Leading Up to St. Patrick's Day: Pizza, Beer, a Movie, a Presentation and Trivia

And, it was unseasonably warm around here until Saturday.

MARCH 11--  MONDAY

Went to Saylor Mick's in Spring Grove for half price pizza and Bricks 'N Ivy for the $8 pitcher of Blue Moon.

MARCH 12-- TUESDAY

Drove to Woodstock, Illinois, for the movie "King Fu Panda: 4" at the theater, then spent some time in the library before meeting members of the Round Table at 3 Brothers restaurant for dinner.  Then we adjourned back to the library where the McHenry County Civil War Round Table has a presentation on Confederate Railroads during the war.

MARCH 13--  WEDNESDAY

Put up the spring flowers at Liz's grave and talked with the funeral director at the Spring Grover Funeral Home about a grave stone.  Then drove to Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, for snack day/trivia at Donovan's Reef.  We sure ate well.

Good Times in the Area.  --RoadDog

The Civil War, Some Hot Dogs, CDs and a Big Snow

SATURDAY, JANUARY 29

Drove to Crystal Lake, Illinois, for the McHenry County Civil War Round Table discussion meeting at Panera Bread.  Today's topic was the "The End, February and March 1865."  I, of course, brought up the Wilmington Campaign, also called the Battle of Wilmington, in North Carolina.  That was the follow-up to Fort Fisher's fall. 

It started snowing about half way through the meeting and coming down quite hard.  I decided not to go to Algonquin and visit Barnes & Noble or Half-Price Books because of it. Driving home, road conditions were getting quite bad.  

Stopped at Happy Jack's in McHenry for their great hot dogs and then The Vinyl Frontier Record Store, a real Mom and Pop store featuring albims, 45s and CDs as well as toys and stereo equipment.  One of my most fun places to go.

Snow conditions continued to get worse and I went home and stayed.  We had our biggest snowfall of the winter with around 8 inches by Sunday morning.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 29

Way too much snow to shovel by hand, and sadly, stoll couldn't get the snowblower started.  Later, I heard a snowblower out in front of the house and saw that a new neighbor was clearing my driveway and sidewalk for me.  I tanked him and said I couldn't start my snowblower so he took it home to take a look at it.  What a great neighbor.

Later I drove to Sunnyside and actually got a seat at the bar, something very difficult to do in Sundays when it gets reallycrowded.  Watched the NFC Championship game and part of the AFC one.  Came home and watched the rest of it.

--RoadSnow

A Chain O' Lakes Oldie, a Long-Time Owner and Harley Wayne

MONDAY, AUGUST 1

We met Kevin and Kelly at Oak Park Lounge on Pistakee Lake where they were celebrating owner Tom Fuch's 46th year of owning the place.  That's a real long time to run a bar, especially considering that even though he grew up in the Johnsburg area, he had never gone there before buying it.  Talk about your on-the-job learning.

And, Oak Park Lounge is a Chain O' Lakes original, built in the 1890s and looking pretty much the same since then.  We had some drinks with Tom.

Afterwards, we went to Sunnyside Tavern for a couple or three more brews.

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

TUESDAY, AUGUST 2

A history day for me, and I love history.  I drove out to Marengo, Illinois, and had lunch at The Spot, home of the 3/4 pound cheeseburger for $7.99.  What a deal and what a meal.

Then, I went to the McHenry County History Museum in Union and met with Bob and Ellen, who are busy working on a book about McHenry County's Harley Wayne, a captain in the 15th Illinois Infantry during the Civil War who was killed at the Battle of Shiloh.

They let me peruse some primary source materials about him and I even put in a couple suggestions for the book.  Later, Bob and I took a walk by Harley Wayne's mansion which is just a couple blocks from the museum.

Congratulations Tom.  --RoadDog

POINTS TO PONDER:  If you can make amends, can you just make one amend?

Movies, the Civil War and Sliders

TUESDAY, JULY 12

Drove to Woodstock, Illinois, and saw the movie "Elvis," met the folks from the McHenry County Civil War Round Table at 3 Brothers for a pre-meeting meal and then went to the Woodstock Public Library for the meeting and had a presentation by Bruce Allardice on "The Mysteries of the Hunley."  

That really made my night as we rarely have presentations on anything naval.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13

We joined Kevin and Kelly and we had Sliders that Jeff had picked up at White Castle in Kenosha for "snack day."  Cindy and Jerry usually bring in the heavy snacks.  We bring in butter pretzels.

