Fairy Tale Fall

Started off a cloudy, windy morning with breakfast and Little Bear. Little Bear's grandparents are "Out of Honey," so he and his mischievous monkey friend Mitzi try to get some. After their encounter with the bees in the hive leave them wet and stung, Grandfather teaches them how to get honey like professional beekeepers. Little Bear finds a "Message In a Bottle," then dreams he and his mermaid friend are searching for seashells on the bottom of the lake and catching a big fish for fish stew. "Little Bear's Sweet Tooth" gets the better of him when he can't resist the tempting treats on the dessert table at the Harvest Day Picnic. He keeps running to the baked goods instead of the lawn games his friends are playing.

Rushed out after the cartoon ended for this week's grocery run. I started at the tiny Target in Westmont. Bought a birthday card and gift card for Lauren, whose birthday is on Monday. Just needed oat milk and soda, the latter on sale, at Sprouts. Dodged the road work again on my way down to the Westmont Acme. Restocked yogurt, shredded chicken, soda (Coke just started making prebiotic versions of its regular sodas - I went with Coke and Fresca), more of those sweet little Gum Drop grapes, granola, granola bars, Swiss cheese slices, and more of those limited edition maple leaf sandwich cookies. Got bagels for work this weekend and tried another new donut flavor. Birthday cake is topped with glaze, sprinkles, and cake bits and has icing and a cherry in the middle. Tasty, but some things are just way too sweet, even for me. My first Holiday Creamy Vanilla Coke Zero of the year was a lot better.

Cut across Newton Lake Park going home. They were surprisingly busy for quarter after one. A lot of people must have been walking their dogs before the weather got worse later in the day. The trees are only just starting to turn colors here. Most, including the ones towering over me as I pushed my bike up the muddy hill to the Haddon Township Environmental Center, are still bright green. Made a quick stop at A&A Pretzels on the White Horse Pike on the way home for a cheese steak stuffed pretzel and two regular soft pretzels for lunch.

It was so late when I got in, I had enough time to eat, put most things away, and watch two episodes of Bluey. It's "Sleepytime," and Bingo wants to sleep in her own bed tonight. As it turns out, she has one of the most vivid imaginations I've ever seen. Her dream of flying around the planets with her stuffed bunny leads to her sleepwalking between everyone's beds. Bandit washes up on "Rug Island" (aka the girls' play mat brought outside as a tent) and finds himself learning how to be a kid from the "natives" (aka Bluey and Bingo).

Hurried out to the school the moment Bluey ended. Got there just in time. We had 17 kids today, and boy, were they noisy! Didn't help that we were down a teacher, too. I took four kids (three boys and a girl) to the bathroom and just barely got them back in time to grab their backpacks and head outside.

I am glad we got out early. The clouds that lingered this morning had been replaced by bright, hot sunshine and rather heavy humidity for October. I had an absolutely marvelous time playing hide and seek with two of the girls and a boy. I'd try to hide, and they'd run after me. Hiding is no easy feat for an adult in a playground intended for children! I ended up running up the slides and going down again when they chased after me.

Yes, the swings were a problem again. They all squabbled over who would swing with whom and kept pushing each other around while in line. One little boy got so tired of the fighting, he laid down on the bench across from the swings and rested instead. I don't care who goes on the swings with whom, I just care that they all get a turn sooner or later. I think all but the boy on the bench and one other boy who prefers his father pushing him got a turn. I finished my session inside, coloring with the remaining 5 kids.

Went straight home and into the last 10 minutes of The Price Is Right. An older gentleman and a young woman were the winners who went to the Showcase. The generic Showcase stuffed a trip to New Orleans in with the furniture. The "story" Showcase was a retelling of "The Frog Prince." Prince Johnny is upset when Princess Dian and Princess Janice demand gold-plated tea sets for their services. Princess Holly just thinks he's cute and is rewarded with a Cadillac for her troubles. This may be the first time I've seen the "story" package cost far less than the generic one. The man was way under on the trip. The lady got her own fairy-tale dream come true car.

Let it continue into Match Game '77 as I finished dinner. George Kennedy showed why he was one of the best male players on the show (and likely the best along with Nipsey Russell to sit in the first seat), while Lee Merriweather wondered what she was doing there. The last episode of the week brought in Fannie Flagg, Bill Cullen, and Debralee Scott. Debralee announced the follow-up to Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, Forever Fernwood (which lasted 26 weeks). 

Finished the night after a shower with "Jack O'Lantern" at YouTube. This episode of the Rankin-Bass show Festival of Family Classics is the closest they got to doing a flat-out Halloween special. A grandfather tells his two skeptical grandchildren the story of how their jack o'lantern seemingly came to life and defended their farm and its crops from a witch and her rather effeminate husband who are determined to drive them off. "Jack" is actually a leprechaun living in the pumpkin, and it's his pot of gold the witches are really after. It's up to the animals on the farm, especially the ornery goat, to help Jack save the kids and the farm from being destroyed.

(Oh, and it clouded up again sometime after I got home. It rained hard around the time Match Game '77 was on, but I haven't heard from it in a while.) 

Beautiful Day In Fall

Got a really quick start today with breakfast and Paw Patrol. "Pups Save a Haunted Farm" when Farmer Al and his goat get lost in a corn maze and Farmer Yumi ends up dangling from a fake spiderweb. Rubble has to overcome his fear of spiders to help them and Marshall out. Mayor Goodway is excited about the pumpkin-shaped disco ball she bought for Adventure Bay's Halloween dance party. "Pups Save the Adventure Bay Boogie" when Sid Swashbuckler and his first mate Arrby think it's covered in gems and steal it, not realizing Chicaletta is inside.

Headed out around 10:30-11 AM. I had a lot to do, starting with a stop at Westmont Party on Haddon Avenue. They had a long line of Halloween decorations, from huge cardboard mum hangings and outdoor linen ghosts to dangling hard plastic skeletons and bags of party activities. I bought a big bag of toys for the Mystery Bags, along with Jack 'o lantern stickers. 

Made a quick stop at 7-11 in Haddonfield on my way down Haddon Avenue. I don't think there's many 7-11's left in South Jersey. I may never be able to get a Slurpee again! I got Mountain Dew Confetti Chill (which wasn't bad) and Pina Colada. 

