Sleepy Time Gal

Got a very quick and early start this morning with breakfast and the cast CD for By the Beautiful Sea. This 1954 musical featured Shirley Booth as vaudevillian Lotte Gibson, who's staying at her father's boarding house in turn-of-the-20th-century Coney Island. She falls for a handsome singer (Wilbur Evans), but his daughter "Baby" Betsy (who is actually a teen) disapproves. Not to mention, Lotte's father Carl invested money she wanted to give to her beau in a ride. She and her father have to think up how to get that money, while Lotte tries to win Betsy over by reminding her and her mother that this beauty is no baby.

I've had this album for over 20 years, since I bought it from a (now defunct) music store in North Cape May around 1997. I've always liked Booth's big comic number, the rueful "I'd Rather Wake Up By Myself" on her failed relationships, and her housekeeper's (Mae Busch) cheer-up solo "Happy Habit." Evans gets the hit ballad "Alone Too Long." Booth also leads the best of the chorus numbers, the charming "Coney Island Boat" (sung in counterpoint to her "In the Good Old Summertime"). Apparently, according to the extensive liner notes, the show had book trouble - the plot was re-written several times on the road. Baby Betsy is of such little consequence, she doesn't even get a song. 

I think this CD is pretty rare today, though the show may be online. In the end, it's really for the most ardent fans of Booth, old-fashioned musicals, or the songwriters Dorothy Fields and Arthur Schwartz.

Rushed off to work even before the CD ended. Work was busy between 9:30 and 11:30, but was otherwise on-and-off steady, and never overwhelming. We're between holidays now, and it's too sunny and hot for people to rush out to the store. I tried to work on shelving candy, but one of the managers kept doing the candy I pulled out because I wasn't getting to it fast enough. I finally gave up and worked on story notes between customers instead.

Hurried home as soon as I finished. Rose called, but I was at work. Passed by a huge birthday party going on at one of the houses across the street. I thought of seeing if Rose and her brood was there, but eventually decided I was just too tired. Took a nap instead. Went down at quarter of 5; got up at 6, still dead tired.

Did manage to get some writing in. Betty suggests that Brett could be a queen, with her mouth and commanding ways...elsewhere. Maybe in Looking Glass Land. She then asks Brett and the boys if they want to play croquet. Brett agrees to it in order to find out  how to get home...and soon regrets it...

Broke for dinner at 7. Listened to the 1971 revival of No, No, Nanette while eating leftover burgers with Chinese beans and tomatoes. This is another cast album I've had for years, in this case since around 2000.  Nanette (Susan Watson) is the ward of Jimmy (Jack Gilford) who's been giving money to three lovely ladies during the summer of 1925. He's giving cash to Nanette as well, who promptly ignores her stick-in-the-mud boyfriend and heads off to Atlantic City with the family maid (Patsy Kelly). Jack's wife Sue (Ruby Keeler), her friend Lucile (Helen Gallagher), and her husband (Bobby Van) follow. The trip to Atlantic City ends in disaster, prompting a return to New York to set everything right. 

No wonder this was a huge hit on Broadway in the early 70's. The cast album is charming and adorable. My favorite number is actually one that didn't make it into the show. "Only a Moment Ago," a duet for Gilford and Keeler as they recall their younger years, was written for the show but ultimately cut. I'm glad they recorded it. It's a lovely tune, and one that encapsulates what nostalgia means for so many people.

Finished off the night on YouTube after a shower with a salute to game show producers Heatter-Quigley. They started out in the early 60's with Video Village. I really wish more of this show existed. Watching people run around a massive board game to win prizes is too cute. No wonder a kid version debuted on Saturdays. Red Rowe is the "mayor" in one of the few currently-available episodes, the final night time show. 

Sadly, Heatter-Quigley's output was hit hard by video tape erasure. Most of their 60's and 70's shows are now gone or mostly gone. Thank heavens someone found a pile of Hollywood Squares tapes a few decades ago, including a lot of the nighttime run. I went with one of Paul Lynde's earliest shows from 1968. Some folks will be surprised to see Buddy Hackett in the center square. Apparently, Lynde didn't become its permanent resident for a few months after this. Peter Marshall wrangles the stars here.

Temptation is another one of their 60's shows that does still have a few episodes kicking around. Three women are offered prizes. If two go for the same prize, one gets the whole lot. They keep trading up until one wins. It's a simple game, maybe a bit too simple to be interesting. Art James tries to add some excitement.

They spent most of the 80's doing imitations of Hollywood Squares, especially after Quigley died in 1979 and Heatter took over. Battlestars and All-Star Blitz were variations on Squares. Battlestars was "Squares with the stars in triangles" and Alex Trebek hosting. Marshall returned for Blitz, which was more like "Concentration with celebrities." In this case. the contestants try to guess if the panelist is bluffing to uncover part of a saying. All Star Blitz didn't even make a year. Battlestars did a little better, lasting almost two years in separate runs. 

Heatter created The Last Word for Canadian television and US syndication. Celebrities are involved again, this time helping contestants guess words, then figure out what they have in common. Even Ted Lange and Jill Whalen of The Love Boat can't make this much more than a slightly dull and cheap imitation of Chain Reaction. Wink Martindale hosts in what would be his last show for the company.

You won't be square if you check out Heatter-Quigly and their world of wisecracking celebrities on huge sets! (And look for the original commercials on many of them, including Temptation, Battlestars, and All-Star Blitz.)

Video Village (1960)

Temptation (1967)

Hollywood Squares (1968)

Battlestars (1982)

All-Star Blitz (1985)

The Last Word (1989)

Fast Farm Market Food

Started off the morning with breakfast and Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. "Daniel Uses His Words" when his mother cleans up his barn animals before he's done with them and he gets angry. Mrs. Tiger reminds him to actually tell her what's wrong when he's angry, instead of stomping and growling. It's "All Aboard" for Daniel and Katerina when they play train together. Dan is angry when Katerina assumes she's going to be the engineer, and Katerina when Dan puts stuffed animals other than monkeys in their passenger cars. They learn it's easier to understand someone when you talk instead of growl or meow or sputter.

