My day | Peaches Prattlings

{December 6, 2014} I fell on my personality…

That’s something I heard someone once say when they fell on their bum on a muddy hill during a mud run and I fell in love with the phrase!

I am going to tell you about my weekend tomorrow, since I did a bunch of awesome stuff and there were other things I talked about and you know I love telling you a really long story about my weekend all at once. So there…

Today I went for my first ski run of the season and it was FANTASTIC!!! But that is not what I want to talk about. It was fantastic until I fell the last time. I fell a few times, moguls are not my friends and that’s alright, I didn’t even care for them when I skied regularly and I was actually pretty good, all before I moved to Georgia, not much skiing there…

So, this last run, Gold Rush, I was heading down and it was a bit slippery and a little steep. Let’s just say there were a bunch of other people having the problem…one woman slid by on her snowboard and said “I know how you feel”. Let me tell you why she said this…I hit a few moguls and then fell. I got up, headed down, slid and fell. After four falls, I slid without one of my skis and then when I tried to get up, slid some more, I finally sat down and grabbed my one ski, which was under my bum, I decided I was not getting up. I pulled out my phone, opened the Epic Mix app, [My ski pass is the Epic Local] and called Non-Emergency Ski Patrol. It did not help that I was not sure what run I was on…but I tried to tell them, I was close, believe me, I will be paying attention to the runs I am on tomorrow and going forward!

It was very nice that so many people stopped to see if I was alright, one guy even slid me my lone ski. There was a kid who asked if I was alright as he swooshed by me! As I was sitting there waiting for Ski Patrol, the view was beautiful, the sun was starting to set, but it was still very light out. A very nice woman, Lacey, a coach for one of the local ski teams, stopped to help me.

She offered to help me and help me she did! She stood in front of me so I could stand, helped me get my skies on, then gave me advice on getting down the hill. I had told her that I thought it would be my last run of the day and she said you never say it’s your last run, you’ll jinx it! Guess what…she was right! So, per Lacey, I will now say, “I’m going to do two more runs, but not run the last one” whatever it takes, right?

I got to the bottom and I was done, I headed to the car and to the hotel. What an adventure!

{December 3, 2014} Ugh…did I really do that?

Today I did something at work I never thought would happen.

Sorry, I am not going to tell you what I did, it’s a little embarrassing and I know I have shared a lot of my embarrassing things with you, but this time I’m not. I know I’m not sharing and that probably makes no sense at the moment, but I’m just so…

All I can say is I hope it never happens again and I can redeem myself. It was a bump in the road, my manager was worried, I was embarrassed, I apologized and we moved on.

Just send me some good vibes and we will move past this.

Tomrorrow is a new day!

Good night!

{December 2, 2014} Oh boy, another meeting!

Have you ever been in so many meetings you wondered…

“How can I get any work done if I’m in all these meetings?

Don’t get me wrong, the meetings are important; working with the client, fact gathering, spreadsheets, whatever it takes to have a successful project, although sometimes it feels like you’re in a meeting to talk about more meetings and planning a meeting for the next meeting, they all serve a purpose.It just feels like you never have time to get anything done because you are always in a meeting.

Ever been there?

{November 30, 2014} A family tradition continues…The Nutcracker

Today, the family continued a fine tradition started when my sister and I were kids, we went to see The Nutcracker Ballet.

When we were kids, we got one big family gift for Chanukah and went to see The Nutcracker on Christmas Eve, performed by the New York City Ballet Company at Rockafeller Center. We did this for years and years and years, we would get dressed up and go to a matinee at the City Company and then go out to dinner, it was usually my parents, sister and grandmother [mom’s mom, who lived in NYC].

It has been along time since I have been to a production of The Nutcracker and it brought back so many memories. Now, you know how when you do something over and over and it becomes a tradition and the way you saw it first is how you always remember it and it is a good and happy memory and when you see it again and it’s different, you’re like…huh…

Let me preface by saying, this was a wonderful performance! The dancers were fantastic, the choreography was beautiful, the sets, the orchestra, everything, it could not have been better and to see the enraptured look on both EJS and MGS during the performance and MGS twirling her little heart out after the curtain closed, almost to the car, made it all worth it and I could not imagine a better picture, being there with not only my nieces and brother-in-law, but with my dad and sister, just like when we were kids, I was transported back in time all at once as if in a dream.

