How to Make Changes

Slept until 10:30 this morning and didn't really get going until nearly noon. Came in half-way through Match Game '74. Jo Anne Worley and Nipsey Russell were among those giving provocative answers to what Eve didn't want Adam to do to her fig leaf, while Brett proudly announced that her younger son Adam made another appearance on The Odd Couple. They all have a lot more trouble with "Stuffed __" in the Audience Match.

For some reason, they skipped the last episode of that week and moved on to the shows with Adrienne Barbeau and Robert Morse. Brett and Charles took a lot of ribbing in this episode, including a question about what they traded. Meanwhile, the frisky redheaded contestant is more interested in kissing the ladies, especially Brett!

Went online for a little while after the show ended. I wanted to learn more about the Center for Independent Living. I'd really rather use the one in Gloucester County than attempt Camden City, but I called the Camden one anyway because I had their number. Turned out to be a moot point. I got their answering machine. I left a stammering message, but I don't think it was very coherent. I'll try e-mailing them next week.

Headed out to run errands around 2:30. First stop of the day was Target. I needed shampoo and D vitamins, and they were having a sale on those date bars again. Had a spinach-egg white-feta wrap, a frosted lime-coconut bar, and a lemonade iced tea at Starbucks for lunch as kids chattered on the wide window ledges. 

Went down to the Haddon Township Library next. I wanted to look up books on ADHD in adults. Most of what they had was advice for parents of kids with ADHD, but there were some books intended for those who were diagnosed later in life. I ended up with ADHD - What Everyone Needs to Know, The Mindfullness Prescription for Adult ADHD, and Organizing Solutions for People With ADHD. I also learned that they dropped the volunteer program when the pandemic began and have been slow to pick it back up again, due to government red tape and the virus constantly mutating.

Thought about going to the Westmont Acme, but the Acme is really the last place I felt like being on my day off. Ended up at Dollar General instead. Found a really nice pack of Paper Mate mechanical pencils that reminded me of the ones I used as a kid, only in a rainbow of colors instead of just yellow. Needed more electrolyte drink mix; went with Dollar General's generic lemon-lime and Propel's strawberry-kiwi. Found a better plastic drink bottle for my electrolyte drinks than the old Propel bottle I was using. 

Took a look at the library books when I got home. All I want to know is how to deal with my attention and executive function problems without medication, so I can get a decent job and house. That, and how to better-organize my thoughts. I can organize things and keep my space neat, but my ideas come too quickly to be put into sequence properly. That's why my story notes are all over the place and I forget half of what I intend to write on this blog by the time I start it.

Finally started writing around 5:30. Brett's thrilled to be on dry land after Richard's horse makes it to the ground. Not only that, but she discovers a crown on her head, and that she, Richard, Charles, Jimmie, and Orson all wear fine clothes. She finally checkmated the Red King. His castle is her castle. Richard and Charles lead her through the gate on their arms. 

Broke for dinner at 7. Watched Let's Make a Deal while I ate. Came into the first episode as two dice played a pricing game. They turned down a car and got a trip to Mexico...and, ironically, they finally got the car when they chose the right door for the Big Deal of the Day. A lady in her bathrobe got lucky too, trading in money for a trip to Paris that really did sound lovely.

Finished the night on Amazon Prime with Beach Blanket Bingo, which is currently free there. I go further into Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello's last "Beach Party" movie together at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Beach Blanket Bingo

Goodwill Harts

Started off the morning with a really quick breakfast. I overslept and just barely had time for that. At least it was a decent day to rush at that point. It was sunny and windy, a little cooler than yesterday but still warm and insanely humid. 

I still arrived a few minutes late. I took the bike this time, since I didn't want to buy more stuff and it wasn't supposed to rain until well after I got in. Rolled around back, since I didn't want to knock anything off the shelves in front. I should have gone around front. They didn't want me in the back alone. At least there was that narrow but well-lit hall where I could put my bike. 

This time, a man helped me pull glassware, plates and cups, and other housewares with green tags. We had to be very careful, especially in the beginning with the glass. The shelves aren't nearly as well-organized as the clothes. Someone must have done it earlier, though. We didn't pull that much. The only shelves that still had a lot of green tags were a pile of binders on a shelf with school accessories. Otherwise, there was so little, and we moved so fast, he let me go 20 minutes early and even bought me a soda from Arby's.

