.
• But they all think that Shelby and Morgan have always had easy lives and trust funds.
• Hmm. When Morgan took an HoH bubble bath, she talked to us. She says she wants to go back to school, but is "drowning in student debt" plus owes her parents a lot of money.
• Jason thinks that Morgan and Shelby are just about already thinking he's gone.
• Justin says being in the house has been a rehab for him because at home he was drinking and smoking pot every day.
• Meanwhile, Shelby and Morgan do intend to target Jason.
• It seems that they'd rather go into a final three with Kryssie more so than Justin even though they've "worked more" with him than with her.
• Oh, well.  

HoH perks bubble bath

Loves us all, no matter what

Has high hopes

I'm not going to keep in touch with "them"

BBOTT: HoH Quiz/Endurance Comp - November 16

Like they didn't know

Yet another rather convoluted comp. They first have to lock in answers for questions that the answer would be either male or female. Then they all go stand on a peg for a period of time. After time passes, the questions are tallied. If they have an answer incorrect, they must move to the next smaller peg. Last one standing wins.

Answering male/female answers

Yes, she is

Questions like these

Boring

Still boring

All got the first two questions correct and remain on the first peg platform.

This is moving along VERY slowly. 

On the third question of seven, Justin was the only one to get it wrong and must move to a smaller post platform. He has the biggest feet. It doesn't look all that good for him now.

Jason has joined Justin as a second smaller post platform person. 

Justin is wrong on the fifth question and has to move to the next smaller post. 

Geez, Justin. He got the next question wrong, too. Onto a smaller post!   

Biggest feet, smallest post

The questions have ended. Now every five minutes they must move forward to the next (smaller) post. That will continue until they're all at the smallest post.

11pm ET - They all move forward a post. Justin is on the smallest post. Jason is on the third post; Kryssie and Morgan on the second. Wait ... Jason falls before really getting his balance! He's out! 

11:02pm ET - Justin down. Jason down.

Losing!

11:10pm ET - Both Kryssie and Morgan move forward to the next smaller peg. Morgan tries to deal with Kryssie to no avail. 

11:15pm ET - In the transition to the next post, Kryssie lost her balance. Morgan is the new HoH! 

Messing around after Morgan wins

 

Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen-X Blog Party - November 16

As Survivor airs here on the East Coast, I'll be live-blogging with the major events.  As always, the real party is in the comments area. Please feel free to join in on the fun! 

Since the BBOTT weekly show is starting at the same time as Survivor, I'm putting up a post for it that will be concurrent with this one. I'm not expecting the eviction there until after Survivor ends, so I will be here until the end of this show. I can't physically (or mentally) watch and post about two shows at one time! Gah! I'll have the feeds on minimized and low volume during this show. If I hear the eviction go down, I'll see what's up.

Here are the blog pool match updates from the Lifeguard Luau Laurie:

Survivors
Adam Klein - Brian, Kelsey NY, Sharon N
Bret LaBelle - Brandi Peralta, Judi Sweeney, Skyriverblue
Chris Hammons - Cheryl in NC, Jennasmom, Lanell from TN
David Wright - Buzzmaam, MikesGirl, Sharon C
Hannah Shapiro - David, meb, Terry is a Texan
Jay Starrett - Becky, Jackie, Shayne
Jessica Lewis - Cupcake, Jean, Petals
Ken McNickle - Dolores in Hollywood, Margo, Russ
Sunday Burquest - Brenda, Kristen from Ohio, SueGee
Taylor Lee Stocker - Donna in FL, Janice from GA, Stephanie in Baltimore
Will Wahl - Cheryl, Indiana Jane
Zeke Smith - Beachmom, monty924 , Glenn

Jury
Michelle Shubert

Survivor fans ready? 

Jay is very bitter about Michelle being voted out. Meanwhile, Gen-X Chris is a bit leery whether Adam can be trusted or not. Jay, Taylor and Will are ready to work to stay in the game. Adam knows about Jay's food stash while Jay knows about Adam's found advantage. Hannah seems to stand a better chance of acceptance for her betrayal of the kids.