Hurried off after the cartoon ended. Wanted to get to the Collingswood Farm Market really fast before work. The summer harvest - and the crowds - are out in full now. Everyone wanted to enjoy the breezy, hot, and cloudy weather before it turns nasty again next week. Plums, corn, green peppers, and patty pan squash all put in their first appearances this year. Along with a squash, a green pepper, and an ear of corn, I picked up a cucumber, a small eggplant, a tomato, white peaches, and blueberries. 

I'm glad I went for the ride. While it remains humid and hot, it was also windy and off-and-on cloudy. Newton Lake Park teemed with almost as many people as the farm market. I dodged older women out for a stroll, kids riding their bikes in twos and threes, dog walkers, and families pushing strollers.

Quickly put everything away when I got home, then did a little bit of writing. Brett and her son Adam protest when Betty says she wants to cut off the heads of the Card Guards. All they did was make one little mistake with the roses! Allen convinces her to leave them in the dungeon until they figure out what to do about them instead.

Made a Summer Berry Smoothie for lunch while watching more third season Hogan's Heroes. "Sergeant Schultz Meets Mata Hari" when everyone's favorite cuddly German guard thinks he's found a new romance. The guys are suspicious from the start...and they're even more so when it turns out the lady is really a Gestopo agent. 

Headed out to work shortly after the episode ended. Work was dead for almost the entire afternoon. It got mildly steady around 2:30 and later at 3-3:30. Otherwise, we had a lot of people standing around. I shelved candy and worked on story notes between customers. Everyone either rushed down to the Shore when the weather started behaving, or are focusing on all the birthday and graduation parties they couldn't have last year. 

Went straight back online after I got home. Watched James and the Giant Peach on Disney Plus. I go further into this bizarre-but-sweet stop-motion cult favorite based after a Roald Dahl novel at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog. 

Animation Celebration Saturday - James and the Giant Peach

Since I was already at Disney Plus, I finished the night there with an episode of Tale Spin. Baloo's boss Rebecca Cunningham longs for a life of adventure and excitement in "Molly Coddled." She gets her wish when Molly finds a wooden figure that she mistakes for a doll in the Sea Goose and a slick gentleman throws a ton of charm on Becky. Molly sees through his charade and does everything she can to break up the romance. The so-called gentleman, however, is really a con artist who stole the doll from two gangsters. It actually leads to a fabulous treasure...and Molly has the key. Rebecca learns that her daughter is more important than any treasure when she's kidnapped and they go after her.

You Can't Do That On Streaming

Slept in so late this morning, it was past 11 before I finished my morning reading and writing. Watched another recent Muppet Babies episode while eating breakfast. Fozzie's baby sister is terrified of thunder in "Rozzie and the Big Bad Sound." The other kids try to distract her with louder sounds, then take her above the clouds to try to turn off the noise. "Muppets of the Caribbean" hit the high seas to find Jill the Frog's lost Lady Sparkle doll at the Island of Lost Toys. 

Switched to Match Game '79 while doing the dishes and making my grocery list. A particularly sarcastic contestant had an interesting time matching Susan Richardson, Robert Pine, Richard Deacon, Fannie Flagg, and the regulars on questions about what a lazy dog would chase and who tripped and made the biggest flop in Hollywood. Later, Susan helped that contestant get 10,000 on "__ Harry." 

Headed out for my first errand run of the day after the show ended. I wanted to get my grocery shopping done for the week. I'll be working too late to do it tomorrow. Mostly needed to restock anyway. The only things I bought without a coupon or a sale or both were coconut for a recipe later and bakery cookies for a treat. Also picked up milk, blackberries, bananas, flounder fillets with manager's coupons, yogurt, peanut butter, ice cream, toothpaste, ground turkey, and evaporated skim milk and more raspberry syrup off the clearance shelves.

(And I can see why I had the day off. Though there were carts all over the parking lot, the store was fairly dead. No problems getting a line whatsoever. It being sunny, hot, and humid all day may have sent folks down to the Shore, too.)

Threw on Hogan's Heroes while I put everything away. "A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to London" when the boys uncover evidence of a Nazi plot to kill Winston Churchill. Fortunately, their assassin is a double of British officer who happens to be a good friend of Hogan's. They're hoping he recognizes him, but Hogan has his own ways of turning the tables, on them and on the officer.

Went right back out after the episode ended. I had laundry to do. It wasn't too busy when I threw my load into the washer that takes the least time. Good thing, too. I had a big load, including towels. Picked up sugar and toilet paper at Family Dollar while the clothes were in the washer and money, a pretzel, and a pina colada-cherry Icee from WaWa. (Fire trucked raced to Jalapeno's Bar and Grill across the street as I slurped my Icee. Wonder what happened there? I didn't see any smoke.)

Put on Tattletales when I got home. This time, long-married Pat and Bill Daily and Patty Duke and John Astin beat gay buddies Fannie Flagg and Dick Sargant. Folded the clothes while contestants dodged Whammies on Press Your Luck. It was a really good game, culminating in the very close match between the other lady and the one guy. He got just enough money in the end to beat her and win a New Orleans vacation and lots of cash.

Worked on writing for a while after the show ended. Re-wrote earlier parts to add references to a "Limbo Realm" where the Red King sends those who don't behave and his Jabberwocky who eats anything in its path. Finally got to Queen Betty ordering the Card Guard to lose their heads...but Brett protests that it isn't right...

Got my schedule for next week while online. Mixed feelings here. Fewer hours and three long 8 hour and 8 1/2 hour days. However, I do get three days off, including next Friday and Saturday, and nothing later than 5. 

Jodie brought me margarita (tomato-basil-fresh mozzarella) pizza around quarter after 5. Had dessert while Match Game '76 was on instead. Pat Moriata joined the show for his only week, prompting a round of Japanese jokes. Bit surprised the panelists, several of whom lived or were from New York, didn't get the joke about what the owner of the deli put on the door knobs to prevent burglars...

Started the Coconut-Lime No Bake Cookies while Match Game PM ran. Joyce and Brett were pretty hot in this episode, matching the contestant almost every time. (This is such a rarity with Joyce, Gene suggested they should frame her first right answer.) I believe Brett got the top answer in both Audience Matches, too. 