THURSDAY, JULY 14

Went to the Fox Lake (Illinois) Theatre and saw "Jurassic World Dominion."  I sure enjoyed the six "Jurassic" movies.  Later we went to Sunnyside.

--RoadDog

Around Here: A Civil War Encampment, Stucky's, Karaoke and Da Pack Beats Da Bears

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16

For the first time since 2019,I went to a Civil War encampment at Hainesville, Illinois.  It was good to get around like-minded folks like me.  It was sunny, but blustery with a good bit of cold in the air.  Not bad in the sunlight, but avoid tree shade.

I met and talked with my friend Bob, who was playing the part of Elijah Haines, the founder and namesake of Hainesville.  We go back to 1973, when we were both teachers in Round Lake.  I also sat in on the presentations by U.S. Grant and Abraham Lincoln.

They were going to recreate the Battle of Bentonville, fought in North Carolina on March 19-21, 1865.  This battle was fought just 25 miles from where I was born in 1951, Goldsboro.  However, I had been wind-blown enough by then so I decided to leave.

Later that night Liz and I went to Stucky's in Johnsburg where we ate an d I sang karaoke.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 17 

Met the new neighbors across the street for the first time.  We went to the McHenry American Legion where we watched a certain quarterback own us again as he said so emphatically after scoring a TD.  The 24-14 final score was not truly indicative of their domination.  Sure getting tired of watching Da Bears play Da Packers.

--RoadSadBears

About This Last Weekend-- Part 2: A Civil War Meeting and Was John Wilkes Booth Actually Killed?

SATURDAY, JULY 24

I had breakfast out on the front porch as usual, then went on the internet and prepared the questions for the McHenry County Civil War Round Table discussion group and researched some information about the Lincoln Conspirators which was today's topic.

Drove to Crystal Lake listening to WXRT's Saturday Morning Flashback to 1974, my first year out of college and teaching.  Too bad I had the meeting.

We had seven people at the Panera Bread store in Crystal Lake.  And, our friend Frank even e-mailed his famed impossible questions in from down south where he is recovering from a sickness.  Seemed more like the good old days.  As usual, great discussion and quite a bit of it revolved around whether John Wilkes Booth was actually killed or was it a coverup by persons in the Union government who wanted to get rid of Lincoln.

The name Joseph Holt was mentioned quite often.  There were three John Wilkes Booths according to this conspiracy theory:  the real one who died as an old man in Missouri, one who passed as Booth on the run and one who looked enough like him to pass for a dead Booth when examined.

I'd never heard of this Booth Conspiracy before.  Like any good conspiracy, maybe true but most likely not.

--RoadDog

LAWS OF THE UNIVERSE:  LAW OF PROBABILITY:  The probability of being watched is directly proportional to the stupidity of your act.

Just Like Old Times Around Here-- Part 4: Civil War, CDs, Sliders, $1 Draft Beer, Pig Roast and a Band

SATURDAY, JUNE 26

Sat out FP (Front Porch) for coffee and breakfast.  Went on the internet for a short while and wrote questions for today's discussion group on Veterans Organizations of the Civil War and did some research.  This is for the McHenry County Civil War Round Table discussion group.

Listened to Bill St. James and his Time Warp show on WDRV and then WXRT's Saturday Morning Flashback at home and in the car.  Today it was to 1975, a great year for music.

Drove to Panera Bread in Crystal Lake, Illinois, for the meeting which was held inside for the first time since February 2020.  The two major veterans groups after the war were the Union's Grand Army of the Republic and the South's United Confederate Veterans.

Afterwards, I went to my favorite store these days, Half Price Books in Algonquin, and bought eight CDs.  The I picked up tp Sliders at White Castle.

That evening, Liz and I went to Sticky's in Johnsburg and enjoyed their $1 draft pints.

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

SUNDAY, JUNE 27

I did what I do most every Sunday during the summer, some of it even last year.  I sit FP  (Front Porch) for coffee, breakfast and reading.  Then go on the internet and work on blogs.  Then listen to different radio shows:  Acoustic Storm on the Drive, WXRT's Breakfast With the Beatles and WDRV's Rock and Roll Roots.

In the afternoon, we went over to the American Legion in McHenry, Illinois, for their annual Pig Roast.  It was auce and all the beer you can drink for $10.  I tell you, I can live with this price.  Plus, we had a great country rock/blues  band called Dixie Rising.

Tough Life, But Somebody's Got to Do It.  --RoadPig

I'd Celebrate That!!!! April 8 - 11: Appomattox Day on Tuesday, April 9

**  I'd celebrate it.

APRIL 8

DOG FARTING AWARENESS DAY--  Yep, they do.  Just don't blame them when you fart.

