Leading Up to St. Patrick's Day: No Dyed River, Parades or CB&C, But Old-Time Radio, A Beer and a Band

MARCH 16, SATURDAY

This was to be the big day of partying everywhere.  I had lots of options, but many I canceled if they involved spending time outside.  It was kind of cold and very windy.  Plus there would be crowds.  The older I get, the less I like any one of those things.

That meant a no go to McHenry to see the Fox River dyed green or the parade.  That also ruled out the parade in Lake Villa.  Sad, because I surely love parades.  I decided instead to go to the Fox Lake/Grant Township Historical Society's meeting and see the Lake County Old Time Radio Players put on an old time radio show.  They did "The Shadow."  Quite a neat and enjoyable job.

I then  went to Lake Villa and found myself in a long detour, but eventually got to the Lake Villa VFW which was having a corned beef and cabbage dinner.  I was sad to find they had already given out of it by the time I arrived.  Bummer.

However, I did luck into a seat at the very crowded bar and had a beer while enjoying the 50s-60s band, Accents.  However, the power went out and I left.

Not Finished With the Day Yet.  --RoadDog

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.

About Last Week: Back to MCCWRT, USMC 246th BD, Germanfest, Salute to the Vets and Donovan's

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9

Drove to Woodstock for my first McHenry County Civil War Round Table meeting since March 2020 thanks to you-know-what.  It was back at the Woodstock Library.  Sure was good to be back.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10

A big happy birthday to the USMC, number 246!!  

Went to Stucky's for a Germanfest feast.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11

A salute to all of our veterans on their day.  I went to Fox Lake for the ceremony at the train station but it was not there this year.

Met Kevin and Kelly at Donovan's in Twin Lakes Wisconsin, for live trivia and that great Happy Hour.

--RoadDog

Last Week: Chipmunk Training, Trivia at Donovan's, Drought, No Wings for Me, Rosie & the Rivets and Classic Car Phobia

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4

The FP (Front Porch) chipmunk about has me trained to its expectations.  I get in big trouble if I don't give it something to eat every time it comes by.  We played trivia at Donovan's in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, and enjoyed happy hour with half price (+25 cents) drinks.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 5

Watering, watering and watering.  We could SURE use some rain.  We're in our second drought of the summer.  

I drove to Antioch, Illinois, for their It's Thursday party.  Along the way, I had in mind to stop at Captain's Quarters on Fox Lake for their 35 cent wings and 35 cent loaded potatoes.  No dice son, too crowded.  Then figured I'd stop at Bootlegger's on Grasslake Road, but they too were packed.

Ended up at Roost On 59 (on Illinois Highway 59) and had their great Chicago dog meal.

Then to Antioch for the 50s-60s band Rosie & the Rivets and the car show.  Watched an hour, but left early when we started getting some raindrops.  You should have seen those classic car guys scramble.  I think they think their cars will melt of they get wet.  (Heaven forbid if even a speck of dust gets on it.  Out comes the chamois and lightly move it off the exterior!!)

Why Go Elsewhere.  --RoadDog

LAWS OF THE UNIVERSE, LAW OF THE RESULT:  When you try to prove to someone that a machine won't work it will.

Good Times in the Area: Last Weekend and This

Last weekend is a good example of why we like to stick around the area here in northeast Illinois during the summer.

The bars are open again and the bands are playing.  Spring Grove and the towns around us are in an area of Illinois known as the Chain of Lakes (or Chain o' Lakes).  There are about nine interconnected lakes and a long stretch of the Fox River.

And, boating is king.  As a matter of fact, we had three boats over a period of time ranging from 1985 to 2019.  The waterways go crazy on the weekend with hundreds of boaters out to have a good time.

An example of the fun we have took place last weekend.

On Saturday, our friends Kevin and Kelly had a party for their new granddaughter and a keg of beer and lots of food.  They have a house right on Mineola Bay on Fox Lake.  There is something about ice cold beer, the sun and watching the boats go by.

However, many folks brought their own libations and that keg wasn't empty, so we signed up for a Day After Party on Sunday with some other friends.  We worked as hard as we could, but we couldn't finish that keg.

So, it became necessary to have a Day After Party Part 2.  This time we succeeded.

Last night, we went out for one of those great Midwest fish fries at Stucky's in Johnsburg, Illinois.  In just a little bit, we're going to Rosie's on Grasslake where they will have a band out on the deck.

Oh, Well, Somebody's Got to Do It, and We're Just the Guys to Do It.  --RoadParty

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

Uncertainty for Chain of Lakes Boating This Year-- Part 1

From the April 22, 2020, Chicago Tribune "Uncertainty for Lake County boating season" by Karie Angell Luc.

