Friends | Peaches Prattlings

{January 20, 2018} Breakfast, then a movie, then dinner

That was my day, a good day at that!

No alarms, just waking up. It helps to get in and crash about 1am, then you sleep until about 8am, from sheer exhaustion, I’m not complaining!

Dad and I got up, got ourselves together and then headed to Z One, a local diner/restaurant for breakfast and good conversation. We talked about travel, life, work, all sorts of things. I do love one-on-one weekends with my dad, it’s special.

Then back to the house to regroup and head out again and see Star Wars, FINALLY! I may be the only person on the planet who hadn’t seen it yet! Oh my! Dad saw it and was up for going again and enjoyed it a second time, I enjoyed it, I’ll tell you about it in another post! I did, however, finally get to tell BG that I saw it, he’s finally quite pleased!

After the movie, some errands and then back to the house to chill, we watched an episode of Brokenwood, a detective show on Acorn TV, out of New Zealand, enjoyable and interesting.

Then it was time to meet friends for dinner. More like family, these are people that have been in our lives for years. My mom worked at the same school as both Mrs B and KS and Mr B was my teacher of French. I always looked at all these other women as moms, ‘all the moms are coming over’ that sort of thing. KS’ husband, dad and I made 6 on the group.

We went to Brunos, it used to be Bruno’s Patisserie, but lucky for me, who was having the hardest time saying that, it’s now just Bruno’s! http://brunosnyc.com/

The bakery counter, which is what they’re known for, is impressive. The food, matches the bakery counter.

We had appetizers and then the main course, I had spinach and potato gnocchi, yum! With spinach, garlic and cooked in garlic and olive oil. For dessert, there was tortufo, sorbet, an assortment of cookies and mousse.

Overall, aside from the noise level, there were quite a few large parties, the food was good, the service…not as good, it was crazy busy, so understandable, but the server was charming and funny. Same opening line at every table “so, four burgers well done with fries?!” Ha ha.

What was great was the conversation and the company, it’s always good to be with family. Maybe you can join is next time!

Day 15

{January 17, 2018} Another goodbye and a fabulous meal!

Tonight we bid a fond farewell to another team member at a fabulous restaurant.

I believe I’ve told you about team or project roll-off dinners. Basically, when someone new joins we call it ‘roll-on’ and then when someone has been there a long time leaves we call it ‘rolling-off’ a project. Then…we have to have a party! There is usually a roll-on lunch or dinner to welcome them to the project or, in this case, say goodbye and wish them well during their roll-off dinner.

The first place we had a reservation decided to close for the evening, so quick thinking, we ended up at Sepia, http://www.sepiachicago.com/, and well worth it!

As the name might tell you, the theme was sepia color filter, there was a sepia filter feel to the entire restaurant. And, as I did some research, it was built from an 1890’s print shop, go figure! There were interesting photographs on the walls, some sepia, some black and white, even what looked like book plates, but arranged as a photo display on a wall. Even though it was a large space, wherever you sat, it felt intimate, you could have a private conversation if that was on the menu for you.

It feels rustic and farm to table and creative and organic. They had things for every taste, the less than adventurous, chicken, swordfish, scallops and then for the curious, venison, rabbit, duck, goat, just to name a few things. The portions were the proper size, not too much but leaving you satisfied.

I called earlier, you know when I looked at the menu, I had to ask and they assured me they could feed a vegan, I’m good with that. The appetizers I had to skip, but that left more for me to eat my dinner and let me just tell you, no leftovers for lunch tomorrow!

The chef made me coconut tortellini, fresh sliced coconuts, sweet potatoes, carrots and a few other vegetables in a coconut milk sauce. It was light, delicate, delicious and filling. I was quite happy! Y U M!

Dessert looked delicious, but unfortunately, the most I could do was have a taste of someone’s and what I tasted was fabulous! Sesame cake with grape sorbet, frozen grapes and asian pear and tahini. Someone else got the cheesecake, which I didn’t taste, but the beet sorbet that I did taste was out of this world! Look what they did for JW’s dessert!

