Good Times Around Here: May 8 to 12: Trivia, Retired Teachers, Two Legions, Fish Fry and a Band

WEDNESDAY, MAY 8

Donovan's Reef for trivia.

THURSDAY, MAY 9

Breakfast with retired Magee teachers at Bristol 45 Diner.  Fox Lake Legion.

FRIDAY, MAY 10

Johnny's Cafe in Fox Lake for fish fry.  Fox Lake Legion for 50-50.

SATURDAY, MAY 11

Saylor Mick's in Spring Grove for the band Peter & the Versatiles.

SUNDAY,  MAY 12

McHenry Legion and Sunnyside in Johnsburg.

--RoadDog

DeKalb, Illinois' Clinton Rosette Middle School

From the March 1, 2023,  MidWeek (DeKalb County) "Looking Back."

1973, fifty years ago.

"Clinton Rosette Middle School, named after the editor of the first daily newspaper  published in DeKalb, the DeKalb Chronicle,  has been tye center of controversy for many years.

"Built in 1903 as the township high school, it remained a high school until 1966 when it became the north side  junior high school.

"Three years ago, a study was made  on the feasibility of continuing operation of Rosette versus complete renovation of the facility, which was estimated at a cost of $1.5 to $2 million."

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

Back in the fall of 1972 and spring of 1973, I was at the school a lot as I was preparing to become a teacher and taking classes at Northern Illinois University (also in DeKalb).  It was a very run-down building at the time.

--RoadTeach

Magee Teachers in Bristol. Bob Stroud Retires from Deejaying.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29

We went to Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes for trivia and those great 1/2 price drink specials during happy hour.

THURSDAY, JUNE 30

Met the usual group of former Magee Middle School teachers for breakfast in Bristol, Wisconsin, at the Bristol 45 Diner.  We had two newcomers to the "club", Karen and Linda.  Always good to get together with people I worked many years with back in the day.  

I also had an Magee '81-'82 yearbook and everyone got a kick out of that.  I must admit I looked quite a bit like Gabe Kaplan of "Welcome Back Kotter" but with less hair.

This was Bob Stroud's last day deejaying before his semi-retirement from Chicago's WDRV after four decades of work, mostly spent at numerous stations in Chicago, the last 21 with this station.  I recorded a lot of his show on cassette tape.

However, he will continue doing my favorite shows that he does: Ten at Ten, One 45 at 1:45 daily and Rock and Roll Roots on Sundays.

He said how he got into the radio business back when he was 12 and living in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and a friend of him told him to tune into WLS, 890 AM, out of Chicago and listen to a deejay named Dick Biondi...and that got him hooked on what turned out to be a long career.

--RoadStroud

March Coming In Like a Gas Gouge: Ukraine, Donovan's Reef, Trivia, Magee Teachers, Gas Gouge and GRBs

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2

Who'd have figured at this date, we'd have a new Hitler grabbing land in Europe.  I have Ukrainian flags on two of my blogs, including this one.

Went to Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, and met Kevin and Kelly and played trivia with Uncle Jeffie, and, of course, played along with Jeopardy.

THURSDAY, MARCH 3 

Met the Magee teachers at the Bristol 45 Diner in Bristol, Wisconsin.

I see out wonderful folks in Big Oil and the 1 percenters are out to make their ill-got profits again.  gas was $4 in Illinois and $3.60 just over the border in Wisconsin.

Let the Gas Gouge Begin!!   --RoadDog

About Last Weekend: Bristol 45 Diner, Donovan's Reef, Johnny's Cafe and the Legion

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10

Met the Magee teachers at the Bristol 45 Diner in Bristol, Wisconsin.  The two Bobs, Maxine and Karen were there.  I'm a big fan of the Mediterranean omelet which is $11.49.  It is huge (gone are the days o $5 to $6 breakfasts) and I get two more breakfasts at home.

The GRBs are at it again with gas in Wisconsin between $3.20 and $3.30, but gas in Illinois is $3.50 and higher.  Needless to say, everyone up here on the Illinois/Wisconsin border, goes north for gas.

