Around Here: Twice to Windhill for Food and Halloween Decorations, Stucky's for Jim Sieg and the Legion

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28

Drove to McHenry, Illinois, and had the $5 half pound burger special at Windhill Pancake Parlor on Il-120 at the bridge.  It cost extra for additional toppings and I got the crumbled blue cheese and grilled onions for $1.50.  One great meal.  But the main reason for going there was the Halloween decorations.  They definitely go overboard decorating for Halloween.  Everywhere you look there is something to see.  I know of no other place that decorates this much for the occasion.

We then went to Stucky's in Johnsburg to see the return of local entertainer Jim Sieg who we've been following for years.  He came down with a bad case of the Covid and has recovered now.  He had his full band and he was having a great time.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29

We went back to Windhill Pancake Parlor again, this time with Kevin and Kelly and try their fish fry and fish boil.  I got the fish boil and Liz the fish fry for $14.25 each.  It was AUCE, but neither one of us could finish and we took plenty home.  Kevin and Kelly had not been there for the decorations and were impressed.

Afterwards, we went to the Fox Lake American Legion where Kelly pretty much drank for free answering the "Wheel of Fortune" questions.  We then had the fifty-fifty, but none of us won anything.  Came home and enjoyed Margaritaville in the basement and watched the World Series game,

--Why Go Anywhere Else?  --RoadDog

PREGNANCY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:  Q:  My childbirth instructor said it's not pain I'll feel during labor, but pressure.  Is she right?   A:  Yes, in the same way that a tornado might be called an air current.

Around Here: Sad Sox Eliminated, No Civil War Round Table, Donovan's Reef and German Fest at Stucky's

TUESDAY. OCTOBER 12

I had two big things to do today.  Originally just one, but yesterday's Sox-Astros ALDS game was rained out and rescheduled for today.  I also already had a McHenry County Civil War Round Table meeting at Woodstock Public Library, the first in person one since the virus hit at 7 pm.  The Sox game was in the afternoon.

We went to Sunnyside Tavern in Johnsburg to watch the Sox game which was my big mistake.  The Sox got off to a 1-0 lead, but then the bats went silent and any mistake the Sox made, the Astros scored.  They were especially good at scoring with two outs which happened quite a few times.  That is the mark of a good team.

And, out pitching collapsed again as well.  The result was a 9-1 loss and elimination from the playoffs.  To say the least, I was in no shape to drive the 17 miles to Woodstock for the round table meeting.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13

We went to Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin and played trivia with Uncle Jeffie.  Afterwards, I went to Stucky's in Johnsburg, Illinois, and had their Wednesday special, the German Fest 4-course dinner which included beef goulash, bratwurst balls & sauce, hunter's pork chops and Black Forest cake for $13.50.  As usual, Chef Deb put out a great spread.

--Eins, Zwei, Drei.  --RoadHund

Stucky's 5-Course Mardi Gras Dinner for February 26: $12.95

Stucky's is located in Johnsburg, Illinois.

Served from 5 to 8 pm Wednesday.  I already have my reservations for this meal.

And, it is all you can eat.  And, just $12.95!!!!

FIRST COURSE:  Bayou Crab Chowder

SECOND COURSE:  Jambalaya with red beans & rice

THIRD COURSE:  Catfish with hush puppies

FOURTH COURSE:  Po Boy with pulled pork, slaw and fried pickles

FIFTH COURSE:  Beignets with caramel sauce

Salivating Just Thinking About It.  --RoadHog

I'd Celebrate That!!! March 6-7: National Oreo Day and National Cereal Day

**  I'd celebrate it.

MARCH 6

DENTISTS DAY-- **  Some wouldn't celebrate this, but we have a really great dentist, Dr. Bennett,  So here's to you, Doc!!

NATIONAL FROZEN FOOD DAY--  **  Were it not for this or canned food or doggie bag food, Liz and I would never eat.

NATIONAL WHITE CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE DAY--  **  Hard to imagine ANY KIND of cheesecake not being good.  Right, Golden Girls.

NATIONAL OREO COOKIE DAY--  **  Do you unscrew them to get max icing on one side  (then dip the other side in milk?)?


