Friends | Peaches Prattlings

{January 12, 2014} We got flocked!

Saturday morning, we got up and discovered we’d been flocked!

For those of you not “in the know”, flocking refers to the act of putting a flock of flamingos on someone’s lawn. It is generally done as a fundraiser and in some cases you would pay it forward. It’s done for a birthday, a pick me up, a way to make the recipient smile and we did!

This is a common practice in the south, at least I’d seen it a bunch in Atlanta, apparently, not so much in the north, in particular, Boston, as that’s where I am right now.

Since you have to put the flamingos, plastic pink bird bodies on metal post/stick legs, when the ground is soft, it’s better. As we’ve had snow and freezing temperatures over the last few days, guess what the ground isn’t! As the ground was hard as a rock, or frozen, as it were, a little difficult for the person installing the flamingos to get the stakes in the ground, so at 10/10:30 pm Friday night, she is hammering something into the the ground to be able to get the flamingos in there! My sister and brother-in-law thought it was me! Wondering what I might be doing, now, I might be creative, but I’m not going to do anything that noisy that late! I was in my room wondering what the noise was! Next, my brother-in-law goes outside to see what the ruckus was and there was a woman, with a hammer, finger to her lips giving the shhhh motion!

This flocking was care of fantastic neighbor, CF, too awesome!

http://www.ehow.com/about_6677646_flamingo-flocking_.html

{January 8, 2014} What a day! Tantrums, hugs, reunions, kisses

I’m in Boston this week visiting my sister and her family, got here last night, so great to hug and kiss everyone.

Today, my sister and brother-in-law had an appointment, so it was my job to get the girls off to school. As they left for the appointment, I was helping EJS with her homework, she was tired and not that interested and while she was expressing herself, her little sister, MGS, came in the kitchen to tell her, “EJS, if you finish your homework, you can come and watch TV with me” and that was that, it worked.

A few minutes before that, MGS was having her little meltdown since mommy and daddy were gone, I gave her her “special necklace” and she was fine. About 8:15, the school bus arrived and EJS put her shoes on and was out the door. I told MGS that I was going to take a shower and in 15 minutes we would get her dressed and head to school, ok? Ok. Yeah right!

When it was time to go, someone was not having it! I had experienced this with EJS when she was younger, so it was MGS’ turn! Someone just didn’t want to go to school with me, wanted mommy and daddy, understandable. As I tried to get her pajama top off, she kept trying to get it back on! Then, when I tried to get her shirt on, she kept trying to take it off, awesome!

We are dressed and ready to go…nope! What can I do for you? What would you like? I had to call mommy and daddy for advice, they were very understanding, thankfully! Then I heard among the tears, “I want to wear mommy’s scarf!” Ok, find the scarf! About this time, Aunt A and Uncle J showed up and tried to help find the scarf, guess where it was…with mommy at her appointment!

After a few minutes, she agreed to get a different to scarf and as soon as she grabbed it, she was ready to go to school! We bundled up, got in the car, iPad in hand and it was smooth sailing. Got to school, checked her in, went to her classroom and she put her stuff away and pushed me out the door (gives her control on when I left).

After school, I went back to the house, hung with Aunt A for a bit, then headed out to meet a good friend of mine from high school for lunch.

It was great to catch up with Dr CC, yes, I said doctor! His speciality is Physical Therapy, what an accomplishment! So impressed and proud of him. He has a very cool job, he heads the internship program for physical therapy for Northeastern University, about 150 interns participating in the program, a lot of responsibility but incredibly rewarding! And to hear him talk about what he does is inspiring, he’s incredibly passionate, it comes through without question, something that’s wonderful to see.

We caught up about our families and kids, it was terrific. We’ve seen each other a few times over the years and it’s been great to see him when our schedules mesh when I’m in Boston, Facebook conversations are great, but in person is even better! I do appreciate him having the time to get together.

After lunch, I headed towards MGS’ school to pick her up, getting a little turned around along the way, but found my way there. I had some time to kill so I stopped in a Home Goods store, I had never been to one before and wow! I can’t wait to go when I get back to Denver!

Then it was time to get MGS, went into her class, she played shy for about a minute, then it she was ready to go! We were stopping at Dunkin Donuts on the way home, yes, I bribed her this morning and proud of it! It worked! After Dunkin, as the girls affectionately call it, we headed home, she was happy as a lark, got in the house and it was play and relax, then dinner, movies, stories and night night.

One of the greatest feelings…when she sits on my lap or touches my arm and says “I like you” I like you too, then a random hug or pat on the shoulder, sigh.

It’s finally time for bed, stories with EJS, talking with the lights off, rubbing her back, MGS coming in to say good night, kisses and hugs, then telling them both, like our parents did with us…”Sleep well, get up well, I love you” how wonderful is that?

Catching up with my sister and brother-in-law for a bit, watch some silly TV and then upstairs to talk to you guys!

