Musical Fiesta at Dad's House
I slept in this morning. It was well past noon before I made it over to Dad's with this week's laundry load. No one was home when I arrived, so I put the laundry in the washer and settled down on the soft new carpeting in the den. I ran several different Nickelodeon stations all afternoon, catching various shows.
The first up was Miss Spider's Sunny Patch Kids. The Haddon Township Library has several DVDs of episodes for this show, but I'd never rented them. As far as I can tell, a pair of spiders (including the title lady) has a very large brood of insect children of various species and teach them the ins and outs of a bug's life. In the first episode, one of the boys bring home a tiny mushroom, despite being told that spores could get into their tree home and grow everywhere. When mushrooms start invading Sunny Patch, he worries that it's his fault.
The second story was very sweet. An Australian lifeguard cricket whose job requires flight is devastated when a windstorm permanently damages one of his wings. I really liked how, instead of suddenly finding a way to fix the broken wing, the Miss Spider and her brood look for other ways for their Aussie friend to fly. I really enjoyed this episode and may have to try some of those DVD sets now.
Dora the Explorer and Go Diego Go! both revolved around music. Dora, Boots, and their buddies travel to a small town that was about to have a musical fiesta...until Senior Shush took their instruments and locked them in a box. The box can only be opened when music is played, which brings in the kids and their adorable mini-orchestra. Diego and a pair of red-eyed tree frogs gather various animals from their homes and invite them to help with the Rainforest Concert his older sister Alicia is preparing for.
The next one was the brand-new version of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I'd only vaguely heard about this until yesterday, when I saw some of the action figures at the Happy Hippo. Most of the story seems to be the same. The Turtles are still four hip-talkin' teen mutants who live in the sewers under New York City with their rat mentor Splinter. Shredder is still a metal-covered villain who is backed by his band of Foot Soldiers.
Quite a few things have changed in the decade since the second, darker comics-based version debuted. The biggest change is April O'Neal, who was a reporter in the original and a tech geek in 2003, is now a teen not much younger than the Turtles who is looking for her father. And Krang, the pink alien brain who was the sarcastic main villain for most of the 80s series, seems to have multiplied into a whole race of genius pink alien brains in robotic suits. Oh yes, and this is in CGI...but CGI that's made to mimic both the feel of the comics and the anime that's become popular in the US. Characters get little rectangles over their heads when they're surprised, and tiny hearts around their heads when they're in love.
In this episode, Donatello, the mechanically-minded Turtle, is tired of the Krang aliens always managing to get around his staff. He creates a small but very well-stocked robot turtle he calls Metalhead to replace him in battle. That's all well and fine...until one of the Krangs get a hold of the machinery. Meanwhile, a restless April takes off in an attempt to find out more about her missing father.
I really liked it. The tone seems to be somewhere between the goofy 80s show and the tough 2003 incarnation. Raphael is sarcastic, there are jokes and wisecracks and spoofs, and Michelangelo is still a bit of a ditz...but the villains, including the Krangs, are a genuine threat. Love the new design for Splinter - he looks so regal. I'll have to look for more of this on Nick's site.
Of course, the biggest star at Nick is Spongebob Squarepants. Spongebob is Nickelodeon's numeral-uno, constantly-run cash-cow franchise. The trouble with Spongebob is, though the show is funny in small doses, it loses its charm and gets annoying quickly when seen in succession. I kept it to a very strange early episode about Spongebob falling in love with a Krabby Patty he'd made at work. No, really in love. He takes it on "dates" and treats it like a woman...at least until Squidward and Mr. Krabs point out that "she" is starting to smell a little nasty...
I had just enough time to get home, run some Jake and the Neverland Pirates, and get ready for work. In the double-length episode that opens the set, Peter Pan returns after exploring Neverland...but he's lost his shadow and his ability to fly in the process. The kids have to rescue his shadow from Hook and his crew and try to improve the gloomy Peter's mood. Other episodes involve the kids learning to not look a gift elephant in the mouth and pursuing a puppy who has run off with Hook's shoe.
One of the managers called me right before I went to Dad's and asked me if I wanted to come in an hour early. No problem. The laundry was the only thing I needed to get done today; I had no other plans, and I could use the extra hour. As it turned out, it probably wouldn't have mattered if I came in early or not. We were steady with rush-hour customers when I came in, quiet as can be when I left.
It had been damp and cloudy all day. It was sprinkling lightly when I got out of work. The rain was just starting to pick up as I made my way into Oaklyn. It thankfully waited to come down harder until I was already at home and online.
Life is a lazy river - no matter where you are. Movies, musicals, mysteries, pop culture, and lots of other great stuff.
Showing posts with label Go Diego Go. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Go Diego Go. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Mall Rats
It was not a pleasant day when I got up this morning. It was in the 50s, pouring, and gray. This was especially a pain because I'd planned on going to the library later, and I had laundry to get done. I got up early and went over around quarter of 10.
I needed have rushed. The laundry never got in the dryer. My sister Jessa was home from college. Her boxes and bins from her dorm room were piled on and around the kitchen island, where apparently they'd been since she'd finished her term a few days ago. She was in the midst of finishing her laundry...or so she said.
Three hours later, and her laundry was STILL in the dryer. I'd gotten her to take most of her things upstairs (except for dishes and silverware that would have to be stashed in the basement), since she said Dad was supposed to be home today. We watched the first Meatballs (the one with Bill Murray) on Comedy Central, and earlier had Mall Rats on, but by this point, Jessa was napping and I was getting bored. I switched to Go Diego Go! on Nick, but that didn't really help, as cute as it was to chase after whistling ducks and tree frogs.
Jessa said she'd wanted to go to the Cherry Hill Mall to exchange a dress she bought at Urban Outfitters. That sounded fine for me. It was still showering, and the weather really wasn't right for riding the bike anywhere. Not to mention, her laundry was STILL in the dryer. Apparently, she stuffed most of her laundry from her last weeks at college in there!
We walked around the Cherry Hill Mall for about two hours. They just finished a massive remodeling job there last year. Frankly, I'm not quite as fond of it as the Deptford Mall. It's a beautiful mall with tons of history (it was the first mall built on the east coast), but the stores are mostly upscale boutiques.
I did find a few things I needed. I decided to try Build-a-Bear clothes for my AG dolls. I bought a skirt and peasant blouse outfit and some shorts for my modern doll Jessa. No, none of the boutiques had anything I liked (what's with those awful ripped shorts?), but I did finally find a sensible pair of jean shorts to replace the ones that got a hole in them and (yet another) new pair of work pants at JCPenney.
Jessa and I finally had a snack at the food court around quarter of 5. I had cookies. She had sushi. Dad called her while we ate. We'd taken his van because she was worried about her old Buick's engine smoking. Dad had arrived at home...and he wasn't happy with us taking off with his car without permission or leaving a mess in the laundry room and kitchen.
We went home shortly after that. The traffic going back was bad, and we had to do a lot of circling around to avoid it. When we finally got back to Dad and Uncle Ken's, there was a mini-party going on. Jodie had gotten in from work, and Rose was there with her baby son Khai to do his wash.
No, my laundry never did get in the dryer. Rose said she'd put it in sometime tonight and bring it over tomorrow. I really feel bad about that, even though everyone said it was ok. I should be doing my laundry myself, not letting other people do things for me. It's probably all gunky and wrinkled now.
And the BAB skirt and shorts were too big for Little Jess. The peasant blouse was big, too, but they're supposed to be big. I'll just take the skirt and shorts in.
It was not a pleasant day when I got up this morning. It was in the 50s, pouring, and gray. This was especially a pain because I'd planned on going to the library later, and I had laundry to get done. I got up early and went over around quarter of 10.
I needed have rushed. The laundry never got in the dryer. My sister Jessa was home from college. Her boxes and bins from her dorm room were piled on and around the kitchen island, where apparently they'd been since she'd finished her term a few days ago. She was in the midst of finishing her laundry...or so she said.
Three hours later, and her laundry was STILL in the dryer. I'd gotten her to take most of her things upstairs (except for dishes and silverware that would have to be stashed in the basement), since she said Dad was supposed to be home today. We watched the first Meatballs (the one with Bill Murray) on Comedy Central, and earlier had Mall Rats on, but by this point, Jessa was napping and I was getting bored. I switched to Go Diego Go! on Nick, but that didn't really help, as cute as it was to chase after whistling ducks and tree frogs.
Jessa said she'd wanted to go to the Cherry Hill Mall to exchange a dress she bought at Urban Outfitters. That sounded fine for me. It was still showering, and the weather really wasn't right for riding the bike anywhere. Not to mention, her laundry was STILL in the dryer. Apparently, she stuffed most of her laundry from her last weeks at college in there!
We walked around the Cherry Hill Mall for about two hours. They just finished a massive remodeling job there last year. Frankly, I'm not quite as fond of it as the Deptford Mall. It's a beautiful mall with tons of history (it was the first mall built on the east coast), but the stores are mostly upscale boutiques.
I did find a few things I needed. I decided to try Build-a-Bear clothes for my AG dolls. I bought a skirt and peasant blouse outfit and some shorts for my modern doll Jessa. No, none of the boutiques had anything I liked (what's with those awful ripped shorts?), but I did finally find a sensible pair of jean shorts to replace the ones that got a hole in them and (yet another) new pair of work pants at JCPenney.
