365-5 | Peaches Prattlings

{January 5, 2018} Nor’easter here I come…

Oh brother! I can’t catch a break!

Tonight, I flew from 8 degree Chicago, it had warmed up from the -2 when I woke up this morning, to 16 degree Boston. And by the time I wrote this, dropped to 8 degrees.

Apparently, I send out I love the cold vibe! My first project with my company, Michigan winter, then to Kentucky for summer, then Illinois for fall and beginning of winter, transfer to Buffalo for the remainder of the winter. Next was Boston for part of the winter, then spring, then back to Buffalo and then Chicago for the tail end of winter, then spring, summer, fall and full winter and then… wash, rinse, repeat.

And here we are at winter again. Either I have a penchant for winter or someone doesn’t want me to see the sun!

But… you know what happens when I get to my sister’s house, don’t you? Snuggles and hugs from EJS and MGS, so how warm will I be? Oh yeah!

{January 5, 2018} Hilton pulled it out again!

I don’t know if you know, but it’s a little cold around the country!

Where my dad is on Staten Island, it’s currently 19 degrees, Atlanta, where SDL and Miss A just landed today is 19 as well! Chicago is 5 degrees and where I am in Orland Park, Illinois, it is a big fat ZERO! Temperatures should have some numbers!!!

I got to my hotel yesterday morning and the heater was not heating, it was blowing cold, so I switched rooms. I set the temperature to about 85! Perfect! Tonight when I got back to the hotel, it was 1 degree out and the room was nice and toasty. But, alas, alack…brrrr both the living room and bedroom started blowing cold air, no!!!

I called down to the front desk and they told me how to fix it, using the fuse box and that worked on the living room, but the bedroom is still cold and instead of moving to another room, I thought I would sleep on the sofa.

The front desk called and offered to bring me a space heater and they did! And now, it’s toasting up the bedroom and I’ll be heading back in there in a minute. Go Hilton!

Sending you warm thoughts tonight!

{January 3, 2018} Nope, I want to go back!

It was in the mid 70’s when I left home yesterday and in the single digits when I landed in Chicago this morning. Just send me back!

When I was packing yesterday, I kept looking at all my long sleeve, warm clothing and then I’d pass by a mirror and see my shorts and t-shirts! Running around I almost started sweating!

I laughed with SDL when I showed her my parka and knew that this was my reality and vacation was almost over. Sigh…

I was wearing leggings and slippahs, it was fabulous. Got my bag and immediately put on my long socks, winter boots, scarf, hat, gloves and parka. Ok, ready to face the cold.

SDL isn’t leaving until later tonight, so she’s been sending pictures all day, not fair! It’s ok, I’m glad they’re enjoying Annie, the weather and the beach. Back to reality tomorrow.

And now it’s snowing. Winter is here, stay warm!

I wanna go home!

{December 31, 2017} Let’s get some culture on! Polynesian that is!

Today we went to the Polynesian Cultural Center and it was grand!

Breakfast, lounging, showers, baths, dressed to kill and then…sit in traffic. Sigh…When you move to Hawaii, you must learn to ‘Drive with Aloha’ or you might commit murder! You can’t have a hurry up and go attitude because nothing happens that way in Hawaii! I saw the perfect shirt today “I’m not late, I’m on Island Time!” And it is so true!

We went towards the North Shore, it should have taken us about an hour and 15 minutes to get there, it actually took about two hours…welcome to Hawaii! On the North Shore, you have Turtle Bay and Shark Cove, think people are not going to stop there? Nope! The traffic happens when people are slowed down to look and try to find parking.

Eventually…we got through all that and it was smooth sailing the rest of the way, except for a slowpoke every once in a while. Then we were there! We got our reserved tickets and found some food for lunch and then went through the gates to Polynesia.

The Polynesian Cultural Center is in Laie, as I mentioned, on the North Shore of Oahu. It’s a theme park and museum covering 42 acres and was started in 1963 and currently owned by the LDS, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and BYU, Brigham Young University.

I remember touring it in 2008 on a trip I earned with a company and found out that almost everyone that works there are students at BYU and working on a scholarship, which is funded by the entrance fee for the park, luau and shows.

