DCA

i looked down at my shoe and yelled, "oh shit". The bus had arrived and I had no time to run back upstairs. There staring back at me was my beautiful tattoo. They are not allowed to be seen and strictly forboden. My quick fix since I did not have the usual huge bandaid with me, was a piece of notebook paper wrapped around my foot. This was quite the spectical on the bus. After an hour or so, I started to make a pinyata (no clue how to spell that, Gio?) in my shoe. My next solution? A four foot piece of toliet paper around my foot visiable through my mary janes and my knee highs. Yes I have to wear knee highs, I can feel myself aging as we speak.

Best overheard comment of the day: "I haven't been on a plane in 10 years, I am so excited....I wonder if I will even like it."


The mall was our escape from the long day of note taking. Cruising around looking for hot boys and good deals, my gorgeous gay friend and I went. Picture this mall like LLyod Center with hicks in place of thugs and less stores. Yep, that was our excitment for the evening. This morning came even earlier than the past 12 due to the fact of our observation flights. Off we went to DCA, three classmates and I, seated in the exit rows since we learned how to get out alive the day before. DCA is the only airport in the world that has special announcements and restricitons on movement because it is so close to the White House, which I saw out the window!! The first leg of our "turn" I was the first class flight attendant. My mentor had been flying for 35 years and knew all the tricks of the trade. She was anal-freak clean, which I love. The service was a breeze and the passangers were super nice, I think I am a first class kind of gal. The captain came on board and gave us a special briefing and announced our presence on the plane so people could not complain about the slow service I guess. We sat down for the take-off and landing but other than that, those ladies had us working. After the exchange of passengers, I was in the main cabin serving and let me tell you, it is hard to keep up with everything. I think at one time I had five different soda cans on my 9x9 workspace. Luckily I got through the service with out spilling on anyone or messing up any orders. See that bartending experience paid off. A few silly snapshots and hugs from the crew ended our flight ten hours after are day started. The good news is that I loved being up there and it came so natural, no butterflies at all. It is great motivation to continue on studying my butt off.

Apparently I have to go a "double date' tonight because the ol' roomie doesn't want to go alone. With my track record of blind dates, there should be a good story tomorrow for sure.

Silly thing said directly to me during non-stop yabber: "my interest are dogs and fish". I am not sure if she is interested in eating them or what.

fire fighter

We are starting to get into the cool stuff in class. Simatanously, the course work is getting harder as well. I been studying, reading, and taking notes since seven this evening. I can't believe how much safety stuff is on the plane. Anyway back to the fun stuff, I got to put out a fire today. we were getting some hands on expertence, it was so nice to be out of the lecture room. I was standing in line waiting to grab the extenguisher and put it out. A little part of me was nervous, the same part of me that shuts down for the second before getting on a roller coaster. I was next, so I doned my mask and grabbed the halon. The hesitation melted away and I got that bad boy out!! I can't wait for the other cool stuff.

Sat next to a girl from the south today that thought it was her duty to take up as much as the table as she needed and then stand in my way all day. I gave her the typical, hello neighbor, we are going to play "get-to-know-you", after a while I gave up because her accent was driving me crazy and she was not that interesting. She prounces it "Jill-i", what the hell is that you ask? JULY. I am blanking on a stupid question, I know there was one but it must have been while I was tunning ol' southern out.

bugs

Today was the first big test. Luckily I passed it and only missed four. The sad thing about it was that three of them, I doubted my first instinct and wanted to go back and change it but they reminded us that first instinct is usually right. This put my mind in a whirled wind and I left the answers alone. My gut was right and I should have changed the answers. I am glad that I passed, got an A even, but the competative side of me loves to get a 100% on things. I went to call my mom this afternoon after our ham or turkey sandwich lunch, I think this makes eight of them so far, and I was attacked by mossies. There was blood running down my leg as I swatted the swarm away and then ran like a girl to the cement. As if that wasn't enought, these bugs got together and one decided to fall straight down onto my notebook while I was putting on lipgloss. Again I screamed like a girl and jumped up drawing all sorts of attention to myself.

I am sitting on the washer doing a load of laundry, I already miss my loft and my washer and dryer. Strange men are offering to "share their load" with me. I don't really know what that is supposed to mean but I said no thank you, I don't want my panties touching yours. Yes, they make us wear panties down here.

Since we have been in class all day, I have been in the mindset that it is Monday but no, it's Sunday. In an hour and half, dear friends will gather for Sunday dinner. I would kill to have some of Jeff's cooking right now and hang out drinking wine. I have been getting back into the routine of working out and making due with the 80's gym, I forget how much better I feel once I am on the treadmill. I was doing so yoga stretches and everyone looked at me like I was from a foreign land. What I wouldn't do to be in Nick's class right now getting a workout.

