A daily affirmation for you!

Look into the mirror as you play this clip!


Uh, huh...you're welcome!

Inauguration frenzy!

Inauguration frenzy has begun here in Washington, DC! The hotels are booked to capacity--many people have posted their homes online for rent for the week of the inauguration--even people two hours away in Gettysburg are renting their homes out!

There are some crazy listings out there, too! I know you can find a lot of people wanting to rent out their homes for the week--I just don't know how willing people are to pay the prices they are asking.


This listing offers two townhomes right next to each other, with 7 bedrooms can sleep up to 10 adults. An air mattress will be included! Walking distance to two Metro stations, the owners will provide the renters $500 worth of food and beverages of their choice. All this can be yours for the Inaugural deal of $30,000!


This home is listed as a five bedroom with a gourmet kitchen, that is only a mile away from two Metro stations. $6000 per day/4 day minimum, or a steal at $35,000 for the whole week!








This lovely home is listed as having 4 bedrooms, and sleeps 6 comfortably. Airport pick-up and drop-off included, as well as luxury transportation to and from the Metro. 10 miles from downtown Washington, this home can be yours for $50,000! Call now!


Finally, even though there is no photo, this listing is my favorite:

$1000000 / 1br - Inauguration...I am not a price Gouger...I Promise

I am have small, crappy apartment located in a bad area of town. I have little morals, and am interested in taking advantage of the fact that for the first time in a long time there is genuine hope in this country. That hope will hopefully translate into big dollars for me when you rent my place at extravagant prices.....P.S. I forgot to mention that even though I am gouging you terribly and you probably are not all that concerned with breakfast, I will provide some bagels......Cheers and thanks for looking!!


Only in America...

E-mails and a wine tip

I received a couple of e-mails from my friends this week, and thought I'd share them.
This one from my friend, Steve the Pilot:

As some of you may know, last night my phone had an unfortunate accident. It was incinerated. (The remains were buried today unceremoniously in the garbage.) Apparently as I bent down to put some kindling in a bag to take inside, my phone fell out of my shirt pocket and into the bag without me noticing. Once inside, I put the bag and all it's contents (wood or otherwise) into the fireplace and lit it. I knew something was amiss when after the fire got going I heard a mini explosion and a popping-hissing noise (which is apparently why batteries are not to be disposed of in a fire!) Anyway, as a result, the phone and all the numbers I had stored on the phone are now Gone With the Fire!

Hate it when that happens!!

Here is one from my Flight Attendant friend, Debbie, who is due to give birth to her baby at Christmas time:

So…I’ve been procrastinating on getting my bag for the hospital ready to go. This week I went to Walmart and got a few things that people have recommended I have on hand like Tucks and Maxi pads and stool softener for when the baby and I get home. I figured, I prefer to have these things ready in case I need them rather than have to send Corey out for any of it later. I’m sure he appreciates it too.

I was watching Oprah the other day and some doctor had a simple remedy to get rid of cracked heels. She said to take Stridex pads and wipe the heels, then put on a good crème lotion and a pair of socks and sleep like that overnight. She swore that within a week your heels would be smooth. So I figured I’d try it while I could still reach my heels (I haven’t been able to reach my toes for a while now)

So I picked that stuff up at Walmart, too. That night I cut the toes off of a pair of old socks (I can’t stand to have my feet covered when I’m sleeping) and for the last two days I’ve been following doctor’s orders right before bed (I keep the stuff in my nightstand)…

This morning as I’m in the shower I’m looking at my heels and thinking “not much of a change yet….but she did say to give it a week.” And resolve myself to do just that. Five minutes later, I’m getting ready to brush my teeth and realize that the container in the medicine cabinet is the Stridex and I’ve been wiping my heels with the Tucks for the last 2 days!!! At least I know I’m covered if my heels experience any inflammation!

I love my friends! They keep me in stitches!

One last thing for today....a wine tip! I was perusing the Pioneer Woman's web site, and she featured Pastor Ryan with some wine tips. Here's one I never thought of before, and it makes perfect sense! (Are you listening, Dad??)

"Don’t ice it down, grape it down - Got some slow sippers on your hands or maybe you just want to take things to the next level of awesome? Drop some frozen grapes into the wine to keep it chilled. You would never want to put ice into the wine as it would water it down, but the grapes will do the trick and maintain the integrity of the wine. They taste great at the end of a glass as well."

Over the river and through the woods...

Ahhhh! It's that special time of the year...the weather has turned cold, the holidays are upon us, you are bundling up the kiddies and flying to Grandma's house for Thanksgiving dinner....

