My Weird Travel Habit

Before I get on any airplane, I have to tap it twice on the outside to the right of the door - as if to say "Good plane - get me there safe and sound."  I know this is silly, but it makes me feel better about flying.

Yesterday, I flew back to Philly from Las Vegas. After boarding the plane and tapping the side of the plane as usual, I sat down in my seat and pulled out my People magazine. Much to my surprise, I found out that the cute guy who does those Old Spice commericals said his weird travel habit is to tap the plane three times before he boards his flight.

Wow! I was so relieved that someone out there didn't think I was crazy. But then I thought - how silly for him to tap the plane three times when twice works just fine!  

Okay, fess up - what is your weirdest travel habit???

Well, Excuuuuuse Me!

I am choosing between two companies to handle online payments for the new synagogue website.  I'm a pretty smart cookie but I don't know the difference between a Gateway and a merchant login.  And I couldn't tell you the ins and outs of encrypted credit card numbers to save my life.  

I'm sure that the representative I spoke to gives this speech 100x a day.  After he explained everything to me - while speaking at the speed of light - I asked him a few questions in an attempt to slow him down so that I could understand what he was talking about.  This was the sarcastic response I got -

"Ma'am, I'm not sure how I can explain this any clearer to you" 

I think someone needs to brush up on their people skills.

Why I don't keep an "S-list"

Recently, someone asked me if they were on my "s-list."  I assured her that not only was she not on my list, but that I don't even keep such a list.

I think the concept of an "s-list" is just not in my nature.  There are many people in my life who love and support me for who I am and what I do.  There are other people who do not.  These people are not on any "s-list" because I don't spend my precious time worrying about them.   Why focus my energy on those who have wronged me and in turn be miserable?  What lesson does it teach my kids to be constantly upset and aggravated all of the time?

There is a great book that came out last year called "The Happiness Project."  It tells the true story of an author who spent a year focusing on things she can do every day to be happier in her life.  I loved this book and decided that I would much rather be a happy person too.  Here are some values in Judaism that prevent me from ever having such a list and keep me happy, such as:

• Shalom Bayit - Family Harmony
• Gemilut Khesed - Acts of Loving-Kindness
• Hakhnasat Orkhim - Acts of Hospitality

By embracing these things in my own life, I will thankfully never have a need for such a list.

Dear Weight Watchers...

Most of the time, I go with the flow.  I embrace change because I know that change is good and always constant.  While I appreciate your approach to a more healthy way of eating,  there are major changes in your program that take away what I love most about WW - convenience!

For instance, my points slider has become ineffective immediately as you are no longer counting calories in the mix when figuring out points value.  Now, you are asking me to purchase a $10 calculator to take with me to the supermarket.

My favorite Hungry Girl recipes are all labeled with the old points system. Not to mention that I already knew the points values of my favorite foods.  It is going to take a lot of time to recalculate all of that.

Hopefully, I'll get around to embracing this change in my life. It would have been nice if you waited until January to roll out the new program. Aren't we busy enough in December?