365-2 | Peaches Prattlings

{June 24, 2014} More holiday shopping done!

I love finding deals on things I know people will like.

This helps my gift closet grow and when it comes time for the holidays, I am either done or very close to being done. This makes me very happy and it’s something my mom was great at and she passed that skill down to GES and I. I have accomplished a lot, gotten gifts for people and when November/December rolls around, I don’t have to spend a lot of money all at once! Score!

When I moved to Colorado and got a storage unit, guess what went into the storage unit first, as in the back of the unit? DUH! So, that means starting over and I think I told you how I did that one day at Tuesday Morning, it was a great start!

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been going into a few stores when I needed something and found some great deals and I am so excited about them! I get tickled when I see something that screams “ooh, ___ would love that!”

So, now I have things for my gift closet, but I’m in a hotel! Um…any ideas what I should do with this stuff!? Who cares! I’m ahead of the game! Go me!

{June 23, 2014} Friends in pain

It’s hard when your friends are in pain.

You want to be there for them, help them through whatever it is, take the pain away and make it right again for them, even tell them it’s going to be ok, maybe even want to tell them what they should do.

Unfortunately, all we can do is be there, listen, be a sounding board, let them talk through the issues and their concerns and if they want our opinions or advice, we give it, otherwise, we stay silent. I know that is something that I am not great at, but want to be better at, staying silent, it’s not easy, I’m a fixer, I want to make everyone happy and take the pain away.

To all my friends who are experiencing something unpleasant, making them unhappy, please know that you have friends who care about you and no matter how much you think you’re alone in what you’re going through, you’re not, we love you and will be here when you’re ready to talk to us.

{June 22, 2014} A good breakfast, a goodbye, a hello and a happy hour

It was a full day! And what a glorious day! 77 with a breeze, did you have it as good! First official day of summer was a delight!

CKM and I got up leisurely, well too early, but leisurely, got motivated, checked her in for her flight, finished packing and headed out. We went to Angelo’s for breakfast, so good! I couldn’t finish everything on my plate, so we boxed it up and took it with us and I’m glad we did, i found someone who was hungry and could use a good meal.

We went down to main street and walked in a few stores that we hadn’t been in this weekend, had some laughs and then it was time to make our way to the airport. We got there in plenty of time for her to check her bag and get to the gate.

I had some time to kill, about two hours before KS was back in Michigan, so I went for a drive to see what was around the airport. I found Canton and Wayne, Michigan, walked around a mall and a Hallmark store, nothing monumental, but found a few more Chanukah and Christmas gifts, even some for Easter! I love a sale! Go me!

Then it was time to pick up KS, we connected at the airport and since we were both hungry, headed back downtown to grab some grub! We decided on Vellum but we just missed brunch and had about 20 minutes until happy hour and another hour to the start of restaurant week dinner. So what do two industrious girls do with time to kill? Window shop! That was perfect timing, we went back across the street to Vellum for happy hour and love those happy hour prices! The cool thing was we got a few of the things that we were looking at on the restaurant week menu! Poutine, fried beets and brussel sprouts and a watermelon sangria for KS, all delicious! We caught up on our week, laughed and had a good time. http://vellumrestaurant.com/

After happy hour, we walked around, KS got some dessert and then we headed back to the car, she was ready to get back to her room, do some laundry and watch the world cup: USA vs Portugal, which, as you know, ended in a tie. I got to the hotel, caught up with Nel, Liv and Sean, then headed up to my room and sat down, first time in a while.

Happy Sunday!

{June 21, 2014} Long day, goodbyes, a new experience, good food and good friends…Sounds good to me!

What a day!

Today was my last 12 hour day supporting the pharmacy at the hospital. It was bittersweet, I was happy to be finished with this part of the project, happy to not have to get up at 5am, be there at 6am and stay until 6pm. Happy that they were comfortable and confident with the application to not need our continued support, they are helping each other and know what to do if it’s a big issue.

Sad because I’ve spent two weeks with these people, I know it doesn’t seem like a long time, but when you spend 12 hours a day with them, you get to be friendly, friends. You laugh a lot and get silly, those wee hours of the morning are for silliness! You talk, get to know each other and have a good time. And when it’s time to go, they tell you how much they appreciated you being there, it feels so good and then hugs goodbye and you walk out the door. Who knows if our paths will cross, but I will remember them and maybe they’ll remember me. Well, some will because I became “snack girl”! I was responsible for bringing snacks mid-shift, I’ll take it!

CKM had a much more entertaining day! She started at the Farmers Market, lunch at the blue tractor, the library book sale: everything you can fit into a bag for $5! Then the Ann Arbor book festival, how could you go wrong? I lucked out with a t-shirt and rubber ducky from the festival, thank you!!

When i was done with work, I met CKM and we went to see ‘Architects of Air: Miracco’. “Miracoco is a glorious amalgam of engineering, technology, science, and art. The central dome features a spiral lattice of scintillating points of light on a field of iridescent hues. The outer domes explore the dodecahedron, using reinforced restraints to render a geometry that is more visible and precise.”

