It's a Living

Began my Labor Day with material from the Colliers Harvest of Holidays anthology. The big piece is a long but interesting biography of Samuel Gompers, who spearheaded the labor movement in the US and the creation of the American Federation of Labor. They also had several poems, including "I Hear America Singing" by Walt Whitman and "The Village Smithy" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

Had a quick breakfast while watching Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. "Daniel and Margaret Play School," but she's only about a year old, and she doesn't want to stay still for long. Mrs. Tiger tells Daniel that he's old enough to figure out how to keep her attention. Prince Wednesday wants to play dinosaur, but his older cousin Chrissie wants to have a "Treasure Hunt at the Castle." Queen Sarah encourages them to solve the problem themselves.

Rushed out after that. I walked. It was a gorgeous day, sunny, breezy, and though a bit warmer than it has been, it's neither as hot nor as humid as it was for most of last month. I should have left earlier. Even with rushing as fast as I could walk, I still came in ten minutes late.

Which was not a good thing. It wasn't horrible when I came in at 10, but within an hour, we were mobbed and remained that way for the entire afternoon. It's the beginning of the month, a major holiday, most kids go back to school tomorrow or Wednesday, and we're coming up on the big fall Jewish holidays. Everything just got so crazy. Thankfully, though there were some nasty people towards the end of the night, most customers were in good moods. 

My relief was right on time, allowing me to hurry out after a bathroom break. Walked home, enjoying those fresh breezes and the beautiful greenery waving around me. Sunflowers, phlox, and black-eyed Susans blossom in profusion; marigolds are just beginning to appear in pots on porches.

I did see people by the pool when I got in, but I wanted to change and have a snack quick first. Got to see the last few minutes of the first regular showing of Whew! on Buzzr. An old man ran The Gauntlet through cardboard cut-outs of cartoon villains. Alas, he didn't do any better than the young woman yesterday, only making it through five villains before he got stuck and his time ran out.

Got outside just in time for dinner. Jodie, Rose, and Craig brought food from around the neighborhood. I sampled pasta salad, ribs, grilled chicken, and baked asparagus. They also had steak, potato salad, and Caesar salad. More kids than usual were in the pool, the children of Jodie's friends along with kids from the neighborhood and Khai and Finley. Finley was the last one out; she loves swimming so much, she never wants to leave the pool. Jessa was there, so we had Midnight and Cider chasing and playing with each other, too.

I chatted with Jess, Craig, and his parents about shows we like. Jessa's especially fond of weird comedies and sci-fi; Craig's folks like dramas and are looking for a good comedy to lighten things up a bit. Everyone else played Apples to Oranges on a long card table. Finley, her brother, and his best friend goofed off in a camping tent someone set up in the back of the pool area. 

Jodie mentioned that, first of all, she intends for the sale of the house to finance a move to outside of Ocean City, New Jersey. I wish her luck, but I'm not sure she knows all the realities of living at the Shore. We're still in New Jersey. Property taxes and utilities are just as high down there, if not higher. Doesn't sound like she intends to get a job, either. Oh, and she'll be with friends in Ventnor from Monday the 12th until she puts the house on the Market the 16th, which means she won't be around for the first few days of Lauren's visit. I asked Jessa to help me get Lauren to my place after she arrives.

Went inside around 7 to make Norsk Apple Muffins and watch Match Game PM. Fannie Flagg took Brett Somers' seat while she did a play during the last PM episode of 1977. (And no, she was not in jail, contrary to Fannie's joke in the opening.) She was the one who got to help a gentleman win 5,000 with "Onward __." Meanwhile, Gene strips off his jacket again to pose for the female contestant.

Slid the muffins in the oven during Sale of the Century. This one was closer than it's been in weeks. The one lady kept pushing the champ all night; the other guy got two money cards on the Fame Game. In the end, she won on a tie after the Speed Round. Picked up a Norman Rockwell print on the Match the Prize board.

I was so tired after my long day, I was barely up to The Love Boat after I settled online for the night. A woman who is obsessed with getting married by her 40th birthday (Jo Ann Worley) discovers that "Life Begins at 40," and she can have fun at any age. A college professor (Dick Martin) is hoping to chart "The Stimulation of Stephanie," but doesn't realize that Stephanie (Char Fontaine) is really stimulated by him. Issac tries to help an NFL player cut by his team (Rosy Grier) with "The Next Step" and figure out what he and his wife (Melba Moore) want to do with their lives.

Jo Ann's hardly the only person celebrating a birthday today. It's "Oscar's Birthday" on The Odd Couple. He's adamant that Felix not throw a surprise party for him. Felix being Felix, not only does he throw that party, but he invites so many old friends of Oscar's in a looking back theme that Oscar gets embarrassed. 

Star Spangled Woman

Kicked off a sunny 4th with material from Colliers Harvest of Holidays. The long piece is from the Laura Ingalls Wilder novel Little Town On the Prairie. Pa takes Laura and Mary into the newly-built village for their 4th of July celebration. The girls enjoy fresh lemonade from a barrel, get fireworks from an enterprising local politician, and watch an exciting horse race their friend Alonzo takes part in. Other material includes several patriotic poems or poetry about fireworks and The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere. Threw in the final chapter from my book Summer In America about 4th of July celebrations across the US and how they inaugurate "America's childhood." 

Barely had time for two quick cartoon shorts while I ate breakfast. "Patriotic Popeye" tries to keep his nephews from setting off fireworks, but they keep finding ways around his rules. They finally get the hint when a huge rocket carries them off and they have to rescue him. Donald Duck wants to impress Daisy with his big night-time picnic to watch the fireworks in "Donald's Failed Fourth," but first the chairs, then the blanket won't cooperate.

Rushed straight off to work after Donald ended. It wasn't busy when I arrived, but the crowds picked up around noon as the parades ended and the picnics began. Other than a few customers who misinterpreted the big 12-pack soda sale this week, there were no real problems. Thankfully, it finally slowed down just in time for me to close down and leave without a relief. 

Dark clouds gathered, even as I raced them home. By the time I got to the pool in my bathing suit, it began to shower heavily. No matter. If I was going to be wet, I'd go all the way. It was just water, no thunder or lightning. Finley, Chloe, Riley, and I happily swam and splashed in a downpour while their parents huddled under a meager tent and tried to stay dry. 

The rain just slowed as Craig came out and announced the barbecue was ready. Jodie, Craig, and Rose prepared a pretty darn decent feast. I had a burger, Caesar salad, potato salad, fruit salad, a mini-cupcake, and spinach dip with pita chips one of the neighbors brought. There was also spicy sausage, hot dogs, and baked beans. (I never was a fan of baked beans, and sausages give me heartburn.)

After the girls and I ate, we played with Chloe's collection of those new "pop-em" things the kids love. They're basically thicker versions of the plastic wrap that people love to twist and make noise with, often made in goofy shapes and bright colors. The girls love them, and I can understand their enthusiasm. They are kind of fun, and almost therapeutic to mess around with.

When the girls got bored with those, I offered to show them around my apartment. The older girls really loved my American Girl dolls. They seemed to be especially fond of Molly, admiring her camp uniform and playing with her glasses and shoulder bag.

We eventually decided to jump back in the pool...literally, given the kids and I all showed off our goofy dives! Khai dragged himself away from his smartphone games long enough to join us. I swam with Finley from one end of the pool to the other, then floated in the inner tube while the kids played games and chased each other. 

The party broke up around 6:30 so the families could get ready for the fireworks. I went back in my place, changed into dry clothes, and worked on writing. Greg (Morris) the Diamond Card has initiated a "Mission: Impossible" to paint the Queen's white roses red, before they get into more trouble. Brett's not sure helping is a good idea, but the boys figure it couldn't hurt...

Broke at 8 to head out for the fireworks. The weather had turned absolutely gorgeous for a walk. The sun emerged, the sky was blue, and it was pleasantly cool and breezy, especially for July. Stopped at Dollar General first. I wanted Dew S.A again, but they were out. Went with a Baja Blast instead. There was only one other guy in line, and I got in and out as fast as I could.

Crossed the street when I could get between cars and strolled down to CVS. They're directly across from Newton Lake Park...and have perfect sightlines for the fireworks. A lot of folks from Oaklyn, Camden, and the near-by towns watch them there. It was a real carnival atmosphere in their small parking lot, with kids turning cartwheels and taking selfies and parents chatting on lawn chairs or the backs of trucks. 

Hung out briefly by the concrete bridge over the river to admire the pink and lavender sunset before returning to the parking lot. Joined Riley and her parents on the curb in front of the CVS building. Chloe and her parents and Jodie came around later, shortly before the fireworks began. (Rose and her family opted to watch the show from their house.) 

The fireworks are always gorgeous in Collingswood. They get real professionals to do them, and they're twice as long and elaborate as any of the other local towns besides the big Philly show. I loved the purple one with the gold ring that resembled Saturn, the pretty red hearts, and the big gold sparkly ones that faded in all kinds of crazy lines.

Jodie insisted on everyone staying together on the walk home to avoid the crowds and traffic. I tried twice to tell her I've walked home alone on the 4th with no trouble besides dodging traffic every year and I'm an adult and don't need hand-holding, but she was just too worried about the cars all over the place. Once we got away from the crowds and closer to Hillcrest, I walked faster, going past Jodie and the kids and their moms. 

Enjoyed the peace and quiet as I headed down the street. Walking back from the fireworks is almost my favorite part of the Fourth. Most people are on their way back from the show or out of town. It was so cool, most houses didn't even have the tell-tale hum of air conditioners vibrating from their windows. 

After I joined the live chat at the Match Game '91 premiere, I stayed on YouTube to finish the night with vintage parades. Having enjoyed the 1988 Walt Disney World 4th of July Spectacular last year, I did the next two years tonight. The 1989 version was hosted by Willard Scott and that year's Miss America. The actual parade only filled the first hour. The second half showcased musical numbers by the Temptations and that year's newest boy band sensation, New Kids on the Block, along with the Main Street Electrical Parade. Carol Channing and Minnie Mouse came together rather bizarrely for the big patriotic dance routine at Cinderella's Castle in the finale. The Mouseketeers reprised their Typhoon Lagoon number from the Easter parade.

