What I love! | Peaches Prattlings

{March 31, 2015} Dinner with the Team vs Team Dinners

It may not seem it, but there is a difference and this project reinforced it for me.

Dinner with the team is without really talking about it, the entire team goes to dinner, everyone takes turns deciding where the group will go to dinner, maybe everyone comes up with a list to try or one person says “ooh, what about here?” As well as when they will go, a lot of times you are all working together and decide when you’re done for the day, “ok, who’s ready to go?”

This group might even send a meeting invite for dinner, location TBD, but with an agreed upon time, it kind of sets an expectation of ‘we are so getting out of the office by …’ The main point is, you are going to dinner as a team and everyone knows it. That’s the way it’s been with the team I am working with now and I love it.

A team dinner is when there is an occasion or maybe it’s a once a month thing and someone organizes it, sends out the invite and everyone goes to dinner and socializes and has dinner and, I find, talk mostly about work. Not that you don’t talk about work at dinners with the team, it just doesn’t seem to be as much.

I enjoy team dinners because it gives you the opportunity to catch up with some people you might not get to see on a daily basis, but I’ll be honest, I really like dinner with the team a little better, when you work with people, then go to dinner, it’s like you’re with family, then when you don’t see them, you miss them. Since I’m training now, I don’t see them every day,so when we can get together for dinners, it’s a treat! We catch up on life.

As the project is wrapping up in the next few weeks, people are beginning to roll off and we won’t see each other every day, so these dinners are extra special, this team has been so much fun to be on, working with great people and going to fun places with great food, wahoo.

I wonder what’s in store next for us!

{March 30, 2015} My day! Surprise snow…twice! Niagra Falls…once!

This morning started early, as every day does, so what else is new?

I get to the airport in Boston, drop my bag, get through security, weather is chilly, but nice, skies are clear. I got breakfast, had a nice sit down, well, as nice as the food court at the airport is, but nice is what you make it, right?

I went to the gate, hung out, had to put my jacket back on when they opened the door, brrr, still clear skies, then I walk down the jet-way and get to the door and what? Snow? Really? Come on! Ok fine…but someone needs to have a chat with Mother Nature, seriously!

So, then we wait and wait and wait some more, the flight was supposed to leave at 9:25, it was about 10:15 that the de-icing truck finally showed up from the other side of the airport! They only have one?! I’m glad I wasn’t teaching today! We finally took off and got in about 11:54, getting off the plane, SNOW! What? Not on the menu! I got my bag, rental car had apparently been cancelled, but they gave me one, thankfully. Headed to the hotel in the snow.

By the time I got to the hotel, no snow, clear skies, so I decided I was going to take a trip to Niagara Falls, the Canadian side. Skies were clear, only about a thirty minute drive, parked, walked down to the water and what started happening? Rain, fun. But I did not let that damper my spirits, truly amazing! I walked to the welcome center, taking some great pictures along the way, ignoring the rain, what a site, so majestic and breathtaking!

I picked up a few things, I don’t bring things from each week I am away, but I went to Canada!

When I came out, it was really coming down, walked to the casino, had some lunch, then headed back to Buffalo…In the snow and rain and sleet and it stopped when I got to the hotel! The sky is beautiful and clear and bright. I was done for the day!

Up to the room, jammies on, chilling out, getting some work done and hoping to get some much needed rest before I start teaching classes tomorrow morning.

I hope you enjoy my photos as much as I enjoyed taking them and being there. A great way to end the day. Amazing!

{March 29, 2015} A good veggie burger

I love a good (veggie) burger.

When I say I love burgers, I always mean veggie burgers, I have to explain as people give people me a funny look.

What I don’t understand is why more places don’t offer veggie burgers, it’s such an easy thing to have on hand. You can buy a box and keep them on hand in the freezer, especially burger joints or pubs, just saying.

I’ve told you about some good ones I’ve had, but tonight, while I was thoroughly enjoying my home made veggie burger, baked in the oven, not on the grill, at The Common Man restaurant with PSM, http://www.thecman.com/m/restaurants-and-menus/common-man-concord.aspx…let me just say Y U M!!! I decided that I need to keep track and share with you the different veggie burgers that I experience around the globe.

