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. 

A Day for Mothers

Started off my morning with the Colliers Junior Classics Harvest of Holidays anthology. Did the material for Arbor Day first, since I forgot to do it last month. "Mr. Plum and the Little Green Tree" is the long piece here, a sweet story about a kindly cobbler who saves the little tree in front of his shop from being chopped down. The other material is all poetry, including the famous "Trees." The long Mother's Day piece is "My Mother Is the Most Beautiful Woman In the World." A little Ukranian girl gets lost in the wheat fields and tells people that her mother is the most beautiful woman in the world when they ask her where she is. People tease her when she does find her plump, genial mother, but her mom knows that her daughter can see with her heart.

Called my own mother even before I had breakfast. Mom herself seemed to be in a pretty decent mood. She's been walking into Yorktown, a small tourist enclave that, as fans of Hamilton know, was where Cornwallis surrendered to end the Revolutionary War. Mom says it's expensive but attractive and a nice walk. They're not far from Williamsburg, too. She's more concerned about my brother Keefe and his wife Julia. Keefe just had surgery on his eyes. One came out just fine. They're waiting to see how the other will be. They're also having difficulty with their older daughter Aurora, who may have special needs and need more help.

I told Mom about my own long week. She was really understanding about all the trouble I had, especially with Jessa and with getting loans. She's having a hard time buying a home down in Virginia, too. Apparently, they're one of the more expensive southern states. 

After I got off with her, I put on Miss Peggy Lee Sings the Songs of Cy Coleman while eating breakfast. Coleman's known for his songs from Broadway shows nowadays, like "Hey Look Me Over" from Wildcat, "I've Got Your Number" from Little Me, and "Big Spender" from Sweet Charity. What's not as well-remembered as that he also wrote pop songs with no stage connections. The best-known is probably the hit "The Best Is Yet To Come," which is usually associated nowadays with Frank Sinatra. Lee wrote three songs with Coleman she performs here, "I'm In Love Again," "That's My Style," and "Then Is Then (And Now Is Now)." "When In Rome, Do as the Romans Do" was written for Little Me but not used. "Pass Me By" is from the romantic comedy Father Goose.

Headed off to work after the record ended and got there on time for once. Good thing, too. As one of my co-workers pointed out, the Acme was a zoo for the entire afternoon. Everyone wanted flowers for Mom and to make her a big dinner. Thank heavens I spent the entire afternoon outside. There was plenty of help. The morning bagger was there when I arrived, the evening bagger when I left. They handled the trash and the inside chores. I just pushed carts, enjoying the sun this morning, then the clouds and occasional light showers when they rolled in around 2:30. Absolutely no trouble whatsoever. 

I had slightly more problems refilling my blood pressure medication after work. My insurance had expired. I already knew about it. Apparently, it expired this February, likely due to the lack of hours I had last winter. I just sent the paperwork for the extension in the mail today. Thankfully, the medicine only cost $13, which is hardly a problem. I forgot honey yesterday, too. 

After I got home, I changed and finished listening to Nature's Baby. This Lena Horne album couldn't be more 1971 if it tried. I think I like her version of "Maybe I'm Amazed" better than the Beatles' rendition, and she does nice versions of "A Song for You," "It's Not Easy Being Green," and "Your Song" too. "Think About Your Troubles" is from the unique animated TV musical The Point. "I Wouldn't Have You Any Other Way (Ain't Nobody Perfect)" and "Only the Moon and Me" are the best of the lesser-known material.

My Trolls album arrived from Amazon around this point. This was the only soundtrack played frequently at the after-school program that I didn't have. It's only $19 at Amazon right now, which is cheap for a recent soundtrack release. 

Finished the night with the Sunday Match Game marathon. Mothers appeared on the panel as well as in the audience. Peter Issakson's mother came to all his appearances, and apparently accompanied him wherever he went. Likewise, Betty White's beloved mother Tess often came to see her daughter play. Gene's mother was in the audience at least once. Brett proudly pointed out her beautiful redheaded daughter Leslie in the audience (who looked a lot like a younger version of her mother).

There were mothers on the panel, too. As mentioned last week, Jo Ann Pflug and Patti Deusch both appeared while pregnant, Patti multiple times. TV and movie moms who did at least one week on the show included Bonnie Franklin of One Day at a Time, Isobel Sanford of The Jeffersons, Esther Rolle of Good Times, Michael Lerned of The Waltons, Barbara Billingsly of Leave It to Beaver on The Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour, Jamie Lee Curtis of the Freaky Friday films, and Ethel Merman, who played Gopher's mother on The Love Boat. 

Celebrate Mother's Day matching with some of the wackiest mothers on television in this sweet and heartfelt marathon!

Match Game Sunday Classics - Mother's Day Bash 2026

(Oh, and the showers have continued off and on for the rest of the evening. There was even a thunderstorm at one point, though that's long gone.) 

Wet Easter Matches

Actually, I'd only just gotten up when Mom called to wish me a happy Easter. She'd just gotten Play Doh "food" from my brother Keefe's daughter Aurora, who is now three and a half. Apparently, Aurora got a Donut Factory Play Doh set from the Easter Bunny. Mom says Aurora loves donuts! Her father's not doing nearly as well. In addition to his arthritis problems, he's having major trouble with his eyes. He had to have eye surgery that was so new, he was actually a documented case (with his enthusiastic permission) by doctors. He seems to be doing better, even if he can't drive at night anymore. At any rate, he was going to make Easter dinner.

Read Easter selections from the Colliers Harvest of Holidays anthology after I got off with Mom. My favorite material here is "Nino's Easter," about the Easter day of a typical Italian peasant boy and his family and community. Just reading about all the food they eat at the feast after church makes me hungry! No wonder the one boy gorged himself.  "The Country Bunny and the Gold Shoes" trains her little ones so well, they can take care of each other. The senior Easter Bunny is so impressed, he makes her an Easter bunny, too. She's worried she won't be able to bring eggs to a sick boy on an icy mountain, but the Easter Bunny gives her gold shoes to create her own holiday magic. I also read an utterly hilarious short for April Fool's Day that has two boys being run up a tree by a giraffe. They're hoping to give it back to the zoo and get a reward, but the giraffe doesn't make that easy!

Went online briefly after that before Jessa came. Mike was with her. It was still just cloudy and warm when we drove into Collingswood, parking on Haddon Avenue. We got incredibly lucky. We hadn't been at Paloma Restaurant for more than 10 minutes before it started showering heavily. I had the Churro French Toast, two huge raft-sized French toast slices with cinnamon cream, blackberries, strawberries, and bananas. Mike had a chicken quesadilla. He even gave me the last wedge. Jessa had Eggs Benedict. Oh, yum! My French toast was just crispy enough, with huge berries and banana pieces. Mike's Chicken Quesadilla was nice and cheesy and crispy.

We walked up and down Haddon Avenue for an hour, dodging showers and checking out what was open. None of us bought anything at Clutter. I found a lovely folk art-style felt heart ornament at Occasionette, sewn with a flower basket and beads. It was $16, but it reminded me so much of the similar felt Christmas decorations Mom made us in the 90's, I had to buy it. Innergroove was open again after being closed on Easter last year. I don't think Mike and Jess got anything, but I found:

John Denver - Windsong

George Benson - The George Benson Collection

The soundtrack from Sing 2

(I also found Nat King Cole's Those Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer, but I already have that one. I'll donate it to Goodwill.)

On our way down Haddon, we stopped to admire the shadow boxes in the window of the local newspaper the Retrospect. Each box represented a Collingswood business or landmark. In addition to obvious places like the police and fire station, there were boxes representing the Scottish Rite Auditorium, the Retrospect itself, Kismet Bagels, Flair Dance Studio, and even the water tower. To my surprise, Jessa pointed out that the pre-school children of Thomas Sharp made the shadow boxes this year! I thought some of the photographs of the children in the window looked familiar. I'll have to ask the kids about that when school starts again on the 13th.

Jessa drove me home after we left Innergroove. That rain wasn't stopping, and indeed, it would be off and on for the next few hours. Soon as we got home, I changed and relaxed while watching Easter Parade. I went further into this classic MGM musical with Judy Garland and Fred Astaire at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog back in 2019. 

Happy Easter! - Easter Parade

Switched to Easter records after the movie ended. The soundtrack for It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown, like the special itself, is highly underrated. There's some nice, bouncy tracks here, from "Woodstock's Dream" to Marcie inadvertently making "Easter Egg Soup." The bonus David Benoit track "Woodstock's Medley" is well-done, too. (And hey, if we're doing Peanuts special soundtracks, could we get David Benoit's work for the Peanuts in the 90's, too?)

Peter Cottontail - The First Easter Record for Children is just that, Easter and rabbit-themed songs for kids from presumably the mid-late 50's. Gene Autry kicks things off with the title song. He also sings "Sonny the Bunny," "The Funny Little Bunny (With the Powder Puff Tail)," and "Bunny Round-Up Time." Rosemary Clooney handles the ballads and bouncy songs, including "Bunny On the Rainbow" and a lovely version of "Easter Parade." Art Carney gets the comic stories "Flop, Mop, Cotton, and Pete" (Peter Rabbit, that is) and "A Thump, a Twinkle, and a Twitch, or How to Make a Rabbit." 