Time for night nights! Goodnight!

{January 4, 2014} Crazy weather and catching up

Today was intended to be a lazy day and it was.

First, the weather. Get this…yesterday, yes yesterday, it was 61degrees out, yes I said 61! I had the top down on the car, scarf and hat on, heat and seat warmers and it was fantastic! No haters, please because sometime in the night it started snowing and I don’t think it’s stopped yet. It looks so nice out, all covered in white, so staying in and being lazy was on the agenda, worked out for me.

Next, catching up. DCM had to get some work done this weekend, so he worked and watched football and I watched movies and knitted. At one point I was chatting with one of my best friends from high school CGS via Facebook, any means of communication is a good means! We caught up a little, which was nice, I really need to find some time to visit. NYC.

As I mentioned, a lazy day, so lazy in fact and the movie I was watching so not entertaining, that I dozed off. I have to say I was confused when I woke up, I thought it was later or the next day! And in truth, I was asleep about ten minutes! Just after I woke up the phone rang and it was LTA, one of my other best friends from high school, youth group in fact. We had been trading messages on Facebook the other day and deciding when we could chat and found out that today worked for both of us. It was great, we talked for about two hours.

You know those relationships that you have with some people that you might not talk to but once or twice a year and it’s as if no time has passed, well, these women are two of them and I absolutely love that about us. We catch up and pick up as if we just spoke last week. I’ll take that any day!

Very low key and enjoyable day. Talked to great friends and watched the snow, what could be better?

{December 29, 2013} What a week!

Here it is, the end of a terrific week and tomorrow we head back to Colorado.

(Settle in, get a cup of coffee or cocoa, this is going to be a long one!)

We got here late on Saturday, you know that fun adventure, I don’t need to rehash that! Sunday after lunch, DCM headed out to see the kids and I hung back, to finish a few Christmas presents and wrap gifts, I was a busy bee! The cool part was that I wrapped almost every single gift with one roll of Muppets holiday paper! I found the paper last year and finally got to use it! Don’t you love that?

Monday came and after lunch, I headed out to meet JT for our annual shopping trip, to find gifts for his family. It’s something we started about five or six years ago and it’s become a tradition that I enjoy and value, I know he does too. Luckily for me, everything he bought was relatively small, so a carrying everything wasn’t too bad; I started bringing a rolling cart to carry everything, there have been some big items!

The fun thing is to talk about what everyone might like, I jokingly told him he should put from JT and JJ on the gift tags, I really do enjoy watching everyone open the gifts and flip over them and how much they appreciate what JT thought about for them. I think I already told you my other job is to show up early on Christmas Eve and wrap gifts, which I really enjoy. I’ve always enjoyed wrapping gifts from childhood, it was my job to wrap the gifts my sister and I would give, I en thought about getting a seasonal job wrapping gifts.

While we were at the mall, we ran into his dad and brother and after shopping joined them at Pappadeaux for lunch, which is always a good time. After lunch, I headed out to take care of a few things and then went to meet BG, JCT and her mom for dinner at one of our favorite places What The Pho, yum! It was so great to see JCT as I haven’t gotten to see her much this last year with her travel schedule and moving to Colorado. It was great to see her mom, a master at crochet, let’s just say, last year, I wasn’t the best student, but we laughed a lot!

Tuesday came and we hung out at the house until it was time to head to JTs for Christmas Eve. A good time was had by all!

Wednesday morning, as you might recall we went to KABs house to see her, JB and Baby A! That was so much fun! After, DCM headed to see the kids and I headed to SDLs to cook and eat and enjoy. So much fun!

Thursday was a treat, CKM was able to carve some time out for me in her way too busy schedule! We went to Moe’s, yum! It was great to catch up in person and relax and laugh, you know, the usual! After lunch, she had to do laundry, so I went along to keep her company and while the clothes were in, we sat in the car and watched Red 2!

After we parted company I went to see my friend BG and his son, JAG and his new apartment. We had some dinner and then played Mario Brothers in the Wii, let’s just say someone way shorter than me kicked my butt in the game, but I held my own and had a great time! Who knows maybe I’ll start to get into some of these games they keep talking about!

Friday, after breakfast I had some time, so I put all my movies into sleeves for transporting back to Colorado, boxed up some things that were still in the garage and took them to the Salvation Army on my way downtown to meet TS and her daughter KS at the High Museum of Art for their three exhibits: The Art of the Louvre’s Tuileries Gardens, Go West: The Art of the American Frontier and Witness: The Art of Jerry Pickney. All terrific! It’s always enjoyable to go to a museum with people who enjoy what they see and to discuss what we think and feel about it.

We caught up, talked, laughed, which was great because I haven’t seen KS in a long time and haven’t seen TS one on one for a while, we’re usually out with a group. After the museum we went to a cute little Italian restaurant, Pasta Da Pulcinella, for some yummy food, exchanged gifts and birthday presents, and then we decided to go catch a movie, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and you know how that was. What a great day/night!