I have been to see The Nutcracker once on stage in Atlanta, I took my grandmother when she was visiting and once at an IMAX 3D. Both were different and I was not crazy about them, despite being a wonderful performance, but good memories because of the company and story. Something important to point out, the version that we grew up with was the George Balanchine version, each Ballet Company chooses to do their own choreograpy, what we love…Balanchine.

For those of you “not in the know’, here is a link to the entire production by The New York City Ballet Company filmed in 1993, and in the role of the Nutcracker Prince was Macaulay Culkin, who was 13 at the time, and of course we were in attendance that year, he was quite good in the role. Now, just so you are aware, there happens to be some narration during the performance in the video [I found it odd when I first heard it]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZ5Se2ErinU

Act I takes place at a party and Act II takes place in The Land of Sweets. We love the entire ballet, but everyone has their favorite parts and I am going to tell you about ours and I will tell you where they are in the video link. In Act I, I love the when Clara and Herr Drosselmeier’s nephew part company at the part [23:05], when The Nutcracker becomes a boy [46:00].

There are so many to love and dad, GES and I love the entire production, but here you go. We all LOVE when the tree grows [32:52] in Act I, then in the Land of Sweets, my mom adored Coffee, from Arabia, her ultimate favorite part was at the very end, what she does with her feet, amazing! Mine is Tea [52:18], so funny and charming always makes me laugh and GES is Candy Canes [53:24] when he hula hoop skipping, you’ll know when you see it, I must admit, I love that too! We love Mother Ginger, always played by a man dressed as a woman, and her polchinelles [57:00] with her tamborine and hand mirror. My dad’s favorite is The Pas de Deux, with the Sugarplum Fairy and her Cavalier, but the bestest part of it is towards the end, when he pulls her, on point, on a block across the stage [1:09]

I hope some day you get to experience this in person, but if you don’t, please enjoy the link, I know I am in heaven sitting here listening to the music while I talk to you! Happy of happies!

http://www.nycballet.com/Season-Tickets/Nutcracker-Additional/Synopsis.aspx

{November 29, 2014} Family Photos

Today, we took family photos, in the snow.

It was a lot of fun. We had breakfast food: bagels, lox, cream cheese, whitefish, tomatoes, cucumbers and lunch food: deli, cheeses, pickles and then there were desserts: cakes and pies, some new and some leftover from Thanksgiving.

ACS’ brother and his wife, JS and AS, then B&A, who are like grandparents to MGS abs EJS were here too. We had lunch, caught up, figured out what to wear and LS showed up to take pictures.

We took turns heading outside, it was a bit cold out, still a lot of snow on the ground. The girls went first, MGS in her Elsa Halloween costume and EJS in her karate uniform. Then they changed into ‘everyday’ clothes.

There were pictures with just the adults, then the adults with the kids, all sorts of combinations, one big one with the entire group, at one point EJS took one of the cameras and took lots of pictures of whoever was there at the moment.

There were a lot of laughs, especially with the kids, EJS kept tickling our legs.

After, everyone else left and GES, ACS, EJS and MGS took some photos on the couch like they have done in the past. Then, ACS and dad took off and there were play dates and the day went on as normal, as normal as crazy is around here, perfect.

I can’t wait to see the pictures!

{November 28, 2014} Bittersweet

This year, celebrating Thanksgiving in Boston was bittersweet.

The reason I say that is that this was the first time in six years that I celebrated Thanksgiving in Boston and not Atlanta. When I was married, we celebrated the holiday in New York City, Boston or Atlanta and the year we got divorced, I came to Boston with TS to celebrate.

Since then, I have hosted Thanksgiving for all my “orphan” friends, people like me, who didn’t have any extended family in Atlanta, who were not going home to be with families. Sometimes, people don’t have the opportunity to go home for the holidays, sometimes they have to work the next day, so I stated hosting and I have loved each year!