Ran into more road work just a few blocks from 7-11. I wish they'd finish these darn gas lines! All they're doing is getting in everyone's way. One of the men had to lead me pushing my bike around the cones they had blocking the area.

Since I had to rush my trip to the Haddonfield Library the last time I was there, I went back today. The Haddonfield Library is a beautiful building that was just remodeled a few years ago. It's also a maze. I did find they have a surprisingly extensive teen section, with some genuinely interesting books, just off the main lobby. Unfortunately, their adult non-fiction collection is stuffed in the basement and isn't as extensive. I did find a book on the history of dolls that I enjoyed looking at. 

Since it's only about two blocks from the library, I walked to the Bistro on King's Highway. I was rather surprised to run into one of the boys in the after-school program and his family having lunch in the outdoor seating area. According to the boy and his parents, they were taking a special family day for his little brother's first birthday. I left them to enjoy their lunch.

I ate inside, where it was a darker and a little quieter. Had a "New Yorker" - an omelet with ham, bacon, Swiss cheese, and mushrooms on a whole wheat wrap. It was so good! Just the right melding of flavors. Had it with big, crispy fries and ginger peach iced tea.

After spending so much time dodging road work on Haddon Avenue, I took the back way through Haddonfield and down to Cuthbert...forgetting that they're still working on Cuthbert, too. By the time I finally made it to Newton Lake Park, I came to the conclusion that I was never going to get home before the after-school program started, so I just cut across the park and went straight to Thomas Sharp instead. 

I got there just in time, which was a very good thing. We had 20 kids to start, and they were all wild and noisy. They were even crazier once we got them outside. I'm glad we went out early. It was a gorgeous day, as nice as it gets in mid-October. Sunny, breezy, blue, perfect upper 60 degree temperatures. I did talk to two of the girls. One was eagerly waiting for her mother, watching for her over the chain-link fence. The other was upset because a teacher snatched chalk from her. I told her that the teacher shouldn't have done that and they all needed to share. The teacher was drawing fruit with them. She did really well, but she did keep trying to shoo them away so they wouldn't get close to the door or smudge her masterpieces! There were 5 kids when we went inside, and two left by the time I did.

Did a few chores downstairs after I got in, then watched Match Game '77. The first couple of episodes finished out the week with Mary Wickes, Gary Crosby, and Joyce Bulifant. The last episodes brought in big George Kennedy, Lee Merriweather, and Fannie Flagg.

Finished the night with Those Redheads from Seattle. I go further into this robust and surprisingly enjoyable B western musical from 1953 at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Those Redheads from Seattle

A Little Drop of Rain

Started off on a sunny morning with breakfast and He-Man. Beast Man is fed up with being constantly insulted by Skeletor and captures Adam's father King Randor to prove he can do something right. He's not the only one trying to impress people. Adam wants to show his father his own strength and considers giving up his secret identity. He wants to be "Prince Adam No More," but he figures out that his father really cares about him when He-Man rescues him.

Headed off to work after the cartoon ended. On one hand, the Acme wasn't busy today. It's the middle of the week, the middle of the month, and we're between holidays. On the other hand, there was a lot going on around the store. There were contractors working on the roof...and two men with a giant rat on the side of the building protesting the contractors, who aren't union. (They're also apparently the only ones who put in a bid to replace the roof on a 60-year-old building.) An older lady changed the ads on the end of the carts, too. 

The weather may also have scared people off. Dark clouds had scuttled in by 11 PM. It showered lightly off and on for a couple of hours, but never the thunderstorms the weather app on my phone predicted. It was lightly raining again just as my shift ended. I changed into regular clothes and headed into Oaklyn.

Had a slice of tomato-basil-mozzarella and a slice of mushroom pizza at Phillies Phatties. I didn't know the mushroom also had olives. I'm not a fan of olives, but I was hungry, so I ate them anyway. Listened to Telemundo on the TV as I ate. 

After I finished, I went next-door to Phillies Yummies. I'm so glad they're open year-round now. A few years ago, they would have been preparing to close for the season by mid-October, if not already done. Now they have a fall menu. The Spice Cake Sundae was a good price for layered spice cake and vanilla ice cream topped with caramel. Oh, yummy! The cake was so nice and moist, and it paired well with the creamy vanilla and sweet caramel.

Though the rain had stopped by the time I headed to West Collingswood, it was still cloudy and windy. I relaxed at the small park by the train tracks. There's an old clubhouse with a covered porch there. I figured, if it rained, I could wait it out on the porch. Thankfully, it barely spit. I was able to relax on a wooden bench and admire the trees just turning colors and the lovely old homes around me before heading to Thomas Sharp.

We had 20 very wound-up kids today. I had a hard enough time getting them into the bathrooms. They took so long, I just sent most of them back after they were done and waited for the one straggler. Thank goodness we got them out earlier today. By quarter of 4, the rain was long gone, but the fresh, strong wind made it cooler than yesterday. There were still a lot of kids around, so they did have to wait, but yes, they did get on the swings. In fact, I think the only one who didn't get a turn was a girl who was happier running around the slides with her best friend and only got near the swings to give her friend a hug before she went home. I also had to comfort a little boy whose mother hand gone home to change and who thought she wasn't coming back. 

There were just two kids left when we finally took them inside around 5 PM. In fact, the last girl went home with her dad at the same time I left. I waved to her running to the swings as I grabbed my bike and started down Magill Avenue.

Watched The Price Is Right and made the bed when I got home. A lady just barely went over on the Grocery Game, but she did much better on the Showcase Showdown (after two ties with another lady). Neither of the Showcases were especially huge. The story Showcase had bears discovering one of their "Time Capsules," including a camper and a trip to Yellowstone National Park. The generic Showcase ended with a piano. The lady went over. The guy came so close, he barely missed getting both Showcases.

Match Game '77 initially finished out the week with Minnie Pearl, Dick Smothers, and a very pregnant contestant who wore t-shirts that let everyone know what was in her growing stomach. Mary Wickes and Joyce Bulifant were more than happy to give Gary Crosby his new-kid-on-the-block kiss in the first episode of that week.

Finished the night with two vintage 80's Halloween specials on YouTube. I went further into Garfield's Halloween Adventure on the very first Halloween I did reviews for my Musical Dreams Movies blog in 2018.

