Happy New Year!

It never fails......
I am always amazed by the way time flies as we celebrate the holidays.
I used to wonder if it was because I was getting older?
Take this last 12 months.....I never would have thought I would make a cross country road  trip to New Hampshire to meet Danny's family, plan and celebrate a wedding and  travel to the South four times.
Could all of this really have happened?
Tonight Breanne and Danny had some friends over to celebrate. I did my usual cooking and we had lots of good food,  fun games , tons of laughing, sitting around a campfire laughing some more, watching the neighbors set off fireworks ( apparently, it's like the 4th of july here!)
 and ended the evening with Dick Clark ( who knew he was still alive?) in the living room counting down to the new year.
I missed having Mitch around but I know he was loving celebrating in Madrid tonight.
As I watched everyone tonight, listened to their stories, and loving the differences we all have...I did realize that we all had one thing in common.
Enjoying spending our time with one another.
Whether that be family or friends. Old friends or new friends.
Discovering what makes others tick and sharing so much laughter.
We all have so much to be thankful for.
We all have so much to learn from one another.
May the days ahead in this new year remind us of just that.
And may we never lose the appreciation of just spending time together.
Happy New Year to you all, my friends!

Tis the Season....to wait in line at the Post Office

I'm starting to think I'm a magnet for all things unusual, outrageous and things that make you go " whaaaaa?".
I KNEW when I had to go to the post office today that I was going to have blogging material.
I was right.
I know it's Christmas time and I can only feel nothing but sympathy for the postal workers there.
Their clientele, however...the jury is out on that one.
Let's start with the parking lot.
I see a spot. I go for it. Only to have some woman cut me off and take it from me at the last second.
No biggie.
You want it that bad lady, it's yours.
As I walk to the door, there is a gentleman in  a wheelchair to my left ( who is always there) with a donation cup.
To my right is the problem.
Two guys holding Obama posters that have nazi references all over them. One makes eye contact with me.
I learned back in grade school that the best way to get your name called is to avoid eye contact. The teacher always picks the one who is trying the hardest to disappear.
So I make direct eye contact with this guy. He steps directly in front of me and practically SCREAMS:
" we CAN save this country , you know!"
To which I reply:
" Please get away from me NOW."
 With  a smile of course. ( Mind you, I AM a mom and I DO have smiles that really don't mean I am happy!)
He steps aside.
Onward and Inward I go.
There is a line of about 10 people. Not bad.

This post office runs pretty fast, their workers are all on the ball.
I barely come to a stop in this line when a guy 3 people in front of me shouts out:
"how yooooo doing today?!?!?"
I look behind me.
Me?
Yeah, he was talking to me. No clue why.
Probably the darling reindeer necklace I have on. Yeah, that's it.
I merrily ( yep, I said merrily) responded in kind and then he proceeded to keep staring at me.
Then the cute little lady in front of me says:

Lady: where did you get THAT neat thing?
Me: uhm, trader joes. Its their reusable grocery bags. I use them for packages.
Lady: no, the white box that says Priority all over it.
Me: ( whaaaaa?) they are right over there ----> and they are free.
Lady: who knew?
Me: I did.

Man three people up chimes in again.
"How's YOUR day going?"
"so far,so good, thanks!"
 He nods his head, keeps staring.
What? Do I have a booger on my face, what?!?!

Let's take a look at the kid ( unattended) who is happily ( at least I didn't say merrily) ripping off all the strips that make the mailing envelopes stick. Where is this kids mom anyway?
Oh, she's at the counter.
She casually looks back and then screams:
"JAMAL! GET HERE, NOW!"
To which Jamal ignores.
And continues peeling.
Does no one but me think this is odd and he is destroying government property?!?!
Nope.
Not a one.
Including his mother.
It's finally my turn and Mr three people ahead is at the counter next to me, still staring.
I already had my customs forms filled out and I had a lovely conversation with the woman working behind the counter.
" Nice job taping this"
"thank you, I even hot glued the seams together"
"wow, wish everyone did that, that will be 61.90 please"

I knew it was going to be a high dollar amount to mail this thing to Spain.
I was prepared.
At least, for the shipping costs.
Not for the clientele.
Never prepared for the clientele.

