Windy Harvest

Got a fast start this morning with breakfast and more Paw Patrol. Mayor Humdinger wants free candy, but he's too old to join the trick-or-treaters. He creates a giant spider that sucks up all their candy. "The Pups Save the Trick-or-Treaters" and Mayor Humdinger too when the spider gets stuck in a huge web decoration. "The Pups Save an Out-of-Control Mini Patrol" when little Alex's turbo-powered bike gets out of hand on his way to deliver cow shampoo to Katie.

Hurried out even before the cartoon ended. After a brief stop at the book kiosk on the next block to drop off three mystery novels I didn't want, I headed down to Collingswood for the farm market. Corn is gone, but Brussels sprouts and winter greens are out. I thought I'd try smaller versions of the honeycrisp apples everyone loves but are so expensive, along with more Asian pears. Picked up an apple cider doughnut at Springdale Farm's tables. They make the best apple cider doughnuts, just sweet and spicy enough. Grabbed a chocolate banana smoothie on the way home. 

At least the weather was glorious. Sunny, very windy, and in the lower 70's. Couldn't have been nicer for early October. I had an enjoyable ride home. 

Went into writing after I arrived. Gene admits he loves biting into a juicy role. He'd love to do soap operas, maybe even a TV drama. Other than one appearance on Captain Kangaroo, Bill prefers chatting with people and throwing out quips to learning scripts.

Broke at 12 for a quick lunch and Match Game '75. Richard spent a lot of the episode showing off the new blue striped toe socks a woman gave Gene on his hands. Melinda O'Fee was just happy she actually matched for a change!

Work didn't go nearly as well. I ended up in a register the entire time. I wish I could explain things better to people. I just can't handle people. It gets too overwhelming. They start asking me things, or I'll do something wrong, and I'll get worried, and I'll say the wrong thing and do the wrong thing. And they were almost late letting me out again. We once again had no help at all. I ended up in the express register, which they can't shut down. The night manager had to come in for me.

Oh, and I forgot to mention yesterday I got my schedule. In good news, more hours, two days off. More hours also means longer hours, and very late or early hours. I just hope they let me out of the register. I'm going crazy. 

Rushed home the second I finished. Opened three outfits for the dolls I ordered on eBay. Barbara Jean gets an Our Generation Retro Chevron knit dress with a thick white attached top and a handmade yellow minidress with a pleated chest. I picked up Julie's original white lace blouse and crushed velvet jumper for Ariel for Christmas; Barbara Jean will get the purple paisley minidress.

Watched Match Game PM during dinner. Buzzr is finally getting around to running the early episodes from the first season. Clifton Davies and Lee Merriweather join in on the second episode. The unique thing is here that there's only two rounds. They expanded it to three after the panelists had to toss in way too much filler at the end. 

(Oh, and an insider source at Match Game Productions on YouTube mentioned Buzzr's running the early episodes because they finally found long-lost PM episode #12, which hasn't been seen since it's debut. It'll have its first re-run October 29th.)

Finished the night with A Fairy Tale After All on Tubi after a shower. I go further into this unique fantasy film made by several YouTubers at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Family Fun Saturday - A Fairy Tale After All

Mad House Party

Started off the morning with breakfast and Charlie & Lola. Charlie shows Lola his first-prize-winning rocket made from recycled objects. He's proud of his creation, and is furious when his sister breaks it, despite him clearly telling her not to touch it. "It Wasn't Me!" claims Lola, first blaming a toy elephant, then her imaginary friend Soren Lorenson, before finally confessing the truth.

Made a few e-mails and text first. E-mailed Vanessa at Abilities Solutions about their finding me a job. She e-mailed me back later in the day to say they're just about ready. Their report should be in the mail next week. Had less luck with Jodie. She says the funeral home that creamated Dad should have the death certificate. 

Spent the rest of the morning working on Acting Blank. Gene admits that, while he loves hosting Match Game, he feels a bit typecasted. He's gotten work on a few TV shows (including The Love Boat), but what he really wants is a soap opera. Bill's only real interest is in broadcasting. He'd tried other businesses that hadn't worked out. 

Broke for lunch at noon. Watched Match Game '75 while I ate. Producer and actor Sheldon Leonard, known mostly for playing tough guys and gangsters, made his only appearance on the show this week. Joining him was Cuban bombshell Louisa Moritz, who got a close-up view of Gene standing on her desk and crowing to show her what a rooster on a weather vane looked like. 

Headed out to work just as the show ended. Work was a pain. First, they put me in a register, then pulled me ten minutes later because the head bagger wanted to cashier, and I'd rather not deal with people. I'd try to sweep and gather carts, but people kept calling me to return cold items and go in for cashier's breaks. The carts got backed up because I had no time to gather them. Barely had time for the overflowing outside trash. The night bagger quit, too. Apparently, he got fed up and found a better job. Wouldn't even take his two weeks. He just left. I had no help at all once the head bagger left, and there were barely any cashiers.

Rushed home the second I could get out. Fed the cats for a friend, then had popcorn while watching Match Game '77. Patti Deustch was on a roll tonight, getting almost every answer right for once. Meanwhile, Arte Johnson and Barbara Rhodes helped the others with two tie-breaking rounds in a row. 