Happy Halloween! - Garfield's Halloween Adventure & Halloween Is Grinch Night

"All Hallowseve" is the sole Halloween episode for the original 1980's The Smurfs. Jokey loves that his birthday is on Halloween. Gargamel, not so much. He makes it rain on the holiday, which upsets the witch Hagatha whose job it is to fly over the moon and frighten villagers. Mother Nature accidentally turns Lazy red when he sleeps by a bush. Gargamel and Hagatha capture Lazy, but they spend so much time arguing over who should have him, the other Smurfs are easily able to get him back. Meanwhile, Mother Nature plies her husband Father Time with a lot of jam in order to convince him to change Lazy back to blue.

Night of the Indian Summer

Began the morning with breakfast and Richie Rich. "The Rare Scare" is the Riches short. Richie, Dollar, and Gloria chase a very rare and valuable stamp all over the mansion after Irona accidentally sends it to China. The "Gems" sketches have Richie helping kids who need a baseball stadium in his own way and how he gets tan with no sun. Professor Keenbean becomes a "Kitty Sitter" in the Treasure Chest short when he has to figure out how to calm Mrs. Rich's cat Precious. "One of Our Aircraft Carriers Is Missing" is the Zillion Dollar Adventure. Richie, Dollar, and Gloria figure out who is stealing massive tankers and buy a tanker to lure them into revealing themselves.

Spent the rest of the morning trying to figure out waiting lists and local housing programs. I did print out an application for Cherry Hill's moderate priced housing program, but I didn't really get further on - or understand - much of anything else. I'll look up Habitat for Humanity the next time I'm able to sit down at the computer.

Listened to CDs I picked up during my vacations while I worked. Rod McKuen's Greatest Hits 2 leans heavily on his darker side. Even charming ballads like "A Boy Named Charlie Brown" and "Jean" come off as dark and heavy here. "Inside of Me" talks about finding "the dark soul." "Natalie" and "Bring Her a Rose" are slightly lighter in tone. "The Beat Generation" discusses the "Beatniks" of the late 50's and early 60's and their worldview.

The Best of Jack Jones didn't really lighten the mood a whole lot. Although "After Today," "Call Me Irresponsible," and "The Mood I'm In" were rather sweet and the bouncy "Wives and Lovers" was more up tempo, most were heavier ballads of the 60's and 70's like "Dear Heart" and "The Impossible Dream." "My Best Girl" from Mame was far more charming. (Surprisingly, this is missing the song Jones is probably best-known for today. I guess they couldn't license "The Love Boat Theme" from Paramount.)

Had a quick lunch while watching Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. Daniel, Miss Elaina, and Katerina are trying to decide what they want to be for Dress Up Day. Daniel finds pieces for his Tigey the Adventure Tiger Costume, while Miss Elaina ends up making her robot costume. Katerina can't decide what "Katerina's Costume" is going to be, until she puts all of her ideas together! O the Owl really wants to be a traffic signal for "Dress Up Day," but when he rips his costume, he has to figure out what else he can be.

Headed out into the gorgeous sunshine after the cartoon ended. I arrived at Thomas Sharp School in plenty of time. The kids started out sitting in the hall. The music class was finishing when they arrived. In fact, we took them to the bathroom while they were still in the hall. The older kids were still on the other side of the cafeteria. The library was being used for a meeting. In fact, we had to keep sending older kids back on their side who tried to play with the dinosaurs and toy sea creatures and the magnetic tiles or stenciled on a huge piece of paper.

It was late before we finally got them outside. We started with 17 pre-schoolers, but there were only 12 left when we got to the playground. They didn't have to wait long to use the swings! There was a lot of squabbling over who would swing with whom again. I kept reminding them that, first of all, name calling isn't nice, and it can really hurt people's feelings. It's also disrespectful to call teachers names. Second, it was too nice for anyone to fight. It was sunny, breezy, and actually hot today, in the upper 70's-lower 80's. In fact, it was too hot for the kids to stay out all day. We took the remaining 4 kids inside by 5, when they let me go early.

After a brief stop at CVS to use the bathroom, I went straight home. Did chores, then made dinner and watched Match Game '77. Most of the two hours were devoted to the delightful week with Dick Smothers and Minnie Pearl. Pearl's down-home humor made her a charming and endearing contrast to some of the more urban-oriented wisecrackers on the show. Brett even wore her own floral hat in tribute on one episode. I really wish they'd gotten Minnie away from the Grand Ol' Opry again! She's one of my favorite contestants to have only appeared for one week. (Minnie also discusses the Opry's move from their long-time historic home at the Ryman Auditorium to the then-modern Grand Ole Opry House. The Opry has mostly been at the Opry House since 1974, though they apparently do some winter runs at Ryman.)

Finished the night at Pluto TV with The Wild Wild West. Jim West thinks he sees a voodoo ceremony that turns into the "Night of the Undead." It turns out that a certain Dr. Articulus (Hurd Hatfield) had received a malpractice suit from two fellow doctors that cost him his practice and his bride on their wedding night. He created a potion that can turn humans into robots and intends to use it to create an army that can mine under his enormous old home and force the daughter of one of the men who turned him (Joan Delaney) in to become his bride. West and Gordon literally bring the house down in an explosive conclusion, but it's the doctor's neglected assistant (Priscilla Morrill) who finally takes him out for good. 

Discovering Games

Began the morning reading about Columbus Day. The big piece in Colliers Harvest of Holidays is a surprisingly honest biography from 1944 that points out he took natives from their island homes, never found the Asian riches he was searching for, and died a broken man. Two poems were funnier, but they still discussed his lack of sailing and leadership abilities and his crew's near-mutiny.

Since I got up so late and the weather was so beautiful, I decided to go out for brunch instead of sitting in front of cartoons at home. Rode up to the Legacy Diner, just dodging a group of girls who just came out. They were so busy, I ended up sitting at the counter. I still enjoyed my broccoli and cheddar omelet, home fries, and whole wheat toast. I spent so much time staring at the desserts in the displays up front, I had to try their pumpkin cheesecake. Ooh, spicy and decadent and very earthy-pumpkin!

