Dolls In a Heat Wave

Started a hot, sunny morning with Blueberry Pancakes and Yankee Doodle Mickey. This LP from presumably the early 80's has a kid's chorus, the Disneyland Chorus, and Mickey and the gang performing mostly patriotic standards such as "You're a Grand Old Flag" and "Yankee Doodle." A very young Molly Ringwauld performs with the kids' chorus on "This Is My Country." Other good songs include the Disneyland Glee Club's rousing version of "The Liberty Tree" from the Disney live-action film Johnny Tremain, Mickey and the gang's medley saluting the Armed Services, and Donald Duck joining the Disneyland Chorus for "The Battle of New Orleans."

Headed off to work shortly after the album ended. While they weren't that busy when I arrived, the crowds picked up around noon. Yes, I did end up outside doing carts for part of the day, despite the haze and near-100-degree heat. For one thing, the teenage boys they had out there are still learning what goes where and needed the help. Not to mention, we were just that busy. I also did returns, bagged, and gathered baskets.

Changed the dolls into red, white, and blue or patriotic-themed outfits for the 4th of July. Ariel gets the peasant blouse made from "rustic" patriotic fabric Lauren sent a few years ago, the dark blue jean shorts from a doll clothes booth at a craft show, and the white Springfield Collection espadrilles this year. I rolled her waist-length red hair into a huge bun in the back of her head, which took me nearly 20 minutes. Switched Jessa to a simple red t-shirt and jean shortalls that are part of outfits from the mid-90's modern collection and Springfield Collection sneakers. Samantha's wearing her sailor-themed Middy Dress and the black stockings and black and white boots from her Flower-Picking Outfit. Whitney's ready to join Oaklyn's 4th of July Parade in her white dance dress with the red and blue sequin trim and glittery red tap shoes. (It was originally sold at American Girl stores when they had a revue and dance show in the early and mid 2000's.) Molly's heading off to camp in her Camp Gowanigan Uniform. Josefina's sporting her Indigo Skirt and Camisa that's usually sold as her school outfit. Left Felicity in the white dress with the blue cabbage roses; I don't have much else that's appropriate for her and for the holiday.

Worked on writing for a little while after that. Harry's idea of attacking the soldiers Tarkin's brought in is "run after them screaming until they're afraid of you." Leia admires his spirit, but Luke thinks he's crazy. Meanwhile, Vader's begun to sense another familiar presence in the building, one he hasn't felt in a long time...

Broke for dinner at quarter of 7. Made myself Scrambled Eggs with vegetables while listening to Take Me Along. This is the Broadway adaptation of Ah, Wilderness!, with music by Robert Merrill. Jackie Gleason won a Tony as Uncle Sid, Walter Pidgeon is Nat, and Robert Morse is Richard. Gleason may have been the big star, but Pidgeon and Morse have the better material, including "Staying Young" for Nat and the hilarious duet "I Could Die" for Morse and Susan Luckey as Muriel.

Did some Lego Clone Wars after dinner. I still can't figure out "Defenders of the Peace" or the separate Separtist and Republic Assault missions, so I tried looking for more red bricks instead. Finally got the Super Speeder (expensive, but worth it) and Stud Magnet (always useful) extras.

Finished the night with more patriotic musicals and records. George M! is a slightly more honest stage biography of the life of George M. Cohan than the film Yankee Doodle Dandy. Cohan died in 1942, shortly after the release of Dandy. By 1968, people were ready for a slightly darker look at the man, including his two wives and his dust-ups with Equity during the actor's strike of 1919 that soured him on directing and producing for the rest of his life. The real attractions here are the less-well known Cohan tunes, such as "Twentieth Century Love" or "Push Me Along In My Push Cart," that are rarely heard today.

America the Beautiful is a collection of folk songs, symphonic pieces, and vocal numbers related to the US and the Armed Services, released in honor of the 100th birthday of the Statue of Liberty in 1986. A George M. Cohan medley ends side 2 of the first disc; if you listen carefully, you can hear the audience singing along with some of the more well-known numbers. I also like the Boston Pops' versions of "On the Trail" and "American Patrol," The Robert Shaw Chorale performing "Shenadoah," and the New Freedom Singers' energetic "This Land Is Your Land."