Friday, August 15, 2008
Brakes on a plane
I need to back up a few days for this story. I realize I Twittered about this. I Facebooked it. But I didn't Blog it. Can't you people keep up?
I flew back from Dallas on Wednesday morning, scheduled to arrive at Reagan National Airport (DCA) at 1:15 p.m. Only about an hour into the flight, the pilot came on the intercom to inform us that the plane was being rerouted to Dulles airport, about 45 minutes from Reagan.
He even explained why we needed to be rerouted. It seems an indicator light on the plane's braking system showed that the brakes weren't working at full capacity. And anyone who's flown into Reagan before knows that the runway is only about a mile long, and that the pilot must slam on the brakes as soon as he hits the ground in order to keep from rolling into the Potomac River.
So when the pilot tells you the brakes don't work properly, and there's a chance we'd all be swimming if we continued on to Reagan, you don't really argue with the man.
We landed at Dulles, I took a cab to Reagan, where my car was parked, and got home at just about 3 p.m.!
I flew back from Dallas on Wednesday morning, scheduled to arrive at Reagan National Airport (DCA) at 1:15 p.m. Only about an hour into the flight, the pilot came on the intercom to inform us that the plane was being rerouted to Dulles airport, about 45 minutes from Reagan.
He even explained why we needed to be rerouted. It seems an indicator light on the plane's braking system showed that the brakes weren't working at full capacity. And anyone who's flown into Reagan before knows that the runway is only about a mile long, and that the pilot must slam on the brakes as soon as he hits the ground in order to keep from rolling into the Potomac River.
So when the pilot tells you the brakes don't work properly, and there's a chance we'd all be swimming if we continued on to Reagan, you don't really argue with the man.
We landed at Dulles, I took a cab to Reagan, where my car was parked, and got home at just about 3 p.m.!
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Anticipating the beach
I'm back in DC, at the office today. So that means nothing fun and exciting to blog about! Instead, I'll anticipate the weekend...!
Driving to Emerald Isle, NC, on Saturday morning for the Fleming Family beach trip! We'll stay from Saturday morning until Wednesday morning. Not a full week, but, believe me, a few days with all five Fleming siblings, three spouses, their six kids, two aunts, some in-laws, and a baby-sitter or two, and that's all you need.
Case in point:
(BTW, I love this photo - I think it's hysterical. Some people say Mike looks mad. I don't think so! I think he looks exhausted. But I love the kids - Francis and Elizabeth are so completely comfortable, probably watching an afternoon video. No one is paying attention to anyone else in the photo, they are all just ... being. I love it!)
Okay, back to this year's trip. Here's where we'll be staying:
You can read the house's description here.
Sara's done a spectacular job of assigning rooms, and keeping track of who's staying, when. I love that we have our own pool. I'm not a huge beach person (I'd much rather be in a spot like my banner photo... on a deck in the middle of the woods, near a lake ... instead of on the sand.)
Probably two rounds of golf while we're down there - one before we even arrive at the house on Saturday, and one with Terry, Sara and Frank on Tuesday.
Can't wait to see all the kids ! I hope Amy brings her camera like last year and captures the week so spectacularly again! (most of the photos on this blog were taken with my work camera that I "borrowed." But it's being used for a legitimate work usage now, so I can't take it with me. Too bad my husband doesn't read this blog to see the big fat hint that I want a camera. Sigh.)
Okay, that's a brief teaser on the upcoming trip! I'll post more about the preparations tomorrow!
Driving to Emerald Isle, NC, on Saturday morning for the Fleming Family beach trip! We'll stay from Saturday morning until Wednesday morning. Not a full week, but, believe me, a few days with all five Fleming siblings, three spouses, their six kids, two aunts, some in-laws, and a baby-sitter or two, and that's all you need.
Case in point:
(BTW, I love this photo - I think it's hysterical. Some people say Mike looks mad. I don't think so! I think he looks exhausted. But I love the kids - Francis and Elizabeth are so completely comfortable, probably watching an afternoon video. No one is paying attention to anyone else in the photo, they are all just ... being. I love it!)
Okay, back to this year's trip. Here's where we'll be staying:
You can read the house's description here.
Sara's done a spectacular job of assigning rooms, and keeping track of who's staying, when. I love that we have our own pool. I'm not a huge beach person (I'd much rather be in a spot like my banner photo... on a deck in the middle of the woods, near a lake ... instead of on the sand.)
Probably two rounds of golf while we're down there - one before we even arrive at the house on Saturday, and one with Terry, Sara and Frank on Tuesday.
Can't wait to see all the kids ! I hope Amy brings her camera like last year and captures the week so spectacularly again! (most of the photos on this blog were taken with my work camera that I "borrowed." But it's being used for a legitimate work usage now, so I can't take it with me. Too bad my husband doesn't read this blog to see the big fat hint that I want a camera. Sigh.)
Okay, that's a brief teaser on the upcoming trip! I'll post more about the preparations tomorrow!
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Previous post, explained
I'm in Dallas. Having dinner solo at Brio, but OUTSIDE. In AUGUST. In TEXAS. (that should be reason enough for a blog post, right?)
