Regional Girls

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Elton John - Reg Strikes Back

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

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

I also found a mystery:

Prologue to Murder, by Lauren Elliott

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Jazz Singer (1927)

Under a Blanket of Blue

This time, we started off the morning with breakfast and Family Feud on Buzzr. They're up to the episodes from 1983 where families can choose a Tootsie Pop off a "tree" next to the desks and get an extra $100. Richard got a shirt from a family who played on a team sponsored by a local heart association...and made a few jokes about the heart and lung seen on the front of the shirt.

Called Uber around 10:30. The gentleman arrived within five minutes. No trouble getting to Cherry Hill, no traffic anywhere. We arrived at The Big Event within fifteen minutes.

The Big Event has apparently existed as Cherry Hill's arcade and bowling alley in one form or another since the 1960's. It got a neon makeover about a decade ago, with bright pink stripes around the pins and all-digital scorekeeping. Neither of us had bowled for years, and we thought it would be something fun and different. We grabbed our shoes, then went to get our balls. I took a red one and Lauren grabbed purple before we headed to the back lanes.

Lauren is a much better athlete than I am in general. I shocked myself by getting two strikes, one in each game we played, but I'd also go whole rounds without hitting any pins. I kept twisting my wrist the wrong way and tossing the ball to the left. Lauren almost never missed pins. Neither of us got to even 100, but Lauren still won both games.

The Big Event was a LOT busier than it should have been on a Tuesday morning. There were kids running around all over the place, in the bowling alley and the arcade. Turns out two local elementary schools were having field trips here. It took 15 minutes for me to just get to the card payment dispenser. Games would often be surrounded by kids. Lauren later reported that there was only one young-ish adult in the room with them, and she was clearly overwhelmed. They should have had far more teachers or authority figures keeping an eye on those kids! They were running and yelling and pushing and shoving. I did manage to get close enough to the prize desk to win the last adorably serious stuffed husky they had.

(Incidentally, the husky's actual name was apparently Harley, but with his very serious expression, I thought he looked more like a cop. Lauren and I dubbed him Harley Rockford, Rocky for short.)

After we managed to get out of that mess unscathed, I called Uber again. They're still working on Route 70, including the sidewalks. There was no way we could walk to the Market Place shopping center. The Uber driver picked us up in 8 minutes and took less than five to drop us off alongside Raising Cane's at Market Place. 

There's been a lot of changes at Market Place lately, even since I was last there in February. Chick Fil' A moved down the road to their own building at the Shop Rite Pavillion. Raising Cane's also opened in their own building. They specialize in crispy, crunchy chicken fingers and crinkle-cut fries. Lauren and I opted for the fries and their sandwiches, which are basically chicken fingers, lettuce, and a pinkish mayo-based sauce. It was tasty, but very messy! The chicken wouldn't stay on the bun. I ended up eating two chicken fingers separately.

Lands End at the other side of the front of the shopping center was our next stop. To my disappointment, it would seem that they're closing on July 14th. More than half the store had already been cleared out. I have no idea why they're closing. The next closest Lands End stores are 45 minutes to an hour away. Maybe there's just too much competition in Cherry Hill in general and the Market Place in particular. I did take advantage of the sales to buy a pair of navy shorts, a pair of khaki shorts, and a maroon fleece jacket for when it's too cold for jackets, and too hot for heavy coats. The navy shorts came to $13, the jacket $15. Even the khaki shorts that weren't heavily discounted were $25.

An experimental small-scale Macy's opened in what used to be Bed Bath and Beyond a week ago today. They really did a nice job remaking that store. The bright white space was now filled with sundresses, Toys R Us stuffed animals and craft sets, designer purses and shoes, and for some reason, tons and tons of summer suits. I didn't find anything, but Lauren picked up a cute white and blue-striped vest for work.

We split up after heading for the Towne Center. I'm not all that fond of Nordstrom Rack, and Lauren's not a big reader. I explored Barnes and Noble on my own. Thankfully, unlike Macy's and The Big Event, they weren't busy. There wasn't even a line at the checkout counter. It took me more than 40 minutes, but I came up with one record and two mysteries: 

Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong - Ella & Louis

Murder Lo Mein - Vivian Chien

Death at High Tide - Hannah Dennison

After I got out, I went to Nordstrom Rack to find Lauren. I peeked around their purses, but didn't see her. Sat down and waited on a bench after I got out...and she came walking down from Barnes and Noble! We must have just missed each other. 

