Travel | Peaches Prattlings

{October 30, 2016} My travel day…good…bad…good…good

Let’s talk about my travel day. Now, technically by the time you get this, it’s Monday, October 31st, but I left Hawaii on Sunday, so here goes.

I’m home for the weekend, first time in almost two months. That’s too long! Last night was fun, we went to one of PSM’s co-workers homes for a BBQ with his family and another co-workers family. We had to prove that I wasn’t a figment of his imagination!

Today, I realized, it may be another two months before I get home again, although I hope not! That being said… I had to pack for four weeks of work with a two week vacation planned and the holidays with the family back on the mainland.

Can my clothes overlap? How much should I take for work? for the trip? for the holidays? PSM will take some stuff back after our trip, but what will I need for Christmas and Chanukah? Normally, I can pack for work in less than 20 minutes, this process took over an hour! So not me!

Then we chilled out and then it was time to head to the airport. I think Mollie knew what was up….she followed me around a lot, it was sweet.

Flight was long. Only 7.5 hours, which isn’t that bad, but when you’re in the second seat, you can’t always get out that easily to walk around or go to the lavatory. I’m glad I remembered to make some sandwiches for the trip, there is nothing for me to eat on these flights and unless you’re in first class, they don’t feed you.

The wifi was having issues, the entertainment was having issues. The good thing…United gave us something for our troubles, 5000 miles or $100, I took the miles.

Now I’m sitting in the United Sky Lounge, which is nice. Breakfast, drinks, comfortable seats, charging sstation. This is the way to go! I’m glad I have some passes for the lounge, although, if I spent more time in the airport, meaning time before my flights, I would consider getting a membership. It’s a nice way to kill a few hours before my next flight.

There was a rainbow as I left Hawaii I thought I would share it with you and the benches are from O’Hare airport, I love walking by and seeing art like this. i hope you enjoy them too.

Can’t wait to see all the Halloween posts later today! boo

{October 28, 2016} Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego?

People have started singing that at me!

Do you remember that song and show? She was a detective and you never knew where she was while she was following a lead. It was an educational show, this piece was teaching you geography and maybe some history.

The theme song “Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego?” sung by an acapella group.

So…I post when I’m taking a trip, sometimes checking in on Facebook. My friends and family seem to like to know where I am and where I’m going. One or two even said they’re traveling vicariously through me! I’ll take it!

So…where have I been on this date in history?

October 27, 2012…I completed my first half marathon! How many have I done? Sounds like it’s time for another! The last one was almost a year ago! Who’s with me?

October 27, 2015…PSM and I took a cooking class in Barcelona! We cooked that amazing paella!! [And I ate every bit of it, seafood and all!] And learned how to make tapas and sangria! We need to do that again! But where? Hmmm…

And today…October 27, 2016…I’m flying home, for the first time since I moved to Hawaii! Very long overdue! Let’s hope the trips home are not so few and far between. I have a feeling PSM would agree with me.

So…where will I be October 27, 2017? We’ll have to wait and see!

{October 27, 2016} An interesting place for dinner

Another roll-off diner. Another see you soon. Another good luck with your next endeavor.

And…another great restaurant! We went to The Bedford, the building used to be a back which they converted. It was a great concept! The bank vault was a separate party room, the bathroom doors look like office doors or the room you could look at your private property if you have a security box of your own.

It was dark and they had it decorated for Halloween, all the touches were subtle and fit in perfectly with the decor.

A good atmosphere for a private party, intimate dinner or just stopping in for a drink at the bar [to watch the Cubs beat the Indians 5-1…go Cubs!]

The food was interesting, creative, like deviled eggs on bacon dust. Have you ever heard of bacon dust? Me neither! The nice thing, it was creative and good. No, I did not have the bacon dust!!

You know my team goes to some nice and fun places, this was one! Good luck NW, you’re going to rock your new project! See you when you’re in Chicago!

http://www.bedfordchicago.com/

{October 25, 2016} Could you please move?

Here’s a question I pose to you.

If someone needs to reach in front of you, would you step back? Even an inch?

