365 | Peaches Prattlings

{August 17, 2013} Kick-Ass 2

Tonight DCM and I decided to go to see Kick-Ass 2.

If you’re not looking for an Oscar winning movie or Oscar worthy performances, then Kick-Ass 2 might just be for you.

I have to tell you, when I saw Kick-Ass, I had certain ideas of what it would be like, a fun, human/real people turned superhero, yes, but no. I was not quite prepared for the level of violence, mayhem, destruction, blood and gore that the first movie had to offer. I was incredibly upset after I watched it, glad it was a Red box pic.

Now, remember, I am all about gratuitous violence if it works for the movie, if you’ve ever heard me talk about Machete, I la-la-la loved it! And that movie had some awful, disgusting, grody and awesome slashing and hacking, but I knew what I was getting in to when I went to see it and I wasn’t disappointed! So much so that I sat through it twice! (And the sequel, Machete Kills is coming out in October, you can bet your sweet machete I’ll be there opening night!) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0985694/?ref_=sr_2

At least this time, I was prepared, I knew there would be a lot of slashing and hacking and blood, punching, kicking, pain. There were two serious gross out scenes, totally not necessary, I believe it was just put in for that purpose, to gross you out. I am afraid I’m going to have that scene going through my head more than once, maybe not, a girl can hope.

All in all, if you’re looking for a movie with a lot of arse-kicking, mean girls, regular people standing up for themselves with and without masks (that could be the message, you don’t have to wear a mask to be a hero, it’s inside each of us) and a good old fashioned melee, this movie is for you.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1093951/?ref_=tt_cl_t1

{August 15, 2013} Reality Swapping Shows

It was hard to title this one.

There are two shows that I am focusing on: Trading Spaces and Wife Swap.

With any reality, you are volunteering to be put on display, on tv for the world to see. You’ve got so many choices, Real Housewives [of the universe], this famous family, that now famous family, we have a trillion children, survival of the nitwits, lets all live in a house together; fix your looks, clean house, let’s dance, get fitted, get married, win tiaras, call ducks, AMISH MAFIA? Whatever your weakness or passion, I am sure there is a reality show for you!

Ok, so I might be a bit harsh and if you are a fan of those shows, I apologize, no offense intended, I may have talked to you about some of the reality shows I’ve watched, especially while traveling, guilty pleasure.

So, back to Trading Spaces and Wife Swap. Trading Spaces isn’t on anymore, I believe, but when it was, I LOVED it! The premise was two family swapped houses, worked with a decorator to redecorate one room in the other house, a lot of times it was friends, but many times, it was just random families that were chosen. During the swap, there might be some fear of what’s happening back at their house, but the excitement really came during the big reveal. Some of the couples wouldn’t like what was done and would pitch a fit!

You agreed to be on the show, you agreed to let people into your home, take a room and redecorate it. Even if it’s not what you imagined or wanted or love, be a good sport about it, be gracious and after the show, take some time to get used to it. You can always change it back or to something you want.

And…Wife Swap. Two wives swap lives/families for 2 weeks. The first week, they live the life of the person they are replacing, no matter what. The second week, there is a rule change and the family has to do what the wife says [they tried Husband/Dad swap at one point, never took off]. There are some interesting swaps: Religious/Rocker, Clean Freak/Slob, Disciplined/Carefree, Goth/Hockey Mom, just to give you a few examples.

When the show first started, at the end, the wives would award money to the family they are leaving along with instructions for how the other family should use it.

Both families agreed to be a part of the show, follow the rules and do whatever the new wife wants for the second week, after she has been exactly what their wife/mother is in their daily life for the first week.

During the show, it never fails, during the first week the wife/mom has trouble living the life as she is instructed by her counterpart, but 95% of them give it a real try and the second week, when there is a rule change, the family inevitably is resistant, its a toss up who is worse, the kids or the dads.

Just like Trading Spaces, you agreed to be on this show, to participate in the true spirit of the event, give it 100% to learn something about other people, be tolerant and maybe learn something about themselves. There might be lessons learned, new appreciation for your wife/mom, how you are living your life and maybe how much is taken for granted. Sometimes lives are improved, weeks after the show they might be realized, but during the two weeks and the meetup after [when the husbands and wives are reunited] it doesn’t seem like it.