MARCH 7

NATIONAL CEREAL DAY--  **  I especially like Fruit Loops and raisin bran.

NAMETAG DAY--  **  Especially hard plastic ones.  Not those paper ones where you write your name and pull it off the adhesive and put it on yourself (and it comes off somewhere a short time later)>  Probably time to go through your junk drawers and throw some of them out unless, otherwise, you can't remember your name.

NATIONAL BE HEARD DAY--  **  For small businesses.  Since the big ones get all the advertising.

NATIONAL CROWN ROAST OF PORK DAY--  **  Though I've never had one, it sure looks good.

Crown Me.  --RoadDog

TOP TEN TRIVIA:  The lowest temperature in the world was minus 128.6 F (without a wind chill) at Vostok Station, Antarctica, on July 21, 1983.  And, we were complaining about 2 degrees here in northern Illinois yesterday.  Thanks a lot Canada.

I'd Celebrate That!!! August 13 to 19: Rum Day Thursday

From the August 2018 Calendar.  ** Means it is one I'd drink to

AUGUST 13,  Monday:  Filet Mignon Day**  Boy, I'd eat that.--- Left Handers Day**  Try shaking hands with one.

AUGUST 14,  Tuesday:    Creamsicle Day**

AUGUST 15,  Wednesday    Relaxation Day**    I can relax to that.0---Lemon Merengue Pie Day**  For eating or in-the-face?

AUGUST 16,  Thursday--  Tell a Joke Day**  But I forget the punch line    Rum Day**   Time flies when you're having "rhum."

AUGUST 17,  Friday--  Thrift Shop Days**   It's like a treasure hunt.  You never know what you'll find.

AUGUST 18,  Saturday--  Fajita Day**  Just don't touch the plate.

AUGUST 19, Sunday--  Aviation Day**  I used to like to fly, but they just don't treat me right on the airlines anymore.    Soft Ice Cream Day**

Lots To Ponder Over.  RoadDog

HOW COME:  You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.  (I might add, this is especially true when you're retired.)

I'd Celebrate That!!-- July 23 to July 29: Cousins Day and Aunts and Uncles Day This Week

JULY 23, MONDAY--  Vanilla Ice Cream Day**   Hot Dog Day**  One of my favorite foods as long as it is loaded or Chicago-style.

JULY 24, TUESDAY--  Cousins Day**  Hey Joe, Debbie, Phillip, Louis, Nancy and Gayle.   Tequila Day**  I still don't remember last year's celebration.  "One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor, you know."

JULY 25, WEDNESDAY--  Hot Fudge Sundae Day**  Just watch out for brain freeze.

JULY 26, THURSDAY--  Aunt and Uncle Day**  Sadly, they are all gone now, but remembering Aunt Louise and Uncle Delbert, Aunt Angelea and Uncle Louis, Aunt Dot and Uncle Billy.    Chili Dog Day**  Hey, isn't that a hot dog?

JULY 27, FRIDAY--  Bagpipe Appreciation Day**  Nothin' like a good tune on those.  Scotch Day**  Well, now that I taught myself (with a lot of practice) to drink the stuff.

JULY 28, SATURDAY--  Milk Chocolate Day**  Any kind of chocolate.

JULY 29, SUNDAY--  Chicken Wing Day**  (Always my favorite part of fried chicken, even before they got so popular and expensive.)  Lasagna Day**

Practice Makes Perfect.  RoadDog

YOU KNOW IT'S A REDNECK COMPUTER WHEN:  The six front keys have rotted out.

I'd Celebrate It!!-- Daiquiri Day

JULY 16, MONDAY--  Personal Chef Day?  What?

JULY 17, TUESDAY--  Emoji Day

JULY 18, WEDNESDAY--  Caviar Day   Yuck!!

JULY 19, THURSDAY--  Daiquiri Day**  but watch out for brain freeze.

JULY 20, FRIDAY--  Lollipop Day  Not real fond of them.

JULY 21, SATURDAY--  Junk Food Day*8  The more junk the better.

JULY 22, SUNDAY--  Hammock Day**  Parents Day**

Junk Food May Not be Good for You, But It Sure Is Good.  --RoadDog

YOU KNOW THE COMPUTER BELONGS TO A REDNECK WHEN:  The monitor is up on blocks.

