Spring at the Library

Began the day with breakfast and Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. "Daniel Explores Nature" when he and his family have a picnic outside and see cardinals building their nest. "Daniel's Nature Walk" shows Dan, O the Owl, and his uncle X all the wonders of nature in the rain as they go for a stroll outside.

Called Uber after the cartoon ended. To my surprise, the car going to the Cherry Hill Library arrived in 5 minutes. It only took 7 minutes going home. There was a little traffic on Cuthbert going home, but otherwise, it wasn't bad.

Today was the start of the first Cherry Hill Library book sale of the year. The basement level was bursting with boxes of DVDs, CDs, and records, the meeting room had humor books and children's literature, and the larger meeting room had the adult literature and non-fiction. No record finds this time around, but I did pick up four books, five CDs (one a two-disc set), and two DVD sets. The DVD sets were:

The Adventures of Superman: Seasons 3 and 4

The Best of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Volume 2

The CDs were:

Springtime Favorites - A Disney Easter and spring-themed kids' album from 1999 

James Taylor - The Best of James Taylor

Hall & Oates - Greatest Hits: Rock N' Soul Part I

The original Broadway cast albums for The Color Purple and Sunset Boulevard (I had Boulevard on cassette in the early 90's, but I got rid of it ages ago.) 

The books were:

The White Lady by Jacqueline Windspear

Miracle On 34th Street by Valentine Davies 

Men of Tomorrow: Geeks, Gangsters, and the Birth of the Comic Book by Gerald Jones (I think I've taken this one out of the Haddon Township Library before, but it's been a while.)

American Cooking: The Eastern Heartland (They had all of the early 70's Time-Life cookbooks, including the ones for French, Japanese, and Chinese cooking. I went with the one closest to home, so to speak.)

(At least I didn't argue over whether they could just buy CD cases, like one guy did. If my haul seems big, there were people buying dozens of CDs to sell on line and piles and piles of books for their friends who owned a store to sell.)

Put on The Pirates of Dark Water and had a quick leftover pizza lunch after I got home. "Panacea" is the land where the next treasure can be found, but it's guarded by an enormous crustacean. There's a certain flower that can heal most people, but kill the monster. A shady "bio-transmuter" who combines animals into new species offers a small half-fish, half-mammal to be their guide to finding the flower. The little fellow is annoying, sarcastic, and offends everyone, until Ren figures out what he really wants.

Headed to the Thomas Sharp School after the cartoon ended. I forgot that today is also Take Your Child to Work Day. Most of the kids went to work with their parents. We had 16 younger children, 5 at my table. The kids wouldn't help clean up, and they were noisy in the bathroom...and noisier in the cafeteria after snack! The head teacher finally put on a video about making a "cake" from rainbow slime to distract them from the daughter of one of those working mothers who was watching movies on her iPad.

By the time we got them outside, we were down to 10 kids. Those that remained were allowed to go on the swings from the outset. Despite some squabbling, I did enjoy pushing them. As I pointed out, Moana and her crew couldn't have been more right. What could be better than a perfectly sunny, gorgeous, breezy April day in the lower 70's, not too hot or cold? The kids danced to "I Like to Move It," "Pink Pony Club," "Try Everything" from Zootopia, "Zoo" from Zootopia 2, "Pup Pup Boogie" from Paw Patrol, the theme from Bluey, and songs from Moana and Moana 2 when they weren't drawing with chalk or arguing over the swings. The head teacher was just moving the remaining 3 kids to the blacktop to play with the 6 remaining older kids as I left. 

Made a quick stop at CVS on the way home. In addition to a pit stop, the Native shampoo and conditioner I bought still isn't helping my itchy perimenopause scalp. I hope the CereVe works better.

Had dinner and watched Daddy Long Legs when I got in. I go further into this charming 1955 dance musical with Leslie Caron and Fred Astaire at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Daddy Long Legs (1955)

Finished the night with the second disc from the Pisces, Aquarius Monkees set. Truth be told, there's far less of interest here. There's a few songs on the original mono album that sound slightly different from their stereo counterparts, notably the addition of Mike's patter on "Salesman." Most of the other songs are remixes of ones that are already on the album or been heard elsewhere. We do get the unedited version of "Goin' Down" used on the TV show and some alternate vocals for "Door Into Summer." 

Rain In the Morning

Got a really quick start this morning when I overslept again. I had enough time to write in my journal, change, have breakfast, and call Uber. Alas, they couldn't come for 12 minutes. I arrived one minute late.

As it turned out, I could have been infinitely late. We were quiet all morning. It started raining around 11, getting pretty heavy at one point. The rain and cooler temperatures scared off our customers. It got mildly busy around 11:30-12, then went right back to being quiet again. Other than having to put away a few cold items, there were no problems whatsoever.

Once I changed, I went across the Black Horse Pike to Rexy's Bar. Thought I'd try their flatbread or pizza. Went with "The Italian Job" pizza - mozzarella, tomato sauce, ricotta, peppers, thick sweet sausage slices. I ordered the individual pie. I expected something more like Pizza Hut's individual pan pizza, a little pie that came in a pan. What I got was what would be called a "small" at most pizzerias. It was delicious, especially the sausage, but I ended up taking half of it home.

After lunch, I went back over to the Acme. Got a treat so I could take out money for the Cherry Hill Library book sale tomorrow. Called Uber early. I didn't want to be late this time. They arrived in 8 minutes...too early, as it turned out. I went for a walk around the two blocks nearest to the school until it was time for work. West Collingswood is such a lovely little town, with so many nice older houses and charming gardens, I really should check out more of it.

Good thing I did arrive early. We had 26 kids today, 9 of them at my table. The kids at my table cleaned up well enough and were fine in the bathrooms. Once they all finished snack time, though, they were a mess. The boys playing with magnetic tiles in particular threw so many of them around, there were barely any left on the table by the time we were getting ready to go outside, and everyone who had sat at the table were kept inside for 10 minutes. (Though one girl did sneak out anyway.) The ones coloring weren't much better. They ripped the white paper we taped down for them to stencil on, to the point where I finally threw it away and gave them regular paper.

Things were still crazy, even when we got outside. At least all of the teachers were here this time. I had to meditate between the two squabbling best friends again. Another girl threw an absolute fit when she tried to climb up the slides (which she's not supposed to do anyway) and some of the other kids blocked her. It calmed down a little by 4:30 when more kids started to go home. That's when they were allowed on the swings, too. Everyone wanted me to push them, even the kids who are perfectly capable of swinging on their own.

Thank heavens the weather had much improved by quarter of 5. If there weren't a few fat drops of water left on the slides, you'd never know it rained this morning. The streets weren't even wet anymore. It was sunny, breezy, and much warmer, likely in the lower-mid 60's. It was so nice, the kids never went back inside. The head teacher took the four remaining younger kids to the blacktop in the back to play ball games with the five remaining older kids as I called Uber. It took me two tries, but I did get one that came in 7 minutes, not bad for the height of the dinner rush hour.

Put on Buzzr when I got home. The Price Is Right was already into the Showcases. I think I might have seen this episode before, actually. The first one was a generic "every room in the house" that ended with a piano. The second saluted the then-popular CBS soap Capitol with a trip to Washington DC, a sports car, and an appearance on the show. Two of the hunky leading men even appeared in some segments. Alas, the lady going for the soap went over. The other lady got her piano.

Things went better on Match Game '90. The entire night was devoted to the week with Vicki Lawrence sitting in the second "character actress" seat next to Charles for the first time. She was joined by Jimmie Walker, slightly ditzy soap star Jacklyn Zeman, and stand-up comedian and voice actor Roger Behr. Honestly, Roger was the funniest this week, tossing out a few good quips. No wonder he'd been doing voices on Hanna-Barbara shows since the 70's, and would continue doing them up until his death in 2018. 

Moved to Disney Plus for two animated episodes about respecting plant life, the birth-death cycle, and helping our planet next. In Muppet Babies, Summer Penguin learns why "It's Not Easy Being Greeny" when her beloved daisy Greeny McPlant Plant starts to wilt. The Muppets do everything they can to revive it, but to no avail. Nanny gently explains about the birth-death cycle to them and that it's ok to miss their friend. "Dueling Harmonicas" is a little less dark. Rizzo the Rat stubs his toe and decides to play harmonica in the Muppet Talent Show instead of dance. Fozzie, who is also playing harmonica, tries to get him to do something else.

Usagi and the Guardians also learn a lesson about the importance of plant life and preserving it during the first season of Sailor Moon. Usagi isn't thrilled when Rei manages to snag a date with an unimpressed Mamoru in "Usagi's Panic: Rei's First Date." She grabs nerdy Umino and uses him to keep an eye on the two. Ami is more concerned about the kindly old park manager who is upset that the park may get torn down for an office building. Nephrite of the Dark Kingdom has used his black energy to possess him and the animals in the park, who attack anyone who seemingly abuse nature. It takes the combined effort of all three girls and Tuxedo Mask to get rid of the flowery monster who took over his body.

Finished the night with the first disc from my last birthday/Easter present to myself. The deluxe 4-disc CD edition of Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn, and Jones LTD that I ordered from Rhino Records finally turned up today. It's the same as the previous CD box sets, two discs of the original songs on the album with remixes and rarities, another of backing tracks and rarities, a 45 featuring two of those rarities as singles (in this case "Goin' Down" and "Love Is Only Sleeping" in alternate mixes), and a book on how it all went down. Considering there's far fewer rarities here and more remixes of songs already available, I wonder if the well is really going dry here. Actually, the stand-out on the first disc that hadn't already been heard in one form or another is a lovely alternate version of "Riu Chiu," which the Monkees performed on the Christmas episode of their TV show. 