Saturday was no less busy! Up before DCM, headed out to SDL’s to join her and Miss A for a drive out to Alpharetta for her hippo therapy, working with horses. This was the first time I got to see it and it was great! She loves the horses, especially Poppysead, who she works with most often. Hearing that laugh when she’s trotting around is like nothing else! After therapy, we headed to The Forum for lunch at Jason’s Deli, a nice treat to sit and eat and watch the place fill up.

After lunch, we headed our separate ways, I was meeting JCT for a movie, but first, I went to BG’s to pick up my iPad that I had left the other night. Turns out JT was there playing video games, Lego Marvel. I invited them to join us for the movies, we went to the Venture Cinema, which has gone from $2 to $3 per ticket! We watched Last Vegas, very funny the second time, check out my review!

After the movie, I took the boys back to BG’s for fun and games and headed to Starbucks to hang with JCT for a few hours. It was great! We talk about once a week, but we haven’t seen each other in about a year, so this was much needed!

This morning after I did a load of laundry, we had Waffle House, gotta get it in…we don’t have one that close to us in Colorado. Then DCM went to see the kids, I headed to SDL’s to help her get some stuff done around the house, the girl is amazing with a drill and some glue! I got to play with Miss A, while still getting things done.

Her parents got back from visiting grandpa in Florida and we headed out to SDL’s favorite Mexican restaurant, Agavero Cantina. JCT and her mom met us there for dinner. SDL hasn’t seen JCT or her mom in over a year, so it was time and you know they love Miss A! SDL’s mom and JCT’s mom could talk yarn as they both crochet and knit. Everyone admiring everyone else’s hand crafted scarves and hats!

After one last hug and kiss for everyone, we all headed out in our own directions, mine was home to write to you and wait for DCM so we could catch up on our days.

So, tomorrow we will take care of a few things and then head back to Colorado and get back into the swing of things, work, thereapy, life. I sit here writing to you telling you about my week which was wonderful and bittersweet, mostly bittersweet because it’s always hard to leave your friends, especially the wee tots who you adore. But I know it won’t be too long before I see them again, gotta love FaceTime!

I hope you had a wonderful week, great holidays, if you celebrated and I hope you have a terrific Monday! Happy almost 2014!

{December 25, 2013} Christmas, Christmas Eve, family, traditions

Well, it’s that time of year…I want to talk about Christmas Eve, Christmas, Family and Traditions…as promised.

Here is it Christmas night, I’ve just gotten home, I have music from The Nutcracker Suite playing and I am smiling, both happy and a little bit sad and feeling wonderfully nostalgic. I am smiling and feeling nostalgic because going to see The Nutcracker performed by the City Company at Lincoln Center in New York City was something my family did every year around Christmas, I don’t remember, but we may have even gone on Christmas Eve. It was an annual family Chanukah present. (One year we got a Commodore 64, we were in the big time!).

Smiling, because it was something we did as a family; got dressed up, dinner and performance, it was wonderful. The sad part, it makes me miss my mom and right now the famous “Pas de Deux” is on and it is my dad’s favorite piece and one of my mom’s, the other was “Coffee” so I am sitting here smiling and sad at the same time.

That was a tradition we had, along with sometimes going to “The B’s” house to decorate the tree or have Christmas dinner, I think their tree was the first I ever helped to decorate. They always decorated so wonderfully for the holiday, the tree, lights, they have a huge bay window, always so warm and welcoming, the home as well as the family.

Everyone has different traditions and that one was a huge one from my childhood and as I’ve gotten older, there have been new traditions I have been privileged to be a part of.

The first, every Christmas Eve for the last five or six years, I celebrate with JT’s family. Well, the first tradition is that I go with JT shopping and help him choose some gifts for the family, I’ve gotten to know them quite well, so it’s fun to find things for them we know they are going to love. That tradition is usually Thanksgiving week/end or in November, this year it didn’t quite work out that way, so we went on the 23rd, it wasn’t bad at all! We ended up meeting his dad and brother and went out for lunch, it was fun.

Next, I show up about an hour or so early at his house to make a vegetarian lasagna and wrap the gifts he bought, everyone knows and loves to tease him, but it’s something we’ve been doing for years and I can’t imagine not doing it.

Then the festivities begin, everyone shows up, the drinks come out, the laughter and love and then it’s time to eat and they’re an Italian family, so it’s mange, mange! Usually lasagne, mine and a meat, Italian sausages, meatballs, salad, bread and wonderful desserts. After dinner we get settled in for an experience, opening presents. Due to ALL the people, which some years is more, there is almost no room to sit because of all the presents! I should have taken a picture!

