Past Movie Scratches: Deathly-- Hallows-- Vacation-- European-- Wizard-- Kingsmen-- Venom

Past Movie Scratches--  Movie I saw on TV in 2020.  (I'm finally finishing it.)

181.  HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PT. 1--  12-27--  Another title for it: "Lost in the Woods."  "Dobby's a free elf."  Looking for and finding horcruxs.  Fighting Deatheaters and especially that vixen Bellatrix.

182.  HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PT. 2--  12-27--  We find that Professor Snape isn't the bad guy we thought.  He was in love with Harry's mother.

183.  VACATION--  12-27--  Loading up the family Truxter and the family vacation out west to Wally World.  The poor, old mean Aunt Edna and her pooch.  It's one disaster after another, but quite the quest.

184.  EUROPEAN VACATION--  12-27-  What does the W. in Clark W. Griswold stand for?  We find out it is Wilhelm.   Clark does a number on Europe including knocking down Stonehenge and starting a riot at Oktoberfest.

185.  THE WIZARD OF OZ--  12-28--  "Are you a good witch or a bad witch?"

186.  KINGSMEN:  THE SECRET SERVICE--  12-29--  A gentleman first and foremost.  One helluva church service.  Beware the cell phone and that lady with the razer blade legs.

187.  VENOM--  12-31--  Mustn't eat the good people.

--RoadDog

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

Around Here: Sad Sox Eliminated, No Civil War Round Table, Donovan's Reef and German Fest at Stucky's

TUESDAY. OCTOBER 12

I had two big things to do today.  Originally just one, but yesterday's Sox-Astros ALDS game was rained out and rescheduled for today.  I also already had a McHenry County Civil War Round Table meeting at Woodstock Public Library, the first in person one since the virus hit at 7 pm.  The Sox game was in the afternoon.

We went to Sunnyside Tavern in Johnsburg to watch the Sox game which was my big mistake.  The Sox got off to a 1-0 lead, but then the bats went silent and any mistake the Sox made, the Astros scored.  They were especially good at scoring with two outs which happened quite a few times.  That is the mark of a good team.

And, out pitching collapsed again as well.  The result was a 9-1 loss and elimination from the playoffs.  To say the least, I was in no shape to drive the 17 miles to Woodstock for the round table meeting.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13

We went to Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin and played trivia with Uncle Jeffie.  Afterwards, I went to Stucky's in Johnsburg, Illinois, and had their Wednesday special, the German Fest 4-course dinner which included beef goulash, bratwurst balls & sauce, hunter's pork chops and Black Forest cake for $13.50.  As usual, Chef Deb put out a great spread.

--Eins, Zwei, Drei.  --RoadHund

WLS Top 30 for Week of September 13, 1971-- Part 1: 'So Far Away'

These are the songs that were debuts and Top 30 in Chicago fifty years ago.  * means it was climbing the charts.  The number after the artists is how high the song got on the Billboard Hot 100 National Charts.

ALL HIT BOUND

*TIRED OF BEING ALONE--  Al Green     #11   Born in 1946 in Forrest City, Alabama.  Inducted Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995.

30. *SUPERSTAR--  Carpenters    #2     Brother-sister duo from New Haven, Connecticut.

29.  *SO FAR AWAY--  Carole King     #14   That's James Taylor on the acoustic guitar.

28.  *DO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN--  Lee Michaels   #6    Born 1945 in Los Angeles.  His biggest hit.

27.  RIDERS ON THE STORM--  Doors    #14    Their last Top 40 song.  Jim Morrison had been dead for awhile by now.

26.  TAKE ME HOME COUNTRY ROADS--  John Denver    #2    Born John Deutschendorf in 1943 in Roswell, New Mexico.  This is a huge song at Munich's annual Oktoberfest with his heritage.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "All My Memories Gather 'Round Her, Miner's Lady, Stranger To Blue Water."  How do you sing it in German?  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Take Me Home, Country Roads"

Movie Scratches: 1917-- Rabbit-- 1917-- Skywalker

Movie Scratches--  Movies I Have Seen At the Theater This Year.

5.  1917--  1-23--  Fox Lake, $6--  Trenches, rats, planes, snipers and the horrors of war.  What more could a guy want?

6.  JOJO RABBIT-- 1-27--  Fox Lake, $6--  A unique movie set in the waning days of Nazi Germany.  Humorous, sad and horrible at the same time.  And, the pretend Hitler.

