Counting Your Blessings

Got a really quick start today with breakfast and Paw Patrol. Mayor Humdinger is horrified when he sees a stranded elf's map and learns that the people of Foggy Bottom aren't considered "nice" enough to get presents, including him. "Pups Save a Bah Humdinger" when he and the Kitten Catastrophe crew steal the Air Patroller and take it up to the North Pole to give Santa a revised list that has Foggy Bottom as the only place he's visiting. The pups follow to stop him before he cuts Adventure Bay out entirely.

Hurried out to Sprouts soon as the episode ended. I wasn't going to have time to hit the Acme today, but I did have time to pick up things here. I got coconut milk, sparkling water, soda, and dug whole wheat flour, sugar, oats, and regular flour out of the bulk bins. 

Just barely hurried home in time, dropped everything off, and hurried back out. Even with all the rushing, I was still fifteen minutes late for work. On one hand, it was the same deal as yesterday with slightly fewer kids. We had 17 children stuck in the cafeteria all afternoon because it remains cold and windy, despite the sunny day. I colored with some children, worked on magnetic tiles with others. One of the teachers had just set the kids watching the Green Eggs and Ham show on Netflix when I was let go early.

I decided I deserved a treat after what had been a very long week. I rode back into Oaklyn but past where I would normally cross the street, down to WaWa. Got a snickderdoodle smoothie, which was basically a cinnamon sugar cookie smoothie topped with cookie crumbs. Not bad. Very sweet, and it did taste like cookie, which is what counts. I stopped at Family Dollar to see if they had something; moved on very quickly when I saw that they didn't and it was busy.

Put on White Christmas when I got home. I go further into the classic musical with Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, and Rosemary Clooney at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog in one of my first entries from December 2018.

White Christmas

Switched to Match Game Syndicated during dinner. Bob Barker continued to appear on the show through 1980, even after it left CBS. His last week had him between Betty White and Dallas ingenue Charlene Tilton. He and Gene spent almost the entire week drooling over Charlene, to the annoyance of Brett and Charles. On one day, Bob gave one of the only right answers during the entire episode and got a standing ovation for doing so. The next day, his seat broke and sank under the table, and the replacement they found him was too high. Betty White sank down with him in solidarity.

Got next week's schedule around this time, too. It's...identical to this week's schedule, two early days on Wednesday and Saturday, one late day on Sunday. On one hand, that should still give me plenty of time to make cookies, which was all I had planned for next week. On the other hand, I'm surprised I don't have more hours. We should be picking up next week as people start coming out of the malls and buying ingredients for their own holiday baking and Christmas dinners. 

Worked on The WENN Nutcracker Suite. Betty overhears Mr. Eldridge and Gertie talking as she lays on Gertie's gingerbread bed. Mr. Eldridge sadly admits how bad Scott's curse is. He remembers nothing about who he is or was. He has no heart or mind, and can neither think, nor feel. He's merely a toy. Gertie explains that Jeff the Sugar Plum Cavalier is now a dancing wax doll on a music box and is in the hands of spoiled Princess Pirlipat, who rejected Scott after he was turned into a Nutcracker. 

Finished the night with more classic Christmas variety specials on YouTube. Perry Como went to New Mexico for his holiday in 1979. This may have been one of his most unique holiday jaunts. Janet DeWitt, Anne Murray, and Greer Garson (who was living with her millionaire husband in New Mexico by the late 70's) join him to show off a chili pepper-eating contest, Christmas among the early New Mexican pioneers, and among the Pueblo Indians.

We went back across the country in 1982 for Andy Wiliams' Early New England Christmas. Dorothy Hamill is a pretty ice-skating teacher, Eileen Quinn of Annie is one of her students, Dick Van Patton runs the general store, and James Gallaway plays lovely flute tunes that sound like they could have come from this era. Williams joins Hamill's students for their school pageant, tries to get Patton to help him find the perfect Christmas gift, and gets into the community spirit at the town's Christmas Eve dance.

Winds of Christmas

Began the morning with breakfast and A Christmas Carol on Tubi. This is the half-hour version animated by Richard Williams in 1971. No wonder it won an Oscar for Best Animated Short Film a year later. Williams' work on this is haunting, from Marley and the ghosts outside Scrooge's window to Want and Ignorance under the Ghost of Christmas Present's robe. 

Hurried out even before the cartoon ended. I was ten minutes late to my appointment with Bryanna. She really just wanted to touch up with me anyway and see how the after-school program is going. That is mostly going fine. I love working with the kids, and I like the Thomas Sharp School. I don't like the constant turnover in the program. No wonder I got a job so easily despite my lack of experience working with kids. Since I don't have kids, it's also hard for me to keep up with the school schedule and remember when they have half-days and holidays. I'm going to stick with the after-school program until at least the end of the school year and see how I feel. The kids don't need to lose anyone else.

I do still want out of the Acme, however. I also still need to find a decent place to live that isn't an attic. Bryanna suggested calling my counselors at DVRS after the holidays to ask about low-income housing. Isn't all of that in Camden, and don't you have to sign a long, long waiting list to get it? I'm probably better off just trying to see what I can afford in Deptford and Cherry Hill.

Made a quick stop at Target on my way home. I was mainly there to get something for my nephew Collyn's birthday tomorrow. I also grabbed a few things to make cookies next week, including nifty hot chocolate and marshmallow-flavored chocolate chips and cake mix for the peanut butter cookies. 

Rushed home, loaded Collyn's birthday gift into his family's Christmas package, sealed the package, and rushed to the Oaklyn Post Office a couple of blocks down. I wanted to send my Christmas packages before work today. To my delight, there was no line when I arrived. I was expecting the line to be out the door. Sent a card for Linda Young and packages for Anny and her kids, Lauren and her parents, and Mom, Keefe, and his family. 

