Monsters and Hobbits Lead Such Interesting Lives

Finished out The Hobbit during breakfast. Oh boy, that was a fun ride. I did see the first Lord of the Rings film, but never bothered with the other two and didn't regret it. Now I think I might have to give them a shot. The Hobbit was delightful, especially Martin Freeman as the bewildered title character. Bilbo Baggins (Freeman) opens up his door one evening to discover 13 dwarves and a wizard (Ian McKellen) on his doorstep. They want him to go with them to recover their homeland, the Kingdom Under the Mountain, from the evil dragon Smaug. There's many adventures that away them on their way, from an encounter with two nasty mountain trolls to capture by goblins and an encounter with greedy little Gollum (Andy Serkis). Bilbo refuses all of this at first, but he finally comes to realize that underneath his small stature lies a hobbit with more courage than anyone could imagine.

If you're a fan of the Tolkien books, the original Lord of the Rings film trilogy, or fantasy in general, hop an eagle and fly right in. This is a grand time.

Did one of the four Bowery Boys horror-oriented films while putting up the Halloween decorations. In Spook Busters, the Boys are exterminators who find themselves trying to get rid of what seem to be some pesky ghosts. When Sach discovers a secret hallway, he finds a lot more than just a bunch of poltergeists wandering around!

The decorations took me a while. I have the items Mom gave me in addition to my own things. There's the four stuffed bats alone - Boo the WebKinz Bat, Scarem the cute little Beanie Baby bat with the orange-lined wings, a navy polka-dot bat I found at a yard sale, and the Eckard's holiday beanies bat. The jack-o-lantern bell went on the front door. The witch scarecrow on the dresser in the music area has an Eckard's beanie cauldron. All of the McDonald's and Burger King toys and their tin are on the top of the closets with my collectible dolls and bears. The little plastic jack-o-lanterns are scattered with various stuffed animals or toys.

I did retire a few smaller items and some of the cardboard wall and window hangings, notably the leaves I put on the windows every year. They're getting wrecked from all the condensation that tends to collect on the windows during the fall and winter, and I've had them at least since I've moved here. Not to mention, I'm tired of hanging tons of stuff on the windows. I did put cardboard pumpkins on some of the windows, but they'll only be there for the duration of the holiday.

I had just enough time for a Looney Tunes short before heading to work. "Water, Water Everywhere" is Bugs' second go-around with Gossamer the Monster. Gossamer's boss wants Bugs' brain for his robot. Bugs isn't in a hurry to lend any part of him to science, so he makes use of the many potions hanging around to dodge the crazy duo.

Work was steady all day. It was partially due to chilly, very fall-ish weather that was far more pleasant than yesterday's, and partially because of the tail end of the beginning-of-the-month people. They day went by fast enough, though it did slow down enough by 6PM for me to leave without a relief.

When I got home, I made Buttermilk Honey Bread and continued the spooky Looney Tunes theme with Daffy Duck's Quackbusters. The last of the compilation films has Daffy inheriting mega millions from a rich financier who has passed on...provided he can provide an honest service with the money. He goes into the ghostbusting business and hires Bugs and Porky to help out. One of the best of the Looney Tunes "movies," with more original material (including two full shorts written for the film) and a far more interesting plot than most.

An Unexpectedly Rainy Journey

Started off this morning with my dental appointment. I was supposed to get a crown put on the tooth that had a root canal on my last visit, but it was still swollen. The dentist put putty on the hole and repaired a chipped tooth with a cavity on the other side instead. The worst part was gagging over the cotton balls stuffed in my mouth, and the cleaner they used being ice-cold. Other than that, the repair work took all of 15 minutes. I was in at 10:50 and out by 11:20.

I didn't expect to be done so quickly. Since I had the time, I went a few doors down to Thriftway. I'm almost out of tea, and they have good prices. I was delighted to discover that they have the Lipton tea in the pyramid-shaped tea bags that Acme no longer carries. I chose their chai flavor. I found the large bag of Domino's dark brown sugar on a good sale, too. Also grabbed a new toothbrush (the same Oral B I got from the dentists - no more dollar store toothbrushes for me!) and Calgon "bath beads."

I didn't like the look of the weather, so I just headed straight to Haddonfield after that. In fact, it did shower on my way there, but not heavily. The rain was gone by the time I got there. I had a little extra time, so I first stopped at the Haddonfield Public Library in search of a bathroom. When I couldn't find one there, I went to Cold Stone Creamery, bought a bottle of water (which was killing two birds with one stone - I was sweating), and used theirs.

I had counseling twenty minutes later. I told Mrs. Stahl about my vacation, the fun I had with Mom in Cape May County, and the stress I've been feeling at work. I've been considering asking if I could switch to stocking for a while now, but I'm worried about two things - my salary dropping, and them turning me down because they have plenty of help and "I don't have the seniority for that," their usual responses when I want to change something. I have never liked dealing with the public. It's too overwhelming, which is a big problem I have. I'm better at dealing with things, not people. I don't even really want to work in the bakery anymore. I think even that would be too stressful. I need to get away from the front all together.

