AND $5 BIRTHDAY BONUS

We were invited to a friend's 30th Birthday Party this past Saturday night. Shopping for a gift is probably in the top 5 things I loath because I always want the perfect gift and never can find it. So, the universal best gift to give is champaine, or a nice bottle of wine. Who doesn't like wine? But, with wine, you need a nice wine bag. Wine Bags are all over when you don't need them, but when you need them, they are no where to be found. I rememberd a local gift shop in Red Hook sold these cute wine corks, and thought that I can do something creative with it with a nice bottle of wine. When my boyfriend and I got to the store, they were out of the birthday corks, and of course, when you aren't looking, I found a cute top to wear. In a hurry, I gave the lady at the register cash, threw the $5 change in the bag, and went onto the next place to find the perfect gift for the birthday girl. Without success, we went back to the original store, thinking that they had something new in the last 2 hours. Then my boyfriend suggested a t-shirt from his boat. Great idea. Cute. Simple. Personable. Back at the boat, I took out the top I just bought, folded a new t-shirt nicely in the bag. Do we need tissue? Nah. It's in a cute brown bag. Bloomingdale's has a nice brown bag, so this can work. Right? As we arrived to the party, I placed my brown bag next to a Coach store bag. Oh no. Coach. That's a nice gift. On the table there were several other gifts. My friend Laurie turns to me and starts talking how Pat and her went into together and were excited to give Stacy a facial. Oh no. That's a great gift too. As the party progressed, we all laughed and caught up with each other's lives. In conversation, someone mentioned that they wanted to see what was in the Coach bag. But another girl said she read that you can't open gifts until after you cut the cake. Open gifts? I haven't done that since Elementary school. Forgetting about the gifts, we drank more, laughed... and then came out the cake. Amazing cake. Now it was time to open gifts. Out came the coach bag with a coach hand bag inside. Then a painting by Tony Ramono (worth between $500 - $1000) given by Tony himself. Then the facial. Then a Burbury bathing suit, given by Vandi who's sitting next to me. Vandi, just recently engaged, wearing $20,000 ring, invites us to come to their wedding in Vegas. Then adds she loves gifts, and primarily the reason for having a wedding. Joe and I look at each other, then our brown bag. We can't help but laugh. This brown bag wasn't from Bloomingdales. Our once cute idea of a shirt, it's not looking so cute now. A couple other gifts come out and then she goes for the brown bag. Looking inside the bag, with no tissue, she pulls the shirt out. Holding it up proudly (she deservers and Academy Award for this), she shows it off. Then placing it back in, she pulls out a $5 bill. "And $5's!". Our faces were so red. That was our change. Oh no! I didn't pull it out. Vandi turns to us "You aren't coming to our wedding now". Stacy is a champion. We'll be lucky if anyone invites us to another birthday party. Lesson learned: Buy wine bags when you see them.

On another note, if you are looking for a wedding cake, or a birthday cake.. VI DESSERTS makes the best cakes I've ever eaten. Thank you Stacy. We hope you had an unforgetable birthday. Joe and I had a night we'll never forget.

FLYING TIPS TO THE VIRGIN ISLANDS (AND OTHER PLACES)

Here are some sights that you need to have bookmarked on your computer... (US News June 18, 2007)

1. Sidestep.com
~ It searches and compares all airlines and discount websites. Then you book directly with the airline or rental car agency.
2. Seatguru.com.
~This site lists everything you need to know to choose the best seat. (including, pictch, width, legroom, placement of video monitors, and even how they serve the flight (odd number flight they could start from back to front, even number: front to back)

Other hints:
~ Always book directly through an airline so if you need to change the flight you can.
~ Wear a safari jacket. They have pockets all over, and even inside pockets for your passport.
~ Always carry your airline's 800 number with you. It could save you standing in a line of a 100 if you flight was canceled and can get onto the next flight without waiting.
~ Have an extension cord with you if you have a connecting flight. Between flights you can work on your computer, charge your cell phone, pda, or ipod. Most outlets are away from seating areas and you don't want to leave your belonging unattended.
~ The blankets on the plane rarely get washed. Bring layers.
~ Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate. Once you clear security fill up your drinking bottle. They have bottled water on the flight, but it's just enough for a sip.
~ Supervisors can waive their policy. Always be polite, but firm. State your case with logic. (I guess not feelings or a personal situation -- they don't care)
~ Have a number for the nearest hotel incase you have to stay over night in another city.
Pack headphones
~ If you are traveling with your kids you want to try to stay together. If you are not seating near each other, you can kindly ask other people to move or change their seats. You can also try to get there early enough to change seats, but if that doesn't work, you can approach your child, and exclaim " Here's a bag, honey. Let me know when you need to throw up again." There are usually no guarantees in life, but chances are the guy next to your child will exchange seats for you.
~ Weight for luggage is a big issue. Some airports have posts outside that can check your luggage instead of waiting in a long line. Yes, you'll need to tip them $5 to $10, but it's worth it when you are boarder line a couple pounds here or there of meeting the weight requirement of 50 pounds. If you go over a pound, they can charge you up to an additional $100. The checkout lines, in most airports, don't have weighing stations. Or by the time they weight it, they think, what's an extra pound or two.
~ When flying to St. Thomas beware of the sudden plane drop before you land. I don't understand why they can't gradually land as they approach the island, but since I'm not a pilot and just a passenger, I just know to hold on and know that we won't hit the mountain next to us.
~ Clap once the plane actually lands, not while landing. A long time ago, passengers use to clap thanking the pilot. I wonder why that has stopped.
~ If you land before 6pm at STT there is a complimentary rum punch waiting for you. It's a custom to greet people in St. Thomas by saying goodmorning, or good afternoon. Having a nice rum punch isn't a bad idea to start your vacation.
~ Arrange for your own private taxi, if a friend isn't able to pick you up. It's worth the extra $10 a person.