Since I took so little time at the Post Office, I was able to stop at Dollar General around the corner. I picked up red velvet cake mix and maraschino cherries for cookies next week and more bags for cookies. The line wasn't bad, and I was in and out.

Good thing I got to the school on time. The kids were really crazy today. It was sunny, but too windy and cold for them to go outside. They were so noisy in the bathrooms, the custodial staff complained. They just would not sit down in the cafeteria, no matter how many toys we pulled out for them or how many pages they colored. We put music on a speaker belonging to one of the teachers and let them dance, and it still wasn't enough for them to shake their sillies out. I did manage to get off early when there were only 3 pre-schoolers and kindergartners left by quarter of 4.

Hurried home and into baking. Normally, I'd bring cookies to the Acme's Christmas employee buffet, but for some reason, it's being held a week early this year. I don't make my cookies until the week before Christmas. That's why I needed buttermilk yesterday. I made the delicious gingerbread bars recipe from Samantha's Cooking Studio instead. Yum! It came out perfectly and smelled amazing in the oven.

I was so tired, after the gingerbread came out of the oven, I just grabbed my coat and strolled two blocks down to Crown Chicken and Gyro to get a tilapia sandwich and fries for dinner. At least it was a nice night for a walk. It remained cold, but the wind had died down considerably since I'd gotten back from school.

Had dinner while watching Hollywood Hotel. I go further into this Busby Berkeley-directed musical with Dick Powell that introduced "Hooray for Hollywood" at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Hollywood Hotel

Finished the night with two beloved animated holiday soundtracks. A Charlie Brown Christmas is one of the great jazz soundtracks of all time, and in fact, was one of the first records I bought after Dad gave me my first record player in 2006. "Linus and Lucy" and "Christmastime Is Here" were the big hits. I also like the lovely, flowing song played while the kids skate and "O Tannenbaum."

Decca re-released the soundtrack for the Rankin-Bass Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer on LP in honor of its 60th anniversary last year. My favorite song from this one is its lively hit "Holly Jolly Christmas," performed by Burl Ives. There's also the Misfit Toys' "The Most Wonderful Day of the Year" and Clarice the Reindeer's sweet ballad "There's Always Tomorrow."

When the Clouds Roll In

Got a quick start today with breakfast and "Santa's Workshop" at Disney Plus. This Silly Symphony short is the first of two Disney made revolving around Santa Claus and what he does. In this case, we get to see the elves making toys and caring for the reindeer, and Santa inspecting and loading the toys. I love the parade of marching toys near the end of the short, especially the tumbling teddy and adorable wind-up piggies.

Called Uber right after the short ended. It was still sunny at 9 AM, but it was supposed to rain later. Not to mention, I figured Uber would get me to the Thomas Sharp School faster after work. I just wish they hadn't taken 13 minutes to come! There was no traffic when they did arrive, but that meant I was late.

Fortunately, that was the worst thing that happened all day. Work went just fine, other than I had a lot of cold items to return. It did pick up around 11:30-noon as the clouds pulled in and the lunch rush hour started. Other than that, it wasn't terribly busy, and there were no major problems. I even picked up buttermilk for a baking project and a card for my nephew Collyn's birthday this week.

Called Uber when I came out. Thankfully, this time they only took 7 minutes to arrive. Once again, there was no traffic going to West Collingwood. The gentleman pulled up at the Thomas Sharp School less than 5 minutes later. 

The classes were bedlam when I knocked on the door. I wasn't the only teacher who was late or couldn't come. One teacher called out sick. Another couldn't get out of her other job at all. At least we only had 17 preschool and kindergarten kids when I came in, more than yesterday but still not the big group we had on Monday. I spent most of the time coloring or building with magnetic tiles with them or taking a few kids at a time to the bathroom. One of the boys even gave me the piles of artwork he did today.

Since it wasn't raining when I got out, I walked home. I had to make one last stop anyway. The post office was still open at that point. Normally, I use leftover Amazon boxes to send my Christmas packages in the mail, but I didn't buy any Christmas gifts from Amazon this year. I just grabbed free boxes from the post office instead.

Packed up the boxes for the post office when I got home. Watched Santa Claus Is Coming to Town while I worked. I went further into this classic 1970 Rankin-Bass special on the origins of Santa at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog way back in December 2018.

Santa Claus Is Coming to Town

(Oh, and it started raining again not long after I got home. It's rained lightly off and on ever since.)

Switched to Match Game '75 during dinner. We skipped ahead to one of Bob's best weeks. He and fellow vintage game show host Arlene Francis got to see Carol Bartos become the biggest winner the show ever had up to that point with over $20,000. When Fannie gave her the winning answer to "__ Tie" in the Head-to-Head, she even excitedly tossed out her black bow tie.

Worked on The WENN Nutcracker Suite after dinner. After hearing Mr. Eldridge's story of how he was cursed and Pirlipat rejected him, the Nutcracker separates from the others and sits near a window. He finally speaks, telling Betty he has no idea who he is or what his name is. He only remembers falling over the Mouse Queen and loses his sword. Betty tells him how much he reminds her of her friend Scott Sherwood and that she thinks he's very brave. She passes out on his shoulder, and he gently carries her to Gertie's bed to sleep. 

Took a shower, then finished the night with two vintage Perry Como holiday specials at YouTube. We first head to Williamsburg, Virginia in 1978 for An Early American Christmas. Como explains Colonial holiday customs, receives a rare pineapple as a gift, sings and dances with Diana Canova, and shares a cup of grog with John Wayne at a local tavern. (Sadly, Wayne died less than six months after this special's release.)

Angie Dickenson and fashion designer Pierre Cardin joins Como for Christmas In Paris in 1982. Dickenson is thrilled to get a Paris gown, but Como likes his French holiday trips simpler. They encounter two frog puppets who want to dance for Dickenson, sing in a Parisian music hall with the beautiful French singer Line Renaud, and listen to the Boys' Choir of Notre Dame.

