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Here are some tips from judges around the country that might come in handy.
If you have any to add, please email me:
trennaatkins@comcast.net
AIRLINE TRAVEL and TRAVEL TIPS:
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My
best advice is to stick to ONE AIRLINE, and build up your priority. I
am a 1K with United and during "united hell' this summer I was NEVER
stranded anywhere and only arrived once a few hours late -- WHY?
Because when a United flight was cancelled, they put me immediately to any
other airline going to that destination, even if they had to put me first
class. If I had played the 'avoid' United game, I would have been at
the mercy of any airline -- and had no priority or clout (Which has happened
in my early years of traveling) and been stranded overnight. Also the
ability to upgrade to first makes a huge difference in your travel comfort
and peace of mind (no lap children, large seats, quiet, better choice of
food etc) and you feel a lot better when you arrive at the destination....Janet
Brown Foy
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NEVER
CHECK LUGGAGE! Learn to pack small, layer items, be ready for
anything, pack a variety of medications just in case--also your own clock,
do not trust wake up calls...Janet Brown Foy (Additional note,
check with airlines about how to show some items
in carry on luggage)
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WARNING:
Be sure you understand how long it will take to get to the airport from
the showgrounds and how
late in the day you will be judging to allow enough time for being at the
airport two hours before your flight per
current airport guidelines.
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Favorite airline: Midwest Express, by a
long ways. Business class seating and very edible meals on china and
free wine with dinner and fresh baked chocolate cookies (hot!) at lunch,
champagne with breakfast -- all at discount coach prices! Excellent
service in reservations and on the ground too....Jayne Ayers
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I
have learned that Delta Airlines does not allow you to use your Skyline
miles for upgrades, except from an unrestricted coach fare, which is usually
many hundreds of dollars more expensive
than the typical coach fare that show managers want to use. I am now
putting my Delta miles
to my United account.....Trenna Atkins
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Be
sure and contact the show manager before you leave and get a cell phone
contact number. If you have travel problems or there is no one at the airport, it is really handy to have a
number that you can call.
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One
other tip BE SURE to ask the show manager to have the person picking you up
to hold up a card with your name or a horse magazine (I can't tell how many
times people think they will 'recognize' me and it takes an hour to
connect). Also make sure you have the name and address of the hotel
where you have reservations, also many times I have had to taxi there, as
they forgot to send someone to pick me up....Janet Brown Foy
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JUDGING COMFORT:
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Walmart, K-Mart, etc. sell a chemical foot warmer in their hunting
departments that
work well (even in fashionable shoes) to keep your toes warm. These
are similar to the ones found for sking, but less costly at $1.99 for
three. Each packet lasts for up to 8 hours.
These are also available for purchase on the web at :
http://www.hunterssuperstore.com/
Search for Foot Warmers by HEATMAX
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Ballet leg warmers are an excellent way to keep legs
(under skirts) warm especially if there are no blankets available.
Though hard to find, I have found some websites that sell these:
http://www.footraffic.com/legwarmers.html |
http://www.dancethreads.com/bodywrap.html
From Melissa Creswick:
Just a suggestion for judging. I go to Walmart in the fall and buy four to five
pairs of the cheap wool pull on gloves. The are about $2.00 a pair and stick two
pair of them in my suitcase. It is a life saver for your hands and many scribes
have stuck it out because they could keep one of the two hands warm. Same
for the wool scarf cheap and if you forget them it is no big deal. Scribes don't
know how cold it is in a judges booth. What would we do without scribes? Cold
scribes make mistakes. Hope your summer is going well
From Margaret Freeman:
I carry two sets of silk glove liners in my "comfort kit," one
for me and one for my scribe. They can be purchased in some tack
shops and in most ski shops, and are usually reduced at the end of the winter.
Silk liners are very thin and light and easy to launder, but also very warm,
and you--and the scribe--can easily write with them on. (It
impresses the heck out of the scribe that you remembered them.)
I also have a pair of Futi-brand shoe covers for wet grass and mud, which I
keep in a large zip baggie and are the most-compact, best-looking shoe covers
that I've found. These are available at most garden centers in the
summer. They can also be purchased at some tack shops, where riders use them
to cover boots for warmth in the winter. Even though they have an open
heel, the heel seal is very tight, and I've slogged through hock-sucking-deep
rings without getting my shoes wet.
I got this idea from Elisabeth Williams at NEDA during Hurricane Floyd--if you
like to wear a felt hat, Scotchgard it. Makes great rain
protection, while still looking good.
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