I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I'm here to tell you all about mine. Well, SOME about mine anyways.
Part 1
Mom and I woke up early Thursday morning and drove to Richmond for Thanksgiving with her brother and family (7 of us in total). This was our first time seeing their new house and we also took a walk to check out where Micky* and Ricky* go to school. They are pretty fancy schools. I think they are almost as big as my college, with a green in the middle and different buildings all around. We watched some football (Patriots had a great second half) and played some games. Games played at this house were: Wits and Wagers, Guesstures (a family classic, it was fun to watch mom act out a lion), and A to Z. For a few hours there was a scare of the turkey not being finished, but my uncle managed to make it happen. He had to make up for spilling half the pumpkin pie in the oven the night before. Dinner was fabulous and I was able to stop myself from over eating. After dinner and coffee mom and I left to go home. And we got to start listening to Christmas music!! YAY!!
Part 2
Mom and I woke up Friday morning to drive to Mommom's for Thanksgiving number 2. But first we had to stop in Baltimore to give Lemon Pledge (LP)* a cabinet. We traded them the cabinet for Thing 1* and Thing 2* (my cousins). Then it was off to Mommom's again. With my 2 aunts and families, cousin, and Grandma, there were 11 of us in total. Games we played: Befudiom, letter line-up, scribblish, hilarium, and 30 seconds. Dinner was wonderful of course. Later Thing 2* sang some songs for us. We played some more games (I love 30 Seconds, it's one of my favorites) then Mom and I left to drive home once again.
I know this is cheesy, but I will do it anyways. I am thankful to have so many people in my life who care about me. I'm so thankful to have such a massively large family because I love you all. I am thankful that my sister is my best friend. I am thankful for all my friends because you guys make me laugh. I'm thankful for an education, a job, and a roof over my head with food on the table. I am thankful to be so blessed and happy. As we give thanks and think about our family and friends over the holidays, I'd like to take a minute to remember the loved ones we have lost and those who are ill. We think about you constantly and miss you every day.
So, did I have a good Thanksgiving?
High: LP was awesome at guessing my words in letter line-up. The card was person and I said "dad", she guessed Stephen King immediately. Next round the card was character and I again said "dad" because I didn't get B to say blue, after a few seconds she yelled out Papa Smurf. YES! You were on your game yesterday LP.
Low: I wasn't sure I was going to make it to Mommom's house. Luckily, neither was Thing 1*. So my mom made up a game to take his mind off of being sick and thankfully that helped me as well. Good save Mom.
On Deck: Between Harry Potter and seeing all my friends tomorrow night I'm sure I'll have something to say again before this trip is over.
*No real names were used in this posting
Saturday, November 27, 2010
TSA
I am a frequent traveler and fly out of Boston so I have a lot of experience with security and these new body scanners. I remember when I used to walk up to the metal detector, my mom would blop her purse on it, then we'd sit and wait at my gate. You didn't need a plane ticket to get through, no one showed any ID, there were no lines. Yeah those were the days.
A lot of people have a big problem with these new scanners. Apparently they can draw an image of your naked body so people are opting out and getting a detailed pat down. I am not one of them. Boston was the first airport to get these scanners so I've already walked through them several times before Thanksgiving. So if anyone in Boston opted out they better have opted out from the beginning and not walked through it before but opted out on Wednesday. That just proves that they are doing it for the attention and are not thinking for themselves. I don't understand why they want a pat down instead. Personally, I think a pat down is MORE invasive and embarrassing. It's an etch-a-sketch drawing, how accurate can it really be? But a pat down, that leaves even less to the imagination. I don't want my husband touching me when we go to sleep and I'm an awkward hugger, hell no I do not want a pat down. Don't touch me!
Like I said, I'm a frequent flier and I remember what things used to be like. I am so fed up with EVERYTHING involving airlines and flying that this security thing is just icing on the cake. What's the point of fighting this security scanner when everything else is so messed up still? If I could pick one thing to fight for, it'd be the cost of checking a bag. There's no way you can travel for a week without checking your bag. That is just unfair and the airlines are taking advantage of us. Why? Because we continue to do it having no other options. Stop making us pay to check a bag, and stop taking away our food and drink on the flight. You know what else is disgusting? AirTran charges $6-$15 depending on the seat just for you to PICK your seat when you purchase your ticket. You should be ashamed of yourself AirTran.
