My day | Peaches Prattlings

{January 22, 2016} Customer service…would a smile kill you?

I know I’ve talked about customer service before, I will probably do it again.

Oh look, here I go again!

I picked up a rental car in Atlanta, waited on line for about 30 minutes, then it was my turn. I was lucky enough to get the guy who doesn’t smile and was smarmy.

At one point, I actually said that he should smile, it would help with customer service. His co-worker laughed and said I called him out. I was jovial about it. He said he was smiling, yeah, right.

Then he gave me something to sign and looked at me expectantly. Um…do you think a pen might help? The woman next to me gave me a pen, thanks. It went on from there.

Then I went to the car in the assigned spot, no key, I have to go into the hut to get the keys. Never looked me in the eye, and was curt. I know it’s cold out, but it’s not my fault.

If you don’t like your job, please find another. Until that time, make the best of it and smile!thank you.

{January 20, 2016} A word to my uber driver

Dear uber driver…

For the most part, I have had great experiences with Uber. They show up on time, they’re pleasant, clean car, reasonable rates, I don’t have to worry about carrying cash or credit cards. I know the make, model, license plate and drivers name.

Until today, I was only bothered by one driver, when we were in Hawaii and took uber to the airport, I ordered the car, my account, my payment and the driver never addressed me, always “Yes sir ” over and over, really? I’m still in the car!

Today, I got in the car and was almost drowned out by the car stereo. Mostly the bass. It was loud, obnoxious and took him a while to turn it down.

Now, I’m no prude, I listen to music with the volume loud enough to vibrate the mirrors, but when you have a business and it’s a customer service business, maybe not killing your customers eardrums would be nice.

Made it home in one piece, here’s to next time.

{January 19, 2016} It’s like it was yesterday

Tonight I had dinner with a friend from high school.

We actually went to middle school together but didn’t become real friends until high school, does it really matter where we met? Not really, but we always talk about where we met people, especially when it’s been a long time.

HW and I hadn’t seen each other since high school, you know, college, life, I moved to Georgia, the usual.

We connected on Facebook, as everyone does, and then we saw each other again in person at our twenty year high school reunion and it was love at first sight all over again! More like no time had passed and we were back in high school again.

We’ve kept in touch since then via Facebook and on the phone and tonight over dinner, I’m glad she was free to meet. And just like the last time, no time has passed.

We caught up, reminisced, told stories, laughed, talked boyfriends, kids, family, work, travel, laughed, do you see a theme?

Yup, the image is definitely us, we were that goofy, free and wacky and thankfully, we have stayed true to ourselves since then, go us!

Hugs and kisses and promises to do this again, hopefully not before too long!

{January 18, 2016} Legos at the Mall!

Go see this! Well, if you’re on Staten Island.

The Lego Americana Roadshow is at The Staten Island Mall January 16-31. http://www.statenisland-mall.com/en/events/LEGO.html

This is a very cool exposition that is traveling around the country. The tour is about ten iconic buildings and architectural structures throughout
the mall made entirely of LEGO® bricks! This was fantastic!

I la la la love legos, I am fascinated by what people can create. Some of these structures took 320 to 800 hours to create, amazing!

Dad and I were at Costco this morning because how else do you start a day off? Costco, of course! We saw the sign and thought it would be fun, so a few hours later we headed to the Staten Island Mall and checked out this fabulous and free exhibition!

If you have time, kids, no kids, teach kids, don’t teach kids, feel like a kid, go see this! Worth the trip! Thanks dad!

Do you recognize them all?

The flags!

Look at the details!

Down to the crack! Fabulous!

Lincoln himself would be pleased!

Just for fun…

And in case you’re not sure which monument was which, here are some great posters with details about the buildingand the Lego build.

In case you go, here’s the map.

{January 17, 2016} It’s art, isn’t it?

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, right?

Today, after a very nice breakfast with I&L B and their daughter, J, who I went to high school with and haven’t seen in forever, great to catch up! LaLa, dad and I went into Manhatten and went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

It’s one of our favorite museums. Sunday in NYC and cold, perfect place for all of Manhatten to be there!

We saw monkeys for the Chinese New Year, gilded furniture, out of this world clocks, impressionists and modernists and…ummm…yeah.

As I said, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Smashing!

{January 16, 2016} What a mitzvah!

An amazing day today!