The 1990 show ditched the parade and hosts all together to focus on the musical numbers. Downtown Julie Brown from MTV introduced New Kids on the Block again, this time joined at Pleasure Island by Jermaine Jackson. Gladys Knight and the Pips performed a medley of their greatest hits at the then-newest Disney hotel, the elegant Dolphin Inn. The Mouseketeers brought back a wave of memories with their music video for "Every Little Step," which I fondly remember seeing frequently both on The Disney Channel and The Mickey Mouse Club. 

Regis Philbin and Kathy Lee Gifford joined Minnie and the Disney gang for the Castle number this time, with Minnie leading sailors in "Bloody Mary" from South Pacific and "Anchors Aweigh," Kathy going country with the Country Bears, and the Disney gang reciting the first lines of The Declaration of Independence. 

And here's hoping you had an equally fun 4th of July, whether you spent it at home or out and about with your own friends and family!

The Pool Is Open

Kicked off a blinding sunny morning with Lemon-Strawberry Pancakes and my Peter Pan record and book version of Alice In Wonderland. First of all, it's got some rather cute songs. There's a pretty and dreamy title song, "Curiouser and Curiouser" as she grows and shrinks, and "The  Queen Has Commanded," a chorus number at the Queen's croquet game with the queen ordering everyone executed while Alice throws in spoken commentary on the strangeness of the whole affair. The other unique aspect of this recording is the book, which more closely resembles a Marvel comic book of the 1970's in its design than anything Tenniel.

The Wonderful World of Make Believe is one of my favorite Johnny Mathis albums. Side 2 kicks off with a lovely version of another Alice In Wonderland title song, this one from the Disney animated film. I also like "Sky Full of Rainbows," "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows," and the title number from Camelot. 

Headed off to work before the record ended. We were a lot busier than yesterday, with long lines...but everything went much faster, too. Other than a few annoying customers, there were no major problems. It thankfully slowed down enough by 4:30 for me to dash out without a relief or a need for one.

The pool area was full of kids and parents when I arrived. I hurried inside, changed, and hurried back out. Apparently, not only did Jodie invite over TJ and his husband Eric and Rose and her tribe, but friends of hers and their kids, too. She, Craig, Rose, and TJ also made tons of food. There were Jodie's succulent, fall-off-the-bone ribs, chicken and beef on skewers, Rose's grilled vegetables, hot dogs for the kids, baked asparagus, green salad, and TJ's tomato and blue cheese salad. The tomato and cheese salad was incredible, sharp and tart, the chicken and ribs were wonderfully moist, and the asparagus was tasty. Rose and Jodie had fruit bowls outside; one bowl was a watermelon carved in the shape of a shark!

After I ate, I changed into my bathing suit and jumped in the water with the kids. It was cold when you got in, but warm for May when you were used to it. Jodie's friends had two girls and two boys. I chatted with them while listening to them chase each other and hit each other with foam noodles and splash each other. I did have to warn them a few times that pushing each other into the pool isn't funny, and neither is intentionally getting water in each other's eyes. Mostly, though, I had a great time laughing at their antics.

Worked on writing for a while after I got out. Brett's more than shocked that the tyrannical Red King is her boss, producer Mark Goodson, and the feared Red Knight is her almost-ex-husband Jack Klugman. Or, it looks like them. She tries to get a better look by climbing on the horse's legs, but almost gets trampled. Jimmie (Walker) the Dodo yanks her out of the way and drags her into the marshes before she's captured, too.

Finished the night online with more trivia shows. Jeopardy was the first hit quiz show to debut after the scandals subsided. Merv Griffith wanted to put the accent back on what people knew, and not what they could win. Three people answer questions on a topic in graduating numbers, from 20 to 100 in the original 1964 incarnation. When they choose a certain monitor that says "Daily Double," they can wager part or all of the money on their answer. The dollar amounts are doubled in the second round. The third round, Final Jeopardy, has everyone answering one question and wagering none, part, or all of their winnings. The one with the most winnings is the champion.

Alas, there's very little left of the NBC 60's daytime version of the show, but it doesn't seem to have changed much over the years other than adding color. As far as I can tell, the 1974 episode here is pretty emblematic of the original run in general. Art Fleming was the genial host.

Fleming stuck around for a 1978 syndicated revival. This one changed things up by eliminating the low-scoring contestant after the first round and completely redoing Final Jeopardy. Here, if the last contestant standing answers a series of questions in one topic. If they get all five questions correct, they win $5,000. 

The changes to the 1978 version were fairly controversial, especially with people who enjoyed the NBC show. The syndicated revival in 1984 returned to the original format, with Alex Trebek taking over as host. This is the one that's still running in syndication to this day, with rotating hosts subbing after Trebek's death in November. 

My family used to gather around the TV in the late 80's and early 90 as ABC World News Tonight wound down on Channel 6 after dinner. We'd try to guess The Pennsylvania Lottery numbers, then would anxiously wait for Johnny Gilbert to announce THIS...IS...JEOPARDY! and bring in today's contestants. We loved to see who could get the most answers or which categories we were best at. Wheel of Fortune came on after that; we'd see who could get the right letters or guess the puzzle first.

Jeopardy wasn't Trebek's first crack at a quiz show. Far from it, in fact. In the mid-70's, he did two shows that involved contestants answering questions in isolation booths. Unlike the 50's entries, Double Dare and The $128,000 Question were scrupulously watched to make sure they were both on the level. No chicanery here, just people answering tough quiz questions and, in the case of Double Dare, trying to stump a panel of experts with their knowledge. 

My personal favorite quiz show along with Jeopardy has always been Tic Tac Dough. I loved watching it on USA Network in the mid-80's, guessing trivia along with the contestants and hoping they'd avoid that screeching dragon! Like $128,000 Question, this one worked hard to make quizzes safe for big prize winnings again. One gentleman, Thomas McKee, walked off with over $200,000 in prizes (including 8 cars). It was a record in winnings that stood until the era of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Wink Martindale lends his southern charm to the proceedings. 

Trivia Trap is one of the more unique entries in the genre. In this rare Goodson-Todman crack at quizzes, a team of young adults is pit against a team of older folks to see who comes out on top with the knowledge. In this case, the kids won it on a question involving rock music. Bob Eubanks is the mediator in this generational trivia war.

Wish Buzzr would put the 1987 Monty Hall Split Second back on the schedule. As much as I enjoy Body Language, Split Second pairs better with Blockbusters...but I suspect this lightning-fast multiple-choice quizzer may have been a little too dry for morning viewers. Went with an episode from later in the series that didn't look like I caught it during its Buzzr run. 

At any rate, here's some later-day quizzes for your enjoyment...no scandal necessary. 

Jeopardy! (1974)

Double Dare (1977)

The $128,000 Question (1977)

Jeopardy! (1978)

Trivia Trap (1984)

Tic Tac Dough (1985)

Split Second (1987)

Jeopardy! (1989)

Yankee Doodle Girl

Kicked off the morning with short stories from Colliers Harvest of Holidays. Among the material are a chapter from Little Town on the Prairie that has Laura and Carrie joining their pa for an outing in town. They watch their friend Alfonso win at the local horse races and enjoy lemonade from a barrel, while Laura hears the reading of the Declaration of Independence and thinks of the meaning of liberty. Other material in Colliers included The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere and several patriotic poems.

Also did a more straightforward prose story about Paul Revere in Disney's vintage Storybookland anthology, along with Ben and Me. The "me" is Amos, a mouse who moves in with Ben Franklin and helps him invent most of his famous creations, including bifocals and the Franklin stove. He parts after Ben uses him in his electricity experiment, but Ben claims he's the only one who can help him and Thomas Jefferson with the Declaration of Independence.

Watched Yankee Doodle Cricket during breakfast. Amos isn't the only mouse who claims to have shaped significant events in American history. Tucker the mouse insisted that an ancestor of his wrote the Declaration of Independence as a treaty between cats and mice and created the colony's original "Don't Tread On Me" flag, and that Chester's ancestor wrote "Yankee Doodle."

Did a quick short while getting ready to go to work. "Patriotic Popeye" is ready to celebrate the fourth, but not for his nephews to be setting off fireworks. Their uncle shows them safer ways to enjoy the holiday.

Today was my one early work day this week. It wasn't bad when I got in, but it picked up when people started getting ready for the parades around 9:30-10, to the point where I kept getting called in from the carts to do registers. I also kept getting six orders at once when I'd be trying to get back outside. Thankfully, I got more help later, giving me a chance to bag and sweep later.

Went straight home after work. Watched cartoons while relaxing and getting organized. Donald tries to get a night picnic together for him and Daisy in "Donald's Failed Fourth," but the blanket and chairs won't cooperate. "The Yankee Doodle Mouse" has Tom and Jerry take their usual cat-and-mouse antics to a fireworks factory. The Pink Panther is "Pinky Doodle," who has to tell Philadelphia that the British are coming, if the redcoat horse he's riding will let him! The Walter Lanz Studio's "Hysterical Highspots in American History" spoofs US history up to that point, from Columbus' first landing to the 1940 peacetime draft. "Yankee Doodle Bugs" claims he knows everything about American Revolutionary history to his nephew Clyde, but the little rabbit discovers the hard way that his uncle doesn't know as much as he thinks.

Started Yankee Doodle Dandy while reading Summer In America. I've had this coffee table book for so long, I forget where I found it. I think I got it from a thrift shop over a decade ago. It discusses how summer in the US went from being just another time of year to a time for play, rest, and travel, thanks to the Industrial Revolution pushing working people out of the cities and the rise of trains, and later cars. Among the many wonderful photos are several of Cape May, including one of the Hotel Cape May, which later became the Christian Admiral that was torn down in the 90's.

Headed out around 4:30 to Dad and Jodie's. Craig, Finley, and Craig's parents were in the pool when I arrived. Rose and Dana had just gotten out. I managed to squeeze into my new suit and join them briefly. Ooh, it was like bathwater! Much warmer than it was when I stuck my legs in last week. I wasn't in there for long, though. Jodie announced that dinner was ready at 5.

While Jodie's spread wasn't as big as previous 4th of Julys, there was still plenty of food. Rose and Craig donated steak, hot dogs, big juicy burgers, and bowls of watermelon chunks, super-sweet pineapple, grapes, and blueberries. Jodie made pasta salad, potato salad, broiled asparagus, and a strange bacon-celery concoction that still tasted really good. Craig found Finley's beach-themed birthday cake at the Acme. Khai added Teddy Grahams and gummy sharks and turtles to make it look more festive. There was my strawberry-lemonade icebox cake, too.

