Hey all, did a little cleaning today and made hamburger macaroni casserole for dinner. Nik is coming by in a bit to hang out. Hope everyone is doing well.

Lou has been keeping us informed about the bill so fingers crossed. The repeal the death penalty was reconsidered and passed the House now to go on to the Senate. Let's hope our bill does the same.

Barb, I know the budget is a nightmare and many will be not be happy when it's all said and done. Chris is not happy with the school reforms but I told him be glad he's grandfathered in. As far as pensions, still waiting to hear on that. The tax increase is huge. Lou's gaming bill is still out there too. We need that for sure.

Argh, then the House convenes today after maybe two hours and wont be back in session until Sunday. Inaugural festivities are starting and quite honestly, I'd like to know who planned all the events while lame duck session was going? You'd think it would have been planned after????

:hug: to all.

Hi all,
Haven't been on in a few days...new puppy keeps me hopping!! It's great to have life in the house again!

Very angry about the Illinois medical cannabis vote...so I have to go get stuff from a teen at the grocery store, and worry about what someone put in the bag? Stupid idiots. How many of them were potheads when they were young?:mad:

Added to that, they're increasing our state income tax 75%...businesses will have a tax rate applied of 8%. Way to go. and of course a cigarette tax. I never see a yacht tax, fur tax or luxury car tax...hmmm...:mad:

DH is at the Blackhawks hockey game, and I'm here with the pup. Thought I'd go out to a movie, but there isn't anything I want to spend $10 to see. Now I understand why my inlaws stopped going to movies in the 70s...:rolleyes: nothing for us old codgers...

Hope everyone has a good weekend...those in the south/east, be careful!! What a crazy January!!

My eyes are making me crazy! they are extremely dry, painful, red and sore. its Sjoghrens, and MS combined. I have to take more muscle relaxers lately for some weirdo sx I am having, so that dries out my eyes. im miserable! I hate this stupid disease.

Jack the cat is doing better. He even slept with me last night. Lily was MIA. its funny that they wont sleep on my bed together. I get one or the other.

My son hasnt called in a long time. He is back with that sad girl. Breaks my heart. I miss him, and worry about him, but its a lesson he needs to learn on his own. I can only be here when he is ready. Till then he runs across my mind 20 times a day.

We got fresh snow! whooo! I think we got 5 inches so its not a big deal.

It is 13 degrees here, and we are supposed to have a high of 19. But at least the sun is shining. I just looked at the National Weather Service and it said the current condition is unknown precipitation. I can't not see any precipitation. I hope it is not birds falling from the sky:rolleyes:

Debbie and Sandy, I know the tax increase seems high, but the state has to do something. We are so behind in paying our bills. It gets pretty crazy when vendors will not do business with the state and small pharmacies are having to close since they are not being reimburse by the state. I know faculty that have retired and are living out of state who are being denied medical treatment unless they pay their own bills up front. One former faculty member was having problems getting open heart surgery. Plus the income tax rate in Illinois is so much lower than many of the other states. I am fine with the cigarette tax. I hope the gaming bill passes too.

Sandy, I actually think that some of the school reforms are probably needed, but its pretty interesting how all of the controversial legislation is being voted on at the last minute. I think tenure is generally awarded too quickly in the public school and it is rather arbitrary (up to the principal).

And do the legislators realy think that teachers want to go on strike? Teachers strikes are pretty rare and usually come after teachers have been without contracts for months .

Ok -- I will zip my lips for now.;)

Cold and very windy here today. We're expecting about 6" of snow Sunday night into Monday morning. If it skips my area and stays way north I'll be happy. But it's not looking like it will.

I have plenty of groceries and cat food. What I really need to buy is a good flashlight. As it is now if the lights go off we have to use the light of our cell phones to get around until daylight! :o

Everyone stay warm and dry. Looks like it's going to be an interesting few days of weather for us all.

:grouphug:

Morning all! Planning to do finances today after I get Jim up.

Barb, I agree with all you've said.

:hug: to those who may need them today.

GL on financial things Sandy. I let others do that for me. I pay a guy handsomely to make sure my finances are in order. I see him in a couple of weeks.

Its a cold day here. All the cats are seeking a warm place to hide. I threw out the couch blanket that is heated and both are cuddled under it.

Morning all. Dej, I have to see an accountant this tax season, filing self employment this year. I plan to ask him about our stocks because I want some action on them! lol

The House is in session today. So much to get accomplished, not sure how they will do it. I sent messages to both my rep and our sponsor wishing them good luck and God speed. They are going to need it!

The shooting in Arizona has caused Illinois to be on alert. The Capital is on extra security and it should be. With the massive tax increase looming and patients threatening to protest if our bill doesn't pass, it makes me a little nervous. Plus we have the Inaugural festivities beginning tomorrow. Ugh.

Hope everyone is having a good day. I have no plans except to watch the Packers get booted out of the playoffs. :wink:

Good morning! It's very cold and windy here and we're all waiting for the big snow and ice event.

I checked the batteries in the one flashlight I could find and they were dated 2003! Think it's time for some new ones. :rolleyes:

I've been watching the news about the AZ congresswoman who was shot....and all the other victims. So sad. And scary. What's this world coming to?

DS has been gone all weekend helping a friend rip out carpeting and install laminate flooring in a house he just bought. He loves that kind of project and called me last night at about 10 PM to let me know they were just going to camp out there and get an early start this morning.

I'm in for the day......and hunkered down and waiting for the big weather event. The news has been hyper about it and the weatherman has just been beside himself with excitement. I almost wish God would pull a "gotcha" on them and make it bypass the whole state! :cool: