Calling all Chicago DISers #2

[paintnolish]

I am up early, too. I have a final this morning and got up at 6:30 to study. I don't know if it is helping. What I need is a magician. Anyone? All these tenses in Spanish. Ugh.
I also picked up a shift at the restaurant tonight. I looked at the bank account after yesterday's Xmas shopping.
How's the snow? It is starting here, but it is very light.
Slo- There aren't as many Cosis as Paneras. Panera has a way better bagel selection, but I think I like the food better at Cosi. If you a near one, give it a try.
Bunchkin- I think it is the Ikea timer. We bought one after we searched through a bunch of broken ones (should have told us something, right?). It broke a few days later! I now am on my second from the Dollar Tree. The first one broke when ds took it in the shower swo he could hear it!
mac- Thanks for the kind words. I am more worried for my Gpa. They have been married for 60 years. My Gma's body is shutting down and she has no idea what is going on. My Gpa on the the other hand is really with it for being 90. I just can't imagine having lived with someone for that long and just to no longer have them there.
Donna- Have a great weekend. No meet for me. I wanted to though! I even requested it off!

 

[HERSEY]

Good morning!

We have a good 3-4 inches here and still coming.

Paint an extra one to cancel the double negative

In a little while we will be heading out to our annual trek to the cookie walk in Oswego. We meet up with a friend who I don't get to see much.

I hope everyone is staying warm. I have to reshovel the end of my drive since the plow just came through and unplowed for me

 

[macraven]

good snowy saturday morning chicagoland homies.


we have the snow here also

all i could find about lowery was a steak house.
is that where geffric meant the chocolate buffet would be held today?

maybe i missed a post of hers, i'll go back and search here.


cold and snow can not keep a chocolate lover away.......


paint, good luck with the final today. or is it a test? whatever it is, you will do fine.
if you had someone to talk spanish with, you would pick up the tense quicker.
one of my son's taught english at the university in mexico. he is bi lingual.
when he was helping me, i always had to say slow down. i only understand spanish when it is spoken slowly.b
point is, you will gain the language and the correct tense of the structure of the verbs/ pronouns, etc when you speak it.

 

[slo]

It always feel so good to sleep in!!!!!

Today I'm going to my friends house for a Lia Sophia party (jewelry party). I've never been to a jewelry party before, so it should be interesting. I always where alot of jewelry, so I'm sure this is something that will perk my interest. I"ll have to let you know tomorrow how it was.

The Christmas party last night was nice It was right across the street from Oak Brook Mall, so before we went to the party, we drove around the mall, so I could see it (I've never been to Oak Brook Mall). I was stunned with how many high-end stores are there, and I was even more stunned with how packed the parking lot was. I told Kevin that there was no economic hardship around there!!!! Since I have never been there, Kevin said that him and I should go one day in the summer, without the girls, and walk around. There's a Maggiano's there, so we could go there for dinner/lunch too I have a feeling that this is a mall that I go look, and not buy much, because everything will be priced like this but I would still like to walk around and see what's there.


Bunchkin - Yes, the Santa Secret Workshop is at Stephanie's school, and it's where she goes and buy's inexpensive gifts. The family looks forward every year to what she picked out - it's alot of fun!!! When she went to private school, they had the kids bring money, and do their shopping at school w/o the parents (the teachers helped). That was REALLY interesting, because some of the stuff she picked out was so cute and funny. That year she bought be a ring, and I used to wear it until it started to break (because it was very cheap), but I still have it in my jewelry box, and it's one of my most treasured pieces of jewelry!!!

paint - How was your final yesterday?

HERSEY - How was the cookie walk? What is the cookie walk?

Mac - How are you feeling today?




Well, I guess I should get some breakfast going.
Have a good day today everyone!!!

 

[piglet too]

DAy two of a busy weekend for me. Yesterday we had football equipment turn in, Santa Secret Shop, and Girl Scouts at the Promise Center in Joliet. Today we have the football banquet (which can take close to 4 hours if not 5) and we are supposed to be at Cub Scout bowling too.

Slo ~ There is definitally no recession at Oak Brook mall. I was continually surprised at how crowded it was and how much people spent at Hanna Andersson.

 

[macraven]

good cold sunday afternoon chicagoland homies.

had to miss church this morning, not one of my better days today.
hope someone went and covered our backs. it is rare for me to miss.
have been going with my crutches the past weeks.

i walked outside briefly a bit ago, notice i said briefly , to see how cold it was.

