Springfield Spring 2013: April 20th-- In and Around the Capital City

Stopped at the Rock and Roll Hardee's on the way to the Crowne Plaza for a breakfast bite.  Liz dropped me off and I went to the SCV meeting.  We had 25 people there from four camps around Illinois.  I'll write more about this in my Civil War blog.

In the afternoon we had lunch and then a talk by a councilman from the Army of Tennessee.

Liz picked me up and we then went to Recycled Records and then the the new Camp Butler Civil War exhibit at the Elijah Iles House, Springfield's oldest home.

Stopped at Norb Andy's Taberin and George Ranks for drinks and baseball games.  Norb Andy's dates from the 1840s and George Ranks from the 1940s.

Later to Curve Inn (1932) and Southside Pub (1960s) at the hotel.

Busy Day.  --RoadDog

Civil War in Illinois 2011-- Part 2: SCV-- Lincoln's Home-- Butler-- A Hoot-- A Cap-- and a Fiesta

APRIL 30th-- SATURDAY


Spent much of the day at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Springfield, Illinois at the annual Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV) Illinois Division Conference. We were essentially enveloped by the much-larger Illinois Knights of Columbus Convention.

We had 30 division members in attendance, out of 160 statewide. One camp has disbanded and another is gone, bringing us down to five camps, the minimum we can have to be a division in the SCV. It is difficult operating "behind enemy lines" as we do. Lack of members and great distances are really big problems.

Camp commanders gave their reports and I was introduced as the commander of the newest, yet-to-be-named, camp.

During lunch, Gale Red gave an excellent presentation on the Alton, Illinois, Confederate prison camp.


LINCOLN'S HOME, CAMP BUTLER AND BEYOND

Upon adjournment, the group went to Abraham Lincoln's home for a group picture, then several of us drove out to the Camp Butler National Cemetery where we visited the Confederate graves and monument.

Then Liz and I went to Hooter's to play NTN (our 28th new site this year and 938th overall). Then, we went to Capital City and enjoyed the $1.50 draft beers while playing NTN with JJ. Last stop was at La Fiesta for shrimp nachos and giant mugs (32-0z) of beer.

A Long Day. --RoadDog

JSS: New Car?-- New SCV Camp?-- First Grass Cutting-- Other Vehicles

JSS-- Just Some Stuff.


1. NEW CAR?-- Today, we go out to look at new Chevy cars. I just couldn't bring myself to buy a foreign car. We're interested in the new Cruze, Malibus and Impalas. I also want to look at the Camaro, but Liz is totally against one of those. Says it's too hard to get into and out of.

We have a 2003 Malibu right now with 103,000 miles and figure its time to get another one. We want to keep it and sell or trade the truck.


2. NEW SCV CAMP?-- Met with SCV (Sons of Confederate Veterans) Division Commander John Jeffers last week about starting a new camp here in Lake and McHenry counties in Illinois. We have the number of men needed, but no name as of yet until we have a general meeting. I have agreed to be interim camp commander.


3. FIRST GRASS CUTTING-- Saturday, after coming back from watching the Bulls lose to Indiana at Tommy's (down by 18 points, they were within 2 in the last seconds before losing), I found the grass dry enough to cut for the first time this year. Hope I will be able to afford the gas to continue cutting it.


4. OTHER VEHICLES-- Besides the Malibu, we have a 2005 Dodge Dakota truck with 36,000 miles. I like it, but it only gets 13 miles around town and 18 on the road, something I can't handle with $4+ gas.

The other vehicle is a 1985 Pontiac Firebird with 94,000 miles on it. It runs, but needs engine, body and interior work. I haven't decided what to do about it.


Wonder If We'll Be getting a New Car? --RoadDog


STUPID QUESTION: If Wiley E. Coyote has enough money to buy all that Acme stuff, why doesn't he just buy dinner?

April 19th-- A Day in Springfield, Illinois

At 9, Liz drove me over to the Hilton in downtown Springfield for the Illinois Division meeting of the Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV). I must say that Springfield really has a lot of stop lights. And...I don't think I missed a single one on the way over.

Twenty-four SCV members showed up and we did he business first. There are 159 members in Illinois, spread around six camps. The largest is my camp, Camp Douglas, named after the infamous Civil War prison in which over 6000 Confederates died in 18 months.

Incidentally, this was on the same day back in 1861 when Lincoln declared a blockade on all seceded Confederate states. Springfield is also the home of Abraham Lincoln.

When officers and Division positions were being filled, I raised my hand to ask exactly what the historian had to do. This became my job for the next year. Next time, remind me not to ask.

After lunch, the Lt. Cmdr. of the SCV, Ron Casteel, gave us an inspiring talk on the role the press, of which he retired from, in the problems facing southern heritage organizations such as ours face.

BAR HOPPING

Met up with Liz and Missy and took a walk around downtown Springfield to visit local establishments.

Met them at the Celtic Mist (an Irish place) by the hotel. Then walked over to the Alamo, a favorite watering hole for us. Usually they are not open Saturday afternoon, but had today because of a breast cancer march. Saw pictures of the march which featured many men hilariously trying to cope walking along in high heels. Now, That WAS REALLY FUNNY.