Cut across Audubon and past the baseball fields at Green Wave Park, which is directly across from the back of Goodwill. I delivered a bag of donations, then went around to the front store. My best find today was a  bright red Issac Mizrahi sweater with lovely scalloped edges. It was sunny and warm today, but the wind was chilly. I ended up wearing the sweater home. Good thing it's soft and incredibly comfortable. I also picked up a cute rounded stuffed fox decoration made with woven fall-colored plaid fabric I named Locksley, the 1962 Disney version of Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates on DVD, and the two-disc This Is America record from the Longines Symphony for patriotic holidays. (While the Audubon Goodwill has heavily expanded their DVD collection, I was disappointed to see they barely had any CDs left, and not that many records, either.)

Hit up a few more stores after finishing at Goodwill. Found bags of mini-books for trick-or-treaters at Five Below that would be perfect for the Mystery Bags, along with an adorable Squishmallow cat named Cam with bat wings. I wanted to start my Christmas shopping at Marshalls, but they were too busy! I just replaced my curl brush and comb. The fluffy bear ears headband was supposed to be for spa days, but I thought it would be perfect for a bear costume. 

The other reason I was at Audubon Crossings was to get my hair done. There's a Great Clips across the parking lot from Marshalls and Ross. Considering how busy the stores and the Legacy Diner were, they were empty. They were able to seat me right away. That blunt cut that I got in early April didn't really end up looking right or working with my curls. They look more attractive and are more manageable cut chin-length and layered. They felt so much better and bouncier when I headed out!

Stopped at Common Grounds Coffee House on the way home for another delicious Rosemary Apple Cider Chai-der. Had a banana chip muffin for lunch, too. They were also surprisingly quiet. Most people must still be on vacation or are focusing on shopping. 

Once I got home, I relaxed while watching the 1952 version of Ivanhoe on Tubi. Robert Taylor is the title character, who returns home from the Crusades to discover Richard the Lionhearted (Norman Woodland) is being held prisoner by the king of Austria, who demands a huge ransom for his release. Richard's brother John (Guy Rolfe) would rather rule England in his stead and pit Saxons and Normans against one another. Passing himself off as a minstrel, Ivanhoe brings Norman soldiers Sir Brian de Bois-Guilbert (George Sanders) and Sir Hugh De Bracey (Robert Douglas) to the home of his father Cedric (Finlay Currie). Cedric wants nothing to do with any Norman, not even Richard, but his ward Rowena (Joan Fontaine) is in love with Ivanhoe and is more supportive. 

Ivanhoe realizes Saxons aren't the only race being persecuted in England when he helps his father's jester Wamba (Emlyn Williams) rescue kindly old rabbi Issac (Felix Aylmer) from soldiers. His daughter Rebecca (Elizabeth Taylor) gives up her jewels so Ivanhoe can win a jousting tournament. He does win, but is injured while doing so. None other than Robin Hood (Harold Warrender) brings him to Rebecca to be healed. It's Robin Hood and his Merry Men to the rescue when Cedric is captured and Ivanhoe goes to rescue him, only to be taken as well. When Rebecca is branded a witch and may be burned at the stake, Ivanhoe rushes to King John's castle to stop her trial and prove who the real greatest knight in England is.

Honestly, Robert Taylor's kind of stiff (and a bit overage) as the valiant knight. It's the ladies and villains who walk off with this one. Fontaine and especially Elizabeth Taylor are so luminous, you can understand why Ivanhoe has a hard time choosing between them for a while. Sanders has more fun playing a slightly less sneering villain than he normally did. There's also the gorgeous Technicolor production, with England and some enormous sets blazing across the screen. I also appreciate that the anti-prejudice story is treated with some sensitivity, especially for the time. If you're looking for a good, stirring swashbuckler with slightly more to say than most in the genre, you can't go wrong with two of the loveliest ladies ever in an MGM England.

Switched to Match Game '77 during dinner. The first hour skipped past several weeks that are missing episodes to the tail end of the week with Hans Conried and Sarah Kennedy. Hans seemed a bit dazed, which is likely why this would be his only appearance on the show. Conny Van Dyke and Dick Martin had more fun the next week, especially when Conny complained about not getting a new-kid-on-the-block kiss (despite having been on the show at least twice before).

Finished the night with a salute to Double Dare. This Nickelodeon staple celebrates its 40th anniversary this month. This would be Nick's first foray into game shows. Two teams with two kids answer trivia questions from host Marc Summers. If they don't know the answer, they can toss a dare at the other kids. If those kids don't know, they can throw dares back. Third dare gets a "physical challenge," a messy stunt. Winner goes on to the Obstacle Course, 8 unique slime-filled stunts. Grabbing an orange flag at the end of a stunt nets a prize. Get all 8, and you got the grand prize, which in the 80's was usually a trip to Disney World or Space Camp. 

Double Dare meant a little more to kids like my sisters and me who grew up in the Philadelphia and South Jersey area in the mid-late 80's. From 1986 until they moved to Nickelodeon Studios in 1989, they filmed at WHYY Studios, the PBS station in downtown Philadelphia. You would frequently see kids from Philly, its suburbs, and South Jersey on the show and in the audience. The show's announcer Harvey was even a popular Philly disc jockey at the time.

The show was so popular, it had spin-offs almost immediately. Super Sloppy Double Dare was the weekend edition that debuted in 1987. Double Dare entered syndication, mainly on Fox stations, in 1988. Family Double Dare originally debuted in 1988 as well, but didn't last long in syndication. It did better on Nick from 1990 to 1992.

Double Dare proved so popular in re-runs, it returned to Nick in 2000 as Double Dare 2000. Pretty much the same deal, but the host was now Jason Harris, the contestants remained families, and they added a third Triple Dare Challenge. It didn't really help the show. Double Dare 2000 never found an audience and was gone within 10 months. 

The show's last version to date was in 2018. It pretty much returned to its original format, with more variety in the contestants. Now you never knew who would be playing. It might be just kids, as in the episode I have here from Paramount Plus, or kids and adult guardians, or kids and celebrities, or just celebrities. TV and radio personality Lisa Dishy had a blast hosting, and Marc Summers took over Harvey and Doc Holliday's duties as announcer. While it was never the runaway success that the original was, it did manage a decent two years. 

Celebrate 40 years of the messiest, silliest, wildest stunts on cable and syndicated TV with these delightfully gak-filled episodes! 