Took the long way home across the Walmart parking lot and down Nicholson Road. It was slightly cloudier at this point, but not ready to pour yet. While it was busy up around the shopping center, it cleared out after that. Oaklyn was stone-quiet. I really hope we get some kind of a storm tonight. Everything looks so dry! The grass is brown and brittle; gardens droop from lack of water.

Went upstairs as soon as I got home. Had a snack while watching Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. "Daniel Goes to School" for the first time, and he's really nervous. He brings along his favorite things...and while it turns out he doesn't need his toys, he does still want his favorite stuffed animal Tigey there. "Daniel Goes to the Doctor" for a routine check-up. Doctor Anna and his mother talk to him and explain what Anna's going to do.

Fell into bed for a nap after the cartoon ended. I'm still beat. It's been a long couple of weeks. Slept for a solid two hours and felt slightly better when I finally rolled out of bed.

Took the laundry downstairs, then did a little writing. Richard drags Brett on the back of his horse to take her over the brooks. Orson and Charles settle for just stepping over them, while Jimmie flies. She's thrilled when she finally gets back on the ground!

Broke for dinner at 6:30. Roz Ryan was really upset when she missed the last word on the Super Password bonus round after they did really well at it. Mark Summers was just shocked by more quick answers, including two in a row. 

Ran Let's Make a Deal as I had a simple dessert. Two fisher-folk did very well, winning a ton of money in a game against a woman dressed as a chef and a man in a giant lobster suit. They came back later to win kitchen appliances. The Big Deal of the Day went to a woman in a visor with a costume covered in newspaper. She admitted to Monty to being disappointed that the guy making the decisions on the first game turned down a piano. The Big Deal of the Day ironically wound up being a grand piano, far nicer and more costly than the small upright on display earlier.

Got my laundry upstairs and put it away, then finished the night online. It's a "Slow Boat to Murder" on Hart to Hart when Johnathan's chief accountant Stanley Freisian awakens on a yacht after going to a singles' club and a party. He has no idea how he got there...or where the dead man with his wallet came from. Johnathan and Jennifer go undercover as singles to clear his name and find themselves breaking up a gambling ring.

Doc McStuffins also deals with toy animals who don't talk like her toys, as we see in two third-season episodes. "Dimintri the Dazzling" is a magician whose springs allow him and his rabbit to do tricks. He's upset when his rabbit Carrots seemingly destroys their act and tearfully tries to give her away, but Doc thinks there's another explanation. Lambie is "Smitten By a Kitten" toy Doc got for free at a school swap meet. The kitty, however, has been pulled out of boxes at the swap meet for so long, she's skittish around new faces. Doc helps Lambie get her new friend settled in and teaches her how to help a nervous pet. 

The Password is Goodwill

Got a quick start today with a yogurt and fruit breakfast. Though it was sunny and windy today, it was also deadly hot and humid again, and it was supposed to rain later. Plus, I wasn't sure if Goodwill had a place for my bike. I took Uber there; they arrived in less than 8 minutes. 

Ended up being 10 minutes early. The counselor met me in a well-lit corridor in the back of the building. We signed paperwork at a card table before she told me the manager wanted me to pull items that had a green tag on them. I could do that! We did that all day, and it was actually kind of fun. Filled three racks with baby clothes, linens, pants, shorts, skirts, lingerie, and pajamas. 

And yes, not only did I finally remember to bring my last bag of donations in, but I had the chance to pick up a few things. She ended up with a whole cart-full! I found a comfy pale green flannel nightgown for the winter, a flowered short-sleeved blouse for now, the Frank Sinatra movie Higher and Higher (look for it later this month or early next month on the blog) on DVD, a CD set, and three records:

The Trans-Siberian Orchestra - The Lost Christmas Eve (the CD set)

Jo Anne Castle - Ragtime Piano 

Original 1969 Broadway cast album for 1776

The Mouse Factory (Supposedly bits and pieces from the TV show - not likely with their original hosts, but still there.) 

Made a short stop at Five Below next-door after I finally bought all that. I've been looking for the Coke Zero Starlight flavor since I first found it on the day I moved in February, but I hadn't seen it again until I dug it out of the cooler. Also tried a tasty dark chocolate Kit-Kat. Given the way everything's gone lately, I figured I needed something dark chocolate. They weren't busy, and I was in and out. Called Uber and got home within ten minutes.

Went straight upstairs and into writing after I arrived. For all of Richard's rambling about inventions, he did get the others to the edge of the forest. He offers to carry Brett over a series of brooks. Charles and Orson decline and Jimmie can already fly over them, but Brett doesn't have a chance before he swings her onto his horse and leaps the narrow waters...