What I'm getting at is even if you "win" this security battle, you've still lost because airlines will always win until we get high speed trains as an alternate means of transportation. Is this security device an invasion of privacy? Yes. If you don't like it, then don't fly. It's as simple as that. Don't try to purposely hold up the line and make everyone else late. That doesn't punish TSA, that punishes all the innocent people who just want to get home to see their families. You have to pick your battles in life and I just don't think this one is worth fighting. The airlines have already taken more of my time making me get there early, I don't want to give them any more. I'd rather give them a big middle finger and move on with my life.
One more thing to TSA. Do you really think this new device is going to help? We seem to constantly be one step behind the enemy. You increase security? They put stuff in their shoe. You make us take off our shoes? They put stuff in their underwear. They seem to keep figuring out a way. You can keep on upping the security but where there's a will there's a way. In my opinion, this isn't going to stop anything and if someone wants to cause some sort of trouble, they will figure out a way. I would really appreciate it if I could stop worrying about which socks and shoes I'm wearing when I travel.
High: Safer traveling?
Low: Taking off your shoes.
On Deck: I will write about both Thanksgivings later tonight.
A lot of people have a big problem with these new scanners. Apparently they can draw an image of your naked body so people are opting out and getting a detailed pat down. I am not one of them. Boston was the first airport to get these scanners so I've already walked through them several times before Thanksgiving. So if anyone in Boston opted out they better have opted out from the beginning and not walked through it before but opted out on Wednesday. That just proves that they are doing it for the attention and are not thinking for themselves. I don't understand why they want a pat down instead. Personally, I think a pat down is MORE invasive and embarrassing. It's an etch-a-sketch drawing, how accurate can it really be? But a pat down, that leaves even less to the imagination. I don't want my husband touching me when we go to sleep and I'm an awkward hugger, hell no I do not want a pat down. Don't touch me!
Like I said, I'm a frequent flier and I remember what things used to be like. I am so fed up with EVERYTHING involving airlines and flying that this security thing is just icing on the cake. What's the point of fighting this security scanner when everything else is so messed up still? If I could pick one thing to fight for, it'd be the cost of checking a bag. There's no way you can travel for a week without checking your bag. That is just unfair and the airlines are taking advantage of us. Why? Because we continue to do it having no other options. Stop making us pay to check a bag, and stop taking away our food and drink on the flight. You know what else is disgusting? AirTran charges $6-$15 depending on the seat just for you to PICK your seat when you purchase your ticket. You should be ashamed of yourself AirTran.
What I'm getting at is even if you "win" this security battle, you've still lost because airlines will always win until we get high speed trains as an alternate means of transportation. Is this security device an invasion of privacy? Yes. If you don't like it, then don't fly. It's as simple as that. Don't try to purposely hold up the line and make everyone else late. That doesn't punish TSA, that punishes all the innocent people who just want to get home to see their families. You have to pick your battles in life and I just don't think this one is worth fighting. The airlines have already taken more of my time making me get there early, I don't want to give them any more. I'd rather give them a big middle finger and move on with my life.
One more thing to TSA. Do you really think this new device is going to help? We seem to constantly be one step behind the enemy. You increase security? They put stuff in their shoe. You make us take off our shoes? They put stuff in their underwear. They seem to keep figuring out a way. You can keep on upping the security but where there's a will there's a way. In my opinion, this isn't going to stop anything and if someone wants to cause some sort of trouble, they will figure out a way. I would really appreciate it if I could stop worrying about which socks and shoes I'm wearing when I travel.
High: Safer traveling?
Low: Taking off your shoes.
On Deck: I will write about both Thanksgivings later tonight.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
I'M HOME!
