Friends | Peaches Prattlings

{February 16, 2018} Gong hei fat choy

That is Cantonese for “wishing you great happiness and prosperity”. In Mandarin, you would say ‘gong xi fa cai’.

This is what you would say to someone to wish them a Happy Chinese New Year. And why? Because today, February 16th, is the beginning of the Chinese New year! It’s the year of the dog.

I found out some facts when I went online. Officially, the holiday is three days, unofficially, it will be celebrated over two weeks, I like that! Chinese New Year follows the lunar calendar, so it’s not the same date every year, hmm…sounds familiar!

The holiday was born out of the myth of Nian, which is also the Chinese word for year, who was a beast that would appear every New Year’s Eve and attack villagers, ouch! So, the legend says that to scare away the beast, villagers would put up red banners and explode firecrackers and bang drums. Does that sound like some Chinese celebrations you’ve seen or heard of?

When I was a kid, we would celebrate Chinese New Year with a family we were close with, it was wonderful, the food, the family, friends and I’ll never forget the red envelopes with cash in them. I bet I still have one of those envelopes!

Just like astrological zodiac signs, each sign of the Chinese zodiac has their own personality traits. The dog is a true companion, associated with loyalty, honestly, intelligence with a strong sense of right and wrong. They are known to be swift and passionate believers in their own personal philosophy. The dog does its best to protect high-integrity people and support their cause.

Famous dogs: Winston Churchill, Mother Theresa, Elvis Presley, Bill Clinton, Steven Spielberg, Madonna and Michael Jackson!

I wish to tell all who are celebrating and especially JCT, her daughter, ST and her mom, LaLa, Gǒu nián jí xiáng.

{February 14, 2018} February 14th, what a day!

It’s a special day for a lot of reasons, let’s talk about why!

First, it’s Valentine’s Day. On the one hand, there’s a lot of pressure…that people put on themselves. To show their loved ones that they are loved. It’s a happy day for some, for others, not so happy. If you’re single and don’t want to be, it screams at you. If you’re in a relationship, some use it as a test to see what their partners will do for them, like it proves something. If you’re single and you’re happy, it doesn’t make a difference.

You know the song, ‘if you can’t be with the one you love, love the one you’re with’, well that can count for Valentine’s Day. You don’t have to be with ‘that special someone’, you have to be with people you care about. Friends, kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews, families, co-workers, whoever makes you happy!

I spent it with two co-workers who’s company I enjoy very much, DLP and SH. We went to the Chicago Diner, one of my favorite vegan restaurants that neither of them have been to, so it worked for me! They both wanted to try it, no reservation needed and the company was stellar, what more could you want?!

And when I got to my hotel room, look what my sweetheart sent me. Sigh. Don’t tell, but I think he likes me a little.

Second, it’s Gotcha Day for Miss A, my very special girl. Gotcha Day is the day when adoption is official and Feburary 14th is Miss A’s Gotcha Day. How fabulous is that?! The traditional day of love is the day that SDL and Miss A became official, mother and daughter. SDL’s sister became Aunt D and I became Auntie G to a wonderful little girl.

How about that, three different types of love on the same day. It’s ‘just another day’ for some, special for others, but really, it’s what you make of it. If it’s a day that lets you express yourself a little more, more power to ya!

And no matter what my dear friends and family, I love you every day!

{February 14, 2018} Two random butt dials in a day? What are the odds?

I finally remembered what it was I was going to tell you yesterday!

First, do you know what a butt dial is? That is where you randomly dial someone’s number on your cell phone without realizing it. It’s called butt dialing or pocket dialing because people would keep their cell phones in their back pocket, hence, pocket or butt dialing.

I had two random butt dialed calls from two of my sister/friends…on the same day! The first was JCT at about 7am, I answered and called her name, nothing. I’m not sure if she got my text checking on her, hmmm

The next came at 4pm, it was RJS! She answered when I said her name and then asked if she called me or did I call her?! We caught up for a minute and then it was over. It was loverly.

So, what does that say about our bond, I say it’s something special, they both had me on their subconscious, so not in their control and I love that about them! Hmm…who’s butt dialing next?

{February 12, 2018} A great day on the mountain, do we have to leave?

