Heating Up Independence Day

Began the morning with the 4th of July selections from the Colliers Harvest of Holidays anthology. The big pieces here are a chapter from Little Town on the Prairie that has Carrie, Laura, and their pa enjoying lemonade and a pony cart race at their growing little town and The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere. There was also the first part of the Constitution and several smaller poems on independence and fireworks.

Started Ben & Me during a quick breakfast. The "me" in this case is Amos Mouse, who helped Benjamin Franklin create some of his greatest inventions, from the Franklin Stove to the Pennsylvania Gazette. Amos thinks Ben's gone too far after he has him ride in that famous electrifying kite and leaves. He begs Amos to come back during the American Revolution and help him out again. Their agreement to no more tricks becomes the basis of the Declaration of Independence. 

Thank heavens Oaklyn pushed their parade back to 9 AM today. I wouldn't have seen it if it stayed at 10. Even at 8:50, it was already steamy and in the 90's. I dropped Finley's birthday gift off at Rose's house, then got a free cotton candy water ice from Yummies Palace's cart and free red, white, and blue beads from the Oaklyn Civic Association. A little boy who was already dripping sweat handed me a 250th anniversary America flag. 

Thankfully, the parade was more-or-less on time. The cardboard boat with a Jaws theme won first place. I liked the group dressed as butterflies the best. There was only one other kid next to me, jumping out to gather the tons of candy all of the baseball teams and various groups threw. I gave some of my candy to the little kids in wagons behind me, some of it to him, and still had tons of Mamba, Tootsie Roll Fruit Chews, and Dum Dums lollipops leftover to share with Lauren when she visits. 

Oh, and I ran into Rose and Finley towards the end of the parade. No, they weren't doing anything today. Rose was sending the kids to have a barbecue with their father at his mother's house, and she just wanted to rest. I pointed them towards the Civic Association's booth with Hot dogs, mini bags of chips and Cheetos, and baby pools filled with ice, soda, and water. 

Stopped at Common Grounds Coffee House to get a cool treat. The line for drinks was long, but it moved fast. I got a Peaches and Cream Lemonade. Peach syrup with very tart lemonade topped with foam. Not bad, though that lemonade was very, very puckering!

Finished Ben & Me after I got in, then switched to classic shorts while I got dressed for work. "Patriotic Popeye" tries to keep his nephews from setting off balloons, until they end up being carried into the sky by one, and he needs spinach to intervene. "Donald's Failed Fourth" has Donald trying to set up for a picnic with Daisy in front of the fireworks, but the blanket and chairs won't cooperate.

Called Uber after the cartoons ended. It was just too hot to ride my bike. To my surprise, it only took me 7 minutes to get a ride. I figured it would be much longer on a very hot major holiday. It took me 9 minutes to get a ride home. No problems or traffic either way.

Work could have been a lot worse. It got crazy around noon and was picking up again when I left at 5, but the in between wasn't really that bad. I did spend most of the time outside pushing carts, but I had help from one of the college boys (who did most of the sweeping), and I went in for water when I got too hot. I was in and out with no trouble. 

Listened to A Musical Souvenir of America On Parade when I got home. Yes, this was the music from Disney's big Bicentennial parade at the parks in 1975 and 1976. The songs are mostly instrumental versions of traditional American tunes like "Turkey In the Straw," "O Susannah," "Battle Hymn of the Republic," and "I've Been Working On the Railroad," but somehow "Animal Crackers In My Soup" slips in there towards the end...and Disney being Disney couldn't resist including "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah." 

Finished the night on YouTube after a shower. The owner of the Match Game Productions channel did something different and showed us how other game shows celebrated the 4th of July. One show actually started on the 4th, the 1988 Family Feud with Ray Combs. Press Your Luck had Whammies setting off fireworks and snatching cash in 1985. Markie Post and Richard Shannon (with hair!) played each other on Super Password in 1986 just prior to Post joining Night Court (and even obliquely mentioned it on the episode). A patriotic episode of Price Is Right from 1975, just a few months before they expanded to an hour, had a Bicentennial salute to George M. Cohen as one of the Showcases. 

Classic Concentration was the only show to decorate for the occasion, offering flags everywhere, a trip to Washington DC, a paper mache George Washington, red, white, and blue cars to choose from, and Canadian Alex Trebek in an American flag tie. Things were more normal on 4th of July episodes of the Richard Dawson Family Feud, other than a few picnic-related questions. Susan Richardson and Wesley Eure did battle on Password Plus. The first 4th of July on Body Language had Betty White simply being outplayed by lanky Ed Begley Jr. Lisa Benet had more luck against Jason Bateman during their teen month the next year, while Kennedy set off sparklers. The Bob Eubanks Card Sharks introduced a new bonus round, while Jim Perry dealt with some pretty unique contestants, including a very funny old man named Ed, in his earlier version from 1979 and 1980. 

Celebrate our nation's 250th anniversary game show style in these hilariously patriotic tributes!

Saturday Game Show Classics - 4th of July Game Show Marathon

Called Mom during the marathon to wish her a happy 4th. She was enjoying hers in pretty much the same way, watching Ken Burns documentaries on PBS with Keefe. Keefe's wife Julia took their children to visit her family, so they were relishing the peace and quiet. They hadn't done much today, but Keefe did take Mom to his favorite restaurant earlier in the week. 

Oh, and there were no fireworks this year. Not only was it too hot, but there were some pretty bad storms later in the evening. That didn't stop people from setting off their own fireworks, including a beautiful display of sparkling green and pink just a few houses down from here on East Clinton.

Here's hoping your 4th of July was just as much fun...and a lot cooler. 

Star Spangled Lady

Began the morning with the 4th of July material from Colliers Harvest of Holidays. The longest piece here is a segment of Little House On the Prairie where Pa takes Laura and Carrie into town for lemonade and to watch their friend Almanzo Wilder take part in the horse and buggy race. There's also several patriotic poems, The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere, and The Star Spangled Banner. Did two short stories from the Disney Storybookland anthology, a version of "Ben & Me" and a prose retelling of Paul Revere's famous ride.

Watched the short "Patriotic Popeye" online while I had a quick breakfast. Popeye tries to hide the fireworks from his eager nephews, but they find them every time. They finally learn their lesson when they get caught on one of the rockets and their uncle has to rescue them.

Hurried out after that for Oaklyn's 4th of July Parade on West Clinton Avenue. The parade was supposed to start at 10, but they were late. They're always late. There were already tons of people running around and settling in lawn chairs when I arrived. Among them were my brother-in-law Craig, my niece Finley, and my nephew Khai. Fin turned 7 yesterday. I'm glad I remembered to bring her birthday bag. She loved everything, especially the pretty purple stuffed pegasus. 

The parade didn't start until nearly 10:30. I took Finley across the street to get free soda, water, small bags of chips, and warm soft pretzels at a tent pitched on the parking lot across from the school, and we got back with still ten minutes before it did start. Motorcyclists on cool red and blue vehicles led the way, followed by kids on decorated bikes and their parents and two local brass bands. Most of the other floats were baseball and softball teams, including one that won the local Little League and was now heading to the New Jersey state finals. Finley was just happy with all the Jolly Ranchers, Dum Dums, Starbursts, and Double Bubble gum those young ballplayers threw. Even I grabbed some candy for later. 

Craig took the kids home to rest after the parade ended, but I stuck around to hear a lady sing "The Star Spangled Banner" (quite well) and the announcement of the winners for best float. Mr. Softee pulled into the parking lot right before the parade started to give out free ice cream. I didn't mind waiting in a long line to get a freebie. I enjoyed my cup of vanilla and chocolate swirl soft-serve topped with rainbow sprinkles as I walked home. 

Settled down myself with a drink and a few more 4th of July or American history-related shorts. Bugs is a "Bunker Hill Bunny" who defends his fort from Hessian Yosemite Sam. "Donald's Failed Fourth" may turn his romantic picnic with Daisy into a disaster, unless he can get the blanket and chairs to cooperate. "Hysterical Highspots In American History" include Christopher Columbus lamenting the lack of cartoons in the New World, a fast-talking Native-American salesman, and two enterprising old maids who somehow managed to divert soldiers to their home during two very different and long-apart wars. 

Watched Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure next. I go further into this sequel to the beloved 1955 Disney movie at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Happy 4th of July! - Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure

Went back out after the cartoon ended. I enjoyed my Thanksgiving dinner at Mulligan's so much, I thought I'd try them for the 4th. Their turkey burger wasn't nearly as good as their actual turkey dinner. The fries weren't bad, but the burger was nothing really special for $14. I was surprised they weren't busy, either. Guess most people opted to barbecue in their own homes.

By this point, the morning clouds and breeze had long given way to bright sunshine and overbearing heat and humidity. I stopped at WaWa for a much-needed drink. Tried a matcha frozen lemonade. Not bad. Very tart. Cooling, anyway, which is really all I cared about walking home.

After I got in, I made the bed while watching two patriotic Scooby Doo episodes. Tubi now has the mid-70's Scooby Doo Show. This is the show I remember being re-run the most as a kid, and probably the one I remember best. Mystery Inc is in Washington DC to celebrate the Bicentennial and find themselves fleeing into the Smithsonian to avoid a heavy rainstorm. When they're attacked by what seems like the ghosts of famous traitors Benedict Arnold, William Demont, and Major John Andre, they have to figure out what "The Spirits of '76" are doing and why they're running around with wet shoes.

Laff-a-Lympics goes north to "New York" for a Central Park buggy ride. Finley would have loved Blue Falcon's chariot pulled by an alicorn, but I thought Doggie Daddy's normal carriage pulled by a very small horse who turns out to be accurately named Goliath was funnier. The race to put a wreath on top of the Statue of Liberty was even closer. Captain Caveman has his powers, but Orful Octopus of the Rottens doesn't need to cheat with suction-cup tentacles, and there's Grape Ape's sheer size. The Dread Baron somehow manages to win a unicycle race in "Turkey" despite his own outrageous cheating, and the Daltons prove that size - and pure slipperiness - does matter during a swimming relay race in the cross-tides.

Mom texted me to wish me a happy 4th of July right before I left for lunch. I called her on the patio at Mulligan's after I got out. She finally called me back as the second half Laff-a-Lympics ended. As it turns out, they weren't doing anything, either. Keefe apparently had to work on a newly-built ship today. 

By that point, I was bored stiff. I originally intended to walk into Collingswood, but it was too hot for a long stroll, and my legs were still pretty worn out from pushing carts for 7 hours yesterday. Ended up walking through a quiet, shady Newton Lake Park instead, with a stop at Dollar General for snacks and a drink to eat during the fireworks. 

