AYCJ -- FAFAA

JetBlue named their pass "All You Can Jet" and uses the acronym AYCJ, so I have come up with a name and acronym for my 30-day adventure:

FAFAA! It's my "Friends And Family Across America" Tour. No, I don't usually name my travels, but this does describe this trip pretty well. I'll be visiting friends and family members that I haven't seen for years, scattered in different parts of the country, and spending some time in new places too.

I'm excited to get started and hope I can get some sleep tonight. Must remember to set alarm clock. And I'm sure I'll be napping on the plane tomorrow. I'll feel better once I'm on the first flight and we're off and flying!

Memories of Airline Food

Today I'm grateful for frozen dinners. While scurrying around, trying to figure out just how much stuff I really need and want to lug around while traveling, I'm happy to have frozen dinners on hand. Quickly nuke and eat them, and get back to packing ... if I remove this one shirt, will it give me any more space?

Frozen dinners are a lot like airline food. Well, like airline food used to be. I liked airline food. (yes, I'm weird.) A hot meal at 30,000 feet. That little plastic tray of chicken, pasta and vegetables always seemed a bit odd and extravagant. I guess it was extravagant, since it's now an ancient relic of airline days gone by. Wow, I'm not as old as I sounded right there... really. But buying a sandwich just isn't the same.

So I look at my little plastic tray of steaming hot chicken and pasta. Imagine that it's an airline meal. And that my travel adventure has already begun.

Now, back to packing... do I really need two pairs of shoes?

JetBlue AYCJ Travel - Pack It In

Not "pack it in" like quitting... this journey is just beginning. But how do I pack everything I need? And what will I need in the changing seasons of multiple locations? The goal of course is to pack only what you'll use. The challenge is how to figure that out.

Shoes and toiletries take up way too much space, and they're heavy. Simple black shoes are the best and for me, comfort is key. But why can't women's shoes be both cute AND comfortable? Finally, some shoe companies have figured this out and there are more attractive and comfy choices available, so we're making progress. The only secret for toiletries and cosmetics is to try and simplify down to the essentials. They're still heavy and bulky, even in travel sizes. And why don't our bags get noticeably lighter as we use up all these potions anyway?

Black and Tan is not only one of my favorite pub beverages, but it is my preferred color scheme when packing. Black pants, tan or khaki pants, and jeans can take me just about anywhere. Depending on destinations, add black or tan shorts or a skirt, and then shirts and tops of various sleeve lengths and colors. Pack colorful tanks and t-shirts, add some long-sleeved button-front shirts in basic colors, like black, white, tan, brown or grey and your layering possibilities are practically endless. For cooler weather, just wear an extra layer, or add a black sweater and/or jacket.

Though probably in the minority here, I would rather be in wrinkled cotton and linen than in crease-free polyester. I just prefer how cottons and linens feel. I also love washable silk shirts, which take up very little space, and if you wash them out in the sink, they dry amazingly fast. The colors sometimes fade when you wash them, but I haven't had a problem with that, and you can always pack them in a plastic bag, if concerned about colors running.

We need zip-lock bags for carry-on toiletry containers now, and they can also be used for vacuum-packed packing. Just put t-shirts, tanks, undies or socks into a gallon-size or larger zip-lock bag, zip it partially closed, put it on your bed and sit on it. Finish zipping it closed while the air is pressed out of the bag. It will take up much less space and you can re-use the bags while you travel (dirty laundry, wet swimsuits, etc.)

Those are my packing pointers and tips. Now, can I fit all this stuff into that bag?

JetBlue AYCJ -- T-minus 3 days and counting

As I've described in the last few posts, I'm about to embark on a journey across America, using JetBlue's All You Can Jet Pass.

Today I made my last visit to the torture team, Jon and Erin... Sorry, that's not nice, they're the fabulous physical therapy team who have helped me work my very sore shoulder back to normal, or as close to normal as possible in such a short time. Now I just have to keep exercising and stretching while I travel. So, if you're also traveling JetBlue in the next few weeks, and you see someone slowly stretching her arms overhead, to the side, to the back, with a slight grimace on her face ... that might be me. And let's hope that lugging luggage all over the country will just make me stronger. So a shout-out to Jon and Erin. Thanks guys. Now, where's that ice pack?

