Happy New Year!

admin — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 05:00:41 +0000

Not so long ago, my very wise friend said “I effin hate New Years Eve!” At first, I was a bit horrified. I loved New Years. The champagne, the fresh starts, the kissing at midnight. But when I heard more of what he had to say, I agree. Basically, New Years signals a number of fresh starts – a new set of calendars. For some companies, its the new budget cycle, and for most of us, its a new start to our medical insurance premiums. But New Year’s Eve has become merely an excuse, for many, to get dressed up, drink and eat too much, and start out the New Year vowing to eat and drink less while we reach for the antacid.

If you don’t have plans to attend some spectacular party that allows you to get wasted among 300 of your closest friends, then you’re framed as being “lame.”

The truth, as I see it, is that very very few people are going to truly change because of another trip around the sun. A new calendar isn’t going to organize your house, and saying at midnight one night that you’re going to start exercising doesn’t mean that you will. Every day is a new opportunity to make these resolutions. Really, the success of your resolution depends on how much importance it has in your life.

Oh, and Happy New Year. I love new calendars.

Airline Brillance

admin — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 19:27:37 +0000

I fly out tomorrow morning at the ungodly hour of 7 am to see SPJB for Thanksgiving and his birthday. In an attempt to avoid the inevitable delays, I saw that my chosen airline has a direct flight available that leaves 30 minutes later, and arrives 45 minutes earlier than my current flight selection. Plus the airport at which I would arrive is much more convenient for SPJB to pick me up. So, thinking “wow, this could help them out because that way they have 2 extra seats on the other flight that they can sell” I call the airline and ask if they can transfer me to the other flight.

They sure can. Hooray!

Downside: it’s going to cost me the difference in the flight prices ($250) plus a $150 change ticket fee.

Um, no thanks. I’ll take my brief layover instead.

Seriously, with air travel down by what, 800% or something, shouldn’t they be doing anything they can to help out their passengers? Not charging them out the yinyang for checked bags and changing flights? When the next airline bailout plan comes along, you’d best believe that I won’t be having any sympathy for them.

Trashflower » annoyances

Happy New Year!

Airline Brillance