Double Dare Premiere (1986)

Double Dare Syndicated (1988)

Family Double Dare (1990)

Double Dare 2000 (2000)

Double Dare (2018)

Sailing Into Matches

Began a gloomy morning with breakfast and more Let's Pretend cassettes. "Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp" is generally a straightforward rendition of the original Arabian Nights story. While it does use the genie in the ring that many versions tend to drop, it also just had the evil Wizard order the genie to steal the princess, rather than the entire castle. Aladdin ends up using the ring to rescue her and poisoning the wizard.

"The Donkey, the Table, and the Stick" is less well-known today. This version of the Grimm's tale has a young man named Jack working for two older people who give him a donkey that drops coins from its ears and a table that magically makes food appear. He makes the mistake of boasting about them to the head of the inn where he stays and his daughter. They steal them, then claim to Jack's father that he never had them to begin with. It's the third magical item that finally gets the duplicitous trio to confess, so Jack can marry his sweetheart.

Despite the ongoing downpour, I had no trouble with Uber today. The one arriving came in 7 minutes. Good thing, as I wanted to get there early enough to buy a plastic container of turkey cubes, mozzarella cubes, crackers, and grapes for lunch. The one going home came in 6 minutes.

I did do carts for the first hour, when the rain wasn't so bad...but once the downpour picked up around 10 AM, I had no desire to be out in it. I spent the rest of the day sweeping the store and putting unwanted items away. One of the college boys took over the carts after he arrived later. Just as well that I didn't see the Eagles game. They dropped a heartbreaker to the Jaguars in London, just barely losing 19-17. 

Finally got around to putting up the Halloween decorations when I got home. Xiomara the Squishmallow Leopard is far from my only Halloween decoration! I'm not a fan of horror, so most of my decorations are funny or cute, like the Trick-or-Sweet Bear stand-up (yes, there is a Halloween Care Bear) I found at Marshalls a few years ago, the cartoony black cat and skeleton wooden stand-ups I found at Goodwill, the stuffed witch I got from Jodie when Dad died, and the various Halloween Happy Meal toys Mom gave me when she cleared out her Halloween decorations in the late 2000's. I also collect cute stuffed bats - I have Boo the WebKinz Bat, Ophelia the Beanie Baby Bat, Scarem, a much smaller Beanie Baby bat, the adorable Belfry I found at a candy store in 2021, and a bat from the Eckards holiday Beanie Baby-type stuffed toy collection from the late 90's.

Listened to Halloween stories and music while I worked, and later as I went online. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow comes with two stories. The title story is a condensed version of the Ichabod Crane segment from The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad. Rip Van Winkle is more interesting. It sticks to the original story up until Rip wakes up...to discover that he's slept not through 20 years of his life, but 220. He awakens in a typical small upstate New York town of the early 60's to discover that the more things change...the more kids love to hear his stories. 

Chilling, Thrilling Sounds of the Haunted House is honestly a bit scary for Disney. Even they admit this album isn't for young children. The stories on Side A alone lean heavily into spooky horror, even just using sound effects and a few lines of dialogue. The screechy sound effects on side B are just slightly less spooky. 

Autumn is one of George Winston's most relaxing albums. The first song "Colors/Dance" is my favorite from side one, "September." "October" gets appropriately moodier, with "Road," "Sea," and "Stars." 

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown probably has the second best-regarded soundtrack of the Peanuts specials after the one for the first Christmas show. I have the second version, released after they found the master tapes for the special in 2020. "The Great Pumpkin Waltz" is probably the best-known new-to-this-special song here, but I also like the charming "Snoopy and the Leaf" and spooky "Graveyard Theme."

Finished the night with today's Match Game YouTube marathon. Jokes about Christopher Columbus abounded on this show, especially as it became better-known that he was, frankly, a lousy sailor and a worse explorer. They generally either covered what he missed at sea, why his men thought he was crazy, or what his love life was like. (And I have no idea why Gene kept giving him an Italian accent. He was Portuguese.) 

There was a Christopher Columbus reference on the episode where a charming and funny old man who ran a junk yard won the game, and another on the PM episode that had Gene and Brett showing off their dueling push-ups. Lee Meredith of the original 1967 The Producers had a Christopher Columbus question on her first day, and Alejandro Rey on his last. There was one during the week with a very fussy Don Adams, too, and the one where Gene announced that Richard would be hosting a new show called Family Feud in the fall. Charles Nelson Reilly was an avid sailor who counted a captain's hat among his many chapeau worn on the show. 

Discover some truly hilarious episodes with Gene and his wacky panelists! 

Match Game Sunday Classics - Ships Ahoy & Columbus Day Marathon

(And yes, it has continued to rain, sometimes heavily, for the entire day.) 

End of Summer Matches

Began the morning with breakfast and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. "Mickey's Treat" is a big Halloween party at Pete's Trick-or-Treat Tower. Mickey and the gang have to get there before the moon is full, or the gates will lock! They have to get over giant candy corns and around hopping frogs to get to the Tower.

Called Uber after the cartoon ended. I was working 8 hours today. I was not going to be up for a bike ride. The one in the morning arrived in 7 minutes. I had slightly more trouble getting one going home at rush hour, but they did come in 10 minutes. No traffic or trouble either way, and I got to work in plenty of time.

I am so tired. Other than the 20 minutes I spent putting cold items away this morning, I swept the store and pushed carts for the entire rest of the day. They were so busy, the head bagger ended up in a register, and they pulled another college-boy cashier to help me with the carts! After he left at 4:30, I had more trouble keeping up with them. I'd only just gotten about half of them done when I finally finished at 5:30.

Once I got home, I went straight into a much-needed shower, then made dinner. Finished up with tonight's YouTube Match Game marathon. Some memorable episodes took place after Match Game returned from a summer break or extended hiatus. One of my favorites was Richard Dawson and Gene Rayburn playing tic-tac-toe on the shoulder of an unamused Marcia Wallace after she accidentally got marker on her bare shoulder. There was also the Monday episode from 1975 when Gene not only got to kiss female newcomer Jamie Lynn Bower, Brett happily smooched Robert Urich, too. There was also the PM episode where one of the contestants was a very blase young man who didn't like his life, didn't seem to enjoy playing the game much, and was cheerfully honest about all of it. 

Let's end the summer season with hilarious hi-jinks featuring Gene and his wacky weirdos!

