Winds of Christmas

Began the morning with breakfast and A Christmas Carol on Tubi. This is the half-hour version animated by Richard Williams in 1971. No wonder it won an Oscar for Best Animated Short Film a year later. Williams' work on this is haunting, from Marley and the ghosts outside Scrooge's window to Want and Ignorance under the Ghost of Christmas Present's robe. 

Hurried out even before the cartoon ended. I was ten minutes late to my appointment with Bryanna. She really just wanted to touch up with me anyway and see how the after-school program is going. That is mostly going fine. I love working with the kids, and I like the Thomas Sharp School. I don't like the constant turnover in the program. No wonder I got a job so easily despite my lack of experience working with kids. Since I don't have kids, it's also hard for me to keep up with the school schedule and remember when they have half-days and holidays. I'm going to stick with the after-school program until at least the end of the school year and see how I feel. The kids don't need to lose anyone else.

I do still want out of the Acme, however. I also still need to find a decent place to live that isn't an attic. Bryanna suggested calling my counselors at DVRS after the holidays to ask about low-income housing. Isn't all of that in Camden, and don't you have to sign a long, long waiting list to get it? I'm probably better off just trying to see what I can afford in Deptford and Cherry Hill.

Made a quick stop at Target on my way home. I was mainly there to get something for my nephew Collyn's birthday tomorrow. I also grabbed a few things to make cookies next week, including nifty hot chocolate and marshmallow-flavored chocolate chips and cake mix for the peanut butter cookies. 

Rushed home, loaded Collyn's birthday gift into his family's Christmas package, sealed the package, and rushed to the Oaklyn Post Office a couple of blocks down. I wanted to send my Christmas packages before work today. To my delight, there was no line when I arrived. I was expecting the line to be out the door. Sent a card for Linda Young and packages for Anny and her kids, Lauren and her parents, and Mom, Keefe, and his family. 

Since I took so little time at the Post Office, I was able to stop at Dollar General around the corner. I picked up red velvet cake mix and maraschino cherries for cookies next week and more bags for cookies. The line wasn't bad, and I was in and out.

Good thing I got to the school on time. The kids were really crazy today. It was sunny, but too windy and cold for them to go outside. They were so noisy in the bathrooms, the custodial staff complained. They just would not sit down in the cafeteria, no matter how many toys we pulled out for them or how many pages they colored. We put music on a speaker belonging to one of the teachers and let them dance, and it still wasn't enough for them to shake their sillies out. I did manage to get off early when there were only 3 pre-schoolers and kindergartners left by quarter of 4.

Hurried home and into baking. Normally, I'd bring cookies to the Acme's Christmas employee buffet, but for some reason, it's being held a week early this year. I don't make my cookies until the week before Christmas. That's why I needed buttermilk yesterday. I made the delicious gingerbread bars recipe from Samantha's Cooking Studio instead. Yum! It came out perfectly and smelled amazing in the oven.

I was so tired, after the gingerbread came out of the oven, I just grabbed my coat and strolled two blocks down to Crown Chicken and Gyro to get a tilapia sandwich and fries for dinner. At least it was a nice night for a walk. It remained cold, but the wind had died down considerably since I'd gotten back from school.

Had dinner while watching Hollywood Hotel. I go further into this Busby Berkeley-directed musical with Dick Powell that introduced "Hooray for Hollywood" at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Hollywood Hotel

Finished the night with two beloved animated holiday soundtracks. A Charlie Brown Christmas is one of the great jazz soundtracks of all time, and in fact, was one of the first records I bought after Dad gave me my first record player in 2006. "Linus and Lucy" and "Christmastime Is Here" were the big hits. I also like the lovely, flowing song played while the kids skate and "O Tannenbaum."

Decca re-released the soundtrack for the Rankin-Bass Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer on LP in honor of its 60th anniversary last year. My favorite song from this one is its lively hit "Holly Jolly Christmas," performed by Burl Ives. There's also the Misfit Toys' "The Most Wonderful Day of the Year" and Clarice the Reindeer's sweet ballad "There's Always Tomorrow."

Of Beauties and Beasts

Got a quick start today. Had just enough time to write in my journal and eat breakfast before I hurried off to meet Bryanna at the Haddon Township Library. I arrived 15 minutes late, but she wasn't upset. She just wanted me to sign some paperwork for her bosses. I told her I'm loving my current job so much that, in the fall, after my late September vacation with Lauren, I'd like to start actively looking for a more appropriate second job in a library or another school to replace the grocery store job. I don't belong there. I'm bored and burnt out and have been for years. I'm tired of doing things I don't want to do. Now that I know what I want to do, I'd like to do it all the time.

Made a quick run to Sprouts next. Found chocolate chip cookies on clearance and soda on a good sale. Grabbed coconut milk, an Italian hoagie on a multi-grain roll and sliced pineapple for lunch, three fruit leather bars for a snack at school, and dried apricots from the bulk bins here as well. Headed down the hill and past the library to the Acme next. I didn't need a whole lot more here. Mainly restocked soda, granola bars, and yogurt. Picked up blueberries here, too. Neither store was especially busy, and I was in and out of both places in less than an hour. 

Had the hoagie and pineapple for lunch while watching What's New, Scooby Doo? Shaggy's "Big Appetite In Little Tokyo" gets the gang into a heap of trouble when he eats a pizza that was cursed by "The Ancient One." They're in Japan after Velma's Dogbot won a prize, but that won't get them out of this mess when the police think Shaggy really did destroy Tokyo and follows them.

Hurried out to the Thomas Sharp School next. I took the bike. Though it was oppressively hot and humid, there was a nice enough breeze for me to get away with it. Had no trouble parking this time and arrive just as the kids were.

With only one day left of school and this being a holiday, the kids were really rowdy today. The boys in particular would not calm down, in the hallway or during lunch. They were a little better when we all settled in to draw and build. It goes without saying on such a killer hot day that no one went outside. The girls in particular loved the drawings of Cape May and the Wildwood Boardwalk I made on green construction paper, and they made more fans. (One girl even gleefully held up a fan to make herself look like a peacock!)

Stopped at the Speedy Mart on Collings Avenue to get a drink on the way home. I got a cinnamon raisin bagel for lunch tomorrow, too, along with that Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi. (And I will absolutely have to remember both their amazing bagels and Crust N' Cravings this summer.) 

Put on more Remember WENN when I got home. Hilary is "Courting Disaster" when Jeff's obnoxious lawyer Drake Stanley (Andrew Seear) sues Hilary for $100,000 in damages. With Scott defending her and Mr. Eldridge at the judge's stand, this court gets more than a little out of order, until Betty and Gertie find a way for Jeff to intervene.

The cast is saying "And How!" when they're chosen to broadcast a monumental episode of the network western The Strange Loner. Turns out that man who plays "The Strange Loner" is really a lush and a womanizer who is supposed to be leaving the show for Hollywood, but passes out on the Green Room floor. Meanwhile, the others find the kindly Native American man who plays his companion Rondo (real-life Native American activist Russell Means) to be far more congenital, while Eugenia shares her tasty new food discovery - pizza!

And...while I do want to finish my Land of WENN fanfiction eventually, I've been working on an idea that goes way back and is just too delicious to not do now, especially given I'll be starting the 4th season episodes next week. Hilary's "Beauty and the Beast" story dates to that spate of fanfiction I came up with in 2015. Among those ideas I came up with was a series of short to mid-length takes on folk and fairy tales (and with Mackie, Shakespearean fantasy) revolving around a member of the cast. "Beauty and the Beasts" would have been the next fairy tale if I hadn't lost interest in WENN and switched to Star Wars. 

This one has its basis in "You've Met Your Match"...but also in Hilary and Betty's frustrations with their men in the 3rd and early 4th season. Betty wishes maybe Scott wasn't quite so smart and and quick to jump into schemes. Hilary wishes Jeff would stop getting into marriage contracts he can't get out of. Maple turns up after her date, annoyed that Victor cut it short due to him taking off for Washington again. She liked their date and was hoping he'd ask her on another, wishing that maybe Victor would clip his wings a bit and actually stick to running his station.

Hilary at this point also addresses Betty's "Beauty and the Beast" script for later that day. She asks Betty why the older sister can't be the Beauty for a change? This leads directly into the story. Mackie is the father who wanted a rose for older daughter Hilary. Betty and Maple are her sisters, C.J her brother, and she gets along just fine with all of them. In fact, Maple drags Betty along with Hilary when she goes to the Beast's crumbling mansion on the edge of Pittsburgh. The trio are greeted by not one, but three beasts - a raging troll, a gentle black bear with halting speech, and an elegant bald eagle who can only squawk - and have to figure out who cursed the trio and why...and who they really are under the fur, feathers, and warts. 

"Beauty and the Beast" is one of my favorite fairy tales...and honestly, I agree with Hilary. I think there should be more older sister protagonists. There's a touch of two other beauties and beasts stories, "East of the Sun and West of the Moon" and "Snow White and Rose Red" here. I'm going to see if I can start it tomorrow or early next week. (Won't be able to do much else next week - it's supposed to be even hotter.)

