A New Adventure | Peaches Prattlings

{July 8, 2016} 15 hours to get home? Seriously?

You thought July 4th was a long day? A walk in the park!

Speaking of walking, I wonder if I could have walked back to Boston…my alarm went off at 545 am as it does every weekday, I was only about 10 minutes at the most from the airport, so I took my time.

I did my hair, I prefer the sparklers on the 4th, rather than in my hair, ha ha. Shower, dressed, breakfast, load the car, fill the tank [$2.49], go to the airport, drop off the rental car, check in and then sit in the waiting area, which is right outside the 2 gates they have.

I wasn’t even sure we’d take off, big storms yesterday and this morning, but we did. It was a little toasty on the sessna, the air wasn’t very strong, maybe they should have left the window open! 9 other people on the plane with me and about 15 minutes in, I was unconscious, another awesome nap! Probably the highlight of my day.

I wasn’t sure if I’d make it to my flight in St. Louis since we left late, but we made it, wahoo, with about 45 minutes to spare, great. Got some food, found a charger then eventually got on the plane. And we sat…and waited and waited…delayed due to weather, hmm…

Got to Philly about 3 minutes after the boarding doors closed on my connecting flight. Thank you gate agent for being less than helpful.

Got in line for customer service, along with the other 50 people who got in late or flights were canceled, called my travel company, they couldn’t help. I called the airline…the next 2 flights were booked. I’m now on the 815pm flight. Considered renting a car and driving the 5+ hours, but I stuck it out. It’s now about 4pm, won’t be too bad, right?

Went and got some food, did some shopping then sat and sat and sat. The charging stations that worked were full, half of them didn’t work to begin with…

The 815p flight is now leaving at 9pm, seriously? So, I sat and waited and finally got on the plane where the woman next to me panicked when the air came on and there was condensation that looked like smoke, that was fun.

It’s now 11pm, I am just getting to my rental car and I started my travel day at 7am. I joked that I could have been in Hawaii a few hours by now!

Time to go home, hug the kitties and pass out! Sounds good to me. I’m safe and sound, all that matters!

Good night!

{July 3, 2016} The wonder of fireworks

When you watch a fireworks show, aren’t you transported back to being a kid? I know I am!

I get so excited when I knew I’m going to see a fireworks display and giddy when it starts. I love the sounds, the explosions, the rocketing up, the lights, bursting, the spectacle, the way it takes me back to when I was a kid.

Tonight we went to see the fireworks display at the local high school and it was great!People had been setting up the area they claimed as their own for later in the day.

We started off at a cookout at GES’ house with food, kids and friends, then the entire group walked to the local high school, less than a mile, found our stuff and settled in.

People talked, played games, caught up, ate and waited for the fireworks display to begin at 9pm and it did!

Wow! It went on for about 45 minutes and it was wonderful! There we big explosions and small, bursts that look like flowers, dandelions when they become “wishes”, wiping willows and so much more.

There were kids with looks of wonder on their faces and others, with looks of terror! Some kids with giant headphones on to block the explosions, others readyfor kaboom!
I’m so glad I got to see a fireworks show some I’m traveling tomorrow and won’t see a display for July 4th on July 4th.

It really was fabulous!

I wish you a safe and happy July 4th.

{June 27, 2016} Jacuzzi baby!

Look what I found when I got into my room tonight!

Apparently I selected this room, but completely forgot! What a nice surprise to find a whirlpool tub when I got into the room and I needed it after today!

It was a long travel day after dropping dad off at the airport, then my first flight was at 6pm, second flight about 830pm. Then after I got my luggage, 1.5 hour drive to the hotel.

So, much to my surprise, a whirlpool. And that was the first thing I did afterwalking into the room.

I believe I see a jacuzzi every night this week. Mmm

Ahhhh…who’s going to sleep well tonight?

{June 26, 2016} We started the day with football and ended with art..not bad.

That’s quite a combination, wouldn’t you say?

Today was quite a day! We started out with the Football Hall of Fame and ended with the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Since we toured the entire Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame yesterday, which I will tell you about, my original post disappeared, I’m sorry, we decided that we would go to the Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, only an hour away, how awesome is that!

We talked to a woman who clinched it for us, an hour away and only about two hours to tour? Sold! We were talking to a guy who was going to the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame today about it and the Football Hall of Fame, he wanted to go with us!

We headed out and listened to the Capitol Steps, Forbidden Broadway and laughed the whole way.