The Cultural Center is divided into seven villages, Hawaii, Samoa, Aotearoa (present-day New Zealand), Fiji, Tahiti, Tonga and the Marquesas Islands. Each village has different shows that represent the land, people and culture. Some are traditional, some are funny, all informative and interesting.

While we were at the Samoan show, I recognized the mc, as it were, Kap. He’s known as Kap Tafiti and I remembered him from when I was there in 2008! He was the best fire dancer I’d seen! He still does the Samoan presentation, a little fire work, coconut tree climbing, but doesn’t do the full fire dancing he did back then. We bought a few pieces of his and had a photo, he’s a very nice guy and we met his son, who runs his shop. http://www.kaptafiti.com/gallery.aspx

At 6pm, we went in to one of the luau houses for a sit down luau. This is very similar to most other luaus around Hawaii. A sit down dinner, performers on the stage, some fire, dancing, singing, hula. All traditional to the Polynesian culture.

After dinner was the big show, Hā–Breath of Life. The show features songs and dances from throughout Polynesia, including the hula, tamure, otea, titi torea, haka, poi, meke, tauʻolunga, and Taualuga. The majority of the show was in the native Polynesian languages, but you really didn’t need to understand the language, everything is share through song, dance and action.

We all enjoyed the show very much and by the time we left, we cleared the place out and it only took about an hour to get home this time, no traffic at 9:30pm at night!

If you come to visit, we’ll take you!

{December 29, 2017} An early flight, a canyon and an opinion

The day started way early, but we had an adventure to get to! SDL, Miss A and I were going to Kauai! Miss A had this strong desire to see lots of roosters and chickens, how could we deny her!?

430am wake up on vacation seems excessive, but the traffic on Oahu can be horrible, especially at 5am, which is rush hour. But we made it in plenty of time to get a snack and watch the sunrise. Then it was time to board our 40 minute flight and have an adventure!

We got to the car rental desk and upgraded for a jeep. So, here is where my opinion comes in… I’ll stick with a convertible! We had a few circumstsnces that made me think this. It’s a two door jeep, which makes it tougher getting a child in and out of the back seat, I’m sure with a four door it would be different. And the window and back flaps were not that cooperative, especially when it started raining! I really enjoyed driving it and it was esay getting up the canyon drive. I did miss having the top down, but after the trouble with the flaps, we weren’t taking a chance with the top, especially since rain was in our future! SDL had a jeep in the past, she said it was much easier. I’ll take my 13 second up/ down beetle convertible top any day!

We got in the jeep, headed to the hotel to drop our bags and started out for the Waimea Canyon Drive. They say that The Waimea Canyon is the Grand Canyon of Hawaii and when you see it, you get it! You can really see it as you go up and up and up, amazing!it We stopped along the way at some of the scenic overlooks, and they were true to their name, scenic and overlooking the canyon. We saw rock faces and formations, waterfalls, foliage and so much more! Spectacular! Even the second time!

A few times, the three of us got out, walked around and took pictures, other times, just SDL, Miss A and I admired from the jeep. We drove up the canyon, it’s close to 30 miles up into the mountains to the top. We got out at a few of the state parks to walk around and get up to the overlooks there. It truly is spectacular. And Miss A walked them all, like a champ! We didn’t take the stroller out once today, awesome!

After we viewed the canyon, we drove back down the Waimea Canyon Drive into Waimea, had some lunch at a local Thai stand with all the chickens and roosters. We were going to go to Ke’e beach, but it was getting late and the sun would be going down in about two hours, when we got to the beach. We took a chance and got on the road. Guess what happened…the sky opened up! So…rain makes for a different experience!

We stopped at Kauai Harley Davidson, https://www.kauaiharley.com/, for a gift for Miss A’s bus driver and a photo with the Hawaiian hog! Then a stop at the famous Hilo Hattie’s, a Hawaiian staple, unfortunately had gone under a few years ago and then a few shops have popped up and here was one! SDL had great memories of shopping at Hilo Hattie’s years ago, as did I when I first visited Hawaii. https://www.hilohattie.com/ Each time we walked into or out of a store, we were running through the raindrops, ok, let’s be real, we were dashing through the deluge! A quick stop at Walmart for some rain ponchos was just the thing! Luckily, the rain stopped when we went in and when we came out!