At 2 pm, Liz and I met Kelly and Kevin at Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, for trivia with Uncle Jeffie.  We had quite a few players.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11

We went to Johnny's Cafe in Fox Lake, Illinois.  For many years it was the Channel Inn and is on the same channel where we used to keep our boat.  Kevin and Kelly told us the portions are massive and they sure were.  I had the swai fish fry and there were two huge fillets along with potato pancakes, cole slaw, a roll and bowl of soup.  All for $9.95.  I'll sure be back.

Then we went to the Fox Lake American Legion for the fifty-fifty, bu, alas, won nothing.

--RoadDog

Second Weekend of This Year: Donovan's, 45 Diner, Stucky's, Da Bears and Sunnyside

THURSDAY, JANUARY 6

We met Kevin and Kelly at Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin. for happy hour and trivia.

FRIDAY, JANIARY 7

The extreme cold continues.  Drove to the Bristol 45 Diner in Bristol, Wisconsin, and met the Magee teachers.  Always good to get together with old friends.  Got gas in Trevor, Wo., for $3 a gallon.  It was $3.465 at Rock Corner just over the Illinois border which is why I fill up with gas in Wisconsin.

Later drove to Stucky's on Johnsburg, Illinois, and found that we had low air pressure in all of our tires, more than likely from all this cold weather.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 8

I pit air into all four tires at the Mobil station in Johnsburg (which still has free air, believe it or not) and all the warning features turned off.

Went to Stucky's for the dinner special and $1 draft beers.  We should have come home earlier because it had started sleeting and getting out to the car in the parking lot was all kind of fun.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 9

We didn't go to the McHenry American Legion today because it was closed because of a COVID outbreak.  Went to Sunnyside and watched the Bears lose to end the season with a stellar 6-11 record.  No playoffs for us, obviously.

--RoadDog

It's Winter: First Anniversary Attack on Capitol, Donovan's Reef. Magee Teachers, Stucky's and Air Pressure Problems

THURSDAY, JANUARY 6

The first anniversary of the attack on the U.S. Capitol.  That is still hard to take.  Those pictures of the mob breaking in is right up there with those burning towers on 9/11.  As a  matter of fact, we were at Donovan's last year this date and that was when we first became aware of what was happening.  Barb, the bartender, had to turn the TV off when two patrons almost got into a fight over it.  I sure hope Americans will be able to reach some kind of a consensus on all this.

We have certainly been having a cold winter so far in the new year.  

Met Kevin and Kelly at Donovan's Reef.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 7

Met the Magee teachers at the Bristol 45 Diner in Bristol, Wisconsin.  Always good to get together with friends I taught so many years with in Round Lake.  Both Bobs were there as was Karen.

Liz and I went to Stucky's at night.  Discovered that the air pressure in all four tires on the Malibu was way low and had many warnings.  I'll have to put some more in tomorrow.

--RoadDog

About Last Weekend: No Hardee's, Sammie's, The Curse of the Round Lake Spring Carnival, Magee Teachers and Legion Name That Tune

THURSDAY, MAY 2

Four straight days of rain and that grass is mocking me.  Lots of flooding and the lower Fox River is no wake.  I saw a real creepy movie in Fox Lake called "The Curse of La Llorana."  Then went to Round Lake Beach and found that the Hardee's was closed.  I'm disappointed, but not surprised as there were hardly any customers when I went.  I ended up at Sammie's on Rollins for one of their great gyro meals.

I saw that the infamous Round Lake Spring Carnival was setting up, so that explains all the horrible weather this week.  Stopped at the Legion on the way home.

FRIDAY, MAY 3

A day without rain.  Wow!!  Went to the Bristol 45 Diner in Bristol, Wisconsin, and met with former Magee teachers.  Later went to the Legion in Fox Lake for 50-50 and enjoyed playing Name That Tune with the deejay.

--Roaddog

Surviving the Cold Last Weekend: Teachers, Legion, Groundhog Day in Woodstock, Legion, Super Bowl

Last week was somewhat chilly here in the Chicagoland area as some of you might know.  But we sure had a nice warmup in the weekend and it sure felt like spring had arrived, despite temps in the 40s.

FRIDAY, FEB. 1   Met the retired Magee teachers at the Bristol 45 Diner in Bristol, Wisconsin.  Good  to get together with old friends.  Went to the 50-50 at the Legion at night.