Heard from Mom when I got home. She texted me a photo of little Aurora. Apparently, while she's still in the hospital, she's now drinking from a bottle instead of a tube. It's only electrolytes, but it's still not a tube. Sounds like she's getting much better (and oh, is she ever cute!). 

Finished the night on Kanopy with The Old Dark House. This is the prototypical "scary house of horrors" story from 1932. A group of people are stranded in an old Welsh manor house with with a none-too-friendly older brother-sister pair and their mute hairy manservant Morgan (Boris Karloff). Morgan drinks heavily, too, and chases the ladies when he does. While Phillip Waverton (Raymond Massey) defends his wife Margaret (Gloria Stuart) against Morgan, comely chorus girl Gladys DuCane (Lillian Bond) falls for handsome playboy Roger Penderel (Melvyn Douglas). The brother and sister, however, have a secret they keep in a locked room. When Morgan lets that little secret out, all hell almost literally breaks loose!

James Whale, who also directed Frankenstein with Karloff, mixes scares with a bit of sophisticated comedy in this enjoyable hybrid. That "old dark house" really is creepy, with its creaks and groans and mysterious cackles behind locked doors. Everyone does well with the mix of scares and subtle laughs, including Douglas as the gad-about who finds himself falling for a girl and Charles Laughton as her jovial titled protector. If you're like me and prefer your scares to be on the more subtle, menacing side, this is one "old dark house" worth checking out. 

Rainy Daze

Awoke to gloomy, gray skies and heavy humid weather. The damp roads indicated that it rained overnight, but not recently. I managed to eat a quick breakfast and hurry off to work without getting even damp. 

The weather must have scared everyone away. The Acme was dead for most of the day. It would pick up a little when the rain slowed down, only to die again after it started up again. I spent the time between customers shelving candy and organizing shelves and coolers. Of course, it started to get busy again just as I prepared to go. I shut down just in time with no relief. 

Despite the shower coming down when I left, I had a few errands to do. Started with the T-Mobile in the shopping center behind the Acme again. My phone still wasn't working right. I couldn't use the internet or text or make phone calls. Turns out my old SIM card didn't work with my new phone line, and I had to buy a new one. 

Thankfully, by the time they fixed that problem, the rain had vanished. It remained damp and humid, but not not wet. I dodged early rush hour traffic on Nicholson, heading across Oaklyn to WaWa. Picked up a Peach Perrier and money from the ATM machine.

Hurried in by quarter of 4 and went straight upstairs. Tossed popcorn in the microwave and watched It Started With Eve. I go further into this romantic comedy vehicle for soprano Deanna Durbin and Captain Bligh himself Charles Laughton at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog. 

It Started With Eve 

Went online for some writing around quarter of 6. Bill Cullen, who moved out to California with his wife Ann in the late 70's, wonders why Gene Rayburn won't do the same. It would cut down on communiting time and give him more opportunity to act on TV. Gene disagrees. He and his wife Helen dislike the LA pollution, traffic, noise, and glittering lifestyle, preferring quieter Cape Cod. 

Broke for dinner at quarter of 7. Watched Match Game '74 as I ate. A soft-spoken Frenchwoman with a charming accent became the big winner, though she didn't do as well against a gentleman with a pompadour who said he'd buy his children a pony with his winnings...despite not having anywhere to keep it. 

Cleaned up during Match Game '77. Brett laughed so hard at something Charles said at one point, she nearly fell off her chair. While the others figure out "__ Form" in the Audience Match, Gene literally puts himself in the place of the contestant after he gets fed up with their answers. 

Finished the night watching more Murder She Wrote after my shower. Jessica's nephew Grady makes his first appearance in the second-season episode "Murder By Appointment Only." Jessica's shocked when one of her former students dies in what seems to be a robbery. The door, however, shows no signs of forced entry. Turns out the young woman had many secrets, some of which didn't make her fiancee, the president of a cosmetics company (Robert Culp), happy. Meanwhile, Jessica keeps trying to dodge his sister (Jayne Meadows), the bossy head of the company who insists she sell her product.

Earlier in the season, Jessica takes what she hopes will be a relaxing weekend at a local lakeside inn. It turns out to be anything but when she witnesses a woman get pushed into the lake by her husband. When the body finally turns up, he's accused of drowning "A Lady In the Lake." Jessica thinks there's more to it, especially after she discovers the husband just sold his family business for millions of dollars. 

Oh, and the rain came back during Murder She Wrote. It poured for the next couple of hours, but seems to have settled down now. 

Phone Troubles

Slept in again this morning. By the time I got going, Match Game '75 was on. Carol Bartos became the all-time winner on the show to that point, thanks to Fannie Flagg helping her with "Tie __" on the Head-to-Head (and what Fannie wore in that episode). Bartos kept a small piece of paper with her, a good luck charm from her dear friend and another enjoyable all-time winner, the sweetly adorable Janet Finn.

