The Last Bastion of Peace...

...may be falling.  Apparently, the FCC is considering lifting the cell phone ban on airplanes - this is for US flights, particularly. The article on CNET is here. I'm so totally against this... 

Another interesting fact, here, is that the new FCC chairman is (gasp!) a former lobbyist for the cell phone industry. Imagine that. According to several articles, there ARE already some planes in Europe that do allow cell phones. But that doesn't mean we need to do that.

We were just on the plane when we went to France, and it was peaceful. Nobody was talking on the phone. Or arguing. Or just airing dirty laundry. 

The articles on this issue show that polls indicate something interesting. Overwhelmingly, over 60% of people surveyed do NOT want cell phones allowed. I'm fine with your tablet, your Kindle, your iDevice... But really. On the plane, there's no "quiet zone." Oh sure, the airlines can CHARGE for a so-called "quiet zone" but let's just look at the facts: The airplane is a large tin tube. They've got you squeezed in there like sardines anyway.  You don't even have enough space for a good stretch of the legs. What - each seat is about 17 or 18", and they're cram-jammed against each other. 

Do I really want to hear you talk on the phone? Do the flight attendants want even LESS attention? I mean, I'm probably the only one who listens to their schpiel anyway, but in an emergency, there'd be even more chaos.

People would be chattering away and the attendants would try to get everyone to pay attention and leave safely - but some dumbo would be trying to capture the moment the plane flames out on his or her device... For what? You'd likely be dead anyway, and causing more people to die because you want to be the next Ridley Scott or something. 

The other issue is basic common sense. On the METRA and on many local bus routes, you aren't allowed to have extended (or loud) conversations on the phone. And at least on a train, you could perhaps change cars. In the bus, the driver has the right (and actually has, in some instances) to tell you to pipe down. 

On a plane, all that's going to cause is "air rage." Do we really need that? I say no. And so should you. Go to the FCC's page here and make a comment. Stand up for peace on airplane flights. Heaven knows that the process of flying is stressful enough. None of us needs to hear anyone else's life story. Unless you're stuck sitting next to a chatterbox. 

In that case, put a pair of ear buds in, and tuck the ends into your shirt or bag...nobody will know whether you're really "hooked in" or not!

Cuisinart pot

The Splurge...

A little early Christmas gift for me and the Hubby. I've been wanting an electric kettle for some time now. There was a good coupon from Bed, Bath & Beyond, so I went ahead and got this kettle. It's nice because it has lots of different temperatures; I drink a variety of teas, and this gives me the option to not stew a more delicate tea. Honestly, the "boiling" is too hot for me, even though it says it's ok for black tea. 

So it's not as cheap as some, but I did look at the glass ones. Yikes! On top of that, we have horribly hard water (yeah, I've been meaning to get a water softener for about 18 years now) and a clear one would be a stinker to clean. At least this one has a nominal filter, and I can descale it with vinegar when I need to. 

I like Cuisinart; I'm not going to lie -- I did kill a blender. And there was this one two-part blender/processor thing that didn't quite live up to expectations. But we have the no-stick (not Teflon) pans and they're workhorses in our kitchen. And Hubby likes his coffee grinder. I think it's a reliable brand and worth the money you pay for the items. 

Hopefully, this thing won't make a liar out of me!

Christmas...

New Nativity

So our main campus decorated. But they do it early anyway. Next week, they're having the "official" lighting ceremony. Understandably, the campus has to get the Facilities guys out doing the job well before any homeowner would do it - though I'd have to debate that this year...

Here's the new Nativity they put up right by the library. Before you get your shorts in a knot, it's a Catholic university. We get to do that. 

However, in a fit of protest, I will complain about the neighbor who put his decorations up on November 1 and has them lighted. A wayyyyyyyyy long time early, mate! The guy down the street from us (in the same block as we are) has already done his as well. 

Gotta love Nordstrom's even though I can't afford to shop there. They have, once again, decided "One Holiday at a Time" is a good thing. Look here for their 2013 campaign. I love this. 

I can't get the idea of shopping on Thanksgiving. Much like phones on planes: Thanksgiving was the one oasis. You had football, turkey, and family. Not commerce. I heard the argument about, "Well, some of the people who shop then need to do that because they need the cheaper prices." 

Marketing, people. The prices are artificially inflated at the moment. They have to have something to "slash" so they jack them up before the holiday. I get that you want deals. I do. I love a good deal. But on the other hand, I love the peace of not fighting crowds. I love to not have chaos. Or at least not the chaos of the commercial enterprise. Family can be enough of its own chaos, thanks. 

Knitting...

The afghan is done. D-O-N-E.... I will, however, need to run it in the dryer and possibly block it a bit. I really do not like Tunisian crochet. It curls like stockinette. Even with a 3-row crochet border. Ugh. Here's a shot of my working along the edge. Miles and miles of stitches, watching the Dr. Who marathon. 

