365 | Peaches Prattlings

{May 29, 2013} My life in a 10×15…and now I’m home

After approximately 28.5 hours total trip time, which included a 3.5 hour nap, a poor excuse for a good night’s sleep, and about 2.5 hours stopping for gas, food and rest stops, we made it to the apartment, my new home, our new home.

DCM was right, it’s definitely easier to unload than load a truck. At the apartment, before we could unload the truck, we had to get the keys out of the backpack in the trunk of my car. Do you happen to remember what happened the night before? We tried everything to get to the keys or open the trunk, no dice. Later, we found out that, of course, the keys were in the back pocket, farthest from us!
Luckily, there were some guys driving by, I flagged them down and they were able to give us a jump, thank you new neighbor! We got into the trunk, got the keys, opened the truck, started unloading and carrying up to the apartment.

It’s a nice two bedroom, one bath with a nice sized kitchen, lots of cabinets and a great view from the balcony. I didn’t get much time to really look around as we had a lot to bring up to the second floor, thankfully there is an elevator!

The best part…there was a message on the mirror…”Welcome home…(Love you)…About time!”

We got everything out that was staying, at least that’s what we thought. Then it was on to the storage unit, DCM drove the truck and I followed. I got my own storage unit, 10×15, the largest they had available. Everything but three pieces of furniture fit in the storage unit, those went into DCM’s. I had had this great idea of going through a few boxes every month to see what was in it, throw away, organize, whatever. Based on how packed the storage unit is, I am not going to see any of it until we move again, oh well.

My life, well, at least the past 19 years, fits into a 10×15 storage unit.

It took us 2 hours start to finish to unload the truck, not bad for having taken about 15 hours to load it! After we were done, we headed to the store for some essentials, we needed to eat! It was about 8:00 by then and we were worn out!

We headed to the apartment and got settled in, had some dinner and crashed. Before we crashed, I looked at the message again and realized…I am home.

{May 27, 2013} And we’re off…

So, I have to tell you about the rest of Saturday, packing, loading the truck and driving out to Colorado.

Remember me telling you CKM came to help with the yard sale, it was double help, she came to help load the truck, awesomeness! She is really good at keeping me motivated and giving me that look that says, “really?” And commiserating with DCM about all the stuff I have! She was a serious trooper, she stayed until about 12:45, thank you, thank you, thank you! She was also able to get her photo of the day, my sweet girl Peanut, awe.

TS sent me a text telling me she was hoping to come over, I was excited to see her before we left. She was awesome, she brought us food for our trip! There were sandwiches, hummus, drinks, chips and Reece’s Peanut Butter Cups, how fantastic was that? She hung for as long as she could, until her cat allergies got the best of her and she had to go. Thank you, it was terrific!

We kept working until about two am and fell into a coma like sleep at 3, we didn’t set any alarms, we needed as much rest as we could get. Of course, my body decided to wake me about 7am, so I got started on getting things ready to, last minute food stuff, the plants, I put them in individual bins so they would be safe, they were going in my car, the truck was loaded and locked, or should that be locked and loaded? The cats would be the last to get prepped to go.

I do need to tell you that we didn’t finish the house. The person who was supposed to finish the floors hasn’t and I need to find someone to finish, there really isn’t much left to do on the floors, but I don’t know how or I would do it myself. So somewhere about 11, we decided to stop stressing and I would go back to Atlanta next weekend to finish what needed to be done. I also talked to a friend of mine, CMD, who cleans houses and she agreed to clean my house, make it sparkle for anyone who comes to look at it. I’ll finish the floors, the yard and maybe ever have another yard sale,this time, in the garage and whatever doesn’t get sold…hello goodwill! I also plan on seeing some people who i didn’t get to see before I left, but don’t forget, I am coming back bunch this year!

So, DCM got up about 9, we loaded the car, got it on the trailer, couldn’t figure out how to open the door, so I climbed out the window and we left the window down. Wait until later, you’re going to laugh! We got the cats in the car, I hated tricking them with treats to get them in their carriers, but what else was I going to do? By 11:10 we were off, stopped at the gas station to fill up the haul and away we went, we were on the road by 11:24 and poor DCM, I was asleep before we got to 75!

