The Eyes Don't Have It

Began the morning with breakfast and The Backyardigans. There were a lot of truly unique episodes in this series, but one of the most unusual is definitely "Samurai Pie." Austin learns to make pie the samurai way from Master baker Tyrone. They attempt to make The Great Pie for Empress Tasha while avoiding pie-snitching ninjas Pablo and Uniqua.

Headed out around quarter after 11. I had a few stops to make before my eye exam. Dropped a bag of clothes I no longer wanted in the bins behind Dollar General, then walked into Collingswood. Picked up four bagels at Kismet Bagels to have for lunch or dinner the rest of the week, as they wouldn't be open on my way back from Kresloff Eye Associates.

Had lunch at Cafe Antonio's about two blocks down from Kismet Bagels. They were relatively busy, but I ate up front, near the drink coolers. I had a slice of broccoli and tomato and a slice of chicken tomato basil. The latter was so thick, I couldn't finish it. Washed it down with a Diet Coke.

Kreslof Eye Associates is another two blocks down Haddon Avenue from Cafe Antonio's. For once, I was actually there over 15 minutes early. I had plenty of time to check my e-mail...and got a major disappointment when I did. The after-school program hadn't approved of my request for time off from September 22nd through the 26th for vacation! I figured they'd be ok with it because the school was closed one of those days for Rosh Hashanah, but they apparently want everyone there all month to settle the kids in. I was horrified. Lauren and I planned this for months. I had no idea how to tell her.

My eye exam itself went fairly well after all that. My left eye is slightly worse, but not bad enough to really worry about. My glasses themselves, however, needed to be replaced. The lenses are pretty scratched by now. They didn't have thinner wire frames I liked, so I ended up with thicker frames in a nifty blue-red swirl. With the extra-thick lenses, however, they cost $429...and that was with a heavy discount from my insurance! I paid it, but I wasn't happy.

There's a reason I walked there instead of taking the bike. My eyes were blurry and sensitive to light after being given eye drops to help them with my exam. I did manage to stop at The Candy Shop in Collingswood to try their gelato. Had the coffee chocolate chip. Yum. Crumbly, but cold and sweet, and more coffee than chip. 

The other reason I walked was the weather remains too gorgeous for rushing. It was sunny, bright, and blue, in the mid-80's without a hint of humidity. The shady green leaves in the park were especially nice and cool as I headed for the stone steps that led up to Clinton Avenue.

Put on Summer Holiday as soon as I got home. I go further into this charming 1963 British musical with then-popular rock star Cliff Richard at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog. 

Summer Holiday (1963)

Worked on Hilary and the Beasts while the movie was on. Hilary, Mackie, and her siblings gather two hours before midnight on New Year's Eve to make plans. C.J got another record from KDKA to record Pavla, while Maple intends to grab that last record from Eagle's office they hadn't heard yet. Betty comes downstairs, reading the book Bear gave her for Christmas. She knows who Bear is now, and that the stories they wrote were his way of telling her he was still in there. Maple realizes who Eagle is now, too...and Hilary's had a good idea all along who Troll was. She just never wanted to admit it to herself. Mackie insists on going along, even though he's terrified and is still recovering from the flu.

Watched Match Game Syndicated while eating dinner. Fred Travalena and his many (occasionally annoying) voices were spotlighted this week. Also joining in were gruff and deadpan Robert Donner, goofy and slightly ditzy Betty Kennedy (I have no problems believing she did Cheech and Chong movies), and Fannie Flagg.

Finished the night with the cast albums for two musicals that were either set in or played in jolly old England. I have no idea where The Prince and the Pauper came from or where it played, but it does have some nice music. This charming 1963 adaptation of the Mark Twain novel apparently gave John Davidson one of his earliest roles as the roguish Miles Hendon. It's the Prince (Carol Blodgett) and Pauper (Joan Shepherd) who get the most memorable songs, including "Garbage Court Round" in the opening, "Why Don't We Switch?", and "Everybody Needs Somebody to Love" with Davidson.

Pickwick, based on The Pickwick Papers, was a far bigger and better-known hit in London that same year. Comedian Harry Secombe became best-known for playing the wealthy businessman Samuel Pickwick who gets into major trouble around Christmas when he inadvertently makes his landlady believe she's married to him. Pickwick's declaration of what he'd do "If I Ruled the World" was the major hit here. Other good songs include the charming ensemble number "That's What I'd Like for Christmas" and lovely "Look Into Your Heart." Too bad this doesn't seem to have done nearly as well on this side of the pond, despite the tour introducing Davy Jones to American audiences. 

The Doctors Have It

Began the morning with two quick shorts featuring Donald Duck, who turns 90 this month, at Disney Plus. "Mickey's Trailer" is a modern marvel that can change the bathroom into the kitchen at the push of a button. Donald would be happier if this didn't interrupt his bath. He and Mickey are really in for a ride when Goofy realizes he's left the car without a driver...and accidentally unlatches the trailer and sends it careening down a mountain! 

"D.I.Y Duck" is the latest short to feature Donald. It's based on the Donald shorts of the 40's and early 50's that pit him against a stubborn object. In this case, it's a lamp that won't work. He runs to the local hardware store and buys a light...but then the lamp doesn't work. Things keep escalating and escalating, until Donald's house - and temper - goes to pieces around him. The animation is obviously made-for-streaming, but there are some funny gags, including his attempts at patching everything.

Soon as "D.I.Y Duck" ended, I headed out for my doctor's appointment. Locked my bike at the rack across from the Collingswood Senior Center, then went to the other side of the street to Collingswood Family Medicine for my doctor's appointment. There were only two other people in the waiting room when I arrived. I signed paperwork and was called about 20 minutes after I got in. Ten minutes after that, a sweet nurse took my blood pressure, and I waited another fifteen or so minutes for the doctor.

Dr. Jessica arrived with Madison, who apparently was working with her as an intern. It was sweet Madison who checked all my vitals, including my blood pressure again. Apparently, it was unusually high. I'm less depressed than I am frustrated and restless. Everything I've tried in the last two years has stalled. I planned on finding a home within six months of moving. It's been over two years, and I still haven't. It shouldn't take me twenty years to find a decent job, either, and now the Acme is barely using me. 

One thing I can control is my health. I keep putting off the mammogram and finding another gynecologist. She recommended two in Haddonfield. She also recommended a gastroenterologist to have a colonoscopy due to Dad-Bruce dying of esophageal cancer. The ladies were mostly worried about my blood pressure, which was unusually high. I figured it was from riding in the heat, but they insisted that I come back in two weeks. I'll make the appointment for the mammogram and gynecologist before then, but I'll wait to make the colonoscopy until I go back to ask more questions. The doctor also suggested I spend at least an hour taking a walk every day. After we talked, a technician took my blood work, and I was on my way. 

I left the bike where it was and did walk to Sabrina's Cafe for a late breakfast. They were fairly busy, but I did get a seat at one of the huge, high tables. I finally went with iced tea and the "Spike, Set, and Game Peach French Toast" off their seasonal Olympics-themed menu. Oh yuuuuummm. Cinnamon cream, fresh peaches, whipped cream, and vanilla syrup top thick slices of brioche. Sweet, but absolutely amazing. It was some of the best French toast I ever had. 

Strolled to Innergroove Records next. I didn't have a lot of time before my next appointment, so I just went through the soundtracks and $2 bins quickly. Did very well for all that. Came up with:

The soundtracks from Thank God It's Friday and The Muppet Show

Count Basie and His Orchestra - The Essential Count Basie

Frank Sinatra - That's Life

Jingle Bell Jazz, a Christmas jazz collection from 1980 with an unusually stark cover (a black and white photo of a city in a snowstorm) 

 

Hiked down Haddon Avenue ten minutes or so to Kresloff Eye Associates for this year's eye appointment next. I got there with ten minutes to spare. I had enough time to sign a few more papers than I did at the doctor's before they called me in. 

This was a lot simpler, with far better news. I was there for a routine eye exam. The doctor reported a slight tweak to my left eye, but nothing really worth worrying about. Otherwise, no changes, and my glasses are perfectly fine. I think I'll give them another year, then see where we are.

Made one last stop at Haddon Culinary on my way back to my bike. I wanted more of those delicious home-made potato chips I had with my sandwich during my Father's Day picnic. Bought a container of truffle-seasoned chips, bought a Diet Coke, headed out. 

Though it remained sunny, it was also hot and humid, probably in the lower 90's, without the wind that made the heat last week mildly bearable. Not to mention, Collingswood was busy with the late lunch crowd, and my eyes were still a little blurry from my appointment. I just headed home. 

Put on Laff-a-Lympics while I had lunch and got organized. This one started with a bull fight in "Spain." Dynomutt's attempt to go over the bull stalls, while Mumbly putting him to sleep backfires. Cindy Bear uses her feminine charms - and off-key singing - to win the bull over. The Rottens don't do any better in the Gypsy Cart Race, going off the track as Speed Buggy and Hokey Wolf just keep going. Daisy Mayhem and Blue Falcon do better putting a bell on the Abominable Snowman in the "Himalayas," while Grape Ape deals with an amorous Snow-woman. Captain Caveman gets stuck on the Mount Everest relay climb, thanks to the Rottens' cheating...but then he remembers his superpowers!

