The Ultimate Travel Find

When I say I've been searching for a Travel blow dryer for awhile is an understatement, I've been searching for a few years......

When I travel overseas or go on a cruise, This small item becomes a challenge ....., I have been blessed with a head full of thick thick hair (Thank You, Momma)!! I might as well stand on the balcony and wait for a good gust of wind to dry my hair... I'd have better odds.. Especially when you consider that big bulky box they have hanging on the wall on most cruise ships & hotels wouldn't dry your hair if you stood their the entire week.... You gals know what I'm talking about... You stand in the bathroom screaming like a character on Star Trek, "I need MORE POWER"
Now I have it: While shopping this weekend at Beauty Brands, I ran across this precious jewel by BaByliss Pro. 1000 Watts of sheer joy!

We depart on our cruise in 6 days,
I can't wait to pack my new travel find. I know as a Flight Attendant, space is so very precious.. & with my new BaByliss Nano, I know I'll still have room for lots of souvenirs.

Confession of a Flight Attendant

Don't get overly excited, this is more of a frustration than a confession... Let me explain!

As a Flight Attendant I'm trained for various events from how to: Evacuate an aircraft in less than 90 seconds.. (A great job you saw just a few weeks ago on US Air Flight 1549)
I've been trained to put out a fire, Use an AED (Defibrillator), CPR, pour coffee @ 35,000 feet even with turbulence ...

My Airline thought I was smart enough to do all of this....

So where do I find my frustration? When I get to the Layover Hotel...and the hotel

Alarm Clock...!!!! YES, I said Alarm Clock...

In the various hotels we stay @ the alarm clocks range from Mickey Mouse easy to you need to have a PHD from VMI to program it!

Hotels try, they do try to have the newest gadgetry alarm clocks. Some have pictures on them, some you can plug-in your IPod, Some hotels even toss in a CD to play soothing sounds to help you fall asleep.. Yet every layover you have to question: Is the time right? Will the power go off? Is the time on PM, Is the alarm on AM... Is it set 5 minutes early from the last person that was in your room or right on the nose. Trust me, I was in the lobby one time 30 minutes early, come to find out the clock in the room was set 15 minutes ahead... and I'm always in the lobby 15 minutes early...

USE your Cell Phone: Most Flight Attendants use their cell phone as an alarm clock, sure that is doable .. UNTIL you are sound asleep all snuggled up in New York, when a friend calls you from

Portland, Oregon & you get that apologetic voice on the other side saying "Oh did I wake you up?" It's okay I have to get up in 3 hours...

Get a wake up call: Do you like to play craps? That is always a gamble.

Knock on wood, I've never missed the crew van because I woke up late..

Happy Valentines Day

What's the best way to spend Valentine's Day? With your honey of course....OR

An amazing trip?, Dinner & a Movie?, Hot Tub & Candles, A wedding, like is going on right now in our hotel !

We decided to run down the road a couple of hours, to the mountians of North Carolina, we decided we'd like to see some snow..Only way we are going to see snow is.. If we actually drive to it!!

We headed to Trader Joes to pick up a few goodies for our hotel room picnic,,,, we picked up a wine we've never tried before it's called Valdiguie (Val-de-gay) The best thing about "Two Buck Chuck" wine is, If you don't like it you are not out that much, WE DID LIKE IT, so on the way home we'll pick up some more.... What else goes with wine,,,Three Layer hummus, Goat cheese with herbs, crackers & for dessert Dark chocolate bing cherries!>!>!>!

I hope you are enjoying your Valentines Day...
Whatever it is you decided to do to,
I say we celebrate everyday,,,,life is short!!!

"It ain't going to do any good on the floor"

"It ain't going to do any good on the floor"

Those were the words uttered by a recent US Army soldier who crossed my path on his way to being reactivated from the IRR* back on to Active Duty, Most soldiers return to Active Duty with long hair (Long hair for the Military)... But this SGT took the cake.. He was actually growing his hair to donate to Locks of Love when he was called up:

Locks of Love (Story Attached)

I applaud SGT Jason Hallisey for his dedication to his country & his donation to Locks of Love...


*IRR: (IWP) Individual Ready Reserve: Soldiers with a remaining Mandatory Service Obligation (MSO) to solicit their voluntary transfer from the IRR to Army Reserve Troop Program Units (TPU). In conjunction with a screening of the IRR population by HRC-St. Louis, this effort was intended to match the skills of IRR Soldiers with units in their local areas, thereby enhancing the readiness of the Army Reserve

Who do you Travel like?

I took the quiz, I travel like: Jack Kerouac

Travel Quiz

I travel like Jack Kerouac !
Being on the road is a major component of your life, and you'll never be happy in just one place. Your thoughts sometimes make you sound insane, but the guys sharing your next freight car will totally get it.
What type of traveler are you? Take BootsnAll's Travel Quiz to find out.

Your turn, What type of traveler are you???

