The End of an Era at Donovan's Reef: No More NTN

Today, we have the goodbye celebration for an old friend at Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin. After close to 20 years, the place is dropping NTN, the National Trivia Network, now called Buzztime.

We have spent many hours enjoying food, drinks and comraderie at the place dating back to when the Stewarts took over the place. We have made Top Twenty many, many times during that run and have been visited by many out-of-towners who came because they saw out name up there so often.

However, due to people moving away (and one major player died), the number of players have dropped tremendously and so few play it now, it is just not worth the $500 monthly charge to play it, so the new owners are dropping it. I don't blame them. I would have dropped it a year ago.

That's a lot of money to pay out if you're not getting a lot of people sticking around to play it.

We're having a going away party today for it, and hoping to get one last round of rankings.

Sorry To See It Go. --RoadDog

ARRGGHH! Talk Like a Pirate Day Today!!!

Arrrgh!! Ahoy There Bilge Rats!!!

Or, is it a more favored ECU Pirate "Arrrrggghhhhh!!!!!" It's not First and Ten at home games, it's "First and Arrrrggghhhh!" And, my old high school was the Palatine Pirates in Palatine, Illinois, with one of the most feeble mascots ever, a pirate who wouldn't even scare a baby. We saw that the high school in Galena, Illinois, uses the same pirate logo, but in different colors.

I know that here on the Chain of Lakes, they have a Pirate Day where a large group dresses up like pirates and make the rounds, "pillaging" various drinking establishments on the Chain. And, you hear more "Arrrs" than you thought possible.

I'll be writing about various pirate words in my history blog.

So, Happy International Talk Like a Pirate Day!!! Lubbers. --RoadDog

NC Bound Fall 2013-- Part 3: Andy Griffith's Hometown

September 7th

Still scared about that near miss for me of the deer when I entered Virginia and got gas at Wytheville for $3.20, the cheapest on the trip down (but it always is cheapest). Down, down, down that decline to leave Virginia.

Arrived in Mt. Airy, Andy Griffith's hometown and the town Mayberry was based on. Drove along Andy Griffith Parkway (US-52 bypass) and got a room at the Mayberry Motor Inn, a real Mom and Pop motel that is well kept up. Enjoyed the gazebo before driving over to graze at Golden Corral.

Afterwards drove on Mt. Airy's main street (the original US-52) and must say, the town is closed by 6 pm. Back to the motel and sat out at the gazebo and met my brother-from-another-mother and had a great talk with him about the Civil War and World War II.

We were even treated to a fireworks display from the county fair taking place close by.

--RoadDog

NC Bound Fall 2013: September 7th-- Part 2: Athens and the Deer

Drove I-70 to US-33 and took that to Athens, Ohio. It is four lane and limited access much of the way other than a short stretch through downtown Nelsonville. That too will soon be bypassed.

Took a ride through Athens, a very hilly town and home of MAC member Ohio University. There was going to be a football game later, but it being just 10:00, decided not to stick around.

Crossed over ointo West Virginia near Ripley and got on I-77 for the rest of today's driving. Paid my $6 (three $2 tolls) to drive the turnpike and was somewhat scared when the vehicle that had just passed me struck a deer. Stopped at Tamarack with all that neat stuff.

--RoadDog

NC Bound Fall 2013: September 6th-- Part 1

Took the usual way to avoid the Chicago Hassle, Il-47 from Woodstock to Champaign and then I-74 into Indiana and I-70 east to Columbus. Stopped at Boz Hot Dogs in Morris, Illinois, a place I've always wanted to eat. Good hot dogs.

Then, stopped at the Ambler-Becker gas station in Dwight for my taste of Route 66. Got gas at the Pilot station east of Crawfordsville, Indiana, the cheapest I had seen at $3.50 a gallon.

All the traffic you could ever want on I-465 bypass going south around Indianapolis. They have I-65 and I-70 torn up going through town What a mess!!! Backed up for miles and miles. I have to figure out a way to avoid the city on my way back.

