My Life on the road | Peaches Prattlings

{September 14, 2017} A small victory!

They delivered to the room! Go me!

Ok, let me explain, since I know you’re thinking, huh? As you know, I live in hotels and eat out just about every meal. Well, some nights, I just don’t want to go out, I want to go back to the hotel, put on my jammies and ahhhh… just like we all do at home sometimes.

Well, tonight was one of those nights, it was a full day of teaching, energy level high, just wiped me out! It happens every once in a while and tonight was one of those nights! I got back to the room, had a little work to do then I realized I was hungry, butI just didn’t feel like going anywhere.

So, to grubhub.com I went and ordered food to be delivered. I also requested that the food be delivered directly to my room. I also called the restaurant and asked them to ask the driver to bring it right to the room.

Usually, at some hotels, they won’t let the delivery person come all the way to the room, its kind of annoying actually when they tell you its a security risk to let them up. Why is it more of a security risk for a delivery driver than any other person coming into the hotel?

I understand if the elevator requires a key card to access, then by all means, I will come and get the food, but if there isn’t a key card, why can’t they come directly to the room?

Well, it worked! I was in my jammies watching tv and all of a sudden…a knock on the door and ta da! My food delivery!

Small victory! Let’s see if I can do it again!

{September 12, 2017} Mmmm…Majani…yum!

Such good food!

Tonight, DLP and I had date night and it was at Majani, the vegan place near her house we went to a while back.

We were going to hop yesterday, but we were both tired, it worked out perfectly so I could talk to CWB.

We got there and they were so excited that they had printed menus, instead of just the chalkboard on the wall, but… unfortunately they didn’t have everything on the menu, so poor DLP was turned down for every choice she made! She did eventually find something, not get first choice, but she enjoyed it.

We started with fried cheese grits, they were great! I’m a sugar in my grits girl, but this worked! It was on a bed of fresh tomato sauce and on top. I asked for it on the side in case it was spicy, you know no one thinks anything is spicy…uh huh…but in between the sauce, yum!

Then I had their lentil and veggie soup with a piece of gluten free corn bread. The corn bread was good, but the soup, wow! The bowl was huge!

By the time the gyro cane, I was done! Well, before the gyro came! Guess what I have for lunch tomorrow!!

We ordered dessert to go, DLP got carrot cake and I got pineapple upside down cake. I tasted it after I got to the hotel tonight, wow!

So looking forward to lunch tomorrow!

{September 11, 2017} Start with a sister… end with a seestah!

A pretty good day today!

I told you I tried to surprise the family on Sunday and it was a bust. Well, I got to Chicago, ended up doing some work at the hotel until about 3am, ugh, but…I got it done! SomethingI had been fighting with.

Then, of course, I couldn’t sleep! 5am I was forcing myself to sleep and I did! Did I get too much sleep last night?

But then the phone rang just before 730am, huh? But… so glad it did, it was my baby sister, GES. We talked for about an hour, well, she talked and I got more tired! I’m kidding, she was telling me about her weekend, the girls, school, work, the usual! It was great! We made quasi plans for the weekend I’m there, can’t wait to see them, this is the longest we’ve gone without seeing each other! Auntie needs her hugs and kisses and giggles!

Then it was work, which was gear, very busy all day, makes the day fly, then it was 7pm, what? But… bear part was catching up with DLP of course! Missed my work wife!

I ended the day on the phone with a seestah, CWB. I told you a little more about her last week with my post on her birthday.

It was great, we catch moments when we can and its wonderful. It really is like talking to a sister, she actually asks me some of the same questions, hmmm…

So, my day was pretty good, don’t you think. It started with my sister and ended with a seestah! I’m a lucky girl!

{September 11, 2017} Surprise… no go. Chinatown… go!

Today, my attempt to surprise my family didn’t go as planned…or at all!

PSM had a very early flight, so I got to sleep in, first time in a few weeks! Vacation in Hawaii meant up early, what? Yup, either up early for a tour or just the sun coming up! I didn’t even hear PSM leave this morning about 415am! I woke up at 515am, realized I was alone, confused at first! Then checked my phone and called PSM, then zzzzz until about 920am, wow!

Got up, showered, then the fire alarm goes off at the hotel, goody. Got back into the room, finished getting ready, packed and headed out.

I texted GES to see where they were, even threw in a phone call, no dice! I’m usually really good at surprises, this killed my record! I did leave them a great in the mailbox! I’m coming back in two weeks, I can’t wait to see them! They know I’m coming!

After I left their house, I drove into Boston and to Chinatown and went to a great vegan Thai restaurant for a good meal and got some food for tonight when I get back to Chicago, yum!