Jessa and I finally had a snack at the food court around quarter of 5. I had cookies. She had sushi. Dad called her while we ate. We'd taken his van because she was worried about her old Buick's engine smoking. Dad had arrived at home...and he wasn't happy with us taking off with his car without permission or leaving a mess in the laundry room and kitchen.
We went home shortly after that. The traffic going back was bad, and we had to do a lot of circling around to avoid it. When we finally got back to Dad and Uncle Ken's, there was a mini-party going on. Jodie had gotten in from work, and Rose was there with her baby son Khai to do his wash.
No, my laundry never did get in the dryer. Rose said she'd put it in sometime tonight and bring it over tomorrow. I really feel bad about that, even though everyone said it was ok. I should be doing my laundry myself, not letting other people do things for me. It's probably all gunky and wrinkled now.
And the BAB skirt and shorts were too big for Little Jess. The peasant blouse was big, too, but they're supposed to be big. I'll just take the skirt and shorts in.
Monday, March 09, 2009
Family Matters
Today was laundry day. Uncle Ken and Dolores were the only ones home when I got in, doing paperwork and resting. Uncle Ken is still recovering from surgery that apparently took four hours and really left him hurting. Dolores says Samantha has been coming over every day to sit with him and talk to him, bring along her 3-year-old daughter Faith.
I had a lovely time with Faith. With Dad and Jodie taking a long weekend vising friends in Cape May, we were free to watch Dora the Explorer, Go Diego Go!, and The Backyardigans. Dora and Boots looked for the source of a strange sound in the first episode (I guessed correctly that it was Benny the Bull's hiccups) and tracked down all the animals in an alphabet book in a mystery-themed second episode. Diego helped his African friend find two lost baby gorillas who were about to be crowned King of the Mountain Gorillas. The Backyardigans was one I'd seen before - in a spoof of Star Trek, Tasha, Austin, and Uniqua are galactic trash gatherers, searching for new frontiers in stuff people throw away. Klingons Tyrone and Pablo are determined to steal their garbage to run their ship!
Faith herself was adorable, especially when she got up and "tip-toed" along with Dora and Boots as they tried to get around the sleeping Swiper the Fox! Apparently, Boots is her favorite Dora character.
I went home with my laundry shortly after Samantha left to put Faith down for her nap. Most of my socks weren't dry - I had to hang them up while I got ready for work.
Work was very busy, especially for a Monday. The only real problem was when a lady's stuffed pork chops didn't come off buy-one-get-one-free. I thought she might have looked at the sign wrong, but it turns out they WERE on sale - the meat department hadn't fixed the prices so they were listed as being on sale! I did give it to her, and I felt more than a little embarrassed for not believing her. I went and looked myself, but apparently they were being kept closer to the seafood department, because I didn't see them with the other pork items.
Today was laundry day. Uncle Ken and Dolores were the only ones home when I got in, doing paperwork and resting. Uncle Ken is still recovering from surgery that apparently took four hours and really left him hurting. Dolores says Samantha has been coming over every day to sit with him and talk to him, bring along her 3-year-old daughter Faith.
I had a lovely time with Faith. With Dad and Jodie taking a long weekend vising friends in Cape May, we were free to watch Dora the Explorer, Go Diego Go!, and The Backyardigans. Dora and Boots looked for the source of a strange sound in the first episode (I guessed correctly that it was Benny the Bull's hiccups) and tracked down all the animals in an alphabet book in a mystery-themed second episode. Diego helped his African friend find two lost baby gorillas who were about to be crowned King of the Mountain Gorillas. The Backyardigans was one I'd seen before - in a spoof of Star Trek, Tasha, Austin, and Uniqua are galactic trash gatherers, searching for new frontiers in stuff people throw away. Klingons Tyrone and Pablo are determined to steal their garbage to run their ship!
Faith herself was adorable, especially when she got up and "tip-toed" along with Dora and Boots as they tried to get around the sleeping Swiper the Fox! Apparently, Boots is her favorite Dora character.
I went home with my laundry shortly after Samantha left to put Faith down for her nap. Most of my socks weren't dry - I had to hang them up while I got ready for work.
Work was very busy, especially for a Monday. The only real problem was when a lady's stuffed pork chops didn't come off buy-one-get-one-free. I thought she might have looked at the sign wrong, but it turns out they WERE on sale - the meat department hadn't fixed the prices so they were listed as being on sale! I did give it to her, and I felt more than a little embarrassed for not believing her. I went and looked myself, but apparently they were being kept closer to the seafood department, because I didn't see them with the other pork items.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Laundry in the Moonlight
Today was Laundry Day. There was an awful lot of it, too, since I had three days off last week and the last of the baking to clean up after. I watched The Backyardigans while it was in the laundry machine and a double-length Go, Diego, Go! episode after it was in the dryer.
The Backyardigans was a repeat, but it was a favorite of mine. Uniqua teaches Pablo a lesson in sharing and in playing with a group in "Blazing Paddles." Pablo the Ping Pong Bandit wins everyone's ping pong paddles with his amazing Bandit SlamIt move, including Sheriff Uniqua's. Uniqua vows to return to her friends and show Pablo how ping pong is REALLY played...with two people.
Diego and Alyssia took their turns with story-telling in "Moonlight Rescue." Diego tells a story of how Luna the Moon is broken apart by a comet and falls into the ocean. He, Alyssia, and Dooga the Sea Turtle have to rescue her and put her back together so Dooga's babies can follow the light of the moon to the ocean. A rare Go Diego foray into fantasy, and an enjoyable one. I wish more sea turtles came up to Cape May. I'd love for them to eat the jellyfish that occasionally wash up on shore in the heat of the summer...and sting anyone who steps on them!
I made a short trip to CVS while the laundry was in the dryer for toothpaste. Uncle Ken and Dolores were there when I got back. Dad and Jessa weren't around at all this morning. Dolores told me they went to visit relatives in Pennsylvania. Dolores chatted with Linda, one of my neighbors on Manor (and my landlady's sister).
I had just enough time to eat lunch, put away my laundry, make dinner, and change into my work uniform before heading to the Acme. The weather today was the same as yesterday - a little windy, otherwise mid-40s and sunny, perfect for this time of year. The Acme was busier but also otherwise the same as yesterday. There were no major problems other than long lines during rush hour, and I had no relief and was able to get off quickly.
Today was Laundry Day. There was an awful lot of it, too, since I had three days off last week and the last of the baking to clean up after. I watched The Backyardigans while it was in the laundry machine and a double-length Go, Diego, Go! episode after it was in the dryer.
The Backyardigans was a repeat, but it was a favorite of mine. Uniqua teaches Pablo a lesson in sharing and in playing with a group in "Blazing Paddles." Pablo the Ping Pong Bandit wins everyone's ping pong paddles with his amazing Bandit SlamIt move, including Sheriff Uniqua's. Uniqua vows to return to her friends and show Pablo how ping pong is REALLY played...with two people.
Diego and Alyssia took their turns with story-telling in "Moonlight Rescue." Diego tells a story of how Luna the Moon is broken apart by a comet and falls into the ocean. He, Alyssia, and Dooga the Sea Turtle have to rescue her and put her back together so Dooga's babies can follow the light of the moon to the ocean. A rare Go Diego foray into fantasy, and an enjoyable one. I wish more sea turtles came up to Cape May. I'd love for them to eat the jellyfish that occasionally wash up on shore in the heat of the summer...and sting anyone who steps on them!
I made a short trip to CVS while the laundry was in the dryer for toothpaste. Uncle Ken and Dolores were there when I got back. Dad and Jessa weren't around at all this morning. Dolores told me they went to visit relatives in Pennsylvania. Dolores chatted with Linda, one of my neighbors on Manor (and my landlady's sister).
I had just enough time to eat lunch, put away my laundry, make dinner, and change into my work uniform before heading to the Acme. The weather today was the same as yesterday - a little windy, otherwise mid-40s and sunny, perfect for this time of year. The Acme was busier but also otherwise the same as yesterday. There were no major problems other than long lines during rush hour, and I had no relief and was able to get off quickly.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Restless Heart
For some reason, I woke up at 6:30 in the morning after sleeping only about 4 and 1/2 hours. I was sweaty and my mouth was dry. I finally kicked off some blankets, got a drink of water, and tossed and turned for another hour before finally getting back to sleep and getting up at 9:30.
I guess I'm just restless. Or just plain scared. I wish I could transfer my success with losing weight into finding a job. Why can I lose 40 pounds, and not find a job? What's wrong with me? Why can't I make things happen? What is it about me that scares potential employers away? Is it my lack of skills? Or my distinct lack of experience? I wish things would just happen.
And when am I going to have someone to give me Valentine's candy, instead of buying cheap bags of Strawberry Dark Chocolate Hershey's Kisses the day after?
Today was (finally) laundry day. Dora the Explorer and her buddy Boots the Monkey travel to the end of the rainbow to find the last piece of a puzzle of a wizard - his wand. Isa the Iguana, Benny the Bull, and Tico the Squirrel join them, culminating in a ride in a rocket that takes them to the rainbow's end! This must be a recent story. Map's voice sounded a little different, less nasal and slightly less annoying.