Strolled over to the other side of the Towne Center next. At least it was a gorgeous day to walk around a lifestyle center. The weather remains beautiful. Warm and sunny, with a searing ice-blue sky and no wind or humidity. It couldn't have been more perfect as we made our way to TJ Maxx. Once again, I found nothing, but Lauren picked up another vest for work.

Trader Joe's is on the end of the mall bordering the luxury apartment complexes behind it. We mainly wanted snacks here. I grabbed their almond-peanut butter and PB & J oat bars, dried orange slices and coconut strips, and salted pecans. Lauren picked up chocolate-peanut butter protein bars, mini dark chocolate bars, freeze dried raspberries, and hot and spicy pecans. 

Since it's across the parking lot from Trader Joe's, we had a snack at the Shake Shack. Their snacks and ice cream are far better than their greasy and flat burgers. Lauren had a lemonade and a split grilled hot dog with cheese that honestly looked pretty good. I was fine with the snacks we bought and settled for a small strawberry milkshake that was wonderfully sweet and cooling.

I had a harder time getting us a ride home at 4:30 than I had getting one going to Cherry Hill. It took me 10 minutes to get a ride, and another 18 for them to arrive. Fortunately, when they did finally come, they were smart enough to take the scenic back roads through Cherry Hill, Haddonfield, and Westmont and avoid as much of the traffic on Cuthbert and Route 70 as possible. 

We played Password again when we got home, then watched more of the original Password. Even though I already watched it, I went with the early game between Pat Carroll and Johnny Carson. I had to show it to Lauren. It was too funny not to. Carroll and Carson kept blurting words, using hands, and had the craziest expressions when they couldn't figure out what word they wanted to say.

Switched to Match Game Syndicated while having dinner. Anita Gillette returned to the show for the first time since 1974, and even though she was rusty, she still played better than sweet and towering but slightly dim Jim Staal. Debralee Scott protested jokes about someone's overbite, since she had one. Gene immediately told her it was sexy.

Finished the night after a shower with The Kid from Spain. I go further into this Mexican-set vehicle for comedian Eddie Cantor at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog. 

The Kid from Spain

Party On Ice

First and foremost...woo hoo! Congratulations to the Philadelphia Flyers for reaching the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1997! It's been a long, crazy trip...but here's hoping they'll keep up the amazing job they've done in the post-season against an equally Cup-hungry Chicago Blackhawks!

Otherwise, today wasn't terribly exciting. I slept in and headed for the Haddon Township Library first, after a quick stop at Super Fresh and the newly-opened Party Fair store a few doors down. I put away DVDs and kids' books. They weren't too busy, but I was also there around noon-1PM, so most people were probably at lunch. I took out four books on handling stress, dealing with low self-esteem, and breaking out of a comfort zone that's too stifling to stay in...but too hard to leave.

It was about 2PM when I rode over to the Bagel Shop for lunch. They were pretty dead, except for one couple and an older woman reading a newspaper. I listened to CNN's coverage of the huge oil spill in the Gulf Coast as I ate my egg, cheese, and spinach sandwich on a plain bagel and fried potatoes. (Switched to a bagel from a croissant. I don't really like croissants. They're always too flaky and greasy for me.) It was quite tasty.

Spent the rest of the afternoon at home. I read the self-help books, dusted the Ikea and heart shelves, and gave the Sailor Moon dolls and Star Wars action figures magic eraser baths.

And it's a good thing I got in when I did. About 20 minutes after I got home, it started pouring cats and dogs. It's showered off and on for the rest of the evening.

Outdoor Spring Cleaning

I spent most of the day doing things I've put off doing for the past few weeks, either because of the weather or a lack of time. First of all, I made a quick run to the Oaklyn Library to return The Mapping of Love and Death, renew Apple Turnover Murder, and pay the fine for both.

After that, I worked on outdoor cleaning. I washed the deck chairs, the milk crate I use for a deck table, the trash can, the recycling canisters, and the cruiser bike. I would have done it earlier in the week, but it's been too cold to use the hose, or to be playing in water outside at all. The only thing I didn't do today was the mountain bike. I'm going to do some more work on that before I clean it.

I had far less luck with the sewing machine. I've been trying to figure out how to thread the mini-sewing machine I bought from the thrift shop forever. Every time I do it, it just keeps bunching up and getting tangled. The instruction manual is no help. It doesn't really explain things well, and the pictures are so small, I can't see what it's referring to. I guess I'm just going to have to stick to hand-sewing until I can get that thing going.

