365-2 | Peaches Prattlings

{July 16, 2014} One video, then another, then another…and one tissue box later…

You know those Military homecoming video clips where the Soldier, Sailor, Air person, Marine surprises their loved ones? Yeah, the ones that require a box of tissues?

Well, if you’re like me at all, you watch one because you saw it on Face Book or Yahoo or someone sent it to and when it’s over, there are links to other videos like it. As you watch, you start off smiling, then crying, smiling, crying and an hour later, you have gone through an entire box of tissues and your face hurts from smiling and crying and your shirt is wet because you started off using it and then realized you had tissues and then you’re out of tissues. Sound familiar?

I admire anyone who is in a military family and has loved ones serving on foreign soil, I don’t know if I would be as strong, but you never know how strong you are until you are in the same situation, walk a mile in their shoes.

Here is one link that was on Face Book today, I hope you enjoy it and I dare you not to click on all the links that come after it!

http://themetapicture.com/soldier-disguised-as-scuba-diver-surprises-his-family/

{July 14, 2014} My day: poor customer service, a small world and new friends

You know the expression, what are the odds? Well here you go.

The day started normally enough. Got up, got some work done, went to lunch at The Lunchbox, that great vegan restaurant I told you about. The reason we went to The Lunchbox, Angelo’s was closed for vacation, go figure. The Lunchbox it is and KLS loved it, so we can go back! Score one for the veg-heads!

After lunch, I took KLS to work at the hospital and I headed of to a local Avis to take care of some issues with the rental car. The experience was less than stellar so I left, I am going to be at the airport Thursday, I’m going to take care of it then. I did call Avis to express my concerns, I’m getting a $25 off coupon for my troubles. I only have to wait 7-10 days because they’re mailing it. What happened to email? Is it lost to us forever?

I headed back to the hotel and decided to do some laundry. While I was in the laundry room, I started talking to a very nice woman who is moving to Michigan from Philadelphia and the more we talk the more find out about each other.

When we started talking about where we were from, she said her husband was from Staten Island, which you know that is where I come from. I then asked her if she knew about Denino’s and her response was priceless! Her husband took her to Denino’s and Ralph’s on their first date! How small is the world! Seems to be getting smaller every day.

I met a friend for dinner, the food was ok, company was great, which made up for the did and that’s what really counts!

After dinner, I had some errands to run and finish up my laundry and while I was in the bar talking to Nel, I met four very nice guys who were watching the Home Run Derby.

It was fun chatting with them, Jeff, Paul and Chris were all with the same company and in town for their monthly catch up and Doug is in from Syracuse.

We talked and laughed about traveling, both for work and pleasure, Michigan, our time here and after a while Chris bade us good night, then Paul and Jeff, Doug and I talked about the All Star Game, some sports, work and travel and then we realized it was 2:30 am and time for us all to turn back into pumpkins!

So here I am at 3am trying to keep my eyes open! Good night!

{July 13, 2014} Wrigley Field!

We went to Wrigley Field!

Anyone who knows me knows I’m not a sports fan, I do like my teams, New York, but…how could I pass up an opportunity to go to Wrigley Field!? It’s iconic!

The first thing we see are the penants, the different logos and names of the team, then some great murals on the walls on the way to the bleacher entrance. Harry Carey statues and tributes and then we’re in!

It’s an interesting stadium, it’s not as tall on some sides add other stadiums, but it had a nice intimate feel. People were right outside watching through the fence and on the rooftops right across the street.

There was a great aura about the stadium, a long tradition of summer fun. I didn’t realize that the Chicago Cubs is KCM’s ultimate team, how cool is that? They were playing a four game series against, get this… The Atlanta Braves! So of course, we were surrounded by Braves fans, crazy! I just left there!

I did get some comments about my Yankee hat, go figure!

The Cubs won the games Thursday and Friday, apparently The Braves weren’t having that and won 11-6. It was a good game with some good plays, lots of cheers and jeers, from both sets of fans.

Then came the seagulls, it was bizarre, but ingesting. Who was feeding them?