Sky Full of Rainbows

Slept in, which meant it was past 11 when I had breakfast and put on "A Nutcracker Scoob." The series finale of The New Scooby Doo Mysteries brings Fred back in to help Daphne, Shaggy, and the dogs put on a Christmas pageant for a poor orphanage. When the Ghost of Christmas Never Was interferes with the show, the kids are initially convinced that the miser who is after the orphanage did it. At least, until he's at the pageant too when the Ghost steals the true star of the show...

Got ready for work while watching Supermarket Sweep. Caught the first half when they were still playing games. This was an older episode, probably from around 1993. David Ruprecht wore colorful sweaters and pushed the new "super-sized" cans that contestants could grab and the sandwich they could make to get extra money.

Headed out a little early. I wanted to finish my Christmas shopping and pick up gift cards at CVS, since it's on my way to the Thomas Sharp School. I needed two for older friends, two for my nephews Collyn and Skylar, and one for Keefe and his wife Julia. Grabbed them, paid for them, headed out.

Thankfully, it wasn't anywhere near as chaotic at school today as it was yesterday. For one thing, we only had 14 younger kids, down from 25 yesterday. I suspect most of the kids probably went home with their parents after conferences. We even took them to the bathroom as a group with no major trouble. 

It also helped that we got them outside today. It was a gorgeous day, sunny, breezy, a bit chilly but nothing like yesterday. One of the little girls even spotted a small rainbow in the clouds over the school while she was swinging. The kids all gazed at it in wonder until we called them inside. I spent the rest of the evening building with wooden blocks with one group, then watching another play card games until there were only two pre-schoolers left and they let me go.

Hurried home, did chores, then went back out with Jessa. We had dinner at the Silver Diner at the Hillview Shopping Center across from the Cherry Hill Mall. They're a 50's-style diner with decidedly modern takes on old favorites. Jessa had your basic turkey, mashed potatoes, and cranberry chutney dinner. I had a small burger with their amazing sweet potato fries. Yum. The burger was good despite its size, and their fries are always amazing. Jess let me try a bit of her turkey dinner, too. She had sourdough bread under the turkey instead of stuffing. We had to try dessert. She had pecan pie and a fancy s'mores-themed coffee drink. I had an enormous slice of chocolate cake with fudge filling topped with chocolate and vanilla sauce and smothered in mini chocolate chips. Jess even let me try some of her pecan pie, too.

I finished the night with Vogues of 1938 when I got home. I go further into this gorgeous 1937 backstage confection that introduced the ballad "That Old Feeling" at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Cult Flops - Walter Wanger's Vogues of 1938

Keeping Cool With Kids

Began the morning with breakfast and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Plus. "SPOTS the Beagle-Bot" is a robotic dog Professor Ludvig Von Drake invented as a companion to Pluto. Pluto and the others try to teach SPOTS how to do all the things real dogs do, but he's more interested in the Professor than in learning new tricks. 

Spent the rest of the morning finishing up the wrapping. This time, I did get everything done, including Jessa's and all of Lauren's. That ends my gift shopping. Anyone else who turns up unexpectedly will get cookies or a gift card. I'll get the gift cards tomorrow or Wednesday. 

Watched My Little Pony: Best Gift Ever on Tubi as I worked. Hoping to lighten their workload, the Mane Six do what they call a "Hearth's Warming Helper" (or a Secret Santa to us humans) and choose one pony to give a gift. Spike desperately changes recipients with Fluttershy in order to impress Rarity, then can't figure out what to give her. Fluttershy falls for a cheap toy being sold by resident con-ponies Flim and Flam as the "must have gift for Hearth's Warming." Applejack helps her get back at them, but they spend all their money doing so. Discord pesters Rainbow Dash into catching a seemingly cute little critter for Fluttershy, not realizing it isn't so cute at night. Pinkie Pie is sent north to get her gift from a trio of flying reindeer who claim she'll understand what it is later. Twilight desperately tries to make Pinkie a certain magical pudding, but her little niece Flurry Heart adds a few too many ingredients, and it floods everywhere. In the end, after they figure out how to fix the pudding and Fluttershy tames the critter, they realize that the real "Best Gift Ever" is their friendship, not something that came from a store.

Had a quick lunch while watching The Bear Who Slept Through Christmas, which is also on Tubi. Most bears hibernate through the cold months, December included. Ted E. Bear, however, is a curious little fellow, and he's most interested in Christmas. He's heard stories about it and wants to see all the colors and lights, but can't seem to stay awake long enough to see it. His girlfriend leaves him over it; he loses his job when he talks about it to the press. He finally stumbles to the big city, where he learns that Christmas isn't just a time of year. It's a feeling...and one that's best spent with someone you love.

Called Uber after I finished eating. It was way too cold to even consider the bike today. It barely got into the 30's! To my shock, the driver arrived in less than a minute. I was at the school in less than five.

Things did not begin well today. The Collingswood elementary schools are on half-days this week, thanks to parent-teacher conferences. The kids were all rowdy and full of energy, and not being able to take them outside due to the cold didn't help matters. Even the big kids stayed in today. They were especially crazy in the bathrooms, bouncing off the walls, running around in the bathrooms, and refusing to listen to anyone, including me. I tried to read to them after lunch, but they would sit down. The head manager kept having to move them further and further back into the music offices/storage area. 

They weren't all that happy when the head manager told them they had to stay at their assigned tables and play with what was there, either. They're used to being able to go to whatever table interests them. That said, I did have some nice conversations with some of the children at my table, including a little girl dressed as Alice In Wonderland who looked like something out of Tenniel. The kids at my table played with magnetic tiles. I made geometric shapes and a "skirt" with the young lady until she was allowed to join the coloring table. I then chatted with the remaining boys until enough kids went home to move them and the tiles to the front of the cafeteria. By 4:30, it was down to three younger kids and eight older ones, and it had calmed down enough for me to go home.

