The Beauty of a Book

Began a beautiful morning with breakfast and the original 1985 She-Ra. The baker's son overhears Bow telling a story about "The Crown of Knowledge" and Kowl claim he knows where it is. He wants to be a lot more than just a baker and convinces Kowl to show him to the crown. His father, She-Ra, and Bow are worried when he vanishes and follows the duo to the temple where the crown is hidden. Trouble is, Hordak wants the crown for himself, too...

Made the bed while Match Game '75 was on. I can't remember the last time I did that. The fitted sheet was coming off. I don't usually have the time to make my bed, before or after work. Besides, who's going to see it? No one comes up here. 

Headed out around 12:30. There was a book store in Cherry Hill I wanted to check out, but it wasn't near a bus stop. I called Uber instead. The man was there within four minutes; got me to the Ellisburg Circle Shopping Center within five. 

The Ellisburg Circle Shopping Center is the area's oldest outdoor, non-enclosed shopping mall, dating from around the early 60's. (To tell you how old it is, there hasn't actually been a traffic circle at Ellisburg since 1992.) And unlike most shopping centers from the 60's, this one is still almost entirely full, with a nice mix of local and franchise stores. It even retains its original Wildwood-esque slanted signage. 

One of the local stores is Book World, which unlike Inkwood in Haddonfield, specializes in used and discount books. I was surprised at how big they were. Every wall was lined with books and artwork, and books filled displays in the center. I wasn't the only one there, either. A mother brought her two young sons in shortly after I arrived. After they left, I saw two other people who chatted with the owner like regulars. 

Spent over an hour going through all of those books! There were a few boxes of used books in the back, but most of them were remainders of releases from the last decade or so. I ended up with:

Two comic books for the 2015-2017 version of DC Superhero Girls, Search for Atlantis and Summer Olympus. (I previously had the first chapter of the latter, which was given out for Free Comic Book Day in 2016.) 

Two children's chapter books, the historical novel Celeste's Harlem Renaissance and the fantasy novel Serafina and the Black Cloak. 

Serafina was one of two books I fished out of the used section. The other was Parisian Charm School, on learning how to bring beauty and joy into your life the French way. 

The 1920's-set mystery Bright Young Dead

Decided I wanted to check out the rest of the mall after I left Book World. It was a gorgeous day, sunny, breezy, in the mid-80's, and dry as a bone. It was too nice to go straight home. Most of the other stores were the usual ones you find at big-box shopping centers, like Buy Buy Baby. I was surprised to see a Bath and Body Works; they usually prefer indoor malls. An elegant furniture outlet replaced a closed Stein Mart department store earlier this year. Grabbed a gift and a candy bar from Five Below. 

The largest building was taken up by one of two Whole Foods Markets in South Jersey. They're basically the same deal as Wegman's a few blocks down, a high-end grocery store specializing in healthy foods with prices to match. I looked at their bakery, but ultimately ended up taking advantage of a Lavabar sale to pick up flavors I hadn't seen elsewhere, including Pecan Pie and Coconut Cream Pie. 

(It looks like there was also a Dollar Tree in the building next to Whole Foods until very recently, from the still-visible label scars. I wonder why they shut down? Couldn't compete with Five Below, despite it being smaller?)

I considered the Mediterranean restaurant in the mall near Whole Foods, but ultimately ended up crossing the busy highway to enjoy Ponzio's. They're one of the area's fanciest diners, all chrome and fake stonework and tan vinyl booths. They're also one of the only diners in the area with a bar. They date from around the same time as the Ellisburg Circle Shopping Center and look like it, with their slightly space-age fake stonework exterior. 

Since it was 2:30 by that point, I pretty much had the place to myself.  Enjoyed a chicken BLT wrap, home-brewed iced tea, and a cannoli with blueberry filling while reading the comic books. I've only been here once before. To give you an idea of how long ago it was, Dad took me here for lunch when he bought me a new bike for an early birthday present, the one that was stolen from the Acme's bike rack in 2018.

Dashed back across the highway after lunch. I considered further exploration, but ultimately decided I was too tired. Picked up Uber at Whole Foods. They arrived within five minutes, and dodged traffic on King's Highway well enough to get me home in another five minutes.

Went straight into Tattletales when I got home. This time, Marcia Wallace and her then-boyfriend Michael Bell and Orson and Carolyn Bean split the win, over Hal "Mark Twain Tonight" Holbrook and his then-wife Carol Rossen. Whammies slammed everyone on Press Your Luck, especially in the first half. In the end, it came down to the champ and the one guy. He Whammied out on his last turn, leaving her to pick up trips to New York and Hong Kong.

Took my laundry downstairs, then tried to focus enough to work on writing for a while. Turns out, it's the Lion and the Unicorn fighting for the crown who are making all that noise. The Red King orders Charles the Messenger to stop the fight and see what they're up to. When the Red King leaves, Brett opts to tag along.

Broke for dinner at 7. Ate while watching Match Game PM. They ran episode 74 tonight, the one Buzzr ran for the first time since 1977 about a year ago. Gene's slightly insensitive joke to a Japanese-American man early-on makes me understand why it took so long to reappear. Brett's more interested in trying to look elegant with a fan, while Richard figures out "A Pound of __" in the head-to-head.

Wanted to finish out the night after a shower with more of Brett Somers in honor of what would have been her birthday today. Alas, most of her early appearances on live TV anthologies like Philco Television Playhouse and Goodyear Playhouse seem to be gone for good. The earliest appearance I could dig up for her was in a second-season episode of the 1958 crime anthology Naked City, "Vengeance Is a Wheel." She gave an impressive performance in a small role as the bitter wife of a longshoreman whose husband is caught in the middle when he's accused of killing an Italian man by the man's family. 

She naturally played Blanche, Oscar Madison's salty ex-wife on the original 70's The Odd Couple alongside her actual then-husband Jack Klugman. Her last appearance on the show was in the fourth season episode "That Was the Army, Mrs. Madison." Felix flashes back to when he and Oscar were in the Army Reserves. Blanche wanted to marry him, but he couldn't get out unless he managed to clean off his bed, and then Felix had to sneak him out. 

