This past weekend, my husband and I went to Vermont for a wedding. It was the perfect time to get away, as Vermont gave us a promised taste of fall (my favorite season), which Texas lacks (I'm not even singling Del Rio out this time - Austin presented the same void).
I'm sure it won't surprise you to learn that getting from Del Rio, Texas to Burlington, Vermont is no easy task. No direct flights, that's for sure. Try two connections (i.e., three legs). Good times! Amazingly enough, Del Rio has an airport. Three flights to Houston a day. Just Houston.
So Shawn and I decided to take advantage of the fact that Del Rio has an airport by booking our flights on Continental (for which Houston is a hub). On the way there, it was Del Rio - Houston - Cleveland - Burlington. And you know what? I have to say that Continental is kind of awesome. I recalled flying Continental several times when I lived in Austin, and I never had any issues with that airline. But what Continental offers now, in comparison to other carriers, is seriously impressive.
Shawn and I EACH got to check one bag free of charge. And get this - our soft drinks on each of our legs were free, AND we got a lunch on the long leg! It was just a little turkey sub, but still - it was food. And did I mention it was free?
Compare to U.S. Airways, which I flew just a few weeks ago out of San Antonio (keep in mind, this is the same airline on which I foolishly forked over extra money to fly first class at the last minute, only to be served Sun Chips). Oh yes, I handed over the $15 to check my tiny bag. And then I learned (through posters throughout the terminal) that U.S. Airways is NOW offering beverages on its flights starting at $1. Starting at $1? Seems impressive, huh? Oh wait - you mean, $1 for beverages that used to be free? Yes. $1 for a coffee or tea. But if you want water, sorry - that will cost you double.
Hey - I understand that times are tight and that airlines are starting to charge for things that used to be complimentary. But seeing those posters just pissed me off. Hey U.S. Airways - here's a tip: why don't you just admit that you've hit hard times and just tell us that you're sorry you have to charge now? Instead of the "Beverages starting at $1!" like it's some kind of great bargain, why not just put up posters that say this:
"We're sorry to tell you that the soft drinks that used to be complimentary on our flights are now $1 and up. We know it sucks, but we are just trying to stay afloat so that we can afford to get you to your destination. Thank you for flying U.S. Airways."
Or how about this action? At LEAST offer us a glass of water on the flight, for God's sake. Are times really that rough?
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Nothing Like Starting the Morning at a Dead Sprint
If you're like me, morning exercise is not for you. I know that many fitness experts will tell you that exercising in the morning is healthier for you. But for me, it's difficult because my body is still tight and I am not fully awake and I find that working out in the evenings allows me to do more at the gym.
Well, how would you like to start your mornings with a dead sprint? Not for me, I say. But you know what? It's not uncommon. You know why? Cause school kids and their parents are doing it everywhere when they're trying not to miss the bus!
I had the pleasure (or displeasure) of following a school bus yesterday morning....right around pick-up time. First of all, the difference between how it was when I went to school and how it is today is that kids have to stand on the corner at the entrance of their development. So if you happen to live in a particularly large development, and you're nestled in there way in the back, you're screwed cause you've got a hike to make it to the bus stop. Back when I was in elementary school, we had two stops on our pretty straightforward street - I was in the middle of the development so I could take my pick of which one I wanted to go to. The stop was separated by six houses. Anyway - as I was following the bus down one of the major roads in my neighborhood, stopping every time it stopped to pick up kids, there was never less than two kids and their parents running at a dead sprint trying to reach the bus because they were obviously late.
At one stop, there must've been 10 kids running for the bus - no lie. And I really wanted to roll down my window and scream, "Hey - get there earlier." And the kids weren't even coming from one direction - they were coming from both sides of the street. Why can't the kids from the other side of the road hang at the bus stop with the kids from the bus stop side of the street? Let's talk integration people...it will make the bus driver's job a little more efficient. At the next stop, two little kids were running - not to mention these kids have backpacks on. So picture this - a six year old kid, hauling a backpack, half his size, on his back, and working his little legs to reach that bus. His mother right behind him - laughing all the way. Lady, this is no laughing matter - do you see how much traffic you're holding up because you couldn't get your kid out of bed, dressed, groomed and fed on time? Is this really how you want your kids to start their school day - with their heart racing 100 miles per hour and when they finally do get on the bus, they're sweaty, their head starts to hurt and maybe they get made fun of for being late....cruel, just cruel.
Bless that bus driver because I would not have had the patience. If you're not there by the time the last kid at the stop gets on the bus, then you're getting a ride from your parents.
