Peaches Prattlings











{April 5, 2013}   Ready for the Color Run!

The Color Run is tomorrow!

The tutus are made, white. The hats are made/ready, white. The shoes are ready, white. The socks are good to go, white. The packets picked up, T-shirt, headband, tattoos, white, white and white. Are you sensing a theme?

We are participating in the color run Atlanta tomorrow with about 24,0000 of our closest friends and if not, they will be. The only rule for this 5k is to wear white so we have gone all out! CKM, SDL and Miss A and CTS will be doing the run together tomorrow, well, we’re walking it. It’s at the Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, GA.

It’s a color explosion, at every 1/4 mile, they toss colored corn starch at you, the more color you want, stay on the outside. At the end, you are completely rainbowed! Hence the white clothing requirement. They call it the happiest 5k on the planet!

Last year, they added a an extra date; this year, they changed the venue because so many people signed up! They’ve even added one in September! So, if you have the opportunity, go for it!

We are staying at the Hampton Inn (not a coincidence), in McDonough because its about 1.5 hours to drive there from home and if a race is more than an hour, I’ve started staying overnight. I don’t have to rush and I get my hotel points (it’s all about the points, right?)

We met for dinner after work, drove up here and then compared what we made for our fabulous selves!

SDL found a white top hat, put a flower on it and some tulle, very My Fair Lady meets steam punk. Miss A has a barrette sized one with a pink flower, oh so cute! They both have tutus and SDL got a white sheet for the stroller.

CKM has her white keds, white socks, tutu and hat. The tutu, she made out of a white belt with holes in it and tulle knotted throughout, it was a great idea, so guess what I did!

I have a white skirt, white tutu, same as CKM, white socks and white extra extra hi hi top Converse All Stars! I’m stoked I will have an original pair (and I just tested them and my smart feet fit! I don’t have to take a chance of hurting my feet any more than they are!). I even have a white wrist brace (possible carpel tunnel syndrome), it will be an original too!

CTS is meeting us there in the morning, so not sure what fabulousness there will be, but I know it will be groovy!

We have been told that if you spray vinegar on the clothing, the color will set, we are so ready for that! When will we wear these things again? Not sure, but I’m sure we’ll find an excuse!

I’m excited to be doing this with two of my besties, a good friend and my fantabulous niece! Facebook friends, look out for our rainbow of photos!

http://thecolorrun.com/atlanta/



{April 3, 2013}   After thoughts

Ever have a thought, express it and then think of something else later?

I do that all the time, especially with this blog. I finish a thought, sometimes I’m sure you don’t think I could have any more to say, yeah right! And then I remember something else I want to say, could have said, could have said differently. Half the time it’s right after I post, the rest…the next day. I’m sure I’ll do that tomorrow as well.

I keep wanting to go back and change the last posting or add to it, but that wouldn’t be true to this blog, now would it.

And I know that tomorrow will be no different, mostly because I think I have a cold and my brain has turned to mush. I took some cold medicine earlier, it almost knocked me out and then I take some tonight and guess what, not sleepy. A cold when it’s getting warmer out, really? That is the worst! I get when it’s cold, winter then yes, have a cold, but when spring is here? And I think my allergies kicked in, you there too?

DCM has a sinus infection right now and even though we’re about 1500 miles apart, we’re both sick? What are the odds? What do they say about families that get sick together?

Ok, more meds, lets hope these kick in!



{April 2, 2013}   PB & J

Yes, PB&J, you aren’t confused, I am writing about peanut butter and jelly and I la la la love it!

As a kid, one of my favorite meals was a PB&J on toasted white bread with a glass of ice cold strawberry milk..o m g. Ok, I’ll admit, I still love PB&J, doesn’t always have to be on toasted white bread, just as long as there is peanut butter and there is jam. I prefer creamy peanut butter and strawberry jam (hey, I named to cats Peanut and her sister, Butter). As long as its not jelly, too runny and I don’t like the consistency, I like to taste the fruit.

For a long time, I couldn’t have milk, then I was diagnosed with lactose intolerance and that first glass of milk, like manna from the heavens! let alone strawberry, wow! At Walmart, I found these straws, filled with flavored beads, they have strawberry, chocolate and banana!

