It was beautiful when I threw open my front door this morning, sunny and windy, warm and a little humid but not nearly as bad as the last few days. I celebrated with Plum Ginger Pancakes and the soundtrack to the movie version of Hairspray. There's a lot that I like on here, including the new songs "Ladies' Choice" and "Come So Far (Got So Far To Go)" and John Travolta and Christopher Walken's version of "You're Timeless to Me." (Who knew they'd make such a cute couple?)
Thankfully after all the trouble I had yesterday, work went much better today. I did get stuck in the register for about 20 minutes or so after I arrived. I got in at noon, and the first Eagles game of the season was at 1. Thankfully, once the game began, the crowd thinned out. Spent the rest of the afternoon gathering carts and baskets and cleaning up the still-messy freezer leaks.
And speaking of the Eagles game, that went very well. I got to see the end of the first quarter during break, and the last five minutes or so after work. The Eagles' just-promoted young quarterback Carson Wentz threw his first touchdown. They were already up 10-7 over the Cleveland Browns when I watched the game the first time. They eventually went on to win their opening game and their home opener 29-10.
When I got home, I worked on writing for a while. Han and Leia are left to their own devices while Charlie hits the newest steel coaster at Maz's and Luke and Wedge hit the wooden coaster. Leia gets Hank on the enchanting double-decker carousel. Hank tells her about his dealings with local gangster Jasper Hutt, and Leia explains why she's getting involved with helping Ben against Empire Industries.
Had a quick chicken salad and Persian Cucumber Salad dinner while listening to more music. Did the soundtrack to Grease first. Though my favorite of the better-known hits are the classic ensemble numbers "Summer Nights" and "We Go Together," the most fascinating aspect of the CD I have is the lesser-known or background music. A lot of the background songs are from the original show - an instrumental "Alone at a Drive In Movie," "Freddy My Love," and "It's Raining on Prom Night." (The last-named is part of why this used to be my official "getting ready for dances" CD in high school and college.)
I also did one of the K-Tel pop collections. I love these. They're some of my favorite record finds. There's so many great lesser-known songs of the 70's and early 80's on them. They're like LP versions of the Have a Nice Day Rhino CD series from the 90's (and feature many of the same songs).
And a quiet acknowledgement here of the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. I was beginning my first day of my last semester in college the day the planes struck in New York, Washington DC, and Pennsylvania. I wrote more about my memories of that day on last year's 9/11 entry, Memories On a Busy Day.
Life is a lazy river - no matter where you are. Movies, musicals, mysteries, pop culture, and lots of other great stuff.
Sunday, September 11, 2016
Saturday, September 10, 2016
The Animals of Delta House
Ugh. Work was a pain today. One of the baggers called out sick, which meant I spent a lot of the morning either on my own or with one other guy helping me. The leaks are getting worse and spreading like crazy. I thought changing the sandbags would help...but every time I tried, I'd get called to do something else. I don't mind rounding up carts, but I think the baskets could have waited. I didn't get to them until a little over an hour before I was done, and I wasn't nearly able to gather all of them. (In my defense, we really don't have enough sandbags left to cover all of them. Besides the sheer numbers, at least a quarter of the sandbags have split and are losing their fluffy gray filling, making them more of a mess than a help.) My fingers and the keys to the back door accidentally rubbed against a fly trap hanging next to it, leaving them very sticky. It didn't help that it was killer hot and humid today, too.
I jumped right in the shower when I got home. Between the glue on the fly trap, the funky water dripping off the sand bags, and the constant in and out all day, I needed it badly. I normally wait until after dinner to shower, but I felt so grungy, I just couldn't wait.
After I got out, I spent the next couple of hours writing. Maz Kantana is the owner of Marine Adventure Pier, a boardwalk amusement park. Leia asks her if she's had any offers for her property lately. Yes she has, from a bony, gray-haired old man in an expensive suit who came very close to harassing her. Luke just wants to hear her stories about their parents and brother Adam.
Broke around quarter of 7 for a simple dinner of scrambled eggs with cheddar cheese, tomatoes, and mushrooms. Watched National Lampoon's Animal House as I ate. The year is 1962, and the Delta fraternity just brought in their newest initiates. Delta House is just about the wackiest - and worst - fraternity on campus. They chase half the girls on campus, party all night, play pranks on everyone, and ignore their grades. They're also the home to goofy misfits the snobbish Omega fraternity wouldn't touch, like Bluto (James Belushi), whose greatest achievements are smashing a beer can on his head and starting an epic food fight. The dean (John Vernon) has had it up to here with their antics and finally get them thrown out. But the Deltas aren't going to go down without a fight...and before you can say "Toga toga toga!", they're taking over the homecoming parade and proving that misfits do have a place, even on college campuses.
This ended up being a very pleasant surprise. It's a lot darker than I thought it would be, and fairly honest about its protagonists' behavior. In real life, the Deltas wouldn't have gotten away with almost anything they did and probably would have been expelled years ago. No one's a saint here, not the dean (he's a jerk about it, but he is just doing his job) or either fraternity, or even the girls. (One girl who ends up chasing the horniest guy is a lot younger than she claims - another is cheating on a Delta with her teacher.) A scene with a couple of the Deltas and their dates ending up in a black bar may be as uncomfortable for many modern viewers as it is for them (but for different reasons).
On the other hand, this is mainly known for some of its wilder comedy scenes, especially the toga party. And for all the cast members who later became famous, by far the most remembered thing about this is John Belushi. His lovable, party-hearty man child steals every scene he's in. (I also liked the guy with the mustache, D-Day, whom no one seems to know anything about and tends to pair with Bluto a lot.)
Some sex, nudity, and a lot of swearing make this for older teenagers and real college-age young adults on up. (This movie is still pretty popular on college campuses to this day. I knew a lot of guys at Stockton who had at least one poster of Bluto on their walls.) If you love snobs-vs-slobs comedies or college tales, throw on a sheet and join the toga party.
I jumped right in the shower when I got home. Between the glue on the fly trap, the funky water dripping off the sand bags, and the constant in and out all day, I needed it badly. I normally wait until after dinner to shower, but I felt so grungy, I just couldn't wait.
After I got out, I spent the next couple of hours writing. Maz Kantana is the owner of Marine Adventure Pier, a boardwalk amusement park. Leia asks her if she's had any offers for her property lately. Yes she has, from a bony, gray-haired old man in an expensive suit who came very close to harassing her. Luke just wants to hear her stories about their parents and brother Adam.
Broke around quarter of 7 for a simple dinner of scrambled eggs with cheddar cheese, tomatoes, and mushrooms. Watched National Lampoon's Animal House as I ate. The year is 1962, and the Delta fraternity just brought in their newest initiates. Delta House is just about the wackiest - and worst - fraternity on campus. They chase half the girls on campus, party all night, play pranks on everyone, and ignore their grades. They're also the home to goofy misfits the snobbish Omega fraternity wouldn't touch, like Bluto (James Belushi), whose greatest achievements are smashing a beer can on his head and starting an epic food fight. The dean (John Vernon) has had it up to here with their antics and finally get them thrown out. But the Deltas aren't going to go down without a fight...and before you can say "Toga toga toga!", they're taking over the homecoming parade and proving that misfits do have a place, even on college campuses.
This ended up being a very pleasant surprise. It's a lot darker than I thought it would be, and fairly honest about its protagonists' behavior. In real life, the Deltas wouldn't have gotten away with almost anything they did and probably would have been expelled years ago. No one's a saint here, not the dean (he's a jerk about it, but he is just doing his job) or either fraternity, or even the girls. (One girl who ends up chasing the horniest guy is a lot younger than she claims - another is cheating on a Delta with her teacher.) A scene with a couple of the Deltas and their dates ending up in a black bar may be as uncomfortable for many modern viewers as it is for them (but for different reasons).