Not too many stupid questions today, the girl that usually asks them has figured out that we all laugh at her and has taken up bothering the poor instructors during break. But here's one that slipped by publically. We are discussion inflight duties and how to prepare for landing. Stupid question of the day...."If we notice the water gage is getting low, how do we fill that?" The water gage she is referring to is the one in the lav. Wwwwhatt?

what if...

I just became a survivalist; I figured out how to make EasyMac with a hotel coffee cup. It is our first day off from training and being able to sleep in was wonderful. The roomate and I had to get out of the box, so we sweet talked a fellow classmate to give us a ride downtown last night. We were dropped off in one part of town while he went to the gay district. We are gayed out!! We needed to see and flirt with some straight men. And that is what we did. Met a few interesting fellas and by the time they wanted to buy us cocktails, we had to cut ourselves off. No hangover thus far but this mac and cheese sure tastes good.

We have our first test tomorrow and I am a little nervous but not freaking out by any means. Majority of what they are teaching us now is common sense. But we all know that you cannot teach common sense, it is something that you have or you don't. Therefore I am introcucing a new segment to this here blog (see I am practicing sounding like a hick!). Last night when anyone would ask, "how y'all doing?", I would reply, I (empahsis) am doing well, how are you (emphasis), yes I know that I am a bitch (no emphasis). Anywhoo, back to the segment, it will be called....STUPID QUESTION OF THE DAY. I have to catch you up so here is a couple that have been asked...

"What if the military chartered the plane and they had a bunch of 300 pound dogs?"
"What happens if I bring an orange on board the plane?'
"So I am on a layover, what if I was diving and the phone rang"...I stopped listening, I couldn't do it with a straight face.
Talking about weight loss drugs and their effects: "So you don't want us to take those?!?"
And my hands down favorite this far comes from our first class lunch service yesterday.
"What are these white, blobby things?" This was in reference to the grilled chicken salad with greek olives, and mozerella. Can't wait until we get to international day.

Alright kidos, time to study.

pig cookies

Days are filled with lecture and hands on to break up the monatany of sitting in a classroom. It is hard to think that tomorrow is the last day of class for the week. Although it feels like I have been gone for so long, it has only been six days. J and I took a trip to a Super Wal-mart this eveing since, a. it is one of the only places which the shuttle will take us, and apparently these people have groceries in their Wal-Marts, they even had a fabric store. Weirdest thing I have seen in a while. You can pick up a couple of patterns along with some seafood, horrible looking apples (sad for NW girl), and some Hispanic pasteries. Do you know anything about these Gio? The pig cookies?

I balls up and filled out the lease on the EWR apartment with my friends, it still hasn't set in that I will be moving to the East coast. I am so happy that Nick is going to talk to the landlord about George. I had a little breakdown yesterday when her guardians called to let me know that she is not doing well with my absence. Okay, I lied, I cried and was moopy for the evening. I miss my girl.

The class two above us graduated today, and it was so exciting to see their wings. The ultimate goal is to get your wings. Our first test is on Sunday so J and I are planning on hitting downtown tomorrow night and smoozing free cocktails to forget about the week. Saturday is pool day, laundry day, and finaly study day. There is fear of not passing a test and getting sent home so I am going to do everything in my power to make it through to graduation. Another great piece of news is that we get to fly home right after.

Starting to make new friends everyday since we swtich where we sit every day. Today it was Angel, very sweet and caring. I was relieved when I spilt my glass of water on the desk during a video presentation that I was sitting next to a mother who handled it calmly and discreetly.

Nothing noteworthy other than the gorgeous lighting show as we were awaiting our bus home.

breakfast service

Day three of training and I am still alive. I am starting to find a routine and even though it is not as perfect as I would like, it seems to be keeping me saine. Today we did the usual HR stuff and got fitted for our uniforms. Of course they are very conservitative and the cute shirt dress that I want has to be bought after training. I was strange to look in the mirror at myself in a flight attendant (FA from now on, so keep up) uniform. The fitter said that I looked very nice. I can see that! :-)

This morning my new fabulous friend, Nick and I did the breakfast service. We volunteered to go first because they can't yell at the first people out as much. It came so naturally to ask, "hot breakfast sandwich for you this morning? And what may I get you to drink?". The day ended with a tour and I am so excited to start hanging out in the mock plane, it looks so cool!!! Next Wednesday we get to take an observation flight somewhere, so it will be nice to be out of here, even if I don't get out of the plane.

I have been having these thougts lately about what would happen if I allowed myself to let go of Portland. What if my life is waiting for me in New York and I am still holding on to the life that I love? I have a lease in front of me for a great apartment in Carney, walking distance from a direct bus to both EWR and the train to Manhattan. I have in my head that I am only going to do this for a while and that I need to hang on to my past so I can go back and pick up where I left. But that is not the point of adventure, to return to the comfort zone once things get rough. It is difficult to not think ahead to next month, hell I already have six roomates and a place to live. Why am I so scared to take that leap?

the bus

Well the first day of class is over and man was it a long day. We were greeted with down pours of rain, which made me miss home. Our bus was a half an hour late and then on the way home, it broke down and we had to walk three blocks home. I can't believe that I just used the word home...