Go Diego Go! took the world at a snail's pace today as he and Sammy the Three-Toed Sloth helped a mother sloth and her baby escape from the path of a mud slide.
The Backyardigans also had fun in the mud as Swamp Tour Guides Pablo and Uniqua take tourists Austin and Tasha on a trip around their gooey habitat. Tasha's not interested...until she hears about a possible moose monster under the waters of the swamp...
Work was surprisingly quiet for the Friday of a holiday weekend where most kids are out of school. I guess everyone's either saving their money for Monday or on vacation. My register froze about 20 minutes before I left and I had to switch, but other than that, this was a quiet night.
For some reason, I woke up at 6:30 in the morning after sleeping only about 4 and 1/2 hours. I was sweaty and my mouth was dry. I finally kicked off some blankets, got a drink of water, and tossed and turned for another hour before finally getting back to sleep and getting up at 9:30.
I guess I'm just restless. Or just plain scared. I wish I could transfer my success with losing weight into finding a job. Why can I lose 40 pounds, and not find a job? What's wrong with me? Why can't I make things happen? What is it about me that scares potential employers away? Is it my lack of skills? Or my distinct lack of experience? I wish things would just happen.
And when am I going to have someone to give me Valentine's candy, instead of buying cheap bags of Strawberry Dark Chocolate Hershey's Kisses the day after?
Today was (finally) laundry day. Dora the Explorer and her buddy Boots the Monkey travel to the end of the rainbow to find the last piece of a puzzle of a wizard - his wand. Isa the Iguana, Benny the Bull, and Tico the Squirrel join them, culminating in a ride in a rocket that takes them to the rainbow's end! This must be a recent story. Map's voice sounded a little different, less nasal and slightly less annoying.
Go Diego Go! took the world at a snail's pace today as he and Sammy the Three-Toed Sloth helped a mother sloth and her baby escape from the path of a mud slide.
The Backyardigans also had fun in the mud as Swamp Tour Guides Pablo and Uniqua take tourists Austin and Tasha on a trip around their gooey habitat. Tasha's not interested...until she hears about a possible moose monster under the waters of the swamp...
Work was surprisingly quiet for the Friday of a holiday weekend where most kids are out of school. I guess everyone's either saving their money for Monday or on vacation. My register froze about 20 minutes before I left and I had to switch, but other than that, this was a quiet night.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Dinosaur Disco Quest
I did not awaken to a terribly attractive day. It was gloomy and dark, and the rain came down in sheets. Though the rain was gone by the time I got up, got dressed, and made banana pancakes for breakfast, it was still incredibly windy. It was so windy, both of my plastic deck chairs blew halfway across the porch before I managed to grab them and stack them.
I did make it over to Uncle Ken's to do the laundry. Uncle Ken and his girlfriend Dolores were working on cleaning the big picture windows in the kitchen and living room area. I had to wait a little while to do my small pile of laundry due to the heavy, dirty curtains they already had in the washer and drier, but I did get to enjoy some shows in the interim.
Caught the tail end of The Wonder Pets first. They learned about levers and pulleys as they helped a baby elephant in Kenya get it's trunk out of the mud. (Baby Elephant's mama had a pretty Kenyan accent.) Blue's Clues was an early Steve episode dealing with musical instruments; cute, but not all that exciting, though I didn't figure the game out until the third clue.
Switched over to TV Land and encountered one of the most famous of the many beloved I Love Lucy episodes. After begging Ricky to stay in Hollywood just a little longer, a souvenir-happy Lucy and Ethel go after the ultimate take-home trinket at the Chinese Theater - John Wayne's footprints in cement! Needless to say, nothing works out the way Lucy wants it to. She spends a lot of time stomping around in buckets of cement, and we get to learn some more naughty Spanish words from her not-pleased hubby.
I got a bit of a surprise on my return to Nick - Go Diego Go! was early today. I found out why when Diego, Alicia, and Baby Jaguar were joined by Dora the Explorer as they browsed through a dinosaur museum. Yes, dinosaurs were the theme of this double-length Go Diego Go!/Dora the Explorer crossover. Our intrepid Hispanic trio (and their cub buddy) go back in time to help an adolescent Maiasaura get back to her family. Maiasauras were new when I was about Diego's age, and it was fascinating to learn about a lesser-known dinosaur. It was also nice to see how the formats of Diego's show (learn about animal traits and habitats) and Dora's (let's go from this obstacle to this one) were combined. (We did see a little too much Map for my taste, though...)
The Backyardigans were also on a quest today. In "Quest For the Flying Rock," Uniqua, Tyrone, Tasha, and Pablo go on a race to see who can get to the Flying Rock on top of the Steep Step Hill first, the girls going through the jungle and the boys trooping across the desert. Needless to say, everyone winds up learning a lesson in teamwork and cooperation, to the tune of disco and 70s pop.
Much to my annoyance, the wind continued into the afternoon. Despite the sunshine and 45-degree temperatures, I ended up asking Dolores for a ride to work. The last time I rode to work in gale-force winds, I almost ended up being blown into Peter Creek. Work was steady-to-dead, with some obnoxious customers and a lack of help (that kid who kept not appearing last week finally quit).
I did not awaken to a terribly attractive day. It was gloomy and dark, and the rain came down in sheets. Though the rain was gone by the time I got up, got dressed, and made banana pancakes for breakfast, it was still incredibly windy. It was so windy, both of my plastic deck chairs blew halfway across the porch before I managed to grab them and stack them.
I did make it over to Uncle Ken's to do the laundry. Uncle Ken and his girlfriend Dolores were working on cleaning the big picture windows in the kitchen and living room area. I had to wait a little while to do my small pile of laundry due to the heavy, dirty curtains they already had in the washer and drier, but I did get to enjoy some shows in the interim.
Caught the tail end of The Wonder Pets first. They learned about levers and pulleys as they helped a baby elephant in Kenya get it's trunk out of the mud. (Baby Elephant's mama had a pretty Kenyan accent.) Blue's Clues was an early Steve episode dealing with musical instruments; cute, but not all that exciting, though I didn't figure the game out until the third clue.
Switched over to TV Land and encountered one of the most famous of the many beloved I Love Lucy episodes. After begging Ricky to stay in Hollywood just a little longer, a souvenir-happy Lucy and Ethel go after the ultimate take-home trinket at the Chinese Theater - John Wayne's footprints in cement! Needless to say, nothing works out the way Lucy wants it to. She spends a lot of time stomping around in buckets of cement, and we get to learn some more naughty Spanish words from her not-pleased hubby.
I got a bit of a surprise on my return to Nick - Go Diego Go! was early today. I found out why when Diego, Alicia, and Baby Jaguar were joined by Dora the Explorer as they browsed through a dinosaur museum. Yes, dinosaurs were the theme of this double-length Go Diego Go!/Dora the Explorer crossover. Our intrepid Hispanic trio (and their cub buddy) go back in time to help an adolescent Maiasaura get back to her family. Maiasauras were new when I was about Diego's age, and it was fascinating to learn about a lesser-known dinosaur. It was also nice to see how the formats of Diego's show (learn about animal traits and habitats) and Dora's (let's go from this obstacle to this one) were combined. (We did see a little too much Map for my taste, though...)
The Backyardigans were also on a quest today. In "Quest For the Flying Rock," Uniqua, Tyrone, Tasha, and Pablo go on a race to see who can get to the Flying Rock on top of the Steep Step Hill first, the girls going through the jungle and the boys trooping across the desert. Needless to say, everyone winds up learning a lesson in teamwork and cooperation, to the tune of disco and 70s pop.
Much to my annoyance, the wind continued into the afternoon. Despite the sunshine and 45-degree temperatures, I ended up asking Dolores for a ride to work. The last time I rode to work in gale-force winds, I almost ended up being blown into Peter Creek. Work was steady-to-dead, with some obnoxious customers and a lack of help (that kid who kept not appearing last week finally quit).
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Snow On By
At press time, we STILL haven't gotten snow. It was cloudy all day, but it never snowed once. Not one flake. I heard that it snowed in Delaware and in Atlantic and Cape May Counties, but never here in the Philadelphia/Camden area. It wasn't even that cold; mid 30s, same as yesterday.
I did my laundry today and watched my favorite cartoons. Baseball was the theme of Dora the Explorer. Dora's buddy Boots can catch and throw well, but he's not much of a hitter. You have to get him and Dora past the Grumpy Old Troll (who is hitting balls instead of spouting riddles), a pond shaped like a mitt, and Swiper the Fox in a hot dog costume (don't ask) and get them to the game. A cute "Catch the Explorer Stars" arc episode; I loved the very useful "Baseball Explorer Star."
Go Diego Go! covered something a bit more delicate. The animal rescuing sibling pair chase an elusive Blue Muto Butterfly after Diego's buddy Baby Jaguar accidentally scares it away. A typical episode with an atypical animal. I've seen pictures of the real Blue Muto Butterfly, and it is beautiful but apparently just as hard to find in real life as it is here.
