Calling all Chicago DISers #2

[macraven]

good morning to all the chicagoland homies.


it is now - 11 degrees.
wind is calm.


yes, we have school today...
all the communities around us do also.

once it is 5:00 today, only one more day till the weekend.

 

[Tiggerrn2]

no school here either. Sounds like a common situation for us all. What to do with a school day off. Just glad it wasn't a scheduled work day for me. That always becomes very complicated.
Freezing here! Doing the best to keep warm. Boiling some water on the stove to add some humidity to the house, too. DS short hair sticking up on end and the dog is trying to start a fire on his dog bed. Sparks flying everywhere. Guess I really should replace our old humidifier. Just hate the cold air it adds to the house.
geffric, Happy Anniversary!!! Hope you have a great weekend out somewhere.
Heading to Barrington next Tues, Wed. and Thursday. Anyone up that direction want to meet for dinner somewhere? Have a computer learning seminar at the GE place. Dinners are on our own.
Slo, did you end up with more snow this morning? I think I have another inch, but I am not shoveling that one!!
Mac, I am so sad we will just miss each other. I think you should extend for a few more days back at the Motherland!
Well, guess with the kiddies home I will not get much done. I will do a little and maybe vacuum up. Had planned a curtain washing/dusting day, but that is not going to happen. DRAT!!
Later all.

 

[disneygal922]

ok... it's official. i'm a popsicle! my legs are still cold and i've been inside for 30 minutes!!

Good Freezing Morning Everyone! I never made it to my sister's event b/c of the derailed amtrak train. I was at Union station at 335 ready and waiting to get on the 358 outbound and at about 355 a lady made an announcement that there were no inbound or outbound trains able to leave the station. a few minutes later it was 'no inbound or outbound b/c of a minor derailment' then it was no inbound or outbound b/c of amtrak interference. then 'no inbound or outbound b/c of switch problems'. then finally a guy got on the speaker (i'm guessing it might have been one of the railyard guys that works on the tracks) anywho, he got on the speaker and said that there was an amtrak derailment blocking several of the tracks and that there were going to be quite lengthy delays and you may want to look into alternative modes of transportation. at that point i called my sister and she told me to just go home. she said that she had a ton of rsvp cancellations at that there were plenty of people there. she called me on her way home said it went well, had a lot of fun, only about 80 showed up but everyone was asking when her next one is!!!

Well, i better get some work done! have a wonderful day everyone! stay warm and stay safe out there!

 

[piglet too]

I think we ended up with somewhere between 6-7 inches of snow yesterday, made Lauren happy anyways. Got the call from Nathan and Lauren's school district last night, and Kevin's early this morning. Glad they are home, even if they would not have been out but for the bus stop. Now I am just trying to explain to Lauren why shy can not go over to her friend's house to play.

Geffric ~ Happy Anniversary to you and your husband!

Mac ~ I was actually surprise that our schools did close today. They seem to stay open when all the other districts in the area are closing.

DG ~ Glad to hear that your sister's event went so well.

 

[irish dancer]

Morning guys! School is in session here. The girls don't get a bus DH drives them and since DS is special ed the bus picks him up at the end of our driveway. Unfortunately I have to go out to the grocery store, I meant to get there yesterday but didn't and we are at the point that I'd have a hard time scrounging up dinner without a grocery run.

geffric - Happy Anniversary!! I hope you have a nice dinner out Saturday.

slo - I hope you get everything done today!

disneygal - glad your sister's event went well!

to everyone else. I hope you're staying warm!!


I've got to run to the grocery store, have a great day everyone!!

 

[macraven]

it looks like i will stay inside for most of the day.

went out to see if my car would start.
took a bit of time, but it turned over.
i have the original battery in my 2002 Toyota and wasn't sure if it had enough power to get it started.

now that i know i can go out today, i'll probably stay in the house and just THINK about those little jobs i have put off for months.......

maybe i will do them and maybe i won't...........

no school here either. Sounds like a common situation for us all. What to do with a school day off.

Mac, I am so sad we will just miss each other. I think you should extend for a few more days back at the Motherland!

Later all.

i don't think i can swing more than 15 days in a row at orlando this year.
mr mac might not be pleased........

of course, i haven't told him my entire plans yet but then, i never do until a few weeks prior to my leaving.

believe me, it is much easier that way...

