If you are sick... stay home.

Why do people insist on traveling when they are sick? Now, you know from my past blogs that I have been sick on the road and had to fly home... but this is different. I am talking about the guy next to you that looks like he is on his death bed and here he is sitting in the exit row of the Delta shuttle heading up to New York. I mean... if you are that sick (and believe me... I can see that you have been blowing your nose for a week) stay home! I don't want your crud and I think I can speak for the rest of the passengers and crew that they do not want it either!

You know, the month before I went over to Beijing, I had to get like 8 shots and then I also had to take a series of live Typhoid pills to build up my immunity. Yes... LIVE typhoid pills. You basically take a pill every other day for 4 days and then you are protected from Typhoid for like 5 years. So, I took the pill and on my third pill I realized that I had to fly to LA for work. I would have to bring the last pill of the series with me on the trip to California. A huge question mark came over my head... LIVE TYPHOID on an airplane? I called my doctor and immediately scheduled the typhoid shot instead. The shot only protects me for 2 years... but, I could not imagine bringing that pill on an aircraft. I would hope that everyone would think the same way before boarding an airplane.

Now, a lot of you asked what kind of remedies I bring with me on the road.. so, here are a few items that I NEVER leave home without...

(1) Ibuprofen - works for headaches and its great for that occasional hangover

(2) Afrin - Keep this in your carry-on at all times! Ear pain due to congestion when you are flying is one word... PAINFUL. Two sprays in each nostril before you board will keep you clear and pain-free for the whole flight. I promise this works!

(3) The pink stuff - you remember that day in Mexico when you indulged in street market food and then spent the rest of the night back in your bathroom. Just bring it.

(4) Allergy medication - I have allergies at home in DC...so, I always carry some extra allergy meds with me just in case. I was sure glad I packed it when I was in China!! The smog is so bad in that country that you cannot see your hand in front of your face in some places! They say that breathing in the air of Beijing for one day is the equivalent of smoking 20 cigarettes. Yuk.

(5) Tylenol PM - I always have a few packed. I tend take a Tylenol PM after a long flight... especially when I am in another time zone.... even puts the aches and pains of a long trip straight to sleep.

(6) Aloe - When I was in Costa Rica, I picked up pure aloe at one of the small markets in San Jose. It was handy the day that we all trekked Poaz Volcano in the Costa Rican heat! My skin was pink... even with SPF 30! The aloe is the perfect remedy for a burn and it feels great on your skin. Just be careful to keep it fresh.. I believe Aloe loses its healing properties 6 months after you open the bottle.

(7) SPF 30 - I am a white girl and I burn. (Here's a secret... if I look tan.. I had a fake and bake session at my local spa ... aka Mystic Tan! Its the only tan that is safe for your skin) I always have SPF 15 on my face, but when I am out on a shoot I slather on the SPF 30! You only get one shot at healthy skin... so protect it.

Now, I will ask you... HOW DO PEOPLE TRAVEL WITH ONE CARRY-ON and NO SUITCASE? Where the hell are they putting their daily essentials? I know... I know... lost baggage is an issue. I get that... but, even when I go away for the weekend I have a bag to check! I am not dumping my $55 bottle of Chanel age defying moisturizer into one of those cheap little bottles for security! I like the packaging.. it is part of the reason for buying the damn thing in the first place! So, I say... check it and pray to god that it is on the carousel.

What is in your suitcase? Do you have any tips and tricks? Please share... leave me a comment!

Lori

In Orlando for Thanksgiving

Every traveler in the world knows that the week of Thanksgiving is the absolute hardest time to travel in the US. Well, I will be the one to tell you that it is not that bad if you plan ahead. We had a very uneventful trip from Washington to Orlando yesterday.... and here's why.. we booked well in advance and we gave ourselves plenty of time. Sometimes its just that simple.

You all know that I travel all the time and there is nothing worse than arriving early to sit and wait for a delayed flight. I get it... I do it to. I get to the airport one hour before boarding... I coast through security as fast as I can.. ( laptop out of the case, no liquids, slip-on shoes...) I am super efficient. I then grab a rag mag and I am ready to board. Simple stuff. Well, forget that. This is not your normal flight to Boston... or to Oakland. This is travel during Thanksgiving and you need to be at the gate one hour before they board. That's right, people. Give yourself time! Pace yourself and you will see that everything will feel a whole lot better.

Another big tip... book in advance and make sure that you do not fly in the thick of it. Meaning... try to go out the Monday or Tuesday before Thanksgiving and come back on the Monday or Tuesday after. I also suggest flights in the afternoon... this helps avoids the long security lines and also almost guarantees you a parking space at the airport.

Let me take the advice columnist hat off for a moment and tell you about our trip...

