Good Times: Halloween Decs, Legion, Pack Wins. So Does NIU and the White Sox

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 10

Still enjoying this really warm weather.  I got to sit out FP again (Front Porch).

Worked on Halloween decorations.  Man, it sure came up fast.

Went to the McHenry American Legion and watched the Packers win their game.

But, best news yesterday was that Northern defeated our arch rivals, Toledo in a game which went right down to the final seconds.

And, also great news was that the Sox played like they are able on occasion to play.  After getting down 6-1 (and all things sad), they came back for a 12-6 victory.  At least we will have a game tomorrow.

Go Sox.  --RoadSox

Good Times Around Here Last Weekend-- Part 1: Wisconsin, Trivia, Bars, $1 Pints, Flowers, Fish Fry and What a View

Again, the Summer is no time to leave this area. Lots of fun going on all over this part of northeast Illinois.

WEDNESDAY,  JULY 7

Met Kevin and Kelly at Donovan's in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, for Jeff's Smart Ass Trivia in the afternoon, then went to BB*Q on US-12 in Spring Grove, Illinois for their excellent wings and plenty of $1 pints of draft beer to wash them down.

THURSDAY, JULY 8

Finally flowers on sale at Menard's so really stocked up.  50 cent geraniums, 50 cent six packs of annuals, $1.25 for six wave petunias. It was all sorts of fun at check out and I still don't know if I ended up over or undercharged.  Oh, well.  Those flowers found a good home for the rest of the season.

FRIDAY, JULY 9

Every morning, I sit out on the front porch for breakfast coffee and to read the Chicago Tribune.  I doubt that anyone in the subdivision gets more use out of their front porch.

Went back to Menard's and bought even more flowers.  Hey, on big sale.  Last year, with the pandemic and folks staying home and planting stuff around those house, there weren't many sales at all.  Usually, by July stores start putting their nursery stuff on sale.

We went to Cuda's on Grasslake Road in Antioch and met Kevin and Kelly and had their beer-battered fish fry, always a delight, even if we like to froze because the air conditioning was hiked up way too high.  Then, adjourned to Lake View on Grasslake and enjoyed that great view of the lake from their high deck and, of course, those $1 draft beers.

--RoadDog

4th of July 2020-- Part 2: Good Friends, Good Times

JULY 4, SATURDAY

Normally this would have been an extra big day for all things "fourthish" because if fell in a Saturday.  But, because of you-know-what, it wasn't.

I put up all my flags: gazebo, front porch, garage and deck.

This was not a good day, however, for at least a hundred of those voracious and sex-crazed Japanese beetles.  I am sure hoping they don't come back to the levels they were at eight years ago.  They have a couple plants they especially like so that makes it easier to find them.

Sat out FP (Front Porch) for breakfast, coffee and read a magazine.

Another hot, hot, hot day.

Went to Jewel and bought their special fried chicken deal for this week.  Eight pieces for $5.  Great deal and I would put up Jewel fried chicken against anybody's.  Then Liz and I drove over to Kelly and Kevin's place on Mineola Bay on Fox Lake and joined Barb and Glen for a relaxing afternoon of eating, drinking beer and watching the boats go by.  And, they were really out in huge numbers on this perfect boating day.

We were fortunate to have plenty of shade by using two umbrellas and their huge cottonwood tree.  And, we had "snow" in July.  That tree was releasing huge amounts of feathery white seed and each gust of breeze sent thousands descending on us.

We then went to Sunnyside for a couple more brews and home.  I sat out for a bit FP to watch the neighbors' fireworks, since the regular Spring Grove fireworks and festival where not held this year because of you-know-what.  Stayed out there until the skeeters found me whereupon I beat a hasty retreat inside.

--RoadDog

4th of July, 2020 Style-- Part 1

Nothing like a pandemic and destruction of U.S. history to put a bit of a kabosh on the 4th of July celebration this year.

JULY 3, FRIDAY  Enjoyed the FP  (Front Porch) for breakfast, coffee and reading the Chicago Tribune (print edition) and watching young Wascally Wabbitt foraging for greenery.  One of my favorite things to do.  It was comfortable that early in the morning, but not so when I finally finished staining the deck.  The sun was merciless, temperature about 90 degrees and not even a hint of a breeze which would have made it so much more comfortable.

Did some shopping at Walgreens and Jewel, then found out about our taxes from our tax guy at H&R Block.  Between Federal and State we owe and owe and then there is the fee.    Ouch!!!

Cut the grass then went to Sunnyside Tavern in Johnsburg and were so glad to be able to go inside  as Illinois is now in Phase 4 of the pandemic.  That sitting outside on the parking lot with that merciless sun beating down on you and no breeze would not have been too good of a thing today.

A whole lot of fireworks going on around the neighborhood.  Sounded like a full-scale battle.