NATIONAL DOG FIGHTING AWARENESS DAY--  **  This is terrible.  And, what it has done to the reputation of pit-bulls is absolutely horrible.


APRIL 9

APPOMATTOX DAY--    Lee Surrenders.  Well, being of Southern persuasion I can't say that I celebrate this day.  But I am glad that the war was finally over.

NATIONAL FORMER POW DAY--  **  What they had to endure for us is unimaginable.


APRIL 10

AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS DAY--  **  It is amazing how cruel some people are to animals.

SALVATION ARMY FOUNDERS' DAY--  **  One of the great relief organizations anywhere.


APRIL 11

NATIONAL PET DAY--  **  Those pets have us trained so well.

INTERNATIONAL LOUIE LOUIE DAY--  **  The song's writer, Richard Berry was born on this day in 1935.

SUBMARINE DAY--  **  When the U.S. bought its first submarine, the Holland, in 1900.

Remember Those Prisoners.  --RoadDog

EGGCELLENT EASTER JOKES:  Q:  What is the Easter bunny's favorite kind of music?  A:  Hip-Hop of course.

I'd Celebrate That!!! March 9-10: Bang-Clang Day Today

**  I'd celebrate that!!

MARCH 9

BANG-CLANG DAY--  **  The anniversary of the battle between the USS Monitor and CSS Virginia, the first battle between ironclads.  And, with me being such a big Civil War buff, you know I'd celebrate this one.

BARBIE DAY--  **  On this date, Barbie made her debut in 1959.  Though I never had one.

NATIONAL CRABMEAT DAY--  **  I loves my crab meat.  With cocktail sauce, of course.

NATIONAL MEATBALL DAY--  **  The bigger and juicier, the better.

GET OVER IT DAY--  **  Half way between Valentine's Day and April Fools' Day.  A good day to put past indignities behind you and move ahead.


MARCH 10

GENEALOGY DAY  (celebrated the first Saturday of March) --  **  Always good to know where you come from.

INTERNATIONAL BAGPIPE DAY--  **  I love the sound of bagpipes.  And, look forward to hearing some  in the near future for you-know-what day.

INTERNATIONAL FANNY PACK DAY--  Never had one, never wore one.  Too embarrassing.

SALVATION ARMY DAY--  **  One of the great organizations of the world.

LANDLINE TELEPHONE DAY--  **  We still have one.  I haven't yet figured out how to use it completely.  What chance do I have with one of those "Idge" phones?

--RoadDog

Will This Winter EVER Get Over? Well, Still Having Fun, Regardless

I think we've had exactly four days since Woodstock Willie predicted a warm remaining winter and early spring on February 2.  I'm for locking him up till next Groundhog Day.

But, life goes on in these cold and snowy times/

THURSDAY, FEB. 21

Went to Half-Times and Sunnyside.

FRIDAY, FEB. 22

Funny that the ultra-left trashed the statue of the wrong Lee in North Carolina.  Idiots.  Went to the Legion for Half and Half.  Friend Kelly won.

SATURDAY, FEB. 23

Went to Crystal Lake for the McHenry County Civil War Round Table discussion group on Sherman's 1865 Carolinas Campaign.  We had a young kid there who played several Civil war songs on his violin and is interested in the war.  Always good as we Civil War buffs are aging quickly these days.  Maybe there is hope.

--RoadDog

COME SAIL AWAY:  Poopdeck Pappy was the father of which fictional sailor?


Popeye

A Busy Weekend-- Part 2: Old Friends, Vets and Ed Bearrs

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7

This being Pearl Harbor Day, the 77th anniversary, I wrote about it in all my blogs.  My flags were already up for President Bush's funeral.

I drove to Bristol, Wisconsin, to have breakfast with former teachers from John T. Magee Middle School in Round Lake, Illinois.  We had our first get-together back in November and hope to get it to being a regular monthly thing.  It is always fun to get together with old friends, especially ones you don't often see.  A lot of retired teachers from Round Lake have moved to warmer climes, but enough of us stay here to have them.

Afterwards, I drove to the Fox Lake, Illinois, American Legion Post 703 where we were putting on our annual Christmas dinner for the people at the VA Hospital in North Chicago.  I worked in the kitchen plating yams, mashed potatoes and gravy.  We served around 125.

