Sunday Roll Call

Headed home at about 10am via Elgin but we are going the slower route down Rt 14 and not the tollway because of the construction on I90. I need to PU my jewelry from my SIL's house as she had a Christmas Craft Fare at her house last weekend. Her and my bro live in a 3 story "painted lady" on the west side of Elgin. I PU 3 magazines and have some new fresh ideas to make new jewelry and the best thing is that I already have the beads and findings to make them. First we will continue to enjoy our room at the Hilton Garden. Going to a Bfast restaurant that serves pumpkin pancakes and will get me a short stack. Up here is the only time during the year that I have pancakes and it is a special treat.

Last night we went to one of our favorite restaurants up here called The Dell Bar. It is a classy old time WI Supper Club with prime steaks. We shared shasimi and an 8oz filet. I have several pet peeves about wait staff and 2 of them occurred last night. It is a bad habit of servers to put the drink tray up under their arm pits after serving drinks and then doing the same thing with the pepper mill when serving the salad. Yuck, unsanitary. The last one is when in some diners or small restaurants the server will keep a pen behind their ear or in their hair and then hand it to you to sign the CC slip, yuck again.

I am off of my soap box.

Safe travels home for everyone. For the home bodies this past weekend enjoy the remainder with your family and special person in your life. I am off to finish the packing. Looking forward to sleeping in my own bed tonight with the electric blankie.

 &

Good Morning,

Christine,it is so good to see you starting the roll call. You mentioned that you no longer need to wear uniforms, did you retire?

Connie, we came home yesterday. We did finish our shopping yesterday morning, Then headed north. 

The only place we went that was crazy was Menards. They had a 6 hour sale on Friday, and we went just to get some special batteries that Hubert needs. We forgot to pick them up, but got 3 gifts at fab prices.

We also hit Sams Club (twice), Bed Bath and Beyond, World Market, Pier One and a few local shops. Hubert's favorite train store wasn't opened, we think the owner finally retired.

All in all, a great two days, but like Christine, it is great to be home. 

Today I plan on doing a few things, then vegging. 

Sharon, I am glad that you were able to spend time with your kids. Also that Katie enjoyed her Birthday gift.

Crystal, it is great that you have a family that really loves you. Even if they are ex inlaws. We all make our own families, beyond the one we were born to. My best friends are more like family then my own too.

Nancy, are you and Rick ok? 

Jason, are you hiding from us?

Dawn, did your weekend go as you have planned?

Hugs to all,

No, no retire too far away from Medicare for me to buy my insurance from the village. I have great insurance, walk to work, only have one car and get 5 weeks of vaca, good salary - why should I retire? You must have forgotten but back in early March I asked to go out of uniform and the chief and 2 deputy chiefs said yes.

Good morning Lisa,

I'm still alive. I'm still here. I've been busy lately, taking care of my aunt's dog (one of her two dogs) and cat. Also doing stuff around the house and just keeping busy.

HI Christine, Lisa and Peeps,

It sounds like it was a great long weekend for those of you that traveled. Be safe as you travelhome today.

I got up early and cleaned my church this morning. It has been 5 weeks! Now that i am 99% better,  I got up at 4:30 and went. It was amazing to see the church in the distance in the dark with the lights on and the beautiful stained glass windows glistening. I just love that sanctuary. I felt amazing when I left and then saw the gorgeous sunrise.

I know this sounds weird, but I am looking forward to going back to work tomorrow. I love that new job. What a blessing!

Today it is church for us and then I am coming home to get ready for the upcoming week and see what my Bears are going to do.

Blessings and hugs my dear ones!

Sharon

Hello everyone

I am sitting here relaxing this morning.  Chris is having a guys morning with the boys and his dad.  They are going to a swap meet in St Charles.  I think guys need these little outing just the guys.  So I am sitting this out.  They will be back sometime in the early afternoon.  I will meet with them then...and we will have lunch together.  I am making grilled ham and cheese sandwiches for everyone.  When I make grilled cheese sandwiches I learned long ago it's easier to bake them than to stand there and flip them like burgers.  Not only is it easier (because you just have to put them in the oven and put a cookie sheet on top of them and walk away).  But they come out so nice and crispy.  Yummy!!!  They of course will eat chips and stuff.  I will have have cottage cheese.

