Movie Scratches 2023: Groundhog-- Brady--Plane-- 65

Movie Scratches--  Movies I saw in the theater in 2023.

5.  GROUNDHOG DAY--  2-5--  Woodstock--  $2--  There wasn't one today.  What if there is no tomorrow.  Nothing like seeing this great flick on the big screen and in a theatre that was actually in the movie.

6.  80 FOR BRADY--  2-10--  Super Brady fans  What those ol' gals got into?  Four lasses on the loose and their "particular" skills that avoided disaster.

7.  PLANE--  2-10--  All the action you could possibly want from a storm, lightning strike, jungle landing and those mean old rebels.

8.  65-   3-31--  Fox Lake--  $7--  Earth 65 million years ago was not a friendly place.  If the dinosaurs don't get you, that big ol' asteroid thing will.

--RoadDog

2022 Movie Scratches: Bob's-- Maverick-- Elvis-- Dominion

Movie Scratches--  Movies I saw at the theater in 2022.

9.  BOB'S BURGERS MOVIE--  6-14-- Woodstock--   $5--   Love the characters, especially frequent diner Teddy.  But do they have to sing about everything?  It gets annoying.

10.  TOP GUN MAVERICK--  6-27--  Fox Lake--  $6--   "You told me not to think!"   The Mav and Goose's son make up.

11.  ELVIS--  7-12--  Woodstock--  $5--   The Colonel was certainly a Flim-Flam man.  Was the Colonel a good guy or a bad guy.  Tim Hanks for Best Actor Oscar.  Great music.

12.  JURASSIC WORLD DOMINION--  7-14--  Fox Lake--  $6--  Bringing back the old cast (well, at least the ones not eaten).  Barbasol Shaving Cream and spittinig dinosaurs.  Dinosaurs and humans living together in a Ghostbusters thing as Bill Murray can tell you.

$6 Matinees at Classic Cinemas.  $5 on Tuesdays.  --RoadMovie

Gas Gouge Continues, a Fish Fry, Bars and Yardwork

FRIDAY, MAY 13

Sitting FP for coffee and enjoying the colors of trees, tulips and perennials.  I aim to have color in the yard all the way from April to the end of October.  Went to McDonald's for their two for $2 sausage/cheese McMuffins and $1 pop.  I love those McMuffins (and for that price especially).

Saw the movie "Fantastic Beasts:  The Secrets of Dumbledore."  It is good to be back in the theaters after a two-year period because on you-know-what.  Gas in Fox Lake to $4.80 and $4.90.  Who'd have ever figured.  You finally get a chance to go places and can't afford to go places.  Curse you GRBs.

Met Kevin and Kelly at Johnny's Cafe in Fox Lake for fish fry.  Then went to the Legion for 50-50, but too many people.  Same problem at Stucky's in Johnsburg, but finally got seats at the bar at Sunnyside.

SATURDAY, MAY 14

Got some yardwork done, primarily cutting down weed trees which are trying to take over the yard.  Went to Stucky's for burgers and sang karaoke with George.

SUNDAY, MAY 15

Went to the McHenry American Legion and enjoyed bourbon and Cokes for $3 (and especially $1.50 during happy hour).  Then Stucky's and home.

--RoadDog

THINGS YOU'D LIKE TOSAY:  Yes.  I am an agent of Satan, but my duties are largely ceremonial.

Fun With Taxes: Woodstock, 'Morbius' Three Brothers, MCCWRT Meeting, Trivia at Donovan's, 'Uncharted' and Taxes Done

TUESDAY, APRIL 12

Went to Woodstock and saw the movie "Morbius" at the Woodstock Theatre.  Then met a bunch of McHenry County Civil War Round Table members at Three Brothers for dinner and then to the Woodstock Library for the Round Table meeting and presentation.  Now, that's what I call a fun day.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13

We definitely waited too long to get our taxes done this year, partly because of some late-arriving papers and also printing woes.  We normally have all our tax stiff completed in March.  Well, that's my story anyway.

We met Kevin and Kelly at Donovan's and had an Easter sort of trivia with Uncle Jeffie.

THURSDAY. APRIL 14

I went to see the movie "Uncharted" at the Fox Lake Theatre.  My kind of movie with history and adventure.  It was a lot like a mix of "Indiana Jones" and "National Treasure."  It is sure good to be back at the movies gain after a two year layoff for some reason.  This was my second movie of this week.

Good news, we got a call from Bill at H&R Block saying that our taxes were done so will pick them up and mail the checks tomorrow.  That's called waiting almost to the last minute.