Everyone’s name goes into a hat and the first person who opens presents, picks the next persons name and so on. Everyone has brought something for everyone and so you have at least six to ten presents each! All depending on who bought who what. The first year you are there, not everyone knows you, but ST, JT’s mom, makes sure to have something for you, she’s a fantastic hostess! Year after year, as you come back, you exchange more and more gifts and it really feels great, you are no longer a guest, you’re family.

The great thing is that even though not everyone is related, we’re all family and we treat each other that way, even if it’s your first time!

One of the special treats is DG’s cookies! Every year she makes about a gazillion cookies and every family gets a tin of cookies, yum! The catch: if you don’t give back the tin, you don’t get cookies the next year! Apparently a lot of people don’t give her back the tins, so she sends D to get more! One year it took me almost an entire year to get the tin back to her, I always tried to get it to her at the Super Bowl party. This year…she made it easy on us, we got a travel carton, no pressure!

We opened presents, thanked each other profusely, gave hugs and drove home, it was another wonderful and successful Christmas Eve.

Today was Christmas and we started off the day going to see KAB, JB and Baby A! We got to play and open presents and Grandpa, also known as DCM, got to put his car together and blow up his bounce house! see…useful as well as ornamental! They gave us a great picture they had blown up and modge-podged to a canvas, it was beautiful Baby A, awe. It was nice to spend some time with them.

Then it was off to see the rest of the kids for DCM and I was off to SDL’s house for my next tradition, Christmas with SDL, her sister, parents and of course Miss A! SDL used to go home to PA for the holidays, but since bringing Miss A home, Christmas has been at her house and her parents come down south. The first year was funny because she invited me, and my response was absolutely, but it wouldn’t have mattered, I was going to invite myself! Any opportunity with Miss A is a must!

I asked if she wanted me to being anything, without taking a breath, corn soufflé, did I really need to ask? I got there, made the soufflé, popped it in the oven and it was play time and time to catch up with the family. Her dad calls me Auntie G and so does her mom, you have no idea how much I love that! Everyone was in the kitchen playing and talking and laughing, is there anything better?

We sat down to eat to a feast! “Mom-mom” makes a pot roast, carrots and green beans, they are great to ensure that I have enough to eat, as the resident veg head! SDL made her famous mashed potatoes, she and her mom collaborated on the sweet potato with marshmallow dish, there was cranberry dressing, salad, crescent rolls (enough that we didn’t have to fight over the last one!) and for dessert…home made cheese cake and peach pie! Oh my!

Let’s just say after dinner, there was no room for dessert, just yet anyway! So we cleaned up and headed into the den with a nice fire going to get down to the business of opening presents. I’ll give you just one guess who had the most presents! There is always something hand knitted or crocheted from Mom-mom, and I’m in on it, so I am thrilled!

The absolute bestest present…the calendar that SDL makes every year of Miss A and her family and friends, it’s such a treat and honor to be a part of it, our birthdays are part of the calendar too! She didn’t want one of us to open that present without the others, so we had to wait until we had the go-ahead and then we went! We waited for each other to open it, then delved in, wow! I was laughing and crying at the same time, it was awesome! Thank you thank you thank you!

After all the presents were opened, it was bath time, for Miss A, of course! and then time for me to head out and go home, smiling the whole way with my wonderful treats in my bag.

Thank you to everyone who has made this holiday wonderful so far! But…it’s not over! I still get to see more friends this week, which is gift enough for me.

So, as Tiny Tim says “g-d bless us, everyone” and to you I say…”Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!”

{December 16, 2013} Moving away…not being there

One of the hardest things about moving away is that you’re not there for people when they need you.

What I mean by that is that when you’ve made friendships with people over the years, they come to rely on you for things and you on them. When you move, that convenience just isn’t there anymore and that’s hard, emotionally.

I have some friend back in Atlanta that I am very close with and we’ve been there for each other in times of joy and times of not so joy. It’s great when you can just pick up the phone and say, “hey, can you do me a favor can you help me out?” My friends know that when they needed me, I would be there, didn’t matter what time, day or night. And i have to tell you that feels good, darn good to be exact. That’s more than just friends, that’s family.

It’s the same for my family, the one I was born in to, it’s tough not being there, well, not being close in proximity to them to be able to be there whenever they might need me. Since I don’t live near them, it takes planning to get there, if they’re going through something, like everyone getting sick one at a time or the entire family or someone needs to go out of town on business and they need an extra hand. The great thing is that my dad lives close enough that he can be there when they need him, I just wish I could do the same.

{October 29, 2013} I’m a grandma again! Third time!

Can you believe it? Only 42 and a grandmother three times over!

One of the great things about being with DCM is that he has great kids and some of those kids have given him grandkids, guess what that makes me!

Another advantage, something I like to say and loved to say when I was raising my kids, all the joys, none of the stretch marks!