WHAT?? Are you out of your mind?

(Pardon me! I digressed...)

Traveling these days isn't easy! Weather delays, mechanical problems, crews out of position, cancellations--a plethora of issues can occur! And, none of it your fault! I posted my Top Three Travel Tips earlier this year, and have a few more with families in mind. Here are some of my best Flight Attendant/Mom/Mimi tips to help ease the pain of travel this week:

Print your boarding pass before you leave home.

In fact, most airlines allow you to check in 24 hours prior to departure. Do this. The sooner you check in, the less likely it is you and your family will be involuntarily bumped from an oversold flight. And, trust me, your flight is oversold. And, when everyone who purchased a ticket shows up, and no one volunteers to be bumped from the flight, the last people to check in will be the people who are left behind. And, since all the flights will be packed to the gills for the holiday travel, with no spare seats, it may take you days to get to Grandma's house.

Also, with your boarding pass in hand, you do not need to go to the ticket counter to check in, unless you are checking bags. You can go straight to the gate, via the TSA security checkpoint.


Arrive at the airport with plenty of time to spare.

The last thing you want on your plate is to be rushed and harried. It takes time to find a parking spot, time to unload the bags and the kids, time to wait for the parking shuttle, time for the shuttle to make its' way to the departure area, time to unload the shuttle at each airline (yours will be the last stop, of course!) and time to figure out what gate you are going to and where it is. Give yourself at least 30 minutes more than you think you need.

As you are waiting for the parking shuttle to pick you up, take a cell phone picture of where you parked--or send yourself a text message. That way, you will know where you parked when you come back.

Dress appropriately.

Planes are cold. Most of the Flight Attendants are pre-menopausal and having hot flashes. Besides, we don't control the temperature and frankly, think it is funny when you show up on your November flight from Miami-New York City in a tank top, and expect to be warm. That's right, we'll be talkin' about you at the bar tonight....

Blankets are scarce on domestic flights. Many carriers are charging for them (which is actually a good deal--it is yours, it is in a compact travel case, and it is new and clean and relatively cheap.) Layers work best. Every Flight Attendant I know carries a pashmina or sweater when they travel. Bring a sweatshirt for the kiddies--lets them get all toasty warm and fall asleep.

Pack smartly for the TSA security checkpoints.

The TSA folks have actually done a pretty good job on their website with pointers of their own for getting through the lines with ease. If you don't fly very often, it is probably a good idea to review this page. One of the things travelers must do now is pack liquids and gels into a container that is 3 ounces or less, and all of those containers must fit into a quart-sized zip top bag. And, they are serious about this. If you try to get your 4 ounce bottle of tres expensive perfume through the checkpoint, they will confiscate it. Remember, though, each passenger can take a quart sized baggie through the checkpoint, including your kids! You can pack your big liquid containers in your checked baggage (requiring a visit to the ticket counter) or just down-size for your holiday trip.
Many of us have several contact lens cases laying around. One idea is to boil it for a few minutes, and after it is cooled down, put dabs of your creams or make-up in it. Could be just the right amount to get you through security and the weekend. Once you have cleared security, you are able to purchase liquids in any size container and bring them with you on the plane.


Speaking of bottled water...

With the first beverage service, the Flight Attendants are pouring out of bottles of water. On subsequent water services, you may see a pitcher. This usually indicates that the water is "Galley Springs." It also may indicate that there is no more bottled water onboard. Perfectly safe to drink, according to the airlines and the government--two very trustworthy sources. I don't drink it. I bring my own. While it can be expensive to stock up on water at the airport, depending on how long your flight it, I would consider it. And, you really don't want you or your kids to get dehydrated. That makes for a guaranteed visit to Crankyville.

Protect your family from the dirty airplane.

In an almost perfect world, an airplane would still be a germ haven. In the not-even-close-to-perfect world of airlines, the planes may look clean, but are soooo not! That cushion gets cleaned every now and then, and the carpet may be vacuumed every night, it is still a mosh-pit of bacteria.

I bring little footies that go over my socks when I take my shoes off. And, if I have to use the lavatory (bathroom) I put my shoes back on...that isn't water on the floor of the lav, y'all!

I also carry a pack of Splash 'n Go with me. Or, baby wipes do the same thing. You will want to clean your hands, as well as your children's, if any part of the aircraft was touched. Trust me on this!

Baby changing tables

Most, but not all, airplanes have a changing table in the lavatory. If your arms are full of a fussy baby and a diaper bag, ask the Flight Attendant if she'd put the table down for you--we're happy to help out. Be sure you have brought a changing pad or something to place between your baby and the table.