Switched to Rappin' next. I go further into this very 80's rap comedy-drama featuring Mario Van Peebles as the young rapper from Pittsburgh who rallies his neighbors to save their homes at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Rappin'

Finished the night with classic jazz on LP and CD while I worked on the review. Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Gershwin Songbook is part of the series of albums where Fitzgerald interprets the songs from some of the most beloved composers of all time. Her aching "But Not for Me" is my favorite here. We also kick things off with a sassy "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off" and get a charming "They All Laughed" and "I Was Doing All Right." 

Miles Davis' Love Songs give us a gorgeous glimpse into his softer side. "Someday My Prince Will Come" is lovely and is by far my favorite track here. Other good ones include "Stella By Starlight" and "I Thought About You." 

Change of Heart

Began the morning with breakfast and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Mickey and Minnie hide six eggs, and the rest of the gang has to find them in order to reveal "Mickey's Springtime Surprise." Funny Bunny Pete plays all the tricks he can in order to keep the others from finding those eggs!

Headed off to the Haddon Township Library to meet Bryanna around quarter of 11. Got there just in time...to learn that she was late and wouldn't arrive until 12:30. Figured I'd get my grocery shopping done and went across the street to Target. My cell phone went off while I was in the snack food aisle. Seems she meant 11:30, not 12:30. I just grabbed brownie mix (which was on sale), granola bars, and an Orange Cream Coke Zero and rushed back across the street.

Bryanna was there when I arrived. She had applications for the Gloucester Township Libraries to sign. On one hand, they were only for part-time summer work, one as a regular library assistant, the other as a youth library assistant. I thought I wanted a real full-time job, but I'm beginning to wonder if I'm up for that big of a change. As badly as I want out of the Acme (and I want out very badly), it might be better to do something smaller and see what I'm really interested in and what I can handle.

Explored the library a bit before I finally headed out to finish running errands at the Westmont Plaza. I couldn't find the treat bags I thought I picked up for the kids' Easter gifts, so I bought larger ones at Dollar Tree. Also grabbed two last Easter cards there. Picked up golden raisins, coconut milk, soda, sparkling water, sprinkles, poppy seeds, brown sugar, and bananas at a quiet Sprouts. 

At least it was a gorgeous day for all the running around! The sun was finally out, without a hint of cloud anywhere. Though it remained windy, it was also much warmer, into the lower 60's. It was so nice, I stopped at the Hispanic ice cream parlor on the corner of Cuthbert and the White Horse Pike on the way home. The lime and cookies ice cream I had was delicious, crunchy and sweet all at once, with just enough hint of lime.

Went straight home after I got out of Sprouts. Watched The Easter Bunny Is Comin' to Town while I ate lunch and moved the new CD/cassette player to the top of one of the low book shelves in the bedroom. (The stuffed animals that had been there went on top of the record crate where I originally had the cassette player.) I went further into this and Here Comes Peter Cottontail at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog way back in April 2019.

The Easter Bunny Is Comin' to Town

After that ended, I went downstairs to make Pastel M&M Brownie Cookies. The original recipe called for the brownie cookies to be topped with Cadbury pastel eggs, but I already had the M&Ms. I mixed the M&Ms and sprinkles in with the brownie mix and added cocoa and more flour for extra richness. Yum! I'm giving these away and didn't taste them, but they sure smelled chocolate-y in the oven!

Listened to the Wicked soundtrack on my new CD player while I made the cookies. I almost didn't buy this. I've had the original cast album for years, and the song list is identical to the first half of the show. However, it does have fabulous performances from its two witches. Adriana Grande's "Popular" and her part of "Dancing Through Life" is adorable. Cynthia Erivo does equally well by gentle ballads like "I'm Not That Girl" and big belting numbers like the finale "Defying Gravity." Honestly, if you loved the movie, you'll probably want this, too. 

Tested the cassette player while the cookies were in the oven. It almost immediately ate my original copy of the Beach Boys' Still Crusin', but the soundtrack from the 1945 State Fair worked just fine. State Fair isn't regarded as one of Rodgers and Hammerstein's best works, but it does have some decent songs. "It Might As Well Be Spring" won an Oscar, and I'm also fond of the ballad "That's for Me" and the chorus number "It's a Grand Night for Singing." 

My Jack Benny Show cassette played fine, too, and I've run this to death since I bought it in college. "Phil Harris Goes to War" with his band in the episode I listened to. More specifically, they joined the Merchant Marines. Jack is more interested in the trip to New York they'll be taking in the next episode, including the ultra-cheap Acme Arms Hotel. (Wonder if he ran into any Looney Tunes there?) Meanwhile, Mary Livingstone prefers to think of her husband as a mother duck, Rochester explains to Jack that he got the wrong pajamas back from the cleaners, and youthful singer Kenny Baker hasn't gotten around to seeing his boss' then-new movie yet. 

Did Sunday School Musical when I went back upstairs. I go further into this religious B-movie imitation of High School Musical at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog. 

Sunday School Musical

Switched to Match Game '77 during dinner. Buzzr took a flying leap into the week with Patty Duke and Nipsey Russell. Thankfully, Richard was still in a decent mood here, surprising considering this was the week after the infamous School Riot and he couldn't have been happy with the show or producer and judge Ira Skutch at that point.

Wink and Gene are only doing slightly better mid-way through their Password Plus week. Wink finally got to an Alphabetics and did well on it. Gene, however, keeps using long words that no one understands or have to be explained. 

Finished the night with the two children's Easter albums I've dug up in the last few weeks. Disney's Peter Cottontail has a too-sweet choral version of the title song, but also includes a retelling of the short story "Grandpa Bunny" from Storybookland. Songs about Thumper and the White Rabbit are just ok.

I found Peter Cottontail: The First Easter Record for Children to be vastly more enjoyable. Gene Autry has a lot more fun with the title song, along with the western-themed "Bunny Round-Up Time." Rosemary Clooney gets the cute "Eggbert, the Easter Egg" and "My Choc'late Rabbit." Art Carney gives us two goofy story-songs, the retelling of Peter Rabbit as "Flop, Mop, Cotton, and Pete," and the description of bunnies as "A Thump, A Twinkle, and a Twitch, or How to Make a Rabbit." 

People are Strange

Started the morning with The Sylvester and Tweety Mysteries, which is currently on Tubi. "The Cat Who Knows Too Much" witnesses Tweety get bird-napped by Muggsy and Thugsy in New Orleans, right before a big canary singing contest. Sylvester is really only interested in getting his lunch back, but Granny wants to figure out who "Mr. Big" is and why he wants Tweety out of the way.

Called Uber after the cartoon ended. No trouble getting to Abilities Solutions in Westville. The driver arrived in 6 minutes, and there was no traffic. We arrived within 15 minutes.

As it turned out, Bryanna wasn't ready. I asked her for the address yesterday, but never confirmed if I was coming. I figured she'd know because I asked for the address. We ended up talking in her office. I was really hoping we could try some different methods besides Indeed. There has to be other ways of getting a job that don't involve sending out tons of applications that will probably be rejected anyway...but we still ended up sending out tons of applications on Indeed. Bryanna says I need to worry about actually getting a job that I like before I think about things like salary, but...she can say that. She has a real home and job and doesn't need to worry about losing her health care. 

And I don't know why she keeps signing me up for working in health care offices and senior care centers. I'm no good at dealing with the seniors at the Acme, and I know nothing about health care or how to deal with it. There's tons of people out there who know ten times more about how medical stuff works than I do. It's not what I'm interested in. I just wish I knew what I was interested in that could get me a job.

Though it remains below-average cold, probably in the 40's thanks to the heavy wind, it was otherwise a nice day. I first stopped for lunch at Bagelicious, the cafe at the shopping center in front of Abilities Solutions that is managed and staffed by their alumni. The crispy bacon chicken ranch wrap was messy but tasty, even if the second half fell apart. 

Strolled a few blocks down to WaWa. I figured it would be easier to pick up Uber there than at Abilities Solutions, which isn't visible from the road. Enjoyed a small strawberry cheesecake smoothie, then called Uber. The pleasant driver arrived in 6 minutes, and though there was more traffic on the road going home, he still got me back in a little over 15 minutes.

Took my new sheets and comforter downstairs to be washed when I got home, then went straight into The Doors for review. I go further in this 1991 biography of Doors front man Jim Morrison in honor of Val Kilmer at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

A Salute to Val Kilmer - The Doors

Put the laundry in the dryer while trying something different on YouTube. I was intrigued by the premise of the British show Adam Adamant Lives! A gentleman adventurer of the Edwardian era, Adam Adamant (Gerald Harper) is defrosted in 1967 London, which comes as quite a shock to his system. He's found by sweet Georgina Jones (Juliet Harmer) and eventually helps her find out who killed her boss, the manager of a local dance hall. It's "A Vintage Year for Scoundrels" when Adam helps her catch the racketeers who are responsible. 

I love gentleman adventurer stories and fish out of water tales that compare and contrast one era with another, so this was right up my alley. Too bad half of it is lost, including almost the entire second season. Georgina was annoying, but Adam's dilemma was genuinely interesting and well-played. Thankfully, all of the existing episodes seem to be on YouTube. I will certainly be checking out more. 

Made the bed after I finally remembered to put the sheets in the dryer, then had dinner while watching Match Game '73. Gene sported his other infamously ugly suit in this episode, the gray checked one with the pink bow tie that made him look like half of a vaudeville team. Pat Harrington made a crack about how that was "more than Diana (Richard Dawson's ex wife) did." Rather than get angry, Richard ruefully agreed.

Finished the night after a shower with two different and equally beloved divas. She Works Hard for the Money would be Donna Summer's biggest hit of the 1980's. I fondly remember seeing the music video for the title track all the time in my early childhood. Alas, the rest of the album doesn't quite live up to that dynamic opening song, though the ballads "Love Has a Mind of Its Own" and "Unconditional Love" aren't bad.

Billie Holliday was one of the most beloved performers of the mid 20th century, despite personal problems and a drug habit that rivaled Jim Morrison's. "Strange Fruit" is probably her best-known song. Other good ones on the two-disc collection I picked up from Abbie Road include "Until the Real Thing Comes Along," "Swing Brother Swing," "Pennies from Heaven," "You Go to My Head," and "Sugar." 

Looney Tunes at the Movies

Began the morning with breakfast and The Busy World of Richard Scarry. Huckle, Sally, and Lowly see how much alike PS Pig and Mr. Frumble are and decide to play "Match-Makers" for them. Good thing PS thinks Mr. Frumble's bumbling is adorable. "Forget-bur Never Forgets" in Mesopotamia when he creates language in order to remember what he needs to build for the emperor's temple. Hilda has "Toof Trouble," but is afraid of the dentist and doesn't want to admit it. She borrows Bananas' headphones to focus on something more pleasant than the drill...and then has to convince Bananas that he needs to see the dentist, too.

Bryanna picked me up at 10:30. We applied to twenty jobs between the two of us, including two for the Camden County Library again. I'm not sure about those. They're only part-time, and they don't have health insurance or pay much. I badly wish I could find a job that I would like that would give me full-time and health insurance! Bryanna suggested I take a part-time job and keep the Acme job until the health insurance on the other job kicked in. 

I'm not sure about that. I already feel stuck. I'm going to be trapped at the Acme forever, doing the same old job I've been burnt out on for 20 years, just because of the health insurance. If it had to be two jobs, I'd rather have two jobs I want to do. And considering how terrible I am at getting to work, I don't know I could keep up with two jobs. Maybe I could find a second job at home. 

I was thoroughly depressed when I got out of the Haddon Township Library. Walked up to the Westmont Plaza and stopped at the bagel shop for lunch. They were so busy, I took the last booth in the back that had a seat missing. At least the tomato, avocado, and mozzarella omelet and multi-grain bagel were tasty. They filled me up so much, I couldn't finish the hash browns that came with them. 

Bought a quick water at Sprouts, then walked down Cuthbert and across the White Horse Pike to pick up the bus. It was only a minute or two late, and relatively full for quarter of 2. Thankfully, it only took about 15 minutes to get down the White Horse Pike to Somerdale. I got off across from Taco Bell and the big Walmart.

Since I had time before the movies, I took a brief look at Walmart. Not a single thing of interest there...or much of anything in there. The records are totally gone, and most of the TV sets that would interest me have those annoying anti-theft devices on them. Not to mention, I haven't watched most of the TV series sets I have yet. The 18-inch doll clothes are gone, too, though they still have a lot of doll accessories. I don't really need much in the way of food right now, either, and I figured the movie I was seeing wasn't long enough to need snacks. I walked out with nothing.

At least the day was beautiful for all the hiking. Sunny and in the lower 60's, with no wind whatsoever. As perfect of a late winter day as one could wish. It was a pleasure to head down the hill to the Cinemark theater. 

Even with the walk, I was still ten minutes early for The Day the Earth Blew Up. I figured I might as well be early. I went to the bathroom, and the commercials didn't start until a good ten minutes after that. Of the commercials, I'm already hoping to see Snow White for review sometime next week. Elio looks really sweet, too, and worth checking out this summer. I'd be more excited about The Bad Guys 2 if I'd gotten around to seeing the original The Bad Guys. I'm not much for religion, so unless The King of Kings is a musical, I'll likely pass. The Legend of Ochi looks like an imitation E.T, which was never my favorite movie. It's also likely a pass. 

Mixed feelings on The Day the Earth Blew Up. I'm not going to go heavily into the plot here due to spoilers, but, on one hand, I appreciate the well-done hand-drawn animation that feels like a color short of the early 40's and the emphasis on Daffy and Porky's relationship. Daffy has been my favorite Looney Tunes character since childhood, and the whole thing with him and Porky working together was rather sweet. I'm also glad to see Porky's girl Petunia Pig here; not only is she just as cute with Porky, but she's a scientist and probably tougher than both guys. 

On the other hand, this one sometimes gets a little too loony for its own good. It's hard to figure out what audience it's intended for.  I'm not sure how younger kids would handle the heavy violence level reminiscent of older Bob Clampett shorts. As much as I liked seeing Daffy and the pigs in the spotlight, I kind of wished other Tunes like Bugs or Marvin the Martian had shown up, or at least had cameos. For all the great animation, this still feels like something that should have been released on Max, regardless of Warners' lack of respect for animation right now. 

I think your enjoyment of this one will depend on how big of a Looney Tunes fan you are. I've loved the Tunes since childhood and got a kick of out of it. If you're also a fan of Daffy, Porky, Petunia, or the wilder Clampett shorts, you'll want to see if you can find this at a local theater and check it out.

Did the reverse of my usual movie trip and called Uber for a ride home. I didn't feel like hiking up the hill and waiting around for the bus again. The Uber driver arrived in ten minutes, avoided traffic on the White Horse Pike, and got me home in 15. 

Went into The Girls On the Beach when I got in and brought my laundry downstairs. I go further into this female-centric Spring Break Beach Party imitation at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

The Girls On the Beach

Switched to Match Game Syndicated after the movie ended while I had dinner and put the laundry in the dryer. I arrived in time for the last episode of the week with Bart Braverman very happy to be sitting between Debralee Scott and a cowboy hat-clad Holly Halstrom on the bottom row. For some weird reason, Buzzr skipped way ahead after that, to the week featuring Don Galloway of Ironside, Fannie Flagg, and Bart and Holly returning.

Finished the night working on the review while listening to animation and family film soundtracks in honor of The Day the Earth Blew Up. Gay Purree may not have had the best story or animation, but it does have a really lovely score. Judy Garland's ballad "Little Drops of Rain" was a favorite of hers, while Robert Goulet gets the charming "Mewsette." Paul Frees and The Mellow Men have fun with "The Money Cat."

I could have sworn I read that Reader's Digest Huckleberry Finn from 1974 didn't get a soundtrack, due to Roberta Flack not liking the instrumentation for her big ballad "Freedom" that opens the film and album. I'm so glad I was wrong. "Freedom" is lovely and stirring regardless of the instruments used. Harvey Korman and David Wayne also have a blast with their comic numbers "Royalty" and "The Royal Nonesuch." 

The Carl Stalling Project: Music From the Warner Bros. Cartoons 1936 - 1958 gives the man behind the scores for the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies his due and shows off some of his best work. Only five cartoon scores are heard in full, but they include his wild and energetic music for the original Porky In Wackyland and its remake Dough for the Do-Do, along with Putty Tat Trouble, the Wil E Coyote-Road Runner short There They Go-Go, and his last short To Itch His Own. We also get medleys of other scores from various time periods - the Depression and early 40's, the war years, the early 50's. It gives you a new appreciate of how good his scores were and how much energy they added to the Toons. 

Winds of Change

Got a quick start today with Scooby Doo and the Beach Beastie at Tubi. Daphne is hoping Fred will get over his obsession with nets during a vacation in Florida, but the hotel they're staying at is full of them. It's also the home of a water-based monster who attacks a young woman wearing a lavish diamond necklace. Velma tries to figure out what the monster's after, while Shaggy is jealous when Scooby falls for the rich woman's pretty pug.

Bryanna picked me up promptly at 10 AM. We ended up at the Collingswood Library, which while about the same length of time from Oaklyn, has a teen area that isn't used when the kids are in school. As I thought from our chat on the phone, she is much younger, probably in her 30's, and a new recruit at Abilities Solutions...but that may be what I need right now. I want someone high-energy and fun who knows about newer jobs and online opportunities and will neither retire anytime soon, nor leave because her insurance is too high. Between the two of us, we applied to 27 jobs today. Most of them were customer service phone representatives that I'm not sure I could do. I'm not all that great on the phone, or talking to people period, but at least it's something.