It was sunny when I left, but I noticed dark clouds brooding over Westmont as I headed to Finzio's Pizza across from the Westmont Theater. I knew I wasn't going to out-run those clouds, so I opted for lunch and to see what Mother Nature wanted to do. I munched on cheese and mushroom pizza slices while some weird game show on MTV called Silent Library ran on Finzio's TV and the rain sloshed down in torrents outside.

After I finished lunch, there really wasn't much else I could do but ride home. The rain continued on and off, sometimes heavily. I ducked under trees or train overpasses during the worst of it. The wind, which had been fierce all day, got even worse. I dodged kids coming home from school and cars that splashed through puddles and soaked me from head to toe.

Needless to say, once I did finally make it back to the apartment, I went nowhere else. I spent the remaining afternoon dusting the living room and my bedroom, then in the bath. The "bath beads" turned out to be bath salts that foamed when poured in water. I relaxed in the English Garden-smelling water, listening to Jazz for a Rainy Afternoon and going over more Christmas craft books for present ideas.

Ran The Haunted History of Halloween while cleaning. I enjoy watching the History Channel special Christmas Unwrapped that Linda Young sent me every year while preparing for the holidays. I liked it so much, I started taking this special out of the Haddon Township Library every early October about two or three years ago to perform the same function for the beginning of the fall holiday season. Halloween began as an holiday for Druids in Ireland over 3,000 years ago...and unlike Christmas, many of the fundamental rituals, from trick-or-treating to ghost stories, haven't changed a lot over the years. The emphasis on horror and the supernatural has always made this a controversial holiday, especially among those whose religious beliefs see horror and the supernatural in a less natural light.

Switched to the first half of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey while making a simple dinner of peas, applesauce, and pan-fried tilapia that would go easy on my sore teeth. While I remember enjoying the book as a teenager and the animated film as a kid, it's been a long time since I've encountered either - long enough that any additions probably wouldn't bother me. I made it up to where they're going to talk to the elves - we'll do the rest tomorrow before work.

Oh, and the rain finally stopped somewhere around the time of my bath. It looks like the storm is gone for the moment, though there may be more rain over the weekend.

Showdown at the Meadowlands

Began a quiet, humid morning with Brunch With the Beatles. John Lennon, whose birthday was October 9th, was in the spotlight today. They went in reverse of the usual format, starting with his solo material ("Woman," "Just Like Starting Over," "Whatever Gets You Through the Night," "Imagine,") and ending up with the Beatles songs he performed ("I Am the Walrus," "Rain," "Strawberry Fields Forever," "Help!"). I enjoyed some delicious Cranberry-Orange Pancakes while the show was on.

Called Mom towards the end. She was doing things around the house, getting ready for the Eagles-Giants game. She had her own fun out and about yesterday in Cape May. There was an antique show held on the grounds of the Physick Estate while she was there. Mom apparently found some really nice vintage jewelry that was surprisingly affordable, including a beautiful 40's-era necklace with stones that looked like real pearls and lovely Victorian pins.

I headed over to Dad's about an hour later. I didn't stick around. Jodie was the only one home. Dad was in Florida on a business trip; Jessa had work, too. I watched the game with her for a little while, but I decided I'd rather finish up at my own place. I headed out at quarter of 2...and headed back when I realized I'd left my lunch bag at Dad's.

Work, when I finally got there, was busy for most of the evening. There was a call-out, too. I was asked to stay an extra hour. Not a big deal. They wanted me to go an hour and a half, but I figured once the game ended, our crowds would too...and I was right. It was so quiet by 8PM, I went home with no objections.

Oh, and while the Eagles' game wasn't great, the Giants have been really bad this season - they haven't won a game yet, including this one. Though veteran quarterback Michael Vick had to be pulled in the second quarter because of a strained hamstring, their second-string quarterback Nick Foles is no slouch. The Eagles finally pushed past the Giants at the Meadowlands 36-21.

Hot Day Among the Books

Started out a hazy, wet morning with this week's American Top 40 re-run. Early fall 1983 saw my sister and I preparing for a new dad, while the rest of the world turned to pop, New Wave, country, and dance tunes. Hits in early October included "The Safety Dance" by Men Without Hats, "Island In the Stream" by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Pardon, "How Am I Supposed To Live Without You" by Laura Brannigan, "Promises, Promises" by Naked Eyes, "One Thing Leads to Another" by The Fixx, and two songs from very 80s musicals, "Maniac" by Michael Sambello from Flashdance, and "Far From Over" by Frank Stallone from the campy Stayin' Alive.

That week's top song was one of the most famous ballads of the early 80s, the dramatic "Total Eclipse of the Heart" by Bonnie Tyler.