Pack snacks

Unless you are in First or Business, your flight is not going to have much, if any, food to eat. Many airlines have Buy Onboard--or "BOB" as we call it. My airline actually has pretty decent BOB--some fresh, some boxed. This BOB cost $6 for a boxed snack and $9 for fresh snack tray. Many airlines accept cash and credit cards for purchasing BOB and adult beverages--and some only accept credit cards and some only accept cash. Carry both, or call your airline in advance to find out.

Consider bringing your own snacks onboard. Cheese holds up well, even out of the refrigerator for a few hours. Fruit, cheese and a hard bread make for a mini-picnic onboard. Pre-cut apples dipped in peanut butter are great. Other ideas include nuts, dried fruit--or fruit that holds up well (bananas, no; oranges, yes) and turkey jerky. Personally, I'd try to do healthy so the kids don't get amped up on sugar. On a plane, that is ugly for everyone--your neighbors, the crew, your kids, and most especially, you!



Keep 'em busy!

Gotta Gameboy? Bring it! DVD player? Check! Don't forget the earphones, though! Planes are noisy and parents seem to turn the DVD player volume up as loud as they can so Little Johnny can watch Barney sing "The Wheels on the Bus" over and over and over. This will not win you friends among your seatmates. Bring earphones for the kids! And, if you have more than one kid watching the DVD, buy a $4 splitter for the earphones so they can share! Your neighbors and your nerves will appreciate it!

Other random thoughts...

Most airplanes have a "sick sack" or "barf bag" in the seat pocket in front of you. If your kid gets sick, please use it, and call the Flight Attendant for help. We have ginger ale, which sometimes helps soothes a sick tummy. And, we can make an ice pack if you need it. Please do NOT place the full barf bag into the seat pocket--call us, let us help!

Have you seen this CARES harness? Might be too late to get one for Thanksgiving travel, but Christmas is near! For kids 22-44 pounds, it takes the hassle out of lugging around a car seat. My suggestion is to use it for take-off and landing, and use the regular seat belt during the flight.

If you need a baby bottle warmed up, ask the Flight Attendant--but give us plenty of time! We don't have microwaves onboard, so we may have to use a pot of hot water to warm it. Also, on some regional jets, there isn't any hot water onboard, so we can't warm it at all!

Finally...

Bring your patience. If there are delays because of weather, you can't expect to call up Grandma only to hear that it is sunny and clear there. The inbound aircraft (the one you are waiting for) is probably coming from somewhere else, and weather anywhere in its' path can cause a delay for you. The gate agent isn't lying to you--she is telling you what the "Ops" (Operations) people are reporting to her via the computer. The Flight Attendant isn't lying to you. She really cannot call the gate from the aircraft and have them hold the flight. And, she doesn't know whether or not your plane will be there when you get there. Most things are out of our control. Taking your frustration out on the Flight Attendant, Gate Agent, or Reservations Rep diminishes their desire to give you the most they can. Or, as we say in the South, "You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar."


Traveling these days isn't easy, and traveling with your family during the crowded holiday crush can feel next to impossible while you're in the middle of it. As one of our instructors at Barbie Boot Camp (Flight Attendant training) used to say, "Control the things you can control." You cannot make the weather go away, prevent a ground stop, or fix a broken airplane. You can take a deep breath, listen to the Gate Agent's announcements and determine if you need to call your airline's reservation number (that you have oh-so-conveniently put into your cell phone.)

What's that? Me? What am I doing for the holiday??  Oh, Norm and I are driving! And leaving from Northern Virginia/Washington, DC around 6p.m. on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving--well, that's a whole 'nother post!

I hope your holiday is warm, and family-filled and delay-free!

Emmie's View

Friends coming to visit

Two of my Flight Attendant friends are coming to visit tomorrow. Linda and Nancy are flying in from Chicago (ORD) and staying with us for a couple of days. They plan on doing the tourist thing here in Washington, DC. Linda and I were based together in ORD. We flew together one month and laughed our way through every trip.

(By the way, if Linda says anything about the incident in the bar in Cleveland (CLE), I will swear she's lying. Oh, and that thing in Buffalo (BUF), I plead the Fifth....)

Home, with secrets!

Just got home from a weekend in Virginia Beach. My family is there and that is "home" to me. Had an event going on, and I'll tell about it later. For now, have you checked out the Post Secret website? It is kinda cool and kinda creepy at the same time. Voyeuristic, for sure. People send in their "secrets" anonymously. Take a peek...

Feline Friday

Happy Birthday, Jennifer!