Today was a much better day on the mountain, so hard to leave!

This morning we slept in a minute, we were only about 20 minutes from the mountain, so we took our time. Got some breakfast, a late checkout of 1pm and headed back to Breck for some fun.

It was a clear, crisp, beautiful day, all that powder from yesterday was groomed, so definitely better for ST and for me, my goggles didn’t fog, definitely better for me! We hopped on one of the shuttles, went back to where we were yesterday and no ice build up! We had almost no issue with the build up at all! Off to a great start!

We did a few more runs than yesterday, oh how we wish we had today’s weather yesterday! No regrets! About 11:45 we headed back to the hotel, quick shower, pack the bags and car, get gas, clean the windshield, grab something to eat and get on the road, about 1.47 hours to get back to Denver to drop off our skis. Oh! Do you see the ice on the windshield? That’s on the inside!

Ok, so, I thought 1pm would be alright to leave. Ha ha. We hit the on ramp, it was backed up, not a good sign…It was very stop and go the entire way! And, oh joy… all of a sudden, a warning light comes on “Transmission overheating, stop for 5 minutes’ What?!

So…pull over for about five minutes. Somewhere in there, a guy walks up to the car and asks if we’re ok. I told him what happened and he said, oh yeah, that happens all the time! And it will probably happen again! Really?! Great…

And he was right, it happened about three more times, grr. So… the stop and go, having to pull over four times, our little two hour trip down from the mountain turned into a little over three. We dropped off ST’s skis and then mine and then made a beeline for the airport.

Then that comedy of errors began! Dropped off the car, meanwhile, ST’s flight is now delayed, not good. I was going to do curbside checkin with my bag, but I missed the entrance, so car return it is. We get off the shuttle and on the way in to the airport, I wiped out! Seriously?! I get to the counter and I had just missed the 45 minute cutoff for dropping bags, but… status is fabulous!

I limp through security and to the gate, made it just as they were finishing my boarding group. Then… the longest boarding process ever! It was like no one had ever been on a plane! But amazingly, we left 2 minutes late and arrived on time! And my bag made it too!

Now I’m at the hotel, icing my ankle, enjoying the fireplace thinking about sleeping right here on the sofa!

I can’t wait for my next adventure!

{February 11, 2018} A day on the mountain!

What a great day! Second time on the slopes for me this season, first time for ST in a few years! Let’s do this thing!

We got up earlier than anyone should for a Saturday! 6am, ugh! But, we had to get on the road, it’s about 1.5 hours to Breckenridge from Golden, Colorado. Ok, so that’s without traffic…GPS said 1.55, ok. In reality…3 hours, we literally got there about 9:45am, wow! It was snowing pretty hard, so everyone is moving slowly and we see the snow plows…going in the other direction!

I have to say, growing up in NYC, going to college in western NY, living in Colorado for a bit, all of that helped with driving in the snow, especially since we were in a Ford Escort! Nothing more suitable for the snow this time, that wouldn’t cost me a lot extra, no thanks! There were a few slip and slide potential moments, but…according to ST, I handled it like a champ! I hope he wasn’t lying!

We got to Breck, found a place to park, thankfully! Suited up, ok, tomorrow, we are wearing our ski pants to the mountain instead of putting them on in the car and in the snow! Boots on, that in and of itself is a beast! We got our skis, walked to the shuttle and poof! We were at the gondola! We got ST’s buddy pass and up the mountain we went!

Here is where the real struggle began! This happened to me the last time I was up here and it is incredibly frustrating, but…it’s nice, sort of, to know it’s happening to others as well, not just us! The snow is so wet, it is building up on the bottom of the boots, with ice, so fast that you cannot hook into the skis! You had to scraped the bottom of the boots really well before you can snap in. About 30 minutes later! we were on the lift!

Since this was ST’s first time in a while, it was slow going, only meaning that he took his time and I was totally fine with that! I remember my first time back on skis when I moved to Colorado. There was a lot of fresh powder, which sometimes makes skiing a little more difficult when it hasn’t been groomed. He took it all in stride and like a champ!

We skied a few runs, then it was time for lunch, well, we decided to have lunch with I think everyone else on the mountain! We were lucky to find a seat! Got some lunch, wow, what they charge for food! I am not sure if the lift ticket was cheaper!