After the game, we walked around Wrigleyville, got Cubs tshirts, hopped on the El in search of food.

All in all, a good time!

{July 12, 2014} Ballpark = Expensive

It feels like you almost have to take out a loan when you go to a sporting event!

Do you remember going to baseball games as a kid? It’s professional I’m talking about now, please keep in mind. I know it wasn’t always cheap, but I remember when I used to go to Yankee Stadium to see the Yankees and sitting in the bleachers.

Being a “Bleacher Creature” was cheap! Give maybe five or ten dollars a ticket and five dollars got me a pretzel and drink and change! Now…not so.

Today, KLS and I drove into Chicago to go to a Cubs game. Guess who they were playing….The Atlanta Braves! What are the odds!

We decided on the bleachers. Sounds good, I’ll get the tickets. What happened to those prices? $67 plus taxes and fees! Huh! Then we get to the game and is time for food…

Two pretzels, chess sauce, one water and one beer…$24! What?

To be honest, unless you’re going knowing you’re not getting food, you’re mentally prepared to spend cash on food. It’s part of the charm, right?

{July 10, 2014} Marshmallows…

Make me happy. Yeah, that’s about it.

Kidding, I will tell you more about my thoughts on marshmallows. I haven’t always liked marshmallows, but they are a little bit of fun and fluff.

But…I’m not into eating Fluff though, I think it’s weird, you know Fluff and peanut butter sandwiches? No appeal to me at all. As you know, I don’t like chocolate unless there is peanut butter involved, but every once in a while, if there is a campfire and s’mores, I will make one, it’s fun. What could be better? Squishing a piece of chocolate and a marshmallow between two graham crackers…yeah, sounds good. And messy.

I remember being a kid and taking marshmallows and pulling them apart to make taffy, sticky but fun. And who doesn’t like marshmallows melting into their hot chocolate? And come on, how long did you search for the perfect stick to put the marshmallow on to roast it over an open fire or maybe in the fireplace on a cold winter’s night, living room camping!

Why am I inspired to tell you about my affection for the little white fluffy things? [Aside from the fact that you never know what is going to come out of my mouth?] Yesterday, KLS and I were running errands and were in the grocery section of the store and I saw a bag of giant, square marshmallows and decided to buy the bag. I can tell you that I will probably have this bag for a year. I can’t eat very many of them at all, they are so sweet, so I will eat one and then maybe the next day have another and then…it will probably be a week or so before I have another so…

Be on the lookout, I will be sharing them, why not, it’s like sharing a bit of love.

{July 10, 2014} I’m allergic to…

Am I allergic to something else?

I already have a list of things I’m not supposed to eat due to gastritis, you don’t want to know. You know I gave up dairy about two months ago, still dealing with that.

A few years ago I figured out that I’m allergic to soy milk when I had a white hot chocolate made with soy milk and my mouth started to itch, so much, I was scratching it with a fork! I thought it was a fluke until that summer, I ate some cereal with soy milk, same thing, among other things happening. So, no more soy milk for me.

Last week, I had an allergic reaction, same thing, took a Benedryl and I fell asleep and when I woke up, all better. I’m not sure what it was, hoping it wasn’t the watermelon. Today, I had the same reaction after eating a plum, no Benedryl, but there was some Claritin down in the hotel lobby, it seems to have worked.

Oh, please..I don’t want to be allergic to anything else! [I’ll keep you posted as I keep eating]

{July 8, 2014} Peachtree and Expo photos…as promised

As promised, I wanted to share some photos from the Peachtree Expo and the Peachtree Road Race. I hope you enjoy.

Some cool and comfortable socks!

My new running dress! CKM got a very cute one in her colors!

New skirt, shorts and sleeves. Do you love the sugar skulls? I do!!!

Two new shirts, one a nod to my fabulous sister!

Our volunteer packet! Groovin’ t-shirt, home depot apron, Waffle House discount key tag [not pictured], Start Line credentials, 2014 pin, 5th year volunteer pin, [see it? it’s orange!] and our hat for volunteering 5 years! go us!

