I had a hard time trying to activate my replacement credit card. First, I couldn't find the page to do it online. Then I had to wait forever to get someone to activate it by phone. At least the lady who took my call was really sweet and helpful when I did get her. At any rate, it has been activated, which is good. My old one hasn't been able to tap in almost two years.
Switched to Good Eats while vacuuming and Swiftering the floors. "I Pie" is the first of two Alton episodes revolving around making pies. Here, the pie in question is lemon meringue. I'm glad he had more luck with that one than me. I couldn't get the meringue right on my only attempt, and it ended up soupy and gloppy.
Alton's sister Marsha talks him into bringing donuts for her Wilderness Bunnies bake sale. Of course, Alton doesn't buy them. He teaches his sister and the audience about "The Circle of Life," showing how to make yeast cake donuts and vanilla and chocolate glaze. I have made donuts before, but I don't trust frying. I think I'll stick to Mom's recipe and baking them in those donut pans she gave me a few years ago.
Headed out after the donut episode ended to run errands and have lunch. First stop was the bank for late rent money. I stopped at one of the outside ATM machines, got money, and was on my way.
Had lunch at Crust N' Cravings. Given it was almost 2 by the time I arrived, they weren't terribly busy. The only other people there were the guys who make the pizza taking a break in the back. I enjoyed delicious slices of cheese and pepperoni while watching a local talk and food show. I even finished with enough time to enjoy a short ride around the block in front of the school before I headed to Thomas Sharp.
The kids were absolutely delighted to go outside today. It would have been a crime for them not to! The weather was stunning, blue and gold and breezy, if a bit too warm and dry for October. They had a blast chasing each other, playing tag, digging in the mulch under the shady trees, and dancing to "Do the Flamingo," The Wiggle Dance," "Sharks In the Water," and songs from Frozen and KPop Demon Hunters. The kids all wanted hugs, and they loved it when I pushed them on the swings! All that hauling 35-packs of water around was good for something. I found a ladybug climbing on the fence with one of the boys, too. He was really fascinated by how he could climb until he flew away.
We had a reading session with one of the teachers earlier, too. They love Pete the Cat! She started reading something else, then just opted to let them sing along with the story of a cat and his many-colored sneakers. We did "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" too. It was funny to watch the kids try to keep up with the song!
It was such a beautiful day, I took the long way home across Newton Lake Park. I'm surprised I didn't dodge more people there. I guess everyone was at dinner. Only some of the trees are starting to turn colors here. Unlike up in Pittsfield, most trees here remain green and a bit dry. The grass is already turning brown in spots. We really do need more rain!
When I got home, I worked on Maplepunzel. Maple is looking for Scott and finally finds him in Pittsburgh Village. He's asking the local editor of the village newspaper (I couldn't resist Ed Asner in a cameo as a fantasy Lou Grant) if he has a reporter named Abernathy on his staff. No sir, he does not. Maple manages to drag Scott out before he falls asleep on Lou's block letters. Maple manages to keep Scott awake long enough to give him the scrolls she wrote for the Queen.
As they head back, they see Abernathy and Brumpton slink into an alley. Pavla's meeting them there. Turns out they're the ones putting the drugs in the coffee...because they work for Pavla and Berlainia. Actually, they work for Philla Kingdom, who wants part of Wennaria for themselves. Scott almost falling over alerts them to their presence. They just barely escape, but Pavla knows that someone is aware of their scheme...
Watched Buzzr while I worked. They've finally moved to the late 80's Price Is Right episodes. Boy, talk about your rush of nostalgia. This is the Price I knew and loved when I was the age of the older kids in the after-school program. Bob has white hair, Rod Roddy is announcing in his glittery jackets, and the Showcases are really, really weird. Here, the "story" showcase had Janice the Astronaut discovering "little known planets" based around a soda fountain machine, a brass bed, and a speedboat.
While Price jumps ahead, Match Game jumps backwards to 1976. Ultimate grouch Joey Bishop made his first appearance this week, and Arlene Francis made her first in several years. As obnoxious as he could be, Joey did have a point that the audience seemed to be extra-ornery in these episodes. Meanwhile, Charles and Brett are happier picking on each other, and Joyce Bulifant is happier picking on Gene.
Finished the night with British game shows that have yet to travel to this side of the pond. The Great Egg Race, for instance, involves groups of guys trying to turn an egg into a powered mini-vehicle. Weird idea, but while slow, it's also fascinating to watch how these guys put these strange contraptions together powered by nothing but ordinary eggs.
We seriously need to get cracking on a US version of Cluedo, because I loved the British one. The first half of the show has all the usual characters from Clue/Cluedo played by actors (some of them surprisingly prestigious) who enact a murder plot. The second half of the show brings out the actors to be questioned by a celebrity panel. The winner is the first one to guess the person, the room, and the weapon, as in the real game. I thought this was a blast. The game play was genuinely interesting, and the mini-plots were their own nifty soap opera mysteries.
Let's get Have I Got News for You over here, too. This is a lot simpler. Basically, it's Match Game Riffs on Current Events, as the panelists (including one American) identify news stories from silent video clips, identify stories, links through various stories, and identifying publications. The news hasn't been this hilarious in years. The real interest was watching some very funny people spoof current events and have a wonderful time doing so.
Catchword and A Question of Sport drift into quiz territory. Catchword is basically Bumper Stumpers without the car theme. Contestants see a series of letters and have to get words from those letters. Simple but addictive, especially if you love words. A Question of Sport is just that, a very long-running sports quiz show. It went so long, it started in the 70's and only just ended in 2023.
Ask the Family is a calmer cross between Family Feud and Jeopardy. Two families answer questions and solve mental puzzles, with children and parents working together or separately. Not the most exciting show in the universe, but it did run from 1967 through 1984, with unsuccessful revivals in 1999 and 2005.
Take a trip across the pond without leaving home with these British delights!
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