Author Archives: simply three cents

May 28, 2011

So You’re Saying There’s a Chance?

By simply three cents

Sadly, the US trails the rest of the world when it comes to handing out vacation days so when planning trips I have become an expert at maximizing my days like extending international trips during US holidays to get that extra bonus day, or really maximizing the long weekend.

Even so, every time it’s time to return home, I’m always the one begging the gate agent to bump me so I can squeeze out at least one extra day. As I’ve learned from gate agents in Frankfurt, Zagreb, Buenos Aires and San Jose, Costa Rica (I’m persistent, okay?), airlines don’t typically overbook international flights, since it’s one of their last moneymakers, so getting bumped is quite slim.

But…the gate agents always tell me I’ll be the first they will tell if a bump is possible. I remember landing in Frankfurt, en route to Newark, the gate agent and I became BFFs.

Gate agent: ‘I can pretty much guarantee 100% you will be on this flight.’

Me: ‘Can you guarantee a football team won’t show up and need my seat?’

Gate agent: ‘No. But your flight is scheduled to depart within the hour so it’s not likely.’

Me: ‘Ha, so there’s a chance.’

I’m sure my file is flagged with ‘crazy.’

Leave a comment | posted in holidays, in and around the USA, just silly, travel

May 27, 2011

Memorial Day Weekend

By simply three cents

Memorial Day honors those who have died while serving the US military. It is formally recognized on the last Monday in May, giving most workers a three-day holiday weekend.

In New York City, there’s the annual event of Fleet Week. Everywhere you turn there’s another man or woman in uniform enjoying all that the Big Apple has to offer.

Memorial Day weekend is seen as the unofficial start to summer. For the past few years it has rained in the Northeast and this year I think this year, that streak may change!

Weather (!) or not it rains, at least we know it’s the end of May. And my favorite season, summer, is right around the corner!

Leave a comment | posted in holidays, in and around the USA

May 26, 2011

Wild with Wanderlust

By simply three cents

Earlier this week I attended an informal gathering of Meet Plan Go, which is a resource for those taking a career break — get it…meet (other like-minded people), plan (lots of things to think about like storage and shots…) and GO! (duh!)

A friend of mine hosted the NYC chapter’s meet and he suggested I attend even if I wasn’t actively contemplating a career break, which I’m not. It’s something that’s always been in the back of my mind, but there’s no active planning right now. My friend told me it also serves as a support group for those of us plagued with wanderlust and that I’d fit in just fine.

Boy was he right! I met a few people whose friends and families think they are the crazy one with all sorts of wanderlust. Ah, I finally found my people! They knew, and even worked for, travel sites I read regularly!

When I told some friends that I was going to this ‘meeting’ I was met with some hesitation and raised eyebrows. I wasn’t the only one who got those reactions. One girl I met told me her mom thought she was joining a cult! Even my parents, who have a sense of adventure, are sometimes taken aback at places on my travel wish list. And they have traveled to – and would go back – to Cartagena, Colombia!

Out of the people I had met, some had already taken a career break, some were in the midst of planning their second and others, like me, were seeking like-minded people. I fit right in! Some career breaks lasted a few weeks, most were between five and nine months, others even longer. One of the founders of MPG wasn’t able to attend because she is still traveling!

You must see where I am going with this.

My loosely thought out career break, come on, you didn’t think I had a wish list (!)  would take me to southeast Asia, where I’ve wanted to go for some time, and it’s helpful that the USD goes far there. Apparently these routes are popular with ‘my people.’ Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and Laos topped many people’s lists…and mine!

And then, in my imaginary plan, I’d head south to Australia and New Zealand in order to chase summer. I should note that while the plan is in only in my head, it’s ideally planned around avoiding winter in the US…always thinking 😉

If I’m up for more, I’d get myself over to South America and work my way back to the States through Central America. I’d get to further experience the Latin culture I’ve fallen in love with. I would also continue to enjoy summer, and probably the start of the rainy season if I remember correctly, and bonus (!) get good value for my USD.

I am willing to bet that if you made it this far, you are crafting your own itinerary, if only imaginary, like me.

So here’s the big question…if you are daydreaming, even if you just started, what does your itinerary look like? I’d love to know! Feel free to share in the comments below.

Leave a comment | posted in travel, wanderlust

May 25, 2011

WHY must you send me ten bills?

By simply three cents

For a $250 emergency room visit, WHY must I get eight bills?

First, let me just say I am happy to have the luxury of health insurance. I know there are many people who are without it right now and I know I am fortunate to have it.

Couldn’t the billing process be streamlined a bit?