There are days, when I can’t get enough PB&J, sandwich for breakfast, one for lunch, maybe one for dinner, it’s ok. I know peanut butter isn’t kosher, but sometimes PB&J on matza, remember…we have to find creative ways to eat matza.

Don’t get me wrong, I even love PB and banana! Wow! There is a sandwich at a Which Wich, the sandwich shoppe, called The Elviswich…it has peanut butter, bananas and honey and its toasted! (They started adding bacon, no thanks). This is comfort food to the max! But, no matter how good that is and how much better it probably is for me, give me a PB&J and I am a happy girl!

The reason I am inspired by PB&J is that Planet Smoothie has a smoothie, go figure, PB&J. It has ice cream, peanut butter, strawberries and milk. I get it without the milk and sometimes I’m ok with the Ice cream, sometimes not..It’s one of my treats that I don’t get to have very often because there is no Planet Smoothie near me, but…there is one near the office and when I have to go in, I know I’m going to go to Planet Smoothie and get a PB&J, wahoo! Almost makes the commute worth it (for about an hour!)

I went into the office today and the smoothie helped after the 1.5 hour commute and guess what, I am going to be in the office for the rest of the week, you know what that means! Maybe I’m close to my 10th smoothie..look out freebie!

Gotta get to sleep so I can get up and get my smoothie! I don’t care if its lame, it’s my life and my life is sweet, like strawberry jam! (Yeah, I went there!)



{April 1, 2013}   April Fool’s Day

Well played April 1st, well played. Where does the tradition of April Fools day come from? I may have misunderstood Wikipedia, but, I didn’t see an exact explanation, just how it’s celebrated around the world, imagine that! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_Fools’_Day

I’ve never been very good at April Fools pranks, some of them can be quite cruel and some can be quite funny.

Tonight, there are so many things n Facebook, so and so is engaged, my friend JCT posted that she and moving and was going to schedule a moving party. I wouldn’t haven doubted her because her current contract is in Boston and she said she got a full time offer and was moving! Well played JCT.

I stopped listening to a particular radio station in Atlanta years ago because of a April fools prank. 99X had a producer, Leslie Framm. The joke was that they were going to start streaming live and she was too ugly for viewing. I college, they always said radio was the TV for ugly people.

There were some people who didn’t realize it was a joke and they were outraged, calling into the station, Leslie stayed out sick that day (all part of it). I guess it was clever, but for some reason, even though I knew it was a joke, it bothered me and I until 99x went off the air, I never listened to the station, again.

I hope if you played a prank or a joke, I hope no animals were harmed in the making of r prank.



{March 30, 2013}   Utter tosh

US Weekly is utter tosh!

I got an offer for six magazine subscriptions for $12, not a bad deal. I got a running, fitness, health, prevention, travel subscriptions and US Weekly.

I like People magazine…when someone has a copy, it’s a bit of a guilty pleasure, I can always count on my sister to have at least one copy with her when we go on vacation. So when this offer came up, I thought US Weekly would be like People and there would be articles about everyday people besides the celebrity stuff. (And now I am sharing the magazine with my sister, she gets the ones I’ve already read, ain’t I sweet?)

Boy, was I wrong! It’s pictures of famous people in clothes that I could never afford (dresses that cost more than most people make in a month, kids clothes in the same boat) and who wore it better (who cares?). The articles they have are on things most people don’t care about or could never relate to.

I totally get that people are fascinated, otherwise these magazine wouldn’t sell, but I just have a hard time with this over privileged person having trouble with things I could never relate to or why people care that a star gets coffee or ties a shoe just like we do. I know I’m going on a tear, but I’m inspired to tear tonight. Do I really care that so and so cheated first or so and so left “Housewives of …” Because someone called her a name? (I’m glad I didn’t pay more than $2 for the subscription!)

One thing I can tell you is, as much tosh I think this magazine is, I can’t finish it before another arrives, it really is weekly! Wow!



{March 22, 2013}   Brain dead and smiling

Ok, so I sat down to write to you about a few different things and all if a sudden, it’s 30 minutes later!

GES and I had a very busy and productive day. Up early, shopping 95% done, lunch with a favorite customer, dessert from Mike’s purchases, some cooking finished, some work finished, Poppa and La La arrived, magic science experiment #s 1 and 2 done, go out to dinner, come home, dessert is served, yum!