8 degrees but no wind which was fine by me.
i think i can handle the cold as long as there is no wind.
i could never handle wind in my face or ears. it has always chilled me to the bone.

slo, great you were able to sleep in.
i'm guessing you missed church also this morning.

how is little sophia doing when she goes outside?
i would think her little paws would be freezing. maybe someone can crochet little boots for her.

hope everyone has a great day.
monday is just around the corner again.

 

[paintnolish]

Morning! Worked a busy evening at the restaurant last night and am going to turn around and spend it all at Target later. Santa's got to get going, kwim? I need to finish up some papers today and study for my last final tomorrow.

mac-Ready to move to FL?
piglet- People keep spending at the restaurant, too. We had a party of 20 last night and their bill, with tip, was almost $800.
slo- The final was okay. It is graded by the teacher and not multiple choice, so hopefully, he will be lenient,just so he doesn't have to listen to me speak poor Spanish again!
Bunchkin- Mmm! Cinnabon coffeecake sounds good. I am on diet hiatus until January!
Hersey- Gracias for the well wishes. We'll have to see it they worked!

Okay, skipped the meet so I could do homework. Better get going!

 

[roseprincess]

Hi all-

Went to the DVC/ DIS Podcast Dismeet this morning at Doorway to Dreams at Woodfield Mall. We met pretty early this morning. Unfortunately I didn't take pics, as it was mostly a DVC presentation. Had my camera with me tho. I think some did go to Pizzeria Uno sometime afterwards. I didn't go to the lunch part. The only other Chicago Disers I know that I spoke to there were Geffric, Dan Murphy, Crissup, CarolAnne, BriarRosie, and LaurieBearz(don't know if I got her spelling right).
I did not recognize anyone else. Got to talk to Crissup, CarolAnne, and Dan for a brief time. Hung out with Geffric. Her and I shopped at The Disney Store after the DVC presentation. Then I went home. I did also see and talk to BethanyF, as she now works at Doorway to Dreams

It was so nice to see some Chicago Disers I haven't seen in quite awhile(Geffric and Dan)! Nice to meet Crissup, CarolAnne, Briar Rosie, and LaurieBearz!

Paint- sorry you couldn't make the meet Maybe next time.

Hugs and prayers to all that need it

Hi to all

 

[Laurabearz]

Hi all-

Went to the DVC/ DIS Podcast Dismeet this morning at Doorway to Dreams at Woodfield Mall. We met pretty early this morning. Unfortunately I didn't take pics, as it was mostly a DVC presentation. Had my camera with me tho. I think some did go to Pizzeria Uno sometime afterwards. I didn't go to the lunch part. The only other Chicago Disers I know that I spoke to there were Geffric, Dan Murphy, Crissup, CarolAnne, BriarRosie, and LaurieBearz(don't know if I got her spelling right).
I did not recognize anyone else. Got to talk to Crissup, CarolAnne, and Dan for a brief time. Hung out with Geffric. Her and I shopped at The Disney Store after the DVC presentation. Then I went home. I did also see and talk to BethanyF, as she now works at Doorway to Dreams

It was so nice to see some Chicago Disers I haven't seen in quite awhile(Geffric and Dan)! Nice to meet Crissup, CarolAnne, Briar Rosie, and LaurieBearz!

Paint- sorry you couldn't make the meet Maybe next time.

Hugs and prayers to all that need it

Hi to all

Hey Rose!! It was great to meet you!! (and everyone else) The staff at DWTD is just marvy and were very welcoming to our invasion. From the looks of it, they sold some points too!!!

There was about 16-20 of us at lunch. I wish more had made it, as it was hard to talk to everyone at the Mall... All and all a great meet. It was nice to see the DVC Models too

Ok off to finish Christmas decorations.

 

[irish dancer]

Hi guys! DD and I had fun Friday at the Christkindl Market, it wasn't too cold until around 7ish and the walk back to the train station was FREEZING!! It didn't help that we were walking into a pretty stiff wind. DD picked up some ornaments for gifts and we got some chocolate covered strawberries - YUMM!!

Got the tree set up last night but have to decorate still. DDs are sledding with Dsis so will wait for them to get back before getting started.

mac - we went to church this morning so I've got your back this week. Hope you're feeling better soon!

momto1 - I'd love the puppy chow recipe too, I know the kids would love it.

paint - Congrats on passing the Basic Skills test!!
*Sorry to hear about your Gma, will keep her in our prayers.
**I love the timer I got from Flylady, digital read easy to use and loud. I use it for DS a lot (shower, gaming time, etc).

