We hadn't been to Southpaw in a while so we decided to go there yesterday since we couldn't go anywhere very far from Murphysboro.  There always seems to be a few tables with people at them when we go not matter the time.
Anyway I ended up deciding on wings instead of a burger.  I ordered the wings plain with a side of bbq sauce.  Lisa wanted screwballs which is a corn ball filled with stuff.  I wanted some so we got an app instead of a side.  She also got a kids burger with tots.
Everything was hot when it got to the table, in fact it was so hot we had to let it cool off some just to eat it.  The screwballs were better than I remember but my wings weren't.  Don't get me wrong they were still real good but something seemed off from before, I guess it could have been I got them plain.  Lisa's burger was a nice size for her and the bites I tried were really good plus the tots were great.
We ended up with a lot of food left but when we got home the twins and Bailey took care of a lot of it.  As fate would have it they released a new menu today that had a few more options on it but I wish they would add a few more items to the menu.

Another octoberfest season is coming to a close, here are my thoughts from this year.  Here is last years www.roll-em.com/life-in-the-slow-lane/octoberfest-2024

Sam Adams - still my favorite and first out this year
Shiner - not tasting as good as previously
Schlafly  - first out but just ok
Excel - really good
Point - very good
Boulavard Bob's 47 - not that great
Breckinridge - very good, right there with Sam Adams
Civil Life - good
Founders - okay, not as good as last year
Yuengling - very good
New Glarus Staghorn - very good
Springfield - didn't care for it,avoid
Hand or Fate - not as good as last year
St Nicholas - really good local beer

We took a long overdue trip to Bottoms Up yesterday.  For a long time favorite we hadn't been there in a while.  No surprise here, we ordered chicken with side salads and an app of fried okra.
The fired okra is really good and so are the salads.  On the other hand the chicken was outstanding as it always is.  We got some chips to go for when the twins get home.
I asked Greyson how he liked the chips and he said they were okay but he really like the chips when we went hiking around a lake and on a boardwalk.  I had to tell him it was the same place.

We made a quick trip to the Landmark yesterday in big part so that Cathy could see the Mississippi.  They still had their octoberfest so that was a good thing but Mike said there was something wrong with his captain and diet coke.
We had an app of the pretzel sticks that were good and the cheese was surprisingly good.  I ordered the garlic mushroom burger with sweet potato fries while Lisa had the king candy blt.  Mike got his usual burger, Debbie got a turkey bacon wrap and I don't remember what Cathy got except she went with the sweet potato fries too.
My burger was real good and the sweet potato fries were on point.  Lisa was disappointed with her sandwich, it was more like a slab of side pork,  Debbie said the same thing about her wrap.  Mike didn't say much about his burger, I think he was so disappointed in his drink it ruined his visit.  Cathy really like the sweet potato fries.  The regular fries and spicy fries were good but I didn't notice much spice on the spicy fries.
While we were there it started raining hard.  We got a little break but by the time I got to the car it was raining pretty good.  I decided it was time to get home in case we got some bad storms.

Yesterday our day became unexpectedly open so we took the opportunity to go Herrin and eat at the Frenchmans Widow.  On the way there I said we should have called my cousin Joey and met him there.  When we got there a car was sitting out front with JOEY on it but I didn't think anything about it.
When we walked Lisa started pointing but my eyes were still adjusting but when they did there was my cousin Joey sitting at a table.  He was finished but he stayed and we talked for a while.  I ordered the cuban and on the advice of my cousin ordered the fries to go with it.  Lisa ordered a gyro with chicken noodle soup.  The cuban was different but was very good and the fries were too.  Lisa said her gyro was okay but didn't care much for the soup, she said it reminded her of progresso canned soup.
I brought half my sandwich and some fries home with the intent of eating the sandwich for breakfast this morning but when the twins got home Greyson took care of the sandwich. 
Great seeing my cousin and I really enjoyed my order, Lisa not so much.

With Cathy in town we decided to go to Ferne Cliff for a little hiking, of course we had to go through several options before deciding on where to go.  We did the Big Rocky Hollow and Rebman trails.  Of course with Southern Illinois in midst of a moderate to severe drought none of the waterfalls were flowing and none of the creeks were moving.  There was a little water in some of the creeks.  Weather was great and the trails weren't too crowded and it was nice to hike again.  
Afterwards we went to the Log Cabin in Marion.  Their special was a rueben with fries and I was tempted but went with a chopped steak with mushrooms and onions and a side salad.  Lisa got a BLT, Mike got his usual burger while Debbie got the special and Cathy got a ribeye but they were out so they subbed a flank steak.  Everyone else got the homemade chips.  My chopped steak was closer to well done than to medium but was still good and I loved the mushrooms and onions.  I looked like soup with a big piece of meat in the middle and was close to a salisbury steak type dish.  The chips were thicker than most places and I really like the ones I had, surprisingly Mike did too since he's a thin and crispy person.  Everyone seemed to like their order but I should have stayed with the rueben, it looked fantastic.

