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.) 

The Road to Audubon

Began the morning with breakfast and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. "Clarabelle's Clubhouse Carnival" is held to earn corn for the new chickens at the petting zoo. Everyone has a great time, from Mickey and Minnie guessing Pete's weight to Chip and Dale dunking Donald in the tank. They still can't make enough corn for the chickens, though, until Willie the Giant helps out.

Put on Road to Singapore next while looking at a few things online. I go further into the first Road To... movie with Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, and Dorothy Lamour at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Road to Singapore (1940)

Headed out around 1:30 for a bike ride and a short picnic. I'm not up to a lot of running around this week, but I did want to have another outdoor meal at Haddon Lake Park. The last time I went there in April, the pollen was so bad, all I did was sneeze. 

Tried Champs in Audubon for my sandwich. It's your basic burger and hoagie hole-in-the-wall, this one with an Eagles theme and a lot of memorabilia on the walls. The guy said they were out of turkey, but the roast beef hoagie was so huge, it needed a Styrofoam container and a paper bag to hold. They didn't have much in the way of drinks, so I picked up a Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi two blocks down at the Speedy Mart convenience store. 

It was a nice, cool day for a picnic. The sun tried to come out once or twice and it was really humid, but it was also windy and far more tolerable than it has been. I had my giant sandwich at the same yellow and blue paisley-shaped tables on the hill overlooking Haddon Lake Park's walking path I did back in April. After I ate, I read a few things on my phone, then once again goofed off with the wooden xylophone and tubular bells surrounding the tables. 

Took the long way home across Audubon, dodging buses and kids coming out of school on my way. Stopped at Family Dollar on the way home. I wanted something to make peach cobbler. I didn't find them, but I did pick up a few sales. They're clearing out their school supplies. I grabbed thin and thick markers and new scissors. Also picked up a white binder. The jazz CDs are starting to outgrow their current binder. I'd like to eventually move the CDs to CD books, but this will do for now.

Put on The Monkees while I got everything organized at home. Peter's thrilled when he wins a free dance lesson at Renaldo's Dance-Au-Go-Go. "Dance, Monkees, Dance" is anything but fun when not only does it turn out to be a lifetime contract, but Micky and Mike get caught in it, too. Davy gets a job as a teacher in order to turn the tables and drive away Renaldo's (Hal March) customers.

Worked on the inventory after the Monkees ended. Added four animated and family soundtracks I forgot, An American Tail, All Dogs Go to Heaven, Raggedy Ann and Andy: A Musical Adventure, and The Muppet Show. Finally finished the vinyl cast albums with Walking Happy, What Makes Sammy Run?, Wish You Were Here, Wildcat, The Wiz, Wonderful Town, and Your Own Thing. 

Switched to Match Game '73 while eating dinner. McLean Stevenson was a total nut during the first week he appeared. He kept running out to kiss Richard and give him hickeys whenever he got a Head-to-Head right and complained about Brett never hearing the questions. Wish Nancy Dussault came back during the 70's run, too. Her dry humor added a lot to this week.

Finished the night with two more recent record finds while working on the Road to Singapore review. Crosby's rival narrates his own story in A Man and His Music. The anthology itself features some well-chosen hits, including "All Or Nothing At All," "I'll Be Seeing You," "Night and Day," "Come Fly With Me," "Witchcraft," and "Love and Marriage" that continue to be associated with Sinatra to this day. I just wish I could hear them better. The records were horribly scratched and battered. No wonder I found this in the dollar bin. It's in such lousy shape, I think I might toss it and see if I can find a better copy somewhere along the line.

Thankfully, Maureen McGovern's self-titled album was in near-mint shape. Although the lyrics for "Can You Read My Mind" ultimately weren't used in the 1978 Superman movie, McGovern's gorgeous rendition is still a favorite of mine. We also get the theme from the sitcom Angie "Different Worlds" and enjoyable covers of "I'm Happy Just to Dance With You," "Carolina Moon," and "He's a Rebel." 

A Picnic In the Park

Began the morning with breakfast and The Scooby Doo Show. Mystery Inc is asking "Scooby Doo, Where's the Crew?" when a pirate ghost and two sea monsters kidnap a professor looking for a sunken ship and the ship's crew that took him there. Velma, Shaggy, and Scooby do some diving of their own to investigate the wreck and get to the (sea) bottom of this mystery.

