JSS: Werewolves of London-- End of Waukegan Strike-- Boat Out of the Water-- Miserable Halloween Here-- $3 Gas

JSS--  Just Some Stuff.

1. WEREWOLVES OF LONDON--  I'm listening to one of my Halloween cassette tapes and just heard "Werewolves of London" by Warren Zevon.  This song now always reminds me of the one that our music teacher made up during the 1994 Round Lake Teacher Strike to "honor" our "illustrious" school board prez.

2.  END OF WAUKEGAN STRIKE--  I was glad to find out yesterday that the Waukegan, Illinois, teacher strike finally ended, after four weeks.  We were planning on walking the line with them yesterday.  This would have been our fourth time out with them.  So much reminded me of our strike exactly 20 years earler.

3.  BOAT OUT OF THE WATER--  Monday, we took our boat out of the water and to the marina for winterizing.  We were able to get out on it 45 times this past season and it should have been a lot more except for all this crummy cold from all this Global ______.

4.  MISERABLE HALLOWEEN HERE--  With 38 degrees for a high, rain and snow as well as 30-40 mph wind.  I tell you, I can't take much more of all this Global ______.  I feel sorry for the Trick-Or-Treaters out tonight.

5.   $3 GAS--  Hard to believe, but gas prices actually dropped to $3 here in northeast Illinois yesterday.  Most will call it $2.99, but at $2.99.9, that' still $3.  It made me excited as I didn't think I'd ever see it that low again.  And I especially hate the GRBs at Big Oil for making me think $3 was CHEAP!!!

Just Some Stuff.  --RoadDog


SAY WHAT?  "That and a quarter will get you a cup of coffee."--  Tell that to Starbucks.

Mom Knew Her Sons

My wife Liz was talking to a friend the other day, and I overheard her say that one thing my mom said to her turned out to be very true. She told her that anyone who married my brother was going to have little pieces of wire knives, telephones, and small machines around her all her life.

Anyone marrying me was going to have lots and lots and lots of papers.

As I sit here and can't even find the desk top for all the paper and I'm surrounded by papers, even on the floor. I definitely accumulate paper. I'm like the Peanut's Pigpen. Wherever I go, I just somehow ATTRACT PAPER.

But, Hey, I'm Going to Use That...Someday. --RoadDog

As We Continue the Demise of My Places and Stuff

I am preparing to send in my last card to BMG Music, the sole remaining of the old mail-order music clubs. I'll miss them tremendously.

I always looked forward to the arrival of that magazine just packed with recordings. I probably joined back in high school, but really became a member back in the 70s when I was order LPs. That introductory offer of 12 or more LPs for $1.99 was just too much to resist. Even the mandatory purchases requirement was acceptable. Of course, I still and always have hated the high postage and handling charges, where they actually make their money.

Probably the biggest problem was having to send the card back in time, OR, receive that month's selection automatically. I received lots of unwanted LPs and later CDs, many of which were returned. Many times, I would go through a pile of old letters and find one or more of the cards.


LAST DAYS

There was RCA Records and Columbia House. Just a few years ago, Columbia House was bought by BMG. Now BMG is on the way of cassette tapes and VCRs. They have been pushing ever since they acquired Columbia House to get me to go "Green," (their savings on printing and postage, and, oh, yes, my stamps). I have resisted, and that is why I got the LAST MAILING last week.

How many of you have ever belonged to a record club? Any memories? How many selections did you get by forgetting to return the card?

Might as well start looking at the catalog and filling in those little squares. I'm not sure I will continue with the new thing replacing it. Plus, CDs are on their way out as well.

I'll Miss It, But What Else is New. They're Taking All My Stuff From Me. --RoadDog

As We Continue With the Demise of My Places and Stuff

Sadly, I just don't much fit into the new stuff these days.

Saturday night, we were playing the hour long NTN-Buzztime game at 8 PM, and, I sure didn't know much of the current stuff.

