Rainy Days and Matches

Began the morning with breakfast and Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. "Mr. Malik Comes Back to School" to play his harmonica for the kids and introduce them to his hermit crab. The kids love dancing and pretending to be hermit crabs, but Mr. Malik has to remind them that they need to stop playing, and that there's a time for playing and a time for listening. Daniel and Katrina love making a snow cat, but Henrietta reminds them that there's a time for playing, and a time for listening. They go on "Daniel's Winter Walk" while heading home.

It was pouring cats and dogs when I got up late this morning. I was hoping the weather would subside, but the rain was still coming down at quarter after 1. Considering how bored I got the last time I sat around and did nothing on a Saturday off, I wanted to get out and do something. I grabbed a coat and called Uber. Surprisingly, they were there in 4 minutes.

They let me off at the Barrington Antique Center around 1:30, but I slid into The Garnet Grill first. Surprisingly, they were rather busy for 1:30, with one long table filled with locals chatting. I had a Camden-style chicken cheesesteak with Diet Dr. Brown cream soda and chips. "Camden-style" turned out to be on a round Kaiser roll rather than a hoagie roll, with tons of sauteed onions and cheddar cheese. Yum. Nice, warm, and filling on a messy day.

I wasn't the only person who thought this was a great day to visit the Barrington Antique Center. They were packed when I arrived around 2. I spent the next hour sorting through their piles of just about everything you can imagine, from depression glassware to fanciful Hilary Booth hats from the 40's and 50's to vintage toys and relatively recent DVDs. Found two authentic Cabbage Patch Kids outfits for my Cabbies Carrie and Dulcie, a cute gray, pink, and white knitted sweater with white knitted bloomers and red houndstooth check overalls with a frilly white short-sleeved blouse. Found one record, the 3-disc Original Gold Sessions soft rock collection. On my way out, while waiting for Uber, I spied an old industrial crate sitting on the front steps that would be perfect to finally thin out my jazz records. They're packed into the two crates I have for them now. And everything but the cookies was 20 percent off!

I wanted to go further to Doc's Finds in Haddon Heights and check out a new thrift shop in Audubon, but the rain just wasn't stopping. This was no day for wandering around. I called Uber...and spied the crate just after they said they'd be 11 minutes. That gave me just enough time to buy the crate before the lady arrived. Neither drive was longer than 5 minutes despite the continuing showers and chilly weather.

When I got home, I organized the jazz crates and dressed the Cabbies for winter while watching Geppetto. I go further into this Disney TV musical from 2000 with Drew Carey in the title role at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Family Fun Saturday - Geppetto 

Finished the night with the Saturday Match Game marathon. One of the writers' favorite questions parodied TV Guide listings and other TV shows of the time, usually the cop shows that dominated the airwaves in the 1970's. Ironside, Columbo, Kojak, and Cannon were their favorite targets, but such lesser-known cops as Banaceck and Harry-O got shout-outs occasionally too. The Rockford Files and Charlie's Angels got in later when Joe Santos of Rockford and David Doyle of Angels became semi-regulars around 1978. Usually, they were cracks about Kojak's bald head, Ironside's wheelchair, Columbo's rain coat and what he keeps in there, Cannon's girth, the Angels'...assets, or how tough the others were. 

There were TV jokes in some of the most beloved episodes of the entire series, like the time Richard gave "Benedict" for "__ Canyon" in the Head-to-Head. Or when Leslie Easterbrook, later of Police Academy, appeared on the show in 1980 wearing enormous shoulder pads that pre-dated the 80's shoulder pad fad by at least four or five years. Or an early syndicated episode with the most adorable and funny middle-aged lady who even knew how to put Gene in his place. Or when Elaine Joyce gave an answer Gene didn't like, and he untied her halter top. She held it on while avoiding Gene and Richard's attempts to help fix it.

Check the listings for laughter in this hilarious marathon!

