My day | Peaches Prattlings

{December 26, 2014} What a day!!!

You ready for today? It’s gonna be a long one! Get some coffee, no-doze, red bull, here we go!

The day started early, well not early like a work day, but 8am after falling asleep about 2:30/3am, that’s early when it’s not a work day. So, I got up about 8, said hello to the cat, hung with Miss A, then with Miss A and SDL while they had breakfast and prepped our breakfast, cinnamon rolls, yum!

DJL came downstairs and the three of us talked and laughed, as we always do and then the cinnamon rolls were done and it was time to munch on some sweet goodness and I believe the first time I have eaten an entire cinnamon roll.

After breakfast it was shower time, hanging out with Boogie Bear, SDL’s cat, who has no tail and from behind, looks like a bear, dress, pack, hugs and kisses and hit the road.

In the car, I headed to lunch with DL at Houston’s, if you remember, DL and I used to work together and she has become one of my closest friends who I love dearly and what a treat to get to sit with her and catch up. We talked about life, kids, grand kids, travel, romance, work, holidays, you name it, we talked about it, all in less than two hours, I was impressed! And thank you again, DL for treating me to lunch, I was very touched.

After lunch, I got back in the car and headed to Decatur to visit with another one of my besties, RJS, she’s been under the weather, so I visited her at home and it was such a great visit. We talked and laughed and caught up and talked about everything and nothing all in the same conversation. The cats came to visit, and I got love from one an typical cat disdain from the other, I was neither surprised or offended.

She was feeling up for a walk before I left, which was great, I could use a little movement and a walk would do her good. We walked towards the entrance and back to her house, then the other direction and back. It was so fantastic to see her! It’s been too long! We exchanged holiday gifts, and my gift was a fabulous pair of RJS original earrings, if I haven’t already told you, she is a master of glass, mostly jewelry and I have received a few pieces over the years and I love them!

After our walk, I changed shoes to a much warmer pair, ready to be outside for the evening and headed to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens to meet CKM. We met, parked the cars and walked to the Garden to enjoy the lights spectacular. We put our names in at the restaurant, there was about an hour wait, gave them my phone number and off we went to admire the pretty lights.

They do a wonderful job a the gardens, all the wonderful lights, in the trees, on the lawns, water, orchid house, the bug and wildlife creations, all spectacular.

After a while, we headed to the café to see if our table was ready, after another 20 minutes we sat down to a rather disappointing experience. The food was pretty good, just overall, not thrilled, but the conversation was good and we had a good time.

After eating, we headed back out to walk around, went into the orchid house, enjoyed the “walk through the treetops” then headed back towards the cars, got our presents and headed to Starbucks for drinks and gifts!

We hadn’t stopped talking yet! We opened our gifts, love! Then as they were closing up, we headed to the parking lot and in typical fashion, we stood there and talked for another 45 minutes, of course.

Then we hugged goodbye, got in our cars and I headed to JT’s house to crash for the night, which is very good because my morning plans are near here.

Ok, so now it’s about one am and time to crash, another busy day ahead!

Good night!

{December 25, 2014} Merry Christmas!

To all my friends and family who celebrate Christmas, Merry Christmas!

All I keep hearing in my head right now is the line from Trading Places “Merry New Year!” Some will get it, some won’t! But I digress, I know you’re shocked!

Today was a great day, it started at JT’s house, well, next door at his parents house where his dad made breakfast and it was yummy! Thank you T! The best part was it was just JT, his brother, mom, dad and me, well, and the dogs, of course. It was fun sitting with them, talking, joking, talking about last night’s festivities and excitement but then, I got to watch them open their gifts and enjoy every moment with each other, that is a very private family moment and I appreciate being invited to be a part of it. All of this while A Christmas Story was on in the background.

After a great breakfast and a rousing game of backgammon with JT’s dad, which reminded me of playing backgammon with my dad, for hours and I won this game, by the way! I headed to SDL’s house for the annual Christmas Day festivities!

I called on my way and SDL and her sister DJL and of course, Miss A were Skyping with their parents, Momom and Popup, I’m sorry I missed them. I headed to the house, went in and started playing with Miss A, who was monopolizing Aunt F’s attention! Then SDL came down from freshening up and we started cooking.

A great amount of food [we went shopping yesterday] two types of pasta, pesto, meat sauce, steamed veggies [carrots, zucchini, squash, spinach, Brussels sprouts and broccoli, guess who was really happy!] bread and salad. Think we had enough for three adults and one child? You betcha!

