midtown driving

I have spent a lot of time in the city in the past week due to the arrival of my good friend. I been in a cab almost every time I have been in the city but the past couple of rides have been the most memorible. We were on the way to the Guggenhiem and got there in record time with the thrill of riding a roller coaster. I personally loved it but could see how those with a week stomach could not be as thrilled. Our return trip was just as exciting, it made the ride home on the path seem like the tea cup ride at Disneyland. It wasn't until yesterday I understood why they drive this way. It is not for the thrill of the tourist but the way of survival.

I drove Dave May back to the airport yesterday and our route took us through the Lincoln tunnel, through Midtown, the Midtown-Queens tunnel and through some other parkway. Tunnels are not for the colsterphobic as they go one for miles. The time spent on 34th Avenue was great in the way of looking at NYC from a different perspective. One of my favorite things is to look up at a tall building from a car, we had the oppurtunity while parked at a light next to the Empire State Building. In order to survive the couple mile long drive without being hit or honked at excessivly one must drive like they own the road and have stolen the cat. My driving in San Fran, LA, and Seattle had not prepared me for this experience. The addition of people on the streers, large busses, and people cutting one off right and left. My reward for my good driving came on the way back from JFK as I was able to see Manhattan from the non-traditional side; it was beautiful.

Back safely at home and hanging out with the girls, which has become more frequent since we are not working at all this month. We took another trip to Target, this time in C's newly delivered jeep and then dinner at Chevy's. It was a fun girly night and will probably be repeated tonight with two of them. i have been assigned airport alert from 2000=2400. Wonder if I will be sent anywhere considering I am scheduled off tomorrow.

so many noodles

My house is full with bodies, not dead bodies as you would anticipate living in Jersey but friends and roommates. Every roomie is home right now and my good friend, Dave May is here visiting me. I have been up since 0700 thanks to the meowing roommate which wanted breakfast. I wandered around the apartment for a bit and then decided to go to the store to get ingrediants for spagetti night. I am cooking for the thirty friends we have invited over this evening. So off to the market I go, there is no traffic, no lines, and no one at the store. This is the beauty of working crazy days and hours, no one in the way on our days off. I have everything I need minus the pasta and tomato sauce. I walk down the aisle to find which noodles strike my fancy and am amazed the thirty feet of selection before me. I have never had such a hard time choosing noodles. I was quickly reminded of how many Italians live in the NE and hoped my spagetti would meet the standards of the locals we have invited.


Our evening in the city with my first visitor from out of town was delightful. We headed down the meat packing district for dinner at Blue Ribbon (highly recommend!) and found ourselves in the bar next door waiting for our table with wine and the best calamari. More wine with dinner of which I ordered a warm goat cheese salad and 1/2 dozen calms. Much to my surprise, they came raw on the half shell. They were actually pretty damn good but I was glad to have a few glasses of wine in my to not think too much about the not being cooked. A double espreso ended our dinner and opened the door for a night of dancing. I found myself a willing dance partner and never sat down the rest of the evening. My head hit the pillow of a fine Westin bed close to 0500. Tylenol, sprite, and fried mac and cheese helped cure the hangover while we walked around the city and through Central Park. You gotta love NYC in the fall!

Alright, I waking these lazy bums up...I am bored and it 1100.

the cousin

I have been telling myself that something good has to happen to me by the end of September. My last trip left me feeling uneasy about the job and the days of waiting at home with no work also has left a bad feeling in my gut. I was given a trip to SNA the other night but knew that I shouldn't count on it because it was such a great trip. (Line holders can come in and take trips away from reserves 12 hours or more from the flight time.) Sure enough I called yesterday morning to be released to check in and someone took it which left me on call all day again. There is only so much you can do in a small town once your laundry is done, house cleaned, been to Target three days in a row already, so I waited.

All the girls were home for once so we decided to get dolled up and head down to our new hang out, the sub shop. One of my roomies is into the owner and the owner seems to like all of us hanging out and drinking his booze. He let me take telephone orders the other night and people were thrown off by how nice I was when asking what they would like. After our Jack and Cokes we went home and did shots of apple pucker from Germany, then headed over to the sub man's house. He told me that his cousin was interested in meeting me as he has been talking about "us girls" to him. What the hell, the sub man is cute and nice. So we head over to the cousin's house for a party. That is what we called him, the cousin. Well we get there and there was three people there and a very small bathroom in which I had to back myself into. Not into hanging out in strange Jersey kitchens we took off the this place called Hollahans. There was a White Castle next door and no one shared my interest in checking out this place I had always heard of. We ended up singing karoke, only one of us is a good singer and accepting drinks from the cousin who ended up to be a totally creep ball. I was not happy with the sub man for the set up. Now we refer to him as the creepy cousin.

