Don't dread travelling- Delta Airlines is here!

Update after our trip was complete:  The return trip turned out just as fine as the trip here only our bags took like 20 minutes AFTER we reached baggage claim in Denver to arrive.  That was a real downer to our trip but other than this one hiccup, it was smooth flying- everything was on time or early - except for the bags of course.  In any case, thanks, Delta, for making travels a little easier!

logo courtesy of Delta.Com(r)

I have not flown Delta Airlines in many years mainly because Delta does not have many direct flights out from Denver to the destinations we go to.  Also, when I travel for work, it tends to be United (argh), or Frontier (argh again).  Anyway, other than Southwest Airlines, I do not like travelling with my kiddos on any other airlines.  Well, we took a chance and flew Delta Airlines to Virginia to see my folks.  I was flying solo with the girls, one of whom is not a good traveller and under two.  I was nervous beyond belief.  In fact, I was so terrified, I made myself sick before the trip.  As a mommy travelling solo with two young kids, you kinda know how your kids will react and how you are as a person.  Those are the knowns. What is the unknown is what the airlines will throw your way.  This is the biggest angst for most travellers.  Will my flight be cancelled?  Will I get stuck in a city I am connecting in?  What will happen to my luggage?  More importantly, though, will I be treated with worth and dignity?  It is this last question which causes the most angst among travellers especially parents travelling with young kids.

Yesterday I flew two legs with Delta Airlines.  I have to say, every employee I encountered, from the check-in process to the flight attendant down to the pilot, what an amazing group of people!  Where Frontier airlines completely failed my last trip with the girls, Delta far exceeded.  I was never once told that I had an economy ticket so I deserve to be treated like.... I was never once told that I should have booked a higher fare or Classic Plus ticket.... instead, this airline, even though I was separated from my daughter in seating, automatically moved me and when I boarded we were sitting together!  This airline, even though I never asked on my second leg, offered me seats together by figuring it out on their own!  This airline warmed my daughter's milk for me and when I pushed the flight attendant call button, actually came and did not groan or sigh when I asked for something.  IMAGINE THAT!   This airline provided me free TV, not for a $6.00 charge on a $249 ticket.  Imagine that! Free TV so my kids were occupied for the trip.  We got free snacks on board with drinks just like we do on Southwest, and a flight attendant on my second leg, helped me carry my bags down the Jetway, helped me set up a stroller, and then let me get my sleeping daughter off last as a pilot watched my other daughter on the tarmac.  Nice!   Now, that's an airline for you!  Instead of reminding me for the 10th time that I was on an economy ticket (like Frontier Airlines), the pilot who was watching my daughter, kindly said, "mom, you're doing a great job!" Another flight attendant came out and helped us up a service elevator since we had landed and deplaned on the tarmac and there was no ramp up to the terminal.  Now, that's service!  Instead of being treated like a leper, this airline treated me like a human being with worth and dignity. 

I'm a mommy and a hard working American and yet I fear travelling on an American airline because of how I may be treated.  I fear no more, the choices are clear and with experience, comes wisdom.... well, I'm wising up- best airlines according to this mommy:  Southwest and Delta!  No United, No US Air, No American, and definitely not Frontier Airlines.... if you live in Denver, fly Southwest or Delta and take the fear and dread out of travelling!

Denver International Airport- I like it, I love it, I want some more of it

 As promised, I needed to do a review of Denver International Airport (DIA).  I am partial because I fly in and out of Denver often.  With a cozy executive lounge and a fully stocked USO Lounge, I am spoiled rotten at this airport.  The food selection is out of this world too.  At the check-in area (before security) there is a plethora of fast food and quick gourmet dining- Panda Express, Taco Bell, Burger King, and a French Place.  There is a coffee house on the first level near security and a post office- yes, a full post office!  I mailed something there once and it got there the next day!