Overall, it was a great evening, a good meal, good friends and a fine send off for a great co-worker who will be missed.

Day 12

{January 17, 2018} Happy hour time!

It’s been a while since we had a work happy hour, we were overdue. Guess what we did tonight!

We met at Cactus Bar & Grille, https://www.cactuschicago.com/, it’s where we have had all the project happy hours I have been to. It’s a laid back place with a bar, a bunch of wooden high top tables and corrugated metal walls. We were there for happy hour, drink and food specials.

I finished at the client site about 5pm, so I decided to walk over, it was about half a mile, and it was a nice, crisp, chilly walk through the streets of Chicago. Wow, that sounded so much like a Dickens novel, ha ha!

I got there before everyone else, so I checked in at the podium, was taken to our tables and ordered an amaretto on the rocks, yum! It was ‘let’s pretend to be a grownup night’! You know how crazy it got? I actually ordered another! The first was only half a glass, so I decided to go crazy! I can’t even remember the last time I had one!

With my first drink I ordered guacamole and chips. I wasn’t sure what anyone else would want, but I didn’t want to drink on an empty stomach, I was hungry and I knew people would show up eventually to help me out. Oh, later, the cauliflower bits, yum!

My co-workers showed up, some of the client team showed up and we were on! Even a co-worker who left the project eight months ago. Eight months? Where did the time go?!

It was great catching up with everyone, just seeing everyone! I haven’t been in Chicago since mid-November when I was sent into the field to do onsite support. I’ve missed seeing my co-workers and friends, I was used to seeing them at least every other week, well, at least once a month, since we went through re-training over the summer.

Happy hours and work gatherings are a great way to blow off steam, catch up with friends and co-workers, maybe make new friends or connections, talk a little shop and relax.

It was just what the doctor ordered.

Day 11

{January 16, 2018} It’s a snow day…in Denver…go figure!

Sleep in, interviews, games, movies. Sound good? Yup, to me too!

I got to A&N M’s house yesterday, after a great day on the slopes! We ordered in Chinese food, hung out, watched the end of the Saints/Vikings game and then after their daughter, AM went to sleep, we watched Scott Pilgrim vs The World, interesting. It was amazingly awful! I think I loved it!

This morning, I got to sleep in, well, 8am or so, I’m good with that. I got my laundry out of the dryer, went upstairs eventually and hung out with AM, we interviewed each other, that was fun, we asked each other about our interests, hobbies and poisonous vs venomous snakes! Then we played games, made clay shapes that we painted and then we watched Ocean’s 11 since I hadn’t seen it, they were tickled at my reaction.

Then some lunch and I headed out to the airport a little earlier than I normally would have, it had been snowing since before I got up and the streets were slick all morning. By the time I left, the roads were dry, thankfully! My only concern, was my flight going to take off? The weather is crazy in Chicago!

It was so great to be with them yesterday and today, very relaxed and enjoyable, like being with family and they are.

At the airport I went to Cantina Taqueria and Bar to get some food and had a good salad that had lettuce, jicama, which is a root vegetable, avocado, cucumbers, pepitas, cabbage with a tamarind dressing.

I got on my flight, it was simple, only left nine minutes late, took off and landed in the snowy streets of Chicago. I have a new driver that picked me up, took me to the hotel and here we are, sitting on the sofa in front of the fireplace talking to you.

Tomorrow is a new day, who knows what the weather will be like!