Donna - I love that Baby It's Cold Outside song too!! And it is cold outside!

slo - Oooh, have fun at the Lia Sophia party, I went to one a month back. All the jewelry is so pretty but imho on the pricy side and I ended up not getting anything.
*Oak Brook mall is very high end and you'd never know the economy is tough by the looks of that place. I'm only about 1.5 mi from there and we do shop there a lot but we're strictly sale shoppers. It is beautiful there in the spring and summer, they have lots of flower beds, fountains and benches. Great people watching!

piglet - wow, busy weekend for you! Hope you get a break in there somewhere.

rose - thanks for the mini-report on the meet, wanted to go but it was a bit early for me. Maybe next time.


Well, I want to get the garland on the tree before the kids start hanging ornaments so I'd best get going. Have a good night all!

 

[geffric]

Eric has band practice here.. so i can't hear myself think.. but ..

I made the DIS Meet at Doorway to Dreams this mornig.. I was fun to see lots of people I "knew".. as Rose said she and I hung out and talked and then went to the Disney store.. we got the 25% off coupons and of course had to spend some money.. I got DH a pari of sleep pants.. they were marked 19.99 but were on sale for 50% off and then I got another 25% off so they were about $7.. But next time I'll know that they will meet for lunch so I will plan my day better.. at this time I wasn't able to make it as I needed to be home for the band practice..

paint and bunchy - sorry to miss you.

Paint glad you passed your test. about your GMA.. hope she is pain free.

Bunchy - how is your ankle?



Anyway, the Chocolate buffet - it is at Lowery's near north . I have the newspaper article

Chocolate challengers square off

By Phil Vettel | Tribune critic December 4, 2008 And now, a holiday Snackdown Smackdown.

In this corner, the champion: The Chocolate Bar, a weekend-evenings chocolate buffet that has been a fixture at the Peninsula Chicago Hotel (108 E. Superior St.; 312-573-6760) for the last five years.

And, the challenger: Chocolate in the Mansion, a first-time dessert buffet that's being offered Saturday afternoons through Dec. 20 at Lawry's the Prime Rib (100 E. Ontario St.; 312-787-5000).

Let's get to it.




Hours

Chocolate in the Mansion is available Saturdays only, 1-4 p.m., and only until Christmas. The Chocolate Bar is available Friday and Saturday evenings year-round. Not only does the Peninsula offer longer and more grazing hours, but the late-night times are more in line with when most people are thinking dessert.

Advantage: Chocolate Bar.

Variety

The Chocolate Bar presents some 30 individual desserts, along with a couple of rich hot-chocolate creations included in the price. Chocolate in the Mansion has about 20 sweets, and includes hot cider or hot chocolate in the price.

Advantage: Chocolate Bar.

Price

A big difference. Chocolate in the Mansion charges just $16, tax and tip included (which means the original price is more like $12.50). Chocolate Bar is priced at $33 ($42 with one of the signature chocolate martinis), and with tax and tip the total tops $40. (Children are half-price at either location.)

Advantage: Chocolate in the Mansion.

Chocoholic Factor

If you like dark chocolate and mostly dark chocolate, Chocolate in the Mansion is for you. Chocolate brownies, chocolate mousse, apricots and strawberries dipped in chocolate, marshmallow-on-a-stick dipped in chocolate, dark and white chocolate mousse mini-cones with multicolored sprinkles, chocolate-dipped strawberry Twizzlers, various chocolate barks—the options are straightforward, but numerous. Chocolate Bar's assortment is more intellectual, offering a wider variety of tastes. You'll find plenty of chocolate here, but there also will be maple-banana panna cotta, petite gateaux, macaroons, crystalline fruits and green tea creme brulee. And the sweets change every month, so repeat customers won't face the same desserts every time.

Advantage: For a pure chocolate fix, it's Chocolate in the Mansion.

Family friendliness

Both properties go out of their way to make kids welcome. So you go by tastes: If your kids would go for a tamarind-flavored white-chocolate pot de creme, it's Chocolate Bar. If they'd much rather have chocolate-drizzled Rice Krispies Treats on a stick, go to Chocolate in the Mansion.

Advantage: Narrowly, Chocolate in the Mansion.



Decor

The very modern Peninsula Hotel doesn't stint on holiday decor. In the Lobby (where the Chocolate Bar is served), there's a Christmas tree nearly 20 feet tall, windows are trimmed with lighted garlands and ribbons and there are wreaths everywhere. Lawry's the Prime Rib's decor is a little more muted, but combined with the dining room's wood-clad walls, the restaurant has a picture-postcard Victorian Christmas look.

Advantage: Draw.

