Delta and United Suck Too.

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I spent a weekend in Utah and was trying to get back to Atlanta …   Everything on my itinerary looked good – I booked a ticket that balanced my personal commitments with my work schedule.  However, Delta and United had different plans for me.

So now I hate both Delta and United.  I get better basic service from the bartenders at the airport bars — eye contact, a simple “I will be with you in a moment” (just a small acknowledgement that you actually SEE me and the other dozen customers waiting for your help).. And given my experience, I may just go back to AirTran.. at least they will fly an airplane in any condition. 

So, my day began with a hug and kiss from my mom, coffee and conversation with my dad, a few hours of work, then a shower.  My dad dropped me off at the SLC airport, and I was happy as a clam. I was in my own little world – remembering what a great trip I just had, bonding with my nieces…  I love them so much, every time I’m in Utah I just wished I had more time…  Ideally I’d love to live there part-time so I could be a greater part of their lives.  Yes, I was in la la land… I get thru security (even with more than 3 oz of toothpaste), and head to my gate.  Below is how the airlines fucked up my mood: 

  1. Arrive at the Delta Gate Counter in SLC – hanging around are two gate agents, a bunch of pilots and flight attendants.  Not a good sign.  I finally reach the desk and ask about switching seats, and the gate agent says “I don’t know anything, but we aren’t dealing with seat changes right now”.  I then remark, “to leave on time, you need to be boarding now, I see the airplane is here and you aren’t boarding, is something wrong?”. Her response the ENTIRE time people are asking her questions – “I can’t say”.  Flight was scheduled to depart at 1:50pm.. which is exactly what the board said until about 2:10, which then it read cancelled.  Instead of standing in line behind 300 passengers, I called Delta to change my flight.. they had nothing available, and put me on a United flight that works its way to ATL thru Chicago.  I stop off to get a glass of wine before heading to another terminal.
  2. Arrive at the United Counter in SLC – one gate agent, a bunch of pilots and flight attendants, and security were standing at the gate.  I got in line, behind the dozen or so other folks waiting to be serviced by the one gate agent who was running around like her head had been cut off.  So I turn the “hard-working” (sarcasm) TSA agents and ask “why are so many of you here?” (I hesitated to ask because I thought the guy was retarded… but I had to, that’s what I do).  They guy said that TSA had decided to “spot check” this gate (what, they don’t even trust themselves??  Talking about TSA just gets me going, a rant on them is coming soon).  There are 5 of them, and they all are overweight and look like high-school drop-outs still living their dreams in too tight uniforms (think Reno 911!), eating cashews next to the gate desk…  There is no gate agent in sight.  The woman finally comes back, starts to help folks, I finally get my turn, ask for a bit of help with seat assignments (as I have none because Delta can’t give me seat assignments on another airlines flights)… She gave me one for the immediate flight, then told me to deal with my ORD to ATL flight in ORD.  I said no, that I had been standing in line, waiting for her to help me, and I wanted a guaranteed seat.  She then started berating me about her “bad day” (sounded more like a bad life.).. something about an ex-boyfriend, a dead cat.. I dont’ know.  I just stared at her and then said (remember I’m not always nice), “You are here to help me, not give me excuses as to why you can’t help me. We all have troubles in our lives…  I won’t even start in on mine.  But I want to get to work so I can get home.  Can you help me with this?”  You know what she said?  In a very heated, high voice she says to me,  “Thanks for being such a nice person (sarcasm oozing from her tone), I’ve got too much to think about/on my mind right now to help you with future travel“… and a few other things.. then she turned around and walked away.  You know, I didn’t feel bad at all.  I got her name, and wouldn’t you know it, she is the Service Director.  Yes, this is the person who is training/setting example for others on how to treat customers…  No wonder “customer service” has all but disappeared in the airline industry.
  3. Arrive at the United Counter in Chicago.  So I do finally make it to Chicago, I get to the gate,and wouldn’t you know it, the flight was delayed.  No reason given, just delayed.  For 2 hours.  I was so exhausted, so tired, and I desperately needed to get into ATL at a decent time as my week was going to be brutal work wise.  United didn’t care – the flight was delayed until 11:30pm (it was originally an 8pm flight).  The gate agent was o.k..  didn’t look at me when I asked for a seat, but did give me a seat with no one next to me (which I specifically asked for). 