The entire structure was made of pvc pipe stretched so thin it becomes soft and pliable, very interesting. Even more interesting was that all the stitching was done by hand, really impressive! There were four different sections in different colors, blue, green, red with no artificial light, all natural.

http://a2sf.org/event/architects-of-air-miracoco/

Then we headed down to main street to Cafe Felix for dinner. The waiter said it was French with their own flair, um, not really. It was good, but we didn’t get the feeling of French, that’s ok, a new experience and tasty dinner. http://www.cafefelix.com/

After dinner we walked, went into different shops and bought a few things here and there, I’m doing well, I’ve gotten some chanukah and christmas presents already! Last stop was Cupcake Station, yum! She got a mini cupcake and I got a few cookies to bring back and share. http://www.cupcakestation.com/

Now, laundry is in, CKM is packing and I’m talking to you, sounds like a full day!

[Best part…NO alarm clock tomorrow! shhhh…sleeping!]

{June 20, 2014} Rain Rain Go Away…Didn’t stop us though!

As the saying goes…”Come again some other day”! There are things we want to do and you are ruining them! Not completely, but still.

Wednesday night there was a huge storm, it rained all day and well into the evening. It was so bad that when I went to pick up KS to go to work, from the front door of the hotel to the car I got soaked. I was wearing khaki pants and when I got in the car, I was so wet, they were dark brown in front! Apparently it’s the rainy season, why? We’ve had snow, now rain? How about some nice even keeled weather?

Today it rained most of the day, which was fine for me, I was at the hospital working, but for CKM, she was running in between the raindrops! She decided she was going to go to the Archaeological Museum, Art Museum and Science Museum, she’s a museum kind of girl. It was easy to find parking, but dodging the rain drops is not that easy.

After work, we met back at the hotel to change and head out. There is an arts festival going on right now in Ann Arbor and we were going to go to hear a band play, but they got rained out, so we decided to go grab some food and Irish Pub fare it was! We went to Conner O’Neills for some futball [it was on, Honduras was playing Ecuador, Ecuador won, go Ecuador! Boy those fans are fanatic! We went for futball, good food and best of all, good company. it was yummy! http://www.conoroneills.com/annarbor/

After dinner we walked around town, did some window shopping, found some fun treats for ourselves and CKM found lots of goodies to take home with her.One of the places was Cherry Republic, nothing but things made with cherries, for miles! And tastings, chocolate covered cherries, cherry soda, cherry wine, cherry tea, you name it, it was probably made with cherries!

After shopping, we decided it was time for dessert so we got in the car and headed for…you guessed it, Insomnia Cookies! I have been talking enough about this place that CKM had to try it for herself. We got a few cookies and some ice cream, sat and enjoyed our dessert.

Now we’re at the hotel relaxing, checking email and talking to you! Who knows what tomorrow holds, I am done work at 6pm and CKM is going exploring until then! Then we are doing something fun together. Can’t tell you what that is yet [I don’t know to tell the truth!] but I will tell you all about it tomorrow!

Until tomorrow, have a great night!

http://a2sf.org/desktop/

{June 19, 2014} Hello CKM! Welcome to A2!!!

I have a visitor for the week and it’s CKM!

About a month ago, I asked CKM what she was doing for her birthday and then I said, come see me in Michigan and she said yes! Well, yesterday was her birthday and she went out and got pampered with a massage, mani and pedi…and why shouldn’t she? She deserves it!

Today, she packed up her bags and got on a flight from Atlanta to Detroit to see me. The only bad part about this week is that I have to work every day she is here except Sunday, so Sunday will be a fabulous brunch and whatever she wants to do. There are a lot of great things happening around Ann Arbor this month, let alone this month.

She got in while I was at work, dropped her bags at the hotel, where everyone has been looking forward to meeting her because, of course, I have been talking about her coming to visit for a while, and headed out to walk downtown, do a little retail therapy and get a feel for this great town. She also went to Zingerman’s, think she was hungry when I picked her up? Not a chance!

When I was done with work, I picked her up, went back to the hotel, changed clothes and we headed out to Chelsea in search of entertainment and dessert. CKM is great about researching areas to visit and what to do, so of course, she knew that there would be live music in Chelsea on Thursday night. We got there, parked and walked in the direction of the music, which was everywhere!

There were lone musicians performing on one street, trios on another, the Celtic House Orchestra, which was made up of tie-dyed wearing teenagers playing different instruments, most predominant was the fiddle and got our toes tapping and our hands clapping.

We went in a few shops, found some treats for ourselves and others, went to Zou Zous where CKM got some yummy ice cream and I got some veggie soup, it was very tasty! While we sat outside we ate, laughed, caught up on each other, listened to some music, checked out the dogs and just took in the sights and sounds.

About 9, we had seen a lot and things were shutting down and it was time for us to head back to the hotel with a quick stop at Bob’s Big Boy for a photo op.

Here we are back at the hotel, just relaxing and enjoying each other’s company and in about five minutes, I’m going to pass out as I need to get up in a few hours. Have a great night!

I can’t wait to find out what adventure awaits us tomorrow!

