Family | Peaches Prattlings

{November 10, 2017} Happy birthday Saint J!

No, you didn’t miss a religious holiday! This is the birthday of family!

I have told you about Mr & Mrs B before, they are LBK’s parents. I even told you a little about them earlier in the week, they are KK’s grandparents!

Mrs. B worked with my mom for years at the same school. They started when I was a kid, so the two families became great friends. We celebrated holidays together, their house was the first time I decorated a Christmas tree! They had latkes and lit a menorah at our house. We’ve celebrated birthdays together and traveled together, as families when we were kids and adults with our respective families.

They are an amazing family and Mr & Mrs B are like another fabulous set of parents. They have been there through all the good and bad my family has been through, as we have for theirs. They remember every birthday, not only dad and LaLa, but GES, me, EJS and MGS and dad does the same for them and LBK and her kids. They are also catholic, hence, the reason we dubbed Mrs B as Saint J when I was younger.

I used to cal them by their first names and then as soon as I was in a class that Mr B taught, they became Mr & Mrs B to me. I even address their cards as ‘Mr & Mrs ‘The Bs’. I’ll never forget one day Mrs B said “You know, you could call can all us J & E”, um, nope! I tried, not going to happen.

Today is Mrs B’s birthday and should be celebrated! Mrs B is getting to do what she loves today, spend the day with her family! Happy birthday Saint J! I hope today is as fabulous as you!

{November 8, 2017} It’s signing day! Proud auntie moment!

Two amazing young women I have had the honor to watch grow up are now committed to two great colleges for their respective sports.

I’ve talked about these two girls over the years. KK I have known since she was a baby, her mom and, LBK, have known each other since we were kids. Our moms worked together at the same school and her dad was my teacher of French in middle school. I got to see LBK get married an watch as she became a mother to three amazing girls!

ST, is the daughter of my friend JCT, who I have known since 2009 when we started on a project together in Atlanta and we have been steadfast friends and family ever since.

Well, these two young women, have been enjoying their respective sports for as long as I can remember. KK is a champion fast pitch pitcher in softball and ST is an amazing golfer. They have played for their schools and independently for years, traveling the country competing in different venues.

High schools and colleges have been looking at both of them since they were in middle school, possibly even sooner, but they couldn’t do anything about it until they at least got into high school and boy did the schools start knocking down the doors! It was tough competition for them to say yes, the offers, the scholarships, the visits, the chats, the phone calls, basically, the courting!

And today, they made final, official decisions. They had made their decisions a while ago, but it wasn’t official until they put pen to paper and signed! When you are at KK’s house, it’s covered with things from her new school, has been for months and at ST’s you knew where she was going.

ST made the decision that she wants to play golf at and for the University of South Carolina Gamecocks and KK is going to play softball at and for the University of Delaware Blue Hens. How fabulous is that!

I am so proud of both of these girls, watching them grow into smart, strong, talented young women and being noticed by others, not just their family and friends for amazing achievements.

I wish them so much love and good wishes and happiness for life and right now, the next four year, working hard and showing their school and the world what they can do! I cannot wait to come to a game and watch them shine!

Have fun, good luck and don’t forget auntie J wants a hoodie!

{November 4, 2017} How much can you pack into one day? We’re in Vegas, let’s see…

You know how I roll, right? It’s a weekend, so let’s pack as much into it as I can! Who needs sleep?!

Saturday morning came way earlier than it should have, but that gave us the opportunity for pillow talk. Literally. We both stayed in bed, turned on our sides and, refusing to remove our heads from our respective pillows and talked. There you go, pillow talk!

Eventually, it was time to get up and greet the world, sigh. Get motivated and have some breakfast. How about that view!? We had breakfast at a cute little place between the convention center of the hotel, also where our room was, and the casino, Bacio. We shared a skillet and some pancakes. Don’t you love how they gave me raw sugar? Like rock candy! I remember when GES used to make rock candy!

We leisured over breakfast, deciding on what to do later in the day. First thing…I have always wanted to go to the neon sign museum. Let’s go! The Neon Boneyard was…sold out! They were closed from 2pm-9pm for an event, wonder if it was a wedding, how cool would that be! So…we got tickets for an 11:45pm tour! Love that!