The drive to DIA from Denver sucks - you wonder why someone built an airport this far from a major city and interstate but if you can survive this, then you are okay.  After you check-in, you proceed towards your gate but if you need any help, there are two information booths and volunteers waiting near the security areas to assist you.  So, if you want to know what food places/drink places/services are near your gate or concourse, just ask.... someone will help!   Security - I know people talk trash about security but I have never had a problem with assistance and rudeness from security.  It is quite the opposite.  When I take the family line, I have had nothing but assistance and friendly TSA folks helping me out and when I travel for business, I have not had a problem getting through in a timely manner. 

I have to say, as far as airports go, I like DIA.  The only problem I have had is lack of 3G coverage for my iPhone and signing onto the wireless server in DIA costs too much.  All in all, though, as airports across the country go, kudos to you, DIA!

New Orleans Airport- review of places to eat & the airport itself

Being that is a consumer blog, I decided to add in a new twist to it:  Review of the major airports I travel in and out of.  Denver's review is coming soon.  We recently travelled back from New Orleans and I gotta say, while the airport has been renovated many many times since Katrina and before, it is still a dump.  The facilities are not that great but the eating places are even worse!  PJs coffee is yummy but why is it that every person behind a register at New Orleans International Airport is completely rude?  I am not sure- maybe it's the oil and water they've had in the past few years but come on!

The ACME Oyster House - forget about it!  If you want something vegetarian, order a bun - wait!  You may have to pay $5 for it OR leave there without it because they cannot figure out how to give you plain bread.  It is a tough airport and the services are not plentiful.  There is a beignet stop inside the airport in case you missed your fix and it looked reasonable.  I did not get to try it because we were running behind.  As airports go, New Orleans is not the best one for long layovers-  get your food on the outside, and definitely leave yourself plenty of time to get through rental car returns and check-in. 

Frontier Airlines - Economy Seats are akin to Lepers and BEWARE MILITARY FLYERS

I made reservations on Frontier Airlines for our family to travel to a wedding (first mistake), and immediately afterwards since I could not get seats, I called them.  They said I should be able to choose seats 24 hours in advance.  But low and behold, 24 hours prior, here I am trying to get seats for our family of four and NO GO!  I get a system error in Frontier and when I call agents, no one can seem to help me.  There is absolutely no reason for this but it is so frustrating.  This is the 2nd time this has happened with Frontier and I am thinking that it will be the last I travel with them on a personal flight.  Moreover, their agents cannot get anything straight- one agent promised she would seat us together even in the Classic Plus area, another agent is now yelling at me saying she was wrong.  Wow....

At the airport, I was reminded for the 10th time that I had an "economy" ticket.  Like I was not told enough on the phone that I was the leper with the "economy" (AKA CHEAP) seats.  Come on!  That does not excuse the fact that when I arrived at the airport, we had three middle seats scattered throughout the plane.  If it was not for an awesome GATE AGENT at Denver International Airport, our 3-year old may have sat with strangers.  She put us all together in Row 1 -- what a nightmare.  After 3 phone calls to three separate agents, and a 35 minute discussion with the guy who checked us in at the reservations desk, finally, it took one GATE AGENT who was awesome to put us together.  Moral of the story:  Skip all the steps, show up and ask the gate agent who may be nice enough to put you all together.  If not, do what we did on the return, asked some folks to move and they were nice enough to do so.  If people do not move for you, have your child frequently touch them or throw food at them.  That outta work.  Ha!

Another caveat about Frontier Airlines- they are a strange animal indeed-- so, military with ID and their dependants get to check bags for free... no matter where they go or come from.  We have done this for over 2 years now- to and from Denver, Washington National, and Austin, Texas.  Well, not New Orleans.  I was asked to show my ORDERS in New Orleans.  So be careful - while Frontier has a policy that military with ID fly bags free, some airports and their agents have not gotten the word and communication is piss poor with Frontier Airlines so rely on some good luck and fortitude and .... BON VOYAGE!

Unique Packaging & Shipping in Westminster, Colorado- Best Passport Photo Service!

