Thanksgiving Weekend: Sunnyside, NIU, Donovan's Reef, T-Giving, McTurkey, Da Bears, Da 'Vacation'

**  TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23

We went to Sunnyside to watch the last NIU regular season football game since we don't get ESPNU.  Northern was blown out.  

**  WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24

Went to Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes to have the pre-T party.

**  THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25   THANKSGIVING

We had thoughts of eating at the Grand Buffet Chinese place in McHenry, but they were closed so ended up having the McTurkey at McDonald's.  (Well, actually the McDouble Bundle of fries and sandwich for $3.)

Watched the Bears "beat up" on the winless Detroit Lions 16-14 to run up the record for the season to 4-7.  Well,, at least it was a win and snapped a 5 game losing streak.

Came home and enjoyed three of the "Vacation" movies, some of my favorites.  The only one I didn't see  was Christmas Vacation."

--RoadDog

THINGS YOU'D LIKE TO SAY:  I'll try to be nicer if you try to be smarter.

Last Week: Our 48th Wedding Anniversary and Living High Off the Hog-- Part 1

TUESDAY. AUGUST 24

We were thinking  what was going on with ourselves 48 years ago.  I signed my contract to teach my first year in Round Lake, Illinois, and we had the rehearsal dinner for our wedding the next day.

We had planned to go to Galena, Illinois, this week (where we went on our honeymoon), but decided to stay home because of the return of the virus (even though we are both vaccinated).

I went to the McHenry Count Civil War Round Table Board of Directors meeting instead.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25   LIZ AND MY 48TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

Forty-eight years ago, Liz and I got married at the Newman Center in DeKalb, Illinois (NIU) and had our reception at the Holiday Inn on Lincoln Highway in DeKalb.

No expense was spared for our anniversary breakfast with a trip to McDonald's for their breakfast sandwiches.  (Buy one get another for $1.)

Met friends at Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, for trivia and an anniversary toast.  Then to Sunnyside in Johnsburg, Illinois.

Lots of Memories.   --RoadDog

Trivia, Dog N' Suds and American Pop Standards-- Part 1

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18th

Went to Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin and played live trivia with Professor Jeffie and enjoyed the half price drinks.  Had a half-price burger at Bricks 'N Ivy in Spring Grove, Illinois.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 19TH 

Because of the recent storms, I had to cut the grass for the first time in three weeks.  

Went to Dog 'N Suds on Ingleside, Illinois for their 2 for $4 Charcoburger special and washed it down with a large root beer.  There are only seven of these old eating places left in the United States and we have three of them within 25 miles of us.  The other two are in Richmond and Grayslake, Illinois.  They, of course, still have the gal come out to your car with the food and put the tray on your window.  

This is real old-school eating.

I then went to the last It's Thursday concert in Antioch, Illinois, and saw Peter Oprisko do his show of American Pop Standards by such folks as Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin,  He had an eight piece Big Band backing him.

Stopped at McDonald's on the way home for a Coke Slushie.

A Real Fine Day Indeed.  --RoadDog

PREGNANCY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (From the Dec. 15, 2016, Orange Peel:  Q.  Should I have a baby after 35?  A.  No, 35 children is enough.

My Idea of a Great Morning

This morning was what I consider to be a perfect morning.  After getting up, I went outside and sat on my front porch.  I first sat in the rocking chair and then moved over to the wicker chair.

I had a McDonald's sausage McMuffin (I bought it yesterday) in the rocking chair and then coffee and read the Chicago Tribune in the wicker chair.

But, that's not all.

When I'm sitting out there, I enjoy looking at the clouds (and this morning we had a magnificent sunrise) and, surprisingly I don't even bring music out with me.  Why bring music when you have all those birds a'chirping away.  And we have plenty of birdies in the neighborhood.

I get to watch them and yell at the robins for eating my worms.  Birds can be quite funny when an argument begins and chasing starts.  But, perhaps that is a mating ritual.  Who knows?