Yesterday we were invited to join Mike and Pam along with Steve and Amy to visit the Italian Club in Coello.  We'd talked about it during the BBQ contest so it wasn't a surprise when it came about.
We were the last to arrive but only about five minutes late.  They go there quite often and I wanted to let them get settled into their routine when we arrived.  Amy ordered fried pickles and Mike ordered mushrooms for appetizers.  The fried pickles were really good and the mushrooms were solid.
On the advice of Pam I ordered the pork tenderloin with pickles,onions and mustard with a side of vinegar based coleslaw,  Nice that they also have creamy coleslaw there.  Lisa wasn't very hungry so she ordered an egg roll.  My tenderloin was nicely done and quite tasty but the star was the coleslaw, it was really good.  Lisa liked her egg roll but the small taste I had wasn't enough to pass judgement.  I also tried one piece of catfish and I liked it and will probably get it next time we go there.
After that we went to Backroads Bar in Buckner for a few drinks.  It's a small hole in the wall type place but had a nice vibe and the beer was cold plus I like hole in the wall places.
That concluded our small town tour for the day and we headed home.

After a pumpkin buy trip to Herrin and the grandkids positioning the pumpkins we decided to grab a bite to eat.  I didn't want to go too far so we decided on St Nicholas MDH mainly because the special was italian beef and they had their octoberfest on tap.
When we got there they said their specials don't start until 5:00 but there wasn't anything about that in their post.  Oh well, I mentioned drinking our beer and going elsewhere but we decided to stay.  I ended ordering brisket tacos and Lisa got their taco of the week, a big mac taco.  We both ordered chips and salsa as our side.  The brisket taco was good and Lisa really liked her big mac taco even though it sounds awful to me.  I didn't care much for the salsa and the chips needed salt.  The octoberfest was really good, probably the best local octoberfest I've had.
I probably should have gone for a burger but for some reason the taco jumped out at me.  Overall kind of a disappointing stop but not bad, just really wanted the italian beef,  

We'd been trying to get together with Buck and Debbie since early summer and yesterday was finally the day.  They hadn't been to Kretzers and both really wanted to go so off we went.
First stop was the Blue Room of course.  They hadn't been there so they got the full blown first timers experience.  It was so much fun we had to have second beer especially after Lisa knocked over a small cup of their hot sauce that went all over the place but managed to miss all of us somehow.  The place got real crowded and we had trouble getting our bill paid and our pint of hot sauce.
On to Kretzers were first times aren't as unique.  We got an appetizer of mushrooms since Buck said he like them.  I got catfish of course while Lisa got wings.  I got onion rings as a side and also a salad bar so that Lisa could have it.  Buck and Debbie also got catfish while the other Debbie got chicken livers and Mike got a bbq. 
I know, why would anyone get chicken livers.  I tried one and didn't care for it.  The mushrooms were excellent and the catfish was it's normal goodness.  The wings weren't as good as I hope but by the time I tried one I was getting stuffed.  I think everyone enjoyed their food and a good time was had but the place started filling up so it was time to go.
On the way home we stopped in to Slip on In for a drink mainly so I could show Buck the Packer and SF Giants stuff on the wall.  Once again the place started to crowded so we were on the road again,
Buck wanted to take a look at Aces and Eights so made a stop there and it was the most crowded and fun time I've had there.  
We finished off the night with a quick drink at the Da Nite mainly for old times sake.  We probably should have skipped this stop and possibly the previous one.
Good time and Buck and Debbie got to experience a few places they hadn't been.

Wednesday was our anniversary so naturally we decided to go out and eat.  I had to pick up my SIU parking sticker from the Durango so I wanted to go in that general direction.  We finally decided on Logans Roadhouse.
I went over wanting a steak and stuck with the plan.  I got a 16oz ribeye knowing I'd bring some home when the grandtwins got home and Greyson is a steak fanatic.  I got a salad and baked potato as sides.  Lisa got grilled shrimp with a salad and mac and cheese.
Both salads were nicely done but had some of the lettuce that looks like tree leaves mixed in.  My steak was surprisingly great.  I got it blackened but it tasted more like just extra seasoning, whatever it was it was very good.  The baked potato was solid, tasting like a baked potato should.  Lisa's shrimp were also good but nothing really special.  She brought the mac and cheese home in case Dax wanted it.

Roll'em wrapped up our 2025 fall season last night on a warm humid night.  We were supposed to play at 6&8 but Bertha's Ball Handlers agreed to move our 8 o'clock to 5:30.  Thanks again to them for agreeing to do this.
In the first game we took on Bertha's Ball Handlers.  Ian asked what court and we both agreed the middle court and neither team took warmups.  We were hot right off the bat when we got a four point frame to start the game.  They got one and we got two then finished off a 9-1 win.
In the second game we played Mission Inbocceball on the third court.  Once again we struggled with the speed change and didn't play well and we lost 9-2 taking any hope of making the tournament away,
We've had a lot going on and I was ready for the season to end.  I'm sure in a few weeks I'll really miss it though.