Hell, I still use cassette tapes when I deejay, although I do have CDs at home, but then, CDs are on their way out. Just go into any store selling them, andther are considerably fewer offered for sale. Just try to find cassettes for sale anywhere.

Then, there is the demise of VCRs and VHS tapes, which I still own and use exclusively. I have never even played a DVD at home.


NOW THIS!!

I see that two more Virgin Mega Stores in San Francisco and New York City are closing now, even though not for the downfall of CDs, but real estate values. Of 23 Megastores in 2002, there are just three left in Orlando, Denver, and Hollywood. How much longer these will be with us is probably not long.

Then, there were the great old Tower Records. No more, no more.

We still have FYE, but I'm sure not for too much longer.

Sad Times Indeed. Dadburn Downloading.--RoadDog

The Comics and Me-- Part 2-- Technologically Backwards

Another favorite comic strip is "Broom Hilda."

Again, this last Sunday's strip featured Gaylord (G) and Broom Hilda (BH) talking.

First-- G putting a VHS tape in VCR-- BH- "Good gravy! You still watch VHS?
Second-- BH- "You're straight out of the dark ages, Gaylord."
Third-- BH-- Stop parading your ignorance by using such archaic technology."
Fourth-- BH-- Join the 21st century. Watch DVDs like us technologically hip folks do." as she puts something into the VCR.
Fifth-- BH clicking the remote and looking confused.-- "I don't get it. I put it in right but it's not playing."
Sixth-- Nerwin the Troll-- running into the room-- "You left your DVD on the kitchen table. You're watching a pancake." BH looks deflated.

This hit home. I have some DVDs and even a couple DVD players and a recorder, but I am still using VHS tapes in the old VCRs.

I also use the old cassette tapes more than anything else, even though I have lots of CDs. Of course, it is getting increasingly hard to find cassette tapes. I see that CDs are even becoming endangered.

Is it really necessary for us to keep all this technology changing this fast. Hell, you just learn how to operate something and a month later, it's obsolete and you have to learn how to operate something else!!!!

Being Dragged Kicking and Clawing into the 21st Century. --RoadDog

The Sunday Comics and Me-- Part 1 Hunky-Dory's

This past Sunday, two of the comic strips in the Chicago Tribune were about me.

One of my favorite comic strips is Mister Boffo and His Wonder Dog "Weederman."

This one had two guys in an office talking.

First-- "Johnson in accounting says everything is Hunk-Dory."

Second-- "Hunky-Dory?! I don't want hunky-dory, I want facts and figures."

Third-- "Hunky-Dory means nothing! I want charts, graphs, and every bit of statistical data we have."

Fourth-- "You got that?!"

Fifth-- other guy leaving and saying "Okey Dokey."

For many years, we used to go to Florida for spring vacation. A favorite place to stay was at the Beach House in Hollywood Beach. Right across A1A was a great place called Hunky Dory's which was right on the Intercoastal Waterway and featured bands and $1 margaritas.

For some reason, I could never remember the name of the place and kept calling it Okey Dokey's. No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't remember it. It kept coming out Okey Dokey.

One year, we went back and I was so proud that I had finally learned the correct name, and wouldn't you know it, the place had been sold and the name changed to Bimini Bay. Well, at least this new name was easy to learn.

What's in a Name? --RoadDog

Where Were You December 30, 1964? The Music

I am going to list the songs they were playing on Chicago's WLS and WCFL AM stations on December 30, 1964. This, according to Bob Stroud's Rock and Roll Roots Time Warp to that date. If there is anyone who knows more about the music of the 60s and 70s than Bob, I'd sure like to know who that might be. He's a walking encyclopedia.

He has to be about my age as his experiences of that era are really quite close to mine.

He started off by saying that on this date, many of us had just listened to our first full year of radio for the simple reason of that little old band from Liverpool that had really put our generation on its ears, and we called them the Beatles.

