JSS: Miserable Weather Today-- Not the Fault of the Round Lake Spring Carnival-- McHenry Moose Spring Carnival

JSS--  Just Some Stuff.

1.  MISERABLE WEATHER TODAY--  It is 38.4 degrees right now, overcast and with blustery winds.  That is just plain miserable weather.  And that is considering the 80s and sun we had the last two days, even though quite windy.  I wish those Canadians would keep their cold weather and quit sending it here.  No sitting out FP or OD for me today.  (FP--front porch, OD-- on deck)  WXRT's Lin Brehmer pretty well summed up the weather of late.  He said:  "Yesterday it was summer.  Today it is winter.  Tomorrow it is spring."

2.  NOT THE FAULT OF THE ROUND LAKE SPRING CARNIVAL--  However, we can't blame this on the infamous Round Lake Beach Spring Carnival which closed last Sunday.  This carnival has brought weather like we have today ever since 1977 with few exceptions.  That is 40 years of crummy weather and the last twenty it has been held for two weekends in a row.

However, May 5-7 wasn't too bad and last weekend was really nice.  Maybe its streak is over?

3.  McHENRY MOOSE SPRING CARNIVAL--  Just like the groans the Round Lake carnival brings with its arrival, the McHenry Moose Lodge's spring carnival has been bringing the crummy weather for the last fifteen years.  They were actually taking credit for it when we all know it is Round Lake's fault.  The fact was, they had theirs at the same time as the one in Round Lake.

However, they changed dates this year and are having their carnival this weekend.

This Would Make This Crummy Weather THEIR FAULT!!!  JSS  --RoadDog

YOU'RE DRINKING TOO MUCH COFFEE WHEN:  The only time you're standing still is during an earthquake.

OK, I Wasn't Saying Much About It, But...HAWKS WIN! HAWKS WIN!!

Even though I didn't say much about it, I sure was watching and cheering as I do for all of MY teams.  I don't usually mention the games as it is the kiss of death if I do.  I write, they lose.

But, now that the Blackhawks clinched their third Stanley Cup in six years, I feel safe to say something.

Not that Liz and I are superstitious or anything like that.  But, there is no need to tempt fate by doing something different that might result in a loss.

This is why I wore my "Fear the Feathers" tee shirt under my Bobby Hull Blackhawk jersey the whole Stanley Cup playoff with the Tampa Bay Lightning.  This is why I have worn my black Blackhawk hat with the American Legion poppy attached to it ever since the Hawks had to win that fifth game against the Detroit Redwings back in May of 2013.  They overcame a 1-3 deficit in games to win 4-3.

This is why Liz wears certain clothing and has her "Pucky" stuffed bear and "Tommy Hawk" Tyco always-stands-up ball figure as well as air horn bottle opener and "Chelsea Dagger" on her cell phone.

This is why we get after folks playing "Chelsea Dagger" during the game, not until the winning air horn goes off.

Those Lightning players were every bit as good as out guys and I'm sure they'll be back.  Hopefully, their ownership and city will be a little more friendly to Blackhawks fans next time.

Let's Do that "Chelsea Dagger" Chant!!  --RoadDog


SOME CRAZY SAYINGS (Last One):  Marathon runners with bad footwear suffer the agony of defeat.

Absolutely "No Superstition" In Hawks Stanley Cup Win

As Stevie Wonder would say, "Very Superstitious."  But there was none of that at Tommy's  in Spring Grove, Illinois, this past Monday night for Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

The two guys wearing full Blackhawk uniforms with pads and sticks sure weren't being superstitious.  All the folks there wearing the same jerseys and shirts they'd worn all series.  Everyone played with the little Blackhawk doll that always comes up standing when you toss it.  Kenny didn't have his Blackhawk car flag and Jenny didn't wear her Hawks teeshirt.

And, we had storms rolling through like we did in the very first triple overtime game of the series with the Bruins.

Not hardly.

I was wearing my 2013 division championship shirt and my Hawks cap with the American Legion poppy in it that I had bought for the playoff game at the Indy 500 and worn every game since.  Liz had both of her lucky Blackhawks shirts.

No one touched that Blackhawk wobbly doll behind the bar.  We had touched it in one of the losses.  Kenny's flag was back on his car after he didn't have it on for another one of the losses.

And with three minutes remaining in the third period and the Hawks down 2-1 and everyone expecting a game seven tonight, we notcied that Jenny did not have her lucky shirt on.  We pointed it out to her and she went into the office and put it on.  And, of course, you know what happened a couple minutes later: two goals in 17 seconds and a Hawks victory and the second Stanley in four years.