We discussed other things to do and decided on a show for later tonight, but had to fill the time before that! We weren’t far from Freemont Street, check out the Container Park and the Fremont Street Experience. I did that back in August and got to share it with PSM.

After we toured the Container Park, we went across the street to the Fremont Street Experience and started to wander. The first alley that we wandered in to had a storefront that we had never seen before, it a place for throwing axes! What? It’s called Axe Hole Vegas, go figure!

This was so much fun! We were slightly skeptical, but that went away with the first few throws! It was like a batting cage for throwing axes. There were five lanes with two targets each, giant tree stumps with a bulls-eye painted on it. We received a brief lesson, three different ways to throw at first, later came some trick throws. I tried the first three, two different one handed and one two handed. I mastered, to a point the two handed throw, the one handed, not as much. PSM killed it with the one handed and the trick throws! And all with his non-dominant arm, so impressive!

We really had a great time! I’m now on the lookout for places I/we can do that again! What a great way to blow off steam! And just have fun! I wonder how many of my friends and family would love this!

Next, a walk down through the Fremont Street Experience, experiencing the sights, smells, sounds, the outfits or lack there of! I couldn’t share some of what we saw or didn’t see! Oh my, I’m not sure we were old enough! Ha ha!

We walked through Fremont Street and then into Binons to see where The World Series of Poker began, a piece of history. Then to the end and back of The Fremont Street Experience. We worked up an appetite, time for lunch.

We went to a place that was recommended, Vegenation. The atmosphere was great, the service and food, lacking, unfortunately. We had a different person seat us and take our order than our actual server. The black rice sushi was fabulous, but our entrees, not so much. PSM said his was flavorless and mine, well, I ordered eggplant parm with the sauce on the side.

It came out and when I inquired about the mozzarella that should have been on top, the server said ‘Oh yeah’ and brought me cold shredded mozzarella, seriously? I almost finished my meal and I said something when she asked how the food was and when I mentioned it, ‘oh yea…do you want me to take it back?’ I’m sorry, it took you to almost the end of the meal to ask?

We talked to the couple next to us, not much better. Oh well, Las Vegas has been great so far with vegan, you can’t win them all.

Back to the hotel too get a little rest.

After a sit down, it was off to our first evening activity, Terry Fator! http://terryfator.com/

Terry Fator is a fabulous ventriloquist wor won America’s Got Talent in 2007 and has been at the Mirage Hotel ever since. His show is 90 minutes and he introduced us to eleven of the thirteen puppets he works with.

He won America’s Got Talent with Winston the Turtle and he opens and closes the show with him. Terry Fator is the master of impersonations and can sing like just about anyone!

One of the things I really like is that 100% of the profits from his merchandise goes to military charities. https://terryfatorshop.com/pages/military-charity

Dad took me years ago and now I get to share with PSM, he loved it!

After Terry Fator, we walked the strip back towards our hotel. On the way we stopped by the Linq Hotel to tour the area that was restored and created a while back with shops, drinking establishments, tourist stuff, street vendors, street performers, the Ferris wheel and people, people, people.

We stopped for a snack for PSM at Gordon Ramsay’s Fish & Chips. And anyone who knows me knows I love Gordon Ramsay, so this was a treat! No, he wasn’t there, it was just his place! And exactly as he preaches, simple! Fish or shrimp or chicken and chips, that’s it!

On to our next stop, The Bellagio Hotel. I love watching the fountain, the way it’s choreographed to the music. Then inside to the reception desk to see the Chihuly flowers, don’t forget to look up!

And then to the right to The Conservatory to see what amazing creations they make with flowers for the season, stunning! Just takes your breath away! This is something I always recommend to people visiting Las Vegas, its a must!

Then back to the hotel just in time to get the keys and get to the Neon Boneyard! Is this fabulous or what!!

This museum was established in 1996 and it is filled with signs from old casinos, hotels, businesses. It was cool looking through the fence during the day, but to see some of the signs lit up, in all their splendor! Some are still working and others need some love, hopefully they’ll get it!

If you’re in Vegas, I so recommend this place! PSM said it reminded him of a post apocolyptic movie set, I could see that!

