What I love! | Peaches Prattlings

{September 1, 2014} Pool day!

A day of rest? What’s that?

Today I did actually sleep in, until almost 9am! Wow! Did I do something good to deserve this treat? What is it they say…I need a vacation from my vacation!

We all got motivated, did coffee runs and had breakfast, then it was make lunches, pack up the cars and head to the pool! It’s been over a month since I sat in a pool, outside. I’ve been to hotel pools, but they’re all inside, this was great!

We were at the pool maybe three minutes and we were already getting pulled in! “Hurry up! I wanna swim!” EJS has been taking swimming lessons and has improved so much over the last year! She even took her test to get her the band to allow her in the four foot deep section without an adult! Next will be the test for the nine foot deep section of the pool.

We all splashed and played and had a great time, breaking for lunch then getting back in, not right away, took a break and then went back. Took another break later, read a little of my book, started to doze off and then it was time to go home. Oh yeah, a little FaceTime with GES somewhere in between, since she had stayed home to get some work done.

Back home, we showered and got dressed and did some work around the house and then ACS’ friend, JR, came over and we all went to dinner at a local Irish pub, it was fun and entertaining.

On the way home, stop at Petco to pick up stuff for the cats, some toys and scratching posts. Oh! Papa, or my dad as I know him, worked out a deal with EJS to help with the cats: food, water, litter, every day and each week, she will get $3, sounds fair to me! I’ll definitely be getting in on this action ! Thanks for thinking of it dad!

Home for bath, games and bed. RG came over to chat for a while, it was great to see her! Finished packing and now I’m talking to you!

Good night dear friends, I have a very early day tomorrow, back to Louisville!

{September 1, 2014} A country fair and lobster fest!

How does one follow a day at the beach? With a country fair and lobster fest, of course! Didn’t you get the memo?

The day started way too early, 7:30 to be exact, is there a pattern here? The bad part wasn’t the time, just the fact that I fell asleep at 3:30am! Party, Party, Party!

We got motivated and out of the house about 10:15, which was only 15 minutes later than planned, go us! We loaded the girls into the convertible again, they were ready for it, sweatshirts on this time, still continued to bundle up, windows up, top down and we were off!

We were meeting ACS’s brother and sister-in-law, JS and AS, at the 154th annual Woodstock Fair, http://www.woodstockfair.com/. It was a good, old-fashioned country fair, who doesn’t love that! There were rides for all ages, vendors, animals, exhibitions, car races, food, funnel cake, games and so much more. There were crowds of people, most of them smiling, some of the wee tots don’t smile so much when someone tells them no!

We started off taking a trip around to see some of the booths with fun goods. I got a new face mask that will double for the motorcycle and skiing. My last one had to be thrown away, this one is just like it, with pink flames! I will rock the slopes again this year! I did find a gorgeous pair of cowboy, or I should say cowgirl boots, of course, they were on sale for…$289. I just couldn’t do it, even though my birthday is coming up…it’s not the perfect pair I want, those I might spend that kind of money!

Then we got some fried dough, GES and I thought we were getting funnel cake, not so. But there was powdered sugar and it satisfied half the craving, and the girls liked it, what more could you want!

Next were the animals: cows, GIANT rabbits, chickens, roosters, chicks, ducks, sheep, pigs, alpacas, goats, oh my! There were sheep being sheared, cows being born, it was amazing!

I believe she was smiling!

We went into some of the exhibition barns to see different competitors and entries. There were race cars and music and entertainment and giant gourds! Oh my!

The sand art was amazing!

The living statue was creepy and cool, all at the same time!

I love handmade crafts!

Wouldn’t this be great for CBS Sunday Morning?

O M G!! The largest one was over 1100 pounds!

Finally, there were games and rides and oh did the girls love those! Bumper cars, carousel horses and ring tosses, oh my! Were we wiped out? Yes we were!

Back in the car, top up, windows down and to the house James!

When we got home, it was just in time to bring things to the driveway next door for Lobster Fest ’14! This is a tradition that the families on the block have been doing during Labor Day weekend for years. They have done it at GES and ACS’ house many times in the driveway, but this year…the neighbors weren’t there, so guess where we set up!

We had lobster, burgers, dogs, salads, veggies, dips, chips, beer, wine and LaLa’s famous home made sangria. For dessert, there was watermelon, champagne grapes, cookies and cakes, oh my!

We ate and drank and laughed and had the best time and then packed it in just as it seemed it would start raining and we beat the clock! We cleaned up, got the kids inside, baths, books, games and night night!