Day 10

{January 11, 2018} Two different meals, two different friends, two great nights

Between yesterday and today, great food, great conversation, great friends. What more could you want? I have met and made some amazing friends through different jobs, you’ve heard me talk about ST, TS, JCT, RJS, they were from two different companies and now, in the last few years, you’ve heard me talk about DLP, HH, LJ, SH, LS, WIS, they are all from my current company, different projects, I have been super lucky and now I can add EDW! I know, I know, you really want faces with these name, or just names! Sorry! I knew I was going to be at one site on Wednesday so I reached out to EDW who I met at that site, and clicked with, to see if she was free for dinner, we had such a great time last week! Wednesday, I left one site and drove to meet her for dinner, on my way to my next hotel. We met Friaco’s Mexican restaurant, a place she really enjoys and as I think I’ve mentioned, you can’t get good Mexican food in Hawaii, so I’m always down for Mexican. Do you remember when SDL, Miss A and I went for Mexican food the night before we left for Mexico?! Friaco’s, https://friacosrestaurant.com/, was good. We had chips and guacamole, which I seem to crave a lot. We discussed how avocados are great, but when other people have them! I got into avocados and guacamole a few years ago and enjoy them when I go out to eat and when other people offer them to me, but when I buy one, it seems to sit there and go bad, could someone please explain this to me! Black bean soup and rice was just the thing, both cooked in water and the waitress was good, when she first brought the soup, I told her it was hot, which I had said I couldn’t do spicy, she said “how about another bowl without the pico”. Apparently when I tell people that black pepper is spicy, it does not compute! Oh well. After that, tasty, tasty, tasty! We talked travel, skiing, ski in and out places, Key West, Hawaii, work, families, food, working out, I think we covered the gamut! Yup, that sounds about right! Then, tonight, I went to meet SH at Amitabul, the Vegan Korean restaurant you may remember me telling you about last year, ha ha! that I went to with WIS. It was just as good as I remember it the last time! I like the atmosphere, it’s relaxed and comfortable and welcoming. One of the great things was that SH lives near the restaurant and orders from there all the time. Even better… she’s Korean and could explain a few things to me! As I’ve told you before, I love going to vegan restaurants because the one and only question I ever need to ask…’Is it spicy?” We had date tea, Energy pancakes, summer rolls, and we both had soup, ginormous bowls of soup with vegetables and noodles and mine had vegetable dumplings, oh my. Let’s just say, lunch tomorrow! It was a great time! We talked work, travel, family, what more could you want?! We both have some trips planned and ideas fur places to go and… we may even overlap in Hawaii! What’s are the odds?! So, good location, good food, great company, what more could you want!

Day 6

{December 31, 2017} Let’s get some culture on! Polynesian that is!

Today we went to the Polynesian Cultural Center and it was grand!

Breakfast, lounging, showers, baths, dressed to kill and then…sit in traffic. Sigh…When you move to Hawaii, you must learn to ‘Drive with Aloha’ or you might commit murder! You can’t have a hurry up and go attitude because nothing happens that way in Hawaii! I saw the perfect shirt today “I’m not late, I’m on Island Time!” And it is so true!

We went towards the North Shore, it should have taken us about an hour and 15 minutes to get there, it actually took about two hours…welcome to Hawaii! On the North Shore, you have Turtle Bay and Shark Cove, think people are not going to stop there? Nope! The traffic happens when people are slowed down to look and try to find parking.

Eventually…we got through all that and it was smooth sailing the rest of the way, except for a slowpoke every once in a while. Then we were there! We got our reserved tickets and found some food for lunch and then went through the gates to Polynesia.

The Polynesian Cultural Center is in Laie, as I mentioned, on the North Shore of Oahu. It’s a theme park and museum covering 42 acres and was started in 1963 and currently owned by the LDS, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and BYU, Brigham Young University.

I remember touring it in 2008 on a trip I earned with a company and found out that almost everyone that works there are students at BYU and working on a scholarship, which is funded by the entrance fee for the park, luau and shows.

The Cultural Center is divided into seven villages, Hawaii, Samoa, Aotearoa (present-day New Zealand), Fiji, Tahiti, Tonga and the Marquesas Islands. Each village has different shows that represent the land, people and culture. Some are traditional, some are funny, all informative and interesting.

