Packing Seminars
|
|
|
| Our informative packing seminars are free of charge. Learn how to keep your suitcase as highly organized as a filing cabinet! Click here for details. |
Locations
South
#472 WillowPark Village
10816 Macleod Trail South
Calgary, AB T2J 5N8
(403) 777-1767
North
#165 Dalhousie Station
5005 Dalhousie Drive N.W.
Calgary, AB T3A 5R8
(403) 239-7084
|
You know how people say we don't live to work, we work to live?
If you're like us, you probably work so you can travel!
Well, that may or may not be true for you - but for some of these occupations found around the world, I'm guessing they MUST work to live!
Would
you want one of these jobs?
I found them on 25list.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gum Buster
If you have a passion for gum free tables, theaters, and sidewalks, just know that there are people out there who will hire you!
Breath Odor Evaluator
Typically hired by mint and toothpaste companies, these people keep smelling that stinky breath until they decide the minty freshness does its job.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dog Breath Sniffer
This is basically the canine version of the Breath Odor Evaluator.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Flatulence Smell Reduction Underwear Maker
These guys are basically tasked with engineering underwear that reduces the typically unpleasant post-fart stink.
I wouldn't want the job, put I applaud the idea!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Duck Master
Some hotels hire these guys to take care of the ducks in their pond and parade them around the grounds.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Human Scarecrow
There have been stories of students in the United Kingdom actually doing this part time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ash Portrait Artist
There is actually a company in Virginia that hires artists to create portraits from the ashes of dead people.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Professional Apologizer
They're hired in Japan by professional apology services to apologize on behalf of people.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bed Warmer
Some hotels in the United Kingdom apparently have employees roll around in their beds to warm things up for their guests.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Professional Hitchhiker
The government in Indonesia has restricted some lanes of traffic to only cars with 3 or more people due to overcrowding.
Poor people from the city outskirts take advantage of this by offering drivers to ride with them in the "fast lanes".
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Paint Drying Watcher
Companies actually hire people to do this.
It has to do with making sure the paint is durable as it dries.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Professional Sleeper
A Finnish company made headlines not long ago when it advertised this position.
Apparently they needed comfort levels to be checked.
Now that's a job I would be good at!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Professional Elephant Dresser
In Sri Lanka, somebody has to convince the elephant to put clothes for those ceremonies!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ostrich Babysitter
I guess it's kind of like babysitting children, except with ostriches?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chicken Sexer
These people have one job - figure out if the chick is male or a female.
And no, I don't know how they do it either.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bike Fishers
With all those bikes and all those canals in Amsterdam, you can see why this job might actually need to exist.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cuida Carros
In Brazil, these guys watch your car when you're gone and discourage anybody that tries to steal it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Professional Mourner
Usually found in Africa and Asia, these people are actually paid to cry at funerals.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Professional Snuggler
Found in Japan, they usually work in snuggle cafes.
Whatever that is.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
Travel Tips
If you're checking your bag, take a digital photo of it first.
This will help you describe the bag if it gets lost.
Also take a close-up shot of the airline's baggage tag, so you have a record of the airline's routing info.
If nothing else, snapping the photo will remind you to verify that your bag is labeled with the correct destination airport code.
~~~~~~
And speaking of checked bags . . . It's not uncommon for people to grab the wrong suitcase by accident at baggage claim.
Make it less likely by using a unique baggage tag or a colourful luggage strap -- anything to make your suitcase stand out in a long line of black and navy bags.
~~~~~~
When you're flying in the economy section, every fraction of an inch counts.
To add just a smidgen more legroom, stash the in-flight magazine and
SkyMall catalog from the seat-back pocket in your overhead bin.
Keep the emergency info card, though - there's no point in tempting fate..
~~~~~~
We all know we have to stay hydrated on long flights, right?
Well, that's true, but try to order your drinks without ice - the water on board an airplane can be teeming with bacteria.
~~~~~~
When you decide to negotiate with the front desk for a sweeter hotel deal - and you should - don't get hung up on rates alone.
Hotel managers care mostly about occupancy percentage and the average nightly room rate, meaning it's against their best interests to budge on the price.
But, they can find other ways to woo you, such as throwing in breakfast, parking or a room upgrade.