Definitely two thumbs up! Now what? Well, it’s after 1am… flight is at what time?

I do hope you enjoyed your day in Las Vegas as much as we did!

{November 3, 2017} Vegas bound baby!

I’m off to Las Vegas this weekend. Or as some like to call it, the City of Lost Wages!

So, as you know, I travel for work and PSM does as well. One thing anyone who travels work will tell you is that we will do a lot of things to get us to that next level.

Ask that traveler you know if they have ever taken a trip just to get the points, they will tell you either they have or would. I know I have!

PSM is close to the next level on United, so… what to do? Ask ‘Where should we meet for the weekend?!’ So, a weekend in Las Vegas it is!

I went to Hilton to see what was available and found out that The Tropicana is now under the Hilton banner. Sold!

Earlier today, PSM video conferenced with me to show me the room. I had called to ask about the reservation and got upgraded, works for me and now, I see the room.

The Tropicana is the cabana feel in each room, bamboo and wicker furniture, palm tree in the bedroom, hurricane shutters on the windows and doors. Its fun.

Can’t wait to see what tomorrow and Las Vegas have in store for us!

{October 31, 2017} It’s Halloween! Boo! Eek!

It’s Halloween! Let’s celebrate! Oh, how I love this holiday! I’m bummed that when I’m on the road, I don’t get to dress up and participate. Oh did I have some fabulous Halloweens! As a kid, dressing up and going trick-or-treating with my parents and then with friends. Some years, buying costumes, other years, making them. I’ve been Emmet Kelly, the famous hobo clown, Dorothy Gale from the Wizard of Oz, Charlie Chaplin. As an adult, I got into it all over again, Maleficent, The Wicked Queen from Snow White, Cruella de vil, a little old man, a geisha with a fabulous pagoda at work. Oh my, did I love dressing up and fooling people. My house, oh my house, wow, loved decorating. It was scary and fun, kids loved and were terrified to come to the front door. One year I got a popcorn machine and wagon for my birthday and that was the start of being known as “The popcorn lady”! They loved it, they got candy and hot popcorn! I was sweeping popcorn from my lawn for weeks! I think the birds loved it! Now, I’m responsible for the Halloween costumes for eight fabulous little people! I remember when it started! When EJS was born I asked GES if I could get her Halloween costume and she said yes, if I didn’t, there might not be one! And the tradition was born! What a joy and treat for me! I get to do something wonderful and special and I so love being able to give them what they want to be, to help them imagine what it’s like to be something different, play dress up and pretend. Each year it’s something different. The first year, if their moms don’t tell me what they want to be, then I get something fun, hoping it’s what they might want. No matter what, cuties! This year, EJS was a doctor, MGS a police officer, LB a zombie cheerleader, Princess L was a pirate, Baby A was Sonic the Hedgehog, his baby sister E was Minnie Mouse, CDL was Winnie the Pooh and Miss A, well, she was a biker babe! I talked to MGS right after she got her costume ‘Thank you so much for my costume!” When did she grow up? EJS was tickled to be a doctor! LB and Princess L looked great, a zombie cheerleader? Where did she come up with that! And my pirate princess, priceless! Baby A as Sonic and Baby sister E as Minnie Mouse? They both refused to take off their costumes when they got them! Baby A, he was Mickey Mouse and went through the same thing, LOVE! CDL’s Winnie the Pooh didn’t fit last year, but this year, perfect! And Miss A? I just supplied the biker jacket and tattoo sleeves, SDL, well, she out did herself! She turned Miss A’s wheelchair into a CHOPPER! Headlights and all! Wow! All my babies, wow! They looked so fantastic! I love being a part of it and seeing their faces when they’re in costume and trick-or-treating. I wait all year for this and I’m ready for next year! Happy Halloween my friends and family! Boo!

{October 30, 2017} JJ almost dropped the ball!

What? No!!! Say it ain’t so!

One of my favorite things about an aunt and grandmother, JJ, is, well, making the babies happy! I love getting them birthday gifts, holiday presents, treats from my travels, but one of my favorites, Halloween! With all of the nieces and grand-babies, it’s my responsibility and I wear that badge with pride!