Sale of the Century once again started out close, but the champ pulled ahead a bit by the second half. He also bought two out of three Instant Bargains and killed at the Speed Round. Picked up a lovely dark artwork on the Match the Prizes board.

(Jodie asked me if I wanted to watch the end of Pretty Woman with her, which is apparently her favorite movie. I declined. It was nice of her, but I wanted to finish Sale of the Century...and Pretty Woman is not my favorite movie by a long shot.) 

Finished the night on Paramount Plus with some major childhood memories. Canadian kids' variety show You Can't Do That On Television ran pretty much for the entire 80's on Nickelodeon, actually going over better here than in its native Toronto. My sisters and I used to love the wacky skits revolving around a theme, the sarcastic kids and their anything-for-a-buck manager Ross. We were even fond of some of the darker sequences, like the teacher who obviously doesn't like his pupils, the firing squad, the guy in charge of the dungeon, and Barth, owner of the world's most disgusting greasy spoon. ("What do you think's in the burgers?") And of course, almost every episode had one or more kids being drenched or covered in slime when they said the words (whispers) "Water" and "I Don't Know." 

(My parents were NOT fans of this show and never watched it with us. Mom objected to how the parent characters were portrayed as abusive and boorish. I think Dad didn't get the weird humor in general.) 

Too bad only the first national season is currently on Paramount, and that in its truncated American form. I seem to remember this show hit its stride more towards the mid-late 80's, when oldest teen Christine got a bit more mature and more familiar kids like Alisdair, Amy, and snarky Vanessa joined the cast. 

That said, there's some good episodes here. "Transportation" mainly jokes about the 70's-early 80's energy crisis as the kids try figure out how to get around without using too much gas. Christine goes on "Strike" for better pay while the other kids do jokes about money and allowances. She wishes the producers would remember "Safety First" when she keeps getting doused with water while explaining how to avoid typical household hazards. Christine's buddy, motormouthed Lisa, joins up for "Nutrition." At one point, her constant chatter is actually used as torture in the dungeon! The two girls try to explain how "Cosmetics" enhance one's appeal while dodging constantly splashing liquid and a lot of body odor jokes from the others. 

Just Plain Tired

Began a cloudy morning with breakfast and a brand-new Muppet Babies episode. "Sam and the Skyscraper" has Sam the Eagle putting everyone to work building a block city. He wants the city to look exactly like it does on the box, but the kids put their own spin on the town. Nanny explains to him that it's not so bad when we use our creativity, and everything doesn't have to always look the same. "Animal Too Loud" in the library when he and Fozzie are reading. Mr. Nanny thinks Fozzie's rubber chicken is squeaking and takes it away. The kids have to figure out how to get it down, without bringing Mr. Nanny in or waking Statler and Waldorf.

Headed off to work shortly after the episode ended. Work was fairly quiet for most of the afternoon. The weather may have scared some folks off. It was cloudy, hot, and humid almost the entire day. It didn't pick up until past 2 PM. 

I was trying to keep up with the carts when they put me and the other bagger on a register. We were supposed to have a third bagger on duty, but for the fourth time this week, she never came. Not to mention, I was a half-hour from being done. One family took so long to bag, I started in on the next man's order...and he got angry with me for not waiting for them to finish and rushing him. I was really upset. I honestly didn't mean to make him angry. I figured he'd want to get out as quickly as possible. The two women behind him were more understanding. At least it slowed down long enough for me to close and rush out.

The moment I got home, I changed and dropped on the couch. I was so tired, I could barely pay attention to Tattletales. It was a tie today between goofy Patty Duke and John Astin and gay pals Dick Sargent and Fannie Flagg. Press Your Luck was slammed with Whammies. The champ just got by.

Just about passed out by the time Card Sharks came on. Figured what I needed was a real nap. Fell into bed at 4:30 and didn't get up until almost 6. It didn't do me much good. I was still tired. 

Worked on writing for a bit. Queen Betty of Hearts wants to know if Brett and her boys had anything to do with the Cards and the painting and where they came from. Brett brazenly says they've never seen them. The Queen lets loose with her famous "Off with their heads!" until Adam points out that isn't fair...

Had Match Game '76 on while I worked. We had a classic Audience Match moment when the contestant rejected all of the panelists' (rather bad) answers to "There's a __" in favor of his own, "There's a fly in my soup." Not only was it the 500 dollar response, but someone behind the scenes spelled "soup" as "suop." Gene actually tried to fix it with one of the markers. 

Match Game PM was almost as much fun. A dapper gentleman who wrote best-selling cookbooks with his wife had a wonderful time trying to figure out crazy answers from nutty Betty Kennedy, sassy Marcia Wallace, and deadpan Robert Donner. David "Bosley" Doyle is the one who has to help the man win 20,000 in the end with "__ Mountains."

Sale of the Century once again started out close. One of the guys would be ahead, then the woman. The other man bought an Instant Bargain, then got the 25 card on the Fame Game. He jumped ahead in the Speed Round and beat everyone else handily. Picked up a trip to Aruba on the Match the Prizes board.

Finished the night with Doll Face on Paramount Plus. I go further into this backstage burlesque tale at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog. 

Doll Face

Lucy puts on a performance of her own in the second season I Love Lucy episode "The Operetta." Lucy and Ethel's women's club put on a performance of the very typical and satirical fairy-tale operetta the ladies wrote. Lucy's frustrated that the chorus keeps breaking in every time she tries to sing, but she has bigger problems. She gave the costume and set rental services checks, even though she didn't have the money to pay them...and now they want everything back. 

(And thankfully, it waited until late at night to finally start raining. At press time, it's only heavy rain, no thunder or pyrotechnics.) 

The Tooth Will Out

Started my day with finally having tasty Blueberry Pancakes for breakfast while watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. "Minnie's Picnic" will be at the new Mickey Park Picnic Grounds. It'll be a huge party with all their friends...if they can figure out how to get the food, plates, and blankets there, and then how to fit 12 friends and deal with the high winds.

Switched to Hogan's Heroes as I got ready to head out. "The Crittendon Plan" is the first episode of the third season. Hogan and his boys get word from London that they need to break the infamous Colonel Crittendon (Bernard Fox) out of Stalag 16, as it's his plan that's being used to sabotage a bridge. The boys are reluctant, given how ridiculous he acted last time, but they eventually do it...and then London says they had the wrong Crittendon...

Made it to my dentist appointment appointment with no time to spare. They were ready for me the moment I arrived, and it took no time to get me into the doctor's. The root canal really wasn't a problem. There were so many plastic sheets pushed around my tooth and so many needles, I didn't feel a thing. Once again, they filled the tooth in after they finished. They'll put a crown on in early August. (I just hope they can save it. The doctor isn't sure they'll be able to. I don't want another tooth yanked.)

Went a couple doors down to Target after my appointment finished. There were a few things I needed that were cheaper there, like brown sugar, honey, small plastic bags, and Liquid Plumber. Grabbed a Powerade for the ride home. It remained sunny, hazy, humid, and killer hot, likely into the mid-90's, which is likely why I only dodged cars on Cuthbert and a few bikes. No one else wanted to be out in that withering heat.

Put on Match Game '79 while making a Banana-Chocolate Smoothie for lunch. Grumpy Richard Deacon really wasn't happy when the lights on his desk seemed to be out. He did better helping a handsome contestant later with "__ the Dog." 

Switched to The Bride Came C.O.D on the Watch TCM app as I gave the bathroom a much-needed scrubbing. This 1941 screwball romance is one of the last of the "runaway heiress" comedies of the Depression era. The heiress in question is oil tycoon's daughter Joan Winfield (Bette Davis) who wants to marry bandleader Alan Brice (Jack Carson). They initially hire cash-strapped pilot Steve Collins (James Cagney) to fly them to Las Vegas...but Steve calls her father Lucius Winfield (Eugene Pallatte) and tells him he'll bring her back for a price. 

"Bringing her back" involves kidnapping her at the airport, to her frustration. She tries to bail out, only to bring them down in a ghost town in California. The one resident (Harry Davenport) really thinks he's kidnapped her and helps her detail him, then hide in the abandoned mine. Steve tries to make both of them understand, only for them to end up stuck in the mine and fall for each other. Meanwhile, Alan is coming their way with a preacher, and he'll have his bride whether she bails out or not...

Warners mostly specialized in gangster films, action movies, tough comedies, and message dramas at this point. They didn't really do romantic comedy that often, and it shows in a strange and overly-complicated plot. Davis in particular is miscast as the flighty rich girl; Cagney only looks slightly better as the pilot who falls for her. Cute if you're a fan of the leading stars or the screwball comedies of the 30's and early 40's.

Moved to Tattletales while cleaning the kitchen. The big winners today were long-married newcomers Pat and Bill Daily, over another long-married comic pair Patty Duke and John Astin and gay buddies Fannie Flagg and Dick Sergeant. By the time Press Your Luck came on, I was on the vacuuming and Swiftering. Whammies really flew thick today, taking out one of the two ladies all together in the second round. The other woman barely defeated a military man, winning a trip to Dallas, among other prizes.

Worked on writing for a while after I finished with the Swifter. Yes, the Queen and King of Hearts are none other than Betty White and Allen Ludden in elaborate Victorian dress. Betty asks Brett and the boys if they know why the cards painted her roses red. Brett claims they haven't a clue...but she doesn't like it when the Queen threatens to take the Guards' heads off for damaging her precious roses...

Broke for dinner at 6:30. Finally had that shrimp with potato salad and cucumber-tomato salad while watching Match Game '76. A contestant gave Gary Burghoff an adorable teddy bear, knowing how much his character Radar on MASH loves his bear. Later on, everyone tried to figure out what kind of a test Dumb Dora thought she had to take.

Finished out dinner during Match Game PM. Debralee Scott is intrigued by another good-looking horse-racing contestant who claims to be "happily single." Meanwhile, Charles teases Gene about his huge tie. Jimmie Walker shows off his stylish suit, then has to help that gentleman try to win 10,000 on "__ Gonzales."

Sale of the Century once again started close. The other man started to pull ahead during the second half, but the champ bought two out of three Instant Bargains and killed at the Speed Round. He picked up another shopping spree, this one more general, on the Match the Prizes Board.

Finished the night on Hulu with Tiny Toon Adventures: How I Spent My Summer Vacation. Babs and Buster kick off their two months off with an epic water fight that ends with them riding through the Deep South. Fifi the skunk pursues male skunk star, only to be stung when he uses her. Shirley the Loon regrets it when Fowlmouth takes her through the movie and ends up talking over it and driving the audience crazy. Elmyra terrorizes the animals in a safari park. Plucky Duck begs his best pal Hampton Pig to take him on vacation with them to Happy World Land, only to find that Hampton and his parents (Johnathan Winters and Edie McClurg) are a smiley-happy type of family who would give the Osmonds cavities. 

Wacky ode to time off is fun if you're a fan of the original Tiny Toon Adventures show or love other movies about summer trips that didn't go as planned. 

The Heat's In

Started off a quick morning with Hogan's Heroes and the season 3 episode "Two Nazis for the Price of One." The boys are ordered to London after two generals try getting information from Hogan about an Allied top secret program called "The Manhattan Project." They end up staying to help Hogan keep the generals and a lovely lady from finding out anything too revealing.

Once again, rushed off to work before the episode ended. Things only went slightly better today than they did yesterday. At least the afternoon bagger actually turned up this time. The manager wanted her to focus on the carts and kept me inside for the last few hours. I ended up sweeping the store and helping her put a dent in the carts of returns leftover from the holiday weekend. It's still deadly hot and humid, too. 

When I got home, I changed, then tried to get the TV hooked up to the Internet again. I just couldn't do it, no matter how often I reset or fiddled with it. Finally went looking for the router in Jodie's side of the house; reset it when I found it near the fireplace in the former office area. The TV worked perfectly fine after that.