I started the Walt Disney 1987 Easter parade on YouTube, but moved to the Match Game marathon when that began at 6 during a big ham dinner. There were even more references to rabbits, eggs, or Easter on the show than what turned up yesterday. The first episode to have a rabbit question was the second week with Bob Barker, Della Reece, and the only cast members of The Waltons to appear on any version of the show, Michael Lerned and Richard Thomas. There was one on the 1978 episode where Richard Dawson argued that "Toasted Buns" matched "Warm Buns" (it did not), and the 1973 episode that introduced a hilarious Morey Amsterdam to the panel. By far the most notable episode with a rabbit reference was Charles Nelson Reilly's infamous return to the show in 1975 after being gone for nearly a year. Only Charles would make a grand entrance via wire and a stuffed bird! 

Join the Easter parade of weirdos and enjoy a whole lot of ham with these hilarious episodes!

Match Game Sunday Classics - Easter Sunday Marathon (Easter Part II)

Finished the night with the Walt Disney Easter Parades on YouTube. Ben Vereen joined Joan Lunden in 1987, appearing in the opening "Trolley Song" number himself. One of the things I like about the Easter specials is that they're just lavish enough. They don't get nearly as over the top as the Disney Christmas and Fourth of July parades do. The 50th anniversary of Snow White was the big push that year, along with Disney's Cruise Lines. Alan Thicke chased Mr. Smee and Captain Hook around the cruise ship and to a beach party in the Bahamas, where they danced to a Beach Boys cover group. Regis Phillbin worked the crowd here.

By 1995, the Disney Renaissance was in full swing. There were floats devoted to Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, and The Little Mermaid. Philbin joined Lunden in the host's chair this time. Comedians Dave Chappelle and Dave Bruer were the goofballs interviewing viewers on Main Street. The main focus here was on Pocahontas, which would debut that June. Max and Goofy promote A Goofy Movie while grown-ups battle kids at the newly-opened Blizzard Beach, and we get to see bits of the ultra-colorful, ultra-blocky, ultra-90's "Mickey Mania" parade and the new vintage space-themed revamp of Tomorrowland.

Celebrate Easter at Walt Disney World and relive some fond memories of your own with these delightful trips into Disney's past!

1987 Walt Disney World Easter Parade

1995 Walt Disney World Easter Parade

The Sunny Side of Valentines

Began the morning with breakfast and The Valentine's Day That Almost Wasn't. I go further into this unique 1982 puppet special from later ALF creator Paul Fusco at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Valentine's Short Subject Special - The Valentine's Day That Almost Wasn't

Ran downstairs to catch an Uber before the special ended. I forgot today is a holiday and it's a holiday weekend. It took me two tries to get a driver, and the second one came in 11 minutes. I ended up being late to work. Thankfully, the one I took to Oaklyn only took 7 minutes.

The Acme was insanely busy for most of the day. First of all, it's Valentine's Day. A lot of people were buying flowers, candy, and stuffed toys for their sweethearts and children or big dinners for those they loved. Second, it's not only a holiday weekend, for many workers, this is the last major holiday weekend until May. Third, the weather was gorgeous. It was the nicest day we've had since early January. Sunny and warm, with not a breeze or a cloud to be seen, probably in the upper 40's-lower 50's. I had no help. The head bagger was in a register. They had to get two different male cashiers to do the carts with me at one point. No matter how many I gathered, the carts kept vanishing.

Took Uber into Oaklyn after work instead of going home. I brought the cupcakes for Rose and her family with me and kept them in the refrigerator in the employees' lounge. I got off near her house, and since it looked like she and the kids were probably out at sports or Finley's dance recitals, dropped the bag on her front stoop.

Had a late lunch at a very busy Common Grounds Coffee House. I hadn't eaten there in a while. There were lots of people studying on laptops, or groups of ladies chatting over coffee and muffins. I treated myself to a Vanilla Rose London Fog Tea, a slice of their delicious crumb cake, and a slice of broccoli bacon cheese quiche. Oh yum! They make great crumb cake, with a nice, thick crumb topping, and the tea was just sweet enough.

I strolled home to enjoy the weather, despite my knee still being sore. The snow is finally starting to melt here. I can see ground and grass and sidewalks that haven't shown in weeks, and it's no longer slippery to walk in some places. Other places are still a tiny bit icy and I had to walk around them. We're supposed to get rain and slushy snow later in the weekend. Hopefully, that'll start getting rid of the old snow.

Went straight into Valentine's Day specials when I got in and changed, starting with the Valentine's Day episode of Happy Days. Joanie's thinking "Be My Valentine" when she gets her first real boyfriend and dreams her family and friends into romantic musical situations. Potsie sings "Save the Last Kiss for Me" to his girlfriend while dressed as a Naval officer. Ralph, of course, wants "My Funny Valentine." Chachi says "Thank Heavens for Little Girls" in his idea of a tux-and-cane number. Fonzie recites love poetry to besotted co-eds. Laurie and Richard do a surprisingly good apache dance. Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham steal the show with their hilarious recollection "I Remember It Well."

Called my mother while Happy Days was on. She started calling me earlier, then realized I was likely either at work or asleep and ended the call. She was right - she originally called me when I was heading out the door to pick up the Uber to work. She's doing fine. My 3 1/2-year old niece Aurora is in pre-school in her area now. In fact, one of the reasons my brother chose the town where they live is it's in a really good school system. Aurora loves school and loves learning. Mom says she loves the books I sent for Christmas, too, especially the one about being a big sister. 

Bugs Bunny's having an even more complicated Valentine's Day in Bugs Bunny's Cupid Capers. An Elmer Fudd-like Cupid spreads love among the Toons, but Bugs insists he's meddling. He's just as good at finding the Tasmanian Devil a mate or keeping Yosemite Sam from pursuing Granny (and her money). Cupid sends a semi-innocent dame after hard-boiled private eye Daffy, French Legionnaire Pepe Le Pew after desert kitty beauty Penelope, and a plump, love-crazed, European-accented bunny after Bugs.

Moved to DTV Valentine next. From 1984 to 1989, Disney rode the wave of the music video craze by creating videos of their own to run between cartoons on their channel, or be strung together in a themed episode. I enjoyed the wide variety of music they used, from jazz standards to the most recent rock hits to their own songs. I first heard Lena Horne's rendition of "Stormy Weather" in a DTV video. Rock hits figure into this hour-long syndicated special. Most of them are more recent, like "I Just Called to Say I Love You" by Stevie Wonder and "You Give Good Love to Me" by Whitney Houston, but we do get Elvis Presley's "Teddy Bear" accompanied by bits featuring Disney bears like Baloo, Bongo, and Humphery.

Stayed at YouTube to finish the night with tonight's Match Game marathon. Romance abounded on a show where many of the panelists and more than a few contestants were single. Many audience members frequently gived the panelists flowers, too. There was the time Gene held flowers on his microphone to keep it from crackling, or when a woman gave everyone small wrapped roses. Charles went into macho mode, while Richard's was in a pocket and almost hid his face. Fannie once gave Brett a huge arrangement of dead yellow roses as a joke, and she and Lee Merriweather wore rose-print t-shirts. Someone gave Jamie Lee Curtis a rose on a PM episode.

Sometimes, contestants could get a little too amorous. In 1974, a red-haired guy who looked something like a leprechaun in a suit got so excited, he kept trying to kiss Fannie and Brett! Charles and Richard defended their honor (such as it was). On that PM episode, the contestant ended up in Jamie's lap while Brett, Charles, and Richard Paul sang about the Eyes of Texas and Gene showed off his snazzy bright red shoes. 

Give flowers to those you love and celebrate Valentine's Day in all its forms in this adorably loving marathon!

Match Game Saturday Classics - Valentine's Day Marathon (Featuring Hearts, Flowers, and Love)

And here's even more classic Valentine's Day specials for this holiday weekend!

The Popeye Valentine's Day Special: Sweethearts at Sea

The Smurfs: My Smurfy Valentine

The Woody Woodpecker Valentine's Day Special: I'm With Cupid, Stupid

Buttons and Rusty In the Honey Bunch (A Chucklewood Valentine)

For Better or for Worse: A Valentine from the Heart

Cathy's Valentine

A Special Valentine With the Family Circus

From Disney With Love

Holidays On Ice

Began the day with breakfast and Paw Patrol. "Pups Save the Marooned Mayors" when Mayor Goodway and Mayor Humdinger are stranded in a chasm, chased by Arctic wolf pups who wanted Humdinger's "hum-burgers." The pups recruit Everett to help rescue them, then get them off an block of ice floating out to sea. "Pups Save the Game Show," what amounts to an animated version of Wild West Challenge being filmed at a local ranch. After Humdinger's cheating drives off the competition, the pups help competitor Chase out to clean up the havoc Humdinger caused and make sure everything remains fair.

