Not a really busy day. I spent a lot of the morning doing research on local dentists and gynecologists that take Independence Blue Cross. I need both. I haven't been to the dentist in ages, and every woman I know has been after me to see a gynecologist for a routine examination for years. Neither are exactly high on my "fun" list, but I can't keep putting them off.
I also did a few things around the apartment. I cleared out some papers. Organized the top of the printer next to my desk. Got rid of all of the stuffed animals on the top shelf of the baker's rack but Sundance the Raccoon, Polly the Opossum, and Alton the Chicken. (Westbrook the Eagle and Phil the Groundhog will be moved in the back room to be used as a decoration during football season and Groundhog Day respectively.) Moved the cake decorating magazines to the top shelf. I now have two small empty shelves where the magazines were. I'll figure out something to do with them later.
Watched a couple of episodes of The Muppet Show that featured Broadway or stage performers throughout the morning. Ethel Merman is mostly delighted to be part of a "Mutual Admiration Society," but Animal discovers the hard way that even a legend has her limits. Comedienne Kaye Ballard gets caught in a backstage dispute between Kermit and most of the Electric Mayhem, who don't think the theme song is hip enough. Valerie Harper is courted by a smitten Statler, who brings a plant backstage that almost ends up choking the show to death.
Work was on-and-off busy, with no major problems. It rained this morning, but the rain was long gone by the time I headed to work. It was sunny for most of the afternoon, still humid but much cooler. The clouds were gathering again as I finished, but they have yet to do anything at press time.
Life is a lazy river - no matter where you are. Movies, musicals, mysteries, pop culture, and lots of other great stuff.
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Sudden Showers
I awoke to sun, humidity...and a phone call. The Acme wanted me to come in at noon...and it was quarter of 10. I said "yes," but only because I really need the money. I don't mind coming in when people ask me well ahead of time, but usually when they call me like that, it's because someone's panicking for no reason.
As I discovered when I finally made it in at 12:15, that proved to be the case. We weren't busy, and would be on-and-off steady all day. There was a reason for this. The weather was off-and-on all day, too. Dark clouds were gathering even as I rode to the Acme. It rained hard around 2PM, and again around 4. Thankfully, I don't think it's rained since then.
We had to deal with customers who were upset for other reasons, too. Evidently, most of Audubon, Mt. Ephram, and Bellmawr had lost power, including all the businesses and street lights on the Black Horse Pike too, including WaWa and PNC. According to one customer, it came back on after four hours. I have no idea what happened. The Acme never lost power, and it looks like my apartment didn't, either. My digital alarm clock isn't flashing.
It slowed down enough by 7PM for me to hurry out without a relief. Though clouds were gathering on the horizon as I rode home, it has yet to rain again. I had a quick shower, then finished out Broadway: The American Musical while eating leftovers for dinner. I have fond memories of many of the shows that turned up in "Tradition" and "Putting It Together." The "I Love New York" commercials featuring whatever Broadway shows and celebrities were hot that year used to run on Channel 9 and 11 all the time when I was a kid in the 80s. I saw the ads for Phantom of the Opera, City of Angels, and Cats, and thought this is glamour...this is Broadway!
My mother didn't agree. She wouldn't let us near New York for years, having heard far too many horror stories about the horrible shape it was in during the 70s, 80s, and much of the 90s. I was surprised when she let me go there in 2001 for that WENN Convention - I guess she figured it would be ok if I was in a group.
The Times Square I saw in June 2001 was a very different place from what I encountered on a class trip to New York in high school around 1995. Our bus going back from that trip got caught in traffic in Times Square. We saw hustlers, panhandlers people in fine clothes on their way to a show, sailors (who flirted with some of the girls!), and assorted grimy bootleg items sellers. When I visited a quiet, early-morning Times Square, I saw a very different side of the city - newly-washed, softly sun-dappled, with almost no one but me and the Disney Store around.
As I discovered when I finally made it in at 12:15, that proved to be the case. We weren't busy, and would be on-and-off steady all day. There was a reason for this. The weather was off-and-on all day, too. Dark clouds were gathering even as I rode to the Acme. It rained hard around 2PM, and again around 4. Thankfully, I don't think it's rained since then.
We had to deal with customers who were upset for other reasons, too. Evidently, most of Audubon, Mt. Ephram, and Bellmawr had lost power, including all the businesses and street lights on the Black Horse Pike too, including WaWa and PNC. According to one customer, it came back on after four hours. I have no idea what happened. The Acme never lost power, and it looks like my apartment didn't, either. My digital alarm clock isn't flashing.
It slowed down enough by 7PM for me to hurry out without a relief. Though clouds were gathering on the horizon as I rode home, it has yet to rain again. I had a quick shower, then finished out Broadway: The American Musical while eating leftovers for dinner. I have fond memories of many of the shows that turned up in "Tradition" and "Putting It Together." The "I Love New York" commercials featuring whatever Broadway shows and celebrities were hot that year used to run on Channel 9 and 11 all the time when I was a kid in the 80s. I saw the ads for Phantom of the Opera, City of Angels, and Cats, and thought this is glamour...this is Broadway!
My mother didn't agree. She wouldn't let us near New York for years, having heard far too many horror stories about the horrible shape it was in during the 70s, 80s, and much of the 90s. I was surprised when she let me go there in 2001 for that WENN Convention - I guess she figured it would be ok if I was in a group.
The Times Square I saw in June 2001 was a very different place from what I encountered on a class trip to New York in high school around 1995. Our bus going back from that trip got caught in traffic in Times Square. We saw hustlers, panhandlers people in fine clothes on their way to a show, sailors (who flirted with some of the girls!), and assorted grimy bootleg items sellers. When I visited a quiet, early-morning Times Square, I saw a very different side of the city - newly-washed, softly sun-dappled, with almost no one but me and the Disney Store around.
Tuesday, July 09, 2013
Broadway Heat
It was thankfully only cloudy and humid when I awoke this morning. I put off going to the Haddon Township Library this time until about 11. I wanted to avoid the crowds I've run into constantly there over the past few weeks. Newton River Park was surprisingly busy for such a warm, humid morning. It was hot, but not as hot as over the weekend. I dodged lots of dog walkers (one with two cute white boxer pups), fishermen, and people out for a jog.
It was still busy at the library, but not as busy as last week, as I got there well after the Storybook Hour ended. This time, I was able to clear foreign and children's titles out of the adult section without having to lean over everyone. And there was a big stack to clear out! I had to shuffle a lot of things around to get the foreign titles in. They really need to be cleared out. The kids' titles weren't as bad today, perhaps because there are now lots of bored kids out of school to watch them.
I took out three comedies about men and women behaving badly - Bridesmaids, Broadway Danny Rose, and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels - and a PBS miniseries on musicals, Broadway - The American Musical. The biography I'm reading on George M. Cohan has stimulated my interest in Broadway history.
Stopped at Capitol Pizza for lunch. It was cooler inside, but I didn't feel like watching silly court shows on Fox while I ate. I took my cheese and mushroom slices and can of Fresca to the umbrella covered metal table and chairs outside. The view of two parked cars, the White Horse Pike, and a small publishing company housed in an old garage across the street wasn't exactly inspiring, but it was in the shade and it still beat Divorce Court.