Big Dealers at the Video Village

I got so into reading How are You, Really? this morning, I didn't have the time to finish my journal. I barely had the time to eat and hurry out. I dodged early Sunday traffic on its way to church on the White Horse Pike and just barely made it to work on time.

And that was the most exciting thing that happened all day. We were off-and-on steady for most of the entire morning. I got frustrated a few times when things went wrong in the register. I just end up feeling so bad when I make mistakes. No matter how often people say not to apologize, it doesn't stop me from feeling bad about not being more careful. A person who works at a job for twenty years should know better. I'm just glad my relief was on time, since she has a habit of not showing up when she's supposed to.

While it was humid when I got out, it was also sunny and breezy. Took the long way home down Nicholson Road and onto Atlantic Avenue to enjoy the sunshine. Instead of going straight on to East Clinton, I made a stop at a busy WaWa for a treat. Picked up a chocolate Chips Ahoy smoothie and a pretzel. The smoothie was way too sweet; think I might go for one of the fruit or Matcha smoothies next time. 

Went home and listened to the first Dick Clark 20 Years of Rock and Roll record as I changed and relaxed. I actually picked this up for "Sh-Boom," which I usually associate with the movie Clue nowadays. We also get the original Carl Perkins version of "Blue Suede Shoes," Johnny Cash's signature hit "I Walk the Line," and Bill Haley and the Comets kicking off the rock era with "Rock Around the Clock."

After the record ended, I settled in for a long nap. It was a quiet afternoon, and I was dead tired. I stayed up way too late the other night - until 5 AM! - and haven't really caught up yet. Slept until past 4:30 and was still tired when rolled out of bed.

Had an early dinner next, since I didn't really have lunch. Listened to the book-and-story Babes In Toyland while I ate. While it's not a flat-out soundtrack, it does have most of the songs. I must say, Thurl Ravenscroft sounds a lot more menacing singing "And We Won't Be Happy 'Till We Get It" than Ray Bolger! I think that was Tommy Sands doing his numbers, but they did get someone with a lovely voice for Mary Quite Contrary - she sounds especially good on "I Can't Do the Sum" and "Just a Whisper Away." That's definitely Ed Wynn in "Christmas Is Coming" and a young Ann Jillian in "Never Mind, Bo Peep." 

Worked on writing a little next. Charles finally finds out after he gives the Red King hay what the noise is in the forest. It's not Humpty Dumpty falling. It's the Lion and the Unicorn fighting for the crown again. Brett has no idea who they are, so when the Red King takes off with the Red Knight to his castle, Charles takes Brett to meet them. 

Finished the night with game show episodes spotlighting Monty Hall in honor of Let's Make a Deal returning to Buzzr in two weeks. Hall started off in his native Canada, but after having lost several shows (including Bingo at Home) or seen others get mired in short runs, he moved to the US. His first hit was the charming Video Village, which he took over after its first year. This live-action board game had people running across a giant game board to pick up prizes. It gave Monty a chance to chat with contestants, and even show off his fine singing voice when he performed "People Will Say We're In Love" with a contestant. They also celebrate the 500th show on one of only three episodes currently in existence.

What Hall really wanted to do was create his own shows. He finally got Let's Make a Deal on the air in 1963. Hall calls up random "dealers" from the audience to play a series of mini-games. They can keep their winnings, or trade. Sometimes, they may get a better prize...or they may get goofy "Zonks," joke prizes that were often live animals or based around puns. 

Hall hosted Deal for over 20 years, from '63 through '86, and the shows rarely changed during his run. I chose two that are pretty emblematic of the series as a whole, a black-and-white ABC episode from New Year's Eve 1968, and what I believe to be a syndicated episode from 1971.

Like Gene Rayburn and Peter Marshall, Hall had far less luck away from his signature show. He was pretty much press-ganged into doing the 1979 Beat the Clock, the first show he hosted away from his own company since Video Village. Despite his frustration, he still does quite well leading two couples through a series of messy stunts for money.

He didn't do much better with his own creations. It's Anybody's Guess from 1977 has two contestants trying to guess whether or not a panel will answer a question in the same way as the audience. Hall is really the only good thing about this one, as the game is dull and doesn't make a lot of sense. No wonder it only lasted from June to September 1977 and the episode on YouTube is one of two known to exist. 

Split Second is a lot more fun. Tom Kennedy hosted the original 1972 ABC version of this trivia show, but that one was wiped. Hall took over for a 1986-1987 Canadian syndicated revival. The host asks a question with three answers. The contestants buzz in at once to guess the answers. The biggest winner gets the fewest guesses on the Countdown Round. Same thing, but now the contestants have to give one, two, or all three answers at once in order to win. 

Buzzr ran Split Second in the mornings from 2019 to 2020, and I have to admit, I do miss it. The trivia is a little dry, but it's fun to watch, and Monty is obviously a lot happier chatting with these folks than he was dodging stunts on Beat the Clock. 

Hall didn't often appear as a panelist on other hosts' shows, but he did make a rare appearance during a week on Password Plus in August 1979. Janet Lemmon was the other celebrity that week. He didn't do very well, just barely missing his first Alphabetics round. (Even his daughter Joanna Gleason would later joke about how badly he did, especially since she eventually became one of the show's best players.)

Go for a visit to the Video Village, test your ESP, and see how quickly you can answer trivia questions with TV's "Big Dealer!" (Watch out for the original commercials on the 1968 Deal. The tape for Anybody's Guess is in terrible shape with barely-heard audio, but once again, it is the one of the only episodes of that show known to exist.)

Video Village (1962)

Let's Make a Deal (1968)

Let's Make a Deal Synd (1971)

It's Anybody's Guess (1977)

Password Plus (1979)

Password Plus (1979)

Beat the Clock (1979)

Split Second (1986)

Summertime Showers

Got a very quick start this morning with breakfast and Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. Daniel and his friends learn about being safe and signs that show them how to be safe on the street from Prince Tuesday when he takes them on a "Safety Patrol." Katerina and Daniel learn about "Safety on the Beach" from Dan's mom when she reminds them to stay with her and not run into the water.

