A New Adventure | Peaches Prattlings

{May 21, 2016} It’s almost all gone!

Today I emptied half of one of my storage units!

I should have taken a picture before we loaded the truck, oh well. RJS was fabulous when I had moved to Colorado and my house got rented. She worked with the movers to get all the boxes fun of stuff that was used for staging and the furniture into a storage unit.

An armoire, washer and dryer, living room set, dining room set, bedroom set, an entertainment center, bookshelves and a futon. Oh my! This unit was packed to the rafters!

I think I told you KAB and her husband JB bought a house, I asked if she needed anything, I told her what I had and she said yes! So happy I could do this for them!

ST and I met up at the uhaul branch, headed to the storage unit and began to unload the unit and load the truck, with help from his buddy, which we could not have done without! He could look at something and figure out the best way to load the truck.

It took about an hour, stop for gas and supplies; chips, drinks and candy and away we went. We got to KAB’s house and hung out with her and Baby E until her sister, CS, and family, LB and Baby L and their dad, KS. When they got there ST, KS and I unloaded the truck while CS hung with the kids and KAB did that all important job, order to! I was really glad to get to know KS a little better. We got to talk mud runs, he’s doing the tough mudder next year!

It took us maybe 40 minutes to unload the truck, they got a bedroom, living room, dining room, futon, entertainment center, bookshelves, jackpot!

we hung out for a bit for lunch and quality JJ time, then headed out for home, well, ST’s home. It was so great to have some one-on-one time with my granddaughters. I did broach a very important subject, Halloween, we need to start thinking about costumes! Already? Yup!

So, I am happy to report that one storage unit is almost empty and ready to be released, then I’ll be down to two! Go me!

{May 14, 2016} A 6th birthday smash

And what a party it wad!

MGS is going to be SIX on Monday and today was the big party. What she wanted was simple…let’s look at the list.

Bounce house…check
Monkey piñata…check
Friends…check
Presents…check
Snacks…check
Pizza…check
Cake…check
Crafts…check

They arrived about 11:30 and partied hard until about 1:30. Then dad, LaLa, ACS were on a mission…a new bike for MGS’ birthday. Dad got the bike, LaLa got the accessories [helmet, basket and tassels].

Back to the house, play date and another family came for dinner and more cake for dessert. All MGS wanted tonight was take out and bouncing in the bounce house, sounds good to me.

What a day! Happy birthday party day MGS!

{May 12, 2016} An apple for the teacher

First, sincerest apologies for not posting last night, apparently, I fell asleep in the middle of posting and then woke up at 6am, apparently I was tired.

That being said…Today, I had a great “teacher moment”.

Yesterday and today I had a class of Managers learning the new system. We had a great time yesterday, they warmed up, got into the material and the application, relaxed and we had a great time, have to, we were going to be together for two days.

I opened with some bad jokes, well, I say opened, it was really the few minutes before class started, we can’t start early. I teased and engaged with the class as I always do and feel you need to. One of the guys in the class had an apple and I teased him, asking if he brought enough for the class, stuff like that. Everyone was a really good sport.

Well, today, one student brought a box of little strudels and lollipops for us to give out later in the day, she knew we’d need a pick me up later in the day.I ended up giving them out for right answers and people were clamoring to get them! So cool!

Another student brought pastries from a Mexican bakery, this was great! And finally, the student I teased about the apple…brought two apples for the teachers! How cool is that! I really was touched. I have it sitting on the nightstand. Am I going to eat it? You bet your sweet bippie!

I can’t wait to see what next week brings!

{May 11, 2016} Taught my first class…killed it!

I think we talked about practicing with the cats over the weekend to teach a class.

Well, today was my first class and I…killed it. You knew that was coming! The day didn’t start as well as I had hoped though.

I got a taxi and gave him the address…what I forgot to give him was the city. He took me to the address in Chicago, we both thought it wasn’t quite right. An abandoned lot and building, yeah, no. I asked if this was Melrose Park and, guess what…nope, that’s in the suburbs, oh brother! Drive on…another 3o minutes. Let’s just say I was supposed be there about 8am, got there about 8:40am. I did make it!

