January 2009. . . Calling all Snowbirds ~ Part IV !!!

[trixiequilts]

Wow that's awful! And I thought our freezing rain was bad!

Was today supposed to be their last day before break? Mine still have to go Monday and Tuesday.

Yes, today was their last day, but they only had a half day scheduled anyway. Pretty much just a party day.

 

[Dancegrl624]

My DD has school Monday and Tuesday too. It stinks! Some school disticts here have school on just Monday. What a waste of time. Just give them the two weeks off. How much do the teachers expect to accomplish on Mon and Tues? My DD has her Christmas concert on Tuesday and they have their party too. Not much work will get done!

The snow is really coming down now. My DD keeps looking out the window and saying, "I can't even see the road!" You really can't tell where the road ends and the grass begins. I'm sure glad to be home in my nice warm house!

 

[Pluto_fan]

Good morning Snowbirds!

I hope everyone is staying safe and warm in the winter weather. We just have chilly rain here in the Washington DC area. Yucky. Sorry to hear so many little Snowbirds are sick! Hopefully they're all getting it over with so they can be healthy for Disney! We are getting over our ear infections here--DS8 and DD are fine, but I'm still not hearing as well as I should be. Remmy, it sounds like you and I had the same thing...hope you're feeling better!

Carrie, I'm so glad you had a safe trip! Enjoy your time with your family!

I've been reading every day to keep up with all the Snowbird happenings, but haven't posted in a while. I've been feeling too far behind in the holiday preparations! Plus I'm long overdue for the dentist! But over the past few days I've gotten several things crossed off the list. Cards went out yesterday, and packages to my sister and dad. We still need to send one to DH's dad...but we need to get a gift first! Today is going to be grocery shopping day, so I need to do some menu planning first so I know what I need to buy. My MIL arrives Monday evening, which means Monday will be devoted to housekeeping. So I'll have this weekend to finish up shopping (no, I'm not finished yet! Or maybe I am...I need to check) and do lots of wrapping.

Yesterday I stopped at Home Depot and picked up several LGMHs! I'm not entirely sure what I'm going to do with them yet, but hopefully after Christmas I'll have a chance to play with them. I also picked up a bunch in other colors. I'm still planning to make a countdown calendar for the boys...though I'm not sure when that's going to happen! I felt like a thief, collecting all these paint chips. Although with all the thousands of dollars we've spent at that store, they're surely not losing any money on us!

My dentist rocks, and he's handsome.

LOL, that reminds me of a Steven Wright joke. He says he has a crush on his dental hygenist, so before his appointment he eats a whole package of Oreos!

 

[trixiequilts]

Here's the view out my front window right now. I didn't take the photo in black and white, it's really that gray out there. And there's a road buried somewhere, too.

 

[mana_liz]

Lot's of snow here...SNOW DAY for DLSis...it was her last day anyways. It's been snowing since about 5 am and we have at least 6 inches and it's still snowing.


Is anyone have troubling ordering their maps for the website...I can't input my dates.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Good morning!!!
Trixie!! I love that picture!! It's beautiful!! Of course, from inside the house!!!!! Hope you all stay safe and warm up in snow country. We are back to the 70s and muggy. I have a headache--I think it's just sinus stuff this time. My poor kids never know how to dress-we have to go out and stand on the back porch and see if it's pants/shorts, long/short sleeves. Just craziness.

 

[mana_liz]

Here's the view out my front window right now. I didn't take the photo in black and white, it's really that gray out there. And there's a road buried somewhere, too.

Looks like the view outside my window as well.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Good morning Snowbirds!

I hope everyone is staying safe and warm in the winter weather. We just have chilly rain here in the Washington DC area. Yucky. Sorry to hear so many little Snowbirds are sick! Hopefully they're all getting it over with so they can be healthy for Disney! We are getting over our ear infections here--DS8 and DD are fine, but I'm still not hearing as well as I should be. Remmy, it sounds like you and I had the same thing...hope you're feeling better!

I was wondering where you had been. I bet your boys are really excited about Christmas and WDW!!

I hope your ear will be back to normal soon. Ear infections are the worst!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

6 Sleeps until Christmas!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Ewww..they have to go Monday and Tuesday...yuck!! Today is the last day of school here!!! YAY!!

Yep, our school tends to have a little bit shorter breaks throughout the year. I don't mind though, when everyone else is still going in June and starting back in August our kids are home!!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Any thoughts on a menu of the day???

I think I have pretty much covered them all and started to repeat some of them. . . Anything anyone would like to see today?

 

[Kazooie01]

Good morning all!

