Every Blooming THing-- Early June: The Cicadas Are Here

I was beginning to wonder where they were, but now I know.  They have arrived.  I found a whole lot of them in one of my crabapple trees and they were dropping down and molting.  I had earlier found one every so often while working in flower gardens.

I kind of enjoy nabbing them and their fluttering (now I know they don't bite).

My daisies (about 50 of them) are still blooming white and I have a couple perennials in yellow and gold blooming, but don't know what they are.  Also, my Missouri primrose.

I have been to my local Jewel grocery stores since they are now selling flowers for 50% off.  Now they're hitting my price.

Annuals are pretty expensive these days.  At Wal Mart they sell for $3.47 a four-pack.  I can remember buying six pack cells for 50 cents full price many years ago.

Lots of weeding and trimming to do.

--RoadDog

4th of July, 2022: A Reading, a Talk and Fireworks

JULY 4th

Another birthday for our country.

I drove to McHenry and stopped at Jewel after getting two Sausage McMuffins at McDonald's (two for $2).  Bought six 12-packs of Diet Coke at Jewel for $20.  That's just $3.33 a pack, a great price in these days of inflation.  Seems like everything in grocery stores is more expensive or downsizing.

I went to the 4th of July commemoration in Veterans Park, put on by the McHenry American Legion and Polish League of American Veterans (PLAV).  We keep two folding chairs (not those sling things) in the trunk of the Malibu all summer as you never know when you're going to need them.  I used one at the park and found a nice spot shaded by a tree.  

There was a reading of the entire Declaration of Independence,something that was often done in the early years of the celebration.  This was followed by a talk about formerly secret U.S. Army operations in Nicaragua and Central America back in the 1970s and 1980s.  It was a big secret and we lost quite a few military personnel in it.  

The wife of Jeffrey C. Schwab was there.  He was killed in a helicopter crash on January 11, 1984.

Afterwards, I went over to the McHenry Legion and a big crowd of people  came in from the ceremony.  I sat next to Mrs. Schwab and had a nice talk with her.

Watched the Spring Grove fireworks display from the foot of the driveway, the only place you can still see  them since all the neighborhood trees have grown so tall.  We used to be able to see them from the front porch.

Happy 246th Birthday U.S.A.  --RoadDog

JSS: Pi Day-- Freezing Rain & Snow On the Way-- The Drive's 20th

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1.  PI DAY--   Yesterday was National Pi Day thanks to the date being 3/14, the first three digits in that math thing called pi.  So, I went to the local Jewel and bought a fresh-made apple pie.  You'll probably never guess what I paid for it.

2.  FREEZING RAIN & SNOW ON THE WAY--  Just what I wanted to hear, this last week of winter as it was and Ides of March as it is.  And, we just recently got rid of the rest of the snow that we gathered in January and February last week.

Oh, well.  What can I say, but our local groundhog prognosticator, Woodstock Willie, lied when he said we were going to have an early spring back on Feb. 2.

3.  THE DRIVE'S 20TH--  All day, Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM, the Drive will be playing the exact set list of songs they played om this date back in 2001 when they started playing Classic Rock.  Well worth a listen and it streams.

--RoadNoMoreWinter

STUDENT TEST ANSWERS:  The theory of evolution was greatly objected to because it made men think.

What?

JSS: Your Math Problem for Today-- Gas Under $2!!!-- The Last Panic

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1.  YOUR MATH PROBLEM FOR TODAY--  I was in Jewel (our local grocery store for you non-Chicago area folk) last week and bought an apple pie.  Regular price was $6.99.  It was marked down $3.85, such a good deal.  How much did I pay for it and why was it marked down so much?  (Hint.  Pies haven't been found to spread you-know-what as of yet anyway.)

2.  GAS UNDER $2!!!  Friday,I got gas in McHenry, Illinois, for my Dakota at $2.05 (well, $2.04.9) and thought that was a great price.  But, yesterday, on our way over to Sunnyside in Johnsburg for St. Patrick's festivities, my eyes espied $1.86 at the Mobil station.  And, no lines.  We were getting down to below half a tank so filled up.  Never thought I'd see gas under $2 again.  But, I'm sure the virus will send it back up again.

Of course, back in 1970, had you told me I'd get excited about how low $1.86 was, I wouldn't have believed it.

3.  THE LAST PANIC--  Friday, I went to Meijer in McHenry for their fantastic Buy Ten for $10, Get One Free Deal.  This was in the afternoon and the first thing that should have tipped me off was the full parking lot.  Then, when I went in, there were only a couple shopping carts available and then I saw all those really, really full shopping carts.  Was there a hurricane on the way?

The last time I remember seeing a panic like this was back in the infamous Y2K.  Remember that?

--RoadDog

TOP TEN COUNTRY SONGS:  "I'm So Miserable Without You, It's Like Having You Here."

Now You Can Get Your 'Cheezborgers" at Jewel (And They Aren't Even Real Cheeseburgers)

From the April 13, 2017, Chicago Tribune "Billy Goat 'Cheezborger' patties coming to Jewel-Osco freezers" by Samantha Bomkamp.

"The famous 'Cheezborgers' sold by Billy Goat Tavern, a Chicago institution, will soon be available at Jewel-Osco stores."  However, the patties won't be coming with cheese.  Just "Borgers" I reckon.

They are available in two sizes: a 3.2 ounce version called "The Original" and a third pounder dubbed "The Curse Breaker."  (You know, the Cubs and all).

The Billy Goat Tavern has been open in Chicago since 1934 and a 1978 Saturday "Night Live" skit featuring John Belushi gave the humble restaurant legendary status.  "Cheezborgers" and other menu suggestions made by owner William "Billy Goat" Sianis, a Greek immigrant, became widespread catch phrases and included "no fries, cheeps!" and "no Pepsi, Coke!" although this was later reversed.

