Ready for some travel posts?

Switzerland...

Have you ever been there?  Not me.  This was my first time.  I wish we had allowed a few more days, but I was pushing my luck to get the rancher to leave for 3 weeks at one time.  In December it is pretty chilly.  I was shocked to see that it was warmer there than it was when we left home.  But this was moist, cold air.  When I left home, it was about 16 degrees Fahrenheit.  Here, it is above freezing, but I haven't figured out the dress code yet.  Glad I brought my cozy warm boots.

This was the totally fogged in London Heathrow Airport.  Lots of people...

Getting here was a bit of an experience.  I enjoy talking about travel, because everyone has a story.  Usually, you are in the minority if you make a trip and don't experience any hiccups.  There were tons of delays in the U. S. on this day, and luckily they didn't affect our flights.  Until we hit foggy London Heathrow.  That's right, the sneaky airport that doesn't give you your gate until 15 minutes before boarding, then you have to run to the gate, literally.  On the flip side, they have wonderful shopping and entertainment.    Makes any two hour delay no problem at all.  Even if it turns into four hours.  They have several nice British Airways lounges.  No better way to keep me calm.  Let me shop, or put me in a lounge.

During the crazy Christmas season, I think the people-watching is at its best.  People are stressed, parents are frustrated, and some people just don't pay any attention to what's going on around them at all.  We entertained ourselves watching this 4 year old girl completely cause chaos and run through barriers that said, "Do Not Enter."  All the while, her dad talked on his cell phone and pretended not to notice.  Three attendants at the gate were chasing her as she laughed and thought it was a game.  At one point, she took off down an escalator to a boarding area that was roped off.  She just pulled up the rope and went under it.  Oh.  My.  Gosh.  Be a parent.  I am now one of those old people that can't believe some parents ask their kids to "please come over here," and then not enforce what you ask them to do.  "Oh, you don't want to do that?  Okay, so what do you want to do?  Run all around wild?  Alright, please do it quietly.  Oh, you want to scream and laugh while you do exactly what we asked you not to do?  Well, okay.  It's simpler for me to not try to disagree with your little four year old personality."  Because I don't have small children, it is easy for me to say, "be the parent, not their friend."

You know I am familiar with my aircraft.  I don't go anywhere that I haven't looked up the equipment we are flying.  So from Heathrow to Zurich, we are on one of the oldest Airbus planes still flying.  Okay, fine.  They tell us it's foggy, but we're going.  Okay, fine.  Smooth, clear flight.  I can see lights on the ground the whole way.  Soon, we are descending to land, and where did these clouds come from?  Good grief, it's super bad visibility, but I figure these guys do this everyday, and I'm feeling pretty good.  I make this reference because I used to be very afraid of flying.  A couple of bad commercial flight experiences, okay, three -- but I've put those behind me.  We are dropping down through the clouds, when all of a sudden, the captain makes a maneuver that I have had before.  Okay, it's one thing to perform a steep climb in a fighter jet, you know, because you are expecting it.  It is quite another to perform a steep climb when you thought you were landing and close to the ground.  Yep, so the ridiculously old Airbus 319 pulls about 3 G's in a sudden climb that sets you back hard in your seat.  Bad words might have escaped my lips and my knuckles were tight and white, grabbing whatever was within reach.  After several minutes, the captain came on the intercom to explain the situation.  Apparently, air traffic control radar had picked up some kind of "target" on the runway.  "Probably just an animal," but we had to do another 30 minute fly around and be put back into the pattern.  A "target"?  A "TARGET"!  What is that?  Never heard that one before.  Really.  A deer, bird, bobcat, chicken?  About 45 minutes later, they finally put me on the ground.  I quickly cheered myself up as we walked up the ramp and into customs.  I couldn't help but look outside and try to see any hint of the mountains because I so wanted to belt out, "The hills are aliiiiiiive...."  Just had watched The Sound of Music a couple of days before.  Wrong country, I know, but it just felt right.

We get checked in to our hotel in the center of the city well after dark.  Found a bit of a snack supper, and local beverages of choice.  We were wiped.  I couldn't wait to see the mountains and scenery the next day.

Ready for some travel posts?

One Adventure Ends...