If making these demands outright makes you nervous (we are Canadian, after all!), try asking, with a smile, if there are other packages you might not know about.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Watch Out
For These Scams
Chopstick Pickpockets
China
How it works:
In China, they don't just use chopsticks for eating.
Pickpockets have used them to steal from unsuspecting people on the street.
Chinese pickpockets have used the chopsticks to go into people's pockets and open purses and lift out the items they are stealing without having to get as close to a person as they would with their hands.
One man was even caught pickpocketing a woman who was riding a bicycle with his chopsticks!
Now, that's talent.
Chopstick thieves have appeared in several Chinese cities and seem to target people who are carrying a lot of shopping bags and are otherwise distracted.
What you can do:
Always be alert and aware of your surroundings.
If you plan on doing a lot of shopping, take a packable tote bag with you so you can carry just one (or maybe two) bags.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dishonest Bus Drivers
Cambodia
How it works:
If you are planning to visit Siem Reap, know that there
ARE banks in Siem Reap.
Many tourists are told by bus drivers that there are no banks there.
The driver will stop in an area with shady money changers and the travelers are charged exorbitant rates to change their money.
Of course, the bus driver gets a commission for this.
What you can do:
Visit the bank in Siem Reap to exchange your money once you're there.
Don't fall for this scam!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|
|
The Pipestone Patter
April 2017
|
|
Welcome Back Loyal Readers!
Welcome back everyone. It's that time again!
Here we are in April, and, hopefully, the cold weather is in our rear view mirror with nothing but sunshine and blues skies for the next several months!
I said hopefully! Of course I know we will likely have some rain ahead of us - you know, the whole "April Showers bring May Flowers" thing - but a girl can dream can't she?
So, with April being here, Easter is coming up soon.
I remember Easter when I was a young girl. Dying eggs in that vinegar and color combination with the little metal egg holders that almost always dropped the egg. Then, you had to fish it out with your fingers, thereby staining your fingers!
Rolling our eggs down the front steps to break the shells, and then giving the uneaten ones to Mom so she could make something with them. I still drool when I think of her egg salad buns! 
Easter baskets full of treats to eat. And always, always, EXACTLY the same thing in each and every basket - down to the same number of smarties and jelly beans. None of us girls could ever complain that "she got more than I did!".
And, of course, the new Easter outfit!
Mom had a bunch of little girls to dress, and not much money to do it with, but we always got a new Easter outfit. Most often they were something Mom made herself. But every once in a while, if we had the extra money, the outfits were bought from the store! And, if we were really flush, we got new shoes to go with it.
Looking back, I am in awe of the time and effort it must have taken her to sew all those dresses and knit all those sweater sets. What an amazing woman!
And egg salad buns weren't the only food to look forward to at Easter time. In our house, we always had a baked ham and scalloped potatoes. I'm sure there were other accompaniments too, but I always remember the ham and potatoes.
The ham was covered with pineapple rings that were held in place by toothpicks and those little clove pieces, and the whole thing was covered in tin foil and baked in the oven. Yum!
Does anyone else remember baking their ham that way?
So, Happy Easter everyone! I hope you enjoy your ham and potatoes - or whatever other food you choose to indulge in - and remember, if you are looking for a new Easter outfit, Pipestone Travel Store has lots of options for you!
|
|
Royal Robbins Spring Line
Hurrah! Hurrah!
I love it when I can bring good news, and I know you'll be happy to hear that the spring line for Royal Robbins is now in the stores.
So, if you do want to get yourself a nice present for Easter - or for anything else - you should definitely come on in and see the beautiful pieces we have available.
Unfortunately, I can't show you all of them here, but I'll give you a teeny bit of a sampling.
~~~~~~~~~
Oasis Plaid Popover
The Oasis Plaid Popover is designed to be an essential warm weather top - lightweight, soft, 100% cotton top in a colorful plaid.
The full-length sleeves feature roll-up tabs to hold your sleeves in place, and with a 5-button front placket, this piece has a subtle, casual style that takes you into any environment, especially when it's hot out.
It's a classic, lightweight summer cotton shirt.
 The crinkled texture increases breathability in the summer heat.
