STOOD UP BY THE YOUNG RASCALS

Mt. Vernon's Armory has served as a plethora. It has housed the National Guard, of course. It has also provided classroom space for the high school, served as a testing center, home of the Kiwanis annual Pancake and Sausage Day, hosted a YMCA Mens Basketball League that I played in (big wide court/lots of heavy breathing), home for disasters of any kind, and probably many others I've forgotten or overlooked.

In the 60's it also served as a place to host teen dances since Mt. Vernon has always lacked a true teen center. The Sub took care of some teen activity, but it was way too small to house many.

Parking lots in the Summer, most notably the Bank of Illinois allowed teens a venue under the stars to "do the hanky panky" with Tommy James and the Shondells. You could dance in a big circle, slow dance, dance individually to fast songs and hope they'd finally play a slow song, or just talk and hang out.

Local bands such as The Stingrays and The Ivy Five would play at these gigs, also held at the old Post Office building and above the Police Station.

But there was no night like the night the Young Rascals were scheduled to appear at the armory. Rumors had floated around months before their scheduled show. And then it happened: they made it big with "Good Lovin'." Some of my friends and me knew them before they hit it big, because Johnny Rabbit at KXOK in St. Louis and Dick Biondi at WLS in chicago had hyped them.

Anticipation grew. But so did realism. "I'm telling you, they ain't coming to Mousetown," was the belief of a few cynics. Not me. I had my ticket and I knew they'd be here. After about two and a half hours into the show, with the dj making up excuses for their lateness, many left disgruntled. Some had come from as far away as Carbondale.

I stuck it out until the end. About 11:00 we were told it was a no-show. I got in line with about thirty others to get our refunds. I think it was four or five dollars. No more, I'm sure. Disappointed, maybe a little disillusioned, I was still a fan. I still am. But I never got to see them at the armory. I hate it when the cynics are right.

THE BEST CARTOON THAT'S NEVER RE-RUN

I miss the old Beatles cartoons. I know, we have The Simpsons and they are great. If you haven't watched them for awhile I challenge you to stop and not flip past them when you're channel surfing. Even if you don't watch the whole rest of the show, you will laugh at something in the portion you see. But The Beatles were The Beatles.

Sure, Ringo would always do something goofy to get them all in trouble. Sure Paul was the squeaky clean one. I didn't say it was great writing. But it was a great cartoon. One thing that made it so good was the music, naturally. They always worked at least two songs into the plot line. And best of all, they had the words at the bottom of the screen with a little sing along karioke ball with them. That's useful to me, especially today when, well you wouldn't believe what some of the lyrics sound like to me. In Sean Paul's new video, I swear he sings, "I've got the ----- -- ---- -- -turn you on." But I probably have it wrong.

But there was no doubt when the words were right there for you to read and sing along with. I think it also helped that the cartoons came along just after their introductory songs and before they got Easternized by the Maharishi. Their music got too heavy for me after that.

A little nostalgia would be nice. In fact I played an old Beatle cd on my way back from the airport this morning. But I didn't have the visual for "Eight Days a Week."

50 YEARS OF THE TRAMP AND THE LADY

I like dogs, and I like Disney. Neither quite as much as I did years ago. Dogs are too much trouble to take care of, or at least I'm not committed enough to make the effort anymore. As far as Disney goes, they just don't make the great movies and animation on a regular basis like they used to. Some of the movies just aren't even Disneyesque at all.

But one of my favorites is The Tramp and Lady celebrating 50 years with their great story line. (Ok, so it's Lady and the Tramp; I always preferred the guys' names first--what an old-timer!)

I once had two relatives tell me that Scooby Doo was sexy. Now, if that's the case, there's never been a sexier dog than Lady. And when she and Tramp accidentally dog kiss when they share the same spaghetti pasta, well, that's typical Disney, and a most memorable movie scene.

WHAT A HORTON IS

And why can't anybody guard him? In Tuesday night's Big (well Medium this season) Ten nationally televised game in JUDGMENT WEEK (my goodness, how many times did mussberger say that?) the Fighting Illini played like pooches again.

Every time they get to showcaase their team and coach, they fall flat. They yoyo in the ratings and I can tell you now that they are no top ten team. I really had hope for this bunch, especially when the three big men are lefties. It's hard to guard one left hander because, naturally, they do things backwards. Well, at least to righties. But this team lacks motivation or effort or something.

Gone is Dee's supporting cast and he's just not stong (read big) enough to carry the load by himself. In fact, I think his value as a pro has slipped big time. I think Augustine may be the best pro prospect on the Illini.

So kiss the three time conference championships in a row good-bye and try to re-group for the tourney. But I don't see a deep run this season, at all.

Not when you can't guard a Horton. Who shot and shoot and shot and shot.

24 I'M HOOKED

Monday nights I have Bible Study Fellowship. It's a tremendous international bible study that's been around since 1960 or so.

This is my fourth year. We've studied John, Israel and the Minor Prophets, Romans, and this year Genesis. Between 200-225 men meet
at 6:55 PM for announcements and two hymns. breaking for 38 minutes to go to small groups and go over our homework answers from the past week with our discussion leader. Then we go over prayer requests before reconvening in the auditorium for another hymn and 40 minute lecture.

It is a fantastic study in the Word of God. Unfortunately BSF is only offered in metropolitan areas of 250,000 or so. In the Phoenix area, I think there are 7 women's groups, but only 1 men's group. In Minneapolis there are 19 groups or so. There is one in O'Fallon, IL, but that's the only one in the St. Louis area that I know of.

So after last night's class, as usual, I raced up Scottsdale Road to hurry home to watch the tv show 24 that I taped. It seems funny that I study about Christian values and God's love, and then as soon as I leave the church, I'm turning to one of the most violent tv shows for entertainment. (I guess it's one of the most violent; I really don't watch any other shows except Survivor, Lost, The Apprentice, and American Idol sometimes.) Of course, most of my tv time is spent watching sports.

But 24 is my favorite. Well, I like the Cardinals, Rams, and Suns better. I think I might enjoy 24 more if it were moved from Monday nights though. I know: tape it and watch it another night. Nope, I'm hooked on it and can't wait to see how Jack will save us another time.

THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR

After Daylight Savings Time began, I was just fine with teaching high school in the Midwest. As the weeks passed and it turned to May, people would ask if I was ready for school to be out for the Summer. My reply, "Not really. This is the time I enjoy."

At 3:45 I could often be found on the first tee box at Green Hills Country Club. Rex Hodge would be taking practice swings as I hopped out of my car and grabbed a driver. I'm still one that takes no time in warming up and hitting the drive on the first hole. That's what years of experience will do. So Rex and I could get in 18 holes before dark and we could play fast. Once we played nine in one hour and five minutes. And we never rushed. There was no need when precious daylight was abundant for 18 holes. Rex and I never got in a hurry: we'd often stop to marvel at the beauty God created. It might have been a tree in Fall foliage or a bird in flight or a fish flopping in one of the ponds or lake. Sometimes we'd be joined by Mike or Sam, but most had completed their rounds by 3:45, so it was mainly us two.

So why the guillotine? Oh, that's a reminder that the school year was coming to a close. One of Courtney's classmates, Chris Mikow, made me a huge, wooden guillotine with workable blade. I always pulled out the guillotine when we reached the chapter in A Tale of Two Cities that described it in detail. Students would bring vegetable men and women to be slaughtered by the guillotine as I read from the novel. Over the years, we sliced enough cucumbers, pickles, carrots, potatoes, and tomato people to give Veggie Tales a run for their money. It was a fun activity that ended the school year memorably for those who were visual learners. It gave emphasis to Sidney Carton's great sacrifice for Lucy.

So I was never in a hurry for the school year to end. Not as long as Daylight Saving's Time was in effect. I wonder what happened to that old guillotine?

THE IDOL

What a phenomenon! This season it has outdrawn the grammy awards and the Olympics. Now that's a heavyweight or two.

My neighbor loves it when they have the really bad singers, but I don't like it too much then. The idiots wear on me. I see enough no talent in prime time to watch the amateurs.

When I really liked it was when the had the kids show a couple of summers ago and Jordie McCoy from Mt.Vernon was on it. I don't know her, but her parents were former students of mine. Now Paula, Randy, and Simon weren't judging them, but with caustic comments from Debby Gibson and gladys knight (what's a pip anyway?) I used to get worked up over it. Kinda like when you hear somebody say bad things about your kid(s). And who's gladys joaning (another old term) on anyway when she sang the worst song ever written about that dang grapevine. Ok, "sugar, sugar" by the archies and "the letter" by the box tops are close.

Anyway, the Idol continues to bring in the fans. I'm sure it will go the way of the "Millionaire" show with Regis, but for now it's hot.

As for Jordie, she recently signed a contract with P Diddy and works in LA sometimes while still attending Summersville Grade School. And Debby Gibson's mom served as her first agent. Now is it possible...naugh Jordan and the Pips just doesn't get it.