I went to work early to pick up my paycheck, which turned out to be pretty smart. I got two paychecks this week. Something about the Union paying us extra for not giving us raises for over a year and a half. (I really can't remember the last time I had one.)

Good thing I did. It'll make up for getting lousy hours next week. I only got 18.50. On one hand, having three days off, including Sunday, will come in handy for all the chores and cleaning I still have to do before Lauren arrives in two weeks (and Jen after her). Not to mention we haven't exactly been hugely busy lately. On the other hand...the extra money's been really nice, too.

Work wasn't really busy tonight, either. Two major sports games (the Flyers had a do-or-die playoff game with the Boston Bruins, and the Phillies played tonight, too) and a huge thunderstorm around 7 pretty much cleared everyone out. It may have been just as well. There was a call-out, and we were short-handed tonight.

I did get some grocery shopping in after work. I mostly needed flour (unbleached and whole wheat), but I also picked up apples, bananas, canned black beans and fat-free/low-salt chicken broth, beef ribs, and chicken cutlets and Yoplait yogurt that were on sale.

Though it wasn't raining when I got out, I could see dark clouds on the horizon, and even a little lightning. I hurried home. We had a second thunderstorm about a half-hour after I got in, but it didn't last long.

Oh, and congratulations to the Flyers for becoming only the third team in NHL history to come back and win a playoff series after being down 3-0 after the first three games! (The Phillies won, too.)

Spring Is Here, I Hear

I awoke to a chilly, damp, cloudy first day of spring. Today was also Mom's birthday. I called her after breakfast to wish her a good one. Apparently, Cape May County got a snow squall this morning, though it was gone by the time I called. I don't remember seeing one here. One of my customers at the Acme later reported seeing one as well, so maybe it happened really early. Mom's an early riser.

I bought some coconut on sale yesterday. I was going to make coconut cake, but I already have cake in the freezer, so I decided to make coconut bread instead. I also added pineapple that was in the pantry shelf and a banana that was getting really ripe. It came out very, very tasty. I used the basic Betty Crocker Fruit Bread Recipe, but swapped some of the shortening for buttermilk and mashed banana. It came out very moist, sweet, and crumbly.

After the bread came out of the oven, I felt like doing something outside. I was tired of the same old walk, especially after playing tennis yesterday. I dug around in my living room closet for my field hockey stick and ball and hit that around the park next door. When I got tired of that, I did laps with the ball around the VFW's parking lot across the street (doing my best to avoid the puddle-filled potholes). I had a really nice time. I goofed around and had a little unusual exercise. I really need to start doing stuff like this more often. I have badminton equipment from when Keefe used to visit in Wildwood, a jump rope, and a frisbee in the living room closet. It's time I started using them again.

I went to work about an hour after my field hockey practice. Work was busier than the last few days, but still not nearly as crazy as last week. My hours were lousy, too. While I do have two days off again, I only have 22 hours and work until 8 and 7 the whole week except for Sunday, when I'm off at 5:30.

Headed to the mall behind the Acme for dinner after work. I have at least seven meal choices in that mall (eight if you count Acme). Applebee's would take too long. The Wal-Mart Subway is lousy. Chick Fil'A's had a line going out the door. I wasn't in the mood for burgers (which eliminated Five Guys and Arby's) or pizza (Tu Se Bella). I finally settled on Fat Jack's Barbecue, since they were so good the last time I was there. They were just as good again. I went with the Pulled Pork Sandwich again, this time with the Green Beans n' (shredded) Ham side. The beans were a little garlicky, but still pretty tasty. The sandwich was as delicious as it was two weeks ago. The girls working the counter were really sweet, too. I made sure to leave them a nice tip in the tip jar.

Made a quick stop at FYE next. I hadn't realized season 2 of Get Smart was already out on DVD, but I saw it mentioned online and thought I'd see if they had it. I managed to grab their last copy for about $21. One of the boys behind the counter tried to talk me into getting Twilight. Ugh! Sounds like vampire glop to me. I wouldn't touch that with a 200 foot pole. I hate gloppy romance and I really can't stand mopey pretty boys.

Ended up back at the Acme to do my grocery shopping. Good thing I only need a few things tonight - grapefruit, kiwi, bananas, romaine lettuce, cubed steak, pineapple, yogurt, canola oil (I'm almost out). The Acme wasn't too bad by the time I got back there and I was in and out fairly quickly.

Tennis, Anyone?