We need to get passports made for my little ones and renewals and went there today. At $6.99 for two passport photos, this place is more than half the price of what it costs at the POST OFFICE ($15), and most other places are at $8.99 (Walgreen's) or $10 (other copy/print places). That only gets you two photos so of course, you want the best deal around and this place is it. And if you are worried that quality would suffer, worry not. The shop owner does a great job, cuts them and puts them in a passport envelope for you. You get them while you wait ... great service at a great price!

This little shop also boasts other primary services- copying, packaging, and shipping to name a few. And while you are here, you can buy your cards and a gift for the kids to boot. All in all, two thumbs up from this consumer blogger to the family-owned business, Nalin Shah and family of "Unique Packaging and Shipping".

Review of United Airlines – a comparison of Government contract carriers

I recently flew United Airlines on a trip booked by the Government. While United remains the “contract carrier” for military and government travelers on most routes, United Airlines does not honor those travelers with which it has a contract. Frontier Airlines does not charge Government travelers on the Government fare for bags nor does it charge all military members and their families for checked bags (with or without orders). Now, that’s a “contract carrier” in my opinion!

In any case, I flew United and as usual was not impressed. I am just glad the flight was only 45 minutes and was a local/regional flight but I have to say, I am very disappointed that United is the Government’s contract carrier because they offer very little for what the taxpayer pays. For example, a commercial flight round trip to the same destination I went to was $92 inclusive of all taxes and fees (excluding bag fees). The taxpayer paid $240 R/T for me to go to this destination plus $50 for bags R/T. Nice! $200 more is the premium we pay to use United as the “contract carrier” and we do not get the flexibility to switch flights either because even Government travelers have to pay the price difference. So, I am not sure really why we use United Airlines. And the recent news is that they merged with Continental - good God, could United get any worse? Answer: Why, yes, they can!

A review of Hyatt Regency - Downtown Albuquerque

During my first trip to Albuquerque, New Mexico, I stayed in the Hyatt Regency in downtown ABQ. I gotta say, what a nice hotel but without the frills - meaning, there is no mini bar in the rooms, or coffee maker (you gotta ask for it), and there are no robes or fun things but the hotel was just nice. From the lobby to the noise levels in the room, it is a well designed hotel. I had a decent room but no view which was fine- I was only there 2 nights. In any case, the meeting spaces are nice, and the temperature is great. The hotel catered our food and I have to say, it was a great taste of New Mexico. I think I was not used to eating so much and got sick from eating way too much good spicy food.

All in all, it was a good trip and I would recommend the Hyatt in Albuquerque. Some warnings though: Everything in downtown including the Starbucks in the hotel itself shuts down by 430-5pm so be prepared for that and to get anywhere you definitely need a car. I was lucky that my colleagues had a rental car. Otherwise, I would have been stuck at the hotel - there are worst things than being stuck in a hotel though.

Happy Trails!

Two One-Way Flights- Review of the Airlines

Up this time, Southwest Airlines versus United Airlines. Topic: On-time or not? and yes, why do the bags take longer on United when you are paying $25 to transport them.

I travelled two one-ways this time because my office was paying for it and frankly, I hate travelling with the federal government - too many gd rules and regulations for my taste-some of them self-imposed by my office. In any case, the flight out on Southwest Airlines was amazing- on time, and EARLY arrival- that's right, 35 minutes early. No bag fee and I got to eat several snacks and two drinks to include a very nice coffee called LIFT Coffee with flavored cream. Oh, and when I arrived at baggage claim (I was sitting in the 2nd row so I got there pretty quickly), my bag was already there! Top that, United!

Yeah, unfortunately, on my one way return to Denver, it was United that I was on. They could not top that. I was being charged $25 for a bag fee which is ludicrous. I do not know why United screws the military and the Government the way it does considering that is the "contract carrier" for all Government fares and the military too. Frontier lets all military check bags for free and never hassels them for orders. United needs "orders" despite their website policy which never makes mention of "orders". In any case, what a pain! Flying with United is like haggling with that annoying street merchant in Turkey. Just downright annoying! But you fly them because you have no choice really especially when you travel with the Government.