I wanted to stay awake, but I reverted to the way I was as a little kid, I dozed off as someone else drove. DCM did ALL the driving! I offered and offered and offered, but he drove, said it was like driving a tank, but not as much fun, no live artillery aboard! I would doze and the pop awake for about an hour, if I was lucky, then doze again. DCM didn’t mind he had his book to listen to, which suited him fine since he doesn’t get to listen during his commute to work since its so short. He used to listen when he game to see me. 1.5 hours is great for an audio book!

I tried to get pictures of the state welcome signs, but the reaction time on my phone is awful! I’d wake up, we were in Tennessee, I had some fun, saw the sign for Clarksville, asked if he knew when the last train was, I made him laugh and groan a bunch, it was fun. Kansas was a very, very very long state to cross! Every time I’d wake up, I’d ask fi were still in Kansas…there’s no place like home, but not Kansas for me!

Here’s where you get to laugh…At some point, it started to downpour so we pulled off because e had to put the window up. No dice, there was no way to get to the window, close it and get out, so I turned the car on, climbed out the window and DCM closed the window. Today, he finally noticed the tabs sticking out and then figured it was a fender release so you can still open the car door. Well, great! Guess what died because the ignition was on all night!

About 3am eastern, DCM had had enough driving but we didn’t stay at a hotel because it was going to be a few hits, so we stopped at rest area with the big rigs and tried to sleep. The cats were a little crazy and finally settled down so we could be some sleep! Lets just say, sleeping sitting up leaning against the door with cats running all over the place, not so restful. The alarm went off at 7, I was already up, mostly. We hit the road.

Speaking of the cats, they cried, as you figured they would for about an hour, then they were m
Ok. I finally let them out and they settled down, yeah, on my lap. Better than could be expected. Whenever we got to rest stop or stopped for gas and got out of the cab, they ran and hid!

Back on the road, I didn’t think Kansas would ever end and when we first got to Kansas City, it was cool, a real city! So not Dorothy’s Kansas, then as we kept driving, we found it! Wide open and boring, to me that is! We stayed on that road for what seemed like days and then we were in Colorado!

We stopped at a diner for lunch, the I70 diner, they had a campaign to be on Diners, Drive-Inns and Dives, the food was alright, the staff pleasant, it was cute, but all Pepsi products! What?

Ok friends, I will continue this saga tomorrow! I am wiped out! Going to crash now!
Have a great night!

{May 24, 2013} So long and thanks for all the potatoes

Another long day, started with a conference call at 8:30 am, not easy getting a lot of people together for a call when you’re spread out all over the globe.

Picked up the UHaul, started loading it, then started loading it, i realized i have way too much stuff!!! I knew, but to see it in the back of a UHaul, kind if puts in perspective. I have been in this house more than ten years, i think you can cut me a little slack.

Then off to meet CKM, to paint some pottery, we decided to paying something that will make us think about each other. CKM, being the fabulous photog that she its, she made me a picture frame, we have lots of pictures to choose from.

I did a tea for one pot and i painted it like my car! It even has me driving and CKM taking a picture.

Then it was of to dinner at the vortex in little 5 points, we were meeting with JCT. She meet us on her way home from the airport.

Its been a while since any of us had been to the Vortex, as evident by the huge menu change, all things i really liked were gone! Our waitress was great and we had a blast!

So while we are sitting there catching up, our food comes and there are four different types of potatoes on our plates: sweet potato waffle fries, regular fries, Tater tots and potato salad. So there we are, the food has arrived, we’re eating and talking about!

As we are talking about potatoes, i proclaim..that’s when i announce, potatoes…that’s what i will blog about!

Dinner was great! Thanks to JCT for treating! It was good to catch up and say goodbye and see you later!

{May 23, 2013} Dinner with the fam(ily)

Isn’t it nice when one thing can cancel something else out?

There was something work related that started last night that had me a little stressed out, which weighed on my kind and carried over to today. Then something not fun, related to that happened this morning, making it more..not fun.

Even CKM wanted to know who she had to beat up, who was making me sound upset and flustered. I have awesome friends!