I spent a couple of hours at home after lunch. Took down the 4th of July decorations as I watched the first two episodes of Broadway: The American Musical. "Give My Regards to Broadway" and "Syncopated City" cover the last decade of the 19th century and the first three decades of the 20th, as Broadway evolves from a few streets of stages into the glittering Crossroads of the World...and the musical evolves with it, from Cohan's nervy, flag-waving comedies to the Gershwins' uptempo farces, from Victor Herbert's operetta fantasies to Kern and Hammerstein unleashing the integrated musical with Show Boat.
I got bored after "Syncopated City" finished and, since the weather was holidng out, decided a swim was in order. I changed into my bathing suit and rode over to Dad's. Dad said the water was in the 90s. I didn't believe him...until I jumped in and emerged with no feeling of shock! The water wasn't even remotely cold. The thermometer tied to the ladder on the deep end of the pool said it was in the upper 80s. I had a very pleasant swim for a half-hour, then read The Man Who Owned Broadway for another half-hour. Chatted with Dad and Jodie a bit before leaving and confirmed that yes, there will be a party on Saturday, and yes, they would like me to bring another pudding pie.
When I got home, I made Chicken Green Pepper Stir Fry and Persian Cucumber Salad for dinner while watching the next two episodes of Broadway: The American Musical. The one-two-three punch of the Depression, talking films, and radio hits Broadway and the musical hard in "I Got Plenty O' Nuthin'." While Hollywood may be the place to make money, the stage is where composers and stars can experiment in ways movies don't allow. The Gershwins did the political satire Of Thee I Sing and the folk opera Porgy and Bess. Cole Porter's glamorous shows like Anything Goes and DuBarry Was a Lady brought glitter and laughter to people who desperately needed it. Revues developed a conscience with the additions of songs that tackled the issues of the day, like "Supper Time" and "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?" Marc Blitzstein's opera The Cradle Will Rock was so controversial, the government and unions tried to keep it from being performed...but the cast, Orson Welles, and Blitzstein had them do it in the seats and boxes.
Irving Berlin's rousing This Is the Army takes us into World War II, which is where we begin the next episode, "Oh What a Beautiful Morning." The darkest days of the war begat some of Broadway's brightest musicals, including Rogers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! (my personal favorite of their shows) and Carousel. Suddenly, everyone's inspired to do these new-fangled "integrated" musicals, where the song and dance fits the story and the story isn't always piffle. Irving Berlin did Annie Get Your Gun with Ethel Merman at Rogers and Hammerstein's request. Cole Porter revitalized his career with Kiss Me Kate. E.Y Harburg brought an integrated cast to Broadway in the tale of how a leprechaun's magic effects race relation in the south, Finian's Rainbow. Betty Comden and Adolph Green join Leonard Bernstein for the story of three sailors on leave in New York in On the Town and two sisters trying to make it big on Christopher Street in Wonderful Town. TV variety shows helped advertise hits like Guys and Dolls and Gypsy.
It was still busy at the library, but not as busy as last week, as I got there well after the Storybook Hour ended. This time, I was able to clear foreign and children's titles out of the adult section without having to lean over everyone. And there was a big stack to clear out! I had to shuffle a lot of things around to get the foreign titles in. They really need to be cleared out. The kids' titles weren't as bad today, perhaps because there are now lots of bored kids out of school to watch them.
I took out three comedies about men and women behaving badly - Bridesmaids, Broadway Danny Rose, and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels - and a PBS miniseries on musicals, Broadway - The American Musical. The biography I'm reading on George M. Cohan has stimulated my interest in Broadway history.
Stopped at Capitol Pizza for lunch. It was cooler inside, but I didn't feel like watching silly court shows on Fox while I ate. I took my cheese and mushroom slices and can of Fresca to the umbrella covered metal table and chairs outside. The view of two parked cars, the White Horse Pike, and a small publishing company housed in an old garage across the street wasn't exactly inspiring, but it was in the shade and it still beat Divorce Court.
I spent a couple of hours at home after lunch. Took down the 4th of July decorations as I watched the first two episodes of Broadway: The American Musical. "Give My Regards to Broadway" and "Syncopated City" cover the last decade of the 19th century and the first three decades of the 20th, as Broadway evolves from a few streets of stages into the glittering Crossroads of the World...and the musical evolves with it, from Cohan's nervy, flag-waving comedies to the Gershwins' uptempo farces, from Victor Herbert's operetta fantasies to Kern and Hammerstein unleashing the integrated musical with Show Boat.
I got bored after "Syncopated City" finished and, since the weather was holidng out, decided a swim was in order. I changed into my bathing suit and rode over to Dad's. Dad said the water was in the 90s. I didn't believe him...until I jumped in and emerged with no feeling of shock! The water wasn't even remotely cold. The thermometer tied to the ladder on the deep end of the pool said it was in the upper 80s. I had a very pleasant swim for a half-hour, then read The Man Who Owned Broadway for another half-hour. Chatted with Dad and Jodie a bit before leaving and confirmed that yes, there will be a party on Saturday, and yes, they would like me to bring another pudding pie.
When I got home, I made Chicken Green Pepper Stir Fry and Persian Cucumber Salad for dinner while watching the next two episodes of Broadway: The American Musical. The one-two-three punch of the Depression, talking films, and radio hits Broadway and the musical hard in "I Got Plenty O' Nuthin'." While Hollywood may be the place to make money, the stage is where composers and stars can experiment in ways movies don't allow. The Gershwins did the political satire Of Thee I Sing and the folk opera Porgy and Bess. Cole Porter's glamorous shows like Anything Goes and DuBarry Was a Lady brought glitter and laughter to people who desperately needed it. Revues developed a conscience with the additions of songs that tackled the issues of the day, like "Supper Time" and "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?" Marc Blitzstein's opera The Cradle Will Rock was so controversial, the government and unions tried to keep it from being performed...but the cast, Orson Welles, and Blitzstein had them do it in the seats and boxes.
Irving Berlin's rousing This Is the Army takes us into World War II, which is where we begin the next episode, "Oh What a Beautiful Morning." The darkest days of the war begat some of Broadway's brightest musicals, including Rogers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! (my personal favorite of their shows) and Carousel. Suddenly, everyone's inspired to do these new-fangled "integrated" musicals, where the song and dance fits the story and the story isn't always piffle. Irving Berlin did Annie Get Your Gun with Ethel Merman at Rogers and Hammerstein's request. Cole Porter revitalized his career with Kiss Me Kate. E.Y Harburg brought an integrated cast to Broadway in the tale of how a leprechaun's magic effects race relation in the south, Finian's Rainbow. Betty Comden and Adolph Green join Leonard Bernstein for the story of three sailors on leave in New York in On the Town and two sisters trying to make it big on Christopher Street in Wonderful Town. TV variety shows helped advertise hits like Guys and Dolls and Gypsy.
Monday, July 08, 2013
Getting Laundry Done
I had just enough time before work this morning to get the laundry done. After the incident a few weeks ago where I fell off my bike during a laundry run, I wasn't going to ride to the laundromat again. It was once again hot, sunny, and sticky, though thankfully not quite as hot as yesterday. There were a few people there when I arrived, watching Let's Make a Deal. I didn't really have a very big load. By the time The Price Is Right was beginning, my clothes were out of the drier, and the last remaining customer was blabbing into her cell phone.