Our Peachtree Road Race 10k t-shirts and race bib! Do ya love it?!

To my friends who sell Thirty One…could you just diah!

Both knees wrapped up and ready for the race!

The start of the race as the sun comes up!

Here is the raising of the flag, spectacular!

The Wheelchair 10k Division

Thanks to the spectators who cheer us on and make us laugh!

Thank you to all the volunteers who work tirelessly along the route!

I can see the finish!

Thank you to all the police officers who keep us safe and in line [this is after the end of the run when the crews were opening the streets back up

{July 8, 2014} Lead Foot…Why???

I’m not sure if I’ve told you about my lead foot, but I have one and it’s gotten me into trouble.

I have had a speeding problem since I was a newer teenage driver, I would go years without an issue and then bam…speeding tickets and a few of them, then nothing for a few years and then…yup, you guessed it, bam.

It was bad in Atlanta, well, I lived there for almost twenty years, so that’s where the bulk of the problem was. I even got one taking SDL and her sister, DJL, to the airport to bring Miss A back to the states! That one, I would say, was totally worth it!

I have been doing really well over the last 3 years, but I have to ask…Why oh why does driving on the highways in Atlanta compel me to want to driver faster? Probably because everyone else is doing it, but…I don’t necessarily want to speed, it feels good to go fast, but I don’t really need to do that! But I want to…somebody stop me! [this was a holiday weekend, it could have been bad!]

There are roads in Colorado that are 75mph, wahoo! Give me more of those and I’ll be happy.

I started setting the cruise control on the car and that saved me a lot, I use it no matter what city I’m in, it so helps, but do you know what got me to stop speeding in Atlanta this trip? I left! I’m back in Michigan and no speeding! Whew!

{July 6, 2014} Another busy day! Gravestones, Cars, Dinner

Ready for another crazy day? Are you still keeping up? Did you take a nap after my last post?

Today started early for a Sunday, but we had things to do! I woke up before my alarm was set to go off at 8am and leisurely got up, which is the best way to wake up, meandered out and met TS preparing some coffee and tea, we made breakfast and had a nice sit down meal.

Then we got in the car and headed down to Oakland Cemetery for the tour at 10am. I have always wanted to tour the cemetery, “Less than a mile from the heart of downtown Atlanta, a hidden treasure, a secret sanctuary, welcomes you. This garden cemetery, founded in 1850, is the final resting place of many of Atlanta’s settlers, builders, and most noted citizens like Bobby Jones, Margaret Mitchell, and Maynard Jackson. It is also a showplace of sculpture and architecture, and a botanical preserve with ancient oaks and magnolias. Here in this peaceful place the full scope of the city’s rich and fascinating history unfolds before you.”

They also have some great events, like ghost tours, music events, 5k races, so many events.

We enjoyed the tour, saw some fantastic works of art that are actually grave markers, touching tributes, amazing statuary, stained glass. We learned about the foliage, how it is selected based on times in history, history of the different sections of the cemetery, tributes based on wealth and age of the loved on. One day soon, I will give you full photographs and information that I learned. Until then, here are a few pictures to enjoy. http://www.oaklandcemetery.com/

After the full two hour and so worth the money tour, we went across the street to Six Feet Under. I had been wanting to go and…if we showed our receipt would get $5 off our meal, what could be better!

We had a great lunch and for dessert, some fantastic white chocolate, banana bread pudding with whiskey caramel sauce! Let me just say Y U M!!! http://sixfeetunderatlanta.com/

After lunch, we took our coasters to the High Museum of Art, they had $3 off coupons, how could we resist? This was an amazing event, there were cars from the early 1940s to new cars from the 2000s. These were some sleek, beautiful and amazing looking cars, a beauty and a joy forever. I will post a full album very soon, here are a few to get your gears shifting! http://www.high.org/Art/Exhibitions/Dream-Cars-Innovative-Design-Visionary-Ideas.aspx

After the exhibit, we drove back to TS’ house to relax and I headed out at 5pm to head to Buckhead to meet my dear friend LGR and her husband MR and their adorable daughter, CR. We met at Farm Burger for some good food, conversation and laughs, it’s always a good time. LGR and I have known each other for almost 20 years, I met her my second year in Georgia and when we get together or talk on the phone, it’s as if no time has passed, don’t you just love friends like that? I know I do.

http://www.farmburger.net/buckhead/

After dinner, I headed to my house to have a peek around and now I am writing you and tomorrow, I will head back to Ann Arbor, MI. What might be my next adventure?

