JSS: Didn't Do It-- Really Fine Continentals-- Da Beach Dis Morning

JSS-- Just Some Stuff


1. DIDN'T DO IT-- Hey, that button on the in-room coffee-maker fell off on its own. It wasn't my fault. At least they had coffee in the lobby, but that was all. Unfortunately, when a hotel has an in-house restaurant, you get no free continental breakfasts.


2. REALLY FINE CONTINENTALS-- The best continental breakfasts I have found to be at the Hilton in Springfield, Illinois, and, after this last weekend, those at Holiday Inn Express. Saturday morning, it was biscuits and gravy, sausage, and cheese omelets. Sunday, it was b & g, scrambled eggs, and bacon.

The Comfort Inn yesterday had hard boiled eggs, b&g, and waffles. Not bad either.


3. DA BEACH DIS MORNING-- Great sunrise framing the Folly Beach Pier. Guy out surfing, but small waves. Ocean fairly calm. Birds a-squawking, especially the gulls. Folks walking their dogs. One dog was missing a leg, but didn't slow him down much. Great listening to the waves from the room.

Not a Bad Way to Wake Up, Even With No Coffee in the Room. --RoadDog

Beach Music in South Carolina

Sitting here overlooking the Atlantic Ocean this morning. The Folly Beach Pier just off to the left of us here at the Holiday Inn resort.


Folly Beach, South Carolina

BEACH STATIONS-- Cruising up and down both the FM and AM dials on this trip (and for any trip for that matter), I came across two stations playing that Good 'Ol Beach Music. Both evidently have just switched to the format, which bodes well for Beach Music.

JOHN FM

One was 104.9 FM down by Hilton Head/Bluffton, SC. Managed to keep that tuned in until we got to Charleston, where we lost the signal, unfortunately. This station has deejays at least some of the time.


1340 AM-- THE BOARDWALK

Now, this is a great name for a Beach Music station!! This one is based out of the Charleston area. After we lost the other one, I went through the FM stations and then AM, and found this gem. They also play an occasional Jimmy Buffett song which they just finished and now are playing "Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Go" by the originator of the "Twist" song, Hank Ballard and the Midnighters.

Good Stuff Maynard. --RoadDog

JSS: Didn't See It-- Gettin' Lost-- No Kidding!-- No Hurry--

JSS-- Just Some Stuff as I do the two-finger typing from a motel room in North Charleston, SC.

1. DIDN'T SEE IT-- All that big to-do about turning off lights this past weekend was beyond me. We were way out of civilization at a wedding reception for my nephew and in the midst of a torrent of a storm and it was so dark, I wouldn't have noticed anyway.


2. GETTIN' LOST-- We were out at a place called Palmetto Bluff near Bluffton, SC, for both rehearsal dinner, wedding, and reception. This is a gated community for rich folk, and w-a-y out in the sticks. Beautiful place, but poorly marked. We got lost both nights upon leaving. Looks like rich folks would be better able to pay for directional signage.

3. NO KIDDING-- I see a Chicago Tribune report that families are taking more and more to the road for the old fashioned family vacations that I remember so well. A big part of this is because of the expense of airfare and all the hassle that goes along with flying these days.

Other than a June trip overseas, I have essentially quit flying as well. I'll return when prices come down, two pieces of free luggage, and, when I start getting some respect.

4. NO HURRY-- We're not in any hurry to get back home since it snowed about six inches over the weekend. And, the high today is forecast at 40 degrees. It's sunny and about 70 here in Charleston. I vote for the warm.

Thinking We Just Might Stay for Awhile. --RoadDog

Doing the NTN/Buzztime Thing

When Liz and I are on the road, we always try to go to as many NTN sites as we can, especially those we've never been to before. As such, we make heavy use of the sitefinder for the website.

Since Friday, we have gone to twenty new places: 14 in Missouri, 2 in Kentucky, 1 in NC, and 3 in SC.

That brings the total of new NTN/Buzztime sites since the beginning of the year to 43.

Too Old to Go Clubbin'. Too Young to Play Bingo. --RoadDog

Did Our Route 66 Thing-- Part 2

More on our 66 trip through Illinois

SPRINGFIELD-- Went to one of our favorite 66 eating places, the Cozy Dog. This is where corn dogs were invented and they only cook 'em up when you order. Not sure if I like the fresh made fries or corn dog better. My PROPER way to eat a Cozy Dog is with mustard and raw onions. Liz eats them plain.

Right down the road, they have built a Golden Corral, so we will be conflicted next visit.

I-55-- Superslabbed it to Litchfield. Not a whole lot of old 66 between Springfield and Litchfield. And those that are still there can be seen from 55.

LITCHFIELD-- Checked into the America's Best Value Inn which was a Best Western on Rt 66 where Liz and her parents stayed on their trips to KC.

Last summer, while attending the Route 66 Festival in Litchfield, we met up with a lot of fellow fanatics at Shaw's Bar and returned. It dates from the 1920s and the owners weren't into 66 until they were "discovered."

They now have a Route 66 sign out front and have been "bitten" by the bug. They have had some big groups of foreigners come by. Talked with the owner for quite awhile, who said she knew about 66 and the nearby Ariston Restaurant, but didn't think much about it until last summer.

I go into a lot more detail at http://roaddogsroadlog.blogspot.com.

On the Road to the Chain of Rocks. --RoadDog

Did Our Route 66 Thing

Thursday, we drove Route 66 through Illinois from Dwight to Litchfield. Took us about thirty minutes longer to get from home to Dwight because of all the stoplights. If there was a stoplight, that we didn't catch red, I'd like to know where it was. (Well, there were a very few green ones, but not many.)

Glad to see signage in Pontiac for all the different alignments. Also, there is a new Lincoln statue at that beautiful court house. Our favorite place to stay in Pontiac, the Downtowner Motel, right by the square, unfortunately, is still closed.

Stopped at Funk's Grove Sirip (correct spelling) for some maple candy, but they were all out. They will get more and just finished gathering sap a few days ago.

Tall Paul is still standing there with the hot dog in his hand in Atlanta. I peeked into the window at the Palm Cafe and it appears they are about ready to open again. This used to be the hot spot back in the 1930s-1950s and it's reopening after being gone for many years.

Visited with the Old Coot on 66 and his young bride, Ernie and Fran Edwards at the site of the old Pig Hip in Broadwell. They survived the winter and are doing well. Ernie, who is 92 is getting around with just a cane these days.

Listened to a fun CD of those old great sixties songs by a band we're definitely going to see in the near future, The Class of 1968. Thanks, Joyce. Rocking down the road with some really rocking music. This is one bunch of white guys who can really sing soul.

Got Our Sights Set on the Cozy Dog. --RoadDog

JSS: NCAA Tournament-- Favorite Season-- Great Smells

JSS-- Just Some Stuff


1. NCAA TOURNAMENT- Only missed picking four games Thursday, but not talking about the disaster yesterday. Suffice to say, I still can't pick the tournament games. Could there have been two better games than the overtimes to end last light. Little Sienna beat Ohio State, one of the big guys, in double overtime and Wisconsin beat Florida Stae in single overtime. I picked the other team to win, but, regardless, that was some great b-ball.

As the USA Today said yesterday, the NCAA Tournament is 63 games, a "64 team smorgasbord that is fair, fast-paced and entertaining." It is a chance for little guys from little-known conferences to play the big guys. College football might take some ideas from this.


2. FAVORITE SEASON-- Friday's USA Today also had a survey in its Snapshots of people's favorite seasons. Results:

Spring-- 38%
Fall -- 28%
Summer-- 27%
Winter-- 6%

My own favorite is fall, followed by spring/summer. and, of course, college basketball season.

Fall, you know winter is around the bend so you've got to enjoy while you can. In spring, all those bulbs come up and plants/trees bloom. What can I say about summer?


3. GREAT SMELLS-- My favorite smells in the spring are daffodils and hyacinths. Then, in fall, it's burning leaves.

Another great smell is fresh cut grass and the air after rain.

Just Some Stuff. --RoadDog

It's Them, Not Me: Dear Old AIG-- Dear Old NCAA Tournament

Things That Really Burn My Butt.

1. DEAR OLD AIG-- These $165 million in bonuses to AIG execs for doing an incredibly bad job has got my ire, and evidently the Senate. The complete arrogance of these people is unfathomable.

There is, however, the one Senator who allowed wordage in the bailout that would allow them to do it. BUT, someone should have caught on to that proviso. Is an investigation in order?

Let's hope the bill passes to levy the up to 90% tax on these BONUS BABIES.

Like I said, the arrogance and greed of these guys knows no limit. And to think they think they should be rewarded for mismanagement. It just doesn't matter that there is a contract in effect before hand. It's time to do the RIGHT thing.


2. DEAR OLD NCAA TOURNAMENT-- Once again, I get to see how LITTLE I know about college b-ball. I have to be the worst CHOOSER anywhere, and that, even though I watch a lot of college basketball. This is what gets me through the winter doldrums.

Now, we have what I consider the best sporting event of all. THE TOURNAMENT.

I see President Obama picked Louisville, UNC, Memphis, and Pittsburgh in the Final Four. The Old Dog picked UConn, UNC, Villanova, and Kansas. I have UNC vs. UConn in the Final, with the Huskies winning.

Hopefully, my picking won't result in the mess I had during the college bowl games, when nearly everyone I wanted to win, LOST.

Regardless, I look forward to the upsets and great games.

Don't Look Back, They May Be Gaining. --RoadDog

What Were You Doing March 8, 1972? --Part 2

Play it for me, Bob.

EVERYTHING I OWN-- BREAD-- (Gag!)
CLEAN UP WOMAN-- BETTY WRIGHT-- batting cleanup, her one and only hit

NEVER BEEN TO SPAIN-- THREE DOG NIGHT--
BANG A GONG (GET IT ON)-- T. REX-- English glam rockers finally invading US with Marc Bolan

SON OF MY FATHER-- GEORGIO-- the spacey synthesisers of Georgio Euro Rock. A group called Chicory also had it out.
HEART OF GOLD-- NEIL YOUNG-- Bringing us back down to earth after Georgio.

CRAZY MAMA-- J. J. CALE-- Shall we get laid back?
I GOTCHA-- JOE TEX-- Back when soul music was soul music, the late great Joe Tex.

AMERICAN PIE-- DON McLEAN-- not the #1 song, but from the #1 album


And, the Number 1 song:

WITHOUT YOU-- NILSSON-- written by Peter Hum and Tom Evans of Badfinger

Had Enough of 1972? --RoadDog

What Were You Doing March 8, 1972

When Stroud does a Time Warp, he skips ahead five years for the last hour and a half.

In March 1972, I was a junior at the University of Georgia and living in a dorm with Jeff Carter, the governor's son. My parents, brother, and sister were living in Dunwoody, Georgia.

DOCTOR MY EYES-- JACKSON BROWNE-- The first of two Jackson Browne songs being played. (My favorite JB song.)
ROCK ME ON THE WATER-- LINDA RONSTADT-- The second Jackson Browne song. (Man, o'Linda. Be still my heart.)

BLACK DOG-- LED ZEPPELIN-- From IV. Kind of a mixed bag on your radio.
MERCEDES BENZ-- GOOSECREEK SYMPHONY-- They were from down south as if you couldn't tell. It was a moderate hit here in Chicago, the old Joplin classic done up non-acapella. (I have several of their albums. They did a great job on this.)

A HORSE WITH NO NAME-- AMERICA-- brand new and made everyone sit up and take notice. (This song and "Heart of Gold" sum up the year for me.)
SWEET SEASONS-- CAROLE KING-- from her album "Music"

ROUNDABOUT-- YES-- one of their last hits from their great new album "Fragile." (The song that wouldn't end.)
GLORY BOUND-- GRASS ROOTS-- one of the last hits by them. (Still a very under rated group.)

MOTHER AND CHILD REUNION-- PAUL SIMON-- the first hit for him solo.

Another Ten to Go. --RoadDog

More Top Songs from March of 1967

I'm looking at Dave McAleer's "Book of Hit Singles" right now. He lists Billboards top twenty songs for both the US and UK for every month from 1954 to 2001.

Here are some other US hits not on Bob Stroud's show.

BABY I NEED YOUR LOVING-- JOHNNY RIVERS-- Got a song you want covered?
RUBY TUESDAY-- ROLLING STONES
THEN YOU CAN TELL ME GOODBYE-- CASINOS-- Well, actually Bob did this as an intro to one of the sets.
MY CUP RUNNETH OVER-- ED AMES-- Oh, he's S-O-O-O Happy.

KIND OF A DRAG-- BUCKINGHAMS
THERE'S A KIND OF A HUSH-- HERMAN'S HERMITS
GIMME SOME LOVIN'-- SPENCER DAVIS GROUP--
THE BEAT GOES ON-- SONNY AND CHER--

MERCY, MERCY, MERCY-- CANNONBALL ADDERLY--
GEORGY GIRL-- SEEKERS-- Don't we all just feel good right now.
I'M A BELIEVER-- MONKEES--


BRITISH CHARTS

Some additional songs from the UK

RELEASE ME-- ENGELBERT HUMPERDINK-- Gotta Love the name.
EDELWEISS-- VINCE HILL
HERE COMES MY BABY-- TREMELOES--
ON A CAROUSEL-- HOLLIES

SNOOPY VS. THE RED BARON-- ROYAL GUARDSMEN--
DETROIT CITY-- TOM JONES--
GIVE IT TO ME-- TROGGS
LET'S SPEND THE NIGHT TOGETHER-- ROLLING STONES

Here are two that are too good to pass up:

Simon Smith and His Amazing Dancing Bear-- Alan Price Set
I Was Kaiser Bill's Batman-- Whistling Jack Smith

Have You Had Enough of 1967? Hold On, We're Skipping Ahead Five Years. --RoadDog

What Were You Doing March 8, 1967? --Part 3

One thing about those short songs from the 60s, you can pack a lot of them into an hour and a half.

PENNY LANE-- BEATLES-- The "A" side 42 years ago
STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER-- BEATLES-- the "B" side

UPS AND DOWNS-- PAUL REVERE AND THE RAIDERS-- the current 45 (One of my favorites by one of my favorite "uniform" bands. Remember New Colony Six and Gary Puckett & the Union Gap.)
SO YOU WANT TO BE A ROCK 'N ROLL STAR-- BYRDS-- (Twang Those Guitars. I have to look them up anytime I try to spell their name. Was it BR or BY birds?)

BERNADETTE-- FOUR TOPS-- brand new on your radio. (The late-great Levi Stubbs.)
THE DIS - ADVANTAGES OF YOU-- BRASS RING-- a hit single, but most of you remember it as the Benson & Hedges cigarette song. (And the Winston guy just recently died of.... Personally, I don't remember it.)

HAPPY TOGETHER-- TURTLES-- wasn't number one yet, but on its way. (I am a BIG Flo and Eddie fan.)
THE HUNTER GETS CAPTURED BY THE GAME-- MARVELETTES-- One of Smokey Robinson's most creative compositions both lyrically and musically. (Definitely a different sound.)

And, the Number 1 Song:

I THINK WE'RE ALONE NOW-- TOMMY JAMES & THE SHONDELLS-- their fourth consecutive hit and one of their biggest. (Never could figure what they were going to do when they were alone.)

I Remember, I Remember. --RoadDog

What Were You Doing March 8, 1967? --Part 2

Back to the Time Warp.

LOVE IS HERE AND NOW YOU'RE GONE-- SUPREMES-- their latest (I don't know if I liked their music or moves better.)
WALK TALL (LIKE A MAN)-- 2 OF CLUBS-- from Cincinnati, the Girl Group Thing was still happening. on Rock and Roll Roots CD Vol. 3

FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH-- BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD-- we were just being introduced to this group. (I always thought it was about an anti-war thing, not a riot outside a bar.)
NO MILK TODAY-- HERMAN'S HERMITS-- "B" side of "There's a Kind of a Hush." (Definitely not your typical Peter Noone song. Probably my favorite Herman song.)


DEDICATED TO THE ONE I LOVE-- MAMAS AND PAPAS-- Brand new with an old Shirelles hit.
GO WHERE YOU WANNA GO-- FIFTH DIMENSION-- how we were introduced to them doing an old Mamas and Papas hit.

PRETTY BALLERINA-- LEFT BANKE-- two-hit wonder, follow-up to "Walk Away Renee." (What is a Bankey anyway? Or, are they just trying to be fancy?)
WESTERN UNION-- FIVE AMERICANS-- new one by them. (Very underrated group to my way of thinking.)

More Memories to Come. --RoadDog

Got My Green On

Well, I definitely got my St. Patrick's Day Celebration in.

Saturday, I deejayed after the St. Patrick's Day parade in Lake Villa, Illinois, at George's Cedar Inn. This is about the 13th year in a row I've done this. Good times, lots of Irish music, and loads of corned beef and cabbage.

I then went to Donovan's Reef in Twin lakes, Wisconsin and had another corned beef and cabbage meal for $5 apiece (except I won a free meal with a shamrock under the plate, I can live with that). We then saw a great local band, String Town, play a wide variety of music from Fleetwood Mac to Bob Dylan and played NTN/Buzztime.

We got a room for the night at the motel.

The next morning, I walked over to Main Street and had a couple Bloody Marys (ok, not green) and played NTN again.

Yesterday, we had great weather and worked in the yard.

Today, I did yard work, caught some rays on deck and then played NTN at Donovan's again and had corned beef and cabbage.

Returned home and had some Bushmills at Margaritaville.

It's a Green Thing, You Wouldn't Understand. --RoadDog

I Can Relate to Peggy Hill

Recorded "King of the Hill" last night and watched it tonight.

Can I ever relate to the plight of Peggy Hill who went to a record store and asked about a Michael Bublet? album. The clerk got her a CD and she then asked for it on a cassette. This drew a puzzled look from the clerk.

She then realized she was not "plugged in" anymore.

She went home and was listening to a cassette on a cassette recorder, and, after looking at the cassette's date, realized she had lost track 13 years ago.

Can I ever relate to that.

I am so far out of the loop, catching up is going to be difficult, if even possible.

Here I Go, Being Dragged Kicking and Screaming into the 21st Century. --RoadDog

Mighty Fine Day

I just love those rare March days when temps get to the upper fifties, sun's out, and birds a'singing. That is just what we had today.

I fully enjoyed the deck, catching some rays, eating lunch reading a magazine, and rerecording some cassette tapes-- that's right, I DID say cassette tapes. That is still my preferred way of recording stuff, having never burned a CD or downloaded anything. I don't even have an IPOD or MP3 nor would I have any idea how to use one.

Worked in the yard off and on, trimming branches and twigs and knocking down dead plants.

Once it started getting a little chilly, I went to Hello Folks and played NTN while enjoying the $2.99 Italian beef and fries special they have on Mondays. Now, that's a good deal.

Also went to Menard's and bought thirty stones for work on the driveway culvert flower beds.

Has Spring Really Sprung?


I'll Take a Day Like This Anytime. --RoadDog

Doing the Town Green

Just a short time from now, I'll be driving over to Lake Villa, Illinois, for their annual St. Patrick's Day Parade and party. This has been going on for at least ten years and I have deejayed at George's Cedar Inn downtown for all but the first time.

I have to get set up in advance of the noon parade as the street is blocked and I start right afterward. I generally play nothing but Irish music for a couple hours, then in intersperse oldies and what-have-you the next three hours.

This is where the parade began, when George and another guy set it up with the idea that people then wouldn't have to go all the way to Chicago or Milwaukee to celebrate.

George also serves some really great all-you-can eat corned beef and cabbage. Last year it was $7.

AN IRISH TOAST

My friends are the best friends
Loyal, willing and able.

Now let's get to drinking!
All glasses off the table!

Make Mine Green. --RoadDog

What Were You Doing March 8, 1967?

This past Sunday, Bob Stroud did one of his great Time Warps back to that date in 1967 and 1972.

March 8, 1967, I was getting near the end of my sophomore year at Palatine High School in Palatine, Illinois. The year before, I had gone to Fremd High School, also in Palatine. Freshman and sophomores went there while juniors and seniors went to Palatine. The Village of Palatine was growing fast and the new schools were needed.

We were living in a huge subdivision called Winston Park, right across from St. Thomas Catholic Church and school. This was the longest we'd lived anywhere since I was born, 4 years. We'd moved at the end of 6th grade to a new house.

These were the songs playing in your radio (which would be WLS and WCFL, both AM) on this date. I MISSED THE FIRST SIX SONGS BECAUSE OF DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME. I woke up at what was 6:30, but was now 7:30.

Bob's comments after the song. Mine in parentheses().

PUSHING TOO HARD-- SEEDS-- (Great psychadelic rock)
EPISTLE TO DIPPY-- DONOVAN-- (Dippity-Doo was some sort of hair product for girls, wasn't it? Dumb name for a song.)
THE 59TH STREET BRIDGE SONG (FEELIN' GROOVY)-- HARPER'S BIZARRE-- (Real bizarre music)
I'VE BEEN LONELY TOO LONG-- YOUNG RASCALS--

YOU GOT TO ME-- NEIL DIAMOND-- (I really liked the early Diamond stuff.)
SOCK IT TO ME BABY-- MITCH RYDER & THE DETROIT WHEELS-- (Laugh-In, Anybody?)
DARLING BE HOME SOON-- LOVIN' SPOONFUL-- most current release. (probably my favorite Spoonful song. Let's put on our wire rims, right John?)
LAWDY MISS CLAWDY-- BUCKINGHAMS-- Brand new on the USA label. Chicago's Buckinghams.

More Tunes to Come. --RoadDog