Hurried off to work shortly afterwards. I got lucky. Turns out the head bagger was supposed to push carts, but she prefers to handle customers, so I got to push the carts. I did end up going in for several cashiers' breaks and once when we were busy for about five minutes. Otherwise, I pushed carts, swept the store, and cleaned up a spilled watermelon mess. It showered off and on all afternoon, but by dinner time, the rain and the crowds had passed. It remained cloudy, humid, and unusually cool for July, but no more rain. I was able to get off with no trouble.

Grabbed a few groceries during break and after work. I like the Acme's peanut butter cookies, but they don't often have them. Got a salad for lunch today and lemon poppy seed muffins for later in the week. Cherries were on a really good sale, too, and I got some more nuts for my days off. 

Went straight into dinner and Doc McStuffins when I got home. Doc's friend Emmie tells her new talking parrot toy to "Say It Again, Sadie," but she can't talk. Doc discovers she has a switch that flips into "learning mode," and reveals why it's important to constantly talk to younger kids so they'll learn new words. Older toy Salt Water Serge feels out of place among the flashier space toys and their glowing lights and button-filled Command Center playset. He and Doc finally show why it's "Mind Over Matter" when Donnie takes the Command Center to his playdate, and Doc, Serge, and the others have to figure out how to make their own playset.

Finished the night online with The Magic Riddle. I go further into this odd Australian animated fairy tale hybrid at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog. 

Animation Celebration Saturday - The Magic Riddle

Where to Go From Here?

I slept so late, by the time I got to eating, Match Game '75 was on. The first one was the episode where the toaster that held Gene's questions kept falling down. First Charles, then the male contestant had to hold it while Gene grabbed his question. The second featured a handsome contestant from Texas with shoulders wide enough to throw a whole barrel of oil across the state, but his answers left something to be desired.

Headed out around quarter after 1. First stop was Rose's house to drop off Finley's birthday present. I probably should have texted Craig to find out when he was home, but the last time I tried to talk to him, Rose got angry with me for talking to her family behind her back. I pinned a letter for Rose to the bag, saying I'm doing fine and I'd like to talk to her. I'm going to give her two weeks. If I hear from her by the end of July, great. If I don't, I'm not going to wait around for her to grow up and accept my choices.

Dodged post-lunch traffic on the White Horse Pike and Cuthbert next on my way to Target. Target had long lines as people bought birthday presents or groceries. There's a lot of things I've been wanting to pick up and forgot, like Q-Tips, or needed to restock, like date bars, trail mix (found a Target "turtle" limited edition trail mix on clearance) B-12 vitamins. I also grabbed a book called How are You, Really? about figuring out what your passion is and what to do with it. 

Dollar Tree is now Dollar Twenty-Five Tree, thanks to inflation. Still, it's the cheapest place to buy cards, and I wanted to grab some smaller things for a friend. Soda's cheaper there than anywhere else, too - grabbed Diet Pepsi. Also had to wait in a long line here, though it moved fast.

Though it never rained today, the clouds were still dark and heavy, and it was hot and the air was thick enough to cut. This was no day for a lot of running around. Thankfully, Cuthbert cleared out by the time I started back, allowing me to duck across the street and get home in a decent amount of time. 

Went straight upstairs and into Tattletales when I got home. Hal "Mark Twain Tonight" Holbrook and his wife Carol Rossi did better than yesterday (when they got nothing), but they still couldn't beat Orson and Carolyn Bean. This time, the duo got over 400 for the yellow "banana" section.

Press Your Luck started out subdued, with no Whammies in the first half. They came out in force during the second. In fact, everyone got hit with so many, the champ only managed to pick up $700 and still won the game. 

Looked over How are You Really? after Press Your Luck ended. I wish I knew. I know I need a better job and a better home, and I want something to do with writing, but...what? How to do it? Every time I try to do a job search, I end up looking for good jobs, only to see that they require more experience or skills than I have, or they want a go-getting multitasker, not someone like me. 

Went online, but I mostly got to editing before breaking for dinner. Watched Match Game '77 while I ate, and then Match Game PM during dessert. And I got my schedule. In good news, three days off and no long hours. Thing is, I'm back to under 25 hours a week. Not good, but not as devastating as it would have been two years ago, thanks to that money in the bank. I absolutely must find a job with hours that are a lot more stable, or ones I make myself. I can't keep doing this 40-hours-one-week, 20-hours-the-next thing. 

Cleaned up downstairs, then finished the night online with hour-long mystery-comedies. Angela Landsbury gets a double role in the second-season Murder She Wrote episode "Sing a Song of Murder." Jessica Fletcher's cousin Emma owns and stars in a music hall in London. She says someone has tried to kill her, and even fakes her own death to avoid them. When Emma's loyal maid (Glyns Johns) is killed in a hit-and-run wearing her coat, Jessica realizes that not only does someone want Emma out of the picture, but they know she isn't dead.

Things are a little less hairy on The Love Boat. A wife on her second honeymoon (Rose Marie) says "Aunt Emma, I Love You" and even brings her painting along. Her husband (Sid Cesar) wishes she'd just forget the damn painting for five minutes. It's "The First Romance" for a young man (Philip McKeon) who falls for his absent father's secretary (Irena Ferris)...and isn't overly happy when Dad (Bert Convy) shows up and says he's in love with her, too. The crew gets involved in "Hoopla" when the Harlem Globetrotters (themselves) have to cancel their game in Mexico, to the consternation of their enterprising manager (Darrow Igus). Issac convinces the crew to play the Globetrotters, and while they may be shorter and slower, they do have an enthusiastic "secret weapon" - Vicki! 

Helping Others

Awoke to a steady shower. It lightened even as I worked on reading The All-Girls' Filling Station's Last Reunion. By the time I ate breakfast, it had stopped. The roads were wet, but otherwise, I was clear to ride to work.