For the Lake County boating community, COVID-19 is having a ripple effect.

"We're all in the same boat, no pun intended," said Joseph S. Keller, executive director of the Fox Waterway Agency (FWA).  "There is certainly a lot of anxiety out there."

May and especially Memorial Day Weekend typically launch the boating season.  "People are itching to get outside to enjoy the system."

But,he warns:  "The Fox Waterway Agency has kept the waterways open during the state's stay-at-home order.  But that could change quickly if users don't abide by safe social distancing rules.  The FWA and law enforcement are keeping a close eye on the waterway."

Of course, April's weather so far has been a bust.  Way cold, overcast and lots of rain.  Not exactly prime boating weather.

--RoadDog

LAUGHTER TO DEAL WITH THE "V":  We have gone from Miles Per Gallon to Weeks Per Gallon.   But, sadly, now we also have the cheapest gas prices I've seen around here in a long time.  Most places are around $1.60.

After 33 Years, the Boat's Probably Gone-- Part 1

Kind of a sad, but happy day for us yesterday as I took our 19.5 foot Bayliner Capri open bow, i/o over to a local place who will attempt to sell it for us.

We bought out first boat in 1985, an 17-foot Imperial modified tri-hull.  In 1900, we bought a 19-ft Four Winns and in 2013 the present boat.

I had always thought having a boat was ridiculous growing up.  Our family never had one.  However, when I started deejaying at the Puppet Bar on Pistakee Lake and Neptune's Cove on Fox Lake in the early 1980s there were a lot of boaters and they were having really big fun, so I decided we'd have to get one for ourselves.

I didn't get one right away as I knew that with a boat, I'd have to learn how to tie at least one knot.  Knots are something I am not good at and a reason I never got past being a Tenderfoot in the Boy Scouts as I had to know my knots.  That just wasn't going to happen.  No problem, though, as the main reason I was in Scouts was for the camp outs.  Now those were a whole lot of fun.

Anyhow, the owner of the Puppet Bar (Eagle Point Park), Joe Gates, showed me a simple knot and after about a month I had "mastered" it.

So, I could now get a boat.

A Boating We Go.  --RoadDog

A PLETHORA OF TIDBITS:  Before Sir Thomas More was beheaded in 1535, he moved his lengthy beard aside, saying it "had never committed any treason."   A Man and His Beard.

Two Bands, Five Bars, Yard Work and a History Meeting

FRIDAY, MAY 17

We met Kevin and Kelly at a new place on the Chain of Lakes called Fam's.  It used to be Korpan's Landing for a long time and is at Kamikazee Alley where Nippersink and Fox lakes come together.  Liz and I split a fish fry for $9.99 which had more than enough for both of us.

We then went over to Whiskey Waters on State Park Road and had a good time listening to the band Aging Teen Idols playing our kind of music.

FRIDAY, MAY 18

I went to the Fox Lake Historical Society meeting in the morning, then worked in the yard.  That night, Liz and I went to Stucky's in Johnsburg and had a good time with Uncle Will playing the guitar.  We spent the early part of his show doing protest songs from the sixties.

FRIDAY, MAY 19

Went back to Stucky's for their breakfast buffet, $8.99 for seniors including coffee or tea and made-to-order omelets.  After yard work, we went to Sunnyside and had a great time with the juke box and watching the Cubs game.

Good Times In the Area.  --RoadDog

A PLETHORA OF TIDBITS:  Actress Marilyn Monroe colored her hair using a shade of blond called dirty pillow slip.

It's That High School Football Season Again

And, sadly, I have not been to a single Friday night game and they have already played 5 of the 9 games they play.

I follow five teams, well 6 now.

How they are doing.  All high school are in Illinois.

Richmond-Burton 4-1  We send a whole lot of money to this school because of property taxes.

Johnsburg   4-1    Right down the road and where we hang out at Sunnyside Tavern.

Palatine    1-4  Where Liz and I graduated, Class of '69.  A down year for them.

Round Lake    1-4    We lived in Round Lake Beach for 17 years abd taught in Round Lake schools for 33 years.

Grant   2-3   Fox Lake.  Where we kept out boat for 33 years.

And now, Mt. Carmel in Chicago  4-1  This is a traditional powerhouse and ex-NIU quarterback Jordan Lynch.

Friday Night Lights, You Know.  --RoadDog

REPORTED IN THE PAPER:  A man in Taomina, Italy, was hospitalized after swallowing 46 teaspoons, 2 cigarette lighters and a pair of salad tongs.

Keeping Busy-- Part 2: Burger Shack and Sunnyside's "Adult Battleship"

SATURDAY, AUGUST 11

We drove over to Burger Shack on Fox Lake for a Chain Crawl passport stamp.  For many years it used to be Korpan's Landing and then went rapidly through a succession of owners and names.  Burger Shack is this year's name.  It is too bad as they have one of the best views on the Chain of Lakes from inside the bar and that is not even mentioning the huge deck.

