Come Fly with Me ...or just stay home

I have the worst luck with flying.  Probably not the worst, but definitely the top of the list of the people I know.  I also travel a bit more than most of the people I know, so maybe because I travel more I'm more likely to have travel "issues."  I'm not talking "Up in the Air" type, but once every two months are so.  And 9 out of 10 of those times, I have some sort of story.  Or a few...  Either way, after a trip this weekend, it got me thinking about traveling...

1) It's rude to lean your seat back if someone is seated behind you.  They should disable that feature.
2) It's ruder if you're not actually sleeping; if you're just reading, watching a movie on your iPad, etc.
3) It's rude to brag about your iPad, Kindle, etc. and how many books, games, etc. you have.
4) It's rude to talk loudly the ENTIRE flight.
5) An adult scared of flying is 10 times worse than a crying baby.
6) When you kick my seat for the 15th time, I'm going to turn around and give you a dirty look.  It's going to happen.
7) If you are on a flight that has assigned seats, it's not a race to get on the plane when they call your group number.  Your seat will still be there when you get on the plane.  Promise.
8) Seat assignments should be organized by who has the shortest amount of time and/or longest distance to travel to reach their connecting flight.  It would save a lot of people running through the airport.
9) What's the point in traveling 1st class for an hour flight?  I'm going to judge you as I walk back to coach.
10) It's polite to stand a bit back from baggage claim.  I'm not purposely a foot away waiting until my bag goes around 5 times to pick it up.  When you get in front of me, I can no longer see my bag coming.
11) We should all make a promise not to judge how each other's sleep behaviors on planes.  This includes, but is not limited to: open mouths, drool, talking, and a surprise wake up when you had a dream you were falling.
12) Is bloody mary mix and ginger ale the official drinks of the air?  I feel that's what everyone gets.  What did I miss?
13) Are magazines and gum more expensive at the airport?  I don't think I've ever paid $10 at Target...  but maybe it's because I've never bought only gum and magazines at Target.
14) Something other than overhead containers should be created to store carry-ons.  It's what's slowing the whole process down.
15) If it's too heavy for you to lift it over your own head, you should check it at the gate.  It's painful watching you struggle.
16) I think some pilots hit the breaks extra hard on the landings to punish the people that took their seat belts off early.
17) If you do not make a disclaimer to those around you about a quick connecting flight, you need to wait your turn to exit the plane.  Row by row.  Women, children, and the elderly first.  Just like the Titanic.  Except we've landed on solid ground.  We all want off too.
18) Unless you're flying Southwest, there's no point in lining up at the gate.  You end up blocking the aisle.  Then the rest of us almost get hit by the oversized golf carts for transporting the elderly.  I get wanting to stand up, but that's what the walls are for.  Stand by them.
19) The security process has changed since 1982.  Read up on them.  They are for our safety, not our inconvenience.   Be nice to the TSA workers.  They are on our side.
20) Thank a military person for their service.  Help a woman alone with her children.  Answer an elderly person's ridiculous questions about travel.  Smile instead of sighing at the crying baby.  Say "hello" when you sit down next to a stranger, but watch the small talk...

Those are just a few of my thoughts about flying.  I'm sure there's more.  So "come fly with me" ... or just stay home!

End of the Work Week Round-up

So, it's Friday night and I've got one final homework assignment left for this week, but in true procrastinator fashion I'll put it off so I can tell you more about my week and what's coming up this weekend.

1) This week was so busy at work.  The days went by SUPER fast, which can be good, but I found myself wishing for just "one more day" in the work week to get everything done before the weekend (hence, one last homework assignment before the weekend...)

2) I didn't really have a lot of after-work activities other than Homework and the Help screening, so I got some good workouts in before we leave for Mexico next month!!  We will be staying here:

Just a tad bit excited :) 

When Jillian says "think about all the reasons why you're working out," this is what I envision.  Feeling comfortable walking around here in my 2-piece in front of total strangers that I will never again see in my life.  Whatever works.  

3) This weekend is the class above me in high school's 10-year reunion.  As the Senior Class President of the Class of 2002 and the head of our Reunion planning committee, I'm assisting with ticket-taking and am oddly nervous.  I really wasn't close with anyone in particular in the Class of 2001, but the thought of seeing people I haven't seen since high school gives me a funny feeling in my stomach.  I may or may not have gotten my upper lip waxed for the occasion.  

*If talk of dog poo is weird to you, you can skip this one...

4) In tune with working out more and the fact that Mr. Nation had baseball every night this week (he coaches baseball on the side...)  I have been walking the dogs a lot more lately.  So last night, both dogs went #2 really early on in the walk.  So early that Griffin went again towards the end.  Right in front of a lady watering her lawn.  Me with no more Target sacks.  So I just walked off.  I felt really bad, but I'm not that nice to walk back or even worse, pick it up with my bare hands.  