And that may have been the most exciting thing that happened the entire time at work. I ended up in a register for all of one minute this morning before I was pulled to gather carts. Really, there wasn't much to gather, but even on a day that was cloudy and crazy humid, I still didn't feel like hanging out inside. 

I did receive a compliment from a customer about how hard I work and helped two more outside to their cars. The Acme donated hot dogs, burgers, and buns to a lady with a non-profit organization that was having a charity event this weekend. The lady who owned the organization and loaded her car with the items was so funny and sweet, I hope her event was a rousing success! The other lady had stitches that were healing and was afraid she'd pull them out if she lifted her 35-pack of water again, so I loaded the water in her car. She was a real sweetheart and very appreciative. 

It remained cloudy and humid, even though it hadn't rained again. Decided not to take chances and just rode straight home across Oaklyn. By that point, the road was almost dry, and it was fairly busy for 3 PM with kids hanging out at Phillies Phatties and riding in clusters down West Clinton. They were probably trying to get out before Mother Nature did anything again.

After I got home, I changed and had a snack while watching Tattletales. I was surprised to see Marcia Wallace on the show today. A lot of her jokes on Match Game and Match Game-Hollywood Squares revolved around her perpetual unmarried state. She must have brought along whatever guy she was dating at the time. She was just as funny here as she is on Match Game, especially with the question involving whether or not she'd stay and disrobe at a nude wedding. Orson Bean and his equally hilarious then-wife Carolyn wound up being the very big winners, with over $1,500 for their section.

Finally wrote a letter to Rose I intend to put in Finley's birthday gift bag during Press Your Luck. The first round was fairly subdued, with no Whammies at all. That changed big-time in the second round. It came down to the one young man and the champ. In the end, the young man hit a Whammy, and the champ picked up money, a stereo, and a Bermuda vacation she said she really wanted.

Broke to work on writing. I had a hard time getting the USB port working this time. The mouse wouldn't roll, and nothing came up when I put my USB stick in. Refreshing it several times seemed to work for the stick. I didn't realize until much later that the battery I put in the mouse was loose. It works fine now. I was even able to transfer all of my in-progress Match Game stories to Google Drive. 

I did manage to get a little writing in. Mark (Goodson) the Red King feels a bit faint after catching sight of all the strange faces a green-skinned Mad Hatter Charles makes. He insists on a bologna sandwich. When that doesn't work, he asks for hay. 

Broke at quarter of 7 for dinner. Watched Match Game '77 while I ate. Gene admonishes Richard in the opening to tell his son Gary not to juggle and take everyone's mind off his performance. Meanwhile, we get a joke about the audience being so hostile, Brett won't go onstage without a __, we have a Buzzr crossover with Richard and Bob Barker, and Richard gets to figure out "__ Albert."

Had dessert during Match Game PM. Tall and gangling Peter Issackson and dear old Mary Wickes joined in to witness Gene hamming it up on one knee in his entrance and Charles' amusing answer to the question about what the inflatable doll gave birth to. Richard has a harder time with "__ Sour" in the Head-to-Head.

Finished the night after a shower with Tanned Legs from 1929 on YouTube. I go further into the early talkie tale of a young woman who tries to stop a blackmailer at a beach resort at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog. 

Tanned Legs

Computerized Harts

Started off the morning with breakfast and heading out, a little earlier this time. It was supposed to rain sometime today, but when I left, the sun still shown. It was a little humid and still warm, but a nice breeze did help somewhat. It wasn't busy anywhere, not even on the White Horse Pike.

Thankfully after yesterday, work was pretty dead. I suspect a lot of people may have gotten an extra day off yesterday for the holiday. We're now past the beginning of the month, the weather was iffy, and the next major holiday isn't until early September. I mostly shelved candy and organized coolers between customers. My relief was already in the store, and was right on time coming in for me.

Went straight home after work. In addition to the clouds building up in the sky, I wanted to do some things I hadn't done in a while. But first, I brought the laundry downstairs, then had a snack while watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. "Mickey's Big Camp-Out" has him and his friends hoping to earn badges for setting up tents and catching Gooey Fish. Donald isn't happy to be paired with Goofy and would rather be out on his own. He learns why camping with friends is so important when he damages the tents and has to lend his friends his.

Switched to an episode of The Odd Couple while taking down the patriotic decorations. Felix sadly recalled how "The Odd Holiday" turned sour when he, his wife Gloria, and Oscar and his wife Blanche went on vacation to the Carribean a few years before. He was hoping to save Oscar and Blanche's marriage...but as usual, he overdoes it, and the week ends with Felix's wife Olivia asking for a divorce.

Moved to more lovey-dovey couples on Tattletales while working on dusting the living room. Comedianne Patti Deustch and comedy writer Donald Ross were just about the perfect couple, and they proved it by making a major comeback in the second half. They even had a question about whether their baby son Max looked like his father or his mother. (For the record, everyone, man and woman, said the kid absolutely looked like his dad. Including his dad.)

Press Your Luck got really wild in the second half as Whammies flew fast and furious...and so did passes. Everyone kept getting money, tossing their spins to the next person when they got money, then losing the money. The one lady finally got a water bike that put her over the top over the champ.

Tried to go into writing after that...but my laptop wouldn't let me in. I tried to sign up, but it wouldn't let me. Then it wouldn't get off caps lock. I kept pressing at buttons, but then I'd add too many letters, and I couldn't erase them. It was being a pain before I banged on it. Truth be told, despite being only 2 1/2 years old, the HP hasn't run right since I upgraded to Windows 11. The sound will drop in and out at weird times, and it'll suddenly become hard for me to left-click on app buttons unless I left-click on them first. 

Finally gave up around 6 PM and called Uber. They arrived within 10 minutes. I figured Best Buy in Cherry Hill was my best bet this area for a wide vareity of laptops. Took less than 10 minutes before he pulled up in front of the Best Buy at the Market Place.

