A New Adventure | Peaches Prattlings

{July 31, 2015} Would you believe I missed it by this much?

I really need to stop underestimating the Boston traffic!

I’ve told you how I just made it by the skin of my teeth a few times recently, well, this time did not work, pook. I was trying to make it to Amtrak and catch a train that was leaving at 3:24pm. I left the hotel at 2:15, I was only going about 17 miles. I was deceiving myself apparently.

My GPS also took me off the highway to help avoid some traffic, but get this, I ended up back on that very highway, huh? I got to the train station just in time…to miss it! I pulled in and parked and ran, let me tell you, I do races, but I’m not a runner and I ran. Just as I was running up the stairs to go up and over, I watched the train pull away…nooooooo!

Pook.

I went to the lobby to rebook my ticket and while I was talking to the agent, the next train left, what? Ok, so I am now booked on the 4:29 and let me tell you, I was out on the platform at 4:20, I was not missing it. And I didn’t! Yeah!

Blech is gone and I’m ready for a great weekend!

{July 28, 2015} In person!

I was going to title the post “Fantasy vs. Reality”, but that would be weird and wrong.

Tonight, I had a great double date of sorts…PM and his wife, PSM and I. I got to meet PM’s wife, AM! When he asked if I was available for dinner tonight and then told me AM would be joining us, I was stoked! I immediately texted PSM to see if he was available! He wasn’t at first, but the stars seemed to align and he was available.

So…my title is “Office Spouse meets Real Spouse”. It was really cool! As you know, PM and I have worked together on four projects, almost two years and you get to know someone really well when you travel together and go to dinner together. I’ve told you he’s my work spouse. Well, during dinners, we talk about family and life and I learn all about his wife and children, I’ve seen photos, but we’ve never gotten to meet or talk and tonight we were able to!

It was great, she is charming and funny and caring and crazy about her hubby, as she should be. As soon as we saw each other, I asked “Are you a hugger?” And she was! We talked about family, travel, work and a few times, when PM and I talked about work, PSM and AM paired off and talked to each other about other things, then we came back to the conversation.

We left each other hoping to see each other again, maybe even get a chance to set up a play date with their kids and my nieces. The best part is putting a face with a name.

A great evening and a new friend!

I just thought this was funny!

{July 27, 2015} I’m just not mommy

I totally get that and I’m ok with it.

This morning, GES and ACS got up very early to take EJS to sleep away camp! Second summer and this year, for three weeks! GES asked if I could spend the night and get MGS on the bus in the morning. Happy to!

I got up, took a shower and then went to wake MGS and in less than a minute it started. “Momma, momma, I want momma, mommy” and that went on for a good fifteen to twenty minute. I’m fine, promise! I’ve been through this once or twice!

I even got mommy on the phone, to no avail. So it was wait it out and eventually she’ll be ready. Yup, that happened about 8am when the bus left, but…all was not lost! GES texted the counselor to let her know we would take the next bus.

We got dressed, sun block, no bug spray, t-shirt on, ponytail installed, bag packed, lunch packed, snack packed, walked out the door and headed to the bus stop. We got there with a few minutes to spare, on the wrong side, duh on me! The counselor called MGS’ name, ran across the street to get her and away she went.

How did things go at pick up? All good, just tired!

{July 23, 2015} ;lgtrf3 mn

This post was brought to you by Jymy. Thank you Jymy.

So…when you’re working and live with a cat or cats, do they like to help you work? Maybe they lay all over your papers, they are trying to keep them straight, in a pile, so they don’t fly away!

Maybe you’re working on something and your cat walks across the keyboard, we all know it’s so they can get from point A to point B, but they think they’re helping you type up your dissertation, create that power point or spreadsheet.

I sit in bed at night writing to you or sometimes getting some work done and undoubtedly Jymy walks right across the keyboard, sometimes she jumps over the laptop, but more often than not, like tonight, as the title shows, the keyboard.

I hope you enjoyed it!

The picture even looks like Jymy as a kitten!

{July 20, 2015} A “Working Girl” moment

I never thought it would happen, but I had a “Working Girl” moment!

I got back to my hotel after being away for a few days away and I took a chance to leave them without anyone watching them or checking on their food and litter. A big chance.

The food was fine, most of it was still there, and the litter box, well…it was full, let’s leave it at that. Well, I needed to mop the floor and I didn’t want to do it in the dress I wore to work today, so I took off the dress and was just wearing my under things and shoes, wedges.

