My day | Peaches Prattlings

{February 12, 2021} Xin nian hao! [Happy Chinese New Year!]

Today is Chinese New Year! It’s the year of the Ox.

I don’t know if you fall into the category of believing in Chinese Zodiac signs, but I do. I enjoy learning about characteristics and traits and see if they match with the person I might know with that sign. I do it with astrological signs. That being said, if you are the year of the ox, and this is your year, let’s see if your personality and characteristics fit:

Oxen are honest and earnest. They are low key and never look for praise or to be the center of attention. This often hides their talent, but they’ll gain recognition through their hard work. They believe that everyone should do what’s asked for them and stay within their bounds. Though they are kind, it’s difficult for them to understand persuasion using pathos. Rarely losing your temper, they think logically and make great leaders.

Is that you?

I remember as a kid, celebrating with with a Pilipino family that lived down the street from us, our families were great friends. Their oldest son and I were the same age and their youngest and my sister were the same age, the middle kid, well, he was in the middle, ha ha, and we all played together. We would play after school, at holidays and over the summer, the family would come and stay at our summer house. AL, the oldest used to drive my mom crazy, he would make that dripping water noise with his mouth and cheek, it drove her insane, mostly because he would do it in the middle of the night. Ha ha.

Back to celebrating…They observed a lot of Chinese traditions, the boys went a Chinese school every Saturday, much to their chagrin, in Chinatown in NYC, how many of you wanted to go to school on Saturday to learn a new language, on top of going to school during the week. The most fun was celebrating Chinese New Year with them. Foods, traditions, stories, the red envelopes. Oh yeah, the red envelopes.

It is tradition to give the gift of a bright, beautiful red envelope (known as 紅包, hóngbāo) to friends and family. It’s not just any old envelope…The red color symbolizes good luck and prosperity in Chinese (and other East Asian) cultures. Here are 8 Things You Should Know about the Lucky Red Envelope.

I was a kid, so of course, I looked forward to getting those red envelopes and they always had money in them, but it was usually $2 bills! I know you won’t be surprised, I probably still have a few of those envelopes, might even have the money in them. But even then, as much as I enjoyed getting money filled envelopes, I knew they were special, not just because of the money, there was history behind them, I knew there was something.

As I mentioned, with the envelopes, there was laughter and joy, their house was always full for the celebration, so many people sharing moments, food, and stories. What more could you want?

I’ve been in different places for Chinese New Year to see the celebrations, including the fireworks, dragons, dancing, parades and so much more. There is nothing like it! I hope to travel the world to see more celebrations! We saw some celebrations in Hawai’i, I remember a celebration inside a mall! I’ve seen them in New York City, and Philadelphia, PA, it’s not something you ever forget and I hope sometime in your life, you get to experience the wonder and splendor and come back and tell me all about it!

I will leave you with a traditional Chinese New Year greeting: I wish you a year of abundance and prosperity. Xin nian hao.

{February 10, 2021} What song makes you dance in your seat?

I don’t know about you, but there are a few songs that make me dance in my seat. Yes, I mean that literally!

I have a plethora, ooh, big word, yeah! that make me get up and dance, and sing, and twirl, and make me smile, and make me feel good, and so much more, and yes, dance in my seat. If you are ever driving behind me when I have the top down on Annie2, my VW Beetle-Bug Convertible, I have been told you can’t see me! But if you pull up next to me, the music is blasting, I love it to the point of the mirrors shaking! and I am usually dancing in my seat! What could be more perfect! Dancing down the road in a convertible!

As I mentioned, there are many songs that make me dance, but dance in my seat, that’s another story. I have Pandora radio on while I work and depending on the station I am listening to, there are songs I can’t help but dance to. Today, it’s Queen Radio. What inspired me at the moment is Rusted Root’s Send Me On My Way, which is a great song, and featured in the movie Matilda, starring Mara Wilson and an amazing cast of actors, but we’re not here to talk about the movie, maybe another time! The Peanuts theme song will make me dance in my seat, but that ultimately leads me to getting up and dancing around the room like all the Peanuts characters, it also happens to be my all time favorite song.

