Calling all Chicago DISers #3

[paintnolish]

I am posting a little later this Monday morning...I got to sleep in but only because both of the kids are sickies! DD came home with a headache Fri., but after a bath and some Tylenol, said she felt better-she woke with a fever! I took her to the dr. (felt a little like a worrywart mom, buth that's what insurance is for!) and was told it is a virus! We made it to the pumpkin patch (dd had a low fever, less than 100)- hated to miss it since it is the only time all of the family could get together. Well, ds came down sick last night! DD isn't too bad but hacking all over, so I kept them both home!
Also, my work complaint for the weekend? Homecoming for 3 school was the weekend. The kids I waited on were well behaved, but why would parents give a kid a credit card without explaining how to use it and what to tip. $3 on $40? Grr...Oh, and moms of dds, just wait...you should have seen the skimpy dresses! Yikes!
DGal- ADRs look great! SA's atomosphere is so beautiful! RR's bread pudding is the best! LC, yum, of course. TTS was a nice spurise, too, Olive Garden food but all in all was a nice meal. Excellent servie there (say "hi" to Isabella for us if you get her!). 'Ohana...sore subject...I can't get an ADR!
Slo- I have been following the soggy store saga via Fbook...terrible! Also, my mom had her dogs blessed this weekend, although I am pretty sure one actually needs an exorcism. He is a little devil...and by little I mean 55 lb. furball that thinks he is a tiny puppy still!
Hersey- LOL at your ds passing you up in math in 4th grade. I HATE math and actually get frustrated by the dc's homework in the 3rd and 4th grades. I don't remember that junk anymore?!?
chell- As much as I will complain about it at times, I love school. I love, in college, getting to study what YOU want to (aside from required classes).
Bunchkin- I hope the illnesses are getting better in your house. I am hoping to "dodge the bullet" here and not catch whatever it is they've got!
ID- I've always heard 5th grade is the hardest! DD seems to have more in 3rd than ds in 4th, but she is more dramatic about it...sighing, whiny, picking up and dropping the pencil. It is a frustrating experience for both of us.

Since Monday is usually my productive day, I had better get going!

 

[Bunchkin]

Howdy!

Lots of laundry going here. No school for the kids today, some sort of district day. But they have school next Monday-Columbus Day??!! We'll be out of town this coming weekend through to Monday to DL for Lauren's b-day, so I'll be calling them in then.


Weather is gorgeous here! Sunny and 70 today!!!


Working on getting FIL's house ready for a garage sale. The man basically wants to sell everything! Grrr! Luckily for us, since we'll be out of town DH's sister and her husband get to have the sale!! LOL!!



slo Hope Katie enjoys her surprise!!
And I hope the carpet is dry!!!!!!


disneygal Your wedding is coming up so quickly!!! Your ADR choices sound great!!! I hope you can get them all at the times you want!

paint Sorry to hear both your kids are sick. My cold is still hanging on, just not as bad. Now DH has it!
I think your restaurant should have a policy to add at least 18% onto bills for these kids.

Hersey I hang to cold for what seems forever. I'm hoping it's gone by this weekend...or I'll have to walk around DL with a huge box of Kleenex strapped to me!!


chell All your volunteering is just really great!!! I used to do a lot of volunteering when I was in high school too, through my church.



Gotta run and finish laundry, then go over to FIL's.

 

[princess.chell]

Hey ya'll. How's everybody doing? Hope everyone is good. It's homecoming week at my high school! All week we have all school dress days and then the pancake breakfast, parade, game, and dance on Saturday. But I'm not going. My all time favorite band, Paramore, is playing at the House of Blues Saturday night so my two friends and I are going to that instead (well only two of us are missing homecoming the other one goes to a different school). We have meet and greet tickets to meet them too! =D We are spending the night at my cousin's apartment up by Wrigley that night too. Best not homecoming ever! Yah so, I've actually done all of my homework for the night before 10pm (I didn't have much) so I'm gunna try to make it to bed before oh 11:30. Hahah night everyone!

disneygal922 Those sound like awesome places to eat! I've only eaten at one (Tony's, a family tradition), but the others sound amazing!
HERSEY Hahah by doing my calc homework at lunch it usually means copying my friend's homework.
slo That's an awesome business! I hope everything goes as planned for the clean up!
paintnolish I'm sorry about the kids' lack of tipping knowledge. I always end up with the bill because I'm the most organized/ only one who could handle it. I usually over tip (23%) if there's a bunch of us (normally we are like one person under the added on gratuity) because I know we can be a pain sometimes, even though we are well behaved. And I just use the tip calculator on my phone to make sure I'm getting it right.
I can't wait to study what I want. I hate high school and being forced to study what the derivative of an acceleration graph is. However, I think I'll need to figure out what I want to study soon. Hahah can't decide...
Bunchkin I'm really enjoying volunteering. I know I say that a lot on here, but its fun. Working with both kids and seniors has been really interesting, so different but alike.

