Boo to You!!: Scary Music for Your H'ween-- Part 2: "Don't Fear the Reaper"

PAINT IT BLACK--  Rolling Stones
I PUT A SPELL ON YOU--  CCR
SUPERSTITION--  Stevie Wonder

FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND' LOVE LIES BLEEDING--  Elton John
TUBULAR BELLS--  Michael Oldfield
BLACK MAGIC WOMAN--  Santana

WHITE RABBIT--  Jefferson Airplane
DON'T FEAR THE REAPER--  Blue Oyster Cult
I HAD TOO MUCH TO DREAM LAST NIGHT--  Electric Prunes  (I always thought they were saying they had too much to drink last night.)

BORN UNDER A BAD SIGN--  Cream
SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL--  Rolling Stones
MONSTER MASH--  Bobby "Boris" Pickett

SPOOKY--  Classics IV

Name That Tune (from the above):  "I Was Working In the Lab Late One Night When My Eyes Beheld An Eerie Sight."  Answer Below.  --RoadScare

MORE COFFEE SIGNS:  You speak perfect Arabic without ever taking a lesson.

"Monster Mash"

We're Back from Our 66 on 66 Cruise-- Part 2: Old Motels

Continued from October 25.

Like I said, a major goal of the trip was to stay at older motels we'd stayed at before, but especially to stay at the newly renovated Boots Court Motel in Carthage, Missouri, and the Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri.

That, and to revisit old favorite stops and check out some we hadn't yet been to and some that are new to the Mother Road.

OCTOBER 12--  Route 66 Hotel, Springfield, Illinois
OCTOBER 13-14--  Munger-Moss Motel, Lebanon, Missouri
OCTOBER 15--  Boots Court Motel, Carthage, Missouri

OCTOBER 16--  Hampton Inn, Stroud, Oklahoma
OCTOBER 17--  Holiday Inn  Express, Vinita, Oklahoma
OCTOBER 18--  Rail Haven Motel, Springfield, Missouri

OCTOBER 19--  Munger-Moss Motel, Lebanon, Missouri
OCTOBER 20--  Wagon Wheel Motel, Cuba, Missouri
OCTOBER 21--  Route 66 Hotel, Springfield, Illinois

Our favorite Route 66 states, in order:  Missouri, Illinois and Oklahoma

On That Mother Road Again, Can't Wait To get back Out On That Mother Road Again--  RoadDog66

Boo To You!! Halloween Music to Scare You-- Part 1

From Boo Stroud's October 29, 2017, Rock and Roll Roots show on Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM, the drive.

Music to howl by:

SEASON OF THE WITCH--  Donovan
PSYCHO KILLER--  Talking Heads
WEREWOLVES OF LONDON--  Warren Zevon

THE RAVEN--  Alan Parsons Group
DEVIL IN HER HEART--  Beatles
DEVIL IN DISGUISE--  Elvis Presley

WELCOME TO MY NIGHTMARE--  Alice Cooper
FRANKENSTEIN--  Edgar Winter Group
LOVE POTION #9--  Searchers

And His Hair Was Perfect.  --RoadWolf

WLS Top Ten for October 27, 1967: "It Must be Him"

1.  THE LETTER--  Box Tops
2.  LET IT OUT--  Hombres  ("Let It All Hang Out")
3.  TO SIR WITH LOVE--  Lulu

4.  HOW CAN I BE SURE--  Young Rascals
5.  NEVER MY LOVE--  Association
6.  THE RAIN, THE PARK & OTHER THINGS--  Cowsills
7.  INCENSE & PEPPERMINTS--  Strawberry Alarm Clock

8.  IT MUST BE HIM--  Vicki  Carr
9.  HEY BABY THEY'RE PLAYING OUR SONG--  Buckinghams
10.  HUSH--  Billy Joe Royal

Name That Tune (From the above songs):  "The Time Has Come For Closing Books And Long Last Looks Must End."  Answer Below)  --RoadDog

MORE COFFEE SIGNS:  You get drunk just so you can sober up.

"To Sir With Love"

NIU Unveils Diesel Statue

From the October 26, 2017, Raleigh (NC) News & Observer "Northern Illinois University mascot memorialized in statue"  AP.

Siberian husky Diesel served as NIU's mascot Huskie from 2005-201.\3.  He will be memorialized with a bronze statue which will be dedicated outside Huskie Stadium in DeKalb, Illinois, today before the NIU-Eastern Michigan football game.  NIU teams are called the Huskies.

Diesel lifted his paw in 2013, seemingly to give NIU cheerleaders a high five in a game after a Huskie touchdown.  This was captured on national TV and became viral.  Sadly, Diesel died in 2015.

The statue is designed by Renee Bemis and NIU alumni used an online funding site to raise the $25,000 to make the sculpture.

We met Diesel on several occasions, including the Go-Daddy Bowl in Mobile, Alabama.  He was one cool dog and lived in our former town of Round Lake Beach, Illinois.  He had the softest fur I've ever touched.

Big Diesel Fan.  --RoadDog

MORE COFFEE SIGNS:  You help your dog chase its tail.