And then the second shower of the day for most of us, we were hot sticky messes! Now, I sit here writing to you about my day and after I load some pictures into this post I’m going to bid you a fond good evening. [fingers crossed i get more than 4 hours of sleep!]

What will we be doing tomorrow? Who knows…but as you’ve guessed, there is never a dull moment around this house!

Goodnight!

{August 31, 2014} A day at the beach…

Is there really more to say? Well, alright, if i must!

Today was going to be a day at the beach with a few other families, to spend time together and celebrate a 5th birthday of another wonderful munchkin who calls me Auntie J!

I got up about 7:30, not because I wanted to, by any means, I was hoping for a little more sleep, but, there you have it. No sleeping late in this house! As I’m trying to get my eyes open, about 7:45/7:50 I hear ‘Is it time to wake Auntie J up yet?” “No” was my sister’s response, but I was up so i went upstairs.

There was fun to be had! Wrestling, tickling, silliness, you name it, we had it. Then ACS was going for a run and invited me to go. It was going to be a 5 mile day for him, he’s training for a half marathon in a few weeks. Yes, I wanted to go, I haven’t run in 2 weeks, it was time. [and you know I’m participating in a half marathon in November, I need to get moving!]

We started off strong, I kept up with him and his pace, which was a little faster than I am used to, now that i have a rhythm that started to work, but I did it. I kept up for about 1.5 miles and then he kept going and i walk/ran the rest of the way. I did my five miles, just not all running, but I am quite please with what I did.

I met ACS and my dad at the grocery store on the way home, stopped for a few things and hitched a ride home, I’m ok with that. Then it was make lunches, pack the car and get ready to go! What better way to go to the beach than in a convertible with the top dropped, they loved it!

It was a beautiful day for a drive, with the top down, to the beach. Guess who was the only one not bundled up!

We made it to the house, quick change and it was beach bound, across the street and down the path, what could be better?! The sand was hot, the water was cold and the air was perfect. There is nothing, nothing I tell you, like time on the beach. It so made me want to buy a place on the beach or live there full time. Oh, why can’t Colorado have a beach, then it would be absolutely perfect!

We spent about four hours, maybe more, on the beach. A walk with dad, played a little with the kids, had lunch and then took a nap, glorious! I have to tell you, I never sleep so well as I do on the beach or right near it, there is nothing like it, did I already say that?

The kids had a great time and even started their own ice bucket challenge, so to speak. this consisted of dumping buckets of ocean water on their heads, so stinking cute! One started, then another joined in, eventually there were four of them!

After the beach we headed to the house for showers and a cookout and then singing and birthday cake with ice cream, what more could you want?

A few hours later it was back in the car, top up and drive home. On the way, EJS asked if she could ride in my car tomorrow to the fair, guess what my answer was!

On to the next adventure! Goodnight!

{August 29, 2014} Take a nap…this is going to be a long one!

Are you ready to hear about my day?

As you know, i drove to Boston today, so here goes.

Last night, I found a hotel, not necessarily a pet friendly hotel…they were friendly and I snuck my pets in! shhh…I put BOTH cats into one carrier and smuggled them into the hotel and up the stairs, yeah for side doors! I slept for a few hours, they were both with me, then I got up at 8, put them both back into the carrier and Peanut proceeded to hiss and wail and whine! Oh NO! Please be quiet! So I smuggled them back out the door and into the car! whew!

On the road I went. I made it to NY State!

I checked in with NB, or Twin, as i call him and we decided on where to meet for lunch, since I was going to be going right past his neck of the woods. He then informed me that, duh, I would be driving right past my Alma mater, SUNY Fredonia, http://www.fredonia.edu/index.html, how excited was I! I was on the phone with SH when I got off the highway and she was almost as excited as I was!

Oh my goodness! Not much has changed! I had the cats with me, so I couldn’t spend a lot of time on campus, but I promised everyone on FaceBook who messaged me, that I would definitely be making a trip back to see them! And I will be doing that sometime in the near future! There are so many people I would love to see!

I did make a stop at the Campus Bookstore and geeked out! Everything they have for sale online pales in comparison to all they had to offer in the store! Dad got a Fredonia Dad sweatshirt, GES got a t-shirt and sweatshirt, ACS got a long sleeve t-shirt, EJS and GMS got t-shirts, LaLa got a t-shirt and yours truly: 2 sweatshirts, a t-shirt, notebook, postcard and a bag. come on, it’s a Fredonia bag! It’s my old school, so there!

The campus is still lovely and warm and inviting, but now there is a Tim Horton’s and Starbucks? On campus! What? And some high end apartments, huh? Who cares, it made me long for those days! GES asked if I would go back, yes I would is my answer!