In the past few years, The Greatest Show from The Greatest Showman starring Hugh Jackman and an amazing cast, again, maybe another time! started making me dance in my seat. The next song that came on was Dancing in the Moonlight by King Harvest and then, just now…Come and Get Your Love by Redbone and while I’m thinking of it, almost everything on the Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack.

I know there’s more, but right now, I have to keep working and if we kept talking about this, we’d never get anything done! So…you know what makes me dance in my seat, I must know…What song makes you dance in your seat? Happy chair dancing!

{February 9, 2021} Anyone else want to make me feel old today?

Come on, line up! I’m kidding of course, but seriously, who else?!

I am quite proud of the fact that I am 49 years old! Can you believe it, this year, I turn the big 5-0! I rocked the silver, for a minute, I’ve gone blue, purple, aqua, pink, green. I ride a motorcycle, I still wear my collection of Chuck Taylors, I laugh until I snort, which makes me laugh more, and quite often I forget that I’m 49, which started around when I turned 43, I can’t always remember where I am north of 40!

As a consultant, I work with a lot of people who are a lot younger than me, some just out of college. Since we’re colleagues, I don’t think about the age difference until they say something and I have to look at them and think…how old are you?

Today, on a call, someone said they were old at 41. Wait, what? I messaged my boss “Did he just say he’s old at 41?!” Her response “I still feel young and I have him beat by a lot”. Yup, same here!

Tonight at yoga, it was 90s themed. I didn’t know what that meant until the instructor told us that every year, in honor of her birthday week, she always plays music from the decade she was born. What?! She was born in 92…I was in my junior year of college. I give up! Ugh… did I just hear my bones start to creak? HA HA

No one can make you feel old and most of the time, I definitely do not feel old, but every once in a while…

The cure…crank the music waaaayyyy too loud on the way home, so loud the mirrors shake, oh yeah! Don’t forget…if the music’s too loud…you’re too old!

{February 8, 2021} Damn you Ryan Reynolds!

I say this with all the love and affection in the world. I think he’s hysterical, talented, goofy, yummy, among other things, but he’s a pusher! Let me ‘splain!

About 7 or 8 years ago, I used to play these 4 “Free Fall” Disney games. Each one came out after the movie premiered, these included Frozen Free Fall, Maleficent Free Fall, Inside Out: Thought Bubbles, and Cinderella Free Fall. I absolutely loved those games, to the point when I was getting a new phone and transferred all the apps over, I refused to reset the old phone until…I had confirmed my four games transferred over, with all my levels successfully. For those of you who are not gamers, this might not make sense, but for anyone who is a gamer, thank you for nodding your head! Hey, I had spent months, even years playing these games, getting my points, stats, and levels to where they were, I wasn’t about to lose and start all over again!

Now…that being said, when I get a new device, like a tablet, I love starting over, it’s so much fun! Because I have played these games so much, I know the moves and what to do, that when I start on a new device, I can usually play for hours without losing a life! And for anyone who has done this, wah to the hoo!

Unfortunately, those games, while still on my phone, hit a wall and there were glitches that I could not get past and I haven’t really played them much and if I have to start over, I’m ok with it, one I even really enjoyed, but when I got to the same place and hit the same wall, the joy has run out.

One of the things with pc games, even when you play on your phone, unless you pay to not have ads, there are ads, great…commercials on my phone while I’m playing a game. Normally, I don’t watch them, I find they get in the way, but about 4 years ago, one caught my eye…and that brings us to my post. This was an ad with Ryan Reynolds for Toon Blast and I was hooked at the first Toon Blast commercial! I found and watched them all! I think my favorite is still the one when he gets a tattoo of the last level he made!

I immediately downloaded the game and started playing and I kept playing, and kept playing, and kept playing, o m g! I was hooked. It’s fun, as advertised ‘The Funniest Cartoon Puzzle Adventure” and it is! Every level is something different. I will say, there are some levels that seem like they repeat, but I’m ok with that, I’m on level 2408, it’s bound to happen. There are three characters, Cooper Cat, Wally Wolf, and Bruno Bear, and after 50 levels are achieved, an episode is unlocked. Pirates, boxers, travelers, adventurers, dessert, chemistry, they even get dressed up for different holidays. It really is a lot of fun.