JSS: No Mo Cubs-- World Series-- Greenin' Up

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1.  NO MO CUBS--  Sure glads the Cubs finally got put out of their and our agony in the playoffs, even though they did manage to pull out a gritty victory over the Washington Hairy Nationals and former Cb manager Dusty baker, who I still blame for the self-destruction back in the Bartman NLCS.

Bringing in relief pitchers was like throwing gasoline to put the fire out.  And, what a bad time for most all the players to go into a batting slump.  I think we only had one player at .220 and the rest were under .200.  And, last year's NL MVP, Bryant was out to break all playoff records for strike outs.

Oh well, that frees up a lot of time as I will watch the World Series if I happen to be in a bar and it's on TV.

2.  WORLD SERIES--  And speaking of the World Series, I don't really like either team, though the Astros being American League, my favorite, I will sort of be for them.  To me, they should still be in the NL.  They were the ones the Sox swept in the 2005 World Series.  At least the hated Yankees did not go.

3.  GREENIN' UP-  The yard has sure greened up from recent rains while we were gone and Sunday and Monday.  I may even have to cut it again (if it dries out).  At least mow up the fallen leaves or maybe burn them some weekend between now and the end of November as we can still burn on those days.

I Really Love the Smell of Burning Leaves.  --RoadBurn

We're Back from Our 66 on 66 Cruise-- Part 1: To Lebanon

We left Spring Grove on Thursday, October 12 and returned, 2,005 miles later on Sunday, October 22.

Since Liz and I are both 66 this year, we decided to do like Paul, and drive on Route 66 when we're 66.  Only, he, by the way, as in Beatle Paul McCartney, drove the whole way.  We just drove from Joliet, Illinois, to Arcadia, Oklahoma, just outside Oklahoma City.

We had originally considered going the whole way from downtown Chicago to Santa Monica, but decided just to concentrate on our favorite four states.  That, and we wanted to stay in as many old motels as possible and we accomplished that.

October 12--  Route 66 Hotel in Springfield, Illinois
Oct.  13-14--  Munger-Moss Motel in Lebanon, Missouri

On the Road Again.  --RoadDog

MORE COFFEE SIGNS:  You can't even remember your second cup.

A Trip Back in Time-- Part 4: The Burn Pile and Sunnyside

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1

After my usual Sunday morning radio shows: Rock and Roll Roots and recording Breakfast With the Beatles to hear later, I spent a lot of hours out by the very, very large burn pile.  We are only allowed to burn yard waste on weekends in October and November and April and May, so had to take advantage of it.  And, I sure had a huge one this year.

We went to Sunnyside and enjoyed talking with people most of the afternoon.

--RoadDog

A Trip Back Kind of Weekend-- Part 3: Confederates in Illinois, the Ribbon Road, Oktoberfest and Fireworks

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30

Drove to DeKalb, Illinois for the Sons of Confederate Veterans meeting and lunch at Rosita's on Lincoln Highway between our Camp Douglas Camp and the Rock Island Camp.  Confederates this far north!!  We also had quite a few members of the Sons of Union Veterans in attendance as well.  We heard an excellent presentation on the role of religion during the Civil War.

Afterwards, I took a ride on what used to be a ribbon road in DeKalb County, now Il-23 between DeKalb and Waterman and until this summer was called the worst road in DeKalb County because they had simply paved over the old ribbon road (9 feet wide which caused a whole lot of potholes.  I also drove through Elva, a town south of DeKalb that was started by barbed wire inventor Joseph Glidden and named for his daughter.

Stopped at Wal-Mart on Il-23 on the way back and loaded up on NIU stuff.

Liz and I went to McHenry for the St. Patrick's Church Oktoberfest and enjoyed brats and the bands.  Then over to Sunnyside where we saw the fireworks display from the Celebration in the Park of Johnsburg.  The park is right next to Sunnyside.  They had a good band there as well.

A Long Day.  --RoadDog

A Trip Back Kind of Weekend-- Part 2: A Trip Back to the Old Stomping Grounds in Palatine and a High School Football Game

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29

We drove US-12, Rand Road, to Arlington Hts, Illinois, and tended to Amby and Frances' grave (Liz's parents).  Put up fall flowers and a U.S. flag as he was a major in World War II.  We then drove by our old houses in Palatine (where we lived while growing up) and stopped for a bite to eat at Photo's on US-14, Northwest Highway.  This is the site of where I used to work at Burger King.

Later, I went to the Richmond-Burton-Harvard high school football game in Richmond.  It looked like Richmond was going to blow Harvard out, but it got tied shortly into the third quarter.  Then Burton scored one more time to win 21-14.

