365-4 | Peaches Prattlings

{September 30, 2016} I’m how old?

45! Yup…I said it! Loud and proud! I’m 45 years old today!

I got a pre-happy birthday birthday call from my dad, then PSM last night and wake up text from SDL and Miss A, a good start to the day!

Then, birthday wishes and hugs from MGS and GES and my birthday cat! Then breakfast with my sister at the Station Diner, a yummy egg, soysage and “cheese” sandwich for me, fully loaded for GES and a banana pancake to share.

Back to the house to get some work done, prep for the cleaners, then I went to get a much needed haircut.
In the middle of all of this, a very sweet delivery from my beau, PSM, roses and a “bear” hug.

Eventually, GES and I went to pick up MGS and EJS from their after school program, home and when ACS got home, because it’s my birthday, I got to choose the restaurant.

Unfortunately for the family, ha ha, I got to choose vegetarian/vegan. We went to a local place that PSM and I have been a few times and we really like it. The service is passable, but the food is good. Tonight, the service was terrible, one server for the entire restaurant, really?

The kids didn’t like the food, our food was pretty good. The desserts were alright, vegan desserts aren’t for everyone, but they were good sports.

We went home, I got my presents, a great literary scarf, one I had seen and wanted with a quote from The Wizard of Oz! A box of “Novel” Teas, literary tea bags and a house warming/birthday present, a ’45 clock, how perfect is that for my 45th?!

After the kids went to bed, some of the girls came over for an impromptu girls night, RS, TS and LR, we talked and laughed, lit a fire and enjoyed our time together until it was time for bed, talk to you and then pass out.
Tomorrow, dad and LaLa are coming for the weekend and to celebrate the Jewish New Year together, can’t wait!

I am 45! One day older than Magic Kingdom, I think I’m in good company!

Thank you to everyone who reached out to wish me a happy birthday, I’m a very lucky girl!

{September 29, 2016} Surreal and sad

I should be used to this already…but every time it takes getting used to.

This won’t be the most uplifting post, I appreciate your understanding.

I want to say that “home is where the heart is” and you know how much I love my friends and family and when I am with them, I feel at home, but I’m just visiting.

I am going to start with quasi-adulthood, instead of the just after college youth, if that’s alright with you.
I left Georgia after almost twenty years and now, when I go back, I’m renting a car and staying with friends, who are my family, or in hotels, I’m not “home”.

I left Colorado after a year and a half and now, when I go back, I’m renting a car, staying with friends or in hotels, I’m not “home”.

I left Boston three weeks ago, I had been moving my stuff over the past few months, including my car! and now, when I go back, I’m renting a car, staying with family, I’m not “home”.

When I left Colorado, I packed up some stuff, don’t forget, I have two storage units that I visit every time I go back, took the fur babies and moved in with my sister and family, it was great, I’d been spending so many weekends and weeks there, it was natural.

Then I got an apartment for me and the fur babies and coming “home” meant coming in from whatever project I was on, getting a rental car and going to my apartment to snuggle with them, seeing my family at least once or twice during the weekend.

Now, it’s a whole new experience. This is my first time coming to Boston and going straight to my sister’s, no apartment, no further babies. It’s surreal and it’s sad.

I’m going to be surrounded by family, friends and more love than I can imagine and it’s just what I need. Each trip will get a little easier, I know, but the first one is not going to be easy.

I’ll take your good vibes and positive thoughts my friends for this weekend. Let the healing begin.

{September 28, 2016} A sense of urgency…not really

I work really well under pressure.

I’ve always been that way, it doesn’t work for everyone and it shouldn’t. Sometimes the pressure is put on myself because I procrastinate. My mother hated, yes I said hated that I procrastinate. I really shouldn’t, but sometimes, that’s just the way it is.

I am currently working on something that I need to finish but I didn’t have a deadline, so I didn’t have a sense of urgency. Well, there was a sense of urgency and then it was gone, things change. I put one on myself, it might be more I just want to get it done, it might be that I don’t want anyone thinking I’m wasting time just sitting around.

I’ve also been waiting on others to send me what I need to finish, can’t make that happen myself, well, with a little nudge I can!

