Family | Peaches Prattlings

{October 30, 2014} Good to be home…with family

Today I traveled home for the weekend to Boston.

The day started very early, as it has every morning this week and will be for the next 7 months, Mondays through Thursdays. Work, then head to the airport, best part…upgrade to first class on my flight home! Wahoo! Go United Airlines!

This was a pleasant turn of events after a fall this morning! We came out of the parking deck, I took a step onto the concrete and went down, straight onto my knee. Knee is scuffed up, lost some skin, but my pants…not a scratch, awesome!

Got to the airport and breezed through security because of TSA pre-check, love it! Security was crazy! Got through, got a delicious green shake at Jamba Juice, yum! Got on the plane, turned left and settled into my first class seat, warm towels, warm bowl of nuts, warm chocolate chip cookie [I couldn’t eat the dinner offered, nothing for a veg-head, not a big deal], got to Boston, was met by my friend PK, who was wonderful to give me a ride home.

When I got there, said hello to the kitties, put my stuff in the basement and then GES came downstairs, I wasn’t sure if I would see her tonight, but I did and it was great to catch up. I so love my sister, we get to be grownups together and still can be silly. We talked about how my wardrobe that she helped me pick out went over, talked about grown up clothes and then she finally had to say uncle, she was ready for be. You know me, I could have gone on all night, right?

The best part, after wishing her a good night, hugging and kissing her, I went upstairs and snuck into each of my nieces rooms to kiss them goodnight. Oh my are they so sweet and cute when they’re sleeping, faces squished on their hands when they sleep on their sides. They smell so good. I kissed them, whispered I love you and then snuck out as quietly.

Now, I am in my jammies, I don’t have to wear dress shoes for at least 3 days! wahoo! sitting down to write to you and surrounded by two snoring cats. Heaven!

Have a great night! Tomorrow is Halloween and I am Boston for the first time, can’t wait! And I can’t wait to tell you all about it! Happy Halloween in advance!

{October 26, 2014} I have a good life and I know it.

I really do know it.

I have family and friends who care about and love me, two furry babies who love when I come home, at least I think they do, they come to say hello eventually! I have a great job that affords me the ability to travel and be there for my family when I need to be and sometimes just when I want to [which sometimes is the same thing, hugs are a great healer] and just spend time with them.

That great job also allows me to travel to different locations so that I don’t always have to go to the same place every weekend, which allows me to travel to do a race if I want! I even get points from travel [hotel, car, flights] allowing me to stay for free or reduced rates.

For example…this weekend I am in Denver and I just completed the Blacklight 5k, more like 3.47, which I did in 45.50, a new record for me! I am a little stoked. Crazy thing…I started my day last Saturday doing a race at a horse track in Ireland and I ended my Saturday today doing a race at an auto track. Crazy!

I could wax prolific all day, but I just wanted to tell you how lucky I am and I know it!

{October 23, 2014} We have a yellow belt in the family!

Tonight, EJS tested, passed and got her yellow belt!

Last month when I was here, dad, GES, EJS, MGS and I all went to a festival that was happening in town with some vendors, activities for kids and local businesses trying to drum up business. That is where I signed up for the 5k I did a few weeks ago here in Needham.

One of the businesses was the Martial Arts Center in Needham, Mass and EJS was quite taken with the Instructor and the idea of taking karate lessons. One of the things they offered were free lessons and what could it hurt? EJS signed up and took a few lessons and was hooked, I can tell you from experience, that girl has some power behind her hits!

She has been going steadily for a month and tonight she was being texsted for her yellow belt. There were white, green, yellow and orange belts in the class and the test consisted of the instructor going through exercises, repetitions and then would walk around during certain sections to test each student individually. EJS is a machine!

After the class, the Instructor looked at the class and told them that they all passed and then gave out the belts and boy was EJS’ smile huge after she got her belt and then when she came out of the dojo to say hello and guess who got the first hug? Yup, yours truly! She was beaming ear to ear!

After the ceremony was over, they signed up for the next month and EJS got her full gi! Which she modeled for us when we got home after dinner! [I had asked GES if she thought EJS would sleep in her gi…she tried!]

So very proud of EJS! A yellow belt!

http://www.kungfutaichi.com/

{October 22, 2014} My cats are so cute!

Ok, I am going to write about my cats, yup.

No, not the crazy cat lady, but I do love these two fuzzy nuts and I am looking at them laying here on the bed with me, so I snapped a pic or two to share and that’s really about it.