I couldn’t spend too much time, first, there was a 30 minute time on the parking spot, not heavily enforce, thank goodness and second, I had the cats. I left the windows down, it was 67 degrees and in the shade, felt great and they were fine. No worries people, whenever there is sun and it’s any warmer, I leave the car running with the AC on, every time I went to a rest stop, that’s what I did.

Back in the car and head to lunch with NB and on the way, got a text from JC a dear friend I knew from MCC that I met at Binghamton when we were both a part of NYPIRG, all these acronyms! He wanted to see me, so he came to lunch too! It was so great to see them both, we laughed and had a great time, got some good pics and I headed back on the road with a promise of a visit soon!

Then it was uneventful for the next, oh, I don’t know…8billion miles! Kidding. I got to my sister’s house about 9, not too bad for a days journey. We started at 8:30, stopped at Fredonia for about 45 minutes, a little over an hour for lunch, a few gas stops and we made it in about 9 hours. Go me!

The girls did great, for the most part, they’re cats, they are not as enthusiastic about car rides as dogs, so all in all, good girls!

The suck part…THE TOLLS! I bet I spent close to $20 on tolls. NY State, aren’t the road good enough? FIVE CENTS per mile, what? IF and I say IF I were to ever make this drive again…EZ Pass will be my friend!

I got to GES’ house about 9, as I mentioned and the girls were up waiting for me! Running into my arms and so excited to meet Jymy and Peanut, so many questions and now, here I sit, talking to you and Peanut is purring in my arms. Happy kitty! And Jymy just joined to say hello.

Ok, here is where I leave you because I am a very tired girl and I need some sleep…beach tomorrow!

{August 25, 2014} Meeting new people

A little flirting and a lot of fun!

As I told you last night, I drove to Louisville for a new project and today was my first full day. My hotel is less than a mile away from the office I had to go to, so I went for a walk this morning. Boy howdy, it was HOT!!! It felt like the surface of the sun! Ok, I know I’m exaggerating, but I’m ok with it!

You know it’s bad when it’s so cold inside that you are looking forward to walking outside where it’s 90 and muggy to warm up! I got a ride from a very nice RN back to the hotel and then it was time to meet one of my co-workers for dinner. PM is a very nice guy who was on the University of Michigan project with me, but we did’t get to spend much time getting to know each other and as we are the only ones from that project here, guess what we’re going to do over the next month or so!

Tonight we went to dinner at Gordon Birsch, had a great waitress, Rockin’ Robin, she was a lot of fun and better than the food. I’ve eaten at GB several times in Atlanta, with CKM, TS and a few other people, so I usually like it. The sweet potato fries were awesome!!

After dinner, I went for a walk, found a nice guy to give the rest of my dinner to and watched someone getting arrested, what else could you want for your evening activity? Louisville is interesting!

As I was crossing the street I started talking to a group guys watching what seemed to be entertainment for them and the oldest of them all, a very nice older gentleman, wearing a USMC t-shirt, Ooh Rah, asked if I needed help crossing the street, how sweet was he!

So, being a shy person, HA, I stood there and talked to some of the group for a while. The Marine was a sheriff and the rest of the group were S.W.A.T. in town for training. You know how guys like to make women feel good by telling them how young they look? I’ll take 31, he was sweet, a professed dirty old man with 14 grandchildren! Wow! But what a sweetie I enjoyed talking to and when we parted company I got a kiss on the cheek and a hug.

Let’s just say, I smiled all the way back to my hotel. A little flirting is good for the soul!

{August 25, 2014} Saying goodbye…I will miss you!

Today I left Ann Arbor for a new venture and had to say goodbye to my friends and family and I’m sad.

Over the last few days, I’ve been packing a little and saying goodbye to my friends who are now my family at the Hilton Garden Inn Ann Arbor, because today was the day.

I hope you remember me telling you how fantastic everyone was when I first got there oh so many months ago and i have to tell you, the experience only got better and better and better.

Kirsten became “the weather girl” because even if i didn’t ask what the weather was, she knew I wanted to know, so…I would know. I love talking to her and catching up on her family, we only got closer every day. Debra was fantastic and took care of Jymy and Peanut for me this week, they loved being with her. I got to meet her daughter and new granddaughter, loving on Baby K, I feel like one of the family.