The laptops are scattered over displays in the back. I thought it was time to try my first Chromebook. I don't need much in a laptop. I don't play video games on it. When I have the time for games again, I'd rather have a separate console. I watch TV, write, and chat on it. That's it. Saw three Chromebooks I liked that were good prices. Naturally, the cheapest on clearance was gone, but the one next to it wasn't bad at $169 with tax. Got a young man to get it down from a series of cages over the display. I bought it from him at the nearest counter. Picked up Uber there in less than five minutes; got home in ten. The entire trip didn't take more than 40 minutes.

Spent the rest of the night after a tasty dinner setting up the thing. It may be cheaper, but it's also a lot different than Windows. For one thing, it doesn't use Windows. Considering how much of a pain Window updates were on my last two laptops, that's not an entirely bad thing. I inadvertantly set up a whole new Google Account trying to get in, though. I also didn't realize how many apps Chromebook doesn't support, including OpenOffice, which I use extensively. I really need to find something else to use offline. I don't trust writing things online. You never know when the internet will die on you. 

Finished the night on The Roku Channel with Hart to Hart. "Death Set" has Johnathan and Jennifer witnessing a friend of theirs accidentally killing her husband when he returns late and she's paranoid about him possibly leaving her. His brother hopes to fill his shoes, but the Harts have suspicions about his motives, especially after their friend's housekeeper turns up dead too. 

Rushing In the Rain

Had a quick breakfast this morning before finally calling back my counselor at the Vocational Rehabilitation office. He called me Friday, but I worked 8 1/2 hours and ran out of time to call him. He's now sending my information to Abilities Solutions, who will help me assess my abilities, strengths, and weaknesses and figure out what my next move should be. 

It had better be "out of the Acme." I can't handle retail anymore. I've told everyone for 20 years that I am NOT suited to cashiering, or even really bagging. I can't multitask, I get upset easily, and I have panic attacks over the slightest problems at the registers. I don't belong in retail, period. I'm there for the health insurance...but the health insurance isn't worth much if you're dead. In the last three weeks, I've seen two violent scuffles with shoplifters, and there was the knifing incident on Sunday. My co-workers are nice enough, but tend to be very negative. None of them want to be there, either. And there's the high manager turnover. We just got another new manager (a younger woman this time) two days ago.

Everyone has this adorable idea that just because a person works in a place for 20 years means it's what they want to do. I hate this job. I've hated it for 20 years...but I had to keep it, because I needed money and free health insurance. I need to find something I actually like and am good at and will let me have health insurance and real money, so I'll have the money to buy or rent a real home somewhere that isn't here. 

The counselor and his supervisor said Abilities Solutions will be calling me in a week for a series of five phone sessions intended to map out what I can and can do, what my abilities are, and 

Worked on writing after I got off with the counselor. Charles knows the Red King and Red Knight are expecting a messenger from Queen Betty. He stains his face with grass and passes himself off as the "Great Hooatta" (a play on his Hoo Doo character from the supremely bizarre Lidsville) to deliver the message (and bologna sandwiches) to the Red King.

Broke for lunch while watching more All-Star Family Feud. This episode came from a week of vintage TV shows playing each other for charity. I was a little leery of this series. I've never seen Petticoat Junction and have never been fond of the too-cutesy The Brady Bunch. The Bradys started out well, but the ladies of Petticoat Junction made a comeback in the end. They went on to win the Fast Money in record time, too.

Left work a little early to pick up salads for meals and more of those fudge-topped shortbread cookies. Work was insanely busy for most of the day. Not only is it still the beginning of the month, but it's also Senior Discount Day. The weather was lousy, too. It was cloudy and cool when I left; it rained later in the afternoon. And everyone is still fussing over having to bring or buy bags. Sorry people, it's not my fault everyone leaves them in their car. Thankfully, this time, it slowed down enough for me to close with no relief.

The rain had just stopped when I hurried home. Went straight into the shower, and then upstairs to finish the night with The Cuckoos. I go further into this goofy early talkie action comedy featuring Bert Wheeler and Bob Woosley at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

The Cuckoos 

Shine Sweet Freedom

Began my 4th of July with material from Colliers Harvest of Holidays. The longer piece has Pa Ingalls taking Carrie and Laura to the small Independence Day celebration at the Little Town on the Prairie. They enjoy lemonade from a barrel, are given fireworks by an enterprising local politician, and watch their friend Alonzo win the local horse & buggy race. They also had The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere and several shorter patriotic poems. Threw in a chapter from my coffee-table history photo book Summer In America about how the US has celebrated the 4th of July and Juneteenth through the years. 

Had a quick breakfast, then headed off to work. I wasn't in the register for more than five minutes before they pulled me to sweep and do carts. Fine by me. It was too nice of a 4th to be inside all day, anyway. The sun was out, the sky was blue, and despite the upper 80's-lower 90's heat, it was breezy and dry. I wasn't terribly happy when they pulled me around 2 to take long lines. Thankfully, I was back out again gathering carts that kept disappearing within a half-hour when a manager came in for me. This time, I got out with no trouble whatsoever. 

Spent the next few hours watching patriotic cartoons, changing, and having dinner. "Patriotic Popeye" warns his nephews to stay safely away from firecrackers, but they keep coming up with ways to distract their uncle and get to his stash. They finally get the message when a rocket goes off and takes them with it, and their uncle needs spinach to get them down.

The Mickey Mouse Works short "Donald's Failed Fourth" has Daisy telling Donald to find them the perfect spot to watch the fireworks. He does find a terrific place...but first the blanket, then the folding chairs, won't cooperate.

Yankee Doodle Cricket is one of two Chuck Jones animated sequels to A Cricket In Times Square. After reading a book on "Oddities In American History," Tucker the Mouse insists to his friend Harry the Cat that Tucker's ancestor wrote the Declaration of Independence and created the country's first flag, Harry's got Paul Revere's horse moving, and Chester Cricket's wrote "Yankee Doodle."

