carry on your chains & whips – get your bag of complimentary chips?

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what goes better than apple pie & chevrolet this 4th of July? this is for or those traveling by plane this holiday weekend…in case your inquiring minds wanted to know:

TRIP TIPS – carry on or check it when flying the fetish skies

The San Francisco Chronicle recently got confirmation from TSA officials that there are more items specifically allowed in carry-on luggage than you might expect. Among them are whips, chains, handcuffs, vibrators, and other personal “toys” that don’t exceed certain measurements—in other words, they’re OK to go as long they don’t become “club-like.”

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for more on Sex toys and the security checkpoint By Harriet Baskas, msnbc.com contributor:

The TSA’s website has a detailed list of items such as certain sports equipment, firearms, explosives and other potentially dangerous objects prohibited in a carry-on bag.

If you’re wondering whether or not that vibrator, sex toy or other X-rated object will make it through the airport security checkpoint, however, you’re pretty much on your own.

“Our list, while as complete as possible, leaves discretion in the hands of our trained work force to identify items that could constitute a threat to passengers and aviation security,” said TSA spokesperson Nico Melendez. “TSA recommends removing batteries from items that may inadvertently activate during the screening process.”

So how do you know what sort of sex paraphernalia is OK to carry-on?

A “same as” approach may help.

“Look on the TSA list. Where it says ‘fluids,’ think ‘lubricants.’ Where it says ‘electronic devices,’ think ‘massagers,’” said Brian Alexander, an msnbc.com contributor and author of “America Unzipped: The Search for Sex and Satisfaction.”

While vibrators, whips, chains and manacles are OK in carry-on luggage, according to a recent article in the San Francisco Chronicle, some X-rated objects, such as anatomically correct cylinders “a foot or so in length,” should be packed in checked luggage because they fall in the TSA category that prohibits putting items like billy clubs and brass knuckles in carry-on bags.

Once you’ve determined whether or not your sex toy can fly, taking it along depends on how comfortable you are “with the possibility that a TSA guy might go rooting through your carry-on,” said Alexander. “The fact is they see lots of toys already because many people travel with vibrators.”

Sex toy or not, if you’re worried that any item in your carry-on might create an uncomfortable situation at the security checkpoint, you always have the right to request a private screening.

If you do find yourself pulled aside for questioning, Alexander’s advice is to hold your head high. “You have every right to travel with personal products. You do not need to explain how anything works or answer any ‘why’ questions. If somebody smirks or makes fun, report them. We have a right to expect that people empowered to go through our personal things treat everybody with respect no matter what they see.”

**picture from SF Gate

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TRAVEL TAWK – it's 4th of July weekend & the summer heat is ON! strange things are happening…tweeting turtles, TSA vs. sex toys + planking in precarious places

JFKTurtles
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JFKTurtles: We’ve had a busy Wednesday. Note to selves: don’t try to play frogger on the tarmac.

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YES – you read that right – TWEETING TURTLES in heat are making travel news! it’s mating season and love is in the air (or, err, on the tarmac). their rash behavior on wednesday is explained to the press in these tweets:

@JFKTurtles “When you are gearing up for the moment, you don’t really think about your personal safety. You know?” to @nymag

@JFKTurtles “We take humpday to heart.” to @thedailybeast

it all started with a JetBlue tweet (see below) that led the turtles to opening their own twitter account and tweeting back.

read on to learn more on why the turtles are in the travel news and follow the funny tweeting turtles on twitter (try saying that 5 times) for a laugh!

JetBlue Tweets About JFK Turtles

Turtles crossing runway cause New York flight delays

VIA (Reuters Life!) – Flights at John F. Kennedy International Airport were delayed shortly on Wednesday when about 150 diamondback terrapin turtles were spotted crossing a runway, authorities said.

The reptiles were trying to get to the other side of the runway to lay eggs on the sandy shores of the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, which borders the airport.

Ron Marsico, a spokesman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which oversees operation of the region’s airports, pilots from Jet Blue and other airlines halted their flights to let the expectant reptiles pass.

“Flight delays attributed to turtles were minor, about 15 minutes or so,” he said.

Port Authority staff rushed out to the tarmac where, between takeoffs and landings, they scooped up the turtles and helped them on their way.

Naturalists said the 185-acre Jamaica Bay may be the diamondback’s most popular breeding ground in North America.

“It happens every year at about this time. It’s the great migration, and this is the peak of the season,” he said.

Flights were rerouted to another runway, as waves of turtles pressed on with their march to the bay.

“At one point, we decided to heed Mother Nature and use other runways. This is not impacting flights,” Marsico said.