Bryanna dropped me off at the Westmont Acme next. I had grocery shopping to do. I mainly restocked yogurt, bagels, Kind bars, cocoa powder, and Slice soda here. They were having a good sale on several laundry detergent brands. I couldn't reach the last of the Persil, so I ended up with Arm & Hammer. Walked up the hill past the two fast food places, the Westmont Diner, and the Haddon Township Library to the Westmont Plaza after I finished there to hit Sprouts. Bananas, bulk brown sugar, dried cranberries, and breakfast cookies were the big things on my list here. They had SunSips, another new type of stomach-friendly soda, buy-one-get one. SunSips come in peach, a flavor I hadn't seen with any other brand, so I thought I'd try that. Grabbed a Zevia on sale, too.

I hadn't had lunch at the Westmont Bagel Shop in ages. They were busy at quarter after 1 with couples and older people on their lunch breaks. I had my Diet Pepsi and my favorite spinach and fetal omelet with a toasted chocolate chip bagel. Ate everything but some of the roasted potatoes while listening to standards like "Mack the Knife" by Bobby Darin.

Considered walking home, but for one thing, I had way too much to carry by that point (including the laundry detergent bottle). For another, my right knee was absolutely killing me. It's been hurting like heck a lot lately. I have no idea if it's part of the peri-menopause, or if I re-aggravated it somehow. For another thing, though it was mostly sunny, it was also gale-force windy again and a bit chillier. The Uber driver arrived in 7 minutes and once he found his way to Cuthbert, had no problems getting back to Oaklyn.

Put my groceries away, then spent the rest of the afternoon watching Madam Satan. I go further into this truly bizarre early talkie disaster musical made by none other than Cecil B. DeMille of the later biblical spectacles at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog. 

Cult Flops - Madam Satan

Switched to The Price Is Right next, then Match Game Syndicated. They started off a truncated week featuring Clifton Davies and a pair of very dissimilar singers, Gail Farrell of The Lawrence Welk Show and Paul Williams. A World Trade Center comment caused the first episode of this week to be pulled from the rotation on GSN, and it remains lost even on Buzzr. 

The last hour went straight into another truncated week, this time with comedian Freeman King and in her first appearance, bubbly comedienne Betty Kennedy. Gene apparently made a racial comment towards King that keeps the second-to-last episode of this week off the air nowadays. Too bad. King was a little dull, but Kennedy had so much fun, she'd turn up a few more times during the syndicated run.

Finished the night with more from The Smithsonian Collection of Classic Jazz. The hot jazz of Fletcher Henderson's "The Stampede" and Red Nichols' "Dinah" gives way to the smoother big band sounds of Benny Goodman's earliest hits like "Body and Soul" on the second disc. Billie Holliday croons through a gorgeous "These Foolish Things," while Ella Fitzgerald claims "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To" and Count Basie and His Orchestra stomp through the "Taxi War Dance." 

Dolls In the Sunshine

Began my day with a late breakfast and The Busy World of Richard Scarry. Huckle and Billy get caught up trying to be "The Winners" in Busytown's big running race. Huckle learns a lesson in good sportsmanship when Billy's hurt and he stops to help. Mexican boy Manuel has a big imagination and is always goofing off. His mother says "No More Games, Manuel!" after she thinks he's hurt during his latest game. Manuel discovers why real jungle exploring isn't a game when he and two explorers get trapped in crumbling ruins. Pig Will and Pig Won't insist "We Won't Go to the Doctor" after they hear what they think is the doctor working on Scotty Dog. They do every trick in the book to stall their mother before Scotty finally explains what they really heard.

Took the laundry downstairs, then vacuumed and ran the Swifter in my rooms. Listened to the Julie Andrews Rose-Marie record I found yesterday while I worked. I believe this version of the 1924 operetta is from the mid-late 50's, probably around the time she made a splash in My Fair Lady. At the least, she does sound believable as the Canadian singer who falls for a trapper and dodges the attention of a wealthy businessman. Frances Day isn't a bad Lady Jane, but Meier Tzelniker's Hard Boiled Herman is annoying, and Giorgio Tozzi is a bit stiff as Jim. I do commend this for including all but the opening number and a second ballad for Herman and Jane, something that didn't always happen with 50's studio recordings. And yes, "Indian Love Call" does sound beautiful here.

Before I left, I finally called Abilities Solutions. Turns out yes, they'd gotten me another counselor, Bryanna. I called her, but caught her as she was driving. She sounds a lot younger and perkier than my previous two counselors...which may be what I need. I'd love to have someone who knows a bit more about the online job market and more up-to-date jobs, not to mention someone who won't be retiring anytime soon or leave abruptly over expensive insurance rates. At any rate, we'll be getting together at 10 AM on Thursday.

Headed out after I finished my call and moved the laundry to the dryer. It was too nice to hang out inside all day. Though it was still chilly, it wasn't frigid like yesterday. It was sunny and breezy, probably in the lower-mid 40's. I dropped a bag of clothes into the donation bin behind Dollar General, then crossed the White Horse Pike and strolled down Newton Avenue. Grabbed the coffee-table book The Golden Age of Jazz by William P. Gottlieb from the kiosk in front of the former Oaklyn Library. Wawa was busy with kids out of school, but I was still able to order a chicken-bacon ranch wrap (with real chicken, not deli meat), vegetable chips, and a Baja Blast Mountain Dew Zero.

Did two episodes of the Good Eats set I found a while back while eating lunch, making my bed, and bringing the laundry upstairs. "For Whom the Cheese Melts" has Alton explaining cheese in its many forms, showing how it's made and why it's important to choose the right cheese for melting. Things get a little goofy when he uses two football players to explain the war between two religions in Switzerland and how fondue was used as a peace treaty, and when he uses two pans as a sandwich maker for a late-night grilled cheese snack.

"A Bowl of Onion" is one of the earliest episodes from Season 1. It mostly focuses on the many types of onions, especially sweet onions, and how to cook them for the perfect French Onion Soup. (I also like him encouraging the use of an electric skillet for this recipe. My mother had one for years that she loved and used for everything from steak to pancakes.)

Dressed the dolls for early spring and St. Patrick's Day after "Bowl of Onion" ended. Kit wears her Birthday Wrap Dress with the coral pink sweater from her Photographer Outfit and white t-straps. Elizabeth's Summer Gown is a celery green that's really more appropriate for Felicity. Its quilted petticoat makes it more spring than summer. Molly is in the shamrock-print dress I found at a yard sale years ago. Josefina wears her Harvest Outfit with the sage-green print skirt and long-sleeved embroidered camisa. I'm so glad I bought Samantha's Special Day Dress when I did in 2015! It looks so pretty on her, and it costs an arm and a leg on eBay now. 

Ariel wears another hard-to-find retired outfit, Julie's Calico Dress. Whitney is in a yellow, red, and green flower print Queen's Treasures dress with a net petticoat and ruffly Peter Pan collar. Barbara Jean goes daringly mod in a psychedelic-print mini-dress, white fur vest, and soft white go-go boots. Jessa wears the turtleneck from the Girl Scouts outfit with the green print, the pants from the original Blue Jean Basics set, yellow socks, and Springfield Collection sneakers. 

Listened to the remaining two records I picked up from Goodwill the other day while working on the dolls. I believe the copy of Carousel I found is the original cast album release from 1948. The record is heavy, and though it's not in the best of shape, it played just fine. "Billy's Soliloquy" has him going further into what it would be like to have a daughter in a passage that was apparently cut right before opening and can only be found here. John Raitt sounds fine, especially on the soliloquy, but Jan Clayton is a bit on the bland side, and sounds too much like Jean Darling, the girl playing Carrie. 

Mary Martin Sings Richard Rodgers Plays is exactly what it says on the tin. Martin performs songs written by Rodgers with Oscar Hammerstein or Lorenz Hart, sometimes with just him on the piano, sometimes with a full orchestra. Her "Getting to Know You" is so charming, I wish she'd done The King and I. She also does well by some rare Rodgers-Hart material, including "Moon of My Delight" from the 1928 flop Chee-Chee, "Sleepy Head" from the revue Garrick Gaieties, and the delightfully macabre "To Keep My Love Alive" from the 1943 revival of A Connecticut Yankee. 

Put on Match Game Syndicated after the episodes ended. Bart Braverman spent most of the first episode trying to flirt with Debralee Scott and looking a little jealous of the attention tall, handsome blond Jim Staal got from Brett and Charles. Phyllis Diller made her first appearance in the second episode, and wasn't too happy when Gene pulled out his breath spray and aimed for a kiss. Fred Travelena tossed out voices next to her.

Finished the night on YouTube after a shower with some of my favorite female panelists on Match Game. Of course, we must start with Brett Somers. Brett came on the show during its third week in 1973 on the suggestion of her then-husband Jack Klugman, who wanted her to get out the house. I suspect he had no idea she'd get a career out of it. Brett would remain for the entire 1973-1982 run and turned up for three memorable weeks in 1990 at the request of her favorite drinking buddy Charles Nelson Reilly. Her wicked sense of humor, infectious laugh, and banter with Charles, Betty White, and others offset her tendency to hog the spotlight and complain about anything she didn't like, including long questions and women in the 4th seat who were younger than her.

