Began another hot, hazy day with breakfast and The Backyardigans. "Robin Hood the Clean" is pretty bizarre, even for this series. The citizens of Filthingham (Uniqua, Tasha, and Tyrone) are being forced to be dirty by the town's Mayor (Austin) who loves mud. Fed up, Tyrone finally brings Robin Hood the Clean (Pablo) to help them rescue their cleaning supplies, including Pablo's beloved bath mitt Mitty.
Headed to the laundromat around 11:30. Picked the right time to do it. They were quiet as can be when I arrived. By the time more people started coming in, my clothes were in the drier. I worked on story ideas and half-listened to The View and Action News.
Did more Backyardigans while putting everything away. "The Two Musketeers" are Tyrone and Pablo, who fight the Empress' Guards (Uniqua and Austin) in 18th century France. A masked third musketeer (Tasha) wants to join them, but they insist they're fine as a duo. They start to rethink their stance when they're captured by the other two, and the mystery girl is the only one who can save them.
Started off for today's errand run around 12:30. First stop was the Oaklyn Library. They were relatively busy for them, with several people on the computer and a mother and her toddler daughter playing in the kids' area. I returned DVDs and looked over theirs, then headed out.
Lunch at Friendly's was next. Once again, I timed my arrival perfectly. There were only a few pairs of ladies eating lunch together when I arrived. I'd just started to bite into my "Vermonter Burger" (burger with cheddar cheese and maple-pepper bacon) when a barrage of kids from St. Paul IV Catholic School down the street stormed in, hungry for snacks, soda, and milkshakes. By the time I was enjoying my coffee ice cream with Swiss chocolate sauce and chocolate sprinkles, the place was packed with chattering teens.
Made a quick stop at Dollar Tree after lunch. My friend Amanda's birthday is Sunday; Lauren's is in a couple of weeks. For once, they were also quiet. I was in and out.
The Haddon Township Library wasn't busy, either. I shelved DVDs, new releases, and two audio books. Organized the kids' DVDs; cleared TV sets and foreign movies out of the adult titles. They've finally started to get in the new Star Wars books. I took out Phasma, on the mysterious, militant female First Order captain, and four DVDs. Decided to explore the changing cinema of the late 60's with Bonnie & Clyde and The Graduate. I've avoided the live-action/animated Smurfs movies because I've heard they're terrible, and quite frankly, they look smarmy. This year's Smurfs: The Lost Village seems to be much closer to the original cartoons and comics. Also grabbed the next movie in the Divergent series, Insurgent.
Stopped at Rite Aid to buy a Sparkling Ice Raspberry Iced Tea, then dodged traffic on Cuthbert and the White Horse Pike to head home. I can't believe how humid it was today, especially for this time of year. Tropical Storm Maria, which devastated Puerto Rico, is apparently passing off-shore. (She's also going to be leaving cooler temperatures, according to the National Weather Service. It's supposed to drop back into the 70's by tomorrow.)
Worked on writing as soon as I got home. Luke is lowered by trapeze into a fabric-covered box. When the trapeze is raised, the box is empty...but the trapeze isn't. Luke never let go. He climbs the trapeze and swings to a chandelier, then onto the second floor dining area. Lance helps him escape before Jasper's boys show up or the people he landed on attack him.
Meanwhile, Leia tries to get Jasper to reveal what happened to Oola, his previous mistress who had originally lived in the Royal Suite. Jasper only says that they had an argument over him not getting her a dancing career and he put her on display.
It was past 7 when I finally broke for dinner. Made a simple Tuna Salad with red peppers, onions, pineapple, and pickle relish. Watched more Backyardigans while I ate. "The Masked Retriever" is one of my favorite episodes of the entire series. Uniqua is a librarian in Vejos, California who becomes "The Masked Retriever" whenever a book goes missing. When Don Austin, the most powerful person in town, tries to abscond with a book, it's the Masked Retriever to the rescue!
Ended the night with the 1945 version of State Fair. The first telling of the only Rogers and Hammerstein musical written directly for the big screen follows the Frake family's adventures at the Iowa State Fair. Mr. Frake (Charles Winninger) is betting on his huge hog Blue Boy to win Grand Champion. Mrs. Frake (Fay Bainter) has high hopes for her pickles and (very spiked) mincemeat. Sassy Margie (Jeanne Crain) falls for dashing reporter Pat (Dana Andrews) when she meets him on the midway. Her brother Wayne (Dick Haymes) does likewise with a troubled singer (Vivian Blaine). There's surprises in store for all as the fair comes to it's conclusion, and everyone involved learns that falling in love is a lot more complicated than winning a blue ribbon.
This is a favorite of Mom's. She picked it up when it was first released on video back in the 90's, and we fell for it, too. While not Rogers and Hammerstein's best work, it is a really cute movie. "It Might as Well Be Spring" won Rogers and Hammerstein their only Oscar for Best Song. I prefer "That's For Me" and "It's a Grand Night For Singing." Bainter and Winninger are adorable as the Frake parents; Jeanne Crain and Dana Andrews are having a lot of fun as the smart girl and the guy that's everything she's ever wanted. Blaine and Haymes are far stiffer as the unhappy performer with a secret she can't tell sweet Wayne.
This is actually a remake of a 1933 non-musical movie; it in turn was remade in 1962 and brought to the stage in 1997. I haven't seen the 1933 version (it's not easy to find), but the other two are only fair. Fun for fans of 40's musicals or Rogers and Hammerstein.
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