Leading Up to St. Patrick's Day: Teachers, Pi, a Cemetery and Some Bars

MARCH 14, THURSDAY

I met seven other teachers I used to work with at Magee Middle School in Round Lake at the Bristol 45 Diner in Bristol, Wisconsin, for breakfast.  It is always good to get together with old friends.  Stopped at my State Farm agent to see if I could get an adjustment on my vehicle insurance on the '05 Dodge Dakota and '85 Firebird since I don't drive either very much, but already was getting the lowest amount I could.

Bought an apple pie at Jewel for $3.14.  I wonder why that price?

MARCH 15, FRIDAY

Drove to Arlington Heights, Illinois, to replace the flowers on my mother and father-in-laws' graves, stopping along the way in Lake Zurich to get the tax information on my Charles Schwab account.  On the way back stopped at Sunnyside in Johnsburg and the Fox Lake American Legion.

Pi Is 3.14.  --RoadO'Green

'A Man Called Otto,' Crossword Puzzles, Word Searches, Half-Times and Some Snow

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25

Saw one of the best movies I've seen in a long time, "A Man Called Otto."  Besides him being old and living in a world he doesn't much care for and the loss of his long-time wife six months earlier, I felt I had a lot in common with Tom Hanks' character.   

If this movie doesn't get Academy Award nominations for best movie, actor and actress there is something mighty wrong.

I completed a Tribune Crossword Puzzle (the one on the comics page) with no help.  This is the first time I've ever done this.  If you'd told me six years ago that I world be doing crossword puzzles, I would have told you you're out of your mind.  Both my mom and wife were big fans of those.  Plus, I have come to enjoy word searches.  

Who'd have ever "figgered."

THURSDAY, JANUARY 26

Went to Half-Times for their $1 pints of Lite and half price pizza and sandwiches and had another one of their great TBC (turkey, bacon & cheese) subs.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 27

Stayed home today as it snowed all day.  It has snowed 1 1/2 to 2 inches every day starting Wednesday.  All that snow we haven't been getting, we're starting to catch up.  I still can't get the snowblower started, but so far I have been able to easily shovel accumulation off.

--RoadPuzzle

Our 49th Wedding Anniversary-- Part 13: Heading Home on Our Last Anniversary

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2022

There was a still a clown hanging around this morning outside our room, only now wearing a bathrobe and later tourist clothes (but still with clown face painted on)  Not something you'd expect to see outside your door in the morning.  And, actually, a little bit unsettling.

Went to the Grant Hills Motel office for coffee and today's Dubuque newspaper.  The manager asked if we were going to stay another day, but Liz had already told me she wasn't feeling well and wanted to go home.  I told her that we didn't want to stay and she said that was alright as they still didn't have any room cancellations.

Read the newspaper outside and we headed for home at 10:30.  I had considered driving the Stagecoach Road on the way home, but Liz said she wasn't feeling well, so took the usual US-20 route.

Instead of going on the US-20 bypass around Freeport, we took Business US-20, the original US-20 through town. It sure seemed like we went a long way on it.

When we got home after a 353 mile drive for our anniversary, I cut the grass and then we went to Sunnyside and the McHenry American Legion.

Little did I know at the time, but this was to be my last anniversary with Liz and that we only had less than a month before her death.  Today, December 23, is the third month since she died.

Sure Going to be a Strange Christmas This Year.  --RoadDog

Our 49th Wedding Anniversary-- Part 9: A 'Great" Morning at a Mom and Pop Motel

Continued from November 13th.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2022

Got my coffee from the office as well as a free copy of today's Dubuque (Iowa) Telegraph-Herald.  The price of it is now $1.50 Monday to Saturday.  A little bit higher but definitely better than the Chicago tribune which is now $4 daily.  I will be cancelling my subscription, sadly, soon.  I love having a print paper in my hand, but not at $140 every two months.

Sat outside the room, had my coffee and read the paper.  Now that's good living to me.

The neighbors in Room 14 left for breakfast and a boat ride  in Dubuque, but will not be coming back to the motel.  Too bad, we sure had a nice conversation with them last night.  Those old Mom and Pop motels are very conducive to sitting outside your room and talking with fellow travelers, something you can't do in newer motels.

