Cross-Country Flights Add Fun to the Holidays

I'm sitting in the Houston airport waiting on the final leg of my flight home to Phoenix. I'm getting weary at this point but there has been some fun in this day which started at the Jacksonville, FL airport this morning.

I arrived early, anticipating some TSA fun and games but instead found that Southwest Airlines ticket agents provided the most fun. I made a mistake as I hurried through the baggage-checking screens. They laughingly threatened me with diverting my bags to Seattle (the last laugh will be on me once I get to PHX if my bags are not there!).

As I walked toward the food court area with the rocking chairs, a high school chorale group was gathering to serenade travelers. I enjoyed their spirited singing so much and it helped fortify me for the Security Checkpoint and a possible body scan. Oh dread!

Instead a light hearted security staffmember chatted with travelers and moved them through the line. Yes, I had to remove shoes, jacket, computer, etc. and shuffle through the gate, but I DID NOT have to endure a body scan, although they had one standing by should I want to play Security Fun and Games!

I put my shoes back on sitting next to a middle-aged woman. As we slid our computers into their cases she just had to share with me that her computer was a government computer and added that some security agency would be after her should she lose it. Hmmm. I wonder if she was baiting me. Or, perhaps just not very intelligent.

I didn't share a thing about my computer as it contains some very valuable travel stories and photos, of course!

JAX further accomodated me by offering comfortable seating with plug-ins for computers. I downed my leftover turkey sandwiches with cranberry sauce (which was not confiscated).

I boarded the flight to Houston, and, as I expected, was packed in sardine-like on a full flight. So now, here I am in Houston awaiting an equally long flight to Phoenix.

Sometimes travel wrtiers just want to get home!

Back to the Airport for More Fun and Games - What Will JAX have in Store for Me?

I've had a wonderful time visiting my family in Jacksonville, FL. While I love being with them, the getting to and from is not much fun.

On the flight out, the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, I went to the airport (PHX) very early and encountered no problems at all. In fact, the TSA didn't even have a dreaded body scanner!

So now it's time to leave, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, and I am headed for JAX. I've been careful to pack lotions and cosmetics into my checked luggage and have reduced my jewelry to two cherished Cody Hunter storyteller pieces in hopes of getting through the TSA process quickly.

But wait! I'll be at the airport, and in the air all day. I couldn't resist making sandwiches out of the last turkey leftovers. Will they be confiscated? They aren't liquid. But what about that red gelatinous substance? Will that be an issue? I'll report back on the cranberry sauce on my sandwiches later.

Meanwhile, it's off to the airport for fun and games!

Holiday Traveling Day 1 - The TSA Experience at Phoenix Sky Harbor

OMG! Am I dreaming? Here I am at the gate on the D concourse after:
1. Finding parking easily
2. Riding the airport bus to the terminal with maybe 12 other passengers max
3. Learning that Southwest has added a new convenience to check in - Boarding Pass scanning
4. Lining up at Security with only a handful of people before me
5. Finding NO body scanner at my gate and just breezing through.
6. Finding only a short line at Starbucks where I purchased a cinnamon swirl coffee cake.
I must be dreaming or.... it's mainly because I am here at the airport at 6am and am taking one of the early flights. A piece of coffee cake!!!

Southwest Gifts - Posters, Prints and Art of Favorite Southwest Places

When you travel the Southwest, no doubt you will fall in love with the scenery, the clouds and the culture. As the holidays approach, here are some ideas for gift-giving. If we have missed your favorite Southwest destination, just leave a comment. When you click on the links below you'll find photographs, art posters, prints and more. The prices are very good. Here are my favs:

Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon Sunrise Buy From Art.com

Sedona

Cathedral Rock Reflecting on Oak Cree... Buy From Art.com

Georgia O'Keeffee's Ghost Ranch

Pedernal, 1942 Buy From Art.com

Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National P... Buy From Art.com

San Antonio River Walk

Restaurants on the Riverwalk, San Ant... Buy From Art.com

Hill Country of Texas

Field of Texas Blue Bonnets and India... Buy From Art.com

These are just a few samples of what you will find in the way of art prints, photos and posters. If you love travel, and love traveling the Southwest US, why not decorate your home with your memories. These framed pieces also make wonderful gifts!

Going to Get a Full Body Scan at the Airport - Are You?

Oh goody.... someone at the airport wants to scan my body. In return, I'll have the privelege of being packed on an airplane with over a hundred holiday travelers.

