My Random Musings | Peaches Prattlings

{November 28, 2014} Bittersweet

This year, celebrating Thanksgiving in Boston was bittersweet.

The reason I say that is that this was the first time in six years that I celebrated Thanksgiving in Boston and not Atlanta. When I was married, we celebrated the holiday in New York City, Boston or Atlanta and the year we got divorced, I came to Boston with TS to celebrate.

Since then, I have hosted Thanksgiving for all my “orphan” friends, people like me, who didn’t have any extended family in Atlanta, who were not going home to be with families. Sometimes, people don’t have the opportunity to go home for the holidays, sometimes they have to work the next day, so I stated hosting and I have loved each year!

It was as pot luck, with me making the turkey, yes, the vegan makes the turkey! One year, I remember flying in from Nevada the day before thanksgiving, getting there either late the night before or early thanksgiving morning and going right to work. Last year it was even Thanksgivingka, the first night of Chanukah was thanksgiving, what a great meal that was!

Different people have joined different years and some people were each year, CKM, SDL, DJL, Miss A, CC and JC and their baby M, JCT and her family, DCM, AB, JB and A and their son, E, just to name a few.

Last year, I don’t know if you remember me telling you about the dollar store thanksgiving! I had already moved to Colorado, but when we came back to Atlanta for thanksgiving, stayed in my house and hosted using things I bought at the dollar store!

There were so many great memories built over the years and I would not trade them for anything. This year, being with my family in Boston was so very important and while I would not have missed the opportunity, I was missing my family in Atlanta and not hosting, very much. Hence, bittersweet.

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and celebrated with those they love and care about! I know I did!

{November 25, 2014} Sometimes traveling is lonely

I know I’ve talked about how much I love traveling for work.

And I do, don’t doubt it, but some days on the road are just lonely. A few years ago I was on a project that had me in different cities around the country, sometimes for just a night or two. I didn’t travel with anyone, so I was always on my own.

When I started with Deloitte in February, I was put in with a large group and became friends with quite a few, I hope you remember me talking about some of them. KLS and KNOB to name just two. We would go out almost every night and had a wonderful time, it made the time pass quickly.

When I was transitioned to Louisville, PM was transferred as well and we went to dinner almost every night together. Then we came to Chicago and we have gone to dinner a lot of nights, we are only here three nights a week and we get done about six, so not always up for dinner, but we’ve done alright so far.

Last week, I worked remotely and PM was here two days on his own, and this week, he is working remotely, might be next week as well. One thing most of the team does not do is go out to dinner after work. It is back to the hotel and tonight, I did the same, back to the hotel and order room service.

Every once in a while it’s ok, but I like going out, seeing the city or town and trying something new to eat, help to relax and detox from the day. This week, as I am on my own, it hasn’t been bad, I went out, but tonight, it was hotel and room service, it felt kind of lonely.

Not having a pity party, so don’t feel bad for me, just melancholy. Heading to Boston tomorrow for the holiday. Can’t wait!

{November 24, 2014} Smoking allowed in a hotel?

I didn’t think you could still smoke in hotels, especially the bigger chains.

I came back to the hotel today and walked into my room and smelled smoke, what? I thought all hotels were smoke free. I have stayed at a few smaller hotel chains that allow smoking, but that was a few years years ago, I don’t know if the same holds true today but I still didn’t think you could smoke inside any more.

I came back to my room at the hotel and it smelled like smoke, which I thought was odd, so I called down to the front desk and they sent someone up to spray, which helped. I also found out that they allow smoking on the fifth floor, the entire floor, what?

I went down to the front desk and talked to the woman working, it turns out that since they have a lot of flight attendants, especially from Asia, the hotel got permission to allow smoking on the fifth floor. Neither one of us liked the idea, but oh well.

The really unfortunate part is that smoke rises, it comes in through the vents, the balcony, the windows, ick, the point is, it comes up and makes the rooms above smell, very unfortunate.

So…while I am thrilled with the size of my room, the smoke kind of killed the illusion, oh well. It does smell better now.

{November 18, 2014} Cuts in odd places…ouch

There is something I want to talk about, but I’m not ready, when I am, you’ll be the first to know!

What I want to talk about getting cuts in, well, not so much odd places, but inconvenient, is that the right word?

My thumb was hurting earlier and I couldn’t figure what was wrong, I kept looking and looking and nothing. Finally, I saw the cut and it made sense, didn’t feel any better, but at least there was a reason.

