No not that, get your mind out of the gutter.  Wednesday we tried out the new version of the legendary sandwich shop Boobys.  One of my favorite places back in college and for several years after.
First off there weren't many parking spots open so we ended up parking at the Hilton hotel, thanks Hilton.  When we walked in my first thought was it's a lot different than the Boobys of old.  The old Boobys had a more cozy feeling, the new version is a lot more open.  The meat case and counter seem smaller and the seats in the front window are gone, my favorite. 
We both ordered Tyrolian subs with no tomato and each got a draft beer.  Notably absent is the Charlies Chip tin, instead packaged chips are used.  The subs and a pickle are served in wrap instead of the baskets formally used.
We both got kettle chips and I thought they were really good.  I don't know what it is but pickles in a sub shop always taste better than any other and this was no exception.  Neither of us were a fan of the bun, not the same and there was something that just didn't seem right.  I liked the sauce and the lettuce and the amount of meat and cheese was sufficient.
Overall disappointing but that's probably due to unrealistic expectations. 
I did take a look at the beer garden and it looks exactly the same.

Week 6 was cooler that last week but still much better than we'd played in earlier.  We actually got to play a 6pm game instead of waiting until 7, yay.  We didn't play again until 7:30.
In the first game we played Bocce and Brews and in what the seems like the norm we got off to a terrible start giving up three points in the opening frame.  We had a point and a wide open shot and we (I) couldn't capitalize causing me to go back to my old throwing stance.  We played them pretty even evening the score at 6-6 but they scored the last three for another loss for us.
In the second game we played corner bocce on the third court.  This time we got off to a quick start but they came back and tied the game 6-6.  This time we ended it with a three point frame and win.
Collectively Roll'em threw a lot better than last week but still need to be a lot more consistent.

We decided on a trip to Perryville yesterday mainly because Lisa wanted to go to Stoneys for beef jerky so off we went.
First stop was Mary Janes but they had a small wait so we went next door for a drink at J Street Eats (formally J Street Brewery).  Before we could even finish our order the flashy thing went off signalling our table was ready.  Mike was ecstatic because J Street had Sailor Jerrys and we were able to take our drinks back next door.
I ordered a Yuengling but when another waitress brought it she brought a Yuengling light then said she thought maybe I wanted something lighter, basically calling me a fat ass (I am).  Then tried to cover by saying she meant I wanted more flavor.  By the time she left we were all laughing and having a great time. 
We ordered cheese curds and Me and Lisa went with chicken wings while Mike got a pork sandwich and Debbie got a chicken one.  The curds are possibly the best fried cheese curds I've had.  We got dry rubbed wings with sauce on the side.  They were excellent, some of the best around.  Mike said his sandwich was too smoky and no sauce while Debbie liked hers.  Highly recommend the wings if you're there.
We saw the waitress as we were leaving and there was a short back and forth then it was back to J Street.  I tried their red and it was very good and was brewed in Charleville in St Gens, we'll have to check that out.  They wanted to sit outside even though it wasn't that great a day for it.  While we were sitting there someone came and started messing with my chair, lo and behold it was the waitress from Mary Janes so started another round of laughs.  Such a great time.
We left there and went to Stoneys and picked up some jerky and other things then it was off for home bypassing the Landmark much to Mike and Debbies chagrin.
Last stop was Da-Nite for a drink.  I'd made it clear one drink so one drink and we left.
Great day.

Finally, a nice night for bocce, shorts and short sleeves.  That was the good news.
In the first game we played Dark Side of the Pallino on the third court.  We came out cold and gave up back to back three point frames.  We started making a comeback but it was too big to overcome losing 9-4.
In the second game we started better going back and forth to 3-3.  The got the next point then followed with a three point frame and 7-3 lead.  We got a couple back to close the gap.  We had a ball close but on their last throw they pushed the pallino and got the final two points for a 9-5 loss.
Probably our worst collective showing of the season especially me.  Way too many times not taking advantage when we should and leaving wide open shots for them.

Saturday we went to Alto Vineyards to see Holt & Crain preform.  I've know both of them for a long time.  The weather was perfect and so was the music, they did a really good job. Debbie had sangria while the rest of us had buckets of beer.  We also got a pizza so we'd have something to soak up the alcohol.  Best thing is that Holt and Crain finished up at 5, it would have been a nice early night but:
After we left we went to River Rats for long time friend Apyrl who we don't see very often.  The patio was crowded and 2nd Wind was playing.  We saw a lot of people we don't see very often any more. 
After way too many beers we left and headed to KFC, both of us were "starving".  I got a chicken sandwich and slaw while Lisa got Taco Bell (yuck).  The slaw was great but the sandwich was just okay and only because I was so hungry.

I had my eyes dilated and an eyeball shot yesterday.  When we got back we decided to go back over and get Dale's.  We decided to get something different yesterday so we got a bacon sandwich and a hero.  And of course large fries done extra crispy and with extra salt.
The fries were there usual great selves and we ate most of them on the ride home.  I ate my half of the bacon sandwich and thought it was very good, maybe my new go to there.
Wow the hero was big, I'm thinking around three inches tall.  So tall it was hard to eat.  In spite of that it was a really good sandwich but I couldn't finish my half.  The hero was made of corned beef and roast beef and it made for a great combination but one that we need to split in the future.

