It was a great day!
It was so great, that with permission, I will crash and tell you about my day tomorrow.
Promise.
{February 28, 2016}
Woosh…zzzz
{February 27, 2016}
Excuse…rude…much?
Shut it already!
I was traveling to Denver today with a layover in Atlanta. I wanted to get some lunch, so I decide on PF Chang’s, vegetable lettuce wrap, score!
I sit down and wait, eventually the server comes over and we hit it off, of course, but while I am waiting to order and then get my food, this woman was on the phone, speaking VERY loudly.
You know, it’s the airport, it’s a crowded restaurant, but that doesn’t give you the right to disrupt everyone else in the place! I asked the woman at the next table if she had been doing that a long time, yup, since she had been there.
Everyone keeps looking over at her, more like shooting death rays in her direction. She isn’t alone! I thought she was! Her husband, or traveling companion, at one point stands up and then he stands there while she talks and yells at the person on the phone, over the railing for at least another 20 minutes!!!
She finally cleared the table and about ten minutes later they left.
What I really felt bad about was that the waitress was missing out on making more money, so I left her a tip on my corporate credit card, since it’s a travel day and then left her twenty dollars cash, I know how hard it was waiting tables. She really was great.
So, come on people, have some common courtesy, seriously. Maybe karma will come around and the person who sits next to her on her flight does that to her!
{February 25, 2016}
I think I almost got IRS scammed!
Shame on them!
I don’t normally answer calls from numbers I don’t know. They must have called three or four times, so I finally answered.
This angry man with a very thick accent told me he was with the IRS and I had been audited for a certain time period. I said I hadn’t been notified, they said they sent papers to my Georgia address. I wasn’t thinking about the scam yet and then…ding..ding..ding.
If they were looking at the years they said, they would know I didn’t live there. He proceeded to get more angry and yell at me and then said “do you think this is a joke?!”
I then said, this sounds like and I’m hanging up now. Click…never heard from them again. Then I checked, the number is close to the ones on the IRS website. Hmmm…
{February 24, 2016}
Why, yes, I am the energizer bunny…
Thank you for noticing.
I have been compared to the energizer bunny on more than one occasion. There are times it feels like I never stop moving, going, doing.
But when I teach, that’s what I feel like! I am on, I am going, I am all over the place, a bundle of energy, it’s awesome!
Hey, I have to keep you engaged, energized, entertained, we’re going to be together for two to four to maybe even sixteen hours, it doesn’t have to be a downer.
But sometimes, as soon as I’m done with a class, I’m done! I could probably take a nap!
I sit down and think about not getting up, maybe if I put my head down for just a minute…but then, the next class comes in and it’s like I’m starting all over, I’m up, I’m on, let’s go! Sort of wash, rinse, repeat.
I got the greatest compliment once, I was told that I made what could have been the longest sixteen hours of someone’s life fun and entertaining. That meant so much to me!
When will I see you in one of my classes?!
{February 23, 2016}
Gotcha!
It wasn’t me this time!
Ever think “I can’t believe that driver did that, where is a cop?” Well, he did and there was.
I was pulling out of the hotel, stopped at the light and watched a car drive up bedside me and then go through the light, it’s not like the light had just changed.
Two seconds later, the officer who had been sitting right there at the intersection took off, lights and siren going. Took about 10 seconds, but he was pulled over.
Serves him right. And it wasn’t me!
{February 21, 2016}
Stuff…Random stuff
Just a few things that have stuck in my head.
Not sure if they all deserved a full blog, some of it might be a vent or a rant, how many of those do you really want to read? I know you care, but uplifting, not a downer, do I want to be!
Hmmm…where to start…I went to Best Buy to return something that didn’t work for me. When I bought this item it came with a $10 Best Buy gift card. Goody, I like gift cards. This one came with a catch they do not tell you when you receive it. If you return whatever you bought, to get the full refund, you need to return the gift card. Makes sense, I get it, but tell me when I buy it that I need to return both and I would keep them together. As it is, I put the gift card in with my other gift cards when I first got home and didn’t think about it again when I put the item in my bag and traveled the country waiting for the opportunity to go to a Best Buy and return it.
So, I got most of my money back and I still have a $10 gift card, whoopee.