I finally arrived in ATL at 1:20am (vs. my original 7:30pm arrival time) got to the  hotel by 2am.. asleep by 2:30, then up at 7:30 …  needless to say I was exhausted.  I never made up for the lost sleep all week…  by the time Thursday (yesterday) came around, I was completely spent. 

Here is the thing.  I get that things happen.. that flights are cancelled, delayed… but when they happen AND  you get consistently horrible customer service, I just lose it.  Its it so unneccessary for rude behavior, especially from someone who is “on the job”..  So, here are a few words of wisdom I’m going to share (for free) to the airline workers of the world: 

  • Focus on the customers.  Airline managers, execs, and the like – your front line staff is the face of your company.  if someone if an asshole, then you are an asshole.  You are guilty by association.
  • Get rid of folks that make you look bad. Just do it .. unions be dammed.  If you don’t, you aren’t going to be successful.
  • Focus on basic common courtesy.  Yes, the same manners your mother taught you, extend these to your customers.
    • Look at people when they talk to you.  Not the computer, but into the eyes of the person standing in front of you.
    • Listen.  That’s right – listen. Listen for how you can help someone (not what you can’t do, what you CAN do).
    • If you are busy but see that someone is waiting, acknowledge their presence and let them know you see them.  For example, “I see you need help, I am busy at the moment but I will get to you as quickly as I can”. See how easy that is?
    • Don’t mock your counter mate or other co-workers in front of the customer.  It’s in bad taste and makes you look bad, and honestly, we don’t care what Shaniqua said/did/wore/etc., we just want to get home/to work, etc.. 

Fellow travelers, feel free to pass on other WOW that you would like to send/share with the airline industry.

O.k.. so now all I’m left with is Jet Blue, Virgin America or my own private plane. My experiences on Jet Blue and Virgin America have been awesome…  I hope they keep up the good work.

Happy To Be Home.

PaulasPonderings1 Comment

I’m home… slept in my bed for the first time in almost 2 weeks.  I love my bed, my home… I can’t tell you how happy I am to be home.

I spent the month in Atlanta … 4 full weeks, working on a Proof of Concept with a prospect.  I had a great team to work with – my company has the most amazing people (and the best technology).  I truly love my job.  We really rocked it – did a fantastic job, and successfully jumped another hurdle.  Although we have a lot of work to still do to close the deal, we are moving forward.  We are progressing and all signs are pointing us to a successful outcome.  Yeah for us!

On the personal side, my CA dating life was suspended.  I tried to meet up with both MM Guy and Middle Seat Airplane Guy the weekend I was home (8/12-14) but it didn’t work out (largely due to me changing our scheduled meet times). Bummed me out, but that’s the way it worked.  I do have a dinner date with MM Guy tomorrow, Saturday, and as luck would have it, the Executive Chef is available and wants to take me out on Sunday.  I am SO looking forward to a relaxing and pampered weekend.

Speaking of which, I am starting off well in this endeavour to relax and enjoy my weekend.  I’ve not done anything for work today even though I have stuff to do.  My brain just can’t take in anything today. I’m just hanging out at home, watching Sliding Doors, hanging with the cats. I am heading out for a 4pm pedicure, then drinks with CLicious.  I’m sure I’ll be to bed early tonight – I’m still on East coast time.

I’ll be home this weekend and the following week so I’ll get caught up on blog entries.. I have lots of ideas and stories to share, I just haven’t had time to get them all written out.

Have a great Friday everyone.

Weekend With Family.

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I’m in Utah this weekend, enjoying some time with family.  It’s a quick trip, our annual school clothes shopping adventure.  I’ve been doing this with the girls in the family since my niece AbFab was 6 years old.  She would come out to CA and hang with me .. we would shop for school clothes. There are so many things we got for her that we both loved – the fabulous green dress with a scarf when she was 8, her down puffy coat years later.. 

