365 | Peaches Prattlings

{July 17, 2013} Grody!

If you get wigged out easily, please don’t continue, I’m kind of venting here.

So, this week I’ve had the “grodiest” experience at a Hilton property.

I checked into a Doubletree Hotel, everything started out fine, or s I thought. There was a hair on one of the towels in the bathroom, ick, but ok, it happens.

Yesterday when I got back to the room after work, there was GUM on the peephole on the door! There are kids all love the hotel, so I am sure it was one of them, I called down to the front desks and they sent someone to take care of it.

Listen, I’m not normally a squeamish person, but I’m at a hotel, a high dollar one at that and there is a certain level of expectation.

But wait, it gets better… I came back to the room tonight, pulled back the covers to get into bed and found a very very very long black hair (and a few smaller ones, definitely from the head) in the bed, for those f you who don’t know me, I have very short red hair. ICK!

I called down to the front desk to let them know what happened, they were very apologetic and wee going to send someone to clean it up, I told them they didn’t need to, I just wanted to let them know.

Bottom line, this was, well, ick! I know it’s not reflective of all hotels, let alone Hilton, I stay primarily in Hilton properties when I travel, and I know the level of quality I get, this was an isolated incident.

I just wanted to vent and say..ick, grody and ewe!

{July 16, 2013} Catching up

Back in Atlanta and back in the office today was great because I got to see my co-workers and friends.

Having co-workers become friends is what makes being in the office all the more worthwhile, it helps so much, breaks up the monotony, have someone to go to lunch with, makes the day go by faster and more pleasantly.

It was great to see DL, she was actually the first person I met at my current position, on my very first day. We went to lunch shortly after I started and we have been steadfast friends ever since. She was one of the people who made some bad days better, it’s always great to have a friend, isn’t it? We have such a good, honest and open relationship, we can talk about anything and tell each other everything without threat of being rebuked, fear of retribution or rejection. It’s good to have someone to talk to about work, things that make you mad, things you questions, things that make you scratch your head! And boy, do we have a good time, we laugh and laugh, cut up, joke and have a great time!

We got away for lunch, just the two of us and it was great! I don’t know when I’ll see her in person again, maybe I’ll get a visit…hint hint.

PC is my counterpart in Canada and we’ve become great friends. I tease and call him my WBF [work boyfriend], KAB is my OWBF [other work boyfriend!], everyone needs someone like that! It’s always fun to be in the same room with him, he has always been a great champion and friend in the workplace. He trained me on the systems we use and I still go to him with questions and for advice. He also translates when I can’t understand what someone is trying to explain or say. We definitely work well together.

After work, we drove out to Roswell to have dinner with a former co-worker and good friend of mine, who I worked with about 4 companies and contracts ago! ST is the one who got me in the door here and when we worked together all those contracts ago, I used to call him my work husband!

We realized that we worked and traveled well together a long time ago, but even more when we were the only two on a contract and when we would go out to dinner and he, who eats no veggies and I, who eats no meat, would ask what I wanted and I would eat the veggies off his plate!

He was let go almost a year ago and in January found a job that he absolutely loves and I’m so happy for him! We had a great time catching up and reminiscing and letting it all out on the table. I hope we’ll be able to see each other again in the future.

{July 16, 2013} Pitch Perfect

I finally watched Pitch Perfect and I really liked it!

I have been wanting to see it and it came on Xfinity On Demand, so I checked it out tonight. If you’ve seen it, you’ll understand the irony of me eating dinner as the movie started, specifically I was eating tomato bisque!

I don’t know if I liked it because I liked to watch Glee for a while and the concept was similar or I liked the cast or I liked the music or maybe a combination of all three.

It was the time old story of a bunch of misfits coming together; freshman new at college, the senior members of the group having been disgraced at last years competition, needing almost all new members for the group set in their old ways thinking that’s the best. In comes new talent, fresh ideas, meeting resistance and finally coming together realizing they need each other.

In addition, there is competition at the school with the all boy acapella group, they have lost count of how many times they have won the national competition, so they’re a bit, lets say, full of themselves.

Through all of that, you have the not so distant themes: There is a love story, parent/child turmoil, standing up and standing out, it’s ok to get nervous, speak your mind and be yourself, awe…

I really liked the music, what they were signing and what was part of the soundtrack, this I liked better than Glee, probably because I knew more of the music in the movie than Glee, that helped.