Yesterday we had such a fun time.  We spent the whole day just hopping from one Chicago hot spot to another.  We went to the Museum of Science and Industry...and then Navy Pier.  We ate their at a burger joint.  I had a very delicious turkey burger.  Then we went the Christmaskindle Market which is also the site of the Picaso...which Chris's oldest son Reed was taking tons of pics of that.  Then we saw the tree...you know the big Christmas tree.  Ya we were all over.  When we got to Bolingbrook Chris's mom had spaghetti and meatballs and garlic bread waiting for us....it was a perfect day.  By the way at Navy Pier Chris and Reed ate reall bacon dipped in chocolate...yuck...they made it right in front of us.  Chris bought a ton of stocking stuffers...stuff like - suckers with crickets in them, bacon flavored gum, pickle lip balm....this is just some of the craziness he bought...hahaha!!!  AND there was a 2 lb Reeses Peanut butter Cup!!!!  OMG!!!!  It was the yummiest thing I ever saw!!!  Hahaha!!!!  But it was $30....so it stayed on the shelf. 

Well That was my exciting day....now I am relaxing today...I'm watching Snapped....hahaha!!!!  I like that TV show.  I don't know why.  But it's interesting to me to watch a show about women who go completely nuts and kill someone.  But then again I also like watching shows about serial killers and forensic shows about they caught killers.  I am a sick weirdo...lol!!!!  But on the the lighter side I also like Little House on the Prairie and Brady Bunch...so go figure. 

Man did this 4 days off go by fast....oh well

Well have a wonderful day all....see ya...bye

Christine- I notice stuff like that too.  Just yesterday I was grossed out by the fact that the guy behind the counter just got done emptying two garbage cans and then went right to the french fry station and started working there.  No hand washing....nothing.  No he didn't directly touch the fries...but still.  Yuck!!! 

Hello Everyone

It has been a wonderful 4 days off vegging and getting extra sleep and rest and doing nothing.  I cant say I am excited about going back to work tomorrow but I am ready.  We did stay pretty quiet here over the  4 days.  I did run some errands yesterday to JoAnn Fabrics and Walmart to get an electric blanket.  Rick has been freezing.  I turn the heat down at night and with both of us sick I guess we have been fighting for the covers in out sleep.  We got the blanket set up last night and it was great except the controls were switched.  I had to wake Rick up in the middle of the night to tell him to turn his side off as I had turned my side off and it was still heating and his skin was cold to touch.  So I still had heat and he didnt.  We will get that straightened out or else we really will have revenge fights at night.     I usually end up with  4 of the 6 cats sleeping on me so I get hot at night.  Lots of body heat being put out.  Today we have to go grocery shopping.  We have not been shopping for about 4 weeks except for one short visit to pick up some juice and other essentials. 

I hope everyone's travel home today is safe.  Chris it has been a pleasure to see you starting the  roll call the last two day.  Just like old times.  I am glad you had your time at the Dells.

Lisa, it sounds like you got lots of shopping done in St Louis and Bloomington.  I am jealous;  I havent even started or begun to think about what to get everyone this year. 

Sharon, I am so glad your daughter likes her sewing machine!  Also am glad your son made it home for the holidays.  I hope he does not have to have the jaw wired much longer.  Also glad to hear that things are better between you and G.  You are blessed to have a job that you are looking forward to returning to!  What a great thing!

Crystal, it sounds like you all had a blast in the city yesterday!  What fun times!  I am so happy for you.  It is good to let the boys have their time together as well.  It is great that things are going so great for you.

Dawn,  my thoughts are with you and hope you had a wonderful time with your family over the holidays.  

Jason,  busy can be good.  Any word about when surgery is rescheduled for?

Connie, from your facebook postings, it sounds like you had a really great time in St. Louis.  I hope the trip home is safe. 

Everyone have a wonderful day. 

Hello and good evening Nancy,

Great to hear that you're better and ready to go back to work. Sounds like everyone has been busy and you Nancy and rick sounds like that the two of you are ready to headline the main event for WWE Wrestlemania 30 in 2014.

It can be good to be busy, but as long as I don't burn myself out. I've been busy off and on this year and what a ride it has bee. This year and the last few years since about 2008 has been busy for me, it has some what been a big blur to me here and there. Oh well, I just take it as it comes to me. As far as my surgery goes I don't know when it's going to be, first of all I have to see a heart doctor this month and see my family doctor for a follow-up than I hope to have a appointment to see this Chiari surgeon at some point this month (I hope) to find out when I can have my Chiari surgery which I hope I have in the first half of 2014. As soon as I find out when I'll have my Chiari surgery I'll let you know.

:-) ...have a grat evening Nancy.