Baggage

My life consists of a lot of travel and that means my luggage usually never has time to collect dust. I barely unpack from trip and then the next one is right around the corner. For example I am still currently on my trip that started on February 2 for. So far I have spent 5 days in Seattle, 8 days in the Netherlands, 6 days in Switzerland, 1 day in the Netherlands, 10 days in Istanbul and now back in the Netherlands for a bit before heading back to California. If you think I am exhausted you should see my luggage.

For the last 10 years I have been the owner of pink luggage of one type or another. There are many advantages to this with the number one being that I can spot my luggage immediately on the luggage belt. Here is a picture of the latest pink luggage or Big Pink as we call it:

Seriously you can't really miss this or try to steal
it without looking like a complete jerk.

I have had this luggage for approximately 4-5 years and it has held up like a champ considering how inexpensive it was (that is relative to the fact that luggage is stupid expensive) and how many miles it has clocked.

During this last trip to Istanbul Big Pink had a tire blowout on the way there, which made me sad, but considering I had already super glued the sides together three different times it seemed the writing was on the wall. Then on the return to the Netherlands then bottom thingy (a total technical term) was coming off. It now is officially time to say my goodbyes to Big Pink. The BF even made sure I had the proper time to say goodbye before he whisked it away to be disposed of. He knows me so well.

Then much to my surprise before I even had the chance to search online for "obnoxious pink luggage" the BF and family surprised me with a belated birthday luggage set. I think this may be the universes way of telling me it's time to have grown up luggage to make the trek across the globe. While normally I would be a bit sad, you have to check out my new sleek grown up Samsonite luggage:

Completely grown up and lovely

Now you will have to excuse me while I search for some obnoxious pink bows to affix to them.

Linking up because it's true...

Good Skincare is Worth Every Cent

Can someone please get Lindsey Lohan some proper skincare and make her look like the 27 year old she is, instead of a boozy lounge singer, that is never without a smoke, in Reno?

This makes me sad.

In other news I am pretty sure I look younger than her, even with my 36th birthday coming up this weekend!

Yes that's me in my sheep PJ's, no photoshop, no
make-up and bad lighting. Suck it.

30,000 Feet

If you read this blog often or even semi-often you know that the BF and I fly a lot. As a result of these travels I often observe those around me for sport. While admittedly sometimes these people are boring, sometime you get a few gems that give you great stories to share once you are back on land. With all this flying though I have realized that there rules of 30,000 feet that no one tells you about, but you need to do out of respect that you are all cramped into a large (but incredibly small for this many people) tube that is headed towards your destination at a frightening speed if you think about it for too long. The other night a colleague and I were discussing some of these rules and I thought that I would share them so we can all be on the same page while flying. 

Here are the rules according to Shannon in no particular order.

Reclining your seat

If you are on a flight that serves a meal (internationally) don’t be a douche and recline your seat prior to the meal. We have approximately enough space to open our peanuts and drink our ginger ale when your seat is not reclined, so you can imagine how much space I have with your head on my lap to eat an actual meal (I try not to eat meals on a flight as a rule, but still).

If you are on a domestic flight or want to recline your seat at all any time after a meal be mindful and go slow. It also doesn’t hurt if you can look before launching yourself in a backwards motion that scares the crap out of the unfortunate person behind you. Be kind and we can all survive this flight without me feeling the need to constantly shift my legs so that my knee is positioned right in your back through the chair.

The more I think about this, unless you are sleeping or on a long flight, just don’t do this at all. Everyone would be happier.

If you have an aisle seat

Dude, for reals go to the bathroom at least once or at least don’t look like you want to murder me every time I have to (I do try to keep it to a minimum). I go to the bathroom a lot so I always try to get an aisle seat, but sometimes they are just not available. We have to coexist together for a few hours, lets bring some courtesy to this place and not make my bladder want to burst simply because I am waiting out to see if you will get your butt up.

If there is a middle seat next to you, FOR THE LOVE OF KITTIES DO NOT USE THE MIDDLE ARMREST!! The middle seat sucks unless you are a kid or sitting next to someone you know and even then it’s not the best. So imagine you’re sandwiched between two strangers and can’t move your arms without touching someone. It sucks. So keep one arm in the aisle and the other within your seat and we there will be no ill will.

