Why I could do without TSA

(photo from Google images)

I know that they are trying to be a protection for passengers, but often I feel more annoyed with TSA than anything. Especially when it comes to their consistancy in enforcing their rules- as well as no communication to passengers of what those rules are.

Case in point:

On the way back to Salt Lake City, we stopped in Dallas to visit the in-laws. In my carry on bag were some items I received in my stocking- i.e. hand sanitizer, toothpaste, a seam ripper for sewing, super glue, and craft glue (am I the only one that gets super glue in my stocking?)

Getting through the Atlanta security was no problem. It was when I was leaving Dallas going to Salt Lake that my carry on bag was flagged when it went through the xray. I had put all my liquids in a ziplock plastic bag, although it was bigger than the required quart size (since that's all I had). Well, they tell me that they need to transfer all my liquids from the bigger ziplock to the quart size ziplock. No big deal to me- since I knew it would all still fit. But then the guy who had taken it to switch the bag comes back to tell me that I can't take the super glue or craft glue that I had included in the ziplock bag with me. Hello?! Can someone please tell me where on the airport signs read that you can't pack glue on your carry on? Even Brant had no idea!

The TSA guy didn't care that I got through the Atlanta airport without a problem and took my super glue away. (I'm sure he was on a power trip). Here's the catch- even after he saw the sewing seam ripper I had in my carry on (you know, with its very sharp and pointy end) he had no problem in letting me through with it....?! Had I just taken the super glue out of my bag that went through the xray and into the back pocket of my jeans, they would have never even known that I had it.

Just be more consistant TSA...that's all I ask.

Merry Christmas to all... And to all a good night

I'm still in Georgia... the root canal went well yesterday morning, but now the challenge is finding a flight back to Salt Lake that's not overbooked. Luckily, family is close and I won't be spending Christmas Eve in an airport (Brant's on a trip until tomorrow).

I'm staying put

Brant sent me this photo taken from our apartment porch of what it looks like in Utah right now.

I told him I'm staying in Georgia until winter is over.

Good and not so good

Good: I'm in Georgia right now celebrating an early Christmas with the fam (although Brant had to leave this evening to go back to Salt Lake for work tomorrow).

Not so good: Wish me luck on the very possible root canal I may need tomorrow (the main reason why I'm still here)...ouch.

What's up with the Harrisons?

Q: I saw in your last post that you had your last day of work with KLAS last week. What's the deal?
A: Working for KLAS over the past two years has been a great opportunity for me... and even though sometimes I felt just a tad too in over my head (i.e.... the baptism of fire with HIMSS) it was a good starting point for someone fresh out of college. With recent changes in the marketing department's personnel, and me wanting to take a break from work for awhile, this was an opportune time for me to take an exit from KLAS and the working world (RSNA in Chicago was my last big project with the company and a good note to end on).

Q: What are you going to do now?
A: Brant has since put in a bid to transfer to the Skywest base in Atlanta (my job with KLAS was pretty much the reason why we were still living in Utah, when were are both from southern states). Though with things so slow moving in the industry right now, that transfer will take a little while to go through.

Q: How long will it take before his transfer goes through?
A: Well, it depends. Just like everything else with his job, its based on seniority. At the moment there are 7 pilots senior to him that want to and get to be transferred to Atlanta before he does. We'd actually be surprised if it happened any shorter than a year's time (if not longer), BUT if it's meant to be, it'll happen.... right?

Q: What will you do in the meantime?
A: We've definately had our share of being in limbo and not knowing what we should do over the past month or two. Our lease at our current place is up at the end of this month, and since I no longer work and need to be closer to KLAS (we chose this place because it was 2.7 miles from KLAS) just this evening we signed a lease to a new place- which is still in Orem and close to the interstate for Brant to get up to Salt Lake easily, but is bigger (yay for 2 bedrooms), still offers a microwave and washer and dryer, and is somehow less expensive (by almost $200- remember this is apartment living!) than the 1 bedroom that we're at now. The selling point for me was that the owners agreed to work with us on the contract- so we're not locked into a contract and have a fee to pay if Brant's transfer does happen to go through before the year is up and we end up moving to Atlanta. Plus the owners gave us the keys tonight and are letting us move in- but not charging our first month rent until January.

Sweet deal.

Q: Why don't you just move up to Salt Lake so Brant can be closer to the airport?
A: That's an excellent question. The reason why is that on his days off and while he's home on reserve, Brant still works as a ground instructor for UVU's aviation program at the Provo airport. So, its easier to justify living in Utah County and driving to the Salt Lake airport- than it is to live in Salt Lake and drive to Utah County to do instructing.

