A New Adventure | Peaches Prattlings

{February 21, 2017} I was dressed for bear…

Ok, I apparently have been using that expression incorrectly for a while.

I thought it meant dressed warm for cold weather, oh well. I was coming back to Chicago this week expecting it to be cold and no, I didn’t check the weather, that would be the smart thing to do.

I was wearing jeans, knee socks, a sweater and winter boots. For a freezing plane or a winter day, I was stylin’! The outfit looked good, I thought so and someone else said so, put together and work appropriate, we could wear jeans today!

I get to Chicago and it was warm! I didn’t need a coat, that was in my checked luggage, never took it out of my bag! The office was warm, I was sweating and my bag was at the hotel, so I couldn’t change my top!

It was even warm walking back to the hotel, I got into the room and dropped jeans, sweater and socks! I even turned the air on and sat there in my skivvies to cool off.

I remember being here in Chicago in April last year and it was still cold! I was going on that! And I’ve been told that it might be coming again, hmmm…gotta check the weather for tomorrow!

{February 17, 2017} But my shoes are off!

Yesterday was a travel day.

By the time I got to Saint Louis Airport, TSA PreCheck was shut down. They gave me a card so that I could do a modified PreCheck by leaving my shoes on, woohoo, I still had to take me laptop out…

I knew that my shoes would set off the metal detector so I took my boots off and when the guard looked at my feet she thought I was still wearing shoes and told me to take them off, turns out it was my socks!

I have two pairs of socks like this pair was given to me by my fabulous friend RJS! How funny is this!

Got to make travel days fun!

{February 14, 2017} Just another travel day…

It’s Monday, so back to the daily grind, right? Off to Mt Vernon, IL I go.

As I mentioned yesterday, I stayed at a hotel last night in case the roads were bad to the airport, I was close.

I got there, checked my bags and went through security. There was literally no one on line! This is Logan airport in Boston, that never happens! Do you remember when I showed you JetBlu a few weeks ago? Nope, no one! There we people at the airport, but hundreds of flights had been canceled, so it was sparse.

I got some breakfast, got on my flight, which was full, by the way. That flight was at 840am, we waited for the de-icing to begin, then left. In Detroit, I had enough time to powder my nose and get to my next flight.

In Chicago, I had a two hour layover, but not as much time as you’d expect. Get luggage, catch shuttle to next terminal, check luggage back in, walk from B-gates terminal to C-gates terminal, then go in search of something to eat, it’s been a while and a time since since breakfast. Why is it so difficult to find something for a vegan, it’s 2017 airport people! I would like something more than the hummus cup with pretzels.

Get to gate, wait 20 minutes, board flight for St Louis. Short flight, collect luggage, go to car rental. Collect car, drive 1.30 to Mt Vernon.

I started at 7am eastern and ended 530pm central [630pm eastern].

Let’s just say, I decided if I was going to do anything for dinner, it would be coming to me! I’m staying put in my comfy clothes until I have to get up for work tomorrow!
The best part of the day…since you can now download from Netflix…I binge watched Stranger Things! Wow!

Night!

{February 11, 2017} It’s snowing in Boston!

It’s Saturday and it’s a snow day. A stay in day. A play date day.

I got up and went in search of life. GES was on the sofa with MGS and PK, she was the mysterious person on the air mattress in MGS’ room when I kissed her goodnight last night. ACS and EJS were at soccer game.

They got home and EJS scored three goals! Then we all went to breakfast.

After breakfast, MGS, EJS and PK played outside in the snow, so funny to watch! They slid down the steps in a toboggan, apparently three steps is enough. They then wanted to clean off the cars and ingenious….MGS figured out she could close the trunk using the ice scraper to hit the button!

A good time was had by all! Especially those of us warm on the inside watching!
EJS was picked up to go to a birthday party. There was bowling then a sleepover at a hotel. Pizza, swimming, staying up late, sounds good to me!

ACS went to get a haircut and when he got back GES and I went to get pedicures. Then some groceries and picked up dinner and the two of us watched Florence Foster Jenkins until the rest of the family got home.

