Sunday, November 19, 2023

Matches On a Sunny Day

Overslept this morning! I had just enough time to write in my journal, change, grab something to eat, and dash out the door. Raced fast as I could across Oaklyn and down the Black Horse Pike. I just barely got to work on time.

That was the worst thing that happened all day. I spent the rest of the morning and afternoon pushing carts. Once again, it was a perfect day for it. Sunny, breezy, mid-50's. Couldn't have been nicer for November. The morning bagger was already there when I arrived; two evening baggers came in during the last hour. I only swept once, when the morning bagger went on break. No trouble at all after I got in.

Went straight home after work and into writing. Cora wakes up from her nightmare screaming and immediately goes to confront Stephen...or Harron...about it. He denies it, then gives her his red-eyes hypnotic stare. He wants to marry her the next day. She doesn't love him...or does she? His stare is making it harder to remember...

Listened to a couple of Christmas records while I worked. The seventh and final Firestone Christmas album mixes things up a bit with secular pop numbers by Vicki Carr along with the usual hymns and carols. Carr's big number is the sweet "I Still Believe In Christmas," which I believe is exclusive to this album.

I've had New England Sleigh Ride for ages. In fact, I tend to forget I have it. There's a couple of songs on this largely instrumental album that I've never heard of before and may be exclusive to the LP, including "Christmas Is Glowing," "Everything Says Christmas Is Here," and "Snow Flakes on the Windowpanes." 

Had a quick dinner, then finished on YouTube with tonight's Match Game Classics marathon. Comedienne Jo Ann Worley is best-known today for her appearances on the early seasons of Laugh-In and for her cartoon voice work. (She was the voice of Hoppo on The Wuzzles and the original voice of the wardrobe on the animated Beauty and the Beast, among others.) Worley first turned up on Match Game in 1974 and would continue appearing on the original version through 1976. She was a more frequent semi-regular on Match Game '90, and in fact, was probably one of the celebrities who most often turned up on that version. 

Later in 1974, Gene had an encounter with an extremely enthusiastic, jumpy contestant...and her equally enthusiastic sister in the audience. Turns out she was the sister of Dorothy, the excitable contestant who made New Year's Day 1974 so wild and memorable. Considering her sister jumped around so much Gene hid from her behind the back tiers, it would seem insane amounts of energy runs in the family! She was on the week with little Jackie Joseph where she drooled over a handsome man with long blonde hair and a bushy gold beard. She saw Ron Pallilo do well with the Audience Match in 1976 and Marjorie Goodman Cott of Classic Concentration turn up with her tiny dog in 1991. Earlier that year, she and Charles made jokes about doing The Mikado together onstage.

Let's all sing an aria for the loudest Laugh-In lady of all in this nutty marathon!

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