Saturday pizza was on my mind but wanted something a little different so we decided to go to Alongi's.  It's been quite a few years since we went there.  I like that you can add ingredients without paying extra.
We went with pepperoni, italian sausage and mushrooms while Mike got chicken parm and Debbie got lasagna.  They have very unique shaped beer glasses, tall and thin.  Each of us got a bread stick that was very good but I wish it had dipping oil or something to dip it in.  The pizza was good and different than our usual pizza places so that was nice,  It was thin crust but wasn't a thin pizza, the cheese and toppings built it up.  Mike really like his chicken parm which is his go to for italian places and Debbie loved her lasagna.
Nice change of pace for us.

Thursday we both had appointments in the morning so we decided to try out a new place in DuQuoin called Traditions.  It's in the building that used to be Taco Bell/KFC just past the old coke bottling place.
The waitress was very helpful and nice but a little naive when it came to the beer selection.  We both ordered Yuengling and finally decided on splitting a chef salad with house dressing and spaghetti.  We were both nervous about the formaggio cheese since it was a blend of mozzarella and provolone with a little provel added.  Neither of us car for provel but it was fine.
The salad was humongous and they brought two bowels so we could get out what we wanted.  The dressing was really good too, overall a really good salad.  The spaghetti was solid but nothing special.  Same with the meatballs but the sauce was really good.  It came with two small slices of garlic bread that were tasty.
Overall a good trip and we'll make it back soon to try the pizza and burgers.
It just so happens that there was an 89th birthday party for the legendary Batman at the Da-Nite so we stopped in for a beer or two.  He was both our teachers in high school and has been a friend for a lot of years.  We missed a couple people I would have liked to see but there was still plenty there and we stayed a lot longer than anticipated.
Great day

We played the 6:30 and 7:30 games last night.  It was rather warm and without the wind from the previous week.
We played our first game against the Militant Gammarians on the first court.  We started the game with three consecutive two point frames to take a 6-0 lead.  They managed to cut it in half in the next frame but we closed it out with another two point frame and then the game winning point.
In the second game we played Boccelism on the third court.  They were using a couple subs including one who hadn't played before.  We jumped on them and didn't let off for a 9-0 win.

We started out for Frenchman's Widow yesterday but decided on Joe's Pizza on the ride over.  This time we wanted pasta instead of pizza plus I wanted salad.  When we got there we ordered an italian salad with no olives.  I got balsamic vinaigrette while Lisa got creamy italian.  We finally decided to split an order of pasta pomodoro.
The salad was good but the balsamic vinaigrette didn't really hit the spot.  Lisa said the creamy italian was good.  The salad was more than enough for the two of us and enough left to bring some home.  The past pomodoro was ok but needed more of olive oil.  For some reason they couldn't put extra on but brought some garlic butter for me and some red sauce for Lisa.  This really helped along with some parm and pepper.  The red sauce was very good and the pasta we order the next time we get pasta there.

On a very windy and warm evening Roll'em played the 6:30 and 7 games with David subbing for Debbie.  The first games were winding down and no Mike I gave him a call.  Good thing, he'd forgot.  He arrived just in time.
Our first game took place on the third court against Dark Side of the Pallino.  While we were warming up the wind knocked my beer off the wall and it broke on the concrete so the first part of the game was getting all the glass swept up and getting another one.  The game started out close with us getting the two points and them getting three.  We did something you can't do an left it wide open and they took advantage with four points making the score 7-2 and we were done losing 9-2.
We moved to the second court for our second game against Blue Collar Ballers.  Once again we started off with a point or two but once again we gave up a big frame.  This time it was three points and was because they made great throws not us leaving it wide open.  This time we answered back with a series of one and two point frames winning 9-3.