You’re on national television, act like a human being and an adult [if you are of adult age], don’t show your arse, unless that was your intention the entire time. I know it’s entertainment, but c’mon!

{August 15, 2013} Cute and Amazing Kids

I’m always amazed at what kids are capable of.

I’m sure you’ve figured out that I am über proud of all my nieces, nephews and grandkids, the ones I am related to and the ones I love dearly and their parents and I are close and when they see me, “Go see Auntie J”, they have granted me the honorary title of aunt, I couldn’t be prouder.

So, here I have to brag a little… (You know I’ll brag about them and others in future posts, stay tuned!)

EJS is starting first grade in a few weeks and so creative, give her a box and watch her make magic! MGS is precocious and smart and can figure things out easily (she showed me how to play Temple Run!).
Miss A is holding a cup on her own and taking the stairs like a champ.
KK is a championship softball player, her sisters, J and K are two of the fastest swimmers in Atlanta!
LB sings and dances like a primary ballerina and is learning how to wink.
JS was fantastic during his Bar Mitzvah, his sister, S, is a star on the stage, her little brothers are creative and fun.

Back to kids amazing me…
People are always posting amazing things their kids can do on Facebook and today, there was one that tripped me out completely, a baby, 20 month Ella, singing her heart out to Elvis!
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LuxQtvzA_cg

Of course, once you go to YouTube to watch the video there are a trillion more to check out and 3 hours later, you’re got sure where the time went!

Enjoy!

{August 13, 2013} Bringing Down The House

Tonight I watched a movie that people have been saying they loved for a long time and I just hadn’t gotten around to watching.

There was a reason I hadn’t watched it when it came out or when it would come on TV when I had cable, not sure what it was, but I just didn’t want to watch it. So, today, I sucked it up and decided to watch it.

It was rough going in the beginning, it moved really slowly. A lot of it reminded me of HouseSitter, a movie Steve Martin did with Goldie Hawn in 1992, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104452/, successful man, con artist woman who moved into his house and infiltrates his life and his family.

Same concept, just with Queen Latifah and during the course of the movie, while trying to hide her from everyone he knows, hilarity ensues. In addition, as he loosens up, starts to really enjoy life and looks at her in a new light, she starts to change and grow as a person and become, more refined in a way, without giving up who she really is on the inside.

In the end, they help each other, her mostly with his business and realize his dreams and becomes a success in every way and she finds out that she is worth more than she realized, they also find love, it may be with each other or with someone else, but someone who values them.

At the end, I realized that I had laughed and overall it was cute, there was a good message, but I don’t feel like I missed anything by not seeing it sooner.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0305669/?ref_=sr_1

{August 13, 2013} Medical update

So first…as I told you before, I don’t have carpel or cubital tunnel syndrome! Wahoo! Wait, s what do I have?

What I have, I had to write to down, is Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, TOS, for short. Wahoo, it has a name (there was a Golden Girls episode like that, “at least it had a name!”), but what does it mean?

Thoracic outlet syndrome is a rare condition that involves pain in the neck and shoulder, numbness and tingling of the fingers, and a weak grip. The thoracic outlet is the area between the rib cage and collar bone.
(See, told you I was special!) (it’s ok GES, I have a real pain in the neck, it’s not just you!)
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/thoracic-outlet-syndrome/DS00800

So, I drive 45 minutes to go see the doctor who did the EMG because Dr. S. said that since it wasn’t cubital or carpel tunnel, there was nothing more he could do for me (I hope you remember that discussion). After my 45 minute drive, I get in to an exam room pretty quickly and about 10 minutes later (I studied the posters of the body thoroughly), Dr. R. comes in and after pleasantries, he actually asks “Was I supposed to see you again?” Really?

I said yes because Dr. S. suggested I see you since it wasn’t cubital or carpel tunnel. He agreed, especially since it was no longer an issue for a surgeon. Now we’re on the same page, the doctor and I and after that, a successful visit going forward.

