JSS-- Valentine's Day-- Better Uniform Choice-- NIU Basketball Homecoming Saturday

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1.  VALENTINE'S DAY--  Liz and I really don't "celebrate" this contrived holiday.  But, we did go to CorkScrew Pointe in McHenry, Illinois, with intentions of having a muffuletta sandwich, but, unfortunately, the kitchen didn't open until 3 and we had to be at a Kenny Reid's funeral by 3:30.

We ended up eating at Burger King, which is alright as I worked at the Burger King in Palatine, Illinois, when I met Liz and we ate there often.  Liz was an especially "cheap" date yesterday as she got the chicken nuggets, 10 for $1, and value soda for $1.19.  Thanks Liz.

2.  BETTER UNIFORM CHOICES--  I sure hope NIU's new football coach will be able to better pick uniforms for our team than the last guy.  His solid white uniforms with white helmets with just player number on them was extremely blah.  And, for crying out loud, we have a good-looking logo finally and let's return it to the helmets.

3.  NIU BASKETBALL HOMECOMING SATURDAY--  Planning on going out to DeKalb tomorrow for the basketball homecoming.  For $5, you get to see both the men's and women's basketball teams at home.

Go Huskies!!   --RoadHuskie

The DeKalb Footstompers-- Part 1: Doing the Saints March

One of Liz and my all-time favorite bands.  We've been watching them since they started back in 1973.  In the early days they played at Andy's in DeKalb and now at Lord Stanley's in DeKalb and PJ's Courthouse in Sycamore quite often.  Of course, there are many other places they play, but these are our favorite ones.

They have played NIU's Homecoming every year since 1973.  And, we have been to most of those homecoming shows.  To us, the Footstompers at NIU Homecoming are as important as the game.

This is from part 2 of an interview you can find on You Tube.

They remember their famous "Marches" outside of Andy's as they played "As the Saints Go Marching By."  You just have to wonder what people driving by on Lincoln Highway (DeKalb's Main Street) thought seeing four guys playing a tuba, accordion, guitar and drum walking down the sidewalk with a whole big group of slightly inebriated folks yelling, hollering and dancing behind them.  The poor Andy's doormen would be grabbing drinks as fats as they could before they went out the door.

One of the guys selling hot dogs from push carts outside of Andy's back in those days was the current owner of PJ's Courthouse in Sycamore where the band often plays.

Always A Good Time.  --RoadDog


CHOCOLATE RULES:  If I eat equal amounts of dark chocolate and white chocolate, is that a balanced diet?

Homecoming Weekend at NIU

OCTOBER 24, SATURDAY--  Drove to DeKalb enjoying the fall color.  Parked at the Baymont Hotel and walked over to the alumni tent area and enjoyed a porkchop sandwich and the swag.  Heard the university president and athletic director speak and the Huskie Marching band.

Decided not to buy tickets for the game because of the crummy weather, but watched part of it from outside Huskie Stadium.

Went back to the hotel and drove Lincoln Highway downtown and went to Lord Stanley's where we saw the game and enjoyed the DeKalb Footstompers, a homecoming tradition since 1973.  Ended up at Pizza Pros.

OCTOBER 25, SUNDAY--  Drove around campus, Greek Row and did some shopping for NIU stuff.  Had lunch of sliders at White Castle and then intended to see the Pumpkin festival parade in Sycamore, but couldn't find a parking place so drove to Woodstock and walked around the Square.  Stopped at Benton Street Tap and Wayne's Lanes, which was the bowling alley in the movie "Groundhog Day."  This is also from where Bill Murray and friends took their race around town and on the railroad tracks.

Last stop was Sunnyside Tap in Johnsburg.

A Good Weekend.  --RoadDog

MORE TO PONDER:  In a democracy it's your vote that counts; in feudalism it's your county who votes.

It's Homecoming Time Again at NIU

In just a short time, Liz and I will be preparing to drive out to DeKalb, Illinois, for yet another Northern Illinois Homecoming, this year celebrating the 50th anniversary of Huskie Stadium.  We play Eastern Michigan in a MAC matchup.

Of course, there is always the alumni tailgating/tent area near the Barcema Alumni Center as well as souvenirs to be bought.  Then, there is the game at 2:30.

Even better, we then go to Lord Stanley's to celebrate with the great DeKalb Footstompers who have played at every Northern Homecoming since 1973 and still has three of the original four members.  They are every bit as much of a NIU Homecoming tradition for us as is the game.  We saw them at Andy's back then and have seen them most homecomings since.