I’ve told you about LB, then AB, is there a theme? When we were in Las Vegas this weekend, we got to see LB, as you know and her parents, CS and KS. CS was very pregnant and ready for LSS to come out and play, well, we all were and she didn’t listen to her grandfather when DCM told her it was time to greet the world, while Grandpa and JJ were in town, but…even better, a birthday present for DCM! Can you imagine!

Get this…DCM’s father in law, who everyone affectionately call Papa J, was celebrating when his great granddaughter, LB was born, now it’s DCMs turn, LSS came on DCMs birthday! How cool is that?

I think I’ve told you that while I’m JJ, DCMs youngest daughter goes by the nickname, Pow Pow, I told her we could have a very exclusive club, Pow Pow and JJs Three Time club! it’s very exclusive! she’s an aunt three times and I’m a grandma three times!

I can’t wait to get to know this adorable cutie! I am spoiled, so many wonderful babies!

Congratulations to the entire M, S and C family, what a joy to behold!

{October 1, 2013} Happy Birthday to Me!

Flat out, this is a selfish post, it is going to be all about…ME! [it’s my birthday, I can do that!]

It started out nicely, I went to see a doctor about my ankle [told you I would go], I got an x-ray and as soon as I have results, I’ll share.

On my way home, I got a call from my dad or…”Western Union”, a tradition started a very long time ago, we call each other, posing as Western Union, in a very thick NY accent and sing “Happy Birthday”. He wished me a wonderful birthday and asked what I was getting…not a clue, I’ll let you know when I get home!

I got home and I opened my cards from my dad and they were precious! He always sends the most awesomest cards! Once he found out that I bought skis, he helped me purchase my ski pass for the season! Thank you!

Next, I opened my card from TS and KS! Gift cards to AMC, how did they know it would be perfect? HA HA! TS and I used to go on movie dates at least once a month! Something I definitely miss, hopefully we’ll be able to do it again, soon!

Movies Movies Movies! Thank you!!! Let’s go! I’ll meet you there!

Next…I was told to sit on the couch and close my eyes and then…I got my birthday present from DCM!!! It was a brand new gorgeous red Huffy Bike! A beach comber like I wanted! The red is like a radio flyer wagon! It has a basket and a “luggage rack” which extends, I can bring a bunch of stuff home. Can you tell I’m excited???

Wait, why just imagine it, I’ll show you, here’s a picture!

Thank you DCM!!!

I then went to work for a few hours and on my way home, finally caught up with TS, we were playing phone tag and then I got to talk to SRH, it was all good.

I stopped at the mall on the way to pick up a much belated birthday present for KK, I am a baad aunt, but I hope I make up for it!

While I was there, I caught up with CKM and thanked her again for my birthday presents! She had asked me what I wanted, I told her world peace [when we were kids, we would ask my dad what he wanted for his birthday, he used to say “Peace on Earth and a digital watch] and I got World Peas!!! and a stack of Mary Kay Andrews books, such a great author, makes me homesick for Savannah!

Thank you for World Peas!!!

When I got back to the apartment, I went to the mailbox and found a package from LD, how did she know I would need leg warmers soon! And great colors and look hand knitted, I love them!

Leg warmers! Gonna need them soon!

Got a text and email from SDL, did I get the package from her and Miss A? FedEx said it was delivered and signed for by Brown, who’s Brown? DCM went down to the office to check and when I opened the package…LA LA LA LOVE! A charming metal photo board that says “I often daydream that my life is just as it is now…Only I have well behaved hair and I live in Paris”, is that me or what?

It had 2 mini magnetic picture frames, one with a picture of the pickle, better known as MIss A and the other, a picture from one of our girls gatherings [RS, CKM, DL, SDL, Miss A and me!].

Ah…Paris!

One of the gifts I got is a fantastic picture that one of my oldest friends, CWB’s daughter, SB made for me, I love getting home made gifts from fantastic children. Thank you!

Thank you for the original artwork!

Last, but not least, I got to Face Time with my sister and my girls! As soon as we connected, everyone started singing Happy Birthday! We caught up on school, what did they do? EJS went on her first field trip! They went to a pumpkin patch and selected a pumpkin to study in school tomorrow. MGS showed me how she makes letters with pens.

EJS wanted to know when her costume was coming and asked about the treat bag, I showed her what it looked like, oohs and ahhs [I might post pictures in another post] and then I showed MGS what her bag looked like, big oohs and ahhs! I also showed them the costume I found for MGS, SOOO cute! [remember the orange monster I showed you the other day? I made her bag the same color!]

We talked for a while, they sang and danced for me, it was awesome and the abundant kisses when we were getting off Face Time, LOVE LOVE LOVE, how could I not?

It was time to head to dinner, I called LD to thank her for the leg warmers, it was nice to chat with her, thank you again!

