My day | Peaches Prattlings

{April 21, 2015} Sunburn…don’t do it! Ouch!

I’m an idiot. Yes, I said it, I’m an idiot.

I went out in the very hot and strong sun without sunblock and I’m not sure if it was subconscious or not, but I didn’t and I thought…”oh, it will be fine”. Not…

Well, a few hours later when I took a break, I found out it was a mistake. I could tell where MGS had been sitting on my lap. I put sunblock on, might be helping for the days after, but not that day and didn’t make me less of a lobster.

When I went to take a shower, it looked like I was still wearing a bathing suit, just in negative!

I am in pain in my shoulders and chest and the shins are the worst, it gets tight for some reason, but…as I already said…it’s totally my fault.

The only plus…when this fades…I’ll have a fabulous tan (fingers crossed!)

In the past, I would start my working on my suntan in the Spring by dropping the top on my convertible and go, with sunblock, staying nice with a bronzed glow for the season, haven’t had much of a chance to do that in Buffalo!

Oh well..lesson learned!

{April 20, 2015} What’s a payphone?

Out of the mouths of babes.

“What’s a payphone?” So asks EJS after we had mentioned something about a payphone.

Well, EJS, it’s a phone that you put money in to make a phone call. Huh?

GES got a land line a while ago so the girls would know what a telephone was and how to answer the phone, all they knew was the cell phone. They now love answering the phone “Hello, S house, who is this?”

I still remember answering and using the rotary phone growing up. Dialing a number, making a mistake, starting over…they don’t know how good they have it!

Isn’t it amazing how many things people take for granted? What we have compared to the way things were?

You kids…you have it easy. Lol

{April 18, 2015} When people get loopy…

The jokes keep coming and coming and coming and quite possibly, they may get worse, but do you care? No! And why not? Because you encourage them and participate!

Tonight, the family was at a seafood restaurant we had conch fritters and PSM had grilled conch. All of a sudden dad says something using the word conch, then ACS says something and it goes downhill from there.

“I used to play a video game, Donkey Conch”

“Truth or Conchequences”

“There was that movie about the big ape, King Conch”

I am now sitting here realizing I can’t remember a single other conch parody and we were going on for a long time. I have to admit, that while there were a few that were totally dorky and a stretch, the majority of them were conghtagious! [see…a stretch!]

So, help me out, give me a few new ones!

{April 15, 2015} Good customer service…makes all the difference

It really does. If you have a bad customer service experience, it can ruin the entire experience.

I know I’ve talked to you about good and bad customer service and I know you’ve heard me say “If you don’t like your job, get another one, it’s not my fault you don’t like your job, please don’t take it out on me”.

I have been places where the food has been fabulous, but the service was terrible, so I don’t go back. On the other hand, so-so food and good services, I would go back to the restaurant to give it another try to see if it might change my mind.

This is not limited to restaurants, I know we all experience good and bad customer service everywhere and have dealt with it in so many different areas. I have even asked if I offended the customer service representative, that sometimes changes the attitude. If I am about to get irate with someone, I tell them before I start that it’s not them, it’s the company, that helps.

Tonight was a great example. I went back to a restaurant for a third time because of the server. Papaya is a nice Asian fusion restaurant in Buffalo, http://papayarestaurant.biz/. The food is good, but the service last night and tonight, the best. Chris was our waiter when I was there last week with two co-workers. When I went back tonight, I asked for Chris and she was working and she remembered me, my eating concerns and was fabulous with suggestions and remembered how I like my water and tea.

It’s the little touches like that that go a really long way. I would recommend the restaurant, for the food, but more for the service. When you have someone who goes the extra step, it’s makes a difference, it’s something I strived for when I waited tables and it made a difference there too, people would come back to sit in my section time after time and my tips reflected it and the bottom line is, it helps the bottom line.

Be nice to people, as they say ‘you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar’.

There, I’m done, stepping down from the soap box.

{April 12, 2015} What a weekend!

