My Random Musings | Peaches Prattlings

{January 24, 2018} I love my friends and family

I was just thinking tonight how much I love my friends and family and I got this in my fortune cookie.

“You will always have good luck in your personal affairs.” Could you have a better fortune? I wasn’t joshing when I said I was thinking tonight how much I not only love, but like my family and friends and you know you’re included in that group!

I am so very lucky to have the people in my life that I do. The people in my life enrich it in so many ways. Tonight I talked to ST for about an hour and a half, we had the opportunity because…I was supposed to talk to CWB, but something came up, so it was me and ST on the phone. And the other day, LGR, that was fabulous.

My friends and family accept me for who and what I am, which, admittedly, at times can be a bit coo-coo for cocoa puffs, one of my favorite sayings. I get enthusiastic about things, people and activities I love, sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming to people who don’t know me, but the people who do know me, they are sometimes tickled, sometimes annoyed, sometimes exasperated and some times…yup, that’s who she is. And for that, I thank them!

You’ve probably noticed a bit in the way I write, it’s exactly the way I talk. My friends and family have said they hear my voice when they read my posts, I think that’s peachy keene!

So, as I sign off, thank you friends and family. You made my fortune come true and I hope it stays true! “You will always have good luck in your personal affairs.” I wish nothing less for you!

Day 18

{January 22, 2018} Let’s get cultured and then kill brain cells!

Order of the day? Ended up Museum, lunch, movie, tv.

So…rouse ourselves about 9am, breakfast, then drive into Manhattan to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, or The Met, for those of you ‘in the know’. There was a David Hockney exhibit and we both like Hockney.

Now, if you’re familiar with David Hockney, it’s most likely paintings of swimming pools, which he is most known for. This exhibit was pools and more, earlier work, later work, portraits, compositions, famous people, wild brush strokes and one or two pieces we looked at with our heads cocked and said ‘Huh?”. The pieces did exactly what art should do, evoke emotion or response, even if the response is one of confusion.

There were some pieces I liked and some that I really didn’t and that’s the beauty of it, I don’t have to! There were some portraits of famous people, like Andy Warhol and Van Gogh and then there was this watercolor of someone named Celeste, dad and I were both drawn to it and I wonder if I was because she reminded me of my mom. Check out the piece that depicts a road, it was actually photographs that he pieced together like a collage of different roads in California. I thought it was fabulous!

Then it was on to the Michelangelo exhibit, much darker, lighting wise than the other exhibits. It was sculpture, paintings, drawings and sketches, oh my! The hard part was there were so very many people, you really couldn’t get that close to any of them and with my lack of stature, it was hard to see some pieces at all!

We looked at some of the impressionists, Rodain, Monet, Manet, Pissaro, Cezanne, Matisse, so wonderful! Unknown artists, known artists, a joy! I love going to the museum with my dad, not only does he have a wealth of knowledge of art, he has a passion for it! There were advantages to going to the museum with both of my parents. With mom, she was very knowledgeable as well and we liked a lot of the same painters, ones that dad doesn’t care for, but she wanted to read every single placard!

With dad, he and I love a lot of the same pieces and we have an affinity for the modern, a way of viewing that might not gel with some people. And…he doesn’t want to read every placard, so we could see more of the museum in less time! He was great when I was in high school and had art projects, he and I would go into the city and go to the different museums together to help me get what I needed.

Next it was, you got it, modern! Picasso, Leger, O’Keeffe, Chagall, Rockwell, Davis, Miro, just makes me happy. Some of it is bizarre, but some of it, pure genius, fun, frivolous! Sometimes I look and wonder how it would be possible, not to be happy looking at this much wonder!

When we were done, we had a hunger! So back to Staten Island to a Turkish restaurant we both like for appetizers that fill you up! Babaganoush, hummus, stuffed grape leaves, lentil soup, shepard’s salad, couscous, all delicious! We were stuffed, just like the grape leaves! A little grocery shopping and then back to the house, but then turned around and went out again, I decided I wanted some new boots and away we went!

Back home, it was time for a movie. Blade Runner 2049. Um…yeah. The popcorn was good and we got to see Harrison Ford. Yeah, the popcorn and Harrison Ford.

Then we needed something fun, so we watched another episode of Brokenwood, which was really good and so was the Ben & Jerry’s non-dairy Caramel Almond Brittle. O M G!! Yes, it is that good!

When the episode was over, it was time to talk to you and then crash, my alarm is going off at 4am, back to Illinois!