Kids seem to make things “all better”, doesn’t matter what size, but the wee ones seem to work best. Tonight, DCM and I went to dinner with most of his kids and his grand daughter, LB.

KAT, who is about to bring DCM’s first grandson into the family! CS, LB’s momma, who it’s giving LB a baby sister in the fall! (we are about to be covered up in grand babies!) HB, or Uncle Bubba as LB likes to call him, the first name she called anyone! And last, but never least, DCM, his youngest, also known as Pow Pow, KAT is better known as KK. AT unfortunately had to work.

When LB was starting to call people by name, DCM wanted to give her something to call me and followed the pattern that was set, Pow Pow, KK, and I’m JJ, i love it, because whenever DCM talks to LB, she asks for JJ!

Tonight made me feel good because LB was exited to see me and wanted me to hold her while we were in line, sit in between myself and DCM at dinner, then share my dinner, apparently what i had just looked better.

Dessert started looking better and better to Miss LB and it was time for
chocolate, it’s for eating as well as wearing, don’t you know, perfect photo ops! What a cutie!

After dinner, went outside, chatted, took a few pictures, then she made her gampa’s night…she wanted to go home with us! Nothing like it!

After lots of hugs and kisses, we parted company to go home. I dropped the top, on the car, and we were off. Thank you to the kids, all ages, who made what started as a blechy day, better!

{May 22, 2013} Bloggers Block

If writers call it”Writer’s Block” when they can’t think of what to write about, would a blogger, one who blogs, call it “Blogger’s Block” or “Blogger’s Blank” if they don’t know what to blog about?

Or am i just making things up because I just don’t know what to blog about tonight?

(Leaving it there, because even though I thought of more to write about, I think I’m being cute (and really tired))

{May 21, 2013} A day of see you soon and hello!

Today was a day of…hello, nice to meet you, see you soon, this isn’t goodbye, and it’s so good to see you, I’ve missed you!

Today, JRS came to say hello and bring me money from the yard sale he did for me last weekend, a few things were sold, made a tiny dent, every little but helps. Next LS came with a friend from high school to get my riding lawn mower and his friend bought a few things, I’ve never made that much money so quickly!

It was good to see LS, it’s been about four years, nice to know we can be friends. So, for us it was “hello, goodbye/see ya soon”.

Next came the sweetest and bittersweetest. I had dinner with SDL and Miss A. The fashionista was in top form! I could create a blog on her daily outfits alone! Hmmm…

There was exiting news, but i didn’t want to spoil SLD’s opportunity to brag on her brilliant daughter, so I got to kvell, a great Yiddish word meaning to be proud and gush.

When i asked what they did over the weekend, i was exhausted by the end of the telling, but…the best part, a card that was decorated with stickers and stamps done by Miss A, with a little help from SDL, of course. The card said “There are all different types of goodbye” “They all suck!” That got a good belly laugh from me! And a snort, i might add!

Inside was a magnet that said “When i count my blessings, i count you twice”. It had my name on it and Miss A’s, something light to pack, i can put it on the fridge and think of them every time i look at it.

I think we both may have been procrastinating a bit leaving, and if we weren’t, I’m going to tell myself we were. But, at 10:00, it was time to get Miss A in her car seat, give another hundred kisses (i got a kiss tonight! It included teeth, but it was a kiss!!!) Close the door and say see ya. Although, we did pinky swear to visit often, and you know that a pinky swear is a binding agreement!

Then to hug my, dear, sweet wonderful friend of almost 19 years! “i love you! Keep me posted on your travels, say hi to your folks (i forgot to tell you to hug your sister for me! Please and thank you!) And I’ll see you on FaceTime or Skype!
No tears, maybe a little mist in my eyes, but mostly laughter.

Now…I’m at the airport waiting for DCM’s flight to land! It’s been a month and i miss my beau.

We have a busy week planned…floors are getting done tomorrow, he has lots of daughters to see and fawn over, we have a granddaughter to hug and love and squeeze on (the Sesame Street tissue box is ready), maybe a grandson to meet before we leave, finish packing, pick up a uhaul, load said uhaul, another yard sale, then it’s pack up the furry kids and hit the road!

