On Call Flight Crews

In one of the Facebook Groups, someone stated their flight was delayed for 3 hours due to unavailability of flight crew.  This is inappropriate and extremely vindictive of that airline in the wake of the Dr. Dao incident.

Listen up... Airlines make big big money and the profits are HUGE.  Remember, the airline industry was bailed out during the economy plunge in 2001. Is this the thanks Americans get?  Awful and unnecessary. Here's why...

I have worked in healthcare for over 40 years. Workers cannot be overworked. But, they are needed in certain emergency situations.  Hence, we have "on-call" protocols.  It works for us.  I am sure the trillion dollar airline industry can indeed afford on-call crews at major airports. Yes, airlines will have to pay for these teams, but, it would be a drop in the bucket for these ultra rich fat cats. Ultimately, the costs will be passed on to passengers... whatever!

Here's how to do it:
1. Position on-call teams at the major hubs that would consist of 4 pilots and 8 flight attendants. They may or may not be called in to work, but they are valuable back ups.

2. On-call teams would have to be housed in hotels in or near the airport thereby prepared and arriving within 30 minutes.

Hence, delays would be no longer than 60 minutes. 

The on-call protocol works in healthcare.  It will work for airlines. YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!

My Thoughts on Air Travel

I fly a lot and I enjoy the air-travel experience.  These days, I mainly travel by air for leisure and conferences, so I know of that which I blog.

April is spring break. So, lots of folks are traveling by air. Currently there is a lot of chatter this month about air travel.  Travelers  have been complaining about the big southern carrier Delta Airlines. They cancelled many flights during spring break due to horrible weather, Folks- please give Delta Airlines a break! There have been so many tornadoes in the south during April.  Delta had to reschedule flights. Safety First!!!  Listen up... you really do not want to fly in severe turbulence. That is a nasty experience!  Remember... Safety First!!!!!! 

Apparently spring break has United Airlines busy.  Right now, there is a viral video of a passenger being dragged off a flight due to overbooking.  Has United Airlines lost there minds?????? I have never witnessed a passenger being forced off a flight due to overbooking.  United Airlines messed up this situation BIG TIME!  Southwest Airlines has never done this before.

I have no issue with overbooking. Air travel is expensive, so I know, ever seat has to be filled.  I cannot recall any recent travel on Southwest where flights were not 100% filled. So, I understand why flights are overbooked.  But, overbooking should be managed BEFORE the boarding process.  No passenger should ever have to deplane due to overbooking!

Southwest Airlines offers nice incentives for passengers to give up a seat BEFORE boarding starts. There have been instances where I consider grabbing such an offer, but usually others grab it before I can get to it.  If I am traveling for leisure, no problem.  But, the early birds... usually have strategically  positioned themselves right at the Gate Desk... grabs the offers fast.  But that is the right way to manage overbooking.

United Airlines has a LOT TO LEARN about the business of air travel.

Las Vegas January 2017

This is a short and sweet trip report on my Las Vegas Quickie Getaway for January 2017.

I had not been to Las Vegas since October 2016, so this was an exciting trip, especially since storm system Decima resulted in my December 2016 trip being cancelled.  I was lucky because with this trip to Vegas, I was able to travel in between storm system Jupiter without any problems.  Thank goodness!!

I departed on Sunday via Southwest with  no delays. On arrival to McCarran, I used the Airline Shuttle to MGM Grand. I have used them since they arrived in Vegas and this shuttle service is excellent.

MGM registration desk had a long line at 9am , but it moved super fast!!!  MGM knows the business of hotels!!!! I got my room keys immediately!!  Nice queen room, no problems.  I spent the day super-slot hopping. MGM to NYNY to Mandalay Bay.

Monday- I had to first check-in for my next day flight back home (so soon!) then to Planet Hollywood, Cosmopolitan then back to MGM Grand.  I got a good nap at noon, then back up at midnight on the casino floor!!!

