Tag Archives: Luggage

Cocktail Corner – She’s Paying

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Let’s be honest, nobody really likes paying for anything, but it’s a necessary evil of our society. Here are some things in particular the Sip Advisor hates having to pay for:

Sauces at Eateries

You ever complete a food order and ask for some packets of ketchup or something, and the place tells you that will cost extra? I also hate when you’re at a place and they give you the tiniest little sauce container and upon asking for more, you get dinged some silly charge. The Sip Advisor is a sauce guy, through and through, so if I ever ran a joint, I’d offer up as much of the good stuff as a customer needed to complete their meal.

Unnecessary Tips

First and foremost, I believe in all workers making a living wage and appreciate places like Australia, where servers and others don’t need to rely on tips. I’m tired of places like fast food restaurants and other stores having a tip option pop up when I’m paying. Well, I haven’t been served in any way, and in fact, I’ve done all the work for you. Sure, it’s easy to skip past leaving any tip, but you feel kind of bad doing so. At a fast food place, does that mean they’ll do something to your food or not prepare it to the highest of quality because you didn’t leave a little something extra?

Tipping

Parking

I loathe all types of pay parking, even going extra distances to not pay. Some lots, where you’re forced to pay is just insulting, adding salt to the wound. This includes hospitals and schools, among other establishments. I also can’t stand going into a pay parking lot and all the spots are reserved, even though they remain empty.

Service and Processing Fees

All the behind-the-scene costs that can occur with a transaction are ridiculous. They can best be seen with airline and event tickets, which puts companies such as Air Canada and Ticketmaster near the top of my dislike list. It’s not just that fees are charged, it’s that the fees are so unbelievably exorbitant and absurd.

Luggage

Speaking of airlines, I can’t believe the rates they charge for you to check a bag or sometimes to even carry one aboard the plane yourself. Sure, if you’re packing a few suitcases and other items, you should have to pay up, but we often travel with one or two bags for the entire four-person Sip Family. They should be paying us for being so considerate of others.

Luggage Fees

Medical/Dental/Vision Procedures and Items

Why some things, such as contacts and glasses, certain therapies, etc. are not fully covered – or sometimes even included – in medical plans is beyond my comprehension. As Mrs. Sip argues, these treatments can decrease more expensive costs in the future, but I guess medical plan providers hope you age out of their system by the time you really need coverage.

Toilets

Frankly, I think this act should be illegal. It’s exploitation and if you’re in a rush to use the facilities, say for yourself or with a young child, who has time to fumble around for payment. In a similar vein, but at least you can access a washroom in an emergency, is situations where a bathroom attendant waits near an exit to collect money after you’ve used a facility. And you have to wonder what exactly this attendant does, because every bathroom I’ve encountered with this set up is typically amongst the filthiest I’ve ever seen.

Bags at Stores and Restaurants

At some grocery stores and fast food restaurants in my neck of the woods, you can be charged for a paper bag for groceries and take out orders. I refuse to pay 25 cents for a bag I’m going to immediately recycle, so I’ve often carried my items out, which can look odd. Ah, the price I’ll pay to not pay!

Cocktail Corner: She’s Paying

She's Paying

  • 1 oz Vodka
  • 1 oz Coffee Liqueur
  • 0.5 oz Orange Liqueur
  • 0.25 oz Amaretto
  • Garnish with Money!

One last item I hate paying for is sex. Fellas, whether we like it or not, we’re all paying for sex in one way or another, even if you’re not going the hired companion route!

Flavour Revolution – Pumpkin

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Hack Happy

The word pumpkin first appeared in the fairy tale Cinderella, which sees the princess-to-be transported to the big ball via a pumpkin carriage. Call it what you will, but Cinderella basically stumbled upon a wonderful life hack we all wish we had access to… here are some lesser hacks the Sip Advisor is down with:

Lost Luggage

Nowadays, everyone seems to have similar luggage to one another and it’s hard when you’re at the airport baggage claim with hundreds of tired travellers, waiting for your bags to roll across your spot at carousel. You worry that someone will grab your stuff and not realize or that you won’t be able to spot your own gear. Those fears can all be avoided by tying something around one of the handles that is totally unique.

lost-luggage

Instant Freeze

We’ve all been there before. You didn’t plan ahead and now you have a bottle of room temperature beer or wine that you desperately want to crack into, but it’s just not going to taste very well unless you can get it chilled… and fast. Well, simply wrap a wet paper towel around the bottle and toss it in the freezer for a short time. Before you know it, you’re ready to rock and your drink is too!

Grape Escape

Another strategy for fans of vino sees the use of frozen grapes, in place of ice cubes, so as to not dilute your drink. Personally, I’m happy to have ice in my wine (including reds), but the odd dirty look I receive – usually from Mrs. Sip – has caused me to pause and rethink my practices. A number of cocktail could benefit from similar creations, also adding an element of visual pleasure.

Cord Clusters

I’ve always found it amazing how cords seem to have a life of their own and all they want to do is get tangled with other cords. I guess that’s similar to humans and their desire to be loved and with a partner. Anyway, using binder clips can help keep cords separated while they’re plugged into the wall. When storing cords between uses, place them inside used toilet paper rolls to give them their own little dwelling.

Collar Calamity

Whenever I put a collared shirt through the laundry for the first time, I’m never sure what the result will be and whether the garment will survive its foray into the washer and dryer or come out wrinkled and ruined. Using a hair straightener on any wrecked collar can return it to its former glory. I have yet to use this little trick myself, but I have a closet full of shirts I can experiment with.

Tape Turmoil

After years of working in an office and having to use packing tape frequently, I started using a paper clip at the front end, so I could easily find the edge when using it again. What’s annoying is when people don’t understand what you’re doing and constantly remove the clip you were using to keep your tape end ready to draw from. These people will end up in office purgatory; eventually having to serve a devil boss… perhaps they’re already there!

Nailed Down

I can’t count how many times I’ve hit my finger and thumb when using a hammer. This especially occurs when camping and driving in spikes to hold the tent down to the ground. The simple idea of using a clothespin to hold a nail or those spikes would have saved me a lot of pain and frustration. Now I want to hit the great outdoors and experiment with this novel idea. Sure, I could just do a household project, but drinking outside is better!

Flavour Revolution: Dessert Table

One thing I learned while working on this article is the origin of Jack-O’-Lanterns. It all started with an Irish dude named Stingy Jack, who managed to trick the devil repeatedly. When Jack died, he was stuck in limbo and roamed restlessly, with only a burning coal to light his way. He was then referred to as Jack of the Lantern and later Jack-O’-Lantern. To keep this spirit away, the Irish carved turnips and potatoes, filling them with light, before they discovered pumpkins when immigrating to the United States.