SFO

The first flight was a bit hectic and I was actually glad that we had a 45 minute delay because it gave me enough time to pull my shit together. The five and half long hours in air were met with lots of kids, many people who didn't speak a lick of english, and an Indian man yelling at me about vegitarian platter, he got a bag of chips from me. I can truly say that if I let it get to me, I would have cried but I bucked up instead and fought back. The worse thing about a red eye is the lack of things to do after people fall asleep. I brought a book but at 0200, it makes you drowsy. Anyhoo, after all of our customers left, our bellies were full from left over first class meals and ice cream sundaees, we got to our beautiful hotel in the heart of SFO. I slept in cuddled in down blankets and pillows, got in a work out, walked around naked for some time before and after my long shower, and enjoyed the silence of being alone. I was placed in a handicap room again, I must have something in my file with company, but let me give one kuduo to it....detachable shower head.

Janene's little bro lives down here so after my lunch in Chinatown, shopping at the largest BR and a stop to my fav, Kate Spade, I was picked up and taken to the area called the Mission. We sat and outside with his friends and watched them act more silly than we, the sober, ones acted. Chris got us tamolies from the famous tamolie lady of SFO...they were awesome.

Getting ready to head to the airport soon and see if I can iron out the kinks of yesterday's flight. I am very blessed to have this trip and to get some me time in a great city by the bay.

welcome to ewr

Forwarning: This week will be journaled backwards as I have just now found internet access. I am sitting in the crew room many hours before my first assignment. I was one of the lucky ones who was given a three day trip to SFO!! I fly out tonight, have a 21 hour layover and then red-eye it back. Total time gone is 35 hours although I will have been away from home much longer than that. My roomate M and I took the fabulous NJ transit in this afternoon since she hadn't been to the airport yet and to have a few hours of sanity and alone time.

Looking around the crew room and watching those who seem like they are old hats with this whole process. I wonder if they had to take the bus in or where they are off to. Our class, which we have ran into at least ten of them so far, stick our like sore thumbs. No one is wearing the blazer, skirt, and floppy tie, oh no, they have since cute, cool uniforms.

So, some stories thus far....

I arrived in EWR on Monday and was greated by my new roomate and a sandwich in the baggage claim area. My other roomate was right behind me from the West Coast. We gathered up our many bags and headed off to see our apartment. It needs some love, I won't lie to you. The neighborhood is amazing, small town USA, very safe and friendly. I really expected our place to be really nice since the family of our roomate, N is pretty well off. Everyone knows that I am a clean freak and that bathroom does not make me comfortable. I won't even use the kitchen because that scares me as well. I managed to get the bigger room because I am one of the lease signers. It's strange to start over again because I have already done that in life and worked my way up to a great place, now I am back at the mid rung again. Okay enough about the place were my alarm clock indicated it was 83 degrees at 2300. We dumped off most of our bags and went to check in at the Ramada mostly because I missed seeing everyone and I didn't feel comfortable staying at N's house, I needed some me time. My roomate at the hotel was this adorable girl from training so we got along perfectly for the couple days we were together. Back to the airport to pick up our other two roomates, hotel, and then we headed into the city, It was great first night, welcome to NY evening. We had dinner at Sushi Sumba and then dessert in the East Village.

Base orientation was comfortable because all the naive FA's were together in one room asking all the questions we needed. Our instructors were a kick in the ass and we quickly learned how much more lax everything is up here in EWR. It is going to be great flying out of here. Training was two days long with a visit to the Starlight lounge (courtsey of the Ramada at the airport) in between. C, B and I decided after our nap, to get dinner downstairs. That was all welll and good but I forgot to pack clothes other than the ones I wore to training. So I borrowed some pants and a shirt from C. The shirt I borrowed was the most boob-a-lious shirt I have ever worn. Whatever we were just going down stairs. Needless to say after dinner and the endless beers, the jutbox music, our tap was...nothing. The bartender, Ritchie (total Jersey) was in love with us.