Finley opened her presents after we ate. I'm glad I bought her the sparkly purple boa. It goes well with all the play jewelry and accessories her grandparents bought her, including tiaras, necklaces, a Moana necklace (at the moment, that's her favorite movie), a pretty play dress from her grandmother in Cape May County, and a lovely ballerina jewelry box and her own little cat-shaped purse and wallet from Craig's parents. She also got two plush-and-satin blankets that looks so comfy, I'm tempted to see if they make adult sizes. Her favorite presents were the play eggs that open and have to be aligned with the right colors and number of pegs. She played with those eggs the whole rest of the time she was there.

After Finley finished, Khai insisted on setting off some fireworks. His friend Chloe came around to see what the noise was all about. Most of them were tiny little pink or purple or green flames, but there were larger ones in red, green, and gold that crackled and popped like cereal. Khai told his dad and Dana that he wanted to save at least a few for later that night, so he and Chloe switched to waving around sparklers, pretending they were casting Harry Potter spells.

The party finally broke up around 7:30. I went home, changed, and listened to the second disc of America the Beautiful before heading back out. Though it was still humid, it was also cloudy, cool, and windy by this point. Along with a towel and a bottle of water, I brought an umbrella, just in case.

The umbrella was unnecessary. We never got anything worse than a nice, cool breeze and continuing clouds. I settled down at Newton Lake Park and was just listening to the families and kids around me when the first fireworks went off. They were gorgeous, as the Collingswood fireworks always are. I especially loved the interlocking rings of red, white, and blue. That just looked cool.

Considering what a mess the White Horse Pike always is after the fireworks, I took the first opening I could and crossed over with a couple of families near CVS. Strolled down the back roads to avoid the continuing traffic. Walking home from the fireworks is actually my favorite part of the holiday. It's peaceful, with just the crickets, the hum of air conditioners, and the occasional firework going off in the background. Though one family was dragging damaged furniture to the curb for trash tomorrow, most people were probably either still getting home from the fireworks, already at home and in bed, or on vacation.

Finished the night after a much-needed shower with the rest of Yankee Doodle Dandy. I go further into this biography of ultra-patriotic songwriter George M. Cohan (who also has a birthday the day before the 4th) at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Yankee Doodle Dandy

And whether you're celebrating your birthday today or America's, I hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July (and that our neighbors the north enjoyed their Canada Day on the 1st).

Once a Year Day

Tried to start off the morning with the original Broadway cast of How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying in honor of Labor Day...but the record wouldn't play right. It kept skipping or the sound was wonky, and I know there's no scratches on that record. Turns out that the needle is both dull and loose. I'll order a new one at the end of the week. For now, I'll just be listening to CDs and the internet.

Switched to Legally Blonde: The Musical as I made Plum Ginger Pancakes for breakfast. Elle Woods (Laura Bell Bundy) is  your typical sweet blond bimbo collegiate in Southern California, at least until her boyfriend Warner Huntington III (Richard H Blake) says he's going to study law at Harvard. Determined to prove that she can be as serious as the next girl, Elle follows him cross-country, getting into Harvard through sheer chutzpah (and overwhelming the entrance committee with her personal essay, a cheer routine). She's hopelessly out of place among the dark-dressed snobs at Harvard, and her obsession with Warner is occupying a lot more time than her law studies. Poor law teaching student Emmett (Christian Borle) helps her to understand that if she really wants to be serious, she has to change her priorities and put the focus on her. Not only does she get a coveted internship, but she may be the only one who can help a popular fitness instructor who was accused of killing her husband.

This is such a cute show. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. It's not for those who are looking for a more serious or manly, but if you love modern rock-pop, girl-power tales, or the original film, you'll want to check this out.

Cleaned the kitchen while I listened to the show. It was a little bit messier than the bathroom. I've been eating at home a lot, mainly because I can't afford to eat out as often as I used to. (Not to mention, it's been too hot to go out a lot of the time this summer anyway.)

Broke to write for a little while at around 12:30, but I didn't really get far. Leia is forced to dress as a show girl to be one of the ones given as a "bride to the gods" in Yasmin's "ceremony." Luke has a plan to rescue Henry and the Sword, but Leia isn't entirely sure about any of it.

Headed out quickly around 2 for Dad and Jodie's party. I walked there instead of taking my bike. It was a hot and humid day, probably in the upper 80's, but I was carrying the peanut butter icebox cake. It doesn't really fit in my basket. I also had no plans to go anywhere else and didn't really feel like pulling the cover off the bike just to go to Dad's on the next street over.

Dad, Jodie, and Vanessa were the only ones there when I arrived at 2:30. I went swimming on my own for about a half-hour before Dana and Samantha, a friend of her's, joined me. Jesse came in a bit later. I'd gotten out to get a snack just as Rose and her family rolled in.  They were going to come at 2, but little miss Finley had to finish out her nap. Jessa arrived shortly before them. (She said Joe opted to clean their condo.) I went back in, watching Craig lead his daughter around in the water and trying to keep Khai from swiping her My Little Pony toddler toys. Khai's friend Chloe and her mom came over to swim at about 4:30.

Jodie had the barbecue ready around 5. Along with cheeseburgers, hot dogs, and ribs, there was a fruit tray, a Caesar salad, potato and macaroni salads, asparagus sauteed in garlic, and cucumber salad. Rose provided a cookie tray, with massive home-made chocolate chip cookies layered alongside Smores Milanos, Lemon cookies, and Gingerbread Men and sprinkled with blueberries. Jodie also had butter and lemon loaf cakes for dessert with my peanut butter cake. I never did have lunch, so I had two burgers, the salad, macaroni salad, and asparagus, plus lots of fruit from the fruit tray, several cookies, a slice of lemon cake, and two small slices of peanut butter cake.

I rejoined Khai and Chloe in the pool for a while after dinner. Had a nice chat with Chloe about her cheerleading and how I used to play field hockey in high school. She, Khai, and I had a great time splashing each other.

After we got out, Khai and Craig set off fireworks. I stood on the porch and watched while Sam, Dana, Rose, and Finley observed on the grass by the pool. They set off small upright canisters that shot off colorful sparks and made sizzling pops in the air and small circles that created colored smoke. Evidently, they didn't go quite as high or far as they were supposed to. Craig said he'd had the set around since he picked up at Acme on the 4th of July.

We all finally came in for dessert at 6. Finley cuddled up against her mama, while her brother and Chloe played with Jessa's massive Beanie Babies collection and Jessa had a serious conversation with her father. Khai and Chloe were covering each other with Beanies and "popping" out of the container when we were all ready to head home.

Rose and her family drove me to my place. I'd barely gotten out of the car when I noticed a very, very long line of tomatoes sitting on the railing of Charlie's front porch. His garden's output had multiplied again, probably the result of the rain we had last week, and he was once again trying to get rid of the windfall. I took two small tomatoes, a green pepper, and a pile of grape tomatoes.

Spent the rest of the night listening to Broadway cast albums, either about school or work. The second revival of The Pajama Game did fairly well in 2006, likely thanks to the star power of leads Kelli O'Hara and Harry Connick Jr. Connick is Sid, the new foreman at a pajama factory that's preparing to go on strike. He tangles almost immediately with Babe (O'Hara), the head of the grievance committee. The girls on the pajama-making line know there's sparks between them, but Babe needs persuasion. They seem to get on well at the company picnic, but Babe still supports the union strike...and Sid ends up firing her after she damages the machinery. Sid, however, ends up understanding her point of view when he discovers that their boss has been playing fast and loose with the accounts. Meanwhile, efficiency expert Hines (Michael McKean) is constantly jealous of all the flirting his girlfriend Gladys (Megan Laurence) does, especially after he catches her with Sid and comes to the wrong conclusion.

Three new songs were added to this production (one for Connick Jr. to sing in the second act), but my favorites are still the older ones. Connick does well by the standard "Hey There"; he and O'Hara have a blast with "There Once Was a Man." I also like "I Still Get Jealous" for McKean and Roz Ryan (as Sid's secretary Mabel).

Ended the night with the popular 1959 off-Broadway revival of the 1917 college musical Leave It to Jane. Jane (Kathleen Murray) is the daughter of the president of Atwater College, which is trying to set up a football team to defeat rival Bingham. Bessie, another athlete at the school, convinces Jane to lure Bingham's star football player Billy Bolton to Atwater. She does manage to get Billy to Atwater under an assumed name. Billy wins the big Thanksgiving Day game, but his dad catches him. His dad is a big Bingham supporter, and he tells him that Jane only wanted him for the team.  He packs up to leave Atwater, but Jane finally tells him that she loves him and will wait for him until after school.

Charming antique is the grandparent of everything from Good News to High School Musical and is a lot of fun for fans of college tales or Jerome Kern's music.

Star Spangled Holiday

Began a hazy, sunny 4th of July with breakfast and my Colliers Harvest of Holidays anthology. Along with Paul Revere's Ride and a few shorter poems, we have an excerpt from from Little House on the Prairie that has Pa taking Laura and Mary to town to enjoy the lemonade from a barrel and horse races. Also did the last chapter of the Kirsten summer story Kirsten Saves the Day (another tale of pioneer 4th of July festivities) and the short story version of Paul Revere and Ben and Me, about a mouse who helps Ben Franklin create some of his most famous inventions, from the anthology Walt Disney's America.

Ben's not the only mouse who claims to have made significant contributions to American history. In Yankee Doodle Cricket, Tucker the Mouse tells Harry the Cat that their ancestors helped Paul Revere spread the word about the British invasion, wrote the original version of the Declaration of Independence, and created the "Don't Tread On Me" flag. Chester the Cricket's ancestor created the folk tune "Yankee Doodle" to spread the word about the American Revolution.

Ran a couple of quick shorts as I finished breakfast and got organized. "Patriotic Popeye" tries to encourage his nephews to play it safe on the 4th and not use fireworks. They evade him at every turn, until setting off a massive rocket sends them sky-high and their uncle needs spinach to retrieve them. Donald Duck isn't doing much better in "Donald's Failed Fourth." Daisy requests that he set up a picnic dinner to watch the fireworks, but first the blanket, then the chairs, won't cooperate.