Switched to Bloomer Girl after that. I go further into this made-for-TV historical musical with stage star Barbara Cook as a young woman in the pre-Civil War era who advocates the scandalous bloomers for ladies at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Musicals On TV - Bloomer Girl

Listened to CDs and records while I worked on the review. Touch Me Softly by The George Shearing Quintet lives up to its title with mostly gentle ballads like "Just Imagine," "Try a Little Tenderness," "Sundy, Monday, or Always," and the title song. Come Fly With Me by Frank Sinatra is far more lively, featuring classic travel-themed numbers like "Around the World," "On the Road to Mandalay," "Let's Get Away From It All," and "It's Nice to Go Trav'ling." Johnny Mathis performs lesser-known ballads from The Hollywood Musicals with Henry Mancini and His Orchestra, including "You Stepped Out of a Dream," "I Had the Craziest Dream," and two hits from Julie Andrews movies, "Whistling Away the Dark" and "Crazy World."

Put on Match Game '79 while eating dinner. We skip ahead again, this time to the final episodes of the CBS run. Bart Braverman and Marcia Wallace did well helping the contestants with the Head-to-Head in the first episode. In the second - and the last made for CBS - Gene helps Bill Daily try on the jacket he was giving him for his wedding. (Bill must have kept the jacket well beyond that. He wears it several times during the syndicated episodes.)

Finished the night at Kanopy with the classic western The Tin Star. Bounty hunter Morgan Hickman (Henry Fonda) rides into town to collect his pay for bringing in a dead outlaw. Young sheriff Ben Owens (Anthony Perkins) wishes he'd brought him in alive, but otherwise admires the man for his quick draw and his ability to think on his feet. Ben's girl Millie (Mary Webster) wants him to quit, but Ben asks Morgan for advice instead. 

That advice comes in handy when the town's sheriff is murdered by the McCafferty brothers. Owens thinks they should be brought in alive, but the townspeople would rather they hang. Morgan just wants to find the son of Nona (Betsy Palmer) and bring him home safely. He's able to find the kid, but Owens doesn't have as much luck persuading the townspeople to give the brothers a fair trial. Owens is determined to bring those men to trial, even if he has to take on the town bully Bart Bogardus (Neville Brand) to do it.

Intense western with two strong core performances by Perkins as the youth who is determined to prove he's worthy of being a lawman, and Fonda as the former lawman who teaches Owens all he knows. Director Anthony Mann's tight and intimate direction makes the most of the B-budget, and the story was nominated for an Oscar. A must-see if you love the two stars, Mann's other work, or small-scale westerns from the 40's and 50's. 

Out and About In the Rain

Started a cloudy, damp morning with breakfast and Minnie's Bow-Toons. These super-short cartoons were originally a spin-off from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and continue to run on Disney Junior today, with newer seasons being retooled to reflect the current Mickey-based kids' show. Millie and Melody, Minnie's mischievous twin nieces from the comics, made their animated debut in "Trouble Times Two." Their goofing off seemingly gets in the way of Minnie helping a snooty star poodle, until the girls come up with a dress design she loves. "The Pom Pom Problem" may keep cheerleader Roxy out of the big parade, until Minnie comes up with a way to solve her problem and use ribbon Figaro unraveled. Clarabelle Cow thinks she needs "Dance Lessons" to keep up with Goofy at the winter ball, but the ladies think it's her too-long dress that needs fixing. 

Rushed off to my physical therapy appointment at quarter of 11. Alas, even going fast, I got there five minutes late. Frankly, my ankle hasn't hurt in weeks, even at work. I worked on balance, standing on my toes, and moving my ankle up and down. I think I can take it from here and work on any other exercises at home. I considered one more appointment, but finally decided that since my ankle felt fine, it wasn't really necessary. I'm glad I did do the therapy, though. They were all good to me there, and I enjoyed my appointments.

One of the therapists pointed out towards the end of my appointment that it was raining. I was glad I remembered to wear my raincoat and bring a waterproof bag to carry my purse in. Thankfully, the light showers vanished all together as I headed back down McArthur Boulevard to the Westmont Plaza for lunch.

Despite it being past noon when I arrived, the Westmont Bagel Shop wasn't busy at all. By the time it picked up, I was already enjoying my egg white omelet with vegetables and provolone cheese, toasted rainbow bagel, hash browns, and diet iced tea. I giggled at a family bouncing the cutest little baby around as I finished my lunch.

I headed out the door...just as the showers increased. Didn't help that the kids got out of school early today, and I ended up dodging traffic on Cuthbert going past the Haddon Township High School. I was quite damp when I made it into Collingswood.

Kresloff Eye Associates moved a few months after my appointment last year a few blocks down to their own building on Haddon Avenue. Fortunately, I knew the building well. It originally housed the offices for my gynecologist before they moved to Pennsauken. The inside had been totally transformed, though. It looked more like Collingswood Family Medicine's updated waiting room, with gray wood floors and walls and 60's-style vinyl chairs. I actually arrived 20 minutes early. They just ended up taking me early after I signed the paperwork.

I was there for a routine eye exam, nothing major. Turns out my eyes are as fine as they're going to get. No change from last year. In fact, bubbly Dr. Anna says they should improve. My prescription hasn't changed, either. I still wear very thick lenses, but at least they aren't any thicker.

The rain was gone again when I got out, but it remained windy, dark, and humid. This was no day for lingering anywhere. I made my way across Haddon Avenue, then through Collingswood and past Newton Lake Park, dodging people taking advantage of the lack of rain to take their kids to the park or walk their dogs.

When I got home, I went straight upstairs and into bed. I had no other plans for the day, and I was just too tired to do anything else. Napped for an hour and a half, until Karen called and said she wanted to switch our session tomorrow to a slightly later time. That was fine. I don't work tomorrow until 3.

Worked on writing for a while after that. Joyce tries to hide the dog, but Brett finds it on her makeup chair. She has no trouble with it, but she's not about to give it a home, either. She's not a fan of pets. When the dog gets loose and into the hall, they go after it...only to be confronted with the producer of the show...

Broke for dinner at 6:30. Buzzr's Match Game '74 run is up to the wild week with Adrienne Barbeau and Robert Morse. A male contestant keeps going after all the female panelists during the Audience Match, while a far more subdued woman contestant gives Gene a stuffed bear in a cage. Gene, Charles, and Richard are happier to make jokes about Fannie Flagg's t-shirt with roses in strategic places. 

There was a major storm just as I lay down for my nap, with thunder, massive downpours, and lashing wind. It had long blown itself out by 7 PM. In fact, it had turned into an absolutely stunning day, the nicest we've had in weeks. Blue skies, sunshine, no haze, cool wind. In fact, it was downright chilly as I strolled across the White Horse Pike to the other side of Oaklyn. The digital sign at the Fire Hall said it was only 67.

Thought of getting a cinnamon bun or cake pop at Common Grounds Coffee House, but they close at 7. Ended up with home-made party cake ice cream from Yummies Palace, the current iteration of Oaklyn's summer ice cream booth. Perhaps due to the cool weather or it being the middle of the week, there was no one there and no line. The ice cream was good, creamy and smooth, with lots of sprinkles...but it also wasn't worth four dollars for two scoops in a Styrofoam cup. I'll save them for special occasions.

Took a shower, then finished the night online at The Roku Channel. They now have the 80's British action fantasy show Robin of Sherwood. Relived some fond memories with the first episode, "Robin Hood and the Sorcerer." Robin of Locksley (Michael Praead) is taken in by the miller and his family after his father is killed and his home destroyed. Years later, he and the miller's son Much (Peter Llewellyn Williams) end up in jail for poaching the king's deer. They break out other men jailed for minor offenses, then rescue others from a sorcerer (Anthony Valentine) who practices the black arts. He also falls for lovely Maid Marian (Judi Trott), who is about to enter a nunnery.

Oh wow, my sisters and I loved this when it ran on Showtime during the mid-80's. I suspect it may have contributed to my interest in swashbucklers and Robin Hood stories and Rose's fondness for sword and sorcery fantasy. Other than some extremely obvious 80's hairstyles (including Marian's perm and Robin's long mullet), this still holds up pretty well today. I especially love the location shooting all around the real English woods and existing medieval castles, and that it includes a black warrior from overseas like Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. This was intended to be a far darker and grittier retelling of Robin's stories than usual, so there's quite a bit of violence and discussions of death, murder, and loss. If you're looking for a darker, more magical take on the Robin legends, this one is still worth storming the castle for.

The Eyes and Dolls Have It

Ate a really quick breakfast this morning, then dashed out for my first of two appointments today. Kresloff Eye Associates is in a blocky office building on Haddon Avenue. Unfortunately, I thought it was further down in Westmont and went in totally the wrong direction. It's in Collingswood, in the Station Office Building. I was upset when I rushed in 15 minutes late, but the secretary who took my information said I made it in just within their grace period.

