What I love! | Peaches Prattlings

{May 11, 2014} Happy Mother’s Day

What else would I write about?

Today is Mother’s Day and I hope everyone who celebrated enjoyed their day immensely. Mother’s come in all shapes and sizes and you don’t need to be physically related to your children to be a mom, you really just need to open your heart and feel the love. Maybe it’s a blended family, you’ve adopted, they’re four legged and furry, your kid’s best friend, whatever it is, you deserve to be honored.

My post today on Facebook: A very Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms, of two leg and four legged kids, the birth moms, adopted moms, step mom’s and aunties. We are an amazing group of people and today is our day, enjoy it! Thank you to everyone who had made me a mom, grandma and auntie, you make my life so much richer!

I added some great pictures of just some of the wonderful people, both big and little, who have allowed me to be a part of their lives. I’m a mom, a grandmother, an auntie, how much better could my life get?

There were some great postings on Facebook, I would love to share them here.

{May 8, 2014} I have a 26 year old…what?

You may or may not know that I am a mom.

A step-mom to be precise, I became a mom when I started dating the wasband oh so long ago. When I met my kids, my son had just turned 7 the day before and my daughter was 8, it was a new experience. I was in love and I never wanted it to end.

From the moment we became a family, I never called them anything but my son and daughter, I didn’t see a difference. I may not have given birth to them but I don’t think I could have loved them anymore! I like to say I have all the joys and none of the stretch marks!

There were many times that they tested our patience, mine more than his because if you’ve never been one, [this is my opinion] being a step-parent is incredibly stressful, you want to be the best parent you can be, ensure everyone is happy, worrying that there might be a blow up, not wanting to overstep boundaries, so many things. Sometimes I joke when people are expressing frustrations with their teens and pre-teens, this too shall pass and I can say that my kids lived, that’s pretty good.

On the flip side, being a step parent can be the most rewarding experience ever. I wasn’t sure about being a mom when I was younger, but I fell in love when I met them and what adventures we had. I became a mom and I loved every minute of it, even the moments I didn’t love at the time.

They were both shorter than me when we met and as you can imagine, that didn’t last long! They are also so very smart, I know, you think I’m biased, and in some ways I am, but they were both very smart, graduated with honors, sometimes ‘not a lick of common sense between them’, but they were mine and I was so proud of all they did and were.

They tested my patience at times, as every child does to their parent and they made our time together special. I loved throwing birthday parties, coming up with creative ideas to surprise them, introducing them to so many new things and experiences. And as for the birthday parties, 20 was the last one I got to celebrate with my daughter, her dad and I were divorced a few months later.

No getting maudlin.

I think about my daughter every year on May 8th and my son on November 11 and send them love and hugs and wish them well. I think about them other times, just especially on those dates. And as today was her birthday, I was inspired to tell you a little about them.

Even though I don’t see them I still talk about them to anyone who will listen, I brag about them and so…I have a 26 year old! Imagine that!

Hap Hap Happy Birthday TYH! I love you!

{May 3, 2014} Party! Movies! Sleep?

What a day!

The girls spent the night away from home getting spoiled by S&B, so it was different coming in last night, we didn’t have to be quiet, no nightlights and this morning, well, I slept until 8! Hold yourself back!

Got up and got to work, there was going to be a 4 year old’s birthday party in a few hours, lots to do! Put out toys, prep food, remove funiture, move other stuff, sweep and then the girls showed up! AH! The hugs, the kisses, the love, the excitement! Then everyone else showed up! Total count for the day? Somewhere around 60 in and out, it was an open house, but there are times everyone is there at the same time. There were a lot of little loves there, hugs, kisses and more hugs for Auntie J! We had toys in the front and back yard, sidewalk chalk, bubbles, markers, paper, swing set and a bouncy house, what more could you want?

We had burgers, hot dogs, veggie burgers, pickles, potato salad, deviled eggs, chips and cake, still hungry? EJS and MGS even helped to make a watermelon basket, it was delicious and fun! MGS had a great birthday party and wore the party dress to prove it!

