As did the Buddha. Given what’s gone on this life,
I surmise that I sexually molested an entire convent
of Buddhist nuns. I believe I enjoyed it enormously; they did not.
Ruth has spent a good deal of time in India and Thailand,
also Sri Lanka. She is one of these people, usually women,
who are like different human beings when they meditate
regularly. Sure makes her serene.
Yeah, the midwest seems more like, well, Kansas,
and New Mexico seems more like Oz.
Jim,
I’ve never had a problem carrying on my flute or pipes.
However, might I suggest that you tell the people at the x-ray machine that you have a flute in the case before you put it through. This might prevent something bad from happening. A friend of mine once had her wooden flute DUMPED out of it pouch onto the table as they were searching the bag (you know, they see what appears to be tubing on the machine, so they look at it almost every time in my experience). The flute sections get banged around on the table, but luckily there was no damage.
A few months ago I had a flight and sure enough, they opened my case when they saw the flute on the x-ray. I told them I didn’t want them breaking my flute and to let me take it out for them if they had to look at it. Thankfully, they obliged.
About the humidity, I live in west Texas, and it’s very dry here. I use a pistol case as well with a guitar humidifier. Sometimes though, you’re gonna need something more (especially in winter). If humidity in my case drops below 40, I’ll get a baggy and put some damp paper towels in it, leaving it open in the case along with the guitar humidifier. If that doesn’t do it, I’ll use two baggies w/ wet paper towels plus the humidifier. No problems w/ that setup. Do you have a hygrometer?
I’ve posted this link before, but it obviously needs to be posted again:
http://www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/editorial/editorial_1235.xml
For us flute and whistle types, it shouldn’t be an issue.
Eric
Looks a lot like the 2nd link, eh?
Deja Fu: The sense that somewhere, somehow, you’ve been kicked in the head exactly like this before.
Ummm…maybe that second link does look a little similar. 
I think I’ll slide back into my hidey-hole now.
Eric
Aw! I’s jess teasin’ ya! 
Point is if you should print the page and stuff it in the case… It makes it easier for you and airport security.
Well I will let you all know how it goes tomorrow, as I am flying back to Los Angeles. Maybe I should print that information up… 
I’ve taken keyless wood flutes and Boehm flutes on airplanes many times. Never a problem. The wood flutes have been checked at least once. One person said she couldn’t see any keys on the X-ray.
My wood flutes have no tuning slides, so I worry very little about cracking. I’ve taken them from dry Colorado to many humid areas also without problems. I suggest you go to a violin shop (any music shop that sells violins to 5th graders’ parents) and get a ‘Dampit’ or two. It’s basically a sponge in a plastic tube. Fits nicely in a flute and keeps the wet stuff from puddling inside the instrument.
If you’re going to play the flute (presumably the reason for taking it!) just keep the flute inside a plastic bag when you’re not playing. You’ll probably have enough moisture present. That’s what shakuhachi players here in Colorado do. I think they have more of a cracking instrument problem than wood flutes.
Better check these weather stats before you decided that New Mexico is “that” dry and arid and that your flute is in mortal danger.
http://www.wunderground.com/US/NM/Taos.html (current humidity outside at the Taos airport is 56%)
And a calendar of weather history including the average humidity levels for the month of March,
http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KSKX/2006/3/20/MonthlyHistory.html#calendar
Thanks for this, but your link and Yahoo weather say 36%.
I have had just one uncertain security agent when flying w/ my flute. As he was inspecting my bag, we got to my flute case. Upon opening it he asked: “Now…what would I be looking at here…”
Explainations were no trouble of course, but the way he asked the question caused me to smile!
Well, skated right through the check point, no problem with the flute. Had to take off my sandels though… 
i used to work for an airline - in baggage service (i’m the one people would yell at if the airline lost their luggage). that was my night job. during the day, i was a chaplain in the divorce courts – there people would yell at anyone . . . nuff said.
first, never ever check your flute, whistle, or any other instrument. the process most bags go through in order to get to the plane isn’t a pretty site. the sorter is designed for speed not gentleness. hand carry them, always.
second, when i was an active employee, i daily had to go through security and always carried through a flute or whistle or two to practice on during my breaks. only once was i ever questioned. it was the day i brought a low chieftian whistle.
third, i used to live in new mexico . . . taos is such a great area . . . do you need any help?
Made it to the Albuquerque airport. My friend
didn’t meet us. Contacted her by phone. Shehad
broken down S of Santa Fe. We rented a car
and rescued her. Brought the seeri, thank
heaven. Geez is it dry.
polymer is good
Polymer is very good. Have a great time, Jim. I see that you took my advice about avoiding the Taos mesa squirrels and packrats. Very smart cookie, you are.
I also brought the Sweetheart G. Neither flute is playing
very well so far. Maybe they have to get used to
the dryness. I may try to busk in the Taos Plaza
later.
Oh geez, it is beautiful here. We’re miles away from everything,
miles of sage, sloping down hill to Taos mountain.
People lose their lives to this–they get so attached
they stay and work their lives as waitresses
or whatever, living in shacks and schoolbusses
out here, slowly devolving into desert rats, many of
them in their 50s and 60s now.
Drink, they’ll get better…
Oh, yeah, I ment water.
Singing hi li, la li li,
Lend me your hand,
Singing hi li, la li li,
Lend me your hand.
Singing hi li, la li li,
Lend me your hand.
There’s many a river
That waters the land.
OK, the pump has failed. A guest in an outlying house, a raw
foods fanatic, left on a food dehydrator all day, which
drained the solar generated electrical system, which
appears to have imploded the pump. No running
water at all. We’re living on buckets of rainwater
collected from a cistern.
Praise the Lord for delrin!