A crew can make or break a trip. My crew is amazing and we are having so much fun that my faith in all of this has been restored. My room overlooks the space needle and is in the heart of SEA. My favorite kinds of trips (transcons) to the beautiful Pacific NW, and my favorite position First Class. My faith is restored and I feel asleep in the Seattle skyline thinking how much I love my job!!

old hood versus new

Coming from such a beautiful state is difficult for me to walk down a sidewalk littered with trash and foul smells in the air. This is a list of other things that are causing me to miss home...


OLD HOOD
NEW HOOD

People meet for coffee at Starbucks
People sit out on their steps in wife beaters alone
Water is served in glass at restaraunts
Water comes in a bottle with a straw
Use of yellow mustard
Spicy mustard ( I do like this difference)
Places take credit cards
Cash only for these mom and pops (nothing over a $20 either)
English as a first langauge
Portuguesse or thick Jersey accents
Comfortable/conservative clothing
Lots of muffin tops
Lots of beautiful trees/ green grass
1 tyoe of tree whose leaves stick to the bottom of your shoes
Choice of bread for your sandwich
Hoaggie rolls only
Healthy choices for lunch
Braizilain or Italian
Farmer's market every Thursday, blocks long
Two tables each week with questionable looking fruit
Coffee
Coouuffee
Trash is in compactors
Trash is left on the streets without cans for pickup
Fabulous gelato
Child melesting ice cream van driving around at all hours
Starbucks
Dunkin' Donuts
Nikes
Spandex
Washer and Dryer at home
Spanish soaps at the laundromat

We finally found a Target and it is the most exciting thing we have discovered this far. I have been there three days in a row and am grateful to have found a bit of civilization. Malls are big things to people out here because of all the small towns just like mine. So be grateful Oregonians, for all that you have.

couuffee?

There is not many Jewish people in the Northwest to my knowledge; at least I haven't really been exposed to them. I know that they wear small hats, don't eat pork, and stand on the reverse side in weddings. I remember watching coffee talk on SNL when I was younger and it hasn't been unitl recently that I have really grasp the hilarity of Mike Meyers. There is a joke about the PBI flight that there are tons of older Jewish women and you have to put on your "Jersey hat" and talk with the accent. "Care for some couffeee?" The coouuffee maker is what I was backed up against on my way home from MCI the other day as this large Jewish woman was in the back galley talking to me. This wasn't a two sided conversation, it was her telling me about some wedding in which she was transporting $3000 worth of the attaire and the hope-a. I sent the time just nodding my head and looking at her large features. She had to be 5'10" a good 200 lbs, and all I could keep thinking was if she was a man underneath, she was huge. She stared down upon me over her half glasses which would have been whole on me. She was the cliche Jewish woman from what I understand. She told me how much money a year she spends on medication, that TSA brushed her leg with the wand and how furious she was at that inderection, and then about some chapstick she found. I wanted to be engaging but once she got angry at me for being able to bring my lip gloss on board, I prayed for someone to ring their call light and get me out of this twenty minute situation. Finally a bell dinged and I let her know that I had to get back to work. I am just glad that she didn't try to set me up with her son, I heard they are also notorious for that.

last season

A bird is screeching as we sit and wait for our plane to arrive. The second day of our tour of the country finds our crew in IAH. It has been an interesting couple of days that seem like a lot longer. I'll you this; a crew can make or break a trip. It is the first time I haven't found at least one person I enjoyed chatting with. Both of the ladies I am flying with have bad breath, one is about as bright as a 10 watt light bulb and the other has stories that last forever and always have a negative spin. She is talking to me right now during this three-hour delay about something or other. I am trying to be polite and nod along even though I am not the least bit interested in way she is yammering about. p.s. the damn bird ended up to be on the flight right in the last row, next to my galley.

This trip has been my least favorite thus far. We have had delays, a crew that I don't really click with but am stuck with four days, hours in the airport, and getting in at two in the morning. I realize it was my lack of sleep that has me in this foul mood today. We are on the third day of our journey and luckily only had to work one flight from JFK and then deadhead to AUS. Four hours is not enough to deal with people arguing with me about their bags, children screaming, and all the while the noise from someone's black jack game. Thank goodness I am safe in a hotel room sitting here in my Duck gear cheering, take that back, screaming for my team. What a great game!!!!

Tomorrow we are off to IAH-MCI-then home. And I can honestly say that I am ready to sleep in my loft bed cuddling with my girl, and enjoying my two well-deserved days off. Bid packets are out so I am going to try and plan my days off next month around an Oregon game. It made me sad not to be there today and a bit reflective of how far I have come mentally and physically since last season.