I quickly put my laundry away, changed into my newly-washed uniform, ate lunch, and hurried off to work! I was originally supposed to work at 2 today, but I was asked to come in at noon yesterday. I said "why not?" I really need the hours, and doing the laundry was my only plan for today. Work was on-and-off steady all afternoon, and really kind of boring. It didn't help that I was very tired, having spent a lot of last night tossing and turning. I was very glad that it was quiet enough by 7PM for me to shut down without a line.
I quickly put my laundry away, changed into my newly-washed uniform, ate lunch, and hurried off to work! I was originally supposed to work at 2 today, but I was asked to come in at noon yesterday. I said "why not?" I really need the hours, and doing the laundry was my only plan for today. Work was on-and-off steady all afternoon, and really kind of boring. It didn't help that I was very tired, having spent a lot of last night tossing and turning. I was very glad that it was quiet enough by 7PM for me to shut down without a line.
Sunday, July 07, 2013
Escaping the Heat
I evaded today's mid-90s temperatures by sleeping until 10. I got up just in time to hear Brunch With the Beatles. Today is Ringo Starr's birthday, and in his honor, they played songs he either sung or did some really amazing drumming on. Starr's songs from his Beatles years included "Boys," "Act Naturally," "With a Little Help From My Friends," and "Octopus' Garden." He was really big in the mid-70s with solo hits like "Oh My My," "Back Off Boogaloo," "The No-No Song," and remakes of "Only You" and "You're Sixteen."
I made delicious Raspberry Spice Pancakes and tried calling Mom; got Dad, who was on his way out the door to go for a motorcycle ride. I got to wish him a happy (and very belated) Father's Day and have a short chat with him. I haven't talked to him in a while.
Went online for a couple of hours after I talked to Dad to mess around. I did finally get a hold of Mom. She was babysitting my nephew Skylar again. He was playing Wii. She was about to grind her own coffee. Mom spent her 4th of July quietly at home, but Skylar got to go to a very busy Wildwood Boardwalk with his brother Collyn, Collyn's dad Mike, and a couple of their friends to see the fireworks.
(Some of my few fond memories of my days in Wildwood are of my boardwalk strolls. After work on the 4th of July, I'd walk the two blocks to the boards and just hike around the couple of blocks between my place and Wild Wheels and watch the tourists go crazy. Wildwood always had the best fireworks displays, too. Only Collingswood's have come close. My most memorable 4th of July was 2004, the year I won a big stuffed Tenderheart Bear from a crane under the Great White wooden roller coaster at Wild Wheels. He was the only Tenderheart in the machine, and he was pretty far down. I honestly didn't think I'd get him. I still have him, too.)
I did need to run to WaWa around 4 for milk and eggs. I also bought a mocha chilled cappuccino. I took the bike. Normally, I'd walk if I were going to WaWa, but it was too hot and I didn't have enough time. Though it was still very hot and humid then, a stiff wind kept it from feeling even worse. I was just able to grab what I needed and run home.
I ran two patriotic-oriented records throughout the afternoon. George M! was Joel Gray's first starring vehicle on Broadway and a somewhat more honest look at the life of George M. Cohan than Yankee Doodle Dandy. Bernadette Peters also appears as Josie, Cohan's loyal sister. It's a shame this one is currently only available as a download. It's an awful lot of fun, with some lesser-known songs like "Oh You Wonderful Boy" and "The Belle of the Barber's Ball" that didn't make it into the movie.
Disney had fun with Cohan's music and other patriotic tunes in the 80s. Yankee Doodle Mickey includes "You're a Grand Old Flag," "Yankee Doodle Dandy," and several other all-American songs. My favorite was the Armed Services Medley. Mickey represents the Air Force and the Marines. Goofy gets the Army. Naturally, Donald represents the Navy - he's the one in the sailor suit, after all! ; )
Work wasn't nearly so enjoyable. It was mildly busy when I arrived. By the time of my break at 6, it was so quiet, I spent almost the entire second half of the night doing returns. Dark clouds started gathering as early as 6:30, but they waited to burst until 8...which effectively cleared out the store. It was a ghost town when I left at 9.
The rain was long gone when I rode home. It was wet, but the ground was rapidly drying, and it wasn't nearly as hot as it had been earlier. The blacktop was still so hot from the day's boiling temperatures, I could clearly see steam streaming off the streets when I passed cars and streetlights!
I made delicious Raspberry Spice Pancakes and tried calling Mom; got Dad, who was on his way out the door to go for a motorcycle ride. I got to wish him a happy (and very belated) Father's Day and have a short chat with him. I haven't talked to him in a while.
Went online for a couple of hours after I talked to Dad to mess around. I did finally get a hold of Mom. She was babysitting my nephew Skylar again. He was playing Wii. She was about to grind her own coffee. Mom spent her 4th of July quietly at home, but Skylar got to go to a very busy Wildwood Boardwalk with his brother Collyn, Collyn's dad Mike, and a couple of their friends to see the fireworks.
(Some of my few fond memories of my days in Wildwood are of my boardwalk strolls. After work on the 4th of July, I'd walk the two blocks to the boards and just hike around the couple of blocks between my place and Wild Wheels and watch the tourists go crazy. Wildwood always had the best fireworks displays, too. Only Collingswood's have come close. My most memorable 4th of July was 2004, the year I won a big stuffed Tenderheart Bear from a crane under the Great White wooden roller coaster at Wild Wheels. He was the only Tenderheart in the machine, and he was pretty far down. I honestly didn't think I'd get him. I still have him, too.)
I did need to run to WaWa around 4 for milk and eggs. I also bought a mocha chilled cappuccino. I took the bike. Normally, I'd walk if I were going to WaWa, but it was too hot and I didn't have enough time. Though it was still very hot and humid then, a stiff wind kept it from feeling even worse. I was just able to grab what I needed and run home.
I ran two patriotic-oriented records throughout the afternoon. George M! was Joel Gray's first starring vehicle on Broadway and a somewhat more honest look at the life of George M. Cohan than Yankee Doodle Dandy. Bernadette Peters also appears as Josie, Cohan's loyal sister. It's a shame this one is currently only available as a download. It's an awful lot of fun, with some lesser-known songs like "Oh You Wonderful Boy" and "The Belle of the Barber's Ball" that didn't make it into the movie.
Disney had fun with Cohan's music and other patriotic tunes in the 80s. Yankee Doodle Mickey includes "You're a Grand Old Flag," "Yankee Doodle Dandy," and several other all-American songs. My favorite was the Armed Services Medley. Mickey represents the Air Force and the Marines. Goofy gets the Army. Naturally, Donald represents the Navy - he's the one in the sailor suit, after all! ; )
Work wasn't nearly so enjoyable. It was mildly busy when I arrived. By the time of my break at 6, it was so quiet, I spent almost the entire second half of the night doing returns. Dark clouds started gathering as early as 6:30, but they waited to burst until 8...which effectively cleared out the store. It was a ghost town when I left at 9.
The rain was long gone when I rode home. It was wet, but the ground was rapidly drying, and it wasn't nearly as hot as it had been earlier. The blacktop was still so hot from the day's boiling temperatures, I could clearly see steam streaming off the streets when I passed cars and streetlights!
