Left my phone on the plane Reuniting with your electronics

What if you leave your phone on the plane?

Ideas for keeping your electronics with you

Sakura Petals sleeves for iPads

Used to be you'd hear of someone's leaving an actual book or magazine (made of paper!) in an airline seatback pocket. Occasionally someone left something more valuable, a jacket, purse or small item of luggage. We lined up at the pay phones. Whaaaa?

These days you might leave behind a valuable piece of electronics, an e-reader, tablet computer or cell phone. It can be something that contains important personal data, photos and more. 
Links to some airline Lost & Found sites are below.

Regardless of whether you're traveling for business, pleasure or a little of both, few people enjoy the process of the travel itself anymore. Do you find yourself in a hurry to get off that airplane, get your luggage and get out of the airport? Aren't we all!

On October 31, 2013 the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that the use of personal electronic devices can be used from gate-to-gate. Cell phone conversations are still banned. Electronics must be on Airplane Mode.

Don't forget the Airport Lost and Found office.

From the Southwest Airlines web site (good information for items lost on any airline):
If you realize that you left an important item onboard the plane:
Please notify a Southwest Airlines Customer Service Agent before leaving the airport so he or she can try to retrieve the item.
Fill out a Lost & Found Report.   
If you’ve left the airport, please contact Southwest Airlines lost and found.

Please provide detailed information regarding the item (i.e. model/serial number, brand, size, color, etc.)....

As rules are phased in and perhaps changes made, everyone should check with your carrier and each crew on rules for your particular flights.

“We believe today’s decision honors both our commitment to safety and consumers' increasing desire to use their electronic devices during all phases of their flights,” Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx , FAA press release -- NBC News, 11/01/2013

Airlines say they're warehousing hundreds of iPads, other tablet computers and ereaders left behind by passengers.

A Wall Street Journal article suggests:

"Buy a brightly colored case that is easy to spot in a messy airplane cabin. A unique case will also help airline personnel locate the device in a storage room."

Carriers try to reunite the devices with their owners but are often thwarted by the lack of ID tags, password protection and Apple Inc.'s reluctance to track down owners based on serial numbers. ....

"A bare iPad without any identifying feature is difficult for us," said a Delta spokesman.

Quick Tips Before You Fly:

* Set up your screen saver to display a phone number that someone can see even if the device is locked.

* You can tape a business card to the back of your device. United Airlines recommends taping a card with name/address/phone to personal electronic equip. If left on a plane it’s easier to return.

* Don't think that once you've left your iPad on the plane you won't do it again. We heard from someone who's left theirs on planes three times! When you've landed and you're anxious to get off the plane, they say to check your seatback pocket. Do it even though you know you don't have anything in there.

* Keep serial numbers of all devices. There's always the method of Scan/Copy/Xerox the back of your device, get the serial numbers. Have a paper printout filed. Digital copy in a well marked folder in your computer.

* There are features of Apple and Samsung devices that allow you to trace the location of the device.

* Choose equally identifiable luggage tags.

* Keep good personal information including itineraries inside all bags.

* Choose a bag or sleeve that will catch your attention, stand out in that airline seat back pocket if you're going to put your computer in there.

Personal Note: I have been escorted to the suitcase room, behind the bell desk of major hotels on a couple of occasions in order to locate misplaced items of luggage. This usually happened when we were anxious to leave for the airport.

You will be so thankful that you had identifiable luggage and laptop bags.

We place colorful luggage straps around our bags.

After having the airlines lose my luggage twice and going through the process of trying to describe it, I now take a photo of my luggage before we've left. It'll be easier if it happens again.

I can think of two times where I've boarded planes and seen people pull a previous passenger's cell phone out of the seat-back pocket. These were not flights with assigned seats.

Those people were honest enough to hand the phones over to crew members. This doesn't always happen. Think about what you can do ahead of time so you're less apt to leave it behind.

Most airlines have valuable phone numbers listed on the paper ticket jackets where they've stapled our luggage claim tickets. Save those in case you've left something behind or you have any problem at all with your luggage.

Airline Lost and Found Links:

Any airline links below may change. They can't be guaranteed but they should be a good place to start.

Frontier Airlines Lost & Found

American Airlines Lost & Found information

Alaska Airlines "Tell us what you left on board"

Southwest Airlines lost and found

Jet Blue lost and found  "Articles found onboard an aircraft or in a JetBlue terminal will be placed in the JetBlue lost and found area of the destination city." 