Later I drove to Arlington Heights, Illinois, and visited the grave of Liz's parents in Memory Gardens and then, with some difficulty found the place where Ed Bearrs was going to speak for the Northern Illinois Civil War Round Table at the Arlington Hts. Museum.  Mr. Bearrs is one of the preeminent Civil War people, having written many books and led many battlefield tours.  It was worth the distance and confusion to hear him.  I will eventually get around to writing about him in my Civil War blog.

A Very Long Day.  --RoadDog

JSS: Boat's Up For Winter-- Black Friday-- Ed Bearss

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1.  BOAT'S UP FOR WINTER--  This past Friday I took the boat over to the barn in Hebron where we keep the boat during the winter, thus ending a year of no boating for us as it turned out.  Well, we did have 33 years of good boating before this.

2.  BLACK FRIDAY--  It seems like we just got rid of all those politicians saying all those bad things about their opponents.  Now, we have all this "Black Friday" stuff to listen to.  Have you "Black Fridayed?"

3.  ED BEARSS--  I understand ge will be giving a talk to the Northern Illinois Civil War Round Table in Arlington Heights on Pearl Harbor Day, December 7.  I hope to be able to see this World War II Marine veteran.  He is unique.

--RoadDog

THAT TIME OF THE YEAR:  Id April showers bring May flowers, what do Mayflowers bring?   Answer:  Pilgrims.

Good Times Last Weekend-- Part 3: Summer Songs, a Band and Sunnyside

JUNE 23, SATURDAY--  Drove to Crystal Lake, Illinois, for the McHenry County Civil War Round Table discussion group meeting at Panera.  Today's discussion was Civil War Logistics which proved to be quite interesting.  Then went to Barnes & Noble and bought a couple magazines.  I sure enjoy going into that place.

Then I did yardwork and trimming despite the fact that it wasn't quite dry yet, but you do the best you can in the rainy season which we evidently have.

Drove over to Choppers in Antioch, Illinois, and sat out on the deck and enjoyed the band Aging Teen Idols and then went to Time To Bite, a fishing/bar).  We got Chain Crawl stamps at both places since they are on the Chain of Lakes.

JUNE 24, SUNDAY--  Bob Stroud played his annual Root Salute to Summer on his Rock and Roll Roots show on WDRV, 97.1 FM.  No better way to get into a summer kind of mood.  I'll be listing his summer songs next week.

Did some more yardwork and bush trimming and then went to Stucky's in Johnsburg and saw the band Element, but didn't much like their kind of hard rock.  Ended up at Sunnyside and had quite a good time playing oldies on the jukebox with the regulars.

Is Summer Finally Here?  (Well, I did pick up the boat from the barn in Hebron yesterday.)  --RoadDog

TRANSLATING PROJECT TERMS:  They say:  Test results were extremely gratifying.  They mean:  It works, and we are surprised.

Good Times Last Weekend-- Part 2: Sitting Outside, Enjoying a Band and Drinking Beer

SATURDAY, JUNE 23

We finally have some decent summer weather.  Enjoyed listening to WXRT's Saturday Morning Flashback where they went back to 1970 as I drove to Crystal Lake, Illinois for the McHenry County Civil War Round Table discussion group where we talked about Civil War Logistics.  I didn't think this topic would be a good one, but I sure was wrong.  Keeping those armies supplied with food and ordnance and getting them from place to place was no easy thing.

Went to Barnes & Nobles afterwards, one of the few stores I still understand, and bought a Civil War Monitor and Naval History magazine.

We went to Choppers on Il-173 in Antioch and sat out on their deck and listened to Aging Teen Idols playing music.  Just something about sitting outside on a perfect summer day, listening to a band and drinking ice cold beer that makes this one great experience.

We then went to Time to Bite, which is part fishing store and bar and also had the Chain Crawl book signed.

--RoadDog

TRANSLATING PROJECT TERMS:  They say:  Extensive effort is being applied on a fresh approach to the problem.  They Mean: We just hired three new guys; we'll let them kick it around for awhile.

Busy Weekend-- Part 2: Civil War, Half-Times, B-Ball

SATURDAY, MARCH 24

Drove to Crystal Lake, Illinois, for the McHenry County Civil War Round Table discussion group meeting.  Out topic was the war in Arkansas and Missouri with particular emphasis on the Battle of Pea Ridge.  Afterwards, I stopped at one of the few stores I still like to visit, Barnes & Noble and bought a CD, book and magazine.

We went to Half-Times in Johnsburg for the NCAA  Tournament game and the place was standing room only with a whole lot of cheering.  Ran into one guy who was wearing a USS Jacinto hat as his dad served on that ship during World War II.  My friend's dad had also served on that ship during the war and he had given me a Jacinto hat as well, so, that ship definitely wasn't forgotten today.

