A New Adventure | Peaches Prattlings

{June 20, 2015} We have a green belt!

EJS is a green belt!

This past week, EJS tested for the next level in her training towards her black belt. I was there for the yellow belt and the orange belt, such a treat.

She has really excelled in her training, she has great focus and sees the prize at the end, but knows it takes a great deal of commitment, training and determination.

Next week she has a meeting with Instructor T to discuss her future and training as it will get harder, as you can imagine.

Just like her parents, I am so proud of my niece for all she has accomplished so far, I cannot wait to see what is coming next!

Go EJS!

{June 16, 2015} Girls night in…it’s theraputic!

Thanks.

Today was a little better than yesterday, I am going to admit it, I’m having a wee bit of a pity party, no you are not invited because it’s a party for one, I love this clip from The Muppet Movie, 2011, “Me Party” much happier than I am feeling, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXH3Gnvxpw0, but I digress.

I think everyone is allowed to have a pity party, if something goes wrong, stew for a while and then get over it, move forward and be done with it, I’m not quite there, and I’m ok with it. I do want you to know that I am not letting on, I’ve only told a few people who I confide in and then it will be over, but I’m allowed!

The thank you is to my friends and family who were concerned and asked me what happened and what can they do to help and those who just kept me company, made me laugh and forget all my problems, at least for a moment.

Tonight was great, a lot of things happened after work, but there were some cool things that happened at work…I learned something new, pretty stoked about that, well, two new things, really cool! And later, I got a really nice email thanking me for my hard work, positive attitude and adaptability, it was so unexpected and it made me feel so good, thank you!

After work, I went for a walk around the property with CH, we talked, caught up, let loose, laughed and got things out that we wanted to talk about without fear of reprisal, it feels great to have friends like that you work with!

Then, HH came down to my room and watched a movie! We had been talking about The Breakfast Club earlier today and then I realized I had a copy and left it for her at the front desk. We decided to watch it together, but then I realized, after she got to my room, that I don’t have a blue ray player! Oh no! So what were we to do? Turns out I had a dvd of Mamma Mia! So we watched and promised not to get offended by each other when we sang along! because who doesn’t love ABBA!!! Don’t answer that!

Today was not bad, but turned into pretty good with a Girls Night In! I haven’t been able to do that with my girl friends in a really long time and I miss them, this was so much fun! Thanks HH, when’s the next one!?

{June 14, 2015} Sleepover, no training wheels, swim test, bbq

Another crazy, busy day! So what else is new?

The sleepover continued, it really was a fantastic experience, I got a little choked up a few times, don’t tell EJS! We snuggled down in the bed and lights out about 10:30pm, shhh…don’t tell mommy and daddy!

About 5:45am, I realized that I couldn’t move her to her side of the bed anymore, she was all spread out! So, I got up and went to the couch to watch movies and wait for her to get up, which happened about 6:30 when she realized she kicked me out of bed, apologized and fell back asleep! About 7:00 she got up and asked when breakfast was and what time.

We watched a Disney movie, go figure, and paused it about 7:30 to get some breakfast. In the middle of eating, she realized we could bring food back to the room!? Yup! Away we went to finish our breakfast in the room, on the sofa, watching a movie! This is the life!

After the movie, back to the pool for some fun and frolicking, what a great swimmer she is! After a while, back to the room, no hot water for showers, the boiler was busted. Ok, so manis and pedis anyone? You know it!

Eventually, we headed to the house to see MGS riding her bike without training wheels!!! They said it didn’t take long and she was off! So excited! Then EJS went to softball tryouts and I went with GES and MGS for swim lessons. I was invited because I haven’t seen her swim lesson in a while, she was great! Got all her stickers!

Back to the house to hang out and as there was so much bbq left over, neighbors were invited over, PSM showed up on his bike, and a backyard bbq we had. A great time was had by al!

Then it was goodnight kisses and drive back to the hotel to my furry babies who were waiting to greet me. Well, it’s more like they looked up when I walked in the door!

What a great weekend, my sister was so thrilled by the party and today was great…one great time after another! You should join us some time!

{June 13, 2015} What a day! It started with a party, ended with a sleepover!

What a day, what a day, what a day!