Arrived after a long day in our Dallas office, doing more filming for the marking video I've posted about before, and some meetings. Arrived starving. And as you know, that's never a good state for me.
I let my waiter know (very nicely I'm sure) that I was starving. (It took a while between being seated and him coming with the menu. Like, a full two minutes.) The meal was delicious, which probably anything would have been at that point.
Only bad part about this story is that the waiter insisted on calling me "ma'am." In my book, I've got at least until November to be called "ma'am." I'm just sayin'.
Anyway, at one point, I was slowing down eating. Oh, I'm also on my laptop the entire dinner. So, I slow down eating, and he says, "can I clear that for you?" To which I respond, "NO!... I mean, um, I'm still eating."
I was hungry.
So, I finish eating, and order more wine. I am by myself, afterall, and have nothing else to do with the evening!
He brings the wine. Then, a few minutes later, he brings this little cappuccino cup filled with something. He sets it down, and says, "I thought I'd bring this for you. It's an orange creme brule. It's a little sweet. Because you looked sweet."
I. SWEAR. TO. GOD.
This kind of thing doesn't happen to me, so I thought all of you should know about it. It's probably going to end up being a highlight of the summer! Ha!
Arrived after a long day in our Dallas office, doing more filming for the marking video I've posted about before, and some meetings. Arrived starving. And as you know, that's never a good state for me.
I let my waiter know (very nicely I'm sure) that I was starving. (It took a while between being seated and him coming with the menu. Like, a full two minutes.) The meal was delicious, which probably anything would have been at that point.
Only bad part about this story is that the waiter insisted on calling me "ma'am." In my book, I've got at least until November to be called "ma'am." I'm just sayin'.
Anyway, at one point, I was slowing down eating. Oh, I'm also on my laptop the entire dinner. So, I slow down eating, and he says, "can I clear that for you?" To which I respond, "NO!... I mean, um, I'm still eating."
I was hungry.
So, I finish eating, and order more wine. I am by myself, afterall, and have nothing else to do with the evening!
He brings the wine. Then, a few minutes later, he brings this little cappuccino cup filled with something. He sets it down, and says, "I thought I'd bring this for you. It's an orange creme brule. It's a little sweet. Because you looked sweet."
I. SWEAR. TO. GOD.
This kind of thing doesn't happen to me, so I thought all of you should know about it. It's probably going to end up being a highlight of the summer! Ha!
Dessert!
Monday, August 11, 2008
Giddiness ensues!
Posting from my new laptop! Yippee!!
Hey, I know it's not the biggest news in the world, but if you wanted the biggest news in the world, you'd be reading the New York Times right now, and not some silly blog by me. This is just the biggest news in my world right now!
It's a Lenovo Thinkpad x61s.
And that picture... actual size!!!
Okay, not really, but pretty darn close to actual size. Yeah!
And in separate news of the day - cross your fingers for Mike. His application to sit for the CPA exam in Virginia was accepted. Now he just has to study (he doesn't quite feel the undergraduate level classes taken at Northern Virginia Community College prepared him enough!), and then take a whole bunch of really hard tests over the next year. Piece of cake!
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Last post ever...
... from my current laptop!!
(Had you worried, didn't I? I know how much you've all come to love and depend The Anticipated Best Summer Ever. Seriously.)
Headed to Dallas bright and early tomorrow morning - actually, just early. It won't even be bright by the time the plane takes off at 6 a.m. And while I'm there, I'll get my new laptop!! Yah!
The new laptop was pretty much in the works for a while now, but then real movement came when I got the virus in July. Since then, my computer is so sssslllllloooowww. When I try to get online, it's like I have dial-up, it's that bad.
But tomorrow I pick up my new one! And you know what that mean? I need a fabulous new bag to carry around the new laptop! I have one in mind, and am going to go visit it tomorrow. I wouldn't be surprised if I walked away with it!
Golfed this morning with Mike, Jason and David at Cannon Ridge. Really hard course. So hard, it took a bit of the fun out of it! But good company makes up for that.
Just a short post tonight - I've got to pack for said trip to Dallas! More tomorrow from my wonderful new laptop!!!
(Had you worried, didn't I? I know how much you've all come to love and depend The Anticipated Best Summer Ever. Seriously.)
Headed to Dallas bright and early tomorrow morning - actually, just early. It won't even be bright by the time the plane takes off at 6 a.m. And while I'm there, I'll get my new laptop!! Yah!
The new laptop was pretty much in the works for a while now, but then real movement came when I got the virus in July. Since then, my computer is so sssslllllloooowww. When I try to get online, it's like I have dial-up, it's that bad.
But tomorrow I pick up my new one! And you know what that mean? I need a fabulous new bag to carry around the new laptop! I have one in mind, and am going to go visit it tomorrow. I wouldn't be surprised if I walked away with it!
Golfed this morning with Mike, Jason and David at Cannon Ridge. Really hard course. So hard, it took a bit of the fun out of it! But good company makes up for that.
Just a short post tonight - I've got to pack for said trip to Dallas! More tomorrow from my wonderful new laptop!!!
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