Veteran's Day thoughts...

I'm a Navy brat. My Dad served 30 years in the United States Navy, first as an Enlisted man, then as an Officer. Seems like every six months he would pack up his stuff, and we'd take it all out to the ship. I remember walking across the gangway from the pier at Naval Station Norfolk onto the massive aircraft carrier, and I was carrying his 8-track player. The ropes and lines used to hold this behemoth were swaying with the tide, and the pungent odors of diesel fuel, the ship's grey paint, and sea air would combine to announce what I already knew--Daddy was leaving, again.


My mom was not one to hang around for goodbyes, so we'd take his stuff to his stateroom (this was not a cruise ship, ya'll!), kiss and hug goodbye, and then go home. Home to our new life for six months without a Dad around.

We'd send letters back and forth--it sometimes took six weeks to get a letter to or from the ship. Every now and then, he's make a tape on his reel-to-reel/8-track player. Yes, if there had been a You Tube or web cam back then, I am sure my Mom and Dad would have been all over it! There were the sporadic and expensive overseas phone calls--and occasionally he'd finagle a ship-to-shore call to us where we had to say "over" each time we finished saying our sentences. ("School is going great, Daddy. I love you, too. Over.")

Then, the very happy day when his ship pulled back into Jacksonville, or Norfolk, or San Diego would arrive, and we would have our Dad back--for a while. He always brought back exotic presents from all over the world--the beautiful geisha dolls from Japan, the exotic goddess statues from Greece--it was like Christmas to us!

But, soon enough, it was time for him to go again. And, when he wasn't on sea duty, he'd get a transfer on shore duty. We'd pack up and move to a new Navy base, a new school, and new home. We moved so many times during his career--so many times that I ended up going to twelve schools in twelve years! So many times, that he promised all of us kids that we could attend our junior and senior year of high school at the same school. And we did.

He retired from the Navy not too many years after I graduated high school--declining a promotion that would have required another move and another tour of duty at sea. He was keeping his promise to my younger brother and sisters--and we all ended up graduating from the same high school.

Families are a huge part of the sacrifice that our military men and women make to serve our country. Having no control of it whatsoever, children sacrifice their fathers and mothers for a period of time, usually in the most important years of their growing up. The cost can be great. Fortunately, today's military is much better than it was 30 years ago....e-mail is available to almost every service member, phone calls are affordable, as well as web cams so Moms and Dads can read a night-night story to their kids. Still, having a Mom or Dad deploy is tough on any kid.

Today, I thank our veterans and think of the sacrifice they all made and continue to make. I am eternally indebted for their honorable service as they work to protect our national interests. Most especially, I'm thankful for my Norm's 25 years in the US Air Force, my son-in-law Liam's 9 years (so far) in the US Navy, my friend Shelby's in the US Army, my friend Bob's in the USAF and, of course, my Dad's 30 years. I am also ever so grateful for the sacrifice of the families, especially the children, who love their military member. The children pay a heavy price as their contribution to our nation.







These are some pictures from the US Navy Memorial, here in Washington, D.C. Norm, Jimmy, Linda and I visited here in September. Yep, I've been holding out on ya! (I stole a couple of pictures from the US Navy Memorial website, too.) This memorial is located smack dab in the middle of Washington, DC--Metro stop on the green and yellow lines at Archives-Navy Memorial. I just loved it.

It is a large plaza located on Pennsylvania Avenue and 7th Street--just a short walk away from the White House.

This bronze statue is called "The Lone Sailor" The statue represents the past, present and future Navy bluejacket – adventurous, independent, courageous, self-reliant, and resourceful. His authentic image evokes the lure and romance of service at sea.

This statue is inside the Naval Heritage Center, a part of the Memorial. I don't know what it is called, but, probably something like "Homecoming." This was a scene I grew up with all my life.









Some of the short pillars that surround the plaza at the Memorial have relief plaques on them--depicting various events--recovering astronauts from sea, the first aircraft carrier take-off and landing, and this one depicting a homecoming.

That same day, we visited the US Marine Corps Memorial in Arlington, VA. A symbol of a great Marine triumph, this memorial is a depiction of the famous photo taken by Joe Rosenthal.

I love what Ronald Reagan said once: "Some people wonder all their lives if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem."

While we were there, a young Marine received his commision at the Memorial. It seemed he had some family and friends there with him to celebrate the occasion.

I missed the next photo, but I did get the one that followed...


The newly commisioned Marine dropped down to one knee and proposed to the young lady right there in front of the memorial. Apparently, she said "yes!"

She is another American signing up for duty.