Began the morning with breakfast and Buzzr. Came in just in time to see the panel on To Tell the Truth, including Gene Rayburn from Match Game, guess correctly that one guest was a priest. The panel also had luck on What's My Line? Soupy Sales caught on that the guy was apparently a teacher at a famous needlepoint store and school in New York. He got to show off some of his and his students' work, including an amazing tapestry depicting Native American women at work. I definitely have more appreciation of the needlepoint Gene Rayburn did and my mother still does.
In good news, work was dead for most of the day. It got steadier later in the afternoon, but it was never close to overwhelming. In fact, it was so quiet, I spent most of the day returning items or organizing the gift card kiosk. In frustrating news, I discovered I didn't have as much vacation time left as I thought. The manager said I can use my personal days to cover the extra days, but not only does that mean I don't have any left for the year, but I won't get the money until next week. I also ended up in the register twice to cover breaks. We still weren't busy, but there just wasn't enough help.
Went straight home as soon as I could get out. Took the recycling to the outside canister and the trash to the curb, then did some writing. The entire castle prepares the dining room for Bill the wolf and Marcia to have an intimate dinner. Charles prepares the invisible musicians. Richard helps in the kitchen. Brett supervises the table-setting. Rose garlands are hung from the chandelier. One of the maids brings Marcia down in a gold and lace gown. She's impressed, but now Bill has to figure out how to show her how he feels about her, even as a canine...
Broke for dinner at 6. Had leftovers while watching Match Game. Tattletales host Bert Convy, adorable Joyce Bulifant, and a very pregnant Jo Ann Pflug joined Charles, Brett, Gene, and Richard for two episodes from 1975. The guy who'd won before finally made his way through a bonus round - and to $10,000 - on Sale of the Century.
Finished the night with Eddie the Eagle. Michael Edwards (Taran Eggerton) has always wanted to compete in the Olympics, despite him not being typical athletic material. As a teen, he switches from wanting to be in the Summer Olympics to the Winter one. After trying skiing, he finds he enjoys ski jumping the most...but England hasn't had a ski jumper in the Olympics since 1928. He goes to Germany to train for the 1988 Calgary Olympics, but all the experienced German and Scandinavian ski jumpers make fun of him. Former American ski jumper Bronson Peary (Hugh Jackman) thinks he's crazy, but takes him under his wing anyway. Eddie finally manages to take the 40 meter hill, but the English Olympic team doesn't think that's good enough and changes the rules to make it 60. He misses the landing...but the team takes him anyway. Bronson's worried that Eddie may make a fool of himself with his lack of talent, but Eddie doesn't care. All he wants is to prove to his family, England, and all the world that he can make the Olympics, and you don't need to look like Hugh Jackman to be a real athlete...or a real winner.
Like I, Tonya, this is a rare historical film where I actually remember the history involved. I didn't see Eddie's infamously bad jumps - I probably would have been in school - but I did hear about them on the news, and read about them later when I was into figure skating and winter sports in the mid-90's. Eggerton and Jackman are charming and fun as the young man who is determined to be in the Olympics no matter what and the former pro who thinks he's crazy, but admires his spirit. The great soundtrack of British and American late 80's rock and retro-synthesizer score really helps with the authenticity.
If you remember Eddie's moment in the winter sun too, or are a fan of either leading man, this is one jump well worth making.
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