Well, schools are mostly closing early or just flat out closed here today, and not a flake in the sky yet! A bit weird, really. We just don't *do* that here.

As someone else said, though, this happened once long ago with a fierce daytime storm and when the schools and businesses released early it was a nightmare on the roads. People stuck on on-ramps for hours (literally!) and abandoning cars on the highways. Yuck!

This storm doesn't look to be nearly as severe as that one, but it should be fun! They're calling for 6-12 last I heard, with snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour. Should make for interesting driving, but really pretty!

Oh, that snowstorm many years back - those of you from this area, you'll recall the snowfall rates were more in the 5-6 inches per hour rate. THAT was veeeery interesting!

I remember that storm, I also remember running off our front porch and jumping into waist deep snow! We're expecting 8-14 down here, it's usually Syracuse getting the foot plus.

 

[jenjolt]

Yep, our school tends to have a little bit shorter breaks throughout the year. I don't mind though, when everyone else is still going in June and starting back in August our kids are home!!

A really long summer vacation is always nice too!!!! Besides I'm sure the boys don't mind they are probably doing some really cool fun things at school the last couple of days before break..unlike the High schools where they are taking final exams...LOL

 

[jenjolt]

Any thoughts on a menu of the day???

I think I have pretty much covered them all and started to repeat some of them. . . Anything anyone would like to see today?

Yatchsman or Brown Derby...those are two I'm really looking foward too LOL

 

[snykymom]

My DD has school Monday and Tuesday too. It stinks! Some school disticts here have school on just Monday. What a waste of time. Just give them the two weeks off. How much do the teachers expect to accomplish on Mon and Tues? My DD has her Christmas concert on Tuesday and they have their party too. Not much work will get done!

It's not so much that they expect to get anything done. I think it's a hedge against multiple snow days later on, and trying to get all the required school days in before the fiscal year ends. In MA, students have to have 180 days of school by June 30 or get a special dispensation from the state. A couple of years ago, several school systems had so many snow days that they had to cancel April vacation to get the days in!

Good morning all!

Well, schools are mostly closing early or just flat out closed here today, and not a flake in the sky yet! A bit weird, really. We just don't *do* that here.

As someone else said, though, this happened once long ago with a fierce daytime storm and when the schools and businesses released early it was a nightmare on the roads. People stuck on on-ramps for hours (literally!) and abandoning cars on the highways. Yuck!

This storm doesn't look to be nearly as severe as that one, but it should be fun! They're calling for 6-12 last I heard, with snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour. Should make for interesting driving, but really pretty!

Oh, that snowstorm many years back - those of you from this area, you'll recall the snowfall rates were more in the 5-6 inches per hour rate. THAT was veeeery interesting!

We had a storm like that around here last year. My h's 45 minute commute took more than 4 hours! My train didn't even stop at my station to pick people up - I had to walk to another station and take the later train, which was packed! Such a disaster (but it was better than driving!). They're predicting a storm like that today here; most schools closed or planned early releases, and the governor declared a state of emergency. Non-essential state & city personnel were not supposed to come it. It's almost 11, and there is not one flake! I'm hoping that means that my commute home will be livable (my employer doesn't believe in closing ).

 

[drakes]

Looks like the view outside my window as well.

Me too !!! I can't believe I am still here at work!! DD has her last day of school today- busses cancelled but school open? I am waiting to get "the call" to come pick her up! Which based on the weather - could take a few hours to get through!

Snow is pretty- but the wind and white outs are not.

 

[coffeehousemom]

Snow day here too!! When we went to bed at 11 nothing woke up at 4am to a blizzard. We had 7 inches by 6am. They closed the highway by our house because of blowing & drifting snow. So the four of us got to sleep in. Then DD let her dog out to go potty, who proceded to charge the door before she was chained, & charge through the snow up the street to play. SO we had to bundle up & find her. Got her back, put her in a time out & now DH is going to try to make it in to work.

 

[drakes]

(my employer doesn't believe in closing ).

We must work at the same place. I'm with you with being .
Although they just bought us pizza lunch to avoid us going out for lunch????