Well, how would you like to start your mornings with a dead sprint? Not for me, I say. But you know what? It's not uncommon. You know why? Cause school kids and their parents are doing it everywhere when they're trying not to miss the bus!
I had the pleasure (or displeasure) of following a school bus yesterday morning....right around pick-up time. First of all, the difference between how it was when I went to school and how it is today is that kids have to stand on the corner at the entrance of their development. So if you happen to live in a particularly large development, and you're nestled in there way in the back, you're screwed cause you've got a hike to make it to the bus stop. Back when I was in elementary school, we had two stops on our pretty straightforward street - I was in the middle of the development so I could take my pick of which one I wanted to go to. The stop was separated by six houses. Anyway - as I was following the bus down one of the major roads in my neighborhood, stopping every time it stopped to pick up kids, there was never less than two kids and their parents running at a dead sprint trying to reach the bus because they were obviously late.
At one stop, there must've been 10 kids running for the bus - no lie. And I really wanted to roll down my window and scream, "Hey - get there earlier." And the kids weren't even coming from one direction - they were coming from both sides of the street. Why can't the kids from the other side of the road hang at the bus stop with the kids from the bus stop side of the street? Let's talk integration people...it will make the bus driver's job a little more efficient. At the next stop, two little kids were running - not to mention these kids have backpacks on. So picture this - a six year old kid, hauling a backpack, half his size, on his back, and working his little legs to reach that bus. His mother right behind him - laughing all the way. Lady, this is no laughing matter - do you see how much traffic you're holding up because you couldn't get your kid out of bed, dressed, groomed and fed on time? Is this really how you want your kids to start their school day - with their heart racing 100 miles per hour and when they finally do get on the bus, they're sweaty, their head starts to hurt and maybe they get made fun of for being late....cruel, just cruel.
Bless that bus driver because I would not have had the patience. If you're not there by the time the last kid at the stop gets on the bus, then you're getting a ride from your parents.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Yes Sir, I Just Let It Happen
I went in to get a manicure last week, in preparation for my trip up to VT for a wedding this past weekend. It's a good thing I picked a dark color so I couldn't see how blue my fingers were from the cold up there!
I am in the process of switching to a new nail salon so I'm unfamiliar with the people that work there and unfamiliar with their process. I had only managed to get a pedicure there once and last week was my first manicure. In short, they sold me - they're very thorough and do a great job - and for a great price, I get a hot stone massage on my feet and back, depending on if you're there for a pedicure or manicure.
So back to the part about getting my manicure and not being familiar with the nail technicians. I got a girl that did not do my pedicure - and it was pretty clear that her English was not very good (It took me a couple of tries to figure out that she was asking me for my phone number). At the beginning, we exchanged pleasantries and left it at that. When she was done prepping my left hand, I got to soak it in a bowl of soapy water to soften the cuticles. She had her cuticle cutter in hand and started going at the right hand - so you can say that my hands were occupied. While sitting there, trying not to fall asleep to the operatic music of Pavoratti, I noticed a little fly flying around us - except it wasn't a fly at all - I had a hunch it was a mosquito. It came near my soaking hand a couple of times, tried to land on it - but I blew it away or lifted my hand from the soapy water to try and get it away from me. Another part of me thought maybe I should take one for the team and let it bite me so it'll go away and die. But I was being selfish and didn't feel like having a mosquito bite on my hand. So I shooed it away somehow.
The mosquito flew away for a bit but it came back eventually - and it started flying around the nail technician's head. I figured if it was around her hair, it wouldn't be a big deal. Mosquitos don't usually bite on the scalp - so it landed safely on her hair for a little bit before she shook her head to shoo it away. And so the mosquito flew around a bit - the nail technician was stellar in her lack of annoyance. If it had been me in her place, that cuticle cutter would've been flying around just trying to get the mosquito out of the vicinity - but no, she was extremely calm about the whole thing.
And then it happened. The mosquito landed on her forehead, near her left side hair line. I watched it, wondered for a little bit if it was really a mosquito - and just continued watching. I didn't want to blow into the nail technician's face. I didn't want to shoo it away with my soapy left hand or pull my right hand out of the technician's death grip (it seemed rude at the time) to slap the mosquito dead on her face - so I just let it stay where it landed and watched. Watched as a small, red, bump had started forming in the area where the mosquito was. Watched as she finally shooed the mosquito away but thinking to myself, 'it's too late!' Watched as this perfectly nice woman got a mosquito bite on her forehead becuase I didn't say anything.