We went to that great Chinese restaurant I told you about some time ago, The Golden Lotus, http://goldenlotuscuisine.com/, they have that fantastic “chicken” for us ‘vegheads’. When we sat down, DCM warned me not to eat too much, there was cake at home! WAHOO! I didn’t know there would be cake! [it’s usually the one thing I ask for, one year, SDL made me an amazing cake covered in strawberries as my gift, Y U M!!!]

At dinner, we caught up on our day. He told me that LB was making cookies with her mammaw, CG, and she asked “Can we send these to my grandpa?” AWE! Then he said that he had mentioned to CG that he kept forgetting to tell CS about the Swiper costume and she said, “We know, we’ve been following the blog!” How flattered am I?

Homeward bound to check Facebook and be amazed by all the birthday wishes that have come in today! I was touched that they even started on Friday! How lucky am I? I did my best to thank everyone personally, it’s so important to me to say thank you. You took the time to wish me well, how could I not? Wow, was I blown away!!!

I also loaded an album of the gifts I got on Facebook, it was fun to caption all the pictures! [you’re seeing most of them here!]

Somewhere in the middle of all my thank you’s, it was time for cake! I said “is it time?” “Yes!” I turned off the light and around the corner came a Carvel Cake!!! A tradition in our house growing up in the summer, we would get a Carvel ice cream cake, top is vanilla and the bottom is chocolate and the middle has chocolate crunchies. [neither one of us care for chocolate ice cream, so we both had the top!] The candles had prism color flames! http://www.carvel.com/

It’s time for Cake! Carvel Cake!!! Y U M!!!

The last thing I had to do today was to share with all my friends and family here with my post so, for those of you who know me: Thank you! Thank you ! Thank you! For making my birthday an amazing day. I love you all!

{September 26, 2013} It’s Costume Time…Auntie J/G, JJ is on the case

It’s almost Halloween and everyone needs a costume! And the list is growing, this is big responsatility [so said Tommy Pickles on the Rugrats!]

When EJS was born, I asked my sister if it would be alright if I got her a costume, GES said that would be great, if I didn’t, she might not have one, ha ha. I took my job very seriously! She has been a monkey, Eeyore, princess, pirate princess and last year, she decided she wanted wanted to put her own costume together, I had mixed feelings, proud because she wanted to make her own costume, perplexed because I won’t be able to help, but joy! for her witch’s costume I made a fabulous sparkly belt and buckle, wahoo! I got to help!

This year, when I asked what she wanted to be for Halloween…a Pink Power Ranger! I didn’t even know it was still on tv or that she knew it, not so…she saw the costume at Costco and that’s what she wants to be! Guess what I found this weekend at Costco! [I may have told you that already]. My favorite? About two weeks ago, I was “Facetiming” with the girls and EJS said, with great enunciation, “Auntie J, when will my costume be here?” “Well, EJS, Halloween is about two months away, it will be there”, “Yes, but when?” “How about 2-3 weeks?” “Ok, and will it say EJS?” “Yes it will!” So demanding! Then today, she asked when it would be there, Wednesday or Thursday? OK! I’ll make sure that happens! The pressure!

Her sister, MGS has worn mostly EJS’ costumes that she has grown out of, I ask every year what she wants to be and she chooses something from the costume closet, I did send a pirate princess, but she loves the monkey and Tigger costumes! So, a new candy bucket it is! I’m ready when she makes a declarative statement like her sister, then whatever she wants, she will have! So says Auntie J!

When Miss A came into into our lives, I didn’t want to end my streak! Auntie G was up to the task! A soft and fuzzy monkey! One of her mommy’s nicknames for her, so cute! Last year, I got her a pirate princess. She has so many costumes because of all her social engagements and parties that time of the year, she can’t wear the same costume twice! The best thing…when we went to Dragon Con,”The world’s largest fantasy/SF convention, held annually in Atlanta, GA, on Labor Day weekend.” http://www.dragoncon.org/ When we were still in Atlanta, we would go to the parade every year and of course Miss A participated with a costume, last year it was Wonder Woman and man, it was a wonder!

So, for Halloween, it was the absolute best! SDL put Miss A in the monkey costume with Wonder Woman on top! OMG! It was Wonder Monkey! I think we both lost it and all composure trying to get Miss A into the Wonder Woman Costume! AWESOME! This year… Princess Leia! Miss A has the longest hair, so the plan is to do the Leia buns, so all I need to do is find a white muslin dress/robe, wish me luck! I cannot wait to see the pictures!

And lastly, well, for now anyway…We were “facetiming” with LB last week and we were talking about one of her favorite shows, Dora the Explorer! She loves Swiper the Fox, so JJ said, “You want to be Swiper for Halloween?” “Yes!” alright! So, off to find a Swiper costume! Guess what they don’t make in anything bigger than toddler up to 18 months? yup, you guessed it. Will JJ be swayed? Not a chance, I am going to find a way to get that adorable girl a Swiper costume! She’s already told people about it!