All in all, I enjoyed it and can see watching it again.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1981677/?ref_=sr_1

{July 15, 2013} What a day! Try to keep up!

Today was a whirlwind! Ok, the weekend was a whirlwind!

I got in to Atlanta yesterday afternoon. I know you’re saying, “What? JJ, you were just there last week” and to you I would say, “You are correct! Quite observant I might add! I have really smart friends!”

So, the whirlwind really started yesterday afternoon when I got to Atlanta. After renting a car, I called JCT to see when we were getting together and decided to go to Ikea, since I hadn’t been since it opened. After a while, we connected and there was a mis-communication so we didn’t get together, we were still going to see each other at brunch Sunday.

CKM and I were calling each other at the same time and it just worked out that we were both hungry and we decided to go to Farm Burger http://www.farmburger.net/ in Decatur, great burgers, fantastic veggie [quinoa] burgers, fresh cut friends and onion rings, great options for toppings. AL was able to join us, it was a nice relaxing evening, but by 9:30, I was done for, ready to get home and get into bed and away I went. I got to the house, registered for the Dirty Girl Atlanta for next year, Saturday, April 19th, to be exact if you want to join our team! Blogged, then lights out!

Today started at 10am, out the door at 10:30 to head down to Sun in My Belly, http://suninmybelly.com/, in Kirkwood for brunch. It was divine! I had a MLT! [Mozzarella, lettuce, tomato, basil and basil pesto panini Y U M!] I was fortunate enough to be joined by RS, CKM, SDL and her sister DJL and of course, wait for it, Miss A! [the fashionista was in top form! from the top of her head with a silver sparkly bow to her tank top [pink and orange butterfly with silver sparkly spots], jeans with a, wait for it…pink and orange belt down to her pink and orange sneakers!

We had fun at brunch, laughing, talking, catching up. It’s like no time has passed, love that!

JCT was on her way to join us and got a flat tire, had to wait for AAA, so she wasn’t able to join us, bummer! Unfortunately, she was heading back to Boston this afternoon, so I will have to wait until the next trip to Atlanta to see her or, maybe in Boston!

The best part…Miss A walked to me! she took about 6 steps from SDL to me, but she did it on her own! How proud am I? Can you feel it all the way through your pc?

Next, I headed to Smyrna to meet my dear friends, KH and JV and KH’s new baby girl, JH! What a DOLL BABY! cute face, big expressive eyes and wonderfully fat arms and legs, dimples everywhere! So squeezable and scrumptious! I got to feed her and hold and rock her. The rocking and patting finally worked and some of what had gone in came out, it was all good, no worries at all!

While I was feeding her we had a nice long chat, about all the things we would do together when she got older, games we would play, visits she would make, races we would run together [we’ll start off with a 100 yard run, then move to a kids 1 miler, then to the 5k, who knows where next!]

What a treat to see these two women, I haven’t seen JV in a few months and KH in over a year, both looking fantastic and KH, so happy and well in her new role as a mom, what a joy. The only person missing, TS! We all used to work together, JV and KH left on their own, TS and I, they said bye-bye. Looking forward to seeing them again, maybe our little foursome will be able to get together sometime when I’m back in town, only this time, it might be a 4.5!

After we parted, I went to see my friends and their new home, BG, CA and their son J. I’d seen pictures and heard stories when they were home shopping, always better to see in person! It’s a charming house, but you need a map to find your way! J helped give the tour, but you had to be careful! The hardwood floors were lava, you had to jump to the carpet and area rugs, then the kitchen tiles were ice, what were we to do! A few of the coolest features, besides the screened in porch, big back yard, great closets were the attic with a net up, almost like a batting cage, J and his friends and cousins love it! He has a bonus play room, which doubles as a guest room and the extra garage was fantastic! The previous owners had Harley’s and created this work space, it was a mechanic’s dream! I know that would have been my playroom!

After the tour, we sat down to chat, they realized what time it was, fed me some great salads left over from their family reunion and CA’s birthday [Happy Happy] and peach pie. Apparently it’s pie week at Whole Foods! All I can say is, who cares, it was yummy!

So happy for them that they found a house that they love, in a neighborhood they like and near schools that are great for their son, it’s been terrific so far and it’s only been a month!

All of a sudden, I realized it was after 10pm, BG had a 6:30am flight and had to pack, I had an hour drive home, so off I went.

Now, I’m at the house, writing to you and about to nod off, have to work in a few hours! G’night!