--RoadDog

WLS Top Ten for October 20, 1967: "Never My Love"

1.  THE LETTER--  Box Tops
2.  LET IT OUT--  Hombres
3.  HOW CAN I BELIEVE--  Young Rascals

4.  NEVER MY LOVE--  Association
5.  TO SIR WITH LOVE--  Lulu
6.  BROWN EYED GIRL--  Van Morrison
7.  IT MUST BE HIM--  Vicki Carr

8.  HEY BABY, THEY'RE PLAYING OUR SONG--  Buckinghams
9.  GIMME LITTLE SIGN--  Brenton Wood
10.  LITTLE OLE MAN--  Bill Cosby

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Those Schoolgirl Days of Telling Tales and Biting Nails."  Answer below.  --RoadDog


"To Sir With Love"

OK, All You Cub Fans, A Lot of Folks Out Here in Western Mo. and Eastern Ok., Could Care

As sad as you might be about the Cubs in all likelihood being eliminated tonight because of that horrific lack of hitting and sorry excuse for relief pitching, despite all the money they're paying to Davis, we have discovered one big truth out here on Route 66.

As far as the Cubs are concerned, there are many, many people here in eastern Oklahoma and western Missouri, who don't give a rat about the Cubs.

So sorry you gung-ho Cubbie fans.

Some Folks Just Don't Care.  --RoadDog

A Trip Back Kind of Weekend-- Part 1: Boating, Dog 'B Suds and Concert in the Park

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28

Took the boat out for a slow cruise around Mineola Bay in Fox Lake, then the west shore of Fox lake,through Kamikaze Alley and along the south shore of Nippersink Lake to Beer Can Bridge and then back.

Drove over to Dog 'N Suds in Ingleside and had those great Charcoburgers (2 for $3 and washed it down with a frosted glass mug of their great root beer and bought a couple Charcoburgers home to Liz.  Dog 'N Suds still has curb service, a real trip back.

We then drove into McHenry and went to the PLAV for a couple cocktails before walking over to Veterans Park to see the band Miles Over Mountains (bluegrass/folk music).  A really fine band to end the Concerts in the Park summer season.

Then back to the PLAV for a drink and then over to Sunnyside Tavern in Johnsburg for the Bears-Packers party (Thursday Night Football).  The place was packed and the Bears were very very sad, and completely outclassed.  We came home.

--Roaddog

WLS Top 40 for October 13, 1967: "Hey Baby, They're Playing Our Song"

1.. THE LETTER--  Box Tops
2.   NEVER MY LOVE--  Association
3.  HOW CAN BE SURE--  Young Rascals

4.  BROWN EYED GIRL--  Can Morrison
5.  HEY BABY, THEY'RE PLAYING OUR SONG-- Buckinghams
6.  LITTLE OLE MAN--  Bill Cosby
7.  LET OT OUT--  Hombres

8.  GIMME LITTLE SIGN--  Brenton Wood
9.  IT MUST BE HIM--  Vicki Carr
10.  COME BACK WHEN YOU GROW UP--  Bobby Vee

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "No Parking By the Sewer Sign, Hot Dog My Razor's Broke."  Answer Below.  --RoadDog

MORE COFFEE SIGNS:  You have a picture of your coffee mug on your coffee mug.

"Let It All Hang Out"

JSIS: College Football-- That Pesky Soda Tax-- Fall Color

JSIS--  Just Some Interesting Stuff

1.  COLLEGE FOOTBALL--  This was a shocker when Oregon State football coach Gary Anderson left the school by mutual agreement after a 1-5 start and 4-17 overall record AND he gave up the $12 million he had coming to him.  That is refreshing when a college football coach (most of whom are really OVERPAID) leaves money on the table.  I didn't think that was possible.

2.  THAT PESKY SODA TAX--  Cook County, Illinois, (which includes Chicago) has dropped it one cent an ounce tax on all drinks that are sweetened (even diet drinks) which was put in to make children healthier.  We all knew the REAL reason was to make money for the county.  Good Riddance.  Now, let's work on those safety Photo Enforced stoplights which really scare me.

3.  FALL COLOR--  A few trees around here in northeast Illinois are starting to change, but most have not.  Looking forward to that color.

Color me Fall.  --RoadDog

MORE COFFEE SIGNS:  You think being called a "drip" is a compliment.

Music Deaths: Ammon Tharp Beach Music

AMMON THARP  Died September 22, 2017.

He was the original drummer with Bill Deal & the Rhondells, a great Beach Music band.  Two of their songs hit the pop charts:  "May I"  (#39-1969), "I've Been Hurt"  (#35-1969)  and "What Kind of Fool Do You Think I Am"  (#23-1969)

And I Really Love Beach Music.

Music Deaths: Troy Gentry of Montgomery Gentry and Rick Stevens

TROY GENTRY, 50  Died September 8, 2017

Killed in a helicopter crash.  Was half of the country duo Montgomery Gentry who released six albums with more than twenty charted singles and ten Top Tens.

RICK STEVENS, 77  Died September 5, 2017.

Lead singer of Tower of Power.  Sang lead for the group on "You're Still a Young Man."

Music Deaths: Don Williams

DON WILLIAMS, 78   Died September 8, 2017

Country singer who crossed over to pop music.  His "I Believe In You" went to #24 in 1980.

He had 17 #1 country hits and was a member of the Pozo-Seco Singers who had six songs go to the Top 100 in pop, including "I Can make It With You" (#32-1966) and "Look What You've Done" (#32 in 1967).

I have been listening to his Anthology CD and it is loaded with great country songs.