My Random Musings | Peaches Prattlings

{October 21, 2014} Flying etiquette

There was a time that people looked at flying as a luxury, well it was a luxury, now, almost anyone can afford to fly.

The time when flying was a luxury, people would dress to the nines for a flight, now, I am no longer surprised by anything I see. People wear cut offs, shorty shorts, jeans with giant holes, sweats below the belt, some people look like they just woke up or slept in their car before they got on the plane.

Now, I am not saying that I dress in a business suit or a dress with an oversized hat with big sunglasses, or even wear makeup, I like to be comfortable. I might wear jeans or a dress or comfy leggings with a sweater. I like to be comfortable, but still respectful. I admittedly am one of the ones who likes to take their shoes off and be comfortable on a long flight, but I try to at least keep my toes looking good.

So, I’ve discussed dressing, how about we talk about just plain courtesy. Just because you are in the middle seat, doesn’t mean you get both arm rests and if you get one, how about keeping your arm on the arm rest and not spilling completely over into my space and elbowing my sides. I know you might be taller or bigger than me and I may be small, but I still have personal space you should respect.

I know you want to relax and maybe recline, but I don’t want your head in my lap, I don’t know you that well, so please be cognisent of this when you decide to recline your seat all the way back. I can’t use my tray table at that point and if i was eating, forget about it!

The sun can be very bright at that altitude, do you have to have the window shade up at all times? On the flight back from Ireland, it’s mid-morning and all the shades are drawn so people can sleep or watch movies and about 5 hours into the flight, the woman sitting at the window in the row opposite decides to pull hers up half way, guess what comes shining like a flashlight in your eyes all the way across? I had to put my hood up just to keep the glare out. All five of us [the two in her row and the three in mine] were completely blinded by the light and not in a good way!

We are all cramped and tired and stiff, but come on people, a little common courtesy isn’t difficult, be nice to each other…put some clothes on, don’t leave the lavatory door open, don’t recline the seat all the way back, share the arm rest and for goodness sake, shower before you fly!

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/23354814/ns/travel-travel_tips/t/airplane-etiquette/

{October 7, 2014} Packing for vacation…slightly stressful!

Tonight I am packing for a trip and I am so bad about packing early. Where is the packing fariy when I need him/her???

I will tell you very soon where I am going, but I am taking myself on a very overdue vacation. A trip that I have talked about before and talked about going on with “My twin”, NB. I am using this trip to scope things out so we can go again in the future. I so want to explore it with him!

So, i have been getting ready, but is it really that different from any trip I take for work? Well, a little, I am going out of the country and want to be sure I have everything and don’t need to buy too much while I am wherever it is that I am not telling you at the moment.

There is stuff in storage in Colorado and some stuff here in Boston, together it made a full suitcase, well it will when I pack it! I am waiting on the dryer to finish and then I’m good to go. I could have just gone shopping and gotten new stuff, but I want to get some goodies while I’m there, so load up here! Maybe my stuff will meet in the middle one day and make a happy home!

Passport-check, converter-check, new bagalini bag-check [quiet from the peanut gallery, it’s a new bag for traveling!], camera-check, extra chargers-check, brain- um…

I can’t wait to tell you all about my trip and tomorrow, I will! Well, at least where I’m going!

Gotta go, buzzer!

Positivity Challenge – Day #21
1 – I am thankful I have any nails left at all. Apparently gel polish looks great, but kills the strength of your nails, lesson learned. Clear polish to build them up again!
2 – I am so very thankful to have an amazing counselor who helps me get where i need to be and to navigate my company, she rocks!
3 – I am so very thankful Peanut is recovering well, a little groggy and sleepy, but seems ok

{September 24, 2014} Farewell…So Long…Auf Wiedersehen, goodnight

No, I am not going to start singing, but if I did, you would have to listen, ha! No, I did not watch The Sound of Music tonight.

Tonight was a team dinner, a farewell of sorts. The project I have been with for a little over a month so far, is winding down and wrapping up and next week I will be heading for parts unknown, well, I know where I am going, you do not! So there. Awe, come on, you know I’ll tell you eventually!