7.  1917--  1-28--  A day in the life and what a day.  What a way to deliver the mail.  Gives new credence to that old saying about the mailmen and delivery.  One of those movies you just have to see on the big screen twice.

8.  STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER--  1-28--  Fox Lake, $5--  "Rea, I am your grandfather.  You are a Palpatine Sith.  YUCK!!!

Love Those New Seats in the Classic Cinemas Fox Lake Theatre.  --RoadDog


RANDOM ANIMAL THOUGHTS ( From the Orange Peel Gazette) DOG::  "They keep putting the lid down on the big water bowl."

About Last Weekend: Saufen und Spiel, Why Go Anywhere Else?

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11TH--  I went to Fox Lake and saw "The Visit."  Boy, that was one creepy movie that just got creepier.  Makes you wonder about  "To Grandmother's house we go."  We then met up with the Usual Suspects at 'Cuda's on Grasslake Road in Antioch and enjoyed the $2 craft pints and watched Terry and Gregg Spizzirri play music from across the ages as they call it.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12TH--  Went to Stormy Monday on Fox Lake for an End-of the Summer party.  Then went to the Legion on Nippersink Lake and enjoyed a great blues band while chowing down on bbq chicken, corn on the cob and fixins while we had the SAL gun raffle and a benefit for Joe Gliniewicz where $4,000 was raised.  Too tired to go over to Johnsburg to watch the Rolling Stone tribute band Hot Rocks playing at Saufen und Spiel.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13TH--  Went to the Bears/Parade party at Sunnyside Tavern in Johnsburg where they had a tent set upside and were grilling brats.  Watched the Saufen und Spiel parade pass by the tent and then the Bear-Packer game on a big screen under the tend.  Sdaly, Da Bears lost, but played well.

Then went to the Saufen und Spiel grounds by the Johnsburg Community Center  (Johnsburg has a lot of German folks) and enjoyed Hans & the Harmones and a German oompah band.

Ein, Schwein.  --RoadDog


THE 10 RULES OF LIFE:  Never pass up an opportunity to go to the bathroom.

How to Correctly "Ein Prosit"

As I said, the first time I ever heard it was from an Oom-pah band called Der Dumpkoffs playing at the Mount Charleston Lodge near Las Vegas, Nevada.  We sure had a great time with their antics and this song.

Ein Prosit (Eyn Proz-it) Sing it twice.

Der Gemutlichkeit (Dar Gay-mute-lish-kite)  I salute our friendship & good times.

Do it twice.

Then comes the countdown in German: Eins, Zwei, Drei.

Then G'suffa (zuffa)  Where you take a big ol' drink.

Then, someone says either "Zicke Zache, Zicke Zache

or, Ticke-Tacke, Ticke-Tacke

Then you respond Hoi, Hoi, Hoi.

Or, Something Like This.  It's All So Fast.  --RoadPrositDog


YOU MIGHT BE A YANKEE IF: The last time you smiled was when you prevented someone from getting on an on-ramp to the highway.

Top Ten Oktoberfest Songs-- Part 2

Continued from yesterday.

4.  MOUNTAIN MOTHER--  Sierra Madre--  Spanish Sparkles

5.  COUNTRY ROADS--  John Denver (Wouldn't have expected this one.)

6.  THE DONKEY SONG--  Esellied--  The only traditional German song to make the list.

7.  HANDS TO HEAVEN--  Where you have to put your beers down, raise your hands and clap along.

8.  ANGLES--

9.  SWEET CAROLINE--  Oh, No!!  Oh, No!  You can't get away from this one anywhere.

10.  COWBOYS AND INDIANS--  Cowboy und Indianer--  the Lasso Dance.

Do I See a Stein Over There?  --RoadDog

Top Ten Oktoberfest Songs-- Part 1

Well, a little late.  Use it to get ready for this fall.

Is it polka music?  No say the Germans who refer to it as oom-pah music (as do I).  easy to sing along to and upbeat.  I wonder how the American bandstand kids would rate it.

Of course, regardless, the "Ein Prosit" song has to be played at least every 10-15 songs.  That would be the toasting song.

here are the Top ten Songs.  I forgot to write down the source (probably toasting too much).

1.  I Salute You--  Ein Prosit  (I first heard it played by Der Dumpkoffs in Las Vegas.)
2.  The Flier Song--  Fliegerleid (Actually a kids' animal song.)
3.  Hey baby-If You'll be My Girl--  DJ Otzi, European version

Ein Prositing All the Way.  --RoadDog


YOU MIGHT BE A YANKEE IF:  You think more money should go to important scientific research at your university than to pay for the salary of the head football coach.

