Yesterdays funday trip started out with a trip to Mollys Pint.  We had a lot of decorations and clothes that we were getting rid of and they wanted to take a look at what we had.  While we were there we had a beer of course.  Three of us went with a dark lager while Mike got a light lager.  The dark lager was really good, similar to a Modelo Negra.
We then headed to Route 51 Brewery for a bite to eat.  I got an amber lager that was also really good.  Myself and Debbie ordered pork belly tacos that were on special while Lisa got a bbq slider and Mike got a chicken quesadillo.  The pork belly sliders were spectacular, a great mix of pork and slaw and pico.  Lisa wasn't real wild about her bbq and the bit I had wasn't anywhere close to the pork belly.  Mike seemed to like his quesadillo.
After we left there we stopped for our initial visit to Southpaw Bar & Grill.  The grill part is 3-4 weeks away.  The inside is great.  A lot going on with two giant golf simulators and a nice big wraparound bar.  It's really interesting watching them fill up a draft.  It fills from the bottom and there's a magnet that holds it shut.  Really nice place and I'm sure we'll be back soon.

We had a chance to get away yesterday and after discussing many options we decided to keep it simple and go to Bottoms Up. 
We got there and the door was locked but we went around to the other door and it was open.  They locked the door to keep the wind from opening then slamming it shut.
I went down thinking something different and I stuck to the plan.  I got catfish with slaw and onion rings.  Lisa got wings with an appetizer of fried okra.
The catfish was okay, nothing special but not bad either.  Same goes for the onion rings plus it was too much fried for me.  The slaw was a vinegar based slaw and I really liked it.  The wings were there normal great wings.  The big surprise was the fried okra, it was really good but not quite as good as Smoking Ks.
Good time as always there.

The week two weather was better but still a little chilly.  6:30&7:30 games.  Ted stopped by yesterday afternoon so we had a few (several) beers under our belt prior to playing.
In the first game we played Corner Bocce Ballers on the third court.  Not much good came of the game as we missed opportunity after opportunity and lost 9-0.
Something had to change so we decided to change ends for the next game against Dark Side of the Pallino.
It didn't as we once again we gave up 8 straight points running our scoreless streak to 17 points.  But we finally scored a point!!  But wait we didn't stop scoring and racked up 6 points mostly on single point frames.  With the score 8-7 and them starting to sweat a little they got a ball against the pallino and our last two desperation knocks missed but an inch or two and we lost 9-7.  At least we didn't get shut out both games.
The two losses moved us to 0-4 which I believe is the first time we've ever started a season with four straight losses.

Yesterday was the annual St Patrick's day tournament.  It was supposed to be rainy but not too cold instead it turned out mostly dry but cold.  Luckily just before we left I put on a base layer under my pants or I would have been even colder.
In the first game we played the Herrin Bootleggers on the first court.  The court ran truer than Wednesday but still had some issues with shots moving left from my side of the court.  They jumped out to a 4-0 lead but Mike and Debbie came back with a four point frame to tie the score.  They went ahead again and we couldn't stay with them losing 9-5 I think.  Bruce couldn't miss even on wall shots that were in the middle of the court.  Since they only took one team out of each pool we were pretty much eliminated from moving on.
In the second we played Three Men with a Little Peter on the third court.  Not much good happened in this game as we lost 9-0.  We did score one point but I knocked it out on my last throw, oh well.  They went on to win the tournament.
In our third game we played the Wops back on the first court.  We jumped on them early and got out to a 4-0 lead.  For the second game in a row I bumped us out of a point on my last throw to give them a point.  We kept going though and only gave up one more point winning 9-2. 
It was cold enough and we were tired so we took off immediately after our last game.

The spring 2025 season kicked off this past Wednesday.  We had the 7 & 8:30 games and everyone knows how much I hate late games.  The sun was going down when we arrived and once it went down it got cold in big part due to the 20+ mph wind.
In the first game we played Blue Collar Bocce who've played before under different names.  We started the game with a point then they got a point.  This went on for a few frames until we took a two point lead that they quickly tied.  They took the lead then we tied it up at 8-8 but couldn't finish them off and we took a 9-8 loss.
I'd tried to get the Muddy Rollers to just call our game a tie so we could go home earlier but to no avail.  Did I mention it was cold, Lisa had on two hoodies.  We really couldn't get going and lost 9-3.
We made a lot more really good throws than I expected but several of them got knocked out or beat but overall I wasn't too down.

