If you where dress shoes when traveling, put a shoe horn in your carry on bag. It really helps with getting your shoes back on after going through security.
Another thing is you don't have to take your belt off as long as you don't have any other metals or you belt doesn't have a big metal buckle. The metal detector is cummulative so be be sure to take off watch and remove coins.
Friday, April 4, 2008
I would suggest not traveling with me
I guess I can't complain too much but flight last night from Dallas was about an hour late. Some really big storms in the area and the incoming flight was diverted way south then way some where else.
Once it landed they did a pretty fast job of turning it around. I got upgraded to first class and was the first one down the gang plank/gate way. Had to wait outside the plane while the cleaning staff finished up. The gate attendant asked the pilot what was the delay so that's when I heard the story of flying all over. He then went outside and checked the plane pretty thoroughly. He even had a flashlight.
I was in the first row of first class so was closests to the cockpit. I could hear the automatic pilot voice telling the pilots how far off the ground we were when we were landing. "Fifty feet...thirty feet....ten feet....five...." It was kind of disconcerting.
This is a short turn around this week. I go back to Dallas on Monday.
Once it landed they did a pretty fast job of turning it around. I got upgraded to first class and was the first one down the gang plank/gate way. Had to wait outside the plane while the cleaning staff finished up. The gate attendant asked the pilot what was the delay so that's when I heard the story of flying all over. He then went outside and checked the plane pretty thoroughly. He even had a flashlight.
I was in the first row of first class so was closests to the cockpit. I could hear the automatic pilot voice telling the pilots how far off the ground we were when we were landing. "Fifty feet...thirty feet....ten feet....five...." It was kind of disconcerting.
This is a short turn around this week. I go back to Dallas on Monday.
Monday, March 31, 2008
6 - 8 inches of snow
Back to Dallas today. They are predicting 6 - 8 inches of snow in Minneapolis from today through tomorrow evening. Snow to start between 8:00 and 10:00am. My flight is at 9:05am. Hopefully we get out on time.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Just the mention of 40 degrees
Just the mention of 40 degrees and people are in t-shirts and shorts! Even if it isn't that temperature yet!
Back to Dallas this week. Should be a good deal warmer down there than up here. Rumors of snow tomorrow could delay the departure but will try to keep a positive attitude.
Back to Dallas this week. Should be a good deal warmer down there than up here. Rumors of snow tomorrow could delay the departure but will try to keep a positive attitude.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Saga of the washing machine
As some of you know, I purchased a new washing machine recently and when it was delivered, it did not fit down the stairs to the basement.
I know I have a narrow staircase. When I bought my first washing machine back in 1991, the salesman very wisely asked me if I lived in South Minneapolis. When I said yes, he advised me to check the width of my basement staircase. With his advice I purchased a 24" washing machine that was still a full-size washer nonetheless.
The dryer was also a special size with the narrowest dimension being 25 1/2 inches.
So when I went looking for new washing machine, I knew I needed a narrow unit. I don't really need a new washer but wanted to buy something big. Most washers are 27 inches wide. That would never do. I did my research and came across the Fisher-Paykel brand washer. This is the same brand of dishwasher I have.
I bought the Fisher-Paykel dishwasher because it, too, is a special size and fit exactly where I wanted it.
The Fisher-Paykel washing machine is 25 1/2" wide so I thought it would be fine. I measured the staircase and to be honest it was a little less than 25 1/2" but...what the heck, the dryer fit 16 years ago.
Well, when they delivered the machine, there was no way it was going down those stairs. Ugh. I searched on the internet and the dealer I had purchased from for a 24" machine. When I checked those out, they were all so small and front loaders. I did not want a front loader with the cats around. I was afraid of them getting into it.
So I went to plan B. The Fisher-Paykel just had to fit. I borrowed a circular saw, masonry blades, cold chisel and big hammer from my neighbor. I cut grooves into the concrete wall on the side of the stairs that is the basement wall.
I took a hammer and chipped off the plaster from the other wall of the stairs which is the living room side. I got the tape to measure a 25 12" opening and rescheduled the delivery of the Fisher-Paykel.
Two different delivery men came. The darn thing still didn't want to go down the stairs. I signed an agreement that they could scratch it. Basically the shoved, pushed, pulled and got it down the stairs. We had to chip more away from the plaster wall and the poor thing has a pretty good scratch from some piece of metal that caught.
BUT it is in the basement and washing its first load of laundry. And just so everyone knows and because I'm an eco-freak, the Fisher-Paykel top-load is EnergyStar compliant and is almost as efficient as a front-loader.
I know I have a narrow staircase. When I bought my first washing machine back in 1991, the salesman very wisely asked me if I lived in South Minneapolis. When I said yes, he advised me to check the width of my basement staircase. With his advice I purchased a 24" washing machine that was still a full-size washer nonetheless.
The dryer was also a special size with the narrowest dimension being 25 1/2 inches.
So when I went looking for new washing machine, I knew I needed a narrow unit. I don't really need a new washer but wanted to buy something big. Most washers are 27 inches wide. That would never do. I did my research and came across the Fisher-Paykel brand washer. This is the same brand of dishwasher I have.
I bought the Fisher-Paykel dishwasher because it, too, is a special size and fit exactly where I wanted it.
The Fisher-Paykel washing machine is 25 1/2" wide so I thought it would be fine. I measured the staircase and to be honest it was a little less than 25 1/2" but...what the heck, the dryer fit 16 years ago.
Well, when they delivered the machine, there was no way it was going down those stairs. Ugh. I searched on the internet and the dealer I had purchased from for a 24" machine. When I checked those out, they were all so small and front loaders. I did not want a front loader with the cats around. I was afraid of them getting into it.
So I went to plan B. The Fisher-Paykel just had to fit. I borrowed a circular saw, masonry blades, cold chisel and big hammer from my neighbor. I cut grooves into the concrete wall on the side of the stairs that is the basement wall.
I took a hammer and chipped off the plaster from the other wall of the stairs which is the living room side. I got the tape to measure a 25 12" opening and rescheduled the delivery of the Fisher-Paykel.
Two different delivery men came. The darn thing still didn't want to go down the stairs. I signed an agreement that they could scratch it. Basically the shoved, pushed, pulled and got it down the stairs. We had to chip more away from the plaster wall and the poor thing has a pretty good scratch from some piece of metal that caught.
BUT it is in the basement and washing its first load of laundry. And just so everyone knows and because I'm an eco-freak, the Fisher-Paykel top-load is EnergyStar compliant and is almost as efficient as a front-loader.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Ahh, Spring in Minnesota
Just a little Spring snow storm. Must have gotten around 4 inches or so Thursday through Friday. It looks like it snowed another 2 or 3 inches over night. Going out to shovel again.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Ahhh, tis the season
Nothing like the wafting of cat hair in the air. Tis the season of shedding at the Alspaugh household.
It usually seems to come out in big clumps around the house. Blobs of grey (Uno) on the carpeting or swatches of cream (Frankie) sweeping along the hardwood floor.
The once-a-week Sunday night combing may have to go to more frequent attempts. Uno absolutely hates it. She's definitely got the most hair I have ever seen. I can comb out another cat's worth from her.
Frankie likes it but isn't patient enough. He fights it with very sharp back claws.
It usually seems to come out in big clumps around the house. Blobs of grey (Uno) on the carpeting or swatches of cream (Frankie) sweeping along the hardwood floor.
The once-a-week Sunday night combing may have to go to more frequent attempts. Uno absolutely hates it. She's definitely got the most hair I have ever seen. I can comb out another cat's worth from her.
Frankie likes it but isn't patient enough. He fights it with very sharp back claws.
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