A New Adventure | Peaches Prattlings

{April 2, 2017} I’m saved! Vegan pizza!

I’m in Breckenridge and let’s just say, as hippy dippy as it is trendy and it’s Colorado, the vegan pickins are slim. To none…

I used my fabulous Happy Cow app and found Piante Pizzeria, the only vegan option in town. Plenty of veg – friendly, this was vegan! Off I went.

It’s got a nice atmosphere, cozy and intimate, there are only about six, maybe eight tables, and four spots at the bar, which is where I sat, facing the open brick oven.

I am always skeptical, even when it says vegan, so I always ask on the first few things, then I’m good. It didn’t even register that it was 100% vegan when I walked in and when I asked my favorite question “can you feed a vegan?” Enthusiastic yes was the response!

Now, I don’t know how many people in the place were actual vegans or with a vegan or just up for a new experience. Who cares! Everyone was enjoying themselves.

They had three appetizers, the rest of the menu was salad and pizza, I really liked that. They use cashew cheese and have daiya cheese for anyone with a cashew allergy, but we know how feel about daiya cheese. I was happy. They even have vegan New York cheesecake, but I was full!

I didn’t really read the entire menu, I found what I was looking for…a white pie! Really? Sold! It’s my favorite pizza and something I cannot get anymore. Sigh.

I looked at it, realized it had mushrooms and nixed those. What I didn’t realize until it was about to go into the oven…arugela.

What? A white pie us just that, white on white on white. Olive oil, garlic, ricotta cheese and mozzarella, that’s it. White.

I didn’t let them make me another, it would be fine. I could see spinach or basil, just not sure about the salad. I was ready for a new adventure.

It came out and did not disappoint. The cheese was creamy and melted, the garlic was tasty and the crust nice and crisp. Did I wait like I should have to not burn the roof of my mouth? Of course not! This is going to annoy me for days! Ouch!

I ate half and although I knew I could eat the rest, I decided to not pig out and took it with me. Any guesses what’s for lunch tomorrow?

I got to chat with the guy making the pizzas, said he’s only eaten these vegan pizzas and lost ten pounds? What? If that worked, I’d move in! He was fun to chat with, almost like not eating alone!

The wait staff is terrific and friendly and on the way out I had the opportunity to talk with the owner’s wife, a really lovely, genuine person.

I liked their version of repurposing items. The giant sauce cans were pizza stands and they have a small library, which they bring your check in to the table, very clever!

If you have the opportunity to be in Breckenridge and you’re looking for vegan, pizza or something different, check them out. They’ve been open since January 27th and I expect they’ll be doing some great things in the future! I look forward to my next trip to Breck!

https://piantepizzeria.com

{April 1, 2017} This is too cool!!

I la la la love Ms. Pacman!

No idea why Google Maps is doing this, but, it’s awesome!

I was on Facebook and someone posted “Go to Google maps!” I thought… why not! When I got there, Ms. Pacman was there waiting for me!

When I was a kid, I discovered Ms. Pacman and it’s been a wonderful relationship ever since! My dad, sister and I used to take half hour piano lessons at the JCC when we were kids. There was a stand-up Ms. Pacman machine there! I volunteered to drake the first lesson and here’s why… if I took the first lesson, I had an hour to play Ms. Pacman!

I have trouble walking by a Ms. Pacman machine without putting in a quarter to play! One day, I hope to have one of my own! Sigh…

Go, check out Google maps, have fun! Chomp, chimp, chomp!

{March 27, 2017} A great day…swish, swoosh, no ouch!

My second day on Park City, Utah was a success!

I got up liesurely, wrapped my ankle, nice and snug, got some breakfast, requested a late checkout and headed back to the slopes.

It was great! The sun was shining, the powder packed in some places and off I went swishing and swooshing. I listened to Five Guys Named Moe, didn’t quite cut it, so Nickelback to the rescue, I needed the kick.