There were yard sales all over the place today, starting with at least six in Oaklyn alone. Only one on East Haddon Avenue had anything of interest. I picked up some more yarn for a dollar, including one large multi-colored skein I intend to use for my friend Lauren's Christmas present. Did better at an estate sale on Park Avenue across from Knight Park in Collingswood. They had some really nice appliances and pots and pans for sale, many of which looked like they'd never been used. I finally bought a beautiful 8-inch non-stick frying pan for three dollars. I've needed to replace my much-abused old frying pan for years, but I could never find one I liked for a good price.

The Farm Market was could-barely-squeeze-in packed today. The fall harvest is starting to make its debut. Peaches and large cucumbers are pretty much done, but I did buy the first cranberries and broccoli of the season. I also picked up tiny Empire apples (I like the smaller ones - easier to pack in a lunch bag and less to eat), pears, baby spinach, mushrooms, and a garlic bulb.

Part of the reason the Farm Market was so busy today was because of Collingswood's Book Festival a block away on Haddon Avenue. No crafts, cars, or rides at this show, and no games that don't relate to reading - it's all books, and everything you can imagine that's related to books, along with a few food booths. There were authors selling their wares. There were large displays from publishing companies like Scholastic. There were tents set up for poetry readings and author signings. Teens and children had their own sections, with puppet shows, costumed characters (I saw someone as Skippyjon Jones the Siamese kitten), and games for the kiddies, and author signings and readings for the older guys. I even saw my friend Cassandra touting her young adult novels. 

The main reason I was there was for the used book sellers. The final two or three blocks of the Festival is devoted to booths and tables filled with nothing but used books, magazines, DVDs, CDs, and videos. I made some wonderful finds after much hot and sweaty searching:

Two American Girl mysteries, the Kit story A Thief In the Theater and the Felicity supernatural tale Lady Margaret's Ghost

501 Movie Stars, a thick guide to popular screen stars and character actors from the silent era through the book's publishing in 2007

The 70s version of The Nutcracker featuring Mikhail Baryshnikov as the title character. I've been looking for this on DVD for a decent price for years. The cheapest I've seen it is $9 on eBay, still a little high for a 79-minute ballet performance I watch a few times a year. I picked it up for $2.

 It had been hot and humid ever since the clouds had cleared around 9 and left a hazy blue sky. There's no shade on the part of Haddon Avenue where the used book sales were. Despite buying a frozen raspberry lemonade from the Philly Pretzel Company, I was dripping sweat by the time I bought 501 Stars. It was time to go home. I headed back for my bike, passing several musical acts, including a pianist who was really burning up the keys and a girl group doing a cute rendition of "I'm a Believer." I also took a brief look at a book sale at a church and one last yard sale in Oaklyn, but finally decided enough was enough and bought nothing else. I was in the house by 12:30.

I'm a little embarrassed to say I spent the rest of the day reading. I got so caught up with my new finds, one hour turned into two, and then another, and before I knew it, it was almost 5PM and time for a bath! It's lazy of me, but I don't often get a chance to just rest like this, without running from one place to another. I'd planned on cleaning this afternoon, but I never got to it.

A cool, fragrant bath felt so nice after my hot walk at the Book Festival. I read my 501 Stars book, listened to jazz, and just relaxed. I really need to start doing yoga again, too. I don't want to take any classes of any kind until I can figure out what I want, but I could rent some DVDs and look over a few books.

I had just enough time after my bath for a dinner of Chicken Fingers with light cornmeal breading and leftover Chinese beans with spinach and mushrooms. Ran Pooh's Grand Adventure while I ate. This sweet and surprisingly touching direct-to-video tale has Pooh and the gang searching for Christopher Robin in the dreaded Forbidden Mountains. They're worried he may have been taken by the fearsome Skullasaurus! While Tigger, Rabbit, and Piglet face their fears, Pooh wonders why his beloved human friend has left him alone.

Similar to the 2011 Winnie the Pooh, but more bittersweet. For all the cute numbers and comedy, there's some genuinely scary or sad moments as well. You may want to have a hand waiting for the little ones when Pooh sings the heartbreaking "Wherever You Are," and don't forget to have a tissue for you as well.

Dreamscapes and Nightmare Lands

Actually, I started off today with a rare morning and early afternoon work shift. This time, it was busy when I started and when I finished, since I started and finished just before and during rush hours, but not that bad in the middle of the day. It was so busy when my shift ended, I just barely got out in time!

It was still pretty busy when I finally started my grocery shopping. Thankfully, it was beginning to slow down even as I strolled across the store. The Acme's having some really great sales this week. I took advantage of 40% off the Acme "Lancaster" brand meats to pick up chicken breasts and tenderloins. Grabbed squeeze light mayo and Planters Peanut Butter for $2.99 each. I had to get a pack of Green Giant Green Beans and Almonds for 88 cents, even though I don't really need frozen vegetables. Everything else - pumpkin, cornstarch, sharp cheddar cheese - were just items that needed to be restocked.

I'm not as happy with my schedule next week. I have 23 hours, which isn't as bad as 15, but it isn't great, either. The hours themselves are actually pretty good, except for the 2:30 to 9:30 next Friday. I have three days off, one of them Monday for counseling and another dental appointment.