This year the event occurred with my twin, my two nieces AbFab and LilDarlin’ (my twin sisters daughters), and AbFab’s two darling little ladies Mayonaise and Shanaynay.  We did all our shopping in one long afternoon.  It’s the shortest shopping trip we have ever had, but it was enough.  Mayonnaise kept calling us “The Family”, and wanted all 6 of us to do everything together.. everything.  Mayonaise is not a quiet child, I do wonder if other shoppers thought we were part of a polygamist family (we all look so much alike).  Either way, a GREAT day, we got everything we needed to go back to school in grand style. 

We shopped until 6:30pm or so, then had dinner with my parents.  It was so good to see them and spend some time with them. Even though they all live in Utah, they do not get together as often as they would like – They don’t live close and they all have family obligations (kids, jobs, you all know the drill).  Anyway, it’s nice when I come into town they make a point of getting together (to spend time with me, how awesome is that??!?) .  It was a great dinner.

After dinner, AbFab and my twin went home, and my niece LilDarlin’ and I watched the little ladies.  I booked a hotel with a pool so that we could swim (and boy did we ever!).  It was late by the time we got to the room, so we just did girls stuff (manicure and pedicure, chit-chat, etc).. .   We had a great time at “Paula’s House” (that’s what Mayonaise calls the hotel) – Girls will probably remember painting fingers and toes, swimming, and jumping on the bed the most.. 

The next morning we got up early and swam for almost 2 hours!  We got ready and then headed over to McDonald’s for fries and Payland, finally making it home around 3pm.   LilDarlin’ and I relaxed on the couch for a while… then off we went to the Family Dollar for a few things..  AbFab made a great dinner, and after the kids went to bed, AbFab, LilDarlin’ and I hung out and reviewing pictures of past experiences.   AbFab left for work (she works graveyards) and put LilDarlin’ and I “in charge” again….  And we did not disappoint!

We got up early in the morning, hung out, and enjoyed each others company.  Kids had Otter Pops while I had my coffee, then had yogurt and granola for breakfast.. pizza for snack all before noon.  It is so fun being the Aunt – I think that anything within reason is o.k. as long as they treat each other with love and respect.. so a few popsicles during their morning ritual will not kill them.

Anyway, I did have to leave and it was hard. Very hard.  I cried as I drove to my parents house.  I love all te kids – it’s so hard to not be around as much as I would like to be.  But it is what it is, and I will be back in a few months.  I do have to say, the weekend would NOT have been over the top fun if LilDarlin’ wasn’t with me – she is the coolest aunt in the world to the girls – they idolize her and she loves them to pieces back.  She helped me with their schedules, guiding me on the best way to take care of them…  She is such a sweet, loving,  and kind person.  She is  heading into the 6th grade with more wisdom and independence than I’ve seen in most 6th graders. 

I did arrive to my parents house at a reasonable hour, had some time to catch up with my parents.  I love coming home and catching up with my parents.  My mom always makes me a very fondly remembered “favorite meal” and my dad gives me the update on his store – he owns and manages a small computer business in Utah.  He’s just moved into a new building and is working hard at building up business at his new location.  My mom made me meatloaf with a baked potato and canned green beans.  I loved this meal growing up, and it tasted sooooooooooooooo good this evening.  She even made one of my favorites for dessert – brownies!  We had a great dinner, great conversation, and it’s just so good to see my parents.

Ok.. I’m exhausted, I’m heading to bed in a few minutes. I have a few blogs to write about specific events/experiences.. I will try to get to these on the airplane.. .. I’m heading back to Atlanta for my last week of on-site support for the immediate time being.

Good night folks.

Quick Update.

PaulasPonderings1 Comment

I know, you all miss me. I’ve been out-of-pocket because I’m out-of-town. I’m spending most of August in Hotlanta (and not because the guys are hot)…   I’m in ATL for work (shameless plug for the fabulous (exKimpton) Marriott Renaissance Hotel)….   a great opportunity worth $$ if we can close it.   However, there are several observations that I want to share with you:

