Calling all Chicago DISers #3

[disneygal922]

damn..........now what am i going to do with all these dogs i borrowed...
they eat more than my cat does in an entire week!

You crack me up!

Slo ~ glad you were able to check in. Sorry to hear you have been so stressed. I'm sure everything will get done. Also gald your computer is fixed! let's hope it stays fixed

Sooo. Good Morning Everyone! This weekend is the big Avon Walk I took tomorrow and monday off to prepare and recover! It should be fun, I just hope it doesn't rain too hard But regardless I'm walking, rain or shine, it's for a very good cause! Hope everyone else is doing well! Have a wonderful day!

 

[paintnolish]

Morning! I've been MIA between working extra shifts, end of the school year stuff, and cleaning/packing. Saturday morning we are flying to FL! We are actually going to my mom's tomorrow so she can drive us to the airport early Saturday morning. So, today will be spent picking up odds and ends, getting ds' hair cut, and trying not to mess up the house!
I will try to post before the trip, but if not, I will say "hi" to Mickey for all of you. I will be on the look out for Irish Dancer, too!

 

[momto1]

Hi gang! Back from working in Iowa. Not nearly as glamorous as Crissup in London but, hey, it was away! Now trying to get caught up at work and at home.

Today is ds first day of summer vacation. He is out to lunch with his grandparents. I hope he has a good summer.

We are going to a wedding in Fort Wayne on Saturday. Then on Thursday we leave for Cooperstown, NY. DS has waited a long time to be old enough to play ball in Cooperstown and is super excited. So, it will be a week of baseball and vacation.

Slo - Glad to see you back! You will survive all the craziness in you life right now.

Mac - We are thinking about adding a 2nd dog to our household. Are those dogs you had looking for Slo housebroken?

DG - Good luck on your walk! You will do great!

Paint - Do you have room in your suitcase for me? Have a marvelous, magical time!

Best get back to work!
Lori

 

[disneygal922]

I will say "hi" to Mickey for all of you.

Please Do!!! I'll see him in September!

 

[esbrick]

Hi everyone! I'm glad that you are all doing well! It's been fun reading about everyone's great kids and all the various life going ons!

Paint ~ I just said to Mike this am "Can we go back tomorrow, please, please, please?" He said sure. . . after we win lotto so we will have to travel vicariously through you! Hope taht you and Irish Dancer have wonderful trips and can't wait to hear all about them!

Disney Girl ~ Hope planning is going well! I need to go over and take a peak at your PJ to get an update!

Slo ~ Glad you are doing well and that you are back! Even though I have only been around for a short time I really like reading your morning messages! Hope your family visits are painless!

I'm in planning mode for Meg's B-day party next weekend. We are going to Color Me Mine, BBQ at the house, Slumber Party, and I guess all the girly stuff that 12 year olds do! I am trying to do some green stuff for the party bags so we are going to figure that out this weekend. I found a website that does Craft stuff (PS by the way I am the most NON CRAFT person you will ever meet! Not a lick of talent, however, pretty good vision!) I have alot of ideas now I just gotta see how I'm gonna make em work!

To top it all off we are going to Mary Poppins on the 11th as well! For a week that was supposed to be pretty quiet it is turning out to be much more full!

OK gotta get back to work! Talk to yas soon!

 

[piglet too]

Dewain and I just got free tickets to go see Kenny Chesney next weekend. Not the greatest seats, but it should be fun.

 

[disneygal922]

Dewain and I just got free tickets to go see Kenny Chesney next weekend. Not the greatest seats, but it should be fun.

I'll be there too! Well, on the 13th. I don't know if he has more than one show. I'm not sure where i'll be though...

 

[piglet too]

It is on the 13th! We got the tickets from a co-worker of Dewain's. We'll be going with another co-worker and her guest. I guess there will be several performers there, and it will be a long concert. I have not been to a concert since 1993 (my only) when we saw the Beach Boys.

DG ~ Let me know when you find out where you will be. It would be too funny if we are close together.

 

[Tiggerrn2]

Hey all. Just popping in to say "Have great trips Paint and ID!" Friends of my DD are going to be there for the week as well. Her dad had a whole spread sheet filled out with their plans, ADRs, and tours. My kind of man. Wish I had one like that !! Well, to be put away.
Oh, picked up the new Hidden Magic of WDW today. Enjoying it so far. It will be my nightly relaxation before bed reading.
Bunchkin, I hope you catch this-have a safe trip/move. Hope we hear from you soon! Good luck to your family out there, and I will keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers. We'll miss you!
Slo, glad to know you are safe and well (just busy). Good luck with the sale this weekend. Let me know how you do. Thinking about doing one myself. Just need to be talked into it being worth it. We need a new roof.All monies appreciated!
Later all. Hope you all have a great weekend and stay dry.

 

[KimRaye]

Maybe my last chance to catch you Nicole - Have a safe and easy move! I'll miss ya, but only locally!