I start asking in the summer, ‘What do you want to be for Halloween?’ and then I’m off! And every year there are new challenges. When they’re little, either mom and dad decide or I get to pick. As they get older, they know what they want and that’s what I get them. Oh yea!

This year, the costume I ordered for EJS arrived and it was the wrong size, what? Ok, return, order new. I ordered the new costume on Tuesday, there was an issue with the payment, fixed it and I also added overnight shipping, great, it should get there no later than Thursday! That works!

So…guess what happened…Thursday comes and goes, no costume, it’s been delayed, should be there by Friday, ok. Then it should be there by Sunday, seriously? Then…delay…it should be there by October 30 or 31st, but no later than Wednesday. Seriously? November 1st? AFTER Halloween? Think I was cool with this? Not a chance!

So…I had a nice little chat with Amazon Prime. You know fabulous this call was, humph…The guy kept apologizing for the inconvenience and putting me on hold and hemming and hawing, nothing they could do, it would be there by Wednesday. I said that doesn’t help, it’s a Halloween costume, ‘oh, I’m sorry’, not sure there was actual understanding there.

I think four times he offered me an extra month of Prime for free, that still doesn’t help me with the costume crisis! Oooh, I could call it it CC2017! The great Costume Crisis of 2017! Such drama! Well, save the drama for your momma!

We went round and round and came up with no solutions. Well, except for me to sit there and click on the update link over and over and over. That and look up as many costume stores near GES that I could find.

FINALLY…it paid off because at 3:37pm, Amazon updated with DELIVERED! I immediately texted GES and waited… until she texted back that it was received and a photo was texted with a very happy EJS! Whew!

Let me just say this, I admittedly sometimes am late with birthday, and holiday gifts and that’s not cool, but…I always think getting a gift whenever is fabulous, not an excuse, but…you cannot be late on a Halloween costume, there is no week of Halloween or Halloween Day 2! Only one day, luckily it’s the same day every year! October 31st! And in this one area, I cannot and will not disappoint the wee tots that I love! One year I missed LB and Princess L because I didn’t see an email about costumes, but I won’t let that happen again!

So…JJ almost missed out and I REFUSE to disappoint my nieces and grand-babies when it comes to Halloween and I’m not about to start!

Oh, how I wish I could show you pictures of my loves, they all look so fabulous!

I can’t wait to see everyone tomorrow! Happy Eve of Halloween!!!

{October 29, 2017} Happy FOURTH birthday Princess L!!!

FOUR? Wait, she was just a baby? Now she’s FOUR? WOW!

I still remember the day CS told me she was pregnant with baby number two! LB was going to be a big sister! Oh wow! I also remember being in Las Vegas a few days before she was born, man did I want her to come out so I could meet her! But alas, JJ would have to wait…sigh.

And then I got to meet her and it’s been a treat! It takes her a minute when we see each other, she’s a cautious little person, especially since we don’t see each other often, but when she warms up, oh wow…hugs, smiles, silliness, curiosity, love.

I love seeing what the kids come up with when they play, together and by themselves. Princess L has a wonderful imagination, there are times when I visit and the kids are all doing their own thing, I love seeing what her mind comes up with to do or play by herself.

Sometimes she’s shy and lets others lead and other times she asserts herself and takes control and the lead. She’s creative and cunning, smart and sassy at times, loves learning new things and showing you what she’s learned.

Oh boy, does she love and look up to her big sister, LB! There is nothing like seeing these two doll babies together. She follows her around like a little sister and then she chases her…like a little sister!

When she decides what she wants to be for Halloween or gets something I send her from my travels, or for her birthday, that’s when I get to put a big smile on that sweet face. I love thinking about what I’m going to get her that is just for her. When I was pulling pictures of Princess L together for my Facebook post, it’s amazing the range of expressions and emotions she has, just with a look, a grin, a thought.

This little munchkin is one of the loves of my life and I look forward to watching her grow and learn and become the amazing person and adult I know is coming, but right now, the sweet, happy and special little girls she is.

Happy FOURTH birthday Princess L! JJ loves you oh so very much!

{October 28, 2017} A mitzvah, a family event

Today, PSM and I attended a family event together.