Let Tattletales run as I found and inserted my old SIM card into my phone. This time, though Richard and Jody did well, they only came in second. I had more concerns about my card. No sooner did I put it in than my phone wouldn't send text messages or let me make calls. I don't get it. If it doesn't want the original SIM card or the new one, what does it want? 

Got fed up around 1:30-2 PM and rushed out to run a few errands. Started at the Haddon Township Library. They're not really a very big library. While they do have a good selection of children's books and DVDs, their adult section leaves something to be desired. They had absolutely nothing from Ben Aaronovitch or Glenn Cook, and I didn't feel like ordering them from other libraries. I'll have to look those up online or in used book stores. I did end up taking out the newest books from Joanne Fluke's Caramel Pecan Roll Murder (which kept vanishing earlier in the year) and Lauren Childs' Haunted Hibiscus (which I saved for October due to its Halloween setting), and two books on managing money for women.

Didn't get to Target until past 3:30. Picked up an extra-large container of conditioner they had there for the price of the regular-sized one at the Acme. I mainly wanted to look at things for my Mystery Bags. I got the go-ahead to hand out candy for a friend yesterday. Target, however, had already pulled the majority of its Halloween section except the costumes. Why, I have no clue. Everyone else in the area still has extensive Halloween sections, and we're still a good two weeks from the holiday. They could have waited until after Halloween to pull everything. 

Had far more luck at Dollar Tree a few doors down. They still had a ton of Halloween decorations and party favors. Ended up with mini-notebooks, chalkboard ornaments, regular wooden ornaments you can paint on, plastic ping-pong ball eyes, vampire teeth that squirt candy "blood," and two boxes of pumpkin spice mini-Moon Pies. 

Soon as I got home, I went upstairs and straight into Acting Blank. Gene Rayburn loves being able to disappear into a character, whether it's Scrooge or randy Old Man Perriwinkle. Bill Cullen understands his interest, but he prefers talking to people and hearing their stories as himself. 

Broke for dinner at 7 PM. Watched more Match Game '77. The rest of the week isn't quite as wild, but we do get a few jokes about a contestant named Tom Parker (who even looked a little like the infamous Colonel Tom Parker who managed Elvis Presley). In the second episode, Elaine Joyce points out that Gene's shoelaces are untied...because she did it. 

Finished the night on the Roku Channel with the 1944 version of Gaslight. Paula Alquist (Ingrid Bergman) witness the terrible murder of her beloved opera-singing aunt as a teen. She later trains as an opera singer herself, then marries handsome Frenchman Gregory Anton (Charles Boyer) despite barely knowing him. That turns out to be a big mistake. They move into her aunt's old house and intend to use some of her furniture, until she reads a lettter that mentions a "Sergis Bauer." He gets angry...and that's where the trouble begins. He claims she's sick, refusing to allow her to visit neighbors or even leave the house. He tells the new maid Nancy (Angela Lansbury) she's crazy. She almost starts to believe it after she hears strange noises upstairs. Scotland Yard Inspector Brian Cameron (Joseph Cotten) had interest in Alice's death, and now he believes there's more to story, and more to what's happening to her niece as well.

Classic psychological thriller veers from the play it's based on, but still manages to work thanks to incredible performances from a tense Bergman, cold Boyer, and coy Lansbury. You'd never know Lansbury was 17 at the time and this was her first performance. She and Bergman got Oscar nominations, as did the film itself. Highly recommended for lovers of psychological mysteries or dark romances. 

A Step In the Right Direction

Got a such a late start this morning, I had breakfast during the tail end of Classic Concentration and the start of Match Game '75. Carol Bartos won her second and third games in these episodes; she would eventually go on to become one of the show's biggest winners. Arlene Francis also made her first appearance since the pilot episode here, while Bob Barker tossed out jokes about why they hadn't called the first items up for bids yet. Fannie's happier to help Carol with "Pie __" in the Audience Match.

Even before the second episode ended, I went online. Called T-mobile after I called their customer service phone number. They couldn't get into the original account because I didn't have Jessa's password and account number. I never needed them before! Dad and Jessa always handled everything to do with the phone line. I called Jessa to either go to one of their stores and give them the password or call them and give it to them, but she said I'd need to hit a physical store.

Let Tattletales run while I signed a congratulations on your new baby card for Keefe and Julia, a get-well-soon card for Skylar, and a late birthday card and gift card for my good friend Amanda. Tattletales moved to 1 PM as of yesterday, bumping the 60's Password off the schedule. (While I am disappointed they removed that and dumped Let's Make a Deal at 11 PM, they did restore Press Your Luck at 10 AM.) The only couple I recognized in the 1975 episodes I watched were Richard Dawson and his then-girlfriend Jody Donovan. They played well in the first episode, but not well enough to beat producer Harvey Miller and his wife Diana Ewing.

Rushed out as the second episode was ending. Briefly stopped at Dollar General first, but they didn't have the conditioner I wanted. Went to WaWa next. Had a very fast and simple lunch of a soft pretzel, a banana, and a pumpkin spice smoothie.

Made it to the T-Mobile store in the mall behind the Acme by almost 3, then called Jessa. We had a lot of miscommunication. I tried to get her to give me the password and account number, or at least go to a physical store herself, but she kept insisting I do it. Then she said she only knew the pin number and couldn't remember the account number. It took over 40 minutes of haggling and frustration before the young woman finally transferred my phone number to the new phone line and said I was free to go.