Speaking of the 4th seat, probably my favorite lady who regularly sat there was Lee Merriweather. She initially turned up in 1973 and would appear off and on through 1981. Her offbeat sense of humor and ability to fend off Richard Dawson and Gene Rayburn's advances matched her beauty and intelligence. One of her last appearances saw her doing a kickline with Fannie Flagg to explain the Rockettes to a British contestant that was the hit of the episode!

Fannie Flagg was one of the most popular regulars in the 6th "comedienne" seat. She also turned up in 1973 and would appear straight through to 1981 and was a semi-regular on The Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour as well. Years before she wrote Fried Green Tomatoes, she was a relatively well-known comedy writer and actress on records and TV. Her acting experience probably explains her fondness for dressing up. The episode I have here has her posing as Brett's nurse in the outfit she wore for her cameo in Grease as the school nurse who insists her caster oil has already gone missing. 

Fannie and Betty White loved to tease Brett and Charles, but they had their own fun as well. Despite her frequently claiming she wasn't fond of sitting in the sixth seat, Betty was probably the best woman who played there. She almost never failed to give the right answer, or at least one that made something like sense. She got along extremely well with Richard and often did jokes with him, like the time they imitated Brett and Charles in this 1977 PM episode.

It's no surprise that acerbic Marcia Wallace became Brett's best female friend in later years. They shared the same salty and pointed sense of humor. Marcia could occasionally get a little too salty, as in this 1977 PM episode where she's censored for giving a naughty answer to where a guy lost a few inches. Marcia first appeared in 1974, but she really came into her own during the syndicated run and later in Match Game-Hollywood Squares and the 1990 show. 

Debralee Scott started out in the ingenue seat, but though she may have been one of the younger semi-regulars, she was too spicy to be an ingenue. When she wasn't flirting with panelists or fighting with Ira over her answer, she was teasing Gene and Brett and getting quite a few right answers. Since her first episode ran in the 1976 marathon yesterday, I went with her second episode, where she got to hear Gene fuss over a smaller microphone.

I really wish Rita Moreno had appeared in more of the series. She was one of the funniest semi-regulars from the syndicated years, sassy and spontaneous. Here, you get to see her briefly host a question when Gene gets fed up with the audience reactions to the panel's answers.

Sweet Joyce Bulifant first turned up in 1974 and was a frequent semi-regular through 1981. She wasn't the best at actually matching the contestant, but her good-natured and child-like demeanor made her a nice contrast to the crustier panelists like Brett. She could also occasionally dig up a rather wicked sense of humor, especially when tossing digs at Gene. By far my favorite of her episodes is the one from early in 1979 where she gets to show off her dance training by joining a contestant for some terrific jitterbugging.

Celebrate Women's History Month with the delightfully off-the-wall antics of the best female panelists on Match Game! 

Match Game (1976) - Debralee Scott

Match Game (1977) - Brett Somers

Match Game PM (1977) - Marcia Wallace

Match Game PM (1977) - Betty White

Match Game (1977) - Fannie Flagg

Match Game (1979) - Joyce Bulifant

Match Game Syndicated (1980) - Rita Moreno

Match Game Syndicated (1981) - Lee Merriweather

Guardians On Ice

I was getting dressed when I checked my phone and saw a message from Dawn to call her immediately. Turns out, not only was she unable to get together today, she was leaving her job. Apparently, she had a scare riding over black ice coming back from that job fair last Friday and was worried that her car insurance wouldn't cover constantly taking people to job fairs and interviews. Her boss Sue would take my case until they could find another counselor. 

That left me rather at loose ends, and very disappointed. I had intended to do my grocery shopping and run errands today anyway, since it's supposed to rain tomorrow. I'd just have more time for them now.

I had breakfast and made my grocery list while watching Sailor Moon. Usagi and the girls are thrilled when an English gentleman who is friends with Mamoru invites them to a genuine ball. Usagi dreams of "Usagi Dancing the Waltz," until she realizes she'll have to speak English to all his friends there. Nervous, she grabs the wrong drink at the party and ends up drunk. She'll have to sober up in a hurry when Eudial crashes the party with a tone-deaf phonograph monster whose music is a lot less sweet than a waltz!

Let Supermarket Sweep run while getting organized. I came in for the "Snack Attack Movie Game." The contestants answer three trivia about movies of the time. The one who gets the third question also taste-tests a popular snack and has to guess what it is. (In this case, Snackwell Sandwich Cookies.) That team also had a clear advantage in the Big Sweep, starting well before the other contestants and amassing more in bonus items than the second team did in their whole sweep. They didn't do quite so well with the bonus round, though.

Headed out after that. I first stopped at PNC to get money from their ATM machine. Ran in, got the cash, and got out in five minutes with no lines and no trouble.

Took the back roads in Collingswood to avoid traffic as I headed to the Westmont Acme to begin my big shopping. Found bagels on the bakery clearance racks, picked up parchment paper, Kind kids breakfast bars and Fuji apples with online coupons, and restocked yogurt and soda. 

The last thing I expected to find among the probiotic sodas in the big coolers in the front of the store was Slice Ginger Ale! I haven't seen Slice in at least 20 years. I thought Pepsi dropped it in favor of Sierra Mist. Apparently, someone bought the name and started it up again as a type of low-sugar probiotic soda not far removed from Olipop. The can even looked the same as it did when I was a kid. I bought it, though I haven't tried it yet. Their web site indicates that there's at least four more flavors available, including lower-sugar versions of the original orange and lemon-lime. I want to try the grapefruit - that's not a flavor other probiotic soda companies have gotten to yet.

Made a brief stop at the Haddon Township Library to drop off An Appetite For Murder before heading across the street to Sprouts. Picked up tiny mandarin oranges 2 for $1, Zevia and Nixie diet sodas, granola bars buy one, get one free, and chocolate peanut butter cookies on clearance. Decided to try the bulk "European cereal," which was really oats and chopped dates. Had a hard time with the oranges at the self-checkout. They didn't have numbers. I had to wait for the lady in charge to take the wrong ones off, then find the right number.

At least it was a gorgeous day for all the running around, especially compared to the weather we're supposed to have tomorrow! Sunny, bright, breezy, chilly but not overly so like it was last week. By the time I dodged the traffic on Cuthbert and headed home, the snow we got last Sunday had vanished from all but the thickest piles and the shadiest areas. 

Put everything away, then had eggs and an orange for lunch while watching Archie's Weird Mysteries on Tubi. Archie's lamenting nothing interesting going on, until Reggie turns up in shock, clutching an overdue library slip. Turns out "The Haunting of Riverdale" all stems from the library, where the recently-deceased librarian who worked there for decades has been turning up again. Everyone says she was sweet and dedicated to her job but Jughead, who was afraid of her. He'll have to face his fears and explain why she intimidated him in order for her to finally be able to go home.

Watched Shinbone Alley on YouTube while doing some job hunting on my own, including putting in an application for a receptionist job at YourOffice, a shared office space company. I go further into this odd 1970 adult animated musical featuring Eddie Bracken as a cockroach poet and Carol Channing as the alley cat he admires at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Animation Celebration Extra - Shinbone Alley

Watched Match Game Syndicated while getting ready to head out. Gene Rayburn burst through his doors today, smashing them to bits! That led to a round of macho jokes, especially after Gene handed a contestant a piece of the door. Joyce Bulifant did unusually well too, getting almost every answer right. 

Jessa picked me up at 5:30 to go skating and out to dinner. We were originally going to go out tomorrow night, but the nearest skating park is outdoors, and like I said earlier, it's supposed to rain. She parked along the road behind the Doubletree Hotel in Cherry Hill, across from Cooper River Park. The former mini golf course across from the hotel had been made over into a temporary ice skating rink. She bought the time and rented our skates, which we changed into in a large white tent.

I haven't skated since there was briefly a rink just outside of Wildwood in the mid-90's. I did well then...but tonight, I just couldn't keep my balance. I moved slower than a snail. My right foot kept threatening to go out from under me. I'd skate out to the ice with Jessa and the kids, only to return to the sides a few minutes later. At one point, I took a very nasty fall on my left arm and wrist and had to be helped up by Jess and the guy in charge. I was so embarrassed, though Jess said I was doing fine. It's not like all the little kids skating around us weren't falling over themselves and each other, too. 

After an hour, my wrist and left arm were really sore, and my thighs burned. Jess kept saying "one more round," but I'd had enough. Besides, it was getting busy. More kids had showed up in the hour since we arrived, and it was starting to get crowded. We stopped to take selfies on the side, then took off our skates back in the tent. She took a few more photos of us at the wooden boards set up to look like a snowman, a reindeer, and Santa Claus, and we warmed our hands over nifty little fire pits. I wish we'd brought marshmallows to roast over those little pits!

Jess drove further down Route 70 to a small old shopping center that seemed to consist mainly of various Asian restaurants and one massage parlor and spa. We had dinner at the Japanese restaurant Rayaki Ramen. They were small, but darn cool, with black-and-white anime artwork on the wall, dark wood booths, and episodes of InuYasha playing on the TV over the counter. 

