I woke at 5:45 AM on Sunday morning March 19th to get ready for another long day. This time I’d be taking an 8:30 AM train from Union Station to the end of the BNSF line in Aurora where I was scheduled to meet Bob Hoeksema who would be working this evenings ANGEL concert with me in St. Charles at the Arcada Theater.
Our first destination was Wurst Kitchen Sausage Co. 638 Second Ave. Aurora, IL. The shop began 127 years ago as a full service meat market, serving a predominantly German community. They were well known for high quality fresh meats and especially for our homemade German sausages. By the mid 1960’s they began specializing in traditional European style sausages and smoked meats. During the course of the year they make over 80 different varieties!
I picked up a little over $20 worth of Sicilian Sausage for Bob, For myself packages of Cherry Bomb Bratwurst which 3 to 4 Times Hotter Than Kicker their Bratwurst, Taco Bratwurst Spicy, But Not Hot! and a package of Cajun Bratwurst.
The next stop would be Sanchez Brothers Western Wear 1046 N Lake St, Aurora, IL where I could by a new hat. Much like Alccala’s in Chicago they are a Latino family owned small business. They carry Stetson, Resistol, Ariat, Levi’s, Wrangler, Luchesse, Cuatrero, Rodeo, Platini, Pavini, Lamasini,Corral, Safari, Montana, Larry Mahan, and Dan Post”
It must have been my lucky day because I finally found a Bullhide Jewel of the West – Shapeable Wool Cowboy Hat. It was my favorite of all wool hats I’ve owned and my last one is somewhere in the Sugar River in WI or in some lucky finders home. I finally found another and the day was going great.
After that we were off to Asadoras Argentinas Burgers, in Oswego, IL, a rite of passage at this point, a tradition for Bob and I. We were an hour early so we went to a hardware store for a few minutes, sat outside in the sunlight even though it was cold, and then into Jugaadu Slots & Video Poker to get warm where Bob played poker and i had a double Jamo (the AZ) before going next door for the best burgers anywhere. I had a massive Gyro Burger which was difficult to eat this time because it was served on a pita as opposed to a bun like the last time I had one of this variety.
We went to Bobs house for a couple of hours before heading into St Charles to review the ANGEL concert. The doors opened at 4 PM as it was an early show and I was very happy about that. We were both feeling tired from all of the food. We hung out, I played the new LA GUNS album which I had received an advance of the week prior. We got on the road shortly before 330 PM and were at the venue just after 4 PM. On the way there I mentioned how the day after the long weekend in July 2022 on the way home to do a podcast with Dawn Barbee that I was falling asleep in the car and ate a bunch of Hi-Chew candy’s and it gave me a sugar rush. With that Bob found two acks of MEG – Military Energy Gum 100mg of Caffeine Per Piece and it did the trick. We were ready to work.
Bob went into the theater when it was opened and took his place to shoot the ANGEL set. I hung out in teh lobby and bar and made some new friends and had the best conversations with a rom full of other rock n roll road warriors. It was so much fun and I really cannot wait to make my home out there and live out my days. The towns of St Charles and Geneva are beautiful, friendly and quiet. For now.
Bob took a LOT of amazing photos and you can read my review at this link:
We were back at Bob’s in the kitchen editing photos, eating an oven pizza and it was only 930 PM. I could really get used to this kind of concert schedule. We got a few hours of sleep woke up watched the news and I called an Uber to take me to the Aurora Metra Station and would head home at 9AM.
I arrived at Union Station and walked to the Brown Line Adams stop and waited for a train to take me to Belmont to Transfer to the Red Line (BELMONT TRANSFER). I walked in and was molested by my cats, fed them their wet food, pulled off my clothes and put on sweats and went right to work. I had been going non stop since 6 AM Saturday morning.
When I finished my work day I watched a few more episodes of the Deuce on HBO and slept very early and very well that night. Bob had sent me all of the really choice photos for my review of the ANGEL show and I would start working on it the next day before I was too meet Amy at El Palmar for dinner that night.
Tuesday evening and another long work day behind me and I slept like a rock all night before. Amy sent me a text when her train was at Belmont and I put on a coat and walked out into the cold winter air and met her on the corner. We were both hungry and order huge burrito platters and enjoyed some great conversations about friend and after, Amy left an unreal Zander sized tip
Friday March 24 I planned to go grocery shopping at Aldi in Edgewater where Max lives. I hadn’t seen Max in well over a month as he had been travelling Chi to Minneapolis and Chi to Dallas. we had to meet as we had much to discuss. T Shirt designs, EXXXOTICA and other MK ULTRA business.
When I was finished at Aldi I hopped a train to Loyola where I’d be meeting Max at the Bulldog Ale House. It was great to see him again. We had a few then I thought we’d hit Oasis for a drink before I went home. Bad idea it was very oud and only 6 people in the bar I could not enjoy myself. As I prepared to get going my phone rang. It was Emily. What a fucking pleasant surprise. thought she was in Florida. She aske where I was and I told her to meet us at the Bulldog.
A great ending to a long week. Emily hung out at teh bar for one and then drove me home where I was able to finally giver her a long overdue birthday gift. A belt buckle from Alcala’s an Oval Scorpion Belt Buckle and the scorpion glows in the dark! I hadn’t seen her in months and it was the perfect way to end a productive 7 day stretch!