While it was cloudy and humid when I awoke late this morning, it was also much cooler, in the mid-60's. Celebrated an October Friday the 13th with more Scooby Doo, Where are You? Ran "Which Witch is Which?" from the first season during breakfast. This time, Mystery Inc is lost in a spooky swamp after a fishing trip. An encounter with a zombie and a frog hunter who claims a witch is casting voodoo spells makes them think there's more to this than old bayou legends.
Headed out around quarter of 12 for this week's grocery run. They weren't too busy when I arrived, which was a good thing. I had a fairly big order. Found shrimp and breaded crab cakes with managers coupons. Fished a small pack of really nice mechanical pencils out of the bins of leftover back-to-school supplies on the clearance racks. Took advantage of sales to restock soup (cream of chicken and two Progresso), chocolate chips, cereal (got Multi-Grain Cheerios for $1.88), yogurt, cooking oil (I like Crisco's Blend), eggs (the 18-count pack was on a good four-day sale), canned chicken, skim milk, powdered sugar, pads, another Last Jedi bag (this one representing BB-8), and more of those biscuit sandwiches (this time in Cocoa Almond Butter).
Since I was there, I picked my schedule. It's the best I've had in weeks, if not months. More hours, and good ones, with two morning days this time. Having Tuesday and Wednesday off will allow me to get to the Voorhees Library Book Sale, which is starting on Wednesday this year.
Rushed home, put everything away, grabbed the DVDs that needed to be returned to the Oaklyn Library, and rushed back out. The Oaklyn Library was closing at 2, and I got in there at around 1:20. While the librarians cooed over the very cute baby daughter of a regular patron, I took a quick look at the DVDs. Checked out Mission: Impossible 2 and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.
As I road up Atlantic, I discovered that yes, the train bridge was now closed. Turned off to the White Horse Pike and went around it, crossing a now-empty entrance to Nicholson Road. The traffic wasn't too bad at this point, a little busy but nothing out of line with quarter of 2 on a Friday.
Since I was going past it on the White Horse Pike anyway, I stopped at the Legacy Diner for lunch. Their counter was still filled with people getting a slice of cheesecake or a second cup of coffee, but the main room wasn't bad. I had a tasty "Hercules" omelet with feta cheese, tomatoes, spinach, and shaved beef made for gyros, dry hash browns, and whole wheat toast that was charred around the edges while half-listening to The Chew and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
Took the back way out of the Legacy's parking lot and onto Audubon's side roads. Atlantic Avenue goes under the difficult-to-cross King's Highway and right to Barrington. There were a few collectibles stores I wanted to check out there, starting with that movie book and posters store I ran into at the Collingswood Book Festival last week. They were, of course, across the busy Chews Landing Road from where most everything else in town is. I had to park my bike at a rack and hurry over. Turns out that while they were filled to the brim with bric-a-brac, there were far more posters than anything else. I did see a few shelves of books and three boxes of records, but I decided to wait on the Library Book Sale for those and moved on.
I hadn't visited the Barrington Antique Center in ages. This is a barn of a collectibles store that functions as a warehouse for many small, local antique sellers. Along with the usual piles of records, vintage magazines, clothes, books, and toys, there were tons of vintage holiday items on display, from delicate 50's and 60's-era ornaments to giant plastic snowmen and witches.
Along with the usual array of Fisher Price toys and older cookbooks and magazines, I found several American Girls. A naked Kirsten and Kit lay in a pile in one room with a dressed Samantha and Addy. I think the doll was Kit, anyway. At any rate, she was a recent doll. Her pale blond hair was silky and smooth, but chopped unevenly. Kirsten's dark-blond hair actually looked rather cute shoulder-length and was less uneven than Kit's. However, it was also very dry, and she had wobbly legs. It's likely she's one of the older Pleasant Company dolls.
Unfortunately, at 48 dollars each, they were still too expensive for me to consider, especially with the hair cuts. I may go back and get Kirsten in a few months if I have the money and she's still there. Ended up getting some cute vintage Halloween cardboard decorations for a dollar each instead.
Took the same way home that I did going to Barrington, stopping at the WaWa on the White Horse Pike for a French Vanilla Cappuccino and a White Chocolate Reeces Pumpkin for brief snack. It was a little more difficult this time. Rush hour was in full swing by the time I started back. I turned off to Oaklyn as soon as I could to dodge the traffic.
Went into writing shortly after I got in. Though Luke appreciates winning the contest and earning the money for the Cottages, what he really wants is to bring Vader home. He follows him to Palpatine's yacht at Brentwood Marina, where one of the Imperials turns him in. The young surfer tries to convince his older sibling that he can change. Vader says he's too much under his boss' thumb...but privately, he's making his own plans...
Finished the night with Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them during my shrimp and ratatouille dinner. Newt Scarmander (Eddie Redmayne) is wizard who specializes in the study of magical creatures. He arrives in New York in 1926 on his way to Arizona in the hopes of writing a book on magic animals and proving that they aren't dangerous if you know how to handle them. While listening to an anti-magic crusader (Samantha Morton) talk about how terrible wizards are, one of his critters gets loose. While chasing it into a bank, he accidentally switches his suitcase filled with critters with the case of normal guy Jacob Kowalowski (Dan Fogler). Jacob has no idea what in the case and accidentally releases the animals. Newt and Jacob pair off with determined government worker (Katherine Waterson) and her Bohemian sister (Alison Sudol) to find all the animals, before the nasty Director of Magical Security (Colin Farrell) can get his hands on it. But there's something even darker lurking in the tenements of the Big Apple...and it may take all of Newt's knowledge and abilities to handle it.
Oooh, I really loved this, more than the regular Harry Potter series in some ways. First of all, the basic plot of four characters chasing magical creatures across New York is far more creative and mature than hijinks at a middle/high school. Second, the period detail here was amazing, right down to the digital recreations of the Big Apple in the Roaring 20's. The movie was deservedly Oscar-nominated for production design and won for the spot-on costuming. J.K Rowling's first shot at a screenplay wasn't bad, either. I loved learning more about how different the wizard world was in the US than in England.