 

[slo]

I got to bed at 11pm last night, and took some Tylenol PM's to make sure I slept, and I did sleep - really good. I actually feel more tired this morning than yesterday morning though, because I didn't get enough sleep. Whenever I lose a huge amount of sleep, it always takes me a couple nights to make it up.


After work I worked on garage sale stuff again, and the stuff at home is all organized, priced and ready. Now I need to get the stuff from the storage unit, and get that organized with the stuff at home, and I'll be all set. Kevin is still get ready for the sale. He cleaned out the garage yesterday, and today is cleaning out the shed. I sure hope all this stuff sells {{fingers crossed}}


Tonight is Katie's graduation from preschool - she is so excited!!!!!
I remember, like it was yesterday, when Stephanie graduated - where does the time go So we are looking forward to that tonight


Tomorrow I work, and then in the evening, Kevin and I are going out for our anniversary, while the girls spend the night at my inlaws Our anniversary was Wednesday - we've been married 14 years. We are eating at Weber Grill downtown, and I'm really looking forward to it. It's been a long time since we've eatin anywhere really nice, so it'll be a treat!!!


Sunday is going to be busy getting the yard and house ready for our company next week. So much to do, and I need like 3 days to do it. I hope I don't have to go back to my store that day, because that would make getting things done even more challenging


So, that's my Friday and weekend in a nutshell.


Thanks again to all those that asked about me, and missed me


DG - Good luck with the Avon walk this weekend I'll pray for good weather.

paint - Have a great trip!!!!

momto1 - Have fun at the wedding!!!

esbrick - I'm looking forward to hearing how everything goes with your DD's party. Stephanie wants a bday party at home, and I think I'm going to let her do it (I've never done a kids party before).
**Thanks for your kind words

piglet - Congrats on the free tickets

TTTTTiiiigggernnnnnn - The garage sale is actually on Thursday - Sat next week. We are just in the last second planning mode. I will definitly let you know how it went, and how much money we made. We have no big furniture to sell, so I have no big ticket items, but I should still make alot with all the baby/kids clothes I have, and all the toys.

Kim -


Well, it's time to get Stephanie off to school.
Have a good day everyone!!!

 

[Bunchkin]

Hi all!



Last day here for me until probably Friday of next week. Next Thursday is our install day for phone and cable modem. And for the Directv being moved to the new house.
Trying to finish up packing today. My mom came to help me pack the kitchen yesterday! That was nice of her.

Our appliances sold and will be picked up today too.
I still haven't gotten a solid offer on our dining room set yet. It's too big for the new house. Which is a shame.
Anyone needing a great dining room set should let me know! I've got pics I can send.

Last day of school for the kids. They both go for only and hour and a half.
These last 2 days were make up for snow days. Yesterday Lauren's class spent most of it at the nieghboring park to the schools. She got so sunburned. Who know they would be out there practically all day?


slo Are you listing your garage sale in the local paper or on Craigslist? I've done both and gotten a good response. Make sure you have signs out too. Do you have extra plastic grocery bags around to pack up people's purchases for them? I find a lot of people appreciate that.


paint & irish dancer Both of you have a great time on your trip!!
Make sure to tell us all about it when you return.

esbrick What is Color Me Mine? Hope the party is a great time for all!!


piglet Congrats on the tickets!!



I will miss all of you!! As well as not being able to join in on meets with you all! Of course, I can still come here and hang out and chat as usual. It's been great being able to have met so many of you in person. And to have become freinds with so many as well. Who would have ever thunk that an electronic box could do that?
Hopefully we won't be away from our favorite city in the world for too long. We have been to a lot of places traveling, but it is always so great to come back to the Chicago area. There is litterally no place like it! So for all of you who have said recently that you haven't really experienced all of what our area has to offer, I encourage you to get out there and see all there is to see.
"Come on, baby don't you want to go, back to that same old palce Sweet Home Chicago!!!" Call me corny but I really love that song!!

 

[geffric]

Bye Bunchy.. have a safe move and talk to you next week.. Continued prayers for Tony and you and the family.. you will be missed..

 

[Crissup]

Safe travels Bunchy!! We'll be here waiting to hear from you.

 

[Becky2005]

Bye Bunchkin -- have a safe move.

Today is my first day to finally be lazy for summer. We have had appointments every other day this week. Next week, classes & things start for the kids, then summer school. So, I don't get to be lazy too often even if it is summer.
Got my car all fixed up for some overdue maintenance. $$$$$ mostly for the labor costs but it was a job that DH did once in his life and said it was well worth it to pay them to do it. Normally he does all the car stuff, so it's rare we have to take it in.

