My day | Peaches Prattlings

{November 17, 2015} For the first time, I’m ok Christmas is early!

Tonight we checked into the Hyatt Regency Buffalo and Christmas is in full swing.

At first, I was thinking, like everyone else…it’s not even Thanksgiving! Of course, the Christmas/Holiday movies have started and don’t the mushpots out there love it? Yes, we do! But I digress…

It is a Festival of Trees, A Multi-Event Benefit for Women & Children’s Hospital and it is fabulous! http://www.festivaloftreesbuffalo.com/. This is the 38th annual event and to date, they have raised over $6.5 MMMMMILLION dollars, amazing!

Designers volunteer to design trees, wreathes, tables. There are some items that already have prices and others are up for auction. Such a worthy cause and ARA and I were completely blown away!

We even ran to our rooms to grab our credit cards and do a little shopping! I’m so excited! I can’t tell you what I got, but they gave us a bunch of sparkly snowflakes in different colors, because we bought some items and helped in a little way. It was so worth it!

There are Nutcrackers taller than EJS! There are presents, wreaths, trees, oh the trees!

Themes, like Nightmare Before Christmas, Disney, Peanuts, Inside Out. Clever trees that look like dresses.

If you are going to be in the Buffalo area over the next month, especially this weekend, stop by the Hyatt Regency in Buffalo and check out this amazing event and the trees, the trees, oh the trees!!!

{November 15, 2015} Ouch! It was H O T!!!

Today I burned my tongue and throat, but good!

We went out for a really good meal. I had a fried eggplant sandwich, a very tasty treat, but hot as hades!!! It was very juicy, pretty sure it was the juice from the eggplant, not the grease from frying.

I cut the sandwich in half, looked good. I knew it was hot, but, oh my! I took the first bite and the juice that squired out from the eggplant scorched my tongue and my throat! The look on my face said it all! Within the seconds the server came over and I asked for some ice, she was back post haste and I sat there sucking on an ice cube, ahhhh.

I didn’t stop eating, I was hungry and it was good, but I proceeded very, very slowly…

Let’s just say, I am still hurting! My tongu!

{November 14, 2015} Saddened and renewed by the world

I am saddened by what happened in Paris. I am renewed by the support the world has shown.

There is so much sadness and violence in the world it breaks my heart.

I was out with PSM and his friends Friday night when MM texted and said he was glad I was home and not in Paris. I didn’t know what he was talking about at the moment, I did very quickly and it was heartbreaking. And it’s only gotten worse.

I remember what it was like each time there is a horrible attack somewhere. People who try to destroy the human spirit by taking lives. Why? Does it truly serve a purpose? What did you hope to accomplish? Did it work?

I don’t really want to talk about what happened, you know, you can research it online. What I want to talk about is the support the world has shown to the people in France.

We, as a people, come together to support each other, show our love and that we care and whatever happens we will not be defeated.

It’s hard when I am saddened by humanity when they try to hurt each other and I have hope when I see the outpouring of support.

mon cœur, de soutien et de bonnes pensées vont à tous ceux qui ont été touché et affecté par les attaques sur Paris. vous êtes fort et allez survivre.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/14/world/gallery/french-colors-1114/

{November 13, 2015} Drinks after work

Tonight, I went out for drinks after work.

But…not with my co-workers. I got to join PSM and his colleagues and friends for drinks after work to celebrate to celebrate a 4oth birthday.

I don’t know of you remember me telling you about the wedding we went to for one of PSMs coworkers, PV, it was a celebration for him.

First, I met him at his office and I got a tour and met a bunch of people, then we walked to Abigail’s, a nice restaurant/bar, for drinks. There were four of us for a while and we had drinks and some starters and then more people showed including PV’s wife. We ordered more drinks and eventually food. I had a really good sweet potato and kale burger, wow! And I wasnt the only one either!

We ate, drank, told stories, laughed and had a great time. His coworkers are funny and og course , when they started talking technical, my eyes glazed over! But it was still a lot of fun.

I’m glad I was invited and I’m glad I went.

{November 12, 2015} Are you a polite flyer?

A valid question.

The reason I ask is that today, I was flying back from Buffalo and there was a man sitting in front of the seat next to me, humming and singing almost the entire flight. In first class.

Now, it doesn’t matter where you are in terms of the plane, you should be polite no matter what.

I think it stuck out more, to those of us around him, because we were in first class.

One of the things I like about flying is that you can’t use your cellphone to talk to anyone. You can play games and watch movies, but I shouldn’t be able to hear you because you should have headphones on/in.

