My Random Musings | Peaches Prattlings

{July 30, 2017} A new vegan restaurant!

I love trying new places, especially when someone else is excited to share it with me!

This weekend I’m staying in Chicago with DLP, no definite plans yet but one, dinner at a new vegan restaurant in her neighborhood, Majani!

It was inviting when you walk in, small, but cozy. The restaurant is open, including into the kitchen, only separated by a counter. Wooden tables, some that are family style, just sit where there is an open seat.

The menu was simple, on a chalk board on the wall. They had a dinner special, tonight it was glazed carrots, lentil sausage croquet, spinach rice and salad. We also ordered a crab cake. For dessert we got a vanilla cupcake and two slices of carrot cake, to be eaten at some point, we were completely stuffed by the end of dinner!

The presentation was lovely, very vibrant colors and tasty too! Always a good thing! DLP was teasing me because everything that came out to other tables I looked at and wanted to order and as she said, “you can’t eat everything! And we can come back!!” Ok, fine… she’s right, of course, but it all looked so good!

When we got there, there was a family of four sitting at the table next to us, who were enjoying their meal very much, especially the baby who eventually had icing all over himself!

The next people who sat at that table were nice couple who we started chatting vegan with and let me tell you…I found a kindred spirit! Our reactions to some of the same items at different places, the milkshakes at Chicago Diner! Kitchen 17! Oh, we were trading and oohing and aahing! DLP was just laughing, but she could talk to some of those places, she’s been wonderful to go with me!

This is really inspiring me to launch my new blog, don’t worry, this one isn’t going anywhere, I love sharing my life with you, but I love telling you about the fabulous vegan I encounter, so my new blog will only be about being vegan on the road. Keep an eye out for it ‘A short, round vegan on the road’!

Bottom line, I really enjoyed this new find andI would love to share it with everyone, thank you DLP for introducing it to me!

{July 27, 2017} If you say it, does it still count?

If you did/do a good deed, do you have to tell people about it?

I don’t know, my Uber driver irked me…I requested a car after I got off the train and when he showed up, he told me too just put my bag in the back seat.

Now, most drivers would get out and put the bag in the car, not him… he finally asked if he could help when he saw me struggling. Not mine…

He got out, put the bag in the back seat and as I got in said “well, that’s my good deed for the day”. Really? I said “not if you say it” and we laughed, but I didn’t think it was that funny.

If you do a good deed, shouldn’t you just do it? Do you have to call it out? Especially to the person you helped?

Ok, done. The picture is in the hall and the duck in my bathroom when I checked in. They made me smile.

Irk gone.

{July 26, 2017} Why? Just why?

It’s oatmeal, plain ‘ole oatmeal.

This is not a food you experiment with beyond fruits and sweeteners. Maybe you add some blueberries, strawberries, bananas. Some maple syrup, honey, brown sugar.
My opinion… not oregano, chives, bacon, chedder cheese. These are not grits people!

The hotel I am staying in is a test kitchen of sorts, trying out new creations and new twists on old favorites.

I’m a creative and curious person, adventurous with my pallet, even being vegan, but, come on, it’s oatmeal, breakfast and for me, one of the few things I can eat.

Its oatmeal for goodness sake…

{July 25, 2017} Camp bound!

Wow! It’s here! Time for summer camp!

Not just summer camp, but sleep away camp!! It’s the third year for EJS and the first for MGS!

For EJS there’s excitement, eagerness to be away with old friends, making new ones, friends for life, new experiences, something special every day.

For MGS, there’s excitement, nerves, a fear of the unknown, hope for something great, awesomeness.

The car was packed, with gear and family, let’s go! They sent pictures getting ready to go, a stop at Dunkin Donuts, that always helps.

Then the pictures of drop off, big sister first, all smiles and I have a feeling an attitude like mine was, ‘ok, I found my friends, I’m set, thanks, bye’, ha ha. Next little and after a minute…’I found my friends, I’m set, thanks, bye ‘.

What comes next? A big sigh of relief from the parents. A successful drop off and happy kids and parents, what could be better?

I can’t wait for my first letter!

{July 19, 2017} Is there anything better?

Than showering after a day at the beach?

I don’t know about you, but it’s one of those things I don’t really think about until I’m actually taking one. Funny how that works.

But while I’m taking that shower, it’s the thing there is. You’ve been at the beach all day, sun, surf, sand, lunch, play… repeat.

Its been fabulous, you can’t imagine anything better, you might even rinse off before you go home or back to your home for the night, you know, so you’re not tracking sand everywhere.

But until you get to wherever you’re staying, step into that shower and let the warm water wash over you, starting from the top of your head, shampoo your hair, let that soak in, rinse, you didn’t realise how fabulous a shower after the beach could be.

In top of that…an outdoor shower, hopefully at a house near the beach, wow. Showering with the open sky to look at, feeling the air and energy and calm all around you as you get cleaned up, wash away that top layer to feel clean and refreshed…

There is nothing like it. Ahhh….

{July 17, 2017} Mexico Day 1

Surprise! We’re in Mexico! Playa del Carmen to be exact! Ahhh…

Yes, it’s as beautiful as you’ve heard! This is a special girls trip. Five years ago, when SDL turned 40, she, her sister DJL, Miss A and I went to three Dominican Republic for a week. Well, I believe I told you, a few months ago she graduated with her EMBA and wanted to celebrate, let’s go on another trip! Even better… big milestones to celebrate as well, DLP and CKM both turning 40 this year, let’s do it!

We decided on a place…Playa del Carmen, great! Now, a date… not as easy. It’s not the easiest thing in the world to get three busy adults to coordinate for a week away, as you can imagine! Then, if you recall, my family was trying to coordinate a trip to Amsterdam, imagine having to be in the middle of that! Well, we all did it and here we are! And I’m going to get a second stamp in my new [replacement] passport!