Tonight while walking, it was a little more routine.  An older man came out of his house and asked me to take my trash after picking up Cooper's business.  I laughed, thinking he was joking.  Then he told me that he had watched me and I was "the nicest neighbor he had."  Made my night!  And I was glad he wasn't around the night before.  

5) I can't think of a good 5th topic... so I'll leave you with a quote I saw on Pinterest that I really liked:

"The Help"

Last night myself and 1/2 of my blog followers (probably more like 75% if you consider that 2 of them follow me twice...) went to see a premiere of "The Help" at THE movie theatre to go to when I was in high school.  Now that I pay for my own entertainment, Mr. Nation and I go to the "ghetto" theatre in town.  Same movies, 1/2 the price, and at least 3-4 police cars when you come outside.  I digress...

"The Help" was great!  I had started to read the book a while back, but have I mentioned I'm in school?  I have a guilty feeling now if I read much more than a People magazine for pleasure.  Well, I'm definitely going to check the book out during my August break -- a great beach read, I'm sure!

This was one of those movies that really sticks with you, not quite like a movie like "Dear Zachary," which I still think about every once in a while, but a really good one.  It made me think about friendship, about family, about compassion, about fairness, and most importantly about treating everyone with equal respect and care.

Now, I did have to fight the "ugly cry" several times, but it was also very funny.  I laughed out loud on several occasions.

So for the other few of you that read my blog, I'd encourage you to go see "The Help" when it comes out in August (and I know some of the ones who saw it last night will go see it then too!).   And now I see why production companies invite groups of women to see the movies for free before they actually come out in theaters...

What's in a Name?

It might sound a little odd, but ever since my Junior year of high school I knew the name I wanted to name one of my children -- boy or girl.  I had NEVER met anyone with that name, and it namely came to be from this man:

and this book:

Both of these changed my life and were the reason I was going to name one of my children Harper.

I loved the name -- and I still do -- but slowly, over this last year everyone from Posh Spice to Facebook friends I haven't spoken to before they "friended" me on Facebook has named their daughter "Harper."  It's lost it's appeal to me.  The magic is gone.  I don't the own the name, and never have, but in a way a dream I had is gone forever.  Does it mean the same to them as it does to me?  Does it matter?

As I'm nearing on my 10-year high school reunion, this situation has oddly giving me time to reflect on who I was, who I am, and who I am becoming.  Am I the same girl I was when I "picked" Harper?  Definitely not.  So as you grow and change, shouldn't the things you bring along with you grow and change too?  Some people are married to their high school sweethearts, still best friends with all of their best friends from high school, and still live in the same zip code as their high school (This one would surprise you -- trust me, I've been collecting addresses from over 500 classmates.  It's a lot.).  But that's just not me.  So why would this be any different?

I can see now that is the time for Mr. Nation and I to pick new reasons and people to name our future children after.  Because "what's in a name?"  A lot.  

Remember when...

Do you remember that time I said I was back?  It was here.  I lied.  I wasn't back.  Only back long enough to know what "gone" really meant.

But tonight, I have a lot of homework to do and I've already done everything else to put it off.  So I'm here.  So for now, I'll rant and rave.

1.  I'm just as guilty as the next person on this one, but I hate it when people try to argue about "who is busier."  Everyone is busy.  It's all relative.

2. I came home this afternoon to this.  (WARNING: Not for the faint at heart, or if you really like bratwurst or have ever eaten one or ever known anyone that has eaten one).

It originally looked like this.

I had accidentally forgotten that the real Mrs. Nation (Mr. Nation's mom) had given me frozen Bratwurst on Saturday and left it in my pool bag (used to be a gym bag, but that's another post for another day...).  Someone who had a very keen sense of smell, got into the pool bag, ripped through the Target sack, and tore open 2 packages of Brats.  And ate at least 2 whole jumbo Bratwurst.  (What's the plural of Bratwurst?  Bratwurst? Bratwursts?  Bratwurstes? Either way sounds funny.  Maybe it's like "mouse" and the plural version is some word I've never even heard.  Because Bratwurst(s) are nasty.  Hot dogs rule.).  

His face looked like this.



But of course, when I got the camera out he just wagged his tail in pure delight.  No You Tube superstar in this family.  Yet.

No worries, I called the Vet and all will be well.  Both dogs seem to be acting fine, and although I have my suspicions on whom the culprit was, all are innocent until proven guilty.  The jury will decide tonight based on concrete evidence.  And by "concrete evidence," I mean green poop.

3. I love summer, but holy moly is it hot in here!

One of the symptoms of the "worst-case scenario" I googled for Cooper's Bratwurst snack was "heavy panting."  Welp, it's 100 degrees outside at 7pm and he's a black lab.  He's panting in just by looking outside.  Fail.

