What I love! | Peaches Prattlings

{September 17, 2014} Watching movies with little kids

This is quite the experience.

Today, MGS wasn’t feeling well, so she stayed home from school and one of the movies we watched How To Train Your Dragon 2. She had seen the movie in the theater with her dad and sister when it came out, but of course, there were still questions and I answered.

There are always questions in the theater or at home. “Is this the scary part?” “Why is he doing that?” “Is he the good guy or bad guy?” and the list goes on. Sometimes there are more intense questions that make you think about what you’re going to say before you say it, you can’t just blurt anything out because, as you know, that sometimes leads to more questions.

Then there is that moment that they are sitting next to you and put their head on your shoulder or little hand on your leg that is right there next to them, is there a feeling any better? Not a chance!

ps…One nice thing about watching movies at home with kids…if there is a potty break, you can pause the movie!

Positivity Challenge – Day #3

1 – I am grateful to have a good job
2 – I am grateful that good job allows me to travel
3 – I am grateful I made my connecting flight

{September 16, 2014} Lunch with a friend

Today, as you may have guessed, I had lunch with a friend. A very dear friend.

I have known CC since we were in high school. We kept in touch for a while and then lost touch, as most people do and then through the invention of…da da da..you guessed it, FaceBook…we found each other and it’s been great ever since.

We stalk each other on FaceBook, just like everyone does and we have one big thing in common, our love of mud runs! He has done the Tough Mudder several times and I admire him so much for that! I love seeing his pictures and hearing tales of his adventures.

The great thing is that he lives in Massachusetts and works in Boston, so…every time I come to see my sister, I check to see if he is available for lunch and sometimes we connect and sometimes not, as the case always is.

Today, we were able to connect, wahoo! We met at a Pizzeria Uno near his office and spent lunch just catching up, he regaled me with stories of his travels for work and with his family and what the kids are doing, the sports they are playing, activities they are involved in, it’s great because I since I know their faces from FaceBook, I can picture them doing whatever it is.

The best part is that we are very good friends and don’t need to see each other or talk to each other all the time to have a connection. You know how that is, you have a friend you haven’t seen in a while, then get together and it’s like no time has passed.

We both travel for work and maybe one day our paths/schedules will overlap. If not, there is always Pizzeria Uno!

Have a great night. Don’t forget…day two is below

Positivity Day #2

1 – I am grateful for friends who want to spend time with me
2 – I am grateful that my sister and her family are taking such great care of my cats
3 – I am grateful I was able to get an appointment to have my cat seen so she can get snipped!

{September 15, 2014} Travel day

Today was a travel day…I was supposed to fly out about 6pm, based on my schedule as of last week and then this week, it changed, nothing on the books for me today, so earlier flight I took.

Good thing too because I got an email at 8pm from the travel agency who books our travel saying there was a disruption of service at the Atlanta airport, so I would have been even more delayed, no thanks!

The drawback to changing your flight at 1am…your seats stink. The good part, I got on two flights and I was gone! Works for me! I got to the hotel from work about 2am, packed and hit the hay. Down by 2:45, up by 8 and out the door by 8:30. Got downstairs and realized I forgot my phone, which had my ID, fun. Run back upstairs, then downstairs and head to the airport, luckily, the airport is only about 10 minutes from the hotel.

Drop off the car, drop off the luggage, head through TSA pre-check, yeah! Find some food, board the plan, sit in the exit row next to a guy who had to be at least 6′ 7″ tall, I felt for him, I really did. He had to duck the entire time he was walking off the plane, nice guy.

Get off the plane, go from Terminal C to Terminal A, find food, find my gate, get a seat, board the plane, 3rd row from the back of the plane, great…Someone is in my seat, he had the seat in front of that one, no worries, I’ll take it, it’s still a window. Eat half my sandwich, fall asleep for the majority of the flight, score! Finish my sandwich and watch two episodes of Kevin Smith’s Comic Book Men, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2174367/?ref_=nm_flmg_prd_2.

Land, take a taxi to GES’ office, find her, hang out for a bit, head to the commuter rail to her house, say hello to the cats, put laundry in the washer, empty the cat box, call vet offices for an appointment, help make dinner. You tired yet?

