We took Mike and Debbie to Lambert airport yesterday for their return home to California.  I don't like driving in St. Louis so on the way home we stopped at Skootrs in Mascoutah to relax a bit.  It's hard to find a place open on Mondays but I stumbled across this and thought it was worth a try.  On of the strange things is that it's kitchen is closed on Tuesdays instead of most places Mondays.
When you walk in the door it's easy to see it's a dive bar that's had a lot of wear and tear.  We sat down at a table with two chairs on one side and a booth on the other, of course the Glue took the booth.  Their menu has a lot of different options.  We finally settled on splitting fried chicken all white.  I got a side salad and the Glue got chili as our sides.  We both got drafts, Stag draft for me and Busch Light for her. 
The side salad was a very solid side salad and tasted real good.  The Glue got chili and said is was some of the best she's had out.  The fried chicken was very good and the pieces were large. 
I've had a lot of good food in dive bars and this was no exception.
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We got to try out our new long sleeve shirt and hoodies this past chili Wednesday night. 
In the first game we played Holly Ballz on the third court.  The court was rolling very fast compared to normal.  They'd score then we'd score, they'd score and we'd score.  Finally at 7-7 they got two and we went down to defeat 9-7.  We had to many frames where we used two or or three balls before we could beat them leaving them with three chances to get us and they usually did.  We also didn't take advantage when we had a chance.
We took it out on Bocce & Brews the next game by jumping out to an 8-0 lead.  They mounted a comeback after Dan's comment but we held on for a 9-1 win.

Yesterday we went to the airport to pick up the Glues brother and his girlfriend.  On the way back we stopped at Drakes in O'fallon.  The Glue and Bailey had stopped there a couple times and liked it.
It's a really cool place and they are able to open up a lot of the area so that it has a covered deck type feel.  Yesterday was a perfect day to have them open and it was really nice there.  They have a nice selection of draft beers but we settled on Sam Adams Octoberfest.
I ordered mini cheeseburgers with tots and the Glue ordered mini BLTs with a bowl of chili.  My cheeseburgers were disappointing, dry and kind of bland.  The Glues BLTs were better.  The tots were real good but I wish they had a little more seasoning on them.  Mike got the mini cheeseburgers too and said his were good.  Debbie got the mini juicy lucys and said they were good, they looked a lot better than the cheeseburgers.
The atmosphere really carries this place and it could be a really fun place to hang out.
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Friday was the Glue's birthday and we had plans to go to Cape for a quick trip but had to cancel them for the day.  Our plan also included a trip to Pheasant Hollow on Saturday.  Baby Mama and Baby Daddy wanted to join us so after picking up a bunk bed for the grandtwins in the morning we headed up.  We don't see them as often as we used to so it was fun catching up and telling stories.  When we got there they once again had Drunkin Piper on draft so I got one of those and the Glue got a Sam Adams Octoberfest.  We grabbed a picnic table in the shade but when I came back out with the second round we'd moved to a table with chairs.  With me fighting a bad back this was a great move.
Light Street Kitchen food truck was there and was the main reason we wanted to go there.  While I went in and got drinks the Glue ordered gumbo and an order of fries for us to split.  Baby Mama and Baby Daddy both got gumbo too.  I'd seen some pictures of the fries and they'd looked really good and they didn't disappoint.  The best fries I've had in quite a while.  Everyone was impressed with the gumbo, it was really good.  The consistency was more like etouffee mostly because there was too much rice and not enough gumbo but overall a great meal.
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In the first game we played Mag 4 once again with Danny subbing for Lissa.  We got one, they got two, we got one and they got two leaving us on the wrong side of a 4-2 score.  We got a couple one point frames to make it 4-4 then we took off getting a three point frame and the a two to cap off a 9-4 win.  They missed a lot of close throws by an inch or less.
In the second game we played Corner Bocce Ballers who had gotten a forfeit in their first game.  We didn't waste a lot of time in this one.  We ran off seven points before they got on the board then we were able to get the last two for a 9-3 win.
Both games were a struggle and both teams had a lot of close misses.  We left a lot of easy points on the board and will have to play better.

The Glue had been wanting a Jeep for several years but I kept telling her we had to get my Durango paid off first.  Once it was paid off a little while we started looking.  We went to look at a couple used ones at Morlans in Cape but it wasn't really what she wanted then they called and said they had a new one in stock we should look at so we went again.  After all it doesn't take a lot for us to take a trip to Cape.  For several different reasons I really didn't think she'd like a Jeep and Bailey didn't either but she got it anyway. 
A year later I have to say I was wrong.  Both of us really like the Jeep.  It doesn't ride as smooth as the Durango or even her old Mariner but it is a really fun vehicle to drive and ride in.  I didn't think it would take the place of the Durango as our main thing to drive but it did.
There are several things I wish it had though:  proximity door handles, bigger radio display, backup warning, soft top, one touch up windows and a few others. 
The main thing I don't like is the front cup holders, it's not easy or convenient to put more than one cup/bottle/can in them at a time.
Jeeps, like boats, are notorious money pits.  There are so many modifications and add on's available that it can add up fast.  The primary thing I want to add is a soft top that we can use during the summer.  The other related thing is a lift in the garage to make it easier to get the top off.
Overall it's been a great purchase and we've been very happy with the Jeep.