Okay, the reason for radio silence is because as you know, wifi is not readily available everywhere.  And we have been gone about three weeks to a little bit of everywhere.  Not EVERYWHERE, but about everywhere you could go if you went to Switzerland and worked your way up through Germany and France, ending in the Netherlands for the Christmas holiday.  We got to see 1/2 of the kids, and we are getting home early this morning after another side trip through London on the way home.  Need a vacation to recuperate from the vacation, but it's full steam ahead.  I think we took 4 gazillion pictures, so there will be plenty to talk about.  I'm working on a full post with pics for tomorrow.  Still traveling, and it's tricky, if not impossible with the tools I have now.  Hope you'll tune in!

One Adventure Ends...

Still Distracted

Still not ready for Christmas.  I am fine with that, as I am working on some posts for après-Christmas just for you.  Gathering lots of good material.  Trust me.  Winter arrived today, along with my buddy from back in the day, Jim's, birthday.  I was one of those kids who had parents whose friends were parents of boys.  Good preparation for being a parent to boys.  I was the only girl, and they tried to exclude me, but I was the oldest, so I told them they couldn't do that, and they believed me -- sometimes.  Shout out to the boys, you know who you are!

Still Distracted

Christmas Music

Christmas is still speeding toward us, and I can't figure out if I am ready for it or not.  One way I keep distracting myself is that dang iPod.  If I put it on while messing around the house, I crack myself up at the things I do.  I love me some Christmas tunes and have been known to break out loudly in song if I think I am alone.  The problem is when doing laundry, I might stop in the office to check email or the news headlines.  Then after receiving email that requires immediate attention, I might have to send a couple or more new emails or make some phone calls.  While doing that, the dryer alarm goes off, I really should go check it, but the doorbell rings, and hello, UPS.  Now I have forgotten that the dryer buzzer went off, so the clothes will be totally wrinkled when I finally remember to go check them.  Where was I?  Oh, right - still need to return that phone call from earlier when I missed the guy whose office is closed on Wednesday mornings on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday every month.  Where did those faxes come from?  Are they urgent?  I usually don't know, just need to pass them along to the proper farmer.  Dang it.  Just remembered the laundry.  Maybe it's soon enough that I can hit high heat fluff for 20 minutes and save the load from wrinkles.  (Don't forget - I'm singing along loudly.)  As I pass by the kitchen, I glance in and see 8-10 Walmart bags.  Huh?  Good grief.  Did I not unpack those yesterday when I got home?  Glad there aren't any groceries, or at least I don't remember any.  Better find out.  Let's see...why did I buy two gift cards?  Phone rings, another survey.  Did you not get the memo about how I sometimes jack with those people -- apparently not -- luckily, I am not in the mood.  I prefer an audience when I do that.

Do you get the idea?  It's just a miscellaneous array of piddly details that eventually get completed in the midst of daily stuff.  Listening to the music makes me an adult with distraction disease.

Moral of the story -- not ready for Christmas, decide to post on the blog, still don't know what's for dinner, probably will hit the class.

Christmas Music

My New Favorite Color....

If you know me, you probably know my news about us becoming grandparents.  What you may not know is that my new favorite color is..... PINK!  Oh.  My.  Gosh.   I hope those kids aren't messing with me.  I am way too fired up.  Someone told Mike the other day, a new grandpa himself, that we were in for some expensive fun.  Heck, I am more worried about fixing her hair!

The new parents told me that baby girls could wear colors other than pink.  Duly noted.

I found out that the new Pantone color of the year for 2014 is some shade of orchid.  Hey, I'm good with that.  I think variations of orchid are very flexible in clothing as well as decor.  Of course, the shopping commenced.  I'm not not overboard at this point, I'm overwhelmed.

I've never shopped for a girl before.  Baby boys wear jeans or khakis if they aren't wearing a onesie.  No accessories, socks don't exactly have to match, and they certainly didn't have ruffles.  I am beyond rookie-ness as far as this is concerned.  May have to call out for help.

I jumped in a Petit Bateau today.  Oops.  Darling 4 piece outfit.  Should have taken a picture, because I left it there.  Precious sweater, turtleneck, leggings, and skirt - shoes not even suggested or shown -- when I picked up the price tag, and the sweater alone was the equivalent of $112, sorry, Sheena, I had to leave it there.  A $500 outfit for a child who can't walk?  I was all in, but bad grandpa put the brakes on it.  Kidding.  About the grandpa, not about the price.  Would have made a great picture, but I'm thinking college may be more critical in the long run.  I am trying my best to be reasonable.  Not sure how long I will be able to show restraint.  Just sayin.

