Have I mentioned lately how much I hate airports and the whole security process. We were running behind today just a little getting to the airport, and they don’t have a dedicated place to check your bag when you are already checked in, except the kiosk out front where they charge you $3 to check a bag. I was being a tightwad and didn’t way to pay the $3, so we stood in line…. forever. When we finally got to the little thingie, up pops the message… IT’S TOO LATE TO CHECK ANY BAGGage, YOU MORON… YOU SHOULD HAVE CHECKED IT AT THE CURB AND PAID THE $3.
Well, it didn’t exactly say that, but it might as well have. So then I have to transfer from my suitcase all the things that they will confiscate if I take my bag through security, send Harry back to the truck with several expensive creams and the perfumes that I had planned to talk about, but… well, not gonna happen, as you probably guessed by now.
So I’ve rummaged around in my purse and only come up with some sample vials of things I’ve already talked about. I did get to sniff briefly the new TDC, Sublime Balkiss, right before I left, and there’s a little lingering on my arm, but not to any degree that I can say anything intelligent about it except, “it smells really nice after 8 hours on my arm,” which actually might say a lot that a TDC from Celine Ellena lasts that long. It’s her usual understated style, and it certainly has been nice to wear all day, but honestly? I was paying more attention to the whole flying/driving thing than the perfume. So… nothing remotely intelligent.
But we did rent a car that I’ve been wanting to test drive for a long time, a Cadillac STS. Suh-weeet! Man, you just hit the footfeed and you are jacked up. For my mid-life crisis car, I was leaning more towards a sports model, but that Caddy is pretty nice. Any other suggestions for a sporty model of car that I need to check out? I used to have a Datsun 280Z before I had kids, and now that I don’t need a car to haul them around anymore, I want something sporty again.
what confounds me is all that liquid that we aren’t allowed to take through because it might be dangerous if mixed? You know, like it might blow up? So where does it go? In a bin where zillions of people are lining up and where it can all leak together in that way that we are supposed to be worrying up if it is on a plane? Oh, I guess it doesn’t matter if it blows up in the concourse? [-(
Aw, nobody’s mentioned it, and though I know it’s not as sexy under the hood, I feel obligated to mention the Solstice (or its evil twin, the Saturn Skyy). There is some “hubba” factor from both the back and the front…and we all wish for that, don’t we? :-\” 😉
BMW M3 with the competition package. Crappy mileage, goes 125mph in nothing flat, you can have any man you want between the ages of 13 and 80, but throw the young-un’s back, they’re not done yet.
Yeah, I felt SO MUCH SAFER taking my sneakers off while the TSA dudes examined my tampons and Crest on the scanner.
Airport security is nothing more that an excuse for institutionalised a$$holism..
Glad to read some props to Cadillac- the new ones aren’t anything like the floaty boats of the past and they actually get great mileage if you can manage not to drive them like you stole them.
If the STS is a bit big for you I’d go for the CTS. I read that they are going to make the sexy coupe version that was shown at the Detroit show this year, almost as is:
http://www.leftlanenews.com/cadillac-cts-coupe.html
On the bright side…be glad you’re flying now and not at the end of August. Rumor has it that security at DIA will be a nightmare during and around the DNC. >:p
If my indestructible Volvo ‘mom car’ ever bbites the proverbial bullet (please, please, please!!) I’m buying a Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder conv. My girlfriend recently bought one and it is so much fun to drive! She also says great things about it in terms of fuel economy, which is no bad thing.
When my kids are gone, I plan on getting a Mini Cooper convertible. Pretty much love their style, good gas mileage too. No back seat room to speak of, but with no kids who cares?
I had a hardtop Cooper S two years ago, and it got miserable gas mileage for such a small car. Twenty-five mpg was outstanding for it. Meanwhile, I had a 12-year-old Camry which never got less than 30 mpg. Was it the Mini’s sports suspension that wasted fuel? Gripped the road too closely?
Datsun 350Z, for the full-throated riproaring midlife crisis. Please test-drive one, at least, and you’ll see. Make it a convertible, of course.
Mini Cooper S, so you can pretend it’s practical when it’s still a midlife crisis reaction. The Miata fits in that category too.
So wonderful that our fearless leaders in Washington (both parties) have made our country safe from hand creams, toothpaste, and perfume, while chaos continues unabated around the globe. What I most dislike about the increasingly dismal experience of flying these days is having to take my shoes off and walk on filthy floors while going through airport security. Yuck.
This is in the realm of total fantasy for me, but if the price tag of a Cadillac STS doesn’t make you go pale, why not consider a Porsche Boxster or Cayman? They cost about the same and would be thrilling to drive down some of those long open highways I saw a few months ago out west. Best of all, for all their high performance they get better gas mileage than a Caddie, leaving the world a somewhat better smelling place for all of us.
