Matches are In the Air

I opened my eyes...and my clock said it was 8:47. I was supposed to be at work by 9! I rushed around, eating breakfast and changing as quickly as I could. I would have called Uber regardless of what else happened this morning. Though it wasn't raining, it was cold and much too windy to ride the bike. And of course, the driver took 9 minutes to arrive. And yes, I was late again.

Thankfully, this time, that was by far the worst thing that happened all day. We were still busy, probably with people panicking over the nor'easter, and I still had a hard time keeping up with the carts, but it wasn't to the degree of yesterday. Besides, I was only there for four hours this time. By the time the crowds started picking up again, I was calling Uber to get home.

Once I got in, I changed and went right back out again across the White Horse Pike and down West Clinton. Chilly and cloudy though it was, it also wasn't raining. Even if the Town Picnic wasn't on, I still wanted to get out and do something. I spent way too much time sitting at home before and after vacation. 

My first stop was the Common Grounds Coffee House for lunch. They were packed on a cold Sunday right before we're supposed to get a major storm, but I managed to find a seat right next to the counter. Enjoyed crumb cake, a slice of bacon spinach Fontina quiche, and a pear harvest chai. It was all good, though the chai was a bit sweet.

Went two doors down to the ice cream shop next. They were quiet as the coffee shop had been busy. I guess it really isn't a day for ice cream. I got a small triple chocolate milkshake, which turned out to be brownie crumbs mixed in with chocolate ice cream and chocolate syrup. Very sweet and very yummy.

After I walked around for a bit and finished my milkshake, I headed across the street to The Score Records. I hadn't been there since they opened in late August. I did indeed make a decent score today. I agree with the owner, whom I chatted pleasantly with at the counter. K-Tel collections are underrated. I ended up with: 

The K-Tel collections Pure Power from 1977 and Spotlight from 1979

The A&M collection Family Portrait (this one was in the $1 bin!) 

The Moody Blues - In Search of the Lost Chord

When I got home, I decided it was past time to change the sheets on my bed. It's way too cold for the summer sheets and quilt now. Put the comforter and fall-winter sheets on; took the summer sheets and quilt and the towels downstairs to be washed.

Spent the rest of the evening working on Maplepunzel. Pavla turns up, ordering Victor around, trying to close the windows, complaining about the birds singing. Victor's not buying it anymore. His suspicions are confirmed when Pavla finally admits she knows nothing about the engagement ring he gave the real Maple. He finally sends Pavla away in a huff to get his parents. 

When Queen Gertie and King Tom arrive, they happily embrace their son. Gertie in particular is delighted to accept Maple as their son's real fiancee. They're both perfectly lucid. The king isn't supposed to drink coffee, and the queen figured out ages ago that something was off. They call for Scott and Hilary to find a way to beat Pavla at her own game.

Listened to the two K-Tel albums while I worked. I haven't gotten these in a while because there tends to be a lot of overlap in songs, and I have quite a few. I did manage to find two with songs I didn't have. Pure Power features "Living Thing," one of the earlier hits by the Electric Light Orchestra, "I'd Really Love to See You Tonight" by England Dan and John Ford Coley, "Jeans On" by David Dundas, , "Fooled Around and Fell In Love" by Elvin Bishop, "Takin' It to the Streets" by the Doobie Brothers, and the "Theme from Mahogany" by Diana Ross. Some of the better songs on Spotlight include "An Everlasting Love" by Andy Gibb, "Love Is In the Air" by John Paul Young, "Talking In Your Sleep" by Crystal Gayle, "Three Times a Lady" by the Commodores, and "Reminiscing" by the the Little River Band.

Finished the night at YouTube with dinner and tonight's Match Game marathon. Even the camera people and the staff of Television City often got in on the fun. Gene frequently abused the camera people, like the time he walloped one for not getting off of Avery Schriberer. Charles would just as easily offend director Marc Breslow, which would end with the camera focusing on his head or off to the side. Gene was just as likely to acknowledge that the show actually featured several women working cameras, including a pretty young lady named Zoe. 

Get to know the people who work behind the scenes at Television City in this hilarious marathon!

Match Game Sunday Classics - Behind the Scenes Fun: Camera Operators and Staff Members of Match Game

Oh, and it did finally start raining really, really late at night. It's supposed to go into tomorrow morning and rain for most of tomorrow. We'll see what happens.