The thing I like about the game is that you have five lives per turn and if you complete a level, you move on to the next, if you don’t complete a level with your five lives, you have to wait 25 minutes to play again. I play for as long as it takes to go through five lives, sometimes, depending on the level, it’s quick, then other times, I can play for a loooonnnggg time! Something they started recently is one free hour of play! OMG! I love those times, I can play, and play, and play, and it doesn’t run out, well, for an hour at least, then I don’t feel so bummed if I don’t finish a level.

Every day, you get to pick a card, so to speak, and you get an extra something, could be coins, could be lives, could be something to help you in the game. The last one I don’t care as much about, I am very stubborn, in case you didn’t know, and I almost never use the game aids, I just like to play. Every 20 levels, you get to open a Star Chest, there are extra treats, and at certain levels, you get a Toon Chest, more treats! How can you go wrong!?

One of the things I really like about this game is the graphics, they are clear and inviting, like the colors, and I like the strategy of trying to win the level. Sometimes, when a level is hard, and they can be, I have struggled with some levels for days or even weeks, I say out loud, and I know this is silly ‘This level is driving me nuts, I’m going to quit this game’ and miraculously…I beat the level…sometimes!

I just looked it up and there are 4000 levels in Toon Blast! O M G! I’m on my way! When you get to the end, you get in a Champion’s League. I am SO there!

This leads me to the next game…Toy Blast. This is the other game, by the same company, Zynga, who also publishes Words with Friends2, we’ve talked about that one, Harry Potter: Puzzles and Spells, might have to check that one out! and others. I enjoyed Toon Blast, as you know, so I looked for other games, since I could only play 5 lives, I wanted something similar and I found Toy Blast, here’s a very cute Toy Blast holiday commercial, which will only truly make sense if you play.

When I first started playing, when I got into some higher levels, all of a sudden, I would get 30 minutes unlimited, then 1 hour unlimited, then it even went to TWENTY FOUR HOURS!!! O M G! I know we’ve talked about the fact that I don’t sleep, so…there may have been one or two days where I did nothing but play Toy Blast! It is entirely possible, not during work hours, this would be a weekend! At the very least, every time I played, it was free! And that was what propelled me farther in this game than Toon Blast, even though I’ve been playing it longer. I’m on level 3637 and it turns out there are 4150 level…what will I do then?!

One of the big differences between the two games…when you want to play extra lives, if you don’t have any left, you can buy some with your coin bank. Toy Blast is 25 coins, reasonable, Toon Blast is 100, seriously? Also…if you don’t complete a level, you can buy 5 extra moves, those cost either 25 for Toy Blast or 100 for Toon Blast, I only click that button by mistake!

There is so much more I can tell you about these games, but if you don’t play…go download them! If you do play, you already know what I’m talking about! I gotta go…my lives just replenished in both cames!

Damn you Ryan Reynolds. and thank you!

{February 7, 2021} Just your average Sunday…start with yoga…end with a 15k?

Um, yeah, what? Let’s see…

Today started like any other Sunday. We went to hot yoga, crazy…8am! We didn’t have to get up before the sun to go to yoga, wahoo! The class was a little crowded, I wasn’t crazy about it, it felt cramped. The odd thing about this location is that you don’t have to wear a mask in the studio, I think I’ve told you about it. PSM and I both wore our masks, but with the current state of affairs, it’s odd to see people put their masks on leaving the yoga studio to walk into the lobby. It is what it is.

After yoga, we needed to go to Costco, but since they weren’t open, we went to breakfast at Uncle Bill’s Pancake and Dinner House, open 24 hours, and nice enough, no wait for a table. They were definitely observing social distancing, it was nice. We definitely enjoyed ourselves this time more than the last time. The food is good, but it’s the service really, they have a great and friendly staff. The food is simple and tasty, what more do you want?

