by Anna, Gary, David, Ruth and George
Rita is sun warmed like an apricot in early summer
Dreaming up mischievous notions from the heights of a tree house
She makes me feel it's always a good time to call
Makes me want to look under the hospital bed
and rescue her mojo back from the wicked dust bunny...
Rita is bright yellow dancing behind a sly white smile
and a mischievous grin
She is like finding a leprechaun at the end of a rainbow
and wondering in so many ways
How am I going to spend this wealth and good fortune?...
Rita reminds me of a yellow calm
and she makes me even more peaceful
She can laugh at herself
which makes her a success at all she does...
Rita is a vibrant pink
like a fresh picked rose
Her smile is like a summer morning, sunny and new
She is always optimistic, laughter in the wind
I want to hug her silently and draw her to me...
Rita is like a rainbow, multicolored
and full of surprises...
(Feel better!!)
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Friday, December 18, 2009
HOME AND DRY FOR THE HOLIDAYS
By Roberta Mark Engel
Are you prepared to restore your house? What have you done in preparation to begin this interesting and exhausting episode in your life? Have you acquired that "how to" book? Have you begun to make the needed repairs toWhat have you done in preparation to stay “Home and Dry for the Holidays”? Have you thought of hiring a decorator? This affair will definitely be an education. Did you know that renovate means to make new or like new, repair to restore to its original condition? If so, let us keep your “Home and Dry for the Holidays”. With one repair, you are on your way!
What did I do to restore our house? I made a schedule, allotting for workman problems I left three days in between the personnel I hired as the general contractor. No, I do and don’t have a Contractor’s license, but I researched and managed each job within each renovations project. The preparations are essential to the completed project. I decided which items to do in each room, while completing one space at a time. I found that it was easier to hire these people during and after the holidays because these recruits needed extra cash and were willing to give deeper discounts.
How did the repairs and remodeling get completed? I began by looking up renovations on-line by searching through information about renovations. Some of the sites will have a step by step guide which you can mold to your specifications. I also suggest that you contact an interior decorator depending on your economic situation. This person has far more of an extensive knowledge base than you do.
The modernization project began with throwing away or donating unwanted items. I did this act several times, classifying as I proceeded. It is helpful to keep your house constantly organized and updated so the preservation of the house is quicker. My mistake though was not to rent a large garbage receptacle. Next project, I will. It helps with the organization, maintenance and debris.
How did the transformation project begin? We found a leak in the great room which was caused by a gift from the builders-a leak in the shower pan. Our reconstruction began with the bathroom. In addition, we re-upholstered furniture and updated our knickknacks. We originally thought that we would so a minor cosmetic update in the bathroom. Then, we renovated one room at a time. I tried to hire local workers so I could give back to the community. The two largest projects were the bathroom ad kitchen. The bathroom renovations project took approximately one month that encompassed new tiling, fixtures, cabinetry, electrical and plumbing. It was difficult to store our personal items. Get cartons to store these items which will reduce the allergens you breathe plus keep you organized.
Our next project was the kitchen which took a couple of months to complete. This project included installation of cabinets, appliances, granite, flooring, electrical and plumbing. The downside was going out to eat all of the time! Did I miss the most difficult item? The installation cabinet process requires the removal of all drawers and contents. I kept items in boxes once again. We needed to move our computers, televisions, piano, for carpet installation and painting. We also had the windows and draperies cleaned. Then, the carpets were installed. Eventually, all the rooms were completed. The entire production process with the interior and exterior of the house painted.
Now, are you looking forward to your participation in the renovation process and know that it is exhausting, but proper research will help your successful venture. Before long, you be thankful that you chose to be “Home and dry for the Holidays”.
Are you prepared to restore your house? What have you done in preparation to begin this interesting and exhausting episode in your life? Have you acquired that "how to" book? Have you begun to make the needed repairs toWhat have you done in preparation to stay “Home and Dry for the Holidays”? Have you thought of hiring a decorator? This affair will definitely be an education. Did you know that renovate means to make new or like new, repair to restore to its original condition? If so, let us keep your “Home and Dry for the Holidays”. With one repair, you are on your way!