Who knows what other veggie burger lovers are out there, you know I love to share!

Here’s to a new venture of tasting and sharing!

{March 27, 2015} Setting the tone

So many different things can set the tone for, well, things, right?

There are so many things I could give examples for here, but I’m only going to focus on my classrooms today, well, actually everyday. The class or students really set the tone for the class and how it’s going to progress, wouldn’t you agree?

I start every class full of energy, vigor and vim and I try to keep that momentum going for the entire class, but it doesn’t always work, especially if the class is full of duds. Perfect example was today, I taught three classes and the great thing was they were all full or close to full. SO much better than the majority of my classes over the last few weeks, no-shows, no registrations or really small classes.

Sometimes I tell jokes while we are waiting for other students to arrive, I think I’ve told some of them to you [What’s smarter than a talking parrot?…a spelling bee! wah wah wah], try to keep the mood light, especially since, for the most part, most of them don’t want to be there to begin with, I need to keep them entertained and learn something. I’m not sure that some of them realize how much it takes to be up there in front of them, especially when you look out and see blank stares when you ask a question or see someone fighting to stay awake. I think I told you sometimes at the end of the day, I don’t want to talk anymore, I know, me, JJ does not want to talk to anyone at all! What?!?

My first class today was pretty good, there was a good mix of people, they laughed when they were supposed to, followed what I was saying, took it as it was intended when I called them out on something, especially if they did something they knew they were not supposed to. I feed off of that and it helps keep me going and keeps them engaged.

My third and final class of the day, it was a mixed bag. I could feel some resentment from some people, who just did not want to be there, or felt that they were too good to be there, does not help keep the energy level up and I tried. In almost every class, especially the ones with more people, there are going to be slower learners or less than computer savvy students, those folks need a little extra love and I do what I can to give it to them, if the person next to them isn’t helping them, maybe because they are one of the other challenged students. When they left, I was done, officially for the day and emotionally for the week, done, stick a fork in me!

My second class was great, it was on to capacity, but we made it work. They were energized, motivated, asked good questions, laughed a lot and learned a lot. One women even kept saying “yes mommy” when I would tell her to do something, it was cute! Then I got my greatest compliment…someone who had taken the same class the week before said to me, as I was helping her, “you’re a good teacher” she said she was getting a lot out of my class today and I really was a good instructor, that made my day and helped a lot to keep me going and motivated.

I love getting feedback, from the students especially, it reinforces that I chose my profession well and it is where I am supposed to be. Doing what I love and loving what I do.

{March 26, 2015} Oh my my my…I want…ALL of them!

What a treat!

Tonight, I was walking to dinner, my first solo dinner since being on the project in Buffalo, well, solo outside of the hotel/room service and I saw a Shelby Cobra [for those of you not in the know, that would be the dark blue car with white stripes] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC_Cobra.

My mouth dropped open and I crossed the street just to listen to it start up, rumble and watch it being driven into the convention center. Oh my! I started talking to one of the guys working and asked a few questions, it was the Buffalo Motorama 2015 showing this weekend and when he asked if I was going to be around this weekend to see it, I told him I wasn’t and he told me I should go in and take a look! What? You don’t have to tell me twice!

I walked in and did my best to keep my mouth shut! I was drooling! It was classic car after classic car, beautiful, as you can imagine. There were Mustangs, Corvettes, Chevelles, Novas, to name a few… Buggies, hot rods, muscle cars, custom jobs, amazing paint jobs, fantastic engines, just wow! I am going to be vulgar and I apologize…this is a class car lovers wet dream, oh my!

I am no CKM when it comes to taking photos, but I did what I could. I hope you enjoy the photos as much as I enjoyed viewing the cars and taking the pictures!

I need to hit the lottery, I want them all!

{March 25, 2015} Seeing old friends

Now, by old, I don’t mean “old” as in their age, I mean as in friends from way back.

