Costa Rica

Actually, this blog isn’t about Costa Rica at all. It’s about why I do this job. Which is neither for money nor glamour. (Points previously made in past blogs.) No, I do this job to go to new places, to stay in fabulous resorts for free, and to be surprised. I just laid over in…

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In my Own Backyard with a Sports Fan

My brother was recently in town visiting for Christmas. This means that I have been spending a ton of time watching football -and cheering him on in his quest to become champion of his fantasy league.  My brother is a sports FANatic. He loves all sports: football, baseball, basketball, soccer, hockey, boxing, professional, college, international….

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Happy Christmas

Surely the snow globe was invented in New York City. It must have been. The city looks so idyllic in December that I often feel like I’m standing inside of one.  If you’ve never been to New York and have always wanted to visit, the holidays are THE perfect time to go. The city is…

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Tools of the Trade

I know lots of experts offer packing tips. You can roll your clothes. You can use packing cubes. You can vacuum pack into compression sacks. You can do whatever you like. I’m not going to tell you how to pack, just what to pack. In this blog, I’m sharing my tools of the trade and what I won’t leave…

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Captain Obvious

Over the years, my brother, Michael, has given me two valuable pieces of advice:  1. He told me to always buy a $10,000 car. This is great advice. Ten thousand dollars will get you a reliable car and a payment you won’t even notice. But, come to think of it, he bought himself a very…

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Russian Tea Room, New York City

On a recent layover, I treated myself to afternoon tea at the opulent Russian Tea Room. This New York institution (and treasure box) is nearly 100 years old. Founded by members of the Russian Imperial Ballet in 1927, the restaurant is old-world glamorous, stunning, and everything that I love.   As soon as you pass through…

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My Favorite Flight Attendant

I’m sure you’ve read the news that airline employees are required to get vaccinated or face losing their jobs. At my airline, the percentage of those vaccinated is very high; only a few hundred are refusing. One of the few is my friend (and favorite flight attendant), who I’ll call Lola to protect her privacy. …

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In My Own Backyard: Empress by Boon

The hottest reservation in town is for Empress by Boon: San Francisco’s new restaurant recently opened by star chef Ho Chee Boon. It literally took me months to get a reservation. My persistence and stalking skills finally paid off, and I snagged a table for 4 last Saturday! (at 5:00pm) But hey, it was on…

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Vaccinated and Horny

That’s the name of Chelsea Handler’s comedy tour which I went to see last night. She, along with her opening act, were super funny. Chelsea did about an hour of her typical irreverent, political, and raunchy material. One of her biggest laughs was a bit about “these poor flight attendants,” which I found particularly enjoyable….

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