Yesterday we went to the Oak Street art fair for the first time.  I'm not that big in that kind of stuff but there was quite a variety of things there.  They had music all day with each group playing an hour.  We timed it so Pity Thy Neighbor was playing.  One of the members is our neighbor down the street and another is my classmate, friend and hair cutter Barb's son. 
Hamps food truck was there and we were thinking about getting that but we ended up going to the recently opened Kinkaid Marina Bar & Grill (that sounds a lot better than Moody Muskie).  They're still getting everything going and they didn't have the draft beer working yet but the canned beer was nice and cold and they did have cold glasses.
Me and Debbie ordered a BLT's, Mike ordered a bacon cheeseburger and Lisa ordered a shrimp po' boy.  The bacon on my sandwich was very hot but Debbie said hers was and was good.  Both Mike and Lisa said their sandwiches were good.  All of them came with fries that were okay, not bad but nothing special.
🍺🍺🍺 (we'll be back quite a bit)
Oh and yesterday was the twins last soccer game, yeah, but they start tee ball next saturday.

Bittersweet.  Aaron Rodgers was finally traded to the Jets this week, a move that had been all but certain for several weeks.  Rodgers had become increasingly annoying in the past few seasons. I never really cared one way or the other about his being vaccinated nor did I really care about his tripping in South American on some kind of plant that has psychedelic properties.  The "darkness retreat" come on, I mean who really does that.  To me sitting in a dark room by yourself for several days sound like punishment not enlightenment but to each their own.  The one thing that really bothered me was holding the Packer organization hostage so that he could get what he wanted even at the expense of the team.
On the field he will be missed, he gave us a chance every week.  He made throws that no one else could make.  On the field I'll really miss him.  For younger fans he's the only qb they remember, some also remember Rodgers predecessor and I really hope they don't experience what I went through in the 70s & 80s.
It was time to move on but it's still a bittersweet feeling.

In week 6 we placed the first place team and the last place team.  We played Holy Ballz on the third court and we started out with a three banger right out of the gate.  We placed them close until the very end before losing 9-6.
In the second game we played Bocce & Brews on the first court.  We got off to a typical Roll'em start falling behind 4-0 before scoring.  They scored a point and on their next throw they made a spectacular shot moving the pallino back into a quad of their balls and we lost 9-1.
Good news is Mike and Debbie are starting to throw a lot better.  Bad news is I can't find the back side of a barn.
After the game we went to Hardees for a burger and we both got big cheeseburgers.  They cost $6.99 each and are anything but big plus they just weren't that good.  Rumor has it that Hardees is going OB and if everything is like this I can see why.

Yesterday me, Mike and Debbie joined forces with Ted as the Leg Riders and play in the Red Devil wrestling fund raiser tournament.  Mike had painted our living room and put up new ceiling fans and we all wanted to be home when Lisa got home from Florida.  The tournament only had eight teams so we figured we had a good chance especially with Mike and Debbie making big chances to their throwing method.
In the first game we played the Bootleggers from Herrin.  They couldn't miss even when we made real good throws.  They ended up winning 9-0 and we all thought we played way better than the score indicated.
In the second game we played the Eubanks team who had two players who hadn't played before.  I don't remember the final score but we beat them pretty bad.
In the third game we played Master Blasters, a team made up by middle school aged players.  Wow, they started out the game with two three point frames and suddenly we were down 6-0.  We started making a come back and tied the score only to have them have what looked like a three point frame but it ended up only being one and that was the break we needed, winning 9-7 and advancing out of pool.
In the semi finals we played a team with Ted's son-in-law and younger kids, at least one was Ted's grandson.  They'd won a three way roll off to advance out of pool.  Once we got ahead they seemed to wilt and we won pretty handily.  That left us waiting for the outcome of the other semi final game, the Bootleggers against the Alumni.
We were still on track to make it home before Lisa.  We played the Alumni consisting of Teds normal team members:  Danny, Jean and Kenny along with Bruce.  They got ahead by a couple and we caught up.  They got ahead and we caught up,  We got ahead and they caught up.  You get my drift, it was a back and forth game.  Finally we were ahead 7-6 with two points showing and on their last ball Kenny knocked us out and they got the point.  We got the next point and we got the next moving the score to 8-8.  Debbie got a nice throw and it took them three to get inside.  My first throw got inside them and Danny made a nice knock but the pallino bounced next in the middle of our three balls and somehow we were champions.  The back and forth game with a lot of measuring put us in jeopardy of beating Lisa home but we managed to do it by about five minutes.
Footnote, it was Debbies first trophy ever in anything.

