Why Did I sign up for This Thing?

Why Did I sign up for This Thing?

Gad, I'm not use to getting up this early but Al and I are headed out to toss some Bean Bags at the casino this morning. Yeah they have a contest going. It's free and a chance to win from $750 for 5th place all the way up to $5,000 for 1st place. Al  is a pro when it comes to tossing bean bags. We even had a practice session out in his back yard the other day. I hope I can hold up my part. We'll let you know what happens when we get back

  

 (Later that Night)

I got to the casino a half an hour before Al.  When I walked into the room where they were going to have the tournament, I saw them measuring the distance between the Cornhole boxes. I was surprised when I saw that they looked exactly like the ones Al has in his back yard. I waited around and then some of the guys started practicing. WOW, these guys were TOO GOOD!!!  I saw this one guy get 6 of the bean bags in the hole one right after the other. WTF have I got myself into. While waiting I overheard that these guys were pros. They were coming in from all over the country. Right then and there I knew we didn’t stand a chance in hell of winning any kind of money.

http://s262.photobucket.com/user/bkauf/slideshow/Casino/Bean%20Bag%20Tournament

They finally started signing up the people. When I saw Al walk in, I told him about how I saw this guy get 6 bean bags in the hole. He laughed. Al signed up and then we stood there watching the guys toss. We had time to practice so Al and I got on either end of the boxes and started tossing the bean bags. Well I couldn’t even toss them to the box which was 33 feet away. I looked around and saw a few girls practicing and thought to myself, “The only way we’re going to have a chance to win is if the other team are girls.” Don’t get me wrong Al is good. It was me that I am talking about.

When the tournament began they called off who was going to play with whom. The other team were two girls. “ALRIGHT,” I thought to myself. At least we have a chance to win this first round. I sucked as usually. Even the girls were better than I was but Al was the one who won it for our side. We beat them.

Then we waited around for the next match. This time we were up against to guys who looked like they knew what they were doing. The match started and the guy standing next to me got most of them in the hole or at least on the deck. I watched the way he would toss so I tried to imitate him. I still looked like a moron tossing. Al was doing good but these guys were tossing like world series good. It didn’t take long and the match was over.

     Matt Guy

       5 Times World Champion

We sat down waiting to play in the loser’s tournament. The one guy that was standing next to me at that last match was sitting next to me. Al said, “I here that there is a guy that is a 5 times world Champion here.” The guy smiled at us and said, “That’s me.” Both Al and I started laughing hysterically. We had no idea that we were playing against 5 times world Cornwhole Champion Matt Guy. “Now I don’t feel so Bad,” I told him. At least Al and I lost to the best of the best. But I wished that I would have done better than I did. I still couldn’t toss the bags far enough to reach the box. I’m getting old I guess.

Then they announced that we were to start playing on box number 7 which was right where we were sitting. I began to toss and still no good. The 5 times champion got up and came over to me and gave me some tips on how to toss the bags. It seemed to help because I was getting them to the box anyway. Only 1 of them went in though. In the end we lost and that was that. Al had fun. He enjoyed himself. Me, I just wanted to go play some craps. At least I knew how to do that. Al and I said goodbye and went home and I went into the casino.

                                                     

Blackhawks Superfan Party

 The Blackhawks Superfan Party


The Blackhawks Superfan Party at the Grand Victoria went like this. I met my friend Al over at his house and practiced tossing the dice on his craps table. Everything looked good after about 25 minutes of practice. The Grand Victoria Casino was only 10 minutes from his house and we got there at 4:50. There was a line of people waiting to get into the Fox River Room. They were a little late opening the doors. Once we entered they gave us a Red Blackhawks hat. 

 

  Stan Mikita

Tony Esposito

Stan Mikita

People started lining up in the back of the room to get whatever they brought to get autographed. You were only allowed one item  to get signed by the three great Blackhawk players, Tony Esposito, Steve Larmer and Stan Mikita. Al and I stepped up and stood with all three players and had our picture taken. The photo will be ready on line at the Grand Victora's web site in 2 weeks.

 I had brought my grandson's hockey shirt. He played in a team in Des Moines Iowa called the Blackhawks so it was really cool that all three players signed his shirt. Al got his red Blackhawks Cap signed by the three players.

 

TonyEsposito

 

  Stan Miktia

Steve Larmer 

  They had a buffet set up with Italian beef sandwiches, Hot Dogs, Hot Chicken Wings, and Bar-B-Que Beef. All the stuff Chris Farley and "Da Bears" fans here in Chicago love to eat. Dessert consisted of several kinds of cookies and Ice Cream Sundaes. It's a good thing I go to Cardiac Rehab 3 times a week.