While we were at the Samoan show, I recognized the mc, as it were, Kap. He’s known as Kap Tafiti and I remembered him from when I was there in 2008! He was the best fire dancer I’d seen! He still does the Samoan presentation, a little fire work, coconut tree climbing, but doesn’t do the full fire dancing he did back then. We bought a few pieces of his and had a photo, he’s a very nice guy and we met his son, who runs his shop. http://www.kaptafiti.com/gallery.aspx

At 6pm, we went in to one of the luau houses for a sit down luau. This is very similar to most other luaus around Hawaii. A sit down dinner, performers on the stage, some fire, dancing, singing, hula. All traditional to the Polynesian culture.

After dinner was the big show, Hā–Breath of Life. The show features songs and dances from throughout Polynesia, including the hula, tamure, otea, titi torea, haka, poi, meke, tauʻolunga, and Taualuga. The majority of the show was in the native Polynesian languages, but you really didn’t need to understand the language, everything is share through song, dance and action.

We all enjoyed the show very much and by the time we left, we cleared the place out and it only took about an hour to get home this time, no traffic at 9:30pm at night!

If you come to visit, we’ll take you!

{December 29, 2017} An early flight, a canyon and an opinion

The day started way early, but we had an adventure to get to! SDL, Miss A and I were going to Kauai! Miss A had this strong desire to see lots of roosters and chickens, how could we deny her!?

430am wake up on vacation seems excessive, but the traffic on Oahu can be horrible, especially at 5am, which is rush hour. But we made it in plenty of time to get a snack and watch the sunrise. Then it was time to board our 40 minute flight and have an adventure!

We got to the car rental desk and upgraded for a jeep. So, here is where my opinion comes in… I’ll stick with a convertible! We had a few circumstsnces that made me think this. It’s a two door jeep, which makes it tougher getting a child in and out of the back seat, I’m sure with a four door it would be different. And the window and back flaps were not that cooperative, especially when it started raining! I really enjoyed driving it and it was esay getting up the canyon drive. I did miss having the top down, but after the trouble with the flaps, we weren’t taking a chance with the top, especially since rain was in our future! SDL had a jeep in the past, she said it was much easier. I’ll take my 13 second up/ down beetle convertible top any day!

We got in the jeep, headed to the hotel to drop our bags and started out for the Waimea Canyon Drive. They say that The Waimea Canyon is the Grand Canyon of Hawaii and when you see it, you get it! You can really see it as you go up and up and up, amazing!it We stopped along the way at some of the scenic overlooks, and they were true to their name, scenic and overlooking the canyon. We saw rock faces and formations, waterfalls, foliage and so much more! Spectacular! Even the second time!

A few times, the three of us got out, walked around and took pictures, other times, just SDL, Miss A and I admired from the jeep. We drove up the canyon, it’s close to 30 miles up into the mountains to the top. We got out at a few of the state parks to walk around and get up to the overlooks there. It truly is spectacular. And Miss A walked them all, like a champ! We didn’t take the stroller out once today, awesome!

After we viewed the canyon, we drove back down the Waimea Canyon Drive into Waimea, had some lunch at a local Thai stand with all the chickens and roosters. We were going to go to Ke’e beach, but it was getting late and the sun would be going down in about two hours, when we got to the beach. We took a chance and got on the road. Guess what happened…the sky opened up! So…rain makes for a different experience!

We stopped at Kauai Harley Davidson, https://www.kauaiharley.com/, for a gift for Miss A’s bus driver and a photo with the Hawaiian hog! Then a stop at the famous Hilo Hattie’s, a Hawaiian staple, unfortunately had gone under a few years ago and then a few shops have popped up and here was one! SDL had great memories of shopping at Hilo Hattie’s years ago, as did I when I first visited Hawaii. https://www.hilohattie.com/ Each time we walked into or out of a store, we were running through the raindrops, ok, let’s be real, we were dashing through the deluge! A quick stop at Walmart for some rain ponchos was just the thing! Luckily, the rain stopped when we went in and when we came out!

Imagine us getting Miss A into the jeep in the rain! At Hilo Hattie’s we decided to put the windows back on, um… that was fun! But we would be dry! All that matters!

