Last Weekend: A Fish Fry and Lots and Lots of NFL Foorball

FRIDAY, JANUARY 21

Met Kevin and Kelly at Kelly's in Trevor, Wisconsin, for their fish fry.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 22

Went to Stucky's in Johnsburg, Illinois, and watched the Packers lose to the 49ers.  This was not expected and Liz and I had all our Packer gear on.  Maybe dear old Aaron can be a happy man again.

Of course, I kind of like the 49ers as their qb Tony Garrafalo is from the Chicago suburbs and played for EIU, one of their defense starters is Jimmy Ward from NIU and their field goal kicker is Robbie Gould who was a long-time Chicago Bear.  Why they fired him is beyond me.  But the year after they traded him, the 49ers beat Da Bears 15-0 and every point came off a Robbie Gould field goal.  I usually don't like the Bears to lose, but this was a good one.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 23

We had 3 inches of snow and our neighbors were nice enough to come over a clear it off.  Nice neighbors in this day and age.  We went to Sunnyside in Johnsburg to watch the KC-Buffalo Divisional Playoff game and this was one of the best ever with the Chiefs winning at the very end.  All four playoff games this weekend were the best ever.  Every game decided at the end.

--RoadDog

Last Week: Stucky's, NIU Bowl Game, Stucky's, McHenry Legion

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17

Sunnyside was having their customer appreciation Christmas party, but we figured it would be too crowded and too difficult to watch the NIU-Coastal Carolina Cure Bowl on TV, so went to Stucky's and sat with friends Kevin and Kelly and watched the game.  

We figured Northern would get blown out as we have lost the last six bowl games and been blown out in them, but this one was different.  Our guys came to play and we actually led for almost the whole game until the end, but lost, sadly. 

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18

No McHenry County Civil War Round Table discussion group for me as it was on Zoom only and I don't do Zoom.

Finished putting up Christmas decorations outside and inside. We went to Stucky's in Johnsburg and enjoyed the  $1 draft beers and a great pizza burger.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 19

Enjoyed Bob Stroud's annual Holiday Hootenanny on WDRV, where he played three hours of 60s-70s Christmas music.  Went to the McHenry American Legion and watched the Packers win a game.

Go Pack.  --RoadDog

About This Super Bowl

Since neither of our two NFL teams are playing (Bears and Packers, Yep, that's right, Bears and Packers) Liz and I become free agents.  Especially since the hated New England Patriots are not in it.  Whenever that happens, we pull for the other team.  Thanks, Tennessee for knocking them out of the playoffs.

Normally, we pull for the NFC team, but not this time since Kansas City is in it.  They haven't been to the Super Bowl since IV, and it wasn't even called the Super Bowl back then.

However, San Francisco has two players of local interest on their team.  Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is from Arlington Heights, Illinois, played football at Rolling Meadows High School and college ball at Eastern Illinois.  Safety Jimmie Ward played college ball at Northern Illinois University, our alma mater.

Both played for non- Power 5 conferences which makes them playing in the NFL even more difficult.

So, we will be pulling for Kansas City to win, but Garoppolo and Ward to do well.

--RoadDog

TAX FACTS:  Nearly 300,000 trees are cut down yearly to produce the paper for all the IRS forms and instructions.

Getting in the Yule Spirit-- Part 2: Usual Suspects Get-Together

DECEMBER 15, SUNDAY

Rock and Roll Roots featured the Dave Clark 5 group today in honor of drummer Dave Clark's 80th birthday.  They were the first British Invasion Group to come over after the Beatles and since they were more rocking, I even liked them better than the Beatles.

As a matter of fact, the first 45 single I ever bought was either the Dave Clark 5's "Anyway You Want It" or the Hollies'"Look Through Any Window."  I can't remember which one I bought.

Went to the Squaw Bar in Ingleside, Illinois, for the Bears-Packers game with the Usual Suspects and because Sue and Paul were visiting from New Mexico, there was a full turnout, including Pete, Katrina, Pam, Glen and Barb, and Laura and Ed.

Sadly, Da Bears lost to Da Pack.

Oh Well.  --RoadDog

It's a Numbers Thing

Some Numbers of interest.