I, myself, really didn't pay much attention to radio before the Beatles burst upon us. Then, the old ear was glued to it all the time. I'd have to say they had a major impact on me.

The Songs December 30, 1964: words after are Bob Stroud's comments. In parentheses are my comments.

Love Potion #9-- Searchers-- originally an old hit for the Clovers. (I really like this one.)
Willow Weep for Me-- Chad & Jeremy-- brand new, your basic slow dance--could lead to anything, perhaps a Coke. (This was a gag me song.)
Saturday Night at the Movies-- Drifters-- (One of the great Beach Bands of all time.)
Come See About Me-- Supremes-- on it's way to being the third consecutive #1 hit for them.
As Tears Go By-- Marianne Faithful-- one of the groovy, swinging birds of England. Song written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. (Boy, did I have a crush on her with that beautiful face and all that long straight blonde hair falling down.)
No Reply-- Beatles-- Bob decided to play side one of the new Beatles album in its entirety as 43 years ago, many of us had gotten the Fab 4's latest album, "Beatles '65" under the Christmas tree a week earlier. The first three songs were all written by John Lennon. (I still like the pre "Rubber Soul" Beatles the best. It's kind of strange that when you listen to those early Beatles albums, you just instinctively know what the next song is. You'd listen to one whole side, turn it over, listen to side B, then turn it over again and continue to do so until the parents yelled at you to turn that racket off.)
I'm a Loser-- Beatles
Baby's in Black-- Beatles
Rock and Roll Music-- Beatles-- cover of a Chuck Berry song
I'll Follow the Sun-- Beatles-- cover of a Dr. Feelgood song
Mr. Moonlight-- Beatles-- one of the strangest Beatles covers ever
Dance, Dance, Dance-- Beach Boys-- keeping right up with the Beatles. Band out of Hawthorne, Ca, three Wilson brothers, cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. (One of the best road songs ever written even though they never mentioned a car or the road, just turning up the radio. It's got the beat. Just try not to tap along when you hear it.)
The Warmth of the Sun--Beach Boys-- one of Brian Wilson's best ballads to date
You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling-- Righteous Brothers-- produced by Phil Spectbecame one of the most talked about songs on the radio. Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield-- the Righteous Brothers. Would go on to be a #1 song in 1965, but, we're getting our first taste of it. (Every time I hear it now, I can't help but think of that scene in the bar in "Top Gun.")
Walking in the Rain-- Ronettes-- a Phil Spectre production as well. (Before he went weird on us.)
Anyway You Want It-- Dave Clark 5-- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee this year. A new release from "the bodacious, the raucus, the righteous "Anyway You Want It." (Possibly the first single/45 I ever bought. It is about time they got inducted.)
Keep Searchin' (We'll Follow the Sun)-- Del Shannon-- just debuted by the late great Hall of Famer. ( Love that "Wheeoh" and organ.)
I'm Into Something Good-- Herman's Hermits-- newest band of the British invasion which just kept on coming. The first of many, many hits for them. (You just had to love those Hermits songs. The first album I ever bought was either their greatest hits or the Beatles "Rubber Soul", but I don't remember for sure.)
Boom Boom-- Animals-- One if by land, two if by sea, the British continued their invasion. New one and a cover of an old John Lee Hooker blues classic.
She's Not There-- Zombies-- went to top ten
Leader of the Laundromat-- Detergents-- and that's what they call a parody song. New York studio musicians and songwriters were quick to jump on the Shangri-Las "Leader of the Pack. ("Who's that banging on the piano? I don't know.")
She's a Woman-- Beatles-- Not much of a big surprise back then. Both A and B sides were number one in Chicago. This "B" side written by Paul McCartney. (Pretty much all of the Beatles songs went to Number One. Love the guitar intro to this one)
I Feel Fine-- Beatles-- by John Lennon

Bob Stroud introduces each segment with a little bit of another song beeing played at the time. Some of these were:

Mr. Lonely-- Bobby Vinton-- The Polish Prince, this was his second #1 hit of 1964. The first was "There, I've Said it Again" was displaced by the Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand", their first #1.
Do Wacka Doo-- Roger Miller-- (some real silly stuff)
Wild One-- Martha & the Vandellas--
The Name Game-- Shirley Ellis--
Mountain of Love-- Johnny Rivers-- newcomer

Hey, I Remembered Where I Was. Evidently. --RoadDog

Where Were You December 30, 1964?