 

[KimRaye]

from WDW!!

Been playing cell phone 'tag' with my fellow Chicago DISers but, we aren't giving up! We'll be at MNSSHP the same night - tonight! BOO!!!!

 

[slo]

Today is another day the store is shut down
Luckily, the carpet is all dry, and today the carpet is getting cleaned. The carpet can't be cleaned though until the all the baseboards are put back on, and the carpet on the wall is glued back on. They are estimating this to take about 4-5 hours, and they can't get there until 1pm today. Tomorrow I can open, but I really can't do much, because the store is such a disaster, so that will be a big putting away day. This whole thing is such a pain!!!!!


DG - Ice Do you live far north? We had frost, but no ice.

paint - I'm sorry to hear about the kids being sick I hope they start to feel better soon!!!

Bunchkin - Good luck with getting your FIL's garage sale ready That's alot of work.
**Your weather sounds great!!! I'm going to be so jealous of you this winter

chell - Have fun when you to House of BluesThat sounds like a great time!!!!!

Kim - I hope you are having a great time in WDW!!!!!




Well, I gotta go get ready for my leads group. It's hard to get motiviated this early on these cold, dark mornings.
Have a good day everyone!!!

 

[Bunchkin]

Hi gang!


Today is Lauren's 12th birthday! I cannot believe hold old she is getting and how fast time is flying by. I already miss the days when she was a toddler and it was just her and I during the day. She was so cute and we used to have so much fun! Now she's at the age where she thinks she can do whatever she wants to and needs me less. Why do they have to grow up????
I'm going to go bake her one of those GIANT cupcakes in a bit. I got a Wilson brand pan at Target the other day . She saw those commercials on tv for that one giant cupcake pan and has been wanting it. And I'm making home made frosting too, it's the only kind anyone around here will eat.
Later it's presents and going out for dinner.




slo Hope all is going well at the store!


chell My DD likes Paramore too. Have a great time this weekend!!


Kim I hope you all got a chance to meet up!



Have a great day everyone!

 

[irish dancer]

Hi guys! Wow, is it Tuesday already?! Well, the cold that seemed to just be nagging me last week finally hit on the weekend. Sunday I felt like someone had sucked all the energy out of me! After two nights of good sleep (with Nyquil) I'm feeling better today.

Well, DD12 finished her bball season last night. They played their first and last game in the championship tournament. They played hard until the end but it just wasn't meant to be for them. They're looking forward to volleyball next starting in Nov.

Bunchkin - Happy Birthday to Lauren!! I hope she has a GREAT day! I can sympathize as my oldest is now 12 and seeming to grow up by leaps and bounds lately. Not sure I'm ready for those teen years!
*Lucky duck with the weather! So envious.
**Best of luck getting ready for the garage sale. I did that once and don't think I'll ever do it again, it's a ton of work!

slo - yikes I hope they get the store cleaned up so you can re-open. When I had my studio almost every year the ceiling would leak/collapse in the spring from the ice build-up melting. Landlords can be SO frustrating!

Kim (and gang) - hope you guys have a GREAT time tonight. We were there this week last year and I'm so wishing we were there again! Have fun! Boo!

MJ - sounds like you guys will have a great time at the concert, have a great time!
*Your schedule makes me exhaused just reading it! Thanks for all the time you give to volunteering.

paint - hope the kiddos are feeling better today. Thankfully I seem to be the only sickie around here, DD12 was dragging on Saturday but seems fine now. DD8 tried saying she was sick today but it is Iowa Basics standardized testing this week so off she went to school (she is my drama queen, always "sick")!

disneygal - WOW your wedding is coming up so quickly - how time flies! Those ADRs look great, there are some on your list we've never done so I'll be interested in your reviews.