We Have All the Time In the World

Began the morning with a quick breakfast and The Best of James Bond. This is an older CD collection of Bond themes up to License to Kill, plus instrumental music from the films and "We Have All the Time In the World" by Louis Armstrong on a second disc. I only had time for the Sean Connery Bond films - the iconic "Goldfinger," the title ballads from From Russia With Love and Thunderball, the lovely title song from You Only Live Twice by Nancy Sinatra, the searing Shirley Bassey title song from Diamonds are Forever - and the first two Roger Moore movies. The dark hard rock title song from Live and Let Die is one of Wings' best songs, but Lulu's title number for The Man With the Golden Gun is as bland as that movie is strange. 

I got such a late start, I ended up taking Uber to work. I think I made the right choice. It took less than 3 minutes for the morning driver to arrive. The afternoon driver came in 8 minutes. No trouble either way, absolutely no traffic - it was all going in the opposite direction. I got to work with time to spare.

No trouble at work, either. It was off-and-on busy all day again. I did have to shelve some cold items, but I was mostly sweeping or outside pushing carts. I wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else. Once again, the weather was absolutely gorgeous and perfect for April, mid-60's and sunny and breezy as can be. They did send one of the college boys who had been cashiering to help out later. Otherwise, there were no major problems, and I was in and out.

Soon as I got home, I changed and went down for a nap. I'm sooo tired. I'm not used to working five days in a row at the Acme anymore. Passed out a little after 2:30 and didn't get up until 4:30.

Listened to More of the Monkees after I rolled out of bed. I found a double-disc vinyl version of the Monkees' second album at the FYE in Deptford two years ago. The Monkees may not have been fans of their second album, especially the bland cover they had no input in, but you can't argue with the results. Their biggest hit song, "I'm a Believer," came from this album, along with "I'm Not Your Stepping Stone" and "Look Out, Here Comes Tomorrow." I'm more partial to one of the group's best ballads, the lovely "Sometime In the Morning." The second vinyl disc features rarities that were recorded around the same time like "Apples, Peaches, Bananas, and Pears," "I Never Thought It Peculiar," "I'll Spend My Life With You," and the early versions of "Words" and "Valleri." 

Finished the night with the Sunday Match Game marathon. Plaid seemed to have been extremely popular for suits in the 1970's, especially early in the decade. Richard Dawson made plaid work in two jackets, one purple plaid, one brown, that he wore into 1977. He also seemed fond of a black and white houndstooth jacket. 

Gene Rayburn never seemed to quite figure out plaid. Probably the most infamous suit he ever wore was that green and red plaid monstrosity from late 1973. The panelists wouldn't even look at him when he came out. Jack Carter said he looked like a station break in Poland. (And given what Jack's shirt looked like, he wasn't one to talk.) Brett Somers and Pat Harrington teased him about his gray and white check with the pink shirt and bow-tie later in 1973, too, saying he looked like half of a vaudeville team. Richard thought he looked like a used car salesman.

Check out the checks and plaids in this hilarious and well-dressed marathon!

Match Game Sunday Classics - Best Plaid Suits & Fashions On Match Game

The Beautiful Entertainers

Began the morning with breakfast and She-Ra and the Princesses of Power. We learn more about Shadow Weaver, formerly known as "Light Spinner," in this episode. She was once a good magician and teacher who was mentoring a young man named Michah. She wanted to use dark magic to combat the Horde attacking her land, but ended up being consumed by the very magic she tried to control and joining the Horde instead. While she manipulates Catra into helping her escape, Bow finally interprets the message he got back in "Signals."

Switched to Because You're Mine after the cartoon ended. I go further into the first of three vehicles for Philadelphia tenor Mario Lanza I'll be doing this week at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Because You're Mine

Spent most of the morning - and actually, a lot of the day - working on the flashback sequence of Maplepunzel. Hope Springs was once a beautiful, culturally-obsessed country of theaters and artists. Scott and Betty are deeply in love, and he wants to run away with her to Yorkalia, where he'll start his own business and she'll write without Hilary's interference. 

Hilary and her financier Rollie Pruitt stop him before his plans get far. Pruitt told Hilary Scott stole money from businesses in Hope Springs. Queen Hilary banishes him for the theft. He returns to Betty the evening of her engagement party, but Hilary told Betty about Scott's theft, and she slaps him instead of listening. She'll go through with the engagement to the frequently absent Prince Victor, even though deep down, she still cares for Scott. He watches her run upstairs in her lacy white and pink gown, but Hilary's guards throw him out.

Pruitt, however, is working for Pavla, who has promised him a beautiful bride of his own (Maple) in exchange for getting rid of Scott. She transforms Hilary's guards into monsters and the members of her court and prominent citizens of Hope Springs at Betty's engagement ball into woodland animals. Her monsters attack Hilary as she prepares Betty for the party. Pavla uses Hilary's own hand mirror to curse them into the things they fear most. Hilary is now the ugly old crone she fears being, while Pavla steals Betty's voice and turns her into a pet deer and Hilary's only remaining possession besides the mirror.

Switched to the first CD of The Monkees deluxe 2-disc set during lunch in honor of songwriter Bobby Hart, who passed away a week ago. Hart was one half of the songwriting team of Boyce and Hart, who were the initial writers for The Monkees project. The vast majority of the songs on the Monkees' self-titled album were written by them, including "Let's Dance On," "Theme from The Monkees," and the hit "Last Train to Clarksville." 

Headed out to the Thomas Sharp School after the CD ended. We started out in the school's tiny library, thanks to the school band rehearsal in the gym/cafeteria running overtime. The kids loved it when I read Arthur Writes a Story (since I'm currently writing one, too) and the Little Critter story Gets Lost for them. I got a big crowd around my table who wanted to hear about Arthur's writing project and Little Critter being lost at the mall. 

After snack time, I spent the rest of the afternoon helping out with the older kids. For once, there were more of them than there were of the pre-schoolers. I made sure they all went to the bathroom and washed their hands (and that the boys were actually doing those things and not messing around). After that, I did art with the older girls while the little kids were outside, running around on a cold, windy, gray day. I drew the scene I just wrote of Betty turning Scott away after he admits he lied to her about where the money for their escape came from, then a scene I have planned for later, where Maple cries onto the blinded Victor and restores his sight.

Made a brief stop at the Speedy Mart on the way home. I hadn't really done much of anything today besides write and thought I deserved a treat. Enjoyed a Prime drink (Nightmare!) and a huge, moist chocolate-chocolate chip muffin that was really tasty.

When I got home, I resumed writing. Watched The Sting in honor of Robert Redford, who passed away today. Small-time con man Johnny Hooker (Redford) joins up with the more experienced Henry Gondorff (Paul Newman) to take down Irish mobster Doyle Lonnegan (Robert Shaw) after he has Johnny's former partner Luther (Robert Earl Jones) killed. They join with Henry's sarcastic girlfriend Billie (Eileen Brennan) and a team of experienced con-artists to create a fake horse betting scam that will lure Doyle in and take him down once and for all.

Soon as the movie ended, I put the soundtrack on. The movie and the soundtrack are two of my all-time favorites. The Sting was one of the catalysts behind a major revival of ragtime in the 70's. Scott Joplin's "The Entertainer" became a huge top-10 hit more than 60 years after it was written, and it's still associated with the film to this day.

Finished the night with More of the Monkees. Although Boyce and Hart would continue writing songs for the Monkees until well into the early 70's, this was the last time they produced their album. Their version of "I'm Not Your Stepping Stone" was the big hit here. The dark ballad "She" was their other major song on the album, though the two-disc version I have also includes their "Words." 

(Oh, and it started showering shortly after I got home and has rained lightly off and on ever since.)

Rainbow World

Got a quick start today with a very late breakfast and She Ra and the Princesses of Power. "In the Shadows of Mystacor" takes an anxious Adora to the home of Glimmer's aunt Castaspella. She's preparing for a ritual that will renew the magical barrier on Mystacor and keep it invisible from harm. Glimmer and Bow don't believe her when she claims Shadow Weaver is present...but when something disrupts the festival, Adora has to face her fears and her past to defeat it.

Hurried out after that. Stopped quickly at the Speedy Mart on Collings Avenue to get a banana, bottle of water, and blueberry muffin for lunch. Bought them, hurried down the street to the school. I got the bike up the hill, but when I came around to the playground, the gate seemed to be locked. I ended up going back around, which made me slightly late.

At least the kids were able to go outside today! It was cloudy, humid, and cool, but not to the degree of yesterday. Considering how rowdy the boys were in the halls going to the bathroom and during lunch, it's a very good thing. Even then, there was trouble. One of the boys ran into one of the girls, who hit the chain-link fence, opened a scab on her elbow, and rushed to me in tears. I played nurse and cleaned and bandaged her elbow while the boy apologized profusely behind us. Also sat with one of the girls who said she didn't feel well - poor baby later admitted she had a cold - and argued one of the boys off the swings when another teacher and I reminded him that he'd been on there for way too long. 

The kids had more fun drawing inside. I didn't know 4-year-olds had such wonderful eyes for color and detail! Their rainbows and pink stages looked absolutely gorgeous. They were also fascinated by my drawing a rainbow that looked like the Squishmallow last week and my attempts at doing Hilary, Jeff, Betty, Scott, and Maple. One of the girls even helped me, adding to Maple's flowered hat. Another gave me her pink and blue stage artwork.

Once again, I was able to get off early at 4 PM. Went straight home this time and put on Remember WENN as I settled in. Mackie gets the spotlight in "A Star In Stripes Forever." Betty attends a convention in Utica, leaving Mackie in charge. It goes to his head, until gangster Palermo Racine turns up at the station. Turns out Mackie once worked for him, but ended up in prison. Eugenia tries to play him, but it's Scott who comes up with the idea to reveal just enough to get rid of Palermo Racine for good.

Maple's wondering why everyone thinks she's "A Girl Like Maple" when the guys don't mind her joining their bad jokes, but try to shield Betty and Eugenia from them. She falls hard for Congressman Bob Farraday (Boyd Gaines) when she uses a deep, cultured voice for the political interview show Men In the Headlines, but worries what he'll think when he hears her real Brookyn accent. The others try on their own Brooklyn accents to help her out, but ultimately, she learns an important lesson in being true to yourself and your own way of talking.

