It's not Home Ec any more

When I went to high school (late 60's), I took a Home Economics class - Home Ec for short.   Topics covered from balancing a checkbook, to efficient grocery shopping, sewing, and of course menu planning and cooking.  Today my neighbor asked if I could pick up her daughter at school because she (the daughter) was worried about transporting her child safely on the bus.  I wasn't sure how to answer, because my mind was saying - what the hell did I miss?  Her daughter is only 13 and wasn't pregnant when I saw her just before Christmas, but, ya never know.  My neighbor must have figured out why I was hesitating and started laughing.

It turns out her daughter is taking a 21st century version of Home Ec under what is called the Family and Consumer Services Department - doesn't quite have that Home Ec ring to it, does it? The course she is taking is Chilld Development I (the Food and Nutrition course didn't interest her).   As an assignment, she is caring for a "baby" - a special doll - this weekend.   She could select either boy or girl.  The baby comes with clothes, diapers, safety carrier and built-in electronic  sensors and sounds.  Yes, they are expensive dolls (about $500) so the students pay $15 for this course.

As she juggled getting out of the back of my car with her book bag, diaper bag, purse and baby in it's carrier - a couple of things fell to the floor.  She looked a little panicked.  It turns out that one of the built-in sensors knows and records if the baby is dropped. Other sensors determine feeding, changing, etc.  They are programmed to be"normal" or "fussy" and have outright crying, screaming jags, as only babies can.   And the programming is for a 24 hour day, so, yes, they wake up and need feeding at night like most any newborn.

All I can say is, she's got a looooong weekend ahead of her.  And if this is how we're teaching kids to put off having babies any time soon, well - I kinda like it.  Maybe it should be mandatory for EVERY high school freshman.   

Bring It

2008 was not the best of my 57 years - it was fair to middlin' as the country saying goes.  It ended true-to-form when my flight home, from visiting family in Florida, on New Year's Eve was delayed at least 3 hours and I would miss the only connecting flight to Vegas - the every popular and well-known "mechanical problem" excuse that absolutely, positively had nothing to do with the fact there were only 8 of us booked for the regional flight and a less-than-half-full flight to Vegas.  Yeah, right.  I had no choice but to stay in Florida an extra night, and be thankful they got me on a flight the next day with mostly sold out flights.  

It wasn't a huge hardship (thank goodness for understanding family who made yet another trip to the airport to pick me up and put me up for another night), just irritating, like most of the things that happened to me in 2008.  I accepted it as the way things go sometimes.

I tried several avenues (gate clerk, counter clerk, Reservations call center), but was stonewalled by the airline for anything in compensation (overnight hotel stay? first class upgrade?  voucher for future travel?) and offered zip.  I was told I had to wait until their Customer Relations office re-opened January 2nd.  The only way to communicate with Customer Relations is by email (what about people without computer access?), so I fired one off and watched the ball drop in Times Square.

2009, however, started out with a pleasant surprise.  When I finally made it to the connecting flight on New Year's Day, fully expecting (and dreading) to sit in a middle seat on a packed plane for four hours, I learned I had been upgraded to First Class.  My first time, and oh, man, I LIKE First Class.   Of course, I figured that was my compensation and was happy with it.  (In reality, First Class was not sold out by the time the plane was boarding, so by upgrading me, that freed up a seat in coach to sell.)   But, the surprises continued when on Jan. 2, I got a response to my email to Customer Relations with an apology and a voucher for future travel.  Now we're talking!

I've been waffling on deciding on a New Year's resolution, trying to think of something different and positive to do.  After these two incidents, I was struck with inspiration.  I've set up a spreadsheet and every day for the rest of 2009, I will record at least ONE good thing that happened that day.  By the end of the year, I'll have a written list reminding me of 365 good things that happened to me.

So - 2009 - bring it.