Mayor's Fish Fry, Two Legions, Sunnyside Shuffle, Parish Fest and Keep the Spirit of '45 Alive

FRIDAY, AUGUST 12

Liz and I met Glen and Barb at the Fox Lake Mayor's Fish Fry at Lake Front Park.  A great deal for AUCE for $9 for seniors.  Unfortunately, the line for refills was always too long so I didn't get seconds.  Too bad as it was excellent fish.

Afterwards, we all went to the Fox Lake American Legion (across Nippersink Lake from the Lake Front Park) and played 50/50.  They now have pull cards on Fridays where you either pay full price, half price or 50 cents for your drink.  I had two full price ($2 pints), a half price and a 50 cents.

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 13

We went to Sunnyside in Johnsburg and eventually, doing what everyone calls the Sunnyside Shuffle, were able to move from a table to the edge of the bar and finally the horseshoe part, the primo seating and most fun with others.

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 14

Liz and I went to Parish Fest in Johnsburg and enjoyed brats, beer, ice cream and the excellent oompah band Die Musikmeisters.  Then, we went to McHenry for the annual Keep the Spirit of '45 Alive, a tribute to our World War II and Korean War veterans.  Sadly their numbers are getting lower every year so now Vietnam War veterans have been added. Enjoyed the sounds of Bill's Little Big Band.

Afterwards, we went to the McHenry Legion.

Always Something Going On Around Here.  --RoadDog

POINTS TO PONDER:  If you rip a hole in a net, you have less holes than you started with.

Today Is National Vietnam War Veterans Day

And, I am sorry to say, this snuck up on me.  It wasn't until I went to Granny's Diner in Johnsburg this morning and met up with the group from Sunnyside Tavern that someone mentioned it.  We had two Vietnam veterans there, George and Kevin.  

I thank you both for your service.

The McHenry American Legion in McHenry, Illinois, is having an open house for any and all Vietnam veterans today with sandwiches and thank yous.

My flag is flying today.

All my blogs except one today will be about the Vietnam War.

The Songs of 1970-- Part 1: 'Bridge Over Troubled Water'

Of course, any song from 1970 is going to be real special to me.  I find that the songs from when I was in junior high, high school and college are my favorites for some reason.  1970 was a college year for me at NIU.

From the August 2, 2020 Parade Magazine "The songs of 1970" by Jim Farber.

You can learn a lot about any given year by listening to its most popular songs.  In 1970, the No. 1-selling single was Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water," an ode to everlasting hope and unwavering faith.  (That song always reminds me of NIU's Tune Room (also called Tomb Room) at the University Center.  If I heard it once there, I heard it lots.  Make sure you listen to Aretha Franklin's version which came out a year later.)

Nearly as popular were the Beatles' "Let It Be,"  "O-o-h Child" by the Five Stairsteps and B.J. Thomas' "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head."  All of these are meant to soothe and uplift.

These singles, and I'm sure you remember everyone of them, wound up defining life in 1970, a turbulent year in American history and beyond.  "It was a time of the Vietnam War, riots in the cities and [following] the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Bobby Kennedy," says Keni Burke, who crooned the Five Stairsteps' calming anthem "O-o-h Child," which assured us that "things are gonna get easier."

--RoadBridge

TEENAGERS AND CATS:  Cats and teenagers can lie on the living room sofa for hours on end without moving, barely breathing.

The Songs of 1970-- Part 2: It Was a Very Trying Time and the Songs Helped Get Us By

 By Jim Farber.

You can learn a lot about any given year by listening to its most popular songs.

In 1970, the No. 1-selling single was Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water," an ode t everlasting hope and unwavering faith.  Nearly as possible was the Beatles' "Let It Be, "O-o-h Child" by Chicago's Five Stairste4ps and B.J. Thomas' "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head," all  meant to soothe and uplift.

These singles wound up defining American life in 1970, a turbulent year indeed.  "It was a time of the Vietnam War, riots in cities and [following] the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Bobby Kennedy," says Keni Burke, who crooned the Five Stairsteps calming anthem "O-o-h Child," which assured us that "things are gonna get easier."

