Halloween Haul: Spooky Spending

From the Oct. 25, 2015, Parade Magazine.

The 157 million Americans planning to celebrate Halloween will spend an estimated:

**  $1.9 billion on decorations

**  $2.1 billion on candy

**  $550 million on costumes for their pets.

**  I spent about $24 for candy for today.  Actually, it would have been less, but I forgot I had already bought a bag earlier.  Oh well, the more for me.

**  I spent $22 for three Halloween-themed things and a really, really big pumpkin.  I figure spending more tomorrow and next week when things are 50% off.

--RoadDog

POINTS TO PONDER:  You feel stuck with your debt if you can't budge it.

Bloody Songs for Halloween: "Let It Bleed"

From the Oct. 30, 2015, Ten at Ten from WDRV 97.1 FM Chicago.

This replays at 10 p.m. (Central) tonight.

IF YOU WANT BLOOD--  AC/DC
ONLY WOMEN BLEED--  Alice Cooper
BLOODY WELL RIGHT--  Supertramp

FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND/LOVE LIES BLEEDING--  Elton John
LET IT BLEED--  Rolling Stones
GIVE BLOOD--  Pete Townsend
HOT BLOODED--  Foreigner

PEACE FROG--  Doors
SUNDAY BLOODY SUNDAY--  U2
BAD BLOOD--  Neil Sedaka

Name That Tune:  "Well We All need Someone We Can Lean On."  RoadDog


"Let It Bleed"

Three Steps to a Monster Bash

Oct. 25, 2015, Parade Magazine.

1.  Deck your table with playful die-cut placemats.  set of 12 for $25.  hesterandcook.com.

2.  Crank up some monster hit tunes with "Now, That's What I Call Halloween," a collection of standards and hip-hop for $14 from Best Buy.  I saw one today for $12 at Meijer;s.

3.  Toast the ghosties with the spiced cider from McCormick:  Cook a gallon of apple cider, one cup orange juice, 4 cinnamon sticks, 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract, 2 teaspoons whole cloves and 1 teaspoon whole allspice on low heat until hot.  Remove whole spices before serving.  Visit Parade.com/monsterbash for more drinks.

--RoadDog


MORE TO PONDER:  The man who fell into the upholstery machine is fully recovered.

WLS Top Ten Songs From October 29, 1965 "Liar Liar"

1.  GET OFF MY CLOUD--  Rolling Stones
2.  YOU'RE THE ONE--  Vogues
3.  KEEP ON DANCING--  Gentrys

4.  LOVERS CONCERTO-- Toys
5.  EVERYBODY LOVES A CLOWN--  Gary Lewis & Playboys
6.  YESTERDAY--  Beatles
7.  LOOK THROUGH ANY WINDOW--  Hollies

8.  JUST A LITTLE BIT BETTER--  Herman's Hermits
9.  LIAR LIAR--  Castaways
10.  ROAD RUNNER--  Gants

Name That Tune:  "Come On, Show Me How You Work."  --RoadDog


"Keep On Dancing"

How to Make an Unforgettable Carved Pumpkin

From the Oct. 25, 2015 Parade Magazine.

POLKA-DOT PUMPKINS

If Martha Stewart can do this, so can you.  Cut a hole in the bottom of a pumpkin, scoop the innards out, and drill holes into it, using a 1/4 inch drill for smaller ones and 3/4-inch for larger ones.

Stuff with a string of lights or use a candle and you'll have the brightest pumpkin on the block.

Sock It Pumpkin.  --RoadDog


MORE TO PONDER:  Show me a piano falling down a mine shaft, and I'll show you A-flat minor.

Music Deaths: Diamonds and Aliota, Haynes & Jeremiah

DAVID SOMERVILLE, 81-- Died  July 19, 2015.  Born in Ontario and became lead singer of the Diamonds.  Used primarily on covers of R&B tunes.  "Whu Do Fools Fall in Love" (#12-1956), "Church Bells May Ring" (#14-1956), "The Stroll" (#4-1958) and "Little Darlin" (#2-1957).

Co-wrote the theme song for "The Fall Guy."

MITCH ALIOTA, 70--  Died July 21, 2015.  Bassist of Rotary Connection (group which launched Minnie Ripperton's career).  Had a big hit with the Alioto, Haynes & Jeremiah with "Lake Shore Drive."  It didn't chart nationally but was very popular here in the Chicago area.

John Jeremiah died in 2011.

Music Death: Ernie Maresca

ERNIE MARESCA, 76

Died July 8, 2015.  Sang baritone for the Regents before they recorded "Barbara Ann."  Wrote for Dion DiMucci: "No One Knows (#19-1958) "Runaround Sue" (#1-1961), "The Wanderer" (#2- 1961) though his original lyrics were "with my two fists of iron and my bottle of beer."

Also wrote "Lovers Who Wander" (#3-1962) and "Donna the Prima Donna" (#6-1963).

