My day | Peaches Prattlings

{July 27, 2014} Whoever said Sunday was the day of rest…

Has never spent a Sunday at my sister’s house!

I talked to TS tonight and she said she thought it was just busy when I was here, special things going on, nope, just another day in this house!

The day started too early, about 7:30, but I decided to put my head back under the cover and not come out until 8:30/8:45, so there! Got up and GES was getting last minute things ready for EJS for camp, they were leaving about 1:30. ACS and MGS went to swim lessons while mommy showered and EJS and I headed over to S&L R’s house to pick up and old digital cameral for her to take to camp.

We headed back to the house then loaded GES and dad into the car and went out to meet ACS, MGS and S&B at Panera [I know, I know, you loathe all the initials] for breakfast so they could say goodbye before EJS goes to camp for two weeks. The girls got haircuts and dad and I went back to the house and I worked on printing labels for the letters from EJS at camp.

After we were at the house, the only thing left was completing the labels and envelopes, making sure everyone was covered. If they want to get access to the canteen…three letters a week. Sounds good to me, fingers crossed I get one! We even printed out fill in the blank letters!

Somewhere in there it started raining like crazy, so the girls went out and played until they were soaked and loving life. Then it was time to pack up the car and say goodbye to mommy, daddy and EJS, drop off is tomorrow at 10:30am and they’ll be back in the afternoon.

MGS, dad and I settled in, I made popcorn and we watched Kung Fu Panda, dad really liked it and the third time was cute for me. After that, MGS watched Dora the ‘Explorah’ and we got some stuff done like laundry, dishes, stuff.

When Dora was over, we got dressed, MGS determined she was going to wear pjs as her outfit, so she would be ready for bed, as she put it, headed out the door, grabbed her bike and away we went. She started riding and she didn’t want to stop.

About half way towards town, dad went back to the house for the car so we could drive home and MGS and I went about a mile, go MGS! Peddling her little heart out, so cute with her Sesame Street helmet!

We found a restaurant, Fuji, Japanese steak house, parked her bike inside the door and in we went. When we came out from the restroom, we found a family that lives down the road, good friends of the family and we sat with them for dinner, very small world.

After dinner, we went for frozen yogurt, came home and after about 20 minutes, MGS said she was ready to read stories and play a game, this was code for, it’s time for bed. I asked if she was tired and she nodded and the best part “I’m already in my pjs!” Very smart that niece of mine!

Up we went, ‘The Princess and the Pea’ on Popa’s iPad and Trouble with me and then it was nighty night. She was asleep in approximately 6 minutes, despite fighting me on it. I headed downstairs, checked some emails and then I talked to TS for almost two hours. I love those types of conversations!

Now…I’m talking to you, even though I thought about talking to you before 10pm, we see how far that got us. So, I will sign off and say goodnight, someone has to get up and take a certain wee tot to daycare.

Goodnight!

{July 26, 2014} Day two…hit the ground running and they’re off!

Another crazy busy Saturday happened and started at 8:30.

Just to clarify, it actually started several hours earlier because of certain little feet but I hell bound and determined not to wake up at 6 a.m.

GES found a free futon on a neighborhood site so we went and picked it up, which is wonderful to replace a pull out sofa bed.

After that it was again nonstop, yard sales, clean up, the girls were selling selling items they made, I got a fabulous grey duct tape purse/wallet.

There was lunch and final preparations for getting me ready to go to camp tomorrow for two weeks!

About 3:45 dad and i took the girls to the movies. We had popcorn and water and snacks and watched Planes: Fire & Rescue and it was awesome! All four of us, blog post review coming soon).

Next it was walking around the out door mall, got in the car to go to Orange Leaf for some froze yogurt and then home for dinner. Don’t you love how that works?

At home, there was dinner and playing and videos and then it was time for night nights. Books, a little silliness and then lights out.

Everyone was asleep and then mommy and day 5 got home with some family friends, SR and his lovely wife, LR.

Everyone finally confessed and now I can go finally go to sleep!

{July 25, 2014} Auntie J made it to Boston, finally!

The day started way to early… Six am to be exact.

I didn’t fall asleep until about 3 am last night and since I didn’t pack the night before, I requested a 6am wakeup Call So I could pack, pick up KLS head to the out airport.