I know I’ve told you a little about them, but I’ll tell you again anyway. Jymy is eleven and got the name because my wasband used to call me Jimmie for some unknown reason, so when we got her, I asked the kids what to call her and without missing a beat, in unison “Jymy!” and Jymy it was. I spelled it that way to be a little different, but…everyone always says him when referring to her.

She is a larger cat, not fat by any means, just big and I have to tell you, after the scare I had with her about two years ago, so thin her ribs were showing, I love my fat cat! She can be grumpy on occasion, but who isn’t? She is affectionate and gives me kisses quite often, especially when she sits on my lap, much better than when she used to bite my chin all the time! It’s not an easy fix, like biting her back, all you get is a mouth full of fur, no thanks! When I am sleeping, she is normally in the crook of my body, against my back or laying right at my head on my pillow.

Jymy is not easily led, she has her own mind and you know it, but she is still a momma’s girl and I love it. I do remember when she was a kitten, she would play fetch, throw a piece of paper and she would catch it and bring it back, you should have seen her jump and catch the paper, hair band, whatever it was I would throw! Now, she’s gotten a little older, but I swear, she is still a kitten half of the time, just wanting to play and cuddle.

Now, Peanut is still a bit of a baby at six, she craves attention, is jealous of the attention that Jymy gets sometimes, having to be on my lap the minute Jymy gets there, but that’s what little sisters are all about! She is affectionate and sweet and listens, sometimes, but loves to be picked up and held and loved on. She talks a lot! I don’t think I’ve ever had a cat that talked that much!

Peanut is definitely a kitten and likes to play, chase her own tail and any bit of light or laser that you flash at her. She will even chase the shadows on the wall! Have you ever watched a cat run around in circles chasing their own tail? How about when they run across the room and then slide on the area rug? I had another cat who would do that and who was I to stop her fun?

She likes to sleep in the crook of my arm, close to my body, especailly with my arms wrapped around her and if Jymy is there, she will walk over her to get in that spot. She does love her big sister though, follows her everywhere, sometimes much to Jymy’s chagrin.

If you have cats…do they like to help you make the bed? Get under the sheets and burrow and then freak out when they think they are trapped? (Look where Peanut is)

I could go on, but do you really want to listen to me go on and on and on about my cats? I refuse to be the crazy cat lady!

I will close with this…my girls are incrdibly affectionate and know when I don’t feel well, they are right there loving on me making sure i am ok, after all, who can take better care of me than them?

{October 19, 2014} Day One…back in the states

Ha ha, no, I am not doing a daily post being back in the states, just couldn’t resist, been on the day count in Ireland.

Well, I’m back and technically it’s 3:42am in Ireland, so I should be asleep right now! Actually, after I read to EJS after bath, the lights went out and I slept for about an hour, it was glorious! Here I am writing to you and in a few I will crash, I knew I wanted to stay up until a “normal” hour for me here so I could get acclimated quickly, I think I’m doing well.

The days started normally enough, got up before the wake up call, got ready, finished packing, took my bags downstairs, had breakfast, left for the airport, pulled into rental car return and remembered that I had forgotten to fill up the tank last night, only third time I have ever done that, but never when it was going to cost me this much…oh well, the price of stupidity…

On the shuttle to the terminal, I saw a rainbow, was that a sign? I checked in and because I am Silver Elite with Delta, I got Fast Tracked, just got through security a little faster, getting me to customs a little faster, not through, just to…a security guard was calling for all JFK passengers, so we skipped ahead to wait in the long line for customs giving the little Star Wars fan in front of me some Star Wars trivia, like…do you know that the reason that the reason Han Solo can speak wookie is that he was raised by a wookie nanny? There you go…

Boarded the flight, uneventful except for when they had to reboot the entertainment system, that’s when I fell asleep for a bit. I watched three movies, Chef, Million Dollar Arm and The Other Woman, not bad, great when they are free! I even had a vegetarian meal, it was quite tasty too!

7.5 hours later, we were in NYC, my phone now works! less than two hours later, I was on the flight for Boston, sitting on the runway for over an hour then 45 minutes later, in Boston waiting to figure out what carousel the luggage was coming to. Connected with GES, home just in time for dinner and presents, bath, bed, nap, now, I have two cats sitting with me in bed, boy did I miss them and as soon as I log off, I am passing out!