7-6     Record of the Chicago Bears as they prepare to play the Packers in Green Bay Sunday.

10-3    The Packer record.

14-0    The 2019 record of the Richmond-Burton High School Rockets.  They won the Illinois State Class 4A Championship!!

5    The number of Illinois State Championships won by Route 66, Lincoln Highway and US-12 high school football teams.

8    The number of days before we start adding daylight time to each day.  I'm really ready for it.

40   The number of new Christmas movies being shown on the Hallmark Channel.

$1,000   How much you win if you have the best WDRV 97.1 FM, the Drive logo in Christmas lights.

I'm Not a Twit.   And Don't Call Me Shirley.  --RoadDog

DID YOU KNOW:  That a pregnant goldfish is called a twit.

JSS: Plants In-- Bears/Packers-- Halloween-- Burning

JSS-  Just Some Stuff

1.  PLANTS IN--  With the crashing temperatures and freeze warnings Friday and this weekend, I brought in the plants outside that I overwinter in the sunroom.

2.  BEARS/PACKERS--  This past weekend was one of those crummy times when neither the DaBears nor Packers were on TV Sunday.  In the past it was because they usually both had byes.  Da Bears had a bye this week, but the Packers played Monday night.  That left us with no football to watch since we only watch these two teams on TV unless we happen to be in a bar and another game is on.

3.  HALLOWEEN--  I've been putting up Halloween decorations outside and inside, because you-know-what is about here.  Of course, everybody knew about it as Halloween Creep set in early in September.

4.  BURNING--  We can only burn leaves on weekends in October and November and what I'd like to know is why we get the worst weather those two days most every month.  Last weekend was a prime example with it being too wet and windy on Saturday and way too windy, overcast and cold on Sunday.

Like, Boo.  --RoadDog

A Busy Weekend-- Part 4: Sad Packer Inn, Donovan's, Sunnyside and Margaritaville

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9

Listened to the usual radio shows at home.

We then drove to Silver Lake, Wisconsin, just over the border and met a buddy there.  Liz and I cheer for the Packers if they are not playing Da Bears.  And today, the Packers were on at noon and the Bears at 7:30.  One problem nowadays when you are playing well is that you get switched to late night games.  This originally was supposed to also be a noon game for the Bears.  I hate night football.

We had been to the Packer Inn back in the late 1980s, but hadn't been back since then.  Back then, it was standing room only with lots of cheering, but not anymore.  It was dead.  We were practically the only ones in there watching the game.  Plus, there were no food or drink specials.  We left at half time and drove over to Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin and found a crowd of Packer fans and enjoyed the rest of the game.

Then, we drove to Sunnyside Tap in Johnsburg, Illinois, where Friend Steve was having his 80th birthday party.  Watched the Bears game against the Rams at home at our bar, Margaritaville, in the basement.

Kind of Doubt We'll Be Back at the Packer Inn.  --RoadDog

POLITICALLY INCORRECT CHRISTMAS SONGS:  "Frosty the Snowman"  Sexist.  Not a snow woman.

Getting Into October-- Part 3: A Perfect Bloody Mary

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7

Both Bob Stroud on his Rick and Roll Roots (WDRV, 97.1) and Terri Hemmert on her Breakfast With the Beatles (93,1 WXRT) featured John Lennon since his 78th birthday was coming up Tuesday, Oct. 9.

The Bears had a bye today, so drove to Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, to watch the Packer-Lion game.  Always more fun to watch the Pack in Wisconsin.  We found Donovan's Reef to be too crowded, so went to Main Street Tap, also in Twin Lakes.

We have not been there in several years and I was in serious need of a Bloody Mary.  They were the first place I know of in the area to  have premium Bloody Marys and now we have a lot of places featuring mega-Bloody Marys.  They are now $5.50, but come with a shrimp and a giant spear of items.


And, A Chaser.  --RoadDog

From Great Lakes Navy Base to Kelly's 40th to Spring Grove Pub

SEPTEMBER 15, SATURDAY

I called my brother Bob in Goldsboro, N.C., who said he was without power as expected because of Hurricane Florence and there are many trees down.  he had eight inches of water in his basement.