I took my time in some places, speed in others and I probably got in about 6 runs. Then I looked at the time, knew I needed to leave about 12pm, head back to shower, pack and head out. There wasn’t a slope that went directly to the base, so I took the connector chair, fun!

The signs for the slopes said No Easy Way Down, ok, here goes nothing.

About that time, I hit some slushy stuff and did the snowplow most of the way down until I got to the bottom where the snow was packed.

Got in the bucket back down, noticing all the green, you fluid possibly play golf while others skied! Back to the hotel, shower, pack and headed to a ski store for a better ski bag, this one has wheels! Much easier for travel, now I feel like I’m for real!

Looking forward to the next trip, who knows when!

{March 26, 2017} Swish…woosh…then ouch

I decided to try a new place to ski, Park City, Utah, it a beautiful place.

I’m staying at a Hampton Inn about six miles from the lift, nice and convenient. I parked right in front of the bucket lift that takes you to the gondola that takes you to the other lifts. That just sounded silly. They have a gondola that you put your skis on the outside while you go up the mountain, it’s nice, along with the people to put on and take off the skis!

At the top, I skied to the first chair lift, skied down, took the next lift and it went on that way for a bit. I stuck to the blue square runs since I haven’t been here before.

I got to one spot and looked up a small slope, what? Then I saw the tow rope, whew! I was relieved, especially since I don’t have poles with me.

I was not far from the base, I found that out shortly, good thing, when I wiped out. It happens, I was upright one minute swishing and swooshing down the slope and next thing, I was on my back looking at the sky. Huh?

I shook my head, looked back and saw my one ski a little way up the hill. I stood up, realized one of if the things poles are really useful for… releasing your boots from your skis!

I got my other ski back, put them both on, which, as you might know, is not easy to do on a slope! As I stared to ski back down to the base, I realized my ankle was throbbing a bit. I thought it might be a good idea to have someone look at it.

I skied to the base, found out where the clinic was. I declined ski patrol coming to get me, it seemed silly. The doctor, nurse and about six ski patrol folks were sitting around, a little bored.

The doctor looked at my ankle and confirmed what I had been thinking. Elevate, ice, ibuprofen and I should be fine. One of the ski patrol drove me back to my car, I went to Wal-Mart to pick up an ace bandage and some zip-lock baggies to hold ice.

So, here I sit, in the living room of my hotel room, foot propped yup, watching a Law and Order: SVU marathon, doing something I never get to do, relax!

Tomorrow, fingers crossed, I am going yo hit the slopes again for a few hours before I fly back to Chicago.

{March 25, 2017} I can sleep anywhere, anytime… and he proved it!

I used to be like that…sigh, I miss those days.

Yesterday, I flew to Salt Lake City. I sat next to a nice guy heading home to Lake Tahoe. We talked tech, movies, skiing, travel, pets, smartphones. He asked why I didn’t have an iPhone, being such a techie. I love my answer!! “I’m allergic to apples!!!!” Muwahaha!

We also talked about sleeping and sleeping on flights. I mentioned that I don’t sleep much or on my flights and he said he could sleep anywhere and he did…

I asked him if he wanted to stop talking so he could get some sleep, he said no and about thirty minutes later I look over and he’s out…

He woke up when we landed and had a good laugh.

{March 15, 2017} It took how long?

Flight…fine, pick up… fine, drive… not fine.

I landed about 30 minutes late, we taxied for a while, due to the show, which covered the runways, understandable. I had arranged with my taxi driver to pick me up, I was supposed to land at 630am, he would pick me up at 7, take me to the hotel, I would get an hour of sleep or at least a shower, then take me to the client site by 9am.

Big snowstorms in Chicago over the weekend gummed up that plan…

I landed about 7am, was in the car by 745, I had to get my luggage, then the taxi monitor had to call him, he was waiting in a lot.

Then…I got in the taxi and we were off. We were going 38 miles, should only take about an hour, maybe a little less.

THREE HOURS! Yes, you read right, three hours!

There was snow and bad traffic on the highway. GPS originally said just under two hours. I emailed my lead and the office I was going to, let them know I was going to be late, I should be there by 10am.