I'd Celebrate That!!-- March 18-24" Goof Off Day This Thursday

**  I'd celebrate that.

MARCH 18, SUNDAY--  Sloppy Joe Day**

MARCH 19, MONDAY--  Certified Nurses Day**  , Poultry Day**  Umm!  Chicken Wings and Fried Chicken.

MARCH 20, TUESDAY--  Ravioli Day**

MARCH 21, WEDNESDAY--  Single Parent Day**  that's a really rough job.  French Bread Day**

MARCH 22, THURSDAY--  Goof Off Day**  Every Day for Me.    Water Day**  With my bourbon.

MARCH 23, FRIDAY--  Chip & Dip Day**  Three of my favorite words.

MARCH 24, SATURDAY--  Tortilla Chip Day**  Add some salsa.

--RoadDog

OLD IS WHEN:  You are cautioned to slow down by the doctor instead of by the police.

Living in Today's World-- A Proper Super Bowl Menu

From the February 5, 2017, Rhymes With Orange comic strip.

THE ULTIMATE SEVEN-LAYER DIP

This consists of:

Chex Mix
Hot wings
Meatballs

Jalapeno poppers
Chili
Cheese Doodles
Sliders

No Argument From Me.  --RoadDog

Summer North Carolina 2016-- Part 1: Gettin' My Cincy Chili, Chocolate Uglys, Snappy Lunch and Wilber's 'Cue Fixes

JULY 19, TUESDAY

I left for North Carolina to help settle affairs with my mom's estate and took the usual route there, now becoming very familiar with the third trip in as many months.  I got through Indianapolis during rush hour without a problem and stopped for my usual Cincy chili fix at Skyline Chili.  I drove to the east side of Columbus, Ohio, and then went on to Athens, Ohio, where I stayed at Super 8.

JULY 20, WEDNESDAY

On US-33 to I-77 in West Virginia.  No Virginia peanuts at the Virginia Welcome Center, but they said they had it on order.  I need my Va. peanut fix as well.  Stopped at Wytheville, Virginia, for the cheapest gas of the trip, $1.90, and got my Chocolate Ugly fix.

Then stopped at Mt. Airy, N.C., for my Snappy Lunch porkchop sandwich fix.  I-40 was busy, but made it through the Raleigh-Durham "Strangler' always a horrible traffic jam.  Arrived in Goldsboro, N.C., and went to Wilber's BBQ for my 'cue fix with Bob and Andy.

Gettin' My Fixes.  --RoadDog

JSS: No Such a Thing-- Robins Gone-- A Legion Win-- Ania's Polish Deli-- Stoplights on US-12

JSS--  Just Some Stuff.

1.  NO SUCH A THING--  Liz is putting together the table for our new 32-inch HD TV.  The instructions say easy-to-assemble.  No such a thing!!

2.  ROBINS GONE--  We believe we had two baby robins in the nest over the porch light to our back deck.  They both flew away last Tuesday.  These were the first robins hatched there in several years.  We enjoyed watching them.

3.  A LEGION WIN--  I drove to Lake Zurich, Illinois, last night to see the Fox Lake Bulldogs (sponsored by our American Legion) play the Lake Zurich Bears.  because of stoplights on US-12, I didn't get there until the top of the second inning with our boys down 4-1, eventually down 5-1.  Things looked bleak.  But they came back and ended up winning 7-6.  Way to go Post 703 Legion baseball team.

4.  ANIA'S POLISH DELI--  Before going to the game I went to Ania's Polish Deli and Grocery next to the Lake Zurich Wal-Mart to use an Entertainment Book coupon at 50% off.  I order a tenderloin sandwich and this was one really, really big sandwich.  I've eaten on it twice and still am not finished.

5.  STOPLIGHTS ON US-12--  Like I said, there are a REAL LOT of stoplights on US-12 between Spring Grove and Lake Zurich and I caught most of them just as they turned red.

Sure Made My Day.  --RoadDog

SILLY PUNS:  A dyslexic man walks into a bra.