I'm back flying again as I want to see my lovely granddaughters for Thanksgiving! So my choice is not to fly or to stay home. I must fly!
So with all the buzz about the full body scans and the alternative pat-down, I took just a moment to think this through. I have had a full body scan several times. It is fast and I am on my way quickly. Now when it comes to a body pat down, I think that might be much more intrusive. True, you will have a person of the same sex pat you down, but now the pat-down is much more intimate and time-consuming. I really feel for the guys who opt for a pat down and have a man slide his hand up into their most private parts. Ugh! If I was a guy, I'd quickly opt for the scan.

So for me there is no question. I'm going to be scanned. So what are other thoughts... would anyone give up traveling because of this?

The Amazing Race - Nat and Kat Still In - Women's Costume Change

I've been waiting for this.... finally the racing women are less, shall we say... racy! I wondered if traditional dress in any of the countries where our amazing racers were sent would dictate how they dress, but until now, the women were at home in sports bras and tank tops and the guys enjoyed their guy t-shirts.

But now, the gang has traveled to Oman. The Omanis are primarily Muslims and we know that traditional Muslim women do NOT wear sports bras, tank tops and stretch pants in public. So, without any discussion, our racy women showed up in loose fitting t-shirts covering their cleavage and sports bras. It was time that the customs of the nation where they visited were followed a bit more than usual. Usually, the contestants are so wrapped up in their race and in themselves, that they pay little attention to what is going on around them!

And, I can happily report that my favorites, Nat and Kat, are using their brains to win challenges and are certainly still in the running. I find it hard to believe that Nat is a Type I Diabetic. They are amazing women running an amazing race!

Hotel Refrigerator Rant - Why Can't Luxury Resorts Provide Refrigerators?

I was reminded, while staying at the beautiful Loew's Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, how much a refrigerator can enhance a hotel stay. And, I'm reminded that many high-end hotels think we don't need a refrigerator or space in a mini-bar. Loew's had a regular refrigerator in the room. It was pre-stocked with goodies, but had room for my diet colas. I was happy.

However.... many very lovely resorts have installed mini-bars that are fully stocked with expensive luxury items (read liquor) and, I have found, they are also weighted so that if you move one of their bottles of wine out, to place your can of soda in the fridge, you will be charged (even if you put it back later). I was told this at the desk when I checked in to a luxury resort. And, forget room for that delicious morsel left over from dinner. There was absolutely no room. I resorted to trundling down the hall each day to the ice machine, ice bucket in hand, to find something to cool my soft drinks. I guess they think we'll order room service if we wish to sip on anything but a 75 degree can of cola.

Now, another refrigerator story. I checked in to my favorite cheap motel during a volunteer food run to the elders on the Navajo Nation. I don't expect much at $45 per night but was surprised when the desk clerk said they had given me a room with a refrigerator! I was jubulant. I entered the room, unpacked and opened the refrigerator. It wasn't cold. Hmmmm. I fiddled with the dials and it would not turn on. I then checked the connection to the wall socket and saw a fireman's nightmare. There was a power strip with more plugs in it that I could count. The TV worked off of this power strip but the refrig did not.

So I unplugged the refrigerator and lugged it over to the other side of the room where there was a free wall outlet. Bingo! The refrigerator worked. Throughout my stay I had room for my soft drinks, orange juice and leftover dinner boxes. The room looked weird but, for $45 per night, I had a working refrigerator.

Now, why can't five-star resorts provide a refrigerator for all their guests? Why?

Amazing Race - Catching Up.... Read the Clues!

St. Petersburg, Russia looked like a fantastic place to visit. But the Amazing Race teams were so hurried and frustrated that they didn't get to enjoy the beautiful architecture.

I may be compulsive and a quick reader as well so I had a little trouble understanding why teams didn't fully read their clues. Errors resulted in a team being eliminated. Just read guys! I also found out if you DID read the clues, sometimes the writers let you slide.

We found that physical tasks were tough... spinning plates, throwing bats, running and more. But not reading the clue was unforgiveable. If it says you can't have a taxi lead you, then don't. If it says walk to your next destination, why take a taxi?

Me? I would have walked and not run. I read every single word. But I guess, "Walk" means "Running is OK too!" I disagree with that. The clue writers need to be consistent. Where do you draw the line and tell contestants they broke the rules. If I was in the race, my partner would have been so mad at me.... I would have insisted on walking!

Whatever.....