Ever have that…where you get a cut or bruise, in a place that just puts you off until you figure out what happened and then until it goes away. Loathing her paper cuts in odd and unfortunate places, the cuts on the finger tips, all your focus seems to go there, like now, all I can do is touch the tip of my thumb, press it to be sure it’s cut, like something changed in the last few minutes.

It’s so inconsequential, but it occupies my attention, until I am distracted by something else, and then all of a sudden, I touch or brush it and bam…ouch, oh yeah, I cut myself. Then you spend the next day wondering how you cut yourself, or at least that’s what I’ve been doing!

Don’t you wish all your problems were this trivial? (My random thought for the day, never discounting your pain!)

Good thing it’s not on a typing finger!

Goodnight!

{November 12, 2014} Why do certain things trigger certain reactions?

Needless worrying…that’s all it is!

I joke and say it’s Jewish guilt, but I have no idea what it is! Whenever someone says, “we need to talk” or a manager, someone above, says “do you have some time to chat?” without telling you what it is about, my stomach clenches, it’s a natural reaction.

Most of the time it’s nothing, but in my mind, and I don’t know why I expect the worst, but that’s the way it is. Expect the worst, hope for the best. And most times, it’s something very simple, but I get that way and then I have to sit there and wait and wonder and let my mind wander until I have that conversation with them and then it’s over.

Breath

{November 11, 2014} It is Veteran’s Day, have you said Thank You?

November 11th is a day that honors the all who served in the US Armed forces.

This is a day to honor all who have served in our country’s military. All who have served, this includes men, women and canines, many people forget there are wonderful and brave canines who serve alongside wonderful and brave human beings.

I have had the honor to know many people who have served in the military; family, friends, neighbors and past relationships, each one having had different experiences while they served. Some choose to talk about their time, some do not, but one thing linked them all together, they were and are proud of the service that they gave to and for their country.

One of the things that I enjoy on a day like today is seeing all the fabulous photographs that people post, either of themselves in uniform or of a loved one who has served or is currently serving, the pride and emotion that emanates from the photos is overwhelming.

I like to joke that the only war movies I enjoy are ones where they are singing and dancing. There are some fine war movies out there, unfortunately, I am usually an emotional mess if I watch one, so I will leave that to you. The messages differ, depending on the movie itself, some silly, sad, emotional, terrifying, heroic, but no matter what type of movie it is, it is an honor to serve your country and to all the brave men, women and canines who have served this great nation of ours and allowed me the freedom and opportunity to be able to voice my opinions in this very blog, I say “Thank You!”

I will leave you with this…When the show, Family Jewels, was on the air, Gene Simmons did an amazing tribute to all four branches of the military, Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines Corps, I still get goose bumps watching it, I hope you do too. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MtdIO23MKM,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veterans_Day

{November 7, 2014} After being sick at work/Travel Day

This is a dual blog post because i want to talk about two things and it’s my post, so there you go.

So, as you know, I wasn’t feeling well this week and had to stay in bed yesterday. Since I am relatively new to the project, everyone knows who I am and yesterday, there was a big meeting and I was noticeably absent and this was the meeting where the project manager was supposed to introduce PM and I to the group, oh well. So…today, everyone wanted to know if I was feeling better, it was very nice, but a little weird. Even at the airport, when I landed in Atlanta, I saw some of my teammates and they were asking. So nice, but weird. It was definitely appreciated, but at the same time, not the kind of attention I want and how much information do you give? Ramble over.

As for traveling…I left some perishables with the hotel until Monday, I didn’t feel like traveling with them, so that was good. I got an text that my 4:50pm flight was delayed until 5:36pm, go figure, apparently due to high wind, it finally started getting cold in Chicago. Then I have no seat, I will get that at the gate. When I get to the Delta counter, wait with everyone else to drop my bag, about 30 minutes, great…then going through security, TSA pre-check, but a random check, really?

Get to the gate, there was an announcement that there was a gate change, go to the new gate with everyone else, it’s for an earlier flight than ours, how could a flight leave before it was supposed to when it was delayed. Then go back to the original gate and wait with everyone else, finally getting in line because the one woman at the counter said it would be a while, they were still working on the flight that just left.

