Trying to Reason With an Ice Storm-- Part 6: How to Keep Busy When There's Nothing to Do at Home

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23

I went to Wal Mart and overheard several people talking about not having electricity and that was why they were out "shopping," also to stay warm.  Then I went to Meijer and I heard someone call to me, turned, and it was one of the couples from Midwest Breakfast Company.  Great minds must think alike.  Right?

Returning home, I walked around back to check for damage and sadly saw that one of my clump white birch trees was broken about two-thirds of the way up.  Too bad.  That is a pretty tree.  Plus, there were a lot of limbs down on both pine islands.

Like I said, this is by far the worst ice storm we've had in the thirty years living in this house.

Still no power when I got back to the house, so, what else could I do but take a nap.  I was awakened at 11:30 am when the power came back on. This means lots of resetting items that usually Liz did (and knew how to do).  But now I have to figure it out myself and remember, I'm pretty technologically challenged.  Electricity had been out 17 hours.

Then, there is that computer thing.

Actually, I somehow got it going again.  No idea how, though.

With roads in good shape, I drove over to Bulldog Ale House south of McHenry for their $2 draft beer special.  They have 32 draft beers, including domestics, imports and craft beers.  I like imports and craft beers, but not for $6 to $8, but am like a kid in a candy store at $2.  I tried quite a few different ones (No IPAs though, Yuck!!).

Came home and watched the Thursday TV shows (a favorite night).  Sadly, Wednesday night is also a favorite, but we all know what happened to that last night.

--RoadIce

WLS Top Ten for Week of March 26, 1973: 'Dueling Banjos

Fifty years ago this week.

1.  LOVE TRAIN--  O'Jays

2.  KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH HIS SONG--  Roberta Flack

3.  ALSO SPRACH ZARATHUSTRA--  Deodato

4.  DUELING BANJOS--  Deliverance

5.  NEITHER ONE OF US (WANTS TO BE THE FIRST TO SAY GOODBYE)--  Gladys Knight & the Pips

6.  AIN'T NO WOMAN (LIKE THE ONE I GOT)--   Four Tops

7.  LAST SONG--  Edward Bear

8.  DANNY'S SONG--  Anne Murray

9.  I'M JUST A SINGER (IN A ROCK AND ROLL BAND)--  Moody Blues

10.  BREAK UP TO MAKE UP--  Stylistics

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DEBUTS

18.  TIE A YELLOW RIBBON 'ROUND THE OLD OAK TREE--  Dawn

20.  THE NIGHT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT IN GEORGIA--  Vicki Lawrence

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "People Smile And Tell Me I'm The Lucky One."  Answer below.

"Danny's Song"

Trying to Reason With an Ice Storm-- Part 5: Quite the Mess

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23

Sadly, when I got home (about half a mile away), the garage door didn't open so I knew the electricity was still off.  

Since I couldn't really do anything, I decided the time was good to do some shopping (in stores with electricity.)

So, drove over to Illinois Highway 31 in McHenry, a major shopping area.

This is the second winter event we've had in the last week.  Last Thursday we had about five inches of snow, now ths ice storm last night.  Both times, we got really hit along the Wisconsin-Illinois border.  The farther south you go, the less snow last week and less ice last night.  I am all in favor of sharing our good fortune with those folks.

The trees in the subdivision are still covered with thick ice and a while lot of limbs are down.  Same held true during my drive to McHenry.  Saw quite a few piles of limbs right up by the road and in several spots there were guys out clearing up the mess.  I could see a few spots where the remnants of limbs were actually on the road.

This was by far the worst ice storm I can ever remember.

--RoadIce

Trying to Reason With an Ice Storm-- Part 4: The Midwest Breakfast Company

I was happy to find all roads clear of ice both on the way to breakfast and afterwards.

The Midwest Breakfast Company has been mopen about ten years, but Liz and I had never been to it.  It has a great reputation for food and is usually quite crowded.  The only time we did think to go to it, there was too long of a wait to get seats.  

Plus, I understand they are also on the expensive side, but these days all places are expensive.  A breakfast anywhere is costing between $15 and $20 after paying for coffee and the tip.

The place wasn't crowded, but it did have a group of retired men there for a coffee club.  One of them turned out to be the owner.  I told him I was there because I didn't have electricity.  He said he didn't either and that he lived in Orchard Bluff Estates subdivision as I do also.

People continued to come in while I was eating and having several more cups of coffee.  What else did I have to do?  Most of the people coming in were in my boat with no elecricity.