Hersey - our heat went on over the weekend too, brr! Tomorrow is clean sheets day and I think the warmer blankets will go on the beds then too.

Well, I guess I'd better get going. I caught up on my laundry folding so now that needs to be carried upstairs. Also need to go through my closet, DNephew is getting married this weekend and I have to figure out what I'm wearing......

Have a great day everyone!

 

[disneygal922]

Good Afternoon Everyone! We were dog sitting last night for my sister and let me tell you, this dog is very well behaved and pretty small, he weighs like, 7 pounds. Anyway, he decided to sleep on my bed last night, which I don't have a problem with, until he plopped himself right smack in the middle of the bed. If he wasn't so darn cute I would have put him on the floor. AND he's the only dog I've met that snores! So, I didn't sleep very well last night!

Slo ~ I live in Tinley Park which is a southwest suburb right off of I80. The ice wasn't thick by any means. It was basically frozen dew but still, I couldn't believe it. Today was better with rain!

Paint ~ I'll have to make note of RR's bread pudding. Funny story how we chose SA though. My stomach doesn't always get along with Mexican food unfortunately but Mike loves it (I like it when my stomach cooperates). When we went in Sept, we went on the Mexico ride and apparently it goes right past the restaurant and it smelled so good. I turned to mike and said we might need to try this place. We are excited! Hope the kiddos are feeling better!

Bunchy ~ I'm glad we picked good ADRs. We aren't really picky about times so I'm not worried. we decided to try for Le Cellier on the last evening we are there in hopes that less people will be making ADRs for that day. Unfortunately, my dvc ressie number doesn't work with the online system so I'll have to wait until the phone lines open up to call. BTW, anybody know what time the dining lines open chicago time? is it 7 or 8am?

Chell ~ have a good time at the concert!

Kim ~ hope you guys are having loads of fun!

ID ~ I can't believe how fast time has flown by! It seems like just yesterday we got engaged! Glad you are starting to feel better too!

 

[DonnaW]

Hello, all! I hope all our DISers in the motherland are having a *great* time!!

Thanks to everyone who supported me in my flying obstacles; I am so glad we were able to go and see Christopher and have such an enjoyable visit.

SLO..I am sorry to hear about your headaches with the store. I hope it all gets cleared up soon, especially so that you can have a really good holiday season with the store.

BUNCHKIN...HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO LAUREN!!! I hope she has a wonderful, memorable day!! Like everyone else, I'm so jealous of your weather!!!

HERSEY...our heat has been on since we got back from our trip...it just felt way too cold and damp in the house!

ID...I hope you feel better soon. Mark has been fighting a cold for a few days, too. They are really no fun!

Disneygal...you made me laugh with the doggie story. Our dog sleeps in our bed, too...he is very small, as well, but he woke me up at like 4:30 today (he doesn't like the sound of rain and wind) so my sleep wasn't all that great last night, either...I can TOTALLY relate!!!

All..have a good evening! Stay warm and dry!

 

[HERSEY]

Donna I am glad you had a great trip.

Boy the winds last night kept me up. I hope I can stay awake until tonight. They frown at us when we fall asleep at our desks.

Slo Hopefullyyou can get back to normal soon at your store. What a PITA.

Bunchy Happy late birthday here for Lauren

 

[slo]

These mornings get harder and harder to wake up - I just don't want to get out from under my warm covers
We haven't put on our furnace yet - have any of you???
We are holding out until we can't take it anymore.


The store is reopening today, but I'll be busy putting everything back together. The place is like a tornado hit it. I'm just glad to have things starting to go back to normal
Thanks to everyone for you kind words while I've been venting about all this - you guys are the best!!!!


Bunchkin - to Lauren!!!!!
I hope she had a great day!!!!!
**I couldn't agree more about what you said about how Lauren is growing up It's hard to watch our kids get older We will always be needed, but not like we were, when they were babies. It's definitly hard!!!!
**How did she like her cupcake? Where did you go out to eat?

ID - I"m glad you are starting to feel better I love Nyquil when I have a cold too

DG - You are actually kinda close to me. I used to shop at Orland Mall all the time.