This is it, the final 3 days for planning and packing. Tonight I visited the Pacific Ocean, as the sun was starting to set. A beautiful day at the beach, people fishing off the pier, swimming, walking on the beach, in the cool evening air. In the coming weeks, I will also visit the Atlantic Ocean, arriving around sunset time. Although, since that it's the Atlantic and, you know, east-facing, I suppose checking out the view at sunrise will be more impressive at that end, won't it? Hm... what time is sunrise, and will I be awake early enough to see it? I don't know the answer to that. Typically, the odds are very slim that I will be up early enough for a sunrise, but when one is traveling, one's sleep schedule is often, well, non-typical. So will I be up in time to watch the sunrise over that other ocean? We'll just have to see what happens.

But first, packing... how much stuff do I really need to carry around with me? Let's see... no, on second thought, let's sleep. I'll figure it out tomorrow.

JetBlue All You Can Jet - Shoulder Season

With a week or so to go before traveling, what is there to do? Confirm final arrangements, start packing, go to physical therapy.

Wait... what? physical therapy? Why am I going to 3 physical therapy appointments this week, in the midst of all this travel prep?

Several weeks ago, maybe it's even been a couple of months, I pulled something in my shoulder. Frankly, I think sitting at a computer for hours and hours does not help my shoulders one bit. I'm trying to get up more often to stretch, and try to keep my arms are resting on something, but I can't always do it. Holding your arm out over your mouse, keyboard or track ball for hours at a time must be hard on shoulders. That's just my own non-medical theory.

Then one day I was moving fairly quickly, I stretched and reached out suddenly (to mail a letter from my car, of all things) and OUCH, felt like I had pulled my own arm out of my socket. Ouch. Pain. What have I done? It felt okay when my arm was not making any extraordinary moves, so I kind of forgot about it. But then I used that arm to pull myself up on a bus. OUCH. Shoot, I forgot, my shoulder is screwed up. Then it felt okay. Then I decided to try on some raincoats at a store. Reaching around to put that second arm in the sleeve. OUCH. Yikes. This is not good.

When I got the AYCJ travel pass, I started imagine 30 days of travel, lugging my luggage for days and days. I decided to have someone look at my shoulder. I'm now in physical therapy to try to get the range of motion back in my shoulder.

Geesh, how did I do this, I'm not THAT old. Well, this is the oldest I've been yet, but still. Is this the universe telling me to slow down a bit? My first experience with physical therapy has been really good. My arm's range of motion seems to be slowly expanding. But I am impatient and want it to get better faster. So I'm doing my exercises, slowly trying to stretch it back to its previous flexibility. And I have made the executive decision... to check a bag. I think using the overhead compartment repeatedly over 30 days might just be asking for unnecessary shoulder trouble.

So, another note for this journey, can I survive 30 days of travel with only one fully functioning shoulder? Better go stretch some more...

JetBlue AYCJ -- Preparation Continues

The JetBlue "All You Can Jet" Pass is such a great idea and it's going to be fun. But I wonder. Have other passholders spent as many hours online as I have, trying to figure out these 30 days of travel? I'm exhausted and I haven't gone anywhere yet!

But now that booking is allowed, I have booked my first flights. So, I'm on the way!

Since I'm coordinating with several friends and relatives, some time has been spent coordinating dates and schedules. And just because JetBlue flies to the 2 cities you want to visit, doesn't mean it's easy to get from one to the other... it appears we will all be spending some time at JFK, no matter where we're going.

Two weeks to figure out the rest of the routes, and the adventure begins.

Stay Tuned For A JetBlue AYCJ Adventure

Look what I've gone and done now... I just bought a JetBlue "All You Can Jet" Pass. It's not just a plane ticket, it's an adventure... hopefully. Check it out at www.jetblue.com

This means I can fly as much as I want, wherever JetBlue flies, from September 7 through October 6. I bought the less expensive pass, so I can't fly on Fridays and Sundays, which, frankly is kind of a relief... two days each week when I just have to stay put!