Q: Why don't you just take the plunge and buy a house. It's the opportunity of a lifetime, you know.
A: It is the opportunity of a lifetime to buy a first home right now! This is the biggest question in our minds because we could definately go ahead and buy a home now in Utah...but then what if Brant's transfer goes through and we move to Atlanta? All of our $$ will be tied up in a home in Utah- and I don't see how we could possibly sell it or get a second mortgage for a home in Atlanta (which a home in Atlanta is our real goal).

Q: What are you going to do now with all of your free time?
A: Ah, my favorite question! Now I get to do all the things I've never gotten a chance to do before! A few of the things on my list:

• learn my camera better and take more photos (do the assignments from the photo class I took that I didn't have time to do when I was actually taking it)


• learn some software to edit photos


• invest in a sewing maching and make some cool stuff


• learn how to play the piano (my mom always wanted her kids to know enough to at least play church hymns - I've so far been a disgrace...)


• jar those berries into jam that I got at the cannery awhile back


• actually do some cooking- and just be more domestic


• travel with Brant more on his trips... now I don't have to worry that I won't make it back in time for work :)


• be a gym rat - including enrolling in a fitness bootcamp


• watch lots of Good Things Utah


• read books. lots of them.


• organize my mission photos


• plus much, much more!

Keep tuned into my blog for my adventures as a non-working woman!

Disneyland Weekend

Cinderella's Castle decked out in Christmas Lights

Thursday - my last day at KLAS...... And what did we do next? We left that evening and went to Disneyland!

Friday- We spent the first half of the day riding Buzz Light Year, Nemo's Submarine, Space Mountain (after which we realized that we're not as young as we used to be... that coaster kind of messed the both of us up!), the Haunted Mansion, and others before meeting up with the Wright family to take the kids and give Chris and Rebecca the rest of the day to do whatever they wanted (are we awesome babysitters or what? we'll even come on vacation with you and watch your kids!)

Rebecca and stylish Maddy

After their parents took off, we headed with the kiddos to Toontown and after meeting Mickey, it was Buzz Light year (again), dinner in Frontier Land, the Tikki Room, "Honey, I shrunk the Audience" and a few other things. That evening we met back up with Chris and Rebecca to give them their kids and then we all watched Fantasmic... such a fun show to watch!

Saturday - Arrived back in Salt Lake and rested for a couple hours before heading to the Northland Branch Christmas party that night. Afterwards we Redboxed it and watched "Fred Claus."

Sunday - went to church, took a Sunday nap, made Grilled Cheese and tomato soup for Dinner. It was a fun weekend- now I get to catch up on housework and laundry for the next week!

Weekend Wrap Up

Friday afternoon- arrived back in Salt Lake after being out of town last week in Chicago at RSNA. ...A few of my favorite things done in She-kaw-go that I'd never before experienced (a couple which of course, happened after the exhibit hall closed and there were no scheduled events for the night):

Hailed taxi cabs on busy street corners (I personally think special liscenses should be required for driving in Chicago... or any really busy city...it was boarderline cut throat watching people drive out there).

Walked/ shopped down Michigan Avenue (aka "The Magnificant Mile")

Saw Wicked on our final night there (sweet show...though it was a bummer that Brant was working and couldn't make it out to watch it too, like we had originally planned).

AND...this is for Dene... but ran into her dad who is a Radiologist and at the show who passed by our booth. He didn't really remember me, but I have a good memory and remembered him :)

Friday evening- luckily the stomach bug didn't hit me until about 20 minutes before we landed in Salt Lake- avoiding any time spent in Chicago under the weather. Unluckily we missed the KLAS Christmas Party that night that I had been looking forward to all week because I was so miserable :(

ALL day Saturday - couldn't move a muscle from being up all the night before. Must have been a 24 hour thing. By Saturday evening I felt well enough for a short drive in the car (HUGE improvement from the 12 hours before).

Sunday- recovered and able to go to church. Decorated our tree and watched the First Presidency Christmas Fireside (I'll post pics of the tree later since my battery is charging right now). It's good to be back home and hoping that Brant doesn't catch what I had from taking care of me this weekend - he is such a dear.

Happy Thanksgiving

I've got a pie in the oven and a turkey in the sink defrosting. Brant will be back from a trip around 2pm today and then it's lots of turkey/ football watching/ visiting with friends (no traveling this year since I'll be leaving tomorrow for a 6 day trip for work).

Downloadable Candy Bar Wrappers

Super cute downloads for birthday, wedding, and baby events here. Thanks for the tip Jenifer.

Seriously?

I just got online and noticed something that I've never seen... FIVE of the most seven recent updates on my blog list were ALL about the same thing. Any guesses?

Yep- Twilight, the movie.

I'm not a Twilight die hard, nor a Twilight hater... just thought it was funny to see all the posts. Nope, I haven't seen it yet. I'm waiting for all the screaming teeny boppers to get their fill and stop going back to see it again, and again....and again.

Have you noticed lately?