The breakfast was every bit as good as I had heard it would be and really not more pricey than you'd pay anywhere these days.  Price:  $10.50 for Denver omelet, coffee $2.75, tax $1.07 and tip $3.  Just a bit ver $17.  Like I said before, breakfast is expensive these days.

I was kind of hoping to have electricity at home by then.

--RoadIce

Trying to Reason With an Ice Storm-- Part 3: Icy Neighborhood

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2023

I walked carefully out to the truck which was parked outside. The driveway was covered in ice, but part way to the street was clear.  Also, the street did not appear to have any ice on it either.  After some tugging, I was able to get the driver door open and grabbed an ice scraper.

The ice came off in sheets, fortunately,so wasn't as bad as I anticipated.  My long time neighbor across the street walked over and said he was without electricity as well, but had used his fireplace last night and slept by it where they stayed warm.  He said he had heard we weren't getting electricity until Saturday.  I sure didn't want to hear that.  It got pretty chilly last night as it was.

(I had heard that it might be later today or perhaps even as late as Saturday for some.  I found this out on my new smart phone which, of course, being battery operated, was still usable for the internet.  Something I didn't know how to do with the old flip phone I had.)

I was happy to find the streets in out subdivision were perfect.  That is a good thing as we have some hills in the area.  I saw that some of my pine tree limbs were bent and touching the ground.  Quite a few tree limbs down on my way and even a couple trees.

Drove down the hill to US-12 (Rand Road) and saw that the Midwest Breakfast Company had electricity.

Time for some breakfast.

--RoadIce

WLS Top Ten for March 19, 1973: 'Ain't No Woman (Like the One I Got)'

A mere 50 years ago.

1.  KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH HIS SONG--  Roberta Flack

2.  DUELING BANJOS--  Deliverance

3.  LOVE TRAIN--  O'Jays

4.  ALSO SPRACH ZARATHUSTRA  2001--  Deodato

5.  LAST SONG--  Edward Bear

6.  COULD BE I'M FALLING IN LOVE--  Spinners

7.  I'M JUST A SINGER (IN A ROCK AND ROLL BAND)--  Moody Blues

8.  DADDY'S HOME--  Jermaine Jackson

9.  DANNY'S SONG--  Anne Murray

10.  AIN'T NO WOMAN (LIKE THE ONE I GOT)--  Four Tops

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DEBUTS

18.  SING--  Carpenters

19.  HUMMINGBORD--  Seals & Crofts

22.  STIR IT UP--  Johnny Nash

23.  MASTERPIECE--  Temptations

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "I'm Just A Wandering On The Face Of This Earth Meeting So Many People Who Are Trying To Be Free."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)"

Trying to Reason with an Ice Storm-- Part 2: All That Real Gone Electricity

Continued from March 2, 2023.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23

That was a miserable night.  No flushing toilets and I had to take a flashlight with me everytime I had to go.  All those shadows.  No washing hands afterwards either. No fun to lose electricity on well water.  The pump is electric.

I was hoping that when I woke up we'd have power again.  We didn't.  And, it was getting pretty chilly in the house.  We have natural gas, but guess what the blowers work on?  No going into the freezer or refrigerator either to make sure food keeps cold.

At daylight I could see that I have some branches down and others hanging on the pines.  It is pretty though with all the ice on everything.  Nature's doing its icing.

I was hungry so decided this would be a great time to go over to the Midwest Breakfast Company in Spring Grove and have breakfast.  It's been here for many years and Liz and I had never gotten over there to give it a try.

I was going to take the Malibu over to it, but it was in the garage and guess what the door opener works on.  Then I remembered I could just go over to the door and pull a chord and it would open.  But, guess what the lights out there work on.  And then, after I opened the door and backed out I would have to get out of the car, penguin walk on the ice back to the garage door and pull it down manually as I wasn't going to leave it open while I was gone.

So, I decided to go out to the driveway and drive the Dodge Dakota.  But, guess what that was covered in.  

--RoadFun

Some Irish Music for an Irish Thing These Days

From Bob Stroud's Ten at Ten for March 17, 2013.  In other words, St. Patrick's Day.  Though we started celebrating it last weekend.

All these songs have something to do with the Irish.  See if you can figure out what.