I have already received a bill for $161.20 from the actual hospital , $44.20 from the doctor IN the hospital and $3.57 for a variety of blood work. According to my health insurance website I’m still waiting for a variety of bills for people who helped treat me. Clearly I’ve just touched the surface. I only received these three bills so far. Looks like I can expect another four, and those are just the ones who have submitted the claim. The woman at my health insurance told me I can probably expect close to ten bills in the end. FOR ONE VISIT?

Couldn’t the hospital compile all the bills so I can just make one payment, in one shot? Some of the bills I am waiting for are $2.57 and $3.87. Seriously? It can’t be consolidated into one bill?  This is 2011. The system is this inefficient?

For all I know I am paying $4 to the guy who wheeled me around for tests and $6 for a technician to read results. These people are needed for the process, but don’t they work for the hospital that already sent me a bill?! Is there no way to streamline bills so the hospital can distribute payment to the appropriate parties? At this rate, I’m waiting to see if I owe any money to the woman who checked me in at the front desk or the man who gave me the CDs of my results.

On top of getting multiple bills for a 8 hour stay, there must be a lot of people who don’t pay their ER bills. Three days, THREE, after I got the bill from the hospital, I got another, identical to the first. I didn’t have time to pay it in three days, so they send another bill? Another day or two passed and then I got a call from the hospital billing department asking for payment over the phone. Really? I know I have about 30 days to pay it, but could you at least give me ten days before you send the billing department after me? What’s next – collections at two weeks?

When I lived in London, I had COBRA from my parents and thankfully I never had to visit a hospital or doctor in all the time I was away and traveling. If I was feeling sick, I went to the chemist. I’d tell him or her what was wrong, they’d direct me to an aisle, and I’d get meds…some of which would be considered prescription in the States. There, most everything was available over the counter. Paid for the meds and possibly pick up a few more things (it was like going to CVS or Rite Aid in the States) and I was on my way.

Obviously, when your doctor tells you to go to the emergency room – and he says ‘do not pass go, do not collect $200,’ you go. There was no way around it. But couldn’t the hospital just collect the $200 or $300, or whatever the costs after insurance will ultimately be, and distribute it to everyone that gets a cut?! WHY is this billing system such a waste of time, effort and paper? WHY?

WHY Wednesday.

1 Comment | posted in doctor, why, WHY Wednesday

May 24, 2011

Suggestions for Keychain Scrabble

By simply three cents

I’m totally addicted to Scrabble – real life, with a board and online. So waiting at the airport for a flight earlier this year, I decided to purchase travel Scrabble. It was an impulse buy and I should have immediately known there would be a problem when it was called Keychain Scrabble.

Below are my thoughts on how to make it better. No response to my concerns. Clearly there are enough suckers that buy it, myself included, there is no need to make any changes. Lesson learned. It truly only serves a purpose of, a keychain.

***

Hello,

I recently purchased a travel Keychain Scrabble game at the airport during my most recent trip. Unfortunately I was not able to play with it.

But, here are some suggestions on how you can improve the next iteration of the game so other consumers aren’t as disappointed as I was.

1. The board should be bigger. In fact, it can be a folding board and you can make it big enough to fit on airplane tray table. This hardly fills up my whole hand.
2. The pieces should be bigger than they are. They were tiny and very hard to use, and very easy to lose.
3. Include more letters so that we can take more than three turns each. Much prefer to have as many pieces are in the standard game.
4. Lightweight. It’s too light. Pieces stick to your fingers. There’s no weight to the pieces.
5. Letter bag should seal so pieces can’t be lost if bag happens to flip or fall.

I would be happy to provide more insight as Scrabble is my favorite board game of all time. This is sadly, just a Scrabble keychain.

Best,

Leave a comment | posted in letters, travel

May 23, 2011

It’s Not the End of the World as We Know It

By simply three cents

Well, it’s been a few days and thankfully, the world didn’t end.

Phew.

1 Comment | posted in in and around the world

May 22, 2011

Observations From the Road

By simply three cents

This time last weekend the boyfriend and I were heading home from a weekend road trip to upstate New York. A few observations from our time on the road:

  • How you can make unbelievably great time one way, and absolute horrible time the other
  • It is really easy to miss a turn if you are not paying attention
  • Why people are even on the road – are they coming back from school, are they moving, going on – or returning – vacation?
  • There are a lot of random billboards on the highway, and who the heck changes them in the middle of nowhere?
  • In theory, long road trips are a great time to catch up on magazines, they can make you slightly carsick
  • Because we rent a car, we notice similar cars to the one we are in…especially if it’s a Nissan Cube.
  • Only on a road trip do I ever crave a Wendy’s frosty

Leave a comment   |  tags: | posted in observations, travel

May 21, 2011

Packing Rules to Live By

By simply three cents

The wedding we attended last night differed from other events in recent weeks because it was close to home so I was able to get ready at home! With so much recent traveling to fancy events, it can be a challenge to remember to pack everything. I am waiting for the day I forget a shoe. Not a full pair, just one.  I knew I wouldn’t forget my shoes yesterday, because I’d have left home barefoot!