My favorite character actually ended up being the sweet, befuddled Jacob. Poor guy was an ordinary slob who just wanted to bake pastries and get out of bad job. For all that, and considering he's the one who caused the trouble in the first place, he actually handled the whole magic thing pretty well. Fogler gave him the right note of wide-eyed confusion. Wish the villains had been handled as well. Farrell was a tad bland as the head bad guy.
This will mean more if you're a Harry Potter fan, but even if you're not, it still works very well as a stand-alone story. If you love period fantasy or tales of the mid-20th century, you'll find a lot to enjoy here.
And after it was cloudy, windy, and humid all day, it did finally rain tonight. We may be getting a little more this weekend, then it's supposed to clear out and cool off even more. We'll see what happens.
Life is a lazy river - no matter where you are. Movies, musicals, mysteries, pop culture, and lots of other great stuff.
Showing posts with label Harry Potter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Harry Potter. Show all posts
Friday, October 13, 2017
Thursday, April 06, 2017
April Showers Bring Thunder Storms
It was merely gray, damp, and cool when I climbed out of bed this morning. Began The Cat In the Hat Knows a Lot About Space as I ate corn meal mush and mandarin oranges for breakfast. The third hour-long Cat In the Hat special begins with Nick and Sally exploring their backyard. They find the Cat and a strange mechanical dog. The dog leads them to a space station, where their friend Astronaut Audrey is about to send him on a mission to photograph all of the planets in the solar system. The Cat and his protoges follow along, first to release him from being tangled in space junk, and then to return the collar that allows Audrey to keep track of him. As they move along, they learn more about the planets, asteroids, comets, gravity, and why Earth is the only planet (that we know of at press time) that's able to support life.
Dad picked me up at quarter of 10. It was still just misting at that point. I only got slightly damp doing the carts for the first hour. We were steady up through the noon rush hour. Otherwise, it wasn't really that bad. I cleaned the bathrooms, gathered baskets, and did the trash.
The thunderstorms didn't start until around 1:30, when I was back outside helping one of the baggers with the remains of the rush hour carts. I had just unlocked a cart that had been abandoned on the edge of the grassy merdian on Nicholson Road when it started raining. Unlike the misty morning showers, these drops were big and cold and coming down hard. I just made it to the patio as it really started pouring. Thunder blared; lightning flashed. I saw one especially big and bright bolt hit down by I believe West Collingswood. It slowed in time for me to gather a few carts, then started raining even heavier (without the pyrotechnics this time). I finally gave up around quarter of 3 and went inside.
The rain cleared out our customers. I spent the remaining hour bagging the few that ventured through the monsoon and going in for two cashiers' breaks. It was so quiet, I was able to get off slightly early and change fast before Dad picked me up in his new station wagon.
By the time I was watching Law & Order re-runs with Dad and Jodie at their house, the rain was long gone. In fact, it had become a rather nice late afternoon, very windy but sunny. Dad let me order the tickets to visit Lauren in July on his Apple laptop. I asked for the tickets this year instead of a large gift, since there really isn't anything else big that I need at the moment. We also ordered socks, which I need badly.
Inspired by a recent trip to the Amish markets in Pennsylvania, Jodie made stuffed peppers for dinner. I had a whole one, and Jodie and Dad split another. We had Caesar salad along with it for more greens. Oh yuuumm. It was so delicious, filled to the brim with ground beef, tangy tomato sauce, and rice. I loved it and ate the whole thing pretty fast. Dad let me have some of his Citrus Fruit Candy, ordered from Florida, for dessert.
The weather was so gorgeous by 5:30, I walked home. If it wasn't for the massive puddles and the gale-force wind, you'd never know there had been a thunderstorm. All the recent rain and snow has done wonders for the spring flora. The grass is a shade of green rare emeralds can't reproduce; the flowers glow like jewels. I could hear children happily playing in their backyards, while adults chatted on porches or cleaned out their cars.
Worked on a little bit of writing after I got in. Luke, Han (in their Golden Eagle and Crimson Hawk guises), Charles, and Leia find themselves in the hallway across from where the Falcon is tethered. Leia's not impressed by the weathered vehicle and its heavily patched balloon made from several old quilts. They don't have much of a chance to inspect it before they're attacked by several of Vader's men...
Broke around 7 to finish The Cat and the Hat and start Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2. We begin right where we left off, with Harry, Hermoine, and Ron searching for the remaining Horocruxes. They head to Gringots with a goblin (Warwick Davis) who knows where one is hidden and will give it to him, in exchange for the Sword they found in the last part. They just barely manage to fly out on a dragon when the goblin turns on them. With the help of Dumbledore's estranged brother (Ciaran Hinds) and their friend Neville Longbottom (Matthew Lewis), they make it back into Hogwarts. It's now under the rule of grouchy Snape (Alan Rickman), who demands that the kids turn Harry in. Not only do they refuse, but Ms. McGonagall (Maggie Smith), a fellow teacher, challenges him to a duel. Harry finally rallies the kids and teachers to take on Voldemort and his minions, while he and his friends continue to search for the last horocrux...and discover that everyone has a bit of magic and a bit of bravery in their hearts.
That was quite a finish! Definitely enjoyed the action-packed Deathly Hallows films in general more than the rather dull Half-Blood Prince. The special effects had improved, the continuity is impressive, and some of the duels are downright amazing. (Special mention to Julie Walters as Molly Weasley, the ultimate cool mom, and Lewis as brave and loyal Neville.) The complaints are minor, mainly that the finale seems like a bit of an anti-climax after all that came before it, and we could have used more of some characters and less of others.
(Incidentally, now that I've seen all of them, I can say that my favorite was probably Order of the Phoenix, followed by Prisoner of Azebekstan and the Deathly Hallows duo. Favorite characters? Hermoine and Mrs. Weasley, no contest.)
