Good Times Around Here May 17 to 19: Two Legions, Fish Fry, TV, a Historical Society, Cicadas, Magic Moon, Book Sale and Mary's Hideaway

FRIDAY, MAY 17

Malcolm and Steve came over to work on the gutters, window seals and tuckpoint the chimney and several ledges.  Met Kevin and Kelly, Glenn and Barb at Saylor Mick's for fish fry then went to the Fox Lake Legion for 50-50.  

Came home and watched the last episode of "Blue Bloods" for the spring.  Sadly, it ends after a few more episodes this fall.  This is my favorite TV drama. Love those family meals on Sundays.

SATURDAY, MAY 18

Stopped at Thornton's in Fox Lake for my usual cappucino and then to the Fox Lake/Grant Township Historical Society at Grant Museum in Ingleside for a very timely presentation on cicadas.  Afterwards did bush trimming, went to Sunnyside and watched the Preakness Race and then to Magic Moon in Spring Grove and was happy to see that my buddy Frank was back to tending bar on Saturday night.

SUNDAY, MAY 19

Went to the Friends of McHenry Library semiannual book sale and then to my buddy Langer's visitation in McHenry.  We had some great times together and I sure will miss him. Stopped at the McHenry Legion.  Afterwards met J.C. and some other of his pals at Mary's Hideaway in Johnsburg to toast him.

--Good Times in the Area.  --RoadDog

About Last Week: Back to MCCWRT, USMC 246th BD, Germanfest, Salute to the Vets and Donovan's

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9

Drove to Woodstock for my first McHenry County Civil War Round Table meeting since March 2020 thanks to you-know-what.  It was back at the Woodstock Library.  Sure was good to be back.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10

A big happy birthday to the USMC, number 246!!  

Went to Stucky's for a Germanfest feast.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11

A salute to all of our veterans on their day.  I went to Fox Lake for the ceremony at the train station but it was not there this year.

Met Kevin and Kelly at Donovan's in Twin Lakes Wisconsin, for live trivia and that great Happy Hour.

--RoadDog

Sitting Here Drinking My Cheerwine, Doing Professor Moptop's Homework and Typing These Blogs

Right now I am doing the homework assigned me last night at McHenry Library (Illinois).  And that was having to listen to the entire "Abbey Road" album" by you-know-who.  We are celebrating the 50th anniversary of this album's release this year.

And, what better way to find out about it than by having the "Fessa tell you about each and every song on it. He went into great detail and did it with plenty of video.  I doubt that anyone, even Terri Hemmert (and she REALLY KNOWS A LOT) knows more about the Beatles than Professor Moptop.

Plus, I am greatly enjoying my 12 ounce bottle of Cheerwine, the taste of North Carolina.  Yesterday, while shopping at our Spring Grove (Illinois) Jewel store I was fairly shocked to see a four pack of bottles for sale ($4).  That is much more than the usual $2.50 I like to spend for a 12-pack of pop.  But, the fact you can only rarely find it here in northern Illinois made me pay that price.  (I really stock up on the stuff when I'm in N.C..)

Sure made my day.

So, here I sit, typing away with my own two little fingers, drinking the good stuff and doing my homework.  I figured I had left homework behind when I got out of college, but evidently not so.

How 'Bout Dat?  --RoadDog

I'd Celebrate That!!! Feb. 11 to Feb. 14: Mardi Gras Season Begins Wesnesday

**   I'd Celebrate That.

FEBRUARY 11

CLEAN OUT YOUR COMPUTER DAY**  --  You're supposed to clean the outside and inside of your computer.  I can do the outside, but not going inside.  Too complicated.

NATIONAL DON'T CRY OVER SPILLED MILK DAY**--  If it's gone ot lost, get on with your life.

NATIONAL PEPPERMINT  PATTY DAY**   I sure love those.


FEBRUARY 12

LINCOLN'S BIRTHDAY**  The 16th President.

NATIONAL LOST PENNY DAY**  --  What's the saying?  A penny saved is a penny _____.