Checking in was easy enough. Taking off was not as simple. Apparently there were technical difficulties, which, do we really want to know there was a problem with one of the engines? We took off about 1.5 hours late, only.

I fell asleep waiting to take off, giving up fighting with the woman next to me for the arm rest.

GES picked me up from the airport, so good for some one on one sister time. We went to lunch and dad met us there, good food and great company. Daddy and his girls.

We headed back to the house, GES had a conference call and at 4:15 we headed it to pick up EJS from the camp bus. She was happy to see us, yet cranky a little, that’s what happens after a long day playing in camp!

Shortly after we got home, there was a play date for EJS and a girl who will be in her bunk at camp next week. Then
ACS and MGS got home and we wrestled and played and tickled until it was time for dinner.

After dinner there were treats, I brought cookies from Cupcake Station in Ann Arbor, yum! Then it was stories, jammies and bed, for the kids!

Apparently I was tired because while watching a video with MGS she asked if I was asleep, she said I was snoring!

We had kisses and books and kisses and hugs and then it was night night.

After all that, I went downstairs and hung with my sister and brother in law for a while and here I am talking to you!

What does tomorrow hold?

{July 18, 2014} My day: Travel, boxes, moving, dinner, packing, surreal

Today started normal enough, for a travel day.

I was wide awake at 6:45, of course, since the alarm was set to go off at 7:30, sure, why not. I got up, got motivated and out the door at 8am for the airport. I dropped off the car, fingers crossed I get another Beetle on Sunday! The flight was uneventful, after dealing with the car and finally getting to the terminal, I got to my gate in time to board, don’t you love that, no waiting. This was after getting a yummy egg mcgriddle from McDonalds, yum! Eggs, pancakes, syrup all in a neat sandwich, what could be better?

Saw JCT’s brother GC at the airport, he is a manager with Hertz, and we caught up for a few minutes, I haven’t seen him in a few years, it was nice. Then pick up my car from Avis, $20 a day, not bad! But $36 in taxes and fees? what? Oh well. It’s nice, an upgrade to an SUV, can’t beat that!

On the way to my house, I stopped for something I know I shouldn’t have, but I was craving it and by gosh, I wanted it and so I got it! Fellini’s Pizza is on the way and it’s near my first solo apartment in the Virginia Highland area of Atlanta. I used to go all the time and then it became a tradition after I moved to the burbs to stop there on the way home from the airport, so why break tradition? A NY style slice and a coke, both a BIG NO-NO to my stomache, but it was so worth it! And no, I did not use the knife and fork, they bring those with every meal. I got some grief on FaceBook for it, but I can assure you “No self respecting NY’er eats pizza with a knife and fork!” you fold the slice! http://www.fellinisatlanta.com/fellinis.html

Then home to see what the situation was like and then to Walmart for supplies. I don’t know if I’ve told you, I found a renter for my house! WAHOO! That’s the great part, the ugh part…they wanted to move in TODAY! What? Not happening! We moved it to next Friday, so…I have to get EVERYTHING out! Not a huge deal since I moved almost everything when I went to Denver last year, but all the stuff for staging and furniture is still here! Oh my!

I am selling almost every piece of furniture [bedroom, living room, dining room, office, you name it!] The only pieces I am keeping are my armoire and roll top desk. Whatever doesn’t get sold is going to consignment or donation. I already sold my kitchen table and chairs! Go me! [she’s interested in the dining room, fingers crossed!] If you’re wondering why I don’t want any of it, it’s furniture I bought when I was married, don’t need to take it with me and someone else may love on it! It’s great stuff! I am hoping to have to sleep on the floor tomorrow!!

The rest of the stuff are the knick-knacky things I had when the house was staged for sale, we see how well that worked out! So, tonight, I pulled everything out of cabinets, shelves, drawers, you name it, it’s all on a table, chair, middle of the floor! I am finding more things I want to put up for sale, isn’t that amazing!

Tomorrow will be selling and showing and packing what’s in the garage, tomorrow afternoon, after the sale will be packing the boxes of stuff for storage. I am going to rent a storage unit here until I can get everything back to Denver.

