Day 304, Oct. 31: Eerie

 10 Memories

from Halloween

Not all of these will probably be "eerie," but I wanted to tempt people into reading the post.

1. State Street: I had heard about what it was like on this Madison street on Halloween night, but until I walked down it in 1977, I never imagined. I went as the Squeeze Box (a cardboard box over my head with holes for the eyes and mouth)

2. Gary Gets Beat Up: As high school juniors, five of us went out and tossed a few eggs. Well, we got chased through backyards. Four of us escaped. Gary got caught and a black eye.

3. The Creepy Old Farmer: About three years ago, Kris and I dressed up. I had a long old gray beard, overhauls and a farmer's implement cap. I hustled a couple of young women from work who didn't even recognize me, until I lowered the beard.

4. Jay the M&M: One of our first trick-or-treat experiences with our oldest son, Jay, was dressing him in a child-size M&M costume. It was very cute, though not very manly.

5. The Haunted House: Before we were married, Kris and I went to a historic home above our favorite former nightspot, Isabella's. It wasn't really haunted, but many people wore some very cool costumes.

6. Counting Coup: As the boys became old enough to carry their own bags, we'd have fun at home later dividing the candy and treats into organized piles - as father and sons.

7. Costume Party: Early in our marriage, my first wife, Jane, and I went to a real costume party. She dressed as a pirate woman and I went as a PeeWee Herman type of character. ("I know you are, but what am I?")

8. High School Party: Barely dating for the first time as a senior (I was dating a freshman), we were invited to a party (of freshmen). 

But I got my first kiss!

9. Farmers vs. City Kids: As sophomores in high school, my main group of friends once again got a hold of some eggs. But so did our farmer friends and our first cars took the brunt of it 

before we washed them off.

10. Handing Out Candy: About four years ago, I held down the fort here on Hill Street and handed out candy while Kris had to work. It was the first time I ever gave out more than 2-3 items as my old house at Napier Street never got any trick-or-treaters hidden up on our hill.

Day 303, Oct. 30: Heart-breakers

10 Heart-breaking Losses

In Sporting Events

For the second straight week, the Wisconsin Badgers football team lost games on Hail Mary passes. Both make this list of heart-breakers I've witnessed or been a part of.

1. Sportsman's to Stoughton Lumber, 1978: We had a huge lead in this city slow-pitch city tourney semifinal and I just missed a couple of shoestring catches that got by me. Nearly cried, man.

2. Boston Red Sox to New York Mets, 1986: Even though I will never blame Bill Buckner's error for this loss, it's still the toughest one I suffered through watching.

3. Green Bay Packers to Philadelphia Eagles, 2003: We had them 4th and 26! Play the stupid "prevent" defense and get burned by McNabb. Lose the game.

4. Boston Red Sox to New York Yankees, 1978: Freakin Bucky Dent. I skipped a college class to see Carl Yastrzemski hit an early homer in this extra playoff game, only to see Dent's HR win it.

5. Green Bay Packers to Arizona Cardinals, 2009. It was 51-45! Score 45 and lose! Man this was a tough one; and I missed Bible Study to watch it (God probably wanted to teach me a lesson)

6. Wisconsin Badgers to Michigan State, 2011. We were still undefeated and I thought we could win it if went into OT. But the Hail Mary bounced their way.

7. Green Bay Packers to NY Giants, 2007 (in OT). Freakin Favre. His interception on a stupid decision early in OT led to the Giants' victory.

8. Wisconsin Badgers to Ohio State, 2011: After making a miraculous late comeback to take the lead, we see another Hail Mary beat us. I was used to it by then.

9. Boston Red Sox to Cincinnati Reds, 1975. Game 7 World Series loss, after the breath-taking Game 6 win  behind Carlton Fisk's home run.

10. Wisconsin Badgers to Georgia State, 2001. A first-round NCAA tourney BB loss. We're seeded No. 6, they're No. 11. Blew a 13-point 2nd half lead to lose, 51-49.

Day 302, Oct. 29: Mad-Town

 My 10 Favorite Things

About Going to Madison

I've already mentioned in a previous post that Madison was my favorite Wisconsin city. Here are 10 reasons why.

1. It's usually on a trip with Kris (though today, I managed to get on her nerves - sadly only hours before I told her how well 

we travel together. Sorry, kls)

2. State Street. You can't help but like this unique stretch of shops and people. And the view of the Capitol is quite impressive.

3. The Capitol. It's really quite magnificent, a lookalike to our nation's capitol (though purposely a few inches shorter in respect to D.C.)