Obviously, it's a requirement that you see Half-Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows Part 1 or at least read the books before seeing this. If you're already a fan of this series, this is a wonderful way for the Boy Who Lived to end his adventures.
Dad picked me up at quarter of 10. It was still just misting at that point. I only got slightly damp doing the carts for the first hour. We were steady up through the noon rush hour. Otherwise, it wasn't really that bad. I cleaned the bathrooms, gathered baskets, and did the trash.
The thunderstorms didn't start until around 1:30, when I was back outside helping one of the baggers with the remains of the rush hour carts. I had just unlocked a cart that had been abandoned on the edge of the grassy merdian on Nicholson Road when it started raining. Unlike the misty morning showers, these drops were big and cold and coming down hard. I just made it to the patio as it really started pouring. Thunder blared; lightning flashed. I saw one especially big and bright bolt hit down by I believe West Collingswood. It slowed in time for me to gather a few carts, then started raining even heavier (without the pyrotechnics this time). I finally gave up around quarter of 3 and went inside.
The rain cleared out our customers. I spent the remaining hour bagging the few that ventured through the monsoon and going in for two cashiers' breaks. It was so quiet, I was able to get off slightly early and change fast before Dad picked me up in his new station wagon.
By the time I was watching Law & Order re-runs with Dad and Jodie at their house, the rain was long gone. In fact, it had become a rather nice late afternoon, very windy but sunny. Dad let me order the tickets to visit Lauren in July on his Apple laptop. I asked for the tickets this year instead of a large gift, since there really isn't anything else big that I need at the moment. We also ordered socks, which I need badly.
Inspired by a recent trip to the Amish markets in Pennsylvania, Jodie made stuffed peppers for dinner. I had a whole one, and Jodie and Dad split another. We had Caesar salad along with it for more greens. Oh yuuumm. It was so delicious, filled to the brim with ground beef, tangy tomato sauce, and rice. I loved it and ate the whole thing pretty fast. Dad let me have some of his Citrus Fruit Candy, ordered from Florida, for dessert.
The weather was so gorgeous by 5:30, I walked home. If it wasn't for the massive puddles and the gale-force wind, you'd never know there had been a thunderstorm. All the recent rain and snow has done wonders for the spring flora. The grass is a shade of green rare emeralds can't reproduce; the flowers glow like jewels. I could hear children happily playing in their backyards, while adults chatted on porches or cleaned out their cars.
Worked on a little bit of writing after I got in. Luke, Han (in their Golden Eagle and Crimson Hawk guises), Charles, and Leia find themselves in the hallway across from where the Falcon is tethered. Leia's not impressed by the weathered vehicle and its heavily patched balloon made from several old quilts. They don't have much of a chance to inspect it before they're attacked by several of Vader's men...
Broke around 7 to finish The Cat and the Hat and start Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2. We begin right where we left off, with Harry, Hermoine, and Ron searching for the remaining Horocruxes. They head to Gringots with a goblin (Warwick Davis) who knows where one is hidden and will give it to him, in exchange for the Sword they found in the last part. They just barely manage to fly out on a dragon when the goblin turns on them. With the help of Dumbledore's estranged brother (Ciaran Hinds) and their friend Neville Longbottom (Matthew Lewis), they make it back into Hogwarts. It's now under the rule of grouchy Snape (Alan Rickman), who demands that the kids turn Harry in. Not only do they refuse, but Ms. McGonagall (Maggie Smith), a fellow teacher, challenges him to a duel. Harry finally rallies the kids and teachers to take on Voldemort and his minions, while he and his friends continue to search for the last horocrux...and discover that everyone has a bit of magic and a bit of bravery in their hearts.
That was quite a finish! Definitely enjoyed the action-packed Deathly Hallows films in general more than the rather dull Half-Blood Prince. The special effects had improved, the continuity is impressive, and some of the duels are downright amazing. (Special mention to Julie Walters as Molly Weasley, the ultimate cool mom, and Lewis as brave and loyal Neville.) The complaints are minor, mainly that the finale seems like a bit of an anti-climax after all that came before it, and we could have used more of some characters and less of others.
(Incidentally, now that I've seen all of them, I can say that my favorite was probably Order of the Phoenix, followed by Prisoner of Azebekstan and the Deathly Hallows duo. Favorite characters? Hermoine and Mrs. Weasley, no contest.)
Obviously, it's a requirement that you see Half-Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows Part 1 or at least read the books before seeing this. If you're already a fan of this series, this is a wonderful way for the Boy Who Lived to end his adventures.
Wednesday, April 05, 2017
It's Lovely Day Today
Had my first of two early work sessions this morning. It wasn't bad when I got in, possibly because the weather was absolutely gorgeous. Even at 9 in the morning, it was in the 60's, sunny, and breezy. I did the carts for about 40 minutes when I got in, then spent the rest of the time doing returns. The noon rush hour was a pain, though. It got really crazy, to the point where I ended up stuck in a register for a while. When I tried to tell the manager that the carts were getting low, even with another bagger outside, she wouldn't listen to me and told me to do trash instead. She did listen to the head manager. I spent the last hour helping the other bagger with the carts and organizing the newly-arrived potted pansies with the floral department manager.
I couldn't get out of there fast enough. Since it was such a nice day (and it's not supposed to be nice tomorrow), I figured I'd take the long way home down Nicholson. They were a little busy by the Wal Mart entrance and the senior center. Otherwise, most people were probably at work or on their way home or to the shopping center.
First thing on the agenda when I got home, after I changed into a blouse and the first pair of shorts I'd worn since last fall, was to clear out nearly half of the Ever After High dolls. I really overdid (and overspent on) that particular collection. There's one more doll I want. After that, unless it's truly unique, I'm not buying it. I'm tired of cleaning under and around dolls. I kept Cerise, Ashlynn, Hunter, the O'Hair twins, Jillian, Darling, Cedar, Maddie, Mira/The Evil Queen, Justine, Rosabella, and C.A Cupid. (Cupid was put away to be used as a Valentine's Day decoration.) The remaining dolls and their accessories and stories will be donated to the kids at Studio Luloo.
