Around Here: Wisconsin Gas, Omelets, Old Friends, and the Blue Gill

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22

Drove across the border and met the former Magee teachers at the Bristol 45 Diner in Bristol, Wisconsin.  It was also time to fill up the Dakota which was down to about an 8th of a tank.  It has a big gas tank and it takes a lot to fill it when it is that low.  Gas around northern Illinois is anywhere from $3.40 to $3.60 now.  Gas in Wisconsin is lower and along Highway C was $3.20.

We had a good turnout for our first get together since the coronavirus hit back in March 2020 with six:  Bob B., Maxine, Bob D., Karen and Cindy.  Great to catch up with old friends.  And, the Diner has really great omelets.  I usually get the Mediterranean one and have several meals off it at home.

On the way home, I got gas at a station on Wis. 83, just north of Antioch, Illinois, for $3.08.  A considerable savings for me as it took 18 gallons to fill up.

Later, we met Kevin and Kelly at Kelly's in Trevor, Wisconsin, for a fish fry.  I had some delicious blue gill.

--RoadDog

PREGNANCY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:  Q   What is the most common craving for women during pregnancy?  A     For men to be the ones who get pregnant.

Here Are Another 12 Great Illinois High School Nicknames: The Polo Marcos

Cobden Appleknockers

DeKalb Barbs

Dietrich Movin' Maroons

Effingham Flaming Hearts

Elk Grove Grenandiers

Genoa-Kingston Cogs

Fisher Bunnies

Hampshire Whip-Purs

Lake Forest Academy Caxys

Polo Marcos   (Ha Ha)

Wethersfield Flying Geese

Zion-Benton Zee-Bees

Go You Flying Geese  --RoadDog

Great Illinois High School Nicknames: Go You Wooden Shoes

From the October 27, 2021, Rockford(Illinois) Register Star "Which Illinois high school has the coolest nickname?  here are our favorites" by a panel of six.

Well, I went to Palatine High School (the Pirates) and Fremd High School (the Vikings).  Okay names, but nothing extraordinary.

Here are some extraordinary school nicknames.  Go to the site and learn how they became known as them.

Rockford East E-Rabs

Plano Reapers

Rochelle Hubs

Centralia Orphans

Canton Little Giants

Teutopolis Wooden Shoes

Illinois Central Valley Grey Ghosts  (and just in time for Halloween)

Freeport Pretzels

New Berlin Pretzels

Witt Speedboys

Hoopestown Cornjerkers

Lincoln Railsplitters

Galesville Silver Streaks

And, just in time for the start of the 2021 IHSA Football Playoffs this weekend.

The Cornjerkers  --RoadBall

WLS Top Ten for Week of October 25, 1971: 'Tired of Being Alone'

That's right, just fifty short years ago.  I was still in college at UGA at the time as a junior and pledging Sigma Phi Epsilon, but had decided to drop out of that fraternity and try to start a Delta Sigma Phi fraternity there.

1.  YO YO--  Osmonds

2.  I'VE FOUND SOMEONE OF MY OWN--  Free Movement

3.  CHARITY BALL--  Fanny

4.  GYPSEYS, TRAMPS & THIEVES--  Cher

5.  MAGGIE MAY / REASON TO BELIEVE--  Rod Stewart

6.  TIRED OF BEING ALONE--  Al Green

7.  DO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN--  Lee Michaels

8.  ONLY YOU KNOW AND I KNOW--  Delaney & Bonnie

9.  SHAFT--  Isaac Hayes

10.  WHAT ARE YOU DOING SUNDAY--  Dawn

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

DEBUTS

27.  EVERYBODY'S EVERYTHING--  Santana

28.  BABY I'M-A-WANT YOU--  Bread

29.  I DON'T WANT TO LIVE INSIDE MYSELF--  Bee Gees

30.  TWO DIVIDED BY LOVE--  Grass Roots

CHERISH--  David Cassidy

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Been Fourteen Days Since I Don't Know When."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Do You Know What I Mean"

Around Here: A Civil War Encampment, Stucky's, Karaoke and Da Pack Beats Da Bears

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16

For the first time since 2019,I went to a Civil War encampment at Hainesville, Illinois.  It was good to get around like-minded folks like me.  It was sunny, but blustery with a good bit of cold in the air.  Not bad in the sunlight, but avoid tree shade.