4. Henry Vilas Zoo. For the size of the city, this zoo is top-notch. It includes all of the main animals in a nice, clean layout. 

And it's still free!

5. Camp Randall Stadium. I've seen many great (and horrible) games there over the years. And it looks very imposing 

when no game is being played.

6. West Towne. This almost always is a stop for Kris and I. It's a classic mall with lots of diverse shoppers and stores.

7. East Towne. I don't get there very much anymore, but it was my hot spot as a young driver and on rare trips.

8. Sundance Shopping Center. This has moved into my Top 10 in just the past couple of years. It's a place Kris and I almost always stop, as we did today on a beautiful sunny day.

9. The Beltline. It's not exactly fun all of the time, but boy you can make time on it and it brings back memories of cruising 

with the boys in high school.

10. The drive from Dubuque. What used to take a solid two hours with slowdowns in several towns now takes 20-30 minutes less. The southwest Wisconsin countryside is beautiful and often includes what Kris and I call "cow conventions."

Day 301, Oct. 28: 300 Near Misses

300 Songs That Just Missed

Making My Top 300

Many of these really did just miss making my Top 300. And, I did it so quickly, I found out after I was done counting that there's actually a few more than 300. Enjoy.

1940s and earlier

Cheek to Cheek, Fred Astaire

Foggy Mountain Breakdown, L. Flatt & E. Scruggs

(Ghost) Riders in the Sky, Vaughn Monroe

I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry, Hank Williams

It Ain't Necessarily So, Guy Lombardo

Moonlight Serenade, Glenn Miller

Over the Rainbow, Judy Garland

Shine on Harvest Moon, Seger Ellis

Tumbling Tumbleweeds, Sons of the Pioneers

You Are My Sunshine, Gene Autry

1950s

Battle of New Orleans, Johnny Horton

Four Walls, Jim Reeves

Hound Dog, Elvis Presley

Oh Donna, Ritchie Valens

Mack the Knife, Bobby Darin

North to Alaska, Johnny Horton

Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, The Platters

Tequila, Champs

That’ll Be the Day, Buddy Holly & the Crickets

Your Cheatin’ Heart, Hank Williams

Walkin’ After Midnight, Patsy Cline

Young Love, Sonny James

1960s

Angel of the Morning, Merilee Rush

Born to Wander, Rare Earth

Bright Casino Royale, Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass

Dawn, The Four Seasons

Delilah, Tom Jones

Devil Woman, Marty Robbins

Eight Days a Week, The Beatles

Elenore, The Turtles

Foxey Lady, Jimi Hendrix

Goin Up the Country, Canned Heat

How Can You Mend a Broken Heart? Bee Gees

I Can’t Explain, The Who

I Don’t Want to Spoil the Party, The Beatles

I Fall to Pieces, Patsy Cline

I Started a Joke, Bee Gees

It’s Not Unusual, Tom Jones

Linus & Lucy, Vince Guaraldi

Lover Her Madly, The Doors

Man in the Street, Don Drummond

Phoenix City, Rolando Alphonso/Skatalites

Ramblin’ Rose, Nat King Cole

Return to Sender, Elvis Presley

Ribbon of Darkness, Marty Robbins

Sail on Sailor, The Beach Boys

She’s About a Mover, The Sir Douglas Quintet

So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright, Simon & Garfunkel

Sunshine Superman, Donovan

Suspicious Minds, Elvis Presley

Suzie Q, Credence Clearwater Revival

Sweet Hitch-Hiker, Credence Clearwater Revival

Unchained Melody of Love, The Righteous Brothers

Walk on By, Dionne Warwick

Walk Right Back, The Everly Brothers

Watermelon, Leo Kottke

Wendy, The Beach Boys

Windy, The Association

Words of Love, The Beatles

Yesterday’s Gone, Chad & Jeremy

You Didn’t Have to Be So Nice, The Lovin Spoonful

Zorba the Greek, Tijuana Brass

1970s

Already Gone, The Eagles

American Pie, Don McLean

Anticipation, Carly Simon

Aubrey, Bread

Baby Hold On, Eddie Money

Bad Time, Grand Funk

Beach Baby, First Class

Bohemian Rhapsody

Bright Side of the Road, Van Morrison

Candida, Dawn

China Grove, The Doobie Brothers

Cindy Incidentally, The Faces

Could It Be I’m Falling in Love, Spinners

Don’t Call Us, Sugarloaf

Don’t Cross the River, America

Don’t Stop Believin’, Olivia Newton-John

Down on My Knees, Bread

Downstream, Supertramp

Early Morning Rain, Gordon Lightfoot

Everything is Beautiful, Ray Stevens

Excitable Boy, Warren Zevon

Fly Robin Fly, Silver Convention

Goodbye to Love, CarpentersHold Your Head Up, Argent

Gypsy Wind, Dan Fogelberg

Honky Cat, Elton John

I Feel Love, Donna Summer

I Think I Love You, Patridge Family

I Want You to Want Me, Cheap Trick

I Will Survive, Gloria Gaynor

I’m Not Gonna Let It Bother Me Tonight, Atlanta Rhythm Section

I’m Not in Love, 10 c.c.