Saturday, July 06, 2013
Hot Harvest
Started another hazy, sunny morning with today's American Top 40 re-run. Disco was sizzling the dance floor during the scorching summer of 1977. Hits that early July included "Knowing Me, Knowing You" by ABBA, "Margaritaville" by Jimmy Buffett, "(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher" by Rita Coolidge, "Life In the Fast Lane" by the Eagles, "You and Me" by Alice Cooper, "Do You Wanna Make Love" by Peter McCann, "Da Doo Ron-Ron" by then-teen idol Shaun Cassidy, "Dreams" by Fleetwood Mac, "Gonna Fly Now (Theme From Rocky)" by Bill Conti, "Looks Like We Made It" by Barry Manilow, and "My Heart Belongs to Me" by Barbara Streisand.
While it's considered a little cheesy today, the perky tale of a fantasy love, "Undercover Angel," is one of my favorite songs of the late 70s and was on top of the charts that week.
Much to my surprise, the Farm Market was bustling when I arrived. I figured a lot of people would put it off because of the 90+ heat this weekend. I'm glad I was able to make it this time. While the rain ended the sweet cherry season prematurely, everything else is out in full throttle. I saw peaches, green and wax beans, green peppers, large local tomatoes, corn, and eggplants for the first time this year. I bought peaches, blueberries, raspberries, red onions with their stems still attached, green beans, two medium-sized tomatoes, carrots, and a green pepper.
(No yard sales today. It was too hot to be roaming around the area, and I figured there wouldn't be any on a holiday weekend anyway.)
Given the heat, you probably won't be surprised to hear that I spent the rest of the morning at the apartment. After I put away my vegetables and tossed old ones that had gone bad, I put on the second disc on the Tiny Toons Adventures set I bought last month and watched most of them. While I'm saving the Christmas episode for the actual winter holidays, there were plenty of other episodes to savor. "The Horror of Slumber Party Mountain" pokes fun at the campy slasher flicks of the 80s and early 90s. Babs, Fifi, and Shirley are having a weekend together in a lonely old cabin. They take turns playing pranks on their boyfriends...until one of Buster's ghost stories starts seeming a little too real. But the scariest thing in the episode may be Elmyra playing Elvira! "Music Day" has Sneezer's horn playing stinking up the cafeteria and Babs teaching the obnoxious swans in Shirley's ballet class a lesson in how to treat others when they snub Shirley because of her smaller stature and valley girl accent.
Work was pretty much the same as yesterday - busy when I came in, so quiet when I left, I spent the two hours of my shift doing returns. We also had a lot of help - many of the new baggers have been moved up to cashier and just started this weekend. I was in and out with no problems.
I had a surprise waiting for me when I got home. The two American Girl outfits I won on eBay had arrived! These were the last two affordable outfits I wanted for my Samantha doll. (There's three more outfits I wouldn't mind having, but they're all limited-edition and cost a mint in the secondary market.) The Lacy Pinafore Dress is her birthday outfit, and it looks pretty much as it does in Happy Birthday, Samantha! The white Tea Dress with the huge detachable ruffled collar is from Meet Samantha and turns up occasionally thereafter.
I put Sam in the Pinafore Dress, which has shorter sleeves. Just looking at her long-sleeved Middy Dress was making me hot! I switched the black stockings and black Mary-Janes for white Springfield Collection socks and the white and pink heeled shoes from Rebecca's Lacy Dress. I think she looks so cute and girlie-girl in this outfit, and much less warm.
While it's considered a little cheesy today, the perky tale of a fantasy love, "Undercover Angel," is one of my favorite songs of the late 70s and was on top of the charts that week.
Much to my surprise, the Farm Market was bustling when I arrived. I figured a lot of people would put it off because of the 90+ heat this weekend. I'm glad I was able to make it this time. While the rain ended the sweet cherry season prematurely, everything else is out in full throttle. I saw peaches, green and wax beans, green peppers, large local tomatoes, corn, and eggplants for the first time this year. I bought peaches, blueberries, raspberries, red onions with their stems still attached, green beans, two medium-sized tomatoes, carrots, and a green pepper.
(No yard sales today. It was too hot to be roaming around the area, and I figured there wouldn't be any on a holiday weekend anyway.)
Given the heat, you probably won't be surprised to hear that I spent the rest of the morning at the apartment. After I put away my vegetables and tossed old ones that had gone bad, I put on the second disc on the Tiny Toons Adventures set I bought last month and watched most of them. While I'm saving the Christmas episode for the actual winter holidays, there were plenty of other episodes to savor. "The Horror of Slumber Party Mountain" pokes fun at the campy slasher flicks of the 80s and early 90s. Babs, Fifi, and Shirley are having a weekend together in a lonely old cabin. They take turns playing pranks on their boyfriends...until one of Buster's ghost stories starts seeming a little too real. But the scariest thing in the episode may be Elmyra playing Elvira! "Music Day" has Sneezer's horn playing stinking up the cafeteria and Babs teaching the obnoxious swans in Shirley's ballet class a lesson in how to treat others when they snub Shirley because of her smaller stature and valley girl accent.
Work was pretty much the same as yesterday - busy when I came in, so quiet when I left, I spent the two hours of my shift doing returns. We also had a lot of help - many of the new baggers have been moved up to cashier and just started this weekend. I was in and out with no problems.
I had a surprise waiting for me when I got home. The two American Girl outfits I won on eBay had arrived! These were the last two affordable outfits I wanted for my Samantha doll. (There's three more outfits I wouldn't mind having, but they're all limited-edition and cost a mint in the secondary market.) The Lacy Pinafore Dress is her birthday outfit, and it looks pretty much as it does in Happy Birthday, Samantha! The white Tea Dress with the huge detachable ruffled collar is from Meet Samantha and turns up occasionally thereafter.
I put Sam in the Pinafore Dress, which has shorter sleeves. Just looking at her long-sleeved Middy Dress was making me hot! I switched the black stockings and black Mary-Janes for white Springfield Collection socks and the white and pink heeled shoes from Rebecca's Lacy Dress. I think she looks so cute and girlie-girl in this outfit, and much less warm.
Friday, July 05, 2013
May the Penguin and Duck Be With You!
I slept in a little bit after yesterday's events. I didn't get to grocery shopping until quarter of 12. It was stock-up time. I just needed to replace things I'd used over the last few weeks, like butter (the new Smart Balance two-pack was on sale and I had a coupon), chicken, tortillas (I got lucky - pretty much all they had left were the Acme generic whole wheat ones...which I prefer), peanut butter, mouth wash, tuna, and cake mix. A few boxes of Band-Aids were on clearance. I bought the medium one with a good collection. Grabbed a few more of those apricots and a banana for a snack later.