4. I hate school in the summer.  Even though I don't have a real "summer," most everyone else I have class with does, and it seems to make it worse.  Plus one of my classes is really hard this month.  Like super hard.  Let's just say it's the 2nd week, and I'm still not exactly sure what the title of the class means.  I'm not going to say it here, because I know some smart allelic will Google the title and post a Wikipedia definition of the title in the comments section just to make me look stupid.  When I can just admit right now to you all "I'm stupid."

1.  I have a love/hate relationship with Jillian Michaels.  I love her workouts and the way she pushes you.  And you can really see a difference in just a short amount of time.  I can say without hesitation, they are the best workout DVDs I've ever done.  Ever.  In case you were wondering, my favorites are 30 Day Shred (really good if you don't have a lot of time, 30 minutes or less, but you feel the results) and No More Trouble Zones (Mr. Nation came in once during this one because I was screaming in pain.  It's the bomb).  I have Burn Fat, Boost Metabolism, but don't like it as much.  It's a lot of kick boxing and jumping.  

I hate her because I hate her.  She's annoying and I will never or have never looked like one of her "best girls."  

But she makes my fat cry through my sweat, so I love her again.  

I probably have more "raves" than just one -- but it's summer, I work all day and do homework all night.  I'm having a hard time seeing the glass at half-full this week.  And it's Monday.   

Until next time...

Random Wednesday

1. Although I claimed to be "back" in my last post, I left a few days after for a work trip in Dallas, where I ultimately got the flu.  I flew back to OK Sunday, stayed in bed until Monday evening, and since we've had 2 snow days I have remained in my pajamas.  It's been pretty eventful.  I promised myself, today, I would be more productive.  Hence this blog post.  

2. I did get to see this on my work trip:

A cute penguin at the Dallas aquarium posing for pictures.  I would never actually pet one or want to get within arms length of one, but penguins are cute.  

3. I missed a night of class because of the work trip, and now I feel so behind.  Don't you hate that?!?  

4. Upon the urging of Miss Holliday, we started a free trial of Netflix.  It is as glorious as she described.  Especially perfect during these snow days.  Mr. Nation has even discussed going as far as canceling our cable because we may not need it anymore.  In the words of Borat: "Wow whoa wee wow!"

5. Our newest obsession is Dexter.  A serial killer of serial killers.  

I realize we're a bit behind on the Dexter band wagon, but we are hooked now!  Too bad Netflix only has seasons one and two on "instant play."  I'm dying to know what happens next.  (Cheap shot, I know).  

6. It's amazing to me how much I know from reading People.com and watching E!  While watching Dexter, I was able to inform Mr. Nation that the two main characters who play brother and sister were actually married.  Then he got cancer, and kept it a secret from the cast.  And then the two got divorced.  I'm sure there were some other things in between.  Those were just the highlights.  Mr. Nation was impressed.  Or really bothered that I knew that much.   

7. I'm actually looking forward to getting back into a routine after the snow melts.  I love a day off as much as the next person, but I don't seem to be as motivated as others (or according to their blogs and Facebook posts) to get things done during these snow days.  

8.  I really want a Cricut machine, but I can't believe how expensive they are.  And then each cartridge costs more money, plus the paper, etc.  Do they think only rich people like crafts?  

Enjoy the rest of your Wednesday!  We are going to try and go snow tubing at a park in our neighborhood later.  Let's hope this year I don't take out a kid and Cooper doesn't ruin a family's fun by breaking their tube.  It happened.  

Back in the Saddle

It's been so long since I've posted.  Almost 20 days.  Which is just 10 days short of a month.  Just one day short of 3 weeks.  It's a been awhile!

A lot has gone on in the last 18 days since I posted, so I figured out I'd tell you where I've been and what I've been doing...
- My boss at work retired, as did several others at my place of work.  There were lots of "activities" to attend to.
- I got a new boss at work, so again, there are lots of "activities" to attend to.  I'm also a model employee, so I don't blog at work (just kidding, I don't blog at work because I know my luck, and if anyone were to get in trouble, it would be me).
- Grad school started back up, so that means lots of reading and less blogging.
- It was my mom's and my birthdays.  Birthdays are a big deal in my family, which is why....
- Mr. Nation surprised me with a weekend trip to Kansas City:

We stayed at the Plaza and had a blast with one of my best friends who lives there.  (Mr. Nation and her planned out the entire weekend).
- Seems that all of the organizations I'm a part of had at least one meeting in the last 18 days.  I think I only had one or two free nights.  And I spent those watching my shows or catching up on the DVR.  And I have a lot of shows.
- It was just a busy month in general, we also had several friends birthdays, an engagement party, and a going-away party.

I hope to be better about blogging in the future, but it will just take some time for me to get used to all these new changes and transitions.  Hope you all have a wonderful week!  Until next time...