It’s Over, Boz Scaggs

Jazzman, Carole King

Jessica, The Allman Brothers

Jump Into the Fire, Nilsson

Just Because, John Lennon

Just the Way You Are, Billy Joel

Lido Shuffle, Boz Scaggs

Little Trustmaker, The Tymes

Last Night (I Didn’t Get to Sleep at All), The Fifth Dimension

Long Tall Glasses, Leo Sayer

Lost Without Your Love, Bread

Love is Strange, Paul McCartney & Wings

Low Rider, War

Maggie May, Rod Stewart

Mamma Mia, ABBA

Me and Mrs. Jones, Billy Paul

More Than a Feeling, Boston

Morning Has Broken, Cat Stevens

Movin’ On, Bad Company

Never Rains in Southern California, Albert Hammond

New Kid in Town, The Eagles

New York’s Not My Home, Jim Croce

Oh Caroline, Cheap Trick

Old Days, Chicago

Part of the Plan, Dan Forgelberg

Rainy Day People, Gordon Lightfoot

Reason to Believe, Rod Stewart

Ring My Bell, Anita Ward

Rock & Roll Lullaby, B.J. Thomas

Rock & Roll Baby, Stylistics

Sad Sweet Dreamer, Sweet Sensation

Sand in Your Shoes, Al Stewart

Sister Golden Hair, America

Slow Ride, Foghat

Some Kind of Wonderful, Grand Funk

S.O.S., ABBA

Southside City Midnight Lady, Doobie Brothers

Space Truckin, Deep Purple

Star, Stealers Wheel

Still in Love With You, Al Green

Stuck in the Middle, Stealers Wheel

Sunshine on My Shoulders, John Denver

Sure As I’m Sitting Here, 3 Dog Night

Take it Easy, The Eagles

Then Came You, Dionne Warwick & the Spinners

The Boys Are Back in Town, Thin Lizzy

The Killing of Georgie, Rod Stewart

Time Passages, Al Stewart

Top of the World, Carpenters

Uncle Albert, Love is Strange, Paul McCartney & Wings

Take Me to the River, Talking Heads

Tusk, Fleetwood Mac

Walk on Water, Neil Diamond

Wasted Words, The Allman Brothers

Werewolves of London, Warren Zevon

Yo-Yo, The Osmonds

You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet, Bachman Turner-Overdrive