Put on Yankee Doodle Cricket when I got home. Amos Mouse isn't the only rodent who claims to have shaped American history. Tucker the Mouse insists that he originally created the first American flag and wrote the Declaration of "Interdependence" as a treaty between cats and mice, Harry the Cat got Paul Revere's horse going, and Chester the Cricket wrote "Yankee Doodle." 

Rose called shortly after I got in. Did I want to come over for dinner? Sure, why not? I had no other plans. I was just going to eat out of the fridge for dinner. I ended up heading across a quiet Oaklyn to her house instead after the cartoon ended.

When I arrived, I was greeted by Rose's two frisky dogs Oreo and Cider. Oreo is a sweet pup who sure took a shine to me. He wouldn't leave my side for most of the time I was there, laying at my feet and licking my toes. Rose has a stressful job as a lawyer, and she was pretty tired, but she did put out a plate of grapes, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and cherries and a tray of meat and cheese with mini-naan rounds. Craig made tasty burgers, sausage, and zucchini and yellow squash, the latter fresh from his own garden. The lettuce for the burgers was from his garden, too. Before dinner, Finley got to show off the Jurassic Park dinosaurs she got for her birthday, including a remote-control t-rex. 

I hurried out around 8:41. Rose and her family usually watch the fireworks at their house, but I prefer Newton Lake Park. The big grassy area across from the Parkview Apartments is large enough for many people to relax on blankets and not be in each other's way and still get a good view of the show. I wasn't sure I'd have the time to go back for my blanket and the water and snacks I bought earlier, so I just plopped on the grass. 

Not ten minutes after I settled down, I heard the first boom overhead. Glittering pink and green sparkles lit up the night! The fireworks at Collingswood are always gorgeous, and this year was no exception. I especially love the ones that make shapes, the nifty rings and hearts inside each other. Someone set off some pretty big fireworks at the Parkview, too, making it seem like the show was coming from all sides. 

I hurried home the second the last fireworks started to go off. The White Horse Pike is always a mess after the fireworks. While I don't have to cross the street anymore to get home, I do have to dodge all of the people and cars looking to avoid taking the main roads and running into just as much traffic. I was very happy when I finally got home.

Finished the night after the Match Game '76 chat premieres with a vintage Disney 4th of July parade from 1988. It's a shame Disney didn't continue to air their 4th of July spectaculars like they did the Easter and Christmas shows. They're cheesy, but so much fun. Marc Summers and Tempest Bledsoe put more of an emphasis on the actual parade, with units representing different sections of the US, than most of the other broadcasts. We also get Willard Scott riding the Maelstrom (now Frozen) in the then-new Norway pavilion at Epcot, the introduction of Mickey's Birthdayland at the Magic Kingdom (now the circus-themed kiddie ride area of Fantasyland), and a chorus routine at what was then the Disney-MGM Studios (which opened about 10 months after this). Tommy Tune and Rita Moreno lead the dancers through medleys of George M. Cohen songs in front of Cinderella's Castle in the finale. 

If you missed your hometown parade or want to check out Walt Disney World almost 40 years ago, here's the full parade, for your enjoyment!

1988 Walt Disney World 4th of July Spectacular 

And here's hoping you had a wonderful 4th of July too, with all the people you love!

Rainbow Connections

Started off the morning with stories about 4th of July celebrations and America's independence from the Colliers Harvest of Holidays anthology book. The longer pieces here are a chapter from Little Town on the Prairie about Pa Ingalls taking Laura and Carrie to the new town's small Independence Day party and the full Midnight Ride of Paul Revere. We also get several shorter patriotic poems. The last chapter of the coffee-table history book Summer In America covers 4th of July and Juneteenth through the years.

Headed out after eating a very quick breakfast. Oaklyn's 4th of July Parade was at 10 AM...or it was supposed to be. I left at 9:45 and arrived at West Clinton about 8 minutes later to see families still lining up on the sidewalks in their nylon deck chairs and wagons and strollers. The Oaklyn Civic Association gave away free pretzels and small bottles of water in a tent at the municipal parking lot. I picked up a pretzel and a bottle of water and hiked up and down the street for a while.

Ran into Rose and her family about ten minutes later. I was able to give Finley her birthday presents. Her birthday was yesterday, but I didn't have the chance to give it to bring it over then. As much as she liked the stuffed dog in a hog dog roll, she really loved gray-striped Kiki the Cat in her sparkly pink bow. She and her dad Craig played with her for the next ten minutes.

The kids were starting to get a little antsy just as a Mr. Softee truck rolled into the parking lot. Turns out they were giving out free ice cream and water ice in honor of the Fourth. Finley, Rose, and me hurried across the street and into a long line. I liked the look of the chocolate soft-serve with chocolate sprinkles the mom in front of me got so much, I ended up with a cup of that.

The parade began while I was in line. Oaklyn's 4th of July Parade mainly consists of one brass band, a few local Armed Services troops, kids on decorated bikes, a motorcycle team on huge Harleys, and a lot of softball teams and civic services on flatbed trucks. One of the softball teams had by far the best theme. They were on a "Flaming Hot" orange-decorated truck and threw Flaming Hot Cheetos to the kids in the crowd. They ended up winning the float contest. Oaklyn's food pantry came in second, followed by the motorcyclists. A young man in a Philadelphia Eagles shirt did a not bad rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner" after the parade ended. 

Though it was sunny and breezy at that point, it was also hot and murderously humid. I wanted to get something cold to drink at the Common Grounds Coffee House. It was packed before the parade, but it wasn't as bad later. I got in just ahead of the crowd. By the time I was waiting for my Frozen Hot Chocolate, there was a line going out the door.

Walked straight home after that. Spent the next hour and half eating lunch and watching the early talkie musical Sunny Side Up, which begins at a 4th of July block party in New York. Had just enough time to change, grab a snack, and head out.

Work was a mess when I got in. We had plenty of help, and there were still long lines. In addition to the holiday and it being the beginning of the month, Tuesday is our Senior Citizen Discount Day. Once dark clouds moved in, it cleared out in a hurry. A noisy thunder storm, complete with torrential rain and loud thunder, arrived around 5:30-6 PM. It died so quickly, I spent the last half-hour putting away cold items and had maybe three customers in the hour before that. 

I kept telling the managers that the storm wouldn't last until 9 PM, like the weather reports claimed. Storms that big never last long. Indeed, the sun was out as I rode home, even as the last of the rain continued to fall. I took the long way down Nicholson Road to dodge flooded areas on the Black Horse Pike, the rode down to the White Horse Pike to get around flooding in Oaklyn. By that point, the rain and clouds had blown away, and it was back to being sunny and humid. I even saw a beautiful, clear rainbow arching over Oaklyn as I crossed the Pike and pointed out to a family walking down the street.

Had dinner while finishing Sunny Side Up. I go further into this charming early talkie romantic comedy at my Musical Dreams Musical Reviews blog.

Happy 4th of July! - Sunny Side Up 

A friend told me the fireworks were still on, so I went out around 8:30 to find somewhere dry to sit in the park. Stopped at Dollar General on the way for a Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi. Strolled down to the park, which was busy...but no one seemed to know if the fireworks were on or not. People sat on lawn chairs and oversaw barbecues, and I could even hear amateur fireworks being set off in the distance.

Collingswood's fireworks were supposed to be set off at the high school. There were plenty of cars there, but no one on the grandstand or in the fields. I finally looked it up on the Collingswood Facebook page. Yes, it was postponed until tomorrow. Thanks for telling everyone an hour before it was supposed to happen. They should have canceled it when the deluge started, instead of waiting for the last second. There were people and cars all over the place, waiting for a show that wasn't going on. At least I did get to see some rather nice red and gold fireworks set off by families in the neighborhood on the way back.

I wasn't happy at all when I got home. Tried to cheer myself up with a few more holiday-related cartoons. The "me" in Ben & Me is Amos Mouse, who befriends Benjamin Franklin and helps him with his newspaper The Pennsylvania Gazette. He's fed up after Ben uses him for his infamous kite-flying electrical experiment, but it's their make-up agreement that eventually becomes the Declaration of Independence.

Amos isn't the only mouse who claims to have significantly shaped American history. In Yankee Doodle Cricket, Tucker the Mouse insists his ancestor helped Paul Revere with his midnight ride and created the first American flag. Harry the cat supposedly gave Tucker's agreement for all animals to live in harmony to Thomas Jefferson to re-write into the Declaration of Independence, while Chester Cricket wrote "Yankee Doodle" and recruited his animal friends to spread it to the humans.

Daisy Duck asks Donald to set up a picnic in front of the fireworks. "Donald's Failed Fourth" seems to be a disaster when the chairs and blanket won't cooperate, but Daisy appreciates his effort anyway. "Hysterical History" is Harvey Films' spoof of historical events, from the arrival of the Pilgrims to Alexander Graham Bell inventing the telephone. The short ends with a "follow the bouncing ball" sing along to "Yankee Doodle Dandy." 

The 1988 version of Family Feud with Ray Combs as host debuted on July 4th. I loved this show as a kid. It was on during a very difficult time in my life. Ray and his wacky families never failed to make me laugh with their often-crazy answers to silly survey questions. The show even kicked off strong with a great game and a really nice Fast Money win. 

And here's hoping you had a 4th of July that was equally fun...and much drier. 

Shine Sweet Freedom

Began my 4th of July with material from Colliers Harvest of Holidays. The longer piece has Pa Ingalls taking Carrie and Laura to the small Independence Day celebration at the Little Town on the Prairie. They enjoy lemonade from a barrel, are given fireworks by an enterprising local politician, and watch their friend Alonzo win the local horse & buggy race. They also had The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere and several shorter patriotic poems. Threw in a chapter from my coffee-table history photo book Summer In America about how the US has celebrated the 4th of July and Juneteenth through the years. 

Had a quick breakfast, then headed off to work. I wasn't in the register for more than five minutes before they pulled me to sweep and do carts. Fine by me. It was too nice of a 4th to be inside all day, anyway. The sun was out, the sky was blue, and despite the upper 80's-lower 90's heat, it was breezy and dry. I wasn't terribly happy when they pulled me around 2 to take long lines. Thankfully, I was back out again gathering carts that kept disappearing within a half-hour when a manager came in for me. This time, I got out with no trouble whatsoever. 

Spent the next few hours watching patriotic cartoons, changing, and having dinner. "Patriotic Popeye" warns his nephews to stay safely away from firecrackers, but they keep coming up with ways to distract their uncle and get to his stash. They finally get the message when a rocket goes off and takes them with it, and their uncle needs spinach to get them down.

The Mickey Mouse Works short "Donald's Failed Fourth" has Daisy telling Donald to find them the perfect spot to watch the fireworks. He does find a terrific place...but first the blanket, then the folding chairs, won't cooperate.

