Chicago area Diser's - check in here Part 3

[Bunchkin]

I went to a cute gift shop near us to find an ornament for a Girl Scout Service Unit holiday dinner/ornament exchange I am going to tomorrow.
At the store Hunter was playing with one of those cd machines that has preprogrammed bits of cds in them (like they have at Target). I had just asked him to stop pressing the buttons and to come by me when the woman ringing me up decided *she* needed to scold my son!!!
I really hate when people take it upon themselves to scold another person's child. Especially since I was right there and she could have voiced her concerns to me. It took every once of decency in me to not let her have it. I was really biting my tongue.


But I digress..........................

I did get a really cute snowman ornament and some Christmas cards too.



SamIAm So glad to hear that you and Megan had a good time. We enjoyed the theming at POP, but agree with you on how it's too busy there. Why is it that value resorts can bring out the worst of the worst? Not to say that there aren't rude people at other resorts. But we experienced just the rudest people at POP. Coincidence??
Sorry that you ran into such a rude person there. I can't believe he swore at you. What a creep!!
Hope you get caught up at work!!!
BTW....I love POFQ!!!

macraven Sorry to hear about your student. How very sad.
I'm so sorry that your son is leaving town again.

Tiggerrn I'm very sorry to hear about your family memebers that are in the hospital. I hope they recover in time to be home for the holidays.


hersey HI!!


Well, DH is home and it's time to finish making dinner.
We are having turkey and mashed potatos, veggies and rolls. We don't mind turkey even though Thanksgiving was just a couple weeks ago. We never got any leftovers because we had dinner at my mom's house. So there wasn't the endless array of turkey leftovers to eat!!!

Have a nice night everyone!!!

 

[bigben]

Hi Everyone - I got one question. Who the Heck turned on the AC?! OMG the bottom fell out of the temp.
Sam - Welcome back I guess. I know I would have to think twice about coming back.

Bunckin - I know what you mean about the rude people, but the one thing is when your at the resorts like OKW or Toga Springs the guest are fine and relaxed. Those same people in the parks turn into rude mosters just the same as the other people. I think that its just the crowds and most people don't know how to RELAX!!!!

One last thing Pirates is coming out tomorrow!!!!! but I can wait... NOT!

 

[Debbie6221]

WELCOME BACK SamIAm! Your trip sounds like it was awesome! Please post pix!

Bunchkin....you and my DH share a lot. He has the same foot problem as you too if I'm not mistaken.

Macraven.... That is so sad about your student/friend. When someone dies before their time it is just so much more tragic.

Tiggerrn2 I hope your niece is OK.

WPASADI....still don't have a clue what this is all about.

Good night everyone.

For those who need better days I hope they come tomorrow!
Debbie

 

[roseprincess]

Hi all-
Looks like alot is going on and alot of us here need prayer and PD

Mac- Sorry about your student that passed away So sad. for you and his family.
Also for you that your son is leaving again.
I know I'm getting spiritual here, but as soon as my kids get on the school bus in the morning, I pray for them that God keeps them away from harm and keeps them safe. I pray the same prayer for my dh too, when he leaves for work. It seems to help me that God and angels will watch over them.

Tiggerrn- So sorry to hear about your MIL and neice. Prayers and PD for both of them Please keep us posted on their recovery when you have a chance.

SamIAm- Welcome back!! Sorry to hear about that very rude guy at POP. So glad Megan didn't get scalded with hot coffee. Somebody was definitely watching over her We had a couple of rude looks/comments at the parks when we went on DD's Make-A-Wish trip. Mostly a couple of rude comments from people at MGM. Not sure why people would be so rude? Disney is supposed to be the happiest place on earth,right?? Glad you and Megan had a magical moment with Santa!

Debbie- Glad tohear that your DH's heart rhythm went back to normal And your parents got their flight out yest with no problems

Slo- Prayer and PD for the damage to hte cars won't be too much money

Leigh- Glad all is going well with your townhouse and ordering all the inside stuff Thanks to the linkof the pics.

