Frozen Angels

Unfortunately, I overslept this morning and had just enough time to eat and call Uber. There was no way I was taking my bike. The high today was 17. The driver going to work barely took 4 minutes to arrive. I don't think she knew the area well. Not only was she yammering with some guy on a speakerphone about his new business and almost missed her turn-off, she couldn't tell Audubon from Camden! She had to ask me where she was. Thank goodness the driver going home came in 2 minutes, got me back in 5, and had no trouble whatsoever. 

Work wasn't busy, either. Despite the sunshine, searing blue skies, and lack of wind, it was still below-freezing temperatures on a day in the middle of the week and middle of the month without a lot going on . I spent the entire morning in and out, sweeping, putting cold items back, and pushing carts. Needless to say, I headed straight home after this and went nowhere else, sunny day or no sunny day.

Had lunch while watching the original My Little Pony and Friends on the Roku Channel. The Ponies are saying "Baby, It's Cold Outside!" when they suddenly get a cold snap in the middle of summer. The King of the Penguins is using his icy stare and a machine to turn the entire world in a place only fit for a penguin. They and the King's son whose duck friend was turned into an ice statue teach him that there's room for everyone on this planet. You just have to open your heart to them.

Spent the rest of the afternoon working on the inventory. I got a lot done. Finished the non-Disney children's albums and began the Disney albums that were books-and-records, character-based, or intended for kids and not flat-out soundtracks. I found the vast majority of these within the last five-six years, but a few go much further back. The World of Strawberry Shortcake and Sing the Hit Songs of Sesame Street came from yard sales in the spring and fall of 2011. The picture disc audio book Strawberry Shortcake and the Winter That Would Not End was a Barrington Antique Center find in 2015. 

Watched more European fairy tale movies as I worked. Sampo was another Russian fairy tale film the robots on Mystery Science Theater 3000 made fun of. In this case, the jokes were wholly appropriate. The Day the Earth Froze, the story of a wicked witch who kidnaps the sister of a blacksmith to force him to make her a mystical mill, then steals the son when the sister's sweetheart takes the mill, lacks the unique charm of Jack Frost. It moves slower than a glacier, and the US edited version never does explain what, exactly, the Sampo does. We also get a short in the beginning revolving around circus acts that Joel and the robots find a little too goofy.

Found The Salt Prince on YouTube. This is another Czech fairy tale, likely from the same people who made Three Wishes for Cinderella from the similar actors.  A greedy king asks each of his daughters how much he loves them. He's offended when the youngest claims she loves him more than salt - a common food additive found everywhere - and her lover the Salt Prince says he'll rule with charity and justice. Angry that his daughter would choose something so common to compare him to, he has them both banished. The Salt Prince's father the King of Nature turns his son into salt and curses the kingdom's salt to turn into gold. They're happy with this for a time...but gold can't flavor or preserve food. Meanwhile, the Princess seeks the Salt Prince, and not even a wise woman who wants her to fill a dry well or another prince can stop her from finding him.

Wish they'd dub this one into English. It's a lovely story, and not one that's often been told in the western world. I've read several somewhat similar tales, but not one just like this one. It's just as much fun as Three Wishes, and even lovelier to look at. 

Switched to Match Game Syndicated while finishing the inventory and eating dinner. Judy Landers and Robert Walden joined in to see a lovely lady who brought a little Buddha statue for luck get a big win. The next week brought in Rita Moreno, along with Gary Crosby and Joyce Bulifant. I wish Rita had been on more often. She was an absolute riot who clearly enjoyed doing the show, and was one of the few women who had no trouble grabbing Gene for a kiss!

Did a quick Disney short after taking a shower. Little servant Cedric becomes a "Knight for a Day" when he accidentally knocks out his master right before the big tournament. He takes his place to win the hand of the fair Esmerelda and defeat the Black Knight, if the knight doesn't knock the bolts out of his armor first!

Finished the night back at the Roku Channel with Charlie's Angels. "Angels In Chains" get themselves sent up the river to a women's prison farm to find out what happened to the sister of a young woman who was arrested on trumped-up charges. Not only are the brutal wardens abusive, but the male ones and the sheriff are using the place to force the ladies into prostitution. The Angels have to figure out how to escape with the information while shackled together.