In the Mood

Posted on 24/04/2022 by Grumpa Joe

This morning I sat at the table looking out the window at the emerging garden and I began thinking about spending more time working on the “house inside the house project.” I was literally in the mood to work on it. Then, the phrase “in the mood” popped into my head. That is the title of a very old WWII song made popular by the Glen Miller Band. The melody immediately locked into my brain and began playing. Naturally, I sang the lyrics to myself. It is in the swing beat and very easy to dance to.

The “house inside the house” project has to rest today because I promised Lovely that we would go to the Jolly Burgenlander Social Club Spring Dance held at Gaelic park. Ed Wagner’s Lustige Blaskapelle (Brass Band, or as I like to call it an Oompah band) is playing. The funny aspect of this event is that it is a German-Austrian Club holding it’s major fund raiser at an Irish venue. Even funnier, is that I am of Hungarian ethnicity, and am attending with two lovely Lithuanian ladies.

I cannot imagine Ed Wagner playing “In the Mood”, and even if he will, I can’t imagine what it will sound like with Tuba’s, Saxaphones, Trumpets, and French horns jiving away with a German polka beat.

I hope the food is good, the beer is fresh and foamy, and the jungfrau are all beautiful.

Ladies why not carry your own jug of adult beverage around your neck with shot glasses in hand?

Filed under: Biography, family, Food, Music | Tagged: , , | Leave a comment »

RUSH

Posted on 07/09/2020 by Grumpa Joe

At my age I never thought I would take the time to listen to a rock band, but I did. A few months ago I was in conversation with a friend at a pre-COVID gathering and we discussed road trips. The friend suggested I read a book by Neil Peart. “Who?” I asked. Please spell the name. Being really deaf I couldn’t’ make out the sound. P E A R T he spelled. “Just like it sounds,” I said. “Who is he?” He is the drummer for the rock band RUSH. “Who are they?”

Geddy Lee Neil Peart Alex Lifeson

“They were popular back in the eighties and nineties” was the reply.

“I never heard of them.” I made a note on my phone and several weeks later I ordered the book from the library. Then COVID hit and all things went into hiding including the library. A week ago, I got notice from the library that I had a book waiting. I was surprised when I picked it up that it was by Neil Peart. I had forgotten that I ordered it.

The book is called “Far and Wide, Bring That Horizon To Me,” by Neil Peart. I am now educated on who he is and what RUSH is. I can’t believe that after so many years I am still in the dark about this band. The book is a celebration of the band’s fortieth year together, their last road tour, and Neil’s last big motorcycle trip. The interesting thing about Neil is that he can’t stand spending his life on a tour bus while on tour. To make his life interesting he charts road trips in between concerts and rides the route on his BMW motorcycle. He has one travel companion who rides with him (Safety in Numbers).

To honor their forty years together RUSH did forty concerts on the R40 tour. The rationale was that the members are aging, and afraid that if they didn’t do it now they wouldn’t be capable of doing it later. Aging does have a way of changing minds and joints, and such. There is nothing like a guitarist with arthritic fingers and a drummer with tennis elbow. Then again it might have led to a completely new sound.

As I searched for photos of Neil and RUSH on Google Images I spotted a caption citing Neil’s obituary. What? I just found out about the guy and he died. Yes, he died this January 11, 2020 at age 67, four years after he published the book I just read. He must have learned of his brain cancer shortly after that last road trip. The Glioblastoma took him out of our lives. His goal in life was to be a person that people looked up to. I know I am one of his converts. I want to lead my life as he did, always learning, always seeking new information, always exploring the back ways of the world.

Filed under: Aging, Biography, Book Review, grief, Music | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a comment »

Show Time

Posted on 29/08/2019 by Grumpa Joe

The curtain goes up at six tonight, and the show begins. Frankfort Lions present their annual Wurst Fest. I like to call it the “BEST Wurst Fest.” This is the club’s major fund raiser for the year. We have many more lessor drives to make money but the Wurst fuels our charities throughout the year. So many people not familiar with Lions ask me “just what do the Lions do?” My response is a lot, then I proceed to rattle off the list.