(And from now on, no letting my family do anything for me. No giving them anything "for safekeeping," no sharing anything with them, no living with them. I'll hang out with Jessa and spend holidays with her, but I really need to  stand on my own two feet.)

Cut through Oaklyn on my way back. I hoped to see one of the neighbors who knew Jodie on Hillcrest, but I only saw kids out enjoying the gorgeous, warm sunshine and soft breezes. I'll try texting them tomorrow and seeing if I can get Jodie's phone number to call her about the death certificate. Made another quick stop at Dollar General for laundry detergent after I crossed the White Horse Pike.

Went straight upstairs after I finally got home and into popcorn popped in a microwave and First Love. I go further into this lovely Cinderella tale starring teen soprano Deanna Durbin at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

First Love (1939)

Went online to work on the review for that and Acting Blank. Gene chuckles as the others head off. Brett and Charles are really something else. Bill Cullen is more worried about their appearing in A Christmas Carol together. He's doing it for the children's charity and for Gene's sake, but he's not really much for acting. 

Had dinner at 7 PM. Watched Match Game '77 as I ate. Today's episode was one of the funniest of the year, and one of the best to feature tough-guy Scoey Mitchilll. He's so tough, he's probably the only panelist who could get away with leaving the desks to use the bathroom in the middle of an episode. 

(Oh, and looks like Buzzr's next special event will be their first Halloween marathon on the 29th. I'm really excited for this one. Looks like it'll include several shows that they either haven't run or don't often turn up, including the hilarious Halloween episode of Match Game '90 and episodes of the Ray Combs and Richard Karn Family Feud.) 

Finished the night online after a shower with episodes of Murder She Wrote in honor of Angela Lansbury, Jessica Fletcher herself, who passed away today. "Harbinger of Death" from the fourth season brings her to a research observatory, where her niece Carrie and her husband Leonard (Dean Jones) are supposed to be residing. Carrie's not there when she comes, and Leonard is tied up in trying to discover a new comet. What he finds is a dead man at the home across the street...the one where the victim assaulted his bored wife. The local cop is convinced Leonard did it, but Jessica thinks there's a lot more to it...and there's a lot that neither Leonard nor Carrie are telling.

Skipped way ahead to the eleventh season for "Film Flam." Jessica travels to Hollywood to discuss the adaptation of one of her novels. The studio is in the midst of restoring the lost, unfinished work of a popular director who died young. A huge fan of his who is going to write a book on his death (John Astin) also passes away, just as he claims he got a bit of information that would bring several shocking revelations to light. Jessica works with the head of the studio and his daughter to find who didn't want that book to come out.

Two of Lansbury's movies were major parts of my childhood. I'm even fonder of Bedknobs and Broomsticks than I am of Mary Poppins. It has a grittiness to it that the 60's fantasy lacks; Lansbury keeps things grounded as the apprentice witch who hopes to find a spell that will help England wind World War II. Her lovely ballad "The Age of Not Believing" got nominated for an Oscar. She also joined David Tomlinson for his rousing "Eglantine" and the catchy "Substitutionary Locomotion." "A Step In the Right Direction" and "Nobody's Problems" didn't make it into the original cut of the film, but the former is on the soundtrack, and the latter was restored later. For most kids who grew up in the 90's, Lansbury is probably best-known as the voice of Mrs. Potts in the original 1991 Beauty and the Beast who introduced the Oscar-winning title song. 

Actually, my first encounter with Lansbury may have left the most lasting impression. I was only four when I first saw Lansbury and George Hearn in the stage version of Sweeney Todd that ran on cable in the early 80's. I never forgot the gruesome image of a woman and a man making meat pies from human remains...and I never really felt the same way about Lansbury afterwards! (I don't think half the cops who harassed Jessica in Murder She Wrote would have given her as much trouble if they knew what this lady could do with a meat cleaver.) 

Pups and Mysteries and a Caballero

Started off the morning with breakfast and Paw Patrol on Paramount Plus. The pups are eager to go trick-or-treating, but their night out is interrupted when Mayor Goodway and some of the kids think they spot a ghost on board Cap'n Turnbot's pirate ship. "The Pups Save a Pirate Ghost" when they come over to investigate.

Switched to Tubi for The New Scooby Doo Mysteries as I got ready for work. "A Halloween Hassle In Dracula's Castle" brings Mystery Inc back together for a strange variation on their usual formula that has them helping Dracula rid his mad monster party of a ghost who definitely wasn't on the guest list. The monsters are real, but the ghost doesn't seem to be...but who's behind his appearance?

Headed out to work after Scooby ended for my second 8 1/2 hour work day in a row. Spent most of the day this time outside, doing carts. Couldn't have been a nicer day to do it, too. It was sunny, breezy, and in the lower 70's, perfect for mid-October. Trouble was, I had a hard time keeping up with the carts on my own, especially during rush hour. A cashier didn't want to work 8 1/2 hours and called out, and the head bagger took his place. I didn't have help until 5. He took over doing the sweeping and gathered the overflowing trash as well, allowing me to finally focus on refilling the carts. 