--RoadDog

Plenty Going On Around Here This Weekend: Boating, Football, History, Civil War and Bands

A bit earlier today, I went out on the boat and in a short while, I'll be going to Richmond, Illinois, for the Richmond-Burton football game.  Nothing like a high school football game on a warm September Friday night.

Tomorrow, Saturday, September 16, Grant High School in Fox Lake, Illinois, has its homecoming parade at 9 a.m..  From there I am going to the Fox Lake Grant Township Area Historical Society for a presentation on Commercial Fishing on the Chain.

After that I will go to Hainesville, Illinois, for a Civil War re-enactment.

Later in the afternoon and early evening, several bars are having bands playing outside, including Oak Park Lounge's Oaktoberfest.

Sunday, there are more bands and, of course, Da Bears game.

Why Go Anywhere Else?  --RoadDog

Closing Out July-- Part 3: The Civil War, No Cassette Tapes, Da Blues and Baseball

SATURDAY, JULY 29

Enjoyed listening to Saturday Morning Flashback to 1971, a good college year for me.

I drove to Crystal lake where the McHenry County Civil War Round Table discussion group 's topic was 20 significant points of the Civil War.  I then went to Target and Barnes & Noble, two stores which are not close to us in Spring Grove.  Also checked out the garden nurseries at Meijer, Home Depot and Wal-Mart, but didn't buy anything.

I'd say the end of an era has taken place as Meijer did not have the 5-pack bricks of Maxell cassette tapes that I have been buying all these many years.  This is the last place I know of that sold cassette tapes.  Oh Well.

We went to The grove in Spring Grove and watched the blues band in the biergarten for awhile and then went to Sunnyside in Johnsburg and watched the movie "Major League"  The Cubs won and Sox Lost.

What's New With That?  --RoadDog

CUBS-SOX CROSSTOWN PUTDOWNS:  Cubs fan to Sox Fan--  "Your infield has more holes than a Swiss cheese donut.

Kickin' Off Our Summer '17-- Part 6: Of Boats, Classic Cars, Movies and the Civil War

JUNE 12, MONDAY

As we really get into a hot hot hot stretch.  Hey, it's summer.  Took the boat over to the marina to be summerized so we're one step closer to that aspect of out summer here on the Chain of Lakes.  Bought flowers at$8 a flat at Ace in Antioch (another summer thing)  and these included tall snapdragons (my favorite and something most places don't sell).

Back home it was trimming and yardwork  Then I went to the Green Street Cruise-In in McHenry which happens most every Monday during the summer to into September.  Tonight was Corvettes and there were probably sixty there.  Stopped back at Sunnyside Tap for $1.25 drafts.

JUNE 13--  TUESDAY

Did some yardwork and then went to Woodstock and saw the movie "Wonder Woman," met up with some Civil War buffs at Three Brothers restaurant  and then went to the McHenry Civil War Round Table meeting at the Woodstock Library and heard a talk on the five Confederate attempts to capture Nashville, Tennessee.

Why Go Anywhere Else?  --RoadDog

What Exactly Is a Tarheel?-- Part 3: A Civil War Connection

Another story as to how the name Tarheel came about comes to us from the Civil War.

At a battle during the Civil War, North Carolina soldiers were getting on the case of some soldiers from another Confederate state for rapidly leaving (running) a battlefield when things got rough.  They threatened to put tar on the heels of the soldiers from the other state to help them "stick" better in battle.

General Robert E. Lee. when he heard about it is supposed to have said "God bless the Tarheel boys."

So perhaps the name comes from Robert E. Lee.

Now, I Suppose, There Will be Some Offended By the Idea That the Name Came From the Confederacy So the Name Might have to Be Changed So As Not to Hurt Their Feelings.  --RoadDog

What Exactly is a Tarheel?-- Part 1: And What About their Mascot

From Al.com.

Just last Monday, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Tarheels beat Villanova in a close game to win the NCAA Nation basketball Championship for 2017.  Of all the "Big Guys" in college basketball, the Tarheels are my favorite, so i was happy.

But, inquiring minds in Alabama wanted to know what a Tarheel is.  And what about that ram mascot?

Of course, I would like to know what a Crimson Tide and elephant have to do with the University of Alabama myself?

According to the UNC-Chapel Hill athletic department, there are two stories as to how the name came to be.  One dates to the American Revolution and a dastardly deed committed by Americans on the unsuspecting British soldiers.

The other explanation deals with soldiers razzing one another during the Civil War.

More On This Later.  --RoadDog