SATURDAY, FEB. 2    Went to Woodstock for their Groundhog Day festival.  This is where the famous movie "Groundhog Day" was filmed.  Enjoyed it despite the bigger crowds.  Then Liz and I went to the American Legion in Fox Lake in the afternoon and enjoyed the duo Twice As Nice.

SUNDAY, FEB. 3  Bob Stroud Root Saluted Buddy Holly on his Rock and Roll Roots show on WDRV 97.1 FM on the 60th anniversary of his death in Iowa.  Watched the first three quarters of the Super Bowl game at Stucky's in Johnsburg.  Too bad you know who won.

--RoadDog

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.

I'd Celebrate That!!! May 7-May 13: Tuesday Is Teacher Appreciation Day

MAY 7, MONDAY--  Melanoma Day**  be aware.

MAY 8, TUESDAY--  Teacher Appreciation Day**   Being a former teacher myself.  World Red Cross Day**

MAY 9, WEDNESDAY--  Receptionists Day**  They keep the place going.  School Nurse Day**

MAY 10, THURSDAY--  Shrimp Day**  I love 'em.  Clean Up Your Room Day**  Well, it's too late for me.  Better luck to you.

MAY 11, FRIDAY--  Military Spouse Day**  A hard job.    Eat What You Want Day**  Should be every day, but now, it seems anything you eat, and especially if you really like it, will kill you.

MAY 12, SATURDAY--  Babysitters Day**  I used to get 50 cents an hour and all I could scrounge from the fridge.   Mini Golf Day**  It's been a while.

MAY 13, SUNDAY--  Mother's Day, but you knew that.**  I sure wish is till had mine here.  Enjoy your mom if you can.

ABOUT US SEENAGERS (Senior Teenagers)  I don't have to go to school or work.

The Passing of My Friend Martin S. Kadner

I was very saddened to learn last night that Marty Kadner, a friend of mine and a fellow teacher for thirty years at John T. Magee Middle School in Round Lake, Illinois, died.  Unfortunately, we lost contact after he retired.  My friend Kip said he had found out on Monday and given a call to me, but unfortunately, I didn't get the message until Tuesday morning and didn't get a call back until Tuesday night.  He and his wife had gone to the funeral and burial service.

I went to his obituary in the Chicago Tribune and it didn't have much information, just that Marty was 68, a Vietnam War veteran and recipient of a Bronze Star and that he had taught many years at Magee.  He was buried at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery near Joliet.

His wit and sharp tongue got us through some trying times at school.  If I didn't know better, I'd say his brother from another mother was Richard Belzer (Detective John Munch) from the TV shows "Homicide" and "Law and Order: SVU."

Marty was not a dog lover, but we once ran into him at Bill's Pizza in Mundelein and he went with us out to Lamb's Farm when we found and picked out Brandy to be our puppy.  The poor guy ended up holding Brandy on the way back to Bill's.  But he dogged through it.

Marty put out an occasional little newsletter called Burnt Offerings, something that he started when the district ceased giving us out Christmas bonus turkeys.  This was one of the funniest things to read I ever set hands to.  He had a way with words worthy of Mike Royko.  If not a teacher, he could have been a journalist easily.

He graduated from Southern Illinois in Carbondale and loved that area of the state.  He always planned to retire there and spend his days fishing.

I was amazed at how many students entered onto the Legacy to thank him.  He brought that wit and dry, really dry, humor into the classroom.

My Life Was So Much Better for Having Known Marty.

I'm Sure he Is Off Somewhere, Probably Fishing and Making His "Observations."

Walking the Line...Again: Waukegan Teacher Strike

This past Monday, October 6th, Liz and I drove to Waukegan, Illinois, about 30 miles away, and relived something that happened to us 20 years ago.  We walked the picket line with the Waukegan teachers as their strike entered the third day.  Today is the beginning of their 6th day and it looks as if it is going to be a long strike as the board and administration only gives lip service to any negotiations.

This sure brought back memories of the Round Lake teacher strike of 1994, which started on October 17th and went on for 38 days (and I'm not talking overall days, they were actual days of school that were missed).