1.  GREEN RIVER--  Creedence Clearwater Revival  (color)

2.  DOMINO--  Van Morrison  (Irish)

3.  GOLDEN EARRINGS--  Steely Dan  (?)

4.  JAILBREAK--  Thin Lizzy  (Orish)

5.  GREEN TAMBOURINE--  Lemon Pipers  (color)

6.  GIVE IRELAND BACK TO THE IRISH--  Paul McCartney  (obviously)

7.  GREEN ONIONS--  Booker T. & the MGs  (color)

8.  LET'S STAY TOGETHER--  Al Green  (his last name)

9.  DESIRE--  U2  (Irish)

10.  GREEN GRASS & HIGH TIDE--  Outlaws  (color)

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "I'm, I'm So In  Love With You Whatever You Want Me To Do.'  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Let's Stay Together"

WLS Top 23 for Week of March 12, 1973-- Part 3: 'Love Train'

That's right, fifty years ago, half a century.  These were thye songs playing on Chicago's WLS, 890 AM.

*  Means it was climbing the charts.  The number after the artist is how high the song got on the Billboard Hot 100 National Charts.

10. I'M JUST A SINGER (IN A ROCK AND ROLL BAND)--  Moody Blues   #12    Formed in Birmingham, England.

9.  DADDY'S HOME--  Jermaine Jackson      #9    Michael's brother.

8.  CROCODILE ROCK--  Elton John    #1 for 3 weeks.

7.  ALSO SPRACH ZARATHUSTRA--  Deodato    #2  His only top 40.

6.  ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH--  John Denver     #9   Follow up to "Take Me Home, Country Roads."

5.  LOVE TRAIN--  O'Jays    #1     Named after Cleveland DJ  Eddie O'Jay.

4.  COULD IT BE I'M FALLING IN LOVE--  Spinners    #4  Formed in Detroit, Michigan.

3.  LAST SONG--  Edward Bear    #3   

2.  DUELING BANJOS--  Deliverance     #2   Eric Weissberg & Steve Mandell

1.  KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH HIS SONG--  Roberta Flack    #1  for five weeks.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "I Remember When Rock WasYound, Me And Susie Had So Much Fun."  Answer below.   --RoadDog

"Crocodile Rock"

WLS Top 23 for Week of March 12, 1973-- Part 2: 'Danny's Song'

15.  *AIN'T NO WOMAN (LIKE THE ONE I'VE GOT)--  Four Tops   #4   Their last Top Ten.

14.  *DANNY'S SONG--  Anne Murray   #7   From Nova Scotia, Canada.  Her follow up to #8 "Snowbird."

13.  DO IT AGAIN--  Steely Dan    #6    Their first Top 40.  Donald Fagen and Walter Becker.

12.  *DO YOU WANT TO DANCE--  Bette Midler   #11     Her first Top 40.  Doing an old Beach Boys song.

11.  DON'T EXPECT ME TO BE YOUR FRIEND--  Lobo     #8  His last of three straight Top Tens.

Name That Tune (from the abve songs):  "In The Morning You Go Gunning For The Man Who Stole Your Water."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Do It Again"

DeKalb, Illinois' Clinton Rosette Middle School

From the March 1, 2023,  MidWeek (DeKalb County) "Looking Back."

1973, fifty years ago.

"Clinton Rosette Middle School, named after the editor of the first daily newspaper  published in DeKalb, the DeKalb Chronicle,  has been tye center of controversy for many years.

"Built in 1903 as the township high school, it remained a high school until 1966 when it became the north side  junior high school.

"Three years ago, a study was made  on the feasibility of continuing operation of Rosette versus complete renovation of the facility, which was estimated at a cost of $1.5 to $2 million."

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Back in the fall of 1972 and spring of 1973, I was at the school a lot as I was preparing to become a teacher and taking classes at Northern Illinois University (also in DeKalb).  It was a very run-down building at the time.

--RoadTeach

Top 23 Songs on WLS for Week of March 12, 1973-- Part 1: 'Dancing in the Moonlight'

The Top songs in Chicago Fifty years ago.

*  Means the Song was climbing the charts.  The number behind the artist is how high the song got on the BillboardHot 100 National Charts.

23.  *  CALL ME (COME BACK HOME)--   Al Green  #10

22.  *BREAK UP TO MAKE UP--  Stylistics   #5    R&B group fron Philadelphia.    

21.  DANCING IN THE MOONLIGHT--  King Harvest   #13   Their only Top 40.

20.  *KISSING MY LOVE--  Bill Withers   n #31    Pride and joy of Slab Fork, West Virginia.

19.   *AUBREY--  Bread   #15    Their next to last Top 40.