The other problem with United- they are rarely on time or early- in fact, that would be a miracle altogether. The flight got in one hour late and then I had to wait for my bags that I paid for ... it took over 20 mins. The only positives after I flew this horrible flight with United, the shuttle to my parking lot was ready and wating and got me to my car within minutes so I could make the long trek home.

In a review of Airlines, flown in two one-way segments, the winner is clear: SOUTHWEST AIRLINES will always be my choice.

Planes, Trains, Automobiles, and ... Buses?

During this trip to Virginia and the D.C. area, I had the well-rounded experience of riding in several modes of conveyances and I gotta say, it makes you appreciate your automobile - the freedom that you get from having your own vehicle where you are at any given time - well, nothing compares to that!

So, we flew into Norfolk and then I decided instead of renting a vehicle to get to D.C. I would try to save a $110 or so and train it into D.C. Yeah, okay- not fun. I think if the train operated normally and at full speed, they could get you to D.C. in 3.0 hours from Newport News, but no- there was some freight train derailment the night before so from Newport News, I was on a bus to Richmond. In Richmond, the train took off 1 hour late so I ended up waiting at the Richmond station for 1 hour and 45 minutes to board a train that got me into D.C. Union Station in exactly 2 hours. What a pain! But I gotta say, riding the train, once it got going was kinda fun. It was nice to relax, take a nap, watch a movie, and just get things done. It was also nice to see all the scenery - gorgeous views and I remembered why trains are so much fun when they work on time and right.

Riding the metro was fun too - it is so easy to get around the city in a metro but as I ride the metro in D.C. I did start to wonder about how lax security was in it. Of course, people riding it, I noticed were much more vigilant. For instance, a man put his briefcase down behind my suitcase and I noticed the woman I was sitting with immediately stood up and watched what was happening and then made sure the man exited the metro with his belongings. I think that helps but I am always fearful of riding in ground transportation nowadays because I think it is an easier target than airlines. In any case, my transportation woes aside, the trip was good and despite security concerns, I am still a huge proponent of public transportation if a city can install that type of infrastructure. Granted, for me, because time is an issue with the kiddos, I still prefer to get in my car and hit the open road....ahhh- freedom!

All dressed up and nowhere to .... snow?

I am in our nation's capitol this week and I always notice the same stuff here- the women here act like they are Parisians- they dress up all the time and are all always wearing boots- no, not snow boots or appropriate weather boots but --- boots with heels and no traction. Everywhere I look here women and men are dressed up in their suits, dresses, or outfits that make you wonder where you are sometimes. I think this city is just more formal than say Denver or Fort Collins, or even Phoenix, but come on! After the city had a dumping of over 30 inches of snow, the sidewalks are a mess, and there is no place to walk so you think they would learn from that - but no!

In any case, I am really glad that I do not live here- I put on my Coat- it is a ski coat/jacket not an overcoat, and my tennis shoes, and I can walk like it's nobody's business. Sure, I may not look like a sheek Fashion model but I am comfortable and warm, and more importantly, not flat on the pavement.

In any case, I am not impressed with the city and the people are the worst- they are not friendly at all and I really miss home... yes, when you want to appreciate where you live, take a trip somewhere else- maybe to the East Coast... it will definitely make you wanna GO WEST!

Smooth Travels?

When someone asks me if our travels were "smooth", I often wonder what that word really means? I mean, is travel with an infant and a toddler ever "smooth"? Then I started to think what is smooth travel, really? For me, last week, I travelled with a toddler and an infant and my mom who was a huge help and I gotta say, I was vomit free, I did not have a drink spilled on me, and no potty accidents to speak of, so, all in all I think it was a "smooth" trip.

Southwest worked like clock work and we could check whatever we wanted- I love that! The flights were on time and the flight attendants were very helpful and even brought my toddler a book and a crayon pencil which kept her occupied for 10 mins or so. :-) All in all, smooth travels and if you take the direct flight, so you do not have to change flights, it really makes for an easy time with the kiddos.

Lost, Damaged or Stolen Passports

Some mistakes are more costly than others.... as I learned this weekend. We have damaged passports as a result of not doing something simple- like zipping a bag they were housed in. For some reason, my husband and I decided to play with a safe and locked our passports in it - not a smart move at all. In any case, there was water damage and most of the documents were fine but the passports did not make it because I did not ziploc a ziploc(R) bag- ARGH!!