When I got home, I ran a few cartoons that revolved around summer movie blockbusters as I put everything away and had a peanut butter and orange marmalade wrap for lunch. While Hello Kitty Furry Tale Theater mainly spoofed folk tales, they frequently had fun with both current and classic films as well. Kitty's Princess Leia and Tuxedo Sam's Luke Skywalker evade the evil Darth Catnip as she takes over the planet Caturn in "Cat Wars." Catnip's mother Fangora is the main villain in "Paws-The Great White Dog Shark." She refuses to believe Sam, Kitty, and Dr. Chip when they insist a huge shark has invaded the beach...until he destroys her pier. She sends them after Paws...who isn't as scary as he seems. Catnip takes over again as the Wicked Witch of the West in "The Wizard of Paws." Kitty is Dorothy, and Chip, Sam, and My Melody are her friends who want to find their own wishes and help her home.
Ran an episode of Tiny Toon Adventures that also spoofed Star Wars as I prepared for work. In "A Quack In the Quarks," Plucky brags to what he thinks are two exchange students about his (non-existent) athletic and academic prowess. He regrets his constant bragging when the "students" turn out to be aliens who want him to drive an evil force from their planet! It's up to Babs, Buster, and Hampton to take off into the farthest reaches of the galaxy to rescue him.
Work was a little better than yesterday. It was busy when I did my own grocery shopping, and it remained busy when I came in at 2. Thankfully, it petered out even before the regular 4 to 6 rush hour was over. I guess everyone went to the Shore early. I spent a lot of the second half of the night shelving the mountains of returns. I even picked up an extra hour tomorrow.
Good thing I did, because next week's schedule is not great. Only 21 hours, and one long night, surprisingly on Sunday. I did ask for Saturday off to help with Jessa's college graduation party; got Tuesday and next Friday off as well.
When I got home, I ran a few cartoons that revolved around summer movie blockbusters as I put everything away and had a peanut butter and orange marmalade wrap for lunch. While Hello Kitty Furry Tale Theater mainly spoofed folk tales, they frequently had fun with both current and classic films as well. Kitty's Princess Leia and Tuxedo Sam's Luke Skywalker evade the evil Darth Catnip as she takes over the planet Caturn in "Cat Wars." Catnip's mother Fangora is the main villain in "Paws-The Great White Dog Shark." She refuses to believe Sam, Kitty, and Dr. Chip when they insist a huge shark has invaded the beach...until he destroys her pier. She sends them after Paws...who isn't as scary as he seems. Catnip takes over again as the Wicked Witch of the West in "The Wizard of Paws." Kitty is Dorothy, and Chip, Sam, and My Melody are her friends who want to find their own wishes and help her home.
Ran an episode of Tiny Toon Adventures that also spoofed Star Wars as I prepared for work. In "A Quack In the Quarks," Plucky brags to what he thinks are two exchange students about his (non-existent) athletic and academic prowess. He regrets his constant bragging when the "students" turn out to be aliens who want him to drive an evil force from their planet! It's up to Babs, Buster, and Hampton to take off into the farthest reaches of the galaxy to rescue him.
Work was a little better than yesterday. It was busy when I did my own grocery shopping, and it remained busy when I came in at 2. Thankfully, it petered out even before the regular 4 to 6 rush hour was over. I guess everyone went to the Shore early. I spent a lot of the second half of the night shelving the mountains of returns. I even picked up an extra hour tomorrow.
Good thing I did, because next week's schedule is not great. Only 21 hours, and one long night, surprisingly on Sunday. I did ask for Saturday off to help with Jessa's college graduation party; got Tuesday and next Friday off as well.
Thursday, July 04, 2013
There's Gonna Be Some Fireworks...
Happy 4th of July to all of my American readers! I had one of my better ones in recent memory. I began a cloudy and humid morning with the second half of Yankee Doodle Dandy and a few cartoon shorts centered around the 4th of July, summer events, or American history. Donald Duck tries to set up a picnic with a perfect view of the fireworks in "Donald's Failed Fourth," but has a rough time getting the chairs and blankets to behave. Bugs Bunny fights (Yosemite) Sam the Hessian Soldier for freedom and the right to shoot cannon balls back and forth in "Bunker Hill Bunny." The Pink Panther finds himself delivering messages to the people of Philadelphia about the Declaration of Independence on the back of a Redcoat horse in "Pinky Doodle." Tom and Jerry make use of a fireworks stockpile to hold a war of their own in "The Yankee Doodle Mouse."
I headed down to West Clinton Avenue around quarter after 10. I knew darn well Oaklyn's 4th of July parade was going to be late. It's always late. I finally found Rose, Craig, Jodie, and Khai sitting on the corner across from Manor, waiting for the parade to finally begin. Khai was so excited! His mother actually had to chase him and retrieve him from climbing into someone else's wagon. Jodie sat him down in a big camp chair to play games on Craig's smartphone instead.
The parade finally began at quarter of 11. Oaklyn's parade isn't huge or fancy, but it's a big community event and a lot of fun to watch. There were two string bands. There were tons and tons of local softball and baseball little league teams. One softball team had a cute luau theme. A baseball team that's sponsored by a concrete laying company showed off their sterling statistics on foam board "slabs of concrete." The Oaklyn Library pushed a cart that had a beach theme. The fire trucks were at the end. They were so noisy, Khai covered his ears! And yes, my little nephew got plenty of candy, from each and every one of those softball and baseball teams and fire trucks.
Rose and Craig wanted to take Khai home for a nap, and Jodie needed to help Dad with the party preparations. I was the only one who opted to follow the crowd to the Oaklyn School on the end of West Clinton Avenue for a free hot dog and Diet Pepsi. I wish I hadn't. I had to work at noon, and the mayor talked sooooo slooooow. Standing in a day that had become sunny, muggy, and hot didn't help.
I hurried off as soon as I finished my hot dog. When I got home, I had just enough time for snap peas and tomatoes and to change into my uniform before I hurried off to work. (Good thing I already packed my snack before I left for the parade.)
The Acme was a total madhouse for most of the afternoon. Not only is today a major summer holiday, it's also the last day of our sales, and we're still in the beginning of the month. We were so busy, we sold out of every kind of milk but the expensive organic gallons. We had a lot of problems with grouchy, grumpy, or cranky people, too. No one was happy about the missing milk, or that you can't mix and match the three big soda 12-packs sale. (Take that up with the soda companies who don't play nice together.) I was so grateful it slowed down enough by 4PM for me to hurry out quickly without a relief.
(I did manage to pick up some hours tomorrow, 2 to 7. No big deal. Grocery shopping was my only major plan for tomorrow, and I can still do that in the morning.)
When I got home, I quickly changed into my bathing suit, grabbed the Cookies n' Cream Pudding Pie I made yesterday, and hurried over to Dad's. This year, Dad was having the big 4th of July Celebration. Rose, Craig, and Khai were there briefly, but they had to move on around 5:30 to go to Craig's brother's house for his party.
I spent most of the evening splashing in the pool with two of the neighbors' little girls, 8-year-old Mary and 5-year-old Emily. They were lots of fun in the pool, swimming on the mermaid-themed paddle board and squirting people with foam water guns. Sometimes, other adults like their parents, Jodie, Dad, and Vanessa would join in, too. We all had a great time. As Mary put it, "This is living!"
There was tons and tons of food. Jodie, Dad, and a couple of neighbors barbecued burgers, hot dogs, chicken, and ribs. I didn't get there in time for the ribs, but I did have a cheeseburger, a hot dog, and a chicken thigh. I also tried seafood salad, a tasty macaroni salad with tomatoes and zucchini, an unusual corn-bean salad with chunks of what I believe was avocado, and lots and lots of watermelon Vanessa sliced herself.
