Our Trip to England & Ireland

This time last year my husband and I left for a 2 week trip to Great Britain. It was my dream come true since I was a little girl. I have always been fascinated with England especially. We flew out of the airport in Owls Head, Maine as it is close to where we live and we didn't want to deal with long term parking in a bigger airport. We left in the afternoon of a very rainy day. In fact, the plane almost didn't fly. Thankfully, though, the plane did fly and we made it to the Logan Airport in Boston in the nick of time. We then boarded a jumbo jet that flew us overnight to Heathrow Airport in London, England. It was not a fun trip. I highly recommend flying first class if your plane is in the air for 4 or more hours. It is very uncomfortable trying to rest in, what I would call, a sardine can.

Heathrow Airport

By the time we arrived in England we were exhausted and grumpy. But, we had to forge ahead and find transportation to South Hampton where our 4 day cruise to Ireland was leaving from on that very day. After much ado we figured out we could take a bus right out of the airport to South Hampton. What a beautiful trip! We road from London all the way down to South Hampton where the Titanic sailed out of. We were very excited.

View of South Hampton from our balcony on the ship.

Once in South Hampton we hailed a taxi that took us directly to the ship and we boarded. Our room was awesome and we had a balcony. In fact, the entire ship was so beautiful and all encompassing; like a small city unto itself. Shortly after the ship was underway we grabbed something to eat and took a nap. We wanted to rest up for the big show the ship's crew was going to put on that evening. We weren't disappointed.

I think I will end part one right here and pick up part two when we arrive in Cork, Ireland. See you soon......

Air Companions makes the Bangor Daily News!

http://bangordailynews.com/2012/04/04/health/warren-woman-works-as-guardian-angel-of-the-air/

Click on the link above to read the article printed in the April 5, 2012 edition of the Bangor Daily News. Air Companions made the front page! Thank you Bangor Daily News.

Disaster Trip!

Have you ever been on a trip that turned into a disaster? I've been on a few like that. For instance, years ago when my children were young we went to Ohio to visit my husband's family. We had a great visit and when we were leaving for home we came to a traffic light at a 4 way intersection in a small Ohio city. All four lights turned green at the same time and, consequently, we got into an accident. We had to rent a car to get home and we sold our totalled car then and there to a local mechanic. What an ordeal! But, somehow we made it through.

Last weekend we experienced another disastrous trip. My daughter and her family now live in the Baltimore area of Maryland. My sister, Stacey, also lives in Maryland nearby. I planned a 4 to 5 day trip to Maryland to visit my family and to throw a baby shower for my daughter as she is pregnant and due in June with my third grandson! My sister was going to host the shower at her house. We were going with the Red Neck theme. It was going to be hilarious! Stacey and I had all kinds of funny red neck things to do. We had a great time planning this funky little shower. Rachael has a weird sense of humor like the rest of her family and we knew she would get a kick out of it.

My husband and I decided to drive down. It's about a 12 hour drive according to traffic and weather. On top of building my business, Air Companions, I also take care of people in my home. I have done this for years. Presently, I have been certified to be a VA Medical Foster Home and I care for a disabled veteran. He suffers with frontal lobe dementia; also called PICS disease. I have been caring for "DC" for almost 4 months. Overall I find him to be relatively easy to care for. So, I decided to take him along with us. I thought he might enjoy the trip. DC's son told me that his father did not like to travel. But, I thought that since he was with me he would do okay. Bad decision!

DC did well on the trip down to Maryland. He likes to ride in the car. However, once it was time to go to bed things went downhill very fast. Due to his dementia DC is almost nonverbal. But, when he realized he was not going to sleep in his own bed he started demanding to go home. He tried to run away and he kept us awake all night long. Still, I wanted to try to stay through Sunday as that was when we were doing Rachael's shower. So, we stumbled through Saturday with no sleep since Thursday night. Things went okay during the day but, sure enough, when it came time for bed DC would have none of it. He was even more insistent than the night before and he was making himself physically ill from all the stress. We made the agonizing decision to drive home through the night.

Once in the car DC calmed right down and fell asleep almost immediately. My husband and I on the other hand, had to drive home on no sleep for almost 2 days. And to make things really challenging it was raining all the way home! Without going into all the details I will just say we did make it home in 12 hours. It took my husband and 2 days to recover. DC slept like a baby all the way home and once he was home he was fine.

The baby shower did go on without me. My sister saved the day and went on with the show. Every one had a good time at the red neck shower. Johnny, Stacey's husband, is in the picture holding a shot gun and greeting everyone when they arrived at the shower. Everybody got a big kick out of it. I really feel bad that I missed the shower. I was so looking forward to it.

