Out of Luck

Began St. Patrick's Day with Irish oatmeal and a couple of classic Looney Tunes shorts featuring Porky and Daffy. Porky encounters two leprechaun's in "Wearin' of the Grin" who are convinced he's after their gold. They sentence him to wear green shoes that keep on dancing. Porky has to escape them in an insanely surreal nightmare. "Drip-Along Daffy" is a western spoof, with Daffy as the wanna-be sheriff and Porky as his grizzled sidekick. Daffy relates his own script for the swashbuckler satire "The Scarlet Pumpernickel," with Porky in a rare villain role. Porky's in more accustomed territory for the dark game show satire "The Ducksters," with Daffy as a sadistic host who tosses Porky into some nasty stunts. Porky finally finds a way to turn the tables in the end!

For the second day in a row, had absolutely no luck getting a ride. It was 11:30, just as rush hour was starting. There should have been someone out there, but nothing. I tried for ten minutes and got nothing. I finally walked at 11:45 and arrived 20 minutes late.

The rest of work wasn't fun, either. It was busy all day, and we didn't have nearly enough help to deal with the crowds. Many people (including me) just got their stimulus checks and were catching up on grocery shopping. I was tired, frustrated, and not really up to dealing with them. Thankfully, the crowds finally died just as I was getting ready to go home.

I had as difficult of a time finding a ride at 5 as I did at 11:30. There just wasn't anybody out there. I finally gave up after five minutes this time and walked home again. Though it remained cloudy, at least it was a bit warmer, probably in the lower 50's, and not nearly as windy as it has been.

It was so late when I arrived home, I just went straight into dinner. Jodie left me corned beef, cabbage, a slice of rye bread, and a boiled potato. I pared these with the Irish Chicken Stew I began before heading to work. 

Watched Match Game '76 as I ate. The contestant did fairly well with the regular round in the first episode, but she struck out in the Audience Match with a rather weird answer to "Arc __." Charles answered a question in the second episode by drawing a "beauty mark" on his face...which wouldn't come off, as Gene reminded him. (We also got a clear shot of Charles' infamous lack of socks when he put his feet up on the desk.)

A contestant who claimed to be single really turned Marcia Wallace and Brett Somers' heads on Match Game PM. That contestant seemed to be a little more reticent when it came time to actually kiss Brett and Marcia during the Audience Match! The guys are more interested in answering questions about when Dumb Donald tried to sell Christmas trees and how a girl can get attention in Professor Smith's class. 

Sale of the Century began its "End of the Summer Bash," with high schoolers playing for teen-oriented prizes. Our first group was a peppy Latin Club vice president, a cute water polo captain, and a sweet AP leader. The Latin Club girl did buy the first Instant Bargain, but the boy got the second and the Instant Cash and won the Speed Round hands down. He had more trouble with the Bonus Round, though.

Finished out the night with The Quiet Man. Sean Thornton (John Wayne) is happy to return to the land of his birth, Ireland, and buy the cottage where he was born. His neighbor Will Danaher (Victor McLaghlen) resents this, as he intended to buy the property. He's even less happy when Sean falls for his fiery sister Kate (Maureen O'Hara) and wishes to court her. Half the town, including the matchmaker Mikeleen (Barry Fitzgerald), convinces Will that the wealthy Widow Wilane (Mildred Natwick) is in love with him. He does give his consent to the couple's courtship and marriage...but when he learns of the deception, refuses to give up Kate's dowry and her things. Sean doesn't think any of it matters, but Kate wants her inheritance there. Even after they do get her furniture, they still can't wring the money out of Will. It takes Kate's attempt to leave to finally rouse Sean to deal with Will...and prove that being quiet doesn't mean you're not as strong as the next man in the Ould Sod.

Apparently, this was a real passion project for Irish-born John Ford. He got his fourth directing Oscar for this love letter to Ireland, with its glowing on-location cinematography and fine performances by O'Hara, Wayne, McLaghlan, and Ward Bond as the local priest determined to catch a legendary fish.