We went to Marion to try Seasoning Bistro.  Lisa had been there and we'd gone there when they were in Benton but this was my first time going there.  I think it was my first time seeing Marions "square" since it's been redone, really nicely done.  Seasoning Bistro is really nice also with a lot more room than they had in Benton.
We got there about 1:30 not realizing that they closed from 2-4 but they said no problem.  I ordered a black garlic burger with house chips.  Lisa ordered meatballs with a spinach salad.  The burger was solid until I started hitting the black garlic topping and that really elevated the sandwich.  The chips were all nice and crisp but not much seasoning so I probably won't get that again.  Lisa's meatballs were really good but I wasn't wild about the goat cheese in it.  The salad was okay but I didn't think there was enough dressing.
After we went to check out Little Nashville.  We didn't realize they had food or at least anything more than appetizers but they have a nice menu.  A really nice lunch spot that probably gets turned up at night when there's music.
On the way back we stopped at Buckwater for a quick beer.  We ordered the niner niner beer that is brewed there.  After a few drinks I went up and got a Yuengling, the niner niner wasn't what either of us like.

Last night was hot and humid but at least there was a nice breeze as Roll'em played it's week 2 game.
In the first game we played Muddy Rollers on the third court.  Both teams scored two points to start the game but then they ripped off 5 in a row before we answered with a three point frame.  Too little too late as they closed out a 9-5 victory over Roll'em.
In the second game also played on the third court we played Mag 4.  Everything that went wrong the first game went right in this one.  We got off to a fast start and never let up winning 9-0.

We ordered from El Jalisco yesterday since Lisa didn't want to fix me anything.  I ordered steak el tapatio and she ordered barria tacos. I had trouble understanding the man on the phone and he couldn't understand me so I didn't have much hope for the order to be right.  It was closer than I expected but not quit right.  I didn't expect much from the steak since the last time I got it the steak wasn't great.  This time it was even worse, very tough and not good.  Never again.  The shrimp was good and the corn was very good,  The rice and veggies were okay.  Lisa liked her tacos.

Yesterday we made a last minute decision to go to Bottoms Up.  We hadn't been there in a while and we both decided to go off our norm with what we got.  I went down thinking catfish while Lisa was thinking wings.  
The catfish is hand breaded there so that sealed the choice especially when the cook said she would cut it in strips since they weren't busy.  Lisa went with wings.  We both got side salads that were plain but tasty.  The catfish had a different coating, maybe cornmeal based, but it was very good.  Not up there with the best in the area but worth getting again.  Lisa's wings were on point as they always are there.
It's always nice talking with the staff there, very nice and outgoing.
We stopped at Slips Hideaway, aka Kinkaid Marina, on the way home for a drink and to check out the place.  They've redone almost the whole place and it looks really nice.  They did keep the bar made out of a boat though.  I had a beer and Lisa started a beer but noticed the slushy machine and got one of those after trying all three.  I have to say all three were really good.

Roll'em made their delayed appearance of 2026.  The weather was a tad warm but there was a nice breeze and just a great night.  A great night for us to get back at it.
In the first game we played No Beer, No Bocce a team we've struggled with in the past.  We started the year right with one, one and two point frames.  Then in typical Roll'em fashion we gave up a three then a one point frame to tie the game.  They kind of pulled ahead of us 8-6 but then Lisa got a ball in and they left it pretty wide open and we took advantage with three points winning 9-8.
In the second game we played Roll Away the Dew, a team we'd never played before.  Oddly we talked to one of their players at the Farmers Market just that afternoon.  Anyway we started off by having them hit themselves out a point and us into two.  We kept going building a 5-0 lead but once again we squandered that by giving up a four point frame,  This time instead of folding we righted the ship and won 9-4.
It was a lot of fun getting back on the court and also seeing a lot of new faces down there.  Of course winning two is always nice.

After taking the spring season off to deal with some health issues Roll'em If Ya Got'em will be back playing tonight.  We've played in a tournament but myself, Lisa and Debbie haven't played much this year.  Mike subbed on a Tuesday team and has been going to old fart bocce so he should be ready.
Anyway it will be good to get back.