Why not send us home!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Yachtsman Steakhouse

Dinner

Appetizers

Crispy Fried Calamari - served with tomato-chili sauce and Yuzu sour cream $13.00

Chilled Seafood Salad - Lobster, Shrimp and Jumbo Crab with Lemon Créme Fraiche and Avocado Cream $16.00

Caesar Salad - Crisp Romaine Lettuce, Aged Parmesan Cheese and Garlic Sourdough Croutons $9.00

Crispy Veal Sweetbreads - with creamed leeks, chanterelles, madeira-veal reduction and truffle oil $11.00

Heirloom Tomato Salad - with Pearl Onions, Basil, Baby Arugula, Point Reyes Blue Cheese, and 8 year old Balsamic Reduction $12.00

Assortment of Artisan Cheese - accompanied with Toasted Fig and Anise Baguette $14.00

Seared Maine Diver Scallops with Frisée and Shiitake Mushroom Salad tossed with warm Smoked Bacon Vinaigrette $14.00

Lobster Bisque - Maine Lobster and Creme Fraiche finished with Brandy $9.00

Farmers Salad - Mixed Field Greens, Pickled Yellow Beets, Pistachio-crusted Goat Cheese, and Blackberry Vinaigrette $10.00


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Entrees
All Steaks are Cooked over Oak Fired Grill

Australian Wagyu - 10 ounce strip loin served with truffle potatoes and carbernet reduction $54.00

Slow Roasted Prime Rib - 14-oz Prime Rib with Horseradish Mashed Potatoes and Au Jus $39.00

New York Strip Steak - 12 oz. Strip Steak with Peppercorn Brandy Sauce and Potato Gratin with Diamond White Cheddar $42.00

Yachtsman Filet Mignon - 8-ounce Filet with Mashed Potatoes and a Red Wine Sauce $39.00

Porterhouse - 24 oz. Center Cut Porterhouse with Fingerling Potatoes and Roasted Garlic Butter $44.00

Roasted Free-Range Chicken Breast - crushed fall root vegetables, rainbow Swiss chard, and toasted almond butter $25.00

Pan-seared Wild Salmon - with Brentwood corn, fingerling potatoes, smoked bacon, corn nectar and crushed avocado $35.00

Boneless Lamb Loin - wild mushroom and butternut squash ragout, confit peppers and lamb-merlot reduction $32.00

Wild Mushroom Free Formed Ravioli - Arugula Pasta, Seared Trumpets Royale, Asparagus, and Roasted Vegetable Broth $22.00


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Side Dishes

Rainbow Carrots - in Honey-herb Butter $8.00

Creamed Spinach - with Parmesan Cheese $6.00

Sauteed Mushroom Caps - with Sherry and Cabernet Wine Sauce $6.00


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Desserts

Dessert Sampler Platter for Two -- chef's sampling of our desserts $11

White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Pie -- macadamia nuts with white chocolate, cream cheese and whipped cream $7

Jack Daniel's Mousse Cake -- with a chocolate cigarette and raspberry coulis $7

Florida Key Lime Pie - with a graham cracker crust, whipped cream and lady fingers $7

Sorbet Trio -- chef's selection of seasonal fruit sorbets $7

Creme Brulee with fresh berries and rolled chocolate $8

Housemade Gelato -- three scoops of chocolate, strawberry or vanilla in a cookie bowl $6


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Kids Menu

All meals served with choice of juice, 1% milk or bottled water


Soup of the Day - Chicken Noodle $3.00
Jr. House Salad - blend of fresh mixed field greens $4.00


Oak Grilled Steak - mashed potatoes and veggies $12.00
Grilled Chicken Strips - mashed potatoes and veggies $9.00
Baked Fish of the Day - mashed potatoes and veggies $6.00
Mickey-Shaped Pasta - choice of marinara or cheese sauce $6.00

French fries and soft drinks available upon request

Mickey and Minnie Dessert Puzzle - $6.00

Chocolate Brownie $6.00

 

[sarbah77]

Any thoughts on a menu of the day???

I think I have pretty much covered them all and started to repeat some of them. . . Anything anyone would like to see today?

Spoodles would be great, some day!

It's not so much that they expect to get anything done. I think it's a hedge against multiple snow days later on, and trying to get all the required school days in before the fiscal year ends. In MA, students have to have 180 days of school by June 30 or get a special dispensation from the state. A couple of years ago, several school systems had so many snow days that they had to cancel April vacation to get the days in!

Yup, and the district my mom teaches in already missed four days because of the ice storm... and it's only December!

(my employer doesn't believe in closing ).

Yeah, same. Every public school in the county is closed. Sounds like nearly every private school is closed. The OTHER University in town is closed.

Finals and the semester ended yesterday. We're OPEN. We easily have 6" of snow on the ground and it's still falling. Due to the poor state of Michigan's budget, the county isn't plowing state roads. I don't live in a town, so my roads aren't plowed. (I will say, my ride to work had one of the most awesome bus drivers taking care of us!) The U doesn't close because of the proximity of students and faculty to campus, which I get. But they aren't here today.

Three other coworkers and myself are here. We have NOTHING going on. NOTHING AT ALL.



Three more days of work.
Three more days of work.
Three more days of work.