Good Freezing Morning Everyone! I never made it to my sister's event b/c of the derailed amtrak train. I was at Union station at 335 ready and waiting to get on the 358 outbound and at about 355 a lady made an announcement that there were no inbound or outbound trains able to leave the station. a few minutes later it was 'no inbound or outbound b/c of a minor derailment' then it was no inbound or outbound b/c of amtrak interference. then 'no inbound or outbound b/c of switch problems'. then finally a guy got on the speaker (i'm guessing it might have been one of the railyard guys that works on the tracks) anywho, he got on the speaker and said that there was an amtrak derailment blocking several of the tracks and that there were going to be quite lengthy delays and you may want to look into alternative modes of transportation. at that point i called my sister and she told me to just go home. she said that she had a ton of rsvp cancellations at that there were plenty of people there. she called me on her way home said it went well, had a lot of fun, only about 80 showed up but everyone was asking when her next one is!!!

that's a shame..
i'm sorry with how the events played out yesterday that caused you to cancel going to your sister's house.
i would have been bummed waiting and then find out the train cancellation.
wait, that has happened to me before many times when i worked in the uptown area of the city....
that really suxs big time.
good to hear the event did have success!

I think we ended up with somewhere between 6-7 inches of snow yesterday, made Lauren happy anyways. Got the call from Nathan and Lauren's school district last night, and Kevin's early this morning.

Mac ~ I was actually surprise that our schools did close today. They seem to stay open when all the other districts in the area are closing.

we always have school.
it is very rare for it to be cancelled. when the busses don't run is about the only time school is closed.
finals at the hs end tomorrow.



did you hear the weather news?
could get to -16 tonight with a wc of -40..........

i have an electric blanket so i'm good with it.

 

[momto1]

Hi gang! No school for us either. I tagged teamed with dh - I took the morning shift and he took the afternoon. I really didn't want to come to work but have tomorrow off so I had to behave.

Slo - Potato Creek State Park is outside of North Liberty near Plymouth. We have been going there for about 16 years. Sometimes we go 80 over and down through South Bend, sometimes 30 across the state, but usually through LaPorte and across. If you like to camp or like the outdoors, you should give it a try.

DG - Bummer about the train and missing your sister's event. How long did it take you to get home? I am glad the event went well. It sounds like she might need a repeat!

Geffric- Happy, happy Anniversary! I hope you have a fabulours dinner on Saturday.

Mac - you gotta get those chores done! Maybe Slo can get you a daily schedule of cleaning like she used to post hers!

Anybody ever done the ESPN weekend at Hollywood Studios? Since I have this Southwest credit burning a hole in my pocket, I was looking for somewhere warm to go and of course WDW popped into my mind!

Signing off until Tuesday. I won't have computer access in my winter camping cabin! Have a nice weekend everybody!
Lori

 

[piglet too]

Well, we already got the word that my three will get a 5 day weekend. I'm glad that they don't have to be out at the bus stop in this cold, but was really hoping they would be in school tomorrow so I can get some stuff done. I am having a Pampered Chef party on Saturday, and have lots of errands to run. Oh, if anyone wants to come, or place an order, let me know and I'll send you the info.

 

[KimRaye]

Hi Kirsten and all! Kelly already had a 4 day weekend scheduled this weekend, thankfully! Records day is Friday, and Monday is MLK, so 4 days off! Me too!! But then, she leaves Tuesday on a 4-day, 3 night outdoor school trip!! They sleep in cabins, but it's a yearly outdoor experience camp that her school has for all of 5th grade. DS went, it's fun, they love it! But the weather is SO BAD this year! I'm sure she'll love it tho, too.

What to do with the QUIET in this house when she's gone tho??

Hope you're all warm and safe!

 

[slo]

Stephanie has another day off school

UUUUGGGGGGG..............THE SMILIES ARE MOVED!!!!!!
I JUST NOTICED THIS - I HATE IT WHEN THEY MOVE THE SMILIES!!!!!!

Okay, back to what I was saying......
Yesterday, Stephanie and I really took advantage of her day off and got 2/3 of a health project done that's due on Tuesday. She wasn't happy about it initially, but she is very happy now that I forced her to do this, because now she won't have to worry about it all weekend.

Today I am only working until 1:30pm because my highschool employee offered to come today at that time (initially she had a 1/2 day today, but I'm sure she's off school now). I took her up on the offer so I could go home and get Stephanie's room ready to paint this weekend, and to get the laundry room ready for my new washing machine. So, I'm looking forward to short week day today


DG - I was wondering if you got caught up in the nightmare at Union Station. I'm sorry you had to go through that - I looked terrible on the news. What time did you get home that night?

momto1 - If you travel on Rt.30, you can wave to me as you go by my store

Kim - I hope the trip is moved, because it sounds so cold Kids don't get as cold or hot as us old folks do though. When they are having fun they can tolerate so much more than us. If she goes, I hope she has fun!!!

