What's So Great About the Grateful Dead?

Much is being made about the Grateful Dead's "Fare Thee Well" concert to be held this summer in Chicago.  the tickets are all sold out and people are looking for them.  Radio stations are giving some away.  I had two friends that got into the lottery but were unsuccessful.

I, for one, would never waste my money on one of their concerts.  I did once back in the late '70s at Alpine Valley in Wisconsin.  Worst concert I've ever seen.  It lasted way too long and I think they maybe played three or four songs in 3-4 hours.

I should mention here that I am not a fan of jamming at all.  One or two songs I can perhaps put up with, but definitely not this.  I did, however, find enjoyment in watching the others who were obviously in their own little worlds.  One whole hillside seemed to be moving to the jamming.

And, I have lots of Grateful Dead studio albums and enjoy their songs.  Great stuff, but that jamming just doesn't make it for me.  I realize that puts me in the minority, but I wouldn't go to this concert, especially without Garcia, with all the jamming I'm sure they'll do.

Even If I Received Free Tickets.  Like I Said, I Don't Like Jamming.    --RoadDog


SOME CRAZY SAYINGS:  Every calendar's days are numbered.

Not So Grateful Ripoff

From the May 20, 2015, Chicago Tribune "Auctioneer devastated by theft of Dead work" by Erin Chan Ding.

Well, it was supposed to be all peaceful and festive with the auction of Grateful Dead memorabilia to take place here in McHenry County at the Donley Auction Dervices in Union, Illinois.  But some spoil sport has ruined it and stolen some $75,000 worth of stuff.There were some 700 items to be at auction on the Grateful Dead Family Jubilee Auction, set to coincide with the group's 50th anniversary of formation.

Stolen items include a 1966 original silk screen of a skeleton with roses enhanced by artist Stanley Mouse with a reserve set at $25,000.  The other items are a 1986 German promoter poster, a 1986 Statue of Liberty tour poster and a 1966 serigraph signed by Wes Wilson.

Not a Nice Dead Thing to Do.  --RoadDog


SOME FUNNY SAYINGS:  He often broke into song because he couldn't find the key.

Music Deaths: Jo Jo Benson and Ray Gipson

JO JO BENSON, 77,  Died Dec. 23, 2014.

Charted four times with Peggy Scott.

"Lover's Holiday" #31 1968
Pickin' Wild Mountain Berries"  #27 1968
"Soul Shake" #37 1969

RAY GIPSON, 77.  Died Jan. 4, 2015

First tenor with the G-Clefs.

"I Understand" #9 1961
"Ka-Ding-Dong" #25 1956

WLS Top Ten for May 28, 1965

1.  SILHOUETTES--  Herman's Hermits
2.  HELP ME RHONDA--  Beach Boys
3.  IT'S NOT UNUSUAL--  Tom Jones (from #13)

4.  WOOLY BULLY--  Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs (from #15)
5.  MRS. BROWN YOU'VE GOT A LOVELY DAUGHTER--
6.  BACK IN MY ARMS AGAIN--  Supremes
7.  ENGINE ENGINE NO. 9--  Roger Miller

8.  THE LAST TIME--  Rolling Stones
9.  TICKET TO RIDE--  Beatles
10.  COUNT ME IN--  Gary Lewis & the Playboys

"Uno, Dos, Tres."  --RoadDog


SOME FUNNY SAYINGS:  Local Area Network in Australia: the LAN down under.

Gas Gouge Cometh Again!! $3,25 in Fox Lake, Illinois

To paraphrase a catch phrase from a famous movie that has been redone this past week, "They're Back!"  Big Oil is back to being Big Oil and rolling us poor folks for all our money.

Gas a week ago was around $2.70.  Yesterday it broke the $3 level in a big way at $3.10.

Today, it is up to $3.25!!

Up like a rocket.  Down like a feather.

Well, I Sure Did Enjoy it While It lasted.  --RoadDog


SOME CRAZY SAYINGS:  Maybe this will me something to laugh about.  You feel stuck with your debt if you can't budge it.

Music Deaths: "I Love How You Love Me"

ALBETH PARIS (GRASS), upper 70s.  Died December 5, 2014.

Sang alto with the Paris Sisters who were essentially an Andrews Sisters clone. Their biggest hit was "I Love How You Love Me" which went to #5 in 1961.  Phil Spector produced it and established his Wall of Sound on it.

Music Deaths: "May the Bird of Paradise...."

'LITTLE" JIMMY DICKENS, 94 Died Jan. 2, 2015.

Member of Grand Ole Opry since 1948.  Stood 4'1".  On Country charts 19 times and had performed just five days before his stroke on Christmas Day 2014.  Best known for that great "May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose."

Love That Song.  Singing it in my head right now.  Bet you are also.

Just Got Back From Indy-- Part 2: Chance Encounter with Juan Pablo Montoya

MAY 23, SATURDAY

Paul made up some his special breakfast then we walked across the street to the Speedway, paid out $10 apiece and saw vintage race cars running the track.  I was especially impressed with the 1910s double-seater (when a mechanic had to accompany the driver).

Walked by a race car with several people standing around it and John and Paul stopped.  I went back and they told me one of them was a race car driver named Juan Pablo Montoya from Colombia.  He was standing about ten feet away.  He won the Indy 500 the next day, coming from #30 to take the winner's flag.

We then walked and walked and walked around Gasoline Alley and over to the Hall of Fame Museum where we got a close look at the vintage cars that were racing around the track.  Went to several venues and saw huge lines waiting for autographs.

