We are having our basement finished. We are undertaking no small project, might I add, and when you add up the costs, you could probably get a pretty nice car for what you pay to finish a basement. You could always cut corners and do it rather cheap but then, you get what you pay for. We decided we would do it right or not at all and so we went straight forward. In looking at companies, we did everything - I did the service magic thing but in the end, we narrowed it down to two companies whom we had referrals for. Both came highly recommended. I was comfortable with one company and my husband another. Since my husband is the more picky one of the two of us, we went with who he wanted. Frankly, I did not want to hear about it later when things went wrong - and they usually do :-)
The "sales" side of the construction company assured us the basement would be done in 3 to 4 weeks. WRONG! As anyone who is familiar with construction knows, that is never the case. If they tell you 4 weeks, assume double that and you won't be disappointed. At this point, 3 weeks into it, I will be happy if they are out of my home in August. Needless to say, things are going okay. The basement looks great thus far - the dry wall has almost been finished and soon, it will be time for the bigger items like the paint, the walls, and the fixtures and cabinetry. It is coming together nicely and I am looking forward to the end product but it is interesting picking out things like countertop laminates, lighting fixtures, and cabinet colors. A remodel can be exciting but also tedious. You get what you want but at the same time it is a little work too. You get to design and build and it is kinda neat to see it all go down. Let's hope they finish soon so we can get in there and enjoy it before summer turns to fall.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
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.
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.
Monday, July 06, 2009
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.
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.
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.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
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.
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.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
An Umbrella in Colorado? Really?
Since May, we have had some strange weather in Colorado - lots and lots of rain. In fact, I think it started in April. It is strange but the way things have been I am considering buying a couple of umbrellas. I have never purchased an umbrella in Colorado - it is just so unnecessary. When I moved here 7 years ago, I parted with my umbrella stash. I needed them in Germany and of course in St. Louis and New Orleans but Colorado - come on! Well, this year I am considering purchasing one for the office because every day I leave work it is raining and we cannot have my hair getting wet- after all, straighening it is no picnic for me.
So, I think I may make a trip to Wal mart tomorrow and pick up an umbrella to keep at my office. I may actually buy a slicker for the little one as well - my toddler has a rain jacket but my infant obviously does not and I think this season she will need one - we are almost in July and there is no end in sight to these horrific storms but one thing is for sure, I do not have to turn my sprinklers on and my grass is doing great so who can complain really? Buy an umbrella and a nice rain coat and enjoy getting "caught in the rain" - it is a great monsoon in an otherwise DRY Colorado.
So, I think I may make a trip to Wal mart tomorrow and pick up an umbrella to keep at my office. I may actually buy a slicker for the little one as well - my toddler has a rain jacket but my infant obviously does not and I think this season she will need one - we are almost in July and there is no end in sight to these horrific storms but one thing is for sure, I do not have to turn my sprinklers on and my grass is doing great so who can complain really? Buy an umbrella and a nice rain coat and enjoy getting "caught in the rain" - it is a great monsoon in an otherwise DRY Colorado.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)