Yankee Doodle Cricket is one of two Chuck Jones animated sequels to A Cricket In Times Square. After reading a book on "Oddities In American History," Tucker the Mouse insists to his friend Harry the Cat that Tucker's ancestor wrote the Declaration of Independence and created the country's first flag, Harry's got Paul Revere's horse moving, and Chester Cricket's wrote "Yankee Doodle."

Bugs is a "Bunker Hill Bunny" who won't give up his fort to Hessian soldier Yosemite Sam. They (literally) trade cannon fire and forts for a while, before Bugs finally finds an explosive way to show Sam how important American independence is. 

The Walter Lanz Studio takes us to some "Hysterical Highspots in American History" through 1940. Columbus wonders why cartoons haven't been invented, a Native American proves to be an extremely convincing salesman, and a pair of enterprising old maids spend two different (and long-apart) wars trying to lure soldiers to their home.

Finally headed out around quarter of 7. I wanted to get ice cream at Yummies Palace, but they were closed for the holiday. Nothing was open on West Clinton Avenue, not even Tonewood Brewery or the Oaklyn Manor Bar. Hiked over to a very busy WaWa instead for a black and white milkshake. 

Next stop was Dollar General, which is always opened for the holiday. Needed to restock my electrolyte drink mix. They were out of their generic watermelon mix, but I did find their lemon-lime, along with Gatorade White Cherry and Propel Strawberry-Kiwi. Also picked up snacks for the week, including nuts and coconut macaroons. Didn't know Powerade made their own electrolyte water ala Propel. Bought a bottle of that, too, for the fireworks. 

The sun wasn't even going down yet when I strolled down the White Horse Pike, over the causeway, and into Newton Lake Park. Collingswood's fireworks are actually set off at their high school football field, but I didn't really feel like hiking all the way down there and back. I spread my checked blanket out on the grassy area in front of the playground, directly across from the main building of The Parkview apartments. Finished reading Johnny Tremain while listening to the families around me play with light-up balls, blow bubbles into the rapidly-darkening sky, and sing along with the rap blasting from someone's car. One Indian family even brought along their bent, frail old grandmother in an equally frail sari the color of old paper. 

The wizened older lady no sooner sat down on her grandchildren's towel than a huge burst of pink and gold sparkles lit up the night! The fireworks at Collingswood are always gorgeous, and this year is no exception. Booming glitter in every color of the rainbow shot across the horizon over the park. I love the ones that make shapes, the red rings and off-center hearts, and the big ones that shoot into the air, then snake around in every color possible. 

Started out the second the last firework shot into the darkness. Thank heavens I don't have to cross the street to get home anymore. The traffic on the White Horse Pike was awful as I made my way down the sidewalk. It was actually pretty busy on East Haddon Avenue too as cars and people tried to avoid the mess on the main roads. 

Finished the night on YouTube after the Match Game '73 premieres with vintage Disney parades from the early 90's. Robert Gulliame and Connie Selleca host a heavily revamped Great American Celebration in 1991. I know I saw this on 4th of July evening as a 12-year-old. I definitely remember then-white-hot Tevin Campbell singing "Shine Sweet Freedom" with hundreds of dancers in the opening. We actually get some parade footage this time, too, including a huge float honoring the 200th anniversary of the Bill of Rights at Disneyland and shots of the Main Street Electrical Parade in Walt Disney World. 

Country group Kentucky Headhunters was the winner among the bands. Their rousing version of "Spirit In the Sky" was so awesome, I may have to look up their albums. My sisters were huge fans of the Mickey Mouse Club group The Party. In fact, we probably watched this in '91 to hear their "Peace, Love, and Understanding." We also get an early glimpse of Tim Allen's stand-up act, just prior to Home Improvement, along with footage of Selleca freaking out on all four Disney "mountain" roller coasters (Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, the Matterhorn, and what was then known as Splash Mountain). Allen was definitely funnier than Steve Banks, whose goofy portrayals of Abe Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson were more annoying than amusing.

The focus returned to the music in '92. How early 90's was Celebrate the Spirit: Disney's All-Star Fourth of July Spectacular? It opened with Billy Ray Cyrus singing that everlasting ear worm "Achy Breaky Heart" and youthful rap duo Kriss Kross getting down with their major hit "Jump." We only have one host this time, John Ritter, who surprisingly takes a backseat to the music and the two little girls who spend the special looking for Goofy in Disneyland. Goofy's too busy watching bits of his shorts to pay attention to the big parade focused on him and the debut of Goof Troop. Other musical winners here included Shanice with her charming "I Love Your Smile" and Mary Chapin Carpenter with "I Feel Lucky." 

(Incidentally, there's so much emphasis on the music and Goofy, the '92 parade is the only one to not end with a huge patriotic number in front of the American Adventure in Epcot or one of the castles.)

Both specials featured profiles of average Americans whose volunteering helped their communities via George W. Bush's "Profiles of Light" program. One group, a pair of phys ed teachers who trained boys off the street into a top acrobat group, actually performed at Epcot in '92. There were at least two families, one elderly, who took in foundlings off the street, and a five-year-old boy who collected money for the poor, including his own pennies.

If you missed your hometown parade like I did or remember watching these as a kid too, you'll probably find much to enjoy in these patriotic blasts from the past!

Disney's Great American Celebration - 1991

Celebrate the Spirit: Disney's All-Star 4th of July Spectacular - 1992

And here's hoping you had an equally fun 4th of July (and that our neighbors to the north enjoyed their Canada Day on Friday)! 

Star Spangled Woman

Kicked off a sunny 4th with material from Colliers Harvest of Holidays. The long piece is from the Laura Ingalls Wilder novel Little Town On the Prairie. Pa takes Laura and Mary into the newly-built village for their 4th of July celebration. The girls enjoy fresh lemonade from a barrel, get fireworks from an enterprising local politician, and watch an exciting horse race their friend Alonzo takes part in. Other material includes several patriotic poems or poetry about fireworks and The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere. Threw in the final chapter from my book Summer In America about 4th of July celebrations across the US and how they inaugurate "America's childhood." 

Barely had time for two quick cartoon shorts while I ate breakfast. "Patriotic Popeye" tries to keep his nephews from setting off fireworks, but they keep finding ways around his rules. They finally get the hint when a huge rocket carries them off and they have to rescue him. Donald Duck wants to impress Daisy with his big night-time picnic to watch the fireworks in "Donald's Failed Fourth," but first the chairs, then the blanket won't cooperate.

Rushed straight off to work after Donald ended. It wasn't busy when I arrived, but the crowds picked up around noon as the parades ended and the picnics began. Other than a few customers who misinterpreted the big 12-pack soda sale this week, there were no real problems. Thankfully, it finally slowed down just in time for me to close down and leave without a relief. 

Dark clouds gathered, even as I raced them home. By the time I got to the pool in my bathing suit, it began to shower heavily. No matter. If I was going to be wet, I'd go all the way. It was just water, no thunder or lightning. Finley, Chloe, Riley, and I happily swam and splashed in a downpour while their parents huddled under a meager tent and tried to stay dry. 

The rain just slowed as Craig came out and announced the barbecue was ready. Jodie, Craig, and Rose prepared a pretty darn decent feast. I had a burger, Caesar salad, potato salad, fruit salad, a mini-cupcake, and spinach dip with pita chips one of the neighbors brought. There was also spicy sausage, hot dogs, and baked beans. (I never was a fan of baked beans, and sausages give me heartburn.)

After the girls and I ate, we played with Chloe's collection of those new "pop-em" things the kids love. They're basically thicker versions of the plastic wrap that people love to twist and make noise with, often made in goofy shapes and bright colors. The girls love them, and I can understand their enthusiasm. They are kind of fun, and almost therapeutic to mess around with.

When the girls got bored with those, I offered to show them around my apartment. The older girls really loved my American Girl dolls. They seemed to be especially fond of Molly, admiring her camp uniform and playing with her glasses and shoulder bag.

We eventually decided to jump back in the pool...literally, given the kids and I all showed off our goofy dives! Khai dragged himself away from his smartphone games long enough to join us. I swam with Finley from one end of the pool to the other, then floated in the inner tube while the kids played games and chased each other. 

The party broke up around 6:30 so the families could get ready for the fireworks. I went back in my place, changed into dry clothes, and worked on writing. Greg (Morris) the Diamond Card has initiated a "Mission: Impossible" to paint the Queen's white roses red, before they get into more trouble. Brett's not sure helping is a good idea, but the boys figure it couldn't hurt...

Broke at 8 to head out for the fireworks. The weather had turned absolutely gorgeous for a walk. The sun emerged, the sky was blue, and it was pleasantly cool and breezy, especially for July. Stopped at Dollar General first. I wanted Dew S.A again, but they were out. Went with a Baja Blast instead. There was only one other guy in line, and I got in and out as fast as I could.

Crossed the street when I could get between cars and strolled down to CVS. They're directly across from Newton Lake Park...and have perfect sightlines for the fireworks. A lot of folks from Oaklyn, Camden, and the near-by towns watch them there. It was a real carnival atmosphere in their small parking lot, with kids turning cartwheels and taking selfies and parents chatting on lawn chairs or the backs of trucks. 

Hung out briefly by the concrete bridge over the river to admire the pink and lavender sunset before returning to the parking lot. Joined Riley and her parents on the curb in front of the CVS building. Chloe and her parents and Jodie came around later, shortly before the fireworks began. (Rose and her family opted to watch the show from their house.) 

The fireworks are always gorgeous in Collingswood. They get real professionals to do them, and they're twice as long and elaborate as any of the other local towns besides the big Philly show. I loved the purple one with the gold ring that resembled Saturn, the pretty red hearts, and the big gold sparkly ones that faded in all kinds of crazy lines.

Jodie insisted on everyone staying together on the walk home to avoid the crowds and traffic. I tried twice to tell her I've walked home alone on the 4th with no trouble besides dodging traffic every year and I'm an adult and don't need hand-holding, but she was just too worried about the cars all over the place. Once we got away from the crowds and closer to Hillcrest, I walked faster, going past Jodie and the kids and their moms. 

Enjoyed the peace and quiet as I headed down the street. Walking back from the fireworks is almost my favorite part of the Fourth. Most people are on their way back from the show or out of town. It was so cool, most houses didn't even have the tell-tale hum of air conditioners vibrating from their windows. 

