Breezy Day Harvest

Began a lovely, sunny morning with breakfast and Garfield In the Rough. Garfield would be happier to be on vacation if it didn't involve camping in the woods with Jon and Odie. Their camp out takes a turn for the scary when they're told that there's a black panther loose in the area...and they may be it's next lunch if they don't leave fast!

Headed out even before the cartoon ended. I needed to run a few errands, starting with a trip to the Collingswood Farm Market. I'll be on vacation during this next week. Even as late as 11:30, they were still busy with people looking for produce for end-of-summer barbecue and football parties. Saw acorn squash and pears for the first time this year. I went with the pears, along with peaches and two tiny little sweet orange peppers.

After the couple of weeks I've had, I deserved a treat. I went across the street to WaWa and decided it was time to try my first Pumpkin Spice Cream Smoothie of the year. Ooh, while it still had that eggnog-y taste to it, it also felt wonderful cool on my throat going down.

Took the long way back to Oaklyn across Newton Lake Park. It was a perfect day for it. The sun was shining, the breeze was blowing, and the green waters on the lake sparkled. No wonder I dodged a ton of bikers and families out for a stroll.

Stopped quick at Dollar General next. I needed cold medicine. Wanted to try a drinkable version. Theirs was cheapest. Bought it and moved on.

Next up was the Oaklyn Library. Considering how dead they were, their DVDs needed a ton of work. Everything in the adult and children's DVDs were out of order. I had a quiet half-hour or so organizing them

Spent the rest of the day getting things done at home. After I made the (nasty-tasting) cough drink, I had my lunch, then started cleaning the kitchen. The kitchen sink was even grungier than the bathroom sink, and the counter really needed to be done, too.

Watched National Lampoon's Animal House while I worked. The Delta Tau Chi house is the worst at Faber College. They never pass their classes, start food fights, have loud drunken parties, and accidentally kill a horse belonging to the obnoxious head of the cadets (Mark Metcalf). In fact, their most popular member is Bluto (John Belushi), who's greatest achievement is crushing a beer can against his forehead. Dean Wormer (John Vernon) has had it up to here with their antics. They're already on probation, and a wild toga party that gets out of hand is the last straw before he revokes their charter, then expels them. After the members of super-clean-cut Omega Theta Phi beat up on sarcastic Otter (Tim Mattheson), Bluto rallies the others to invade the homecoming dance...and prove that even misfits have a place in higher education.

This much-loved comedy was a massive hit in 1978 and remains popular on real college campuses to this day. If you love slobs vs snobs comedies or have your own wild memories of college, you're going to really love this one.

After I finished the kitchen, I decided it was time to change the sheets. It's been warm during the day, but cool at night...and sometimes, it hasn't even been warm during the day. I haven't had the air conditioner on in almost a week, and then, it was briefly. Switched the bed to the blue and tan comforter and the fall/spring sheets and dumped the summer sheets in the laundry basket.

Ran a Three Stooges short while I worked. The Stooges are "Microphonies" when Curly sings along to a recording made by a hopeful soprano, and record producers think he is the hopeful soprano. His buddies dress him as a woman to get him a career and the money.

Vacuuming was up next. Took the rag rug and front door rug out to shake them, then got it done. It mainly just needed to be run really fast.

Moved on to writing next. The women manage to help Charles to his feet. He blows smoke on the few remaining ghosts to show he's not afraid...and the smoke returns him and the women to the hall where they began.

Broke for dinner at 6:30. Had leftovers while watching another school-themed episode of Tiny Toon Adventures. It's "Son of Looniversity Daze" when we get another round of Acme Looniversity shorts. "Plucky's Dastardly Deed" is cheating on a test, but he regrets it almost as soon as he does it. It's not an "Open and Shut Case" when a high-tech locker refuses to give Hamton his lunch. Buster, Plucky, and Hamton have to deliver a piano that was dropped on the roof downstairs in "C Flat or B Sharp."

Played Lego Star Wars after dinner. I still can't get through that darn Return of the Jedi Super Story! This time, I got midway through "Into the Death Star" before I ran out of time. I'll keep trying until I go on vacation.

Finished the night with A Boy Named Charlie Brown. I go more into the first Peanuts film on the big screen at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

A Boy Named Charlie Brown

Dark Day of the Wind

Began the morning with breakfast and two early first season episodes of Sailor Moon. Usagi acts as a matchmaker for the first time in "The Melody of Love: Usagi Plays Cupid." A cassette tape that can drain energy ends up in the hands of a love-sick jazz pianist, who thinks it's the ballad he wrote for the younger woman he has a crush on. Usagi does her best to bring them together, and then protect them when they're attacked by Jadeite's monster.

