Two Legions, a Band, Sunday Radio and Stucky's

FRIDAY, JUNE 3

Worked in the yard.  Met Barb, Glenn, Kelly and Kevin at Johnny's Cafe in Fox Lake, Illinois, for dinner and then went to the Fox Lake American Legion for 50-50.  Didn't win.

SATURDAY, JUNE, 4

Crummy day, overcast, cool and rain.  So we were forced to go to the Fox Lake Legion for entertainment in the afternoon.  I hate when that happens.  Cold outside, but a band inside.

SUNDAY, JUNE 5

Listened to my usual Sunday morning radio: Acoustic Storm on WDRV, Breakfast With the Beatles on WXRT, Rock and Roll Roots on WDRV and Johnny Miller and Big John Ruth playing Beach Music in WFJA out of North Carolina (internet).

We went to the McHenry American Legion.  I went over to Miller Park to see a band, but there was no band today.  Forced to go back to the Legion and resume.  Stopped at Stucky's in Johnsburg on the way back home.

--RoadDog

About This Past Weekend-- Part 1: A Fish Fry, A Lake View and $1 Drafts

Again, why go anywhere before the fall when there is so much to do around here.

FRIDAY, JULY 23

Well, at least I don't have to cut the grass with the drought which has come back.  Met Kevin, Kelly, Barb and Glenn at Cuda's on Grasslake Road in Antioch for a fish fry.  AUCE got $10.95 plus one side.  We all got side salads so as to be eating "healthy" but I don't know how that offsets the fried fish.  But, their beer-battered fish is something else to taste, especially piping hot out of the fryer.  Melts in your mouth if not burns your mouth.

Afterwards, we adjourned to Lake View Place and sat out on the deck where we enjoyed the great view of Grasslake, the $1 drafts and conversation with a guy who is going to travel Route 66 and another couple who live on Grasslake, but had golf-carted it over there.

I tell you, some people really have it rough.

--RoadDog

LAWS OF THE UNIVERSE:  Any tool, nut, bolt or screw, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible corner.

Getting in the Yule Spirit-- Part 3: "Star Wars" and Old Friends, Pizza and Beer

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17

I've been watching and recording (on VCR, that's right, VHS tapes) the various "Star Wars" movies in preparation for seeing the "last" one, "Star Wars:  The Rise of Skywalker" after schools are back in session and people go back to work.  I don't like crowds.  I'm a "Star Wars" fan.

We went to Half-Times in Johnsburg, Illinois, and met up with Usual Suspects Sue and Paul as well as Pam.  We used to do this at least once a month before Sue and Paul moved to New Mexico, so this was definitely kind of like old times.   Also, great pizza deals and cheap beer.  Our preferred pizza there is our special:  black olives, pineapple and sausage.

It was fun talking with them and planning our trip to the Indy 500 this coming May.  Stopped at Sunnyside afterwards.

Came home and watched "Star Wars:  A New Hope," the original "Star Wars" in 1977.

--RoadWars

Getting in the Yule Spirit-- Part 2: Usual Suspects Get-Together

DECEMBER 15, SUNDAY

Rock and Roll Roots featured the Dave Clark 5 group today in honor of drummer Dave Clark's 80th birthday.  They were the first British Invasion Group to come over after the Beatles and since they were more rocking, I even liked them better than the Beatles.

As a matter of fact, the first 45 single I ever bought was either the Dave Clark 5's "Anyway You Want It" or the Hollies'"Look Through Any Window."  I can't remember which one I bought.

Went to the Squaw Bar in Ingleside, Illinois, for the Bears-Packers game with the Usual Suspects and because Sue and Paul were visiting from New Mexico, there was a full turnout, including Pete, Katrina, Pam, Glen and Barb, and Laura and Ed.

Sadly, Da Bears lost to Da Pack.

Oh Well.  --RoadDog

50th Anniversary of Woodstock-- Part 1: Country Joe and Vietnam

August 15-18, 1969.

I am commemorating it right now by listening to the "Woodstock Soundtrack" on You Tube, that fantastic source of music that I use so much.  Last night, I was listening to and watching music and videos of performances from it on You Tube as well.