I met and talked with my friend Bob, who was playing the part of Elijah Haines, the founder and namesake of Hainesville.  We go back to 1973, when we were both teachers in Round Lake.  I also sat in on the presentations by U.S. Grant and Abraham Lincoln.

They were going to recreate the Battle of Bentonville, fought in North Carolina on March 19-21, 1865.  This battle was fought just 25 miles from where I was born in 1951, Goldsboro.  However, I had been wind-blown enough by then so I decided to leave.

Later that night Liz and I went to Stucky's in Johnsburg where we ate an d I sang karaoke.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 17 

Met the new neighbors across the street for the first time.  We went to the McHenry American Legion where we watched a certain quarterback own us again as he said so emphatically after scoring a TD.  The 24-14 final score was not truly indicative of their domination.  Sure getting tired of watching Da Bears play Da Packers.

--RoadSadBears

Around Here: Good Things About Eliminations, Flu Shot, Raking Pine Straw and Lawn Tractor Problems

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14

Well, one good thing about the Sox being eliminated from the playoffs (and the Brewers were also eliminated last night), I no longer have to make a special effort to watch any of the playoff games anymore.  I will watch parts of them as I get a chance to, but not all the games.  Plus, had the Sox gone to the World Series and won, there is a considerable savings on souvenirs of the event.

I got my regular flu shot for the second straight year,  I didn't get them for many years as I taught school and was around so many kids that I had built up quite an immunity, but the last several years I had been really sick with the flu for a couple weeks at a shot, so, hey, I'll take the shot.

Put up some more Halloween lights.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15

I did a lot of pine straw raking (free mulch) around the east and west pine islands and picked up a whole lot of limbs and sticks in the arboretum area in preparation of cutting the grass.  Sadly, I couldn't get the lawn tractor started and will have to have it worked on again.  It is now 28years old and perhaps even a John Deere doesn't run forever.  This is the third problem this year so it may be time to get another one.

--RoadDog

Around Here: Sad Sox Eliminated, No Civil War Round Table, Donovan's Reef and German Fest at Stucky's

TUESDAY. OCTOBER 12

I had two big things to do today.  Originally just one, but yesterday's Sox-Astros ALDS game was rained out and rescheduled for today.  I also already had a McHenry County Civil War Round Table meeting at Woodstock Public Library, the first in person one since the virus hit at 7 pm.  The Sox game was in the afternoon.

We went to Sunnyside Tavern in Johnsburg to watch the Sox game which was my big mistake.  The Sox got off to a 1-0 lead, but then the bats went silent and any mistake the Sox made, the Astros scored.  They were especially good at scoring with two outs which happened quite a few times.  That is the mark of a good team.

And, out pitching collapsed again as well.  The result was a 9-1 loss and elimination from the playoffs.  To say the least, I was in no shape to drive the 17 miles to Woodstock for the round table meeting.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13

We went to Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin and played trivia with Uncle Jeffie.  Afterwards, I went to Stucky's in Johnsburg, Illinois, and had their Wednesday special, the German Fest 4-course dinner which included beef goulash, bratwurst balls & sauce, hunter's pork chops and Black Forest cake for $13.50.  As usual, Chef Deb put out a great spread.

--Eins, Zwei, Drei.  --RoadHund

Every Blooming THing: Mid October

This has been a strange fall so far.  It has not gotten very cold at all (That is, until now.  We had to turn the furnace on today.)  The  trees haven't really started to change much. My honey locusts, got gold, but he  lost their leaves quickly as usual.  Usually by now several of my crabapple trees lose their leaves by the end of August, but this year we had a drier spring, so they kept their leaves.