The museum was cool, a lot of good history and memorabilia, uniforms, facts, jewelry, ha ha.

The first question…why Canton and here’s your answer.

How uniforms have changed.

The evolution of the football.

Too cool! The tallest player in history was seven feet and the shortest was 5 1/2″. Know what that means? I could play football!! He played for the Staten Island Stapletons…any guesses where I grew up?

Dad remembers a lot of the players and facts,
I learned a lot from him.

From the year I was born.

Overall, a very enjoyable experience

We left Canton and headed back towards Cleveland and the Museum of Art.

It was a really nice museum, spacious, lots of light.

I have always loved going to museums and viewing art with my dad. Like with music, he introduced me to toss wonderful world. We wanted to look at paintings more than sculpture, furniture or pottery and we found it.

I love contemplating with him what the artist might have been thinking or “what were the thinking!?” We laugh, discuss, contemplate. Awesome!

Another fabulous experience today. Awesome!

{June 24, 2016} Cleveland Rocks!

Dad and I have been talking about taking a trip somewhere and we’ve both wanted to see the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame.

Problem solved, we’re going to Cleveland!

We made a decision, then just needed dates, then came booking flights. Just about that time, GES and I were trying to figure out what to do for Father’s Day…

Perfect…we decided to fly him to Cleveland. I got the rooms with my points, yeah baby! Doubletree Hotel , warm chocolate chip cookies, breakfast included, bath robe…we do things in style around here!

So…here I am in Cleveland to spend the weekend with my pops, enjoying good conversation, a lot of laughs and some rock…n…roll!!!

Can’t wait to tell you all about it! Gonna crash now!

I hope you have rockin’ dreams!

{June 24, 2016} Sharing the vegan love

I know you know in a vegan, my friends and colleagues know, but it’s not something I push on anyone.

There are jokes about vegans out there “How do you know someone is a vegan? The tell you in the first five minutes of meeting them!” Ha ha, very funny. Well that’s not me. I like being vegan, but I don’t push it on anyone and I would never force anyone to be vegan. But if you have questions or want to know something, I’ll answer as best I can.

Most people find out I’m vegan when they make restaurant suggestions and I have to tell them my criteria. My coworkers have been great at our get togethers, always making sure I can get something when I’m there, I appreciate it so much. Don’t think my friends aren’t the same way!

Sometimes when I am having a conversation about it someone will say “oh, I want to try it, but I don’t think I could do it”, “I want to go vegan cold turkey”, so to speak. I’m happy to share knowledge, even recommendations. Sometimes it’s just, “do to want to taste what I’ve got?”

I’m always honest about what I think is good, I’ll tell you if it’s passable, I don’t think all vegan is awesome. Do you remember me telling you about the cheese that smelled like feet? See, honest!

And that happened at work this week. One of my new coworkers said she wants to go vegan. Ok…Tuesday she went with me and we had vegan for lunch at a place I like, and it’s the only vegan place near the training site. She loved what she tried, she was blown away!

Yesterday, I took two of my new coworkers to the vegan place, they were amazed! So was I! I had a new item on their menu and it was awesome! A kale salad with Seiten “chicken”. Wow! Guess what! My third new coworker wants to join us tomorrow! Suweet!

I’ll let you know how it goes!

{June 23, 2016} Keeping their attention

As a Software Trainer, you’re also a bit of an entertainer.

I know you’re probably thinking sitting in a classfor 6.5 hours can be exhausting. Think about being in front of that class for 6.5 hours a day! I totally get the rump falling asleep, having trouble concentrating, but I have to look at you drooping, getting sleepy and yawning. Hmmm..how much fun is that for me? Big Fat zilch.

That being said, I need to keep your interest, keep you awake and paying attention, all while trying to help you learn something new.

That being said, I have to be creative. In make them laugh, sometimes I bring humor into the class, real world experience. When they start yawning in the afternoon, I implement a 7th inning stretch! I make the class get up and sing! Take Me Out to The Ball Game, I’m a Little Teapot, The Itsy Bitsy Spider. It’s awesome!

Today, during a lesson, at the end of a step…”If You’re Happy and You Know It”, that cracked me up! I threatened them with the Hokey Pokey tomorrow!

If we’re going to be together all day and maybe one to four days, gotta keep it moving. Come and check it out for yourself! I’ll save you a seat.

{June 21, 2016} A reunion and Second City!

Today I saw a friend from college and went to see The Second City company!