British Airways: Left something on plane, lost and found

United Airlines Left something on a plane


Related Links of Interest:

Knitting Needles on a Plane: Flying with Crafting, Art Tools, Musical Instruments

The World is a book Kindle Keyboard Covers by lostlit
Shop for Caseable Cases online at Zazzle.com

Cow Print Macbook Air Sleeve 13 / 11 Inch Red Ribb 
View other MacBook Air accessories

See more iPad Sleeves on Zazzle

Spirit Friends in the Woods iPad Mini Cover 
Browse other Green Cases

Goosebumps 3-D Look Textured Computer Sleeve For MacBooks
Look at Polka dots MacBook Sleeves online at Zazzle.com

Sources:
-- short excerpts and information from a May 2012 Wall Street Journal article
-- NBC News, Washington November 1, 2013
-- Southwest Airlines Customer Service FAQ

-- Federal Aviation Administration
 

It's not my bag, Man.....
Maybe I'll find something that is my bag though.

Not Your Bag Luggage Tags by J32Teez
More Fun Luggage Tags

Grinch steals holiday decorations Pranksters take lawn ornaments

He is an inflatable yard airblown decoration, 5 foot long monster on a motorcycle, Frankenstein the biker. He's over $100, (most of the good inflatable decorations are.) This one is weather resistant and has already received a five star rating from a customer. 

Halloween lawn decorations are becoming almost as popular as Christmas outdoor decorations.  Families, small businesses and groups put money and time into purchasing, storing, planning and assembling the displays.

The cost of running the light and animation shows can be expensive, too. They may be synced with music. What people do each year is impressive.

Do you decorate your home or business for the holidays? Do you like to drive around and look at the lights? 

Blow up decorations are popular for many holidays. They're also more and more popular for local vandals and pranksters. Each year we see news stories about vandalized and stolen yard displays, stolen characters from nativity scenes. Often the baby Jesus is stolen.

Have your items been passed down through the family as ours have been? Are they hand-made? Are they gifts? You could be talking hundreds of dollars if not thousands.

When it happens to us, it isn't so funny, even if the pieces end up later on a neighbor's lawn or if they are recovered some other way.  If your friends and neighbors have been hit you may want to consider protecting your property.

A quick online survey shows thieves' taking items from lawns while homeowners are at home. They may go right up onto the front porch. Items beyond just decorations are stolen.

What can you do to protect your property and/or
help in getting it back if stolen? 

Fill out a police report if you have something stolen:

We heard of people being brought up on misdemeanor larceny and grand theft charges.

Tell neighbors to be on the look-out

Install Security Cameras:

If by chance or design, home owners are first turning to their security cameras such as the Dropcam HD Wi-Fi Wireless Monitoring Camera to see who's in their yards with their decorations. Is your camera able to make out the person's car? Anything identifiable about the pranksters?  The Logitech Alert 700e Outdoor Add-On HD Security Camera w/Night Vision is on sale.

Think about where to install the small cameras:

At least one family has installed a security camera right inside their nativity because they've had thefts so many years in a row. 

Put a video on YouTube if you think it might help. Here's just one of them that out there: 

Add signs letting them know you have cameras:

It's suggested that maybe after hours, you post a sign letting it be known that security cameras are on your property. This will be easier to do than putting up signs after the fact, signs that say something like, We lost our decorations to thieves.

Watch what's happening:

From the security cameras: You may keep a browser window on your computer open to watch what's going on in your front yard. One person let us know that it's possible to hook a camera up to their Kindle Fire (With or without Special Offers) and see what's going on in your yard, too.

Turn on Security Lighting:

Along with security cameras, it helps to have security lighting. Try motion sensor lights. These are beneficial if guests are coming to your house or if anyone happens to be on your property. Even garden decorations may be at risk. 

Tie or chain the decorations down:

People have thwarted the thieves by having inflatables and other decorations tied down to the ground and having all of the decorations tied to one another. Some folks even chain the items down. Vandals may bring knives and other tools, especially when going after the inflatables. Once again always think of the safety of your own family and guests, also of people such as the mail carrier. Don't have cords and other things everywhere.

Duct Tape:

As 'bandaid'... This can at least temporarily get your inflatables in working order again. They sell red and green duck tape. If you can place it on the inside, it's less apt to show. Some folks are perfectly happy to let it show on the outside.

Put the most valuable, sentimental items closer to the house:

Some vandals and thieves are less likely to go up on your front porch or closer to your house.

Mini Waterproof GPS Tracker SOS Function,
Vehicle/Outdoors, Children,Seniors and Pets

Add GPS Devices:

A new high-tech way of catching the crooks is by placing GPS devices in or on some of the decorations. More than a few baby Jesus statues out there are implanted with GPS receivers. Even some that were chained down were stolen.