I watched some of "South Park," a really funny adult cartoon show which unfortunately attracts a lot of kids to watch it.  It is hilarious, but things they talk about and cursing should not be for kids.

--RoadDog

Last Week: Touring Galena on Our Honeymoon 48 Years Ago and the Bottle of Blue Nun

THURSDAY, AUGUST 26

48 years ago, Liz and I were in Galena, Illinois, on out honeymoon, shortened because I had to be at school on the 29th.  We went on a walk through Galena and this was before it became the tourist spot it is today.  We had dinner at the Log Cabin steakhouse, which we still go to today.

My lawn tractor congratulated us by breaking down.

We were going to go to Sunnyside, but it was too crowded, so ended up at nearby Stucky's where we enjoyed the open mic jam.  Later we went to Sunnyside.

Came home and opened the bottle of Blue Nun which Craig had given to us when he found out that you can't buy this Riesling wine anymore.  He remembered he had a bottle from 1995 in his wine stash and gave it to us.  What a guy.

This is our traditional anniversary drink/toast.  Liz's dad, Amby, gave us a small bottle as we got ready to leave the reception all those 48 years ago.

It was good.

Thanks, Craig!!  --RoadDog

Going All Out for the 47th Anniversary-- Part 1

Today marks the 47th anniversary of our wedding back on August 25, 1973.  That makes 47 years for those of you counting.

We got married at the Newman Center at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb and then  had our wedding reception at the DeKalb Holiday Inn on Illinois Highway 39, the Lincoln Highway and then that night, drove all the way out to the Mississippi River where we went to the Palace Motel.  We arrived about 2 am and our room had been left open for us.

I had just signed my contract to teach in Round Lake, Illinois, the day before and we had our rehearsal dinner at a Algauers in Mount Prospect on Milwaukee avenue.

To say this was a busy few days for me is a bit of an understatement.

Our honeymoon was cut short and I had to start teaching three days later.

Bust Times.  --RoadDog

Back to the Summer of 1970 (July 5, 1970)-- Part 5: A Busy Summer for Me

From Bob Stroud's Root Salute to the Summer of 1970, part 2 that aired Sunday, July 5 on Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM, the Drive.  He will have two other Summer of 1970 shows the first Sunday of August and September.

And, just remember, there was no such a thing as the coronavirus back then so no social distancing or masks except at the masquerade parties.

These were the songs we were listening to on the radio (mostly AM) and were in our record collections (mostly albums and 45s) back fifty years ago.

At this time, fifty years ago, I was working my summer job at Burger King in Palatine (it was also my first job starting the summer between sophomore and junior year in high school) after having finished freshman year at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb.  I was also taking a class at Harper College in Palatine that summer as I wasn't sure I had passed a geography class at NIU and needed those credits to avoid getting drafted to go you-know-where in 1970.  I sure had a good time the second half of freshman year pledging Delta Sigma Phi fraternity.

Sadly, my dad had gotten transferred from the home office of Quaker Oats in Chicago to the Southern region office in Atlanta, so my family bought a house in Dunwoody, Ga. and sold the one I had lived in longer than any other home in my life, all the way from 7th grade to freshman year in college.

I would be going back to NIU, however, for my sophomore year while my family lived in Georgia.

The songs Bob was playing sure brought the memories flooding back to me.

Let the Music Play, Next.  --RoadDog

Happy Mother's Day, Mom and Liz's Mom

My mom, Barbara, would have been 89 today, but died in 2016 at age 85.  I am so glad that all three of us kids were with her for her last Mother's Day that year.  We were there for my Aunt Louise's 90th birthday party in Mt. Olive, North Carolina.

But, the three of us, Bob, Julie and I, had not been together for a Mother's Day probably since out twenties (I'm going to be 69 in two weeks).  Julie lives in Georgia, Bob in North Carolina and I live in Illinois.  So, I know this was extra special for her.

She died in June.

So, like I said in the last post, watch the Summer's End" video by John Prine, and do whatever you can in these days to say you love her to your mom.  Another song that brings Mom to mind is C.W. McCall's "Roses for Mama."

You never know when it is going to be your last time with her.