So many of the front desk feel like siblings or my kids, but much older, more mature kids! Lauren is sweet and lives for that Chow of hers, Izzy and loves to share pictures. I can’t wait to hear how school is going as she’s going back this semester. I was glad I got to see her Friday, i didn’t want to miss her before I left. Speaking of going back to school, she is joined by Liv, who apparently could be my daughter! Someone asked us! I’ll take it, a fiery red head? I didn’t get to say goodbye to her today, but she happened to stop by yesterday to pick up her check and since I hang out at the front desk, then I was bound to see her! Jonathon was the newest addition, who eventually took over as night auditor and is a sweet kid, especially when he brought in some home made pumpkin bread his girlfriend made, how nice is that?

Sean was fun to talk to, about new tats,healthy living, sharing favorite new foods, his new living arrangements, hopes, plans dreams, belt buckles. I’m going to miss that and hearing him say “friend” whenever he hung up the phone. Adriana wasn’t there as much over the last few months, so every moment has been precious and I got to see her yesterday, so, so great! The last person from the front desk I had to say goodbye to last week was Ryan, the night auditor. I didn’t get to talk to Ryan as much as I would have like to because he was on nights, we chatted a bit, but not as much as everyone else, but a super duper nice guy!

Nel, the bartender, and I became fast friends, I loved hanging out at the bar talking to her, joking and talking about school, she was like another sister. I didn’t get to see her today, we said our goodbyes the other day. Betty is one of the servers/back-up bartenders who was fun to get to know, talk about some of the trips she would take with her boyfriend. Janet is another server who I loved, sassy and sexy and with it! Kristin, another server, I got to see before she left on her honeymoon about a week ago, just glad I got to see her! I can’t wait to hear how her career is taking off!

Bobby was one of the managers in the kitchen/dining/banquet area and a smart arse, funny guy who I enjoyed talking to and joking around with. CeCe was the chef in that great kitchen and she ran it and worked it like nobody’s business! She was so good to make things that I could eat since the majority of the menu was not vegetarian or vegan friendly. Yesterday, she gave me a going away present! All sorts of great things for the kitchen, WOW, thank you!!! Moe was the other great guy in the kitchen, he’s the one who baked and served the HGI bars, warm and wonderful! [oats, cranberries, white chocolate, among other wonderful things].

Running the housekeeping staff are Arlin and Tammy, two fantastic women who kept me laughing and made sure my room was clean and wonderful. Arlin is sweet and funny and always ready with a hug and a smile, maybe a salsa move or two. Tammy always has a smile on her face and never seems to have a bad day. They both spoiled me by taking such good care of me! Marisol was always very sweet when she came to clean my room.

The maintenance guys, Matt and Alex spoiled me rotten, taking care of whatever it was that I needed, be it a new fridge, issues with something in the room, you name it, they took care of everything right away!

Running the hotel, in the front/back office are Ashley,the AGM, a fun, fit, goofy woman who i loved talking to about her son, her weekend, whatever. Christina is a fun chick who always has a smile on her face and a positive attitude. She’s also the one who remembered that i love sunflowers, when they put the beautiful bouquet in my room that day! I didn’t get to spend much time with Patty, but always a pleasure, a down to earth, happy person.

Frank is the GM, an avid runner and by avid, I mean distance runner! He’s a 100 miler runner and I love talking to him about his experiences and participating in the fun things that the hotel planned for the guests. Be sure to wish him a very happy birthday on Monday!!!

There are so many wonderful things these amazing people did for me while I was staying at the hotel and today…I got a gift certificate for REI from my wonderful HGI Family! They teased saying they would rename my room to the “JJ Suite”! Too funny!

How can I say goodbye to these people? I have no idea! It wasn’t easy, but I did it and walked away with a smile on my face promising that I would be back to visit and now, I can be friends with them on Facebook and keep in touch, which you know I will!

{August 22, 2014} Lions vs Jaguars

Tonight KLS and I went to see a pre-season professional football game!

I got an offer from Groupon for $39 tickets to a pre-season Detroit Lions vs Jacksonville Jaguars football game, how could I not ask KLS if she wanted to go! Go figure on the answer! So, i got two tickets and sent out the meeting invite and we would be ready to go tonight!

The game started at 7:30, so based on advice from people on the traffic, we left at 5:30 and made it about 7:15 to the stadium. We were making good time until we got about 8 miles out, then we stopped and crept forward. Not only was there a football game at Ford Field, across the street [literally] at Comerica park, where the Tigers play, was an Eminem and Rhianna concert, think there was traffic?

While we’re driving, or creeping, as it were, we start seeing men getting out of cars on the highway, what? Eventually, we see them taking concert t-shirts out of their bags to sell, really? So, here we are trying to make headway and we have to wait for someone to block traffic buying a shirt? Great…

We finally get to parking and it’s $50??? FIFTY DOLLARS??? Seriously? Is it my fault that there are multiple events going on? I know you want to make money, but this is highway robbery. Disgusting, that’s all I have to say!

