Friends | Peaches Prattlings

{December 26, 2014} What a day!!!

You ready for today? It’s gonna be a long one! Get some coffee, no-doze, red bull, here we go!

The day started early, well not early like a work day, but 8am after falling asleep about 2:30/3am, that’s early when it’s not a work day. So, I got up about 8, said hello to the cat, hung with Miss A, then with Miss A and SDL while they had breakfast and prepped our breakfast, cinnamon rolls, yum!

DJL came downstairs and the three of us talked and laughed, as we always do and then the cinnamon rolls were done and it was time to munch on some sweet goodness and I believe the first time I have eaten an entire cinnamon roll.

After breakfast it was shower time, hanging out with Boogie Bear, SDL’s cat, who has no tail and from behind, looks like a bear, dress, pack, hugs and kisses and hit the road.

In the car, I headed to lunch with DL at Houston’s, if you remember, DL and I used to work together and she has become one of my closest friends who I love dearly and what a treat to get to sit with her and catch up. We talked about life, kids, grand kids, travel, romance, work, holidays, you name it, we talked about it, all in less than two hours, I was impressed! And thank you again, DL for treating me to lunch, I was very touched.

After lunch, I got back in the car and headed to Decatur to visit with another one of my besties, RJS, she’s been under the weather, so I visited her at home and it was such a great visit. We talked and laughed and caught up and talked about everything and nothing all in the same conversation. The cats came to visit, and I got love from one an typical cat disdain from the other, I was neither surprised or offended.

She was feeling up for a walk before I left, which was great, I could use a little movement and a walk would do her good. We walked towards the entrance and back to her house, then the other direction and back. It was so fantastic to see her! It’s been too long! We exchanged holiday gifts, and my gift was a fabulous pair of RJS original earrings, if I haven’t already told you, she is a master of glass, mostly jewelry and I have received a few pieces over the years and I love them!

After our walk, I changed shoes to a much warmer pair, ready to be outside for the evening and headed to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens to meet CKM. We met, parked the cars and walked to the Garden to enjoy the lights spectacular. We put our names in at the restaurant, there was about an hour wait, gave them my phone number and off we went to admire the pretty lights.

They do a wonderful job a the gardens, all the wonderful lights, in the trees, on the lawns, water, orchid house, the bug and wildlife creations, all spectacular.

After a while, we headed to the café to see if our table was ready, after another 20 minutes we sat down to a rather disappointing experience. The food was pretty good, just overall, not thrilled, but the conversation was good and we had a good time.

After eating, we headed back out to walk around, went into the orchid house, enjoyed the “walk through the treetops” then headed back towards the cars, got our presents and headed to Starbucks for drinks and gifts!

We hadn’t stopped talking yet! We opened our gifts, love! Then as they were closing up, we headed to the parking lot and in typical fashion, we stood there and talked for another 45 minutes, of course.

Then we hugged goodbye, got in our cars and I headed to JT’s house to crash for the night, which is very good because my morning plans are near here.

Ok, so now it’s about one am and time to crash, another busy day ahead!

Good night!

{December 25, 2014} Merry Christmas!

To all my friends and family who celebrate Christmas, Merry Christmas!

All I keep hearing in my head right now is the line from Trading Places “Merry New Year!” Some will get it, some won’t! But I digress, I know you’re shocked!

Today was a great day, it started at JT’s house, well, next door at his parents house where his dad made breakfast and it was yummy! Thank you T! The best part was it was just JT, his brother, mom, dad and me, well, and the dogs, of course. It was fun sitting with them, talking, joking, talking about last night’s festivities and excitement but then, I got to watch them open their gifts and enjoy every moment with each other, that is a very private family moment and I appreciate being invited to be a part of it. All of this while A Christmas Story was on in the background.

After a great breakfast and a rousing game of backgammon with JT’s dad, which reminded me of playing backgammon with my dad, for hours and I won this game, by the way! I headed to SDL’s house for the annual Christmas Day festivities!

I called on my way and SDL and her sister DJL and of course, Miss A were Skyping with their parents, Momom and Popup, I’m sorry I missed them. I headed to the house, went in and started playing with Miss A, who was monopolizing Aunt F’s attention! Then SDL came down from freshening up and we started cooking.