Travel time draws near!

Oh, it's getting to the point where I am pre-packing for my trip to the South!
For the most part, I enjoy traveling. For the most part.
 Like, when I am in a car.
A plane? Not so much.
There are just so many issues with flying.


1.   I feel that one day I am just going to show up at the airport naked. I think this would eliminate all the questions and or issues that TSA may have. Altho, I hesitate because I am just not that into making any local headlines.


2.  The seats are small. Or my boobs are too big. ok....maybe it's the latter....
I always feel the need to apologize to my fellow seatmate. Which, for the most part, is usually a man and he usually doesn't mind. Run with that one where you will.


3.   I am constantly listening to plane noises. I have John Nance to thank for that. 
30 years and 13 thousand hours of flight time as a pilot and aviation crash expert, turned author. I have read every one of his books. ( his secretary was walking by my newly constructed home and asked me for blueprint info, for her boss John Nance! But, that's another story!)
So I find myself watching as the slats manually deploy and listening for any, and I mean, any suspicious noises.
Thank you John


4.   The inconsiderate seat mate in front of me. As he/she not so gently ( never gently) comes careening down upon my tray table. ( see past blogs)


5. Lack of sleep. Not matter what time my flight departs, I can never sleep. Because my friends, I would be THAT woman in the picture . 
I have my dignity to maintain.

I just know I would end up either : 

a. snoring

b. gasping for air as I stopped breathing ( a normal night time experience for me)

c.  or cuddle with my seat mate. Could be very awkward.  For both of us.

6. The flight time is actually 5 hours but feels like 12.  I always have wi-fi and my ipad on hand but the time always drags. Especially when the plane is jammed and every seat is taken. I feel like I need to move around. I always want to be moving. ( chalk it up to the nervous french woman genes I carry) And let's face it, I can't do that.

Some people do. And they are downright annoying. I kinda want to slip my foot into the aisle ever so casually as they come down it for the 137th time. I feel for the misfortunate person sitting in that last row  by the toilets. Man, what did they do to deserve THAT?

So I sit. Obediently and fidget just a bit. I can't help it. I haven't gotten any sleep!!

7. My seat mates. Wow, this is an open ended discussion in itself. You've read my past travel blogs. I would like to think I am not in this category of people. 

Did I just judge?

Yes. 

Yes. I. Did.

I always recall something I read pertaining to talking to people. If they ask, then respond. If they didn't...then don't volunteer the information. Good advice.

Now, if I could just have that advice printed up in a business card, I would be sitting pretty.

Literally.

-------->"my card?" 

When I am driving , the world's my oyster. 

Unless Danny is driving. Like last year when we drove from Tacoma to Vermont for the holidays. In 5 days.

Five. 

"ooooh, a Dinasour exhibit! Let's stop there!"

"......no response......just faster driving......"

"ooooh, that diner makes fresh cones!"

.......faster driving.........

"oooooh, that looks  like a cool antique place!"

You get the gist.

Ok, ok, I know we had someplace to be so I will cut Danny some slack.

Just once.

Next time, we are stopping flipping everywhere!!!

(Why do I get the feeling there is not going to BE a next time?)

So, I have 14 days until I am on another flight. Time to get that suitcase out and pack it so that I will not be charged 200 dollars  for extra weight by Delta.

Funny thing that. I checked in with said luggage going to Atlanta on my last trip.

No problem.

I even left clothing  to be donated to the goodwill when my trip was done.

So, lighter luggage on the return trip home. 

Right?

Wrong. 

Danny and Breanne dropped me off at the airport and I was the only soul there at the Delta counter. Lugged my suitcase on the scale and they told me it was overweight.

Whaaaa?

200 dollar fee. 

No lie.  Told them that could not be possible as it was lighter than when I left Seattle!

Then they just stared at me.

I told you I have travel issues.

Going to "under pack now".