Switched to Super Password on Buzzr. Leslie Bloom and comedian Jack Carter were the celebrities. Jack was really impressive. He might have been even better at Password than he was at Match Game. He got a lady through the Super Password bonus round with maybe one bobble in pretty decent time. 

Got my schedule at this point, too. I wasn't sure I'd get the whole week off, but...thank heavens, I don't work at the Acme again until early next Saturday. I won't be back at the after-school program until January 5th! I'll be able to enjoy a nice, quiet Christmas break doing what I want to do without rushing. 

Headed out after that. I wanted to get my grocery shopping done before the snow and ice arrived. My first stop was the Target Starbucks for a treat. I was surprised at how quiet they were. All the teens who usually hang out there must have been at home, messing with their new gadgets and listening to music. I got a wonderfully minty peppermint hot chocolate without a fuss.

Sprouts was only a little busier. I didn't need much here under any circumstances. Found more of those white chocolate-filled coconut pillows, this time marked down to 99 cents. Got dried mango slices, coconut milk, and diet soda and sparkling water. Found white chocolate macadamia cookies with clearance stickers on the bakery rack.

Hurried down Cuthbert, past the library, the McDonald's, and the Haddon Township High School to the Acme. They were a lot busier, and had been even worse earlier, if the lack of carts up front and the devastated shelves were any indication. Mainly needed yogurt and apples here. Grabbed probiotic sodas on good sales. Grabbed bread to have sandwiches this week. Had online coupons for yogurt, bags of gala apples, and granola. Finally found the Fresca again. Got one last bottle of Winter Spiced Cranberry Sprite Zero, too.

By the time I rode home alongside Newton Lake Park, it was much cloudier. Those clouds had the pearly gray sheen of ice and snow. The park is now fully embracing winter. The grass is a little greener than usual for this time of year, probably due to all of the rain and snow we've had, but the trees are black brushstrokes, the lake is still slightly frozen, and the only animals around are the honking Canadian geese. (And even they were pretty scarce today.)

When I got home, I put everything away, then had lunch and spent the rest of the evening watching YouTube. Match Game Productions fixed the audio issues he had with his What's My Line Christmas marathon. Though there were two color episodes from the early 70's with a man who sold Santa Claus suits, the majority of the episodes were the black and white shows from the 1950's and early 60's. In addition to flat-out Christmas shows like the one I watched last week with Johnny Marks and the Salvation Army, there were episodes featuring singers associated with Christmas songs (like Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Eartha Kitt, Johnny Mathis, and Andy Williams) or those with Christmas-related "lines" (like the man who sold bells). There was even the Christmas episode where the spouses of the panelists (Tony Randall joining regulars Bennett Cerf, Arlene Francis, and Dorothy Kilgalleon) appeared as Mystery Guests. 

Find out if the holidays are really bigger than a bread box in this elegant and delightful marathon!

A What's My Line Christmas Marathon

Wait, there's more! We have the 1983 and 1984 Christmas episodes of the Richard Dawson Family Feud, Brett giving a naughty answer that got censored on Match Game in 1977, a hilarious and rare post-Christmas episode from 1978 where a contestant gave Fannie a huge kiss despite losing the match, more of the Carol Burnett-Bert Convy battle on Password Plus during Christmas 1979, and Illene Graff and Pat Harrington tossing out wisecracks on Super Password during Christmas 1988. It's the gift that keeps on giving - more game show bang for your holiday buck!

Family Feud (1983)

Family Feud (1984)

Match Game (1977)

Match Game (1978)

Password Plus (1979)

Super Password (1988)

Called Mom during the What's My Line marathon. Apparently, she's doing fine, and everyone liked my gifts. Aurora really loved that book on being a big sister I found at the thrift shop in Woodbury! Mom said it really helped her. She's more worried about my brother. Apparently, his knees are going and he has gout and arthritis in his hands, and he's only in his early 30's. I have an arthritic thumb (though my bad knees are more from bike accidents than family history), so I do understand what she's saying there. With Keefe, I wonder if he's just worked a little too long at the Naval shipyard.

It started raining - and raining hard - somewhere around 6 PM. I'm not sure when the ice came, only that by the time Family Feud and Match Game were on, everything was covered in a sheet of dully glistening ice. Good thing I am off tomorrow. If it doesn't melt by early afternoon, I won't have to go anywhere. 

Finished the night with Forest by George Winston. This was a better choice than I thought. The CD includes lovely versions of "Walking In the Air," "Building the Snowman," and "The Snowman's Music Box Dance" from the British animated special The Snowman. Other lovely, calming numbers here include "Troubadour," "Graceful Ghost," "and "Lights In the Sky." 

Thanksgiving With the Family

Began the morning with the Thanksgiving material in the Colliers Harvest of Holidays anthology. The long piece for Thanksgiving is a story about a Pilgrim grandmother relating her memories of the first Thanksgiving to her family. There's also several hymns and poems, including "Over the River and Through the Woods."

The original book version of Molly's Pilgrim is pretty close to the half-hour special that debuted in 1985. The biggest difference is it's likely set in what I suspect to be the early 1900's. Elizabeth, the girl who bullies Molly, has long black ringlets rather than straight blonde hair, they go a little more into Molly and her family being Jewish, and Molly doesn't get extra help for English after school. It's still a sweet and charming story, though, a reminder that "pilgrims" continue to search for religious freedom even today.

There's a short story in the Disney Storybookland anthology called "Pilgrim's Party." Mickey takes Minnie, Donald, and Pluto to Plymouth, Massachusetts for a real old-fashioned Thanksgiving dinner. It's all fun and Pilgrim cosplay, until Pluto steals the turkey!

Changed and had breakfast while watching the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Parade. They've gone through a couple of different sponsors through the years. The current sponsors are ABC and Dunkin' Donuts, the latter of whom had an extremely pink donut float in the parade. The only balloon I saw in the air was Clifford the Big Red Dog. There was a modern Netflix Strawberry Shortcake, but I think she had deflated by the time they showed her on the broadcast, because she seemed to be laying down. I saw an Acme float, too, appropriately based around a cornucopia bursting with harvest produce. 

Thank heavens this was broadcast for free on WPVI 6's website. The Macy's Parade is the exclusive domain of Peacock online, but it was more fun to see what Philly did for Thanksgiving anyway. A huge tap group did an enormous number with dozens of kids all tapping together. We had songs from the stage Beauty and the Beast and Here's Love (under the title Meredith Wilson's Miracle On 34th Street: The Musical). The Four Tops, Jordan Sparks, and a group called Cameo performed their hits. There were marching bands from as far away as Indiana. Unlike Macy's parade, which ends with the arrival of Santa, the Philly parade ended with a huge number that included the tap dancers, the All-American Cheerleaders, Santa, and piles of confetti.

Called Mom while the parade was on. We weren't able to chat for very long. She was making pies for my brother's Thanksgiving dinner. Keefe insisted on making the rest of the dinner, including the turkey (though his wife Julia was apparently in charge of the sweet potatoes). There had been a few problems when Elijah came out, but he's as healthy as any darling baby ever born now.

Switched to two delightful Thanksgiving specials from the 1980's after the parade ended. I go further into the charming Paul Fusco puppet show A Thanksgiving Tale at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Thanksgiving Short Subject Special - A Thanksgiving Tale

The 1985 Molly's Pilgrim won an Oscar for Best Live-Action Short Subject that year...and richly deserved it. The story is now reset in the mid-80's. Molly is a young Jewish girl from Russia whose family came to a small Midwestern town in search of religious freedom. Molly is still bullied by children who envy her gymnastics abilities and don't understand her accent or her Borscht lunches. She's upset and feels out of place, especially after her mother makes a clothes pin Pilgrim that looks more like a traditional Russian peasant than the usual Pilgrim. Molly's teacher finally explains to the class that Molly's mother is right - pilgrims still exist today, and they come to America for the same reason the ones at Plymouth Rock did. As her classmate Arthur said, it does take all kinds of pilgrims to make a Thanksgiving.

Since I had food to carry and I wasn't sure how late I was going to be at Rose's, I walked to her house. It was a gorgeous day for it. Yesterday's off-and-on clouds had given way to a beautiful, sunny, if chilly afternoon. It was in the 40's, cold, but really more in line with what it should be during late November.

I was greeted at the door by Rose's two dogs Cider and Oreo barking their hellos. Jessa had already arrived (in fact, she texted me earlier to ask which house was Rose's) as the Green Bay Packers-Detroit Lions game began. It was just Rose, Craig, 8-year-old Finley, 15-year-old Khai, and Jessa this year. Craig's mother apparently went up to New England to visit his brother. 

Jessa played Dinosaur Bingo with Finley and Khai while Craig and I watched the game and we all had appetizers from three huge trays. One tray had sliced vegetables and dip. One had sweet goodies - donut holes, my pumpkin bread, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, pomegranates (Finley ate most of those - she apparently loves them), Danish butter cookies. There were also bowls of chips and pretzels and a yummy shrimp cocktail.

(Oh, and the Packers did very well against the Lions, who are no slouches themselves. The Packers would run and get a touchdown, then the Lions would get one. In the end, the Packers finally outran them 31-24.)

It was well into the Kansas City Chiefs-Dallas Cowboys game before dinner was ready. Rose apparently forgot to put the turkey in early! Jessa left before dinner, but the rest of us sat down to turkey, ham, green beans with bacon and crispy onions, mashed potatoes. cubed orange and purple sweet potatoes, canned cranberry sauce, tossed salad, and rolls. Oh, yum! The two meats looked like they belonged on the cover of a food magazine or the main page of a food website. The turkey was so juicy, I saw Rose cleaning up turkey juice she'd spilled (with the help of the dogs). Even the white meat was moist and tender. The ham was almost as good.

(The Chiefs-Cowboys game didn't go nearly as well. Their game was also close and well-played, but the Cowboys just managed to push ahead at the end 31-28.)

While Khai disappeared into his "office" (a tiny storage area where he plays computer games) and Craig and Rose prepared dinner, Finley and I played something called Zingo. You get a board containing small words, like what, the, she, if, and or (along with the numbers two and three). Someone pushes a lever that makes two yellow chips with words on them slide out of a slot. You have to grab the word before the other person does to fill your card. I did win a few games, but not only was Finley faster, I was tired and couldn't really focus on where the words were.

It wasn't until almost 7 when Rose and Craig brought the sweets tray back out, along with pumpkin pie, apple pie, vanilla ice cream, and home-made whipped cream. Finley and I both went for pumpkin pie with whipped cream. (In fact, I think Finley mainly had whipped cream. There might have been pumpkin somewhere under the enormous mounds of white fluff on her plate.) Khai insisted that he wasn't a fan of pies, so he had a root beer float instead. 

Finley and Craig brought drove me and a huge bag of leftovers home around 8. I went straight online and into the annual Match Game Productions Thanksgiving marathon. This year's theme was "personal favorite episodes of the channel's owner." The marathon started much earlier, but I did get to see two classic syndicated episodes that were also personal favorites of mine. 

In a 1979 syndicated episode, Joyce Bulifant wears a crazy red fright wig that made her look like a demented Little Orphan Annie to keep from being mistaken for the other blonde on the show that week, Elaine Joyce. A later contestant was almost as weird, giving a very strange answer to what a jock centipede bought along with 100 pairs of shoes. 

Betty White turned up in a much later syndicated episode from 1981 wearing a short, flaming red and gold dress made by a friend of Sharon Farrell's. Sharon was no slouch either in her pink pants outfit. She and Richard Paul inadvertently demonstrated mud wrestling when she landed on him during McLean Stevenson's answer for what form of "wrassling" should be an Olympic event. Later on, a contestant's laugh that he supposedly used to wake up in the morning was so terrifying, it sent McLean hurrying for Gene's entrance doors.

At any rate, enjoy your own feast of favorites with this bountiful showcase!

Match Game Thanksgiving 2025 Countdown Marathon

4th of July Revolutions

Kicked off my 4th of July with material from Colliers Junior Classics: Harvest of Holidays. The long piece here is a segment from Little Town On the Prairie in which Pa, Laura, and Carrie enjoy the town's small but festive celebration. The girls are delighted to drink lemonade from a dipper, watch people pass by in Pa's shop, and cheer on their friend Alonzo in the buggy race. We also have The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere, the first part of the Constitution, and several shorter poems on fireworks and independence.

Threw on two classic holiday shorts while having a quick breakfast. "Patriotic Popeye" wishes his nephews would forget the fireworks and find other ways to have fun on the 4th. He teaches them a lesson when their largest rocket carries them off, and he has to rescue them. Bugs defends Boston as a "Bunker Hill Bunny" fighting against Hessian (Yosemite) Sam.

Hurried out the door at 9:55. The Oaklyn 4th of July Parade was supposed to start at 10. One of the things you can always count on is it's NEVER on time...and considering I saw people lining up on Johnson, too, I suspected it would be even less so today. I could have stayed there, but all the fun stuff is on West Clinton. I arrived just in time to see the Mr. Softee truck pull up in the municipal parking lot. 

My brother-in-law Craig, 8-year-old niece Finley, and 15-year-old nephew Khai were already sitting in lawn chairs, waiting for the show to begin. I got to hand Finley, whose birthday was yesterday, her stuffed Squishmallows unicorn. She absolutely loved it! She loves animals of all varieties, including mythological. After she opened her present, we got free ice cream from Mr. Softee. I went simple with a cup of soft-serve vanilla and chocolate sprinkles. She got a chocolate/vanilla twist with strawberry crunch sprinkles. 

The Parade was over a half-hour late, but when it did arrive, it came by biker group. To my niece and nephews' amusement, the bikers came first, looking like fierce teddy bears on giant motorcycles. The Oaklyn Food Pantry had by far the best float. Their hot dog theme had everyone dressed as condiments, including mustard and ketchup bottle cone hats. Most of the others were local baseball and softball teams throwing candy, which is all Finley cared about (along with waving to her friends on the softball floats). I even managed to snitch lollipops and pieces of hard candy for myself. (Oh, and I love the names of the local softball teams - the Bubblegum Bombers and the Flamingos.)

Craig took Finley and Khai home for lunch after that, but I stuck around for the National Anthem (the lady who sang it was really excellent), and the winners of the float contest. I think you can guess that the Oaklyn Pantry deservedly won that one. Though there were also free hot dogs and bags of chips, it was way too early for lunch. I grabbed free red, blue, and silver beads and USA headband bobbles instead. I was going to stop at Common Grounds Coffee House, but I realized I forgot my money. Oh well. Just walked home instead.

Relaxed for an hour while watching two patriotic specials on mice making unusual contributions to American history. Chester the Cricket is a Yankee Doodle Cricket when he supposedly writes "Yankee Doodle" for all of the animals in the Colonies. Tucker the Mouse claims his ancestor the Declaration of Independence to prove cats and mice can get along, while Harry says his got a drunk Paul Revere moving on that famous midnight ride.

The Disney special Ben & Me takes us to Philadelphia to meet Amos, a poor church mouse. He moves in with Benjamin Franklin and helps him create memorable inventions like the Franklin stove and bifocals. Amos is also instrumental in starting the Pennsylvania Gazette and putting out hard-hitting news stories for that. He and Ben finally part ways after Amos is used as a test-mouse in the famous kite-flying experiment, but Ben calls him back to help write the Declaration of Independence. 

Headed back out after that, this time on my bike. Craig invited me to barbecue between 4 and 5, but it was only 12:30. I had plenty of time for a nice picnic in the park. Rode down to Haddon Culinary, which, thankfully, was opened. Bought a turkey club hoagie with their house-made chips and a Coke Zero. Enjoyed it under the trees at one of the old wooden picnic benches in Knight Park, near the pavilion. I was surprised at how quiet they were. I figured everyone would be picnicking on such a gorgeous day. It was sunny and breezy, slightly humid but not annoyingly so, probably in the mid-80's. I shared my table with a drowsy ladybug enjoying the one shaft of sunlight coming through the trees.

After I rode home, I put on Johnny Tremain. Johnny (Hal Stalmaster) is a silversmith's apprentice who agrees to remake a sugar basin for wealthy Johnathan Lyte (Sebastian Cabot). Unfortunately, he burns his hand while making it so badly, he can never be a silversmith again. He ends up as a messenger boy for the Sons of Liberty. He tries to sell a silver cup with the Lytes' crest, only for Lyte to claim he stole it. Fortunately, his former master's daughter Priscilla Lapham (Luana Patten) speaks for him in court. He's now able to throw himself into getting involved in the American Revolution, including tossing that tea overboard in Boston and joining the battles of Lexington and Concord.

Though this loses a lot of incidents and characters from the book, it does have excellent performances from Cabot and Ralph Clinton as Lyte and General Gage, and Richard Beymer looks a lot more engaged here than he would four years later in West Side Story. Still recommended if you're a fan of American history, the original book, or the Disney action films of the 50's and 60's.

Mom called me around this point. I haven't heard from her in a while. She did appreciate my finding another job that I like, but still insists that I should remain at the Acme for the pension and because I'll probably be retiring in a few years. She's also concerned about my brother Keefe. I'm thrilled that his wife Julia is pregnant, and they'll be having a boy in the fall, but she's worried about them needing a bigger home and how their daughter Aurora will react. 

Switched to my original cast CD for By the Beautiful Sea after the movie ended. Shirley Booth headlined this 1952 Broadway show as Lottie Gibson, a vaudeville performer in early 1900's Coney Island who falls for a Shakespearean actor (Wilbur Evans). His daughter "Baby" Betsy disapproves. Betsy's mother tries to keep her as a child to get better roles, but she's in love with a young waiter at the boardwalk. Lottie eventually gives her a dress and teaches her how to behave older, no matter what age her mother wants her to be.

