Going to the Bahamas!

3/3/2016

Yipee for me.  Jeff and I are flying to the Bahamas for the annual spring trip that is planned by members of COPA (Cirrus Owners Pilots Association) each year.  The last time we went to the Bahamas was in 2012, but while the location was ideal, the weather was not.  

We were only able to be out on the beach one day and had to shorten our stay by two days because of severe weather coming in. Little planes don't do well with lightening and if you can avoid flying in that kind of weather you should.  Even though we left early, rain followed us all the way to Florida.  

And, of course I "crashed and burned" in 2013.   He did go to migration in 2014 and 2015, but I stayed home, by choice.

The annual migrations are geared more for the pilots, lectures, etc.  They do have some things planned for the wives, but for the most part it's pilots talking to pilots talking about planes.  Jeff, like all the other pilots, love migration.  They get to meet their old friends, make new ones and attend numerous lectures on piloty (nope it's not a word) stuff.

This year's spring break trip is back to the Bahamas, but at a different location.  The pictures show white, clean sand and a bright blue clear ocean.  My idea of heaven would be a chair, a drink with an umbrella in it (even if it's just water, the umbrella is important) and my Kindle.  

We will leave Frederick on the 20th headed to Florida.  That evening there will be a dinner and a pre-flight briefing for the pilots.  After breakfast the next morning, we will begin our flight to paradise.  Just look at that picture.  Even though it's going to be expensive, how could we resist?  

We will fly home on Sunday, which will be a long day in the plane.  Thankfully, I can generally fall asleep in the plane.  Jeff, however, has to stay awake - that's super important!

 

P

Dirty Money

3/2/2016

Today, while waiting for the cashier to start ringing up my things, I heard/saw the oddest thing.  The lady in front of me wanted $100 cash back.  No biggie I think.  Well, turns out I was wrong.  When the cashier told this woman that the money was dirty, the customer began to freak out.  The cashier had to assure her that the money wasn't "dirty" as in a laundry scheme, just dirty.

When you think about it all money gets dirty, since it goes from hand to hand.  The customer wouldn't accept several of the larger bills and made the cashier count out a large number of ones and fives that met with her approval.  All the time while waiting, I'm thinking that the world has probably revolved around at least once, since the subject of dirty money came up.  

The cashier offered hand sanitizer to the customer, which she rejected.  I was fully expecting for the customer to demand that the cashier go to the office and get brand new crisp bills.  Really?  If this situation upset this woman so much, I would hate to think what other things might set her off.  She seemed to me a bit "mental" and I know all about being mental! 

Who knows maybe the woman when she got home, ran the bills through the washing machine!

P

Why Can't Things Stay The Same?

3/2/2016

I have a "little" OCD habit (actually more than a little if I were honest) and when I like something, I see no reason for that product to change.  After all I'm not contacted by the manufacturer who, for the love of a dollar, doesn't let me know that my favorite lipstick color is discontinued, because it's not selling well.  

Once I like a product, I am steadfastly devoted.  I have only worn Chloe perfume for more than 30 years.  Have I looked around for another scent?  Nope.  Why would I do that?  The Chloe perfume that I use has been - you guessed it - discontinued.  Why did I do about it? Plenty.  I went on Ebay and bought practically ever bottle, used/unopened/box/no box I could find.  I have those bottles lined up in my spare bathroom like soldiers waiting for battle.  I used to also use Chloe dusting powder, but finding that discontinued item is scarce.  And, if you do find the dusting powder, the price is prohibitive - over $100.00!!

I have used only one shade of lipstick for years.  And, if you think it has been discontinued, you are right.  Why am I not advised about this?  I have a few tubes of lipstick left, but once they are gone, then I'm screwed.  How many new lipsticks will I have to buy to find one that most closely looks like the color I'm used to wearing?  More than a few I suspect.  

The problem with discontinued items is, besides their being discontinued, is that if you do happen to find said item, the price will be over the moon.  For some of Revlon's discontinued lipsticks, the price on Amazon is over $35.00.  That's just too much and besides they don't have the shade that I like.

I know things have to change.  But do I have to accept those changes?  Eventually I will have to, I'll be left with no other choice.  I may have to change, but I'll be kicking and screaming all the way to the cashier!

P

Spring Is Here

3/1/2016

I know you are probably checking the calendar for the "official" first day of spring, which is on the 20th.  But today, while I was on my pee and poop morning watch outside, it felt like spring.  

It makes me want to put the snow shovels in the basement and though physically limited, play in the dirt.  Last year I was able to put in new plants by sitting in a lawn chair and using a child's shovel, dug out a hole.  Probably more interesting to watch, than actually doing it.  Oh, to have sons still at home!

I don't think it's quite warm enough to start opening up windows, but I am tempted.  We keep one of our bedroom windows open 24/7 all year long.  In the winter, we don't have the window opened up quite as much as we do at this time of year.  Besides, with the blinds and windows open, Mister Sam (who can't see much of anything because of his cataracts), can stare out and make sure we're safe.

Benjamin is coming for a sleepover on Friday.  We bought him a sleeping bag for Christmas and he hasn't been able to use it, since it was more or less intended to be used at Mom-Mom's house.  We have a spare bedroom, which actually has an empty bed, but he won't sleep in it.  When he was a toddler, we bought him a nap "sleeping bag".  Their was a built-in pillow and once he slipped inside, you could throw the sheet over him.  This was fine when he was 3 or 4 years old, but he outgrew it a long time ago.  And, though he would like to, sleeping in our bed is no longer an option.  Between Jeff and I, Maggie and Mister Sam, there isn't room for anyone or anything else in the bed!

Perhaps this afternoon, I can sit on the porch swing and watch the world go by.  At the top of a cul-de-sac, there is very little activity to watch, unless you count squirrels!

Finished watching the Oscars yesterday.  It's amazing how quickly the show goes by if you (a) skip all the commercials; (b) skip all the acceptance speeches; and finally (c) skip the songs that were sung.  I did enjoy Chris Rock passing out Girl Scout cookies for sale in the audience.  If memory serves me right (and it always doesn't), I think he managed to receive $65,000.00!!! Apparently, movie stars must not carry real money like we do - you know, ones, fives, tens and the occasional twenty.  It would take a lot of little money to come up with $65,000!!  Good for him.


Today is National Peanut Butter Lover's day, as well as Share a Smile Day.  

P