We headed out and I was SO very lucky that LS was there early and was able to set the classroom up with everything we needed. She was also my co-trainer, she’s written most of the materials, so she’s pretty knowledgeable, you might say.

We were set and at 9am, we started. We stayed on track, kept everyone engaged, you know my teaching style and finished on time! There were spots where we were behind, once 8 minutes, another time 20 minutes, but made up for it here and there. There is A LOT of material to get through in six hours, we are there from 9 to 4:30, but you have two 15 minute breaks and one hour for lunch.

We felt great when we were done and there were some great questions asked during training. We had some folks in the class who could answer questions, which was incredibly helpful.

But…in the end, it was a great experience. I got through my first class, tomorrow and Thursday are the next class and then next week I do it all again and then the next week and the next. But, I’ve got my first class under my belt and I’m excited about that.

Can’t wait for tomorrow!

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{May 7, 2016} I can’t talk anymore!

I’m talked out! Is that even possible?

You’ve met me, what do you think? Nah…

So…I believe I’ve told you, I’m on a new project in Chicago, this Wednesday will be two weeks on the project. The other trainers went through a full seven weeks of T3 or Train The Trainer. T3 is the session that a trainer will participate in to learn the new application, hence, train the trainer.

I participated in T3 for a week and a half. Last Monday I was given a lesson to teach and on Tuesday I did a “Teach Back”, where I teach the lesson to the other trainers. It’s an opportunity to teach in front of a class and for the other trainers to see your teaching style and for the Training Leads and Managers to watch and see your confidence and knowledge level.

I got up there, had a great time and let’s just say, I killed it! I think my feet didn’t touch the ground for a while, do you remember that runners high I told you about? I got great feedback from the other trainers and the Training Lead and Manager. Felt great. I need that feedback, both positive and areas that could use improvement.

Apparently I did well because on Friday one of the other trainers quit and I got an email yesterday when I was boarding my flight, asking me if I was up for taking over those classes next week! Oh my! Learn two classes the weekend and teach on Tuesday?!

I spent the flights yesterday going over the materials and today, teaching the first class to the cats all day. [I’ll do more tomorrow and Monday eventing.] Lots of talking and I’m done! Don’t even want to talk to the cats!

Look out Chicago, in ready to take on the world! Or I will be Tuesday! But until then…mmmmmm

{May 6, 2016} I need a tissue!

Have I mentioned how much I love my family?

Especially the wee tots who call me Auntie and JJ. I get the most wonderful cards and pictures at different times.

Do you remember the picture from LB and Baby L, their footprints making flowers last easter? My birthday cards from EJS and MGS for my birthday and Mother’s Day. My pictures made with Miss A’s hands. The list goes on and I hope it never stops!

Well, today, I got home from my week in Chicago and found something wonderful in my mailbox…my Mother’s Day gift from Baby A and his new baby sister, ELB.

Do I love it? What do you think? Kleenex please! I’m turning into my mother! Gladly!!!

{May 5, 2016} A special meal just for Lil Ole me?

You bet your sweet bippie!

I checked into the Hilton at the airport using the digital key for the first time, too cool! Then, when room service was a busy went down to the bar and dug in.

I asked about vegan options and was batting zero when the chef cane out. What would I like? Well, something with no meat or dairy, how about the eggplant?

“We are debuting a new menu, I can make you something from it…a vegan, gluten-free pizza”. What? Yes, please!

I started with minestrone, it was ok, then the pizza came out. It was a small personal pizza with eggplant, sauce and vegan cheese, fabulous! It was the vegan cheese I am not crazy about, but I had a pizza and it read made just for me!

The chef came out and asked how I liked it, I said it was great, that this wasn’t my favorite cheese, but I really enjoyed it! So thankful and happy! Yum!

I couldn’t finish it all, guess what’s for breakfast!

{May 4, 2016} Happy Hour and Dinner

It wad a good day, ended very nicely.

After a good day of training, I joined the team for happy hour at a bar near the office. It was great, I met more people, got to know others better and blend in even more.

Our numbers started to dwindle and eventually, there were just a few of us left. MS, the implementation lead and very smart man who brought me on to the project, and I left to get some dinner.