Oh friends, I had the best weekend ever!

You don’t know how much I would love to share pictures with you, but as you know, I value my privacy as well as of my friends and family, but if we’re friends on FaceBook, you can see them, if not, I know my joy comes through my posts!

So, sit back, grab a cup o’ something to keep you awake and away we go!

This weekend I came to Atlanta for a visit, but especially to see my fabulous niece, Miss A for her FIFTH birthday and I also got to see another fabulous niece, KK for her FIFTEENTH birthday!

Now, I did not get to see everyone on my list, but I stayed busier than a one armed paper hanger [I’m in the South, please say that with a twang!]. I also realized that I am coming back about every three months, so if I didn’t get to see someone, I will see them next time! Here we go!

I arrive Thursday night and headed to SDL’s house, I didn’t think I’d get to see Miss A on her big day, but I was lucky, they had just gotten home from the birthday dinner with CKM, I was bummed to miss it, but I know they had a great time. I was just in time to see her having a good time splashing in the bathtub, caught up with SDL while she was splashing, then after she got dressed, I got to do her hair, help her brush her teeth and then give a million kisses good night, sigh.

In the morning, got up before the alarm, was there to see Miss A before she left for school and then I left to have my taxes done. I thought my appointment was at 10, all of a sudden 8:50, my reminder went off, what?! Luckily, I was only about 15-20 minutes away! It still took about 2.5 hours! For every state I work in, I have a W2, then the house was a rental for part of the year, not an easy task, thank goodness for Ted Hagerstrom at the Townsend Tax Service! TS introduced me to them a few years ago, she uses them and her parents have been using them for years! They’ve been in business over 62 years, I think they might know what they’re doing! http://www.townsendtax.com/

After that, I headed to Marietta to meet DL, CC and JC for lunch at a great Thai Restaurant, http://www.thairedelephant.com/, the service was ok, food was good, that’s what counts, right? Great to catch up! Then I headed back to SDL’s house, we ran a few errands, then loaded up, to pick up Miss A from school and out for the next birthday dinner! The girl knows how to celebrate! Then it was home for bath, brushing teeth and bed! Friday was done!

Saturday came way too early! 5:45am to be exact, why? Oh, why not…I tried to go back to sleep, no dice, so I lounged, until I heard everyone stirring, had a little matzoh with peanut butter and strawberry jam, because…why not, yum! Then it was get dressed and help Miss A get dressed, teeth brushed and ready for her hippothereapy, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippotherapy. She loves it and is fantastic at it! She has improved by leaps and bounds and as you know, ever the fashonista, has a helmet that says DIVA and diamonds!

After therapy, it was a few stops for me on the way home, lunch for Miss A while SDL went to buy a new lawn mower, shiny new red one! I hung with Miss A while SDL did her thing, then we snuggled while she napped, then SDL and I shared a piece of red velvet cake, one of the many cakes that Miss A had to enjoy during her birthday month! Then it was off to dinner with TS at CPK, California Pizza Kitchen, http://www.cpk.com/. Dinner was great, I had a fabulous grilled veggie salad [the veggies were grilled and served warm over cool crisp lettuce, Y U M!] the company better, it was great to catch up all together.

SDL and Miss A headed home while I went to TS to help her with a project, we had a great time and got caught up, which I love. Back to SDL’s by 11:30, talk to you and pass out!

That was just Saturday! Moving on to Sunday, you tired yet?

Sunday morning woke before the alarm, some quality catch up for a bit, discussing some of the finer points of Dr Seuss’ work. Then it was time to get dressed and head to Kennesaw to see KAB and Baby A! I don’t know what I’m going to call him when he’s 15, might be a bit awkward! We had such a good time, and KAB was awesome enough to meet me at Waffle House!!! When she asked where I wanted to go, IHop or Waffle House, I actually said “Can we go to Waffle House? Can we? Please? can we?” I love Waffle House and there are none in the Northeast so I try to go at least once a trip!

