Homecoming 2007

Well, I'm back safe and sound from my college/fraternity Homecoming at Monmouth College in Monmouth, Illinois. And anyone who knows me at all, Homecoming is an annual pilgrimage every October. There was a different twist for this year's event; it was my 20 year reunion. Yikes! Twenty years since I graduated college... doesn't seem right.

The only other person who matches my record is a fellow fraternity brother, whom we will just call "Magilla." Several times in the past, Magilla and I would rent an RV so we could park and party close to house and be near all the action. Then the college caught on and started placing "No RV Parking" signs all over the place. Did that stop us... not really. We know some people who live about 2 houses from the campus, so we'd park the RV in their back yard. The vice president of development would become annoyed with our antics. It was one Homecoming we heard that he was going nuts because he didn't know where we were parked and he couldn't keep an eye on us. We also later found out that the No RV Parking signs were a direct response to us, let alone anyone who wanted to follow our footsteps.

I could actually write an entire book on all the stuff we've done over these 20 years. But for this year, it was really low key. Instead of an RV or sleeping in the fraternity house, we opted for the local Super 8... which I claimed to everyone we were staying in the Presidential Suite of the Monmouth Super 8.

Friday evening was a good steak dinner, followed by drinks at the Pub 83 and then karaoke at The Well. Unbelievably, they didn't carry my standard Just A Gigolo so I sang Love Stinks and Little Sister. Saturday we slept in and missed the Homecoming parade which started at 10:30am. We miss this parade every year. But after a brief visit with some friends who live in town, we stopped by the house to check out what was going on. The beer started flowing about 1:30pm when the football game started (at least they say there's a football game... I never go to it). Hanging at the house during the game is sort of a quasi-tailgate; other alumni show up and we tell the undergraduates some war stories.

Well after the game, we headed out to Danny's Tap which was a popular place to be back in my day. After a couple of drinks their, we realized that we're going to need something to eat, so we went in for a meatball sandwich across the street. This would be our only intermission from the party. Upon finishing dinner, back to Danny's. Then it was off to the local Legion Hall for a "reunion party" where I really didn't see a lot of people from my class. But I did spend some time to chat with the few that did return. Then it was off for Pub 83, which was quite nice as it wasn't very crowded. We were a bit entertained by some of the bar-hoppers being dressed for Halloween.

At 2:00am, the bar manager kicked us out and claimed that they had to close. Magilla and I headed back to the Presidential Suite of the Monmouth Super 8 and crashed. Sunday morning we met up with some friends at their place in town for breakfast and then got the hell out of Dodge.

Despite no virgin sacrifice or taking advantage of our female party guests, we still managed a good time and non-stop belly laughs through the weekend. I probably came home with an extra laugh line on my face.

A Legend Visits Bloomington

... and we were there to witness it.

Dave Cookson and I travelled to US Cellular Coliseum last Saturday night to see Elvis Costello and Bob Dylan. The show opened with Amos Lee, whom I'd never heard of before; but he put on a good show.

After a quick intermission, Elvis Costello took the stage, with him and only his guitar. The guy can really sing. He engaged the audience between songs with stories about his dad. It was Elvis who provided us with our brush with greatness earlier that evening.

We sat in section 102, which was lower bowl, but close to the stage. For those few sections, there is the Jack Daniels Lounge, complete with easy chairs. As Dave and I sat awaiting for the show to begin, I watched the Coliseum employees go in and out of an adjacent hallway that had glass walls separating it with the lounge. Then I saw an individual dressed all in black, with a black coat, hat and the recognizable horn-rimmed glasses. It was Elvis walking towards an elevator meeting up with someone else. I frantically point and exclaim to Dave, "Check it out, check it out, check it out, check it out.." I couldn't even think of his name and thought Dave might miss out. Dave slowly turned around and asked, "Is that Elvis Costello?"

They got on the elevator and disappeared. Moments later, they reappeared only to discover they were on the wrong floor. I guess that can happen to anyone.

Elvis finished up his set, which featured of course Allison and Peace, Love & Understanding. Bob Dylan then took the stage after another intermission. And as I joked before seeing Bob Dylan, we couldn't understand a word he was singing. Dave and I must have laughed all the way through the first 2 songs he did. I only knew 2 of the songs he performed that night.

I was never a big Dylan fan, but I do respect all that he's done. He is a good songwriter and his band that night was excellent and tight. They proved that they could rock. And there were plenty of energetic fans in the audience. There was a couple, probably around 18 years old, dancing around like hippies from the 60's to most of Dylan's songs. It was entertaining to watch.

Dave and I skipped out on the encore, which I hear was only 2 songs. It was getting late and we were tired of trying to make heads or tails of the unintelligible lyrics that were sung. But in all, a good evening with a living legend.

This & That

A fellow Jaycee and blogger, Tim Sheets asked me a few nights ago about when I'm ever going to blog again or put something up on my main web site, rlo.com. Well... here we go...

Sleeping Good
Last week, Beth and I finally got our sleep number bed. If you recall, we had the experience of sleeping on one out in California during our Rt 66 trip. It was great. I would wake up with absolutely no aches, pains or stiffness and an abundance of energy. The original Bionic woman tells no lies on this!

Our previous mattress we purchased about 3-4 years ago and was a complete piece of shit. It was one of those space-aged, memory foam, astronaut beds. Yea, right. The thing lost all of its memory and we slept in worn out, sagging holes. I think it was plain foam that they give prisoners to sleep on. Good riddance.

My sleep number is on 100. I think Buffy's is around 40 or 50.

ZZ Top
Dave Cookson and I attended the ZZ Top concert a few weeks ago here in Peoria. The show was scheduled for a Sunday night. The Wednesday before, I stopped at the Civic Center box office and inquired about tickets. At this late date, they could get me center floor, row 3, aisle seats. Any closer and we can run our fingers through their beards. I asked the girl, "Did they sell any other seats and will this be a private show for us?"

The dudes are aging a bit, but still put on a great show. They opened with Got Me Under Pressure and played most of their hits, Cheap Sunglasses, Legs, Lagrange, Tush, Pearl Necklace and Sharped Dress Man. There were a couple of other songs I wish they played, but didn't.

The other entertainment was watching the really drunk chicks try to get closer to the stage, only to be stopped by security.

Fall Bash '07
Last Saturday, Beth and I held our annual Fall Bash. It was a good turnout and good time. Our niece Sara commented that all our friends who once became drunk reminded her of kids in her middle school. Yes, we never grow up.

Someone either slipped me a mickey or I purchased an extra fermented case of Heineken as I was out for the count by midnight. And the next day was not good... beer and especially Heineken doesn't drag me down that bad (that's why I drink it). That was on top of a sensible dinner as well. Occupational hazard I guess.

There are currently photos at http://www.rlo.com/.

Homecoming '07
Only 14 days until ATO Homecoming 2007. Yikes! This will be my college 20th reunion.