Bugs is a "Bunker Hill Bunny" who won't give up his fort to Hessian soldier Yosemite Sam. They (literally) trade cannon fire and forts for a while, before Bugs finally finds an explosive way to show Sam how important American independence is. 

The Walter Lanz Studio takes us to some "Hysterical Highspots in American History" through 1940. Columbus wonders why cartoons haven't been invented, a Native American proves to be an extremely convincing salesman, and a pair of enterprising old maids spend two different (and long-apart) wars trying to lure soldiers to their home.

Finally headed out around quarter of 7. I wanted to get ice cream at Yummies Palace, but they were closed for the holiday. Nothing was open on West Clinton Avenue, not even Tonewood Brewery or the Oaklyn Manor Bar. Hiked over to a very busy WaWa instead for a black and white milkshake. 

Next stop was Dollar General, which is always opened for the holiday. Needed to restock my electrolyte drink mix. They were out of their generic watermelon mix, but I did find their lemon-lime, along with Gatorade White Cherry and Propel Strawberry-Kiwi. Also picked up snacks for the week, including nuts and coconut macaroons. Didn't know Powerade made their own electrolyte water ala Propel. Bought a bottle of that, too, for the fireworks. 

The sun wasn't even going down yet when I strolled down the White Horse Pike, over the causeway, and into Newton Lake Park. Collingswood's fireworks are actually set off at their high school football field, but I didn't really feel like hiking all the way down there and back. I spread my checked blanket out on the grassy area in front of the playground, directly across from the main building of The Parkview apartments. Finished reading Johnny Tremain while listening to the families around me play with light-up balls, blow bubbles into the rapidly-darkening sky, and sing along with the rap blasting from someone's car. One Indian family even brought along their bent, frail old grandmother in an equally frail sari the color of old paper. 

The wizened older lady no sooner sat down on her grandchildren's towel than a huge burst of pink and gold sparkles lit up the night! The fireworks at Collingswood are always gorgeous, and this year is no exception. Booming glitter in every color of the rainbow shot across the horizon over the park. I love the ones that make shapes, the red rings and off-center hearts, and the big ones that shoot into the air, then snake around in every color possible. 

Started out the second the last firework shot into the darkness. Thank heavens I don't have to cross the street to get home anymore. The traffic on the White Horse Pike was awful as I made my way down the sidewalk. It was actually pretty busy on East Haddon Avenue too as cars and people tried to avoid the mess on the main roads. 

Finished the night on YouTube after the Match Game '73 premieres with vintage Disney parades from the early 90's. Robert Gulliame and Connie Selleca host a heavily revamped Great American Celebration in 1991. I know I saw this on 4th of July evening as a 12-year-old. I definitely remember then-white-hot Tevin Campbell singing "Shine Sweet Freedom" with hundreds of dancers in the opening. We actually get some parade footage this time, too, including a huge float honoring the 200th anniversary of the Bill of Rights at Disneyland and shots of the Main Street Electrical Parade in Walt Disney World. 

Country group Kentucky Headhunters was the winner among the bands. Their rousing version of "Spirit In the Sky" was so awesome, I may have to look up their albums. My sisters were huge fans of the Mickey Mouse Club group The Party. In fact, we probably watched this in '91 to hear their "Peace, Love, and Understanding." We also get an early glimpse of Tim Allen's stand-up act, just prior to Home Improvement, along with footage of Selleca freaking out on all four Disney "mountain" roller coasters (Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, the Matterhorn, and what was then known as Splash Mountain). Allen was definitely funnier than Steve Banks, whose goofy portrayals of Abe Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson were more annoying than amusing.

The focus returned to the music in '92. How early 90's was Celebrate the Spirit: Disney's All-Star Fourth of July Spectacular? It opened with Billy Ray Cyrus singing that everlasting ear worm "Achy Breaky Heart" and youthful rap duo Kriss Kross getting down with their major hit "Jump." We only have one host this time, John Ritter, who surprisingly takes a backseat to the music and the two little girls who spend the special looking for Goofy in Disneyland. Goofy's too busy watching bits of his shorts to pay attention to the big parade focused on him and the debut of Goof Troop. Other musical winners here included Shanice with her charming "I Love Your Smile" and Mary Chapin Carpenter with "I Feel Lucky." 

(Incidentally, there's so much emphasis on the music and Goofy, the '92 parade is the only one to not end with a huge patriotic number in front of the American Adventure in Epcot or one of the castles.)

Both specials featured profiles of average Americans whose volunteering helped their communities via George W. Bush's "Profiles of Light" program. One group, a pair of phys ed teachers who trained boys off the street into a top acrobat group, actually performed at Epcot in '92. There were at least two families, one elderly, who took in foundlings off the street, and a five-year-old boy who collected money for the poor, including his own pennies.

If you missed your hometown parade like I did or remember watching these as a kid too, you'll probably find much to enjoy in these patriotic blasts from the past!

Disney's Great American Celebration - 1991

Celebrate the Spirit: Disney's All-Star 4th of July Spectacular - 1992

And here's hoping you had an equally fun 4th of July (and that our neighbors to the north enjoyed their Canada Day on Friday)! 

Holiday Weekends and Matches

It was just cloudy and humid when I got up early this morning...but by the time I was getting dressed and having breakfast, we were in the middle of a full-blown, noisy thunderstorm. Obviously, I wasn't riding to work in that weather. Thankfully, it took nine minutes for the driver to arrive, and less than five to arrive at the Acme. 

Work wasn't a whole lot more fun than yesterday. Though the sun did come out later in the morning, we were still insanely busy. We had enough help, for once, and we were still busy. It's a holiday weekend and the beginning of the month. At least two other people came in early with me, and more arrived later in the afternoon, and the lines were still long. There were a few cranky people, but most were in much better moods, probably because the rain didn't linger.

I was supposed to be done at 2 PM. Someone else left at 2 as well...and of course, they sent the one person coming in for them and didn't bother to tell me I had no relief. They finally sent a manager in for me...after I was already late leaving and had a very long line. 