The next night was not as exciting as the two previous but we sure tried to make it be. We got ten peeps together and decided to take the shuttle to the airport and have a nice dinner. By the time we pulled it together and make it the airport, our nice restaurants were closed. Long story short, we ended up taking the train to another terminal only to end up eating at Burger King. The ladies we not so helpful and snapped at the majority of us until the drag queen in our group snapped right back.

Thursday was moving day. We were greeted at our hotel at 8:30 sharp by the roomate who needs a whole 'nother blog about his stupidity. We head to the apartment and have to unload all of his stuff. Why he didn't have his room set up with his five days off previous is beyond me. So off to IKEA we go, we can't go the closer one because of the "riff-raft" that would be there. Who gives a shit, we are not there to socialize. We pick out our beds, dressers, and things to make our life easier but of course we are under a time crunch because the cable guy is coming in the middle of the day. We make it back in time although our driver thought it would be fun to take a wrong turn into a really bad neighborhood. So then we haul all of our stuff through two doors, and up narrow stairs. We decide to tag team the beds and get them put together. Five minutes in and I am pooring sweat. A few hours later another trip to IKEA is in order to get our mattress and lunch. The need to be quick is upon us because we want ol' knucklehead to leave before rush hour so we can go out to the city with the other girls. We get into an arguement, ie him whining and us saying no, to the point that he thinks that some one needs to drive home with him to switch the cars and have dinner with his parents. At this point and time we haven't gotten our beds together, have no sheets or towels, and nothing totally put together. He wants to go the farmer's market and then puts me on the phone with his mom to pick out veggies because he doesn't know how. I offer to drive to IKEA because he is tired of driving, and we get our mattresses. Another quick stop to BBB to get textiles and off we go. The whole car falls asleep on the way home so it was a good thing I was paying attention on how to get home. (p,s. has come in handy the nights we have gone to the city and had to take a cab home as well!) We are back after our lunch at IKEA and putting together our beds, sweating once more. N is whining around the apartment and getting in our way. He started putting this damn coffee table together the one he thought was more important than his bed until I yelled at him about it. Finally after telling us that we need to draw straws to figure out who is going to his house with him, he gives up and leaves. We had beer and tp on the way so we jammed to get ready and headed into Manhattan.

It was our first experience with the path and it went well, we headed into Times Square to meet some friends. It was so great to watch the excitment of the two who had never been to NYC before. We got NY pizza and headed to the Blue Fin, a nice lounge in the W Hotel. We absolutely had to get a cosmo and quote lines from Sex in the City. C and I love, love it!! We ended up staying there until midnight, when they kicked us out. While we were out each of our phones rang and not a single one of us picked up. Finally our friend, P answered. It was him. He claimed to have locked him self out, so he proceeded to drive all the way into the city in his pj's to get a set. C and B met him outside and made light of the situation and then said if he wasn't in his pj's he should come in. So what does he do? Changes in the car and comes in long enough to tell us that we are hanging out with ugly people. We told him to go home. Later we find out that he "found them in pants pocket". It was all a lie and we wanted to know where we were. The night in Manhattan progressed into Soho and we hopped all over to bars until 0400. We took the path back and then a cab, arriving home at 0500.

Friday is a story in itself so I will pick up on my layover in SFO.

what if we never tried?

Tuesday

The rents came in this morning and I made huge brownie points by taking the shuttle from the HI in my pajamas to pick them up at 0630. They get to stay at the Sherton which kicks the crap out of the hole that we live in.

A flight to and from PHX marks the last assignment between me and my wings. Thank goodness for the hotties on the flight and that I was able to work first class on the way home. Our supervisor was someone that no one in our kick-ass group had met before so I fashioned a sign that said "Crew MMCL Clint party of of 1). He just laughed when he saw us and knew that he had a fun group. On arrival we were saying our buh-byes and this hottie was off and I got a photo of his butt and Clint was standing right next to me and said, I didn't just see that? I told him I would send him a copy.

Wednesday

The day is here, the one I thought was so far away....Graduation!!! The day was meet with a bit of a hangover from the celebration last night. Studies were over, IOE's successfully came back with the plane in tact, and it was our last evening together. Our hispanic mama made the best fajuitas ever, which were washed down with plenty of beer, liquor, and shots. Even the people that you never saw outsde the classroom managed to find there way to the party.