It is so frustrating to make a costly mistake like this one. Granted, my daughter's passport would not work past another 2 years- kids' passport are only good for 5 years because their faces change so much but most adults can have passports for 10 years. So, needless to say, this is frustrating news since a passport runs anywhere from $125 down to $45 depending on what your needs are. Most passport books are $100 for a 10-year booklet. Renewals are cheaper so losing the original, have it stolen or damaged really does add up - fortunately for us, we caught this before a big trip - it would not have been good to have discovered something like this on the eve of a huge international trip. In any case, it is always good practice to have a valid passport so my husband and I should at least get ours replaced. Oh, the fun things we have to do to stay .... well, valid!

Everything's better in Colorado....

I recently went on vacation to Virginia. It was a great family trip but of course, while I was there, I started to appreciate all the things back home - everything is better in Colorado once you leave it right? Of course, I love Colorado when I live in it too but here are just some of the things I missed. I definitely missed the dry weather. Sure, humidity is better for your skin but dry weather does wonders for your hair. My hair always looks better in Colorado which is why my wedding was there :-)

I really missed the mountains but alas, I had the ocean nearby in Virginia so that was a nice change of pace. I definitely did not enjoy the humid climate and the heat, my God, the heat, but I gotta say, there is something to be said about jumping into a cold ocean in that heat- it feels damn good! It also felt great to jump into the water park area at Busch-Gardens too.

All in all, we had a great trip but it is funny how you miss things you take for granted when you go away.

If I were an airline employee....

... I would definitely read this blog!

This weekend I had the fun experience of travelling again. Ah the joys of flying in America just makes me wanna buy my own airplane someday. We flew Southwest airlines this time and generally it is the best customer-service oriented airline out there... and that is actually true for the most part. The customer service I received before purchasing tickets and during the purchase was INCREDIBLE! While United, US Air, Delta, and others put you on hold for hours, Southwest has a call-back service- amazing! I loved it. The lady we got on the phone was awesome and took care of all the details for us.

Then came the day of travel which was not a busy travel day mind you - 4 July. We headed to the airport and arrived at the ticket counter exactly 1.5 hours before our flight time which is what the recommended time is for DIA and from Southwest's own website as well. In any case, the line was LONG - extremely long- it was winding around several times and looked horrible. Only 4-5 employees working when so many were travelling on Southwest. In any case we opted to stay in the line instead of checking in outside at curbside which was faster even though it was crowded - MISTAKE 1. I thought that because I was requesting special permission for my husband to escort us to the gate that it would be better to do with an agent inside- MISTAKE 2. We got to the front and got a bitch named Christine at the Southwest ticket counter. Let me tell ya - if you see her or her name, run - do not walk - go check-in outside. This woman clearly did not want to be there and did not want to be nice to our family to say the least. I was surprised my bags even made it to Norfolk. She refused to give my husband a boarding pass to help me to the gate with my infant and toddler. We asked a TSA lady afterwards if we could get a boarding pass for him and she was like -"of course- get it from your airline - we're not busy at all" The security lines took less than 5 mins to traverse.

So, we headed back to talk to the manager at Southwest at DIA and she looked more dissheveled than Christine but at least told us to find the lady at the end of the curbside check-in who would get it for us... GREAT! We should have just checked in outside. Now, mind you - we are 40 mins away from our departure time. The lady outside helped us promptly and we were on our way. Security at DIA was a breeze. If you travel with family and liquids, go through the special family line - it was moving I tell ya and in no time, we made it to our gate with just enough time to board. Time for nothing else - no food, no milk, no time for the restroom because of the goddamn line at check-in for Southwest. And if Christine had not wasted an additional 10 mins of my precious time, I might have gotten food for my kid and myself. So, this whole incident got me thinking. Christine, if you are reading, do read on. I had time on the 3-hour flight to think, how I would treat people if I were an airline employee that morning, working that Southwest counter at DIA on the
4th of July.

