Calling all Chicago DISers #2

[disneygal922]

Good Snowy Morning Everyone! sorry I've been kind of MIA the past few days! it's been quite busy! Friday I burned myself at W-S. I'm fine but will have a small scar on my hand... I'm such a klutz! Then Saturday, I took my dad to the E.R. He had what seems to be a gallbladder attack! He's ok now but Saturday was not. They admitted him Saturday night. I picked him up yesterday afternoon but he has to go back for another test sometime during the week! I'm just happy he's feeling better! After he was home and relaxing I went to work at W-S! It was a long weekend! I'm actually happy it's monday and I'm sitting here at my desk... I never thought I'd say that!

DMM ~ we stayed at the Marv Herzog in August and it was definitely a great choice! I loved the hotel!

Slo ~ I used to work at Sears... it certainly does change fast! There were so many people I saw come and go. I'm sorry you had a bum experience with the pics. Your daughters are beautful though, so any pics with them I'm sure are fantastic!

Everyone else have a wonderful day! Be careful out in that snow!

 

[Bunchkin]

Hi all!



slo Hope your pics came out cute! I can't wait to see them!
What kind of props did you bring with you this year?

I never found boots that fit the kids yesterday!! I made Lauren wear her one's from last year that were probably a tad bit small. And I ran to a different store this morning and bought boots for them and made it back in time to get them on Hunter's feet and have Tony drive him to school! The only boots he had here that would have fit him were Lightening McQueen rain boots!!


disneygal Hope you and your dad are doing better today. Did your dad go to work today?


mac Thanks for the listings!!


piglet That's a cute idea of telling the kids you're Santa's helpers!!


DMM Glad your having a great time!


Have a great day everyone!

 

[slo]

Tonight is a basketball game where the daughters vs. the moms I, and many other mom's I've talked to, are not looking forward to this Many mom's say it's because they don't know how to play basketball, for me, it's because I don't have a comfort level with these ladies, and now I'm playing basketball with them (I didn't tell them that of course). I'll have to let you know how it went.


How much snow did you all get? We got a couple of inches, and it really made the roads terrible!!!!! Our town can't afford much salt, so it's going to be a very icy winter around here. There'll probably be a lot of accidents because of it, so that means I won't see Kevin much this season Apparently, it costs less to pay the FD for tons of calls, than to buy salt, which I guess is good for us, but bad for those that Kevin has to respond to calls for. Plus, it makes it very dangerous for when Kevin drives to get to the fire station, because he does have to exceed the speed limit to get there. So, for those that know what town I live in, don't drive around here this winter


ID - 13 grandchildren is so awesome!!! I wish my kids had that many cousins to grow-up with. I'm really hoping and praying that my brother has children someday - I would love that!!!!!

DMM - I'm so glad you had a nice trip to Frankmuth. I'm going to have to check out those links and maybe save them for Kevin to look at. We would like to go there with the girls for a long weekend in the summer.

piglet - How is the job searching going?

DG - I'm sorry to hear about your dad Is he going to need his gallbladder out? I've been there, and done that!!!! I had my gallbladder out on my 25th birthday - not fun!!!! But I was very very sick with mine, and most people I know have a quick outpatient surgery, and they heal up nice and quick

Bunchkin - The props I took where 2 red ornament trees, and 2 strands of multicolor ornament garland. I'll send you the link to the pictures when I get it set up, and you can let me know what you think. I was looking at my proof sheet again last night, and the girls aren't even centered in a couple of the pictures I can understand that I take a long time, and I understand that I make them take alot of pictures, but I'm not unfriendly and difficult to be with while we are there. I tell them to allocate enough time, and I don't think they ever do, which is not my problem. I really need to go somewhere else, but I just don't want to spend the extra money that goes with it. I still need to get Katie's Halloween pictures taken, and then I'm done until their birthdays
**Stephanie wore last years boots too She said they fit fine, but I'm going to have to look inside and see what the size is. Hopefully, they are still here size, so I don't have to worry about it (her feet don't grow to fast).




Well, I must go and get this day started - have a great day everyone!!!

 

[piglet too]

Slo ~ From what I understand, there will be a salt shortage just about everywhere this year. Cost of salt nearly doubled, making it hard for smaller towns to buy enough.
**As for the job search, I think that will wait until after the first of the year. The money would be great now, but Dewain is really liking that I will be home during this busy (for us) time. My blood pressure is still high, but it may be too soon for a change to show.