Broke for dinner at 6:30 for more of the summer Password marathon. Mark Summers couldn't hold a slime-covered candle to big, bold Roz Ryan, who got her contestant through the Super Password round in no time flat. She even had the chance to do a little singing later. 

Continued into Let's Make a Deal as I had dessert. Poor Monty Hall nearly had his ear drums ruptured by a woman dressed as a blue crayon who was just way too excited for words! She screamed as much over a refrigerator as she did when she got the Big Deal of the Day, a trip to the Caribbean. 

Finished the night with Beach Party, which is currently free with ads at YouTube, after a shower. I go into the first of the famous surfing beach musicals of the mid-60's with Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog. 

Beach Party

Suspended In Time

Got a quick start this morning. I spent so much time getting my blog entry together last night, it didn't leave me a lot of time to get ready for work! Managed to eat and dash out, arriving just in time.

That's about the only thing that went right all day. Work was a pain again. I'd no sooner attempt to sweep the store than someone would call me to put away carts of cold items customers didn't want, and then someone would call me to find a motorized cart for a customer, and then I'd have to go outside and get carts, all at the same time. I could barely finish anything. At least this time, I had help from the teen boy evening bagger after 4 PM. He got half the carts and swept the store, freeing me up to shelve cold items and finally gather the overflowing outside trash and recycling.

Went straight into dinner and Super Password when I got home. Buzzr's holding a Password marathon at 6 PM for the next two weeks. I arrived in time to see the master of slime himself, Marc Summers of the Nickelodeon Double Dare, lead his contestant through Password Puzzles. He was shocked when she got a puzzle on one word! (Heck, I was shocked!)

Since it looks like Match Game is bumped from 7 PM for a while, I ran one of the early night time episodes on YouTube that Buzzr hasn't gotten to yet. Bombshell Lynda Day George and chatty Orson Bean throw out their own unique answers to whom Sargent Preston of the Yukon married when he was desperate. (You'd think Brett, herself a native of Canada, would have understood that question!) Charles had more fun with a rare chance to answer "__ Poker" in the Head-to-Head.

Finished the night online honoring more of those who have passed away recently. I couldn't find the original Magnum PI for free online anywhere, so I ran Roger E Mosley's episodes of Match Game '91 instead. Mosley played Magnum's helicopter-driving friend on the island on the show, and he had a great time as one of two people from that program to appear in this later version in early April and late May. Here's four of his best shows, for your enjoyment!

Match Game '91 - Episode 184 (April Fool's Day)

Match Game '91 - Episode 185

Match Game '91 - Episode 227 

Match Game '91 - Episode 228

Having been born the year after Grease was a sensation, I grew up listening to Olivia Newton-John on the radio. Even though the movie Xanadu was a flop, the title song, "Magic," and "Suddenly" were massive hits. My favorite of Newton-John's numbers from that soundtrack are her lovely soft-shoe with Gene Kelly "Whenever You're Away With Me" and her passionate ballad "Suspended In Time." The sex-charged "Physical" was one of the earliest videos to get heavy rotation on MTV. 

Even now, hearing her breathy voice on those songs is oddly...comforting, reminding me of when I was very little, laying on Mom's old orange and black zig-zag comforter, playing dress-up in my grandma's frilly slips while a little "Magic" played in the background. Her gentle "Magic" will be very much missed. 

Lost Games

Opened my eyes at 7 AM...and once again called the Acme and told them I wasn't coming in. While I didn't feel as lousy as I did yesterday and my fever was long gone, I still had a sore throat and achy head. I went back to bed until 11 AM, then did my usual reading and writing in my journal.

It was nearly 12:30 before I finally ate brunch. Watched Match Game '75 while I ate. Ed Asner made his first appearance and singer Julie London her only appearance on this classic week. Brett and Fannie had some great cracks at each other and Charles...and Gene and Richard enjoyed admiring the Bicentennial design on Fannie's t-shirt.

Spent most of the remainder of the afternoon online, writing or just doing research. Brett's annoyed when Sir Richard keeps going on and on about "inventions." He can't seem to keep his mind on one thing, and he ignores Charles' attempts to tell them where they're headed next. Brett's worried that he also seems to have forgotten his beloved boys, as he barely mentions them.