Well, earlier today, I got access to what I needed to finish and I think tomorrow might be the day! Wish me luck!

{September 27, 2016} A fun evening…fund raising

Yeah, puntastic!

Tonight, my team went out to support a great coworker and cause.

JW is on the board of directors of CEP, the Center for Economic Progress. This is a fantastic organization that helps low-income, working families as a trusted provider of tax and financial services. http://www.economicprogress.org/

The fundraiser was to acknowledge the program, supporters, staff and volunteers.

Well…we were also there to fundraiser, of course! One of the reasons we were fundraising is the mobile unit, just like the magnet in the photo. It will be used to travel into neighborhoods to perform their great services.

The mobile unit has been procured, but…as JW said in her presentation, it is sad on the inside…why? It’s empty! So…we need to raise funds to fill and stock it! Computers, workstations, supplies, you name it.

How did we accomplish some of this tonight? Text CEP to a number, get a text with a link to a fundraising site, clever! When you submitted your donation, you saw your name scroll on the big screen, sorry, missed my name!

Now, the excitement was to see what we could raise in 5 minutes and someone was going to match it. What did we raise? Almost $9000! Not too shabby! Go JW and CEP!

It was an exciting event and as it was winding down, the team went a few blocks down the street to have some dinner, the fundraiser was appetizers and an open bar. We continued the good times, especially when JW got there. We ate, drank, chatted and laughed, another great team I’m lucky to have been placed with!

{September 26, 2016} Debate…no comment

No, my friends, I am not going to comment, I’m not going to tell you my opinion on the election or who I’m going to vote for. Either side, I’m not starting nothin’!

It’s not that I’m not voting, that I don’t already know who I’m voting for, I’m just not going to talk about it with you. There was a quote I heard years ago “Never talk about religion, politics or abortion among friends”. I believe it to be true and will adhere to it with you, my friends.

In small circles or one-on-one conversations, I might be persuaded to speak, but not here and definitely not on Facebook. If you’re friends with me and really looked, you could see the posts I have liked. I don’t comment, but I’ve liked and agreed with quite a few and I’m saddened by some of what I see from the opposite point of view, I could lose friends if I said anything.

I don’t get into political debates, not worth it because many times you’re just talking, hoping the other personis going to see you’re side and change their mind.

I was once having a political discussion with someone, against my better judgement and he was getting louder and louder. I finally looked at him and said “J, the louder you get, the more clear your point does not get!”

I walked by a TV studio tonight and stood for a minute with the crowd gathered outside watching the debate, the homeless guy was shouting at the tv, I can tell you this…he loves his girl Hillary, quote/unquote! That was the extent of my attention to the debate, sorry friends, if you’re looking for more or a fight, as Dana Carvey used to say when he was doing an impression of George Bush, “not gonna do it!”

{September 26, 2016} My sister…my hero

Today my sister was a true hero, or heroine, whichever way to put it.

Today she was literally a hero, a Jimmy Fund Hero, she was Mile Marker 17! Placard with her name, photo and quote.

I’ve told you about my sister, she is a breast cancer survivor and the Jimmy Fund raises awareness and funds for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Last year, GES raised over $1500 that she became a Jimmy Fund Hero.

There are different events that you are invited to as a Jimmy Fund Hero, I don’t remember if you reveal when I talked about going to the summit at Fenway with her. There were other things as well and today, she walked the 5k, she was paired with a corporate team and she was represented along the route.

I don’t know how much she raised just for this event, it had to be at least $1500, but I know she surpassed that, she is a star, after all!

She walked for herself, our mom, grandmother and so many others in her life that have been touched by cancer. If dad and I are proud, I know those people are too. Words really can’t express how proud of her I am, I think you might have an idea.

Congrats to my sister for being a hero, she’s always been mine, I guess I can share her for a day!

{September 24, 2016} Miles…tolls…hotels…1.5 fill ups

A drive across country isn’t an easy task.

Between today and yesterday I have driven 1180 miles, 18 hours…spent $60 in tolls…$360 in hotels, oh my!

I started in Massachusetts, drove through New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and finally Wisconsin, whew.