I’m in a hotel that requires you to use your room key for the sensor to then press the button for your floor, this is for going up or down. This hotel also has the digital keys, I can use the app on my phone to access the key.

I got on the elevator this morning to head into the office. There was a woman already on the elevator, standing pretty close to the sensor. I reached over in front of her, said exuse me and held my phone in front of the sensor. Now, it can take a few seconds for the key to register and it was. This woman did not take even a half step back. I could have touched her if I sneezed. And she stood there the entire time…it probably took my phone/the app a good 10 seconds to register where I was and unlock the sensor. There was zero personal space happening.

Would you have moved?

{October 24, 2016} Airport…goodbyes…breakfast…goodbyes…lunch…fun

What a day!

It started way to early…6am to be exact! Not right for a Sunday! PSM had a 9am flight so we left about 7am, got to the airport about 730am, had time to check his bags and spend some one-on-one time together. Can’t wait to see him again on Thursday.

Back to the hotel, ST and I go out to get some breakfast at a place that was recommended and shouldn’t have been. The food was ok, when we finally got it, enough said.

He headed to the airport, I headed to my next hotel and DLP headed to pick me up. She was with her friend, H. We went to The Green Door Tavern, one of the oldest pubs with a speakeasy in the basement. It was a great atmosphere and the food was good, bonus. Good food, conversation, friends.

Then it was on to Walmart to get candy for the office for Halloween, a shopping spree! Being silly and having a good time.

Back to the hotel, run some errands, hang out with DLP on the phone while we watched Monsters University and Bar Rescue, reminded me of when CKM and I used to do that with Hoarders. It was fun and a good memory.

Now, talking to you and thinking about drifting off to sleep.

Until tomorrow…

{October 22, 2016} Yolk…Jack…Hawks…Cubs!

Who schedules appointments for Saturday mornings? Duh.

I got back to the hotel, the guys were up and ready to go, it’s brunch time! We went to Yolk, a nice place for brunch, I was there with CKM. Food was ok, service left something to be desired.

Let’s go to a movie! The new Jack Reacher. I love Lee Childs and the character Jack Reacher. If you’ve read his books, Tom Cruise is not Jack Reacher…if you can get past that, a pretty good movie.

Back to the hotel for a minute, then it’s off to the Blackhawks game! Standing Room seats, not bad, once you get a spot. We left shortly before the end, they were losing and then pulled it out last minute.

We headed to a restaurant/bar across from the hotel to watch the end of the Cubs game. It was exciting! Congrats to the Cubs…making it to the pennant rave first time in 71 years and as they say 4 more games…they win…it will be the first time in 108 years!! I’m pulling for you Cubs!

A much earlier night tonight! Airport for the boys tomorrow.

{October 21, 2016} I got my baby back!

That is so very cheesy!

What’s worse? I said we should have ribs for dinner so I could sing that! Oh brother!

So…bottom line, I got to see my beau tonight. PSM had to be in St. Louis this week and since he was traveling through Chicago, I suggested he spend the weekend with me in Chicago, he said yes!

I was in Bloomington, IL today for work, drove back into Chicago and waited for him, when he finally got there it was a happy reunion, dinner and back to the hotel, we have a great weekend planned.

The best part…we get to see each other!!! And we’re going to be together for the next few weekends and weeks, I promise to tell you all about it, for now…snuggle time!

{October 20, 2016} Hilton…you’re feeding my addiction!

There is a bag! And a fireplace!

We all know by now that I have a bag addiction and when I travel, I’m spoiled. I stay in nice hotels and with my status, I get my choice of rooms.

I got to the hotel tonight and realized that I’ve stayed here before, it’s a nice hotel and they’ve renovated since I was here last.

The room they gave me is in the new executive wing. It’s a king suite with a kitchen, living room with a fireplace, a king bedroom and a ginormous bathroom with a whirlpool tub. I San handle this, is bigger than my first and last apartment put together!

I went down to the guest appreciation do that was happening in the bar, decided to use my drink ticket on a grown up drink, so I got an amaretto on the rocks, nursed that while I talked to the sales manager.