Instead of calling Uber right away, I walked the brief five minutes a couple of blocks down to Speedy Mart on Collings Avenue. Picked up four bagels for lunch this week and a Propel water for later. Once again, the Uber driver arrived quickly - six minutes at the height of rush hour - and other than some traffic on Collings, got me home even faster.

I took the recycling outside, then put the laundry in the washer and watched The Price Is Right. The wheel was hot this evening! A handsome young Air Force pilot and a pretty lady both hit $1,000, and he got $10,000. He did make the Showcases, but way underbid on a donut-themed Showcase with a trio of trips to Solvang, California, Mexico, and Germany. The other lady ended up winning.

Let it continue into Match Game '73 during dinner. They jumped way, way back tonight, likely to honor Bob Barker, whose birthday would have been this week. Barker made his first appearance on the show during its second week, along with Arlene Francis, Della Reece, Michael Lerned, and Richard Thomas. Thomas and Lerned would be the only actors from The Waltons to appear on any version of Match Game. Learned seemed to have a great time, but Thomas looked like a deer caught in the headlights and didn't really seem to get the humor. 

Worked on The WENN Nutcracker Suite next after I put the laundry in the dryer. Mr. Eldridge continues to tell the story of how Queen Mouserinks took her revenge on King Alexander and Queen Lana of Toyland when they trapped all of her sons but one, the equally greedy and mean Prince Rollie. When their daughter Princess Pirlipat refused to marry Prince Rollie, his mother cursed her into an ugly monster who could only be cured by the meat of a certain very hard nut. Scott gallantly cracked the nut for her, restoring her beauty. The furious Mouse Queen bit him and cursed him into the form of a Nutcracker...but not only did he crush her falling over onto her, Prince Rollie stole his Christmas Star Sword, a family heirloom that could help restore him. Pirlipat refused to marry a Nutcracker and banished him and Mr. Eldridge forever.

Finished the night after I brought the laundry upstairs with game shows featuring host Bob Goen. Goen came in late to game shows, having gotten his start as a California-area correspondent for ESPN in the early 80's. He started out on game shows with Perfect Match, a Newlywed Game clone, in 1986. Basically the same deal, only the contestants get to bet on what their spouse will actually say, and there's more fill-in-the-blank games. Though the spicier stories could be funny, it mostly came off like the cheap syndicated imitation it was. It was gone in eight months.

In fact, Goen is another host who never seemed to catch a break. He always ended up hosting flops like Blackout or summer replacement shows like The Hollywood Game. Blackout from 1988 was the more creative of the two. In fact, I have fond memories of watching this one. Two contestants joined two celebrities to solve pun-filled puzzles. One would record the description of a word. The other would push a plunger and "black out" parts of the recording, making it harder to figure out what was being said. I enjoyed it as a kid and was disappointed when it only lasted four months.

The Home Shopping Game from 1987 was much worse. This syndicated show had people playing a word game somewhat similar to Wheel of Fortune for prizes that a contestant from home could call in and win, too. Goen is charming, but the game is dull, and the home shopping aspects are more confusing than exciting. 

The Hollywood Game fared only slightly better. This summer replacement show from 1992 was basically "Jeopardy with movie trivia." Contestants even bet on how well they could answer a question. It wasn't unique enough to stand out at a time when game shows were falling out of favor and didn't even last a month.

Today, Goen is best-remembered as the host of the daytime Wheel of Fortune from 1989 through its demise in 1991. It was the closest he came to helming a hit. Alas, there seems to be no footage of his tenure online at all, other than a few ads and one badly-recorded tape of a tape recording. 

He didn't have nearly as much luck with Born Lucky from 1993. This was part of Lifetime's attempt to create a shopping-game block with Supermarket Sweep and Shop 'Til You Drop, and it was by far the least-successful of the three. Filmed in malls across the country, contestants had a chance to win "Mall Money" by playing various quiz games and silly stunts. Cute, but the mall setting couldn't disguise that it was basically a less-gross Double Dare with shopping components. 

That's the Question would seem to have more going for it. This 2006 GSN adaptation of a Dutch show had contestants answering questions that filled in letters on a phrase. The answer to the question was already shown. The letters would fill in the question, until one contestant could guess what the question was. Fast-paced and actually kind of fun. I wish this one had lasted longer than a couple of months. (And although Goen continues to host live game shows and hosted Miss Universe and Miss USA for several years in the mid-2000's, That's the Question is his last TV game show gig to date.)

Learn movie trivia, try to figure out what the celebrity is saying, and hope you're born lucky with this disc jockey and sportscaster turned game show charmer!

Perfect Match (1986)

The Home Shopping Game (1987)

Blackout (1988)

The Hollywood Game (1992)

Born Lucky (1993)

That's the Question (2006) 

Star Wheel Matches

Began the morning with breakfast and the rest of the Brian Setzer Orchestra Boogie Woogie Christmas CD. Switched to Merry Christmas From Sesame Street after that ended. As far as I can tell, this is the very first Sesame Street holiday album from 1975. A lot of what's here would be adapted for Christmas Eve On Sesame Street three years later, including Oscar's "I Hate Christmas," the cast number "Keep Christmas With You," and the entire Bert/Ernie/Mr. Hooper "Gift of the Magi" segment, complete with Bert and Ernie singing "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." 

Most of the other songs exclusive to this album are covers, but we do have a few unique items. "A Christmas Pageant" for some reason involves Bert posing as a Christmas tree and the other Muppets "planting" him. "The Night Before Christmas On Sesame Street" is David's solo, and it reads more as "a mid 70's New York hipster's version of 'The Night Before Christmas.'" Hispanic neighbors Luis and Maria sing two untranslated Spanish numbers, "Saludo" and "Arrurru." The Count gives us his...unusual...rendition of "All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth."

Spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon wrapping presents. I managed to get through half of them, including all of the gifts for Mom, Keefe, and Keefe's family, all of Lauren and her parents' gifts, one of Finley's gifts, and one of Khai's gifts. I'll finish the rest tomorrow.

Listened to two more Christmas children's albums while I worked. My family had 4 of the 6 Little Golden Book Christmas Stories when I was a kid in the 80's. For all I know, Mom or Rose may still have "Jingle Bells," "Frosty the Snowman," "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," and "The Night Before Christmas." Of the two books narrated on the LP I don't recognize, "How Lovely Is Christmas" is the more interesting one. A young boy who wants an ax that's his size to clear trees for his pioneer parents dreams that American tall tale icons Johnny Appleseed, Daniel Boone, and Paul Bunyon give him gifts to help his family. "The Twelve Days of Christmas" isn't nearly as effective when the lyrics are recited rather than sung.

Dickens' A Christmas Carol from 1974 is the original version of what would become Mickey's Christmas Carol almost a decade later. There were quite a few changes from the LP to the big screen. Merlin from Sword and the Stone was the Ghost of Christmas Past. The Wicked Queen in hag mode from Snow White was Christmas Future. Gideon and Foulfellow from Pinocchio were the men collecting for the poor. The biggest change is the addition of six songs, none of which would make it to the animated version. To be honest, I suspect the reason for that is they're not that memorable, although I do like the delicious march "Money" as Scrooge explains what he loves most to Mickey Cratchit. 

I was just having lunch when I looked at my watch...and realized it was quarter after 2. I was supposed to have been at work at 2! I was thinking of the after-school program's schedule, not the Acme's. I usually work there in the mornings. I raced around like crazy after that. Took Uber because I thought it would be faster, and because I would be at work after dark. Even with Uber only taking 6 minutes to arrive, I was still a half-hour late.

It was really busy when I got in, much more than it has been. Good thing the Eagles aren't playing until tomorrow night, or it might have been even worse. I ended up getting help with the carts from one of the guys who were supposed to be cashiering. Thankfully, it slowed down enough by the end of the night that I was able to get the carts done on my own, though I never did get to the trash or the side by the pharmacy. Uber took 11 minutes to get me home, not bad for the height of rush hour.

Spent the rest of the night after dinner watching the Sunday Match Game marathon. The addition of the Star Wheel in mid-1978 was controversial from the outset. Admittedly, it did allow contestants to win more money, up to $10,000 on the daytime show and $20,000 on the nighttime syndicated run. It was also supposed to give panelists other than Richard Dawson a chance to play the Head-to-Head. Richard was furious, to the point where he only lasted two weeks after they changed the set to work better with the Star Wheel.

While the idea of giving everyone a chance to play may have been nice, it didn't always work. Some of the panelists weren't that crazy about doing the Head-to-Head, even the ones like Brett who were actually good at it. Sometimes, the Wheel would land on someone multiple times in a row, like it ironically did with Richard the first couple of times it was used. (In fact, the moment it landed on Richard the first time, most of the panel, including Richard himself, walked out!) I know it landed on David Doyle at least four or five times in a row one week during the syndicated era, too. 

Contestants had fewer problems with it, other than some of them weren't all that great at spinning it. It did allow them to win a ton of money. This was particularly true in the nighttime syndicated show. Joyce Bulifant got the chance to help a man dressed all in blue win $20,000. Charles made him his "code of arms" to remind him of a slip-up on the Audience Match and of his big win.

Spin that Star Wheel to get big bucks the Match Game way in this hilarious marathon!

Match Game Sunday Classics - Star Wheel "Special Moments" (1978 - 1982)

Holiday Matches

Began the morning with a quick breakfast and the short "Pluto's Christmas Tree." Mickey doesn't realize that he accidentally cut down Chip and Dale's pine tree home, taking the two chipmunks with him. They're delighted with the decorations and candy canes in their digs, but not so much when Pluto starts chasing them. For the first and only time, Mickey ends up having to deal with them, but he's a lot better at it than his dog or Donald.

Rushed out after that. Work was busy, but it honestly could have been worse on a Saturday morning a few weeks before Christmas. I did have to do a lot of cold returns, including a fairly full cart. Other than that, there were no real problems. I was in and out. Even stopped at the A&A Pretzel Shop down the street on my way home. Got a pepperoni-stuffed pretzel and two regular pretzels for lunch; the shop owner threw in three more.

Changed, then ate my lunch while watching Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. "It's Snowflake Day," the big winter holiday in the Neighborhood. Daniel's excited to play the snowflake narrator in their play, until he gets stage fright. His mother and Katerina coax him back out. Later on, when the lights go out, he comes up with the idea for everyone to use the snowflake lanterns they release after the play to light the rest of the show.

Spent the rest of the afternoon signing Christmas cards. Most of these will be going out in the mail on Monday. I do need to get a gift card for one of them. Otherwise, they're ready to go. I also need cards for those who get gifts in the mail - Mom, Keefe, and Keefe's family, Lauren and her parents, and Anny and Lilah. I'll give everyone else their cards on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

Watched Bye Bye Birdie as I worked. I go further into the 1995 TV version of this 60's favorite featuring Vanessa Williams and Jason Alexander at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Family Fun Saturday - Bye Bye Birdie (1995)

Listened to The Brian Setzer Orchestra after the movie ended. It's a Boogie Woogie Christmas with one of the great kings of neo-swing. "Boogie Woogie Santa Claus" is probably the best-known number, but I really like his versions of "The Man With the Bag" and "Run Rudolph Run." "Baby It's Cold Outside" with Ann-Margaret is charming too, and there's the Gene Autry spoof "Cactus Christmas."