Went straight home after work and into dinner and Match Game '77. Fannie Flagg is known for her unique answers, but for once, she turned out to be the only person who matched the contestant in a question about whom the ringmaster had to sleep next to at the circus. Gene was so pleased, he encouraged the audience to give Fannie a standing ovation! 

Finished the night online with three episodes of the original Disney black-and-white Zorro series. They finally got around to putting it on Disney Plus, probably in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. My sisters and I loved watching this on The Disney Channel in the 80's and early 90's. Rose was the biggest fan. She's been wild about all things Mexican and Latin American since she started taking Spanish in the 6th grade. (And she still speaks it very well.) 

The first two episodes of the series, "Presenting Senior Zorro" and "Zorro's Secret Passage" introduce Don Diego Vega (Guy Williams) and his mute confidante and manservant Bernardo (Henry Sheldon) and reveal how they turn outlaw to combat the cruel Monastario (Britt Lomond). Don Diego has a harder time coming to the rescue at a beloved mission when the head monk shelters an unjustly accused man. When Monastario kidnaps the monk's native workers and force them into building a road past the mission, that's when "Zorro Rides to the Mission." 

Whoopee Games

Got a quick start to the day with breakfast and Bluey. After Bluey's dad Bandit keeps beating her at cards, her mother Chili sets up an "Obstacle Course" so she and her sister Bingo can just have fun playing. Of course, Bandit can't resist turning that into a competition, too. Bluey cheats to beat her father, but she feels bad afterwards. Chili and her sister Bingo insist the best way to beat her dad is to practice on the course.

Rushed out to work after that, barely getting to enjoy a beautiful, sunny, windy fall day. Barely made it on time. It wasn't busy when I arrived, but it got really bad around 11:30-noon, right before the football games were supposed to begin. Even after the Eagles game started at 4:25, it stayed fairly busy. And I'm still having a hard time dealing with customers. I get so frustrated when things go wrong, I don't have the time to think, or do anything, and I end up panicking. At least it slowed down enough for me to shut down and get off right on time.

(Oh, and while it looks like it may have been close for a while, the Eagles beat the Cardinals 20-17 and remain the only undefeated team in the NFL.)

Stopped at Crown Chicken and Gyro on the way home for dinner. As it turned out, they have cheesesteaks, too. It took longer than I thought it would, despite there only being a young couple ahead of me. They also had a couple of Door Dash orders. Hurried out the second I got my sandwich, fries, and can of Diet Coke.

Had it upstairs while watching Match Game PM. Broadway scriptwriter and director Abe Burrows made his only appearance on Match Game in late 1977, joined by soap opera star Rosemary Forsyth. Abe wasn't very happy with the $100 answer to "Ray __" on the Audience Match...but oh, how Gene strutted! 

Finished the night on YouTube after a shower with more of The Newlywed Game to finish off "Bob-tober." Newlywed Game was Chuck Barris' second major hit after The Dating Game. The day it debuted in 1966, CBS and NBC ran a press conference with the Secretary of Defense.  ABC stuck to their schedule, giving Newlywed Game a bigger head-start than it might have gotten otherwise. It even dented the ratings of early-60's cultural phenomenon Password. 

Most versions of the show run on a fairly simple premise. Four (later three) just-married couples come onstage. The women answer questions about what they think the women will say on certain topics, then the men. The first round is worth 5 points; the second, 10. The final answer is worth 25 points, and determines the game. Winners get a second honeymoon or furniture or appliances for the house. Bob Eubanks is the original leering host who coined the phrase "whoopee" for "sex."

Even after the original show finally bowed to competition from Days of Our Lives in 1974, it returned for a syndicated run in 1977, once again with Eubanks. This one might have gone longer than three years if Barris hadn't overextended his fondness for sensationalism with the highly controversial 3's a Crowd. The show about how well a man knew his wife and secretary was so badly received, it led to all of Barris' shows being canceled, including Newlywed Game. 

Jim Lange moved from The Dating Game for two specials in 1984. They went over so well, Eubanks took over again for another syndicated series in 1985. He stuck around until 1988; comedian Paul Rodriguez took over for the final season. 

Buzzr's currently showing the syndicated revival from the late 90's. The first season had a different host and format that didn't go over so well. With Eubanks and the original format back, it ran for another three seasons.

The most recent incarnation of The Newlywed Game ran on Game Show Network from 2009 to 2012. Pop star Carnie Wilson originally hosted this version; Sherri Shepherd took over in 2010. Bob Eubanks returned for his final Newlywed Game appearances to date for two special episodes. I found the one with him doing a celebrity show with Carnie Wilson, her sister, their mother, and their husbands.

Make a little whoopee with these wild couples as we learn about the ins and outs of relationships! (The 2009 episode has watermarks that make it kind of hard to watch, but it's the only copy I could find.)