After about an hour, I told my driver I was going to take a nap. I woke up just before we got to the office, three hours total!

It was alright because everyone was running late, I still felt terrible! Got a lot accomplished in the short time I was there.

Best part…what a nap!

{March 14, 2017} Happy first birthday!!!

March 13, 2017, someone turned one!

My beautiful, smart, silly, fearless, curious, adventurous, happy granddaughter, Baby EB, turned one today!

Oh, how I wish I could show you a picture of her sweet little face! She is a wonder! Every day holds new wonders, excitement, joys, experiences, curiosity and so much more.

Each time i get to see her it’s a new experience, there is something new and exciting that she just learned or discovered.

I can’t wait to see where the next year and the next and the next takes her.

Happy birthday Baby EB. JJ sends love, hugs and kisses for your first birthday!

{March 13, 2017} What a weekend!

Paddle boarding, swap meet, visits, oh my!

You know my weekends are not sit around and do nothing, right? This was no different!

Friday was my second travel day, made it home, very exciting, laundry, straighten up, get ready for visitors, weehoo! Well, there was the dinner date with my honey, that was a Wahoo! We went for pho and then dessert a few doors down, closed them both!

Saturday morning cane early, with an alarm, boo. But… for a good reason! Something we have been talking about for a while and I surprised PSM with SUP lessons, Stand Up Paddle board lessons! The funny part…I ruined his surprise! He got us lessons as well, just hasn’t booked them yet! Sorry!

We headed into Honolulu to Ala Moana Beach to meet our awesome instructor Eva. We had a fifteen/ twenty minute lesson on the beach and a half wall, some stuff stuck, the rest came back when we went into the water.

It took a second, but we mastered it! Not experts ready to try out for the x-games, but we got the hang of it, enough that we went out and purchased a set of paddle boards for each of us! I think we’ll be doing this together every weekend I’m home and I think PSM will be spending some weekends practicing and leaving me in his wake! I’m hoping to find dime places i can do it on the mainland!

We had so much fun on the water, practicing falling, getting back on the board, turning, seeing sea turtles, they came by, stuck their heads up, said hi and then left, it was great! Some of them were huge!

After our fabulous experience, we were hungry! Off to a new place for breakfast, Egghead Cafe, really good breakfast. I had an avo-corn and egg sandwich with garlic aioli, yum! PSM had a pancake bacon,egg and cheese sandwich, he said yum. We shared the three pancake sampler, there were bananas, macadamia nuts, green tea, ice cream, red beans, so much…yum!

We then left to do some research into buying stand up paddle boards, went to a few places, left to do some thinking and went to the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet, http://www.alohastadiumswapmeet.net/content/home.aspx. 
This is an Oahu staple, three days a week its where you can find everything from trash to treasure. We bought Hydro Flasks, they keep your drinks hot or cold for hours, even days. I wouldn’t have believed it if i hadn’t tried it! Love!

Annie got an upgrad on her seat covers, these actually stay on because there is a separate head rest covert, who knew! PSM got some for his truck too. The best part, water resistant!

After the swap meat, we made a decision…Blue Planet, http://blueplanetsurf.com/, to buy our stand up paddle boards. We got boards, fins and leashes, it was a great package and they’re good boards. Because we bought two, we got tape they put on that will help protect the edge from the paddle, they ever threw in company logo stickers for the boards, looks awesome!

John was a great salesperson and help with installing the stickers, tape and helped PSM strap the boards to the roof.

We went home and got some dinner, tonight was Raman at one of our favorite places, shower, turn around and head back to the airport to pick up PSM’s aunt and uncle coming for a visit.

We got back to the house, visited for a bit, then bed, it was almost 1130 by now!

Woke up this morning, went to one of out favorite breakfast places, My Cafe, induced the family to malasada pancakes! Y U M!