What do Frankfort Lions Do?

Typical Activities by month:

January—      Winter Games on the Green

KidSight Vision Screenings begin

February–     KidSight Vision Screening

Sights and Sounds Raffle for Lions Illinois Foundation (LIF)

March             Community Showcase

Blood Drive

Information Table

KidSight Vision Screening

Adult Hearing & Vision screening

Diabetes Awareness

Lighthouse Demonstration

Adult Vision Screening at Founder’s Center

April               Easter Food Distribution: Buy, Pack, and Deliver Food to 25 families

Bunny Breakfast-KidSight Vision Screening

Earth Day Clean Up

Birdies for Charity, LIF

May                 Kick off for Wurst Fest Raffle tickets

Clarendale Vision and Hearing Screening

Lincoln Way Scholarship Presentation

June                Wurst Fest Raffle Tickets

Nominate Club Officers

July                 Movies on the Green, Pop corn distribution

Sponsor Library Youth Group in Lions Peace Poster Contest

Wurst Fest Raffle Tickets

Club Election

President’s Night BBQ

August            Rib Fest Water Soft Drink Sale

PD Night Out Against Crime, Water Distribution and presence

Kick off OASIS second support group for vision impaired people

Farmer’s Market Raffle Ticket Sales

Camp Quality-Cook-Serve Lunch

Wurst Fest Raffle & Dance

September     Labor Day Parade, Distribute flags

Raffle Prize Dinner

PD Health Fair-Vision and Hearing Screening

Diabetes Awareness at Silver Cross Hospital

October          Trunk or Treats, Distribute candy treats

Candy Day Collection on Street Corners for LIF

November      Collect money at Jewel for TG turkeys and food

Thanksgiving Food Dist: Buy, Pack, and Deliver Food to 25 families

December      Polar Express/Park District

Collect Money @ Jewel for Christmas Food

Christmas Food Dist: Buy, Pack, and Deliver Food to 25 families

Christmas Gift Distribution for kids in need

We add to the list as new needs are identified. I have chosen to leave off the names of people with  serious impairments or conditions who we have helped in the interest of their privacy. During the year we contribute to over fifty community organizations and/or organizations that help our residents: Where there is a need there is a Lion.

If you want to join the fun and help Lions to serve come on out tonight to the Chamber of Commerce Wine and Beer Garden located at the corner of Oak and Kansas in historic Frankfort. The Wurst is a German themed social gathering featuring German food, German beer, and German music keeping with the German heritage of the community. The highlight of the evening is the raffle. If you were lucky enough to buy one of the two thousand $20 raffle tickets you may win one of seven cash prizes, the largest being $10,000. That same ticket gets two people entry into the venue for an evening of fun and camaraderie, not to mention a buzz from the delicious German beer.

The Lions kick off the much greater community Fall Festival, recently rated as the third best Craft and Arts Fair in the United States. With over two hundred and fifty thousand people attending over the three day Labor Day weekend. This fest is run 100% by volunteers from the village.

Come out to help the LIONS and have a ball too.

Filed under: Biography, family, Food, Lions Club, Music | Tagged: , , | Leave a comment »

The Chinese Are Coming, The Chinese Are Coming

Posted on 28/03/2018 by Grumpa Joe

Back in 1966 Alan Arkin starred in a film titled The Russians are Coming, the Russians Are Coming. It was a farcical comedy about a Russian submarine that gets stranded in an eastern coastal town, and the people panic. Today, when I opened this video from a friend I immediately thought of that film. This cute video, however is not scary, but whimsical. I never knew the Chinese had the moves this grandfather has as he hot foots it around with his twin grand daughters. They dance to music from Saturday Night Fever  and will lighten your day.

 

 

The video below is a trailer from the Russians are coming. The film was highly lauded and worthy of a Nobel Peace prize

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Especially For Seniors

Posted on 23/04/2016 by Grumpa Joe

My senior readers will find this funny. I’m not sure younger readers will like it at all.

Filed under: Aging, Humor, Music, Seniors, Uncategorized | Tagged: | Leave a comment »

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