Afghan border

I wonder what the NSA will make of the caption of this picture. 

I'm plugging along on the sock. I did show Hubby the pattern that I want to do with the Lilac silk/wool. I will have to get the name and post it. It's from Ravelry. I'll also have to get a shot of the yarn. I can't wait to get started on it. It's based on Elizabeth Zimmerman's easy baby sweater. It's got a lovely lace pattern on the body and sleeves. 

Also will be working on #2 Teal Sock. I'm done being mad at it now... 

Weather...

I'm sure you've all heard about the tornado damage in Illinois. Check this story from Slate. The video alone will give you something to think about. The power of Mother Nature - it's changing. There are things going on, and I'm a firm believer that unfortunately, WE are the cause of these things. 

The most recent issue of Business Week talks about the country of Kiribati, which will be drowned as the arctic ice melts. This is scary stuff. 

I know there are debunkers here. But I will have to grab Hubby's glacier pics. He took pictures as a highschooler at Many Glacier. And he took them when we were there almost 20 years ago. "Many" is now "Much-less" -- Heck, I was happy seeing "my" version of Many Glacier. Till he showed me what it used to look like. 

I don't have a solution, except that we should all try to lessen our carbon footprint as much as we can. Garden organically. Limit pesticides. Drive smarter. Recycle. If you can't make an impact even at your local government level, at least do it yourself. 

Politics...

I haven't even read the paper yet... 

So let's move on to a happier subject.

Reading...

Currently reading The Valley of Amazement by Amy Tan. I love her lyrical writing. I love the insight into Chinese culture. And I'm intrigued by the fact that this book, according to an interview she gave to the Chicago Tribune, "...may be part of my grandmother's history." Apparently, there's family legend that Grandma "may" have been a courtesan, though nobody's talking.

Here is the NPR book review, and I will give you a "Spoilers" alert... I just read the review, and I almost wish I hadn't. But truthfully, this is one of Tan's best works. Her loyal readers will remain loyal. 

"I've looked at clouds from both sides now..."

Random Picture...

Just clouds. I took this in May a couple of years ago. It was an interesting formation and I thought I would use it as a backdrop for something, or on a card.

Or maybe for this blog! With a side of Judy Collins for those of you who recognize the song. 

I love looking at clouds. Right now, outside my window, not only is it colder than heck (It's actually 24*, but feels like 11*) - and I know - it'll get colder! But it's also a bit overcast. It was sunny a bit ago, but now it almost looks as if it could snow. The wind is pretty brisk and the trees in the immediate vicinity are bare. Glad I'm inside with a cup of chai.

Nothing on the radar worth mentioning, but the greyness kind of reminds me that it is November, and that we're almost in winter. My favorite season, at any rate. 

The Leap of Faith - With Pics...

August 15, 2013 - Chamonix

Today, we head to Chamonix, while keeping our base here in Geneva. Breakfast, then "on the road again." (Go ahead, have the earworm for a while.)

I'm very, very nervous about my Leap...

Street in Chamonix

1:20 p.m. -- Well, I just saw Hubby off on his Leap. AND I SURVIVED MY OWN!! My pilot was Aaron (I think Caroline said that - I heard "Erin" but I don't know the actual spelling) and he is not only quite a dishy French guy, but very calm and capable. The entire journey lasted about an hour, and we walked off a 7,000 foot ledge. Soared up to somewhere near 10,000 feet and then landed in an athletic field. 

It was very scary. We took a gondola ride to the area where I was to jump, and as we're going up in the gondola, I'm sitting there with this pilot I just met. All the equipment is in the gondola with us. I looked down, and thought, "Holy Crap." 

Gondolas up to jump site

I had a 20-lb. backpack with my harness and seat. He had the rest of the gear. I got caught in the turnstile of the gondola, because I hadn't known to tuck the "seat" part up under the strap. But we got me loose and off we went. We hiked about 75 feet from the gondola (going up, of course) to the launch area. There were about 15 other parasailing folks up there in various stages of "going." Some of them were singles, but most of them were tandem.

Our sail was yellow, trimmed in orange. Caroline, the woman who runs the company, told Hubby what to watch for (wait, it gets good...). I got my instructions from Aaron, which were thus (imagine this with a lovely French accent and really quite good English): "Walk until I tell you to sit and keep looking forward. You will have a lovely surprise." He then straps me into the contraption, straps himself onto my back, and works the sail. 

The sail fills immediately - there's a great whack of updraft, so we've got the thing inflated before we even start walking. You walk forward (he's speaking softly into my ear: walk, walk, walk, walk) and you feel a slight tug. Then "sit back" and you're aloft. We dipped slightly before we caught another updraft and then flew up. He told me "it might be a little bumpy" but seriously - there was more turbulence in the airplane. We went off the ledge to the right, along a rocky ridge studded with trees. 