Headed out after that. I was supposed to meet my job counselor Dawn at the Haddon Township Library...or that's what I thought. She must have heard me wrong and went to the Haddon Heights Library. Thankfully, it only took her about five minutes to find her way back after she realized the mistake. We looked around online for jobs to apply for, but finally updated an application I put out for a secretarial job at the Collingswood High School. It's a year-round job, and I wouldn't mind being around to see my nephew Khai and his friends grow. We had trouble when it came to adding a letter of introduction. My cover letter wasn't suited for a secretarial job, but she couldn't figure out how to update it on her laptop. We'd try to figure it out another time.

After I hit the bathroom, I rode down the street to Shamrock Deli to order something for lunch. Bought a Diet Dr. Pepper, a small bag of sweet potato chips, and a "Township," a huge turkey sandwich with bacon, lettuce, tomato, and avocado on a Kaiser roll. It was almost 1 PM by that point. I must have just missed the lunch rush, because they weren't that busy.

Took my sandwich and goodies down to Newton Lake Park for a picnic. I settled on a weathered and heavily graffitied red wooden bench and table situated in a beautiful spot, on the corner between a shady spot along the lake and a big field. My food was wonderful, the sandwich so stuffed, I could barely get it in my hand. The weather was great, too. It was still sunny, hot, and humid, but a cool wind made it feel a lot more tolerable. 

Canadian geese pecked around for their lunch. After a while, some of the youngsters opted to cool off in the lake and went for a swim. Five sets of kayakers in colorful yellow and blue boats paddled by. Two of them even waved at me. A father and his daughter put chairs down on the lake to go fishing. I read Monkees fanfics online and enjoyed the weather and the peace and quiet. I even took the long way home, to the other side of the park and back up the White Horse Pike, so I could stay out in that gorgeous day just a little longer.

After I took out the trash, I went inside to figure out that cover letter. There's a reason I let Karen write it in the first place. I have no idea how to write a cover letter. I don't mind writing fictional stories, or making lists and spreadsheets, but I really hate writing about myself. What can I say? How can I explain that I don't talk to people well, I'm not good at multi-tasking, and I lack basic Microsoft Word skills? What should I tell people? How?

I finally gave up and worked on the inventory. Added all of my G titles on vinyl today, including the original stage versions of Grease, Gigi, Guys and Dolls, and Godspell, the George M. Cohen biography George M!, and the flops The Girl Who Came To Supper, The Grand Tour, Goldilocks, and Greenwillow. Most of these came from local record stores or thrift shops. Two came from yard sales over a decade ago...and I really don't remember where Gigi and Godspell came from anymore. 

Watched Beach Ball while I worked. I go further into Paramount's second shot at a Beach Party imitation at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Beach Ball

Broke for dinner and Match Game Syndicated at 7 PM. Charles Nelson Reilly went on hiatus to do a Broadway play for the remaining weeks of the 1979 season. In the episode I saw, Dick Martin ably filled his spot, though Brett still wailed that she missed him badly.

Finished the night listening to my two CD finds from Circa Gallery on my last trip into Philly as I worked on the Beach Ball review. Deep In My Heart was MGM's last lavish biographical semi-revue, this one covering the life of operetta king Sigmund Romberg. In addition to Jose Ferrer singing all the parts, including three songs, from one of the Al Jolson comedies he wrote songs for, there's rare material here you just won't get anywhere else. Ann Miller leads an extremely Roaring 20's chorus through "It," the big comedy number from The Desert Song, while Howard Keel leads the male chorus through the rousing "Your Land and My Land" from the Civil War operetta My Maryland.

Despite what the liner notes said, the version of A Connecticut Yankee I found is actually the full recording of the 1955 TV version with Eddie Albert and Janet Blair. It's based on the 1943 revival, which is why everyone is an officer and in uniform, even the ladies. Actually, this does make for a unique contrast with the Arthurian segments. Gale Sherwood as Morgan LeFay sings Lorenz Hart's last lyric, the macabre and very funny "To Keep My Love Alive," while Blair and Albert have a lovely "My Heart Stood Still." 