Match Game Saturday Classics - The TV Guide Listings Marathon (Part 2)

A Windy Day In June

Kicked off the morning after breakfast doing chores around the apartment. First up was changing the sheets. Today was cool, barely in the 70's, but it's supposed to get into the 90's by early next week. It's time to put the lightweight white summer sheets on. I also changed my two Cabbage Patch Kids dolls into summer outfits. Dulcie gets a white strawberry-print sundress; Carrie is a tomboy who sports a blue sailor jumpsuit. (She has such short yellow curls, Mom tied a ribbon in one of them to make her look more girlish.)

When I finished with that, I pulled out the summer and patriotic decorations. Like I said, we're close enough to summer. Besides, today's Flag Day. This is a good day to put up the patriotic stuff. I have a big cardboard flag, large and small fabric flags on sticks, a red, white, and blue bow and bell hanger for the front door, two tiny flag-themed Beanie Baby bears, a Care Bear with a flag-themed tummy, a tall tube-shaped rustic Uncle Sam container, and a folk-art angel trio on navy blocks that say "USA."

Ran The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again as I worked. Amos (Tim Conway) and Theodore (Don Knotts) are ready to start over. They ride into a boom town to deposit money, but when the bank's robbed, a feisty old lady (Ruth Buzzi) accuses them of the crime. Marshall "Wooly" Bill Hickock (Kenneth Mars) agrees with her, especially after they accidentally get him badly injured twice. Dodging him, they hide in a carriage that ends up at the local fort for the US Calvary. They join the regiment, but they aren't any better as Calvary members than they were thieves. Another encounter with the now-loony Hitchcock during a military ball ends with the fort burning to the ground and Major Gaskill's (Harry Morgan) daughter Millie (Alyssa Davalos) being grabbed by cowardly Calvary officer Private Jeff Reed (Tim Matheson).

Theodore and Amos end up in military prison, which turns out to be a front for a bank robbery group headed by Big Mack (Jack Elam). They manage to escape him and warn the nearest authority...but Hitchcock is still on their train. Meanwhile, Jeff's let Millie go. She's ready to go home with her father, but Jeff isn't who he claims he is...

To my surprise, I really enjoyed this. It was cute. In some ways, I liked it better than the original. The gags were sharper, Mars was a great addition as the crazy lawman, and there were no cutsey kids around. The main problem is the subplot involving Millie and Jeff. Matheson and Davalos aren't nearly as much fun as Bill Bixby and Susan Clark in similar roles. His taking off with her like that was more creepy than romantic, no matter what the old blind woman in the cabin thought. There's no build-up to what his real job turns out to be. It just comes out of nowhere, and it doesn't really fit with what we see in the rest of the movie.

I'm going to say, if you're a fan of Conway, Knotts, or western comedies, you're probably going to want both of these. They're both equally fun comedies with great turns by both Apple Dumpling members.

Headed out to run errands as soon as the movie ended. My first stop was The Square Meal on West Clinton for lunch. Despite it being noon, they were totally quiet when I arrived. Their specialty is healthy menu items made from sustainable local ingredients. I had half of a chicken sandwich with spinach and cheese and a Spent Berry Salad - cracked wheat berries with carrots, basically - and a molasses crinkle. All three were absolutely delicious, especially that yummy sandwich. I ate them at the big main table while watching the few folks on West Clinton go by.

Next stop was the Oaklyn Library. There were a few people reading on the couches, but otherwise, there wasn't much going on. I organized DVDs and looked over picture books. Took out The Blues Brothers and the original 1984 Footloose to review next week. Also admired the new, young librarian's gorgeous artwork for "scary Disney princesses" that she intended to give a friend. She was really good; the Creature of the Black Lagoon Ariel looked like the real thing.

Went to the Acme after lunch to get my schedule and do grocery shopping. I really didn't need that much. I finally got to the clearance carts and shelves; grabbed more Kashi granola bars, All Bran cereal, a small bag of mini Yorks, and a bottle of Inkos Strawberry Iced Tea. Restocked ground turkey, sausages, yogurt, skim milk, bananas, pasta, pancake mix, peanut butter, and batteries,

My schedule next week is very strange. I work at noon across the board, but while I get off at 4 for most of the week, I'm done at 2:30 on Thursday. I have no idea why I'm only there two and a half hours that day. Sunday and Tuesday off.