We go back to school in "The Girl Genius Is a Monster: The Brainwashing Cram School of Horror." Ami Mizuno is a sweet, shy girl who also happens to be the most brilliant student in Usagi's school. Usagi befriends her, but Luna suspects that she may be a monster after they discover a disk in her bag that removes energy. Ami is magical, but she's no monster...and when she's attacked, Luna gives her a wand to turn her into Sailor Mercury, the Guardian of Ice!

It was gloomy, cloudy, windy, and cold for this time of year when I headed out to the laundromat. I had a big load to do, including towels. It was busier than I thought it would be, given the weather. There were a lot of people in and out. I worked on story notes and ignored the news blaring about Hurricane Dorian leaving the Carolinas and Days of Our Lives. 

It was raining when I hurried out. The rain was down to a shower by the time I was heading home, but I still got wet. Thankfully, to my knowledge, it hasn't rained since. (Though it does remain cold, humid, and windy.)

Put everything away when I got home, then had lunch and did the dishes. The weather practically screamed for spooky movies. I started off with the East Side Kids vehicle Spooks Run Wild. The Kids are at a camp, annoying the law school student who runs the place. They sneak out for a date and cut through a graveyard, where one is shot in the arm by the groundskeeper. The only place to rest for miles is a spooky old castle, where a man in a tuxedo (Bela Lugosi) offers to restore him. The place is filled with tricks and scares, making the Kids wish they'd just stayed at camp. Meanwhile, the school's nurse goes after the boys, even as a homicidal killer is supposedly loose in the area.

Headed out to the Acme around 2 for this week's grocery shopping. Found two packs of large salmon patties with manager's coupons and thought I'd try them. (They were listed as salmon burgers, but they were too big to fit on any burger roll.) Had free grocery rewards coupons for the Acme's sparkling drink. Restocked whole wheat flour, skim milk, Belvita Pumpkin Spice cookies, hot dogs, sugar, cake mix, ice cream, and yogurt. Found a jar of pink spring sprinkles and sugar for a dollar on the clearance racks. Grabbed Cepecol to help with my throat.

Mixed feelings on my schedule next week. In good news, Sunday and Tuesday off will give me plenty of time to prepare for vacation starting next Friday. In bad news...I really could have used more hours. I'm surprised I'm not working at least Tuesday.

As soon as I got home, I put everything away, then decided it was perfect weather for cookie baking. The snickerdoodles I made for the retirement party at work came out so well, I decided I wanted to fill my own cookie jar. Oooh, these came out even better, perfectly sweet and chewy.

Stuck to comic mysteries while I made the cookies with Murder By Death. Five famous vintage detectives and their sidekicks are invited to the home of eccentric millionaire Lionel Twain (Truman Capote) for "dinner and a murder." Twain is tired of never figuring out the stories in their books and wants to prove that he's the greatest living detective. When he turns out to be the victim, the others have to figure out who did him in...and if any crime was actually committed at all.

Like the later Clue, this is a great spoof of mysteries with an awesome all-star cast at the top of their game. Along with Capote, we have David Niven and Maggie Smith as the Nick and Nora Charles expys, Peter Sellars as the obviously not-Chinese Charlie Chan detective, Peter Faulk as the Bogart-esque Sam Spade private eye, and Elsa Lanchester as the Miss Marple nice old lady detective. There's also Sir Alec Guinness as a blind butler and Nancy Walker as a deaf-mute maid who can't communicate well enough to get dinner together. Neil Simon had a lot of fun with the satire of beloved mystery-land figures. A lot of fun if you're familiar with the detectives Simon is parodying here.

Worked on writing as soon as the cookies were in the oven. Brett is horrified when she sees ghosts through the telescope on the top of the lighthouse that seems to be crowded around a bound and terrified Charles. The three women manage to shine the light down on the ghosts long enough to reveal them and break them away from Charles. Getting his glasses on his face allows him to "see" the ghosts...and defy what he's frightened of.

Didn't break for dinner until almost 7:30. Made that slightly spicy salmon patty with salad and corn on the cob, then went online. Watched Sorry, Wrong Number as I ate. One night, bedridden, bratty heiress Leona Stevenson (Barbara Stanwyck) picks up the phone and accidentally overhears two men plotting a murder. She first tells the telephone company and the police, but they're no help. She then calls her husband Henry's (Burt Lancaster) office. He works for her father James (Ed Begley) at a chemical company, but he's late coming home and hasn't been seen all day. Sally Lord (Ann Richards), who had once been in love with Henry, tells him that her husband, attorney Fred Lord (Leif Erikson), is close to completing a major case that involves Henry. He's been restless at work with big ideas, some of which may be criminal. As Leona pieces together what Henry's really up to, she begins to realize that the murder being plotted may be her own.