JO’S is a friend from college who I haven’t seen in about 23 years! She happened to be coming to Chicago and check to see if I would be available.

As it turns out, tonight worked for both of us and…she had reservations at Second City, the improve repot troupe. This is something I have always wanted to see! Some amazing talent came out of there! John Candy, Gilda Radner, Dan Ackroyd, Jane Curtin, just to name a few.

I left my hotel to pick her and her friend/co-worker, then headed to Second City. We didn’t have time to get some food before, they have a kitchen, so we decided to eat there.

After we got into the club, found out that the kitchen was having problems, so no food, what? I never got to stop and get something after the airport, so I haven’t really eaten since I left Hawaii, um, I’m a little hungry! Oh well.

The show was great! Is improv, so it’s always hit or miss. It took a minute to build, then…bam! There were still some things that were like “huh?”, there were things that were specific to Chicago and sports, didn’t help me, ha ha. There was topical and typical [typical was actually a typo, but it fit!] political humor, some racist humor, it may have gone too far, but who am I to say about what’s funny to others. Besides, I think I’m hysterical, so there you go! Let’s just say, my cheeks still hurt from laughing.

After the regular performance, they try out new material. Let’s just say…keep rehearsing…they did try out something new with an audience member and it was great! One of the players only spoke Spanish and the volunteer they got spoke Spanish, which they didn’t know when they brought her up, or did they…she translated for both players on stage, very funny.

After the show we were ‘starvin’ like Marvin’ and I don’t know about them, but my head was about to explode! so we went across the street to the pub for grub.

Let me just tell you, catching up was fabulous! I can’t believe it’s been 23 years! Oh, we stalk on Facebook so we have an idea of things, and she reads my posts, thank you! But in person, amazing. We couldn’t stop talking! I know “what? JJ not stop talking? Impossible!”

We talked family, work, lives, travel and does she get to travel for work! Oh my! She and her friend arrange conferences [I hope I remembered correctly! And they are global! Then we talked day to day, cars, shopping, like we has just seen each other last week, so comfortable, really nice.

I hope we’re able to keep the promise to not wait 23 years to see each other again!

Best quote of the night “Sometimes you just have to laugh, it’s good for the soul”. No truer words could be said…especially at a comedy club!

{June 20, 2016} Happy Father’s Day

Today is the day we celebrate and honor our fathers. That being said, let me tell you about mine!

There are great dad’s out there but I’m biased, mine is the best! He’s an individual, innovator, comic, artist, therapist, a shoulder to cry on, a great sounding board, spoiler, a great travel companion, a great traveler, an art lover, music aficionado. He can start the day off with cartoons, move to rock-n-roll, the opera, musical theater, a bad movie to a good movie, he’s a great popcorn maker and when it comes to coming, breakfast is a specialty.

He tells great jokes and when it’s a good one, you’d think he was about to pass out from laughing so hard, sometimes he can’t even finish the joke. Whenever I hear a joke that I like, I call him immediately so he can laugh with me!

As I’ve grown older, I won’t say grown up, we’ve gotten closer, our relationship has changed a little, still father and daughter, but now, there is a friend component or level. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m still a daddy’s girl and I always will be.

He has always been an amazing dad to GES and I, having to be the strong one for us sometimes, I like when I can be that for him.

To see him with his granddaughters is fabulous, EJS and MGS love their Poppa! The other kids can him Poppa D, that’s how they know him, isn’t that great! He’s so good with them, firm…rarely, silly…often, smart…always, clever…frequently. I love watching the interaction between them, they love his visits. There may even be an overnight at his house in their future.

One of the things I love is that I talk to my dad every day. It could be for a minute or twenty, sometimes even longer. We talk about everything and nothing. How fabulous is that?!

I hope nothing changes. Happy Father’s Day, daddy. I love you.
PS…thanks for my name!

I want to wish a very Happy Father’s Day to all the fabulous dad’s out there. Especially my brother-in-law, ACS.

{June 18, 2016} Even a vegan needs a steak knife!

Tonight, i had a meal that needed a steak knife.

I had grilled Romain lettuce. It was fabulous! It was a head of Romain, cut in half and grilled with oil and spices and served rug cucumbers and tomatoes. You could have ordered it with meat or shrimp, but as you know…vegan.

The presentation was great and the taste, wow! It was still crisp in some areas and you actually needed a knife, well I did, anyway. Besides, it came with a steak knife, so whu not!

Email Subscription

What was I thinking?