Ate an early dinner around quarter of 5 while listening to my original cast album for No, No Nanette. The 1971 revival of this seminal 20's musical was a surprise hit on Broadway that year. Bobby Van, Jack Gilford, Helen Gallagher, Patsy Kelly, and Ruby Keeler were among those who appeared in the sweetly cynical story of a wealthy bible seller, his three proteges, and his carefree ward. "Tea for Two," "I've Confessed to the Breeze," and "I Want to Be Happy" were the big hits. Keeler of course gets the charming chorus routine "Take a Little One Step," while Gallagher tells Van "You Can Dance With Any Girl at All." 

My favorite number was either written for or dug up for the 1971 show and cut, but recorded anyway. Keeler and Gilford recall a gentler New York City and encapsulate what nostalgia means to so many people in the lovely "Only a Moment Ago."

Switched to Steel Pier during dessert. Despite ample coverage in 1997 (including in the Press of Atlantic City), this Kander & Ebb historical fantasy was a major flop on Broadway. A dancer (Karen Ziemba) finds herself pressing a pilot (Daniel MacDonald) into service in a dance marathon in 1933 Atlantic City. Her sleazy promoter husband (Gregory Harrison) tried to make the most of their relationship, including a mock wedding that's more a promotion for his latest discovery (Kristin Chenowith). The pilot, however, isn't what he seems...and by the end of the marathon, he's convinced the dancer that she's ready to fly on her own.

Too bad the story is an overly complicated mess, because there's some good songs here. Debra Monk has a blast as the most ribald of the contestants with the rowdy "Everybody's Girl." Ziemba's best song is the determined "Willing to Ride" in the opening. MacDonald gets three dreamy ballads, "The Last Girl" during the marathon, the chorus routine "Leave the World Behind," and the gentle "First You Dream" near the end. Harrison's best moment is the title song with his girls "Mick's Picks." Chenowith's spoofy "Two Little Words" launched her as a Broadway star. I'm not sure how easy this is to find today, but if you're a fan of Kander & Ebb or know about Atlantic City history, it's worth hearing at least once for some decent songs alone.

Finished the night online after a shower with more bits of 20th century history. As I mentioned last week when discussing the early years of Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune, game shows are particularly prone to being lost. Even some long-running shows like Wheel have fewer than 20 to 100 episodes left of thousands made prior to the early 80's. Merv Griffin's company kept reusing tapes until 1985! Most of Chuck Woolery's run and Pat Sajak's early years in daytime are gone forever. The 1981 show here is among the survivors.

At least they were recorded. Most early game shows were broadcast live and not recorded, or recorded on kineoscopes - film recordings of TV shows - that were junked. The late 50's smash Dotto had a double hit against it - it was live and one of the shows involved in the infamous 1958 Quiz Scandals, where game shows were accused of being fixed. The episode I have is one of three shows currently available. Likewise, NBC's shopping show Say When! was a four-year hit in the early 60's, but only has one regular episode remaining.

Buzzr running an episode of the early 70's Password next week is what gave me the idea for this theme in the first place. While CBS apparently stopped erasing their tapes in 1972, ABC kept doing it until 1978, and NBC until 1980. Among ABC's victims were the 1971 version of Password, the original 1973 Split Second with Tom Kennedy, and the 1966 The Newlywed Game with Bob Eubanks. (Password was reportedly taped over by Family Feud!) Only two episodes of Split Second and six of Password '71 exist online and a smattering of early Newlywed shows. 

Their competition didn't fare much better. The Who, What, or Where Game from 1969 is a quiz show that's pretty similar to its lead-in Jeopardy. Once again, we have people betting on their answers to questions; this time, they can choose a who, what, or where question, and the money they get depends on the difficulty of the question. This was just as much fun as its sister program; too bad there's only about two or three episodes remaining. 

The early Alex Trebek hit High Rollers had contestants tossing to see who could answer questions and win prize packages off of a board with columns of numbers. While the Wink Martindale syndicated version from 1987 does exist in full, Alex's runs from 1974-1976 and 1978-1980 were largely wiped. Only one episode from the former and twelve of the latter are available now. 

Celebrate TV history with these rare episodes! (And look for the original commercials on several of them!)

Dotto (1958)

Say When! (1961)

The Newlywed Game (1966)

The Who, What or Where Game (1971)

Password (1972)

Split Second (1973)

High Rollers (1978)

Wheel of Fortune (1981)

Day Under the Covers

I awoke at 5:30 AM to chills, a pounding and overheated head, achy muscles, and sore throat. Went back to sleep until 7, when I called the Acme and told them I wasn't coming in. Beyond my aches and throat, I really needed a day to myself after all the trouble yesterday. I just couldn't face that store. 