Rose and I did finally play tennis late this morning. Turns out that when I called her about it this morning, she was still in bed! I didn't mind. She's on her spring break. She NEEDS her sleep. After she got out and picked me up, it took us almost 20 minutes to find the Camden County Park tennis facilities. Rose got the directions from her boyfriend...but I don't know WHAT happened. Either he gave her the wrong directions, or she misheard him. They argued for at least ten minutes over Rose's cell phone while we drove around and around the Camden County Park area. I spent those ten minutes trying hard not to fall over laughing. It was like something out of a bad sitcom.

We had a good time when we did finally find the tennis courts. Rose and her boyfriend Craig hit the ball around every now and then, and Rose used to play with her friend Sheila, and before that with her best friend Colleen, who played on our high school girl's tennis team. The last time I played tennis was with a bunch of girlfriends in high school gym class who were just as bad as me. Rose showed me the right stance for hitting it and backhand. I felt really good. I didn't want to be perfect. I just wanted to hit the ball at all. I did hit the ball, many times.

We played for about an hour. Our lesson was finally called on account of Mother Nature. It had been damp, chilly, and cloudy all morning, and those clouds finally burst around quarter after 12. What had initially been just a sprinkle had turned into a shower by the time we hit Rose's car and were on our way back to my apartment.

It was still showering an hour later. I finally opted for a ride to work. Dad was late, and I felt bad about being late...but I'd been called in early anyway. Not to mention work was almost a complete repeat of yesterday - on-and-off steady, quiet enough that I did manage to get a lot of candy organizing done. (I'd rather be organizing candy than handling idiots.)

Get In Shape, Girl!

As previously mentioned, I have always had a hard time losing weight. As a kid, I tried exercise videos, but they got old quickly. Why watch Richard Simmons sweat to the oldies when you can sweat to your own oldies...or go outside and sweat to whatever music you want, or none at all?

I did classes, too, when my mom was an aerobics instructor. They were ok, especially the kids-oriented ones my mom did, but the end of the aerobics craze killed the cheap ones (and the studio where Mom formerly worked).

I've tried walking routines, too, but I'd rather ramble and go somewhere than try to keep track of your heartbeat and your zone and this-that-and-the other thing.

The only "sports team" the Cape May County Special Services District had at the time was a floor hockey team for boys only, and that only in my last half-there, half-regular-high-school year. (It enraged me that I couldn't play. I didn't care how brutal the guys got. I just wanted to have fun!)

I played field hockey in high school, and I'd love to again...if an adult female field hockey team existed outside college. Not to mention I'd lose the weight during the season, but I'd gain it all back again over the winter and spring, since field hockey was the only sport I played.

Soccer? No thanks. I saw what it did to my sister. Softball? Can't catch or throw worth beans. Basketball? Can't shoot to save my life, and I run like a snail. Cheerleading? Me, in those skimpy outfits? I had a hard enough time with the field hockey uniforms. Besides, I'd never be able to lift the girls or jump high enough. Swim races? I don't swim any faster than I run. Tennis? My serve never makes it over the net, and there's that "slow" thing.

I can do a few sports. I have a nice volleyball serve. I rocked at Ultimate Frisbee. (I can still throw a mean frisbee.) I did manage to figure Field Hockey out enough that I actually got to junior varasity after two years (not that I played much). My family had a badminton net for a couple of years in the late-80s and I got pretty good.

The only thing I did in college was walk and go for occasional leisurly swims with my friend and (for a time) roommate Amanda. Those "leisurely swims" came in handy the long weekend after the bombing of the World Trade Center - there couldn't have been anything more theraputic for both of us than goofing off in a heated, quiet pool. Going for a long walk around campus on 9/11 was a big help to my well-being that day, too.

I did an on-again, off-again walking routine in Wildwood, but I'd usually succomb to boredom. The proximity of the boardwalk in the summer and it's many high-fat food joints did not help. On the other hand, I did often go for long, rambling walks across the Wildwood Islands, especially in warmer months. I took pictures of some of the Doo-Woppers in Wildwood Crest on one such ramble...which turned out to be more useful than I had planned, as many of those hotels were torn down just a few short years later.

I slacked off last year after I moved, partially due to the hoopla during and after my move, partially because of my nasty knee accident in mid-July.

I'm trying to figure out how to lose weight without losing interest. Right now, I'm doing three days a week of yoga and pilates, alternating them each week. (Pilates are this week.) I'm still walking, though I'm trying for further locations. I'm considering dance classes when my knees are up to it, and I may take a yoga course when I feel ready, too.