Wrote and sang "Shout! Shout! (Knock Yourself Out)" (#6-1962).

Wrote two great Girl group songs: "Party Girl" (47-1964 for Bernadette Carroll) and "Whenever a Teenager Cries" (#60-1965 for Reparata & the Delrons.

Music Deaths: Songwriter and a Hard-Luck Keyboardist

MICHAEL MASSER, 74

Died July 9, 2015.  Co-wrote Dina Ross' "Touch Me in the Morning" (#1-1973), "Theme from Mahogony" (#1-1976)  "Last Time I Saw Him"  (#14-1974) and "It's My Turn" (#4-1981).

He also wrote "The Greatest Love of All" (#24-1977 for George Benson and #1-1986 for Whitney Houston and "Tonight I Celebrate My Love for You" (#16-1983 for Roberta Flack and Peabo Bryson.

ERIC WRIXON, 76

 Died July 13, 2015.  Hard-luck keyboardist for Them and Thin Lizzy.  Left both groups before they hit it big.  He came up with the name for Them from a sci-fi movie.

2016 Honorees on Hollywood Walk of Fame

Announced June 22, 2015.

"Mama" Cass Elliott
Cyndi Lauper
LL Cool J
Shirley Caesar (gospel)
Michael Keaton
Barbar Bain
Kurt Russell

--RoadDog


MORE TO PONDER:  If you don't pay your exorcist, you get repossessed.

Homecoming Weekend at NIU

OCTOBER 24, SATURDAY--  Drove to DeKalb enjoying the fall color.  Parked at the Baymont Hotel and walked over to the alumni tent area and enjoyed a porkchop sandwich and the swag.  Heard the university president and athletic director speak and the Huskie Marching band.

Decided not to buy tickets for the game because of the crummy weather, but watched part of it from outside Huskie Stadium.

Went back to the hotel and drove Lincoln Highway downtown and went to Lord Stanley's where we saw the game and enjoyed the DeKalb Footstompers, a homecoming tradition since 1973.  Ended up at Pizza Pros.

OCTOBER 25, SUNDAY--  Drove around campus, Greek Row and did some shopping for NIU stuff.  Had lunch of sliders at White Castle and then intended to see the Pumpkin festival parade in Sycamore, but couldn't find a parking place so drove to Woodstock and walked around the Square.  Stopped at Benton Street Tap and Wayne's Lanes, which was the bowling alley in the movie "Groundhog Day."  This is also from where Bill Murray and friends took their race around town and on the railroad tracks.

Last stop was Sunnyside Tap in Johnsburg.

A Good Weekend.  --RoadDog

MORE TO PONDER:  In a democracy it's your vote that counts; in feudalism it's your county who votes.

Music Deaths: Joe Bennett and Roy Bennett

JOE BENNETT, 75

These obituaries come from Oldies News.

Died June 27, 2015.  Leader of the Spartanburg, S.C., rockabilly band Joe Bennett & the Sparkletones.  They formed in 1956.  Their first and biggest hit was "Black Slacks" (#17-1957.  Their followup "Penny Loafers and Booby Socks" only went to #42.

ROY BENNETT, 97

Died July 2, 2015.  Songwriter.  Wrote "The Naughty Lady of Shady Lane (#3-1954 for the Ames Brothers), "Kiss of Fire" (#1-1962 for Georgia Gibbs) and "Red Roses for a Blue Lady (#10-1965 for Vic Dana).  Usually worked with Sid Tepper who died in April 2015.

Wrote 45 songs for Elvis Presley including "G.I. Blues.

Music Deaths: AFO Records and Yes

HAROLD BATTISTE, 83

Died June 26, 2015.  Owner of the New Orleans-based AFO (All for One) Records.  The label recorded hits for Barbara George and Lee Dorsey and arranged tunes for Sam Cooke.  He was musical director on the Sonny & Cher 1970s TV show and played sax on their #1 hit "I Got You Babe" in 1965.

CHRIS SQUIRE, 67

  Died June 27, 2015.  Founding member and bassist of Yes.  The only member to appear on all the group's 21 studio albums.  The group formed in London in 1968.  In 1971 their Fragile album had their first hit with "Roundabout" which went to #13.

The group's lineup has changed often over the years, but he was the only one throughout.  In 1984, he co-wrote their "comeback hit "Owner of a Lonely Heart."

Music Deaths: James Last and Jack Carlson

JAMES LAST, 86

Died June 9, 2015.  His "Seduction (Love Theme)" from te movie "American Giggolo" was #28 in 1980.  He also wrote "Happy Heart" (#22-1969) for Andy Williams and "Fool" (#17-1973) and "Games That Lovers Play" (#45 in 1966) for Elvis Presley.

In the United Kingdom he charted with 52 albums from 1967 to 1986, second to only to Elvis Presley.

JACK CARLSON

Died June 12, 2015.  First tenor and falsetto singer with the Roomates.  His first hit was as backup singer on Cathy Jean Giiordano on "Please Love Me Forever" (#12-1961) and on his own with "Glory of Love" (#49-1961).

