What I love! | Peaches Prattlings

{February 4, 2015} Duct Tape is a beautiful thing

If you can’t fix it, duck it! That’s what my dad always says.

When in doubt duck it! Or like the picture says… Duct tape is like the force: it has a light and a dark side and it gods the universe together!

I am inspired by the duct tape I have access to, some that were given to me by SDL, some I picked up at the store and what I have done with it. I once made a wallet from a kit my dad gave me, he said “There is only one person I know that would love this!” How right he was! DCM’s daughter, DCM, made me a purse once, I still have it, adorable! EJS made a great little wallet/purse that I “bought” from her sale, I still have it, love it.

I like to cover things and repurpose them, like taking empty tissue boxes and covering them and using them for things, like a tea box holder in the kitchen, I just covered one to use it as a trash bin in the bedroom and this weekend I am going to cover my new ski poles, they are an unfortunate color, but I have a really cool, comic book duct tape, they will look neat-o!

There are so many ideas for duct tape, crafts, functional, art [when CKM and I were at brunch a few weeks ago, they had some great Star Wars pictures made with duct tape]. Here are some ideas for crafts: https://www.duckbrand.com/duck-tape-club/ducktivities

How about furniture! https://www.google.com/search?q=duct+tape+furniture&biw=1024&bih=1076&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=7vPSVLKgKYafNpvLgbgJ&ved=0CCQQsAQ&dpr=1.32

One of my favorite things in duct tape… the prom outfits! The contest started a few years ago by and the Duck Brand holds a scholarship contest every year for the best prom outfits and these are clever! Enjoy! https://www.duckbrand.com/promotions/stuck-at-prom/year-book-gallery/2014

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

{February 3, 2015} Carwash with MGS

This weekend I had a fun experience.

I don’t know if I’ve told you this before, but I am not a huge fan of car washes, never have been. I think my dad even remembers me not enjoying them either, I don’t know what it is, I’m just not a fan, weirded out.

But… cleaning the car is a necessary evil and in the spring and summer I actually love washing my car by hand, in the winter, it’s a bit chilly and Annie needed it, badly. First… all the snow! Second, she had been sitting under a tree and there was sap like crazy on the windshield and windows, needed to be done.

Sunday, I picked up MGS from the temple where GES and EMS were doing stuff and we had some shopping to do, but first, and you should have seen her face light up when I said “How about we go to the car wash, how would you like to sit in the front seat with the butt warmers going?” Oh boy! You know it! And away we went!

We got there and just before we went through, she climbed into the passenger seat, I turned on the seat warmers and in we went and oh the excitement and joy, how could I not join in! The look on her face and each new section, she called out what was happening or asked me what it was, so cute. It was probably the best experience I had in a car wash, I so wish you could have seen her!

Here’s something for your listening pleasure!

{January 27, 2015} Movie Trailers

Movie trailers are addictive!

Do you love them as much as I do? Do you start watching one and all of a sudden, you’ve watched ten? Do you find yourself watching them for hours?

Sometimes I will go to IMDB.com to find out something about a movie, actor, director, you name it and then I might see a trailer that I want to check out and boom… I’ve watched ten trailers or more and I cannot tell you where the time went or maybe even what I watched!

Do you know IMDB.com? It stands for Internet Movie Data Base and it is DA BOMB! Yes, I said DA BOMB! It one of the best movie/TV/actor, etc, resources I have ever found and so many people know it, if you don’t already know it, go! Live it, learn it, love it!

The great thing about trailers is that they give you insight into a movie, the bad thing about trailers is they sometimes tell you too much. When the wasband and I used to go to the movies, if we saw a trailer that showed too much, one of us would say “Well, now we don’t have to go to see that movie!”. There have been some great trailers that give you just a taste, makes you want more.

Then there are times there are so many trailers that by the time the movie starts, I have no idea what I am seeing. I used to look at DCM and he would tell me what we were about to see!

Some trailers make you scratch your head and say “huh”? I was looking for a link and stumbled across the trailer for Fantastic 4, I got excited thinking it was going to be a continuation from the last movie, The Silver Surfer, but no… it seems to be as if they are starting the series over. I knew that was coming with Star Trek, not Fantastic 4. But I digress.

I majored in Communication Media when I was in college, I wanted to work for Children’s Television, possibly even direct on Sesame Street, how cool would that have been? One of the thing I absolutely loved about studying film and television was thinking about how I could explain a movie or TV show to the public, in essence… create trailers. Give people just enough to understand and be intrigued enough to want to see the movie, but not enough to give the entire movie or show away.