Vom Fass

Vom Fass: literally translated means "From the Barrel" While the hubby & I were in Christchurch, New Zealand we accidentally happened across this great store called Vom Fass .... We spent entirely to much time in here, enjoying tastes of goodies from Liqueurs ~ Whiskies ~ Spirits ~ Olive Oils & Balsamic Vinegars. When we got home I decided, I am going to open up

one of these cool stores:

Vom Fass is internationally successful with over 140 stores worldwide the unique VOM FASS offers natural and fresh products in loose format. Culinary oils, wellness oils, vinegars, liqueurs, spirits, whisky's, and wine's are displayed and sold straight from wooden casks, clay jugs or glass balloons.

If you ever get a chance to visit one of these stores I highly reccomend it,,,,,

Any time you can find a place where you can refill your own Wine bottle ,, i'm all about it!

SPARKLEBERRY...

When can you officially say you are moved in?
When you've moved out of the old residence? When you can actually sleep in the new house?When you can make a meal in the new kitchen? When you can walk thru your new house in the dark & not trip over any boxes... Okay ... Let's go with that one..

As of today all the boxes are officially unpacked.... This was not a big move, we just moved 4 doors down.. You'd think this would make it even easier,,, NOT SO! Frustrating was the fact we were going from a 3 bedroom to a 2. Shoving 2 rooms into 1, is always so much fun...
We have way to much JUNK!

The hubby didn't want to stay in this Apartment complex... Why you ask.. Well, that is the reason for this blog: Would you not stay at a location because of the name in your mailing address...?

We live on a street called "SPARKLEBERRY" & no matter how hard my hubby tries he can't lower his voice enough to make this name sound manly.. You just can't butch this name up.. What upsets him is...We live between..."BOMBING RANGE" & "SCREAMING EAGLE" ... Cool names ...huh He will refuse to call customer service places he says "I can hear them laughing" when he gives our address... What's in a name? Does it really matter?

In 1991 we didn't purchase a house because it was located on "SALISBURY".. Would you be able to think of anything but Salisbury Steak when you pulled into your driveway?

The joy in all of this? We get to do it all again in 7 months...When we move back home.

At least we have clean closets... For now~~

Well? What do you call it....

I don't even want to tell you how the subject came up..

Suffice it to say it just did...

So? What do you call it.?

• Bathroom
• Restroom
• Ladies/Men's Room
• Loo
• Lavatory
• Latrine
• Head
• WC
• Bano
• Pissoir
• Privy
• Bad
• These are off of the top of my head

As we were sitting around discussing this "During Lunch" no less, I had to giggle, Just how many names does this one little room have? Now, maybe I'm the only one that finds humor in this... Being a soldier & a Flight Attendant I do have to check my vocabulary occasionally...on a plane it's a lavatory, on a military base Army at least it is a Latrine..

While in Copenhagen we took this picture, We thought it was funny! A passerby whispered in my ear, "Love, you know you are standing in front of the Loo" I didn't want to hurt her feelings..I just said "Yes, Ma'am" I'm guessing she didn't see the humor. (Bless her heart)

Wait we found another one, How about Port-a-potty, The next picture is from Sydney, Australia it was a gift from France. I don't even wanna know why France gave Australia a Port-a-potty, I think the USA made out better with the Statue of Liberty!

Come on leave me a comment... What do you call the John?

The prettiest Sunset I've seen this year....

Happy New Year!!!!

Isn't this the prettiest sunset? I took this today on the way to Tybee Island, Georgia..

Now, I know what you are saying,, We just got home..

3 weeks in Australia & New Zealand wasn't enough?

That was last year...It's 2009 now..

Well, that and I had a coupon that was about to expire...

for Marriott..

We HAD to use it!!

So where do ya go,,, I wanted snow..

No Snow...

okay, I'll take water...

We were headed to Hilton Head, South Carolina

We ended up in Savahanna, Georgia

It is beautiful here...

So historic...

More to follow...

And Now, A Toast !!!

To endings.

In the words of T.S. Eliot: “For last year’s words belong to last year’s language. And next year’s words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning.”

To Beginnings.

Happy News Years, To all my Family & Friends. . .

May this be a peaceful 2009..!

Burrrr...

Maybe this is where I caught my cold..? ( Minus 5 Ice Lounge - Home Auckland, New Zealand) Do you think I caught it from my frozen glass filled with Vodka? Or the Frozen Chair I sat on? Maybe it was kissing Ice Ice Santa..?

I'm happy I caught my cold after the holidays, Now how do I get rid of it before tomorrow,,, More Vodka?

CHEERS!!!!

Ahhhh Chewwww, Time for some chicken soup...

2:15

Two hours & 15 minutes is what it was supposed to take to fly from DFW to CAE this evening, 9 hours later..Here we are!

I'm not complaining, Seriously I'm not.. I"M NOT!,,,,

I have nothing to complain about..We just flew 18, 535 miles or 28, 829 kms, With - 0 - glitches. Well until today....Starting in CAE ~ ATL ~ BNA ~ LAX ~ BNE ~ SYD ~ Cruise ~ AKL ~ LAX ~ SAN ~ DFW ____ to wait a minute.. Here is where the story begins..

