What I love! | Peaches Prattlings

{July 23, 2015} ;lgtrf3 mn

This post was brought to you by Jymy. Thank you Jymy.

So…when you’re working and live with a cat or cats, do they like to help you work? Maybe they lay all over your papers, they are trying to keep them straight, in a pile, so they don’t fly away!

Maybe you’re working on something and your cat walks across the keyboard, we all know it’s so they can get from point A to point B, but they think they’re helping you type up your dissertation, create that power point or spreadsheet.

I sit in bed at night writing to you or sometimes getting some work done and undoubtedly Jymy walks right across the keyboard, sometimes she jumps over the laptop, but more often than not, like tonight, as the title shows, the keyboard.

I hope you enjoyed it!

The picture even looks like Jymy as a kitten!

{July 22, 2015} I don’t want to talk to anyone else…tonight

Shhhh…

Today, during the day, I was on the phone lines helping to register people for training class. Then from 6pm-10pm, I taught a fabulous training class.

I’m on my feet for four straight hours and talking for most of the day, at least 7 hours. After class I was done.

I can teach classes for hours on end, in between class, I might crash a bit, but as soon as people show up, I am on and ready to go, energy, energy, energy! They don’t call me the energizer bunny for nothing! But…after talking for four straight ours tonight, my jaw was sore from smiling! And my mouth is dry!

I love to teach, but I am done talking to anyone…just for tonight! What…you thought more than that?

You can talk, go on!

{July 21, 2015} Did I say something? You bet I did!

You bet your sweet bippie!

I’ve talked to you about customer service before. Tonight, I was at a team dinner for work and I encountered some poor customer service from my server. It was poor enough that my coworkers noticed and said something to me.

When we got there, I asked for a vegan menu, they didn’t have one and there were no vegan options on the menu. Ok, par for the course, I am used to it, it happens. When it was time to order, I jimmied a dish to fit what I wanted. I also ordered a salad to start.

The salad arrived at the same time as my main meal, it was sautéed veggies on a bed of rice. When it arrived, there were tomatoes in the dish, I had told her that I was allergic and there was a red sauce on it, I asked what it was…siracha! Oh my! On me was the fact that I did not ask what the sauce/seasoning would be. My coworkers laughed when they heard siracha! They know me so well!

When she took the plate back towards the kitchen was the first time she had a visible reaction. My back was to the kitchen, but everyone else could see into the kitchen with the chef’s having a wee bit of a cow over my new request.

The issue was that every time the server came to the table and I asked a question, she rolled her eyes. It wasn’t even subtle, forget the eye roll, you could see it in her body language! If it was once, ok, maybe I’d let it slide, but every time? Even when I asked a question about the amount of time I needed to steep my tea, really?

Before I left, I went to the front podium and ask to speak with a manager. I explained the situation to her, she said she would say something. Your job is customer service and just because I didn’t agree with something or I wanted something sent back, it’s not a reflection of you or your work, but come on, no matter how mad you are, hide it!

So, there you go.

{July 18, 2015} It’s amazing the things we will share

It really is amazing the information that we will share with each other.

Think about it, a friend tells you something in confidence, do you share it, or do you keep it yourself? If you’re a good friend you keep it yourself, of course. That’s one type of information that we share.

There is TMI type of information otherwise known as “Too Much Information” for those of you not in the know…maybe a little bit more about their medical procedure than you ever wanted to know.

But then there’s other type of information that we want to know, such as how things are going, did you hear from that boy, did the girl say she likes you back.

There’s other kinds of information that someone not in the conversation would look at you and think eewe, Oh my goodness or what is your problem! But because you know the situation you’re excited for that person even when they tell you something gross.

Perfect example, years ago when one of my cats are still alive, I got an electric cat box, the kind where the arm comes up and down to sweep away their business, because I needed something that would take care of the litter and the smell quickly. I had a cat who was about 10 years old and set in her ways and I didn’t know how she would deal with the change. I brought the box home set it up and she used it.

Here comes the TMI information, I called my mom and I said “we have poopy!” It wasn’t the fact that she had pooped, it was the fact that she took to something new, and used it like she was supposed to and that was the part that please me oh so much.