If you steal Jesus, you're may be tracked! Security companies will implant your Jesus with some type of GPS Tracking System so you may consider buying something yourself. 

They sell GPS devices for your car, even to keep track of your kids and your pets.  No one wants to pay to replace a 9' Grinch year after year! 

Have a neighborhood watch, watch out for one another:

The representative at one church said that they had people volunteer to take shifts sitting out by the nativity scene watching it all night to make sure no one stole or vandalized any decorations. That's nice of people to offer, but pretty sad that it's necessary.

Keep a record of what you have for Identification:

Police suggest keeping the boxes that the inflatables come in so you have a record of just what they looked like. Photos and videos of the decorations can help, too. 

Many of us have items that are home made, passed through the generations, items that were gifts from loved ones. We're less likely to have the boxes older items came in and they have more sentimental value.

Don't assume you know who is taking your decorations:

It isn't necessarily someone of a certain age group. Don't assume it's someone whose beliefs are different from yours. It could be the lady next door or the whole family across the street, including the parents. You just don't know until there's evidence. Some of the pranksters videotape themselves in the act. Some put those videos or video of themselves talking about it on YouTube. That's pretty helpful.

If you have an antique store or something similar, work with authorities if you notice someone's bringing in a lot of decorations.  

Don't let this dampen your spirits!

We decorate for our families and communities. Some of us raise money and get donations of toys for local hospitals and other charities. Don't let this ruin your fun and your traditions.

65ft Airblown Deluxe Christmas Pirate Ship Scene: This inflatable yard decoration lights up, Self-inflates in seconds, Includes everything needed for set-up and has a Weather-resistant design. Santa and the gang will be out there watching. :-)

A single mother had her lawn ornaments stolen. Someone suggested that the thieves may have been after some copper inside one of them? "Maybe they didn't have ornaments of their own?" She said she also tells her kids, "If  you can't afford it, you don't need it."

One homeowner said, in a TV interview right after having items stolen from his lawn, "I've got a ball bat and a machete and I told the police you won't have any problems finding them!"

Get that far out Frankenstein Biker

Airblown Inflatable 5 Ft Long Monster on a Motorcycle

at the top of the page!

Outdoor Snow Image Projector There's a house in our neighborhood that does something like this. It looks like it's snowing. Really impressive

Christmas Lights Stringer Upper T-shirt 
Browse zazzle for a different shirt

Funny Christmas T-shirt  
Design your own t shirts 

Top Fifteen places to wear antlers this holiday season, Reindeer Cars

The Top Fifteen Places to Wear Reindeer Antlers during the Holiday Season

Here are fifteen of the many good places, in no particular order, where you may want to wear your reindeer antlers. A pair of antlers could put you over the top to win in that annual Ugly Christmas Sweater competition, too!

15) On stage in a holiday show such as an orchestra performance [Santa's Favorite Reindeer Antlers Hat ]

14) Working in a restaurant, cafe, food truck, having a holiday bake sale

13) Volunteering at a hospital or shelter, serving meals

Candy Cane Antler Headband

 12) Shopping, find each another in the mall!

11) While wrapping and/or Decorating

10) Office party, Potluck, Christmas parites, Cookie Exchange

9) School or other holiday parade

8) Working at Day care, Child care facilities

Antler headband fits both adults and kids

7) Airport to pick someone up, on a plane

6) Business promotional events, YouTube videos, attention getting

5) Christmas/holiday photos for cards

4) Making videos for grandparents, distant relatives

3) Going to pick out a Christmas tree

2) Delivering Presents, Toys to the toy drive

1) Christmas Day

Your own Reindeer Sleigh!

Don't forget that your vehicle would also like to be decked out! Having a Reindeer Car is in keeping with the spirit, but it also helps you to find your festive car in the parking lot when you have tired feet!

There are so many types of antlers to choose from. Don't limit yourself and don't think that you have nowhere and no reason to wear them. 

Sahara Vegas : Beatles 1964 : Casino Closing : Inventory : Auction : June 16

The inventory of the Sahara Hotel Las Vegas auction was held June 16th, 2011. As they say, it truly is the closing of a Las Vegas Landmark. 

Back in the day, Vegas hotel casinos were often named with desert themes, The Dunes, The Sands, The Stardust and The Frontier.

The Sahara opened in 1952. It closed on May 16th of this year (2011). With the spring/summer 2015 closing of the Riviera Hotel, people are waiting to see when items from that venue will be auctioned off.

