Good Times Around Here May 17 to 19: Two Legions, Fish Fry, TV, a Historical Society, Cicadas, Magic Moon, Book Sale and Mary's Hideaway

FRIDAY, MAY 17

Malcolm and Steve came over to work on the gutters, window seals and tuckpoint the chimney and several ledges.  Met Kevin and Kelly, Glenn and Barb at Saylor Mick's for fish fry then went to the Fox Lake Legion for 50-50.  

Came home and watched the last episode of "Blue Bloods" for the spring.  Sadly, it ends after a few more episodes this fall.  This is my favorite TV drama. Love those family meals on Sundays.

SATURDAY, MAY 18

Stopped at Thornton's in Fox Lake for my usual cappucino and then to the Fox Lake/Grant Township Historical Society at Grant Museum in Ingleside for a very timely presentation on cicadas.  Afterwards did bush trimming, went to Sunnyside and watched the Preakness Race and then to Magic Moon in Spring Grove and was happy to see that my buddy Frank was back to tending bar on Saturday night.

SUNDAY, MAY 19

Went to the Friends of McHenry Library semiannual book sale and then to my buddy Langer's visitation in McHenry.  We had some great times together and I sure will miss him. Stopped at the McHenry Legion.  Afterwards met J.C. and some other of his pals at Mary's Hideaway in Johnsburg to toast him.

--Good Times in the Area.  --RoadDog

Good Times Around Here May 14 to 16: A Movie, the Civil War, Bars and Specials, Good Eatin' and 'Young Sheldon'

TUESDAY, MAY 14

Went to Woodstock and saw "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes", met members of the McHenry County Civil War Round Table at 3 Brothers restaurant for dinner and then heard a presentation on the Queen of the West and USS Indianola at the Woodstock Public Library.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 15

Played trivia at Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, and had 75 cent wings at Saylor Mick's in Spring Grove, Illinois.  Oh yes, then there were the $1 tall boys of Hamms.

THURSDAY, MAY 16

Met with the funeral home to design grave stone for Liz and myself.  Then met Liana and Frank at the Fox Lake, Illinois, Senior Luncheon at the Lake Front Park and were entertained by a duo.  That "Young Sheldon" series finale was something else.  I am sure going to miss that show.

--RoadDog

Tournament Time: CB&C and B-Ball

MARCH 21--  THURSDAY

I should mention that I got my third corned beef and cabbage dinner at the Fox Lake (Illinois) seniors luncheon earlier and were entertained by an Irish performer.  Good Irish food and entertainment.  

I am also glad now that we have complete choice as to what games we see since they are all shown from beginning to end on four different channels:  CBS, TBS, TNT and True TV.  That used to drive me crazy when we had to watch Duke blowing out some #15 or #16 team when we could see that there was a close one or upset in the offing on another channel.

With me, it is all about close games and upsets.

And, I still remember when they experimented with the triple screen (they showed three games at once).  That made it impossible to figure out what was going on.

Highlight of the day was Kentucky getting upset by  Oakland. Oakland?  Had to look it up.  It  is in Michigan.  I am not a fan of Kentucky in any way.  It was one of the original one-and-doner schools.  Then, I ended up staying awake until nearly midnight when Samford took Kansas down to the wire in what would also have been a major upset.  They lost by four.  I am a Kansas fan, but Samford is a major Little Guy school.

By the way, Samford is in Alabama.

--RoadB-Ball

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

Six 90s Shows That Wouldn't Fly Today-- Part 2

3.  *JERRY SPRINGER   1991-2018   Considered a daytime talk show.  But, all kinds of topics.  I must admit that this show is one of my guilty pleasures as I will sure watch it if I happen to catch a rerun.  You just can't help  smiling.

4.  JOHNNY BRAVO  Aired on the Cartoon Network.  Just, not for kids.

5.  THE REN & STEMPY SHOW   Aired on Nickelodeon.    Also not for kids.

6.  *DINOSAURS  1991-1995  Primetime sitcom.  I really liked this one.

Jerry, Jerry, Jerry!  --RoadDog

Six 90s TV Shows That Wouldn't Fly Today-- Part 1: 'TRL' and 'Married...with Children'

From Best Life by Lia Beck.

It's hard to believe, but the 1990s began 33 years ago.  (True) These TV shows probably wouldn't get made today.  She says some are outdated and others were offensive at the time and even more so today.  Lia says these should stay lost to history.  I disagree with the three that I watched.

*  Show I watched.

1.  TRL  Total Request Live MTV.   What, MTV playing music videos.  Why, the nerve.

2.  *Married...With Children  Aired 1987-1997.  This was a hilarious show with Al Bundy and loving wife and those two kids.  I didn't watch it at first because it was on Fox which I initially did not consider much of a network.  I was wrong.

Loved Al Bundy.  --RoadDog

Our 49th Wedding Anniversary-- Part 12: Filming for a TV Pilot Show

AUGUST 26, 2022

Back to Grant Hills Motel and it was getting quite crowded with people walking all over the place.  There was even a movie crew there setting things up and testing a drone for aerial shots.  We knew that we couldn't get the room for tomorrow night because of a big wedding taking place nearby, so thought they must be there to film it.  With a twenty-person film crew, what kind of big deal wedding was that going to be?

We went inside, got our drinks and back outside to sit and watch the goings on.  Again, this is why we like mom and pop motels.  That sitting outside on a pleasant night is just the ticket.

We later learned that the film crew (and actors) were there to film a pilot for a new TV series or possibly a film about clowns.  There was one guy in a particularly striking (and a little scary) clown outfit.  They had already filmed some exterior shots around the motel.

And, they even filmed a segment in the room next to ours where a bad cop went in and killed two people.  The two people in the room were not actors but motel guests who had been asked to do the honors.  We had even talked to them a bit when we arrived back at the motel.

The cop had a fake gun (probably because of the accidental killing of a cast member in a big Hollywood film shoot earlier this year).

Watch Out for the Clowns and Cop.  --RoadDog

WLS Top 29 Songs for Week of Dec. 11, 1972-- Part 3: 'Dialogue'

Fifty years ago.

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

20.  *SWEET SURRENDER--  Bread       #15       Imagine Bread doing a slow song.  Wonder how many babies ended up getting made because of a Bread song?

19.  IF I COULD REACH YOU--  5th Dimension    #10    Their last Top Ten.

18.  *FUNNY FACE--  Donna Fargo      #5      Country goes pop.  The pride of Mt. Airy, North Carolina, which was also Andy Griffiths home town and the one Mayberry was based on.

17.  *DIALOGUE--  Chicago       (Parts 1 & 2)     #24        Great blend of horns.  Great music.  Are they in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame yet?

16.  *CORNER OF THE SKY--  Jackson Five      #18     I don't remember this song.  From the Broadway musical "Pippin" starring Ben Vereen.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "You Kiss The Tears Away.  You Smile At Me And Say."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Funny Face"

Our 49th Wedding Anniversary-- Part 9: A 'Great" Morning at a Mom and Pop Motel

Continued from November 13th.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2022

Got my coffee from the office as well as a free copy of today's Dubuque (Iowa) Telegraph-Herald.  The price of it is now $1.50 Monday to Saturday.  A little bit higher but definitely better than the Chicago tribune which is now $4 daily.  I will be cancelling my subscription, sadly, soon.  I love having a print paper in my hand, but not at $140 every two months.

Sat outside the room, had my coffee and read the paper.  Now that's good living to me.

The neighbors in Room 14 left for breakfast and a boat ride  in Dubuque, but will not be coming back to the motel.  Too bad, we sure had a nice conversation with them last night.  Those old Mom and Pop motels are very conducive to sitting outside your room and talking with fellow travelers, something you can't do in newer motels.

I watched some of "South Park," a really funny adult cartoon show which unfortunately attracts a lot of kids to watch it.  It is hilarious, but things they talk about and cursing should not be for kids.

--RoadDog

Past Movie Scratches: Pets-- Olympus-- Fifty-- Godzilla-- Equalizer-- Kingdom

Past Movie Scratches--  Movies I watched on TV in 2021.

49.  THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS--  7-23--  Along came Liam.  Fun and games down on the farm.  Find the ball.

50.  OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN--  7-26--  You don't want Mike Benning sneaking around when you take over the White House.  Right, bad guys?

51.  FIFTY FIRST DATES--  7-28--  Like a first kiss fifty times.  It was deja vu all over again.

52.  GODZILLA--  7-29--  Good ol' Godzilla saves the world from the two bad ones.  Hey, it's an alpha thing, you know.

53.  THE EQUALIZER 2--   8-5--  Have black Malibu will Lyft and solve your problems.  Making things right the hard way.

54.  JURASSIC WORLD:  FALLEN KINGDOM--  8-6--   Outrunning the lava flow and falling rocks.  (Well, and dinosaurs.)

--RoadDog

POINTS TO PONDER:  Quicksand works slowly.

Past Movie Scratches: Lethal-- Weapon-- Anchorman-- Alien-- Aliens-- Happening

Paqst Movie Scratches--  Movies I saw on TV in 2021

43.  LETHAL WEAPON 3--  6-22--  Best not to mess with the gal police officer.  It was the burning of Atlanta all over again.  All sorts of wise-crackin' going on.