Went to the Fox Lake/Grant Township Historical Society meeting and heard an interesting presentation on the Great Lakes Navy Base in North Chicago.  It dates to 1911 and is the only Navy training base in the United States.

Later, we went to the Legion for Kelly's 40th birthday party.  Great food and the band Ask Jimmy outside on the grounds overlooking Nippersink Lake.

Afterwards to Spring Grove Pub.

SEPTEMBER 16, SUNDAY

Went to Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, for the Packer-Viking game.  It is always more fun to watch the Pack in Wisconsin for some reason.  Unfortunately, after dominating the game early on, the Pack (we pull for the Packers unless they play Da Bears) let Minnesota back into the game and it ended up tied after overtime.

--ToadDog

About Last Weekend-- Part 3: Hardee's Breakfast, Saufen Und Spiel and Da Bears

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9

We at Hardee's for breakfast.  We really like their breakfasts and were impressed with their new slider breakfast sandwiches.  Drove back to Spring Grove via the old way, Il-23 to Plank Road to Il-47 because of all the construction we encountered on the way to DeKalb yesterday.  This is the way we took from Palatine and later from Round Lake Beach.

Went to Sunnyside Tap in Johnsburg and watched the annual Saufen Und Spiel parade to honor  the village's German heritage.  We decided not to go to the Community Club grounds where they had bands, food, and, of course, bier.

Home and some yardwork before going to Spring Grove Pub to watch the Bears-Packers game.  Both Liz and I pull for the Packers UNLESS they play Da Bears.  Specials at the Pub were $4.50 pitchers of beer and a $5 pizza buffet. It being a new place, there weren't too many people there, but the ones that were had a good time in the first half of the game.  The less said about the second half, the better.

Parades and Da Bears.  How Much Fun Is That?  --RoadDog

TRUTHS ABOUT GROWING OLD:  It's frustrating to know all the answers, but nobody bothers to ask you the questions.

JSS: Our Teams Out-- A Perfect Afternoon-- NFL Saying Sorry?

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1.  OUR TEAMS OUT--  Saturday was not only a rainy and cool day, but a real bad one for the teams Liz and I were backing in the Illinois State High School Football Playoffs.  All three of the teams we were backing:  Palatine, Johnsburg and Richmond-Burton were beaten and are out of it.  At least now, I don't have to think about sitting outside in miserable weather.

2.  A PERFECT AFTERNOON--  Yesterday we drove over to the Squaw Bar in Ingleside, Illinois, where they were having a chili cookoff.  Not only that, but they had a band playing in the afternoon, cheap beer ($6 a pitcher domestic) and the Squaw is a perfect dive bar.  Those four things come together to make for a real fun afternoon.

3.  NFL SAYING SORRY?  With the commercials the NFL was running yesterday during the games and the coaching garb on the sidelines, I'd say the NFL was making peace with the great dishonor they did to our veterans with all that sideline kneeling during the National Anthem.

Liz and I were ready to boycott the NFL next Sunday as our little way of saying here's what we think of you.  Now, we can watch the Bears-Packers game, something which we were sadly not going to watch because of all of this.  Now, we'll watch some of it, but if those players kneel during the anthem before the game, the boycott is on again.

--RoadDog

25 Ways To Tell You're From Lake County, Illinois-- Part 6: Shoveling and Lamb's Farm

21.  You miss the albino crocodile in Gurnee Mills (a huge outlet mall), but know that you can get your reptile fix at the Wildlife Discovery Center.

22.  You complain about taxes.  A LOT!!  But, you would never, ever, dream of living in Cook County, McHenry County (Hey, that's where I now live), or, heaven forbid, Kenosha County, Wisconsin.  (Too many Cheeseheads and Packer fans.)

23.  You understand that no one is growing crops over at Lamb's Farm, but they are nurturing human dignity.  They also, in fact, do have lambs along with a sizable herd of goats and other lovable creatures.

24.  You help shovel your neighbor's driveway during a blizzard, but you don't stick a chair or ironing board on the space shoveled afterwards like they do in Chicago.

25.  If you're a parent, you follow Little Lake County to be in-the-know on where-to-go to  have fun with your kids.  (This is where I got the 25 things from.)