My pilot

It was quiet. The noise of the wind and the sail were just about all we heard. There were a number of others sailing that day, but in spite of the traffic, it all felt very safe. 

Aaron pointed out Mont Blanc, and I fulfilled Kid #2's request of a photo. Took quite a few shots of the other gliders and the fantastic views. He was very good about warning me as to turbulence and didn't chat overly-much. He'd been paragliding since he was 13 and was in his 30s. He told me the best place in the US to do it was Utah, and that nobody does it in the Rockies in Montana because "it's too wild - not enough places to launch or land." That makes sense. 

My shot of Mt. Blanc

(NOTE: I wrote this journal entry sitting at a small sidewalk cafe, and I have in my notes: "I wonder how long I can hold my breath - the second-hand smoke is killing me!")

Hubby took a look at my shots afterward and there were a few klunkers, but that's when we caught a bobble or skewed in another direction. We circled the Mt. Blanc side for most of the trip, then the town, and then headed to the landing area. 

Part of my route

I didn't get to steer, which was fine with me. And we didn't opt for the GoPro shots, which was also fine. I like what I did and I'm happy with it. Aaron says, as we're preparing to land, "We either land on our feet or on the butt." And apparently, we have no control over that... It's all up to how the wind acts. We got VERY lucky, and I did a standing stop. 

He said, "Raise your legs" as we went down, and then he said, "Step down" and within 4 steps, I was down. The sail was down behind us. 

Bird's eye view of Chamonix - my flight

Unfortunately, I couldn't share this bliss with Hubby, because he was apparently directed to the wrong landing site... So he missed it. Crud. I ended up going back to the gondola area, told Aaron that he was flying with Caroline, and since I hadn't a franc on me, Hubby would take care of BOTH flights in the afternoon, then Aaron left to get his next passenger. 

I took a side trip to where I thought we left Mildred. She wasn't there...it was a VW. Was getting a little more than annoyed, and then spotted Hubby on the steps by the gondola. The "farmer's whistle" came in handy and we were able to meet up. 

He subsequently met up with Caroline, and I told him I'd go to the little cafe next to the gondolas for a bite to eat and he could meet me there. 

Hubby's pilot in pink jacket

It's a wonder that half of these people here aren't dead of lung cancer...Bleagh!!! And why, in one of the best culinary climates in the world, do you get canned Lipton PEACH iced tea?? Hey, I was thirsty, so I drank it anyway. I sat at the Cafe Kimbo, right by the lift/gondola area, just a block over. I was shooting for the little hotel lunchroom, but they were closed. I tried to get upwind of the smoke, but I was foiled by new customers coming in. 

Hubby's flight path

I ate salad cheve chaud and had the iced tea. I was sooooooooooo nervous that morning that I could barely gag down some hot tea and yogurt. The cafe is on top of the street - as in you have to cross the street to get to it and it is completely next to the street; no sidewalk. Hubby got all turned around downtown looking for me, so we figured this little spot was the best place for me to be while I waited for him. Again, a nice leisurely lunch. Not rushed, not glared at. Lunch came in a large-ish red melamine bowl, consists of the following: butter lettuce, red onion (I picked it off), fresh tomato. Of course, basket of crunchy bread. On top of the salad was a sliced baguette (about 4" long) with a total of 4 very generous rounds of fresh goat cheese - this had herbs on it and was slid under a broiler just for a tiny moment to crisp up the bread and warm the cheese. After removing the offensive onions (sorry, don't like 'em), the salad was lovely; light and refreshing - and filling. And the cheese-bread combo? Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. It was nice to just sit and people-watch for a while. Looks like lots of locals gather here. I'm at a high-top table under the awning with a pink and white geranium in an ancient clay pot for a centerpiece. 

Close to the rocks...

I'm watching cars go up and down this extremely narrow street. They park tight to the buildings, but still have to "pull their ears in" (move the mirrors close to the doors of the cars) to keep from obstructing traffic. Drivers barely leave 2 coats of paint as they go past! 

So I actually went back to the gondola area; the smoke got to me. I briefly thought about a short walk into town, till I took about a dozen steps down a very steep sidewalk. "Down" would mean a walk "UP" and it was warming up quickly! It's so steep! So I have my knitting, my Kindle and the journal. A bottle of water is handy. Time to find a seat. 

There are small-ish wisps of clouds crossing Mt. Blanc now. And I don't see as many gliders, though I'm sitting in a niche next to the ticket counter, so I'm not facing the mountain we jumped from this morning. I did get the keys to Mildred and Hubby showed me where she was parked, so if it gets terribly warm, I'll go hang out with her. The breeze is great right now and the sun is strong; glad I'm in the shade. I've got on jeans, hiking boots, my hand-knit wool hiking socks and a light jacket (which got shed quickly). 

