Trying to Reason With an Ice Storm-- Part 6: How to Keep Busy When There's Nothing to Do at Home

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23

I went to Wal Mart and overheard several people talking about not having electricity and that was why they were out "shopping," also to stay warm.  Then I went to Meijer and I heard someone call to me, turned, and it was one of the couples from Midwest Breakfast Company.  Great minds must think alike.  Right?

Returning home, I walked around back to check for damage and sadly saw that one of my clump white birch trees was broken about two-thirds of the way up.  Too bad.  That is a pretty tree.  Plus, there were a lot of limbs down on both pine islands.

Like I said, this is by far the worst ice storm we've had in the thirty years living in this house.

Still no power when I got back to the house, so, what else could I do but take a nap.  I was awakened at 11:30 am when the power came back on. This means lots of resetting items that usually Liz did (and knew how to do).  But now I have to figure it out myself and remember, I'm pretty technologically challenged.  Electricity had been out 17 hours.

Then, there is that computer thing.

Actually, I somehow got it going again.  No idea how, though.

With roads in good shape, I drove over to Bulldog Ale House south of McHenry for their $2 draft beer special.  They have 32 draft beers, including domestics, imports and craft beers.  I like imports and craft beers, but not for $6 to $8, but am like a kid in a candy store at $2.  I tried quite a few different ones (No IPAs though, Yuck!!).

Came home and watched the Thursday TV shows (a favorite night).  Sadly, Wednesday night is also a favorite, but we all know what happened to that last night.

--RoadIce

Saying Goodbye to Stucky's: No Tacos But Oh Those Burgers

MONDAY, JUNE 27

This was to be the last week that one of our favorite places to go was to be open.  Stucky's in Johnsburg, Illinois.  (Stucky's was also the same place that Tom's Cafe was located back in the 1990s and we also hung out there a lot.)

So, we decided to go to Stucky's as much as we could.

I went to the Fox Lake Theatre and saw "Top Gun:  Maverick."  Then Liz and I went to Sunnyside for their $1.50 Monday draft beer special and then over to Stucky's where we planned on getting their $1 tacos.  Sadly, however, they ran out of tacos before we could order.

That is a problen there right now.  They are running out of many things.  You never know "what" you can order and hope to get."  Enjoyed the $2 12 ounce cans, always ice cold.

*****************************

TUESDAY, JUNE 28

Went to Stucky's for the last half price burgers and were happy to find out that they had restocked a little, but there were many times employees were sent over to the next door Angelo's grocery store to buy stuff.  

I had my last Roland's Swiss cheese and mushroom burger with loads of grilled onions and Liz had her last bacon cheeseburger.  Both came with fries or tots of homemade chips.  I dare you to get a burger that good and big anywhere for $4.75 anymore, especially in these days of runaway food prices.

--RoadStuck

Stucky's Is Closing, Granny's Diner, Gas Prices and 'Mikie' Dies

MONDAY, JUNE 20

We went to Sunnyside for the Monday $1.50 draft beer special and were not happy to find out that Stucky's was going to close June 30.  This is one of our main places to go in Johnsburg, Illinois.

So, we went over to Stucky's and found out it was true.  Deb, the owner, had just reached the point of no-return as far as the place goes.  That's too bad.  We'll have to see it out of business with a lot of trips these last few days.  We have a lot of people that we know from there.  (There was a general concensus that there were already some people interested in buying the place.)

We did have the $1 tacos, their Monday special.

TUESDAY, JUNE 21

Met the Sunnyside folks at Granny's Diner in Johnsburg for breakfast, then went to some flower places and grocery shopping.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22

Gas in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, now "down" to $4.90.  Nice to see it going down, but man is that way too high.  Played trivia with Uncle Jeffie at Donovan's Reef.

We were saddened to learn that Mike Bornhorst, "Mikie," had died at Donovan's.  He lived in one of the motel rooms for many years and was quite a regular.  He was friends with everybody.  There will be a celebration of life in July for him at Donovan's.  We will be there.

--RoadDog

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.

Good Times Last Week: No Q But Stucky's, Donovan's Reef, Perennials, Gas Gouge, Nothin' Runs Like a Deer and Best Dog Ever

TUESDAY, AUGUST 31

We were going to meet Kevin and Kelly, Glenn and Barb at BB*Q in Spring Grove, but they weren't open and we fear are closed for good.  Fall-back plan was Stucky's in Johnsburg, Illinois, and their great half-price burger and $2 domestic cans special on Tuesdays.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1

FP (Front Porch) which I do every day for breakfast and coffee.  The FP chipmunk has me trained so well as his or her food requirements.  I had to help the guy from Buck Brothers push the lawn tractor across the yard and up a small hill to get it on the trailer so he could take it back to Wauconda to have them find out why it stopped running last week.  I'm getting too old for this sort of thing.

As usual, met Kevin and Kelly at Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin for trivia and drinks.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2

Drove to McHenry, Illinois, where gas had jumped to $3.46 for Labor Day and Hurricane Ida.  Big Oil needs to make their profit, you know.  Sad to see that Meijer is now requiring face masks, but at least they had three bricks of cassette recording tapes.  Bought three hostas and two red perennials at Meijer as well for $4 apiece.  Then  bought five small mum plants for $1.25 each and two $4 gladidora perennials at Home Depot.

Found out the lawn tractor would cost $380 to fix and was happy to hear it as I was figuring that I'd have to replace my 27-year-old John Deere and that would be over $3,000.  So, I was happy about that.

Later went to Sunnyside Tavern in Johnsbirg and had probably the best hot dog ever for $2 and a dollar extra forb tater tots.

Eatin' and Drinkin' Cheap in the Neighborhood.  --RoadDog