Today's Backyardigans was a repeat, but it was a fun one. Tasha the bossy hippo learns a lesson in manners from Uniqua and her guy friends when, as Princess CleoTasha, she and her retainers (the boys) must bring Uniqua the Sphinx gifts in order to find out why the Nile's dried up. I'm reminded here of why Uniqua and Tasha are my favorite members of the Backyardigans. Tasha is smart, logical, and a born leader...but she can also be one rude little girl, not only here, but in other episodes, and a tad lazy. I suspect Uniqua and Tasha are best friends partially because, unlike the boys, Uniqua has enough sense not to put up with Tasha's bull.
It was still cloudy and cold when my laundry was done, so I ended up getting a ride to work. Work was steady when I came in during the usual after-work rush hour, stone-cold-dead by the time I finished at 9.
At press time, we STILL haven't gotten snow. It was cloudy all day, but it never snowed once. Not one flake. I heard that it snowed in Delaware and in Atlantic and Cape May Counties, but never here in the Philadelphia/Camden area. It wasn't even that cold; mid 30s, same as yesterday.
I did my laundry today and watched my favorite cartoons. Baseball was the theme of Dora the Explorer. Dora's buddy Boots can catch and throw well, but he's not much of a hitter. You have to get him and Dora past the Grumpy Old Troll (who is hitting balls instead of spouting riddles), a pond shaped like a mitt, and Swiper the Fox in a hot dog costume (don't ask) and get them to the game. A cute "Catch the Explorer Stars" arc episode; I loved the very useful "Baseball Explorer Star."
Go Diego Go! covered something a bit more delicate. The animal rescuing sibling pair chase an elusive Blue Muto Butterfly after Diego's buddy Baby Jaguar accidentally scares it away. A typical episode with an atypical animal. I've seen pictures of the real Blue Muto Butterfly, and it is beautiful but apparently just as hard to find in real life as it is here.
Today's Backyardigans was a repeat, but it was a fun one. Tasha the bossy hippo learns a lesson in manners from Uniqua and her guy friends when, as Princess CleoTasha, she and her retainers (the boys) must bring Uniqua the Sphinx gifts in order to find out why the Nile's dried up. I'm reminded here of why Uniqua and Tasha are my favorite members of the Backyardigans. Tasha is smart, logical, and a born leader...but she can also be one rude little girl, not only here, but in other episodes, and a tad lazy. I suspect Uniqua and Tasha are best friends partially because, unlike the boys, Uniqua has enough sense not to put up with Tasha's bull.
It was still cloudy and cold when my laundry was done, so I ended up getting a ride to work. Work was steady when I came in during the usual after-work rush hour, stone-cold-dead by the time I finished at 9.
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
A Good Mail Day
A package arrived while I was finishing breakfast this morning. It was from Linda Young again, and this time, only one present was "do not open until Christmas"; it's in the back room. Everything else was awesome - a Mini Julie American girl doll (she's sitting by the printer until I can find her another place), a video copy of the movie The House Without A Christmas Tree, more of that fun Voyagers! show, and another WebKinz, the reindeer.
I named my new friend Clarence. I love the movie It's A Wonderful Life, and I debated "Bailey" (I already have a bear named George), before settling on "Clarence." Like his siblings, Clarence has one "cool" outfit (a maroon hoody and worker boots that look exactly like mine), a t shirt, a polo shirt, and a good outfit (an argyle sweater and the same penny loafers his brother wears). I did his room in a mix of the ice (the light, the toy box) and country (the bed, the wardrobe, the bed table) themes. Clarence had the honor of picking our first strawberry crop.
I also began a new room tonight, my first "theme" room, a cross between the candy and diner themes based after The Fudge Kitchen candy shop in Cape May.
Today was Laundry Day. Blue's Clues went for the gold, as Steve and blue demonstrated various ball games, from bouncing to a full obstacle course.
The Munsters learned a lesson in jealousy when Gramps and Herman find a treasure buried in the backyard and decide they can't trust each other with it. It's Lilly and Marilyn who finally dispatch the treasure...and show the guys how silly they were acting.
Dora the Explorer went from doctor to postal employee as she and Boots delivered letters to Tico the Squirrel, Benny the Bull, Isa the Iguana...and yes, they made their second trip to Blueberry Hill to deliver a letter to Swiper the Fox. A simple and very early adventure that introduces Dora's basic buddies and sometimes-villain Swiper.
Go Diego Go!'s Alicia and Diego have fun with Ollie and Oscar, a pair of inseparable river otters, until a wave created by the ever-careless Bobo Brothers washes the otters and human siblings onto different river paths! From here on in, it turns into something of a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure tale as Diego and Alicia show off their own skills and that of the otters as they try to find their ways downstream. Otters are another animal I have fond memories of from the Cape May County Zoo. The goofy otters were a prime attraction for years, and the otters' pond is probably still there today.
Uniqua, Tyrone, and Pablo played Coast Guard rescuers on The Backyardigans. Tasha, on the other hand, tries to ignore their attempts to help her as she goes fishing for "the big whopper." The ever-bossy hippo continually ends up in increasingly dangerous waters, only to be saved by Tyrone and Pablo when all she wants is a fish. It's Tasha, however, who eventually saves the boys, as all four kids learn lessons in staying safe and helping out, to the tune of funky 70s urban rock.
Work was steady-to-dead tonight, especially as the night wore on, with no problems beyond some obnoxious people. The wind was still pretty bad when I left, but by the time I got out of work, it had gentled down to a chilly breeze.
A package arrived while I was finishing breakfast this morning. It was from Linda Young again, and this time, only one present was "do not open until Christmas"; it's in the back room. Everything else was awesome - a Mini Julie American girl doll (she's sitting by the printer until I can find her another place), a video copy of the movie The House Without A Christmas Tree, more of that fun Voyagers! show, and another WebKinz, the reindeer.
I named my new friend Clarence. I love the movie It's A Wonderful Life, and I debated "Bailey" (I already have a bear named George), before settling on "Clarence." Like his siblings, Clarence has one "cool" outfit (a maroon hoody and worker boots that look exactly like mine), a t shirt, a polo shirt, and a good outfit (an argyle sweater and the same penny loafers his brother wears). I did his room in a mix of the ice (the light, the toy box) and country (the bed, the wardrobe, the bed table) themes. Clarence had the honor of picking our first strawberry crop.
I also began a new room tonight, my first "theme" room, a cross between the candy and diner themes based after The Fudge Kitchen candy shop in Cape May.
Today was Laundry Day. Blue's Clues went for the gold, as Steve and blue demonstrated various ball games, from bouncing to a full obstacle course.
The Munsters learned a lesson in jealousy when Gramps and Herman find a treasure buried in the backyard and decide they can't trust each other with it. It's Lilly and Marilyn who finally dispatch the treasure...and show the guys how silly they were acting.
Dora the Explorer went from doctor to postal employee as she and Boots delivered letters to Tico the Squirrel, Benny the Bull, Isa the Iguana...and yes, they made their second trip to Blueberry Hill to deliver a letter to Swiper the Fox. A simple and very early adventure that introduces Dora's basic buddies and sometimes-villain Swiper.
Go Diego Go!'s Alicia and Diego have fun with Ollie and Oscar, a pair of inseparable river otters, until a wave created by the ever-careless Bobo Brothers washes the otters and human siblings onto different river paths! From here on in, it turns into something of a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure tale as Diego and Alicia show off their own skills and that of the otters as they try to find their ways downstream. Otters are another animal I have fond memories of from the Cape May County Zoo. The goofy otters were a prime attraction for years, and the otters' pond is probably still there today.
Uniqua, Tyrone, and Pablo played Coast Guard rescuers on The Backyardigans. Tasha, on the other hand, tries to ignore their attempts to help her as she goes fishing for "the big whopper." The ever-bossy hippo continually ends up in increasingly dangerous waters, only to be saved by Tyrone and Pablo when all she wants is a fish. It's Tasha, however, who eventually saves the boys, as all four kids learn lessons in staying safe and helping out, to the tune of funky 70s urban rock.
Work was steady-to-dead tonight, especially as the night wore on, with no problems beyond some obnoxious people. The wind was still pretty bad when I left, but by the time I got out of work, it had gentled down to a chilly breeze.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Sharing the Joy Of Christmas
After my heavy bout with self-pity yesterday, I woke up this morning deciding that this couldn't continue. I love Christmas. I love the hullabaloo of the holidays. I always have. Just because one side of the family is busy and not too happy with each other, I barely know the other half, and most of my friends don't live in the area is no reason not to celebrate. It'll be hard for me to remember this. I get so down sometimes. I've never been very good at changing or doing things differently, but I'm working on it.
I cheered myself up with some Nick Jr. and TV Land while the laundry was running and Dad put up the lights on their house. (He's going on a work trip next week and the lights seem to be his responsibility. I offered to help. He said he was fine.)
Dora the Explorer played doctor today and administered band-aids and lollipops to friends with sniffles and booboos, including helping my personal favorite of her pals, sweet blue big guy Benny the Bull, learn about allergies. We also learned how to treat other minor injuries and illnesses, from cuts to thorns (I felt for that poor crocodile who had seven thorns in his tail - ouch!).
Go Diego Go! headed back to the ocean for a fairly typical tale of how Diego helped the King of the Humpbacked Whales get out from under a shipwreck. Obviously, Humpback whales were the featured animal of the day; the finale, in which you call a group of whales to help the king by "singing," was really fun.