Got some writing in between messing with the TV. As the procession of the cards begins, the three Card Guards drop to their stomachs before their monarchs. Brett tells her sons that them doing that isn't necessary. They can just bow.

Initially ate a quick dinner at my desk before I got the TV working. Tonight's Match Game '76 began with Charles and Brett bickering over his lack of socks again. While Charles didn't have them, the contestant proved to be wearing nifty red and white striped socks when Gene asked him to take his shoes off, so he wouldn't be taller than him! 

Match Game PM was another late-run favorite of mine. Poor cue-card boy Roger Dobowitz came in for a major ribbing when Gene pointed out how he'd written "parachute" as "pair of shoes." The show ends with Dick Martin happily following Elaine Joyce in her flame-red dress off-stage.

Took down the 4th of July decorations while the show ran. I meant to do it yesterday, but I didn't have the energy after the mess at work and with the TV. Nothing else will be going up for a while besides what little I have for summer. Likely, by the time I do put up anything else, I'll be moving. 

Got the TV going in time for Sale of the Century. The current champ had the devil of a time with the one woman tonight. No one bought any Instant Bargains, but they did pick up money on the Fame Game. In the end, the champ came back on the Speed Round and left everyone else in the dust. He opted to return when he found out that, not only would he get the shopping spree at an expensive LA clothes shop being offered, but he'd be the first one to have a choice from the new Match the Prizes board.

Finished the night at the Watch TCM site with The Time, the Place, and the Girl. I go further into this charming backstage musical from 1946 at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog. 

The Time, the Place, and the Girl

(Incidentally, the sky rumbled all evening, but to my knowledge, it hasn't rained yet.)

Bad Day Rising

Started off a quick morning with breakfast and Hogan's Heroes. Hogan becomes "The Hostage" when Russian spy Marya (Nita Talbot) shows up at the camp with a German general in tow. She's been telling him all kinds of things about their operations. Hogan has to mislead them while his boys make sure a rocket fuel plant for the Allies is built outside their camp.

Rushed off to work even before the episode ended. Things started off relatively well...until the crowds came at noon. Today was considered part of the holiday weekend, and many people had the day off. We were overwhelmed by crowds for the rest of the day. I ended up in a register for ten minutes, and later for more than two hours. There just wasn't enough help up front. Oh, and the afternoon bagger called and said she'd be late, then never appeared at all. Ironically, they finally let me out at 4, just as the evening bagger got in. I had just enough time to do carts and the outside trash before I left.

Changed when I got home, then went into writing. Brett and the boys join the Card Guard in their "Mission: Impossible" of painting the roses red. They actually start to enjoy it...until Brett's younger boy David hears the sound of trumpets and sees the arrival of The Queen of Hearts and her entourage...

Broke for dinner at 6:30. I was going to watch Match Game '76 while eating leftover pizza, but the TV refused to connect to the internet. I have no clue why. The laptop connected just fine. I kept resetting and trying, and it kept not connecting. I finally gave up and watched Richard help a woman with the Head-to-Head question "__ Times" online. 

Match Game PM didn't go quite as well. Gary Burghoff, Dick Martin, Joyce Bulifant, and Holly Halstrom of The Price Is Right joined Gene, Brett, and Charles to help an unhappily married gentleman with a massive Afro try to figure out what island a low-budget game show gave people two weeks to in the Sixth Season opener. The young engaged lady ended up getting help from Charles with the Head-to-Head "__ Hudson."

Desperately needed a bath after the episodes ended. Anything to relax after my difficult day! Read Women Who Run With the Wolves while listening to Jazz for the Quiet Times and enjoying the quiet.

Finished out the night on The Roku Channel with a Charlie's Angels double episode from the fifth season. They're "Love Boat Angels" when they follow a soldier of fortune (Bert Convy) and his buddy who stole millions of dollars in priceless artwork and statuary from Greece and intend to sell it to the highest bidder. The insurance company representative (Dick Sargent) is desperate to get it back. While Bosley stays in LA to tail the woman fence, Kris tails the thief...and ends up falling for him, despite the rather nasty people on his trail. (And disappointingly, this uses very little of the actual Love Boat besides the boat itself, with the characters from that show only making cameos. Most of the episode isn't even set on the boat.)

Star Spangled Woman

Kicked off a sunny 4th with material from Colliers Harvest of Holidays. The long piece is from the Laura Ingalls Wilder novel Little Town On the Prairie. Pa takes Laura and Mary into the newly-built village for their 4th of July celebration. The girls enjoy fresh lemonade from a barrel, get fireworks from an enterprising local politician, and watch an exciting horse race their friend Alonzo takes part in. Other material includes several patriotic poems or poetry about fireworks and The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere. Threw in the final chapter from my book Summer In America about 4th of July celebrations across the US and how they inaugurate "America's childhood." 

Barely had time for two quick cartoon shorts while I ate breakfast. "Patriotic Popeye" tries to keep his nephews from setting off fireworks, but they keep finding ways around his rules. They finally get the hint when a huge rocket carries them off and they have to rescue him. Donald Duck wants to impress Daisy with his big night-time picnic to watch the fireworks in "Donald's Failed Fourth," but first the chairs, then the blanket won't cooperate.

Rushed straight off to work after Donald ended. It wasn't busy when I arrived, but the crowds picked up around noon as the parades ended and the picnics began. Other than a few customers who misinterpreted the big 12-pack soda sale this week, there were no real problems. Thankfully, it finally slowed down just in time for me to close down and leave without a relief. 

Dark clouds gathered, even as I raced them home. By the time I got to the pool in my bathing suit, it began to shower heavily. No matter. If I was going to be wet, I'd go all the way. It was just water, no thunder or lightning. Finley, Chloe, Riley, and I happily swam and splashed in a downpour while their parents huddled under a meager tent and tried to stay dry. 

The rain just slowed as Craig came out and announced the barbecue was ready. Jodie, Craig, and Rose prepared a pretty darn decent feast. I had a burger, Caesar salad, potato salad, fruit salad, a mini-cupcake, and spinach dip with pita chips one of the neighbors brought. There was also spicy sausage, hot dogs, and baked beans. (I never was a fan of baked beans, and sausages give me heartburn.)