If I were an airline employee,

1. I'd appreciate having a job to begin with.
2. I'd treat customers who were good customers and not assholes with the same respect and courtesy they are showing me. After all, it costs NOTHING to just be nice.
3. I'd look at how long my line was and send one person out there to find out who would miss their flights and get them in line first.
4. I'd ensure that despite the long lines, I do all I can for the customers because they are loyal enough to purchase expensive-ass tickets with my company (and possibly save my job) instead of that "other" airline.
5. I'd not be a bitch to a woman with two kids travelling alone for the first time just asking for assistance from her husband. Cost to the airline- $0, cost to Christine (the bitch) - $0.
6. I'd be nice to passengers (once on board) and help them as much as I could because that is my job after all.

and finally, if I were an airline employee....

7. I would just smile and do my fucking job! If I did not like it, I'd quit and become part of an industry that is less customer-oriented and more computer-oriented or perhaps work mopping floors and cleaning toilets because that is where I belong.

Flying Solo

This past weekend, I flew solo with my two kids. Some call it being brave and amazing, I call it insanity. I also do not think I will be dabbling in these types of adventures again anytime soon. I was surprised that the first leg of the trip which was almost 3 hours long went well. My little one did not sleep though and neither did the toddler. However, my toddler was content reading, smiling at people around us and making faces at them and so was my infant. We spent time munching on airplane snacks, drinking juices and watching Sesame Street without sound. We landed at our connecting destination and things "appeared" fine. I got several thumbs up and "you're doing great!" encouragment from people around me and the flight attendants.... it was bound to go downhill from there and it did.

In Baltimore, my daughter refused to eat any food I got for her and sonce we are potty training her, that did not go well either. It all came to a "head" (so to speak) on Concourse B in Baltimore International. I think she was exhausted and then did not want to go "potty" in her diaper and was probably too constipated anyway so the entire thing went poorly - she was screaming from pain and crying - she exhausted herself after crying for 45 mins, refusing to get on the aircraft and worse, refusing to buckle herself in. Meanwhile, as she is screaming, my infant passed out in the ergo carrier. As I boarded the plane, as I wandered in the terminal and so on, people kept staring at me- I felt the weight of the stares, the weight of "talk", the weight of the smiles and many "awwws" and "ooooohs" of those who actually did understand and sympathized with me. A man travelling solo with his two kids on this 28-min leg of the flight actually helped me out and said it was okay. He had been through this too - his kids were 2 years apart. In any case, I felt horrible and cried a bit myself too. I was exhausted, hungry, and humiliated.

It was relief when she finally went and calmed down a bit and enjoyed her trip and visit with the grandparents and relatives. Flying solo is not easy so all you people out there who stare and judge - shut the "BLEEP" up and offer assistance. Oh I almost forgot - there was a guy in the row in front of me on the Denver to Baltimore leg who refused to move and let a mother sit next to her daughter. What an asshole! I do remember that and thought, thank god I rushed to get on board early so I could sit next to my two-year old. His excuse for not changing his aisle seat for another aisle seat was "well, I prefer to sit here because this passenger is more petite." What an ass. When I compared the two passengers, they were roughly the same size and both were nice and cute. Anyway, people like that give passengers a bad name and deserve to be escorted off the plane mid-air with a parachute in hand. Haa More to come on our trip in more postings.... Buckle up and enjoy the ride.

The Staycation

This past weekend, I got the opportunity to do a “stay”cation at the local hotel- it is a premier 4-star hotel that offers quite a bit- golfing, spa treatments, kids’ activities, swimming pools (several tiers), and food aplenty. In any case, it was a deal my husband got by virtue of his employment and it was fun. As I was getting my massage treatment on Saturday morning and pedicure, I started to think about all the wonderful things of a VACATION and all the even better things about a STAYCATION so here goes:

A vacation is great because you truly “get away”. There is no choice of whether you go home or not- your hotel or place where you are staying is a temporary home, a resting place of sorts. So, a vacation makes you truly get away from it all – no house to clean up, no problems to worry about because you are physically gone away. However, the negative to this, it is all waiting for you when you get back and sometimes you may need to deal with emergencies remotely. You also have to physically travel which is hard with two kids – packing just the right amount and the right things can be daunting. With two kids, it is even more of a juggling act. You have to also buy tickets to go to that place which adds up in cost. A staycation tends to just cost you the gas to get back and forth. In the end, you go away on a vacation and support the tourism industry of another state.