Continuing my driving speculations into thoughts on perfumes for driving–now I’m wondering what perfumes Thelma & Louise wore on their road trip? I’m betting that when Jack Kerouac and Dean Moriarty were driving On the Road all those years ago, they emanated a natural version of MKK.
A Mini Cooper would be my car of choice. Super fun and surprisingly excellent pick up. Have to confess that I sort of want a Smart Car – I *love* tiny cars and the parkability of that one just thrills me.
I empathize w/ you about the traveling hassles. Flying has become *such* an exercise in frustration and annoyance. DH once told an airline person (after some major screw up on their part) that they’d be well advised to supply clawing posts in the airport and on the plane for me. He was right.
When I went through my mid-life crisis I got a Sunfire convertible. Had there been more money to play with I’d have gotten a Honda S2000CR or a BMW M3. Both are splendid performance cars and look oh-so-sexy. Since I’m out of my convertible phase I think the Mini Cooper is more my style. 🙂
You’re right about airport security. It’s beyond tedious and exasperating.
I’ve been reading good things about the new TDC Sublime Balkiss and must try it. I’ve never had a C. Ellena last very long.
Hi Patty! How about the Nissan 350Z? My dad has one – he’s 76 and walks with a walker, but he loves his sports cars and has had a few over the years – a couple of TRs, Mazda Rx7, Miata, and now the 350Z. It’s an awesome car, and FAST. Though, it looks like they’ve dropped the “350” and now just call it “Z”.
I’m personally lusting after a MINI Cooper! Haven’t driven one yet, though. They’re supposed to be a blast to drive…plus you can customize the thing like crazy (which jacks up the price, of course). Not exactly a midlife crisis type of car if you want something flashy and extravagant, though.
If I had my choice and price was no issue, I’d go for a Porsche 911 convertible or a BMW 650i.
My dream car of the moment is one of these:
http://www.fiat.co.uk/showroom/?id=10023#showroom/new_500
Though I’m not much of a car aficionado really, I’ve always loved the original Cinquecento, so have a real soft spot for the beauty of the relaunched model. I like small cars, but they’re not practical for all the driving I have to do nowadays. But even my larger car choice is still small by general American standards!
Lee, that is one adorable car. I’d give it about 6 minutes before being eaten alive on our Beltway by a Humvee 😮
Ooh, I ilke the look of it, except for the sun-dome bit–I have enough problems with sunlight in cars as it is, last thing I would want is a glass roof, or worse, no roof at all. Seriously, if I could find some sort of UV-impervious car, I could almost stop wearing all the sunscreen that’s gunking up my skin so badly.
those are sooooo cute! I want to burp it! I hope they bring them here soon.
Smart cars are popping up here a lot- and SUV’s are as passe as pink Uggs…
I feel for you. I hate the whole airport and security thing too!
First of all, the daftness of having to get there three full hours before an international flight (as recommended).
Then there’s the absurdity of security.
‘Did you pack your bag yourself?’ Really, would anyone with any sense answer ‘No’ to that, whether they did or not?
And having to throw away perfectly good water if you haven’t finished the bottle (and buy more on the other side of course).
And having to hop around trying to get one’s shoes back on because there isn’t a seat handy to help.
And the ‘one piece of hand-luggage’ rule. How stupid. Many women end up with two – a backpack or laptop bag etc, and a purse, which they have to put inside the other one. Daft! (And obviously bugger-all to do with security, since business class and above get an allowance of two or more bags).
And I pack light for shorter trips, but still have to check my bag in, because I don’t want to travel without my tweezers and nail scissors! Is a pair of pink Tweezerman slants really such a dangerous weapon? Honestly…
And the stupid people manning security, applying the rules with no common sense. A friend was flying recently. She turned up in jeans and a tank top with a shirt open over it – obviously a layer. They made her take off the shirt (which she’d worn to hide her bra-straps peeking from under the tank!) because to them, it counted as a jacket! She was told if the shirt had been buttoned, she would not have had to take it off. You couldn’t make it up, could you….
Maybe it’s a little dated, but I remain very fond of the Miatta…a girlfriend just bought one, and I still find it fun and kinda sexy. And, of course, the vintage Benz sportscars.
A Prius is as sporty as I get these days with gas prices! But yes, fantasies of a convertible Miata….stuck in DC traffic with fumes from semis and my view obstructed by all of the Suburbans and mongo SUVs that people are trying to unload these days? Ack!
Well then, missy, no rides for you in my hot sexmobile [-( !