As we are nearing the end of the project and some people are rolling off sooner than others [oh brother, I had a seguay here, I will hold my tongue], there was a team dinner with everyone from Deloitte that was in town to join and there were a lot of us!

The nice thing was it was very relaxed and no one seemed to talk about work, well, except when I asked someone what they did for the company and when JM got up and thanked us all for the fantastic job we all did on this project and go-live, which I’ve talked to you about a few times. Then two of the guys got up and gave out “awards” like “Most time spent in Indiana” you remember that I am in Kentucky for this project, but the Sheraton is over the Ohio River in Indiana, so one of the guys stays there. Then there was the award for the most Starbucks runs, PM and I got newest members because we came on just a few weeks ago. Our prizes…chocolate bourbon balls! Guess who is going to benefit from those? Dad and ACS, you’r welcome!

It really was a fun time talking to everyone, sharing stories and laughing, non-stop laughter and really good food and conversation about where we were going on our next projects, where we were from, what we were doing for the weekend because almost all of us were going home for a long weekend! WAHOO!

All in all, a fabulous time was had by all and some people were going to continue on with the night and go have an even better time at some of the finer establishments that Louisville has to offer, but I came back to My hotel to pack because I am going in to the office tomorrow and then to the airport because I’m heading to Bahston!

I want to thank JM for the opportunity to be a part of this team, I believe that everything happens for a reason and my couselor PD told me to call JM and I did and he remembered me when it was time to fill a need, so good things can happen. I also would not have met all these great people or spent the time in Louisville if it had not been for this project.

So, in closing, as we are having a gratitude festival…I want to say thank you for the opportunity to learn something new, be a part of a great team and an amazing go-live experience and I look forward to working with some of you again!

Goodnight!

Positivity Challenge – Day #8
1 – I am thankful to have made it through this past year with my family and I look forward to a new year full of good health, much sweetness and tremendous happiness
2 – I am thankful for an amazing group of people that I got to work with on this project, albiet a short time, but I am lucky to have gotten to know them
3 – I am thankful they think I am funny and now some of them are following my blog!

{September 22, 2014} Was it worth it? Nope.

I believe I told you a few months ago about giving up dairy because I was lactose intolerant.

I now call myself an ovo-vegan, I eat eggs, but no other animal by-products. Well, giving up dairy has been interesting, tough and not fun. I will say that there have been times I have snuck a slice of cheese here and there, maybe on an egg sandwich. There haven’t been too many times, mind you, but I do miss it and I always have to ask myself, is it worth it? [how my body will react].

So far it has been alright..so far. And then it came crashing down.

Well, tonight I went to a steakhouse with some co-workers, I found something yummy to eat and not just veggie sides, so this was a treat. Everyone laughed when I asked our server, in reference to the salads, which would be worth getting sick for. So, beets with salted goat cheese it was. It was delicious, yum! Was it worth it? So far! Then there was the polenta with sun dried tomato pesto, orange tomato slices, eggplant and garnished with little pieces of fried onions and leeks. OMG! I ate half of it and for dessert, about three bites of warm apple cobbler.

Was it worth it? Let’s just say, by the time we left the restaurant, I was beginning to regret my decision and when I got to the hotel, well, let’s just say, I am renewing my vow to eat no more dairy or any of the things on my no-no list.

In closing…was it worth it? Not really. It was delicious, but in the long run, I’ll stick to non-dairy please and thank you.

Positivity Challenge – Day #7
1 – I am grateful when I find something delicious I can eat at a steakhouse [that isn’t just veggie side dishes]
2 – I am thankful when people want to invite me to join them for dinner
3 – I am grateful to be so lucky to have people in my life who want to know where I will be on my birthday!

{September 21, 2014} It’s not your food so don’t take it

Have you ever had food taken from the fridge at work? Frustrating ain’t it?

Do you work in an office or have you? Have you experienced putting food in the refrigerator and mistakenly didn’t put your name on it and it was taken you were very upset. And then the next time, you put your name on your food and it was still taken and you were really mad!

