What I love! | Peaches Prattlings

{June 24, 2016} Cleveland Rocks!

Dad and I have been talking about taking a trip somewhere and we’ve both wanted to see the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame.

Problem solved, we’re going to Cleveland!

We made a decision, then just needed dates, then came booking flights. Just about that time, GES and I were trying to figure out what to do for Father’s Day…

Perfect…we decided to fly him to Cleveland. I got the rooms with my points, yeah baby! Doubletree Hotel , warm chocolate chip cookies, breakfast included, bath robe…we do things in style around here!

So…here I am in Cleveland to spend the weekend with my pops, enjoying good conversation, a lot of laughs and some rock…n…roll!!!

Can’t wait to tell you all about it! Gonna crash now!

I hope you have rockin’ dreams!

{June 24, 2016} Sharing the vegan love

I know you know in a vegan, my friends and colleagues know, but it’s not something I push on anyone.

There are jokes about vegans out there “How do you know someone is a vegan? The tell you in the first five minutes of meeting them!” Ha ha, very funny. Well that’s not me. I like being vegan, but I don’t push it on anyone and I would never force anyone to be vegan. But if you have questions or want to know something, I’ll answer as best I can.

Most people find out I’m vegan when they make restaurant suggestions and I have to tell them my criteria. My coworkers have been great at our get togethers, always making sure I can get something when I’m there, I appreciate it so much. Don’t think my friends aren’t the same way!

Sometimes when I am having a conversation about it someone will say “oh, I want to try it, but I don’t think I could do it”, “I want to go vegan cold turkey”, so to speak. I’m happy to share knowledge, even recommendations. Sometimes it’s just, “do to want to taste what I’ve got?”

I’m always honest about what I think is good, I’ll tell you if it’s passable, I don’t think all vegan is awesome. Do you remember me telling you about the cheese that smelled like feet? See, honest!

And that happened at work this week. One of my new coworkers said she wants to go vegan. Ok…Tuesday she went with me and we had vegan for lunch at a place I like, and it’s the only vegan place near the training site. She loved what she tried, she was blown away!

Yesterday, I took two of my new coworkers to the vegan place, they were amazed! So was I! I had a new item on their menu and it was awesome! A kale salad with Seiten “chicken”. Wow! Guess what! My third new coworker wants to join us tomorrow! Suweet!

I’ll let you know how it goes!

{June 23, 2016} Keeping their attention

As a Software Trainer, you’re also a bit of an entertainer.

I know you’re probably thinking sitting in a classfor 6.5 hours can be exhausting. Think about being in front of that class for 6.5 hours a day! I totally get the rump falling asleep, having trouble concentrating, but I have to look at you drooping, getting sleepy and yawning. Hmmm..how much fun is that for me? Big Fat zilch.

That being said, I need to keep your interest, keep you awake and paying attention, all while trying to help you learn something new.

That being said, I have to be creative. In make them laugh, sometimes I bring humor into the class, real world experience. When they start yawning in the afternoon, I implement a 7th inning stretch! I make the class get up and sing! Take Me Out to The Ball Game, I’m a Little Teapot, The Itsy Bitsy Spider. It’s awesome!

Today, during a lesson, at the end of a step…”If You’re Happy and You Know It”, that cracked me up! I threatened them with the Hokey Pokey tomorrow!

If we’re going to be together all day and maybe one to four days, gotta keep it moving. Come and check it out for yourself! I’ll save you a seat.

{June 21, 2016} A reunion and Second City!

Today I saw a friend from college and went to see The Second City company!

JO’S is a friend from college who I haven’t seen in about 23 years! She happened to be coming to Chicago and check to see if I would be available.

As it turns out, tonight worked for both of us and…she had reservations at Second City, the improve repot troupe. This is something I have always wanted to see! Some amazing talent came out of there! John Candy, Gilda Radner, Dan Ackroyd, Jane Curtin, just to name a few.

I left my hotel to pick her and her friend/co-worker, then headed to Second City. We didn’t have time to get some food before, they have a kitchen, so we decided to eat there.

After we got into the club, found out that the kitchen was having problems, so no food, what? I never got to stop and get something after the airport, so I haven’t really eaten since I left Hawaii, um, I’m a little hungry! Oh well.

The show was great! Is improv, so it’s always hit or miss. It took a minute to build, then…bam! There were still some things that were like “huh?”, there were things that were specific to Chicago and sports, didn’t help me, ha ha. There was topical and typical [typical was actually a typo, but it fit!] political humor, some racist humor, it may have gone too far, but who am I to say about what’s funny to others. Besides, I think I’m hysterical, so there you go! Let’s just say, my cheeks still hurt from laughing.