On the other hand, this is mainly known for some of its wilder comedy scenes, especially the toga party. And for all the cast members who later became famous, by far the most remembered thing about this is John Belushi. His lovable, party-hearty man child steals every scene he's in. (I also liked the guy with the mustache, D-Day, whom no one seems to know anything about and tends to pair with Bluto a lot.)
Some sex, nudity, and a lot of swearing make this for older teenagers and real college-age young adults on up. (This movie is still pretty popular on college campuses to this day. I knew a lot of guys at Stockton who had at least one poster of Bluto on their walls.) If you love snobs-vs-slobs comedies or college tales, throw on a sheet and join the toga party.
Friday, September 09, 2016
In the Swim
Started off a sunny, hazy day with a school-themed episode of Tiny Toon Adventures as I ate breakfast and made the bed. "Looniversity Days" is an anthology of three shorts related to the Toons' place of learning. In the first story, Buster is sent to the principal's office for goofing off in Yosemite Sam's class. He's heard rumors of the terror that is the head of Acme Loo, but he quickly discovers that the intimidating dean isn't all he appears to be. Sweetie spends the second story chasing Bookworm around the library, hoping to have a learned worm lunch. The third has Nurse Elmyra in pursuit of Plucky, who has lied about being sick to get out of Foghorn Leghorn's pop quiz.
Worked on my story for the next couple of hours. I went back and added another antagonist - Peter Tarkin, Empire Industries' smarmy lawyer. He appears to try to buy the properties after the Imperial Gang has wrecked havoc. He shows up on Ben's front porch after the attack at the beach. Ben has dealt with him before. He once again throws him off his property. Leia and the crew of the Ghost see Tarkin join the Gang at the former Organa Island as well.
Headed out to run errands around quarter of 1. First stop was the Oaklyn Library for this week's volunteering session there. Not much going on. They were an hour from closing. It was mainly me, the librarian, another volunteer, and a couple of older women. I organized the DVDs and shelved some children's books before heading out.
Next on the agenda was lunch. I had considered Sonic, but it was 95 degrees outside. While it wasn't nearly as humid as it has been all summer, that's still too hot for eating outside. I stopped at Viola's International Deli and had their Chicken Parmesan Sandwich lunch special inside. Watched The Chew make a back-to-school burger and slaw recipe as I enjoyed my messy, cheese-laden hoagie and my can of Diet Mountain Dew.
Headed off to the Acme next to do grocery shopping. I didn't really need much. There was a really good sale on chicken this week. I got thighs and another pack of legs. Found a small, inexpensive container of shrimp, too. Restocked dark red kidney and navy beans, sugar (on a good sale), and white vinegar. Bought mini-muffins and Irwin's Spiced Wafers for snacks this weekend, since it's going to be too hot to bake again, and nectarines to make up for not being able to go to the Collingswood Farm Market tomorrow.
Pretty decent schedule this week. All short shifts and (except for Monday) early or mid-afternoon hours, Tuesday and next Saturday off. I really didn't have much planned for next week anyway besides writing, finishing the cleaning, and hanging up the fall decorations. Things should be quieter at work once the kids settle into classes and the heat dies down.
Put everything away as soon as I got home. When the last can was in the pantry, I gathered the rag rug in my bedroom and the entrance mat to air on the porch, then vacuumed. It didn't take me longer than 20 minutes. The apartment isn't in too bad of shape, but I did want to get up some of the hair that tends to accumulate.
Changed into my bathing suit and went to Dad's around quarter after 4. Rose and Khai were already there when I arrived, along with Jodie, Dad, Dana, and Jesse. Khai was eating an early pasta dinner while watching cartoons when I came in. I got bored with The Amazing Adventures of Gumball and went outside to hit the pool and talk to Dad instead.
The pool was cooler than the last time I was in, but not cold, probably in the lower 80's. Today was the pool's last hurrah for the season. Dad said he intends to close it tomorrow, before he and Jodie go on vacation next week.
The kids joined me later. Khai's friend Chloe and her brother came first, followed by Mary and her sister. They dived underwater and clung to bright-colored foam noodles and vinyl flotation devices. I laughed as they splashed and chased each other. Mary happily told me about she and her friends shopping without their parents for the first time. Chloe talked about stuffed animals and cartoons.
When the kids got tired of swimming, we all sat on towels on the brick patio and the grassy yard. Rose and Chloe's mom brought out lots of toys and stuffed animals. Chloe had Frozen dolls and the Descendants Evie doll and a beautiful Barbie in a fancy white gown. Khai hauled around a huge two-foot stuffed deer that was bigger than he was! Mary enjoyed the fruits of her shopping trip - a can of fancy gold putty and a box of popcorn-flavored Jelly Belly jelly beans.
After the moms got the kids ready for dinner, I headed out. Stopped at Phillies Yummies on West Clinton for a treat. I've had good luck with chocolate banana flavors lately. Their Chocolate-Banana ice cream was just as good, creamy and sweet. It really hit the spot on such a hot day.
Finished up at home, eating shrimp and fruit for dinner and watching an episode of Garfield and Friends. Garfield's imagination soars when Jon leaves him a "Box 'O Fun," but Jon needs quiet to study for night school and keeps interrupting his daydreams. Orson Pig is having even more problems with his imagination running away with him in "Unidentified Flying Orson." A trick from Roy and a scary sci-fi movie has him thinking cheese danishes are really aliens in disguise. Lanolin the grumpy sheep sets him right. Jon puts Garfield into obedience school in "School Daze," but this "school" is more like a prison. Garfield turns the tables on the militant woman who runs the school.
Worked on my story for the next couple of hours. I went back and added another antagonist - Peter Tarkin, Empire Industries' smarmy lawyer. He appears to try to buy the properties after the Imperial Gang has wrecked havoc. He shows up on Ben's front porch after the attack at the beach. Ben has dealt with him before. He once again throws him off his property. Leia and the crew of the Ghost see Tarkin join the Gang at the former Organa Island as well.
Headed out to run errands around quarter of 1. First stop was the Oaklyn Library for this week's volunteering session there. Not much going on. They were an hour from closing. It was mainly me, the librarian, another volunteer, and a couple of older women. I organized the DVDs and shelved some children's books before heading out.
Next on the agenda was lunch. I had considered Sonic, but it was 95 degrees outside. While it wasn't nearly as humid as it has been all summer, that's still too hot for eating outside. I stopped at Viola's International Deli and had their Chicken Parmesan Sandwich lunch special inside. Watched The Chew make a back-to-school burger and slaw recipe as I enjoyed my messy, cheese-laden hoagie and my can of Diet Mountain Dew.
Headed off to the Acme next to do grocery shopping. I didn't really need much. There was a really good sale on chicken this week. I got thighs and another pack of legs. Found a small, inexpensive container of shrimp, too. Restocked dark red kidney and navy beans, sugar (on a good sale), and white vinegar. Bought mini-muffins and Irwin's Spiced Wafers for snacks this weekend, since it's going to be too hot to bake again, and nectarines to make up for not being able to go to the Collingswood Farm Market tomorrow.
Pretty decent schedule this week. All short shifts and (except for Monday) early or mid-afternoon hours, Tuesday and next Saturday off. I really didn't have much planned for next week anyway besides writing, finishing the cleaning, and hanging up the fall decorations. Things should be quieter at work once the kids settle into classes and the heat dies down.
Put everything away as soon as I got home. When the last can was in the pantry, I gathered the rag rug in my bedroom and the entrance mat to air on the porch, then vacuumed. It didn't take me longer than 20 minutes. The apartment isn't in too bad of shape, but I did want to get up some of the hair that tends to accumulate.
Changed into my bathing suit and went to Dad's around quarter after 4. Rose and Khai were already there when I arrived, along with Jodie, Dad, Dana, and Jesse. Khai was eating an early pasta dinner while watching cartoons when I came in. I got bored with The Amazing Adventures of Gumball and went outside to hit the pool and talk to Dad instead.