Ok, wish me [Auntie J/G, JJ] luck! Boo!

{September 16, 2013} Run For Your Lives (for real!), Break Fast and Breakfast

So as to know, I participated in the Run For Your Lives 5k obstacle run yesterday. It’s funny, someone asked if I did the run yesterday because I didn’t post anything on Facebook or text.

Here’s why and then what the rest of my day and today was like because they were better.(and be prepared, this may take a while!)

I also realized that I didn’t get anyone to take my picture, so I won’t have any of me this time, oh well, maybe there will be one on the race page that I can tag and my friends can see it.

I flew in on Friday night as you know, drove 1.5 hours to Dalton, GA to spend the night, no way I was getting up before the sun to drive all the way down to run a race. I’ve started doing that, if the race is more than an hour, I will spend the night and sometimes, even if its an hour away, could be a fun night out.

I got up in the morning, got ready, requested a late checkout so I would have a place to shower, thank goodness! I had plans later and wasn’t going home first. I headed out, got cash for parking and was on my way. I got the with enough time to check in, check my bag in, get an Atlanta zombie shirt and line up for my heat.

Last year, I really enjoyed the run, it was at a dirt bike park track in the woods and it had been raining, so it was muddy, muddy, muddy. (Friends on Facebook, look for those photos from last year) we lined up in three corrals based on your pace (appetizer: 7-9 min mile, entree: 9-11 min mile and dessert, 12-14 min mile, guess where I was, yup, sweet sweet sweet).

It was so muddy that I lost the soles in both my shoes, almost lost a shoe at one of the obstacles. The obstacles yesterday weren’t in abundance or that spectacular, they seemed more like other obstacle races, last year there were hay bales, mud pits, mud bogs.

This year, except for the places they made muddy, it was DRY, DRY, DRY. Not that much fun running or walking on dry, huge rocks, so there were not many people running, partly because of the rocks, but it felt like the entire course was uphill and the downhills were straight down! People were complaining and getting hurt!

The zombies were in abundance, and they were great, the thing I liked better this year, the zombies weren’t as aggressive or body checking people, which they were rejected for last year. There is one zombie, KR, who I also met at the Vampire 5k earlier this year, he posted that it was great to see me, he’s great, he has two extra heads on his shoulders (ha ha) and squirts water at people.

There were doctor zombies, nurse zombies, (I told them I had lost all faith in the medical community that day!) mommies, kids, cheerleaders, brides, prom queens, you name it, it was probably there! The cool thing was that after you finished running, you could have volunteered to be a zombie, how fun would that be!

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to do most of the obstacles because…wait for it, as I was told by one zombie, I figured out how to avoid or survive the zombie apocalypse, I was injured! Just at the start, I stepped in one of the hundreds of holes, there was one zombie actually standing in one so people wouldn’t fall in, I wasn’t so lucky, stepped in one and turned my right ankle, I felt and heard “POP!” Ouch! I started limping and several people asked if I was alright, even the zombies asked if I wanted medical attention, no not from the zombie doctors! Everyone was very nice! I said no thanks, I’m going to try to walk it off and I am going to finish!

There were a bunch of people who got picked up and driven back on golf carts, it was bad. Eventually they were starting to put out flags to mark the holes…

So, as I’m walking it off and looking pathetic I did it again! Darn it! But I was going on! I kept limping and let me tell you, zombies are actually quite sympathetic when you look that pathetic! They even asked if I was injured! I told some of them they could go for my flags, I wasn’t moving any faster! Some even gave me flags back! (The flags were cool this year, had the logo on them!)

I don’t remember if you recall from yesterday’s post about how Yom Kippur crossed over into the zombie run…one of the zombie nuns was approaching and I said “So, sister, tell me all your bad habits!” I thought it was funny, so did she!(DCM is rolling his eyes right now) and she said, I’m Jewish! I asked if she was fasting! She was, said she had a talk with g-d and it was alright, she was drinking water. I wished her an easy fast and a good Yom Tov! The world is very small!

So, I limped my way through the course and along the way met a lot of cool people, we all talked about different runs that we’ve done and liked. I met a really cool family, J and her husband, C, who lost his glasses, I really hope they got lucky and found them! They were with their daughter and one of her friends. This was their first, they were in from Charlotte, NC, so of course I had tell her about the run I did there and I would be back. We traded email addresses, I hope we’ll keep in touch! I’m hoping she comes to Atlanta for the Hot Chocolate in January!

(For anyone new to reading my blog, specifically J & C, they’re not all this long! Sometimes I just have a lot to say!)

After the run, I collected my gear and headed to the medical tent. There, the EMT looked at my ankle, I told him I did a number on it, he said, woah! And called another EMT over to look at what I done, see, told ya! I don’t do anything half way! He wrapped my ankle up, I found out I could get the wrap wet and it would harden, so far so good.