We went to a great place called La Scarola,
http://www.lascarola.com/. It is an Italian restaurant, two rooms, but small almost hole on the wall feeling. The place was packed and the got us at one of the last tables in the corner in front of the window.

It was a little get to know each other, what are my goals, where to you see yourself, that sort of thing. Then it was families, travel, life outside of work, quite enjoyable. It’s nice when you have the opportunity to get to know someone one on one, away from everything else, better working relationship.

We had grilled calamari, I ate some, it was really good, but I think that might be it for me for calamari. It was Italian and I went for it, eggplant parmigiano, fabulous mistake! So good, but so bad. I couldn’t finish any of it, the portions were huge! Looking for someone who might be hungry today!

By the time we finished it was about ten pm, time to catch a cab and head back to our respective domiciles.

I put on my jammies and started talking to you and let’s just say I was so tired I dozed off a few times trying to finish!

But I did it and now…zzzzzzz

PS…Maybe the fourth be with you!

{May 4, 2016} Ask and ye shall receive. I did and I did!

Today I was talking to someone and I said that I wanted to go to a White Sox game while I was here in Chicago.

I don’t know if you remember me telling you about going to a Cubs game two years ago with KLS. I was telling someone about going to sporting events in the city I am working in. I was talking to a coworker as another walked by and asked if I would like to go to White Sox game tonight. Suweet!

So…I’m going to a Sox game, awesome! Guess who they’re playing…the Boston Red Sox! Omg! Guess who won!

Ask and ye shall receive. I did!

{April 30, 2016} A crazy, wonderful at home day.

Back to life on the road…ahhh…

When you’re a road warrior, as it were, meaning that you are on the road each week, for some it’s one or a few days a week, for me, as you know, it’s 100%, Monday thru Thursday or Friday and depending on the training or go-live schedule, it could be weeks in a row.

That being said, when you’re on the road that much, your home time is precious, you want to get things done and you seem to jam a lot of stuff in a short amount of time, you get good at it.

Today, I thought…I was at least going to get to sleep in, after the first week on the project, I could have used it. Well, what I thought and the fur beasts thought was different. It was barely 6am…really? Sigh

I got up and protested by not getting out of bed until at least 7:30/8am, so there, take that! I got up, gathered all items for laundry, I didn’t think it was going to be that much, but someone..not saying who, Jymy or Peanut…puked on my blankets, ick.

Laundry collected, check. I bought this giant rolling suitcase when I was in Colorado to bring stuff back and let me tell you, keeping it! It’s perfect to get my laundry, including blankets to the laundromat. Yessireeebob!

First order of business…food. I have no eggs in the house, so to the local diner I go,[ after a stop at the drug store to pick up a prescription. [IF I didn’t have insurance it would have been over $1000! Omg!]. Then breakfast. While eating, got some work done, gotta fit it in somewhere!

After breakfast head back to the apartment to pick up the laundry and head to the washers. The place was packed! I missed out on the giant washers, so two medium washers. One giant dryer and one medium. Two hours later I was done, the comforter took forever!

I took a picture of a set of socks GES got me for Chanukah. One of the women on the team had a shirt on that almost matched. Then we showed off our socks, it was goofy, I know! So, I sent the picture to her!

What did you think this post a about with a picture of socks

Back home, drop off laundry, grab grocery bags, head to the store. Eggs: check, litter: check, other stuff I don’t really need: check!

Back to the house, clean, clean, clean: litter box, bathroom, vacuum, bedroom. Clean…ahhh… somewhere in there I made egg salad and veggies chicken salad, fabulous!

All of a sudden it was 7pm and time to meet GES, ACS and some other friends to break Passover. What does that mean? Bread!!! Pasta! Bread!!! It was a lot of fun, always it, friends out, grownup conversation and silliness.

Back to the apartment, thinking about putting the laundry away and what I might need to pack for the week. Washing and folding is easy..putting away is hard! [Same thing for the dishwasher!]

Now, I am writing you and shortly, I will settle in, turn off the lights, watch Netflix until I fade out completely! Tomorrow is another day, heading back out to the client site. Who wants to come with me?

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