Hurry up, I’m ready to say “hello!”

{May 20, 2013} Coming home

First, let me tell you a little bit about my day, then I’ll talk about my feelings. Wow, I sound like such a girl!

Up after the sun, but before my 7am alarm. I had to see my girls and family before they all left for work, school, home and I left for Atlanta. MG was being a three year old and didn’t want to get dressed, we all tried. She didn’t want La La to help her, she didn’t want Poppa to help her,she didn’t want me to help her, but five minutes later, I want Auntie J to do it, ok! One leg, two legs, shirt, all dressed.

Next was bye bye, give kisses to Auntie, where are you going? Are you taking a plane? When will we FaceTime and just as quickly as it started, they were gone, kisses and hugs, see you soon. Then it was Poppa and La La’s turn, bye daddy, see you soon! Safe travels.

Then TRS came to pick me up with Miss S for breakfast, that was a treat, we hadn’t been out to breakfast, just the two of us ever and it had been a long time since we got a chance to sit and visit, it was great and I got hugs and kisses from Miss S! I love having a bunch of kids call me auntie!

A few hours of work, then off to the airport (I left my sisters house at 2:40 and arrived home t 11:58).
The flight was uneventful, sat next to a nice man, we talked about books, I finished my Carl Hiassen book and gave it to him, one less thing for me to take with me! I dozed off after takeoff, woke up just before the drinks, like clockwork!

So, coming home…
As I was getting off the train in Atlanta at baggage claim, I realized this was the last time I was “coming home” to Atlanta. The next time I travel to Atlanta, I will be staying with friends or at a hotel, I won’t be going to pick up my car, I will be getting a rental car. I got a little choked up as I was climbing the escalator realizing that.

For 19 years I have called Atlanta home, can you believe it, 19 years! I have lived in five cities, 6 different residences in that time. I lived in a house as an au pair in a McMansion in Sandy Springs when I first moved to Georgia, next was an apartment in Dunwoody with one roommate, then another apartment down the road in Dunwoody, with two friends (not anymore, when they say you shouldn’t live with your best friend, they weren’t kidding!) then my first apartment by myself in The Highland, ahhhh. Then buying my first house in Snellville, “Where everybody is Somebody” (I promise, that is the city slogan!).

Three years later, I moved farther out to Loganville (try saying that with a straight face!) where I have been for the last ten years, in a house that I have loved and a neighborhood that has brought me amazing amounts of happiness over the last ten years. I believe that a lot of my life would not have been the same if I hadn’t moved into the neighborhood, good and bad. I think it goes along with what I wrote about fate and coincidences.

When I moved in, I was told this was a “Leave it to Beaver” neighborhood, they could not have been more right! There were neighborhood parties, friendships, Halloween parties for the kids, parades honoring our veterans and patriots, we hosted neighborhood baby showers, if someone was sick or had someone pass, flowers and food was organized. The day I bought the house, there was an article in the Gwinnett Daily Post about this neighborhood with A PICTURE OF MY HOUSE! (I attached a picture) what are the odds?

I have to tell you, I was happy where I was and who I was with, but Georgia has never truly been my home, they say home is where the heart is, that is very true, my heart was with someone, so I was happy where they were. About a year after I moved to Georgia, I was ready to leave, I was either going back to NYC or the Peace Corps, I had my application in hand and then I met the wasband and I stayed.

After we separated, the house went on the market, I was ready to move on, make a fresh start and I would not have looked back. I had friends at the time that I was close with, but not as close as I am today. As time went on and the house did not sell, I began to settle in and get comfortable, in the house, my surroundings and in my own skin.

I formed new friendships and strengthened the ones I had had for a long time, TS, CKM, SDL, LK to name a few, the ones who were really there for me when I was going through a really rough time, my SLAH family, DF, SJ, SS, then as I started working again, I made new friends, RS, JCT, MB, SS, SD, and even recently at my “new” job, DL. I rekindled friendships that only got stronger, JT, BG, NB, MM, HNM, CTS, DG, I know I am just touching on my list, please know there are so many more who are near and dear to me. You and I know who you are!

