A New Adventure | Peaches Prattlings

{December 6, 2014} I fell on my personality…

That’s something I heard someone once say when they fell on their bum on a muddy hill during a mud run and I fell in love with the phrase!

I am going to tell you about my weekend tomorrow, since I did a bunch of awesome stuff and there were other things I talked about and you know I love telling you a really long story about my weekend all at once. So there…

Today I went for my first ski run of the season and it was FANTASTIC!!! But that is not what I want to talk about. It was fantastic until I fell the last time. I fell a few times, moguls are not my friends and that’s alright, I didn’t even care for them when I skied regularly and I was actually pretty good, all before I moved to Georgia, not much skiing there…

So, this last run, Gold Rush, I was heading down and it was a bit slippery and a little steep. Let’s just say there were a bunch of other people having the problem…one woman slid by on her snowboard and said “I know how you feel”. Let me tell you why she said this…I hit a few moguls and then fell. I got up, headed down, slid and fell. After four falls, I slid without one of my skis and then when I tried to get up, slid some more, I finally sat down and grabbed my one ski, which was under my bum, I decided I was not getting up. I pulled out my phone, opened the Epic Mix app, [My ski pass is the Epic Local] and called Non-Emergency Ski Patrol. It did not help that I was not sure what run I was on…but I tried to tell them, I was close, believe me, I will be paying attention to the runs I am on tomorrow and going forward!

It was very nice that so many people stopped to see if I was alright, one guy even slid me my lone ski. There was a kid who asked if I was alright as he swooshed by me! As I was sitting there waiting for Ski Patrol, the view was beautiful, the sun was starting to set, but it was still very light out. A very nice woman, Lacey, a coach for one of the local ski teams, stopped to help me.

She offered to help me and help me she did! She stood in front of me so I could stand, helped me get my skies on, then gave me advice on getting down the hill. I had told her that I thought it would be my last run of the day and she said you never say it’s your last run, you’ll jinx it! Guess what…she was right! So, per Lacey, I will now say, “I’m going to do two more runs, but not run the last one” whatever it takes, right?

I got to the bottom and I was done, I headed to the car and to the hotel. What an adventure!

{December 5, 2014} LaLa has a new love!

I wanted to wait a day or two before I shared the news.

LaLa or LD, has a new grandson to love on. I had wanted to wait to give them time to let people know, I probably could have told you seconds after the happy event, they may have been posting right before, during and after! No, I’m kidding.

LaLa has two sons, G and his wife Wendy have two girls, B&A, thirteen and nine (I hope I got that right) and three years ago, her other son, M, and his girlfriend, T, had her first grandson, B. A year later, I was at their wedding and their son was running around having a great time and charming everyone.

Wednesday, her daughter-in-law went in for her scheduled c-section and little man B became a big brother to a beautiful baby brother.

Much Mazel to the entire family and LaLa for a new baby to love on!

{November 28, 2014} Today, I am thankful for…

So very many things!

Today is the American celebrated holiday of Thanksgiving. It is the day we give thanks, it doesn’t matter to anyone else what you are thankful for, they are your thoughts and if you want to share them, go for it, if you want to keep them to yourself, go for it!

Today was a simple day, got up way too early, par for the course, but had a good time playing with the girls, making egg sandwiches, hanging with my brother-in-law, dad and my sister, nice and easy. At some point ACS and dad took the girls to the local high school football game, for the longest running rivalry football game, between Needham and Wellsley High School, the Thanksgiving game has been played on Thanksgiving day since 1882! How’s that for tradition! http://needhamhistory.org/features/articles/needham-wellesley/

While they were gone, GES and I tried to watch a terribel movie, Adult Store and when that didn’t work, we put in “And So it Goes” but didn’t get far because everyone came home and it was more time in front of the fire, holiday movies on The Hallmark Channel, doesn’t this all sound so idyllic?

Then it was time for me to make my corn souffle while everyone took showers to get ready to go to T&S S’ house, we piled in two cars and off we went. We got there, headed in and joined the commotion! There were 4 families there, each with two kids, then three granddads, two grandmas and one extra auntie, me! When I got there, I found out that Little E went home last weekend and told his mommy that he wanted Auntie J to come and babysit! I am SO ready for that! I am spoiled!

We all worked together to get the finishing touches done on the food, heating up things, setting things on the table and then it was time to sit down to eat. Now, as most families do, you go around the table to talk about what you are thankful for and our fabulous hostess started. There are a lot of things that this group is especially thankful for and it was a very touching and tearful time, it has been a tough year and we are so thankful to have made it through and come out of it and we can see 2015 will be here soon and it will be the start of a wonderful new year.