After the regular performance, they try out new material. Let’s just say…keep rehearsing…they did try out something new with an audience member and it was great! One of the players only spoke Spanish and the volunteer they got spoke Spanish, which they didn’t know when they brought her up, or did they…she translated for both players on stage, very funny.

After the show we were ‘starvin’ like Marvin’ and I don’t know about them, but my head was about to explode! so we went across the street to the pub for grub.

Let me just tell you, catching up was fabulous! I can’t believe it’s been 23 years! Oh, we stalk on Facebook so we have an idea of things, and she reads my posts, thank you! But in person, amazing. We couldn’t stop talking! I know “what? JJ not stop talking? Impossible!”

We talked family, work, lives, travel and does she get to travel for work! Oh my! She and her friend arrange conferences [I hope I remembered correctly! And they are global! Then we talked day to day, cars, shopping, like we has just seen each other last week, so comfortable, really nice.

I hope we’re able to keep the promise to not wait 23 years to see each other again!

Best quote of the night “Sometimes you just have to laugh, it’s good for the soul”. No truer words could be said…especially at a comedy club!

{June 20, 2016} Happy Father’s Day

Today is the day we celebrate and honor our fathers. That being said, let me tell you about mine!

There are great dad’s out there but I’m biased, mine is the best! He’s an individual, innovator, comic, artist, therapist, a shoulder to cry on, a great sounding board, spoiler, a great travel companion, a great traveler, an art lover, music aficionado. He can start the day off with cartoons, move to rock-n-roll, the opera, musical theater, a bad movie to a good movie, he’s a great popcorn maker and when it comes to coming, breakfast is a specialty.

He tells great jokes and when it’s a good one, you’d think he was about to pass out from laughing so hard, sometimes he can’t even finish the joke. Whenever I hear a joke that I like, I call him immediately so he can laugh with me!

As I’ve grown older, I won’t say grown up, we’ve gotten closer, our relationship has changed a little, still father and daughter, but now, there is a friend component or level. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m still a daddy’s girl and I always will be.

He has always been an amazing dad to GES and I, having to be the strong one for us sometimes, I like when I can be that for him.

To see him with his granddaughters is fabulous, EJS and MGS love their Poppa! The other kids can him Poppa D, that’s how they know him, isn’t that great! He’s so good with them, firm…rarely, silly…often, smart…always, clever…frequently. I love watching the interaction between them, they love his visits. There may even be an overnight at his house in their future.

One of the things I love is that I talk to my dad every day. It could be for a minute or twenty, sometimes even longer. We talk about everything and nothing. How fabulous is that?!

I hope nothing changes. Happy Father’s Day, daddy. I love you.
PS…thanks for my name!

I want to wish a very Happy Father’s Day to all the fabulous dad’s out there. Especially my brother-in-law, ACS.

{June 19, 2016} Happy birthday CKM!

Another year older and a great reason to celebrate! It’s CKM’s birthday!

Let me tell you about my friend, CKM…

We met about nine years ago, at JFT’s house, just before I separated and got divorced from the wasband. She was friends with a friend of mine and the three of us started spending time together, I even filled in for her at her job when she went out for surgery.

We started hanging out more and more, doing fun stuff, volunteering for events, movies, shows, even taking some weekend trips.

We’ve been through a lot together over the years, been there for each other, probably she’s there for me more than the other way around, I’ve had quite the ride over the last few years. Very happy to have that!

We’ve experienced a lot of new, odd and exciting experiences over the years and it’s been a fun and interesting ride.

She works too hard, she currently has four jobs, partly because she enjoys them and partly because she has a good heart and has a hard time saying no, especially to a friend.

One of her important jobs right now, which is so important to me, is helping SDL with Miss A while she’s in an EMBA program. Is that cool beans or what?

She is a fantastic photographer, a creative artist, creative cook, open to trying some things and unfortunately for her, hanging out with SDL and me, her language has gotten more colorful, sorry CKM.

Her birthday and holiday gifts are always creative and spot on, so much fun to get. I love planning things with her, for us, each other or others.

Speaking of planning, she’s an event planner and an extraordinary one! There are times she knows my schedule better then I do! I always say that if I win the stupid lottery, I would hire her as my personal event planner!