It wasn’t that exciting, but it cracked me up.

Yup, that’s about it.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096463/?ref_=nv_sr_1

{July 10, 2015} Where did the day go?

It’s Friday and I went into the office.

That was my first mistake, I say that because I only intended to go into the office until about 12:30, guess when I left the office…5:30, yes I am serious.

I know, you might be thinking, ok, so what’s the big deal, you left work at 5:30, that’s when most people leave the office. Yes, in a normal office setting, when you live near the office or at least in the same city or close to it, you work 8-5 or 9-5 most week days. As a consultant, working at the client site, not so much.

We arrive by noon on Mondays and most people fly out on Thursday afternoon, flights are at 4, leave the office no later than 2. Since I have been on this project in Massachusetts, I have not been traveling as much because my sister and family are here and so is PSM, it’s been great but…as I am not traveling very much, sometimes I go into the office instead of working from the hotel.

As I had a bunch of hours this week already, the plan was to go in for a few hours, answer emails, get some work done and then fly the coop. Well…let’s just say, that was a plan that did not happen! I started with emails, then I moved on to updates, then I moved on to spreadsheets and then…and then…and then! But wait…there’s more!!

So as one thing led to another and another, I stayed. I had a conference call from 2-3pm, I was going to leave right after, then I had dropped the ball on something so I said I would have it within the hour [this was at 2:53pm] and at 3:48 pm, I was done! Wahoo! Thanks to HH for being my sounding board!

I got it done, submitted, then someone else needed me, then this, then that. I had disappeared into room with some folks this afternoon and when I got back to where I was working, I was told someone wanted to talk to me, that took another 20 minutes or so!

I was finally able to complete my time and expenses, which is due tomorrow evening, but I wanted to get it done so I could turn my work laptop off and not think about it until Monday morning, sounds like a plan, right?

So…my list of errands got pushed back, but on the bright side…I was able to take care of a crap-ton of stuff at work, which, in the end was a very good thing. But it killed my afternoon of trying to get other things taken care of.

Oh well, such is life.

{July 8, 2015} The weekend in Nova Scotia…Happy Birthday PSM!

Happy Birthday PSM!

“PSM”, “Yes JJ?” “Your birthday is coming up, what would you like?” “I don’t know” “Well, think of something! A trip?” “Hmmm..I’ve always wanted to go to Nova Scotia” “Nova Scotia it is!”

Get online and find Nova Star, the ferry that goes from Portland, ME and docks in Yarmouth, NS, http://www.novascotia.com/. This was really like a mini cruise, let me tell you about it. As you know, we made it just in time, I was getting us there, PSM was getting on that boat!

We had an exterior cabin with a porthole, it had 2 twin beds, bunk beds above and a bathroom with a shower, great cabin. There was a formal dining room, a buffet, a few cafes and bars. They showed movies, had live entertainment and a casino, what more could you ask for!

Turns out, I’m not much for cruises, I found that out when I cruised years ago, thought this might be different, but no…I now am the proud owner of another pair of seasick bands and the Canadian version of Bonine, the aquatic version of Dramamine.

I had my stash of saltines and ginger ale, then sacked out and slept until we pulled into port. PSM, on the other hand, no problem with the boat had a good time in the casino and won a bit of money! Go PSM! Prior to crashing, we experienced a beautiful sunset!

There were families, friends, a tour bus and a bunch of bikers, fun for all!

We docked at 7am, got off the boat, went through customs and welcome to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia!

First a trip to the visitor information location, oh my they were helpful! Then breakfast at The Shanty Café

Dropped the top, on a very well traveled car and headed up The 101 highway towards the Bay of Fundy. First stop, Light of the Bay lighthouse, built in 1868. What a view!

Back in the car, another fabulous lighthouse for a nice stop and a lie down in the sun to smell the sea…ahhh…

We drove to The Bay of Fundy, Hall’s Harbor, and found a fabulous B&B, The Deft House, http://www.delfthaus.com/, we were in The Rose Room, the suite went on and on and on! The fireplace was controlled by wall switch, a lot of fun! The couple who own and run the B&B were charming and kooky, perfect! There were other guests there and we enjoyed meeting and talking with them at breakfast, a three course experience! Cereal, home made fruit crepes and omelets, oh my!

