I always thought the guys on the planes with their private sets of headsets were music junkies -- the ones who have 10,000 songs on their mp3 players from the many CDs and even albums they have accumulated over time.
A couple of months ago a colleague let me in on the secret. The earphones are noise reducers, aimed at making air travel quieter and thus more restful. By using the Bose you feel less stressed by the travel and land feeling far more refreshed. All for $300!
I struggled with justifying the expense and then one Saturday morning the Bose appeared on QVC. Six monthly payments and no interest. It seemed a heavenly sign.
When they were delivered to my home I showed them to my family with great fanfare! I charged them and we each tried them on. Frankly, I could not tell a difference between on and off. Still I put on my game face and my family pretended they did hear a difference (the power of peer persuasion). I decided the real test would not take place in my dining room, it would take place on a plane.
Yesterday I had my chance. I quick trip to Munich meant an eight hour flight. I got on the plane, situated myself and like a pro, unzipped the Bose case and tried my 300 series on. The results were incredible! The loud hum of the airplane engines was suddening dulled -- by at least 50%.
Did I sleep on the flight becuase of the Bose? No, but I can never sleep on overseas flights. Did I arrive feeling more fleet footed? Not really. It was 1:30 a.m. at home and I was facing a brand new day in Bavaria. That being said, they made a huge difference and as I pay for the them over the next four months, I will not regret the purchase. They will not go the way of my home exercise equipment and travel pilates bands (unused and getting dusty). I am commited to striking a pose withe my Bose on all future flights, domestic and international.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Thursday, July 10, 2008
A Mom, on the road...again!
Welcome to the Globe Hopping Mom blog! I created this blog to share tips, tricks and war stories from moms like me -- the traveling kind. If you know which terminal at the Philly airport sells the best cheese steaks, how to travel cross country and avoid O'Hare, which frequent stay programs offer the best rewards and which hotels the best workout rooms, how to convert US dollars to Kronas without asking and how to bring home gifts for the kids that don't look like they came from the airport gift shop (even if they have!) then this blog is for you!
I work for a global company. That means I am expected to travel - a lot. This weekend I am heading to Munich -- four days of travel for an 8-hour meeting. (Somehow video conferencing sounds great but it doesn't build relationships like a trip to the Beirgarten!). My company is based in Sweden, I am based in Philadelphia but actually live in upstate NY -- long story. So while I can work from home sometimes, my office is in Philly and I am there several times per month.
My biggest gripe? If you travel for work you've lived it...the awful state of the air travel industry today. The lines at security, the endless corridors (in high heels) to the gates -- mine is always at the very end of the row, the late planes, the small planes, the planes with overhead bins that barely hold my purse let alone my overnight bag. I can deal with the crying babies, the rude staff and the lack of food and drink, just get me to the church on time!
Every time I creep out of the house at 5:30 a.m. to catch a flight I leave behind my two children, 13 and 11 and my husband. Do I feel guilty, yes. But I am also proud that they have figrured out how to eat, sleep and bathe without my constant supervision. I hope I am helping them to become more self-sufficient and confident. But that might just be me trying to make myself feel better.
From now on I wil post my own experiences as a traveling mom. I hope you will respond and share your own, you know, like when the 6pm flight has been delayed to 8:05 and you can't face another email! Until then, bon voyage!
I work for a global company. That means I am expected to travel - a lot. This weekend I am heading to Munich -- four days of travel for an 8-hour meeting. (Somehow video conferencing sounds great but it doesn't build relationships like a trip to the Beirgarten!). My company is based in Sweden, I am based in Philadelphia but actually live in upstate NY -- long story. So while I can work from home sometimes, my office is in Philly and I am there several times per month.
My biggest gripe? If you travel for work you've lived it...the awful state of the air travel industry today. The lines at security, the endless corridors (in high heels) to the gates -- mine is always at the very end of the row, the late planes, the small planes, the planes with overhead bins that barely hold my purse let alone my overnight bag. I can deal with the crying babies, the rude staff and the lack of food and drink, just get me to the church on time!
Every time I creep out of the house at 5:30 a.m. to catch a flight I leave behind my two children, 13 and 11 and my husband. Do I feel guilty, yes. But I am also proud that they have figrured out how to eat, sleep and bathe without my constant supervision. I hope I am helping them to become more self-sufficient and confident. But that might just be me trying to make myself feel better.
From now on I wil post my own experiences as a traveling mom. I hope you will respond and share your own, you know, like when the 6pm flight has been delayed to 8:05 and you can't face another email! Until then, bon voyage!
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