I got there and Baby A was almost as excited to see me as I was to see him and his mommy! Almost immediately he raised his arms and said “down”, loved it! We spent breakfast catching up, playing with Baby A, down, up, down, up, throw this, throw that, catch me, chase me! I really enjoy spending time with KAB, we talk about so much stuff and I’m glad she’s back in Georgia, because I now get to see her almost every time I come for a visit! I can’t believe he is going to be two on June 1st, I remember meeting him when he was a few hours old and now look at him! Happy JJ am I!

After breakfast, I headed back towards downtown to meet CKM for some serious pampering…pedis were on the menu and ahhhh…so wonderful! I recommend them for everyone! And since we were the first ones there when they opened the doors, we didn’t have to wait and now my toes are neat and trim and all sparkly turquois, perfect for the beach!

Since we didn’t finish catch up during the pedis, we always have so much to talk about! We moved on to The Cook’s Warehouse, https://www.cookswarehouse.com/, the location in Brookhaven is closing so everything is up to 45 percent off! More Christmas and Chanukah shopping [and some birthdays too] done! I got a ton of stuff and saved a bunch! I can’t wait for Baby A to get his presents!

After a serious shopping spree we needed refreshments, so off to Olive Bistro we went for some light middle eastern tapas, yum! Then walking a little, found some snack to take back to Buffalo and then it was time to part company, this of course, took us about 20 minutes, as it always has. I so love catching up with friends, especially when it’s like no time has passed!

Next stop…LK’s house! The family is actually in town! I didn’t think I’d get to see them, the best part, total coincidence…we texted each other and then I went out there because my oldest, fabulous niece, KK’s FIFTEENTH birthday is tomorrow and tonight was the birthday dinner and cake made by her two younger sisters! It was chocolate with vanilla icing and lots of sprinkles! The frosting was delicious!

I so love spending time with the family! We caught up, laughed, goofed around, played with the two guinea pigs and three dogs, had a great dinner, the youngest, K made guacamole, yum! and she and mom made home made salsa, what a treat for me! I walk in that house and it’s like we just saw each other last week and I always feel like part of the family, never skipping a beat!

That is the best part about my friends, they really aren’t just friends, they are family and when I send emails letting people know I’m coming to town, I never say “Dear friends” it’s always “Hello family” and it is. I value and treasure each and every one of them. I hope they know and feel it, because it’s so important to me! Thank you for loving and liking me for who I am and wanting to spend time with me! I can’t wait to see you and everyone else next time!

Then it was back to SDL’s to do some laundry, talk to you and get some sleep, the alarm is going off early! I hope you’re not too tired after reading this! And if your weekend was at least half as good as mine, I think that is stupendous!

I am going to crash now, off to Buffalo I shuffle in a few hours!

{April 11, 2015} If you loved me, you’d put me out of my misery

Please, somebody just shoot me and put me out of my misery!

Growing up, I didn’t have allergies other than smoke and when I move to Georgia I still didn’t have allergies. But they say if you don’t have allergies, when you move to Georgia just wait…you will, and it’s true.

Several years before I moved to Colorado, I began to develop allergies and as soon as the Spring began, my eyes get wet and dry, my nose runs and I can’t stop sneezing.

Spring became unbearable, until I found a great homeopathic remedy and then it wasn’t so bad, I would take the pill every 2 hours, let it dissolve on my tongue just as the instructions said. The instructions said and “let one dissolve on your tongue every 2 hours” and every 2 hours I would start sneezing so I became quite enamored with this particular allergy relief.

One of the things I was so excited about moving to Colorado was the fact that my allergies would not affect me or that it would not be as bad, at least that’s what I was hoping, and let me tell you when I moved to Colorado in the first year I sneezed maybe 3 times… because I had to sneeze and I was fine with that.