It's Good to Wash Some of Those Lucky Shirts and Jerseys.  --RoadDog

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Let It Grow: Not Just for Player Beards During NHL Playoffs-- Part 2

PLAYOFF BILLS:  "Go ahead, cut off my gas and electricity.  You'll never get your greedy hands on my Marian Hossa-autographed sweater."  Then, there come your friendly old bill collectors.  METER #1.

PLAYOFF LAUNDRY:  "My pants can walk by themselves."  Hey, I did that in college also.  METER:  #8.

PLAYOFF PAPERWORK:  "I don't care if you're my boss, it's the playoffs, dude!"  Next stop, the unemplyment office.  Maybe you could get a job playing for the Hawks.  METER: #5

PLAYOFF PARKING TICKETS:  And, we're not talking about those inflated parking rates by the United Center.  These are of the car variety.  "Your honor, I plead hockey insanity."  What's that yellow thing attached to my tire and why can't I drive anywhere anymore?  METER: #10.

MY OWN SUGGESTIONS:

PLAYOFF BLOGS:  Maybe I could get my life back.  METER: #10

PLAYOFF BOATING:  No more boating for me until the Hawks win the Cup.  Well, actually, the boat's sitting in the driveway right now so this one is happening anyway.  METER #1.  I should really get the bnat in the water.

Tomorrow I'll Have Hawk Music.  --RoadDog

Let It Grow: Not Just for Player Beards During Playoffs-- Part 1

From the June 13, 2013, Chicago Tribune "Main Event: Let it grow."

We all know that NHL players in the playoffs put away the old razor during this time and let their beards and 'staches grow.  But, in addition, fans have things they can do to help pull their favorite teams along.  The Tribune wrote about one Frank Miller of Park Ridge, Illinois (a Chicago suburb), who is refusing to mow his grass until the Blackhawks' postseason run is over.  He calls it his "Playoff Lawn" and even has a sign on it saying "PLAYOFF LAWN won't cut it until Hawks win cup!"

You can only wonder what his neighbors (especially non-hockey fans)  think,

Well, the Tribune came up with some other possibilities of things our fans can do to "insure" a Hawk Cup.  They even went so far as to measure it on the their "Playoffability Meter."  One is Really Bad Idea.  Ten is really GOOD idea.

PLAYOFF PLAQUE:  "I won't brush my teeth until the Hawks hoist the Cup."  Well, Dr. Bennett certainly wouldn't agree with that.  And, don't forget to floss.  METER: #3

PLAYOFF DISHES:  "It's like a beautiful mountain of glass, ceramics and steel."  Back at the old college trailer at Georgia I'd have that huge pile of unwashed dishes and wasn't even pulling for the Hawks, just didn't like washing 'em.  METER: #7

Four More.  --RoadDog

Time to Wash the 'Hawks Shirt (But the Poppy Stays): Blackhawks Win!!!

Watched the last game of that great Stanley Cup Playoff series between the Chicago Blackhawks and their traditional enemies, the Detroit Redwings at Tommy's last night.  The last two games I wore a new Blackhawks tee shirt for luck, and wouldn't wash it.

Glad and ever so happy to report that I can now wash it as the Hawks won the series on a 2-1 overtime victory and now go on to face last year's Stanley Cup winners, the L.A. Kings.  That means I can wash the shirt.  Not that I'm superstitious or anything like that.  The Blackhawks won the first game, then lost the next three so had to come back from a 3-1 deficit!!!

However, I will have to keep the American Legion poppy I bought in Indianapolis on my hat for the duration.  Good luck, you know.

I'm not happy that most of the games in the series were not broadcast on regular stations and we don't get NBC Sports in our cable package.  It would seem to me that if a city is in the playoffs, their teams' games should be available on regular, over-the-air stations.  Bad move on the part of the NHL.

However, with the exception of the game we saw in Dixon, Illinois, there were always big, boisterous crowds of Blackhawk fans at the other places, mostly decked out in Hawks jerseys and shirts.  Always more fun than watching it at home.  I was especially happy to see all those red jerseys at the Indy 500 Legion.

Game 1--  Hawks win--   Saw it at Antonio's in Spring Grove, Illinois.
Game 2--  Hawks lose--  Saw it at The Precinct in Dixon, Illinois (Illinois Lincoln Highway Motor Tour)
Game 3--  Hawks lose--  Antonio's and Tommy's in Spring Grove
Game 4--  Hawks lose--  Tommy's
Game 5--  Hawks win--  Speedway American Legion in Speedway, Indiana (Indy 500)
Game 6--  Hawks win--  Tommy's
Game 7--  Hawks WIN!!!--  Tommy's

What's with that octopus, anyway?

Go Hawks and MORE Over-the-Air Games, Please.  --RoadDog