The majority of people were gone by 3:30 and we chilled out, finished cleaning and sat down, what? All of a sudden it was 5:30 and it was time to leave for my dinner date with the girls and two girls from down the street, H & B, they are sisters known as the baby whisperers. They are so amazing with little kids and my girls adore them, it was so cute when EJS invited them to go with us.

We went to the movie theater, got our snacks, potty stop and then settled in to watch Rio 2. The funny thing was when EJS was trying to explain Rio to the girls, almost scene by scene! We saw some good previews [Annie with Cameron Diaz and Jamie Fox, How to Train Your Dragon 2, Charlie Brown, Paddington] and then the movie started, it was a lot of fun and all the girls had fun!

Then it was time to go home, get jammies on and read stories. They were so tired, EJS fell asleep in the chair in MGS’s room as I was reading the second bedtime story starring Fancy Nancy, of course after telling me “If my eyes are closed, I’m not really asleep” so said the heavy breathing. Eventually they were both fast asleep and I came downstairs to enter my time for the week, submit expenses and then write to you.

Are you tired? I am, goodnight!

{May 2, 2014} I need my Dentist…please!

I love my dentist and I miss him! How many people actually say that?

If you live in Atlanta, within any reasonable distance to Sandy Springs, you need to go see Dr Roger Abbot and his fabulous staff at Dental TLC. I started going to Dental TLC back in 1995! This was when he had only two exam rooms and his boys were crawling. When I was there last, there were over 20 exam rooms and one of his sons was in college! Not possible!

Dr Abbott was once called backstage to help Robert Plant, how cool is that? He was also an amateur stand up comedian and we used to make each other laugh all the time, even during my procedures.

When I started going to their offices, you could bring your own music and they would play it over the sound system, I would bring some of the silliest stuff to make them laugh. Each time I had an appointment, I would tell him they needed something new and it would be there soon. There were tv’s on the walls, I said they needed tv’s on the ceiling so that when you are laying back having your teeth cleaned you can still watch tv, then it happened. What about blankets while you’re in the chairs? Then there were blankets.

They are Dental TLC for a reason, they care like nobody’s business! If you are a nervous patient, they have sweet air to calm your nerves, if you have work done, Dr Abbot personally will call you that evening to check on you, who does that?

Rojel was my hygienist and I refused to deal with anyone but them and when I made an appointment, they knew to only schedule me with them, I was comfortable with them and since they were who I started with, couldn’t I make that request? Let’s just say that I didn’t have dental insurance for most of the time I went to their offices and paid for both of my root canals out of pocket, does that tell you how fantastic they are?

I have been going every six months since I started seeing him oh so long ago and when I was supposed to have an appointment back in September, due to job constraints, I had to cancel my appointment, bummer. So now, I am looking for a new dentist office in Denver and wishing it happens soon, my teeth feel fuzzy! [I know, TMI! that’s too much information in case you didn’t know].

Any recommendations?

http://www.dentaltlc.com/DentalTLC/Homepage.html

{May 1, 2014} Bob Hoskins

I was saddened to learn of the passing of Bob Hoskins yesterday.

Bob Hoskins was an amazing talent, his career spanning decades beginning in 1971. His talent for characters was unending, ranging from the serious to the silly.

The first time I saw Bob Hoskins was as washed up private detective , Eddie Valiant, in the hit “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?”, I can still see the scenes between the two of them. How about Mr Smee in Hook? His last movie was “Snow White and the Huntsman”

He had a mastery of accents and language, he could play an American to any variety of Brit, from cockney to formal. He could take you through a amazing variety of emotions with just a look or a phrase.

He announced his retirement in August 2012, siting his ongoing battle with Parkinson’s. He died due to a bout of pneumonia.

He was a treat to watch and will be missed.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001364/?ref_=nv_sr_1

{April 29, 2014} Busy day!

The day started at 5:15am, what?