A staycation supports the local community – the local masseuse, the local concierge, the local bell boy, the local hotel, the local restaurant, and of course, if it is right in your backyard, you have supported your community and your State. A staycation permits you some flexibility. You do not have the arduous task of planning – you do not have to pack everything because if you should forget something, it is not the end of the world, unless you go 2 hours away that is. But the drawbacks are that because you did not plan, you may end up going back and forth a lot between home and “stay”cation site. In any case, a staycation can be cheaper and more relaxing but may leave you longing for a true vacation as well. All in all, I had a great stay cation but recommend the following – if you do live within 30-45 minutes of the staycation site, you may want to forego the room/lodging because home is truly better to be at. The better suggestion may be to do a trip 1.5hours or 2 hours from your home so you truly get away and get the benefit of being close to home as well.

But for the grace of God go .... You!

Recently, I have become that parent who has the screaming child or the cranky child on an airplane, at a restaurant, the grocery store, or some other public place where people can gawk at me and judge me. I am getting better and better at ignoring the world around me but it is tough to completely shut out the people. After all, we live in a society. Boarding at Denver this time, on our way to New Orleans, our daughter got a little unruly as we strolled her down the jetway. She wanted to be held which is tough for me because my arm gets tired and with a backpack and a purse, holding her is tough to do. Needless to say, the peanut gallery (2 women who are probably barren) had the nerve to talk pretty loud about her outburst- loud enough for me to hear. I was a little aggravated and wanted my daughter to scream more to teach them lesson preferably through one of their naps or great reading moments on the plane - heehee (evil laugh). They were saying – "oh no, a screaming child - I hope we are not sitting near that!" I prayed that we were because exacting revenge is about all the ammo you have at that moment.

I can only imagine how parents feel travelling with multiple kids especially if one or two are special needs. It is hard enough to be a parent much less travelling with small children. Then, to hear mockery and comments from losers around you, that is even harder. I agree that sitting next to a screaming child for a flight longer than 4 hours can be hard but I think you can suck it up for a 2-hour jaunt to the BIG EASY. Just because you cannot have children or choose not to does not mean that your environment will be free of children. The worst part is that people on planes have an expectation that kids will be quiet and color, sleep, or just quietly watch a DVD – not true. Not all kids can be focused like that and certainly all kids are different. Some are tired, some are sick, and some have special needs. Some are just lively - so sue me! My child is lively and man, does she have a mind of her own - hey, she may find a cure for cancer someday. :-) What people do not understand is that staring, talking about the parents and the kid where they can hear you, or giving dirty looks make things worse. I no longer discipline my kid when she wants to kick the seat in front of her – go ahead – kick away- especially when the person in the front of us is a moron and does not understand. My message to you people - Caveat Emptor! When you travel or go to a public place including a restaurant you should expect some noise from my screaming child and if you do not have that expectation, perhaps the problem is not mine- it is yours! Now come on – get real – I do not take my child to fancy restaurants or inappropriate kid places like nightclubs but when I am at Red Lobster, Olive Garden or Applebee’s and I see you complaining and looking at me, I do not feel bad for you nor will I discipline my child not because I do not care about my kid but mainly because I do not care what you think! I will do what I have to do and need to do to raise my child without your judgment as a factor.

Needless to say, I am getting better at ignoring the world around me and not feeling so embarrassed. At first I was mortified if my daughter screamed - now, I just sorta hope for the best. Not much else you can do really. I am getting better but I am not 100% there yet. And to all of you who think you have the best kids in the world.... Ha! But for the Grace of God go ... You.