So we had to memorize 152 city codes and let me tell you, I knew those bad boys inside and out. Our test day only asked us for 15, all easy but one. Pdx was on there so the ol' airline was givin' a shout out the NW. I aced the test but was upset that is was not harder. Today was tedious with orientation, paperwork, listening to lectures (ie trainers reading us the handbook we read before we came to class). My partner in crime today was Leo, I was spending the day trying to figure out whether he was gay or not. Fun little game in FA school. Not much else exciting going on down here. I have to read 90 pages for tomorrow so I am going to wrap this up.

p.s. I have such wonderful emails that remind me why I take these ridiculous leaps, thank you dear friends.

check-in

Saturday 9:00 PST
All I can keep thinking is,"holy shit, what am I doing?" Sitting at the gate, I can't focus long enough to review my city codes. I am hotter than hell in this mock suit and am wearing plain, black flats. Granted they are Stuart Weitzman but still, flats. My three, stuffed to the zipper bags have already been checked. Even if I wanted to run home, I couldn't, they have my stuff and they have my commitment. My dad would also have this annoying saying when I was a kid, and even now if you asked him, "what is the one thing that you can give away and still keep? your word.". I am very somber after my pigs in the blanket with Janene on the East side. The tears were many yesterday as I said the "see-you-laters (not good byes) to those dear friends who support me and make my Portland life something that I love.

10:40 CST

I sit in room 312 with my new roomate, J. My flight into training was long with delays both at the gate and on our approach. I wanted to stay on the plane forever because not only did I get bumped to first class, I wasn't ready to begin the journey. But here I am in a handicap room with a closet and I used that term loosely, that is four foot high and three foot wide. We have three drawers and no shelf space in the bathroom, there are assisting bars in there place. This is my "home" for the next five weeks and I am realizing that this is a test of flexibilty. Tonight I am not so flexible because I am tired and not used to the time change yet.

Oh, this is what is funny, my roomate, totally kick in the ass. We are going to find some trouble, which is not what I am here for but I enjoy hanging out with her. She is an enesthesitian (yes I realize I am not a good speller) and brought her wazing stuff with her. Wonder what I will have her wax on me? We will see how good she is at the eyebrows before we give her a shot at the ol' bikini.

closer

I have one more day left in my favorite town. I am sad to be leaving, it has finally become real as I pack and say goodbye to good friends. The soundtrack of the week has been love songs by Chicago. I used to listen to these tapes in jr high through college; alone in my room with the boombox. Years later I still listen alone and scared about trying somwthing new. I have to move my kitty, George tomorrow to her new house while I am gone. I think that will have to be the hardest thing that I have to do since she has been my sanity and my company for two and half years. It is strange to think of how much comfort a pet can bring. I love her dearly and it will the most heart wrenching part of this whole experience.

I can't believe that I leave in 33 hours. I don't want to be alone right now but am clueless of who to call at this late hour. Sleep will serve me well but it only brings me closer to leaving.

no date set

Eight days before I leave for my journey. My week has been busy with my list of things to do in preparation for leaving. All I would like to do is to enjoy a whole day to myself but seems like things keep coming up that need to be attended to. Today was my going away party at work and it was not the least bit sad. I have a very strange calmness about this whole adventure or reality hasn't hit me yet and one day next week I will be huddled up in the corner having a nervous breakdown. Yah, let's vote for the "it feels good because it is the right decision".

I filled out my paperwork and fedex'd off my intent to attend training. Trying to remember all what my address was in the crappy apartment my sophmore year of college and the phone number to my high school was pretty draining. The best part of my background check will be the fact that I had a fake id when I was 19. Stupid kid mistake that I am still having to explain ten years later. If I would have know it would have followed me around for the rest of my life I would have bribed the older kids to buy me beer instead of sneaking into bars. Oh well, so are the stories of our lives.

Goodbyes have been going smoothly however my big going away party is tomorrow night. First I need to find the perfect outfit and second need to tell myself to have a good time and not once think about getting sappy. I have decided this is a round trip adventure with no date set on my return ticket.

last day at work

Today is my last day at work. It feels strange to clean out my desk and put my work life into a small box. There is not much to do here so I am forcing myself to study my airport codes. My airline flies to 151 destinations, that is a lot of codes to memorize. I will need to come up with some of those alagories that served me so well in high school. What is that one about a Finnish guy on a hill, some story that helps you remember the neurological system. Obviously it hasn't stuck with me, good thing I am not going to be a doctor!

The idea of leaving is starting to sink in as the days past. My last First Thursday was good times with neighborhood friends. That is one of things which makes this move so hard; giving up the comfort of my neighborhood. I love living here but I just have realized as I watch people growing up, getting serious, there is nothing here for me right now.