The Atlanta Traveler » Miscellaneous

Spending Tax Rebate Checks

Mon, 12 May 2008 05:20:51 +0000

Just what are people doing with their tax rebate checks? At least some of the folk in Atlanta are using their tax rebate checks to do a little traveling this summer. Hopefully, they won’t have to use their tax rebate checks for the commute to work! Here’s what some people around Atlanta said that they would do with their tax rebate checks (if they receive them).

I just spent $250 on professional clothes for a meeting this Tuesday, the rest will pay for a trip to visit with family in Pittsburgh in May.
Maggie Anderson
www.maggieanderson.com

It will pay veterinary bills for dental cleanings my pugs needed but could live without until I had expendable funds.
Randi Tucker
Vice President, Pearlman Associates

I plan to use my check to help pay for a family vacation in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Barbara Myers
Director of Community Education & Advocacy
Prevent Blindness Georgia

…our check (filing jointly with two kids) is already spent and will all go towards our vacation beach rental condo in Destin.
Bob Mullen
VP/Managing Director
Brand Resources Group

I am planning to take a trip to New York City to visit a friend.
Melanie Nellis
Public Relations Professional
Account Manager

Home improvement projects unless inflation changes our mind and it gets worked into cost of living expenses.
Matt O’Connor

What do you plan to do with your check?

Photo Credit: Jen Jen, Flickr Creative Commons License

Post from: The Atlanta Traveler

Freecycle: Receive What You Need

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 03:58:59 +0000

Have you ever used The Freecycle Network? I have received and given away several items through this noteworthy site. With more than 4 million members around the globe, Freecycle allows people in Atlanta (and anywhere else) to give away items that they don’t need to people who could use them. At this writing, there are more than 9,000 members in the Atlanta group.

For example, I had a bicycle sitting in my garage for years. I have used the Atlanta area Freecycle group to donate it to someone. You can receive e-mail alerts of items being offered or you can send an e-mail requesting an item. Of course, if you don’t want to receive the e-mailed alerts, you can get free stuff by visiting the Yahoo Groups page. That option is available when you sign up. You have to pick your items up at a place designated by the person who is giving them away.

Let’s see. I’ve received tons of free books, bricks for landscaping, pots, two huge potted aloe plants, and a computer printer. Yes. Sometimes people simply use Freecycle to give away clothing, home supplies, laptops, cell phones, office supplies, and just about anything that you can imagine. It’s sort of like a free eBay. The philosophy behind Freecycle is that it’s better to give items away than to have them end up in our landfills. There are freecycle groups for just about all of the Atlanta metro areas. Search for areas near you on the freecycle site. You give what you don’t want and receive what you need. It’s a great concept.

Photo by Andy Wright, Flickr, Creative Commons License

Technorati Tags: freecycle,atlanta,free stuff,freecycle network,recycle atlanta,recycle

Post from: The Atlanta Traveler

Sign Up for Global Youth Service Day

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 22:11:58 +0000

Hands On Atlanta, a non-profit organization, is asking for volunteers to sign up for Global Youth Service Day, taking place on Saturday, April 26. Get your children involved! Although the event is targeted to youth, I noticed that some of the projects indicate that families are invited to participate! Youth groups are also encouraged to sign up!

Global Youth Service Day is said to be the largest volunteer service day in the world. At least 2,500 youths from 5 through college-aged students will participate in community service projects such as building picnic tables,cutting down plant overgrowth, making repairs, cleaning up schools, sorting books and clothes and cleaning up neighborhoods. The service projects take place at various locations between 9 a.m. and Noon on Saturday with a celebration consisting of food and entertainment, taking place afterwards from Noon to 2 p.m. All youth under 18 must bring a signed parent or guardian permission slip with them on the day of their community service project.

Technorati Tags: community service,hands on atlanta,youth,children,volunteer,non-profit

Photo Credit: From Flicker by Woodly, Creative Commons License

Post from: The Atlanta Traveler

Race for a Cure for Breast Cancer Registration

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 03:49:49 +0000

You can pay $20 per person up until April 18th to enter Komen Atlanta Race for a Cure which raises money to help find a cure for breast cancer. After April 18th, the registration for this tradition goes up to $35 per person up until race day. This 5K race will take place on May 10, starting in front of the Wachovia Bank in Atlantic Station, cross the 17th Street Bridge and end at Atlantic Station. You all can register at Atlanta Area Ford Stores, Coldwater Creek, Kroger, Macy’s and Pier One Imports. You can also register online up until May 6th at www.komenatlanta.com. Organizers hope that the race will have more than 15,000 participants and raise more than $1.5 million to help find a cure for breast cancer.

