365-2 | Peaches Prattlings

{August 28, 2014} My day

What a day. It’s late and I’m not going into all of it, but here goes…

Up early, had an issue at the hotel, picked up a co-worker, went into the office, did A LOT of busy work, important to the project, but busy work, none the less.

Emailed with my brother-in-law..ok to bring the cats. Went to lunch, good place, good company, back to the office for more important busy work. Call travel company, change flights, finish work, drop co-worker off at the airport.

Back to the hotel to pack ALL my stuff up, figure out what I’m taking with me, pack the car, FIND my missing box o’stuff! bright moment in my day. Pack up the cats, get a nice gash from Jymy not wanting to get into the carrier. Pack the car with the stuff and cats and head off towards Boston.

Get on the highway, find petrol, back on highway, drive, drive, drive, eventually get food, drive, drive, drive, finally pull off the highway to find a place to rest my head.

Write to you. Pass out.

Tomorrow…get up and finish driving, get to sisters house, hugs and kisses.

Goodnight!

{August 27, 2014} My friends and my blog

I know that you read my blog every day or almost every day and for that I thank you.

I also know that I’ve thanked you for reading my blog before, but I think it warrants another thank you, so thank you! And even though I know you read it, it’s times when someone messages or calls me after reading a post that I feel even happier.

After my sad post last night, as soon as it goes out, I get a text from TS and then first thing this morning, I get texts from MM and SR, all sending me hugs via text. I needed those.

I love when my dad calls and says what happened? Yeah, that makes me feel good too.

So, in conclusion, thank you for reading my posts and don’t be surprised if I say thank you again, I think it’s important! That’s the way i was raised and since I can’t send each of you a thank you card…I’ll just say:

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{August 26, 2014} Losing something

I was looking for something and I think it’s gone and I’m sad.

I have a feeling it is gone for good and it is totally my fault, but I’m still sad. I was unloading my car on Sunday when I got to the hotel in Louisville, finally! and I had to make 3 trips since I was not able to park near the front desk, specifically to get a cart and I think I left this small container on the ground during one of my trips and either missed it or left it while I was making a trip and someone must have come by and taken it.

I’ve searched the car, but it was dark, so I’m going to take another chance tomorrow in the daylight to see if I can find it. If I can, wahoo! If not, my fault and stupidity and I’ll get over it eventually.

Don’t you hate [yes, I know it’s a strong word] when you do something like that? Grrr…I could use a hug!

{August 25, 2014} Meeting new people

A little flirting and a lot of fun!

As I told you last night, I drove to Louisville for a new project and today was my first full day. My hotel is less than a mile away from the office I had to go to, so I went for a walk this morning. Boy howdy, it was HOT!!! It felt like the surface of the sun! Ok, I know I’m exaggerating, but I’m ok with it!

You know it’s bad when it’s so cold inside that you are looking forward to walking outside where it’s 90 and muggy to warm up! I got a ride from a very nice RN back to the hotel and then it was time to meet one of my co-workers for dinner. PM is a very nice guy who was on the University of Michigan project with me, but we did’t get to spend much time getting to know each other and as we are the only ones from that project here, guess what we’re going to do over the next month or so!

Tonight we went to dinner at Gordon Birsch, had a great waitress, Rockin’ Robin, she was a lot of fun and better than the food. I’ve eaten at GB several times in Atlanta, with CKM, TS and a few other people, so I usually like it. The sweet potato fries were awesome!!

After dinner, I went for a walk, found a nice guy to give the rest of my dinner to and watched someone getting arrested, what else could you want for your evening activity? Louisville is interesting!

As I was crossing the street I started talking to a group guys watching what seemed to be entertainment for them and the oldest of them all, a very nice older gentleman, wearing a USMC t-shirt, Ooh Rah, asked if I needed help crossing the street, how sweet was he!

So, being a shy person, HA, I stood there and talked to some of the group for a while. The Marine was a sheriff and the rest of the group were S.W.A.T. in town for training. You know how guys like to make women feel good by telling them how young they look? I’ll take 31, he was sweet, a professed dirty old man with 14 grandchildren! Wow! But what a sweetie I enjoyed talking to and when we parted company I got a kiss on the cheek and a hug.

Let’s just say, I smiled all the way back to my hotel. A little flirting is good for the soul!

