OK, so it's January . . .

I remembered to purchase my parking permit for 2011, and was so pleased with myself for getting it before the end of the year, just before. We, my memory being what it is, I remembered to buy it, but did not remember to display it!!
Now, I know it's my mistake, but . . . when I apply for the employee reserved permit, I give them my company name, and address. They have the information available on line, including that the permit is paid for. The parking lot is right outside the door to my building. It was the first working day of the new year. DO YOU THINK THEY WOULD GIVE A WARNING TICKET RATHER THAN AN ACTUAL FINE??? NOOOOO WAAAY! Or, maybe I'm crazy but, they could have come in to the building and reminded me that the permit was still in my purse. So, $400. to park, plus another $25 bonus to the city. It seems like a contest somehow, and I lost.
I know this isn't Mayberry - but, where does the spirit of cooperation and niceness come in? Is the City so poor, or the parking officers so pressured to give out tickets, that they can't take a few minutes to 'be nice'? Life is easier if you're nice. It wouldn't do any good to tell them that . . . sigh.
BTW, I did go to the police station as soon as I realized what happened, and they said to go to City Hall for an adjustment. I did that and was told there are no adjustments, no exceptions, no excuses. YOU HAVE TO DISPLAY THE PERMIT. There is not even a one day 'grace period'.
Rant over - except that I might send this to the 'letters to the Editor' section of the Elmhurst newspapers. Any suggestions of comments??

I'm adding a picture of my studio window - I love the pink tree. I used it to display jewelry and it's so cute, I hate to take it down. May wait a while and enjoy it.

2011 is here and not much has changed.

Well, that's not entirely true... all the snow went away. We had RAIN and 55* temp. last Sat. then it went to 21* that night. Weird.

Bob and I went out to dinner NYE, then watched a movie. It was a nice evening - and totally stress-less.


I'm excited. I just looked at FB and saw this picture of Lauren and George, good friends that I like to keep up with on FB. Lauren is wearing a portrait necklace I just sent her as a gift. So Cool!! I posted a picture of it under our Family Tree, last year. The picture in necklace is one I 'borrowed' from George's FB page. It is of the two of them dancing and it's sooo romantic - I love it.

My wonderful 'family'

Mom
Amy and Mike
Joey, Tom and Amy - "now you see 'em"
Joey, Tom and Amy - "and, now you don't"

Joey and Chelli
Bob and I

Last week I had a birthday ( a BIG one) and my wonderful family wanted to celebrate it. We all went to dinner at Francesca's Amicci, then Chelli and Joey hosted us for birthday cake and other goodies. Chelli baked a German chocolate cake and Joey frosted it. Kim and Tom contributed champagne, and we all had a wonderful time, specially ME. yeah!
Kim had to work late, at the last minute, and wasn't able to be with us. She was missed a lot.
Thank you so much everyone!

Family Christmas Tree 2010

You might have guessed by now that I don't have any 'work' pending, so - I'm playing. . . and having fun. I've made some pillows for gifts, and some jewelry, too.

Amy's birthday, part two

Some pictures of revelers, that I particularly like. I just got them off Bob's camera, and wanted to post them even though it was a month ago.

We all chipped in to get Amy some really warm waterproof boots she wanted, for dog walking of course.
This is Chelli, Joey, Glennie and Lindsey.
Tom and Kim are hat people.
So is Joey.

Christmas Trees, 2010

I decided to decorate for Christmas early this year. Last year Bob and I were on a cruise that returned just before Christmas and I never did put up a tree.

I put up some little trees this year, and my flying snow-guy, one of my favorite things. It's fun to see him, and the decorations. Helps to feel like Christmas. The snow-guy is bringing stars for the tops of the trees. He used to hang on the front porch, but I like having him inside.


This little tree is in the family room, where I can enjoy looking at it when I'm home. It is decorated with toys (replica toys, small size) and has Santa's from every decade of the 20th Century. Each Santa has a little card telling about events of the time, and his bag is filled with the popular toys of the decade.

November 2010

It's the end of November and I haven't posted once this month!!

Have to fix that. I apologize to my loyal followers. Part of the problem is that my camera is taking fuzzy pictures. I don't know why... It used to work fine - it's a point and shoot, with adjustments that I don't fool with. Somehow it has gotten out of adjustment. I've tried several times to get it fixed. Finally took it to the camera store on Spring road. A very nice young lady working there, re-set it for me. Voila!



So what happened in November?? My beautiful baby girl had a birthday. We won't mention which one, but we had a fun family party. I decided to have a little fun with the candles. I had a whole new box - why save them? It was impressive, tho difficult to get them all lit before others melted to the icing.







I have been working very diligently on our new web site, we had 2 Thanksgivings, I tried contact lenses (again) and perhaps for the last time, (I wore them for years and years and couldn't remember why I gave them up - it's all coming back to me now) and I learned to play Spider Solitaire on my computer (my mother made me do it!) I have always tried to stay away from games on my computer, because I find certain kinds of games and puzzles irresistible. Anyway, I'm hooked.

Pictures of pillows and key-chain are part of 'Lucy' order. Eyelet pillow was made for winner of silent auction. I donated a gift card to United Way Silent Auction.

So, that's November in a nut shell. My goal is to have the new web site up asap, and to finish my orders so I can take more. I'd like to go to the the One-of-a-kind Gift shoe next weekend at the Mart, and the Kristkringlemart and Daley Center Plaza, so I might take Friday off.