Your Tips…Staying Sane on the Plane

The people have spoken. We have united our brilliance, coming together to share our tried and true tips for staying sane on the plane.

In case you missed the post, you should probably click here to find out what the heck I’m talking about. Then you may proceed.

THE Q&A

Roy McCarthy (Back On The Rock) asked…
“Any solutions for local flights, like, how come you’re always last for the drinks trolley and you’re about to land?”

I said…
“If you want to get creative you can always press the stew light and fake a medical condition (wink, wink).”

T.W. Dittmer asked…
“Sane? Hmmm…”

I said…
“I know…it’s absurd. Mainly, I just wanted to rhyme with plane.”

THE TIPS

Letizia (Reading Interrupted)
“I always bring some food with me as food on planes is terrible. Especially a snack. There’s nothing more wonderful than getting out your own little bag of popcorn or something in middle of the movie; you will be the envy of the whole plane  And to drink a lot of water – especially for those long overseas flights.”

Gail (The Jotter’s Joint)
“In addition to books, music and journal, I take notecards and stamps so that I can send some love from the road. And I stock up on gum and hard candy. That way if I fall asleep with my mouth open at least my breath is fresh.”

Dianne Gray
“I absolutely hate flying so just walking onto a plane sends me into a spin. I take travel sickness tablets and that seems to calm me down a bit.”

AudiophileParadise
“My mantra for staying sane on the plane – A chilled glass of coke, a soft pillow, Beats by Dr. Dre headphones, and my MP3 player!”

Devon Goetzinger
(Devon doesn’t have a website, but you may remember her from the San Diego posts.)
“I’d add carrying hand sanitizer, Emergen-C, and anti-bacterial hand wipes. That’s all in addition to closing the air flow above your head if at all possible…no need to get sick from the coughing passenger 10 rows back who you’re forced to share *dirty* air with.”

Thank you bloggers (and my gal Devon) for chiming in with your awesome tips.

Readers, make sure to check out these blogs…they are all amazing and insightful!

Whether you’re traveling by plane, train, or automobile…have an incredibly delicious Thanksgiving. And, let’s all make a pact right here, right now.

Let us be grateful every single day of the year. Let us not lose our damn minds during the holidays.

Staying Sane on the Plane

We the People who brave planes are intrepid.

Together we experience hours of discomfort high above the clouds – trapped, smashed, and irritated.

Our legs fall victim to numbness, time becomes a sinister enemy, and suddenly you begin questioning yourself, perhaps asking: “Why in the hell did I even sign up for this BS?”

The answer is simple. You needed to travel somewhere far, and your futile attempts to learn how to fly as a child just never panned out.

Folks, it’s that time of year…the holiday season, otherwise known as over-priced, voluntary torture time.

Maybe you’re visiting loved ones in a small town nobody has ever heard of. Or perhaps you’re fleeing from them, squatting on a deserted island under your kicky new pseudonym…Ginger Gilligan.

Either way, your sorry little butt is going to be on a plane.

So, I thought we could make the unbearable slightly bearable by sharing flying tips. I’ll go first and you can put your two cents in down below.

If I get enough awesomeness in the comment section, I will create a follow-up post next week. Those of you with websites will be linked accordingly.

To be included, I need your comments by midnight U.S. central on Sunday, November 18th.

Here we go!

Britt’s Tips for Staying Sane on the Plane

  1. Peppermint Oil  No more smelling your foul neighbor or the dirty diaper in the row in front of you. Plus, it’s a great pick me up. Dab a smidge of peppermint oil right beneath your nose and enjoy some untainted bliss.
  2. Sustenance  Water, tea, fruit, and nuts are a must! Airplane tea is dreadful so I bring my own tea bags and request hot water. My favorites are peppermint and lemon ginger; both are uplifting and soothe your tummy.
  3. Army of Entertainment  Don’t limit yourself here. There’s nothing worse than bringing a new book you just can’t get into. Be prepared with activities that will excite different senses. Most of us possess technological wonders hosting an array of diversions. I’m pretty old-fashioned: books, music, and a journal for writing.
  4. Covers & Layers  Come prepared for ridiculous temperature variations. Season pending, having a sarong, shawl, or blanket handy is always a versatile staple on and off the plane. Layers are crucial! You don’t want to be stuck in that lumpy sweater when it’s stuffier than a sauna.
  5. Comfy Cute  Save the fancy shoes and clothes for later. Trust me, you will not arrive at your destination looking anything less than disheveled. On another note, being comfortable should not mean wearing your pajamas in public. When in doubt, the jeans/flats combo works like a champ.