West Clinton Avenue was already packed with parade-watchers by the time I made it down there. As usual, the parade was late. Oaklyn's 4th of July Parade is NEVER on time. It was supposed to start at 10, but it was closer to quarter of 11 when the first decorated trucks were seen. (Although a group of motorcyclists in decorated vehicles did pass through about 20 minutes before that.)

While not as hot as it has been the past few days, it wasn't exactly cool, either, and it was still killer humid. The Oaklyn Manor Bar had refreshment and souvenir (mostly Phillies t-shirts) tables set up in their parking lot. I picked up a bottle of water and a small bag of popcorn. (Finished the latter well before the parade started.)

The theme this year was "Oaklyn (Elemenatary/Middle) School: Celebrating 90 years." Disappointingly, only one float actually did anything with that theme, and I believe it was the School's entry. Granted, it was pretty neat. I want to know how they made the giant "art brushes." Most of the "floats" were trucks and cars filled with the local softball teams.

I walked around the downtown district for a bit, but ultimately ended up sitting in front of Common Grounds Coffee House with a group of families who live near Dad and Jodie on Hillcrest. Two families had kids on the softball teams. Sandy and Mary were likely just there to enjoy the day, as I was. Those softball teams threw bucketfuls of chocolate and fruit Tootsie Rolls, Dum-Dum lollipops, Starlight mints, Brachs cinnamon and butterscotch discs, Dubble Bubble gum, and Jolly Ranchers. Mary and Savannah scrambled for everything that was thrown to them. Even I had a full pocket as I followed everyone down the block to the school.

After one of the local kids sang "The Star Spangled Banner" (she did all right, a little quavery on the ending), the mayor handed out prizes for the best-decorated house (one of them was a block down from me on Manor) and for the best floats. The line to get a free hot dog was half-way across the lawn by the time he finished, but at least it was mostly under shady trees and went fast. The town gave away chips, water, and soda along with the hot dogs. Grabbed a bottle of water and ate my hot dog quickly (there was no seating - most people were relaxing under those trees on the school lawn) before heading home.

The hot dog hadn't really filled me up much, and I wanted some fruit in there. I made a blueberry-banana smoothie while returning to animated shorts. Bugs is a "Bunker Hill Bunny" when he defends his fort against Hessian soldier Sam. The Walter Lanz studios gives us some "Hysterical Highspots In American History," with spoofs of everything from Columbus discovering America to Depression breadlines. Tom and Jerry spend their July 4th making a few explosions of their own in a fireworks factory in the Oscar-winning "The Yankee Doodle Mouse."

I'd forgotten to bring my rent next door before the parade. Fixed that before I even saw the message Miss Willa left on my phone. Unfortunately, she left a letter at my door indicating that she still wasn't happy. I'd left the air conditioner on while I was at work during the worst of the heat wave. I'm on the second floor. It can get as high as the 90's in this apartment when the heat is bad. I didn't want to come home to a killer hot apartment after having worked in the sun all day. I think I'll just finally get around to buying a second fan (maybe online, so I don't have to carry it home) and only use the air conditioner in extreme need, and that when I'm home.

Tried to work on writing for a little while after that. Luke is still in shock over Ben's death when Han and Leia shove him into the car driven by Jeanne and Cassian's North African buddy Bodhi. Harry leans out of the car to shoot at the Imperials...only to learn that the man following them is Roberto Fettara, one of the most notorious bounty hunters and assassins in the US. He's determined to get them off the road...

Broke around 3:30 to change into my bathing suit, grab the icebox pudding cake, and head to Dad and Jodie's. The neighbors were just leaving as I was arriving. I chatted with Mary for the first hour I was there while Jessa talked to our parents, then swam on my own for a while when her mother took her home for dinner. I was in and out of the pool all evening. Jodie finally started the grill around 5:30-6. I had two cheeseburgers, two succulent ribs, macaroni salad, potato salad, and a small bag of Fritos.

Rose and her family finally arrived shortly before Jodie started the burgers and hot dogs. They'd only been home from Maine for a few hours, and they were all tired. They were apparently visiting Craig's brother, who was now running a bakery in Maine with his girlfriend. Rose donated a sample of their wares on a fish-shaped tray. While the brownies and fruit-oatmeal bars were yummy, my favorites were the extra-soft molasses crinkles sprinkled with sugar.

They came back full of stories. Rose told me that the first day, Khai released a frog in the house and laughed himself silly watching the adults chase after it. Finley took her first steps the day before her birthday.

Khai initially just wanted to play video games on Jodie's iPad. The adults finally coaxed him into the pool by pointing out that his neighborhood buddies were finished with dinner and were out in their yards. We were eventually joined by Chloe and her mom. I talked to Chloe while Rose swam with Finley, watching her little legs kick out, and Craig tossed Khai around in the pool.

Headed home around 7:30. Ran two more cartoons while changing into dry clothes and rounding up a towel and a bottle of water for the fireworks. The Pink Panther is charged with delivering messages to the people of Philadelphia encouraging them to pick up arms in "Pinky Doodle," but the Redcoat horse he's riding does everything he can to get rid of him. "Yankee Doodle Bugs" is similar to "Hysterical Highspots," this time with Bugs telling parodies of American Revolution history to his nephew Clyde.

I was worried about the weather when I headed out at quarter after 8, especially given that we've had rain at night during the last two Independence Days. It had gotten cloudy, breezy, and cooler while I was at Dad and Jodie's. Brought an umbrella with me, just in case.

The umbrella turned out to be unnecessary. The clouds remained dark, but haven't burst yet. Newton Lake Park was already so busy when I got there, I had to make my way around a gaggle of cops on the sidewalk across from CVS who were probably trying to figure out where to put all the cars. I lay my coral-striped towel down on the lawn across from the Parkview Apartments. I had a perfect view of the fireworks in front of me and the lake behind me.

The fireworks were gorgeous, as they always are. Collingswood always does its fireworks up right. My favorites are the ones that explode in shapes. I saw red hearts, stars, ovals, and even a triangle. I also like the multi-colored ones that go up in the air, then explode into little bursts of glittery light. They look like Christmas lights.

Left even before the booming rocket-laden finale to beat the traffic. I managed to find a break in the cars near the former Taco Bell building and crossed there. Other than a dad and his son setting off small spinning fireworks on their front walk, Manor was far more peaceful. Walking home from the fireworks is one of my favorite parts of the holiday. Most people are either getting back from the fireworks, still setting off their own fireworks, asleep in front of the Boston Pops, or spending the holiday at the Shore. It's just me, the crickets, the fireflies, and the hum of air conditioners.

Finished the evening with Yankee Doodle Dandy after I got in. James Cagney won an Oscar as George M. Cohan, the Broadway sensation who changed musical comedy in the early 20th century. He wrote, directed, produced, starred in, and wrote the music for his own plays. He starts in vaudeville in his parents' act, the Four Cohans. The variety stage isn't enough for the eternally restless Cohan, who wants to conquer New York. He does finally get the hit Little Johnny Jones on the boards, with the help of producer and writer Sam Harris (Richard Whorf). He even manages to bring his family back and get skeptical comedienne Fay Templeton (Irene Manning) to star in his shows. Though he manages a hit during World War I with the stirring "Over There," his shows become increasingly old-fashioned during the very modern 1920's. He makes a brief comeback in 1938 in the Rogers and Hart show I'd Rather Be Right...ironically on the eve of an even more damaging war.

I've watched this salute to one of America's most patriotic songwriters almost every year on or around the 4th of July since I was a kid. Mom used to run the video after the fireworks on the 4th during the 80's and 90's. Granted, the movie isn't much of a biography. It doesn't mention his fight with the Actor's Equity during their union strike of 1919 that soured him on directing and producing later in life, or that his wife "Mary" (Joan Leslie) is a composite of his two real-life wives. It does feature some marvelous performances (especially from Cagney and Walter Huston and Rosemary DeCamp as Cohan's parents) and gives you a nice view of the performing styles of the 1900's through the late 30's. Little Johnny Jones seems pretty realistic for the era; apparently, the "Off the Record" number from I'd Rather Be Right was spot-on as well.

Come here for the cast and the delightful numbers, not the biography. Perfect for those looking for a patriotic, yet fun movie for the afternoon of the 4th of July or after the fireworks.

And here's hoping you also had an enjoyable Independence Day (and that our neighbors to the north enjoyed their Canada Day on the 1st).

Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries

Began a hazy, hot morning with a few short stories and poems from the Colliers Harvest of Holidays anthology. The first piece, about a little girl whose father takes her outside to enjoy the summer evening to tire her out, was really lovely. "Mr. Chairman," a chapter from Cheaper By the Dozen, depicts how Mr. Gilbreath tries to enforce his methods of efficiency at the factory at home with his children, with often humorous results.

Put on the soundtrack from Popeye while having blueberry pancakes for breakfast. The 1981 musical adaptation features a perfectly-cast Robin Williams as Popeye looking for his dad again, with Shelly Duvall as his Olive Oyl. Harry Nillson's score is actually quite good. I like Popeye's opening "I Yam What I Yam," Olive's "He Needed Me" on her feelings for Popeye, and the touching "Din' We" (the last of which was unfortunately cut from the film).

Did some quick writing after breakfast. They arrive at a seemingly abandoned hangar, only to discover that it's really teaming with life. Brit Jeanne Erson's father was forced to work for the Coruscant Empire. He built their Armory with a few little quirks and tunnels that would make it easier to invade. She introduces them to her darkly handsome Spanish partner Cassian Andorez.

Had a quick lunch, then got ready for work while listening to the soundtrack from Pennies From Heaven. I haven't seen this depressing musical since I was a kid. A sheet music salesman in the Great Depression imagines his life as cheery musical interludes, based after the optimistic songs he pushes. It's is really anything but as his wife and business fails and his affair with a schoolteacher (Bernadette Peters) makes both their lives miserable. Thankfully, the music reflects none of this. It actually features a lot of songs from this era that have since been forgotten, like "Love Is Good for Anything That Ails Ya" and "The Clouds Will Soon Roll By."

