2009 has been another great travel year for us with cruises, including a Baltic Cruise that took us to some places we might not have found on our own, and a variety of other trips to Thailand, Europe, Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia, London, and of course Alabama.
United has already sent us our 1K cards for 2010, indicating that we've flown at least 100K, that is 100,000 miles. Our actual BIS (butt-in-seat) miles total up to 139,931, but with a couple of crazy DEQM (Double Elite Qualifying Miles) promotions that United has run to stay competitive with other airlines, the EQM (Elite Qualifying Miles) totals in displayed our mileage accounts are over 225,000 miles.
Our lifetime flight miles on United are closing in on 800,000 miles. If we keep flying until we reach the million miles mark, we'll have a few ongoing perks from UA, even if we cut down our flying.
In January we're planning our fourth trip to Singapore, where we plan to meet up with some other FlyerTalk members for the SIN Do.
After three weeks in Alabama playing with Riley and meeting Blane, it's good to have a little time to catch up on things around the house.
Kathy and Brian
Two retired educators alternating joyfully between seeing the world and enjoying our eight grandchildren (in order of birth), Jake, Avery, Taegan, Lily, Peyton, Riley, Blane, and Jace.
Kathy and Brian met in the clarinet section of the University of California (Santa Barbara) Symphony Orchestra several decades ago.
Brian's Western Canadian roots and Kathy's Colorado ties resulted in their making beautiful music together along with producing a cross-border crop of descendants.
Kathy spent a year studying in Vienna at the Institute for European Studies and the University of Vienna.
Brian started the school band program in Hope, British Columbia, and later became the high school's vice-principal for 6 years and subsequently principal for 15 years before retiring in 2001.
Kathy, in between raising our three children, taught kindergarten and first grade, middle school, and high school - mathematics, computer studies, ESL, and her first love, band, before retiring in 2001.
We enjoy sharing our travel experiences and providing the odd travel tip to friends, relatives, and visitors.