What did I do to restore our house? I made a schedule, allotting for workman problems I left three days in between the personnel I hired as the general contractor. No, I do and don’t have a Contractor’s license, but I researched and managed each job within each renovations project. The preparations are essential to the completed project. I decided which items to do in each room, while completing one space at a time. I found that it was easier to hire these people during and after the holidays because these recruits needed extra cash and were willing to give deeper discounts.
How did the repairs and remodeling get completed? I began by looking up renovations on-line by searching through information about renovations. Some of the sites will have a step by step guide which you can mold to your specifications. I also suggest that you contact an interior decorator depending on your economic situation. This person has far more of an extensive knowledge base than you do.
The modernization project began with throwing away or donating unwanted items. I did this act several times, classifying as I proceeded. It is helpful to keep your house constantly organized and updated so the preservation of the house is quicker. My mistake though was not to rent a large garbage receptacle. Next project, I will. It helps with the organization, maintenance and debris.
How did the transformation project begin? We found a leak in the great room which was caused by a gift from the builders-a leak in the shower pan. Our reconstruction began with the bathroom. In addition, we re-upholstered furniture and updated our knickknacks. We originally thought that we would so a minor cosmetic update in the bathroom. Then, we renovated one room at a time. I tried to hire local workers so I could give back to the community. The two largest projects were the bathroom ad kitchen. The bathroom renovations project took approximately one month that encompassed new tiling, fixtures, cabinetry, electrical and plumbing. It was difficult to store our personal items. Get cartons to store these items which will reduce the allergens you breathe plus keep you organized.
Our next project was the kitchen which took a couple of months to complete. This project included installation of cabinets, appliances, granite, flooring, electrical and plumbing. The downside was going out to eat all of the time! Did I miss the most difficult item? The installation cabinet process requires the removal of all drawers and contents. I kept items in boxes once again. We needed to move our computers, televisions, piano, for carpet installation and painting. We also had the windows and draperies cleaned. Then, the carpets were installed. Eventually, all the rooms were completed. The entire production process with the interior and exterior of the house painted.
Now, are you looking forward to your participation in the renovation process and know that it is exhausting, but proper research will help your successful venture. Before long, you be thankful that you chose to be “Home and dry for the Holidays”.
Monday, November 23, 2009
NAPHLIO AND THE HERO OF THE TROJAN WAR by Roberta Mark Engel
How is the hero of the Trojan War related to the Peloponnese Peninsula? Is the Peloponnesus locale an island or is it part of the mainland? Why is the coastline of this region so special? Since there is so much to see along the way, we will begin our tour in Athens. Bring your camera and tour Corinth, Nemea and its beautiful vineyards, Also; visit Mycenae, Epidavros, Argos, and my personal favorite, Naphlion with us.
Look, we can see a ship going through the isthmus of the Corinth Canal. If we are lucky, we can also get a glimpse of lowering the bridge into the water as the ships pass through. Did you know that St. Paul was put on trial by the Romans in Corinth? The Roman Baths are visible in Ancient Corinth plus there is a museum, in the temple of Apollo (where St. Paul preached to the Corinthians in 52 B.C). Corinth was influenced by Roman architecture.
Did you know that the Peloponnese region grows some of the best olives and grapes in Greece? Our next stop is in Ancient Nemea which is surrounded with vineyards. Do your want some wine? Follow me. It is also where the ancient Nemean Games were held. The city also has ancient fortifications for the viewing.
Continuing through a big forest of orange trees, we will reach Mycenae. The ancient city of Mycenae was discovered by Heinrich Schliemann in 1870. We will see the Tholotos tomb of Agamemnon and then we head toward his palace where we will see the Cyclopean walls the Lions Gate, the tomb of Clytemnistra and the museum.
Further east is Epidavros near the Saronic Gulf. It hosts many orange fields and olive trees. It also boasts about the ancient theater which was built in 4 B.C. and is known for its great acoustic sound. The theatre is used today by Greek actors who perform various ancient Greek plays. I actually heard an oratory by one of the patrons. It was impressive. The Sanctuary of Asklipeious and the beautiful museum are also well worth the viewing.