Really, the Check's in the Mail.   --RoadDog

Ending March: Gas, Trivia, Donovan's, First Theater Movie in Two Years 'The Godfather' and the Tournament

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23

Gas at $3.90 ($3.89.9) in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, and $4.40 in Illinois.  Went to Donovan's and played trivia.

THURSDAY, MARCH 24

My first movie in a theater since February 28, 2020, (and, you-know-why).  Since this is the 50th anniversary of the release of the movie "The Godfather" and the Fox Lake Theatre was showing it, this seemed like a perfect time to go.  They're still charging $6 for matinees (and seniors) and I bought a large container of popcorn (still at $8, but at least you get free refills) to welcome me back and help support them.

These last two years have been quite hard on theaters.   I was expecting there to be a big crowd to see "The Godfather" but I was the only one there.  You might say I had my own personal showing.  That is one magnificent movie.  And, to have the opportunity to see it on the big screen.  Wow!!

Went home and enjoyed Margaritaville, the Ultimate Jukebox and four of the best basketball games in the Tournament that you can imagine.

Sure Good to be Back at the Movies.  --RoadDog

JSS: Classic Cinemas Reopens-- Lawn Tractor Comes Home (Hopefully)-- Dandelions Anyone

JSS:  Just Some Stuff

1.  CLASSIC CINEMAS REOPENS--  Well, some good news today.  I received an e-mail from my main movie theater chain, Classic Cinemas, that all locations are reopen today, Thursday, April 15.  With the exception f one restart back last summer that was short-lived, they've been closed since March 2020.

I most often go to the theater in Fox Lake, Illinois, but also the one in Woodstock.  Most years I see between 40 and 80 movies at the theater and sure do miss it.  

The last one I saw was "Birds of Prey" back on February 28, 2020.

2.  LAWN TRACTOR COMES HOME (Hopefully)--  Hopefully my John Deere tractor/mower comes back home on Friday.  It is at the John Deere place getting summerized.  That grass is REALLY, REALLY growing fast.  Sure can't get behind on the grass in the spring growing season.

3.  DANDELIONS ANYONE--  Of course, along with the grass greening up, certain yellow objects have begun making their appearance.  The annual dandelion attack is underway.  Oh well, think of it this way, it is flowers in the yard.  I don't mind the yellow part of their lives, but don't particularly like the dried, tall, parachute phase.

Spring Has Sprung and Theaters Are Opening.  --RoadLion

TEENAGERS AND CATS:  No matter what you do for them, it is not enough.  Indeed. all human efforts are barely adequate to compensate for the privilege of waiting on them hand and foot.

2020 Was a Weird Year

Definitely a different year for us.

**  We didn't even play one game of NTN (Buzztime) at a bar.  Granted, every year this number has been declining, but even then.

**  We stayed in a motel only twice.  Both times were in DeKalb, Illinois, where we had gone to see NIU basketball games.   Usually we stay in motels at least 35-40 times a year.  Both motel stays were before the you-know-what hit.

**  The furthest we drove from home was 60 miles the two times we went to DeKalb for the basketball games, and, of course, both times were before the you-know-what.  After the you-know-what, the farthest I went was 25 miles to Algonquin, which I did three times for Civil War Round Table discussion group meetings.

Usually, we have at least two 1000+ mile trips along with a lot of ones around 100 to 300 miles.

**  I only saw 14 movies at the movie theaters for the year, the last one on February 28.  Usually I see 50 to 70 movies a year in the theater.

Fun and Games With You-Know-What.  --RoadStayAtHome

STUDENT TEST ANSWERS:  Among the islands of the West Indies are the Pyjamas, noted for their toilet sponges.

2020 Movie Scratches: Dolittle-- Prey

Movie Scratches--  A Dog's Eye View of movies I saw at the theater in 2020.

Little did I know at the time, but when I saw Birds of Prey at the Fox Lake Theater in Fox Lake, Illinois, on February 28, that that would be the last movie I saw for 2020.  And, here in January 2021, I still haven't been back to the theater and there is a good reason for it.  Something spelled virus.

Hopefully this year I will be able to go back into a theater.  I'm chomping at the bit so hard to see one, I will even buy that super expensive popcorn as well.

I'm just hoping the virus doesn't (or didn't) put the local chain, Classic Cinema, out of business.

For 2020, them, I saw a total of 14 movies.  I usually see at least 40 a year and often 50-60 movies a year.

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13.  DOLITTLE--  2-18--  What an animal menagerie.  I especially liked the cowardly gorilla.  The dragon goes on an armor and bagpipe free diet.

14.  BIRDS OF PREY--  2-28--  Harley gets over her breakup with the Joker.  Dodges person wishing her ill health.  Does a lot of kicking.  Gotta love Harley.