Though I was technically here for a routine eye exam, my real reason for the exam was to replace my glasses. I haven't had new glasses since at least 2008. The wire frames themselves have actually held up pretty well over fourteen years, but the lenses are scratched to the point where they're getting really hard to see through. I had contacts for a while in the early-mid 2010's, but not only did replacing them get too expensive, but I got tired of putting them in. I chose an attractive brown wire pair with a shape similar to my current ones.

Made a few short stops in Collingswood next. Since it's about four blocks from the Station Office Building, I hit PNC Bank next. Treated myself to a tasty Blackberry & Cream Smoothie from WaWa after that and drank it on a bench at Knight Park. It was cloudy and cool earlier, but by that point, the sun was trying to come out. It jumped into the 70's, even as I headed home. 

Went straight home and into Match Game '78 and a quick lunch. Ace pitcher (and later announcer) Don Sutton fields talk about the Dodgers' loss in the World Series in the opening, much to the annoyance of New Yorker Jon "Bowzer" Bauman. Nancy Lane is a lot more nervous when she has to figure out "__ Writer" on the Head-to-Head.

Changed the dolls into less formal clothes for late spring after the show ended. Molly pairs the red shoes from Samantha's Spring Dress with an eBay recreation of her Victory Garden Dress. Samantha celebrates her birthday in her Pink Striped Birthday Dress and ruffly pinafore. The boots from her Ice Cream Dress actually suit this outfit even better. Whitney wears the Our Generation Retro Picnic Outfit with simple black flats. Ariel boldly shows her middrift in a brief ruffled top and floral bell bottoms Lauren sent for Christmas two years ago. Jessa's more laid back in the high-necked striped shirt from her original meet outfit and Springfield Collection capris and sneakers. Felicity's ready to help me dust in her green striped Work Gown. Josefina celebrates Cinco Del Mayo in her pretty red and gold print dress and black velvet vest with the black mules. 

Finished them with almost literally no time to spare before counseling. I had a lot to tell Mrs. Stahl. Like Mom, she's proud of me for seeing so many doctors and finally getting some ideas of what's wrong with me. Now I just need to talk to Vocational Rehabilitation, so I can learn how to push through my fears and get a decent job (and finally get the blood work done).

One of my neighbors from Hillcrest finally agreed to help me get some things to storage that I didn't need, and pull out things that I wanted in the apartment. Everything went fine until we got to the door to my storage area. I couldn't figure out the lock. I panicked and got upset, going on and on like an idiot until my neighbor realized I never reset the lock. I didn't there, either. I really just wanted to get my boxes and get out. I'll do it another time.

It started to rain while we were in the storage unit. It thankfully took a temporary leave of absence as we hauled everything back to my place. The rain returned shortly after I got in and has been off and on for the rest of the night. 

Among the things I finally retrieved were my adult paperback novels, the bin with the collectible bears, an empty wooden bin for records, and the boxes with my wooden cut-outs that I made in wood shop classes at the Special Services Middle School years ago. Found my crocheting books and supplies, too. I had the yarn here, but not the needles. Moved the Star Wars books to the living room on two crates next to the TV and put the paperbacks in their place in my bedroom. The stuffed animals went on my bed or the top of the record crates. 

(Also brought in my final two birthday presents to myself. Look for Holiday In Mexico next week for Cinco Del Mayo, and the notoriously bad early talkie operetta Golden Dawn later in the month!) 

Watched more Match Game as I worked, and later as I had leftovers for dinner, starting with Match Game '76. Richard pulled off a big win for an older woman with the difficult "__ Ball" on the Head to Head. Greg Morris and Elaine Joyce are more interested in where sparks fly out of the Six Million Dollar Man when the Bionic Woman kisses him. 

Brett definitely likes a 71-year-old man who claims he's a veteran bartender ("mixologist") in the Match Game '77 episode. She's also pretty impressed when Dick Martin actually starts matching the contestant for once, and there's Patti Deustch's name for "boxing gloves." Patti did even better on the Audience Match in the next episode, topping Richard's answer for "__ Army." Later, Gene used one of the seats as a trumpet to get the question across to Charles.

Patti and Dick carried over into the Match Game PM episode for that week. Gene makes jokes about a contestant with a long, bushy hair and beard that makes him resemble Grizzly Adams. Brett and the other ladies thinks he looks fine the way he is. Richard has an even easier time with "Jack the __" on the Head-to-Head.

Finally put my laundry away, then finished the night on Amazon Prime with Babes On Broadway. I go further into the third Mickey Rooney-Judy Garland teen backstage movie at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog. 

Babes On Broadway

The Eyes Have It

Began a wet morning with breakfast and Sailor Moon Super S. It's the beginning of the end when the Guardians take on "The Source of Darkness: Dead Moon Circus." Pegasus finally explains to them who he is, why Mamoru's been sick ever since the cobwebs shut out the light, and what Nehelania and the Dead Moon Circus are really up to. They head down to the circus tent to take on the Amazons and their minions. They do manage to get rid of most of the monsters, but lost Sailor Chibi-Moon to evil Queen Nehelania and her second-in-command Zirconia.

Headed into the rain around quarter after 10. Rain or no rain, I had a couple of major appointments today. The eye doctor's office turned out to be in the big blocky Station office building on Haddon Avenue in Collingswood. Found the main office on the first floor after only a minute or two of searching. The waiting room was a little larger than the one at the doctor's office across town; the chairs were comfortable, but old, with torn upholstery.

Thanks to the prescription from Dr. Jessica, it took a lot less time to relate my past history to them. They got me into an eye exam room in no time. Jill, a cheerful technician with blonde curls as bouncy as her personality, did the first half of my exam, putting these strange drops in my eyes that dripped yellow. Dr. Karen Levy did the second half, kindly asking questions about my past eye history and my family. She could talk to America's Best, but the only eye doctor I ever saw before that was at an office in a shopping center in Rio Grande that I'm not even sure exits anymore.

Verdict? My eyes haven't changed in the five years since I last got them checked. They're still really nearsighted. Dr. Levy told me the lazy eye isn't that big of a deal; doing surgery now would be too hard for my brain to process. It even moves faster than most eyes. It's the nearsighted that's more of a concern. She says to watch out for tearing or stretching in the retinas. I considered getting glasses, but I just don't have that much money. I may consider asking about a new pair for my birthday.

Rode down Haddon Avenue to the Westmont Diner for lunch. I got in as the lunch crowd swelled, but they were thankfully able to find a seat. Since it wasn't expensive, I went down-home with scrambled eggs and cheese, bacon, home fries, and biscuits and sausage gravy. Oh, yum. Soft biscuits, savory gravy, wonderfully fried potatoes with onions and peppers, and just-right crispy bacon and eggs topped with cheese. Very warm and filling on a gloomy day.

Made a quick stop at the Haddonfield Library after lunch. I really needed to use their bathroom. Explored their mystery section and books on film and theater upstairs for a little bit before counseling.

Counseling made me depressed more than anything. I'm not doing well at the moment. I don't know what I'll do in April after my rent goes up again. Mrs. Stahl doesn't really know much about the internet or what jobs are available online, and it's hard to explain to her how difficult it is to put myself out there. I know I should and I'm supposed to, but I look up jobs, see they require more experience than I have or want abilities I don't possess, and I don't do anything. Part of me desperately wants to be treated like an adult, but there's also the little girl in me who's terrified that she'll end up hurt and abandoned again.

She wants me to apply for a job online, any job. I'll see what I can find.

Wasn't really up to doing anything but going straight home after that. Though the rain had gentled to a soft mist by that point, it still wasn't appropriate to linger in. I figured I had enough of a treat in the big lunch anyway. Went home as quickly as I could down Haddon and Cuthbert, trying to avoid the beginnings of rush hour traffic.

As soon as I got home, I went online, canceled my Disney Plus and Amazon Prime memberships, and refunded the pants I ordered from Amazon two weeks ago that still haven't appeared. I only had Amazon Prime to get the pants and Sailor Moon quickly, anyway...and of course the pants, what I really needed, got lost. I bookmarked free streaming channels instead (I already have them on the Roku box), and I'll wear my jeans to work until I can find the cheapest khakis I can get away with.

Worked on some writing after that. Re-wrote the escape to stay in the garden. Malade blocks their entrance to the castle, forcing Orson to take them into the snowy side of the garden. She distracts the troll with fireballs. He runs into a tree, dislodging his riders. Brett and Richard are mad as heck, but Charles, who hates fire, is terrified...and Malade can see it...

Broke for dinner at 6:30. Had leftovers while watching Match Game. Louisa Moritz didn't do quite as well today, but then again, she wasn't the only one. Some of the other answers got pretty odd too. Best friends Charles and Brett have the habit of matching each other more than the contestants, and some of Fannie Flagg's answers are often more than a little odd.

Made key lime cookies from a cookie cookbook Lauren sent me a while back during Sale of the Century. The guy with the long hair and mustache didn't buy anything, but in the end, he just couldn't get past the one woman, even after she bought a TV and a nifty merry-go-round horse for her sons. She too opted to come back. Contestants did even better on Let's Make a Deal. The big deal of the day went to a cute skunk and her fiancee, who will be going to Rio on their honeymoon and watching a big-screen TV afterwards, with lots of spending money on the trip.