I spent the night with SDL and MissA, we packed, went to dinner… Mexican, go figure! We’re in vacation mode!

Up way too early…430am to be exact… out the door by 502am, not too shabby! It helped that we loaded the car last night… off to pick up DLP, then off to the airport. Drop everyone off, check our bags at curbside check-in, then drop off the car.

I love looking at the artwork at the airport, always so impressed, especially when by it’s students.

Then it was time to board and start our vacation!!

About two hours later, we’re in Mexico! Customs, stamps, luggage and a little over 1.15 hours later, we arrive at our resort, Ibostar Tucan. Registration and a fruity drink later we are set!

The rooms aren’t ready, so lunch it is. We head towards the pool, look at all the fabulous touches, from the statuary to the animal sanctuaries. Actually, the animals are great, they are free to walk amd fly wherever they want. We had a nice lunch and by then it was time to go to our rooms.

The buildings were great and colorful and our rooms are tropical, with towel animal creations. Nothing like the real animals, the peacocks, flamingos, howler monkeys, just to name a few.

By now, we have showered, rested and are ready to have dinner! Off in search of food we go.

We decided on one of the two buffets available and what a feast it was! The displays were beautiful. Is it making you hungry?

So… this is MissA’s floatie that kept staring at me from the overhead compartment. Hmm

What great adventure does tomorrow hold? I’ll let you know!

{July 15, 2017} Plans change… you just roll with it.

Things happen, plans change, you roll with it and make the best of it!

I know, sometimes that seems impossible, but sometimes, it works out, maybe not in the way you think.

I’m in Atlanta this weekend because I’m about to go on a girls trip with some of my favorite people and while I’m in town, very briefly, I tried to see a friend, I didn’t much time between getting in late last night and an early Sunday morning flight.

Unfortunately, my friend fell under the weather, so our plans fell through. I hope you feel better!

That didn’t stop me, it gave me a little more time where I was to help pack, pamper and play. Not the original plans, but it worked out.

So, now, the laundry is done, bags are packed, car is loaded, now all that’s left is sleep, it’s late and that alarm is coming very early! Nope, not telling you where we’re going until tomorrow!

{July 14, 2017} Sometimes you meet the nicest people…

When you’re traveling. Well, more flying in this case.

You can meet nice people all over the world, wherever you are, but sometimes you get really lucky when you’re sitting next to someone on a plane. It’s always a crap shoot when you sit next to someone on a flight, as you may or may not know.

I believe I told you about the nice guy I sat next to in first class last week. Tonight, I sat next to a nice woman in first class, yes,I got upgraded again, yes, I’m spoiled, especially when I travel for work, we’ve established this, moving on, ha ha. She was very nice, on the road like I am and we swapped stories, laughed, felt each other’s pains, accomplishments, it’s nice to talk with people who understand.

What I mean by that is when you travel for pleasure once in a while, you might have different types of experiences and look at things differently than someone who travels for work, even differently than sometime who travels exclusively for work, like I do, the ‘road warrior’ as its called.

One of the things I love is sharing tips and tricks with people new to traveling for work, little ways to get the best bang for your buck. I’ve really benefited from other people and i want to share what I’ve learned, from others and my own experiences. JCT, ST, BJS and I all met on the same project, we were road warriors.

ST got off the road and has started traveling for work again, JCT changed to a less traveled position and BJS is now a travel for fun kind of gal. I learned a lot from them and shared a lot with them, its neat to compare notes!

I wonder who I will sit next to next!

{July 9, 2017} A good visit… time to say see ya…

What a week! A whirlwind of sorts!

Get in late last Friday night, party for PSM on Saturday, family, friends, fireworks, back to Chicago for three days.

Get in late Friday night, drive two plus hours to see PSM, time with family, drive back to Boston, very early flight for someone yesterday, back to GES’ house, hang out, get stuff done, family comes home from camping, hang out a bit, say goodnight and think about sleep, 5am alarm to go back to Chicago.

For PSM… hit the ground running, literally! Land, party, motorcycle trip, cookout, work, golf, mountains, hiking, mini – golf, home. You tired yet?

I got to be in the same time zone and even see my honey for more than two days! Hold yourselves back people!

It was a great, albeit, short visit. A busy month for us, then I get to go home next month! Can’t wait!

{July 7, 2017} Didn’t you just say you were hungry?

I get a little confused on occasion, it happens. Don’t you?

Here’s the deal. I think I’ve told you before, I don’t usually finish my meals, especially dinners. That means I invariably walk out of the restaurant with a to-go container.

As I walk back to my hotel or just wherever, I am usually looking for someone to feed, I know I’m probably not going to eat the leftovers and I don’t like to waste food, so I’m happy to share what i have.

In the dead of winter in Buffalo, NY, I couldn’t find that many homeless people, so the valets at the hotel ate well. Sometimes it’s even been any Uber driver. I’m happy as long as someone is eating. The homeless inn Ann Arbor, MI were fed very well and very appreciative.

Here in Chicago it’s been a different story. There are homeless people everywhere here and I try to give my leftovers to them. I cannot believe how many times I have been turned down. “No thanks, I just ate” aren’t you going to be hungry later? Tonight a guy asked me what it was and when I said salad, he said no, really?

One guy had a sign that said he was homeless and hungry, even said it. I offered him my food, his response “I really need a ride to a shelter”, sorry, can’t help you there. As I walked away “hungry and homeless” seriously?

So, could someone please explain to me, when you’re homeless and asking for food and someone offers you just that, why do you turn it down?

Email Subscription

What was I thinking?