Tomorrow…cooking, baking, birthday party, collapse!

Sunday…Sunday school, cooking baking, collapse again!

All the cooking is leading up to Monday and Tuesday, about 20-25 people descending here each night for Passover!

Collapse, collapse, collapse! A wonderful experience..food, friends, fellowship and love, what could be better?



{March 21, 2013}   Hugs and happiness

I couldn’t wait to get to Boston today! There were two wee tots who were excited to see me and I them!

Of course, I couldn’t wait to see my sister, it’s been too long since I’ve laid eyes on my baby sister and of course my brother in law. But…

I got off the plane, took a taxi, that my sister had arranged and got to the restaurant and there was my sister holding MG! she is so stinking cute and what? She was being shy! We walked into the restaurant and I had just enough time to drop my bag and have EJ jump in my arms, she is getting so big! I loved that when I texted my sister to wish EJ a happy birthday, she said, tell her yourself, meet us at the restaurant and that’s just what I did! I was there in the for dessert, got to sing happy birthday and then chase MG around the restaurant.

When we got home, it was time to get ready for bed, EJ is reading so well, she read me half of Ne Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish, I’m so impressed. She also asks so many questions, I was reading from her Disney Princess book, Pocahontas and she has so many questions. Why…? What does that mean…?

Then, after everyone under 7, went to bed, I was summoned for an extra good night kiss, how lucky am I?

I’m so looking forward to 6 more days of this! Look out!



{March 19, 2013}   Really? Ugh… and Kudos

Ok, so what a day. I am going to tell you about UGH…[travel], Really? [Excuse, rude, much?] and Kudos…[GREAT customer service]

So, where to start? I started my day off by going to the DMV because I lost my license [I can now no longer say I have never lost my license] easy enough, $5 and 20 minutes later, walked out with a temporary. [Little did I know that I would need to take another picture, so you can imagine what I looked like, but they said I could go back and take another picture, for another $5].

Home in time to start work, normal, no surprises there except for being super busy.

Next, it was time to leave for the airport [As I mentioned last night, I packed last night and I am not a night before packer, but if I am going out of the country or on a long trip, I try, note, I said try to pack the night before] and I’m so glad I did pack last night because I had just enough time to take a shower and leave between all my calls.

There was bad weather expected in Toronto [guess where I am!] and the meetings I am going to be participating in tomorrow and Thursday might possibly not happen in person if everyone can’t get to Toronto [my boss emailed at 1:30 pm to say he was still in Connecticut and was supposed to leave at 11, haven’t heard any updates]. I got to the airport 2 hours early as instructed, flight showing leaving on time [3:15pm]. After an hour of sitting there waiting, the departure time jumps to 5:00pm, the flight from Bloomington, IL hadn’t left yet and was scheduled to leave about 4 something. Ok… time to grab something to eat. [By the way, went to the Fresh Market [i don’t remember the name] for Vegetable Soup and a Garden Salad – Y U M!]

A little while later, there was an announcement, “we are looking for anyone willing to volunteer their seat, $600 cash voucher on any Delta flight” what? Hello! Over here! So up to the counter I went because… the next flight was scheduled to depart at 5:30, so what’s 30 minutes for $600? not much! I get to the counter at the same time as another gentleman and we both volunteered…we flipped a coin and Queen Elizabeth was on my side [it was a $2 Canadian coin, pronounced two-ney]. So, off to the other gate I went.

Now, they had to “bust my bag” from the flight it was originally on for this flight because “bags must go with the passenger on international flights” ok… can you see where this might lead?

Now, it’s time to board and when I go up to the new gate counter, the people who had done the original “bump” hadn’t completed the process or given me my voucher. So, this very nice, but stressed woman in a red vest [with a NYY badge holder] helped me get my voucher, a seat and on the plane.