After TS, then it was my turn, then my dad’s and so on down the line. There were some funny things said, some insightful, poignant, tearful and of course, whenever the kids have a turn, it’s always adorable. Some kids are thankful for their friends, their family, their grandparents, their food and we all laugh and smile when they say it, they are being honest. Last, but not least was our very own MGS and she became a bit shy, so together we said for her…”Let’s eat!”

Hours to prep and cook, minutes to devour! The funny thing is the one question I am asked the most at this time of year “But Auntie J, what are you going to eat? Well, if you think about it, usually, all but the turkey and stuffing are vegetarian! We had greenbean cassarole [made with cream of mushroom soup], brussel sprouts with carrots, green beans, there was vegetarian stuffing, carrot souffle, mashed potatoes, home made applesauce, rolls and cranberries, now you tell me…out of all that, what couldn’t I eat?

After dinner, we all helped to clean up, then started to prep the desserts. We had apple crumble, pumpkin pie, fresh fruit, pumpkin cheesecake, chocolate and heathbar cookies, coffee cake, peacan pie and ice cream. I think we were set!

After cleaning up we were treated to a show by all the kids, SO cute and then it was time to go, the kids were getting tired and wound up and the grownups were in food coma mode! Time to pack up, suit up and head home. We got outside and it was flurrying, so pretty and I loved watching MGS trying to catch snow flakes on her tongue!

Home for pjs, relaxing and talking to you!

I know I have said this before, but I am thankful to you, my friends, family and follwers for taking the time to read my posts, comment, like and enjoy my posts. I am thankful to have an audience who likes what I have to say and I will forever be greatful! I hope you all had a fabulous thanksgiving and got to spend the day with friends and family.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving

{November 21, 2014} I did it!

I am in the “parent club” again.

You know when you do something and your kid gets embarrassed? Yelling “I love you” at them from across the way at school, kissing them goodbye, existing?

Well, tonight it happened to Me. I picked up EJS from school, everything seemed fine, we drove home and… nothing.

After we get home, I was putting some things away and I heard GES and EJS talking about something that was bothering her, she didn’t want to say anything. I heard GES say if something is bothering you, it won’t get better if you don’t say something.

I walked into the room and looked at GES and pointed to myself, asking if it was me and she nodded. So I looked at EJS and asked what was wrong, she wouldn’t say and walked into the kitchen, I followed. I asked if I did something that embarrassed her and she nodded yes.

Please tell me what it is so I won’t do it anymore, but if you don’t tell me I will keep doing it. She finally told me and we agreed on what I could and could not do in this situation. Done deal.

I’m in the embarrassing parent’s club again! Wahoo, I have arrived!

{November 17, 2014} Volunteering and a Half Marathon!

What a weekend! After I tell you about it, you will understand why I was so tired last night!

I told you about my fabulous lunch on Saturday, then when I got back to the hotel, I changed into something a little warmer and better footwear, then headed back out to the SLS parking lot to volunteer for the Rock-n-Roll 5k.

We had to be there at 4:15pm, the race started at 6pm. Have you ever wondered how the medals at races got set up? The water, bananas, etc? Yup, volunteers. We started by taking the medals out of the individual plastic baggies, bunched them by 25 and then got our assignments for the run.
Another volunteer and I were slotted to give the first, second and third place men’s and women’s awards out aren’t they cool?

I was going to participate in the 5k, but I missed the cut off. There was a special medal, of course, if you did both races. And of course, a different shirt for each race. (Have you met me?)

About six we were told to get ready because in about ten minutes or so, he first runner would be coming through. Ten? Yup, ten to twelve minutes is about right for a 5k, if you are one of those really fast runners! Here they come!

It was a fun experience, there were about 5k for the 5k (tee her hee). After we gave out the awards, we started giving out waters. Technically people were supposed to keep going and get water a little farther up, with their medals, but apparently that wasn’t good enough, so we started giving out water. Most people were nice, some were not, it takes all kinds. Most people said thank you and one person said “Thank you for volunteering”, like I do, it makes you feel good!

The only part I didn’t care for was standing around, I don’t do well standing still and my feet don’t like it, but other than that, it was fun and exciting and rewarding. I went back to the hotel and thought I would get some sleep, ha ha.

The next morning, after about six hours of sleep, I went to have brunch with SF, a friend who grew up with my mom, she is CFL’s mom, who I had dinner with Friday night. It was SF, CFL, her husband and their two kids, we had a great time and a good breakfast.

