Thanksgiving Weekend: Granny's Diner and Lots of High School Championship Football

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26

Web went to a new place that just opened Tuesday in Johnsburg called Granny's Diner.  The owner had come in to Sunnyside and we had a nice talk a couple weeks ago.

This is where the old Epic Deli was until it moved to a bigger place on Route 31 in McHenry.  We didn't expect a lot of people there, since it was new, but they had a crowd even when we got there just before they closed at 2 pm.

We both ordered lunch meals and there were huge and very good.  I think this place will do well.

During the course of the day, I watched a lot of the Illinois High School playoffs in Margaritaville (in our basement).  Wilmington, on Route 66, won in Class 2A, Byron (out by DeKalb, won in 3A and, no big surprise, but Joliet Catholic walked all over Springfield's Sacred Heart-Griffin to win a 4A.  Joliet Catholic beat our local high school, Richmond-Burton, last week.

Enjoyed cocktail at the bar and the Ultimate Juke Box.

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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27

I had planned on going to Crystal Lake for the McHenry County Civil War Round Table discussion group and then to Algonquin for Half Price Books and White Castle, but kind of felt like I had a cold coming on, so decided to stay in.  

Today was the Class 5A to Class 6A high school playoffs.  In Class 6A, East St. Louis High School was heavily favored to beat Cary-Grove, in nearby Cary, Illinois, but this has to go down as one of the biggest David vs. Goliath games in the history of high school football as Cary Grove won 37-36n in frigid DeKalb at Huskie Stadium where the championship games were played.

Watched two great movies:  "Christmas Vacation" and  "Joker."

--RoadBall

Last Week: Trivia at Donovan's Reef, Backing Our Richmond-Burton Rockets in the High School Football 4A Semi Final Playoff Game and a Fish Fry at the Rusty Nail

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18 

First time with sun in a long time.  Sure peps everyone up.

We went to Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, for live trivia with Uncle Jeffie and that great half-price Happy Hour.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19

I went to our local Walgreens in Spring Grove, Illinois, and bought my Richmond-Burton High School gear for Liz and myself. I bought a hat and hooded sweatshirt for myself and a tee shirt for Liz.  Tomorrow, we play probably one of the best schools in the state in the IHSA football playoffs, Joliet Catholic, ranked #4 in the state, despite having only 600 students.  But, they draft their players.

Figured we'd support our boys even if we're not going out to the game.  It is way too cold to sit outside at our age.

Met Kevin and Kelly at Rusty Nail in Ringwood, Illinois, for their fish fry which is considered one of the best in the area.  We can see why with the quality and amount of food you get AUCE for $14.  Neither one of us came anywhere close to finishing our first round.

--RoadDog

Great Illinois High School Nicknames: Go You Wooden Shoes

From the October 27, 2021, Rockford(Illinois) Register Star "Which Illinois high school has the coolest nickname?  here are our favorites" by a panel of six.

Well, I went to Palatine High School (the Pirates) and Fremd High School (the Vikings).  Okay names, but nothing extraordinary.

Here are some extraordinary school nicknames.  Go to the site and learn how they became known as them.

Rockford East E-Rabs

Plano Reapers

Rochelle Hubs

Centralia Orphans

Canton Little Giants

Teutopolis Wooden Shoes

Illinois Central Valley Grey Ghosts  (and just in time for Halloween)

Freeport Pretzels

New Berlin Pretzels

Witt Speedboys

Hoopestown Cornjerkers

Lincoln Railsplitters

Galesville Silver Streaks

And, just in time for the start of the 2021 IHSA Football Playoffs this weekend.

The Cornjerkers  --RoadBall

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.

Congratulations to the Richmond-Burton Rockets on Winning the IHSA Class 4A State Football Championship!!!

Last night, in a chilly DeKalb, Illinois, at Huskie Stadium, Home of the NIU Huskies, the Richmond-Burton Rockets completed a wonderful 14-0 season with a big win over Murphrysboro.

Richmond-Burton serves students from Richmond and Burton townships and the villages of Richmond and Spring Grove.  We live in Spring Grove and our subdivision's high school students go there so it makes this an even bigger win for us.

And, what a season it was for the Rockets.  They were a scoring and defensive juggernaut.

A look at their games:

R-B  48  Wauconda  12
R-B  50  Aurora Central Catholic  0
R-B  47  Johnsburg  0
R-B  44  Harvard   0
R-B  38  Marengo  13
R-B  56  Woodstock  0
R-B  49  Woodstock North  0
R-B  37  Johnsburg 14
R-B  34  Quincy Notre Dame  14

So, in the regular season, Richmond-Burton scored 403 points and gave up 53.