She had spicy edamame and miso ramen. I had a spiral fried potato with really spicy mayo and tasty shrimp ramen. (Which I ate with a ladle-like spoon. I never could figure out chopsticks.) We shared crispy fried squid. I tried mochi green tea ice cream. This was ice cream wrapped in some kind of weird squishy dough. The ice cream was good, but I didn't like the texture of the dough and probably won't be trying it again.

Jessa had called an older guy friend to join us tonight. He couldn't find us and didn't turn up until well after we'd already eaten and were ready to go home. Turns out he lives in Pennsylvania and had a hard time getting away from  his job as a security guard as a prison. We discussed his drive and his job before we all finally headed home.

I finished the night listening to the Classic Fairy Stories CD set I picked up last year while working on the Shinbone Alley review. British comedian Cribbins reads eight fairy tales, including one, The Princess of the Glass Hill, that you don't often see on children's albums. Glass Hill is something of a male Cinderella story, with Cinderlad taming three horses who are raving his father's crops, then using them to bring the gold apple to the princess in the title three times. Other stories on this set include a very cute Goldilocks and the Three Bears and an expanded Three Little Pigs that shows how the Wolf didn't give up and kept trying to get that last pig. 

Oh, and American Girl just re-released Samantha in her original checked dress and black stockings, with her original accessories. Unlike the re-released dolls from last year, she comes with, not her original book, but a book that explains her time period and character. I'm happy with my Samantha and aren't in the market for another one, but I am glad they put out Sam in her first outfit again for those who want it. Now, if only they'd make more outfits for her... 

Baking and Other Cold-Weather Fun

Began the day quickly with breakfast and Charlie & Lola. "Snow Is My Favorite and My Best" says a delighted Lola after a storm. She and her brother and friends have so much fun sledding and making snowmen and snow dogs, she wishes it would snow all the time. Charlie takes her to the Antarctic, where it is always cold and snowy, to prove why it's good that some things only come once in a while. 

Dawn picked me up at 10:30 for our session this week. She mainly talked about signing up for government jobs. At this point, I'm beginning to wonder if anyone else will take me. None of the small offices around here are willing to give me a chance. They don't know me, and I don't have enough skills to make them look twice. I applied to two offices on Indeed, but I haven't really heard back from anyone in a while. 

She took me straight back after we finished. Though it wasn't as windy, the sky was a pearly gray, and it's still bitterly cold. This was no day for lingering anywhere. Besides, she was busy with other clients, including two who called while we were at the Haddon Township Library. 

Took the trash out when I got in, then had lunch and watched Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. It's "Pluto to the Rescue" when Donald and Goofy are stranded behind a massive snowman on Mistletoe Mountain and can't get home. Pluto demonstrates that he's a good rescue dog when he helps Mickey off the edge of the mountain, finds a way for Pete to clear the road for his sleigh, and figures out how to get through to Goofy and Don.

Listened to local hard rock station WMMR on my mini radio as I made "Winter In the Berkshires" cookies, aka dark chocolate candy cane. Dark cocoa, crushed candy canes, chocolate chips, brown sugar, and lots of butter. There were supposed to be white chocolate chips, but I thought that sounded like overload. I probably should have added more brown sugar and milk. They came out tasty but dry and kept falling apart, though they were generally in better shape than the orange cake. They were very rich, though, with all that butter. I had candy canes leftover from Christmas and thought I'd try them, but the richness will make these a once-in-a-while winter treat.

Put on Tommy when I got upstairs. I go further into this rock spectacle about a deaf-mute British youth who becomes a pinball sensation at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Tommy (1975)

Got the children's record inventory going while Tommy was on. This should be far easier to do than the cast albums or rock records. I don't have that many children's titles, and the vast majority of them are on vinyl. I've been trying to find more children's albums since I started collecting records in 2006, but I haven't had that much luck until the last five years or so. I did find some albums before that. Of this batch, The Muppet Musicians of Bremen and Introducing the Care Bears go back the furthest. I found them at Oaklyn yard sales in 2011. I'm hoping this will only take me a week or two to finish, absolutely no longer than a month.

Switched to Match Game Syndicated while having dinner and finishing the inventory work for today. Phyllis Diller and Fred Grandy joined in for the first week, which ended with Charles Nelson Reilly turning up in the contestant's chair in the beginning. He claimed he was a 29-year-old contestant, prompting a "You wish!" from Brett. Judy Landers and Robert Walden made the panel a pleasure to look at during the next week.

Finished the night with Grimm's Fairy Tales. This collection of fairy tale retellings from RCA Camden are mostly lighter updates of familiar stories. Little Red Riding Hood tells the wolf he should be on television, Cinderella gets a cuckoo clock to make the prince notice her, and the Sleeping Beauty's prince has to make the evil fairy laugh to release her from the sleeping spell, no kissing or dragons involved. 

Ironically, the most comic of the original stories, "The Fisherman and His Wife," actually ends up being one of the darkest here. The Grimm story ends with the fisherman and his wife simply being stripped of their wealth and returning to being poor after the wife asks to order around the sun and the moon. In this version, the fish becomes human and the wife is turned into a fish forever thanks to her greed. 

Highway 70 Brew

Began the morning with breakfast and She's a Good Skate, Charlie Brown. Peppermint Patty's competing in the regional skating competition, with Snoopy as her demanding coach. She thinks Marcie's going to make her a costume, but Marcie keeps trying to explain that she can't sew. Snoopy does that, too, and helps Patty clear a bunch of boys who want to play hockey off her usual skating pond. Snoopy's less useful at the competition when his cassette gets tangled, but that's where his old buddy Woodstock comes in.

Dawn picked me up for the Cherry Hill Mall Job Fair at around quarter of 10. There were already two other people with her, the same people who went to the Burlington County Job Fair last October. At least it didn't take long to get to the mall. Having been there many times, I directed Dawn to the parking lot across from the main entrance. The job fair is usually held in the main hall across from Nordstrom.

I only did slightly better this time than in November. New York Life wasn't looking for secretaries, but the lady at the booth was really nice. I left her my resume. The Sun Newspapers are finally looking for writers, but the lady there was grumpy, and they already have my resume. The one other non-government or health care company there, a solar company based in Louisiana, was only hiring salespeople. 

Dawn was just disappointed at how tiny it was. There weren't that many more booths than in November, and this time, they had plenty of space. She's been complaining about how much work companies expect their employees to do nowadays too, too much for one new hire. I didn't think any of us were going to get much more from it, and I wasn't ready to go home yet. She took the others back to her car, and I headed in the opposite direction towards JC Penney.

Spent the next hour or so going in and out of stores. Found nothing at Build-a-Bear. Was hoping to get a Flyers jersey at Fan Treasures or Champs Sports, but they're expensive. Maybe I'll get that online, too. Found a cute soft red checked nightgown with lace trim at JC Penney. It had some kind of gunk on the sleeves, but it'll wash off. Picked up two classic records at FYE: 

Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisited

Miles Davis - Bitches Brew

Thought of doing lunch at the cafe in the back of Nordstrom, but they were expensive. I ended up at the Bistro at Cherry Hill. This small restaurant smack dab in the middle of the Macy's wing started life as the Cherry Hill Grill, the restaurant for the mall's Woolworth in the 60's. Nowadays, it sells salads, sandwiches, burgers, and pizza for hungry shoppers and office workers. I went with a turkey wrap and fries...and since they were out of the avocado for the turkey wrap and I still wanted it, the man behind the counter threw in my iced tea for free. (The turkey wrap was a bit dry, but it still tasted good.)

Bath and Body Works is across from the Bistro. I needed Chapstick. I only have one tube left. They were having a buy three, get one free on smaller beauty items at the front of the store. I bought three lip balms in Sweet Mint, Champagne Toast, and Strawberry Pound Cake and a lip scrub in Strawberry. 

Strolled around the Macy's wing after lunch, checking out Williams-Sonoma, the Squishables store, and Go! Calendars and Games. Went upstairs to the second floor for a look at Old Navy. Picked up a heavy pair of jeans for work that were listed as $19.99 on the clearance rack and came up $12.99. Grabbed a yummy pineapple coconut milkshake and a Diet Pepsi for later from Haagen Daas at the food court.

I was ready to pack it in by then and called Uber. I should have told the driver where, exactly, I wanted to be picked up. The Cherry Hill Mall is huge, and there's a lot of entrances. I went out through the main entrance I came out of, but no one ever saw me. The two trucks making deliveries to Season 52 and Urban Outfitters didn't help, either. When they finally canceled, I explored Urban Outfitters briefly to look at records before trying again. This time, I distinctly mentioned I was in front of Urban Outfitters' entrance. Got a bearded gentleman in two minutes. He chattered all the way back to Oaklyn (though he had a rather odd accent and I could only understand maybe ten words out of a hundred). 

At least the weather was nice for waiting. It remains sunny, but without the wild wind of earlier in the week. It's much warmer now, in the mid-40's. The little bit of snow we got last night was long gone by the time the gentleman drove over the frozen Cooper River and into Westmont. 