Lisa is gone on her annual girls trip with some of her classmates so Herb subbed for her.  It was great having him back, the only downside is with two inexperienced played we had to split up and play at opposite ends.  To keep some continuity he played with Debbie while I stayed with Mike.
We played both games on the third court which is rolling much better but still the worst of the three.  In the first game we played Money Balls.  With Herb back of course we had to start the game in typical Roll'em fashion giving up three and two point frames to fall behind 5-0.  We started stringing together some good frames and finally took the lead 6-5.  We kept the momentum going and won 9-6.
In the next game we played long time foe Muddy Rollers.  In typical Roll'em fashion we got behind 6-0 before scoring.  We mounted a comeback getting to 6-4 before the momentum wore off and we lost 9-4.
Thanks for played Herb.

The Mike and Debbie tour of Southern Illinois continued yesterday without Lisa who took off for Florida yesterday on her annual "girls" trip.  I took Mike and Debbie to the Indian Creek trail in Giant City.  Me and Lisa had done it last year and it was a nice easy trail for some people who may have had to much to drink the night before.  The area looked a lot different with everything coming to life instead what we saw last fall.
We were around the halfway point of the trail when we started hearing thunder.  I didn't think it was very close so we kept going instead of taking cover under the bluffs like in the old days.  We got done about the time it started sprinkling, when I looked on radar the storm line had mostly broken up around here.
We stopped at the the visitor center to check out the displays.  I started talking to the lady at the visitor center and once we started putting 2 and 2 together she'd played bocce for Mauraders on Wednesday nights.
After that I took them to Route 51 brewery for the first time.  They seemed to really like the place and Mike even found a beer he liked.  I ordered a cuban with baked beans, Mike ordered a BBQ and fries and Debbie ordered loaded fries.  The cuban was good and so were the beans except the big beans in it, I didn't like those.  I tried Debbie's loaded fries and I didn't care for them but Mikes fries were real good.

We haven't been to T Street in quite awhile mainly because it doesn't open until 4pm so we decided to go there yesterday instead of Scuttle Inn or Buckwater.  We had to blow a little time so we took some backroads and got there just as the doors were being unlocked.
I got the montreal ribeye with a side salad and slaw.  Lisa got grilled shrimp with a side salad and house chips.  Their side salad is probably my favorite side salad in the area and it even comes with a little pepperoni on top of it.  My steak was real good but not as good as I remember from last time I had it.  The slaw was real creamy and it kind of overwhelmed it, just kind of okay.  Lisa's grilled shrimp were real good.  Her chips were cooked better than most places but they were bland, little to no seasoning.
🍺🍺🍺🍷 (slaw and chips brought it down)

Our charcoal grill is starting to rust out so I've been causally looking at a replacement.  There are all kinds of propane ones of every shape and size but very few charcoal ones.  Have we become a nation of Hank Hills?  Personally I like the taste that charcoal adds to the meat or veggies.  We used to use propane on our boat and it just wasn't didn't taste as good as the charcoal one at home. 
I'm not anti propane, in fact I've got a propane griddle.  I just want a nice charcoal grill.

Finally we had a nice night for our bocce night.  Bad thing is we played at 7&8 and both games were on the third court.
In the first game we took on Boccelism and they started off with back to back three point frames.  They proceeded to move it to 8-0 before we got a point.  The result was a 9-1 loss.
The second game was against Boccelicious.  Almost a reverse mirror of the first game with us jumping out 8-0 before they scored with the game ending 9-1 for a split of the nights games.

Yesterday the repair man made it to fix the washer.  I had to leave but before I did he showed me a bolt that had fallen down by the motor during production.  Rather than stop the assembly line and get it out they just put a different bolt in and kept going.  Frustrating to whoever gets the washer.
Needless to say yesterday was clothes washing day and Lisa already had some going when I got home from yet another doctors appointment. 
The weather has been really nice this week and I haven't got to golf but hopefully that will change today.

The Mike and Debbie tour of Southern Illinois continued yesterday.  The day started off by going to a "farmers market" at 715 Gamin.  Really not much that interested me there but Swamp Tales had a food truck there so we brought home some etouffee.
Next we took them to the Peach Barn.  They had a two person band but I really wasn't that much of a fan.  We sat outside and me and Mike both ordered beer while Lisa and Debbie split a carafe of sangria.  We also ordered two bowls of lobster bisque and an order of flatbread.  The bisque was surprisingly good and the flatbread was very good.  It was the first time we'd been there since it changed ownership a few years ago, nice venue.
We made a quick stop at Havisham for a drink.  As we were leaving someone said my name and I turned and it was a guy I worked with at SIU.  I don't think I'd seen him since he retired several years before I did.
After a mix up between Alto and Von Jakob where I said Alto but meant Von Jakob.  Fiddle Rick was playing inside but it was so loud and it was a nice day out so out we went.  Mike got an Ultra while the rest of us got an Octoberfest.  Mike also ordered a big pretzel that was good.  The Octoberfest was really good, a far cry from the last couple times we were there.
Today is Easter and we're having turkey and dressing instead of the traditional ham, yum

