Tales of the Guardians and the Skywalkers

After the lousy weather we've had the last two days, I was so grateful to see the sun shining when I got up this morning. I drowned out the guys cursing and blasting 80's music downstairs with more Sailor Moon as I ate breakfast. Chib-Usa begins softening towards Usagi in the next round of stories. Though she still behaves abominably at times, we begin to see her more as a scared child, and learn that she's holding a secret...and some incredible powers of her own.

I finally got to the Oaklyn Library around quarter after 12. They were surprisingly busy for a decent, if windy, day, with lots of people using the computers. The librarian switched from politics on CNN to more useful news on The Weather Channel. I took a look at the DVD's and went over the kids' area.

I realized earlier that I hadn't eaten at any of the restaurants in Audubon for a while. I thought it was time I gave the newly-repaired train bridge over Nicholson Road a test-run. As it turned out, it was only half-done. The side leading into Oaklyn was smooth and road great, and even had a new concrete walkway. The side leading into Audubon...looked like it hadn't been touched. It was still a mass of holes, and the walkway remained wooden. Maybe they ran out of money before they could finish? It's obvious there's still work to do.

Had lunch at the Legacy Diner, a few blocks from Abbie Road and Desserts By Design. Though they were still fairly busy at 1:30, I had no problems getting a seat. I decided to try something different and had a crepe filled with strawberries and raspberry compote, with whipped topping (likely from an aerosol can) and sprinkled with powdered sugar. It was ok. The crepe didn't really taste like much of anything, and the compote was too sweet and a bit gluey.

Headed down Market Avenue and over to Cuthbert to do this week's Haddon Township Library volunteering. They were even busier than the Oaklyn Library! All of the shelves were overflowing, with every type of material. I organized and shelved books and DVD's for over an hour and a half, and I still didn't close to finish it all. I decided to leave some for the local kids who volunteer after school. I looked over Star Wars novels, but I just ended up with DVD's. They finally had two movies from last summer I'd been wanting to see, the complicated sci-fi tale Tomorrowland and the Melissa McCarthy vehicle Spy. Found another foreign animated movie that looked interesting as well, Nocturne.

Only had one quick stop to make on the way home, since it was already after 4 by the time I got out of the library. I went to Rite Aid, hoping they'd have sales on soap. Nope. I didn't even see any half-price Valentine's candy I wanted. I just bought Ivory, the cheapest soap they had.

When I got home, I went straight to my room and on my laptop for a writing session. Bail tells Leia about the Rebels of the Woods. They're stealing from the wicked Empire Kingdom and giving money to the poor and the people left in the cold by the Empire's cruel regime. What Leia doesn't tell her uncle is she's been secretly working with them and giving them money for nearly a year. She proudly agrees to deliver a secret message to a knight who had once worked for her uncle, the great Sir Benjamin Kenobi, who has agreed to attend the ball.

Meanwhile, in another part of the castle, ragged stable boy Luke Skywalker suspects he probably won't be going to the ball. He's an orphan who came to the castle in search of work after the Empire burned his farm and his family. A kindly old healer named Ben helps him get a job. He's shy and gentle, better with horses than people. His only friends are Ben and two perpetually bickering fellow servants, faithful butler and translator Cecil and mute handyman Arthur who speaks with his hands.

Had leftovers for dinner while continuing Sailor Moon. The first episode that had been cut from the original 90's run of this show turned up at this point. Too bad, because although it was technically filler, it's rather sweet. The girls join Rei on a tropical island for a vacation. Rei gets along great with Chibi-Usa (they both drive Usagi bananas and get on her nerves a lot), until she tries to get the kid to eat fish. She won't, and takes off into the water. She drifts out and is almost hurt by sharks, until she makes a new friend - an adorable baby dinosaur who rescues her. The others, though, are out looking for Chibi-Usa, and there's a volcano that's about to go off any minute...

Finished out the nice with a nice, quiet, much-needed bath. Ahhh. That felt wonderful. I read the Star Wars FAQ  (love reading about George Lucas' early drafts, and what he changed or didn't put in...and what would ultimately make it into other parts of the Star Wars universe) and listened to one of my Lena Horne CD's.

The Return of the TreeHouse Cafe

Today was the earliest I've worked on a Saturday since the spring. On one hand, this meant I had to forgo my farm market/yard sale trip this week. (Hopefully, I'll be able to pull it off next week.) On the other hand, it meant I got out of work early enough to do some chores and enjoy a lovely, hot-but-not-humid summer afternoon. Work was steady, not too crazy (and no call-outs, surprising after yesterday and given the great weather). There were a few obnoxious customers, including one older man who didn't read the coupon for the $4.99 24 packs of Pepsi sodas and Aquafina water and thought they were $4.99 all together when they were $4.99 each and wasn't too happy about it. Otherwise, everything went fine and my relief was on time.

After I left work, I rode to Merchant Street in Audubon for the re-opening of one of my favorite local coffee shops, the TreeHouse Cafe. It was in Collingswood, but like Abbie Road, moved to Audubon when the rent got too high. The building it currently occupies is somewhat newer and less homey, and I miss the murals and the lovely old fireplace, but it's larger, with more tables, more light, and a much nicer kitchen area. I treated myself to a Chai Tea Latte Freeze (basically, a chai tea Slurpee). It was a little sweet but very tasty.

I spent the rest of the afternoon finally dusting my apartment and sweeping the porch. Both badly needed it. I think the dust was effecting my nose. I've been sneezing and am often stuffed up in the morning. I don't usually put off dusting this long, but I either haven't had the chance to do it or the weather got too nice or I had something else going on.

I had dinner on the porch for the first time in over a month, too, just burgers and a salad. I was attacked by a few flies, but there was a nice wind going and it wasn't nearly as bad as the last time I did it, when every mosquito for a hundred miles decided to use me as open bar night.

In the Summertime

As my only day off this week, today was my official errands day. I went to work to pick up my paycheck and do a fairly large grocery shopping trip (thanks to working too early to make the farm market tomorrow). The customer service line was backed-up when I arrived, and I found out why when Greg, one of the managers, asked Shane, another manager who was off today and behind me in line, if he wanted to come in to work. Apparently, the store already had three or four call-outs, and it was only noon. Everyone decided they'd rather be on vacation on such a gorgeous day than work! I might have come in to help if this wasn't my only day off.

After I finally did my shopping and got out of the Acme, I quickly headed home for lunch and to put everything away, then went back out again. I went to the bank, then for a ride into Audubon. I hadn't been to Act Two Collectibles or Abbie Road in a while, and I wanted to see if the TreeHouse Cafe had re-opened. (They moved to Audubon, across from Abbie Road on Market Street, earlier this month.) I ended up with a Chicago LP from Act Two (their first record, I believe), two used CDs and a nice chat with Bob from Abbie Road, my favorite oversized chocolate chip cookie from Desserts by Design, and the knowledge that the TreeHouse Cafe is opening tomorrow.

I finished up the day at Uncle Ken's for the laundry. Dad and Jodie were the only ones at home initially. I ate Dad's homemade Pork and Shrimp Fried Rice and chatted with them. They suggested I should try getting substitute teacher jobs in the fall. They don't require teaching certificates, just college experience. I'd like to look into being a library aid, too.

My cousin Amber, her fiancee Brian, and his one-year-old daughter Ella came over as we finished our rice. Amber, Ella, and I went swimming together in the wonderfully warm pool (it was at least 85 today). Ella is such a cutie. She loves the water and especially loves jumping into her surrogate mommy's arms!