Now that we know what’s wrong, it’s a muscle issue instead of a nerve issue (and still workers comp), he decided I would need physical therapy, he left to get me a list of places near me that I could contact for PT (really, I drove all the way in so he could tell me I need therapy and then I leave?)

I saw Dr. S first June 24, EMG with Dr. R scheduled on July 12, then it wasn’t until July 29th that I got a follow up with Dr. S, couldn’t get an appointment with Dr. R until today. I get that schedules at tough, but here it is almost two months later and I’m still in pain and would like to start feeling better.

Dr. R is a very nice person, he remembered me and what I did, we talked about work and posture and what would be included in the PT. Twenty minutes later, list of PT locations in hand and I am back in the car to drive an hour home (traffic). Did I really have to go in for him to tell me I needed PT?

I’ll keep you posted on the PT and my progress, thanks for keeping up with me and worrying.

Ok, I know this was a bit of a rant on top of an update on my “condition”, thanks for listening.

{August 11, 2013} TANG

It’s the drink of astronauts!

Ever since I was a kid, I have loved to drink Tang. It wasn’t something that my parents had in the house all the time, but when we had it, I loved it.

As an “adult” I have bought Tang from time to time. It was good when you an get a smaller tub, then it doesn’t go bad, and by bad I just mean that it gets moisture trapped in it and then it gets hard and solid, hard to get back to powder.

Even I have to admit, Tang can be too sweet sometimes. (What? Did I just say that out loud?)

The last few weeks I’ve been wanting some Tang, but I always forget when I go to the grocery store and then I want it. Today, we were at the grocery store and as we were leaving, I remembered! We went back to the juice aisle, I got some Tang!

As soon as we got home, unloaded the groceries, I made a bottle of sweet and refreshing Tang…ahhh, a mechiah!

Then I made some later, not as refreshing, still good, but way to sweet! But that first drink, hit the spot, made me happy and isn’t that what it’s all about?

{August 10, 2013} Neon Splash Dash

Tonight, I did my second night run in Denver, the Neon Splash Dash 5k.

This was one of the first times I’ve done a run like this and didn’t pick up my packet in advance, the pickup hours were 9am-2pm in downtown Denver, not sure what the deal was, some of us have to work, a evident by the long, long, long line to get our packets.

The only rule…you have to wear white, all white, which I followed along with a bunch of people, to the letter, but of course, there we those who were doing their own thing. There were a lot of tutus, a bunch of neon, but overwhelmingly…white white and more white! There were even people n white plastic suits, with hoods! There were participants of all ages, it was cute to see the kids in strollers and on bicycles with training wheels.

My own outfit, since this is my blog: white long sleeve t, white skirt (that I had worn for the color run, which was still white), a white baseball cap and my XX-Hi Chuck Taylor’s (if my smart feet didn’t fit, I would have been in a lot of pain after the run!), I looked fabulous, of course! Oh man, I should have gotten some angel wings!

CKM, you were very much missed at this one, you would have loved it! My Atlanta race friends, do this, it was a blast!

There was a huge storm earlier in the day, even while waiting to leave the apartment, BIG bah-da-boom thunderclap! On the way to the run, rain, thunder, lightening and rainbows. They said the rainbows were a good sign! All the pretty colors and we were going to shine like that!
They decided to delay the start of the race because of the rain and people getting their packets. We started the run about 8:30. After the run, I looked at my watch, it was only about 2.65, not sure what happened to the 3.1 miles!

We were off! It was a lot of fun! It was very relaxed, some runners, a lot of walkers. I saw a bunch of Color Run tshirts and some of the blinky (yes, I said blinky!) things we got at the Firefly Run. Needless to say, there were a lot of blinking lights everywhere. There was music piped in throughout the run, I didn’t hear a lot of it, I had my headphones on (you know, so I can’t hear myself panting!)

Every half mile, you went through some inflated light up balloons, they looked like curved dragon teeth, very cool. After the colored lights, which indicated the color of neon paint you were about to get hit with, reminiscent of the color run. As you went by the black lights, you were sprayed with watered down colored paint (blue, then yellow, then green, then pink).