To Be Continued...

SCV and Springfield. Good Combination. --RoadDog

BOY, Did it Ever GET Cold

Just a week ago, we had temps in the lower 90s, but someone slipped us a Siberian Express because (as they said in the movie "Groundhog Day") it's cold out there.

I had to cancel boating yesterday and even had to dig out the jeans and sweatshirt. Temps yesterday were in the low 60s with a strong north wind. BBbbrrr.

I decided to bring a lot of the plants on the deck inside last night. This morning, there was frost on the windows of the vehicles parked outside, but fortunately, none of the plants I left out had died.

Definitely chilly out there at the Lehman Mansion in Lake Villa, Illinois, where I spent the afternoon at the SCV table at the Civil War Encampment.

It is supposed to warm up this next week. I guess we had our little winter preview.

Way Too Cold Way Too Early. --RoadDog

Perennials---Lake County Historical Society-- 30th Day Boating

Yesterday, I planted the rest of my perennials thanks to the cool temps and we finally had some wind which grounded most of the skeeters. Without wind, they rise up almost in squadrons reminiscent of WWII movies about bombing raids. I sure hope I don't break down again and buy anymore perennials. I need to STAY out of garden nurseries!!!

Gas is DOWN to $2.99 (that's $2.98.9 to most people). Still WAY TOO expensive, but at least it is going in the right direction.

Drove to Mundelein in Chicago's Northwest Suburbs, and met up with Clancy for some NTN and pizza at Emil's Sports Bar on US-45. They also had a special on something they called white bean chili that looked really good.

We then drove over to the nearby Fremont Library (Fremont Township) where we were going to provide support for our SCV, Sons of Confederate Veterans, commander who was giving the keynote address.

These folks were primarily interested in genealogy. When I introduced myself as a guest, someone asked whose surname did I use to get into the SCV. I replied "Hood." John, our commander, told them where they could look for information on Confederates ancestors and talked about our organization and Camp Douglas where 6000 of 12,000 Confederate prisoners died. That number shocked the crowd. Everyone always hears about the tragedy at Andersonville, but not about how bad the Union prisons were as well. There was also a discussion about slavery and whether it was the real cause of the war. These people really heard "the other side."

Today, I went out in the boat for the 30th time. I put in five more gallons, which brings me to 20 gallons used for the season. I know people who go through up to 50 gallons on one day. And gas on the water is usually about 50 cents to a dollar more than on land. Of course, I usually go for a short cruise and then just float. I really enjoy sitting out there, reading a newspaper or magazine, and listening to tunes from a cassette (yes, I still use cassettes) or the Drive, 97.1 FM.

I'm hoping to get to 40 boating expeditions before we put the boat up in about a month.

Came home, and had to do some yardwork and cut the grass again. All this rain and cooler temps is grass nirvana.

A Bad Day of Boating is Still Better Than a Good Day at Work. But, Being Retired...--RoadDog

This Past Weekend-- September 7th to 9th

Friday I met my old buddy Kip at the Triangle Restaurant in Grayslake, Illinois. We talked about what we were doing back on September 11, 2001. He was at a negotiations meeting trying to settle our contract and he suggested that they adjourn to go back to school to be with the kids. They did.

I then went over to Gurnee Mills and walked around it. I saw the big fake snake outside the Rainforest Cafe that really gave me a jump a few months back. I was walking along looking in store windows when I looked up, and saw a huge snake about two feet above my head, looking at me with mouth wide open and tongue flicking. I guess I must have a strong heart as I didn't have an attack right then and there.

Saw an excellent Western movie called "3:10 to Yuma" which was just released. I highly suggest it. You don't see many westerns anymore.

Drove to Richmond-Burton High School and watched the game with Stillman Valley. They led most of the game, but evidently we had a comeback at the end to pull withing two points before we losing 33-31. I had already left after losing my battle with the mosquitoes. Once back at the truck, I saw a really big praying mantis on the top of the cab and it just wouldn't get off. After some work (I didn't want to kill it) I finally got it off.

Saturday, I went to Des Plaines for a meeting of the SCV, Sons of Confederate Veterans. Our camp's name is the Camp Douglas Memorial Camp, named after the infamous Union prison in Chicago where over 6000 Confederates died.

I then went to a memorial service in Fox Lake for the 21 year-old son of friends of ours from the American Legion. He died from massive injuries suffered two weeks ago when a car wash collapsed from a wind shear in the storms that passed through Chicago. He was near Wrigley Field at the time. This was a very sad thing.

We then went up to Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, where Donovan's Reef was celebrating their first anniversary with the new owners. They've done a great job with the place, keeping the things we liked from before and improving everything else. They had an excellent pig and beef roast, and we were able to get five national rankings in NTN.

Sunday I went to the German Club meeting in Lake Villa and then met up with the usual Bears crew at Baja Benny's on Fox Lake to watch the game. That would be Jim, Paul, Sue, Pam, Laura, and Ed. Too bad the Bears lost.

Going, Going, Going. --RoadDog