After breakfast, back to the house for a minute, then SF drove me out to see Red Rocks, I had never been before, it was amazing and fascinating and bizarre, so cool! Then we drove the park, no hiking for me yesterday, I had a race later, headed back to the house for a bit, then SF drove me to the hotel, or tried to.

I had wanted to go to the hotel about 4 so I could rest, maybe take a nap. We got near the hotel and all the streets were blocked off, so she dropped me about half a mile from the hotel and I walked. I get to the hotel to check some stuff and sit down and I realize that the run started at 4:30! What?

My Swiss cheese brain, in typical JJ fashion, thought the run started at 6, like the 5k, not so! So I changed as quickly as I could and ran out the door! I wasn’t terribly worried, my corral was 46! I knew I would have some time. I ran to the monorail, talked to a few people who were staring at me then ran the almost one mile from the monorail to the start and they were only up to corral 36! Phew!

About 5:15 we started and we were off! We ran down the strip past McCarren Airport, the executive side, private planes and helicopters and all to just past the famous “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign! Then back down the strip, very surreal to be running down the strip, let alone just walking down the strip! No cars!

We continued all the way down the strip and could see runners on the other side finishing. We went past all the hotels, down towards my hotel, which I can tell you is about six miles from the airport! Past the nicer hotels, down towards the 39.99 per night, or could be per month, hotels, past all the wedding chapels, I think I saw Elvis!

I ran the first 3.5-4 miles and then I was kind of done running, I haven’t trained and I was fighting a cold, I’m ok with it though. We continued past the Pawn Stars shop, people stopped to take pictures, I did too, GES and ACS like it, so snap, snap. Down to old Las Vegas, parts of it were weird, we went through what we thought was a residential area, but it was a bunch of law firms, The Freemont Street Experience and then back onto the strip.

I have tricks to tell myself where I am and to motivate me to keep going. 3.1 miles, I just did a 5k, 4.5 miles, 1/3 done, stuff like that. When I got to mile 8, I got a bit of a second wind, then ten miles, “only three to go, you got this”.

Let me tell you…the last two miles were hard as hell! Then it was down to one mile, oh my gawd, I can do this, just 1.10 and let me tell you, all those shirts are right, I have always said it, that last .10 is brutal! I can do it, I can do it!

I finally crossed the finish line! I got my medal and foil blanket! I accomplished my two goals…FINISH AND MAKE SURE THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE BEHIND ME. I did it!

My final time was 3:40:24. I was hoping to beat my first half marathon time, 3:21:21, but I am thrilled with what I accomplished! I finished a half marathon people! 13.1 miles! ‘That’s because I’m only half crazy!’

I got my banana, water, protein bar, foil blanket and headed to the monorail. The only bad part was it was at least a quarter or more miles to get out of the race area, then it was about half a mile to the monorail, let’s just say my body didn’t like me last night.

I can officially attest, it does get cold in Las Vegas! It was about 70 most of the weekend, then yesterday, got down to about 40, maybe less, but it was windy. I wore the new shirt and Capri pants with the sleeves and my black running shirt over it, I also had gloves and I’m glad I did! At one point, I took the black shirt off and a few times, the gloves, but I was glad to have them!

After the monorail, I got to the hotel, stood under a hot shower for about 20 minutes, I was freezing! Then I packed, I did not want to have to do it in the morning. It was a painful experience. Then I got into bed, wrote to you and passed out!

I woke up at 6:30am, for good, with the sun shining in my face, too early! I sat in a cold bath, which I should have sat in an ice bath last night when I got to the hotel, helps with the inflammation, and then a nice hot shower, got dressed and headed to SLS, albeit slowly, for breakfast.

I ended up at The Griddle, ordered some eggs, potatoes and toast and a pancake. I sometimes like one pancake, I did not expect what I got! It was the size of a small pizza! Can you believe it?

I took three bites and the rest, along with the eggs and potatoes went into a container, hopefully my taxi driver found someone to give it to!

I finished packing, then headed to the airport, where my flight was delayed, oh joy. I did get to talk to a lot of other people who participated and felt about as sore as I did, at least I’m not alone!

The flight finally leaves and the guy who sat next to me was from Staten Island! What are the odds? I’ve sat next to people from New York City before, but never where I grew up! He’s done quite a few runs, including the New York City marathon a few weeks ago!

He travels for work and sometimes races, like this one and like I do, so I told him about a few races I’m doing and I sent him the link for a few and told him if he’s ever in one of my cities for a race, ha ha, to let me know! Small world!