Donna - I"m really praying for a good holiday season, so this mishap happened at a good time. I couldn't even imagine the mess at Chistmas time with more customers, and having to move all my Christmas decorations - what a pain that would be

HERSEY - Kevin and I were talking about wind sound. I LOVE the sound of wind when I"m in bed - it puts me to sleep so quick. Kevin hates it, because it keeps him up, and then he can't sleep. Needless to say, I slept great last night
**I love that clipart you posted



Time to run - have a great day everyone!!!

 

[paintnolish]

So, yesterday, during my first class, the school nurse called. I had to get the kids because I had called them in on Monday with fevers and they had to stay home 24 hours. I said they hadn't had a fever since 6:30 a.m. Mon., so Tues. would be 24 hours. She said they didn't have fevers now, weren't feeling ill (she sent for them, seeing they were back in school after being home Monday), but still had to go home. I was so annoyed! I had to miss all of my classes, including a review for a test I have to take on Thursday! This H1N1 phobia is getting out of hand!
Slo- We caved and put on the heat sometime last week. It was 59 in the house!
DG- Hope your stomach cooperates! I had some, um, "issues" after LeCellier last trip. I think it was too rich-mushroom risotto filet and creme brulee. I refused to leave though and we still went to CR for dinner. Dh kept saying, "It's fine. Let's go back to the hotel." NO! We'll never get another CR ADR! I'm diehard, what can I say?
Princesschell- The kids I waited on weren't pains-I had a good time joking around with them. One asked for the wine list. I said, "McLovin, I'm going to need some I.D."-they died laughing!
Bunchkin- We aren't allowed to add gratuity. Isn't that crazy? We are supposed to be able to "earn" our tips. It doesn't always work that wayand there is a reason most restaurants add in tips! Sheesh!

Time to get going! Have good day!

 

[disneygal922]

Good Morning Everyone! not much new to report here! I am in the process of designing our wedding invitations, so that's exciting! We've looked and looked and just can't find anything we both like or is even near our budget. I refuse to spend $350.00 on 50 invites. So we are ordering the outer card/pocket thing and envelope and we are designing the actual invite and all the inserts using photoshop and cardstock. I love being creative!

Donna ~ hope you got a better nights sleep last night and the doggie didn't keep you up too much with all that wind!

Slo ~ I worked at the Orland Mall Sears for 7 years then at Williams Sonoma for a year plus 2 additional Christmas seasons! I'm thinking of applying at the Disney Store for the holidays this year though. We will see! Glad you are able to open the store today. I can imagine how frustrating that had to be.

Hersey ~ good luck staying awake today!

Paint ~ sorry you had to miss your classes. I can't believe they sent the kids home when they were feeling fine and had no fever. seesh. I should clarify my stomach issues I suppose, it's not so much the actual stomach but my gallbladder. i'm the only person in my family who still has one and i've had it checked several times. the docs all laugh and say it's only a matter of time. I basically know what a should and shouldn't eat but sometimes it's so hard to say no!

 

[Bunchkin]

Hi all!

Great weather here again today. Sunny and in the 70's. Although it did get chilly overnight. I had to turn on the furnace for one short cycle just to get the chill out of the air before the kids got up.

Went to FIL's house today and did some major yard clean up! I don't think they ever took care of anything at that house.
He also put his house up for sale. Unfortunately he doesn't understand how bad the housing market is and thinks his house is going to sell quickly.


Thanks for the birthday wishes for Lauren.



slo I'm so happy to hear things are starting to get back to 'normal' at your store!!
Lauren's choice for dinner was Mimi's Cafe. She loves going there and got a coupon in her email!! It's about a 4 minute drive from here...everything is so close to us out here.
I bought Tony one of those alarm clocks with that makes all those nature sounds. I didn't think I would like falling to sleep with it but now I can't go to sleep unless it's on!! Which makes it really hard for me to sleep when we are out of town!

Donna We had a cat that would get scared at night and would want to sleep at the top of our heads!!!


paint Sorry you had to miss classes.
I think you earned your tip regardless! There should be exceptions based on who and what size party.

 

[KimRaye]

3am here in WDW!! Better than being at home. Met ONE Chicago DISer last night...will have a pic or 2 from us after we're home.

I will do ALL I can to pack this record heat down here and bring it back with me for all of you!!!

See ya real soon!

 

[slo]

Looks like we are going to have another yucky day around here - and cold!!!!
I still haven't turned on the furnace here, but it looks like I'll have to on Sunday.


paint - How annoying about the school sending the kids home I spoke to my Pediatrician about the H1N1 scare, and she said it's criminal on how the media scared everyone like they did.