Went straight home and put everything away, then made Blueberry Whole Wheat Muffins while watching Daffy Duck cartoons. Most of these were from the 40s and 50's, when Daffy was in his zenith as Warners' most lovable miser. Favorites included "The Iceman Ducketh," "Tick Tock Tuckered," "Design for Leaving," and the early TV spoofs "This Is a Life?", "People are Bunny," and "Person to Bunny."

Worked on writing for a while after I took the muffins out of the oven. Luke follows Mara to a former ice cream warehouse in the Bespin district. Neither of them can figure out how to get in after Fettman's van enters. Mara has her broadcast soon, and Luke relies on the sun for his powers, so both withdraw for the moment. Luke tells Harris that he sees something he wants to check out...but he may not survive the trip...

Broke for dinner at 6. Had beef hot dogs and a spinach salad while watching a She-Ra episode for Father's Day later this weekend. "King Miro's Journey" brings Prince Adam and his grandfather to Eternia to visit Adora. They end up helping her and Madam Razz defend the Whispering Woods when Hordak and an inspector sent by his boss Horde Prime try to cover it in a force shield.

It was such a nice day, I opted to go for a walk after dinner. Stopped for a vanilla Yum Yum (creamy, gritty water ice) at Phillies Yummies, which I enjoyed at the picnic tables on the sidewalk outside the storefronts. Watched groups of girls go to dance class at Ovations next door and groups of boys take off on their bikes and get money off each other for more pizza.

It was cool and cloudy earlier, but by 7:30, the clouds had scuttled away. It was still windy and chilly, but the sun felt nice on my back. There couldn't have been a nicer day in early June. Other people walked around the neighborhoods as well, walking their dogs, talking to their neighbors, and admiring the gorgeous gardens.

Went into Lego Pirates of the Caribbean when I got home. After "London Town" glitched and made noise early in the round, I only had time left for one more. Thankfully, I got through "Queen Anne's Revenge" with no trouble. Picked up three more pieces and True Pirate (and just missed the last point on Jack's compass).

Finished the night on YouTube. Since The Girls In the Picture involves silent star Mary Pickford and makes extensive references to her movies, I thought it was time I gave some of them a shot. I chose Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. Despite being in her 20's, Pickford believably plays Rebecca as a spunky 12-year-old tomboy who will beat up on anyone who insults her and her friends, including nasty bully Nellie Smellie. She turns to a handsome and wealthy bachelor named Alan Ladd to sell soap to. He buys the soap and provisions for a poor family to have a lovely lamp for their house. Rebecca adores him and claims she'll marry him. Her stern aunts send her away soon after to boarding school. She grows into a lovely young woman...and Ladd finally comes to see her as more than just the cute little girl who brought him so much pleasure.

Though it has the basic idea in common, Rebecca herself is very different from in the books. Here, she's tough, feisty, and prone to pranks and crazy ideas, like the time she sets up a circus to help a poor family and gets caught by her aunts. In the book, Rebecca is more introspective and better-read. Even so, this was still a lot of fun to watch. Pickford may not have had much of a childhood, but her instincts of how to play one were solid. I especially loved the circus that gets her into trouble and her ongoing fights with the obnoxious Nellie.

If you're a fan of Pickford or silent movies, this might not be a bad introduction to both.

Here it is on YouTube:

Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm

Last Day of the Fall Harvest

Started a sunny, windy day with this week's American Top 40 re-run. We jumped back to 1983, this time moving to late November for a round of pop, ballads, country, and New Wave. Hits that Thanksgiving weekend included "Islands In the Stream" by Dolly Pardon and Kenny Rogers, "Suddenly Last Summer" by the Motels, "Heart and Soul" by Huey Lewis and the News, "Total Eclipse of the Heart" by Bonnie Tyler, "Crumblin' Down" by John Cougar (Melloncamp), "PYT (Pretty Young Thing)" by Michael Jackson, "Say It Isn't So" by Hall & Oates, "Say, Say, Say" by Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson, and "Uptown Girl" by Billy Joel. The number one song was a favorite of mine from Lionel Richie, "All Night Long."