PSM’s first cousin’s son, JK, became a bar mitzvah today. What an honor to be included in these family events. I’ve been to other family functions, holidays, parties, this is a little different, these events are more formal and special.

I got in last night, did you love my hotel room!? PSM went to the dinner they were having at the hotel where most everyone was staying and got to spend some time with his family, they are a fantastic bunch of people and so close, it’s special.

This morning, we went to the synagogue to watch JK take his place among the congregation, become an adult and lead us through his Torah and Havdalah. He gave a great speech, chanted the prayers and Torah and Havdalah portions so well, he made his family, friends and his congregation proud.

Years of study and practice go into learning the prayers, preparing for this special day, spending time working with the rabbi on the prayers, working with the cantor learning to chant the prayers and readings, working with his parents preparing his speeches. All of this culminating to a very special day for everyone, of course, most importantly, the bar mitzvah himself.

Hard work should be well rewarded and after such a ceremony, we celebrate! The first, was right after the service, we had a small luncheon and then later in the evening, we had a good old fashioned party! It was at the Empire Room on the NY State Fairgrounds.

There were appetizers, drinks, dinner, dancing, games for the kids and time to spend together catching up, making new friends and just enjoying being together and participating in the joy of the day and the pride his parents and family felt.

This was a true celebration! Mazel Tov to JK and his family.

{October 24, 2017} Happy Birthday GM!

October 23rd was a vey special day, my Grandma M’s birthday.

This was my mom’s mom, one of the grandma’s MGS is named for, has her exact name in fact. She definitely takes after her namesake!

She was an amazing grandmother, fun, funny, sometimes when she didn’t even realize it! She taught me to play cards like poker, gin, casino, solitaire. We used to stay up playing gin all night. The woman was relentless! She knew what I had and what I played! “Are you sure you want to play that?” What? It was freaky!

She used to organize trips to Atlantic City for groups, arranged everything, from the buses to the casinos, made sure everyone got there and back. She was politically active, working the voting polls every election, campaigning for Cancer Care.

She was an amazing cook, well, when it came to Jewish food, anything else was a challenge, but her specialties, oh man, wow! We loved to tease each other and it was our thing, she would make applesauce and no matter how much sugar she put in, I would ask her if she added any, not enough! She would gasp and then threaten me with a plau-uch and a chamaliah [spelling not sure!] That’s a back and front handed hit to the tush, all in gest of course! “Why, I’m going to give you such a chamliah and a plau-uch!” Oh no!

There were so many things I loved about my grandmother, she was fantastic and stubborn and smart and traveled and would include me in so much! She would do take me to the theater to see a musical, The Rockettes and the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall in New York City each year was a tradition. I remember her taking me to Coney Island as a kid and riding the Log Flume, the aquarium, the zoo, the park, wherever the adventure took us. Next year, I’ll tell you some more fun stuff! Why give it all away, we’re going to be talking for a long time!

Could we fight and disagree, you bet your sweet bippie! Did we kiss and make up, you bet your sweet you know what! She was fierce and protective and feisty and argumentative and curious and loved life, how could you not love her? I know I did.

Happy birthday, if I could be half the grandmother you were, I’m gonna rock! I love you.

{October 22, 2017} Time with my girls

I don’t know if you have heard me talk about my girls, my nieces, EJS and MGS. Oh well maybe once or twice, ha ha!

This weekend, albiet short, was the chance to spend one on one time with my sister, which you know is rare and a date with just me and my girls. How happy was I?

GES and I went somewhere, more will be revealed later, some quality time at lunch then retail therapy. I’m really good at encouraging her… to spend money! She got some great stuff! For the first time, there were more shoe options for her than me! I’m an eight, she’s a five, what are the odds?

We got home and the parents went out for dinner with friends and it was me and my girls!

Turns out no kid appropriate movies were in the theater so it was mac-n- cheese for dinner and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. They both curled up with me, MGS on my lap and EJS next to me and laughed and talked about the movie.

After, no fights, just teeth brushed, jammies on, hugs and kisses and lights out. That was easy.

I am leaving early in the morning to go back to Chicago, big dinner meeting tomorrow night. Extra hugs and kisses since I won’t see them again until Thanksgiving.

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