Ride On the Magic School Bus

Began a gorgeous, sunny morning with The Magic School Bus. Based after the series of science-based books, this cartoon revolves around the outrageous "field trips" that Ms. Frizzle (Lily Tomlin) and her students go on in a bus that can change into whatever the subject of the day is. Case in point is the second season opener, "Blows It's Top." The kids are excited when Ms. Frizzle claims there's an island somewhere that hasn't been discovered - or even created - yet. Dorothy Ann, who always looks up the subject of the day in her books, insists on going after them when she drops her back in the ocean. While the others join her, goofy Carlos and ever-nervous Arnold stay on a boat over the water. But the mountain under the ocean isn't as benign as the kids think...and it may blow any second!

Really needed to get some laundry done. Thankfully, it wasn't quite as busy as it has been there the last few weeks. It was busy when I came and when I left, but most of the hour was a lot quieter. I had a smaller load, anyway. No towels, no sheets. Half-listened to The View and the news on Channel 6 while I worked on story notes.

Continued with the show while I put away the laundry and got organized. I did "Flexing Its Muscles" when I took out a shorter set revolving around the human body two years ago. The bus turns into "The Busasaurus" and takes the kids back in time. Once in the Cretaceous period, they see what the fossilized dinosaur egg that Arnold is watching for a paleontologist looked like when it was new and prove to Carlos that most dinosaurs weren't bloodthirsty, just surviving.

Went back out around quarter of 2. First stop was Chick Fil'A for lunch. It was a little late for them to be busy. I easily ordered a grilled chicken sandwich, hot and salty waffle fries, and deliciously creamy frozen lemonade. Enjoyed them while listening to the chatter of families around me.

Didn't need much at the Acme, but I figured since I had to get my schedule anyway, I might as well get it done. Bagged mandarin oranges and butter were on good sales, and I had online coupons for the Acme's generic premium ice cream pints (finally got to try the Brazilian Guava Cheesecake), turkey sausage, peanut butter, and pop-can biscuits that were too good to resist. They're clearing out the entire hair accessories section; I got hair bands for really cheap. Had a paper coupon for Chobani's new nut butter yogurts. Restocked canned pineapple, ground turkey, cooking spray, and relish.

My schedule next week is mostly a lot better than it was this week. Normal days off on Tuesday and Thursday, the former for counseling, about the same amount of hours. I am disappointed that I work early and long next Saturday and will have to miss the last Collingswood Farm Market of the year.

Ran into Dad and Jodie while shopping. Yes, they are having their Eagles party on Sunday, despite it being a 4:30 game. They're just ordering pizza. I'm off at 1 on Sunday; I'll go home and be around at 4 PM - quarter after.

Returned to The Magic School Bus as I put everything away. The kids are "Going Batty" when they think Ms. Frizzle is a vampire and will turn their parents into vampires on Parents' Day. They turn themselves into bats, learning more about them and how their sonic hearing works, in order to find them.

Arnold's annoying cousin Janet returns for "Butterfly and the Bog Beast." The class needs a name and mascot for their school's soccer team. Phoebe suggests butterflies, but Janet thinks they're too delicate. Carlos suggests a Bog Beast instead. Ms. Frizzle takes the kids to a real bog in order for her and Phoebe to show them just how tough butterflies are.

Worked on writing for a while. Charles and Richard tell the others about Bobby and Elaine. Brett reveals that Malade wants something that belongs to each Princess in order to claim their magic for her own. In Elaine's case, it was her hair. With Brett, it's her beauty - an idea Charles laughs at. Gene tells them he hired a boat that'll take them across the bay to find the next princess early in the morning. Too early, if you ask a reluctant Charles and Richard.

Made scrambled eggs with mushrooms and cheese for dinner. Did more Magic School Bus before and after a shower. The class is "Wet All Over" when they think they're going to Water Land. They're going in water - the water in the glass collecting rainwater outside. They learn about the water cycle when they have to swim through a pipe into the classroom to retrieve Liz the Lizard and the key to the bus.

The kids are livid when they return from a school vacation to discover their prize-winning carrots and tomatoes have rotted and turned into foul-smelling compost heaps. Keisha's cucumber is gone all together, replaced by a pickle. They turn it into a spoof of mysteries and courtroom stories when Ms. Frizzle finds herself "In a Pickle" and has to explain how microbes work.

"Revving Up" starts the second disc with something more perilous. The local car maintenance inspector (voice of Sherman Hemsley) seems to have it in for the School Bus. When the engine won't turn over, he insists on taking it to the junk yard and having it flattened. The kids shrink down and enter the engine in order to figure out why it won't work...and just barely avoid them and the bus getting crushed.

Finished out the night with "Taking Flight." Wanda and Tim made a model airplane for a school plane show. Wanda wants to really fly, so Ms. Frizzle shrinks most of the kids so they can fit in it. Tim, Phoebe, and Liz operate it from the ground, until the remote control breaks and the rest of the class has to figure out how to fly the thing on their own.