Original Locations of 30 Famous Food Chains-- Part 2: Nation's Famous

6.  STARBUCKS--  2000 Western Ave., Seattle, Wash., 1971)

7.  CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL--  (1644 E. Evans Ave., Denver, Colorado)

8.  NATHAN'S FAMOUS--  (1310 Surf Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 1916)

9.  WENDY'S--  (257 E Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio,

10.  HOOTERS--  (2800 Gulf-to-Bay Blvd., Clearwater, Fla., 1983)

--RoadDog

Original Locations of 30 Famous Food Chains-- Part 1: McDonald's

From Mental Floss

Ever wonder where your favorite fast food chain first popped up?  Here they are (with date):

Pictures of the first stores and more information accompany each one.

1.  McDONALD'S--  (1398 North E Street, San Bernardino, Cal., 1940)  Of course the ones we know today, started by Ray Kroc, first opened in Des Plaines, Illinois, in 1955.)

2.  PIZZA HUT--  (503 South Bluff Street, Wichita, Kansas, 1958)

3.  T.G.I.F. FRIDAY'S--  (1152 1st Avenue, New York, New York, 1965)

4.  WAFFLE HOUSE--  (2719 East College Avenue, Decatur, Georgia, 1955)

5.  DUNKIN' DONUTS--  (543 Southern Artery, Quincy, Massachusetts, 1948)

--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

Good Eatin' and Times Around Here: The Mega Mary (As in Bloody)

FRIDAY:  $2 bottles at Dirty Rooster overlooking Grasslake.  $1 drfats at the Legion.


SATURDAY:  Great breakfast skillet at Steak 'N Shake, presentation on Railroads in McHenry County, Vinyl Frontier Record Store in McHenry (bought two CDs) and the new Brad Paisley CD at Best Buy.  You know, the one with "Accidental Racist" that has so many blacks up in arms.  Great books and sports gnomes at Five Below.

Unbelievably good steak dinner at Route 12 Bar and Grill.  For $10 we got an 8-ounce NY Strip, salad and home made mashed red potatoes.

SUNDAY--  Tommy's for the Hawks win.  Route 12 for their $12 Mega Bloody Mary.  I don't usually spend that much for a drink, but made an exception.  It comes in a 28-ounce glass with three shots of vodka.  Then, it is loaded.  You drink it through a hollow Slim Jim.  Then there is a shrimp, two loaded spears of stuff, all sorts of other things and a burger slider and a brat slider.  Lends a new meaning to drinking your lunch.  Watched Cubs blow another one.

Big crowd as they also had a Chain Crawl sign up.


MONDAY--  $6 burrito meal at Antonio's.

TUESDAY--  NTN and $4.50 Maxwell Street Polish meal at Donovan's Reef.

Why Go Anywhere Else?  --RoadDog

Visions of Holiday Treats

From the November 19, 2012, USA Today "Visions of...peppermint chips?" by Bruce Horowitz.

I always like holiday goodies.  After all, I am just finishing off some mighty good pumpkin ice cream from Halloween/fall.  The article says that the food giants decide Americans want something else that they can't get the rest of the year.

Some of those:

Candycane,  Cinnamon & Sugar, White Chocolate Peppermint and Pumpkin Pie Spice flavored Pringles
Gingerbread shakes from Red Robin (with a shot of Jim Beam for adults)
Gingerbread Cookie Sundae from Burger King
Chocolate truffle ChapStick
Baskin-Robbins has a $32.99 ice cream cake centerpiece that looks like a turkey with legs made of sugar cones.

Jones Cola had a turkey and gravy soda in 1994.  This year, it has Gingerbread, Pear tree, Candy Cane and Sugar Plum.
You can get a Peppermint Mocha at Starbucks if you can afford it.

And, best of all, McDonald's is planning on bringing those McRIBS BACK!!! 

Oh, Boy.  Oh, Boy.  Oh, Boy!!!!   McRibs!!!  --RoadDog


MAXINE WONDERS:  Whatever happened to preparations A through G?

Holiday Gobbles More Cash-- Part 2

Sweet potatoes, 3 pounds: $3.19, $3.26, 7 cents

Fresh cranberries, 12 oz.: $2.41, $2.48, 7 cents

Pie shells, 2: $2.46, $2.52, 6 cents (Oh boy, two pies!!!)