Just so you know, no matter how much they water down the paint, it still doesn’t taste good! You learn quickly to keep your eyes and mouth closed, I forgot to hold my nose too! Luckily, I had my headphones in, protected my ears from a lot more paint! (I ended up getting some clear glasses, which would have been a good thing when going through the paint spray. I’m going to use them in the convertible, when the top is down at night.)

At the finish line, I started looking for DCM, we’ve missed even other once or twice, but there he was. I found him first, it was dark and there were a lot of us! And even though we were wearing white, we were all covered head to toe in neon paint. I couldn’t figure out why he didn’t want to hug me!

We walked back to the truck and it’s a good thing I brought a change of clothes, DCM said I would have had to ride back in the bed of the truck! Nah! But who wants to take a chance and find out? After I changed, I realized there was paint in my hair, ears, on my face and even my eyelashes!

My clothes are drying, might wear these for every one of these races! I need a backlight, anyone have one?

http://www.neonsplashdash.com/

{August 9, 2013} We’re the Millers

Ok, I need to give you more than just “Go See It!”

We’re the Millers is about a pot dealer who hires a family to smuggle a huge shipment of weed from Mexico into the U.S. (not a spoiler, just the description).

The movie stars Jason Sudekis as David, the dealer, Jennifer Anniston as Rose, the stripper he hires to be his wife, she actually lives in his apartment building. Emma Roberts is Casey, the homeless girl who becomes the “daughter”, the last member of the family is Kenny, the teenager who lives in the same apartment building as Dave, played by Will Poulter. There is a great supporting cast to round out the movie.

David rents an RV to take across the boarder, a great cover…a family traveling across country in an RV on a family vacation.
I’m sure you’re thinking, what a great idea, nothing could go wrong and you’d be so right…wrong!.

There were some predictable laughs, how could there not be? some surprises, some OMGs! There were even lessons learned, personal growth and self discovery, imagine that!

For those of you with sensitive ears, there was a lot ‘o cussin’, at least one graphic image, just want to warn you, but if you can get past that, you’re golden.

One of the best parts..the bloopers right after the movie and before the credits, they were great!

All in all, the theater was packed, our assigned seats were in the very first row, a lot of laughter, a lot of cheering and a few “huh”!

Know where I live? Guess where the opening of the movie is based? C’mon, put 2 and 2 together…pot dealer, legal…yupper, Denver, how cool was that to be at a movie that starts in Denver watching it in a theater outside of Denver! Everyone in the theater was stoked by that tidbit!

Go see this movie, it was too funny!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1723121/

{August 8, 2013} Tanked

When DCM and I were in NY last year for a wedding, there wasn’t much to do where we were (Long Island, not much happening outside the diner across the street and the bar in the hotel) so we channel surfed.

While we were surfing, we found a new reality show called Tanked, it first aired in 2011. This show cracks us up! It’s about two guys who started ATM, Acrylic Tank Manufacturer, http://www.acrylicaquariums.com/
Brett Raymer and Wayde King. They are originally from Long Island (random thought…what are the odds we found this show while we were on Long Island, hmmm….) and it’s a family business, they are brother-in-laws, Wayde married Jeff’s sister and Jeff’s dad works there, sort of, they call him The General.

The company has been around for about 20 years and they have been in Las Vegas for about 15 years. They build everything from small personal tanks to huge monster tanks, some with monsters, literally! The show centers around two tank orders per episode, Wayde and Jeff go to the customer’s site and get ideas of what they want, Jeff says “we can do it!” And Wayde just looks at him like he’s nuts!

There are all the people who work for them, like extended family and each has their own amazing talents.

Then there are the clients, every day normal people, business owners and some super stars (Tracy Morgan, the creator of Jackass, Neal Patrick Harris, KISS, just to name a few) and the look n everyone’s faces when they reveal the tank, so special! Amazement is a good word for it!

No matter what the challenge, they always come through for their clients and you should see some of the amazing designs, there is a you tube link at the bottom so you can check out some of the episodes.

