Who knew a 5 hour flight could feel like a 50 hour flight?

As I referred to in the previous post my trip from LAX to NYC was the trip from you know where! BUT at least I got it on the cheap.

I left Palm Springs and it was a warm 82 degrees, sunshine, kids playing in the cul de sac and all I could think about was the looming 1-2-3 degrees in the northwest where I was heading. The drive to LAX would take about 2 - 2 1/2 hours with little or no traffic -- -okay stop laughing! No really it was not bad at all! I got there in record time and I was parked out in Lot C and at the terminal within three hours of leaving Palm Springs. Still warm and sunny in Los Angeles!

I decided to meet a Friend, Jack Keady and his wife Bonnie for a little drink before I left. Jack Keady is a great Irish man who is always good for a few laughs and his wife Bonnie is just a lovely person. We went to a hotel close by the airport and visited for about one hour and they whisked me back to the airport to catch my flight.
Once I got back to the airport I had about two hours before departure time and I decided to grab a cup of coffee, sit and relax and read the third book in the Twilight series, Eclipse. All is well, still warm!

Then it was boarding time for the flight. Even as they call all the rows for boarding I can tell this is going to be a fairly full flight (my twenty plus years in the airline industry is paying off) so I decide to wait until everyone is on board to proceed. I hate hurrying up to wait in the jet bridge to board a full flight. I had only my purse as a carry on so I was in no hurry. They are still boarding when I hear my name called over the intercom -- ummmmmm...... what could that mean - Upgrade? I didn't request one.... Bumped? Wasn't that full of a flight? What could this mean. I check in at the counter and ask what the problem is --
All they say is, "You have not checked in or boarded the plane."

I say, "Yes, that is correct, it is 25 more minutes before departure."

They say, "You must get on board or you can lose your seat."

I say, "I am here and here is my boarding pass so you go ahead and check me in."

They say, "No you MUST board NOW."

I say, "I can see there is still a long line on the jet bridge and I prefer to wait out here."

They say, "No you can't"

I say, "Okay."

I then proceed to give the boarding agent my boarding pass, they scan the boarding pass and hand it back to me. I proceed to go and take a seat in the waiting where I can continue reading my book. There is more than one way to skin a airport agent.

Needless to say I walk on board the plane about 10 minutes before departure, find my seat, and stick my purse under the seat in front of me. I am ready to go! We depart right on schedule and I am ready to catch some ZZZZZZZZZZs during the five hour flight. As we take off it is pitch black out over the Pacific ocean, and I honestly felt as though I could feel some warmth through the plane -- yes, I am still in warm California.

What happen over the next 4 hours and 45 minutes was perhaps the most uncomfortable flight I have ever been on in my life. For those who know me, you know I have flown ALOT! All over the world!

Once the captain gave the go head to turn on your portable devices, recline your seats and get comfortable I knew this was the beginning of a terrible night. I was in a row which was in front of the emergency exit, therefore my seat would not recline. First problem. The woman in front of me reclined her seat ALL the way back and she was all but reading my book with me. The man next to me was smelling of the last curry dish he had eaten and he had some gastrointestinal problems to boot. The seat I was in was also moved a little forward to accommodate the exit row so there was no leg room. Yes, I know what you are thinking, I am 5'2" and what kind of leg room could I possibly need? Let's just say I could not even cross my legs so just imagine how you would of felt. I was feeling very closed in!

I quickly assessed my situation and decided I needed to ask the flight attendant to move to a different seat. He so promptly told me there were two choices, one in the last row of the plane (next to the lavatory) or one in the center in between two other snoring patrons. My options were limited and there was no sign of improvement anytime soon. So I decided to stay where I was. I knew this was going to be a long night.

The flight attendants RAN A MAD DASH (really it took them only 15 minutes) through the cabin serving coffee, sodas, drinks and water to those who so desired. I desired space enough to take them up on the idea of something to drink -- what with the seat in front of me practically laying in my lap, where oh where would the tray table go. I decided to put on some soothing classical music on my Ipod (drowning out the snoring next to me) and try and relax. The flight attendants then proceeded to bunker themselves in at the galley (which was right across from our aisle). They pulled the curtains and proceeded to hang out there for the remainder of the flight. I guess they thought everyone was all taken care of with their small cups of waters and their sodas.

About two hours into the flight the air in the plane became so hot I started to feel very hot, and it was difficult for me to catch a good breath. I was beginning to panic a little because I felt STUCK in the seat and I really could not move much. The panic became a reality and this had never happened to me before. I took off my jacket -- by literally raising my hands over my head and pulling it up and off. I was leaning forward in my seat which meant I was very close to the woman in front of me -- I started taking short deeps breaths -- I was wondering if the breathing exercises from baby labor could apply here as well, so I tried. I rang my flight attendant button twice -- no help -- I almost had to wake up the man next to me because I was getting ready to climb on top of him to get out. Finally -- the Flight Attendant was here --

"CAN YOU PLEASE TURN DOWN THE HEAT --- I think I am going to pass out!!!", I said in my calmest, don't wake up anyone voice.