I think there are times I could sit in a movie theater and watch trailer after trailer after trailer. How about you?

http://www.imdb.com/?ref_=nv_home

{January 26, 2015} My weekend in Atlanta…

Was it busy? Yes it was! Was it awesome? Yes it was! Do you want to hear about it? Yes you do!

I told you a few things here and there, but here is the blow by blow, so to speak.

Friday I arrived in Atlanta, after an uneventful flight, which is always a good thing, and watching The Equalizer. Let’s just say, I heart Denzel Washington! This was a feel good movie in the best sense of the word! [Now, if you don’t know anything about it, until I write a review, just know it is a violent movie, but awesome!]

After I landed, I got my rental car and did something I should not have done, but I did anyway, which I told you about on Friday…I went to Fellini’s Pizza for a slice, salad and soda, ah memories [http://www.fellinisatlanta.com/fellinis.html]…After a filling lunch, I went to Junkman’s Daughter [http://www.thejunkmansdaughter.com/] to look around and met a charming chick working the shoe department upstairs, Twinkle, we had a nice chat, she really wants me to give Hedwig and the Angry Inch another try, I promised to.

Then I went to see CC and JC and their adorable son MC. They bought a house a few months ago and have asked me to come and see it when I was in town, unfortunately, I was not able to the last few times, but Friday, it was on! CC and MC had made some very yummy and healthy cookies earlier, they were so excited to share with me! While I was getting a tour of the house, MC kept saying “Ladies, ladies, come on!” How cute is he! And what a great visit we had!

After I left, I headed to JCT’s house to spend the night. She was on her way from the airport herself and I was going to get there before her, so I was lucky and got to spend some one-on-one quality time with her mom, who I affectionately refer to as Mom. We talked health and happiness, kids and crocheting, had cups of tea, it was wonderful. Then JCT’s brother GC came home and we chatted for a bit, until JCT came home.

When JCT came home, we talked and talked and laughed and talked until almost two in the morning! Isn’t that happens when besties get together? Did you forget… this is still only Friday!

Slept a few hours, got up, chatted, caught up some more then it was time to shower and head out to meet CKM for brunch at Home Grown, http://www.homegrownga.com/, waited a few minutes and then hopped up to the counter for breakfast.

After a great breakfast and good conversation, we headed to the Hot Chocolate 5k/15k Expo to volunteer and I picked up my race packet. Our shift was 1:30-6:30, our feet hated us at this point! After the expo it took us almost an hour to get out of the parking deck! Then another 30 minutes to drop CKM off where she was meeting friends for dinner. The only other bad thing was that RJS was having a get together for her birthday, which is actually today! Happy Birthday! And I missed it, but I made up for it today, sort of.

I headed to JT’s house to wait for BG, I was going to crash with him since we were riding to the run together. I was so tired, I just crashed art JT’s house. A few hours of sleep and 5:30am on Sunday we were in the car and on our way downtown, smooth sailing for a while, then lots of traffic, taking us about an hour to go about five miles, par for the course, ha ha, runners joke.

I hope you were able to check out my posting on the Hot Chocolate race yesterday. We were both a bit tired and sore, my feet were mad at me, but we did it! We headed back to BG’s to shower and headed back downtown to Sweet Melissa’s, http://www.sweetmelissas.com/, for brunch with some good friends.

After brunch, I drove to JCT’s because I left my Surface charger, grrr…and then to SDL’s house for a visit and some quality one-on-one time. Lots of talking, laughter and love. I crashed there for the night, even got to brush Miss A’s teeth for the first time…so many new firsts with her!

This morning I headed to see RJS for a little bit before making a mad dash for the airport and getting to the gate a few minutes before the flight took off! Even luckier that it took off at all, as a huge snow storm is coming to Boston tomorrow! So bad that they closed Logan airport at 8pm tonight!

So… that was my weekend, you tired? I am!

{January 25, 2015} 15k…goal accomplished!

Today I accomplished a goal…I completed my first 15k!

That is 9.32 miles, for those of you “not in the know”. CKM and I have participated in the Hot Chocolate 5k for three years and I also did one in Denver, for the past three years, she and I volunteered at the race expo, handing out bibs.

This year, I decided to participate in the 15k, one of the reasons is that CKM was not participating and the other… the medal! Remember… it’s all for the being or the swag!

As I have told you about my ‘racing’ history, I have done 5k’s, 10k’s, a few half marathons and a number of mud runs, both 5k and 7miles. The only race I have thought about and have not completed…a 15k. I cannot say that anymore!

Last weekend, if you remember, I was at Disneyland for a 10k on Saturday and half marathon on Sunday. The 10k was successful for me, the half marathon, not so much, I was disappointed in myself because I did not finish. I was close to the 9 mile mark when I got pulled from the course.

