An Eclectic List

Alli and Chardy always add such unique and seemingly random items to the week's grocery list. Here are a few from the past week:

1) 5 cookie packages
2) coconut milk
3) wire
4) shower curtain
5) assorted jars and vials

Any guesses as to what they are making?!

Touchdown!!

We had our first family day out on the slopes last Sunday...even including little Ginny who is still just two. She had a blast skiing, but I think she was mixing her sports up a bit. Everytime she fell over, she would shout out "Touchdown!"

A Tale of Planes, Trains, and Automobiles...

Ok, there aren't actually any trains in this story, but it's still a doozie. Last week, we traveled to Buffalo to visit relatives for Fall Festival. The trip out was uneventful (other than the fact that we had to pay $20 for our checked bag and on top of that they charged us an extra $90 because it was 10 lbs overweight.) Ironically, on one of the legs of our trip, they announced that we would be delayed a bit while they loaded SAND BAGS onto the plane because the luggage didn't weigh enough...

Our stay in NY was wonderful, though. Lots of fun with friends and family, beautiful fall colors. The troubles began on our way home.

We get to the airport with hours to spare (very unlike us, I might add, but ironic considering what came next). Although the weather was clear in Bufallo, our flight was delayed again...and again...supposedly due to bad weather. Normally this wouldn't be a problem, but our connection in Atlanta was close to begin with. With the "weather" delays, we would have exactly 16 minutes to make our connection back home to Portland, OR.

We begged the personnel at the desk to inquire in Atlanta as to whether they would hold the connection for us. Otherwise, it would mean staying in Atlanta overnight, missing work the next day, paying for a hotel ourselves (because of course the airlines don't pay for hotels when it's due to "weather"), etc... And, did I mention that we were all in various stages of battling a bad cold/flu? Needless to say, they would not even consider calling ahead for us, despite the fact that there were 7 of us on that flight trying to make the same connection.

We arrived in Atlanta 5 minutes before our next flight was to depart. Even then, would the gate agent call to the other gate, and ask them to hold it for an extra 5 minutes so we could get there? No can do... (Oh, and by the way, the weather in Atlanta wasn't delaying the departures, so still not sure where the "bad weather" actually was...)

So, we missed the flight and get to wait in line with dozens of other angry customers. When we finally make it to the front of the line, they tell us that the airline only has to get us "as close to our final destination as possible". Yes, you heard me right. Apparently, even when you pay over $1000 for 6 tickets, they only have to get you "close" to your destination when weather crops up and you miss your connection. In our case, it meant that they had booked us on a flight to Seattle. Our final destination was supposed to be Portland, OR. Hmmm...that's like 200 miles away.

So, we (reasonably) asked them, how are we supposed to get from Seattle to Portland? And, what's going to happen to our luggage? Well, the luggage would travel with us to Seattle (sounds good). But, we were on our own to figure out how to get to Portland. They (unhelpfully) pointed out that there might be trains or rental cars we could consider...but they would not get us seats on any of the numerous carriers that operate between Seattle and Portland.

By this point, we (sick kids included) just wanted to get home. So, we hop on the flight to Seattle, and reserve a rental car (on our own dime, of course, because the airline can't assume the liability of renting us a car, and recall, they were at least getting us close to our destination).

We arrive in Seattle at 1am. Did I mention that we sat in the plane for almost an HOUR at the gate in order to accomodate connecting passengers whose flights had been delayed?! (But, they couldn't have held our original flight for 5 minutes...I guess dealing with all the upset people from that first go around at least helped the later travelers).

So, we are waiting at the luggage carousel and of course our luggage never arrives. Another line to wait in to see what happened to our luggage (it was still in Atlanta) and where it was going to be sent (yes, you guessed it Seattle)... Quite reasonably, I told them, if it was still in Atlanta, it would make more sense for them to send it to Portland, since THAT'S WHERE WE LIVE!!! But, they said it was going to go to Seattle, because that's where we flew to. I told them there was no way we were going to drive back up 2 1/2 hours to retrieve our luggage, to which they said "Oh no problem, we can arrange to put it on a different carrier and send it to Portland". I, of course, wondered why, if they can do this for luggage, they couldn't have done this for their passengers... Apparently, Delta treats their customer's luggage better than their customers.

Anyway, we finally got into our rental car at 1:30am (another $150 to our growing tab due to Delta), and my wonderful husband drove the 2 1/2 hours home arriving at 4am... Later that night, my husband returned our rental car and picked up our car from the economy parking lot (where we got to pay an extra day due to Delta). Our luggage arrived at 9pm that night, a bit muddy but otherwise no worse for wear.