So Much for 2020.  --RoadGottaSeeMoreMovies

Getting in the Yule Spirit-- Part 4: Movies, 5-Course Dinner and Bars

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18

Still watching the "Star Wars" movies.  Today "Star Wars"  The Empire Strikes Back."

A cold day, but went to the Fox Lake Theatre and saw "It's a Wonderful Life" on the big screen.  It is always good to see a favorite movie on the big screen.  This was the first of two showings and there was a fairly large crowd there doing the same.  Quite a bit of laughing at the funnier parts.  This is my third all-time favorite Christmas movie.

Later went to Sunnyside and then over to Stucky's for their five-course dinner for $12.99.  Then back to Sunnyside and home.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19

I went to the Fox Lake Theatre in Fox Lake, Illinois, and saw two current movies:  "Frozen II," and "Jumanji: The Next Level."  These are the last two movies I will see until after schools reopen in January as the theaters are too crowded during Christmas break.  I had my own private showing of "Frozen II."

Later, we went to Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, and to Bricks & Ivy in Spring Grove, Illinois.

Came home and watched another Star Wars movie  "Return of the Jedi."

--RoadDog

No Movies for Me

Well, I had hopes of seeing 40 movies at the theaters in 2007. Last Friday, I saw "I Am Legend." This will be my last one, because those that work for a living and go to school are flocking to the theaters this Christmas season.

Yesterday, I was planning on seeing the new "National Treasure" movie at the McHenry, Il, Indoor Theatre, but the line was out the door. Then I drove by the Fox Lake, Il, Theatre to see"Charlie Wilson's War" and the parking lot was full. Guess a lot of people must have taken this week off, and I'm sure parents are shuttling off their loved ones to the movies to get them out of the house.

Guess I will stay stuck at 38 for the year and wait until Jan. 7th to resume seeing the shows.

By the way, "I Am Legend" was a very good show.

It's kind of strange, but sometimes there will be a month or longer stretch where I don't have any movies I particularly want to see. Then, all of a sudden, there are a whole lot released at once.

Other movies I want to see now: Charlie Wilson's War, PS I Love You, Waterhorse, Golden Compass, National Treasure, and Walk Hard.

Hey, Let's Hurry Up and Get Back to Work and School So Us Old Retired Coots can Get Back to Normalcy. --RoadDog

Road Trip-- 34th Anniversary Part 4 Floods and Corn

FLOODS and DEKALB CORNFEST

Saturday morning we found out that today's destination had made the national news on The Weather Channel. A reporter was doing a live report from a flooded golf course in DeKalb. All this rain has the Mighty Kish, the Kishwaukee River (usually more of a stream or creek) flooding in a big way around DeKalb. I went on the hotel's internet and found out from my Illinois Lincoln Highway e-mail group that yesterday the city was essentially isolated by flooding. Northern Illinois University had been closed.

We decided to go to DeKalb anyway. We encountered no flooding along the Lincoln Highway (Illinois Highway 38) until we got NIU's lagoon and the bridge over the Kishwaukee. This area was flooded and water was up to the bridge, but it was still passable.

Cornfest was underway and, as usual, finding a parking place was not easy. Lincoln Highway, which serves as the main street through downtown, was blocked off. We got there in time for the FREE corn. From 11 AM to 2, it was all the corn you want for free. It is heated by an antique steam thresher and everything is done in assembly-line fashion. They'll give you two ears at a time, drenched in butter and in a paper container.

Nowhere to sit, and as I was eating one, I evidently tilted the container and got butter all over the front of my shirt, proof that I had been there, but Liz wasn't too pleased.

Walked around and listened to a band on the main stage. The Egyptian Theater, dating to the 1920s was open and had a free showing of "Field of Dreams" so took advantage. I don't remember ever going to this old movie palace with its art deco/Egyptian architecture. It was closed when I was a student, and almost torn down until a group stepped in and saved it. This is a major site along the old Lincoln Highway in Illinois.

Met The Lincoln Highway Association's state director, Kay, by the small park with the DeKalb mural, Veteran's Memorial Clock, and small WWII Sherman tank (which used to be parked by the train tracks across from Andy's and McCabe's for many years). She had planned to go to Rochelle last night, but had canceled due to the flooding. Kay said that next year, Cornfest will be held at a local park because of planned work on Il-38 through town. Whether it will return to the main drag through town the following year is still to be seen. I hope it does.

Watched the Beatles tribute band, American English, do some of the early Beatles songs. At least they were playing this time, not like the no-play that took place at the Kenosha County Fair a few weeks ago.

Still to be Continued.... --RoadDog