Worked on Land of WENN while the show was on. I finally completed the sequence where Jeff manages to escape Hilary's attempts to handcuff him and flee to a carriage, which is where I stalled in 2015. Here, Betty uses a nail file to free Hilary. She does manage to free her in time for their last show, but Hilary's noticeably subdued and missing Jeff badly. 

Switched to Emilia Perez during dinner. I go further into this controversial Oscar-winner for Pride Month at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Musicals On Streaming - Emilia Perez

Watched Sale of the Century after the movie ended. No contest here. Even with buying a huge TV and VCR set and a media center, the one guy was ahead the whole time. Though he did fall back a bit during the second half, he came on strong in the Speed Round. He turned down the fireplace prize, citing him living in Las Vegas and hardly needing it, deciding to continue on for larger prizes. 

Finished the night with some of my recent record and CD acquisitions. Justus, as you can guess from the title, was the direct result of the Monkees' reuniting in the late 90's. It was the first time since 1967 that they wrote and performed everything themselves...and while I think this album is underrated (and it's certainly better than the previous guilty pleasure Pool It), some attempts at hard rock and grunge make this another one that's very of its time. "Never Enough" got the most promotion on its release, but my favorites are Micky's driving "Regional Girl" and "Dying of a Broken Heart" and Davy's sweet "You and I" and "It's Not Too Late." 

The soundtrack from Moana 2 also has it's good points. "Beyond" is hilarious and "Get Lost" dynamic, but most of the music misses Lin-Manuel Miranda's touch. The opening "We're Back" is awkward, while Dwayne Johnson's "Can I Get a Choo-Hoo?" is just too silly. Your mileage may vary, depending on how much you enjoyed both films. 

Regional Girls

Started our day with breakfast and What's New Scooby Doo? "The Unnatural" has Mystery Inc excited to see their favorite slugger break the long-standing home run record, until the ghost of the previous record-holder turns up in the stadium. Now the gang has to search the remains of the old stadium under the current one to find out why this supernatural slugger would prefer the previous record remain standing.

Called Uber to get us to The Big Event in Collingswood around 10:30. No trouble here. The driver came within three minutes, got us there in 10, and there was no traffic on the road.

The Big Event has been Cherry Hill's bowling alley apparently for at least 60 years. We rented shoes and played against each other. To be honest, neither of us are terribly good bowlers. I just barely won the first game, but it was close. Lauren won the second. I did terrible. I don't know why I couldn't get my wrist to turn where I wanted it to go. We had even more fun watching the young teens who were on a school trip play each other. They were hilarious, cheering on every turn, even though most of their scores weren't much better than ours.

We played two full games, then headed to the small arcade on the other side of the building. Though it doesn't have nearly as many games as Round 1 or Dave & Buster's, it's also far cheaper than them, and the machines use less points. Lauren tossed axes into a Velcro bullseye. I spun the monster wheel, got to 4th in a sweet cherry-red sports car on Cruisin' Blast, got 500 points on the pirate wheel, and another 150 on the Monopoly dice. Played a ton of Nerf Arcade, too. By the time we finished, the kids had joined us. They were so crowded around the prize counter, we decided to save our points for another time.

Called Uber again when we got out, this time to get us to the IHOP behind the Cherry Hill Mall. They were a bit busier than they were the last time I was there, including a cheeky old couple who kept teasing the waitress. I had tasty Bananas Foster pancakes with bacon, hash browns, scrambled eggs, and a "pineapple lemonade refresher," pineapple syrup in sparkling lemonade. Lauren couldn't decide and got a sampler with sausage, bacon, a huge slice of French toast that could pass as a flotation device if the building sank, and pancakes. I finished the pancakes, but she did eat everything else and said it was delicious. 

The other reason I wanted to eat at IHOP was to introduce her to the great stores back there. Our next stop was the little bagel shop next-door. I bought a bag of four assorted bagels for a dollar. She got two red velvet cookies and a broken white chocolate chip macadamia nut cookie that she claimed "looked lonely." 

Next, we dashed across the street to Ollie's, and then walked down to the massive 2nd Avenue Thrift Shop at the green-roofed shopping center next-door to the Cherry Hill Mall. We both got snacks at Ollie's. I got Triscuits and a new journal for when my current purple floral journal finishes. Lauren didn't find anything she wanted at the thrift shop. I got jeans for work, a peach polo shirt, a pretty white and blue floral tank top, and three CDs: 

Elton John - Reg Strikes Back

Showstoppers, a collection of musical performances dating back to Blanche Ring and George M. Cohan at the turn of the 20th century.

The original cast album for the Maury Yeston version of The Phantom.

I also found a mystery:

Prologue to Murder, by Lauren Elliott

We headed back to the Cherry Hill Mall after we got out of 2nd Avenue Thrift, going in through Macy's. Lauren explored them, but didn't find anything she wanted. I just used the bathroom. In fact, I don't think either of us bought anything at the mall. We mostly just walked around. Neither of us really need a ton of clothes right now, and neither the Squishmallows store nor Go! Calendars and Books or FYE had anything interesting. 

Stopped for dinner at the food court. Saladworks is my favorite booth here. I had the cranberry chicken salad with the "Sophie's Salad" with grilled chicken, apples, a spring mix, pecans, and cranberries and a roll. Lauren had a turkey cheddar n' bacon panini that was so big, she took part of it home and ate it later. We washed our meals down with Coke Zeros. 

After we briefly checked out JC Penney and Old Navy, we briefly split up at the entrance to Nordstrom. I never find anything there. I don't think they even carry my size. Besides, their prices aren't that great. I briefly explored a lingerie shop before buying a sweet and cool strawberry smoothie from the Nordstrom eBar. 

By the time we got out of the mall, it was 6:30. Neither of us were really up to hiking from the bus stop to home, so I called Uber. They arrived in 9 minutes, fairly fast for the height of rush hour. Other than the pleasant older gentleman having to stop for gas, there was no trouble on the road. We got home by almost 7. 

There were two Amazon.com boxes waiting for us when we got in. I promised myself I'd buy one necessary item with my first Healthy Kids paycheck, and one that wasn't really necessary, but I wanted. The necessary one was a new plastic chair pad. The one I picked up from Amazon four years ago shortly before I moved was cracked beyond use from four years of chair rolling. 

The other was the last Monkees album I didn't have in its original form. Rhino just re-released some of the Monkees' lesser-known albums, including Changes, Pool It, and for the first time on LP, their 90's comeback Justus. I think this one is actually a bit underrated. There's some good songs here, including Micky's driving "Regional Girl" and Davy's sweetly nostalgic "You and I." 

Put on Remember WENN while I took the trash out and we got organized. Skipped ahead a bit for my favorite episode from before Victor left, "Armchair Detectives." Jeff Singer finds himself playing Sherlock Holmes for real when a butler they accused of killing his employer claims he didn't do it and wanted his case reopened. 

"Hilary Booth, Registered Nurse" is about to go on the air cost-to-coast with the soap opera Valiant Journey...or she would have, if Mr. Foley hadn't accidentally hit her with the microphone boom. Now Hilary thinks she's the kindly nurse she plays on the station's World War I drama. Betty has to deal with this crisis without the aid of Victor Comstock, who is about to relinquish his manager role to broadcast in war-torn London.

Jeff is also in the spotlight in "Valentino Speaks." A director pays the cast to dub a newly-rediscovered Rudolph Valentino movie, then to finish the last sequence. Jeff, who plays the sheik role, is excited, until he realizes how demanding movie acting is. With Hilary's support, he finally comes to the conclusion that he prefers the many roles he plays as a radio actor to being typecast like Valentino was.

Speaking of silent and sound films, I finished the night after a shower with the 1927 The Jazz Singer. I go further into the original Al Jolson version that was the first talking movie with dialogue at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

The Jazz Singer (1927)

Can't Take My Eyes Off You

Got a late start this morning with breakfast and Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. "Daniel Asks What Friends Like" when it's his job to greet the kids coming in and he needs to find out whether they prefer a high five, a hug, or a wave. Later, he has to explain to Prince Wednesday why he prefers being called "Daniel," not "Danny." Katrina is the waitress at "Miss Elaina's Space Restaurant," but she wants to wear her apron as a cape, and Elaina likes it as an apron.

Watched Supermarket Sweep while making my grocery list. The two women in the first team clearly dominated the game. They got by far the most time in the mini games and made the most in the Big Sweep. But when it came time to do the bonus round, they couldn't find the small bottle of Neet hair remover they were looking for.

Went out to run errands after the episode ended. I was a bit surprised to see teens milling around when I arrived at the Westmont Plaza. They were mainly wearing uniforms, so I assume the catholic high school down the street Paul VI got out early. At least the kids aren't interested in Sprouts. I had no trouble picking up granola bars, coconut milk, and dried apricots. It's going to be too hot to bake this week, so I found vegan chocolate chip cookies on clearance. Found a Cove flavor they didn't have at the Acme (raspberry) and decided to try Reed Soda, since it was on sale.

My next stop went less well. I did pick up two of the newest Tea Shop Mysteries books at the Haddon Township Library, Murder In the Tea Leaves and Peach Tea Smash, and a book by the lady who wrote Wintering, Enchantment, on finding the delight in everyday beauty. They weren't willing to write me a letter of recommendation, though. There was no one still working at the library who remembered when I volunteered there. Bryanna wouldn't, either. They weren't a job, only a non-profit organization. I'm going to have to ask the Acme for a second letter tomorrow.

Did better at the Westmont Acme down the street. Found a very pretty Mother's Day card for my mom. Strawberries, Made Good granola bars, and Choboni yogurt were all on sale with online coupons. Thought I'd try Skyr Yogurt's cold brew coffee flavor on a decent sale as well. Fished an adorable little aqua and pink Squishmallow cow named Ysmaris out of the Easter clearance cart. Her tag says she's an Easter muralist, but her coloring is generic enough for her to be out the entire spring season. Popwell and Jones sodas were also on good sales. 