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PLAYOFFS

R-B  56  Chicago Urban Prep/Bronzeville  6
R-B  49   Marengo  7
R-B  24  Elmhurst Immaculate Conception  14
R-B  30  Coal City   0
R-B  50  Murphysboro  14

Scored 209 points and gave up 41 in the playoffs.

These scores show domination.

Immaculate Conception won Class 4A last year and Coal City was picked to winit this year.

Thank You for a Great Season, Rockets.  --RoadRocket

A Football, Flooding and Oldies Kind of Weekend-- Part 1

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12

Rained most of the night.  We've been having lots of rain this last week.  Went to Twin Lakes, Wi., an ate at Burger King and got gas at $2,45!!  That's the lowest we've seen it in awhile.    Went to Donovan's Reef and to bricks & Ivy on the way home.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13

And we had real heavy rain all night.  The drainage basin behind the house was about half full.  That's a lot of run-off water

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Sorry to hear about the death of one of my favorite performers, Eddie Money.  Bob Stroud did his Ten at Ten on Eddie Money Songs:

Baby Hold On
Think I'm In Love
Walk On Water

Gimme Some Water
Shakin'
I Wanna Go Back
Rock 'n Roll the Place

Two Tickets to Paradise
You Really Got A Hold On Me
Take Me Home Tonight

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We're hearing about serious flooding on the Fox River and Chain of Lakes.  The Fox River is closed to boats and the Chain is all no wake.

I went to the Johnsburg-Richmond-Burton (R-B) high schools football game.  Johnsburg High School is one of my Cubs-Sox, Packer-Bears teams.  I pull for Johnsburg unless they play Richmond-Burton, which is where the kids from our subdivision go as well as a real lot of out tax dollars, about $3,300.  (I also pull for the Cubs unless they play the Sox and Packers unless they play Da Bears.)

The R-B Rockets blew the Johnsburg Skyhawks out 49-0.  That kind of makes up for the 55-0 shellacking R-B suffered a couple years ago from Johnsburg.

--RoadDog

Well, It's High School Football Season Again

And, I missed the first one, let's just blame it on the afternoon game of the Cubs and $1.50 draft pints at Sunnyside Tavern in Johnsburg.  I go to them unless it is bad weather.

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Anyway, I back these six teams

RICHMOND-BURTON Rockets  Our local high school and where lots and lots of our money goes in property taxes.  I'm pulling for my money.

GRANT High School Bulldogs in Fox Lake, Illinois.  We kept out boat there and it was like our town all these years.

ROUND LAKE Panthers   I taught in Round Lake at the middle schools for 33 years and we lived in Round Lake Beach for 17 years.

PALATINE Pirates    Where Liz and I graduated in 1969

JOHNSBURG Skyhawks  We hang out a lot in Johnsburg these days and the school is just two miles directly south of our house.

MT, CARMEL Caravan, Chicago.  Ex-NIU quarterback Jordan Lynch is coach.

Where Else You Want To be On a Friday Night With Good Weather?  --RoadDog

STATE OF THE JOKE:  California    What is every Californians favorite part of winter.  Watching all the bad weather on TV.    (That is unless they aren't being shaken about or sliding off the hillside in a  mudslide.)

JSS: Busy Day-- Goodbye To the '03 Malibu

JSS--  Just Some Stuff.

1.  BUSY DAY--  Today, I will be leaving in just a little bit and going to the Fox Lake American Legion for the Tom Grosvenor Marine Corps / Toys for Tots birthday breakfast.  Afterwards I plan on burning leaves and limbs in the yard.

Then, if the weather holds good, there are two Illinois High School Association playoff football games nearby and I plan to go to one.  After that, the Legion is having a band.

2.  GOODBYE TO THE '03 MALIBU--  We were sad yesterday when friends came over to pay for and take title of our '03 Chevy Malibu.  We bought it new and this was the first car where we ever got over 100,000 miles.  The odometer read 145,265 miles.

It is in really good shape, but we figure it is time to buy a new car as the newest one we have is a '11 Chevy Malibu.  (We also still have a 2005 Dodge Dakota and an '85 Firebird.)

We drove the '03 Malibu from Chicago all the way out to Santa Monica, California, from one end to the other of Route 66.

It was a really good car.

We'll Sure Miss It.  --RoadDog

SAYINGS:  "You learn something new every day."  Actually, you learn something old every day.  Just because you've just learned it, doesn't mean it's new.  Other people already knew it.  Columbus is a good example of this.

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.

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

A Trip Back Kind of Weekend-- Part 2: A Trip Back to the Old Stomping Grounds in Palatine and a High School Football Game

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29

We drove US-12, Rand Road, to Arlington Hts, Illinois, and tended to Amby and Frances' grave (Liz's parents).  Put up fall flowers and a U.S. flag as he was a major in World War II.  We then drove by our old houses in Palatine (where we lived while growing up) and stopped for a bite to eat at Photo's on US-14, Northwest Highway.  This is the site of where I used to work at Burger King.