The Backyardigans went on one of my favorites of their adventures, the hilarious Cops and Robots. Galactic gumshoes Sergent Tyrone and Officer Uniqua pursue "bad bots" Pablonater and T-900 (Tasha) in a great spoof of buddy-cop programs and space operas. If the "bad bots" make their way into the Robot Factory, they'll turn all the robots bad...but you really can't stop those cops! The jugband music in this one is some of the most infectious of the entire series. I'll probably be singing "Can't Stop the Cops" for days. "We're the best in the galaxy!"
I decided to perk up my flagging holidays by inviting my teen stepsister Jessa over to my apartment to help me decorate my tree. It was one of the best ideas I had in a long time. We both enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. Quiet, artsy Jessa was not only an enjoyable companion, she was a BIG help with the tree and dressing and putting up my Christmas bears. We did both in half the time, and other than the lights got a bit bunched up around the bottom, they look fantastic. I'm just glad the lights work at all. I could have sworn one set blew out last year, but maybe it was the other one...
A word about the bears. Every year, starting in the mid-80s, Mom would pluck about five or six stuffed bears and holiday-related stuffed animals from our rooms and dress them in old scarves, hats, and Christmas baby clothes. (One elf-like costume is Mom-made, from the year Anny was in the West Cape May Christmas Parade.) She set them up on her old hope chest next to the tree, and they'd remain there for the whole of the holiday season (including New Year's, when the woolen hats would be replaced with cardboard and aluminum tiaras and top hats).
By the time I was in college, however, Mom had largely stopped doing the bears, or would only pull out a few. She no longer had the time or the patience for a fairly elaborate display, so she gave the holidays-only bears and their trappings to me. I loved the idea, but not having a hope chest, I had no idea where to put them...until I realized the area under the tree seemed a little barren. The bears have sat under my tree every year since.
I'll continue my holiday decorating spree tomorrow with the rest of my decorations, including the mini-tree and Winter Cinderella doll who stands with my Sailor Moon collection and the doll/Santa display on top of the big bookshelf in my room.
After my heavy bout with self-pity yesterday, I woke up this morning deciding that this couldn't continue. I love Christmas. I love the hullabaloo of the holidays. I always have. Just because one side of the family is busy and not too happy with each other, I barely know the other half, and most of my friends don't live in the area is no reason not to celebrate. It'll be hard for me to remember this. I get so down sometimes. I've never been very good at changing or doing things differently, but I'm working on it.
I cheered myself up with some Nick Jr. and TV Land while the laundry was running and Dad put up the lights on their house. (He's going on a work trip next week and the lights seem to be his responsibility. I offered to help. He said he was fine.)
Dora the Explorer played doctor today and administered band-aids and lollipops to friends with sniffles and booboos, including helping my personal favorite of her pals, sweet blue big guy Benny the Bull, learn about allergies. We also learned how to treat other minor injuries and illnesses, from cuts to thorns (I felt for that poor crocodile who had seven thorns in his tail - ouch!).
Go Diego Go! headed back to the ocean for a fairly typical tale of how Diego helped the King of the Humpbacked Whales get out from under a shipwreck. Obviously, Humpback whales were the featured animal of the day; the finale, in which you call a group of whales to help the king by "singing," was really fun.
The Backyardigans went on one of my favorites of their adventures, the hilarious Cops and Robots. Galactic gumshoes Sergent Tyrone and Officer Uniqua pursue "bad bots" Pablonater and T-900 (Tasha) in a great spoof of buddy-cop programs and space operas. If the "bad bots" make their way into the Robot Factory, they'll turn all the robots bad...but you really can't stop those cops! The jugband music in this one is some of the most infectious of the entire series. I'll probably be singing "Can't Stop the Cops" for days. "We're the best in the galaxy!"
I decided to perk up my flagging holidays by inviting my teen stepsister Jessa over to my apartment to help me decorate my tree. It was one of the best ideas I had in a long time. We both enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. Quiet, artsy Jessa was not only an enjoyable companion, she was a BIG help with the tree and dressing and putting up my Christmas bears. We did both in half the time, and other than the lights got a bit bunched up around the bottom, they look fantastic. I'm just glad the lights work at all. I could have sworn one set blew out last year, but maybe it was the other one...
A word about the bears. Every year, starting in the mid-80s, Mom would pluck about five or six stuffed bears and holiday-related stuffed animals from our rooms and dress them in old scarves, hats, and Christmas baby clothes. (One elf-like costume is Mom-made, from the year Anny was in the West Cape May Christmas Parade.) She set them up on her old hope chest next to the tree, and they'd remain there for the whole of the holiday season (including New Year's, when the woolen hats would be replaced with cardboard and aluminum tiaras and top hats).
By the time I was in college, however, Mom had largely stopped doing the bears, or would only pull out a few. She no longer had the time or the patience for a fairly elaborate display, so she gave the holidays-only bears and their trappings to me. I loved the idea, but not having a hope chest, I had no idea where to put them...until I realized the area under the tree seemed a little barren. The bears have sat under my tree every year since.
I'll continue my holiday decorating spree tomorrow with the rest of my decorations, including the mini-tree and Winter Cinderella doll who stands with my Sailor Moon collection and the doll/Santa display on top of the big bookshelf in my room.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Puka Pele!
Laundry day. I did pilates and enjoyed today's B movie series on TCM, The Lone Wolf. The Lone Wolf was one of the numerous "thieves-turned-detectives" who were common in the 30s and 40s programmers (others include Boston Blackie and The Saint, both of which are also running on TCM this month). Warren William and Eric Blore were Michael Lanyard and his valet Jamesion in the movie I saw, the generally entertaining (if improbable even for B films) Lone Wolf Takes A Chance. I believe this was William's last Lone Wolf movie; the series was revived in the late 40s with Gerald Moher as Lanyard and more of a film noir air.
Diego and his sister Alicia headed out west today on Go Diego Go!. The animal of the day was a prairie dog, and the interpret Hispanic pair had to rustle up a prairie dog and her family who were trapped in the dry desert ranchero and find them a new home in the grassy prairies, where they'd have plenty to eat...if they can get past the goofy Bobo Brothers and a cracking dam. There used to be a family of prairie dogs who lived at the Cape May County Zoo, and I have fond memories of their antics.
The Backyardigans headed from Egypt to Hawaii for another exotic adventure. Party-hearty "Luau Brothers" Pablo, Austin, and Tyrone want to hold the Hawaiian bash to end all Hawaiian bashes, but angry "Volcano Sisters" Uniqua and Tasha may end up raining lava on their parade...IF the boys can find what they want. ("Puka Pele!" is the girls' phrase for eruptions.) Trouble is, the girls aren't telling, and Tyrone and Pablo's attempts to bring them lavish gifts are rejected. It's sensitive Austin who finally figures out what it is the girls are after...and teaches both genders two different lessons. Ladies, if you really want something, don't play mind games with the boys; boys, simple gifts and genuine gestures are often more appreciated than all the jewels and decorations in the world. (Incidentally, this is one of the rare later Backyardigans episodes in which all five kids appear, and one of the very few that's boys vs. girls.)
Work was on-and-off busy, with few problems other than one of the turkey coupons acted up a bit again before it was fixed. I also saw a few new cashiers being trained tonight. Only one was old enough for late work, so my hours may not be impacted too harshly. On the other hand, we do need the help, at any age.
Laundry day. I did pilates and enjoyed today's B movie series on TCM, The Lone Wolf. The Lone Wolf was one of the numerous "thieves-turned-detectives" who were common in the 30s and 40s programmers (others include Boston Blackie and The Saint, both of which are also running on TCM this month). Warren William and Eric Blore were Michael Lanyard and his valet Jamesion in the movie I saw, the generally entertaining (if improbable even for B films) Lone Wolf Takes A Chance. I believe this was William's last Lone Wolf movie; the series was revived in the late 40s with Gerald Moher as Lanyard and more of a film noir air.
Diego and his sister Alicia headed out west today on Go Diego Go!. The animal of the day was a prairie dog, and the interpret Hispanic pair had to rustle up a prairie dog and her family who were trapped in the dry desert ranchero and find them a new home in the grassy prairies, where they'd have plenty to eat...if they can get past the goofy Bobo Brothers and a cracking dam. There used to be a family of prairie dogs who lived at the Cape May County Zoo, and I have fond memories of their antics.
The Backyardigans headed from Egypt to Hawaii for another exotic adventure. Party-hearty "Luau Brothers" Pablo, Austin, and Tyrone want to hold the Hawaiian bash to end all Hawaiian bashes, but angry "Volcano Sisters" Uniqua and Tasha may end up raining lava on their parade...IF the boys can find what they want. ("Puka Pele!" is the girls' phrase for eruptions.) Trouble is, the girls aren't telling, and Tyrone and Pablo's attempts to bring them lavish gifts are rejected. It's sensitive Austin who finally figures out what it is the girls are after...and teaches both genders two different lessons. Ladies, if you really want something, don't play mind games with the boys; boys, simple gifts and genuine gestures are often more appreciated than all the jewels and decorations in the world. (Incidentally, this is one of the rare later Backyardigans episodes in which all five kids appear, and one of the very few that's boys vs. girls.)