No draft beer either, just bottles so it is $3 a drink.  But, buy two and get a free burger and they sure smelled good.

We left there to drive over to Half-Times in Johnsburg for Customer Appreciation Day with all sorts of food and drink specials, including $1 pint drafts.  But, we stopped at Sunnyside in Johnsburg to check out their "Adult Battleship" game.  Just couldn't imagine how they'd do it.

Turns out, there was a good-sized kiddie pool divided in half.  Each half had four pieces of Styrofoam, each with two Solo cups (red, of course) with the objective of throwing a ping pong ball into the cups.  Get both cups and you sink your enemy's ship.

They seemed to be having a great time.

We had a really good time inside with the usual cast of characters.

Sunnyside, Your "Cheers" Kind Of A Bar.  --RoadDog

YOU'RE BECOMING A GEEK WHEN:  Before going to the bathroom you inform your friends you're off to download and log out.

Good Times In the Area Last Weekend-- Part 1: Movie, Legion, Anniversary and Bands

FRIDAY, AUGUST 3

One of the biggest fogs ever this morning.  Couldn't even see across the street.  Saw the movie "Mission: Impossible - Fallout."

Met the Usual Suspects at the Fox Lake American Legion for 50-50, as usual.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 4

Enjoyed listening to 1971 on Saturday Morning Flashback on WXRT from 9 to noon.  That was a college year for me.  After lunch at Burger King, we went to the National Athletic Club on Fox Lake for their 125th anniversary and got our Chain Crawl passbook signed and enjoyed the band Redeye Express.

Then, we went to the Fox Lake American Legion on Nippersink Lake and were entertained by Jonathan from 3 to 6.  Where are you going to get entertainment in the afternoon?

-Last stop was at Sunnyside Tap in Johnsburg.

Way Much Fun.  --RoadDog

HOW COME:  Was learning cursive really necessary?

Kickin' Off Our Summer 2017-- Part 4: Yard Work, Boat, Captain's

SATURDAY, JUNE 10

Few things finer than sitting FP  (Front Porch) in the morning and having coffee and breakfast.  I get as many of these days in as possible over the summer and fall (even spring on those rare days you can sit out there comfortably).

Lots of yardwork (still trimming bushes) and I went over to Rick's and paid him money for this season's pier space on a channel going to Fox Lake and then we went to Menard's and Home Depot where I bought four more hostas (now 12 of them since yesterday).

Decided this would be a great time to go to Captain's Quarters and officially kick off our summer in the Chain of Lakes area.  This has been a tradition of ours for many years.  We  used to go there quite often over the summer as they have bands from 7 to 11 p.m., on Saturdays and Sunday afternoons from 3 to 7.  Nothing like a great band (and they have real good bands) on an early evening or Sunday afternoon, drinking ice cold beer and enjoying the whole thing.

However, the place has gotten so popular and crowded, we don't go as often.

We even were able to get seats at the bar (almost impossible) and enjoyed the great soul music of R Gang, who played the R&B Soul classics from the 60s-80s.

It Must be Summer Now.  --RoadDog

YOU'RE DRINKING TOO MUCH COFFEE WHEN:  Your only source of nutrition comes from "Sweet & Low."

Kickin' Off Our Summer 2017-- Part 3: Day-After-Party, Another Tradition

FRIDAY, JUNE 9, 2017

I went on a hosta buying spree in McHenry.  I bought of them at Wal-Mart and Home Depot.  Home Depot was selling their hostas for $4 in a gallon container.  I also bought 6 dianthus.  I am a big yard person.  Came home and watered the yard (as we have a bit of a drought going on after all the rain we had the last two months).

We then went back over to Kevin and Kelly's place on Fox Lake and sat out by the gazebo and had a mission to finish off the keg from yesterday.  We all enjoy this Day-After-Party as we call it.  They especially since they don't have hosting duty.  I am happy to report that we accomplished our mission.

We then went over to the American Legion on Nippersink Lake and had a few more cocktails over there.

Tough Job, But Somebody's Got To Do It.  --RoadDog

YOU'RE DRINKING TOO MUCH COFFEE WHEN:  All your kids are named "Joe."

Kickin' Off Our Summer 2017-- Part 2: End-Of-The-Year Party

THURSDAY, JUNE 8TH

Lots of yard work to do on our first full day back from the Mississippi.  Of course, a lot of trimming of the too many bushes that I planted.  Cut the grass

We then went over to Kevin and Kelly's place on Fox Lake for their End-Of-The-Year party.  They both teach and Kevin got out of school today.  We had an End-Of-The-Year party every year from 1983 to 2006 for our schools (we both taught as well).  And they continue our tradition.