{July 5, 2014} A marathon of a journey…for real!

Ok folks, get ready, this is going to be a douzy! We’re packing two days into one post! I owe ya!

Picture it..July 4th 4am! What? Yup, that’s when my day started…along with a bunch of other people in Atlanta, getting ready to participate or volunteer, or both, for the 45th running of the Peachtree Road Race.

I got up, hoping not to wake SDL or Miss A and I was successful. I got up, dressed and out of the house by 4:24 and I was on the road by 4:26. I made it to Phipps Plaza to park by 5am, they were closing the road by 5:30. I met up with CKM and checked in for my post. It was our 5th year volunteering for the Peachtree Road Race and this year, we got a special pin! We get a pin every year we volunteer and every five years you get a special commemorative pin and we earned it!

Then we went to our post at the start, we were going to be corralling the seeded runners, getting them ready to line up to go forward and run their hearts out. First there was the Original 110. This group consisted of some of the original 110 runners from the first Peachtree Road Race in 1970 and there were also some of their grandkids, it was really cool. http://www.peachtreeroadrace.org/press-center/history

Next came the wheelchair racers and they were fantastic. It’s a lot of fun to watch them take off, it’s like a giant windstorm came through. They have several rows of the racers, the last row are the runners who push the wheelchair participants, makes you feel all warm and fuzzy and so proud! The men’s and women’s winners were both American! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peachtree_Road_Race#Wheelchair_race_divisions

Then came the Women’s 10k World Championship followed a few minutes later by the Men’s 10k World Championship. Both the men’s and women’s winners were American in this race group as well! http://www.peachtreeroadrace.org/articles/view/landry-hastings-win-on-picture-perfect-peachtree-day

Before The Original 110 group, a duo sang America the Beautiful and before the Championship races, they sang The National Anthem. It’s amazing to see the flag flying, all the participants looking up at the amazing flag with their hands on their hearts, some, like me with our hats in our hands covering our hearts and to feel such pride as I listen and sing and know that it has so much meaning to me and to this country and I will be honest, there is no other song that makes me tear up when i hear it as The National Anthem.

Then Group A followed a few minutes later by Group B and at that point CKM came running across the road to return her placard, I had already returned mine, since I was on that side of the street and as soon as Group C went, we jumped in at the very end, crossed the start and we were off!

We had a lot of fun, walking, talking, hi-fiving kids and adults alike, seeing great costumes and signs and enjoying the beautiful 67 degree morning! Yes folks, I said 67 degrees in Atlanta in JULY!!! That was unheard of, but it was perfect! I actually had long sleeves on for a while!

It took us officially 1:49:33. Out of 28693 women participating, I came in 25589. I’m pretty proud! There were 28478 men, 29694 women and 57171 total finishers. Not too shabby if I do say so myself!

I really enjoy the tradition that CKM and I have had for the past 6 years and I look forward to volunteering and participating in the Peachtree Road Race as long as we win the lottery and get numbers!

There was another cool thing that happened. Meb Keflezighi, who won the Boston Marathon this year and was the first American to win the Boston Marathon since 1983 was doing the Chase Keflezighi, fundraising for Kilometer Kids, a kids running club, hoping to raise $75,000 by starting LAST at the Peachtree Road Race and had a goal of passing 22,500 participants!!! You know he did it! http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/keflezighi-runs-down-pack-at-ajc-peachtree/ngZBG/

After we crossed the finish line, we made our way with thousands of other participants to get our coveted finishers t-shirts. I know I always say that I do these races for the t-shirt and this is one a lot of people will say they do for the shirts. This is one of the few races that you only get your shirt after you finish the race. It really is a coveted shirt and people wear it proudly like a badge of honor!