They really pack 'em into Lord Stanley's, the old Shamrock when we were students.  And everyone has a great time listening to oldies and great originals by them.  You haven't lived until you've heard "Purple Haze" played by a four piece band featuring a guitar, drums, tuba and accordion.

Fight On You Huskies!!  --RoadDog

Another DeKalb Trip This Past Saturday

October 18, 2014:  We drove out to DeKalb on a pretty crummy day the whole way.  It kept threatening to rain and had rained a lot in the morning before we left.

Arrived in DeKalb and went to Fatty's and got autographs from NIU football hero Jordan Lynch and the new schedule mug.  Then went to the Barsema Alumni Center for the President's reception.  Great food and Goose Island drinks as well as talks by NIU President Doug Baker and our athletic director.  Part of the Marching Huskies Band came in to fire us up with some songs, including, of course, the fight song.

We got a ride over to Huskie Stadium and had great seat back seats right by the 50 yard line.  Our offense looked good, but defense wasn't there.  We were cold enough by halftime so left with Northern having a 35-21 lead.

Stopped at White Castle for a ten pack of Sliders which we took with us and listened to Bill Baker do the play-by-play on WIND, 560 AM until the end of the game.  Northern won 51-41 in what was quite a close game.  Neither defense could stop the offense of the other team.

Stopped at Twisted Moose in McHenry for the 1st and 2nd periods of the Hawks game.  Then home.

--Brock-Perry

DeKalb Kind of a Weekend-- Part 2: DeKalb Footstompers, Naked Nuggets

October 11th.

Watched the rest of the NIU-Central Michigan game at Lord Stanley's and it sure never got any better.  Northern had no defense and very little offense.  We played badly and they played very well and Northern's 28 game winning streak came crashing to a halt.

Oh, well, that's never been a problem before when NIU lost most of its games every year, and we weren't going to allow it to stop us from having fun this time and Da Footstompers are just the guys to get you through it.

Talked with the tuba player Rick during the game.  He is a Northern grad and an even bigger fan than we are and he was nothing short of disgusted.

Lord Stanley's filled up to standing room only. mostly us older grads.  This was the 42nd straight NIU Homecoming the DeKalb Footstompers have played (beginning at Andy's and now Lord Stanley's).

We had a mighty good time, but left after their second set to get closer to the hotel.

Stopped at Pizza Pros and had their naked nuggets (essentially plain beer nuggets but with a lot of marinara to dip them in.  Beer nuggets (fried pieces of dough) are getting quite popular in northern Illinois and to the best of our knowledge, started in DeKalb at Sgt. Pepper's.  It is becoming one of those regional delicacies.

Sure were a lot of police out on Lincoln Highway at night.  We watched a stop right by Pizza Pros where a lot of police were making a very detailed search of a car while we were eating.  At least all we had to do was walk across Lincoln Highway to get back to the motel.

"In Heaven There Is No Beer, That's Why We Drink It Here."  --RoadDog


SAY WHAT?  "Pencil me in.'--  On your smartphone calendar app?

DeKalb Kind Of a Weekend-- Part 1: Alumni and Game

This past Saturday, October 11th, we drove to DeKalb, Illinois, for the Northern Illinois Homecoming game.  There was sporadic color among the trees along the way and in DeKalb.  We went to Wal-Mart and Village Commons Bookstore and bought some NIU souvenirs and then checked into the Baymont.

Walked over to the Alumni Tailgating area, always a good time with the tents, free food and give aways.  Saw NIU President Bill Baker walking around on several occasions and were serenaded by the NIU Marching Band.  Talked with Terri, our financial person at NIU for our scholarship.

Walked over to the party area west of Huskie Stadium and then decided not to buy tickets, despite perfect weather, because we would have to leave at half time if we wanted to get a place to sit at Lord Stanley's for the DeKalb Footstompers after the game.

Watched the first quarter on a small rise by some apartments south of the stadium.  The Huskies received the ball and in a minute had a TD and we were right by the ROTC howitzer when they fired it.  Quite loud when you're that close.  But then, the Chippewas score and then scored again and led 14-7 at the end of the quarter.

We walked back to the hotel and drove downtown to watch the second quarter at Sully's, but they didn't have it on so went to Lord Stanley's on Lincoln Highway, DeKalb's Main Street (Il. Route 38).

--More to Come.  --RoadDog