"Given as much unrest, everyone was exhausted," says David Browne, author of 'Fire and Rain: The Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel, James Taylor, CSNY and the Lost Story of 1970.'  "It's no coincidence that the top songs of the year were as much hymns as pop songs.

--RoadDog

PONDER THIS:  Why doesn't glue stick to the inside of the bottle?

WLS Top 30 for Week of August 10, 1970-- Part 4: "Big Yellow Taxi"

*  Means dropping on the chart.

15.  *THE LOVE YOU SAVE--  Jackson Five    #1     That was quite a string of hits they had when they first burst on the music scene.  From late 1969 to the spring of 1971 they had four straight #1s and then two straight #2s.  Not bad for a start.

14.  HAND ME DOWN WORLD--  Guess Who    #17    Burton Cummings and gang.  First hit after  Randy Bachman left the band.

13.  WAR--  Edwin Starr     #1    As in Vietnam.  Well, it's 1-2-3 What Are We Fighting For?"  His biggest hit.

12.  BIG YELLOW TAXI--  The Neighborhood     #29   Great take on the Joni Mitchell song.  One comment said they were from Chicago, but I am unable to find anything about them because of another band called Neighbourhood.

11.  *BAND OF GOLD--  Freda Payne    #3    It was #1 in UK for six weeks.  One comment said:  ""Got out of Navy in the summer of 1970.  Every dive bar in San Diego was playing this song."

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Anybody Here See The Noise, See The Fear And Commotion."  Kind of appropriate to today, isn't it?   Answer below.   --RoadDog


"Hand Me Down World"

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

Back to Summer 1970, Fifty Years Ago-- Part 1: Setting the Stage

Bob Stroud has been doing four three-hour shows Root Saluting Summers from 40 Years Ago, starting with 1967 on his Rock and Roll Roots show on Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM, the Drive.  .  Last year it was the Summer of 1979.  At that point there was a problem, as his show covers music from the 60s and 70s.  And, this summer from forty years ago would be 1980.  I was wondering what Bob would do.

I was definitely hoping he wouldn't drop the summer shows.  I kind of build my summer's around being home so I can listen to the shows (and record them on my cassette tapes).

I was happy to find out that he was going back to fifty years ago, 1970.

He will be doing a new show about the Summer of 1970 the first Sunday of each month June, July, August and September.  The show first airs from 9 to noon CDST and then a repeat from 9 to midnight.  www.wdrv.com

Anyway, here are the songs he played on June 7.  These are songs on the radio and in your record collection (no downloads) for June 7, 1970.

I was home from college, Northern Illinois University, after completing my freshman year.  However, I had to take a summer school course at Harper College because I wasn't sure if I had passed a geography final and that might have made me short hours needed to stay in college.  And, with a draft lottery number 22, that meant I might end up overseas, if you know what I mean.

I went back to my high school job working at the Burger King in Palatine.

Going Back 50 Years.  --RoadOldie

THOSE CRAZY COUNTRY SONGS:  Flushed From the Bathroom of Your Heart"

May 2020, Coronavirus, May 1970 Kent State Riots Fifty Years Later

Fifty years ago, college campuses across the country went up for grabs when the news got out about the four students killed at an anti-Vietnam War rally at Kent State University in Ohio.  Some of the protests were violent, others somewhat peaceful.

I was a freshman at Northern Illinois University living in the Lincoln Hall dormitory at the time.  Things were peaceful at NIU at first, but several days later, violence erupted and arrests were made.  I personally thought I was watching the end of the United States back then, especially when we had a confrontation between the police and students right outside the dorm which moved to the other side of Lincoln and then we heard explosions and the fire alarm went off.

Believe me, it was scary.  To read more about it, click on my Cooter's History Thing blog to the left of this, then click on the NIU Kent State Riots label.

Now, of course, fifty years later, colleges are canceled because of the virus.

--RoadDog

These Movies Moved Me

Well, maybe I didn't see four of the movies nominated for Best Picture, but, in my opinion, I have seen two movies that SHOULD have been nominated but weren't.

They were "Just Mercy" and "The Last Full Measure."