I have often said that if there ever was a teacher strike nearby that I'd walk the line, but the only one since I retired was at Richmond, Illinois, where kids in our subdivision go to school and I was in North Carolina at the time and it was a short strike and over by the time I got back.

We walked to honor our strike and especially for our president during the strike, Terri,  and Kim Kearby who died this past year.

More to Come.  --RoadDog

Watchin' the Doggies Run

New Year's Eve, my buddy Bob called from out in Iowa to say Little Tommy and some of the other Magee (now Round Lake Middle School) teachers were getting together at the Dairyland Park in Kenosha on the 3rd to bet on the dog races.

I drove the thirty miles there and paid $1 to park (hear that Chicago) and got to waive the usual $3 ticket to get in (something about senior day on Wednesdays). Went upstairs to the clubhouse and that is a great place to watch the race, either live or on TV. For some reason, there were a lot of "old folks" in attendance.

Little Tommy has a reputation of betting on any and everything and he was living up to it. Fortunately for him, he is usually lucky when it comes to betting. Not only could you bet on the dog race, but there were several horse races going on. Good thing he is in such good shape as he was constantly running up to counter to place bets.

Bob retired from Magee two years before me, but still has kids in college so is teaching at a Catholic school in Mt. Prospect. Mike retired this past June. Little Tommy, Jason, and Terri are still teaching, but Little Tommy will be retiring in five years, but the other two have a long way to go.

I ended up losing $10, which is not bad for me. I know that I don't have a lot of luck, so bet in moderation. Plus, you know, I'm on what they call a fixed income.

Love the Names of Those Dogs. --RoadDog

I Was a Marine For a Short Time --Part 1

I was a Marine for a very, very short time.

I didn't think the Vietnam War would EVER end. It really got hot while I was in junior high school and went all the way through my high school years and college.

The first year they had the draft lottery, I wasn't eligible, and I had the number 31. I was happy with that as I figured the next year, when it would count, I'd surely get a higher number.

Wrong!!! The year it counted, I was number 22. I was getting an all-expense paid "vacation" to Vietnam compliments of Uncle Sam. That is, I'd go after college. I had always intended to go to college anyway, something you had to do if you wanted to be a teacher. But , that war just WASN'T going to end. And after four years, I would be eligible for the draft, and with a 22, I was gone.

Stay Tuned. --RoadDog

The "Baby Boomers" Have Arrived

Well, it had to happen. We are getting so much older these days. And that includes my group, the so-called "Baby Boomers."

Our first member, Kathleen Casey-Kirschling, applied for Social Security benefits on October 15th. She is regarded as being the "first" Baby Boomer, being born one second after midnight on January 1, 1946. It is estimated that 10,000 people a day will become eligible for benefits in the next two decades.

Baby Boomers were born between 1946 and 1964. This includes myself and Liz. We were both born in 1951.

Bad news, though. It is expected that the Social Security System will be broke by if left alone by 2041.

Good news for everyone else, however. Since we were both teachers in Illinois and covered by a separate retirement system, we will probably never get any money from Social Security.

My, How We're Aging. Who'd a-Figgered. --RoadDog

A Sad Day Six Years Ago, 9-11: The Day Terrorism Came To Our Shores

Today, September 11th, occurs on the very same day as that fateful event six years ago. Not only that, but we had a brilliant bright blue sky here in the Midwest, just as was over NYC that beautiful fall day.

I watched some of the History Channels shows on the event this morning.

I was teaching at John T. Magee Middle School in Round Lake, Illinois, that day. I didn't know anything about it until after first period when another teacher came to me with the information during passing period. School continued on as usual, but all we did in my classes was listen to the radio and TV (although I couldn't get the picture).

I tried to get it across to my students that this was actually an outgrowth of an event that happened almost 2000 years ago when the Romans made the Jews leave Palestine. I also wanted them to know that this was to be an event that would rank right up there with Pearl Harbor and the Kennedy Assassination as points in US history that affected everybody.

Seeing those two buildings burning still gets to me.