Went back under the covers after I got off with them, and this time slept until noon. Wrote in my journal while Match Game '75 played in the front room. Went back and ran a few episodes from earlier that week while having a quick and very late breakfast. Rona Barrett and R&B star Clifton Davies joined the crew this week and got to put their two cents in on a question revolving around whom Richard Dawson would marry. Gossip columnist Barrett said Raquel Welch, but the others all had Charles or Brett (including the contestant). The sweet contestant kept weeping with joy every time she won, prompting Charles to run out and hand her the whole box of tissues.

Got back into bed around 3 PM and napped again until quarter of 6. This, time, I woke up sweating like crazy and not quite as achy, though I remained tired and still had that sore throat. The moment I realized I was sick last night, I ordered a Covid test on Amazon. Took it before dinner...and thank heavens, it came out negative. I haven't lost my sense of smell and my appetite is fine. I ate a normal dinner. I don't even have a stuffy nose or a cough. I suspect it's the flu. Lousy though I feel, it's still better than my awful bout with Covid in January. Even my temperature was down to normal.

Watched You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown during dinner. I go further into the animated version of this beloved off-Broadway Peanuts show at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Musicals on TV - You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (1985)

Finished up the night online with The Cat from Outer Space at Disney Plus. The cat in question is Jake, an alien feline with a collar that allows him to talk and fly, among other amazing abilities. He's taken custody by the US government after an emergency landing. Head man General Stilton (Harry Morgan) doesn't believe the power source is alien, but scientist Frank Wilson (Ken Berry) thinks it's like nothing on this Earth. Jake is impressed by Frank's good heart and how close he actually got to the way the ship works and moves in with him.

Jake needs $120,000 worth of gold to get his ship back in the air. Frank and his scientist girlfriend Liz (Sandy Duncan) hit on using Frank's friend Link's (McLean Stevenson) sports betting to win the money they need. Jake manages to manipulate the horse race, but the football games don't work out so well when a well-meaning vet (Alan Young) knocks him out. They do manage to win the money betting on billiards once Jake comes to, but a goofy industrial spy (Roddy McDowell) has tattled to his evil boss Mr. Olympus (William Prince) about Jake's abilities. Olympus kidnaps Liz, Link, and Liz's pretty white cat Lucybelle, but Jake and Frank have one more ace up their sleeves and fur...

My sisters and I watched this goofy sci-fi comedy on The Disney Channel all the time in the 80's and early 90's, to the point where Mom eventually recorded it. I remember Rose was an especially big fan. I thought it was cute but too silly. Actually, it's not bad. Top sitcom and character actors make the most of the strange material, including MASH commanders Stevenson and Morgan. Berry's clearly enjoying his role as second banana to a handsome talking feline. If you have kids who love talking animal stories or science fiction and are ready for some mild peril, they might get a kick out of this. 

Bad Day Rising

Overslept and got a very quick start to the day. Finally finished Death On the Menu, which didn't give me time for much of anything else. I gulped down my breakfast and dashed out, trying to ignore a sunny, crazy hot and humid day.

I shouldn't have ignored the weather. Work was a royal pain in the rear. I would have been happier to push carts and sweep the store if not only was I called to do six other things when I was busy with them, but if four different managers didn't keep telling me to do jobs I already knew I was supposed to do. I'm not a child. I am perfectly capable of doing my job. And the head bagger ended up in a register, so I had no help. I fell so behind on the carts by 5, a manager ended up helping me with them. Didn't help that we were off-and-on busy, probably due to this being the first weekend of the month. 

My schedule next week is barely a schedule. I asked for two days off to do the counseling work at Goodwill and took a paid day off to have a day at home, plus they gave me Saturday off. Not only that, but I work 8 1/2 hours on two of the three days I do go in. 

Grabbed some snacks and things I needed on the way home. Clementines were on a decent sale, and I had a coupon for the 8-pack of Larabars and brownie cookies. Found a gum protection mouthwash from a fancy company that specializes in environmentally safe products on the clearance rack. Choboni yogurt was a dollar each, plus I had an online coupon that brought them to $.75 each. 

When I finally made it home, I felt absolutely terrible. My body was sore, my throat was sore, and I was beyond tired. I managed to eat dinner and watch Match Game '75. In the first episode, Charles wore a straw cowboy-style hat that later migrated onto Gene's head. In the second, we're introduced to an attractive older woman contestant with the most beautiful head of snow-white hair I ever saw. She said her husband was studying to be a wrestler. That and his name being Bill Bailey (as in the old song "Bill Bailey, Won't You Please Come Home?") prompted a lot of jokes from the panel.

