Hurried out after Mickey ended. I had quite a bit of grocery shopping to do, beginning with Sprouts. Got more golden raisins, granola bars, and coconut milk here. The Zevia and Hint sparkling water were on good sales. Grabbed the last two boxes of the cherry shortbread cookies, too. Restocked soda, blueberries, peaches, granola bars, granola, and yogurt. Had a free online coupon for peanut butter; nectarines were on a good price. Grabbed lemon tea cakes from the bakery clearance rack.
Took the long way home across Newton Lake Park. Though it remains humid, it's also a bit sunnier and warmer, but not to the degree of the past month and a half. It was actually bearable as I rode under the dark green leaves and pushed my bike past tangles of bushes and yellow lilies. The sunlight sparkled on the green water, turning the fountains in the center into splashes of diamonds.
Put everything away when I got home, then went straight into lunch and Remember WENN. It's time for the PRAT awards, Pittsburgh's prestigious radio awards ceremony. Eugenia is thrilled when her exercise program is nominated, then decides for truth in advertising and actually attempts to exercise. Jeff and Scott are both nominated for Young Doctor Talbot, but Scott's more interested in finding out what Victor wrote to Betty. It's Hilary who may be in for the biggest "Pratfall" when she announces that someone at the station is on the committee to nominate an actor for the overall excellence trophy.
Mr. Eldridge's slip with Hilary and Jeff's scripts cause a "Work Shift" when a philosopher (Greg Germann) convinces everyone at the station to change jobs for the day. Trouble is, Maple can't spell and certainly is no writer, Hilary isn't thrilled about taking calls, Betty can't play anything but "Chopsticks," Eugenia is too sweet to be handling sponsors, and Gertie and Mr. Eldridge are more hams than actors. Everyone ends up learning a lesson in doing what they do best when the philosopher's words turn out to be more hot air than anything.
(If nothing else, this episode finally ends a long-standing running gag on the show about what Mr. Eldridge actually does at the station, besides being the show's official cool old guy. He's the go-fer and janitor who does all the cleaning, dusting, and coffee-fetching that no one else at the station has the time or inclination to do.)
Headed to the school shortly after "Work Shift" ended. They were surprisingly just finishing their snacks when I arrived. Usually, they're just starting when I get there. For the first hour and a half or so, half the kids went outside to the playground. Of those who remained, most ended up playing kickball on the gym side of the cafeteria. Those who weren't interested or up to it played with dolls and a large dollhouse, built with magnetic tiles, or joined me to draw. I worked on the scene from Hilary and the Beasts with Pavla, Hilary, and Jeff that I wrote last night, then did the finale of "Work Shift" as Betty, Scott, and Hilary went to tell off Arden Sage. Like I said to the girls, it was pleasant to just watch them draw houses and quietly discuss their future homes and families.
After a fire drill, we all reconvened inside to play games and do more drawing. This time, I did Betty confronting selfish Pirlipat (also Betty) over her ownership of the music box with the enchanted Sugar Plum Cavalier Jeff from the WENN Nutcracker Suite story I have planned for Christmas. On the other side, I drew Maple, Victor, Scott, and Betty as they confront Abernathy and Brumpton in "And If I Die Before I Sleep." (And I love that the kids think I'm a great artist. I've spent most of my life being told by my mother and sisters, who can do amazing, lifelike work, that I'm a lousy artist.)
For some reason, we got the kids cleaned up and trotted down to the smaller cafeteria earlier than usual. The older kids played with magnetic tiles while the younger ones drew...but by that point, I was the only adult left taking care of the older kids. I tried to do the best I could, but I don't think they really listened to me that much. At least all their parents pretty much came at once, allowing me to get out on time.
Went right home after I got out. Put on For Those Who Think Young after I got in. I go further into this Beach Party imitation featuring James Darren and Pamela Tiffin at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.
Worked on Hilary and the Beasts while the movie was on. Hilary, Betty, and Maple (and Maple's teddy bear Walter) reconvene in Maple's room the morning after their harrowing shared nightmare. By this point, all three are thoroughly convinced that the best way to get rid of Pavla and break her hold on the men is to get the guys to stop playing the blame game and get them working together. Betty will continue to help Bear with his writing and bring him downstairs to Miss Organ to hear music, as it seemed to help with his mental blocks. They'll also try to get him to decode Eagle's remaining work, even if it does pain him. Hilary will talk to Troll and not only drag him in with the others, but find out more about the curse and how they can break it.
Switched to Match Game '76 during dinner. Elaine Joyce and Fannie Flagg joined in to celebrate the end of the year and Evelyn, the sweet, smoky-voiced older woman who would be one of the bigger winners on the show. Elaine even took it well when she mistook her for Joyce Bulifant.
Finished the night writing my review while listening to several of my recent record acquisitions. You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown is probably one of the least-likely Peanuts specials. The tale of Charlie Brown taking part in a motocross race isn't known for its soundtrack, but does have some pretty nice tunes, with "Motocross" and it's title song as stand-outs. It also includes four numbers from a special Vince Guaralidi did the score for, Bicycles are Beautiful from 1974.
Anne Murray's gentle Love Song is from around the same time. The title song and her version of "You Won't See Me" were the major hits here. My favorite number is the last song on the album, the jaunty "Send a Little Love My Way," a cute Henry Mancini ballad from the western Oklahoma Crude.
Swing Concert actually covers a series of concerts featuring Benny Goodman, Count Basie, and the Kansas City Six at Carnagie Hall in 1938 and 1939. Goodman dominates the first side, including their dynamic "Stompin' at the Savoy" and "I Got Rhythm." Count Basie gets the second side, with "Don't Be That Way" and "One O'Clock Jump" the stand-outs. The Kansas City Six get "Good Morning Blues" and "Don't Be That Way."
By the time Their Satanic Majesties Request debuted in 1967, the Rolling Stones were adored for their musicianship and reviled for their excesses and frequently dark music. The Stones got more into psychedelia here with his like "She's a Rainbow" and freak-outs like "2000 Light Years from Home." It was derided as a Beatles imitation when it came out (especially the colorful Sgt. Pepper-like cover), but is generally better-regarded today.
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