{July 13, 2013} Membership has its privileges

Today I was upgraded to first class and I loved it.

A few years ago, I was flying enough that I upgraded from just a skymiles passenger on Delta to Silver Medallion and not everyone was Silver, as it seems they are now and I was upgraded on almost every flight I took.

In three years, I think I flew coach about three times and I realized I went a fan! I didn’t want to sit in steerage! Ha ha . Well, when I lost my status a few years ago, I was back to steerage, sigh.

Since I’ve been Silver status again for a while, I am automatically added to the upgrade waiting list and today, when I was boarding, a new seat assignment popped up, 1A, wahoo!

So, there are a lot of advantages, one being more leg room, only two to a row and the customer service. I imagine when you’re paying those prices, you want a little extra. The flight attendants were very nice, and to be honest, I think these flight attendants were genuinely nice, they seemed that way when I get on the plane.

There is always a bottle of water waiting at your seat, along with a blanket and pillow. The flight attendants always ask if you want something else while you’re waiting to take off. Then when it’s time for food, for some reason, they were serving lunch on this flight.

There was a linen placemat (they called it a table cloth, since we had tables), then the food came it on a bamboo tray, real cutlery, wrapped in a cloth napkin, along with a salt and pepper shaker set. The food was very good, a Mediterranean salad with a side of grilled chicken, which I gave back, breadsticks and a giant oatmeal raisin cookie and if you wanted something else to drink, it came in a real glass.

There is something very nice about this level of service, it makes you want to fly and fly with them again. As we were landing, the flight attendant thanked each passenger individually for flying with them. This the of service is reminiscent of when people first started flying, they took pride in the way they looked for flying, you dressed, skirts for women, suits for men. There is something to be said for it, besides just nostalgic.

Not to worry dear friends, I promise not to get a big head about all this, it would be nice if it happens again or all the time, but if its only once in a while, it will be worth it, it feels good to be treated well, like you matter, but…

Why can’t this happen all the time? Why can’t we treat everyone like they’re someone all the time?

{July 12, 2013} I do not have carpel tunnel!

Today, I had my appointment for a nerve test on my left arm.

The nerve test was to see if I have carpel tunnel and if I need surgery. This was not my most fun experience, it wasn’t horrible, but it wasn’t something if volunteer for. Dr. R was very nice, he walked me through everything he was doing.

If you haven’t experienced this, they put sensors on your arm, then send some signals (wish i could remember exactly what they were called) to different parts of the arm to see what gets triggered. After the sensor and the shocks to different areas, then comes the acupuncture needles. The cool thing about the needles is that they are connected to a machine and the electromagnetic whatevers (I am so pathetic!) register sounds on the monitor, louder as I make different movements.

Half way through the first part, I don’t have carpel tunnel, great! Then after the second part, I don’t have cubital tunnel, great!

Wahoo…I don’t have carpel tunnel or cubital tunnel, awesome! So what do I have?

I have a pain in the neck! What? The problems are stemming from my neck and pectorals! Huh? He pressed down on my neck and pecs and said it was tight and when I talk to the referring physician, it would probably be helped with physical therapy. Wow.

So, no carpel or cubital, I have a pain in the neck, ha ha. (See, GES, it wasn’t actually you, so I guess I have to take back all those things I said about my baby sister!)

It still comes from being on the computer all day. I’m happy to hear that I don’t have carpel tunnel, therefore no surgery to correct that issue.

Hopefully the road to recovery is simple for my arm, because it hurts! And I am starting to get the same sensations in my right arm, uh oh.

{July 12, 2013} A real rainstorm!

I know, I know, it’s been raining like crazy in Atlanta, why get excited?

As I said its been raining like crazy in Atlanta for the past few weeks and it might continue raining while I’m there next week for work. In Colorado, with 300 days of sunshine on average, we don’t see a lot of rain. Oh, it might rain, but for 3 or 4 minutes here and there, so rain is not something I expect to see.

There have been a few days where the forecast was thunderstorms, but nothing. Tonight, the sky got darker and darker, and not just because the sun was going down! It was dark and grey to the left and bright to the right (please don’t ask me if its east or west!), then you could smell it, a good rain was coming.

It had been thunder and lightning for a few hours and then…it started, sounded good, smelled great, felt wonderful, there was finally a cool breeze in that wind. For a long time, it was just hit wind, not refreshing, but when it cooled off, it was wonderful.