Finished the night on YouTube and Pluto TV. Managed to squeeze in an episode of The Ghost and Mrs. Muir after a shower. I suspect Topanga and Cory from Boy Meets World would be surprised to see an unusually debonair William Daniels, the owner of a yacht, romancing Carolyn in "Mr. Perfect." Captain Gregg is suspicious at first when the seaman gets seasick, but he finally ends up trying to throw them together. 

Sony launched 24 hour Pluto TV channels for Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune on August 1st. Not only did I finally have the chance to check them out, but I watched them as my family would have when I was little - Jeopardy first, then Wheel. (And if I could find the Pennsylvania Lottery numbers streaming, I would have watched them, too.) 

The episodes on both channels revolved around young people. Arrived at Jeopardy in time for one of the shows from their College Tournament in 2014. The bright girl from UCLA was ahead for most of the first round, but she made a lot of mistakes in the second. The girl from Princeton charged ahead to win one for North Jersey. 

The Wheel episode from 2017 had teen best friend duos playing together. The two girls in the middle cleaned up, getting twice as much money as anyone else and winning a trip to Hawaii. They didn't do quite as well with the bonus round, though. 

And...I still have a headache, sore throat, and a slight stomachache and fever. The achy muscles might be leftover from work, but the rest is going to require calling out tomorrow and taking a COVID test, which I ordered from Amazon tonight. 

Hot Day at Home

Began a killer hot morning at home with breakfast and She-Ra. Catra sends a Melog, a mud monster, to fight She-Ra. It becomes the "Enemy With My Face" when it absorbs her powers and part of her likeness. To Catra's dismay, it's also absorbed her feelings. She-Ra encourages it to become its own creature when Catra lashes out.

Took my laundry downstairs, then switched to Match Game '74 while vacuuming and Swiftering. In the first episode, while the others joke about how Nanook creates his own electricity, Richard gets an amazing answer to "Peter __" on the Head-to-Head. Charlie Brill and Joyce Bulifant look on here. In the next one, Richard is delighted to hear about a pretty young contestant with a streak in her hair who wraps bodies with seaweed at a spa. The others have an easier time figuring out "Sandy __" in the Audience Match.

Put my first load of laundry in the dryer, dropped a smaller load in the wash, then had a quick lunch and dusted while returning to She-Ra. "Book Burning" is surprisingly dark for a mid-80's animated TV series. Adora and Bow are the guests at a class where they try to explain to the kids about the Great Rebellion. One kid in particular thinks that the Horde is great and what they say is a load of hooey, The Horde recruit him to spy on the teacher and anyone else in the town whom they think is going against them. He learns a tough lesson when the Horde burn any print material that speaks out against their regime and try to take the children away.

Spent the rest of the afternoon working on projects online after I brought my first load of laundry upstairs, including my review for the Elvis movie I saw yesterday. I go into further detail at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Elvis (2022)

Finally broke for dinner (and remembered to retrieve my laundry) at 7. Ate while watching Match Game '75. They jumped back to the week of Bill Macy's only appearance on the show this evening. He really should have returned, because he livened up one of the funniest weeks of the year. The first one has a girl named Tommie fielding an inappropriate comment from Gene and drooling from Richard. In the next, everyone has some very amusing answers as to who would play the Beast to Betty White's Beauty.

Finished the night with Murder She Wrote at the Roku Channel. Leslie Nielson plays her ex-boyfriend David Everett, who working with several young people seeking 18th century sunken gold off the coast of Cabot Cove. It becomes "Dead Man's Gold" when one man almost dies when his equipment malfunctions and one of the women in the group is killed in a hit-and-run. Jessica doesn't believe either were accidents, especially once it's discovered that if one member of the group dies, the others get a larger share of the gold.

At the Movies

Got a quick start today! I was up at quarter after 9, and the movie I wanted to see was at 10:40. Ate breakfast as quickly as I could, then called Uber. There was no way I'd get there in time on the bus. I definitely picked the right option, because the driver arrived in less than a minute and got me to the Cinemark in Somerville in ten. 

They were surprisingly busy for 10:30 in the morning. I guess a lot of people wanted to either take advantage of cheaper prices (my ticket was $7.50), or get out before the heat got bad. I considered getting popcorn and water, but not only were the lines long, but I planned on going out to eat later. Opted to move along and find the theater instead. Given it was the first showing of the day, there were only two or three people behind me and two next to me. (Although those two made a mess and left popcorn and a drink holder on the floor.) 

