My Random Musings | Peaches Prattlings

{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…

{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!

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