Bought lots and lots of souvenirs, this year's 99th running being held on May 24th, my 64th birthday.

Back to the RV for drinks and cookout and then went to the Legion for a good country rock band named Night Critters and then saw the Blackhawks-Ducks NHL Playoff game.

--RoadDog

Pop Music Hall of Fame Inductees

The Pop Music Hall of Fame in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania inducted its third class on December 23, 2014.  Linda Ronstadt (top vote getter), Paul McCartney, Ricky Nelson, Chevy Checker, Glen Campbell, Four Seasons, Everly Brothers, Johnny Tillotson and Andy Williams.

Les Paul and Mary Ford will also be inducted as influences on pop music.

--RoadDog


SOME CRAZY SAYINGS:  A grenade thrown into a kitchen in France would result in Linoleum Blown-apart.

Music Deaths in 2014: Joe Cocker

JOHN ROBERT "JOE" COCKER, 70, December 22, 2014.

Born Sheffield, England and formed  a skiffle group that opened for the Rolling Stones.  Released "Withe a Little Help From My friends" in 1968 which went to #1 in England but just #68 in the U.S.. but his unforgettable performance at Woodstock in 1969 was his major breakthrough in the States.

"She Came Into the bathroom Window" (another Beatles cover) went to #30 in 1970.  then he had the famous Mad Dogs and Englishmen tour which resulted in a famous album, and the first one I bought by him, and a #7 single with the Box Tops' "The Letter."

"Cry Me a River" went to #11 in 1970, "Feelin' Alright"  #33 in 1972 and "You Are So Beautiful" went to #5 in 1975.  His biggest hit ever in America was "Up Where We Belong" with Jennifer Warnes from the movie "An Officer and a Gentleman."

I also liked his work in the blues field, especially his "You Can Leave Your Hat On."

Just Got Back From the Indy 500-- Part 1: Hockey and a Country Band

MAY 24TH, FRIDAY:  Left Sue and Paul's place in Long Lake, Illinois, with Paul's brother John, and drove to the International Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, well, Speedway actually, on the western edge of Indy.

After some interesting roads taken because the one in front of the American Legion is mostly closed due to urban renewal, we checked in and got our RV spot and set up "camp."

Well, then came some cocktails to the toast of being there again (4th for me and 15th for Sue and Paul).

Then, we took a walk over to Speedway's main street which is also being redeveloped as well.  Stopped at Dawson's for a drink then back to the Legion.  Watched the New York Ranger Tampa Lightning hockey game on Sue and Paul's outside TV and also went to the Legion where an excellent country band was playing.

--RoadDog


SOME CRAZY SAYINGS:  The man who fell into the upholstery machine is fully recovered.

Happy Retirement Terri Z.!!

In a short time I am going over to Magee Middle School in Round Lake, Illinois, to attend a retirement party for a great friend of mine, Terri Z.  She is getting to start those golden retirement years nine years after me.

She was the daughter of my first principal at Magee, Jim Rogers.  She started teaching there, as did I, and for 22 years, we were teammates and she was nice enough to be team leader, a job I definitely did not want.  (I had to be the team leader for one quarter and was completely miserable.)

She was also out union president and leader during out 38-day strike back in 1994.  She rose far above anything that could be expected in this instance.

Have a Great retirement Terri!!  --RoadDog

WLS Top Ten Survey for May 21, 1965

1.  SILHOUETTES--  Herman's Hermits
2.  MRS. BROWN YOU HAVE A LOVELY DAUGHTER--  Herman's Hermits
3.  HELP ME RHONDA--  Beach Boys

4.  THE LAST TIME--  Rolling Stones
5.  TICKET TO RIDE/YES IT IS--  Beatles
6.  ENGINE ENGINE NO. 9--  Roger Miller
7.  BACK IN MY ARMS AGAIN--  Supremes

8.  COUNT ME IN--  Gary Lewis & Playboys
9.  DO THE FREDDIE--  Freddie & the Dreamers
10.  JUST A LITTLE--  Beau Brummels

--RoadDog

Album Sides Thursday Today on the Drive, Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM

Sitting here enjoying thid every so often event on the Drive.  And, it streams at www.wdrv.com.  They are playing music the way it was meant to be played, on albums and a side at a time.

That's right, we're getting the vinyl sound.

Here's what they've played recently:

BORN IN THE USA--  Bruce Springsteen (Side 2)
LET IT BLEED--  Rolling Stones (Side2)
STRANGER IN TOWN--  Bob Seger (Side 1)

PHYSICAL GRAFFITI--  Led Zeppelin (Side2)
FOREIGNER--  Foreigner (Side 1)
HOTEL CALIFORNIA--  Eagles (Side 1)

SGT. PEPPER'S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND--  Beatles  (Side 1)
FULL MOON FEVER--  Tom Petty (Side 1) (What's playing right now.)

OK, Time To Flip 'Em and Play the Other Side.  --RoadDog

Senior Moments Abounding As I Approach 64

What do they say about first thing to go?  What did the Beatles say about "When I;'m 64?"

This morning I was wondering why the container for the coffee grounds on the maker was in the sink and then found that the last pot I brewed only had the paper enclosure in it.  That could have been a mess, but at least i remembered the paper.

Yesterday at Donovan's reef in Twin Lakes, i was munching on some peanuts in the shell out of a plastic cup when i thought I had gotten ripped off because a whole handful consisted of nothing but empty shells.  Wait a minute, i had grabbed out of the cup used for peanut shells.  Well, that explains it.