The best kind of trouble is headed my way.  Bet I can handle it.  :)

My New Favorite Color....

Middle of December?

Whaaaaaat?  Not sure how we got to here from a couple of weeks ago when it was January 2013.  Talk about the older you get, the faster it goes -- that's where I am.  I barely know what day it is.  I'm going to share the details of my yesterday.  There will be some randomness on posts upcoming.  Just doing the best I can.  Hope you laugh.

I did every bit of laundry I could find.
Mike got a haircut.
I went to Walmart twice, and I got irritated both times.
I denied myself hot chocolate for a very good reason.
Put gas in my car even though it didn't really need it.
Added 4 new songs to my iPod.
Did not have to check in at EITHER one of my part-time jobs.
Made a list.  Then I lost it.
Charged batteries on all my electronic devices.
Cleaned out my purse.
Ate 3 donuts.

Middle of December?

Here It Comes

The real Christmas season is upon us, and in usual fashion, I am spinning my wheels.  When my kids were at home, I could decorate the whole house, fix dinner, keep the laundry caught up, balance three part time jobs, and attend a Christmas concert and basketball game all in the same day.  My wheels were still spinning, but I could accomplish a lot under pressure.  I was a true multi-tasker.  For some reason, I can no longer do that.  Maybe I have developed adult-onset A.D.D.  Maybe I allow myself to not have to run run run for 14 hours a day.  Whatever the case, things don't quite get done like they used to, and that sometimes troubles me.  I was under this impression that when it was just me and the hubs in the house, things would be puppies and rainbows.  The laundry would practically do itself, because it became one-half of what it was.  We could attend whatever Christmas programs or ball games we wanted with no obligations or expectations.  I just can't keep all those balls in the air like I used to.  (Gosh, I hate ending a sentence with a preposition, but if it's my true voice, I have to.)
  :)

But with only a couple of true obligations, I am trying really hard to do the things that I want to do.  Would you believe me if I told you that is kind of hard?  It is.  Maybe the hard part is figuring out what I want to do.  I want to blog.  Sometimes I don't have anything that I think will interest you or make you laugh.  Nope, I don't want to run those menial errands.  No, I don't want to clean out that messy cabinet.  Looking back at my former super-woman multi-tasking life, I could probably squeeze it in, but I don't want to do it.  May I please build a fire and read a magazine until the basketball game starts in a couple of hours?

I thought about taking up knitting.  After all, aren't grandmothers supposed to be able to do that?  Unless knitting needles and an instructor walk into my house, it's not happening.  Now books, on the other hand?  I have a weakness for books, especially children's books.  I kept most of our kids' books, mainly for sentimental reasons.  Probably should get a large bookshelf for that nursery, I mean spare bedroom.

During this Christmas season, I want to tell you about the fun times we have, and I want to encourage you to tell me about yours.  Sometimes the best subject matter comes from the most unlikely of places.  So, when I get a few minutes, I'll try and touch base.  In January, I am going on a medical mission trip.  There could be times when I may not have any wi-fi service, but I'll keep notes.  I am looking forward to that whole experience.  More later.

I won't post a picture, although I have several that are hilarious -- but a couple of weeks ago, a night out and nice steak dinner with a friend turned into a physical therapy session with nameless friend lying across three chairs getting her shoulder worked on by another friend, who works as a professional in this area and had just finished her dinner.  There was popping and stretching, moaning and groaning.  It was late, and most of the other patrons were gone, but you can't make these things up.  You never know.  Nameless friend is capable of keeping me in stitches.  And this time, she wasn't even trying.

Just saying, it is going to be a busy month.  I am going to check in when I can during this Christmas season.  Mike thought it best we step up our internet speed here at the house, and I sure wasn't going to argue with that suggestion.  All the more reason to blog and keep you up to date on my journey to being a grandmother!

Here It Comes

What's The Old Saying?

I borrowed that from www.graphicsheat.com. 