The Big Easy

We went on a recent family trip to the Big Easy - N'awlins - my home town. When we planned the trip it was primarily for my law school 10-year reunion. As Murphy's Law would have it, my law school reunion was rescheduled due to Hurricane Gustav. Of course, I already had invested over $450 in tickets and rental car so we decided to make the trek to New Orleans. We stayed local because we were on limited time. The city is not the same – you definitely got that feeling as you drove through the neighborhoods, saw the rebuilding, and the boarded up stores, restaurants, and malls. It was strange to say the least to return but also very nostalgic for me. After all, I grew up for 17 years in the city before I moved up the road to Baton Rouge to attend law school for 3. My husband had been there before but my daughter had not so it was neat to take her and get some pics in the city but I am not sure she will remember her trip. But she seemed to be enjoying the food - both home cooked and eatin' out. My husband had a place on his list - he saw it on the Travel Channel called Willie Mae's. I think my daughter enjoyed the food. I was just hoping to get out of the neighborhood alive. This trip was more of reconnecting with friends and eating out - eating a lot :-)

Copeland’s was as usual, PERFECT food and the beignets and coffee are always good. It was an exhausting trip and our daughter missed her naptimes which made for crankier times later but all in all, she did good and it was a fun time. I wish we had more time especially to eat at Piccadilly’s – my favorite cafeteria eats in the world, and, perhaps take in more of the uptown area including Tulane University. Ah well… we will save up some things for next time whenever that happens.

Omaha- Oh My!

This week, I had the opportunity to travel to Omaha, Nebraska, on business. Business matters aside (which were tedious), I had a great time in Omaha and exploring the city. It is a nice city and the downtown, riverfront area along with Old Town are quite neat. The restaurants are not chain by any means, and the shops are quaint and very inviting. I was impressed with the city and how clean it was too. Did you know, just across the river from Omaha, you can visit Iowa? There are riverboats and river cruises and a lot to do and see. I certainly think it is a place that my family and I can visit together sometime. The hotel I stayed at, the Hilton Garden Inn was very nice and the hospitality is unsurpassed! If I had to return here, I would stay here again for sure. It is just three blocks from Old Town and right across the riverfront area.

Unfortunately, I had to dine alone on the one dinner I could have in town because my friend had an emergency so I am bummed out that I missed her but it is exciting to check out a new city, its people, and its eats. I am no foodie but it is nice to have a nice meal out.

Reunion-Bound!!!

I recently bought airline tickets to attend my 10 year law school reunion. I cannot believe it has already been 10 years! Where has the time gone? I feel older and definitely a lot has changed in my life but come on! 10 years since a post-graduate degree seems like a long time and I do not even feel that old although I am sure I look it.

Anyway, I never thought I would attend the law school reunion because to me, undergraduate was more fun but as far as reunions, it is tougher to do an undergraduate reunion with so many different schools and colleges represented in one year group. This was a more tight-knit bunch, sharing classes in common, seeing each other daily for almost three years, and all the football games and tailgating! I remember law school as a very stressful time in my life especially freshman year but I do remember some of the people fondly. There were some I cared to never see again of course. Anyway, there are expenses associated with such a thing – cost of a ticket to the reunion party, cost of the football ticket if we attend that, and of course, flying all the way from Colorado to Louisiana- argh! I would have preferred a December reunion in the Pelican State but I guess I will take late September. The good news for me is that my husband and daughter are also coming along which will be nice to retreat to and remind me of how far I have come since graduating. But, I know it will be much more hectic and getting ready for the event might pose challenges as my daughter clings on to me for dear life. I am looking forward to seeing the people more than anything and finding out how their lives are and while I may only see them for a few hours that weekend, I think we will make network connections that may span longer than that so I am excited about that.

We have not visited New Orleans since the big K and I am curious to see what my old hang outs look like and how it is being rebuilt but at the same time, I am dreading seeing my city in shambles as well. I hope that I get some glimpses of hope as well and cannot wait to dig my teeth into those beignets… we will all need to dress down for that considering my daughter will be playing with the powdered sugar. N’awlins, here we come!