Took a shower and had dinner, then finished the night with today's Match Game marathon on YouTube. Some of the show's biggest wins were on the syndicated nighttime episodes. There was the energetic 19-year-old whom Richard Dawson was more than happy to help win $10,000 and a handsome Marine flyer who also won $10,000 with Betty White a little earlier in the year. Minnie Pearl and Dick Smothers got to meet a cowboy named Buck Rodgers in an episode from 1977. In 1976, a lady was so eager to give Rich a kiss, she them to him anyway even though she didn't win. Debralee Scott flirted with a handsome young contestant in 1980, while the others made jokes about matching a policeman from Huntingdon Beach in another episode that year. 

Get more bang for your buck at night and see some of the biggest winners ever on the show in this marathon that's definitely not in the dark when it comes to laughs!

Match Game Saturday Classics - Match Game PM: Biggest and Greatest Wins Marathon

Baby It's Cold Outside!

Began the morning with breakfast and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Plus. "Minnie's Rubber Ducky Doozy" has everyone decorating rubber ducks at her Clubhouse for the Rubber Ducky Parade on Star Lake. Willie the Giant blows them across the lake at first, until seahorses decide to toss them around. After they retrieve them, an old friend helps them figure out how they can have their parade and involve the seahorses, too.

Called Uber after that. It was barely in the 30's today, too cold for biking. Unfortunately, neither Uber showed up quickly. The one going to work took 13 minutes. The one going home took 10. At least there was no traffic either way, but it did make me slightly late to work.

That was the worst thing that happened all day. Between the cloudy, cold weather and most people focusing on gift shopping right now, we were steady at the most during 11:30-12. I ended up sweeping and doing the carts and trying to figure out how to explain to customers early this morning that there was a water main break and our toilets weren't working for the first hour I was there. 

It took them forever to put it up, but I did get my schedule at work. In good news, back to regular hours. In bad news, not enough hours, and I forgot to ask for the 10th off because the school is on half-days next week due to parent-teacher conferences. I'll have to come in late on Wednesday. 

After I got home, I had lunch while watching the Rankin-Bass Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. I went further into this at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog way back in 2018.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Called Uber again even before the special ended. Though they took 10 minutes to arrive, I called them early. Too early, as it turned out. I went for a walk around the block until school ended. Though it was still somewhat cloudy and very cold, at least it wasn't windy this time. They only took 7 minutes to come going home.

I don't know if they were tired of being stuck inside or it was just end of the week jitters, but the kids were really rowdy today. They just would not listen and sit down, even when a teacher spread blankets on the floor and let them pretend to have a pajama party while she read stories. The older kids were taken to the library to do crafts while we helped the younger ones build with wooden blocks or magnetic tiles, color, or play with plastic dinosaurs. I got recruited near the end to help the head teacher greet parents and sign them out.

When I got in, I had dinner while watching Match Game '78. The first hour featured the infamous week where Jack Klugman and Brett Somers appeared together well after they'd divorced or separated. For some reason, the second hour jumped back to earlier in the year. Richard Dawson was back, this time with female Welcome Back Kotter Sweathog Helaine Lembeck. 

Finished the night with Scrooged. IBC Network president Frank Cross (Bill Murray) does not hate Christmas. Far from it. He appreciates it as a time when people stay home and watch television. He's pushing his big live Christmas Carol, but he's also treating those around him badly. He fires an employee (Bobcat Goldthwait) who protests his ridiculously violent commercial for the special, won't go to his brother's (James Murray) Christmas party, and makes his secretary (Alfe Woodward) work late on Christmas Eve when she has to take her mute son to the doctor. His social worker ex-girlfriend Claire (Karen Allen) wishes he'd learn to treat people better. She gets her wish when Frank encounters a zombie version of his ex-boss (John Forsythe) and three of the scariest and most violent Ghosts of Christmas Past  (David Johanssen), Present (Carol Kane), and Future who literally frighten him into changing his ways.

This black comedy version of one of the most beloved holiday stories on the planet got a mixed reception when it came out in the late 80's, including in my own family. Dad thought it was hilarious. Mom agreed with most critics and thought it was too mean-spirited. I agreed with Mom then, but it's grown on me over the years. I've seen holiday comedies come out since then that were five times nastier than this. It's worth seeing just for Murray, who puts in one of his best performances as the cynical executive who literally needs to be knocked on the head to learn the error of his ways. The makeup work on the Ghosts was so groundbreaking, it won an Oscar. Not for those in a warm and fuzzy mood, but if you like your Christmas comedies toasty-dark, you'll want to join Frank Cross as he learns the true meaning of Christmas from four of the wildest ghosts around. 

Here Comes Santa Claus

Began the morning with breakfast and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Plus. This time, Martian Mickey comes to Earth, but he has a "Martian Mishap" when he crashes into a tree after Goofy makes a mistake getting him down. The others have to retrieve pieces of his ship from the forest, the lake, and the desert, so Martian Mickey can get the spices he needs for his Yumblatz (hot dog) Pie.

Switched to Supermarket Sweep while I made my grocery list. This was the end of their "Family Week," with three sets of sisters playing each other. Team 1 not only got almost all of the bonuses in the Big Sweep, they got twice as much time as anyone else. All of those bonuses resulted in them earning the show's biggest-ever Big Sweep total, over $1,900.

Hurried off to run errands next. I couldn't find an egg timer at Target or Dollar Tree. I want it to time me at night and make sure I go to bed and not stay up until 5 AM. Did a little better at Sprouts. Found sugar cookies and more containers of those apple fritter-flavored dried cranberries on clearance. Picked up coconut milk and sparkling water, too.

Sprouts hadn't been busy, and the Acme wasn't really, either. I mainly needed to restock yogurt and oranges here. Found Nature's Valley granola bars buy one, get one free. Cove sodas were $1.50. Got more sliced chicken, too. Bought stamps for when I get the Christmas cards together on Saturday. Found more Winter Spiced Sprite Zero and Diet Coke Lime $2 for 5. 