After lunch, I went back out to do a few more runs and…after about 30 minutes of trying to get the skis back on, I was done. I was SO frustrated! I called ST and told him what happened and that we were outta here! GRRRRR

Do you see the amount of snow that piled up while we were in the lodge?!

Well, it was only about 3pm, we headed to the shuttle, got on the wrong one and got a short tour of Breckenridge, then back at the gondolas, got on the right shuttle and back to the car.

Then…it turns out a co-worker from my project in Chicago, who lives in Colorado, SG, was going to be in Breckenridge this weekend with his family and some friends, as well so we made plans to meet up this afternoon. We ended meeting them at Mi Casa, a Mexican restaurant, in downtown Breckenridge, for happy hour and we oh my, a very happy bunch!

There were three couples, with five kids between them, they are all neighbors and friends. There were pitchers or beer, drinks for the kids, wings, tacos, guac and chips for all, not to mention good conversations, a lot of laughs and new friendships.

A few hours later, we all parted ways, they all headed to their hotel in Breck and we headed to Silverthorne to our hotel. The roads were better than when we came in this morning! We chilled, got settled and thought about dinner.

But…we were so bushed, guess what’s about to happen in a few? zzzzzzzzzzzz What does tomorrow hold? More!!!

{February 7, 2018} Another farewell…

Another roll off dinner, another farewell to another co-worker.

Tonight, we said goodbye to the man who brought me on to this project in Illinois. Neither of us are sure how he found me, but he did. I don’t know if you remember me telling you about about the time we first talked, but I was in the back of a hotel shuttle in Washington, DC. I was with the family for Spring Break week.

We talked about the project and I told him that I knew nothing about IES, never even heard of it. I also didn’t know at the time that DHS stood for Department of Human Services, I still thought it was Department of Homeland Security! Imagine that! I quickly found out what it was and I was game.

I told him what I tell anyone I interview with, if you want an expert in that software, I’m not the person for you, but if you are want someone who can learn the product, get ramped up quickly and deliver, then take a chance on me. And he did! I’m so glad for it!

He’s always encouraged me, supported me, listened when I had ideas or needed to express or vent, as it were. Throughout the entire project, he’s been so supportive, giving me the tools I needed and always trying to help me grow in my role and take on more responsibility.

We’ve laughed together, been frustrated together, talked about movies, music, books, travel, had the same views on some things and differed on others. It’s fun to be able to talk to your manager about things other than work. There have been one-on-one dinners, team dinners, outings, events, meetings, calls, you name it, the list goes on.

And, as with all things, all good things must come to an end. This is the time that the project is wrapping up and people are rolling off left and right. A few weeks ago, a roll off, tonight, a roll off, I wonder who’s next!

So, tonight, we all gathered at a new restaurant and had food, drinks, toasts, poems, a team gift, lots of laughs, stories and a good time, just as a send off should be!

I wish him a lot of luck and as always, thank you for taking a chance bringing me to this project knowing I didn’t know the product. Good luck MS! I hope we get to work together again some time, I’d do it in a skinny minute!

{February 3, 2018} Grace and Frankie Season 4…I want some of that

So, you know how much I love Grace and Frankie, well, I hope you do, I’ve mentioned it a few times. So, now you do!

If you haven’t watched it, basically the women, Grace and Frankie were married to Robert and Saul, respectively and Robert and Saul have been having an affair for about 20 years, it all comes out, the men leave the women and marry each other.

Grace and Frankie only tolerated each other all these years and now, they share the beach house the two families owned together and they’ve become friends and more, they become family, if that makes sense.

Now, it’s a few years later and they are closer than ever, they are best friends and when one moved away the other was devastated then she moved back and now they’re together again.

Grace is a little more straight laced and serious, loosening up a bit and Frankie is an artist, free thinking and coo-coo for cocoa puffs. I have a feeling my friends would say I’m more Frankie than Grace. I’m ok with that!

So, I’m sitting here watching season 4 and someone points out what they have with each other and someone said “I wish I had a Frankie” her sister says “I thought I was your Frankie” and I realize, I have that with my close friends, I am so very grateful for that.