Ok, first UGH… There were several nasty people who were just not pleasant, trying to get on the flight and causing a stink. “I’m first class, I fly all over the world, I have over 125K miles, etc etc…” whatever! “You run the worst airport ever” ok, yeah, the guy who is helping you get on the plane and listening to you b**ch runs the airport… Then there was the guy who volunteered to get bumped like I did, who had gotten to the original gate after me, but thumbed his nose at me telling me I hadn’t been there as long as he had and didn’t know what he had gone through, ok, whatever. Then the guy who couldn’t find his baggage claim ticket, who’s fault is that? It’s generally on the back of your ticket. One thing I always hang on to… the baggage claim, especially when I travel internationally.

Ok, next UGH… I get on the plane and a family gets on and Preston, their very cute toddler, and his mom get on. As I am getting kicked in the back, I turn around and say something to mom, she gets Preston to stop, for about a minute… you can imagine what the rest of my flight is like. It gets better, we see her again [she gets a “really?!”]

Flight is mostly uneventful, we land, takes forever to get off the plane, but we did and off to get my luggage, or so I thought…

I get to the carousel, past the baggage and people coming in from Punta Cana [awe, SDL and Miss A and DJL, brings back memories]. And I see the original flight has come in about the same time as my new flight, but… Not my bag, I know you have already figured that out. Oh look, there is someone else who had gotten bumped looking for their luggage.

I give it the appropriate amount of time, when there are maybe 3 bags left on the carousel and head to the Lost Luggage Help Desk. Oh joy…

Guess who’s there too? Yup, Preston and his family. “Preston, get off the floor, Preston, Get off the floor. Preston, pick up your bag, Preston…”

We are all waiting on line, I get the form to fill out [you have to give one half to customs so that when the bag comes in, they can match it up]. The man behind the counter looks at me finally and says Ok, please come up, I go up and Preston’s mom pitches a fit… She had just finished filling out the form [she was actually at the counter for about 3 more minutes than i was] “I was here first”, “sorry ma’am, she was here and I’m going to help her” “I was here first, waiting longer than you” giving me looks of death as if I had just stepped on her foot. Then started complaining to the guy behind the counter. I said it’s fine, he kept objecting and trying to help me, I said it’s fine, it’s not worth it and stepped back out of line. She still had a sour look on her face, maybe she had stepped in something… Ah… the life of the privileged. [BIG REALLY?]

Then it was my turn and I handed my form to the woman at the other counter and she was incredibly pleasant and nice and i made her laugh a few times [she did tell me to stop because she was laughing too hard to concentrate!] but she was smiling, so that’s all that matters. I did tell her she was going to be up against some unpleasant people, like the guy who had been bumped, so she looked directly at him and offered him a form, smooth the way. She asked me if the bag was a rush and I did tell her that there were  birthday presents for my niece in there! which were more important than anything else, but also my jammies and my clothes for work and if I don’t get my bag, I will have to wear the same things I had on to work [sorry guys!] she said ewweee… so yes, it needs to be a rush [score and hope for the best!].

Then she did the nicest thing [here’s the Kudos] she got a special key and then gave me a Delta Skyteam kit [has a t-shirt [A TSHIRT! wink wink, stop rolling your eyes CKM and DCM!] and toiletries, all the essentials!] BIG SCORE!!! I was trying to find her name on her badge, but she was incredibly busy and I knew she needed to help the next person.

I go outside, get a taxi and finally get to the hotel. I really like Hilton properties, I am at gold level, next is platinum..I’m getting there… At gold level, there is always a bottle of water and a snack either in the room or at check in. I get to the room and there is a bag of pretzels [yeah, no cookies or chocolate] and a bottle of water. But the coolest part… the bottle has my name on it! “Thank you for staying at the Hampton Inn… We Love Having You Here” and my name, how cool is that? I’m still tickled when i see my name on stuff!

So, as you can see, dear friends, it has been one heck of a day and no, as of 11:56pm EST, I do not have my luggage, but I have all my electronics and I can brush my teeth in the morning, lucky for my co-workers.

As they always say, there’s always tomorrow.



{March 17, 2013}   What a day!

Today started off earlier than I had wanted it to, but it was a good and full day.

I’m so glad SDL called me yesterday to ask about the craft show today! So, SDL, her sister, DJL and of course, Miss A! met at the Cobb Galleria for the American Craft Council show, not what we thought it was going to be. We were thinking it would be crafts to buy, learn, new ideas, stuff like that crafts for normal people, like us. It was very high end hand made items, very nice, but waaaaayyy too expensive, not things that normal people would be buying. Very little for under $100 if that tells you anything.
http://shows.craftcouncil.org/atlanta

We weren’t there as long as planned, maybe 2.5 hours, so off to lunch we went. Good friends, good food, what could be better?

