Splendiferous Days

Kicked off a cloudy morning with breakfast and more What's New, Scooby Doo? It's a "Big Scare In the Big Easy" when the gang spend their spring break next to a cemetery in New Orleans. Their friends who own the house and a local history guide claim that the ghosts of two brothers from the Civil War fight a duel there every night. After Daphne disappears, the gang hits the cemetery to find the truth.

Worked online for an hour, looking at some writer's websites as well as just puttering around. I think, before I made a website for my writing, I need more writing. I have my blogs, but I'd like some samples of my work that doesn't revolve around Star Wars and is more recent than the Helium material from 2012.

Made a quick blueberry smoothie for lunch; did another Scooby Doo episode while I ate. The Mystery Machine, the kids' beloved van, becomes the ghost in "It's Mean, It's Green, It's the Mystery Machine." To the kids' shock, the Mystery Machine suddenly starts moving on its own and trying to run them down. Turns out, the van once belonged to a popular kid musical group who broke up after its most popular member disappeared and is said to haunt the vehicle. The kids have to figure out if it's really supernatural, or if the kids' mother or their mechanic is more interested in resurrecting the group, complete with their original ride.

It was still cloudy when I headed to work. I did get tossed in the register almost as soon as I got in, but it was just to go in for a break. Otherwise, I alternated sweeping the store with the head bagger, gathered carts, and shelved three full carts of returns. It was steadier than it has been, but not overwhelmingly busy

My schedule for next week is...not bad, actually. Probably the best I've had in weeks, since at least the week of the 4th of July. All morning and afternoon, Sunday and Monday off. I work early enough on Thursday to hit the Haddon Township Library that day, and late enough on Saturday that I'll be able to do the Collingswood Farm Market.

I'm not going to make it to the Farm Market this week, though, so I had to pick up some produce along with my regular groceries. Grabbed red plums, plum tomatoes, a huge cucumber and even bigger zucchini, and a larger container of blueberries. There's a good weekend sale on Friendly's and Acme generic ice cream. I went with Acme's "slow-churned" (i.e, light) Mint Moose Tracks (mint with fudge and chocolate cups). There's also a good General Mills sale; I took two containers of Multi-Grain Cheerios and two of the Nature's Valley sandwich cookies. Late July chips are on sale this weekend as well; their sweet potato Tortilla chips are divine. Restocked yogurt, brown sugar, tissues, canned pineapple, and hot dogs.

I was so hungry, I just made dinner after I put everything away. Had those turkey hot dogs with zucchini and tomatoes sauteed in olive oil and corn on the cob. Continued with Scooby as I ate and had my very tasty and minty ice cream for dessert. Scooby's saying "Riva Ras Regas" when the gang wins a stay at a huge mega-resort. They're looking forward to seeing a concert for (real-life) young star Lindsay Pagano and the boy band that Daphne loves, but the show may not go on when the stage is haunted by the ghost of an escape artist who supposedly died when the casino that was previously on the property was imploded. The kids explore the underbelly of the Vegas show business scene, including dealing with rivalries between magicians.

Shaggy and Scooby are thrilled when they win a contest to build their own roller coaster, but the "Roller Ghoster Ride" turns out to be a thrill of a different kind when a monkey-like monster keeps disrupting the rides. With the help of their two young women friends, they try to figure out what's going on.

Took more time for Lego Star Wars tonight. I tried getting through The Empire Strikes Back Super Story, but I got stuck in the first couple of rounds and ended on "Cloud City Trap." Had more luck with the blue minikit challenges. Finished "Escape From Echo Base"; tried "Hoth Battle," but couldn't find half of them. I think I'll work on the minikits further before I tackle the Super Story again.

Finished the night with Wonder Park. June (Brianna Denski) and her mother (Jennifer Garner) spend time together creating Wonderland, a fabulous imaginary theme park staffed by June's stuffed animals. Her mother whispers her ideas in the ear of June's favorite stuffed monkey Peanut (Norbert Leo Butz), and he "creates" the rides with a golden marker. June's devastated when her mother becomes very sick and has to spend time in the hospital, losing interest in Wonderland and destroying the blueprints. Her concerned father (Matthew Broderick) sends her to math camp, but she sees a note, worries that he might be in trouble, and takes off for home. On the way, she gets lost in the woods and discovers a rusty roller coaster car that takes her to the Wonderland of her dreams...or what's left of it. The park is now falling apart. It's being destroyed by The Darkness, which has terrified the animals and forced Peanut into hiding. It's up to June to figure out what The Darkness is, how to get rid of it...and how it's connected to her despair over her mother's illness.

This was...ok. The animation was colorful and fun, with truly amazing designs for the park rides and for The Darkness. I just feel like the story could have been so much more. The stakes should have been higher. I understand that her mother was sick, and there was some uncertainty...but she was still alive. June's reaction might have been a little more likely had her mother died. Her animal friends were annoying and obnoxious despite being voiced by an all-star cast, and there really wasn't much to Peanut besides the "whisper in his ear" shtick.

Once again, I liked it enough that I didn't mind the free rental, but very likely won't be buying it (or checking out the Nickelodeon show based on it that's supposed to be debuting later this year). Fun rental for older kids who will understand what June is going through and for animation fans who might like the CGI, not really necessary for anyone else.