I sit here in the exit row ready to be an ABA if necessary at 1750 waiting for the boarding door to close so I may go home. Just hours prior my wings were pinned, my speech made, my award accepted, and many tears were shead. I am finished...I am a FA. The day was hectic, it didn't help that my head was pounding from the final through down in room 179 of the HI. Pulling myself out of the shower, I realized today was graduation day. We got to wear our jeans and our class t-shirts which turned out adorable btw. Class was not exciting what so ever since we had a visit from the union reps who deemed it necessary to talk for two hours. Are you kidding me, the day that everyone is hungover we have to be interested in politics. A pep talk about graduation followed and then we were sent home for lunch and final packing.

J and I had to say goodbye to our handicap home over looking the pool. We were both on the edge of tears anytime we looked at each other. Inspections in our uniforms proceeded our short bus ride to the nice hotel, dress rehearsal, then what seemed like moments later, the big show.

I was the first to cry as my wings wer pinned on. I am so proud of our class and it hard to think that we will not be together every day. Following the wing pinning was a speech from the CEO and then class awards. I was honored to be presented with a golden wings leadership award. I now have a big, wooden plaque simliar to those from elementary school for perfect attendance, honor roll, etc. I just sat down and then was introduced as the class speaker. I had placed my speech on the podium before hand along with my tissue imprinted with the Eiffel tower. I had rehearsed my speech numerous times and only cried the first time I wrote it and in the last paragraph when reading it to J. I started crying at line two and by the end the rest of the room was crying as well. A video presentation followed and as I sat between my roommate and my fabulous Puerto Rican frinds, I held each of their hands and let all the stess, the sadness, and the joy consume me. The reception was short and sweet, but the goodbyes were heart renching.


Speech

As I sat in the Portland airport awaiting the flight that would begin my new life, I wondered what lay before me. What if I didn't like my roommate? Whatif I found out this is not what I wanted to do with my life? What if I failed?

Four and half weeks seemed like an eternity while packing and the first couple of days here. To look back now, you wonder where the time has gone. It feels like we just got here but at the same time we have been here for years.

It is amazing how quickly lifelong bonds can form. I believe all of us has met one or many people who will be reminising abour our days in training well into our retirement. The memories we have made here, whether they be at the pool, in the classroom, on the bus, or in room 179, will stay with us forever.

During our time together we have learned so many skills we hope never to use. But be assured if you are ever lucky enough to be on one of our flights you will be either mothered, told a toast to remember, watch some impressions, or laugh along with us at our own sillyness.

We have all played a role in what has become our friends, our support, and our family. I speak for everyone when I say that each of us could not have made it through this alone. Whether it be the care packets from home, thanks mom. the emails from friends, the silly situations that make us shake our heads and move on, or the encouragement from our name tent neighbors.

We became a crew in four and a half weeks with the leadership of our teachers. A special thank you to Beth, Pam, April, Kelli, and Marti for putting up with us in the first place and making flight attendants out of us in the end.

No one can answer the what ifs in life. But what if we never tried? What if we never made the bonds we made? What if we didn't challange ourselves?

Our what ifs have been answered and I present to you the sucessful answer known as the graduating class 0617.

speaker

Sunday
As usaul we had a mild day after our week four test. The only plane that f*d me up was the 767 and because of my second guessing I missed three questions. I had to quickly put that behind me and focus on the next three tests the following day. Our final was quickly approaching but all I wanted to do was lay in the sun. Our collage is being done by some girls in the class so I made my friend take us to a photo place to get some pic to contribute. I, of course want to be on the collage. We took off and headed to a CVS were we wandered around for an hour looking at magazines and local ice cream. Anything to avoid studying. I was burnt out from the day before and ended up going to be early, well back to the room early. J and I stayed up reviewing to the point of silly giggles.

Monday

J's alarm went off this morning and I almost had a heart attack. Her alarm goes off as the last, last resort at 6:30. "I can't believe my alarms didn't go off on the day of the final." You know we have all had that dream. Luckily it was only six and I got into the shower. Our final consisted of three different parts but lunch time I had my answer, I passed them all!!!! I am so relieved to be finished but at the same time. Single shots and class photos followed our digusting Papa John's pizza. I ordered two single shots, one for my mom of course and one for my future boyfriend. (a 5 x 7 color photo). Finally I sit by the pool in this unGodly heat counting what is now hours until I leave this town. I got my assignments for my IOE tomorrow, I got a great crew and an instructor I have never met. I am going to make one of those "limo signs" and hold it up for him in the crew room. Our desination is PHX,hopefully there will be hotties on board versus a whole bunch of old people.

Oh, one more thing. I was elected class speaker! I will give you my speach tomorrow after I get it approved.

tired

I have studied for twelve hours today and I am so dead tired that I am climbing into bed. Wish me luck on test 4.

international day

Friday night is upon me for the four time since leaving home. The constant noise of the air conditioner has become white noise and filtered into my dreams. I should start packing but instead I sit here eating Mike and Ikes thinking about how fast the next four days are going to go. I keep telling myself one day at a time, one test at a time.

Thursday in my world consisted of taking an emergency equipement oral exam and I got the tougest person. Although I did complement him on his shirt, I missed two questions and again kick myself for it. I was the first girl to walk out of the dressing room in my new uniform. A quick hem of the pants and change into the skirt, I was immediately transformed into a flight attendent. We also received our luggage and I magically gained the powers to walk down the hall with great speed and elegance. Must have been something in that blazer! The final piece of the uniform comes Wednesday, graduation. The rents are comin' on down to check it out and they get to stay in a nice hotel. No worries though since my bed is awaiting my return.

So not only was our day long with self defense, tests, and uniforms. My number was finally up for the "physical". A group of us headed off the airport to get our pee, eyes, ears, and muscles tested. I needed a little help with the ol' eye exam but talked the lady into passing me. Our muscle test consisted of picking up a bag, squeezing some handle thing, and then standing on one leg. Not all at the same time mind you. The menu was Taco Bell and we were so grateful to have something different.

From bad food to amazing food; today was our day for international. A little classroom lecture and then into the "cabin". We learned how to serve a five course meal. I was the only one assigned two jobs, the pre-meal beverage girl and the dessert girl. Our teacher was so quick witted and non-stop comedy. We started with hot towel service, moved on to a choice of proschito (you know that I don't know how to spell) with melon and oranges on a bed of lettuce and smoked salmon. Moving on to a gorgeous salad and fresh bread. The main course was tea sandwiches, followed by a fruit and cheese cart. The cheese was amazing. And of course dessert...made right in front of you sundaees. I guess the ol' Dariy Queen job has finally prepared me for something in life!! I was an excellent sundaee maker and I know because I ate a huge one.

Tomorrow is study, study, study, after I sleep in of course! Nite.

message on a napkin

My neck is tight and I would love to have a visit to the chiropractor. Our day was long learning about security but I am so grateful to have it out of the way. Our class was spilt in two groups today and we learned about security and the other group enjoyed international day. The pictures of 9/11 sent chills through my body, we referenced the day over and over again. We had to have our FBI background checks complete just to receive the chapter so I can't go into any further detail. I will let you know the dumb question of the day in a round about way. "If we are in a really bad situation, do we have to ask for help from trained people by writing on a napkin?" You won't get how silly was but I had a good chuckle.

Emergency equipment orals are tomorrow and I spent another night studying with a group. I feel good about going in tomorrow and hope that I can keep things straight in my head. I had no idea going in, even though I read two books, how much information we would be taught during this month. It could easily be overwhelming if I started thinking about it in bulk.

I am enjoying the silence of my room, I think my roomie is getting some lovin' since she is not at the pool and she was previously hanging out with a boy she has a crush on. Yes, I sound like I am in jr. high and in a way I am. Cliques are formed, people gossip (so far I haven't fooled around, that I know of), and people act like brats at times. No worries for me though, because I always walk around with a smile on my face. :-) I just bitch here and to my roomate.