Got on the plane and waited and waited and waited. Finally took off, as soon as we land, EVERYONE [well, almost everyone] gets up, like that’s going to help. Finally get off the plane, get my bag, break a nail getting the bag off the conveyor belt, what? And lost a charm off the bracelet I got in Ireland, pook. Did meet a nice guy that works for Deloitte as well, he overheard me speaking with someone about what I did. We are both working for the same partner on different projects.

Get my car, which is an Impala, or land yacht as I like to call it. It’s clean, good stereo and rides smoothly. I make it to TS’ house and it’s a wonderful reunion, she feeds me home made veggie soup and is so wonderful because she is a meat eater and used to flavoring with meat, but accommodated me and it was heavenly. I am not eating very much at the moment. There was salad and her mom’s home made pickles. I was in heaven. A wonderful end to a long day.

Goodnight my friends!

{November 5, 2014} Being sick in a hotel…

Is no fun at all!

As my friend ST said, it makes you feel a little more alone. There’s no one checking on you, in person, i had lots of people check on me via text, thank you! No one checking to see if you want or need anything, no one to pat your back and tell you you’re going to be alright. Ok, I know I sound whiney, I’m sick, you’ll get over it!

You know one of the things I like, well, like might not be the right word, but when I’m home and sick, my cats are with me and never leave my side, that is incredibly comforting.It’s their way of taking care of their mommy.

Last night I slept pretty hard, woke up a few times and finally about 7, I woke up, messaged my co-worker and manger telling them I wouldn’t make it in to work today and went back to sleep, or tried to. I spent the rest of the day dozing, the only time I got out of bed was to go to the bathroom and twice I thought a shower would help, it did, the first time was just to stand under the warm water, the second was an actual shower, with soap and shampoo! I felt like a human being again, mostly. And the second time, I put on fresh jammies, that always helps!

I went to sleep achy and woke up that way, not really able to move, but progressively during the day felt a little better and the achy feeling is moving down my body, so that’s better. About 3pm, I messaged my manager to tell him I was upright and see if there was anything he needed me to work on, I could be slightly productive.

The good news is…I talked to GES and everyone is fine at their house! Dad, not so much, but it will run it’s course so I am hopeful for tomorrow!

Thanks for all the good vibes and wishes and I wish you never, ever experience this and if you do…I hope it’s at home where someone will tell you everything will be alright!

{October 29, 2014} Playing dress up is no fun.

Let me rephrase…I love playing dress up, dressing in costumes, putting on a dress and getting gussied up for a night on the town.

Dressing in business professional attire for work is not that much fun. For the last few years, I have only worn business casual attire for work. That usually involves khakis, sweater sets, summer dresses, flats, sometimes boots. Now, with this position, I am in slacks, more formal dresses, dressy sweaters, belts, things that cinch. Oh, and there are the shoes! Boots with heels, shoes with heels, there is a pair of flats, but still…heels, heels, heels.

It’s a new sensation and I feel like a kid playing dress up. Don’t tell anyone, I’m getting away with it!

{October 27, 2014} So beat…time to pass out

Today was a travel day.

I am on a new project in Arlington Heights, Illinois, starting today through June, so you know what that means, traveling back and forth each week and come on, you know I love it!

When I got back from Ireland, I was Gold Medallion on Delta, go me! You know how I love Hilton, well, I stayed at a Hilton for free this weekend, can’t beat that! I tried to get into a Hilton on this trip, but it was sold out, so…I called SPG or Starwood, http://www.spg.com and said that I was Diamond with Hilton and I would like the same status with SPG, I didn’t necessarily want the points, which are great, I wanted the same status, because, as we all know…I’m spoiled!

When I called SPG, they told me about the Platinum Challenge, stay 19 nights in 90 days and I would be platinum, so guess what I’m doing? I’m at a Sheraton, it’s a little older, and in an office with nothing around for food. I ordered room service after I got settled in, it was ok. The room is very nice, a living room area and then a bedroom with French Doors, it’s lovely, I can be happy here for a bit.

I started the day at 5:30am Mountain time, after sleeping only 2 hours, that’s not enough for me! I flew United Airlines, which was fine, not great, but fine. I found PM and we took a taxi over to the hospital to meet the team. It was a good day, met lots of great people and got a better insight to what the project is about.

I was dressed professionally, thanks to my sister taking me shopping and knowing what looks good, even if I don’t agree, but I look Business. All I know is that i was wearing the wrong foot-ware today and my dogs are screaming at me!

I think I have ahhhh..shhh…zzzzzzz

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What was I thinking?