{August 25, 2014} Saying goodbye…I will miss you!

Today I left Ann Arbor for a new venture and had to say goodbye to my friends and family and I’m sad.

Over the last few days, I’ve been packing a little and saying goodbye to my friends who are now my family at the Hilton Garden Inn Ann Arbor, because today was the day.

I hope you remember me telling you how fantastic everyone was when I first got there oh so many months ago and i have to tell you, the experience only got better and better and better.

Kirsten became “the weather girl” because even if i didn’t ask what the weather was, she knew I wanted to know, so…I would know. I love talking to her and catching up on her family, we only got closer every day. Debra was fantastic and took care of Jymy and Peanut for me this week, they loved being with her. I got to meet her daughter and new granddaughter, loving on Baby K, I feel like one of the family.

So many of the front desk feel like siblings or my kids, but much older, more mature kids! Lauren is sweet and lives for that Chow of hers, Izzy and loves to share pictures. I can’t wait to hear how school is going as she’s going back this semester. I was glad I got to see her Friday, i didn’t want to miss her before I left. Speaking of going back to school, she is joined by Liv, who apparently could be my daughter! Someone asked us! I’ll take it, a fiery red head? I didn’t get to say goodbye to her today, but she happened to stop by yesterday to pick up her check and since I hang out at the front desk, then I was bound to see her! Jonathon was the newest addition, who eventually took over as night auditor and is a sweet kid, especially when he brought in some home made pumpkin bread his girlfriend made, how nice is that?

Sean was fun to talk to, about new tats,healthy living, sharing favorite new foods, his new living arrangements, hopes, plans dreams, belt buckles. I’m going to miss that and hearing him say “friend” whenever he hung up the phone. Adriana wasn’t there as much over the last few months, so every moment has been precious and I got to see her yesterday, so, so great! The last person from the front desk I had to say goodbye to last week was Ryan, the night auditor. I didn’t get to talk to Ryan as much as I would have like to because he was on nights, we chatted a bit, but not as much as everyone else, but a super duper nice guy!

Nel, the bartender, and I became fast friends, I loved hanging out at the bar talking to her, joking and talking about school, she was like another sister. I didn’t get to see her today, we said our goodbyes the other day. Betty is one of the servers/back-up bartenders who was fun to get to know, talk about some of the trips she would take with her boyfriend. Janet is another server who I loved, sassy and sexy and with it! Kristin, another server, I got to see before she left on her honeymoon about a week ago, just glad I got to see her! I can’t wait to hear how her career is taking off!

Bobby was one of the managers in the kitchen/dining/banquet area and a smart arse, funny guy who I enjoyed talking to and joking around with. CeCe was the chef in that great kitchen and she ran it and worked it like nobody’s business! She was so good to make things that I could eat since the majority of the menu was not vegetarian or vegan friendly. Yesterday, she gave me a going away present! All sorts of great things for the kitchen, WOW, thank you!!! Moe was the other great guy in the kitchen, he’s the one who baked and served the HGI bars, warm and wonderful! [oats, cranberries, white chocolate, among other wonderful things].

Running the housekeeping staff are Arlin and Tammy, two fantastic women who kept me laughing and made sure my room was clean and wonderful. Arlin is sweet and funny and always ready with a hug and a smile, maybe a salsa move or two. Tammy always has a smile on her face and never seems to have a bad day. They both spoiled me by taking such good care of me! Marisol was always very sweet when she came to clean my room.

The maintenance guys, Matt and Alex spoiled me rotten, taking care of whatever it was that I needed, be it a new fridge, issues with something in the room, you name it, they took care of everything right away!

Running the hotel, in the front/back office are Ashley,the AGM, a fun, fit, goofy woman who i loved talking to about her son, her weekend, whatever. Christina is a fun chick who always has a smile on her face and a positive attitude. She’s also the one who remembered that i love sunflowers, when they put the beautiful bouquet in my room that day! I didn’t get to spend much time with Patty, but always a pleasure, a down to earth, happy person.

Frank is the GM, an avid runner and by avid, I mean distance runner! He’s a 100 miler runner and I love talking to him about his experiences and participating in the fun things that the hotel planned for the guests. Be sure to wish him a very happy birthday on Monday!!!