After the girls and I ate, we played with Chloe's collection of those new "pop-em" things the kids love. They're basically thicker versions of the plastic wrap that people love to twist and make noise with, often made in goofy shapes and bright colors. The girls love them, and I can understand their enthusiasm. They are kind of fun, and almost therapeutic to mess around with.

When the girls got bored with those, I offered to show them around my apartment. The older girls really loved my American Girl dolls. They seemed to be especially fond of Molly, admiring her camp uniform and playing with her glasses and shoulder bag.

We eventually decided to jump back in the pool...literally, given the kids and I all showed off our goofy dives! Khai dragged himself away from his smartphone games long enough to join us. I swam with Finley from one end of the pool to the other, then floated in the inner tube while the kids played games and chased each other. 

The party broke up around 6:30 so the families could get ready for the fireworks. I went back in my place, changed into dry clothes, and worked on writing. Greg (Morris) the Diamond Card has initiated a "Mission: Impossible" to paint the Queen's white roses red, before they get into more trouble. Brett's not sure helping is a good idea, but the boys figure it couldn't hurt...

Broke at 8 to head out for the fireworks. The weather had turned absolutely gorgeous for a walk. The sun emerged, the sky was blue, and it was pleasantly cool and breezy, especially for July. Stopped at Dollar General first. I wanted Dew S.A again, but they were out. Went with a Baja Blast instead. There was only one other guy in line, and I got in and out as fast as I could.

Crossed the street when I could get between cars and strolled down to CVS. They're directly across from Newton Lake Park...and have perfect sightlines for the fireworks. A lot of folks from Oaklyn, Camden, and the near-by towns watch them there. It was a real carnival atmosphere in their small parking lot, with kids turning cartwheels and taking selfies and parents chatting on lawn chairs or the backs of trucks. 

Hung out briefly by the concrete bridge over the river to admire the pink and lavender sunset before returning to the parking lot. Joined Riley and her parents on the curb in front of the CVS building. Chloe and her parents and Jodie came around later, shortly before the fireworks began. (Rose and her family opted to watch the show from their house.) 

The fireworks are always gorgeous in Collingswood. They get real professionals to do them, and they're twice as long and elaborate as any of the other local towns besides the big Philly show. I loved the purple one with the gold ring that resembled Saturn, the pretty red hearts, and the big gold sparkly ones that faded in all kinds of crazy lines.

Jodie insisted on everyone staying together on the walk home to avoid the crowds and traffic. I tried twice to tell her I've walked home alone on the 4th with no trouble besides dodging traffic every year and I'm an adult and don't need hand-holding, but she was just too worried about the cars all over the place. Once we got away from the crowds and closer to Hillcrest, I walked faster, going past Jodie and the kids and their moms. 

Enjoyed the peace and quiet as I headed down the street. Walking back from the fireworks is almost my favorite part of the Fourth. Most people are on their way back from the show or out of town. It was so cool, most houses didn't even have the tell-tale hum of air conditioners vibrating from their windows. 

After I joined the live chat at the Match Game '91 premiere, I stayed on YouTube to finish the night with vintage parades. Having enjoyed the 1988 Walt Disney World 4th of July Spectacular last year, I did the next two years tonight. The 1989 version was hosted by Willard Scott and that year's Miss America. The actual parade only filled the first hour. The second half showcased musical numbers by the Temptations and that year's newest boy band sensation, New Kids on the Block, along with the Main Street Electrical Parade. Carol Channing and Minnie Mouse came together rather bizarrely for the big patriotic dance routine at Cinderella's Castle in the finale. The Mouseketeers reprised their Typhoon Lagoon number from the Easter parade.

The 1990 show ditched the parade and hosts all together to focus on the musical numbers. Downtown Julie Brown from MTV introduced New Kids on the Block again, this time joined at Pleasure Island by Jermaine Jackson. Gladys Knight and the Pips performed a medley of their greatest hits at the then-newest Disney hotel, the elegant Dolphin Inn. The Mouseketeers brought back a wave of memories with their music video for "Every Little Step," which I fondly remember seeing frequently both on The Disney Channel and The Mickey Mouse Club. 

Regis Philbin and Kathy Lee Gifford joined Minnie and the Disney gang for the Castle number this time, with Minnie leading sailors in "Bloody Mary" from South Pacific and "Anchors Aweigh," Kathy going country with the Country Bears, and the Disney gang reciting the first lines of The Declaration of Independence. 

And here's hoping you had an equally fun 4th of July, whether you spent it at home or out and about with your own friends and family!

Busy Summer Harvest

Started off a cloudy morning with breakfast and America Rock. These Schoolhouse Rock shorts were made during the Bicentennial in 1975 and 1976 and cover American history and government. "No More Kings," "The Shot Heard 'Round the World," and "Fireworks" goes into detail on the events leading up to the American Revolution and the creation of the Declaration of Independence. "Sufferin' 'Til Suffrage" is a big R&B number on over a hundred years of women fighting for the vote. "Elbow Room" discusses the Louisiana Purchase and westward expansion. "Mother Necessity" and "The Great American Melting Pot" detail how the Industrial Revolution and the arrival of immigrants to fill those factories changed the US for better or for worse. Snuck "Tyrannosaurus Debt," a pointed commentary on the national debt and how it keeps growing, in from the later Money Rock. 

Headed out after the cartoons ended for my first errand run of the day. After a quick stop at CVS for money and an orange Perrier, I rode over to the Collingswood Farm Market. They were packed, the busiest I've seen them in over a year. Regular pre-prepared food sales returned this week, and dogs are now allowed again. 

The summer harvest is out now, too. Strawberries, snap peas, and asparagus are gone, replaced by beans of every type, summer squash, peaches, blueberries, cherries, onions, eggplant, and blackberries. Picked up a tomato, a cucumber, a zucchini, peaches, Chinese beans, blueberries, and bananas from the tropical fruit booth. 