Finished the night with Hallelujah between Match Game premieres on YouTube. I go further into one of the earliest Hollywood films with an all-black cast at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Hallelujah (1929) 

The Eyes Have It

I slept in a little this morning, but not as long as I did yesterday. I had the time for some Care Bears before I headed out. A little sneeze turns into a big headache for the Bears when they break out in the "Feeling Flu." Their sneezing causes them to switch feelings and powers! Now, everyone has to deal with things they're not used to feeling while helping Tenderheart search for the herb that'll cure them.

I headed out around 11:30. I really had no huge plans for the morning, so I thought I'd just go for a random bike ride. I ended up in Haddon Heights. I needed to deposit some of the money I got from Dad yesterday at PNC Bank. I spent an hour looking at books at the Haddon Heights Library. They're larger than Haddon Township, and a bit better organized, too. They have lots of books on movies and musicals, some of which I haven't seen since I was a teenager and would scour the Cape May City Library for information on old movies. Too bad Haddon Heights Library isn't a part of the Camden County Library System. (Nor are the libraries in Haddonfield, Collingswood, Oaklyn, or Audubon.) I don't want to pay a ton of money just to take out a few books.

After stopping at John's Friendly Market for a Diet Cherry Dr. Pepper and a raspberry-vanilla fig bar, I made my way down to King's Highway, then across Audubon to the Audubon Crossings Shopping Center. I explored Avenue and Shoe Depot for a while, but I really don't have that much money. When I got bored with browsing, I just decided to just do my grocery shopping early. I really didn't need much, anyway. I was mainly buying produce - blood oranges, grapefruit, strawberries. I'm almost out of honey - Acme's organic brand is the cheapest. The Ready-Pac Spinach Dijon Salad was on sale for $2.50. I bought that for a quick lunch.

I'm not happy with next week's schedule at all. While three days off will be nice for writing and spring cleaning, I only have 20 hours. Not to mention, a very early 8 AM shift next Saturday means I'll miss both the Haddon Heights and Audubon Town-Wide Yard Sales.

I ate my salad at the picnic table across from Arby's, where Acme employees go where they want to smoke or get some air. Thankfully, no one was there when I was. I enjoyed the quiet as I watched the mid-afternoon traffic speed by on the Black Horse Pike.

My eye exam surprisingly didn't take very long. I just paid my rent and don't really have that much money. I was thinking of replacing my glasses, but I doubt I could afford it. Maybe this summer. At any rate, it took less than ten minutes to get to the first round of tests, and five minutes to get to the second one. I was hoping they had my insurance, but nope. I ended up paying 90 dollars.

Went straight home after that. I went online and worked on my Precipice story for a while. Around 5:30, I decided I needed a stretch. I first finished out an episode of Remember WENN I started earlier in the afternoon.

The second WENN episode I ever saw was "Who's Minding the Asylum?" from the first season. Victor and the WENN actors are off to Harrisburg for a radio convention, leaving Betty, organist Eugenia, sound effects master Mr. Foley, C.J the technician, go-fer Mr. Eldridge, and Gertie the switchboard operator in charge. Unfortunately, an accident in the studio leaves the glass records with their programming shattered on the floor...and hours of programming to fill. On top of that, Mr. Medwick (Bob Dorian, AMC's program host at the time), a particularly fussy sponsor, has come to see the launch of a new show...one of the broken ones. Betty first devises an amateur talent show to explain the lack of actors, then finds a way for the show to go on, via the one remaining disc.

I moved on to Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan after that. I only got half-way through before hitting the shower. I'll discuss it in full tomorrow.

A Great Day to Be Alive

Started the morning with some cute Hello Kitty Furry Tale Theater action spoofs. Tuxedo Sam the Penguin is a very unlikely "Robin Penguin," robbing the evil Princess (Catnip) of gum for the poor and romancing Maid Hello Kitty. He's an even more odd "Pinocchio Penguin." He and Chip learn a lesson in telling the truth when gypsy performers Catnip and Grinder convince them to perform in their show, and then they and Grandpa Gepetto are swallowed by a whale! Chip is "The Ugly Quackling," a little gray duck who doesn't quite fit in with the others. He teaches his sisters about judging a duck by its feathers when he helps save them from the hungry fox (Grinder). "Hello Mother Goose" has to deal with the entire cast when famous nursery rhyme props go missing. Sweet My Melody is "Little Red Bunny Hood" in a wild west take on "Red Riding Hood." My Melody has to save her grandmother from Belle Catnip and her gang and avoid the hungry Big Bad Wolf (Grinder).

Furry Tale Theater is far from the only 80's cartoon to have fun with movie spoofs. Garfield and Friends contributed its share of satire as well. One of my favorites from the first season was the hilarious U.S Acres take on the James Bond movies, "Double Oh Orson." Orson gets caught up in a spy novel and imagines he's a suave secret agent looking for a device that's been stolen by Pinfeather, aka Roy. Lady Lanolin assists him in finding her brother, the missing agent Bo. Meanwhile, Roy and the chicks were out chasing worms. Some of the worms now seem to be missing, but Roy won't say where they are...

Work was steady all afternoon, pretty normal for what was shaping up to be a gorgeous spring weekend. Most people were in decent moods, and I had no real problems. My relief was on time, and so was my break. I was quite happily in and out.

I had one stop to make on my way home. I'm way overdue for this year's eye exam. I'm going to need contacts in a few weeks. I dropped into America's Best to make an appointment for 3 PM on Friday.

Since I was already going in that direction, I went out by Wal Mart and took Nicholson, Atlantic, and Manor home instead of going down the Black Horse Pike. I did it partly to avoid the ongoing construction work on the Kendall Boulevard ramp...but mostly because it was such a gorgeous day, it seemed a crime not to extend my ride.

When I got home, I changed and went right back outside. I've been meaning to take a look at my bike for a while. The front wheel's been making noise ever since Richard changed the tire a few weeks ago. I oiled everything and tightened that front wheel as well as I could. It's still wobbling, but at least it's not making noise anymore.

I went back inside for a sweater and my purse, then headed out for a nice, long walk. It was too nice to be inside all day, which was my original plan. I strolled down to the end of Goff Avenue. The water was so clear, I could see every fish and every branch floating along. The Ben Franklin Bridge could clearly be seen against the soft blue sky.

Headed down Ridgeway and up to the Oaklyn School. There were kids of all ages everywhere, from high school boys going out for a Saturday drive in their trucks to an adorable toddler being pushed in a swing by his parents in the school playground. Kids chased each other around the playground and played catch and rode bikes on the street. It was a great day just to be alive. More green grass is popping out every day. Forsythia, hyacinths, and daffodils are blooming in every garden. The first flowering magnolia trees are just starting to bloom.

I spent the rest of the evening after my walk dusting the apartment. I put it off for too long, mostly due to the disarray in the living room and the still-huge wet spot. I just couldn't put it off anymore. It's starting to get to my nose. I did it all as quickly as I could. I'll do more next month, when we get closer to Lauren's visit.

I finally finished up Fellowship of the Ring while dusting and having leftovers for dinner. Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) is given a ring with special powers by his uncle Bilbo. He and his friends Sam (Sean Astin), Merry, and Pippin set out to take the ring to someone who might protect it. They're supposed to meet the wizard Gandolf (Ian MacKellen) at a certain inn, but he's waylaid by an evil sorcerer (Christopher Lee) who is following an ancient evil that is being unleashed. Tough ranger Aragorn helps the Hobbits to the land of the Elves, where they confer with a released Gandolf and with the elves themselves. They get together with elf Legolas (Orlando Bloom), dwarf Glimli, and Boromir, an arrogant nobleman, to make their way to Gondor to destroy the ring at all costs.

I haven't seen Fellowship of the Ring since I watched it with my then-boyfriend in 2002, not long after it came out on home video. I at first avoided the series because it reminded me too much of him...and then, I avoided it simply because these movies are over two and a half hours long, and I rarely have the time to watch all of them. I'm hoping the second time is the charm. I still haven't seen the other two.

Finished out the night with more WENN as I cleaned up from dinner. The cast is "Courting Disaster" in the mid-third season when Jeff's lawyer shows up with a 100, 000 dollar breech of contract suit. Scott and Betty help Hilary with a countersuit (while C.J the technician enjoys barbecue ribs in the control room).

I Can (Almost) See Clearly Now

Started off the morning with a couple of Backyardigans episodes during breakfast. Uniqua wants to prove to Queen Tasha that she's worthy of being a real warrior (and eventually brings Pablo and Tyrone along for the ride) in "Knights are Brave and Strong." Uniqua, Pablo, and Tyrone go on a "Secret Mission" in a museum to return a mystery bone to its owner. They have to use all the spy gadgets and limbo skills at their disposal to get past the museum's security traps!

Work didn't start out so badly. It wasn't really busy this morning, while it was still cloudy and cool. Two classes of preschoolers came by on day trips. One group got to say "Thank you!" over the intercom. They were so adorable.

