Northern Illinois 21 Nebraska 17!! Huskers Didn't "Git-R-Done!!!" Sorry, Lar.

I know this is the kiss of death as far as NIU losing this coming Saturday, but I still have to do some gloating about that unbelievable victory over Nebraska a week and a half ago.   Believe me, I am a huge sports fan, but normally don't write about my teams when they are doing well, as that causes losses.  It is my bit of idiosyncrasy I guess.

Besides NIU being one of the Group of 5 college conferences ,Mid American Conference, and Nebraska being in one of the Power 5 conferences, Big 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and there is a huge gulf between the two in the caliber of athletes they get, this is the first time that any MAC team has ever beaten Nebraska.


In the two previous games between NIU and Nebraska, the Huskies lost 48-17 in 1989 and 60-14 in 1990.

Our defensive player, Juwuan Johnson was chosen MAC West Division Defensive Player of the Week after he intercepted and returned two Cornhusker passes for two touchdowns in the first half to five Northern a 14-0 lead.

And they just didn't "GIT-R-DONE,"   Not one bit they didn't.   Big-time Nebraska fan Daniel Lawrence Whitney (you might know him better as Larry the Cable Guy) was quite a bit put out that a little guy like NIU would be beating his Big Guy team Nebraska and posted a lot of tweets during and after the game.  I had always figured him to be from the South with that redneck demeanor and drawl, but it turns out he is from Nebraska and even attended the University of Nebraska a short time before going full-time into comedy.

And NIU was named the National Team of the Week for last week.  This is awarded by the Football Writers Association of America.  This is the first time Northern has had the honor since it started in 2002 (and we should have gotten it that year after we defeated Alabama when they were ranked as well as Maryland and Iowa State on our way to a 10-2 record, but no bowl game).

This was the third time a MAC team has been Team of the Week.

So Proud of Our Guys!!  --RoadDog

MORE TOO MUCH COFFEE SIGNS:  When someone asks you how you are, you respond with, "Good to the last drop."

Saufen Und Spiel Weekend-- Part 3: A Parade, DaBears and Chain Crawlin'

SUNDAY, September 10

Listened to Rock and Roll Roots and recorded Breakfast With the Beatles as usual.

We drove over to Sunnyside Tavern in Johnsburg to view the Saufen Und Spiel parade which passes right by the place.  The name Saufen Und Spiel is, of course, German.  Johnsburg and Spring Grove were settled by many Germans.  Saufen und Spiel means drinking and games.  And, we sure keep the tradition going.

It is a long parade with marching bands and lots of floats.  We went inside afterwards and watched the Bears game.  We lost, but at least didn't have to watch old pouty face, Mr. Jay Cutler, doing his pouting thing on the sidelines.

We were going to go over to the Saugen und Spiel grounds at the Community Club to see the band, but could find no parking places, so decided to get some Chain Crawl Passport stamps and drove over to the the Snuggery on the Fox River in McHenry and had a drink and did the same at Vickie's.

Capped it off at the PLAV, Polish Legion of American Veterans.

Good Time.  --RoadDog

From the Orange Peel Gazette.  MORE COFFEE SIGNS:  You channel surf faster without a remote.

Good Bye to Performer and Friend Terry Spizzirri (Half Garlic and Half Celtic)

Terry Spizziri, one of our all-time favorite performers and good friend, died at age 66 last Sunday after a month-long sickness.

We had known him for 40 years and he played at both Liz and my 40th birthday parties.

For many years he performed solo, but in the last years had added his nephew Greg to his show which, as he oft-said "Spanned the Musical Horizons."  He played everything from the 1940s to current, with a whole lot of oldies as well as Irish music.

He was very proud of his Irish heritage, even with a name like Spizzirri (his mother was Irish and father Italian).  He liked to describe himself as half garlic and half Celtic.  And could he ever sing the Irish music and was definitely in demand around St. Patrick's Day.

There was his long-standing monthly dates at the Irish Mill in Mundelein, Illinois.

St. Patrick's and Around the Chain Just Aren't Going to Be the Same.  We'll Miss You Terry.  --

Saufen Und Spiel Weekend-- Part 2: 1960, Bees, Band, Sports, Margaritaville

SEPTEMBER 9, Saturday

Listened to Saturday Morning Flashback on Chicago's WXRT, this year to 1969, that great high school senior-college freshman year for me between Palatine High School and Northern Illinois University.

Did some yardwork and must remember to stay away from the goldenrod and sedum right now as it is high season for attracting stinging insects.

We went to Captain's Quarters on Fox Lake and saw the band Rumor Has It."  Then to Sunnyside.  Enjoyed watching that Notre Dame-Georgia football game.  Go Dawgs.  (I went to UGA for junior year before transferring back to NIU.)

Came home and enjoyed Margaritaville watching the Sox win, Cubs lose and enjoying the Ultimate Jukebox.

--RoadDog

Saufen Und Spiel Weekend-- Part 1: Friday Night Lights

SEPTEMBER 8, Friday

I went to the big rivalry game out here in northeast McHenry County, Illinois, the Johnsburg-Richmond-Burton (R-B) high school football game.  Had we had kids they would have gone to Richmond-Burton, but we are just a couple miles north of Johnsburg High School.  I pull for Johnsburg unless they play Richmond-Burton because I send a REAL lot of money there.

R-B scored a TD on an 88-yard running play on the third play of the game, but that was the high point in a 34-10 loss.

I came home and found a really great new internet station, Jukin' Oldies, which features one of my favorite deejays, 'Fessa John Hook.  There are 14 djs on it and they play all sorts of music, including Beach, Boogie & Blues and oldies you've never heard of before.

--RoadDog

WLS Top Ten for September 22, 1967: "Funky Broadway"

Fifty years ago.

1.  THE LETTER--  Box Tops
2.  ODE TO BILLY JOE--  Bobbie Gentry
3.  NEVER MY LOVE--  Association

4.  COME BACK WHEN YOU GROW UP--  Bobby Vee
5.  REFLECTIONS--  Diana Ross & the Supremes
6.  BROWN EYED GIRL--  Van Morrison
7.  FUNKY BROADWAY--  Wilson Pickett

8.  LITTLE OLE MAN--  Bill Cosby
9.  APPLES, PEACHES, PUMPKIN PIE--  Jay & the Techniques
10.  YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN--   Turtles

Name That Tune (from above songs):  "Ready Or Not Here I Come, Gee That Used to be So Much Fun."  Answer below.  --RoadDog



"Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie"

Going Back to Summer 1977-- Part 11: "Give a Little Bit"

That's right, 40 years ago.ago.  Let's see, that would make me ....

SONGS FROM THE WOOD--  Jethro Tull   The first Grammy recipient for Heavy Metal.  Right!!
ON AND ON--  Stephen Bishop   Old "Animal House" himself.
GIVE A LITTLE BIT--  Supertramp

JUNGLE LOVE--  Steve Miller Band    Saw him at Indy 500 in May.  At 75 and still "has" it.
I DO--  J. Geils Band    I loved their R&B era.
JUST A SONG BEFORE I GO--  Crosby, Stills & Nash

LIKE A HURRICANE--  Neil Young    Why be in a group when you're having success on your own?
WONDROUS STORIES--  Yes
COLD AS ICE--  Foreigner

I JUST WANT TO MAKE LOVE TO YOU--  Foghat
MARGARITAVILLE--  Jimmy Buffett     The Parrothead National Anthem.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Searching for My Lost Shaker of Salt."  Almost TOO Easy.  Answer below.  --RoadDog



"Margaritaville"

Outstanding Music Soundtrack to the New Ken Burns "Vietnam War" Series

As much as I am interested in the events and background of the war as it plays out on the TV, that soundtrack is something else.  This would make a great album to have the whole of each song.  I'd buy it.

I was listening to one of my pre-recorded cassette tapes "Twenty Great Oldies-- Vol. 7" as I was typing away yesterday, and B.J. Thomas' "Billy and Sue" came on.  This is one of those songs that brings back the Vietnam War for me.It was his third single release after he had had great success with his first one, "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" by Hank Williams which went to #8 on the pop charts in 1966.

He then released "Mama" (#22--1966 and then "Billy and Sue" (#34--1966).

Billy and Sue met in high school and planned to get married, but then he got drafted for you-know-what war.  While he was out fighting Sue started running around and stopped sending letters.  Finally she sent one and it read "Dear John."

"A look came over Billy that would scare a ghost
Of a million soldiers -- coast to coast
And even though the air was filled with lead
Billy jumped up They shot him dead.

Billy was buried in a far away grave that read
'FOR HIS COUNTRY -- HE GAVE HIS LIFE'
But the epitaph -- was only a part
he didn't die from a bullet but  he died
From a broken heart."

The Music of a War.  --RoadBilly

LIFE'S LITTLE TRUTHS (Final One):  Inside some of us is a thin person struggling to get out, but they can usually be sedated with a few pieces of of chocolate cake.  (Or, cupcakes)

My Vietnam War Experience-- Part 4: Pledging Delta Sigma Phi

Continued from August 7, 2017.

In the spring semester 1970, I pledged Delta Sigma Phi fraternity at Northern Illinois University.  Tension on campus continued to get worse as the Vietnam War dragged on.  There was quite a bit of this anti-war sentiment that flowed over to anti-establishment and fraternities and sororities were viewed as "The Establishment," so our groups came under increasing fire from the others.

I had a great time during pledging and I have to admit that my grades slipped quite a bit.  To put it mildly, we partied a whole lot.  Delta Sig pledges had to carry this big old empty bomb shell around campus and protect it, or dire consequences if it got "stolen."  It was painted green with our Greek letters on it.  We never lost it.

Of course, failing college was a REAL Good way to get yourself to Vietnam via Uncle Sam's Draft.  You flunk, you get shot.

The frat house was on Augusta Avenue, east of campus (44 Augusta?).

Anyway, I became an active in April.

Hoddy Toddy, God-Almighty, Who the Hell Are We?  We're the Delta Sigs.  --RoadDog

Ken Burn's Vietnam War

I have been watching as much of this series on PBS as I can.  Another excellent effort from Mt. Burns.  I am of that era and have found out more about it than I ever knew.

I like how he goes back to the beginning of the French colonization and traces it to the 1960s and American intervention to stop the spread of Communism.  So far, I come away with the idea that Ho Chi Minh was the George Washington of his country and the Viet Cong were the Patriots.

But, he gives the story from all sides: the enemy, the soldiers, the government, the generals, the grunts, the ant-war movement and so on.

I have already been writing about my experience in the war, though I did not fight in Vietnam, i sure came close.

Click on the My Vietnam War Experience to see prior blog posts and I will have more.

--RoadNam

It's a Really Big Deal: NIU Beats Nebraska

Saturday was a great day here in our household.  Both Liz and I are huge Northern Illinois football fans (and alumni) and we sure had a HUGE victory over Nebraska!!!  NIU 21  Nebraska 17

I missed the first half of the game while I was at the Civil War re-enactment in Hainesville, Illinois, but I watched it when I got home.  Unbelievable.

The NIU banners are up all over the outside of the house.

Nebraska is one of those Power 5 schools and we are but a little Group of 5 schools.  Plus, Nebraska is now Big 10, 11, 12, 13, 14.

This was a great win.  And, sadly, now that I have been doing some boasting, that is going to be a kiss of death for our football program.  Whenever I write about a team I back winning, they then start losing.

Oh well, I just have to do it.  Sorry 'bout that.

GO HUSKIES!!  --  RoadDog

JSS: Shorpy-- "The Glass Castle"-- Cold Then Hot-- Don Williams-- Jay Cutler On Losing

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1.  SHORPY--  (The Old Photo Site)   If you want to see a World War II Home Front picture that just screams Norman Rockwell, look up the  Shorpy website for June 8, 2017  "The Ladies Who Lunch" 1943.  The photo was taken in Clinton, Iowa.  These women were employed as railroad wipers while the men were away at war.  The U.S. home front.

2.  "THE GLASS CASTLE"--  To me it seems there just aren't many movies out right now that I want to see.  I didn't know about this one, but it was too cold to go boating, so I went to the Fox Lake Theatre and saw this movie.  As far as I am concerned, this one should get Academy Award nominations for Best Movie, best Actor (Woody Harrelson) and Best Actress for the actress who played the young girl.

3.  COLD THEN HOT--  Crazy weather around here.  First it was quite cool and lately it has been quite hot.  At least it is not a hurricane.  The cool temperatures have really started the trees to turning those great fall colors.

4.  DON WILLIAMS--  Sitting here a-typin' away with my two little fingers and listening to a Don Williams greatest hits CD.  You forget how good he was.  We'll sure miss him.

4.  JAY CUTLER ON LOSING--  I couldn't help but chuckle when our fearsome ex-qb Jay Cutler complained that the Bears lost too many games while he was there.  Jay, might you have had something to do with all those losses?  The Jay replacement, Glennon, hasn't proved to be much better, but at least we don't have to look at Ol' Sour Puss, Pouty Face sitting by himself on the sidelines and thinking about all that money he was earning for not doing much.

What is frightening, though, is what if Jay turns into a decent qb with Miami?  After we had to put up with him for what seemed forever.

I'd Have to Find Him and Slap Him For Sure.  --RoadDog

LIFE'S LITTLE TRUTHS:  Freedom of the press:  No-iron clothes.

WLS Top Ten for September 15, 1967: "The Letter"

1.  ODE TO BILLY JOE--  Bobbie Gentry
2.  COME BACK WHEN YOU GROW UP--  Bobby Vee
3.  THE LETTER--  Box Tops

4.  NEVER MY LOVE--  Association
5.  REFLECTIONS--  Diana Ross & the Supremes
6.  WE'RE IN LOVE--  Cryan' Shames   "It Could Be We're In Love"
7.  LIGHT MY FIRE--  Doors

8.  I HAD A DREAM--  Paul Revere & the Raiders
9.  BROWN EYED GIRL--  Van Morrison
10.  FUNKY BROADWAY--  Wilson Pickett

Name That Tune (from the above songs).  "You Ask Me If There Will Come a Time When I Grow Tired of You."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

LIFE'S LITTLE SECRETS:  Age is important only if you're cheese and wine.

"Never My Love"

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

Out Boating-- Part 2: The New Pirate Ship, Gangland Shootout and McDonald's

After Beer Can bridge, I saw a new wooden pirate ship, well, the front end of a pirate ship, complete with a Capt. Jack Sparrow statue and pirate flag.  I always like new things like that on the Chain.  By the way, I see that this Tuesday is "Talk Like a Pirate Day."

Not too far down from the new pirate ship is a real piece of Chicago Gangland History, the old Manning Hotel, where a shootout claimed 3 lives back in 1930.  The Chain of Lakes was essentially a gangland paradise back in those days and several mob leaders had homes on the Chain.

And, if you're really into it, the hotel, now a private home, is up for sale.  For $339,000 you could own your piece of history.  That is a really good price for waterfront property on the Chain.

Next door to it is a funeral home.  How convenient .

Next, I stopped at McDonald's.  This is one of only two McDonald's that you can boat into.

AAAARRRR, Matey!!  --RoadDog

LIFE'S LITTLE TRUTHS:  It is bad to suppress laughter.  It goes back down and spreads to your hips.

Out Boating September 12th, 2017-- Part 1: Chain of Lakes, Mineola and Beer Can Bridge

Did some yardwork after FB

Drove over to Fox Lake and found gas gouged to $2.70.  Sure glad I filled up last weekend at the Mobil station in Johnsburg which was at $2.47.

Took our boat (School's Out...Forever!!) out for a cruise through Fox Lake, Nippersink Lake, Beer Can Bridge and into Pistakee Lake to McDonald's.  There is a reason they call our area the Chain of Lakes.

On the way, I passed the increasingly sad Mineola Hotel, which is falling into serious neglect.  It was a mini Grand Hotel like the one on Mackinac Island and a beautiful structure.  So sad to see it go.

Beer Can Bridge is so named because  it is not very high and over the years boaters going under it have placed beer cans on its understructure.  Not so cool anymore, though as about half the items are glass bottles.



--RoadDog

'Fessa John Hook's Beach Music Top 40 for 1961

If you're into the 1960s music, here is a show you don't want to miss.  It streams at beachshag,com.

TEN SONGS MAYBE YOU HAVEN'T EVER HEARD

I WANNA KNOW--  The Ape Man with the Gay Pipers
NOT GONNA CRY--  5 Royales
SWEET SUE--  Big Joe Turner

FLAMINGO--  Little Willie John
IT FEELS SO GOOD--   Little Milton
SUMMER KISSES, WINTER TEARS--  Elvis Presley
NORTH TO ST. LOUIS--  Ronnie Love

RAISING SUGAR CANE--  Untouchables
PLEASE LOUISE--  Roy Hamilton
LAY IT ON THE LINE--  Billy Ward & the Dominos

SONGS YOU PROBABLY HAVE HEARD

BOLL WEEVIL SONG--Brook Benton
RUNAROUND SUE--  Dion
CUPID--  Sam Cooke

MAMA SAID--  Shirelles
RAINDROPS--  Dee Clark
FIND ANOTHER GIRL--  Jerry Butler
SAVE THE LAST DANCE FOR ME--  Drifters

SPANISH HARLEM--  Ben E. King
STAND BY ME--  Ben E. King
MOTHER-IN-LAW--  Ernie K. Doe

Sit Back, Relax, Enjoy.  Thanks 'Fessa.

Labor Day Weekend-- Part 3: Research, Boating, Pizza, Beer and NTN

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4

Sat out FP (Front Porch) for breakfast and coffee as well as reading yesterday's Chicago Tribune.  Must catch up on my newspapers.  On the internet and doing some research on Major League Baseball players in World War II playing for the Great Lakes Training Base baseball players, coached by Hall of Famer Mickey Cochrane.

One of the players was Chet Hajduk who had a "Cup Of Coffee" with the Chicago White Sox in April 1941, who appeared in a major league game exactly one time before being sent to the minors for the rest of the season.  He joined the Navy after the season and played for Great Lakes.

Last week, I wrote about the Navy Day in Dubuque, Iowa, August 23, 1942, where 32 Dubuquers were sworn into the Navy and there was a baseball game between the Great Lakes Naval Training Center and the Navy Pre-Flight School at Iowa City in my Tattooed On Your Soul World War II blog.

While I was researching and doing blog entries, I listened to 'Fessa Hook's Beach Music Top 40 for 1961.  He played some mighty good stuff and should have it for another week.  You can listen to it at beachshag.com.  I'll write the names of some of the songs in the next post.

I went out boating on Fox Lake for awhile and then we met Kevin and Kelly at J's in Ingleside for half price pizza, $1.50 pints and played NTN.  Afterwards, we went to Sunnyside Tavern in Johnsburg.

A Good Day.  --RoadDog