Argos is the city of Ancient Greece, in the Northeast section of the Peloponnese Peninsula which is three miles inland from the Gulf of Argos, near modern Naphlion. It was occupied from the early Bronze Age and is mentioned in Homer’s Iliad. Argos houses the Heraeum temple, six miles (9.7 km) North of Argos, was the principal center for the worship of the Goddess Hera. The Ancient Theater is another site in Argos. Argos has produced important sculptors, including Polyetus.
My favorite city is Naphlio, which is “the old Venetian town” was re-built by the Venetians in the 16th century and was the first capital of Greece. It is one of the finest cities in Greece and was the capital of the country in 1829. Because of the strength of the fort that sits above the bay, this town became an important strategic and commercial center to the Byzantines around the sixth century AD. The Franks controlled the city for 200 years and then sold it in 1470. That same year, they built a fort on the small island in the center of the harbor called the Bourtzi. The Venetians continued the fortification of the upper town and completed their work later that year. The new additions to the city surround the Church of Saint George which is a beautiful Venetian church. When the Peloponessos falls to the Venetians, Naphlio becomes the capital. Unfortunately, the Turks take control of the city, destroy and loot it. They even kill almost all of its defenders. Naphlio became the center of activities which would result in the formation of Modern Greece. In 1823, it becomes the capital of the state which is then recognized as a world power in 1827. In 1862, there is a rebellion in Naphlio against the monarchy. Then, the capital is moved to Athens which makes the city of Naphlio less important, but it continues to attract visitors daily.
Palamidi in Naphlion is one of the best castles in Greece. It was named after Nafphlios, son of Poseidon, and home of Palamidis, their local hero of the Trojan War. He also was the inventor of weights and measures, lighthouses, and the first Greek alphabet. Palamidi was built on the hillside. It is six hundred years old and offers a breathtaking view of Nafplio ad the Argolic gulf.
Naphlio is also a wonderful place to stop for lunch and to shop for souvenirs. The old town boasts the best tavernas and night life. See, Naphlio is not just a tourist area. As you can read, it is steeped in history. Therefore, the best way to enjoy it is to spend a couple of nights here. My top two hotel choices are the Grande Bretagne, and the Afitrion, both in Naphlion. The best eateries are Souvours and Elatos. They are in front of the harbor.
We hope you enjoyed your tour of “Naphlio, and the Hero of the Trojan War”. We also hope you relished learning about Corinth, Nemea, Mycanea, Argos, Epidavros, and Naphlio. We look forward to sharing our next tour with you!
Look, we can see a ship going through the isthmus of the Corinth Canal. If we are lucky, we can also get a glimpse of lowering the bridge into the water as the ships pass through. Did you know that St. Paul was put on trial by the Romans in Corinth? The Roman Baths are visible in Ancient Corinth plus there is a museum, in the temple of Apollo (where St. Paul preached to the Corinthians in 52 B.C). Corinth was influenced by Roman architecture.
Did you know that the Peloponnese region grows some of the best olives and grapes in Greece? Our next stop is in Ancient Nemea which is surrounded with vineyards. Do your want some wine? Follow me. It is also where the ancient Nemean Games were held. The city also has ancient fortifications for the viewing.
Continuing through a big forest of orange trees, we will reach Mycenae. The ancient city of Mycenae was discovered by Heinrich Schliemann in 1870. We will see the Tholotos tomb of Agamemnon and then we head toward his palace where we will see the Cyclopean walls the Lions Gate, the tomb of Clytemnistra and the museum.
Further east is Epidavros near the Saronic Gulf. It hosts many orange fields and olive trees. It also boasts about the ancient theater which was built in 4 B.C. and is known for its great acoustic sound. The theatre is used today by Greek actors who perform various ancient Greek plays. I actually heard an oratory by one of the patrons. It was impressive. The Sanctuary of Asklipeious and the beautiful museum are also well worth the viewing.
