Tuesday's Traveler - Airport Advice (read also Pet Peeves)

Welcome to Tuesday's Traveler!  I hope you are enjoying this, so far (since this is only the second post).  I hope to make this as fun and entertaining as possible, as well as informational.  So if you have any questions or want me to discuss anything, please feel free to ask!  I am no expert, by any means, but I have been doing this for almost 5 years so I like to think I have something to contribute!

This week I'm going to rant discuss some airport pet peeves advice.  I realize that not everyone travels as much as I do.  Some of you don't even get travel once a year.  These are just collections of things I've seen across my travels that have irked me just a little when dealing with the airport population.

1. Why do women (not business women) feel the need to dress to the nines when traveling?  They're not even riding in first class!  Yet they're working those platform stilettos like they're a Beverly Hills housewife.  Have you walked an airport lately?  Those floors are a little slick, and I wear flats with rubber soles!!  There is no way on this earth I would wear stilettos to walk down the terminal to my gate!

2.  While we're on the topic of fashion, let's talk about going through security.  We've all heard the horror stories of borderline molestation by the TSA agents.  Honestly, I think those are worse-case-scenarios from when the new machines were first implemented.  I have yet to see any person who is noticeably handicapped (in any way) receive the type of treatment these people are talking about.  Anyway, if you pack and dress properly and follow the guidelines for the signs posted (and if you look online prior to your trip), security will not be a pain for you!
     * First things first:  you have to show your boarding pass AND photo ID pass to the agent before you get unload all your junk for the trip through the x-ray machines.  That's what the first line is for.  Please don't put it away only to have to dig it out later and hold the line up.
     * Do not buy any type of drink (bottle, canned, glass, fountain, etc) prior to security (unless you plan to guzzle that puppy down or throw it away right away)!  It is clearly stated no liquids over 3oz.
     * COMPLETELY empty all items from pockets, guys.  I mean EVERYTHING...keys, phone, wallet, cash, change, lint!  And take that belt off while you're at it.
     * Shoes come off.  I highly recommend slip-ons of some sort.  If you just have to wear those cute boots or lace-ups, please begin the removal process while waiting in line if you have enough hands.  Otherwise you will hold up the line and you will piss someone off.
     * Laptop comes out of the bag and out of the cushiony protector thingy.  iPad comes out, too, sometimes (I almost got help up for mine so I've been taking it out all the time now).
     * Liquids/Gels are the reason I always check a bag.  I really don't know how they expect a woman to pack all the liquids/gels she needs to be presentable in a small quart-sized Ziploc bag!  I know I can't do it!  But if you can, make sure that comes out of the bag too...or you'll get held up.

3.  With regards to checked luggage, I will never understand why it takes so long for my suitcase to go from the plane to the carousel in baggage claim!  My home airport isn't that big and yet I wait longer for my luggage when I get home than when I arrive at Sacramento, Houston, or any other larger airport (with the exception of Atlanta because that place is like it's own city it's so big).

4.  And when you're waiting for your luggage to ride the carousel of joy to you, please watch where you stand!  I have had MANY people step in front of me and completely block my view with no regard to me or anyone else.  I know you're luggage is important...but so is mine!  So please keep that in mind.  And have the decency to move the eff out of the way when I start slinging that heavy green thing off the ride.  You will get hurt and I will not mourn the loss of your big toe, knee cap, thigh.

 Well, that's all the pearls of wisdom I have to offer today.

Enjoy...
 

The Nail Files - Week 18

I love Fridays!  It signifies the end of the work week.  And this week it means I get to go home to my hubby!!

This week I'm linking up with Tara and Vicki for another week of The Nail Files!! (no button because it keeps jacking up things and is too much trouble to edit right now)

I kept my nails natural most of the week.  Not by choice, sort of, but mainly because I just didn't have time to paint, dry, paint, dry, paint, dry...the cycle that is bottom coat, color, color (if needed), and top coat.