Miscellaneous ingredients: $3.22, $3.22, a 12 CENT DROP!!

1-pound relish tray (carrots and celery): 77 cents, 76 cents, a ONE CENT DROP!!

TOTAL: 2010: $43.47 2011: $49.20.

Up $5.73 = 13%.

Sad, Sad. --RoadDog

Holiday Gobbles More Cash-- Part 1

From the Nov. 11th Chicago Tribune by Jeff Wilson.

The cost of a Thanksgiving dinner will jump more than 13% this year, the biggest gain in more than 20 years. A meal for ten people rises to $49.20 from $43.47 last year. Turkey is the biggest increase.

I will give the item, 2010 price,2011 price and increase.

16-pound turkey: $17.66, $21.57, $3.91

Milk 1-gallon whole: $3.24, $3.66, 42 cents

Pumpkin-pie mix, 30 oz., $2.62, $3.03. 41 cents

Whipping cream, half pint: $1.70, $1,96, 26 cents

Cubed stuffing, 14 oz.: $2.64, $2.88, 24 cents

Green peas, 1 pound: $1.44, $1.68, 24 cents

Rolls, 12: $2.12, $2.30, 18 cents

More increases coming.

Thanks GRBs. --RoadDog


PARAPROSDOKIAN SENTENCE: A bus is a vehicle that runs twice as fast when you're after it as when you are in it.

To Boat or Not to Boat

Even though we're trying to get to our goal of 40 boating expeditions for the season, we are picky about the weather.

We did go out Monday and Wednesday, but not Tuesday when it looked like rain all day and yesterday when it was just too hot.

Monday after boating, we went to Tammy's Pizza on State Park Road in Spring Grove. Some of the best pizza anywhere and free peanuts.

TUESDAY, we ended up at Donovan's where they always expect us when they see bad weather. Greatest Polish sausage sandwiches anywhere on some remarkable bread with sauerkraut and grilled onions. And, for $2. Played NTN with 7 Top twenties.

Earlier, I, went to McHenry and bought six CDs at Best Buy and Wal Mart. One was Colt Ford. Country Rap. Who'd have figured. Plus got the Andy Griffith "Loaded Goat" episode on DVD.


WEDNESDAY-- Saw the movie "Conan the Barbarian" with Freddie Kreuger's daughter. Had drinks at Hello Folks, went boating, then to castaways for 40 cent jumbo wings, $1 drafts and Jim Seig providing the enetertainment.


THURSDAY-- Too hot for boating. Went with Frank in his convertible to Donovan's for their Italian Beef special: $3 a sandwich. Played NTN and got the place on the board.

Sure Miss All That Teaching. --RoadDog


UNIVERSAL TRUTH: The only time I look forward to a red light is when I'm trying to check something out on a map.

Sore Feet, Too Much Food, BUT, Didn't Buy Nothin'

A Day at the Wisconsin State Fair.

We did go to the fair on August 9th, and enjoyed ourselves despite the Chicago-level prices and light rain that we had early on. When the rain stopped and the sun came out, the heat became almost unbearable.

Met Rick and Chris at the Old Style Heartland Pavilion, our usual place to meet. We do some stuff together and others separately. If we get separated, we meet back here on the hour. However, now that we have cell phones, it's not such a problem anymore.

One place that still has reasonable prices is the Wisconsin Products Pavilion. They, of course, feature items made in Wisconsin and cheap prices as well as samplers. I had an ostrich stick, ice cream sundae, buffalo burrito. I also had three small cups of milk at Herb's Milk House which is sponsored by US Senator Herb Kohl. I like their different flavors like chocolate, mocha, and strawberry.

We saw several favorite bands like Hat Trick, the band that doesn't know where the stage is as they meander among the crowd and play Cajun and Buffett style music. Also saw the Rhythm Kings who play several summer dates a year out at Captain's Quarters on the Chain.

An Irish place by Old Style had a bagpiper and later a guy singing Irish songs- imagine that! Michael Drake had the crowd hopping at the Tropics.

My poor feet were very tired when we left, but I am happy to report that I didn't buy anything from any place out there, a first.

Well, Maybe I Will Go Back Despite the Chicago Prices.   --RoadDog