Yesterday, i went to pick up our boat with some friends who I was supposed to meet at McDonald's at 10 a.m..  So there I was waiting at the Spring Grove McDonald's, while they were waiting at the Richmond McDonald's, about seven miles down the road.

That Explains Why They Weren't There and Why I Wasn't There.  --RoadDog


SOME CRAZY SAYINGS:  When a clock is hungry, it goes back for seconds.

JSS: Mighty Chilly-- Up Way Late Last Night (Thanks Hawks)-- Picking Up the Boat

JSS--  Just Some Stuff.

1.  MIGHTY CHILLY--  Temperature this morning a very chilly 40 degrees.  Forecasts call for maybe a high of 50 degrees with strong breezes and plenty of cold in it.  It was very chilly yesterday as well, perfect hockey weather.  I can't take much more of this Global Blah-Blah-Blah.  However warmer this weekend.

2.  UP WAY LATE LAST NIGHT (THANKS HAWKS)--  To start with, i hate late sports games.  Last night Blackhawks-Ducks game started at 8:15 and didn't end until the wee wee hours of this morning thanks to the triple overtime.

We started watching at half-Times in Johnsburg where we saw the first two periods, then third period we saw at Tommy's in Spring Grove.  I watched the first two overtime periods at home, then went to sleep, it being past midnight and my usual bedtime being at 11 p.m..

3.  PICKING UP THE BOAT--  I'll be leaving shortly to drive over to Hebron, Illinois, to pick up our boat.  Just the weather to make you want to go boating.

Just Some Stuff--  RoadDog

My Winter TV Shows-- Part 2

WEDNESDAYS

The Middle ABC
The Goldbergs--  ABC
Modern Family--  ABC
black-ish--  ABC Law & Order: SVU--  NBC
Chicago PD--  NBC

THURSDAYS

Big Bang Theory--  CBS
Moms--  CBS
Two and 1/2 Men--  CBS
Odd Couple--  CBS
Elementary--  CBS
Vikings--  History Channel

FRIDAYS

Last Man Standing--  ABC
Cristella--  ABC
Hawaii Five-0--  CBS
Blue Bloods--  CBS
Grimm-- NBC

Nothing to see on Saturdays.

--RoadDog


SOME CRAZY SAYINGS:  Show me a piano falling down a mine shaft and I'll show you A-Flat Minor.

My Winter TV Shows-- Part 1

As we near the end of the winter TV season (and get ready to start summer viewing), here is a list of te shows I regularly watch (way too many).

SUNDAY

Simpsons-- Fox
Brooklyn Nine-Nine--  Fox
Family Guy--  Fox
Bob's Burgers--  Fox
Last Man on Earth--  Fox
CSI--  CBS
Battle Creek-- CBS
Walking Dead--  AMC
Mad Men--  AMC

MONDAY

2 Broke Girls-- CBS
Mike and Molly--  CBS
Scorpion--  CBS
NCIS: LA--  CBS
Better Call Saul--  AMC
Turn--  AMC

TUESDAY

NCIS--  CBS
NCIS: New Orleans--  CBS
Person of Interest--  CBS
Chicago Fire--  NBC
Parks and Recreation--  NBC
About a Boy-- NBC
Fresh Off the Boat--  ABC

Watching Way Too Much TV.  --RoadDog

A Week at PCB (Panama City Beach)-- Part 1

Of course, we absolutely stay away from this great beach during the month of March when the college kids rule.  A bit too much and too crowded for us.  Must be getting old.

Here's a short account of what we did in the evenings while there from April 29th to May 6th.

APRIL 29TH, WEDNESDAY:  Arrival at Driftwood lodge and check in.  OD (On deck) Motorcycles everywhere and more and more coming in for this weekend's rally, Thunder Beach.

Pompano Joe's (old Reggae J's), $2 pints, tropical fish have replaced the entertaining parrot.  Met friends Sue and Paul from back home.  Dusty's, Whiskeys and then Donovan's reef.

APRIL 30TH, THURSDAY:  OD, internet.  CiCi's for pizza buffet.  Bikers rally point in parking lot of shopping center by it.  Salty Sue's ($1.50 Bud Select pints)

Pompani Joe's and then Diego's Burrito Express (actually had parking places for cars, everything else taken up with motorcycles.  Donovan's Reef.

--Five More Days.  --RoadDog


SOME CRAZT SAYINGS:  With her marriage she got a new name and a dress.

Last Episode of "Mad Men" Last Night

Sure going to miss that show.  Besides the drama and history, it really had the feel of the Sixties.  It is hard to remember so many people smoking which always struck me about the show.

I loved the hair and clothing styles which changed quite a lot from the beginning of the decade to the end.

I was always wondering if the character shown falling off the building at the beginning was to represent what happened to Don Draper, but it wasn't as it turned out.  And the end with that famous Coke commercial with all the people singing makes me think he got back into advertising.

Plus, this was quite a show about women overcoming in the work place.

This was a fine show as are most every AMC offering along those lines.  I really like "Walking Dead," "Turn," "Hell on Wheels" and "Breaking Bad."

Some Music to Check Out: B.B. King Show Tonight on WXRT

I am not surprised to find out this morning that Tom Marker has expanded his hour-long Bluesbreakers Show on Chicago's WXRT, 93.1 FM to two hours to honor bluesman supreme B.B. King who died last week.  It starts at 8 p.m. CDST and goes to 10.  It streams at www.wxrt.com.

