Good Morning!

I read about a new diet yesterday. It's called:

Fly It and Diet***

"This week, Continental Airlines announced its exciting new wellness program, Fly It and Diet. Nothing adds pounds faster than greasy terminal food, woofed down between tight connections. At Continental, we care about our passengers, which is why we have decided we won't feed you while you're on our planes.

That's right: no meals, no sandwiches, no salty snacks, no high-calorie cookies and no fatty nuts.

You'll be able to feel the pounds melt away while you fly.

To help you achieve your weight-loss goals, we've made our seats narrower than ever, so you can gauge your progress.

And that's not all. No food means fewer trips to the bathroom, which reduces the chance of overflowing lavatories during those long tarmac delays.

With Fly It and Diet, there's no weighing of meals, no pills, no special food -- heck, there's no food of any kind.

Lose weight while you earn frequent flier miles. Sit back, relax and allow the rumbling of your stomach to lull you to sleep.

By the time you reach Elite status, you'll be a svelte sultan of the skies!

Other airlines may take away your amenities, but only Continental cares enough to deprive you of the very best.

Continental: Work Hard, Fly Right, Eat Later."

***

Loren Steffy is the Houston Chronicle's business columnist. The Fly It and Diet was part of his commentary on Wednesday discussing Continental Airlines (now merged with United ... something Houston customers of Continental may never get over) decision to drop snacks etc from its service.

Steffy suggested that this was not going to make folks happy and suggested that Continental should come up with a good reason to drop all food (you can get food if you pay extra, along with baggage handling, fresh pillows and blankets et al) and suggested Fly It and Diet as a new marketing tool.

Too funny! I've been giggling for two days now after reading his commentary.

His blog is located here if you are interested.

Thank you Mr. Steffy!

Here's to more conference calls and staycations and less airline travel.

Wishing you well.

Consumer Report

I try to stay positive, especially here at Twisty Lane, but I just have to share two very different consumer stories.

You may remember that my washing machine quit several weeks ago.

My first Maytag washer lasted 20 years. The second lasted 5 years.

When was the last time you saw the Maytag Man on television?

Guess there is a reason!

Having the washer fixed (the transmission) would have cost almost as much as a new washer.

(Image found on Google images)

So, we did our research and went to Lowes to buy a new washing machine.

The day it was delivered a huge Lowes truck pulled up out side the house and two large gentlemen got out, came in the house, looked to see where the machine would go and announced, "we can't get it up the stairs and no one told us we would have to take the old machine away".

Huh?????

So after some mumble and grumbling, we had them take the washer back to Lowes.

Ptuiii.

To make a long story short, we bought our new washer at Home Depot, where they contract the delivery  to a *professional* delivery service in their shiny, clean huge pickup truck and trailer.

There was no problem about taking the old machine away and taking the new one upstairs.

Amazing.

Gold Stars for Home Depot!

So, I have mellowed in my dismay with Lowes and will go back in again, but I will only buy what I can get in my car and install myself!

***

The second story is: I ordered from Victorian Trading Company and two of the items arrived broken. 

No problem. They couldn't have been nicer. They emailed a return postage label, off it went, the credits were made, and a new item arrived in the mail yesterday -- not broken. 

YeeHaw!

Victorian Trading Company you rock!

I promise, I won't make a habit of reporting on consumer issues!!!!!!!!!!

Hope your weekend is lovely.

I am sunburned from watching a baseball game yesterday and don't mind at all.

It was a beautiful day.