Tuesday- MGM has a super efficient TV checkout.  Airline Shuttle very dependable as usual.  Nice flight back home.

What about food??? Well, I no longer do the buffets.  As a solo traveler, the 2 for 1 buffet deals will not work for me and most places have super sized portions, which will get wasted.  So, I just do something cheap, simple and boring.

I really needed this quick 2 night Las Vegas getaway.  I got my full fill of casino fun. I am now re-energized!!!

Beating the Winter Blahs in Chicago

Yes, winter can be "Polar Vortexing" bitter in Chicago. We have to endure 3 freezing months of bitter cold, snow, ice, slush, winter storm systems, and hawkish cold winds!  Folks cannot hibernate indoors for 3 long months.  Folks cannot simply jet off to warm climates.  So, what are the options for surviving Chicago's winter months ON A SHOESTRING budget?  Is this possible????

Yes!!!!! This is the great city of Chicago and so many wonderful FREE and FUN winter options are available.   There is no need for succumb to the winter blahs!  That is NOT an option.

Start your winter plan EARLY in the season. Write out your plan on the first day of winter... December 21st, then plan for 12 activities.... 1 thingy each week.

Here are my suggestions and every activity is absolutely free....

Always get a free newspaper- Reader, RedEye, or Gazette,  then bundle up and head out!

#1: Go to a reading center:

• Harold Washington Library.

• Go to the Chicago Cultural Center.

• Go to your favorite Chicago Public Library branch.

#2- Spend a day at Macy's mothership on State Street:
Start at the top floor, then walk then browse and make your way down to the lower level. At lower level, purchase a beverage,  pull out free newspaper and read it and people watch.

#3- Spend a day at Block 37:
Start at top floor, then browse and walk each floor.

#4- Spend a day at The Shops at North Bridge:
Start at the top floor, then browse and walk each floor.

#5- Go hiking in Chicago's downtown Pedway:
Chicago’s downtown pedestrian way system, the Pedway, lies in the heart of the city. This system of underground tunnels and overhead bridges links more than 40 blocks in the Central Business District, covering roughly five miles. The Pedway is a safe, quick and convenient way for pedestrians to travel downtown—especially in the winter and during times of rain or snow. The Chicago Pedway is a network of tunnels, ground-level concourses and bridges connecting skyscrapers, retail stores, hotels and train stations throughout the central business district of Chicago, Illinois. With a length of more than 40 downtown blocks, it contains shops, restaurants and public art and helps pedestrians in inclement weather. Most connections to the pedway are commercial or government buildings, including hotels.

#6: On the free Tuesdays, exercise PATIENCE and go to:

• Planetarium

• Museum of Science and Industry

• Field Museum

• Museum of Contemporary Art

• Shedd Aquarium

Now its your decision.... either have some fun and face the winter blah!!!!

My Mission & Vision Reflections for the New Year

Happy New Year!  I am glad you have taken the time to check out my personal views for 2017.  I do not do New Year's resolutions, instead, I reflect on the realities of the previous year as I plan to enhance my life in this 2017 new year. So... here are my reflections of 10 points of vision that I am so very pleased with in 2016 and my mission in 2017...

1. Give all praises and thanks be to God. This is always first and foremost.  It is my hope that I truly live the life as a good Christian.

2. Be the good mother.  Motherhood is a blessing that I do not take for granted. I was so very blessed to have had a good mother and I hope that I am a good mother.

3. Walking for fitness and wellness.  I did my daily walking with my Garmin Vivofit fitness tracker. In most of the 52 weeks in 2016, I met the standard fitness goal of at least 30 minutes on most days of the week. Thanks be to God! I look forward to continuing this vigorous fitness goal.

4. Healthy meal plans. Freshly cooked veggies is the way to go. I enjoy the cooking / chefs shows and have learned how to cook veggies.  Fennel, carrots, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, and green beans have been the stars in my kitchen!