Argos is the city of Ancient Greece, in the Northeast section of the Peloponnese Peninsula which is three miles inland from the Gulf of Argos, near modern Naphlion. It was occupied from the early Bronze Age and is mentioned in Homer’s Iliad. Argos houses the Heraeum temple, six miles (9.7 km) North of Argos, was the principal center for the worship of the Goddess Hera. The Ancient Theater is another site in Argos. Argos has produced important sculptors, including Polyetus.
My favorite city is Naphlio, which is “the old Venetian town” was re-built by the Venetians in the 16th century and was the first capital of Greece. It is one of the finest cities in Greece and was the capital of the country in 1829. Because of the strength of the fort that sits above the bay, this town became an important strategic and commercial center to the Byzantines around the sixth century AD. The Franks controlled the city for 200 years and then sold it in 1470. That same year, they built a fort on the small island in the center of the harbor called the Bourtzi. The Venetians continued the fortification of the upper town and completed their work later that year. The new additions to the city surround the Church of Saint George which is a beautiful Venetian church. When the Peloponessos falls to the Venetians, Naphlio becomes the capital. Unfortunately, the Turks take control of the city, destroy and loot it. They even kill almost all of its defenders. Naphlio became the center of activities which would result in the formation of Modern Greece. In 1823, it becomes the capital of the state which is then recognized as a world power in 1827. In 1862, there is a rebellion in Naphlio against the monarchy. Then, the capital is moved to Athens which makes the city of Naphlio less important, but it continues to attract visitors daily.
Palamidi in Naphlion is one of the best castles in Greece. It was named after Nafphlios, son of Poseidon, and home of Palamidis, their local hero of the Trojan War. He also was the inventor of weights and measures, lighthouses, and the first Greek alphabet. Palamidi was built on the hillside. It is six hundred years old and offers a breathtaking view of Nafplio ad the Argolic gulf.
Naphlio is also a wonderful place to stop for lunch and to shop for souvenirs. The old town boasts the best tavernas and night life. See, Naphlio is not just a tourist area. As you can read, it is steeped in history. Therefore, the best way to enjoy it is to spend a couple of nights here. My top two hotel choices are the Grande Bretagne, and the Afitrion, both in Naphlion. The best eateries are Souvours and Elatos. They are in front of the harbor.
We hope you enjoyed your tour of “Naphlio, and the Hero of the Trojan War”. We also hope you relished learning about Corinth, Nemea, Mycanea, Argos, Epidavros, and Naphlio. We look forward to sharing our next tour with you!
SEASONS CHANGE
What change is forthcoming? Yes, the holidays are almost here. There is a chill in the air. There is fresh powder on the ground. But, what do we do with ourselves for entertainment? What about facing depression during and after the holidays? Here are some tips to get you keen on spring and out of the blahs of the holiday season because “Seasons Change”.
• Volunteer to feed the hungry and homeless during this holiday season
• Plan a small mini-vacation to a destination driving distance from your home. (I live in California so I suggest Santa Barbara, San Francisco, Las Vegas, or San Diego. There are always inexpensive packages for these locations at this time of the year)
• Go to the mall (my mother and her caregiver do this daily. They do people watching which makes them happy)
• Go to the beach, look at the waves (I personally find this quite recuperative)
• Buy a digital camera and take pictures
• Remember, take care of yourself first
• Be alert to physical problems and keep yourself healthy. Our immune systems are in more jeopardy this time of the year.
• Postpone major decisions until Spring when the weather is better and less gloomy
• Laugh
• Pamper yourself. Get a facial or go shopping. Window shopping doesn’t cost anything and is therapeutic.
• Make a list of what you enjoy doing alone. Do these items. It will help with depression after the holidays.
• Set future goals
• Take one day at a time
• Spend time with friends and accept them with all their imperfections
• Join a club
• Eat nutritiously and consider taking vitamin supplements
• Avoid masking the melancholy with drugs or alcohol
• Try to reduce financial or other stresses in your life especially during the country’s economic crises. Things will improve.
• Help others. You will forget about your ailments.