I also listened to part of the "East Rider" soundtrack once I learned of Peter Fonda's death.  That was a great road trip/music movie as well.

Last night, we met Kevin and Kelly at Sunnyside Tavern in Johnsburg and while watching a pitiful Bears exhibition (well, preseason) game (why do they even have those?) and the Cubs blow a perfectly-won game in the bottom of the ninth for the second time in a row (at least it wasn't a walk-off grand slam like last night), we got to reminiscing about Woodstock.  None of us were there, but it had impact.

We played songs on the jukebox, including "Living Next Door to Alice" by Smokie, only we have our own words to it.  Then, it was Country Joe & the Fish's Vietnam War ode "Fixin'-To-Die Rag" the Woodstock "Give me a __" version which we sang loudly and lustily.  Many of the other younger folks in the place had never heard it before.  They must be educated.

Took Us Right Back.  --RoadStock

About Last Weekend: It's a Burnin' Thing, Third Band in Three Days, the Chain and Four Bars Today

SUNDAY, MAY 6

After several failed efforts, I finally got a fire hot enough and managed top burn a lot of the accumulated limbs in the burn pile.

We then went to Cabana's to meet with several of our Usual Suspects group and enjoy the New Odyssey Guy.  He is the former drummer of New Odyssey who is out on his own now that the band retired.  We knew he would be good and he was.  Enjoyed sitting out in the grass, in the sun and with temperatures in the upper 70s.  A great way to kick off another summer on the Chain of Lakes here in Illinois.

With him, that makes three bands that we saw in the last three days.

And, I guess we finally really broke that long list of weekends destroyed weatherwise by the infamous Round Lake Spring Carnival.

We then went to Oak Park Lounge, a holdout from the original Chain, dating back to 1890s and it hasn't changed much.  It is a bona fide Dive Bar.  We love it, but don't go as often as we should.  Plus, they have one of the most spoiled bar dogs who has ever lived, Bomber.  He has every one trained well.

We ran into a couple who we found out had a lot in common with us.  He graduated from Fremd High School in 1974.  They have a house near where we were seriously looking at a lot on the Chain back in 1991.  They met each other in Panama City Beach.

We then went to Sunnyside for a pizza and $1.50 drafts and finished up with a lot of juke box playing at Sunnyside.

That's four bars today.

Too Much Fun.  --RoadFun

Last Weekend: Burning the Limbs, Route 12 Bar, Legion and a Band

SATURDAY, APRIL 20

Spent a whole lot of time out in the yard trying to burn the many, many limbs I have collected this past month when we had a whole lot of pine limbs brought down by a heavy snowfall as well as cutting down an overgrown apple tree and seriously trimming an overgrown Bradford pear tree as well as some overgrown bushes.

Sadly, I am not the best at getting fires going and didn't have a whole lot of success until the last 30 minutes.

We drove over to the Fox Lake American Legion to see the Affects, a 50s-60s band, but the place was way too crowded, so ended up meeting Barb and Glen at the Route 12 Bar where we split a burger.  We took another shot at seeing the band and this time we found seats so enjoyed ourselves.

SUNDAY, APRIL 21

We met Kora at the Grand Buffet in McHenry, Illinois.  This is a Chinese buffet with lots of shrimp and crab dishes.  Sadly, Kora is moving to Arizona in a week.

We then went to Half-Times in Johnsburg and sat outside on a really nice day and got together with Sue and Paul who are moving to New Mexico at the end of May.  Then, we went to Sunnyside.

All people mentioned are members of our Usual Suspects group, so a bunch of them are moving.

--RoadDog

TRIVIA:  Who saved his political career from a scandal with the dramatic "Checkers" speech in 11952?


Richard Nixon

Old Friends, the Legion, a Band and Some Bodacious NCAA Games

APRIL 6, SATURDAY

I was able to get out in the yard to burn the huge number of limbs and trees that were either dropped by winter storms or cut down by Jerry, but those pine limbs are just too fresh to burn well, so did not have much success.

Liz and I went to the Fox  Lake American Legion at 3 pm, and met Glen and Barb and enjoyed listening to the three-piece band, the Neil Rose Band, playing 60s music.  Sure enjoyed their playing "Don't Bogart That Joint" song which I have never heard a band do live before.  That was a great song from that even greater "Easy Rider" soundtrack.