Later, I went to the Richmond-Burton-Harvard high school football game in Richmond.  It looked like Richmond was going to blow Harvard out, but it got tied shortly into the third quarter.  Then Burton scored one more time to win 21-14.

--RoadDog

A Football Kind of Weekend-- Part 1: A Statue, a Boat and a High School Football Game

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15

The usual internet blog posting and FP, Flats and OD (my outside areas).

I drove over McHenry, Illinois, to Meijer and found that they still had cassette tapes so bought a couple 5-pack bricks ($5.49)  I still record on them as it is my preferred way to record.  I then went to the Big R store where I had seen a really neat statue of an American soldier kneeling by a cross with his head down yesterday, but they didn't yet have a price on it and couldn't find the cost.

It was $42 and I bought it.  Not sure where I am going to put it right now, but I do know I will put a small American flag by it.  My way of saying thanks to all service members who put their lives on the line so we can live as we do.

I went boating and then to the Richmond-Burlington Central football game.  Where else you want to be on a warm Friday night (though I still wish high school games were played on Saturday afternoons as they were when I was back in school).

A much better game than the one last week at Johnsburg which we lost.  I pull for Johnsburg unless they play Richmond-Burton where I send a real lot of money for property taxes.  Some confusion as they were also called the Rockets.  We won 38-10.

--RoadDog

Saufen Und Spiel Weekend-- Part 1: Friday Night Lights

SEPTEMBER 8, Friday

I went to the big rivalry game out here in northeast McHenry County, Illinois, the Johnsburg-Richmond-Burton (R-B) high school football game.  Had we had kids they would have gone to Richmond-Burton, but we are just a couple miles north of Johnsburg High School.  I pull for Johnsburg unless they play Richmond-Burton because I send a REAL lot of money there.

R-B scored a TD on an 88-yard running play on the third play of the game, but that was the high point in a 34-10 loss.

I came home and found a really great new internet station, Jukin' Oldies, which features one of my favorite deejays, 'Fessa John Hook.  There are 14 djs on it and they play all sorts of music, including Beach, Boogie & Blues and oldies you've never heard of before.

--RoadDog

Plenty Going On Around Here This Weekend: Boating, Football, History, Civil War and Bands

A bit earlier today, I went out on the boat and in a short while, I'll be going to Richmond, Illinois, for the Richmond-Burton football game.  Nothing like a high school football game on a warm September Friday night.

Tomorrow, Saturday, September 16, Grant High School in Fox Lake, Illinois, has its homecoming parade at 9 a.m..  From there I am going to the Fox Lake Grant Township Area Historical Society for a presentation on Commercial Fishing on the Chain.

After that I will go to Hainesville, Illinois, for a Civil War re-enactment.

Later in the afternoon and early evening, several bars are having bands playing outside, including Oak Park Lounge's Oaktoberfest.

Sunday, there are more bands and, of course, Da Bears game.

Why Go Anywhere Else?  --RoadDog

JSS: Catch The Ball, Bears-- Congrats to Johnsburg-- Congrats to Palatine-- Rochester High School

JSS:  Just Some Stuff

1.  CATCH THE BALL, BEARS--  Well another game, another coulda, woulda, shoulda.  This time, we were done in by at least ten easy catches that Bear receivers dropped against the Titans.  Oh well, more losses, better draft pick.

2.  CONGRATS TO JOHNSBURG HIGH SCHOOL--  We are so proud of one of out local high schools, Johnsburg, going all the way to the Championship game in Class 4A before losing to powerhouse Rochester.  Johnsburg H.S. is about two miles south of the house and I go to a lot of games there.

3.  CONGRATS TO PALATINE HIGH SCHOOL--  Way to go Palatine Pirates, where Liz and I graduated in 1969.  We went to the semifinals of the IHSA Football Playoffs before losing to eventual Class 8A winner Maine South.

4.  ROCHESTER HIGH SCHOOL--  And, speaking of Rochester High School, which beat Johnsburg Friday night, I's say it is about time to move them up to a higher class.  Obviously, they don't draft their players, but families move to the community so their kids can play winning football.

Rochester has now won six of the last seven Class 4A Championships.  The only one they lost was to Phillips, out of Chicago, last year.  And, that was the team the Johnsburg Skyhawks had to beat to get to the championship game.