Traveling for dressy events requires me to pack choices ensuring that I pack way more than I normally do. You have to remember the dress, the shoes, the undergarments, the jewelry, etc.

I love traveling. Don’t get me wrong! LOVE it. But packing for a formal event requires more thought when packing than a regular weekend away. Typically I am a light packer (maybe too light) and I live by these three simple rules when it comes to traveling:

1. If I forgot it and I need it, most likely I can find it at my destination [Band-Aids fall into this category. I have bought Band-Aids, plasters and Hansaplast (and a knee brace at that) in a variety of countries.]*

2. If I won’t be able to buy it at a local vendor AND I absolutely need it – do not forget it [an extra pair of contacts and my glasses fall into this category]

3. Checked luggage is potentially lost luggage [plus, in the event of a delayed or cancelled flight, you are seen as a less flexible traveler to the airline because it’s an ordeal for them to find your luggage or if you are running late for a connection, you know your luggage will be with you – wherever you wind up. But…after an international trip, I’m usually game to check my luggage. I can do without my dirty laundry for a few days if the luggage goes missing. I just make sure to pack the necessities…again, my glasses fall into this category!]

* I have a permanently packed toiletries bag loaded with everything I would need, including an extra pair of contacts, that is ready to travel at a moments notice (and it’s been used at a moments notice). It’s so ready to go that I just need to remember to pack my glasses. And, of course…there are some random adhesive bandages from various countries in there too.

1 Comment | posted in just silly, packing, travel

May 20, 2011

Tunnel Traffic

By simply three cents

There’s nothing more daunting to a commuter heading into New York’s Port Authority Bus Terminal than hearing “Due to a disabled vehicle, please expect delays.” There are also electronic message boards informing commuters of delays.

Without even hearing the announcement, a seasoned commuter, like myself, can figure it out by seeing the length of lines. Lines that normally move at a fast pace – the bus comes, loads up commuters and departs. The next bus comes and does the same thing. It’s a very efficient process. Usually.

If there is a standstill, you can try to figure out how long people have been waiting just by looking at the faces of the people in line. Joining the standstill is daunting because it is a bit of a crap shoot. Will the line start to move? Am I going to be one of those faces in thirty minutes?

I digress. This is what I don’t understand. The Lincoln Tunnel “carries almost 120,000 vehicles per day, making it one of the busiest vehicular tunnels in the world.” Thank you Wikipedia.

Did you get that? IN THE WORLD. That’s a pretty grand statement.

I am going to make an educated guess that most of those vehicles are buses, carrying thousands of travelers. Yet they can’t figure out how to quickly fetch the disabled vehicle to ensure smooth traffic flow in the middle of evening RUSH HOUR?

Granted, it’s a tough job to keep traffic moving and ensure seamless commutes. Which is most of the time. I’m not knocking anyone.  I wouldn’t want to be responsible for getting a disabled vehicle out of the tunnel, or even be that disabled vehicle! I’m sure they have a system down but since I had time to think about solutions on my commute (that was three times as long as normal) earlier this week, here’s my proposed solution.

Caveat: I only know that there are three tunnels. I don’t know anything about traffic planning, routing or any of the other technical stuff that’s probably useful in making general statements like the one I am about to make.

But let’s pretend there is a disabled vehicle in the tunnel. Obviously all the traffic in front of said vehicle can move forward. Everything behind is totally screwed. Well, let’s get all the in front traffic out of the tunnel and have a tow truck planted at either end of the tunnel. Bring that puppy in and tow said disabled vehicle out. This should take mere minutes to clear up.

For further explanation, please see my diagram.

Thankfully, I only take the bus home at night. I wait for the day when the morning ferry is delayed because of too much traffic on the Hudson River.

Leave a comment | posted in in and around NYC, observations, signs, travel

May 19, 2011

Sushi Slumber

By simply three cents

Are the boyfriend and I the only ones who suffer from sushi sleep, as we call it?

Sushi at dinnertime causes the weirdest dreams.

I wish I could write them down because they would make for great stories.

Anyone want to share theirs? I’ve been in a car that doesn’t stop, I’ve been shot at, I’ve been flying…like Superman, I’ve been snorkeling, I’ve been on endless goose chases, I’ve met famous people…I can’t remember them all, but seriously…this is the stuff sci-fi movies are made of. Maybe?

1 Comment | posted in food, observations