Work was steady, a bit surprising for a holiday Sunday. I figured we'd be packed. People must still be at the Shore. It was busy enough to have a hard time keeping up with the carts. Good thing we had plenty of new help, both inside and out. While it was in the lower 90's today and the breeze had turned warm, it at least remained dry. I gathered baskets and did returns when the sun got to be too much.

I ran into Dana just as I arrived at work. I'd been wondering if Dad and Jodie had anything planned for Father's Day. Turned out Jodie was just tossing hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill. As soon as I got home, I changed and went right back out again. This wasn't one of their huge blow-outs. It was just Rose and her kids (Craig had to work), a couple of neighborhood kids, Dana, Jesse, Dad, and Jodie. I had two hot dogs, a burger, garlic asparagus, and roasted potatoes while chatting with everyone and watching the wide-eyed Finley enjoy her hot dog. Later, I went outside to the pool to watch the kids play and chat with Dad.

As soon as I got in, I talked to Dad-Bill. He didn't sound so good, and he did say he wasn't feeling well. He was spending his Father's Day resting at home. We didn't do much talking, just long enough for me to wish him the best of the day and hope that he feels better soon.

Spent the rest of the night on the computer. Lauren was online early to watch wrestling with her folks. I settled for another Mystery Science Theater 3000 movie, The Lost Continent. Caesar Romero headlines this 1951 fantasy adventure as the head of a group of military men who are downed on a remote island and spend the majority of the movie climbing up...and up...and up a mountain before finally bagging a few dinosaurs. Joel and the robots' commentary was most welcome here. This pedestrian tale lacked even the creepiness of The Mad Monster or the goofy excitement of Radar Men From the Moon and needed all the pop culture jokes it could get.

The Lost Continent

And I salute all dads (including ones whose children are four-legged or feathered) on this Father's Day!

Something Even Better

Started off a cloudy, cool day with Memorial Day material from Colliers Harvest of Holidays. Since Memorial Day began as a holiday honoring those who died in the Civil War, the material all revolved around that time. The one story, Light Bread and Apple Butter, revolves around a Union soldier who helps a woman and her children who kindly let him take apples from their orchard. Everything else was poetry, like Barbara Friechie or The Blue and the Grey.

Watched a Three Stooges short that continued the Civil War theme as I had a quick breakfast. They're Union spies in "Uncivil Warriors" who are recruited to find out what a certain Confederate general has planned for the Union army...but they would really rather flirt with his pretty daughter and her friends.

Dashed out at 9, hoping to still make the 9:07. First of all, I forgot the schedule. Second, I also forgot that today was a holiday. The bus came at 9:09, but I was still late. I gave up waiting around 9:20 and went for a walk down to Dunkin' Donuts instead. It was still pretty chilly at that point, about 60 and windy. I ordered a vanilla chai and an apple-filled donut. The chai was too sweet and not spicy enough, but the donut was pretty good. I enjoyed my Memorial Day treat while watching people pick up their coffees.

Finally got on the bus at quarter after 10. It was busy but not full, and there was little traffic. I hopped off across from the Super Wal-Mart in Somerdale in a little under 15 minutes. Once again hurried down the road, this time to the Cinemark Theater in the small shopping center behind the Wal-Mart to catch the 10:30 showing of Solo: A Star Wars Story.

For a movie that people have claimed is a flop, the third Solo showing of the day was packed to capacity. I got in during the previews and gave up trying to find my seat after a few minutes of climbing around raised feet. (The Cinemark is relatively new and has recliner seats.) Finally plopped down in the fourth row after it turned out that a woman and her son had the seat I picked originally.

Thankfully, things picked up from there. I'm not going to reveal plot points in this entry because of spoilers, but I absolutely adored Solo: A Star Wars Story. While I didn't like it as much as Last Jedi or Force Awakens, it was a heck of a lot more fun than the dour and confusing Rogue One. Alden Ehrenreich and Donald Glover were pitch-perfect as a young Han and Lando, and the guy playing Chewie was awesome. I liked Woody Harrelson as Han's mentor Beckett and Emilia Clarke as his first love Qi'ra, too. The cameo appearance by Qi'ra's real boss in the finale was a flat-out shock. All I wanted from this movie was a fun adventure with Han flying the Kessel Run and cheating at cards with Lando, and I got that and more.

Not that the movie doesn't have its problems. Three of its best characters are knocked off after ten minutes of screen time each in the beginning and middle of the movie. I really would have liked to have seen more of them. Interesting that most critics complained that the beginning was too slow. I thought the first half of the film, up through the Kessel Run, was far more compelling than the finale. Dryden Vos (Paul Bettany) was a fairly dull villain, and the movie's end was tad anti-climatic. It also has the same problem as all Star Wars films of being at least 20 minutes too long.

I'm going to say that the current low box-office has less to do with the movie itself and more with intense competition from Deadpool 2 and Avengers: Infinity War. Plus, while I'd be happy with Star Wars content every month for the rest of my life, between the fuss over Last Jedi and the fuss over this, a lot of people may be tired of hearing about this franchise at the moment. As for the "We didn't want this!" whining, I keep thinking of what Uncle Fred said at the end of Arthur's Perfect Christmas: "Sometimes, the things we hope for aren't the things we get. We get something even better."

I wouldn't be surprised if Last Jedi and Solo get reevaluated somewhere down the line after the dust has settled, Episode 9 comes out, and we have a better understanding of where they stand in the scheme of things. For now, if you're a Star Wars fan with an open mind about the characters and where they came from and are just looking to have a good time, disregard the reviews and check this one out.

It was past 1 when I finally rolled out. Made short runs to Game Stop and Wal-Mart, hoping to find that elusive Kylo Ren/Rey set. No luck in either place. Wal-Mart didn't have much in the way of Star Wars merchandise. Game Stop did have some Forces of Destiny dolls, but only the Empire Leia, Force Awakens Rey, and Chewbacca.

Headed over to Pizza Hut for lunch. There's a Taco Bell and a Pizza Hut on the White Horse Pike in front of Wal-Mart. I haven't been to Pizza Hut since the one in Deptford shut down a couple of years ago. This one looked like the same brown 70's building with the peaked roofs on the outside. The inside was fairly stark, with plain brick walls and metal-and vinyl booths. The food was fairly stripped-down as well. I ordered the 3 for 6 lunch deal. Got a rather small personal pan pizza, three huge bread sticks, and a salad from the salad bar. The pizza was doughy but otherwise not very good, with very little cheese. The bread sticks, on the other hand, were amazing, crunchy and savory and seasoned just right.

Picked up the bus around 2:20 in front of Taco Bell. As soon as I got in, I grabbed my clothes and went right back out. I wasn't going to have the time to do laundry later in the week. I'm a bit surprised they weren't busier. There were several people there, but it could have been worse on a holiday. I washed my clothes, worked on story notes, and ignored soap operas.

After I put everything away, I headed out again, this time to Dad and Jodie's. The party was in full swing when I arrived around quarter of 5. My nephew Khai and a couple of his buddies had just been shooed out of the pool to eat dinner.

Jodie had a huge spread. In addition to the tender ribs and steak she mentioned yesterday and the hot dogs and burgers and macaroni salad and potato salad, there was cucumber-sour cream salad, another pasta salad with olives and tri-color noodles, asparagus with garlic, baked beans, two huge bowls of fruit, and a green salad. Jodie had picked up chocolate Enterman's donuts and Hostess baseball-themed cupcakes for dessert. (I love that the chocolate cupcakes were called "Night Games.") I had the fruit, a little steak, ribs, asparagus, and two cupcakes and a donut later.

The kids went back in the pool after they ate, but it was too cold for me to join them. While it was warmer than yesterday, probably in the mid-70's, it still wasn't warm enough for swimming. Some of the kids had blue lips and were shivering when they got out! They warmed up sucking nectar from honeysuckles and playing with Minecraft toys on the grass. Little Miss Finley was happier watching the water fall in Dad's little stone flower planter. I chatted with Emily and a couple of her friends for a while before heading home with a bag of leftover fruit and salads from Jodie.

Played Lego Indiana Jones after I got in. While neither "Free the Slaves" nor "Battle at the Bridge" took very long, they were both a lot more complicated than they looked. I missed two pieces on the first that I couldn't find during the mine cart chase and one in the latter that I missed because I couldn't out-run the rushing water. Moved onto Last Crusade for "Hunt for Sir Richard." That round took so long, I ended it before I got the last piece or True Adventurer.

Ended the night with a few more war-related cartoons. Donald became Disney's number-one short subjects star in the early 40's. His brash personality suited the era far more than good-natured Goofy or laid-back Mickey. It was probably inevitable that he'd make the most war shorts of any character.

"Donald Gets Drafted" kicks things off with him jumping into the army after being swayed by the glamour of the recruiting posters. What he gets is orders from Sargent Pete to stand still, even on an ant hill. He wants to fly in "Sky Trooper," but fails the test...and when he does finally make it into the air, he and Pete both end up seriously regretting it. He's "The Vanishing Private" after finding a new invisibility paint and using his discovery to torment Pete. "Der Fuhrer's Face" takes a left turn into seriously strange territory when Donald finds himself in a surreal Nazi nightmare. "Commando Duck" is sent into Japan to contact and wipe...no, wash...out the enemy.

Superman also fought the Axis in several Famous Studios shorts. "Eleventh Hour" is a mature, shadowy story of Superman fighting off the Japanese while Clark and Lois are stationed in Tokyo. A beautiful "Secret Agent" has plans that must get to Washington quickly. Superman does everything he can to protect her.

And here's hoping that you had just as much fun as I did this Memorial Day!

Fireworks Surprise

The sun streaming through my window welcomed me to a hot, sunny 4th of July. Started off the day with stories from Colliers Harvest of Holidays. Laura and Mary Ingalls attend their town's big 4th of July celebration with their Pa, including the horse races, in a segment from Little House On the Prairie. The remaining material was mostly hymns and poetry, including Longfellow's Midnight Ride of Paul Revere.

Tossed in two extra short stories. The final chapter of Kirsten Saves the Day recounts the first 4th of July for Swedish pioneer Kirsten and her family in their new home in Minnesota. Ben and Me from the Disney anthology Storybookland gives us another tale of Ben Franklin, from the point of view of a church mouse who supposedly helped create some of his most famous inventions.