• Spend time outdoors as the weather permits
• Do a winter house cleaning project-pick a closet that is neglected-it’s fun and therapeutic
• Continue to participate in activities that are fun for you, and with people who are special to you
• Don’t underestimate the effects of small pleasures
The holiday season will be here before we know it. This will be the year that will provide us with happiness and a wonderful end to the blahs of the holidays. “Seasons change” and this one appears to be a great one.
By Roberta Mark Engel
• Volunteer to feed the hungry and homeless during this holiday season
• Plan a small mini-vacation to a destination driving distance from your home. (I live in California so I suggest Santa Barbara, San Francisco, Las Vegas, or San Diego. There are always inexpensive packages for these locations at this time of the year)
• Go to the mall (my mother and her caregiver do this daily. They do people watching which makes them happy)
• Go to the beach, look at the waves (I personally find this quite recuperative)
• Buy a digital camera and take pictures
• Remember, take care of yourself first
• Be alert to physical problems and keep yourself healthy. Our immune systems are in more jeopardy this time of the year.
• Postpone major decisions until Spring when the weather is better and less gloomy
• Laugh
• Pamper yourself. Get a facial or go shopping. Window shopping doesn’t cost anything and is therapeutic.
• Make a list of what you enjoy doing alone. Do these items. It will help with depression after the holidays.
• Set future goals
• Take one day at a time
• Spend time with friends and accept them with all their imperfections
• Join a club
• Eat nutritiously and consider taking vitamin supplements
• Avoid masking the melancholy with drugs or alcohol
• Try to reduce financial or other stresses in your life especially during the country’s economic crises. Things will improve.
• Help others. You will forget about your ailments.
• Spend time outdoors as the weather permits
• Do a winter house cleaning project-pick a closet that is neglected-it’s fun and therapeutic
• Continue to participate in activities that are fun for you, and with people who are special to you
• Don’t underestimate the effects of small pleasures
The holiday season will be here before we know it. This will be the year that will provide us with happiness and a wonderful end to the blahs of the holidays. “Seasons change” and this one appears to be a great one.
By Roberta Mark Engel
Friday, October 30, 2009
Work Was
by Anna Bernard
Work was bad smelling whiteboard markers,
Rote repetitive Open Court lessons,
A hundred repeats of 2 digits times 2 digits,
Show and tell with trilobite fossils,
Holding off going to the bathroom,
Being hungry but too bad (same as the children),
Not wanting to say one more word,
Preferring to sing the Camouflage song
or the one about the homeless little bird.
Work was enjoying writing skills so textured and soulful
from those so young that I wanted to cry,
Suffering over writing so meager,
badly spelled, and reluctant
that I did cry.
Work was sharing my intense delight
in learning something new,
But so much of it became
Sharing how to take a test
how to take a test
how to take a test
Get it right (dammit) this counts--
Perhaps now this is all that counts.
Ask the principal.
Ask the president.
How many of you are already hopelessly
left behind?
Listen! Listen! Listen!
Don't run,
Don't fall,
Don't trip and land on my left side.
If you must, bump my right side
which has no consequences.
Where did the joyous times go?
And all your precious days of childhood?
And my well being?
I had a vision once of the teachers
from 90 years ago walking down the Main Hall
in their long sleeved white blouses,
long gray skirts softly swaying.
Now I don't see them or me.
Me, younger and cheerful,
or me, wobbling with tremors
in that last year.
My likeness from a 1996 school portrait
is in one of several murals in the long hallway.
I am in the California Missions painting
wearing a full length green dress,
a soft red shawl.
I stand beside a friendly cow,a duck,a lamb.
I stand beside other faculty members
painted in their mission finery
or humble white if they were
cast in the role of the Fernandeño Tataviam.
That is all that is left
to be my mark - my Gilroy was here -
now that teaching the young is there
and I am over here
some place else.
Work was bad smelling whiteboard markers,
Rote repetitive Open Court lessons,
A hundred repeats of 2 digits times 2 digits,
Show and tell with trilobite fossils,
Holding off going to the bathroom,
Being hungry but too bad (same as the children),
Not wanting to say one more word,
Preferring to sing the Camouflage song
or the one about the homeless little bird.
