I travel a lot alone, and when I go through security I often am routed through the X-ray machine.  If there’s 20 people in line, and one is going to be routed through the machine, it’s always me.  And, I’m fine with that.  I’ll happily hold my hands above my head for a few seconds if the process helps make flying safer.

Last week, when I headed to Minnesota for the J.R. Watkins, I encountered my first “chat-down” at Logan.  The TSA agent introduced himself, and asked a series of questions about where I was headed and why.  When I explained that I was going to a company to learn more about them for my blog, he asked how I got started blogging.  I have to admit – it was a bit awkward because I really didn’t know how much detail to give him…

When I ran into my travel partner, Lori from Groovy Green Livin, she apparently had the same TSA agent because he knew the whole story about J.R. Watkins!  (Oh, and of course, I got put through the X-Ray machine).

On my way home from Minnesota, I once again was put through the X-Ray machine.  Then, I was stopped.  My hands were swabbed.  Then the TSA agent felt my chest area, checking my underwire bra.  It was uncomfortable.  Again, I don’t mind, if it’s going to help make things safer, but really??

There’s got to be a better way.

Chat Downs at Logan, Pat Downs in Minnesota is a post from: Multitasking Mommy

When I was in high school, volunteer requirements were everyone.  Twenty hours required for National Honor Society.  Another twenty hours for sociology class.  And another twenty hours for confirmation.  I started my first volunteer experience at a church soup kitchen, and ended up spending the next three years of high school volunteering every single Saturday morning – serving our local homeless and in-need community with a hot meal.

When I went off to college, one of the most appealing aspects of the university I’d chosen was a day of service each year for incoming freshmen.  But, when I got started with the project for Habitat for Humanity, it was obvious that the charity would have preferred not deal with college kids.  Perhaps they’d had a bad experience.  Either way, it taught me that charity can’t be forced.

I spent the next decade or so too busy (in my mind) for charitable work.  But once I quit my busy full-time job, I briefly worked at a nonprofit, and now am getting interested in community service again.

I’ve found that volunteer work and charitable giving doesn’t have to be formalized, or publicized.  It’s simply finding some causes that are important to you, and dedicating time and resources to them.  For me, the charities I focus on are the MS Society (I do an annual walk with my family in honor of my aunt, who suffers with the disease), Give Kids the World (a charity also supported by many of my WDW Moms Panel friends), and Girl Scouts.  I am a Girl Scout leader.  I volunteer in my daughter’s school weekly.  And, I try to teach others about these causes.

Charity shouldn’t be for show.  If you want to support something – really support it.  Don’t just “walk the walk”.  I think you’ll find that it really can be fulfilling.

What are your favorite causes and why?

Finding That True Sense of Giving is a post from: Multitasking Mommy

I fly a lot.  I’ve dealt with loads of delays, and don’t generally get too upset, especially when it’s clear that the airline is trying their best to communicate issues with travelers.  Delays happen.

Then yesterday happened.

As you can imagine, I was quite stressed Sunday morning when I woke up and checked my email.  That’s when I learned that my 6-year old daughter had broken her arm when I was in California, rubbing elbows with celebs. I wanted to race home, but of course, California to Boston is a long flight, and I wasn’t flying direct.

I got to the airport, not checking bags, of course, and

made it to the gate with plenty of time to spare.  I was flying USAirways, and they were looking for a volunteer to switch flights.  I thought maybe I could get a direct flight, but it wasn’t going to work.

I hung out in the terminal, and when my boarding area 4 was called, I got in line.  That’s when they told us the overhead bins were full and we’d all need to check any carry-on bags that didn’t fit under the seat.  I handed over my bag with no issue and was told I could pick it up in Boston.

The first flight was wonderful.  There were a few bumps, but the pilot communicated well, and we even arrived early to Charlotte!  I had lots of time to grab lunch, tether my iPhone, send some emails, and make calls home.

Then it was time to board.  This time, I was in boarding area 5, sitting in a middle seat (which I HATE).  The plane was stifling hot, but I figured once the flight took off, it would cool off.

But we sat.  And sat.  And someone asked a flight attendant what the delay was, and she snapped, “I don’t know,  he didn’t tell me anything”.  The door was closed, so I couldn’t call home or use my phone.

Did I mention it was HOT?

Finally the pilot told us that the wheels-up time was 4:42, which was a half-hour later than the 4:10pm take-off time.  No one explained what a wheels-up time was, or why we were delayed.

Finally, at 4:50, we took off.  But that point, the plane had cooled off.