Ran Yankee Doodle Cricket while eating breakfast. Ben's not the only mouse who claims to have taken part in significant events in American history. Tucker the Mouse also insists that his ancestor was a major player in the creation of, among other defining moments, the creation of the Declaration of Independence, and that the ancestor of Chester the Cricket wrote the folk tune "Yankee Doodle."

Today was my first of two early work shifts this week. It did get busy around 11 when people started to come out of the parades, and later at 1 when I was leaving as they were buying last-minute items for parties and barbecues. Otherwise, it was steady almost the entire morning, and never as bad as it got yesterday. I had more help, too. A college boy took over doing carts for the second half of my shift. I bagged and gathered baskets.

When I got home, I changed, then had a quick yogurt and cherries lunch. I bought two tubs of the Acme's generic Cool Whip on sale. I was originally going to re-frost the Summer Berry Icebox Cake, but the syrupy heavy cream center had finally solidified and glued the graham crackers together...and actually, it tasted pretty good. I just topped the "cake" with tons of Cool Whip, then made a flag on the top with strawberries and blueberries.

Put on a couple of cartoons while I worked. "Patriotic Popeye" is trying to discourage two of his nephews from playing with fireworks on the 4th. They finally learn their lesson when they almost burn down his house. Tom wishes Jerry would learn the same when they carry their running feud into a bunker loaded with explosives in "The Yankee Doodle Mouse." Donald Duck tries to set up a night time picnic to watch the fireworks in "Donald's Failed Fourth," but the chairs and blanket won't cooperate.

Did a little bit of writing for an hour after I finished with the cake. The group arrives at Nabarrie Palace, the glittering rococo showplace of the kingdom. Cedric is nervous at first, until he starts to get more into his role.

Rode over to Dad and Jodie's around quarter of 4 for their 4th of July barbecue. It wasn't nearly as huge as the last couple of parties they've had, just the two of them, me, Jesse and Dana, TJ, Jessa and Joe, Craig and Khai later when they got back from visiting Rose and the new baby in the hospital, and a couple of neighbors and their families. Dana grilled cheeseburgers and hot dogs. Craig contributed teriyaki salmon. One of the neighbors brought a tasty pasta and summer vegetable salad. Jodie made more traditional mayo-based macaroni salad, a fruit tray, Caesar salad with sliced cheese, beans and weenies, and her vinegary cucumber salad. My cake was the only dessert there. I had a little of everything but the cucumber salad - Jodie uses way too much vinegar - and the beans and weenies. (I figured two hot dogs were enough.)

I spent most of the afternoon in the pool with the kids. Ahhh. That felt sooo nice. It was extra-warm for this time of year, probably in the 80's. I had a great time, chasing them around and listening to their chatter about vacations and swimming and school.

Menacing black clouds started moving in as early as 5. By quarter after 6, it was getting much darker. Not to mention, I was full to bursting. I gave my leave and headed home. I timed it right. I was changing into dry clothes when it started to rain at a pretty good clip.

Rested while watching a few more shorts. Bugs is a "Bunker Hill Bunny" when he pits his Yankee wit and cleverness against hot-tempered Hessian Sam. Walter Lanz and his artists showcase "Hysterical Highspots In American History," from the natives trading Manhattan to the settlers to the Great Depression. The Pink Panther is "Pinky Doodle," who delivers papers on the coming war to the people of Philadelphia on the back of an English horse. Needless to say, the loyalist equine tries his hardest to get him off his back...literally and figuratively. Ruby and Louise have everything they need to see the big fireworks display, but Ruby's brother is more interested in "Max's Fireflies."

Finally headed out around quarter after 8. Though it wasn't raining then, heavy clouds still menaced the area. I briefly parked under what had been the roof of the drive-through at the former PNC Bank on the White Horse Pike to check the weather on my phone. Managed to make it the two blocks to Dollar General as it began to shower again.

I was standing in the vestibule, waiting for the rain to stop, when I heard a loud noise. The cashier and stock girl dashed out, yelling that that they saw fireworks. I was surprised. It was only 8:46, and the fireworks weren't scheduled until 9:15. Yes, there were fireworks, beautiful professional ones, lighting up the sky despite the ongoing shower. While the stock girl took pictures, I headed down the White Horse Pike to figure out what was going on.

Everyone was watching when I arrived. Yes, they did seem to be the Collingswood fireworks, likely set off early due to the rain. Ironically, the rain was slowing down as I made it to Newton Lake Park. It ended in time for a noisy, glittering finale.

It took me forever to get home. At first, I thought there would be more fireworks, at the right time. When I gave up on that idea, I couldn't get across the street. The traffic was insane, bumper-to bumper all the way to Camden. A cop helped me and a couple of other people cross at the Oaklyn City Hall.

At least it was a pleasant walk home once I got into Oaklyn. With the rain gone, I was free to concentrate on a night that, despite the occasional amateur fireworks display, was lovely and peaceful. Everyone had taken their families to bed or were at the Shore or still stuck in traffic. Walking home after the fireworks is one of my favorite parts of the holiday. The fireworks are replaced by the soft yellow glow of the fireflies Max loved so much; the only noise is the humming of air conditioners and the occasional squawk from someone's TV.

Jumped in the shower as soon as I got home, then put on  "Yankee Doodle Bugs" as I got organized. This is a lot like "Hysterical Highspots," with Bugs relating the historical spoofs as his attempts to teach his little nephew Clyde about the Revolutionary War.

Finished out the night online while watching Yankee Doodle Dandy. James Cagney won an Oscar playing George M. Cohan, a turn of the century theatrical protege who grew up in the vaudeville act of his father (Walter Huston) and mother (Rosemary DeCamp). By the early 1900's, he was the biggest sensation on Broadway, writing, directing, producing, and starring in patriotic-flavored musicals and comedies peppered with hits like "Give My Regards to Broadway," "You're a Grand Old Flag," and the title song. When Cohan is told he's too old to join the Armed Services during World War I, he writes the march "Over There" and plays it at Army camps. Though Cohan and his corny shows are eventually left behind, he returns for one final triumph, ironically on the eve of an even more damaging war.

While this isn't really much of a biography (starting with Joan Leslie playing a composite of Cohan's two wives), it does beautifully document the style of performances from this era and what the shows themselves were like. This is especially apparent with the Little Johnny Jones segment, which is so well-done, I feel like you really are watching a show from 1902. (The "Off the Record" recreation was apparently spot-on as well.) If you love Cagney, Cohan, or musical biographies, this is one of the best non-Busby Berkley Warner musicals and gets a major recommendation from me.

And I hope you had an equally fun Independence Day (and that our neighbors to the north in Canada enjoyed celebrating their 150th anniversary on Saturday).

Party Time In the Sun

Began the day with an episode of Sailor Moon as I ate a quick breakfast and listened to a heavy spring shower. The guardians get up close and personal with the glamorous world of modeling in "Usagi Is a Model: The Flash of the Monster Camera." Usagi thinks her dream has come true when a young local photographer who attends Rei's school puts out an audition for young women for his photos. It turns out he's taking a lot more than nice pictures of pretty faces. Nephrite implanted a monster in his camera whose photos absorb the person whose picture is being taken! Now Sailor Moon has to use all her wits to deal with this shutter-bugged creature without the others' help.

The rain was winding down by the time I headed to work. I did do some returns and ended up cashiering during the first hour, but I spent most of the day outside. The first time I went out, around quarter of 11, it was starting to shower again, this time heavily. It didn't last. When I went back out after an early break, the clouds and the rain were long gone, leaving a gorgeous, breezy spring day in its wake.

Went straight home, dodging Charlie dragging the door and wood for the repairs on Tuesday upstairs. Changed into regular clothes, read a few chapters of Supergirl at Super Hero High, then headed back out. Today was another big party at Dad and Jodie's house, this time to celebrate the college graduation of Jodie's son Jesse's fiancee Dana.

The party was even bigger than Rose's baby shower was. There were so many people around, most people sat at tables under blue and white event tents set up on the driveway. There was another tent on the grass at the back of the pool area, and that's where I parked myself for most of the next two hours or so. A lot of the kids, including my nephew Khai, hit the pool, despite the fact that it was only in the 70's and not really that hot. I had a lovely chat with Chloe, Emily, and a friend of a cousin, Asia. Asia was apparently from the Dominican Republic and was unaccustomed to chilly water or chilly spring weather. While she warmed up, the girls and I discussed our families, their end-of-the-school-year Field Day, and the movies and cartoons we like. I spent most of my time talking to the girls or to Dad. I didn't know Dana's family or most of Dad and Jodie's friends who weren't from the neighborhood.

There was tons and tons of food! The dining room table groaned with two kinds of chicken (breaded and Marsala), meatballs in sauce, hot and sweet sausage, ribs, hot dogs for the kids, potato salad, two kinds of pasta salad (mayo-based and the oil-based vegetable one I had), green salad, baked ziti, a tasty baked macaroni and broccoli dish, cucumber salad, green beans, and crusty rolls. Rose provided a bowl of cut-up fruit and berries and another one of watermelon. For dessert, there was a massive sheet cake from the Acme, tarts and petit fours from Desserts By Design, a plate of candy-covered pretzels, and giant sugar and chocolate-chocolate chip cookies and an apple pie from Shop Rite. I had the baked ziti, macaroni, vegetable pasta salad, green salad, two chicken sandwiches, two slices of cake (one vanilla, one chocolate), two cookies, and a chocolate-covered pretzel.

I rode off around 5 with a very full stomach. There was one other thing I wanted to do before I made my way home. Sugar is cheaper at Dollar General and Family Dollar than it is at the Acme. Since Dollar General was closer, I went there. Went in, grabbed the sugar, went out.

Finished out the night before a shower with a little bit of writing. Leia, Charles, and Cedric make their way through a hedge tunnel (as best huge Charles can) and towards Chalindria Court. The mansion is swarming with Coruscant soldiers. They're all about to get a surprise, though...

And I got a notice from Camden County. My appointment is between 8:30 and noon on Monday. That, I can pull off. I don't work until 3 on Monday. I'll need a ride from Dad, though. That part of Camden is no place to be riding.