I'm also going to donate some of the remaining smaller WebKinz I have. I'm keeping Bernice the Brown Bear, Westbrook the Eagle, any Webkinz used as season decor, and the unique dragons, unicorn, and "Doodle" sparkly winged creatures. The Han, Leia, and Lando dolls replaced the Webkinz on the Beanie Baby shelves.
It was so nice, I decided to head out for a short walk in Veteran's Memorial Park next-door after I finished with the dolls. I haven't had a nice stroll over there in ages. The day was even lovelier by 3:30. A breeze barely ruffled the bottle-green creek. Most of the trees in the park haven't quite started sprouting leaves yet, but some of the bushes and shrubs are already looking green. I could no longer stroll into the garden to see how it was coming. Heavy wrought-iron fencing, not unlike the fences Charlie uses to keep his dogs in the yard, now surrounded the land. Lights along the path and black metal picnic tables and benches were more welcome additions. I plopped at a picnic table near the edge of the peninsula and basked in the warm sunlight.
Worked on writing for a few hours when I got in. Leia manages to get the boys out of a firefight by using their unique, light-shooting guns to blast open a stairwell. She leads them into a room filled with bags of garbage. Thankfully, they find a dumbwaiter-like tunnel that allows them to crawl out rather than a monster.
Called Dad and Jodie after I broke for dinner. First of all, I wanted to ask for a ride to work tomorrow in advance. It's supposed to pour all day. Second, I wanted to tell them Lauren and I are hoping to go on vacation in Pittsfield from July 15th through the 22nd. I thought traveling on Saturday would be a lot easier than doing it on Sunday or Monday. I'm going to go home with them after work tomorrow to choose the itineraries and have stuffed peppers. (It sounds like they're going to get me Rogue One for my birthday as well.)
Finished the night with scrambled eggs and vegetables for dinner, then working on a crocheting project. Ran Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 while I worked. Harry, Ron, and Hermione are now on the run after the Ministry of Magic is taken over by the evil dark lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes). Dumbledore left them a book, a flashlight-like device, and Harry's golden snitch that he nearly swallowed in his first Quiddich game in the hope that they'll lead them to the Horocruxes, the objects that allow Voldemort to remain immortal. Harry also receives the Sword of Gryffendor house founder Godrich Gryffendor. As the kids flee Voldemort's people and search from the Ministry of Magic to English countryside, to find the objects. But they're not with their teachers anymore, and they have no idea of whom they can trust...including each other.
Action-and-plot-packed beginning of the end for this series. The ending in particular packs a wallop. Between the violence and the many references back as far as Sorcerer's Stone, I absolutely wouldn't come anywhere near these unless you've read and/or seen the rest of this series, at least Order of the Phoenix and Half-Blood Prince.
I couldn't get out of there fast enough. Since it was such a nice day (and it's not supposed to be nice tomorrow), I figured I'd take the long way home down Nicholson. They were a little busy by the Wal Mart entrance and the senior center. Otherwise, most people were probably at work or on their way home or to the shopping center.
First thing on the agenda when I got home, after I changed into a blouse and the first pair of shorts I'd worn since last fall, was to clear out nearly half of the Ever After High dolls. I really overdid (and overspent on) that particular collection. There's one more doll I want. After that, unless it's truly unique, I'm not buying it. I'm tired of cleaning under and around dolls. I kept Cerise, Ashlynn, Hunter, the O'Hair twins, Jillian, Darling, Cedar, Maddie, Mira/The Evil Queen, Justine, Rosabella, and C.A Cupid. (Cupid was put away to be used as a Valentine's Day decoration.) The remaining dolls and their accessories and stories will be donated to the kids at Studio Luloo.
I'm also going to donate some of the remaining smaller WebKinz I have. I'm keeping Bernice the Brown Bear, Westbrook the Eagle, any Webkinz used as season decor, and the unique dragons, unicorn, and "Doodle" sparkly winged creatures. The Han, Leia, and Lando dolls replaced the Webkinz on the Beanie Baby shelves.
It was so nice, I decided to head out for a short walk in Veteran's Memorial Park next-door after I finished with the dolls. I haven't had a nice stroll over there in ages. The day was even lovelier by 3:30. A breeze barely ruffled the bottle-green creek. Most of the trees in the park haven't quite started sprouting leaves yet, but some of the bushes and shrubs are already looking green. I could no longer stroll into the garden to see how it was coming. Heavy wrought-iron fencing, not unlike the fences Charlie uses to keep his dogs in the yard, now surrounded the land. Lights along the path and black metal picnic tables and benches were more welcome additions. I plopped at a picnic table near the edge of the peninsula and basked in the warm sunlight.
Worked on writing for a few hours when I got in. Leia manages to get the boys out of a firefight by using their unique, light-shooting guns to blast open a stairwell. She leads them into a room filled with bags of garbage. Thankfully, they find a dumbwaiter-like tunnel that allows them to crawl out rather than a monster.
Called Dad and Jodie after I broke for dinner. First of all, I wanted to ask for a ride to work tomorrow in advance. It's supposed to pour all day. Second, I wanted to tell them Lauren and I are hoping to go on vacation in Pittsfield from July 15th through the 22nd. I thought traveling on Saturday would be a lot easier than doing it on Sunday or Monday. I'm going to go home with them after work tomorrow to choose the itineraries and have stuffed peppers. (It sounds like they're going to get me Rogue One for my birthday as well.)