Today was the last day of the Collingswood Farm Market. They always end the weekend before Thanksgiving. I'm just glad I got to be there this year. This time last year, I would have been on my final week of being laid up with a fractured ankle. Despite the blustery cold, it was very busy with people buying produce, honey, eggs, and cheese for their Thanksgiving dinners and craft items for Christmas presents. I didn't really need much myself. I only bought a block of Colby cheese (I forgot cheese at the Acme yesterday), cauliflower (wanted to make mashed cauliflower again - last week's was really good), apples, a bag of baby spinach, and cranberries to make Cranberry Bread to bring down to Mom and Dad's on Thursday. I treated myself to two large, soft English Toffee Cookies from Springdale Farms and admired the pair of alpacas at the alpaca yarn booth just as you entered the Farm Market. The black and white patched alpaca decided to take a nap right there; the brown one just went on eating his hay brunch.

My yard sale runs are done for the year. It's too cold for people to be sitting outside and selling things, and most people's minds are probably on the upcoming holiday this weekend. I went straight home instead. I put everything away, then put on the second disc of Now That's What You Call Christmas! and dressed the American Girl, Sailor Moon, and Cabbage Patch Kids dolls for the holiday season.

All of the American Girl dolls have their own special Christmas outfits. Samantha wears her Cranberry Christmas Dress with the huge lace collar. Molly sports her cute green velvet Christmas Dress. Felicity looks stunning in her bright blue Christmas Ball Gown. Josefina is as elegant as a Spanish princess in her pretty yellow Christmas Dress and Mantilla. My modern doll Jessa wears the bright red and gold brocade Chinese New Year Outfit. (It's too nice to save for February!) I put the Sailor Soldiers in vintage fashion doll gowns from yard sales, thrift shops, and in two cases, dollar stores. (I got rid of most of the dollar store outfits I had because they were so cheap, but Lita's bright green dress with the puffed sleeves and Ami's cute ice blue gown with the elbow sleeves and star netting looked so good on them, I couldn't bring myself to give them away.) The Cabbies wear real Christmas baby dresses found in vintage shops.

I ran Very Merry Christmas Songs as I made a second batch of cookies for the Acme's Thanksgiving Employee Luncheon. The cookies were barely cooked when I tossed them in a bag, grabbed a coat, and hurried off to work so I could enjoy the festivities, too!

Work was busy all day long. I did just have enough time to eat when I arrived, and later when I finally got my break. There were two kinds of meatballs, sausage and peppers, turkey with or without gravy, green bean casserole, a noodle casserole with chicken and broccoli, brownies and mini-cupcakes from the bakery, cheesecake, little cupcake-like cookies with peanut butter cups in the center, a thick chocolate cake sprinkled with chocolate chips, my Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies, and almost every kind of soda the Acme carries. I had the turkey with gravy (too salty), green bean casserole (yum), noodle casserole (double yum), Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi, and cupcakes for lunch. Dinner was the meatballs, peppers, peanut butter cup cookies, Cranberry Canada Dry, and a slice of chocolate cake. I'm very full now. It was probably a good thing that it slowed so fast by 7PM, I was able to leave without a relief.

Winter Interlude

I slept in so late, it was nearly 11:30 before I began Chocolate Chip Pancakes for brunch! I skipped the Beatles and opted to finish The Phantom and run more Popeye instead. By 1940, when the second set ends, the Fleischers were on a roll. They'd settled into their new, larger studio in Miami and were churning out not only more Popeye and the Superman shorts, but two feature-length films to compete with Disney, the fantasy Gulliver's Travels and the modern-set Mr. Bug Goes to Town.

