They Say It's Spring

Slept in and got a late start with brunch and classic Popeye shorts from the early 40's. Paramount's Famous Studios had Popeye joining the services before the US even officially entered World War II. He doesn't do so well in "The Mighty Navy" at first. He's an experienced sailor who is used to being in charge of his own ship and can't follow Navy authority. It takes an attack from an unknown enemy to show his fellow sailors that he has the stuff to be a real soldier. 

"Kicking the Conga Around" is the first of several wartime shorts to feature Olive Oyl. Here, she's Senorita Olive, the flirtatious beauty who takes Popeye and Bluto to a conga cafe in Cuba. Bluto ends up dancing with her when Popeye complains that he can't dance, but spinach gets his feet up and moving!

Headed out to run really quick errands after the cartoon ended. My first stop was Sprouts for soda, coconut milk, golden raisins, a turkey and cheese wrap for lunch, and buy one-get one 50% off granola bars. Found big, soft chocolate chip cookies on clearance in the bakery section. Headed to the library next to drop off the Tea Shop Mystery and Enchantment books, then rode up the hill and past the quiet Haddon Township High School to the Acme. Mainly needed yogurt here. I also picked up Kind Kids bars on a good sale, Popwell soda, and coconut macaroons from the bakery clearance rack.

Took the quick way home across Newton Lake Park. At this point, it was still a gorgeous day. The sun had finally emerged, and while not overwhelmingly hot, it was warmer than it has been in the past few days, probably in the mid-60's. In fact, the park was surprisingly quiet for 1:30. Everyone must have gone to lunch or back to work. The path I pushed the bike up is really beautiful now, all lime green leaves and lengthening shadows. It was a bit muddy, but not too hard to traverse.

Raced home after that, quickly put everything away, stuffed my wrap in my mouth, and hurried back out again. I got to Thomas Sharp School just in time. On one hand, we didn't have nearly as many kids today, only about 20 or so. They were fairly rowdy, though, probably due to it being Friday and the start of a holiday weekend. It was nearly impossible for me to keep the four boys at my table sitting down and not trying to kill each other with the heavy rubber dinosaurs and animals they played with.

At least we actually got to go outside this time, if only for a half-hour. Even as the kids ran around the playground set, dark clouds loomed on the horizon, and the wind was getting more and more blustery. We took them in early, and I read three books to them instead. That seemed to calm them down. They weren't bad listening to the stories about yard sales, Little Critter and his sister spending time with their grandparents, and the little boy whose uncle from Florida sent him an alligator keychain that turns into a real alligator when soaked in water. By the time they settle down with dolls, Mega Blocks, and magnetic tiles, they were in far better moods.

Made a quick stop at the CVS on the border of Oaklyn and Collingswood on my way home. I just picked up a Cherry Coke Zero to take out money for the May Fair tomorrow. (And forgot I also needed mouthwash.) There was a slightly line at the self checkout kiosk. Otherwise, I was in and out. 

Had dinner and finished the Popeye shorts after I got home. "Blunder Below" and "Fleets of Strength" may be two of Popeye's definitive wartime outings. They clearly delineate the Japanese as the enemy, with Popeye defeating an air raid in "Blunder" and Japanese ships in "Fleets." (The latter in particular features some fairly ugly stereotyping typical of World War II shorts.) "Olive Oyl and Water Don't Mix" when Bluto and Popeye fight to show her around their battle cruiser, and only blow it up in the end instead. 

Popeye isn't saying "Many Tanks" when Army soldier Bluto steals Navy sailor Popeye's uniform in order to take his date with Olive. Popeye manages to lead the tank corps on a merry chase to get back to his girl. "Baby Wants a Battleship" when Swee'pea sees how big and lavish Popeye's ship is. He has to chase the baby all over the ship in order to get him back before Olive comes back from shopping. Popeye wants to deliver "Spinach fer Britain," but the Nazis (the only time he tangled with them) are equally eager to make sure the food doesn't get through enemy lines.

Switched to Match Game Syndicated after dinner while I worked on the previous blog entry I wasn't able to get to last night. Marcia Wallace spent the first episode making sarcastic comments about and to her former Bob Newhart Show cast mate Bill Daily while Randi Oakes of CHIPs and David Doyle of Charlie's Angels looked on. Arte Johnson took the 5th "smart guy" seat in the next one, while comedian Ronny Graham made his first (and only) appearance on the show. He did really well, too, getting a Head-to-Head right on his first try.

Oh, and those dark clouds that had been gathering since the kids were on the playground finally burst around this point. The wind reached gale force levels, and the rain came down in torrents...for all of 20 minutes. It vanished in time for a rather pretty molten orange sunset. To my knowledge, it hasn't done anything but blow since.

Oh, and I got my schedule at this point. In good news, much better hours. I do work Memorial Day, but it's an early day. Work late enough next Saturday for me to hit the Farm Market and pick up fruit for Lauren and me on vacation.

Moved to two third season episodes of MASH on Hulu in honor of Memorial Day Weekend. Hawkeye and Trapper are looking forward to a relaxing furlough, but they end up on "Rainbow Bridge" when they're asked to trade badly wounded prisoners with the Chinese. Frank insists on coming along and almost ruins the deal with his itchy trigger fingers, but Hawkeye manages to calm everyone down, including Frank.

It's "Springtime," and thoughts at camp are turning lightly to matters of romance. Frank and Hot Lips continue their affair. Radar falls for a cute nurse who loves poetry (Mary Kay Place), Klinger gets married over the air (and yes, he wears a wedding gown). Hawkeye gains a devoted follower (Alex Karras) after he saves his life. 

Finished the night working on updating my Once Upon a Time In the Land of WENN fanfic. Elizabeth (Betty) discovers that not only is fraudulent former Prince Regent Scott Sherwood Mr. Eldridge's apprentice, but he's under a curse. Pruitt turned Scott into a demon when he's in the light, which is why he tries to stay in the shadows and covers himself in even the softest light. Scott is also the King of Thieves, the head of the bandits who have been stealing from nobles loyal to Pruitt. Betty's reluctant to help him out, but he reveals that he uses part of the gold to buy food for the starving people of Wenneria and convinces her to help.

Corpulent Prince Regent Rolleigh Pruitt is furious that Sir Johnathan Arnold (King Victor in a double-agent role) can't seem to catch the King of Thieves. He orders him to accompany him and his men into the woods with a box of gold for the Treasury. Pruitt doesn't trust Arnold any further than he can throw him and has devious evil candy witch Pavla Nemcova lure him and Duke Jeffery Singer into a trap. 

Pruitt also has Gertie Reece, Betty's mentor and employer, int the dungeon. He steals her talisman to stifle her magic, but she still definitely reminds him that her new apprentice is out there, and is strong enough to defeat him. He won't lure her, like he did Lord Justin, who was turned against his friend King Gregory and his family. When she won't tell him more, he orders his men to keep her in the dark until he can move her to a larger fortress.