Satisfy My Soul

I slept in today and got so caught up finishing Murder Lo Mein and reading the pieces about a dad and his little girl and the chapter from Cheaper By the Dozen in the Colliers Harvest of Holidays, it was past 12:30 when I finally rolled out of bed and had a quick breakfast. Listened to the Bob Marley Legend greatest hits CD collection while I ate. I've heard a lot of Marley's music all my life without actually knowing it. I first encountered "Jammin'" on the soundtrack for old family favorite Captain Ron, and I know I've run into "Buffalo Soldier" elsewhere as well. Other favorites here include "Could You Be Loved," "Get Up Stand Up," and the original "I Shot the Sheriff." 

Headed to Collingswood on my bike around 1 PM. It was too nice of a day to waste inside, whether I had a dad or not. As I was riding across the parking lot behind the Collingswood Senior Center, I heard music and voices. I went to the other end of the block and discovered a Juneteeth fair, with people selling African crafts at booths, children throwing bean bags into a wooden board, and step dancers in bright pink and black doing a really nifty number. I watched the group and applauded them, then moved on. 

I next stopped at a very busy Haddon Culinary first. Ordered half of their turkey club sandwich on a whole-wheat roll with their house-made potato chips. Picked up a "cactus rose" sparkling water, too. Passed families and couples eating at the benches alongside the building, including a couple with a handsome golden retriever and a man with two frisky little pomeranians. 

Took my lunch down Haddon and Collings to Knight Park for a late spring picnic. After riding around for a bit, I settled at a bright blue metal picnic bench under a grove of shady trees. The sandwich was good, with real turkey slices and thick tomatoes...but the real stand-outs were the potato chips. They were by far the best chips I've ever had. They were thick, earthy, crunchy, and not a bit greasy, with just enough seasoning. I may have to go back sometime and get more of them. 

It was such a gorgeous day, I continued riding around the park, watching kids play in the playground (even the rusty log cabin-themed one), walk dogs, play catch with their parents, and go for bike rides. Enjoyed the ride and the sunny, breezy day so much, I continued through Collingswood, admiring the older homes and Art Deco-esque church. It was quiet for a Sunday holiday. Many people may have gone away to the Shore with their dads this weekend. I saw a few people walking dogs and some kids on their bikes.

Rode across the White Horse Pike to explore the stores on Collings Avenue in West Collingswood. I stopped at what proved to be a small deli and convenience store that advertised having water ice. Turned out to be scoops in paper cups nestled in the cooler with the ice cream novelties. I bought a Coke Zero and what turned out to be rainbow. Enjoyed them on the brick risers outside of the store.

Hit the shower soon as I got home, then finished Bob Marley while doing job hunting. I really wonder if I'm barking up the wrong tree. I should know what I want to do, like every adult, but I don't. All I've ever wanted to do is write, but how can I turn that into a career? Is it really the right thing for me? What is the right thing for me? 

Switched to the Little River Band Greatest Hits CD while looking up some things online. I used to hear these guys a lot on the radio when I was a young kid. Some of my favorites from them include "Lonesome Loser," "Cool Change," "Reminiscing," "Down On the Border," and "Happy Anniversary Baby." 

Finished out the night on YouTube with the Match Game Father's Day marathon. Actually, this marathon originally ran in 2021, but since I missed more than half the original broadcast due to work, I had no trouble with the repeat. Match Game did have its fair share of dads who turned up during the original run. Michael Landon was on the very first week in 1973. Tom Bosley turned up for a memorable week in 1975. David Doyle is best-known to 90's Nickelodeon fans as the original voice of Grandpa Pickles in Rugrats. Donald Ross appeared with his wife Patti Deustch in 1974. Their toddler son Max would be seen with Gary Burghoff's darling daughter Gina in Gene's arms in 1978. 

Other real-life dads appeared on the show as well. Richard Dawson was the proud single father of two teen sons. He brought the younger, Gary, onstage briefly for his birthday in 1974. Jack Klugman had two sons with Brett Somers whom Brett spoke of frequently. Robert Pine was as handsome in 1979 during his run on CHiPs as his son Chris Pine would be in later years. McLean Stevenson's smart and pretty daughter Jennifer would appear onstage in 1978. In 1981, he brought two kids onstage to get sweaters; one giggly little girl even helped him play the game.