I left around 7:30 to go home and get ready for the fireworks. Sneaked in a few more cartoons as I changed into dry clothes and packed a bag with water, a towel, Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde, a flashlight, and a CD player and CDs. (It's been so long since I used the iPod, it still has Christmas music on it!)
All Wally Walrus wants is a relaxing day at the beach...which will be anything but with Woody Woodpecker driving him crazy in "The Beach Nut." A review of "Hysterical Highspots In American History" takes in comic (and sometimes a tad scatological) versions of everything from Columbus discovering America to Depression-era breadlines. Ruby and Louise want to see the fireworks, but Max prefers nature's own glow in "Max's Fireflies."
Headed out to Newton River Park at 8:30. It was already busy with families who wanted cheaper seats with more leg room than Collingswood High School's stadium provided. It was hard to find a spot. Not because it was crowded, but because the ground was so soggy, a lot of prime viewing areas were muddy marshes. I finally found a drier place near the sidewalk that goes around the park to spread out my peach-and-cream-striped towel. I listened to the Monkees and Bruce Springsteen and watches the crowds until the fireworks began.
The fireworks were gorgeous, as always. My favorite was the big golden one that exploded in the shape of a bushy star and the huge green oval. I love the shaped ones - I wonder how they do those. An enormous purple and gold one with sparkles in the middle was pretty, too.
I had a harder time getting home. I left about half-way through the finale...but even then, the traffic was terrible, especially by the park. Giving people more places to park, including an empty lot that used to be a fast food restaurant, just made more of a mess. I dodged cars trying to back out all the way down the Black Horse Pike. It wasn't even better in Oaklyn. People just detoured down Newton Avenue.
When I finally made it back to Manor, I cherished the silence. Despite the amateur fireworks still going off all around me, it felt peaceful. Everyone else was either heading for the Shore or stuck in traffic or still partying. All I could hear were the hum of animals and air conditioners. The soft breeze rustled the flags placed in the front of every lawn by a local real estate firm. It was so calm, so quiet. Walking home from the fireworks is really my favorite part of the 4th of July.
Here's hoping you had an equally enjoyable 4th (and that our neighbors to the north enjoyed their Canada Day on Monday, too).
I headed down to West Clinton Avenue around quarter after 10. I knew darn well Oaklyn's 4th of July parade was going to be late. It's always late. I finally found Rose, Craig, Jodie, and Khai sitting on the corner across from Manor, waiting for the parade to finally begin. Khai was so excited! His mother actually had to chase him and retrieve him from climbing into someone else's wagon. Jodie sat him down in a big camp chair to play games on Craig's smartphone instead.
The parade finally began at quarter of 11. Oaklyn's parade isn't huge or fancy, but it's a big community event and a lot of fun to watch. There were two string bands. There were tons and tons of local softball and baseball little league teams. One softball team had a cute luau theme. A baseball team that's sponsored by a concrete laying company showed off their sterling statistics on foam board "slabs of concrete." The Oaklyn Library pushed a cart that had a beach theme. The fire trucks were at the end. They were so noisy, Khai covered his ears! And yes, my little nephew got plenty of candy, from each and every one of those softball and baseball teams and fire trucks.
Rose and Craig wanted to take Khai home for a nap, and Jodie needed to help Dad with the party preparations. I was the only one who opted to follow the crowd to the Oaklyn School on the end of West Clinton Avenue for a free hot dog and Diet Pepsi. I wish I hadn't. I had to work at noon, and the mayor talked sooooo slooooow. Standing in a day that had become sunny, muggy, and hot didn't help.
I hurried off as soon as I finished my hot dog. When I got home, I had just enough time for snap peas and tomatoes and to change into my uniform before I hurried off to work. (Good thing I already packed my snack before I left for the parade.)
The Acme was a total madhouse for most of the afternoon. Not only is today a major summer holiday, it's also the last day of our sales, and we're still in the beginning of the month. We were so busy, we sold out of every kind of milk but the expensive organic gallons. We had a lot of problems with grouchy, grumpy, or cranky people, too. No one was happy about the missing milk, or that you can't mix and match the three big soda 12-packs sale. (Take that up with the soda companies who don't play nice together.) I was so grateful it slowed down enough by 4PM for me to hurry out quickly without a relief.
(I did manage to pick up some hours tomorrow, 2 to 7. No big deal. Grocery shopping was my only major plan for tomorrow, and I can still do that in the morning.)
When I got home, I quickly changed into my bathing suit, grabbed the Cookies n' Cream Pudding Pie I made yesterday, and hurried over to Dad's. This year, Dad was having the big 4th of July Celebration. Rose, Craig, and Khai were there briefly, but they had to move on around 5:30 to go to Craig's brother's house for his party.
I spent most of the evening splashing in the pool with two of the neighbors' little girls, 8-year-old Mary and 5-year-old Emily. They were lots of fun in the pool, swimming on the mermaid-themed paddle board and squirting people with foam water guns. Sometimes, other adults like their parents, Jodie, Dad, and Vanessa would join in, too. We all had a great time. As Mary put it, "This is living!"
There was tons and tons of food. Jodie, Dad, and a couple of neighbors barbecued burgers, hot dogs, chicken, and ribs. I didn't get there in time for the ribs, but I did have a cheeseburger, a hot dog, and a chicken thigh. I also tried seafood salad, a tasty macaroni salad with tomatoes and zucchini, an unusual corn-bean salad with chunks of what I believe was avocado, and lots and lots of watermelon Vanessa sliced herself.
I left around 7:30 to go home and get ready for the fireworks. Sneaked in a few more cartoons as I changed into dry clothes and packed a bag with water, a towel, Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde, a flashlight, and a CD player and CDs. (It's been so long since I used the iPod, it still has Christmas music on it!)
All Wally Walrus wants is a relaxing day at the beach...which will be anything but with Woody Woodpecker driving him crazy in "The Beach Nut." A review of "Hysterical Highspots In American History" takes in comic (and sometimes a tad scatological) versions of everything from Columbus discovering America to Depression-era breadlines. Ruby and Louise want to see the fireworks, but Max prefers nature's own glow in "Max's Fireflies."
Headed out to Newton River Park at 8:30. It was already busy with families who wanted cheaper seats with more leg room than Collingswood High School's stadium provided. It was hard to find a spot. Not because it was crowded, but because the ground was so soggy, a lot of prime viewing areas were muddy marshes. I finally found a drier place near the sidewalk that goes around the park to spread out my peach-and-cream-striped towel. I listened to the Monkees and Bruce Springsteen and watches the crowds until the fireworks began.
The fireworks were gorgeous, as always. My favorite was the big golden one that exploded in the shape of a bushy star and the huge green oval. I love the shaped ones - I wonder how they do those. An enormous purple and gold one with sparkles in the middle was pretty, too.
I had a harder time getting home. I left about half-way through the finale...but even then, the traffic was terrible, especially by the park. Giving people more places to park, including an empty lot that used to be a fast food restaurant, just made more of a mess. I dodged cars trying to back out all the way down the Black Horse Pike. It wasn't even better in Oaklyn. People just detoured down Newton Avenue.