We received our base assignments today and I a bit disappointed, although I was expecting it, to receive EWR domestic. I am putting in for a transfer to international the day of graduation. One week from right now, I will be home!!!!!!!!! Hip-hip-hooray!

I am happy to report the chicken bone has been removed.

bassinets

I sit here with my roomie listening to her read about how to make a bomb less likely hazardous to the aircraft in flight. I think we are f'ed if we are in that situation!! Today was the last aircraft day, we opened doors and windows. Getting ready for an oral exam Thursday on our emergency equipment. I studyed tonight and feel pretty good but always want to have my guard up. Our class is down to 41 now and we are split in half for the next couple of days. Our half gets security and then international day.

Today the big discussion in class about bassinets on airplanes, who the hell wants to shove their child in a plastic tube attached to wall?

Obviously I have nothing exciting to talk aboiut so I am going to read my chapter and go to bed.

The chicken bone is still hanging out in the stairwell.

chicken bone

I am sure each and everyone of you is wondering how I did on my weekly exam. The fact that I am still writing and not at home enjoying the perfect humity of Oregon lets you know that I passed. The competitve streak in me is in full force and I am happy to say that I did not miss a question on the test. I am hoping for this luck to keep continuing since I have five more exams before graduation next Wednesday. Yes, the end is in sight and we received some advice that hit it on the head. "You see the light at the end of the tunnel..just make sure it is not a bus." The end is near, graduation plans are being made, class pictures are scheduled, uniforms come this week. I am actually grateful for that one so I don't have to do laundry anymore. (Be forwarden Carol, there is a suitcase of dirty clothes coming your way!) It is sad to think about not seeing my new friends everyday and beginning yet another unknown adventure. I have finally slipped into the ease of life here, don't have to think about breakfast or lunch, only when you are serving it, a ride to work, or any other routine house things like cleaning your toliet, The HI doesn't bother thinking about the last one either.

I went to dinner last night with my good friend, K. We went to this fantastic mall that you could leave me at for at least a week and I would be happy. A visit to my fav (within budget) store, Banana and dinner at an Irish pub. The Irish in me is always up for a Guiness. Tonight, I went along with J and C to downtown and ate apps outside in the perfect weather. The company was great, the food good, and the margaritas excellent.

We are still learning about aircraft, today was the 777 and tomorrow is 767 along with lunch with the CEO. I am not sure what I am going to wear but I have to wear my hair up so tight I can't move my neck for the third day in a row.

I have to let you know about this chicken bone that has been on the stairwell for a week now, I take the stairs every chance I get to see if some cockroach, the stray cat, or someone has picked it up. I have a bet that is will out last me at this hell hole. There are finally straight guys staying at our hotel but they are...not that interesting, nice but not worth hooking up with. I am sure there are plenty of pilots in my future.

This girl has to get to bed even though I haven't done my homework, opps those margaritas got in the way.

training kicks in

Let me tell you, training kicks in. I am up this morning at 5:15 and not because I was up partying; this girl was in bed at 11:00. Strobe lights and the faint sound of the fire alarm in the hall awakened me. I jumped up and assessed my door, opened and looked for people or smoke. I saw one person and then turned around and started yelling at J. My heart races as I grabbed my laptop, passport, and phone. She didn't want to get up so I started yelling "get the F* up, we have to go!". We ran down the stairs to J's other home and waited. Another gentleman came down and said that there was smoke on the first floor. Since we were the first people out of building, the guy and J went back inside as I called 911. I ran around the building banging on first floor windows. People slowly came out without an inch of panic on their face. I am not sure if my panic was due to all the training and the evacs this week or how I would react anytime there was a fire. The lady on the phone asked if I would be okay and if I was evacuating people, I said, "Don't worry about me, I am a flight attendent in training, ma'am." I gathered people together under the flag pole and instructed people to call everyone in our class who wasn't there. The people who hooked up last night were nailed as they came out fully dressed in their clothes or in the pilots. After 30 minutes we were told we could go back in and thank God because I had to pee. Wide awake on our day off, my heart racing from the adrenaline that I thought I would never experience again. I am going to be a great FA!!!

