Headed to work before the CD even ended. No problems here. We were quiet when I arrived in the morning. By the time it picked up around noon, I was an hour from being finished. I mostly just swept the store and gathered carts. The weather may have scared some people off, too. It was hot, killer humid again, and off and on cloudy. The clouds were gathering again as I finished and hurried home.
They finally burst not 20 minutes after I walked in the door. It was coming down at a pretty good clip when I was having lunch and listening to Paul Sills' Story Theatre. This series of "modernized" folk tales has a familiar cast of actors, including Peter Bonerz, Valerie Harper, Hamilton Camp, Melinda Dillon, and Paul Sand, telling folksy versions of mostly Grimm's fairy tales or fables like "Henny Penny."
(Oh, and the rain disappeared about a half-hour after starting. To my knowledge, it hasn't rained since, and in fact got sunny later in the afternoon.)
Some of these come off as more than a little disturbing, including "The Little Peasant" (where all of the townspeople but the title character end up drowning in the end) and "The Robber Bridegroom" (which involves severed fingers and isn't nearly as romantic as the country-flavored Broadway musical of that title). Others, including "The Golden Goose," with its refrain of "Here Comes the Sun," is hilarious. I don't know if I'd recommend this for anyone who isn't a fairy tale fan or a fan of the actors in question, but it does make for a fascinating listen if you know these stories, the actors, or the late 60's-early 70's when this came out.
Chinese Fairy Tales are even more charming. Unlike the largely familiar Story Theatre fables, with the exception of "The Chinese Red Riding Hoods," these aren't nearly as well-known in the US nowadays. "The Sparrow and the Phoenix," "The Faithful One," and "How Some Animals Became As They Are" are all lovely and funny, ripe for rediscovery.
Switched to late 90's - early 2000's alternative rock bands after the records ended. I was a huge fan of Train after their hit "Drops of Jupiter" blew me away in 2001. Their earlier self-titled album wasn't quite at that level, but it did feature "I Am" and "If You Leave." The Killers went darker a decade later with Sawdust, "dedicated to their fans." They went a bit more indie and rougher with "All the Pretty Faces," "Tranquilize" with Lou Reed, and their version of the country hit "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town."
Spent most of the afternoon working on Hilary and the Beasts. The day after Maple's discovery of Eagle's records, she comes downstairs to find Maple isn't eating her waffles at breakfast. Yes, she had a nightmare, too. Hers started in Eagle's office, among the papers and maps. She dreamed of her tall, sweet, slightly balding suitor, who was far more awkward than Betty's charmer in white. He thrust yellow roses in her arms and ended up kissing her arm rather than her hand, but she thought he was adorable. The records with Victor Comstock's voice are heard in the background, but Maple can't make out the words, even as he tries to mouth them or read the papers on Eagle's desk.
She's about to kiss him when the monsters break in. Unlike Betty, Maple is perfectly capable of helping her suitor fight the monsters off. It ends in the same way, though, with the monsters holding them both down. The monsters destroy the papers and maps, while the largest taunts her "Prince Charming" as cold-hearted and caring more about papers than love. He tightens a collar around his neck until he can barely breathe. When Maple protests, she's knocked out, ending the dream. Now Hilary's worried about both her sisters...and she and Maple are more determined than ever to figure out what these dreams mean.
Had dinner while finishing the night at YouTube with today's Match Game marathon. Tonight put country singer "Whisperin'" Bill Anderson in the spotlight in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Gran' Ol' Opry. Bill started off in 1976, and became one of the most popular semi-regulars of the later episodes. Probably his best-known episode was the one where he composed a song for Debralee Scott on the Friday show, joined by Charles and Brett dressed as cowpokes. Deb was sincerely touched and gave Bill a kiss.
Bill also took part in the wild week in 1978 where Jack Klugman and Brett Somers sat on the same panel after their divorce or separation. He took part in their "wedding" at the end of the week and jokingly asked if he could get his ex-wife on the panel, too. He also helped break them up when they argued over "__ Hall of Fame" on the very first day.
Bill continued appearing well into syndication, including a country-western-themed week in 1982 with Fannie Flagg and Irlene Mandrell. He made his last appearances in Match Game on the Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour in 1984. He brought along the latest in musical equipment at that point - a Casio keyboard - to try writing songs for his answers.
Let's lift a guitar for "Whisperin'" Bill and his country-fried charm in this delightful marathon!
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