18.  *BIG CITY MISS RUTH ANN--  Gallery  #23

17.  *NEITHER ONE OF US  (WANTS TO BE THE FIRST TO SAY GOODBYE)--  Gladys Knight & the Pips   #2

16.  YOU'RE SO VAIN--  Carly Simon    #1  for three weeks.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "It's Sad To Think We're Not Going To Make It."  --Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Neither One of Us (Wants to be the First to Say Goodbye)"

2021 Cure Bowl Ranked at #3 Best Bowl on 247 Sports.

Okay, from over a year ago, but still a great game and it involved my school, Northern Illinois University.  Unfortunately, we lost, but that was one enjoyable game to watch.  Neither defense could stop the other's offense.

It was Coastal Carolina versus NIU.

From 247 Sports.com "College football bowl games:  Ranking  top ten from 2021"  by Riley Gates.

He ranked the Cure Bowl at #3.

"With Grayson McCall coming back, you just knew we were in for a fun shootout.  The Chanticleers star threw for 315 yards and  four touchdowns, while Northern Illinois' Rocky Lombardi (is that not a great football name or not?) threw for 181 yards and two touchdowns.

"Both teams ran the ball for massive numbers too, as the Huskies had 335 yards on the ground to the Chanticleers' 199.

"Down six with just a little more than three minutes to go, Northern Illinois looked  done for.  But the Huskies forced a punt and went for a 15-play, 83-yard to try to win the game.  With seven seconds remaining, Northern Illinois had the ball at the Coastal 8-yard line.  Lombardi threw a complete pass for the first down but the receiver did not get out of bounds and time expired.

Finakl score was Coastal Carolina 47 NIU 41.

--RoadDog

WLS Top Ten for Week of March 5, 1973: 'Crocodile Rock'

That's right, half a century ago.  Time sure flies by when you're having fun.

1.  KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH HIS SONG--  Roberta Flack

2.  DUELING BANJOS--  Delieverance

3.  COULD IT BE I'M FALLING IN LOVE--  Spinners

4.  LAST SONG--  Edward Bear

5.  CROCODILE ROCK--  Elton John

6.  LOVE TRAIN--  O'Jays

7.  ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH--  John Denver

8.  YOU'RE SO VAIN--  Carly Simon

9.  DON'T EXPECT ME TO BE YOUR FRIEND--  Lobo

10.  ALSO SPRACH ZARATHUSTRA--  Deodata

**********************************

DEBUTS

23.  KISSING MY LOVE--  Bill Withers

24.  AIN'T NO WOMAN (LIKE THE ONE I GOT)--   Four Tops

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "He Was Born In The Summer Of His  Twenty-Seventh Year."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Rocky Mountain High"

Trying to Reason With an Ice Storm-- Part 1

The Icestorm of Wednesday, February 22.

Starting over the weekend of Feb. 18-19, we started getting dire warnings of a likely ice storm heading our way, with the worst part supposed to hit us along the Illinois-Wisconsin border and areas north.  To the south it would be more of a rain situation.  I always take it under advisement as the weather folks are often right, but also often wrong.  I was hoping they were wrong.

However, Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 20 and 21, it was still predicted to hit Wednesday, my usual day to drive up to Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin.  I adopted a wait and see attitude.  

Well, they were right on with their predictions.  We did have an ice storm and it was the worst I can remember having in the 30 years we've lived in Spring Grove, Illinois.  By the time I would have left for Donovan's at 1:30 pm, there was a thick coating of ice on all the trees and bushes.  Staying put now.

Really hoping we don't lose power.  At 6:15, the lights flickered and then ten monutes later, flickered and went out for good.  Of course, dumb old me had not put any flashlights nearby, so had to grope for some.  Finally found one and was in business.

But, now what.  I can't do anything without electricity and Wednesdays are one of my favorite TV days.  No TV, no radio, no stereo, no nothing.

Might just as well go to sleep.

--RoadIcedOut

Music Deaths in 2022: Jim Seals of Seals & Crofts

JIM SEALS, 80 

Died 6 June 2022

Singer / guitar player with soft rock duo Seals & Crofts who wrote the song "Summer Breeze."

."Summer Breeze"  (#6-1972)

"Hummmingbird"  (#20-1973)

"Diamond Girl"  (#6-1973)

"We May Never Pass This Way Again"  (#21-1973)

"I'll Play For You"  (#18-1975)

"Get Closer"  (#6-1976)