No matter how goofy they are, and they are goofy, they get the job done and they really know their fish, they value all animals and treat them with a lot of care, never putting them in harms way, which doesn’t always hold true for themselves, the pranks they play on each other are great and stupid!

The goofy thing about most reality shows is when the stars have their one-on-ones to the camera, it’s all so like they feel they have to shout at the camera, it’s almost every single reality show star, kind of weird, but it’s their M.O.

Overall, this is a fun show that we both like, we even DVR it and watch a few episodes in a row. Check it out and see if you laugh like we do!

http://m.youtube.com/results?q=tanked&oq=tanked&gs_l=youtube-reduced.1.0.0l4.262.629.0.2548.4.2.0.1.1.0.98.142.2.2.0….0…1ac.1.23.youtube-reduced..2.2.60.0G9tDfpvsD0

{August 8, 2013} It’s girls night!

Tonight was that time honored tradition…Girl’s Night!

I think we talked about this a while ago, the night the ladies get together and go out and do something fun! The cool thing about Girl’s Night is we make a decision on where to go, someone takes charge and we all show up. Then we decide what we’re doing next month, someone is in charge and so it goes on from there…

(Welcome, Girl’s Night participants, to my world of random musings!)

Tonight, it was JS who got us started on Girl’s Night at Posh Splat in Boulder. This is a place that you go and they walk you step by step painting the selection of the evening. Tonight it was a group of trees in a field, I was told they were some sort of Aspen something, I was corrected as I thought they were Birch. See friends, ya loin somethin’ new every day!
http://www.poshsplat.com/

The thing I really like about these nights is that you don’t have to know how to paint, the instructor, tonight was Chelsey, walked you through everything, step by step. It was almost like paint by numbers, just without the numbers or the outlines, hmm…
How many comments do you think there were about “a tree, a happy little tree”. Nod to you HW!
(i added some step by step pictures)

To start us off right, TT sent out a link to Ladies Night by Kool and the Gang, who doesn’t love that?

This was a good group of women, we laughed and shared and had a great time! JS, her husband PS and DCM all worked together many moons ago and have stayed friends ever since. DCM and PS have worked on many projects together and worked together to build CEC what it is today. JS is an integral part of the CEC family, kind of a Jane of all Trades, you should see how she designed the office, the little details and touches that make it a fun and green place to work, she’s got great ideas and is incredibly passionate with everything she does. She’s also a runner and I mean a runner, you know, 20 miles just for fun! She’s about to participate in her first full marathon soon, on her birthday, good luck!

The rest of the group I had met briefly at CEC’s grand opening/open house, I don’t know as much about them as I will going forward, I look forward to getting to know them each time we get together.

TT is part of the CEC family, we sat next to each other and became fast friends. She has an in with race promoters and said she could get me into almost any race, who do yo think is going to be my new best friend?
Can you guess what my suggestion for a girls night was? (If it involved fun, a team name, team shirts and a t-shirt at the end of the 3.1 miles, you were right!) (doesn’t 5k sound further/farther than 3.1 miles? This would definitely classify as a random musing!)

JS’ stepmom, PH was there, she is quite the talent! She seemed like a lovely woman and we shared some laughs over some of the cards they were selling.

CD’s husband works for CEC. She is a real estate agent who was fun to talk to about real estate, Colorado, Atlanta and races and she is the lucky girl who is organizing our next girls night!

I met NP when we did the Epilepsy 5k when I first moved to Colorado, her husband, BR joined CEC a few months ago and her painting…I think everyone would agree..pure perfection! She added her own touches, the rest of us stuck to the script, you go girl!

LA’s husband MA works for CEC and they have a beautiful and very cute little boy named P, who loves Mac-n-Cheese boxes! Like the rest of our group, a lot of fun to talk to, joke with and have a good time.

As I mentioned, we laughed a lot! Thank you for including me in this time honored tradition, it was my first “night out” in Colorado and made me feel good (and miss my girlfriends back home in Atlanta, you know who you are!). I really am looking forward to next month! (I hear there is pampering involved! Jealous?)

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