Liz's mom, Frances, would have been 104 today.  I got along with her very well, even if she was my mother-in-law, which I kidded her about much of the time.  We did a lot together even when Liz wasn't with us.

Whenever she would come in to see me deejaying, I always played Ernie K. Doe's "Mother-in-Law" and, in honor of her speeding ticket "Little Old Lady from Pasadena."

I Sure Do Miss My Moms.  --RoadMissingMom

Really, Now 6,793 Posts and 14 Years To This Blog

Today marks the 6,793rd post to this blog, which started as my second blog, 14 years ago in 2007.

My original blog was RoadDog's RoadLog blog, but after I started it with the help of my niece Andrea in Tennessee, I couldn't get into it back home in Illinois where I was just looking out my back door.

While trying to get back into it, I accidentally started this one and let it continue even after I was able to get back into the original.  I figured this one could cover anything besides traveling on those old roads and trips.  All my other blogs, all six of them, started from this blog as I found more and more posts were about the Civil War, World War II and history in general.

This one came to mostly being current stuff, what we're doing and music, which is another one of my big loves.

Called Down Da Road I Go because it is me going down da road.  RoadDog as a signoff is a carry over from RoadDog's RoadLog blog.

--RoadDog

"Look Through Any Window" and "Any Way You Want It", And "Rubber Soul" or "Herman's Hermits' Greatest Hits."

On Sunday, Bob Stroud did a Rock and Roll  Roots Salute to the Hollies on the 50th anniversary of Graham Nash leaving the group and heading for America.  The Hollies and Dave Clark Five are my favorite two sixties British bands.

Like last week, where Stroud saluted the Beatles' "Rubber Soul" album on its 53rd anniversary of release, and where I had the problem of choosing between it and Herman's Hermits Greatest Hits" for my first-ever album.  (See my post.)

Well, today, he played the two 45s that I had to choose between for my first-ever record purchase.  That would be the Hollies' "Look Through Any Window" and the Dave Clark Five's "Any Way You Want It."  Unfortunately, I don't remember which one I chose for sure, but think it might have been the Hollies.

Well, the Memories.  --RoadDog

My Vietnam War Experience-- Part 2: It's Draft Time

That war goes on forever.  Most boys were going to get drafted coming out of high school, unless you went to college (or had a high draft lottery number).  A whole lot of boys who hadn't planned on going to college all of a sudden decided to go to college and get that beautiful student deferment.

I had planned on being a teacher since I was seven years old and that meant going to college, so I was ok there.

Maybe the war would be over by the time I got out of college.  Foolish boy.

Then, the draft became the draft lottery.  Birthdays were taken and put in a big drum and dates pulled.  We high school boys watched that intently, hoping that we would not get pulled early.  The earlier you were pulled, the more likely you had a one-way ticket to Vietnam.

The first time they had it, I was not eligible because of age.  May 24th came up #31.  I would have to go to Vietnam had I been eligible.  But, if I got the low number this time, perhaps next time I would have a nice high number.

The year that I was eligible, my birthday was pulled #22.

So Much for the Odds.  --RoadDog

June 12, 2016: Mom's Death

It just dawned on me that this is the one year anniversary of Mom's death.  I was thinking it was the 14th or 15th.  But, I am not good at special dates.  Just look at how many times I got bin trouble for her birthday.

Hard to believe that both of our parents are now gone.

My advice to you is to enjoy your parents as much as possible while you have them.

Missing My Mom On This Mother's Day

Last year, for Mother's Day, my brother Bob and sister Julie got together with Mom for this day.

It was the last time I saw her as she died in June.

All I can say is to listen to C.W. McCall's "Roses for mama."

Enjoy Your Mother While You Can.

A Sad September 14th for Me: My Mother Is No Longer Here

This is a hard day for me as my mother, Barbara, would have been 86 today.  But we lost her suddenly back in June.

Visiting Goldsboro just isn't going to be the same.

However, she lived a good life and a long one.  My dad died at age 69.  Plus, other than some age ailments, she was getting around and doing what she wanted to do (and that was a lot).  She was involved in many things in her beloved Goldsboro, N.C..

She was born in the house she died in.  Not many can say that.

I Sure Miss Her.