Plus, right now, Fessa John Hook is running the Beach Music Top 40 for the year 1958, worth a listen at www.beachshag.com.

Bob Stroud's Ten at Ten for today was ten songs from 1976.  Wednesday he goes to 1982 and then 1977 for Wednesday.  the show runs at 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. at www.wdrv.com CDST.

--RoadDog

Forced to Stay on the Island: When the Going Gets Tough...Stay

APRIL 26TH, 2015

Continued from May 2nd.

Like i said, we ended up essentially stopped when trying to leave Tybee Island on Sunday, so, like they say, "When the going gets tough, the tough go to the beach.  We backtracked and hot a room at the Dunes Motel.

Rested a bit from the traffic torture, then went over to the boardwalk area and had a drink at the huge pavilion. and enjoyed the ocean view.

then, we went to Fannie's for a drink and there were several people there who had also tried unsuccessfully to get off the island.  Next, we went to Tybee Times and had a Rumrunner.  A gal come up to us and said she had seen us at Huck-A-Poos and that she was also trying to get off the island and had taken shelter here.

Last two stops were at Bernie's and Sting Ray's, by the motel.

Oh Well, Sometimes the Best Laid Plans.  --RoadDog


SOME CRAZY SAYINGS:  If you don't pay your exorcist, you get repossessed.

Boating Season Arrives and We're Still in the Barn

Today, May 16th, the boating season here on the Chain of Lakes in northeast Illinois, officially begins with the picking up of out passports for the annual Chain Crawl.  We picked them up at Port O'Blarney on Grasslake Road and met up with friends Don and Pat and Kevin and Kelly.

Plus, there are bands playing at Captain's Quarters and Blarney island which is having their official season opening party.

Unfortunately, our boat is still out in that barn in Hebron, Illinois.  We're hoping to get it out this coming week.

Looking Forward to a Good Boating Season.  --RoadDog

WLS Top 40 for May 14, 1965-- Part 4: The Top Ten

10.  DO THE FREDDIE--  Freddie & the Dreamers
9.  I KNOW A PLACE--  Petula Clark
8.  TIRED OF WAITING FOR YOU--  Kinks  (Always thought it was "So Tired....")

7.  IT'S GONNA BE ALRIGHT--  Gerry & the Pacemakers
6.  COUNT ME IN--  Gary Lewis & the Playboys
5.  HELP ME RHONDA--  Beach Boys
4.  THE LAST TIME--  Rolling Stones

3.  TICKET TO RIDE/YES IT IS--  Beatles
2.  SILHOUETTES--  Herman's Hermits
1.   MRS BROWN YOU'VE GOT A LOVE DAUGHTER--  Herman's Hermits  (How about that, H.H. with the top two songs.)

Move Over Beatles, There's a New Gun in Town.  --RoadDog

JSS: Dandelion Attack-- 42,000 Miles-- Planting Frenzy at Menard's

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1.  DANDELION ATTACK--  This is the worst dandelion attack I can ever remember.  It has been bad before, but nothing compared to this year.  Guess it's time to go out and get some weed killer.

2.  42,000  MILES--  returned from the Fox Lake Historical Society meeting this morning and the truck hit 42,000 miles.  Not bad for a 2005 Dakota.  Most of those miles came driving back and forth to North Carolina.

3.  PLANTING FRENZY AT MENARD'S--  It was really The Madhouse on Menard's to play on a popular Blackhawks saying.  I stopped at Menard's Saturday after going to the Fox Lake Historical Society meeting.  You couldn't even hardly find a parking space by the nursery section and, even with two registers open, the lines were ten deep.

Everyone had large baskets and carts of flowers, bushes, mulch, fertilizer, etc.  Is it that time of the year again?

--RoadDog

--

WLS Top 40 for May 14, 1965-- Part 3

20.  TRUE LOVE WAYS--  Peter & Gordon
19.  REELIN' AND ROCKIN'--  Dave Clark Five
18.  ENGINE ENGINE NO. 9--  Roger Miller

17.  BACK IN MY ARMS AGAIN--  Supremes
16.  QUEEN OF THE HOUSE--  Jody Miller
15.  LITTLE LATIN LUPE LU--  Chancellors*  (Familiar with the song, but never heard of them.)
14.  IKO IKO--  Dixie Cups

13.  SHAKIN' ALL OVER--  Guess Who?
12.  I'LL NEVER FIND ANOTHER YOU--  Seekers
11.  SAY IT SOFTLY--   Booby Whiteside*

Shakin'?  Who?  --RoadDog


SOME CRAZY SAYINGS:  A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion.

Some Interesting Numbers: Happy 5-1-5-1-5

I know there is a name for this sort of a number or letter arrangement, but I can't remember it.

But ever since the May 11th, we have been having them.

5-1-1-1-5
5-1-2-1-5
5-1-3-1-5
5-1-4-1-5
5-1-5-1-5
5-1-6-1-5
5-1-7-1-5
5-1-8-1-5
5-1-9-1-5

Whoa. Them Numbers.  --RoadDog

The King Is Dead: B.B. King, 89: Bluesman Supreme

I was expecting it since I heard he was under hospice care, but the blues and rock genres are that much less today with word of B.B. King.

I had become aware of something being wrong with him on WXRT's Tom Marker's Bluebreakers Show earlier this year.  He pointed out that B.B. King had essentially disappeared and began playing one of his songs every show until they found out what was wrong.

