You'd never know it poured for a lot of yesterday when I got up this morning. The sun was shining, the breeze was blowing, and it was already in the 60's by 9 AM. Celebrated the improved weather with breakfast and more Dick Van Dyke Show. "The Twizzle" is a new dance sensation Sally discovers in a bowling alley. She thinks the song, the dance, and its handsome teen performer would be a big hit...but the kid has more interest in Paul Anka ballads than Chubby Checker dance routines.
Poor Sally is wondering "Where You Been, Fassbinder?" when she's worried about being alone on her birthday. An old friend of hers from high school calls and says he'll go out with her...but it turns out he's more interested in selling insurance than in romance.
I did some vacuuming after breakfast. It takes me a bit longer to vacuum when I do spring cleaning than normally. I clean under furniture I don't usually bother moving and around all the woodwork.
Continued with Dick Van Dyke while I cleaned. Rob is "One Angry Man" when he's the only one who believes a ditzy blonde dancer didn't steal a bag of jewelry. Her flirting with him during the trial and his obvious kindness to her doesn't help convince the other jurors he's on the level.
Rob wishes it was "The Bad Old Days" when Buddy tells him about an article in a magazine about the decline of the American male. He occasionally helps Laura with housework and wonders if it's too feminine of him. He has another weird dream when he imagines that they're in the early 20th century, and she's a drudge of a housewife who is too tired and unattractive to spend time with him. He comes to the conclusion he'd rather help her and give her time to be pretty than let her get worn down. (Yeah, the Aesop on this one hasn't dated well. It was apparently called out by the cast and writers for the misogynist plot even at the time, and is generally regarded as the series' worst episode.)
Headed to work shortly after the episode ended. Work was more-or-less the same as yesterday, only a bit less busy. I spent most of the first part of the day shelving candy and gathering carts and the outside recycling in the glorious sunshine...but I got stuck in ther register during my last hour when it got busier. I just got out in time.
Took the long way home down Nicholson Road. That might not have been smart. It was 3:30 by then, and rush hour was just starting. I dodged cars all the way down to Atlantic Avenue. It was much better in Oaklyn. Despite clouds having moved in briefly, the weather still felt nice. The trees are really green now, the leaves almost full-grown. Red and yellow tulips and rich purple flowers grow in gardens.
Spent the next couple of hours writing. Leia brings the guys back to the Rebel League's headquarters in Yavin Park. They have rooms upstairs in a series of older buildings with normal businesses like delis and coffee shops on the first floor. Leia greets and older gentleman, a professor named Dr. Dodonna, and gives him the tapes and blueprints for the laser gun. Luke goes to greet an old friend of his, Brian "Bigs" Darkman.
Broke for leftover tacos for dinner at 6:30. Did more Dick Van Dyke Show as I ate. We meet Rob's brother Stacey (Dick Van Dyke's real-life brother Jerry) in "I Am My Brother's Keeper." Stacey has an unusual problem. When he sleepwalks, he's a hilarious party animal who plays the banjo and livens any room. The trouble is, when he's awake, he's desperately shy. He does manage to impress Mel Cooley as a party...but now he has to audition for Alan Brady while he's awake.
Played Lego Star Wars after dinner. "Speeder Showdown" and "Endor Attack" are two of the longest rounds in the game. "Speeder" has Luke and Leia trying to shoot down stormtroopers on speeder bikes and blow up rods that block your way. After that's done, they head to a bunker to take over an AT-AT and blow up satellites. "Endor Attack" begins at the Ewoks' village as Wicket leads Leia, Han, Chewie, and the droids from the village and across Endor to the bunker, where they blow up the main satellite. I got more pieces on "Speeder Showdown" (all that you can get in the regular mode) than "Endor Attack," but I ran into too many trees and got shot at too many times to earn True Jedi on either round.
Finished the night by finishing off the first season of The Dick Van Dyke Show. Stacey is "The Sleeping Brother" who is a great comedian only when he's sleepwalking. Rob's at wit's end to figure out how to get him to audition for Alan Brady, until he comes up with the idea of recording him.
Rob's surprise to encounter his old mentor Happy, a former radio writer, at a tie store. He hires him to work for The Alan Brady Show, but "The Return of Happy Spangler" doesn't go as well as he hoped. They get nothing done, because Happy keeps reminiscing about his days as a radio writer rather than working...but it's happy who gives Rob the idea for a final skit.
That was fun. No wonder this continues to be one of the most influential of all sitcoms. It was the first show to put as much emphasis on the lead character's unusual job as his home life. Rob and Laura's relatively sexy and intense relationship and Laura's fairly casual wardrobe (including her capris) were also revolutionary at the time. Not every episode has dated well; its treatment of the female characters, whether Rob questioning Laura working or Sally being desperate to get a man, any man, can be a bit sexist at times. There's also Rob working for a variety show, the type that today is generally seen only on late-nights or as a one-off special during holidays.
If you're a fan of the cast or want to check out one of the seminal sitcoms, or just need a laugh, you'll want to get to know the Petries and their friends and families, too.
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