PAUL BUNYAN DAY**  --   Always enjoyed that story when I was growing up.   That and Pecos Bill.


FEBRUARY 13

BEGINNING OF MARDI GRAS SEASON** --  Well, I do love my Mardi Gras for so many reasons.  Though it looks like we won't be having it down at Panama City and Panama City Beach this year.

INTERNATIONAL PANCAKE DAY**  --What's a Mardi Gras without pancakes?

WORLD RADIO DAY** --  I don't know anyone who likes radio better than me.  I'm listening to WBRF, 98.1 FM Classic Country out of Galax, Virginia, right now, one of my favorite stations.

PACZKI DAY**  --   What's a Mardi Gras without those  good ol' Polish paczkis.


FEBRUARY 14

ASH WEDNESDAY--

LIBRARY LOVERS DAY**  --  Few places I enjoy more than a library.

NATIONAL CREAM FILLED CHOCOLATE DAY**  Like a box of chocolates, right Forrest?

VALENTINE'S DAY--  One of the biggest worthless events anywhere.   You do this everyday.  But it does make the greeting car, candy and flower folks mighty rich.

Mr. Radio Guy--RoadRadio

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.

Rock Songs Added to the Library of Congress National Recording Registry

March 21, 2018.

RUMOURS--  Fleetwood Mac  (album)
CALYPSO--  Harry Belafonte  (albun)

RPCK AROUND THE CLOCK--  Bill Haley & the Comets
MY GIRL--  Temptations

I LEFT MY HEART IN SAN FRANCISCO--  Tony Bennett
ALICE'S RESTAURANT MASSACRE--  Arlo Guthrie

LE FREAK--  Chic
THE GAMBLER--  Kenny Rogers

Five hundred songs and albums have been added to the registry since 2002.

--RoadDog

ABOUT US SEENAGERS:  (How teenagers and seniors are alike.) I get an allowance (retirement) every month.

Busy Weekend As Well

FRIDAY, AUGUST 8TH:  We drove to K.C.'s Cabin for breakfast and then to Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes, where we saw a movie.  Then we went to Glenn and Barb's on Mineola Bay, Fox lake, and got together with the Usual Suspects for happy hour.  Stopped at the Legion on the way back.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 9TH:  I went to the Round lake Area Library for the dedication of the Linda Kaufmann Meeting Room in honor of the 35 years she put into the library board.  She was a member when I was with it.  She passed away earlier this year.

I am a friend of her husband, Lisle, who was the pastor at Cavalry Presbyterian Church in Round Lake for many years.  I have been up in his plane on several occasions and when I was deejaying, we often worked together when he officiated the weddings.  I had his son in seventh grade.  Lisle, Jr., now has his PH.d and is a two-time Fullbright Award winner.  He is leaving for a second stint teaching in the Ukraine in September.  I know I sure wouldn't want to go to that troubled area.

In the afternoon, we went to the American legion customer appreciation party and enjoyed a pig roast, corn on the cob and an excellent country band called Joe Powers and the Outlaw Country band.

--RoadDog


SIGNS OF OLD AGE:  You keep repeating, repeating, repeating yourself.

Going Back to My Past Last Night

This past Friday, I was reading the Lake County Journal here in northeast Illinois and came across an article about the president of the Round Lake Area Library Board retiring after 35 years of being on the board.

I was also on the board and a former president of it, and knew Linda and her husband Lisle very well. He recently retired as reverend of the local Presbyterian Church. He had once taken me up in his plane and over the years, we had been at many weddings. He officiated and I deejayed.

Linda was retiring because they will be spending several months a year in their paradise, Hawaii.

The board was having a special session thanking her for all those years of service on Wednesday night. I figured to go myself and congratulate her, plus her husband and other people I knew might be there as well.

Barb, the former library director when i was on the board, was also there. I had a nice talk with Linda's husband, Lisle. Their son, Lisle Jr, is in the Ukraine right now, teaching and is a Fulbright Scholar. He has a PhD. I taught him way back in 7th grade and am quite proud of him.

Nothing Like Meeting Old Friends Again. --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