Clouds - Hubby's flight

A number of people have come to the gondolas to ride up for a hike down. I see an elderly gent with his family. One cane and 1 walking stick. He's got his hat and backpack and looks ready to go. The paths are little goat-width ruts. You'd have to train for a year (in altitude, not on the flatlands here in IL) to attempt the 8-hour hike up to the top of Le Brevent, 2,525 m up. The stop where I jumped off was 2,000 m up - the updraft got us to 3,000 m up... 

Hubby's Leap is a lot higher and involves quite a hike. He takes off from a glacier. Caroline, the pilot for his flight, is about 100 lbs. soaking wet. She's very no-nonsense and direct as to whether she thinks you'll be ok on the flight. He could, though - he's been training for a while and is quite fit. I know, however, that I wouldn't be able to do the flight he chose. I'm quite happy with what I did, and glad that I ignored a very strong inclination to just not go. 

Chamonix street

2:41 p.m. -- Just saw some gliders in the area Hubby said he would be jumping. I wonder if one of them is him? I heard someone say that you could take the gondola to the first jump point "and walk down - about an hour." Now, DOWN I could do, but probably not UP. I had considered bringing my walking poles, since it looks like they're standard equipment here, but I didn't and that's fine. Maybe if we come back! 

3:10 p.m. -- Glad I had the 11 a.m. flight. That wisp of cloud got bigger and bigger, and looks to obscure Mt. Blanc soon. It clouded over a bit, but there's still lots of blue in the sky. The spot where Hubby jumped (I think it's that spot - not sure) does have more clouds. Not sure I'm happy with that, but we're in the mountains...conditions change at the drop of a hat. The gondola stopped a couple of times while I was writing this and the silence was a blessing. I had tuned out the constant motor noise, but I realized when it was stopped that it was quite peaceful! There are houses packed right up next to the gondolas, and I'm sure these folks are happy to go to work, since I doubt they run at night. 

We were sitting and talking about his trip, and he's saying how "safe" parasailing is, and we see a guy go horizontal and start spinning down. As I recover my breath, I see a few more doing that, and we realize that these single flyers are probably practicing emergency moves. Whew... The spirals look particularly scary, but I know we did a few - they were just gradual on my flight so it's not as bad when you're actually up there. 

Just saw a large bird riding the same thermals we took. There are at least 2 gliders ABOVE the bird. Hubby's video will be awesome, but I'm still glad I didn't take the GoPro. Hubby's top altitude was about 12,000 feet up. 

7:40 p.m. -- Walked around Chamonix and did a tiny bit of shopping (some beautiful posters of the mountain ranges). We stopped for ice cream and gave a belly rub to a beautiful female Siberian Husky. She didn't understand a word of English, but she knew from "belly rub." 

Signs

We drove back to the Holiday In Express - and I'm sorry, the driving still freaks me out here. But before we left, we stopped at a little sandwich shop and picked up a "hotel room dinner." 

My hand-knit socks kept my feet nicely warm up in the chilly air, but being wool - they are a little heavy and now that we're at the hotel, off they come! Not bad for hand-knitted socks! Must remember to NOT wash them in the washing machine at home. 

We'll be "round-about" geniuses by the time we get home. Here, it's all about the round-about. And for the most part, drivers are observant and mostly courteous (except in Italy...). The highways constantly monitor speed via radar and they can change speed signs on the fly. They tell you to keep space between vehicles (especially in the tunnels) and 90% of the drivers do that. When they merge into the right lane onto the highway, they don't try to automatically whip over to the far lane. They stay there for a bit. Refreshing, even though my brain is having a hard time translating m.p.h. from km/hr...On exit ramps, they give you a speed, then they slow you down, then they do it again: THREE speed changes. Lots of toll roads, though. I used the "Holy Crap" handle liberally today as we took a mountain-side road and there were a few newbies to driving on those curves...Good thing Hubby knows how to do it. 

And I also observed that in this part of the country, graffiti is apparently an art form... As well, with the public art? The kids are climbing all over it! There was a very tall statue of the man who "found" Mt. Blanc with his guide pointing to it -- and kids were on top of that, next to the 2 figures. About 6 - 8' off the ground, and nobody was having a heart attack. The other thing I noticed while waiting for Hubby were the number of people who came off the mountain clutching handfuls of either Linden or wild Chammomile. I'm very used to the US system where you don't remove anything from a park. But perhaps they allow foraging here, as long as they're not stripping the area bare. 

The sandwich was great (ham and cheese on fresh baguette) and Hubby is reviewing his video (he took our GoPro and had theirs, too). Almost makes me wish I had done it, but nonetheless, I'm proud of "doing one thing each day that scares me."  

Only 6 tunnels today. Lightweight!