I hope your weekend was as fabulous as mine!

{January 19, 2018} A wonderful surprise

Tonight, while I’m at the airport waiting to go to NYC for the weekend, I got a text.

This text was from one of my oldest and dearest friends with a scheduling question. I thought it was a little odd, wonderful, but odd, since it’s been a few months since we’ve talked and we don’t text or talk as often as we would like.

I had my suspicion and I was hoping I was right so…we connected and got to talk for about 30/40 minutes before my flight and yup, I was right, she’s expecting sweet angel number two! I cannot believe it! I’m so thrilled for her and the entire family!

I love that she called and told me herself instead of hearing about it somewhere else, so very special. This wonderful friend is so much more than that, she’s family, a sister. She was one of the first friends I made in Atlanta and it doesn’t matter how often or not that we speak, it’s like it was just last week or yesterday, no time passes.

Our lives intersected and separated and intersected and separated, she was so there for me when things went down with the wasband and she was one of the first people I wanted to tell about PSM, reconnecting with my kids, so many things we’ve shared throughout our lives.

My one regret, during our separated times, I didn’t get to be as big a part of her daughter’s life as I wanted to when she was little, I was going through things and that is very much on me. I hope that I can do better with her and her baby sister to be.

Mazel tov to my wonderful, sweet, caring, fabulous friend. I am so thrilled for you and love you so very much!

Day 14

{January 15, 2018} We’re fine in Hawaii, thank you for checking on us!

I probably should have blogged about this yesterday, but I was too excited to tell you about my day on the slopes!

I didn’t know what had happened back home until I got a text from ST telling me he posted something to my Facebook wall that was scary funny and could I imagine waking to something like that. I had no idea what he was talking about so I looked at my Facebook wall and there it was!

If you don’t know what happened, an emergency alert message went out to everyone with an 808 area code “Ballistic Missile threat inbound to Hawaii, seek immediate shelter. This is not a drill.” This was a little after 8am Saturday morning. Think some people were a little shocked? Scared? Panicked? Just to name a few.

About 38 minutes later, the retraction came out, it was a false alarm. More and more has come out about what happened. Apparently, it was a slip of the finger. During shift change, there are certain buttons that have to be pushed and this button was pushed by mistake. Uh oh.

There were news reports, briefings, discussions, talks, stories. Oh my! It was a mistake and the person who made the mistake wasn’t fired, this person was reassigned. And now, they are re-evaluating processes and procedures. Oh, I heard there now have to be two people to push the buttons!

I was touched, I can’t tell you how many people reached out to see how we were doing in Hawaii with what happened. Thank you everyone, we’re ok. PSM didn’t flinch, he knew it was a mistake and if you think about it, as some folks said “if this is the end, I’m going to enjoy the last few moments” and watched the sun, ocean, just enjoyed the paradise they were in.

Someone on the chairlift today said there was probably going to be a baby boom in September!

Bottom line, thank you to everyone who reached out and everyone I’ve met that asked me how things were going and how PSM was back home. This was a scare and now, the government is working on ways to right the wrong and move forward.

Day 9

{January 11, 2018} Happy Birthday ACS!!!

January 10, 1971 was a good day. My brother-in-law was born, that’s a pretty good day, don’t ya think?!

Well, 1971 was a good year, right!? One guess who was also born in 1971! Well, there goes the secret of my age, ha ha! Yup, 1971, a good year. It’s crazy, we’re the same age for about 3 months, but for the other 9, he’s a year older.

I always call ACS my little brother, right now, he’s my older little brother, but I call him my little brother because he’s married to my little sister, that makes sense, right? In my mind it does!

I remember the first time I met him, he was quiet and nice, and if you know me, I reserved my opinion until I got to know him, he was, after all, dating my baby sister and I am a tad bit protective of her, was he good enough? Would he live up to my expectations? My hopes for my sister?

One thing I didn’t know until my sister started dating and then married ACS is that, and this shows my true lack of sports knowledge, there was was a rivalry between New York and Boston teams, specifically NY Yankees and Boston Red Sox and don’t get me started on the Giants/Patriots! [And now it’s doubled because of PSM! Oh brother!] Before they started dating, I was oblivious and happy, now, I have to step up and have some fun emphasizing the rivalry. He really is a big Boston fan and I appreciate that, I’ve been big and given him a few things that had Patriots logos, see, I can do that! My favorite was when EJS was born, dad and I got a bunch of NY Yankees baby stuff for her, it was awesome!