Imagine us getting Miss A into the jeep in the rain! At Hilo Hattie’s we decided to put the windows back on, um… that was fun! But we would be dry! All that matters!

So, raining hard, we went back to the hotel, dinner for Miss A, SDL and I ordered Italian and ate on the sofa while Miss A crashed out.

What a day! What’s in store for tomorrow?!

{December 26, 2017} Mele Kalikimaka

It’s Christmas!

Things are a skosh different for me this year, all good, just different. For the first time in about nine years, I didn’t spend Christmas in Atlanta. This year I’m home for Christmas and imported some Atlanta!

As you know SDL and Miss A are here with PSM and I in Hawaii, so we are celebrating Hawaiian style!

We have been to the beach on Christmas Eve, a swap meet, saw Santa in a Hawaiian shirt, seen Christmas decorations on palm trees, lots of Santa caps on people and Santas surfing. What more could you want?!

Today was very laid back, we chilled out at the house, relaxed, talked and messaged with family and friends, watched some holiday classics, including White Christmas, opened presents late in the afternoon and then sat down to a less than traditional Christmas meal, burgers and fries, prepared by PSM, SDL and I. Miss A just directed and we followed, go figure!

I am so grateful to my friends and family who love me and make my life brighter. I hope that if you celebrate Christmas you are with people you love.

Mele Kalikimaka

{December 25, 2017} Sand, Fishes, Chinatown and Lights, Oh My!

This morning started waaaay too early! But it was2 worth it!

We got up before the sun to go down to Honolulu to listen to a presentation, which, thankfully Miss A helped us get out of! And we got a good deal on tickets to something we’re doing next weekend. Go Miss A!

Then it was time for breakfast for Miss A and a snack for SDL and I. We walked to find a spot on the beach and walked through the Sheraton and admired their 12 Days of Christmas, Hawaiian style and in sand!

Then it was off to the car, drop the top and head to Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, https://hanaumabaystatepark.com/. I don’t know if you remember me telling you about it a while back. It’s protected marine life conservation area that sees about 3000 visitors a day! Can you imagine! The amazing thing, it never feels that crowded!

We spent some time swimming, sunning, looking for fish and making friends. All that fresh air and sunshine can make a girl hungry, well, three girls, hungry! We headed off towards Turtle Bay and took another turn and ended up, pleasantly, in Chinatown. We found a place that was open, a very popular place, as it was crowded and taking reservations. We had a very nice meal and then as we were walking back towards we saw all the restaurants that seemed deserted, but now had crowds of people, a promising thought for the future!

After dinner, we headed down to City Hall to the Honolulu City Lights. This is a month long Christmas lights including a huge tree with Shaka Santa and Tūtū Mele. I remember passing it last year and seeing it and wanting to go! We didn’t make it, but this year, thanks to SDL and Miss A, we made it! How much do you love this! https://www.hawaii.com/oahu/attractions/honolulu-city-lights-honolulu-hale

Merry Christmas Eve! Tomorrow, I will be wishing you Mele Kalikimaka!

{December 18, 2017} My dad rocks and my sister has an anniversary!

I think you already know I think my dad is awesome, but I’m gonna tell you again! So there!

Today, I had to mail out those packages I told you about yesterday and we were at the post office and as I’m writing some addresses, a woman comes in, looks to be about my age and is grinning like a Cheshire cat and I look over and she says quietly, I think I know him! He looks so familiar! I smile and then I look at my dad and tell him what she said. They look at each other and all of a sudden, the light bulb is going off over both their heads! And the recognition is starting to creep in.

First, where did you go to high school, that wasn’t it, she didn’t go to the school he taught at. Then they both start to talk sports, high school sports that is and all of a sudden, he said soccer and they both said basketball! She was on a rival school’s girls basketball team that my dad was coaching! She is now a teacher and the basketball coach at my old high school. They started going down memory lane, ‘you played with so and so’, ‘you were great’.

I have to tell you, all I did was stand there, addressing my envelopes and grinning from ear to ear and my chest swelling with pride! I love when people see my dad and get excited. And he remembers so much about his days as a coach and the people he coached and or coached against, and what a coach he was! Boys basketball for a minute, girls tennis for a minute, then girls basketball and soccer.