I've had this CD since I found it at a long-defunct music store in North Cape May around 1996. To be honest, it's not that great of a show. They never did figure out what to do with the Baby Betsy subplot. She doesn't even get a song. Apparently, the book on this one was constantly re-written right up until opening, and it shows. The songs are something of a hodge-podge, with most of the chorus numbers not being anything but filler. I do like the comic lament "I'd Rather Wake Up By Myself" for Booth and the lovely ballad "Alone Too Long" for Evans, but most of the score is as much of a mash-up as the show in general. Only for major enthusiasts of Booth or 50's musicals.

Worked on Hilary and the Beasts for the next few hours. Hilary spends her evening making phone calls. Jeff hasn't been seen at his radio jobs that he was broadcasting with his secretary Victor on the situation overseas, nor at the stage roles manager Scott worked so hard for him to get. After she finishes, Puppy dresses her for dinner in a lavish black velvet and fur gown. She eventually takes her down to her dinner with the Beast in a beautifully-appointed dining room. He tries to ask her to marry him, but she tells him she's in love with someone else. That sets them fighting again, and she ends up running out the door, angry and wiling to leave.

I got so into working on the story, I didn't get to Rose's until after 5. I got there at the same time as Craig's mom and dad, who were just getting out of their car when I was walking up the driveway. Rose had a huge spread set out - bowls of raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries, plates of grapes and cherries, another plate of Doritos. Finley was just excited about her birthday yesterday. She went to a local spa for little girls, then went to Dave & Buster's and out to eat. We had grilled hot dogs, burgers, vegetables, and the sweet potatoes Craig's parents brought along for dinner.

Finley insisted on going swimming after dinner, even though she'd already changed. She changed back into a bathing suit. I totally forgot Rose and Craig had that big inflatable pool in the backyard. I would have brought my own suit if I remembered. I sat in the back and kept an eye on her while she splashed, swam, and showed off her swimming moves. She was so interested when I told her about the story I was writing, I gave her the revised version. I didn't think 8-year-olds knew much about the early Great Depression, so I put the story in a more generic fairy-tale-world. Jeff was a prince, Scott a knight, Victor a wizard, they were still turned into a troll, bear, and eagle by a wicked fairy, and the other ladies still had to rescue them. 

Finley especially liked hearing about how much Maple loved the adventure, how she stroked all the animals and will ride Victor later. "That's so me!" she squealed with delight. She put in a request to be in the story, or at least use her name. Maybe not this one, but I might get some local kids into the Maple Rapunzel story I have planned for after this one.

We finally dragged Finley inside around 8 to have cake. She apparently had cupcakes yesterday, but Rose had a small white cake for her to share with the family. It was a simple white and blue cake Rose bought from Wegman's, but it was nice and moist, and the icing was amazing. We all sang "Happy Birthday" for Finley, and I enjoyed my slice quickly before heading out.

Made a quick stop at Dollar General for Gatorade Zero before following everyone else making their way down to Newton Lake Park. Though the fireworks are set off at Collingswood High School, most people watch them at the park, where the entrance is free. I ducked around people on blankets and lawn chairs, making my way down to the hill overlooking the brand-new neon orange and bright lime green playground equipment. I was hoping to avoid the damp ground, but I just ended up plopping on the hill. 

Looked at my cell phone until the first lights were seen in the sky. Collingswood always puts on an amazing show, and tonight was no exception. I oohed and ahhed over purple circles, giant multi-colored sparkles, golden glitter, and rings within rings. Hurried off just as the big finale boomed and glittered against the ebony sky and the bare black outlines of trees.

Hurried home just in time for another type of fireworks. Tonight was the chat "premiere" for the School Riot. It's delicious irony that the head of Match Game Productions debuted this tonight. Richard Dawson and Debralee Scott hold their own revolution when producer and judge Ira Skutch won't match "school" with "finishing school." Here's the episode, so you can see how it all went down:

Match Game '77 1005 - School Riot Episode

Finished the night with a patriotic dose of Disney history. The 1989 Walt Disney World 4th of July Parade is where the balance started to switch to bands and advertising. New Kids on the Block were THE huge boy band in this era. We hear them performing two of their biggest hits in the now-defunct Pleasure Island, including "Hangin' Tough." The Temptations perform at the entrance to what's now Disney Hollywood Studios. Splash Mountain (now Tiana's Bayou Adventure) is featured. The actual parade doesn't really last that long. The last half-hour is given over to a too-long medley of old musical numbers, with an incredibly annoying Carol Channing and grown women dressed as Shirley Temple. It's ridiculous. They should have done ten minutes of this, tops, not 30. The members of the Mickey Mouse Club running around Typhoon Lagoon would have been of vastly more interest to me at age 10.

At any rate, here's how all this went down for yourself. And I hope you had a great 4th of July with your own families!

1989 Walt Disney World 4th of July Spectacular 

You Say It's Your Birthday

Kicked off my birthday with breakfast and "Yogi's Birthday Party." In the series finale of The Yogi Bear Show, Yogi is thrilled at first when Ranger Smith tells him he's going to star in a big TV variety program. He tries to take dancing, singing, and music lessons from thinly-veiled spoofs of then-popular entertainers. Embarrassed when he realizes he really isn't a singer or dancer, he runs away, only to be caught by Smith and his men. Turns out that the "variety special" is actually a televised birthday party featuring all of the Hanna Barbara funny animals created up to that point, and all he has to do is sit back and listen to them sing a song for him and their sponsor Kellogg's.

Headed out after Yogi ended. My first stop of the day was Dollar General to buy an Orange Cream Coke Zero and make change for the bus. Turns out it was a moot point. They were using a larger bus usually reserved for longer trips of an hour or more, and the payment machine was broken. I got a free ride to Barrington.

I was in Barrington to check out the Antique Center. That huge warren of tiny rooms is filled with everything from antique china and glassware to relatively new DVDs and CDs...and it's one of the few South Jersey thrift shops open on Mondays. They were also surprisingly busy for a Monday. I had to dodge several people searching shelves for fancy glasses or vintage Easter decorations. I just ended up with two records: 

Unpublished Cole Porter (Another Ben Bagley album, this time featuring songs that were cut or never released.)

Peter Cottontail - The First Easter Record for Children (Songs about or related to either rabbits or the more secular side of Easter, performed by Rosemary Clooney, Gene Autry, and Art Carney. This comes from Columbia's Harmony label. There's a few more children's titles on the back I'm definitely going to look for, including Gene Kelly's performance of Peter Rabbit and The Pied Piper of Hamlin and two albums of fairy tales.) 

Fortunately, the closest bus stop is a block from the Antique Center. The bus to Deptford was right on time. I did have to pay, and it was one of the older, wider buses intended for shorter trips, but it got me to the Deptford Mall with a minimum of fuss and little traffic. 

Since it wasn't far from where I got off, I went in through Macy's and had lunch at the food court. I really like their Mediterranean Pitas & Greens booth. Had a messy chicken gyro with slender fries and a cup of iced tea that tasted home-brewed. It was almost 1 at that point, and the food court was relatively busy with college kids and parents taking younger children on a trip to the mall enjoying their lunches.

Spent the next hour or so at Round 1 Entertainment. The skee ball machines were down again, but everything else worked just fine. I played Princess Peach on Mario Kart Deluxe and came in second on a tougher course. I also got second on the Death Valley course in Crusin' Blast. Tried Tetris on a Japanese machine, too. Didn't do too badly shooting baskets. All in all, I ended up with over 2,500 points. I didn't see anything I liked, so I got a mini boom box from the same line as the mini-radio to give to my nephew. 

Explored stores for a couple of hours after that. Though I looked at Miniso, Otaku House, Rally House, Fan Treasures, FYE, The Loft, Hot Topic, and Box Lunch, the only place I bought anything was JC Penney. I dug a pale blue cable sweater and yellow three-quarters-length sleeve t-shirt on the clearance racks. The sweater came to about $8.50, the sweater to $5.50. Stopped at Ginny's Cookies and Ice Cream and treated myself to a wedge of chocolate chip cookie "cake" with green frosting.

Headed across the street past the abandoned shopping center to HomeGoods first. I looked at pots and pans, but didn't see anything I liked. I'll do more research there on what type of pots and pans I want. Had more luck at Old Navy. I picked up a pair of jean capris there.

I also just enjoyed the gorgeous day. The clouds had been in and out all morning, but by 4:30, they'd taken a temporary leave of absence. It was breezy and far warmer than it had been, into the mid-60's. 

Barnes and Noble was surprisingly busy, too. It was after 4:30 by then, and the high schoolers and college kids were out of school. I considered records, but I already bought two, and I didn't see any on sale that I liked. Found two CDs on sale and another that was just cheap, along with two books: 

The Essential Michael Jackson (2-Disc set of his best-known songs, including from before he went solo.)

Wicked soundtrack

The Very Best of the Electric Light Orchestra (This was the $8 one. The other two came to $14.40 each with 20 percent off.)

