Category: Children

Flying – Solo vs Family Travel

We just returned from a family vacation and I now realize why it is easier to travel alone especially when I am flying.   In my job I fly about once a month and love doing it so I thought flying with my family would be just as great.  Well it wasn’t but it also wasn’t horrible….just messy!

When I fly solo for work it is very smooth because I have a system of how to do things.  The first thing I do is park in the same lot every time because it is the cheaper option thus saving my company money.  Next I head into the airport.  Since I have achieved a certain level on my preferred airline I no longer have to pay to check a bag & have priority check-in.  I use my medium sized hard sided luggage and check it each time I fly.  It’s just nice to have the extra room plus then I only have to carry my backpack through the airport.  So I go to the priority desk, check my bag and then head off to security with my boarding pass loaded in the app on my phone.  Lucky for me I have Global Entry (thanks to the hubby a few years ago) so I always have TSA Pre-Check.  It really does speed up the security line so I love it.  I then make my way through the airport, grab a snack and get to my gate.  In my airport this means taking subway type trains, people movers, really tall escalators and even shuttles depending on which of the gates I am flying out of.  It is like Planes, Trains and Automobiles but without the amazing humor of John Candy.  (Does anyone else miss that comic genius?  He was just so funny.)  While I am waiting I usually people watch or check emails on my phone.  Then it is time to board and again thanks to my status I am in group 2 no matter where I am sitting on the plane.  Then it is just sitting back and working or watching a movie.  Once the plane lands I just take my time getting my bag and then head to my hotel.  It’s just easy and efficient.

That is the opposite of what it is like traveling on vacation with my family.  It’s not even all of us, just me, the hubby and out youngest (Becks aka AutismGirl).  So let’s just start with parking at the airport.  This is a big thing because of the many choices.  Do we park in the economy lot or the daily garage and if it is the garage do we park in 1 or 2?  This is a conversation that my husband has out loud with himself as we are driving.  Just as he decides it will be garage 1 he opens up a new debate because the thinks the best idea is to drop us off at departures, park the car in garage 1 and then join us.  That way we can check-in and check the bags.  I remind him that the free first checked bag only applies to him and I because Becks doesn’t have status.  The debate of where to park starts again and finally it is determined that we are all going to garage 1 and using the underground tunnel to get to the main terminal.

Once arriving in the terminal we go to check-in and find out that both of us have been upgraded to first class.  (It’s a 10:30 pm flight to Florida on a Friday so no one is on it.)  Now we have an issue because Becks cannot fly by herself in Economy Plus.  This starts another debate about what to do.  Should we decline the upgrade, should one of us take the upgrade with her and the other sit in the back or should we pay to move her into first class with us?  At this time I decide to talk to the agent to explain the situation.  I produce the letter that we have from her doctor that confirm her Autism diagnosis and ask what they can do to help.  They make a couple of calls and the next thing we know all 3 of us are in first.  Woo Hoo…way to start a vacation!

Now comes security which is hard for her but it is going to be easier this time because it is after 8:30 pm and no one is at the airport trying to get through.  Plus we have TSA Pre-Check so it will be smooth sailing.  I put my bag on the belt, grab a bin for her iPhone and headphones and now we are ready to go through.  So I go first, then she run through which she ends by jump on me and almost knocking me down.  Hubby gets through too after a debate about his belt buckle and if it will set off the detectors.  So off we go to the gate.  I decided to have Becks guide us to see how she does.  So she looks for the signs and gets us to the place to head out to our gate.  I should mention that this point I am carrying my backpack with my laptop and she is carrying hers with all her stuff.  The hubby has nothing but somehow ends up with a glass case, iPhone, iPad and other items that are also in my bag because he didn’t think he needed to carry a bag. (Seriously!)  We get to the gate and wait.  While I was sitting there I could not people watch or check my emails because I am answering constant questions from the hubby.  Now, he flies often enough to know how things work so this is not nervousness…it is just something that I take as trying to annoy me to death after 9:00 pm.