If I walk into your store and you ask me a question, listen to my answer. I said I’m not a fan of a designer, but I know someone who is. I asked if she was a fan and her answer “No, not like you are”. Huh? Really? It gets better, she did it three times, I should have walked out after two times, but I gave her the benefit of the doubt.
When I rent a car, if I tell you I am not going to take the extra insurance, you can ask are you sure, not “oh really? How do you plan to conver it?” Really? I’m a grown woman. I already told you I’ll take care of getting the gas myself, “oh, but it’s only $25”, yes, but you don’t know how much or how little gas I am going to use. And when I tell you that I rent cars every week for work keep after me. When I ask if you have a certain car because that’s what the receipt says I might get and you tell me that you have BMWs and they’re only $15 extra a day. Oh really? Are you going to pay for it out of your pocket? It always feels very condescending talking to them, if they weren’t the cheapest that weekend, I wouldn’t rent from them again.
Silver lining, so to speak. When I rented on Thursday from Enterprise, she was very pleasant and not condescending and when I told her that before she asks, I don’t need extra insurance or pre-pay for gas, she laughed and said “you’ve done this before I see”.
If you’re sick, I sympathize, but you don’t have to sit right in the middle of everyone and possibly get everyone else sick, but more than that, besides the blowing, having to glance over and watch you stick the nasal stick thing up your nose, really? While you’re talking a little loud on your phone, ragging on stuff. Thanks for including the rest of us.
Ok, enough already! I think there are others, but I don’t feel like dumping anymore. So, I will end on a happy note.
This weekend, on the way to the house in NH, I stopped at an LL Bean Outlet to return some items I bought before PSM and I went to Europe. I love that I could return them four months later and without a receipt!
Do you feel like when you return things, especially after a long time period it’s like found money? I do! So you feel ok spending some of that? Come on, I’m not the only one! Now, I didn’t feel that way at Best Buy, but it was over $100 at LL Bean, so…just being fair, I had to look to see if there was anything I just had to have.
I bought a really cute fleece, I tried to find one for GES, I always do that when I’m shopping, especially if I find something adorable I know she’d like. Isn’t that what big sister’s are for? I also bought one of their large, very sturdy canvas bags, I’ve always wanted one, so sue me! Monogrammed would be even better, but I’m happy.
Speaking of monogramming, I don’t know if you knew this, but at the outlets, and the regular retail stores I think, sell monogramned retruns. I look, because who knows. Maybe I’ll see my name or initials or someone else’s I know.
I see this bag that I like, first for the color combinations and then I saw the monogramming and I thought, I must have this. “AAA….Amazingly Awesome Aunt!” How perfect is that?
Good happy note to end on?
{February 20, 2016}
What a day! Woosh
Back on skis for the first time this season.
The ski season has not been a very long one. Traditionally, it starts about October/November and should go through March/April. Not so this year. Apparently Mother Nature is not a skier. Or I should say, she might be a west coast skier, I get Colorado snow reports every weekend.
So, needless time say, I haven’t skied until today. As we talked about last night, I came up to NH with the families and this morning we suited up and went to Cannon Mountain. It’s a high and windy mountain and today, it student disappoint.
We got our lift tickets, put boots on abs away we went. On the way up in the express loft, express to the top, it got very windy abs EJS was not a fan, but we made it up and headed down the mountain. I will tell you, I wasn’t a huge fan, as there was a lot of ice and I’m not an ice skier, some people are, in not a fan of sliding and I don’t like the sounds of sliding and scraping over ice, that’s just me.
We are making our way down and have stopped for a moment and out of no where, someone comes barreling down, skis over MGS’ ski and plows into JT, knocks him down and actually breaks one of his ski poles! MGS lost a ski, it landed near GES. I immediately take off my skis and go to MGS, who is crying a lot at this point.
I held her while GES made her way back towards us. I checked and nothing was broken and I asked if she was hurt or just startled. Just startled, thank goodness. I rocked and cooed until mommy got there and took over. Get this…turns out that the guy who plowed into us was a ski instructor!
After a while, JT said he would ski with MGS between his skis. It took some doing, GES and I each had two sets of ski poles, but we made it down.
The only thing we were worried about was the girls not wanting to ski after this or being nervous and they’re both pretty good skiers. We got to the bottom and EJS and ACS were ready for more, MGS was not and then she was and away they went.