To everyone else -



Well, I gotta go get ready for work.
I'm so off schedule, because I've been staying in bed longer. If I didn't have Sophie, I would still get up early, but I just can't bring myself to take her out at 5:30am in this cold weather. It's so much easier when it's daylight - I don't know why, but it is

Have a good day!!

 

[Bunchkin]

Hi all!!


No school yesterday or today, and Monday and Tuesday were already scheduled days off for the district. So the kids basically have a week off of school.

It seems I've been shoveling almost every day for a week or so!!
We got so much snow here the other day. At least 8 inches by me. And then there was the blowing of the snow too to deal with.

Going to brave the weather today to run errands with the kids. Hopefully will survive!!
Yesterday I paid $2 to DD to go retrieve the garbage cans from the curb and get the mail. (Our mail boxes are on the street here.) Money well spent!

DD's Girl Scout field trip to a farm in Indiana for tomorrow has been canceled because of the weather. Not sure how much she was looking forward to seeing a calf born. Not my cup of tea!!


Donna Sorry to hear your sister in law has passed. My continued prayers go out for you and Mark and his family.


Tiggerrn Glad Kyle is doing better. Hopefully no one else will catch what he had. Sorry to hear of your aunt's passing.


DG Too bad you had to miss your sister's event. It does sound like a good number turned out for it though.


Kim Hope Kelly can stay warm on her camp out!! Send extra blankets!
When I was a Girl Scout leader there was 2 years when the annual leader event was a camp out in January at Camp Pokanoka in Ottawa. Brrrrrr!! I never drank so much hot chocolate in my life in order to stay warm!!


piglet have fun at the PC party!!! Hope you get a good turn out!!
Are you job hunting yet?

mac It's a good thing to start your car every other day or so in this cold weather if it's parked outside!!

paint Congrats on getting your trip booked!!! Hope you can pick up some days at work to extra tips!


geffric Happy Anniversary!!! Hope you have a great dinner together this weekend.



Hello to all!!



Kids are up...time for breakfast!

 

[geffric]

YEP!! Ohare is at -17 degrees real temp not wind chill.. the wind chill is like -35.. BBBBRRRRR

Luckily I am working from home today.. and kids are done with finals so no school for them but Eric and friends are going snow boarding at devil head in WI.. real temp is -23.. bbrrrr

stay warm..

 

[disneygal922]

Happy Friday Everyone! I hitched a ride downtown today with my dad so no waiting in the cold for me!!! I'll take the train home this evening but the morning cold is always worse than the evening cold for me!

Slo ~ I got back to Tinley around 615ish. I ended up walking back to the Rock Island line and taking my normal line! I got slightly lost in Union station though trying to find my way out!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone! Stay warm and bundled up!!

 

[macraven]

morning homies....

 

[irish dancer]

Hi guys! Have a full house here. Both DDs had a scheduled day off so I had each of them invite a friend (or two) over. My theory was it would be a good day since DS would be in school that way they wouldn't bother him and he wouldn't pester them. Well......that all changed at 5:50a when I got the call that his school was closed due to the extreme weather. Now I've got 6 kids in the house until around 3p. I think we'll just stay in tonight and have pizza and movie night, too cold for anything else.



mac - did you get any of your jobs done yesterday or did you snuggle down under your electric blanket? Today would be a great day for that!

momto1 - I know where Potato Creek State Park is! My older sisters took my nieces and nephews camping there many, many years ago! I hope you have a fun (and warm) weekend in the woods.

piglet - I hope your PC party goes well! I forgot you were a consultant for them, I'll have to keep that in mind for when I need to reorder.

KimRaye - I think they're forecasting a bit of a warm up for the week, I actually saw temps forecasted in the 30s! It'll seem like a heat wave after this! I hope your DD has a great time!

slo - I agree with the smilies, why do they have to do that?!
*Sounds like you have another busy day, glad your HS employee can come in to cover you so you can get things ready at home.

Bunchkin - don't you wish you could have known about all the days off, you could have gone to WDW!
*Stay warm out there today, maybe if you wait until a bit later it won't be as bad. It's supposed to warm up to a whopping 6 degrees isn't it?

geffric - yikes I hope your DS and friends stay warm, that is awfully cold to be out snowboarding. I'm sure they'll have fun but bbbrrrrrrr!

disneygal - glad you didn't have to be out in the weather this morning waiting for the train, it would have been cold!

OK, I'm off to fix lunch for the masses. Have a great day everyone, try and stay warm!

 

[piglet too]

ID ~ I am actually a Tastefully Simple consultant. I am just having the PC party because I need some stuff.

It feels like it should be Saturday, if not Sunday!

 

[HERSEY]

Good morning!