Bring your dad to play along with some of the wackiest dads ever on television in this adorable marathon!

Match Game Sunday Night Classics - Father's Day Marathon

A Quiet Birthday

Began the morning with breakfast and the final episode of The Yogi Bear Show, "Yogi's Birthday." The sponsor insists on celebrating Yogi's big day with a party on TV. Ranger Smith tells Yogi that he's going to be on a variety show, but Yogi's attempt to learn how to dance and sing end in disaster. When the Ranger does coax him out of Jellystone, he discovers that it's really a chance for all the Hanna Barbara funny animals to come together to celebrate his big day.

Opened my birthday presents after breakfast. Linda and James Young gave me a book on Barbara Eden, Jeannie Out of the Bottle, and a collection of all of the Good Eats: Reloaded episodes made up to this point. Unlike with the Popeye cartoons, I'll try to dole out the latter sparingly instead of watching them all at once. It'll be nice to have something different to watch with the Match Game marathons when I get home from work, and I'm always open to trying new recipes.

Switched to Labyrinth while making orange cream cheese frosting for my birthday carrot cake and pan-frying apricot jam-filled pocket pies. I go further into this dark 1980's fantasy featuring David Bowie singing among Jim Henson creatures at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Cult Flops - Labyrinth

Around 12, I packed my small white Easter basket with the flowers with a tuna salad sandwich, celery sticks, pocket pies, and Popchips. My original plan for today was the movies, but after all the virus craziness closed the theaters, I thought a picnic in the park would be nice. At least, until all the parks were closed. Fortunately, I remembered there's a little green field behind the VFW where members toss horseshoes and enjoy barbecue at outdoor parties. It's bordered by a line of trees and the train tracks on one side and a parking lot on another, making it the perfect isolated space for a quiet, distanced picnic.

There was part of a fence with a sign up in front of the field, claiming that it was closed to vehicles. Not only did it say nothing about being closed to people, but a random truck was parked right next to the back of the VFW. I enjoyed my lunch at one of the concrete tables and benches while listening to the birds and admiring the soft greenery and lavender and sun-yellow dandelions and

Took a short walk over a narrow path through the trees and brambles and over to the train tracks. The view from the train bridge is amazing. You can see straight to the Parkview Apartments in one direction, half-way to the park in the other. The sun was in and out, warming my back, and it was breezy, but not nearly as windy as yesterday. A lone fisherman caught lake trout in a small boat floating off to my right on the Parkview side.

When I got in, I quickly took down the Easter decorations. The general spring decorations will likely stay up until I begin to pack everything for my move. I'll wait to put up the summer items until after I leave.

After I put everything away, I went online to watch the Gary Burgoff Match Game marathon, only to find the guy who's been posting these is still having problems with YouTube and the marathon was postponed until tomorrow. Since I was dead tired and had no other plans, I ignored the lawn mowers and potty mouths going outside and dropped into bed for a nap.

Woke up an hour and a half later, feeling disoriented and still tired. I drowned out the lawn mower by focusing on writing. Richard tries to get Fannie to come to the ball, but she insists that she's not only too well-known at the Palace, but her stepmother would never allow it. Even as Charles drags him away, Richard insists that there has to be a way she can come with them and identify her contact...and of course, dance with him at the ball.

Rose arrived while I was writing, sporting a huge paper bag. She handed me the bag and I handed her the envelope with her birthday card and gift card, and she dashed off. The paper bag held a complete Italian meal. There was enough pasta with tomatoes and shrimp, anti-pasto salad, mozzarella sticks, salad, and crusty bread to feed every stuffed animal and doll in my apartment if they could actually eat, and maybe all the Star Wars action figures, too.

Watched Match Game on Buzzr while I ate. This one was one of the episodes that turned up in the marathon, with McLean kissing Gene and Richard after a contestant won big money in the head-to-head round. The woman champion on Sale of the Century went back and forth with the lone gentleman, even buying a camera to take photos of her new baby at one point, but he pulled ahead in the speed round and won. It didn't take him long to match a trip to the Bahamas in the bonus memory round.

