Steff

QUOTE(Queen Prawn @ Apr 12, 2005 -> 03:57 PM) No, she didn't seem to care at all. Eh.. mother in laws...

QUOTE(LosMediasBlancas @ Apr 12, 2005 -> 03:57 PM) wow, ALL of our married friends who had exchanged gifts asked us. Most of our married friends have been married 10 to 15+ years... and the ones we know married less than that haven't asked. Is this something fairly new..??

Jason.. you edited before I could quote you...

QUOTE(Queen Prawn @ Apr 12, 2005 -> 03:52 PM) A couple friends of ours were married last summer and her mom was angry because he didn't buy his wife to be anything. Up and until that point, neither Brian nor I had heard anything like that. Did the new wife care..?? Hearing about this from Jim's sister I thought it must be something that's been around a long time.. but I had never heard of it. I've been in 4 weddings over the past 5 years too and never seen anyone but the bridal party and parents get gifts at the RD.

QUOTE(TheBigHurt35 @ Apr 12, 2005 -> 03:50 PM) My wife got me a nice watch. I got her a large monogrammed Bible. I immediately thought of a watch.. but I got him a TAG for Christmas... I was thinking about virtual golf sessions.. which is something I know he would enjoy.

QUOTE(LosMediasBlancas @ Apr 12, 2005 -> 03:46 PM) I agree and people who bought each other wedding gifts are the worst about putting pressure on you. It's like 'we got screwed into buying a dumb gift, so should everyone'. Strangely.. no other married people have asked us this..

QUOTE(Queen Prawn @ Apr 12, 2005 -> 03:44 PM) We are paying for the big day so I am not sure if we are doing that. Regardless, I am planning on trying to get tickets for a Packers game in Lambeau for him though. We had a blast (even though our feet were frozen solid by the end of the game and they lost) when we went last December. Hmmm... that's a cool idea - not Packers tickets - but something like that. Maybe we'll just do something small. Thanks QP.

QUOTE(mreye @ Apr 12, 2005 -> 03:38 PM) Yeah, baby! Seriously, though, we paid for the entire wedding, so that was our gift. The next day we used the dollar dance money to purchase Weird Al tickets! ROTFLMAO!!!

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Apr 12, 2005 -> 03:34 PM) We didn't get each other anything. I'm liking this plan. His sister asked when we had dinner Sunday and we looked at eachother and were like... "Hu..? We have to buy gifts..?" She was making a big deal out of it.. said we have to exchange them at the rehearsal dinner.. bla, bla, bla... I honestly never heard of such a thing.

QUOTE(TheBlackSox8 @ Apr 12, 2005 -> 10:09 AM) I agree... that was pretty powerful.

QUOTE(ptatc @ Apr 12, 2005 -> 03:31 PM) For my 30th my wife got me a Big Hurt pinball machiene. It''s one of the best presents I have ever received. It combines two of my favorites: pinball and the White Sox. After I got it I went to a Soxfest and brought the directions card that sits inside the glass and had him sign it. Is it full size ptatc...??? That's a cool gift. I can't remember the coolest Sox gift I've gotten... I think all the stuff is cool.

QUOTE(Kid Gleason @ Apr 12, 2005 -> 03:28 PM) Yeah. I was supposed to do that? That's what I'm hearing...

QUOTE(mreye @ Apr 12, 2005 -> 03:25 PM) I was supposed to get her a wedding gift? Pffttt.... you WERE the wedding gift..

QUOTE(mreye @ Apr 12, 2005 -> 03:24 PM) Well, either they're 5s or not. Just saying. I know what you're saying.. unfortunately, their performance level could be a 6.. doesn't mean they will be compensated accordingly. I think a lot of people think they are underpaid.. doesn't mean they are not good workers or that they don't excel at what they do.. just means they work somewhere where scale isn't where it should be.

What did you, or are you getting QP , your spouse for a wedding gift.. and what did you get..?

QUOTE(mreye @ Apr 12, 2005 -> 03:03 PM) Yeah, but why should there be a cap on the number of quality people you're aloud to have in your department? Isn't that basically what they're saying? Naaa.. they'd love to have all 5's I'm sure.. they're just saying we can't pay them at the 5 level.

QUOTE(EvilJester99 @ Apr 12, 2005 -> 02:44 PM) Bahhh You're no fun LOL.. they are cool.. and the league is fun. The Sox sponsor a game twice during the league (patio party). You should try to get into one of the leagues. I know several centers participate from the amount of people that attending the outing last year. I bet the Sox have a list of them.

QUOTE(EvilJester99 @ Apr 12, 2005 -> 02:41 PM) Do you want to sell one of the pins? If so PM me and let me know. Thanks Not a chance.

QUOTE(mreye @ Apr 12, 2005 -> 02:38 PM) Kind of BS is you ask me. What he's saying is you have too many good people - this can't be true. Why not? I don't think it's so much that as it is the bottom line. All about making $$ for the agents... if they don't make theirs.. we don't get the opportunity to give out anything.

QUOTE(mreye @ Apr 12, 2005 -> 02:32 PM) Hardly any. If my boss goes to the CEO with "too many" 5%ers, he'll tell him to try again. Yea.. that's what I'm sure I'll get. I have mostly 3.5% to 4.5%... but 3 with 5% because they really do go above and beyond (take work home, come in on weekends, etc, etc..). I'm sure I'll get told to "try again" also..

QUOTE(mreye @ Apr 12, 2005 -> 02:24 PM) That's the way our's is done, except on a 5% scale. Do many get the full 5% that you know of?

QUOTE(EvilJester99 @ Apr 12, 2005 -> 01:56 PM) I just seen the coolest thing at my local bowling alley. They have a league that is dedicated solely to the White Sox and they have a White Sox bowling pin for the league...it is awesome. I am trying to talk them into selling it to me but its a no go thus far... I need to find one. Funny thing is though the owner of this bowling alley is a Scrubs fan so its funny to have to see him promote the Sox hehe Broadview has a league like this also. We bowled in it last year and got a couple of them. I have a Sox bowling ball also.

A tad bit off on the COA increase... The CPI was just "revamped" to take into account consumers change in spending habits as well as the decline and/or stable cost of housing, food, clothing, etc, etc.. From that site it looks like the net change has been less than 1% change.. http://lmi.ides.state.il.us/lmr/cpi.htm Personally.. since 9/11 happened and 2 years (01 and 02) without a raise Jim and I were able to buy a much larger house, an additional investment property, 2 new cars, and increase our "play" income. I would guess this varies for everyone based on spending habits though.

QUOTE(LosMediasBlancas @ Apr 12, 2005 -> 01:55 PM) Wow, that's what my logic means, huh? Interesting. Isn't that what you're saying.. if one doesn't get at least 5% then they are going backwards... going backwards means not being able to pay your bills.. does it not??

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Apr 12, 2005 -> 01:53 PM) After that day, maybe he should change his name to IlliniKrushed