The alarm went off at 5:15, I snoozed until 5:30, I thought it was fair. (Luckily I only have to go a mile!) Showered and dressed, had to dress in pants, shirt and sweater, not the dress I was hoping to it was too cold! Mother Nature..what’s up? (I never mind wearing my Danskos though)

Off to co-teach class starting at 7, we have to be there at 6 for classroom setup. Good class, lots of good questions and people with interest in what we were teaching. After class, we were exhausted. We went full force from 7am until 4:30 with an hour for lunch, a very successful class. We both headed in our respective directions.

I put on my workout gear, with the intention of walking to Whole Foods, but it started raining, so in the car I went. Got some good veggies and tofu and vegan cheese, I so miss cheese! Moving on!
I got back to the room, made a quick lettuce wrapped cheesy veggie burger with raw mushrooms, it was fantastic!

I ate quickly because I had a Face Time date with SDL and Miss A! Always a favorite time for me! What a doll baby, how I love that little girl! It was so good to see both of them, catch up on the little things and even the big things, important to have that time.
Maybe next time I can read her a bed time story!

After our face time, I was thinking about the treadmill or passing out, I was do tired!

TS called and we chatted for a while, then decided to get together we went out for drink and food, I drove, no drinking, shocker! We caught up, commiserated, ranted, laughed, it was just what we both needed.

On the way back we talked about the amenities each of our hotels have
she came to check out the gym and pool at my hotel and then we made a decision, go put on our swim suits and meet at the hot tub and we do!

It was so relaxing to sit in the hot tub and talk to a friend, just what the doctor ordered!

Now I’m back in my room talking to you and realizing the alarm is going off in a few hours, I have a CVT class at 8:15.

ZZZZZZZZZ. GOOD NIGHT.

{April 24, 2014} My field trip to the museum…

Let’s get some culture on!

I thought it was time that I got some culture in my diet, I’ve been lacking a little, so I took myself to the Denver Art Museum.

I have been wanting to go to the museum for a while and today I looked it up and saw a Lichtenstein, I knew today was the day! I absolutely love Lichtenstein, it stems from when I was in high school and in my art class, I was assigned an artist and had to report on them and an artist before and after and Lichtenstein was who I got and it’s been a love affair ever since.

http://www.denverartmuseum.org/

Once there, I decided to become a member of the museum so I could go any time, get advanced invitations to special showings, just like I had with the High Museum of Art in Atlanta. I also got the dual membership so I can get others in for free, who’s coming with me next time?

I wasn’t able to take pictures, but there were some fantastic quotes on the walls and I would love to share them with you as well as some of my favorite artists. I’ll try to find some pictures on the web. Some time it would be great to sit down with you and talk about artists and techniques and emotions, I might just touch on things as we go along.

“Each age finds its own technique” Jackson Pollack

The first painting I saw was by Pissaro. I love seeing Camile Pissaro’s work; I find pointillism fascinating, up close it’s just a bunch of dots but when you take a step back, an amazing image starts to take form and evokes a range of emotions.
http://www.camille-pissarro.org/

“Follow the masters!
But why should we follow them?
The only reason they’re masters is that they didn’t follow anyone!”
Paul Gaugin

“A new art! But what for? We do the best we can, and when we do as well as an masters, that’s all we can hope for.”
William Adolphe Bouguereau

“Splashes of raw color juxtaposed without rhyme or reason…their art is either raving madness or a bad joke.” critic Marcel Nicolle 1905

“We were always intoxicated with color,with wordsthat speak ofcolorand With the sun that maKescolors live.” Andre Derain

The next three paintings spoke to me
Picasso, la toilette

Matisse, La musique 1935

Andre Derain The trees 1906

There was a bronze statue by Jacques Lipchitz ‘Sailor with a Guitar. It reminded me of Leger and Picasso, cubism period.

“All the earth colors of the painter’s pallet there in the many miles of badlands.” Georgia Okeefe

Yves Tanguy “I found that If I planned a picture beforehand, it never surprised me, and surprises are my pleasure in painting.”

http://www.matta-art.com/tanguy/tanguy.htm

“The Role of the Artist is always to deepen the mystery” Francis Bacon

“Art is an experience, not an object.” Robert Motherwell

I love Motherwell’s art, the bold statements. http://www.guggenheim.org/new-york/collections/collection-online/artists/1394

Jackson Pollack is another artist that I enjoy and admire and if you know his work, even though it looks like splatter, there is a method to his madness. He said about his technique “I feel nearer, more apart of the painting, since this way I Can walk around… and literally be in the paiI can controlthe flow of the Paint. there is no accident. just as there is no beginning and no end.”