After brunch, we headed to Costco. Gas first, you know the advantages there, renewed our membership, walked into the store and realized that since it’s Sunday, the pharmacy is closed, no bueno! Oh well…back to the house to get some stuff done, PSM had to prep to head out of town for work this week. After a bit, before it was time to go, we had lunch, yummy leftovers from last night’s dinner.

When it was time for PSM to head to the airport, I took the pups for a w-a-l-k, have to spell it out, they understand the word walk! ha ha. And for those of you who have kids and no dogs, you thought you were the only ones who had to spell in front of the wee tots! nope! We spell lots of words, w-a-l-k is one of them, t-r-e-a-t or g-o-o-d-y is another. And…I know that as you’re reading this, you actually spelled out the words! CLASSIC! I took them for a w-a-l-k for two reasons…to take them out and make it easier when PSM leaves, so they don’t notice and whine! Smart!

Shortly after we got back, and PSM was well on his way to the airport, I put the girls into the crate and headed out. This year, virtually, I am participating in the Atlanta Hot Chocolate 15k. I started doing the race in Atlanta and even though I did the race twice in Denver, I still did it in Atlanta, same year, and I travel back to Atlanta to do the race. It’s an opportunity to participate in the same city I started in, and 2013 was the inaugural run in Atlanta. I started doing the 5k and eventually moved to the 15k.

This year, just like almost everything, it was virtual and you could do it wherever you wanted. I checked the distance and decided to walk to the park that PSM and I like to go to and now take the dogs to. It was about 3 miles to the park, then about 3 miles around the lake, then 3 miles home and next thing you know… I walked a 15k! 9 miles. Go figure.

Let’s just say it was c c c c c c cold! 16 degrees when I headed out. I was layered up, leggings, jeans, Cuddle Dud layer, Hot Chocolate sweatshirt, their swag really is the best!, my favorite winter coat, long and quilted, and my winter boots. I was nice and toasty! Headphones in, off I went. The boots kept my feet warm, but not the best for distance walking, well, with keeping a steady pace anyway.

The walk to the park was ok, not a lot of people on the road, I passed a few people actually walking in the park, so I wasn’t completely alone. There was snow on the ground, it was so quiet, at times you couldn’t hear anything and other times, all you heard were the ducks and geese. It was serene, peaceful, and beautiful.

After I walked around the lake, I walked the path to get back to the main road to walk home. Let’s just say, by the time I got to my neighborhood, which is about the same mileage I always start to question my decision to do this race! HA HA Every year I promise myself that I’m going to start training for this and this will be the year I actually run it and every year I forget that goal and promise to myself, oh well. Maybe one year I’ll listen to myself!

I got home, immediately put on my pj’s, I wasn’t going anywhere else! I let the dogs out of the crate, we played, they had dinner and I collapsed on the couch! Let’s just say right now, my body is questioning my sanity and I don’t think I’m going to argue with it! Hot yoga in the morning and a 15k in the afternoon? Sure, why not!

{February 4, 2021} Maternity…seriously?!

Not what you’re thinking, I’m sure!

We have been doing yoga steadily for just over a month and it’s been fun doing it together. PSM wears shorts and a t-shirt, and for me, I have tried a few things. I’ve worn a t-shirt and running pants, then I decided I wanted to try yoga pants, I’ve gotten two different pairs, and with one of them, I totally get why some people, mostly women, live in their yoga pants! They are very comfy, wow! But…the ones I got are a bit long, so if they didn’t have a ribbon to cinch the legs, I would be walking on them and I just paid good money, why would I walk off the ends. Jeans, I get, not yoga pants. Also…I’m not 15 anymore. Wait, I would still probably do it to a pair of jeans well, not intentionally! ha ha.

Sometimes it’s tough being a bit shorter, there are times I have to go with capris to get the pant to my ankle. No short cracks, thank you! and NO…I do not have to sit on a phone book to see over the steering wheel, thank you very much!