That means his famous guitar (actually several guitars) has lost its owner.  Of course, there was his huge "The Thrill Is Gone" song that made me aware of blues music.

I'm sure Tom Marker will have a full Bluebreakers show on King this coming Monday, WXRT 93.1 FM, Chicago (CSDT) and it streams.

--RoadDog

WLS Top 40 for May 14, 1965-- Part 2

Bob Stroud is doing 1968 on his Ten at Ten on WDRV 97.1 FM in Chicago today.  It streams.

30.  VOODOO WOMAN--  Bobby Goldsboro*
29.  TOMMY--  Reparta & the Delrons*
28.  CONCRETE AND CLAY--  Eddie Rambeau*

27.  WHAT DO YOU WANT WITH ME--  Chad & Jeremy*
26.  YOU WERE MADE FOR ME--  Freddie & the Dreamers*
25.  DREAM ON LITTLE DREAMER--  Perry Como*
24.  SHE'S COMING HOME--  Zombies*

23.  IT'S NOT UNUSUAL--  Tom Jones  (Was this his first hit?)
22.  JUST ONCE IN MY LIFE--  Righteous Brothers*
21.  JUST A LITTLE--  Beau Brummels

There sure were a lot I hadn't heard in this group.  Looks like its a You Tube visit.

--What Is It Not Too Unusual to Do?  --RoadDog

WLS Top 40 for May 14, 1965-- Part 1

Every so often I'll do all 40 songs on the survey just to really get a slice of that period of time's music.  I usually recognize the Top Ten, but there are always ones further down the list that I don't remember ever hearing as well as unknown to me groups requiring some research.

These are from the oldiesloon site, a great repository for all thing 60s music and other oldies.

I'll start at #40 and work my way up to #1  An * means this is one I'm not familiar with.  You Tube here I come.

40.  YOU WERE ONLY FOOLING--  Vic Damone*
39.  WOOLLY BULLY--  Sam the Sham  (Let me predict big things for this one.)
38.  NOTHING CAN STOP ME--  Gene Chandler

37.  I DO LOVE YOU--  Billy Stewart
36.  I'LL BE DOGGONE--  Marvin Gaye
35.  THINK OF THE GOOD TIMES--  Jay & the Americans*
34.  IT'S GROWING--  temptations  (Was this their first Top 40?)

33.  OOO BABY BABY--  Miracles
32.  BABY THE RAIN MUST FALL--  Glenn Yarbrough
31.  SHE'S ABOUT A MOVER--  Sir Douglas Quintet  (Texans being English, right Doug?)

Uno, Dos, Tres...  --RoadDog


SOME CRAZY SAYINGS:  She had a boyfriend with a wooden leg, but broke it off.

The Last Three Weekends-- Part 3

This was our back home weekend.

MAY 8, FRIDAY--  First full day back home, always something I enjoy.  I love traveling, but also love getting home.  Warm so had my first day of having breakfast on the front porch of 2015.  I did some needed yardwork, went to the Legion and watched part of the Bulls-Cavaliers game.  Came home and watched the rest at Margaritaville and quite happy when  Rose hit that three-pointer to win as time expired.  If he keeps this up, I'll have to stop calling him Wilted Rose.

MAY 9, SATURDAY--  Just stayed home, did yardwork and watched a movie at home.  It's good to be back home.

MAY 10, SUNDAY--  Mother's day so called Mom and wished her a happy Mother's Day.  Went to Hickory Lodge in McCullom Lake by McHenry and had the pizza/ beer special.  Then met Sue and Paul (the folks we met down in Panama City Beach last weekend, at Half Times in Johnsburg and watched the Bulls game, which unfortunately ended when James nailed the two-pointer to win as time expired.

Nothing Like Hangin' Around the House.  --RoadDog

Last Three Weekends-- Part 2

The last three weekends were certainly a varied lot.  The first one was in Savannah and Tybee Island, the second one was in Panama City Beach, Florida.

MAY 1ST, FRIDAY--  Perfect weather all weekend.  Enjoyed the deck, walking and wading in the gulf waters (really cold, though) and good times.  Went to McDonald's for breakfast.  later we went to the tiki bar at the osprey Hotel next door to us and then to Salty Sue's out on US-98 for the smoked wings special and their $1.50 Bud select.  Had a great talk with some gung-ho UGA fans.  One man had an amazing knowledge of college football and even remembered NIU beat Alabama by a 18-16 score back in 2003.  Huge crowd at Donovan's Reef.

MAY 2ND, SATURDAY--  This was the BIG day for motorcycles on the annual Thunder Beach Rally.  Great people, but way too much congestion.  We went to Pompano Joe's for happy hour and a huge nacho platter while watching the Kentucky Derby.  Later went to the Hofbrauhaus and ended up at Donovan's Reef as usual.  Not as crowded as last night, but we did meet a lot of local characters.

MAY 3RD, SUNDAY--  Less congestion as the bikers are heading home.  We met some friends of ours from back home, Sue and Paul, at Sharky's for dinner then went over to their RV park and sat outside and watched the Hawks game.  Hawks won!1  Then to Donovan's.

Sun and Beach.  Not Bad.  --RoadDog


SOME CRAZY SAYINGS:  In democracy it's your vore that counts.  In feudalism it's your count that  votes.

Every Bloomin THing: Mid-May 2015

Returned home this past Thursday, may 7th and had to cut the grass as it was quite high after a 2 1/2 week headstart and the rain and cool temps while we were gone.  I have a fine crop of dandelions.  I have to cut it again today.