So, raining hard, we went back to the hotel, dinner for Miss A, SDL and I ordered Italian and ate on the sofa while Miss A crashed out.

What a day! What’s in store for tomorrow?!

{December 26, 2017} Mele Kalikimaka

It’s Christmas!

Things are a skosh different for me this year, all good, just different. For the first time in about nine years, I didn’t spend Christmas in Atlanta. This year I’m home for Christmas and imported some Atlanta!

As you know SDL and Miss A are here with PSM and I in Hawaii, so we are celebrating Hawaiian style!

We have been to the beach on Christmas Eve, a swap meet, saw Santa in a Hawaiian shirt, seen Christmas decorations on palm trees, lots of Santa caps on people and Santas surfing. What more could you want?!

Today was very laid back, we chilled out at the house, relaxed, talked and messaged with family and friends, watched some holiday classics, including White Christmas, opened presents late in the afternoon and then sat down to a less than traditional Christmas meal, burgers and fries, prepared by PSM, SDL and I. Miss A just directed and we followed, go figure!

I am so grateful to my friends and family who love me and make my life brighter. I hope that if you celebrate Christmas you are with people you love.

Mele Kalikimaka

{December 25, 2017} Sand, Fishes, Chinatown and Lights, Oh My!

This morning started waaaay too early! But it was2 worth it!

We got up before the sun to go down to Honolulu to listen to a presentation, which, thankfully Miss A helped us get out of! And we got a good deal on tickets to something we’re doing next weekend. Go Miss A!

Then it was time for breakfast for Miss A and a snack for SDL and I. We walked to find a spot on the beach and walked through the Sheraton and admired their 12 Days of Christmas, Hawaiian style and in sand!

Then it was off to the car, drop the top and head to Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, https://hanaumabaystatepark.com/. I don’t know if you remember me telling you about it a while back. It’s protected marine life conservation area that sees about 3000 visitors a day! Can you imagine! The amazing thing, it never feels that crowded!

We spent some time swimming, sunning, looking for fish and making friends. All that fresh air and sunshine can make a girl hungry, well, three girls, hungry! We headed off towards Turtle Bay and took another turn and ended up, pleasantly, in Chinatown. We found a place that was open, a very popular place, as it was crowded and taking reservations. We had a very nice meal and then as we were walking back towards we saw all the restaurants that seemed deserted, but now had crowds of people, a promising thought for the future!

After dinner, we headed down to City Hall to the Honolulu City Lights. This is a month long Christmas lights including a huge tree with Shaka Santa and Tūtū Mele. I remember passing it last year and seeing it and wanting to go! We didn’t make it, but this year, thanks to SDL and Miss A, we made it! How much do you love this! https://www.hawaii.com/oahu/attractions/honolulu-city-lights-honolulu-hale

Merry Christmas Eve! Tomorrow, I will be wishing you Mele Kalikimaka!

{December 17, 2017} Two days, two cities, two friends, two family members, one feeling

Joy!

Yesterday, I got to spend the afternoon with a friend and tonight I got to spend the evening with another and it was divine! Pure joy! Yup, that about covers it!

Yesterday morning, I got up and headed into the city. Now, when you’re from NYC and you don’t live in Manhattan, when you say you’re ‘going into the city’ that means into Manhattan. I needed to clarify that because a few years ago talking to someone, when I said I was going into the city, they thought that meant I was going into the town we lived in.

I got put together, headed down to the Staten Island Ferry, found a place to park and grabbed the shuttle, then waited with everyone else and got on the ferry, found a place to sit and took in the sights and sounds. The people, all walks of life and different reasons for traveling this vessel. Some people just take the ferry back and forth between Staten Island and Manhattan, it’s a lovely trip and it’s free! It was fifty cents at one time, but that was a very long time ago. You used to be able to take your car on the ferry, that cost money, but now, it’s just people.