Being that I had a middle seat, and that I have a bladder the size of a small walnut, I was glad when my aisle seatmate got up and went to the bathroom.  I followed him, and when I got to the back, I realized both of the toilets were clogged.

Once word got out to the flight attendants, the fasten seatbelts sign was lit, with no explanation, and no turbulence.

Finally, we landed.

And that’s when I almost lost it.

After waiting at the carousel for a while, the signal sounded, indicating that bags were coming out.  About 15 bags came through, and then it stopped.

A crazed employee, wearing an Air Canada jacket started screaming at Charlotte passengers that all of the bags had come through and to get out of the way.  We all yelled back that’s there’s no way that could be possible – there were more than 100 people from Charlotte still waiting.  But she kept screaming to go to USAir and complain, and to GET OUT OF THE WAY because bags from Toronto were on their way.

I went to the baggage office, and found out that a – that was the only functioning baggage carousel, b – the Air Canada woman was mad that everyone was using “her” carousel, c – there were more bags on their way.

I went back.  A few bags from Charlotte came out.  She started ripping the bags off the carousel, screaming to Charlotte people to get the bags in this one little corner.  That’s when I whipped out my handy little iPhone.

Some of the luggage she threw

Air Canada lady

The crowd waiting for luggage

Then they announced that the next bags would be from Washington, then from Montreal.  At this point, my husband with my kids (including my daughter who’d just broken her arm) had been sitting in the cell phone lot for well over an hour.  So I filed a claim for a lost bag.  Which was my CARRY-ON bag.  The bag that they tell you to pack all of your important items in.  Awesome.  Just awesome USAirways.

Which finally arrived today, at around 3pm.

Not impressed USAirways/Massport.

How to Upset a Patient Frequent Flier is a post from: Multitasking Mommy

Late last week, I was in the library at my daughter’s elementary school.  I’ll be honest – afternoon pick up is the worst part of my day.  It’s chaotic, it’s crowded, and worst of all…. it’s cliquey.

I know I’ve written about the mom cliques before, and it was one of the posts that resonated most with my readers.  Obviously this issue expands well beyond my town.  I’ve worked through many of those initial issues I mentioned, and was starting to feel more comfortable.

And then, this happened.  I was standing in my usual spot, when a woman I never saw before came in.  She was dressed as if she’d just come from work, and was obviously a superstar among this group.  She saw someone she wanted to talk to – who happened to be directly behind me.  And so, she, without saying excuse me, just stepped into my spot, squeezing me into a corner (while we don’t have “assigned” spots per se, it’s suggested that kindergarten parents stand in the same spot so their kids will see them).  The topic of conversation?  Her upcoming tummy tuck, and how it’s going to affect her OH SO IMPORTANT job.

And then I realized, as my friend Diane said, I’m the new kid, almost as much as my daughter is.  And, with this weird sort of I work from home and I kind of stay at home job that I do, I sometimes don’t have a whole lot in common with the moms at pickup.

I can’t wait for this year to be over.

The New Kid is a post from: Multitasking Mommy

We’re busy.  The economy is bad.  Yes, I know.  It’s hard to help others when you are struggling yourself.

But remember – true kindness doesn’t cost a penny.  You can make someone’s day better, all without spending any money, and very little time.

You just have to be kind.  Helpful.  Thoughtful.

Back in 2002, I had to fly to Cincinnati for work.  I was nervous, because I was alone, and hadn’t flown since 9/11.  I didn’t check my bag, so I had a roller carry-on with all of my stuff.  I’m short, so I was struggling a bit putting the bag in the overhead bin on the plane.  The gentleman behind me not only stood up and helped, but remembered to help me get it down when we landed.

It’s 2010.  And I never forgot that.

Back in 2005, when I was pregnant with my son, we got hit with a bad snowstorm that came fast and furious.  I left work early, and took the bus to the suburbs where my car was parked.  I was on my tip toes (pregnant) trying to clean the top of my car because I didn’t have my telescoping ice scraper, when I looked over at the car next to me.   The guy next to me – the same guy I took the bus with daily, had a telescoping ice scraper and finished cleaning his car quickly.  He quickly glanced at me, then jumped in his car and drove off.

I never forgot that either.  It would have been so easy for him to hand over the ice scraper to share.  Or offer to clean my car.  I would have been so grateful.

I often get caught up in my own life, but I have to remember to look around me.  It could be so easy to make someone else’s day.

True Kindness Doesn’t Cost Anything is a post from: Multitasking Mommy