Always great to sit out in their gazebo overlooking the lake on a perfect day and enjoying all that food, snacks and keg of beer.  We know quite a few of their teachers as well.

Of course, End-Of-The-Year isn't all that special anymore since we're both retired.

It Ain't Over Till It's Over.  --RoadDog

Chain Crawl, Bands, Minnows and Bars on Sunday

AUGUST 28, SUNDAY

We met the Usual Suspects at Hidden Point on Fox Lake, with that great deck view of the lake and Kamikaze Alley (where Grasslake, Nippersink lake and Fox Lake come together).  Glenn and Barb, Pam and her friend, former McHenry High School teacher Barb.  Listened to the Joe powers Band.

This was also a stop for the Chain crawl boaters today so there was a huge crowd.

When they finished, we went over to the Aquarium on Nippersink Lake.  This is where you can join the Minnow Club by either swallowing or crunching one is you've a mind to do so.  This has been a Chain of Lakes tradition since the 1940s.

Then back to Hidden Point for a second band.

Last stop was at Sunnyside in Johnsburg where they had another band playing.

Good Times in the Area.  --RoadDog

MORE SUTHEN-ISMS:  Only a Southerner can show or point out to you the general direction of "yonder."  As in "Over Yonder."

Getting Our Irish On

Yesterday, we went to Hello Folks in Fox Lake, Illinois, to eat and play NTN, then went to the Fox Lake Library and saw Banna, an Irish duo, put on their fin and sing-a-long hour of fun Irish music.

Earlier today, I brought up a wreath, , green lights, shamrocks and so forth from the basement and put them up inside and outside the house.

Tonight, we go to the Legion for the Grant Township annual fish fry.

Saturday it is the Lake Villa, Illinois, annual St. Patrick's Day parade and Irish music at the VFW.

And, that's just leading up to the "Real" day on Thursday.

Not Irish, But Irish This Week.  --RoadDog

RAMBLINGS OF A RETIRED MIND:  You know, I spent a fortune on deoderant before I realized that people didn't like me anyway.

Getting That Old Boating Fever

What with all the warm weather, well 50s, everyone around here is getting a real big dose of Spring Fever, and in our case, that means looking forward to getting our boat, "School's Out...Forever" out of that barn in Hebron and in the water.

Talked with "Mineola Pete" last night at Antonio's and he says that won't be too soon as there is still a lot of ice on Fox Lake.  He runs the Mineola Marine and still owns the Mineola Hotel, which has been in his family since 1943.

Yesterday, taking advantage of the warmer weather, I charged and jumped the battery of the '85 Firebird and got it started.  I took a ride around the subdivision.  A sure sign of spring.  I also started the John Deere lawn tractor and ran the mower.

Now, I need to get some gas before they raise the prices.

Can't Stand It.  --RoadDog

Good Times in the Area: Aug. 8-13th-- Part 1: Bands, Boating and a Picnic

AUGUST 8TH, THURSDAY-- McHenry, Illinois. Dinner at Vickie's Place on the Fox River. Chain Crawl Stamp at the Foxhole on the Fox River. Old CDs at Vinyl Frontier and New Odyssey concert at Veterans Park.

AUGUST 9TH, FRIDAY-- JABD-- Just Another Boating Day with Kevin and Kelly and on the deck at Stormy Monday on Fox Lake.

AUGUST 10TH, SATURDAY-- Lakes Area American Legion Post 703 picnic on Nippersink Lake with Ron Payton spinning the tunes.

--RoadDog

JAB'D Wednesday

As in Just Another Boating Day.

This past Wednesday, we got in a rare day boating.  Sure like to do more, but last week it was all too hot and this week, with improved weather (cooler) I have been doing yardwork.

Boated over to Hidden Point on Fox Lake and met Kevin and Kelly who had been downriver to McHenry to get passport stamps.  Hidden Point used to be Korpan's for many years and since then has been a whole bunch of places, the best of which was Templeton's Point.

Hidden Point is exactly what a successful bar on the Chain shouldn't be.  No specials, hit-and-miss food (sometimes they have it, sometimes not).  Entertainment on the weekends, well, maybe.

Then, we boated over to NAC, National Athletic Club on Fox Lake's south shore.  Sometimes they are open, sometimes not.  We called ahead to make sure they were open.  It is a private club, but open to boaters who pay full price for drinks.

Two More Passports Signed for the Chain Crawl.  --RoadDog


POLICE COMMENTS TO PERPS  You don't know how fast you were driving?  I guess that means I can write anything I want on the ticket, huh?