I took a break to head downtown to meet JCT and AB for dinner at the Brick Store Pub, a place I love and haven’t been to in a while. It’s a great ‘English style neighborhood pub’, loud, friendly and with great food. So good to catch up with friends! http://www.brickstorepub.com/intro

On the way downtown, I dropped off some pieces to a neighbor who had bought them last year and I promised to give them to her when the house sold or rented, there you go! The best part is she is fostering kittens and brought me in to look at the five week old babies! OMG! SOOOO cute! tiny and furry and sweet and wanting to play! I got out of there quick or I would have left with some! Two is enough! I told you…more than three and you’re the crazy cat lady, especially if you live alone!

After I got home, I got to work, continuing to move the things off the walls and shelves, ready to be packed and that will be tomorrow and Sunday.

I was going to talk about my feelings and how it is being in the house for the first of the last two nights, but I’ve talked enough and I’ll tell you more tomorrow. Besides, I have to get up in a few hours to get ready!

Wish me luck, send me good vibes and make all this stuff go away!

Good night!

{July 17, 2014} Art Fair 2014

July 16-19, 2014 brings over 500,000 people to Ann Arbor, MI for the 55th year of Art Fair.

This is one of the largest art festivals in the country. Their mission “To increase public knowledge and appreciation for contemporary fine arts and fine crafts by creating opportunities that connect artists, the Ann Arbor community and the general public to their mutual benefit, culminating in a top quality juried street art fair.”

If you have been to an art festival anywhere, you have an idea of what this festival was like. Tent after tent after tent of photographers, jewelers, sculptors, metal workers, painters, clay, mixed media, glass, wood, if you can think it, it’s probably there, not to mention food and music. They closed off all the streets in the center of Ann Arbor and the surrounding streets and the tents went up, it’s crazy! There is something on every street and street corner.

Not only tents went up, but businesses opened their doors and put up their own tents and extended their stores to have some fabulous sidewalk sales.

When friends from all over, who went to undergrad or graduate school at U of M or were from Ann Arbor, found out I was in Ann Arbor for a few months said I had to go to Art Fest, must go to Art Fest, it’s a huge deal! And I was so excited that I would be here and here I am!

I didn’t buy very much, as I don’t have anywhere to put it, but I still had fun “window shopping”. I bought two things for myself and explored some of the alleys that the town has to offer. I thought about and thought about and thought about the Storm Trooper Sugar Skull, isn’t it the most! To say the least?

I hope if you’re in the area you have a chance to get out and check out the 55th annual Ann Arbor Art Festival!

http://www.artfair.org/

{July 14, 2014} My day: poor customer service, a small world and new friends

You know the expression, what are the odds? Well here you go.

The day started normally enough. Got up, got some work done, went to lunch at The Lunchbox, that great vegan restaurant I told you about. The reason we went to The Lunchbox, Angelo’s was closed for vacation, go figure. The Lunchbox it is and KLS loved it, so we can go back! Score one for the veg-heads!

After lunch, I took KLS to work at the hospital and I headed of to a local Avis to take care of some issues with the rental car. The experience was less than stellar so I left, I am going to be at the airport Thursday, I’m going to take care of it then. I did call Avis to express my concerns, I’m getting a $25 off coupon for my troubles. I only have to wait 7-10 days because they’re mailing it. What happened to email? Is it lost to us forever?

I headed back to the hotel and decided to do some laundry. While I was in the laundry room, I started talking to a very nice woman who is moving to Michigan from Philadelphia and the more we talk the more find out about each other.

When we started talking about where we were from, she said her husband was from Staten Island, which you know that is where I come from. I then asked her if she knew about Denino’s and her response was priceless! Her husband took her to Denino’s and Ralph’s on their first date! How small is the world! Seems to be getting smaller every day.

I met a friend for dinner, the food was ok, company was great, which made up for the did and that’s what really counts!

After dinner, I had some errands to run and finish up my laundry and while I was in the bar talking to Nel, I met four very nice guys who were watching the Home Run Derby.

It was fun chatting with them, Jeff, Paul and Chris were all with the same company and in town for their monthly catch up and Doug is in from Syracuse.

We talked and laughed about traveling, both for work and pleasure, Michigan, our time here and after a while Chris bade us good night, then Paul and Jeff, Doug and I talked about the All Star Game, some sports, work and travel and then we realized it was 2:30 am and time for us all to turn back into pumpkins!

