"I won a dollar!"

Today I am at a golf tournament for my job.  I flew into Boise last night and can honestly say that the pace of life in Boise is slower than the average.  I, being California born and raised am always amused at how here is Idaho, everyone is laid back, enjoys life, takes things slowly.  This place really is one of a kind.  So after taking some event photos I returned to the restaurant/snack shop at the course to check my emails and there was the most ADORABLE group of little old men who had just come off the course. .  

Having grown up so close to my great gram and grampy, I have a very special place in my heart for older people.  Something about them makes my heart warm and puts a smile onto my face.   In fact all my friend's thing I am weird because I always go "I want to hug him/her!"

Anyways... I'm sitting here in my corner, watching their them settle all their golf wagers, silently happy and amused at the process.   There is a group of about 8 men.  One delegating and one arguing with him about how he "won a dollar" and where was his dollar.   The delegating one was trying to explain something about the rules and how he did not in fact win a dollar. 

 

After one of the men finishes tallying the scores, they all were awarded their winnings.  "Roy, you won $4.00.... Jon, $20! (This was the big winner), Chuck, you won $10... minus the four you owe so here is $6...."  Big winnings.   I assume they are betting quarters or something.  While this is going one, dollar man keeps arguing with delegator about how he "WON A DOLLAR!"

After everyone received their big cash payouts, they all got up to leave and the delegator  goes "I'm out of here... I have to go to the VA Hospital..."

There is something about Boise. 

Hold onto your Cell Phone boys and girls

Happy Sunday Poppets,

Ever wondered what it's like to be that person who slows up a flight?  Yeah.... that was me this weekend.


So it started with this photo here:

Ummm?  Her outfit screams call girl but she was going into the admirals club... High Class Escort.?

Whenever we see fashion FAILS, my friend Erin and I immediately text them to one another then proceed to comment as if our jobs were fashion police.

So I was in the process of boarding my flight and texting Erin when I drop my phone out and it lands right on the metal side of the jetway:

Again, I did not take a photo of the actual jetway as my phone was playing hide n seek.

It then proceeds to slide into a perfectly shaped hole!  Did anyone every notice said holes ?  Neither did I!

My first thought is: I would so take a picture of this... if my phone had not been swallowed up by the tarmac!  I start sticking my fingers under this little slot... (don't judge) while people are passing me giving me the "oh I'm glad its not me" look.

Someone alerts the flight crew and THE PILOT comes out to help me.  The PILOT.  As if I wasn't embarrassed enough... After a few minutes of poking things into the slot we realize it actually has a hole in the bottom and my phone has probably fallen onto the tarmac and is a goner.

He goes down to the tarmac to look for it, and note at this point we are still on time but everyone has boarded, and apparently there is a catch that this hole feeds into. AMAZINGLY my phone was alive and well!

I thanked the pilot profusely, and rushed to my seat.  EVERYONE smiling at me in the "oh bless your heart" kind of way.

3 hours later when deplaning the Pilot goes "Hold onto that phone!".

Yeah... I don't make this stuff up.

Rental Car Fail

Last week work sent me to the ever so exotic Salt Lake City.   Talk about a different culture, but that my friends is a different post. 

One of the fun parts of travel is getting to try out different cars when I rent them. Maybe I'm crazy but to me it feels like doing a bunch of test drives without the pressure of a fast talking sales man following you around everywhere you move... 

So this last trip I drove a Jetta.   This  seems like a nice car.  It drives well, and was not bad... until it came to putting gas in it.   

I am rushing off to the airport (typical) and have to stop and "fill it up" per rental car rules... blah blah blah. 

Usually cars have a convenient and easy to find button to open the gas tank... or they open by hand.  All of which I can deal with.  So when I did not find a button I assumed it was a pull open little tiny gas door kinda car.  WRONG.  

I got out and saw the gas door perfectly flush with the car.   So I pushed it a bit... nothing. 

Went back into the car, pulled every lever, pushed every button.  The man who worked at the gas station was on his smoke break and was watching me, but did not stop to help. 

I opened all the doors, the trunk, the hood, pushed every button the car had.  Then got so overwhelmed I did what any smart person in this digital age would do... I googled it.   