But then I started thinking…who would be the Grace to my Frankie when we’re older? Someone to live in a giant beach house with an attached studio, share things with, do nothing with, scheme, watch movies on the sofa eating junk food, take care of each other when we’re not well, hide us when we don’t want to be seen and fight for each other.

Each of my sister/girlfriends have so many great qualities, I want to live with all of them in a giant house. They don’t all know each other, but they all know me and I want to grow old with all of them. Can’t I build this fabulous house on the beach that has enough rooms for all of us and each night I get to veg out and be silly with each of them? Wait, now we sound like one of those Mormon families with multiple/sister wives! OMG!

That’s what I do with each of them in different ways and I love it! JCT and I sit in her recliner chairs, even fall asleep there sometimes; TS and I sit on opposite love seats; RJS and I sit on opposite sides of a sofa sharing a blanket, SDL and I sit at the kitchen table and drink tea, CKM and I were always out, so we had a tradition of either sitting in each other’s cars or standing between the two for hours! LBK and I sit in her recliner sofa or at the kitchen table. DLP and I sit on the sofa in front of the fireplace at the Waldorf Astoria or on the floor in her apartment and WIS and I sit for hours in different vegan restaurants. And GES, we sit on the sofa together sharing a blanket, in the kitchen at the counter or on one of our beds at her house. CWB and I don’t live anywhere near each other so our time is on the phone, but I bet we’d sit on the sofa and talk all night.

Wow, I do the same thing with each of them, in slightly different ways, but it’s the same wonderful tradition and it’s not like it’s planned, it just works out that way. I wouldn’t change a thing!

So…back to my original idea…can’t I have that fabulous house with room for everyone? I want to grow old with each and every one of them. I love you all so very much! Wow I’m lucky!!!

{January 28, 2018} Had to come to Hawaii to see each other!

We had great plans of getting up VERY early to go watch the sunrise on the other side of the island. Think anyone remembered to set their alarm? Nope!

When I say very early, like 4am, so we can drive the hour to watch the sunrise. Guess what, I saw the sunrise, right outside my bedroom window just fine! Ha ha! What I need to do, is the first Friday I get home, go when I get up on my own at 4am!

Well, we got up eventually, I made some breakfast and we got some more planning done for our vacation! No, not telling! One thing I can tell you… neither of our hotel points or airline miles are going to help with this trip!

You should have see us, both propped up, laptops and cell phones in hand, comparing prices, looking for hotels, airfare, downloading guides. Adorable!

But all of that planning is getting our juices flowing and we are getting very excited! Now, if we could just get some other scheduling things into place so we can proceed and make definitely arrangements!

Then, I got the text I had been waiting for! WIS was docking in Oahu with a friend! They are on a 15 day cruise to Hawaii and it worked out for me to be here this weekend! We realized we haven’t seen each other since about September, go figure for us to see each other we have to go all the way to Hawaii!

They had a list of things to do, they had tickets for Pearl Harbor at 2pm, so the perfect place to meet, which was on their list, the Aloha Swap Meet! I’ve told you about it, it’s a giant swap meet, like a flea market on crack! It’s an Oahu staple, at the Hawaii University Stadium, open Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday.

To refresh your memory, it’s got everything you could imagine and I’m sure things you couldn’t! It’s a great place for souvenirs to take back home for others or yourself. T-shirts 7 for $20, how do you beat that! Car seat covers, fresh fruits and vegetables, ukuleles, candy, coffee, lotions, stickers, you name it, you can probably find it! I believe Santa found the hair bobs for Miss A at the swap meet!

We walked around together, catching up, looking, enjoying, laughing. PSM and I bought a few things, go figure! We got some snorkel masks, the ones that cover your full face and I can attach my go-pro to it!!! We also got free waterproof cases for our phones with that purchase and we bought waterproof bags that we can attach to the stand up paddle boards, which can also convert to a backpack for easy carrying. It will hold a towel and a change of clothing. We can even use it swimming and/or snorkeling! We rock! So, if you visit, we are set with whatever you need for the beach! I’ll show you the signs he got me later, I forgot to take pictures before I left for the airport.