The Lies That Bind - Kate Carlisle

The Lost Bookshop - Evie Woods

Mom called me when I was wandering around the children's section. I sat down in a quiet corner to chat. She wanted to wish me a happy birthday and was glad to hear I was enjoying my day. I told her about my trip and thanked her for the online Amazon gift card she sent me. Her card and Lauren's would pay for a new CD/cassette player. The CD player Dad and Jodie gave me in 2017 was skipping, too big for the room it was currently in, and I never liked that it was a front-loader. The CD part of my more than 15-year-old Emerson CD/cassette player hadn't worked in years. The cassette part did, but I didn't know for how much longer.

Met Jessa for dinner at the Outback Steakhouse in front of the shopping centers. I haven't eaten there in years. She had salmon, with broccoli and rice. I had a small steak with the same broccoli and a baked sweet potato. We shared brown bread and a Bloomin' Onion. Yum! It was all delicious, including the onion. I made sure to order a steak that was just the right size to finish in one go. Jessa did take home her rice and salmon, and I gave her the last of the bread and what little remained of my steak. I was more embarrassed when waitresses came up and sang "Happy birthday," but I felt better when they left a dish of velvety vanilla ice cream with a candle in it.

We went across the street to another shopping center and explored Hobby Lobby next. I'd love to take up another hobby...but I don't want to spend money on something and not follow through. I've dropped every single hobby I've tried, from crocheting to woodwork, because I'd get bored after a while or would tackle projects that were too large. 

I originally wanted to check out Hallmark, too, but it was getting late. Hallmark and Hobby Lobby closed at 8. Jessa just ended up driving me home, running the Beatles and other classic rock songs all the way back to Oaklyn. 

Finished the night after a shower, taking the recycling out, and bringing the cute T-shirt and box of Merci European chocolates a friend gave me for my birthday upstairs with my favorite episodes of the syndicated Match Game. Even after the CBS run ended in 1979, interest remained strong enough for the show to restart in syndication a few months later. 

Buzzr has ran a lot of the best early syndicated episodes, so I just stuck to a few of the ones that are my favorites or haven't been done to death. I couldn't leave out the time the contestant gave one of the most unlikely answers in game show history to "Cuckoo __" in the Head to Head, or the one where everyone but Dick Martin walked out while Gene droned on. 

There was also the time Gene seemed to get "electrocuted" by the question holder! Charles insinuated that someone would have to host, then said he'd never take over a part that badly acted. Charles was the one causing the trouble when he and Gene got into an argument over the merits of the original Sho Gun miniseries and he hit Gene with his card. Gene collapsed onto Jonnelle Allen while McLean Stevenson took over hosting for a couple of questions. Charles also got to clean up after Gene when people were throwing cards around.

Kirstie Alley wasn't the only later celebrity to win big on the syndicated show. Future talk show hostess Jenny Jones also made a big win on a week with Betty White and George Kennedy. Betty had her own fun on her next appearance flaunting her legs in a short red dress made by a friend of Sharon Farrell. That episode was wild in general. Sharon and Richard Paul inadvertently demonstrated mud wrestling to illustrate McLean's answer to a question about what should be an Olympic event, and McLean ran off after being scared by a contestant with a shrill laugh that he apparently used to wake his kids up every day.

Betty was there during the very last episode, along with McLean, Brett, Charles, Skip Stevenson, and Melinda O'Fee. Charles claimed he was dating the dummy used to test the color levels, while a curly-haired contestant asked to kiss McLean. Brett was right that he was blushing after that. He was the same color as his red sweater. Skip even rushed over and kissed the other contestant! Betty quipped that she should take some of that and send it to Richard Dawson.

Check out the best from one of the most underrated Match Game series! 

Episode 28 - Cuckoo Fran and Ollie?

Episode 42 - Panel Walks Out on Gene's Lecture

Episode 206 - Gene Gets Electrocuted

Episode 257 - Charles Cleans Up

Episode 302 - The Sho Gun Incident

Episode 395 - Jenny Jones On Match Game Part 2

Episode 442 - Betty White and the Red Dress

Episode 525 - Charles and the Dummy (Series Finale) 

Welcome to Spring

Began the day with breakfast and What's New, Scooby Doo. "Space Ape at the Cape" brings the gang to Florida, where Velma has submitted a project to NASA. The scientists there are more interested in the shuttle that's about ready to launch...or would be, if an alien egg hadn't suddenly hatched and an alien wasn't wrecking havoc! While Fred and Daphne search for clues, Velma attempts to keep a bratty kid away from her project, and Shaggy and Scooby discover the joys of freeze-dried astronaut food.

Let Supermarket Sweep run while I got organized. I came in as they were doing the Five-Second Shoot Out mini-game from the later series. The Big Sweep got really wild. All three teams were relatively close in time and scores. Two of them got the frozen yogurt David wanted, and all found bonuses (including an adorable teddy bear with a mustache in a kilt). The team that won didn't do quite so well at the Bonus Round. The first answer tripped them up...but Arm & Hammer does make a lot of products...

Headed out after that. The weather was off-and-on cloudy, humid, and cooler than it has been, but far from cold. I was fine in my sage green knit sweater. Decided to celebrate the first day of spring with a ride into Westmont and a quick trip to Sprouts. 

My first stop was the WaWa on the corner of Cuthbert and the White Horse Pike for money and a grape Propel. I wanted the money for Salvation Thrift, which doesn't take credit cards. Alas, I found nothing there, no matter how much I dodged the many ladies on their lunch breaks looking for deals. Nothing interesting at Party Fair, either. I eventually backtracked down the block to McMillan's Bakery and treated myself to one of their incredible, overstuffed cream donuts. 

Headed across the street to Phidelity Records next. They were also relatively busy with guys chatting with the owner and looking for rock records and CDs. I eventually came up with three records:

Frank Sinatra - All the Way

Doris Day - Greatest Hits

Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band - Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band

And four CDs: 

Train - My Private Nation

Rolling Stones - Exile On Main Street

Miles Davis and Quincy Jones - Miles and Quincy: Live at Montreux 

The Kinks - Come Dancing With the Kinks: The Best of the Kinks 1977-1986

Made my way down Cuthbert and around kids getting out of Haddon Township High School over to the Westmont Plaza. I needed to get my trip to Sprouts in, since I won't have time tomorrow. Unlike everywhere else, they weren't busy. The kids don't go in here. Sprouts has no seasonal section and only sells toys at Christmas. I was able to restock brown sugar and buy bananas, coconut milk, breakfast cookies, soda, and those raspberry-lemon dried mango slices in peace. 

Went straight home after that. Put on From Justin to Kelly as I put everything away. I go further into this rush-job vehicle for American Idol stars Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guardini that's now regarded as one of the worst films of all time at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Cult Flops - From Justin to Kelly

Mom called as I was settling down with the movie. I called her earlier to wish her a happy birthday. Neither of us have a lot going on right now. I told her about my stomach problems and long hours last month, my trip into Philly, and getting to see The Day the Earth Blew Up, and she told me how excited she was about the Eagles winning the Super Bowl. We discussed the Looney Tunes and the Eagles' chances of repeating next year as Keefe, Julia, and Aurora arrived home and she went to greet them.

Switched to Match Game Syndicated while eating dinner. The first week I saw featured Dick Martin, Elaine Joyce, and big George Kennedy. At one point, Gene got so into explaining the big bang to Dick, all of the panelists but Dick got up and left...and the camera panned out to reveal most of the crew had also left. The lights even went off at one point! Jimmie Walker's week is still MIA, so they skipped to the next week, with Robert Donner, Marcia Wallace, and a bubbly Betty Kennedy.

Finished the night with cast albums and soundtracks, the first in honor of spring. I have no idea who thought putting Seven Brides for Seven Brothers on the stage was a good idea. The 1985 London mounting lasted two months in two separate limited engagements and seems to have gone over slightly better than the 1982 Broadway cast, which barely made three days and wasn't recorded. Honestly, this is rather charming, with some decent new songs, including Adam explaining that "Love Never Goes Away" to Gideon and Milly and the brides and brothers cooing to the new baby that they're "Glad That You Were Born." Revised versions have done well in regional productions, so maybe this really just needed fine-tuning. 

The reason I bought the soundtrack for the Disney Cinderella wasn't for the soundtrack itself, though I love "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes," "So This is Love," and "Bibbiti Bobbiti Boo." The deluxe CD I dug up from Mostly Books also includes seven songs that were written for the film, but not used. I originally heard them on the 2-disc Cinderella DVD I picked up in 2005, but could never find them on an audio disc until now. Of the cut numbers, the cute "I'm In the Middle of a Muddle" for Cinderella as she wishes she had more help for her chores and the lovely waltz "The Dress My Mother Wore" are my favorites. There's also the mice describing how happy they are to have their new clothes in "The Mouse Song," and "Dancing On a Cloud," which was intended to cover a sequence where Cinderella and the Prince dance into the heavens. 