Hi to everyone else

 

[Bunchkin]

Bunchkin....you and my DH share a lot. He has the same foot problem as you too if I'm not mistaken.

I have heel spurs and had surgery in June on the ligaments that rub against them. And I'm still not fully recovered. I'm in constant pain all day. It's horrible!!!!
And since my last vacation to WDW my pain is worse. The foot doctor last week said I soft fractured my foot by over doing it. My foot is in new pain right below my toes. My large toe feels numb on the side. And the pinky toe and the one next to will no longer wiggle on their own.
I was really worried that something aweful is happening to my feet, but the doctor reassured that me that with phys. therapy the pain should go away and my toes will be back to normal. I would like to believe him, but it's getting really hard to do that.

I hope that your DH is not in as bad a shape as I am!!!

 

[piglet too]

OK, I need help and I know that this person posts on this thread, I just can not recall her name. I think it is Rosemarie, but

I met her at the DIS meet last winter and her DD had just done a science fair project on dogs (and maybe cats) being right or left "pawed." My DS12 is doing the same thing and needs some help with the research aspect of it. If you could please PM me, it would really be appreciated.

 

[slo]

I'm off to the frame shop again today. We have alot of work to do, so I offered to come in today instead of going to the Real Estate office.

Well......we got the estimates.
*My car is $1233.45
*Kevin's car is anywhere between $1600 - $2200. They aren't sure of his final price yet until they take the door off. Either way, I'm pleased with this price because I was expecting it to be so much more.
*The rental car is $35 a day and he is going to need this car for about 10 days or so.

macraven - Thanks for your kind words and sharing your story with me - I'm glad I'm not the only one that's done something like this.
**Did your son buy a plane ticket back to Mexico? I'm so sorry he is leaving again? Why doesn't he want to go back after X-Mas?
**Thanks for the tv listings.
**I'm so sorry to hear about your student passing away - so, so sad!!!!

Bunchkin - We aren't taking our stuff down until we return from WDW too - it's up for the long haul
**That's a good one - I'm going to have to start writing these things down because I'm not to quick to say things like that . I always think of witty things to say an hour later. I am trying to laugh it off, and Kevin is good at getting me to chuckle about it.

Leigh - Great pictures, keep them coming!!!!

Debbie - Continued prayers for your DH
**We aren't submitting to insurace because we don't want a higher payment, and we in the middle of wanting to switch from Geico to State Farm. I hope we are making the right decision.

Sam - Welcome home!!!!!!!
I'm sorry your resort stay was not a great experience , but it sounds like you had fun in the parks . I can't believe that one guy told you to Foff - my jaw dropped when I read that I can hardly wait to see your pictures!!!!

Tiggerrnnn - I'm so sorry to hear about your MIL and niece - I will keep them both in my prayers .
** I don't read that paper, so I don't know what happened. Was her accident around where I live? How sad - was she alone?

MJ -

HERSEY -

bigben - I put the new Pirates movie on my Christmas list - I hope I get it (fingers crossed), so I will be waiting for awhile

Rosemarie - Thanks for the prayers and PD - no one can ever have to many of those

Piglet too - Good luck with your DS's project


Well, I better go get ready for work.
Have a good day today everyone!!!!

 

[SamIAm21]

Well today started off on a bad note that's for sure! Got in my car, stick in the key, nothing, not even a click! So much for putting premium gas in the tank last night!! Arrrgh! My DH had to come home from work to take me to the train and Megan to school. She didn't want to miss school as they are celebrating Walt Disney's birthday TODAY!!

My car is just so perplexing as it runs so so well 99.8% of the time, but it always take a pooper at the most frustrating of times! Well I called CarMax this morning about a Chrysler Pacifica on the lot there! I'm waiting for a call back on that!! Anyone own one of those that has any feedback?

It's either the fuel pump or my stupid alarm system again! The alarm system has given me so much trouble. It activates the gas cut off switch on a whim and then the car don't start!! I started it remotely last night and that may have "upset" the alarm system again. Never again will I get a wing-ding alarm system on a car... too much wiring too many ways to cause trouble!! Then again it is a full moon, maybe that's it!!!