There are so many wonderful things these amazing people did for me while I was staying at the hotel and today…I got a gift certificate for REI from my wonderful HGI Family! They teased saying they would rename my room to the “JJ Suite”! Too funny!

How can I say goodbye to these people? I have no idea! It wasn’t easy, but I did it and walked away with a smile on my face promising that I would be back to visit and now, I can be friends with them on Facebook and keep in touch, which you know I will!

{August 23, 2014} Packing…ACK and ARGHHHH

I’ve been here for six months, how could I have accumulated this much stuff???

I am in a large room at this hotel and I have two bags packed full of clothes, my toiletries and then some other stuff, I’m not sure where it came from!

Anyone that knows me, like my family, knows I can be a slob, I used to be a slob when I was a kid. I like a good mess, don’t get me wrong, I like clean…I would pick up everything, clean and put it back. But in this hotel room, I have tried to keep everything straight, putting everything in its place, I like everything to be where it’s supposed to, this is a small space and it’s mine.

Somehow, I have accumulated more stuff than I realized! How? I don’t know. But..I have seen the accumulation, so tomorrow, I will be going to FedEx to ship things back to Colorado and taking just what I can fit into my little beetle bug along with two cats.

Let this be a lesson to me…don’t accumulate so much stuff and take stuff home when you can!

{August 22, 2014} Lions vs Jaguars

Tonight KLS and I went to see a pre-season professional football game!

I got an offer from Groupon for $39 tickets to a pre-season Detroit Lions vs Jacksonville Jaguars football game, how could I not ask KLS if she wanted to go! Go figure on the answer! So, i got two tickets and sent out the meeting invite and we would be ready to go tonight!

The game started at 7:30, so based on advice from people on the traffic, we left at 5:30 and made it about 7:15 to the stadium. We were making good time until we got about 8 miles out, then we stopped and crept forward. Not only was there a football game at Ford Field, across the street [literally] at Comerica park, where the Tigers play, was an Eminem and Rhianna concert, think there was traffic?

While we’re driving, or creeping, as it were, we start seeing men getting out of cars on the highway, what? Eventually, we see them taking concert t-shirts out of their bags to sell, really? So, here we are trying to make headway and we have to wait for someone to block traffic buying a shirt? Great…

We finally get to parking and it’s $50??? FIFTY DOLLARS??? Seriously? Is it my fault that there are multiple events going on? I know you want to make money, but this is highway robbery. Disgusting, that’s all I have to say!

We get wanded heading into the stadium, you can only have a clutch [a small purse for those of you not in the know] or a clear bag. Then we head towards our seat and before we go in, we grab some food. Turns out you can’t have caps on any beverage, they’re afraid of people flicking the caps towards other people or the field, what? Who, above the age of 5 does that?

Popcorn, beer, water and Twizzler and $34 [WHAT?] later we were ready to find our seats.

We find our seats and they are great! We are in section 317, up, but right behind the goal post, how cool is that? The national anthem came and the arena was on its feet paying respect. Then the game started and we settled in to watch. Within the first 8 minutes, touchdown! I love watching the flags run down the field when there is a touchdown.

Some of the game was exciting to watch, some not, but I had a phone and there is great people watching, it was all good.

During half time, there were a series of pee wee football teams running plays, SOOO CUTE! And I SO see LB or Baby A in a few years on the field during a game playing football, can’t you just see it?

We hung out through most of the 3rd quarter, where Detroit was down 12 to 7 and headed to the car and breezed out of the city, much easier than it was when we went to the Tigers game! It took us no more than 45 minutes to get back to the hotel, where we went to the bar past the disco hopping party in one of the ballrooms where Nel told us that Detroit won in the end. Go Detroit.

We hung out until midnight, talking to Debra and Nel, then headed to our rooms so I could talk to you and sack out.

Can you believe how many sporting events I have been to in the last 3 months? More than in the last 3 years it feels like!

{August 21, 2014} Line Dancing…me?

Tonight I went line dancing!

This is not me! Anyone who knows me knows I am not into line dancing, never have been, never will be. I can no longer say that I’ve never been line dancing, but I don’t think I’ll be making a habit of it!

This was a great girls night! It was so much fun to hang with the girls and be silly and get a great workout! Let me tell you, line dancing is a great workout! It’s like an aerobics class!