(On the other hand, it's better than no hours, which is what I would have been getting this time last year thanks to my fractured ankle.)

When I got in from work, I put everything away, changed into regular clothes, and ran several spooky episodes of The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.  My favorites of these semi-scary tales of the 100 Acres Woods are "Frankenpooh" (Piglet and Tigger disagree over how frightening a horror story should be...and Pooh literally gets caught in the middle) and "Rock-a-Bye Pooh Bear" (Piglet has a nightmare and thinks he'll lose all his friends, so they do everything they can to make him realize that bad dreams don't always come true).

Switched to dubbing Little Nemo: Adventures In Slumberland while making a lamb chop with farm market vegetables for dinner. I first encountered this animated adaptation of the 1905 comic strip on YouTube last year. I liked it so much, I've been hoping to run across it somewhere ever since. The title character is a typical little boy of the early 19th century. He dreams himself into a fabulous, Technicolor world where kings ride miniature trains, fairies make it rain, and merry green hobos ride crows through the sky. Nemo is overwhelmed to discover he's to be the heir to the kingdom and the playmate to the princess.  But when mischievous Flip (voice of Mickey Rooney) convinces Nemo to use the key the king gave him to open the forbidden door, they unleash the Nightmare King...and heaping lot of trouble! It'll take all of Nemo's courage and confidance - and help from his flying squirrel Icarus and some goofy goblins - to make things right.

It's too bad this one had a hard road to release. It was started as a Japanese/American co-production in 1982, but evidently all hands involved spent a decade trying to decide whether it should be more Japanese whimsy or American kiddie action musical. By the time it made it to the US, it was 1992 (having finally been released in Japan in 1989). With the Disney Renaissance in full swing, Little Nemo was one of the many non-Disney animated movies of the 90s that got lost in the shuffle.

Which is a darn shame, because there's a lot that's good here. The animation is incredible, especially in Slumberland. The characters aren't terrible memorable, the villain barely registers, and the music is less than that, but the action's fun. There's a nice little episode where Nemo meets Flip and then King Morpheus, and then when he's out on a carriage ride with the Princess.

Enjoyable enough if you're a fan of animation or are looking for something different for grade-school-age kids. I think the original full Japanese version (mine is the US release that had a few minutes trimmed) is now on Blu-Ray.

Lingering Summertime

Started out this morning at my place, baking Apple Cookies from that Better Homes and Gardens Cookies Book I picked up a few weeks ago while watching Easy to Love. Another Esther Williams vehicle takes us to Cypress Gardens, a botanical park and water ski show in central Florida. This time, Williams is a popular performer in the park and a secretary to the park's head manager (Van Johnson). She's head-over-heels in love with her boss, but he only cares about promoting the park and it's girl shows. When he takes her to New York on a business trip, she meets a handsome singer (Tony Martin) who is interested in her. Not to mention, there's a water skier (John Bromfeld) who's in love with her, too.

I wasn't holding out much promise for this one after the previous Williams romantic comedies on the set were busts, but this was absolutely adorable. Once again, while the plot is no great shakes, it's better-written and has better leads. Williams seems to work best when she has a strong leading man who is equally interested in the material, and here, she has two. Johnson is harried fun as her business-minded boss. Martin's just as good as the more suave performer. The Cypress Gardens cinematography is stunning; check out the water ski finale, choreographed by none other than Busby Berkley!

If you have any interest in Williams you might want to check out her numbers in the That's Entertainment films first, without the distraction of the flimsy plots. If you're ready for more, Easy to Love and Pagan Love Song are your best bet from the second TCM set.

After the movie ended and the cookies were out of the oven, I headed out for a walk and to run some errands. My first stop was the Oaklyn Library. I needed to return the Esther Williams set and and to do this week's volunteering session there. Although they had a volunteer doing some shelving, I was able to organize the adult and kids' DVDs, shelve kids' books, and make sure the kids section was in good order. When I finished at the library, I went to WaWa for a quart of skim milk.

I had a nice little walk home. It was far warmer, hazier, and more humid than it has been. Despite the lack of rain, the yards are bursting with fall mums, asters, and the last of the roses. A few folks have their Halloween decorations out; most have settled for potted mums and leaf-trimmed wreathes.

When I got home, I went online for a little while, then had leftover bean and vegetable soup for lunch while watching Halloween specials. Garfield and Odie have a hair-raising encounter with ghostly pirates on a haunted island in Garfield's Halloween Adventure. Bugs Bunny runs afoul of Witch Hazel, while Sylvester is scared by mice and Tweety and Daffy Duck has his own run-in with Hazel in Bugs Bunny's Howl-Oween Special.

I switched to music while I did a few chores. I made the bed, then vacuumed the whole apartment and took out my two rugs to air them. I had to do this quickly, as it was getting late by that point. As soon as I was done, I put together a quick dinner, changed into my uniform, and rushed off to work.