The two frontyard crabapple trees have lost their blooms and the truck appeared white with its blossom cover after the rain.

The creeping phlox are all abloom as is the yellow perennial whose name I know not.  Tulips are blooming everywhere and the azaleas are starting to bloom as well.

I am busy working on clearing out the flower beds as we can burn on weekends until the end of this month.

The sunburst honeylocusts are getting ready to leaf out, always a brilliant sight.

Quite chilly this morning with temps overnight down to lower 30s and frost advisory.  Had to bring in plants just in case.

A small bird has taken over the schoolhouse birdfeeder and built a nest in it.  the rest of the birds are not happy about it as that is where I placed sunflower seed, their favorite.

That Yard.  --RoadDog

The Last Three Weekends-- Part 1

APRIL 24-26:

 In Savannah and Tybee Island, Georgia

FRIDAY, 24th-- was my niece's wedding rehearsal dinner at the Chart Room on the Savannah River and barhopping along Bay Street and, of course, Savannah's Ultimate Dive Bar, Pinkie Master's.

SATURDAY, 25th--  River Street, the wedding at the Isle of Hope Methodist Church and wedding reception, then barhopping.

SUNDAY, 26TH--  Huge traffic jams out to Tybee Island and back.  Toured Fort Pulaski.  Went to another dive bar, Hick-A-Poos on Tybee Island.  Traffic going nowhere on way back, so stuck on the island.  Got a room and did some barhopping.

--RoadDog

Going Back to 1968-- Part 4

Bob Stroud plays the Who on today's Ten at Ten on WDRV, 97.1 FM.  Tomorrow he does 1978 and 1968 on Friday.  It streams.

SHINE ON BRIGHTLY--  Procul Harum
I'LL BE YOUR BABY TONIGHT--  Bob Dylan
MAGIC CARPET RIDE--  Steppenwolf  (A big song on the jukebox in our Palatine High School Senior Lounge jukebox.)
FIVE TO ONE--  Doors

MORNING DEW--  Jeff Beck
GLASS ONION--  Beatles
SWEET BLINDNESS--  Laura Nyro
LIVING IN THE USA--  Steve Miller Band

MONY MONY--  Tommy James & Shondells
I PUT A SPELL ON YOU--  CCR
HELLO IT'S ME--  Nazz
GREEN TAMBOURINE--  Lemon Pipers

LOVE STORY--  Randy Newman
PIECE OF MY HEART--  Big brother & the Holding Company
DANCE TO THE MUSIC--  Sly & the Family Stone

Of course, Big brother Would Be Janis.  --RoadDog

Going Back to 1968-- Part 3

I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE--  Marvin Gaye
I GOT A LINE ON YOU--  Spirit
WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS--  Joe Cocker
ON THE ROAD AGAIN--  Canned Heat

MAGIC BUS--  Who
ALONG THE WATCHTOWER-  Jimi Hendri-
THE WEIGHT--  Band
THE BEST WAY TO TRAVEL--  Moody Blues

BORN UNDER A BAD SIGN--  Cream
ITCHYCOO PARK--  Small Faces
TIGHTEN UP--  Archie Bell & the Drells
STREET FIGHTING MAN--  Rolling Stones

"I Pulled Into Nazareth..."  --GreGen


SOME CRAZY SAYINGS:  Time Flies Like an arrow.  Fruit flies like a banana.

Going Back to 1968-- Part 2

1-2-3 REDLIGHT--  1910 Fruitgum Company  (I loved my Bubble Gum Music.  I don't care.)
BLACK MAGIC WOMAN--  Fleetwood Mac
PICTURE BOOK--  Kinks
I THANK YOU--  Sam and Dave

SUZIE-Q--  CCR
BABY COME BACK--  Equaals
SINCE YOU'VE BEEN GONE--  Aretha Franklin
I CAN'T QUIT HER-- BS&T

YOU AIN'T GOIN' NOWHERE--  Byrds  (Goin' country.)
DO IT AGAIN--  Beach Boys
FEELING ALRIGHT--  Traffic
DOCK OF THE BAY--  Otis Redding

HUSH--  Deep Purple
SPACE ODDITY--  David Bowie
I GOT TE FEELIN'--  James Brown
HURDY GURDY MAN--   Donovan

--RoadDog


SOME CRAZY SAYINGS:  A backwards poet writes inverse.  (These crazy sayings are taken fromaken from the Orange Peel Gazette.)

Going Back to 1968-- Part 1

From Wendy Rice's Saturday Morning Flashback from May 9, 2015.

This was a great high school year for me and a whole year of going steady with Liz, who I met the previous fall of 1967.

This was the last part of junior year and first part of senior year and that great 7-2 football team (after not winning any games the previous two years).  We sure played in a lot of homecomings as other schools try to schedule weak teams for a homecoming victory.  We messed up a lot of their homecomings, but still lost to rivals Wheeling and Arlington high schools.

Not only do you get the songs on her show, but also information about them as well as things going on during the year.

STRAY CAT BLUES--  Rolling Stones
PICTURES OF MATCHSTICK MEN--  Status Quo
RAINY DAY DREAM AWAY--  Jimi Hendrix

--RoadDog

Going Back to the 60s

Right now, I am listening to Fessa John Hook's Beach Music Class Reunion to 1965 at his www.beachshag.com site.  He is back to 1965 and a lot of fun to see what pop songs are included as well as many that bore the Beach Music label and didn't make the national charts.  Hear songs such as "In Paradise" by the Showmen, "I'll Take You" by the Drifters, "Candy to Me" by Eddie Holland and "The In Crowd" by Dobie Gray.