After I joined the live chat at the Match Game '91 premiere, I stayed on YouTube to finish the night with vintage parades. Having enjoyed the 1988 Walt Disney World 4th of July Spectacular last year, I did the next two years tonight. The 1989 version was hosted by Willard Scott and that year's Miss America. The actual parade only filled the first hour. The second half showcased musical numbers by the Temptations and that year's newest boy band sensation, New Kids on the Block, along with the Main Street Electrical Parade. Carol Channing and Minnie Mouse came together rather bizarrely for the big patriotic dance routine at Cinderella's Castle in the finale. The Mouseketeers reprised their Typhoon Lagoon number from the Easter parade.

The 1990 show ditched the parade and hosts all together to focus on the musical numbers. Downtown Julie Brown from MTV introduced New Kids on the Block again, this time joined at Pleasure Island by Jermaine Jackson. Gladys Knight and the Pips performed a medley of their greatest hits at the then-newest Disney hotel, the elegant Dolphin Inn. The Mouseketeers brought back a wave of memories with their music video for "Every Little Step," which I fondly remember seeing frequently both on The Disney Channel and The Mickey Mouse Club. 

Regis Philbin and Kathy Lee Gifford joined Minnie and the Disney gang for the Castle number this time, with Minnie leading sailors in "Bloody Mary" from South Pacific and "Anchors Aweigh," Kathy going country with the Country Bears, and the Disney gang reciting the first lines of The Declaration of Independence. 

And here's hoping you had an equally fun 4th of July, whether you spent it at home or out and about with your own friends and family!

Unicorns and Farm Market Matches

Kicked off my 4th of July with material from my Colliers Harvest of Holidays children's anthology book. Along with shorter poems and "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere," there was a chapter from Little House on the Prairie that depicted Laura and Mary going into town with their pa for lemonade and a big horse and buggy race. Switched to the Disney America anthology for a short story retelling of Revere's big ride, a story version of the Disney movie Toby Tyler; or Ten Days With the Circus, and "Ben and Me," about how Amos the church mouse supposedly helped Ben Franklin create some of his greatest inventions. The last chapter of the coffee table book Summer In America talks about how the 4th of July is America's big summer birthday party and how it was celebrated in years past.

Put on Yankee Doodle Cricket as I ate breakfast. Amos isn't the only mouse who claims to have shaped significant events in American history. Tucker the mouse tells Harry the Cat that their ancestors influenced the creation of the first flag and the signing of the Declaration of Independence, among other bits of history, and that Chester the Cricket's ancestor wrote "Yankee Doodle."

Switched to shorts as I prepared to run errands. "Patriotic Popeye" insists that his nephews have a safe Fourth doing other activities besides setting off fireworks, but they manage to find his stash every time. It takes Popeye having to rescue them from a rocket blasting in the air to convince them that there's other ways to enjoy the holiday. Donald Duck wants to set up the perfect picnic in front of the fireworks for Daisy in "Donald's Failed Fourth," but first the blanket, then the chairs refuse to behave. Tom & Jerry spend their holiday setting off fireworks on each other in "The Yankee Doodle Mouse."

Headed out shortly after Tom & Jerry ended. Despite the heat and humidity, everyone was out and about to do something for the holiday. I stopped at the WaWa in Collingswood first. Needed money and something cold to drink. Treated myself to a Mocha Mint Frozen Cappuccino to keep me awake for the party later in the day.

The parades may not have been on, but the Farm Market was. It was busy, but not as much as I expected, possibly because it was quarter after 11 by the time I got there. Strawberries are gone, but I saw the first eggplants, peaches, blackberries, and Asian green beans of the season. Picked up the last three, blueberries, baby bok choy from the organic booth, and two ears of corn.

Newton Lake Park was busy this morning, too. There were lots of people out riding their bikes, walking their dogs, or just strolling with their friends or kids. Despite the heat, it was at least sunny, with a nice breeze. The light sparkled on the green lake; the tall reeds waved in the light breeze.

Stopped at CVS on the way home. Needed another drink, as the mocha mint was long gone. Grabbed a bottle of Powerade fruit punch, got in a short line, and got out. Ran into a kindly older neighbor on the way home; she shops at the Acme, and I see her there from time to time. I explained to her about my moving soon and my accident, and that I wasn't having problems with being at home.

Put everything away while running a few more shorts. Bugs is a "Bunker Hill Bunny" when he goes up against Hessian captain Sam in a battle of cannon fire and many, many doors. He tells his nephew Clyde his own version of American history in "Yankee Doodle Bugs," but it may not be accurate enough for the little bunny to pass a school test. "Pinky Doodle" wants to hand out pamphlets encouraging the citizens of Boston to fight, if the Red Coat horse he's riding will let him!

Watched Take Me Out to the Ball Game while working on that crocheted pillow case. I go into more detail on this mix of baseball heroics and soft-shoe dance routines at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Happy 4th of July! - Take Me Out to the Ball Game

Went on the computer and did some writing for an hour and a half after the movie ended. Betty leads them into a secret passage while Malade is still sputtering. They end up just outside of the ballroom. Not only do they have to warn the others that the wicked queen is returning, but Charles wants to figure out how to restore Brett's magic as well, and the frog still wants a kiss from Betty...

Finally headed out for Rose's house around 4 PM. Everyone else already arrived by the time I got there. Jodie came from the hospital, where Dad is recovering well from his surgery. Rose chatted with Craig's parents while Finley splashed in their big inflatable pool. Rose brought out fruit, vegetable sticks, and tomato-fresh mozzarella salad in cups, with individual ranch dip for the veggies and cans of sparkling water and local beer from the cooler. Craig grilled burgers and hot dogs.

I have no idea where my bathing suit is right now - it's in a bag somewhere - so I couldn't sit down in the pool. I did wade around in it, though, picking up rings to toss with my feet. The water felt great, warm and relaxing. No wonder the kids mostly had a great time (once Rose could drag Khai outside).

I'd gone to look at Craig's massive tomato plants when I felt a stabbing pain in one of my left toes. Ouuuch! I'd stepped on a bee! I was able to get the stinger out, but it hurt like heck. Rose took me inside and slathered baking soda and vinegar on my swollen toe while I ate my burger and individual cup of macaroni salad on the bench in her kitchen.

Truth be told, I felt kind of awkward outside, anyway. I don't know Craig's parents well and I didn't know what to say to them or Jodie. I felt better when Rose and Craig brought out Finley's unicorn-themed cake. We all ate the delicious yellow sponge cake slathered with pastel whipped topping, then watched Finley open her gifts.

Craig's parents bought Finley an entire Belle ensemble, from the sparkly gold gown to shoes with small heels to even the long gold opera gloves and red gem tiara. She of course had to wear everything right away. Jodie gave her a Moana costume and a straw hat to make up for Moana not having a traditional tiara. Rose and Craig gave her the coolest gift - a soft plush ride-on unicorn! Finley loved hiding in the pink plastic "stable" her new unicorn Dusty came in just as much.

After the grandparents left, I kept an eye on Finley in the living room as the rest of her family cleaned up the party mess and tent. She showed me her other birthday gifts, including a Little People nursery with babies she could put to sleep that made cooing noises. Music videos of short songs that taught toddlers manners played in the background as we played with the nursery and her new cupcake-bride doll.

Craig took me and three boxes that Finley's birthday gifts arrived in home. I took a quick shower, then joined the rest of the live chat for the first Match Game marathon in almost two months. Match Game was revived briefly from the fall of 1990 through the summer of 1991. Brett Somers showed up for three weeks of that revival, always sitting in her old center spot next to Charles. Her voice may have been raspier, but her wit was as rapier-sharp as ever. I arrived in time for the final week's worth of episodes, including the hilarious Halloween show that had Charles dressed as Superman and Brett as a little girl.

Here's the marathon, so you can match wits with Brett one final time.

Match Game '90 With Guest Panelist Brett Somers

Finished the night on YouTube after tonight's Match Game syndicated premieres with something more related to the holiday. I wanted to see some parade today, so I went back to my childhood with this vintage recording of the 1988 Walt Disney World 4th of July Parade. This jam-packed special features quick glimpses at the then-new Maelstrom ride in Norway at Epcot Center (now the Frozen ride) and the Disney-MGM (now Disney's Hollywood) Studios, along with everyone from Broadway star Tommy Tune dancing in front of Cinderella's Castle with Rita Moreno to the Beach Boys singing their then-major hit "Kokomo."

1988 Walt Disney 4th of July Parade

And I hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July, no matter whom you celebrated it with or how!

Yankee Doodle Girl

Kicked off the morning with short stories from Colliers Harvest of Holidays. Among the material are a chapter from Little Town on the Prairie that has Laura and Carrie joining their pa for an outing in town. They watch their friend Alfonso win at the local horse races and enjoy lemonade from a barrel, while Laura hears the reading of the Declaration of Independence and thinks of the meaning of liberty. Other material in Colliers included The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere and several patriotic poems.

Also did a more straightforward prose story about Paul Revere in Disney's vintage Storybookland anthology, along with Ben and Me. The "me" is Amos, a mouse who moves in with Ben Franklin and helps him invent most of his famous creations, including bifocals and the Franklin stove. He parts after Ben uses him in his electricity experiment, but Ben claims he's the only one who can help him and Thomas Jefferson with the Declaration of Independence.

Watched Yankee Doodle Cricket during breakfast. Amos isn't the only mouse who claims to have shaped significant events in American history. Tucker the mouse insisted that an ancestor of his wrote the Declaration of Independence as a treaty between cats and mice and created the colony's original "Don't Tread On Me" flag, and that Chester's ancestor wrote "Yankee Doodle."

Did a quick short while getting ready to go to work. "Patriotic Popeye" is ready to celebrate the fourth, but not for his nephews to be setting off fireworks. Their uncle shows them safer ways to enjoy the holiday.

Today was my one early work day this week. It wasn't bad when I got in, but it picked up when people started getting ready for the parades around 9:30-10, to the point where I kept getting called in from the carts to do registers. I also kept getting six orders at once when I'd be trying to get back outside. Thankfully, I got more help later, giving me a chance to bag and sweep later.

Went straight home after work. Watched cartoons while relaxing and getting organized. Donald tries to get a night picnic together for him and Daisy in "Donald's Failed Fourth," but the blanket and chairs won't cooperate. "The Yankee Doodle Mouse" has Tom and Jerry take their usual cat-and-mouse antics to a fireworks factory. The Pink Panther is "Pinky Doodle," who has to tell Philadelphia that the British are coming, if the redcoat horse he's riding will let him! The Walter Lanz Studio's "Hysterical Highspots in American History" spoofs US history up to that point, from Columbus' first landing to the 1940 peacetime draft. "Yankee Doodle Bugs" claims he knows everything about American Revolutionary history to his nephew Clyde, but the little rabbit discovers the hard way that his uncle doesn't know as much as he thinks.