Music Deaths: Weavers and Browns

RONNIE GILBERT, 88

Died June 6, 2015.  Contralto singer with the influential Weavers folk music group.  One of the members was Pete Seeger.  Their big hits were "Goodnight Irene" (#1-1950) and "On Top of Old Smoky" (#2-1951). The Red Scare of the 1950s got them blacklisted and ended their success.  But they had a big influence on Peter, Paul & Mary, the Kingston Trio and Bob Dylan.

JIM ED BROWN, 81  Died June 11, 2015.

Best known as lead singer of the Browns, a country group that had a hit in 1954 with "Looking Back to See" (#8-1954).  Charted hits on country charts 21 times from 1954 to 1968.    Their biggest hit was "The Three Bells" (#1 country and pop in 1959).

He began a solo career in 1965.  His biggest hit was "Pop a Top" (#3-1967).  He did a duo with Helen Cornelius "I Don't Want to Have to Marry You" (#1 country 1976) and "Lying in Love With You" (#2 country 1979).

It's Homecoming Time Again at NIU

In just a short time, Liz and I will be preparing to drive out to DeKalb, Illinois, for yet another Northern Illinois Homecoming, this year celebrating the 50th anniversary of Huskie Stadium.  We play Eastern Michigan in a MAC matchup.

Of course, there is always the alumni tailgating/tent area near the Barcema Alumni Center as well as souvenirs to be bought.  Then, there is the game at 2:30.

Even better, we then go to Lord Stanley's to celebrate with the great DeKalb Footstompers who have played at every Northern Homecoming since 1973 and still has three of the original four members.  They are every bit as much of a NIU Homecoming tradition for us as is the game.  We saw them at Andy's back then and have seen them most homecomings since.

They really pack 'em into Lord Stanley's, the old Shamrock when we were students.  And everyone has a great time listening to oldies and great originals by them.  You haven't lived until you've heard "Purple Haze" played by a four piece band featuring a guitar, drums, tuba and accordion.

Fight On You Huskies!!  --RoadDog

Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats "S.O.B."

The other day, I was listening to WXRT in Chicago and heard this great song, but didn't catch the name of the group or the title, although I guessed it would be "S.O.B.."  I had to go to the playlist and got the title and group.  "S.O.B" by Nate Rateliff and the Night Sweats.  I would have checked them out just looking at the name of the group.

They are now on my list of albums to get.  Evidently their first one is self-titled.

This group reminds me a lot of St. Paul & the Broken Bones.

OK, sort of a swear word, but it fits.

Checking them out on YouTube right now.  Love the video for "S.O.B.."  Also enjoyed "Howling at Nothing" and their Front Row Boston video.

"S.O.B., Give Me a Drink."  --RoadDog


MORE TO PONDER (From the Orange Peel Gazette)  I backward poet writes inverse.

Who Was That Daniel Murphy Who So Ran Over Us This Week?

Everyone was wondering who this guy was and what he has against the hapless Cubs.  To say he is having an extraordinary playoff rub is quite the understatement.  This guy killed us and had no remorse whatsoever.

I had to look him up and find out more about him.  I knew nothing of him.  He has been playing baseball with the Mets since 2008 and is a good hitter with his lifetime .288 batting average.  What was surprising to me, though, is that in that time he has hit only 62 home runs.  That's an average of almost nine homers a season (he did not play in 2010).

He hit four home runs, one every game, against us.  And has seven total in the playoffs.

This season was his highest home run output with 14.  His regular season stats:  140 hits in 499 at bats, 14 homers, 73 RBI and a .281 batting average.

So far in the 2015 playoffs:  16 hits in 38 at bats, 7 homers, 11 RBI and .421 batting average.

Major League Career Stats:  422 hits in 3354 at bats, 62 homers and a .288 batting average.

Home Run Totals:

2008--  2
2009--  12
2011--  6
2012--  6
2013--  13
2014--  9
2015--  14

Wednesday night he went 4 for 5 with two singles, a double and his mandatory home run.

Where's His White Horse?  --RoadSadDog

Every Blooming THing: The Color Arriveth

It took much longer than usual, but we are finally reaching top fall color here in northern Illinois.  It really hit yesterday and today.  I have two trees that changed seemingly overnight.  The amur maple by the deck continues to be brilliant.  And my Miss Kim lilacs are looking great as well.

And, out subdivision is a regular jumble of colors.  Even though people planted as they pleased once buying their homes, they arrived at a very complementary choice of fall tree colors.  Every wooded stretch of road here in northeast McHenry County provides a magnificent backdrop.

I can just imagine what the older residential areas of DeKalb, Illinois, will look like this weekend as we go to NIU's Homecoming.

Color Me Smiling.  --RoadDog


THE FINAL COUNTER PROVERBS:  The more, the merrier.  --or--  Two's company; three's a crowd.