When I finally made it back to Manor, I cherished the silence. Despite the amateur fireworks still going off all around me, it felt peaceful. Everyone else was either heading for the Shore or stuck in traffic or still partying. All I could hear were the hum of animals and air conditioners. The soft breeze rustled the flags placed in the front of every lawn by a local real estate firm. It was so calm, so quiet. Walking home from the fireworks is really my favorite part of the 4th of July.
Here's hoping you had an equally enjoyable 4th (and that our neighbors to the north enjoyed their Canada Day on Monday, too).
Wednesday, July 03, 2013
The Doctor and the Dancer Are In!
Started the morning with the Dear America book Love Thy Neighbor, a rare look at the Loyalist (loyal to the English) side of the Revolutionary War. I just finished a Dear America book with the opposite view point, Winter of the Red Snow, about a Patriot family in Valley Forge when George Washington and his troops were camped there. While I did like Winter of the Red Snow, I'm enjoying Love Thy Neighbor more. Spirited Prudence, who wants answers to all her questions about why her Tory family is being treated badly in their Massachusetts village, is an enjoyable character, and it's a side of American history that you just don't often see explored.
I finished out the Rick Steves' Europe disc as I ate my Cheerios and blueberries for breakfast. Rick explored elegant York in Northern England and fashionable Bath in southwestern England. I somewhat enjoyed Bath more, especially the hilarious "Bizarre Bath" actor who gave tours with random information.
Given this is the day before one of the only major summer holidays in the US, you won't be surprised to hear it was busy all afternoon. There were tons of people shopping for their barbecues tomorrow, and tons more doing their beginning-of-the-month shopping. Other than one woman who miscounted and had to put back nearly half her order (and held up the line to the point where it had to be moved), there were no major problems. It slowed down enough by 4PM for me to leave without a relief.
I grabbed things to make a pudding pie for Dad's 4th of July party tomorrow before I headed out. When I did, I discovered why it had slowed down. It was cloudy and sprinkling when I got in. By 4PM, it was really wet again, but I had once again managed to miss the worst of the weather. The rain was slowing down as I left and done when I made it home.
Given the crazy weather (it's poured briefly at least twice more since I came home), I was in for the rest of the evening. I ran Doc McStuffins while I made the pudding pie and had spinach and mushrooms with a leftover poached chicken leg and steamed snap peas for dinner. Dottie "Doc" McStuffins loves to imitate her physician mother by taking care of toys and stuffed animals who have ouches and boo-boos. Doc's adored by her own stuffed menagerie, including Lambie the cuddly lamb, Stuffy the Dragon, and the snowman who thinks he's melting (despite him being made of cotton and beans). My favorite episode was a "Doctoring the Doc." When Doc comes down with a fever, her favorite toys try to take care of her like she cares for them.
I can see why this show is one of Disney Junior's biggest hits. It's one of the few current kids' shows to avoid the interactivity bug and just present a fun story. The characters are a blast too, especially hilarious Stuffy and good-natured Doc herself. The lessons about good hygiene and getting along with a variety of friends can sometimes be a tad heavy-handed, but that goes with the age the show's intended for. Highly recommended for just about anyone, including adults who are otherwise wary of little kids' shows.
Switched to Yankee Doodle Dandy after dinner. I always watch this ultra-patriotic musical "biography" of Broadway composer, actor, and director George M. Cohan on or around the 4th of July. It's a tradition that goes back to when Mom (who loves this movie) would run it on the 4th during the late 80s and early 90s. Cohan was the beloved author of many still-performed standards of the early 20th century, such as "Harrigan," "Mary's a Grand Old Name," "Over There," "Give My Regards to Broadway," "Billie," "You're a Grand Old Flag," and the title song. He was literally born to the theater, traveling around with his family for years before finally establishing himself in the hit Little Johnny Jones. He partners with producer/playwright Sam Harris to bring many more shows to Broadway, and even more to the troops during World War I.
There's a lot more to Cohan's story than what turned up here, including a fight with Equity that soured him on producing and directing later in life and a second wife. Given this had the approval of Cohan himself, it goes without saying that none of it turns up here. What we do have here are grand sets and costumes, delightful numbers recreating Cohan's time period, a great supporting cast (including Joan Leslie as Cohan's wife Mary and Walter Huston as his father), and an Oscar-winning turn by James Cagney as Cohan. If you're a fan of Cohan, the turn of the 20th century, the history of that time period, Cagney, or musicals, this is absolutely recommended.
Tuesday, July 02, 2013
Stormy Weather
I awoke to more cloudy skies, heavy humidity, and temperatures in the mid-80s. It was starting to spit as I headed out for today's errand/library volunteering run. Thankfully, the heavier rain held off as I made a quick stop at Dollar Tree. I needed toothbrushes. They had a cup that's supposed to be a holder packed with six toothbrushes. I decided I could use a spare bathroom cup as well. Also grabbed a new shower curtain.
My Haddon Township Library volunteering went less well. It was busy again, probably thanks to the weather. This time, I dodged not only kids coming in for Storybook Hour, but young adults looking for serious adult "indies" and dumb comedies. The little kids were cute (one little boy played peek-a-boo with me around the revolving children's DVDs shelves). The older kids were not. They got all in a snit when I tried to get around them to shelve titles and clear out the rather large pile of foreign and kids' movies that had landed in the adult section. They shouldn't have been tossing things in anyplace or leaving movies sitting out.
I left frustrated. I usually love the library, but the young adults made me feel unwanted. The librarians and an older woman who witnessed their behavior said they were rude and I didn't do anything I wasn't supposed to be doing, but I still felt bad. I took out a few things to make myself feel better. I enjoyed Doc McStuffins so much last October with Khai, I took out a recently-released collection of episodes. I've been watching a lot of Rick Steves' Europe lately; found his episodes that explore England and Wales. Also took out two different late 70s-early 80s movies on unlikely friends who tackle the establishment, the drama All the President's Men and the comedy Trading Places. I found two of the three American Girl Historical Mysteries that were released a few months ago, Caroline's Traitor In the Shipyard and Marie-Grace and Cecile's The Haunted Opera, in the new releases section.
I decided a decent lunch at Friendly's would help make up for the trouble at the library. It was very wet when I came outside, but the sky seemed to be lighter, and the rain was back to just sprinkling. It stopped all together as I made it across the street to the Westmont Plaza.
Friendly's was surprisingly quiet for the middle of lunch hour. I just saw a few families and a pair of older female friends. I decided to try the Cheeseburger Sliders "appetizer" for lunch instead of one of the huge burgers. I'm actually kind of glad I went small. They were very disappointing. Cheese and meat were as fake as can be, though they were grilled well enough. The fresh tomatoes and lettuce and special sauce that came with it were pretty good, though. From now on, I'll do chicken or salads when I eat at Friendly's.
The sun was going in and out as I rode home, and would continue to do so for the next couple of hours. I rested at home in front of the computer for an hour or so, then loaded my huge laundry load and the two American Girl Mysteries (I got half-way through The Haunted Opera at Friendly's) into the cart and headed for the laundromat.
The laundromat was pretty busy for 3PM, but there were a lot of people in and out. I did get a washer and drier with no problems, so I guess I timed things right. I finished The Haunted Opera, started Traitor at the Shipyard, and listened to the families and Ellen in the background.