Yesterday we went with Mike and Debbie to the Landmark, they'd been there for a drink and really liked it and wanted to try out the food.  I got a BLT with brussel sprouts, Mike got a burger and chips and Lisa and Debbie split a BLT and a salad.
I forgot to order no tomatoes on my BLT and it was one of the few times that the tomato didn't make the bread soggy or the sandwich to fall apart.  Overall it was a good BLT and the brussell sprouts were really good.
🍺🍺🍺🍺
After we left there we went up on the levee for a nice little ride.  We got off the levee in the bottoms are and went to Bottoms Up for a beer and chips.  After that it was time to get home.

Yesterday started crappy then got worse.  It started when I went to do some laundry and our six day old washer didn't work and they can't get to it until Tuesday. 
After doing some housework I got a call Baileys dog Raji had died so I hurried over there.  Bailey and Shad were in Cape and it took a while to get a hold of them.  Raji has been a big part of our family for the past decade or so and will be missed.  Me and him always seemed to have a special bond.
The twins had a soccer game so they didn't tell them until after the game.  Brinley said she wants a puppy and Greyson said he wants to go to heaven and get Raji back.  I wish we could.
Best thing about the day is we ordered whifflesticks and wings for Whiffleboys.  They have a new bbq rub for the wings and I really liked it and will have to try it again.  The whifflesticks are good and I need to remember about them more often.

Tuesday was a warm and very humid day so naturally a front came through on Wednesday making bocce night on the chilly side.
In the first game we played Usual Suspects on the middle court.  Once again we let them get out to an early lead but we managed to tie it 4-4 before losing 9-4.
In the second game we played Mag 4 on the first court.  They started off with back to back three point frames and we were never in it losing 9-3.
Our game was as chilly as the weather with no one throwing overly well.  I missed shots several easy shots.  Just an all around crappy performance.

Shad had four tickets for the hockey game in St. Louis on Sunday and he gave two of them to us.  They were playing the Bruins which my favorite hockey team.  It was a 2:30 game so we decided to go to Broadway Oyster Bar, a long time favorite.  After hitting some detours getting there we found out it was also a Cardinal game with more detours.  We got there and there wasn't any parking so we headed to the Enterprise Center.  We were going to grab something around Union Station but there was a long wait every place. 
St Louis has done a great job with Union Station, such a vibrant atmosphere.  There was a farris wheel, merry go round, games and entertainers walking around.  They had a beer tent so we got a couple and sat at a table then checked out some of the inside of Union Station.  Shad had the tickets so we had another beer waiting for him.
Once him and Bailey got there they checked out the area and then we headed to the game.  We were in the St Louis Post-Dispatch box and they seats were great, best we've had there.  The game was a very entertaining one with the Bruins getting a big lead only to have the Blues tie at the end when they pulled their goalie.  We'd seen overtime before but watching the 3 on 3 from those seats was awesome.  The Bruins ended up winning in the shootout.
We went home route 4 and after a stop at McDonalds we hit a slow moving train outside Marrissa that cost us 15-20 minutes.  I took County Line Road to finish the trip.  It was dark and suddenly there was a decent sized deer in the middle of the road.  Lisa said "oh shit oh shit oh shit".  I'm not sure how we missed the deer but he didn't move and I saw him out of the corner of my eye about three feet away from the Durango.  I still don't know how we missed him.  The rest of the trip home wasn't eventful but it took a while to get over the deer in the road.

Friday Ace Hardware delivered our new washer and dryer and they managed to do it with no dents, scratches or bent legs.  On the first try even.  Wow, what's going on Lowes?
Also on Friday I called lowes about picking up the dryer and to tell them we wouldn't be home in the afternoon so naturally I get a call in the afternoon while we were at Ferne Cliff that they were on their way.  They seemed astonished we weren't home and couldn't be home in a short period.  They said they would reschedule the next day and once again I said in the morning.  So yesterday I called to make sure they would be there in the am and they said they had no record of the pickup and would schedule for Monday.  Naturally we get a call yesterday saying they would be there soon.  We both figured it would be in the middle of the grandkids party but finally did something right and got it before the party.  Now if only the charge gets off my card and we'll be done with them.
With 30-40mph wind gusts I figured the bounce house for the grandkids party would be cancelled.  Bailey got some games and stuff and we had a ton of food so everything worked out except the three kids crying.  Naturally each of the grandkids were the ones crying.