It is finally above zero. We are having sideways snow right now, it's a little windy

Kim I hope Kelly is warm during her camping experience.

piglet I hope your party is a success. I like pamper chef I have so much stuff from them.

Today we are venturing out to the movies Alex wants to see Mall cop oh the things we do for our kids

 

[slo]

Stephanie's room is ready for paint
Yesterday afternoon Stephanie and I got everything picked up, and all furniture away from the wall. Kevin got everything taped up, and the border pulled off. Stephanie's new room is on it's way!!!!!


Today while Kevin is painting, I need to get the laundry room ready for my new washing machine. I have to move alot of things out in order for the Sears guys to get the old machine out, and the new machine in. I"m so excited to get my new machine, because I have so much laundry to do. I'm so glad I was pretty caught up when the machine pooped out, or I would be in a lot of trouble.


Tonight I am going to The Chamber of Commerce dinner/dance. I am going alone, because Kevin needs to stay home with the girls. I'm not staying long, becuase I want to get home in case Kevin has any calls. So I will go, eat, and leave


Bunchkin - Stephanie has been to Fair Oak Farm several times, and she saw a calf being born twice. I thought she would have been grossed out, but she wasn't. It's good Laurens trip was cancelled - it would have been to cold there today

geffric - It's good you were able to work from home yesterday

DG - I"m glad you didn't get stuck with that train mess to long and was able to come home at a decent time. One lady on the news said she was thinking about going back to her office and sleeping there that night - that would be terrible I'm glad you weren't like that poor lady.

Mac -

ID - Sounds like you had a lot going on at your house yesterday. My girls have never had a friend over at the same time, but I'm sure it will come soon.

piglet - Have fun with your Pampered Chef party today

HERSEY - Please give us a review of mall cop, and please let me know if it's something Katie can see. It looks funny, and now that it's so yucky out, I'm looking for different things to do with the girls.




Well, I should eat and get this day started - I have alot on my list.
Have a good day everyone!!!

 

[macraven]

slo, you wore me out on all that you get done.


i'm still thinking of thinking about starting some of my jobs around the house..



oh, good saturday morning chicagoland homies.......

 

[slo]

Wow...slow day here yesterday - I hope that means you all had a great day!!!


I got alot done yesterday.
I worked in the girls playroom almost all afternoon, and I got alot thrown away, put away, and set aside for the garage sale. The room is not done though, there's alot more to go through right before the garage sale. There are toys that I want to sell that are to big for boxes, so they will have to stay in the room until May. Then after the garage sale I will be able to do some more rearranging in the room, which will be great!!!!


I also cleaned out the laundry room yesterday, which felt really good. If you haven't looked behind your washing machine in awhile, you will be shocked at what you will find The washing machine we had came with the house, so who knows when or if the past people ever cleaned I felt like I needed to take another shower after I was done cleaning that area - NASTY!!!! So, I rushed to get all that cleaned, because the machine was suppossed to come between 3:45pm - 5:45pm. They called in the afternoon and said that they were running 1 1/2 - 2 hours late - we weren't happy So I went to church and my dinner/dance, and when I came home at 9:45pm and saw Kevin's car still in the driveway (he had to pull it out so the delivery men could go through the garage), I called him on my cell phone and said, "please tell me machine was delivered." He said "No, it's not here yet!!!!" I come in the house and he's mad, and now I'm mad, and the delivery man calls at 10pm and says that he still has 1 more stop before us, and I very politely let him have it!!!!!! I told him he WILL come tonight, and he WILL tell me when he's going to be here, and not call here again to tell us he's running late (which he did twice while I was gone). He said he will be there by 11pm, and I said that's fine, but he better be in my driveway at 11pm, and no more phone calls!!!! He did pull in right at 11pm, and it did not take much time for the men to take the old one out and put the new one in. We were not happy about all this at all!!!!! When the truck (a Ryder truck, because they had some problems with the Sears truck) my neighbor/friend/fellow fireman called Kevin to see if everything was okay, because who gets deliveries at 11pm I love having a neighbor that looks out for us, and we do the same for him and his family. It really gives an extra sense of security!!!! So, that's the story with that!!!!


Today we are going to IHOP for pancakes - YUMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!
Then we are going to the mall to do ALOT of returns from Christmas (some gifts, and some things Kevin bought the day after Christmas that we didn't need) and then we are going to come home so I can start my mountains of laundry Plus, I need to price all the garage sale items I set aside yesterday, and we have to put Stephanie's furniture where she wants it (the room is painted, and it looks great!!! ) So we have another productive day ahead of us - no rest for the weary


Well, I must go wake up Katie, and then get ready for pancakes - I love pancakes!!!!
Have a great day!!!!