Peaches Prattlings











We had a lot to do and the ER was not on the list!

We woke up on our own, nice. As we were not that impressed with breakfast, we ate leftover pizza, what could be better to start the day?

Our first stop…the Crown Fountains in Millennium Park. They are two towers that project videos of faces while water falls from them, a very cool piece of art. 

These are great to see and play in, especially on a hot day! 

Next, The Bean.  Yup, if you don’t know it, you have to see it.  It’s a giant metal bean…yeah, just go. Can you see us?

On to the Art Institute of Chicago, just wow! Impressionist, contemporary, pre 1900, one of the oldest and largest art museums in the world. It houses a few, to say the least, famous pieces. American Gothic, A Sunday in the Afternoon on the Grand Jatte, made famous in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, among so many others.  I’ll just post a few. 

By then, we had worked up an appetite! We headed to the West Loop in search of lunch and ended up at the Haymarket, which was around the corner from an arts festival, which is where we walked off lunch and enjoyed the festival and bought a few things. 

After the festival we headed back to Navy Pier for another boat tour. The tall ships mislead us on their website, so we enjoyed a tour of the lake, it was enjoyable and informative. 

And last order of business for the day, certainly not least, Buckingham Fountain, in Grant Park, made famous by being in the opening of Married With Children. This is truly an amazing fountain and at night, lights make it entertaining.  It was designed like a wedding cake, what do you think?

Then we headed back to the hotel,,we were in the mood for something sweet. A nice relaxing time in the grand lobby, sorry, I forgot to take pictures! 

Now, I’m talking to you and tomorrow…more adventures!



Yup, you heard right!

CKM and I had a lot to do today! We started by not setting an alarm, definitely! Breakfast then off to see the sights…and boy, did we see them!

We had gotten the Chicago Go pass, that gives us three days to see up to 26 things on the pass.  Will we do all of them? Doubtful but we can try!

First stop was to find the tour both to get tickets for the architectural boat tour. We left the hotel and started walking and I knew where I was, but we were in the wrong location. I we had walked the correct number of blocks,but apparently, I was subconsciously heading to work!

they raise the bridges in the fall to let the talller boats get to where they will be stored for the winter, cool!

So…we took a right and headed down Wacker towards Michigan Avenue and it was a lovely walk along the water. We found the place we were looking for, got our tickets for tonight, activity one, and then headed back down Michigan Avenue looking and taking in the sites. 

the side of the building has stones or pieces of different structures all over the world. 

One of the places we stopped was the Presbyterian church I has spent time at when I visited a few years ago, just stunning. So peaceful, just sitting there enjoying the view, the church bells, the serenity.

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We left the courtyard and as it happens, the Hancock Building was across the street, it was on the pass, so, activity two. It was great, no line, right up and wow, look at that view!

After the Hancock Building we headed towards Navy Pier and stopped at Ohio Street Beach, also known as Olive Street Beach and a snack at Olive Beach Cafe. After our snack, time to put our feet in the water! Ahhhh…

Eventually we got to Navy Pier, score! We got our tickets for the rides, activity three. The Centennial Wheel, which is way bigger than the one they used to have, it was much nicer. This one is on par with the huge wheels they are putting up all over the world. 

After the Centennial Wheel, the carousel, I chose a dragon and CKM was on a zebra. Next, we could have skipped the giant swing, glad we did it last. 

Now, time to walk down to the end of the pier, passing all big boats, party boats, dinner cruises and an arcade.  On the way, we stopped in a stained glass gallery. Tiffany inspired windows, really stunning. 

Then off to the end of the pier to enjoy the view, the sailboats, the lighthouse, the water, ahhh.

It was time for a snack, a pretzel, enjoy the music, the breeze and some good conversation. After a break, we started to head back to the hotel to charge our phones, get a bite to eat and then head to the boat tour. 
We decided to walk along the water and we were on the walking/bike path, it was very crowded in one spot and I heard “look out!” The next thing I know, a red shoulder has connected with my chin, I fell on my personality, heard and felt my head hit the ground. I was stinned, to say the least! 

Then I realized there were a lot of people around us and CKM was telling me not to move, no problem! I laid there while she dislodged my arm from a bicycle and eventually, I sat up, then stood up. My chin hurt and my jaw was killing me!

First thing I checked…my ring and then cell phone!

All of a sudden, two police officers came from somewhere and made me sit down again. They asked if I wanted to go to the hospital, I said no and they were making sure I was ok.  Meanwhile, the kid who I collided with was very nice and apologetic, he wouldn’t leave until he knew I was alright. 

CKM and I eventually walked away in search of a napkin as my hand was bleeding. A food stand owner was kind enough to let me wash my hands in his sink and about that time paramedics and fire fighters showed up, apparently someone had called. 