Time to board so we get in our line.  Becks and I are sitting together and the hubby is a few rows up.  It was so nice and she was great.  She watched a movie on my iPhone and drank juice.  Overall first class was nice.  Then we land and she is really tired but also excited.  It’s after 12:00 am and she needs to crash.  We go pick-up the bags which was easy because no one else seems to be in this airport either.  I then tell my husband that instead of taking the shuttle to the hotel we are just going to take a cab.  That creates another debate about cost, time efficiency, etc.  I am at a breaking point and just want to lay down.  I have worked all day and just want to go to bed.  So I grab Becks and head to the cab stand.  Luckily the hubby joins us so we all get to the hotel.  We check-in and crash!

***Please notice that this one family flight took 4 paragraphs vs 1 for my solo journey.***

Thinking back on all of this I have decided that solo travel is great and the reason is because I am making all the decisions.  There is no other adult I have to work with or watch have an out loud debate with themselves.  It is just me, the airport and my airline.  I know things happen on trips that cause issues but I can handle them easily.  (Once in Luxembourg my plane got cancelled, they redid the flight and I ended up flying into a completely different airport in England 4+ hours later than I was supposed to originally.)  Family trips require compromise, patience and other things I am just not good at when it comes to other adults.  This family trip was just a great example of the title for my blog.  That life is messy and (thank goodness) I DON’T MOP!

 

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What Is Hot?

I’m not sure if I have told you all before but I have an amazing 13-year-old daughter with Asperger’s, which is one of the forms of autism. One of the funny things that happen is the way we use words but they don’t always mean the same. I know it’s like this with other children but with her sometimes it can lead to a very funny and awkward conversation.
When we go to see a movie she likes to sit between her father and I. A few months ago we went to see Justice League because we all love action movies. At one point they are showing Cyborg and he is upset about what his father has done to him. She turns to me at this point and says “Wow Cyborg is Hot!” This is the first time I have heard her say something like that so I was in a state of shock the rest of the movie because I realized this was something a typical 13-year-old would say. After the movie, we are sitting in the lobby waiting for my husband to get back from the restroom. I ask her how she liked the movie and she said she loved it. So I asked her about her thinking Cyborg was hot. She said “Don’t you think he’s hot?” and I replied, “Nope, I think Aquaman is hot.” She got this strange look on her face and then said: “What are you talking about he’s not hot.” I guess at this point I was the one with the strange look on my face because she said “Didn’t you see the red in the middle of Cyborg’s chest? It was like fire.” It was then that I realized she was talking about hot as in temperature where I was talking about hot as sexy. Finally, my husband gets done and as we are walking to the car she proceeds to tell her father that she thinks Cyborg is hot because of the red flame but I think Aquaman is hot even though he’s not. So my husband looks at me looks at her and looks back at me and starts laughing. Later in the car, I ask her if she knew why I called Aquaman hot and her response was classic “Because you think he has to stay warm underwater?” So I decided to leave it at that.
I’m telling you most people think that having a child with autism is so hard with not a lot of good times but it is these little moments (especially with a 13-year-old) that make everything worthwhile. Not sure if I should be worried that my husband knows I like Jason Momoa but I’m sure it isn’t shocking since I like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Hugh Jackman too. What I am really happy about is the innocence that my daughter still has because this age is rough especially for the parents. Luckily I think this is one I won’t have to clean up because as you know…I don’t mop!

Binge Watching Is Fun!

Binge watching has become one of my favorite habits.  Instead of actually watching the shows when they first come on I end up waiting until the season is over and depending on what people think I will check it out.  I just hate to waste my time watching a show if I am not going to like it and since I have the same taste as a few of my friends their opinion on a show guide me in what to watch.  It’s also nice to have something to do in the evening.