After the run, we got our shirts, some fruit and popsicles and ice cream and started to walk to get something to eat. I want you to keep in mind just how much we walked. We just finished a 10k, that’s 6.2 miles. Then we walked about 2.5 miles to get to the Flying Biscuit Cafe for some breakfast to include some creamy dreamy grits! Oh My! So worth the 45 minute wait, with everyone else! http://www.flyingbiscuit.com/

After brunch, we started walking towards the MARTA [train] station and decided we didn’t want to get on the train with everyone else so we were going to walk down to the next station on Peachtree Street. Neither one of us remembered that there isn’t a MARTA stop on Peachtree until we were almost back at the start so…we walked the 6.2 miles back to our cars! What? In total we walked about 16 miles! That is crazy! CKM realized she had walked a half marathon, unofficially is what she said while she was laughing through the pain! [Please send good vibes to her for the seven blisters she got on her feet!] Yes you did! And it was great practice for me for the half I’m doing in February. Although…I might be doing one in Las Vegas in November, I’ll keep you posted! I need to get her a 13.1 t-shirt!

Tired yet? Just hold on!

After we got back to our cars, I headed out to Suwanee to see my friend LK and her family. I met them at the pool and we had a great time! As soon as I changed into my bathing suit, I jumped in the pool and stayed there until we got out to go home two hours later! It was great, we talked, I played with the kids and got some extra sun.

At the house, we made pizzas for dinner, the kids had friends over, there was a lot of laughter, shouting and fun. After dinner, we showered and dressed, I carved a watermelon basket, I’m getting better at them! And then went up the hill to the top of the cul-de-sac for some snacks and fireworks! I talked to a couple who’s son lives in…wait for it…Broomfield! What are the odds! and some other very nice neighbors they have. One of the older neighborhood kids were letting off fireworks, some of them were really good and some just noisy.

About 10pm, I walked the youngest, K back to the house, we put on jammies and cuddled under the blankets and a little while later everyone else came home and found us dozing on the love seat. After she sent the kids to bed LK I sat, folded laundry and talked, it was really nice. I know I’ve told you about LK, we grew up together and being in that house is like being at home and I love it.

Like the last time I was there, I had an allergic reaction to something so I took a Benedryl and got a little sleepy, let’s just say. I wrote to you and then passed out, waking today about 11:40am, it was awesome! I had woken up about 6am and then 8am and I decided that was not going to be the final word and fell back asleep, I got a text that woke me telling me there were pancakes on the counter! Thank you! It was so awesome to catch up on some sleep and I will be able to go another few months on 3-4 hours a nite! SO NICE!

I got up, showered and dressed, had some pancakes and then everyone came home from wherever they were. At 2:30, they were all heading to the pool, so I kissed and hugged everyone, got in the car and headed to TS’ house.

I told you this would be a long one!

At TS’ house, I found SF and her friend C, they were going to a movie nearby and wanted to see TS’ new furniture. It was nice to catch up with them and after they left, TS and I got down to business, catching up in person!

I have to tell you, she was the first person to tell me that reading my blog was like sitting across from me at the table, she always knows what’s going on in my life and sometimes feels like she’s hearing things for the second time when I tell her a story!

We talked about going to a movie and then time got away from us and we talked until it was time to cook dinner and we cooked together, it was great! Eggplant with pesto, sauce and mozzarella [well, the cheese was for TS], asparagus and multi-colored baby carrots and some cold salads she had picked up, a feast!

After dinner, we kept talking, finally her cat, Molly came downstairs to say hello, we cuddled and TS and I kept talking. All of a sudden, we realized it was 12am and we needed to get some sleep, we’re going to tour the Oakland Cemetery tomorrow, which I’m very excited to do since I have never done it!

Tomorrow or Monday, I will post photos from this weekend! Right now, I wish you all a great night and get some sleep, unless you already fell asleep from this long post!

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