Today, the run was 9.3 miles and I finished! That was a huge deal for me! There were also people behind me, another goal!

This time, BG and I did the run together, well, we started at the same time. BG is a runner, he does 10 milers, half marathons, that is his speed and I admire him for it. They divided the run into 7:30 and 8:40 start time, 5k and 15k in each start. I was in the 8:40 start time and BG said he would start with me.

We carpooled at 5:30 and it was smooth sailing until two exits away from our exit and then it was sit and wait and sit and wait. We finally got to the stadium, parked, got ready and headed out to the start.

BG took off, as he should and I started running at my snails pace, ran about 3 miles, then walked then ran, then walked, then ran. I ran about 5 miles total out of the 9 miles. I felt good, my feet hurt, but it felt good!

Here comes the 9 mile mark, then it was only .32 to the finish! I crossed the finish line and got my medal! It was such a feeling! Then it was pick up the finishers mug, then meet BG to head to pick up my car, shower and then head to brunch.

This is going to be my last race for a while, keep checking my posts to find out why.

I’m happy!

Hot Chocolate 15k/5k – Atlanta
Atlanta, GA Jan 25, 2015 7:35AM
57143
02:30:25
16:09
roomfield, CO
a43

INTERVAL TIME OF DAY CHIP TIME CHIP PACE GUN TIME GUN PACE
Start 8:33:47AM
5K 9:20:25AM 00:46:39 15:01 min/mi 01:40:16 32:17 min/mi
10K 10:09:50AM 01:36:03 15:28 min/mi 02:29:40 24:06 min/mi
Finish 11:04:12AM 02:30:25 16:09 min/mi 03:24:02 21:54 min/mi

{January 24, 2015} Volunteering at an Expo

Today we volunteered.

Over the last six years or so, CKM and I have volunteered at different events, many being different race expos. We have volunteered for the Peachtree Road Race 5 times, even received our five year volunteer pin this year!

It is fun to volunteer, sometimes depending on the job they give you. One year we volunteered in the company store, that was alright, especially when it was busy, a few years we gave out race bibs, the last few years for the Peachtree Road Race, we volunteered with the elite and invited runners, too cool.

Today, we volunteered at the Hot Chocolate 5k/15k expo and gave out race bibs. You have to show up with the confirmation that has the QR code on it or your photo ID, plain and simple as that. Apparently not so simple for some people. No confirmation, no picture ID, “but I’m picking up for a friend, can’t I just tell you their name?” NO! Just give us something, a face book photo, something!

It was fun talking to people, when you could chat for a minute, it got so busy! I met a lot of Jennifer, always cool. And also, a lot of Stephanies, the reason I bring that up is that for some reason, the two names seem to get swapped a lot! I have no idea why!!! People were excited to be there to pick up their race bib and goodies and goodies they are! Some people were cranky because of the traffic and all the other events in the building they had to get through, but a lot of people were still happy.

There were a bunch that this was their first time doing the Hot Chocolate 5k, for some… their first 5k ever. What a great thing! I love meeting people who are doing their first race ever, I remember mine, The Atlanta Women’s 5k, I still remember seeing my time when I crossed the finish line, I almost cried, that is an amazing feeling! I hope everyone can feel that at least once!

The only bad part, being on our feet for 5 hours, standing in one spot, not so great since I am doing the 15k tomorrow, this should be interesting! But the best part… getting to have brunch and hang with CKM!

All in all, a good time was had by all! More on the race tomorrow!

{January 23, 2015} It seemed like a good/bad idea at the time

I flew into Atlanta today and did something that used to be a tradition for me, but now, not such a good idea.

Ok, so, backstory… there is a great pizza place in Atlanta called Fellini’s. They have NY style pizzas, which means they are large pies and slices, which makes me happy and isn’t that what it’s all about?

So…I used to go with friends all the time, especially LGR, when I first moved to Atlanta, on the way home after going out to the bars in Buckhead, our favorite thing to get was a salad, which has wonderfully fat shreds of mozzarella, a slice [all you have to do at a “real” pizza joint, especially if you are from NYC is say “One slice please” or “I want to order a pie” and they know it’s a pizza pie, not a peach pie!] and a soda. Heaven!

Then we would sit and wait for our food and read Creative Loafing, http://clatl.com/, a local paper in Atlanta that gives you all sorts of good stuff: Arts & Entertainment, the Blotter [weird new stories around Atlanta, sometimes about really dumb stuff and people, and things that make you go “hmmm”] upcoming shows [stage, screen, theater, music], articles about goings on about town, etc. A great way to find out what’s happening.