The pool was cooler than the last time I was in, but not cold, probably in the lower 80's. Today was the pool's last hurrah for the season. Dad said he intends to close it tomorrow, before he and Jodie go on vacation next week.
The kids joined me later. Khai's friend Chloe and her brother came first, followed by Mary and her sister. They dived underwater and clung to bright-colored foam noodles and vinyl flotation devices. I laughed as they splashed and chased each other. Mary happily told me about she and her friends shopping without their parents for the first time. Chloe talked about stuffed animals and cartoons.
When the kids got tired of swimming, we all sat on towels on the brick patio and the grassy yard. Rose and Chloe's mom brought out lots of toys and stuffed animals. Chloe had Frozen dolls and the Descendants Evie doll and a beautiful Barbie in a fancy white gown. Khai hauled around a huge two-foot stuffed deer that was bigger than he was! Mary enjoyed the fruits of her shopping trip - a can of fancy gold putty and a box of popcorn-flavored Jelly Belly jelly beans.
After the moms got the kids ready for dinner, I headed out. Stopped at Phillies Yummies on West Clinton for a treat. I've had good luck with chocolate banana flavors lately. Their Chocolate-Banana ice cream was just as good, creamy and sweet. It really hit the spot on such a hot day.
Finished up at home, eating shrimp and fruit for dinner and watching an episode of Garfield and Friends. Garfield's imagination soars when Jon leaves him a "Box 'O Fun," but Jon needs quiet to study for night school and keeps interrupting his daydreams. Orson Pig is having even more problems with his imagination running away with him in "Unidentified Flying Orson." A trick from Roy and a scary sci-fi movie has him thinking cheese danishes are really aliens in disguise. Lanolin the grumpy sheep sets him right. Jon puts Garfield into obedience school in "School Daze," but this "school" is more like a prison. Garfield turns the tables on the militant woman who runs the school.
Thursday, September 08, 2016
Some Like It Really Hot
Today was my third of four early shifts this week (the third one in a row). It was pretty much the same deal as yesterday. I did gather carts when I arrived and right after break, and I got stuck in the register once, but I mostly did returns. Did a lot of mopping, too, especially after someone apparently fell on a new leak. I got sandbags on that one and cleaned up and around the others.
It wasn't bad this morning when I went to work, but by the time I was done, it was hot as heck. I went straight home and didn't go anywhere else. Spent the next couple of hours working on my writing. I went back and added a scene where Leia and the crew of the fishing boat the Ghost (from Star Wars: Rebels) ride by Organa Island, the home of the recently-closed Alderaan Manor Hotel and Country Club. Someone just bought it and is really protecting their interest. The group sees uniformed guards and dogs from the boat. When Kanan takes them closer, they get shot at.
Right after that, Leia sees familiar figures arrive at the island. The man in green and red driving the boat had been watching her earlier at the docks. Hera introduces him as Bobby Fett, a local mercenary. The others are the Imperial Gang. Leia wonders if there's a connection between their attacks and the buyer of the island...
Got off around 5:30 to have an early dinner of leftover Chicken Marsala with sauteed zucchini and tomatoes. Cleaned the bathroom and the kitchen after I finished eating. They weren't that bad, especially the kitchen, but they did need to be done.
Ran Weekend at Bernie's while I worked. I meant to watch this last week, since it's set during Labor Day Weekend, but I ran out of time. Two ordinary accountants in New York (Johnathan Silverman and Andrew McCarthy) discover that someone is embezzling from the life insurance company they work for. Their boss Bernie (Terry Kiser) invites them to his huge mansion on a resort island to discuss the matter. Their big Labor Day Weekend trip takes a turn for the macabre when they find Bernie dead in his home and discover that he has hitmen on his trail. They spend the weekend trying to elude the killers and make it look like Bernie's still alive.
The 80's reveled in bizarre comedies with strange and slightly macabre premises, and this is one of the most memorable. McCarthy in particular is having a ball as the more party-hearty of the two.
It wasn't bad this morning when I went to work, but by the time I was done, it was hot as heck. I went straight home and didn't go anywhere else. Spent the next couple of hours working on my writing. I went back and added a scene where Leia and the crew of the fishing boat the Ghost (from Star Wars: Rebels) ride by Organa Island, the home of the recently-closed Alderaan Manor Hotel and Country Club. Someone just bought it and is really protecting their interest. The group sees uniformed guards and dogs from the boat. When Kanan takes them closer, they get shot at.
Right after that, Leia sees familiar figures arrive at the island. The man in green and red driving the boat had been watching her earlier at the docks. Hera introduces him as Bobby Fett, a local mercenary. The others are the Imperial Gang. Leia wonders if there's a connection between their attacks and the buyer of the island...
Got off around 5:30 to have an early dinner of leftover Chicken Marsala with sauteed zucchini and tomatoes. Cleaned the bathroom and the kitchen after I finished eating. They weren't that bad, especially the kitchen, but they did need to be done.
Ran Weekend at Bernie's while I worked. I meant to watch this last week, since it's set during Labor Day Weekend, but I ran out of time. Two ordinary accountants in New York (Johnathan Silverman and Andrew McCarthy) discover that someone is embezzling from the life insurance company they work for. Their boss Bernie (Terry Kiser) invites them to his huge mansion on a resort island to discuss the matter. Their big Labor Day Weekend trip takes a turn for the macabre when they find Bernie dead in his home and discover that he has hitmen on his trail. They spend the weekend trying to elude the killers and make it look like Bernie's still alive.
The 80's reveled in bizarre comedies with strange and slightly macabre premises, and this is one of the most memorable. McCarthy in particular is having a ball as the more party-hearty of the two.
Wednesday, September 07, 2016
Fall Harvest Fun In Westmont
Started the morning with another early work session. Thankfully, this one was far less painless than the past few days have been. I did the carts when I first came in, but another bagger arrived an hour later who handled outside duties for the rest of the morning. Got stuck in the register once for about 10 minutes and rounded up baskets, but I mostly did returns. For once, I got really far on them. I was almost done when I headed out at 1.
Put on There's No Time for Love, Charlie Brown after I got home while I got dressed and ate lunch. Despite the title and this being found on the Charlie Brown Valentine DVD, the special has more to do with learning than love. The first half is a series of vignettes about the Peanuts gang at school and the troubles they have. The second takes the kids on a field trip to the art museum. Peppermint Patty, Marcie, Sally, Snoopy, and Chuck somehow mistake a grocery store for their real destination.
Headed out around quarter after 2 to run a couple of errands. It was a wonderful day for it. While it was hot, it was windy and not really humid, with a beautiful bright blue sky. Surprisingly, despite the nice weather, the Haddon Township Library was fairly busy when I arrived. The shelves were overloaded with media items! It took me an hour just to get the DVDs shelved.
Took out a few movies I'd been wanting to see this week. The Hunger Games has sort of lost its shine, but I figured I might as well finish the series with Mockingjay Part 2. The Hateful Eight is violent, but could be intriguing. And with school back in session, I think this is the right time to check out National Lampoon's Animal House. Also grabbed a Force Awakens kids' book with good pictures.
Westmont holds a small farm market on Wednesday evenings, on the block across from Primo's Water Ice, next to the (former) Westmont Theater. It's kind of like Oaklyn's Final Friday Festival in that there's more food trucks and booths than farm tables. They do have some farmers there, including the folks with the fancy heirloom tomatoes and Chinese beans I regularly see at Collingswood. The fall produce is starting to roll out. I saw plums, pumpkins, and winter squash for the first time this season. I got two little tomatoes from the tomatoes and beans booth, plus plums and a cucumber.
