Friday Roll Call

Happy Friday everyone. Not much going on in my world other than we will go to Christian Family Books right after I get off and then maybe to another store close by to PU some last minute CD gifts for the great nieces and nephew.

The cold that has been threatening all week is rearing its ugly head. Fun and right when I have to do a fasting blood test tomorrow morning and I will not be able to take anything until afterwards. Edited to add that I cannot take anything for the cold after midnight tonight until after the blood test. I will get through it.

What is happening in your corner or IL?

Our snow in the NW 'burbs was enough to cover the windshield last night at the Creek and then enough to almost cover the grass this morning.

Good Morning on this Friday before Christmas.

I don't know about you, but we got didn't even get enough snow to pack a snowball. We lucked out on that.

I have a Dr appointment today, to remove the stiches from my back. A few errands to run, then we are going to Starved Rock State Park to go on a Trolly tour of the area towns to look at Xmas lights. It sounds like a fun thing to do.

Tomorrow i will party up the house, and start preparing stuff for our Christmas Eve party.I think it will be a smaller crowd this year, by at least 4 people.

Dawns power was out yesterday for at least 5.5 hours. I hope she has it back on for now.

Any plans for anyone this morning?

Hugs,

LISA

Hello everyone

Yes, I say we lucked out too.  I got enough snow to cover my windshield...but nothing on the ground.  It is cold and windy though...a combination I don't like.  But since the roads seem fine I will be out and about today.  I am sure they will let us out early today.  I will be going to Target and JC Penney for sure...any where else will be a last minute decision.  I went to TJ Maxx last night because I want to buy a new purse...well the purses are wayyy too expensive but I did decided to buy a pair of jeans (first pair of new jeans I bought in awhile..all my jeans are from Goodwill) they were Levis for only $9.99...you can't beat that!!!  I love Levis. 

The BBQ went well...we were cold but the funny thing was it stopped raining for about an hour while we were out there and then we came in and 10 minutes later it was pouring outside.  We timed it perfectly.

Nancy- your cell phone comment made me smile.  I am one that would die without my cell phone.  My reminders, calendars, notes, phone #s are on there.  I even check the weather on my phone.  But now I use my phone as my alarm clock too.  My doctor has an app, so I can make appts, see test results and even send him messages all my phone, I have my email, Facebook, my other apps (coupons, calorie counter, games, calorie burner, Walgreens so I can re-new my RX...I could go on) and my navigation app, and my music and photos...all on my phone...I would die without this thing!!!

Christine- I am happy for your good fortune...no horrible boss or crabby co-worker for the rest of the year.  I remember having to deal with that....UGH.  Oh and your suggestion for bringing in a book...I could try that but I will have to focus on something other than the words.  I get motion sickness when I am moving and reading at the same time.  I wish that wasn't so, because I am missing lots of reading time when I am exercising!!! 

Lisa- Have fun getting ready for your party.

Well I better get going see you all later...stay warm...Bye

Well, I lost all my big red bows............the wind whipped them off the trees and garage but baby Jesus and his entourage are all snuggled in on my front lawn. The lights are all still intact.

We got nada. No snow for us. There is a bit on the grass but it is scant. I have to say it looked pretty bad last night. I'm glad for the travelers who are trying to get to there homes for the holidays. The lack of snow will help in that regard as well.

Lisa, that light trip today sounds awesome. Can you give me more info about it?

I hope it is a short work day for everybody so your long weekend can begin.

I am delivering my angel tree gifts today and popping a tray of lasagna in the oven for dinner.

Crystal, I have a fancy Google phone that does it all, but I rarely know where it is and it usually has lost its charge. Yesterday my hubby had tried calling me all day and I realized when he got home to tell me this, my phone was lost somewhere...again. I always find it in the car or on the bottom of my purse. I use it to take pics more than anything :)

Blessings all,

Sharon

Sharon, it is the Trolly Christmas Light Tour, through Starved Rock. It runs through Dec 23rd, from 6 to 8:30. Cost is 15 for adults and 10 for kids under 10. They are touring the area around LaSalle,Utica and Peru. Reservations needed. 815 220-7386

It may be to late for this year, but keep it in mind for next. They do it every year.

LISA

Thanks so much.....i have filed this info

Hugs,

Sharon

Good morning!

