Thor, Corniciones, NTN and Stormy Monday

THURSDAY, JULY 21

I went to the Fox Lake Theatre and saw "Thor:  Love and Thunder."  I never figured I'd like the Marvel Comics movies, but I sure do.

Liz and I went to Corniciones in Antioch, Illinois, to play NTN and have dinner.  We haven't played NTN much since the virus hit and had a hard time remembering our sign ins.  Not likely we'll be back with their $4 draft pints.

We had planned on going to It's Thursday to see the concert, but it was too crowded.  Then thought to stop at Anastasia's, but it too was crowded.  

Ended up driving to Stormy Monday on Fox Lake to see what was happening there.  It wasn't crowded so stayed for one that ended up a whole lot more when we got in a talk with the owner.  This place used to be our main hangout back when it was Costello's in the 80s and 90s.  Always a great view of Fox Lake and especially those sunsets.

Way Too Much for a Beer.  --RoadDog

POINTS TO PONDER:  100 years ago, everyone had a horse, only the rich had a car.  Today, everyone has a car and only the rich have horses.

All These Blogs Ago, Stucky's, a Fish Fry and Those Old Bars of Ours

THURSDAY, JUNE 23

Entered posts in all eight blogs.  Believe me, that is time consuming.  Got some yardwork done and we went to Stucky's in Johnsburg to use up some of out $25 gift cards that we had won in their live trivia games.  In a few days they will not be worth anything.  Local entertainer Jim Seig had a long-standing open mic night at Stucky's on Thursdays but canceled for the last two times.

FRIDAY, JUNE 24

Breakfast on FP.  Again, finished all eight blogs.  Too hot to work outside.  Normally we go to the Spring Grove Fish Boil every year to raise money for the old Spring Grove Fish Hatchery which has been turned into a village park, but today was the last day of Stucky's fish fry so we went there instead.

We sure are going to miss Stucky's  It is always sad when one of your favorite hangouts closes.  But, usually another one comes along.

Several years back three of our favorite places closed:  Tommy's and Antonio's in Spring Grove and the Twisted Moose in McHenry, but we ended up getting Sunnyside and Stucky's in Johnsburg.  And then there was Costello's in Fox Lake where we hung out for a really long time.  And, there was also Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes, when Jeff Stewart sold it, but we still hang out there.

Things Go On.  --RoadDog

No More Boating For Us-- Part 4: The Boat Took A Beating

From August 17, 2019.

That poor first boat, the Imperial, took a beating, not only as we were learning how to drive it and tie up at piers, but also we had two rather bad storms that hit it hard.

We first kept it by Neptune's Cove on Fox Lake (where I deejayed) and when they sold the place, we moved to the nearby Golden Nugget (later Costello's).  We were in a sheltered channel at Neptune's, but out on the lake at the second place.

The first beating the boat took resulted in its sinking during a storm that had a F-1 category tornado that came across Nippersink Lake.  Liz had the boat out that day (I was deejaying at the Puppet Bar), but fortunately was tied  up at Leisure Point on that lake when it hit.  So they were inside.  As the storm passed the Puppet Bar the windows seemed to move inward and the wind did blow hard.

When it lightened up enough to see outside at Leisure Point (today it is El Puerto), Liz could only see the top of the windshield.  She plopped a hundred dollar bill on the bar and said that drinks were on her for anybody that would get the boat out of the water.  A bunch of guys jumped up, ran out to the water, got in and eventually got the boat up onto land.

Money Well Spent.  What Some Guyd Won't Do for Drinkin' Money.   --RoadDog

Goodbye to Frank Costello

We were shocked a couple weeks ago to learn that Frank Costello, former owner of Costello's Pub & Grub on Fox Lake in Illinois, had cancer and was in hospice care in Springfield.  We found out Tuesday that he had died on this past Sunday.

The service was Thursday in Waverly, Illinois, a small town south of Springfield.  We decided a better way to remember him would be to go to his old place to reminiscence.  After he sold it, it became Baja Benny's and is now Stormy Monday.

We're planning to have a lot of his friends gather there at 6 p.m. today to do that.

We were among his first customers when he opened.  Actually, we pulled up on our boat and went inside.  They said they couldn't sell us a beer, as they didn't have their license yet, but we could have a pop.  He was a real godsend during the Round Lake two month teacher's strike as he had daily specials for teachers as well as some of the best soup I've ever had.

The Pub & grub part of the place's name came from me.  I deejayed there many times.

We'll Sure Miss Him.  Here's to You, Frank.  --RoadDog

Chain is Open and No More No Wake

Yesterday, my buddy Frank came by and we went out boating as it was sunny, but humid.

Put gas in the boat. I buy from gas stations and container it out to the boat. As BAD as prices are at the land stations, on the water, it is at least 75 cents to a buck more.

We had checked the local waterway agency and saw that the no wake (where you can't make waves while moving) was still on. While cruising across Fox Lake to Electric Harbor, we saw quite a few boats going at high speeds and making wakes of course.

Once at the Harbor, we found out that the no wake had been lifted at noon. Good news!!!

The special at the Electric Harbor on Wednesdays is $1 Johnsonville brats. Now how can you beat that? Then, there's the fantastic view as we were sitting out at the gazebo and could see right down the whole of the lake.

We boated along, happy now that we could go fast, a great help when the wind dies down. Next stop was Baja Benny's with their great Caribbean decor. Baja's is at the old Costello's, a favorite watering hole for many years.

It Was a Good Day to be Out and About on the Chain. --RoadDog

Another Great Friday, Boating, Bars and RVs

Did some boating Friday and cut the grass, which really needed it after all this rain we've been getting. Went over to Alden Terrace in McHenry and visited with Frances, my mother-in-law.

Then, Liz and I went over to Baja Benny's on Fox Lake (used to be Costello's, a favorite stomping ground until they sold it a couple years ago). Met up with a bunch of teacher friends of ours, who, unfortunately, are going back to school, several this Monday!!! We had to try to keep the smiles off our faces. We, including Kora now, DON'T have to go back on Monday. We's RETARRED!!!!!!!

Sue and Paul just got back from a two-week vacation out to Montana, ND, and SD. They just got an RV at the beginning of the summer, and this was their first major excursion in it. They are now officially AFFLICTED with the RV bug. As a matter of fact, they are already planning on getting another RV to more meet their needs.

My brother Bob and wife Judy are big-time RVers as well. He has tried to get me into it, which is a possibility as I really like hitting the road. My biggest problem would be convincing Liz.

Is an RV in My Future? Only Time Will Tell. --RoadDog