We took a quick trip to check out Big Muddy Hogs farmers market.  Mainly to have the twins check out the hogs and chickens there. 
From there we decided to got to Von Jakob to eat and then to Alto Pass winery to listen to the band playing there.  We both ordered their octoberfest and neither of us cared for it, we couldn't come close to finishing it.  We both ordered the Irish red and it was pretty good.  We decided to split a blt with chips and slaw.  We also got a giant pretzel.  The pretzel was solid and the honey mustard sauce was surprising good.  The BLT and the slaw were both okay but nothing special.  The chips were good and crisp and with no seasoning on them and kind of bland.  Not sure I can put a finger on it but the place just doesn't have the same vibe as it did under the original owners.  We may stop in for a beer but it's going to be quite a while before we eat there again.
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We ended up going for a drive up in LaRue-Pine Hills instead of stopping in at Alto winery.  I wasn't aware they'd already closed snake road so we ended up going to the spillway, marina and then around Murphy Lake.  Awesome day for ride.

Yesterday I mentioned pizza and the Glue said she was thinking about it too.  After mentioning and discarding several places we decided on Joe's in Herrin.  We lucked out and the had Sam Adams Octoberfest on draft so we got a pitcher of it.  We ordered a small chicago style pizza with pepperoni, mushroom and italian sausage and an antipasta salad with no olives or tomatoes.  They'd been real busy and the waitress was on the move constantly.
She brought us an extra plate so we could split the salad and separate dressings for each of us.  I got balsamic vinegar and the Glue got creamy italian that the waitress had said a lot of people really like.  The salad itself was very big and there was a lot of it.  The balsamic vinegar was ok but I should have got french or the creamy italian which I tried and liked.  The pizza got there and it was the star of the show, it tasted really good. 
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After we left we went to Thortons Sausage Co..  I turned the wrong way but my cousin Joey got me straighten out.  It's a small place and doesn't have as much fresh sausage as I expected plus they were out of salameats which is the main reason I went.  We got some dried salameat and dried chorizo plus two different kinds of salami.  I asked the person working which she liked best and she said smoked so we got a pound of it and a pound of dried.  Both of us like the dried a lot better and probably won't get the smoked anymore.
Once we got back in Murphysboro we stopped for one at Molly's Pint for a beer.  We got a Scottish 80 and a California Irish Red and we alternated each one.  Both were good but I think we both liked the 80 better.

I've been wanting a nice road trip but with me having back problems we decided to keep it closer and go to Rend Lake Bar in Buckner.  They didn't have any drafts and apparently only the typical beers so I ordered a Stag and the Glue got a Busch Bavarian.
I ordered cajun catfish with onion rings and the Glue got a small burger with seasoned fries.  I liked the cajun seasoning on the catfish otherwise both it and the onion rings were solid but nothing special.  I should have stuck with my original order of a side salad, too much fried stuff.  The Glues burger was really good.  I liked the seasoned but the Glue thought they should have been cooked a second time to crisp them up.  She watches a lot of food shows ;-)
Edit 9/5/21:  I forgot to mention I got a slice of peanut butter pie and an oatmeal raisin cookie to take home.  The pie was good but the cookie was outstanding.  Possibly the best I've had.
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On our way home we stopped in at River Rats for the first time since Kelly took over ownership.  There was a nice crowd at the bar with several people I enjoy talking to.  We were only going to have one but ended up having three and people were trying to buy us a fourth. 

This past weekend we decided to go for a little ride down 127 and back up old 51 then around Giant City.  We stopped in Makanda so The Glue could order pick up from New Kahala and it rained the whole time we were stopped.  We didn't get any here and most of the area really needs it.
Anyway we picked up New Kahala and took it home to enjoy.  I ordered something new for me, beef Teriyaki and the Glue went with her standard twice cooked beef.  Both of us ordered extra sauce and I went with spice level 1 and she got 3.  I really liked the Teriyaki but they put more beef in it than I like.  When I order it in the future I won't order any meat and will get extra veggies.  The Glue's twice cooked beef was as good as always and the spice wasn't too much for me.  As always we both got fried rice instead of white and they put a lot of it in with the entree.
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Yesterday we dropped the twins off at school and went to Sunny Street Cafe for breakfast.  We both had a really good impression from the first time and wanted to see if they could repeat.  They had a sign up for the weekend special cajun sausage.  That's what I wanted and the waitress went back and asked if it was available which it was.  It came with two eggs, a side and choice of toast.  I got my eggs over medium and a side of fruit.  A biscuit was included as toast so I got that and they put gravy on it for me.  The Glue got bacon, eggs over easy, fruit and a biscuit with gravy. 
My cajun sausage was very good with a little kick but not overpowering,  The Glue's bacon was on point.  Our eggs were good but nothing special compared to everything else.  We both really like their biscuits and gravy.  It has a little kick but not much, our daughter and son in law went there at our recommendation and didn't really care for it.  We both really like the fruit cup option.  This time it had cantaloupe, pineapple, bananas, grapes and what I assume was honeydew melon.  The Glue doesn't like bananas so we need to remember to see if we can customize it a little. 
The staff there is very friendly and the cook came out and talked with us about the cajun sausage.  Once again a really nice visit.
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In the first game we played Boccelism with Danny subbing for Clutch.  We kept pace early but they went on to dominate 9-3.  We had trouble getting balls close early in the frame and when we did it was the last ball and they'd knock it out.  None of us had a great game.
In the second game we played Boccezilla and it was a totally different game.  We got a four point frame early and never looked back winning 9-0.  We played a lot better but still not great.