I use my phone like Crystal does--for just about everything except posting this. I had a droid before and it was hard to use but since I got the iPhone I use it all the time. Except I rarely talk on it! LOL! I don't really have anyone to talk to. Kay and I have our phones synced so we have a joint grocery list so even she doesn't need to call me anymore. I get such a kick out of technology!

We got a little snow--just enough to make a white Christmas.I'm going out to the Bookworm to knit today and to have lunch--they are featuring Mayan food today! I focused on the Mayan culture in college with my major in Spanish, but I've forgotten a lot. I've been amused that many of the pictures of the Mayan calendar on FB were actually of the Aztec calendar.

Take care and stay warm!

Connie

Good afternoon Chris and the rest of Illinois!

I made it through the dark ages!  We got a 3-5 inches of snow but the WIND!  My usual 35-40 minute drive took me and hour and a half, some of it in white-out conditions.  Todd and I met halfway and went the rest of the way (through the country roads) lined up together.  When we got home the garages would not open and I knew we had lost power.  We put the cars away the old fashioned way then I went in and gathered candles and flashlights.  I boiled water to wash the dishes and if we wanted to heat something up, we had to use the stove and a pan.  The candlelight was lovely and I got a lot of reading on my current Kindle book done.  The power came on just as I was heading to bed.  I made a quick Facebook post and it went out again.  Then on.....then off.....etc.....  I set my alarm on my phone (not a very fancy one, but it DOES have an alarm) and went to bed.

This morning, even though we had power failures overnight, there was just enough ho****er to take showers!  Yippee!

Working today then picking up Riley so we can complete a project that she can gift to her mother and other grandmothers.

So good to hear about Georgie's friend!  A true Christmas miricle.

I am still trying to decide if I can fir the airport into my schedule on Christmas Eve.  I would like to be a friendly face for weary travelers.

Everyone have a wonderful evening!

Hello Everyone!

I ended up taking the day off work today.  I just could not face another day of work.  Ugh!  I ended up overtime last night due to someone doing a return on someone else's account and the person calling in was still waiting for her return to be picked up.  The return was scheduled for Chicago area and she was in New York.  It took a lot of digging to find her original order but I did find it. I was so fed up with people who do not have their invoice number, do not know their account numbers, their ship to codes, or any information about their account other than I purchased that item from you why dont you have the info.  Go find it in the hundreds of thousands of order we put out every day and then go back a month and find their order.  

I just could not deal with another day of this.  So today, I stayed home and played customer.  First to my new cellular company that sent me a phone without all the sim cards and sd cards preinstalled.  I got a phone designed for a senior citizen and I have limited use of my fingers do to arthritis and they expect ME to install all of this?  Well, I screwed it up and now have a phone that will not work.    I played havoc trying to get them to ship a new phone with everything installed.  "We  cant do that?"  Not an acceptable answer.  Finally I got a supervisor that said they could and would do that.

Then I tackled Chase bank which holds my mortgage.  I have a shortage in escrow payments so they are REDUCING my monthly payments for next year.    I had a discussion with one customer service agent and 2 supervisors trying to tell me that they are reducing my payments to assure me that they do not collect too much escrow.  Well, HELLO, I have a shortage now, taxes always go up and reducing my payments will only INCREASE my escrow shortage.  Finally I got to the tax department of the bank and they agreed with me.  They are going to reanalyze this.  All I want is my mortgage payment is to stay the SAME.  Why would they put up such a fuss over someone NOT wanting their mortgage payment reduced????  They should be thankful that they are receiving a payment EVERY month and not left holding the bag.   Geesh!   v So my whole afternoon was spent on the phone arguing with incompentant people.  One guy would not even listen to me and said I kept interrupting.  I did not want to hear another round of their crazy math and just wanted my payments kept the same and they kept trying to get me to make a separate payment to make up for decreasing my payments !  

I do not know how I am still sane!  

Chris, good luck on your fasting.  I hate that!

Lisa, enjoy the light tour.

Crystal, I would love to have a phone like yours but I dont want to pay for it nor the monthly fees.  Plus with my hands it is getting harder to maneuver around easily.  

Dawn, I hope your power stays on for good.  Glad you got home safely.

Sharon, lasagna sounds yummy.  

Connie, your day sounds delightful

Have a wonderful evening everyone!