After we got our fill, we went for raman for lunch near the stadium, which was also very close to Pearl Harbor, perfect! This was a new experience for them, so a lot of fun deciding, discussing, tasting, experiencing. We talked travel, cruises, Disney, WIS’ friend, is a travel agent and she gave us some ideas for the trip we want to take, coincidence? I did feel bad because we started catching up on work, just as we do when we meet for dinner, so at some point I think both PSM and S started to zone out, sorry! PSM and I did give them some great ideas for the other islands they were going to visit! Hope we made up for the work stuff!

After lunch we parted ways, lots of hugs and goodbyes and they headed off to Pearl Harbor and we went home. I finished packing, gathered whatever I needed for my flight, said goodbye to Mollie, stopped at Down to Earth for some vegan munchies, oh my! And then off to the airport.

I have to say, it gets harder each time I have to leave. Especially after a great weekend like this, relaxing, no pressure and quality time together! I cannot wait for our vacation, it is going to be that times a lot!

And then it was up, up and away. I watched a few movies, got in about an hour of sleep and we’ll be landing soon and then it’s back to the grind and the cold. Looking forward to another great week in Illinois! How was your weekend!

Day 23

{January 24, 2018} I love my friends and family

I was just thinking tonight how much I love my friends and family and I got this in my fortune cookie.

“You will always have good luck in your personal affairs.” Could you have a better fortune? I wasn’t joshing when I said I was thinking tonight how much I not only love, but like my family and friends and you know you’re included in that group!

I am so very lucky to have the people in my life that I do. The people in my life enrich it in so many ways. Tonight I talked to ST for about an hour and a half, we had the opportunity because…I was supposed to talk to CWB, but something came up, so it was me and ST on the phone. And the other day, LGR, that was fabulous.

My friends and family accept me for who and what I am, which, admittedly, at times can be a bit coo-coo for cocoa puffs, one of my favorite sayings. I get enthusiastic about things, people and activities I love, sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming to people who don’t know me, but the people who do know me, they are sometimes tickled, sometimes annoyed, sometimes exasperated and some times…yup, that’s who she is. And for that, I thank them!

You’ve probably noticed a bit in the way I write, it’s exactly the way I talk. My friends and family have said they hear my voice when they read my posts, I think that’s peachy keene!

So, as I sign off, thank you friends and family. You made my fortune come true and I hope it stays true! “You will always have good luck in your personal affairs.” I wish nothing less for you!

Day 18

{January 23, 2018} Soul Vegan/Soul Vegetarian – Either way, yum!

I love this place!

I discovered Soul Vegan/Soul Vegetarian about two years ago when I was schedule to teach at the site I am at this week. When I was looking for somewhere to go for lunch today, what to my surprise did I find on my Happy Cow app? Majani for one! Do you remember me telling you about going to Majani, the vegan restaurant near DLP? It was about nine miles from the site. Well, Soul Vegetarian is about seven miles from the site, wow! I knew what I was doing for dinner!

I messaged DLP and eventually we worked it out, I had to go into the office, so I picked her up and we headed to Soul Vegan, which happens to be about a 15 minute drive to her house, perfect!

It’s not a fancy restaurant, bare bones, there are tables in the front room and back, a large counter for ordering takeout, an open case that has prepared sandwiches, desserts and some other cold things. Where it lacks in furnishings, it makes up for in energy and flavor. Every time I have been in there, there are a few people eating at the tables, but so many more at the deli counter or online to place or pick up orders.

On the other side is a deli counter, you can get hot or cold food. I was excited because I knew I was getting a fabulous dinner and then, from the deli counter, food for tomorrow! I need lunch in advance as there is not much happening around the site I am at!

We ordered nachos-n-cheeze, no jalapenos for our appetizer and I had the gyro and DLP had the ribs, both orders came with french fries. Once again, the food did not disappoint! That gyro was fabulous and I cannot wait to have the rest of it for lunch tomorrow!

From the deli, I ordered a few prepared salads, cous-cous, both large and small, egg-less egg salad, I know, let it out! and a carrot salad, the last one I tasted, oh boy! I love finding fun and new places that I can frequent and this one is on the list, especially having someone to go with!

If you’re in Chicago and you’re vegan or just curious, I recommend this place very highly. Ok, I have to go to sleep, I’m excited about lunch tomorrow!

Day 17

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