Finished the night with scrambled eggs and vegetables for dinner, then working on a crocheting project. Ran Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 while I worked. Harry, Ron, and Hermione are now on the run after the Ministry of Magic is taken over by the evil dark lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes). Dumbledore left them a book, a flashlight-like device, and Harry's golden snitch that he nearly swallowed in his first Quiddich game in the hope that they'll lead them to the Horocruxes, the objects that allow Voldemort to remain immortal. Harry also receives the Sword of Gryffendor house founder Godrich Gryffendor. As the kids flee Voldemort's people and search from the Ministry of Magic to English countryside, to find the objects. But they're not with their teachers anymore, and they have no idea of whom they can trust...including each other.
Action-and-plot-packed beginning of the end for this series. The ending in particular packs a wallop. Between the violence and the many references back as far as Sorcerer's Stone, I absolutely wouldn't come anywhere near these unless you've read and/or seen the rest of this series, at least Order of the Phoenix and Half-Blood Prince.
Friday, March 24, 2017
A Very Busy Spring
Started off a cloudy day with another Rankin-Bass Easter special. Here Comes Peter Cottontail was also the first of three spring specials they did, and may be the best-remembered today. Peter (Casey Kasem) is in line to become the new Easter Bunny, but he loses the job to nasty Irontail (Vincent Price) when he oversleeps and never delivers any eggs. With the help of peddler Seymour S. Sassafras (Danny Kaye), he goes back in time to try to hand out eggs. Irontail follows him, determined to remain chief Easter bunny.
Made my bed after eating breakfast, while the special was on. The blankets have a habit of sliding off during the night in the winter, probably because I usually sleep under three or four of them. I suspect that trying to organize them during the night may be part of of the "noise" people are complaining about.
Did a quick cartoon while getting organized for errands. Oswald the Lucky Rabbit is enjoying a "Springtime Serenade" in a rare Universal color short. A grouchy groundhog is determined to spoil their fun with a snowy weather report. The other animals, including Oswald, don't listen...until the snow arrives and they wonder if he might be right.
Headed to the Acme around 11 to do this week's grocery shopping. Didn't really need a huge order. I've been eating out of the refrigerator all week. Mainly did some restocking - canned chicken, brown sugar, cereal (Kellogg's was on sale - went with basic Cheerios), crushed pineapple, olive oil, pads (needed those badly - I had one left), chocolate cake mix, bananas, eggs, skim milk. Found a $1.99 bag of small oranges to go with breakfast. Bought Italian chicken sausage with a manager's coupon for dinner tonight.
To my annoyance, when I got home, I discovered I had crunched one of the eggs. Most of the food in the bag seemed to be fine, but the container itself and the bottom of the bag were a soppy mess. I cut the bad part of the egg container off, then moved most of the eggs to the previous container that had two eggs left.
Did another Good Eats episode while I cleaned and got ready for more errands. Alton shows how "Milk Made" food can be downright tasty with a yummy-looking recipe for Tres Leche Cake that I may try. I'm less interested in Dulche Du Leche. I'm not a fan of caramel, and I've never been good with candy. May attempt making my own cottage cheese from skim milk sometime, though.
First stop after I went back out was a new restaurant down the street and around the corner on West Clinton Avenue. The Square Meal replaced the departed Viola's International Deli a few weeks ago. Sort of the same idea, but this time, the emphasis is on wholesome, hearty, local food that's good and good for you. I had a Roast Chicken Sandwich with cheddar and greens. The roast chicken was real sliced chicken, just over-seasoned deli chicken or bagged strips. It was on a thick, crusty Ciabatta roll and washed down with free lemon water in mason jars. Yum. Huge, filling, and tasty.
Rode across Newton River Park on my way to Westmont. By this point, the clouds were vanishing, and the sun was coming out. Despite the improving day, Newton River Park was relatively quiet. I only saw two people strolling by and a lot of Canadian geese looking for a late lunch. People were missing out. Spring is just starting to emerge. Bright green tufts of grass are poking their way through the yellow patches. Dandelions and buttercups have begun to sprout along the riverbanks.
The Haddon Township Library wasn't quite as busy as last week, as revealed in a full but not overwhelming return cart. I settled for organizing DVDs and shelving audio books and the few new returns that had come back in. Thought I'd leave the DVDs for the kids after school.
I've heard a lot about the BBC modern TV version of Sherlock Holmes with Benedict Cumberbatch as the famous detective and Martin Freeman as Watson, but I'd never seen it. Haddon Township had Series Three and a TV movie that put the two back in the series' original late 19th Century setting. Also took out Star Trek Beyond, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and a recent retelling of Anne of Green Gables with Martin Sheen as Matthew.
Also grabbed two books this week. I've enjoyed the East of the Sun, West of the Moon story I'm reading so much, I found a book retelling The Twelve Dancing Princesses by the same author, Princess of the Midnight Ball. Mom recommended the BBC series Miss Fisher's Mysteries to me when I called her earlier this week, and I know Linda Young likes that show too, but neither library has it. I thought I'd try the books instead, starting with Blood and Circuses.
To my surprise, Cabana's Water Ice was open on the corner of Cuthbert and the White Horse Pike. It does seem to be a bit early - Phillies Yummies probably won't open for another couple of weeks - but I was thirsty and grateful. I wasn't the only one. Two gaggles of girls and a mother with her kids on the way home from school joined me as I ordered a small orange cream water ice. Too sweet, but at least it did taste something like orange.
Made a short stop at Studio LuLoo next. Though Sarah was out of town doing another project, Roxy and another volunteer were helping kids with more crafts. I cut out stars from silvery cardboard while the little girls turned paper coffee cups into different but equally nifty starts. I helped them paint the inside of the cups gold to hang up for a "shine"-themed party.
Worked on writing for a few hours when I got home. Leia and the droids try hiding from Vader as they flee. As they're attempting to avoid him, two of his men reveal that guests have been robbed and the Wookie native slaves who were working in the cargo hold and boiler room were freed. The Crimson Hawk appears in a puff of smoke...then reappears outside to tell the citizens of Naboo that he'll continue to fight for truth, justice, and the Jedi way.