"It is not too hot on the plane." she replied in her low, calm, quiet, indoor voice.

"But I am having trouble breathing and I am feeling claustrophobic!", I replied in my not-so-calm, indoor voice. (By the way, the man next to me never woke up!)

She said, "I will be right back."

She comes back with a brown paper bag and tells me to breathe in and out very slowly. SO I comply. Lo and behold I begin to feel better and I said thank you, in my nice, calm, quiet, indoor voice. Needless to say, she ran back to her galley snapped the curtains shut and began gabbing with all the other flights attendants. These two hours felt like 10 hours and we were not even halfway there!

I put on my headphones again knowing I would not find any sleep here tonight, and started reading my book again. This is how the rest of the night and into the morning went. Too bad it was the dead of night and I could not see anything outside at 39,000 feet except for city lights off in a distance. The good news was I read over 350 pages of my book. The great news is I hear the captain say, "Ladies and gentlemen we will be landing at JFK in about 15 minutes." HOOOOORAY!!!!!

In all my years of flying I have never had the opportunity to fly into JFK, and this morning it was a welcomed sight. I dug in my purse and pulled out my scarf, gloves, extra socks and donned all of my "winter" apparel. I deplaned as fast as humanly possible! I could not wait to get inside the terminal and get out into the wide open spaces, even if that was NYC.

As soon as I went down the escalator to the baggage claim area I was in for a rude awakening. The glass doors opened to reveal the effect 1-2-3 degree temperature could have on a human being. It was so cold in the baggage claim area you would have thought the bags were arriving outside. But hey, I was prepared with all of my winter apparel! As long as I could stop by the coffee shop which was brewing fresh HOT coffee I thought I could make it.

Yes, the flight was over, my bag was about the third off the belt and I had a hot cup of coffee in my hand. I was ready to brave the cold to catch the two hour limo ride to Connecticut. Maybe I could get some sleep there -- I hope, I hope, I hope.

The limo driver was about a half hour late and there were only two passengers which meant I would have lots of room to stretch out and catch a few very overdue ZZZZZZZZZs. NOT!

Once we were off in the limo to CT the limo driver promptly announced we could not lay down in the seat or put our feet up on the seats. So there I was -- ready to crash -- only to be told sleep would yet elude again. Knowing I would be up all day I was feelin even more tired! Oh well, there I was, head bobbing side to side as we drove north on I95 to New Haven. At least I knew I would get to see family soon.

Skip, my cousin, picked me up from the drop off point which was ironically right on the Street where my Aunt Pat and Uncle Al's home was. We decided to stop at a breakfast diner and grab and bite and catch up on what was going on. We then went to the hotel and Skip told me we did not need to leave for the wake for another three hours and he told me to get some sleep! Finally!

Sleep prevails!

Do you know how cold it is?

Having to plan a last minute trip is never the best way to do it. The fares will be high, the seats will be limited, you generally are not going somewhere you would necessarily go to at that time, and anything can happen.

Thus is the trip to my Aunt's funeral. It was sad to have to plan a trip for that purpose, but it was necessary. So the planning began.

I searched for several hours all the airports in Southern California for a flight to New Haven, CT. I have been involved in the airline industry my entire life, and I should have known it would have been an astronomical price to fly into New Haven, however I was banking on the airline industry woes to bring the price down. WRONG. It would have been $758 dollars to fly into New Haven. I kept looking and my hopes were high. Secondly I thought Palm Springs might be able to give me some relief, as long as I flew into NYC instead, but the $438 fare was with an arrival at 11:50 pm and no limo service to CT until the next morning. NEXT! So after a long look at Palm Springs and Ontario, I decided I would have to break down and look at LAX, but who wants to drive there!

LAX was an amazing choice (why didn't I think about that three hours ago) and I got a fare for $198 ROUND TRIP from LAX-NYC. The limo service to CT was $160, so the total for the ticket was $358! That was a deal. (However, there is another story on the actual flight that will be in a later post -- it was the trip from you know where!)

First off, I would NEVER plan a trip back to the NYC and Connecticut area during the winter months! As I check the weather I could not believe it was actually 1-2-3 degrees, and that was the high! I knew immediately I did not have the wardrobe to make this trip and survive the cold in the northeast. As a matter of fact, they were having the worst winter in a historically long period of time (of course they were)!