A Crock You Wouldn't Want to Wear.  --RoadDog

25 Ways to Know You're From Lake County-- Part 1: You Own a Boat and Probably Have Packer Friends

From the Little Lake County site.

Lake County, Illinois, on the northeastern corner of the state.  We lived there for 20 years in Vernon Hills and Round Lake Beach.  After that we moved to McHenry County, next door, but are only a few miles from Lake County.

This list is quite funny if you are from Lake County.

1.  You own a boat, but it spends more time in your driveway than in the water.  (The Chain of Lakes is in the northwestern section.)

2.  You are never more than twenty minutes from a corn field.  (Lots of farms, but fewer every year.  Now, many fields grow houses.)

3.  You have almost as many Packer fans on your block as there are Bear fans.  (Lake County's northern border is Wisconsin.)

Ah Yes.  Packer-Bear Rivalry.  --RoadDog

It Was Bathroom Beer at 1967's Ice Bowl

From Yahoo! News.

A lot of mention has been made about the last time the Green Bay Packers played the Dallas Cowboys in Green Bay in the post season what with yesterday's game.  It took place on December 31, 1967 and was at least -13 degrees with a wind chill of -46 degrees.

It is regarded as the coldest game in NFL history and has the name "Ice Bowl."

Part of the reason was that it was so cold that that the electric coils under the field to warm it up actually froze and wouldn't work, turning the field into a giant sheet of ice.

It was so cold that beer had to be sold out of the bathrooms and drunk there as well.  Personally, I can't imagine anyone wanting an ice cold beer on a day like that.  They sold Pabst Blue Ribbon longnecks.  To drink one of them outside was to risk having your lips frozen to the bottle, a la "A Christmas Story"'s flagpole.
The Packers won.

We lived in Palatine, Illinois, at the time and family friends Dick and Carol Schrickel were avid Packer fans and went to the game.  They survived and made the drive back to Palatine and thawed out at a New Year's Eve party at my parent's house.

At Least the Pack Won.  --RoadDog


YOU THINK ENGLISH IS EASY?  How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same?

The "Beak" Dies: Big-Time Packer Fan

Mugs are at half mast around the Spring grove area for John "Beak" Cochara, who died suddenly on New Year's Eve.  He was quite the character in these parts.

He was probably the most famous for getting duct taped to the stop sign at the corner of Il.-173 and Wilmot Road back in 1995.  He had been in K.C.'s Cabin at that corner for the Bear-Packer game which ended badly for Da Bears.  Beak was a huge Green Bay fan and started riding the Bear fans (he was badly outnumbered) and was warned to shut up or he'd be duct taped to the stop sign outside.

We are right on the Illinois-Wisconsin border, so there is somewhat of a rivalry between the two teams.

He didn't and they did.  The Chicago Tribune picked up the story and eventually ESPN and other national sources.  When the cops came and cut him down, they asked if he wanted to press charges, to which he replied, "Hell no.  I'm going back inside."

We drove by K.C.'s Cabin the next time the Bears and Packers played, and we could easily have been at Lambeau as there were flags, signs and pennants flying all over...for Green Bay.  Those Packer fans had come down and taken over a Bear bar!!

So Long, Beak.  --RoadDog

Hanging Around Here Last Weekend-- Part 2

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21ST:  After my customary listening to Bob Stroud's Rock and Roll Roots show on WDRV, we drove to Twin Lakes with intentions of having Bloody Marys at Main Street Station, but we must have had our "invisible shields" up as the bartender could not see us, so we left.

Watched the Packer-Lion game at Donovan's with half te crowd being Bear fans and pulling for Detroit and the other half, like us, wearing the Packer green and gold.  Sadly, it wasn't the Packer kind of a day and they were mostly unable to get anything going.  That nasty Lion player, Suh,  actually played nice for a change.

On the way back, we stopped in at Never-Sink-In in Spring Grove, but ended up staying quite awhile when buddy Kenny came in celebrating his 64th birthday.  So, we just had to play the Beatles' "When I'm 64" and "Yer Birthday."  We had a great time.