Leia's wonder just what's going on here. The Crimson Hawk is familiar...but it's not the same Crimson Hawk she saw at the ball. He's shorter and far more slender than the one who kissed her. She and the servants head down the hall to solve at least some of those mysteries.
Broke for Italian sausage with sauteed mushrooms and scallions and steamed green beans for dinner around 7. Ran Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince while I ate. Events are heating up at Hogwarts following the fight in the finale of the previous film. Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) has hired former Potions teacher Horace Slugworth (Jim Broadbent) back when Snape (Alan Rickman) finally gets the Defense of the Dark Arts job he's wanted for years. As it turns out, Dumbledore has his reasons for wanting Slugworth at Hogwarts. His memory has a crucial piece of information that he wants Harry (Daniel Ratcliffe) to retrieve. Harry's not so sure this is a great idea. He's having his own problems with his long-time nemesis Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton), whom he believes has joined the Death Eaters, the evil jailers first seen in Prisoner of Azbekstan. Meanwhile, Hermione (Emma Watson) is having a hard time getting Ron (Rupert Grint) to see how she feels about him, especially after he's given a love potion by a fellow student and starts drooling all over her.
Slower-moving and less action-packed than the previous film...until the sad and touching finale that features the death of a beloved character at another character's hand. (What, you think Star Wars is the only franchise to do stuff like that?) Once again, you really need to know at least the last two or three books and/or films to understand what goes on here. If you've at least seen Order of the Phoenix or read the books, proceed right to this one.
Made my bed after eating breakfast, while the special was on. The blankets have a habit of sliding off during the night in the winter, probably because I usually sleep under three or four of them. I suspect that trying to organize them during the night may be part of of the "noise" people are complaining about.
Did a quick cartoon while getting organized for errands. Oswald the Lucky Rabbit is enjoying a "Springtime Serenade" in a rare Universal color short. A grouchy groundhog is determined to spoil their fun with a snowy weather report. The other animals, including Oswald, don't listen...until the snow arrives and they wonder if he might be right.
Headed to the Acme around 11 to do this week's grocery shopping. Didn't really need a huge order. I've been eating out of the refrigerator all week. Mainly did some restocking - canned chicken, brown sugar, cereal (Kellogg's was on sale - went with basic Cheerios), crushed pineapple, olive oil, pads (needed those badly - I had one left), chocolate cake mix, bananas, eggs, skim milk. Found a $1.99 bag of small oranges to go with breakfast. Bought Italian chicken sausage with a manager's coupon for dinner tonight.
To my annoyance, when I got home, I discovered I had crunched one of the eggs. Most of the food in the bag seemed to be fine, but the container itself and the bottom of the bag were a soppy mess. I cut the bad part of the egg container off, then moved most of the eggs to the previous container that had two eggs left.
Did another Good Eats episode while I cleaned and got ready for more errands. Alton shows how "Milk Made" food can be downright tasty with a yummy-looking recipe for Tres Leche Cake that I may try. I'm less interested in Dulche Du Leche. I'm not a fan of caramel, and I've never been good with candy. May attempt making my own cottage cheese from skim milk sometime, though.
First stop after I went back out was a new restaurant down the street and around the corner on West Clinton Avenue. The Square Meal replaced the departed Viola's International Deli a few weeks ago. Sort of the same idea, but this time, the emphasis is on wholesome, hearty, local food that's good and good for you. I had a Roast Chicken Sandwich with cheddar and greens. The roast chicken was real sliced chicken, just over-seasoned deli chicken or bagged strips. It was on a thick, crusty Ciabatta roll and washed down with free lemon water in mason jars. Yum. Huge, filling, and tasty.
Rode across Newton River Park on my way to Westmont. By this point, the clouds were vanishing, and the sun was coming out. Despite the improving day, Newton River Park was relatively quiet. I only saw two people strolling by and a lot of Canadian geese looking for a late lunch. People were missing out. Spring is just starting to emerge. Bright green tufts of grass are poking their way through the yellow patches. Dandelions and buttercups have begun to sprout along the riverbanks.
The Haddon Township Library wasn't quite as busy as last week, as revealed in a full but not overwhelming return cart. I settled for organizing DVDs and shelving audio books and the few new returns that had come back in. Thought I'd leave the DVDs for the kids after school.
I've heard a lot about the BBC modern TV version of Sherlock Holmes with Benedict Cumberbatch as the famous detective and Martin Freeman as Watson, but I'd never seen it. Haddon Township had Series Three and a TV movie that put the two back in the series' original late 19th Century setting. Also took out Star Trek Beyond, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and a recent retelling of Anne of Green Gables with Martin Sheen as Matthew.
Also grabbed two books this week. I've enjoyed the East of the Sun, West of the Moon story I'm reading so much, I found a book retelling The Twelve Dancing Princesses by the same author, Princess of the Midnight Ball. Mom recommended the BBC series Miss Fisher's Mysteries to me when I called her earlier this week, and I know Linda Young likes that show too, but neither library has it. I thought I'd try the books instead, starting with Blood and Circuses.
To my surprise, Cabana's Water Ice was open on the corner of Cuthbert and the White Horse Pike. It does seem to be a bit early - Phillies Yummies probably won't open for another couple of weeks - but I was thirsty and grateful. I wasn't the only one. Two gaggles of girls and a mother with her kids on the way home from school joined me as I ordered a small orange cream water ice. Too sweet, but at least it did taste something like orange.
Made a short stop at Studio LuLoo next. Though Sarah was out of town doing another project, Roxy and another volunteer were helping kids with more crafts. I cut out stars from silvery cardboard while the little girls turned paper coffee cups into different but equally nifty starts. I helped them paint the inside of the cups gold to hang up for a "shine"-themed party.
Worked on writing for a few hours when I got home. Leia and the droids try hiding from Vader as they flee. As they're attempting to avoid him, two of his men reveal that guests have been robbed and the Wookie native slaves who were working in the cargo hold and boiler room were freed. The Crimson Hawk appears in a puff of smoke...then reappears outside to tell the citizens of Naboo that he'll continue to fight for truth, justice, and the Jedi way.