He was a such great coach, as evident by the Facebook friends in his former players, the things people say when they meet him, the glint and gleam they get in their eye. It tickles me so much, I am so proud of him and to be his daughter. Like I needed another reason!

On to the next great thing happening today, my sister and brother-in-law are celebrating their thirteenth wedding anniversary today! I remember the day I met ACS, had no idea what would blossom and develop and a few years later I would be standing up next to my sister as her matron of honor and a minute there would be a bundle of joy and love and light called EJS and three minutes later there would be a fireball of love and goofiness and wonder and now thirteen years later I would be sitting here, wishing them a very happy anniversary.

What a fantastic couple they are, standing by each other, with each other and for each other and you know my family has been through some shite over the last few years. They have stuck together and stuck it out, through thick and thin, as they say and whatever adversity has thrown their way, they have smacked it straight out of the park, but what’s most important is they did it together.

I’ll never forget way back in the beginning when we were all sitting at the table in my parents kitchen and ACS said something and GES zinged him but good! I was so proud and ACS was thrown and thought it was great! My sister, so cute, still in the honeymoon phase apologized! What?! Nooo! you don’t apologize for a good zing, you go with it! Today, they have fun and zing each other left and right and I love watching it because most of the time, they can’t keep a straight face when they do it!

They welcome everyone and anyone into their home as if they are family and they pretty much become family instantly. You come into their home and it’s welcoming and warm and you feel like you can prop your feet up on a chair or chill out and take a nap on the sofa and no one would say boo. I’ve told you about the holidays and parties and get-togethers, once you attend one, you have an open invitation to the next and so on. This is a life they built together and it’s fabulous to see.

Here we are thirteen years of marriage later and they are as strong as ever and and I am looking forward to watching the next thirteen and the next and the next to see how much more fabulous they can become, I have a feeling they are going to be a force to be reckoned with, wait, that’s what they are now. I can’t wait to see what’s next!

Happy anniversary GES and ACS. I love you both very much.

{December 17, 2017} Two days, two cities, two friends, two family members, one feeling

Joy!

Yesterday, I got to spend the afternoon with a friend and tonight I got to spend the evening with another and it was divine! Pure joy! Yup, that about covers it!

Yesterday morning, I got up and headed into the city. Now, when you’re from NYC and you don’t live in Manhattan, when you say you’re ‘going into the city’ that means into Manhattan. I needed to clarify that because a few years ago talking to someone, when I said I was going into the city, they thought that meant I was going into the town we lived in.

I got put together, headed down to the Staten Island Ferry, found a place to park and grabbed the shuttle, then waited with everyone else and got on the ferry, found a place to sit and took in the sights and sounds. The people, all walks of life and different reasons for traveling this vessel. Some people just take the ferry back and forth between Staten Island and Manhattan, it’s a lovely trip and it’s free! It was fifty cents at one time, but that was a very long time ago. You used to be able to take your car on the ferry, that cost money, but now, it’s just people.

You get a great view of the NYC skyline and the Statue of Liberty. Everyone crowds around to see Lady Liberty and then people gather on the deck before docking, to see the skyline as it gets closer. It’s also beautiful at night, so peaceful. I love seeing the tourists clamoring to take pictures, it’s fun.

Off the ferry to meet CWB, what are the odds, last minute trip for me into NYC and she’s going to be at her husband’s family for a holiday dinner, perfect! They drove in, she took the train to meet me and we had lunch, walked, did some damage at Old Navy, go figure! They were having an amazing sale you couldn’t pass up! I got a new hat and glove set and then a hat/glove/scarf set, too cute for words and CWB got a scarf and hat set, were adorable. Are adorable! Oh! On the way to wherever, we passed Kleinfeld’s! Do you watch ‘Say Yes to the Dress’?! This is Kleinfeld’s in NYC!!! OMG! Now I know where it is!

Then…we were passing by Goodwill and saw a bag we both loved so… we bought the bag together and we’re going to share it! That means we have to see each other at least every year and bring the bag with us! Our own version of the traveling pants! Ha ha!

How could I forget, we walked a little ways up and found a Christmas Market! I so love Christmas Markets! There were shops and shops and more shops of all shapes and sizes, well, the shape and sizes were the same, but the contents all different! Jewelry, cards, kids stuff, holiday stuff, food, gifts, you name it! And crowded and wonderful and just what we love! Sigh!