The birch trees are starting to turn yellow.  The burning bushes are just starting to turn their blazing red a little bit.

Unfortunately, the lawn tractor broke down for the third time this season nd is in a shop.  But, that isn't stopping the grass from growing.  Hope I get that back soon or it may be too late.

All Halloween decorations are up.

The asters are a deep purple and several hundred mums of varying hues are blooming as well as the reddish sedum heads.

--RoadGreen

Okay Bob Stroud, Here's a Ten at Ten for You: Fifty Years Ago: 'Absolutely Right'

Bob Stroud plays his Ten at Ten show every weekday at Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM.  He plays songs from a year or song with a common theme, such as yesterday's "Just Say No" show where all the songs had the word "No" in them.

Now, here's my list of songs on the WLS Survey from the week of October 11, 1971.  That would be fifty years ago in case you're wondering.  To me, these songs could definitely be played more often.

ABSOLUTELY RIGHT--  Five Man Electric Band

ONLY YOU KNOW AND I KNOW--  Delaney & Bonnie

SHAFT-- Isaac Hayes

RAIN DANCE--  Guess Who

CHARITY BALL--  Fanny

TIRED OF BEING ALONE--  Al Green

ONE FINE MORNING-- Lighthouse

SO FAR AWAY--  Carole King

IF YOU REALLY LOVE ME--  Stevie Wonder

SWEET CITY WOMAN--  Stampeders

I think even Bob Stroud might like this list.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "People Say That I've Found A Way To Make You Say That You Love Me."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Tired of Being Alone"

WLS Top 10 for Week of October 18, 1971: 'I've Found Someone of My Own'

These were the Top Ten songs and debuts in Chicago according to WLS, 890 AM fifty years ago.

1.  MAGGIE MAY / REASON TO BELIEVE--  Rod Stewart

2.  DO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN--  Lee Michaels

3.  YO YO--  Osmonds

4.  IF YOU REALLY LOVE ME--  Stevie Wonder

5.  I'VE FOUND SOMEONE OF MY OWN--  Free Movement

6.  SWEET CITY WOMAN--  Stampeders

7.  SUPERSTAR--  Carpenters

8.  CHARITY BALL--  Fanny

9.  GYPSYS' TRAMPS & THIEVES--  Cher

10.  ONE FINE MORNING--  Lighthouse

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

DEBUTS

26.  INNER CITY BLUES--  Marvin Gaye

27.  PEACE TRAIN--  Cat Stevens

28.  IMAGINE--  John Lennon

29.  TRAPPED BY A THING CALLED LOVE--  Denise LaSalle

30.  YOU THINK YOU'RE HOT STUFF--  Jean Knight

EVERYBODY'S EVERYTHING--  Santana

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Been Forty Days Since I Don't Know When I Just Saw Her With My Best Friend."  Answer below.  RoadDog

"You Know What I Mean"

Music Deaths: Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers

PHIL EVERLY, 84

Died 21 August 2021

Singer/songwriter with vocal duo Everly Brothers with brother Phil Everly.

Talk about your hit songs.  These guys sure had them.  Just some of them:

"Bye Bye Love"  (#2-1957)

"Wake Up Little Susie"  (#1-1957)

"All I have To Do Is Dream"  (#1-1958)

"Bird Dog"  (#1-1958)

"Cathy's Clown"  (#1-1960)

And those are just a few of them.

Music Deaths: Tom T. Hall 'The Storyteller'

TOM T. HALL, 85

Died 20 August 2021

Country singer and songwriter.

As a recording artist, placed more than 50 songs on the country charts 1967 to 87, including 21 which became Top Ten hits.

Wrote "Harper Valley PTA" for Jeannie C. Riley" and "Itty Bitty" for Alan Jackson.