  1. Unicorns is at home, in CA.. and I miss her every minute of every day that I’m gone.  I want to be making dinner with her, creating jewelry, and catching up on life… talking, drinking wine, enjoying her company.  Bums me out I’m missing out on that (although, we all know Unicorns is just fine without me and out and about entertaining herself)
  2. Life is so crazy right now that simple pleasures make me happy. Case in point: 
    • I’m so happy when I go to the bathroom and the toilet seat is up.  It means I am the first one to go to the bathroom and I’m the first one on the toilet seat.  It makes me smile and happy…  What puts a bigger smile on my face is when I go back to the bathroom, I have to find another stall with the seat up…  I love a good challenge.  😉
    • I heard Barry Manilow on the radio at the restaurant I had lunch at yesterday.. It reminded me of th time I went to his concert with my mom and twin a lot of years ago… big smile.
  3. Looks like I might have 2 dates this weekend – MM guy on Friday, and Middle Seat Airplane guy on Saturday.  Yep, I’m a mover and a shaker…  both of the men are on my roster.. yum!

I should be writing status to my manager… but I did not, I decided to give you’ll an update…  I know, you feeling the love?!!? 

O.k. my sleeping pill is kicking in… good night, sleep tight, and don’t let the bed bugs bite.

AirTran – You Suck. Why I Will Never Fly You Again.

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I’m traveling for work a lot these days…  to far away places like Atlanta where only a few airlines fly…. I’ve been flying a discount airline to save my company money – I do enjoy being a good corporate citizen.  However, I have now drawn the line.  Let me share why it’s the end of the line for AirTran.

I have flown them now a total of 10 times (counting the flight that I’m on now).  I have not had one good experience with them, every flight has had trouble.. different trouble, but trouble none the less.  Let me begin.

