Rushed out after that. I called Uber...but they couldn't pick me up for almost 10 minutes. Thankfully, there wasn't any traffic, but that did mean I was late for work.
That was the worst thing that happened all day. The Acme was totally dead, probably because it rained for most of the morning. And yes, I gathered carts in heavy showers and got wet. Not to mention, it's the middle of the week and the middle of the month, and we're between holidays again. Got in and out with no trouble.
The rain was thankfully down to a small shower when I went to lunch at Applebee's after grabbing cough drops at work. They were also quiet, despite it being past 1:15. I think I saw two other couples there. I just enjoyed a grilled chicken ranch bacon sandwich and an iced tea in blissful silence.
Thought it would be easier to pick up Uber at the Acme. Turns out I was right. I got a driver in less than a minute, and it took less than 10 to get to West Collingswood. I arrived at the Thomas Sharp School so early, I went for a walk down to Crescent Road to kill time despite the light shower.
Needless to say, the kids were really antsy now. They've been stuck inside for two days, the poor things. I did get to read a Dora the Explorer book and a book about a pouting fish who learns to accept help from his friends to them (and saw the young lady from yesterday read an interesting book about various spiders), but I also had a mix-up with taking them to the bathroom. (At least I got them there on time, but I have the third table of kids, and it was hard for them to wait.) We all ran around as the head of the program hid a toy that the kids had to find, and then we played a version of Jeopardy for 4-year-olds that had the teacher asking them questions about letters or numbers or the days of the week.
Though the rain never ended completely, it slowed down enough for me to walk home. I did stop at CVS for a sparkling water. Otherwise, this time, I went straight back, dodging rush hour traffic on the White Horse Pike as I did.
Soon as I got home, I worked on writing while watching more Remember WENN. "Some Good News, Some Bad News" first introduces cheerful-but-tough Maple LaMarsh (Carollee Caramello), former burlesque performer-turned-organist who acts as a replacement for Ceila and (for the rest of the second season) Eugenia. Maple fits right in with a story that has Scott declaring an all-news day, then trying to make his own news when they can find nothing earthshaking to report.
"Don't Act Like That" brings in Giels Aldrych (Roddy McDowell) of the Giels Aldrych Academy. Hilary's happy to see her former mentor, but the others are less appreciative of his inability to see the differences between radio and stage acting. They all go on strike when Betty and Scott bring in two interns, sweet Enid (Melissa Dye) and imitation-spouting Gus Kahana (Jeff Bergman). It's not until they hear them on the air they realize that, though the interns aren't bad, they have a lot to learn about radio.
Watched Match Game '76 while I ate dinner. Brett was enamored of a handsome former teacher who did bell kicks Gene Kelly would have envied when he won. Gene was so impressed, he got the guy to do it twice.
Finished the night at YouTube with The Secret of NIMH. Mrs. Brisby (Elizabeth Hartman) is a mother field mouse who needs to find a new place to put her family's cinder block house. They can't move, due to her younger son being critically ill. Family friend Auntie Shrew (Hermoine Badderly) sends her to the Great Owl (John Carradine). He suggests going to the "rats of NIMH" who live in the rosebush. Turns out these rodents were injected with a serum that makes them super-intelligent and able to steal electricity and create their own society. Nickodemous (Derek Jacobi), the head of the group, is pushing for a move to a valley where they'll never have to steal again. Mrs. Brisby and her impending move are caught in the crossfire when it turns out that the treacherous Jenner (Paul Shenar) has no desire to upset the rose bush. When push comes to shove, Mrs. Brisby finally finds the courage in herself to save the day...and remind the rats that you don't need to be magical or super-smart to be a true hero.
This has been one of my favorite animated movies since I first saw it on cable in the mid-80's. Don Bluth threw his heart and soul into this one, and it shows, from the lush landscapes to the complex characters. Violence, two gristly on-screen deaths, and discussions of death, grief, illness, and animal testing makes this for older elementary school animal-lovers and their parents on up.
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