Want to own a piece of old Vegas? A diverse and interesting collection of items, some perhaps unexpected, were waiting for the highest bidder for a June 2011 auction. [Note this auction is over.]

In 1964, The Beatles stayed at The Sahara Hotel. The auction is offering a room plaque, The Beatles Stayed Here, August 19, 1964. The Sahara had sponsored the group's first show in Las Vegas.

The Beatles, American Flag 
Buy at All Posters

Surely this would be a great addition, a one-of-a-kind item, for your Beatles Collection. There's also an image of Rory Calhoun and one of Elizabeth Taylor by the pool.

For the interior designers, the items are gorgeous and unusual. A wide variety of chandeliers and other light fixtures including elaborate sconces. Better bring measuring tape, though! Most of us live in homes somewhat smaller than a Vegas casino!

Your poker room will be the hit of the neighborhood with Vegas tables and chairs, baby. :)

Chefs, caterers, those who need to create a kitchen on a budget may get something at a good price here. Check out the freezers and refrigerators, mixers and serving items, too.

Need TV? They have giant flat screens that were hung in the casino to various types that were in the rooms. Turn your home into a media center.

Don't let someone else get the ceramic camel, a swanky round tub from the suite and a big fountain into which for your friends may pitch their coins for good luck.

All in all, this is a great excuse for a trip to Las Vegas. Nothing lasts forever. Visit The Flamingo and Caesars Palace. What do you think of The Aladdin, old vs new? Not many of the old hotels are around any more.

If you'd like to add a chandelier to your own or your kids' bedroom or playroom; girls, boys or gender neutral. There are so many available. This includes the well-known Currey and Company Chandeliers with a wide variety of styles and prices. I like the different colors and materials, the fairy tale looks and the spheres or orb pendant lights. 

Wear a Beatles-inspired t-shirt and you're ready for any Magical Mystery Tour.

Image used under Creative Commons from mrak75 (Flickr)

Surviving 'Anniversary Reactions'

Rustic Ridge Refillable
Leather Travel Journal
- 6" x 8" - Saddle Brown

Are there anniversaries that you remember, days that are are very personal and unique to you? The diagnosis of an illness, the date of an accident, injury?

The date that a crime took place or a legal situation came to a conclusion? The date of any kind of loss or change -- a divorce or separation, the loss of your home, your wedding anniversary after you're divorced. The death of a loved one.

How about a beginning of sorts? The start of a diet or date reaching a goal weight? Five years cancer-free. Many of these events can be life-changing and may somehow live in our DNA and bring about what's called the Anniversary Reaction.

"Do you remember where you were when..." Some may be one-time events, the wedding day of an ex, for instance. Each September 11th many people mark the date in their own personal way.

I have a line of jewelry based on Transitions. One necklace is called What Would Mother Do? The letters WWMD are spelled out in Morse code.

Otherwise relatively happy occasions such as holidays, especially considering the traditions associated with these times, can leave people feeling sad and stressed. What were once other happy occasions, such as wedding anniversaries and birthdays, can now be disconcerting.

Are you no longer part of a couple having that anniversary? Is part of the family missing? Is someone very ill? How do you deal with this?Family and friends of the person who's going or has been through the event may not be sure of how to help. Working through the feelings, 'putting one foot in front of the other' you will get through it, but there are things to do that may help make the process easier.


The National Center for The Victims of Crime has a site, Coping with Holidays, Anniversaries and Other Important Dates, with very good information for anyone having difficulty getting through something like a holiday or family gatherings after a life-changing situation.

In the future, I'm going to look at different ways that people remember, ways we can commemorate, celebrate, acknowledge and maybe feel somewhat back some control.

These are just some of the ideas I've accumulated by researching what others are doing. What works for one person may not work for someone else and there's no place for judging in your process.

Try creating a journal, shrine, scrapbook or some other form of artwork. There are many beautiful journals out there.
 
Light candles. Talk to a counselor, support group, friend or arrange for time alone. Take a walk or take a trip. Listen to or create music. Watch a drama and have a good cry. Watch a comedy and have a good laugh. The Marx Brothers Silver Screen Collection has five of their films on DVD.

Create your own one-time or annual ritual or ceremony. Get a tattoo. You may choose to wear a significant color, a piece of clothing or jewelry, something that's symbolic. Fly a kite or blow bubbles. Clean out a closet, donate your time to help others, make a donation to a charity.

In Harpo Speaks! one of my all-time favorites, Harpo Marx, lists what were his House Rules. I typed them out years ago and have had them up on our living room for over 20 years now. Here's a little bit:

"If things get too much for you and you feel the whole world's against you, go stand on your head. If you can think of something crazier to do, do it. Don't worry about what other people think. The only person in the world important enough to conform to is yourself."