Back to the house to pack and they headed to the airport to go to Kuai for the week, I was bummed not to be able to join them.. next time. I headed out to Honolulu to see TS!!! She was in Hawaii for the week with her daughter,KS and friend, M. How fabulous! We had lunch, caught up and they told me all about their fabulous time in Oahu and Maui, great trip! So great to see them!!!

I saw them off to the airport, went to the beach for a few hours and found my way home, without gps!

Then it was hanging out with Mollie, we’re talking about going to the beach in the morning for a few hours before I have to leave for Chicago.

Another fabulous weekend at home, too short, but fabulous! Can’t wait for the next one… next month!

{March 12, 2017} It’s daylight savings… check this out!

Now, our day was full, but this is too cool.

We were at the airport waiting for PSM’s aunt and uncle to land and we looked at the clock. We were doing some calculations that didn’t seem to be working out when I remembered that daylight savings happened today at 2am.

Something to keep in mind, if you didn’t already know, Hawaii doesn’t observe daylight savings like the rest of the country. There are several states that don’t.

As we’re looking at the clock, it’s too cool because parts of the country still haven’t changed yet.

During the winter, Hawaii is five hours behind the east coast, three behind central, three behind mountain and two behind the west coast. During the summer, east coast is six hours ahead, central is five hours ahead, mountain and west coast will be four ahead.

The cool thing is watching as the time changes in the different time zones eventually. When you know off the top of your head what it should be, but it hasn’t hit 2am everywhere, it’s confusing! Hey, if you don’t know it to begin with, oh brother.

It was ten pm when we looked at the clock and watching as the time changed across the country. East coast and central had already changed to six and five hours ahead because it was after midnight.

By the time we wake up, mountain will be four ahead and west coast will be three and we’ll be set for another six months until we have to figure it out again!

{March 10, 2017} New friends and vouchers

Today’s travel was pretty good. And profitable.

Today I’m flying home! That’s the best part. My flight from Chicago to was simple enough, we left a little late, but I knew I’d still make my connection in San Francisco.

The guy that sat next to me was very nice, turns out our last names are the same except for one letter, go figure. He’s from Chicago and doesn’t really like to fly and thanked me when we landed, for helping him get thru the flight. He made my flight entertaining, he was a character! So thank you!

I got to San Francisco and eventually made it to the gate and i hear them calling my name, uh oh! Turns out they wanted to see if i would move over one seat, sure.

Then they made an announcement that they were looking for people to volunteer to give up their seats because there was a weight issue, the plane was zaftig.

I called PSM and asked for his opinion. $400 and a seat on the first flight out in the morning. As it was, I wasn’t getting to Hawaii until 1045pm, hmmm…ok, why not, they may not select me.

They did tell me not to put the compensation amount as they would put the highest number on it. Ok.

They kept calling for volunteers, they needed eight. Then…20 minutes later, they announced the gate change, we needed a new plane. Great… there was a couple frm Alabama who had missed their 7am flight, they were supposed to be in Hawaii at 4pm, its now 715pm in California, ouch.

We all get up and make our way over yo the new gate, I made some friends along the way, an older guy from The Big Island, a young guy from Dalton, GA, and a mom with her three month old from Philly.

Then, we had to sit there and wait until the new plane arrived, now my flight would get in to Honolulu at 1244am, glad i made my decision to volunteer.

My new friends and i talked and enjoyed each other’s company until it was time for them to board. Also listening to their pleas for volunteers, “we need five more volunteers”, that went on for what seemed like forever! But… the amount for the voucher kept going up…

Finally the other plane left and we just had to sit there for a few more minutes and then they called us up one by one to give us our stuff.

I ended up with $30 in food vouchers, a hotel voucher and $800 towards a future flight, not too shabby.

But… my luggage is still going to Hawaii, huh? Didn’t someone explain that to you? No…

Oh well. So, I’m sitting here in the Comfort Inn Suites near the San Francisco airport, the alarm is set for 5am so i can catch my 719am flight to Honolulu, in my economy seat, did I mention I gave up a first class seat? Well, if it happened once, it will happen again, I’m sure.

Wish me luck for tomorrow!

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