Then, off to the airport, return the car and head to my gate to hang until it was time to go.

Surprise…fail. Chinatown… win.

Chicago… here I come!

{September 9, 2017} Surprise! Happy birthday KN!

A surprise party it is and a surprise it was!

PSM’s best friend, KN, is turning 50 in October and his wife, DTS, wanted to throw him a birthday party, outside, so this was a great weekend for it!

As soon as I told PSM about it, of course I told him immediately! And no question we were going to be there! Just had to work out logistics. We were scheduled to be in vacation the week before the party. We had the hardest time scheduling our first two choices, Western and American Samoa or Saipan. Not difficult getting there, but the number of flights available coming back to Hawaii, not great. So… that’s when we decided to check out our new home state send go to Kauai, lots of flights in and out every day and only about 35 minutes. Sounds good to me!

PSM and I were talking a few weeks ago and hatched a plan! PSM then called DTN to see what she thought about PSM asking KN to go for a motorcycle ride the morning of the party. Perfect! Easiest way to get him out of the house! He called KN and said he was coming to Boston for work and how about a ride? Yes! I fibbed when he asked if I was coming…um…

We were all set, flights booked, for me, Chicago > Honolulu > Kauai > Honolulu >Boston > Chicago, tomorrow. For PSM Honolulu > Kauai > Honolulu >Boston > Honolulu.

After an amazing week in Kauai, with the chickens, roosters, sun, sand, surf and fun, home on Thursday for laundry and sleep! Friday afternoon, leave Hawaii, landed this morning, picked PSM up when he landed, went to the hotel for a minute. Yup, different flights, different airlines!

Then it was off to K&DTN’s for a party! So great to see everyone, all the usual suspects, fabulous! It’s a giant family! I love seeing everyone, getting to know them better each time. I’m not sure how they’ll feel about us after they try the spam flavored macadamia nuts we brought them!

It was great hanging out and catching up and a few false alarms “they’re here!” Nope, it was another Harley Davidson going by, which happens a lot by them!

On the last one, we all filed into the front yard to wait. After a bit, we heard them, the unmistakable rumble, this time , multiplied because there were several bikes coming down the road. Best part, we were all looking one way and someone said, wouldn’t it be funny if they came from the other direction. Guess what they did!

He was totally surprised! Even rode right past us and around the block! Then he came to the house and it was hugs and cheers by and for everyone!

Now it’s time to party! He was so thrilled and touched that we were all there to celebrate him. He couldn’t believe that PSM and I cut out vacation short to be there, but there was no where else we would be!

There was a great selection of treats for appetizers, a great Italian spread with pasta, meatballs, salad, bread for dinner and of course, a fabulous cake!

The weather was perfect, even a few kids in the pool! Eventually, there was a chill in the air and a fire got built, that was party central!

Eventually, it was time to head out, PSM has a very early flight in the morning. I’m going to sleep in… then, don’t tell GES, but I’m going to try to surprise the family with a quick visit! Fingers crossed I am successful! Then it’s back to Chicago for work.

What a whirlwind!

{September 1, 2017} Three flights, $150, and oh so many hours, I’m finally home!

It is just about 10 p.m. in Hawaii, 3 a.m. in Chicago and I just got home.

The day started in Peoria, Illinois, wake up very early, workout, shower, breakfast, pack, airport. At the airport I had quite the shock…when I attempted to check in my third bag that I had already paid $150 for. Seriously?

I qualified for gold status on United within the last month. It was funny, PSM and I were talking and I said, why haven’t I promoted to gold by now, with all my flights to Hawaii this year and look at that! Well, with gold status comes two free bags, wahoo! I’ll take it! The bad part, that third bag isn’t a regular bag charge, it’s $150! Oh my! So, I paid it when I checked in for my flight yesterday. It would have been $300 to ship the two boxes, so there you go. Not everything ships to Hawaii via Amazon… even with a Prime account, go figure.

I looked at the gate agent like she had two heads and she knew my anger and frustration were not directed at her. She understood and worked with a supervisor and online with support, no dice. So out comes the credit card, $150. I could have driven to Chicago, checked in there and paid $150 once. Grrr

When I got to the gate I called the dedicated status United line. Oh no, that should not be happening says the second person I talked to because the dedicated baggage line didn’t know anything about baggage, hmmm… my heroine for the day, charge reversed!

Flight number one, 1035am flying time about 25 minutes in the air. I had about 4 hours until my next flight, United Club, sounds good. Plug in, grab some food and get a lot of work done.