Work was enjoying writing skills so textured and soulful
from those so young that I wanted to cry,
Suffering over writing so meager,
badly spelled, and reluctant
that I did cry.
Work was sharing my intense delight
in learning something new,
But so much of it became
Sharing how to take a test
how to take a test
how to take a test
Get it right (dammit) this counts--
Perhaps now this is all that counts.
Ask the principal.
Ask the president.
How many of you are already hopelessly
left behind?
Listen! Listen! Listen!
Don't run,
Don't fall,
Don't trip and land on my left side.
If you must, bump my right side
which has no consequences.
Where did the joyous times go?
And all your precious days of childhood?
And my well being?
I had a vision once of the teachers
from 90 years ago walking down the Main Hall
in their long sleeved white blouses,
long gray skirts softly swaying.
Now I don't see them or me.
Me, younger and cheerful,
or me, wobbling with tremors
in that last year.
My likeness from a 1996 school portrait
is in one of several murals in the long hallway.
I am in the California Missions painting
wearing a full length green dress,
a soft red shawl.
I stand beside a friendly cow,a duck,a lamb.
I stand beside other faculty members
painted in their mission finery
or humble white if they were
cast in the role of the Fernandeño Tataviam.
That is all that is left
to be my mark - my Gilroy was here -
now that teaching the young is there
and I am over here
some place else.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
UP, UP AND AWAY
By Roberta Mark Engel
Have you flown on an airplane recently? The security lines are longer. We are interrogated, searched and told to undress. Liquids have to be packed inside our checked in luggage or else they are confiscated. Any toiletries to be carried on the airplane must fit in a four ounce zip lock bag. We are exhausted before we set foot on a plane.
There are similarities and differences between procedures for domestic and international air travel at US metropolitan airports. Before we go “Up, Up, and Away”, we will provide you with information about the ticket counter, x-ray area, and the departure gate.
The Ticket Counter is the beginning of our trip where we show our identification and e-ticket. We need to adhere to the individual carrier’s baggage requirements which are up to 50 pounds per bag for domestic and international flights. In addition, the piece or pieces of luggage needs to be unlocked. Quite a number of the domestic airlines charge for luggage placed in the baggage compartment of the plane. In addition, each individual airline has its own rules governing your luggage. Arrival time recommendations vary by airline and day of travel, so check with your carrier. Remember to give yourself adequate time to check your baggage and move through security.
The X-Ray area is our second information check point where we are either instructed to bring our luggage to an x-ray counter and watch it go through the x-ray process. Hand luggage and personal items are x-rayed. Most carriers permit one piece of hand luggage and one personal item such as a laptop. Film should go in your carry-on bag. Do you have a gift to carry? Please do not take it wrapped. If a security officer needs to inspect a package, he or she may have to un-wrap our gift. If there are any specific questions, we need to contact the individual airline carrier.
We are also asked to remove our shoes, coat, suit jacket and purse and place them in one or more bins provided at the station and then put them through the x-ray machine for inspection. We need to try to pack our coats and jackets in your checked baggage when possible. We could wear slip-on shoes. This will allow us to take them off and put them back on quickly. We also need to remove all animals from their carrying cases and send the cases through the X-ray machine. We need to hold our pet in our arms and proceed through the metal detector. Infants and children need to be removed from baby carriers and strollers and take them through the metal detector with you. Strollers and baby carriers go through the X-ray machine with your bags. If possible, collapse your stroller before you get to the metal detector.
We may also be asked to remove jewelry and coins, depending on the sensitivity of the scanning equipment. We are also required to remove our laptop from its case and lay it flat in one of the bins. We will may also have to be searched by a metal detector receive a possible pat down inspection. Items that might set off an alarm on the metal detector include:
• Keys, loose change, cell phones, pagers, and personal data assistants (PDAs) or smart phones
• Heavy jewelry (including pins, necklaces, bracelets, rings, watches, earrings, body piercings, cuff links, lanyards or bolo ties)
• Clothing with metal buttons, snaps or studs
• Metal hair barrettes or other hair decoration
• Belt buckles
• Under-wire bras
• Head coverings and religious garments are acceptable during the screening process. You may be directed to additional screening if your headwear or clothing (religious or otherwise) is loose fitting or large enough to hide prohibited items.