All this while listening to Christmas music and really listening for certain songs. You know, like “Baby it’s cold outside” or Porky Pig’s rendition of “Blue Christmas” or Alvin and the Chipmunks “All I want for Christmas” or The Waitresses.

We ate, talked, laughed, told stories about celebrating the holidays, crazy families, you know, the usual. It was great fun and after lunch, we went into the den to hang out, watch “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and open presents. I got a fabulous hand made magnet, in the shape of a deridel from Miss A, LOVE! And DJL and I opened our calendars at the same time! My other favorite! I look forward to those calendars!

After presents, there was A Christmas Story, I guess I was making my own marathon! Then after bath and brushing of the long beautiful hair, it was time to watch Home Alone, I think we had a god Christmas viewing lineup. We watched movies, lounged in the hose doing not much else.

And now, my friends, I am going to turn into a pumpkin, if I don’t turn this place over.

Merry Christmas… and to all, a good night!

{December 24, 2014} Happy Christmas Eve

Is that what you say for Christmas Eve?
Or is it just Merry Christmas? Either way… Happy whatever!

Tonight I participated in one of my favorite traditions… spending Christmas Eve with JT and his family. I started spending Christmas Eve with them after my divorce, so it’s been six years, I can’t believe it!

It’s been so great to celebrate with them over the years. They are loud and crazy and from the northeast, could be part of why we get along so well.

I think I told you about going shopping with JT, or annual tradition, well, normally, I go over early to wrap gifts, but last night I decided to wrap everything at SDL’s, made it much easier today, I showed up good to go.

There are always a lot of people and food, seems like a good combination to me.

Normally, we eat and then open gifts, this year was little different as some people were going to have to leave early, this year it was presnts, break for dinner, presents. All the names were in a Santa hat, the first name came out of the bag and we were off.

The gifts were great, people really think about what to get each other, one of the reasons I love going shopping with JT.

Thank you go the family who have taken me in as one of their own, I love you all!

Happy Christmas Eve

{December 22, 2014} Old friends…what a night!

Such a great time tonight!

Tonight I had the best time!! After a great day! (Tell you about my day another day)

I headed to ST’s house and then we headed out to The Roswell Tap, http://www.theroswelltap.com, to meet PK, also known as FB to me and what a time it was!

I’ve known PK since about 1996 when the wasband did lights and sounds for PK’s fraternity cover band. I used to travel with them to gigs on the weekends.

In 1999, I went to work for the same company that PK worked for. Now you’re going to find out how small the world really is.

I kept in touch with PK even after the divorce, and one day we were having lunch and I said I was looking for a job and he connected me with the company he worked for.

On that project, I met ST, who was at that company because of PK. ST had known PK when he sold equipment to the company we worked for in 1999.

The crazy thing is that I started working with ST on a project in 2009, shortly after he did and he was there because of PK.

So…I have stayed friends with both guys and I am so thankful for it! I have seen both of them individually and we talk about the other, but this was the first time all the of us were together in years and let me tell you…If I haven’t already said it, awesome!

ST didn’t tell PK I was coming, but as soon as he saw a short chick walking with ST, he knew it was me and he lot up!

We had dinner and drinks (well they drank, I had hot tea and water, I know, crazy, right?) And we laughed for a few hours, I almost peed in my pants we were laughing so hard!

What a great night! Thanks guys! I’m ready for the next time!

{December 21, 2014} Falling asleep

My friends, I had a great day and it wiped me out!

First class upgrade, gate checked bag, how could I wrong! But…3 hours of sleep, long day decorating a tree and now…I am wiped out!

Therefore. Friends, it is with heavy lids that I bid you a fond farewell, parting is such sorrow, until we meet upon the morrow…

{December 20, 2014} Annie

Today, Papa, Lala, EJS, MGS and I went to see Annie and we all liked it!

The movie stars Jamie Fox as Will Stacks, the multi billionaire running for mayor who, after saving Annie, played by Quvenzhané Wallis, from getting hit by a car, invites her to stay with him because it will look good politically. Quvenzhané Wallis is a very cute and talented little girl.

There is a pretty good supporting cast, Cameron Diaz as Miss Hannigan, Rose Byrne as Grace, Mr Stacks assistant and unspoken love interest, both ways, just in case you didn’t know, but this is a Disney movie after all! Bobby Carnivale plays Guy, the weasely PR guy.

The movie opens in a classroom and there is a red headed girl giving a presentation to the class, who ends with a song and dance and guess what her name was… yup, you guessed it, Annie. It was a cute play on the story and then we meet the ‘real’ Annie.