Now, even though I know I will keep in touch with everyone, (I am going to do my darnedest to keep my promise!) with the amazing technology we have available to us and my love of travel, it’s really hitting home that I’m leaving. I am excited to be starting a new chapter in my life, I am moving towards something wonderful and I am excited to experience this with someone so important to me, we will have new adventures that I cannot wait to share with all of you.

But it is still a little bittersweet as I drive down Ponce de Leon to Scott Blvd to Hwy 78, I’m not going to be stopping at Fellini’s for a slice and a coke on the way home from the airport, pull into the neighborhood that caught my eye and makes me happy every time I drive home because it is so beautiful and welcoming, pull into my driveway and look at this place I have called home for over ten years. I know it will be surreal when the truck is loaded and we head out leaving all I have known and what I have called home for almost half of my life.

{May 19, 2013} Dance Recitals

Another full day at my sister and brother-in-law’s house.

I slept in, 9am, hold yourself back! MG was at her first swim lesson, yesterday was EJ’s lesson. Then it was a mad dash to put a picnic together and out the door. The picnic was at Camp Grossman, to celebrate the end of Mayim, the K-5 grade Sunday school class at the family’s synagogue. There was singing, thanking, playing (daddy pushing my sister and I on the swings, how long had it been? Dad said about 35 years! lots of laughing!) fellowship, cookie decorating,
and food, what could be better?

Then home for a bit of rest, what’s that? Then it was time to go to EJ’s dance recital! The KM Dance Center presented their 28th annual show, this year was Aladdin. As you may have guessed, the show was themed around the Disney musical Aladdin, there were dance numbers in Arabian themed costumes and in between numbers they would act out scenes from the movie.

EJ was part of the group that danced in the middle, the number was called Loopty Loo and had nothing to do with the theme of the show, just really cute costumes, ala Jasmine, coins that jingled, blue eyeshadow and red lips you can see from the back of the theater, and ballet slippers.

She was right on point (pun intended? You decide!), she was great and had her cartwheel down pat, turned and twirled with the best of them, ok, I’m a little proud! They were so cute!

After the show, on the way to dinner, I asked if she was going to do this again, “No I already did it.” Fair enough.

So, that means we do not have to do this again, unless MG decides she wants to do it, thank goodness! This does not mean there will not be another recital, just not another dance recital. I’ve been lucky enough to be at a swim lesson, soccer game, gymnastics exhibition (she was terrific at her birthday party last year) and her dance party this year, I haven’t seen her ski yet, but I will! She and her sister have not lacked in any experience, my sister and brother-in-law has given them every opportunity to try new things and find what they love to do.

This is where I need to give my parents and all parents a great big THANK YOU for sitting through our dance, piano, whatever recitals, shows and exhibitions! Parents put up with so much for their kids, sitting thorough number after number after number of dance, cheers, meets, everything just to see their kids perform for five minutes.

I had my first dance recital, tap from Ms Rosemary’s, when I was four and I am sure my parents suffered through it, before and after my number. Although, I don’t know if it was as stifling hot as it was in the auditorium today!

I don’t think I really appreciated what my parents did until I had to sit through my first cheerleading camp exhibition for my daughter, 2,000, ok, it was just 30, but it felt like 2,000 squads doing the exact same cheer, oh my word! Then today, I was doing it for my niece, watching my sister and brother-in-law experience it for the first time, sitting next to my dad, who was old hat at this.

They drive us to rehearsal, sit there or maybe go home and pick us up later, listen to the songs over and over, the crying when we don’t want to go or we’re too tired, buy our costumes, do our makeup, do our hair, buy us flowers and sit in the auditorium and wait and wait and wait until its our turn and then have to sit there and wait to watch every other group perform because we want to watch our friends shine for their parents.

To the kids, I say, “Thank you” for giving us the opportunity to watch you grow and shine and brag about you and all you accomplish and to know we supported and loved you with all that we are and would never change a thing.

For all the parents who sit there hour after hour, cheer and encourage, on behalf of all the kids out there on stage, I say “Thank you”, you’ll never know how much we appreciate you. And please know, we’ll never understand what you go through for us until it is our turn to be in the crowd cheering our own kids on.

{May 18, 2013} Can we fit any more in today?