I’ve tried a few different shirts, even bought a set of yoga shirts, well, they were advertised as yoga shirts, not sure what makes them yoga shirts, they aren’t flowy, they’re made of very soft material, but they are still clingy in some places, that goes back to the lumpy comment from the other day. I’ll figure out the shirt eventually or I’ll go back to the basic t-shirt!

The last thing I have to wear, that luckily PSM and other men, at least I don’t think other men have to, is a sports bra. This is something that most women have to wear and it’s no fun, let’s just say that. I have tried so many different ones, there are different types made for different sports. I happen to be on the more well endowed side, let’s just say, so for any physical activity I can’t go with out.

Here begins my yoga journey…I’ve had to wear two at a time in the past because one didn’t hold me enough, that was when I was running, let’s just say it doesn’t feel good when the girls bounce like that. I found a great one for running, recommended by a friend who’s a runner and it’s great. For yoga, I didn’t want to wear that one, but I tried it, it’s ok, but doesn’t move as well, it’s more binding. I’ve worn double tank tops, they hold me in and since we’re not jumping, it’s not bad, but I want something with more support. I’ve tried the tank/sports bra I’ve worn as a bathing suit, it’s ok, I’ve been wearing it for a few years, don’t think it has a huge amount of life left. I had another one that I kept having to pull down and then I happened to pop out at the top, no thanks! When I bought the yoga pants and shirts, just after we started doing yoga, I bought a two pack of sports bras as well.

The big problem these days when shopping for clothes is, as you can imagine, with new health and safety regulations due to Covid, you can’t try on clothes in the stores. That saves a lot of time when you can try them on in the store. Needless to say, I have bought a few things I cannot return, oh well.

The sports bras I bought are ok, they don’t have a lot of support in some areas and are tight in some areas. What I really don’t like is that they pull on my neck when I’m doing yoga. I don’t enjoy things tight around my neck, think turtlenecks, tight necklaces, some scarves, bathing suits, yeah, I know…So…it’s not always easy for me to concentrate or relax in yoga because of this. I have looked online and I can see almost everyone else’s when we’re in class, either they are only wearing their yoga sports bras, on top, ooh cheeky! or their tank tops are loose and flowy I can see the sports bra. I haven’t gotten to that stage yet. I may wear a bikini on the beach, but I’m in the water or not moving too much, things stay where they should and I can lengthen enough to not scare people! HA HA

I went online to see if I can find something that might work better. Something that will hold me together, not pull on my neck, not rise up, and let me move, and maybe help me not look so lumpy! I’m not asking much, right? I have found a few things here and there, but on one site, and I’m not going to mention the site because I really do like it, but when I put in my size, the ONLY thing they took me to was MATERNITY cami! Seriously! A cami, for those of you don’t know, is short for a camisole and it’s morphed into many things. It was traditionally a pretty thing that you wear under a blouse, along with a bra, especially if your blouse is sheer, it adds a layer of modesty and if it’s pretty, maybe with a little lace trim at the top, it adds a touch of purdy.

They still make camis in the traditional style, but now, they are functional as well, it’s a tank top with spaghetti straps. Tank tops traditionally have wider ‘sleeves’, I wear them sometimes as pajama tops, they’re comfy and some are loose and some are tight.

Now that you know what a cami is…you might understand my outrage! When I went to this site and put in my bra size, it only came back with MATERNITY camis, really?! I’m not teeny, but I’m also not pregnant and my size does not indicate that I am pregnant, just not on the thinner size. Really?! How do you think that made me feel?! I think you’ve figured out how I feel!

As gawd is my witness, I will find a yoga sports bra that works for me! UGH! Sigh…

{February 3, 2021} Are you kidding?! Rude much?!

Thanks, you ruined my chi, my flow. I have enough time with the relaxing/meditation part of yoga, but tonight, you made it more so because you were flat out, wow. Ok, sorry, this is a slight rant, if you haven’t figured that out.

I got to yoga about 15 minutes before class started, chatted with the girl at the desk and the yoga instructor, then went into the studio to set up my yoga mat. There was one other person in the studio on the far side, by the windows. I decided to set myself up on the opposite wall, near the door, towards the back. The only other mat was the instructor’s at the front of the room and a camera on a tripod, which was probably there from the last livestream class.