I ended up seeing the Baz Lutherman Elvis biography. I'm not a huge Elvis fan, but I do appreciate Lutherman's flashy style, and I love his other movies like The Great Gatsby and Moulin Rouge. I'll go further into the specifics tomorrow at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

(Oh, and definitely the most interesting commercials were for Black Adam with The Rock playing a god again coming out in October and the next Mission: Impossible movie. I'm disappointed that the latter won't drop until next year. The trailer is awesome.)

After a quick stop at the bathroom, I headed next-door to Applebee's for lunch. It was almost 2 by the time I got there, and they weren't busy at all. Just a few groups and pairs scattered across the room. They likely just got out of a movie like I did. Had a simple but tasty Strawberry Chicken Almond Salad and iced tea. I even found an old Applebee's gift card I had a little bit of money left on.

Hiked over the hill and across the cart-strewn parking lot to the sprawling Walmart perched on the edge of the hill. It has some of the best views around. They weren't really all that busy, either. I peered around the toy section, but I did just buy all those doll outfits last week. Ended up with two 50 cent composition books, four 15 cent folders, their peanut butter chocolate chip date bars, shampoo, and two containers of "sweet vanilla biscuits" - soft cake-like vanilla bean cookies - that were on clearance in the bakery.

Since I had the time and I took Uber to the movies, I figured I'd take the bus home. It picks you up right in front of Taco Bell on the White Horse Pike. I ended up waiting almost a half-hour. They don't really give a specific pick-up time for any stop between the Voorhees Town Center and Barrington. Another guy had more problems with it than I did. The "stop" is just a sign, no bench or even a trash can. The day being hot, humid, and sunny didn't improve things. Thankfully, the bus did finally turn up around 4:20. Other than stopping for a few minutes to let a woman in a wheelchair off, they hit no major traffic or trouble. I was home by quarter of 5.

Worked on writing for a little while when I got in. Richard's inventions sound like a load of hooey to Brett, but she listens to  his rambling anyway because he's the only one who knows how to get them through the woods. She's just hoping he remembers how, since he sure can't remember how to stay on his horse. He keeps listing to either side and almost ending up on the ground.

Broke for dinner at 6:30. Watched Let's Make a Deal while I ate. I was a bit surprised to see a different game for Door #4 in this episode. They gave out money to the randomly chosen contestant instead of spinning a wheel. A couple dressed as motorcyclists took big cash, only to realize they passed up a car. They got appliances on the big deal of the day, while a clown couple ended up with a very 80's brass-and-glass kitchen ensemble and money to redecorate.

Had dessert while watching Match Game '77. Everyone throws out nautical terms for "The Deep __" on the Audience Match, but it's Fannie who ends up helping her with "__ Catalog" in the Head-to-Head. Richard's happier drooling over a pretty court reporter.

Finished the night on The Roku Channel with the last season of Charlie's Angels. Julie and her friend Bianca are "Angels In the Deep" when Julie goes diving for sunken treasure. Julie doesn't know what to think when they're attacked underwater by a man with a knife. Turns out there's a lot more to that sunken treasure than possible booty when they're chased by a pair of goofy goons and learn Bianca is in up to her neck with drug sellers whose shipment went down with the boat. 

National Night Out

Began a far sunnier morning with breakfast and the earlier Peanuts summer special. Chuck and the other kids recall how It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown when Lucy signed them all up for summer camp. Lucy and the girls beat Charlie Brown and the boys at every sporting event and activity, until the boys get Snoopy to arm wrestle Lucy! 

Worked on writing for a while after that. Brett's alarmed, then annoyed when Richard keeps falling off his horse. He says he's doing fine. All he needs is practice. The others remind him he can't practice if he's fallen under his ride.

Broke to get ready for work at quarter after 12. Today's Match Game '74 is probably my favorite episode from that year. Charles reads his answer to "__ Roulette" for Janet Finn in the slow-moving style of newscaster Walter Cronkite...to the frustration of Janet and the annoyance of the others, who attack him after he finally gets it out!

Headed off to work a little early again so I could have lunch there. Work went pretty much the same as yesterday. Once again, I swept the store and pushed carts...but were a little busier today, too, thanks to this being Senior Discount Day. I also had to put away cold items, clean up a fruit spill in a register, and mop up the leaky floor around the meat department. Every time I tried to do one thing, someone would tell me to do something else, and then another person would tell me to do something while I did that! I wish they'd make up their minds. I can't do 200 things at once. I'm not a machine.

