My Random Musings | Peaches Prattlings

{August 28, 2017} Just no

The man-bun or mun… why?

I was at Whole Foods today getting supplies for the week, I’m in Peoria and not much for a vegan out here. While I was there, I saw a mun or man-bun, well not even a full mun, it was a nub of a bun, teeny bits, of hair pulled back into a bun, like a baby’s ponytail.

Please remember, this is all my opinion, if you agree, great, if you don’t, great.

I don’t get it. Just don’t get it. I know guys with long hair, it sometimes gets in the way and you need to pull it back, but why up in a bun?

It reminded me of my son, CWH, web he was a kid and wrestled, played football and futball. For the two sports that didn’t require a helmet, he would take what little hair he had, gather it into a teeny little pony tail on the top of his head. Then he would call it his “intimidation”! Do you love that?!

It looked goofy, but he was a goofy kid and he owned it, I loved that about him!

On him, goofy and cute. He was also a kid. On a grown man… not so cute.

That’s about it.

{August 22, 2017} A birthday

August 21st was my mom’s birthday.

Today was a pretty great day, not just for the eclipse! Not only was it my mom’s birthday, it’s my favorite cousin, JFS, her birthday as well.

She was 20 years older than my mom, to the day, as you probably figured out and she always said my mom was her birthday present, love that.

My mom, I’ve told you, was a force to be reckoned with. She was bright, funny, goofy on occasion and could match you on most topics, sports, not so much, but play Trivial Pursuits with her and sciene, that was her jam! She was great at other topics, but science, wow.

She was fun loving, made a great deal celebrating our birthdays, inspired GES and I how we celebrate our kids birthdays. This also meant celebrating her birthday and what a great way to celebrate her birthday yesterday! The eclipse! Cheesy moment… sometimes she would walk in the room, larger than life and block out everything else!

So, how fitting that today, my mom’s birthday and the total eclipse of the sun, her scientific mind would have reveled in it! As a teacher, mind blown!

Happy birthday JFS and to my mom, EMS. Live it up, it’s your day.

I think it’s interesting that the four photos kept trying to eclipse each other!

{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 9, 2017} My rhinestones have lost their shine…

Goodbye Glen Campbell.

I turned on the radio today and all I heard was Glen Campbell and all I thought, before another word was said, was, “no, not another one, not him too”.

He is most known for his hit Rhinestone Cowboy, there are others, but that’s what sticks in my mind, now in my ear!

He wrote music, performed, he was part of the famed “Wrecking Crew” of L.A. session musicians that included Hal Blaine, Leon Russell, Larry Knechtel and Carol Kaye. The crack band played on records by Phil Spector, Gary Lewis and the Playboys, the Monkees, the Beach Boys and Frank Sinatra.

He even had his own tv show at one time, using his family of 12 siblings as material!

Glen Campbell was 81 and finally lost his battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Keep those rhinestones shining.

{August 6, 2017} Well, I didn’t expect to see that.

Yesterday, when I went into one of the hotel lobby bathrooms, I saw something I definitely wasn’t expecting to see.

I walked in, saw two women standing at the sink talking. I also saw their duffle bags open on the floor and it looked like they were getting changed to go up to the rooftop pool, maybe kill time until their room[s] were ready. Not unusual to see in a hotel restroom.

This was not the case.

When I came out of the stall to wash my hands, I looked in the mirror to check if my face was whereI had left it, glanced to my left and realize that they are both connected and pumping.

I smiled when they saw me and I said that wasn’t what I expected to see when I looked up. They both apologized and I told them they had nothing to apologize for. This is something they needed to do and I wasn’t bothered or put out in any way. My sister pumped and I’ve worked with women who pump, it’s important and why apologize.

I wished them well and went about my day. Good luck ladies! You have my respect!

{August 6, 2017} What a day! Vegas style baby!

What a day, a great one!

It was a long one… ready… set… go!

I arrived in Las Vegas late, took forever to get the rental car, so I arrived at the hotel about 130am, I was hungry, definitely not sleepy and it’s Vegas, so, off on search of food.

I found Nacho Daddy! It was recommended and they have vegan! I didn’t know, but Las Vegas has s plethora of vegan! It was awesome! Kale chips, beans, rice, guacamole, salsa, vegan queso, vegan sour cream. O M G! I’m in heavan!

I couldn’t even finish it, so when I asked for a box and if there were homeless in the area, the bartender asked if I would really give it to the homeless, she gave me two bags full of leftover food, how awesome is that!

As I walked up and down Las Vegas Boulevard I was very overdressed! I had jeans and a shirt on, there were women in Daisy Dukes, hot pants, body suit, and I mean the kind gymnasts wear, nothing else. I did eventually find a homeless man, asked if he was hungry and then asked if there was anyone else to give the rest of the food to, he said he lived down below and there were 80 of them, they would be so thankful. I’m so glad!