Tense, atmospheric noir based on a much-loved radio play. Barbara Stanwyck got an Oscar nomination as the woman who grows more and more hysterical as she pieces together more of the truth. Lancaster almost matches her as the conniving husband who may or may not love his wife's money more than her. If you love tense, dark thrillers or are a fan of Stanwyck or Lancaster, you'll want to give this one a look.

Learn to Toon

Began the day with work. Once again, it started out well..but by lunch, things had picked up and we didn't have enough people to deal with it. Two college students called out. I ended up in a register and panicked when I had to deal with a customer who didn't understand how the 12-pack soda deals work. You can't mix Pepsi and Coke flavors, even if the sale is identical. I had to get a manager to explain it to her, though she seemed to take it well when it was explained. And this was with having to gather carts, round up trash, and sweep the store, because the head bagger was in a register, too. I was very happy to get out of there.

As soon as I got home, I changed and had apple-cinnamon muffins and a coffee-chocolate yogurt smoothie for lunch. Watched two Tiny Toon Adventures episodes on higher education while I ate and got organized. "Test Stressed" gives us three shorts on being tested, both in school and life. Plucky learns it's "Never Too Late to Loon" when he gets Shirley to channel Einstein into his brain. Furball doesn't have much luck catching "Lil' Sneezer" for his mentor Sylvester. Buster helps Fowlmouth clean up his notoriously blue vocabulary in "To Bleep or Not To Bleep."

"Looniversity Daze" is more about school in general. Buster is sent to "The Learning Principal" after fooling around in Yosemite Sam's class, but the head of the school isn't as terrifying as the kids think. Sweetie spends her lunchtime chasing Bookworm through the library in "Eating Between the Lines." Plucky ducks into the nurse's office to avoid a test in "What's Up, Nurse?", but regrets his decision when the assistant nurse turns out to be Elmyra.

Headed out as soon as the cartoons were over. On one hand, it was at least cooler than yesterday, and while it was cloudy, it also wasn't raining. It was also still humid. Despite the gloomy weather, Newton Lake Park was fairly busy with dog walkers, bikers, and parents taking their youngest children to the playground. At least the park looks nice. It's mostly pretty green, with big shiny leaves and sweet-smelling wildflowers waving along the shore.

The Haddon Township Library was busy with kids just getting out of school when I arrived. There were plenty of DVDs to do. Kids and adult titles were overflowing, the kids' so much that half of them didn't fit. I did manage to shelve most of the adult ones. Didn't take anything out this week. I don't know if I'll have the chance to get to the library next week to return them.

Dodged rush hour traffic long enough to stop at WaWa on the way home. I needed change for the laundromat tomorrow. Grabbed a nice, cool Double Mocha Cappuccino. Thankfully, the line wasn't too long, a rarity at rush hour.

Went straight into writing when I got home. Brett and Fannie appear in a spooky, abandoned, partly-burned lighthouse. Brett finds guns, then peers outside, catching a foamy sea against a rocky cliff and a misty day. She finds guns, one of which she gives to Fannie. They breathlessly join Joyce at the top of the darkened light, where she spies someone being attacked by a crowd of ghouls through a spyglass...

Broke for dinner at quarter of 7. Along with dinner and a shower, I watched College Humor, one of the earliest vehicles for Bing Crosby. Jack Oakie and Burns and Allen also figure into this slightly melodramatic tale where we "Learn to Croon." I go into more detail at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

College Humor

Out of the Rain

Kicked off a hazy, sunny morning with breakfast and The Hoober Bloob Highway. This Dr. Seuss special takes us into the far reaches of space, where Mr. Hoober Bloob and his walking mandolin assistant "dispatch" newborn babies to Earth. We follow them as they teach one particular infant all the ins and outs of what makes us human.

Headed to work shortly after the cartoon ended. Work was a bit of a pain. It went well enough in the morning, but then things picked up after lunch. I would try to do one thing, only to be told to do something else, including cleaning the bathrooms twice in an hour and a half. I did manage to gather carts, do the trash and recycling inside and out, shelve some candy, and sweep the store.

Rushed home as soon as possible. Beyond my rough day, I didn't like the look of the weather. It was sunny, hot, and humid in the morning. By the time I got out, the wind had picked up, and dark clouds loomed on the horizon, though it remained sunny. Thank heavens it didn't start raining until I'd long been at home and on the computer. It rained off and on for the rest of the night, including a deluge while I was making dinner.