I wish all my customers were that cute. The nicer it got outside, the busier we got. By 2PM, we had very long lines of people who weren't able to get out during the storm yesterday (or had only just gotten out after partying yesterday). Although most customers seemed to be in decent moods, there were a couple that made me want to tear out my hair. One woman wanted at least eight gallons of Turkey Hill diet iced tea for $2 because the half-gallons that were a dollar weren't on the shelves. We DID have some in the back, but she couldn't be bothered waiting for them. She was in such a hurry! Later, another woman fussed at me because she was convinced that the 4 12-packs of Coke were 4 for 9 instead of 4 for 12. She thought the extra coupon took off from the 12 and refused to listen to reason - even when the customers in back of her tried to explain it! I had to go on break anyway, so I let a manager talk it out with her.

There was a mess getting out, too. I thought the manager said she would either go in for me or send another manager; the girl who was supposed to go in for me had to relieve one of the managers. Turns out she wanted me to shut down, which wouldn't have been possible with the long lines we had at 4PM anyway. She had to call a stock boy to finish my line.

I was stressed and tired and frustrated when I changed my shirt and finally headed to America's Best. The short ride and the nice day gave me a chance to compose myself. The morning's gloom had been replaced by bright sunshine, rapidly melting snow, and upper 40s temperatures by quarter after 4. Thankfully, after all the trouble at work, my eye exam went just fine. There was no one in the waiting room, and I only was only there for a few minutes. I had the same doctor I did last time, and pretty much the same result. The left eye was the same. The right eye had changed slightly, but not enough to change my prescription. I ordered my contacts and left.

Treated myself to dinner at Golden Corral, a buffet-style restaurant behind the America's Best/Pep Boys/Audubon Post Office building. I don't eat there often, but I didn't have much for lunch and was on that side of the mall anyway. I came in just as the dinner crowd was starting. I had a tasty salad with spring greens, carrots, and peas, pot roast (nice and juicy, but much too salty), their divine sweet potato casserole, sauteed mushrooms, and cheddar cheese drop biscuits. (The last-named weren't bad. I haven't had those since the last time I ate at the Red Lobster at the Hamilton Mall.) The raspberry cake with whipped topping I had initially tasted terrible, bland and dry. I opted for coconut macaroons dipped in their white and milk chocolate waterfalls and an icing-topped mini-brownie instead.

I called Mom when I got home. I didn't get a chance to talk to her yesterday, and I couldn't go to Rose's on Sunday. She enjoyed her trip up here with Anny and her boys and loved the card I brought her. She seemed to be in a pretty good mood; she was on her way to making dinner.

Since I already had dinner, I finished up the night in a desperately-needed bath. I looked over that book on the 20th Century I bought at a yard sale last summer and soaked in my rose-scented water as a jazz performer played in the background. It did help a little, but I'm still a bit frazzled. I'd feel better about the extra hours if they were more consistent...or if I could handle many of my customers better.

Whistling In Oaklyn

I opened a gorgeous, sunny day with this week's American Top 40 re-run. We jumped a little further ahead into my childhood and into the 80s with this episode from mid-March 1986. Hits that early spring included "Kiss" by Prince and the Revolution, "How Will I Know?" by Whitney Houston, "Rock Me Amadeus" by Falco, "Tonight Is the Night" by Loverboy, "Nikita" by Elton John, "The Sweetest Taboo" by Sade, "R.O.C.K In the USA" by John Cougar Melloncamp, and "Secret Lovers" by Atlantic Starr. The number one song that week was one of the prettiest ballads of the year, "Sara" by Starship.

I had several errands to run today, starting with a quick trip to the Acme for this week's grocery and schedule run. I had a big order, with a lot I needed, starting with the big dollar a bag sale for produce. I was almost out of a lot of things; picked up bananas, grapefruit, apples, celery, grape tomatoes, carrots, a bag of vegetables for stir fry, and an avocado. Had a coupon off a $1.50 for three bags of Nestle Chocolate Chips. I picked up two bags of dark chocolate and one of semi-sweet. Grabbed small cuts of round steak for a quick dinner tonight. Life and Cap'n Crunch cereals were $1.99 - I went with my favorite Cinnamon Life. Stocked up on butter, Smucker's Natural Creamy Peanut Butter, cooking spray, tissues, and toilet paper.

I was less thrilled with this week's schedule. I wouldn't mind having nearly 40 hours so much if Wednesday wasn't until 10...or if the reason I have all these hours is because at least 10 employees went on vacation this week from the front end alone, and many more from other parts of the store. Despite all the notices in the back lounge area explicitly stating for everyone to NOT go on vacation at the same time! I HATE it when they do that. Why can't they be more strict about when people go on vacation? I'm sick of everyone taking off at once and leaving a handful of people around to do all the work.

I was good and pissed off when I got in. I was originally going to go to the Oaklyn Library, but I decided to stay at home, watch cartoons, and make Carrot-Apple Muffins until I calmed down. I opted for shows with an Egyptian or exotic adventure theme to go along with the books I'm currently reading, the first three from the Amelia Peabody series. I started with a musical tale of ancient Egypt from The Backyardigans, "The Key to the Nile." The kids dance to Broadway showtunes-style music as they tell the story of bossy Queen CleoTasha, who is never polite to her pages Austin, Tyrone, and Pablo. When the Nile dries up, CleoTasha and her pages seek three presents to give to Sphinx Uniqua to convince her to tell them how to get the water back.

The Three Stooges did two very different Egyptian stories during their 25-year-run. "We Want Our Mummy" is a modern adventure that has detectives Curly, Larry, and Moe searching for a kidnapped professor and a priceless mummy while dodging antiquities thieves. "Mummies' Dummies" brings Shemp in. We return to ancient Egypt, where the trio are shifty used-chariot salesmen. When they end up in the court of the Pharaoh, they help him with his toothache, then stop some of his couriers from cheating him out of tax money.

Did a couple of shorts next. In "Genie Grinder and the Magic Lamp," Hello Kitty and Tuxedo Sam try to use the goofy bulldog genie to help them grant wishes and escape the grasp of the evil Sultaness Catnip. Trouble is, Grinder tends to take their requests literally! In "Tut Tut, It's Not Pharaoh," Danger Mouse and Penfold have to keep an ancient Egyptian medallion from Baron Greenback, who'll use its power to take over the world. Donald Duck and Goofy are "Crazy With the Heat" when they're stranded in the desert and keep seeing soda fountain and iceberg mirages.

Maxwell Smart had his own encounter with mummies in the second season Get Smart episode "The Mummy." CONTROL agents are disappearing from a local museum in mummy cases. Max gets really wrapped up in the case when he pursues a pretty curator's assistant who might know what's happening to them...and almost becomes one of the victims.

I made a quick stop at America's Best to make an appointment for my annual eye exam before hurrying to work. Work was busy when I went shopping earlier, and it remained busy this afternoon. In addition to all the sales, there's some fussing about possible snow on Monday morning. At press time, it looks like it'll be too warm (into the mid-30s) for it to do anything really horrible. Not to mention, it's supposed to go right back into the 40s and 50s by the end of next week. If we get anything, it'll be gone within a day or two. Thankfully, it had slowed down enough by 6 for me to leave without a relief.

Tired and frustrated, I went straight home. There was a package waiting for me when I got in. Lauren sent me the Warner Archives set with Red Skelton's three Whistling mysteries as an early birthday present. I ran the first, Whistling In the Dark, as I made beef rounds with the last of the leftover vegetable soup for dinner.

Here, Skelton is "The Fox," a popular radio detective who claims he can solve all crimes. A gang who head a phony spiritualist cult take him at his word, kidnap him, his fiancee (Ann Rutherford), and the daughter of his sponsor (Virginia Gray), and force him to create the perfect murder. He and the two ladies first try escaping through a secret passage. They then use the gang's radio to get a hold of their victim before the murder can take place.

I was actually quite impressed with this interesting comedy-mystery. There's a surprisingly good cast for a B movie; in addition to Skelton and the ladies, we have Eve Arden as Skelton's agent and Conrad Veidt as the head villain. The idea of using radio as a vehicle not only for "The Fox"'s profession but as a means to bring down the criminals is brilliant. I also appreciate that the women are far feistier and more useful than most "love interests" tended to be in this era - they both help Red with the radio and keep the thug watching them (Rags Ragland) off his back. I'm now very much looking forward to seeing what the other movies in this series are like as well.

The (Nearsighted) Eyes Have It

Started out this morning with The Easter Bunny Is Coming To Town, the third Rankin-Bass Easter special, and really my favorite of the three nowadays. Here, the Easter Bunny is Sunny, who was adopted by the all-youngster residents of Kidville on Easter morning. He wants to bring the kids' chickens the Hendrews Sisters' eggs to the gloomy Town, but grouchy Gadzooks the Bear and nasty Lady Lilly, who is in charge of her gentler nephew King Bruce the Frail, block his path. It'll take all of the kids' and Sunny' ingenuity to cheer up Gadzooks and get around Lady Lilly's laws. In the end, both learn that some new traditions can be fun when we give them a chance.