I don’t have a problem with people talking, but at normal volume for private conversations. I talk to people on occasion, whether I know them or not, I know go figure!The entire flight from Budapest to Amsterdam, the three people behind us…never. shut. up. Omg! Please! And it was at a decibel that I would not classify as polite in a small confined space.

The guy humming/singing today didn’t stop. He had giant headphones on and just kept going. Then on the shuttle from the plane to the terminal, still going, really?

I’m happy for you that you’re enjoying whatever it is, but I wasn’t asking to share and…

it might have helped if could actually sing!

{November 11, 2015} EscapeRoom

Today we had a team building experience, EscapeRoom Buffalo.

You may have heard of Escape the Room. This is an event for team building, birthday parties, a Friday night evening of fun, just because. Basically, your group is locked in a room, with a theme of some sort and there are clues you need to work together to figure out how to get out.

The theme of tonight’s event was Escape the Brewery. Uncle Albert owns a brewery and we have to make the delivery, we can’t be late or Uncle Albert goes under. There are clues hidden in drawers, under tables, behind things. You need to figure out the combinations to locks, find the key to a door or box. The key leads to the next door where there are more clues. If we are slowing down or not solving a clue in a decent amount of time, then a clue comes under the door to help the team.

I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it was loads of fun! There were times when one of us figured something out on our own, but mostly we worked as a team, just like we were supposed to and there was no fighting, as I’ve heard tell.

We were getting nervous, there were about eight minutes left and we found the key to get out! We finished in 51:12, with only 7 clues, we made 4th place! We did our team proud! The Learning Aggravators!

All in all, a really fun experience! I think I might have to arrange one soon!

About The Escape Room of Buffalo

A very happy birthday to my son, WCH, who turned 26 years old today. Sending him good thoughts, hugs, birthday wishes and love. Happy Birthday.

{November 9, 2015} Panic attacks

Or moment of panic, fun, huh?

Tonight I had one, slightly stressful, ok, very stressful! I couldn’t find my wallet. I know none of you have ever experienced that before, so you just wouldn’t understand what I went through. Did you like that bit of sarcasm? I thought it was pretty good!

So…what happened was this…after finishing work tonight, I went to meet PSM for dinner at The Friendly Toast, a wonderful place near him that we love. All was fine at dinner, I gave him a ride back to his house after and when we got there, his sister-in-law, JM was there. She’s taking a class in the area on Tuesdays so she stays with PSM on Monday nights.

She and I chatted after PSM went to bed and then I left to head home. I was at home, packing for my trip tomorrow, back to Buffalo, and as I’m getting everything ready, I can’t find my wallet. Now, this is not a large space, so where could it be? I have another story to tell you soon about where I am staying, but enough about that now.

I went through everything, every nook and cranny looking for my wallet, I remember having it, but not what happened with it when I got home. I normally keep things in one place, but as I am in a new place, not sure where that place is just yet.

I unpacked my bag and repacked it…twice, looked through the trash…twice, the bathroom…twice, the laundry…twice, everywhere twice, including the car, although that may have been three times, to no avail. I texted PSM and then threw caution to the wind…called him.

I am so sorry I woke him, but I am glad I did because it was at his house, thank goodness! I know he went back to sleep and he’s my hero of the day, he’s my hero of the day quite often, for little things, but he gets big superman props for this one!

Now, I can sit down, write to you, breath and get some sleep. whew…

{November 8, 2015}

What is a relaxing Sunday? Could someone explain it to me?

People experience international travel differently. Some people get wiped out by jetlag, sometimes it hits later, some people have trouble adjusting or readjusting to their time zone. When we were working on the plans for the trip, we decided to come back Saturday morning so we could chill and relax on Sunday. Ha!

Apparently my internal clock is still 6 hours ahead. So, after falling asleep about midnight 6am here) I felt the need to wake up at 3 am and apparently, I’m not go back to sleep.

I stayed in and unpacked, cleaned up, all while binge watching ‘How to get away with Murder’. Dozed off one or three times!

PSM unfortunately woke up at 6am, ugh. He and Mollie when for some walks, then he picked me up and took me to GES’ house to pick up more stuff. Back to the apartment, unload the car , back to GES for dinner and catch up and more loading of the truck.

I love my greetings and catching up!

Back to the apartment, unload the truck, we’re getting there! PSM left so he could spend some time looking at the back of his eyelids.

Now, at 12:30am it’s time for me to bid you a very good night. It’s a work and school day tomorrow!