Since I was there, I opted to buy dinner from one of the tables. I had fish tacos from a cafe booth. Bought a can of Diet Pepsi from the cart selling hot dogs. Their drinks were cheaper. I'd never seen such colorful tacos. The grilled fresh fish lay in two soft taco shells, covered in bright red-purple cole slaw and a green jalapeno dressing. Thankfully, the dressing wasn't too spicy. I enjoyed my meal at a series of wobbly wooden tables, listening to a man behind me covering hits from the Who and Bruce Springsteen on his guitar.
Took the long way home across Collingswood and Oaklyn. I had considered getting water ice for dessert at Primo's, but I didn't want to dodge the traffic on Haddon Avenue for longer than I had to. Ended up at Phillies Yummies in Oaklyn instead. I'm glad I waited. Yummies' Wednesday special is 50 cents off all sizes water ice. The small neon-green, very minty Mint Chocolate Chip water ice was more than sufficient. I sat at one of the wooden tables on West Clinton and enjoyed it while watching little girls stream into dance class at Ovations a few doors down.
As soon as I got home, I went right in the bath. Ahhh. That felt great after my long ride. I listened to one of my jazz samplers and looked over a few Christmas craft books for gift ideas.
Finished the night with a little writing. Luke, Leia, and Wedge are meeting Ben Kenobi at the Boardwalk. Maz Kantana runs their favorite local amusement park. Hank and Charlie are late joining them, but they do finally arrive. Maz is a friend of Ben's and of Hank and Charlie, and she owns this place, managing it and selling tickets. She's tough, but she's one of those Shore characters everyone knows.
Put on There's No Time for Love, Charlie Brown after I got home while I got dressed and ate lunch. Despite the title and this being found on the Charlie Brown Valentine DVD, the special has more to do with learning than love. The first half is a series of vignettes about the Peanuts gang at school and the troubles they have. The second takes the kids on a field trip to the art museum. Peppermint Patty, Marcie, Sally, Snoopy, and Chuck somehow mistake a grocery store for their real destination.
Headed out around quarter after 2 to run a couple of errands. It was a wonderful day for it. While it was hot, it was windy and not really humid, with a beautiful bright blue sky. Surprisingly, despite the nice weather, the Haddon Township Library was fairly busy when I arrived. The shelves were overloaded with media items! It took me an hour just to get the DVDs shelved.
Took out a few movies I'd been wanting to see this week. The Hunger Games has sort of lost its shine, but I figured I might as well finish the series with Mockingjay Part 2. The Hateful Eight is violent, but could be intriguing. And with school back in session, I think this is the right time to check out National Lampoon's Animal House. Also grabbed a Force Awakens kids' book with good pictures.
Westmont holds a small farm market on Wednesday evenings, on the block across from Primo's Water Ice, next to the (former) Westmont Theater. It's kind of like Oaklyn's Final Friday Festival in that there's more food trucks and booths than farm tables. They do have some farmers there, including the folks with the fancy heirloom tomatoes and Chinese beans I regularly see at Collingswood. The fall produce is starting to roll out. I saw plums, pumpkins, and winter squash for the first time this season. I got two little tomatoes from the tomatoes and beans booth, plus plums and a cucumber.
Since I was there, I opted to buy dinner from one of the tables. I had fish tacos from a cafe booth. Bought a can of Diet Pepsi from the cart selling hot dogs. Their drinks were cheaper. I'd never seen such colorful tacos. The grilled fresh fish lay in two soft taco shells, covered in bright red-purple cole slaw and a green jalapeno dressing. Thankfully, the dressing wasn't too spicy. I enjoyed my meal at a series of wobbly wooden tables, listening to a man behind me covering hits from the Who and Bruce Springsteen on his guitar.
Took the long way home across Collingswood and Oaklyn. I had considered getting water ice for dessert at Primo's, but I didn't want to dodge the traffic on Haddon Avenue for longer than I had to. Ended up at Phillies Yummies in Oaklyn instead. I'm glad I waited. Yummies' Wednesday special is 50 cents off all sizes water ice. The small neon-green, very minty Mint Chocolate Chip water ice was more than sufficient. I sat at one of the wooden tables on West Clinton and enjoyed it while watching little girls stream into dance class at Ovations a few doors down.
As soon as I got home, I went right in the bath. Ahhh. That felt great after my long ride. I listened to one of my jazz samplers and looked over a few Christmas craft books for gift ideas.
Finished the night with a little writing. Luke, Leia, and Wedge are meeting Ben Kenobi at the Boardwalk. Maz Kantana runs their favorite local amusement park. Hank and Charlie are late joining them, but they do finally arrive. Maz is a friend of Ben's and of Hank and Charlie, and she owns this place, managing it and selling tickets. She's tough, but she's one of those Shore characters everyone knows.
Tuesday, September 06, 2016
I'd Rather Be Writing
Had the first of four early work sessions (three in a row) this morning. We were dead for most of the day, but there was still plenty to do. One cart was filled with nothing but boxes of Tastycakes and bags of bread, hot dog rolls, and hamburger buns that needed to be returned. Which would have been great, if someone hadn't already refilled the Tastycakes. I dumped the boxes of cupcakes on a display near the meat department, then cleared bread off a shelf and left the rest there.
Didn't have as much luck the rest of the day. Same problem as last week - I'd start one job, then be called to another ten minutes later. I didn't have help until later in the day, either. Never finished vacuuming water or returning carts (twice). I was so happy to finally get out of there.
It was so nice, I took the long way home down Nicholson Road. That tropical storm never materialized here. It was the same it's been all weekend - on and off cloudy, windy, and slightly humid, if warmer. It wasn't even that busy, other than kids just getting home from their first day of school.
Hit the computer for the rest of the afternoon to actually get some writing done. Ben Kenobi is teaching Luke how to use "the Force" - aka, connect with his surroundings - to become one with the water. Hank Solokowski, who watches the two practice from his fishing boat, thinks they're both crazy. There's no such thing as "the Force." He's just lucky he managed to ride that small wave.
Ben invites both to the Boardwalk. Luke would love to go. Hank doesn't have the time. He needs to earn enough money to get down to Mexico (where he can flee his former boss Jasper Hutt).
Made Chicken Marsala and sweet Jersey corn on the cob for dinner while watching Captain January. Peppy Star (Shirley Temple) is the darling of a fishing community and the beloved ward of the local lighthouse keeper (Guy Kibbee). Star's happy life is threatened when a truant officer (Sara Haden) insists she goes to school. Even after her guardian and his friend the lighthouse keeper inspector (Slim Summerville) help her with her test, the woman is determined to see Star put in a facility for orphans. Things go from bad to worse when the lighthouse is automated and Captain January is out of job. No matter how bad things get, he's determined to keep Star with him, no matter what.
Nautical-themed variation on Temple's "orphan is dragged from unconventional guardians" movies does have two good numbers, the charming "At the Codfish Ball" and Summerville, Temple, and Kibbee singing the Sextet from Lucia Di Lamour. (The "Right Somebody to Love" number, with Kibbee as a giant baby, on the other hand, is just plain strange.) If you love Shirley's other vehicles, or have kids who love her, this one is pretty much the same deal.
Didn't have as much luck the rest of the day. Same problem as last week - I'd start one job, then be called to another ten minutes later. I didn't have help until later in the day, either. Never finished vacuuming water or returning carts (twice). I was so happy to finally get out of there.
It was so nice, I took the long way home down Nicholson Road. That tropical storm never materialized here. It was the same it's been all weekend - on and off cloudy, windy, and slightly humid, if warmer. It wasn't even that busy, other than kids just getting home from their first day of school.
Hit the computer for the rest of the afternoon to actually get some writing done. Ben Kenobi is teaching Luke how to use "the Force" - aka, connect with his surroundings - to become one with the water. Hank Solokowski, who watches the two practice from his fishing boat, thinks they're both crazy. There's no such thing as "the Force." He's just lucky he managed to ride that small wave.
Ben invites both to the Boardwalk. Luke would love to go. Hank doesn't have the time. He needs to earn enough money to get down to Mexico (where he can flee his former boss Jasper Hutt).