Started Yankee Doodle Dandy while reading Summer In America. I've had this coffee table book for so long, I forget where I found it. I think I got it from a thrift shop over a decade ago. It discusses how summer in the US went from being just another time of year to a time for play, rest, and travel, thanks to the Industrial Revolution pushing working people out of the cities and the rise of trains, and later cars. Among the many wonderful photos are several of Cape May, including one of the Hotel Cape May, which later became the Christian Admiral that was torn down in the 90's.

Headed out around 4:30 to Dad and Jodie's. Craig, Finley, and Craig's parents were in the pool when I arrived. Rose and Dana had just gotten out. I managed to squeeze into my new suit and join them briefly. Ooh, it was like bathwater! Much warmer than it was when I stuck my legs in last week. I wasn't in there for long, though. Jodie announced that dinner was ready at 5.

While Jodie's spread wasn't as big as previous 4th of Julys, there was still plenty of food. Rose and Craig donated steak, hot dogs, big juicy burgers, and bowls of watermelon chunks, super-sweet pineapple, grapes, and blueberries. Jodie made pasta salad, potato salad, broiled asparagus, and a strange bacon-celery concoction that still tasted really good. Craig found Finley's beach-themed birthday cake at the Acme. Khai added Teddy Grahams and gummy sharks and turtles to make it look more festive. There was my strawberry-lemonade icebox cake, too.

Finley opened her presents after we ate. I'm glad I bought her the sparkly purple boa. It goes well with all the play jewelry and accessories her grandparents bought her, including tiaras, necklaces, a Moana necklace (at the moment, that's her favorite movie), a pretty play dress from her grandmother in Cape May County, and a lovely ballerina jewelry box and her own little cat-shaped purse and wallet from Craig's parents. She also got two plush-and-satin blankets that looks so comfy, I'm tempted to see if they make adult sizes. Her favorite presents were the play eggs that open and have to be aligned with the right colors and number of pegs. She played with those eggs the whole rest of the time she was there.

After Finley finished, Khai insisted on setting off some fireworks. His friend Chloe came around to see what the noise was all about. Most of them were tiny little pink or purple or green flames, but there were larger ones in red, green, and gold that crackled and popped like cereal. Khai told his dad and Dana that he wanted to save at least a few for later that night, so he and Chloe switched to waving around sparklers, pretending they were casting Harry Potter spells.

The party finally broke up around 7:30. I went home, changed, and listened to the second disc of America the Beautiful before heading back out. Though it was still humid, it was also cloudy, cool, and windy by this point. Along with a towel and a bottle of water, I brought an umbrella, just in case.

The umbrella was unnecessary. We never got anything worse than a nice, cool breeze and continuing clouds. I settled down at Newton Lake Park and was just listening to the families and kids around me when the first fireworks went off. They were gorgeous, as the Collingswood fireworks always are. I especially loved the interlocking rings of red, white, and blue. That just looked cool.

Considering what a mess the White Horse Pike always is after the fireworks, I took the first opening I could and crossed over with a couple of families near CVS. Strolled down the back roads to avoid the continuing traffic. Walking home from the fireworks is actually my favorite part of the holiday. It's peaceful, with just the crickets, the hum of air conditioners, and the occasional firework going off in the background. Though one family was dragging damaged furniture to the curb for trash tomorrow, most people were probably either still getting home from the fireworks, already at home and in bed, or on vacation.

Finished the night after a much-needed shower with the rest of Yankee Doodle Dandy. I go further into this biography of ultra-patriotic songwriter George M. Cohan (who also has a birthday the day before the 4th) at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Yankee Doodle Dandy

And whether you're celebrating your birthday today or America's, I hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July (and that our neighbors the north enjoyed their Canada Day on the 1st).

Star Spangled Holiday

Began a hazy, sunny 4th of July with breakfast and my Colliers Harvest of Holidays anthology. Along with Paul Revere's Ride and a few shorter poems, we have an excerpt from from Little House on the Prairie that has Pa taking Laura and Mary to town to enjoy the lemonade from a barrel and horse races. Also did the last chapter of the Kirsten summer story Kirsten Saves the Day (another tale of pioneer 4th of July festivities) and the short story version of Paul Revere and Ben and Me, about a mouse who helps Ben Franklin create some of his most famous inventions, from the anthology Walt Disney's America.

Ben's not the only mouse who claims to have made significant contributions to American history. In Yankee Doodle Cricket, Tucker the Mouse tells Harry the Cat that their ancestors helped Paul Revere spread the word about the British invasion, wrote the original version of the Declaration of Independence, and created the "Don't Tread On Me" flag. Chester the Cricket's ancestor created the folk tune "Yankee Doodle" to spread the word about the American Revolution.

Ran a couple of quick shorts as I finished breakfast and got organized. "Patriotic Popeye" tries to encourage his nephews to play it safe on the 4th and not use fireworks. They evade him at every turn, until setting off a massive rocket sends them sky-high and their uncle needs spinach to retrieve them. Donald Duck isn't doing much better in "Donald's Failed Fourth." Daisy requests that he set up a picnic dinner to watch the fireworks, but first the blanket, then the chairs, won't cooperate.

West Clinton Avenue was already packed with parade-watchers by the time I made it down there. As usual, the parade was late. Oaklyn's 4th of July Parade is NEVER on time. It was supposed to start at 10, but it was closer to quarter of 11 when the first decorated trucks were seen. (Although a group of motorcyclists in decorated vehicles did pass through about 20 minutes before that.)

While not as hot as it has been the past few days, it wasn't exactly cool, either, and it was still killer humid. The Oaklyn Manor Bar had refreshment and souvenir (mostly Phillies t-shirts) tables set up in their parking lot. I picked up a bottle of water and a small bag of popcorn. (Finished the latter well before the parade started.)

The theme this year was "Oaklyn (Elemenatary/Middle) School: Celebrating 90 years." Disappointingly, only one float actually did anything with that theme, and I believe it was the School's entry. Granted, it was pretty neat. I want to know how they made the giant "art brushes." Most of the "floats" were trucks and cars filled with the local softball teams.

I walked around the downtown district for a bit, but ultimately ended up sitting in front of Common Grounds Coffee House with a group of families who live near Dad and Jodie on Hillcrest. Two families had kids on the softball teams. Sandy and Mary were likely just there to enjoy the day, as I was. Those softball teams threw bucketfuls of chocolate and fruit Tootsie Rolls, Dum-Dum lollipops, Starlight mints, Brachs cinnamon and butterscotch discs, Dubble Bubble gum, and Jolly Ranchers. Mary and Savannah scrambled for everything that was thrown to them. Even I had a full pocket as I followed everyone down the block to the school.

After one of the local kids sang "The Star Spangled Banner" (she did all right, a little quavery on the ending), the mayor handed out prizes for the best-decorated house (one of them was a block down from me on Manor) and for the best floats. The line to get a free hot dog was half-way across the lawn by the time he finished, but at least it was mostly under shady trees and went fast. The town gave away chips, water, and soda along with the hot dogs. Grabbed a bottle of water and ate my hot dog quickly (there was no seating - most people were relaxing under those trees on the school lawn) before heading home.

The hot dog hadn't really filled me up much, and I wanted some fruit in there. I made a blueberry-banana smoothie while returning to animated shorts. Bugs is a "Bunker Hill Bunny" when he defends his fort against Hessian soldier Sam. The Walter Lanz studios gives us some "Hysterical Highspots In American History," with spoofs of everything from Columbus discovering America to Depression breadlines. Tom and Jerry spend their July 4th making a few explosions of their own in a fireworks factory in the Oscar-winning "The Yankee Doodle Mouse."

I'd forgotten to bring my rent next door before the parade. Fixed that before I even saw the message Miss Willa left on my phone. Unfortunately, she left a letter at my door indicating that she still wasn't happy. I'd left the air conditioner on while I was at work during the worst of the heat wave. I'm on the second floor. It can get as high as the 90's in this apartment when the heat is bad. I didn't want to come home to a killer hot apartment after having worked in the sun all day. I think I'll just finally get around to buying a second fan (maybe online, so I don't have to carry it home) and only use the air conditioner in extreme need, and that when I'm home.

Tried to work on writing for a little while after that. Luke is still in shock over Ben's death when Han and Leia shove him into the car driven by Jeanne and Cassian's North African buddy Bodhi. Harry leans out of the car to shoot at the Imperials...only to learn that the man following them is Roberto Fettara, one of the most notorious bounty hunters and assassins in the US. He's determined to get them off the road...

Broke around 3:30 to change into my bathing suit, grab the icebox pudding cake, and head to Dad and Jodie's. The neighbors were just leaving as I was arriving. I chatted with Mary for the first hour I was there while Jessa talked to our parents, then swam on my own for a while when her mother took her home for dinner. I was in and out of the pool all evening. Jodie finally started the grill around 5:30-6. I had two cheeseburgers, two succulent ribs, macaroni salad, potato salad, and a small bag of Fritos.

Rose and her family finally arrived shortly before Jodie started the burgers and hot dogs. They'd only been home from Maine for a few hours, and they were all tired. They were apparently visiting Craig's brother, who was now running a bakery in Maine with his girlfriend. Rose donated a sample of their wares on a fish-shaped tray. While the brownies and fruit-oatmeal bars were yummy, my favorites were the extra-soft molasses crinkles sprinkled with sugar.

They came back full of stories. Rose told me that the first day, Khai released a frog in the house and laughed himself silly watching the adults chase after it. Finley took her first steps the day before her birthday.

Khai initially just wanted to play video games on Jodie's iPad. The adults finally coaxed him into the pool by pointing out that his neighborhood buddies were finished with dinner and were out in their yards. We were eventually joined by Chloe and her mom. I talked to Chloe while Rose swam with Finley, watching her little legs kick out, and Craig tossed Khai around in the pool.

Headed home around 7:30. Ran two more cartoons while changing into dry clothes and rounding up a towel and a bottle of water for the fireworks. The Pink Panther is charged with delivering messages to the people of Philadelphia encouraging them to pick up arms in "Pinky Doodle," but the Redcoat horse he's riding does everything he can to get rid of him. "Yankee Doodle Bugs" is similar to "Hysterical Highspots," this time with Bugs telling parodies of American Revolution history to his nephew Clyde.

I was worried about the weather when I headed out at quarter after 8, especially given that we've had rain at night during the last two Independence Days. It had gotten cloudy, breezy, and cooler while I was at Dad and Jodie's. Brought an umbrella with me, just in case.

The umbrella turned out to be unnecessary. The clouds remained dark, but haven't burst yet. Newton Lake Park was already so busy when I got there, I had to make my way around a gaggle of cops on the sidewalk across from CVS who were probably trying to figure out where to put all the cars. I lay my coral-striped towel down on the lawn across from the Parkview Apartments. I had a perfect view of the fireworks in front of me and the lake behind me.