Now, I am at GES’ house, I am exhausted, my body hates me and I am going to go downstairs and get some sleep! You have to be as tired as I am after this post!

Goodnight!

{November 16, 2014} I’m tired!

Apologies friends, I had a very long day and I am beyond tired and going to bed.

I did Red Rocks and a half marathon, so I am a wee bit knackered. I promise to tell you all about it tomorrow!

Will somebody come and rub my feet please?

Goodnight!

{November 15, 2014} Rock-N-Roll Race Pick Up

Today I picked up my race packet for the Rock-n-Roll 1/2 Marathon!

After working until 2pm, I headed out to the convention center to pick up my race packet. My number is somewhere around 46000! That’s a lot of participants! I had a nice chat with the two guys I got my packet from, about my fabulous motoactiv watch! Anyone who knows me knows I love to talk about it! [If I had a dollar for every person I talk to about it…I’d be a “dollaraire”!]

After I picked up my packet, I went into the expo to walk around and check out all the vendors. Not the same without CKM, one of our favorite things to do together at the Peachtree Roadrace Expo. I tasted some treats, drank some flavored water, filled out contest stuff and even filled out a sign, so true, right?

At the expo I usually buy a new outfil, soemthing new to run in. Do you remember the running dress I bought? I got SO much use out of it! I was going to wear it on Sunday, but then I got this from Burn Ink! It is so cute! It’s got daisies all over it, there is a running skirt, capri pants, shirt and sleeves. The crazy thing was the pants, I tried on my size and they were too baggy, I actually had to go down 2 sizes! Very uplifting! [And it came in a drop bag. I did not buy that bag!] I also got some KT tape for my legs and two shirts for some friends “I can’t tonight honey, I have a long run in the morning”!

The last thing I did was to go and get my legs and feet taped, fingers crossed my knees hold up and my bunions don’t rebel! The only bad part…to keep the tape on my feet, I have to sleep with socks on…for two nights! NOOOOO!

I’m looking forward to running the strip at night! I’ll be sure to take lots of pictures!

{November 9, 2014} My weekend in Atlanta

I spent the weekend in Atlanta and now I want to tell you about it. Sit back, this might take a bit…

I already told you about my flight to Atlanta on Thursday, fun, but ended wonderfully. Friday I got up, had breakfast and got to work, had a few calls, then lunch, more work and then I went to the rental property management company office to pick up the key to my house. I then drove to the house only to be thwarted by two medium sized dogs barking at the door, so I messaged the property manager and told her that I would schedule a set time when I come back so they can put the dogs in the garage, oh well. I did get to talk to a neighbor for a bit, she told me the tenants are very nice and they are fitting in well in the neighborhood.

Off I went, back to TS’ house to get some more work done and then we went to a nice Medeterranian restaurant with SF, it was nice to catch up. The service was mediocre, every pot of tea was luke warm, but the food and the company were stellar, so the entire evening was a smashing success. That night, we watched The Call, which you probably read about the other night.

Saturday morning, we went to meet BG at Corner Bakery for breakfast. After breakfast, we went to a consignment shop so she could pick up some things she had there as well as money for stuff she sold, I got the cutest picture of a pair of Chuck Taylor’s, yeah, I know, like I need more stuff with no place to put it!

Then we went to the mall so I could pick up a few things from Victoria’s Secret and then back to my car, I headed out to see JCT and her family where her mom was doing a craft fair. After visiting with them for a bit, I headed to see SDL and Miss A!

We played and snuggled, and walked, what an amazing kid Miss A is! She is growing up so fast! And walking, wow!!! Eventually we went to get some dinner and her favorite Mexican restaurant, which I really enjoy, and I had been craving Mexican. We ate, talked, danced, walked, had a great time. Then back home for bath and bed.

This morning was breakfast and Skype time with SDL’s mom, MomMom, it was great to see her! After breakfast, I headed out to see KAB and baby A, who’s not such a baby anymore! It was so good to see my grandson! He’s one and a half and getting so big! W played and I got hugs and kisses, it was awesome! It was really good to catch up with KAB and J came home and we talked about the game.

I left there and headed downtown to Atlantic Station to do some retail therapy while I waited to meet CKM for dinner in Decatur. I bought a pair of boots and got some holiday shopping done!

Then I headed to The Brickstore Pub in Decatur and CKM showed up and we had a great dinner and caught up, so great to see her! It’s been too long! After dinner, we walked and talked and caught up some more, even better!