Spent the rest of the afternoon writing. Wandering in the darkened, empty corridors of Television City, Brett and Joyce discover another semi-regular locked in a closet. Fannie Flagg had been on her way to the studio when someone shoved her in. She'd heard them mention the men, but had no idea where they might have been taken.

Tired and frustrated, Brett can't remember the clue Ira gave her earlier...but Joyce, who also heard it, can. He'd mentioned "blanks of the past." The three women finally decide he meant "ghosts." The moment Brett writes it down and calls out her answer, all three disappear.

Broke for dinner at 6:30. Had turkey hot dogs, corn on the cob, and Chinese beans while watching American Graffiti. I usually watch this one on or before Labor Day, but I just missed it this year. Four young men living in a small town in California in 1962 spend their final day of summer having adventures that may decide their futures. Steve (Ron Howard) is supposed to go to college, but is reluctant to leave behind his long-time girlfriend Laurie (Cindy Williams) behind. Curt Henderson (Richard Dreyfuss) spends the night looking for a gorgeous blond (Suzanne Summers) he saw in a Thunderbird. Nerdy Terry "The Toad" Fields (Charles Martin Smith) falls for a statuesque blond (Candy Clark), but loses the car he got her in. Their older greaser buddy John Milner (Paul Le Mat) spends the night stuck looking after a chatty young teen (Mackenzie Phillips) while fending off a cocky hot-rodder (Harrison Ford).

Star Wars isn't the only George Lucas movie I love. An up-and-coming cast, backed by some of the best rock music of the early 60's, have a great time with the coming of age story. If you love tales of the mid-20th century or are a major classic rock fan or fan of anyone in the cast, you'll want to check this one out.

Finished the night with another Bowery Boys movie. Hold That Line is one of the later ones that focus mostly on Sach and Slip. The boys find themselves in higher education when the heads of an elite college makes a bet that they can't last a semester. The students don't know what to make of them, other than to make them wear dresses for their fraternity initiation...until Sach creates a formula that gives him amazing athletic ability. He becomes a football star and the darling of the campus, but he also attracts the attention of gangsters who want Ivy's rival to win the big game. When they kidnap and drug Sach, the Boys have to rescue him and figure out how to use their brains, rather than brawn, to win the day.

Beautiful Day In Late Summer

Kicked off my morning with a Sailor Moon third season episode about a sinister school. "Believe In Love: Ami, the Kindhearted Guardian" takes the girls to the Mugen Academy, an elite school for geniuses. Ami is introduced to Viluy, one of the school's top science students. She thinks science is all logic, but Ami believes there should be some heart in there, too. Ami gets the chance to test her theory when they have to save the students' pure hearts from Viluy and her nanobots.

Work wasn't too much of a problem. It's the day after a major holiday, and a gorgeous day as well, sunny, warm, and breezy but not humid. We were quiet for the majority of the day. I spent as much of it as I could outside, either gathering trash or rounding up carts. I also swept the store and mopped the bathrooms.

Went straight home after work and on the computer. Brett discovers pixish blond Joyce Bullifant hiding behind the panelists' desks. She had come back for her purse and overheard a scuffle, then hid to avoid being squashed in the fracas. She heard the voices of the guys and the producer, but didn't really see anything. Brett saved herself from Ira before Joyce had the chance to jump out and help.

Broke at 5:30 to clean the bathroom. Thankfully, it wasn't that bad. The worst of it was a really grungy sink. Watched the 1947 Good News while cleaning and later as I had leftovers for dinner. I go into more details on this adaptation of the hit 20's college-set show at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Good News (1947)

Finished the night with Lego Star Wars. I'm still not having any luck with that Super Story! I keep getting to the first or second part of "Into the Death Star" and no further. I'll keep working on it.

Rainy Labor Day

Began a cloudy Labor Day with work. Work wasn't bad when I got in, but it picked up after lunch when the clouds got thicker. Every time I tried to get carts done, they'd throw me in the register. Thankfully, another bagger had arrived by that point to help out. The on-and-off showers at this point didn't help, either. I'd no sooner gather carts than it would start raining, sometimes heavily (but never for very long).

The main reason I went to work was actually to buy cold supplies. The Acme was having a buy 2, get 2 free sale on a lot of their generic medical products. I stocked up on cough drops; also grabbed Tylenol cold medicine and more of that Acme nut milk ice cream. While my fever's gone, my head is still achy, and my throat remains sore.