It was sunny, bright, and humid when I finally emerged. I was too tired for anything but calling Uber to take me home. Had no trouble getting a driver; they arrived within six minutes and got me home even faster than that.

After I got in and changed, I checked my phone. One neighbor called; another texted. Apparently, there was a stabbing in the parking lot of the Acme, and they were worried about me. What?! I had no idea. One of my customers mentioned about an hour or so before I left that there were police cars in the side lot near Arby's and it was taped off, but he didn't know what happened, and I didn't, either. I was inside all day, and not really paying attention by the time I got off. 

I tried to find out more information, but there seemed to be nothing online besides a couple of Facebook posts that didn't know what happened, either. Finally got fed up and went down for a much-needed nap at 3. Rolled out of bed at almost 5, still dead tired.

Called Mom to wish her a happy 4th of July; ended up talking to her for over an hour. She's officially moving to Virginia on the 28th. Keefe and Julia will come down the 27th on the Cape May-Lewes Ferry with his truck. She'll drive Mom's car and a rented UHaul back; he'll take Mom and anything that doesn't fit in the UHaul. They're going mid-week to beat the traffic going to the Shore and the beaches in Delaware and Maryland. 

We're both still really frustrated about Rose. I haven't heard from her since that one call on my birthday. Apparently, Rose didn't say much when she saw her at Lilah's recital a few weeks ago, and they left early anyway because her five-year-old daughter Finley got fidgety. No one's heard from her since, not even Anny and Keefe. 

I've gone from upset to flat-out angry at her. To paraphrase Balki in the first Perfect Strangers Christmas episode, Rose gives great advice, but when the tables are turned around, she acts like a big baby. Mom and I couldn't have afforded to live together, even if I could have figured out how to get down there. We don't make enough money to rent a house at the Shore. The area is very expensive; always was, even going back to my childhood. It's the reason we moved from rented house to rented house every year or two, because we'd be constantly looking for ones we could afford. 

Rose's idea of "sacrifice" means "doing what's good for her, not anyone else." I'm tired of her snubbing Mom and bossing me around. I'm not a child, and she needs to stop treating me that way. She threw a fit last fall when she said I wasn't planning well enough to get an apartment...and then turns around and gets angry because her plan doesn't work out? Why does everyone have to do everything her way? She's a lawyer and a mother. She should know better than to act less mature than her five-year-old daughter. 

Mom suggested I write her or call her. I'm not sure I'm up to either. I'm afraid I won't know what to say at all, or say things in the heat of anger that we'll both regret. I just want her to understand why I stayed here and to talk to Mom. Mom's in excellent health for a 66-year-old, but she's still not going to be around forever. She's only hurting everyone around her by cutting herself off like this - her family, her children, her mother, me, herself. Considering Mom still isn't speaking to a lot of her family, you'd think she would understand that better. 

It was past 6:30 when I finally broke for dinner. Ate a quick leftovers meal while listening to America the Beautiful. I put on this Reader's Digest collection of patriotic-themed songs and pieces the Sunday before every 4th of July. Most of my favorites are on side 2, record 1. I love the clip-clopping rhythm of the Grand Canyon Suite and hearing people sing along to familiar George M. Cohan tunes during a medley at a Boston Pops concert.

Finished the night on YouTube after a shower with rare and underrated Match Game episodes. I haven't seen a Match Game run yet I haven't enjoyed. I even like the few remaining episodes from the 60's version and what little I've seen of the recently-ended Alec Baldwin run. (Granted, I haven't seen the notoriously cheap 1998 version yet.) 

The show ended on CBS in the spring of 1979 and immediately moved to syndication later that fall. Some of the syndicated episodes are as funny as anything that turned up on CBS. (In fact, there's syndicated episodes that are supposedly so ribald, they're banned or lost due to humor that was offensive even then.) The ones I went with here are the hilarious show that began with Charles Nelson Reilly in the contestant's seat, claiming he's Art Fennbach, a 29-year-old father (to which Brett answers "You wish!") and the first episode to feature Betty White and Trotter, the sweet black mutt who belonged to Gene Rayburn's daughter Lynne. 

Likewise, other than showing the goofy episode where Gene Rayburn wore that really hideous green plaid suit, Buzzr hasn't run a lot of Match Game '73. Granted, some early episodes are lost or damaged, and there's at least three that are banned for offensive answers (including the second pilot), but there's a also lot more that are as funny as anything that turned up later. Likewise, they've never shown any of the PM episodes from 1975 and '76. Gene spends a lot of these episodes dealing with equipment malfunctions on the stage, including a turntable going the wrong way in '73 and Joyce Bulfant's microphone coming loose in a 1975 nighttime episode. 

Loved finally getting to see Match Game '90 from late 2020 through last summer. Many fans ignore this version because Gene's not the host, but it has a lot going for it. Charles is back as a regular, and Brett appears for a few weeks around Halloween. I honestly like the host, Ross Schafer. He's charming, handsome, and a lot funnier than people give him credit for. Other enjoyable semi-regulars here include Betty White, Marcia Wallace, Fred Travalena, comedian and voice artist Joe Alasky, Pam Stone, Brad Garrett (who did a dead-on impression of Charles), Sally Struthers, Jimmie Walker, Stuart Damon, Vicki Lawrence (who started a feud with Ross late in the run), and Ronn Lucas and his dragon puppet Scorch. Showcased the premiere episode here and Brett's first show, revealing that she and Charles are still having more fun than anyone else around them.

If you're looking for something different in your matches, check out these rarities!

Match Game '73 - Episode 111 (Turntable Trouble)

Match Game '73 - Episode 112 (Gene's Burt Reynolds Pose)

Match Game PM - Episode 3 (Gene the Handyman)

Match Game PM - Episode 10 (Gene's Microphone Falls Apart)

Match Game Synd - Episode 80 (Charles Is a Contestant?)

Match Game Synd - Episode 221 (Betty White Meets Trotter) 

Match Game '90 - Episode 1 (Premiere)

Match Game '90 - Episode 26 (Brett Somers Returns!) 