The fireworks were gorgeous, as they always are. Collingswood always does its fireworks up right. My favorites are the ones that explode in shapes. I saw red hearts, stars, ovals, and even a triangle. I also like the multi-colored ones that go up in the air, then explode into little bursts of glittery light. They look like Christmas lights.

Left even before the booming rocket-laden finale to beat the traffic. I managed to find a break in the cars near the former Taco Bell building and crossed there. Other than a dad and his son setting off small spinning fireworks on their front walk, Manor was far more peaceful. Walking home from the fireworks is one of my favorite parts of the holiday. Most people are either getting back from the fireworks, still setting off their own fireworks, asleep in front of the Boston Pops, or spending the holiday at the Shore. It's just me, the crickets, the fireflies, and the hum of air conditioners.

Finished the evening with Yankee Doodle Dandy after I got in. James Cagney won an Oscar as George M. Cohan, the Broadway sensation who changed musical comedy in the early 20th century. He wrote, directed, produced, starred in, and wrote the music for his own plays. He starts in vaudeville in his parents' act, the Four Cohans. The variety stage isn't enough for the eternally restless Cohan, who wants to conquer New York. He does finally get the hit Little Johnny Jones on the boards, with the help of producer and writer Sam Harris (Richard Whorf). He even manages to bring his family back and get skeptical comedienne Fay Templeton (Irene Manning) to star in his shows. Though he manages a hit during World War I with the stirring "Over There," his shows become increasingly old-fashioned during the very modern 1920's. He makes a brief comeback in 1938 in the Rogers and Hart show I'd Rather Be Right...ironically on the eve of an even more damaging war.

I've watched this salute to one of America's most patriotic songwriters almost every year on or around the 4th of July since I was a kid. Mom used to run the video after the fireworks on the 4th during the 80's and 90's. Granted, the movie isn't much of a biography. It doesn't mention his fight with the Actor's Equity during their union strike of 1919 that soured him on directing and producing later in life, or that his wife "Mary" (Joan Leslie) is a composite of his two real-life wives. It does feature some marvelous performances (especially from Cagney and Walter Huston and Rosemary DeCamp as Cohan's parents) and gives you a nice view of the performing styles of the 1900's through the late 30's. Little Johnny Jones seems pretty realistic for the era; apparently, the "Off the Record" number from I'd Rather Be Right was spot-on as well.

Come here for the cast and the delightful numbers, not the biography. Perfect for those looking for a patriotic, yet fun movie for the afternoon of the 4th of July or after the fireworks.

And here's hoping you also had an enjoyable Independence Day (and that our neighbors to the north enjoyed their Canada Day on the 1st).

Fireworks Surprise

The sun streaming through my window welcomed me to a hot, sunny 4th of July. Started off the day with stories from Colliers Harvest of Holidays. Laura and Mary Ingalls attend their town's big 4th of July celebration with their Pa, including the horse races, in a segment from Little House On the Prairie. The remaining material was mostly hymns and poetry, including Longfellow's Midnight Ride of Paul Revere.

Tossed in two extra short stories. The final chapter of Kirsten Saves the Day recounts the first 4th of July for Swedish pioneer Kirsten and her family in their new home in Minnesota. Ben and Me from the Disney anthology Storybookland gives us another tale of Ben Franklin, from the point of view of a church mouse who supposedly helped create some of his most famous inventions.

Ran Yankee Doodle Cricket while eating breakfast. Ben's not the only mouse who claims to have taken part in significant events in American history. Tucker the Mouse also insists that his ancestor was a major player in the creation of, among other defining moments, the creation of the Declaration of Independence, and that the ancestor of Chester the Cricket wrote the folk tune "Yankee Doodle."

Today was my first of two early work shifts this week. It did get busy around 11 when people started to come out of the parades, and later at 1 when I was leaving as they were buying last-minute items for parties and barbecues. Otherwise, it was steady almost the entire morning, and never as bad as it got yesterday. I had more help, too. A college boy took over doing carts for the second half of my shift. I bagged and gathered baskets.

When I got home, I changed, then had a quick yogurt and cherries lunch. I bought two tubs of the Acme's generic Cool Whip on sale. I was originally going to re-frost the Summer Berry Icebox Cake, but the syrupy heavy cream center had finally solidified and glued the graham crackers together...and actually, it tasted pretty good. I just topped the "cake" with tons of Cool Whip, then made a flag on the top with strawberries and blueberries.

Put on a couple of cartoons while I worked. "Patriotic Popeye" is trying to discourage two of his nephews from playing with fireworks on the 4th. They finally learn their lesson when they almost burn down his house. Tom wishes Jerry would learn the same when they carry their running feud into a bunker loaded with explosives in "The Yankee Doodle Mouse." Donald Duck tries to set up a night time picnic to watch the fireworks in "Donald's Failed Fourth," but the chairs and blanket won't cooperate.

Did a little bit of writing for an hour after I finished with the cake. The group arrives at Nabarrie Palace, the glittering rococo showplace of the kingdom. Cedric is nervous at first, until he starts to get more into his role.

Rode over to Dad and Jodie's around quarter of 4 for their 4th of July barbecue. It wasn't nearly as huge as the last couple of parties they've had, just the two of them, me, Jesse and Dana, TJ, Jessa and Joe, Craig and Khai later when they got back from visiting Rose and the new baby in the hospital, and a couple of neighbors and their families. Dana grilled cheeseburgers and hot dogs. Craig contributed teriyaki salmon. One of the neighbors brought a tasty pasta and summer vegetable salad. Jodie made more traditional mayo-based macaroni salad, a fruit tray, Caesar salad with sliced cheese, beans and weenies, and her vinegary cucumber salad. My cake was the only dessert there. I had a little of everything but the cucumber salad - Jodie uses way too much vinegar - and the beans and weenies. (I figured two hot dogs were enough.)

I spent most of the afternoon in the pool with the kids. Ahhh. That felt sooo nice. It was extra-warm for this time of year, probably in the 80's. I had a great time, chasing them around and listening to their chatter about vacations and swimming and school.

Menacing black clouds started moving in as early as 5. By quarter after 6, it was getting much darker. Not to mention, I was full to bursting. I gave my leave and headed home. I timed it right. I was changing into dry clothes when it started to rain at a pretty good clip.

Rested while watching a few more shorts. Bugs is a "Bunker Hill Bunny" when he pits his Yankee wit and cleverness against hot-tempered Hessian Sam. Walter Lanz and his artists showcase "Hysterical Highspots In American History," from the natives trading Manhattan to the settlers to the Great Depression. The Pink Panther is "Pinky Doodle," who delivers papers on the coming war to the people of Philadelphia on the back of an English horse. Needless to say, the loyalist equine tries his hardest to get him off his back...literally and figuratively. Ruby and Louise have everything they need to see the big fireworks display, but Ruby's brother is more interested in "Max's Fireflies."

Finally headed out around quarter after 8. Though it wasn't raining then, heavy clouds still menaced the area. I briefly parked under what had been the roof of the drive-through at the former PNC Bank on the White Horse Pike to check the weather on my phone. Managed to make it the two blocks to Dollar General as it began to shower again.

I was standing in the vestibule, waiting for the rain to stop, when I heard a loud noise. The cashier and stock girl dashed out, yelling that that they saw fireworks. I was surprised. It was only 8:46, and the fireworks weren't scheduled until 9:15. Yes, there were fireworks, beautiful professional ones, lighting up the sky despite the ongoing shower. While the stock girl took pictures, I headed down the White Horse Pike to figure out what was going on.

Everyone was watching when I arrived. Yes, they did seem to be the Collingswood fireworks, likely set off early due to the rain. Ironically, the rain was slowing down as I made it to Newton Lake Park. It ended in time for a noisy, glittering finale.

It took me forever to get home. At first, I thought there would be more fireworks, at the right time. When I gave up on that idea, I couldn't get across the street. The traffic was insane, bumper-to bumper all the way to Camden. A cop helped me and a couple of other people cross at the Oaklyn City Hall.

At least it was a pleasant walk home once I got into Oaklyn. With the rain gone, I was free to concentrate on a night that, despite the occasional amateur fireworks display, was lovely and peaceful. Everyone had taken their families to bed or were at the Shore or still stuck in traffic. Walking home after the fireworks is one of my favorite parts of the holiday. The fireworks are replaced by the soft yellow glow of the fireflies Max loved so much; the only noise is the humming of air conditioners and the occasional squawk from someone's TV.

Jumped in the shower as soon as I got home, then put on  "Yankee Doodle Bugs" as I got organized. This is a lot like "Hysterical Highspots," with Bugs relating the historical spoofs as his attempts to teach his little nephew Clyde about the Revolutionary War.

Finished out the night online while watching Yankee Doodle Dandy. James Cagney won an Oscar playing George M. Cohan, a turn of the century theatrical protege who grew up in the vaudeville act of his father (Walter Huston) and mother (Rosemary DeCamp). By the early 1900's, he was the biggest sensation on Broadway, writing, directing, producing, and starring in patriotic-flavored musicals and comedies peppered with hits like "Give My Regards to Broadway," "You're a Grand Old Flag," and the title song. When Cohan is told he's too old to join the Armed Services during World War I, he writes the march "Over There" and plays it at Army camps. Though Cohan and his corny shows are eventually left behind, he returns for one final triumph, ironically on the eve of an even more damaging war.

While this isn't really much of a biography (starting with Joan Leslie playing a composite of Cohan's two wives), it does beautifully document the style of performances from this era and what the shows themselves were like. This is especially apparent with the Little Johnny Jones segment, which is so well-done, I feel like you really are watching a show from 1902. (The "Off the Record" recreation was apparently spot-on as well.) If you love Cagney, Cohan, or musical biographies, this is one of the best non-Busby Berkley Warner musicals and gets a major recommendation from me.

And I hope you had an equally fun Independence Day (and that our neighbors to the north in Canada enjoyed celebrating their 150th anniversary on Saturday).

Star Spangled Woman

Started a cloudy, cool Fourth of July with poems and book excerpts. Collier's Book of Holidays featured a chapter on the Ingalls' Fourth of July celebration in a small backwoods town from Little Town on the Prairie, Paul Revere's Ride in its entirety, a couple of poems, and "The Star Spangled Banner." I next did the last chapter of Kirsten Saves the Day, which details Kirsten's family's trip to the nearest town for their Fourth of July festivities.

Finished up with three short stories from the Disney America anthology book from the 60's. One was Ben and Me, the cute tale of a mouse who helped create many of Ben Franklin's most famous inventions. The other two detailed Paul Revere's famous ride and adapted the Disney Davy Crockett TV mini-series.