This started off to be just a short introduction to the songs Bob Stroud played on his Time Warp Rock and Roll Roots Show back on Dec. 30, 2007. He went back to that date in 1964 and to the same date in 1969 for the second half of the show.

It is strange how music can bring back memories. I had forgotten a lot of this, but it just came out of me.

The School

On December 30, 1964, I was on Christmas break from Winston Park Junior High School in Palatine, Illinois, where I was an 8th grader. I had been nominated to go into the 8-1 class, the top group at the school. We were on tracking and all classes were ranked from top to lowest.

The past semester I was in 8-2. I was definitely worried that these kids were too smart for me, but once school started again in January, I found that they weren't as smart as I thought. But, I sure hit the books hard until I discovered it.

They were in algebra, something I'd never had before, and was very frightened. Fortunately, Mrs. Nesbith taught the class, and within a short time she had me right up with the others. She was one great math teacher. I breezed through algebra both freshman and junior years at Palatine High, and scored so well, I didn't have to take it at Northern Illinois.

However, when I transferred to the University of Georgia, they said I had to take their introductory to algebra course. I tried to explain that I didn't have to take it at Northern, but they insisted. This was the easiest "A" I ever got.

There was no bus service to school, so I walked the three-quarters of a mile to school every day. Most other kids did as well, this being well before the parents of today who feel their little darlings must be driven everywhere.

The House

My family was living at 1148 Anderson Drive in Palatine in the huge Winston Park subdivision. It was still in the process of being built as we'd just moved in the summer before 7th grade.

Most of the whole other side of the street was Saint Thomas Catholic Church and School. As such, there was a great playground. Also, there still a big overgrown hill that was transformed into the battleground complete with trails, gunrooms, and ambush sites as we played a lot of war. The hill was good black dirt that Winston-Muss Corporation had scraped up from the lots during construction, so it was eventually used up. Today, a park occupies the site.

My brother Bob and I shared the downstairs room. Sister Julie had her own room upstairs and soon discovered that if she got into trouble, she could sit with her back to the door and put her feet against the entry wall and no one, not even Dad could open that door.

Mom and Dad

Mom had gotten her teaching degree several years earlier from East Carolina in Greenville, NC, and had started teaching. Bad news was that she was at Winston Park Junior High my seventh grade year, but by 8th grade she was teaching elementary school at Jane Addams School several blocks from the house. This was the same school Bob and Julie went to.

Dad was commuting via the Chicago & Northwestern train to Chicago where he worked with the Quaker Oats Company at the Merchandise Mart. Quite a few other Quaker people lived out in the subdivision, including the Haladas, Schrickels, McDonalds, and the Smiths. I was good friends with Rusty Smith and Julie and Bryan Smith got along well.

A Trip Back that Started with Music. --RoadDog

Just Some Stuff-- More Snow--Day-After Shopping--Randhurst--NTN

Just Some Stuff--JSS:

1. Received about a half-inch of snow last night. That's not much, but after the mess from Dec. 1st, I'm out soon to clear even this little amount off. No more chopping ice for me, I'll leave it to the icebreakers.

Real bad news, Liz just told me, as did that confounded chirping Weather Bug, that we have 5-7 inches of that white stuff scheduled to arrive tomorrow. Dadburn snowmobilers. Hope they're happy. They should have to come over and clear off my driveway and sidewalk before they go out and have their fun.

2. Went out Day-After Christmas Shopping yesterday. I wasn't the only one. Big crowds, especially at Wal-Mart. Then there were the lines waiting to check out. Fortunately I found a check out back by the record/electronic department with no one in line.