Clear sailing I-70 going east, despite lots of areas of construction. Had my usual Cincy chili at Skyline Chili by Dayton, then drove to London, hoping this was not an Ohio State home game weekend. It wasn't fortunately, so no problem getting a room at the Motel 6.

Things Along This Route Starting to Look Familiar. --RoadDog

Not Forgetting: 12th Anniversary of 9-11

At least the world's biggest-ever coward, that ObL guy, is not around to see it. Saw the scenes today from Washington, DC, and New York City earlier today.

Earlier I watched the movie about Flight 93, the one that crashed in the Pennsylvania field, on the Discovery Channel. Now, there is a second show on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon. It said construction on the Pentagon started sixty years earlier in 1941 before the U.S. got into World War II.

This will be a day that never will be forgotten.

Where Were You September 1, 1973?-- Part 6

The last listing.

ANGIE-- Rolling Stones (a song that always reminds me of driving back and forth to my teaching job in Round Lake)
SILVER TRAIN-- Rolling Stones (the "B" side)
FREE RIDE-- Edgar Winter Group (Reminds me of driving to Galena after the wedding)

LIVE AND LET DIE-- Paul McCartnet & Wings (the #1 song in Chicago this date). This one reminds me of driving the van between Sheraton-Walden, Schaumburg, to O'Hare Airport.

These were songs Stroud played coming back from commercial breaks:

SWEET GYPSEY ROSE-- Tony Orlando & Dawn
CLOUDS-- David Gates
HEARTBEAT IT'S A LOVE BEAT-- DeFranco Family
ANGEL-- Aretha Franklin.

Looking Forward to the Summer of '74 Next Year On Stroud's Show.   --RoadDog

Where Were You September 1, 1973?-- Part 5

Continuing with Bob Stroud's Rock and Roll Roots taking us back 40 years ago.

SATURDAY NIGHT'S ALRIGHT FOR FIGHTING-- Elton John
THE HURT-- Cat Stevens
AMERICAN BAND-- Grand Funk

LET'S GET IT ON-- Marvin Gaye
ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN-- ELO
RAMBLIN' MAN-- Allman Brothers

BELIEVE IN HUMANITY-- Carole King
SMOKE ON THE WATER-- Deep Purple
BAD BAD LEROY BROWN-- Jim Croce.

Tryin to Make a Livin' and Doin' the Best I Can. --RoadDog

TV's Highest Paid Stars: Judge Judy

From the August 21, 2013, Parade Magazine "Who Are the Highest-Paid TV Stars?" by Vi-an Nguyen from TV Guide.

Not only can she cut down a person, but also, Judy Sheindin "Judge Judy" earns a lot of dough for doing so: $47 million a year. Then, there's Jon Stewart whose "The Daily Show" earns $20 to $25 million a year, even more than Jay Leno and David Letterman who get $20 million each for doing their shows.

Jimmy Kimmel gets $10 million.

Other types of shows were listed, but I will just do the top threes of comedy and drama.

COMEDY (per episode): Ashton Kutcher "Two and a Half Men," $750,000; Jason Segel "How I Met Your Mother," $225,000 and Amy Poehler "Parks and Recreation," $200,000.

DRAMA (per episode): Mark Harmon (NCIS) $525,000 + points; Clair Danes (Homeland) $250,000 and Michael Weatherly (NCIS) $250,000.

And, You'd Think Ducky Would Earn More. --RoadDog

TV's Funniest of the Funniest-- Part 1: Funny Entrances

OK, pretty funny. Sunday, I watched Betty White do the Paley Center 30 Funniest Sitcom bits. I didn't agree with all of them and some of the shows I'd bever seen. These are the bits and/or shows I liked:

30. THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW-- Chuckles the Clown's funeral.

28. PARKS AND RECREATION-- South American visitors

27. THE OFFICE Racial episode.

ENTER LAUGHING--

Some funny and memorable entrances:

Lenny and Squiggy come in on the LAVERNE AND SHIRLEY SHOW.