Thankfully, it wasn't raining when I went home and put everything away. The clouds had begun to build up again as I started to work on a new story idea. Yes...I've enjoyed Match Game so much, I've started fanfiction for it. Brett has a nightmare where a scuzzy producer spirits away Charles, Richard, and Gene. She has to rescue her fellow regulars from a sadistic game that's a lot scarier than fill-in-the-blank with the help of several of the semi-regulars.

I don't know if I'll go into a lot of detail on this one as I'm writing it, since it falls into the "mature" category. Currently, the only place I've found 70's Match Game fanfiction is on Wattpad, and I'm not a big fan of them. This and any other Match Game fanfics I write will be exclusive to my Writer's Desk at the Riverside blog.

It continued raining off and on the rest of the day, sometimes wrecking havoc with the Internet. A big thunderstorm rolled through around 5:30, though like most of the rain we've had today, it didn't last long. It was gone long before I broke for dinner at 6:30.

Had a quick leftovers meal while watching a Three Stooges short about working and school. "Violent Is the Word for Curly" when they're three gas station owners who end up at a girls' school after they destroy three professors' car. They teach the girls about "Swinging the Alphabet" and try to show them how to play football.

Went on to Lego Star Wars after dinner. Once again, I got barely got to "Into the Death Star" but couldn't finish. I'll keep trying until I go on vacation.

Finished the night with How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying. I go into more detail about this office satire at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying

Tea for Me

Ugh. I awoke feeling tired and stuffed up, with a nasty sore throat. I did manage to find enough room for Apple Cinnamon Pancakes for breakfast. They came out perfectly, too, chunky and just sweet enough and reeking of autumn.

Headed out west while I ate with the musical version of Destry Rides Again. This adaptation of the 1939 film has Andy Griffith as the title character, a lawman who doesn't carry a gun or believe in violence, and Dolores Gray as Frenchy, the dance hall girl who is ordered by her gunman boss to seduce him, but falls for him instead. Alas, the best-received aspect of this production - vigorous choreography by Michael Kidd - can't be seen today. "The Ring on That Finger" was apparently mildly popular at the time, but the score just isn't that memorable. Thankfully, the other notorious aspect of this - the temper tantrums Gray threw during its run - can't be heard, either. She sounds just fine, especially in her vamp number "I Know Your Kind" and "I Hate Him."

I was so tired after breakfast, I went right back to sleep. Despite the noise outside, I passed out until the mid-afternoon. Since it was relatively cool, I decided to make Apple Cinnamon Muffins for lunch at work this week. They came out relatively well, a bit chunky. Should have sliced the apples a bit more.

Switched to No, No, Nanette while I baked. This Roaring 20's tale of shenanigans in Atlantic City and New York gave people a rare later glimpse of Ruby Keeler and brought Helen Gallagher a Tony as a wife who thinks her husband is chasing three women. They're really three woman whom Keeler's husband (Jack Gilford) is giving money to. The score features some of the most definitive, songs of the 1920's, including "Tea for Two" and "I Want to Be Happy." My favorite number was written for the revival. Keeler and Gilford reminisce about how things in New York have changed over the years in "Only a Moment Ago."

Tried doing some writing, but I was just too tired. I ended up watching lots of Match Game and looking up stuff on Pinterest. Called Jodie and telling her I couldn't come over. I just wasn't up to it. I'll drop by their house later in the week, and football season will be starting soon.

It was around 4 PM when I went back to bed...but this time, I just couldn't sleep. My body felt hot and cold. I had a fan on me, and I was too cold. Turn it off, and I was too hot. I put a cold cloth on my head, and it didn't do much. I finally gave up and read Last Shot around 5:30.

I was so tired around 6:30, I could barely get up and have yogurt and grapes for dinner. I nearly passed out eating them. A shower at least somewhat restored my spirits and made me a little less hot and cold.

Finished the night with honey-lemon tea and Match Game. God, this show is fun. I'm too tired to list all the episodes I watched tonight, so here's a classic from 1977. We saw Richard and Betty White imitate Brett and Charles last week. Well, here's Richard and Fannie Flagg doing it....and dare I say, Fannie's interpretation of Charles is even better than Betty's?

Match Game '77

Welcome to the Holiday Weekend

I was so glad that the weather remained stunning. I had a lot to do today, starting with breakfast and a couple of Tom & Jerry cartoons. "Texas Tom" uses a western record wound by Jerry to serenade a pretty cowgirl kitty. Jerry rebels and embarrasses Tom. Jerry helps a lion who escaped the circus in "Jerry and the Lion." Tom's conducting a concert in "Tom & Jerry at the Hollywood Bowl," but an annoyed Jerry comes in and wrecks havoc. Jerry rescues a pet fish from becoming Tom's next meal in "Jerry and the Goldfish."

