Karma - Pay It Forward.

Today, I went to Michael's with two $5 off a $5 purchase and one 40% off coupon. The small print said, "Only one coupon per customer per day".

I shopped around until I found what I wanted and used one of my $5 off coupons, I was going to throw the other away, but when I went to walk out of the store and I saw a pregnant lady next in line.

I turned around, walked up to her and said, "Are you spending more than $5?" She was, so I handed her the coupon. Then I handed the 40% off coupon to the Indian guy behind her. They both seemed very surprised and thankful.

I really like to do that when I have a bunch of coupons (that I got for free).  I go around and hand them out to people. I especially like to do it around Christmas time at some of the more expensive shops. I have handed $50 off a $125 purchase coupon to a mother taking her teen shopping at a name brand store. I don't know, I just like it. It doesn't cost me anything, but I think it makes an impression. Plus, maybe it helps out or at least makes someone happy.

I just hope they pay forward a small bit of kindness or a good deed to someone.

Later that day, not even an hour later, I was going to go play open gym volleyball. There is a $3 entrance fee. I arrived and walked in with my friend I saw in the parking lot. We walked up to the counter and he said, "This is for both of us." I went to hand him money and he declined. I was a bit surprised and jokingly asked him if this was a date... Honestly though, it meant a lot to me, and it just another example of how a small act makes a difference.

Karma is the concept of "action" or "deed", understood as that which causes the entire cycle of cause and effect (i.e., the cycle called saṃsāra) originating in ancient India and treated in Hindu, Jain, Buddhist and Sikh philosophies. (Wikipedia)

New Car

After months and months of deliberation, I decided that 1) I am tooo cheap for a new car and 2) I am too cheap for a new car. So when I got back from Christmas break, I test drove 3 cars and decided on this one. Its a 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid with 61,800 miles on it. The car is so quiet, it is a little eerie. When you stop at a stop light or go down the freeway, the engine shuts off. It's a little more boat like than I would have wanted, but it wasn't as expensive as a new car and I think I got a good deal on it. Besides, it is novel, so we will see how it goes. It will due until I find something I am in love it. Just a note, it is the first non-blue car I have ever owned.... well, I take that back, I had a green car I drove for a month or so before I went to Scotland, but I barely even broke that in.

Family Pictures

I was able to take Kelly's family pictures again this winter. We decided that we should try to take them in the summer when the weather is a bit warmer. Don't look too close, or you may see blue lips and goosebumps. :)

I had one major problem, I had my metering wrong and didn't realize it, so I had a ton of extremely washed out (super cute) pictures. Oh, and Haylee and Jaiden may have been a bit (ok, really) excited and didn't really like standing still very much. However, I love, love, love this picture of their family. All smiles. Just wait til that little one takes off too!

Why Airlines Shouldn't Give Free Internet

Two letters I sent to Customer Relations that wouldn't have happened had I not had free access to the airlines website during flight:

1) Hello;

As I type this, I am being subjected to the loudest noise I have ever been subjected to on an airplane. When I look out my window, the engine is blocking my field of view. My head is about 2 feet, if that, from it. The engine resonates the wall I sit next to, the seat I am sitting on, and the inner workings of my soul. I am leaning toward the person next to me to try to get away from the noise, but to no avail it is a constant. I cover my ears, put headphones in, but the noise resonates through my head. The length of this flight coupled with this noise is extremely harmful; I worry that I will have permanent hearing loss after this experience!

Have the decibels been tested in this seat through the length of a flight? Have tests been done to see what the side effects are being exposed to loud, resonating engine noises for extended periods of time? I asked for ear plugs, but the flight attendants didn’t have any and I was told it would get quieter when we stopped climbing, but it hasn’t.

Make this noise stop!!!

2) American Airlines;

Yup, it’s me again, the person next to the engine: “When I look out my window, the engine is blocking my field of view. My head is about 2 feet, if that, from it”. This is still the nosiest place I have ever been in my life. This sucks. I can’t believe I have to sit next to this racket for almost 3 hours. It’s the worst experience ever. Standing up and walking a foot in front of my seat makes things better, but I saw this CSI Episode where someone died when a plane hit some severe turbulence and she wacked her head on the ceiling and ended up coming out dead with the baggage claim. Yeah, I saw it and yeah it could happen, but not to me, I am belted in my noisy seat.

Although, maybe hitting my head would be a better option than sitting here next to this excruciating noise. Thirty more minutes…

At least writing to them entertained me during the flight. And just so you know I am not exaggerating, here is a picture of the engine from my plane window: