My Life on the road | Peaches Prattlings

{August 24, 2017} Dinner with friends

Wait, what? I went to dinner and didn’t take photos?

What was I thinking?! Oh well… Sorry.

Tonight, PSM and I saw each other for the second night in a row, what? We went out to dinner with three coworkers from his company, two are still in Boston and one lives in DC, they were all at the same site that PSM was at in Cambridge.

They happened to be in St Louis for a meeting at the same time, what are the odds? We have no idea how they knew PSM was in town. Doesn’t matter, we have dinner plans!

We met them at a pretty good Indian restaurant. The only qualification, vegan friendly restaurant. The food was good, service left something to be desired. If you ask for something and don’t check on it, you might be there past closing time!

Speaking of closing time, our cue to leave came when our server plugged in the vacuum cleaner! That was our clue…

The food was really good, they understood when I said very mild and PSM was almost satisfied with the spice level, let’s just say, I could smell the spices and heat level coming for his dish. But that’s the way our dining relationship is, if we’re not sharing, we’re definitely not sharing!

We had a really nice time and I have to thank the guys, since they haven’t seen each other in a while, not every story was about work and/or working together, they included me in most of the conversations.

Then it was time to go, hugs all around, well, for me anyway, promises of getting together again and we were all off. PSM andI back to his hotel, then me back to St Louis, sigh. Not to worry folks, we’ll see each other this weekend!

{August 23, 2017} Play ball!!

Tonight, a baseball game!

You mught remember that I’m not that into sports and then you see a bunch of posts at sporting events, huh? Well, even though I’m not that big into sports, I like going to the stadium, being around the crowds, the sights, sounds, smells and sharing it with you! Oh, I also add to my hat or tshirt collection, go figure!

Do you remember me telling you that PSM is in St Louis this week? We were determined to see each other! Last night he said he was going to see if he could get me an extra ticket. Guess what!

St Louis Cardinals vs San Diego Padres at Busch Stadium! And his company has a box at the stadium, sweet!

Food, drinks, fun! I met a lot of PSM’s coworkers, had some good food, good drink, good conversation, what more could you want?

Finally went to sit in the stands, being in a box means you have covered seats, so it was a little cooler, fabulous!

The game was close, then it wasn’t… unfortunately, it was not the Cardinals night.

After the game PSM and team headed back to their hotel and on my way to the hotel I stopped that the Hilton at the stadium, went to the rooftop bar to check out the view, not too shabby!

What a night! Oh… got a Cardinals hat!

{August 21, 2017} Aladdin, wow! And the meet, oh my!

Today was a day for first meetings and theater!

This afternoon we went to see Aladdin at the Cadillac Palace theater in Chicago and it was wonderful! The sets, the glitter, the fireworks, the costumes, the choreography, need I go on?!

A fantastic cast, bringing the story to life, both the ancient tale and the Disney animated movie. Everyone was fantastic, but who stole the show? The genie of course! He was larger than life, animated, excited, energetic and food Robin Williams proud, you know he made the movie… fabulous! We all loved it!

Who is we, you may be asking, well… you know how I talk about DLP and WIS, the two women I joke that I’m dating in Chicago, because I go out with each of them every week. They are the work wife and work girlfriend respectively and, you know that PSM knows about them. Well, today, they met each other and PSM! DLP met WIS and WIS met PSM. It was awesome!

Now, when I mention each of them, they can have a face to go with the name! My circle was complete!

After the show, a good meal at a local place, them PSM and I headed to the airport, we are both going to be in St Louis for the week, will we see each other? No telling, go figure!

Such a great day!

{August 20, 2017} Sleep in… brunch…culture… silliness

Guess where I am and guess who’s with me!

About 6am, my hotel room door, in Chicago, opened and PSM walked in! We get to spend the weekend together!

We talked for a bit, caught up on our Friday and then sacked out for a few hours.