{November 4, 2015} Day 19…Nice to Budapest

Today we bid a fond farewell to Nice, au revoir, and said, helló to Budapest.

Up early and since we were so efficient in our packing last night…we ended up sitting around waiting for the taxi, and waiting and…

The driver arrived and off we went. We got to the airport in no time, dropped our bags, headed thru security and went in search of a petit dejeuner. They had Pastéis de Nata!!!

The flight to Brussels was an easy one, then a 2 hour layover and another two hour flight, all better than the 24 hours it would have taken ya by train.

We got off the plane, got our bags and immediately saw the ad for the City Pass, which included a shuttle to and from the airport, which is good because we are about 40 minutes from the airport. We sat next to a lovely woman from England who comes to Budapest every year and have us some great pointers.

This is an amazingly beautiful part of Budapest, technically we’re in Buda. Omg at the church right across from the hotel, I can’t even begin to tell you!

And the room, oh my word! It’s the biggest room we’ve had! We could have a party!

We found a lovely lite place for dinner, lots of different nationalities, we are in the touristy area.

Let me tell you one thing…Hungarian is not an easy language and I’ve had it pretty good so far, I’m going to do my best here, luckily it’s only for two more days! PSM is doing great! We made the waiter laugh with our efforts and he appreciated it. All you need to do is try!

szép álmokat!

{November 2, 2015} Day 17…Nice…A hike…Museums and Monaco /Monte Carlo!

What a day! Breakfast in Nice and dinner in Monaco, who does that?

No alarms again, but in case you were wondering if my “personality” hurt from my spill last night, let’s just say I didn’t sleep much. Every time I moved or rolled on to my side….ouch. So, I got up a little early, closed the blinds and let PSM sleep a little longer.

We got up liesurely, got ready and headed out to get some breakfast. Our original plan was to get some sandwiches and sit on the beach. We headed across a square, saw the circus coming in or going out, then a flea market, no fleas, just lots of stuff people were selling, flatware, art, clothes, toys, jewelry. This was not your average flea market, but it was fun to look.

Then we made it to the beach, no sandwiches. It was wonderful to sit and look and feel. Today it was a bit colder, eventually, I regretted my choice of attire in a skirt and shirt sleeves, even the sweater didn’t help some times, that got fixed later.

We ended up at a cafe for the full American/English breakfast. Pastries, fruit, juice, eggs, bacon (minus the bacon for me, it’s ended up with three eggs) and coffee or tea. The only issue…they were Sunnyside up! Anyone who’s had breakfast with me knows I do not like soft eggs at all! Cooked firm, all the way, but…I ate them, yes I did! It wasn’t horrible, but I’m not doing it again!

Now it was time for an adventure! The Musee Marc Chagall, a 30 minute walk…up hill most of it, but we got there and…closed got renovations, what! Trip Advisor knew, but we didn’t. Oh well, Musee Matisse was only another 20 minute walk…uphill. let’s just say, my glutes are loving me, not!

A beautiful building and a lovely collection, you’ll just have to imagine it, no photos.

We decided to go see Notre-Dame de Nice and have some lunch, but we wanted to get there sooner than later, so bus it was. A very nice woman told us which bus, the one she was waiting for and which stop to get off, hers. She even confirmed with the driver for us, how nice!

The church was beautiful, I lit some candles for some friends, as I’ve done in a lot of the cathedrals we’ve been in.

Then it was off in search of lunch. Little hole in the wall place for chicken kebabs and a veggie sandwich for me. The woman gave me a really nice compliment, that I was speaking French very well, thank you Monsieur B et Madame E!

After lunch, back to the hotel to change into warmer clothes, regroup and then head to…Monaco/Monte Carlo! Look out James Bond!

It was about 20 minutes by train and 3.40 euros a ticket, round trip. Just lovely.

We walked around, found the shore, then the Hotel de Paris and the Monte Carlo Casino and all the expensive cars, including the Lamborghini of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Royal 1.

Someone…not me…got to go into the casino and look around and maybe play a little, too bad you couldn’t take pictures!

We thought about dinner in Monaco, but when a Long Island Iced Tea and bottle of Evian costs 30 euros, you kind of wonder.

Back to Nice on the train and a lot of places were closed, I guess they roll up the sidewalks in the evening off season. So…back to the same wonderful hole in the wall pizza joint for another wonderful pizza and beer and as the owner was flipping channels…last Thursday’s Patriots vs. Dolphins game, guess who was happy! Fun with the commentary in French and no commercials. All in all, a good dinner.

Back to the hotel to talk to you and get ready for the next adventure!

de beaux rêves!

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