Entertainment

The Chocolate Bar has an excellent jazz group, which plays more holiday-oriented sets between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. Chocolate in the Mansion features holiday carolers, a quartet in Dickensian garb. The four singers—who sound terrific—roam the dining room, performing classic Christmas carols and taking requests. It's hard to imagine anything more Christmas-y than this.

Advantage: Chocolate in the Mansion.

The Champ: Lawry's Chocolate in the Mansion. I love Peninsula's Chocolate Bar, but I can visit it throughout the year. Chocolate in the Mansion is as fleeting as the holidays themselves.


I am going to try and make ressie's for sat Dec 20th.

 

[HERSEY]

Hi all!

Sorry we didn't get to the meet. I thought I would wake with a cold instead.

Bunchy I guess all that stuffiness you were hearing was something. How's the old foot.?

Slo The cookie walk is local stores giving out cookies in a tin that you buy at one of the stores in the town. The money for the tin goes to charity. Lots of the stores this year partipated. It was really cold and windy though. Maybe that's where I picked up this cold

 

[CarolAnnC]

Hi everyone! We had a great time at the meet! Picked up some freebies and there were door prizes too. I won a soap that smells like Rome burning in Spaceship Earth! LOL - that is what they told me..

Anyway, sorry for those that could not make it - we missed you all. Nice to meet Roseprincess and good to see Geffric too! Dan is always a pleasure of course. Maybe an after the holidays meet would be good?!?

Stay warm friends...

P.S. Here's some more details on This Thread

 

[Bunchkin]

Hi gang!


We didn't go to the meet because I had sprained my ankle and arch of my foot on Thrusday. It's still giving my problems. Mostly my arch. I can only stand on it for so long before I start to get pangs in it.

It does sound like those who went to the meet had a great time though.
Sorry we had to miss everyone.


geffric & Hersey Thanks for asking how my foot was doing.

geffric Thanks for the info on the chocolate buffets! YUM-O!!!

Hersey I told you yesterday you sounded stuffy....and you didn't believe me!! Feel better soon!

slo Oak Brook might have been busy, but how many people do you think are using a credit card to buy their purchases with instead of cash? So it doesn't necessarily mean that their economically smart people.

paint I forgot to say that I hope the best for your grandma.
That's great that your work was busy last night!

irish dancer I love choco covered strawberries!!



Gotta run! Have a great night all!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Paint, sorry to hear about your grandma. She is in my prayers.

A very early, fun day for another Chicago DIS meet. There sure are a lot of Chicago DIS folks I have never met before, and I think I have met a couple hundred over the past almost 10 years here. A lot of DVC and Podcast folks, along with the several mentioned above whom I know from many meets in the past.

Thanks to the DVC D to D folks, they were super. And the DIS planners, Todd and Janet. Here are a few pictures from the meet at the DVC place at Woodfield..........

​

.

 

[piglet too]

The banquet turned out to be quite nice. Nathan was given an unanimous coach's award for "attitude." He was by far not the best player out there, but always gave his all and cheered on his teammates the loudest. He was also the one who helped the other team's players up and told them "good job." We are so proud of him, I think more so than any other award he could have been given today.

 

[slo]

Well, it's the start of another week!!!!

The Lia Sophia party yesterday was alot of fun, the jewelry is beautiful, but the prices are They were having a special that you can buy one at regular price (the least expensive item), and then you get 4 at 1/2 off, and if you do that, you get a pair of birthstone earrings for fee, so I did that. I told Kevin that I will give him the items, when I get them, and he can put them in my stocking. The earrings I'm giving to Stephanie in her stocking, because she doesn't have any earrings that are her birthstone. Now, I'm looking forward to getting them!!!!


piglet - Congratulations to your Nathan!!!! That is an awesome award, and I agree with you about this award being more special than many others - I would feel the same as you if my kids wons this.

Mac - I did skip church too I feel guilty, because I always go, but I wanted to sleep in so bad, and not have a morning of rushing (I need one day to not rush). I am going to church tonight though, because it's a Holy Day (Immaculate conception of Mary), so I'll cover your back for you tonight
**Sophie does get really cold, but it seems like she is starting to get used to it. The boots are good idea, but she would never keep them on Plus, we don't want her to be to comfortable, because we want her to go potty like speed of light, so we don't have to be out there very long. She's getting pretty fast, one night we went out, she went, and we came in faster than it took Kevin to set up the coffee pot That was an all time recored!!!!