"Just Mercy" was about a man's unjust conviction for a horrible murder in Alabama.  "The  Last Full measure" was about the effort to secure  the Medal of Honor for a Vietnam Air Force pararescueman.

These movies really moved me.  I see many movies and am almost always entertained, but it is the rare one that moves me.

--RoadDog

TAX FACTS:  Taxes eat up 38.2% of the average family's income; that's more than for food, clothing and shelter combined.

WLS Top 40 for January 12, 1970-- Part 3: "Leaving On a Jet Plane"

I always go to You Tube and listen to every one of the Top 40 songs when I do this.  Really takes you back.  My comments come from listening to these You Tube songs.

30.  YESTER-ME, YESTER-YOU, YESTERDAY--   Stevie Winder      #7    Yeah, that great Motown sound.  Little Steveland Morris, born in 1950.

29.  LEAVING ON A JET PLANE--  Peter, Paul & Mary     #1   Two Vietnam veterans made comments and said they heard this song last and first when going to and returning from that war.  Really hits home.  Their biggest hit and last Top 100 song.

28.  EARLY IN THE MORNING--  Vanity Fare      #12      Is that a harpsicord?  Great pop song.  I always thought it was Vanity Fair.  British pop quintet.

27.  MY HONEY & ME--  Luther Ingram       #55   Never heard it before, but what a great song.  One comment said they were playing it on Chicago's WVON back in January 1970.  Probably Herb Kent, the Cool Gent playing it then.  The pride of Jackson, Tennessee.

26.  WALKIN' IN THE RAIN--  Jay & the Americans     #19    Another smooth outing for Jay.  Real name John "Jay" Traynor.  Group formed at New York University in 1959.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "What Happened To The World We Knew When We Would Dream And Scheme and While The Time Away."  Answer below.  --RoadDog


"Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday"

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

Remembering the Fallen, Memorial Day 2019

This blog entry started in my Cooter's History Thing blog and continued in my Not So Forgotten: War of 1812 blog and finishes here in this blog.  All blogs are for this date.

That humorous story was the last one that Tom Dier had with Jerry Corp.  That's because Jerry Corp was killed the next day.  While his platoon was trying to flush out a sniper there was confusion, and in it, Jerry Corp tripped a boobytrap and he was killed.  The date was April 21, 1970, one week after his 20th birthday.

After he came home, one thing Tom Dier felt he had to do was visit Jerry Corp's family, and especially his mother, Irene, who lived in Ozark County, Missouri.  She said, "We never got used to Jerry not coming home."

But, Irene, now 92, said something else to him.  "Irene has mentioned that she lost her son, but at the same time, she gained many sons --- Corp's former comrades who call, write, visit, keep tabs."

Memorial Day.  What It's All About.  --RoadDog

Thank A Vietnam Vet Today, It's National Vietnam War Veterans Day Today

It was a war that I never thought would get over.  It started when I was in junior high, went all the way through high school and all the way through college.  I thought it would still be going on today.  There just was no end in sight as we continued the buildup for all those years from 1963 to 1973.

It was my war as I came really close to having to go.  I gad a draft lottery number of 22 and was graduating from college in May 1973, but the last fighting troops were pulled out March 29, 1973.  So, I was that close.

Not that I was against the war, just it is my belief that if you go to war, you fight to win it as soon as possible and you do whatever you have to do to accomplish those goals, no matter how mad they are.

I have written about my experiences with the Vietnam War in past blog entries.  Click on My Vietnam War Experience in the labels below to see what I have written.

A Hard and Long War.

I'd Celebrate That!!! March 28-31: Friday Is National Vietnam War Veterans Day

Note, there are other celebrations on these days.  I just pick a few of the ones.  For all of them go to checkiday and type in the date.

MARCH 28

CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK DAY-- **  So important for early reading.  Every child should have picture books.

EAT AN ESKIMO PIE DAY--  **  Avoid brain freeze, though.


MARCH 29

NATIONAL VIETNAM WAR VETERANS DAY--  **  The last American troops came home March 29, 1973.  I'll be putting up my flags on Saturday.

NATIONAL MOM AND POP BUSINESS OWNERS DAY--  **  The backbone of America.