You get a great view of the NYC skyline and the Statue of Liberty. Everyone crowds around to see Lady Liberty and then people gather on the deck before docking, to see the skyline as it gets closer. It’s also beautiful at night, so peaceful. I love seeing the tourists clamoring to take pictures, it’s fun.

Off the ferry to meet CWB, what are the odds, last minute trip for me into NYC and she’s going to be at her husband’s family for a holiday dinner, perfect! They drove in, she took the train to meet me and we had lunch, walked, did some damage at Old Navy, go figure! They were having an amazing sale you couldn’t pass up! I got a new hat and glove set and then a hat/glove/scarf set, too cute for words and CWB got a scarf and hat set, were adorable. Are adorable! Oh! On the way to wherever, we passed Kleinfeld’s! Do you watch ‘Say Yes to the Dress’?! This is Kleinfeld’s in NYC!!! OMG! Now I know where it is!

Then…we were passing by Goodwill and saw a bag we both loved so… we bought the bag together and we’re going to share it! That means we have to see each other at least every year and bring the bag with us! Our own version of the traveling pants! Ha ha!

How could I forget, we walked a little ways up and found a Christmas Market! I so love Christmas Markets! There were shops and shops and more shops of all shapes and sizes, well, the shape and sizes were the same, but the contents all different! Jewelry, cards, kids stuff, holiday stuff, food, gifts, you name it! And crowded and wonderful and just what we love! Sigh!

What an amazing time we had, we’ve known each other for so many years, we figured since about 1981! Yes, gasp, oh my! Since we started in middle school and we saw each other through so much! And as things happen, we went in separate directions and thank goodness for Facebook, reconnected so many years ago with passing contact and a visit and then…sometime in the last year or so ago, seriously reconnected and here we are, thick as thieves! We need more of these visits!

Back to the ferry, wow, the subway train and stations were really clean, I don’t remember that from childhood! I got the ferry and as I was walking to the terminal, I saw a merry go round of fish made of sea glass, it was so cool! Don’t you think?!

On the ferry, a nice ride and then I walked to the Winter Wonderland at the Staten Island Yankee Stadium. It’s a winter festival with pop-up shops, games, Santa, a skating rink, slides, music, an ice bar and food. What more could you want. This was definitely something that would be more fun with friends, well, more fun with little kids, but it was still fun to walk around and take it all in. Perfect winter night out with the family!

And…as I walked around, I heard something that told me it’s Christmas season. Bruce Springsteen singing “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town!” Until I hear that, I never feel it’s Christmas. Ahh…

Then it was time to find my car, get some food, Chinese restaurant I haven’t eaten at in years! Then head home to watch Christmas movies, wrap gifts to ship out! Be on the lookout friends and family, packages are on their way! I should have taken a picture of the pile, it was impressive!

Today, I got up, finished wrapping some gifts, attempted to go to see Star Wars, but it was sold out, so back to the house and surprise visit from ‘Mr & Mrs The Bs’. It was great. I’ve known them since I was a kid, I’ve told you about them and you might remember, they are LBK’s parents. We caught up, laughed, talked family, travel, work, well, work for me, they’re both retired

After they left, I ran some errands and eventually went out to meet HW, a fabulous friend from middle and high school, for dinner. We had the best time, talking, laughing, being completely goofy. We talked family, kids, nieces, grandkids, love, life, the pursuit of happiness, travel. Hmm..anything we didn’t talk about? No, don’t think so.

We couldn’t believe how long we’ve known each other either, since 1981, what the heck! I actually met both CWB and HW at the same middle school. I have to say, I’m so glad my parents got a variance to send me to that school! She is funny, fabulous, full of life, piss and vinegar, sass, you name it. Could be why we get along, oh yeah, she’s a red head! Natural though! Ok, so maybe I’m a little jealous of that one!

And again, thank you to Facebook for reconnecting us, I really am thankful, we were good friends in high school and as adults, different relationships, but when I come back home, she’s one of the first people I think of to try to see.

Then it was home and I was going to do something and ended up talking to DLP for a few hours! What a day I had! I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings! Keep you posted!

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