Work was on-and-off busy, with few problems other than one of the turkey coupons acted up a bit again before it was fixed. I also saw a few new cashiers being trained tonight. Only one was old enough for late work, so my hours may not be impacted too harshly. On the other hand, we do need the help, at any age.
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Reach Out Of The Darkness
Today is (now) my only day off this week. I did the laundry in the morning, as usual Caught some enjoyable Nick Jr shows. Today's Blue's Clues was one of Steve's episodes, and involved the things some of the characters love to collect. For once, Miss Blue and her stripes-loving human pal actually had me stumped until the last clue!
Dora and Diego both had interesting and fairly unusual episodes that dealt with memories and remembering. Someone at Nick must have read my blog entry from last Tuesday that complained about the sameness in Dora's episodes, because there was a mild format change this week. Dora recalls at a big family dinner how she first became an explorer and met her animal buddies Boots, Isa, Tico, Benny, the Fiesta Trio, and the infamous Swiper The Fox. I believe this is also the first (and only?) time the music-playing bugs and frog known as the Fiesta Trio, who normally herald the end of a game sequence, are in the spotlight. Also, Map and Backpack only make cameo appearances; Dora herself announces the game locations. (And given I find Map's voice to be annoying, I kinda like this better.)
Diego was once again at a beach, this time helping his whole family (including his rarely-seen parents) clean up garbage in preparation for a group of leatherback turtles to lay their eggs. Diego himself recalled how he'd once helped one of the mother turtles when she was young and helped her again when she and her friends became caught in a net, while Alicia and their folks stopped the careless Bobo Brothers from redistributing the trash. Another episode I can relate to. I've lived by the beach for most of my life, and many elementary school and junior high school kids clean up trash on the Jersey Shore for not only the same reasons as Diego and his family, but because they're the lifeblood of South Jersey - they're ecosystems, they provide seafood for locals, tourists, and fish-lovers around the world, and they attract millions of tourists a year.
I stuck around after the laundry was done for The Backyardigans. Superheroes and action films were the affectionate parody of the day. The mambo tunes were so infectious, I found myself dancing along as weather-controlling Uniqua and master builder Austin chased mad scientist shrinker Tyrone and goo-creator Pablo as they raced to the Tower Of Power, which held the Key To Rule The World! I especially loved how the kids' powers were, frankly, a lot more sensible than many real-life superheroic creations...and I REALLY loved Uniqua saving Austin and the key in the end. (And they must know Edna Mode - only Pablo had a cape.)
I did make it to the Camden County Library later in the afternoon for this week's volunteering session. Worked on the world and US history sections, which were a mess and took me the majority of the two hours I was there, then spent another hour looking for books on job hunting and college graduate degrees. Didn't see anything I liked about the former, but I did find a book about adults going to back to college that may be helpful. I also picked up a book of Weight Watchers recipes, a couple of Walt Disney Comic Books (I do love me some Donald Duck), and a Calvin and Hobbes comic book I haven't read yet.
I've had bike trouble for the past few days. The back tire keeps deflating, no matter how often I pump it. It was so deflated when I came out of the library, I had to walk it home. (I peeked at AC Moore for about 10 minutes, but while they had lots of fabric, they had no books or patterns for clothes for 18 inch dolls like Samantha, and only books on knitting clothes for fashion dolls, not sewing them.) The small bike shop on the White Horse Pike where I had my pedals replaced twice last year on the old bike was closed on "Teus" (the exact wording on the sign) and mostly seemed to be opened at the proprietors' convenience...which, of course, is in the afternoon and evening later in the week, when I usually work.
Sigh. I'll go to Uncle Ken tomorrow and borrow his or Bruce's bike until I can get an inner tube and get to the shop to have it fixed.
Today is (now) my only day off this week. I did the laundry in the morning, as usual Caught some enjoyable Nick Jr shows. Today's Blue's Clues was one of Steve's episodes, and involved the things some of the characters love to collect. For once, Miss Blue and her stripes-loving human pal actually had me stumped until the last clue!
Dora and Diego both had interesting and fairly unusual episodes that dealt with memories and remembering. Someone at Nick must have read my blog entry from last Tuesday that complained about the sameness in Dora's episodes, because there was a mild format change this week. Dora recalls at a big family dinner how she first became an explorer and met her animal buddies Boots, Isa, Tico, Benny, the Fiesta Trio, and the infamous Swiper The Fox. I believe this is also the first (and only?) time the music-playing bugs and frog known as the Fiesta Trio, who normally herald the end of a game sequence, are in the spotlight. Also, Map and Backpack only make cameo appearances; Dora herself announces the game locations. (And given I find Map's voice to be annoying, I kinda like this better.)
Diego was once again at a beach, this time helping his whole family (including his rarely-seen parents) clean up garbage in preparation for a group of leatherback turtles to lay their eggs. Diego himself recalled how he'd once helped one of the mother turtles when she was young and helped her again when she and her friends became caught in a net, while Alicia and their folks stopped the careless Bobo Brothers from redistributing the trash. Another episode I can relate to. I've lived by the beach for most of my life, and many elementary school and junior high school kids clean up trash on the Jersey Shore for not only the same reasons as Diego and his family, but because they're the lifeblood of South Jersey - they're ecosystems, they provide seafood for locals, tourists, and fish-lovers around the world, and they attract millions of tourists a year.
I stuck around after the laundry was done for The Backyardigans. Superheroes and action films were the affectionate parody of the day. The mambo tunes were so infectious, I found myself dancing along as weather-controlling Uniqua and master builder Austin chased mad scientist shrinker Tyrone and goo-creator Pablo as they raced to the Tower Of Power, which held the Key To Rule The World! I especially loved how the kids' powers were, frankly, a lot more sensible than many real-life superheroic creations...and I REALLY loved Uniqua saving Austin and the key in the end. (And they must know Edna Mode - only Pablo had a cape.)
I did make it to the Camden County Library later in the afternoon for this week's volunteering session. Worked on the world and US history sections, which were a mess and took me the majority of the two hours I was there, then spent another hour looking for books on job hunting and college graduate degrees. Didn't see anything I liked about the former, but I did find a book about adults going to back to college that may be helpful. I also picked up a book of Weight Watchers recipes, a couple of Walt Disney Comic Books (I do love me some Donald Duck), and a Calvin and Hobbes comic book I haven't read yet.
I've had bike trouble for the past few days. The back tire keeps deflating, no matter how often I pump it. It was so deflated when I came out of the library, I had to walk it home. (I peeked at AC Moore for about 10 minutes, but while they had lots of fabric, they had no books or patterns for clothes for 18 inch dolls like Samantha, and only books on knitting clothes for fashion dolls, not sewing them.) The small bike shop on the White Horse Pike where I had my pedals replaced twice last year on the old bike was closed on "Teus" (the exact wording on the sign) and mostly seemed to be opened at the proprietors' convenience...which, of course, is in the afternoon and evening later in the week, when I usually work.
Sigh. I'll go to Uncle Ken tomorrow and borrow his or Bruce's bike until I can get an inner tube and get to the shop to have it fixed.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
How To Not Make Up Your Mind
Darn it. The Acme called me in twice today. The first time was when I was doing my laundry at Uncle Ken's. Did I want to come in around 3 and go until 7:45? I called them to say "yes"...but they told me they'd already gotten it filled. When I came home from volunteering at the library and running errands, they'd called again and asked me to come in. Seems the guy who called out changed his mind and decided to come in...then called out again! By that point, it was 7:30. I did not call back.
Caught cute, if typical, Dora The Explorer and Go Diego Go! episodes today. As adorable as it was to see Dora and Boots find out whose birthday it was, it was Diego's episode that really resonated with me. He traveled to the ocean to help a baby humpbacked whale that got stranded on a rocky island. I grew up at the Jersey Shore, where real baby whales (though not rare humpbacks) have been stranded and helped by real animal rescuers, some as young as Diego's sister Alicia.
Also ran into an amusing but somewhat bland Blue's Clues. It must have been new. I could have sworn Joe's sweater was orange, but here, it looks red. Shapes were the theme. I guessed right on the first clue; a supermarket IS a good place to look for shapes, as I ought to know.
TCM highlighted popular comics of the 30s this morning. A Night At The Opera is one of my favorite movies. I was glad to catch the final 15 opera-wrecking minutes. The slightly schmaltzy Joe E. Brown vehicle that came after it, Fireman, Save My Child was less interesting.
I did my library volunteering today. Reorganized the CDs, which needed it badly. They've always been a mess, at least in the year and a half I've been going to the Haddon Township Library. They are now as alphabetical as I can make them. Doing the classical CDs was a special challenge, as I know little about that music genre, but I think I got it worked out. I also organized the historical American Girls series books, from Kayla to Molly (no Julie yet, and not much Kit, either - LOTS of Addy).
I was a bit disappointed to find that while the librarians understood my wanting to be a children's librarian, they couldn't do much more than recommend local schools to look at. I was really, really hoping they could point me in the direction of a good library or bookstore-oriented job.
Mom's crazy if she thinks I'm going to look for another grocery store job. That's defeating the point of a job search. I don't want the SAME job in another store. I want a NEW job, something I feel more comfortable and useful in. Something a college graduate should be doing. Nothing would change by changing companies. I'd still be getting bad hours, dealing with stupid people, and doing a job I hate.