Let's start from the beginning. I caught the bus in New London this morning at 9:50 (hell if I'm going to leave my car in Lebanon ever ever again, I'm still extremely bitter if you can't tell). Got to the airport, walked straight to security. What's this? No line. SWEET! The only hold up was the time it took me to take off my shoes and get out my laptop. I won't go into my opinion on TSA and security and airports in general, but I didn't opt out and was not held up. I bought some fudge from that place to bring with us at the various places we go this week. Aidan better tell me I'm his favorite cousin for not picking any peanut flavors. It was hard to resist with my new found appreciation for Reese's. It was weird though that at the Jetblue terminal they did not accept the Jetblue card. You might want to get that fixed fudge stand.
I landed at IAD. Yay! Nothing can replicate the smile I make when I land at a destination. I normally like to walk through airports, but I'm still fascinated by the new train system at Dulles. It's so pretty! Being in row 4, I was off the plane and out the airport probably before some people were off the plane. I told Mom I was at door 3 but coming from the cell phone waiting area it took her a long time because of the traffic. There was confusion on if I was walking towards her, or towards the last door, or standing still. I said I was between door 2 and 3 and would stop moving. All of a sudden I see my mom ZOOMING by. What?? What is she doing? Where is she going? I go running after her jetting through this sea of people while laughing and debating if I should stop to get my phone and call her. Then she realizes that the door numbers were going UP and not DOWN and she stopped. If you know me or my mom at all this story shouldn't be that surprising or hard to picture, but it was still funny. I seem to find myself running for a real reason while laughing a lot (example: Ingles, which most of you know and probably just "lol"ed).
I get home and am still in awe of the beautiful new kitchen.
The first thing my mom says to me when we get home? "What wrong with your hair?" Yup....that's my mom. Welcome home. In her defense, my hair did look bad due to traveling and wearing a hat. She made up for it by cooking my favorite meal and giving me presents. My birthday came early this year (I had to open them in case we needed to exchange them since I have NOTHING in Lebanon). I must get my awesome gift giving gene from my mom. Thank you Mom, for everything you have ever gotten me because I always love it all. Part of the present was as simple as money to spend as I please. I find this funny because after TWENTY YEARS of asking for a dog and never ever getting one, my mom is finally (indirectly) getting me a dog.
Some of you may have heard about my magic fridge. There's a magic fridge that lives in my basement. Whenever I come home it's full of beer. I drink it and then when I come home next it's full of more beer. This magic fridge has moved from the basement to the garage. I love you magic fridge.
And now for my mom quotes, because I love her and she is funny.
1) "[lol] This woman's last name is Papajohn. I got an email and though it was spam from the pizza place. No it's my coworker." I guess this is why I too laugh at people with silly names. Like mother like daughter.
2) "I CANNOT WAIT until the 30th. What day is that? I will be downloading a CD" Me: Tuesday. What CD? Mom: BLACK EYE PEAS. They sang a version of "Favorite Things" on Opera. Me: Oh really? Did you see the AMAs? They sang a cover of another song. I've had the time of my life. Mom: Oh yeah maybe that was it.
3) Something that cannot be said because it involves possible Christmas presents for someone. But it was funny.
Also, she is giving me money to buy a mini laptop for Christmas. Yay! This is perfect because I was just complaining today about how heavy my laptop is. I need to talk to you Mr. Technology to make sure I want a laptop vs. an ipad.
New development: Mom just told me she got creative and bought a book but then lost the motivation to do anything.
I obviously want to make something from it real bad! And by something I mean EVERYTHING! But she didn't get any of the ingredients. They are all designs off of cake balls which we made last year. Maybe I can talk her into making one of them on Saturday. If not, I found some fancy white chocolate brownie mix thing that we can make.
Unrelated, but I'm glad Amber lost custody of her child because she's a horrible mother and person, I'm mad at the Thunder for hurting Rondo and keeping him out YET ANOTHER game, and a picture my mom just gave me from Labor Day.
High point: Stepping off the plane and feeling at home.
Low point: My mom dissing my hair.
