Fair Warning

I'll be getting on a plane and traveling this week to the Great North for work and I will be boarding this plane with a cold.  Oh the humanity!  How dare I get on this pressurized aircraft where the germs have nowhere to go but into the nasal cavities of the people around me?  While I showered this morning all of this came to mind.  I do my best thinking in the shower.  Nah, not really.  It's just that the steam of the shower loosens up the congestion in my chest and well I started to ponder my flight and how annoying it is to fly while congested and sick.  Pressure, fluid, ears.  You get my drift.

Airborne has become a standard carry-on for most passengers.  But for the few, like yours truly, that aren't smart enough to know this standard why not blast a warning email.  The airline has each passengers email address.  A simple "hidey ho!  you will be flying with a person who has a cold on your flight 1234 to the Great North.  Please plan accordingly.  Thank you for choosing RipOff Airlines for your travel needs" is all thats needed to prepare the travelers that they need to pick up some Airborne.  Granted, the sicky would need to warn the airline of their plight but it's nice to know that it's an option.  It could even be a checkbox when booking your flight.  Yes, I would like to be notified of sick passengers via phone, email, text and Facebook inbox.  Because honestly, who checks real email anymore?  It's all about Facebook homies.

After coming up with the brilliant email idea I thought about what other possible annoyances we as high and mighty Americans may want to be forewarned about.

A nervous nelly.  I think it might be nice to be told ahead of time that Nelly is going to be death gripping my arm at some point during the flight and I may want to bring along a light sedative to slip into the ginger ale.

The crying baby.  Ear plugs.  We all know the headphones to your media player won't silence the high pitched whine and those noise canceling headphones are expensive.

The talker.  I'm not a conversationalist on a flight.  I am always armed with my book or magazine and music player with headphones.  Even if you happen not to have a music player bring the headphones and put them in without the connection in plain sight.  This way the person thinks you're listening to music.  I suggest bobbing your head every once in awhile for full effect.

The muslim.  Yes, I said it and I'm not freakin racist so lay off.  Most people, if honest with themselves do a double take if they see someone who even looks muslim get on the plane.  I can't help it.  I do it.  My mind goes straight to the Twin Towers.  Sue me.  But if I know ahead of time that a full background check has been completed on everyone and all names have been compared against any Terrorist Watch Lists then I'm cool.  Maybe this already happens and I'm paranoid for no reason at all.

These are my shower thoughts for the day.  What would you like to be forewarned about prior to your mile high trip?

Safe Travels,
Phlegmy

No More Chinese Takeout!

My favorite market grocer has moved into town...Trader Joe's.  Everyone knows my excitement over this and if you don't, then we're obviously not real friends.  Sorry, just stating facts.  I'm going to *attempt* to write one blog post a week regarding something I've tried at Trader Joe's.  It may be something I don't like (shocker) and most of the time it will be things I LOVE and will demand that you try them as well. 


For my first post I'm picking their mandarin orange chicken, brown rice and pot-stickers.  With all of these items it's just not necessary to get Chinese takeout unless you're craving some lo mein or something boring. 


I want to be sure you know what each product looks like so you don't spend too much time wandering around tearing your hair out, which I do often.  This is the Mandarin Orange Chicken.   The orange chicken combo #14 at Lin Garden can't touch it.

With any good chinese dish you need rice.  I can hear the excuses now: "rice takes too long", "the rice sticks to the pan and I don't want to clean it".  Well these excuses are no good because Trader Joe's brown rice comes frozen in 3 individual packets (2 servings) and you put them in the MICROWAVE for 3 minutes...presto....done.  And it pairs marvelously with the mandarin orange chicken. 

Now, I didn't claim this was a very healthy meal.  Sure, the rice is brown and there is protein in the chicken but overall this meal isn't going to be on a dieters list of eats.  Eh, screw them...it's good stuff.  The side item won't be on their grocery list either but they're so YUMMY.  Potstickers!  Tim and I were first introduced to pot stickers through our friend Jon.  He is Taiwanese and his mom would make him potstickers and make enough for him to share.  How lucky were we?  I can't say that Trader Joe's pot stickers are better than Mrs. Ho's.  Not possible but since we no longer live near Jon we have to settle for second best.  

And if you're going to get the potstickers getting the gyoza dipping sauce is mandatory - no questions.  Tim is extremely picky about his dipping sauce and said that TGI Friday's has the best BUT after trying this sauce it wins.

Your meal is now complete.  And no need to thank me.  I share this with you because I am a wonderful person. 

Trader Joe's Luva,

Sarah

Unique

Buying presents is not a strong suit of mine.  This is why I avoid it at all costs.  Rarely will you receive a gift from yours truly.  Reasons for this are:  I don't like shopping and I don't pay close enough attention to what people like.  This being said I actually did make an effort this Christmas to find unique and special gifts to the best of my ability.  I succeeded with some and failed with others but overall I'm quite happy.  As long as I'm happy... ;)


There was one gift I received that was particularly unique and it's most definitely my favorite.  Nobody else should take offense.  Once I explain the gift you'll agree with me.  My sister Liz sent me a necklace.  And not just any necklace.  Each piece this lady makes is completely different...almost.  Each unique in its own way.  All of the sisters now have one and although I have one color and they each have a different there is one distinct piece that is exactly the same.  Liz told us we are to think of her when we see or wear the piece as it symbolizes our connection to each other even though we are apart.  


The thoughtfulness of this symbol as sisters of course made me cry and I'll wear it with just about any color even if it doesn't match 100% but now I'll be on the lookout for clothes specifically for the necklace.   And just in case you'd like to help me in my quest below is a picture so you know what color clothes to buy me.  


I can't tell you how many times I think of my sisters throughout the day.  Technically I could count but I won't.  It may nauseate you.  We miss each other a great deal and this makes me feel closer to them as odd as that may sound.  I can only hope we'll see each other soon.  I love you Liz and Leah!

The piece on the lower left with the flower design is what we all have in our necklaces