A great amount of food [we went shopping yesterday] two types of pasta, pesto, meat sauce, steamed veggies [carrots, zucchini, squash, spinach, Brussels sprouts and broccoli, guess who was really happy!] bread and salad. Think we had enough for three adults and one child? You betcha!

All this while listening to Christmas music and really listening for certain songs. You know, like “Baby it’s cold outside” or Porky Pig’s rendition of “Blue Christmas” or Alvin and the Chipmunks “All I want for Christmas” or The Waitresses.

We ate, talked, laughed, told stories about celebrating the holidays, crazy families, you know, the usual. It was great fun and after lunch, we went into the den to hang out, watch “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and open presents. I got a fabulous hand made magnet, in the shape of a deridel from Miss A, LOVE! And DJL and I opened our calendars at the same time! My other favorite! I look forward to those calendars!

After presents, there was A Christmas Story, I guess I was making my own marathon! Then after bath and brushing of the long beautiful hair, it was time to watch Home Alone, I think we had a god Christmas viewing lineup. We watched movies, lounged in the hose doing not much else.

And now, my friends, I am going to turn into a pumpkin, if I don’t turn this place over.

Merry Christmas… and to all, a good night!

{December 24, 2014} Happy Christmas Eve

Is that what you say for Christmas Eve?
Or is it just Merry Christmas? Either way… Happy whatever!

Tonight I participated in one of my favorite traditions… spending Christmas Eve with JT and his family. I started spending Christmas Eve with them after my divorce, so it’s been six years, I can’t believe it!

It’s been so great to celebrate with them over the years. They are loud and crazy and from the northeast, could be part of why we get along so well.

I think I told you about going shopping with JT, or annual tradition, well, normally, I go over early to wrap gifts, but last night I decided to wrap everything at SDL’s, made it much easier today, I showed up good to go.

There are always a lot of people and food, seems like a good combination to me.

Normally, we eat and then open gifts, this year was little different as some people were going to have to leave early, this year it was presnts, break for dinner, presents. All the names were in a Santa hat, the first name came out of the bag and we were off.

The gifts were great, people really think about what to get each other, one of the reasons I love going shopping with JT.

Thank you go the family who have taken me in as one of their own, I love you all!

Happy Christmas Eve

{December 23, 2014} Moving a piano

Today, I finally got the piano out of my house! The renters are so pleased!

When I moved out of the house completely last July, I still had the piano there, I wasn’t taking it with me and it would not fit in the storage unit and I really wanted to find it a new home.

Do you know the expression “Out of sight, out of mind?” Well, that’s what it was like for a while. I was hot to find a taker, then I would forget and then I would suddenly remember, go into panic mode and look for a taker.

I had a taker, a friend of my cousin’s, but then it fell through and recently, I mentioned it to ST and he said I’ll take it!

So… this morning, another friend met us and we went to my house to meet PK, who had a trailer do an inspection and get the piano out.

It took about an hour for the whole process, I rode back with PK, J rode back with ST and we brought the piano to ST’s house, unloaded it, just before the rain started to pour down!

ST’s son is over the moon excited about the idea of the piano, he is loving the guitar and now, after the piano is tuned, and it needs to be, he is going to start playing and I cannot wait for my first concert!

The piano is out, the house looks great, the tenants are happy and so am I! Thank you ST, PK and J!

{December 22, 2014} Old friends…what a night!

Such a great time tonight!

Tonight I had the best time!! After a great day! (Tell you about my day another day)

I headed to ST’s house and then we headed out to The Roswell Tap, http://www.theroswelltap.com, to meet PK, also known as FB to me and what a time it was!

I’ve known PK since about 1996 when the wasband did lights and sounds for PK’s fraternity cover band. I used to travel with them to gigs on the weekends.

In 1999, I went to work for the same company that PK worked for. Now you’re going to find out how small the world really is.

I kept in touch with PK even after the divorce, and one day we were having lunch and I said I was looking for a job and he connected me with the company he worked for.

On that project, I met ST, who was at that company because of PK. ST had known PK when he sold equipment to the company we worked for in 1999.

The crazy thing is that I started working with ST on a project in 2009, shortly after he did and he was there because of PK.

So…I have stayed friends with both guys and I am so thankful for it! I have seen both of them individually and we talk about the other, but this was the first time all the of us were together in years and let me tell you…If I haven’t already said it, awesome!