  1. Their “Rewards program”.  I don’t really think you can call it this.  I still can’t see one single benefit from being a part of this program…. I still cant figure out what use my A+ points are.  They tell me I can use them for upgrades and/or free flights.. hmm… 
    • First off, where do they actually fly to? Lets see, Atlanta, Milwaukee, Baltimore, and Orlando…   Certainly not ‘hot spots’ in my book.  Why would I ever want to go to any of these places in my free time?
    • Secondly, lets talk upgrades.  I have enough points for 2.5 upgrades… However, its NEVER been an option for me… I keep asking why… no one can answer me …  I actually don’t think its possible to upgrade on AirTran.
    • Thirdly, do I get better seat choices? No, not with status or points, only with cash… and even then, not so much.  The green colored areas only mean I get “free” wireless … my knees still touch the seat in front of me…
  2. Next up, “Customer Service”.. actually, I should state this more clearly as “Customer Disservice”.  Boy do I have a lot to say about this.  
    • Phone “Customer Service Reps“..uhh huhhh… the name for these folks should be “I don’t give a shit about you but AirTran pays me to answer the phone so whats the problem I won’t help you with today”?  Honestly…  these people don’t know policy from their asshole.  Every single time I call (because I cant get the info from the website or I can’t do what I need to do on the website),they give me wrong information. And while they do it, I can feel their “No Way I’m Helping You” attitude bleed thru the phone.
    • Airport Counter Reps.   The counter reps are the most non-customer focused people I’ve met in the business (and I’ve traveled a lot). Maybe its just SF or Atlanta, but I’ve never seen a more lazy, non-helpful bunch of un-enthusiastic people in my life.  Each one acts as if their life could not get any worse, and if you ask them for anything (like information about changing your flight), they just might slight their throat right in front of you.  I’ve never seen anything like it – and yes, I’ve flown United where the attendants are so disgruntled they speak with nastiness and physically push people around. Delta sucks too. But at least with United and Delta, there is the off-chance that someone says “bye-bye now” and means it.  Case in Point – I get to the airport having done whatever the phone CSR recommended, the Desk Reps say, ” that’s too bad, he (the CSR Phone Rep)  should have been more informed”…. not “lets see how I can help you”, “let me see what I can do”.. you know what she did… she left and took a smoke break.  Yep, thanks for sharing your concern, I’ve got to go drink my Gatorade and have a smoke with Jamal now.    Uh huh.. I bet it works the other way around too.  It’s a special game they have going on… the “lets see who can provide the worst customer service’.  Yeah, not funny.  
    • How they ‘expertly‘ (sense the sarcasm??)  work together:   Case in point – today.  I called the phone “CSR” and he told me that I could either pay for a ticket (I was trying to catch an earlier flight – I could pay a change fee and the fair difference of $400 to be guaranteed a spot) or take my chances and fly standby. I asked If he could put me on the standby list, he said “no, you have to do that at the airport”…  So, I get to the airport, find out I’m 8th on the standby list, but would have been 1st on the list had the “CSR” actually put me on the standby list when I called…  I found this out because no less than 3 desk agents told me the asshole agent on the phone should have put me on the standby list.  Uh huh. I would have been on an earlier flight home, but thanks to the jackass on the phone, I will have spent 5 hours in the Atlanta airport and 5 hours in the air getting home.  Yes, thank you for getting me home safely is NOT on the tip of my tongue right now.
  3. Airport “Security” Personnel.. There is definitely a difference in the security personnel that “protect” the secure the AirTran gates…  I think this team must be special needs.  This is where the failures/fall-outs from the other airline terminals go. Like the misfits in the Santa Clause movie.  I’ve never seen anything like it.  After standing in a non-moving line for 40 minutes, you alert one of them that your flight is departing in 20 minutes.  After some back and forth (because English is NOT their native language), they put you in the “express line”.. which honest to god, is slower than the original line.  And if you say to them, “my flight is now boarding in 10 minutes”, they say “you should have gotten here sooner”… even AFTER they know you’ve been standing in their lines for almost a solid hour!  They are jus the stupidest bunch of people I’ve ever seen…  and they don’t get smarter with more experience…  its the same B.S. every time I fly thru San Francisco Terminal 1 gates for AirTran.
  4. AirTran Customers.  Where do I begin…
    • Am I the only english speaking person on the plane?  Honestly,  I feel like I’m traveling in a 3rd world country.  I’m pretty much the only white person with a regular sized suitcase. I am literally the only person not headed to a home country of Mexico or India.
    • Size and smell of these folks … Gross.   The fattest, stinkiest, and loudest people take AirTran. Case in point – the guy sitting in front of me is talking about having just been to court and “beaten the system”  because he got off on time served… and that his “ex” can “fuck herself”…  He is a tall bald-headed black guy with shorts so baggy I’m afraid if he gets up they will fall down and I will see his ass crack… Yep, real winner.   I should let him know I’m single. 
    • Oh, and for the 10th time in a row I’ve got some person whose body and arms can’t fit in their own seat/between their armrests. And her husband is 30% bigger than her.  You know the kicker?  I asked to go to the bathroom (I’m in a window seat), and they both didn’t move, they wanted me to crawl over them!!!  Yes, that’s right, it would take so much time to get their fat asses out of the seat they would rather have me straddle them to get to the aisle.  I’m grossed out just thinking about it.   I did ask them to get up and they were so perturbed.  They have no idea what a foul mood I’m in …. they better watch themselves is all I have to say.
    • And I just asked the kid behind me to stop kicking and fucking with the tray…I said, in a calm voice, “I just want you to be aware that what you do to the seat in front of you affects the person actually sitting  in that seat.  So when you need to grab and pull on the seat in front of you, realize that you are pushing and shoving person sitting in front of you.  His sister and mom stared at me – and really, shouldn’t the mom tell her kid this?  Manners people!!
  5. AirTan Accommodations… meaning the planes and service on board. 
    • Almost every flight I’ve been on has had something wrong with the seat I was sitting in. The second or third flight the seat I was in was missing the cover….just a foam seat.   The next flight the seat wouldn’t recline (broken button), the following flight had exposed springs on the seat…  
    • Every flight is booked solid (with stinky fat people who have zero airplane manners (or general manners if you ask me) – for example, if the bathroom sign says “occupied” you do NOT need to keep twisting and turning the bathroom handle/knob.  Idiot.
    • What happened to the food?  So the flight is 6 hours, you can’t have more than peanuts on the plane?  No snack boxes?  Gees…   I bring my own snacks now, but lordy, it seems like prisoners have it better than me – at the very least they have food and TV…  
  6. Flight Attendants… now here is a unique group of people.  Maybe it’s because they are based in Atlanta, but most of the flight attendants are black, have crazy names, and are NOT very customer service oriented… They certainly don’t take serving drinks seriously… and watch out if you actually hit the call button.. you may get a verbal beating… I saw a funny female comedian, Angela Johnson, do a skit on black flight attendants, and I think she must have flown on AirTran before… check this out.  All I’m saying is watch out for the Shaniqua, Telananque, and Bon Qui Qui’s.   