Leia's wonder just what's going on here. The Crimson Hawk is familiar...but it's not the same Crimson Hawk she saw at the ball. He's shorter and far more slender than the one who kissed her. She and the servants head down the hall to solve at least some of those mysteries.
Broke for Italian sausage with sauteed mushrooms and scallions and steamed green beans for dinner around 7. Ran Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince while I ate. Events are heating up at Hogwarts following the fight in the finale of the previous film. Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) has hired former Potions teacher Horace Slugworth (Jim Broadbent) back when Snape (Alan Rickman) finally gets the Defense of the Dark Arts job he's wanted for years. As it turns out, Dumbledore has his reasons for wanting Slugworth at Hogwarts. His memory has a crucial piece of information that he wants Harry (Daniel Ratcliffe) to retrieve. Harry's not so sure this is a great idea. He's having his own problems with his long-time nemesis Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton), whom he believes has joined the Death Eaters, the evil jailers first seen in Prisoner of Azbekstan. Meanwhile, Hermione (Emma Watson) is having a hard time getting Ron (Rupert Grint) to see how she feels about him, especially after he's given a love potion by a fellow student and starts drooling all over her.
Slower-moving and less action-packed than the previous film...until the sad and touching finale that features the death of a beloved character at another character's hand. (What, you think Star Wars is the only franchise to do stuff like that?) Once again, you really need to know at least the last two or three books and/or films to understand what goes on here. If you've at least seen Order of the Phoenix or read the books, proceed right to this one.
Friday, January 20, 2017
Magic In the Rain
It was raining when I awoke this morning...and that rain would continue in some capacity for most of the day. I cheered myself up with more Bowery Boys while I made the bed and did a few small chores around the apartment. Jungle Gents is one of the goofy mid-50's movies with Sach and Slip. Here, a larger-than-usual sinus pill somehow gives Sach the ability to smell diamonds. Slip senses an opportunity when a man offers to take them to a fabulous diamond mind in Africa. Things don't go well from there. Sach loses the map, they have a run-in with a lion and a hostile tribe, and there some members of their group are plotting sabotage. Meanwhile, Sach is more thrilled with the jungle maiden who has fallen in love with him.
Headed out to run a few errands around 12:30. The rain and the inauguration must have scared off most folks. The librarian was the only person at the Oaklyn Library the entire time I was there besides me. She didn't even have the TV on. I organized DVDs, shelved kids' books, and moved on.
Oh, and I took out a few movies. While the Oaklyn Library doesn't have the selection of indies and British movies that Haddon Township does, they not only get more new releases, they get them faster and usually have them around longer. I took out Captain America: Civil War and last year's all-female Ghostbusters, neither of which have turned up at Haddon Township yet. They also have the first Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, which I haven't seen in years. (For some reason, Haddon Township has every Harry Potter movie but the first one.) Grabbed a Star Wars reference book as well.
Had a quick lunch at Phillies Phatties while I figured out my next move. I wanted to go to the grocery store, but not only was it coming down a bit harder, but the zipper had broken off my green L.L Bean jacket. Ordered my usual slice of mushroom and slice of cheese pizza with a can of Mountain Dew Pitch Black. The inauguration was just ending on PBS as I arrived. I heard part of it at home. I don't have cable and didn't technically watch it, but Charlie had it turned up so damn loud, they probably heard it half-way across Oaklyn.
The rain was not abating. I finally gave up and just headed home. Finished an episode of Get Smart I started before I left while I got organized. I ran "Run, Robot, Run" from the third season in honor of Dick Gautier, aka Hymie the Robot, who just recently passed away. Hymie is recruited to replace the "Free World" team in a major track meet when CHAOS drugs all the regular athletes.
Spent the rest of the evening writing. Han can't dance and keeps stepping on Leia's feet, but that doesn't matter to either of them. Han's happy to be there, with a girl who doesn't see him as a servant. Leia's happy to have met a man who doesn't see her as a prize. She even introduces him to her parents and her Aunt Ashoka. Han, in turn, introduces her to Lando. Jabba tries to interfere, but Ashoka and Obi-Wan head him off.
Han and Leia are kissing on a moonlit balcony when the clock tower strikes midnight. To Leia's surprise, Han leaps over the balcony railing and takes off, vanishing into the night. Unlike the original story, Obi-Wan does know where he lives. He promises to take the twins there the next morning. For one thing, Leia still has Han's navy jacket, the only clue he left behind to his real identity. He draped it on her shoulders when she got cold and forgot to take it with him.
Moved to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone while eating fish cakes and leftover green beans for dinner, and later while making Chocolate Chip Muffins. (Which I forgot the eggs for.) Harry Potter (Daniel Ratcliffe) is a fairly normal kid, living with his resentful and unloving aunt, uncle, and cousin...until one day, he gets a letter, and then another. It seems he's a wizard, the last remaining member of a beloved wizard family. Hagrid, a friendly giant (Robbie Coultrane), takes Harry to Hogwarts, a school of magic where young wizards train for their futures. Harry and his new friends Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) inadvertently stumble onto a mystery when they find a huge three-headed dog guarding something major on the forbidden third floor. The trio have to navigate through the mystery...and figure out their first year at Hogwarts...before they find themselves in major trouble.
On one hand, it's the details that's the thing here. Harry's colorful world, even while not being as detailed as the books, still stands out with little things like the floating candles or Ron's wizard chess. The kids had great chemistry from the get-go, and they're working with an outstanding cast of British character actors. Richard Harris is beloved old headmaster Dumbledore. Maggie Smith and Alan Rickman are among the professors.
However, this is not one of the series' better entries. The CGI hasn't dated well in spots (especially in the troll sequence), and the story had plot hole problems, even in the book. Those of you who are new to the series will want to see it anyway. This is one series you really have to watch in progression to understand anything about what's going on...but rest assured, it does get better later, as the kids get older and the stories become more complex.