Lately, I have been on a royalty kick.  Not that should shock everyone that knows me but I do have a great love of all things royal.  (That is for another posting)  The Crown was amazing which led me to Victoria then to The White Queen then its sequel The White Princess.  Now I am almost finished with Reign.  While I know they are not all historically accurate but they are so much fun.  Intrigue, romance, swords, and backstabbing.  It’s like a romance novel that I can watch and not read.  What is not to like?

My husband loves to binge watch shows after they have stopped so he knows that it will have a real ending and not just be canceled with no type of ending.  Breaking Bad is his current one and I have to say I don’t like it.  It’s just not something I like.  So how do I handle it?  I sit on the couch glancing at it occasionally while either reading or playing on my iPad.  I try to pretend to like it but wow it is just too much.  I think because it is more “real” than the other stuff I watch so it just upsets me more.  The acting is good, but the storyline and scenes just freak me out.

Now it is almost time for the fall TV season to start and while I do watch some shows when they are on most of the time I spend my weekend mornings catching up through the on-demand.  I used to be so much better because I could fast-forward through the commercials but as usual, the networks decided to take that one perk from me.  Why is it that we pay to watch these shows via our cable bill and yet I can’t watch them without having to watch a bunch of commercials that are just irritating or are peddling something nobody wants or needs?  Plus sometimes the products are embarrassing which is so wonderful when you are sitting on the couch with your family.

(A recent example was the one for vaginal itching.  I think everyone in the room was uncomfortable.  Plus the questions from my daughter that came after were even worse.  Why do they do this to me?  I’m just a woman trying to deal with everything happening in my life so the last thing I want to talk or hear about is someone’s privates itching them.) Ughh!!

So what is everyone’s favorite show?  Anything I should binge watch?  I do love recommendations, especially from strangers because who knows I might find others that have my same love of royalty, comedy or sci-fi.  Plus if I am watching TV that means that I am not mopping!

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Supplies Are Fun!!

Part of my job is ordering supplies for my staff.  Most people will think it is tedious but I love it.  Mostly because I get to look through this humongous paper or digital catalog at all the different things I can order.  For someone who likes colorful things and the thought of being organized it is like being a kid in a candy shop. Unless it is a big dollar purchase or furniture I can order almost anything.  The best part is that I don’t have to pay for any of it because it is all stuff for my office.  Plus if I get it and it doesn’t really do what I thought it would do or I’m not going to use it I can return it very easily without having to leave my desk.  This is a shoppers dream!!

When I order supplies online they are usually delivered the next business day to the mail room (a magical place…just ask Buddy the Elf).  They put it on a cart and deliver it right to my desk.  It’s like Christmas except that I know what is inside, but not always.  Occasionally they mess up but returns are easy too plus I get to go down to the mail room to ship it back.  (Our mail room doesn’t look the one in Elf at all.  There are no pipes to send the mail up and there are no bins that the staff can lie around in and drink out of a flask. Ours is definitely not the magical one either.)

Here is a list of my favorite items:

  • Binder clips in multiple sizes and in multiple colors. This is important because if I am putting together a packet of stuff I like to use the same color through the packet so it is beautiful and color coordinated.  Plus my boss HATES paperclips so I keep a lot of these on hand.
  • Post-it notes. I have 2 dispensers on my desk because one is my colorful, fun one and the other is ruled like a piece of paper.  You may ask why I need both and my answer is simple.  I just like them plus they serve 2 functions.  If I want to be playful or relaxed I use the colorful ones but if I am being serious I use the ruled ones.  It’s just my way of expressing my emotions.
  • Paper clips are also fun for me. I have metal and plastic ones in a couple of different sizes.  The metal ones are really for one person in my group because they like those.  I love my plastic ones because they are colorful (sensing a trend yet).  Plus I’m the only one on my floor who uses them so when I see them on someone else’s desk I know they have been into my stash.  (Bad people stealing my supplies…I know secretly they want to be like me but that is a bad idea.  As my family would say…the world doesn’t need or deserve another Karen.)
  • Labels and my amazing Label Writer. This is a must-have for my desk and my current one is a “Twin Turbo” so I can have 2 different types of labels in the machine at one time.  It’s an organizers dream.  Currently, I have file folder and address sized labels in the machine but if you look in my cabinet you will see that I have 7 other different sizes available because you never know when you might something different.  Like a badge-sized label or a non-adhesive hanging file tab.  (In will say that I have used the badge label for some things but never for badges…because we don’t need no stinking badges!!)