Lesson learned: Sometimes you don't take your work with you!

Transportation Security Administration

I went on the Transportation Security Administration Website and copied and pasted the information below. I think you will find it interesting. You can find out more by visiting the website at www.tsa.gov


Travelers with Disabilities and Medical Conditions

Air Travel




TSA Cares Help Line

TSA Cares is a helpline to assist travelers with disabilities and medical conditions. TSA recommends that passengers call 72 hours ahead of travel to for information about what to expect during screening.

Travelers may call TSA Cares toll free at 1-855-787-2227 prior to traveling with questions about screening policies, procedures and what to expect at the security checkpoint. TSA Cares will serve as an additional, dedicated resource specifically for passengers with disabilities, medical conditions or other circumstances or their loved ones who want to prepare for the screening process prior to flying.

The hours of operation for the TSA Cares helpline are Monday through Friday 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. EST, excluding federal holidays. Travelers who are deaf or hard of hearing can use a relay service to contact TSA Cares or can e-mail TSA-ContactCenter@dhs.gov.

When a passenger with a disability or medical condition calls TSA Cares, a representative will provide assistance, either with information about screening that is relevant to the passenger’s specific disability or medical condition, or the passenger may be referred to disability experts at TSA.

TSA recommends that passengers call approximately 72 hours ahead of travel so that TSA Cares has the opportunity to coordinate checkpoint support with a TSA Customer Service Manager located at the airport when necessary.

For more information visit: TSA Cares Information

One of the primary goals of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is to provide the highest level of security and customer service to all who pass through our screening checkpoints. Our current policies and procedures focus on ensuring that all passengers, regardless of their personal situations and needs, are treated equally and with the dignity, respect, and courtesy they deserve. Although every person and item must be screened before entering each secure boarding area. All disability-related equipment, aids, and devices are allowed through security checkpoints once cleared through screening.

Please click on the links below for specific information about screening of disabilities and medical conditions.
Introduction
Before You Go
Tips For The Screening Process
Mobility Disabilities
Hearing Disabilities
Visual Disabilities
Hidden Disabilities
Breast Prosthetics
Sexual Trauma Victims
Pacemakers, Defibrillators, Other Implanted Medical Devices, & Metal Implants
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Machine
Medical Oxygen and Respiratory-Related Equipment
Diabetes
Medications
Assistive Devices and Mobility Aids
Prosthetic Devices, Casts, and Body Braces
Walkers, Crutches, and Canes
Augmentation Devices
Orthopedic Shoes, Support Appliances, and Exterior Medical Devices
Dressings
Service Animals
Children with Disabilities
Medical Conditions and Special Situations
Military Severely Injured Program

March is Women's History Month

In honor of Women's History Month I went on the web and found an interesting article on Women's History web site telling of the inventions of women. I have posted it here. I think you will find it interesting and uplifting.

10 things invented by women

1. Clothes wringer/mangle In 1880, an African-American woman named Ellen Elgin invented the clothes wringer. Sadly, she never made a fortune, selling her patent rights for a pittance because she believed if white women knew the wringer was invented by a black woman they wouldn’t want it.

2. Suspension bridge supports. Invented in 1811 by Sarah Guppy, 41, from Birmingham, UK.

3. Windscreen Wipers Invented in 1903 by 37-year-old Mary Anderson, 37, from Alabama, USA.

4. Hydrometer This instrument, which calculates the relative density of liquids, was invented in around 400AD by Hypatia of Alexandria, Egypt and is still in use today.

5. Solar powered fridge Invented in 2006 by Emily Cummins, 19, from Leeds, UK.

6. Paper bags Invented in 1871 by Margaret E Night, 32, from Maine, USA.

7. Computer programming In 1843 aged 32, Ada Lovelace from London, UK, wrote the world’s first computer programmes for the Analytical Engine – an early mechanical computer invented by Charles Babbage.

8. Feeding device for amputees Bessie Blount, 37, an African-American physiotherapist who worked with soldiers injured in World War II, invented an electrical device that allowed amputees to feed themselves in 1951.

9. Disposable nappy Invented in 1950 by Marion Donovan, 33, from Indiana, USA.

10. Dipped headlights Invented in 1908 by Emily Canham from London, UK after being dazzled by the headlights of the newly invented automobile.