And the guy in charge of the Match Game Productions channel at YouTube has already posted the Gary Burgoff marathon for 1 tomorrow. This time, we really will get to see everyone's favorite teddy bear-loving MASH comedian imitation everyone from Price Is Right contestants to his former teacher, Charles Nelson Reilly.

Lovely Day for a Picnic

Began a sunny, warm day with work. I ended up getting extra hours. One of the baggers called out. I just wish I'd had more to do to earn it. I did end up in the register early-on, but I was mainly outside, gathering carts or trash and recycling with three other baggers. We weren't even really that busy. It's right before the beginning of the month, and there was no Eagles game today - they played (and won) on Thursday.

I forgot a few things when I shopped on Friday. They're having a big 4-day sale on cheese; I grabbed Monterrey Jack. They're also having a 49 cent sale on apple juice. I chose the Acme's generic apple cider. Plucked a bag of sugar cookies off the reduced baked goods rack.

Rushed out as soon as I finished, but I had trouble on the road. The seat on my bike has been loose for a while now. It finally came off as soon as I got across Nicholson Road. It took me nearly ten minutes, but I finally got it on long enough to finally head back to Oaklyn.

I had to hurry. Today was Oaklyn's Town Picnic, and I wanted to at least catch some of it. As I pulled up to the Oaklyn School, I encountered several bounce houses and games of chance for the kids. Going beyond them, I found the tables with the free food in the school's driveway. There wasn't much left by 2:30. I figured the meatball sandwich and can of Sierra Mist would be sufficient. I ate it by a big tree on the school's front lawn.

There were plenty of other free goodies on West Clinton. One table offered me a free bag of popcorn. A kid group playing games had free cupcakes; I snitched a chocolate one. I passed tables representing Oaklyn's PTA and police, all of whom were giving out free items.

As soon as I got home, I changed, then went downstairs to try to fix the bike seat. Turns out the poles holding the seat between the bits were broken, and the bits had come loose. It took me nearly an hour (and dozens of mosquito bites) to figure out, but I did manage to get the bits on the right way. I wish I hadn't tried duct-taping the poles together. Now they don't fit right between the bits! Oh well, it's on, anyway.

Spent the rest of the afternoon trying to focus on writing. Ira insults Fannie and Charles when they go to help the drugged Richard. Having heard one insult too many, Charles finally lashes out, getting Ira down long enough for Brett to grab him. Charles knows what he really is...but Brett doesn't, and it comes as a real surprise when he reveals his true form...

Finished the night with Gingerbread Pancakes (which I burned), and Volume 1 of my Disney CD set. I ordered this set for my birthday with a gift card from Lauren almost a decade ago, and I've been listening to it ever since. While most of the songs on Disc 1 are old favorites like "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?" and "Be Our Guest," there's a few rarities. Annette Funicello joins the Beach Boys for the very early 60's surf-rock theme song from The Monkey's Uncle, Professor Ludwig Von Drake introduces his audiences to the colors of the rainbow in "The Spectrum Song," Kirk Douglas describes "A Whale of a Tale" from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and we get Mickey's original theme song, the cute "Minnie's Yoo Hoo."

Sunbeams and Daydreams

I finished out Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan while eating breakfast this morning. The title character (Ricardo Montalban) is a 20th century villain who is let out of prison vowing revenge on the man who put him there - James T. Kirk (William Shatner). He attacks the Starship Reliant and forces its crew to obey him. The Starship is carrying precious cargo - Project Genesis, a weapon that can create life in an instant...or destroy it. Meanwhile, the now-Admiral Kirk is training a new, young female Vulcan captain (Kirstie Alley) who leads by the book and is making him feel ancient. On a routine inspection of the Enterprise, he, Dr. McCoy (DeForrest Kelly), and Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) get a distress call from the Reliant. Kirk takes over when he realizes what Khan has in mind for Project Genesis. It's Spock, though, who finally teaches him a hard lesson about life, death, and friendship.