Octoberfest Weekend-- Day 1: Homecoming, Oktoberfest, Bands, NTN and Beer

Today was an absolutely gorgeous day with blue skies and temperatures approaching 90 degrees. More like an August day than fall.

I went over and watched Grant High School's Homecoming parade. Grant is the high school that serves the Fox Lake area. Julie would be happy to hear that they use the University of Georgia G and have the same colors. Looks like UGA was too lazy to come up with their own idea.

As Clark Griswald said while crossing the desert in "Vacation," I love a parade. I like the marching bands the best. There was a good-sized contingent of the Class of '57, about six of whom were driving antique cars.

Came home and took advantage of the rays OD (On the Deck).

Liz and I went to the Fox Lake Lakefront Park for the Oktoberfest celebration. Watched the Alpiners Oompah Band for a couple sets. Enjoyed some brats and German food.

It was actually getting too hot, so went to local watering hole, Hello Folks, and played some NTN. We had one #4 with JeffH placing #7.

Went back to Octoberfest and saw the Neverly Brothers do their oldies show. This was our first time seeing them and I'll definitely see them again. I'll have more on them in the future.

That kettle popcorn was looking and smelling too good, but they were out of the smaller $3 bags. I took a pass on the $6 jumbo ones. I finally broke down and went to the stand to buy the $6 one. They were evidently getting ready to leave and they gave me a second one for free. Anyone want some kettle corn?

There evidently was an accident on the Route 12 bridge as there were lots of police vehicles and they closed it off. We ended up having to take a 15 mile detour to get home and twice were passed by ambulances going at high rates of speed.

Can't Beat Fun in the Chain of Lakes. --RoadDog

Don't Mess with Them Squirrels

A week ago, a squirrel went on a rampage in southern Germany and attacked and injured three people before a 72 year-old killed it with his crutch. Think about this the next time you mess around with one of our bushy-tailed friends.

I can spend a lot of time watching and enjoying squirrels. Those twitching tails and frantic motions are hilarious. It's amazing how fast they can climb trees and sometimes they'll be sitting there looking at something (usually the seed in my birdfeeders) and you just know that they are are doing some serious pondering. Often, I make little noises that gives them something else to think about. It's also fun to watch them trying to get somewhere they're not wanted. You've got to be impressed with their determination and ingenuity.

It was a squirrel, or at least they're pretty sure, that chewed into the electrical lines at the historic old Pig Hip Restaurant in Broadwell, Illinois, (just north of Springfield) and that caused a destructive fire that totaled the place. This was a major Route 66 stop, and put Ernie Edwards, "The Old Coot on Route 66" out of business in his museum at the site. They found the charred remains of a squirrel in the ruins.

This past April, while going to visit Andy, Andrea, Jolly Prince Charlie, and AP in White House, TN, I did a cruise across Illinois on US Route 50. I visited Olney, and was able to see one of their famous white squirrels. That was quite a sight. Also saw several who were partially white and gray.

Mt father-in-law Amby had a running vendetta going with the Palatine, IL, squirrels who were as determined to get into his bird feeder as he was to keep them from doing it. Every year, he would be at the hardware stores investing in the latest squirrel-proof offerings. Every year, the squirrels were able to figure out how to overcome the new defense, much to Amby's dismay. He was not nice in describing the 'lil varmints.

Daddy Graham's (our name for Mom's father) cat, Pretty Girl, so-named because he said she was so ugly that she really needed to have something pretty about her, used to be great at going up into the many trees around the house in Goldsboro, NC, and knocking the squirrels out of them.

Julie's tabby cat, Lexi, is very small, and often wanders out behind their home in Richmond Hills, GA, where there are a lot of squirrels scampering about the many trees. They usually think she is one of them and ignore her. Then, one discovers she isn't a squirrel and there is a mad dash for the trees.

Julie has had several "pet "squirrels who would eat out of her hand. One other thing, DON'T go out by those trees in May or June when the deer flies are there. Really nasty little buggers.


Hey, Something's Mighty Squirrelly Around Here!! --RoadDog


THIS DAY IN HISTORY- 1997- The US Air Force says officially that there is no truth to the rumors that aliens were captured at Roswell, NM. Hhhmmmnnn.