So, it looks like a new-ish car for me!!

Thanks for the welcome-home's everyone! Slo, sorry about your car troubles!! Cars...arggh can't live without them, can't drive them off a cliff!!!

 

[macraven]

OK, I need help and I know that this person posts on this thread, I just can not recall her name. I think it is Rosemarie, but

I met her at the DIS meet last winter and her DD had just done a science fair project on dogs (and maybe cats) being right or left "pawed." My DS12 is doing the same thing and needs some help with the research aspect of it. If you could please PM me, it would really be appreciated.

hi piglet, i sent rosemarie a pm for her to come read your post.

she will be on sometime today i think

 

[macraven]

good morning chicago land homies.

another day ahead.

hope you are having a good day.

 

[disneymama73]

It's 14 degrees. I'm freezing.

 

[biras jim]

thanks for the museum and weather info all -- had a good, but lengthy stay in Chicago last weekend -- took the train up and was unable to get back to balmy Central Illinois as scheduled -- the Tut exhibit is amazing (closes 1/1/07, I believe)

 

[disneymama73]

thanks for the museum and weather info all -- had a good, but lengthy stay in Chicago last weekend -- took the train up and was unable to get back to balmy Central Illinois as scheduled -- the Tut exhibit is amazing (closes 1/1/07, I believe)

Sure. Rub it in.

 

[Bunchkin]

Howdy all!!

I was supposed to take my van in for an oil change and a front end allignment today. But I didn't feel like it!! So Hunter and I spent the morning building with Legos instead!!

I actually do need to get out the door soon!!! Very soon!!!

I have some errands to run. I need to stop at Lauren's school to give her some cold meds. Then to the post office. Then to the insurance agency to pick up a surety bond for our business I ordered from them *last week*which they didn't complete until yesterday!!! Idiots!!!! And I used to work at that office too, so you think they wouldn't have taken their time with it!!! Then to drop off paper work for new houses we are doing in the city of Worth. So I have a LOT of driving to do today!!


SamIAm Sorry to hear about your car! If it's just your alarm, are you still going to get a new vehicle?? I like the Pacifica!! But I'm partial to any Chrysler/Dodge product! There are a lot of them in our area actually. I see them all the time!!

slo Good thing the car repairs are not as high as you expected.
As far as the insurance goes (remember I used to be a insurance underwriter when I worked outside of the home) you would only take a slight increase on to your vehilce. Since it was the one that did the damage, and the claim would fall under your collision deductible. Kevin's claim would be under his comprehesive deductible, since he was parked and you hit him. His would not take an increase. I don't see a large increase to your policy if you were to claim it and it would be up to an underwriter to determine that. Of course I don't know what deductibles you have on each car, so minusing that from the total would also make the actual claim amount smaller too.
In the end it's all up to you what you want to do.
IMO, given the amounts you listed for repairs, I would not claim it.
Claiming an accident will follow you for at least 3 years worth of increased premium. Whether that be small or large.



Gotta run!!!!!!!!!

 

[SamIAm21]

Bunchkin:

Yep, still gotta get a new vehicle. I've been putting it off for a year now, but my car is closing in 100,000 miles and you don't get a whole lot for them on trade after that mile-level. So, I'm at 91,000 on 1996, so actually, that's well below standard mileage. Dan detailed the car while I was in Florida last week, so it's ready to show!

I am going to apply for a loan through my 401k. The interest rate is good and I'd rather pay myself back than some credit company or bank! I could sell my car outright and keep the $$$.

I found one I really really want, but it's up in Glencoe so it could take a couple days to get it down here to Tinley Park. So far, I really like dealing with CarMax. You find what you can afford, what you want to pay, so no haggling. It's weird as it almost seems too easy?? I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop ya know.

The Pacifica would be a good road trip car to WDW!! Hee heee!!