While Peter Cottontail has the better voice cast and score, I like the story better here. Yes, a lot of it is lifted wholesale from Santa Claus Is Coming to Town, including Fred Astaire as the mailman narrator, but just as much of it is fun on its own. It's also the only Rankin-Bass Easter special to fully revolve Easter, with no references to Santa Claus or other holidays.

Called Mom while the cartoon was on. My sister Anny showed up with her other son Collyn, who usually lives with his father and doesn't visit as often. She got caught up talking to them and forgot to call. That's ok. Our chat was brief anyway. We mainly discussed the recent cold weather, our winter doldrums, and how we're trying to spend less at grocery stores while still eat well. (Buy fewer processed foods; use fewer coupons and look for sales; buy better items on sale or at middle-price emporiums like Dollar General and Family Dollar that last longer; buy as many things possible locally.)

The first errand on the list today was the laundry. It was chilly outside, but sunny and windy, probably in the lower 40s. I had a nice walk to the laundromat. It wasn't that busy, but my load wasn't big anyway. I did get a bit of a shock after The Price Is Right ended (with a rare occasion in which someone won both Showcase Showdowns - I think that might actually be the first time I've ever seen it happen). The lead story on CBS' local newscast was about the mess that I passed on the Black Horse Pike on my way home last night. Turns out what I thought was a "car accident" was a hit-and-run. An older woman had been run over by a truck. They showed the remains of her grocery bag...and the tan bag was familiar. It's spooky to think I may even have had her as a customer; they mentioned it happening around 7PM, when I would have been at work.

When I got home, I put my laundry away, then quickly checked the Internet for a look at the weather. They were announcing possible snow for late tomorrow night. As of right now, um, nope. It's supposed to start raining around 1AM, then maybe snow a little bit, then go right back to rain by the next day. As long as it doesn't do anything tomorrow. I had no really big plans for Wednesday besides a quick Oaklyn Library trip.

Ran Adventures In Babysitting while having leftovers for lunch. Matt's mention of it at Dinosaur Dracula inspired me to watch it for the first time in ages. Chris Parker (Elizabeth Shue) is not having a great day. First, her boyfriend cancels a much-anticipated date. After that, she's talked into babysitting for 10-ish Sara and 14-year-old Brad, despite insisting she's too old for it. Brad has a huge crush on her; Sara doesn't care about much besides Marvel superheroes and teasing her brother. The arrival of Brad's annoying friend Darryl doesn't help matters. Things get really hairy when Chris' friend Brenda calls from Chicago. She's run away from home and wants Chris to pick her up at the bus station. This would be simple, if Chris' car didn't bust a tire on the freeway, or if they weren't picked up by an increasingly bizarre series of characters, from a kindly mechanic to a group of blues singers in a bar to gangsters who are after a Playboy Darryl snuck out of their offices.

Movies about kids and teenagers having wacky (and often dangerous) adventures were common in the 80s and 90s, and few of them were done as well as this one. The sequence in which the kids have to literally sing the blues in a bar is probably the most famous segment; other favorite parts includes Sara meeting her hero, Chris and the boys confronting her errant boyfriend at a restaurant, and the knife fight in a gang war that almost gets ugly...until Brad, and then Chris, intervenes.

Some bad language (including the aforementioned knife fight) make this iffy for most younger kids; for older kids, teens Brad's age, and adults who grew up watching this on cable, this is still a really fun romp, with an awesome R&B, classic rock, and blues soundtrack.

I had my annual eye exam around 3PM. I say "around," because it was really, really busy. America's Best's waiting room was the most full I'd ever seen it. It was probably around 3:15 when I got checked for several eye diseases; I didn't get the actual exam until past 3:30. Everything went fine. My eyes are the same they were last year. I don't need contacts, but when I do order them, there will be no change in the prescription.

For some reason, I thought I was working at 4 today when I made my appointment. Nope; I worked at 5. I just rode home for a little while, finished Adventures In Babysitting, and did things around the apartment. When I did get to work, it was on-and-off busy all night - not as bad as last night, but not dead, either. It did quiet down enough for me to leave without a relief.

Into the Spring of Things

I was up late online last night and slept in. By the time I headed out to run some much-needed errands, it was past noon. My first stop was Avenue, the only clothing store left in the Audubon Crossings Shopping Center with clothes I would wear and could fit into. I just needed a pair of black winter work pants. My old pair finally wore out, and the slacks I bought from LL Bean turned out to be too knitted and sweats-like for the Acme. (That's ok, too. Those will replace a pair of somewhat similar pants I bought from WalMart at least five years ago.)

I did find a good pair on clearance for $15.95. They're a little thinner than I would have liked, but they're long and comfortable and fit pretty well. They're also cotton - and just right for work. I don't know why they have a tie belt when they also have three buttons, but whatever.

(Oh, and while the former FYE remains empty, something did replace the former Fashion Bug...a Rainbow. Yet another clothing store for teenagers and urban hipsters. Like we need another one. The mall already has Deb and Dots, and a similar store just closed in the FYE's old spot.)

Braved Saturday traffic to head across the parking lot to the other side of the mall. I wanted to check out the laptops at Staples. I saw two Lenovos for everyday use that I liked. The smaller one was about $379 on sale. The larger one had far more memory, but their was no price attached to it; I assumed it was out of stock. I didn't get a laptop today, but I did buy a Martha Stewart notebook on sale that would be perfect for my next morning journal.

Next up were two quick stops. Stopped at a very busy America's Best to make an appointment for my annual eye exam. After that, I dodged the traffic on the Black Horse Pike and hiked up the hill to Mt. Ephram's PNC Bank branch. The location isn't in the nicest part of town - a lot of the buildings on that part of the Black Horse Pike are empty or are a bit on the scuzzy side. This, coupled with the traffic, is why I never really liked using that branch. The bank was long closed by the time I got there. I quickly deposited my paycheck in the ATM machine and hurried back down the hill. I debated eating out, but decided I'd rather save my money after the shopping and just rode home.

Spent the rest of the afternoon quietly. I watched cartoons and Good Eats episodes while making scrambled eggs with Swiss cheese and winter vegetables for lunch. After I ate, I worked on some things on the computer, including household inventories and something that Mrs. Stahl, my counselor, asked me to do. She wanted me to write out all the negative thoughts I get into my head and think of ways I could put some positive ones in. I did do it...but when I turned on the printer, I discovered it was out of red and black/white ink. Arrgh! And I was just at Staples. I'll go back there Monday after my eye appointment.

I actually was asked to work late tonight by a manager last Saturday - one of the college boys had to turn down the hours suddenly. That was fine. All my plans today were for the morning and afternoon. As it turned out, I wasn't the only one who came in. We were really short-handed. In addition to call-outs earlier in the week, there were at least two people who called out that day. Thankfully, it was on-and-off busy until about 7, after which it died so fast, I left a few minutes early.

A Very Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone! I know a lot of people don't like this holiday. "It's only for couples!" "It exists so people will buy cards and candy!" "What if you're not in love?" "What if you're not romantic?"

The complainers are missing the point. There's many different kinds of love in the world, and many other ways of showing that you care besides a fancy card and a box of chocolates. What about getting together with your friends and having a movie night? Or doing something nice for your parents. Or tossing in an extra round of video games with your best guy or gal pal.

While I don't have a significant other, I had a fun day anyway. It was still cloudy and chilly when I got up early to go to the laundromat. I was in there around 9:30...and the place was quiet. The couple who was finishing their laundry had just gone outside. The TV wasn't even on. The manager and a repairman who needed to fix a faulty washer showed up later, but by the time they were getting  busy, I was on my way out.

I ran a couple of Valentine's Day specials this morning and after I got in. I did Bugs Bunny's Cupid Capers and the two Winnie the Pooh Valentine's cartoons during breakfast. Put on Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown while I folded and returned my laundry to the drawers it belonged in.

I rode to the Haddon Township Library for this week's volunteer session around a quarter to 12. The clouds that made this morning so cold were clearing out by then, and it was becoming a really lovely day. It was so nice, I was too warm in my heavy black coat and new insulated gloves. Newton River Park was filled with dog-walkers, joggers, lovers going for a stroll, and little kids and their parents running around the playground. Ducks enjoyed a leisurely lunch-hour glide around the river.

The Library was also quiet, not a surprise on a nice day and a holiday. There weren't many books or DVDs for me to put away. I pulled foreign and kids' movies from the adult DVD rack and adult DVDs from the kids' racks, then turned the kids titles over to the librarian in charge of visual media to be labeled more clearly. (I also didn't take anything out myself. I have plenty to watch at home, and a lot of things going on right now anyway.)

You'd never know it was the same day when I got out of the library. The sun was shining brightly, the clouds were mostly gone, and while it was still windy, it wasn't nearly as bad as the last few days. I had a very nice ride through Westmont and Audubon over to Simply Soups. I saw a carpenter working on the floor in the storefront that had once housed Act Two Collectibles as I rode by, and I wondered who would be moving in.