Hard to beat those half-prices Christmas items. Bought some red and white rope lights for use on the pillars next year. Also bought some button lights for the Christmas village under the main tree.

Saw some other neat stuff, including those new Christmas trees with the white ball lights that change colors synchronized to music. Those were neat, but I managed to avoid buying them. We have way too much Christmas Stuff already.

3. We're getting ready to make one last visit to Randhurst Mall in Mt. Prospect, Illinois, later this afternoon. This mall was built in 1962, and was a major hang-out for Liz and myself during high school and college. That applied to most high schoolers and young folks in Chicago's Northwest Suburbs. It will be torn down after the start of the new year because of declining business.

4. I'm almost ready to crack the 3 million mark in NTN at Hello Folks with 2,998,500 points. I Play NTN Way Too Much, but enjoy it, so reckon I'll continue. I use the Roadog handle there as you can only get six letters in your handle. Meanwhile, at Donovan's Reef, in Twin Lakes, Wi, Parrot is getting close to ten million points. This was my very first of my many handles.

NTN stands for National Trivia Network. It also goes by the word Buzztime now.

Sure Gonna Miss Randhurst. --RoadDog

No Movies for Me

Well, I had hopes of seeing 40 movies at the theaters in 2007. Last Friday, I saw "I Am Legend." This will be my last one, because those that work for a living and go to school are flocking to the theaters this Christmas season.

Yesterday, I was planning on seeing the new "National Treasure" movie at the McHenry, Il, Indoor Theatre, but the line was out the door. Then I drove by the Fox Lake, Il, Theatre to see"Charlie Wilson's War" and the parking lot was full. Guess a lot of people must have taken this week off, and I'm sure parents are shuttling off their loved ones to the movies to get them out of the house.

Guess I will stay stuck at 38 for the year and wait until Jan. 7th to resume seeing the shows.

By the way, "I Am Legend" was a very good show.

It's kind of strange, but sometimes there will be a month or longer stretch where I don't have any movies I particularly want to see. Then, all of a sudden, there are a whole lot released at once.

Other movies I want to see now: Charlie Wilson's War, PS I Love You, Waterhorse, Golden Compass, National Treasure, and Walk Hard.

Hey, Let's Hurry Up and Get Back to Work and School So Us Old Retired Coots can Get Back to Normalcy. --RoadDog

Didn't Want to Do It...

Well, I sure didn't want to do it, but, I just had to do it.

And that was to buy some more Christmas stuff. Liz and I are about to get Christmassed out of the house with our (well, my) ever-expanding collection. I fully intended not to buy anything this year, but, like I said....

1. Last week, I was forced to buy a house with lights that are synchronized to three different Christmas songs including "Carol of the Bells," " Deck the Halls," and the one that is used in the Miller Lite commercial this year and made the internet rounds last year. I bought it at Walgreens and it would have been worth the $20 they originally wanted, but at $13--too good of a deal to pass up.

2. This past Friday, I went to Big Lots in Round Lake Beach, and found an animated penguin with a chick in an egg that sand duets on "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "Baby, It's Cold Outside." That was just too cute to pass up. And a deal at $10 marked down from $20.

3. Also at Big Lots, I found a three piece lighted porcelain set that is just what any roadie needs. It has an old motel, gas station, and diner along with people and vehicles.

I Didn't Want to Have to Do It. --RoadDog

Took a Drive Up to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin-- Part 1

Yesterday, Liz and I took a trip to Lake Geneva to see those beautiful lights at Grand Geneva, close by Wisconsin 50/US-12. We like to do this every year, and it is a magnificent display with over a million lights.

In keeping with our 40th Anniversary "Trip Down Memory Lane," we stopped at Dilar's in Richmond for lunch. We stopped at this place many times while dating in high school and college. At that time, and, until about seven years ago, it was Mr. Sitka's. They had some excellent pizza and very reasonably prices for modest high school and college budgets.

