Karen picked me up right at 10. We did apply to a sheet metal office in Camden and a construction company office in West Berlin. I still wish I knew what I wanted to do. None of this sounds all that exciting. I want to write, but I don't know how I can write, have health insurance, and make enough money to buy a condo or a mobile home. At least Karen was nice enough to swing by the PNC in Collingswood and let me take out rent money.
When I got home, I relaxed while watching the 2018 Muppet Babies. Bunsen and Beaker create the Elfbot to help the Babies make a paper wreath for Statler and Waldorf, but they get so caught up making gifts for themselves, they forget to give presents to others. "It's a Wonderful Elfbot" when they remember how good it is to give and receive. "A Merry Litter Christmas" has Bunsen sending piles of unwanted shrimp-flavored milk into space to get rid of it. It ends up landing on Planet Gonzo, where the kids have to help clean up the mess.
Switched to Match Game '77 while I ate lunch. The first episode begins with Richard helping out with "Secretary of __" in the Head-to-Head. Gene's more interested in drooling over the female contestant. The next one gives us more of a lovely contestant with super-long, shiny dark hair.
Let it run into Tattletales. I'd seen the week before, when I watched it on YouTube, but it's hilarious. Bill Anderson and his then-wife Becky, Betty White and Allen Ludden, and Patrick Duffy and his wife Carolyn were the couples. Betty and Allen usually played fairly well and knew each other like no one else. They ended up tying in the first episode with Bill and Becky. They stuck around for the second episode, joined by Jamie Farr and his sweet wife Joy and Eddie Mekka and his then-girlfriend Shirley. This time, Eddie and Shirley were the ones who came out on top - Betty and Allen only got one right.
Dressed the dolls for the holidays after the episode ended. Barbara Jean is in the purple paisley dress with the lilac velvet ribbon and white medieval-style sleeves that was Julie's previous Christmas dress; she wears it with the bead-trimmed heels from the flapper costume. Samantha's lace headband with the flower matches surprisingly well. Ariel wears Julie's original wine red crushed velvet jumper and ruffled blouse, but with more child-appropriate white tights and black velvet shoes. Jessa honors her heritage in the original Chinese New Year's outfit from the late 90's and black mules borrowed from Josefina.
Kit is in her original red Christmas dress with the white triangular collar; she wears it with her white t-straps. Molly is in her Evergreen Christmas Dress and black strap shoes she borrowed from Samantha. Whitney gets to wear the cute holiday print apron I found at the shop in Marlton over her dark blue and silver Snowflake Gown with black stockings, blue-violet flats, and a black Springfield Collection shrug. Felicity is ready to dance in her blue Christmas ball gown and the choker she borrowed from Josefina. Josefina is pretty as a Mexican princess in her yellow striped dress, pantalettes, and mantilla. Samantha sports her Cranberry Christmas Dress; the red shoes from her Special Day Dress match perfectly.
Dressed the Cabbage Patch dolls, too. Dulcie, who loves frills, gets a fancy cream-colored Build-a-Bear dress trimmed with gold sequins and white and gold tulle. Carrie does not love frills, but she still looks cute in the candy cane-print flannel dress with the bow on the collar that's an actual little girl outfit I found at an antique shop years ago.
Listened to Christmas albums while I worked, starting with Turned On Christmas. Same deal as all the other Hooked On/Turned On albums. We have medleys of beloved Christmas songs, or even just songs that sort of randomly have to do with the holidays. There's a whole medley devoted to songs about toys, or things that sound like toys, like "Baby Elephant Walk" or "Mickey Mouse March." Not the most necessary thing in the world, but it does make nice background music during December.
Julie Andrews sings on Firestone Presents Your Favorite Christmas Music Vol. 4. She gets the sole new song, "The Bells of Christmas," as the finale. Vic Damone also gets "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." Otherwise, the songs are more traditional, like "Masters In the Hall" or "Angels We Have Heard On High" and are mostly performed by Dorothy Kirsten or James McCracken.
The Life Treasury of Christmas is all choral music. It's supposed to accompany the book of the same name, which I've never heard of. A few of these songs are pretty new to me, too, notably "Rocking Carol," "The Golden Carol of the Three Wise Men," and "The Boar's Head Carol."
Worked on writing after I put all the dolls' things away. The woman whom Cora discovers in the woods is Florrie, a kindly old witch. She had once been the real King Stephen's nurse, then his advisor. She takes Cora to her home in the woods and gives her a ball of yarn that will unravel and lead to wherever she wants to go and a basket of goodies for herself and to befriend the abused animals and objects in Harron's fortress.
Headed out around 6 PM. I wanted to have dinner before Oaklyn's Christmas parade and tree lighting. Opted for pizza at Phillies Phatties. Had a slice of cheese, a slice of chicken ranch bacon, and a can of Diet Pepsi. Yum! The chicken was especially tasty, just the right blend of salty-tangy flavors. Got there just ahead of the crowd, too. A family with young kids who couldn't decide what they wanted turned up just as I got my pizza slices.
Went a few doors down to Common Grounds Coffee House for a hot drink and dessert. Picked up a nice and rich hot chocolate and a small chocolate cake pop. Unlike Phillies Phatties, they were quiet, with only one person snuggling in a chair while enjoying a latte.
Limped back up West Clinton to the City Hall and fire house parking lot for the parade. The Oaklyn Civic Association gave away free hot chocolate, coffee, donuts, and candy canes. The hot chocolate was too thin and sweet, not very good. I did have a blueberry cake donut while listening to a group of pre-teen girls from the Oaklyn School sing carols next to the tree, on the side of City Hall.
For a change, the parade was actually on time. Oaklyn's parade is mostly fire trucks wrapped with lights, but some of them do get a little creative. One huge float festooned with outdoor sculptures and inflatables shot bubble "snow" into the air. Another truck was topped with a wooden sleigh pulled by painted dalmatians. Others blasted "All I Want for Christmas Is You."
I joined everyone around the tree just as Santa disembarked from the last decorated truck. He presided over the tree lighting as the volunteer of the year pushed the button that sent light flooding across West Clinton and the White Horse Pike. Not having children who wanted to see Santa, I went straight home soon as the tree was lit.
Took a shower, then finished watching Tales of Hoffman, which I began earlier in the afternoon. I go further into Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's gorgeous opera anthology at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.
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