Eventually, we needed sustenance, we headed out to The Chicago Diner, if you remember “Meat-Free Since ’83”. We started with poutine, I texted WIS, make get jealous! Then it was a Monte Cristo for PSM, made on french toast and Country Benedict for me and a small vanilla milkshake to top it off. Way too much food for us, the homeless guy was thankful.

Then we started walking, passed a bar with some live music and an even livelier crowd, dropped in for a drink then headed back into the city again. Guess who is also in town…The Blue Angels! I tried to get a few shots as we were walking.

We hopped into a taxi to take us to the Art Institute, there is a Gauguin exhibit that will be leaving in a few weeks. It wasn’t only his paintings, which he took up later in life. It was paintings, mixed in with sculptures, wood- blocking, screen printing, wood carving and painting, pottery, fan design.

What a talent! I didn’t know that much about Gauguin aside from his Tahitian paintings, which is what he is most known for, well, to me at least.

Then it was back to the hotel for a rest, then out to a local place for a less than stellar dinner, another happy homeless inhabitant of Chicago.

A short walk, check out the roofto bar, a chat with you and then…zzzz

Tomorrow, another full day and then travel. Goodnight!

{August 19, 2017} Here fishy, fishy, fishy

A night at the aquarium, just keep swimming, just keep swimming.

Tonight, I went to my first work event. What I mean by first work event is for the Chicago office, not a local project team event.

I met DLP at The Shedd Aquarium near Soldier Field. A few other coworkers from my project were there. I also saw people I had been on projects with before and met some new folks.

It was a nice social event, the aquarium was closed to the public, there was food and drink and we were allowed to wander through the aquarium looking at all the wonderful exhibits. The best part… no little people, this time, so it wasn’t crowded and you could actually get close to the tanks.

We started with the amphibians and sea horses. I think a few of them were ready to give birth!

The jellyfish are amazing, so graceful, brilliant and deadly. In the Caribbean reef we were treated to a diver feeding the inhabitants. There was a very persistent stingray who wouldn’t leave the diver’s side, so cute. They really do glide and look like they’re smiling when they swim by.

We got to pet sturgens, admire the baby crocs, talk to the different species of turtles, play find the fishes. Since it was evening, the lights in the exhibit rooms were very low as were the lights in some of the tanks, have to mimic their home environment.

As they closed the exhibits, they told us the inhabitants were going to sleep and we should do the same, that was our cue to leave.

What a fun evening, looking forward to whatever comes next!

{August 17, 2017} Friends…beautiful night…dinner…boat

It was a beautiful night to be out and about in Chicago.

I had a great class today and topped it off with dinner and a boat ride on Lake Michigan.

It started with a walk down Michigan Avenue towards Navy Pier. Along the way we passed these fabulous painted pooches, Chicago’s K9s for Cops. They are all over the city and so much fun! Not sure which is my favorite, but Dick Tracy is up there!

Collage 2017-08-18 06_31_06

Then it was on to meet LJ for dinner, I was with someone from her project in Philly who is here this week for a meeting. We went to Harry Caray’s, it’s a Chicago landmark, like he was. I will say the memorabilia was great, not so much the food for me. But I was there for the company, not the food.

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Next, a ride on the Sea Dog, one of the boat tours at Navy Pier. This one was one of the faster boats, so it was a windy, full of spray, lets get moving, cheesy guide, great boat ride. And the city at night…fabulous! Collage 2017-08-18 06_35_28

A walk back to the hotel, settle in, talk to you and then…night night!

What’s our next adventure?!

{August 16, 2017} Ground Control…a new vegan place!

Tonight was date night!

WIS found, as she always does, a new vegan restaurant for us to try! Wahoo! I am a very lucky person to have people who want to share veggie/ vegan with me!

Tonight we went to Ground Control in Chicago. No, I didn’t see Major Tom!

This is a cool, eclectic place. Pinball machines, backgammon and checkers boards in the tables, interesting artwork, nothing really flowed, but it worked. You walk in, take a moment and you’re hooked, good vibe, atmosphere and you feel like, yeah, I can hang here.