Now that we got that out of the way, let me get to the heart of this post. Tonight I had dinner with two old friends from college. Let me clarify even further, two of my best friends from college.

One is ‘my twin’, who I have told you about before and the other is Bo or Oz, as it were and that is due to his name, and that’s all I’m going to say on the subject. I believe it was junior year they were roommates. Now, I know I’ve known them both since freshman year and what’s funny is they were trying to figure out how they met, who knows, it’s been bliss ever since.

One of the funniest thing about tonight is that we were talking about our college experience and our degrees and how no one that was in our respective circles went into the field they majored in, but isn’t that the way?

We talked about classes, GPAs, people we dated, people we were friends with, things we did, like watching Star Trek, TNG [The Next Generation, for those of you ‘not in the know’] and rearranging the furniture like the bridge of The Enterprise, how goofy and fun was that!

We ate, drank, talked, laughed, reminisced, but it really was as if no time had passed, we are just a bit greyer in the temple and maybe softer around the middle, but that’s not what I saw, I saw us exactly as we were in college, young and goofy, hanging out eating 3-mile island pizza, definitely them, not me! Geeking out the way we did, talking about nothing and everything all at once.

It was a place neither of them had been to and it was a success, the food was good, conversation awesome and the memories fabulous. It was so great to be with both of them, I have such great affection for them.

Then, on the way back to the hotel, what was on the radio but one of my favorite Van Halen songs “Hot for Teacher”…that was the cherry on the sundae! I can’t wait to see them again!

{March 23, 2015} A very long day…There was good and bad, but…Ended quite well!

Today was a travel day, so get ready!

The day started at 4:15am, more like 4:30 with snoozing…two hours after I fell asleep, just one of those nights, unfortunately! My flight was at 7am, so the taxi was arriving at 5:15am, to be on the safe side.

Arrived in plenty of time, the airport was quite crowded at 6am on a Monday, a lot of high school and college teams traveling places. The agent at the counter where I dropped my bag off wasn’t in the best mood when she started helping me, but got a little better. Much better than the “oh so pleasant” security officer who got incredibly snippy with me due to the fact that in the 10 seconds from receiving the slip of paper regarding modified TSA pre-check and getting to the security screening, I had not read the piece of paper. I hope you have a pleasant day…

The flight was fine, eventually, I fell asleep, thankfully, sometime before we took off…30 minutes late. So at least I got a little sleep. Got the rental car, headed to my first class, stopped off at Wegman’s to pick up some provisions for the week [coconut milk yogurt, some yummy bars from Don’t Go Nuts, http://www.dontgonuts.com/, no nuts, just soy! I tried one at the wellness expo yesterday, really yummy and healthy! I also found some dairy-free ricotta cheese! I am so going to have to try that!

Off to the first class, wait for the room to be opened, which it’s supposed to be unlocked at all times…Eventually got in the room and set everything up, then start getting emails that there is an issue and part of the application won’t load. So…until they were able to get it fixed, I reviewed the PowerPoint with the guys that were there and I’m sure they will reschedule soon to get into the application and have hands on. A solution was finally found and all was right with the world. Classes could be taught again.

Except when no one registers, then the class is wide open, but I have to be there in case someone shows up. I left the first location, went to the second and performed the fix on the desk tops as everyone was effected.

I headed to the hotel, checked in, chilled out in my room, did some expenses, stuff like that. Then it was time to go out to meet my friend and his main squeeze for dinner in Rochester. Get the car from valet, head out, it was a little over an hour’s drive, not too bad, especially to see one of my best friend’s and his girlfriend.

Dinner was good, the conversation was great, they make a great couple, I can tell how much she likes him and that is all I ever wanted for him. Then it was time to go, kids to get, blog to post and sleep to be had.

Are you tired? If not right now, you will be when that alarm goes off at 5:30, so I will bid you a fond farewell, until we meet again upon the morrow!

{March 22, 2015} What a weekend!

I was at my sister’s house, so you know what that means! Yup, sit back, grab a cup o’ caffeine and away we go!

I’ve told you a little so far, but there is so much more! Ready…Set…Go!