Work was pretty much the same as yesterday - not too bad when I got in, but much busier during rush hour. We're still in the beginning of the month, and a lot of people who normally would be working are at home, thanks to that darn government shutdown. Thankfully, my relief was on time. I was able to get out with no problems and buy the Smart Balance 50/50 butter sticks while they were still on a good sale ($1.88) and I had a coupon.

A Glorious Indian Summer

Started off today by finishing the last of the Scooby Doo robot-themed set. Ironically, the final episode in the set was a two-parter set in Washington DC, "A Louse In the White House." Velma joins in for this caper, which sees the gang rescuing a NASA program from the ghosts of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, who want everyone out as soon as possible!

I headed to the laundromat after Scooby ended. It was a fine day for a walk. It's warmer than it has been and slightly more humid, but still lovely. There was noise in the park next-door. I peeked to see what they were up to...and much to my surprise, there were machines making a path to the garden. At least, that's what it looks like to me. It might be more gardens. It might be something else. I don't know. I'll check it more tomorrow.

The laundromat was far quieter. In fact, I was the only one there when I arrived. It did get busier later on, but by that point, my load was in the drier. I headed out as "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" was winding down.

Despite the hot weather, when I got home, I pulled out my winter clothes and put away most of the summer ones. I know that hot weather doesn't last in the fall, and it looks like ours will be gone by the end of the weekend. Thankfully, it doesn't look like I have much to replace this year. As of now, I still need a raincoat, and I still need good winter clothes, a skirt and/or dress. Right now, I need to replace shoes more than clothes.

Ran the first Halloween special of the fall while having a "spinach pancake" (spinach, mushrooms, cheese, and eggs) for lunch. Halloween Is Grinch Night is one of the most bizarre of all Dr. Seuss specials. When the Grinch goes on the prowl one windy night, the Who flee into their homes...except little Eukeriah, who gets blown into the mountains. When he runs right into the Grinch and his cart full of scares, he takes it upon himself to make sure the Grinch and his scares never make it to Whoville.

Work was quiet when I came in and quiet when I left, but rush hour was very busy. Not only is it the beginning of the month, but the government shutdown means there's quite a few people out there who have more time than usual to shop and run errands...and understandably aren't happy about it. I was so stressed by quarter after 8, I asked to spend my last hour doing returns, since it was dead as a doornail by that point anyway.

Scooby Doo and the Science Fiction Mysteries

First of all, let me make this simple announcement - if you do not have anything nice to say to me, don't comment on this blog. Period. End of story. Comment on another blog that says what you want to hear. This is my life, and I'm going to live it the way I want to. I've been bullied for almost three decades, and I'm sick and tired of people who don't even know me thinking they have the right to control how I live.

That said, I spent the morning cleaning the kitchen (which needed it - I've had a problem with flying insects, probably leftover ants from earlier in the spring) and watching Scooby Doo episodes. Once again, the first episode was a special, this time involving a huge robot dog that gets out of control at NASA. Mystery Inc. is there for a science competition and end up being the ones who bag the robot...and the person controlling it.

Except for the early Scooby Doo, Where Are You? episode "Foul Play In Funland" (which also involves Mystery Inc. and an out-of-control robot, this time in an amusement park), the remaining episodes on this set are from late 70s and 80s shows that featured Shaggy, Scooby, Scrappy, and sometimes Daphne. Most of these episodes are weird bordering on bizarre, like "Way Out Scooby," in which Shaggy and the dogs accidentally stow away on a spaceship and end up on Mars. Others, like "The Scary Sky Skeleton" and "The Dinosaur Deception," are par-for-the-course mysteries that end with the usual uncovering a villain masquerading as a monster (or controlling a monster-like robot). "A Code In the Nose," is a spy spoof that has Shaggy, Daphne, and the dogs somehow chosen to find a government decoding machine made to look like an ordinary appliance hidden in a department store.

(And all of these episodes but the first two feature Scrappy, so those who have problems with him would be advised to avoid this set.)

Work was busy and annoying for most of the day. Not only is it the beginning of the month, but that government shutdown has a lot of people upset...which means a lot of people were taking it out on us. Not to mention, this was my 7 hour work day. I was so glad that my relief was right on time and I was able to get out with no problems.

Fall Cleaning Song

I slept in this morning and didn't really get going until 10:30! As I had a quick breakfast, I decided to take a look at one of the videos I bought on Saturday from that estate sale, the home-recorded one that said "Disney Halloween." Turns out that the "Disney Halloween" in question was Disney's Halloween Treat, which I do already have.

Fast-forwarding to the end of the video uncovered another special I haven't seen in years. Chuck Jones did two holiday specials revolving around Raggedy Ann and Andy in the late 70s, and one of them was the Halloween-themed The Pumpkin Who Couldn't Smile. The rag doll brother-sister duo team up with their puppy Raggedy Arthur to deliver a very sad pumpkin to a little boy whose grouchy aunt won't let him go out on Halloween. June Foray is the voice of the aunt and Ann; Daws Butler is Andy. Character actor Les Tremayne is the pumpkin who thinks his glum expression means he'll never find a place to spend the holiday.