After I got my mat situated, I started stretching to get ready for class. Then another person came in, set up next to the other woman in the room, and then another woman came in and set up in the very back of the room, not too far away from where I was. So, now…there are four of us, waiting on the instructor. In comes the last student and guess where she sets up…literally IN FRONT OF ME. Seriously? I know the studio isn’t huge, but with only 4 of us, there was plenty of room to set up.

I get wanting to be in front of the mirror, well, not always, sometimes I just feel lumpy and don’t actually want to see myself, but…I do like to see my form while I’m doing the positions or attempting to get into a particular position. Is my back flat? How’s my Warrior 2? Things like that. Even when a class is full, we all seem to space ourselves juts far enough over that the person behind can see what they are doing, but not this woman, the only thing I could see was my hand, if it moved out of the way. Could you have moved maybe 3 or 4 inches to the left or right? Apparently not…

And, if you’re like me, sometimes when you can’t see the instructor you look to the other participants to see what they’re doing. I didn’t even want to do that, she was still there! Then, when it was time to focus on our breathing and just let everything go, I couldn’t, grrr…all I kept thinking was, well, you know what I was thinking! One thing I’m sure you didn’t know that I was thinking…one of my favorite lines from a movie. Buffy, played by Kristy Swanson, in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, is said to Merrick, her mentor, played by Donald Sutherland, “Excuse much! Rude or anything?”

And that led to me thinking about telling you all about it in tonight’s post. Thankfully, that movie makes me laugh, so now that I’ve told you about it, it’s in the universe and I’m over it, thanks for listening!

And…lastly…it’s February 3rd, Groundhog Day was yesterday, no “Babe, I Got You Babe” [bummer, I wish I had shared that link yesterday, glad I found it! enjoy!] and it’s tomorrow. Wa to the hoo!

{February 1, 2021} A new adventure starts today!

Today I started a new job and that means a new adventure! And what a day to start! And what starts! A new month, first day of the new month, and the first day of the week of the new month. What are the odds. What a way to start!

I had been looking for a new opportunity, something different from what I had been doing for the past several years. Now, by different, I mean the products and media that I use to create, not a different career path. I was on the lookout for an Instructional Designer and/or Software Trainer, two roles I am incredibly proud of. As a Software Trainer, I absolutely love explaining how a product or application works. I always say that an application is an application is an application, and by that, I mean it doesn’t matter to me what it is, I want and can learn it and turn around and teach it to you. I don’t even need to understand it completely to teach it, I have to understand it and be able to help you understand how to use it in your day to day job. As I teach, I learn, meaning that no matter how many times or how many years I teach something I learn something new every time I teach!

I didn’t know for a long time that being a good trainer was not as easy as I thought it was. I found out, years ago, that I have the ability to learn an application in a short amount of time and be able to turn around and teach it. I’ve been brought on projects and put in front of a class in a week or less. I would prefer to have more time to prep, but I am always up for the challenge. I really do live for it, I have the best time in front of a class, could be in part, not only my love of teaching, but my gift of gab, which I had way before I kissed the Blarney Stone! I have said in the past, I get a runner’s high when I teach, I do! When it’s a good or great class, I thrive and float, my feet sometimes don’t touch the ground for a few hours after I am done! I absolutely love seeing the look on someone’s face when they get it! I can see the proverbial ‘lightbulb over their heads’!

I will also take the time to explain something to someone until they get it, I want them to understand. I am also very honest that when I teach, I have the patience of a saint, but personally…I have the patience of a gnat! No patience, none, if a website hasn’t started in 3 seconds, I’ve started over! It’s true! Ask anyone who knows me! But for you, in my class, I have all the time in the world! Let’s dance! I am, after all, the product of two amazing and gifted teachers!