Kids finally get home, lots of running, jumping into my arms, hugs and kisses, dinner, dessert, clean up, swap clothes to dryer, baths, stories, cat scare, night night kisses, cat cuddling, emails, chatting with a cousin, write my three things I’m grateful for for my challenge, write to you and bed.

Good night!

Positivity Challenge, as promised, Day 1:

I am grateful that I remembered to start this!
I am grateful for my fabulous family!
I am grateful that my cats are happy at my sister’s house!

{September 12, 2014} What a sap am I!

And I love it! I may have talked about this already, but I am so moved and so I move to talk about it again!

I am moved by music, specifically and tonight, by opera. I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, coffee or champagne, but I la la la love it! I was raised on it and I can’t imagine my life with out it. I was getting some work done and then a notification came on my phone reminding me of an opera I enjoyed and I should come back to listen and I did.

And now I am listening to opera and getting very emotional. When I hear certain arias I am moved because I know what they are from and what they mean. For example, when I watch Moonstruck and they get to the scene when they are at The Met watching La Boheme, I start moving my head and closing my eyes and tearing up, I know what’s about to happen in the story, the opera that is and then when I hear that aria on the radio, I get emotional.

Next came Luciano Pavarotti performing, I Pagliacci, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbTWJTK2oCs, so moving, moving me to tears, then I thought about Paul Potts winning Britain’s Got Talent performing Nussen Dorma, from Tourendot, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1k08yxu57NA, and then one from my mom’s favorite opera, Madama Butterfly, so gut wrenching. Then there is the Queen of the Night aria from The Magic Flute http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpVV9jShEzU, it sounds happy in parts, but the message is not. But this aria is… Papagena! Papagena! Papagena! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PCRhnmNhNY

So here I sit about an hour later, all worked up and emotional and in tears on occasion and just happy at how this music makes me feel, the feelings it has the ability to illicit. And to put a smile on my face to end this post, my all time favorite opera, The Barber of Seville and Figaro’s Aria, it makes me smile so very much, it’s happy, happy, happy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qHZkkgowdY

Enjoy!!!

{September 11, 2014} 9/11 – A day of remembrance

Today is a day of remembrance that no one in the world will forget. It was 13 years ago today that there were four coordinated attacks on the United States.

Today is the anniversary of one of the greatest tragedies in American history and we must always remember, first that there will always be those who wish to do us harm and that as a people we are strong and will rise up and not be defeated. That event, which was supposed to topple us only made us come together and be stronger and realize what we are really made of.

There are so many great tributes that you can see on Facebook, the news and everywhere you turn. One of my favorite quotes I borrowed from a friend as well as the photo below from another friend. I think the photo screams volumes, that we are not made up of bricks and mortar, we are made up of faces and people and love. Love is what keeps us moving and holds us together and makes us strong.

” … that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” – Abraham Lincoln

{September 10, 2014} It feels like summer vacation!

I know I am working and all, but there are days it feels like I am on summer vacation. And here is where I will tell you why.

Do you remember when we talked about traveling for work and people thinking that it’s so exciting you get to go to all these different places? That when you are in a city for one or two days it’s “Airport>Client Site>Hotel>Restaurant>Hotel>Airport”, well this situation is a little different.

Ok, so…You know I am all over the place working, first in Ann Arbor for six months and now, Louisville, KY for about 1.5 months. Since I am in locations for more than a few days, I get to go exploring. I get to try new restaurants and experiences and that’s why some days it feels like I am on summer vacation and tomorrow, I will go to school, stand up in front of the class and tell them what I did over summer break.

For example…Today I didn’t have to work! Wahoo! No 12 hour shift for this girl! But..I have to get up in a few hours for my new shift, 5a-4p, who wants to be me? But…I had the day off today, so what did I do?

First, I slept in, ha ha, I was up about 10am, after falling asleep about 4:45, I was really hoping for more, but oh well. I answered some emails and then got dressed, packed and ready to switch to a new room, a bigger one! [BTW..said room I am sitting in right now is having A/C is having issues and I am using a box fan for a cool breeze, new and bigger room tomorrow.

After getting dressed, I headed out and made for the walking bridge to take me to Indiana! It was very cool, a few miles to the bridge, a mile over the bridge and then walk around the little town of Jeffersonville and…got a much needed manicure! Oh my! Navy blue, very enjoyable!

After the relaxing mani, I headed back over the bridge and to the hotel, enjoying my time along the way. There are speakers on the bridge and they were playing classical music, I was in heaven! I meandered a bit and enjoyed the breeze, ok gusts of wind, but it was better than the surface of the sun hot that I have been experiencing since I got here, so we know how happy I was!

I walked back to the hotel, stopping in a few places for a bite to eat, but alas, alack, to no avail. Back to the room where the AC was still not fixed, but I was burning up anyway, so it felt pretty good. Showered and dressed, ran out the door to the car down to Bardstown road to hopefully get a pedicure, goal number 2! I got one, ahhh…much better.

Louisville has some great works of art all over the city and in the different restaurants and I have been enjoying taking those pictures, which, of course, I will be sharing!

Speaking of sharing, two women I met at the nail salon recommended some restaurants and then told me I should blog about my experiences, go figure! Done and done!

After the pedi, I walked down the road to Kashmir, an Indian restaurant for some dinner of “No, it’s not too spicy” by the Indian waiter and his father, never trust an Indian to tell you the Indian food is not very spicy! I won’t tell you how many glasses of water I consumed!

After dinner, it was back to the hotel to write to you, rest up and get a few hours sleep for my next shift.

Fingers crossed my next room has working A/C! G’Night!

{September 9, 2014} Grosse Point Blank

I LA LA LA LA LA LA LOVE this movie!!!

I know, I know, DCM says almost every movie is one of my favorite movies, but anyone who has seen this movie has to agree with me! How cold you go wrong with John Cusack.

Ok, I say that and I know there are movies that he has made that were awful, not everyone can make oscar winners, but even if they’re not oscar winners, some of them are great.

Do you know John Cusack’s film credits? He started early, I sometimes forget he was in Sixteen Candles, a small supporting role, but more famously in leading roles are Better Off Dead, One Crazy Summer, then Say Anything, just to name a few. His career goes on for at least 36 roles, some great, some not so great, but…I LOVE this movie!

This movie is about a hit man with a conflict of conscious. He goes to his ten year high school reunion to reconnect with his first love, while at the same time fulfill a contract. Who knew gun-play and murder could be so funny.

There are some great supporting characters, Dan Aykroyd as another professional hit man, Minnie Driver is his high school sweetheart, Alan Arkin is his reluctant therapist, Joan Cusack is his funnier than anything assistant, Ann Cusack has a very small role as a funny drunken classmate, Hank Azaria as another hit man/federal agent, Jenna Elfman is goofy and Jeremy Piven is a manic classmate.

Bottom line, if you haven’t seen this movie, see it. There you go!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119229/?ref_=nv_sr_1

{September 8, 2014} I’m so tired…I might be seeing things!

Ok, I’m so tired I’m more loopy than anything else!

Who am I kidding, we’re tired! I have had the pleasure to work with a zone lead, who is also a nurse, VP, at the location I am supporting. Our shifts are 12 hours, as the facility is 24/7 and someone has to work days and someone has to work nights, guess who’s on nights for the first few days? Yup, yours truly and VP.

We started 3am-7am Friday night and then 6pm-6am, how much fun do you think we are having?

For people who normally work days, nights is a tricky situation, it takes a lot of getting used to and of course, we are only doing go-live support for a few weeks, not long enough to get used to the hours and then guess what is going to happen in three days, shift change, working days, so 6am-6pm, like that. Fun!

I don’t know about you, but the less sleep I get, I get loopy, well, more loopy than normal! especially if I have to function. I know you’re aware that I don’t sleep a lot each night, but it is still precious to me and I value it. The other night, I got five hours, but it was deep, deep, coma like sleep and it was wonderful, I was good to go!

No matter how much sleep you get, unless you work an overnight shift regularly, you’re going to get tired! It’s the same thing when you’re driving over the road. Just to clarify..I admire EVERYONE who works the night shift and has made it work for them.