I told you that GES turned 40 this past week and it has been a week of celebrations continuing today! Up early, off to Costco to pick up cake, burgers and beer, yesterday was hotdogs and buns.

Back at the house, finish setting up, blocking off the street and getting ready for the throngs of people to arrive and arrive they did. There were over 100 yes responses and if we didn’t have 100 people, I’d be surprised! There were neighbors and friends, young and old, there to celebrate my fabulous sister! Even one of her college roommates was there with her family! So great to see NM, her two daughters and her beau.

AS was in the kitchen cooking up a storm, she made a food truck, without the truck! Everyone was happier than happy! There were crab salad sandwiches, sausages, chicken and so much more! Everything cooked to order! Outside on the grill, ACS was cooking up dogs and burgers, not to mention veggie burgers for the non meat-eaters in the crowd.

Everyone brought something to share as always. We had great salads, both veggie and fruit and some a mix of both, there were desserts and a cake to share, fabulous! After things died down, we read some toasts to GES, I read my blog, it seemed to be a hit, dad was awesome as always, LaLa and ACS and some others, a fabulous tribute to a fabulous woman!

After the shindig, I got in the car, picked up EJS from a softball game she was watching and we headed to Lexington to meet PSM for dinner at a Chinese restaurant, then back to the hotel, into the pool, back to the room for showers and now we’re sitting in bed on our very first sleepover! EJS asked me this morning if she could come and spend the night with me at the hotel! My very first auntie-niece sleepover! I have been waiting for this for a very long time!

The cats are so happy to see her, Jymy is curled up next to her! I’m so excited she wanted a sleepover, I can’t wait for the next one!!! I hope breakfast is good, she’s been asking me about it all night!

What a day, I am going to fall asleep with a smile on my face, I hope you do too!

{June 12, 2015} A birthday dinner celebration

The celebration continues.

Tonight, we went to dinner to celebrate GES’ birthday. It was a tapas place with a Spanish theme and so much to share, the nice thing about tapas is small plates for everyone to share and unless you have too many plates, nice proportions.

Dad and LaLa got in just before we left, JS and AS were at the house when I got there and PSM met us at the restaurant. I had LaLa, GES and EJS in my rental car. The first thing out of EJS’ mouth, just like MGS was “It’s so clean!” Yup.

We had a nice chat on the way to the restaurant, great conversation, good food and lots of fun toasts honoring the woman of the hour, GES. Everyone made fun toasts or had great anecdotes about GES and tomorrow there will be more. The celebration never ends!

Happy Birthday GES!

{June 8, 2015} I am SO flattered

I am flattered beyond words!

You know how appreciative I am that you read my blog, some of you every day! Now, some times I get comments and I’ve been told I inspire people to do things.

Last night, I found out I inspired a friend of mine from high school to start her own blog! I am blown away, that is so awesome! I am not going to share her blog because it’s something she is writing privately, but I hope you stumble upon it!

I started reading it and it’s fabulous! it’s funny and sassy and smart and sarcastic, it’s exactly like she is! Kudos to her and I hope she keeps it up and rocks on!

Thank you!

{June 6, 2015} Driving a hybrid

This weekend I am driving a Toyota Prius.

I’ve driven hybrids before but this one was different. Is very quiet, sometimes you don’t realize if the car is on. You start the car by putting your foot on the break and pushing the button, again, so quiet, you don’t know of its on, you have to look at the dash to see if it says “Ready”, then use the shifter to put it in gear.

The dash is cool, you can change the display to show you what the output is, an internal view of what’s going on, there are hand controls on the steering wheel that when you touch them, to control the temperature or radio, show on the dash.

You can control the a/c from 30 feet away, I need to try that! Check out their page, it’s interesting all the things involved with the creating and running of the car.

The car has been fun to drive, roomy, good pickup, quiet, a little dangerous because the pick up is so good and it’s quiet, you get up there in speed without realizing it, dangerous for me, for those of you who you know me!

The gas mileage is terrific, good sound system, good cargo space, passenger space. All around a good car.

It’s great for the environment, and I’m not saying I want a Prius, but if VW came out with a hybrid beetle bug, I’d be the first one in line to test drive it!

http://touch.toyota.com/prius/

{June 2, 2015} Dinner date

Tonight I got to do something I haven’t done in a few weeks.