On my way home from work this evening I stopped by Costco (imaging this sign saying Costco) to tanker up. It was a buck seventy-eight a gallon and completely filled up my Honda Accord at $23.05.

I drove off smiling.

Farley Family Reunion, Idaho Falls, and Sequence

Friday: It finally came time- the Farley Family Reunion at the Scera starring our downstairs neighbor. A one man show with a dozen different characters definately made us laugh.
Saturday: Brant had an overnight trip to Idaho Falls that left Salt Lake at 1:45pm. Since he was comming back the next morning in time for church, I was able to go with him. It turns out that the wife of the captain on the flight came too, and it was fun to chat with her since we sat next to each other on the flight home. Brant and I enjoyed our walk around the Idaho Falls Temple and got some neat shots of the sunset. Then it was dinner at Chili's and to bed for our early 6:55am departure.

Sunday: Up at 5:30am and to the airport by 6am. A quick 40 minute flight from Idaho Falls back to Salt Lake, a 35 minute drive back down to Orem, then to 9am church. Dinner of Spaghetti (so original) and then playing the game Sequence with the Perkins.

Mooshkababas

That's our volleyball team name at work (plus others- the team isn't all exclusive to KLAS). We played our first two matches last night...so much fun to be back on a court with in an organized game since high school. (Well, I had tried playing with our branch volleyball games, but they conflicted a lot with the KLAS softball games and Love & Logic class).

Wish us luck!

This is Anthony

A close up would have been nice, but this works too!

"El Mexsal" is a very authentic restaurant on Freedom Blvd. in Provo. It looked a little scary at first, but turned out to be great.

And Kelly Sawyer (whom you may remember from a previous post as one of my mission companions). Kelly was in town visiting from California over the weekend and yesterday before she headed back out , we took Anthony to lunch. We taught Anthony when were were companions in South Provo and he decided to be baptized, then a couple years later he went on a mision to the Paraguay Asuncion North Mission and just got back a month ago.

Cool, huh?

Still here

I'll be back on Wednesday with some posts (just so you know, Pops).

Keebler Fudge Striped Cookies

Who knew...? Thanks for posting, Jenifer!

I will never again lack creativity because of the collection of cute ideas on your blog.

Halloween Friday

(Andrea- a middle Eastern dancer, Me- the rubix cube, and Kristen I.- a pumpkin/jack-o-latern)

KLAS held its annual Halloween party at work. Lots of folks dressed up, kids (well, that were not yet school age) came in and trick -or -treated, and we had a pot luck chili lunch. We got a few fun shots of the marketing team (above- courtesy of Jenifer).

That's Michelle on the right in the pink and blonde wig. She was Elle Woods from Legally Blonde- which is quite fitting since she is also KLAS' in-house counsel!

The cute data team & marketing gals- Jenny-the-prego-snowoman won first place in the costume contest.. so cute!

I made these fun witch hat cookies to give to the office trick o treaters (Brant was a little concerned about giving out candy that wasn't wrapped, but I wasn't too worried since this was exlusive to the kids of KLAS employees). Thanks for the idea, Jenifer!

Brant had to leave on a trip this morning and be gone till Sat night, so we spent yesterday evening carving pumpkins. He carved both these pumpkins- though after the extensive work on Batman, he went for the classic jack-o-latern for the second.

The Purse Lady

Hi Kristen's friends and family! This is Joleen and I'm excited to be Kristen's first guest blogger! If I'm good enough, maybe she'll let me come back! Enjoy!

I should never have been introduced to The Purse Lady.

But four purchases later, I'm hooked. It started as a simple quest to find a brown purse that would fit my needs. I rummaged through the loot searching for something just my style. And I found it! A great size, not too flashy, and priced just right.

Summer came and I was bored of the dull browns and blacks. How was I going to make it through the summer? Lo and behold, who came around again but....The Purse Lady. I immediately set my eyes on this adorable item and couldn't put it down. Kate Spade was my new best friend.

A season later I was in the mood for some shopping. I set out through the mall looking for something fun and sassy. I was ready to take a leap past the blacks and the browns for winter. I found an incredible alligator print, deep red bag, but was not prepared to foot the bill for that $133 price tag. I did my best to justify the purchase, but couldn't bring myself to hand over the plastic.

Coincidentally, the VERY next day I received an email from The Purse Lady. She had new stock! I sent her a picture of the purse I'd seen the night before and asked if she had something similar. We set up a time and place to meet so I could peruse her goodies and I counted down the days.

The Purse Lady came and went, and I'm in love.

Gucci sat on my desk to be admired the rest of the day. Who wouldn't love the satin inside and the matching wallet to go with?Giraffe print is the new thing and it made it's debut over my shoulder just this evening. I flaunted it everywhere I went.It will be hard to decide who gets to be taken out for the evening now that I have so many choices. And I'm sure there will only be more to come.