I feel weird not posting what I’m positive about:
Positivity Challenge
1 – I am thankful to be home with family
2 – I am thankful my nieces were sooooo excited to see me
3 – I love having my cats sleeping with me, I really missed them!

{October 8, 2014} I’m going to….Ireland!!!

I am sitting at the gate at JFK airport waiting for my second flight of the day… I’m going to Ireland!!

I don’t know if I’ve told you that my “twin” and I, NB, have been taking about going to Ireland for years. We were going to go for our 40th, but things happen and now, I have the time and funds and my birthday was just eight days ago, so…happy birthday to me!

I have loved all things Irish for a long time…movies, music, the accent, who doesn’t know I’m a sucker for a red-head! and everyone knows I have trouble passing up the opportunity to go to an Irish pub for a meal!!

I am beyond excited! I have my flight and a rental car (manual transmission, wahoo!) a list of things to do. Yup, that’s it! I even found a site for all things vegan and vegetarian!
And yes, I know they drive on the opposite side of the street, good luck to me, a new challenge!

Last week when I was at the Atlanta airport I met a nice woman and her son and a friend traveling back from Ashville. We started talking about trips and another friend just got back from a trip with her nieces and what did she do? Connected us and now I have a list of things to do and I am surrounded by people speaking with Irish accents! Who is on cloud nine?

I’ve been excited for a while, but I got positively giddy (yes, i said giddy)when I got off the first flight and saw the sign for the shuttle to my terminal and the flight info.

I will still be posting every night, although since I will be several hours ahead, my posts will come early! Lucky you!

Aaacckkkk! I’m going to Ireland!

And now you know!

Positivity Challenge – Day #21
1 – I am thankful I got everything packed!
2 – I am thankful my flights are on time!
3 – I am thankful I have this amazing opportunity! I’m going to Ireland!!!!
Bonus…I am thankful my youngeat niece looked at me this morning and said “I love you” and then her sister cried tonight when she got her costume and said “I miss J!” XOXOXO

{October 6, 2014} My [furry] baby had surgery and is fine

Today I took Peanut to the vet’s to be spayed.

Anytime you take a family member to the doctor, be it two legged or four legged and furry, it can be nerve wracking, but all is right with the world. I have been remiss in not getting Peanut fixed before now, she is 6 years old, but it’s done and she’s doing well.

I dropped her off at 8am, looking at me like I was abandoning her forever and then happy to see me when I arrived at 4:45, when they finally brought her out, could have been the heavy pain medication, but I am hoping it was because I was there to rescue her!

Out she came with an e-collar around her neck, poor little bit, with instructions to keep it on for 10 days, huh? There is also 5 days worth of pain meds that I am sorry to say my sister will have to administer for days 3-5, I think it will be alright. Peanut is a very good girl and I’m hoping better than Jymy at taking her meds!

The post surgery instructions said to try to keep her from jumping and running, huh? this is a cat! I got her home, GES and I got her out of the carrier, fixed the e-collar and zoom, off she went! Running and jumping! She was on the furniture, off the furniture, up the bannister, then vanished, later to be found under the bed, looking sad. Eventually I coaxed her to come out and get on the bed, much more comfortable.

Tonight she has been sitting on my lap, looking up at me on ocassion to make sure I’m not going anywhere and she’s ok.

Yes folks, she is fine and will be right as rain in a few days, please send her your good vibes!

Positivity Challenge – Day #20
1 – I am thankful that Peanut was well cared for when she went in to be spayed today at the Parkway Veternary Hospital
2 – I am thankful that I was here and able to take Peanut to the hospital and pick her up after the procedure
3 – I am thankful that Peanut knows that her mommy is here to take care of her and won’t let anything bad happen to her.
Please send her your best vibes

{October 5, 2014} A 5k and my family was there!

Today I did my first 5k in almost 2 months and I had a cheering section!

Normally, when I do a 5k, 10k or 1/2 marathon, I am usually on my own, arriving and crossing the finish line. Now, don’t get me wrong, there have been a few races that I have done with people and as you know DCM used to take me and be there when I crossed the finish line.

Today, I had an extra special treat! ACS dropped me off at DeFazio Park at the packet pick up for the Walk for Walker 5k, http://www.walkforwalker.org/. The 5k started a few minutes after 10 and we were off, there was a 5k runners group and a 1 mile walker group.