After I finished my journal, I moved onto breakfast and a few quick shorts before early work. "Donald's Failed Fourth" is one of the Mickey Mouse Works shorts from the early 2000s. Donald wants to set up a Fourth of July picnic in front of the fireworks for Daisy, but the blanket and chairs keep giving him trouble.

Bugs is a "Bunker Hill Bunny" when he has to defend his American fort against Sam the Hessian Soldier. Porky Pig learns about the importance of the Pledge of Allegiance in the unusually stirring "Old Glory."

In "Pinky Doodle," the Pink Panther wants to send out pamphlets detailing American independence to all of Philadelphia. He makes the mistake of choosing a Red Coat horse who may not let him get very far!

Headed to work around 8:30. Despite the gloomy day, work was busy for almost the entire morning. I did get a few returns in, but I was mainly either retrieving carts or stuck in a register. I would rather have been doing carts. They kept vanishing all morning.

I was so happy when it slowed down long enough for me to head out! I went straight home. I spent the next few hours making whipped topping for the Summer Berry Cupcakes (with the Acme generic Cool Whip, powdered sugar, and the last of the coconut milk) while watching 1776. This rousing musical tells how John Adams (William Daniels), Ben Franklin (Howard Da Silva), and Thomas Jefferson (Ken Howard) created the Declaration of Independence to convince Congress to vote for the US breaking away from England. It's a lot more suspenseful and interesting than the American Revolution ever comes off in textbooks. (For those of you who are fans of another musical about a Founding Father, Hamilton, this one might make a nice companion show.)

As much as I love 1776, it's one of the last of the big 60's-70's Broadway adaptations and is over 2 and a half hours long. I didn't make it to Dad's house until after 4:30. Dad and Jodie are away, but they let Rose and their neighbor Sandy use the house and pool for a party. Along with Sandy, Rose, and her family, I saw Craig's parents, Jodie's son Jesse, his girlfriend Dana, and their spaniel mix Helio, and several neighbors and their children.

I arrived just as they were bringing the food out. Rose and Sandy laid out quite a spread. I saw cheeseburgers, hamburgers, hot dogs, grilled chicken, veggie-pasta salad, deviled eggs, more traditional macaroni salad, potato salad, a vegetable salad with a spicy ranch dressing, a bowl of strawberries and blueberries, a vegetable plate, small loves of crusty bread, and Parmesan flatbread crackers. Dessert included a cake from the Acme, my Summer Berry Cupcakes, Rose's divine Key Lime Pie, and sliced watermelon. I had a burger, watermelon, the veggie-pasta and spicy salad, a couple of strawberries, two slices of cake, one slice of Key Lime Pie, and some crackers. (I later took home macaroni salad, two pieces of chicken, spicy salad, bread, and the last two deviled eggs.) I ate while chatting with the adults and listening to a family across the street play a noisy and intense game of softball in the street.

After I finished dinner, I hit the pool with the kids and Craig's parents for an hour. The pool was surprisingly warm for a day that couldn't have been hotter than the upper 70's - lower 80's. The dark clouds continued to build, even as I watched the three boys and one girl (someone's cousin visiting from Puerto Rico) cannonball into the water.

Thankfully, we got everything and everyone inside or under wraps well before the rain finally started. I chatted a bit with Jesse, Dana, Rose, and one of the neighbors. Rose and her neighbor talked about their travels to Cancun and Costa Rica in their younger years. I told Jesse and Dana my problems with the Acme job. I don't like it, but I'm not good at networking, and I don't know how I could apply my Communications degree to real work. They suggested temp agencies and talking to family.

By 8, I was just hanging out with Khai and his friends from the neighborhood in the den, watching the Nickelodeon cartoon The Loud House (about a boy who is constantly trying to avoid his ten sisters). The rain was still coming down at a pretty good clip. Craig ended up driving me, my leftovers plate, and my bike home.

Ran a few remaining cartoons while I got organized. Popeye's nephews want to spend their holiday setting off fireworks. Their uncle teaches them how to play it safe on the Fourth in "Patriotic Popeye."

"The Yankee Doodle Mouse" was the first Tom & Jerry cartoon to win an Oscar. The cat and mouse celebrate their Fourth by waging their own kind of war in a fireworks factory.

As  you may have guessed from the rain, the fireworks were canceled in most places today. Collingswood will be holding theirs tomorrow. I should be able to go. At any rate, I hope all of you had a wonderful (and dry) Fourth of July! (And that our neighbors to the north enjoyed their Canada Day on the 1st.)

Saturday In the Park, I Think It Was the 4th of July...

I began a cloudy, cool Independence Day at work. Work was surprisingly on-and-off busy for most of the afternoon. It was fairly crowded when I arrived at 10, but the crowds vanished when the parades started. A shower in the middle of the afternoon may have scared some folks off as well. There were no major problems, and my relief, one of the college boys, was right on time.

I hurried home as soon as I finished. I ran a few cartoons while making whipped cream icing for my cake. I added blueberries and the last of the farm market strawberries in a flag pattern. It came out very nice, and certainly very patriotic. I've seen it done in a hundred magazines and online sites and have always wanted to try it.

The Looney Tunes did a couple of shorts based around American history. Bugs Bunny defends his fort against Hessian soldier Sam in "Bunker Hill Bunny." Porky learns why the Pledge of Allegiance is important in the more stirring "Old Glory."

The Pink Panther also takes part in the American Revolution in "Pinky Doodle." He's on a certain midnight ride, handing out pamphlets to the citizens of Philadelphia...or would be, if the red coat horse he's riding would let him!

I took the bike to Dad's party around quarter of 5. Hit the pool the moment I got in. I was delighted to see my cousin Amber, her current boyfriend, and her two daughters Ella and Lily there, along with my sister Rose, her boyfriend Craig, and their son Khai, Jodie and Dad, an aunt of Jodie's, Jodie's son Jesse and his girlfriend Dana, and a couple of neighbors. I swam with Khai, Lily, Ella, and one of the neighbors' kids, Chloe, for about an hour. We played with a huge red vinyl ball and at least eight different flotation devices. (I loved the big yellow one with the cup holders and the wide back. So comfy!) The water was relatively warm, in the 80's. It was the air that was chilly. Lily had been in the pool for so long, her teeth were chattering...and yet, she was the last one dragged out when it was time to eat.

Jodie was firing up the grill as we were swimming. Everything was ready when we came out. There were cheeseburgers, hot dogs, and Jodie's famous ribs from the grill. Rose provided very fresh crabs that she, Craig, and Khai picked up with our sister Anny and her family on vacation in the Wildwood bays. There was cucumber salad, Caesar salad, macaroni salad, corn on the cob, and baked beans with sliced hot dogs for the kids. I had a little of everything but the baked beans - I never was a fan of beans and weenies. In addition to my cake, there was a chocolate Bundt cake and a large decorated cookie for dessert. (Not to mention the kids talked their folks into money for the Mr. Softee truck again.)

I finally walked home around quarter after 7. When I got in, I changed into dry clothes and did some chores around the apartment. Ran a few more cartoons while I worked. Donald just wants to have a nice picnic while watching fireworks with Daisy in "Donald's Failed Fourth." Everything from the blanket to the chairs keeps giving him trouble.

Popeye's having his own problems with his nephews in "Patriotic Popeye." They want to set off fireworks. Popeye's worried that they'll set themselves off along with the rockets. He tries to show them how to play safe on the Fourth.

Ruby and Louise are are also excited about seeing fireworks. Max is more interested in "Max's Fire Flies." While the girls prepare for the fireworks, Max tries to catch his new glowing friends.

Tom and Jerry set off some fireworks of their own in "The Yankee Doodle Mouse." Their battle in a fireworks factory gets heated when Jerry defends his "cat raid shelter" from Tom's arsenal.

I headed out as soon as Tom and Jerry ended, around quarter after 8. Even then, there was already a long line of people making their way down West Clinton and the White Horse Pike to Newton Lake Park. The new parking lot was finished last fall, and that did help a bit with traffic. I cut across the parking lot and finally settled down in the field across from the high-rise condos. I lay on my blanket, wrote down fanfic ideas, and laughed as I watched families chatter and kids chase each other with glow sticks in many colors all around me.

The fireworks began around 9:15. They were spectacular, as always. My favorites were the double-hearts (including one that was upside-down), the heart in the center of the red sparkles, and the triple-rings, like a three-ring circus. I enjoyed the show, listening to adults ooh and ahh and kids complain about how scary the loud noises were.

Thankfully, it didn't take me as long to cross the White Horse Pike going home this time. I was able to go with a couple of families who were crossing at the same time at CVS. I waved to Diane, one of the cashiers at the Acme, sitting in the back of a truck as I made my way up to Newton Drive.

My favorite part of the Fourth of July are the fireworks and walking home afterwards. There's still fireworks and parties going on all around me...but Manor at 10 PM on the Fourth of July is quiet and peaceful. Most of the residents are at the Shore or still partying. You can hear the wind rustling in the leaves and see the soft glow of the fireflies, like the ones Max caught for his sister. It's a lovely way to end a holiday.

I hope you had an equally noisy Fourth of July (and that our neighbors to the north enjoyed their Canada Day on July 1st).

Cool Considerate Weather

The Oaklyn 4th of July Parade was late, as always. It was cloudy, very windy, and surprisingly cool, barely in the 70s, when I headed out around 10:30. Even as I rode my bike the two blocks to West Clinton, the clouds burst, and it started showering. Rose waved me across the street, in front of the billiards supply store, where she, Craig, Khai, and Jodie were standing. Khai was happily chasing neighborhood kids around under the dinosaur umbrella he got for his birthday.

The Parade finally started a few minutes after I arrived. Shortly after it got underway, the shower slowed down, then ended. The theme this year was "Oaklyn Gives Back," featuring local non-profit organizations like Oaklyn's food bank. Phillies Phatties, the pizza parlor on West Clinton, had a well-decorated mini RV and someone dressed as their mascot, a walking pizza slice. The Food Bank had a float with shelves showing off their wares. And every softball and baseball team in town, as well as a roller hockey team and a cheerleading squad, threw candy for the kids.

While I did follow the crowds to the Oaklyn School for the announcement of the awards, I didn't stick around after that. I skipped the free hot dogs and long lines in favor of the chicken salad I made yesterday. I didn't really have the time for the freebies, anyway. I had to work at noon.

The Acme was a mess all afternoon. In addition to it being a holiday, it's also the beginning of the month. Not to mention, this is probably the only day a lot of people can shop this week. We had down-the-store lines for most of the day. I was grateful I was able to hurry out at 4 with no relief.