The movie is definitely an updated version of the original that was released in 1982. There were some songs that were the same, well, were in the movie..’The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow’ and ‘It’s a Hard Knock Life’ were two of them, then they took some of the songs and updated them and then added a few.

As it is a musical, you know they launched into a song and dance number every chance they got and some were great, some weren’t and I must admit, the last song and dance number was kind of lame. Even though Quvenzhané was great and I love Jamie Fox, lame.

All in all, I thought it was a good movie, some very funny scenes and made me nostalgic to watch the original, which happened to be on TV tonight! It was fun for all ages, go and take the kids!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1823664/?ref_=nv_sr_1

{December 19, 2014} An amazing greeting!

Yesterday was travel day and I was coming to Boston for the weekend, as my sister calls it, my northeast connection while I am on the road, it always feels like coming home.

So…as it was a travel day, it was a long one, but I was ready to get back and see my family, especially EJS and MGS and let me tell you, it was AWESOME when I did!!!

I got out of the taxi, got my things and headed up the path, up the steps and knocked on the door. What happened next, I could not have planned and it any better! I so wish I had had a camera to record it!

I could see the girls in the window looking at the candles on the menorah, I thought they would have seen me, but they hadn’t, so I knocked on the door and when they opened it, their faces lit up and in unison they screamed “AUNTIE!!!!!” and then it was attack of the little people and it was wonderful!!!

I walked in, each girl took a bag and then I got individual hugs, told “I love you” whispered in my ear, then telling me about the presents they got…so much excitement.

I will be reliving that moment over and over and over, it was so amazing!!!

AUNTIE!!!

{December 18, 2014} Team Holiday Party

Tonight was the team holiday party for the project I am on.

We went to Pinstripes, http://pinstripes.com/, an upscale place for food, fun, bowling and bocce! When I saw the indoor bocce fields/lanes/pitch/whatever, I thought about my favorite family in Wisconsin, JS, his wife, TS and their girls M&M, love that family!

We had a nice dinner and after dinner, Santa showed up to give us presents! The team members who had family events, babies, weddings got a little something extra, for the rest of us, we got Starbucks coffee mugs and slipper socks, a can koozie and some candy, how nice is that! [sorry, I forgot to take a picture and it’s already packed].

After dinner, we all headed to the bowling area, put on our shoes, check out my socks! and divided into teams on 4 lanes and bowl we did! There was a prize for the highest individual score and one for the lowest individual score, want to guess who won for lowest personal score? The prize: An elf on the shelf and a Kenny G CD of Christmas Favorites! Score!

We had a good time, some good laughs and then it was time to get to the hotel and pack and talk to you.

Happy second night of Chanukah!

{December 14, 2014} Holiday Movies

How much do you love holiday movies?

Do you start watching them around Thanksgiving? Sooner? All year long?

There is the Hallmark Channel, famous for their holiday movies, even Lifetime Movie Network, Netflix has them all year long and there are times, admittedly, even in the summer, I am feeling the need for some holiday cheer and will put on a holiday movie and feel a chill in the air and the proverbial holiday spirit, lifts my spirits right up!

Unfortunately, most of these movies are horrible and have a very similar theme…broken hearts, boy meeting girl, girl or boy already involved with someone but there is always someone better…someone gets hit on the head and ends up in an alternate universe and when they come back to their original self realizing what they really want and end up where they were supposed to be. Maybe it’s a Groundhog Day type of movie, repeating the same day over and over until they get it right.

My sister and I are addicted to these things, no matter how bad they are, written, acted or whatever the case may be, we still love them, she DVRs them and sometimes, watch them over and over and sometimes…once is enough and delete. We like to sneak in a holiday movie in here and there, EJS and GES will watch with us sometimes, but most of the time, GES and I sneak in some time and even stay up late watching them.

I’d write you a list, but I don’t think I have enough time or space!

Guess what we’re doing right now as I write to you?

{December 9, 2014} My weekend in pictures.

That sounds like a book or movie! I love it!

As promised, here are pictures from my weekend in Colorado. I hope you enjoy them!

Friday night in Golden, CO.

All culminating with the lighting of the tree! Such a pretty night and sight!

Day one on Breckenridge:

My view at lunch, what was yours?

The sun is starting to set, beautiful.

My view while I waited for Ski Patrol [sitting on my personality]

Ok, could some of my skier friends tell me how I can avoid bruising from my boots? See the lump on my left leg? If I forget to wrap my right ankle, the beads rub and make blisters, ouch!