Summer North Carolina 2016-- Part 2: Mom's Death and the Aftermath

This would be the usual time I would go down to North Carolina to visit with Mom and Bob in Goldsboro, but since last month, things have gone topsy-turvey with Mom's unexpected death at age 85.

This means a whole lot of work going through her papers and talking with people about this and that.  I mean she kept records of all sorts dating back to 1998 when Dad died. And, I have to look at every single paper.  It is slow going.

I also stand to inherit the condo at Topsail Beach.  It is paid for, but there are association dues, electric (no gas at least) water, garbage, cable, land telephone and wi-fi to take care of and that is a job in itself.  Since I live about 1200 miles away and long a go we decided not to have a second home somewhere, we can afford it, but don't want the hassle of owning two places.  One is bad enough.

Of course, this means getting an appraisal, dealing with the condo association, fixing the lower level after the floods from several months ago, listing it and so forth.

Plus,we don't won't to be tied down to just one place we have to go every time.

I Am At  the Condo Right Now.  --RoadDog

A Happy Birthday to Mom

My mom, Barbara, turns 85 today.  That's a lot of years.

And for an 85-year-old, she is still quite active.  Actually,it is hard to get in touch with her by phone.  Seems like every day she has several meetings and functions to attend.  I'd sure like to be going so well at that age.

Love You, Mom.

A Wedding in Savannah

AUGUST 25TH:  I had breakfast with the family, starting with Andy, Andrea and kids, then Bob, Mom,Mary and Vicki.  Hard to beat those Holiday Inn Express hot breakfasts.  It was a real family reunion and one of the rare times everyone was together during the wedding.

It started raining and raining so we were stuck in the room and started catching up with blogs and watching huge container ships go by.

Drove out to the Isle of Hope Methodist Church for the wedding, which featured a black choir which was very impressive.

Back to the hotel and then caught a private trolley to the wedding reception near the famous Pirates's House.  They had an excellent band. but it started as soon as the wedding party arrived and played throughout the whole time, making it fairly impossible to talk.   We ended up outside with Andy, Andrea  and kids and eventually Bob.

Another, much worse, thunder storm that just about blew the auxiliary tent over came through.

When the band stopped, we went back to the hotel, changed and then went to Churchill's again.

--RoadDog

Saying Goodbye to My Cousin Graham

I was sad to get a call from my mom on Saturday that my cousin Graham had died in Warsaw, North Carolina, after is long and hard-fought battle with cancer. He had it for around 13 years and there were so many times we all thought he was going to die only to have him rebound and be his old self a few weeks later. Unfortunately, the cancer would always come back and this last time it was becoming apparent that this time he wouldn't rebound.

I was very glad to get to see him twice when I was in NC over Thanksgiving, the second time, Nov. 30th, he was out of his hospital bed at his house and in the family room watching college football on his big screen TV and cheering on his beloved UNC (even though they lost to Duke). This was the Graham I'll remember. His wife Vicki was having trouble with the remote and Graham was there giving her instructions. He was nice enough to let us tune into the Georgia-Georgia Tech game, though.

Graham was my oldest cousin, some eight years older than me (born in 1943) and Mom regarded him more as a brother than a nephew as they were only 13 years apart.

I'll Sure Miss Graham.

I Was Busted About the Wedding Ring-- Part 3

As, I said earlier, the ring wasn't lost because I didn't look for it. I stopped at every place we went to on our way to the beach. No luck. And then I looked all over the house in Goldsboro. Again, no ring. I decided not to tell Liz, just in case it turned up, but that sure wasn't likely by then.

Left Goldsboro for home on December 3rd. At some point in Virginia, I evidently received a call on the cell phone, but didn't hear it go off because of the music playing too loud. I noticed it had a message in West Virginia. It was from Mom who said the person cleaning the townhome at the beach had found it!! Wow!! I'm sure glad she found it. Called Mom back and got the details.

I think I'm not going to wear it anymore until I get it resized to fit my ring finger.

Must be Doing Something Right. --RoadDog

Miss You, Dad

It was fifteen years ago today that Dad's funeral took place. He had died on November 15th after a massive stroke on the 14th.

I was just entering the hospital when death came. It just doesn't seem to be that long ago.