"When I'm 64" Will Be Liz and My Song Next Year.  --RoadDog


SAY WHAT?  "Hit Parade"--  You know, the song list before today's Top 40.

We Got Our White Christmas a Bit Early Yesterday

What was to be a smattering of snow in the morning and maybe an inch or two in late afternoon turned out to be an all-day snow with maybe 4-6-inches and lots of slippery driving. We drove up to Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes to watch the Packers who pulled off a nice win over the Falcons.

Roads in Illinois were ok, but we did have to drive behind a tiny Ford Ranger truck on Wilmot Road from Main Street to 173 who was from Texas and obviously very scared. He drove between 25 and 35 mph the whole 50 mph way and it wasn't bad.

However, that was me once we crossed the border into Wisconsin as their roads had not been plowed or salted. Intersections were a complete joy. No doubt Gov. Walker's idea to save money and punish unions. Almost decided to go back home, but by then we were so close we decided to continue on to Donovan's. Of course, since Green Bay wasn't playing Da Bears, we were in our Packer stuff.

Don't Let It Snow, Don't Let It Snow!!! --RoadDog

JSIS: November a Football Month-- The MAC Midweek Conference-- Sad Dolphins-- Bears Beat Pack

JSIS-- Just Some Interesting Stuff.

It's a football thing.

1. NOVEMBER A FOOTBALL MONTH-- Get ready for some football. between the NFL and colleges, there is only one day this month that doesn't now have a football game and that would be November 27th, the day before Thanksgiving.

2. THE MAC MIDWEEK CONFERENCE-- And a big reason for all those weeknight football games is our Mid-America Conference. Most all the teams have finished their Saturday seasons and play exclusively on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. I know Northern has two Wednesday and one Tuesday game left.

3. SAD DOLPHINS-- That bullying thing in Miami really bothers me. Imagine a football player being bullied? What I remember of high school football players was that if anyone did bullying, it was them and I never imagined one being bullied themselves.

3. BEARS BEAT PACK-- And speaking of great football, we sure had a great time watching the Bears beat the Pack in that Monday night game, especially since we all figured Da Bears did not have a chance.

Just Some Interesting Stuff. --RoadDog

This Past Weekend: Boats-- Football

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18TH:

Pulled the boat out with Frank's help and took it over to Midwest Marine for bottom cleaning and winterization. That's the official end of the boating season other than taking it over to Hebron to put it up for the winter. Friend John's 50th BD (the Youngster!) at Dawg House. Karaoke at the Legion.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19TH:

Drive to Arlington Heights and buddy Bob. Breakfast at TNT's in Arlington Hts. Northwestern-Minnesota game at Ryan Field in Evanston. Unfortunately, the Wildcats lost 20-17. Cold, drizzle and even hail for a few seconds. Greek Pizza at The Crave on US-12. Frances and Amby graves at Memory Gardens in Arlington Hts. Half Price Books in Palatine. White Castle and home.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20TH:

Bears game at buddy Kenny's in Richmond. Outside in garage and tent. Pretty cold. Halftime, we drove to Squaw Bar in Ingleside for second half, warm up and the Usual Suspects. A real shootout, but sadly Da Bears lost 45-41, but first Hester TD runback in a long time. Then, we met Pam at Antonio's for Da Packer game.

Another Good, Though Losing Weekend. --RoadDog

Good Times Around Here Last Weekend

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19TH: NTN Farewell Party at Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH: Saw Richmond-Burton High School defeat Marengo 48-23. It got mighty cold.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21ST: Bought that first HDTV, a 29-inch Vizio. Now to "figger" out how to install it. Hopefully not too hard. Pirates invade Captain's Quarters for Pirate Day on the Chain of Lakes. About 100 dressed and ready to pillage pirates in attendance. Saw the band Hooked on Sonics playing 60s to today's music.

**NIU Huskies win a very close game over Eastern Illinois. (Heard it on the radio.)

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22ND: Bloody Mary at Main Street Tap in Twin Lakes. Last day of NTN at Donovan's. Packers lose, but Bears win!!!!

Good Times Around Here. No boating over the weekend because it was fairly cool. I did do some yardwork, however. --RoadDog