I hope she has the best birthday ever, she deserves nothing but the best! Xoxo

{June 18, 2016} Even a vegan needs a steak knife!

Tonight, i had a meal that needed a steak knife.

I had grilled Romain lettuce. It was fabulous! It was a head of Romain, cut in half and grilled with oil and spices and served rug cucumbers and tomatoes. You could have ordered it with meat or shrimp, but as you know…vegan.

The presentation was great and the taste, wow! It was still crisp in some areas and you actually needed a knife, well I did, anyway. Besides, it came with a steak knife, so whu not!

{June 13, 2016} “I’m really glad you’re here”

She said a few times. Sigh…

Last night I went to GES’ to see everyone since I’m going to be elsewhere the next few weekends.

GES flew out very early this morning and ACS and EJS had somewhere else to be, so I offered to stay and be with MGS in the morning, save them a babysitter session.

I got up when I heard her talking with ACS. I got to see them, give hugs and kisses before they left, have to get them in to take me through the next few weeks after all.

Then MGS and I settled in to watch Zootopia, which she was kind enough to describe certain things that were happening throughout the movie. So cute!

All of sudden she crawled into my lap to snuggle…sigh…

A few times that morning she looked at me and said “I’m glad you’re here, I’m having fun with you”. Did I melt into the floor? You bet your sweet bippie! I told her I felt the same way and then we had a tickle fest.

A great morning!

Exactly what we looked like, minus the shutterstock!

{June 11, 2016} I have my own snack bag!

I’m one lucky Auntie!

I came to GES’ house tonight to see the family for a bit since I’m going to be gone for a few weeks, weekends included.

Very early in the morning, GES has a flight to catch and the girls made her snack bag for the flight. I said “gee, I wish I had my own snack bag for my flight!”

I was teasing the girls, but…guess what happened! I got my own snack bag! I said I need this every week and they said ok!

EJS wanted to know what I can have, she knows and remembers about some of the things I can’t have, isn’t that sweet!

I have trail mix, dried fruit and candy. I’m set! Now I’m ready to fly! Thanks girls! I’ll be back in a few weeks for more snacks. Oh and hugs and kisses too, of course!

{June 9, 2016} Happy Happy Birthday GES!

Another year and she just gets,me fabulous!

Yup, that pretty much covers it! Ok, ok, I’ll tell you more since you asked!

I know I’ve told you that she is an amazing woman, she is a fantastic mother, the way she is with my nieces is a pleasure to see. She’s silly and goofy with them, rolling around on the couch or the floor, laughing and giggling, patient when working with them on anything, from homework to thank you notes for birthdays to any learning opportunities and teaching points that happen and firm when she needs to be. And the birthdays she plans, amazing! We had great inspiration.
Let’s just say, mommy would be proud, she was a great role model.

She’s a fabulous wife to my brother-in-law, ACS, they are a great team when it comes to raising the girls, she is always taking his needs into consideration when making decisions, appreciates all he does for and with her and when she throws him a celebration, it’s a celebration! They are silly, goofy, loving, in tune and I even get to see a PDA every now and then.

GES is a great daughter. We love trying to think of things to do for dad for birthdays, fathers days and holidays, not always easy, but I think we do a pretty good job. She loves to include him in family events and celebrations and adores him as Poppa to the girls, we both knew he’d be aces at it!

A great friend is an understatement I think and I believe her friends would agree with me. They come to her for friendship, love, advice, silliness and fun. Could be why there is such an amazing outpouring of love and people at any event for her and when she was going through treatment, a line around the block “what can I do”.

There are so many people who she looks at as extended family, most of her friends are aunties to the girls, it’s a true testimony to her.

To say she’s an amazing sister, well, that would be an understatement. As kids we played, fought, were silly, goofy, conspiring, loving, just what two sisters should be. Sometimes we were playmates because we had no choice, most times because we wanted to be. I loved that she wanted to wear my clothes and hang on to some of my favorite stuff when I went to college, it made me feel good. Better than when she would take my stuff when we were little. Our relationship hasn’t changed much, except we don’t fight as much and when we disagree, no one sits on the other…well, not always. We still get goofy and silly, but we love spending time together, those special moments when it’s just the two of us, I love, I’ve even gotten her to get away with me twice since the girls were born, love those!

So…maybe a little further insight into my sister, GES, fabulous, no?

Happy birthday Baby sister. I’ve loved you from the moment I saw you and I haven’t regretted a moment since.

This is from a tech event last night, written with a light pen!

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