Headed out as soon as the last-named cartoon ended. I had a lot of errands to run, starting at the Collingswood Farm Market. It was quarter after 11 by that point, and they were starting to wind down. In fact, the orchard booth tossed in three extra small Gala apples just to get rid of them. I dodged people buying produce for their Labor Day barbecues and back-to-school lunches long enough to pick up nectarines, two small eggplants, and lettuce along with the apples.

Made my way across Collingswood and Cuthbert Road to the Haddon Township Library next. I didn't stick around, but I did want to return my DVDs. Dug around in the book sales again and found Melody's first American Girl book and the thriller Sorry, Wrong Number on DVD. Didn't take any movies out - I've been having too much fun with Match Game, plus I still have a few movies I haven't watched.

I was going to stop at the Oaklyn Library next, but they were closed. Turns out they're off for Saturday and Monday. Rats. I'll try them again later next week.

Went home and put everything away and rested a bit before heading back out. There was one more thing I wanted to do today. I had to deliver the snickerdoodles to work. A sweet older lady who works in the deli is retiring, and we had a huge party for her, with her family and lots of pink roses and balloons. There was plenty to eat, mac and cheese and ziti and roast beef for sandwiches, two types of deviled eggs, a vegetable tray, pasta salad and potato salad and meatballs. Desserts included a massive yellow cake with whipped icing, molasses cake, cheesecake, jam butter cookies, white chocolate-dried cranberry cookies, and lots of candy. I enjoyed a roast beef sandwich, slightly dry ziti, two deviled eggs (one with spices, the other with celery and a pimento), pasta salad, a huge slice of cake, and the white-chocolate dried cranberry cookies.

I wasn't feeling well when I got home. My throat had been sore, and I was dead tired. Ignoring the noise Charles and Richard made while working on the new brick walkway out front, I jumped in the bed as soon as I could and had a nice sleep for two hours.

When I got up, I tried to focus on writing. Maz gives Harris food for the road. He hugs her and apologizes for the mess. She says she and her remaining people will cover their escape.

Had leftovers for dinner while watching an episode of The Muppet Show in honor of Valerie Harper, who passed away after a long bout with cancer yesterday. Valerie turns up in the late first season to perform two 70's Broadway favorites, "Broadway Baby" from Follies and "Nobody Does It Like Me" from Seesaw. Statler, one of the balcony hecklers, has a crush on her and is determined to see her, but the plant he brings with him climbs all over the place until it nearly takes over the backstage.

Played Lego Star Wars after dinner. I got so close on the Return of the Jedi Super Story! I actually got past "Battle of Endor" and all the way up to the beginning of "Into the Death Star" this time. I'll make another try tomorrow or Monday.

I still wasn't feeling well by the time I finished the game, so I took my temperature. Ugh. It was 99.5. I took ibuprofen, put a cold cloth on my head, drank lots of water, and watched the 1997 version of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella for my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella (1997)

Finished the night with a ton of Match Game, mostly focusing on 1974 and 1976...but I couldn't resist the Star Wars references in one episode from 1978. Hope you're all having as much fun with them as I am!

Match Game '74 (Gene discovers that his microphone telescopes - that is, moves up and down.)
Match Game '74 (Richard somehow manages to dig up a photo of a young and handsome Gene Rayburn knitting.)
Match Game '74 (With a contestant and a panelist being from South America, there's quite a few south-of-the-border jokes.)
Match Game '75 (Fannie Flagg has quite a crush on a handsome contestant.)
Match Game '75 (Major ham Jack Cassidy joins in as that good-looking contestant finally loses.)
Match Game '76 (The contestant is very pregnant...and it's making everyone very nervous.)
Match Game '76 (Richard does his best impersonation of Charles, to the annoyance of the latter.)
Match Game '78 (Lots of Star Wars references when the machine that holds the questions makes strange noises, including a bit of the main Star Wars theme!)

Summer Breeze

Kicked off a gorgeous, sunny morning with breakfast and a couple of western and southwestern-themed Disney shorts. Mickey is "The Galloping Gaucho" who drinks and watches Minnie shimmy in a tavern. Big Pete is there too, and he decides he wants Minnie for his own. Mickey's rescue attempt is hampered by his drunk ostrich. "Two-Gun Mickey" is a later black-and-white short. An unusually feisty Minnie is a cowgirl who resists bandit Pete's advances, while cowboy Mickey once again rushes in to save her. "Don Donald" introduces Daisy Duck, under the name Donna. She's a Mexican senorita who isn't impressed with Donald's burro...but the car he buys acts up even more.