I have to tell you, so very proud of EJS and MGS for making it down and wanting to keep going, Champs I tell ya!
GES and I however, first got our lift ticket money back and since I now had $150 back, it was like found money, we went to the bar! GES had a beer and I had an amaretto hot chocolate, yum! Along with style Bavarian pretzels, we were set.
We had at least 45-one hour good quality sister time, then everyone came in for lunch. After lunch, they all went back on the slopes and GES and I enjoyed more sister bonding time.
After an hour it was time to head back to the house for relaxing, skating on the pond, and hot chocolate, kid friendly, maybe a nap or two. No technology though, it was nice. There was even some reading that had to be done.
Eventually we made dinner, then more games and off to sleep for the kids. The grown-ups stayed up to talk and use their technology, freedom! And now I’m talking to you!
All in all, an enjoyable day. Gotta get it all in, back to Buffalo tomorrow.
{February 19, 2016}
It’s great, but bittersweet
One year ago last weekend…
Was the first time PSM brought me to New Hampshire to ski and introduced me to his ski house and life in Lincoln.
Valentines day weekend, can you believe it! It was our third date and he took me skiing! Not too shabby if you ask me.
So, this weekend I am up with my sister’s family and his cousin, J&A T’s family. There are five adults and 4 children, girls to be exact in a lovely house in Lincoln, NH, that is heated only by wood stoves. I’m glad I wasn’t the first one in the house!
On the way up, I stopped at the same rest stop that he, Mollie and I would always stop at for coffee, tea and a piece of banana bread, sigh. Traditions. I sent him pictures of the stop, it made him nostalgic.
My car almost went on autopilot and got off at his exit, but I had six more exits to go. It’s a charming house, everyone else is asleep, the only thing missing…PSM, oh, and Mollie, of course.
It’s snowing as we speak, should make for some good skiing tomorrow.
Happy happy birthday to my dear sweet friend, my butterfly, WM.
{February 18, 2016}
It almost never happens!
As you know, I travel for work 100%.
With all that travel, you’d think I would run into people I know at an airport somewhere. The only people I run into are people I’ve been on projects with and that is rare.
Today, I ran into someone I know! And it’s someone I only met a few months ago. LI and I met at A&K’s friends holiday party around Christmas and then we saw each other again at her post New Years Eve party.
We were both at LaGuardia Airport and at the same gate. I was waiting for the 8pm flight and then managed to get on the 7pm flight. Same for her, we were both getting home an hour earlier, wahoo.
LI was standing across from me by the bar across from the gate. I was concentrating very hard on what I was working on and listening to Mama Mia, so I was slightly oblivious.
When I looked up finally, we saw each other and it was a treat! We caught up, laughed a lot, walked onto the plane together and texted until we took off and then when we landed. Walked to baggage claim together, outside, laughing most of the way.
The funny part was when we took a picture together and we were photo bombed! I sent the picture to PSM, he loved it.
We parted company with the promise of getting together sometime when I’m in Boston for the weekend.
That was fun!
{February 16, 2016}
Mother Nature isn’t concerned…
With your travel plans, to be frank.
Mother Nature is an amazing woman, she can make miracles and amaze and delight, but when she’s mad, look out.
It doesn’t matter where you’re going or what you’re doing or where you have to be, she’s going to do what she wants.
Case in point. My current project is in Buffalo, so I’m going Boston to Buffalo each week. I’m sure you know the reputation for weather in both places.
When I was attempting to get to Buffalo on Monday, she got in the way. Almost all flights going thru NYC were getting canceled. I was supposed to leave at 10am, four changes later, I’m on a 4:47pm flight getting in about 6:15 to Buffalo. I was, however. Very productive at the airport. I did finally make it to Buffalo, by the way.
The guys were coming in yesterday, got to the airport and flights were canceled. They were going to get on a later flight, but the decision was made they should stay. Probably a good idea, I got up to 25 mph on the way in to the office yesterday, there was snow piled in the streets that cars were getting stuck.
Luckily, a lot of people are off this week because of mid-winter break, I hope the kids are having fun and people got where they wanted to go.
Mother Nature does what she wants and we need to adapt. End of story.
Now, go out and build a snowperson.
Peaches Prattlings 