5. Rest, relaxation in Las Vegas. I continue my strong enjoyment passion for fabulous Las Vegas.

6. Commitment to quality nursing education. I am a good teacher. I always wanted to be an RN and a teacher. Through the good and loving grace of God, I have been blessed to be a nurse educator for many years.  I dedicate a lot of time to developing fine quality lesson plans.Hence, I proudly strut as the "Sage on the Stage", where my goal is for students to learn and be successful registered professional nurses.

7. Actively contribute to the ministry and outreach of FILC. I have a wonderful pastor. I am still so excited about being a deacon today was I was when first appointed and installed.

8. Commit to my personal local recreational activities. I have attended many solo events. I carefully review and select the right venue. 2016 was great and I plan to do more.  If I waited for others, I would NEVER have any type of social life. I plan to do everything solo in 2017.  I am not really up to the fiasco of planning for others.  I just do me. And I am happy.
2017 Solo Plans:  Chicago Auto Show, Loyola alumni events, Chicago Wine fest, other appropriate wine and craft beer events, theater and much much more!!!!

9. Continue my social media soapbox. I just love espousing my personal views on Facebook.  But, I do this on my OWN Timeline and within my closed groups.  Planet Janet is outrageous.  Lots of good, tolerant members are there.  I thank them for their membership. I will also continue to perform my reviews of retailers.  Social media is an excellent venue to do this.  But, I am very careful. I have my rules. My goal is to avoid giving poor reviews.  A retailer has to be very lousy in order to get a poor review from me.  I back up all of my truthful findings.  I do not allow myself to be bribed. But. I believe in atonement. Actually, all of my reviews for 2016 were pretty good. I also read reviews and I avoid patronage to venues with poor reviews.

10. Remain supportive of my preferred charities. My accountant advised me to be supportive of my church 40 years go.  I have been an obedient client for 40 years.


Happy New Year!!!!

Shut Up!!

Most folks lack social skills. Folks have never learned the art of holding an engaging conversation. Instead, people run their mouth excessively. They spew out nonsense through that hole in their face.

Yesterday while at a casino, a male janitor started chatting with me. I do not know him.  Did not want to chat with him. But, anyway, he started to talk about Trump.  This man has no business talking politics to strangers.  Just do your work. SHUT UP!!!

On my way out, I rode the elevator with a woman. She started talking about her bottled water.  Yeah... as if I was interested. SHUT UP!!

I was at a work meeting and someone attempted to chat with me, but I ignored that person as much as possible.  I am at the meeting to get important information, not to engage in side chats. SHUT UP!!!

Listen up... Just say, "Hello" or "Good morning" or just do not say anything!!!! You have nothing to say, so SHUT UP!!!!

The Real Deal of Trump's Presidency

Trump will probably be a 1-term president.  Not that he will not get re-elected, but he does not want to spend more than 4 years away from his business interests... which he has dedicated his entire life.  This presidency thing is stmply an annoying 3-year interruption.  I anticipate he has to do the following:

#1- Use the next 4 years as POTUS to strengthen the business entity of Trump, Inc.

#2- Trump's bottom line will prosper for at least 3 future generations of Trumpsters. Its all about him and his family.  He will change laws to meet this end.

#3- Pence will run for POTUS in 4 years, so he will have to be super careful. Trump will violate all kinds of laws while POTUS, BUT, a President Pence will pardon Trump.  Hence, Trump will break laws, but never serve jail time.

#4- Trump will completely seal the full deal with "The Art of the Deal, part 2:  How I conquered the USA... and You Can Too"  This will be a NY Times bestseller.  He will make MILLION$ on this book deal!

#5- Trump will make amends with the news media and press. Trump is a NY business man and values the importance of good press and news coverage.

So, in his presidential campaign, he had to tell the deplorables what they wanted to hear so that they would vote for him.  This was his art.  His art of the deal.  He sealed the deal.  Now, he is forever done with his loyal, but poorly educated, low life, rural ignorant stupid supporters.