Flight number two Chicago to San Francisco, 4.5 hours, 347pm, and what are the odds, someone who had been on my current project until last year, was sitting in the aisle seat across from me! We talked, caught up while people are boarding the plane, they noticed us talking and would try to stop before blocking us, it was funny.

We talked project, life on the road, travel, she’s going to Ireland in a few months, so of course I had lots to talk about! And like me, this is her first solo international trip. Such a treat!

Land in San Francisco, grab food, check the board, head to the gate, crickets… gate change, ugh. New gate, get in line, board eventually, flight number three, 5.5 hour flying time, get settled, try to watch what’s on the video screen but I don’t remember classical playing during the opening of Guardians of the Galaxy. Back to my phone, which I had downloaded a bunch of stuff.

So, it’s now just about 10pm, I started my journey to Hawaii at 845am leaving the hotel, 3am in Chicago, approximately 11 hours in the air, how many hours total travel time is that? That is way too much math for me!

But who cares, I’m home! For the week and I can’t wait to tell you what we’re doing for the week! Gotta get home and do laundry! Off we go!

{August 29, 2017} Summer cold – I say no thank you!

Aren’t summer colds the worst!?

In the winter, you’re ok with it, right? No, you don’t want a cold, but it’s understandable, it’s winter and it’s cold out, so naturally, more germs and you catch something you didn’t ask for.

But in the summer, how does this happen? I know, we go from hot to cold to hot to cold, get into the air conditioning with a wet head after a shower or swimming. But we still can’t wrap our heads around it, we should be outside enjoying the warmer weather, not shivering under the covers, that’s supposed to be a winter thing! praying for a quick death! Yes, I am kidding on that one, mostly!

So, yes, the reason I am talking about this is i might have a summer cold. It’s happened a few times this summer, my throat gets scratchy and it feels like it’s closing, could be strep, swallowing hurts! Sometimes I’m not sure about the scratchy dry throat since I am talking all day while I teach. And it happened again tonight, so I take Sudafed 24 hours, get on the sofa, under the covers and hope for sleep, or death, whichever comes first. Then I doze in and out for a few hours, take myself to the bed and wake up, really?

But the nice part, I am usually better in the morning, feel like I was hit by a Mack truck, but better. Hopefully the same holds true for tomorrow, I do not need to be sick before I go home!

Fingers crossed!

{August 26, 2017} Saturday… what did we do?

More like… what didn’t we do?!

I got in late last night, no non- stops from St Louis to Denver in the evening. PSM got out yesterday morning, non-stop and was at the hotel bar relaxing when I landed in Chicago.

I was originally flying through Houston, but with Hurricane Harvey causing trouble, United called and re- booked me through Chicago, nice. I also promoted to gold status on United last week, so first class on both flight, wahoo!

I got in about midnight, got my bag and car, headed to the hotel and very quietly snuck into bed about 130am, talked to you, then crashed a while later.

The alarm…yup… went off about 630am, ugh. I snoozed a bit, then got up, dressed and walked out the door towards Coors Field, I was meeting LJ for The Color Run, you know, “The Happiest 5k on Earth!”

And you know what, it is! You can’t be unhappy participating in this race. You get to run through clouds of color and become a rainbow! This was LJ’s first 5k, let alone Color Run. We had a great time! We ran the start and finish, well, if anyone asks, yup, we ran!

I walked/ ran to meet her so I was pumped! After, we walked to get some food near my hotel, it was only about 1.5 miles, so by the time I got back to the hotel, 6 miles under my feet!

I don’t know if you remember how many races I used to do, about 2-3 a month for a few years. This is the first this year and it reminded me how much I enjoyed, not so much the running, but the excitement, the energy, the sense of accomplishment! I have one more scheduled this year, in Denver and I’m hoping to get back on track next year!

Denver is such a beautiful, interesting and eclectic city! While we were having lunch, we saw a class of service dogs and their trainers, learning… walking through crowds, sitting under tables, meeting other dogs, it was great!

We parted company, we’ll meet again later. I went to the hotel, showered, rested a little, then we headed out to True Foods for lunch with PSM’s cousin, D and her husband P, I don’t know if you remember me telling you about our last visit. They live in Denver and were fabulous to squeeze us into their schedule!

I have ordered food from True Foods in Chicago, but only their pizza, I believe I shared it with you, oing my, it would have been nice to actually share! It is a vegetarian and vegan friendly restaurant, so something for everyone.

I had an amazing sandwich on 7 grain bread with a fried egg, tomatoes, almond ricotta, fried seitan and crisp lettuce. Oh my, my, my! Yeah, that’s all I have to say!