Pool Party In the Rain

Began today with an early work shift. Did carts for about two and a half hours on and off. It wasn't quite as hot as it has been, but it was very, very humid. When I got tired of sweating, I did returns, tended to the women's bathroom, helped a lady in and electric cart outside, and got stuck in the registers for a little while. It had been cloudy all day. It spit briefly when I was outside in the morning, but it didn't amount to anything. I picked up sugar (which I forgot yesterday) and got home dry.

When I arrived, I worked on my fanfiction. Jabba, now a handsome merman who calls himself Lord Jasper, is doing his best to seduce Leia. His voice has hypnotic qualities, thanks to Han being a real merman. Coupled with a drugged drink, it's easily luring the princess into his arms. But help is on the way....

Unfortunately, when I went to turn off my computer, I found I couldn't. The Windows 10 shut-down button wouldn't work, no matter what I pushed. I had to shut it off manually. All the messing around made me much later than I'd planned for Dad-Bruce's birthday party. And of course, it finally started raining hard the moment I came out. I arrived very wet.

Everyone was just starting to eat when I arrived. Jodie cooked tons of food. She thought it was too hot to barbecue, so they made ordinary indoor banquet items - baked ziti, roasted potatoes, Chicken Marsala, asparagus cooked in garlic sauce, green beans, shrimp scampi, hot sausage with peppers, and meatballs. There were tiny tarts and eclairs from Desserts by Design in place of the usual cake. I had everything but the sausage (too spicy), green beans (the salad and asparagus was enough), and meatballs (I didn't realize they were even there until I was already too full). I took a ton home, too.

Jodie said it was just a small thing, but nothing is ever small in my family. I saw Jodie's parents, Rose and Khai, friends of the family and their children, and Jesse, Dana, and their dog Helio. Jessa, Joe, and Joe's kids came shortly before I left.

After I ate, I hit the pool with the kids and their moms. Wow. The water was so amazingly warm. Rose was right that it felt like bath water. I was in for over an hour and a half and finally only got out because it was getting late. It had started to rain again after we came out, but that was actually kind of fun. The rain felt nice on my face as I floated around the kids, watching one of the moms teach them how to dive.

When I finally got in, I hung everything up to dry, took a shower, and then went on the Wii to play Lego Indiana Jones. The last two rounds of Temple of Doom were far shorter and quite a bit easier than the preceding ones. The only problem I had with "Escaping the Mine" was the mine cart ride. You had to hit levers from red to green in order to complete the course. I couldn't do it fast enough! Every time I hit one, it would take me forever to find another, and the last one I did would blink out.

The last round was "Battle on the Bridge." Once you got to the bridge and figured out you have to cut the ropes on the bridge to get rid of Mola Ram, this one was a piece of cake.

Next time I play, I'll be beginning Last Crusade. If I finish this before vacation, I'll double back to Lego Indiana Jones 2 and see if I can get closer to 100% on that.

I had less luck on the computer. It opened in safe mode. It took me forever to figure out how to switch back to regular mode. At least the start bar is working now. If it's still giving me trouble after a week, I'm rolling back to 8.1.

Oh, and I got my schedule at work. Pretty much the same as last week, other than early hours on Sunday and Saturday off instead of Wednesday. Not that I have much planned. I'm broke and need to start cleaning and getting ready for my vacation.

Star Spangled Woman

Started a cloudy, cool Fourth of July with poems and book excerpts. Collier's Book of Holidays featured a chapter on the Ingalls' Fourth of July celebration in a small backwoods town from Little Town on the Prairie, Paul Revere's Ride in its entirety, a couple of poems, and "The Star Spangled Banner." I next did the last chapter of Kirsten Saves the Day, which details Kirsten's family's trip to the nearest town for their Fourth of July festivities.

Finished up with three short stories from the Disney America anthology book from the 60's. One was Ben and Me, the cute tale of a mouse who helped create many of Ben Franklin's most famous inventions. The other two detailed Paul Revere's famous ride and adapted the Disney Davy Crockett TV mini-series.

After I finished my journal, I moved onto breakfast and a few quick shorts before early work. "Donald's Failed Fourth" is one of the Mickey Mouse Works shorts from the early 2000s. Donald wants to set up a Fourth of July picnic in front of the fireworks for Daisy, but the blanket and chairs keep giving him trouble.

Bugs is a "Bunker Hill Bunny" when he has to defend his American fort against Sam the Hessian Soldier. Porky Pig learns about the importance of the Pledge of Allegiance in the unusually stirring "Old Glory."

In "Pinky Doodle," the Pink Panther wants to send out pamphlets detailing American independence to all of Philadelphia. He makes the mistake of choosing a Red Coat horse who may not let him get very far!

Headed to work around 8:30. Despite the gloomy day, work was busy for almost the entire morning. I did get a few returns in, but I was mainly either retrieving carts or stuck in a register. I would rather have been doing carts. They kept vanishing all morning.

I was so happy when it slowed down long enough for me to head out! I went straight home. I spent the next few hours making whipped topping for the Summer Berry Cupcakes (with the Acme generic Cool Whip, powdered sugar, and the last of the coconut milk) while watching 1776. This rousing musical tells how John Adams (William Daniels), Ben Franklin (Howard Da Silva), and Thomas Jefferson (Ken Howard) created the Declaration of Independence to convince Congress to vote for the US breaking away from England. It's a lot more suspenseful and interesting than the American Revolution ever comes off in textbooks. (For those of you who are fans of another musical about a Founding Father, Hamilton, this one might make a nice companion show.)

As much as I love 1776, it's one of the last of the big 60's-70's Broadway adaptations and is over 2 and a half hours long. I didn't make it to Dad's house until after 4:30. Dad and Jodie are away, but they let Rose and their neighbor Sandy use the house and pool for a party. Along with Sandy, Rose, and her family, I saw Craig's parents, Jodie's son Jesse, his girlfriend Dana, and their spaniel mix Helio, and several neighbors and their children.

I arrived just as they were bringing the food out. Rose and Sandy laid out quite a spread. I saw cheeseburgers, hamburgers, hot dogs, grilled chicken, veggie-pasta salad, deviled eggs, more traditional macaroni salad, potato salad, a vegetable salad with a spicy ranch dressing, a bowl of strawberries and blueberries, a vegetable plate, small loves of crusty bread, and Parmesan flatbread crackers. Dessert included a cake from the Acme, my Summer Berry Cupcakes, Rose's divine Key Lime Pie, and sliced watermelon. I had a burger, watermelon, the veggie-pasta and spicy salad, a couple of strawberries, two slices of cake, one slice of Key Lime Pie, and some crackers. (I later took home macaroni salad, two pieces of chicken, spicy salad, bread, and the last two deviled eggs.) I ate while chatting with the adults and listening to a family across the street play a noisy and intense game of softball in the street.

After I finished dinner, I hit the pool with the kids and Craig's parents for an hour. The pool was surprisingly warm for a day that couldn't have been hotter than the upper 70's - lower 80's. The dark clouds continued to build, even as I watched the three boys and one girl (someone's cousin visiting from Puerto Rico) cannonball into the water.

Thankfully, we got everything and everyone inside or under wraps well before the rain finally started. I chatted a bit with Jesse, Dana, Rose, and one of the neighbors. Rose and her neighbor talked about their travels to Cancun and Costa Rica in their younger years. I told Jesse and Dana my problems with the Acme job. I don't like it, but I'm not good at networking, and I don't know how I could apply my Communications degree to real work. They suggested temp agencies and talking to family.

By 8, I was just hanging out with Khai and his friends from the neighborhood in the den, watching the Nickelodeon cartoon The Loud House (about a boy who is constantly trying to avoid his ten sisters). The rain was still coming down at a pretty good clip. Craig ended up driving me, my leftovers plate, and my bike home.

Ran a few remaining cartoons while I got organized. Popeye's nephews want to spend their holiday setting off fireworks. Their uncle teaches them how to play it safe on the Fourth in "Patriotic Popeye."

"The Yankee Doodle Mouse" was the first Tom & Jerry cartoon to win an Oscar. The cat and mouse celebrate their Fourth by waging their own kind of war in a fireworks factory.

As  you may have guessed from the rain, the fireworks were canceled in most places today. Collingswood will be holding theirs tomorrow. I should be able to go. At any rate, I hope all of you had a wonderful (and dry) Fourth of July! (And that our neighbors to the north enjoyed their Canada Day on the 1st.)

Party With the Family

It was still sunny when I woke up this morning, and hot, but not quite as bad as yesterday. A nice wind helped. I made Blueberry Pancakes while listening to patriotic records in honor of Memorial Day Weekend, starting with Yankee Doodle Mickey. This cute record from I'm guessing the late 70's-early 80's features a young Molly Ringwauld joining the Disney characters and the Disneyland Chorus to perform folk songs, hymns, and a rousing original, "The Liberty Tree." I love the Armed Services Medley, with Mickey representing the Air Force and Marines, Goofy taking the Army, and Donald, of course, representing the Navy.

Worked on my story for a little while after breakfast. Leia is starting to awaken. Her head is pounding, she's in an unfamiliar room, and she's dressed like a vampire's fantasy. She sees Han there, but she can tell something isn't right...especially since he's trying to shut her out of his mind...

Headed to work after a very quick lunch. Work was...surprisingly dead for both a Sunday and the day before a major holiday. I did work on rounding up carts for the first half of my shift. That nice wind really helped. By 3:30, it was so dead, I spent the remaining hour and a half shelving as much of the three carts filled with returns as I could. There were no major problems anywhere, and I was in and out.

Went straight home, changed into regular clothes, then went right to Dad's. The clouds had started to come out as early as half-way through my shift. They were growing rapidly darker as I pulled in. I came right on time. Jodie had just pulled out the first round of cheeseburgers, hot dogs, and ribs. There was macaroni salad, Italian pasta salad with vegetables, that really vinegary cucumber salad Jodie likes, deviled eggs, and (later, when they remembered it was in the oven), asparagus. Dessert included Rose's tangy key lime bars (with spray whipped cream, for those interested), strawberries dipped in white chocolate and toasted coconut, chunks of watermelon, and blueberry pie. I had a little of everything but the macaroni salad (the Italian pasta salad was enough) and the blueberry pie.