 

[rmom50]

Hellooooooo Chicago! I made it. Flew out Thursday Morning and returned late last night - got home after midnight. Got out of the airport just in time. Luckily the predicted ice storm that was to hit before the snow storm didn't happen. My friend met me at the Magical Express sign in. Everything went smoothly. Good news on the ASMu - everything was back to being wunnnnnerful there. Last trip was sooooo bad, but I didn't want to bad mouth them because I figured it might have been a long series of unfortunate instances. hahahah. Anyhoo....I was right. Check in took two hours because their key makers were "down". Some people were going berserk with anger and I felt so sorry for the CM's. After that it was smooth sailing for me. Was very humid and appx. 85 degrees all days except yesterday - and it cooled off to like 70 with no humidity - big change. That was great because we could wear long sleeves after packing up for trip home. Thanks all for your well wishes. I was really pretty scared about traveling in the storm (alone). The Regis & Kelly Christmas parade was going on, but we avoided it. Saw the Candelight thing at Epcot with Rita Marino. Saw the Osborne Family lights at MGM. Everything was great. I wasn't overly impressed with the daytime Christmas Parade at MK, but it was good. Not a knock out. Spectro is so much better. They took the big crane down behind the castle for Regis, but it was back up the next day. Must still be painting way up at the top. Lots of people had the prize mouse ears on and I saw a family with the fast passes to all the parks, but we didn't get any prizes. Went to MVMCP the first night (Nov 30). It was fun. My friend isn't a big fan of Disney or amusement parks in general as it turns out, so we didn't do a lot of rides. She got 'sick' the first day on Spaceship Earth so I pretty much knew what to expect for the rest of the trip. We did some stuff because of her affliction that I probably would have missed otherwise though. Saw the gingerbread house and decorations at Grand Floridian. I've never even taken the time to walk through that place. OMGosh. Probably better for me not to know about the Deluxes. We also went to Poly to look around. So, so pretty.

SamIAm.......I know what you mean about the value food courts. It's like a feeding frenzy at certain hours. The last day we were there an inordinate amount of teens showed up for some football/cheerleading thing. It was wild. Just too many kids to be properly supervised. Also, I am so sorry about the coffee incident. Stuff like that can suck the magic right out of your day I know.

Big Ben....I'm glad to hear you offer suggestions (okw/toga springs) of quieter and relaxing resorts. I need that info too.

TiggerRN2.....saying a prayer for your family.

Debbie......same for your DH.

Biras Jim.....Thanks for the reminder about the Tut exhibit! We want to get in to see it.

Slo.....So sorry about the cars. I can't imagine the shock of doing that. It's bad enough when someone else runs into your car and you can blame them. Feel for ya.

sk8leigh.....Your new house is gorgeous. So exciting. I've never had a brand new house. The one I'm in now is 100! I'm envious.

SamIam.....I know nothing about cars...except I agree with you....if they don't run time for a new used one. I buy them one year old from a friend in town. My current one is a Hyundai Sonata (cant spell it) and I'm very pleased.

I didn't see any Dis alien green Mickey heads there. I didn't have one on either though. I picked them up at HD and then forgot to take them along. Oh well.

Mickey made that little kissy noise to send to you all and said 'hi Chicago'.

 

[SamIAm21]

Hey RMom, glad you had a great time in WDW. I thought the daytime parade was pretty blah too compared to the previous one. I even missed the snowglobe look. But we saw the MVMCP parade and that was phenomenal. It has some special effects with it (no spoilers here) and I loved every moment. Megan was transfixed!!

The Candlelight Processional was awesome and we had John O'Hurley (dang he's good looking) as our narrator. I bought the CD because I can't imagine not hearing that again. So moving and beautiful. The CD actually features Phylisha Rashad (spelling?) as the narrator, but its the choir I want to hear most.

The castle crane was not up or not visible on either day we were there, so I guess that's a good thing?? I did miss the gold embellishments of the 50th HCOE celebration. I didn't get a chance to see Spectro this time, but I plan on seeing it in April.

