It’s Monday. Had a chilly but otherwise good weekend. Went out for dinner on Friday night and had some mighty tasty Sea Bass. Saturday I spent the majority of the day putting together my taxes. That’s always a huge pain in the ass, but its gotta be done. We also saw Killers Of The Flower Moon and it was spectacular. And then there was Sunday. The girlfriend baked some cookies while I took Abby out to play ball. I also did some gaming, caught the Nascar race in Texas, and had weenies for dinner! Probably not the most exciting weekend, but I enjoyed it.

One side note concerning the weenies—When I was a kid, my Mom always made large family dinners on Sunday nights. I never really cared for those back then. That’s why these days I prefer to snack throughout the day on Sunday and then have a smaller, simple dinner later at night. I usually like something light like soup, but who can turn down weenies and fries?

-keep

It’s Friday! Here in Illinois the flowers are blooming and the trees are beginning to bud. When you look around, it really does look like spring. That is, until you look at the weather forecast for today because it includes the horrid white stuff. I swear, Mother Nature does this shit just to toy with me.

In an effort to keep thinking spring, I decided to forgo the usual double babes and double jokes for today. Instead, I put together a giant collection of babes that should help everyone think spring, despite the dreary weather that may be outside your window. And then there’s a new amateur photo as well. Not a bad combo, eh? Enjoy!

-keep

Keep, my wife refers to them as her “hot ones” and I do totally agree. Daily reader for over a decade. -Anonymous

It’s Thursday. The Gemini Giant has been an iconic figure outside the Launching Pad restaurant on Route 66 since 1965. I’ve made several trips to the restaurant over the years and would often get pictures of my Corvettes in front of the Gemini Giant. But recent times have been tough for the Launching Pad, opening and closing several times since the pandemic. The last time I was there in my C5, it had pivoted away from being a restaurant and only sold Route 66 memorabilia. Its owner Holly Barker was recently given two ordinance violation tickets from the Wilmington Police Department as a result of Barker’s destruction of her own property, on Jan 2. She had made attempts to sell the entire property, but never completed the deal. Fortunately, in March of this year, she  put the Gemini Giant up for auction and not the restaurant property. Fearing for the fate of the Gemini Giant, on March 20, 2024, the Joliet Area Historical Museum successfully made the winning bid of $275,000. While his future location is unknown, the goal is to keep him in Wilmington, Illinois, on Route 66.

-keep

Gemini Giant On The Move, But Will Stay In Wilmington

JOLIET, IL — Wednesday marked one of the biggest milestones in the history of the Joliet Area Historical Museum. Executive Director Greg Peerbolte informed Joliet Patch’s editor that the museum has acquired the Gemini Giant.

Peerbolte told Joliet Patch’s editor that the museum learned on Wednesday that it won the auction for the Gemini Giant, with a winning bid of $275,000. The museum is using state grant funds that it has received to make the purchase and preserve the Gemini Giant for generations to come.

“The state grant funds were for this purpose,” Peerbolte said.

The Gemini Giant was in the process of being moved on Wednesday to a temporary, secure location. The museum has hired a contractor to haul the Gemini Giant away from the edge of the Launching Pad restaurant property, and that work was being done on Wednesday.

“The mover specializes in muffler men and has moved more than a dozen across the country. It is staying in Wilmington on Route 66,” Peerbolte announced. “Truly keeping it on Route 66 is important.”

Peerbolte said the museum is working with city of Wilmington officials to determine the future permanent site for the Gemini Giant. For now, the museum does not plan on purchasing the Launching Pad restaurant, which has been closed since the summer of 2022.

“At this time, there have not been any inquiries or opportunities to purchase the (Launching Pad) property,” Peerbolte said.

State Representative Anthony DeLuca also issued a press statement on Wednesday, declaring, “I’m happy to have helped secure grant funding to ensure the Gemini Giant remains in Wilmington where it belongs and where local residents can continue to enjoy it,” he said. “This landmark is a part of our area’s history, and I appreciate the work from local leaders and residents who understood the value of keeping this treasure here in town.”