These 'anniversary reactions' are experienced by people every day but still aren't talked about that much. It's sometimes expected that a wedding will take a year to plan, but you are supposed to 'get over' a loss in a very short time. I think that finding a balance can help to make life easier and can help see what others are going through, too.

Objects and Memory was a program on PBS. In part, as their web site says, the program also explored "the need to keep and offer meaningful objects in the context of other traumatic national events and memorials." People often collect or keep objects that mean or represent something to them after a loss or an event.

The Mayo Clinic has an article about grief and coping with reminders after a loss.
I welcome anyone's suggestions for what they do when a significant date rolls around and will try to feature suggestions in upcoming blog posts. We can all help each other. Thanks.

World Juggling Day, Are You Ready? And Would Penn Jillette Approve?

"I can't stress to you how insignificant this is," Penn Jillette was heard to say around and about World Juggling Day 1999.

Be sure to hug a juggler, especially on June 18th, 2011 -- but trying to squeeze in when he or she isn't in action is best.

"It's just musings on something I'm obsessed with. If I were in charge, Juggling Day wouldn't happen."

Jillette wrote the forward to The Theory and Practice of Juggling, and was named honorary Chairjuggler for The Special Day in the final year of the last century.

But whether we personally sanction it or not, World Juggling Day rolls around again. It was June 14, 2014. Celebrate to raise worldwide awareness of juggling. Anyone remember Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari's juggling bit during the opening of Bosom Buddies?

They juggled in the opening of the 1980s show.

A good starter complete Juggling Set has balls, rings, scarves, illustrated instructions and more.

When you go see Penn & Teller, like at The Rio in Las Vegas, you may be lucky enough to see Penn Jillette juggle broken liquor bottles.

Times like these, tough times when some folks aren't doing so well, call for an upswing in juggling or something like it, a new spin, a new perspective. Maybe an escape.

Take a look at Oopsy Daisy Petite Circus Monkey Stretched Canvas Wall Art by Lorena Siminovich Choose other sizes, other animals and scenes by Oopsy Daisy Baby. If you have a child, you know about Oopsy Daisy. (below)

It probably won't make you rich, but at the same time, we don't expect the cops to arrest you for having juggling paraphernalia in your car.

As Jillette puts it, "It's something you can learn really cheap and by yourself. It's a delightful kind of special thing."

Jump right in, start small, improve your skills.

Have you ever seen someone Fire Dancing, spinning a pair of lit fireballs around her head? It's a form of juggling called Poi, the Maori word for 'ball,' on a cord. Poi Spinning for Beginners (also includes Veil Poi instruction for Belly Dancers) Fire Spinning Poi can get you started. Are you a dancer? ...

Tangled Metal: Stainless Steel Hacky Sack Leather And Chainmail - What color(s) will you choose? (Footbag) You don't have to be going to the Renaissance Festival  Ready for some Medieval personality juggling? Put some sound into your action.

If your cats are anything like ours, they may be the family's born jugglers. CHASE'M Catnip Puff Balls 30pk

One of our cats walks around with one of these in her mouth until she finds you. Then she'll drop it so she can play fetch. We put them back in the bag (or another zip bag) so they mix with the loose catnip and get re-energized for later play. It's good bonding for you and your pet, good exercise for them.

Why not break up the pack. Put a couple in a smaller bag and give away as stocking stuffers or presents to a friend? Sometimes if a friend is having trouble with their cat, the problem may be as simple as they haven't given their cat any toys - homemade or not. They're just not spending as much time as necessary playing with their pet. Then the pet becomes bored and destructive.

Snowball Cookies: Get them, Make them yourself

Coincidentally, Penn Jillette has been spotted juggling snowballs on YouTube.

This is one of those times to listen to the tall man.

"I'm promoting juggling because it's ...
OK, juggling isn't important,"
Jillette said.

I am presently refining the designs of my Penn and Teller inspired pieces of jewelry. Be very afraid.

Buzz Saw : Moon Winder Toy : Diabolo

Celebrating Bosom Buddies: Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari

Black and White Polka Dot Wedding Theme


Black & White Polka Dot Wedding Invitations


Polka Dot Weddings

juggling clubs by piutedrive

Browse more Color T-Shirts

Juggling balls by homydesign
Browse Colorful T-Shirts

Physicist Juggling with the Planets by tartanphoenix

Be a t-shirt affiliate with Zazzle.

[Quotes from Penn Jillette are from a June 1999 Las Vegas Sun interview.]