No MCCWRT for Me, Yucky Sox, One Last Stucky's Saturday Party, a Legion and Stucky's Again

SATURDAY, JUNE 25

I wanted to go, but didn't go to the McHenry County Civil War Round Table discussion group in Crystal Lake because of those ridiculous gas prices.  Curse you GRBs.  And talk about getting disgusted,  MAN THOSE SOX.  They should be running away with the AL Central Division, but they are stinking it up.  I am just not going to pay attention to them for awhile.

We met Kevin and Kelly at Stucky's and used up the very last of our many gift cards.  Enjoyed those $1 Saturday domestic pints for the last time.  And, of course, the last Saturday night karaoke.  George and I sang a few songs.

SUNDAY, JUNE 26

Went to the McHenry Legion for good talk and those $2 rail drinks and Hamm's tall boys.  Stopped at Stucky's in Johnsburg for one last Sunday party.

Going to Miss Stucky's.  --RoadDog

Around Here: A Civil War Discussion, Karaoke, a Legion, Da Bears Blown Out and Stucky's

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23

Drove to Crystal Lake, Illinois, for the McHenry County Civil War Round Table discussion group meeting at Panera Bread.  Today's topic was the Battle of Perryville.  And, we actually somewhat stayed on topic much of the time.

Later, we went to Stucky's in Johnsburg, Illinois, for dinner and the $1 draft Pints.  Had a great time singing karaoke.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24

The usual morning on the internet, posting blogs and listening to the radio stations.

We went to the McHenry American Legion and watched one of the worst beat-downs ever on Da Bears at the hands of Da Brady and Da Buccaneers.  It was sad.  Very sad.

Then went to Stucky's to further drown our sorrows.

--RoadDog

Civil War, Half-Price Books, Sliders, Stucky's, Radio, Margaritaville, Da Bears, Legion and Concert

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25

Drove to Panera Bread Co. in Crystal Lake, Illinois, for the McHenry County Civil War Round Table discussion group,    This month's topic was Lee's First Invasion, 1862.  Nothing like getting together with a bunch of like-minded folks to talk about history, drink some coffee and today I had a Bear Claw.  That was good as I hadn't had one in a long time.

Afterwards, I drove to Algonquin, and even got through the Algonquin Road-Randall Road intersection without having to wait.  That is a first for me.  I drive the extra six miles to Algonquin because they have two of my favorite places, Half-Price Books and White Castle.  Love those cheap books and CDs at the first place, and, of course, a ten-pack of those beloved Sliders.

Cut the grass and later went to Stucky's in Johnsburg for their $1 pints.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

The usual morning stuff of internet and Breakfast with the Beatles and Rock and Roll Roots on the radio and then watched the first part of the Bears game in Margaritaville, our downstairs bar, then the second half at the McHenry American Legion.  Enjoyed one of their Adequate Bloody Marys for $2.50.  

I left in the 4th quarter when it became apparent Da Bears were completely outclassed and going to lose (poor Justin Fields in his first start at qb was sacked NINE times) and went over to the nearby Miller Park on the Fox River where I met friend Pam and saw a set by a local performer who put on quite a show.  This was the final concert of the summer season there and what a perfect day for it.

Afterwards went back to the Legion for awhile and then home.

Good Times in the Area.  --RoadDog

Last Week: A Fish Fry, Back to the Legion, Civil War, CDs, Sliders, Stucky's, Band, Another Legion

FRIDAY, AUGUST 27

We met Kevin and Kelly at Wilmot Riverside in Wilmot, Wisconsin, for their great fish fry and $2 drafts.  Afterwards, we went to the Fox Lake American Legion for the first time in many months.  We used to be there most every Friday for 50-50 and lots of fun, but certain things in their leadership happened which we did not like and we stopped going.

We used to be there a whole lot for other things, and I am hoping to start going back again.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 28

Drove to Crystal Lake, Illinois, for the McHenry County Civil War Round Table discussion group meeting where we talked about and looked at Civil War-era newspapers.  Two members brought in the real newspapers from then.

Afterwards, I went to my favorite two stores these days: Half-Price Books and White Castle. Half-Price Books has, of course, used books, but also albums and CDs.  Three of my favorite things.  And, White Castle has those delicious Sliders.

Went to Stucky's at night.  Thanked Craig and his wife for the bottle if Blue Nun.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 29

Went to McHenry, Illinois, got the $1 bacon cheeseburger special at Burger King and ate them at the band concert in Miller Park.  Went to the McHenry American Legion for the Bloody Marys and found out that buddy Mark was in the hospital.

Satisfied My Slider Attack.  --RoadDog

About This Last Weekend-- Part 2: A Civil War Meeting and Was John Wilkes Booth Actually Killed?

SATURDAY, JULY 24

I had breakfast out on the front porch as usual, then went on the internet and prepared the questions for the McHenry County Civil War Round Table discussion group and researched some information about the Lincoln Conspirators which was today's topic.

Drove to Crystal Lake listening to WXRT's Saturday Morning Flashback to 1974, my first year out of college and teaching.  Too bad I had the meeting.

We had seven people at the Panera Bread store in Crystal Lake.  And, our friend Frank even e-mailed his famed impossible questions in from down south where he is recovering from a sickness.  Seemed more like the good old days.  As usual, great discussion and quite a bit of it revolved around whether John Wilkes Booth was actually killed or was it a coverup by persons in the Union government who wanted to get rid of Lincoln.

The name Joseph Holt was mentioned quite often.  There were three John Wilkes Booths according to this conspiracy theory:  the real one who died as an old man in Missouri, one who passed as Booth on the run and one who looked enough like him to pass for a dead Booth when examined.

I'd never heard of this Booth Conspiracy before.  Like any good conspiracy, maybe true but most likely not.

--RoadDog

LAWS OF THE UNIVERSE:  LAW OF PROBABILITY:  The probability of being watched is directly proportional to the stupidity of your act.

Just Like Old Times Around Here-- Part 4: Civil War, CDs, Sliders, $1 Draft Beer, Pig Roast and a Band

SATURDAY, JUNE 26

Sat out FP (Front Porch) for coffee and breakfast.  Went on the internet for a short while and wrote questions for today's discussion group on Veterans Organizations of the Civil War and did some research.  This is for the McHenry County Civil War Round Table discussion group.

Listened to Bill St. James and his Time Warp show on WDRV and then WXRT's Saturday Morning Flashback at home and in the car.  Today it was to 1975, a great year for music.

Drove to Panera Bread in Crystal Lake, Illinois, for the meeting which was held inside for the first time since February 2020.  The two major veterans groups after the war were the Union's Grand Army of the Republic and the South's United Confederate Veterans.

Afterwards, I went to my favorite store these days, Half Price Books in Algonquin, and bought eight CDs.  The I picked up tp Sliders at White Castle.

That evening, Liz and I went to Sticky's in Johnsburg and enjoyed their $1 draft pints.

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SUNDAY, JUNE 27

I did what I do most every Sunday during the summer, some of it even last year.  I sit FP  (Front Porch) for coffee, breakfast and reading.  Then go on the internet and work on blogs.  Then listen to different radio shows:  Acoustic Storm on the Drive, WXRT's Breakfast With the Beatles and WDRV's Rock and Roll Roots.

In the afternoon, we went over to the American Legion in McHenry, Illinois, for their annual Pig Roast.  It was auce and all the beer you can drink for $10.  I tell you, I can live with this price.  Plus, we had a great country rock/blues  band called Dixie Rising.

Tough Life, But Somebody's Got to Do It.  --RoadPig

Two of My Favorite Things

The May 19, 2020, Hi and Lois cartoon strip hit home especially for me.

FIRST FRAME:

Lois is inside a store and speaks to someone else:  "It's great to see  a new brick-and-mortar business back in town..."

SECOND FRAME:

She finishes by say, "filled with paper and ink."

The owner of the store looks at her and says:  "Bookstores are back."

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I sure am going to miss brick-and-mortar stores.  I love to walk around and look.  You never know what you're going to find.  Plus, I really like bookstores.  I am a book freak, even if I don't usually read all of them, I love them.

I still miss my McHenry Borders and then the nearest Barnes and Noble to me in Crystal Lake, Illinois closed down. Even though they are Big Box stores, they had that little book store feel, plus, of course, music in the form of records and CDs.  My other favorite thing.

--RoadDog


LAUGHTER HELPS WITH THE "V":  "We all owe an apology to 2019 for what we said about it."

Lest Ye Forget or Didn't Know: Tomorrow, April 13, Is Record Store Day

Always a big day for me.  A day to get back to my past.  A day to Flip Through the Albums.  A day to be amazed at all the young folks looking at albums instead of downloading.

It's RECORD STORE DAY.

I'll be heading over to my favorite mom and pop record store, The Vinyl Frontier, in McHenry, Illinois.  And, then maybe over to Siren Records, also in McHenry.  I feel lucky to have not one but two record stores that close to me.

I'll be buying several albums and several CDs.

My favorite record stores that are no longer with us:

Full Cyrkle Records in Crystal Lake, Illinois
Record Revolution in DeKalb, Illinois
Record Rack in Goldsboro, N.C.

If you're not sure where a mom and pop record store is nearest to you, go to the site and they will tell you.

I should also mention that you should tune into Chicago's WXRT, 93.1 FM tomorrow as they will do a Saturday Morning Flashback to 1991 from 9 am to noon and then the rest of the day and night will be all album sides.  And, I mean album sides played on vinyl.  It streams.

Not That I Need Another Record or CD.  --RoadDog

Will This Winter EVER Get Over? Well, Still Having Fun, Regardless

I think we've had exactly four days since Woodstock Willie predicted a warm remaining winter and early spring on February 2.  I'm for locking him up till next Groundhog Day.

But, life goes on in these cold and snowy times/

THURSDAY, FEB. 21

Went to Half-Times and Sunnyside.

FRIDAY, FEB. 22

Funny that the ultra-left trashed the statue of the wrong Lee in North Carolina.  Idiots.  Went to the Legion for Half and Half.  Friend Kelly won.

SATURDAY, FEB. 23

Went to Crystal Lake for the McHenry County Civil War Round Table discussion group on Sherman's 1865 Carolinas Campaign.  We had a young kid there who played several Civil war songs on his violin and is interested in the war.  Always good as we Civil War buffs are aging quickly these days.  Maybe there is hope.

--RoadDog

COME SAIL AWAY:  Poopdeck Pappy was the father of which fictional sailor?


Popeye

Good Times Last Weekend-- Part 2: Sitting Outside, Enjoying a Band and Drinking Beer

SATURDAY, JUNE 23

We finally have some decent summer weather.  Enjoyed listening to WXRT's Saturday Morning Flashback where they went back to 1970 as I drove to Crystal Lake, Illinois for the McHenry County Civil War Round Table discussion group where we talked about Civil War Logistics.  I didn't think this topic would be a good one, but I sure was wrong.  Keeping those armies supplied with food and ordnance and getting them from place to place was no easy thing.

Went to Barnes & Nobles afterwards, one of the few stores I still understand, and bought a Civil War Monitor and Naval History magazine.

We went to Choppers on Il-173 in Antioch and sat out on their deck and listened to Aging Teen Idols playing music.  Just something about sitting outside on a perfect summer day, listening to a band and drinking ice cold beer that makes this one great experience.

We then went to Time to Bite, which is part fishing store and bar and also had the Chain Crawl book signed.

--RoadDog

TRANSLATING PROJECT TERMS:  They say:  Extensive effort is being applied on a fresh approach to the problem.  They Mean: We just hired three new guys; we'll let them kick it around for awhile.

Emission Testing Good Times This Past Week-- Part 1: Way Down South

Well, 30 miles south.

We had two vehicles coming up for state mandated emissions testing here in Illinois: the '11 Malibu and '05 Dakota.  Unfortunately, the nearest place for it is now Crustal Lake, about 30 miles away.  So, we decided to make a day out of it as Liz had a doctor's appointment and we have some favorite places to visit south of us as well as Chain Crawl coupons to use before they expire March 31st.

MONDAY, MARCH 23RD

And, it snowed five inches early morning and the plows weren't able to keep up with it, which made for a very fun drive to McHenry for the appointment.  from there, we drove to McHenry and were the only ones in line to have the emissions test so went right in.  The '11 passed.

Then went to the Riverside Pub at Burton's Bridge for bogo sandwiches with Chain Crawl coupons.  I had their great Homewrecker Italian sausage, a huge 8 ouncer that overlaps the bun by a great deal.  Plus, on Mondays they have 12 ounce drafts for $1.

Then to Cabanas, which just opened on Pistakee Lake (part of the Chain of Lakes and had a drink.

Came home and used the snowblower for hopefully the last time on some mighty heavy snow.  Later, we went to the American Legion and watched the Hawks win.

--RoadDog

Get "Yer" Blackhawk Autographs, But Expect to Pay

From the June 27, 2013, Northwest Herald (McHenry County, Illinois).

Signings take place at Martin Chevrolet at 5220 Northwest Highway (US-14) and the shows are put on by Sideline Marketing.

Today:  Duncan Keith 7-9 PM.  Autographs: one for $89 or two for $169.

SUNDAY:

Noon to 2 PM:  Marcus Krugerd and Victor Stalberg--  one for $35 or two for $60.

2-4:  Andrew Shaw (see his famous cut)--  one for $45 or two for $80.

5-7:  Marian Hossa--  one for $79 ot two for $149.

A Real Keepsake.  --RoadDog