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June 2004 - Innovations Newsletter
Five Stars for Air Tran Airlines I had to fly to Kansas City on very short notice over the Memorial Day weekend. I didn’t have the time to drive 800 miles each way. So, I reluctantly started looking for a reasonably priced ticket available within 48 hours. I eventually tried Air Tran which I have never flown before. There site was easy to navigate and their normally low fares were even lower. (I got a very nice Internet special.) Booking the flight was easy and quick. I only have one minor complaint. When I picked my seat I saw a big gap between two rows. I figured these were the seats beside the exit doors so I grabbed one of them. I like leg room. Boy was I in for a shock! I was also able to check in and print my boarding pass over the Internet from my home computer. I like that convenience. (Air Tran has kiosks at the airport where you can do the same thing.) I checked the radio and heard stories about how long people were standing in line waiting to check in. So, I arrived two hours early. Instead of being stuck in the big lines (like Disney World) I was taken to a less congested area of the airport. There was one line and no one ahead of me. Took less than three minutes to go through the security checkpoint. I already had my boarding pass so I got to sit and read for a long time. Every Air Tran employee I met or observed had a big smile and a “can do” attitude. They genuinely seemed to enjoy helping their customers. I boarded the plane and to my horror saw that the exit seat I thought I had booked was in fact the seat behind the exit door seat. It was the most cramped row on the plane. It was like being in the back seat of a compact car when the 7 foot driver pushes his seat all the way back. I sat down beside a young lady and said, “What have we done to ourselves.” She just laughed and said she felt the same way. The flight was smooth, the flight attendants very personable and very helpful. They even gave me extra munchies. I concluded my business in Kansas City earlier than I had planned. Called Air Tran and asked if I could book standby on an earlier flight. They said yes, booked me and 45 minutes later I was on my way back to Atlanta. This time I knew which row to avoid! One little bit of excitement occurred while I was waiting to board my plane. One of the passengers tried to exit through an emergency door. Alarms went off and an Air Tran employee was instantly on the spot calming the distraught passenger. He patiently explained what happened and directed the passenger to the correct exit point. He was very calm, professional and at all times made sure the passenger didn’t feel like a criminal or an idiot. One of the flight attendants was playing mother hen to a group of small children. She was very patient and answered their constant stream of questions at a level appropriate to their age. Any parent would have been impressed with the way she took care of her little travelers. We ran into some problems with weather in Atlanta, but the Captain kept us informed and was able to make up for lost time. We arrived on schedule. After this experience I will make Air Tran my first choice when I have to fly. At this time their choice of cities is limited, but they assured me they are adding new destinations. If you fly Air Tran, I hope you have as good trip as I did. And now for this months sites: Have You Ever Wanted to Write a Children’s Book? Here’s your chance. GiGi Books is looking for fun and creative, original children’s stories. The winner will receive $250.00 and their book will be published and adapted to audio. Three additional winners will be chosen and their books will be published and adapted also. Submission must be 400 words or less and received by August 1st, 2004. $5.00 entrance/processing fee should be included with each manuscript submitted. Send manuscripts to: GiGi Books, LLC 17486 Old Waterford Road Leesburg VA 20176 More information is available on their web site: http://www.gigiaudiobooks.com/contest Your Personal Credit Score Clark Howard mentioned a site that will let you find out your personal credit score. This is what determines how much credit you can get and is an important number to know if you are buying a home or a big ticket item, http://www.myfico.com/ Personalized Louisville Slugger Here is an 18” miniature Louisville Slugger bat that can be personalized with a name just like its full-size counterpart. Might make a unique personalized for good old dad if he is a baseball fan. They have other baseball related products as well. http://www.sluggergifts.com/scripts/wgate/zw20/!?ostore=GIFTS&%7Eokcode=START&%7Elanguage=en Java Jane The Message Board for Women: It offers among other things: Chit Chat, Meet new friends, Find a support group, Health and Fitness and Arcade Games. http://www.javajane.com/ Government Web Sites I get to be Smokey Bear again this year during Take Your Child to Work Day. It's his 60th birthday and we having a big party with ice cream and cake for the kids. Then, I get to take the little ones in small groups to one of my computer rooms and keep each group occupied for 30 minutes. Am going to show them the following web sites which are aimed at kids. Dewey the Turtle: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/infosecurity/index.html Reddy Squirrel: http://www.fseee.org/ Smokey Bear: http://www.smokeybear.com/ Woodsy owl: http://www.fs.fed.us/spf/woodsy/ Herman the Spokescrab: http://www.fema.cov/kids Cat Gift Store Are you a cat lover? Here is a site devoted exclusively to cats. http://www.catgiftstore.com That’s it for this month. We’ve had a lot going on with our grandchildren which has been taking up most of our time. C U in July. Ron Nixon RWR Innovations We Make Reading Fun Again! Issue: 6/1//2004 ISSN #: 1543-9275 Note: The websites in this newsletter are listed because I find them interesting and have value to parents and children. They have not paid money or given me anything to be mentioned. CU in July. Ron Nixon RWR Innovations We Make Reading Fun Again! Issue: 06/01/2003 ISSN #: 1543-9275 Note: The websites in this newsletter are listed because I find them interesting and have value to parents and children. They have not paid money or given me anything to be mentioned. RWR Innovations Personalized Books make great fund raisers. Personalized Children's Books P.O. Box 460939 Papillion NE 68046-0939 402-592-9199 Webmaster: Ron Nixon wa8zde@bellsouth.net 3807 Shadowood Parkway SE Atlanta GA 30339-2301 770-850-1400 Site Map 06/01/2004 |