Made Chicken Marsala and sweet Jersey corn on the cob for dinner while watching Captain January. Peppy Star (Shirley Temple) is the darling of a fishing community and the beloved ward of the local lighthouse keeper (Guy Kibbee). Star's happy life is threatened when a truant officer (Sara Haden) insists she goes to school. Even after her guardian and his friend the lighthouse keeper inspector (Slim Summerville) help her with her test, the woman is determined to see Star put in a facility for orphans. Things go from bad to worse when the lighthouse is automated and Captain January is out of job. No matter how bad things get, he's determined to keep Star with him, no matter what.
Nautical-themed variation on Temple's "orphan is dragged from unconventional guardians" movies does have two good numbers, the charming "At the Codfish Ball" and Summerville, Temple, and Kibbee singing the Sextet from Lucia Di Lamour. (The "Right Somebody to Love" number, with Kibbee as a giant baby, on the other hand, is just plain strange.) If you love Shirley's other vehicles, or have kids who love her, this one is pretty much the same deal.
Monday, September 05, 2016
Labor Day Dolls
Happy Labor Day! Unlike last year, I spent my holiday quietly, mostly at home or work. Started out the morning with an essay on Samuel Gumpers, spearhead of the US labor movement, and a few poems on workers (including I Heard America Singing by Walt Whitman) from the Colliers Book of Holidays.
Also did two segments from American Girl books, both set in the first two decades of the 20th Century. Samantha Parkington's best friend Nellie teaches her friend about child labor, and that "progress" frequently isn't painless for the people doing the work, in Samantha Learns a Lesson. Rebecca Rubin learns a lesson of her own when she speaks out for the rights of workers at a Labor Day picnic in Battery Park during the last chapter of Changes For Rebecca.
Switched to breakfast (including some of that sweet little green watermelon) and a pair of Three Stooges shorts that revolve around working after finishing Rebecca. They're carpenters who accidentally cut a priceless Chinese box in half in "Slippery Silks." A dress shop they just inherited turns out to be the perfect place to hide out...until their clientele gets a load of their idea of fashion. "Violent Is the Word for Curly" when a trio of gas station workers accidentally knock out three professors and take their place. They end up teaching the students of a prestigious girls' school about the importance of "Swinging the Alphabet."
Spent the rest of the morning changing my American Girl dolls into outfits more appropriate for school and early fall. My Samantha wears her blue and white checked Play Dress and white ruffled Pinafore with Springfield Collection socks and the black Mary Janes from her current "meet" outfit. Molly's in Kit's blue floral School Outfit and brown oxfords. Jessa pairs a Springfield Collection pink, white, and black sailor-style top with the gray and pink skirt from Whitney's "meet" outfit and black flats swiped from Josefina. Put Whitney in a yellow floral Queen's Treasures outfit with white socks and the yellow t-strap shoes from Kit's Scooter Outfit. She has her white lace-trimmed crinoline from her eBay poodle skirt outfit under it for more 50's flair. Josefina's in her orange and yellow-print Empire-waisted Summer Dress with the ruffled skirt, fake leather vest, and riding boots. I left Felicity in her Traveling Gown. I really don't have much to change her into.
I was running out of time, anyway. I just barely made it to work. Not surprisingly on a holiday that takes place in the beginning of the month, work was a madhouse all afternoon. I'd return a whole line of carts...then, ten minutes later, they would be empty again. I suspect that a lot of people who would normally have run off to the Shore for the holiday weekend stayed home because of the weather reports...then got stuck amusing their children and families when the worst weather we got all weekend was wind and clouds.
(It didn't rain today, either. At the worst, it was cloudy and a little humid. Mostly, it was sunny and much warmer than it has been.)
Went straight home after I finally got out. Did writing for a few hours. A few weeks have passed. When Leia isn't helping Ben with the cottages, she's in the library or in town, trying to find out more about Empire Industries. Luke's disappointed, but he is happy to be learning more about surfing from Ben. Ben even gives him his late brother Adam's beloved, custom-made blue surfboard.
Luke wants to know what happened to Adam. He and Leia were told that their brother died after returning from Vietnam. Ben says Vader, who had once been a surfing protege of his, killed him when they tried taking over the Jedi Knights, the local surfing gods.
Finished the night with the last of the leftover pork and beans, sliced tomato and white cucumber, and more work-themed Stooges. "Tassels In the Air" has painter Moe mistaken for classy interior decorator named Omay. The boys' ideas of interior decoration are even more outlandish (and destructive) than their fashion sense. Shemp joins them for "Sing a Song of Six Pants." The Stooges are tailors who may lose their shop if they can't make some quick money. A bank robber who uses their store to hide his money may provide the perfect opportunity to earn a big reward...if they can get past his men and his girlfriend first.
Also did two segments from American Girl books, both set in the first two decades of the 20th Century. Samantha Parkington's best friend Nellie teaches her friend about child labor, and that "progress" frequently isn't painless for the people doing the work, in Samantha Learns a Lesson. Rebecca Rubin learns a lesson of her own when she speaks out for the rights of workers at a Labor Day picnic in Battery Park during the last chapter of Changes For Rebecca.
Switched to breakfast (including some of that sweet little green watermelon) and a pair of Three Stooges shorts that revolve around working after finishing Rebecca. They're carpenters who accidentally cut a priceless Chinese box in half in "Slippery Silks." A dress shop they just inherited turns out to be the perfect place to hide out...until their clientele gets a load of their idea of fashion. "Violent Is the Word for Curly" when a trio of gas station workers accidentally knock out three professors and take their place. They end up teaching the students of a prestigious girls' school about the importance of "Swinging the Alphabet."
Spent the rest of the morning changing my American Girl dolls into outfits more appropriate for school and early fall. My Samantha wears her blue and white checked Play Dress and white ruffled Pinafore with Springfield Collection socks and the black Mary Janes from her current "meet" outfit. Molly's in Kit's blue floral School Outfit and brown oxfords. Jessa pairs a Springfield Collection pink, white, and black sailor-style top with the gray and pink skirt from Whitney's "meet" outfit and black flats swiped from Josefina. Put Whitney in a yellow floral Queen's Treasures outfit with white socks and the yellow t-strap shoes from Kit's Scooter Outfit. She has her white lace-trimmed crinoline from her eBay poodle skirt outfit under it for more 50's flair. Josefina's in her orange and yellow-print Empire-waisted Summer Dress with the ruffled skirt, fake leather vest, and riding boots. I left Felicity in her Traveling Gown. I really don't have much to change her into.
I was running out of time, anyway. I just barely made it to work. Not surprisingly on a holiday that takes place in the beginning of the month, work was a madhouse all afternoon. I'd return a whole line of carts...then, ten minutes later, they would be empty again. I suspect that a lot of people who would normally have run off to the Shore for the holiday weekend stayed home because of the weather reports...then got stuck amusing their children and families when the worst weather we got all weekend was wind and clouds.
(It didn't rain today, either. At the worst, it was cloudy and a little humid. Mostly, it was sunny and much warmer than it has been.)
Went straight home after I finally got out. Did writing for a few hours. A few weeks have passed. When Leia isn't helping Ben with the cottages, she's in the library or in town, trying to find out more about Empire Industries. Luke's disappointed, but he is happy to be learning more about surfing from Ben. Ben even gives him his late brother Adam's beloved, custom-made blue surfboard.
Luke wants to know what happened to Adam. He and Leia were told that their brother died after returning from Vietnam. Ben says Vader, who had once been a surfing protege of his, killed him when they tried taking over the Jedi Knights, the local surfing gods.