We parted company, I went to Mecca, well, ok, Michael’s for some supplies for my tooth fairy pillow.

I got home about 5, decided it was time to cut the grass, couldn’t find my gas can, so I went to Walmart, bought a gas can and an x-acto knife, headed home and cut the grass, got the entire front and part of the back done.

Annie (the beetle bug) needed a bath and that was the next project (one of the advantages of daylight savings, still light for so long!) and does she look great! Shiny and new, she’s not as mad at me now. Next I have to tackle the inside, give her a really really good cleaning.

Finished washing the car, went inside and started pulling up the carpet in the dining room. Bella, the newest cat, Bella, has taken to using that room as her litter box, she uses the one in the garage, but I think her way of telling me she’s not happy is using the dining room. She does use the litter box in the garage, she also uses the floor in the garage, whatever, as long as its there and not the dining room!

I did something I never thought I would do…there is a garbage can (like the kind you put at the curb) in my dining room! It’s going out tomorrow!

Then I went out to dinner with a great friend, TS, she brought me my Pampered Chef order, she’s a great consultant that I met years ago at a show and we’ve been friends ever since! It was so great to catch up, we don’t get to see each other too often and it’s like no time has passed and we can talk for hours! Shocked? I know!

I got home and finished pulling up the carpet and padding, I will tell you, I got end helluva workout today!!!

Now, I am watching Mama Mia and working on a tooth fairy pillow, EJs birthday is this week! I can’t believe she’s going to be six!!!

Happy Sunday!



{March 14, 2013}   Don’t mess with your face

Why do people have to mess with their faces? Ok, so I am going to wax on plastic surgery.

Why do people have to mess with what they have? Ok, I’ll admit, in my battle with my weight, there are times I have said if I had the money, I would get a tummy tuck as the tummy/middle are my problem areas, I won’t lie and say I haven’t thought about it, but it’s not something I am going to do it. I’m going to keep working out and running/walking, watching what I eat and juicing to get where I need/want to be.

There are people who legitimately need the help that plastic surgery can do for them. The extra skin from major weight loss, an injury, possibly something that happened at birth, reconstruction, possibly augmentation when you weren’t blessed, as they say, but within reason. I mostly get when there are things you might want/need based on age, but that still makes me nervous.

Plastic surgery is not something that is always within reach financially, so it’s not the average Joe or Jane who can go out each week and get something done. The people I wonder about are those that go crazy with it. Joan Rivers, I still remember her original face! I’m not sure she does, but she says the same thing. I remember watching Death Race and I had to do multiple takes and look up on imdb.com to be sure that was Joan Allen! I was watching something with Olivia Newton John, what happened? Dolly Patron, aside from her obvious “attributes” I always thought she was a good looking woman, now, it’s plastic. Meg Ryan was one of the first to set off Hollywood in recent years, she was so sweet looking, I can’t tell you how many times I went to get a hair cut with her picture as inspiration, then she had her lips done and its like they precede her everywhere she goes!

The thing that made me think of this was I was watching Once Upon A Time and Rose McGowan was on it, it took me a minute to realize who it was and then I looked at pictures of her, um..not so much.

There are also the people who have money who are obsessed with plastic surgery, the human Barbie doll wanna be’s, it frightens me. Don’t they know that if Barbie was a real woman, she’d tip over?

One of the things that got me a while back was the movie, The Women. It was a remake of The Opposite Sex, which was a remake of The Women. The original and then this one had only women in the cast, from the main characters, service industry to the animals. The Opposite Sex had men and women in the movie. The original is my favorite, with Norma Shearer and Joan Crawford, the story is all about the dichotomy of women. So, here is my point, I know, finally… At the end of the latest version, there was an interview with the actresses in the movie. They were all talking about how naturally beautiful women are and all but maybe one or two had had work done.

I agree, we are all beautiful just the way we are, I know, I should listen to myself and if you want to change something, change something, but you still have to start with loving and like who you are.



et cetera