”I want to express my feelings rather than illustrate them.” Jackson Pollack

“Mere unorganized explosions of random energy, And therefore meaningless.” critic Robert Coates on Jackson Pollack’s work 1948

Lee Krasner- Pollack’s wife, self critical and began destroying some of her paintings in the 1950’s. She saved some pieces from those canvases and used them in collages like Milkweed. She lived on Long Island with her husband and often remarked on her connection to nature. “My painting is so autobiographical… If anyone can take the trouble to read it.”

Phillip Gaston Voyage 1955
“Sometimes I scrape off a lot. you have on the floor, like cow dung in the field, this big glob of paint, and its just a lot of inert matter, inert paint, then I look back at the canvas, and it’s not inert-it’s active, living ..If a year or two later I look back at some of the work and try to start judging it, and its impossible . you can’t judge it because it was felt.”

Mark Rothko Orange and Yellow 1956
To counteract viewers’ natural tendencies to stand back from his large canvases, Rothko sometimes included signage asking them to stand close. that way, viewers Could experience the depth of each color and the basic human emotions the Could evoke like “tragedy, ecstasy, doom.The people who weep before my pictures are having the same religious experience I had when I painted them-And if you are moved only by their Color relationships, then you miss the point.”

“[my art] is not about facts, its about feelings” Agnes martin

Claes Oldenburg – “I am for an art…that does something other than sit on its ass in a museum. I am for an art that grows up no knowing It is art at all.”

“Reproduction was really the subject matter of my work” Roy Lichtenstein

{April 21, 2014} Happy Easter

To one and all.

I hope all my friends and family who celebrate Easter have had a fantastic holiday.

I love seeing all the wonderful photos on Facebook some with the Easter Bunny, some with parents and grandparents, at Easter Egg hunts, eating chocolate bunnies, enjoying themselves. Seeing pictures of LB, Baby A and L enjoying what we sent them via the pictures their moms posted on Facebook and tagging us, makes us feel so good!

As a kid, I used to spend spring break with my grandmother in Philadelphia. We would go down to the square in front of her apartment building, The Rittenhouse Claridge, I would search for Easter eggs and then we would watch the Easter Parade, everyone dressed in their faster finest, the women in their Easter bonnets on their way to church. so wonderful! Then we would go home and Watch Easter Parade with Fred Astaire and Judy Garland.

I hope whatever you did to celebrate was enjoyable and just What you wanted.

Here are a few of the fun pictures I found on Facebook, enjoy.

(The first one was for me)

{April 16, 2014} Boston Strong – One Year Later

One year ago today life in Boston was changed forever.

At 2:49pm, Monday, April 15th, there was an explosion at the finish of the Boston Marathon and less than a minute later, there was another explosion less than two blocks away.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Marathon_bombings

I don’t think I’ll ever forget that day, it was quite an experience. All of Boston was affected, as well as the entire country and everyone was affected in their own way, not one experience was the same. I’m going to tell you what my experience was like as I have incredibly strong ties to Boston as you know.

I was visiting DCM in Colorado right after he moved, we were going to go apartment huntung and wouldn’t you know it, by the second day, a freak snow storm, and I mean a snow storm, slow getting to work for DCM and I was stuck in the hotel, but I was working, so I wasn’t bored. I think I knew the Boston Marathon was happening that day because it’s one of those things you know, but that was about it. I knew that RG would be announcing the finishers and one or two people I knew would be participating, but that was it.

I was working and then I got the first call from SDL, “Is your family ok?” “Um, yes, as far as I know, why?” There was a bombing at the finish line and she wanted to check on me and my family. I immediately tried to get in touch with my brother-in-law who happened to be downtown in Boston with EJS, we eventually made contact, so I was able to breath at that point, from my family’s side. GES was in London for work trying to do the same thing, a little nerve wracking to say the least!