Then, I have the wascally wabbit, several chippers and several squirrels to bother.  I watch folks walking their dogs and the neighbors.  I guess for awhile many morning I am the neighborhood watch or perhaps just some old snoopy codger.

Then, coffee and a newspaper.  Man, I am going to miss holding a newspaper in my hands.  Digital just doesn't do it for me.

And, I sure enjoy looking at the yard.  I put a lot of work into it and it's right pretty even if I do say so.  Flowers every where you look.

Oh, yes.  This morning I had the added enjoyment of hearing thunder off to the west and then we had a steady falling rain.  Love the sound of the raindrops and especially that smell that a rainfall brings.  That and new-mown grass are two of my favorite summer smells.

Today was a mighty fine FP as I call it.  That means Front Porch.

***********************************

By the way, all you sixties music fans, WXRT's Saturday Morning Flashback is going back to 1968 for three hours tomorrow morning, Saturday, from 9 am to noon.  It streams at www.wxrt.com.

***********************************

A Good Morning.  A Mighty Good Morning.  --RoadDog

THOSE CRA-ZEE COUNTRY SONGS:  Get Your Tongue Out of My Mouth, I'm Kissing You Goodbye.

Guns, Oldies and DaBears Weekend-- Part 2

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14

Went to McDonald's for their 2 for $4 bacon, egg and cheese biscuits.  We like those a lot.  A perfect day weatherwise, even as the Chain was closing down because of the flooding.  Sure glad we got out of boating earlier this summer as the Chain has been closed or no wake for almost half the time this year.

Enjoyed WXRT's Saturday Morning Flashback to 1982 and did some yard work.

We went to the SAL gun raffle at the Fox Lake American Legion and met Glenn and Barb and enjoyed Mitch Edwards until 6 and then the oldies band Looney Train.  Went over to Stucky's in Johnsburg where Uncle Will and the Wayback Machine were playing oldies.

Liz and I definitely love our oldies music.  Perhaps because we are OLD!!

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15

Well, we had rain all night.  Just what we needed with all the flooding.  Listened to Bob Stroud's Rock and Roll Roots show on the Drive from 7 to 10 a.m.and recorded Terri Hemmert's Breakfast With the Beatles on WXRT.  I do this most Sunday mornings.  Sat out in the gazebo and read the Chicago Tribune.

The Bears played at 3:30 p.m. and we drove over to the Squaw Bar in Ingleside on Squaw Creek only to find the whole rear of the place flooded and the front parking lot full, so didn't go in.  Went to the Fox Lake American Legion on Nippersink Lake and all its piers were under water, but a dry parking lot so watched the first quarter of the Bears game.

Then went to Sunnyside Tavern in Johnsburg and found seats at the bar and watched the rest of the Bears-Denver Broncos game.  That last 31 seconds was something else and the Bears kicked a field goal to win 16-14 as time expired.

We B Old.  --Old RoadDog

Final Boating?, Civil War, SNOW, Stucky's and Sunnyside

FRIDAY, APRIL 26

Had my favorite breakfast meal at McDonald's, the steak, egg and cheese bagel.  And, they use real steak.  And those caramelized onions!!    Drove to Hebron and picked up the boat where we kept it in a barn over the winter.  Since we are planning on selling it this spring, this could be the last time.  We have been boaters since 1985, but that time is ending. Met the Usual Suspects at the Legion for 50-50.

SATURDAY, APRIL 27

Drove to Crystal Lake for the McHenry County Civil War Round Table discussion group, topic the Battle of Shiloh.  Then took the truck into the emission testing station where it passed.  All week the weather had predicted a snow storm.  The rain turned  to snow about 10:30, but didn't stick on the roads.  We ended up with three inches on the deck rails and a white covering on the grass.