So…here’s where it gets a little worse, as I’m limping and apparently looking pathetic, a nice guy offered to give me a ride back to my car, on his bike. I had seen him earlier talking to people who worked there, so I said thank you, if it wouldn’t be too much trouble. Well, I climb on to the TEENY TINY back seat, held on and away we went. Very nice bike, by the way orange and black soft tail, too loud for my tastes, but in great shape!

He told me it wouldn’t be smooth, due to all the rocks, no problem, we took the street for part of it. We are ow I the parking area and it’s straw and grass, about 1/4 mile from my car,we are taking a left turn and I’m not sure if it was too fast, all of a sudden, a serious flash, I am on my back with a motorcycle on top of me! In a flash, there were about six people surrounding us picking up the bike, which was good because the foot peg had dug into my LEFT ankle! When I stood up, everyone was checking that I was ok,the driver included, we checked each other out, we were fine, no worse for wear, but better than his bike, the shifter snapped off! He was not going to be able to ride that bike anywhere, luckily he had his truck.

When I was sure he was alright, other people were helping him, I hobbled to my car. It didn’t take very long for the golf ball sized lump to appear on my ankle, pretty solid thing! It’s going to turn very pretty colors! If you’re lucky, I’ll share pictures! Let’s just say this morning, it was tough to get out of bed! I can tell were the bruises are going to be on my left side and backside, but I am lucky, it’s no where near what I had when I crashed my bike a few years ago.

Alright, you heard about my morning, lets move on to the good stuff! (By the way, this all happened before 12:30pm!)

I went back to the hotel for a hot shower, was not as muddy as I have been, thankfully for the hotel cleaning staff! I got in the car and headed downtown to meet some friends for dinner and to Break the Fast, perfect, with my friends. I stopped off at an outlet mall for some retail therapy, it helped my wardrobe for work, not my feet…

I was meeting some of the gang at Yeah Burger in VA Highland, I love it! CKM was there, of course, and first to arrive so we caught up a bit, but I didn’t want to give too many details for fear of repetition, shortly after, DL, my former co-worker and dear friend and her husband, ML, (and CKM and I finally got her to agree to do the Hot Chocolate 5k with us!) we caught up for a few minutes. It was ML’s birthday Friday, Happy Birthday M! Next was SDL and Miss A, you know I scooped that one up and barely let go! Next was TS, looking fabulous as always! I was so excited to hear what she has going on and coming up!

Rounding out the group was another couple who are former co-workers, JC and CC and their adorable son, M, he has gotten so big! I think CC is going to do the Hot Chocolate as well!

We had a great time, ate (I broke the fast with a delicious hand made veggie burger with goat cheese, yum!) caught up, laughed and had the best time! It’s never enough time, but it was great. I was so happy they were able to come out to dinner! I’ll be back, I can’t wait to see them again and if I missed you this time, hope you can join us next time!

After dinner, CKM, SDL and Miss A and I went for dessert around the corner, they had gelato and I had a crepe, yum! We talked a bit more, as we always do and as we are getting to SDL’s car, I walk off the curb and TURN MY FREAKING RIGHT ANKLE, what?!? OUCH! I yelled out quite a few expletives, apologizing the whole time, thank goodness Miss A isn’t repeating what we say! I felt sooo stupid!

SLD gave me a ice pack and after a while, drove me to CKM’s car, who drove me to mine. I felt so stupid! I did feel a little better when she gave me my birthday presents early! I got a stack of books, a patch for climbing Stone Mountain and what I asked for…”whirled peas”! When we were kids, my sister and I would ask my dad what he wanted for his birthday…his response was a digital watch and peace on earth or world peace! So what did I get? Whirled peas! Thank you!!!

I drove home, finished my post, elevated and iced my ankle, as instructed, and passed out!

Are you ok? Need a nap, get a glass of water? (you have to pack as much as possible when the time is short)

Today, I got up and went to meet LK and her three girls, K, J and K. The youngest, K had asked if I would come in for her birthday, it’s in two weeks, of course I wanted to and…it just worked out perfectly. We met at Mimi’s Cafe for a fantastic breakfast and fun. I think I’ve seen them more since if moved than in the last two years I was I Atlanta, I have a lot of time to make up for. When we got there, the youngest K, gave me a bracelet that she made for me, I love it! How did she know I love jewelry made by my nieces?

I told them I would see them when I am back in a we months, we took pictures, gave hugs and kisses, love and we were off!

It was so good to see them ad we would have spent more time together, but one had a softball game, one had a soccer game and I had playtime duties!

I headed to SDL’s house to play with Miss A while SDL mowed the lawn. We played, talked, giggled, ate caught up a little more since last night and a few hours later, it was time to head for the airport.

I dropped off the car, hobbled through security and off we went.

I hope you aren’t too wiped out from my adventure! I need for recoup! Thank goodness I don’t have to get up early tomorrow! I need a nap! Good night!

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