Some of his hits:

"(Old Dogs, Children and) Watermelon Wine"

"I Love"

"The Year Clayton Delaney Died"

"I Like Beer"

"That Song Is Driving Me Crazy"

I remember seeing quite a country show back in the early 1980s featuring Tom T. Hall and Bobby Bare.

As a matter of fact, I sang "I Like Beer" just last night at karaoke at Stucky's.

Thanks Tom for all those great songs.

WLS Top 30 for Week of October 11, 1971-- Part 5: 'So Far Away'

Fifty years ago in Chicago's WLS, 890 AM radio.

*  Means the song was climbing the chart.  The number after the artists is how high the song got on the Billboard Hot 100 National Chart.

10.  SO FAR AWAY / SMACKWATER JACK--  Carole King     #14     From that huge album "Tapestry."

9.  GO AWAY LITTLE GIRL--  Donny Osmond    #1  for three weeks.

8.  THE NIGHT THEY DROVE OLD DIXIE DOWN--  Joan Baez        #3     This song always makes me sad.  Her only Top Ten ever.   She only had one other song in the Top 40, "Diamonds and Rust," but, oh what a voice.

7.  I'VE FOUND SOMEBODY OF MY OWN--  Free Movement    #5

6.  IF YOU REALLY LOVE ME--  Stevie Wonder     #8

5.  SUPERSTAR--  Carpenters   "Long Ago and So Far Away."

4.  YO YO--  Osmonds      #3     The white Jackson 5.

3.  SWEET CITY WOMAN--  Stampeders    #8

2.  DO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN--  Lee Michaels    #6

1.  MAGGIE MAY / REASON TO BELIEVE--  Rod Stewart     #1  for five weeks

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Virgil Caine Is My Name And I Drive On The Danville Train."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down."  

WLS Top 30 for Week of October 11, 1971-- Part 4: 'Spanish Harlem'

Fifty years ago on Chicago's WLS, 890 AM.

*  Means it was climbing the charts.  The number after the artist is how high it got on the Billboard Hot 100 National Charts.

15.  GYPSYS, TRAMPS & THIEVES--  Cher       #1   Another persecuted group.  Real name Cherilyn Sarkisian.

14.  SPANISH HARLEM--  Aretha Franklin      #2       Aretha making another song her own.

13.  TIRED OF BEING ALONE--  Al Green     #11    His first Tip 40.   Had that perfect voice for that music.

12.  I WOKE UP IN LOVE THIS MORNING-- Partridge Family      #13    Great song from a Cowsills knock off band.  But, they had Susan Dey.  The TB series ran from 1970-74.

11.  ONE FINE MORNING--  Lighthouse    #24      One fine horn band.  From Toronto, Canada.   One of two Top 40 hits.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "I Was Born In The Wagon Of A Travellin' Show."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves"

WLS Top 30 for Week of October 11, 1971-- Part 3: 'Charity Ball'

20.  MARIANNE--  Stephen Stills   #42    Born in Dallas in 1945.

19.  STICK UP--  Honey Cone     #11     Some of that great 1970s female soul  Lead singer Edna Wright died in 2020.    "Boom Boom Shacka Lacka Boom Boom."

18. I'M COMING HOME--  Tommy James     #40     I don't remember this song.  2:05.   What?  No Shondells?

17.  BIRDS OF A FEATHER--  Raiders   #23   This was written ad sung originally by Joe South and went to #106 in 1968.  They dropped the name Paul Revere and the Raiders in 1970.

16.  CHARITY BALL--  Fanny     #40     All girl band and a great song that I had forgotten.  These gals rocked.  This song should have ranked way higher.   Two of them were sisters.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  ""A Thief In The Night, He Stole My Mind."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Stick Up"

Thanks for a Fun Season Chicago White Sox

They gave their best shot, but those Astros were just too good.  I found out that this will be their fifth straight trip to the American League Championship Series.  And you could sure see it.  Make a mistake and they crucified you.  