We left the house 3 hours before our flight. The airport is an hour away and I wanted to give us a full hour to get us parked, on the bus to the terminal and through security. Once we got through security (Eva told the FSA guy that she was flying on a big airplane today!) we then sat and had a nice lunch before we headed down to the gate. We then boarded the plane (remember: I printed our boarding passes 24 hours before to ensure that we were among the first to board) and prepared for the flight. Eva had her lollipop and was looking out the window as we took off. She then settled back and watched Finding NEMO on my video Ipod. About an hour into the flight she was sound asleep and 40 minutes later we were in Orlando. It was that easy.

Here's where things got a bit annoying... that damned AVIS! I HATE AVIS! Ok, so... I called them two days ago to confirm that they had a car seat for me and that they had my wizard number in the record. I wanted to just go to the preferred desk, pick up my keys and drive away. Simple... right? We walked to the garage to the preferred booth to pick up my keys. They should have my name on the board... nope. Nothing. So, I spoke to the agent who asked for my name and said that he could not find my reservation. I then handed him my preferred card and suddenly... he found my name. I asked him if we had a car seat...and he said that it was not in my record. I snickered and told him that I called only two days ago to confirm all of this. All he had to do was apologize... but, instead.. he said, "I don't know... I just work here." What? Then, we get into the car (he told me it was supposed to be a Nissan Altima... and it was a Toyota Camary... I can see how you would make that mistake.) Whatever... I'll stop bitching now.

My parents live about 30 minutes away from the airport. There was zero traffic and we made it to their house in no time. Travel to Orlando... done.

Today was a relaxing day. This afternoon we went out to the Premium Outlets in Lake Buena Vista. That's right folks... across the street from Disney! You could smell Mickey.... we were that close. After a good credit card workout, we all came back and started our Thanksgiving baking.

My Nana is 96 years old... she is deaf and partially blind and still makes the best Apple Pie. Tonight, I sat at the kitchen table and watched her make a crust by hand. Her recipe is easy... we call it "A half, A half, A whole and One." Its a half a cup of Crisco, half a cup of sugar, a whole cup of flour and one egg. You mix that together to form a wet dough. You then grease the bottom of a baking pan (Crisco again) and using floured hands... press half of the dough to form the bottom of the pie. You then fill the pie with 7 peeled, cored and sliced apples. She sprinkled some sugar and some cinnamon throughout and then spread the rest of the dough across the top of the pie. It then went into a 350 degree oven for about an hour and 15 minutes. I just took it out... and I have to tell you... even with all the craziness of travel.. the smell of that apple pie makes all of the travel well worth it.

Enjoy your families tomorrow. Remember to pray for all of our troops who are away from their grandma's apple pie this Thanksgiving.

Travel safe.

Lori

Off to Orlando for Thanksgiving

We are heading to Orlando tomorrow afternoon to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with my parents. We are flying out of BWI on Southwest. I am not a huge fan of Southwest Airlines. Mainly because they tend to kid around too much on the flights. For instance, my entire family was on a Southwest flight from New York to Florida to attend my grandmother's funeral. We were all grieving and the only thing we wanted to do was sleep on the flight. When we boarded the plane, the flight attendants started their little safety announcement and one of the guys said.. and I quote... "In the unfortunate event that this flight happens to become a cruise... your seat cushion doubles as a floatation device." I nearly lost my mind. I had my entire family on board... and this was pre-zoloft... and I was having none of it. I literally tore him a.... but, I digress. So, we are heading to Orlando tomorrow...Southwest. We are packed... and we have all of the necessary stuff for travel with a toddler. Birth Certificate - check. Ipod packed with cartoons - check. Music - check. Lollypops - check. This is our first time traveling with our girl over Thanksgiving and we are a bit nervous for tomorrow. Here's what I did to prepare... first, I made sure that we we rented a car seat from the rental car company. This saves us from schlepping our own! I then confirmed that they had my preferred number in their computer... I do not want to have to wait on line with a tired toddler! The next thing I did... I called Southwest to confirm the documentation we needed for her. She is 23 months...so, just under the two year momma has to buy her a seat mark... all we need is a birth certificate. Cool. Then, I jumped online and printed our boarding passes 24 hours before the flight. For Southwest this guarantees that we will be in the "A" group and one of the first to board the flight. AHHH... but you say... Lori, you told us NEVER to pre-board with a child. Yes, I did... I get the "A" boarding to get my husband to get on board and get us seats. Then I come on last with the baby. This way she can run around the gate a bit longer and I can put her on the flight at the last second. Last tip for the night... lollypops. Kids do not know how to "pop" their ears... so, the lollys help them to swallow during takeoff and landing! So, fingers crossed.. her little ears will be fine. I;ll write more from Orlando to let you know what else I discovered. If you are heading out tomorrow... travel safe and remember to pack your patience. This is THE hardest travel period of the year! Plan well, take your time and enjoy. xoxoLori