Took the long way home across Newton Lake Park. It's really beautiful there now. The leaves on the trees get more and more green by the day. Wildflowers wave in the breeze, and I got a glimpse of the new playground equipment that they finally finished across the lake as I rode by. They also put gravel down at the base of the path going over the hill to the Haddon Township Environmental Center. 

Put on Fiesta when I got home while having lunch and putting everything away. I'll go further into this unique Mexican-set vehicle for Esther Williams and Ricardo Montalban tomorrow on my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog for Cinco Del Mayo.

Got my schedule at this point. In good news, I did get next Saturday off as I asked for the Haddon Township Town-Wide Yard Sale (since I did so well with that last year), along with Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.  Bad news is I work long hours when I am there, including an 8 1/2 hour day on Wednesday. No idea what's going on there. 

I vacuumed and Swiftered during the second half of Fiesta. Continued dusting while watching Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In in honor of Ruth Buzzi, the comedienne who passed away today. She was so associated with the show, she would be one of only four actors to appear in all six seasons (and the others were hosts Dan Rowan and Dick Martin and announcer Gary Owens). I started with the very first episode, featuring guest stars Flip Wilson, Barbara Feldon, and a number from the Strawberry Alarm Clock. Buzzi got to do a hilarious opera spoof with Arte Johnson mid-way through during a "talent show," with them in Wagnerian horned headdresses singing an operatic version of a rock song. Also during the talent show segment, we got to hear Tiny Tim perform his own...unique...version of "On the Good Ship Lollipop." 

Looked up some things online while watching the episode of The Monkees Buzzi appeared in. A few months before Laugh-In began, she played a far more amiable little old lady than frumpy Gladys in the second season episode "A Coffin Too Frequent." The Monkees prove her scheming nephew (George Firth) is a fraud during a goofy seance while dodging his enormous and menacing assistant. 

It had been gorgeous for most of the day, sunny and breezy...but it was also very hot, into the upper 80's. It was too hot for cooking, and I was tired of leftovers. I went down to Crown Chicken and Gyro and bought a chicken gyro and fries for dinner. Ate at home while watching Match Game '76. Bonnie Franklin turned up for the first time in the first episode, which also brought in folksy Bill Anderson. Scoey Mitchilll was happier to finally get an ovation after he got an especially good answer in the second.

Took a shower, then put on Buzzi's episode of The Muppet Show. She was one of the first stars on its very first season, probably because she always seemed like something of a human Muppet anyway. Her big number was "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" as a princess who was really into Sweetums. She also plays a soldier who talks - and talks - after being tortured and did a panel show spoof on whether the human body is obsolete. Kermit has more trouble backstage when Scooter creates a wind-up version of him created by his uncle. After the wind-up Kermit hits on her, Piggy tries slapping him...inadvertently discovering her signature karate chop instead! 

Finished the night back at Tubi with the cut-ups at Laugh-In. Wild and wacky Johnathan Winters was a natural fit for this show in a third season episode that had Arte Johnson's dirty old man flirting with his Maude Frickert, to the dismay of Buzzi's Gladys! Winters also played a cop that had to deal with the infamous Frakas family. Lily Tomilin joins the cast here...and proceeds to talk Dan Rowan's ear off during a segment on travel jokes.

By the fifth season, Tomlin and Buzzi had been joined by Richard Dawson, Alan Sues, Barbara Shawma,  Johnny Brown, and child actor Moosie Drier. With Fannie Flagg and Ann Elder doing blackout gags, this episode almost felt like a warm-up for the new version of Match Game that debuted two years later. Health and exercise advocate Jack LaLane's appearance sparked a round of health and fitness gags and jokes, while Buddy Hackett joined Brown for weight gags. Sally Struthers tosses in commentary on the then-success of her show All In the Family. Buzzi's Gladys dreams of being married to Sigmund Freud, but it's not as sexy as she first believes. 

Regional Girls and Circle Skies

Began the morning with breakfast and Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. Daniel and his friends are excited about "The Neighborhood Snowstorm," until it gets so bad that school closes early. Dan's even more upset when a pipe bursts and soaks his room and his beloved Tigey the Adventure Tiger books. He and his little sister Margaret spend time with Jodi and her family while his parents fix the pipe.

Watched Family Feud while making my grocery list, then headed out to run errands. Dropped by the post office very briefly to send Lilah's birthday card off, then rode down to the Westmont Plaza. At least it was a much nicer day for a ride. It's still sunny and much windier, but also warmer, probably in the lower 30's. It's now a lot closer to what it usually is here in late January.

My next stop was Target. I was hoping to find Valentine's Day decorations, but they didn't have anything interesting. I got a warm, earthy Matcha Latte from Starbucks instead. I'd return there later after I finished at Sprouts to see if they had chunky yarn for a project, but all they had was painting and drawing supplies.

I had far more luck at Sprouts. Picked up apples, coconut milk, Zevia diet soda, and coconut macaroons that were on a good sale. Decided to try buying light brown sugar in bulk for the next time I wanted to make cookies. I also got coconut macaroon almonds, and I haven't had oat bran for a nice, hot breakfast in ages. 

Dodged traffic on Cuthbert, finally making my way back to Johnson and down to the pretzel shop for lunch. Got two regular pretzels and a pepperoni-stuffed pretzel. They weren't any busier than Sprouts or Target had been. There were no lines anywhere, not even at Starbucks.

Ate lunch while watching Head. I went further into the Monkees' supremely strange magnum opus at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog back in March 2019.

Cult Flops - Head

After I finished eating, I worked on the Children's inventory for a while. Entered everything from the Disney Babes In Toyland book and record through The Official Album of Disneyland/Walt Disney World. The latter is one of my older finds. I got it off eBay in the summer of 2011. Mousercise, Mickey Mouse Disco, and my Disney book and record of Hansel and Gretel came from yard sales around the same time. My oldest find here is my vintage book and record of Bambi, which came from the Collingswood Library in 2008 when they still included records with their book sales.

I also got my schedule at this point. It's almost exactly the same as my schedule for this week, with slightly fewer hours on Sunday and slightly more hours next Saturday. Jessa's already put out requests to do more together next week, and with the weather warming up, it might not be a bad time to get out of the house for a long walk or bike ride. 

Switched to Match Game Syndicated while finishing up the inventory and eating dinner. The biggest panelist ever on the show appeared the next week. At over 7 feet, gentle giant Richard Kiel towered over even Gene. He took one look at the big man and said he could write whatever he wanted! And to add to the wackiness, super-short singer and songwriter Paul Williams was in the fifth "smart guy" seat. (And I do wish Kiel had returned. He was actually a lot of fun and played pretty well.)

Finished the night after a shower with the Monkees' two TV specials. 33 1/3 Revolutions Per Monkee debuted in 1969, well after their show ended. It was originally supposed to be part of a series of specials...but once the networks saw the results, they canceled the others. I can certainly understand why. The guys are controlled by a devil-like pair (Brian Auger and singer Julie Driscoll) who want to use them to take over everyone's minds. They unleash their fantasies, then turn them into wind-up dolls. Then, for some reason, Darwin (Auger) turns up and regresses them to apes. Auger takes control again to make them into plastic 50's superstars.

Uh, yeah. You can see the problems here.  I think there's the kernel of a good idea in the first half with the guys beating someone trying to manipulate their minds, almost like an even stranger variation on "The Frodis Caper." Mike and Davy have the best solo performances, with Mike singing with himself to his own "Naked Persimmon (The Only Thing I Believe Is True)" and Davy dancing with dolls to "Goldilocks Sometimes." Auger, Fats Domino, and Jerry Lee Lewis turning up on stacked pianos briefly mid-way through is genuinely cool, and some of the 50's performances are a lot of fun, but for the most part, this is even more bitter and makes less sense than Head did.  

Hey Hey, We're the Monkees from 1997 is an all together happier affair. The Monkees may be in their 50's, but they're still living in a beach house and trying to make it as a band. They're trying to rehearse for a big gig at a lavish country club...if random girls, lawyers, and kids will stop interrupting them and trying to create plot lines. There's also Mike having turned the Monkeemobile into a low rider and a dimensional machine, to Micky's annoyance, and Micky trying to find them a gimmick, to everyone's annoyance. They're not even safe from plots at the country club when the owner (Chuck Woolery) and his silly daughter Princess insist they'll lose the club if the guys aren't a success.

This is more like it. While it's not perfect (some of the dialogue is a tad too goofy even for the guys, the throw-up gag in the opening goes on for too long), it's infinitely more fun than the bitter Head and 33 1/3 Revolutions. As a review online suggested, it was a far more enjoyable and appropriate finale to the series and their TV careers. 

Alas, I don't think the 90's special can be found anywhere at the moment but YouTube. 33 1/3 Revolutions is included on the Monkees TV series DVD and Blu-Ray sets. I will say that I don't really recommend either special to anyone but their most ardent fans...and seeing at least a few episodes of the original show before the 90's special is a must to get a lot of the jokes about archaic sitcom plots. 

Baby, It's Really Cold Outside!

Began the morning with breakfast and The Monkees' last album as a group. Christmas Party is also their only holiday album. It was made long after Davy Jones died, but they do include his versions of "Silver Bells" and "Mele Kelekimka" from an earlier album. My Target copy also has "Christmas Is My Time of Year," a number Davy, Peter, and Micky recorded together in 1976, and "Riu Chiu" from the TV Christmas episode. 

"Riu Chiu," with all four guys singing beautifully in harmony and Micky taking the Spanish-language solo, is by far the best track, but some of the others aren't bad. Mike does a lovely "Christmas Song," while Micky has more fun with "Unwrap You at Christmas" and "Wonderful Christmastime." Possibly due to Peter's cancer struggles (he would pass on less than a year after this CD's release), he's only gets "Angels We Have Heard On High." 