Today was MG’s birthday party, she turned three on Thursday and of course we need to celebrate!

The day started with the pitter patter of little feet, which, apparently when you are six and three, sounds like thunder! As you read in my post from last night, I was up until about 2:30/3:00 and those footsteps came sometime before 8, there is no such thing as sleeping in around this house! Am I complaining, nope, not a bit!

So, up and at ’em! Quick shower, then on to cleaning and setting up for the party, we were expecting about 50, par for the course with this bunch. There are families that come for the entire time, some that come in and go out. There are kids, kids, kids.

EJ decided she wanted to sell lemonade and give the money she made to “people who don’t have any”, so thought much discussion, she finally decided to give the money to Birthday Wishes, a great organization that “brings birthday parties to homeless children.” I told her that whatever she made, I would match. I’m waiting to find out what I will be donating. (Thanks to CWB, her daughter S and her brother B for the inspiration)
http://www.birthday wishes.org/

What a party, it’s always a lot of love and laughter and good times at a party at this house, no me goes away unhappy. We had a bouncy house, lots of food, cake, splinters, new babies to play with, all in all, a great party!

The party was called for 10-2, everyone finally cleared out by 3, I then reminded GES about wanting to get a manicure before the fundraiser tonight, so she and I walked to the nail salon to get pampered. She got a mani, I got a mani-pedi, ahhh. I sat int the chair and got all done up, Kelly green on my feet and electric/midnight blue on my fingers. GES got a really fun red, closer to a magenta/purple, felt good and looks great!

We got home, had a snack and all of a sudden I had an allergic reaction, so GES gave me some kids Benadryl and it knocked me in my butt. I dozed off on the couch, missed my sister and brother and law when they left.

Then it was feed the kids dinner, bedtime stories and lights out.

Is it my turn?

{May 17, 2013} Star Trek

O to the M to the G!

I just saw Star Trek into Darkness and I loved it! If I start telling you anything, I might slip up and tell you everything, so I won’t tell you anything about the movie, but I will tell you about the characters.

Chris Pine is a great Captain Kirk, strong willed, head strong, thinks in his feet, responsible and loyal to his crew and installs loyalty in them. He’s willing to give his life for them and in turn, they feel the same.

Zachary Quinto is the quintessential Spock, I don’t think they could have made a better choice. He has the attitude, the posture, the speech pattern, the look.

Have you seen the commercial with old and new Spock? Awesome!
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WPkByAkAdZs

Zoe Saldana as Uhura is great, although, I just want to give her a sandwich! I do like the interaction between Uhura and Spock is great, still unsettling because I’m a purist and Spock and Uhura? She does have a great attitude and is fierce in her commitment and she can kick some arse!

Karl Urban is fantastic as Bones! I don’t think they could have found anyone else who embodies the role of Dr McCoy. He has the sarcastic attitude, the verbal sparring, questioning everything, the southern analogies (I know that’s not the right word, but it’s after 2 am and I can’t think of the word).

Simon Pegg, where do I start? I la la la love Simon Pegg, I think he was the perfect choice for Scotty. I will say that in this movie, he was a bit more serious, and his hair looked odd, but he was still terrific in the role, he was…Scotty! All I wanted to hear is dilithium crystals!

John Cho is great as Mr Sulu, I have liked him since I saw him on Charmed, I have blocked out the one Harold and Kumar movie I saw, thankfully! He had a great scene where he took charge and Bones says, “Mr Sulu, remind me to never piss you off!”

Benedict Cumberbatch was awesome as Kahn! He was a BAD A**!!! He did right by the memory of the original Kahn! Let’s just say, as bad guys, he brought up memories of Hans Gruber from Die Hard! He is a great actor and I have enjoyed everything I have seem him in.

Peter Weller is good as Admiral Marcus. Hard to picture him as anyone besides Buckaroo Bonsai for me and RoboCop for most people.

All in all, I really enjoyed the movie and hope you will too!

Thanks to my brother in law, AS, for going to the movies with me, it was a lot of fun, we only get to go to the movies once a year in the Bahamas. I miss going to opening nights with DCM, we have to hurry up and get me to Colorado, there are so many openings coming up!

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