On the opposite side, when it comes to writing, I’ve always been a good writer, at least that’s what I have been told! ha ha! It must be true, for some reason you keep coming back to see what I have to say! I didn’t enjoy writing as a kid, I could write a book report, but I’m not sure it gave me the joy I get now. Now, reading, that I enjoyed, and I could tell a story, just didn’t feel much like writing it down. Later, in college, I got high marks on my stories, very descriptive and inviting. I remember writing a paper about my grandmother’s house and my professor said they could see it clearly in their mind and wanted to go and visit.

I started blogging, as you know, and that seems to be going well, ha ha. I’ve updated or written resumes for people, hopefully it has helped. I’ve written dating profiles, those I really enjoy! I even wrote one for a guy I was dating at the time! It helped him meet his current wife, go figure! And…four people have gotten married from the profiles I’ve written! I’ve even written them for people I didn’t know, my favorite was someone I met on a train. It was pretty good, if I do say so myself!

When I got into writing professionally, it was really the same way I fell into training. It started with “We got this new application, teach us how to use it” huh? Ok…then I was in one position and I knew I was going to be out of the office for a bit, so I wrote instructions on how to do my job and when I got back, the person who was filling in had no questions and was able to follow everything as if I was walking them through it step by step. Then I started getting jobs as a writer, sometimes updating existing training materials, sometimes building new materials and then one job or project led to another and here we are.

When I write training materials, I really get into what I’m doing, when I know how to start. Sometimes, I have to sit and look, and look, and think, and look, and think before my brain clicks and I think…oh yeah, this is the way we’re going and we’re off and running! If you know me, you know I don’t turn something in until I am proud of it, I’ll work through the night, hence the 80-120 hours I got in trouble for submitting sometimes! I love testing a product every which way to see how it works, if I click this, what happens? If I click that, where does it take me. Can I break it? How do I explain this so it flows just so. How can I write this so the trainer can teach it, even if it’s not me, and the student can understand it. Where do I add a screenshot? Oh man, I do love a screenshot! I’m being serious! How much is too much information? How many details derail the point or the materials? On my last project, I built a lot of the materials I was teaching, based on the data given to me, and some of the materials I had updated what was given to me. As I was teaching, I realized that some things just didn’t flow right and I rearranged things, moved things around, made them flow better and I have to tell you, when I was done, I was so very proud. And that was at 4 o’clock in the morning, I’m not kidding, I was driven and I was going to turn in something I was happy with. And…I’ve heard that others were happy with it, it made more sense, and that to me was everything!

So…as I mentioned, I was looking for something different, not in the role, but in the software, I had been writing and teaching the same product for the last five years and it was time for a change. And that’s where we are today! Today I started with a new company and it’s a whole new ballgame! I am going to be updating some existing materials and building brand new content, I am so ready to jump in and get started. What I really love about writing assignments is that each client has different mediums they want to use. Some use Word, at this point, I’m an expert for building training materials! some use PowerPoint [PPT], I have since become quite the PPT aficionado, it doesn’t intimidate me anymore!, some Adobe Captivate, I’ve dabbled, some Articulate, I’ve experimented, RoboHelp, it’s been a while, and now, with this new job, I’m getting to use two new mediums, Skilljar and Genially, and from what I’ve seen when I investigated them, I’m excited!

As I get more into what I’m doing I’ll definitely share! I know you know that! For now, Monday, February 1st, new adventure! Liferay, here I come!

{January 29, 2021} It’s Date Night!

Tonight was date night! Sunday is the 6th anniversary of our first date! Wow, has it really been six years? Yes it has, and it’s been an amazing ride, even this last year!

As you know, or at least I think you know, we’ve gone out over the last year, into restaurants, pubs, and bars when some places were closed for indoor dining. When St Louis county closed everything down, St Charles did not, so we went to some of those restaurants. We always look inside, if it looks like they are following the limited capacity and social distancing, we stay, if they aren’t, see ya.

About a week ago, I think it was, at least! I texted PSM and said ‘the SIXTH anniversary of our first date is this weekend! Let’s have a date night!’ And…we went to an Irish pub for our first date, let’s do that! I don’t know if you remember, but I had just gotten back from Ireland a few months earlier and Irish pub it was! I loved Ireland, thought about staying when I visited, I even looked for a job while I was there! But…par for the course…I digress!