I got there first, which doesn’t happen very often these days! So I settled it, anywhere…I was the only one there at 530pm, by the time we left, it was a full house.

I ordered a cup of tea, it was a little chilly and rainy, comfort, ah… and I was a ‘Starvin Marvin’, so I thought a pre- dinner snack… garlic smashed potatoes with gravy…vegan!! I don’t usually get to order smashed potatoes because, for those creamy, dreamy smashed potatoes, butter and/ or heavy cream, as it should be! Oh my, but these were wonderful!

When WIS arrived, we settled in and ordered…

Fried green tomatoes with a tangy remoulade and hummus with olives and veggies, quite the kick! And tasty!

Then, main courses. I had the Southern Fried Tofu with more smashed potatoes, beer braised greens and corn and peppee relish. WIS had the Kimchee Grilled Cheese with caramelized onions, avocado and smoked gouda. Wow, just wow!

Then…must have dessert! I don’t eat dessert very often, but when it’s vegan… raspberry and lemon cake, again, vegan and again, Y U M!

So many fabulous vegan restaurants in Chicago, every one “how can this be topped?!”

{August 16, 2017} Movies in the Park…Hidden Figures

Fifth, sixth, maybe eighth time I’ve seen this movie, only gets better!

If you know me, you know I love movies and if I love a movie, I’ll watch it a few times, maybe more.

And if you know me, you know I love going to the movies and I love going with friends. And movies outside, bonus!

Tonight, the trifecta! A fabulous movie… in the park… with friends! How can you beat that!

After teaching, I went to my hotel, dropped my laptop bag, changed into jeans, headed out too pick up snacks, then…Millennium Park for movies in the park!

I met up with DLP and JM, my new movie in the park dates. We had all sorts of snacks, meats, cheeses, guac, hummus, chips, fruit and sweets for dessert. What more do you need?

We snacked, chatted, caught up and then roll film. DLP and I had seen the movie together, JM hadn’t. There were also a lot of folks around hadn’t, it was fun hearing their reactions.

DLP and I knew what was coming, but we still cheered, clapped and cried, just where we were supposed to!

If you haven’t seen this movie, it’s so inspiring, thought provoking, emotional, uplifting, and so much more.

What’s our next adventure?

{August 10, 2017} Being appreciated…

It seems to be very underrated, but it can do so much!

When you do something, hopefully you’re not doing it only to get noticed, especially when it comes to work.

You do your job because you love it, want to do it and do it well. If you do your job to your best abilities, hopefully, a good result is to get noticed and maybe even recognized. And when you go above and beyond, it’s cool when someone does notice.

A few months ago we got an email saying the company knows how hard we’ve all worked and what a great job we’re doing, we got what they called ‘High 5’, which included a prepaid American Express card that says High5, how cool is that!

Then, about the same time, I received an ‘Applause Award ‘, I think I told you about that when I received one in the past. This is when you are recognized for doing something that goes above and beyond.

It feels great when someone says ‘Thank you’ for doing a great job, seriously, if someone recognizes that I’m doing a good job, my job, or went above and beyond or that extra mile, or seeks me out for a new project or something extra at work, that gives me a great sense of pride. The High 5 and Applause awards, those are just icing on the cake.

Thank you!

{August 8, 2017} Short, but sweet visit

In Vegas, I had a nice visit with family friends.

One of my mom’s oldest friends, that being a friend she knew longer than others, since they were twelve, that’s a while, I should think.

The family friendship has lasted for a long time, even after my mom passed, our families are still family. When my dad visits Las Vegas twice a year, he spends time with SF and family.

The last time I was in Vegas by myself, I had a girls night and afternoon with each of them, it was great.

Yesterday morning, I got up, finished packing, checked out of the hotel and headed to my wonderful visit. Hugs, food, kids, catch up, reminisces, love, family, photos and like that… it was time to go to the airport.

I love seeing them, I’m looking forward to my next visit, dad will be there in a few months. It was great, felt like no time had passed and like being home.

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What was I thinking?