Hurried out after that. I had a lot to do today, starting with an errand run at Target. Though my three-year-old niece Aurora's birthday isn't until October 1st, I wanted to get her and Amanda's cards out today. I bought a Disney gift card for Aurora. Mom says she's a huge fan of Minnie Mouse, so I thought she'd get a kick out of something from Disney's online store. I needed a new computer mouse rather badly. The Bluetooth one I bought a while back doesn't work with my new laptop, and my old USB port mouse is losing the pads on the bottom and eats batteries for breakfast. I finally found a smooth pink mouse that wasn't a bad price. Got a new pair of earphones too that could hook up to the cell phone I got in January.
Sprouts was next on my list. They sell "kids' meal" bags with chips, a sandwich, a bottle of water, a cookie, and a container of applesauce. Most of them had barbecue chips, which I don't like. The only one that came with regular chips was the almond butter and jelly sandwich. Why not? I don't think I've ever tried almond butter. The bag I bought last year was great for the train trip. Also small bags of mixed nuts and dried apricots for the trip and granola bars (buy one, get one half off) and soda for when I get home.
Headed down Cuthbert to the Acme next. Most of what I picked up here was for when I got back, including yogurt, soda, apples, and more granola bars. I did get a Propel for tomorrow. I'll likely need more liquids than just that tiny bottle of water that came with the kids' meal bag. Incidentally, I could absolutely see why I got off so easily this week. None of the stores were busy, not even Target.
Rode down Cuthbert next and over to Haddon to hit PNC Bank. I wanted to take out money for the trip. I stopped at the outside ATM machine, got my money, and got out just as a car pulled up to the driveway.
At least the weather was gorgeous for all the running around. The rain of the last few days was replaced by sunshine, blue skies, cool winds, warmth, and slight humidity. I enjoyed it as I made my way past the park and down to East Clinton.
Put everything away and packed my backpack while watching Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown (And Don't Come Back!) on YouTube. Charlie Brown is shocked when Linus signs the two of them up for a foreign exchange program to France. Peppermint Patty and Marcie are a part of the same program, while Snoopy and Woodstock tag along for the adventure. (And because Snoopy can somehow drive a Volkswagen.) Chuck gets an even bigger surprise when he receives a letter in French asking him and Linus to stay at the Chateau Mal Voison. As Marcie explains, this means House of the Bad Neighbor...and it turns out that the Baron who owns the house is anything but friendly. It's Linus who eventually finds out who wrote the letter and how they knew about Chuck. Elsewhere, Peppermint Patty gets a crush on the son of their host, while Snoopy sneaks out to a cafe to sing songs from World War II and drink root beer.
This is by far the most unique of the Peanuts' five (to date) theatrical films. First of all, it's the only Peanuts film where you hear adults actually speaking. It would have been strange for four 11-year-olds, a beagle, and a bird to travel through Europe without some adult intervention. It's also the darkest of the five Peanuts movies. Though the Baron ultimately does nothing to the boys besides being a lousy host, he does make serious threats. There's also the sweet story between Violette's grandmother and Chuck's grandfather that makes a nice contrast to Peppermint Patty's imaginary romance.
Not everything works. Most of the first half, with Snoopy playing tennis at Wimbleton and the kids trying to figure out Cockney accents in London, is pure filler, and honestly, the story seems a little too dark for this particular franchise at times. This is still recommended for major Peanuts fans like me and families with older kids who know something about history. Those with younger kids or who are less familiar with the Peanuts outside of the holidays will want to start with A Boy Named Charlie Brown or The Peanuts Movie first.
Switched to What's New, Scooby Doo? while eating lunch. Mystery Inc realizes that "Diamonds are a Ghoul's Best Friend" when they come to see the US play Russia in a major hockey match, only for "The Frozen Fiend," an icicle-covered hockey player, to steal the cup and the diamonds embedded in it. Fred wants to jump the gun and capture the ghoul before they've figured out who it is, but Velma reminds him why actually solving the case before they chase the bad guy is important.