Tuesday we took the grandkids to Alto Pass for a "hike" down Quetil trail.  It's a fairly easy down and back trail with the first part having bluffs on one side and several trails on the other.
To say they loved it would be an understatement especially the two boys.  Dooter would take off and get ahead then have to wait while the rest of us caught up.  They both wanted to take some stairs up to the top where the scenic view is located but that was too much. 
It was a beautiful day so after we left we took the jeep to Hutchins Creek and drove it through the water where it crosses the road.  We turned around and let them play in the water for while.  The cold water didn't bother Greyson but it did some with Brinley and Dax.
After we left down there we made our first trip to Small Town Scoops, not for ice cream but to eat.  I ordered a rueben while Lisa got a pretzel and the kids got chicken strips.
The rueben wasn't bad but it wasn't that good either.  The chicken strips seemed to need a little more time and the kids didn't really like them.  I thought Lisa's pretzel was good but she didn't.  I think that was because she went for the skinny part of the pretzel because it had more salt while the fatter part was softer.   Lisa did take the kids up and we brought home ice cream for them.
We'll try them again since they just added food to their menu and are getting things ironed out.

Debbie had yesterday off and is finally feeling better plus the day was going to be great so I canceled cards and took a little day trip.  They decided on Mary Janes and Mike drove so I got to relax and take in some of the stuff I can't see when I drive.
Once we got to Mary Janes I was planning on Yuengling but saw the had another Irish red so I went that.  Falling Fences from Longboat Brewing in Columbia Mo.  Both of us really liked it a lot.  Mike was ecstatic they now have Sailor Jerrys, his rum of choice.  We ordered appetizers of cheese curds and pretzels.  The pretzels were just okay nothing special.  The cheese curds are great, not sure I've fried curds as good anywhere including Wisconsin.
Me and Lisa decided to get a korean rice bowl and split it.  Mike went with dry rub wings and Debbie got a burger called the Monk. 
I didn't get called a fat ass this time but did called a goober because I didn't catch the waitresses name.  She was really good about some give and take although we did ask if there was Korean bbq in the rice bowl and she said there was.
If there was bbq in the bowl I didn't see it, I think it was just korean bbq sauce.  I wish we would have added chicken or steak but even without it was awesome especially the broccoli.  Mike's wings were coated with rub, so much he had cheeto fingers and lips and didn't really care for the wings.  We've had them a couple times and have been very impressed. Debbie seemed to like her sandwich.
Afterwards we went to City Tavern and had a beer sitting outside on a really nice table that had benches on all four sides.
We finished up with a stop at the Chinchbug because Debbie hadn't been there yet.

After running a couple errands yesterday morning Lisa finally got motivated and we went down to Bottoms Up for some chicken.  I thought about wings but we finally went with 1/2 chicken all white with chips for a side, except I actually said a whole chicken.  Of well, I mentioned taking some to Mike and Debbie anyway.
As always the chicken was excellent and the chips tasted good but that's a lot of fried stuff for me.  After asking if they had Yuengling and getting a "what" I found out they had Yuengling flight so I decided to try one.  Not bad, better than any other in the ultra light category that I've had.
We took a little ride on the levi then on the way back we discovered the Chinchbug has reopened so we stopped in for a drink.  No food yet but they are planning on rolling it out in the future.

We had big thoughts of going to one of the places that open later, looking at you Crazy Joes, T Street, etc, if Bailey picked up the kids early.  She did but we both kind of looked at each other and it was obvious staying home sounded good so we did.
We did decided to go to Carbondelis and pick up sandwiches.  I got a sicilian foot long while Lisa got a Capperoni plus we got an order of jambalaya to try.  We both got our sandwiches toasted with a variety of veggies and topped with oil and vinegar.
Both sandwiches had plenty of meat on them.  My sandwich was really good, it and the boskeydale bomber are my two favorites so far.  Surprisingly the jambalaya was really good too but more soupy than most jambalayas, almost the consistency gumbo.
Love having a sandwich shop on the west side of carbondale but wish we had one in Murphysboro.

We've taken turns being sick over the last week so not much happening with us.  Yesterday we both were finally feeling well enough to go out and grab lunch.  Lisa has been having a hankering for pizza so what better Quatros.
Lisa likes booths and sitting in the downstairs part of the building and we manage to satisfy both her likes.  We ordered a medium meateaters pizza and a dinner salad that we split. 
The salad came already in two bowls which was nice.  I didn't want cheese on the salad so it was just lettuce and croutons.  There was a lot of croutons, probably too many for me.  The french dressing is really good.
The meateaters is our standard pizza order there.  The pizza was still really good but something seemed different.  It just didn't seem as thick as it has been, also didn't seem as much sauce.  I hope it was just the day and not a change, it's been too good for too long.
We got to meet the new owner and she was really nice and told us of upcoming changes.
It was good to get out even for a little while.