I told DCM, if we could put a screen on the balcony, I would get a futon or a porch swing and sleep right there, the sound of the rain, the cool breeze, what could be better?

{July 11, 2013} The pool was…open!

Yeah! The pool was open!

I decided it was time to get off my arse and get back to running/walking, so yesterday, I set the alarm for 6am, I walked the path across from the apartment, found out its half a mile to the end, so I did back and forth twice and did two miles. It felt good to get moving again.

The goal…two miles to start, add a third if I have time (in the morning), then start running it and be able to run the full three miles by December, I think that’s reasonable. There are a lot of walking paths around, but this is perfect for the start of my day, since I have to start work at 7am.

On my walk, I met Muskoka, a very cute six month old golden and her dad, John. I think I’ll be seeing them every morning, since they are in puppy training mode. I am meeting more and more dogs on my daily outings, it’s fun and then I get to meet a new neighbor, they’re usually attached.

Another reason I wanted to get up so early to work out, is so that I don’t feel as guilty when I go to the pool at 3:00 after work! Before when I didn’t go walking after work, I felt bad, not anymore! Yes I know I could go walking/running after work, but it’s a lot hotter at 3 than 6!

I did check after my walk and the chains were gone! The chemicals did their trick! I suited up, fit perfectly after fixing the straps, loaded the bag, applied sunscreen and off I went! There were two other people at the pool when I got there and two more showed up after. I ended up striking up a conversation with Holly and Christina, both very and live in the next building, we talked about Boulder, restaurants, shopping, skiing and college, yup, that about covered it! I made two friends!

So, the method to my madness paid off and I got to go to the pool and relax and enjoy myself, what could be better?

nice and

{July 9, 2013} It’s so cool…

It really is cool when someone asks me a question about something they read in my blog post the night before. Sometimes it throws me for a moment, quickly recovering and then responding.

I have been told reading my blog is like having me sitting across from you, which is awesome, but when someone comments about something I posted the night before, it’s still cool and I’m still tickled every time. I hope I never lose that feeling, I don’t think I could!

Today, when I talked to my dad, he said, “sorry about the pool”, it took me a second, then I realized, oh yeah! My post from last night! How cool is that, my dad reads my blog!

Other times I’m thrown because I think I might be telling a new story to someone and “oh yeah, I read that in your blog”! Wow!

I know I’ve said it before, but I thank you, honest and truly, I really do thank you for not only reading and commenting, but taking the time to want to read it, maybe it’s because we know each other, we’re friends or family, maybe you found it searching WordPress. Whatever your reason, I am honored that you look for my post each night/morning to see what I rambled on (like now) about last night.

So..thank you!

{July 8, 2013} People…really?

Today, after working 9 hours, I decided I would like to go to the pool. Lay out, relax a little, lounge in the pool,maybe do some laps, test out my new bathing suit.

I get suited up, spray on the sun block, 30 thank you, put my chair cover, towel, book and sunglasses in my bag, baseball cap on, grab the keys and out I go. It’s such a long walk, all 100 yards after I get downstairs…

I can see one person at the pool through the fence, I get to the gate and there is a big chain around the gate “Pool Closed”, what? I go around to the other gate, thinking maybe someone forgot to unchain the first one, nope, big chain and pool closed sign. I saw someone in there, how did they get in?

I went into the front office to ask what was going on and apparently there have been issues..human issues. People drinking in the pool, even the tiniest bit of alcohol can do damage, it takes a lot of chemicals to clean that up, then there was the person who let their dog into the pool, come on people, really?

So now, it’s going to be a few days while the chemicals do their magic and we can get into the pool again. Pook.

The woman I talked to was very nice and apologetic, I could still sit in there and soak up some rays, thanks, but I prefer to have a place to cool off once I get too hot. I asked if there was a notice that went out, she said there hadn’t been, they could only send a few emails per month, based on the service they were using for mass emails, ok…well, later this evening, we got an email about it, part of our weekly “community email”. Would have been nice to receive it a little earlier.

Oh well, back to the apartment I went and used my time wisely. I fixed my bathing suit, I sewed the straps to the back, so it was now a tank instead of a tie at the neck, which make me feel like I’m being choked.

Sometimes, people confuse, irritate and sadden me. C’mon people, use that thing between your ears and some common sense most of us have…didn’t you learn anything from kindergarten? One person can spoil it for the rest of us!

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