Technorati Tags: Atlanta,race for a cure,breast cancer,events,travel,city,non-profit

Post from: The Atlanta Traveler

Cheap Gas Prices

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 02:28:12 +0000

The gas prices in my neighborhood reached $3.25 this weekend. Georgia has had some of the lowest gas prices in the United States, but the rising gas prices is hitting us as well. If you are like me, you are looking for cheap gas prices without wanting to waste gas driving all over town. I’m glad that I found Gas Buddies. This site will help you find cheap gas in a city near you in the United States. Gas Buddies is an awesome site that will hopefully save you money! Try it out now!

Technorati Tags: cheap gas,atlanta,gas prices,fuel,automobiles

Post from: The Atlanta Traveler

Air Travel Changes

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 04:57:09 +0000

I recently returned from a trip to Mexico. I admit that it has been a while since I have traveled by air, but will someone please tell me when airlines began charging passengers for food? I mean, dang, U.S. Airways tried to charge a sister $7 for a sandwich. Dang, I wanted to ask the flight attendant to just give me about 8 teeny bags of trail mix (if they are still free). It’s a good thing that I made a pitstop to Publix before I got on the plane. I brought some food, but not nearly enough. I promise you that next time I take an international flight from Atlanta Iwill have a picnic basket on the flight.

That’s not all. They are even charging hapless travelers $5 for the headphones you need to listen to the sound for your inflight movie. I know that times are tough U.S. Airways, but we need a break! Now, I didn’t think that having headphones was a big deal until I sat in the same aisle as a woman with the most annoying laugh on the planet. I am not trying to be mean or anything, but her loud obnoxious laugh was torture in those otherwise friendly skies. If I didn’t have my MP3 player, I would have gladly handed over my poodle, home, car, and sold my first born child just to make her laughing.

Now, I am sure that you are wondering what all of this has to do with you and Atlanta. Well, I learned some valuable information while in the Atlanta airport. So, in addition to packing food, headphones and bringing cash just in case you run out of food, here’s some additional insider’s advice for navigating Atlanta’s airport.

1. The Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta has hourly, daily, and economy parking. Daily parking is $2 an hour and $14 a day. Economy parking is $10 a day at the airport. If you park in the economy spaces, you can ride a courtesy shuttle from 8 a.m. to midnight. It’s a little hike from the economy spaces to the airport terminal. There are also some cheaper spaces owned by a slew of different companies outside of the airport that are about $8 a day, but you will need to take a free shuttle from your car to the spaces (which is a pain if you have a lot of luggage). I prefer to park closer to the airport and pay the $10 so I don’t have to worry about waiting for the shuttle, even if it’s just a few minutes. I walked to and from the economy lot since I arrived at the airport at the crack of dawn and returned at 2 a.m. The courtesy shuttle was not available.

When driving to the parking areas, pay attention to the signs as you head to the terminal, on my trip, I had to stay in the left lanes to reach the economy parking lots.

If you plan to be at the airport between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., you will find courtesy officers around the parking lots. When I went looking for my car at 2 a.m. I saw a sole courtesy officer whizzing by on a bicycle. I couldn’t get his attention to ask him a question, like where is my car? Who moved the parking lot? That brings me to my next point.

2. This is extremely important for any large airport. Write down where you park (the letter and number combination in the Atlanta’s airport). I left my car in area A13, for example. Note the parking deck level where you parked, even if you park outside of the deck. When you leave the baggage claim area after your trip, you may need to go up or down a level to reach your car.

Post from: The Atlanta Traveler

Hot, Hot, Hotlanta!

Sun, 26 Aug 2007 03:19:06 +0000

Whew, we’ve been having a very dry, very hot summer. For the past couple of weeks, temperatures have soared to the hundreds with the heat index hovering above 110°F. And no, it’s not always like this. It’s just unbearable this year. Frankly, I. Dont. Like It. All I can say is keep your cool (no pun intended) and drink lots of water.

Post from: The Atlanta Traveler