Called Uber after the CD ended. It was way too cold and windy to ride my bike today! They arrived in five minutes and took less than five to get to work. For once, I even arrived slightly early. 

No problems at all today. There were at least two other baggers working at one time or another, and they took care of sweeping and inside work. I spent the entire time pushing carts. It was crazy when I came in and picking up again when I left, but could have been worse in between. Everyone went home for parties, baking, wrapping, or the Eagles' game. 

And while it was cold, it was also sunny. The sky was so radiantly blue, it hurt to look at it. The wind, though still bitter, had died down since yesterday, too. 

(The Eagles' afternoon wasn't nearly as pleasant. They seemed to start off well against the Commanders, but Washington caught up in a big way in the second half. The Commanders just barely won 36-33.)

I picked up the last things I'll need for the next few days before and after work. I used up most of my peanut butter on the cookies. Grabbed a turkey cranberry wrap for dinner. Wanted more of that Christmas Hint water, too, since I was taking Uber and could carry it home. 

Had more trouble with Uber going home. The original driver was supposed to come in five minutes. They didn't come in five minutes. In fact, it turns out she canceled, and another driver took my place. At least, once again, there was no traffic on the road, and I was able to get home quickly. 

My first Amazon gifts from Lauren were waiting for me when I got in. I've been looking for the eclectic soundtrack from Deadpool Vs. Wolverine since the movie came out. You have everyone from Jimmy Durante to NSYNC on this album.  I also bought a CD case for my seasonal CDs. I eventually want to transfer all of my CDs to cases, but the binder for the seasonal CDs is falling apart, so it came first. 

Finished with dinner and tonight's Match Game marathon after I got my gifts opened. There were a lot more references to Disney films and fairy tales than you might think on this very adult-oriented show. In at least two episodes. there were questions asking who would play the Beast to Betty White's Beauty. Many questions joked about Snow White's relationships with her dwarfs, including one that asked what she'd use to rub together and start a fire. 

They did quite a few Frog Prince jokes as well; one involved what the frog did after the princess kissed him. Darryl Anderson of Lou Grant sported a long nose in a 1979 episode that inspired many Pinocchio quips. When asked who should play Snow White, Jimmie Walker thought she should look a lot more like him. In another episode, the question asked who Charles would play in Snow White. Most everyone said Snow White, but Jo Anne Worley knew Charles would go for the meatier, villainous role...

Whistle while you match and experience the circle of life with this hilarious and unique marathon!

Match Game Sunday Classics - Disney Marathon

The Secret of Snow

Began the morning with breakfast and the first holiday episode of The Backyardigans. Uniqua travels to the frozen north to learn "The Secret of Snow." Ice Lady Tasha has no time for her queries and first sends her to the desert, then the jungle. Her assistant Austin helps Uniqua, Cowboy Pablo, and Tarzan Tyrone out of jams, then gets them up north. They're happy together even after Tasha puts them to work. When they save Tasha, they learn to appreciate and have fun with their friends no matter what the weather.

It was just cloudy, chilly, and damp when I headed out late this morning. My first stop was Target. Needless to say, they had long lines, but there were a few things I couldn't avoid. Picked up pet gifts for Rose's dogs and cats and a friend's cat and the cherries with stems my friend wanted. (In fact, they turned out to be cheaper at Target anyway.) I also peeked in Dollar Tree, but only walked out with powdered sugar for the Cherry Coconut Bars crust. 

Dawn called while I was in Target and said she'd be slightly late arriving at the Haddon Township Library. That worked out very well. I saw a book on adults with the inattentive form of ADHD on the new releases shelf and was reading it when she arrived.

Frankly, we've had very little luck checking for jobs recently. I found one online in the past week. Dawn decided we needed a break and offered to take me out to lunch instead. I suggested the Westmont Diner on the hill under the Library after I checked out the book. It would require less driving than a trip to Collingswood, with easier parking. 

I'm glad we went. They were busy when we arrived, but we didn't have to wait too long for a table. They're having winter lunch specials that come with soup or salad, pudding or ice cream, and beverages. She had a giant plate of chicken stuffed with spinach and cheese surrounded by tons of buttery mashed potatoes. I had a turkey wrap with tasty fries. She apparently loves rice pudding. I had pumpkin pie ice cream. She had a diet Pepsi, I had iced tea. We both had a spicy seafood bisque with real crab pieces. (And we got the same gift certificates they gave last year to be opened by the waitress between January 1st and 31st. I'll have to eat there on New Year's Day again.)

Whomever does the painting on their windows is really creative. The pumpkins and squash from last month had been replaced with Christmas lights and garland. It looked pretty and colorful as we ate. 

(Oh, and this is likely the last time I'll be getting together with Dawn for the year. She's off for the next two weeks after this. I'll text her again with my schedule the Friday after New Year's.)

Dawn drove me back up the hill, and I dodged traffic and very light rain on Cuthbert riding home. When I got in, I went straight into making the truffles. Of course, first of all, it turns out the chips I bought were green mint white chocolate, not chocolate. Oh well. They'd just be green mint truffles. And then the candy wouldn't set after I'd boiled and whisked it. I left it in the fridge overnight to see if that made it more easy to handle.

Making the coconut cherry bars turned out to be much harder. I couldn't find the square cake pan...because it turned out that the owner saw the non-stick coating was coming off and threw it away. I used two cake pans instead. And I almost forgot to add the coconut. At least everything went fine once I did add it. The crust and topping baked fine and were easily cut.

And that means...yes, other than shaping the candy, everything I need to do for Christmas is now complete. The cookies are made and boxed. The gifts are wrapped and either sent to their intended destination or waiting to be given to their recipients. Now everything just needs to be given out.

As I made the coconut cherry bars, I happened to look up at the window overlooking the refrigerator...and saw snow. It actually snowed pretty heavily for a while. Nothing stuck to the ground and it turned into all rain later, but it still looked pretty, and we can still say we got snow for Christmas. 

Threw on two classic holiday sitcom episodes next. Finished out The Monkees with "The Christmas Show" from the second season. The guys get roped into babysitting for the nephew of a wealthy woman while she's on a holiday cruise. The boy is a grumpy human machine who resists all of the Monkees' attempts to show him the Christmas spirit...until Mike Nesmith figures out what he really needs.

Laverne and Shirley are devastated in "Oh Come All Ye Bums" when Laverne's Dad Frank is fired from his job as a department store Santa and declares he won't be able to have his annual Christmas dinner for the homeless in Milwaukee. The girls and Carmine try singing for the money first, but they just end up in trouble. The girls and the homeless are the ones who finally take it on themselves to bring Christmas dinner to Frank.

Checked my schedule online next. In good news, I did get my vacation days, which means I'll be off starting Christmas Day. On one hand, I'm also working from tomorrow through Christmas Eve. On the other hand, the only long shift is Sunday, and that's a normal six hours. My other shifts are all four hours and relatively early. I'll be able to finish the candy and deliver everything.

Switched to Match Game Syndicated next while rearranging the Seasonal inventory. McLean Stevenson joins the crew for the first time since 1978 here. He would stay on permanently starting in the next season. This time around, he had a lot of fun sitting between Jonnelle Allen and Debralee Scott and watching a smitten contestant flirt with the former.

Watched The Muppets Christmas Carol during dinner and Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol afterwards in honor of having started my annual reading of A Christmas Carol yesterday. I went further into these in 2018 and 2019 at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog. 

The Muppets Christmas Carol

Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol

Moved to Disney Plus for Mickey's Christmas Carol. Here, Uncle Scrooge is his namesake miser who learns the holiday lesson. Mickey is Bob Cratchit, Donald is Nephew Fred, Daisy is Belle, Goofy is a hilarious Jacob Marley, and Big Pete puts in his scariest performance as a very dark Ghost of Christmas Future. Other than I never understood why Disney went for the fire and brimstone in the Future segment, this is far and away my favorite condensed half-hour version of this story.

Finished the night at YouTube for a holiday special that's so weird, I've watched it for a decade and still can't believe it exists. Amazingly enough, The She-Ra He-Man Christmas Special really is a thing. Orko is stranded on Earth after he crash-lands an experimental spaceship and befriends two human kids who teach him about Christmas. She-Ra and He-Man are having their own problems dealing with Hordak's rock monsters who are bullying a group of small but feisty locals. Orko accidentally brings the kids to Eternia after Man-at-Arms figures out how to get him home. Neither Skeletor nor Hordak want these shining beacons of goodness around. Skeletor tries to kidnap them, but (very) reluctantly ends up learning his own lesson in the holiday spirit when he defends them from Hordak and his boss.

Christmas Favorites and Monkee Adventures

Unfortunately, I overslept this morning and barely had enough time to grab breakfast and rush to work. Even with the rushing, I was a minute late. Fortunately, that was the worst that happened all morning. We were dead the whole four hours. We're between holidays, and even with it being the beginning of the month, a lot of people may still be getting rid of Thanksgiving leftovers or focusing on other shopping. It remained sunny, but still really cold, and much windier. Cold aside, I had no problems, and I was in and out.

Changed when I got home, then put on The Monkees. Davy discovers that rock contests can be a real drag when the guys get him into a dress for a mixed-gender contest in "Some Like It Lukewarm." To his dismay, not only does Jerry "Geater" Blavat (the real-life Philly DJ) fall for him, but he falls for the seemingly male member of their female rivals The Westminster Abbies. It's not until he sees her again in the dressing rooms and they admit that they've done something wrong that the duo come up with a solution to bring both groups together. (And look for Davy and Wiz creator Charlie Smalls working on a soul song of their own in the last sequence.)

Peter's in trouble again in "Monkees Blow Their Minds." This time, he goes to devious mentalist Oraculo (Monte Landis in his last role on the show) and his lackey (TV director Jim Frawley) in order to get help releasing a writer's block. Oraculo decides to steal their gig instead and gives him a potion that makes him into his slave. Mike tries to find out what they're doing to Peter, but he falls under his spell, too. It's up to Micky and Davy to save their friends and prove that Oraculo is more fake than fabulous. (Look for Mike and Frank Zappa playing each other and destroying a car in the opening.)