MARCH 30

PENCIL DAY--  **  Our first real writing instrument.

NATIONAL TAKE A WALK IN A PARK DAY--  **  It is so relaxing.  When I see parks, I don't get as mad with my taxes.


MARCH 31

NATIONAL TATER DAY--  **  Any kind of potato is alright with me, especially loaded baked potatoes, French fries and, of course, tater tots.

NATIONAL CRAYON DAY--  **  Please don't eat the crayons.  Keep that point sharp.

Taters, Taters, French-Fried Taters.  --RoadDog

TOP TEN TRIVIA:  Underwater, you can hear a blue whale's heartbeat from two miles away.

I'd Celebrate That!! January 21-27: Library Shelfie Day Jan. 23

JANUARY 21--  Elementary School Teacher Day**  They get first shot at the kids.   Squirrel Appreciation Day**  They drive me nuts, but I love the lil' varmints.   National Hugging Day**   But no PDA, please.

JANUARY 22--   Come In From the Cold Day**  Warm is good.   National Polka Dot Day   National Hot Sauce Day   I don't think so.

JANUARY 23--  Library Shelfie Day**  Few things prettier than a shelf of books (unless a shelf of records or CDs.    National Pie Day**   I like pies better than cakes.

JANUARY 24--   Beer Can Appreciation Day**   Love "collecting" these.  Back in the 70s I had a pretty nice collection.   Clashing Clothes Day*8   Liz says I do this naturally.    National Peanut Butter Day**  Few things better.

JANUARY 25--A Room Of One's Own Day     I wouldn't know.  I've never had one.  National Fun At Work Day**    National Irish Coffee Day**  Warms you up right fine.

JANUARY 26--  National Peanut Brittle Day**  My brother's favorite.   Spouses' Day**  Ik, Liz.

JANUARY 27--  International Holocaust Remembrance Day**   Should be every day, though.   National Chocolate Cake Day**    Vietnam Peace Day**  I didn't think that war would EVER get Over!!

Yum Yum, Pie.  --RoadDog

IN 50 YEARS OF LIVING YOU LEARN:  People who want to share their religious views with ytou almost never want you to share yours with them.

My Vietnam War Experience-- Part 5: The Cambodian "Incursion" and Kent State

Protests against the Vietnam War continued at Northern Illinois and across the country.  Some of the other schools had their protests turn quite violent, but not so much in DeKalb.

However, on April 30, 1970, President Nixon went on TV to say we had had an "incursion" into Cambodia to cut off supplies the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese were receiving in South Vietnam.  The Ho Chi Minh Trail.  Well this set off a powder keg of protests at colleges all across the country, including at Northern.

It all came to a head on May 4, when National Guardsmen opened fire on students protesting at Kent State University in Ohio and four were killed and several wounded.  Some of the students had been protesting, others watching and some walking by on the way to and from classes.

Things got violent at campuses all over the country, although NIU was tense, but there was no violence.

That is until Father Groppi, a noted civil rights activist from Milwaukee, was going to come to campus.  That is when we started hearing that the anti-war people were planning some really big things.

If you want to read all my previous posts on this, hit the My Vietnam War Experience label below.

Things Really Heating Up.  --RoadDog

National Vietnam War Veterans Day Today: Five Objectives of the Day

Congress outlined five objectives for National Vietnam War Veterans Day.

The primary one one to thank and honor the veterans and their families on behalf of the nation for their service.

2.  Highlight the service of the armed forces and support organizations during the war.

3.  Pay tribute to wartime contributions at home by American citizens

4.  Highlight technology, science and medical advances made during the war.

5.  Recognize contributions by U.S. allies.

While typing this, I was listening to WBRF 98.1 FM out of Galax, Virginia, and they played the song "Riding With Private Malone" by David Ball.  It sent shivers up my spine as I was typing about the Vietnam War as I am presently doing.  It always has hit me hard. The deejay obviously didn't know about today being what it is as he didn't say anything about it.  Give it a listen and watch the video on You Tube.

Right now I am listening to "Still in Saigon" by Charlie Daniels.  Another one which hits home.

I  must admit that I didn't either until I came across the article in yesterday's Chicago Tribune which I wrote about in all of today's blogs.