Ran into Jodie and Rose in the main house when I got home. Seems Jodie wanted to hit the grocery store today, too. I was welcome to join her. They'd also decided to hold Finley's birthday in the larger, and now largely empty, main house later in the day. Fin's birthday had an animal theme, with a banner decorated in monkeys, elephants, and tigers and matching yellow and green crepe paper strung in the living room. 

I quickly made my grocery list, then rounded up my backpack and bag and met Jodie at her car. I didn't really have a ton of grocery shopping to do this week, mostly basics like yogurt and butter. Found bags of espresso-flavored chocolate chips and a bottle of raspberry syrup on the clearance rack; a pack of spatulas was also listed for clearance. Steamed shrimp and ground turkey were the cheapest meat I could find. Had online coupons for cherries, blackberries, Edy's Ice Cream, cereal, and yogurt. Restocked tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, black tea, mushrooms, and milk.

(And I could see why I was off. It surprisingly wasn't that busy when we were there, and they had plenty of help outside and in.)

Put everything away when I got in, then had a Blackberry-Banana Smoothie for lunch and wrapped Finley's tea set. Watched Hogan's Heroes while I worked. Hogan insists on "No Names Please" during the fourth season when a war correspondent they rescue begs to write their story. Unfortunately, it gets back to camp and not only reveals Hogan's operation, but that there's a Gestapo spy in their midst.  

It's a "Bad Day In Berlin" when Hogan teams up with an American spy (Harold J. Stone) passing himself off as a German general. He and two of the guys follow him to Berlin to trap another spy and get him out of the country.

By the time the episode was winding down, I'd finished making my bed and could hear children giggling in the main house. Rose arrived with Khai and a wound-up Finley. She sported an adorable animal-print dress and was delighted to show it off to her friends when they came in, mostly kids from the neighborhood and their parents. The kids tossed rings on the tail of an inflatable crocodile and played Animal Bingo (with animal pictures instead of numbers) to win sticky alligators and foam rubber creepy-crawlies. Some of the younger ones played with a container of plastic jungle animals and trees Finley loves. 

Shortly after he and Ryan won Animal Bingo, Khai swore he saw a groundhog on the hill under the main house. He lead all of the kids and several adults down to find it. I don't know if they ever did. I moved too slow to really join them, and I wasn't wearing shoes. Besides, the rain returned lightly, even as they raced each other over the soft green grass and back up the hill.

We just beat the rain to the punch. It started pouring shortly after we all got back in. The kids got antsy watching the rain off and on the porch while waiting for Craig to come back with three large pizzas for the adults, three small pizzas for the kids, and cheese-covered garlic rolls for everyone. Rose bought a large cake at the Acme and decorated it with cookies, plastic toys, and chocolate "rocks" made to look like a zoo with modern roam cages. After the kids had their fill, they chased each other in the den and watched the storm come down.

I returned to my side of the house to work on writing when they all hit the pool in the rain. Greg (Morris) the Diamond Card, Bert (Convy) the Spade Card, and Larry (Hovis) the Club Card find Brett and the boys admiring the Queen of Hearts' beautiful roses. They planted a row of white roses by mistake and hope to get back into her good graces by leading a "Mission: Impossible" to paint the white roses red.

Broke for baking at quarter of 7. Started the Chocolate Chip Muffins while watching more Hogan's Heroes. Hogan and the guys find themselves part of "An Evening of Generals" when they're ordered to blow up a meeting of top Nazi brass. They get help from a cook who knows German and from Klink, who is determined to make a good impression.

Suspicious Nazi General Hochstetter is back in "Everybody Loves a Snowman." He's looking for evidence of tunnels. Hogan, meanwhile, is dealing with five stir-crazy pilots who want to go home yesterday. He eventually uses the cold German weather as a cover to finally get them out under Hochstetter's nose.

Switched to MASH while making Blueberry 4th of July Softbakes from my British cookie book. "The Winchester Tapes" from season 5 reveals that new head of the base Major Winchester (David Ogden Stiers) also wants out yesterday. Like Fraiser in Cheers, he feels too erudite for the hijinks at the 4077th. Meanwhile, Hawkeye would do anything to spend time with a beautiful nurse in Seoul, including trade shifts with Winchester. 

Finished the night with This Is the Army online after a shower. I go further into the ultimate World War II patriotic musical at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog. 

Happy 4th of July! - This Is the Army

Rain On a Holiday Weekend

Began the morning with breakfast and Hogan's Heroes. Klink is in major trouble when he's bullied by two German officers into donating far more than the camp can afford as a gift for Hitler. Hoping to keep them from closing, the prisoners open "Hogan's Hofbrau" in order to make money and get the lowdown on the officers.

Did some writing for a while next. Brett leads her sons Adam and David into a glorious Technicolor garden filled with red and white roses, glass-like ponds, and lime green trees and bushes. They all appear in appropriate Victorian finery as well. The boys wear Little Lord Fauntleroy-style suits (the elder Adam has long pants), while Brett is in a blue gown with black silk ribbon trim. 

Broke for lunch and more Hogan's at 11. "Top Hat, White Tie, and Bomb Sights" has the boys putting on their own radio show in order to convince Klink that Hogan is on the Germans' side. Hogan's really after papers on a new bomb sight that could help the Allies.

It just started raining hard when I finally got into my uniform. I couldn't remember my password for Uber (and I doubt I would have found a ride in that downpour anyway), and this was no day to be dragging people out. I just rode to work and got wet. Of course, I was a block from the Acme when the rain finally slowed and stopped.

Had plenty of time to dry off. This was one of my cashiering days. Thankfully, other than a few annoying customers, it was almost totally uneventful. We were on-and-off steady, with plenty of help. In fact, it slowed down so much by 7, I signed off a little early to put away a few cold items. The off-and-on rain may have contributed to the crowds as well. 

Got my schedule today, too. I'm not happy at all. Not only do I work long hours on the 4th of July, but I have two 8 and 1/2 hour days in a row on Monday and Tuesday. Everyone must have wanted those days off. Plus, this is the week I'm supposed to get my root canal. I'll never be able to recover from that. 

The rain was off when I rode home. In fact, it was sunny, hot, and humid again. The clouds began to build even as I locked my bike under a tree in front of my apartment. It didn't start raining (this time, a thunderstorm) until I was long online.