So, this blog is my bold and fierce statement that I would rather got to ATL in a Greyhound bus than take another AirTran flight…  Mark my words, I WILL NEVER take another AirTran flight. I don’t care how much less expensive it is. The pain and suffering that I go thru EVERY SINGLE TIME I fly them is not worth it.  It makes work travel worse than it needs to be…. and that is where I draw the line.

So, AirTran, I gave you a shot. Not just once, but 10 times.  You have proven that you are inferior to all other airline in ways that I never thought possible.

UPDATE – I’m just getting ready to post this and my seat mate just adjusted herself… she has squished her fat ass under the arm and it is now touching me!  Why doesn’t she point that thing at her husband??????   Gees.

Sun Silliness.

PaulasPonderings1 Comment

So I have not written in a while because Unicorns is in town.   I’ve been working too hard, but we have still managed to find our fair share of fun thus far.  There are stories she needs to tell, a few I need to share with all of you (Unicorns said they needed to be made public).. …

Today we enjoyed our morning, reminiscing over our Saturday night good time.  Unicorns made eggs “Unicorn” style, mixed with soy-rizo (better than chorizo I swear!) and black beans.  Delicious.  We then went to GFP’s condo to sun ourselves, except that the wind was blowing and it wasn’t that warm.  So we sat outside, in broad daylight, chatted some more, WITHOUT SUNSCREEN.

Yes, that’s right.  Two whitey’s hanging out in the sun, in the middle of the day, without sunscreen.  Unicorns had the wherewithal to at least have a top on (which is what gave her the fancy tan lines).  I was not quite as smart…  I was in my bikini, enjoying the sunshine…. and lets just say that I’m very red on the front side. White as a ghost on the backside (I didn’t turn over.. not once).

We then had a lovely dinner with SmartyPants & HulaHoops… so much fun. The sleepover is scheduled for next weekend!  Yes, that’s right, we are having a girls sleep-over next Saturday.  Should be a GREAT time.

O.k.. so I’m off to bed.  I’m cold and sore… my skin hurts….    Have a great week everyone!

 

Dinner, Dancing, Drinking, and Kissing Oh My!

PaulasPonderings1 Comment

My weekend was fabulous!  The weather was absolutely perfect AND I got a lot of personal stuff done.  I’m ready to tackle some of the bigger stuff now, like the 7 months of mail sitting in my office, understanding and reducing the bills associated to my rental condo, and file my taxes.   One of my New Years Resolutions was to get my financial house in order, I better start working on it if I’m going to accomplish anything this year.

Ok, back to my weekend.  Friday was great – I went to the Giants game with my friends Fiesty, Money, and their family.  The Giants lost, but I had the luxury of watching the game from a Box, eat a hot dog,  some buffalo wings, a bit of mac and cheese, AND drink champagne and wine.  I also got to meet a few of Fiesty’s family members, cousins…  who were very cool and fun to hang out with. 

On Saturday I ran a few errands then went to dinner at my favorite restaurant with SmartyPants, C-Licious, and Dancing Queen.  C-Licious went home to take care of her sick hubby, and then Dancing Queen headed home at 9:30pm to take care of her darling boys.  That left SmartyPants and I together, and being slightly buzzed, we came up with a great idea – Dancing.  We hit the local dance club (not fancy at all … and we were the only white people in the room).  I called up GFP and he showed up 20 minutes later and the dance party was started… and did not end until 11:30 or so. 