They wanted to be sure I didn’t have a concussion or problem with tmj. The siren was pathetic! So sad sounding! We had a good laugh about it. 

We got to the hospital and then we waited…and waited…and waited…finally, I reached out to two good friends, one, my neighbor in Atlanta, DG and CH, both medical professionals and in agreement.  I wasn’t concussed, take ibuprofen, ice on and off, and if it gets worse, go back to the ER. Away we went. 

My current injuries…a sore jaw, a swollen chin, I feel like I’m in Jay Leno territory! An extra bump that is turning very dark on my chin, a scraped hand, a small bump on the back of my hard head and a huge lump of a bruise forming on my left hip. Hey, when I go all out, I go all out!

Bottom line…I wanted to show CKM a good time!

Called Uber, made it to the boat tour with minutes to spare! A great tour, good guide, very funny and we learned some stuff! 


After the boat tour, a brisk walk to Sears Tower. No line! Two amazing towers in one day! Activity four!

Every activity has a photographer, of course. If the photos weren’t $20 each, we might be interested. Here’s an idea…make the photos free if you have the pass, or at least half off. Just a thought.

Then to Giordano’s, next block over, for some deep dish pizza for CKM and pasta for me, worth it! 

Back to the hotel to talk to you, then it’s going to be lights out very soon! Are you tired?
What a day! Did you feel like you were with us? You were! I wonder what tomorrow holds! Anything but another trip to the ER!



{September 17, 2016}   Sharing veganism…sigh

As my dad always says..’sharing is caring’.

LJ and I met tonight to get some dinner at Kitchen 17, the vegan place that KP and I went to on Wednesday because she wanted to try the vegan deep dish pizza. 

Guess what they  don’t have on Fridays…deep dish pizza! Noooooo! But they do have scicillian style pizza which is thick, so we ordered that. Odd thing…it was round. But…fabulous! We also ordered spinach and artichoke dip, O M G!! So, two for two at this place! This may be my new favorite vegan place in Chicago. 

After we finished, well, finished as much as we were going to…we decided on a milkshake, equally yum!

As we were waiting on the milkshake, there was a couple next to us who asked how we liked the pizza, we both said it was fabulous and offered them a piece! They declined but asked for vegan recommendations in Chicago, they had just moved there.  He had been in Japan the last two years and she was from Atlanta, what are the odds?

So, we gave her the run down, and it was great having LJ there because even though I’m vegan, I can say something is great, if a non-vegan or meat eater says this food is good, it helps with other people. Some people think when I say something is awesome, it’s just because I can eat it, not true.

I also told them about Happy Cow, the veg-friendly app. You get vegetarian, vegan, veg-friendly and stores. The best part, it’s global, I’ve used it all over the globe!

All in all, a great evening! A good dinner with a friend, sharing vegan options with new friends and now…on my way to pick up CKM at the airport for the weekend! Wahoo!



{September 16, 2016}   I just got called what?

I just got cussed out by a homeless woman!

DLP and I were heading to meet LJ and some other people for dinner. I had leftover lunch so I was looking for someone to give it to. 

Normally, when i see someone who looks like they might be hungry,I ask and then give them my food. This woman…I asked if she was hungry and she proceeded to shout at me!

“I already ate!” OK, so I started to walk away, then…”what’s wrong with you, you whore!” Well, I thought she called me a whore, apparently she called me slut and she was calling DLP a whore! Alrighty then! Oh, then she accused DLP of following a white woman down the street! 

I think I’ve seen her, well, heard her, cussing other people out before, I guess we’re now part of a club…

She just kept going, screaming her head off at one or both of us as she walked down the street! I didn’t hear everything as I was walking away to find someone to give my food to, he was appreciative, by the way, thankfully! 

The people you meet in the street!



{September 14, 2016}   I ate deep dish!

​Oh my, but it was fabulous!
I have been getting vegan restaurant recommendations since I got to Chicago and I’ve tried a few of them, so far all good. Tonight I tried another and was not disappointed!

KP and I were going to see sketch comedy and one of the places near the theatre was Kitchen 17, which was on my list and I’m so glad we went!

We ordered a “garbage” deep dish pizza and a buffalo “chicken” sandwich. If you don’t know what a garbage pie is, it’s basically everything, meat and veggies on one piece. The sauce was tangy, which KP loved. It also had ricotta, mozzarellaand some other goodness! 

Since Chicago is known for deep dish pizza and I was disappointed that I wouldn’t be able to have some, think I was happy? You bet your sweet bippie! 

One of the best parts, aside from having a non-vegan or meat eating friend share..this meat eating friend loved it! So it’s not just me saying it!

Will I be going again? Oh yeah! Want to come with me?