Now, to anyone else this may seem like an inane and disgusting conversation but since I had been a little worried about it, it was important to me that she used the box and my mom knew that I was worried about it so I could share the information with her. And in that case it was not as disgusting as it sounds.

That being said, I was inspired to write this post because a friend texted me something that someone else might think “ick, that’s gross” but it excited us both.

Is there anything you’d like to share with me? I’ll keep your secret. I don’t judge

{July 18, 2015} Hugs can heal

Is there a truer statement?

When something is wrong, sometimes a hug makes everything better. When I got off the phone with a friend who had surgery on Wednesday and I knew she was ok, I walked back in to the office and asked two people for a hug, for good news, that worked.

There are so many different reasons we might need a hug…good news, bad news, scraped knees, bumped heads, just because. Do you love hugs as much as I do?

There are also different types of hugs…side hugs, from behind, pick me up hugs, full on front facing hugs, parent to child, sibling to sibling, friends, family, you name it, there is a hug for every situation!

How about you, want a hug? I do!

{July 12, 2015} Making new friends

This weekend I made a new friend.

And I got to know a new friend better and it was great. Let me explain.

This weekend PSM and I went up to the house in New Hampshire to do some hiking and hang out with some friends who were having a girls weekend there. One of the women, DTN, I had met in February when PSM and I went skiing one of those weekends, it was great meeting his friends, they treasure him so very much.

This weekend DTN came up to the house with one of her oldest friends, we happened to get there a little before they did, and when they arrived, it was a chance to catch up since we hadn’t seen each other in a few months and that was great. I also got to know her friend, C, and that was a lot of fun.

PSM said something interesting. Here I am with these two women, one I didn’t know before Friday and by Sunday morning, we were fast friends, we had a lot to talk about and I had learned things about both of them in a short time, something it would take him years, he was amazed that we could do that. That’s women for ya!

A great weekend, a new friend was made, getting to know an “old” new friend, what could be better!

{July 11, 2015} My sister, my hero

Tonight, I just want to spotlight my sister.

I’ve told you a little about my sister, GES, but I haven’t given you all the details about certain things. I know I’m the blogger/writer in the family, but tonight, I want to share an article that she wrote, about how she told her young children about cancer.

Tonight, she gets the spotlight, my admiration and my love, well, the last two she gets all the time!

How I Told My Young Children I Had Cancer

{July 8, 2015} The weekend in Nova Scotia…Happy Birthday PSM!

Happy Birthday PSM!

“PSM”, “Yes JJ?” “Your birthday is coming up, what would you like?” “I don’t know” “Well, think of something! A trip?” “Hmmm..I’ve always wanted to go to Nova Scotia” “Nova Scotia it is!”

Get online and find Nova Star, the ferry that goes from Portland, ME and docks in Yarmouth, NS, http://www.novascotia.com/. This was really like a mini cruise, let me tell you about it. As you know, we made it just in time, I was getting us there, PSM was getting on that boat!

We had an exterior cabin with a porthole, it had 2 twin beds, bunk beds above and a bathroom with a shower, great cabin. There was a formal dining room, a buffet, a few cafes and bars. They showed movies, had live entertainment and a casino, what more could you ask for!

Turns out, I’m not much for cruises, I found that out when I cruised years ago, thought this might be different, but no…I now am the proud owner of another pair of seasick bands and the Canadian version of Bonine, the aquatic version of Dramamine.

I had my stash of saltines and ginger ale, then sacked out and slept until we pulled into port. PSM, on the other hand, no problem with the boat had a good time in the casino and won a bit of money! Go PSM! Prior to crashing, we experienced a beautiful sunset!

There were families, friends, a tour bus and a bunch of bikers, fun for all!

We docked at 7am, got off the boat, went through customs and welcome to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia!

First a trip to the visitor information location, oh my they were helpful! Then breakfast at The Shanty Café

Dropped the top, on a very well traveled car and headed up The 101 highway towards the Bay of Fundy. First stop, Light of the Bay lighthouse, built in 1868. What a view!

Back in the car, another fabulous lighthouse for a nice stop and a lie down in the sun to smell the sea…ahhh…

We drove to The Bay of Fundy, Hall’s Harbor, and found a fabulous B&B, The Deft House, http://www.delfthaus.com/, we were in The Rose Room, the suite went on and on and on! The fireplace was controlled by wall switch, a lot of fun! The couple who own and run the B&B were charming and kooky, perfect! There were other guests there and we enjoyed meeting and talking with them at breakfast, a three course experience! Cereal, home made fruit crepes and omelets, oh my!