I went to my closet to see what I had to wear that might qualify as a "winter" garment. It took only milliseconds for me to realize an important fact --- I DON'T OWN A WINTER COAT. Forget about the turtlenecks, thick ribbed sweaters, boots, gloves, scarves, etc., I don't have a coat. So I knew I had to visit my neighborhood Kohl's to see what they might have to help me with such a dilemma. Unfortunately, they did not have much either because this is a desert community, and I am sure their buyers do not include heavy winter coats in their purchasing selections for the desert. SO, I return home empty handed to ponder again what I am going to do about clothes.

After much thought I decide I will just have to wear several layers of whatever I can muster up in my closet. I have several camisoles, a few thin sweaters, boots (although the beautiful thin leather dressy ones), long pants (light material as well) and some long sleeve blouses. I decided it will be best to pack everything I own that remotely smacks of winter. So I do. The sad realization is I cannot even fill up a suitcase with what I have. I finally decide whatever I have will have to do I will because spending money to buy something I may never were again is not an option. In other words -- buck up!

So I did, and I was off to brave the winter storms of the Northeast! I may have looked like the abdominal snowman at some point on this trip, but who cared, I was somewhat warm, or so I thought -- I WAS still in Southern California at this point.

Goodbye Aunt Patty Jean

I cannot believe it is already February 10 and I have not had a moment to blog for over three weeks. Let's go back three weeks.

Well much has happened since then, but then again, it always does. I sadly found myself attending my Aunt Patty Jean's funeral in Connecticut during the last week of January. Although my Aunt never did live close to me we were able to maintain a relationship via phone, letters and during the last few years of my Grandfather's life. She and my Uncle had moved to Georgia to help my Mom take care of my Grandma and Granddad's and their home in 1994.

During my frequent visits back to Georgia for the next six years I would stay at my grandparents home, the home I was raised in, and visit with Aunt Pat and Uncle Al. It was so great to get to hear even more stories of my grandparents and my Grandma's life in Macon, GA and to get to know about Uncle Al's family as well. There were many nights around the dining table, and many cups of coffee, where we would just talk for hours on end about anything and everything. I know now those times were a gift. I can still hear her laugh, see her "famous" eyebrow raise and hear Uncle Al and the LOUD television in the other room. Aunt Pat was someone who was always happier when she was making some food for anyone (especially her spagahetti gravy), holding their children, listening to their stories or just being there for what ever need may arise. She took care of everyone.

Uncle AL was a great fan of golf and one evening I was at a dinner at The Nest in Indian Wells. If you are from here you know it is a place for a much older crown than me, but it was the location this group had chosen to have dinner so I went along. As we were eating dinner I saw Arnold Palmer sitting a few tables over and I decided I would go ask him for his autograph -- for my Uncle Al. I made one of the men at our table give up their golf hat, because I don't golf, so I could get his autograph on a golf hat. When I approached Arnold Palmer I was nervous because I did not want to interrupt his dinner, but I knew this would be the only time I could get this close. So I interrupted, and he said he could not give an autograph unless I sat down and talked with him for five minutes. Now all of the guys at MY table were jealous, they all had told me not to do it. I sat there for five minutes and we talked about the first time I had seen him -- at the Masters in Augusta, Georgia. He was funny, he was kind and he really didn't mind I had interrupted his dinner. So I got the autograph for Uncle Al and I sent the hat to him. He was so excited when he received it in the mail.

After my Granny passed away in 1999 Aunt Pat and Uncle AL moved back up to Connecticut to be near their children and grand children. Grandad wanted to sell the house and divide up the possessions between Mom and Aunt Pat. That was a hard time for me because it was the home I grew up in and it was the end of the trips to Lumpkin Road forever.

I did not get to see Aunt Pat or Uncle Al again, and for that I am truly sorry, but it was good to hear her voice when I would call. Uncle Al passed away November 10, 2006 and Aunt Pat passed away January 26, 2009. I know they are together and happy to be with each other once again.

I love you both.

History is Made

Barack Obama

44th President of the United States of America

Today is a day thirty years from now, God willing, we will recall where we were at the time when President Obama was inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States of America. Oh how I wish the story would be that I was in Washington, DC on that historic day, but sadly it won't be. However, it does not diminish the fact that I was able to watch the news and the entire event on television and for that I am grateful.

I believe this inauguration, no matter your party preference, will impact all of us as we move beyond the prejudices and boundaries we put upon ourselves. I grew up in the South and witnessed many things as a child which made me firm in my belief that all men and women are created equal. I knew from an early age I did not believe it was right to deny people just because of their race or religion. I believe we should all embrace "The American Dream" and what we saw yesterday -- anyone who is an American citizen can be President of the United States of America.