It's already become like a full-time job, trying to figure out how to get to all the different places I want to go in those 30 days. I've been meaning to visit friends and relatives in Florida, New York, Chicago, and a few other places. So now I can go see EVERYBODY. All in one month. Yes, I may be crazy.

"Can I get there from here?" becomes an issue with JetBlue. To fly between some cities, you have to connect through either Long Beach CA, JFK-NY, or Boston. So I'd rather not go back and forth too much, from Seattle to NYC, to LA, to Boston if I can help it. I guess you could try to spend all your time actually in planes, for 30 days, but... I don't think that's for me.

Perhaps I am a bit of an obsessive planner when it comes to things like this. But I want to get my money's worth and take the best advantage of this thing, while also trying not to spend a gazillion dollars. I will be depending on the kindness of friends and relatives, crashing on a couch or spare bed in some places, getting some hotel rooms and rental cars in others. Once I figure out a few basics for the month, then I can relax and enjoy, knowing there's always the option to make flight changes, as long as you give a 3 day notice.

Just think of how much time I'll be spending in airports for 30 days. No, on second thought, I don't want to think about that, do I? Air travel and airports -- just not as much fun as they were 20 years ago. The key to this travel month will be staying in the right frame of mind. Stay calm, have fun, it all works out in the end.

When I've boarded the first JetBlue flight to ... well, I'm not sure yet, but I'll know soon... I will be blogging my adventures, so stay tuned. Until then, I have some more planning to do.

Bravo's Work of Art Finale

Tonight was the finale for Bravo TV's "Work of Art".

The three finalists all had very distinctive styles:

Miles had his conceptual, "let's get deep inside my head and see what sorts of black and white images, shapes, and pixels are inside there" exhibition.

Peregrine took us to a country fair, with lots of color (no black and white here) wax heads, melting frames, little horses, pictures of vomiting kids, cotton candy, and a picture of taxidermied unborn fawns. Whew, that's some country fair.

Abdi showed striking large sculptures of figures lying on the ground, and paintings of figures, and body bags.

Simon DePury made the rounds to the artists' homes (a la Tim Gunn on Project Runway) in the months prior to the finale, to check up on their progress. It's always interesting to see where people live and do their work. It looks like Peregrine has a fabulous loft space, which very few people can afford any more in New York City... and may be one good reason to move to Kansas City, MO.

The winner of the show, $100,000, and an exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum, was Abdi. I liked this outcome, as I enjoyed watching him grow throughout the series. His positive spirit and attitude counter-balanced some of the other contestants, who appeared more cynical or manipulative about the playing the game. Of course that's all part of a reality show, to be willing to do anything to win. And a variety of personalities is needed to make a good TV show, so Work of Art did a good job there, with a pretty good variety of creative types. But Abdi seemed to just enjoy doing the art, with humor and charm. That was fun to watch.

The judging of art and any other creative endeavor is completely subjective. There is no one right or wrong answer. Everybody has an opinion about art they like or dislike. And they're all right. There may be some consensus regarding whether someone has good technical skills, although that can be debatable too. Everyone will never agree ... No one will always agree. Well, however you look at it, everyone is entitled to their opinion. This is clear on various blogs, recaps, and comments sections that have followed this show.

Work of Art allowed us to see how art critics, gallery owners, and other artists, look at and talk about art. The art world is a mysterious place. If you're not in New York City, or London or some other large city, then it can be a mystery what makes something a good piece of art. In Work of Art, a TV show exposed that process to millions of American television viewers, who could see and listen to people making art and discussing art. So even if you live in the so-called fly-over states (everywhere that's not NYC or LA), you could watch, listen in, and even share in the conversations about the creation of a Work of Art. And what can be wrong with that?