SUNDAY, APRIL 28

Big meltdown of the snow.  None left by evening.  We went to Stucky's and watched NASCAR and the Chicago Cubs and White Sox games..  A couple we know came in with their two six-month-old huskie (NIU spelling) puppies so had to go out and play with them on the deck.  Also, a former student of mine came in and remembered "Demerit Points."  Something all my former students remember.

Snow At the End of April?  Don't Even Think About Calling It Warming!!  --RoadDog

A PLETHORA OF TIDBITS:  A cardigan worn by a man is sometimes called a mandigan.

JSIS: Drinking Beer Woes-- Gas Gouge-- McDonald's

JSIS--  Just Some Interesting Stuff

From the May 25, 2018, Chicago Tribune.

1.  DRINKING BEER WOES--  The beer industry is blaming lagging sales on all this cold spring weather we're having.  Yep, not much fun being outside and having a beer when you're already cold.  Beer share of alcohol peaked in the 1990s and part of the reason for the decline is growing interest in spirits and wine.

Well, I drink inside most of the time anyway.

2.  GAS GOUGE--  Just in time for the Memorial Day Driving Peak.  National average for regular is at $2.96 and that has jumped 19 cents in the last month.  Of course, the Midwest is highest in price and especially in Chicago.

Sure hurting more to fill up these days.

3.  McDONALD'S--  McDonald's will be keeping plastic straws for now, even though environmentalists are against it.  There is still the Fight for $15 going on as well.  The way I look at it, working at a fast food place is an introductory job, not one to remain at your whole life.  Either go up to management or another job.

--RoadDog

12 McDonald's Food Items That Failed-- Part 3: McDLT

9.  McDLT--  Mid-1980s.  Burger with lettuce and tomatoes.  Came in a styrofoam package that separated the vegetables from the burger.

10.  McLean Deluxe--  91% fat free.  So  much healthier.

11.  Big N' Tasty--  McDonald's take on Burger King's Whopper.  Made with Angus burgers.  Was a success, but dropped by the company.

12.  Super-Size--  Started in 1993 and became a public relations disaster.

--RoadDog

AIN'T IT THE TRUTH:  I decided to stop calling the bathroom the "John" and renamed it the "Jim".  I feel so much better saying that I went to the Jim this morning.

12 McDonald's Food Items That Failed-- Part 2: Arch Deluxe

Continued from March 20.

5.  McSpaghetti--  On top of spaghetti, I lost my poor meatball.

6.  McAfrika--  Beef, cheese, tomatoes and salad on pita bread.  released in 2002 during a famine in Africa.  Didn't go over so well.

7.  Arch Deluxe--  1996 for adults.  quarter-pounder, peppered bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, onions, ketchup and secret sauce.

8.  McHotdog--  Self-explanatory.

--RoadDog

12 McDonald's Food Items That Failed Spectacularly-- Part 1: McLobster

From the August 30, 2011 Business Insider, Yahoo! Finance.

1.  McLobster--  Lobster meat shoved into a hot dog bun for $5.99.  I saw it advertised in a trip to Maine, but figured I could get one back home in Illinois.  I was wrong.)

2.  McGratin Croquette--  Japan   Deep-fried macaroni / shrimp /mashed potatoes.  Now, this sounds good.

3.  Hula Burger--  Meatless for Catholics.  Grilled pineapple, slaw and cheese.

4.  McPizza--  Late 1980s.  Made-to-order, but took too long for starving patrons.

--RoadDog

17 Facts About McDonald's That Will Blow Your Mind-- Part 4: 100 Miles From a Mickey D's

14.  From 2011 to 2013 the company plans to open one restaurant a day in China.

15.  McDonald's makes deliveries in 18 countries.

16.  The only place in the lower 48 states more than 100 miles from a McDonald's is a barren plain in South Dakota.  (A long way to go for your Big Mac attack.)

17.  Americans consume one billion pounds of beef at McDonald's in a year which cost some five and a half million cattle the ultimate sacrifice.