7/7

The week has flown by as I sit here eating my turkey, broccoli, and cheese lean pocket. My night has consisted of meeting with the t-shirt lady, discovering some strange rash on my face. and playing a few games of volleyball. We learned about another couple of airplanes today and got to open and close some doors and pull out window exits. I am enjoying the hands on stuff because it seems to stick in my head more. I can enjoy it for a few hours but not for 12. That's right we were at "school" for twelve hours yesterday.

We gathered around the plan after our egg and cheese sandwich, manuals in hand ready for our turn. First group was up, the plane filled with smoke and we soon sliding out. According to my mother, all I wanted to do when I was a kid flying was to slide out of the plane. Oh, how my life long dream has come true! Twenty-three times (my lucky number) I sat and slid off the plane. The only two flights I missed, I was on deck preparing to go in. I was full of adrienalin waiting to go in. Seniority order drew the positions, I was second as I reached in and thanked the Lord that I drew C, the easiest position. We gathered up our team and went over the game plan from the previous night. We had communication as our middle name, and I make up songs and dance moves to remember all the little things. ELS-uh a uh a !! Our crew welcomed passangers, went through the demo, and then took our jumpseats, Probably the only time I wished or will for a crash before take off and that is exactly what we got. I didn't realize at the time but they tilted the plane so when I went to open the door, I was hanging out and giving it a cross hook to get it to stay open. The rest was a blur, commands were lost in the smoke as I raced up front to check the cabin, we all exited together but our job wasn't over. I ran around the plane, taking out a blocking chain, looking for people. As I ran back around the plane we had to ensure no smoking so I started yell "no fumar,no fumar" just in case we had any Hispanics on board. As we went in to retrieve our manuals, my shadower said she heard I was taking out her equipment. I responded, "just saving lives ma'am." The toughest critic gave me "an awesome job" with no mark down on anything. I was so stoked!! The compliment was futher given when I was asked to volunteer for a group that needed two extra people. It was such a cool adrenilan rush.

I was not on board for this but it became the funny story of last night and carried on a bit into today. The girl in class that ask majority of the dumb questions apparently briefed her ABAs with a British accent. I am so glad I wasn't there because I would have been laughing my ass off. It was bad enough at the end of the day when J and were sititng in the cabin and smoke filled it up, she started singing "kum-by-ya".

Silly question of the day: They were preping us for the flight and told us they may put unaccompanied minors on the plane in orange vest. "Are they going to be real children?"

I noticed today was/is 7/7 and for those you that know what I wanted to be doing in one year from now, will laugh.

Our first person was sent home today, it was a bit heart breaking.

prepared

It is always good to be prepared for the worst. That is the decree of a flight attendant. The pressure is on this week with learning of the aircraft, learning evacuations and actually performing them.

Celebrating the fourth of July or ("jill-eye') with classmates ended up to be a pretty good time. The night before I came home, went out to dinner at a fabulous Mexican resturant, and headed down to the pool to study with some of the older people in my class. They and I am actually going to change that to we, know that this is serious business. Although it is fun to goof around at the pool, go shopping with the girls, drink beer, etc., that is not what we gave up our normal existance to do. The old folks of the class formed a fantastic study group for the past test and the lowest score among us was 92%. We meet again to practice our ABA briefings. Comically to on lookers, I am sure, as we set up chairs and talked as fast as we could about windows and doors. I need to ba animated to get my point across so there I am waving my hands wildly at this pretend door. But, let me tell you, in came in pretty damn handy today.

There was a scheduled cook-out for us yesterday, and we got jacked once more by this hotel and had it taken away. Jack in the Box it was only because we borrowed someones car that had a couple of bullet holes in the window. Jack in the Box has never tasted so good, I actually ate something that wasn't fried. Half of the class showed up for the free food as well as the other trainings which are staying here. The other trainees brought beer though and you can't celebrate the fourth without a beer. So once beer it was before I headed off to practice evacs with four queens. They loved my theatrics and joined in as we jumped and slid down the bed and hall. Which made me thirsty so I took it upon myself to throw back a six pack and eat candy from the lobby while hanging out with an adorable pilot. I there is just a natural draw to them for FAs.