It was hot, sunny, and killer humid for most of the afternoon, even when clouds kept moving in and out. They were long gone by the time I started home. Oaklyn's fire and police department always holds a fair for National Night Out on West Clinton in early August. I arrived there to see huge crowds watching in awe as the fire fighters lifted their ladder high into the pale blue sky. Police officers gave out free water bottles, inflatable balls, and glow-in-the-dark Frisbees. Kids jumped in bounce houses, one a basic rainbow-colored, one candy-themed, got their faces painted, and had mock sword fights with balloon weapons. 

I ended up with a free bag of popcorn and a soft pretzel. Grabbed two quick slices of pizza and a bottle of Diet Pepsi from Phillies Phatties and had them out on the picnic tables. It was too crowded with kids hanging out to eat in there! One of the kids even asked me if he could ride my bike. Uh, no. I need my bike. It's not a toy. I did get to have a quick chat with Brittany, one of my neighbors from Hillcrest, and her kids coming back from getting ice cream.

Watched the tail end of Match Game '77 when I got home. Brett Somers spent the last week of 1977 doing a play, but Fannie Flagg was a more than adequate substitute. As I came in, Gene was delighted to meet an older man with a Yugoslavian last name who spoke Serbo-Croatian like he did. Fannie and Mary Wickes were happier flirting with him.

Finished the night on Tubi with Clambake. I go further into this charming Elvis beach musical from 1967 at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Clambake 

Cool Summer

Started off the morning with breakfast and Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. Miss Elaina and Daniel look forward to helping with "Jodi's Lemonade Stand"... as soon as the rain stops. Even when it does pass, they're dismayed when they realize they left the sign they made outside in the weather. They fix it and bring it to Jodi's, only for her to forget the lemons. Dan Sr. and Lady Elaine tell the kids that it's easier to remember things if you say them out loud. "Daniel Remembers What He Needs" when he's so excited about show-and-tell, he almost leaves his lunch at home. 

Worked on writing for a while after breakfast. Brett reminds Richard that he's there to get them through the woods, not mess with boxes and anklets. Charles points out that this may be worse than him dying. He can't lead them to the Red Castle with a scrambled brain. He claims he can ride the horse and lead them there, but he keeps falling off. When Brett suggests he walk, he says he's had plenty of practice...and then falls off again.

Broke to get ready for work around quarter after 12 while watching Match Game '74. Everyone's delighted to help sweet Janet Finn rack up the cash, especially Charles, whom she keeps picking for the Head-to-Head. The others try to help Janet with "Mountain __" on the Audience Match, while Brett teases Donald Ross about his weird bright matching shirt-and-tie combos.

Thankfully, considering today is the beginning of the month and all the trouble I've had at work lately, I had no problems there today. I ended up spending most of a cloudy and unusually cool for August day pushing carts. I was in and out with no fuss. Had a quick lunch and bought bran muffins before I started.

Went straight home after work. Had leftovers for a much-needed dinner while checking out Let's Make a Deal. The Big Dealers on this episode were an adult Minnie Mouse in weird makeup and a bunny in a purple leotard and her surfer dude husband. Minnie didn't find much in Monty's Piggy Bank...because the bunny found the Big Deal, a beautiful bedroom ensemble and lots of cash.

Did Match Game '77 while having dessert. Charles is upset in the Christmas Eve episode that he wasn't asked to dress as Santa again. He promptly turns up in the next show wearing said Santa suit and claiming he'd been asked to wear it everywhere else, including Hollywood Squares. (This must be why Charles not only wore the suit for Christmas '78, Brett got in on the act as a little girl on his knee, too.)

Finished the night online honoring the late Pat Carroll, who passed away yesterday. Carroll's best-known today as the voice of Ursula the Sea Witch from the Disney Little Mermaid and Grandma Arbuckle from the Garfield Christmas and Thanksgiving specials, but in the 60's and 70's, she was a popular comedian and character actress on the stage and TV. Went to Hulu to watch "Hi!" from the first season of The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Mary's in the hospital to have her tonsil out. Her roommate is grouchy Lorretta Kuhn (Carroll), who has an ulcer, a broken leg, and a husband she can't stand. Mary wishes she could cheer her up, but talking to her may be the best medicine. 

Carroll was also a fairly common sight on game shows from the 1950's through the 80's. She made her only appearance on Match Game early in the show's run in 1973. It's too bad neither she nor Robert Culp would ever return. She seemed to have a great time that week, especially laughing over Richard's answer to what Raquel would bet if she lost all her money in a poker game.