Alas, the failure of Mr. Bug and a rift between the Fleischer brothers ended with Paramount forcing them out...but not before they released some fun Popeye tales. The episodes had lost some of the grit of earlier stories but were still pretty tough compared to the competition from Disney or MGM's Harmon and Ising. "Fightin' Pals" explores the contentious but somewhat friendly relationship between Bluto and Popeye. When Bluto disappears in the South Seas, Popeye is determined to rescue him..if only to give him someone to fight with! The Fleischers' show business aspirations come to the fore in "Shakespearean Spinach," in which Popeye and Bluto fight for the role of Romeo, with Olive as their Juliet. I surprisingly remember "Puttin' On An Act," in which Olive and Popeye enact their old stage routine for a delighted Sweet Pea, from occasional showings on TNT during my childhood. (Only I remember it being in color - it was probably colorized.) That short was the first time I'd ever heard of vaudeville.

I called Mom while the shorts were on. As it turned out, Cape May County got the wind from Friday's storm, but no snow, or even rain. Mom could turn her mind to other happenings. My brother Keefe got his orders; he's being relocated to a Naval base in upstate New York, along with two friends of his from his unit. His girlfriend Vicki is probably going to join them there. She and Keefe are crazy about each other, and she's apparently tired of living with her mother.

Dad also celebrated his birthday yesterday. His family took him out to dinner at the Rio Station, his long-time favorite restaurant, and gave him several good gifts. He told his wife it was the best birthday he'd had in years.

After I got off the phone, I put on the soundtrack for the 1980 Popeye musical and did chores around the apartment. I made my bed, which I only do every once in a while. Who's gonna see it? I changed my Cabbage Patch Kids dolls Carrie and Dulcie into overalls with a plaid shirt and a cute red and white Swiss-dotted dress with an embroidered strawberry on it. I vacuumed the entire apartment. The bedroom in particular was a pain. There was tons of hair all over the place; you can tell how long my hair was until last week.

The cleaning took so long, I was almost late to work! When I finally did get in, work was steady but not overwhelming, unusual for a Sunday. A lot of people must have done their shopping over the weekend. It was quiet enough when I finished to leave without a relief.

Faster and Faster To Nowhere

I have a confession to make. Ahem.

I like disco.

A child of 1979, I grew up on disco. My stepfather loved disco divas like Donna Summer and Diana Ross, and still does. One of my earliest childhood memories is of my sister Rose and I shaking our groove things to "Bad Girls/Hot Stuff," still two of my favorite songs, while Dad laughed at our antics. I bought him Donna Summer's On the Radio on CD for him to annoy Mom (she DOESN'T like disco) with about five or six years ago. It was the surprise hit of my family's Christmas. Even Mom happily cranked up the volume whenever it was on.

I sent the bills this morning and went through last year's papers, sorting what could go and what needed to be kept for tax purposes. After everything was sorted, I headed back to Act Two to see if they still had the CD/DVD rack I saw on the way out last week but wasn't going to try to carry home on foot. They didn't, but I did pick up a few other items. My Cabbage Patch Kid, Carrie, finally got some new clothes. She's been wearing the dress she came in in 1984 for over a decade. The dress is in decent shape for it's age, but it's also pilled, stained, and the Velcro won't close very well anymore. I got her a cute pair of green overalls with a red-and-green plaid shirt. The shirt's short-sleeved, so she still wears her cream-colored baby sweater. The overalls are a bit stiff; I had a hard time getting them on her. I also got a second vintage 80s item, a Good Luck Bear Care Bear figurine in mint condition. My third find was my favorite, Donna Summer's disco classic Once Upon A Time. I haven't heard this in years, but it seems to be Summer's 70s retelling of the Cinderella story, and while not as familiar as "MacArthur Park" or "Bad Girls" it's still a blast to listen to.

About an hour after I came home, it began to snow heavily. Though the snow settled into flurries by 3PM and never did stick, I opted to get a ride to work anyway. I wasn't getting off until 8:45, and I was worried about ice. Work was steady when I came in, stone-dead when I left.