If you have a window seat

When the person in the aisle goes to walk or the bathroom, you go. Don’t wait for them to return and then go. I have had this happen on one of my last flights and I swear this guy survived the trip only because I was so exasperated by the entire flight he just wasn’t worth the breath it would take to tell him what a butt mitten he was being. This a rule that you need to follow always.

As with the aisle seat if you have a window seat with a middle person, don’t take the armrest. It’s rude and people will hate you. If you have a two seater this is a sketchy area, but hopefully you can work it out with your seatmate so everyone is happy. I suggest the back/front approach. This is where one person takes the back part of the armrest and the other takes the front. You can casually work this out by just placing your elbow towards the one area, keeping the opposite area free for them to use at their leisure.

If you have a middle seat

You may think that because you have the crappiest seat in the plane that rules don’t apply to you, but they do. We all have rules otherwise we are an uncivilized plane. First and foremost, don’t be a complete area and seat hog. We are “sharing” a space and we all have limited areas so keep to your seat and armrest please. It’s not like being on the aisle or window have any actual space differences, we can just adjust a little bit more on one side.

Same rule with as window seat and bathroom. Go with the flow and don’t be a complete jerk and need to go every hour on the hour. It’s rude.

Also please don’t act all offended when I won’t trade with you so you can sit next to your friend who is also on an aisle. Middle sucks and if your stuck with it, man up and deal.

Wanderer

If you like to roam a plane during the flight that is great, but please don’t stand next to my seat and do your lunges, leg lifts or whatever the heck that was. Keep in mind I am at junk level and it’s not cute to shove yours in other peoples faces. Also hanging out at the bulkhead row is rude to those seated in the most uncomfortable seats on the plane (at least if it is a 747). How could you focus on your movie or sleep if someone was standing right in front of you? You can’t, because it’s almost as creepy as Edward watching Bella sleep. Almost. There is the middle of the plane and the back of the plane for hanging out. Use them. 

  

The guy reading my screen as I type this on the plane

I am writing, not looking at porn so lets pretend that you aren’t reading over my shoulder please.

Flight Attendant Respect

Last, but definitely not least, be kind to your flight attendant. They have nowhere private to talk crap about you, so do them (and me) a solid and realize that you are just one of many, aboard a tube with a destination that you get to go out and enjoy while they sleep, turn around and have to deal with more of the same. They are kind to you, even when I would vote you off the plane. Please consider that the next time you feel entitled to cause a scene because you didn’t get the seat you wanted.

Coincidentally I wrote this post while flying and saw evidence of people breaking these rules left and right. Apparently everyone needs to read my blog.

Break

I have been gone. Things have been busy and well my creativity has been at an all time low, not to mention that I have been more social slug than social butterfly. So I just took a little break to see how it felt and it was nice, but frankly I am ready to start talking to people I have never met before again. So, hello and here is what you missed the month of January.

• On a flight we were standing in line to check our baggage and saw a gentleman who looked a little out of sorts for international travel, I had nothing else to do so I checked out the situation. Turns out he was being escorted on the plane by police officers. Sane people would leave it at that. I had scenarios of Lost like island survival, except that it would most likely happen over Greenland since that was our route and we would have to eat each other like in the movie Alive. Conclusion - I need to stop watching TV.

• Then there was the time when the BF was in NL and I was in Cali and his internet went out, then two hours later mine went down as well. I figured the apocalypse was just coming a little late and that I only had a few minutes left. Cable went down too so I couldn't disprove my theory. That is until I remembered to use my phone and saw that Cox was just having issues. Conclusion - it was not the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine (even good) about it.

• The BF showed up from his travels, got out of the shower and took out a can of Axe body spray from his toilet kit. After I stopped laughing I explained to his very confused self that only pre-teens and those in South America use body spray (at least I think, this is pure speculation). He didn't see the problem, so I had to go purchase Tom Ford (Pick any of them. They are all divine) to show him the error of his ways. Conclusion - He is not allowed to shop alone.

