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.

Twenty Years Ago: The Round Lake School Teacher Strike Begins

Hard to believe it has been that long, but twenty years ago, October 17, 1994, Liz and I woke up and drove to Round Lake.  This time it was not to teach, but to walk the picket lines as after years of concessions to the school board and administration, it came time to pay the piper as it were.

The school board never negotiated in good faith in the months leading up to the strike and the months after it began.  It was their intention to "Break the Union."  That didn't happen.

We ended up staying out on the picket lines until December 13th, our first day back in the classroom.  That is 38 school days that we missed, the second longest in Illinois history.

The Union stood strong and weathered the attack and in the end received most of what was sought.

Today, Liz and I are going to drive to Waukegan, Illinois, and walk the line again, this time for the Waukegan teachers as their strike enters its 11th day.

I found my "Don't Tread On me" flag that I carried throughout the strike and it will once again float over the Tread Upon.

It Was Quite an Experience, One That No Teacher Should Have to Go Through.  --RoadDog

Been Out Boating-- Part 2

Later, Wednesday, we went out again with my buddy Frank. We did a slow cruise over to Electric Harbor for their $1 Johnsonville brats, but, they weren't running that special anymore, but got a a cheeseburger and fries for $2.50. Always enjoy sitting out there at the great gazebo with views the whole length of Fox Lake.

Thursday, we took a two hour cruise down the Fox River to the Broken Oar for lunch. This is also a great place to visit. They have specials everyday, like a big veal parmesan on spaghetti for $6.95 and 16 oz drafts for a buck. Starting next week, they will also have dollar burgers.

You can eat indoors or outside. Weekends they have live entertainment, but we won't go. If you aren't on a motorcycle, you become a second class citizen. They really cater to the bikers. I was the very first person to provide entertainment back in October of 1994, the weekend before we had our two month long strike. in the Round Lake Schools. Now, that is a real long time for a school strike, but that is another story.

Quite a few trees are starting to change into full fall foliage. Looking at lawns and cattails along the river really showed how high the floods of late August got. They are all two-tone; brown below flood stage. We saw several white herons by the lock and dam.

Both times we went through the lock, they waited for us to no wake it up to the gate. Very nice of them. Otherwise, it is about a thirty minute wait. Then, there's that nice slimy rope to hang onto while the water goes up or down, always a favorite thing to do.

There is a big sign telling boaters not to tie off their boats while in the dock. I asked the attendant if he'd ever seen anyone do this. He said he had. Dumb boaters.

Stopped at Kief's Reef on the way back (by the Illinois Highway 176 bridge). They also have outside entertainment on the weekends. We liked the pontoon boat up on the land that they used as the stage.

We also went out Friday afternoon and did a float before stopping at Baja Benny's to meet up with some friends.

Have to Hurry Up and Go Boating as the Season Quickly Wanes. --RoadDog