Began the morning with breakfast and an episode of the 1989 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. In "20,000 Leaks Under the Sea," Krang and Shredder want to use the Technidrome to pump enough water into New York and it's sewers to flood the Turtles out. It works too well when the sea water brings in some monster critters, including a shark and a giant squid. The Turtles have to keep the sea life from terrorizing Manhattan and stop Shredder from causing worse damage.
It had been raining on and off since I rolled out of bed. It was still raining when I left for the Collingswood Farm Market. Thankfully, the rain was slowing down even as I crossed the White Horse Pike. By the time I made it to the parking lot behind Haddon Avenue, the sun was out and the rain was long gone (though it remained hot and humid).
Despite the weather and my not arriving until quarter of 11, the Farm Market was packed. The tables groaned with produce. Saw gooseberries and New Jersey potatoes for the first time today. One of the Italian (round) eggplants was as big as a bowling ball! Ended up with carrots, peaches, blueberries, two ears of corn, and mushrooms.
Since it was still sunny, I took the long way across Newton Lake Park, past Collingswood High School and the Parkview Apartments. Instead of crossing at CVS, I continued down the White Horse Pike to Dollar General. Their eggs and cooking spray are much cheaper than the Acme's. Picked up my favorite pecan roll for a treat.
Went straight home after that. Put everything away while watching an episode of The Monkees. "Alias Micky Dolenz" is from later in the first season. Micky is mistaken for Baby Face (also Micky), a gangster who looks exactly like him. The cops pass him off as the gangster to find out where his mob hid the loot from a robbery...but then Baby Face breaks out of jail, and his goons get suspicious.
Spent the next couple of hours cleaning the kitchen and the bathroom. Neither were really that horrible, but they both needed to be done. The tub and the sink in the bathroom in particular needed to be scrubbed. Listened to my AM Gold 1966 and AM Gold 1967 CDs as I worked. The mid-60's were ground-zero for classic pop and rock. Along with the Monkees' two biggest hits, "I'm a Believer" and "Daydream Believer," other favorite hits of mine from this period include "Happy Together" by The Turtles, "I Second That Emotion" by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, "Winchester Cathedral" by The New Vaudeville Band, and the title song from Georgy Girl by The Seekers.
Started writing as soon as I finished and put away the cleaning supplies. Luke calls Dr. Martha Mothma and learns that Leia is in the French Riviera with Harry and Charel. Dr. Mothma's learned from FBI contacts that Laurence Carlyle was a smuggler and a gambler, but he was never convicted. She's worried about Leia. She tells Luke where she is on the French Riviera. With this information, Luke and Artie return to the hangar to head to France with Yoda and Wedge.
Meanwhile, Leia and Harry have been taken to the hotel's boiler room. Harry is bound to the boiler; Leia is tied to a chair. Leia angrily tells Vader that they don't know anything...but that's not why Vader has them...
Called Rose around 4:30. Did she want to get together tonight and discuss those papers? No, she couldn't, but we could do dinner tomorrow and discuss them then. Fine by me. I had no plans for after work but writing. I'll be over at 5.
Decided I was bored with sitting around by quarter of 5 and went to Dad's for a swim. This time, Dad and Jodie were there, but no one else at first. I swam laps in the pool while Dad napped, then talked to both of them. I want to sell my old high school prom gown from 1997 and the American Girl Scenes and Settings I got from Jessa (and possibly the bed and bedding as well). I obviously don't need the prom gown anymore, and I prefer using my own apartment as the backdrop when I photograph the dolls. Beyond needing the money, both are taking up space in one of the wardrobes and the back room. They suggested local consignment shops for the prom dress and eBay for the Scenes and Settings.
We also discussed the future. Dad-Bruce isn't going to be around forever...and Dad-Bill likely has even less time left. Rose is helping both sides of the family with their wills.
Rose, Khai, and Finley arrived later, around 7. Khai's friend Chloe and her mom weren't far behind. I went back in the pool with Rose and the kids for a while. Chloe is very good with Finley. She lead her around the pool in her baby float, playing with plastic trucks and making her laugh. Rose tossed Khai around.
(Oh, and I talked to Chloe's mom after we got out. She sounded like she might be interested in the bed and the Scenes and Settings...and if she isn't, there might be other girls in the neighborhood whose parents would buy them. I'd rather sell them locally first.)
Hit the shower when I got home. Didn't get to dinner and the peach cobbler Jodie gave me until past 8:30! Watched Father Goose when I finished eating. Walter Eckland (Cary Grant) is an American beachcomber in 1942 Australia who just wants to fish and live on his boat the Catherine. His idyllic life is interrupted by his friend Commander Frank Houghton (Trevor Howard), who convinces him to become a Japanese aircraft spotter. He goes to another island to find a replacement...but what he finds is Mademoiselle Catherine Freneau (Leslie Caron) and her gaggle of British and French schoolgirls, who are stranded on the island. He takes them back with him, only to have her basically kick him out of his radio room so she and the girls can have a place of their own and destroy his ever-present liquor. The two get used to each other eventually, enough that the girls come to trust him, and he takes care of her after she gets what they think is a snake bite. But the Japanese are still out there...and they may not be willing to leave Walter, Catherine, and the girls alone.
Cute but ultimately disappointing, considering the talent involved. This is basically The African Queen set in the South Seas during World War II, and with a Frenchwoman rather than a Brit and a bunch of little girls playing matchmaker. Caron and Grant didn't have much chemistry, and Grant looked uncomfortable throughout. (This was, in fact, his second-to-last movie.) Not to mention, Catherine is awfully nasty to a man who, no matter how slovenly he is, offered her and her charges shelter and food. Things pick up a bit towards the end, especially during the "snake bite" scene and in the finale.
Though this was a big hit in 1964, I wouldn't recommend it for anyone but major fans of Grant or romantic comedies today. If you're interested, it's currently on DVD from made-to-order company Olive Films.
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