--RoadDog

Welcome Back to Sunnyside-- Part 2: Here's to Good Times, Today Is Kind of Special

Man, it was sure good to see all the folks we hadn't seen for a couple months.  We sat a table with Greg, Dan and Mark.  We usually spend a lot of time talking to then in the bar during normal times.  And, we hadn't seen then for the whole length of time.

Turns out, this was Dan's first beer since then.  Mark had gone off his yearly alcohol break (he quits the day after Super Bowl and doesn't drink for several months) the last day he drank was in March (the last day at Sunnyside) but then had gone back on his drink break until last week when he went north to Wisconsin to have drinks with Kelly at the Twin Lakes Road House.

There were also a lot of people who knew and/or recognize from Sunnyside getting together outside on this special day.

We got a call from Kevin and Kelly who were at Freddie's in Fox Lake and they came over and joined us and later, Glen and Barb likewise joined us.  This was the first time we'd seen all these folks since March.

We all noticed that it sure wasn't taking too long to start feeling the effects of the beer.  Liz only had had three beers during this past two months and I'd had about 15, mostly sitting out FP (Front Porch) or OD (On Deck) or in the gazebo after working in the yard.

Good Times In the Area Again.  --RoadBeer

Why Go Anywhere Else?-- Part 2: A Football Time With Da Bears and Packers Rivalry

Recounting a week in the life.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5

As usual, enjoyed the FP and OD and fed the chipmunks.

We went to Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin,  where we got a room behind the bar where we spent the night.  That way we could watch Da Bears and Da Pack open the NFL season at Soldier Field and not have to worry about driving home.

There was a lot of hoopla and the highlight was when the 1985, Super Bowl XX Bears came out on the field before the game.  That had the Bears fans in the bar standing and cheering.  But, Donovan's is just about three miles north of the Illinois-Wisconsin border, so that means the crowd is going to be about half Bear and half Packer.  There is a bar about ten miles from Donovan's which is called the Packer Inn.  Plus, Donovan's is about six miles from K.C.'s Cabin where a Packer fan was once duct taped to the stop sign.

Well, at least the Bears were able to score a field goal after that horrendous double-doink ended our season last year.  That was the offensive highlight for us.  Our defense played well, other than that four play Packer TD drive.  We lost 10-3.

However, both Liz and I got flagged.  During Bears and Packers games, the bars has "Flags."  On entering, you sign a ticker and every time there is a flag on the field, a ticket is drawn and that person gets to drink for free until the next flag and another ticker drawn.  However, you are guaranteed one drink, so as often happens there is another quick file and another ticket drawn.

--RoadBear

One Week-- Part 1: FP, Yard Work, Blogs, Sunnyside Tavern, Moose Lodge, Classic Cars, Band and Former Student

MONDAY, AUGUST 12

Sat out FP (Front Porch) most every day reading the Tribune and having coffee or breakfast.  A great way to greet the morning.  Relaxing.  Then I go on the internet and post to these blogs for awhile.  Weather permitting, I work in the yard and have been getting some of the back deck flower bed area out of being overgrown.

And, I have surprisingly at this late date in my life, gotten into crossword puzzles (the easy ones).

I also enjoy sitting OD (On Deck) and out in the gazebo.

Met the friendly folks at Sunnyside Tavern in Johnsburg as we do often.  All August (and this past July) they have $1.50 domestic pints, a good price these days.  Met a former student who remembers when I used to deejay the dances at Magee Middle School.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 13

FP, blogs, yard work.

Went to Sunnyside then over to the McHenry Moose Lodge for the classic car show and the band Heartbeats.  Enjoyed the 3 tacos for $5 and $3 margaritas there, then back to Sunnyside.

--RoadDog

A Week In the Life-- Part 5: Enjoying the House, A Band and Classic Cars

THURSDAY, AUGUST 1

FP.  Then on the internet, as I do most every day.  These blogs take a lot of time and effort. Today I also got to enjoy the deck (OD) and the gazebo.  I had to cut the grass, which, this time of the year shouldn't have to happen but every two weeks, but this has not been a normal summer.  All the rain we had through early July as well as the cool temperatures is providing an excellent grass growing condition.  And, it is.

Drove to Antioch, Illinois, and parked which required a walk through that beautiful little park and across Main Street to the Lodge which was standing room only.  Looking for a seat it seemed like it was open season on me.  Wherever I stood, I was in somebody's way.  We finally got two seats at the bar and enjoyed some pre-concert beers.  Thursdays they have half price pizza and 60 cent wings (used to be 35 cents) but the price of chicken wings has gone up with their increased popularity).  We ordered a chicken and bacon pizza.

During the summer, Antioch runs It's Thursday concerts from mid-June to mid-August at their bandshell in a park behind the Lodge.  They always have great bands and it's free.  We always make an effort to see these, but this year, this was the very first one.