For the first time, for most of the race, I was actually last, which was perfectly fine, because I was doing it, I didn’t care. The funny part was there was a police officer following to keep traffic back, so here i was going really slow and the officer had to drive that slowly! Even better, there were three that did hand offs, so for the first time in my life, I was followed by three police officers and I wasn’t even in trouble!

As I came around a bend about 1.5 miles in, there was my family! GES, ACS, EJS and MGS! My very own personal cheering section and it was the best feeling and sound ever! I kept running, then I heard them honking the horn and shouting as they went by to the finish!

I continued on running and then came around at the 3 mile mark, only needing to finish the .11 to the finish line, there were GES and EJS cheering me on to the finish! I crossed the finish line, got my bottle of water and waited for them to catch up so we could get the rest of the cheering section together.

Bottom line, it was so very cool to have my own cheering section there to support me during my run! I know what other runners, like my brother-in-law, ACS, or AK, feels when he does a half or full marathon and the entire family is there to cheer them on. It is fantastic!!!

Positivity Challenge – Day # 19
1 – I am thankful to have finished my first 5k in almost 2 months in 42:29, I am quite pleased with my time [for not having trained!]
2 – I am SO THANKFUL my family was there to cheer me in the middle of the course and at the end, that was awesome!!!
3 – I am thankful that I do not have to wear big poufy early 1900s dresses with teeny hats that tie under my chin

{October 4, 2014} Services, cooking, break the fast, lots of people

Yesterday, I told you what Yom Kippur, The Day of Atonement, is about and today, we observed.

As I mentioned, we fast for 24 hours, sundown to sundown, some people don’t and it’s not mandatory, but requested. Kids don’t have to fast until they become bar or bat mitzvah age, then they are adults and kind of expected, but it is a personal choice that you make for yourself.

Today we got up and went to children’s services at a different location. The services are a little shorter and more kid friendly, lots of singing, but with a more modern, folk-songy twist, which I like. The sermon that the rabbi gives was great and geared towards kids and parents alike. The services lasted about 1.5 hours, then we went back to the house to start cooking for all the people coming to break the fast, and let me tell you, it’s not easy to cook when you’re hungry!

There were about 40 people coming, kids and adults and we had to feed them all! Everyone brought something to share, but we provided the bagels, lox, cream cheese, as well as egg salad, tuna fish, challah hummus, salad, juice and coffee and monkey bread for dessert. Then people brought a few different koogle, blintz souffle, fruit salad, cheesecake, pumpkin bread, cookies, bars, you name it, we had it!

We started cooking about 12, set up around 3 and then people started arriving about 5 and we dug in about 5:30 and the feast was on! Everyone was so very hungry and it was wonderful to be able to break the fast with so many wonderful people of all ages! The last person left about 8:30 and we were pooped! It was bath, books, bed. Guess who fell asleep after reading to EMS while laying there with her!

Got up, kissed MGS, then went downstairs to hang with GES on the couch for a minute and fell asleep there, now here I am writing to you! It has been a very long day and I need some sleep, I have a 5k in the morning!

Again, I wish you a happy, healthy and sweet year. L’Shana Tova!

Positivity Challenge – Day #18
1 – I am grateful to get to be around wonderful friends and family to break the fast today.
2 – I am grateful that I may have found someone to take the piano i have to get out of my house!
3 – I am thankful that my sister, GES, and I get along so well and make amazing things happen together

{October 3, 2014} May you have an easy fast

Tonight was the beginning of Yom Kippur or The Day of Atonement.

This is the most holy day of the year for Jews, part of “The High Holy Days” beginning with Rosh Hashanah, The Jewish New Year. For Yom Kippur, The Day of Atonement, we ask g-d to forgive our sins and we ask our friends and loved ones to forgive us for any transgressions we may have had against them.

For a period of 24 hours, we fast, no food or water, so that we may concentrate on our studies and prayers to ask g-d for forgiveness and to inscribe us in The Book of Life. For Rosh Hashanah, we say “May you have a healthy, happy and sweet year’, for Yom Kippur we wish everyone to “Have an easy fast”.

So, my friends, as i sit here writing to you, If I have wronged you in any way in this past year, I apologize and ask for forgiveness.

For my friends who are fasting, I say to you “Happy New Year and may you have an easy fast”

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

Positivity Challenge – Day #17
1 – I am thankful that I got to sleep until 8:30am this morning, waking before the alarm!
2 – I am thankful to have made it through another year
3 – I am thankful that my cats want to snuggle with me every night!

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