Listened to my new records when I got home. Highway 61 Revisited from 1965 was Bob Dylan's second album to use the more electric-oriented sound for his folk music. As depicted in the two movies on his life, it was hugely controversial in the mid-60's, but you can't argue with the results. Some of the best music Dylan ever wrote is on this album. I love the hit "Like a Rolling Stone," and there's also the title song, "Tombstone Blues," and "Ballad of a Thin Man."

Bitches Brew came out five years later and also featured a master of his genre experimenting with electronic instruments. If Bob Dylan fused folk and rock, then Miles Davis did equally amazing things fusing jazz and rock. Like Bob Dylan's experiments, this was highly controversial when it came out, but is now accepted as one of his best albums and the father of jazz-rock. Some of these songs can't be called anything but epic, notably the title number and "Sanctuary." The album cover alone, with its colorful surreal imagery, is worth buying this for.

Worked on the Seasonal inventory while these were on. Added the Radio City Music Hall Christmas soundtrack, A Broadway Christmas, Cabaret Noel, Jimmy Buffett's Christmas Island, and Harry Connick Jr.'s When My Heart Finds Christmas. The Broadway collections go back the furthest here. I have no idea where Cabaret Noel came from anymore, and I got Broadway Christmas from a thrift shop in the Villas in late 2005, just a few months before I moved. 

Oh, and I got my schedule at this point as well. Frankly, I'm glad they cut my hours way back. If there was any week it would be good to have four days off, next week would be it. The high on Tuesday will be 17. I only work on the weekends and four hours on Wednesday. I'll probably get some things done when it starts warming up a bit on Thursday and Friday, but I plan on spending Monday and Tuesday at home. 

Switched to Match Game Syndicated while eating dinner, then finished the night with Mystery Science Theater 3000. Jack Frost was the English dubbing of a Russian fairy tale movie from the 1950's. It seems to be a cross between "Beauty and the Beast," "Cinderella," "Mother Holle," and another Russian tale, "Baba Yaga." A handsome nobleman shows off for a pretty lass, not knowing she's being abused by her hateful stepmother and spoiled and egotistical stepsister. He's given the head of a bear by an elf in a mushroom hat until he does a good deed, then has to get around the old witch Baba Yaga and her moving house. She's abandoned in the woods and is rescued by Grandfather Frost, but is tricked by Baba Yaga's cat into touching his staff and freezing. Ivan has to finally repent - and learn that being kind is its own reward - in order for Grandfather Frost to restore her. 

Mike and the robots thought this was weird, but I find it oddly charming. I love fairy tale films, and while the dubbing was goofy and there's odd details like the elf in the mushroom hat, it's certainly far from bad. Apparently, like Three Wishes for Cinderella, it remains popular in Russia and the Czech countries as a holiday movie to this day. Once again, if you love fairy tales too, this is worth checking out with or without robot wisecracks. 

In the Winter Sunshine

Began a late morning with breakfast and brand-new episodes of Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. "Daniel and Mom Make a Treat," but they're out of bananas for Mrs. Tiger's famous Banana Whirl frozen sorbet. It tastes equally good substituting fresh coconut as Mrs. Tiger reminds her son that it doesn't matter what they make, she still enjoys being with him. "Jodi Sleeps at Her Dad's House" introduces Jodi Platt's father and his cabin in the woods. She's disappointed when it rains and they can't have a camp out together, but he reminds her that they can spend just as much time together inside.

I had some errands to run before I met Dawn at 1 PM, so I left early. Though the streets and most sidewalks were clear, it was still windy and very cold. I called Uber. They arrived in 8 minutes and didn't take more than three or four minutes to pull up in front of the Target at Westmont Plaza.

Mainly went there for vitamins. Their entire vitamin section was buy one, get one 50 percent off. The sugar-free Vitafusion was slightly more expensive than Target's sugar-free women's multi-vitamin gummies, but also bigger and held more gummies. Also grabbed a soda and a box of Made Good breakfast bars, which are cheaper at Target than they are anywhere else but Walmart. Grabbed a tasty and warming Matcha Vanilla Latte at Starbucks for the short walk to the Haddon Township Library.

Returned that ADHD book, then browsed around the stacks until Dawn arrived. Though we applied for eight jobs, including market coordinator and many office assistant titles, I doubt I'll get any of them. I just don't have enough skills. There's too many other people out there who have far more skills and experience in office settings than I do. She found a Microsoft Office class at the Voorhees Library, but of course, it was on Saturday, one of the few days this week I actually work. I might hit that library this Friday anyway to see if they have any books or programs there that could help me.

It was past 3 when I finally made my way back to the Westmont Plaza for lunch. My original plan for today was the Bagel Shop, but they were closed by then. Ended up at Nick and Joe's Pizza instead. They normally would have been busy with high school kids by 3:30, but a lot of the teens must have gone right home instead of hanging out in the cold. Ate my slice of slightly spicy veggie pizza and slice of tomato-basil pizza in relative silence, other than the really sweet waitress/clerk.

Though it remained chilly by quarter of 4, it was also sunny, and the wind had died down considerably since the early afternoon. I figured I'd be fine walking home. It's only a 20-minute walk from the Westmont Plaza to the White Horse Pike side of Oaklyn. Besides, all of the roads and most of the sidewalks were totally clear. The snow was so light and fluffy, it simply blew away from many yards. 

Put on Gold Diggers of 1935 when I got home. I go further into the fluffy romantic comedy that introduced the anything-but-sweet Oscar-winning Busby Berkeley number "Lullaby of Broadway" at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog. 

Gold Diggers of 1935

Switched to Match Game '73 during dinner. Jo Ann Pflug came in for a lot of ribbing that week...or, more specifically, the sequined t-shirts she wore. Richard and Gene happily joked about her Camel shirt on one episode and her Navy-themed one on the next.

Finished the night catching up with Broadway cast albums I've bought and either never listened to, or only listened to once or twice. The Broadway Victor/Victoria is an example of the former. Julie Andrews may have turned down her lone Tony nomination, but really, she was the only great thing about this. Frank Wildhorn's additional songs are only so-so, and nothing like Henry Mancini's original score. Some of the other performances aren't bad, notably Tony Roberts as the gay singer who encourages Victor to become Victoria and Rachel York as the ditzy dancer girlfriend of the gangster who falls for Victoria, but this is mostly for Andrews fans and completeists.

Likewise, Redhead is mainly for huge fans of Gwen Verdon. Neglected Essie Whimple (Verdon) is bored working for her two stern aunts at their wax museum in Victorian London. She thinks life has passed her by, until their display on the murder of chorus girl Ruth LaRue catches the attention of LaRue's former co-workers and Scotland Yard. After she falls for the strong man at the theater where LaRue performed (Richard Kiley), she makes herself over into a fabulous redhead and lies about knowing who the murderer is to get his attention. It works too well, not only getting his attention, but the real murderer's as well.

No wonder this is seldom heard from today. Despite having an intriguing original premise, the songs are dull and about as 50's musical as you can get. There's random chorus numbers that have nothing to do with anything ("The Uncle Sam Rag"), two macho numbers for Kiley ("She's Just Not Enough Woman for Me" and "I'm Back In Circulation") and "I want" songs for Verdon ("The Right Finger of My Left Hand"). Apparently, the best thing about this was Bob Fosse's choreography and direction, including "Essie's Vision" and "The Pick Pocket Tango." Cute if you're a fan of Verdon or 50's musicals, nothing worth going out-of-your-way for otherwise.

The Threepenny Opera is all together sterner stuff. I have the famous 1956 Off-Broadway cast album with Kurt Weill's widow Lotte Lenya in her original role of Pirate Jenny. Other now-familiar performers heard here include Beatrice Arthur as Lucy, Charlotte Rae as Mrs. Peacham, Jo Sullivan as Polly, and John Astin as one of the singers in "The Wedding Song" and "The Army Song." This is probably best-known nowadays for introducing American audiences to Lenya and what became the jaunty standard "Mack the Knife." 

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.

The Oaklyn Christmas Parade

Began the morning with breakfast and A Pink Panther Christmas. Pink spends his Christmas Eve wandering around New York, looking desperately for any kind of a meal. He tries to work as a Santa in a department store, but gets thrown out for stealing the kiddies' treats. An old lady asks him to shovel snow, but it gets covered again before she can pay. Stealing the carrot off a kid's snowman only ends with the carrot in the belly of a horse. Even his attempts to get arrested so he can have a real meal ends with him catching an actual robber. It's not until the end, when he shares his last crumb with a hungry dog, that he's reminded that giving is its own reward.

Headed out after that, first to run errands at Sprouts. I mainly needed coconut milk and apples. They were having a sale on Pink Lady apples there. Grabbed dried orange-flavored cranberries, which were on sale, too. Got a box of granola bars, more because they were on sale than anything else. Those Nixie sodas still had coupons attached.

Hurried to the Haddon Township Library for my session with Dawn. I did apply for a job early-on, but we mostly had no luck. Not only is it hard to find jobs during the holidays, I'm just too darn picky. I'm not interested in doing medical work, working for the post office sounds too close to retail, and I really have no desire to be a stewardess. I wish I had more skills! I need to find free or cheap offline computer classes. Having a teacher there will help keep me on track and make me focus. 