DG ~ I had my gall bladder out when I was 23 or 24. As much as the surgery was miserable, I truly felt so much better after it was all done. I hope your dad can at least make it through the holidays if surgery is needed.

 

[disneygal922]

Good Morning homies! Had to go to the dentist this morning to get a tooth fixed! It was nice to be the first patient... in and out! It wasn't anything major I have been having a biting anything hard on my left side... it felt like the tooth was about to crack but the dentist fixed it and hopefully it will be fine now!

Slo, Piglet and Bunchkin ~ dad went back to work today, he's not feeling 100% but definitely better than he did! He actually drove me downtown today b/c he was heading down here anyway! He's most likely going for his test on Thursday or Friday! We are anticipating that he will probably need it out! He and I are the only 2 in fam that haven't had it out! His mom and sister both had it out years and years ago. My mom, her mom, and both my sisters all had theirs out! So.... it looks like I'm doomed I've had the function test a couple of years ago and the results came back just barely outside the level you need to take it out! I just learned what I can't eat! So no cream soups or alfredo sauce for me
Everyone else have a wonderful day!

 

[Belle0101]

I had posted on another thread that my family and my sister's family were coming into Chicago this Saturday to visit Navy Pier and The Magnificent Mile. The suggestion from a nice Chicago poster was to skip Navy Pier and instead visit Daley Plaza for the German Christmas event.

I have yet to check with my sister but I think that sounds like a better idea for our interests. The question I'm left with is parking. We're coming in from Indiana. I forget the exact route my DH takes but we drive by Gary (with our noses plugged!).

Money is an issue for my sister and we can't really spend the extra to help her out so trains and taxis are out most likely not an option. She has 3 in her family and we have 4, I'm presuming that means 2 taxis. Unless of course it's much less than I'm imagining.

Anyhow, sorry, I tend to rattle on, bad habit of mine. Any advice, suggestions, tips, and hints for traversing the city and seeing the Christmas lights would be great! We don't plan to shop, mostly we are coming to see the Christmas displays.

Thanks!!!

 

[Bunchkin]

HI!


Belle0101 I just heard a commercial the other day for a Chicago parking web site that tells you were to park all over the city but I cannot remember it's web address. Maybe if you Google it...
There is a Macy's right near the Daley Plaza, it's not like the one on State Street that has all the windows decorated. Maybe you could head over to State Street to check out all the windows and stores.
Some hotels have huge trees on display that the public can go in and look at too. You can also visit Santa at the Macy's on State, BUT you MUST get their early in the morning to see him. We waited a long time and finally just gave up after learning we still had a long time to go!!
Have a great trip and bring lots of layers to wear!!!



slo Pictures not centered??!!?? That would make me mad!!! The kids school pictures came that way, but I expected it from them!! I wouldn't expect it from a place like Sears or the like.

We live in a huge town and they did a awful job plowing. The bus driver complained about it to me this morning, saying our subdivision is hazardous to drive the bus through!!!


disneygal I had no idea that a bad galbladder can be hereditary. WOW!
What kinds of foods should a person avoid?

piglet Maybe it's not just work causing your BP to be high. Maybe you should go have it checked again and maybe you should be on meds. In the past I was on meds for it but was able to stop taking them after a short time. Try taking Niacin supplement too, that helps with BP.

 

[ChloroFiend]

HI!
There is a Macy's right near the Daley Plaza, it's not like the one on State Street that has all the windows decorated. Maybe you could head over to State Street to check out all the windows and stores.

Uhh...Daley Plaza is a block west of the Macy's that does have the window decorations (formerly the Marshall Field's flagship store). The Plaza is on Washington between Dearborn and Clark; the old Field's is over at Washington and State.

 

[piglet too]

Bunchkin ~ I know, I know, but the "take care of everyone else, they are more important" part of me is in denial on that. I do plan to call my doctor later today to get in and see him. Considering I have let my high cholesterol go unchecked, I know that I really need to get my head out of the sand and get in.

Belle ~ Sorry, but I am no help on parking. I would hope for the weather to not be frigid, and plan on walking everywhere.
** Ok, talked to DH, and he says there are lots of parking garages to choose from. There is one that is two blocks west of Daley Plaza, and it will cost you $31. You could also do the Millennium Park Garages http://www.grantparkparking.com/Source/Home.aspx and they cost anywhere between $14-22, depending on just how long you are there. They are a block and a half east of Michigan Ave and at the south end of the "Mag Mile."