For Cubs fans, Sianis holds another place in lore.  He tried to take his pet goat to Game 4 of the 1945 World Series to bring the Cubs luck against the Detroit Tigers.  But the goat was denied entrance and Detroit won the Series.  As legend has it, Sianis placed a curse on the Cubs.  It would be another 71 years before the Cubs went to another World Series.

Ain't 'Fraid of No Goat.  --RoadDog

SOME INTERESTING AND IRONIC PREDICTIONS:  "Ronald Reagan doesn't have that presidential look,"  United Artists executive after rejecting him for the lead role in the 1964 film "The Best Man."

Fall is Apple Time

One thing I really like about fall, besides the tree colors and ESPECIALLY the smell of burning leaves, is the great apple crop.

I have to have my peanut covered caramel apples, especially those from Chicago's Affy Tapple Company. They've been making them since 1948. http://www.affytapple.com/

Then, there is the great apple cider. I'm not talking about apple juice, I'm talking about that really dark stuff. Stuff with a kick.

I stock up on these items as well as fresh apples. I have heard about a new apple that is supposed to be the best around these days, the honey crisp. Saturday, I finally found some at the local Spring Grove Jewel grocery store. It was quite expensive at $2.50 a pound, so I got one. Whoever came up with this is a genius. This was the BEST apple I've ever eaten.

I like my apples hard and a bit tart. Granny Smith's are also a favorite. While in Australia, we went by the place where they came into being.

Lovin' Those Fall Apples. --RoadDog

A Great Independent Grocery Store in McHenry

I originally was writing about this when I ended up writing about the newspapers. I DO tend to get off-track.

While Frances was reading the comics and working on the crossword puzzle, I read the Northwest Herald and saw an ad for Angelo's Supermarket. They had some great sales, so decided to stop by on my way home.

The store is located in shopping center west of downtown McHenry on Illinois Highway 120. It is called Elm Street on that stretch.

Get these prices!!! $2.99 for a pound of roast beef, same for corned beef, seedless watermelon for $1.49, and local corn for 10 cents an ear. I'll go back to this place, plus it's an independent grocery store struggling against the corporate behemoths. Around here, that's Jewel and Dominick's, although I don't expect the latter to be around much longer judging by lack of business. Then, K-Mart and Wal-Mart have also gotten into the grocery business. It has to be a rough job to combat them.

Jewel and Dominick's might have prices like the roast beef and corned beef when they're on sale, but that will be for a half-pound.

The place was busy, so that's good.

In nearby Johnsburg, we have another great little independent called Val's which is the main place we go to for groceries. They have one of the best delis ever. Most everyone swears by them in this area.

Support Your Local Independent Grocer. --RoadDog

The Danimal and The Wild I-Talian in Spring Grove, Il

Yesterday, our new Jewel-Osco store opened in my little old town of Spring Grove. Guess we're not so little anymore. What next, a Walgreen's and Kohls? Population is still around 4000, but we are right in the way of Chicago's outward move, even though we're about 50 miles away. It's coming right up US Highway 12.

In honor of the grand opening, they had the Danimal there signing autographs and saying hi from 6 to 8 PM. Unfortunately, I didn't know about it, and arrived at 9, so missed him. Sigh!!! Now, for some of you NON-BEAR fans, Danimal was the name give to Dan Hampton for his ferocious defensive play. He was one of DABEARS, those swaggering winners of Super Bowl XX!!!

He was born in Oklahoma City in 1957 (OKC, by the way, is on ROUTE 66). He is in the Football Hall of Fame in Canton, OH, and played for DA BEARS from 1979-1990, the glory years.

He played college ball with the Arkansas Razorbacks where he was an All-American his senior year and had 18 qb sacks. He was the Southwest Conference's Defensive Player of the Year in 1978.

He was drafted by the Bears in the first round and was a key defenseman from 1979 to 1990, going to four Pro Bowls. He set a career record with 82 sacks with the team and helped rank as the defense giving up the fewest rushing TDs, yardage, and total yards during that time.

He did not take part in the "Super Bowl Shuffle" video as he felt it was too cocky.


DICK BIONDI- "The Wild I-Talian"

One of the all-time great disc jockies will be at the Jewel today to meet and greet. He has spent much of his career here in the Chicago area.

He started in Buffalo, NY in the 50s and came to Chicago's 50,000 watt WLS, 890 AM in 1960 where his show was heard over a lot of the US. From 1963 to 1967, he was at KRLA in Los Angeles before returning to Chicago, this time at WLS's arch rival WCFL at 1000 AM. He was there until 1972.

As I remember it, a comment he made on-air got him fired and then he went to WNMB in North Myrtle Beach for a decade. Wonder if he played BEACH MUSIC and knew Billy Smith?

In 1984, he returned to Chicago for his third tour, this time at Oldies Station WJMK, 104.3 FM. That station closed, and today, he is back with the True Oldies Station.

This guy lived through a whole lot of Rock and Roll. He says, "I tell you, I'm never going to stop. I'm not interested in rusting away." He doesn't stop, just gets fired. One source I used to get this info said he was fired 21 times in 32 years. I would have to believe he was rehired quite a few times.

The depth of his knowledge is legendary. He still does live deejay shows as well as in-studio.

There is some discussion as to whether he was the first deejay to play a Beatles record, "Please, Please Me" back in February 1963. Also, Mr. Wheel of Fortune, Pat Sajak, won a contest on the Dick Biondi Show and got to be a guest teen deejay.

He has been inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame and is included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, OH.

Two of My Favorites. --RoadDog

THIS DAY IN HISTORY- 1786- THE US Constitution was ratified and became the Supreme Law of the Land. Where would we be without it? Happy 221st birthday!!!