After boarding for our 2:15 minute flight, on the very last leg of our holiday extravaganza..We zipped away from our gate, got in line, 30 mile per hour cross winds had closed 3 of the 5 runways here at DFW, number 33 for departure, not so bad, Hey, we're not 34, this only delayed us a smidge... I'm glad I packed a teeny tiny bag of popcorn as a snack for our short flight....

30 minutes prior to landing in CAE: Click goes the PA.."Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh Folks, This is your Captain, speaking...." This is never a good sign, ... The sweetest words you can ever hear from a Captain other than, "I'll pick up the tab" are "Flight Attendants, Prepare for landing"

Captain: "Columbia Airport has been closed due to fog....We will be landing in Charleston, SC" "No, Jacksonville, FL" "No, Savannah, GA".. Okay, Savannah it is!!

I pulled out that cell phone lickity split, called all the rental car agencies, NO CARS in the entire city.. Whaaa?? I called Holiday Inn, ..Okay we have a room on hold...

Pilots clicks on "Ahhhhhhhh, Folks...yadda yadda...Our flight is cancelled, or at least the crew is:, We are going to bus you to CAE" What, No Buses???

The taxi dropped us off at 2313 after driving us the last 3 hours ... Not bad for a 2 hour & 15 minute flight....

HOME.....

Merry Chirstmas . . .May your homes be filled with Peace & Joy during this holiday season & all of 2009!! We made it!!!

Planes, Trains, Automobiles &. . . . . . ???

I got to thinking,,,, Just how many modes of transportation does one actually take on a normal vacation,,, So I started adding them up,,,, Here are just a few: After the Taxi dropped us off at the airport, we went on a plethora of planes...
Started with the "Planes".. RJ, 737, 747 & 757...

The Rent-A-Car didn't work out: Always get the insurance.
Ferry's,,,

Okay, We skipped the Greyhound Bus,,,,

World War II ,, Amphibious Duck

A Cable Car in Wellington, New Zealand

Doesn't everyone go on a Haagland on holiday?

A 100 year old Steamship TSS Ensclaw

Oh yeah, The Ship!!

Modern Rickshaw..."yeah buddy"

A Monorail
Steam Train
Okay, so it's not a Greyhound, but we rode on it...
A Gondola..
The Luge

I didn't add the Ski Lift or the LPC (Leather Personal Carriers) aka: Shoes....

We're not even home yet,,,, I want to add, Hot Air Balloon, Kayak, & The Zorb!!!!!

Our cruise will officially be over in 5 hours, Then off to find another taxi & the double decker city tour bus to show us the sights of Auckland, NZ,,,,,

What time is it, anyway???

For the past 12 days if someone had asked me “What day it is?”
I would not have been able to answer them… Yet, we’ve never missed a shore excursion, or a port.. We don’t have a clock in our room & yet we have never missed a meal.

Somehow you always know where to be & when it is feeding time…

For those of you who don’t cruise because you say to yourself, What is there to do on a ship anyway? I’ll be bored… This is a snip it of what we did today….

Woke up to room service, morning brainteaser, have some coffee, Opal & Fresh water pearl sale, Time for a cookie, Line dancing class, time for the buffet, Poolside we order a nice beverage, Hmm, time to make a decision? Movie? Poker? Gym? Art Auction? Ice Carving Demo? Eat?
I decide to go to Name that tune…. TBH is listening to a lecture, Sometimes you just have to split

up…to take in all the goodies…

Tour of the navigational bridge, Can I drive the ship? I thought the steering wheel would of been bigger....

At 2:30 we have to meet up for “Battle of the sexes” the Final Round ( I don’t want to talk about the score) Bingo? Acupuncture seminar? Time to rush to our room so we don’t miss John our Butler and our Hor’dorves & Sweets. . back out for the steam room/spa.. Wanna do a movie? NO, we don’t have time, we have to get ready for dinner,,

Where did our time go????

Come on honey, It’s time for dinner….Don’t forget the chocolate extravaganza tonight…
Baked Alaska ,, Yummmy!!!

Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow

That is the song that was playing this morning during breakfast....Yes, it is December 14th, & I have to keep reminding myself it is another day closer to Christmas & Milford Sound, New Zealand.. Most passengers, will have another day at sea. We are taking a shore excursion that will drop us off at Milford Sound, and drive us thru Queenstown, Arrowtown, Clyde, Alexandra, Dunedin & we will end up at Port Chalmers to meet up with the ship a day later.

We had a blast in Melbourne, Australia & Hobart, Tasmania...
I have attached a few pictures of our time there....
It was fantastic to get this close to these wonderful animals,,,
My favorite was the Koala bear..
TBH's favorite was the Tasmanian Devil..
We both loved the Kangaroo's...
Even though they were on the menu for dinner that night....

We even got to hit a few Winery's... Way to many things to do here..

The view you see is what we have been looking at for the past 2 days,,,No Sun to speak of & it is down right chilly,, I hope New Zealand is warmer...

I'm going to enjoy some goodies I picked up in Tassie...

At 4pm our Butler John, will bring us more goodies during High Tea...

This is TBH's "Happy Hour"

Until Later ...Mates!!!!