Yes, I am ashamed I had to resort to google for how to put gas in this damn car.  Apparently I am not the only one, because there are boards dedicated to how to open the damn gas door on a jetta.  For the record, all you have to do is push the right spot on the door.  

Yes, I do feel stupid, thanks for asking. 

Travel Tales: St. Louis

I love to travel. Plain and simple. I love airplanes, I love the adventure, I love the different things you see when you are in a new place.

This past week my friend Erin and I had the opportunity to go to St. Louis for work.   Let's just say when you put the two of us together in a different place things get crazy.


So the flight from LAX to our layover in Dallas was boring uneventful.  Besides the fact that the entire flight was me making a list of all the reasons I love Delta over American and will never fly American again, we landed in Dallas without incident.  When we arrived I of course had to use the ladies room. But first I had to go back and get my camera!  Because this little gem was waiting for me outside:

I suppose the tornado picture could have been a clue.  Don't Judge Me!

Now, let's just state that they had a similar message in STL but it actually said tornado warning, and me, being the Cali girl born and raised, had no idea what this sign could be for.  Ummm do people have explosive diarrhea in this airport?  Do I even want to go into this restroom?  What is this strange place!  I realize things are bigger in Texas, but honestly!

I was so perplexed I of course had to ask the waitress and the bar what this was for.  Where she proceeded to explain to the dumb cali girl that it was for tornados.  OHHHHH.  I can't be faulted here people!  I've never been in a tornado in my life!

The rest of the layover was uneventful, as was the flight from DFW to STL.  But when we landed in STL, that's when things got fun!

First of all, let me say, I LOVE St. Louis.  It's green, it's beautiful, and the people are so kind.  And things are a little bit different.  First, the airports have standard benches at the gates, but this hospitality is extended in that they also have rocking chairs!  That's right! Freaking Rocking Chairs!

After marveling at the chairs we emerged from the terminal to find that Bob was coming home!  Yes Bob!  For those who don't know, STL is a huge USO airport.  Well Bob was apparently coming home and his entire family was waiting for him right outside the terminal.   So Erin and I, being the stalkers  curious people we are, had to stay to watch what this was all about.

Welcome home Bob!  This was the sweetest thing.  His kids ran to him and there were hugs and tears... and a lot of flags.  

Bob's family.  They were so happy Bob was home they didn't notice us creeping. 

Waiting for this mysterious Bob.

Welcome home Bob.  And thank you for your service.  

So from there we met some interesting guys at the rental car place, which gave me the quote of the night:
"Ma'am, how do you want to do for insurance" -Rental car guy
"with my debit card?" - Erin.

He looked at her like she was crazy and explained that he meant what kind of coverage.  At least he was fun.


The fun didn't stop when we got to the hotel.  Oh no, someone clearly had their building plans upside down then they made this wall:

You're drunk wall plug, go home.

The rest of the trip was full of fun and shenanigans, and we even managed to take in a game, and try out the public transportation.  I have a full list of fashion fails from the trip, and some photos to go with it, but those will have to be a different post.

All in all, St. Louis is a beautiful place filled with nice people and a little fun.

Some people... Tales from the airport.

So here I am sitting at McCarren international, waiting patiently for my delayed flight, and watching the interesting people around me. I feel an airport rant forming:

One- it is the same procedure time after time at TSA. No sir, you may not keep your shoes on, have they ever let you? Oh ma'am your jacket is part of your ensemble? Too bad! Yes sir, the laptop does in fact count as a computer and does need to be taken out. Common sense people.
At this point I do not understand how people are not packed and dressed accordingly. If you know that you'll need to remove your shoes, wear slip ons. Toiletries out of suitcase? Easy solution: put them in front pouch for easy removal so you don't have to take apart your entire suitcase in the airport. Seems simple no?

Two: a delayed flight means just that. Delayed. There is a flight that must take off before ours arrives so sit down and relax. It is not a trick. That plane at the gate designated for JFK is just that... Going to JFK. The airline is not out to get you. Sit down an stop trying to board the wrong flight. How many times do they have to announce it?
And when you do board.... Ummm wait until they call your row. Your seat will still be there, I promise. Why is travel so hard for the masses?