So here I am at 3am trying to keep my eyes open! Good night!

{July 10, 2014} Marshmallows…

Make me happy. Yeah, that’s about it.

Kidding, I will tell you more about my thoughts on marshmallows. I haven’t always liked marshmallows, but they are a little bit of fun and fluff.

But…I’m not into eating Fluff though, I think it’s weird, you know Fluff and peanut butter sandwiches? No appeal to me at all. As you know, I don’t like chocolate unless there is peanut butter involved, but every once in a while, if there is a campfire and s’mores, I will make one, it’s fun. What could be better? Squishing a piece of chocolate and a marshmallow between two graham crackers…yeah, sounds good. And messy.

I remember being a kid and taking marshmallows and pulling them apart to make taffy, sticky but fun. And who doesn’t like marshmallows melting into their hot chocolate? And come on, how long did you search for the perfect stick to put the marshmallow on to roast it over an open fire or maybe in the fireplace on a cold winter’s night, living room camping!

Why am I inspired to tell you about my affection for the little white fluffy things? [Aside from the fact that you never know what is going to come out of my mouth?] Yesterday, KLS and I were running errands and were in the grocery section of the store and I saw a bag of giant, square marshmallows and decided to buy the bag. I can tell you that I will probably have this bag for a year. I can’t eat very many of them at all, they are so sweet, so I will eat one and then maybe the next day have another and then…it will probably be a week or so before I have another so…

Be on the lookout, I will be sharing them, why not, it’s like sharing a bit of love.

{July 10, 2014} I’m allergic to…

Am I allergic to something else?

I already have a list of things I’m not supposed to eat due to gastritis, you don’t want to know. You know I gave up dairy about two months ago, still dealing with that.

A few years ago I figured out that I’m allergic to soy milk when I had a white hot chocolate made with soy milk and my mouth started to itch, so much, I was scratching it with a fork! I thought it was a fluke until that summer, I ate some cereal with soy milk, same thing, among other things happening. So, no more soy milk for me.

Last week, I had an allergic reaction, same thing, took a Benedryl and I fell asleep and when I woke up, all better. I’m not sure what it was, hoping it wasn’t the watermelon. Today, I had the same reaction after eating a plum, no Benedryl, but there was some Claritin down in the hotel lobby, it seems to have worked.

Oh, please..I don’t want to be allergic to anything else! [I’ll keep you posted as I keep eating]

{July 6, 2014} Another busy day! Gravestones, Cars, Dinner

Ready for another crazy day? Are you still keeping up? Did you take a nap after my last post?

Today started early for a Sunday, but we had things to do! I woke up before my alarm was set to go off at 8am and leisurely got up, which is the best way to wake up, meandered out and met TS preparing some coffee and tea, we made breakfast and had a nice sit down meal.

Then we got in the car and headed down to Oakland Cemetery for the tour at 10am. I have always wanted to tour the cemetery, “Less than a mile from the heart of downtown Atlanta, a hidden treasure, a secret sanctuary, welcomes you. This garden cemetery, founded in 1850, is the final resting place of many of Atlanta’s settlers, builders, and most noted citizens like Bobby Jones, Margaret Mitchell, and Maynard Jackson. It is also a showplace of sculpture and architecture, and a botanical preserve with ancient oaks and magnolias. Here in this peaceful place the full scope of the city’s rich and fascinating history unfolds before you.”

They also have some great events, like ghost tours, music events, 5k races, so many events.

We enjoyed the tour, saw some fantastic works of art that are actually grave markers, touching tributes, amazing statuary, stained glass. We learned about the foliage, how it is selected based on times in history, history of the different sections of the cemetery, tributes based on wealth and age of the loved on. One day soon, I will give you full photographs and information that I learned. Until then, here are a few pictures to enjoy. http://www.oaklandcemetery.com/

After the full two hour and so worth the money tour, we went across the street to Six Feet Under. I had been wanting to go and…if we showed our receipt would get $5 off our meal, what could be better!