After lunch, we drove out to Longmont to visit my stuff, take care of storage business and get key for my new unit. A few months ago someone had driven off the highway and into two units, one being mine. My stuff is ok, some things crushed, but nothing horrible. I’m sorry the picture didn’t take, I was amazed!

Back to the hotel for a minute and then… Denver Broncos vs Greenbay Packers, pre-season game! LJ had texted last month and asked if we were interested in going to the game, you bet! PSM was in his best behavior, being a Pats fan, thank you.

We were in the nosebleed seats, almost to the top, remember when CKM went to the Bears game last year?! The stadium was packed! Mostly Denver fans, but Cheeseheads were out in force! I had seen a lot of them throughout the day in Denver.

There were some great jerseys out there, my favorite was a serious house divided. Mom and toddler number one in green, dad and toddler number two in orange! The halftime show was the junior Broncos cheerleaders and about 600 even more junior, cheerleaders! So cute! As the announcer said “this demo displays that girls rock!”

Greenbay was winning when we left, hope the home team wins!

After the game, we grabbed an Uber to City O’ City, a vegetarian/ vegan restaurant and oh my! We sat in the back cocktail area, full service at the bar. The restaurant was packed, eclectic, like the city and still cozy.

We started with a pretzel with cheese to dip in, one vegan and one straight up. Then LJ had a ‘chicken wrap’, PSM had a pastrami sandwich, basically a rueben and omg! It had pastrami, sauerkraut, cheese and thousand island dressing.

Me, I had a to’fish sandwich and wow! It was like a giant piece of fried fish! It didn’t taste exactly like fried fish, but wow, it was fabulous! Lettuce, tomatoe, ricotta goat cheese, pickles with a side of vegan mac-n- cheese. Happy vegan alert!!!

After, we were done! Took our leftovers with us, can’t wait to eat the other half of my sandwich tomorrow! Back to the hotel, talk to you, chill and crash, flying out tomorrow.

Was that really just one day?

{August 25, 2017} Experienced travelers, common courtesy…

Just some thoughts about traveling…

I don’t know if you know that I travel for work, ha ha. Here’s what I think about sometimes and, I may have already shared some of this with you, but it occurs to me more than once.

I was attempting to get off the shuttle bus for the car rental company at the airport and a guy hoped right on, not waiting for anyone to get off the bus, maybe make room for them, give him an easier time getting the bus, nope, he had to get right on there. Even the driver said, couldn’t wait, huh? Meanwhile, he’s just come off his flight, the rest of us need to catch a flight. Who do think has the greater need? He could be in a rush, I get that, but… the shuttle isn’t leaving any faster, especially if people are still on it…

When flying, TSA pre check is great! For some people, like me, it’s a constant, I paid for it and then I got global entry, and it came as a package deal. For others, it’s random and that’s great.

What isn’t so great is people who don’t fly that often and/or aren’t that familiar with the process. I think there should be a TSA pre check lane for people who have flown pre check 10 times or less and one for the rest of us. I know, I probably sound petty to some of you, but when you’re pressed for time or in a ridiculously busy airport, especially on a Monday morning, it’s not so much fun being behind people who don’t have a clue and start taking everything out of their bags, for one.

For those of us that do this week in and week out, we know the drill. I’ve already removed the things that set off the metal detector sometimes before I get to the airport.

Oh, there’s more, but I’m done for now.

Thanks for listening. Happy travels!

{August 25, 2017} So happy!! Dinner with my friend!!

Tonight, I got to see someone for the first time in years!

Go figure, two people I love working in St Louis the same week as me!

Tonight, I got to see KLS, someone I met on the University of Michigan Health Systems project, our first with Deloitte. We were both hired specifically for this project and our background training Epic, the electronic medical record software.

As you know, or may not know, I still work for Deloitte. KLS left Deloitte shortly after our first project ended. We are both still traveling the country training, she’s still training Epic and I’m on a new application.

She happens to be on a project in St Louis and as you know, I’m here for the week, how could we not see each other! It was as if time stood still and we just saw each other last week! Those are the best friendships!

We both miss that first project together, the location, some of our coworkers, the whole thing. We kept each other sane, talked every day, if we didn’t see each other and if we went more than two days without seeing each other, one or both of us had gone on vacation or home! We kept each other sane!

We compared notes on our lives, our loves, you know, not just the guys in our lives, but the wee tots, our nieces, nephews, grandbabies. We bragged and gushed just like we should. You know this included our fur babies of course. She thinks her Bassett hound, Greta looks like Mollie, with shorter legs. I’d say good call!

Parting was such sweet sorrow, out was like we were back in MI, going to our respective hotels, across the parking lot, she’s Marriott, you know I’m Hilton!

So cannot wait to see her again!

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What was I thinking?