What an amazing time we had, we’ve known each other for so many years, we figured since about 1981! Yes, gasp, oh my! Since we started in middle school and we saw each other through so much! And as things happen, we went in separate directions and thank goodness for Facebook, reconnected so many years ago with passing contact and a visit and then…sometime in the last year or so ago, seriously reconnected and here we are, thick as thieves! We need more of these visits!

Back to the ferry, wow, the subway train and stations were really clean, I don’t remember that from childhood! I got the ferry and as I was walking to the terminal, I saw a merry go round of fish made of sea glass, it was so cool! Don’t you think?!

On the ferry, a nice ride and then I walked to the Winter Wonderland at the Staten Island Yankee Stadium. It’s a winter festival with pop-up shops, games, Santa, a skating rink, slides, music, an ice bar and food. What more could you want. This was definitely something that would be more fun with friends, well, more fun with little kids, but it was still fun to walk around and take it all in. Perfect winter night out with the family!

And…as I walked around, I heard something that told me it’s Christmas season. Bruce Springsteen singing “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town!” Until I hear that, I never feel it’s Christmas. Ahh…

Then it was time to find my car, get some food, Chinese restaurant I haven’t eaten at in years! Then head home to watch Christmas movies, wrap gifts to ship out! Be on the lookout friends and family, packages are on their way! I should have taken a picture of the pile, it was impressive!

Today, I got up, finished wrapping some gifts, attempted to go to see Star Wars, but it was sold out, so back to the house and surprise visit from ‘Mr & Mrs The Bs’. It was great. I’ve known them since I was a kid, I’ve told you about them and you might remember, they are LBK’s parents. We caught up, laughed, talked family, travel, work, well, work for me, they’re both retired

After they left, I ran some errands and eventually went out to meet HW, a fabulous friend from middle and high school, for dinner. We had the best time, talking, laughing, being completely goofy. We talked family, kids, nieces, grandkids, love, life, the pursuit of happiness, travel. Hmm..anything we didn’t talk about? No, don’t think so.

We couldn’t believe how long we’ve known each other either, since 1981, what the heck! I actually met both CWB and HW at the same middle school. I have to say, I’m so glad my parents got a variance to send me to that school! She is funny, fabulous, full of life, piss and vinegar, sass, you name it. Could be why we get along, oh yeah, she’s a red head! Natural though! Ok, so maybe I’m a little jealous of that one!

And again, thank you to Facebook for reconnecting us, I really am thankful, we were good friends in high school and as adults, different relationships, but when I come back home, she’s one of the first people I think of to try to see.

Then it was home and I was going to do something and ended up talking to DLP for a few hours! What a day I had! I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings! Keep you posted!

{December 16, 2017} I think the house is haunted…boo

No, I’m kidding! If I didn’t know better, I would think that!

So, you know I’m at my dad’s house this weekend, well, I think I told you…anyway. My dad is at LaLa’s, so I’m on my own in the house until Monday, no biggie, grew up here, it’s all good, making plans and seeing friends.

The house is semi-attached and for those of you who don’t know what that is, it’s a house that’s attached to another house by a wall. “A semi-detached house (often abbreviated to semi) is a single family dwelling house built as one of a pair that share one common wall. Often, each house’s layout is a mirror image of the other.”

That being said, you can hear some of the things that happen in the other house, kind of like an apartment, but the walls are not that thin! I had an apartment that I could hear the person next door brushing their teeth, that was a bit much. Here, I remember hearing the neighbor’s son playing drums in the basement when I was a kid. I’m sure that’s not unusual.

Now, what was unusual and since I haven’t spent much time in this house alone since I was a kid was hearing people walking up and down the stairs and door opening! I don’t hear as much during the day, there are so many other sounds happening, but at night, with the lights off and no tv or music, it’s quiet. Then I hear people running up and down the stairs and doors opening and closing. For a split second, I was like, um, then, duh! The house is the same, just opposite, so the stairs are just on the other side of the wall, pretty much outside my bedroom.

So, the house is not haunted, it’s just the people next door, running up and down the stairs and opening and closing the doors. Or is it? Muwahahaha.

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