That's a Lot of Beef.  --RoadDog

ACCIDENT REPORTS:  "The guy was all over the road.  I had to swerve a number of times before I  hit him."  Sounds on purpose to me.

17 Facts About McDonald's That Will Blow Your Mind-- Part 3: What Was Modeled On the Eggs Benedict?

10.  In 1969, they airlifted burgers to homesick Olympic athletes in France.

11.  A survey shows golden arches are recognized by more people than the cross, 88& to 54% according to Fast Food Nation.

12.  The Queen of England owns a retail park in Slough, which has a drive-thru McDonald's.

13.  The Egg McMuffin was modeled on Eggs Benedict and was invented to introduce breakfast by Herb Peterson in 1972.

--RoadDog

ACCIDENT REPORTS:  "The accident occurred when I was attempting to bring my car out of a skid by steering it into the other vehicle."

17 Facts About McDonald's That Will Blow Your Mind-- Part 2

5,  McDonald's hires about 1 million workers a year.  Their work force has about a 150% turnover.

6.  Has 761,000 employees world wide, more than the population of Luxembourg.

7.  According to company estimates, 1 in 8 Americans have worked there.

8.  Sharon Stone, Shania Twain, Jay Leno and Pink have worked there.

9.  They have the largest distribution of toys with one included in 20% of sales.

--RoadDog

ACCIDENT REPORTS:  "I was sure the old fellow would never make it to the other side of the road when I struck him."

17 Facts About McDonald's That Will Blow Your Mind-- Part 4: One Restaurant a Day in China

14.  From 2011 to 2013, the goal was to open one restaurant a day in China.

15.  McDonald's makes deliveries in 18 countries.

16.  The only place in the lower 48 states more than a 100 miles from a McDonald's is a barren plain in North Dakota.

17.  Americans alone consume one billion pounds of beef at McDonald's in a
year.  This equals five and half head of cattle.


Lots of Cows.  --RoadDog

17 Facts About McDonald's That Will Blow Your Mind-- Part 1

From the December 7, 2012 Yahoo! Finance Business Insider by Gus Lubin and Manmta Badkar.

1.  Sells more than 75 hamburgers every second.

2.  68 million eat at McDonald's per day.  That is 1% of the world's population.

3.  $27 billion in revenue makes it the 90th economy in the world.

4.  The $8.7 billion in revenue from franchise stores alone makes McDonald's the richer than Mongolia.

And, There's More.  --RoadDog

ACCIDENT REPORTS:  I was on my way to the doctor with rear end trouble when my universal joint gave way causing me to have an accident."

Out Boating-- Part 2: The New Pirate Ship, Gangland Shootout and McDonald's

After Beer Can bridge, I saw a new wooden pirate ship, well, the front end of a pirate ship, complete with a Capt. Jack Sparrow statue and pirate flag.  I always like new things like that on the Chain.  By the way, I see that this Tuesday is "Talk Like a Pirate Day."

Not too far down from the new pirate ship is a real piece of Chicago Gangland History, the old Manning Hotel, where a shootout claimed 3 lives back in 1930.  The Chain of Lakes was essentially a gangland paradise back in those days and several mob leaders had homes on the Chain.

And, if you're really into it, the hotel, now a private home, is up for sale.  For $339,000 you could own your piece of history.  That is a really good price for waterfront property on the Chain.

Next door to it is a funeral home.  How convenient .

Next, I stopped at McDonald's.  This is one of only two McDonald's that you can boat into.

AAAARRRR, Matey!!  --RoadDog

LIFE'S LITTLE TRUTHS:  It is bad to suppress laughter.  It goes back down and spreads to your hips.

Sure Rained On Our Parade Yesterday-- Part 2: Near Continuous Storms and Flooding

We lost electricity around 3 a.m..  Another problem when we lost electricity, being on a well, we also lose our water.  That also means no flushing toilets.  These are things I did not know about when we bought the lot.

