In the Good Old Summertime

Started off the morning with something a little different at The Roku Channel. They have the original seasons of The Pink Panther Show from 1969-1970, at least until the end of the month. Two Panther cartoons and one from The Inspector are bracketed by animated sequences taken from Pink's shorts and live-action footage of a kid driving around in a nifty futuristic "Panthermobile." 

The episode I watched started with "Pink Valiant." Sir Pink is supposed to save the princess, but he can't even get on the horse. When the Chief needs rest, The Inspector goes on "Le Quiet Squad" to keep every single thing around them silent. Pink deals with a pesky magician's rabbit in "The Hand Is Pinker Than the Eye."

Headed out for a walk after the cartoon ended. I needed to make a quick run to Dollar General...and I just wanted to enjoy a nice day. The sun was out, the sky was blue, and if it was still humid, it was also much cooler than it has been, in the 70's. The rain may be driving everyone crazy, but it's been a boon to the local plant life. The grass is far greener and less brittle than it was a week ago. Gardens overflow with gorgeous day lilies, zinnias, and petunias. Wind whistled through the shiny emerald leaves.

Dollar General is the only place in this area that carries the Sunbelt Bakery granola bars I like. Got packets of their electrolyte drink mix, too. Looked at shampoo and conditioner, but decided to save that for later, after I've used my current bottles a bit more. Grabbed a Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi.

Stopped at A&A Soft Pretzels on the White Horse Pike for a unique lunch. In addition to picking up two pretzels, I thought one of their filled pretzel pockets would be nice and soft on my teeth. I've wanted to try "The Philly," their cheesesteak-stuffed pretzel pocket, for a while. It sounded different, anyway.

Had lunch while watching Match Game '77 at home. The episode began with Gene reading what was supposedly fan mail, though the "fans" had some rather odd requests. The second half of the show featured a contestant who told Brett her friend saw Jack Klugman squiring a blonde at the Hollywood Race Track and enjoying it. Brett handled it pretty well, but it's obvious that tacky comment shook her. Even if the lady didn't realize Brett and Jack were going through a nasty separation and/or divorce, it was totally unnecessary. I don't think anyone was unhappy when she lost. 

That lady's nasty comment and how Brett must have felt about it actually inspired a story about me, "Friends, Lovers, and Blank." Betty brings Brett lunch, as she went straight to her dressing room after the taping ended for break. I'll probably re-write it to have Brett reluctantly having lunch with the rest of them.

Went to work about an hour later. Work was on-and-off busy, probably because we're getting close to a major holiday and the beginning of the month. There were a few annoying or grouchy people, but nothing worse than that. It was so quiet by 7, I got off with no relief and no need for one.

Changed when I got home, then had dinner while watching Match Game '79. Fannie Flagg reveals in the opening that she just got a contract to write a novel. This is likely what would turn into her first book, Coming Attractions (later Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man). Everyone else helps with "Away ___" in the Audience Match.

Finished the night on YouTube with One Crazy Summer, which is currently free there. Hoops McCann (John Cusack) is hoping to learn about love during his summer on Nantucket with his best friend George (Joel Murray) and his tough little sister Squid (Kristen Golez). On the way there, he encounters a rock singer named Cassandra (Demi Moore) and helps her escape the bikers who want her money. That money will be going to save her grandfather's home from unscrupulous developer Aguila Beckerstead (Mark Metcalf) and his spoiled son Teddy (Matt Mulhern). 

After a disastrous evening with Teddy's hungry girlfriend Cookie (Kimberly Foster), Hoops and his friends make a commercial to get Cassandra's concert date heard. Even that isn't enough when Aguilla forecloses on the house outright. Hoops is nervous when his buddy Ack Ack (Curtis Armstrong) suggests entering the local regatta, which Teddy wins every year. Hoops and the others lend a hand...and learn that helping a friend in need is more important than any of the regattas or cups or lobster restaurants in the world. 

Really strange variation on the "slobs vs snobs" comedies of the 1980's, with Tom Villard and Bobcat Goldthwait as a pair of unalike twins who help the guys out and director "Savage" Steve Holland's brand of whacked-out comedy firmly on display. You'll either roll with the wacky vibes, or wonder what people were smoking when they made this. Recommended for fans of Holland or Cusack's other comedies or other class-war comedies of the 1980's.