I got my answer when I arrived at Simply Soups. They had signs in their window and in the restaurant saying they're moving...two doors down to the former Act Two shop! That's perfect. It's a nicer and much larger store, and being on a corner (and a block from the White Horse Pike), they'll probably get even more drive-by business.

After a delicious cup of Italian Wedding Soup and Saltines, I made a brief stop at Willie the Woodsman and Wife's in the next building over. They moved their WebKinz to the children's room in the second floor. They still didn't have any I really wanted, so I just headed out empty-handed.

I did much better at Abbie Road. Bob was having a sale on used CDs, and he had a very full rack of records, too. I ended up with two records:

The Seekers - Georgy Girl (I've never seen the movie, but I love that song and "Red Rubber Ball")

The original Broadway cast of South Pacific with Mary Martin and Enzio Pinza (also a cassette replacement)

The CD sale yielded seven discs:

The American Song Book series: Rodgers & Hart and Jules Styne (Collections of various pop vocalists singing standards by these gentlemen)

Wynton & Ellis Marsalis - Joe Cool's Blues (Classic Vince Guaraldi compositions mixed with Wynton Marsalis' own material)

George Winston - Linus & Lucy: The Music of Vince Guaraldi

Five For Fighting - American Town and The Battle for Everything

Uncle Kracker - No Time for Shame (Yes, I'm aware of the explicit content label...but I love their version of "Drift Away")

I made it to America's Best at 3 on the dot. For once, they didn't make me wait very long. They even had good news for me. My stigmatic right eye has improved slightly, but not enough to change my prescription. I ordered my usual three months supply of contacts.

While I was there, I asked the eye doctor about the possibility of laser surgery at Will's Eye Hospital in Philly. The answer was what I expected - out of the question. My eyes are just too bad. They'd have to slice through too much cornea, and there would be too much risk involved. Oh well. I don't mind wearing contacts and glasses.

It was so beautiful when I left, I went straight home instead of to Lucile Roberts. It was just too lovely to be sitting in a gym! I went for a walk to WaWa instead. There were lots of people out and about, enjoying the weather and the holiday. Kids rode bikes together. Couples walked and chatted. People gabbed on their porches. Parents pushed children in strollers; college students walked their dogs. I treated myself to two Dark Chocolate Reeses Cups and a mix of hot chocolate and Chai tea (since the WaWa's Chai is rather weak - it came out very well) as I headed home.

I used the Duncan Hines Orange Supreme Cake Mix I bought on sale to make Orange-Strawberry-Coconut Cookies - the mix with coconut, chopped strawberries, orange concentrate, two egg whites, and slightly less vegetable oil than called for. They came out yummy, very sweet and very citrus-y!

Did A Charlie Brown Valentine while I worked on the cookies, then I Married an Angel during my dinner of Orange Chicken Stir Fry. Count Palafi (Nelson Eddy) is a high-living playboy who is supposed to be in charge of one of the biggest banks in Budapest. His second-in-command (Reginald Owen, unrecognizable in a huge beard) wants him to take a wife, but he'd rather have the chorus girls he runs around with. The night of his birthday, he dreams that the little secretary everyone at work made fun of (Jeanette MacDonald) is really an angel sent to give him the perfect mate.

The Count learns the hard way to be careful what you wish for when the angel turns out to be literally too good to be true. She objects to the real animal feathers and fur used in her new wardrobe, offends the snooty bank examiners and their wives by telling them the truth about themselves, and unknowingly flirts with the owner of the bank's rival (Douglass Dumbrille). One of the Count's former girlfriends (Binnie Barnes) makes the Angel over to be more like the chorus girls he usually dates...but the Count is even less thrilled when the makeover proves to be too successful!

I don't know why this one doesn't rank higher with fans. I thought it was adorable. MacDonald in particular has a high time playing angel and devil, and Eddy has his fun moments, too. (Him trying to get to Jeanette during her solo number is a scream.) I loved Binnie Barnes and MacDonald's little swing dance routine when Barnes is trying to teach her how to be a bit more devilish.

This was a flop when it came out in 1942, and I think the main problem may have been wrong movie at the wrong time. A fluffy romantic fantasy (set in Europe, to boot) wasn't the best thing to be releasing during the height of World War II. MacDonald and Eddy had been at the top since 1935 and had pretty much worn out their welcome, too. There's also the fact that it's a bit on the surreal side, especially the montage towards the end when Eddy keeps imagining MacDonald and Dumbrille in a series of increasingly outlandish settings.

Not the best of their movies to start out with, but if you're a fan, this is a big improvement over their previous two vehicles and a lot of fun to watch.

The Eyes Really Have It

Started the morning by finishing Chocolate Dipped Death, the last of the books I bought over the holidays. A young woman who had a bad reputation in high school and is now a trophy wife is found dead after being accused of cheating at a Divinity candy-making competition. With the contest now on hold, Abby finds herself up to her ears in candy orders, former high school classmates holding long grudges, and family members who don't think she can run Divinity on her own. Can Abby keep Divinity afloat...and find out whose grudge could have been a reason for murder?

Actually, I liked the first one and the next one, Peppermint Twisted, better, but this wasn't bad. I'm hoping to pick up the fourth one, Goody Goody Gunshots, the next time I'm in a book store.

Watched Sailor Moon and had cereal and an orange for breakfast, then crocheted for a while and made my grocery list before it was time to get to work. It was partly cloudy when I got out, but not too cold or windy.

Work was busy for much of the day. Not only is it the beginning of the month, but the Super Bowl is this weekend, too. There were some annoying old ladies who had to have everything organized just so and held up the line. Otherwise, there were no major problems, not even with the new card rule.

My schedule this week is a huge improvement over the ones I've had since New Year's. More hours, nothing earlier than 11 or later than 8, and Wednesday and Thursday off. I'll even be off on Sunday just in time to run home and run over to Uncle Ken's for the Super Bowl.

Headed straight for America's Best after work. I've needed an eye exam and to order new contacts for over a month, but either the weather's been bad, or I've worked too late or been busy. I picked the right day. They were so quiet, I got my eye exam right away. The doctor ultimately concluded that my eye had changed slightly...but not so much that a new prescription was really needed, or even new glasses. The frames are still in really good shape. I only wear them once or twice a week. After my exam, I ordered my contacts and went back to the Acme to do my grocery shopping.

Most of what I needed this week was yogurt, fruit, and vegetables. I also picked up two packs of fish, some shrimp with a store coupon, and turkey pepperoni and sauce to make my own fresh pizza. I've always wanted to try that, and I thought it might be fun for tomorrow, when I don't have a lot planned besides a quick errand run in Oaklyn and dusting.

When I got home, I put everything away and watched the Bowery Boys while eating country-fried steak, steamed broccoli and cauliflower, spinach, and celery sticks. In Crashing Las Vegas, Slip, Sach, Chuck, and newcomer Myron head to Nevada via a TV game show when Sach is electrocuted and suddenly develops the ability to guess any number, anytime. The trouble starts when down-on-their-luck gamblers overhear them and decide Sach has a system...and want the "system" for themselves.

This was Leo Gorcey's last Bowery Boys movie. His father Bernard Gorcey had died shortly after the filming of the one before this, and his death sent the not-always sober Leo into a tail spin. Supposedly, he was drunk during much of the shooting of this film, though he looks pretty much like he always does to me. If anything, it's a dull and derivative script that does this in more than any off-screen troubles. Other than an odd prison sequence and the "King For a Day" sequence, it's really rather odd and has no actual Vegas flavor whatsoever.

Winter Doldrums

I'm bored. I'm so bored. I can't get into anything - not work, not movies, not writing, not anything. Nothing's any fun. Nothing's going on. I'm gaining weight, no matter how hard I try. I don't know how to shake myself out of this funk. There has to be something wrong. I just don't know what yet.

Work was busy all day, not helped by a mix-up with two cashiers who had switched their times and left earlier than they were supposed to. I can't even figure out why we were so busy. I guess it was the sales. There's no major sports games this weekend, the next big holiday is in mid-February, and there's really nothing else going on.

After leaving work, I headed over to America's Best for my contacts. I ended up doing my follow-up exam to check the new prescription. Turns out that yes, my eyes have gotten slightly worse (despite my mother's claim that they should have stabilized by now). I'll go back at the end of next week for the rest of them if I like how the new prescription works.

Made a brief stop at FYE after America's Best, but I didn't see anything I wanted, so I just headed home. Thank goodness it was a lovely January day, sunny and in the lower 40s. My rides to and from work were quite pleasant.

Like I mentioned above, I've been gaining weight again. All the overeating I've done over the holidays and in the last few weeks hasn't helped. I thought I'd try stepping up my work-outs again. I did pilates for the first time in years this evening, using the DVD Rose gave me in 2007. I found out that I can't breathe right, have poor control over my body, and can't raise myself for stomach crunches of any kind. I'm just too fat.