{June 18, 2014} Day 4…Fun in Chicago and back to A2

Tee hee hee, if you didn’t know, A2 is how people from Ann Arbor refer to it and since I’ve been there for a few months and will be there a while longer, I’m jumping on the bandwagon!

Today I was awakened way too early, 7:30am, by some texted pictures, not naming names, very happy to have them, but too early and my fault that I didn’t have the phone on silent. But…it was a good thing and I’ll tell you why soon.

I stretched and tried to go back to sleep but we both know me and that wasn’t happening, so I got up, showered, dressed, started packing, had some breakfast, chatted with Ernest, the nice gentleman that works the breakfast area at the hotel, saw pictures of his grandkids, talked about Father’s Day, back to the room to finish packing and headed out.

I dropped my bags at bag storage, headed out, took a right and began walking down South Michigan Avenue. The past three days, I had been staying primarily on North Michigan Avenue and South Michigan Avenue has so much to offer. Good thing I’m going to come back some time, more exploring!

It was about a mile and a half from the hotel to Shedd Aquarium. Someone told me I needed to be there by about 9:30am or the line would be ridiculous and when I left about 2:15, the line for tickets was probably about a 1.5-2 hours wait, no thanks!

The website said the best days to go, Wednesday and Thursday, well, now it know why. Teenagers and wee tots, class and camp trips and there were a lot of them, not to mention families, good thing crowds don’t bother me much.

When I talked to people from Chicago, they said that so many class trips every year were to Shedd Aquarium and The Field Museum of Natural History and Adler Planetarium. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Museum_Campus

For my entry fee, I got entrance into the aquarium and all the sections including Oceanarium, Wild Reef, Jellies, Stingray Touch Experience, Aquatic Show and Sea Monsters, oh my!

I got to see the different sections including Caribbean Reef, River, Ocean, all great with frogs, snakes, fish, spiders, you name it, they had it. The Jellies were amazing, such beautiful creatures that can be so deadly. I got to pet stingrays, so soft and sleek, watch the aquatic show with dolphins, seals, a dog and some beluga whales, fascinating and touching, hang with some penguins and watch a 4D movie about sea monsters. That was fun! You sit in the seat and watch things come at you, get sprayed with mist and feel things touch your back, the audience reaction is the best.

I really enjoyed myself and could see myself possibly going back again, if I had people with me. I saw some beautiful creatures that I might never see on my own and learned a lot about them and how I could help, how we could all help.

I hope you enjoy some of my pictures.

http://www.sheddaquarium.org

{June 17, 2014} Apologies

Friends. I must apologize, this is my post for tonight.

I had a great day in Chicago, but my trip back to Ann Arbor was delayed by 3.5 hours, while I was on the train, I just got to my hotel and I have to get up in less than 5 hours. I want to give you the full experience of my day, with pictures so…

Please forgive me, I will post in detail tomorrow. Have a great night!

{June 17, 2014} Apologies

Friends. I must apologize, this is my post for tonight.

Please forgive me, I will post in detail tomorrow. Have a great night!

{June 16, 2014} Day 3 in Chicago – Time to Get Cultured!

Day 3 brought more sunshine, I was ready for the new day and looked at my suggestion list.

The Art Institute of Chicago it would be! http://www.artic.edu/

When I got there, I found out it didn’t open until 10:30, so I walked around a bit, talked to dad and then headed across the bridge to the entrance, paid my entrance fee and headed in. I’ll post a few pictures from the group I took, somewhere around 100.

I went through some Photography, mixed media, Modern, then Impressionists, some sculpture, American Classics finishing up with Modern again, what my dad and I love. They had pieces by some of my favorite artists, artists I don’t know and several of my favorite pieces and I learned a few things about some pieces I never knew.

Art is so many different things to so many different people, how it affects them, what type of reaction it elicits. Some pieces are created to do just that, make you react, other pieces are created that will make you wonder, question, but no matter what, art is supposed to make you feel and that’s all an artist can ask for.

I know that I enjoy the impressionists more than any other period, as much as I love modern art, some of the things you scratch your head at, make you laugh, revolt, I get the biggest surge of emotion when I look at pieces by Monet, Manet, Degas, Pissaro, just to name a few. I smile, I feel happy, well most of the time, some of the subjects are just too disturbing and sad, but when I look at something like Monet’s ‘Water Lily Pond’ I feel at peace.

I look at certain pieces and there is just so much perfection in each brush stroke, not a hair out of place, almost like a photograph, or a portrait by Jean-Etienne Liotard and while I love those pieces, the grand strokes of Van Gogh or the hurried, seemingly crazy strokes or a Manet or Money make me feel warm and welcome and invited. I had a Ferris Beuller moment, staring at Seurat’s ‘A Sunday on La Grand Jatte’, staring at it for a long time, getting lost in the scene. I want to be a part of that world.

I will always be grateful to my parents for introducing us to an amazing world of wonder and opening or eyes to all the beauty the world has to offer and how to appreciate them and a love of art and museums that is unparalleled.

I would love to sit and talk to you for hours about the works of art that I love and when you have time, let’s do that, right now, I’m just going to share a few pieces with you that captured my attention and my heart. You may know some of them and if you don’t, I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

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