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

All I can say is steer clear of Navy Piers parking! hahahaha!!! we went there 2 weeks ago? Or was it 3? I'm confused! And took the kids to the Childrens museum and did the sites. It's our favorite parking lot, but it's 24.00 a car I believe or maybe 25.00? It makes my head hurt to pay it, that's all I know! But it has access to the FREE trolley, so in the end, maybe it could be worth it, since you avoid cabs and such. Just don't forget to tip the driver

Have fun!

 

[slo]

It's the middle of the week!!!!

The basketball game yesterday was pretty fun!!! The game lasted 1 1/2 hours, and 5 girls w/ their moms, played at one time for 6:30min. The score was on going, so it got pretty excited at the end. The girls ended up winning 37-36, and a big part of that is because of Stephanie. When we were playing, a mom had the ball, and Stephanie fell down (I don't know why It wasn't a hard fall, she just fell (maybe she tripped over her own feet) ). Anyway, the mom started asking her if she was okay, and another girl stole the moms ball, and then had a clear path to the hoop and made it. When all this happened, I was right under the mom's basket, and would of made it, if the other mom would have thrown me the ball. The whole thing was quite funny, and almost looked planned, but it obviously wasn't. So, I told Steph, that her little fall may have won them the game


piglet - I don't blame you for waiting - I would do the same I do agree with Bunchkin though about seeing a doctor about your blood pressure. Kevin is on medication for this, and probably will be for life. Please keep us posted on how you are doing, and here's some PD being sent your way

DG - Wow, you have had a lot of people in your family have their gallbladder out For me, my biological father had his out, but I don't know when I basically killed mine when I went on a no-fat diet, so it was all my fault. I learned then, that eating no fat, can be more unhealthy than eating a little fat. But when all this happened, it was when the no-fat rage was in full swing (you probably don't know about that, because you are younger than me). Everything at that time had a fat free addition to their line of projects. I even made my own pasta, and bread, so I could make it fat free - I was pretty obsessed about it. Today, I still eat some fat free items (margargine, cream cheese, cookies, milk, and a couple other things) but not like before

Belle -
Thanks for coming here for advice - we love it when DISers do this I, unfortunately can't help though, because we've never done all the Christmas festivities downtown. We have gone to see Marshall Fields windows, but that's been a long time ago. We always park across the street from Gino's East, but we do have to take a taxi everywhere we go. I hope others will be able to help you. Have fun when you go downtown this weekend!!!

Bunchkin - I just heard on the news how the city is going to be cutting back on snow removal I'm not a huge fan of finances (my least favorite subject in college) but how can Chicago not be able to afford snow removal, but can afford to alter the city to get the Olympics here I have a feeling it's going to a long winter, and people aren't going to want to drive places, because they will feel unsafe in bad weather. This will hurt stores even more

Chloro and DMM -




Well, I better go and get some hairdye in my hair. We have Kevin's work Christmas party this weekend, and I figured I shouldn't go with my grey roots I don't people thinking that Kevin is married to someone much older than him

Have a good day today!!!!

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

Morning everyone! Hope you all have a great day!

 

[paintnolish]

Belle- You could always park and take a train in from the burbs. I think it is $5 per person and kids are free. Someone correct me if I am wrong. It has been awhile!
Do they have a trolley like they do in summer? It might be crowded, though.
Anyway, have fun!
Slo- The game sounds fun! I did some mom/son thing once with ds. One of our races made ds fall and bonk his head! Everyone "oooh!" and he got embarressed and cried! We lost that one...

Everyone else...Hope you had a great TGiving. The semester is almost over. I have two finals coming up and two papers to finish. Hurray!

 

[disneygal922]

Good Morning Everyone! Supposedly, we are getting more snow this afternoon, so I hope everyone has a safe trip home from work! I don't mind the snow... just the cold! I hate cold weather, my car doors freeze and then i have to pound on them and kick them and it's just a pain in the behind!!

Belle ~ I think someone may have mentioned this but there is a parking garage a couple of blocks from Daley Plaza on Franklin and Washington... it's above a Cosi restaurant. That's where we park for the opera. Also, there is one a little farther away, near the Sears Tower at Adams and Wells... I believe it's called Tower Parking. But if you are planning on walking around it's not terribly far and in the middle of the loop!

Bunchkin ~ I try to stay away from really really greasy foods (although I have a soft spot for Pizza... oh and French Frys). Also, no cream soups or Alfredo sauce. Anything really that is high in fat... I use I Can't Believe its Not Butter (unless I'm baking, in which case I use whatever will be best for the recipe). I think learning what makes me sick and staying away from them (most of the time) is also what keeps me fairly healthy even though I don't diet and eat at mcdonalds weekly!