Watched some of the greatest college basketball games ever in the NCAA Elite 8.  Texas Tech defeated #1 Seed Gonzaga 75-69 and Virginia beat Purdue 80-75.

Sports just doesn't get much better than this.

--RoadDog

EGGCELLENT EASTER JOKES:  Q:  What do you call an egg from outer space?   A:  An "Egg-stra terrestrial."

Getting Into October-- Part 2: Entertainment and a Po' Boy

October 6, Saturday

Met Glen and Barb at the American Legion and from 3 to 6, enjoyed the music of Sean on guitar.  Always great to get some entertainment on a Saturday afternoon.

Afterwards, we went to Spring Grove Pub, but it was closed, and ended up at Bricks & Ivy in Spring Grove and had a delicious shrimp Po' Boy sandwich.

Sadly, we heard at Bricks & Ivy, that the newly opened Spring Grove Pub is permanently closed.

--RoadDog

A Football Kind of Weekend-- Part 4: Hurricanes, Sorry Bears and Bars

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER17

Rock and Roll Roots was "Trying to Reason With Hurricane Season" today because of Harvey and Irma.  Of course, there was the Jimmy Buffett song of the same name as well as "Hurricane" by Bob Dylan and "The Wind Cries Mary" by Jimi Hendrix.  There were a total of 17 songs.

Got out FP and OD.

Drove over to Squaw Bar to meet the Usual Suspects for the Bears game, but the Bears were so vad, we left in the third quarter.  We went to Sunnyside to see the end of it, but they were so crowded we went to Sticky's and were able to sit at the bar and talk about how bad Da Bears are with some informed folks.

After the game, we went back to Sunnyside

Came home for some me FP (Front Porch) and watched the excellent first part of Ken Burns'"The Vietnam War."  That war certainly had an impact on me.

--RoadDog

4th-en It-- Part 5: The Actual Day Of-- Band, Bars, Fireworks

JULY 4TH, TUESDAY

Flags flying all over the yard.I got to working in the yard and missed the parade in Spring Grove when I lost track of the time.  That was ok, because the parade started at noon and was almost two hours long with all those tractors (as we are a farming community).

We went to A.J.'s Horsin' Around Bar in Round Lake Park and saw Terry and Greg Spizzirri do their show from 2 to 5.  Met the Usual Suspects there and we sure had a great time.

We then went to Sunnyside for cocktails and several regulars came in on their tractors.  (Like I said this was, and still is a big farming area.)

Came home and did some more yard work and then watched our neighbor Dan shoot off an impressive fireworks display, after which we watched the Spring Grove firework show from our driveway.

A Pretty Good Fourth and Whole Six Days.  --RoadDog

YOU'RE DRINKING TOO MUCH COFFEE WHEN:  The Taster's Choice couple wants to adopt you.

Kicking Off the Summer Around Here

JUNE 5TH, FRIDAY  Our friends Kevin and Kelly had their annual "School's Out" party at their place on Fox Lake.  They have admirably continued with our annual "School's Out" parties since our last one in 2006 when we retired.  Many of our Usual Suspects in attendance as well, plus, we know a lot of their teachers.

JUNE 6TH, SATURDAY:  Listen to Wendy Rice's Saturday Morning Flashback to the year 1969 on WXRT from 8 to noon.  Great way to kick off a morning.

In the afternoon, we went to the Taste of Summer in downtown McHenry, Illinois, and wound up going to ten of the twenty places.

In the evening, the Usual Suspects gathered at Sunnyside Tap in Johnsburg to watch the Hawks-Lightning game.  Sadly, we lost.

JUNE 7TH:  Listened to Bob Stroud's annual "Summer of" show where he plays songs from the summer of 40 years ago.  This year, of course, 1975.  See the last two posts.

Then, we went to Kevin and Kelly's for the annual "Day After" party to finish the keg.  (Well, Two-days After.)  Because of the off-and-on rain, we didn't sit out by the lake, but enjoyed their new basement bar.  We killed the keg.

It Must Be Summer.  --RoadDog