Newton Lake Park was gorgeous, if chilly, as I rode home. It was sunny, windy, and cold, in the upper 30's. The park is showing signs of winter now. The leaves are almost entirely gone from the trees, the grass is turning yellow, and fewer plants and animals are seen along the banks. 

Had a quick lunch when I got in while putting everything away and watching First a Girl. I go further into this British version of Victor/Victoria from 1935 with Jesse Matthews and Sonnie Hale at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog. 

First a Girl

The movie had just ended when I headed to the Thomas Sharp School. Though the older kids did get to run around on the blacktop, it was too cold for the younger kids to go on the playground. One of the teachers and I read Hot Wheels: Extreme Stunts, Tweety: The North Star's Magical Journey Home, and Move Over, Rover! After that, the kids spent the rest of the afternoon building towers from magnetic tiles that were so tall, they had to be leaned against the cafeteria wall to keep them standing, coloring, and playing with rubber play food.

After I finished, I had dinner at Crust n' Cravings. I was originally going to eat at Phillies Phatties, but Collings Avenue was closer to the school. Plus, to be honest, I just like Crust n' Cravings' pizza better. I ate a slice of cheese and a slice of broccoli and tomato while watching Action News on ABC. 

Stopped at Dollar General on my way home. I was hoping to find an egg timer, but no luck. (I just ordered one online.) I did get aspirin, ibuprofen, and cold medicine here. My head had been stuffed up and I'd had mild sinus headaches all day. Either my allergies are acting up from the wind and dryness, or I'm coming down with a cold. 

Went home briefly to park the bike and put everything away, then went right back out again. Oaklyn had its Parade of Lights and Tree Lighting this evening. They were just starting to hand out the fiber optic lights for the kids when I arrived. There was rich hot chocolate, brownie bites, and four different kinds of cookies. I tried what I believe to be butter pecan and red velvet. They were so delicious! Probably came from Shop Rite, but they still tasted good.

I only saw Rose once and I never did find Jessa, but I did get to see my 8-year-old niece Finley perform several carols with her class on the side of City Hall. Good thing she inherited her mother's height and was wearing a reindeer antlers headband! It was so crowded, I never would have seen her otherwise. At any rate, the kids did a wonderful job, their voices mostly smooth and clear. Near the end of their performance, a "snow" machine spewed foamy "snow" all over, which the kids absolutely loved. 

After the kids sang their carols, the Parade of Lights arrived at City Hall! They had a few actual floats this year, including one lavish gingerbread-themed one, and another with a costumed Grinch. There was one fire truck "pulled" by dalmatians, and others covered completely in lights. Santa arrived in the last truck for Oaklyn. 

Surprisingly, there was no speech or fanfare for the tree lighting this year. The tree just lit up. One minute, I had turned to City Hall to find Finley. The next, the massive "tree" blazed with reds, blues, greens, and yellows, with a huge glittering star on top. After the tree lighting, I gave up trying to figure out where Rose and Finley had gone and just walked home.

Finished the night working on the First a Girl review and listening to two more new (to me) Christmas CDs after my shower. I'm not as familiar with many of the artists in A Very Merry Christmas 5. Most of it is rap or pop that I'm just not that fond of, but there are a few good numbers. We get Stevie Nick's gorgeous version of "Silent Night," B.B King and John Popper doing "Back Door Santa," and Sheryl Crow getting into "Run Rudolph Run."

The Carpenters' Christmas Portrait is on more familiar turf. The most popular number from this one by far is the wistful standard "Merry Christmas Darling." Some of the covers are nice too, notably "Sleigh Ride," the aching "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," and "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear." Richard Carpenter plays a lively "Selections from The Nutcracker." 

Winter Is Just Around the Corner

Got a quick start with breakfast and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Plus. "Martian Mickey's Clubhouse" was damaged in a sandstorm, so Mickey and the others help their space counterparts build a new one. Martian bubbles are ten times stronger than Earth ones and make splendid walls and furniture, but they need to call in a friend for the books and games needed to make it truly a home.

Hurried off to work soon as the cartoon ended. Work was off-and-on busy, likely due to it being the beginning of the month. I was constantly called to put away cold items, including during my break. Otherwise, there were no major problems, and I was in and out. I even helped a co-worker who couldn't bend over clean up the ice she spilled from her drink in the break room after I finished.

Put on the 2002 Strawberry Shortcake when I got home and was settled down for lunch. It's a "Merry Berry Christmas" as Strawberry struggles with what to give her friends, especially Huckleberry Pie. She and ever-bragging Honey Pie Pony travel to Holidayland to find just the right gifts. Honey Pie keeps dropping obvious hints and insisting on buying horse things for everyone, even though Strawberry constantly admonishes her that she needs to buy gifts that the recipient actually wants, not just her. Strawberry even gets to meet Santa. When one gift makes a mess, Strawberry thinks she has nothing to give the others. They insist they're just glad to have her back...and are even happier with the surprise at Strawberry's front door.

Headed back out even before the show ended. I don't know if it's early holiday jitters or the full moon, but the kids were really rowdy today. They played with dreidels they got in class, grabbed each other's chocolate coins, and put up a fuss about wearing their coats outside. While the weather was beautiful, sunny, breezy, and bright, it was also in the 40's. Not freezing like it will be by Friday, but not exactly warm, either. Definitely not weather to go without coats!

With two teachers having left for good last week, I ended up in charge of the swings again. Most of the kids were pretty good about it, but I had to argue one of the older boys off when he wouldn't listen and kept saying "whatever." I wasn't the only one who had problems with him and the other older boys, too. I was too busy with the kids on the swings to see it, but apparently, the older boys spent their time outside fighting. It got so bad, we ended up calling them inside earlier than planned. One of the younger girls was so upset she hadn't been able to get on the swings, she cried all the way inside, even after we swore she could go on tomorrow.