Tonight the band was Class of '68, as you can figure, sixties music, right up our alley.  Great show and at the same time they were having a classic car show.

Well, I Sure Was a Happy Lad.  --RoadSixties

A Week in the Life-- Part 4: 1972, Half-Times, Sunnyside, NIU, Football, Donovan's and Back to Sunnyside

TUESDAY, JULY 30

Sat out FP (Front Porch) and later enjoyed Bob Stroud's Ten at Ten which featured the college year for me, 1972.  Of course, my favorite years for music are high school and college 1965 to 1973.     My pick for best of show, "Brandy" by Looking Glass.  If there ever was a song that paints a picture, this one does.  You can just see the nautical water front bar.

We met Kevin and Kelly at Half-Times in Johnsburg, Illinois, and had a nice talk with former Fox Lake American Legion Commander Kelli.  Enjoyed the $9 14-inch pizza with $1 toppings and $1 draft beers.  As often the case, you ended up at Sunnyside, which is the Cheers Bar of Johnsburg.  Most times we know everybody in the place.  And, for July, draft pints are just $1.50 from Monday to Friday.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 31

Sat out FP the last two days for breakfast.  Good article in the Tribune about NIU's new coach (and former standout running back student) Thomas Hammock.  These guy bleeds Huskie red and black and we're hoping for great things from him.

Went to Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, for gas which is at $2.80.  In Illinois, because of Gov. Toilet's doubling the gas tax, it is $3.  We went to Donovan's Reef (happy hour 24 oz. draft beer $1.75) where we have been going since the nineties and this is a place like Sunnyside, where everybody knows your name.  It has a Florida feel to it, complete with three tall palm trees (artificial of course) outside.  Afterwards to Sunnyside.

--RoadDog

It's a Spring Grove 4th of July

Well I missed the parade.  Spring Grove closes off all roads up to six or seven miles from the parade route 30 minutes before the parade.  This is ridiculous to close all roads that and that far in advance.  I took a nap and woke up at 11:30 am.

Spent the day doing bush trimming and flower bed weeding and cutting down spent daisies.  Then went to Sunnyside and enjoyed sloppy joes and we had a real good time with the juke box.  Who needs no stinkin' karaoke?    Lots of singing.

Came home and just sat outside FP  (Front Porch) where I had my breakfast and lunch today while reading the Chicago Tribune.  Few things better in my mind than doing that.  One of my real fun things to do.

Sitting out there watching neighborhood fireworks and booms as well as big booms all over the place must have been a little like what the men at D-Day heard.  Wearing my U.S. eagle shirt and getting lots of compliments all day.  Also my USS San Jacinto (CVL-30) cap in honor of Mark's father who served on the ship during WW II.

Happy 4th of July.  --RoadDog

Lake Geneva, a Fish Fry and Bars

FRIDAY, JUNE 28

This time of year, I enjoy having breakfast and coffee out on the FP (Front Porch).  very relaxing.  We had another rain, seems like every day we have rain.

Drove across the border into Wisconsin to Lake Geneva.  This is a big tourist area, mostly flatlanders from Illinois.  Parking was at a premium, though they "only charge" $2 an hour (as compared to Chicago's $10+ hour fees).

We had our favorite area fish fry at Popeye's (not the fried chicken chain) across from the beautiful Riviera Docks and Geneva Lake.  For $15 you get all the fried and broiled fish, potato pancakes, seasoned fries, hush puppies and cole slaw you want.  Even better, we had a $20 off coupon.

Then, we stopped at Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, and after that to Sunnyside Tap in Johnsburg, Illinois.

--RoadFish

Tastin' and Fiestin'-- Part 2: Sales and More Rain, No "Rainmaker"

JULY 21, FRIDAY

Every morning I spend time out on FP  (Front Porch) having coffee, breakfast and reading the Chicago Tribune.  Enjoying the yard, which is now at peak color for the summer and listening to the birds sing.  To me, that is as good as it gets.

I went to McHenry to check out the yard nurseries and found that there were now sales going on at Wal-Mart and Home Depot so took advantage of that and bought more flowers, which I don't need.

We had planned on going to Antioch's Taste of Summer tonight to see the country band Suburban Cowboys, but with forecasts and threatening skies, decided not to.  Glad we didn't go as we had torrential rains.  Still something we don't need with all the flooding.

We went to the Legion and met the Usual Suspects (our friends) for 50-50.  We didn't win, but at least stayed dry.  It was hard to see going home with how hard the rain was coming down.

Enjoyed Margaritaville, our downstairs bar and the Ultimate Jukebox (300 CDs).  The Legion's digital jukebox didn't have it, but  the Ultimate Jukebox did, the Cryan' Shames' "Rainmaker," a very appropriate song these days.

"Rain, Rain, Go Away, Come Again Another Day."  --RoadDog