Match Game Saturday Classics - Welcome Back from Summer and Long Breaks In Taping

Love From the Children

Started the morning with breakfast and Little Bear. Little Bear chases "Father Bear's Nightshirt" when the wind blows it off the clothes line. He follows it to the river, where he picks up a nice surprise with it, too. Little Bear learns "How to Scare Ghosts" when he discovers a trio of raccoons making music outside. His parents are the ones whose presence frightens them away. Little Bear, Duck, and Cat corral a reluctant groundhog to help them "Search for Spring."

Hurried to work on the bike after the cartoon ended and just barely got there in time. Thankfully, that was the worst thing that happened all day. The Acme was pin-drop quiet almost the entire morning. In fact, I spent the morning outside, pushing carts and dodging repairs on the roof. The head bagger took over the sweeping and indoor chores. I was in and out with no trouble whatsoever.

Oh, and I got my schedule for next week at work. It's perfectly normal. I do have six-hour days on the weekends, Sunday early due to the morning bagger taking off that day. Wednesday is the only other day, and it's a normal four-hour shift. I'll be able to enjoy a full day off on Monday (the schools are closed that day) and will have plenty of time to put up Halloween decorations and do research on low-income housing options. 

Since I had to get to Thomas Sharp fast as possible, I took the Black Horse Pike. That might not have been the greatest idea. It did get me there in about 20 minutes by bike, but the traffic was iffy and the sidewalks were narrow and filled with obstacles. I was just glad to turn off into West Collingswood, and then onto Collings Avenue.

The moment I walked through the back door into the cafeteria, four of the girls squealed my name and ran right over to give me (or my legs) huge hugs! I never had such a lovely greeting or felt more appreciated. The kids don't know how happy I felt when they hugged me. 

Today was a half-day at Thomas Sharp. They were just finishing lunch when I arrived. I ate my lunch with the few remaining kids who hadn't finished theirs, either. After I ate and the girls put their lunch bags in their backpacks, we got everyone outside. Since there were only 12 kids today, I let them on the swings the moment we hit the playground. There was some arguing, mainly over who would swing with whom, but most of the kids finally got tired of waiting. By the time we went inside at 3, the two remaining girls were playing on the patio with one of the boys, while the other three boys were chasing each other around the slides.

At least it was a gorgeous day for all the running around. It's still sunny, breezy, and warm, probably in the lower-mid 70's. Couldn't be nicer.

When we got them back inside, half of the kids made more bead necklaces. The others settled down to color copier fall pictures with me. I found a picture of a spider and autumn leaves one kid started coloring, then abandoned. That little spider was too adorable to leave with one black leg, so I finished the picture. Other kids colored in beautiful butterflies or scenes of fall flowers and pumpkins, or back-to-school apple artwork. By 4 PM, there were only 3 little boys and 7 older kids left and plenty of help. They let me and another teacher go early.

Stopped at Dollar General on the way home. Healthy Kids is having a Halloween party for our students on the 30th. Each teacher is supposed to decorate their table and provide containers of treats for the kids. I've already decided that I'll give my kids their own Mystery Bags, since I already make them for trick-or-treaters. Bought the bags and vampire teeth.

Went straight into vacuuming and dusting when I got home. Watched The Price Is Right on Buzzr while I worked. The first episode pit a lady against a very big and quiet gentleman. The "story" Showcase was country vs city living, including a truck. The generic showcase had bedroom furniture, luggage, and a trip to Acapulco. The lady didn't bid high enough on that truck. The gentleman ended up getting a beautiful new bed and the trip to Mexico.

Let it continue into the 5 PM Price while I dusted. There were quite a few big winners here. One college-age male flight attendant was thrilled when he became one of the few people I've seen get all four honks on One Away and walk away with the car. An older woman had no trouble with Hit Me, either. Alas, a young woman had far more trouble with Three Strikes, getting all of the numbers but one before she got that final strike. Two men, the flight attendant and a sweet older gentleman who looked like Ernest Borganine, made it to the Showcases. Two stories this time. Janice became "Sherlock Soames," finding clues leading to a trip to Venice. Holly and Dian kept fighting over who was top Girl Scout as they revealed prizes leading to a camper. The older man went over on the Venice trip. The kid got his camper.

Had dinner while watching Match Game '77. The first hour finished out the week with Craig Morris, Roz Kelly, and Joyce Bulifant. Brett was more than happy to pant over Anson Williams during the second hour. Richard was probably questioning a lot of his life choices when he found himself caught between comic southern belles Mary Ann Mobley and Fannie Flagg.

Finished the night back at Paramount Plus with The Love Boat. Who else but Vincent Price would star in the second-season Halloween episode "Ship of Ghouls?" He's a mentalist whose work has gathered quite a few aging groupies, to the annoyance of his fiancee (Joan Blondell), who ends up spending the night in the Captain's cabin. Two parents who recently got back together (Gary Collins and Mary Ann Mobley) have trouble keeping their young son (Charlie Aiken) from lying to everyone he meets. His lies end up saving a model (Barbara Anderson) and friend of Julie's whose face was scarred in an accident. The boy's attention and Gopher and Doc competing for her make her feel beautiful again. 

Autumn Blue and Gold

Got a quick start this morning with breakfast and Paw Patrol. "Pups Save a Ghost" that's been roaming around at night, playing video games and snitching snacks. Rubble thinks they're really haunted, but Ryder knows there's a more likely explanation. "Pups Save a Show" when the set for their "King Arthur" play collapses on Cap'n Turnbot. Marshall's not happy at all when he has to take over as King Arthur from a sick Chase. He takes a while to warm up, but he does finally realize he's worthy to wear King Arthur's crown.

Headed out to do grocery shopping next. I won't have time for it tomorrow! I headed through Newton Lake Park, admiring the just-barely-turning leaves on the still-green trees and the sparkling bottle green waters as I dodged that continuing road work on Cuthbert. I started at the Westmont Acme. Restocked soda (Bloom Pop was buy two, get one free), yogurt, grapes, apples, granola, cookies (got the limited-edition maple leaf sandwich cookies and mini maple shortbread cookies), Swiss cheese slices, and shredded chicken. They didn't have oat milk, so I made a quick stop at Sprouts on the way home for that and one of those kids' lunch bags.

Put everything away when I got home, then had a quick almond butter and grape jelly lunch while watching the first episode of The Monkees in honor of their 60th anniversary. Davy Jones rescues his first of many maidens when he saves a princess from drowning in "Royal Flush." He convinces the other three to help out when they realize her uncle and his chauffeur intend to kill her so her uncle can ascend the throne.