Things weren't a whole lot better inside. We had two managers come to check out the new assistants. One of them separated the older kids and younger kids, even though we usually just let them mingle when we came in. I couldn't do anything right. I sat with the group coloring and was told to go with the younger kids. I sharpened colored pencils for the kids coloring and was told to sit with the kids building with Duplos and magnetic tiles. I spilled a teacher's coffee cup when I couldn't find a place for my coat. At least it only had water, and one of the new assistants helped me clean it up, but it was still embarrassing. One of the managers said I was doing fine, but I felt like a klutz. 

Hurried straight home after that mess. Watched Match Game '78 during dinner. Richard Dawson was still around and still playing pretty well at this point. He got to see David Doyle make his debut next to Brett, along with Betty White and glamorous Eva Gabor.

Worked on writing The WENN Nutcracker Suite throughout the evening. Mr. Eldridge tells the story of how the Nutcracker came to be the way he is, aided by Gertie Ginger's fireplace. Queen Gloria, King Benjamin, and their con-artist son Prince Scott were the beloved, benevolent rulers of the Land of Sweets, adored by their people. Mr. Eldridge was Scott's mentor and tutor, but he spent most of his time keeping Scott from brawls and sailing around the world with him. King Benjamin finally gives his son the sacred Christmas Star Sword that is fueled by Christmas spirit before he takes a carriage to Santa's Workshop on Christmas Eve. He does talk to Santa, but never makes it home before his carriage goes over a cliff during a blizzard.

Finished the night with My Little Pony: A Very Minty Christmas. Sock-loving Minty is the title character of the Christmas special for the mid-2000's version of the franchise. The "Here Comes Christmas Candy Cane" tree topper is supposed to guide Santa to Ponyville with its fabulous light. Fussy Minty's attempts to make it "just perfect" end with her knocking it over and breaking it. She first tries to play Santa herself and gives her massive sock collection to her friends. When Pinkie Pie catches her doing that, she insists on going to the North Pole herself to tell Santa what happened. Half of Ponyville ends up following her to tell her that she matters more than any candy cane. 

Rainy Day Angels

Began a rainy morning with breakfast and Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. "Daniel's Winter Adventure" has him first learning to sled with Prince Wednesday, then skating with his father. In both cases, he's encouraged to try it a little bit at a time until he gets used to it. Margaret walks for the first time too, right to her brother. Daniel ends up performing in the "Neighborhood Nutcracker" when Prince Wednesday gets sick. Henrietta, who plays the Sugar Plum Fairy, and Katerina, who plays Clara, helps him learn his part a little bit at a time.

Put up the winter decorations next, or at least the ones that I could fit out now. I mainly put out the winter stuffed animals, my Webkinz Groundhog Phil, Marie in her little winter collar and hat, and the penguin in the green knit hat. The folksy wooden snowman with the dangling legs and arms was small enough to fit now, as was the snowman candy dish.

Watched Evergreen as I worked, and later when I went online. I go further into this charming British musical with 1930's dance star Jessie Matthews at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Evergreen (1934)

Barely had the time to grab something for lunch and call Uber before work. It took 14 minutes for the driver to arrive, but I was able to get a few quick chores done. It took 10 minutes for the driver home to arrive. In both cases, there was no traffic, and the driver was pleasant. 

Considering it continued to pour even as I arrived at the Thomas Sharp School, I suspect you may already have guessed that we never went outside today. The kids listened to Horton Hears a Who, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, and If You Give a Moose a Muffin in the library instead. After the stories ended, some of the kids danced, while others colored, played with blocks (that they kept knocking over), or worked with stencils on enormous sheets of paper taped to the tables. They were all pretty rowdy - they hadn't gone outside earlier in the day, either. Enough of them had gone home by 5 that we finally moved them to the cafeteria, where they colored, played with dolls, and played ball games with the older kids.

After I got home, I did a few chores around the house before Jessa picked me up for dinner. I'm not normally a fan of fast food, but a Roy Rogers just opened in Cherry Hill. I hadn't seen one of those in years, not since they took out the one on the Garden State Parkway. Jessa had chicken tenders, fries, mashed potatoes and gravy, and a strawberry shortcake. I had a Southwestern Grilled Chicken sandwich with bacon (and got to use their famous "Fixin's Bar"), huge onion rings, a peppermint milkshake, and the strawberry shortcake. 

Oh yum. No wonder the lines when this place opened a few weeks ago were apparently out the door. The chicken sandwich was juicy and flavorful. The tenders were cooked perfectly. The strawberry shortcake was real strawberries on a biscuit with what I suspect was real, or at least local ice cream. The milkshake was perfectly minty. I wouldn't expect anything less from the King of the Cowboys! We left the place very full.

Took a shower, then watched Charlie's Angels. "Mother Goose Is Running For His Life" when the owner of a toy company learns that someone from inside the company may be trying to force him to sell to a man who would use the company as a front for gambling. Turns out a slightly unhinged toy designer is angry because his boss won't consider designing his horror-themed toys. Sabrina poses as the daughter of a toy company owner, Kris as a rag doll, and Kelly as a wire tapper to find out how he's getting information out.

Finished the night with Now That's What I Call Christmas 3. There's some really fabulous stuff here, especially on the first half. Johnny Mathis' "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" can be found here, too, along with Andy Williams' "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year," Peggy Lee's version of "The Little Drummer Boy," Judy Garland's "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," "Blue Christmas" by Johnny Cash, Dean Martin doing "Baby It's Cold Outside" and The Chipmunks singing "Please Christmas Don't Be Late." Side two includes "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch," The Beach Boys' "Little Saint Nick," an absolutely gorgeous "Christmastime Is Here" by Dianne Reeves, Kenny Rogers' "Christmas Is My Favorite Time of Year," Celine Dion's "Feliz Navidad," Christina Agulilera singing "Merry Christmas, Baby," a really fun "Santa Baby" by the Pussycat Dolls, and "It Just Don't Feel Like Christmas Without You" by Rhianna.