Legions, Historical Society, NFL Playoffs, Bloody Marys and Beer

FRIDAY, JANUARY 20

Met Kevin and Kelly at Johnny's Cafe in Fox Lake, Illinois.  There are new owners there.  But still good food at reasonable prices.  Then went to the Fox Lake American Legion for 50-50.  We also have pull tabs for drink prices: 50 cents, half price and full price.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 21

Went to the Fox Lake/Grant Township Historical Society meeting at the museum on Washington Street in Ingleside.  Met Frank and Lian there.  Today's topic was show and tell and a lot of the talk was about the old Pupper Bar/ Eagle Point Park, where I worked several yerars as house deejay until it closed.  That was one really fun place.  Imagine getting paid to have a good time.

Later, in the afternoon, I went to Sunnyside Tavern in Johnsburg to watch NFL playoff games and had a nice talk with Wayne and Angie who are now at the McHenry Moose Laodge, but for many years at Stucky's.  Wayne sponsored me joining the Moose Lodge there.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 22

I went to the Polish Legion of American Vets in McHenry for the $2.75 Bloody Marys and had a good time talking with folks.  Then to the McHenry American Legion which was packed.  Watched NFL playoff games at both places, then went to Saylor Mick's in Spring Grove and enjoyed half-price BLT pizza (this time with no sugar) and $1 Hamm's pints.  Had a nice talk with Dan and Chuck who live in Spring Grove as well.

--RoadDog

POINTS TO PONDER:  Why are there interstate highways in Hawaii?

Little Ol' Texting Me, A New Insurance Plan Costs Me and the Moose

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11

Met Laura, Kevin and Kelly at Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, and actually did my first real texts to Sue and Paul. A year ago I couldn't even imagine me texting anyone.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 12

I had to pay full price at Walgreens for a prescription as our insurance provider with TRS had changed.  I will make sure I get the new company in the files right away.  Expensive.

Went to Half-Times in Johnsburg for the $1 drafts.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 13

Met Kevin and Kelly and a whole bunch of Sunnysiders at the McHenry Moose for fish fry and karaoke.  George and I got the "band" back together and sang "It's Hard to Be Hunble" and "I Like Beer."  We used to sing those two songs and others at Stucky's during the Saturday night karaoke.  We were pretty good on those songs but really butchered other efforts.

Got the Old Band Back Together.  The George and Don Band.  --RoadDog

9/11 Ceremony in Johnsburg, Illinois --Part 2

I was unable to post my annual 9/11 commemoration in my blogs yesterday, but am doing it today.  The first part is in today's RoadDog's RoadLog blog.

Johnsburg, Illinois, is about three miles from our house in Spring Grove along Johnsburg Road.  The ceremony was to start at 9.  It rained all morning, all the way there and by golly it rained even harder as they got the flags set up in a line along Johnsburg Road between the bank and Johnsburg Library.

They were still putting the flags out when I arrived.  Too bad the grass had not been cut in awhile as I got my feet quite wet walking over to them from the bank's parking place.  There were probably 12 people there busy putting in holders for the flags in the ground.

Despite being wet, the flags were fluttering and flapping in the strong wind.  It looked good.  

Once the 30 U.S. flags and several 9/11 flags were in place, we had a few words from a woman that really struck home about what happened that day and how America rebounded.  Then a wreath was placed and a prayer given.

Most of the people out there were members of the McHenry Moose Lodge's Legion Riders.

Upon conclusion, I drove around to where I would pass them and honked the horn.  I had heard some say that they were disappointed because in the past when they did this, people would honk their horns.  I got a lot of smiles and waves.

I Want to Thank those people for the commemoration.

An Anniversary, Gas Gouge Continues, Pizza, Band and Bob Stroud Retires from Deejaying

MONDAY, JUNE 6

The anniversary of D-Day (June 6, 1944).

Went to Sunnyside Tavern in Johnsburg for the Monday beer special.

TUESDAY, JUNE 7

Met the Sunnyside folks at Granny's Diner in Johnsburg (right on the Fox River) for breakfast and did some shopping in McHenry.  I was shocked at gas gouge prices again which are now as high as $5.86 and $5.90.  But one place had an even more "reasonable" price of $5.51.  Curse you Big Oil GRBs for making me thing $5.51 was a good price.

Later met Sue and Paul (who I went with to the Indy 500) and Pete and Gail at Half-Times in Johnsburg for pizza and catching up.

Afterwards, Liz and I went over to the classic car show at the McHenry Moose Lodge and enjoyed the Rosie & the Rivets band playing oldies.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8

I was really sad to learn that one of my all-time favorite deejays, Bob Stroud was going to retire at the end of this month.  I've been listening to him a long time, the last 21 years of Chicago's WDRV, the Drive.  But, the good news is that it is only a semi-retirement as he will continue doing his Ten at Ten and One 45 at 1:45 shows Monday to Friday and his Rock and Roll Roots show on Sundays.

Gas in Twin Lakes was $5.20, so guess where I filled up?  Went to Donovan's Reef for trivia and then home.

--A Good Start to the Week.  --RoadDog

To Moose Again: All That Rain, Sunnyside, Margaritaville, Stucky's, Goldfish Races, the Moose Again and McHenry Legion

FRIDAY, APRIL 22

We sure have had the monsoons this spring.  We made our way to Sunnyside in Johnsburg for rest and relaxation then came home where we enjoyed Margaritaville and the Ultimate Jukebox.

SATURDAY, APRIL 23

The rains finally stopped and I was able to enjoy OD a couple times and even got a little yardwork in for the first time this year.  Went to Stucky's and watched the Goldfish Races.  This is where you pick a goldfish and they race down two lengths of sealed gutters in double elimination.  Something we'd never seen before.

SUNDAY, APRIL 24

I was even able to get some time FP for the first time in a long time this spring.  I went to the Moose Lodge in McHenry for the Moose Lodge Riders breakfast and met Mark who got me the forms to fill out and I rejoined the Moose for a third time.  A great organization.

In the afternoon, we went to the McHenry American Legion and stopped at Stucky's on the way home.

To Moose Again or Not to Moose Again, That Is the Question.   --RoadDog

The Gas Gouge Comes Back: The Sunnyside Shuffle, Margaritaville & the Ultimate Jukebox, Goldfish Racing and Joining the Moose

FRIDAY, APRIL 22

It rained all day.  Last year we had a drought, but that sure is not the case this year.

Went to Sunnyside in Johnsburg.  We always laugh at folks doing what is called the Sunnyside Shuffle.  This is where you move from the tables are far reaches of the bar to the horseshoe, where all the fun and talking is.  We have done this on many occasions.

Came home and enjoyed Margaritaville and the Ultimate Jukebox in the basement.

SATURDAY, APRIL 23

Maybe spring has finally arrived,  A dry day and fairly warm in the 70s!!  I even got some yardwork done and sat out OD.

We went to Stucky's in Johnsburg and enjoyed those hard-to-beat $1 draft pints and they ran something we'd bever seen before:  goldfish races.  For $5 you pick a fish and they run heats down the length of a double gutter course to see who first crosses the finish line.  It was double elimination.

SUNDAY, APRIL 24

I went to the McHenry Moose Riders breakfast and met Mark and finally got around to joining the Moose.

Later in the afternoon, Liz and I went to the McHenry American Legion and Stucky's on the way home.

Don't Look Now, But IT'S Back.  --RoadDog