Nothing special, but very cute. Chuck Jones had some fun with the animation here, especially on the pumpkin. It's a shame neither of the Chuck Jones Raggedy Ann & Andy specials or the bizarre movie are on DVD. Your best bet to find the specials would be You Tube.

Raggedy Ann & Andy and the Pumpkin Who Couldn't Smile

I headed out for today's errand run after Ann & Andy ended. It was another gorgeous day, once again sunny and bright and in the mid-70s. I got such a late start that I didn't have the time to fool around, though. I went straight past Cuthbert to Dollar Tree. I needed grape fruit spread and picked up two cards for friends who have October birthdays, Amanda and Lauren.

The Haddon Township Library was my next stop. I needed to return last week's DVDs and do this week's volunteering session. I did what I could with the DVDs. The "S" sections of both the adult and kids' titles are overloaded to the point where I can't squeeze anymore in. It being busy didn't help.

I did find some more DVDs to check out this week. There was another new Scooby Doo 13-episode set, this one revolving around robots and sci-fi. I grabbed The Backyardigans set Mission to Mars, which features two spooky episodes that feel vaguely Halloween-y. I also found the new live-action Hobbit movie. While I still haven't seen the final two Lord of the Rings movies, I always kind of liked the Hobbit book better anyway and enjoyed the animated film as a kid, so I thought I'd give this one a shot.

It was past 2:30 by the time I got out. I really wanted lunch, and I wanted it fast...but not fast food. The Shamrock Deli had no tables, so I moved on Genovia Pizza a block or so down Cuthbert. I ordered a Turkey Club Wrap and fries. I was a little annoyed that the wrap didn't come with bacon like it was supposed to, but otherwise, it was fine. I enjoyed it quickly in a quiet building that was only occupied by the owner, the cook, and me.

When I got home, I called Mom. She and Dad are still supervising work on the garage and didn't have a lot of time to talk. I told Mom about the Town Picnic and my quiet week. She told me about the garage and how she needs to find siding that'll match, since the siding on their house has since been discontinued.

Spent the next hour or so cleaning the bathroom and running Backyardigans episodes. Uniqua, Austin, and Pablo go on a "Mission to Mars" to find out what's been making that "boinga" sound. Great pie master Tyrone teaches his eager apprentice Austin to make "Samurai Pie" for Empress Tasha...if pie-snitching ninjas Uniqua and Pablo don't get it first! Austin has to retrieve Mummy King Tyrone, Werewolf Uniqua, and Vampire Pablo for Mad Scientist Tasha's party. The monsters are so "Scared of You," they're hard to persuade. Austin's upset because his boss seems to have forgotten his birthday...but Tasha has a big surprise in store for him and the monsters at the end. And in "Whodunnit," Detective Pablo has to find out who stole Lady Tasha's jewels! Could it be Tyrone the Butler? Uniqua Underhood, who knew about the jewels before they were stolen? Or Austin Frothingslosh, who has been seen sneaking around the grounds?

As soon as the bathroom was clean, I went right into my newly-scrubbed tub. I soaked in green tea and chamomile-scented water for about 40 minutes while listening to jazz and going over Christmas books. I wasn't in there for as long as Saturday, but it still felt really nice.

Ran Pagan Love Song while making a simple, thrown-together Bean-Vegetable Soup and Dark Chocolate Chip Muffins for dinner. We switch from a studio pool to the real waters of the South Pacific for this laid-back tropical romance. Williams is a swimming instructor in Tahiti who is bored with the tropical life and wants to find more excitement. Howard Keel is a teacher from Ohio who is tired of dealing with unruly kids and wants to find a quieter lifestyle. What they both end up discovering is the charms of Tahiti and its people.

That's about all there is to the plot, but that's ok. This was such a cute movie, I didn't mind the lack of story. Williams looks like she's having far more fun in the real Pacific waters (this was actually filmed in Hawaii) than she ever did in MGM's pools. Howard Keel is a much more charismatic and interesting leading man than Victor Mature or Johnnie Johnston, and sings the heck out of the score. If you're a fan of Williams or Keel and don't mind musicals with more atmosphere than plot, you'll feel just as home here as Keel did.

Dancing Through the Fall

Started out another sunny day with Brunch With the Beatles and gingerbread pancakes for a late brunch. The movie and album Magical Mystery Tour were in the spotlight this morning. I haven't seen the movie (and have no desire to - I heard it's almost as weird as the Monkees' Head), but the album of that title is a favorite of mine. Among the familiar songs from this show are "I Am the Walrus," "Baby You're a Rich Man," and the formerly singles-only "Strawberry Fields Forever," "Penny Lane," and "All You Need Is Love." I tried calling Mom at one point, but she and Dad were busy dealing with reorganizing and remodeling their garage. I'll get them tomorrow.