• I was stupid busy at work and wore my sheep pajamas (The ones where the sheep are wearing leg warmers, scarfs and hats on it. My favorite ones ever.) until around 4pm each day, because that was when I then remembered to shower. Conclusion - Not showering until the afternoon is sooo not ok. 

• My step mom retired and her whole demeanor seems to have changed overnight. It's amazing and I hope it's everything she wants it to be. She deserves it. Conclusion - Find out more about this retirement thing.

• I have lost some weight and not because I am busy, but because I am watching what I am putting in my body and not being crazy about it. I have no idea if it will work forever, but so far I don't deny myself anything, as long as I have worked for it, and it seems to be working for me. Conclusion - I still have drinks of the adult nature and eat chocolate. Life is pretty good. 

So how was your first month of the year? Did you get yourself sheep pajamas?

Cup of Coffee

I was going to post something else today, but I happened to have a chance to sit down and spend the afternoon with someone who is incredibly special to me and going through a rough time. I thought at first that I needed to break away and finish working, but then it occurred to me that I didn't. I don't. I needed to be with this person and talk to her about all the stupid and crazy things that are happening. Complain about the guys, talk about the weather and kids, gossip about all the others and in general have a great afternoon. And it was a wonderful 3 hours and I wouldn't have rather done anything else. It's a shame I don't remember that more often, but I am sure going to try. It's not just about work, instead of watching that show, going to the grocery store, writing, shopping and whatever else pops up spending time with people you love is way more important then all of that combined.

Must

Oh the week has flown by. First we have to remember that we are in the year 2013 (so happy I don't have to remember this when writing checks. Thank you Internet.), then we need to pay a few credit card bills left over from the holidays and then with what little I have left I might get myself a massage or shoes or gas. Probably gas.

I have a few days left in the Netherlands and plan on using them to spend time with the family and slowly start running again. Since I injured my calf in November I have been taking it easy and not running in order to have it heal. With my first run complete I am a little sore, but it is a good thing. I am excited to get back on the trails!

I hope your new year has been off to an excellent start!

Le Cart - So I have a confession. I love this lamp. Why? I have no idea other than it would make people question my taste in decor. That is why I think this is perfect for the guest bedroom. This lamp is one of the many reasons why I love Le Cart. At Le Cart the ladies scour all of the flea markets, estate sales and antique shops in the bay area to bring you the most fabulous finds. All you have to do is browse their online boutique. Now how easy is that?

4 Other Social Networks - For reasons I can't explain this article fascinates me and makes me want to be a member of CLOOB.com. Anything that is invite only I think I want to be part of, but it looks like this is for old Iranian men only. I guess I will just have to live without it and be happy with Facebook.

Twitter, the final Frontier  - Gotta love the Shat.

Mulberry Bag - Someday I shall have a Mulberry bag...you know around the time I win the lottery. They have the Spring/Summer collection available for purchase or drooling over. Totally worth a look.

2013

2012 was not the greatest year on record for me, but it wasn't the worst either. I took 2012 as a year to figure some things out for myself along the lines of who, what, why and where I want to be. This was one of the more difficult things I have done because it really forces you to look at all aspects of your life and take accountability for where and why you are where you are. Sometimes the hardest thing to do is realize that you and only you are responsible for how you feel and what you have. It's easy to blame a situation, bad event, crappy luck or a person for where you are, but the truth is at the core of every decision we make it is us (and only ourselves) that makes that decision to be where and what we are. We alone are in charge of our destiny, our joy, our sadness and our life. Some of us chose to live in a state of constant struggle, others take that struggle and turn it in to a drive or passion to be more than a label, a name or a feeling.

I like to think that I don't "blame" anyone for my issues and for the most part I am true to that, but every so often I think about how things may have been different if something would have gone differently. The truth of the matter is that even if I could, I wouldn't want to change it. I have worked hard for where I am and I have many blessings in my life. I am not perfect and I will not strive to be, I will just continue to try and be the best person I can be. That is my so called resolution for 2013.