Way to Go Pirates and Skyhawks.  --RoadDog

Boating, Football, Civil War, Bands, Raffles and Bars This Past Weekend

As usual, you'd have a hard time not having fun around here during the summer, or what's left of it.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 26TH

I went to the Fox Lake American Legion to help with the VA picnic and fishing derby and got involved with some serious landscaping projects.  Afterwards, Liz and I went boating around Stanton and Mineola bays on Fox Lake and then I went over to the Johnsburg-Plano football game at Johnsburg High School which ended up in a win for Johnsburg.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27TH

Drove to Crystal Lake, Illinois, for the McHenry County Civil War Round Table discussion group's meeting on women and wives during the Civil War.

In the afternoon/evening, we went to the Sons of the American Legion Gun Raffle at the Fox Lake American Legion and heard the band Empty Pockets and enjoyed the bbq.  I did well on the other, non-gun raffle, winning two dinners at local restaurants and a 32-inch HD TV.  This is FAR better than I usually do on raffles.

Still Sunday to Go.  --RoadDog

MORE SUTHEN-ISMS:  Only a Southerner knows how many fish, collard greens, turnip greens, peas, beans, etc., make up "a mess."

My Five Favorite High School Football Teams in the Area

Like I said, if we have good weather on a fall Friday, the place I most like to be is out at the local high school gridiron.

The two teams I see the most are close by us.  Johnsburg High School Skyhawks, the game I saw Friday, is about two miles directly south of of our house.  And, they let seniors, like me, in for free.

Richmond-Burton Rockets (named for the two townships served) is about seven miles away.  This is where the kids in our subdivision go to school.  I send this high school a WHOLE LOT of money in my property taxes.  You'd think they'd let me in for free in thanks, but at least seniors do get $1 off.  I'll be seeing them play the next two games (as Johnsburg is on the road).  And, September 9th is the big Johnsburg-Richmon-Burton rivalry game.

Palatine High School Pirates in Palatine, Illinois.  This is where Liz and I both graduated from back in 1969.

Round Lake High School Panthers.  We lived in Round Lake Beach for 17 years and we both taught our entire careers there.

Grant High School Bulldogs.  We spend so much time in Fox Lake (school named for Fox Lake's township) that it is essentially a second home.

I also back the Wilmot High School Panthers just over the border in Wisconsin, where the Twin Lakes kids go to school.

--RoadDog

MORE SUTHEN-ISMS:  Only a Southerner knows the difference between a hissie fit and a conniption fit, and that you don't "HAVE" them, you "PITCH" them.

So It Begins: High School Football Begins Tonight

Friday Night Lights Are Back!

For the next nine weeks, if the weather is good, that's where I'll be.

Fortunately, I have two schools close by and several others not too far away that I back big-time.

Plus, a lot of my favorite and local schools are ranked by AP in the Illinois Football Top Ten Preseason Poll.

CLASS 8A:  #7 Palatine

CLASS 7A: #7 Jacobs and Lake Zurich received votes.

CLASS 6A:  #3 Cary-Grove tied with Prairie Ridge.  And DeKalb got votes.

CLASS 5A:  #7  Sycamore

CLASS 4A  #6  Marengo, #8  Johnsburg, #9 Richmond-Burton

Go Teams.  --RoadDog

A Football Weekend

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25--  Went boating in the afternoon.  Then attended the big rivalry game between Richmond-Burton and Johnsburg high schools.  Richmond-Burton won.  Then went to hear Arthur Wolff play outside at the Grove in Spring Grove.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26--  Went to the Grant High School Homecoming parade in Fox Lake, then boating.  Listened to Bill Baker call the plays on the radio as NIU lost 17-14 to Boston College and then went over to Nauti-Knots on Bluff lake to help close them down.  We were sad to learn they were closing on Sunday.  We saw the place out in style.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27--  Went over to Twisted Moose in McHenry to watch the Bears embarrass themselves against the Seahawks.  It was sad.  Also sad is the fact that the Twisted Moose is also closing for good this Wednesday.  But, we had a great time and enjoyed their half-time pizza/pasta buffet.

A football Kinda Weekend.  --RoadDog


YOGI-ISMS:  When you come to a fork in the road, take it.

A Football Kind O' Weekend

We finally have decent weather so that I can get out to some football games this weekend.  Last night I went to a Big North Conference rivalry game between Richmond-Burton (where kids in our subdivision in Spring Grove, Illinois, go to school) and Johnsburg (which is the village to the south of us).

It was tied 15-15 at half time, but our Rockets won 29-22.

Today, i am going to Grant High School in Fox Lake, Illinois, Homecoming parade in a few minutes and then to the game at 1.  Plus, NIU will be playing Boston College this afternoon.

Then Sunday, we have the Sad Bears game.

--RoadDog


YOGI-ISMS:  Nobody goes there anymore because it is too crowded.