There are additional TSA requirements to follow called “3-1-1” requirement which means the following: It stands for 3 ounces or less in a one quart-sized clear zip-lock bag. One bag per passenger is placed in the screening tray. The definition is the following: a 3.4 ounce bottle or less (by volume) ; 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag; 1 bag per passenger placed in screening bin which limits the total liquid volume each traveler can bring. Obviously, this is a security measure. Each time TSA searches a carry-on it slows down the line. We need to declare larger liquids. Medications, baby formula and food, and breast milk are allowed in reasonable quantities exceeding three ounces and are not required to be in the zip-top bag. We also need to declare these items for inspection at the checkpoint. Heavy travel volumes and the enhanced security process may mean longer lines at security checkpoints.
Departure Gate identification and boarding passes are still necessary for all flights. A passport for international flights or a drivers’ license for domestic flights is required in addition to your boarding pass.
Once we arrive to our European destination, passports are rarely checked if we remain in the terminal for other European locales. Planes don’t always drive up to the gate; we may be required to take the assigned bus transportation to our gate. The decision is dependent on available parking spaces at the hanger. Our luggage is checked through to our final destination. If we are taking another flight, we will go through hand luggage security and then show our passport before taking our flight. But, here is the caveat for international travel: Did you know that meals served on all international (non-American airlines) flights are hot and complimentary inclusive of all liquor? In addition, most international airlines have individual, integrated entertainment seen on a TV monitor.
I am led to each checkpoint with friendly personnel at Los Angeles International Airport, but, I noticed that there is no consistency with the rules and regulations for each carrier. In addition, safety enforcements increase or decrease depending on our security status. I have noticed, though that the international airports have less security especially while traveling within the European community (EU).
Hopefully, travel information will now be more comprehensible. “Up, Up, and Away” should have provided you with information about the ticket counter, x-ray area, and the departure gate.
Have you flown on an airplane recently? The security lines are longer. We are interrogated, searched and told to undress. Liquids have to be packed inside our checked in luggage or else they are confiscated. Any toiletries to be carried on the airplane must fit in a four ounce zip lock bag. We are exhausted before we set foot on a plane.
There are similarities and differences between procedures for domestic and international air travel at US metropolitan airports. Before we go “Up, Up, and Away”, we will provide you with information about the ticket counter, x-ray area, and the departure gate.
The Ticket Counter is the beginning of our trip where we show our identification and e-ticket. We need to adhere to the individual carrier’s baggage requirements which are up to 50 pounds per bag for domestic and international flights. In addition, the piece or pieces of luggage needs to be unlocked. Quite a number of the domestic airlines charge for luggage placed in the baggage compartment of the plane. In addition, each individual airline has its own rules governing your luggage. Arrival time recommendations vary by airline and day of travel, so check with your carrier. Remember to give yourself adequate time to check your baggage and move through security.
The X-Ray area is our second information check point where we are either instructed to bring our luggage to an x-ray counter and watch it go through the x-ray process. Hand luggage and personal items are x-rayed. Most carriers permit one piece of hand luggage and one personal item such as a laptop. Film should go in your carry-on bag. Do you have a gift to carry? Please do not take it wrapped. If a security officer needs to inspect a package, he or she may have to un-wrap our gift. If there are any specific questions, we need to contact the individual airline carrier.
We are also asked to remove our shoes, coat, suit jacket and purse and place them in one or more bins provided at the station and then put them through the x-ray machine for inspection. We need to try to pack our coats and jackets in your checked baggage when possible. We could wear slip-on shoes. This will allow us to take them off and put them back on quickly. We also need to remove all animals from their carrying cases and send the cases through the X-ray machine. We need to hold our pet in our arms and proceed through the metal detector. Infants and children need to be removed from baby carriers and strollers and take them through the metal detector with you. Strollers and baby carriers go through the X-ray machine with your bags. If possible, collapse your stroller before you get to the metal detector.