On Saturday, I enjoyed listening to Wendy Rice's Saturday Morning Flashback on Chicago's WXRT, 93.1 as she went back to 1968 for four hours from 8 to noon.

Of course, this week at 10 a.m. and 10 p.m., Bob Stroud plays Ten at Ten featuring a different year 1968-1989 on WDRV, 97.1 FM.  It streams as does Wendy Rice's show on Saturdays.

--RoadDog


SOME CRAZY SAYINGS:  What's the definition of a will?  (It's a dead giveaway.)

Panama City Beach For a Week

During most days of our stay at the Driftwood Lodge (both this time and during our winter stays) I go over to the sun room at the Osprey for coffee and to talk with others (my retired old guy thing).  I also read their complimentary Sun herald newspaper and go on the internet for awhile.

I then go back to the room and sit out on the deck for some sun.  I sometimes go over to McDonald's or Burger King to get some breakfast and bring some back for Liz.  Then, it is alternating on deck time and internet.  I love doing the blogs from out by the picnic table in front of our room with that view of the white sand beach and waves rolling ashore about 75 yards away.

Sure beats the view here in the basement at home where I am typing now.  Of course, there are walks on the beach (not much for shells) and even walks into the water, but just up to my knees as it is still way too cold.

This continues until around 3 or 4 p.m. when we make the rounds of favorite places.

--RoadDog


SOME CRAZY SAYINGS:  A bicycle can't stand on its own because it is twotired.

Grammy Lifetime Achievement Awards

Ringo Starr got one.  Also scheduled to be honored are blues man Buddy Guy, the country duo  Louvin brothers.

Trustee awards to be given to non-performers composers Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil and producer Richard Perry.

On Feb. 6th, Bob Dylan receives the Academy Music Cares Person of the Year for his charity work.

--RoadDog

Music Makes It Onto National Film Registry

The Library of Congress added 25 new movies to the National Film Registry on Dec. 17, 2014.  Among these are "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" which reintroduced the Beatles' "Twist and Shout."  Also "Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" with its "candy man Theme" which was a big hit for Sammy Davis, Jr..  Also "Rio Bravo" which co-starred singers Dean Martin and Ricky Nelson with John Wayne.

--RoadDog


MORE BAD QUOTES FROM FAMOUS PEOPLE:  "Stocks have reached what looks like a permanently high plateau."  Irving Fisher, professor of Economics, Yale University, 1929.

The WLS Top Ten for May 7, 1965

1.  MRS. BROWN YOU'VE GOT A LOVELY DAUGHTER--  Herman's hermits
2.  TICKET TO RIDE/YES IT IS--  Beatles
3.  TIRED OF WAITING FOR YOU--  Kinks

4.  COUNT ME IN--  Gary Lewis
5.  SILHOUETTES--  Herman's Hermits
6.  I KNOW A PLACE--  Petula Clark
7.  IT'S GONNA BE ALRIGHT--  Gerry & the Pacemakers

8.  THE LAST TIME--  Rolling Stones
9.  IKO IKO--  Dixie Cups
10.  GO NOW--  Moody Blues

--"It May be the Last Time That..."  --RoadDog

The WLS Top Ten for April 30, 1965

1.   MRS. BROWN YOUVE GOT A LOVELY DAUGHTER--  Herman's Hermits
2.  TIRED OF WAITING FOR YOU--  Kinks
3.  TICKET TO RIDE/YES IT IS--  Beatles

4.  I KNOW A PLACE--  Petula Clark
5.  COUNT ME IN--  Gary Lewis
6.  THE LAST TIME--  Rolling Stones
7.  DO YOU WANT TO DANCE--  Beach Boys

8.  I'M TELLING YOU NOW--  Freddie & the Dreamers
9.  IT'S GONNA BE ALRIGHT--  Gerry & the Pacemakers
10.  I'LL NEVER FIND ANOTHER YOU--  Seekers

I'm not sure about the Seekers, but seven of the rest of the Top Ten were held down by British groups.

See What the Beatles Started!  --RoadDog


BAD QUOTES BY FAMOUS PEOPLE:  "Drill for oil?  You mean drill into the ground to try and find oil?  You're crazy."  Driller who Edwin L. Drake tried to enlist in his project to drill for oil in 1859.

Arriving at Panama City Beach

APRIL 29TH, WEDNESDAY

Had to do a hard scrubbing to get insect splashes off the front windshield and then drove that beautiful stretch of highway, US-98, through pine forests and right along the Gulf coast.  Stopped in Panama City to graze at Golden Corral and then to the Driftwood Lodge in Panama City Beach.

Motorcycles all over the place as it is the annual Thunder Beach biker rally.  Went to Reggae J's, which is now Pompano Joe's at Pier Park.  We met friends Sue and Paul there, then went to Dusty's and Whiskeys.

Ended up over at Donovan's Reef across the street from the motel.

--RoadDog

Death of Stan Freberg

From the April 9, 2015, Chicago Tribune, AP.

STAN FREBERG (1926-2015)

The spirited comic genius who lampooned American history and was also famous for his humorous commercials.  Provided voices for characters in animated films, but most famous for his "Stan Freberg Presents the United States of America."