On deck: Tomorrow. Thanksgiving 1 in Richmond. (Yes, it is Thanksgiving ONE because Friday is Thanksgiving two. When you have a nurse in your family sometimes you have holidays twice.)
Friday, November 5, 2010
Montreal
I woke up on Wednesday and decided to leave the country. Okay that’s not true, but I did wake up and drive to Montreal. Work wanted me to go for a training class and I was excited to go because it’s always fun when you have to use your passport. I was nervous driving over the border just because I didn’t know what to expect. There was no line, I gave her my passport, said I was coming for work, leaving Saturday, leaving nothing in Canada, and was on my way. As simple as that, I was driving in another country! Luckily for me, I bought a Prius last year and with one touch of a button I switched my speedometer from mph to km/h. Pretty cool! Once I got to Montreal I drove every street 5 times before finding my hotel, which I saw while driving past it and had to go around the block again. Then I had to drive around YET AGAIN to park after I checked in. The hotel was in the middle of the Chinatown of Montreal. Weird, but kind of cool I guess. I was finally read to relax and enjoy the city. It was nice having coworkers already here so I had people to talk to and go out to eat with. We went to old Montreal and had a steak (which I had been thinking about since one of them posted on his facebook earlier in the week what an awesome steak he had). Naturally when the company is paying you get a dessert even when you are too stuffed. I had a yummy slice of cheesecake which reminded me how I want to learn how to make it (Rebecca I want a spring pan for Christmas).
So far Montreal seemed to be alright. Then came Thursday. Dun DUN DUN! I woke up feeling like it was Christmas. I was going to sit through class and go look at a dog I was convinced I would get. After over a month and two lost connections, my time to get a dog was finally here. Time went by sooo sloooow but finally ended and I ran to my room to dump my laptop, then rush over to the metro just across the street. Oddly enough, I needed to take the orange line. I should know by now, whatever city I’m in I’ll probably want the orange line. That seems to be my color when it comes to metros. I counted 12 stops and got off, then stood in the middle of the street not knowing what to do next. I'm so used to counting on my phone and google maps to figure out where to go but I didn't have that, now what was I supposed to do? It was like I was back in the 80's and had to use maps and just hope I'm walking the right direction. I finally found the SPCA building and said I wanted to talk to someone about adopting Falco. “Falco gone” she said as she shook her head no. NOOOOOOO. They had another boxer just come in, but after talking to me and reviewing his file it was determined we were not a good match. I was heartbroken and tried not to cry in front of the volunteer because it wasn’t his fault and I didn’t want him to feel uncomfortable or think I was crazy (and he was kind of cute, especially with that French accent). I was so sure this was it that I felt not only like I didn’t get the dog, but like he was taken away from me. On top of that, I had to hop on the subway to get back to my hotel, and then go to dinner pretending like everything was peachy with my coworkers. Needless to say from that moment on my view on Montreal was tainted and added to the “this city is worthless” list, right next to Albany, NY.
Unfortunately for me, I booked my hotel room through the weekend, before all this dog drama happened, thinking, “oh it will be fun being in a new city I’ll want to explore and stay the weekend since I drove and can leave whenever I want.” I sat through class yet again on Friday and was going to go to the biodome in an attempt to enjoy my visit to Montreal. We had dodgy internet in class but I could access outlook so I asked my sister to look up the biodome and see if it seemed look and worth it. She replied back, Yes it looks cool, but IT’S CLOSED! Well shoot. Now what am I going to do all day? Class ended around 3 and with no dog and no biodome, my last attempt to enjoy the city was to walk around old Montreal some more. It didn’t take long before I was cold and wet. Looking outside you wouldn’t think it’s raining but it was just enough to get you damp and extra cold without needing an umbrella. Once my legs and face got so cold that I couldn’t take it anymore, I headed back to my room. I guess paying for a hotel room another night was not the best idea I’ve ever had. I’m sorry Montreal, I tried to like you and have a good visit, but you just weren’t helping me. At least I got my Starbucks fix.
