Friday, August 17, 2007

You’re Kidding Right?

OK, so I’m flying to Chicago for the weekend. Leaving today around 4:50. It’s just the weekend, and we are driving back. This all came up because the pro bike team L works for is competing in the National Criterium Championships in Downer’s Grove over the weekend and he is flying down today and driving back so suggested I should come too. I found a cheap enough ticket and thought why not, so we fly down tonight after work and then drive back on Sunday after the last race. I was going to visit friends while there and still hope to see them, but now I also got invited to work at a booth the team has up and get paid decent for it so I said sure…since the liquid ban, the times I’ve flown, I’ve checked my bags cause it was just easier…due to it just being a weekend, I thought what the heck, I’m going to carry my bag on and deal with the bag for my personal items…I knew it was a quart bag and found that I didn’t have any around, so I ran (literally, didn’t feel like driving later, needed a run of 6-7 miles and it’s about 3.5 to the grocery store) and got bags, came home, opened the box and looked at the bag. You’re kidding right? I’m allowed to carry liquids, in 3 oz or smaller containers, onto the plain as long as they are in ONE, one quart, see through, zip top bag…umm…yeah. Maybe for a boy. As a woman, and one that wears contacts, my smallest saline solution bottle is 3 oz. That takes up 1/3 of the bag. Then I need deodorant, well, thankfully I have a sample size of that to bring, but if I wanted to bring shampoo and conditioner, shaving cream, face lotion, make up (thankfully I don’t wear foundation) and any number of other things I could include, there is no way it would all fit in that bag. I have to buy gel when I get there cause I don’t have a small enough one anyway. I’m going to use the shampoo at the hotel, will buy razors and am not bringing along my body glide (which I bet I’ll regret if I get my 12 miler in this weekend like I want to, but it just won’t fit in that bag) but it still barely fit…it sucks!! And really, in the grand scheme of things, does it really prevent anything or is it just a way to appease us in thinking that our safety is being handled? And on that note, has anyone seen this?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20298840/site/newsweek/from/ET

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh great! Just now we have to worry about our facial expressions? I'm in trouble!

Good luck with your micro-packing. :)

You asked about exercises. . . this could get long. I would start real simple. Lay on your back with your knees bent, feet on the floor. Lift your left foot off the floor 1-3 inches and back down. Do that 10+ times, then try it on the other side. That will give you an idea about how your hip flexors are firing. Does one feel stronger than the other, etc? Try that and let me know what you think. I can give you more exercise ideas if you'd like. My email is on my profile, so feel free to email me. Good luck! :)

teacherwoman said...

That article is rediculous!

Have a great weekend!

MNFirefly said...

I am SUCH a pro when I fly (Josh can prove it!) TSA is second nature to me. I just follow the rules.

JustRun said...

I have no way to help... I did carry on only for my last trip, and in two weeks I never ran out of anything. It is a tough tranisition, but I'll never go back.
Hope you had a great weekend!

Andy Emerson said...

I'm all for traveling with only carry-on since I'm usually the person whose bag gets "randomly" searched and then it misses the flight. Then I worry if I'm going to get my stuff back.

I didn't know about these rules for amounts of liquids and no I don't feel safer. I feel violated and the terrorists have won since I'd rather drive than fly if I have the time.

Kurt said...

We are just going to miss each other again. I am on my way to Chicago now. You should have stayed over to buy me drinks.