Since they got married, I’ve gotten to know him better. He’s a great husband, loves my sister and it shows in his words and actions, which, as you know actions speak louder than words. He’s stuck with her through a lot that has happened to them and I admire that.

He’s been an amazing dad to my two nieces, EJS and MGS, you might have heard me talk about them before…He is more than just a father, he’s their daddy and they are daddy’s girls, even though they might not think it. He loves them to ribbons and what more could I want. He coaches them in soccer, goes to all their events, throws great birthday parties with my sister and doesn’t shirk any family responsibilities and he likes to have fun with them.

To his friends and family, he’s goofy, fun, caring and involved. Some of his friends, he’s had since childhood. I always tease him when we go out near where they live that we can’t walk five feet without running into someone he knows and it’s usually someone from camp. It’s a true testament to his character.

So, there you have it, my brother-in-law, ACS, that’s him. Happy 47th birthday, I hope it’s a great one and here’s to the next 47!

Happy birthday little brother!

{January 6, 2018} It’s our blogiversary! Happy FIVE years!

It is January 6, 2018, what? We’ve been friends now for five years!

It was January 6, 2012 that I decided to take my once in a while blog ‘on the road’ so to speak. I decided that I was going to blog every day and my friends, to date, I did almost that! I admit, the first three years, I was really spot on and then year four I started to miss a few days and this last year, it was spotty, I do apologize. I can only hope I entertained and amused!

Did you know I have published and you have read 1,770 posts to date, wow!

I have to tell I really do love it, even if I don’t get around to writing some nights, I still love it so much! I love sharing my life with you, not just my life, but my friends, family, babies, nieces, grandbabies, oh my, to watch them grow and share that with you!

You have stuck with me through thick and thin on this site, we’ve added new friends and family, you’ve laughed with me, supported me, gotten mad for me, jumped for joy, gotten excited and just walked through this with me hand in hand and I have only one thing to say. Thank you! Oh my yes, thank you!

January 6th is one of my new favorite days, it marks a milestone for me each year and I have no plans to stop and I hope you’ll stay with my on this journey!

Happy 5th blogiversary friends and family! Here’s to the next five!

{January 5, 2018} Hilton pulled it out again!

I don’t know if you know, but it’s a little cold around the country!

Where my dad is on Staten Island, it’s currently 19 degrees, Atlanta, where SDL and Miss A just landed today is 19 as well! Chicago is 5 degrees and where I am in Orland Park, Illinois, it is a big fat ZERO! Temperatures should have some numbers!!!

I got to my hotel yesterday morning and the heater was not heating, it was blowing cold, so I switched rooms. I set the temperature to about 85! Perfect! Tonight when I got back to the hotel, it was 1 degree out and the room was nice and toasty. But, alas, alack…brrrr both the living room and bedroom started blowing cold air, no!!!

I called down to the front desk and they told me how to fix it, using the fuse box and that worked on the living room, but the bedroom is still cold and instead of moving to another room, I thought I would sleep on the sofa.

The front desk called and offered to bring me a space heater and they did! And now, it’s toasting up the bedroom and I’ll be heading back in there in a minute. Go Hilton!

Sending you warm thoughts tonight!

{December 28, 2017} Turtles and the Shaved Ice

The nice thing about vacation…no schedule, you go when you feel like it.

We roused ourselves and eventually headed out towards the North Shore and Turtle Bay. We passed everyone else looking for the turtles and ended up at Turtle Bay Resort at Roy’s for some lunch, a little sand, sun and water time. You really should see Miss A’s face when the water rushes over her feet!

PSM met us at Roy’s, he even left work early, sweet! Then, we headed out again down towards Haliewa, pronounced Hal-i-eva, in Hawaiian, w is a v sound. We stopped at Laniakea Beach with everyone else looking for sea turtles. Apparently, the turtles don’t know that we are all looking for them and don’t seem to care! Every time PSM and I did see a turtle, it was by chance, so…maybe we’ll get the chance again! Ha ha

But, while we were there, the waves, smells, feeling of the ocean was heavenly and worth the stop!

Then…on to the town of Haleiwa for some shaved ice. The line was crazy but moved pretty quickly. There are so many choices! You can pick at least 3 flavors, more flavors cost extra. Then you choose if you want beans, sweetened condensed milk, ouse cream and more! There is serious science to this process! A small is $3 and a large $3.50, a bargain! Especially for Hawaii!