Needless to say, we will not be flying Delta ever again. I know people often say these kinds of things, but every step of the way, we were told time and again, these are the corporate policies...we have no control over them...

I actually believe the ticketing and gate agents. They don't make the policies. Corporate leadership at Delta does and they let their poor employees deal with the fallout and all the angry customers. More than how they treated us, that is why we will not fly Delta again. What kind of company creates these terrible policies, blames all delays on air traffic control and/or bad weather, and then lets their employees take the heat? (By the way, we even overheard them originally saying that the delay was due to a delayed crew. I guess when it became apparent the delay was going to adversely affect lots of passengers, the excuse became "weather" and "air traffic control" because then, they are not obligated to help their customers.)

Give us Alaska Airlines and Southwest any day.

Someday When I Have a Green Shirt

Ginny saw a man in a green shirt walking a very cute dog today. She said very seriously, "Someday, when I have a green shirt like that, I'm gonna have a dog."

Aaron Loves "Balanas"

Aaron asked me if he could have a "balana" for a snack tonight. I told him I loved the way he pronounces his words. And, he comes right back, "Well, you can say balana or banana, because banana is how you say balana in Spanish!" Can't argue with that sort of logic!

Lace Swirl (Free Pattern)

An easy quick-to-knit project that is great for someone who wants to try lace for the first time, but doesn't want the commitment of a larger project. The size of the hat can be adjusted by using heavier (i.e., worsted) or lighter (sock) weight yarn in larger or smaller needles.

LACE SWIRL

Materials Used:
Yarn: 150 yards (50 gm) Woolcraft Kids Stuff (or other DK / 8 ply / 11 wpi yarn)
Needles: Size US 6 / 4.0 mm 16” circulars and/or set of 5 US 6 DPNs
Tapestry Needle
Scissors

Size: 2T – small adult* (19-20”)
*Note: Pattern is very stretchy due to brim ribbing. It was made for a 6 yr old, but fit my 2 year old and me equally well.

Gauge: 18 sts and 24 rows = 4”

Abbreviations:
K: Knit
P: Purl
YO: Yarn Over
SKP: Slip (as if to knit), Knit, Pass Slipped St Over
K2tog: Knit 2 together
SSK: Slip (as if to knit), Slip, Knit

Pattern:
Brim:
Using long-tail method (or other loose cast-on) CO 88. Join to work in round.
Work K2,P2 rib for 1.5 in”.

Body:
Work in stockinette stitch (i.e., K all sts) for 1”

Begin Lace pattern as follows:
Round 1: [K3, K2tog, YO, K1, YO, SSK, K3] around.
Round 2 (and all even rounds): K all sts.
Round 3: [K2, K2tog, YO, K3, YO, SSK, K2] around.
Round 5: [K1, K2tog, YO, K5, YO, SSK, K1] around.
Round 7: [K2tog, YO, K7, YO, SSK] around.

Work 1” in stockinette (or until hat measures 5” from beginning or desired depth).
Crown:
Begin Swirl Decreases as follows:
Place marker at beginning of round and every 22 sts thereafter to divide top into 4 equal parts.
K to 1st marker.
[Slip marker. SKP, K to next marker.] Repeat around until 4 sts remain, switching to DPNs as needed.
Place 4 sts on one DPN and work i-cord for 3” or desired length. BO.
Weave in loose ends. Tie in knot.

A Summer in Haiku

My kids have been giving me grief that I have been so lax updating the blog lately, but we've been having too much fun this summer! So, I thought the kids and I would review the summer's events -- and to make it even more fun (and short), we would do it in haiku. So, here goes (in chronological order):

First Skiing of the Year at Timberline Lodge (May, 2009):
Skiing in powder
Swimming in the deep blue pool
Then Ginny threw up.

Annual Father's Day Camping Trip (June, 2009):

Father's day camping
It was so perfectly planned
Rained out - no can do.

4th of July:

Saved money for months
Oh glorious explosions
Zipper didn't run

Timberline Skiing for Tim's Birthday (July 7, 2009):

One day skiing trip
Met Guinness record holder
Skied til the runs closed

Snow Lake Camping Trip (July, 2009):

Hiking in and out
A great first trip for Aaron
Didn't fall down cliff

Camp Howard (July, 2009):

Camp Howard was cool
Canoeing and archery
The pool was fun too

Trip to England (July, 2009):

First hour - car broke down
Two silly pictures were drawn
Saw Harry Potter

Redwoods Vacation (August, 2009):

Giant trees, cool seas
All cliff climbing on the beach
Hanging with good friends