Surely you have been in a conversation when someone says, "what's the old saying?" -- and then they proceed to state some form of a quotation or phrase.  Here's the one someone threw at me the other day.  "What's the old saying, 'It's easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission'?"  And I was like "What?"  I've never heard that before in my LIFE!  And then we started talking about phrases and old sayings that are used frequently in our own conversations with others, and trying to think of others that might sound like you made it up because people don't use them as much.

I heard this one in a pop song recently,
"Loose lips sink ships."
Never heard that before....

"No need to reinvent the wheel."
"It's not rocket science."
"The best cure for a short temper is a long walk."
"A turtle travels only when it sticks its neck out."
"As long as you live, keep learning how to live."
"Be not overcome with evil, but repay evil with good."  - Bible
"When you go to a donkey's house, don't talk about ears."
     So far, that's my favorite.
"Please all, and you will soon please none."  - Aesop
"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery."  - C. C. Colton
"Be gracious in defeat."

What's The Old Saying?

Still Shopping.... kinda

Sometimes in our family we make agreements with each other to not do gifts and give to someone or a family in need.  You don't have to travel very far from your own home to find places that you can help.  Or you can travel around the world to see people who have nothing and would be thrilled with clean water to drink.  Ways to help are all around us -- you can pick from a variety of great causes.  I am going to share a few of my favorites with you.

This organization, Wig Out, was founded by family members of a dear friend of mine who lost her battle with cancer just over eight years ago.  It is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that provides wigs to people who need them.  You would be surprised at what a variety of people need wigs and are unable to get them.  Maybe they don't know where to go, maybe they can't afford one -- and the recipients of these wigs are from every age group.  They also have a Facebook presence if you want to know more.  

Operation Christmas Child is an opportunity to pack a shoebox chock full of toys, clothes and goodies to be delivered by volunteers to children all over the world.  The program is sponsored by Samaritan's Purse, helping in Jesus' name.  They participate in several mission, crisis and disaster relief efforts in a very big way.

Samaritan's Purse also sponsors a program that provides animals to families who are taught how to raise and care for them, providing them with food and sometimes a modest income.  You can help buy chickens - which a family can raise and reap the benefits of the eggs they lay, learn to use the droppings as fertilizer, and are taught how to grow food for them.  Families are provided with the start up food, vocational training to build coops, and marketing skills for every participant.  They do the same things with dairy animals and beekeeping.

This center is a Global Ministries Child Sponsorship site.   It is called the Dumaguete Kalauman Development Center in Dumaguete City in the Philippines.  They provide school uniforms, supplies and school fees, as well as medical assistance to kids with under employed or unemployed parents.  Your donation enables these children who are among the poorest of the poor to be able to go to camps, participate in cultural activities, and to travel on field trips.  With the recent devastating typhoon experienced by this country, the ways you can help are probably never-ending. 

 And of course, there are multiple opportunities for giving right under your nose.  This particular event, Christmas Cheer for Children, is an annual one in my community, and it provides Christmas gifts for children within about a 150 mile area.  It takes a village, and I am thankful for all these wonderful people who work so hard to provide opportunities for me to help in an organized way.  Every little bit helps, and I hope you will consider giving to others this Christmas season.

Still Shopping.... kinda

Gift Ideas #2

It is already December 2nd, and I feel like I am behind on everything.  Nevertheless, Christmas shopping beckons, and I have succumbed to it once again.

This jewelry organizer for travel is the darnedest thing I have ever seen.  It is $24.99 at the Container Store.  Wish they had more prints or colors, but it's pretty sweet.  Check out the video on this link.

I dearly LOVE the Container Store.  These cool stretchy cotton sleeves for your tablets and mini tablets would be awesome for anyone.  In this little number, you could slip your portable electronics into your purse or another bag without putting it in a bulky case.

Indulge me.  I'm saving you time by showing you all these great things that the Container Store has to offer.  I always need LONGER charging cords, and the fact that this one comes in three colors makes it more desirable.  If I am in a hotel room, am I more likely to overlook and leave a bright green cord plugged into the wall or somewhere on the desk, or am I more likely to overlook a white one?  Looks like this one adapts to old and new iPads and iPods.  The fact that it is ten feet long is a big plus for me.  The regular USB cords are $24.99, and the lightning USB cords are $34.99.