Stopped at Genova Pizza for lunch on the way home. Decided to do something different and had a vegetable Stromboli. It was a little browned on the top and bottom, but edible, especially dipped in marinara sauce...and unlike the Stromboli at Phillies Phatties, it wasn't too much to eat in one sitting. They were largely quiet at 2 PM except for one random older guy sitting in the corner whom I suspect was more there for warmth than food.

After I got home, I settled down and watched The Young Girls of Rochefort. I go further into this charming Jacques Demy musical from France with dazzling dances by Gene Kelly at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

The Young Girls of Rochefort (Les Demoiselles de Rochefort)

Began the Seasonal Album inventory next. This will include all seasonal and holiday music, including everything I have for Christmas. Started it off with my four winter titles, Jazz at the (Winter) Olympics, Winter Memories, December by George Winston, and Holiday Symphony. The last-named is a selection of  instrumental numbers meant to revolve around patriotic holidays. I have it listed for President's Day, but it also has songs for the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, and Decoration Day (what's now known as Memorial Day) too. December goes back the furthest here. I picked it up from a yard sale in 2012. I found the others at record stores and Goodwill within the last five  years. 

Watched Match Game Syndicated while I worked and had a really quick dinner. In the first episode, Gene teased big George Kennedy about carrying a purse onstage. The second had Gene rambling on to Dick Martin about the cosmos for so long, the rest of the panel walked off the stage and the lights went out!

Bundled up and headed out around quarter of 7. Tonight was Oaklyn's Christmas Parade and tree-lighting. It was bitterly cold out when I made my way down the block, and gale-force windy, too. The only people there when I got there were those giving out treats. I went for a walk around the block...and when I got back, the fire station parking lot was hopping. I'm glad I was able to get creamy hot chocolate and M&M, white chocolate-macadamia nut, and perfectly moist double chocolate cookies topped with powdered sugar from the Civic Association. Grabbed bags of foam for craft project for a friend and her daughter, too.

Thankfully, the parade started right on time for once. It wasn't long after 7 when the first lights-covered fire truck was seen gliding down West Clinton. There were a lot of trucks this year, more than I figured there would be with the windy weather. One truck had a shivering snowman huddled on the steps entering the vehicle. Another was topped with a wooden sleigh pulled by dalmatians. There was also the one that sprayed fake "snow" into the air, to the delight of the kids. They all shrieked with delight when Santa came by, including the gaggle of pre-teen boys next to me who likely did it as a joke. 

After Santa finally joined us, some of the kids from the Oaklyn Elementary School performed "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and one other song. It might have been "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," but their voices were drowned out so badly by the crowd, it was hard to tell. 

Most of them ran over to the very tall town tree after they finished. Some of the littlest kids literally put their arms around it and gave it a hug. They were so noisy, I never did hear who the Volunteer of the Year was. Nothing happened for a minute after they counted down...before the tree finally blazed forth in glowing shades of red, yellow, and blue. The moment the tree was lit, I walked home.

Finished the night after a shower with more Christmas CDs while I worked on the review. My most recent Happy Holidays acquisition from eBay is Vol. 26 from 1991. By far the most unique track here is Willard Scott's opening spoken version of "The Night Before Christmas." Other songs are a bit more traditional, including Bing Crosby's "Do You Hear What I Hear?" and the Nat King Cole rendition of "The Christmas Song."

A Christmas Carol: The Musical is the show from Madison Square Garden that would be filmed by NBC in 2004. I didn't like the music much better on the cast album than I did in my review of the film back in 2018. "Abundance and Charity" is still a bit too brassy, and the Ghost of Christmas Past still sounds like she's a bit too naughty in her number. And I still don't understand why they used Charles Dickens' past for Scrooge instead of the one from the book.

I'm so glad I found Radio City Music Hall Presents Songs of Christmas! Stockton's Media Center had it when I was in college. I used to listen to it every year on my last day of work before Stockton let out for Christmas break, and I've missed it ever since I graduated. The "Christmas In New York" medley is especially charming. 

Autumn In Knight Park

Got a quick start this morning with breakfast and The Scooby Doo Show. Velma's saying "Watch Out, It's the Willowaw!" after her Uncle Dave is discovered to be missing. Local Natives blame the spirit of an owl who is said to carry off its victims after they hear its screech. Velma's not convinced, but for once, it's Shaggy and Scooby who find the clues when the Willowaw and two walking owl spirits chase them into a cave that holds a vast treasure.

Rushed out the moment the cartoon ended for this week's job hunting session with Dawn at Haddon Township. She didn't find anything, but I applied to a marketing firm in Deptford, a medical supply manufacturer in Haddon Heights, and an office in Philadelphia. I applied to another office in Collingswood yesterday...and Dawn was so keen on them taking me, she actually went to the office later and encouraged them to consider me. They're not doing interviews again until after Thanksgiving, but she did say they seemed interested.

After I left Dawn, I rode down to Collingswood and picked up a French onion roast beef sandwich, Coke Zero, bacon-seafood chowder, and hand-made potato chips at Haddon Culinary. Took my bike across the street and a few blocks down Collings Avenue to Knight Park. While it remains dry and dusty, the weather was otherwise gorgeous. It was sunny, breezy, and a bit cooler, in the upper 50's. I settled down at a series of wooden tables near the picnic pavilion and enjoyed my delicious lunch while watching college students stroll across the yellowed grass and listened to toddlers scream at the playground.

(Speaking of playgrounds, I did notice that the log cabin-themed playground equipment I saw last year near the little log cabin was gone. It was a rusty mess when I saw it. I'd suspected it wasn't long for this world. Not only did the log cabin-type shack remain, it looked like someone repainted it dark green.)

Went for a lovely ride around the neighborhood bordering the park next. I don't know why Rose says the only interesting architecture is in Camden. Some of the houses in Collingswood are gorgeous, dating to between the 1870's and 1920's. There's that enormous Art Deco church hidden on a side street across from a school, too. 

As I rode past Newton Lake Park, I realized that my front tire felt a lot lower than it should have. Yeah, it was going flat. I tried to pump it up again when I got home, but it was no use. It just flattened even more. At least it's the front tire. I can change that myself. Besides, the front tire is beyond bald. It would have gone sooner or later. I bought a new tire and inner tube on Amazon and will just take Uber to work tomorrow.

When I got home, I put everything away, then watched The Emperor Waltz. I go further into this bittersweet confection with Bing Crosby as a traveling salesman who falls for countess Joan Fontaine at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Cult Flops - The Emperor Waltz

Worked on the inventory next. Added Seussical: The Musical, a 1988 studio version and the 1994 revival of Show Boat, Smokey Joe's Cafe, and the Ohio Light Opera recording of Sweethearts. Seussical came from the Moorestown FYE, Smokey Joe's and the '94 Show Boat were Abbie Road finds, and I picked Sweethearts up on eBay. I've had the 1988 Show Boat for so long, I'm not sure where I got it anymore. I think it was a Christmas present from Mom in the mid-90's. 

Broke for dinner at quarter after 7. Watched more Monkees while I ate. "Everywhere a Sheik Sheik" hearkens back to the early first season episodes that had Davy pursued by royalty. In this case, a sheik's (Monty Landis, the only time he didn't play a villain) daughter desperately points him out from the magazine spread they did in the first season in order to marry someone other than father's scheming vizier (Noam Piltik). After the shiek's men kidnap Davy, his friends follow. They think this is a cushy set up at first,  until it becomes clear that someone doesn't want Davy to wed that princess.

Took a shower, then went back to The Monkees. It's "Art for Monkees' Sake" when Peter's uncanny ability to paint replicas of doors is used by two crooked security guards (Monte Landis and Vic Tayback) for him to imitate a painting and them to replace it with the real one. The other three rescue him, then attempt to switch the paintings themselves.

Finished the night with two more recent record finds. The Happiest Girl In the World is a 1961 retelling of the ancient Greek play Lystratia, with Grecian women refusing their favors to lovers and husbands until they end their constant wars. Cyril Ritchard has a double role as the Greek  head of state and the god Pluto. There's some lovely melodies based on Offenbach, but I suspect this was all too close to old-fashioned operetta for most 60's audiences. Ritchard does have fun in his dual roles and there's some amusing E.Y Harburg lyrics, but the rest of the cast is ok at best. Cute if you're a fan of Ritchard, nice but not totally necessary if you're not.

Goin' Quackers! is Disney's only song collection themed around Donald...but the real theme is comedy and folk numbers. Though Donald Duck and Goofy provide the sound for "Dueling Quackers" and Donald is heard in the title song and "A Waddlin' Crazy Guy," most of the songs are attributed to Disneyland choir leader Larry Groce or two guys called Willo and Phillo. Their songs mainly consist of comic ditties like "I'm In Love With a Big Blue Frog" and "On Top of Spaghetti," but we do have Goofy wondering what he'd do "If I Only Had a Brain."

(Oh, and it was clouding up even as I rode home. It finally rained earlier tonight shortly after I got out of the shower, though it's gone now.)