paint - Good luck on your last final today

Rose - I"m glad you had a good time at the meet

Laura - I"m glad you had a good time at the meet also

ID - Wow, you must have a lot of snow if your kids can sled. We have snow, but not enough to sled on - my kids would love to live by you Were you able to decorate your tree last night after the kids were done sledding?
**I forgot you lived by Oak Brook. I was amazed at the all the nice restaurants there - Maggianos, Wildfire, Ditkas, and otheres. You have a nice selection of great restauants for when you want to go out

geffric - I"m glad you had fun at the meet!!
**That chocolate buffet sounds so delicious - I wish I could find time to go

HERSEY - I"m sorry to hear of your cold - I hope you feel better soon
**That cookie walk sounds so nice!!!! We don't have anything like that around here

CarolAnn - I"m glad you had a good time at the meet!!!! Soup that smells like Rome burning how is that??? Is it something you are suppossed to use, or just set out? Congrats on winning it - it's always exciting to win something!!!!!

Bunchkin - How did you hurt your ankle???? I"m so sorry to hear this happened to you Are you wearing a brace for it? I will send a ton of PD your way to have it feel better soon!!!

Dan - I"m glad you had a good time at the meet, and thank you for taking those pictures




Well, I have to go get ready for work - I have alot to do around the house before I leave. Have a great day everyone!!!

 

[macraven]

did we have fairies work the boards last night???

i posted this and came back this morning to read the "morning news" here.

my post disappeared!!

oh my.....


here it is again:

Catch the Disney Live action film festival on Turner Classic Movie
channel on Sundays in December. I'm not listing this in the normal
listings because they are mostly not Park Related. There is an
accompanying documentary on the live action films shown occasionally
starting on Dec 14.
Information can be found on the very Theme Park Like page at
http://www.tcm. com/2008/ familyclassics/ index.jsp

Nothing Special on this week about the Disney Parks, though.

---

This week's listings have been posted to
http://www.bartlett -sloan.net/ tv

---
Please Note - All times listed are for the Eastern Time Zone. Adjust
accordingly.
---

On Thursday December 11, 2008 from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM on the Travel Channel is

Disney Cruise Line
An examination of the cruise line includes the ship's galley,
engine control room and provisioning areas, its Broadway-style theatre
and the palatial Walt Disney Suite.

This show will repeat
Thursday December 11, 2008 from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM

 

[macraven]

The banquet turned out to be quite nice. Nathan was given an unanimous coach's award for "attitude." He was by far not the best player out there, but always gave his all and cheered on his teammates the loudest. He was also the one who helped the other team's players up and told them "good job." We are so proud of him, I think more so than any other award he could have been given today.

hip hip hooray!!

way to go Nathan.....and all of the homies here are proud of you also!

 

[macraven]

Well, it's the start of another week!!!!

The Lia Sophia party yesterday was alot of fun, the jewelry is beautiful, but the prices are They were having a special that you can buy one at regular price (the least expensive item), and then you get 4 at 1/2 off, and if you do that, you get a pair of birthstone earrings for fee, so I did that. I told Kevin that I will give him the items, when I get them, and he can put them in my stocking. The earrings I'm giving to Stephanie in her stocking, because she doesn't have any earrings that are her birthstone. Now, I'm looking forward to getting them!!!!

glad you got a great deal!
one less thing off the christmas list to shop for.
you are way ahead of me in the shopping department slo.



Mac - I did skip church too I feel guilty, because I always go, but I wanted to sleep in so bad, and not have a morning of rushing (I need one day to not rush). I am going to church tonight though, because it's a Holy Day (Immaculate conception of Mary), so I'll cover your back for you tonight


glad you'll have my back.......
it is rare that i miss and when i do, i feel awful.


**Sophie does get really cold, but it seems like she is starting to get used to it. The boots are good idea, but she would never keep them on Plus, we don't want her to be to comfortable, because we want her to go potty like speed of light, so we don't have to be out there very long. She's getting pretty fast, one night we went out, she went, and we came in faster than it took Kevin to set up the coffee pot That was an all time recored!!!!

ok, i can put away my crochet hooks now....



Bunchkin - How did you hurt your ankle???? I"m so sorry to hear this happened to you Are you wearing a brace for it? I will send a ton of PD your way to have it feel better soon!!!

i must have missed that on bunchkin.
how are you doing now bunchkin?
this is not a good time to have an ankle injury........it will sideline you from snow shoveling duty..


Dan - I"m glad you had a good time at the meet, and thank you for taking those pictures

yes, dan, thank you for sharing the pictures.
it is always nice to see pics of the homies at meets

and a cold monday good morning to all homies in chicagoland!