I first saw these kitten shoes about two years ago, and at first I thought, "Really?"  But they are kind of starting to grow on me.  Or are they?  Maybe I am just so curious, I need to try them on and see what the fuss is all about.  I am sure they are house shoes, but given my penchant for comfort, I would wear them out in public.  Silly expensive, I'm not even going to say how much.  They are made by Charlotte Olympia. 

I love these Kendra Scott birthstone necklaces.  Of course, she makes earrings to match, but these necklaces are pretty new.  At $65, it may be the perfect price point for the person you are buying for.  Neiman Marcus does free shipping and free returns now, just like Nordstrom's.

Happy shopping!

Gift Ideas #2

Gift Ideas - #1

It is time to buckle down.  Christmas is coming.  The end of the year is knocking on all of my desk doors.  First things first.  

Let's get some of the gifts for family and friends headed their way.

Always looking for gadgets, we have friends who have this handy little item in their home.  Way cool!

The Nest Learning Thermostat allows you to control the temperature of your home from anywhere using your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch or Mac computer.  You just download the free app, and the device itself is simple to install.  It attaches to the wall anywhere in your home, and it operates off of the Wi-Fi in your home.  You can find them at Best Buy or many other places.

This portable and rechargeable speaker is made by Beats by Dre, and it's called the "Pill".  (Guess that's kind of self-explanatory.)  I think the largest choices of colors are at Best Buy.  They are pricey at $199.00, but if your music is important to you, you will get your money's worth.  I received one of these as a gift shortly after they came out.  It requires Bluetooth on your device, and my little iPod was a few generations too old -- it didn't have Bluetooth.  Guess what!  I had to get a new iPod to go with my new super cool speaker!  If you have an old iPod, the upgrade isn't that much more expensive, and it does hundreds of things that the old ones didn't.  I love the radio feature.  Plus, it's so tiny, I tuck it in my waistband all the time when I am not using the Pill and I am wearing my headphones.  

(That didn't quite sound the way I wanted it to...)

This is one of my family's favorite kitchen appliances.  Made by Breville, it's a Duo Panini Press - clearly, you can make two sandwiches at a time.  We find that grilled sandwiches are so much more delicious than cold ones.  Plus, you can experiment with herbs and cheeses - yum.  I found this one at Crate and Barrel, where they are currently offering 15% off and free shipping, through tomorrow.

  Any discount and the words, Free Shipping are like music to my ears.

Okay, I realize we have a theme going here, and these are not exactly cheap gifts.  Maybe I'll do that another day.  These were just things that caught my eye over the last few days.

This picture is not great, but this brand of luggage is one of my favorites.  It is made by Victorinox.  This 30" rolling expandable upright suitcase is about all I can handle.  Since I do a fair amount of traveling, I need to be able to juggle my own things.  If I load this up, I can get anywhere.  The way this luggage rolls and balances itself is not the same as other luggage.  On a recent trip, I was dragging two pieces of luggage this exact size.  This particular piece never tried to turn over on me, it withstood me stacking another bag on top of it, and it very easily glided in any direction I needed it to go.  The other piece of luggage; well, I might have said a bad word.  Another thing about this luggage, is that I am a fan of what they call "90-10" luggage.  I don't particularly like the luggage that opens right in the middle, "50-50."  For me, it is harder to pack.  It is harder to open and leave open --or to close when staying in a hotel room if you decide to lock it.  There are some way cool, sturdy and beautiful pieces of that hard-sided 50-50 luggage, but it's just not for me.  There are lots of designer and fashionable pieces of luggage, too; but at the end of the day, I have to be able to handle it all by myself.  It doesn't matter one bit if I have a chic Louis Vuitton or Hermes bag, if I am lying in a heap on the floor.

Seriously, do not laugh.  Every man in my family has some form of a headlamp.  If you don't, you are missing the boat.  This particular Petzl one is currently on sale for one last day at this link.  You can buy these things almost everywhere for $10 to $500.  It just so happens that I have a handyman at my house, and when he wants to shut off the electricity to rewire something, (maybe I am not supposed to tell people that he does that since he isn't an electrician), it comes in really handy.  Also, I have seen him roll under cars or trucks to work on something wearing one, and he assures me it is so much easier than holding a flashlight with his teeth.

Well, I have had to write about gifts that I am not giving this year because my friends and family would be un-surprised if I revealed it all right here.  I'll start my quest for some inexpensive gifts and get back to you on that...

Gift Ideas - #1