The day before the truth. The thing that sends the most people home, evacuations. Today we spent all day in a simulator watching our teachers and then our classmates. We drew teams and apparently I must have been a wonderful person here because I have an awesome team. Remember the 100 percenter from Sunday, um,hu she is on my team and one of my first friends here is as well. Fifeteen teams, you get up get your position, do your checks, prepare for take off and then a scenerio takes place. There are unplanned and planned evacs, the difference is time. We were the first group given a planned evac. Needless to say we were on the stage for twenty minutes. I was lead FA so I made all the announcements and had control of the front of the cabin. Long story short, I got my people out, my crew safe, and all without any tears. My heart was about to leap from my chest but I couldn't telll you what happened except that someone turned on the galley light in the wierd place and I was spinning in circles looking for the switch. Classmates said I did well but they are not the ones grading me. I am more worried about the preflight then the evac. How sad is that?

Heading to meet the group to practice, practice, practice. Then sleep off the beer from last night !! I am definately going to need a cocktail tomorrow evening.

hot tamales

Welcome to the town where hot tamales (thanks mom!) stick together (but stay soft), vitamin C is mush, proper grammer is few and far between, salads are made of iceburg, you raise your core temp by five degrees from being outside for five minutes, and the mosquitos think your leg is their lunch. The count down has begun until I am out of this town and move on up to the big city, with a visit to my favorite city first.

Our second big test was successful, only missed two and the competive streak in me kicks myself for missing them. I am starting to catch on that Sundays are laid back days as we are home early and only learned corporate culture and practiced PAs today. My first class buddy gave me a huge compliment last night as we were studying; he said I had a good aura. I will take that any day of the week. Since our class was sparatic today, I wasn't able to hear any silly questions or comments so I will tell you about a woman on my flght last Wedesday. I was in the aisle during boarding playing baggage natzi and this larger lady in a bright green shirt was snapping photos. I asked her what she was taking pictures of and she replied "everything", okay I said. Then she proceeds to her seat and presents me with a stuffed rat that she takes with her everywhere she goes and takes photos with him. "Okkkaay!' Was my stiffled laugh, reply. She was few cards sort of a deck for sure. I kept an eye on her during the flight for more humor but I didn't gather anything.

Not only was I signed up to co-write the "ditching song", I have also been elected to create the class t-shirt. So I will be working on that this week as well as studying aircraft. Only 16 days more to go, I am putting this one in the books already, it is evening here.

silence

I don't think I have sleep so hard in a year. Dreams the past two nights have been of fighting fires, jumping out of planes, swimming in the oceans, and last night of my ex two prior. Our day off has finally arrived, the first few hours have been devoted to sleeping and the next will be given to eatting something other than Cherrios for breakfast. The six days prior have been packed full of information about emergency equipement, procedures, first aid, and unusual situations. The test tomorrow will be crueling and of course I have this competitiveness (thanks mom) which doesn't want me to miss a single question. Strangely enough the curve setter (ie, 100%) on the last test is one of the clique. He will be my friend today and always, because he is hot...gay but hot!!

I have saved lives in the water, on landing, and via CPR and we haven't left the classroom except for yesterday. The thunderstorm provided the audio and visual for the jumping into the pool fully clothed and swimming towards a life raft that could hold sixty. It took forever to get warmed back up and I am not sure if the lukewarm shower I took help or furthered the coldness. I am starting to feel really bad about myself, take that back, I feel horrible about myself right now. My body is swollen and bloated, I haven't had a good work out since I left home, there is nothing good-for-you to eat down here and I am crabby.

I am laughing at our study group because everyone one of them is passed out in our room. I am enjoying the quiteness and am getting more concentrated work done but miss having my space. I am so used to being independant that is has been and is continuing to be, difficult to share space. Of course I am too nice of a person to tell these people to get the hell out so I must vent here instead.

Stupid question of first aid day: "So, if we see a compound fracture,do you want us to go ahead and set it?"

The test tomorrow has so much material and I am starting to freak out. I feel good about first aid but all the other stuff is not as clear as I would like. So I am going back to the books since silence is now my friend.