At the time, we were living in Palatine and it never would have entered our minds that one day we would be living only about six miles from it. That drive north on US-12 seemed to go on forever.

Still has excellent food, especially their broasted chicken, and a whole meal with chicken, potatoes, vegetables, rolls, and salad came to $8.25.

We then drove past the Wisconsin border on the four lane US-12 speedway. Speed limit is 65, but you'll get run over if you adhere to it. My favorite place along this stretch of road is where they have signs for "Airplane Crossing" and "Watch for Low-Flying Planes." This is not what you'd expect to see on a road. There is a subdivision at this point where one of the roads is a landing strip. These folks fly to their jobs.

It was still light, so we stopped at the Lake Geneva Lanes on Wi-50 and played NTN. It has 12 lanes and a great little lounge done up north-woods style with exposed timbers.

More Tomorrow. --RoadDog

Just Some Stuff-- JSS

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1. Still waiting for some above-freezing days to get the snow/ice off the driveway and sidewalk. We've only had one day above freezing since Dec. 1st. Yesterday, I went out and chopped holes in the ice as well as the 9 inches of snow/ice pack at the foot of the driveway. I'm hoping that will help do some melting as it is supposed to get over freezing the next four or five days.

2. Sunday, Liz and I went to Twin Lakes to have some of those great $3 Bloody Mary meals at Main Street, and play NTN at Donovan's. We had four top tens in the course of the afternoon. Alfons, Tomas, and George played with us. Watched the Packers defeat the St. Louis Rams (still should be Los Angeles Rams to me) in a close game until the second half. Brett Favre keeps rolling on and set the NFL career mark with most yards passing. Too bad DaBears don't have him. Green Bay, my second favorite NFL team, is now 12-2 (with one of those losses coming from my favorite NFL team, DaBears!!!).

3. Speaking of the DaBears, this has been quite a come-down this year after going to the Super Bowl last season. Watched them play Monday Night Football last night at Margaritaville, our basement bar here at Key North. They played well in the first half, but definitely have to find a qb for next season. The three we have now are not the answer.

The Bears loss drops the record to 5-9. Believe it or not, they were still mathematically in the running for the playoffs until last night. There is no way this team deserved to go.

4. Going over to see Frances at Alden Terrace Nursing Home in McHenry. Later today, I'll stop by Round Lake Middle School to congratulate Hollis on 30 years of coaching 8th grade girls basketball. This is his last home game.

Then I will stop by the White Castle in Ivanhoe and have some sliders before deejaying at Santa Maria School in Mundelein. I have been deejaying there since about 1984, now, that's a long time to be doing something.

5. While getting the stream for 94.9 FM the Surf out of Myrtle Beach, SC, earlier this morning, I saw that the temperature was 27 degrees, the same as here in Spring Grove, Illinois. After all of Billy Smith's bragging about the 80s they had last week, I had to e-mail him and let him know. He announced it on-air and called me a loyal listener as I have been e-mailing several times a week the past several weeks. He is one of my favorite deejays.

Keeping On Keeping On Down Da Road. --Cooter

Where Were You November 25, 1968?

Bob Stroud did his Rock and Roll Roots Time Warp back on Nov. 25, 2007, the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Since Liz and I are doing "A Trip Down Memory Lane" these days to mark our 40th anniversary of "going together", I will list all the songs Stroud played.

These were all being played on Chicago's two major young people's station at the time. Both were AM radio as FM was just starting to get going. Those stations were WLS and WCFL. These are the charts Stroud used to compile his playlist.

I was a senior at Palatine High School, in Palatine, Illinois, slinging Whoppers at the Burger King on Northwest Highway for a buck an hour and having a great time with the other employees and boss, Bob Galloy, who was just about a kid himself. Didn't much like the other boss, Jerry, but did like their father, Mr. G.