We had a great lunch and for dessert, some fantastic white chocolate, banana bread pudding with whiskey caramel sauce! Let me just say Y U M!!! http://sixfeetunderatlanta.com/

After lunch, we took our coasters to the High Museum of Art, they had $3 off coupons, how could we resist? This was an amazing event, there were cars from the early 1940s to new cars from the 2000s. These were some sleek, beautiful and amazing looking cars, a beauty and a joy forever. I will post a full album very soon, here are a few to get your gears shifting! http://www.high.org/Art/Exhibitions/Dream-Cars-Innovative-Design-Visionary-Ideas.aspx

After the exhibit, we drove back to TS’ house to relax and I headed out at 5pm to head to Buckhead to meet my dear friend LGR and her husband MR and their adorable daughter, CR. We met at Farm Burger for some good food, conversation and laughs, it’s always a good time. LGR and I have known each other for almost 20 years, I met her my second year in Georgia and when we get together or talk on the phone, it’s as if no time has passed, don’t you just love friends like that? I know I do.

http://www.farmburger.net/buckhead/

After dinner, I headed to my house to have a peek around and now I am writing you and tomorrow, I will head back to Ann Arbor, MI. What might be my next adventure?

{July 5, 2014} A marathon of a journey…for real!

Ok folks, get ready, this is going to be a douzy! We’re packing two days into one post! I owe ya!

Picture it..July 4th 4am! What? Yup, that’s when my day started…along with a bunch of other people in Atlanta, getting ready to participate or volunteer, or both, for the 45th running of the Peachtree Road Race.

I got up, hoping not to wake SDL or Miss A and I was successful. I got up, dressed and out of the house by 4:24 and I was on the road by 4:26. I made it to Phipps Plaza to park by 5am, they were closing the road by 5:30. I met up with CKM and checked in for my post. It was our 5th year volunteering for the Peachtree Road Race and this year, we got a special pin! We get a pin every year we volunteer and every five years you get a special commemorative pin and we earned it!

Then we went to our post at the start, we were going to be corralling the seeded runners, getting them ready to line up to go forward and run their hearts out. First there was the Original 110. This group consisted of some of the original 110 runners from the first Peachtree Road Race in 1970 and there were also some of their grandkids, it was really cool. http://www.peachtreeroadrace.org/press-center/history

Next came the wheelchair racers and they were fantastic. It’s a lot of fun to watch them take off, it’s like a giant windstorm came through. They have several rows of the racers, the last row are the runners who push the wheelchair participants, makes you feel all warm and fuzzy and so proud! The men’s and women’s winners were both American! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peachtree_Road_Race#Wheelchair_race_divisions

Then came the Women’s 10k World Championship followed a few minutes later by the Men’s 10k World Championship. Both the men’s and women’s winners were American in this race group as well! http://www.peachtreeroadrace.org/articles/view/landry-hastings-win-on-picture-perfect-peachtree-day

Before The Original 110 group, a duo sang America the Beautiful and before the Championship races, they sang The National Anthem. It’s amazing to see the flag flying, all the participants looking up at the amazing flag with their hands on their hearts, some, like me with our hats in our hands covering our hearts and to feel such pride as I listen and sing and know that it has so much meaning to me and to this country and I will be honest, there is no other song that makes me tear up when i hear it as The National Anthem.

Then Group A followed a few minutes later by Group B and at that point CKM came running across the road to return her placard, I had already returned mine, since I was on that side of the street and as soon as Group C went, we jumped in at the very end, crossed the start and we were off!

We had a lot of fun, walking, talking, hi-fiving kids and adults alike, seeing great costumes and signs and enjoying the beautiful 67 degree morning! Yes folks, I said 67 degrees in Atlanta in JULY!!! That was unheard of, but it was perfect! I actually had long sleeves on for a while!

It took us officially 1:49:33. Out of 28693 women participating, I came in 25589. I’m pretty proud! There were 28478 men, 29694 women and 57171 total finishers. Not too shabby if I do say so myself!

I really enjoy the tradition that CKM and I have had for the past 6 years and I look forward to volunteering and participating in the Peachtree Road Race as long as we win the lottery and get numbers!

