Why Do Airline Seats Recline?

Anyone who is over 5'4" automatically feels even more uncomfortable on a flight when that person in front of them decides to recline his or her seat. So why do they do it? Reclining does not give them any more leg room. Does reclining your seat really give you that much more comfort? I am 6'3" and I will never recline my seat on an airline.

Unless I get lucky enough to get an emergency exit row seat, my knees have nowhere to go when I squeeze into my seat. Once someone starts reclining their seat in front of me it becomes a torturous flight. These people are simply inconsiderate of others.

Why do the airlines even allow this practice in the first place?

Mom's 80th Birthday

I just returned from Florida where we celebrated my Mom's 80th birthday. It is hard to believe she is 80 - she doesn't look it or act it at all. She regularly golfs, still making pars and birdies - and I am sure she would still be playing tennis, but the pounding her knees took was too much to continue. She is active with her friends, her church and volunteering - and really does just about everything as well as she has ever done.

During her birthday party she read a couple of things to us - one was more on the humorous side and the other more serious - but both meant a lot. The funny one said that someone who reaches this point of life has a built in excuse whenever they may make a mistake: "Well, I'm 80!" She did use this on us a few times, mostly when playing cards.

We all had a great time together. My brother, sisters, their spouses and my niece Jasmin all made the trip. We spent three nights at a resort on Ft Myers Beach and my sister Sally and I spent some extra time at my Mom's home. The weather was perfect, as we played golf, spent time at the beach, ate great food and played lots of cards.

Jasmin also put together the photo album of my Mom's life, which she is holding above. This turned out great and we all enjoyed looking at the pictures from over the years.

We are now looking forward to number 85!

A New Chapter

It seems like my life has had many new chapters, but here I am again starting another. Just to quickly summarize, if you don't already know, I lost money on a business which I sold for a loss about a year ago. I didn't have much luck in my next venture, selling for an ad agency. So I started working in a place that I loved to go for fun - the Folsom Lake Bowl Card Room - as a floor manager. It is different from any job that I have had in the past, but I really enjoy working there.

One line of work that I have thought about doing for a few years is working with a chamber of commerce. It has all the elements of a job that I have experience with - and that I like doing, such as marketing, promoting, selling, writing, managing, creating and operating events and working with businesses.

Today I started working at the Shingle Springs/Cameron Park Chamber of Commerce. I am currently the chamber's only paid employee, but I only have the title of administration. I'll just be working there on a part time/temporary basis as I see if it will be a good fit for me, and the chamber's board members see if I will be a good fit for the chamber.

There are definitely some challenges in store but I am looking forward to these. In the mean time, I am still working at the FLB Card Room and don't have any plans of leaving there. Come by and see me at either job when you can!