It was as pot luck, with me making the turkey, yes, the vegan makes the turkey! One year, I remember flying in from Nevada the day before thanksgiving, getting there either late the night before or early thanksgiving morning and going right to work. Last year it was even Thanksgivingka, the first night of Chanukah was thanksgiving, what a great meal that was!

Different people have joined different years and some people were each year, CKM, SDL, DJL, Miss A, CC and JC and their baby M, JCT and her family, DCM, AB, JB and A and their son, E, just to name a few.

Last year, I don’t know if you remember me telling you about the dollar store thanksgiving! I had already moved to Colorado, but when we came back to Atlanta for thanksgiving, stayed in my house and hosted using things I bought at the dollar store!

There were so many great memories built over the years and I would not trade them for anything. This year, being with my family in Boston was so very important and while I would not have missed the opportunity, I was missing my family in Atlanta and not hosting, very much. Hence, bittersweet.

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and celebrated with those they love and care about! I know I did!

{November 28, 2014} Today, I am thankful for…

So very many things!

Today is the American celebrated holiday of Thanksgiving. It is the day we give thanks, it doesn’t matter to anyone else what you are thankful for, they are your thoughts and if you want to share them, go for it, if you want to keep them to yourself, go for it!

Today was a simple day, got up way too early, par for the course, but had a good time playing with the girls, making egg sandwiches, hanging with my brother-in-law, dad and my sister, nice and easy. At some point ACS and dad took the girls to the local high school football game, for the longest running rivalry football game, between Needham and Wellsley High School, the Thanksgiving game has been played on Thanksgiving day since 1882! How’s that for tradition! http://needhamhistory.org/features/articles/needham-wellesley/

While they were gone, GES and I tried to watch a terribel movie, Adult Store and when that didn’t work, we put in “And So it Goes” but didn’t get far because everyone came home and it was more time in front of the fire, holiday movies on The Hallmark Channel, doesn’t this all sound so idyllic?

Then it was time for me to make my corn souffle while everyone took showers to get ready to go to T&S S’ house, we piled in two cars and off we went. We got there, headed in and joined the commotion! There were 4 families there, each with two kids, then three granddads, two grandmas and one extra auntie, me! When I got there, I found out that Little E went home last weekend and told his mommy that he wanted Auntie J to come and babysit! I am SO ready for that! I am spoiled!

We all worked together to get the finishing touches done on the food, heating up things, setting things on the table and then it was time to sit down to eat. Now, as most families do, you go around the table to talk about what you are thankful for and our fabulous hostess started. There are a lot of things that this group is especially thankful for and it was a very touching and tearful time, it has been a tough year and we are so thankful to have made it through and come out of it and we can see 2015 will be here soon and it will be the start of a wonderful new year.

After TS, then it was my turn, then my dad’s and so on down the line. There were some funny things said, some insightful, poignant, tearful and of course, whenever the kids have a turn, it’s always adorable. Some kids are thankful for their friends, their family, their grandparents, their food and we all laugh and smile when they say it, they are being honest. Last, but not least was our very own MGS and she became a bit shy, so together we said for her…”Let’s eat!”

Hours to prep and cook, minutes to devour! The funny thing is the one question I am asked the most at this time of year “But Auntie J, what are you going to eat? Well, if you think about it, usually, all but the turkey and stuffing are vegetarian! We had greenbean cassarole [made with cream of mushroom soup], brussel sprouts with carrots, green beans, there was vegetarian stuffing, carrot souffle, mashed potatoes, home made applesauce, rolls and cranberries, now you tell me…out of all that, what couldn’t I eat?

After dinner, we all helped to clean up, then started to prep the desserts. We had apple crumble, pumpkin pie, fresh fruit, pumpkin cheesecake, chocolate and heathbar cookies, coffee cake, peacan pie and ice cream. I think we were set!

After cleaning up we were treated to a show by all the kids, SO cute and then it was time to go, the kids were getting tired and wound up and the grownups were in food coma mode! Time to pack up, suit up and head home. We got outside and it was flurrying, so pretty and I loved watching MGS trying to catch snow flakes on her tongue!

