Non-Diet Treats

Granted that I've been keeping my weight "down," that is lower by about 15 kilo (30 pounds) than it once was, for the past seven years or so, but every once in awhile I do need a treat.

First of all there's my not so secret craving for Haagen Daz mint ice cream. I limit it to my trips to the states, generally just once a visit. I used to have no problem finding a Haagen Daz place in all sorts of malls and stations and if not that the mint ice cream was in every supermarket all over. But the last couple of times I looked for it in Arizona, I couldn't find it at all. So I began scouting around for it while still in New York. I saw that the Duane Reade near my friend had a container and began fantasizing about having an entire container for lunch before flying to AZ.  I sort of hinted the idea to my friend who knows me all too well and suggested we go to the Haagen Daz place not far from her and just buy myself a couple of scoops. 

And that's what I did. A cup with two scoops of my mint and one of the special run peppermint (not as good) cost me more than a container that had lots more (and lots more calories, too.) But I certainly do not need the calories, and my cravings were satisfied with the scoops. 

Since I had been so good about just getting scoops of ice cream, I allowed another craving to win. In the international chain Coffee Bean, all of the coffees are kosher, not just the plain ones. There are even branches with kosher foods, sandwiches etc. But the branch in the Phoenix Airport is not one of the kosher ones. But I wanted a fancy coffee, so I bought one there.

Yes, it was good! And I got it before getting on the plane to Newark which was the "stopover" before the plane to Israel.

And now that I'm home, back to the diet...

Grrr.. Complaint about my Flights

As you know I just came back from two weeks plus in the states, and on the whole it was a great trip. The two aims were to be at a special wedding on my husband's side in New York and to see my father and sister in Arizona. And those two things went well, thank Gd.

In terms of family, I just didn't see enough of my many relatives who live in the states, but I did see a couple of cousins and some old dear friends. And my shopping was pretty successful, too. That's what these visits are full of family, friends shopping, right?

In terms of safety and logistics, comfort, timing etc. my traveling by United (Continental) Air was fine, though the landing skills of the Newark-Phoenix pilot, who also took us to Albuquerque for refueling, was the worst in my memory. His landing felt almost like crashes, Gd forbid. But there was no damage/injuries, thank Gd. And davka for that flight I didn't see a questionnaire in my inbox.

But my real complaint was that for both the flights to and from Phenix-Newark that only didn't staff at the gate properly count and measure all of the suitcases, bags and carryons people were bringing into the plane, the flight attendants didn't keep them from filling the overhead bins with their winter coats.

That resulted in their announcing that all of Boarding Group 5, yes, yours truly, had to check in our carryons. Since blankets are no longer provided on domestic flights, they went the way of free meals and even snacks--not that I always used/use them, people should have had been told to cover themselves and not be bin hogs. The first time it happened I had to go off to the side and take out some things I did not want to lose and stuff them in the backpack.

And on the final leg, when I had five hours to kill in Newark Airport my back and shoulders were killing me from schlepping and taking on and off the backpack, which I couldn't put on my wheeled bag, which was in a special bin going to Israel with my suitcase.

I told the staff that I'd be submitting a formal complaint, and I did. Of course everyone else just passively following orders, while I complained both times. My bag was small, well within regulations, and I purposely wore a coat that has seen many winters, which came in handy when a steward on the last leg spilled milk all over me. That didn't bother me as much as the fact that my carryon wasn't carried onto the plane with me.

If this happens to you, please complain, too, thanks. And share the post to make people more aware and brave...

Kosher in the L.A. and Newark Airports

It's not easy to find kosher food when stuck in airports. The Israeli Ben-Gurion aka Natbag or "Tel Aviv" has kosher food, but I usually find myself choosing between overly expensive fruit, chocolate and nuts if I can't bring from home. During my recent visit I had a lot of trouble, since I ended up spending the night in Newark Airport. 

I brought instant oatmeal with me for the Newark to Phoenix, AZ flight, but that was cancelled, so I was stuck. There were places where they sold instant oatmeal, but finding boiling water was almost impossible. 

That's because there weren't any coffee places open in the middle of the night. But they also sold some yogurts. Some were kosher.

It was better in the Los Angeles Airport, where I ended up when rebooked to AZ via LA.

Coffee Bean is a chain that has many kosher products, and some branches have even more. There were kosher tuna sandwiches in that branch. So, after a delicious and very needed cup of coffee, I got myself breakfast, a tuna sandwich.

In Coffee Bean, unlike Starbucks, all the coffees are kosher, even the fancy ones. I had a regular one, which was what I needed at the time. But it's a good thing to know.

Not What I Need to be Reminded of Before Flying

I get very nervous being forced to lose eye contact with my valuables during those security checks.  I've heard too many stories of things going "missing."  There's really no way of safely taking valuables with you nowadays on planes.  Everything's x rayed including the passengers.

Rafi, Life in Israel just posted about a security worker caught stealing...

Well, at least he was caught.

Food on The Plane, Good Menu on El Al

This last trip to the USA was the first I had flown El Al for a number of years.  For various reasons, recent trips to and from the states had been British Airways, Delta, United Continental and US Air.

I must admit that El Al has the least comfortable seats, most crowded and so soft that the slightest touch on my seat by other passengers makes me jump and worse.

But there is one thing I missed on all those other flights, even when being more comfortable and enjoying the sometimes better free entertainment, the MENU. 

El Al's regular and special kosher meals include salads, vegetables and sometimes fruit, too.  You also have a choice of kosher meals on El Al.  On other airlines, it's either kosher or not.  You can't choose between a kosher meat/poultry, fish, vegetarian or fruit option. 

Here are some pictures I took of the food served on my way to from "natbag" aka Ben Gurion International Airport to JFK International Airport.  I must admit that the food was one of the only good things about that flight.  It wasn't pleasant.  Actually, the fault wasn't El Al's...

 

 

Sans Jetlag?

I'm afraid to say it, but here I am just three days after returning from Phoenix/Tempe, Arizona, a week's visit there, and I don't think I'm suffering from jetlag.

While there and now that I'm home, I'm just too busy to rest.  I've jumped straight into routine.  I had a short visit there, only a week, but there is a ten hour time difference.  My body didn't fully adjust to Arizona time.  I generally needed a cup of strong coffee each afternoon and didn't always sleep through the night.  But I did get up on time and pretty much functioned during the day.  I never napped, just dozed a tiny bit on Shabbat/Saturday afternoon.

Now I'm home and studied and worked as usual. I did take a sleeping pill the first two nights home.  But that's it.

I think I'm ok, bli eyin haraa.

Nobody Believed It, So, Here's The Picture

When I flew out of "natbag," aka Ben Gurion International Airport last week, all of the departure boards said the same thing:

ON TIME

People love to complain about airport delays and flight cancellations, but that Monday morning the planes were leaving on time and the airport was running very efficiently. It certainly wasn't like that at JFK or even at the Phoenix airport.

There are more delays on Jerusalem roads when American officials, like Secretary of State Kerry or their President Obama comes calling nudging, butting into our business.  And then our roads from Jerusalem to Beit El are also closed for long periods of time... ok, but that's another story.

What's Up? Rather "Punny"

High up in the air, I took advantage of this:

It sure helped me maneuver in and out of my seats in the various planes I few in.  I'm glad that I was in an aisle seat which had an arm that could be raised.  I suggested to other people that they raise theirs instead of disturbing me while leaning on my seat.  Yes, that's one of my pet peeves.  I'm terribly hypersensitive, so when people push, squish etc my seat or chair, I'm terribly uncomfortable.