Colours: Creme and Rainshower
Expedition Chill Stretch 3/4 Sleeve
The Expedition Chill Stretch 3/4 Sleeve is the newest version of the most versatile Royal Robbins women's outdoor shirt.
They've added a cooling, temperature-control mesh to the back neck panel to make this top combat hot weather.
With necessary performance features like UPF 50+ protection, quick dry, wrinkle resistance, and a bit of stretch, the polished silhouette makes this shirt perfect
for active travel.
There is a concealed pocket with a zipper close above the right hip, and secure tabs to keep rolled up sleeves from slipping.
Colours: Creme & Reservoir in Prints
White and Jam in Solids
Bay Breeze Pant
T
he Bay Breeze Pant brings eco-conscious performance and casual vacation styling in this naturally breezy pair of women's pants.
Made from sustainable Hempline™ fabric, this hemp,organic cotton blend is designed to fight high heat and humidity - the lightweight, breezy fabric resists odor naturally and is extremely durable.
The relaxed, tropical island fit and length combined with a flexible fit knit waistband for a more comfortable fit make these a great choice for an island vacation.
These sustainable warm weather pants combine environmental responsibility with on the go performance.
Sizes: 6 to 16
Colour: Khaki
~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cool Mesh Shirt
The Cool Mesh Short Sleeve is our go-to men's short sleeve vacation shirt for the steamiest of days.
Designed for tropical humidity, this natural breathable, all-cotton fabric features an open-mesh construction to increase ventilation in hot, hot climates.
Sizes: Small to 2XL
Colours: Powder, Steel Blue, Soapstone and Bowden
Mid Coast Seersucker Shirt
The Mid-Coast Seersucker Short Sleeve shirt is designed to be a summer staple.
This classic lightweight seersucker's puckered texture increases breathability in the summer heat.
A fabulous addition to your summer - and travel - wardrobe!
Sizes: Medium to 2XL
Colours: Pelican and Bluejay
Everyday Traveler Short
The Everyday Traveler Short is a core adventure performance short with an interior safety buttoned and tricot waistband for a cleaner, smoother fit.
You will also find a 10" inseam, a zippered side utility pocket - cell phone size - and two rear pockets - one a drop in and one with a zipper.
The lightweight, durable Discovery stretch nylon fabric has UPF 50+ protection,
quick dry, wrinkle resistance, and a bit
of stretch for added comfort.
Sizes: 32 to 42
Colours: Khaki and Pewter
The Truckee Softshell brings a refined silhouette to the traditional softshell.
The durable water resistant, 4-way stretch outer fabric covers a soft French terry liner that's smooth against your skin - it feels fantastic!
Eco-conscious Sorona® fibers give softness, durability and wrinkle resistance to this sleek mid-layer, making it a perfect performance travel jacket.
Sizes: Small to 2XL
Colour: Pewter
|
Tales from the Road
What the Heck's a Hemi Hideout?
What the heck is a Hemi Hideout?
A good question, right?
Do you know?
'Cause I sure didn't!
A restaurant?
A nightclub?
A place to hide treasures?
Well, it turns out its kind of all those things - but much, much more!
As some of you know, my Fabulous Son and Delightful Daughter-in-Law live in Texas, just outside of Houston.
My Wonderful Husband and I had gone to visit them, and to meet our brand-new, incredible, beautiful, amazing Grandson.
I don't know if you guessed it, but he's our first Grandchild, and he is truly the greatest, most awesome child ever!!
Anyway . . .
My Son is the consummate host, so whenever we go to visit, he tries to find things for us to do together.
I told him that all I really wanted to do was stare at our very first Grandchild, but apparently he didn't believe that alone would be enough to make our trip a memorable one. Men!
In the past we have visited NASA's Johnson Space Center, tried lots of restaurants, visited cute little outdoor markets, and taken day trips to Galveston and San Antonio.
Actually, I guess our Son really is very good at finding interesting things for us to do and see.
This time however, he had warned us that we probably would be sticking close to home so he could help with the baby.
Okey dokey! That is totally fine with me.
We were meant to be there for a week, and our Son had time off work, so it wasn't too long before his natural inclinations kicked in, and he started thinking about a little something we could do for fun.