Slo ~ Glad to hear you had a good time at the Bball game! Hope Stephanie didn't injure herself! As for the gallbladder, I think the only reason I still have mine is b/c I learned from my sisters and mom what I shouldn't have. While it's really tempting sometimes to have a cream sauce with pasta, I always say no! As for milk, when I do drink it, it's usually 2% or Skim. Doc tells me though I need to be drinking more b/c I'll develop osteoporosis by the time i'm 40 I started taking a supplement instead and he said it was ok, but I really need to drink milk... I'm not a huge fan!

Everyone else ~ have a wonderful day!

 

[disneygal922]

Paint ~ Good luck on your finals and papers!

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

Morning everyone again, here are some photos from Frankenmuth, we are trying to plan our next trip there! The looong weekends are always the best!


The Bavarian Inn is HUGE, but it's very walkable and for us was perfect since we were right by an elevator that went down to the family fun center! Restaurants were only about a 5 minute walk from the room too. Front desk was about a 7 minute walk We did an internet rate of 189.00 I believe for each room. We had an awesome water view room that overlooked a river of sorts. So pretty! The funny thing is at the Herzog hotel we also had a waterview room and I could see our location at the Bavarian from that room! I have balcony shots somewhere of each room! I'm sloooowly uploading and will probably just do one blog post about the trip

One Room at the Bavarian
Between the beds and the balcony there was enough room for Gabriel, Autumn and Roman to play with their Thomas the Train set that was set in a figure 8 layout and they were laying on their bellies. On the right was the adjoining door, fridge, desk, another arm chair and wide dresser with television. Behind me was a large closet (set up POP century style) Tiny bathroom (bath tub took up 90% of the space) and then the vanity and coffee maker were on the outside.

View from our carriage ride. This was the carriage ride right outside of the Bavarian Inn, they charge PER PASSENGER and it was a 20 minute ride. They are black carriages. The WHITE carriages across the street in the Zhenders Training Facility parking lot only charge per carriage, are much nicer AND a longer ride (35min)with a better view. We wish we would have done 2 white carriage rides instead of one of each. The white one was 60.00 for us with a tip and I believe the Black one was 50.00 with a tip.

 

[irish dancer]

Hi guys! Just a quick drive by....... DH has very generously "shared" his cold so I've been popping pills and blowing my nose. It really wipes you out too.

disneygal - I hope your dad is feeling better soon. We have gall bladder problems in my family too, Dsis had hers out at 16 and DM too.

slo - thank goodness DDs team doesn't do a mother/daughter game, DH would love it but not me! Glad it turned out fun!

Belle - Welcome to the Chicago thread! Wish I could be of some help but we don't get into the city too often and when we do I try to take the train in so I don't have to worry about parking.

paint - I hope the end of the semester goes well (and quickly )

DMM - thanks for the mini-trip report on Frankenmuth. Will have to do a long weekend there sometime.

Well, I've got to run. Need my next dose of drugs and want to get out and get my errands done before the snow starts (ugh). DH askes me every day what the weather is in Tampa (hint, hint, hint)

 

[Bunchkin]

Uhh...Daley Plaza is a block west of the Macy's that does have the window decorations (formerly the Marshall Field's flagship store). The Plaza is on Washington between Dearborn and Clark; the old Field's is over at Washington and State.

Uhh...thanks for clearing that up. Don't know what I was thinking.

 

[Bunchkin]

irish Dancer Sorry to hear you caught your DH's cold!

slo The game sounds like it was fun! Glad Stephanie wasn't hurt, but it does sound like they planned it.
Kevin doesn't need to be on BP meds all of his life, does he? Has he changed his diet at all since he started taking them?

DMM Thanks for sharing those pics of your trip. Sounds like you had a great time.


disneygal No cream soups!!! AAAAHHH!! I just had some of Panera's cream of broc earlier today and I can't imagine not ever being able to eat that again...ever. You poor soul!!!



Tons to do, gotta run!

 

[disneygal922]

disneygal No cream soups!!! AAAAHHH!! I just had some of Panera's cream of broc earlier today and I can't imagine not ever being able to eat that again...ever. You poor soul!!!

I know that was my ultimate favorite soup they have! Very occassionally, I'll get a bowl if I'm not doing anything important on a random day (i.e. not working or going anywhere special). I miss it greatly! Thanks for the hug!