There was another cool thing that happened. Meb Keflezighi, who won the Boston Marathon this year and was the first American to win the Boston Marathon since 1983 was doing the Chase Keflezighi, fundraising for Kilometer Kids, a kids running club, hoping to raise $75,000 by starting LAST at the Peachtree Road Race and had a goal of passing 22,500 participants!!! You know he did it! http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/keflezighi-runs-down-pack-at-ajc-peachtree/ngZBG/

After we crossed the finish line, we made our way with thousands of other participants to get our coveted finishers t-shirts. I know I always say that I do these races for the t-shirt and this is one a lot of people will say they do for the shirts. This is one of the few races that you only get your shirt after you finish the race. It really is a coveted shirt and people wear it proudly like a badge of honor!

After the run, we got our shirts, some fruit and popsicles and ice cream and started to walk to get something to eat. I want you to keep in mind just how much we walked. We just finished a 10k, that’s 6.2 miles. Then we walked about 2.5 miles to get to the Flying Biscuit Cafe for some breakfast to include some creamy dreamy grits! Oh My! So worth the 45 minute wait, with everyone else! http://www.flyingbiscuit.com/

After brunch, we started walking towards the MARTA [train] station and decided we didn’t want to get on the train with everyone else so we were going to walk down to the next station on Peachtree Street. Neither one of us remembered that there isn’t a MARTA stop on Peachtree until we were almost back at the start so…we walked the 6.2 miles back to our cars! What? In total we walked about 16 miles! That is crazy! CKM realized she had walked a half marathon, unofficially is what she said while she was laughing through the pain! [Please send good vibes to her for the seven blisters she got on her feet!] Yes you did! And it was great practice for me for the half I’m doing in February. Although…I might be doing one in Las Vegas in November, I’ll keep you posted! I need to get her a 13.1 t-shirt!

Tired yet? Just hold on!

After we got back to our cars, I headed out to Suwanee to see my friend LK and her family. I met them at the pool and we had a great time! As soon as I changed into my bathing suit, I jumped in the pool and stayed there until we got out to go home two hours later! It was great, we talked, I played with the kids and got some extra sun.

At the house, we made pizzas for dinner, the kids had friends over, there was a lot of laughter, shouting and fun. After dinner, we showered and dressed, I carved a watermelon basket, I’m getting better at them! And then went up the hill to the top of the cul-de-sac for some snacks and fireworks! I talked to a couple who’s son lives in…wait for it…Broomfield! What are the odds! and some other very nice neighbors they have. One of the older neighborhood kids were letting off fireworks, some of them were really good and some just noisy.

About 10pm, I walked the youngest, K back to the house, we put on jammies and cuddled under the blankets and a little while later everyone else came home and found us dozing on the love seat. After she sent the kids to bed LK I sat, folded laundry and talked, it was really nice. I know I’ve told you about LK, we grew up together and being in that house is like being at home and I love it.

Like the last time I was there, I had an allergic reaction to something so I took a Benedryl and got a little sleepy, let’s just say. I wrote to you and then passed out, waking today about 11:40am, it was awesome! I had woken up about 6am and then 8am and I decided that was not going to be the final word and fell back asleep, I got a text that woke me telling me there were pancakes on the counter! Thank you! It was so awesome to catch up on some sleep and I will be able to go another few months on 3-4 hours a nite! SO NICE!

I got up, showered and dressed, had some pancakes and then everyone came home from wherever they were. At 2:30, they were all heading to the pool, so I kissed and hugged everyone, got in the car and headed to TS’ house.

I told you this would be a long one!

At TS’ house, I found SF and her friend C, they were going to a movie nearby and wanted to see TS’ new furniture. It was nice to catch up with them and after they left, TS and I got down to business, catching up in person!

I have to tell you, she was the first person to tell me that reading my blog was like sitting across from me at the table, she always knows what’s going on in my life and sometimes feels like she’s hearing things for the second time when I tell her a story!

We talked about going to a movie and then time got away from us and we talked until it was time to cook dinner and we cooked together, it was great! Eggplant with pesto, sauce and mozzarella [well, the cheese was for TS], asparagus and multi-colored baby carrots and some cold salads she had picked up, a feast!

After dinner, we kept talking, finally her cat, Molly came downstairs to say hello, we cuddled and TS and I kept talking. All of a sudden, we realized it was 12am and we needed to get some sleep, we’re going to tour the Oakland Cemetery tomorrow, which I’m very excited to do since I have never done it!

Tomorrow or Monday, I will post photos from this weekend! Right now, I wish you all a great night and get some sleep, unless you already fell asleep from this long post!

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