My Life on the road | Peaches Prattlings

{June 29, 2017} A bonus night!

Tuesday is DLP, Wednesday is WIS. That’s the way it is and the way it works.

This week has been extra special! An extra day with WIS, with her friend, if you recall on Sunday and two extra days with DLP. My life is full!

Sunday dinner with DLP, Tuesday movies in the park with JM and tonight, Thursday, last minute movie!

We were both in the office late, my class ended and I was getting some additional work done and DLP messaged “movie?” Definitely! What were you thinking? First option was D3, as in Dispicible Me 3, but i said nay- nay! I’m going with my girls this weekend. I promised!

We decided on Pirates of the Caribbean and off we went. The movies are always cold, so as we passed the Disney store, we went in and I got a picnic blanket. Hey, a blanket is a blanket and it came in handy, not just in the movies, but when we were leaving it was raining, so under the blanket I went, toasty and dry! And now, we have a blanket for the next movie in the park!

We both really enjoyed the movie, I thought it was better than the last one for sure! We laughed, cringed, laughed, laughed and laughed. Yup, that’s about it!

{June 29, 2017} An adventure and a new vegan restaurant, wow!

So… life is an adventure and I live it every day!

Today’s adventure is brought to you by the letters y, u and m!

It started with a restaurant suggestion, Ambitabul, vegan Korean, great! Korean vegan, who knew! http://amitabulvegan.com/

Then it was get an Uber to the restaurant. GPS said 1.18 hours, ok, that works. Almost every time we meet for dinner it can take an hour or more, so no problem.

I get in the car and the Uber driver says Libertyville? I say sure, sounds good. I have no idea about the names of cities in Chicago but I should say the areas of Chicago or Illinois, as it were. So I don’t know if you remember one of my first classes way back when with this project I gave the address to the driver didn’t say the name of this city and ended up at a vacant lot and when I said this doesn’t look like, I name the city, he said that’s a suburb of Chicago! Whoops.

So on this point, lesson learned make sure you know where you’re going! So back to our story… we are driving, driving, driving, highway, getting farther away from Chicago, I ask, where are you taking me?!

We are getting close to our supposed destination, I double check the address…um… my driver, a fabulous woman named Keele, I’ll talk about her in a minute, she says, I know that area, that’s near where my parents live… back towards Chicago!

I finally call WIS, and I am laughing hysterically, so is Keele, and rightfully so! I tell her what happened and I’m not sure if she stopped breathing laughing so hard! I’m just glad Keele didn’t drip breathing from laughing so hard! None of us peed in our pants, so I think that’s a bonus!

WIS graciously agreed to wait for me, so glad she did! Turn around and away we went!

Now, back to my fabulous driver and new bff, Keele! It’s amazing how you can know someone two minutes and you’ve known each other’s lives. By the time we parted company, we covered dating, marriage, dating websites, Vegas, families, travel, work, um, what’s left?

When we finally got to the restaurant and parted ways with my new bestie, she would have been a perfect fit for the evening! Maybe next time!

Now… on to dinner, oh my! I started with date tea, wow! That’s all I have to say! We asked for the recipe, the only way were getting it is when the owner retires and writes a cookbook… not for at least 15 years, what? Ok, we just have to go back! The tea was made by boiling fermented dates, it was sweet, no sugar added!! It was like drinking liquid dates, wow!

I started with veggie dumplings, light, crisp on the edges, fabulous. I could have just eaten that, but I was hungry. I had soup with veggies and noodles, they did have a soup with the dumplings, next time! WIS had a noodle dish with a little kick.

We finished with ice cream and a red bean cake. We saved room for it! Truly wonderful! Even the names of the dishes were clever, 9 Ways to Nirvana Noodle Soup, fun!

We closed the place down. I took my leftover soup, we went for a drive, looking for a good place for an Uber to pick me up and saw some really cute places around Chicago.

Uber to the hotel, my driver was very thankful for my leftover soup. I have to say, lovely man, but not the same as Keele. I hope you have the pleasure of her company one day!

{June 27, 2017} Movies in the Park

One of my favorite things about summer… Movies in the Park.