After the show ended, I put on the second disc of The Monkees Present and changed my American Girl dolls into clothes that are more appropriate for fall weather. They all now wear their original "meet" outfits (the clothes the dolls come in and are pictured on in the front cover of their first books), except for Samantha, who wears her blue and white checked Play Dress and Pinafore and a pair of white and black boots with pearly buttons that I think are from Rebecca's Meet Outfit. It's still too warm for Jessa's black corduroys, so I have her in the Drawstring Cargos.

After I finished dressing the girls and organizing their fall clothes, I threw on sneakers and a sweater and headed down to West Clinton for this year's Town Picnic. Every year in late September/early October, Oaklyn has a fair in front of the Oaklyn School with free food, dances, music, a fire engine ride, and games. Last year, they held it on West Clinton instead of behind the school as they had in previous years, and it was there again this year. There were tables for the Girl Scouts to make ornaments for the town Christmas tree (I think they're trying foam ones this time), for a Halloween costume swap, for Studio LuLoo on West Clinton, and for Oaklyn's Garden Club and Historical Society.

(The Historical Society had a really interesting selection of black-and-white vintage photos. One depicted the train overpass next to the Oaklyn Manor Bar. It looked pretty much the same in what appeared to be the 40s as it does now...except for the stairs on the Manor Bar side leading up to the overpass. I'm guessing that's long gone. I thought the area going up to the overpass seemed awfully stair-like.)

There was still plenty of food left when I got there around 1:30, even though the Picnic started at noon. The line wasn't even that long. I had a pulled chicken sandwich, macaroni salad, and a little Gala apple. There were also grilled burgers and hot dogs, baked beans, and the last of what looked like potato salad and cole slaw. I chose an orange cupcake and a slice of chocolate cake from the dessert table.

I arrived just in time for Ovations, the dance studio on West Clinton, to begin their performances. There were some really interesting numbers. The first looked like the older grade-school age kids, who did a dynamic routine on the civil rights movement in the 60s and the integration of schools to a Michael Jackson song. The younger grade-schoolers had more fun with their version of "Lollipop," which they re-recorded themselves as "Soda Pop." They pranced and scurried around pink tables as adorable little waitresses in mint-green diner uniforms. The pre-teen jazz team had an awesome routine to a medley of big band numbers they called "V Day." Two sailor gob boys and three girls (two in polka-dot dresses, one dressed as a nurse) had a cute, energetic routine. The older teen jazz dancers got tougher with a number to the hard-rock-ish "Heads Will Roll."

I wish I could have stayed for more, but I had work. I headed home as the acrobatic club was beginning a Native American-inspired routine. When I got in, I just quickly changed into my uniform and packed a peach for a snack before heading back out.

Work was really busy through about 4:30, not surprising given the Eagles were playing at 4:30 today. It slowed down considerably after that, enough for me to leave quickly without a relief. There were no really major problems, and I was in and out.

(And ugh. I'm glad I missed most of the game. The Denver Broncos mauled the Eagles, 52-20.)

Mermaids In the Sunshine

Started off the morning with this week's American Top 40 re-run. Casey jumped back a decade to the bicentennial year of 1976. Soul, R&B, bubblegum pop, and novelty acts ruled the airwaves...but disco was beginning to make a big splash. Top songs that late September included the Bay City Rollers' remake of "I Only Wanna Be With You," "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine" by Low Rawls, "Say You Love Me" by Fleetwood Mac, "Still the One" by Orleans, "Wham Bang" by Silver, "Fire and Rain" by James Taylor, "Summer" by War, "Getaway" by Earth Wind and Fire, "She's Gone" by Hall & Oates, "With Your Love" by Jefferson Starship, "A Little Bit More" by Dr. Hook, and "Disco Duck" by Rick Dees. The #1 hit that week was made for dancin' - "Play That Funky Music" by Wild Cherry.

This time, I headed out as Casey was signing off. It was too nice and there was just too much going on to hang around. The weather was absolutely amazing. Sunny skies, soft breezes, mid-70s temperatures...it just doesn't get any more beautiful than this. The leaves are just starting to fall from the trees here, making golden showers as I pass under them.

After fruitless peeks at a yard sale in Oaklyn and two in Collingswood, I arrived at the Collingswood Farm Market. Needless to say, given the gorgeous weather, they were packed. I'm beginning to see the first signs of the fall harvest. Fat orange pumpkins and strange-shaped gourds in fall colors abound, helped by the recent dry streak. Cucumbers are gone, though, and one girl at the orchard booth said this was the last week for peaches. On the other hand, radishes and lettuces of all kinds have returned in spades.

I ended up with the peaches, apples (yellow this time - they were out of small Galas), a tomato, two mini-pumpkins, and my annual large pumpkin. I always buy a medium-sized pumpkin that I keep out from late September through after Thanksgiving, or until it goes bad, whichever comes first. I never carve my pumpkin. For one thing, I'm not good with cutting anything. I'd probably cut myself more than the pumpkin! For another, I like being able to use it for multiple holidays.