Up to Hall’s Harbour, http://www.hallsharbour.org/, to see the tide go out. This is one area of the Bay of Fundy, recommended to see the tide changes. Some of the tide swells measure up to 50 feet! We weren’t in an area to see the swells, but we did get to see where the tide went out!

See the poor boats! They’re grounded! See PSM, he’s walking the ocean floor!

The wishing well lighthouse gives you a good description of Hall’s Harbour and The Bay of Fundy.

We went up to the Look Off to get a great view of the tide going out and the amazing landscape of the Bay of Fundy, isn’t it amazing!

How about this! My beetle saw her cousin…a motorcycle with a VW back end! A VW Beetle engine!!! Guess who wants it! Me! Me! Me!

We went back to Hall’s Harbour to watch the sunset. It was amazing, apparently it’s a local favorite and people come in from all over to watch the sunset almost every night! Spectacular!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay_of_Fundy

[My phone died the next day, no more photos, boo]

That was just Friday! Can you believe it!

Saturday, we drove up the other coast to Halifax, what a beautiful city, right on the water, trendy and picturesque. Such a change from other parts of Nova Scotia, not in any negative way, more modern, a very different feel to the lifestyle. The Bay of Fundy is more fishing village and Halifax is a modern city.

We spent a few hours in Halifax, then drove back to Yarmouth for a great dinner at Rudders, http://www.ruddersbrewpub.com/, a fun restaurant and brew pub, one of the few spots open and happening in Yarmouth. We had steamers, lobster and fish and chips, yes I tried everything!

Sunday morning, we boarded the Nova Star and sailed back to Portland, Maine. Let’s just say, I don’t remember much as I spent most of it asleep and I’m ok with that! Back in the states and on dry land.

What a weekend! A great birthday! Where are we going next? I’ll keep ya posted!

Happy birthday PSM!

{July 4, 2015} Happy 4th!

It’s July 4th everyone!

Today, we celebrate our independence, the day of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Day_(United_States)

People celebrate in so many different ways, some celebrate with picnics, travel, friends, family. In Atlanta, there is the running of the Peachtree Road Race, the 10k I have told you about for six years in a row, volunteering for five years with and participating in for six years with CKM, very surreal that we weren’t doing it together, but sent her good vibes all day!

There are so many great traditions I shared in, growing up in NYC, summers on Long Island, Atlanta, Boston, even just because.

The truly surreal thing is today, we saw fireworks over the water, but very far away and by chance, maybe by some ex-pats, but they don’t celebrate the Day of Independence for the United States in other countries and that’s where we are this weekend, out of the country! So quite a few people wished us a happy July 4th, it wasn’t quite the same, but…I did eat a veggie hot dog, so that helped!

However you celebrate, I hope it was a happy, safe and healthy celebration. Enjoy some fireworks! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAzT6VnUBw8

One of my favorite speeches from a movie is Bill Pullman in Independence Day. Enjoy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoLywiaM6PA

{July 3, 2015} The things you overhear

Sometimes, it’s just hard not to listen.

We’ve all been in this situation…you’re out somewhere in public and people are talking loud enough for you to hear and you start listening, you just can’t help it. If they wanted their conversation to be truly private, they should whisper or have it somewhere else!

Sometimes it’s a fun conversation, sometimes…not so much. This morning, PSM and I were having breakfast and there was some turmoil going on in the kitchen, big open window into the kitchen, someone was having a bad day! At lunch, the women at the table next to us started talking about needing mani’s and Pedi’s and the pros and cons of gel polish, I could have given them my two cents!

Tonight, we were having dinner at a pub and there were very few people there with us. Two tables back were a pair of guys having a drink and talking. First, it was about the Marvel Universe, how it’s changing and how it needs to, then Stan Lee, then the merits of X-Men, finishing up with building a bar in the basement and friends would come over. I’m sure they would!

I love people watching, I know people are doing it to me and I’m ok with that!

What did you happen to hear tonight?

Eavesdrop date

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What was I thinking?