They had apple cider champagne, chili, grilled cheese and pumpkin pie cheesecake, nothing I could eat, but it looked nice. What they did have that I could take…a bag! Uh oh…along with wine and glass bottle openers, mints and some hand cleaner.

So, I got something out of it all. I can tell you what I took and the drink were better than the Chinese food I ordered. But…I enjoyed it all in the comfort of the living room in front of the fireplace watching The Great Pumpkin, sounds good to me.

{October 19, 2016} This day in history…

My history that is.

Where was I, two years ago, October 18, 2014? Roaming the streets of Dublin, Ireland. Would I go back? In a skinny minute! One day, I’m going to show it to PSM.

Where was I October 18, 2015? Completed a half marathon and then toured around Lisbon, Portugal with PSM. Let’s go back!

Where am I on October 18, 2016? Hanging out in Peoria, Illinois. The flowers are pretty.

I think I need to make October the month for travel…not to worry…in a few weeks I’ll have some more fabulous pictures.

{October 15, 2016} Today’s post is brought to you by the Letter H!

Did you figure it out?

So…up too early for a Saturday, but it was good,we talked for about an hour, almost a continuation of our fabulous conversation last night, talking about family, family history fabulous.

Then it was up for breakfast, then off to T-mobile to replace my Galaxy Note 7 for a Galaxy Edge 7. This was going to take a while, about an hour 15, so we went for a walk, got some lunch, then back to the store, they weren’t done, so off we went back to the hotel because we had somewhere to be at 2pm…

We saw HAMILTON!!! Oh my gawd, it was amazing! How did we get tickets, you might ask, when tickets are a minimum of $450, if you’re lucky?

Well, after Dad got here, as we were walking to get something for lunch, we passed the theater where Hamilton is being performed and said “I wonder if they have tickets”, can’t hurt to ask…

Dad “do you have tickets?” Box Office guy “I do”. Dad”tomorrow? Box Office guy “I do”. Dad “how much?” “That’s all?? We’ll take two!” “Oh, where are they?” Box Office guy “orchestra”! Go dad!

The people sitting next to dad, same scenario. It really can’t hurt to ask!

So, here we are at 1:30pm fighting our way into the theater to see Hamilton. And I go mean fighting, they have no control or order to get people to their seats. Getting out…no picnic either.

But in between…

Oh man! What a show! It’s about the life of American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, set to music. The music,lyrics and book were all written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, an amazing talent! The music, the lyrics, the beats, choreography, amazing! I laughed, I cried, I was sad, I was happy and…I did my very best not to sing along! [Anyone who knows me knows I love musicals and I know most of the music before I see a show, I want to sing every word!]

One of my favorite things about the show, the diversity of the cast. Hispanic, African-American, Asian, Caucasian. None of the characters was the “traditional” race for that character, except for King George III, who’s character was…AMAZING! great comic relief, transition, story. Each lead had a solo, the three supporting leads played different roles in act two.

If…you have the opportunity and can find tickets…that you don’t have to mortgage your house for, go!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamilton_(musical)

How do you follow that? With Chicago Blackhawks HOCKEY, of course!

When dad was coming to Chicago I asked if he’d like to go to a sporting event, he said sure! If the Cubs were going to be in the playoffs, which they are! Go Cubs! the tickets would be crazy, so..how about hockey? Sold!

I got us Chicago Blackhawks vs Nashville Predators tickets, section 303. I don’t know if you noticed by the picture…Blackhawks won!

I said it was a good game, dad made a good observation, it’s always a good game if your team is winning! And it was and they did! Scored in the first six minutes! Three goals in the first 11 minutes!

The second period was eventful for the Predators, one goal, oh well. In the third period it was 3:2 Blackhawks. I said, they either need to score or hold them off for the next 8 minutes.

Guess what happened about 20 seconds later…score! Those fans go crazy when their team scores, just like any team, it was great!

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It was a good game, lots of fun, energy and best part…I got to take my dad to his first ever professional hockey game! Go me!

Blackhawks win!

Today’s post is brought to you by the Letter H: Hamilton and Hockey!

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