I made two more yard sale stops - one in Collingswood, and one in Haddon Township - before heading across Cuthbert Road and into Audubon. Today was Audubon's fall town-wide yard sale. It was nearly as busy today as it had been in April, and almost as hard to navigate. I didn't do as well as I did in the fall, though. I made my best finds at a large estate sale on Washington Terrace. The yard sale outside was more organized than the mess inside. Except for the glassware that was piled on a table, there were things stacked here, there, and everywhere! You'd think people who were going to allow others to roam through their homes would have been more organized about it.

My take ultimately included:

A colorful bracelet made of bright woven rubber bands I bought for a dollar from a pair of enterprising 8-year-olds who were selling bracelets and candy on East Haddon Avenue in Oaklyn. (They claim it glows in the dark!)

One book: Iced by Carol Higgins Clark

Two videos: Little Nemo: Adventures In Slumberland (which I watched on YouTube last year and very much enjoyed) and a home-recorded video labeled as "Disney Halloween" - we'll see what that turns out to be.

Four DVDs: A double bill of the 90s Little Princess and Secret Garden (still in its plastic!), Silver Spoons: The Complete First Season (more complete than the taped-off-UPN episodes Lauren sent me), the Doris Day musical Calamity Jane, and Kung-Fu Panda 

I wasn't going to go until 3PM without lunch this time. I stopped at Simply Soups around 1PM. There were quite a few families and couples there already, and service was slow. Good thing I kept it to my usual breadsticks, can of soda (Diet A&W), and small cup of soup (a creamy turkey and pumpkin with wild rice) that was delicious as always and worth waiting for.

By that point, it was almost 2PM. I was tired, and most yard sales would probably be shutting down. I just went straight home. I went online for a little while to look something up, but the stunning day kept calling me. I went back outside for a stroll to the CVS on the border of Oaklyn and Collingswood. It was certainly a lovely afternoon for it. There were lots of people out and about - dog walkers, teenagers on bikes, kids playing in yards, people chatting in gardens or on porches. The sound of drums and brass instruments being practiced filled the air.

The big item I needed at CVS was anti-itch cream. I seem to have developed a rash on my upper thighs and arms. I'm guessing it has to do with the antibiotics I'm taking for my tooth. I wonder if I'm having a bad reaction to it. I also picked up a bag of soothing chamomile and green tea Epsom salts and Palmolive dish washing liquid on sale.

When I got home, I went straight into the bath. Oh, did I need it! I added the salts and soaked in the perfumed water for over an hour and a half. I put on the first CD in the Monkees Present Deluxe Edition and looked over more of my Christmas craft books while enjoying the peace.

After I finally got out, I put on Million Dollar Mermaid while making lamb chops with sauteed peppers and Chinese beans for dinner. Esther Williams had apparently lobbied for years to do the biography of Australian swimming star Annette Kellerman for years before MGM finally gave into her in 1952. Kellerman grew up in Sydney with her doting father (Walter Pidgeon). Crippled as a child, she started swimming as a way to build up her legs. She eventually built them up to the point where she won every amateur swimming competition in New South Wales by adulthood. Lacking money, she and her father set off for London. She first encounters James Sullivan (Victor Mature) on a boat to England, where he hopes to promote a boxing kangaroo. He's even more interested in Kellerman when she tells him about her tropies and how popular she was back home.

When they get to England, he convinces her to swim the Thames, which she does as a publicity stunt. It works, and soon they take off for New York. Broadway audiences aren't ready for a swimming star, so Sullivan tries to get her to swim in Boston. There's a huge outcry there over her one-piece bathing suit, which she wears to win competition, the bloomer-style suits in vogue being too heavy for swimming. She's arrested for indecency, but Sullivan convinces her to take on the courts. After all that, she appears in Sullivan's carnival shows, but they quarrel over her right to do more legit tours outside of the water and break up. She finally gets an offer to appear in water ballets at the enormous New York Hippodrome theater, which she does to great success. Meanwhile, Sullivan is trying any way he can to drum up cash, including taking part in an air race. When an accident occurs during the making of Kellerman's first movie, it's Sullivan who finally rushes to her side.

I can understand why Williams wanted to play Kellerman. Kellerman apparently went on to become a popular film star in fantasy-oriented water-set movies like A Daughter of the Gods, which seems to have been the first movie with a nude shot and the first million-dollar movie. Even after her movie and stage career fizzled, she remained an avid advocate of health issues and exercise for the rest of her life. (Kellerman's not the only one who had an accident on a movie set that almost derailed her career, either. Williams hurt her neck while doing a diving stunt for one of the Hippodrome water ballets and wound up in a neck brace for months.)

Unfortunately, the emphasis on romance drags this one down even more than in the romantic comedies. Victor Mature was never really comfortable in musicals, this one included, and isn't having much fun as the huckster who doesn't want to be seen as riding his girlfriend's mermaid tails. Pidgeon's better as the father who wants the best for his daughter, even giving up his music career for her.

Even with the leading man problems, I still recommend this one as a starter Williams film because of the relatively strong story. If you can handle the sappy romance and enjoy Williams and her aqua antics, dive right in.