(Oh, and I checked my Acme schedule at this point, too, just to make sure my vacation went through. Yes, it did. I'm off for all of next week, and in fact won't be going home until next Sunday.)
Put on a quick Disney short while getting ready for work. Donald thinks he's a "Hockey Champ" when he imitates then-popular figure skater Sonja Henie, then challenges his nephews to a game. That proves to not be a smart move. The boys almost literally skate rings around Donald.
Dropped off the birthday cards for Amanda and Aurora in the mail box, then made my way down the White Horse Pike and Collings to the Thomas Sharp School. Our dance parties for the last two days had been so successful, the teachers decided to have another one in the library, despite it being nice enough to go outside.
This time, they gave out glow sticks to the kids and turned off the lights, turning it into something of a disco dance party. It was hilarious. The kids were a riot running around with their glow sticks, trying to twirl them around their arms and perching them on their heads like glowing crowns. Even the teachers got glow sticks. We danced to "The Wiggle Dance," "Doin' the Flamingo," "Under the Sea," "Hakuna Matata," and songs from Frozen and KPop Demon Hunters. I hadn't had so much fun in ages.
After I got out, I made my way back down the White Horse Pike...but this time, I turned at CVS and rode into Oaklyn. Today was the last Final Friday block party of the year. "Final Friday" is two blocks on West Clinton of food trucks, craft booths, face painting and mini-golf for the little kids, and a local DJ playing hits under a tent. They were already pretty busy when I arrived, especially the long line for the barbecue truck! Since I'm going away tomorrow, I compromised. I had cheaper slices of broccoli-chicken teriyaki and tomato-basil-mozzarella pizza at Phillies Phatties, but for dessert, I treated myself to another one of those Bubba's Gourmet Creamery popsicles. Got chocolate-mint swirl. Oooh, so yummy and creamy...and very minty!
Put on Match Game Syndicated when I got home. Today's episodes covered the time future talk-show hostess Jenny Jones was a contestant on the show. She did very well, too, winning over $5,000. I learned quite a bit that I didn't know about her, like her being from Canada by way of Israel originally.
Worked on Maplepunzel next. Pavla slinks to King Thomas and Queen Gertie and, in the sweetest way possible, demands to have Maple fired. Not even Mr. Eldridge buys it. Maple has been nothing but a good and faithful servant. Gertie has her own reason to keep Maple on. Not only is she worried about Pavla keeping Victor from the rest of the household, but the coffee everyone's been drinking gallons of is putting people to sleep, not keeping them awake. She asks Maple to find out what's going on there.
Since I enjoyed Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown earlier, I finished the night with the far more typical The Peanuts Movie. Poor Charlie Brown just can't catch a break. He badly wants to impress The Little Red-Haired Girl, but whether it's a dressing as a cow for his sister Sally's talent show act, attempting to show off his moves on the dance floor, or writing a complete book report of War and Peace for her, nothing ever seems to turn out right for him. He thinks she doesn't notice him, but it's not until she chooses him as a partner at the end of the year that he realizes how much of an impact he's had on her and all of his friends. Meanwhile, his dog Snoopy writes a story about him being a brave World War I flying ace who saves a pretty poodle from the dreaded Red Baron.
Yeah, if you want to introduce your kids to the Peanuts outside of the holiday specials, I'd start here or with A Boy Named Charlie Brown. They're the most typical of the movies and probably come the closest to what the comic strips are actually like. I also love the animation style here. The kids look more like stop-motion animation, like they're almost made of felt, but their eyes have a hand-drawn style that allows them to have expressions closer to the comics. There's also the comics animation itself turning up in everyone's thought bubbles. No wonder this was a big hit a decade ago. It's probably one of Blue Sky Studio's best production and is really a sweet and charming treat.
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