Had a quick dinner after I got home while watching more Hogan's, this time from the fourth season. Figured I might as well finish up Disc 1 with "Man's Best Friend Is Not His Dog." French chef LeBeau eagerly adopts a cute dog who has wandered into camp. Hogan's less delighted with his canine buddy when the dog buries the bone holding important secret microfilm. The guys end up chasing the dog all over the camp hoping to find where he hid it.

Finished the night on Hulu with another popular war-themed comedy for the 4th of July weekend, MASH. Started off with "Radar's Report" from the second season. Radar has a lot to discuss with Henry Blake, starting with the North Korean patient who attacks everyone in the operating room and actually wounds Nurse Erika (Joan Van Ark). Hawkeye falls for her, but she doesn't have long in Korea. Meanwhile, Frank Burns and Hot Lips have had enough of Klinger's antics in dresses and have him get a psychiatric evaluation. 

Later in the season, "The Sniper" has everyone on edge. They all take shelter in the hospital building, even Henry and Radar. The officers try to figure out how to operate, even with bullets flying all around them.

Hawkeye and Trapper are supposed to be attending seminars when they attend a surgical clinic in Tokyo, but to Frank's disgust, they spend the time golfing and chasing geisha girls. They first encounter "The Consultant," medical consultant Anthony Borellei (Alan Alda's real-life actor father Robert) at a bar and try to convince him to spend time in the real war at the medical aid station. He turns them down at first, but eventually joins them...which leads to trouble when he can't handle surgery on a patient's collapsed artery.

Considering what the weather's been like here lately, I can really relate to "None Like It Hot" from the seventh season. Everyone's literally lining up across the camp when Hawkeye and Hunnicut manage to get their hands on a portable bathtub during a major heatwave. Klinger makes use of the heat wave to show off his fur coats and sweat himself out of the army. Meanwhile, poor Radar is the one on the operating table when he needs his tonsils removed. 

Dolls On a Rainy Afternoon

Kicked off the morning with breakfast and a quick Hogan's Heroes episode. "The Scientist" is a French chemist being forced to work for the Nazis. The guys manage to get him and his daughter out of the country and replace him with his fellow Frenchman LeBeau. LeBeau's more than a little nervous when he and his "assistant" Newkirk try to convince two German officers they're on the level. (And I don't know if it was intentional, but LeBeau in his scientist jacket and glasses looks a lot like Jerry Lewis in The Nutty Professor.)

It was still sunny, hot, and humid when I rode to work this morning. The rain didn't arrive until around 11:30. The steady off-and-on showers didn't really do more than make me damp and cool the temperatures down. I spent the entire day sweeping the store and gathering carts with no real problems. 

By the time I finished, clouds scuttled in again, and the wind picked up considerably. Raced the weather home. I just made it. Thunderstorms, sometimes noisy ones, started about an hour after I got in and have continued off and on since.

Between the weather this weekend and everything I want to do Saturday, I have no time to get the laundry done. I finally dumped my small load into Jodie's washer. She didn't say I could use the washer and dryer on her side of the house while she's out of town...but she didn't specifically say I couldn't, either. What she doesn't know won't hurt her.

While the laundry got done, I dressed the dolls for the 4th of July and hotter weather. Ariel's in a patriotic-print peasant blouse Lauren sent, a pair of jean shorts I bought from a craft show years ago, and a pair of Springfield Collection espadrilles. Jessa gets the red t-shirt from the original 1996 Blue Jean Basics outfit, the late 90's Earth Day shortalls, and purple jelly sandals. Samantha wears one of the original outfits I got for her back in the early 90's, the Sailor Middy and Tam, with her original black ribbed stockings and the white and black boots from her Flower-Picking Dress. Put Josefina in her "school" outfit, the Indigo Skirt and Camisa. Finally found Felicity's white Summer Dress with the wide blue and white flowered sash for a half-way decent price on eBay earlier in the year. Whitney hopes there will be a parade this year so she can show off her white red and blue sequin-trimmed AG Dance Outfit and sparkly red tap shoes. 

Listened to Ragtime while I dressed the dolls. I've loved this musical version of the E.L Doctorow novel since I first bought the two-disc cast CD in 1998. Brian Stokes Mitchell and Audra Ann McDonald are riveting as the courting African-American lovers whose hopes and dreams are shattered by a simple act of prejudice; Marin Mazzie is also excellent as sensible, kind-hearted Mother, who has enough warmth to take Sarah and her child in, no matter what their skin color is. The music is fabulous, too. My favorite is the title song that deftly introduces the time period and the entire enormous cast, but every song is a delight. If you can find the full two-disc set off or online, it's very much recommended. 

After I switched my clothes to the dryer, I worked on writing for a while. Brett and the boys find themselves back in the hall with the doors. They also discover they can't go out the way they came. The rabbit hole vanished. Brett finally decides the only way they're getting out is through the small gate. She and the boys nibble at the mushrooms from Nipsey the Caterpillar long enough to bring them down to the right size. This time, she remembers the key to open the gate and get them in.

Broke for dinner at quarter of 7 after retrieving my laundry and delivering the rent. Checked out one of the funniest Match Game '76 episodes while eating leftovers and spinach with mushrooms for dinner. We kick off with Gene wearing a scarlet coat that was so bright, Mary Wickes warned him to stay away from bulls. Later, the panel walked out when the contestant got the top answer in the Audience Match, prompting Gene to pull Earl, the guy who moves the Audience Match answers into place, out to help her with answers. 

Match Game PM got almost as wild. A pretty blonde contestant turned heads, including that of Bill Daily, while the others marveled over the other contestant coming from a family with 16 kids. Joe Santos is more worried about helping that sweet girl contestant with "National __ League" in the Head-to-Head.

Sale of the Century started close, but the male champ quickly pulled away from the pack. He bought one Instant Bargain, won a Fame Game, and blew everyone away at the Speed Round. He once again decided to return for better prizes down the road.

Finished the night online with Pin Up Girl. I go a little further into this ultra-patriotic vehicle for Betty Grable at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog. 

Pin Up Girl