We may also be asked to remove jewelry and coins, depending on the sensitivity of the scanning equipment. We are also required to remove our laptop from its case and lay it flat in one of the bins. We will may also have to be searched by a metal detector receive a possible pat down inspection. Items that might set off an alarm on the metal detector include:
• Keys, loose change, cell phones, pagers, and personal data assistants (PDAs) or smart phones
• Heavy jewelry (including pins, necklaces, bracelets, rings, watches, earrings, body piercings, cuff links, lanyards or bolo ties)
• Clothing with metal buttons, snaps or studs
• Metal hair barrettes or other hair decoration
• Belt buckles
• Under-wire bras
• Head coverings and religious garments are acceptable during the screening process. You may be directed to additional screening if your headwear or clothing (religious or otherwise) is loose fitting or large enough to hide prohibited items.
There are additional TSA requirements to follow called “3-1-1” requirement which means the following: It stands for 3 ounces or less in a one quart-sized clear zip-lock bag. One bag per passenger is placed in the screening tray. The definition is the following: a 3.4 ounce bottle or less (by volume) ; 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag; 1 bag per passenger placed in screening bin which limits the total liquid volume each traveler can bring. Obviously, this is a security measure. Each time TSA searches a carry-on it slows down the line. We need to declare larger liquids. Medications, baby formula and food, and breast milk are allowed in reasonable quantities exceeding three ounces and are not required to be in the zip-top bag. We also need to declare these items for inspection at the checkpoint. Heavy travel volumes and the enhanced security process may mean longer lines at security checkpoints.
Departure Gate identification and boarding passes are still necessary for all flights. A passport for international flights or a drivers’ license for domestic flights is required in addition to your boarding pass.
Once we arrive to our European destination, passports are rarely checked if we remain in the terminal for other European locales. Planes don’t always drive up to the gate; we may be required to take the assigned bus transportation to our gate. The decision is dependent on available parking spaces at the hanger. Our luggage is checked through to our final destination. If we are taking another flight, we will go through hand luggage security and then show our passport before taking our flight. But, here is the caveat for international travel: Did you know that meals served on all international (non-American airlines) flights are hot and complimentary inclusive of all liquor? In addition, most international airlines have individual, integrated entertainment seen on a TV monitor.
I am led to each checkpoint with friendly personnel at Los Angeles International Airport, but, I noticed that there is no consistency with the rules and regulations for each carrier. In addition, safety enforcements increase or decrease depending on our security status. I have noticed, though that the international airports have less security especially while traveling within the European community (EU).
Hopefully, travel information will now be more comprehensible. “Up, Up, and Away” should have provided you with information about the ticket counter, x-ray area, and the departure gate.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Man on Wire
by George Rembaum
The Man On Wire is a documentary movie about walking across a wire between the Twin Towers in New York. It shows how one can dare to do an impossible act and succeed if one stays with the dare. What kind of person can take on such a challenge and stay with it? First of all, you must share a total belief in your instincts and feel that anything can be done if you work hard enough at it, and refuse to be discouraged by the naysayers. The hardest part is to have such belief in yourself that you would try anything, and not give up when things turn against you. The first part,the total belief in yourself, shouldn't be so hard. In your life you have seen experts in all fields turn out to be people with simple goals that were highly studied and not found to be wanting. We are all experts in living and keeping abreast of intellectual endeavors. So why can't we hope along with all the others that we can affect the flow of events by our studied ideas?
The Man On Wire is a documentary movie about walking across a wire between the Twin Towers in New York. It shows how one can dare to do an impossible act and succeed if one stays with the dare. What kind of person can take on such a challenge and stay with it? First of all, you must share a total belief in your instincts and feel that anything can be done if you work hard enough at it, and refuse to be discouraged by the naysayers. The hardest part is to have such belief in yourself that you would try anything, and not give up when things turn against you. The first part,the total belief in yourself, shouldn't be so hard. In your life you have seen experts in all fields turn out to be people with simple goals that were highly studied and not found to be wanting. We are all experts in living and keeping abreast of intellectual endeavors. So why can't we hope along with all the others that we can affect the flow of events by our studied ideas?
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