One Really Funny Guy.  --RoadDog

St. Augustine to St. George Island: Atlantic Coast to Gulf Coasf

APRIL 28TH, TUESDAY:  Raining this morning and in the forecast all day.  Considering spending another day in St. Augustine and tour Castillo de San Marcos.  Took a ride out to St. Augustine Beach.  Still raining so drove north of A1A and eventually got to Jacksonville so decided just to proceed to the Florida Panhandle since we were near I-10.

Drove to St. George Island on the Gulf of Mexico, about 80 miles from Panama City where we got a room  and went to Harry A's and the Blue Parrot.

--RoadDog

The Talk Here in Panama City Beach: Thunder, ZBT and Spring Break

THUNDER--  Thunder on the Beach, the annual motorcycle run to PCB.  It is over but I heard of no problems and every tourist employee said they sure like  all the money the bikers were spending.  Most bartenders and restaurant workers said they made a whole lot more in the past week with the bikers than they did the whole month the spring breakers were here.  We sure met a lot of great folks, but I sure don't miss the congestion.

ZBT--  Everywhere there is complete disgust for what the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity members did to the Wounded Warriors Beach Retreat a few weeks ago.  They were extremely disrespectful to the veterans, all of whom received injuries fighting for these ingrates.  These little ingrates (and i use a nice term) disgrace the fraternity system and their mommies and daddies.

SPRING BREAK--  And, of course, PCB received plenty of negative press during this past March's spring break by the college students.  Meetings are being held to determine what to do about restrictions for next year.  Some even want it banned.  Personally, we avoid PCB  during March.

--RoadDog

Heading to Jacksonville Beaches, Ended Up in St. Augustine

APRIL 27TH, MONDAY:    So much nicer leaving Tybee Island today as the traffic jam was gone.  Drove to Savannah and toured Old Fort Jackson and saw the divers working on the wreck of the CSS Georgia.  Then drove through Savannah along a regular oak tree/Spanish moss tunnel and out to I-95 and took it to Jacksonville, Florida.

We were hoping to find a motel and check out any of the three beaches by the city, but only found two expensive hotels and got back on I-95 and took it to St. Augustine, where we found an NTN place called Mardi Gras and played there.  Decided to stay nearby and got a room at the Howard Johnson's about two buildings down.  Drove around the town and then played NTN at the BW3 (Buffalo Wild Wing).  Paid $5.70 for two Pepsis.  BW3s are EXPENSIVE!!!

Back to the Mardi Gras and watched the Bulls lose their game.

--RoadDog

Top 8 Musicians With Most #1 Albums

Yahoo! Entertainment CheatSheet by Michelle Regalado.

1.  BEATLES--  (19)

2.  JAY Z--  (13)

3.  BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN--  (11)

4.  ELVIS PRESLEY--  (10)

5.  BARBRA STREISAND--  (10)

6.  GARTH BROOKS--  (9)

7.  ROLLING STONES--    (9)

8.  MADONNA--   (8)

--RoadDog

To Tybee Island, Georgia: Traffic Jams, A Civil War Fort and Stuck On the Island Again

APRIL 26TH:  Met the family at the breakfast area and had a nice long talk before folks started leaving.  Liz and I drove to Tybee Island, the big beach town for the Savannah area.  Unfortunately, most people in the area had the same idea and we sat for a long time in a traffic jam.  Finally got to Fort Pulaski which I toured.  Then more traffic to Tybee Island.

It was so crowded, we decided to leave, but found a place I'd heard about called Huck-A-Poo's and stopped for a drink and decided to eat.  Unfortunately, when we finished and got back on the road, it was nothing but a big parking lot.

After traveling several hundred feet in 30 minutes, we turned around and went back to the island and got a motel for the night.

"Stuck On the Island Again."  --RoadDog

No More Little Girl from the Partridge Family

Suzanne Crough Condray, 52, played the youngest member of the Partridge Family on the 1970-1975 hit TV show died this past week.

She was the little girl playing the tambourine and rarely saying anything.

Maybe I'll Have Him Do My Brackets Next Year

From the April 10, 2015, Chicago Tribune "Bracket winner, 12, rewarded, shows generosity" by Tim Froehlig.

The kid is just a sixth grader in Lake Zurich and his bracket for that NCAA Basketball tournament was tied for best out of 11.57 million turned in at ESPN.com (I won't say how I did).  He was too young to win the $20,000 Best Buy gift card or the trip to the 2015 Maui Invitational, but Best Buy gave him a $1,000 gift card anyway and he donated it back to the Make-A-Wish organization.

His name is Sam Holtz.  All that knowledge or luch at picking and then to do that.

What a Guy.  --RoadDog

A Wedding in Savannah

AUGUST 25TH:  I had breakfast with the family, starting with Andy, Andrea and kids, then Bob, Mom,Mary and Vicki.  Hard to beat those Holiday Inn Express hot breakfasts.  It was a real family reunion and one of the rare times everyone was together during the wedding.

It started raining and raining so we were stuck in the room and started catching up with blogs and watching huge container ships go by.

Drove out to the Isle of Hope Methodist Church for the wedding, which featured a black choir which was very impressive.

Back to the hotel and then caught a private trolley to the wedding reception near the famous Pirates's House.  They had an excellent band. but it started as soon as the wedding party arrived and played throughout the whole time, making it fairly impossible to talk.   We ended up outside with Andy, Andrea  and kids and eventually Bob.

Another, much worse, thunder storm that just about blew the auxiliary tent over came through.

When the band stopped, we went back to the hotel, changed and then went to Churchill's again.

--RoadDog