After I finished my workout, I had dinner and put on Sweet Smell of Success. Like The Misfits and Asphalt Jungle, this isn't the kind of movie that I'd buy, but is said to be worth seeing at least once...and it is. Slick press agent Sidney Falco (Tony Curtis) moves through New York's seamy underbelly, trying to get under the skin of powerful, equally immoral newspaper columnist J.J Huntsinger (Burt Lancaster)...but their lies and deceitfulness eventually leads both to tragedy. Not the most fun movie to watch, but a suburb cast and Elmer Bernstein's jazz score make the most of a taught, tough script and Elmer Bernstein's nervous jazz score.

As We Go Along

I did manage to get to the Haddon Township Library late this morning. There were plenty of DVDs to put away, adult and kids', and I organized the rock and vocal CDs, too. Found quite a few CDs to take out as well - Five For Fighting, The Very Best of Burt Bacharach, Diana Krall, Frank Sinatra, and Rod Stewart's second The Great American Songbook collection. (I've heard his duet with Cher on "Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered" at the Acme and loved it.) Also took out two books on job-hunting. It's time to start doing that again.

Stopped at Super Fresh on the way home. They were having 2 for $3 a sale on Asian Green Tea. I needed fresh bunched carrots again, too. They also have better prices on leeks. They were having a sale on Brussels sprouts as well, so I picked up those there.

Rode home in gorgeous weather. This was the nicest day we've had since New Year's Day, into the mid-upper 40s, partly sunny, and breezy but not gale-force winds. It at least melted some of the remaining ice piles from the pre-Christmas blizzard and made that icy spot around Goff Avenue a lot easier to get around.

I did, indeed, take the bike to the Acme after I finished my peanut-butter-and-cranberry-pear-butter sandwich lunch. I needed to pick up my paycheck before I headed behind the front building to the Audubon Crossings Shopping Center and America's Best for my eye exam. The Acme was, thankfully, steady but not really all that busy. (Not that different from yesterday, actually.)

The eye exam went pretty well. It was the same as last time. I sat in the plain but clean waiting area while the doctor finished with the previous exam. It was the same as 2008 - white walls, metal seats, no signs or pictures - with the exception of the TV showing advertisements for some fancy new type of lenses.

After all the usual tests, the doctor discerned that my eyes had changed a little bit since the last time I was there, and I needed a slight different prescription than last time. It should take me about a week to get my new contacts. They were really nice about everything, including the payment.

Made a quick stop back at the Acme next to go grocery shopping. I didn't really need much this time around. I just picked up apples (Galas were on sale), bananas, oranges, yogurt, fish, grits, cooking spray, and baking cocoa. It all came to exactly $19.99 - the first time that had apparently ever happened to Patrice, my cashier (who is normally a stocker, but they must have needed extra help up front). She noted it on my receipt and everything.

I rode home. I was just going to dust the apartment after I put my groceries away, but it was such a nice day, I couldn't bring myself to hang out inside. I made a quick sunset run to the bank instead and deposited what was left of my paycheck after paying for the eye exam. It was a nice walk, too, the (comparatively) warm day illuminated by the warm purple-and-gold glow of the oncoming twilight.

Spent the rest of the evening baking a Peanut Butter Cake from that Prevention cookbook and watching Monkees concerts and other related items. I like that series of music videos the four made for their 1997 CD JustUs. They were really cute, and in some ways, better than the hour-long special they did that same year.

Not For the Life Of Me

Spent the morning watching Feasting On Asphalt. Alton and his crew are now in the Midwest, honoring Popeye's creator by eating canned spinach and digging around St. Louis for the best donuts. I also updated my finances; I'm hoping to put more of a dent in that dentist's bill soon.

Work was, thankfully, busy but not a problem. Everyone was in a pretty decent mood, and the day went incredibly fast. I had no relief, but it was slowing down a little by the end of my shift at 5. I was able to get off, grab mushrooms and canned beans, and head out.

I need new contacts, but it's been over a year since I started wearing them, and America's Best wanted to give me an exam before I got another pair. That's fine. I rode over to the America's Best next to Staples after work and agreed to come in at 2:45 on Friday, which is one of my two days off this week.

FYE was having a $9.99 sale on CDs. I don't care that everyone says "download everything" and "don't buy anything hard copy anymore." How impractical and silly can you get? What if all that downloaded stuff is infected with viruses? Or you accidentally delete it? Or your computer crashes? I've had all that happen at one time or another. I don't believe in putting all your eggs in one basket...or all your faith in imperfect technology. I bought the cast album to the 2002 Broadway Thoroughly Modern Millie. I figured this was a great opportunity to buy some of those pricy Broadway cast albums I've always wanted, but could never afford.

Had dinner at Fat Jack's Barbecue. I overheard them mention that collard greens and green beans are still on the menu, just not the printed one. I ordered collard greens and a pulled pork sandwich while watching the Jets-Bengals game. (Which the Jets won, incidentally, 24-14.) The sandwich was excellent...but the collards were waaaayyyy too spicy! I didn't remember them turning on the heat before! One of the boys behind the counter told me they'd changed their recipe. Not for the better; I couldn't finish even half, and my mouth was on fire, even after drinking a whole bottle of water.

The Eagles-Cowboys game is tonight, too. I hope they do well, if only to hush everyone around here after last week's game went so badly.

New Woman

I went to pick up my soft-lens contacts after a steady-to-busy, generally problem-free work day. It was a bit of a pain to get them in (my eyes just wanted to blink blink blink), but the lady in charge of contacts was really helpful and nice. In any event, since my contacts are trial lenses and disposables, I'm going to have to go back after my vacation for a follow-up exam. It looks so good, though. So...different. I've NEVER had contacts. I always assumed I was too clumsy and impatient for them, and that my eyes were too bad.

I was so happy after I got my contacts. They don't mask my lazy eye, but I looked so...different. I haven't really seen myself without glasses during my waking hours since I was in third grade.

Since getting the contacts went well, I decided I had enough time (and money) to finally get my hair done, too. I rode up to West King's Highway in Haddon Heights (between Pine Street and Station Avenue) and stopped at Hair Event. Rose went there to get her hair done before she went to Costa Rica. She said they did a great job, and Rose has very long, thick hair that's a lot like mine, but less curly...and manageable. I had my hair layered, trimmed, and thinned, all of which I badly needed. I love my curly hair, but it gets so thick and frizzy, especially in this weather! It looked terrific when I got out, layered with spiral curls. I even left it down, something I seldom do in hot weather.

I received the ultimate compliment when I stopped by Desserts By Design, a bakery in Audubon, for a treat. The owner and head baker didn't recognize me...and not only do I visit her store fairly often, but she's a regular Acme customer!

For once in my life, I'm very happy right now.

The Eyes Don't Have It

Work went well today, quiet with no major problems and only a small crowd around noon. The absolutely stunning weather (80 degrees and no humidity) probably played a major role. It might be just as well. I had enough trouble with my eye exam.

The exam itself went well enough. I finally went to a brand-new America's Best that opened earlier this year in the shopping center behind the Acme. America's Best takes up the second-largest store next to the free-standing Staples, in the block that also includes Pepboys, a nail salon, a laudromat, and Audubon's post office. I first had a small pre-exam to check if I had any major eye injuries or illnesses. After that, I waited for about fifteen minutes. I sat in the bland waiting area (just metal benches, no reading material or anything) listening to the women gossip until I couldn't stand it, then went in the main lobby/glasses area to look at the newest frames.

Dr. Chang was very nice when I finally got in. After a series of the usual tests (flashing a light in my eyes, having me read letters), she told me most of what I already knew. My eyes are lousy. I have a small stigma in my left eye (which is why the left one is lazy). What I HADN'T known is that they've gotten slightly worse since 2000. THAT hurt. Mom told me my eyes should have stabilized by now!

On the other hand, she also told me I could wear contacts as long as it was a special prescription. THAT, I could handle. I've wanted to try contacts. My sister Rose and my Aunt Terri wear them with no problems. Not only did I think my eyes were too bad for contacts, but I figured they would be a bad idea for me. I'm so clumsy, I assumed I'd break them, or they would be too scratchy and make my eyes water constantly, or they'd never stay in place.

Glasses didn't go nearly as well. Even after choosing an inexpensive pair, my huge lenses were way outside of their sales. The glasses and the special custom prescription lenses would cost over $280 all together...and I've heard that's cheap! I told her we'd probably have to wait for October.

So, no glasses now. I have vacation this month, and I don't know how I'm going to afford bills and my rent and vacation and glasses. It was probably a stupid idea to get an eye exam when I'm still paying for dental appointments. I should have just called the damn union about my insurance. I hate calling people. The union should have just sent me the vision claim I'd asked for instead of a dental claim! And I really, really, REALLY hate asking for money. I haven't done it in years, but it makes me feel like a little kid. I'm proud of my independence. I've spent most of my life having to let people buy me things because I couldn't get a job or money.

I wouldn't have even bothered with an eye exam now, but the glasses I'm wearing now are my old prescription from the mid-late 90s. The frames are in decent shape, but I'm getting really bad double vision, and I have a hard time reading things far away. I'm really worried. I should have done this in March, when I got my check, but I just didn't think. I NEVER think. And when I don't think about things before I do them, I get into trouble.