So here is the interesting part, and shows, very clearly, that I do not have an “off button”.  We all went back to my house (good decision) and SmartyPants went directly to bed.  I tried to get her to stay up and play some more, but alas she was down and out for the night ((another good decision – I don’t call her SmartyPants for nothing).  I then proceeded to make GFP and myself a few pomegranate martini’s (bad decision #1 )… we got stoned (bad decision #2 ),  drank our martini’s (bad decision #3), ate a few snacks…  We watched Shawshank Redemption 3 times… and here is the kicker.. we started making out (bad decision # 4, 5, and 6)… !  I know! WTF right?  We’ve been hanging out since January and nothing has happened except one time in early February then he gave me the “let’s be friends” talk…  Which I was fine with – he’s a great guy.   Anyway, I  have no idea how it started, but it did.  I’m not exactly sure what to do about it except chalk it up as another instance of making a bad decision.  I don’t think its a big deal, we should probably talk about it just to clear the air, that “just friends” doesn’t include sexual contact…..

So, tonight is a sobriety night for me.  I’m going to bed sober here in about 40 minutes.  This week is going to be SO FUN as Unicorns is coming into town. I cannot wait to see her, and our adventures will give me much to write about…  yeah for all of us!

Procrastination At Its Best.

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Procrastination:  refers to the act of replacing high-priority actions with tasks of low-priority, and thus putting off important tasks to a later time.

The excuses begin valiantly with some exercise.  I just got back from a run with C-Licious.  It’s a gorgeous 75 degree day with a slight breeze.  I should be lounging by a pool in my new polka-dot string bikini, but alas I am not.  I’m still building demo scripts….. and not feeling that compelled to jump back into it.

So, today is your lucky day.. I feel like writing about a few things..

Harold and his desire for a 25-year-old.  Watching Harold make an ass of himself on Millionaire Matchmaker has stuck with me. Maybe it’s because I’m not 25, or maybe because its one of the stupidest things I’ve heard lately.  I’ve seen two things about older men dating younger women in the last two days:

  1. AskMen.com has something to say about it too.  Article is a fun read, clarifies the point that a relationship between an older man and younger woman is probably not ideal.   Obviously Harold missed it.  Someone should alert him that it is NOT actually easier to date a younger woman.  
  2. A rerun on MTV, a show I’ve never seen, part of a series of True Life – I’m Dating Someone Older.  Check out Amber and Bobby.  She’s 25, he’s 47…   He is busy working, she is immature and needy…  sounds/looks like a great situation all around.  It bounces in and out between two couples, but focus on this couple.  Better yet, someone send the link to Harold.  Doesn’t seem easier to me at all…

Secondly, a few weeks ago a  local dating service called and offered me a complimentary membership – they said that I was an ideal match for many of their paying members.  I went to their office and discussed the opportunity… and this week I just signed all the contracts and finished my profile.  So, apparently there are men out there that have PAID a service to find someone who is older, career-focused, fun, and fabulous (not to mention attractive and sexy!!).   It’s an old-school dating service – meaning it’s not online, they are about knowing their clientele.   So, they will present me with a few candidates, I get to pick the one I want to go out with …. Yes, I get to pick.  I cannot wait to see who they present me with, I’m pretty excited about it.  My profile is pretty specific…   Maybe, just maybe I will find that tall, handsome, successful, confident, compassionate, well-to-do man I’ve been looking for.

Thirdly, Girls night was last night.  What a great group of classy ladies.  We had so much fun…  I love these ladies, all successful, gorgeous, and fun.  We had drinks and dinner at a great Restaurant (food is fabulous, service is not good, I’ll be letting them know via Yelp), then walked up the street to this new bar/restaurant that was Fabulous!  One of the gals I was with knew the owner… and  just like that we were in. 

Lastly, I had an early morning this morning.  HulaHoops came over this morning, we played a bit of ping-pong in my woman-cave (otherwise known as the garage), then had berry-mango shakes to cool us down…  I drove her to school, where she ran off to the Fun House. Today is water day… she gets to play with water all day (she said  her favorite was buckets… I guess you get to pour a bucket of water over your head…. I wanted to stay with her ….. but alas, I was responsible and came home to work..

And this day is not over… I’ve got a date tonight….  which I will begin to get ready for in about 2 hours.  It’s so warm out, I will wear a dress and some sexy shoes… knock his socks off..  😉

O.k. Now I really have to get back to work….   Thanks for reading!

Advice for Men and A Few Other Random Things.