 



{September 14, 2016}   Phone fire avoided, whew

I finally got a replacement phone, wahoo.

I went to a tmobile after work to get a replacement for my Samsung Galaxy Note 7. I walked in and when they asked why I was there “Note 7, I don’t want to catch on fire”, yeah. 

They gave me a Galaxy S7, it’s tiny compared to the Note 7! I looked at it…”it’s the size of an iPhone!” Noooooo!

They returned my Note 7, returned the cover,  then charged me for the taxes on the phone, $75! What? Not to worry, I’ll get it all back when I get the new Note 7.

I went to grab some grub while they transferred the data and apps over…umm…I got back and it worked, whew!

Crisis avoided. This is going to be a long few weeks without my Note but I will survive.  Ha ha



{September 11, 2016}   Leaving home…

It’s been a while since i didn’t really want to leave home. 

And it’s been a while since i felt that way,  it’s nice and sad all at the same time. I had a great week, actually it’s been eleven days that I was in Hawaii with PSM and its been terrific. And now that we have a home together and I don’t have a place anywhere else,  this is home.

And now,  when i leave, I’m not sure when I’ll get back, due to schedule and finances,  but we’re doing everything we can to see each other and be together.  Definitely more often than the last few months,  that’s been a challenge, let’s just say.

Does this mean that every time I come home it’s like a mini vaca? Sounds good to me!

Now, I say aloha and mahalo and head on to the plane. See you soon PSM. 

Aloha.




{September 9, 2016}   Where’s Nemo? Dori? Let’s look

Today was one activity, crazy, I know!

We all got up way to early for vacation! Not telling,  but some people don’t get up this early for work. 

We had breakfast, hung out at the pool for a bit, then headed to the catamaran for our snorkle outing. 

While we’re there and yesterday when we were zip lining I thought,  duh! You forgot the go-pro! Then i realized…i live here,  i can do this again! 

Granted, unless LJ and JD are back with me,  no pictures of them snorkling, but lesson learned, bring it with me everywhere!

We had a great time! It was about 45 minutes to the other side of the island, snorkle for about 45 minutes,  we saw schools of fish, sea turtles, dolphins, eels, fabulous!

After snorkeling, there was lunch and drinks,  loaded and unloaded.  Then they raised the sails and we headed back to where we started.

More pool time, then showers and head to the airport.  A great way to wrap up two great days!



It really was a great day! Only thing missing.. PSM, he’s in St Loius for work. 

LJ is in Hawaii this week with her family and we knew we wanted to get tougher, so I flew to Maui this morning on Hawaiian Airlines, it’s a quick 40 minute flight.

We met up at the Hyatt on the other side of the island, I met her bf, JD and her parents, all very lovely people. 

Bathing suits on,  first order of business… the pool. A lovely little  wouldn’t you say? I am still floored at this phone’s  camera!!!

After the pool and the infinity pool, back to the room to change and off to ziplining. Oh my,  so much fun!! I had done some ziplining on a small scale, when i was doing a challenge with a group, but not like this,  amazing! When are we going again?

We did the medium zip, a trek up the mountain in a van, get set up with our equipment, back in the van for the first stop then zip, hike, zip,  hike eight times,  then van, remove equipment,  van back down.

After ziplining, off for margaritas, chips and guac, we worked up quite a thirst and hunger. 

Then back to the hotel too shower and get ready for the big luau! It was awesome! Great entertainment, fire, dancing,  singing,  food! They even made me a vegan plate! 

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After the luau, a nice walk along the beach and dime quality time chatting. Next order of business… passing out!

What’s tomorrow hold??



{September 5, 2016}   Beautiful… ouch…ahhh

A beautiful day…an invigorating hike…then oops… then ahhh..

It’s been fabulous so far, I will tell you more very soon, but today we went on a nice hike towards a bird sanctuary. 

We waited out the rain while we waited for A&B to met us. They are the daughter and son – in – law of good friends, JLWB and GB, who were transferred here about a month ago. They are both in the Army and live on one of the bases on the other side of the island. 

We met up and headed to this park on the North Shore and started walking, it was hot and dry on this side,  big difference from where we came from. The view is breathtaking, I dont really know anywhere it isn’t!…Beautiful

We started walking and.. you know me,  I didn’t turn my ankle.. this time,  I went down “on my personality”, as it were…butt [pun intended]… the phone was ok! Priorities!

I got some nice scrapes, looks more like a biking scrape, but something to talk about! And of course, this was in the first quarter mile, go figure! Moving on!…ouch!

We hiked about 2+ miles to the end, about 3/4 of the way hit the fence to go into the sea bird and monk seal sanctuary. Saw none, oh well… but the rainbow at the end… worth it!…ahhh

what do you think? New shoes for Annie,  the beetle bug?



et cetera