I am going to have an account that I wrote on 9-11 from my journal (which I have been keeping since 1978) on my other blog spot.

http://roaddogsroadlog.blogspot.com

A Very Sad Day. --RoadDog

Bunch of OLD Teachers Get Together Last Friday

I meet Kip for breakfast on most Fridays. He was at Magee a year before I got there in 1973, after having taught a couple years in Minnesota. He taught wood shop for many years, until the district dropped the program and he was transferred over to the high school where he taught a REAL subject, social studies, until he retired about four years ago.

We've remained good friends though and continue meeting at Dino's in Fox Lake (near me) and the Triangle Restaurant in Grayslake (near him). It's good to keep up with old colleagues.

He had a surprise for me when I showed up at the Triangle last Friday. An old buddy of mine from the high school, John, was in from Nevada where he has been living for seven years after his retirement. He says he can't believe how fast the area where he now lives is building up. His subdivision in Henderson was way out in the sticks when he moved there, but Las Vegas has grown out to it and past it.

They need teachers very badly and often try to get him back into the profession. But he has resisted. Why work when you can collect 75% of your pay? AND, do exactly what you want to be doing.

Then, Paul dropped by from Kenosha. He has been retired for three years and lives in Kenosha, Wi, about 40 miles away.

Everyone agrees that retirement time really goes by fast and that you just don't get as much accomplished as you thought you would. There's that, "I'll do it tomorrow mentality." I know I have barely scratched the surface of what I wanted to do this past year.

We had a great time talking about the old days and have a tentative plans to get-together out in Las Vegas in early December.

Kip and I usually get to breakfast at 8:30 and leave by 10. I had planned to do some shopping at nearby Gurnee Mills since I was in the area. We ended up staying until noon.

Here's to Good Times, Here's to Good Friends. --RoadDog

Where Does an Illinois Teacher Retire To?

You might expect Illinois teachers to clear out of here and head for warmer and more interesting locales upon retirement. You know, Florida, or Arizona. Some place like that.

The summer Topics & Report of the Illinois Teacher Retirement System had a map of the US showing where the states retired teachers were living.

As of May 31st, state listings went from lows of 5 in DC, 6 in RI,12 in ND, and 13 in Alaska. Other states of retirement choice were 632 CA, 629 Tx, 418 Arkansas, 259 Georgia, 238 in Nevada (including John) and 166 in NM.

What about the two that immediately come to mind when you think of retired folks, Arizona and Florida. They ranked numbers three and two in the standings with 1,477 and 3,028 respectively.

Well, then, what about the NUMBER 1 state? Hint, it's in the Midwest. States 4, 5, and 6 are here. Number 4 is Wisconsin with 1,379 (including Paul) , #5 is Missouri with 1,047, and Indiana #6 with 906.

The state most Illinois retirees choose is none other than ILLINOIS with 60,179!! Including two living right here at this old house. It is a great state to live in, especially in this area, where you also have Wisconsin as a playground. Then, there's the Chain of Lakes, and we're are definitely not flat around here. Then, of course, we have all those great old roads as well. That'd be Route 66, Lincoln Highway, and the National Highway.

Staying Put, at Least for Now, or Until the Property Taxes Get so High, I can't Afford Them Anymore. At the Rate they've Been Going UP, that Won't be TOO Long. --RoadDog

The Second Day at School

Since I am now celebrating the beginning of my second year of retirement, I look back on memories of the first days of school.

I really disliked the very first half-day, well, at a bit over two hours I guess you couldn't call it a half day.

I would have my homeroom and have to go over the school rules according to the "In the Know" booklet. That was boring and seemed to go on and on forever.

As bad as that was, it wasn't anything as bad as trying to teach the kids how to open a combination lock. A few would have had experience with it, but most had never seen one. I tried to make it as simple to learn as possible, but to no avail for some of the seventh graders, who were getting lockers with locks for the first time.

It was even worse until the last several years at Magee, when the combination locks built into the lockers finally gave up the ghost and quit working. The district replaced them with the hand-held combos. At least this way, we got to practice opening the locks in class instead of at the lockers.

The hardest part was the second move to the left which requires going all the way past the first number. This threw many a kid. And then there some kids who hadn't quite figured out the left-right thing.

To Be Continued...

Let's See, is that L-R-L, or R-L-R? --RoadDog