Kramer comes in on SEINFELD

NEWHART SHOW "Hi, I'm Larry, and this is my brother Daryl and my other brother Daryl

EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND His parents crash the car into their living room.

Personally, I Would Have Liked to Have Seen More of These Snippets. --RoadDog

"Reach Out" for a Red Stripe Beer (From Galena, Illinois)

I learned two things last week when we were in Galena, Illinois.

The first was that Red Stripe Beer was first produced (and for 100 years from the 1830s to 1937) at one of the nine breweries that one time or another were located in that town. The formula was sold in a downturn after Prohibition to a pair of English investors who took it to Jamaica...and, the rest is history.

The second thing was that one of my favorite songs from the 1960s, "Reach Out in the Darkness" by Friend and Lover, was written by Galena native Jim Post, best known for his portrayal of Mark Twain and Galena Rose in one man shows.

Today, I went to Wikipedia and found out that Friend and Lover were actually he and his wife. He also performed a lot in the 70s and 80s in Chicago and was a contemporary of Steve Goodman, John Prine and Bonnie Koloc.

Some Stuff I Didn't Know. --RoadDog

Good Old High School Football

I mentioned in the last post of going to the Richmond-Burton at Johnsburg High School football game on Friday, but having it cancelled because of lightning. It was replayed Saturday afternoon and our local high school, Richmond-Burton Rockets, won.

The last several years I have been spending a lot of Fridays out at the local high school gridiron and really enjoying the experience and spirit of the kids and adults.

I even went to one of the many charity group calendars I received this year and wrote down the home games in the area and will be going out to a lot of them this fall.

I have a pecking order of favorites.

They are:

#1 PALATINE HIGH SCHOOL PIRATES -where I went from 1965 to 1969.

#2 ROUND LAKE HIGH SCHOOL PANTHERS-- I taught in Round Lake for 33 years and lived there for 17 years.

#3 RICHMOND-BURTON HIGH SCHOOL ROCKETS-- Where kids from our subdivision go and where we've lived 20 years now and paid a WHOLE lot of property taxes. Names for the Richmond and Burton townships.

#4 JOHNSBURG HIGH SCHOOL SKYHAWKS-- Next town south of us. The school is just two miles directly south of our house.

#5 GRANT HIGH SCHOOL BULLDOGS-- In Fox Lake where we've kept our boat for the last 28 years.

High School Football. A Lot of Bang for Your Entertainment Buck. --RoadDog

Labor Day Weekend 2013

FRIDAY, AUGUST 30TH--

No boating because of storm threat. Storm. Johnsburg-Richmond Burton high school football game cancelled because of lightning.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 31ST--

Rescheduled Johnsburg-Richmond-Burton game. R-B wins 27-7.

We went to Wauconda and Terry and Gregg Spizziri playing out on deck at the Tiki Bar.

Back home and Fire on the Strand and gazebo. Listened on the radio to and watched on TV, the end of NIU's first-ever win over Iowa after eight losses!!!!!

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1ST-- Summer 1973 Part 4 on Rock and Roll Roots on WDRV.

Boating. Bloody Mary at Dirty Rooster on deck overlooking Grasslake. The Eddie Butts Band playing at Captain's Quarters on Fox Lake. The world's LOUDEST band. Then to Tommy's to recuperate ear drums.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2ND--

Yardwork. Worst day ever of boating. Idiots out on Fox Lake. Kevin and Kelly are grandparents. Toasting them at 50 K and Dawg House. Last stop at the Legion.

A Mostly Great Holiday Weekend

Where Were You September 1, 1973?-- Part 4

Some more songs on Rock and Roll Roots that were on your radio or in your record collection.

JIMMY LOVES MARIANNE-- Looking Glass
CHINA GROVE-- Doobie Brothers
UNEASY RIDER-- Charlie Daniels

LIVING IN THE MATERIAL WORLD-- George Harrison
MY LOVE-- Paul McCartney & Wings
MY MARIA-- B.W. Stevenson

GYPSEY MAN-- War
LOVES ME LIKE A ROCK-- Paul Simon
ROCKY MOUNTAIN WAY-- Joe Walsh.