Finished the night with the last of the leftover pork and beans, sliced tomato and white cucumber, and more work-themed Stooges. "Tassels In the Air" has painter Moe mistaken for classy interior decorator named Omay. The boys' ideas of interior decoration are even more outlandish (and destructive) than their fashion sense. Shemp joins them for "Sing a Song of Six Pants." The Stooges are tailors who may lose their shop if they can't make some quick money. A bank robber who uses their store to hide his money may provide the perfect opportunity to earn a big reward...if they can get past his men and his girlfriend first.
Sunday, September 04, 2016
Don't Rain On My Parade
Slept in this morning. Began a surprisingly sunny Sunday with a couple of the K-Tel 70's LP pop collections and Apple-Oatmeal Pancakes. The pancakes came out really well. I added some cinnamon along with the oats. Very sweet and yummy, though I did burn the first one a little.
Went in the back and looked up some stuff in my journals, then rounded up my laundry to get that done. Eventually. The back wheel on my bike's been loose for over a week now. I should have gone to the shop at Haddonfield and had them look at it, but I didn't want to spend money I didn't have. Richard and Charlie were in the front yard, doing repairs. Richard saw me cursing at the darn thing and said he'd take a look at it. (He later told me the brakes came loose and had to be tightened.)
Looked up a few things online while I couldn't go anywhere, mainly pertaining to the weather. The chance of Tropical Storm Hermine hitting here seem to be diminishing by the second. It's now down to "a little bit of rain tonight or tomorrow maybe." Some tropical storm. The weather was even more gorgeous today than it was yesterday, breezy and cool and no more than the mid to upper 70's, with lots of sun and blue skies.
Finally made it to the laundromat around quarter after 2. I didn't think they'd be that busy on a holiday weekend...but I forgot it's also the beginning of the month. They were packed and noisy. I worked on my story notes and tried to ignore the screaming kids running around (and their mother yelling at them). Thank heavens I had a tiny load. I was in and out in under an hour.
After I got home and put everything away, I tried to work on writing. I did manage to finish the party. It ends with Han saying he won't take part in trying to save the cottages. They're all crazy. They could never take down a company as huge as Empire Industries. And anyway, he's not planning on being around for long. He finally drags Charlie out. Everyone else gathers around Hera to make plans.
I finally got off around 6:30-7ish. I'd wanted to get to Dad and Jodie's sometime this weekend and finally return the luggage I borrowed for vacation. I also needed to ask them what they were doing for Labor Day. Glad I went when I did. It was even cooler as the sun started going down. I regretted not bringing a sweater.
As it turns out, they're not doing anything tomorrow. Jodie's going out of town, and Dad's not up to parties. I'm glad I went over there tonight. Besides finally returning the darn luggage, I got to share a really nice meal of corned beef, cabbage, and red potatoes cooked in a Crock Pot with them. Also chatted with Jesse, who was working on the plots of flowers between the main house and the apartment he shares with his girlfriend Dana (whom I'd seen talking to Jodie earlier). He's done a really nice job, too. The gardens look great. (And he says he doesn't have a green thumb!)
When I got home, I decided I wanted to do a little more baking before it gets too hot for it again. I bought a very plump zucchini from the Collingswood Farm Market on Saturday. I thought I'd try making Zucchini Bread. There's a recipe in Julie's Cooking Studio for Zucchini Bread, which was apparently considered a health food in the 70's. I tried making it at least a little healthier for me with 2/3 of a cup of blended canola/sunflower oil instead of 1 cup and 1/2 cup of brown sugar instead of 2 cups. Didn't come out too badly. The lesser amount of oil works out, but it was a tad bland. Might put in a cup of brown sugar next time.
Went in the back and looked up some stuff in my journals, then rounded up my laundry to get that done. Eventually. The back wheel on my bike's been loose for over a week now. I should have gone to the shop at Haddonfield and had them look at it, but I didn't want to spend money I didn't have. Richard and Charlie were in the front yard, doing repairs. Richard saw me cursing at the darn thing and said he'd take a look at it. (He later told me the brakes came loose and had to be tightened.)
Looked up a few things online while I couldn't go anywhere, mainly pertaining to the weather. The chance of Tropical Storm Hermine hitting here seem to be diminishing by the second. It's now down to "a little bit of rain tonight or tomorrow maybe." Some tropical storm. The weather was even more gorgeous today than it was yesterday, breezy and cool and no more than the mid to upper 70's, with lots of sun and blue skies.
Finally made it to the laundromat around quarter after 2. I didn't think they'd be that busy on a holiday weekend...but I forgot it's also the beginning of the month. They were packed and noisy. I worked on my story notes and tried to ignore the screaming kids running around (and their mother yelling at them). Thank heavens I had a tiny load. I was in and out in under an hour.
After I got home and put everything away, I tried to work on writing. I did manage to finish the party. It ends with Han saying he won't take part in trying to save the cottages. They're all crazy. They could never take down a company as huge as Empire Industries. And anyway, he's not planning on being around for long. He finally drags Charlie out. Everyone else gathers around Hera to make plans.
I finally got off around 6:30-7ish. I'd wanted to get to Dad and Jodie's sometime this weekend and finally return the luggage I borrowed for vacation. I also needed to ask them what they were doing for Labor Day. Glad I went when I did. It was even cooler as the sun started going down. I regretted not bringing a sweater.
As it turns out, they're not doing anything tomorrow. Jodie's going out of town, and Dad's not up to parties. I'm glad I went over there tonight. Besides finally returning the darn luggage, I got to share a really nice meal of corned beef, cabbage, and red potatoes cooked in a Crock Pot with them. Also chatted with Jesse, who was working on the plots of flowers between the main house and the apartment he shares with his girlfriend Dana (whom I'd seen talking to Jodie earlier). He's done a really nice job, too. The gardens look great. (And he says he doesn't have a green thumb!)
When I got home, I decided I wanted to do a little more baking before it gets too hot for it again. I bought a very plump zucchini from the Collingswood Farm Market on Saturday. I thought I'd try making Zucchini Bread. There's a recipe in Julie's Cooking Studio for Zucchini Bread, which was apparently considered a health food in the 70's. I tried making it at least a little healthier for me with 2/3 of a cup of blended canola/sunflower oil instead of 1 cup and 1/2 cup of brown sugar instead of 2 cups. Didn't come out too badly. The lesser amount of oil works out, but it was a tad bland. Might put in a cup of brown sugar next time.
Saturday, September 03, 2016
Farm Market Fantasy
Began a cloudy and cool morning with breakfast and Sailor Moon. Chibi-Usa is in the spotlight in an unusual episode from the second season. The Guardians and the cats have joined Rei, who is on a tropical island to work on spiritual training. Chibi-Usa gets upset with the others and drifts out too far on her inner tube. She's rescued from sharks by a baby dinosaur and makes friends with it. The dinosaur's mother finally comes for her baby...just as the volcano on the island they've ended up on is about to go off...
Headed out to the Collingswood Farm Market around 10:30. Despite the chilly, windy morning, the place was packed. I couldn't move without hitting an elbow. Everyone wanted produce, meat, cheese, and honey for their Labor Day barbecues. The tables are still spilling over with the summer harvest. The fall harvest is slowly debuting, too. I saw acorn squash and pears for the first time today. I ended up with three little onions (one red, two white), Gala apples, a sugar baby (small dark green) watermelon, a tomato, a zucchini, and one of the acorn squash.
Next stop was WaWa for skim milk. Wow. The Collingswood WaWa had really changed since the last time I was in there. It's now all wood-grained paneling and rough boxy siding. It looks really great, almost warmer, even. I really need to check and see if Oaklyn got that same upgrade when they were remodeled a few weeks ago.
Headed home via Newton River Park, passing through the parking lot at the CVS on the border of Oaklyn and Collingswood. There was some kind of party or fair going on at the park, but by then, it was quarter of noon and looked like it was ending. I saw a colorful bounce house and the tops of white tents flapping in the wind. Got to say "hi" to Dad-Bruce briefly as I made my way up the hill to Newton Avenue. He was in his car, probably on his way home from running errands.