I was sports editor of the Cutlass, the school paper (we were called the Pirates, get it, Cutlass) and sports editor of the yearbook as well.

Liz and I had been going together almost a year by then. She worked part time at General Finance Corporation in Evanston, Illinois, during breaks and holidays. Her dad, Amby, also worked there and they carpooled it from Palatine.

Both of us were living in different sections of the huge Winston Park subdivision. I was at 1102 Anderson Dr., across from St. Thomas School and church. Liz was living at 44 Patricia Lane.

Stroud's comments accompany as well. If in parentheses ( ), it is my comment. I didn't get any of Bob's comment the first thirty minutes as I was asleep. The songs:

Elenore-- Turtles-- (how do you beat that great harmony?)
Nobody-- Three Dog Night (a favorite blue-eyed soul group of mine.)
I Heard it Through the Grapevine-- Marvin Gaye-- (the definitive version of the Gladys Knight & the Pips version. I still can't hear this without envisioning those raisins doing their best soul moves.)

Shake-- Shadows of Knight-- (a local northwest suburb group more famous for "Gloria." This one, for some reason, is regarded as a Bubblegum song, even though it is a great rocker.)

Son of a Preacher Man-- Dusty Springfield--(Nashville song from British songstress)
White Room-- Cream--(second hit after "Sunshine of Your Love." One of my favorite groups and one where I immediately bought every album they released after Ronnie Creel let me listen to his "Fresh Cream" album on a trip to Goldsboro, NC.)

Quick Joey Small (Run Joey Run)-- Kastenetz-Katz Singing Orchestral Circus--Bubblegum music becoming the rage. (I always liked Bubblegum even though most of my friends didn't. How's that for a group name? I still have these original albums as brother Bob evidently did not like them and didn't wreck the albums.)

For Once in My Life-- Stevie Wonder-- has achieved standard status
Shame, Shame-- Magic Lanterns-- British group
Abraham, Martin and John-- Dion--hadn't been on the charts in a long time, then comes out with something completely different from his "Wanderer" type music.
Cinnamon-- Derek-- Top Ten song a long time before Neil Young had his "Cinnamon Girl."
I Can't Turn You Loose-- Chambers Brothers-- follow up to "Time Has Come Today." (Two of my all-time favorite songs.)
Things I'd Like to Say-- New Colony 6-- "B" side of "Come and Give Your Love to Me." Legend has it that Larry Lujac, dj at WLS, turned the 45 over and played this song. He immediately decided this would be the hit. (The Great Chicago Sound of the 60s. Former member Ronnie Rice still performs solo around the Chicagoland area as the "Human Jukebox." He sure knows a lot of songs.)

Kentucky Woman-- Deep Purple--Neil Diamond song and follow up to "Hush." (How to make a pop song into a heavy metal one.)

Both Sides Now-- Judy Collins-- written by Joni Mitchell
Magic Carpet Ride-- Steppenwolf-- (Nothing takes me back to Senior Lounge at Palatine High, right off the cafeteria, more than this song. Hey, is that a junior trying to sneak in?)

Run to Me-- Montanas-- Second hit after "You've Got to Be Lonely."
Love Child-- Supremes-- The Number 1 Song in Chicago by Cindy, Mary, and Diana. (A socially conscious song.)

Man, Did These Songs Take Me Back a Long, Long, Long Time Ago. --RoadDog

The Fed-Ex Guy Thinks I'm Crazy

Our cold wave continues and is forecast calls for it to stay sub-freezing until next week.

Anyway, when we were iced in this past Tuesday, I decided to replace a timer out on the front porch that wasn't turning the Christmas lights on and off in a timely manner.

I was in my athletic shorts and tee-shirt and too lazy to put on a pair of pants so went out to change the timer. There was ice, but the temperature was 30 degrees and no wind so wasn't too bad. Plus, it would only take about a minute.

Wouldn't you know it, the Fed-Ex guy picked that very moment to pull up. The first words out of his mouth were, "Are you crazy."