You Are Everything, Stylistics

You Are the Sunshine of My Life, Stevie Wonder

You Are the Woman, Firefall

Young American, David Bowie

1980s

Addicted to Love, Robert Palmer

Amor, Julio Iglesias

Back in Black, AC/DC

Bwana, Lindsey Buckingham

Cold as Ice, Foreigner

Come on Eileen, Dexy’s Midnight Runners

Drivin My Life Away, Eddie Rabbit

Dude Looks Like a Lady, Aerosmith

Durham Town, Roger Whittaker

Everybody Wants You, Billy Squier

Eye in the Sky, Alan Parsons Project

Good Thing, Fine Young Cannibals

Hot Child in the City, Billy Idol

I Don’t Care Anymore, Phil Collins

I Wanna Be a Cowboy, Boys Don’t Cry

I Want to Be Free, Queen

Kiss on My List, Hall & Oates

Let’s Go, The Cars

Love Shack, The B-52s

Maneater, Hall & Oates

Mickey, Toni Basil

My Best Friend’s Girl, The Cars

My Prerogative, Bobby Brown

Nervous and Shakey, The Del Fuegos

Pride & Joy, Stevie Rae Vaughn

Promises, Eric Clapton

Puttin on the Ritz, Taco

Roxanne, The Police

Should I Stay or Should I Go? The Clash

Somebody’s Baby, Jackson Browne

Start Me Up, The Rolling Stones

Tell Mary, Leo Kottke

The Challenge, Christine McVie

The Tide is High, Blondie

The Voice, The Moody Blues

Think About Me, Fleetwood Mac

Totally Wired, The Fall

Twice as Hard, The Black Crowes

Urgent, Foreigner

What I Like About You, The Romantics

Whip It, Devo

White Horse, Laid Back

Who Can It Be Now? Men at Work

1990s

A Day Without Rain, Enya

Amytriptline, John Vanderslice

Are You Gonna Be My Girl? Jet

Big Yellow Taxi, Counting Crows& Vanessa Carlton

Blue (Da Ba Dee), Eiffel 65

Bouncing Around the Room, Phish

Breakout, Foo Fighters

Bungle in the Jungle, Jethro Tull

Can’t Make Up My Mind, John Gorka

Carpool Lung, House of Large Sizes

Cold Hard Bitch, Jet

Counting Backwards, The Velvet Teen

Courtin in the Kitchen, Gaelic Storm

Daria, Cake

Dreams, Cranberries

Eleanor, Jet

Every Precious Moment, Kraig Kenning

Fly Away, Lenny Kravitz

For You, Barenaked Ladies

Hands, Jewel

Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman? Bryan Adams

Heavy Metal Drummer, Wilco

If I Had a Million Dollars, Barenaked Ladies

Lack of Water, The Why Store

Laura, The Scissor Sisters

Lazy, House of Large Sizes

Learn to Fly, Foo Fighters

Little Goose Polka, Becky & the Ivanhoe Dutchmen

Lovely to See You, Moody Bluegrass (various artists)

Man on the Moon, R.E.M.

Me and My 424, John Vanderslice

My Invisible Gun, John Gorka

No Way Down, Bent Scepters

Orinoco Flow, Enya

Please Forgive Me, David Gray

Shopping, Barenaked Ladies

Silent Singer, The Matney Sisters

Slow Hand, Burbanks

Somehow, Somewhere, Someway, Kenny Wayne Shepherd

Song 2, Blur

Steal My Sunshine, Len

Stone Ranger, Reggae Cowboys

Take it Like a Man, Bent Scepters

The Minstrel Boy, James Galway

There She Goes, Sixpence None the Richer

Upside Down, Barenaked Ladies

War on War, Wilco

Walking on Broken Glass, Annie Lenox

What’s the World Coming To, Fleetwood Mac

2000s

Any Other Day, Astaire

Banana Pancakes, Jack Johnson

Beautiful World, Colin Hay

Bend and Break, Keane

Blue Eyes, Cary Brothers

Brighter Than Sunshine, Aqualung

Bubbly, Colbie Caillat

Burning, The Whitest Boy Alive

Cannot Say Enough About You, Mercy Me

Chocolate, Snow Patrol

Clocks, Coldplay

Come Back Margaret, Camera Obscura

Coming Around, Travis

Daughters, John Mayer

Don’t Dance Her Down, The Fiery Furnaces

Ellie Mae, Townhall

Everyday I Love You Less and Less, Kaiser Chiefs

Feel Good Inc., Gorillaz

Fidelity, Regina Spektor

Fireflies, Owl City

Follow Me, Uncle Kracker

Girl, Beck

Gorgeous Behavior, Marching Band

Guilty of the Crime, Eagles

Haven’t Met You Yet, Michael Buble

Halloween, Matt Pond PA

Hollywood, Collective Soul

I Don’t Care Anymore, Wayne Hancock

I Predict a Riot, Kaiser Chiefs

I Summon You, Spoon

It Was You, Lindsey Buckingham

Jacksonville Skyline, Whiskeytown

Judy and the Dream of Horses, Belle & Sebastian

Know Your Enemy, Green Day

Last Chance, Maroon 5

Letters, Marching Band

Like Dylan in the Movies, Belle & Sebastian

Little Bit, Lykke Li

Masterfade, Andrew Bird

Mexico, Low Stars

Miracle of Love, Eurythmics

Myriad Harbor, New Pornographers

Nature Boy, Connie Evingson

O’Valencia, Decemberists

Paper Thin Walls, Modest Mouse

Sex on Fire, Kings of Leon

Sing, Travis

Somebody Told Me, The Killers

Somewhere Only We Know, Keane

Spitting Games, Snow Patrol

Sweet Sweet Heartkiller, Say Hi to Your Mom

Sweet the Sting, Tori Amos

Take Me Out, Franz Ferdinand

The One You Love the Most, Brett Dennen

The Party’s Crashing Us, Of Montreal

Tiny Little Fractures, Snow Patrol

Tulsa, Wayne Hancock

Valedictorian, Matt the Electrician

Wrap Your Love Around Me, The Village Green

You Know I’m No Good, Amy Winehouse

You Only Live Once, The Strokes

Your Heart is an Empty Room, Death Cab for Cutie

1-2-3-4, The Plain White T’s

16 Days, Whiskeytown

5-22-02, Golden Smog