I was at home long enough to put everything away before heading right back out. I wanted to hit the Oaklyn Library today. They were pretty quiet, with just two old ladies gossiping about everything they were reading online the only people there besides the librarian. It was probably just as well. I had a lot to do. The kids' DVDs weren't bad, but the adult ones were a mess. The kids' books weren't much better. I need to totally re-organize the graphic novels. (Which basically amounts to "anything related to a comic book, sci-fi, or cartoon franchise that isn't Disney fairy tales.") In the meantime, I gave the picture books and board books a good combing-through.
Debated having lunch at the Oaklyn Manor Bar. I heard live music coming from their outside patio, but it did seem kind of noisy up there. I decided I'd rather have a nice quiet lunch. I enjoyed a slice of spinach, tomato, and feta quiche and a Deb's Spicy-Sweet Iced Tea at Common Grounds Coffee House instead. They were dead, with only one other guy there.
Though the clouds were disappearing by 1:30, it remained windy and very cool. I spent the rest of the afternoon inside, working on my story. Jyn says her dad once worked for Empire Industries. Leia says she'll be the one who checks it out.
Had leftovers for dinner, then baked chocolate chip oatmeal cookies. Watched The Nutcracker Sweet while I worked. This CGI rendition of the beloved Christmas story from last year has Marie Stalhbaum and her brother Fritz constantly at odds. Marie doesn't tell him when she sees her beloved Nutcracker doll come to life and fight the Mouse King. Her parents and godparents laugh at her ideas, and she thinks he will, too. She eventually follows the Nutcracker to the Land of Toys to help restore his human form and stop the Mouse King from taking over. Fritz, tired of his sister not sharing, follows. The two learn just how important teamwork is when they have to band together to end the Mouse King's reign.
This was...odd. Very odd. The animation is simplistic and kind of ugly, but some of it is well-done. There's some really strange ideas - the tree-creatures that throw characters around in the climatic battle look like they belong in Lord of the Rings, and the toy designs of some characters after they end up in the fantasy world is downright disturbing.
On the other hand, I do like the emphasis on Marie and Fritz's relationship. In the ballet and E.A Hoffman's original story, Fritz is prominent during the first third of the tale, during the ball, where he breaks the Nutcracker. He disappears thereafter, not to be seen again. Here, Fritz is equally as important as Marie, and in fact, it's their love for each other that ends up saving the Nutcracker.
This is cute, but not that great. Not too bad if you run into it, but not really worth tracking down unless you have to see every version of The Nutcracker.
Finished out the night in a nice, warm bath. Ahhh. I needed that badly after the stressful and often frustrating couple of weeks I've had. I soaked in peppermint-scented bath water and looked over Christmas craft books for gift ideas while listening to one of my jazz CDs.
Headed out to the Collingswood Farm Market around 10:30. Despite the chilly, windy morning, the place was packed. I couldn't move without hitting an elbow. Everyone wanted produce, meat, cheese, and honey for their Labor Day barbecues. The tables are still spilling over with the summer harvest. The fall harvest is slowly debuting, too. I saw acorn squash and pears for the first time today. I ended up with three little onions (one red, two white), Gala apples, a sugar baby (small dark green) watermelon, a tomato, a zucchini, and one of the acorn squash.
Next stop was WaWa for skim milk. Wow. The Collingswood WaWa had really changed since the last time I was in there. It's now all wood-grained paneling and rough boxy siding. It looks really great, almost warmer, even. I really need to check and see if Oaklyn got that same upgrade when they were remodeled a few weeks ago.
Headed home via Newton River Park, passing through the parking lot at the CVS on the border of Oaklyn and Collingswood. There was some kind of party or fair going on at the park, but by then, it was quarter of noon and looked like it was ending. I saw a colorful bounce house and the tops of white tents flapping in the wind. Got to say "hi" to Dad-Bruce briefly as I made my way up the hill to Newton Avenue. He was in his car, probably on his way home from running errands.
I was at home long enough to put everything away before heading right back out. I wanted to hit the Oaklyn Library today. They were pretty quiet, with just two old ladies gossiping about everything they were reading online the only people there besides the librarian. It was probably just as well. I had a lot to do. The kids' DVDs weren't bad, but the adult ones were a mess. The kids' books weren't much better. I need to totally re-organize the graphic novels. (Which basically amounts to "anything related to a comic book, sci-fi, or cartoon franchise that isn't Disney fairy tales.") In the meantime, I gave the picture books and board books a good combing-through.
Debated having lunch at the Oaklyn Manor Bar. I heard live music coming from their outside patio, but it did seem kind of noisy up there. I decided I'd rather have a nice quiet lunch. I enjoyed a slice of spinach, tomato, and feta quiche and a Deb's Spicy-Sweet Iced Tea at Common Grounds Coffee House instead. They were dead, with only one other guy there.
Though the clouds were disappearing by 1:30, it remained windy and very cool. I spent the rest of the afternoon inside, working on my story. Jyn says her dad once worked for Empire Industries. Leia says she'll be the one who checks it out.
Had leftovers for dinner, then baked chocolate chip oatmeal cookies. Watched The Nutcracker Sweet while I worked. This CGI rendition of the beloved Christmas story from last year has Marie Stalhbaum and her brother Fritz constantly at odds. Marie doesn't tell him when she sees her beloved Nutcracker doll come to life and fight the Mouse King. Her parents and godparents laugh at her ideas, and she thinks he will, too. She eventually follows the Nutcracker to the Land of Toys to help restore his human form and stop the Mouse King from taking over. Fritz, tired of his sister not sharing, follows. The two learn just how important teamwork is when they have to band together to end the Mouse King's reign.
This was...odd. Very odd. The animation is simplistic and kind of ugly, but some of it is well-done. There's some really strange ideas - the tree-creatures that throw characters around in the climatic battle look like they belong in Lord of the Rings, and the toy designs of some characters after they end up in the fantasy world is downright disturbing.
On the other hand, I do like the emphasis on Marie and Fritz's relationship. In the ballet and E.A Hoffman's original story, Fritz is prominent during the first third of the tale, during the ball, where he breaks the Nutcracker. He disappears thereafter, not to be seen again. Here, Fritz is equally as important as Marie, and in fact, it's their love for each other that ends up saving the Nutcracker.
This is cute, but not that great. Not too bad if you run into it, but not really worth tracking down unless you have to see every version of The Nutcracker.
Finished out the night in a nice, warm bath. Ahhh. I needed that badly after the stressful and often frustrating couple of weeks I've had. I soaked in peppermint-scented bath water and looked over Christmas craft books for gift ideas while listening to one of my jazz CDs.
Friday, September 02, 2016
Beginning of the Holiday Weekend
Spent most of the morning on another relatively early shift. To my annoyance, I spent the first half in a register. We were absolutely crazy through about noon. Several people called out and a front end manager went home sick, leaving us short on help. Not only is it the beginning of the month and a holiday weekend, but despite today's utterly gorgeous weather, we're supposed to be getting at least something from Tropical Storm Hermine later this weekend. Some people may already be preparing for the rain.
It slowed down later long enough for me to get out of the register and onto the floor. The long sandbags the store's using to soak up the water from the freezer leaks were full again. I had to mop up the leaks, unlock the back door, hang up the soaked ones, and lay down fresh ones. It's a good thing they asked me to stay an extra hour. It took me almost two hours just to get all that done.
My schedule next week is pretty good, probably the best I've had in months. I'm not off on Labor Day again this year, but I only work noon to 4. I am off Sunday and next Friday. Lots of early days this week, too. I get off early enough on Wednesday to run errands that afternoon. Might try for the Westmont Farm Market this week. I'll work too early next Saturday for the Collingswood Farm Market.