Now, I am chilling out, going to crash in a bit and head to Chicago in the morning. You tired after my weekend?

Goodnight!

{November 2, 2014} Ireland Day 1 – Russborough House

This is Russborough House, considered to be the most beautiful house in Ireland. This was my first stop after landing in Ireland. The weather was great, overcast, but comfortable. Brilliant!

http://www.heritageisland.com/attractions/russborough-house/

{October 31, 2014} Happy Halloween!

Oh how I wish I could show you pictures of my fantastically adorable family!

Halloween is such a great day, so much fun! Steeped in a long great history, mystery, fright, fun, color, pumpkins, candy, treat, tricks, costumes, legends, ghost stories, tradition.

If you were raised in the north, do you remember trick-or-treating when it was freezing out and you wore your costume over your snow suit, that plastic outfit and the hard plastic mask that had two small eye holes and teeny nose holes, you couldn’t see or barely breath, but you were so stoked to get the costume, you tried to sleep in it?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jacqueline-wilson/halloween-for-kids-in-the-70s-vs-halloween-today_b_5932076.html

I have always loved Halloween, it’s so much fun. When I was with the wasband, even before we got married, we loved to celebrate Halloween. We used to throw the biggest Halloween parties, decorated the house BIG time! There were some kids who didn’t even want to come up the path! It was awesome. Needless to say, love Halloween.

I even sent a note to the tenants renting my house telling them what Halloween was like in my neighborhood, crazy amounts of kids, love it! Need lots of candy!

This was the first year I got to spend Halloween in Boston with my family and it was terrific! One of the joys I have is that I am the Halloween Costume Fairy! I get to get the costumes for EJS, MGS, Miss A, Baby A [I won’t be able to call him that much longer!], LB and her baby sister, L, how lucky am I. And…this year, I even got to buy a costume for my sister!

Miss A was Dorothy and SDL made her wheelchair look like a tornado with the house on top! LB wanted the family to go as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! Baby A was Harry Potter! What a bunch of cuties! Want to get on Auntie J/G/JJ’s Halloween Costume Train, you let me know!

So…I asked what the girls wanted to be for Halloween and MGS says she wants to be Elsa from Frozen, EJS wanted to be Olaf, go figure! ACS was going to be Sven, the reindeer and GES was Anna, she had to have a costume. What a great looking family!

Dad picked up EJS early from school and then we took her to karate, a yellow belt needs her practice! Then we picked up pizzas on the way home and waited for everyone to show up. And by everyone, I mean several of the usual cast of fabulous characters! We ate, laughed, light the Shabbat candles, did the blessings over the candles, challah and wine. It’s nice to be with family at this time.

Then it was time for everyone to put on their costumes, if they hadn’t already, and what a sight to see! We had the cast from Frozen, The Incredibles family, a cat, a clown and S&A were a T-Bird and Pink Lady, awesome!

It was time to get out there and go door to door and trick-or-treat! The girls, as they’ve gotten older now go up and down the block and then around the block, so we kind of split off, EJS and I with HS, her dad and PK went to the right and everyone else went to the left.

It was nice walking with the kids trick-or-treating, meeting other families, kids in adorable costumes, so many people said to EJS when she went by “Hi Olaf!” Too funny!

I have tell you about something EJS did and I was so proud of her! A lot of the houses, just like this one, who have younger kids and go out trick-or-treating earlier, will leave out bowls of food, some with a note, some not “Please be courteous and leave candy for other kids”. I’ve never seen that, but so many houses did that and these kids were very respectful and only took a piece or two, didn’t go crazy.

So…my niece…there was a house that had a sign and a bowl and the bowl was empty, what did EJS do? She added a few pieces of candy to the bowl! Is that the most awesome thing you’ve ever heard of? So very proud was I and of course, the family when i told them.

Then it was back to the house to check out the stash, it was great, GES was trying to get through on the walkie talkie and EJS said “Are you done?” GES asked “Are you reviewing your stash?” “Yes” “Oh, ok, got it!”

Then eventually, everyone was back at the house for some snacks and of course, some candy! Reviewing the day, playtime and then off to bed!

Now, it’s about 2am and GES and I have been sitting on the couch watching shows on DVR and now Christmas movies! And reminiscing about all the Christmas movies we love, especially the Hallmark ones, we are addicted! OMG!

What a day it was!I am so excited that I was here to see the costumes in person and go trick-or-treating! It felt good when the girls asked me a few weeks ago if I would be here for Halloween and I could say yes. Here I am!

Happy Happy Halloween! Boo!

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