My hopes for our nation on this day and forever we work to repair the great divide which exists in the politics of our nation. That we work together to repair our economic system, our educational system and our health care system so that all Americans can live the American Dream.

What a wonderful day. What a wonderful opportunity to be able to watch history of this magnitude, and what a day to be able to share it with our children.

God bless America! God bless our new President as he begins this journey for the American people.

Beehive "TRADE" Show

On Wednesday the Young Women's Beehive group came over to our home for their weekly activity. This week the lesson was all about charity and rotating items in their closets. Each girl was to bring items from their closet they were no longer wearing or using and bring them to trade with other girls. There was a catch -- in order to get an item they had to agree to do certain "Acts of Kindness or Service" for their family or neighbors. For each service or kindness they would sign an agreement to do the act and then they would get to select one item from the "TRADE" table.

The girls brought so many items to trade that there were leftover items in the end, and those items were donated to Goodwill the next day. Great job girls and Sister Talbert.

Jack is Back!

Jack Bauer is my television hero! After eighteen months of no Jack Bauer he is back and Polo is sad. Sad because my TV hero is my idol for the next 20 weeks and date night is Monday night! I know Jack is one mean dude and he does some really awful things to some really bad people, BUT it is all in an effort to save the world! I mean, you can understand my "TV hero" status I give him because when he is working to save the world I feel safer. Anyway, I am glad he is back because a little excitement on a Monday night never hurt anyone, did it?

Polo laments on how "fake" the show is......this coming from the guy who won't miss a single episode of LOST? Where is the reality check in that show? No comparison between Jack Bauer and Jack Shephard. Jack Bauer would win every time!

Oh well, Jack Bauer is my hero on Monday nights and Polo is my hero for life -- no comparison there either!

Free Jewelry!

I could never be a good sales rep for anything -- even stuff I like because I can't pressure anyone into buying anything. BUT -- I do like the sound of FREE jewelry! So I can host a party like no other! So that is how I started off the new year with some girlfriends -- I hosted a Cookie Lee party and because I hosted I got $130 in free jewelry -- no that is a deal I can sink my teeth into.Linda Broom a good friend from Texas was in town with the latest and greatest from Cookie Lee. The girls came and they conquered -- we talked, laughed, ate and bought a few pieces. It was great to catch up with everyone after the holidays and to start off the new year.
Thanks everyone!

Back to Normal

What is normal? For us it is the routine of school, work, chores, homework, piano, play practices, sports, church activities and on, and on and on. Funny thing --- that is the way I like it. Maybe not the school part because I love the kids being out of school, the bevy of activity around the house and the ability to sleep in late, even though late is only 8:00 AM.

As I think of what I would like to resolve myself to do this year I somehow think it is an exercise in futility. However, there is a certain comfort in taking the time to sit down at the beginning of the year and set goals for the new year. One of my goals is to continue to use my blog as a way to write about those things which may seem so mundane to others, but to me it is my life.

So as you read the blog through the year just know there in meaning, love, and hope in every single entry. I am grateful for my family and the boundless fodder they provide me to create this blog.

Happy New Year!

New Year's Day

On Wednesday December 31 Kristi calls me and asks, "Where's the party!". Knowing full well the New Year's party has been at the Doria's for the lasts few years. I told her the Carlyles dumped us this year for another party, the Whitlocks dumped us due to Jamie being in the hospital and we were pretty much alone for New Year's Eve. Kristi was quick to say -- that is okay because we are all pretty much party poopers and are usually in bed by 9PM -- was this glimpse into MY new year's eve this year? We agreed we would rather spend more time together so they would come on New Year's Day and spend the afternoon with us.

It was great to spend the day with the Jorgenson's, our friends from Riverside. It had been over a year since we all had gotten together, and in one year ALL of the kids had changed so much!

It was a gorgeous day in the desert and we spent most of the day outside enjoying each others company and soaking in the sunshine.

The time inside was spent on challenges with the Wii -- don't know who the winners were, but there was alot of laughing, yelling and playing. Kristine and Sierra did alot of note comparing since they both have interests in the realm of theatre. Both girls are going to be in plays this year -- Kristina is in Grease, and Sierra the Sound of Music.

The guys found a game of pick up football and it was the Jorgenson's versus the Doria's. I am not sure who won, but I say both because everyone was having a great time. After a lunch of tamales, salad and veggies the guys were all tanked up and ready to play.

The moms enjoyed snacking, talking, catching up and watching all of the activities unfold. My hat is off the Kristi and her keeping up with five kids, Primary presidency and all the after school sports and activities. Don't know how my friends do it with 5 and I can't seem to do it with 2!

Here's to hoping we do not wait another year before we catch up with each other!