It was a nice relaxing day.

What will tomorrow bring? Besides more snow.

{February 10, 2017} I’m in a living snow globe

Isn’t that crazy?!

I landed in Boston tonight and as we were waiting for the jet way to reach the plane, the snow started to build on the window.

I thought it looked like a slow globe! Please don’t shake the plane to make it blizzard! Ha ha

{February 9, 2017} My night

Well, tonight, after a whirlwind of dates with friends and my team, it was a me party.

After work, I headed to my hotel, participed in the conference call then it was search for food. I also got a new suitcase delivered, wahoo! I love my eBags backpack and needed a new bag for work that’s durable, especially the way baggage handlers handle bags. I thought it was too big, but after packing tonight…

So, I went out trying to decide what to b have for dinner and as I put my hand in my pocket, I found a coupon…Old Navy cash…and I thought…I haven’t talked to Old Navy in a while, so…

Coupon used, new fun stuff acquired, a few dresses to twirl and keep me entertained, we said goodbye for a while and I went to one of my favorite places, Vapiano’s, never actually been without LJ or DLP…I ended up deciding on take out. A cheese-less pizza and a salad. If you think about it, a cheese-less pizza is really just a flatbread, which works for me.

Back to the room, eat, have a fashion show for myself, glad I bought the bigger bag! Chilled out, watched Gigi on TV, then talked to CWB for a while, so very glad we reconnected! Then it was eventually time for lights out, after talking to you, of course. Fingers crossed sleep actually comes.

Travel day tomorrow!

{February 7, 2017} Two new restaurants, great food and a new friend!

I realized I haven’t talked about places I’ve eaten lately, shame on me!

So, today, I am at a new site for training and support and I found the Eleven City Diner. Oh my! It was awesome! A gps Jewish Deli with good, fresh ingredients and piled high on the plate! I had an egg salad sandwich on challah, yum! It came with a pickle Spear and coleslaw, really good. I pigged out and ate it all! If you know me, you know I usually have leftovers, not today! This place reminded me a little of Zaftigs in Boston.

For dinner, I met up with someone I met on this project in a class and then again recently and we had hit it off the first time and decided to go to dinner. She came up with a few suggestions and Isla, a Filipino restaurant had more options than the other, it’s family owned and delicious! She had given me some vegan options the first time we meet and I haven’t been disappointed yet!

We had a great time getting to know each other, we have a lot in common, like our love of movies and travel. It was a lot of fun and we’re looking forward to the next time! I made another friend in Chicago!

{February 7, 2017} Life on the road can be fun!

Tonight was a fun evening.

Traveling for work is what you make of it. There are times there is nothing to make of it. Travel-meeting-travel or travel-meeting-dinner-hotel- travel. I’ve done those, fun, not so much all the time…or as it is now, when I’m in a place for a few months or more, you get to know the place and some people.

On this project, when I’m in Chicago, I go out to dinners, shows, movies. I’ve made friends on the project. Tonight was one of those nights. It was like any other job anywhere, you have friends and decide to go out. DLP and I wanted to do something, so, away we went. We went to the movies, settled in and saw Sing. Loved it a second time! She loved it a first time!

There is fun to be had on the road, it’s all what you make of it and sometimes what you have time for. I’m having fun!

{February 4, 2017} A house divided

Falcons vs Patriots. The showdown is coming.

I’m from NYC originally and a NY Giants fan. I’m in a relationship with a man from New England who is a die hard NE Patriots fan. It’s a “mixed marriage” for sure. [NY Yankees/Boston Red Sox]. Living in Colorado I grew an affection for the Denver Broncos, still on opposite sides. And here we are at the Superbowl! Remember where I lived for 20 years?

Now…I don’t know if you remember, I’m not a football fan, but I enjoy when someone takes me to a game in person. The sites, smells, food, excitement, the energy, it’s so much more. I still don’t always know what’s going on, but I don’t care, I love the current in the air.