   They had a big Screen set up in the River Room when the Blackhawks hockey game began. Al and I watched for a little will but we decided to go into the casino and play at the craps table until they had this drawing during intermission after the 2nd period. They had a drawing for 3 signed jerseys. Al stayed at the table while I went back to see if I won anything at the drawing. Of course I didn't win. With my luck there could have only been 4 entries in the drum for 3 signed jerseys and I still would have lost. I was hoping to win some tickets but they didn't draw for them,  (Sorry Charles). When that was over the 3 Blackhawk Players left and I went back to the craps table and met back up with Al again. I was down $15 during the drawing. Al and I didn't stay long but long enough so that I made +$45. That's always cool.

 

 I took a few pictures while I was there. In fact when the Blackhawk players went up to speak to everybody, I turned on my camera and I thought I had a pretty good video but when I went to look at it after I shot it, I discovered that my camera somehow focused on this bald man's head sitting just in front of me. The interview of the all three Blackhawk players turned out blurred. I have a great shot of a bald man's head if anyone wants to see it. Needless to say I was pissed when I found out.

 Well it was something different to do and I had fun.

The Four Seasons

The North Pole must have shifted and is now located over Chicago. This is what our four Seasons look like now. No petty flowers or green trees. It's become a frozen wasteland around here.

The Northwest Suburban Republican Gubernatorial Debate

Listen to the Debate

http://www.stationcaster.com/stations/wls/media/mpeg/Northwest_Suburban_Republican_Gubernatorial_Debate-1392133582.mp3

 I went to the Northwest Suburban Republican Gubernatorial Debate tonight. I have been following Dan Rutherford since I first met him at Pancakes Eggcetera in Rosemont Illinois when he was the Chairman of the Romney Campaign in Illinois. Mitt Romney won the primary here in Illinois but lost the presidency to Obama. Now Dan Rutherford is running for Governor of Illinois. This was my chance to see my first live debate and I didn’t want to miss it.

 When I got to the debate I had to wait an hour and a half before it started. I got there a little early because I wanted to get a seat up front so I could take some picture as the night went on. I was never into politics growing up although my Grandfather was an Republican alderman in the 41st Ward in Chicago from 1931 to 1935, Republican ward Committeeman from 1932 to 1953, and appointed by the president as director of the Federal Housing Administration from July 1953 to October 1958. He was a Cool Grandfather. Maybe it’s in my gens.

 I got aisle seat up front and started taking pictures. The room was empty and there were so many seats, maybe 6 or 700 of them. I didn’t see how they would fill all of them but by the time the debate was about to start it was standing room only. 

I took some pictures as the candidates came up on stage. I thought this was so cool. There were four podiums but only 3 candidates. Dan Rutherford was there, so was Bill Brady and Kirk Dillard. Where was Bruce Rauner, the rich guy that has all those ads running day and night? It was 6:06 when the debate started. The moderator told the audience that Rauner had declined to come to the debate. The debate was moderated by 89 WLS morning show co-host Dan Proft. The questions were generated by members of the Republican township organizations hosting the debate including: Addison, Barrington, Bloomingdale, Dundee, Elgin, Elk Grove, Hanover, Northfield, Palatine, Schaumburg, Wayne, and Wheeling.

 The 1^st hour went by so fast. There were many funny moments and the audience laughed. Every half hour WLS had to take a break for the news. During the 7:00pm brake Dan Rutherford came down into the audience. He noticed me and came over and shook my hand. He was all smiles. I said, “This debate is fun.” He agreed with me and it was.

 It was time for the last half hour. Time sure goes by when you’re having fun. During the whole hour and a half debate, that one empty podium stuck out like a sore thumb. The candidates mentioned it along with the moderator.

After the debate was over, each candidate had their own little reception room with some treats to snack on. I hadn’t eaten since noon so I filled my plate. Dan Rutherford had to do a couple of TV interviews so I left and went home. I was so glad that I went. It was so much fun.

 William Kaufman

Dan Rutherford in the 1st Illinois Primary Debate

Dan Rutherford's excerpts from the 1st Republican Primary Debate for Governor of Illinois, 23:03 

 



This is the 1st Rebulican Pimary Debate for Governor of Illinois in it's entirety, 2:02:56 

A Meet and Greet with Dan Rutherford

A Meet and Greet with Dan Rutherford

  I was invited to a Meet and Greet with Dan Rutherford at POP'S Banquets, 817 Nerge Road in Roselle last night.

Dan is Illinois’s State Treasurer and he is running for Governor of Illinois. I was glad that I went. I got there a little early so I sat up front where Dan would be speaking. The room soon filled up fast and the pizza they served went just as fast.

 Dan came in smiling and went around greeting everyone. He is a very friendly person. Then he got up in the center of the room and talked about what he will do as governor. I liked what I heard.

http://www.danrutherford.org/default.aspx

I was there for two and a half hours and enjoyed every minute of it.  I asked him if I could have my picture taken with him. He was more than happy to stand with me while I handed my camera to someone. He also signed one of his posters for me. “Thanks Dan.”

Dan Rutherford Answers peoples questions on the Joe Walsh Show