No Place Like Home - 01/26/2007

Hello All,

I just got back from Chicago. I arrived this morning at my house at around 12:30 a.m. Late flight. I flew up Wednesday afternoon, and flew back Thursday evening. COLD!! Wednesday night, 6 of us went to dinner at a fantastic Italian restaurant. The kind where the people are actually Italian. The food was GREAT.

Thursday was spent in a conference room, brain-storming. I had a really good time and met people I had known through work for years and years, but never met face to face. One hired consultant, our Vice President /Inventory/computer guru who I love to death, and four "Power Users" of our computer system. That would be moi. It is nice to be appreciated for your talents. Really, I am not kidding.

Just some airline observations:

Apparently, carry-on luggage dimensions are "optional" for some people.

PAY ATTENTION to what socks you are wearing, because you have to take off your shoes. Holey socks - not so nice. I am talking from experience here. Manicure your toenails, too ladies.

Yes, you have to take your jacket off.

Yes, you have to take your laptop and camcorder out of their cases.

Yes, it really is only 3 ounces of liquid/gel items that you can take on a plane. For the 10th time, No, you can't take that water bottle in. No, that monster-sized toothpaste is not considered 3 ounces just because you squeezed half of it out.

Those 3 ounces of saline/perfume/toothpaste, mouthwash, etc. etc......they all have to fit in one quart-sized zipper-type plastic bag. Not a gallon size, not two quart-sized bags. One per person.
Even though they are calling Group # 2 to board, half the people from Group # 6 are blocking your way in to the plane. Because just by standing near the gate door, the space/time continuum will speed up and they will get on.

All planes leaving from or going to Orlando will have kids on it. Crying kids, happy kids, whiny kids. Deal with it. It is ORLANDO.

I hate turbulence and those fluffy clouds that cause it.

I LOVE how, when we have just taxied to the gate, everyone rushes to stand up, get their items from the overhead bin and THEN.....they wait. And wait. And Wait. Why are they STANDING there? You are not going anywhere until they actually open the door. I call it the "Hurry Up and Wait" portion of the evening.

Thankfully, expense accounts take care of the $34 parking fee for one day and half.