I’m sure most cities have this, you go to a local park, sometimes a parking lot, maybe in a mall, and they have a giant screen they project movies on.

People bring picnic or snacks, anywhere from a bag of popcorn, sandwiches to some folks going all out, tables and chairs, wine, cheese, apperizers, full meals. It’s what you make of it.

Tonight, DLP and I joined JM, another coworker, or I joined them, they have done this together before.

The movie this week is Julie & Julia. This is based on two books and true stories. Paul Childs letters to his brother and Julie Powell’s auto biography, about how she decided to cook all of Julia Childs’ receipes, 524 in 365 days! It was quite the undertaking.

I loved this movie the first time I saw it and nothing changed. It was fun hanging out and doing something a little different.

Bon appetit!

{June 25, 2017} Travel day… back in the US

I so want to sing Back in the USSR!

GES and I ended up talking last night until about 2am, um, we have to get up in a few hours, have to get to the airport!

Still got up, showered and luckily GES and ACS got up before I left, ACS carried my bag down the three flights of stairs!

I was going to walk to Central Station, only about a nine minute walk, but the rain changed that decision. Taxi to the station, train to the airport, but not directly. Hmm.. all week they have had technical difficulties with the tracks and we did the same thing I had to do when I arrived and when we went to Madurodam, change trains.

I get to the airport with plenty of time, or so I thought! Getting through Schipol Airport in Amsterdam, oh my!

There were two places that my priority status got me through sections easily, the rest…It was a cluster at passport screening, then an almost thirty minute walk to my gate. I had been hoping to get something for breakfast, not a chance! I didn’t realize how far the gate was, so I had enough time to get an extra battery and a package of mints and chips.

I got to the gate, pulled off for extra screening, oh goody. Finally got on the b plane, sat next to a nice guy going home after two weeks in Amsterdam for work.

Easy flight, back in Chicago after eight hours. Love Global Entry, so simple! Got my luggage, taxi to the hotel, finally found my luggage, got to my room, did my expenses and decided it was time for food.

I went to one of my favorite places, got take out and decided to chill and stay up until at least 10pm, to readjust to being in this time zone. I thought this was a very good plan.

I had to laugh, I passed a coffee shop and all I smelled was coffee! That might take some adjustment! Ah.. back to reality.

{June 16, 2017} It’s travel time!!

It’s Friday, I didn’t go to the gym, but for some reason my body decided I should be up at 530am, seriously?

After waking up every few hours, I had enough and got out of bed. Pack, shower, get ready to go. I packed for this week on Wednesday, so I wouldn’t have to think about it this morning. I have to say, I’m oppressed by the way because ecause is my appointment appointment appointment appointment appointment appointment for a whole lot lot more than the epic and taped I don’t usually pack until the night before I leave! When I left home the last time, I packed for two and a half months, including two vacations!

Packed, drop off bags at the next hotel, off to the office, get the class ready for next week, with my co – trainers, wrap up some stuff in the office, lock up my laptop and head to the airport!

Remember my trip to NYC for my birth certificate? The expedited passport adventure? All in the same week? Well, all leading up to this moment!

Tomorrow, you’ll find out where I’m going! For now, wheels up! Bon Voyage!

Goede reis! Heb een geweldige nacht!

{June 15, 2017} A great work outing

Tonight, after work, I went out to meet coworkers and the client for a happy hour.

I don’t know why they call it a happy hour, it lasts a lot longer than that!

Had a really good day training, after a tough training session at the gym, good questions, responses, engagement by the participants. One of the students even and me to stay after class and help her, that felt great!

Then it was off to happy hour! I got there and on my way to say hello to DLP, I was stopped to chat, then I went to get some food, with the intention of going back to the drink I ordered, I started talking to someone wasn’t very familiar with, as I’m usually in the field and he’s in the office during the week.

We talked movies, kids, tv shows, movies, Star Wars and you know what that means to true fans…quotes, sounds, memories, laughter and much more! Really great to not talk about work with co – workers!