I had dinner with PM, just the two of us. I have joked in the past that I’ve had work husbands, well, PM is definitely one of them! And the one I seem to have had the longest! We have now been on 4 projects together! We were beginning to wonder if we were a package deal!

Now, for those of you “not in the know”…a work husband or work wife, is a man or woman you work with who you are close with, maybe you travel together, but you work closely and really well together and look out for each other. PM and I clicked when we were in Kentucky, we went to dinner almost every night, always looking for new and fun places to go.

We talk over dinner and throughout the day, checking in to see what we want to eat for dinner, taking turns driving and paying for dinner. It’s great to get out of the office and not talk about work, well not talk about work much, enjoy good food and good company.

Since we started on this project, before tonight, there was only one night we went to dinner just the two of us and I have to tell you, I had a great time! I didn’t realize how much I missed it until we went to dinner.

We went out for a very nice Indian meal and the great thing is that I can trust him to tell me when things are going to be spicy and he’s always concerned that I will be able to find things to eat, it’s a nice feeling. Oh, and he always looks to me because he wants to eat something healthy!

Here’s to dinner with friends and co-workers and work spouses!

And good food!

{May 30, 2015} I have my babies back with me

It’s a sorority again!

I’m on a project in Boston for a few months and I am staying at a hotel that allows pets, so I signed a waiver and I was all set. Today, PSM and I went out for a bit, on the way back to the house we stopped at PetSmart to pick up a few essentials.

Then back at the house I sat down and wasn’t sure if I was going to have to be the cat whisperer, would I have to sit there and wait patiently for them to come and see me before I could get them in the carriers. Not a problem, they just kind of walked up and I grabbed Jymy and held her while PSM held Peanut on the loveseat, bless him, he’s allergic to cats! I got both girls in their carriers, then into the car, finished loading the last few things and headed to the hotel.

Got to the hotel, brought the cats to the room, let them out to explore, then I went to unload the car. I came back to the room, a studio, one room with a tiny divider between the bed and the kitchen, not a huge space and I COULD NOT find Peanut! I mean, where did she go? I checked under and in everything, no cat! I started to panic a wee bit, so I went outside and went down the hall, maybe she got out?

Nope…I get back into the room, there she is, what?! Sneaky little sucker!

They have settled in nicely, they have run around and sat and slept and climbed on me and now I’m sitting in bed with Peanut by my side and I know that when I lay down, Jymy will jump up here with me too, looking forward to it.

I have my girls back with me, I’m excited to be able to cuddle with them and be around them during the week and some weekends, more than I have had for a while, it feels good.

I’m at peace. Sigh…

{May 28, 2015} Did it actually work or was it the power of suggestion?

Do you ever wonder if some things actually work because they do or because of the power of suggestion.

Let’s see…first, the photo is of the first two pieces of jewelry that PSM bought for me. They represent Ohm, which is, by one definition, “The all encompassing vibration of the universe.”

It is also the symbol for Namaste “The divine in me honors the divine in you”, a respectful greeting and a welcoming gesture.

Bottom line, with “Ohm” you may know it from seeing people sitting cross legged with their hands on their knees middle finger tip to thumb, eyes closed, reflective and uttering “ohm”.

Now, on to my post. The idea of Namaste or Ohm is peaceful, reflective, bringing inner peace. The new project I am on has been interesting, to say the least, and like with all jobs, there are points of high tension and frustration and there was a moment yesterday that it was all around and I was afraid I was getting swept up into it.

I took a moment, remembered the necklaces in my bag, because I always travel with them, and decided to put the round one on, for a few reasons. I felt like I wanted a little extra something and then I thought, well, maybe it will have a peaceful and calming effect and guess what…it did!

After I put it on, I took a step back, a deep breath and realized there’s no point getting too excited about whatever it was and slowly, I felt a little calmer and eventually I was laughing about something. So, not wanting to tempt fate, I wore it again today.

So…was it the item, the symbolism or the power of suggestion? Does it matter? Do I care?

My answers…Don’t know. Nope and Nope.

Namaste

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What was I thinking?