As I’m writing this I realized that I need to order supplies for my daughter since school starts in a couple of weeks.  I looked at the list and realized that this isn’t fun at all and I know why.  First, I have to pay for this stuff…ugh!!  Second, she is going to want input…double ugh!! Last, I’m going to have to pick it up…NOOOO!!!  I hate going into stores.  Even if it is just to pick up something I ordered and don’t have to actually shop for it.  I just hate the noise, people, trying to find a parking place, etc.  Then if anything has to be returned I feel like it is the same as a walk of death.  More noise, more people and having to explain why I don’t like it…pain in the butt!!  When I have to return something usually one of three things will happen.  Either I will do it myself, beg someone else in the family to do it or (which happens very often) I will just put it away somewhere so I can forget about it.  What is the saying??  “Out of sight.  Out of mind.”  (Lucky for me the out of mind part happens very easily thanks to my dementia.)  My husband is constantly finding items and asking why I kept it and not returned it.  He just doesn’t understand how bad the walk of death is for me but then again he never offered to do it for me either so maybe he does understand how bad it is and doesn’t want to do it himself.  (Hmmm…something to ponder.)

So the next time you need a pick me up ask your office if you can order the supplies and you will see what a blissful experience it can be.  Plus you might even be able to order a mop but don’t bother sending me one because as you can tell from the name of this blog….I Don’t Mop!

 

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So Here We Are! Welcome!

At the age of 44 (45 is only a couple of months away) I have decided that I am almost halfway through my life.  I think 90 will be a good time to kick-the-bucket because hopefully, I will get to see a lot more stuff and by then I shouldn’t care that no one listens to me.  I will just be terrorizing my daughters and telling my grandchildren the stories of my life.  (Knowing my memory they will be mostly made up but they will be exciting.)  This page is for me to share what it is like to be me and how the people in my life are impacted.

Little background.  I have lived in Northern Virginia (near DC) my entire life.  Seriously!  All I do is move further and further away from the craziness that is the city.  At some point I am going to end up in West Virginia but not if my husband has anything to say about it.  (To my WV people:  I love visiting but you don’t want me there any more than I want to be.)  My Hubby (Odin) is my second husband.  They say you marry your first for love (in my case for pregnancy) and the second for money (OK that, but really love). He is amazing and puts up with me which says a lot about him and his inner strength since I am always right even when I am wrong.

My children are a blessing and a royal pain in the butt.  We have 3 daughters with a classic yours, mine and ours but thankfully not as many children as they had in the movie starring Lucille Ball.  The oldest (The Therapist) is so bright and caring but is a lot like her father so that says enough.  She is married to a great guy (The Mechanic) and they gave us our first granddaughter (Song Bird) in May.  Then there is the middle one (BiP) who is funny and creative but is a lot like me which is why you will hear a lot about us butting heads (not physically, but emotionally).  She just had a baby girl (Itty Bitty) a few days ago.  Last is Aspie Girl who is so amazing and of course the youngest.  As you can see from her name she has Asperger’s (a form of Autism) so the world when you are around her is always interesting but yet exhausting.  Odin calls her my “Mini Me” and she is, plus as a bonus, she follows my directions, unlike the others.

In addition, the ones above I have wonderful parents, half-siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws and more.  Then add my co-workers and my classmates from my MBA program.  As you can tell there are plenty of people I will be writing you about.  Good news for you….sounds like a lot of work for me.

So please, please follow me and pass on my page to others.  It will be worth a read!