I then tried to contact everyone I could think of that might have been in the area, I reached out to RG, I had been checking her Facebook page and finally her husband posted on her page that she was ok. Next I tried JCT because I knew she was working in Boston somewhere and I wanted to be sure she was ok. She was close enough to feel the rumble, but she not close enough that she was in harms way, she was safe. I checked with CC and he was ok, so I was able to breath a sigh of relief over all.

The calls, texts and Facebook messages started pouring in, it was wonderful how many people thought about me and my family to see if everyone was safe and ok and how I was, I am a very lucky person. And I was able to tell them everyone was ok, that felt good.

It’s been a year and Boston has remained strong, just like the campaign says, Boston Strong. Never forgetting what happened as so many lives were touched. There were 3 deaths and 264 injured in the blasts, the fourth casualty was the officer killed during the manhunt for the two bombing suspects. The road to recovery has been a long one and will never be forgotten, like the bombings of 9/11, this did not kill the resolve of the people or destroy us like it was hoped by the ones responsible.

You can’t meet someone in Boston who doesn’t know someone who was there/involved or afftected personally by the bombings and their resiliance and sense of community is amazing.

Today was the one year anniversary and the tributes were touching, heart wrenching and heart warming. It was timed perfectly inside the Hynes Convention Center, to include The Boston Pops, Boston Children’s Choir, the former and current mayor of Boston, former and current police commissioners, survivors who were injured, Vice President Joseph Biden, just to name a few. Then everyone went outside and headed towards the grandstand at the Marthon Finish Line for a moment of silence at 2:49pm and then the bells began ringing, the flag was raised and the national anthem was performed. It felt good to be there with my sister to stand side by side when the national anthem began. The bagpipes were mournful and appropriate.

The celebration ended with members of the honor guard from different branches and cities marched down the street carrying the flags for their cities and branches.

It was eerie, fitting and touching and a day that we will never forget. I will close with the closing from Vice President Biden “Next Monday, on Patriot’s Day, when 36,000 people line up to start the marathon, you will send a resounding message around the world … that we will never yield, we will never cower, American will never stand down. We are Boston, we are America. We respond, we endure, we overcome, and we own the finish line.”

http://www.wbur.org/2014/04/15/boston-marathon-tribute-ceremony

{April 14, 2014} A zissen pesach

Tonight began the holiday of passover and it’s time to start the celebration.

The day started like any other Monday, I got tosee the girls go off to school. Before EJS left for school we broke the matzoh brittle and had to taste test it and the macaroonS of course, we had to Make sure they were fit for others to eat…wink wink!

After the kids and ACS left for work and School, we got down to the business of cooking. GES and BR got a lot done as well as and myself, but not to worry, there was plenty to do!

There was cooking, straightening, cleaning, setting up, dishes washed, dishwasher unloaded, loaded, unloaded, loaded, Presents wrapped.

In the middle of the Craziness we went to watch EJS’ gym class perform “their Sentence”
They each Start with a letter, improv stuff in between and a period or balled up pose to end.

after we got home, we continued to work on stuff and at 5, I went to pick up EJS from school, ACS got home with MGS, AS was there before her husband JS, then BF and BR showed up with their adorable Kids, LS arrived and then Zafta, our group was complete.

We sat down to the seder and the food began to fly, all sorts of wonderous treat from homemade chicken soup with matzo balls to the fantastic desserts.

Everything was wonderful for the celebration was fantastic friends and family we’re together , not to be missed.

After a few hours of good food good friends and family laughter and warm it was time to make care packages and everyone head home.

then came the really fun part, cleaning up. Haha. We did say that next year we should hire someone to help serveand clean up, so we said it again this year, let’s see if we remember!

After that, it was stories and bed time, trying to keep your eyes open and then zzzzz!

I already fell asleep once, writing to you! That tells me it is time to go to sleep! I bid you a good nite abs good Pesach!