The Newlywed Game (1969)

The Newlywed Game (1972)

The Newlywed Game (1978)

The New Newlywed Game Synd (1984)

The Newlywed Game Synd (1998)

The Newlywed Game (2009)

Rushed Harvest

Got a really quick start this morning with breakfast and Doc McStuffins. "Lambie Gets the Linties" when she falls into a mud puddle and must be washed and dried. She's upset that she can't take part in Professor Hootsburg's portrait, but Doc needs her to be patient and stay still to get the lint off. The Professor's having more trouble trying to keep the Wicked King out of the portrait. Stuffed cow Moo Moo dreams of being a ballerina, but she has trouble with her first class. After she falls over and rips her leg, "Moo Moo's Boo Boo" needs surgery from Doc...but she also needs Doc encouraging her to keep practicing. 

I overslept, so it was past 10:30 when I rushed out for today's errands. St. Mark's a few blocks from me in Oaklyn had their Fall Festival today. Not much there - a craft table, a few tables selling wreaths or holiday decorations, tables selling food. I saw nothing of interest and quickly moved on.

Hurried off to the Collingswood Farm Market. They're getting down to the end of their season and had fewer booths than usual, too. Watermelons, peaches, and nectarines are gone, but there's plenty of everything else around. I managed to make my way through the crowds long enough to pick up some tasty little Gala apples, round Asian pears, and three small decorative gourds. Stopped very fast at WaWa for a Coke Dreamland Zero before heading home.

At I had great weather for running around. Though it was windy and chilly, the sun had come out, the sky was radiant blue, and it felt rather nice if you could get out of the wind. I enjoyed my ride to the Farm Market, and to work after I rushed home, changed, and headed out again.

I wish I stayed on the bike. Work continues to be a pain in the rear. Not only did I get stuck in a register today, but we had no help for most of the evening. There were long lines for most of the afternoon, often down the aisles. I couldn't handle the sheer volume and kept panicking. Everyone says I'm being too hard on myself, but I really should be better at dealing with this by now. And of course, they had absolutely no help when I got off at 7, no one to come in for me, and I had two large orders, one with multiple carts. Thought the people were nice about it, I behaved badly and got off late. 

Got my schedule during work. On one hand, I do have more hours than I've had in weeks. I'm not happy at all about working 8 1/2 hours two days in a row, including tomorrow, though. I'll have to miss the Eagles game and the town picnic. It's all late days except for Thursday, too...and given I'm off Tuesday and Wednesday, I have the bad feeling I'm probably working seven days in a row again. 

Dashed home the second I could get away. Had a late dinner while watching Match Game PM. This 1977 episode featured a Canadian woman with a charming accent and a tight Match Game t-shirt that showed every bit of her curves, much to Richard and Dick Gautier's delight. Jo Ann Plfug was more nervous when she had to help her with "Boo __" in the Audience Match.

Finished the night on Tubi with The Magic Voyage. I go further into this goofy German animated retelling of Columbus' famous trip (with a few characters you won't hear about in history books) at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Happy Columbus Day! - The Magic Voyage

I am Absolutely and Very Worn Out

Began the morning with breakfast and Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. "Daniel Listens to Dad" when they go to Music Man Stan's so Dan Sr. can have his trumpet cleaned. "Daniel and Katerina Listen" to each other after Dan suggests they put on a play together.

Worked on writing for a while. Started Acting Blank. Gene Rayburn just showed up at the beginning of a syndicated episode in 1981 wearing a white wig; as Brett joked, it made him look like his character Old Man Perriwinkle. McLean Stevenson grumbles after the show ends that he needs to use the bathroom; so does Edie McClurg. Sharon Farrell just wants to freshen up, and Charles and Brett go off in search of alcoholic liquid refreshment. Gene wants to talk to Bill Cullen about appearing with him on the stage. Gene's looking forward to it; Bill's not sure.

Broke to change and head out around quarter after 12. In addition to dropping a bag of clothes into the donations drop between the Acme building and the shopping center, I wanted T-Mobile to finally switch my phone number to my own line. Which...they didn't do. Jessa apparently still hasn't fixed everything on her side, though she claimed she did. I'll have to call her again.

Haggling with them made me nearly late for work. Work was a royal pain in the rear. They'd send me in for someone's break, then have me shelve candy, only to pull me to take someone's lunch, then would have me do returns...only to pull me to take another break. I wish they'd figure out what I am. Am I a bagger, or a cashier? I can't do both. 

Went straight into writing again when I got home, then had dinner while watching the tail end of Let's Make a Deal. I saw this one when the show ran during July. No one got the Big Deal of the Day, but I don't think the military couple minded having kitchen appliances; and the lady in the plastic crown didn't complain about her sports package she could give to her husband.

Did Match Game '77 while eating dinner. Sweet Tom Smothers and smart soap star Meg Bennett joined in here. Meg's really good at this - she matched almost every time. I'm surprised she didn't come back. They helped the others try to figure out "Ali __" in the first episode and "Havana __" in the second.

Finished the night online after a shower with Charlie & Lola. "I Do Not Ever, Never Want My Wobbly Tooth to Fall Out" says a terrified Lola when Charlie and his buddy Marv tell her horror stories about when their teeth were loose. She changes her tune after Charlie explains about the tooth fairy, but gets upset when she loses her tooth. Charlie helps her explain what happened to the tooth fairy.