The sad thing was that I had just given my neighbor Dan across the street the same treatment this past weekend when he did a similar outdoor trip. Payback, I reckon.

Perhaps I Was and Still Am. --RoadDog

Guess Who Figured Out How to Use Bold?

You'd probably never figure out who accidentally learned how to use bold in these entries. I'm so proud of myself.

Who says you can't teach a very old dog new tricks?

I am, however, having a problem figuring out how to turn it off.

Learning New Stuff All the Time. --RoadDog

Well, It Must be Winter--Snow and Christmas Decorations

Woke up this morning to 6-8 inches of snow. Between that and the 2-3 inches of snow/ice we got Saturday night, I'd have to say Old Man Winter is HERE.

Glad to report that the snow blower worked well and did its job, even though I'm pretty sure I didn't get the oil-gas mixture just right. I somehow lost the instructions.

Just enough wind so that I had plenty face fulls of the white stuff. My right knee, which was already sore for some reason, got even worse when I slipped a couple times on the ice under the snow.

We're listening to our favorite two Christmas albums, well, CDs, today as we put up the decorations. Those two would be The Beach Boys and Jimmy Buffett. If you play JB, let it go past the last track as he tells the Night Before Christmas.  That is a bonus as it is not listed on the tracks.

I'm on this right now as Liz changes EVERYTHING I put on the tree. If she is just going to move it, perhaps she should put it up herself.

Most of the outside lights are up now. I put all of them up on the deck and gazebo Friday and yesterday, just as the snow was starting, I put them up along the west side of the front of the house.

Oh, the Joy of the Season. --RoadDog

Don't it Make Your Feel Old?

The old cipherin' guy himself, Max Baer turns 70 this week. Son of a boxer, he was Jethro in the "Beverly Hillbillies."

Bob Stroud always features rock birthdays on his show. Other birthdays this week to make you feel too old.

Harry Chapin, "WOLD" and "Cats in the Cradle" would have been 65.
Jim Messina, of Loggins & Messina fame, is 60
John Desmond, the Doors' drummer, is 63
Mike Smith, lead vocalist of the Dave Clark 5 (I always thought it was Dave Clark as the lead singer) is 63.
Dennis Wilson, drummer of the Beach Boys, would have been 63

Talking 'Bout My Generation. --RoadDog

Happy Dec. 1st --Snowstorm and Ice?

Liz said we had a big storm last Dec. 1st, about ten inches, but I wasn't here, just enjoying 75 degree weather down at Topsail Beach, NC. Unfortunately, this year, I'm here. Guess where I'd rather be? I'd say we have a two inch accumulation right now at 2:09.

They've been predicting this all week. Normally I find weather forecasts pretty accurate when they are calling for bad weather. It started snowing about 11:15 AM and immediately stuck to paved surfaces. It usually melts for awhile before doing the mean thing (sticking). It's supposed to turn to sleet and ice a little later.

Wouldn't it be great if snow would only fall on places that didn't need to be shoveled or driven on? Someone should pass a law or something. I know snowmobilers are getting all excited and expect to be hearing some in the not too distant future. We're located by several trails. In a fair world, they should have to clear off my driveway and sidewalks before they get to go out and enjoy themselves.

I'm not real fond of driving when the roads have snow on them.

Stuck in the House. --RoadDog

Hey, Mom, Welcome to the Real Internet

Mom just might get on the internet today, and I'd like to be the first to welcome you. Make sure you thank Bob and Judy for getting that laptop for you, ESPECIALLY after all they went through. Hopefully Annsley and Julie taught you enough about using it to get you started.

No more Web TV for you, or excuses as to why you couldn't get something. Make sure to send along your new e-mail address.

My blogs:

http://downdaroadigo.blogspot.com this one
http://sawtheelephant.blogspot.com Civil War
http://roaddogsroadlog.blogspot.com the road, history, and preservation.

No More Web-TV for Mom. --RoadDog