About three and four am, you get loopy [I’m tired and getting more loopy, hence using the word loopy, a lot, too much, maybe] and really tired. Last night in particular, VP and I were sitting here, getting progressively more tired she turned to me to say she was going to close her eyes for about ten minutes and saw me with my head back, mouth open, dead to the world! OMG! So embarrassed! [but remember, she was going to do the same thing!] I was out for at least five minutes, but it was the best five minutes ever!!!

I am looking forward to leaving the facility and heading to the hotel at 1am, I got in at 4pm, same shift tomorrow, and crawling under the covers and hopefully catching up on some sleep. Shh..do not disturb!

{September 5, 2014} New places

I know I’ve talked about some of the trials and tribulations of traveling for work, but there are some terrific advantages.

One of them being, I get to try new places to eat and maybe do some touristy things. I know I talked about a few of the restaurants I went to in A2, Ann Arbor, for those of you not ‘in the know’ [I promise, A2 is EVERYWHERE around that place!

Well, here I am in Louisville, KY and there is a whole new world of places to try! I have asked for recommendations from people that I’ve met and so far, they’ve been great! I also like driving down the street an finding a new place which leads to another new place which leads to another and so on!

So…PM and I have found that! We’ve had a great time discovering new places! He knows he’s not KLS or KNOB, but it’s been great getting to know him and explore the city and all it has to offer together.

So far, I think we’ve done pretty well trying new places almost every day. Here is where we have been to date:

Gordon Biersch, a microbrewery and restaurant. It’s a chain, one that I frequented and enjoyed in Atlanta and PM had never been there. Once was good, twice, in a row…what? We went with the team, a welcome to Kentucky kind of thing. Ok, but that’s it, new places from now on!

We went to lunch at Wild Eggs, it was wild and we had eggs. groan. We also found Earth Friends Cafe, they had some vegan friendly dishes, the vegan Philly Cheese steak was AWESOME! Ok, that place I will go again! Safier Mediterranean, another place for lunch, is tasty and inexpensive and within walking distance to the office, so it gets lots of points. The baklava was yummy!

Decca was fun and interesting, the decorations were fun and the food…FABULOUS! I love anyone who can do magic with broccoli! The last three restaurants we’ve tried this week were The Grape Leaf for lunch yesterday, great hummus and baba ganoush, how can you go wrong there? I also had yummy lentil soup and a giant fatoush salad! Yum!

Last night we went to Sway, which is off the lobby of the Hyatt, where PM is staying this week and it was fabulous! Our server, Jean, made the evening, we became fast friends and I was so happy to pass on to her, as a tip, the $10 bill I had found earlier that day! And last, but definitely not least..today for dinner we went to Harvest, we had seen it several times and tonight finally went in. A wonderful creation with spaghetti squash, mmmm.

The great thing about these restaurants lately is that the staff has been terrific and the kitchens very accommodating to my needs as a vegan. Nothing bad to date! What can i say, I’m spoiled and i like me that way!

I have a list..who knows where we will go next! Stay tuned!

{September 4, 2014} We have a 2nd grader in the family!

EJS started second grade today! What? When did that happen???

Where does the time go? I am going to get sappy, you’ll just have to deal with it!

All over the country, mostly in the northeast, students went back to school this week. In the south, they went back to school last month, traditionally in the north and northeast, the day after Labor Day. You know the drill, pictures all over FaceBook of kids dressed and ready for the first day, some with signs, some not.

For my very wonderful, funny, smart and fantastic niece, yes, I am biased, EJS, started school today, second grade to be exact. I saw pictures posted on FaceBook, two of them, one with just her and MGS and the other with her sister and dad. Such great pictures!

Ok, here comes the sappy…I remember the day I met EJS for the first time, she was one week old, eight days to be exact [at least I think it was eight, could have been seven]. I saw her and held her in my arms and I was in love! And here she is seven years old and starting second grade.

When i got to their house on Friday, I opened the door and she ran and jumped into my arms, how much longer am I going to be able to pick her up? Who cares, I hope she does it for as long as she wants to and I can at least lift her off the ground a little.

Today, I got a call from EJS! She was calling to tell me about her first day of school. “We didn’t do any learning, we just got to know each other” and tomorrow is going to be a new day and the next step towards a great year. She likes her teacher and classmates, how can you go wrong there?

I want to wish EJS and everyone starting school this week a very good and successful year, whatever your grade. It’s going to be a great year!

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