Teach Your Children

Began our last morning together with an Uber ride to 30th Street Station. This was a bit of a problem. Traffic was backed up in Cherry Hill and Philly. Thankfully, it thinned out before we got to the station. Lauren went to use the bathroom when we arrived, and I got breakfast. Picked up a mini-spinach quiche, a bottle of grapefruit juice, and a bowl of cantaloupe and blueberries from Pret, and then a cream donut and a chai tea from Dunkin' Donuts.

Found Lauren waiting for the train across from the food area. I gave her a hug before staring to the exit. She has a long journey ahead of her. In addition to the usual train rides, she'll need at least one bus ride in Albany too...but that will get her straight to Pittsfield. We always have a great time on vacation together, and this one was no exception. I'm going to miss her until September.

I tried to call Uber at this point, now that the prices had gone down, but...for some reason, the driver ended up clear on the other side from where Uber drivers usually pick up and drop off. I couldn't find him. He ended up canceling. Not only was the lady who picked me up cheaper and went to the right place, but she got me home pretty fast. I was back in Oaklyn within 15 minutes.

Spent the rest of the morning working on new Remember WENN fanfic ideas. One of the ideas I came up with when I started watching the show again in 2015 was a series of short to mid-length fairy tales revolving around each character. I got Scott's "Snow White," Betty's "Little Mermaid," and the ensemble Christmas comedy "Babes In Toyland" out before I lost interest. Now that I'm watching the show again, I'd like to give that idea another shot. Mackie's story will be my favorite Shakespearean play The Tempest. I initially listed "Little Red Riding Hood" for Maple, then decided that "Rapunzel" for her and Victor in the 4th season after their date would be more romantic and moved "Red Riding Hood" to Ceila. Here's the list: 

Hilary - Beauty and the Beast

Maple - Rapunzel

Victor - King Arthur

Mr. Eldridge and Gertie - The Man Who Minded the House

Mackie - The Tempest

Jeff - Aladdin

C.J - Jack and the Beanstalk

Ceila - Little Red Riding Hood

Eugenia & Mr. Foley (They're the only ones without a story yet. I'll keep looking.)

My other story ideas is actually re-writes. Two of my WENN action spoofs wound up being kind of rushed, the fairy tale satire Miss Roberts In WENNland and the Christmas fantasy The WENN Nutcracker Suite. I want to greatly expand the second halves of both stories and keep the Nutcracker a doll for longer in the latter. Don't know when I'll get to WENNland, but WENN Nutcracker Suite will likely be this year's November-December-January project. 

After I got off with the WENN writing, I took down the general spring decorations and put up what I have for summer and the 4th of July. I have no idea where the "A" in my "USA" folk Angel trio went. I did find the two Beanie Baby patriotic bears and the Care Bear America Cares Bear (whom I call Americana Bear), along with the red, white, and blue tinsel Garland and the two bows for my doors. General summer decorations include three stuffed flamingos, a sunflower-themed vine wreath, and a cute beaded fish I hang on the door. 

Left for work a little early to have lunch. Enjoyed a slice of cheese and a slice of tomato-basil-mozzarella at Crust n' Cravings. They were delicious, and rather quiet, given it was past 2 when I was eating. Washed it down with a can of Coke Zero. Stopped in at Speedy Mart fast after lunch to get bagels for work tomorrow and Sunday. 

Though there were fewer kids today, they were still pretty rowdy through snack time. This time, it took coloring Pokemon pages to calm them down. I read a Scooby Doo book, a Hot Wheels book, and an Elephant and Piggie book while they worked. They finally settled down before they left with a teacher showing them episodes of The Wild Kratts. Stopped at the CVS really quick when I left to use the bathroom.

Moved on to Here Comes the Groom. I'll go further into that Bing Crosby vehicle on my Musical Dreams Reviews blog tomorrow for Father's Day.

Finished the night with the Bowery Boys horror spoof Master Minds on Tubi. Slip makes use of his friend Sach's toothache that allows him to predict the future to tell fortunes to customers on the midway. Unfortunately, one of those fortunes includes that he's going to be kidnapped and taken away. Mad Scientists want to put his brain into their monster...and they actually succeed for once. Now Slip, Gabe, and the others have to figure out where the real Sach is and restore the duo. 

Oh, and first of all, Lauren got home just fine, with no trouble on the train or bus. She was eating with her parents in Pittsfield by the time I was finishing with the kids. Second, this is also the end of my vacation. I'll be working at the Acme again tomorrow.