Then the guilt set in - 'Why didn't I speak up' I kept thinking to myself. As I pondered this to myself, I heard the sounds of Enya in the background - seeming to 'Orinoko Flow' my guilt away...I started feeling better and not so guilty. But then the Enya song changed and it was dark and brooding. And the guilt started coming back. How do you do that Enya - make me feel so serene one minute and then guilt-ridden the next? (Must be her gift of song.) And I suddenly couldn't take my eyes off the technician's bite.
When she was finally done with my manicure and set me on the side to let my nails dry, she was nothing but polite and kind. I, on the other hand, felt wretched. I just sat there, staring at the wall, like a dunce in the corner, thinking, 'how could I let it happen?' But I did - and I left - keeping my head down in shame as everyone said goodbye to me. I did manage to give her a good tip - like an invisible olive branch that only I knew about.
While we were in VT having lunch, on Friday, with a group of friends, I told them about the whole situation and they all stared at me in horror, and perhaps some amusement. I'm thinking having my new purse break and finding a hole in my brand new pantyhose was payback for keeping my mouth shut about the mosquito. Well played, Karma....well played.
I am in the process of switching to a new nail salon so I'm unfamiliar with the people that work there and unfamiliar with their process. I had only managed to get a pedicure there once and last week was my first manicure. In short, they sold me - they're very thorough and do a great job - and for a great price, I get a hot stone massage on my feet and back, depending on if you're there for a pedicure or manicure.
So back to the part about getting my manicure and not being familiar with the nail technicians. I got a girl that did not do my pedicure - and it was pretty clear that her English was not very good (It took me a couple of tries to figure out that she was asking me for my phone number). At the beginning, we exchanged pleasantries and left it at that. When she was done prepping my left hand, I got to soak it in a bowl of soapy water to soften the cuticles. She had her cuticle cutter in hand and started going at the right hand - so you can say that my hands were occupied. While sitting there, trying not to fall asleep to the operatic music of Pavoratti, I noticed a little fly flying around us - except it wasn't a fly at all - I had a hunch it was a mosquito. It came near my soaking hand a couple of times, tried to land on it - but I blew it away or lifted my hand from the soapy water to try and get it away from me. Another part of me thought maybe I should take one for the team and let it bite me so it'll go away and die. But I was being selfish and didn't feel like having a mosquito bite on my hand. So I shooed it away somehow.
The mosquito flew away for a bit but it came back eventually - and it started flying around the nail technician's head. I figured if it was around her hair, it wouldn't be a big deal. Mosquitos don't usually bite on the scalp - so it landed safely on her hair for a little bit before she shook her head to shoo it away. And so the mosquito flew around a bit - the nail technician was stellar in her lack of annoyance. If it had been me in her place, that cuticle cutter would've been flying around just trying to get the mosquito out of the vicinity - but no, she was extremely calm about the whole thing.
And then it happened. The mosquito landed on her forehead, near her left side hair line. I watched it, wondered for a little bit if it was really a mosquito - and just continued watching. I didn't want to blow into the nail technician's face. I didn't want to shoo it away with my soapy left hand or pull my right hand out of the technician's death grip (it seemed rude at the time) to slap the mosquito dead on her face - so I just let it stay where it landed and watched. Watched as a small, red, bump had started forming in the area where the mosquito was. Watched as she finally shooed the mosquito away but thinking to myself, 'it's too late!' Watched as this perfectly nice woman got a mosquito bite on her forehead becuase I didn't say anything.
Then the guilt set in - 'Why didn't I speak up' I kept thinking to myself. As I pondered this to myself, I heard the sounds of Enya in the background - seeming to 'Orinoko Flow' my guilt away...I started feeling better and not so guilty. But then the Enya song changed and it was dark and brooding. And the guilt started coming back. How do you do that Enya - make me feel so serene one minute and then guilt-ridden the next? (Must be her gift of song.) And I suddenly couldn't take my eyes off the technician's bite.
When she was finally done with my manicure and set me on the side to let my nails dry, she was nothing but polite and kind. I, on the other hand, felt wretched. I just sat there, staring at the wall, like a dunce in the corner, thinking, 'how could I let it happen?' But I did - and I left - keeping my head down in shame as everyone said goodbye to me. I did manage to give her a good tip - like an invisible olive branch that only I knew about.
While we were in VT having lunch, on Friday, with a group of friends, I told them about the whole situation and they all stared at me in horror, and perhaps some amusement. I'm thinking having my new purse break and finding a hole in my brand new pantyhose was payback for keeping my mouth shut about the mosquito. Well played, Karma....well played.
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