"The Frodis Caper" ends things on a seriously weird note...which shouldn't be surprising, given it was written and directed by one Micky Dolenz. Peter and almost everyone in Malibu Beach has been hypnotized by a pulsing eye on their television screens. Micky, Davy, and Mike discover that the evil Wizard Glick (Rip Taylor) is using an alien plant (voice of Micky) to control everyone on Earth and try to foil his plot. Honestly, Tim Buckley singing his own "Song of the Siren" in the finale makes more sense, even if Micky did manage some nifty directorial touches (like the "Good Morning" sequence in the opening).

And other than the Christmas episode, which I'll run when we get closer to the holiday, that is that. The show only ran two seasons because the guys wanted to do a variety program and NBC wanted things to stay the way they were. Personally, I thought they had a good balance at the end of the second season, with the guest stars at the beginning or end. I wish the guys could have gotten off their high-horses and compromised, but it was clear that they and the show's creators had pretty much lost interest by the time "Frodis Caper" aired. 

I largely prefer the second season over the first. The first is a better introduction to the guys...but while the second season has some pretty awful lows, it also has some of the best episodes of the entire series. My personal favorite episode, "The Devil and Peter Tork," is from the mid-second season. I also love "Fairy Tale," "It's a Nice Place to Visit," "Some Like It Lukewarm," and "Hitting the High Seas." 

I really wish the DVD sets for this show weren't out of print and the Blu-Ray wasn't incredibly expensive. I've had my DVD sets for 20 years now. If you're a classic rock fan or have fond memories of when this was on TV originally, in re-runs on cable and Saturday morning, or on digital channels, you'll want to see if you get music-based digital channel AXS TV (where this is apparently re-running now) and check out the adventures of the funniest fictional band who pushed themselves into reality. 

Put up the remaining Christmas decorations while I watched the guys. This is all of the little bits and bobs I've found or been given over the years, like the Santa and Mrs. Claus porcelain salt and pepper shakers Mom gave me, the mini light-up ceramic Christmas tree I bought in Collingswood two years ago, and the "Falalala" and "Hohoho" signs Linda Young made for me years ago. The mini tree from college goes with the smaller stuffed animals on top of one of the book shelves in my bedroom, along with the Whitman's tin I got from Mom a few years ago. There's a whole army of Beanie Baby Christmas toys, including two angel bears, and the stuffed tree, candy cane, and star Beanie-type toys Eckards sold in the late 90's during the height of the Beanie Baby craze. 

Spent the rest of the evening first doing job hunting, then finally finishing out the Cast Album inventory. Added the stage version of Victor/Victoria, a collection of songs from Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals, A Year With Frog and Toad, and the 1999 revival of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. The Very Best of Andrew Lloyd Webber goes back so far, I'm pretty sure I got it from my mom in the mid-late 90's. Lauren sent me the Year With Frog and Toad CD after we became friends in 2004. 

Since I'm already listening to Christmas music, I'll do the inventory for that next. I don't have nearly as many of the holiday albums as I do rock or cast albums. It shouldn't take long to do.

Listened to said Christmas albums while I worked. Christmas In France seems to be part of a series of albums featuring songs from various European countries Capitol released in the 60's. The Child Singers of Versailles performs the songs here. Though they do give us "White Christmas" and "Jingle Bells," the real interest here are traditional French holiday songs like "In That Stable" and "The Three Kings" that capture what they're still likely singing during the holiday season in France to this day.

Firestone released a series of Christmas albums from 1962 through 1968 that mostly focused on classical music, as per their radio and TV shows of the time, though pop singers like Julie Andrews occasionally turned up as well. I listened to Volume 2 and 3 tonight. Volume 2 belongs to Rise Stevens, Brian Sullivan, and the Columbus Boychoir with traditional offerings like "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel," "Angels We Have Heard On High," and "The Twelve Days Of Christmas." Gordon MacRae is joined by three opera singers (including Roberta Peters) on Volume 3. Their offerings skewer slightly more recent, mixing "White Christmas" and "Sleigh Ride" in with "Gesu Bambino," "Go Tell It On the Mountain," and "Panis Angelicus."

(I always loved the covers of these albums, with their simple red ribbons and mistletoe against various colored "brocade" backgrounds. They just looked like Christmas in the 60's to me. Mom inherited two of these from her mother, and we'd listen to them during the holidays.)

Switched to Match Game Syndicated during dinner. In the first episode, Charles kept picking on director Marc Breslow...which meant we saw a lot of Charles' cowboy hat or shots of the side and under him during that episode. Eva Gabor showed off her lovely electric blue dress with the ruffled trim and swirly skirt in the second.

Put on another version of The Nutcracker on Kanopy after I ate. This one came from the Australian Ballet, and up thought the first half, it's pretty traditional. The second half begins with the Mouse King and his people invading the Land of Sweets. Even after they're dispatched, Clara joins the various international candies in their dances.

Finished the night at YouTube with holiday specials from around the world featuring Perry Como. The first was the oldest of the three. Perry's Christmas In Austria from 1976 made a lot of Sound of Music references, including in the opening. We also get to see Tyrolean slap dancers and a sleigh ride to the tune of "Valderi, Valdera."

Perry Como's Early American Christmas from 1978 takes us back to the US for a trip to Williamsburg, Virginia. We get to see how the Colonal colonists celebrated the holidays, with fife-and-drum corps and lots of huge balls and big meals. Diane Canova sings "My Cup Runneth Over," "It Couldn't Please Me More," and joins two ladies for "Making Christmas Dinner." John Wayne toasts Como's good health in the tavern.

Christmas In England from 1984 heads back to Europe, staring with a trip to jolly good London. Ann-Margaret sings "London Is London" before she and Como head off to admire the beautiful and enormous Downton Abbey-style castles and estates. "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" Perry and Ann-Margaret don't. They have an easier time with dancing pub waiters and waitresses in London. 

Oh, and it started raining around dinnertime. I think it rained pretty hard at one point, though it seems to be gone now. At least this is supposed to warm things up a bit. I heard it's going to get into the upper 50's by next week. 

Chilly Games

Began the morning with breakfast and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Minnie Mouse must find "The Wizard of Dizz" when she and Pluto are whisked over the rainbow by a storm. On their way to the City of Handy Helpers, they encounter the Scarecrow Goofy, Tin Mickey Mouse, and Cowardly Donald, who help them on their journey. They all dodge the Wizard Pete, who just wants magic.

Hurried off to work when the show ended...and this time, I wondered why. We were dead for almost the entire afternoon. We did just come off the biggest food holiday of the year. Despite it being the beginning of the month, most people's minds are likely on shopping for everything but food. It didn't pick up until rush hour at 4 PM, when I was an hour from being done. At least the weather was decent, sunny and breezy but very cold, in the upper 30's. 

Changed and did chores when I got home and brought up my Christmas present from Mom. She protested me buying a new Eagles jersey online from the team website. Why not go to the Eagles stadium and buy one? I'm not hiking all the way up to the Linc on a Sunday just to go shopping. They sell the same jerseys online that they do in the stadium, and on really big Black Friday discounts, too. I got a $150 dollar Jason Hurts jersey for $76 with shipping. It's in perfectly fine shape, too. Fits well and has no problems that I can see. 

When I sat down at the laptop, I added Wonderland, the rather peculiar Alice In Wonderland stage musical from a decade ago, to the inventory while watching Match Game Syndicated. Brett and Fannie showed up in blonde wigs on Gene's arm in this hilarious episode, and kept them on for the rest of the show. Charles and Fred Travelena spend the episode tossing out "gorgeous blonde" jokes. There's an actual beautiful blonde on the next show, Charlene Tilton. Goes without saying that Bill Daily is VERY happy to be sitting next to her. Charles is just happy Patty Duke can see his (over) acting.

Switched to The Monkees while eating dinner. Protesting yet another rehashed script, the Monkees flee for a vacation to Paris in "The Monkees In Paris." Girls chase them all over the City of Light...and they only sometimes run away. I know the guys really were getting bored with the scripts at this point, but ironically, watching them get chased all over Paris by random girls is even duller than the rehashed scripts. I do give them credit for attempting an all-pantomime show, and they use one of my favorite Mike Nesmith songs, "Don't Call On Me," which never appeared on any other episode. 

Peter directed "Monkees Mind Their Manor," but alas, it's another rehashed script. Davy is called to an English estate where he once worked when the owner leaves it to him. He's not willing to stay the five years necessary to own it, but the residents are worried that perpetually drunk relative Lance the Sot (Jack Good) will sell it to a developer. The guys hold a fair to earn money, with Davy bested at every turn by Lance's lawyer Sir Twiggy Topham-Middle-Bottom (Bernard Fox), until the manor's oldest resident (Billy Benedict) suggests a singing contest.

Finished the night on YouTube with episodes of Sale of the Century in honor of Cyber Monday. Sale began back in 1969, with actor Jack Kelly hosting. Joe Gargiola took over late in 1971. Three contestants play a trivia show for accumulated points. At three intervals, the game stops for them to buy "bargains," big prizes for small amounts. They keep the prizes no matter what, but it deducts from their overall score. The winner would either take the prize they can afford, or continue on and earn money for bigger prizes. The show was a hit from '69 through 1974 on NBC, spawning a syndicated version that lasted a year. Sadly, nothing exists of the syndicated version at all, and only audio can be found of the original online. 

Australian producer Reg Grundy bought the format for Australian TV in 1980. After that version was a big hit, he brought it back to the US in 1983. It started out with a format similar to the original and what was on Aussie TV at the time. Jim Perry's asking the questions here. He went through a rotating assortment of hostesses until they settled on elegant Summer Bartholmew in 1984. The Bargain Prizes are often introduced as cute skits, with models dressed in costumes to push what they're selling. 