44.  LETHAL WEAPON 4--  6-22--  The original Iron Man.  What do you do with a loose shark in your boat?  How to really, really sink a boat.

45.  ANCHORMAN 2:  THE LEGEND CONTINUES--  7-11--  "Why do we have to tell people what they want to hear?"  Getting the gang back together and what a zany group are they.  The Battle of the News Crews.

46.  ALIEN--  7-21--  Where's that guy.  Not a stowaway you'd want on your spacecraft.  Creepy mouth with another mouth in it that could extend.

47.  ALIENS--  7-21--  Now there are more of them and they aren't any nicer.  The Marines did NOT kick ass and take names.  But the aliens sure did.

48.  THE HAPPENING--  7-22--  It's the wind or maybe the plants that make people go nuts.  Then there was that strange lady.

--RoadDog

Past Movie Scratches: Homecoming-- Bee-- Hell-- Jungle-- Tombstone-- Bohemian

Past Movie Scratches--  Movies I saw on TV in 2021

37.  SPIDER MAN:  HOMECOMING--  6-14--  Wait till you meet your girlfriend's dad.

38.  BUMBLE BEE--  6-15--  "There's a door in my way."  Are all Decepticons that bad?  Bumble Bee holding the fort and taking a beating for the Autobats.

39.  HELL BOY--  6-15--  The Blood Queen.  Reuniting her with the rest of her body.  Fighting giants.  Hell Boy takes a licking, but keeps on ticking.  Moral:  Quit when your're a head.

40.  JUMANJI:  WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE--  6-16--  It all started in detention.  "I think we're in the game."  Teamwork wins the day.  Beware the drums.  Don't lose your stripes.

41.  TOMBSTONE--  6-17--  Cool, cool Doc.  The Earp Boys and Doc take care of of businessatthe O.K. Corral and elsewhere.  "We did our good deed for today."

42.  BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY--  6-21--  What does that particular style of mustache say about a person..  The struggles of a band and Freddie.  Great, great music.

--RoadDog

POINTS TO PONDER:  Do twins ever realize that one of them is unplanned for?

Magee Teachers in Bristol. Bob Stroud Retires from Deejaying.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29

We went to Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes for trivia and those great 1/2 price drink specials during happy hour.

THURSDAY, JUNE 30

Met the usual group of former Magee Middle School teachers for breakfast in Bristol, Wisconsin, at the Bristol 45 Diner.  We had two newcomers to the "club", Karen and Linda.  Always good to get together with people I worked many years with back in the day.  

I also had an Magee '81-'82 yearbook and everyone got a kick out of that.  I must admit I looked quite a bit like Gabe Kaplan of "Welcome Back Kotter" but with less hair.

This was Bob Stroud's last day deejaying before his semi-retirement from Chicago's WDRV after four decades of work, mostly spent at numerous stations in Chicago, the last 21 with this station.  I recorded a lot of his show on cassette tape.

However, he will continue doing my favorite shows that he does: Ten at Ten, One 45 at 1:45 daily and Rock and Roll Roots on Sundays.

He said how he got into the radio business back when he was 12 and living in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and a friend of him told him to tune into WLS, 890 AM, out of Chicago and listen to a deejay named Dick Biondi...and that got him hooked on what turned out to be a long career.

--RoadStroud

Mighty Cool and Rainy Spring: Granny's, Donovan's, Fox Lake Historical Society, Stucky's, Gas Over $5!!! and McHenry Legion

MAY 17, Tuesday

Met the Sunnyside crowd at Granny's Diner in Johnsburg for the weekly breakfast. Did some yardwork and cut the grass.  Saw two of my favorite movies on TV "Gran Torino" and "Guardians of the Galaxy."

MAY 18, Wednesday

Met the usual suspects at Donovan's in Twin Lakes.

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

MAY 19, THURSDAY

I spent quite a lot of time cutting down weed trees by the back  deck

MAY 20, FRIDAY

Two more really good movies on TV:  "The Breakfast Club" and "Anchorman:  The Legend of Ron Burgundy."

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

MAY 21, SATURDAY

Sad time at the Fox Lake Historical Society this Monday as our long-time president died Thursday.  

Gas above $5 in Fox Lake!!!  We need to do something about the GRBs!!

Liz and I went to Stucky's in Johnsburg for dinner and karaoke (and, of course, those wonderful $1draft pints.

MAY 22, SUNDAY

Man has it gotten cool.  The furnace was running this morning.  All in all, this has been a really crummy spring and with all this rain and wind, I was unable to burn the tree limbs and branches.  Today was the last day I could legally do this because I will be out of town next weekend.

Liz and I went to the McHenry American Legion and enjoyed the $3 rail drinks ($1.50 during happy hour which really makes me happy.

--RoadDog

Past Movie Scratches: Jurassic-- Zombieland-- X-Men-- Marvel-- Bohemian-- First

Past Movie Scratches--  Movies that I saw on TV in 2021.

13.  JURASSIC WORLD--  1-20--  Old Blue to the rescue.  Let my dinos go!!

14.  ZOMBIELAND--   1-22--  What's your name.  Searching for the elusive Twinkie.  Columbus and Tallahassee.  Is that Bill Murray or Bill Zombie?

15.  X-MAN:  THE LAST STAND--  1-22--  Hey Tin Man, how's your throwing arm?  Fraser as the Secretary of Mutants.  How blue can you get?  The cure.

16.  CAPTAIN MARVEL--  1-31--  Who are the good guys?  Who are the bad guys?  Where did those powers come from?

17.  BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY--  1-31--  The story of Queen and Freddie Mercury and those cheesy mustaches.  I liked the stories behind the songs.

18.  X-MEN:  FIRST CLASS--  1-23--  I don't know, killing Professor Xavier.  "They have their weapons, we have ours."  It's a Mutant Civil War.

--RoadDog

JSS: Tired of Da Snoop Dogg-- Tired of Da Gambling Spots-- Not Tired of Da Tournament

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1.  TIRED OF DA SNOOP DOGG--

I think this guy is on TV pitching something every commercial break these days.  Kind of reminds me of the bad old days when you couldn't avoid Michael or Mike.  (Michael Jordan and Mike Ditka)

2.  TIRED OF DA GAMBLING SPOTS--

And man, are there commercials to get you into the clutches of gambling.

3.  NOT TIRED OF DA TOURNAMENT--

But, the NCAA Basketball Tournament has sure not failed to live up to its hype.  By my rough count e have had 26 games I consider great games.  I mean, real close.  Also, there have been 11 upsets.  Especially that win by St. Peter's over Kentucky.  

I don't know about you, but I sure had to look up and see where St. Peter's was (in New Jersey a few miles from New York City) much like I had to do Gonzaga in the early days of their dominance.

And, We Start the Sweet Sixteen Today!!!  

Please, Give Us A Break from the Dogg.  --RoadTourn

Music Deaths: Howard Hesseman (Dr. Johnny Fever)

HOWARD HESSEMAN, 81

Died January 30, 2022

Okay, he didn't sing any songs and wasn't in a band, but he was one of the greatest not-real deejays ever as Dr. Johnny Fever in "WKRP in Cincinnati."  My all-time favorite TV sitcom. I also liked him as teacher Charlie Moore in "Head of the Class."

"WKRP" ran from 1978 to 1982 and had one of the greatest casts ever.  It could and should have been on longer, but the show kept switching days and times.

Fellow babies.

Beware the Phone Police.

Music Deaths: Don Wilson of the Ventures

DON WILSON, 88

Died 22 January 2022

Guitar player and co-founder of the instrumental band The Ventures.

"Walk -- Don't Run"  (#2-1960)

"Walk -- Don't Run '64"  (#8-1964)

"Hawaii Five-O"  (#4-1969)

First Weekend of 2022

SATURDAY, JANUARY 1

Started snowing early and continued all day so just stayed home.  Watched Bowl Games, Yellowstone and the movie "The Magnificent Seven."

SUNDAY, JANUARY 2

"Binge watched" TV for the first time.  We don't have any of those streaming services, but Paramount Channel was running the "Yellowstone" series, so caught up on background. Great show but way too much cussin'.

Listened to Da Bears win on the radio and went over to the McHenry American Legion.

The new neighbor and his young son came over and cleared the snow off our driveway and sidewalk.  Mighty neighborly of them.

--RoadDog

THINGS YOU'D LIKE TO SAY:  I like you.  You remind me of when I was young and stupid.

Those Who Left Us in 2021-- Part 6: Elder, Dole, Unser and Nesmith

NOVEMBER

**  LEE ELDER, 87

He broke down racial barriers as the first black golfer to play in the Masters and paved the way for Tiger Woods and others to follow.  Died November 28.

DECEMBER

**  BOB DOLE

He overcame disabling World War II wounds to become a Republican Senate leader and a presidential candidate.  I voted for him.  He became a symbol of the dwindling Greatest Generation.  I really liked where he would personally go and meet WW II veterans on the Honor Flights.  Died December 5.

**  AL UNSER, 82

One of only four drivers to win the Indianapolis 6500 a record four times.  Died December 9.  His brother Bobby Unser was a three-time Indy 500 winner and died May 2.

**  MICHAEL NESMITH, 78

Singer, song-writer and best of all for me, a member of one of my favorite groups (and TV shows) The Monkees."  Died  December 10.