ST didn’t tell PK I was coming, but as soon as he saw a short chick walking with ST, he knew it was me and he lot up!

We had dinner and drinks (well they drank, I had hot tea and water, I know, crazy, right?) And we laughed for a few hours, I almost peed in my pants we were laughing so hard!

What a great night! Thanks guys! I’m ready for the next time!

{December 16, 2014} Happy Chanukah

Tonight is the first night of Chanukah, Happy Chanukah.

I know we have talked about this before, but here we are, it is the first night of Chanukah and I want to share some things.

As you know, or may not know… Chanukah or as some spell it Hanukkah, really a personal preference, is referred to as The Festival of Lights. The abridged version is that when the temple was destroyed and the Jews went in to rebuild it, they found enough oil to light the lamps for one night and lo and behold, a miracle, the oil lasted for eight nights!

That is the reason we celebrate for eight nights and certain foods we fry in oil, like potatoes which give us yummy potato latkes or pancakes and donuts, filled with jam, for a sweet year. I don’t know if you remember last year, the first night of Chanukah was also Thanksgiving, so we themed a lot of the foods around both holidays, so much fun to share the experience with friends and family.

We play games, like deridel, a spinning top with a Hebrew letter on each side telling you if you get half, have to give some, get nothing or get the entire pot! You could play with peanuts, pretzels, real coins or the traditional Chanukah gelt, chocolate coins. There is a great song to go along with the game, you may have heard it, ‘Deridel, Deridel, Dreidel’. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKreDYVWark. Be warned, the game can get heated!

There are some great songs associated with Chanukah, such as ‘Oh Chanukah, Oh Chanukah”, this one performed by Bare Naked Ladies https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLqG3BqMC8E

And I am sure you remember Adam Sandler’s “The Chanukah Song” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KX5Z-HpHH9g, this is a great song that makes me laugh when I hear it!

Traditionally, we give gifts to friends and family and it is one gift per night. I always found it funny that there were kids when I was younger who celebrated Christmas thought I had it better because I had eight nights of gifts, I would tell them we probably get the same number of gifts, its just that we open one per night. In my family growing up, we would have one big family gift, like tickets to the Nutcracker at Rockefeller Center or one year, a Commodore 64! We were styling! And then little gifts for the other nights.

The games, gifts, food are all good, but it is the meaning of the holiday and how we celebrate and hold it near to our hearts. We gather together over a menorah, maybe some of us have more than one…I have quite the collection that my family has given me over the years [and I wish I could find the pictures right now!] and I treasure each one, and each night, we light the shamans, that is the candle that is set apart, maybe above, to the side, but it is the candle we light, say the blessing and then use to light the other candles.

I love when I have friends with me to share the experience, I say the prayer and some choose to do it with me. When my kids were younger, they loved helping to light the menorah and say the blessing. And…I have so many menorah that sometimes, people get their own!

One of my favorite memories from childhood, aside from lighting the menorah, playing deridel and my mother’s amazing potato latkes, which were fun to introduce to new people celebrating with us, was the stories that she would read every night. I wish I could remember the name of the book, but every night, she would pick one of the eight stories and read to us, it didn’t matter how old we got, she would still read a story to us every night of Chanukah, I think there was even a year that she read them over the phone, I miss that.

Tonight, I got a call at dinner from my sister, and when I said hello, EJS said Hi! Well, hello there, how are you? Happy Chanukah! Thank you for my science experiment, I cant wait to do it with you this weekend! Wait until she gets the rest of what I got her!

The Festival of Lights truly is a miracle , in so many ways. What it says to and about us as a people and what ir represents and how we are keeping those traditions alive!

Some people don’t know anyone who is Jewish or maybe you were the first they met, which is the case for me often. Someone, a dear friend, from collage posted this on my wall tonight:

Very happy Hanukkah to all my Hebrews and Shebrews! I have some amazing Jewish folks in my life but, let’s face it, you never forget your first. Sending love from long ago!

Happy Chanukah or Hanukkah to one and all! May it be sweet and bright!

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

{December 12, 2014} Girls night

Had a great time at girls night tonight!