PSM agreed and even though the date is actually Sunday, the weather is going to be cruddy all weekend and he’s not available Sunday, so…Friday night it is! We both looked for an Irish pub and came up with the same one. It was one that we had tried to go to a few weeks ago and didn’t get in, I think they closed by the time we go there, oh well, so tonight it was!

I called to see if they had a wait and luckily, no wait. We headed towards the pub and then GPS took us another way and as we started talking, I had mentioned that there were two locations. I called one and PSM was going to the other one, what are the odds?! We arrived and there was a 15 minute wait, ok, sounds good. We hung out in the lobby with the other waiting patrons, socially distant of course. We took a look around and it didn’t look much like an Irish pub, aside from the Guinness posters, a few advertisements for a few other beers, and the crest for the pub on the wall, slightly disappointing, from an Irish pub perspective.

We were able to get a seat at the bar, which was nice, because those tend to be the most socially distant spots in restaurants or pubs. Well, some of them anyway, this time, for sure. The server was brand new, day 2 of her new venture and she was very nice, well the two times we talked to her, she was very nice.

The best part about date night was…well, my date! We had such a good time, despite anything and everything else, we had such a good time. It was like the first time, but better, we know each other. We reminisced about what the first date was like, touching, awkward, interesting, informative, and fun. I remembered what I was wearing, his overcoat, the weather, and the fact that he looked like Adam Sandler. Yup, but I’m not the only one who says that, he’s a cutie and a keeper!

We talked about everything and nothing and there was such a feeling of familiarity, of course, we’ve been together for just about 6 years, I know, but it’s not like that for everyone. It was much nicer than a first date, no nervousness! We talked, laughed, cajoled, teased, shared, talked, laughed some more. We lingered long after the meal and drinks were gone and then it was time to go home. Together.

We stopped at the market for some ice cream, to share as we snuggled on the couch. Got home, let the dogs out [Who, Who HA HA HA come on, click the link!], had some doggie play time, then…ice cream!

The best part about this date? Yes, we got to go home together. One of my favorite things about being married…A forever date. Sigh…

{January 27, 2021} It’s a Snow Day!

That actually used to mean something to kids! HA HA. I remember…back in my day…oh brother! groan, eye roll, when it snowed like this, we got the day off from school. Now…with Covid routines in place, if you’re remote learning or hybrid, do you still get a snow day? Probably not!

Didn’t I just leave all of this behind in Colorado? Apparently, it followed me through Colorado and Kansas, back to Missouri, sorry neighbors! It started sometime in the early morning. PSM went to yoga, there wasn’t availability when I went to sign up, darn, no 6am hot yoga? I’m crushed! Ha ha. That did give me a few extra minutes to sleep! He was very quiet, I just happened to hear him, oh well. So…I slept in for a bit and then at about 7am, got motivated and got the dogs out for a walk.

Since I hadn’t been home, PSM had been taking them for all their walks solo and Bee had been a bit of a pickle, I don’t know if you remember me telling you about her aversion to walking on the frozen or almost frozen ground. Well…I put the harnesses on and we were off, no issues! What?! It was snowing steadily and they were both champs. [No wellies required for the walk!!!] Now, for the afternoon walk, Ruby and I had words, it was slippery and she kept pulling, she’s a strong dog, but momma set her straight. Ok, it took two talkings to, but it finally worked. It also helps when you keep a firmer grip on the leash!

They were both so cute, coming up from sniffing, noses all covered in snow and Bee, well, she’s a beagle and they have longer ears, so…nose covered and ears tipped in snow! They were both really enjoying it, how could I not laugh! We made it around the block, through the neighborhood getting more and more covered in snow. Look at my car, the only way you can tell it’s my car is that it’s red! But she has a lot of snow on top! [kind of like me when I don’t color my hair! HA HA HA]

It continued to snow all day and I honestly have no idea when it stopped, but everything looks so pretty, the trees laden with snow, the houses, backyards, streets, especially before the first footsteps. Sigh…

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