PaulasPonderings3 Comments

A few random topics today.

First, I love AskMen.com.  It’s a column/site that gives advice to men, but I read it all the time. I feel like it gives me a glimpse into the male psyche, which I’ve never had (I have no brothers and most men I’ve been with were not communicators).  But I was a bit bored today (building demo documentation .. wooo hooo (not)), so I checked out what AskMen.com had to say…  and low and behold, a fabulous article, written by a man on what women want – The Six Sixes.  It’s about what women want, real women – women that are mature, independent, have careers, that take care of themselves.  In a nutshell, it’s:

  •  a Six-Figure Salary (because we are making them too)
  • Six-Feet Tall (even shorties like me like height on a man)
  • Six-Hundred Horsepower (As much as I love the USA, we don’t manufacture the best cars in America)
  • a Six-Pack (we take care of ourselves, our men should too)
  • at least Six-Months since their last relationship (yes please!)
  • Six-Inches below the belt (need I say more?). 

If men are reading this website, then we can all breathe a sigh of relief…..  if they aren’t, people, for the sake of all single successful women, send them the link!!

I just spent some time with Spicy, and we talked about this exact same topic.  As an established woman, I want to improve my life, which I will do with the Six Sixes, and I will NOT do if too many of these are missing..   If my lifestyle changes, it’s going to be for the better ,not worse (no, I’m not even going to consider a teacher, a plumber, etc…).  I know, get mad at me, do whatever you need to do to get it out, but this lady isn’t going anywhere but up.

Secondly, I received my new pair of shoes today…. I got them at 60% discount and they look fabulous on my feet.  I’m a good 4 inches taller now (going from 5’2″ to 5’6″ feels soooooooooo good)..  Tomorrow is ladies night, anyone want to guess what shoes I’m wearing??  Yep, my new shoes.  Glorious.

Thirdly, my friend FreeBird has helped me revamp my wardrobe.  I have to tell you it’s working.  I’m wearing better fitting clothes, have cleared out all the clothing that doesn’t work for me (is too small, is too big, doesn’t look good), and made room for a few great pieces that can be worn all the time.  I’m telling you, I’ve not had so much attention from men since I grew boobs in high school and performed routines during gymnastics meets.  I still have a few things to do, like be more confident in less conservative items, but I’m doing it. Everyday I’m doing something new…   This is one way that I’m attracting a higher-caliber of man…  Love it. Thank you FreeBird!

So that’s it for now… I do have some thoughts stewing in the ol’ Paula Jukebox…. I’ll be sure to share them once I unscramble the message..

Tracking My Activities.

PaulasPonderings3 Comments

So, I’ve got a new goal: drink less and lose weight.  Yep, I know.. I’m doing it again.

I’ve done well with drinking less in general – I no longer drink on airplanes which is HUGE for me…  now I’m used to it, seems weird to have a drink on the plane now.  Didn’t take that long or was it that painful to make this healthy change in my life.  And in general, with work being so busy, I’ve not had as much time to “cut loose” as I used to.

But after Friday, being wildly hung-over I was (and quite possibly legally drunk until noon or so) at the Atlanta Airport, I’ve decided I’ve got to cut back on the booze for a while.   On Friday I decided to not drink at all for a week.. but that changed on Saturday, when GFP came over and had a few glasses of wine, and had a pomegranate martini with C-Licious on Sunday.

Anyway, I thought that while I’m at it, why not ALSO do what my doctor recommended… which was to eat before I run/exercise.  When I went to the doctor to get my IUD inserted, he told me to eat breakfast.. I let him know I don’t usually eat breakfast… and we had a great conversation on how that is not good for me. He said that if I ate a small bit of protein and carbs before I work out, I could lose up to 5 pounds.   I told him I’d do it (it was on my New Years Resolutions this year, and my weight hasn’t budged down or up), he weighed me before I left, and the bet is on!!

So,  my goal is to:

  • take two sobriety nights a week AND
  • eat before I exercise in the morning. 

And I’m going to document all of my activities (time with friends, dates, goals, etc) on my new fancy  Calendar Of Activities.  Its how I was able to achieve so much last year..  keeping track of it via calendar. Keeps me honest.