A Day to Reflect.

JSS: Hot, Then More Hot-- No Rain-- CBS New Shows-- Vietnam War

JSS--  Just Some Stuff.

1.  HOT, THEN MORE HOT--  All last week and so far this week, it has been mighty hot around here, breaking the 90 degree level, not the heat index anyway.  So hot, I haven't been out on the boat since Wednesday.  Supposed to cool down, though, starting tomorrow.

And, when I get out-hotted, you know it is really hot.  Gives new meaning to the old song "Hot, Hot, Hot"  And that Third World Song "Ninety-six degrees in the shade, real hot in the shade."

2.  NO RAIN--  In addition to the the extreme hot, we haven't had any rain for quite a few weeks.  I have not cut the grass in three weeks now and still don't need to do so.  I am quite tired of watering the flowers every day.  And, I have a lot of flowers.  I am keeping the grass over the septic fields watered as when that dies, it is REALLY hard to get it back.  I'm guessing those two hurricanes kind of sucked all the precipitation out of the atmosphere.

3.  CBS NEW SHOWS--  Monday night I watched the first two hours of the new CBS season.  The four comedies, including the two new ones were great:  Big Bang Theory, Young Sheldon, Kevin Can Wait and Me, Myself & I.  bringing back Kevin James' wife from "King of Queens" was a good move.  And the two new comedies show a weal lot of promise.

4. VIETNAM WAR--  Still enjoying the Vietnam War series on PBS.  Another job well-done.  I especially like it because it gives the other side's story as well.

Just Some Stuff.  --RoadDog

Outstanding Music Soundtrack to the New Ken Burns "Vietnam War" Series

As much as I am interested in the events and background of the war as it plays out on the TV, that soundtrack is something else.  This would make a great album to have the whole of each song.  I'd buy it.

I was listening to one of my pre-recorded cassette tapes "Twenty Great Oldies-- Vol. 7" as I was typing away yesterday, and B.J. Thomas' "Billy and Sue" came on.  This is one of those songs that brings back the Vietnam War for me.It was his third single release after he had had great success with his first one, "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" by Hank Williams which went to #8 on the pop charts in 1966.

He then released "Mama" (#22--1966 and then "Billy and Sue" (#34--1966).

Billy and Sue met in high school and planned to get married, but then he got drafted for you-know-what war.  While he was out fighting Sue started running around and stopped sending letters.  Finally she sent one and it read "Dear John."

"A look came over Billy that would scare a ghost
Of a million soldiers -- coast to coast
And even though the air was filled with lead
Billy jumped up They shot him dead.

Billy was buried in a far away grave that read
'FOR HIS COUNTRY -- HE GAVE HIS LIFE'
But the epitaph -- was only a part
he didn't die from a bullet but  he died
From a broken heart."

The Music of a War.  --RoadBilly

LIFE'S LITTLE TRUTHS (Final One):  Inside some of us is a thin person struggling to get out, but they can usually be sedated with a few pieces of of chocolate cake.  (Or, cupcakes)

My Vietnam War Experience-- Part 4: Pledging Delta Sigma Phi

Continued from August 7, 2017.

In the spring semester 1970, I pledged Delta Sigma Phi fraternity at Northern Illinois University.  Tension on campus continued to get worse as the Vietnam War dragged on.  There was quite a bit of this anti-war sentiment that flowed over to anti-establishment and fraternities and sororities were viewed as "The Establishment," so our groups came under increasing fire from the others.

I had a great time during pledging and I have to admit that my grades slipped quite a bit.  To put it mildly, we partied a whole lot.  Delta Sig pledges had to carry this big old empty bomb shell around campus and protect it, or dire consequences if it got "stolen."  It was painted green with our Greek letters on it.  We never lost it.

Of course, failing college was a REAL Good way to get yourself to Vietnam via Uncle Sam's Draft.  You flunk, you get shot.

The frat house was on Augusta Avenue, east of campus (44 Augusta?).

Anyway, I became an active in April.

Hoddy Toddy, God-Almighty, Who the Hell Are We?  We're the Delta Sigs.  --RoadDog