Last Week-- Part 3: Cubs-Sox Game, Stucky's, Parish Fest and Keep the Spirit of '45 Alive

FRIDAY, AUGUST 6

Decided to go to Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes to watch the afternoon White Sox-Cubs game.  Also knew that buddy Coz would be there and he is a huge Sox fan.  And, this was one unbelievable game.  

The Sox had a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the 8th with the Cubs at bat.  We were thinking Sox victory, but no.  Former Cub reliever  Craig Kimbrel, he with the funny right hand posture when he pitches, blew it and the score was 4-4.  But the Sox scored 4 times in the 10th and held on for an 8-6 victory.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 7

We went to Stucky's in Johnsburg for  the $1 draft pints.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 8

I went to Parish Fest in Johnsburg and enjoyed Die Musikmeisters Oompah band and had some great food.  Later, Liz and I went to McHenry and I went over to the Keep the Spirit of '45 Alive salute to the Greatest Generation at Veterans Park.  I enjoyed Bill's Little Big Band playing all those great songs from WW II.

I wrote about both of these events in more detail in my RoadDog's RoadLog Blog.

--RoadDog

LAWS OF THE UNIVERSE, THE COFFEE LAW:  As soon as you sit down to a cup of hot coffee, your boss will ask you to do something which will last until the coffee is cold.

An Oktoberfest Kind of Weekend: Sox Win!! Beat Cubs, 1973

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21

Last day of summer, fall starts tomorrow.  Sure hare how h\short the days are getting.

Went to Sunnyside Tap in Johnsburg and watched the Sox beat the Cubs 10-4.  This is the White Sox "World Series" as w are not going anywhere come the end of next week.  Enjoyed rubbing it in to the Cub fans, even though I do back the Cubs entirely UNLESS they play the Sox.

Sure love interleague play.  Before that, when the Cubs played the Sox, both teams brought up their minor leaguers, which proved nothing as far as who is better.

Enjoyed the $5 pitchers of beer.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22

Enjoyed listening to the year 1973 music on Chicago's WXRT, 93.1 FM Saturday Morning Flashback. Like I've said before, a real big year in my life with NIU graduation, getting married and first teaching job. Brought back memories.

--RoadDog

JSS: Cold-- Gas Gouge-- Cemetery-- Cut Grass-- Old Stomping Grounds

JSS--  Just Some Stuff.

1.  COLD--  Well, we are being hit with a chilly day with temps this morning in the 40s and highs of 50s here in northern Illinois.  Those poor people out at Wrigley Field will be suffering for this afternoon's Cross Town Series game between the White Sox and Cubs.

2.  GAS GOUGE--  Yesterday we saw gas in Fox Lake at $3.10 ($3.09.9)  Gas at another station in Chicago's Northwest Suburbs was even at $3.20.  I guess the good old low prices are gone.  How high will gas get?

3.  CEMETERY--  This coming up on Mother's Day, we went to the cemetery in Arlington Heights where Liz's parents are buried and put up new flowers and cleared off grass from around the marker.

4.  CUT GRASS--  I cut the grass Sunday and had to cut it (and all those dandelions) again Thursday.  Can't have it getting too far ahead of me.

5.  OLD STOMPING GROUNDS--  After going to the cemetery, Liz and I drove by our old homes in Palatine and ate at Photo's in Palatine (Northwest Highway, US-14).  Photo's is located where the Burger King used to be where I got my first job and worked at junior and senior years in high school and freshman year in college.

We then drove on Quentin Road to Fairfield Road which is how we used to drive between Round Lake Beach to Palatine and later Arlington Heights to visit with Liz's parents.

--RoadDog

Closing Out July-- Part 1: New Odyssey at McHenry's Veterans Park

JULY 27, THURSDAY

As usual, FP and yardwork.

We went to McHenry and had the $1 mini burgers at the PLAV (Polish Legion of American Veterans) and then walked over to Veterans Park to watch the band New Odyssey (Three Guys, Thirty instruments) put on a show at the gazebo.  As usual, we had  the famous "Drumcoat" and "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" Blue Man Group impression.  They sure had the crowd going.  We'll be seeing them again on August 13 at Parish Fest in Johnsburg.

Sad, but the Cubs took three of the four games against my White Sox in Chicago's Crosstown Classic.  But, with all the players the Sox have traded for future prospects, if we win any games that's pretty amazing.

--RoadDog

Sox-Cubs Crosstown Classic

After two games, the Sox and Cubs are split at one game apiece.  The  Sox won the first one at Wrigley Field 3-1.  The Cubs won the second one there, 7-2.  I figure if we can win just one game, that means victory for the series as this is going to be a long year, a rebuilding year, as they call it.

Monday, I bought Liz a Cubs World Series 2016 tee shirt at Jewel, as they FINALLY got around to dropping the price from $28.  And, I am a Sox fan.  She maybe is lucky to have such a wonderful guy.

Wrigley Field was sold out as were the rooftops.  Sadly, earlier this evening we saw Comiskey Park (I don't call it by the other two names), had a lot of empty seats.

Such is life here in Chicagoland.

Of course, there is a lot of put-downs between Sox and Cubs fans.

It Is Cubs All  the Way and Sox Who?  --RoadDog

SOX-CUBS PUT-DOWNS:  Sox Fan:  "Someone should trim those weeds on the outfield walls.  Cubs fan:  "It's ivy as in Ivy League."

The White Sox "World Series" Starts Today

For the next four days, the Chicago White Sox and the Chicago Cubs will be playing in their annual Crosstown Series, starting with afternoon games today and tomorrow at Wrigley Field and then two night games Wednesday and Thursday at Comiskey Park (I don't call the park the other names).

Since the All-Star game, the Cubs are 8-1 and the Sox are 0-9.  I don't have much hope (I am a White Sox fan) for anything good coming out of the series for us.  If we win one, I will call that one more win that I thought we'd have.

Those who know me, know that I pull for the Cubs unless they play the Sox.

Actually, the Sox have traded off most of their older players and are stocking up with youth in a rebuilding year.  So, losing games doesn't hurt as then we can get a higher draft choice and another future player (maybe a star).

But, these are four games I would LIKE TO WIN!!!  The next four, that is.

Go You White Sox!!!  As Andy the Clown Used to Say.  --RoadSox

Talking Baseball Here- White Sox, That Is

As the season gets to the halfway point, it is not a good one for the White Sox. Last weekend, they were swept by the, GADS!!!, Cubs, and managed to score a whole two runs in the effort. Cub fans are gloating, but, hey, they were playing the worst team in baseball. The Sox were only 6-22 as of last Sunday. Talk about your slumps.

Since then, they are 5-1, but still have one of the worst records in MLB. They're beating up on other bottom-dwellers, Tampa Bay and Kansas City. I still think the team is better than the record shows.

I was happy to see Frank Thomas hit his 500th home run. I always liked him and really thought he had a bona fide shot at the Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, he was plagued by injuries in his last years with the Sox, where he still holds lots of all-time records. He also developed a bad attitude after the Sox got Albert Belle. Then last year, he essentially ended any hopes for a return to the playoffs when we played him when he was with Oakland, a team the Sox have had a hard time defeating in recent years. He beat us with a vengeance.

I still remember going out to Comiskey Park when Andy was in his baseball phase. He had me wait while he got a Frank Thomas autograph. I wonder if he still has it?

Looks like a Long Season. --RoadDog