Autumn Blue and Gold

Started the morning with breakfast and Bugs Bunny's Howl-oween Special. Bugs goes up against Witch Hazel in this collection of bits and pieces from various classic Looney Tunes horror shorts. At least, unlike Bugs' Easter special, they used shorts that actually involved horror or Halloween, and the filler between them has a few funny moments with Bugs and Hazel.

Headed out shortly after it ended. My first stop of a long and busy day was PNC Bank. Thankfully, their financial advisor changed their mind about talking to me today. We mostly discussed my other account, the one with the rest of my inheritance. It's losing money. I want to change it so I can earn money on it before I take it out, not lose it. He says he can do that, but he'll need Dad's death certificate. Trouble is...the only people who would know where that is are Jodie, whose number I deleted from my phone, and Rose, who isn't speaking to me. He's going on vacation this weekend, which will give me more time to figure it out.

Wanted to check out Collingswood Music, but they don't open until 1, and it was noon. Went next-door to check out their neighbor DiBartolo's Bakery instead. Their beloved specialty is cakes, but I can't bring one home on my bike. Chose of box of Italian cookies instead that included their amazing coconut macaroons. 

Made a quick stop at Dollar General on the way home. I forgot to pick up a new set of dry erase markers for my schedule yesterday. Went in, bought those, then went out. 

Dropped off my blue hoodie sweater, the folder with the bank information, and the markers at home, then went back out. Took the long way down Nicholson Road. The weather is now too nice to rush things. What a difference from the last few days! Today was blue as could be, sunny, windy, and much warmer, in the lower 70's. Couldn't have been a nicer ride.

Had lunch at Tu Se Bella's Pizza after I parked my bike at the bike rack next to the Acme. I must have just missed the lunch crowd. They were totally dead. Had no trouble getting a seat up front to eat my slices of mushroom and broccoli and shrimp and sip my Diet Pepsi.

Next on the list was a hair cut. Mine had gotten too long and frizzy again. Unlike the last time I got my hair done in early May, they were dead as can be, with no wait and no line. The only people there when I arrived were two hair dressers. Went shorter this time, to just above my shoulders, and still layered. I love it. It looks great. My hair gets too unmanageable when it's long. 

Had far less luck with T-Mobile. They told me that in order to keep my cell phone number, Jess would have to let me off her line. I'd text her later, after I got home. 

My last stop was the Acme. If you buy two boxes of Nature's Valley granola bars, you get them for $2.50 each. I picked up regular Trail Mix and Cranberry Pomegranate. Grabbed muffins for lunch next week, new hair bands, and a gift card for my friend Amanda's birthday last weekend. No wonder I got today off. They were dead, too. Even the line went fast.

Heard from the dentist's office while I was there. They called early this morning to tell me their hygienist got sick and they had to cancel. Once again, I won't be able to get a cleaning for months, this time not until early December.

Went home after that to contact Jessa. Heard from her minutes after I texted her. She did take my phone off her line, but told me I'd have to contact Jodie about the death certificate on Facebook. 

Finally heard from Vanessa via e-mail, too. They're just about ready to send my information in, but she said she needed the dates for when I began Stockton and graduated. I sent them to her right after talking to Jess; she was pleased I got them back so quickly.

Spent the rest of the afternoon watching On the Riviera. I go further into another Danny Kaye vehicle that has him playing two roles at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog. 

On the Riviera

Finished up Wedding Blank after the movie ended. Jack offers to take Brett and their son Adam to dinner. Brett's not sure that's a good idea, with their divorce and all. She takes off to join the others for a drink, with him watching and wishing things could be different before going to the men's dressing room to call his bookie.

Not bad, though kind of meandering. This is intended to be part of a series of short stories revolving around various Match Game members at different times during the various shows. Next up, I'll skip ahead a bit to directly after syndicated episode 481 from 1981. After Gene Rayburn shows up wearing an old man wig and calling himself Mr. Perriwinkle, he mentions the wig was for his role as Scrooge in a local Christmas Carol. Bill Cullen apparently played his Bob Cratchit. 

It's mentioned in their biographies that Gene wanted to do more acting and was frustrated that he didn't have the opportunity...while Bill never really liked acting and was happiest chatting with contestants. In Acting Blank, they discuss their differing philosophies on acting, why Gene loves diving into characters and Bill prefers just being himself. 

At any rate, here's Wedding Blank, for your enjoyment!

Wedding Blank - A Match Game Short Story

Had dinner while watching the tail end of Let's Make a Deal. Got in just in time for a couple dressed as contractors and an especially pretty Wonder Woman joined Monty for the Big Deal of the Day. The lady half of the contractors couldn't have been more delighted with her fur jacket. Wonder Woman got the Big Deal - a recliner, a TV, and a trip to Paris. (That Paris trip sounded awesome, and I hope she had a wonderful time.)

Went straight into Match Game '77 during dessert. Charles returns for the second episode, joining comedian Tom Smothers and soap star Meg Bennett. Gene's delighted to give her a kiss in welcome! The others have a harder time with "Liver __" in the Audience Match. 