There wasn't a lot to do because of no power, and even though the sun was up, there were full clouds obscuring it so even to dark to read on the front porch.  And, of course, no coffee.  I like my coffee in the morning.

I decided to go to our local McDonald's for coffee and a bite to eat, but before going I took a walk around the yard to check on things.  It wasn't raining at the time, but sure looked like it was getting ready to do so and soon.  Especially dark to the north of us.

I saw a lot of flooding in subdivision culverts and streets and in the farm fields on Sunset and Spring Grove Road on my way to McDonald's.

While eating at McDonald's, I saw a line of really dark clouds coming from the north.  Eventually, it was as dark as it is at 1 a.m..  And we had high winds and pelting rain.  I was starting to think tornadoes and figured I was not in a good place with all those big windows around.  I continued with my sandwich, but kept a weather eye out for funnels.

Too Bad the Boat Wasn't Still in the Drive-Way, We Might Have Needed It.  --RoadDog

About Last Weekend-- Part 1: Hello McRib, Windstorm & Craft Beer

FRIDAY, NOV. 18:  Rain off and on all day but temps remained unseasonably warm, but started dropping in the afternoon as winds picked up..  Took the '03 Malibu to Ray Chevrolet in Fox Lake, Illinois, to fix a radiator leak and get an oil change.  I had my first McRib of the season at McDonald's!!!  Oh Boy!!  I paid $5 for the McRib meal which also came with fries and drink.

The wind was really blowing by 4 p.m. and the Bradford pear tree by the deck was really doing some bending.   Bradford pear trees are notorious for weak wood and several years back ion a November windstorm I had lost another one.  These trees also are among the last to lose their leaves and have brilliant color.  All the weight and mass of the leaves don't help things either.

We went to 'Cuda's on Grasslake Road for their $2 draft craft pints and then to the Legion with friends Kevin and Kelly.

--RoadDog

THE SHOCKING TRUTH ABOUT OKRA  (From the Orange Peel Gazette):  Iy is a well-known fact that common garden insects will NOT eat okra.  Neither will uncommon garden insects.  That should tell you something.

Plans for This Weekend

I am writing about the Chain of Lakes in my Cooter's History Thing blog.  Yesterday, I went boating on Fox Lake, then saw two movies.  After that, Liz and I went out to get some passport stamps for this year's Chain Crawl at Famous Freddie's (at their tiki bar) and Moretti's, both in Fox Lake, Illinois.  We had hoped to go to the car show and band at Antioch's It's Thursday event, but it was too doggone HOT!!!  So went to Sunnyside in Johnsburg.

In a little bit, we will boat over to Captain's Quarters on Fox Lake for their rib special, then the Legion to meet up with the Usual Suspects.

Tomorrow, plans call for a trip to McDonald's in Fox Lake by boat for breakfast.  Later we will be going to Oak Park Lounge on Pistakee Lake to celebrate owner Tom's 40th year of owning the place, which dates back to the 1890s.  After that, it's a band at the Legion from 3 to 6 p.m. and then a band at Captain's at 7.

Then, home for either FP or Gazebo time.

--RoadDog

A Movie, Boating, a Baseball Game and a Bonfire Today

After doing some yardwork today, I went to see the movie "Independence Day: Resurgence" where those pesky aliens come back for another shot at earth, twenty years later and we manage to beat them with seconds to spare before we were annihilated.  I'm so proud of those guys.

I then took the boat out for a cruise through Fox Lake, Nippersink Lake and Pistakee Lake to McDonald's in Fox lake where I had one of those great jalapeno chicken sandwiches.

I then went over to Grant High School to see our Fox Lake American Legion Baseball team play Lake Villa in the first round of a double elimination playoffs.  We were leading 6-3 when I  left in the bottom of the sixth (they only play seven innings) so hope they won.

Came home and had a bonfire out on the Strand.

Not a Bad Way to Pass a Day.  --RoadDog