I got to Boston last night, kissed the girls, so cute when they’re sleeping! spent some time with GES, got some sleep, was confused for a moment where I was at 6:27 this morning, MGS came in and said hello, then a little while later EJS came to say hello.

Then it was showers and lunches and school. Got some work done, ran some errands, got on some calls, then it was time for girls night!

RG picked us up and off to girls night at BR’s house. There was RG, TS, BR, DB, LR, RG, GES and me and a spread of sushi, Chinese and challah. After hellos, we sat around the table, lit the lights for Shabbos, said the prayer over the wine, the blessing for the challah, then it was time to eat.

We ate, chatted, laughed and had an all around good time! They like to do their “Wow” of the week, and when it was my turn, my wow was “Molly came into my room this morning, said hello and as she crawled into bed, she said “I missed you” and that was amazing, so I had something to talk about at girls night.

The evening was a smash success and everyone had a good time! Thank you for including me!

I hope you had as good a time tonight I as I did!!!

{December 11, 2014} Holiday cards

They are starting to come in and I love it!

I love getting the photo cards people love sending, I get to see how the kids have grown, it’s awesome! I’ve thought about sending photo cards before, but what would I send? Me and my two cats? Just me? Boring! Just the cats, that would be cute.

One of the things I love doing is making my own cards and sending them out and that is what I will be doing this weekend, finishing the cards and putting them in the mail, I know I’m a little late, but as long as they get there before the holidays, that’s what counts, right?

Want to trade cards? I would love it! Let me know and we’ll do it!
Happy Holiday Carding!

{November 29, 2014} Family Photos

Today, we took family photos, in the snow.

It was a lot of fun. We had breakfast food: bagels, lox, cream cheese, whitefish, tomatoes, cucumbers and lunch food: deli, cheeses, pickles and then there were desserts: cakes and pies, some new and some leftover from Thanksgiving.

ACS’ brother and his wife, JS and AS, then B&A, who are like grandparents to MGS abs EJS were here too. We had lunch, caught up, figured out what to wear and LS showed up to take pictures.

We took turns heading outside, it was a bit cold out, still a lot of snow on the ground. The girls went first, MGS in her Elsa Halloween costume and EJS in her karate uniform. Then they changed into ‘everyday’ clothes.

There were pictures with just the adults, then the adults with the kids, all sorts of combinations, one big one with the entire group, at one point EJS took one of the cameras and took lots of pictures of whoever was there at the moment.

There were a lot of laughs, especially with the kids, EJS kept tickling our legs.

After, everyone else left and GES, ACS, EJS and MGS took some photos on the couch like they have done in the past. Then, ACS and dad took off and there were play dates and the day went on as normal, as normal as crazy is around here, perfect.

I can’t wait to see the pictures!

{November 28, 2014} Bittersweet

This year, celebrating Thanksgiving in Boston was bittersweet.

The reason I say that is that this was the first time in six years that I celebrated Thanksgiving in Boston and not Atlanta. When I was married, we celebrated the holiday in New York City, Boston or Atlanta and the year we got divorced, I came to Boston with TS to celebrate.

Since then, I have hosted Thanksgiving for all my “orphan” friends, people like me, who didn’t have any extended family in Atlanta, who were not going home to be with families. Sometimes, people don’t have the opportunity to go home for the holidays, sometimes they have to work the next day, so I stated hosting and I have loved each year!

It was as pot luck, with me making the turkey, yes, the vegan makes the turkey! One year, I remember flying in from Nevada the day before thanksgiving, getting there either late the night before or early thanksgiving morning and going right to work. Last year it was even Thanksgivingka, the first night of Chanukah was thanksgiving, what a great meal that was!

Different people have joined different years and some people were each year, CKM, SDL, DJL, Miss A, CC and JC and their baby M, JCT and her family, DCM, AB, JB and A and their son, E, just to name a few.

Last year, I don’t know if you remember me telling you about the dollar store thanksgiving! I had already moved to Colorado, but when we came back to Atlanta for thanksgiving, stayed in my house and hosted using things I bought at the dollar store!

There were so many great memories built over the years and I would not trade them for anything. This year, being with my family in Boston was so very important and while I would not have missed the opportunity, I was missing my family in Atlanta and not hosting, very much. Hence, bittersweet.

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and celebrated with those they love and care about! I know I did!

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