Tolls are ridiculous!!! Most were $1.25-2.50, ok. There was one for $8.50, another $10.30 and one for $15.50! What are they doing with the money?? Don’t answer that, I know the answer.

The tolls were one thing, but the hotel…last night, no worries, I used some points and cash, paid a pet deposit. Tonight, because there is a Green Bay Packers home game tomorrow, a hotel that normally costs $60, maybe $90 a night is going for nothing less than $190 a night, what?

I rented a Toyota Prius, which is a hybrid, so great on gas mileage, about 536 miles on a tank, not bad. I only had to fill up twice to here, one last time before I turn it in tomorrow. I liked the car, drawback is it beeps in reverse.

It’s been an interesting trip…not doing it again!

{September 23, 2016} No cavities…what??

When it comes to me…that almost never happens.

I have told you a little about my dental escapades in the past, not always a positive outcome.

Well, it’s rare, but it happens and today was one of those instances. I went to the dentist, sat in the chair and they got to work. Cleaning, scaling, scraping, flossing, x-rays, the full workup.

Turns out..clean bill of health! Called my dad as soon as I got out of the office.

Go me!

{September 22, 2016} What a day!

This is not going to be the most positive of all posts…Sorry.

It’s also going to be that kind of weekend, so friends, just send me good vibes and I’ll be alright.

Work was hit and miss. It was good in that I got a lot done and I had a good training session. The not so good…something that was supposed to happen this coming Monday is now on hold, not great…

I got a pre-birthday text, thanks KWH.

Travel was hit and miss…when I checked in yesterday, I couldn’t get a seat on my first flight, ok, I’ll get one at the airport. Good was making it in time for my bag to make it. I had a seat at this point, not a great one and when I mentioned this to the agent, he said no problem, you’re confirmed on the upgrade list, you’ll get a better seat, they block them off, you’re platinum, you’ll be set…great.

Get to the gate, they have no idea and I get to sit in the 2nd to last row of the plane, next to the engine, where I have trouble sitting normally, I get nauseous from noise. Shortly after take off, phone falls and ends up behind the last row, fun. Thank you to the kind man who found it for me after we landed. That was good and the woman I sat next to was very nice.

Next flight…all the way at the other end of the airport, bad when you’re tired, good when you need the steps! Much better seats, just a nosy neighbor who watched almost every episode with me on my personality. Apparently he wasn’t enjoying what he was reading on the phone that was dying.

Then I realized I left my transponder in Chicago, which I brought with me specifically for the weekends I would be in Boston for the mass amounts of tolls…pook.

Now I’m on the shuttle to get my rental car, fingers crossed that goes off without a hitch.

Tomorrow I have a dentist appointment…what do you think my odds are?

Hit and miss, right?

Happy thoughts!! This might help!

{September 22, 2016} A team outting…a coming class!!

So much fun!

Two team dinners in a row? Sounds good! This time, a cooking class, fun!

We went to The Social Table for a fantastic evening!

When we arrived, appetizers were waiting, toast points with chickpeas, butternut squash, tomatoes, olive oil and pepper. A yummy way to start!

The kitchen was set, the table was set, everything was…set!

We were making a brussel sprout and kale salad, fresh pasta with carbonara sauce, minus the meat, tomato soup, stuffed peppers and chocolate cake with ice cream.
Rachel and Ian were our chef/instructors and they were fun and patient and encouraging and remembered each of our names and called us to do things, that was impressive!

Everyone chopped, sliced, diced, pureed, mixed, folded, whipped, you name it, we all got to do it!

We prepped, cooked, drank, chatted and laughed, it was fabulous and so much fun! We talked a little work here and there but most of all we laughed and really enjoyed the process and each other’s company.

When it was all done, we sat down to mange! It was fabulous!

[Yes, my friends, every piece if food had some form of dairy and I tried it all, except the chocolate cake with ice cream. I’m paying for it, but the experience with my coworkers was worth it! Every once in a while, you have to go for it]

If you have never taken a cooking class, it’s worth it. This is my second, it’s more fun with an intimate or smaller group and if you know everyone, you can relax a little more.

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