Rewards Challenge time - two teams of six -- schoolyard pick, Resort poolside, cheeseburgers, fries, cocktails, soft drinks. 

Purple - Chris, Bret, Ken, Sunday, David and Taylor
Orange - Hannah, Will, Zeke, Adam, Jessica, Jay

Obstacles and more. Reward goes to Purple!

Adam's mouth continues to get him in trouble. He went and aggravated Jay, telling him that he was the bottom of the alliance and would be targeted. If Adam would just shut up and play, he'll be around longer. It was okay to tell Jay that he voted Michelle out and joined in with Gen-X because he knew he himself was a target. He should have stopped at that! 

Uh-oh. Jessica has attracted the attention of Sunday and company. Not good attention, mind you. She goes to Jay to tell him Jessica. Hmm. 

Immunity Challenge time! My gosh! It's similar to a recent BBOTT comp! Standing on a narrow beam balancing a ball on a doohickey. Jeff tries to bribe them with food and beer. Zeke and Will go for the bribe. All else play. 

Hannah out, cannot eat or drink. Jeff reminds Will he's too young to drink the beer. Heh. Bret out. 

Taylor and Ken are now the only ones remaining. 

Ken wins Immunity! 

Ken and David think it best to split the vote between Taylor and Jay in case there's an idol. Sunday tells Bret (alone) that she doesn't want Jay to go. We know she wants Jessica out. 

Taylor shows his stolen food stash and shares it with Jay. Jay doesn't know if he should use his idol or not. Jay tells Taylor about Adam's advantage. 

Whoa! Adam's game is getting blown up at Tribal! Taylor tells them Adam was in on the stolen food! Taylor also blows Adam's advantage. Epic foolishness.

No idols played.

Tally:
Jay, Taylor, Adam, Jay, Taylor, Jay, Taylor, Jay, Taylor, Taylor, Taylor.

Well deserved. Taylor is gonzo.  

BBOTT: Weekly Episode and Live Eviction - November 16

Since there is a scrolling banner telling us that the weekly (online) BBOTT show will be starting at 8pm ET, I'm putting up this post so anyone who wishes to do so can comment on the weekly show. I'm not going to live blog the show itself as we've already discussed all that happens.  Plus, the early time here for the show has it at the same time as Survivor -- which I live blog and more people are into than this CBS All Access only version of Big Brother.

I will keep one eye on the show so that I can announce the live eviction. Shelby's nominees -- Jason and Danielle -- are the only ones remaining on the block as Shelby saved Morgan with the veto. Since Morgan was America's nomination, no one will be replacing her. I am personally hoping for Danielle to leave before Jason, but we'll see.

9:00pm ET - Live eviction speeches time. 

The votes to evict:
Justin - Danielle
Kryssie - Danielle
Morgan - Danielle

It's unanimous with four votes to evict, Danielle is gone. America and the hamsters thought it was time.

BBOTT: America's Nom, Veto Comp - into Tuesday, November 15

Jason gets the PoV results

Between the convoluted mirrors and lasers HoH comp and this PoV comp ... it's enough to make a hamster scream and run for the hills!

• First off, they got the news of America's nomination.
• Hmm.
• Morgan? 
• I'm kind of surprised it wasn't Kryssie.
• Then PoV was ON.
• They had to race around, answering questions with dominoes.
• It was one of those one-at-a-time things with the others sequestered in separate rooms.
• I personally think that has to be torture -- more torture for those who are last to play.
• When it was all said and done ... for once, Kryssie actually beat some people.
• Her time beat Danielle and Morgan's times.
• Danielle really screwed it up and had to start again. That's what happened to her time.
• Justin came in second to Shelby with Jason just seconds behind him.
• Not that his time score was anywhere near hers, mind you.
• So, Shelby has won the Power of Veto.
• She can save Morgan!
• As Morgan is America's nominee, if taken off the block, she won't be replaced.
• It would be Jason and Danielle.
• Of those two, I think that Justin and Kryssie would more likely vote for Danielle to go. I'm not as sure about Morgan's vote.
• Of those two, I'd rather Danielle go. 

He wasn't the worst for once

The pressure!

Very convoluted

Look! Copyrighted tattoos!

The final tally

BBOTT: Shelby's Nominations - into Monday, November 14

Is it morning? Gah.

The big action yesterday (Sunday) was something we all expected and it was no surprise to the hamsters either.

• They got the HoH camera (and fun was had by all).
• Well, except maybe Kryssie. Now, she got safety the night before, yet is fussing about how Shelby and Morgan do nothing. Oh geez, they didn't help put the awnings up for the day! Horrors!
• Danielle is still on her anti-Justin kick.
• She thinks he doesn't really play the game, throws comps and has made a deal with Shelby/Morgan.
• Huh.
• We all know that Danielle/Justin tried to make a deal with Shelby/Morgan.
• Danielle listed a whole bunch of reasons that she shouldn't be evicted. I assume that would be for the America's vote benefit.
• Hmm.
• Shelby and Morgan recognize the need to emphasize to Justin that he must act "normal" -- as normal as Justin can get -- around Jason so that Jason won't realize the deal this week with them is a final four deal.
• Yep -- final four deal as in Morgan, Shelby, Justin and Kryssie.
• During the very brief safety ceremony, Morgan was saved by Shelby.
• Well, duh.
• Since Kryssie and Justin were saved the night before, Danielle and Jason knew what was coming. They're on the block.
• Shelby's speech to them was just as short -- "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."
• That was a reference to Jason going back on deals with them before.
• Danielle's been running around building the pity reasons for her to stay.
• Kryssie has been telling Justin that Danielle's gunning for him.
• Jason says no way does he want to go out before Danielle.
• Of course, America's final nomination today may change the whole scenario.
• But I do think more will target Danielle than Jason. 

We never have ANYTHING to eat!

Quad cam - as they wait on Shelby

Make your final safety pick

Ah, yes, I knew it was coming.

Fearing America's nomination

Will this be her last hurrah?

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - November 13

Good afternoon! Since it's Sunday, 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. This is a regular Sunday part of this blog in addition to the television posts. Right now I'm covering Big Brother: Over the Top daily -- you can find those posts at this link. I'm also live blogging Survivor episodes as they air on Wednesday evenings. Come join the blog parties!

My apologies for getting this up so late. I'm still fighting the super-cold that's gone rampant through my workplace and the general public. And, it's just not been a great week on the whole for me on a personal level.

The amount of hate and unrest in the world is getting to me. I voted my conscience on Tuesday. Now I see the hatemongers who posted so many racially charged memes of President Obama over the years continuing to post hateful things, I'm dismayed with humanity. 

My upstairs neighbor decided that since Friday was a holiday for him, the world needed to hear his subwoofer stereo late into the night on Thursday. The police responded over a half hour after called and talked to him. But, by then he had turned it off. The landlord will get yet another complaint tomorrow about that. And, mind you, Friday was NOT a holiday at my workplace. 

For the first time ever at the Plainfield Library Photo Contest, not a one of my five photos was deemed worthy of even an Honorable Mention. I don't really like to sound like a sore loser or sour grapes, but obviously the judging criteria has changed with a different person judging the photos. I really feel like I had two photos that were strong contenders and they got zilch even though one of them had all kinds of people gathered around it saying how wonderful it was. I guess I'll rethink what I do next year. 

So, for me ... it's been a week of dismay, disappointment and disturbing. I won't even go into a few deaths of people who touched my life.

Onto the photos, for what they're worth ...    

Reflections on the library.

The Plainfield Public Library's windows reflecting the nearby street scenes.

Yes, I voted

A birds-eye view?

I always liked this building.

Although it could definitely use a bit of tender loving care, this is one fine building. The mosaic tiles are beyond cool. It was obviously built back when art was part of designing buildings. Corner of Park Avenue and East 5th Street in Plainfield.

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