Ended the night with The Naked Gun. Having enjoyed Airplane! the other day, I decided to hit the other half of the 80's and stick with the Zucker Brothers. Nielson is back, this time playing cop Lieutenant Frank Drebin. Drebin returns from a major case to discover that his partner (O.J Simpson) was brutally assaulted while checking out a major narcotics ring. Meanwhile, the mayor would prefer Drebin devoted his time to the visit of Queen Elizabeth to LA. Drebin finds himself falling in love with the secretary (Priscilla Prestley) of an industrialist (Ricardo Montalban) who may have connections with both the drug ring and a plot to eliminate the queen at a California Angels game.
A hilarious parody of cop movies and thrillers. My favorite sequence is at the ball game. You've never lived until you've heard Leslie Nielson (try to) sing. If you love spoofs, Nielson, or the Zuckers' joke-a-minute style, this one is a no-brainer. (And the two sequels, both of which I have, aren't bad either.)
(And the rain did finally end...around 5:30, too late for me to go anywhere else. I'll have to hold off on grocery shopping until tomorrow after work.)
Headed out to run a few errands around 12:30. The rain and the inauguration must have scared off most folks. The librarian was the only person at the Oaklyn Library the entire time I was there besides me. She didn't even have the TV on. I organized DVDs, shelved kids' books, and moved on.
Oh, and I took out a few movies. While the Oaklyn Library doesn't have the selection of indies and British movies that Haddon Township does, they not only get more new releases, they get them faster and usually have them around longer. I took out Captain America: Civil War and last year's all-female Ghostbusters, neither of which have turned up at Haddon Township yet. They also have the first Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, which I haven't seen in years. (For some reason, Haddon Township has every Harry Potter movie but the first one.) Grabbed a Star Wars reference book as well.
Had a quick lunch at Phillies Phatties while I figured out my next move. I wanted to go to the grocery store, but not only was it coming down a bit harder, but the zipper had broken off my green L.L Bean jacket. Ordered my usual slice of mushroom and slice of cheese pizza with a can of Mountain Dew Pitch Black. The inauguration was just ending on PBS as I arrived. I heard part of it at home. I don't have cable and didn't technically watch it, but Charlie had it turned up so damn loud, they probably heard it half-way across Oaklyn.
The rain was not abating. I finally gave up and just headed home. Finished an episode of Get Smart I started before I left while I got organized. I ran "Run, Robot, Run" from the third season in honor of Dick Gautier, aka Hymie the Robot, who just recently passed away. Hymie is recruited to replace the "Free World" team in a major track meet when CHAOS drugs all the regular athletes.
Spent the rest of the evening writing. Han can't dance and keeps stepping on Leia's feet, but that doesn't matter to either of them. Han's happy to be there, with a girl who doesn't see him as a servant. Leia's happy to have met a man who doesn't see her as a prize. She even introduces him to her parents and her Aunt Ashoka. Han, in turn, introduces her to Lando. Jabba tries to interfere, but Ashoka and Obi-Wan head him off.
Han and Leia are kissing on a moonlit balcony when the clock tower strikes midnight. To Leia's surprise, Han leaps over the balcony railing and takes off, vanishing into the night. Unlike the original story, Obi-Wan does know where he lives. He promises to take the twins there the next morning. For one thing, Leia still has Han's navy jacket, the only clue he left behind to his real identity. He draped it on her shoulders when she got cold and forgot to take it with him.
Moved to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone while eating fish cakes and leftover green beans for dinner, and later while making Chocolate Chip Muffins. (Which I forgot the eggs for.) Harry Potter (Daniel Ratcliffe) is a fairly normal kid, living with his resentful and unloving aunt, uncle, and cousin...until one day, he gets a letter, and then another. It seems he's a wizard, the last remaining member of a beloved wizard family. Hagrid, a friendly giant (Robbie Coultrane), takes Harry to Hogwarts, a school of magic where young wizards train for their futures. Harry and his new friends Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) inadvertently stumble onto a mystery when they find a huge three-headed dog guarding something major on the forbidden third floor. The trio have to navigate through the mystery...and figure out their first year at Hogwarts...before they find themselves in major trouble.
On one hand, it's the details that's the thing here. Harry's colorful world, even while not being as detailed as the books, still stands out with little things like the floating candles or Ron's wizard chess. The kids had great chemistry from the get-go, and they're working with an outstanding cast of British character actors. Richard Harris is beloved old headmaster Dumbledore. Maggie Smith and Alan Rickman are among the professors.
However, this is not one of the series' better entries. The CGI hasn't dated well in spots (especially in the troll sequence), and the story had plot hole problems, even in the book. Those of you who are new to the series will want to see it anyway. This is one series you really have to watch in progression to understand anything about what's going on...but rest assured, it does get better later, as the kids get older and the stories become more complex.
Ended the night with The Naked Gun. Having enjoyed Airplane! the other day, I decided to hit the other half of the 80's and stick with the Zucker Brothers. Nielson is back, this time playing cop Lieutenant Frank Drebin. Drebin returns from a major case to discover that his partner (O.J Simpson) was brutally assaulted while checking out a major narcotics ring. Meanwhile, the mayor would prefer Drebin devoted his time to the visit of Queen Elizabeth to LA. Drebin finds himself falling in love with the secretary (Priscilla Prestley) of an industrialist (Ricardo Montalban) who may have connections with both the drug ring and a plot to eliminate the queen at a California Angels game.
A hilarious parody of cop movies and thrillers. My favorite sequence is at the ball game. You've never lived until you've heard Leslie Nielson (try to) sing. If you love spoofs, Nielson, or the Zuckers' joke-a-minute style, this one is a no-brainer. (And the two sequels, both of which I have, aren't bad either.)
(And the rain did finally end...around 5:30, too late for me to go anywhere else. I'll have to hold off on grocery shopping until tomorrow after work.)
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