Darn it. The Acme called me in twice today. The first time was when I was doing my laundry at Uncle Ken's. Did I want to come in around 3 and go until 7:45? I called them to say "yes"...but they told me they'd already gotten it filled. When I came home from volunteering at the library and running errands, they'd called again and asked me to come in. Seems the guy who called out changed his mind and decided to come in...then called out again! By that point, it was 7:30. I did not call back.
Caught cute, if typical, Dora The Explorer and Go Diego Go! episodes today. As adorable as it was to see Dora and Boots find out whose birthday it was, it was Diego's episode that really resonated with me. He traveled to the ocean to help a baby humpbacked whale that got stranded on a rocky island. I grew up at the Jersey Shore, where real baby whales (though not rare humpbacks) have been stranded and helped by real animal rescuers, some as young as Diego's sister Alicia.
Also ran into an amusing but somewhat bland Blue's Clues. It must have been new. I could have sworn Joe's sweater was orange, but here, it looks red. Shapes were the theme. I guessed right on the first clue; a supermarket IS a good place to look for shapes, as I ought to know.
TCM highlighted popular comics of the 30s this morning. A Night At The Opera is one of my favorite movies. I was glad to catch the final 15 opera-wrecking minutes. The slightly schmaltzy Joe E. Brown vehicle that came after it, Fireman, Save My Child was less interesting.
I did my library volunteering today. Reorganized the CDs, which needed it badly. They've always been a mess, at least in the year and a half I've been going to the Haddon Township Library. They are now as alphabetical as I can make them. Doing the classical CDs was a special challenge, as I know little about that music genre, but I think I got it worked out. I also organized the historical American Girls series books, from Kayla to Molly (no Julie yet, and not much Kit, either - LOTS of Addy).
I was a bit disappointed to find that while the librarians understood my wanting to be a children's librarian, they couldn't do much more than recommend local schools to look at. I was really, really hoping they could point me in the direction of a good library or bookstore-oriented job.
Mom's crazy if she thinks I'm going to look for another grocery store job. That's defeating the point of a job search. I don't want the SAME job in another store. I want a NEW job, something I feel more comfortable and useful in. Something a college graduate should be doing. Nothing would change by changing companies. I'd still be getting bad hours, dealing with stupid people, and doing a job I hate.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Kids, Books, and Fall
Sorry I forgot to post last night. I did get my dusting and vacuuming finished. I'll put up my general fall decorations tomorrow and sweep the porch sometime later this week, and that should finish the cleaning for this month.
Last night was my 4PM-midnight shift. Busy until around 8:30...after which, everyone cleared out for the Eagles game, and we only had a few customers until closing (and only one was really a problem).
I didn't see the Eagles game, but I heard unkind stories. They lost. Again. Badly. I hope they can get their act together, because the fans are about to mutiny.
Today was my day off, and it was laundry day. I did pilates and watched a double-length Backyardigans episode and a normal Go Diego Go! installment.
The Backyardigans' spoof of the day was James Bond/spy films. Appropriately, the musical genre of the day was slinky 60s Henry Mancini-style jazz. Pablo was the Bond-esque secret agent who likes his apple juice "shaken" (he's a little young for stirred), his clothes snappy, and his cars red, sporty, and filled with gadgets. Tasha was his M; Austin was a fellow agent and master of disguise. Uniqua was the "Lady In Pink," the notorious bad...uh, critter, and Tyrone was her rather befuddled henchmoose. All five were after three containers (really, beverage shakers) with mysterious contents that could, of course, help rule the world! Or at least, the back yard.
While they could have gone for something more imaginative to spoof (come on, everyone and their grandmother's done Bond), the jazzy music and candy-colored 60s-esque visuals more than made up for it. There was a complicated dance sequence towards the end in a jungle temple that was nicely done, too. Cyndi Lauper contributed Uniqua's big number.
Go Diego Go! was somewhat more conventional, although it was once again Alicia and not an animal being rescued. Lina the Llama helped Diego bring a load of books to a library Alicia was setting up over a mountain. Along the way, they encountered several other animals who want to borrow books (including the mischievous monkeys the Bobo Brothers, Diego's versions of Swiper the Fox) and taught the viewers more about llamas. I wish Dora would play with format changes more often - she could really use it after more than seven years on the air.
TCM wasn't as exciting today. They ran two Greta Garbo melodramas while I was there, Anna Karenia and Susan Lennox: Her Rise and Fall. I've heard they're good movies, but I wanted something lighter, so I went with Green Acres on TV Land instead. Not my favorite sitcom, but Eva Gabor beats talk shows and soap operas.
After a quick return to put my laundry away and do dishes (I had lunch at Uncle Ken's), I headed to the library for this week's volunteer session there. I finished organizing the mystery shelves and even found three more I want to read - the new Daisy Daryrumple book, the second Maisie Dobbs story (I just loved Maisie but had trouble finding more of the series in Cape May County), and the 60s-set mystery Blue Moon. It's about time I tried some new authors and tracked down a few older ones I haven't read in a while.
(Oh, and I finished The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers last night and returned it. While not as disappointing as Lillian Jackson Braun's last efforts, it wasn't quite right, either. She could have thought of a less sensational way to make changes in Qwill's life, and none of the arson was ever adequately explained.)
I also took out more Backyardigans and Samantha: An American Girl on DVD. "Cops and Robots" (space cops Tyrone and Uniqua chase bad 'bots Tasha and Pablo to the tune of jug band music) was my favorite, though "Movers of Arabia" (movers Uniqua and Pablo try to transport Sultan Tyrone's magical stuff without heavy reliance on Genie Austin's three wishes and groove to surf music) wins points for originality.
I checked out a few stores on the way home. Didn't buy anything at the overpriced costume store (though Matt of X-Entertainment would have drooled over some of the huge skulls and grim reapers and massive displays of slasher mannequins), but I picked up a cute, folksy fall-themed hanging felt pillow embroidered with the words "sharing" from AC Moore and a fake white pumpkin, a small figurine of Maleficent of the Disney Sleeping Beauty, and a fall-themed broom door hanging from Dollar Tree. I also tried a little bit of a Chocolate Mocha Kit-Kat bar. It was really good, with just the right hint of coffee. Dollar Tree always has great "limited edition" candy bar flavors you won't see in stores.
The rest of the week should be much quieter. I'm still deciding whether or not to go into Philadelphia after thrift shop volunteering on Thursday. I need to remind Barnes and Noble and Borders of my presence, but I've had a long and rough couple of weeks and it's been a while since I've had even half-a-day to just lounge around.
Sorry I forgot to post last night. I did get my dusting and vacuuming finished. I'll put up my general fall decorations tomorrow and sweep the porch sometime later this week, and that should finish the cleaning for this month.
Last night was my 4PM-midnight shift. Busy until around 8:30...after which, everyone cleared out for the Eagles game, and we only had a few customers until closing (and only one was really a problem).
I didn't see the Eagles game, but I heard unkind stories. They lost. Again. Badly. I hope they can get their act together, because the fans are about to mutiny.
Today was my day off, and it was laundry day. I did pilates and watched a double-length Backyardigans episode and a normal Go Diego Go! installment.
The Backyardigans' spoof of the day was James Bond/spy films. Appropriately, the musical genre of the day was slinky 60s Henry Mancini-style jazz. Pablo was the Bond-esque secret agent who likes his apple juice "shaken" (he's a little young for stirred), his clothes snappy, and his cars red, sporty, and filled with gadgets. Tasha was his M; Austin was a fellow agent and master of disguise. Uniqua was the "Lady In Pink," the notorious bad...uh, critter, and Tyrone was her rather befuddled henchmoose. All five were after three containers (really, beverage shakers) with mysterious contents that could, of course, help rule the world! Or at least, the back yard.
While they could have gone for something more imaginative to spoof (come on, everyone and their grandmother's done Bond), the jazzy music and candy-colored 60s-esque visuals more than made up for it. There was a complicated dance sequence towards the end in a jungle temple that was nicely done, too. Cyndi Lauper contributed Uniqua's big number.
Go Diego Go! was somewhat more conventional, although it was once again Alicia and not an animal being rescued. Lina the Llama helped Diego bring a load of books to a library Alicia was setting up over a mountain. Along the way, they encountered several other animals who want to borrow books (including the mischievous monkeys the Bobo Brothers, Diego's versions of Swiper the Fox) and taught the viewers more about llamas. I wish Dora would play with format changes more often - she could really use it after more than seven years on the air.
TCM wasn't as exciting today. They ran two Greta Garbo melodramas while I was there, Anna Karenia and Susan Lennox: Her Rise and Fall. I've heard they're good movies, but I wanted something lighter, so I went with Green Acres on TV Land instead. Not my favorite sitcom, but Eva Gabor beats talk shows and soap operas.
After a quick return to put my laundry away and do dishes (I had lunch at Uncle Ken's), I headed to the library for this week's volunteer session there. I finished organizing the mystery shelves and even found three more I want to read - the new Daisy Daryrumple book, the second Maisie Dobbs story (I just loved Maisie but had trouble finding more of the series in Cape May County), and the 60s-set mystery Blue Moon. It's about time I tried some new authors and tracked down a few older ones I haven't read in a while.