Khai and Chloe, for once, gobbled their dinner. Chloe's brother Blake ate even faster. They all wanted to get back in the pool. I followed them out after they ate. Khai took it upon himself to shoot me with his Super Soaker the moment I arrived. I wish he hadn't done that. I hadn't stopped to put on my bathing suit when I came home. Thankfully, there were lots of grown-ups around to set rules - Rose and Craig, Jodie's sons, Dana, Erica, Mark and Vanessa, several neighbors. (Dad stayed inside. He's in the midst of chemotherapy and isn't feeling anywhere near his best.)

I finally opted to sit down and stick my feet in. Ahh, that felt nice. The water was much warmer than it usually is in May, probably due to the really hot weather we've been having. I watched Khai and another boy shoot each other and had an animated chat with Chloe about what toys we liked, which Star Wars movie was our favorite (mine is The Empire Strikes Back), and what the pool was like when Rose and I used to go swimming when we visited during our childhood.

It showered lightly on and off while I was talking to the kids. The rain started picking up by around 7:30. It was time for me to head home. Thankfully, it waited until over an hour after I got in to start pouring. It's been pouring ever since. This is supposed to be the remnants of a tropical storm. Surprisingly no thunder or lighting yet, but lots and lots of rain. It's supposed to continue tomorrow. We'll see how it goes.

No Laboring On Labor Day

Started the day reading poems (including I Heard America Singing by Walt Whitman) and an essay on Samuel Gumpters, long-time spearhead of the labor movement in the US. I tossed in excerpts from two American Girl books for good measure. Samantha Parkington learns from her friend Nellie O'Malley, who once worked in a factory, that "progress" isn't always good for everyone in Samantha Learns a Lesson. Rebecca Rubin discovers just how scary factories were in the early 20th century - and how to stand up for her beliefs - in the final book in her series, Changes For Rebecca.

I spent most of last night and early morning online with Lauren - we rarely get to spend holiday nights together, since I normally work for most of them. I was up so late, it was quarter of 11 before I had breakfast. Ran a pair of Three Stooges shorts on working while I ate. They're "Dizzy Doctors" when they try to sell Brighto, first on the street, then in a hospital. The boys are mistaken for escorts in "Termites of 1938," but they're really exterminators. When mice get into their dates' house, the Stooges go to work...and make a shambles of the party.

Headed to the laundromat around 12:30 to get my small load done. Good thing it was a small load. The place was packed. I was lucky to get one of the last washers available when I came in. Thankfully, the driers were less full by the time my clothes were ready. I worked on my notes and ignored soap operas.

I was a block from my house when the bike stopped moving. I just managed to keep myself from falling off, but I scraped the back of my left thigh pretty good on the tough metal pedals. I wasn't happy when I came home and discovered the chain had come clean off. I really didn't want to take off the guard and try to put it back on. I hadn't gotten to writing yet, and I wasn't going to have time to go out for pizza as I'd planned. My neighbor and landlady Miss Willa said her husband Richard was out fishing, but would be willing to fix it when he got home.

Had the last of the Tex-Mex Bean Dip and grapes for lunch while watching more Remember WENN. Betty Roberts almost becomes "The First Mrs. Bloom" when she and Mackie have to convince the sponsor of their bridal show (Julie Hagerty) that they marry real couples on the air.

Worked on my fanfiction for the next two hours or so. Betty has fled into the forest, but she's being pursued by demons. They overtake her and are about to try worse things...when they hear what sounds like female animals and take off. The noises were being made by Mr. Eldridge and his apprentice, the woodsman who rescued Betty earlier. They take her to their cottage in the woods. The woodsman is charming to Betty, but he still won't let her see his face or let Mr. Eldridge give him away. Betty badly wants to know who he is...and has an idea for how to do it that night...

Rose and Craig picked me up to go to Dad's house around 4:30 for their party. (The bike was fixed by then, as it turned out, but they were already there.) Rose and Craig have a new car - a small dark-blue van. It's really compact and cute, like a dark blue box, but has a surprising amount of room inside. Rose said they fit three bushes for their back yard in the seats with no problem.

I spent most of the party swimming with my nephew Khai and Dad's neighbor Sandy's two little girls Mary and Chloe while the other adults discussed their children going back to school and the new Star Wars movie coming out this fall. I'm so proud of Khai. His swimming has improved tenfold. He can swim easily in the deep end of the pool now, and even go underwater with no problems.

Rose invited me to "Taco Tuesday" at her house tomorrow. Sure! My only plans for dinner tomorrow were leftovers. I do have counseling, but it's supposed to be hot again, so I won't be lingering too long afterwards.

Jodie had plenty of food. There were chicken thighs, burgers, hot dogs, and steak cooked on the grill, a fruit bowl, corn on the cob, a Caesar salad, a macaroni salad, and a plate of various cookies neighbors brought. Had everything but the hot dogs - the pork ones give me indigestion - and the corn on the cob, which was already slathered in butter. I like my corn plain.

Chatted with Dad - as well as he could - right before walking home. Poor Dad. That throat surgery is really hurting him. His voice still doesn't sound right. He did suggest that I look into doing some reading on money management, since I don't think I could handle a second job that's outside of the home. I never really learned money management. I never had much money to manage until the last ten years or so. I've always had a hard time getting a job; what little money I had as a child was earned from chores or given to me by my stepfather.

Walked home after talking to Dad. It was a nice night for it. While it's hotter and a little more humid than it has been this weekend, it's still not overwhelming. It was surprisingly quiet - most people were probably finishing out barbecues or just coming home from their own vacations.

Richard was working on my bike when I got in. The gears have been sticking for a while. He oiled them and got the chain back on, which seems to have fixed the problem for the time being. He says he'll do further work on it when I'm on vacation next month.

And I hope you enjoyed your own Labor Day, whether or not you had to work on it.

Saturday In the Park, I Think It Was the 4th of July...

I began a cloudy, cool Independence Day at work. Work was surprisingly on-and-off busy for most of the afternoon. It was fairly crowded when I arrived at 10, but the crowds vanished when the parades started. A shower in the middle of the afternoon may have scared some folks off as well. There were no major problems, and my relief, one of the college boys, was right on time.

I hurried home as soon as I finished. I ran a few cartoons while making whipped cream icing for my cake. I added blueberries and the last of the farm market strawberries in a flag pattern. It came out very nice, and certainly very patriotic. I've seen it done in a hundred magazines and online sites and have always wanted to try it.

The Looney Tunes did a couple of shorts based around American history. Bugs Bunny defends his fort against Hessian soldier Sam in "Bunker Hill Bunny." Porky learns why the Pledge of Allegiance is important in the more stirring "Old Glory."

The Pink Panther also takes part in the American Revolution in "Pinky Doodle." He's on a certain midnight ride, handing out pamphlets to the citizens of Philadelphia...or would be, if the red coat horse he's riding would let him!

I took the bike to Dad's party around quarter of 5. Hit the pool the moment I got in. I was delighted to see my cousin Amber, her current boyfriend, and her two daughters Ella and Lily there, along with my sister Rose, her boyfriend Craig, and their son Khai, Jodie and Dad, an aunt of Jodie's, Jodie's son Jesse and his girlfriend Dana, and a couple of neighbors. I swam with Khai, Lily, Ella, and one of the neighbors' kids, Chloe, for about an hour. We played with a huge red vinyl ball and at least eight different flotation devices. (I loved the big yellow one with the cup holders and the wide back. So comfy!) The water was relatively warm, in the 80's. It was the air that was chilly. Lily had been in the pool for so long, her teeth were chattering...and yet, she was the last one dragged out when it was time to eat.

Jodie was firing up the grill as we were swimming. Everything was ready when we came out. There were cheeseburgers, hot dogs, and Jodie's famous ribs from the grill. Rose provided very fresh crabs that she, Craig, and Khai picked up with our sister Anny and her family on vacation in the Wildwood bays. There was cucumber salad, Caesar salad, macaroni salad, corn on the cob, and baked beans with sliced hot dogs for the kids. I had a little of everything but the baked beans - I never was a fan of beans and weenies. In addition to my cake, there was a chocolate Bundt cake and a large decorated cookie for dessert. (Not to mention the kids talked their folks into money for the Mr. Softee truck again.)

I finally walked home around quarter after 7. When I got in, I changed into dry clothes and did some chores around the apartment. Ran a few more cartoons while I worked. Donald just wants to have a nice picnic while watching fireworks with Daisy in "Donald's Failed Fourth." Everything from the blanket to the chairs keeps giving him trouble.

Popeye's having his own problems with his nephews in "Patriotic Popeye." They want to set off fireworks. Popeye's worried that they'll set themselves off along with the rockets. He tries to show them how to play safe on the Fourth.

Ruby and Louise are are also excited about seeing fireworks. Max is more interested in "Max's Fire Flies." While the girls prepare for the fireworks, Max tries to catch his new glowing friends.

Tom and Jerry set off some fireworks of their own in "The Yankee Doodle Mouse." Their battle in a fireworks factory gets heated when Jerry defends his "cat raid shelter" from Tom's arsenal.

I headed out as soon as Tom and Jerry ended, around quarter after 8. Even then, there was already a long line of people making their way down West Clinton and the White Horse Pike to Newton Lake Park. The new parking lot was finished last fall, and that did help a bit with traffic. I cut across the parking lot and finally settled down in the field across from the high-rise condos. I lay on my blanket, wrote down fanfic ideas, and laughed as I watched families chatter and kids chase each other with glow sticks in many colors all around me.

The fireworks began around 9:15. They were spectacular, as always. My favorites were the double-hearts (including one that was upside-down), the heart in the center of the red sparkles, and the triple-rings, like a three-ring circus. I enjoyed the show, listening to adults ooh and ahh and kids complain about how scary the loud noises were.

Thankfully, it didn't take me as long to cross the White Horse Pike going home this time. I was able to go with a couple of families who were crossing at the same time at CVS. I waved to Diane, one of the cashiers at the Acme, sitting in the back of a truck as I made my way up to Newton Drive.

My favorite part of the Fourth of July are the fireworks and walking home afterwards. There's still fireworks and parties going on all around me...but Manor at 10 PM on the Fourth of July is quiet and peaceful. Most of the residents are at the Shore or still partying. You can hear the wind rustling in the leaves and see the soft glow of the fireflies, like the ones Max caught for his sister. It's a lovely way to end a holiday.

I hope you had an equally noisy Fourth of July (and that our neighbors to the north enjoyed their Canada Day on July 1st).