Up to Hall’s Harbour, http://www.hallsharbour.org/, to see the tide go out. This is one area of the Bay of Fundy, recommended to see the tide changes. Some of the tide swells measure up to 50 feet! We weren’t in an area to see the swells, but we did get to see where the tide went out!

See the poor boats! They’re grounded! See PSM, he’s walking the ocean floor!

The wishing well lighthouse gives you a good description of Hall’s Harbour and The Bay of Fundy.

We went up to the Look Off to get a great view of the tide going out and the amazing landscape of the Bay of Fundy, isn’t it amazing!

How about this! My beetle saw her cousin…a motorcycle with a VW back end! A VW Beetle engine!!! Guess who wants it! Me! Me! Me!

We went back to Hall’s Harbour to watch the sunset. It was amazing, apparently it’s a local favorite and people come in from all over to watch the sunset almost every night! Spectacular!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay_of_Fundy

[My phone died the next day, no more photos, boo]

That was just Friday! Can you believe it!

Saturday, we drove up the other coast to Halifax, what a beautiful city, right on the water, trendy and picturesque. Such a change from other parts of Nova Scotia, not in any negative way, more modern, a very different feel to the lifestyle. The Bay of Fundy is more fishing village and Halifax is a modern city.

We spent a few hours in Halifax, then drove back to Yarmouth for a great dinner at Rudders, http://www.ruddersbrewpub.com/, a fun restaurant and brew pub, one of the few spots open and happening in Yarmouth. We had steamers, lobster and fish and chips, yes I tried everything!

Sunday morning, we boarded the Nova Star and sailed back to Portland, Maine. Let’s just say, I don’t remember much as I spent most of it asleep and I’m ok with that! Back in the states and on dry land.

What a weekend! A great birthday! Where are we going next? I’ll keep ya posted!

Happy birthday PSM!

{July 5, 2015} Go USA!

The women win the World Cup! The women win the World Cup!

The women’s US Soccer team beat Japan 5-2 today to make them the winners of the Women’s World Cup!

I think that about covers it! Go Team USA!

Is that a great way to end the July 4th weekend, celebrating the independence of the United States with a win in the World Cup? I say yes!

http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2015/07/05/video-uswnt-wins-third-womens-world-cup-beats-japan-carli-lloyd-hat-trick/

Even Google got into the game!

{July 4, 2015} Happy 4th!

It’s July 4th everyone!

Today, we celebrate our independence, the day of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Day_(United_States)

People celebrate in so many different ways, some celebrate with picnics, travel, friends, family. In Atlanta, there is the running of the Peachtree Road Race, the 10k I have told you about for six years in a row, volunteering for five years with and participating in for six years with CKM, very surreal that we weren’t doing it together, but sent her good vibes all day!

There are so many great traditions I shared in, growing up in NYC, summers on Long Island, Atlanta, Boston, even just because.

The truly surreal thing is today, we saw fireworks over the water, but very far away and by chance, maybe by some ex-pats, but they don’t celebrate the Day of Independence for the United States in other countries and that’s where we are this weekend, out of the country! So quite a few people wished us a happy July 4th, it wasn’t quite the same, but…I did eat a veggie hot dog, so that helped!

However you celebrate, I hope it was a happy, safe and healthy celebration. Enjoy some fireworks! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAzT6VnUBw8

One of my favorite speeches from a movie is Bill Pullman in Independence Day. Enjoy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoLywiaM6PA

{July 2, 2015} I got us here, by gosh by golly! To

Ok, so, have I told you about my led foot? Well, today I used it and we got here!

I’m not going to tell you where we were going, I’ll give you the full rundown on Sunday, but what I will tell you is that I pushed the speed limit where I could! And paid off, by gosh, by golly! I know, strong words!

I truly underestimated the Boston traffic on a holiday weekend! I went to GES’ house to pick up Annie, the beetle bug, back to the hotel to pick up PSM, a trip which should have taken 40 minutes…at the most…took just at TWO hours!

We booked it out of there and got on the road, we had to be at our destination by 6:45at the latest, or so the guy said when we called!

Let’s just say I channeled my mom, EMS, a touch… I didn’t break any sound barriers, but…

Did we make it by 6:43? You bet your sweet bippy we did! This is my birthday present for my beau, we were not missing it!

More to come!

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