(Oh, and I finished The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers last night and returned it. While not as disappointing as Lillian Jackson Braun's last efforts, it wasn't quite right, either. She could have thought of a less sensational way to make changes in Qwill's life, and none of the arson was ever adequately explained.)
I also took out more Backyardigans and Samantha: An American Girl on DVD. "Cops and Robots" (space cops Tyrone and Uniqua chase bad 'bots Tasha and Pablo to the tune of jug band music) was my favorite, though "Movers of Arabia" (movers Uniqua and Pablo try to transport Sultan Tyrone's magical stuff without heavy reliance on Genie Austin's three wishes and groove to surf music) wins points for originality.
I checked out a few stores on the way home. Didn't buy anything at the overpriced costume store (though Matt of X-Entertainment would have drooled over some of the huge skulls and grim reapers and massive displays of slasher mannequins), but I picked up a cute, folksy fall-themed hanging felt pillow embroidered with the words "sharing" from AC Moore and a fake white pumpkin, a small figurine of Maleficent of the Disney Sleeping Beauty, and a fall-themed broom door hanging from Dollar Tree. I also tried a little bit of a Chocolate Mocha Kit-Kat bar. It was really good, with just the right hint of coffee. Dollar Tree always has great "limited edition" candy bar flavors you won't see in stores.
The rest of the week should be much quieter. I'm still deciding whether or not to go into Philadelphia after thrift shop volunteering on Thursday. I need to remind Barnes and Noble and Borders of my presence, but I've had a long and rough couple of weeks and it's been a while since I've had even half-a-day to just lounge around.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
No Swimming
Last night didn't go as well as my midnight shift did last week. We were busy all night - we still has big orders at midnight! - and I was dead tired.
I slept in and went somewhat late to Uncle Ken's to do the laundry. It may have been just as well. It rained on and off all morning, sometimes heavily. I spent the whole morning inside. It was strange. Uncle Ken was outside (when it wasn't pouring) closing down and covering the pool area. Dad was at work (where he'll be for 2 1/2 weeks), and Jessa was at school. Uncle Ken's girlfriend Dolores came by briefly with her grandson Blake, but for the most part, it was me, the book I'm reading, and the TV.
I got lucky and caught some good shows today. TCM was having a morning Broadway movie musicals marathon; caught the last 20 minutes or so of My Fair Lady (from "Get Me To The Church On Time" onwards) and parts of Guys And Dolls. Neither are the best adaptations of a Broadway musical ever (Lady tends to be long and ponderous; Dolls lost some music and has casting problems), but they're both a lot of fun in their own right, and I got to see some of the best parts. I've always loved Lady's uproarious music hall numbers for Eliza's dad, and when's the next time I'll get to see Jean Simmons more than hold her own in a bar room brawl in Havana (and doing better than Marlon Brando)?
Uniqua, the pink bug-like tomboy of The Backyardigans, also wanted to prove her mettle this morning. In a big band/swing-fueled medieval fantasy, Queen Tasha sends Uniqua the Pink on a mission to bring a letter to King Austin. On the way, she meets Tyrone of the Misty Woods and Guardian Of The Gate Pablo, who aid and abet her on her way to King Austin's castle. The story was cute, and I LOVED the swing, not to mention admired Miss Uniqua's pluck and her encouragement of her male companions. (A scene in a "stinky swamp" did go on too long, but that may have to do with the main audience's fondness for jokes about nasty smells.)
(And interestingly, I discovered from Amazon.com that this was The Backyardigans's pilot episode.)
The Dora The Explorer episode was more typical - Dora and her monkey buddy Boots help an adorable little crab get a seashell necklace to his mother. Nothing you haven't seen in the show before, but it WAS fun to pretend to "move like a crab," and that baby crab was just such a cutie!
Go Diego Go! tried for something a little more out-of-the-ordinary. Instead of profiling one jungle animal, Diego covered four very different ones as he crosses various terrain in order to help his big sister with some sick penguins. Diego tends to be more action-oriented than Dora, and it succeeds in this episode - the ride over the mountain by llama was my favorite!
And yes, I was correct in thinking my swim last week would be my last of the year. As I mentioned, Uncle Ken started closing the pool area yesterday. It'll be warm here probably well into November, but not warm enough at night to keep the pool temperature bearable. With the kids in school and many adults concentrating more heavily on work or other pursuits, there's less time for lounging around the pool, too. It's a shame...but life and seasons roll on. The pool will be open again next June. I'll just find other ways to work out and other things to do while the laundry's going.
I waited a while after I got back from doing the laundry before heading over to the library to finally do my first day's volunteering at the Haddon Township Branch. The rain had stopped only an hour before, and the library was surprisingly quiet. I organized the travel books section and the mysteries, ironically some of the books I know the most about. I don't know why Pat, the woman in charge of the volunteers, said the job could be tiring; I would have stuck around longer if I hadn't wanted to drop by Super Fresh really quick and get dinner!
There's three options for dinner in the area around the Library besides the two fast food joints. I opted for the only one I'd never tried before, Nick and Joe's Pizzeria in the Westmont Plaza across from the Library, next to Friendly's. I had a Chicken Broccoli Wrap, Raspberry Iced Tea, and French fries, and boy, were they all good! They were delivered hot and fresh, and they tasted soooo delicious, warm and toasty and dripping with spicy teriyaki sauce. The waitress seemed a bit tired, but her smile was wide when I praised the food. I'll definitely be going back there.
Last night didn't go as well as my midnight shift did last week. We were busy all night - we still has big orders at midnight! - and I was dead tired.
I slept in and went somewhat late to Uncle Ken's to do the laundry. It may have been just as well. It rained on and off all morning, sometimes heavily. I spent the whole morning inside. It was strange. Uncle Ken was outside (when it wasn't pouring) closing down and covering the pool area. Dad was at work (where he'll be for 2 1/2 weeks), and Jessa was at school. Uncle Ken's girlfriend Dolores came by briefly with her grandson Blake, but for the most part, it was me, the book I'm reading, and the TV.
I got lucky and caught some good shows today. TCM was having a morning Broadway movie musicals marathon; caught the last 20 minutes or so of My Fair Lady (from "Get Me To The Church On Time" onwards) and parts of Guys And Dolls. Neither are the best adaptations of a Broadway musical ever (Lady tends to be long and ponderous; Dolls lost some music and has casting problems), but they're both a lot of fun in their own right, and I got to see some of the best parts. I've always loved Lady's uproarious music hall numbers for Eliza's dad, and when's the next time I'll get to see Jean Simmons more than hold her own in a bar room brawl in Havana (and doing better than Marlon Brando)?
Uniqua, the pink bug-like tomboy of The Backyardigans, also wanted to prove her mettle this morning. In a big band/swing-fueled medieval fantasy, Queen Tasha sends Uniqua the Pink on a mission to bring a letter to King Austin. On the way, she meets Tyrone of the Misty Woods and Guardian Of The Gate Pablo, who aid and abet her on her way to King Austin's castle. The story was cute, and I LOVED the swing, not to mention admired Miss Uniqua's pluck and her encouragement of her male companions. (A scene in a "stinky swamp" did go on too long, but that may have to do with the main audience's fondness for jokes about nasty smells.)
(And interestingly, I discovered from Amazon.com that this was The Backyardigans's pilot episode.)
The Dora The Explorer episode was more typical - Dora and her monkey buddy Boots help an adorable little crab get a seashell necklace to his mother. Nothing you haven't seen in the show before, but it WAS fun to pretend to "move like a crab," and that baby crab was just such a cutie!
Go Diego Go! tried for something a little more out-of-the-ordinary. Instead of profiling one jungle animal, Diego covered four very different ones as he crosses various terrain in order to help his big sister with some sick penguins. Diego tends to be more action-oriented than Dora, and it succeeds in this episode - the ride over the mountain by llama was my favorite!
And yes, I was correct in thinking my swim last week would be my last of the year. As I mentioned, Uncle Ken started closing the pool area yesterday. It'll be warm here probably well into November, but not warm enough at night to keep the pool temperature bearable. With the kids in school and many adults concentrating more heavily on work or other pursuits, there's less time for lounging around the pool, too. It's a shame...but life and seasons roll on. The pool will be open again next June. I'll just find other ways to work out and other things to do while the laundry's going.
I waited a while after I got back from doing the laundry before heading over to the library to finally do my first day's volunteering at the Haddon Township Branch. The rain had stopped only an hour before, and the library was surprisingly quiet. I organized the travel books section and the mysteries, ironically some of the books I know the most about. I don't know why Pat, the woman in charge of the volunteers, said the job could be tiring; I would have stuck around longer if I hadn't wanted to drop by Super Fresh really quick and get dinner!
There's three options for dinner in the area around the Library besides the two fast food joints. I opted for the only one I'd never tried before, Nick and Joe's Pizzeria in the Westmont Plaza across from the Library, next to Friendly's. I had a Chicken Broccoli Wrap, Raspberry Iced Tea, and French fries, and boy, were they all good! They were delivered hot and fresh, and they tasted soooo delicious, warm and toasty and dripping with spicy teriyaki sauce. The waitress seemed a bit tired, but her smile was wide when I praised the food. I'll definitely be going back there.
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