Our Daughter-in-Law was fine to stay at home with the baby and get some rest, she told us.
The poor thing was exhausted. I'm sure she was thrilled at the prospect of having the house to herself for a few hours.
One day I heard this conversation:
"Dad, guess what?" my Boy asked. "I just found out that Hemi Hideout is having an open house on the week end".
"Really?" Jimmie answered. "We should head out there, don't you think?"
"Well," replied my Boy "I thought maybe we could. It's not far, so we wouldn't have to be gone for long". (What a good Husband and Father he is - always thinking about his familial duties!)
"But," he continued, "Is that really the kind of thing Mom would like?"
"Oh, she'll love it" my Wonderful Husband assured him. "Let's do it!"
So, I was informed we were going to the Hemi Hideout on Saturday.
"What the heck is a Hemi Hideout?" I asked.
"You know." my Hubby told me. "It's incredible - you're really going to like it!"
"Um, no, I don't know" I said.
"Yes, you do. Remember? I told you all about it."
Apparently, on one of our previous visits, my Guys had gone to the Hemi Hideaway during one of their "guy days", and apparently, I had been told all about it.
But, I certainly didn't remember that convers
a
tion. It's like my Brother says: "I h
ave a
photographic memory - it's just sometimes I forget to load the film!"
|
|
Handy Gadget
RFID Blocking Aluminum Wallets
By now, we all know about that pesky little acronym RFID. It stands for Radio Frequency Identification.
And, of course, by now we all know that the bad guys can steal the information from the RFID chips in our credit cards, debit cards and passports and use it for nefarious purposes.
Therefore, by now, we all know that we have to protect these cards, right?
At Pipestone Travel Store, we have been carrying protective sleeves and wallets for years, but we thought you might like to see a few of the new items we have in the stores that can help make sure you are never compromised by an RFID thief.
Avoid I.D. theft with a flip!
Keep all your credit and I.D. cards organized in one personal data protector.
Swivel action case holds multiple cards in hard-shell casing with sure-snap latch closure.
Made of durable aluminum alloy with certified RFID protection.
Fits in purse, pocket or anywhere for those on the go.
Various Colours
$9.95
~~~~~~~~~
Accordian Wallet
Weighing just two and a half ounces, this sleek, lightweight aluminum wallet keeps all of your cards separated and safe from RFID signals.
With the ability to hold credit cards, debit cards, business cards, IDs, public transportation cards, rewards cards, gift cards, etc., you'll be able to clearly and easily see everything you have available to you at a quick glance.
It measures 4" x 2.5" x 0.5", and although the wallet features seven separate slots, it can accommodate up to ten cards.
The push-button release makes it effortless to open the wallet with your thumb so you're not fumbling with a latch or snap button.
The bright colors and patterns also allow you to easily find it in your purse or handbag.
Additionally, it integrates RFID-blocking technology so that your information isn't being scanned without your knowing.
Keep your cards organized and safe with this durable but lightweight aluminum wallet.
Colours: Black, Blue, Chevron, Flowers and Silver
$15.95
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Clarity OptiCard
You're absolutely starving, and you finally decide on a great place to eat.
Your seated in an intimate dark corner, and you gratefully grab your menu.
Oh no!
Not only is the print teeny tiny, but there isn't enough light to read it anyway.
How are you supposed to order if you can't read the menu?
And if you just wing it, you may find out you've choosen the most expensive thing on the menu!
What to do? What to do?
Well, we have the clear choice!
A new and improved personal pocket illuminated magnifier.
Bright L.E.D. lights provide full-lens illumination, and, the batteries are included!
The new slim desig
n has an ergonomically-placed thumb push button on/off switch.
It fits easily in your pocket, briefcase or purse, so you can read clearly even in the dark.
You can use it at restaurants, while reading books, magazines and newspapers.
Believe me, when you need it - you'll be glad you have it!
Various Colours
$9.95
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Easter Holiday Shopping Hours
As I mentioned my introduction, Easter is almost here.
That means that many of you will be given the day off work on
April 14 - Good Friday
or April 17 - Easter Monday
On
Friday, April 14 we will be open:
12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m.
On
Monday, April 17 we will be open:
10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Why not drop in and see us if you get the chance?
|
|
|
|
|
