Being an account of some things I'm interested in, what I'm doing, and reflections on my past, especially music.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9
I will be sending the Friends of Fort Fisher a donation for rebuilding some of the mounds at the fort which were torn down to built a landing strip during World War II when the old fort served as a base for training anti-aircraft gunners. Planes flown by the WASPs towed targets. Fort Fisher was a famous Civil War fort in North Carolina and the biggest reason I'm such a history nut and ended up as a teacher. You might say it had an impact on me.
Met Kevin and Kelly and some others at Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, for trivia and those half price happy hour drinks.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10
Sure can't complain about temperatures this fall season as it is usually 40 to 50 degrees. So sorry to hear Michael Nesmith of the Monkees and a solo artist died today. I was a big Monkee fan.
Met Kevin and Kelly at Lake View Place on Grasslake for their $1 draft pint special. They have a great view of the lake from there. Then went to 'Cuda's on Grasslake Road for their excellent fish fry. On the way home, hit a big raccoon. I didn't have a chance to avoid it.
--RoadDog
Again, why go anywhere before the fall when there is so much to do around here.
FRIDAY, JULY 23
Well, at least I don't have to cut the grass with the drought which has come back. Met Kevin, Kelly, Barb and Glenn at Cuda's on Grasslake Road in Antioch for a fish fry. AUCE got $10.95 plus one side. We all got side salads so as to be eating "healthy" but I don't know how that offsets the fried fish. But, their beer-battered fish is something else to taste, especially piping hot out of the fryer. Melts in your mouth if not burns your mouth.
Afterwards, we adjourned to Lake View Place and sat out on the deck where we enjoyed the great view of Grasslake, the $1 drafts and conversation with a guy who is going to travel Route 66 and another couple who live on Grasslake, but had golf-carted it over there.
I tell you, some people really have it rough.
--RoadDog
LAWS OF THE UNIVERSE: Any tool, nut, bolt or screw, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible corner.
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
This past weekend was more like any summer weekend prior to 2020 around here.
FRIDAY, JUNE 4
Met friends at Cuda's on Grasslake Road and had their wonderful fish fry. Love those Midwest fish fries. All-you-can-eat for $9.99.
Then we decided to check out a bar we hadn't been to in a long time, Lake View on the west shore of Grasslake. It was Jackson Bay for a long time (I even deejayed there quite often). It was still open and great timing as they had $1 draft pints. I don't believe there is a better place to view the Chain of Lakes than from their deck.
SATURDAY, JUNE 5
Dennis and Vince came over to get my '85 Firebird running. What was to be a simple choke replacement proved to be more than that. This past winter, I had them redo the interior and exterior of it. It looks great right now, just doesn't run.
We went to Stucky's in Johnsburg to play live trivia, but they didn't have it, but, just the same, we enjoyed the $1 draft beers.
SUNDAY, JUNE 6
Of course, in the morning, I recorded Bob Stroud's Salute to the Summer of 1971 where he played the songs on the radio and in our record collections on June 6, 1971. This is an annual summer event for me. Then we went to the McHenry American Legion for Bloody Marys and then to the Polish Legion (PLAV) for their street party honoring a past commander who died over this past winter.
For $10 we got all we could eat and drink along with a band and karaoke.
As I used to say, Good Times in the Area.
Like the Old Days Again. --RoadDog