We were joined by MS, then AK and talked about movies, kids and business travel, that was a big topic of discussion! Get a bunch of road warriors and you can’t get away from it. It’s nice to have common stories and interests. And…SG is Lifetime Diamond with Hilton, wow! That means ten years of Diamond status…ah..a girl can dream!

Then it was off to the next happy hour, we were very happy! Stayed for a while then off to the hotel. I had to pack and get ready for tomorrow!

I can’t wait to tell you what I’m doing or better yet, where I’m going! Pictures, stories, fun to come!

This picture is my idea of a happy hour

{June 15, 2017} Bad form Uber

You have got to be kidding me!

It’s raining today when I left the office so I looked to get an Uber to dinner. And when it rains, prices surge. But this was ridiculous!

I’ve seen 1.4, 4.1 then it got worse, it started at 6, then went to 7.1. Seriously? It cost $70.59 too go FOUR POINT THREE miles. What?

Going back to the hotel? About the same distance… $9.

Bad form!

{June 9, 2017} Happy birthday GES

My baby sister… Well, she’ll always be my baby sister, no matter how old she gets.

And each year she gets older, I get to watch her grow even more fabulous, as a person, wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend.

She’s smart, funny, silly, goofy, stubborn, methodical, a planner, steadfast, loyal, a good listener, silly, fun to be around. I could go on but this part would be a mile long! She’s my sister, I’m biased of course!

June 9th is a great day in history, so many great people were born on June 9th, Donald Duck, Johnny Depp, Natalie Portman, Mike Ryba and Cole Porter, she’s in good company!

A few great things happened this date in history.

In 1948 – Foundation of the International Council on Archives under the auspices of the UNESCO. In 1973 – In horse racing, Secretariat wins the U.S. Triple Crown. And in 1934 – Donald Duck makes his debut in The Wise Little Hen. In 2017 – GES’ big sister, me, got to spend her birthday with her little sister.

And the most important date in history, June 9, 1975, I became what I was meant to be, a big sister, GES was born. I will never forget waiting for mommy to come home from the hospital, going to get her and holding my baby sister in the back seat of the VW Beetle Bug [and you thought my love of these cars started with mine!]. And it’s been an amazing ride ever since.

Happy birthday baby sister, I love you. I can’t wait to see what this next year holds!

{June 8, 2017} Bad form Delta

This hasn’t happened in a while, but it did and now I’m torqued.

Anyone who knows me, knows I’m loyal to Delta and this won’t stop me from flying with them and being loyal, just right now, grrr.

The first thing that happened is something was wrong with my boarding pass on the app, after standing in line, waited my turn, had to go back to print a ticket, ok, that worked.

First flight was fine. Arrive in Detroit, gate A4, next flight leaves in a little over an hour from gate A2, sweet! But wait…

Just after I use the facilities, I double check the board, flight is now leaving from A77, seriously? Ok, fine, I start walking. No time to stop to get food, the lines were ridiculous. So, no food.

I got to A77 and the gate board says Ft Lauderdale, what? I ask the gate agent. Sorry, that flight has been changed to A2. WHAT? When did that happen? 6 minutes ago. Seriously? The boards still say A77.

I take the train to A15, walk to A2, 5 minutes later I get notice from Delta. Seriously? [Bright side? Fitbit said I’m an overachiever!]

I made it, got on the plane, we left late, go figure…

All I have to say on this one… bad form Delta.

{June 8, 2017} It’s done! It’s official! I can leave the county!

Wahoo! Passport in hand, I can flee the country when I need to. Or just go on a trip.

I tell people, jokingly, that I keep my passport with me because you never know when you’re going to have to flee the country!

After everything I went through on Monday, I was prepared with my birth certificate, copies of my birth certificate, I’D, credit card and to the passport office I went.

Through security, remove jewelry, shoes, headphones, sunglasses, 9th floor, phone on silent, get in line. Greeted, get in another line, get a number, have a seat.

About thirty minutes later, number called, go to window, answer yes to a lot of questions, give credit card. Get receipt and special receipt to come back between 3-4pm to pick up the passport.

Back to work, three o’clock back to the passport office, get a new number, wait ten minutes and now…

I can leave the country! Look out world!

Email Subscription

What was I thinking?