I finally got into bed about 330/4am, the city was still hopping, which meant it was 530/6am back in Chicago, um…I set the alarm for 11am, but of course, I was up about 9am, go figure!

After I did what I was there for, I headed out to The Mob Museum! I was excited that I actually made it! Every time I go to Vegas, I try, but this time, Wahoo! It was awesome!

Anyone who knows me knows I like most things mob. I’m fascinated by the stories, the history, the movies. On occassion, I’ve been known to quote a line or two. I also have the need to sit with my back to the wall, no chance of getting capped! Ha!

It also happens that Myer Lansky is a cousin, he married into my family, on my maternal grandmother’s side. I thought it was cool, she, not so much. If you watch The Godfather, Hyman Rothstein was based on Lansky.

The museum is in an old post office, which has been deemed a historic landmark. The courtroom was actually used for some of the mob trials, the judge’s bench is actual bulletproof, how cool is that?!

The stories, the history, the characters, the locations, the mobsters, their molls, the FBI, the cops, the prosecution,the actual brick wall from the St Valentine’s Day Massacre!

They got Al Capone on tax evasion, go figure, that’s how they got a lot of them and they still aren’t sure where Jimmy Hoffa is!

What an experience! Bucket list, check!

I left The Mob Museum and walked down the block to Fremont Street. Fremont Street is a street in Las Vegas, Nevada, and is the second most famous street in the Las Vegas Valley after the Las Vegas Strip. Named in honor of explorer John Charles Frémont and located in the heart of the downtown casino corridor, Fremont Street is (or was) the address for many famous casinos such as Binion’s Horseshoe, Eldorado Club, Fremont Hotel and Casino, Golden Gate Hotel and Casino, Golden Nugget, Four Queens, The Mint, and the Pioneer Club.

It wasn’t too crowded, it was still early. Don’t get me wrong, it was crowded, but when the sun goes down, hold on to your hats, maybe even your wallets.

I walked through what is the new Fremont Street, converted into a party spot. They added a curved roof some years ago, then a zip line, bands at different points, people dressed in character and you pay to take your pictute with them.

Then there is all the fabulous neon signage and the signs with all the lightbulbs.

When I got through to the other side, so to speak, I was getting hungry and about to turn around when I found Container Park. An entire park made of shipping containers. Every shop, restaurant, bar, kids play structure, containers, it was fabulous!

As I was walking through, I found Pure Vegan! It was fabulous! I got a sampler plate with letuce wraps, nachos, vegetable noodles with different sauces, yuca fries, just wow! I hope the homeless guy who got my leftovers enjoyed them!

After dinner, a walk through the park, enjoy some acoustic music in the open area that was quite kid friendly, lots of giant legos to play with, space to run around and a chalk wall that you could add to, see what I created for PSM? It was a great place to spend some time.

Then back through Fremont Street, now it’s dark, sun goes down, the people come out to play.

Live bands at different points, music coming from the casinos, people walking, talking, dancing, drinking, shopping, having a good time. The lights, the sounds, the sights. Not for the faint of heart or if you don’t do crowds. But great for people watching! Fabulous!

After a bit, back to the hotel, a dip in the rooftop pool and get ready to crash, tomorrow I am going to see some family friends and head back to Chicago.

I hope you enjoyed my day almost as much as I did!

{August 5, 2017} Happy happy birthday daddy!!!

August 4th is one of my favorite days of the year! It’s the birthdate of my dad, DWS!

I know, first time you’re seeing his ‘name’! I bet you never thought it would happen!

If you know my dad, you’re lucky. And if you really know my dad, you really are in good company. He is smart, scary smart sometimes, knows random bits of information, hmmm…I wonder if that’s where I get that from! He gives good advice, even when you don’t know you need it.

He was a teacher of Special Education, he taught health for a bit, Assistant Dean, you name it, he’s probably done it. When it came to teaching, no one could compare. He knew what he was doing and he cared about his students, really helped them become successful people. He used to do job training with the challenged students and I remember when he would run into them years later, they would tell him what’s happening with their jobs. That doesn’t happen with people who don’t make a difference.

He’s funny, I mean really funny. Anyone who knows me knows I love jokes; good, bad, clever, kids, groaners and what are now referred to as ‘ Bad dad jokes ‘, I love that! I tell jokes he told me too my training classes! They groan, but they love it!

As soon as I hear a joke that makes me laugh, I call my dad to tell him and he laughs, many times a good belly laugh, hmmm…I wondered where I got that! When he laughs, it makes me laugh, I even called him during a class once to tell him the joke I just heard, the class heard his great, genuine laugh! So, I hear it, I tell him, then I remember it.