Here we come to Superbowl Sunday, which is tomorrow. And it’s a good thing I’m not at home this weekend, it might have been tough…PSM is rooting for The Pats and I’m rooting for the Falcons. I’ll be honest, I lived in Georgia for twenty years and didn’t get that into the Falcons, but I’m a feeling the need to ‘Rise Up’ with Atlanta. It’s been 51 years since they’ve been to the Superbowl and I’m feeling a very red and black swell off emotion. [Do you remember when I became a Cubs fan the week of the World Series?]

If the Falcons win, wahoo! I know I’ll hear the uproar from Georgia where I am and I’ll whoop and holler. If the Pats win, I’ll call PSM and congratulate him and show my “Patriot-ism” [I said that to him a few months ago and couldn’t stop laughing! Isn’t that fabulous!]

Good luck to both teams, I know what is going to be like in PSM’s house, my house and all our friends in New England and I love all of them and I hope that they will understand when I say “Rise Up Atlanta! Go Falcons!]”

{February 1, 2017} I missed you!!

Oh my friends…I have missed you! I hope the feeling was a wee bit mutual.

I had such an amazing weekend that I had promised to share with you as I experienced it. Alas…Tmobile was not so friendly on the Big Island of Hawaii. So, a frustrating as that was, I’m going to be a big girl and move on and share my weekend with you now. Needless to say…it’s gonna be long one.

Here’s how my Friday, January 28th post went:

What do you do for the weekend, when you live on an island? You go to another island!

January 30th marks the two year anniversary of our first date. I don’t know if you remember me surprising PSM in Hawaii for our one year anniversary, it was awesome! It was also my first trip, of many, out here before I moved officially.

PSM surprised me with a trip to the Big Island for the weekend and here we are! He booked the tickets and the car, I got the hotel, you can guess where we’re staying!

We got to the hotel, the Hilton Waikoloa Village checked in and then headed to the room. The property is 62 acres! They have their own transportation system on the property, you can walk, of course, how yesterday! Or you can take a boat or tram!

We opted for the boat to get to our room, in the Ocean Tower. We have a very nice room with a partial view of the ocean, we can see it, not sure how partial it really is. The important thing is we can hear the ocean, sleeping with weigh A/C off and window open tonight!

The first thing we booked when we arrived was the luau and shortly after seeing the room, we left…headed to the luau.

What fun! The had a vegan option for me and PSM went to the buffet. Awesome waiter kept bringing more drinks, PSM was a happy camper.

The show itself was fabulous. Great history to learn about the Island of Hawaii. Each island has their own history, own and different stories to tell. I have to say, the fire dancing and spinning was the best! If you ever have the opportunity, do it! So much fun!

After the luau it was a nice walk back to the room, talk, laugh, catch up and then try to talk to you. A nice way to start our weekend, wouldn’t you agree?

Welcome day two. And what a day it was! We spent the day on a tour of Volcano National Park!
We toured lava tubes, which are the natural conduits which lava flows through, wow! We hiked to a volcano crater, there are hot pockets that you see and feel the steam coming up, unusual foliage, berries you can eat and berries, you shouldn’t.

We went to another part of the national park and we could see where the lava formed around a tree and then dinner at a volcano winery where they grow grapes and tea leaves.

We finished our day at an active volcano so we could see the glow in the distance, pictures cannot do it justice at all.

Sunday morning came and PSM had a relaxing massage, we met for breakfast and then headed to the airport. We flew back to Honolulu, collected our luggage, headed to check in, so my bags off, say a heartfelt farewell and I flew off to the great blue yonder back to Chicago.

Yesterday, I arrived about 630am, headed to the hotel and they had a room and that two hour nap was amazing! Then it was a day at the office, dinner with DLP at Kitchen 17, hotel and zzzzzzz…

Well, after mushy talk with PSM for our two year anniversary.

I hope you’ll forgive me for not talking to you last night.

So…it’s been great catching up with you tonight and now I am going to crash. Who knows what tomorrow will bring.

Goodnight!

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