Hurried out to Thomas Sharp School next. Even with a slightly later start, I got there in plenty of time. We once again had 18 kids to start, and they're still pretty wound up from the book fair and them being on a half-day tomorrow. They were especially crazy once we got outside. The boys kept hitting each other and the girls. One of the girls thought her insults were funny. I quickly reminded her that people do have feelings and don't always appreciate the jokes. There was a ton of squabbling over the swings. The kids want to go on before they go home, but their friends don't always want to share. Even after the numbers dwindled, the older boys argued over who would swing with whom. It's probably just as well that the last five kids went inside just as I left. 

At least the weather was still gorgeous. I chased the kids in glorious, blue and gold sunshine. It was a bit warmer, in the lower 70's, a tad more humid, and very windy. Nothing really outrageous for the start of fall. 

Went straight home after all that. The Price Is Right was just going into the Showcases. The generic showcase had kitchen appliances, carpet, and lots of furniture. The story Showcase took Holly on a safari, seeking out wild prizes, including a sports car! It got really close, but in the end, one of the ladies was shocked and delighted to get that car (and just barely miss getting both showcases).

Match Game '77 had even more fun. Patty Duke ended the first week reading a question so Gene could answer it. She had so much fun and was so pleased with herself, I'm surprised Gene never let her read one again. The rest of the night was devoted to the next week with Roz Kelly, Craig Morris, and Joyce Bulifant. At the end of the last episode, Roz kissed a guy in the audience and claimed he was "much better than Fonzie!"

Finished the night at Tubi with Bright Lights. I go further into this creative backstage thriller from the early talkie era with former Ziegfeld dancer Dorothy Mackaill at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Bright Lights

Oh What a Beautiful Day

Began the morning with breakfast and He-Man. It's the "Dawn of Dragoon" when pretty Dree Ella begs Orko to return to his home planet of Trolla to help stop the Dragoon from stealing the life energy of every being. On Trolla, everything is backwards, and Orko's magic actually works...but Prince Adam's doesn't. Still, Orko is going to need more help than he thinks to stop the Dragoon from destroying his newfound lady love. 

It was such a gorgeous morning, I took the bike today, even though I had both jobs, and I got to both jobs on time. The Acme wasn't that busy, anyway. Most people are likely waiting for the holiday weekend to do their shopping, and it's too nice to be inside. I did have to stop and put away a pile of cold returns, but it was so dead, it didn't put me that far behind on the carts. Other than that, I was in and out with no trouble.

Dodged road work going into Oaklyn for lunch. I hadn't eaten at Common Grounds Coffee House for a while. Surprisingly for 1:30, they weren't that busy. I had a slice of tomato-onion quiche, an apple cider scone, and an "apple cider chai-der." The last-named turned out to be an apple cider tea drink, and it was amazing. Chai and apple cider blend really well.

Decided I deserved a treat. The Blu Bear Bakery just opened in what used to be the pudding shop two doors down from Common Grounds a few weeks ago. They sell gluten-free and allergen-free baked goods. Their wares are kind of expensive, but I wanted to try something. Since I was still feeling fall, I ended up with a small apple cider cupcake. Enjoyed it at the park next to where I had my bike. Oh yuuum! Very moist and just sweet enough, and the caramel icing was so thick and sweet! It was also 7 dollars, so this isn't something I'll be getting all the time, but I didn't mind trying it once.

I still had tons of time before the after-school program started. Rode my bike around West Collingswood to enjoy the weather, including taking a look at the Champion School on Collings Avenue. This one-room school house was the predecessor to Thomas Sharp in West Collingswood and was preserved in the early 90's. I wish I could see inside! It's a charming little building.

Even with the stop for history, I was still early arriving at Thomas Sharp. Only one other teacher was there before me. As it turned out, it could have been a lot worse. We had 18 kids to start, and several of them left right after snack time. They're all pretty wound up about the book fair, though. We kept trying to tell them to put away their new books and toys until they got home, but they were too excited about them! I told one boy three times not to pull out his new Lego Bionicle figure, but he did anyway...and spent almost ten minutes crying when he lost the wing from the figure. He even pulled his mother back in later on to help him look for it. 

It was so late when we finally got them outside, they didn't wait for long to hit the swings. Besides, there weren't that many left by that point. I did have to comfort two girls. One had been insulted by another girl. I gave her hugs and told her sometimes people say things they don't mean and they hurt our feelings. The other girl had an argument with her best friend over who would play which member of Huntrix from KPop Demon Hunters. I assured her that all friends argue sometimes. I've even argued with Lauren. 

There was some fussing on the swings, mainly over who would swing with whom again. They want to swing with their friends, but other kids get in line ahead of them, and there's the ones who want to get on before they go home. At least the numbers dwindled more rapidly after we hit the playground. There was one younger girl and four older kids left by 5 PM. In fact, I ended up leaving slightly early when they took her inside.

Went straight home and into The Price Is Right after that. Got there just in time to see a lady strike out at the Now and Then Game. She didn't do so well on the Showcase Showdown, either. Neither did the old man with the dear wrinkled face and beautiful white hair (Bob said he was jealous of his hair). The lady who made it saw living room furniture and a "night on the town"-themed story Showcase. The lady doing the story showcase went way over. The other lady got her furniture and hot tub.

Continued on to Match Game '77 during dinner. Dick Martin was proud to get his first right answer of the year in the 6 PM episode. Fannie Flagg explained the history of hush puppies and their name in a later show.

Checked out something different on YouTube next. The hour-long Cinderella from 1990 is a relatively straightforward retelling of the Charles Perrault version of the story. Cinderella's father is alive and keeps trying to push her out with her stepsisters, only to be rebuffed by his nagging wife. The sketchy animation is nothing to write home about and there's a weird subplot with mice playing cowboys and Indians in the background that doesn't really have much to do with anything. On the other hand, the fairy godmother has a few funny moments, as do the stepsisters when they attempt foreign languages to impress the prince...only for him to remind them that he speaks English just fine.