One tradition I had is with the wasband. We lived near one Fellini’s location and would go all the time, the kids always loved going when they stayed and on our way home from the airport, whenever we traveled, we would stop at Fellini’s and have a salad, slice and a soda or beer for him and it was such a great tradition.

I continued the same tradition after we split and sometimes I would call people to meet me there, like CKM and SDL, that was fun, even DCM and I got into the habit, either when we went somewhere or when he would pick me up, or sometimes, just stopping there on my own.

As you may remember, I finally gave up dairy about 6 months ago and I have been a little happier since then, from a health perspective and not getting nauseous all the time, not happy about missing stuff like cheese. I also, due to dietary issues cannot have caffeine or colored soda or tomatoes, to name a few things. I stopped drinking colored sodas about a year ago, I have a sip here and there, but not a full one and now they taste kind of funny. Funny weird, not funny ha ha.

That being said…I decided to do something stupid [for my digestive system]. I thought about it and said “the hell with it!’ I stopped at Fellini’s and had…a slice, salad and soda and creative loafing… ah… so good… and so bad.

Let’s just say it was and wasn’t worth it and I will not being doing that again any time soon!

Am I still happy? You bet your sweet hippy!

http://www.fellinisatlanta.com/fellinis.html

{January 22, 2015} It is 2015, right? Seriously people!

What is the deal with all the bullying?

I know, bullying is nothing new, it’s been going on for centuries, but it’s gotten worse in the last decade and I just don’t get it. I guess the thing that makes it more prevalent is with the internet being what it is and cell phones and Facebook and Twitter and Instagram and…

Part of the reason I don’t watch the news, especially at night and most especially before bed is all I do is cry and then go to bed depressed and sad and crying. I get my news from a lot of sources and yahoo is one of them.

Today, I am disheartened yet again… Another case of cyber bullying and its just nauseating. A set of twins made nasty comments and video messages towards a young girl, calling her nasty names and being disgustingly rude and immature and just plain mean. There was also a voice mail from the twin’s father, equally disgusting.

Her father made an equally public video, how he was dealing with it, helping his daughter get through it, his disgust, revulsion and lack of understanding for something so disgusting.

Look at some of the statistics for bullying from 2014. http://nobullying.com/bullying-statistics-2014/

I am sickened and disheartened, someone please prove Me wrong!

https://www.yahoo.com/parenting/dad-calls-out-daughters-bullies-on-viral-youtube-108843392047.html

{January 21, 2015} UNO!

I am not counting in Spanish, I am referring to the game of UNO.

UNO was created in 1971, by a barber in Ohio, to play with his family and families have been playing for over forty years, know how I know that? I was born in 1971. Boo-yah!

Boo-yah! That is what is shouted by the 7+ and 4+ year old, better known as EJS and MGS every time they get a good card or throw something down that will jam someone up or put them in a better place in the game. “Aw, man!” is what they say when things don’t go their way and “is it my turn?” “is it my turn?” EVERY TURN! No, someone else has to go!

The version of the game in the picture is an older version, it shows the word and not the symbol for the action and this is what we are playing on… the very deck that GES and I played with as a kid, in the same blue plastic pouch we used to carry it around in! GES counted and we are only missing one card out of the entire original deck, that’s pretty impressive if you ask me for a card game that is obviously over 30 years old!

What a great memory to be building, first playing games with the girls, then it’s playing a game from our childhood and then it’s remembering our childhood, which was awesome, if you ask me. Win-Win-Win… Boo-yah!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uno_(card_game)

{January 20, 2015} An experience, not completely new, not necessarily a good thing…

A shooting near my location.

I would love to say I have never been in this situation before, but years ago and I mean years ago, there was a shooting in the office complex I worked in in Atlanta. There was a day trader who went a little coo-coo and decided to shoot up the offices he was associated with in the next building. Those of us in the building were forced to stay until about 9pm when he was finally apprehended, shot and killed himself, and of course, we were huddled near the front door of the office because the building was glass. A little unsettling. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_O._Barton

Today, there was a shooting at the hospital across the way from where I was at a doctor’s appointment. I am sitting in the waiting room with about ten other people, The View was on [I was playing on my phone] and all of a sudden, we are watching the news…a late breaking news story to be exact. A lone gunman had shot a doctor at the hospital, basically across the street, you could hear the helicopters and as I was leaving, a van from every channel had to be there. http://abcnews.go.com/Health/doctor-shot-brigham-womens-hospital/story?id=28348752

I wasn’t directly involved, thankfully in the craziness, I was still a part of it and all it does is make you wonder what is going on in the world today, could people please come to their senses?

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