I remember coming to Atlanta last April to visit and my allergies kicked in very quickly. When I got here on Thursday I wasn’t here even 12 hours and my allergies started to kick in. Since then I have not stopped sneezing, my eyes are itchy, I have rubbed my right eye to the point where I almost have a bruise, and I’m miserable. I can’t take over the counter allergy medications because they make me drowsy, & I haven’t had the opportunity to go down to Little Five Points to pick up the herbal remedy and I’m not going to have the opportunity before I leave on Monday morning.

That means for the next day I have to deal with this because Buffalo hasn’t welcomed Spring yet so my allergies do not affect me in Buffalo…whoever thought I would be excited to go back to Buffalo where it still cold and winteresq!

Are my friends and family in Atlanta worth all this? You bet your sweet bippie!

To give you an idea of the pollen count, http://m.ajc.com/news/news/atlanta-weather-pollen-count-hits-season-high/nkqTt/. Just look at Facebook and if you have friends from Georgia, the are bound to be done funny memes.

I am done with my pity party…I am going to close my eyes and dream about rain. Ha ha

{April 10, 2015} There is a Five Year Old among us!

Miss A is a bonafide FIVE year old!

Where did the time go? She was 9 months old when SDL brought her home, I got to meet her right off the plane, with her Momom and Popop, what an amazing time that was! I still remember the day SDL sent me a picture, “Hey Auntie G, want to see a picture of your niece?” I about fell on the floor and I was tearing up, what a doll baby! Nothing has changed!

I am in Atlanta this weekend because it’s Miss A’s birthday. I made a promise, like I did to MGS and EJS, that no matter what, I would be here for her birthday, either on her birthday or the birthday weekend, depending on work, but I’ll be here and yesterday I flew in and didn’t know I was going to get to see her before she went to bed and we hung out until almost midnight! What a party animal she is!

She is a fabulous, precocious, amazing five year old and every time I see her, I am amazed by something new! I love our one-on-one times, just SDL, Miss A and me, there is nothing like it! Tonight, we went to dinner and when we got home, I got to do bath time, brushing her teeth and getting her dressed for night night, this is a big deal!

Every time I see her, she has learned something new, is doing something else on her own or better than the last time, she just amazes me, did I already tell you that?

So, here I am, for the birthday weekend and I am loving every minute of it! I can’t wait to see what year number five holds!

This video cracks me up and you will be seeing it again in a few weeks when someone else turns five!

Happy Birthday Miss A! I love you very much! Auntie G XOXO

{April 6, 2015} Annoyed

I’ve had so many good days, today was pretty good, just a few things annoyed me.

The day started fine, got up a few minutes early, a little because I was waking up and a little because ACS ran down the stairs getting ready to go to work.

Last night I did something I’ve never done before, I packed for a trip almost three weeks away, a little surreal, but I’m not going to be home very long between trips and next weekend I’m going to be in Atlanta, so I won’t have much time when I get back to Boston to pack.

This morning, I was looking at my bags and was wondering if I had enough britches, I decided to pack half in my bag for work and half in my other bag, sounds good, I can do laundry over the weekend and I always over-pack my britches, and I’m, ok with that, I’d rather over-pack than not have enough.

Dad is up and looks outside and says “Look, it’s Santa Clause!” Yup, my driver looked a little like Santa Clause, I found out a lot about him, he’s married 25 years, has a 21 and 18 years old, never been on a jet plane and has been clean for 26 years.

Then he told us a good joke, “What do you call Santa’s elves?” “Santa’s subortanelves!” ha ha!

I get to the airport, can’t change my seat, I tried over and over yesterday, then no other seats available, back of the plane I go. I miss my Delta, I already have my confirmation of my first class upgrade for Thursday. I had a fabulous veggie omelet, they used my cheese, so it was rich and creamy, I loved it! I had my own matzoh, so I was set.

I stopped at Wegman’s, picked up supplies for the week, lots of good stuff, then I get to the hotel, I’m on the ‘women’s floor’, ‘the what?’ They have little extras for women, like robes, slippers, love it. Then I start unpacking and guess what…NO BRITCHES! I had packed them all in the other bag! WHAT?