We've Got Trouble

Began a cloudy, humid morning with a quick breakfast. I didn't like the look of the weather. It was supposed to rain all day, though it wasn't raining at that point. I ended up calling Uber, just in case it rained later. They arrived in even less time than listed and got me to work in five minutes. 

Work was a complete pain in the rear. We were off-and-on busy again, and some of the customers were downright rude. One man threw an absolute fit, first when I tried to explain he had the wrong bowls of fruit to get the 3.99 sale, then when I had to open the top of a pack of Gatorade. It wasn't a real 12-pack. It was actually two 10-packs together in one box, but he wouldn't believe me. He claimed he refused to listen to me because he didn't know me. That's a poor excuse for ignoring someone who knows what she's doing. I told him so, and he ended up cursing me out. I got so upset, I was in tears, even though the nice older lady after him told me he'd behaved badly and it wasn't my fault. 

(As if to point out how ridiculous he acted, a lady also picked up the wrong bowls for that fruit sale near the end of my shift...but she said she worked in retail for 14 years and went back for the right bowls without making a fuss, and even left with a smile on her face.)

Needless to say, I dashed out the second I finished. The rain was supposed to arrive by 5, but...it was still just killer humid and a little cloudy. Even so, I opted to call Uber again. This time, the man arrived in under ten minutes and only needed a little more than 5 to get me there, dodging rush-hour traffic on the White Horse Pike. 

Put on Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood for what amounts to their 4th of July episode as I changed and got organized. "Daniel and Margaret Visit the Farm" with their parents. Daniel is nervous to ride Peaches the Horse at first, but his dad holds his hand until he gets used to it. Likewise, Dan holds his baby sister's Margaret hand the first time she feeds the ducks. They're excited about their 4th of July beach picnic with "Fireworks and Fireflies." Margaret's never seen fireflies before and is a bit scared by them. Daniel holds her hand until she's happily chasing them and trying to catch them. Neither of them are big fans of the noisy fireworks and end up holding each other's hands. 

Had dinner downstairs, then went online for the 2003 Disney version of The Music Man at Amazon Prime. I celebrate the 4th with the TV version of the beloved Broadway show at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog. 

Happy 4th of July! - The Music Man (2003)

Ended the night with The Lawrence Welk Show on YouTube. Welk celebrates the 4th by taking three tours of the US, with songs representing cities and famous landmarks. Native midwesterner Welk of course includes "Chicago" in all three shows. It's performed by the band in 1981, as a lively ballroom waltz by Bobby and Cissy in 1977, and with a trio of girls joining the orchestra in 1971. Arthur Duncan also gets three different tap numbers. He's flashier when he says "Give My Regard to Broadway" in 1977, but goes a little more down home for a salute to the California town "Avalon" in 1981. Anacani's best number is a gorgeous "Rose In Spanish Harlem" from 1981. I adore the version of "Charleston" that's also from '81; Bobby and Elaine Niverson especially have a great time here. Another cute skit from '81 is little girl Kathie Sullivan telling reporter Ken Delo how "Everything's Up to Date In Kansas City." 

Let Lawrence Welk show you the landmarks and beloved songs of America!

Salute to the USA - 1971

America the Beautiful - 1977

Musical Tour of the USA - 1981

Little Summer Showers

Began the morning with breakfast and sunshine. It was still pretty nice when I headed out, sunny and more humid than yesterday, but nothing out of line for early July. Ran into one of my former neighbors in Oaklyn on my way to work who mentioned she heard about an apartment that was renting for $950. That was nice of her, but I don't think they'll take me. As I tried to explain, it doesn't matter how much money I have in the bank. I just don't make enough at work for most renters. I need to find a better job before I can find a better home.

I was supposed to be cashiering today, and I did start out doing that, until around 2. Then, they pulled me to take carts. The afternoon bagger was late, and the morning bagger needed help. I continued doing carts until quarter of 6, after which they pulled me again to take customers. One of the cashiers went on break. Doesn't help that we're at the beginning of the month, and a lot of customers aren't in the best of moods. Heavy clouds gathered and it showered later in the day, but nothing heavy, and it was long gone by the time I finished. 

Picked up shortbread cookies and more of those on-sale date bars after work. Mixed feelings on my schedule next week. My hours on the 4th of July aren't bad at all, and there's no 8 1/2 hour days...but I also have an extra-early day on Sunday and my next and only day off is Friday. I really hate this working 7 and 8 days straight through business. I know I'm not supposed to complain, since people in hospitals and factories work 60 hours a week around the clock, but...it's still tiring. 

I was bone-weary when I got off. Went straight home and into dinner Match Game PM. Fannie Flagg is delighted to flirt with an older former Air Force soldier throughout much of the episode. Dick Martin, sweet little Sarah Kennedy, and the others are more content to figure out what a much-married person has on their towels and and "Game of __" on the Audience Match. (Oh, and fantasy fans, the answer isn't what you think...)

Finished the night at Paramount Plus after a shower with The Love Boat. Everyone's gambling on love during a big casino-themed cruise in season seven. The woman who organized the cruise (Celeste Holm) has to deal with bailing out her troubled brother (Richard Jaeckel) yet again when "The Buck Stops Here." Her brother is the one who convinces a newlywed (Leah Ayres) to throw her money and her husband's (Shea Farrell) to the wind for a big payout that could leave them with more for a new house "For Better or for Worse." A man about to sell a rare coin (McLean Stevenson) says "Bet On It" when he and his girlfriend (Jo Ann Pflug) spend the weekend glued to a slot machine after she uses the coin in it. 

(Oh, and it looks like Let's Make a Deal with be making at least a temporary return to Buzzr this summer! In good news, there will be a marathon on the 18th. In annoying news, starting that Monday, it replaces Match Game PM. At least it's a show I really like and admittedly have missed seeing on the channel. Hey Buzzr, while we're bringing back old favorites, how about dragging Family Feud off the weekends, bringing back the Monty Hall Split Second, or putting Blockbusters back in the mornings?)