That's What Jenni Said

I'll never forget our weekend in Switzerland (Labor Day wknd 2009). It was the weekend I learned how an online community can rally around one of their own in need, how the best laid plans can be yanked off course in an instant, and that it's best to avoid traveling alone. Oddly enough, I also discovered that my decidedly golden brown eyes can turn hazel after enough tears. The trip was the first one we'd taken using the Delta mistake fares that were published earlier in summer 2009. I had been told of the fare through friends on flyertalk.com (the mileage running community I belong to online) and I in turn shared the opportunity with my fellow NoVA Travelers. Several members took advantage of the fares (as low as $299 round trip to Europe TOTAL), some heading to Switzerland the same weekend that Jonathan and I did and even on the same flight. We arrived into Zurich after an uneventful overnight plane ride and after processing through immigration we were on our way. We parte...

As detailed in my last post, I flew to London (LHR) on United Airlines on Friday after work.   Once I landed at LHR on Saturday morning (at 6am) I made my way directly to the arrivals lounge that I officially was not supposed to have access to. I talked my way in anyway and enjoyed a hot shower and breakfast and some time on my laptop before it was time to meet the rest of my NoVA Travelers for our transfer to the hotel.   The meeting time came and went and no members could be found so I used flight tracking data online to review the logs of their flight. I found that both members I was expected were on planes running at least 30 minutes late so I headed to the hotel by myself to wait for them.   Just my luck the tube routes were disrupted to track maintenance and the bus routes were disrupted due to a political march against violence. That left the train as the only viable option to get downtown. First lesson of travel- be prepared to stretch your budget. Tube tick...

I have a compulsive need to describe my adulterous experience in cheating on Delta with United. I was led to play the field away from Delta because of the strength of Delta's (and it's skyteam partners) business class product. "Wait…What?", you may ask. You see, on the few chances I've had to fly in business class on Delta or it's partners I have loved loved LOVED the luxury of the seats, the treatment by the crew, the business class lounge access, etc. Just fabulous. Delta, seeing the value in their business class product is very stingy with their upgrades. They do offer upgrade certificates to top tier elites such as myself, but you can only use them to upgrade from a full fare coach ticket. That's sort of like putting the luxury Italian sports cars on sale for only $90k; doesn't help much if you still can't afford it. United however is much more generous with their upgrade certificates- they are good on several discounted coach fares. Also...

I just saw the film Precious. You should too. Stories about child abuse reduce me to tears every time. This was one of the more horrific stories in terms of the level of abuse and degradation and it was hard to watch. It spoke to the hope and resiliency of the soul though and I like that. It also helps put my childhood in better perspective, encouraging me to be more resilient and just get over everything already. If someone can live through much worse abuse then I ever faced then I should be able to put my past in the past and thrive. It's a work in progress.

2009 has come and gone! I hope you holidays were cheerful and provided a welcome rest from the busy pace of our everyday lives.   Not only were we lucky enough to have snow over Christmas, the DC Metro area has been hit with two major storms since the new year. But enough about 2010. This entry is about 2009.   Jon and I maintained a comfortable routine in our careers over the past year. We are both with the same companies, although I've moved to a telecommute office arrangement with mine, giving me a more flexible schedule and the ability to work from anywhere. This is my project team's last contract year with our government client so it is possible I will find myself job hunting in the summer.   Things on the homefront have been steady as well. Jon and I celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary in May and are still going strong. I am counting down to our big 70th wedding anniversary in just another 56 years. Jenna is now 13 and holding on, although she's exp...

NoVA Travelers took its final trip of the year for 2009 on the weekend immediately following our return from San Francisco.   Lets recap - from the east coast to Venice/Greece in mid November, back to the east coast for a few days, then to the west coast for the SFO trip, then back to the east again for a work week, then back to the west for our trip to Aspen. I'm pretty sure my body was losing all sense of time and direction by the second week of December.   After all that whirlwind activity across the Atlantic and across the country, it was time for a relaxing break. No can't miss tourist sights, no walking tours, no historical did-you-know teaching moments. Just a weekend of relaxation and playtime in a snowy wonderland.   I took off for Aspen a day early to work around my job schedule, and spent the night in Denver. I had a free stay coming from The Curtis that was given to me in a gesture to prove that the hotel had solved its noise problems (loud 20something...