Bravo to Bravo TV's "Work of Art"

Bravo TV has continued their skill competition-reality show genre, which started with Fashion Designers (Project Runway, which is now on Lifetime), and Chefs (Top Chef and Top Chef Masters), with a look at Artists. Work of Art (on Wednesday nights, currently on its 8th episode) features artists, competing with limited time and materials (just like the Fashion and Chef shows) and some specific parameters, to create a work of art. They're not just random characters being arbitrarily "voted off" a reality show. They are people with a specific set of skills/talents/abilities/knowledge, so seeing how they think through a challenge is fun to watch.

It's a fascinating look at the creative process. You may not agree with who wins or loses, you might debate whether a "work of art" is actually a "work of art". But to bring that debate about art and creativity to a wide television audience is, I think, a really great thing. Even if you're not a fashion designer/chef/artist, you find yourself thinking, "hmm, what would I do with that assignment?" A few of my friends have discussed doing each assignment ourselves and having our own competition each week, though it's hard to find the time in our busy daily lives, which is a shame.

Creativity (right-brain thinking) is less emphasized in our schools than logic and reason (left-brain thinking). So I think it's important and valuable for the general public to have a look at just how creative people create. How do they do it? What is the thought process? How did they think of that? Sadly, too many people believe "I'm not creative at all. I can't even draw a straight line." I always say, well, that's okay, because a straight line is not creative at all!

It's good for more people to see and learn how new ideas form and change, throughout any creative process. Creativity is an important problem-solving skill. It is, by definition, thinking outside the box (I hate that expression, but I think people understand the concept), and thinking of things that haven't been thought of before, creating something new. A new idea, new product, new process.

On the official website (www.bravotv.com) you can read more about the show, and read commentary about and by the artists who competed.

And there's a great feature at the New York Magazine website. Jerry Saltz, the NY Magazine Art Critic (I hope that title is right), was one of the Work of Art judges. He is writing recaps of the show after it airs each Wednesday. So, he's watching it with the rest of us, now that it's been edited and aired, but was also part of it when it taped months ago. His perspective is unique and a great discussion goes on in the comments section each week. Mr. Saltz is graciously responding to many of the comments and questions about the show, his experience, the artists, art, etc. It's really fascinating and adds a great deal to the show each week. You can check it out at:

http://nymag.com/tv/work-of-art/

Some commenters debate the artistic value of what's being created, but I think the exposure to the creative process to a larger audience is the most valuable thing going on here. This is essentially a TV show, after all. A TV competition show where someone will win a reward at the end, but a TV show just the same. The producers' first job is to make a good, interesting TV show that lots of people want to watch.

You need good artists, but if they were all too shy and afraid to talk to the camera, then you have a boring TV show. So personalities do enter into it. I think that the key to this type of show is in the casting and editing. The casting of talented people, with a blend of interesting and varied personalities, is combined with editors who can take a gazillion hours of tape (perhaps not an exact figure... just an estimate) and edit it down into an interesting story, told in about 42 minutes each week. That's a challenge that is more difficult than people think. But these Bravo shows typically do it very well, and Work of Art is no exception.

Sarah Jessica Parker is one of the producers who created this show, and I'm glad she did. It's fascinating, fun to watch, and interesting to talk about it afterwards, and read the discussions that follow each show. I hope Bravo picks up this exploration of the creative process for a 2nd season.

The Plastiki's Pacific Voyage

Happy Earth Day! I've been following the Plastiki, on its voyage from San Francisco to Australia, bringing attention to the state of our environment and the oceans.

What's the Plastiki? How was it built? Who is on board? Where are they now? Get lots of information at their site: http://www.theplastiki.com/

This 60-foot catamaran was built of ecologically friendly materials, including the use of 12,000 recycled plastic bottles. The 6-person crew is headed by David de Rothschild and includes a filmmaker, who is recording the journey for National Geographic. But you can follow them right now, while the trip is happening, as they send back messages, photos and videos, while sailing across the Pacific. I have bookmarked their sites and keep checking on their progress.

Follow David de Rothschild's messages at http://twitter.com/DRExplore

and messages from the crew at http://twitter.com/Plastiki

and their photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/plastiki/

Oprah even featured them on her Earth Day show today. I think what they're doing is cool, and they're calling it Adventure Ecology. For more of their adventures, go to http://www.adventureecology.com/