But last night I decided it was time, in honor of going home, to put some color on my hands.  So, after a quick jaunt to Target for lotion and contact solution (and, of course, more nail stuff besides what I brought with me), I did my nails before bed.

Essie's Trophy Wife.  I kind of wish this color had been around 6 months ago for my wedding because it's a pretty good match to my colors! (and if it was, I totally missed it)  I like it...a lot!  Only problem is that, because I've been handling a suitcase, backpack, or purse today...it's already started to chip as I knock my fingers against zippers and the like.  Oh well...it's still mostly in place and I have no one I need to impress today.

IT'S FRIDAY!!!!

Thursday's Through The Lense - April Instagram Favorites

I really think the title says it all.  Here's what we have from April:

That man going up for the spike...yeah, that's Mr S!!  So proud of him and the team from this past weekend's volleyball tourney in Las Vegas!!

 A B&W through the window in my office.

Flowers in Fairfield, CA.

Sushi...It's what was for dinner two weeks ago!

Another view from my apartment...this one's off the balcony.

Enjoy...

So What Wednesday

Hey y'all! (I'm in the south this week so I thought I'd get back to my roots when I "talk") 

It's that time again...





This week I'm saying SO WHAT IF:

* I really should be doing homework (I mean really...at this point are you even surprised anymore that I'm not?)

* I could leave the Gulf Coast tomorrow (or tonight) and not miss a single thing!

* I know why I left this area.  Some things never change!

* I only told 6 people I would be here this week (out of the 20+ I know, not including co-workers) because I knew I wouldn't have time to see them all.  Besides, if you're not going to make the effort to talk (email, pm, im, text, call, etc) to me when I'm not here, why would I waste my precious time when I am?

* I think the people I work with (not my immediate department) need to seriously GROW THE EFF UP!!  Holy schnikies batman, how old are you really?  12? 8? 5???

* I think our training manager takes WAY too much crap for the children people I work with.

* I also think our training manager needs to work on his presentation/delivery skills, topics of interest, and frequency of "training".

* I don't care if anyone I work with sees this!

* Even if I'm a scaredy cat when it comes to thunder (that's right, I'm a 12 y/o myself sometimes), one of the few things I've missed since moving to CA is the lightening and thunder of a good summer storm.

What are you saying So What to this week?

Tuesday's Traveler - A week at the office

Here goes...my first post of my new series!  I'm so excited and I hope y'all join along each week to read my stories, tips, and other stuff that revolves around traveling and living on the road 125 days a year.

This week is going to be kind of serious, but only because it's 11:18 pm Central Standard Time, which is the current time zone I'm in because, once again, I'm on the road!  And I have to get up at 6 am (which my body tells me is really 4 am) to get ready for the day.  I didn't really have time to prepare a topic this week, so I went with what I'm "dealing" with right now.

I travel to "headquarters" (HQ - aka, main offices) a couple times a year.  Now for those of you that don't know me personally, HQ is located 30 minutes from where I grew up and was living prior to becoming a SoCal gal.  That means I have friends in the area that I don't get to see very often.  But here's the kicker, I never know what my week in the Gulf Coast is going to entail, so I can never make plans to see people I haven't seen in 3 years.  It kind of stinks.  Rant alert:  But at the same time, I don't really talk to these people that often (via email, FB, or whatever) during the rest of the year so why would I want to spend my precious time with people who won't spend their time on me? End rant.

Anyway, I digress.

Typical weekly trip schedule, regardless of destination, looks a little like this:
Monday - Travel day
Tuesday - visits or office work if I'm at HQ
Wednesday - repeat Tuesday
Thursday - repeat Tuesday
Friday - Travel day

Now if I'm staying local, like CA, AZ, or NV, I can typically take an early flight on Monday and hit the ground running with visits after I land.  And I can do some visits in the morning before leaving on Fridays.  But when I change time zones, particularly when I fly to the Central or Eastern zones, there isn't much else going on on Monday and Friday but quality time with Delta, United, or whatever airline I've overpaid to stuff my bootay into a cramped window seat over the wing.