Great…so, I know where I am going after class…Victoria’s Secret for some new britches. now, don’t get me wrong, I heart Victoria’s Secret, even though she doesn’t have many secrets left…but I just bought new britches two weeks ago…grr

I left for the hospital, reviewed material with another trainer, we had plenty of time, no one was registered for the class, it was very productive.

Then I was heading to the mall and stopped at Walmart for one thing, ended up buying something else, go figure…As I was at the register attempting to pay, my card was declined, what? It happened again, not happy, so I used another credit card, thinking I would reach out to my bank later to see what was going on.

After I left the store, I got a call from the bank to confirm I had made the purchase, I proceeded to give the representative what-for, apologizing for being harsh, but I was ticked off, as you can imagine. A note is being made to my file, hmm…let’s see what happens next time.

After that, my trip to VS was not as much fun as it could have been, but I did have fun picking out birthday presents for Miss A, so that helped. I got back to the hotel, got into comfy clothes, had some dinner, talked to PSM, played with my new purchase and now I’m talking to you, Bad vibes are gone, I’m getting happy.

I need this…https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2U-rBZREQMw

{March 30, 2015} My day! Surprise snow…twice! Niagra Falls…once!

This morning started early, as every day does, so what else is new?

I get to the airport in Boston, drop my bag, get through security, weather is chilly, but nice, skies are clear. I got breakfast, had a nice sit down, well, as nice as the food court at the airport is, but nice is what you make it, right?

I went to the gate, hung out, had to put my jacket back on when they opened the door, brrr, still clear skies, then I walk down the jet-way and get to the door and what? Snow? Really? Come on! Ok fine…but someone needs to have a chat with Mother Nature, seriously!

So, then we wait and wait and wait some more, the flight was supposed to leave at 9:25, it was about 10:15 that the de-icing truck finally showed up from the other side of the airport! They only have one?! I’m glad I wasn’t teaching today! We finally took off and got in about 11:54, getting off the plane, SNOW! What? Not on the menu! I got my bag, rental car had apparently been cancelled, but they gave me one, thankfully. Headed to the hotel in the snow.

By the time I got to the hotel, no snow, clear skies, so I decided I was going to take a trip to Niagara Falls, the Canadian side. Skies were clear, only about a thirty minute drive, parked, walked down to the water and what started happening? Rain, fun. But I did not let that damper my spirits, truly amazing! I walked to the welcome center, taking some great pictures along the way, ignoring the rain, what a site, so majestic and breathtaking!

I picked up a few things, I don’t bring things from each week I am away, but I went to Canada!

When I came out, it was really coming down, walked to the casino, had some lunch, then headed back to Buffalo…In the snow and rain and sleet and it stopped when I got to the hotel! The sky is beautiful and clear and bright. I was done for the day!

Up to the room, jammies on, chilling out, getting some work done and hoping to get some much needed rest before I start teaching classes tomorrow morning.

I hope you enjoy my photos as much as I enjoyed taking them and being there. A great way to end the day. Amazing!

{March 29, 2015} A good veggie burger

I love a good (veggie) burger.

When I say I love burgers, I always mean veggie burgers, I have to explain as people give people me a funny look.

What I don’t understand is why more places don’t offer veggie burgers, it’s such an easy thing to have on hand. You can buy a box and keep them on hand in the freezer, especially burger joints or pubs, just saying.

I’ve told you about some good ones I’ve had, but tonight, while I was thoroughly enjoying my home made veggie burger, baked in the oven, not on the grill, at The Common Man restaurant with PSM, http://www.thecman.com/m/restaurants-and-menus/common-man-concord.aspx…let me just say Y U M!!! I decided that I need to keep track and share with you the different veggie burgers that I experience around the globe.

Who knows what other veggie burger lovers are out there, you know I love to share!

Here’s to a new venture of tasting and sharing!

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