Mystery of the 13th Guest goes back much further to 1943. Marie Morgan (Helen Parrish) returns to her grandfather's house after 13 years to read the contents of his will. Not only is it not what she expected, just "13-13-13," but she seemingly ends up dead. She eventually turns up alive. It was a decoy meant to gain the will who was killed. There were 12 family members in attendance at the dinner where Grandfather Morgan (Lloyd Ingraham) was killed. The 13th seat next to him wasn't filled. Lieutenant Burke (Tim Ryan) and private detective Johnny Smith (Dick Purcell) have to figure out who is killing off the guests at that dinner, before Marie and her brother Bud (Johnny Duncan) become their next victims. 

Dolls and the Perfect Fall

Began the morning with breakfast and Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. Daniel and his friends are excited about "The Neighborhood Fall Festival," especially the decorations around Music Man Stan's store. When the wind knocks them down, they try to put them up the way Stan did, but find it difficult. Mrs. Tiger finally tells them to do their best. Likewise, Daniel does his best to jump leaves and kick a soccer ball through two pumpkins during a "Field Day at School." 

Spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon dressing the dolls for fall and the cooler weather we're having now. Samantha wears her blue windowpane check Play Dress with the white pinafore and black and white boots. Jessa and Molly are also ready to play after school, Jessa in the original 1995 Mix and Match Meet Outfit, Molly in her red hula costume sweater, khakis, and the collar from her meet outfit. Felicity's original "meet" outfit with the orange and red rose print is perfect for fall. Kit's also in her original meet outfit, the lavender floral skirt and twin-set sweater and cardigan. 

Ariel and Barbara Jean get Our Generation Retro outfits. Ariel goes for the 70's schoolgirl look in a white satin blouse with a pink necktie, salmon knit vest, and brown plaid skirt. Barbara Jean is pure mid-late 60's in a chevron-print mini dress with a white top and huge orange collar and cuffs. Josefina is in her blue, yellow, and red print BeForever "meet" skirt and camisa. Whitney's outfit is a hand-made purple floral dress with black lace I found at the Barrington Antique Center about three or four years ago.

Listened to solo albums from two very different Broadway divas as I worked. Take Me to the World presents Sutton Foster in a slightly quieter mode than usual for her, maybe because she'd given birth during the recording of this album. That accounts for her lovely version of "A Quiet Thing" from Flora the Red Menace paired with "Hush Little Baby." The title song is from the odd Stephen Sondheim TV musical Evening Primrose; it's paired with the title song of the Maltby-Shire revue "Starting Here, Starting Now." There's a lot of Cole Porter here, too, including "Give Him the Ooh-La-La" from DuBarry Was a Lady, "C'est Magnifique" from Can-Can, and a chorus "Every Time We Say Goodbye" from Seven Lively Arts. She even gets off Broadway with two similar Paul Simon songs, "Old Friends" and "Bookends."

Julie Andrews dove into the music of a different Broadway composer in the early 90's. The Music of Richard Rodgers is mostly split between his work with Lorenz Hart and his work with Oscar Hammerstein. We do get one solo song, "Nobody Told Me" from No Strings, and his one attempt to work with Stephen Sondheim, the title song of "Do I Hear a Waltz?" That's part of a medley with other waltzes like "The Carousel Waltz," "It's a Grand Night for Singing" from State Fair, "A Wonderful Guy" from South Pacific, and "Out of My Dreams" and "Oh What a Beautiful Mornin'" from Oklahoma. Hart is represented by "It Never Entered My Mind" from Higher and Higher and the title song of Spring Is Here, "Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered" from Pal Joey, "I Wish I Were In Love Again," "Where Or When," and "My Funny Valentine" from Babes In Arms, and "This Can't Be Love" from The Boys from Syracuse and "Thou Swell" from A Connecticut Yankee. 

Switched to the Oklahoma! 1998 London cast album while eating a quick lunch. This was one of the first attempts to go in for a grittier tone with this show. Hugh Jackman won raves as Curly, the cowboy courting a slightly tougher Laurey (Josefina Gabrielle). Their "People Will Say We're In Love" is especially charming. Maureen Lipman had too much fun as Aunt Eller, while Shuley Hensley really tears into "Lonely Room." (It's even more fun if you can dig up the recording of the full show, which I think is pretty easily found online.)

Didn't even finish the CD before I hurried out to the Thomas Sharp School. We started out in pretty much the same way, with the kids in the hall due to the music class running over. All 20 kids went straight into snack time when we made it into the cafeteria. Once again, they played with magnetic tiles and drew for a little while, but we got them outside by quarter of 4. 

And once again, it was too nice for anyone to be inside for long! The weather was even nicer, a little cooler but still breezy, with the gold and blue haze the best fall days seem to have. There was some squabbling over the swings. Kids want to swing with their friends, or they want to get on the swings before they leave, but the kids already on there won't move. At the very least, once again, most of the kids who wanted a ride got one, and most got two or three before we went back inside around 5 PM. I had just enough time to see them start to work on threading beaded necklaces and bracelets before I headed out.

Took out the trash, then had dinner while watching Match Game '77. The Friday episode may have been one of the most important of the entire series. The contestant answered "school" to where Dumb Dora takes her cultured pearls to. Judge and producer Ira Skutch passed Brett and Ed's "college," but Charles had to beg for "scuba diving school," and Debralee and Richard's "finishing school" and Patti's "night school" were flat-out buzzed. Gene tried to keep order, but Debralee and Richard protested loudly and the contestant got the audience riled. Charles and Brett tried to calm things down by having Charles appear as "the first victim of the school riot" on Gene's entrance stairs, but the damage was done. The lower tier kept its answers up in protest for the remainder of the episode.

Finished the night at Tubi with Hawk the Slayer. Hawk (John Terry) is a warrior who is called on by Ranulf (W. Morgan Sheppard) to rescue a local abbess (Annette Crosbie) from the evil Voltan (Jack Palance). That Voltan is Hawk's brother who killed his wife (Catronia MacColl) in a fit of jealousy is probably one of the least-cheesy things about this movie. Hawk calls on three friends, a fight-loving giant (Bernard Bresslaw), a serious-minded elf (Ray Charleston), and a comic dwarf (Peter O'Farrell), then does nothing with them. Palance and Crosbie are more interesting as the scenery-chewing villain and the hopeful nun who truly believes the heavens are with her. Though this was a hit in England and eventually did well on cable in the US when it finally made it over here (the production company went bankrupt as they were making the movie), it's extreme 80's cheese of most overripe sort. If you're a fan of 80's action or medieval fantasy, it's worth checking out once for some decent scenery-chewing.