I thought the Osborne Family lights were overwhelmingingly cool! Just too cool for words. I stood there with my mouth hanging open when those lights started to dance!! Wow Wow Wow!! The Mannheim Steamroller music that those lights dance to is also very powerful! Snow on the Streets of America was also amazing!! Not to mention on Main Street at the MK!

I really liked Pop Century for its colorfulness, the rooms were fine, basic amenities, nice firm beds, clean clean clean, but I don't think I'll ever stay there again. There was some room noise from time to time, nothing annoying, but you could hear kids running outside, toilets flushing, doors were slamming on occassion and it didn't help that we were right up from a Twister game! The kids loved hanging out there. Those things don't bother me though, as long as it is happy noise ya know!! It was just too busy in that food court and people were pretty much going around with a "every man for themselves" attitude. It just doesn't jive with my "desires" for a Disney resort.

I also don't think I'll ever spend six solid days in WDW again. I'm not trying to sound like an "old pro", but we've done quite a bit of it already and although it does change with new attractions and shows, I think four to five days is plenty from now on. I was pretty exhausted after about five days and the sixth day was pretty much just wandering around in a zombie like state! HA! Either that or I would go for a really long time like 10 days and just take my time with everything...

Going Commando is getting a little tough!!

 

[Debbie6221]

Hi Everyone,
All is fine on my end. Nothing too exciting. I am freezing. I can tell you that much!!!!
RMOM50 and SAMIAM....I love hearing about your trips. I would love to try it out for the Christmas season one year. I have stayed at almost every kind of WDW hotel/resort they have and I know what you mean about POP. I agree on all points.
Bunchkin..My DH has Planters Fasciltis. His heart has been fine. I just feel so bad for you guys when you go from one pain to another. My shoulders been bothering me and I am a big baby about just that!
SamIAm..It's always exciting getting a new car isn't it! I bet the problem with your old car is the alarm system. My husband finally just told them to take his out! Once we got a ticket because it went off without stopping and another time the car wouldn't start! STUPID! My bad car story is that we decided to buy a brand new Chrysler Town & Country Mini Van when I was expecting my DD in 2002 so we spurdged. The next year thier Chrysler Van was completely redesigned and 100 times nicer! Oh well. Still paying off the outdated one!

Tiggerrn2 hope your MIL and Niece are doing better.
Slo..glad the damage wasn't as bad as you thought. Thanks for always being so good with your detailed posts!
Macraven..
How's WASAPDIWDWGVDUSFPWASA going?
I hope things are getting more cheery on your end Hang in there! Have faith and stay strong!!!! Hey, where do you sub? How come you are online sometimes but your green light still is out? Just being nosy.

I don't know if I told all of you but I did get my Highschool Musical tickets I bought on Ebay. That put another thing on my mind at ease.

Hang in there everyone!
Thanks again for all your well wishes for my DH! I appreciate it!

 

[roseprincess]

Hi all-
I went to a friend's house earlier today to drop off the gift her DD got from that township children's disability holiday party we went to over the weekend. My friend and her family didn't make it to the party, so I was able to pick up her DD's gift that day. I delivered it today and I gave my friend a bag of winter clothes that my DD outgrew, for her DD. My friend was very happy I stopped by and delivered the things, as my friend hasn't been feeling all that well lately.

Piglet too- Thanks for posting here last night. I did PM you this morning, around 9:20am. I think you are looking for Stitchfans and her DD. Her Dd is the one that did that pet project you are talking about. Just read my PM tho.
Welcome to our Chicago thread, too

Rmom50-Welcome back! Sounds like you had a nice trip!!

Disneymama-Welcome back to you, too! How was your trip?

biras jim- Glad you and your family had a great time at the King Tut exhibit!

Ok, I gotta run, as I need to pick up my kids from their afterschool activity.

 

[jedi_librarian]

Welcome back to those of you who just came back! Nice weather to come back, to, huh?

We're having a meet on the 17th (a Sunday) There's a link to the thread in my signature!