Didn't have a huge grocery list this week. Thanks to Labor Day barbecues and parties, there's lots of meat sales going on. I grabbed a package of chicken breasts and another of legs. Restocked mayo, eggs, Greek yogurt, canned apricots, brown sugar, peanut butter, jam, and chocolate chips. Found more oat bran and the Duncan Hines Pink Velvet cake mix on the clearance racks. (I may make the latter for Labor Day.) Took advantage of back to school sales to pick up more Elmer's Glue for my collages. Grabbed more Crystal Pepsi, too.
Most limited edition holiday cereals are too sugary or filled with marshmallows for me to eat as a regular thing. Life finally bridged that gap with a Pumpkin Spice flavor. I loved the Vanilla they put out earlier in the summer. Good thing Quaker cereals were on a nice sale.
When I went home, I put everything away, then went into writing. Han is teasing Leia at the Rogues' party. Luke finally tells him to lay off. They all end up following Hera to the back porch, where the others are making plans against Empire Industries. Han thinks they're crazy, but Leia wonders if they might have something...
Broke for dinner around quarter after 6. Finished out The Muppets Take Manhattan while eating dinner and making chocolate chip cookie batter. (I'll bake them tomorrow.) Ran Garfield In Hollywood while putting together the icing for that lemon mini-cake I attempted a few days ago. Garfield, Jon, and Odie win a big pet talent contest. Garfield is determined to be a star at any cost, but Jon wonders if winning would mean leaving him behind when they cut him out of the act.
It slowed down later long enough for me to get out of the register and onto the floor. The long sandbags the store's using to soak up the water from the freezer leaks were full again. I had to mop up the leaks, unlock the back door, hang up the soaked ones, and lay down fresh ones. It's a good thing they asked me to stay an extra hour. It took me almost two hours just to get all that done.
My schedule next week is pretty good, probably the best I've had in months. I'm not off on Labor Day again this year, but I only work noon to 4. I am off Sunday and next Friday. Lots of early days this week, too. I get off early enough on Wednesday to run errands that afternoon. Might try for the Westmont Farm Market this week. I'll work too early next Saturday for the Collingswood Farm Market.
Didn't have a huge grocery list this week. Thanks to Labor Day barbecues and parties, there's lots of meat sales going on. I grabbed a package of chicken breasts and another of legs. Restocked mayo, eggs, Greek yogurt, canned apricots, brown sugar, peanut butter, jam, and chocolate chips. Found more oat bran and the Duncan Hines Pink Velvet cake mix on the clearance racks. (I may make the latter for Labor Day.) Took advantage of back to school sales to pick up more Elmer's Glue for my collages. Grabbed more Crystal Pepsi, too.
Most limited edition holiday cereals are too sugary or filled with marshmallows for me to eat as a regular thing. Life finally bridged that gap with a Pumpkin Spice flavor. I loved the Vanilla they put out earlier in the summer. Good thing Quaker cereals were on a nice sale.
When I went home, I put everything away, then went into writing. Han is teasing Leia at the Rogues' party. Luke finally tells him to lay off. They all end up following Hera to the back porch, where the others are making plans against Empire Industries. Han thinks they're crazy, but Leia wonders if they might have something...
Broke for dinner around quarter after 6. Finished out The Muppets Take Manhattan while eating dinner and making chocolate chip cookie batter. (I'll bake them tomorrow.) Ran Garfield In Hollywood while putting together the icing for that lemon mini-cake I attempted a few days ago. Garfield, Jon, and Odie win a big pet talent contest. Garfield is determined to be a star at any cost, but Jon wonders if winning would mean leaving him behind when they cut him out of the act.
Thursday, September 01, 2016
In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Day
Started the day with work. It was raining when I was reading Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom this morning. By the time I made it to the Acme, the rain was gone, and it was just damp and cool. I spent the morning rounding up carts, doing returns, and vacuuming the water mess on the leaky freezers. Helped the other bagger bring boxes of plastic bags up to the registers later. I wanted to go back to trying to do something about the leaks, but the lines started picking up around noon-12:30 as everyone got out of work early for the weekend. I just barely got out on time. (Had a late lunch because I got stuck in a register, too.)
Thankfully, it was down to it being a little cloudy, humid, and unusually cool for this time of year when I rushed home. Spent the next few hours writing. Leia has arrived at the party. It's pretty wild, as per the teen movies of the time. Leia's not as amused by people racing lobsters and making out in random places. Han manages to find Leia for some flirting, but she has other things on her mind...like saving the cottages.
When I got off, I finished Strawberry Shortcake while eating leftovers for dinner. The girls finally drag Apple Dumpling away from her instructional video long enough to tell a tall tale of her own. She tells her own version of Around the World In 80 Days, with her being pursued by dastardly villains and helping odd locals (Sweet, Sour, Lemon Meringue) while making her way cross-country to win a contest. Apple realizes that spending so much time on her video took her away from the reason she was there in the first place...to have fun with her friends.
It had finally cooled off long enough for me to open the windows and do some baking. I made a real mess of the mini-cake-mix. I threw it together and made it too soupy, and it overflowed. My Mini Chocolate Chip "Old School" Muffins came out much better.
Watched The Muppets Take Manhattan as I worked. The Muppets are in New York, hoping to bring their college variety show to Broadway. They're finding the gritty Big Apple of the 80's to be far less hospitable than they had hoped as door after door is shut in their faces. Though the others eventually move on, Kermit remains, determined to get their show on one way or another...and Miss Piggy is determined to remain by her frog. They finally find a producer (real-life Broadway actor and director Lonny Price) willing to put their show on, but then Kermit disappears...
This is my favorite Muppet movie along with The Great Muppet Caper. Though lacking some of the wackier gags from that one, it has a more interesting and surprisingly touching plot with some catchy songs, including the famous number that introduced the Muppet Babies. Love the use of real-life New York and Broadway celebrities of the time in cameos as well, from Linda Lavin to Art Carney (as Price's cranky producer father) to Brooke Shields. If you're a fan of the Muppets, musicals, or looking for a good family movie, this is one of the better Muppet films and is recommended.
Thankfully, it was down to it being a little cloudy, humid, and unusually cool for this time of year when I rushed home. Spent the next few hours writing. Leia has arrived at the party. It's pretty wild, as per the teen movies of the time. Leia's not as amused by people racing lobsters and making out in random places. Han manages to find Leia for some flirting, but she has other things on her mind...like saving the cottages.
When I got off, I finished Strawberry Shortcake while eating leftovers for dinner. The girls finally drag Apple Dumpling away from her instructional video long enough to tell a tall tale of her own. She tells her own version of Around the World In 80 Days, with her being pursued by dastardly villains and helping odd locals (Sweet, Sour, Lemon Meringue) while making her way cross-country to win a contest. Apple realizes that spending so much time on her video took her away from the reason she was there in the first place...to have fun with her friends.
It had finally cooled off long enough for me to open the windows and do some baking. I made a real mess of the mini-cake-mix. I threw it together and made it too soupy, and it overflowed. My Mini Chocolate Chip "Old School" Muffins came out much better.
Watched The Muppets Take Manhattan as I worked. The Muppets are in New York, hoping to bring their college variety show to Broadway. They're finding the gritty Big Apple of the 80's to be far less hospitable than they had hoped as door after door is shut in their faces. Though the others eventually move on, Kermit remains, determined to get their show on one way or another...and Miss Piggy is determined to remain by her frog. They finally find a producer (real-life Broadway actor and director Lonny Price) willing to put their show on, but then Kermit disappears...
This is my favorite Muppet movie along with The Great Muppet Caper. Though lacking some of the wackier gags from that one, it has a more interesting and surprisingly touching plot with some catchy songs, including the famous number that introduced the Muppet Babies. Love the use of real-life New York and Broadway celebrities of the time in cameos as well, from Linda Lavin to Art Carney (as Price's cranky producer father) to Brooke Shields. If you're a fan of the Muppets, musicals, or looking for a good family movie, this is one of the better Muppet films and is recommended.
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