PSM and I looked at each other when SDL ordered one for herself and one for Miss A! But if you know Miss A, she’s a champ!

Then back to the house to chill and pack, tomorrow is another adventure… to another island! The alarm is going to come way too early, but so worth it!

Sweet dreams! [Literally!]

{December 26, 2017} Mele Kalikimaka

It’s Christmas!

Things are a skosh different for me this year, all good, just different. For the first time in about nine years, I didn’t spend Christmas in Atlanta. This year I’m home for Christmas and imported some Atlanta!

As you know SDL and Miss A are here with PSM and I in Hawaii, so we are celebrating Hawaiian style!

We have been to the beach on Christmas Eve, a swap meet, saw Santa in a Hawaiian shirt, seen Christmas decorations on palm trees, lots of Santa caps on people and Santas surfing. What more could you want?!

Today was very laid back, we chilled out at the house, relaxed, talked and messaged with family and friends, watched some holiday classics, including White Christmas, opened presents late in the afternoon and then sat down to a less than traditional Christmas meal, burgers and fries, prepared by PSM, SDL and I. Miss A just directed and we followed, go figure!

I am so grateful to my friends and family who love me and make my life brighter. I hope that if you celebrate Christmas you are with people you love.

Mele Kalikimaka

{December 18, 2017} My dad rocks and my sister has an anniversary!

I think you already know I think my dad is awesome, but I’m gonna tell you again! So there!

Today, I had to mail out those packages I told you about yesterday and we were at the post office and as I’m writing some addresses, a woman comes in, looks to be about my age and is grinning like a Cheshire cat and I look over and she says quietly, I think I know him! He looks so familiar! I smile and then I look at my dad and tell him what she said. They look at each other and all of a sudden, the light bulb is going off over both their heads! And the recognition is starting to creep in.

First, where did you go to high school, that wasn’t it, she didn’t go to the school he taught at. Then they both start to talk sports, high school sports that is and all of a sudden, he said soccer and they both said basketball! She was on a rival school’s girls basketball team that my dad was coaching! She is now a teacher and the basketball coach at my old high school. They started going down memory lane, ‘you played with so and so’, ‘you were great’.

I have to tell you, all I did was stand there, addressing my envelopes and grinning from ear to ear and my chest swelling with pride! I love when people see my dad and get excited. And he remembers so much about his days as a coach and the people he coached and or coached against, and what a coach he was! Boys basketball for a minute, girls tennis for a minute, then girls basketball and soccer.

He was a such great coach, as evident by the Facebook friends in his former players, the things people say when they meet him, the glint and gleam they get in their eye. It tickles me so much, I am so proud of him and to be his daughter. Like I needed another reason!

On to the next great thing happening today, my sister and brother-in-law are celebrating their thirteenth wedding anniversary today! I remember the day I met ACS, had no idea what would blossom and develop and a few years later I would be standing up next to my sister as her matron of honor and a minute there would be a bundle of joy and love and light called EJS and three minutes later there would be a fireball of love and goofiness and wonder and now thirteen years later I would be sitting here, wishing them a very happy anniversary.

What a fantastic couple they are, standing by each other, with each other and for each other and you know my family has been through some shite over the last few years. They have stuck together and stuck it out, through thick and thin, as they say and whatever adversity has thrown their way, they have smacked it straight out of the park, but what’s most important is they did it together.

I’ll never forget way back in the beginning when we were all sitting at the table in my parents kitchen and ACS said something and GES zinged him but good! I was so proud and ACS was thrown and thought it was great! My sister, so cute, still in the honeymoon phase apologized! What?! Nooo! you don’t apologize for a good zing, you go with it! Today, they have fun and zing each other left and right and I love watching it because most of the time, they can’t keep a straight face when they do it!

They welcome everyone and anyone into their home as if they are family and they pretty much become family instantly. You come into their home and it’s welcoming and warm and you feel like you can prop your feet up on a chair or chill out and take a nap on the sofa and no one would say boo. I’ve told you about the holidays and parties and get-togethers, once you attend one, you have an open invitation to the next and so on. This is a life they built together and it’s fabulous to see.

Here we are thirteen years of marriage later and they are as strong as ever and and I am looking forward to watching the next thirteen and the next and the next to see how much more fabulous they can become, I have a feeling they are going to be a force to be reckoned with, wait, that’s what they are now. I can’t wait to see what’s next!

Happy anniversary GES and ACS. I love you both very much.

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