I Wonder If People Would Wonder If I Went to L.A. Via Omaha? --RoadDog

Where Were You September 1, 1973-- Part 3

Bob Stroud played some great songs from Septenmber 1, 1973, 40 years ago. Sure brought back some memories.

HIGHER GROUND-- Stevie Wonder
GET DOWN-- Gilbert O'Sullivan
GIVE ME THREE STEPS-- Lynyrd Skynyrd

SHAMBALA-- Three Dog Night
HERE I AM-- Al Green
BROTHER LOUIE-- Stories

PASSION PLAY EDIT 9-- Jethro Tull
DIAMOND GIRL-- Seals & Crofts
FEELING STRONGER EVERY DAY-- Chicago.

That "Brother Louie" always reminds me of driving the van back and forth from Sheraton Inn-Walden in Schaumburg to O'Hare Airport. --RoadDog

Where Were You September 1, 1973?-- Part 2; How I Got My Teaching Job

Liz's mom, Frances, made me fill out the application for the Round Lake School District, which, as it turned out, needed to fill a position just two weeks before school began for a person who could teach history (my major) and geography (my minor). But, like I said, I was fed up with all things education by then.

Then I told her that I wouldn't waste my money and put one of those expensive stamps on the envelope. (How much were stamps back in 1973?) She put one on. Then, I wasn't going to waste my gas to drive it to the post office. She did.

Around a week before Liz and I got married, they called and wanted an interview which ended up being the day before we got married. I went in, and they hired me. I signed my contract August 24th. We had planned on a nearly week-long honeymoon, but that got reduced to two days.

Well, I had always planned on being a teacher since I was seven, so I guess this worked out.

A Teaching IWill Go.  --RoadDog

Where Were You September 1, 1973?-- Part 1

Yesterday, Bob Stroud had part 4 of his monthly Rock and Roll Roots Time Warps back to the summer of '73. As I have already mentioned, this was a "Big" summer for me. I had graduated from NIU and had been looking unsuccessfully for a teaching job while living with Liz's parents in Palatine, Illinois.

In the meantime, I had been working three days as a mover (and I can say that is a really hard way to earn a buck (and I was getting $10 an hour, real big money back then). I was also driving a van back and forth from the Sheraton Inn-Walden in Schaumburg to O'Hare.

In late July, I got a full-time job working as an assistant manager at a Bonanza Sirloin Pit in Buffalo Grove and figured that would likely be my career job. I had given up on getting a teaching job and felt I was so poorly treated at interviews I wanted nothing to do with education anymore.

But, Then, Frances Made Me Fill Out the Round Lake School District Application. --RoadDog

Just Got Back-- 40th Wedding Anniversary-- Part 3: (August 28th) Galena

Enjoyed sitting around and outside the Ramada Hotel room. While Liz was getting ready, I went to the nearby Wal-Mart and bought the new Jimmy Buffett and In-a-Gadda-Da-Vida by Iron Butterfly CDs and the "MASH" and "Patton" DVDs. With the Iron Butterfly album, I like the first side just as well as the 17-minute-long song on side 2. Popped it into the CD player on the '03 Malibu.

Checked out of the Ramada and we're pretty sure that we checked out of the old Palace Motel on this date 40 tears ago as I had to begin teaching the next day.

Drove around Galena on the north side of the river, above Main Street and those are some mighty steep streets. Checked into the Galena Hills Motel, an old-timey mom and pop motel that we like to stay at these days.

Then went back to Galena's Main Street and parked one street over by the visitors center in the old Market Building and looked at their huge U.S. Grant collection. All things U.S. Grant. While there, local character Jim Post came in and talked with us. He has a show tonight at a local theater and we are considering going to it. I should mention that he told me that he had written the 1960s song "Reach Out in the Darkness" as recorded by Friend and Lover. He and his wife were Friend and Lover.

--RoadDog