Who in their right might takes food that belongs to someone else? Especially when there is a name on that package! You actually opened the bag that was tied with a knot and took food out of it? I am not talking about people that are homeless taking food from a store or stand, and I apologize if that was harsh. I am talking about people who work in an office, professionals who can afford to buy their own lunch or bring it in. You took the time to make your lunch and now it’s missing.

So, what set me off? I went to the grocery store today to get something for lunch and brought back a spinache and quinoa salad, which was quite good, minus the onions, the cranberries helped. I also bought some juice and a hummus cup with pretzels. I got back to the hospital to have lunch and finish my shift, put the juice and hummus in the refrigerator, looking forward to the snack later.

Let me step out and set the scene. During Go-Live, in the Command Center, there are always snacks and drinks, to keep people happy and snacking. On the counter are the snacks: crackers, potato chips, candy, fruit and in the refrigerator: water and soda [coca cola, sprite and mr, pibb]

Last week, someone put a note on the bottom shelf saying “Do not take this” and someone took one of the drinks, he was visibly upset, understandably so. Next, my turn…about three hours after I ate my salad, I was ready for hummus, I was tired of chips and crackers and trail mix. I went into the fridge and guess what wasn’t there! Yup, there were plenty of snacks on the counter, but someone decided my hummus and pretzels was better and while I grant you that it was, it was mine and then it was gone. pook, grrrr.

Get your own food and snacks!

Positivity Challenge – Day #6
1 – I am grateful that the police officer that pulled me over the other night was friendly and in a good mood [blog post tomorrow]
2 – I am grateful that the police officer had a good sense of humor
3 – I am grateful it was for headlights and not speeding!

{September 20, 2014} Opportunities

What is it they say…when one door closes, another opens?

Actually, the full quote is “When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.” Alexander Graham Bell

Well, I am kind of in that situation now. I believe we’ve talked about this, but…with my job, I need to find new projects to start when the current one is complete or close to it and I was so fortunate to have found this project just as my last one was wrapping up. As this project is going to wrap in a few weeks, I am fervently searching for my next project.

I have spoken to countless people about different opportunities that may or may not be out there and who could I talk to next. This has been an interesting experience and I am learning so much. I had schedule what I thought was to be a call to discuss upcoming projects and it turned into an interview, one I wasn’t completely prepared for, but progressed and completed with flying colors, it seemed to me.

I interviewed two Fridays ago, and then I received an email last Friday telling me that she had not forgotten about me and would be in touch by the end of the week.

I was on the fence about the project to begin with, but then turned my attitude around and saw where it would have been a positive opportunity one I would not turn down if it was offered. I even began to look forward to the opportunity.

Well, yesterday, just as promised, she reached out to let me know that I did not get the project, door closed, and that is ok. Why, you may ask and you may. Why, JJ, tell us, why! Well, as Alexander Graham Bell said, When one door closes, another opens and I really do believe that. I believe there are contracts with clients being signed almost daily and the perfect opportunity will come my way and that door…I will open!

Positivity Challenge – Day #5

1- I am grateful that it is easier thinking of things to be grateful for than my blog posts sometimes!
2 – I am SO THANKFUL that so many people, friends, family and strangers [no more] who read my blog and even comment on it!
3 – I am grateful there are new people discovering my blog every day, sometimes by chance!

{September 19, 2014} Rental cars

Like a lot of road warriors, I rent a lot of cars.

One of the cool things about being a road warrior [and for clarification, a road warrior is someone who is on the road for work either 100% or close to it] is that you get to drive a lot of different cars. It’s almost like test driving a new car before you buy it. And if you are in the market for a new car, this could be a good way to see if one of the cars you rent is what you want.

I have driven some great cars and some not so great. My profile has me set up to rent a compact two or four door car. Part of that is for pricing and part is because I am not a huge fan of driving huge cars. As you know I drive a beetle convertible, so that is the size that I am most comfortable with.

When I was in Ann Arbor, I had a few beetles, those were upgrades, huh? I’ll take it! I’ve had SUVs, recently a Ford Focus, which is nicer than I imagined. I’ve driven Mustangs, Challengers, Chargers and with my lead foot, a good idea? I even had a Seabring convertible, now that was cool! Right now, I think I’m in a Ford Edge, an SUV and way high up off the ground, it’s interesting. I’m waiting to get a pickup truck, now that will be fun!