Like its fellow shopping show Supermarket Sweep, Sale of the Century evolved a lot over the years. The Fame Game that allowed people to answer a question about a celebrity and chose a spot on the board to increase their points started with everyone choosing the photo of a celebrity. This was replaced by people choosing numbers to get points or prizes before 1983 even ended. By 1986, they now pushed a plunger to get a random number on the board. 

The Speed Round that decided the winner replaced the last three questions in March 1984. The Bonus Round went from people choosing whether to stay or go ala the Aussie version, to winners matching prizes on a board in October 1984, to them guessing three puzzles at the end in December 1987. In 1986, the third prize was replaced by Instant Cash. The contestant in the lead could buy a chance to check three boxes for whatever amount was listed that day, but they'd have to spend the amount of their lead. 

Both versions of Sale saw excellent ratings, with the 1983 Sale often winning its time slots. It also spawned a syndicated version in 1985, this one lasting two seasons. Alas, it was finally done in when NBC moved it to 10 AM, where local stations often pre-empted it in favor of their own programming. Not to mention, by 1989, NBC had fallen out of love with game shows. It ended Super Password that year as well. 

(And since Reg Grundy was really big on tape recycling, most of the 80s Sale is hard to find as well. Apparently, only the full syndicated show and the daytime show from 1988 onward exists, though earlier episodes do turn up online.)

Sale of the Century would return to American TV again in 2007 as Temptation: The New Sale of the Century. Three contestants answer questions as before, but they also play mini-games that have them eliminating choices from a large board. The Fame Game involves guessing letters to get the answer to the question, and the take the prize or put the money in savings or tomorrow bonus round is back, but they added another Knock-Off mini-game. Overly enthusiastic Rossi Mondale was the host. This one just looked chintzy, with cheap prize packages and Mondale annoying as heck, No wonder it barely lasted a year.

Learn trivia, find out more about pop culture, and pick up a few instant bargains of your own this Cyber Monday with these classic shopping shows. (Warning that the 1969 episode has only audio existing.)

Sale of the Century (1969) (Audio Only)

Sale of the Century Premiere (1983)

Sale of the Century (1984)

Sale of the Century Syndicated Premiere (1985)

Sale of the Century (1986)

Sale of the Century (1988)

Sale of the Century Finale (1989)

Temptation Premiere (2007) 

Oh Christmas Matches

Kicked off the morning with breakfast and The Busy World of Richard Scarry. Huckle and Lowly inadvertently test out "Mr. Fix-It's Super Submarine" when it ends up in the water and Fix-It has to chase it. Cahachu of South America is known for his tall tales. His parents think he's telling more whoppers when he explains about a tree with sap that can bounce, until "Cahachu's Magic Tree" helps patch up his father's canoe. "Mr. Bean's Restaurant" isn't doing well with its all-bean menu. Hilda helps him drum up more business for his drive-in by teaching him about variety in diets.

Hurried off to work soon as the episode ended. In good news, work wasn't busy like it was yesterday. It started to pick up a little bit later in the day, but nothing like Friday. Everyone must have been out for the Black Friday sales. Trouble is, the Acme is having a lot of online-only sales in honor of Cyber Monday. That's lovely, but the banner on the coupons announcing them being online only is small. Everyone thinks the sales are for the regular store, which means I have to put a lot of stuff back because they didn't want it full price.

Picked up more of those pumpkin pecan cookies before they vanish, then headed out. Stopped at A&A Pretzels on the way home for lunch. They were busy for them, but I was still able to buy two large twist pretzels and a cheesesteak-stuffed pretzel, along with a can of Diet Pepsi.

Changed, then had lunch while watching The Monkees. "The Devil and Peter Tork" is the show's second venture into classic plays, and my personal favorite episode of the entire series. Peter thinks he's just buying a beautiful harp from a certain Mr. Zero (Monte Landis in his best role) at a local pawn shop. Turns out Mr. Zero is the devil, and he's really bought Peter's soul. Mike and the others take Zero to court in order to prove that Peter, who could play 8 instruments in real life, didn't need Zero's help to be able to play the harp too.

Ironically, it's followed by one of my least-favorite episodes. The guys' hearts just aren't in "Monkees Race Again." This was apparently the last episode to be filmed, and it's obvious from their lackluster performances that they'd lost interest by this point. Not that I can blame them. The story that involves the guys helping a friend of Davy's grandfather beat two German car designers at a major race is clunky and has no real stakes. Not to mention, other than a hilarious opening where a phone somehow manages to speed off, it doesn't really do much with the guys.

Switched to one of my Happy Holidays records while vacuuming and Swiftering my apartment. I'm pretty sure I dug this one up earlier this year. Vol 13 from 1978 is the earliest collection I own. They'd get more creative with music in the 80's. but some of the songs here aren't bad. Leontyne Price performs a gorgeous "Ave Maria," Danny Davis and the Nashville Brass have fun with "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," and Julie Andrews joins Andre Previn for "Jingle Bells." 

Moved on to Spellbound as I dusted my apartment. I go further into this brand-new animated fantasy at Netflix at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Musicals On Streaming - Spellbound (2024)

Put on Walt Disney Christmas Favorites Vol 2 while putting up my Christmas tree and the lights and garland. By far the stand-out in this collection is the last track. "It Won't Be Long 'Til Christmas" from The Happiest Millionaire wound up being the surprise gem here. The movie itself is far from Disney's best, but the song is lovely. I also liked "Bring a Torch, Isabella," but "Santa's Rap" on why he eats so much is too silly, even for Disney.

Finished the night at YouTube with dinner and more Chuck Woolery. He appeared on a memorable week of The Match Game Hollywood-Squares Hour in 1984 with fellow host Arlene Francis, along with Jamie Farr, Arsenio Hall, and McLean Stevenson. Arsenio was especially "on" that week, sporting Michael Jackson Thiller red jackets and jumping into the "canal," aka the area behind the second risers.

Woolery also hosted a few non-game shows, most memorably Greatest Game Show Moments. This GSN special gives us outrageous moments from game shows going back to What's My Line in the mid-50's. Some of them, like the crazy answers on Family Feud, what the panel ate in the color syndicated To Tell the Truth that most of them spit out, and Gene Rayburn's infamous comment on a lady's dimples on Match Game are now easy to find online. Others, like Ken Jennings' long run as a Jeopardy champ and some of the big wins on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, aren't as easy to find today. 

Chuck Woolery also did two weeks of Tattletales with his then-wife Jo Ann Pflug. Unfortunately, only the first day is available of the week with Jim Backus and his hilarious wife Henny and the battling Charlie Brill and Mitzi McCall. The week the duo did with Allen Ludden and Betty White and Bill Cullen and his wife Ann from 1974 is available in full, though. Good thing, as it was a hilarious week. Everyone had some great answers, including Allen revealing how Betty managed to make an entire field of bulls fall in love with her and who Chuck thought Jo Ann was on their first date.

See how well Chuck did on other people's shows and hosting something besides game shows in these enjoyable episodes!

Chuck Woolery Tribute - Match Game Hollywood Squares Hour and Greatest Game Show Moments

Chuck Woolery Tribute - Featuring Tattletales Episodes with Jo Ann Pflug

Getting Ready for Winter

Began the morning with breakfast and The Scooby Doo Show. The gang says "Watt a Shocking Ghost" when they're stranded in a snow-covered resort town that seems to have been abandoned. Scooby and Shaggy dodge a flaming mega-watt creep while the others try to figure out what the random sunflower seeds they keep finding on the ground have to do with the "ghost."

Headed to work after that. It wasn't bad when I came in. We're usually stone-cold dead the day after Thanksgiving. Normally, everyone is grabbing Black Friday deals in the mall behind the Acme...but Thanksgiving isn't usually this late, either. I think a lot of people may have been using early beginning of the month money. I kept getting called to put away cold items during the second half of my shift, which meant I kept falling behind on the carts. 

The weather didn't help. It was sunny and breezy, if cold, when I went to work. Clouds rolled in somewhere around 11. It rained lightly off and on, but nothing that would get anyone wet, and has sprinkled lightly off and on for the rest of the day.

Needed to get some grocery shopping done today. I'm not going to get to Sprouts this weekend, so I grabbed soda and Kind granola bars. Restocked yogurt and apples. The bakery has pumpkin items on clearance, including those pumpkin pecan cookies, so I picked up that, too. 

Oh, and I got my schedule at this point. In good news, I continue to have more hours. In bad news, I have a long seven-hour day next Saturday and only Tuesday and Thursday off - the head bagger took Saturday off again. 

After I got in, I put on The Monkees while I got organized. "Monkees Watch Their Feet" also experiments with the format. This otherwise ordinary episode with Micky playing himself and the robot clone two aliens make of him after they bring him to their ship is played as a "documentary," complete with goofy narration by Pat Paulsen about how the aliens are causing all the trouble in the late 60's. (Incidentally, Mike only appears introducing Paulsen in the opening and closing. This is the other episode he had to drop out of when he was getting his tonsils removed.)

"The Monkees Paw" is the first of two episodes in a row based on classic plays, in this case the horror fantasy The Monkey's Paw. Mendrek the Magician (Hans Conried) sells the Monkees a monkey's paw he supposedly got off a "regular" llama in Tibet. He tells them it'll grant them three wishes, but it brings them nothing but trouble. Micky is holding it when he accidentally wishes away his voice. The others try to figure out what happened to it, then unload the monkey's paw on the nasty nightclub manager who fired all of them.

Took down the Thanksgiving and fall decorations next and put of some of the winter items. Yeah, I know we're almost a month from winter, but the high next week will be the mid-40's. Mother Nature says it's winter. I'll start putting up the Christmas stuff tomorrow after I clean. My wooden folk-art snowman with the dangling legs Mom sent years ago went out, along with a couple of winter stuffed animals like Phil the Groundhog and Marie in her little winter hat and collar and the wooden framed snowman hanging. 