Went straight home after my very big load of laundry was done. Though it was sunny when I arrived, there were still big, fat clouds in the sky. I took the advantage of the calmer weather to sweep my porch, which was covered with leaves, sticks, and pepper nuts leftover from the last few storms.
Not trusting the weather, I spent the rest of the evening indoors. My intuition was right. Mother Nature wasn't quite done yet. There was another downpour around 5:30, and yet another an hour later. No thunder, and they were both pretty short. In between, I baked Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookie Bars, made salmon with Balsamic Vinegar sauce and tomatoes and steamed snap peas for dinner, and traveled through England and Wales with Rick Steves.
While seeing London in all it's modern and Victorian glory was cool (I loved the West End and the walk through the British Museum, the setting for the Amelia Peabody book The Deeds of the Disturber), my favorite trips were to beautiful Northern England and the rugged Welsh coast. No wonder Beatrix Potter fell in love with the Lake District. Its adorable towns and deep green terrain were stunning. I enjoyed seeing the seaside towns of Brighton and Blackpool and all the castle towns in Wales, too.
(And I did finish both AG books today. I loved The Haunted Opera, by far the best of Marie-Grace and Cecile's series. It was stuffed with details of New Orleans and backstage life in 1854, with a decent mystery too. Traitor at the Shipyard also had a lot of interesting details and more action, but alas, the mystery wasn't as good. At least one villain was telegraphed a mile off.)
My Haddon Township Library volunteering went less well. It was busy again, probably thanks to the weather. This time, I dodged not only kids coming in for Storybook Hour, but young adults looking for serious adult "indies" and dumb comedies. The little kids were cute (one little boy played peek-a-boo with me around the revolving children's DVDs shelves). The older kids were not. They got all in a snit when I tried to get around them to shelve titles and clear out the rather large pile of foreign and kids' movies that had landed in the adult section. They shouldn't have been tossing things in anyplace or leaving movies sitting out.
I left frustrated. I usually love the library, but the young adults made me feel unwanted. The librarians and an older woman who witnessed their behavior said they were rude and I didn't do anything I wasn't supposed to be doing, but I still felt bad. I took out a few things to make myself feel better. I enjoyed Doc McStuffins so much last October with Khai, I took out a recently-released collection of episodes. I've been watching a lot of Rick Steves' Europe lately; found his episodes that explore England and Wales. Also took out two different late 70s-early 80s movies on unlikely friends who tackle the establishment, the drama All the President's Men and the comedy Trading Places. I found two of the three American Girl Historical Mysteries that were released a few months ago, Caroline's Traitor In the Shipyard and Marie-Grace and Cecile's The Haunted Opera, in the new releases section.
I decided a decent lunch at Friendly's would help make up for the trouble at the library. It was very wet when I came outside, but the sky seemed to be lighter, and the rain was back to just sprinkling. It stopped all together as I made it across the street to the Westmont Plaza.
Friendly's was surprisingly quiet for the middle of lunch hour. I just saw a few families and a pair of older female friends. I decided to try the Cheeseburger Sliders "appetizer" for lunch instead of one of the huge burgers. I'm actually kind of glad I went small. They were very disappointing. Cheese and meat were as fake as can be, though they were grilled well enough. The fresh tomatoes and lettuce and special sauce that came with it were pretty good, though. From now on, I'll do chicken or salads when I eat at Friendly's.
The sun was going in and out as I rode home, and would continue to do so for the next couple of hours. I rested at home in front of the computer for an hour or so, then loaded my huge laundry load and the two American Girl Mysteries (I got half-way through The Haunted Opera at Friendly's) into the cart and headed for the laundromat.
The laundromat was pretty busy for 3PM, but there were a lot of people in and out. I did get a washer and drier with no problems, so I guess I timed things right. I finished The Haunted Opera, started Traitor at the Shipyard, and listened to the families and Ellen in the background.
Went straight home after my very big load of laundry was done. Though it was sunny when I arrived, there were still big, fat clouds in the sky. I took the advantage of the calmer weather to sweep my porch, which was covered with leaves, sticks, and pepper nuts leftover from the last few storms.
Not trusting the weather, I spent the rest of the evening indoors. My intuition was right. Mother Nature wasn't quite done yet. There was another downpour around 5:30, and yet another an hour later. No thunder, and they were both pretty short. In between, I baked Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookie Bars, made salmon with Balsamic Vinegar sauce and tomatoes and steamed snap peas for dinner, and traveled through England and Wales with Rick Steves.
While seeing London in all it's modern and Victorian glory was cool (I loved the West End and the walk through the British Museum, the setting for the Amelia Peabody book The Deeds of the Disturber), my favorite trips were to beautiful Northern England and the rugged Welsh coast. No wonder Beatrix Potter fell in love with the Lake District. Its adorable towns and deep green terrain were stunning. I enjoyed seeing the seaside towns of Brighton and Blackpool and all the castle towns in Wales, too.
(And I did finish both AG books today. I loved The Haunted Opera, by far the best of Marie-Grace and Cecile's series. It was stuffed with details of New Orleans and backstage life in 1854, with a decent mystery too. Traitor at the Shipyard also had a lot of interesting details and more action, but alas, the mystery wasn't as good. At least one villain was telegraphed a mile off.)
Monday, July 01, 2013
So Much Rain!
I'm embarrassed at how much I overslept. I was up later than I thought last night and didn't awaken until 11! Maybe it was just as well. It was cloudy and humid again when I did get up. By the time I was eating brunch/lunch, it was storming yet again. Not to mention, I awoke with a stiff lower right back and hip. I must have slept on it funny last night. I know it didn't feel like that before I went to bed.
I did have enough time to watch two episodes of Rick Steves' Europe on Barcelona and Burgundy before work. I also managed to wash the windows inside. The rain was still coming down at that point, and I wasn't even going to attempt doing the outside.
Tried calling Dad for a ride, but I never heard from him. Turned out to be a moot point anyway. The rain was slowing down as I headed out. By the time I arrived at the Acme, the rain had stopped. Not that this cleared out the Acme. While we weren't quite as bad as Saturday, we were busier than yesterday. Today is the first day of the month, with all the attendant annoyances that brings in. Thankfully, the crowds had died enough by 7:30 that I left on time without a relief.
Not only was the rain long gone by the time I made it home, but it looks like it hasn't rained in a while. There were clouds gathering in the distance, but at press time, they've stayed there.
I did have enough time to watch two episodes of Rick Steves' Europe on Barcelona and Burgundy before work. I also managed to wash the windows inside. The rain was still coming down at that point, and I wasn't even going to attempt doing the outside.
Tried calling Dad for a ride, but I never heard from him. Turned out to be a moot point anyway. The rain was slowing down as I headed out. By the time I arrived at the Acme, the rain had stopped. Not that this cleared out the Acme. While we weren't quite as bad as Saturday, we were busier than yesterday. Today is the first day of the month, with all the attendant annoyances that brings in. Thankfully, the crowds had died enough by 7:30 that I left on time without a relief.
Not only was the rain long gone by the time I made it home, but it looks like it hasn't rained in a while. There were clouds gathering in the distance, but at press time, they've stayed there.
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