Mom called during the second show. In good news, baby Aurora is doing better. She'll be in the hospital until next week, but she should be able to come home after that. Mom's more worried about how Keefe and Julia's frisky, adoring dogs will handle a baby, especially one who needs special care. 

Things aren't going as well for my other siblings. My oldest nephew Skylar was in a horrible bike accident. He so badly mangled his foot, he needed several operations and will take a year or more to recover. Anny's more concerned with her 13-year-old son Collyn being kicked out of school and going into rehab. If he doesn't shape up, he's going to end up in a reformatory. And while Mom has briefly heard from Rose during Aurora's surgery, she's still not speaking to most of the family. 

Finished the night on Paramount Plus with The Love Boat. The crew go on a cruise around the Greek isles in a two-part episode during season 6. Captain Steubing offered the cruise to the graduating class of his college for their graduation ceremony. The snobbish valedictorian (Parker Stevenson) gets a major eye-opener when the aunt who helps him through college is a poor peasant (Eva Marie Saint). He tries to hide her from his fiancee (Lisa Whelchel) when he feels like a "Poor Rich Man." 

The dean (Eddie Albert) is annoyed when the young man he flunked (Leigh McCloskey) keeps trying to talk him into a make-up test. He says no, but the teacher he's engaged to (Shirley Jones) wishes "The Dean and the Flunkee" would change his mind. "Issac's Aegean Affair" with a beautiful lady (Debbie Allen) has him considering giving up the sea, while Vicki falls for a young genius (Jimmy MacNichol) and considers marriage with him in "The Captain and the Kid." 

Dolls on a Dark Autumn Afternoon

Started off with breakfast and checking outside. The clouds still lingered, but I saw no rain pattering in the puddles. In fact, the sidewalks were largely dry. I don't think it rained for several hours. Figured it would be fine to ride my bike to work. Barely got out the door on time, thanks to taking too long to eat, and was almost late.

Which is probably the most exciting thing that happened all day. We were dead almost the entire afternoon. Despite there being more help than usual for a Wednesday, it never got worse than mildly steady. Of course, my last customers had three carts of food, a quarter of which they put back because the little girl with them threw in candy she wasn't allowed to have and a sippy cup she was way too old for. And they each bought their orders separately, and were fussy about bagging. And no one told me I didn't have a relief. They took so long, I was nearly late getting off.

Heard from PNC Bank before I left for work this morning and the dentist's office during my break. Ms. Ford claimed it was all a mistake and they still wanted me to come in for financial planning tomorrow. The dentist had a last-minute cancellation and would also be able to get me in later in the afternoon. 

Took the long way home down Nicholson Road. I probably shouldn't have gone during the start of rush hour, but I wanted to cheer myself up after dealing with those customers. Thankfully, the road work in Audubon has moved to the side streets. I cut through Oaklyn and got home with little fuss, other than the continuing cloudy, cool, and dreary weather. At least it hasn't rained harder than a mild misting since last night.

Changed and had a snack, then went into dressing the dolls for cooler weather. Ariel wears Julie's Calico Dress with the red tights and high boots. A bandana holds back her masses of copper hair. Samantha got her Play Dress and Pinafore with white tights and the black and white boots from her Flower-Picking Dress. I love Josefina's current meet outfit with the scarlet and sky blue print skirt and blue sash. Whitney wears a maroon and black knit skirt and white shirt with a black collar with a maroon shrug that's really a regular Our Generation outfit, though it looks like it could be part of the Retro line. 

Put Jessa in her original yellow meet sweater and high-necked striped t-shirt with the high-top sneakers from the Blue Jean Basics and the magenta leggings from the original 1995 modern "meet" outfit. Felicity is in her original Rose Garden Gown meet outfit. Found Molly's blue gingham dress at the Barrington Antique Center with other hand-made doll outfits last year. I really don't have much for Barbara Jean. She's back in the purple paisley minidress she came in with a white ruffled Springfield Collection sweater over it. 

Worked on writing for a while after I finished with the dolls. Jack wishes Brett would stop hitting up bars in West Hollywood with Charles. She's glad for the attention, including from three sailors. He also reminds her that he's starring in an actual program (he was just starting Quincy, MD in 1978) and she's only doing a game show...but Brett loves Match Game and thinks it's the best job in the world. 

Broke for dinner at 7 PM. The next Match Game '77 episode has a notoriously raunchy answer and has never been rerun by Game Show Network or Buzzr. We pick up with a new champion...and Brett's admittance that she badly misses Charles, who was on hiatus to appear on Broadway at that point. Gene very nearly manhandles the male contestant in the episode after that, tweaking his thick mustache and shaking his tie. He handled it well, tossing out a quip after he did it. 

Finished the night on The Roku Channel after a shower. I started a Charlie & Lola episode when I got in, but never finished it. "I Want to Make Music," Lola tells Charlie. Charlie's practicing his clarinet with Marv for a school assembly. He says Lola can't play an instrument like him, but she can make her own from things around the house like beans in a plastic container and various levels of pink milk in glasses. Lola's sound effects come in handy when Marv gets sick and Charlie's doing the assembly on his own.