Listened to my new Christmas albums while I worked. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is the soundtrack of the first Rankin-Bass special...well, most of it. With the exception of "Holly Jolly Christmas," I think they're all studio recordings, not the ones heard in the actual special. "Silver and Gold" lacks Burl Ives' spoken parts (replaced in the recording by the chorus). The second side is just instrumental versions of the main songs.

R&B diva Mariah Carey's album Merry Christmas from 1994 was her fourth album, and today may actually be her best-known. It produced the massive hit holiday standard "All I Want For Christmas Is You" that continues to get heavy air play during November and December to this day. Her versions of "Baby Please Come Home" and "Oh Holy Night" also tend turn up a lot. I've thought of getting this for years, but never got to it until I found it on vinyl. I don't actually have that many solo Christmas albums, and I think the Monkees and the Beach Boys are the only rock acts (and the former made their Christmas album years after their prime). 

Worked on the inventory next. I'm finally almost done with the cast albums. Did West Side Story, Wicked, the Broadway original cast of Oliver!, and The Will Rogers Follies. I'm pretty sure Wicked was a Christmas present from Lauren in 2004. I'd been dying to get it, but I couldn't find it in Cape May County and I didn't have the money to buy it online at the time. I think West Side Story was another Hamilton Mall Borders find from the late 90's-early 2000's. For some reason, I could always dig up the old Columbia cast albums on CD for a good price there. I dug up The Will Rogers Follies at the Collingswood Book Festival three years ago.

Took a quick shower, then finished out the night with leftovers and more Chuck Woolery. Lingo would be the last long-running hit he hosted in his lifetime. The original Lingo was a short-lived syndicated flop in 1987. Game Show Network gave it new life in 2002, with Woolery hosting and an elegant wood and neon set. Contestants guessed rows of words from two letters provided. If the guessed the right word, they could each choose a ball with a number to call on the "Lingo" board. If they got Lingo, they earned points. Most points got to the bonus round. Here, they had to guess words in a certain amount of time. The amount of words they got represented however many Lingo balls they were allowed to choose. 

I came in for their second Christmas episode in 2003. We also got a hilarious game show host tournament, with Marc Summers and Mark L. Walhburg trampling their opponents, along with a colorful and funny Cinco Del Mayo episode. By the fourth season, the set had been upgraded into something brighter and more fun, and Chuck was joined by a judge and hostess who joked with him and checked to make sure the words used were legal. Bubbly Shandi seems to have been the best-known and most popular, from what those who watched the show during its run from 2002 to 2007 say.

Match wits and words with the King of Crosswords in this hilarious marathon!

Chuck Woolery - Lingo Tribute

Beautiful Day for Dolls

Kicked off my day with breakfast and Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. He's excited about "Margaret's First Thank-You Day." As the youngest resident of the Land of Make-Believe, she gets to hang the first thank-you card on the thank-you tree...but then she has to go home with a bad cold. Dan and his mom try to enjoy the festivities, but Dan finally admits that what he's really thankful for is his beloved little sister.

Messed around on the computer for a while, then headed to PNC Bank in Collingswood. Mom sent me a check for a new Eagles jersey as an early Christmas present. I wanted to deposit it at the inside ATM, but there was already someone using it. I ended up at one of the outside machines instead. Fed it into the machine and moved on.

It was a gorgeous day for a bike ride. I took the longer way across the back roads of Collingswood, avoiding Cuthtbert Boulevard so I could enjoy it. Sunny, breezy, and much warmer than I figured it would be, into the upper 50's. Fall is just starting to subside here. Though the gale-force winds this weekend left many trees bare, others are still blazing in brilliant shades of scarlet and gold.

Ended up at the Westmont Diner for lunch. I've had pancakes the last couple of times I ate at a diner, so I had an omelet this time. Their Power Omelet - real turkey, mushrooms, Swiss cheese, and spinach in egg whites - is always delicious. I had it with home fries, whole wheat toast, and iced tea. Listened to a mom and her little son enjoy their lunch, then admired the nifty pumpkins and squash someone painted on their windows. I even picked up a plastic container of these incredible little honey and nut cookies. I think they might have been made from corn and ground nuts. They had a unique grainy feel, but they were soooo good!

The traffic still wasn't great on Cuthbert, so I once again took the back roads until I got back into Oaklyn. Stopped at WaWa on the White Horse Pike for a drink. I intended to bake for most of the afternoon, so I opted for a sugar-free raspberry lemon Propel instead of soda or smoothies.

Put on The Monkees when I got home. "The Monkees In Texas" is their third dive into western cliches. Mike brings the guys to visit his Aunt Kate (Jacqueline deWit), only to find her farm under siege by bandits. He tries to figure out what the bandits are after, while Micky and Peter get in with the bandits...and regret it when they end up being hostages. 

"Fairy Tale" goes the unique route of being a fantasy spoof. Peter is a peasant who is so in love with Princess Gwen (Mike in drag) that he can't hold a job. The other guys are both the peasants who help Peter rescue Gwen from her dastardly fiancee Harold (Murray Roman) and the fairy tale characters they meet on the way. 

Spent the next few hours doing the laundry and baking. I heard from Rose, and yes, she is having Thanksgiving dinner at her house this year. I wanted to bring her something different. I found a recipe for Apple Cider Pound Cake online last week and thought I'd try it. That's why I bought the apple cider from the farm market on Saturday and the eggs, butter, and loaf tins yesterday. The batter came together well enough, but it called for putting parchment paper on the bottom of the tin to make it come out easier. It may have come out easier, but it took over an hour and a half to cook when it should have taken 50 minutes. It's too brown on the outside, but the inside seems edible, and it sure smelled good in the oven!

My cranberry sauce didn't go much better. I always add too much water and not enough sugar. It's soupy and a bit on the tart side, but I can still eat it.

Listened to records while I worked. The Dangerous Christmas of Red Riding Hood is another mid-60's fairy tale satire. Liza Minnelli is the impossibly sweet title character, Cyril Ritchard is the fussy wolf who's chasing her, and Vic Damone is the woodsman who might be a prince. Bob Merrill and Jules Styne's score isn't quite up to their previous animated holiday extravaganza Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol, but it does have a few interesting songs. The movie begins and ends with the fun "We Wish the World a Happy Yule," Minnelli admits "I'm Naive," and she and Ritchard have a blast with "Ding-a-Ling." 

Here's Love is a Broadway adaptation of Miracle On 34th Street, with music by Meredith Wilson of Music Man fame. It's not his best score by a long shot, and I believe it was a flop when it debuted in 1963. I hear it's done better in regional theaters under its original title. "Pine Cones and Holly Berries" and his already-existing holiday standard "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" are the best numbers here, and I like the charming "My Wish" for Susan (Valerie Lee) and Fred Gailey (Craig Stevens). 

Went upstairs next to dress the dolls for the holiday season after bringing the laundry upstairs. Barbara Jean wears the purple paisley brocade minidress that was Julie's previous Christmas outfit with white tights, heeled shoes borrowed from the flapper costume, and Samantha's white lace headband with the pink and magenta fabric flower. Samantha's in her Cranberry Christmas Dress with the red bow-trimmed shoes from her green spring dress. Molly wears her Evergreen Christmas Dress with black strap shoes borrowed from Samantha. Josefina is pretty as a Mexican princess in her yellow and black striped Empire-waist gown and black mantilla.

Ariel is also in a Julie Christmas outfit, in this case her original wine velvet jumper with the ruffled bow blouse and white tights and shoes. Felicity will be the belle of the Christmas dance in her blue taffeta ball gown with the lace stomacher. Kit's in her red Christmas dress with the white collar and her own white t-straps. Jessa gets the 1996 Chinese New Year Outfit with the scarlet brocade jacket and trousers and mules borrowed from Josefina. Lauren found Whitney's blue-violet Snowflake Ball Gown at a yard sale. It was such a pretty outfit, I had to let someone wear it, even though it's not historically accurate for her.

Half-listened to Match Game Syndicated while I worked. They're continuing with the game show host week. Peter Marshall laments that the Star Wheel lands on him three times in a row, but Bill Cullen does better with "__ Cactus" when it ends up on him. Betty White spends the week dashing to the studio, perpetually out of breath due to her car having broken down.

Finished the night with dinner and YouTube after a shower. Match Game Productions will be honoring game show host Chuck Woolery, who passed over the weekend, with marathons of his most famous shows every day but Thanksgiving. He was the original host of Wheel of Fortune, back when it was a daytime show on NBC. He was in charge of the pilot Shopper's Bazaar with an upright wheel and continued on when the show was picked up for a regular series. Alas, very little of his version survives today. Even his last day only has the first minute or so and the last few minutes with him saying good bye available. The actual game is audio only. 

Finished the night with the Thanksgiving episodes of other vintage game shows. Match Game didn't technically do a Thanksgiving episode, but they did mention the holiday on the day before Thanksgiving 1977. Orson Bean also mentioned the new special he was appearing in, The Hobbit. 

Sale of the Century and High Rollers got more into the holiday in the mid-80's. In 1985, Sale offered a big Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings, a wicker rocker, and a beautiful dining room. Rollers did Thanksgiving-themed prize packages for its big winners. The syndicated late 80's Family Feud asked everyone questions relating to the holiday and even had a turkey dinner for the families in the end. 

The Price Is Right goes way back with Thanksgiving episodes. They did two Thanksgiving Showcases in 1975, the first year they were an hour. The first had Anitra Ford and Janice Pennington as mountain climbers. The second brought in Native Chief Johnny Olsen to teach the Pilgrim models the ways of the New World. He may have the dishwasher and microwave, but the girls have the better transportation - their speed boat is no canoe!

Honor Thanksgiving and Woolery and be thankful for games with these enjoyable episodes!

The Price Is Right (1975)

Match Game (1977)

Sale of the Century (1985)

High Rollers (1987)

Family Feud Syndicated (1989)

Chuck Woolery - Wheel of Fortune Tribute