Then our dishwasher wasn't working & I was convinced the people taking my complaint probably thought I was looney. Since when they asked what was wrong the only thing I could give them was "it appears to be working but the dishes aren't getting clean". Turns out I'm not crazy (oh hush!) -- our dishwasher has 2 motors & one went bad. That's why we could hear water going it, it sounded like it was working but it really wasn't. We were hearing the 1st motor and of course, the water was going in & draining like it was supposed to.

Luckily for us, we have the Lowe's extended warranty & it *should* be covered. I have really bad luck with dishwashers, so we actually WANTED the extended warranty for this...we figured we would end up using it OR it would go the other way around, since we were prepared the dishwasher wouldn't break. The warranty expires next month. *WHEW* got that in under the wire. Now I just get to wash dishes by hand until the part comes in. Not exactly my favorite thing to do.

 

[piglet too]

Safe travels Bunchy! Hope all goes well with your family.

 

[Emma's Dad]

Hope you see it first-hand! We DO have a stunning lake view skyline! Let us know how your trip was, please!

Hello all! I want top thank you again for all the suggestions. Sunday was an absolutely gorgeous day to be out and about in Chicago. And it seemed like everyone in Chicago took advantage of it

Just a quick TR:

Arrived in Midway about 8:00 AM and took a taxi to the Sheraton Hotel & Towers. With the morning sun shining on all those beautiful buildings it seemed to be a postcard moment driving into the city! Not sure if any of you have had the opportunity to stay at the Sheraton, but that place is really nice. The folks that were putting us up had placed a note for a king bed room... which weren't ready for check in yet. So I placed my bags in the luggage room and headed out to the Field Museum.



I purchased a gold ticket to check out the new Real Pirate exhibit. If you haven't seen this exhibit yet and you are into pirates, GO SEE IT! However, if you aren't into pirates, this exhibit will leave you a bit bored. But, they have real pirate treasure They do not permit photos to be taken or I would post one here

I spent about 4 hours wandering the exhibits throughout the museum and still hadn't been through most of them. I was able to at least get through the ones I wanted to see: Real Pirates, Inside Ancient Egypt, Dinosaur Hall, Plants of the World, Hall of Jades, and Pacific Spirits. There were others, but those were the major ones. For lunch I took advantage of the McD's at the museum. here are just a few photos:









There are plenty more museum photos in the Picassa album... feel free to browse them.

From the museum I took a stroll down towards the Adler Planetarium. People were finally starting to get up and about. I stumbled upon a bike path that was newly paved. I took a picture because I was amazed at the quality... it looked like a mini road!



I didn't quite make it all the way to the planetarium because I started to get a really annoying headache, but here are some shots from that area. Oh... and since I didn't bring a light jacket with me, the air coming off the lake was really getting chilly. Such a beautiful day!







About this time I got a call from the hotel letting me know my room was ready. From there I headed back to the hotel via taxi and checked into my room. Got a 15th floor king bed room with an awesome city/water view!

Room:




Bathroom:


View:




After getting settled in, our group of three headed over to the John Hancock Center to have dinner at the Signature Room at the 95th floor. This was a picture perfect day to get a view of the city from above. Here's a few shots from there... as well as a group photo:







After dinner we decided to walk back to the hotel since it was so nice out. Most shops were closed by now since it was so late on Sunday. But I managed to take a few more good shots:





By the time I got back to my room and got settled in, I was pretty much done for the day. Monday and Tuesday were pretty much spent on business stuff (and they were rainy days), so I don't have much else to write about that you would be interested in.

Thank you all again for sharing your thoughts and your city with me last weekend! Chicago is a beautiful city and I believe I'll need to come visit again in the future... but bring the family next time! Thanks for letting me share my visit with you... hope I don't take up too much room on your thread

 

[piglet too]

Thank you for sharing your photos! I know I tend to forget how beautiful the city can be. Glad you had a wonderful time, and hope you make it back with the family.

 

[disneygal922]

Bunchy ~ Safe Travels!!!!

Emma's Dad ~ Thank you for sharing your photos with us. I'm glad you had a nice time at the Field Museum and in Chicago.

 

[esbrick]

Bunchkin ~ Safe travels and Blessings to you and your familiy! I hope that your life will be wonderful where ever you are going and I can't wait to hear all the updates!

Emma's Dad ~ Glad you had a great time! Please come back again soon and hope that you can stop by the brewpub!

Slo ~ This is actually the first time I am doing Meg's party "outside" our home. Kinda takes the pressure off me. Last time we had a slumber party I over planned out of nervousness and they wound up taking care of themselves. This weekend we will plan and get things done and hope for the best!

My biggest issue right now is that Meg's mother, whom I affectionately call CB (not to her face!) will be at the party. Although I am happy that we are doing something as a team for Meg, (Believe me this is big!) She is a control freak and does not have a filter. I am going to have to shine the armor to survive the weekend! Oh well, that's why I have my happy place and she's not invited!

Anyone ready for a beer? I believe there is a cold one waiting for me on the brewery deck and I am going to go join it!

Have a great weekend everyone!

E