Maybe I’ll go back through my rental agreements and make a list one day. But not today!

Positivity Challenge – Day #4
1 – I am grateful for the amazing pillows at my hotel
2 – I am grateful for the opportunity to try out all different cars when I travel for work
3 – I am grateful for Netflix – to find a show and watch the entire thing!

{September 18, 2014} Your bad day is not my fault!

Not a new topic but I encountered this, so I wanted to share.

I went out to a new restaurant for brunch, and one of these days I will tell you all about the new restaurants I tried, with pictures! But not today. I went to Dish on Market Street, http://dishonmarket.com/ and when I sat down and my server finally decided to grace me with his presence, getting an idea of how this is going to go? I knew he was in a bad mood, but this was not my fault.

He said hello, never told me his name and his demeanor was sullen, asked what I wanted to drink, I ordered water and before I could ask for tea, he was gone. When he came back, I ordered tea and then asked questions about some items on the menu, I know, me ask questions, go figure…

His attitude was crappy overall, and when I asked another server if my server was having a bad day, she said yes, they both were and I said, but you don’t show it, thank you!

I can totally appreciate that you are having a bad day, we all have them, I know, I waited tables, but you are in the service industry and it is your job to be pleasant and make the best of it, your tip relies heavily on my service experience.

So…even if you are having a bad day, say whatever you need to in the back, but when you come to my table, as harsh as this sounds, please suck it up and deal and be pleasant, because I will be pleasant back and maybe it will be catching. And your tip will show it. Do you need a hug? Just ask!

Rant over!

Positivity Challenge – Day #4
1. I am grateful that I have inspired people with different things/challenges I have posted [Nod to EV, who is taking the challenge herself! XOXO]
2. I am grateful to be able to use the word Positivity. It tickles me as a word and FaceBook doesn’t think it’s spelled correctly.
3. I am grateful to be able to brag on my friends [I just told a co-worker about Mike Nuckols awesome app ” Kid Dad Fun: 101 Kickass Things for Dads to do With Their Kids”]

{September 17, 2014} Watching movies with little kids

This is quite the experience.

Today, MGS wasn’t feeling well, so she stayed home from school and one of the movies we watched How To Train Your Dragon 2. She had seen the movie in the theater with her dad and sister when it came out, but of course, there were still questions and I answered.

There are always questions in the theater or at home. “Is this the scary part?” “Why is he doing that?” “Is he the good guy or bad guy?” and the list goes on. Sometimes there are more intense questions that make you think about what you’re going to say before you say it, you can’t just blurt anything out because, as you know, that sometimes leads to more questions.

Then there is that moment that they are sitting next to you and put their head on your shoulder or little hand on your leg that is right there next to them, is there a feeling any better? Not a chance!

ps…One nice thing about watching movies at home with kids…if there is a potty break, you can pause the movie!

Positivity Challenge – Day #3

1 – I am grateful to have a good job
2 – I am grateful that good job allows me to travel
3 – I am grateful I made my connecting flight

{September 14, 2014} Positivity Challenge

Have you seen the “Positivity Challenge” all over FaceBook?

If not, I’ll be happy to tell you about it since I am going to share with you each day the three things I am grateful for. Have no fear, I will be talking to you every day just like I am today, but I will be adding three things I am grateful for. I was nominated by my very good friend KNOB and when this challenge is over, guess what I get to do…nominate other people, so look out!

This means that tomorrow, if I talk about a movie I saw, travel, restaurant, event, I will be adding 3 things I am grateful for and as not all of you are my friends on FaceBook, but we are great friends, I want you to share in my life and the things that I am grateful for and make me happy.

I’ve been called a Pollyana before and if you’re not sure what that is…”someone who thinks good things will always happen and finds something good in everything”. I will take that as a compliment and go forth and be grateful!

So look out, this Pollyana is on her way and you know you’ll be included! Enjoy!

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