Today, I got to witness a true mitzvah. The literal translation for mitzvah is commandment. It’s also known as doing a good deed, is a mitzvah when you help others, making your parents proud is a mitzvah.

Today, the daughter of one of my oldest and dearest friends from high school became bat mitzvah. She took her place in the congregation, she became an adult, can be part of a minion. Not the little yellow minions we know and love, a minion is a meeting and by Jewish law, you need ten people to make a minion and now, she can be counted as part of that ten.

It is a big step to become bar [son of] or bat [daughter of] mitzvah. You have to study Hebrew for years, learn the prayers, learn to read from the Torah, write a speech, just to give you a little insight.

I got to the synagogue and found CGS, we hugged and caught up for a minute, then went into the sanctuary and took some photos, I got to see the kids and then she was off and running. I found a seat and then our friend FCS arrived with her mom. She is the friend from high school I told you I ran/walked with during the Brooklyn half marathon back in October.

We sat together and caught up and then it was time to start. SHS, the bat mitzvah, lead the service with the rabbi, what a great job. Eventually, it was time for her to read from the Torah and she did it beautifully.

After the Torah and haf-torah, she gave a speech, very sweet and poignant. There were presentations by the family and the temple and then it was over. Mazel Tov!

After the bat mitzvah, it was time to celebrate and celebrate we did! Food, drinks, I went a little crazy…two shirley temples, I know, hold yourself back! Dancing, chair lifting and dessert, what more could you ask for?

I remember when I found out CGS was pregnant with SHS. CGS had been pregnant at my wedding and wore this great dress, stretchy material. She called to tell me she wore the dress again and that was how she told me she was pregnant with SHS, pretty cool.

It’s been such a treat to watch CGS’ kids grow up, all very bright and funny and sweet with parents who really love them, very lucky. I can’t wait for the next one, have five years to go there!

What a mitzvah! And I am so thrilled that I got to be a part of it, a blessing.

{January 15, 2016} What a day…I’m beat!

The day started way too early.

As you know, PSM, my boyfriend, left me for the sunny skies and rainbows of Hawaii VERY early this morning…oh, woe is me…[Start the violins please]

He left about 4:45am for the airport, luckily, we were right there. I couldn’t fall back asleep, I did try. I know he felt bad waking me, I looked so peaceful sleeping, but he couldn’t leave without a goodbye hug and smooch, could he?

So, eventually, I got up and went to have some breakfast ally 5:30am, amazing how many people were there too!

After breakfast, I headed back to the room, collected my stuff and headed downstairs for the shuttle. After about five minutes, I set off on foot for the rental car center, got the shuttle, picked up a car and headed to my place.

I had already packed my bag, so I wouldn’t take to long in the morning. I took care of the cats, loaded the car and got on the road. I’m going home!

It took about 4.5 hours with bio breaks along the way, if you’ve met me you know I can’t go very long without one! But it was nice, no traffic, so it was a straight shot. I’d I didn’t stop, Bertha, my GPS said it would take 4.1 hours, so good job, me!

I got to my dad’s just in time for the last bio break! Got my stuff from the car and went inside, kind of surprised him, he didn’t hear me come in! After a bit, we decided to get some lunch and sushi sounded great! We shared a few things and we were stuffed!

Groceries were next on the list, he looked at me funny and asked if I had really changed my eating habits…I figured that since I have a car, I would pick up some cat food [16# bag]! Why not!

While we were shopping PSM called when he got to San Francisco, leg one of his trip, safe and sound.

Back to the house to wait for LaLa and commiserate with the guys waiting to pour the concrete for the new driveway. It was scheduled to arrive 10am-12pm. Guess when then showed up…3pm! They had to wait around for five hours! The weather was nice so the concrete guy was trying to get in as many jobs as possible.

Laundry went in, I wasn’t missing an opportunity like this! I felt like I was in college again! And dad offered! He’s the best!

LaLa got there and we chatted for a bit and then the truck arrived and like little kids we watched the truck churn, pour the concrete and then the guys lay the driveway. It was so cool! Like watching my Tonka Trucks come to life! It took about 40 minutes to fill dad’s and the same for the neighbor.

When we left for dinner about 5:15, they were gone laying and smoothing, they were in beautifying mode, creases, swirls, very cool.