Home for pjs, relaxing and talking to you!

I know I have said this before, but I am thankful to you, my friends, family and follwers for taking the time to read my posts, comment, like and enjoy my posts. I am thankful to have an audience who likes what I have to say and I will forever be greatful! I hope you all had a fabulous thanksgiving and got to spend the day with friends and family.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving

{November 26, 2014} Traveling the day before Thanksgiving

Was not that bad!!

The day before Thanksgiving is known as the busiest and worst travel day of the year. In most places it is very true.

I got on an earlier flight today, 12 pm, so I headed to the airport about 10am, no traffic. No line at check in, no line through TSA pre-check, got to my gate in about three minutes.

There were no crazy lines, crazy people, no overcrowding, no screaming kids, was this really the day before Thanksgiving?

Boarded flight, sat down and about 10 minutes into boarding, a flight attendant comes over and asks my name and then hands me a boarding pass…for first class!

I move to first class, ahhhh…go United Airlines!

I sit down and immediately get offered a drink. We take off, I start watching a movie, thank you free United Airlines entertainment.

Then came the warm towels, bowl of warm mixed nuts, then the offer of lunch. I had an Asian chicken salad, minus the chicken and warm tomato bisque, then came the warm oatmeal raisin cookie. Not too shabby for a flight just over 2 hours.

Then I got my luggage no problem, except for going to the wrong baggage claim first. Got a taxi quickly and no traffic, made it to my sister’s in no time, despite the freezing rain and sleet.

Got to see my dad and sister alone for a little bit, then the girls and b-i-l came home.

All in all, an easy trip, way better than expected!

A very Happy Thanksgiving to you, one and all!

{November 25, 2014} Sometimes traveling is lonely

I know I’ve talked about how much I love traveling for work.

And I do, don’t doubt it, but some days on the road are just lonely. A few years ago I was on a project that had me in different cities around the country, sometimes for just a night or two. I didn’t travel with anyone, so I was always on my own.

When I started with Deloitte in February, I was put in with a large group and became friends with quite a few, I hope you remember me talking about some of them. KLS and KNOB to name just two. We would go out almost every night and had a wonderful time, it made the time pass quickly.

When I was transitioned to Louisville, PM was transferred as well and we went to dinner almost every night together. Then we came to Chicago and we have gone to dinner a lot of nights, we are only here three nights a week and we get done about six, so not always up for dinner, but we’ve done alright so far.

Last week, I worked remotely and PM was here two days on his own, and this week, he is working remotely, might be next week as well. One thing most of the team does not do is go out to dinner after work. It is back to the hotel and tonight, I did the same, back to the hotel and order room service.

Every once in a while it’s ok, but I like going out, seeing the city or town and trying something new to eat, help to relax and detox from the day. This week, as I am on my own, it hasn’t been bad, I went out, but tonight, it was hotel and room service, it felt kind of lonely.

Not having a pity party, so don’t feel bad for me, just melancholy. Heading to Boston tomorrow for the holiday. Can’t wait!

{November 24, 2014} Smoking allowed in a hotel?

I didn’t think you could still smoke in hotels, especially the bigger chains.

I came back to the hotel today and walked into my room and smelled smoke, what? I thought all hotels were smoke free. I have stayed at a few smaller hotel chains that allow smoking, but that was a few years years ago, I don’t know if the same holds true today but I still didn’t think you could smoke inside any more.

I came back to my room at the hotel and it smelled like smoke, which I thought was odd, so I called down to the front desk and they sent someone up to spray, which helped. I also found out that they allow smoking on the fifth floor, the entire floor, what?

I went down to the front desk and talked to the woman working, it turns out that since they have a lot of flight attendants, especially from Asia, the hotel got permission to allow smoking on the fifth floor. Neither one of us liked the idea, but oh well.

The really unfortunate part is that smoke rises, it comes in through the vents, the balcony, the windows, ick, the point is, it comes up and makes the rooms above smell, very unfortunate.

So…while I am thrilled with the size of my room, the smoke kind of killed the illusion, oh well. It does smell better now.

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