DG - I hope you are able to get a Christmas job at The Disney Store - the extra money will be nice
*Thanks!! Yes, this has been frustrating, but also a learning experience. I've never dealt with water damage, or even where to start, so this was a crash coarse

Bunchkin - Thanks!!! I'm so glad things are back to normal too
**I'm glad Lauren had a nice bday
**One of my neighbors uses a sound machine, and she LOVES it!!!! She has to fall asleep to that, like I have to fall asleep to the tv. How big is your clock - is it small enough to take with you???

Kim - You have record heat, like we had record cold last year. I don't know which is worse at WDW




Well, I need to go get ready for work - I'm going in early today.
I have a lot to get caught up on, since I couldn't do any production since the incident.
Have a good day!!!

 

[Crissup]

**One of my neighbors uses a sound machine, and she LOVES it!!!! She has to fall asleep to that, like I have to fall asleep to the tv.

I grew up a half block from I-80 in Joliet and used to fall asleep listening to the highway traffic and watching the headlights of the semi trucks streak across my bedroom ceiling. When we finally moved away from there, we moved into a house on Rt.59 a couple blocks from a Consolidated Freightways terminal. So, again, lots of traffic noise. I always have a much more difficult time falling asleep in dead quiet than I do with background noise. The more background noise, the quicker I fall asleep.

This is one of the reasons I've always loved the BWV over OKW. Many of the OKW fans will tell you it's better because it's so quiet. Which, for me is one of the major reasons it's not as great.

 

[Bunchkin]

Hi!

I got my haircut this morning! Finally!! It's been growing out all spring/summer. I chopped it all off to sit around my neck and added a ton of layers. I even got BANGS!! This is huge for me! I haven't had bangs in eons!!!
And I walked to the salon. Like I've said we have a lot of things close to us. I think it's about 2 or 2 1/2 city blocks length away, each way. A nice brisk walk in the windy crisp air!
It's going to be 81 here today, so a slight warm up and stay in the 80's over the weekend.
I saw how cool it's been by you all and can't believe how cold it's going to be this weekend there.



slo We could take the clock with but I really don't want to pack one more thing!!
My FIL has always slept with the tv on...loudly!!

Kim What are you doing up that late while on vacay???????? You need meds woman!!!


Gotta run...lots of laundry to do and I need to start to pack somewhat. It doesn't take me very long.
We are taking Lauren for another celebratory dinner to Disneyland's Paradise Pier Hotel to eat at the PCH Grill. She wants to get their Kitchen Sink dessert! It's just like the one at Beaches and Cream. She's been planning out the whole day food wise in order to make sure she has enough room to eat it!!!

 

[irish dancer]

Hi guys! Well, it's almost like a Friday here - the girls are off tomorrow and Monday so they're celebrating the end of testing and no homework!

Bunchkin - haircut sounds cute! Any pics?? I go tomorrow, it's been a while for me too but mine is already short so it won't be a big change. My stylist moved to Arizona so I'm kind of lost trying to find someone new.....
*Have a great weekend at DLR! So envious of your close proximity and ability to go so often.

Crissup - don't have any trouble falling asleep with noise either, also trained my kids that way. My BFF used to turn everything off when her kids would sleep and even put a note on the door not to ring the bell. Me I was vacuuming while my kids slept!

slo - so glad you're able to be up and running again!
*We've had the furnace on since last weekend and I put on the heavy blankets this week too!

KimRaye - so hoping you have room for that heat in your luggage!
*Sounds like you're having a great time!

disneygal - how fun to design your own invites!

paint - I would have been majorly steamed if the school did that to me! I too think they've made an awfully big deal about the H1N1 thing.


Well, it's going to be a busy weekend around here. Tomorrow I have a mother/daughter overnight for Brownies with DD8. Saturday my DNephew is getting married. Sunday the kids are going to the orchard with their cousins. DH and I were supposed to do the Ride for Autism but due to the weather forecast we've decided it'll be too cold for a motorcycle ride - very bummed, it has always been a fun day.

Hope everyone stays dry and warm tonight - brr!

 

[Tiggerrn2]

Evening! Been keeping up with you all but too busy to post! Hope you all have a great weekend. Just wanted you all to know I wasn't dead yet or anything.