Off to dinner at a great Italian restaurant that I had been to when I was here in October for the half marathon. We were meeting fabulous people that I have told you about, the couple I call “Mr. & Mrs. The B’s”. He was my teacher of French in middle school and I never called them by their first names again, I can’t!

We were there celebrating Mr B’s birthday. Great fun, catching up, reminiscing, telling stories, laughing, all in all, a fabulous evening. Good friends, good food [even some fabulous gluten-free almond cookie for me!] A sparkling cake and singing, by the entire restaurant were the last thing, terrific!

When we got back, the boss from the project today was back with his son laying down plastic sheeting to protect it from the region coming tomorrow, how cool is that. Great work and fabulous customer service, a very good businessman.

Back to the house, check the laundry, snuggle in to talk to you and I know I am going to pass out early, I am exhausted!

PSM called while I was settling in, I know he’s safe and sound. I asked how he was, he said he was fine with flying for a while, I said that was ok because he was in his new home now.

And now that I talked to him, kissed everyone goodnight, I am going to collapse, big day tomorrow! Goodnight!

{January 14, 2016} A nice quiet night

Just what the doctor ordered.

Tonight was the end of a lot of celebrating and quiet was on the menu.

Since PSM is leaving very early, I booked us a night at a hotel near the airport. He arrived first, stored his bags and hung out waiting for me. When I got there, we went up to the room to chill out for a while.

You know we’ve been to multiple parties and dinners and celebrations and send offs over the last few weeks and it’s been wonderful and exhausting! Tonight, after the last lunch/farewell party, it was just the two of us.

After a bit of nothing, we went down for happy hour and then a bit of dinner. PSM was very excited to learn he could take that last beer back to the room, finish it leisurely and that’s what he did.

Back to the room, snuggle on sofa, enjoy each other’s company one last night for a while.

Safe travels PSM, see you soon! I heart you.

Just what the doctor ordered.

{January 10, 2016} Happy birthday ACS

Today we celebrate my brother-in-law, ACS’ birthday.

ACS and I are the same age for a,little over the months, then he gets to tell me what is like to be a the next age, until I get there.

Everyone gets to choose where they want to eat on their birthday and ACS’ favorite place for his birthday is The Cheesecake Factory and that’s where we went, it’s tradition.

The usual suspects were there, GES, MGS, EMS, B&S M and their son, HM, his brother and sister-in-law, J&AS and added his year, PSM, only people missing…dad and Lala.

Guess what I found in Hawaii! How much convincing do you think it would take to celebrate his birthday there next year?

ACS is a great guy, I’m glad I was here to celebrate another birthday with him.

ACS is a good guy, a fabulous father and great husband to my sister. They’ve been through so much, ups and downs over the last few years and he’s been a rock and someone she could count on, what more could you want for your sister?

I’ve sung his praises a few times, as you may remember, so tonight, I just want to say a big happy birthday to my “little big brother”.

{January 9, 2016} Another wonderful celebration

How wonderful to touch people so much that they want to honor you.

As you know, last night we had a great throw down for PSM, aloha, and SB, happy birthday!

Today was a little more low key, but just as lovely. After a very early start [230am down, 6am wakeup, what!] We got Mollie from the dog sitter, she wanted a few days to say goodbye. Then go the vet for a shot and some paperwork, then to another vet for different paperwork. You thought moving yourself to Hawaii would be tough…moving a dog to Hawaii is taxing!

Then on to PSM’s brother to leave Mollie until we send her to reuinite with him in Hawaii. Whew! After we went back to PSM’s house for a rest, we’ll deserved!

A while later, celebration number two, with the family. We went to J&A’s house to have a nice dinner with the family. Sounds idyllic, doesn’t it!

We talked a bit, then head to J&A for more fun and frivolity. It was J&A, their two girls, M&H, PSM’s brother and his family, S&J with their son, J. His aunt and uncle and his aunts sister, and to rounds the group up GES, ACS and MGS.

The food was great, lots of Italian. While we were sitting there, the girl scout cookie drive was in full speed, I donated cookies, even after “but they have gluten free!”

Speaking of food, the girls made two cakes, one for PSM and one for ACS, his birthday is tomorrow. One guess what tomorrow’s post will be!

We had a great time, laughing, eating, drinking, reminiscing, no settling down for him! It really is such a treat to see how people love, value and respect him. So wonderful and touching to see, it’s not just me thinking he’s the bees knees.

A fun night all around. On to the next exciting event!

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