I followed the steps, missed a couple, but all in all, we moved and grooved to everything from country to rock to hip hop, how could you go wrong! Doesn’t matter, as long as there is a beat, you can rock the house!

And you don’t have to “dress the part”, ie cowboy boots and cowboy hat, wait, shouldn’t it be cowgirl? Well, I didn’t have either of those things here in Ann Arbor, so I went in jeans, t-shirt and skips, I even wore lipstick! Go me!

Do it once in your life, line up with other people and dance! Go for it! Rock that boot scoot boogie!

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{August 20, 2014} A new opportunity

I got a new project!

On Sunday, i will be packing my car, going to Debra’s place, collecting Jymy and Peanut and heading to my next project. This adventure has me driving to Louisville, Kentucky for a new project and a new application.

Every new opportunity is the opportunity for a new adventure!

The only sad part in all of this is I am going to miss my family here in Ann Arbor. I am heading off to this project with one other person from my team and it’s going to be weird not to see KLS almost EVERY day and KNOB often, not to mention other great co-workers, but I have a good feeling that we will be on another project together soon and all will be right with the world.

What about the great people here at the Hilton Garden Inn who have become family? I guess I’ll just have to visit!

Here’s to the next chapter!

{August 19, 2014} It was a very, very, very, very, very…long drive

I drove about 9 hours yesterday and thought I only had about 10 left today, not so.

The day started off about 7:30am, I woke leisurely, well as leisurely as two cats let you wake. Nose on face, nose on hand, head pushes, ‘c’mon mom, time to get up, wake up, c’mon, c’mon”. Anyone with a cat will know what I’m talking about! This video screams it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jrq03XENSdY

I got up, got breakfast and was ready to get on the road at 8:30, which I did, cats and all. I decided I would leave them in the carriers for a while so I could keep the top down on the car. Contrary to popular beliefs, cats do not find riding in cars with their heads hanging out the windows as entertaining as dogs, go figure.

As soon as I got on the road, the tire pressure indicator came on, I wasn’t sure what it was, so I had to Google it, I now know what all the symbols on my dashboard are, so if you need to know what any symbol for a VW Beetle are, here you go!

There were no service stations in the downtown Omaha area, so I got on the highway and pulled off for the first gas station I could find. When I got there, luckily, I found the air pump and got out of the car and lo-and-behold…the rear drivers side..almost dead. I started inflating the tire and it looked like it was starting to bubble and might possibly explode and again, contrary to popular belief, I’m smarter than I look and stopped pumping. I went inside to ask for help and guess what, the woman who worked there pointed me across the road to Paco’s Tires! Wahoo! Saved!

I went to Paco’s and they said, yup, flat and it could have exploded! There was a screw in it and then 30 minutes [total] later I drove out with a new tire and peace of mind!

I had the top down on the car for about two hours and then decided it wasn’t fair to the cats, or my ears as they were crying intermittently, so up went the top and out came the cats. No! Don’t sit on my feet, I still have to drive! I finally got them situated and was on my way again.

I listened to the radio, some pandora radio and then…I plugged in my phone and then iPad to the stereo jack and played a movie, putting the device on the floor, of course! But I listened to a movie, and since I know the movies so well, it was like listening to an old radio serial! One of the movies was even Haunted Honeymoon, which was based on a radio show! Clever me!

When I wasn’t listening to something, I got to chat with a few people, MM, Dad, JCT, JFT, SR, BD and BG, it was awesome, I had lots of time and could only concentrate on the road and my friends!

I drove and drove and drove and enjoyed myself, most of the time, the country is beautiful, boring in some places, but beautiful. I understand why JASC loves to drive so much, but honestly, I would rather have been on a plane getting there faster, unless I had company, then it would have been even more entertaining, but I wouldn’t have gotten to talk to so many people. Go figure.

I finally got to Debra’s house to drop off the cats, she so generously offered to keep them for me this week until I leave on Sunday. She even sent a picture of Jymy cuddling with her as I was heading to the hotel.

I finally got to the hotel about 12:30, after driving forever. I wish I knew exactly how many hours as I went through a few different time zones today! [Omaha, Nebraska, Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, yeah, I think that’s it!]

Goodnight!

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