Rushed out to get the laundry done as soon as the cartoon ended. I needed clean work clothes. Of course, I ran out so fast, I forgot my laundry detergent. Luckily, I was able to borrow some from another person there. By the time my small load was in the dryer, most everyone had cleared out, and it didn't get busier again until I was on my way out.

I put everything away as quickly as I could, then made my grocery list and had a very fast lunch while watching two more Looney Tunes that took their regulars out west. "Bugs Bunny Rides Again" when he tackles Yosemite Sam to see who'll get out of town first. "Drip Along Daffy" insists that he'll defeat the bandit and "clean up this one-horse town," but it's sidekick Porky who is the real hero.

Headed to work as soon as I could. Thankfully, after all that, work was fine. I spent almost the entire time outside with the carts and doing the trash and recycling. We were crazy-busy early on. By 4 PM, the crowds were gone, and one of the college boys were helping me with the carts. No problems whatsoever. At least it was a gorgeous day to be outside. It was hotter, but still dry, and there was a wonderful breeze blowing down Nicholson Road.

My schedule next week is much better than this week's was. Sunday and next Friday and Saturday off. I do work early on Labor Day, but I didn't really have any plans for that day anyway. (Dad and Jodie are having their party on Sunday.) In fact, I work early pretty much the whole week, and I'm fine with it. Means I'll have time to clean and run errands later in the day.

Did my grocery shopping as soon as I got off work. A lot of good sales or sales-with-online-coupons this weekend, including for the Acme's generic organic fruit spread and Skippy Peanut Butter. Grabbed instant oatmeal, glitter crayons, and fancy mechanical pencils off the clearance racks. I was thrilled to see the Belvita Pumpkin Spice Cookies again after I loved them last year. Restocked white flour, butter, chocolate chips, yogurt, and canned pineapple.

Went home and put everything away as quickly as I could, then actually did a little bit of writing. Harris manages to get Leia into the Falcon before she can get frozen further. Charlie comes out with their luggage. Chewie is busy attacking one of Fettman's boys. He gets Charlie in the back, then lets Chewie in the passenger seat before turning to Maz to tell her they're heading out.

After I got off, I decided I was way too tired to do anything resembling cooking. I strolled down the street to West Clinton and the Final Friday Block Party. On the last Friday of every month during the summer and early fall, Oaklyn holds a big party with food trucks, local businesses advertising in booths, and live musicians. While the food trucks are a nice idea in theory, their wares are far too expensive for someone who has no budget. I ended up joining the 11 and 12-year olds at Phillies Phatties, enjoying a slice of mushroom, a slice of Margarita (mozzarella, tomato, and basil), and a can of Cherry Vanilla Pepsi while the kids chattered and tennis played in the background.

Watched Tiny Toon Adventures while enjoying the Acme's pint almond milk ice cream (peanut butter and cookies flavor). It's "High Toon" when Babs and Buster first mistake a tiny Mexican village for a theme park. After bandits set them straight and pick them clean, they round up a reluctant Plucky and Hamton to make sure the desperadoes don't do worse damage.

Finished the night with a bath. I enjoyed my bath so much on Wednesday, I thought I'd do it again. I read a book on old-time radio and kicked back and relaxed, something I desperately needed after a long week and a longer summer.

Getting So Much Better

Awoke to an absolutely stunning day. It had cooled off enough by the end of breakfast for me to switch the air conditioner off again and open all the windows. It was so nice, I decided to make cookies for work on Saturday. I had just enough butter, sugar, and flour left to make Snickerdoodles, butter cookies rolled in cinnamon sugar. They came out perfectly, chewy and spicy-sweet.

Watched the 1965 Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella while I baked. I go further into the version of Cinderella I grew up with on my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog.

Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella (1965)

Did two episodes of Sailor Moon from the second season revolving around fairy tales as I cleaned up and got ready for work. An, one of a pair of aliens looking to zap energy from students, cheats on drawing straws in order to "Steal a Kiss from Mamoru! An's Project Snow White!" and get the leading role in his play. Usagi is horrified when she's the wicked witch! An's looking forward to kissing Mamoru, but her partner Ali is jealous and sends a monster to stop the show.

Much later, after the arrival of Chibi-Usa, Usagi is telling the little girl the story of Sleeping Beauty in "Awaken the Sleeping Beauty! Mamoru's Distress." She's hoping to get a little romance back in her life. Mamoru has been telling her their through, and he was seen driving another girl home. Upset, Chibi-Usa runs out, attracting the Guardians and the evil Ayakashi Sisters Petz and Calaveras. The witches put Usagi to sleep...and only a kiss from her reluctant sweetheart can save her.

Thank heavens after yesterday, work was no problem whatsoever. I was outside the entire day, when I wasn't alternating sweeping the store with the head bagger. This was no day to be shopping. The weather couldn't have been nicer, sunny, early 80's temperatures, fresh winds. It was so gorgeous, I took the long way home down Nicholson Road, despite it being rush hour and having to dodge a lot of cars.

Instead of working on fanfiction when I got home, I decided to get the musical review done. I tend to push it so late at night, I get this entry done late and end up going to bed late. Thought I'd take advantage of my having watched it this morning to finish it earlier.

Broke for dinner at 6:30. Did one more Sailor Moon episode while eating a fried egg wrap with sauteed tomatoes, mushrooms, and cheddar cheese. Skipped ahead two seasons to Sailor Moon Super S. Romantic Makoto falls in love at first sight with a handsome man who danced with her in "Destined Partners? Makoto's Innocence." She literally waits up all night to see him again. That man is Tiger's Eye of the Amazon Trio, and he's more interested in her dream mirror than her dreams of love.

Returned to Lego Star Wars. I still can't get past the Return of the Jedi Super Story! I'll get to the end of "Battle of Endor" and no further. I'll keep working on it until I go on vacation, and if I can't get it by then, well, 99.6 isn't a bad place to be.

I finished the night with more Match Game. Did an early one from '73 and a pack from '74 and '75. Kick back with your drink of choice and have fun!

Match Game '73 (Betty White gets very embarrassed when she fails to match "Pass" and "Word"...and she's married to the host of the game show Password.)
Match Game '74 (The contestants are missing all together in the opening. Later, host Bert Convy has a unique way of coming in and advertising his new game show Tattletales.)
Match Game '74 (Betty's Password-hosting hubby Allen Ludden comes in for some teasing when his answer seems a little strange to the rest of the panel.)
Match Game '75 (Huge hams Jack Cassidy and Richard Dawson put on their best pirate voices to read a nautical-themed question.)
Match Game '75 (Gene has to get between Brett and Charles when they start in on each other again.)

Had a Bad Day

Kicked off  a cloudy morning with a quick breakfast and one of the serial-esque second series episodes of Danger Mouse. DM and Penfold have a "Close Encounter of the Absurd Kind" when they're snatched by aliens in mid-air while trying to deal with Baron Greenback. They have to first escape the aliens, then stop Greenback's latest plot.

Work was a total pain in the rear. I would have been happy to stay a few extra hours if they'd actually asked me ahead of time. I was told there had been a note to ask me on Monday. No one asked me on Monday. Someone asked me to come in on Tuesday, but I was already busy. They had no one else to bag. There wasn't another person coming in until 4, so I stayed until 4. I never got to the Haddon Township Library to return my DVDs. At least it wasn't busy. I did some returns and the outside trash, but I was mostly either sweeping inside or rounding up carts.

The weather wasn't even pleasant. The humidity had returned, and the sun was in and out. It finally went in around 2:30-3PM, when it started showering lightly. It continued to shower lightly off an on for an hour, but it had vanished by the time I was heading home. To my knowledge, it hasn't rained since.

I was dead tired when I got home. I got caught up online and last night and didn't get as much sleep as I should have. Tried writing, but finally decided I would just take a late nap. The air conditioner was on and was drowning out the noise of Charlie and Richard working on the path leading to the mailbox and Charlie's side of the house.

Awoke at 6:30, just in time for a quick dinner of leftovers and another Danger Mouse episode. Greenback challenges DM and Penfold to "The Duel," a series of strange tests taking place in Antarctica and at an amusement park. It's really a trap to get DM out of the way, but he knows how to get to Greenback in the end.

Took a much-needed bath after dinner. Ahhh. This felt wonderful after my long day. I looked over the vintage Celebrate! cake-decorating books Mom gave me a while back and listened to a jazz CD.

Wasn't really up to anything but finishing the night with Buzzr and more Match Game on YouTube. Focused on earlier episodes from 1973 and a couple of '76 episodes. I hope you're having as much fun with these as I am!

Match Game '73  (The turntable that takes the contestants away and brings out the Audience Match board goes the wrong way. This is apparently filmed on the same set as The Price As Right. Did this ever happen to Bob Barker?)
Match Game '73 (The first episode where Gene really gets to use his signature extra-long microphone.)
Match Game '76 (Animal-loving Betty White is upset by an animal-abusive question and doesn't like it when Gene tries to swat a fly.)
Match Game '76 (Broadway legend Ethel Merman finally gets tired of fellow stage actress Brett Somers going on and on and tells her to shut up!)