Follow us on facebook
Women's History Month is on facebook here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Womens-History-Month/1229864677690561

Since I am a Maine girl I was very impressed to see that Margaret E. Knight, the inventor of the paper bag was born in York, Maine. I have posted a link to her biography beow:

Biography of Margaret E. Knight

The World's First Licensed African American

In honor of Black History Month I thought it would be interesting to see who the first black American pilot was. After Googling it I discovered a couple of, what I considered, amazing facts. The first black American pilot was licensed in 1920. I was thinking it would be later than that. Very cool. But, the most amazing fact I discovered was that the world's first licensed African American was a woman! Her name was Bessie Coleman. Below I have cut and pasted the short biography I found on Bessie Coleman at the website http://infoplease.com/

Bessie Coleman, Aviator
Born: 26 January 1892
Died: 30 April 1926 (internal injuries)
Birthplace: Atlanta, Texas
Best known as: The world's first licensed African-American pilot

Bessie Coleman was an early aviation pioneer for both African-Americans and women. Bessie Coleman grew up in Texas, moved to Chicago, and got interested in flying after her brothers returned from World War I. Failing to find anyone in Chicago who would teach flying to a black woman, Coleman determined to go abroad to get training -- a daring idea for that era. She moved to Paris, was accepted to aviation school, and on 15 June 1921 she received her pilot's license from the Federation Aeronautique Internationale. The certificate made her the world's first licensed black aviator. Coleman returned to the United States and began a barnstorming career, appearing at airshows across the country. She died in 1926 while flight-testing an open-cockpit plane; her co-pilot lost control of the aircraft and in the ensuing dive Coleman was tossed from the plane and plunged to her death.
Extra credit:
The U.S. Postal Service issued a stamp honoring Bessie Coleman in 1995... Bessie Coleman's family line included some American Indian blood: her father George was part African-American and part Cherokee.
Copyright © 1998-2006 by Who2?, LLC. All rights reserved.Read more: Bessie Coleman Biography (Aviator) — Infoplease.com http://www.infoplease.com/biography/var/bessiecoleman.html#ixzz1nDw5pkaP

Bessie Coleman Biography (Aviator) — Infoplease.com

Sit back and relax: Learn to fly witout fear

I read a great little article in this past weekend's edition of USA Weekend. It was about how to deal with fear of flying. If you want to know more just go to http://www.usaweekend.com/ and click on the Life & Style tab. The February 9th article is called "Sit back and relax: Learn to fly with out fear. It's just a short article but worth reading.

My son, Vinny, pictured here, was afraid of flying but his job required him to fly frequently and, somehow, he overcame it.

Baby Girl, The Astromoner

My granddaughter, Teagan, visited with me today. Teagan is 5 years old. She will be 6 on the first day of spring, my favorite day of the year. Teagan is my oldest grandchild and my only granddaughter. I always tell her she's my favorite granddaughter. And she is!

I recently had my kitchen redone and one of the walls is painted with black chalk board paint and set up as a message center. But, it has really turned out to be my grandchildren's art center. I like it better than a message center. Whenever my grandchildren visit they always draw some amazing picture or write their name or doodle something that I find amazing and admire it long after they have gone home.

Teagan has a wonderful imagination. I just love to see what she will come up with next. One time she drew directions from her house to my house on the chalk board. I didn't erase it for a long time. Teagan also likes to sing and dance and tell stories. She has give me untold pleasure since the day she was born. My nick name for her is "Baby Girl". Sometimes she gets mad when I call her Baby Girl and will demand that I call her Teagan. Lately she seems to have grown used to it.

Good thing, because I think it's a nick name that is going to stick.

Today, as usual, Teagan drew a very large picture on the chalk board. She told me it was the Earth. It looked like the Earth! She had even drawn several continents on the earth. The biggest continent she drew was North America and she explained to me that she lived there. I was blown away! Mind you, Teagan is only 5 years old. Teagan also drew the moon and a pink planet that she called the Pink Bunny planet. She told me that the pink bunnies ate pink grass on the Pink Planet. I found that extremely imaginative and amazing all at once. (Can you tell she's my favorite granddaughter? :)

Finally, Teagan said she wanted to draw stars but she told me she had trouble doing it. So, of course, Grammie came to the rescue. I drew a 5 point star and showed her how to do it. She was intrigued and ran to get the step stool so she could practice drawing stars above the Earth. She caught on very quickly and was very pleased with herself. She drew lots of stars in the universe.

To date this is my favorite drawing on the chalk board. I will not erase it for a while. I think someday Baby Girl will make a perfect Air Companion. Don't you?