I ran 4th of July or American history-themed cartoons as I changed, both earlier in the day after the parade and when I got home. Bugs Bunny takes on Hessian soldier Yosemite Sam with lots of wisecracks and very big cannons in "Bunker Hill Bunny." The Pink Panther has to deliver the news of independence to the people of Philadelphia on the back of a Red Coat horse in "Pinky Doodle." Donald Duck's 4th of July fireworks picnic with Daisy doesn't turn out quite the way he planned, thanks to a recalcitrant blanket and chairs that won't open, in "Donald's Failed Fourth." Popeye tries to keep his nephews away from the fireworks and show them how to have a safe holiday in "Patriotic Popeye." Walter Lanz and his animators gives us several "Hysterical Highspots In American History," including what Columbus really sighted when he first came to America and two sisters who would do anything for men in any era. Jerry is "The Yankee Doodle Mouse" when he defends his "cat raid shelter" from Tom in their first short to win an Oscar.

Pulled my Chocolate Cookies and Cream Pudding Pie out of the fridge and headed to Dad's around 5 for his party. By then, the clouds were rapidly vanishing, though the wind remained and the air was still cool. Jodie had just pulled out the barbecue burgers and hot dogs when I arrived. There were also sliced tomatoes topped with real mozzarella and glazed with Italian dressing, a pretty basic green salad,  grilled asparagus, macaroni salad, hot poppers (for those who could handle them), and a meat and cheese tray and star-shaped watermelon slices outside by the pool.

I hopped into the pool after dinner. Much to my surprise, the pool itself was warm, probably in the 80s. It was the air that was cold. The sun had come out, but the wind was still chilly. Though some of the kids were still swimming around, it was too much for me. I wasn't even in the pool a half-hour.

The desserts were mainly pies or fruit-based. In addition to my pudding pie, there was sliced pound cake with fruit that Rose brought, a bowl of cut-up fruit, and a lemon meringue pie from the Acme. I tried the lemon meringue pie. I've sold it enough. Ugh! It was awful. Bland crust, gooey lemon filling that tasted mildly of olives, for some reason. Rose's fruit and pound cake was much better.

I finally caught a ride home with Mark and Vanessa around 7:30, then finished 1776 while I changed into dry clothes. This ended up being a really enjoyable take on American history, and probably one of the few genuinely good movies on the American Revolution. There's some really well-done music. In addition to "He Plays the Violin" for Thomas Jefferson's wife Martha, we have a truly stirring number for the delegate from South Carolina describing the selling of slaves and how the Colonies profit, "Molasses to Rum," the heartbreaking "Mama Look Sharp" for the young man who brings General Washington's dispatches as he describes the Battle of Lexington, and John and Abilgail Adams' ongoing duet, "Til Then."

While not all of this is historically accurate (for instance, most of the delegates signed in August, rather than on July 4th), it's an improvement over the composer biographies for its warts-and-all portrayal of people whose lives seem considerably less bland than in history textbooks. Perfect 4th of July viewing, or for fans of the big epic musicals of the 60s and early 70s, or for families with older kids who are just starting to learn about American history.

I threw on a sweater, packed my flannel checked blanket, and headed to Newton River Park around 8:30. The new blacktop (parking lot?) was nearly done but not quite. Everyone had to stumble around plastic fencing that kept nothing out. This time, I plopped down in the middle of a field and watched the kids chase each other around with glowing lightsaber-like swords, butterfly-shaped wands, and light-up laser guns until the fireworks began at 9:15.

They were absolutely gorgeous this year. By 9:30, the clouds were gone entirely, and though it was still windy, it wasn't as bad as earlier. I especially loved the shaped ones. There was a gold one shaped like a flower, a heart-shaped one, and one that had three rings inside each other.

I had the same problems getting home that I did last year. Even leaving during the finale didn't stop me from running into a long line of traffic on the White Horse Pike. Thankfully, I was able to cross over with two teenagers when someone was nice enough to stop for us and make it back to Manor unscathed.

I don't often go for walks at night. Maybe I should more often. Manor is lovely and calm after the fireworks on the 4th of July. Most people are walking home or stuck in traffic or at the Shore or heading to bed. It was just me, the wind, and the amateur fireworks going off all around me. I saw one more gold, sparkling firework over the train tracks to cap off my day as I turned onto the path across the front yard.

I hope that all of you had an equally fun, stirring, and not too hot 4th of July (and that our neighbors to the north enjoyed their Canada Day on the 1st).

There's Gonna Be Some Fireworks...

Happy 4th of July to all of my American readers! I had one of my better ones in recent memory. I began a cloudy and humid morning with the second half of Yankee Doodle Dandy and a few cartoon shorts centered around the 4th of July, summer events, or American history. Donald Duck tries to set up a picnic with a perfect view of the fireworks in "Donald's Failed Fourth," but has a rough time getting the chairs and blankets to behave. Bugs Bunny fights (Yosemite) Sam the Hessian Soldier for freedom and the right to shoot cannon balls back and forth in "Bunker Hill Bunny." The Pink Panther finds himself delivering messages to the people of Philadelphia about the Declaration of Independence on the back of a Redcoat horse in "Pinky Doodle." Tom and Jerry make use of a fireworks stockpile to hold a war of their own in "The Yankee Doodle Mouse."

I headed down to West Clinton Avenue around quarter after 10. I knew darn well Oaklyn's 4th of July parade was going to be late. It's always late. I finally found Rose, Craig, Jodie, and Khai sitting on the corner across from Manor, waiting for the parade to finally begin. Khai was so excited! His mother actually had to chase him and retrieve him from climbing into someone else's wagon. Jodie sat him down in a big camp chair to play games on Craig's smartphone instead.

The parade finally began at quarter of 11. Oaklyn's parade isn't huge or fancy, but it's a big community event and a lot of fun to watch. There were two string bands. There were tons and tons of local softball and baseball little league teams. One softball team had a cute luau theme. A baseball team that's sponsored by a concrete laying company showed off their sterling statistics on foam board "slabs of concrete." The Oaklyn Library pushed a cart that had a beach theme. The fire trucks were at the end. They were so noisy, Khai covered his ears! And yes, my little nephew got plenty of candy, from each and every one of those softball and baseball teams and fire trucks.

Rose and Craig wanted to take Khai home for a nap, and Jodie needed to help Dad with the party preparations. I was the only one who opted to follow the crowd to the Oaklyn School on the end of West Clinton Avenue for a free hot dog and Diet Pepsi. I wish I hadn't. I had to work at noon, and the mayor talked sooooo slooooow. Standing in a day that had become sunny, muggy, and hot didn't help.

I hurried off as soon as I finished my hot dog. When I got home, I had just enough time for snap peas and tomatoes and to change into my uniform before I hurried off to work. (Good thing I already packed my snack before I left for the parade.)

The Acme was a total madhouse for most of the afternoon. Not only is today a major summer holiday, it's also the last day of our sales, and we're still in the beginning of the month.  We were so busy, we sold out of every kind of milk but the expensive organic gallons. We had a lot of problems with grouchy, grumpy, or cranky people, too. No one was happy about the missing milk, or that you can't mix and match the three big soda 12-packs sale. (Take that up with the soda companies who don't play nice together.) I was so grateful it slowed down enough by 4PM for me to hurry out quickly without a relief.

(I did manage to pick up some hours tomorrow, 2 to 7. No big deal. Grocery shopping was my only major plan for tomorrow, and I can still do that in the morning.)

When I got home, I quickly changed into my bathing suit, grabbed the Cookies n' Cream Pudding Pie I made yesterday, and hurried over to Dad's. This year, Dad was having the big 4th of July Celebration. Rose, Craig, and Khai were there briefly, but they had to move on around 5:30 to go to Craig's brother's house for his party.

I spent most of the evening splashing in the pool with two of the neighbors' little girls, 8-year-old Mary and 5-year-old Emily. They were lots of fun in the pool, swimming on the mermaid-themed paddle board and squirting people with foam water guns. Sometimes, other adults like their parents, Jodie, Dad, and Vanessa would join in, too. We all had a great time. As Mary put it, "This is living!"

There was tons and tons of food. Jodie, Dad, and a couple of neighbors barbecued burgers, hot dogs, chicken, and ribs. I didn't get there in time for the ribs, but I did have a cheeseburger, a hot dog, and a chicken thigh. I also tried seafood salad, a tasty macaroni salad with tomatoes and zucchini, an unusual corn-bean salad with chunks of what I believe was avocado, and lots and lots of watermelon Vanessa sliced herself.

I left around 7:30 to go home and get ready for the fireworks. Sneaked in a few more cartoons as I changed into dry clothes and packed a bag with water, a towel, Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde, a flashlight, and a CD player and CDs. (It's been so long since I used the iPod, it still has Christmas music on it!)

All Wally Walrus wants is a relaxing day at the beach...which will be anything but with Woody Woodpecker driving him crazy in "The Beach Nut." A review of "Hysterical Highspots In American History" takes in comic (and sometimes a tad scatological) versions of everything from Columbus discovering America to Depression-era breadlines. Ruby and Louise want to see the fireworks, but Max prefers nature's own glow in "Max's Fireflies."

Headed out to Newton River Park at 8:30. It was already busy with families who wanted cheaper seats with more leg room than Collingswood High School's stadium provided. It was hard to find a spot. Not because it was crowded, but because the ground was so soggy, a lot of prime viewing areas were muddy marshes. I finally found a drier place near the sidewalk that goes around the park to spread out my peach-and-cream-striped towel. I listened to the Monkees and Bruce Springsteen and watches the crowds until the fireworks began.

The fireworks were gorgeous, as always. My favorite was the big golden one that exploded in the shape of a bushy star and the huge green oval. I love the shaped ones - I wonder how they do those. An enormous purple and gold one with sparkles in the middle was pretty, too.

I had a harder time getting home. I left about half-way through the finale...but even then, the traffic was terrible, especially by the park. Giving people more places to park, including an empty lot that used to be a fast food restaurant, just made more of a mess. I dodged cars trying to back out all the way down the Black Horse Pike. It wasn't even better in Oaklyn. People just detoured down Newton Avenue.

When I finally made it back to Manor, I cherished the silence. Despite the amateur fireworks still going off all around me, it felt peaceful. Everyone else was either heading for the Shore or stuck in traffic or still partying. All I could hear were the hum of animals and air conditioners. The soft breeze rustled the flags placed in the front of every lawn by a local real estate firm. It was so calm, so quiet. Walking home from the fireworks is really my favorite part of the 4th of July.

Here's hoping you had an equally enjoyable 4th (and that our neighbors to the north enjoyed their Canada Day on Monday, too).