Oh, and once again, it was cloudy for much of the day, but wouldn't start pouring until well after dark. This time, we even got a bit of a thunderstorm. As far as I can tell, it's long gone now. 

Thanksgiving Is for Family

Began a rainy morning with breakfast and Thanksgiving stories from Colliers Harvest of Holidays. They only have one long piece for Thanksgiving, but it's a pilgrim grandmother's charming recollection of what the first Thanksgiving was like. There's also several poems and the song "Over the River and Through the Woods." 

Since there wasn't much, I tossed in a few more short stories and children's stories. Molly's Pilgrim is the original version of the book that would become a lovely Oscar-winning short subject in 1985. Here, the story is set in what I presume to be the early 1900's, and it makes more references to Molly and her family being Jewish. The sweet ending with the teacher explaining why "it takes all kinds of pilgrims to make a Thanksgiving" remains the same, though. 

Disney's Storybookland anthology features the 40's short story "Pilgrim's Party." Mickey takes Minnie, Donald, and Pluto east to visit New England and the Plymouth Plantation to join a group reenacting the first Thanksgiving in costume. It's all fun and Pilgrim cosplay, until Pluto steals the turkey! I also did a very funny retelling of "Babes In Toyland" from Fantasyland that was closer to the original movie than the one in Storybookland. 

Mom called as I was getting dressed. Keefe's wife Julia's side of the family tends to bring drama wherever they go, so they opted to have some of Keefe's friends from the Navy over instead. They did get to see the Macy's parade. Mom said Aurora adores Minnie Mouse and was as over-the-moon about seeing her balloon in the Macy's parade as her father was about the Pikachu balloon in 2001. 

Since the Macy's Parade is the exclusive domain of Peacock online, I put the Philly parade on ABC's website instead. I did see a few balloons, a toy soldier and Brainy Smurf. For some reason, they really got into disco and vintage rap in this parade. Chic, the Funky Bunch, and a Motown group all danced in the parade. I saw a float designed to look underwater, another themed around Philadelphia landmarks like the LOVE sign, and a train. The Philadelphia Eagles cheerleaders really got into their routine. We had performances from the Neil Diamond bio musical A Beautiful Noise and Elf: The Musical. Everyone was in high spirits despite the continuing downpour, and it all seemed to go off without a hitch.

After the parade, I did things in my rooms and made the bed while watching Alice's Restaurant. I go further into this meandering 1969 retelling of Arlo Guthrie's epic folk song at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Happy Thanksgiving! - Alice's Restaurant

Thankfully, the rain had long subsided by quarter of 2, though it remained cold and damp. I quickly stopped at the kiosk in front of the former library to drop off a book, then rode my bike over to Rose's house. I was greeted by a noisy Oreo and Cider, who wanted to see what was going on and greet the new arrival. It took a few minutes to shoo them back in and put my things down!

Rose's husband Craig was watching the Lions-Bears game when I arrived. I spent the next hour and a half or so watching the game and playing with Rose's 7-year-old daughter Finley. Craig's parents arrived about a half hour after I did, walking with canes and sounding raspy. Apparently, they both just had surgery. Needless to stay, they stayed at the table the whole time.

Rose did put out quite a lunch spread. There was shrimp cocktail, a vegetable tray with cucumbers, celery sticks, and mushrooms, a crackers and cheese tray with a cranberry log, sausage sticks, and pepperoni, and a fruit tray with pineapple, blueberries, apple slices, and pomegranate seeds. I ate lots of almost everything but the apples, which I have plenty of at home. 

(Oh, and the Lions were up 16 - 0 when I got in. The Bears did make a huge comeback, but they missed a long throw at the end that cost them the game. The Lions just squeaked by them 23-20 in game that was much better than I thought it would be.)

Rose made an absolutely gorgeous turkey this year. Craig's mother and I both said it should have been on the cover of Gourmet Magazine. I'd never seen a turkey more perfectly brown and seasoned. Tasted pretty good, too. Along with the turkey, we had stuffing, mashed potatoes. sweet potatoes with brown sugar, green beans with bacon, white and pumpernickel rolls, cranberry sauce, and roasted Parmesan butternut squash. Everything was good, but I think my favorite thing was the squash. I didn't know squash could taste so good when so cheesy.

Joined Finley to watch the new Netflix movie Spellbound (which I'll go further into on Saturday) while Rose and Craig set out the desserts. Rose always makes a splendid apple pie, and there were tiny cherry tartlets and cheesecake along with my apple cider pound cake, but I only had eyes for Craig's pumpkin pie. Besides, it was all I could fit in after that big dinner! The pies could be topped with ice cream, but I don't think they're right without real whipped cream.

Headed home after I ate and Rose handed me a big pan of leftovers. After I got in, I spent the rest of the night watching the Best of Match Game PM countdown marathon. There's so many good nighttime episodes, the marathon began at 2 PM! The Admiral Color TV episode wasn't the first time Richard made a bet with Gene on the Audience Match and came up a winner. He did something similar when Gene didn't believe his "Cuts" would be up with "Burns __." There was also the time Richard and Charles wore big hats and claimed to be "Your Basic Big Picture Hat Society," or the time Charles gave his toupee to a balding but personable young man, or when two hapless contestants only made it to the Audience Match because Charles matched them each once, and then matched one again during a tiebreaker. 

Enjoy a feast of nighttime fun with some of the best Match Game episodes ever shown after dark!

Feast of Favorites - Match Game PM Countdown of Greatness

And I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving matching with all the people you love!

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!

Of Mothers and Matches

Began the morning with a quick breakfast and one of the many CDs I've picked up recently. Live at the World Cafe has long been a nonprofit venue for local indie bands in the Philly and South Jersey area to get exposure, and it's one of the long-running shows on NPR radio station WXPN. Research reveals that they started releasing CDs based on the series in 1997 and continued to through at least 2019. The only name I recognized is Suzanne Vega, but considering I picked up the CD for free, I was willing to try something different. Along with Vega's "Frank & Eva," other decent numbers include Iron & Wine's "Boy With a Coin," "She Tried to Hold Me" by the Waterboys, and "On Peak Hill" by Stars.

Headed off to work as the CD ended. Though the streets were wet and it was cold and windy, it wasn't raining. I figured I'd be fine taking my bike to work, and I was. It remained cloudy and cold all day, but other than some very mild spitting around noon, it hasn't rained again. 

It wasn't bad at the Acme when I arrived or when I left. People started coming out of church around 11:30-12 to pick up flowers and a nice dinner for Mom. Fortunately, we had plenty of help. There were two people in the floral department and two baggers all day. I did returns, pushed carts, wiped up water dripped and spilled from all those bouquets being bought in the floral department, and helped consolidate buckets of flowers as they emptied. Texted Mom to wish her a Happy Mother's Day during lunch. 

I was so thirsty after work, I thought I'd pick up a treat. Stopped at Common Grounds Coffee for an iced tea. Thought I'd try "Very Berry Matcha," a matcha tea drink with strawberry syrup topped with freeze-dried strawberries. Oooh, yum! Sweet and earthy and just enough berry flavor. The small Very Berry Matcha donut wasn't bad, either.

Changed when I got home and listened to more of my recent CD finds. Since I have a ton of Frank Sinatra, I thought I'd branch out and pick up music from some of the other Rat Pack members. Dean Martin's specialties were laid-back ballads and Italian-flavored dance tunes. I heard a lot of him in college after his lounge-y style made him popular during the neo-swing revival of the late 90's - early 2000's. "Ain't That a Kick In the Head" has always been my favorite from him, though I think the songs most associated with him today are "That's Amore" and "You're Nobody 'Till Somebody Loves You." Other familiar songs here include "Everybody Loves Somebody," "Just In Time," and "Mambo Italiano." 

The Flamingos were one of the earliest popular R&B groups. "Golden Teardrops" was their first major hit. Today, they're probably best-remembered for their heartfelt covers of "Goodnight Sweetheart" and "I Only Have Eyes for You." Other good songs from the early era of rock include "That's My Desire," "Lovers Never Say Goodbye," and another decent cover, "Love Walked In." 

Worked on writing for a while. The rabbit leads Kathleen to a little cottage built into the side of a tree. It turns out to belong to an older woman who was out gathering fruit and vegetables. The lady recognizes Kathleen's bunny friend...and Kathleen herself...

Finished the night with dinner and the Match Game Mother's Day marathon. Mothers abounded on this show, from women like Bonnie Franklin of One Day at a Time and Esther Rolle of Good Times who played them on TV to the real mothers among the panelists and contestants. Jo Ann Pflug and Patti Deustch appeared on the show while pregnant. Patti's son Max and Gary Burghoff's daughter Gina appeared in Gene's arms to open a 1978 episode. This one also featured another TV mom, Hope Lange of The Ghost and Mrs. Muir. Elaine Joyce's darling daughter Taylor Van came onstage to show off her Polish dance costume during a syndicated episode. Brett proudly boasted about her pretty twentysomething daughter Leslie in the audience (who looked exactly like a redheaded version of her mother). 