Anyway...back to making time to see people.  In reality, I usually have 3-4 good nights to plan to see people.  I was at HQ 3 times since this time last year and I am just now getting around to seeing the lady I lived with before I moved to California (this woman is like my 2nd mom).  She has a daughter my age who is married with children and whom I was friends with as a kid.  There's also the two close girlfriends that live in the area and their husbands.  Then my guy BFF and his fiance' (he's the brother I never had).  Then there's getting together with co-workers and the occasional invite from the bossman to dinner.  Needless to say my nights fill up quickly and I don't get to see all that I want too.

Because of this conundrum, I usually don't tell people I'm coming to town.  I would hate to have to cancel on people, so I just find it easier to not spill the beans.  I hate trying to make last minute plans sometimes, but I make the exception in this case because my travel life is just so unpredictable! 

So to those of you who know me in real life that aren't in the above listed categories, I'm hope that someday on one of my future ventures to the Gulf Coast we can do something somewhere.  But I make no promises and hope you understand.

Stay safe, y'all!

New series coming

For those of you that know me personally, you know that I travel for my job.  For those who have never met me except to read about my life here, I travel for my job!   

I started working with my company in 2003.  At that time there were only 25 employees and, at 24, I was the youngest (a title I retained for almost 3 years and we now have over 300 employees).  When I was hired, I was originally supposed to fill the position of receptionist.  That lasted 2 days.  My soon-to-be boss discovered I had accounting knowledge and pulled me into Business Affairs where I was to spend the next 4 years.  Just after my 4 year anniversary, there was an opening in our Marketing/Outreach department for a travel rep.  After seeking approval from my current boss and discussing the job requirements with the potential new boss, I applied and was accepted.  And I've been doing this for 5 years now.

I tell you all this because I'm going to start a new weekly post:  Tuesday's Traveler.  Tomorrow will, probably, be my first post in the series.  There will be stories, tips, and anything else I can think of.  There will be humor, I can promise you that. I have had some great experiences, and some not so great experiences (flight from hell via Chicago my first year traveling...more on that later). And, if I can take any that would apply to the topic or I want to build a topic around (like the travelers wardrobe or hotel views), there will be pictures.

I've been wanting to share some of my travel stories here, and I'm just now getting around to it.  Hopefully I can remember all that I want to say. If there is a traveling topic you'd like for me to cover, please let me know.  Just remember, I've only traveled in the continental US so far.  I can't give you anything about Hawaii, Alaska, or International travel...yet (I'm really hoping to add Hawaii to the list of places traveled by next year).

Stay tuned...

The Nail Files - Week 17

Welcome to this week's episode of...

Let me start by saying, this week didn't go so great for the nails.  Over the weekend I got 5, yes..FIVE, polishes!  That is not normal for me, ever, to buy that many at once.  But I've heard/read so many great things from all the links here that I had to grab a few.  And, well, Sally's was having a buy 2 get 1 free sale so I really only paid for 4 (the other two were bought at CVS).  And, naturally, I had to start off the week with a newbie:  Riveting by China Glaze (from the Hunger Games collection):

*it's also on my toes.

Let me just say, the hubs is not a fan!  "Too Halloween" were his words.  But, to his delight, the orange didn't stick around on the fingers very long (due to some bubbling of the top coat and my picking at the color).  But it's still on the toes.

Yesterday, in a fit of boredom, I decided to change things up a bit.  Hubs and friends are playing in a volleyball tourney this weekend in..VEGAS!  And their team name is Smart Aces.  Of course, I needed to play that out on my nails:

*please excuse the mess...this was pre-clean mode.

Well, I wasn't impressed enough to let them hang around.  I need more practice before I take these babies in public. (I did, however, get props from the hubs for a steady hand)

So I opted for Sally Hanson Complete Salon in All Fired Up with a topping of Essie Luxeffects in As Gold As It Gets:

And, still sticking with my Essie base and top coats, all colors have been lasting longer on my nails then usual.  Once again, I say to all the experts, you were right!!  :)

Hugs...