We finally got a night that wasn't too cold however it was raining.
We played our first game on the dreaded third court against Boccelicous.  We jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead but they got a couple points.  We responded with three more points before they made it 6-3.  I'm not sure if they scored again but if they did it was only one more point with us winning 9-3 or 4.
About halfway through the game Wednesday night coordinator Ian came over to me and said we got a forfeit on on 8 o'clock game so we finally got a much needed two win night.

Eclipse 2024 was so cool, better even than 2017.  It got off to a bad start the day before when the igniter in my pellet grill didn't work.  So there I was with a fully thawed and prepped brisket and no smoker.  After a little panic I decided to do it in the oven overnight.
The day itself was beautiful, nice and warm with only a few cloud very light clouds.
The grandkids had so much fun playing with water balloons, even Dax was squeezing them and having a blast.  Thanks to Mike and Fred who put up the umbrella for me, as the day went on it was needed.  Only almost bad moment came when Greyson "accidentally" hit his mother with a water balloon.  Bailey told me he could play with if he could hit me with a water balloon.  That made his day but the balloon didn't bust until it.  His mother decided that she needed to hit me with on to make up for it.
The eclipse itself lived up and surpassed expectations.  Four plus minutes of darkness.  Just so cool.
I don't know how many out of towners were in Murphysboro but it seemed like a lot.
The highlight was the moment of totality a big cheer came from Riverside Park followed by  other areas of town.  Of course I had to howl at the moon since I don't stay late enough to do it anymore.  Fun was had by all.
Oh and the brisket turned out surprisingly good.

Last Friday we went on show Mike and Debbie the road we'd been on the last weekend.  I thought the creeks would be higher but they were lower.  Another really nice ride that took us back up to LaRue-Pine hills and then down again.
After we went to Ware Market again.  Once again I got some candied pecans that are awesome.  Mike got some cajun cheese curds that were great.
Getting a sense of deja vu?
Well we didn't go to Duck Inn this time, we went to Bottoms up instead.  We decided to split some wings only to be told they only have flats.  Damn the luck, me and Lisa both like flats better anyway but I managed to convince the cook we should get a couple extra for our trouble.  I also got a side salad and Lisa got an order of fried okra.
The side salad was good and much needed.  Lisa's okra were ok, I'm not really that big on okra.  Mike had got an order of chips for everyone and they were great.  As great as the chips were the wings were even better, outstanding.  I was ready to go back the next day.
For some reason after we left there Lisa was adamant about going to Makanda to see how crowded it was.  My goal was to stay out of those areas but I finally relented with the provision we weren't stopping so off we went.  I don't recall being there late on a Friday afternoon but it did see like a big crowd.  Off course we ended up stopping and looking around and going through Rainmakers "garden".
Finally we headed back home again to end a fun day.

Lisa's good friend Martha Stewart, aka Paula, puts on a Relay for Life bocce tournament so naturally we played in it.  It was surprisingly brisk day and the wind didn't help any.
In the first game we played the Wops, a team we don't get to play often.  They couldn't miss.  Their leadoff thrower was putting a ball really close each frame.  We finally scored towards the end  of the game but lost 9-1.
In the second game we played Delivery.  They had a no show so they rotated.  It's no secret I dislike rotating but understand the situation.  Once again we fell behind early.  This time we scored three points to make it 6-3 before falling 9-3.
Our last pool game was against a team I don't remember the name.  Once again we fell behind but all of a sudden we started making throws and slowly made our way back.  This time we kept going and won, don't remember the score.
This put us into a roll off against the last two teams we played.  Our captain Lisa chose the wrong person to be in the roll off and he (me) didn't make good throws so that ended our tournament.

Spring break without grandkids continued yesterday with a trip to Frenchman's Widow.  Lisa really wanted to try the soup flight special so off we went.  I got a ribeye philly with no peppers and Lisa got chile, cauliflower & mexican corn soups on her flight.
I got a side salad with my sandwich and it was very good.  I really liked the croutons and the house dressing plus it was big enough to share.  My philly was good but nothing special.  Lisa's corn soup was really good and she said the chile was real good but needed more spice to it.  The cauliflower soup was lacking something, just not impressed.

Week 3 was cold, even more so than the previous week.  We played the 6:30 then had a cold break until 8.  We played the 6:30 game so we got there around 6:20 in case the game started early only to find out the other two 6:30 games had already started.  There was a forfeit and 9-0 games.
We played the first game on the middle court against the Usual Suspects.  We got the first point but they tied it up.  They moved ahead 4-2 when they got a four point frame and the game was all but over.  We lost 9-2.
Once again we played on the middle court this time against Muddy Rollers.  They only had three but picked up a player from another team.  Once again we picked up the first point only to have them tie it.  We got another point and then the game turned on a four point frame but this time it was us and it propelled up to a 9-1 win.
We've split each of the three weeks but our losses have been blowouts.

We took a advantage of no grandkids to go to Bennie's in Marion.  We've been there a couple other times and always enjoyed it.  I went over thinking a sandwich but when I got over there I wavered.
I ended up getting spaghetti with italian sausage and Lisa managed to order the baked manicotti correctly this time.  Both dishes came out hot especially hers.  My spaghetti didn't hit the spot for some reason but I don't know if anything would have yesterday.  Lisa manicotti tasted a lot better though and she really liked it.
We do this a lot, on the way home Lisa said we should have ordered one entree and a big salad.  One of these days we'll actually do it.