Friday, I arrived earlier than I have the past few weeks, got to see my less than happy niece, EJS, who had been sick for a few days, GES and dad were there as well, he had gotten in on Thursday. My sister had some great news to share, so GO GES! A good way to start the weekend, so there was good and there was bad.

Shortly after I got there, we left the house to head to…wait for it…Cheesecake Factory! ACS and both girls love it, so it is now tradition to go there on their birthdays. We arrived before ACS and MGS and after we put our name down for a table, since they don’t take reservations, we started to go to walk around the mall and ran into father and daughter, what a greeting for Auntie! Sigh.

Then it was walking around the mall waiting for our table, up the escalator, down the escalator, up the escalator, down the escalator…when does this stop being entertaining? No MGS! No more up the escalator, down the escalator and no, I’m not chasing you! I really couldn’t, I was wearing shoes with a wedge, not running.

Finally it was time for dinner and a lovely time was had by all, with cheesecake and a brownie with ice cream, candle and serenading, then head home to eat the cheesecake. Did I mention it had been snowing when I got to the house? Hasn’t Boston gotten enough? They already hit their record…108 inches!

Home was more singing and then night night. [remember, that was just Friday night!]

It continued to snow until Saturday afternoon and a few hours later, it was as if it never was! Saturday morning brought ACS making waffles, yum! [always reminds me of Shrek when Donkey says “And in the mornin’, I’m makin’ waffles!]. Then it was running a few errands with EJS and GES. Then turn around, head home, have a bite of lunch, that would be the pizzas for the cancelled party and true buffalo wings imported from The Anchor Bar in Buffalo with their own blue cheese. People were happy. [and no, I did not eat a chicken wing!]

Sometime during lunch, ACS’ brother and his wife arrived, JS and AS to join us for a snack and then we piled into three cars and headed to the movie theater, where we met some other folks who were joining us, making it a total of 13 to see Cinderella [four kids and 9 adults, how does that work?]

It was a really good movie, I’m loving almost all of the live action fairy tale movies Disney is coming out with! This was not a musical, but it had a great cast and a strong script enjoyed by all!

After the movie, we went to dinner at a nice restaurant, The Met Bar, http://metbarandgrill.com/, where we met, ha ha…B’s husband, SM and their son HM as well as PSM. Dinner was a grand time, everyone talking and laughing and then there was more dessert and singing, lucky girl!

Finally it was time to head home, so we gathered the troops and wondered where MGS was getting the energy at almost 9pm, don’t ask me, I raced with her and chased her! Home and time for bed! [now, remember, that was just Saturday!]

Sunday started too early, I was hoping to sleep past 7…nay-nay said my body. At 6:30,. the desire to go to the bathroom was greater than the desire to stay asleep! Boo

Up and then upstairs, eventually ACS made pancakes and a giant one that he wrote Happy Birthday EJS, put a candle in it and we sang again! Now, that’s what I call a birthday weekend!

Dad and I went to return my ski boots and get new ones, long story for another day, then back to the house. EJS was already gone to Sunday School. Arts and crafts with MGS, then it was time to get dressed and go to the JCC to see a performance of Curious George performed by a local community theater group, really cute, then a Wellness Expo with a bounce house, among other things for the kids and face painting , of course! Only problem…it had to come time for swim lessons and GES met us with all her swim stuff.

After swim, home to play and prep for dinner. Did I mention I did a load of laundry in there somewhere? PSM arrived around 6 and we sat down to dinner. Not everyone had the same thing, but it was nice to be together. After dinner, ACS ran to the grocery store and brought dessert home, among other things and while he was gone, I made a banana bread, it was yummy!

After dinner, it was time for stories and bed, Curious George for MGS, go figure! I said goodnight to both girls and told them I would see them in two weeks. Back downstairs to have grown up visiting, then it was time for PSM to head home, I finished packing and now I’m talking to you.

And that, my friends, was my weekend! Are you tired? I am! I’m a little beat and the taxi is coming at 5:15AM!

Don’t get me wrong at all! I love it! It’s just another typical weekend here!

Goodnight!