Still considered to be the best of the 80's Star Trek films, this is a Trek movie even I relatively enjoyed. I was especially impressed by the special effects. Other than some very dated hairstyles, they still look good over 30 years later. The finale in particular, with Kirk saying good-bye to his dear friend, is heart-rendering (especially if you've never seen the sequels or haven't seen them in years, like me). Required viewing for Star Trek fans (especially if you're into the original series), but fun for non-Trek sci-fi lovers, too.

I just rode around for a few hours in the late morning. My original plan was to look around for yard sales. I only found one, a couple of streets down from the Westmont Plaza in Haddon Township, and they had nothing interesting left by the time I got there. I treated myself to a Mocha Coollatta from a very busy Duncan Donuts instead. I enjoyed it under umbrellas on the small tables next to Capitol Pizza. You only get a view of the Black Horse Pike, but that's better than eating inside on a gorgeous 80-degree day.

Since I was on the next block, I went down the street and browsed around at The House of Fun. They had a new (and legitimate) first season release of the original 90's animated Sailor Moon. It was 42 bucks, but I figured it was worth it. The only other place I'm likely to see it is Amazon.com.

I put on Sailor Moon when I got home and had the last of the leftover turkey chili for lunch. It turns out this is the first half of the original, uncut first season. They included at least five episodes that were dropped from the early first season of the original English dub due to content or simply a lack of necessity to the plot. On one hand, I sort of miss Luna and Naru's accents. They did kind of make the characters stand out. On the other hand, the English translation seems to be a tad bit more accurate this time around ("bun head" instead of "meatball head," for instance).

One of the rediscovered episodes, however, wound up being my favorite on the first disc. Usagi first shows off her fondness for playing matchmaker when she meets a handsome older jazz performer who thinks a monster is after him. Usagi helps bring him together with the younger woman he loves. She finds herself saving them both when his sweetheart is attacked by a Negaverse monster who wants to use his music to send brainwashing messages to everyone in Tokyo.

I went for a walk after lunch. It was just too nice to be inside for too long! It was actually a little too hot for mid-April, probably in the mid-to-upper 70's. It's definitely spring here now. The trees are in full pink, white, and pale green blossom. There were tons of people all over the place. Adults mowed their overgrown lawns, worked in their gardens, rode bikes, or chatted with friends. Younger kids tossed balls around or played with toys in their yards. Their older siblings wandered around in packs, on bike or on foot, talking and checking their smartphones.

When I got back in, I spent the next few hours working on my WENN fanfiction and trying to get some ideas. I have an interesting idea for a WENN pirate/American Revolution spoof that involves Maple and Victor, but one thing at a time. I really want to finish the Edge of the Precipice series first.

I came up with an idea around 4:30. Instead of having a regular meal indoors, I decided to take advantage of the nice weather and have a picnic in the park. I boiled three eggs to make an egg salad sandwich on rye while I was writing my story. I put on more Sailor Moon as I made the egg salad and sliced celery. Usagi thinks she's gained weight and attempts a crash diet, but that just wears her out. Some friends convince her to join a gym instead after they see how much weight their teacher Miss Haruna has lost. Usagi tries to work out as hard as she can...but first a guy she has a crush on tells her she looks fine, then she discovers the gym is a Negaverse plot.

Veteran's Park was gorgeous at 5:30. It was the perfect time of day for a picnic. The breeze was light and a little cooler than earlier, but not cold. I put down my checked flannel blanket down on top of the hill overlooking the river. I spent a splendid, lazy hour eating my egg salad sandwich, celery, and the last of the Fudge Cupcake Graham Cracker Goldfish and reading my old Remember WENN fanfiction. I only went in because the wind was starting to feel a little chillier.

Finished out the Sailor Moon disc when I got in and as I cleaned up from dinner and ate dessert. The seventh episode on the disc has everyone clamoring over a big talent contest being put on by a popular star. Usagi is just as obsessed as everyone else, until she sees some strange things and begins to agree with Luna that something's wrong. The last show introduced Sailor Mercury, aka Ami Mizuno, the smartest girl in Usagi's middle school. Luna suspects Ami of being involved in a Negaverse plot at her computer school, until she and Usagi find the real monster attacking her.

And...sigh. Today was the last day of my vacation. I'm not looking forward to work tomorrow at all, even if I don't have much of it this week. Thank heavens my next vacation is Lauren's visit in mid-June.