(Reporting by Barbara Goldberg; Editing by Ellen Wulfhorst and Patricia Reaney)

some other funny turtle tweets to date:

Turtles Block JFK Runway

JFK Turtles Launch Twitter Account

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breaking travel fashion news gals…

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(pictures taken by  jill tarlow (top) and jessica villardi (bottom) found on overhead bin – msnbc.com)

in travel news this week – this guy has been flying around in ladies lingerie and it got me to thinking…

YES, brilliant! that’s it! this is how we can pack a little lighter and maximize our pool/beach time on our warm weather getaways. no need to change out of your suits gals. you can now go from poolside to the TSA line. feel free to fly the friendly skies in your one-piece, bikini or tankini! apparently, if IT’S covered you can fly. to read more of the story see the overhead bin.

TRIP TIP –

double knot your ties – indecent exposure could get you arrested!

happy travels! lola

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post-race – Quechee, VT

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“All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.” ~Martin Buber (my secret destination this journey was self-pride!)

cheers to us!!!

i enjoyed our free celebratory beer amongst the other racers & then it was off to get ready for a nice post-race rub down at the strong house spa in Quechee. i was treated with a deep tissue massage and i’m not sure whether it was post-run delirium or if the massage was really that good but i’m telling you it felt great – one of my best of all time. after that, all the girls showered up and got ready for a night of dinner & drinks to really toast our efforts.

celebration dinner + drinks

we had a lovely dinner at simon pearce in Quechee. the storefront at the historic mill has a beautiful restaurant inside that touts food prepared with local ingredients from community farms. if you haven’t been to the store or restaurant make a point to get there some day. WONDERFUL in every way!

our delicious dinner was followed by drinks at parker house inn – a small B&B with a fantastic bar. we all enjoyed meeting the owner – Adam – see you next year for the post-CBHM cocktails!! *side note – i was beyond thrilled that both simon pearce & parker house had my favorite drink – goslings rum! thank you so much for helping me really celebrate.

after having an incredible weekend with my friends & feeling the rush of accomplishment from completing my first half marathon now the question is where do we plan our next active adventure girlfriend getaway?

who’s up for the rock’n’roll half marathon in las vegas? for some inspiration i found world’s top 10 most incredible girlfriend getaways via got saga. many of the featured locations have events for the active & adventuresome. there are 1/2 marathons in miami, nyc & napa and if running isn’t your thing perhaps you can find a relay team sport such as a sprint triathlon to do with your posse of gal pals – aruba has one! for those with longer & more difficult (ie: full marathon) aspirations – read this article by lonely planet.

as you can see, the race is really just the catalyst & only a small part of the weekend that will become our next getaway. get to dreaming girlfriends and let me know where we are headed next!

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20th Annual Covered Bridges Half Marathon – Pomfret, Woodstock, Quechee – VT

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“You can’t experience the world by talking about it, get out & have an adventure!” ~JD Andrews

we're ready to rock it!

up at 5:15AM bright-eyed & bushy-tailed! the day started quite early since we had to be bussed to the start of the race. mother nature ordered up a perfect day for my first half marathon (thank you very much). it was 45 degrees at the 8:15 start and the high of the day was 64. last year it was colder & raining and apparently the race for several years started at 10:15 – so people were finishing their run in the heat of mid-day.

glad things worked out better for me…i needed all the help i could get to complete the task at hand! AND thanks to runfit and the great coaching of Marnie & Nan, founders of HillTop Training – i was as ready as i’d ever be. that, and my fast shoes – Nike ID – you can have a pair too.

action shots: the covered bridges & me huffing it half-way through the race

overall, the race wasn’t bad. once i settled into the run, i was a-ok until around mile 8 – that infamous hill. don’t let anyone fool you, there are other hills in the CBHM it’s just that the 8th mile one is the worst. OK, i’ll tell you the truth – i walked that hill! but after that, i was back at it running away. the last mile was really the toughest until i saw the finish line and perked back up. this is what i walked away thinking:

1) YES – i said walk! i CAN still walk and i didn’t get injured.

2) WOW – i cannot believe i just ran 13.1 miles! the farthest i’ve ever run and faster than i had hoped to do it. your body really can do amazing things if your mind tells you it can.

3) GIRL POWER – the “sneaker divas” i ran with met their personal goals & many beat their previous run times! i’m in AWE of them all.

i haven’t seen all of new england but the CBHM tag line – the best 13.1 miles in New England – might actually be true. it was a beautiful day and course! thank you to all the volunteers that made it possible!!

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