That third inning especially yesterday.  Rodon hit the first batter, then walked the next two.  I immediately said the Astros were going to score at least two, which they immediately did.  That 2-1 lead proved to be all they needed.  

After the Sox beat them 12-6 Sunday in the game that seemed like it would never end, Sox bats went silent.  This was something the Sox had been doing regularly the last two months of the season.

But, I see a real fun year coming next season and they can use the experience in this playoff series to help base them for the next.

And, of course, I have to apologize to them for writing about the games in advance.  Whenever I do that for any of the teams I back, that essentially amounts to a kiss of death.

Oh, well.  At least I now have a lot more free time and I saved a lot of money buying souvenirs.  I will watch the rest of the MLB playoff, now that the Brewers are also out, at my convenience.  No must-watch games.

Oh yes, back in 2005, the White Sox swept the Astros in the World Series.  Just saying.

--RoadSad

WLS Top 30 for Week of October 11, 1971-- Part 2: 'Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep'

Fifty years ago.

*  Means the song is climbing the charts.  The number after the artist is how high the song got on the Billboard National Hot 100 Chart.

25.  AIN'T NO SUNSHINE--  Bill Withers      #4   Just 2:06 long.    And Bill's saying "I Know" 27 times didn't seem to hurt the song.  I know.   His first of three straight top three songs.  His next one went to #1.  Do you know the name of it?

24.  RAIN DANCE--  Guess Who      #19     A comment from two years ago said they couldn't believe this group is still not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  Is that true?  Probably one of their least-known hits, but, wow!, what a song.  It gets into your head, then try to get it out.

23.  CHIRPY CHIRPY CHEEP CHEEP--  Mac and Katie Kissoon.     #20    Probably a silly song, but just try to get it out of your mind.  One comment called it the ultimate guilty pleasure.  It IS a neat song.   Brother and sister act from Trinidad.

22.  NEVER MY LOVE--  Fifth Dimension      #12     What harmony and then three's that Marilyn gal.  An old Association song.

21.  WHAT ARE YOU DOING SUNDAY--  Dawn       #39      As in the group Dawn Featuring Tony Orlando.    Gee, if you don't have anything going on Sunday. let's get married.  Not much forewarning on this one.

Name That Tune (from the above song):  "Wonder This Time Where's She Gone.  Wonder If She's  gone to stay."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Ain't No Sunshine"

WLS Top 30 for Week of October 11 1971-- Part 1: 'Shaft'

These are the tip songs in Chicago FIFTY years ago according to Powerhouse radio station WLS, 890 AM.  Yep, AM radio.

*  Means the song was climbing the charts.  The number after the artist is how high the song got on the National Billboard Hot 100 charts.

HITBOUND

*YOU THINK YOU'RE HOT STUFF-  Jean Knight      #57   Sounds a lot like her hit "Mr. Big Stuff."  One comment called it "Mr. Big Stuff Pt.1."  Love the lines from the song:  "But I am the one who's gonna cool you off" and "I know what you're after, But you're not gonna get it."

30.  UNCLE ALBERT /ADMIRAL HALSEY--  Paul and Linda McCartney   #1    Born James Paul McCartney in Liverpool on June 18, 1942.

29.  *ABSOLUTELY RIGHT--  Five Man Electric Band    #26    At 2:17, way too short.  You just start getting into it and its over.  From Ontario, Canada.

28.  *ONLY YOU KNOW AND I KNOW--  Delaney & Bonnie     #20   Written by Dave Mason.   Follow up to "Never Ending Song of Love."

27.  WEDDING SONG--  Paul Stookey     #24   I wonder how many weddings this song has been played at?  Where are Peter and Mary?

26.  *SHAFT--  Isaac Hayes      #1    "Theme from Shaft"  One tough song in all aspects:  from music to singing.  Makes you feel invincible after hearing it.  His biggest hit.  Follow up to "Never Can Say Goodbye."

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "I Don't Mean To Mislead You, It's Just My Craziness Comin' Through."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Only You Know and I Know"