Possibly the most memorable episode featuring a mother was the 1978 episode from the week with Joe Garagiola. The male contestant's pregnant wife was in the audience...despite having gone into labor. The contestant and his wife were pretty much the only people in the studio who weren't nervous about this! Gene and the panelists tried to rush the game along in order to get that mom-to-be to the hospital faster, which led to some pretty strange answers, even for this show. A few weeks later, the couple sent an announcement of their beautiful new baby boy to the show. Richard read the details on the air. 

Match the stars with your mom and some of the funniest mothers ever on television!

Match Game Sunday Classics - Mother's Day Marathon

Oh, and Mom called during the first hour of the marathon. She had a nice, quiet Mother's Day. Keefe, Julia, and Aurora went out to brunch with Julia's family. Mom decided she wanted some peace and opted to stay home. Even as she called, Keefe was making his three favorite ladies burgers on the grill. 

Here's hoping you had an equally fun Mother's Day matching with the mothers in your life!

Birthdays and Matches

Started off my birthday with breakfast and Match Game '73 on YouTube. Brett and Charles made their first appearances on the show's third week, while Bert Convy and Betty White appeared outside of the pilot for the first time. It's also the first of many, many times Brett chides Charles for not wearing socks, and the first time Betty and Brett trade quips.

Headed out after that. The Uber driver didn't even need a minute to arrive. Thankfully, there was very little traffic as he headed down the highway and turned off to Deptford. He dropped me off at the front Boscov's Deptford Mall entrance around 11 AM.

Explored Boscov's first. I didn't see any clothes I liked, but they were having good sales on socks. They always have a great selection of decent socks. I walked out with a 3 pack of tan and brown cotton Goldtoe socks that came to $12 with 25 percent off.

FYE is a few doors down from Boscov's. While they no longer have the wonderful selection of DVDs and CDs they once did, they do have a decent pile of records. I found jazz group The Charlie Hunter Trio's Bing Bing Bing for $15. 

Made my way down to the other side of the mall and into Round 1 Arcade. They were a lot busier than usual, with far more small kids running around with parents. The ring toss and Lane Master bowling game were down, but everything else worked. I ran from the Monopoly dice spin to the Nerf Arcade to the giant Pac Man game to skee ball to the spinning pirate wheel to Mario Kart Deluxe (I ended up with Luigi). Came up with over 2,900 points. Normal-sized Beanie Babies were only 400 points each. I got fluffy Tundra the Snow Leopard and sweet Chopper the Dalmatian, along with two tiny popping candy bags and one of those Chinese yo-yos for 10 and 30 points each. And I still have over 2,000 points left for when Lauren visits in June.

It was past 1:30 when I finally had lunch at the food court. I really loved Pitas and Salad, the Greek food booth where I had lunch when Lauren visited last year. Had a delicious lamb and beef gyro with thick, dry fries and big tomato chunks. 

Bubble Bear Tea literally just opened a few days ago. Thought I'd finally give bubble tea a whirl. Tried their coconut milk tea. The "bubbles" were tapioca pearls, and they had a rather strange, gummy mouth feel. The coconut milk tea was good, but the bubbles were weird. I think I'll stick to green tea from now on when I want to do an exotic tea drink.

JC Penney is right behind the food court, so I went there next. They were having big clearance sales, including buy-one, get-one free on any items with a pink label. It took me forever to decide, but I finally came up with brown jeans (my old pair are starting to go in the thighs - I don't know if they'll survive another winter) and a gold cable sweater. The buy one, get one was more like buy one, get them half-off. With the sale, I got both for about $8 all together.

Peeked at the toy and accessories stores Box Lunch and Miniso, but it was past 3:30 by that point. If I wanted to check out Barnes and Noble too, I figured I might as well get going. Besides, the mall wasn't getting any less busy. I could barely move around in the toy stores. Went out the main entrance door, around Macy's, and past Dick's to the parking lot.

I originally tried to cross at the corner, but it was too crazy. As I headed down the street to cross closer to my destination, I saw something small and dirty laying in the street. It was a little Beanie Baby giraffe, all covered in dirt and bits of leaves. I couldn't just leave him there sitting next to the curb, so I brushed him off as best I could and stuck him in my bag. 

Ducked past the abandoned shopping center that once held Christmas Tree Shoppes and Bed Bath and Beyond before making it to Barnes and Noble. They were also busy, but there's also more room to spread out. I dug two mysteries out of the cozy section and found a book on game shows on the entertainment shelves. Deptford does have a music and DVD area, and they too now sell records.  

My Barnes and Noble finds were: 

The soundtracks for Encanto and The Three Amigos (and I never thought I'd see a soundtrack for the latter - apparently, it's exclusive to Barnes & Noble)

Dim Sum of All Fears - Vivien Chien

Rhythm and Clues - Olivia Blacke

Game Show Confidential - Boze Hadleigh

Stopped in at the Starbucks there to wet my whistle. This time, I went with a small Green Tea Frappuccino. It was cold and I was thirsty. I went through my finds while downing my drink.

Soon as I got outside, I called Uber. It took the young woman about 9 minutes to pick me up, but it was the height of rush hour on a Sunday. At any rate, we once again hit no traffic, and I was home in 20 minutes.

Put everything upstairs, then went right back out again. It was too nice of a day to sit inside. The weather was gorgeous. It remained windy, but was also sunny and warm, probably in the upper 60's. I originally wanted to get a treat from Los Amigos, but it turns out that they close early on Saturday. I considered Dunkin' Donuts, but they didn't have much left, and I didn't feel like hiking all the way to WaWa. I just went home after that.

As it turned out, someone already took care of that. A friend, two neighbors, and their daughter made a pineapple-upside down cake for me. I love pineapple upside-down cakes! I've made them myself a few times. My friend also gave me a card and a huge bouquet of pale pink roses that smell so nice. 

I heard from my family, too. Jessa texted late last night to see if I wanted to hit the Cherry Blossom Festival in Philly with her. I didn't get to it until late, and she didn't read it until much later. We decided to go bowling tomorrow or Tuesday instead. Rose texted me, and I had a nice chat with Mom (who also sent a lovely card). 

Soon as I got home, I took that poor little stuffed giraffe to the sink and gave him a good scrubbing. I hope I got all the dirt off. It took me forever just to pull the needle-like leaves stuck in him. Since he didn't come with his tag, I had no idea what his name was. My friend suggested Geoffrey, after the Toys R Us mascot. I think that will do just fine. At any rate, he now looks much better, or at least, is less dusty.

Watched more Match Game episodes after I went upstairs. One of the most famous early episodes was from the only week where Bobby Van and Elaine Joyce got to sit side-by-side (and the only time Elaine was in Brett's character actress seat). The contestant's answer to a question about Batman and Robin's relationship now has this episode banned from the airwaves. 

Switched to favorite episodes of the night time show after that. Two of the show's best early episodes has Gene questioning Richard's seemingly unusual answers in the Audience Match...and in the case of "Burns and __" and "Admiral __," let's say Richard was right both times. Another show begins with several panelists standing up and saluting a Scottish officer in full regalia. 

The Match Game Sunday Classics marathon began around 7:30 and ran until past 3:30. Ira Skutch, the show's producer and judge, was in the spotlight tonight. A tall gentleman with high cheekbones and a fondness for leisure suits, Ira generally appeared on camera when he had to replace a question that had been compromised in some way with a new one, or to explain his rulings. Among the time he had to do the latter was during the week Donald Ross and Patti Deustch played together. Donald said "a little yellow spot" as to what a dog did on the floor and it was passed. Two other people said "spot," and it was buzzed. Ira told them he passed yellow spot because it was specific.

Ira's rulings could cause a lot of trouble, most notoriously during the infamous "School Riot" in 1977. Ira let "college" and "scuba diving school" slide as answers to where Dumb Dora took her cultured pearls to, but not "finishing school" or "night school." Debralee Scott and Richard Dawson threw a fit. Patti Deustch was so scared, she could barely show her "night school" answer. Brett and Charles tried to defuse the situation by showing Charles as "the first victim of the school riot," but the damage had been done. The lower tier kept their answers up in protest for what little remained of the episode.

On the other hand, his decisions could benefit the contestants. When one woman struck out completely in the Audience Match in a 1976 PM episode and couldn't do the Head-to-Head, they let her match the panelists for 100 dollars each. She ended up going home with 600 dollars and a smile on her face. 

See if you can match answers with the show's infamously finicky producer and judge! 

Match Game Sunday Classics - Featuring Producer Ira Skutch On Camera

And here's the other episodes I watched today!

1973 - First Appearances of Brett, Betty, Bert, and Charles

1973 - Batman and Robin are What?!

1975 PM - Burns and Cuts

1975 PM - Stand Up To Salute!

1975 PM - The Admiral TV Incident

Oh, and the nice weather didn't last forever. The rain returned somewhere around 10:30. It rained hard for a while, but thought it remains windy, I don't think it's rained since.