Now it’s your turn. How do you stay sane on the plane?

Scottsdale: A Bruised Tale

Once upon a time there was a girl named Britt
She was always busy, she would never sit.
She wrote, she danced, she bounced up and down
Until she chanced upon a journey to a far away town.

To a castle in the desert, surrounded by palm trees and sand
The Fairmount Scottsdale Princess Resort, the fairest in all the land.
She left her midwest village and all that she knew
Twitter, Facebook, even her little blog, too.

Her knight would gather at the boisterous round table
Thus fidgety Britt must play princess in this curious fable.
She tasted many things she previously thought foe
Lobster, oysters, crab legs, even escargot.

Now you’re probably thinking these creatures are not from near
But armadillos and rattlesnakes do not to royalty standards adhere.
But the manners and servants were not to her liking
Best of all was an afternoon the court spent hiking.

Beyond the castle, she felt more comfortable in her skin
Though the lizards shunned her, she did her best to fit in.
Alas, a feast of all feasts was planned for that night
And she said farewell to the gallant sight.

Though you would think the bruised tale happened out here
On the dry treacherous landscape, Britt had no fear.
Instead in her silken gown and heels so high
Two steps before a fountain sent everything awry.


The pain made Britt swoon but she tried to save face
Little did she know she would soon need an ankle brace.
Britt’s knight in shining armor carried her in his arms
A damsel rescued from herself and her clumsy charms.

A bad sprain yes it was, a swollen shield so bruised
Laziness was forced upon her, she was not amused.
Hence the girl who would never sit now had no other choice
Propped up on a mountain of pillows, she did not rejoice.


The pina coladas did not console her on her poolside throne
She yearned for her simple life, to regain honor back home.
For who wants to be elsewhere when all is not well?
Vacation transforms into the cruel dungeon from hell.


Britt found solace in words, her chivalrous friends she could trust
She edited her book with her mighty sword pen, kicking up the dust.
Perhaps a jester is more fitting for a girl of this decree
For a princess of the desert, Britt shall never be.

P.S. For those who participated in the bobby pin poll last week, the correct answer is…drumroll please…88! Thanks for playing.

Cacti…here I come!

Tomorrow I leave the vibrant Milwaukee fall to travel to an arid land far, far away. Oozing with desolation and adventure, a treacherous desert–a no man’s land–awaits me, anxious to stifle my last breath without mercy.

It will take courage…more courage than I have to surrender. I may never escape this vast blanket of dryness.

Ha! Had you fooled, didn’t I?

I’m just joining my husband on his business trip to Scottsdale, Arizona for a week. It won’t take much courage to lounge around the pool, catching up on some reading and getting tipsy at a luxury resort.

It’ll take sunscreen.

I’ll be back on Friday the 19th with a Scottsdale travel post. Be warned, there may not be much to say. My goal is to do a whole lot of nothing.

But, you never know…exciting stories may be hiding behind the unassuming cacti. I’ll explore and report back.

See you in a week!

Sunshine…here I come!

Tomorrow I leave for sunny San Diego to visit beautiful friends all weekend long.

Consider this my vacation responder.

My little blog will be quiet for a few days. It doesn’t mean I don’t love you, it just means I’m relaxing and enjoying life.

Instead of my usual Tuesday morning post, I will be back next Wednesday with a special travel post, a tribute to the lackadaisical, razzle-dazzle of Southern California.

It’s been almost a decade since returning to my home state. I can smell the salty air and feel the sand stuck between my toes already.

Have a fantastic weekend, friends! I’ll see you next Wednesday.

Sunshine…here I come!