He’s a good listener, share things with him and he listens, if you want to talk, he will, if not, he won’t. And he can talk, about so many things, we talk books, music, art, movies travel, you name it, we’ve probably talked about it! We give each other recommendations on movies, Netflix, books, music. Oh, go to an art museum with him! So knowledgeable, we send hours together in the museums, admiring, soaking in, commenting, wondering.

To see him with family, immediate family, extended, grandchildren, he’s Papa, Papa D, he gets down on the ground, plays, tells jokes, gets silly, tells stories, plays games, hugs, tickles, love, love and more love, just a treat.

I could keep going, but I might not stop and then it will be his next birthday!

I can’t imagine life without my dad in it or the man that he is, a different dad, nope, not possible, can’t imagine it.

Happy, happy birthday DWS, daddy, I hope today is as fabulous as you are! I love you!

{August 2, 2017} Kind of hard to get up to an alarm that’s not set…

I had some good intentions…

What do they say about the road to hell?

I had been doing so well for the last few months while I’ve been in Chicago, going to the gym every day, working out, working my butt off. Well, that’s not true, I’m working on getting more of a butt, but that’s a different story, ha ha!

So, I finished my last scheduled workout, went to Mexico, didn’t workout there, not that there wasn’t activity…lots of walking, around the resort, into town, at the ruins, on the beach and in the pool, both tough!

Admittedly, last week, the first week back, I did not work out, I chose to sleep that extra hour, much needed! There was still walking, since I was training two classes and I don’t sit whn I teach. This past weekend, there was walking, but nothing scheduled.

I got to Mt Vernon, IL Monday night, ready to get up Tuesday and workout, treadmill, whatever. I happened to wake up, looked at my alarm, confused because I know I had set it last week, just snoozed a lot. Well, when I looked, it had been set for Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. Um…

So…the alarm had been set, just not for the first morning I needed it! And… good thingI happened to wake up! Oh brother!

Let’s see what happens tomorrow!

{August 1, 2017} Really? You made the mistake…

I got in a little late to my destination, then everything is a little off.

My flight was delayed an hour, that meant my drive was delayed as well. I landed in St Louis, got my bag, then the rental car, it was still light out. I was originally due to land about 6pm, we landed about 7pm, I arrived in Mt Vernon about 830pm. I dropped my bags and headed out in search of food, not wanting to eat too late, but hungry.

I stopped at the grocery store to pick up a few things then went to Taco Bell, I was going to get a quick burrito, rice and beans, that’s what a vegan eats at Taco Bell, if you’re curious. At the grocery store I had picked up guacamole, cheese and sour creme, vegan, of course.

I ended up ordering a salad, no dairy I told the cashier, I’m allergic to dairy. She indicated no sour creme or cheese. When I got the order, almost 10/15 minutes later, have you ever waited that long at a Taco Bell? That’s after waiting five minutes for someone to realize I was standing at the register. There were at least seven people working behind the counter. Drive thru was busy, inside, not so much.

When I got the order, there was a green sauce on the salad, I asked what that was, the guy looked at me like I had distirbed him. Then he remembered, it’s ranch dressing. Does that have dairy? Um… do you mind finding out? I’m allergic to dairy. He didn’t really appreciate this question since he didn’t know.

Someone finally told him yes, it has dairy. Ok, could you make me another one? I am allergic to dairy. He looked at me like I had three heads. I’m sorry, I wasn’t the one who made it incorrectly. I could hear them grumbling, she said no cheese or sour creme, I distinctly remember saying no dairy, including the cheese and sour creme.

Why post signs about food allergies if you are not going to respect what the customer tells you? You should have seen the look he gave me when he gave me the new one, which had cheese on it, by the way.

As I was leaving and taking my order with me, he actually asked me to take the incorrect order. What am I supposed to do with it? I don’t know, but we can’t take food back to the kitchen.

Really? So if an order is wrong, you make the customer responsible for disposing of it? Every time? Not cool. Bad form Taco Bell late shift in Mt Vernon.

At least my dairy free Ben & Jerry’s salted caramel made up for it!

{July 31, 2017} One of the fun thing about staying with friends

I don’t know if you know…I travel for work.

What? Say it ain’t so! Ha ha. Well, that being said, you know that some weekends I stay with friends, which I love, for so many reasons.

One if the things I love is showering and getting to try new and fun products, some even fancy and expensive. RJS always tells me what new treats are in store for me!

I don’t spend that much time I the shower when I’m in a hotel, nothing very exciting, but at my friends houses…

Ahhh…

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