About Last Week: Maxell Cassette Tapes, Alex's Gyros, The Vinyl Frontier Records and the Legion

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8

Went to McHenry, Illinois, and to Meijer and was all too happy to buy two more 5-pack bricks of Maxell cassette tapes for recording purposes.  Yep, I still record on cassettes.  This is one of the few places I know of where I can buy them.

We had plans to eat at our favorite Chinese buffet, the Grand Buffet, and got the door only to find they are closed on Tuesdays.  Disappointed, but I remembered I wanted to go to Alex's on 120 in town because I'd heard they had a great gyro sandwich.  They did.

Then, we went to The Vinyl Frontier on 120, a great mom and pop record store that had just moved in the fall from its long-time store on Riverside Drive.  I bought eight CDs.  

Then, we wanted to go to the PLAV (Polish Legion of American Veterans), but they had too many people so went to the American Legion instead and had a really great time with the folks there and especially enjoyed the $1.50 rum and Cokes during happy hour.

I Was Very Happy.  --RoadDog

Thanksgiving Weekend: Sunnyside, NIU, Donovan's Reef, T-Giving, McTurkey, Da Bears, Da 'Vacation'

**  TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23

We went to Sunnyside to watch the last NIU regular season football game since we don't get ESPNU.  Northern was blown out.  

**  WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24

Went to Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes to have the pre-T party.

**  THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25   THANKSGIVING

We had thoughts of eating at the Grand Buffet Chinese place in McHenry, but they were closed so ended up having the McTurkey at McDonald's.  (Well, actually the McDouble Bundle of fries and sandwich for $3.)

Watched the Bears "beat up" on the winless Detroit Lions 16-14 to run up the record for the season to 4-7.  Well,, at least it was a win and snapped a 5 game losing streak.

Came home and enjoyed three of the "Vacation" movies, some of my favorites.  The only one I didn't see  was Christmas Vacation."

--RoadDog

THINGS YOU'D LIKE TO SAY:  I'll try to be nicer if you try to be smarter.

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

I'd Celebrate That!! Jan. 1 to Jan. 6: Buffet Day Today

JANUARY 1--  Make Those Resolutions If You Haven't Already.   Bloody Mary Day**  A Little Hair of the Dog.   National Hangover Day**

JANUARY 2--  Buffet Day**  I Love buffets!!!

JANUARY 3--  National Write to Congress Day**  Women Rock Day**

JANUARY 4--  Spaghetti Day**   National Trivia Day**  Did somebody say trivia?   Pop Music Chart Day**

JANUARY 5--  Chocolate Covered Cherry Day**  National Bird Day**  We love watching our Lil birdies at the feeders.  Whipped Cream Day**

JANUARY 6--  Bean Day**   Fruitcake Toss Day   Toss 'em this way.  I love fruitcakes.

It Is Time To Stop Making Fun of Fruitcakes!!  --RoadDog

FOOD COMMENTS:  "Health food makes me sick."  Calvin Trillin

About Last Weekend: A Grand Buffet, Legion, 145,000 Miles and the Lincoln Funeral Car

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7

A day of the doctors.  Afterwards a grand buffet at the Grand Buffet Chinese restaurant in McHenry.  You sure get some great food (including crab meat and shrimp) at a price just a bit more expensive than a Big Mac meal.

Went to the Legion for 50-50 but didn't win anything.  Enjoyed Margaritaville and the Ultimate Jukebox when we got home.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8

The 2003 Malibu rolled over 145,000 miles on my way to Antioch.  Before this car, we'd never had a car go over 100,000.  We're impressed.

I toured the Abraham Lincoln Funeral Car which was on display in Antioch, Illinois, by the bandshell behind Main Street.  That is an amazing recreation of the train car that carried the body of Abraham Lincoln from Washington, D.C., to Springfield, Illinois, in 1865.

I'll write more about this eventually in my Saw the Elephant Civil War blog.

--RoadDog

TRUTHS ABOUT GROWING OLD:  When you fall down, you wonder what else you can do as long as you're down there.   That old "Help I've fallen, and can't get up" isn't so funny anymore.

North Carolina Summer 2016-- Part 11: More 'Cue, Calabash Shrimp and Dancing

July 29, Friday.

Did some serious watering at Mom's place and went to Wal-Mart to replace the i-Pad charger I had left at the beach.  Bob and I had the great buffet at McCall's out on the Goldsboro US-70 bypass.  Not only do they have that great Eastern Carolina 'cue and slaw, but on Fridays they also have Calabash-style shrimp.

July 30, Saturday.

Spent most of the day going through Mom's papers and things.  This is a massive job.  Bob, Chie and I went over to LaGrange to a place called Good Times for a dance with a really good local band called Classic Connection.  They played all kinds of  music, including Beach songs.  This was a real dancing crowd.

--RoadDog

Navigating a Buffet

From June 28, 2013, Yahoo! by Shawn Smilie, executive chef of buffet at Aria in Las Vegas. What you should do at one of those buffets:

** Scope it out, especially new ones to you.

** Don't pile plate too high, take smaller amounts.

** As you go back for seconds, your body is digesting round one.

** Buffets put the cheaper, more filling foods at the beginning of the line.

** The healthier, more expensive foods are at the end.

** He hates people who take a whole portion and just take one bite out of it. (Me too.)

** Eat the foods that you eat at home.

**  Don't eat everything at the dessert buffet.

Essentially My Ideas As Well. --RoadDog