It would be an understatement to say the drive home was lonely. I kept thinking about how there was supposed to be a dog in my backseat. No dog, just me. Trying to look on the positive side, I thought since I DON'T have a dog in my car that means I can make a stop on the way home. Burlington Mall. A little retail therapy. Burlington is a very cute town and I will definitely be going back there. I made a deposit in the "eliz wants to wear more skirts" project, got one last Starbucks before I was back in my small town, and hit the road again. What's the best thing to do while driving alone? Mariah Carey. Loud. Old School. Not any of this new stuff. Yes, I was feeling better already.
High: The pride of being able to drive and figure out the subway in another country.
Low: Walking out of SPCA with no dog.
On deck: Thanksgiving in Fairfax, VA. Although my boss just announced a meeting next week while I’m the only one in town, so possibly Boston next week.
So far Montreal seemed to be alright. Then came Thursday. Dun DUN DUN! I woke up feeling like it was Christmas. I was going to sit through class and go look at a dog I was convinced I would get. After over a month and two lost connections, my time to get a dog was finally here. Time went by sooo sloooow but finally ended and I ran to my room to dump my laptop, then rush over to the metro just across the street. Oddly enough, I needed to take the orange line. I should know by now, whatever city I’m in I’ll probably want the orange line. That seems to be my color when it comes to metros. I counted 12 stops and got off, then stood in the middle of the street not knowing what to do next. I'm so used to counting on my phone and google maps to figure out where to go but I didn't have that, now what was I supposed to do? It was like I was back in the 80's and had to use maps and just hope I'm walking the right direction. I finally found the SPCA building and said I wanted to talk to someone about adopting Falco. “Falco gone” she said as she shook her head no. NOOOOOOO. They had another boxer just come in, but after talking to me and reviewing his file it was determined we were not a good match. I was heartbroken and tried not to cry in front of the volunteer because it wasn’t his fault and I didn’t want him to feel uncomfortable or think I was crazy (and he was kind of cute, especially with that French accent). I was so sure this was it that I felt not only like I didn’t get the dog, but like he was taken away from me. On top of that, I had to hop on the subway to get back to my hotel, and then go to dinner pretending like everything was peachy with my coworkers. Needless to say from that moment on my view on Montreal was tainted and added to the “this city is worthless” list, right next to Albany, NY.
Unfortunately for me, I booked my hotel room through the weekend, before all this dog drama happened, thinking, “oh it will be fun being in a new city I’ll want to explore and stay the weekend since I drove and can leave whenever I want.” I sat through class yet again on Friday and was going to go to the biodome in an attempt to enjoy my visit to Montreal. We had dodgy internet in class but I could access outlook so I asked my sister to look up the biodome and see if it seemed look and worth it. She replied back, Yes it looks cool, but IT’S CLOSED! Well shoot. Now what am I going to do all day? Class ended around 3 and with no dog and no biodome, my last attempt to enjoy the city was to walk around old Montreal some more. It didn’t take long before I was cold and wet. Looking outside you wouldn’t think it’s raining but it was just enough to get you damp and extra cold without needing an umbrella. Once my legs and face got so cold that I couldn’t take it anymore, I headed back to my room. I guess paying for a hotel room another night was not the best idea I’ve ever had. I’m sorry Montreal, I tried to like you and have a good visit, but you just weren’t helping me. At least I got my Starbucks fix.
It would be an understatement to say the drive home was lonely. I kept thinking about how there was supposed to be a dog in my backseat. No dog, just me. Trying to look on the positive side, I thought since I DON'T have a dog in my car that means I can make a stop on the way home. Burlington Mall. A little retail therapy. Burlington is a very cute town and I will definitely be going back there. I made a deposit in the "eliz wants to wear more skirts" project, got one last Starbucks before I was back in my small town, and hit the road again. What's the best thing to do while driving alone? Mariah Carey. Loud. Old School. Not any of this new stuff. Yes, I was feeling better already.
High: The pride of being able to drive and figure out the subway in another country.
Low: Walking out of SPCA with no dog.
On deck: Thanksgiving in Fairfax, VA. Although my boss just announced a meeting next week while I’m the only one in town, so possibly Boston next week.
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