We get wanded heading into the stadium, you can only have a clutch [a small purse for those of you not in the know] or a clear bag. Then we head towards our seat and before we go in, we grab some food. Turns out you can’t have caps on any beverage, they’re afraid of people flicking the caps towards other people or the field, what? Who, above the age of 5 does that?

Popcorn, beer, water and Twizzler and $34 [WHAT?] later we were ready to find our seats.

We find our seats and they are great! We are in section 317, up, but right behind the goal post, how cool is that? The national anthem came and the arena was on its feet paying respect. Then the game started and we settled in to watch. Within the first 8 minutes, touchdown! I love watching the flags run down the field when there is a touchdown.

Some of the game was exciting to watch, some not, but I had a phone and there is great people watching, it was all good.

During half time, there were a series of pee wee football teams running plays, SOOO CUTE! And I SO see LB or Baby A in a few years on the field during a game playing football, can’t you just see it?

We hung out through most of the 3rd quarter, where Detroit was down 12 to 7 and headed to the car and breezed out of the city, much easier than it was when we went to the Tigers game! It took us no more than 45 minutes to get back to the hotel, where we went to the bar past the disco hopping party in one of the ballrooms where Nel told us that Detroit won in the end. Go Detroit.

We hung out until midnight, talking to Debra and Nel, then headed to our rooms so I could talk to you and sack out.

Can you believe how many sporting events I have been to in the last 3 months? More than in the last 3 years it feels like!

{August 21, 2014} Line Dancing…me?

Tonight I went line dancing!

This is not me! Anyone who knows me knows I am not into line dancing, never have been, never will be. I can no longer say that I’ve never been line dancing, but I don’t think I’ll be making a habit of it!

This was a great girls night! It was so much fun to hang with the girls and be silly and get a great workout! Let me tell you, line dancing is a great workout! It’s like an aerobics class!

I followed the steps, missed a couple, but all in all, we moved and grooved to everything from country to rock to hip hop, how could you go wrong! Doesn’t matter, as long as there is a beat, you can rock the house!

And you don’t have to “dress the part”, ie cowboy boots and cowboy hat, wait, shouldn’t it be cowgirl? Well, I didn’t have either of those things here in Ann Arbor, so I went in jeans, t-shirt and skips, I even wore lipstick! Go me!

Do it once in your life, line up with other people and dance! Go for it! Rock that boot scoot boogie!

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{August 20, 2014} A new opportunity

I got a new project!

On Sunday, i will be packing my car, going to Debra’s place, collecting Jymy and Peanut and heading to my next project. This adventure has me driving to Louisville, Kentucky for a new project and a new application.

Every new opportunity is the opportunity for a new adventure!

The only sad part in all of this is I am going to miss my family here in Ann Arbor. I am heading off to this project with one other person from my team and it’s going to be weird not to see KLS almost EVERY day and KNOB often, not to mention other great co-workers, but I have a good feeling that we will be on another project together soon and all will be right with the world.

What about the great people here at the Hilton Garden Inn who have become family? I guess I’ll just have to visit!

Here’s to the next chapter!

{August 17, 2014} Traveling with animals

It’s interesting.

Today, I packed up the car with some stuff, a cat box, food and two cats. How much do you think they liked that?

I picked up my car and cats to drive to Ann Arbor and then next week I will drive to my next project. Let’s just say they weren’t the happiest creatures; dogs, at least most of them, like going for rides in the car. Not so with cats.

After we wrangled each cat into a carrier, loaded the car and took off. The crying started. Who are we kidding, it started as soon as they were in their crates! After I was on the main highway and knew I was in for a long stretch, I let them out of their carriers and let them roam around, that seemed to help a little.

Peanut thought she needed to be at my feet or on my lap, the lap was fine and after a while she disappeared under one of the seats and didn’t come out until I got to the hotel. Jymy got on my shoulder like she did when she was a kitten and acted like a neck pillow for a while and eventually she sacked out on the passenger seat and slept there the entire trip.

I had no troubles when I got to rest stops or gas stations, they strayed right where they slept and never tried to get out and of course tried to stay in the car when we got to the hotel, go figure.

I’m in a pet friendly Hilton, which is great and I’m looking forward to having them with me on my next project, they’re calming…most of the time.

So…I drove about 9.5, maybe 10 hours today and have about 9 or 10 tomorrow with two cats, hopefully the crying won’t last too long…who wants to trade places with me?

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