chair on a wall

Buying a chair that looks nice ascetically is not always a good option. I was lying on the floor the other night half way between my room and the living room watching the TV at an obscure angle, and the toleration of having no furniture ended. I jumped in our community car and drove to a furniture store I saw down by the ol' Dunkin Donuts (which there are tons of in Jersey). I saw a comfy lazy boy but knew that it would be out of my price range. I walked through this store with a garage like feel and saw a beautiful chair on the wall. It was exactly what I had imagined at the end of my bed. It was big and fluffy, just the right size, and within my price range. I backed up the car and the guy, who wants me to stop in again and have lunch with him, loaded it in the back. I stopped at Marshall's to get a cozy blanket but found nothing to suit my taste. Christina helped me bring it in and I gave it a sit. Don't ask me why I didn't do this before I bought it. I think it was because it was hanging off the wall. Anyway, I sat down and it was stiff. I told Christina to give it a shot and she told me I just had to work it in. So here I am hitting the chair trying to work it in. I come back after grabbing a snack and who do I find enjoying the chair…George. Apparently I just bought her a new place to lie. So the rest of the evening found me sitting on the floor with my back against the chair and George all cozy'd up breaking it in to suit her comfort.

westin beds

Sitting here in my robe at the Westin in SFO. It is the start of a four day trip that will take me to each coast, the midwest, and the south. I am working with a girl that was in my class and another lady that is not the happiest person around. Therefore I kept myself busy all flight by actually working, a concept which seemed to escape everyone else on my crew. Nothing much to write about, I was bummed to find out the Giants had an early game today as that would have been a perfect evening here. I am trying to complete my goal of seeing a baseball game in every stadium. It is getting close to post season so here is hoping that I will have layovers in the cities which are leading their divsion.

ode to the care package

When ever someone gets a package via mail it is a very exciting thing. They don't call it junk-Fed-ex. Care packages have been a regular thing for me due to the bordem and love of my mother. They came to training at least weekly with goodies for study group and enough times to make my roommate super jeolous. Here they are arriving with the same regularity and it has put my other roommates moms into competition against Carol. My packages consist of candy, Easy Mac, cough drops, airborne, pantyhose, raspberry Newtons, gum granola bars, almonds, tissues,etc. I think my mom has a pile of things that she just goes to with an empty box each week. She is also in charge of my mail so every now and then I will get a bill or a magazine. Pretty useful stuff, I think. My roommates seem to enjoy nibbling on things which are carefully shifted through and placed in the "comunity goodies from Carol" if I wish to share.

Brit's mom has came out and helped her set up her room and bought her a tv and stuff but has only sent a card and a few pieces of mail thus far. So Christina got a package yesterday and we as usual all gathered in her room to see what she had got. We were pissing our pants laughing at this list and of course the commentary that comes out of her comedic mouth.

-NYC guides
-dog puppet
-2 penis straws (aka straws with mini penie' on the end)
-Trader Joes cookies
-midget strech shirt
-happy whale pen
-1/4 bag of Seattle Best Coffee
-a watermelon gaget with a running bug inside
-gross popcorn
-used hacky sack
-yo-yo
-$50
-parking violation
-previously used mags
-espresso machine (yeah baby)
-almonds
-flamico dancing Christmas ornament
-used highlighter

A little bit of love from home has definatly made the transition smoother and my shelve very full. I am betting that the girl will be getting some packages of her own since she is a new roomies and her birthday is coming up. So far my mom is kicking ass in this race of whose mom cares the most. Thanks Carol!!!!

thirteen pounds

My girl is now here!! I went to the airport on Sunday with the intention of flying to Orlando. I got to the airport about 0600 and got a protien shake. I went to my gate and waiting with my larger than average crew. And we waited...we waited for two and a half hours until they had to switch planes and send two smaller ones instead. Scheduling decided that I would not be amoung the plane swap and reassigned me to a BOS flight. These flights leave out of Terminal A, and there must be some note in my file about how much I am love with that terminal as I have been flying out of there for about two weeks. I hopped on the bus and called to check in, they then decided that I would sit airport alert instead. I took a nap because I was up til 0200 watching Duck football and entertaining our drop in guest.

We sat on call all day Saturday and began to go a little stir crazy. Finally a friend called and we picked him up at the Path and thern stopped at a toy store and picked up some games. I bought Trival Pursuit 90's edition (which I kick ass at because I am the second oldest person here) and Brit bought Twister. The upside of having no furniture is that there is plenty of room to play to Twister. I need to start doing yoga again because I only won one round. Damn it! Good thing I paid attention in the nineties so it was not a complete loser night.

Back to the airport...I was release from AAA at 1025 and had seven hours to kill while I waited for my flight home. I stocked Brit and went and sat at her gate with her until her flight left. The upside to this story of bordem is that a hot pilot came and sat with us and chit chatted it up. We found out that he lives in FLL and had come up for a friends costume party and left with my number on a note. I gave it unasked but didn't feel stupid as he had showed interested and we asked if he was married, no he is not. I found myself having breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the ol' airport. I went to this Jersey Diner which apparently this shit hole state is famous for their diners. I ordered a chocolate shake and it tasted a little blah. I was really dissapointted too because the loud mouth next to me in the Eagles jersey seemed to verbally enjoy his throughly.

Made it to PDX and hopped on the max train home. While walking the rest of the way, I saw a figure in across the street of whom mannerisms I recognized. I ran down the slight hill with my heals clicking and my roller board drug behind me finding every crack in the sidewalk. I spooked the figure who happened to be on a date and gave my husband Crayton a huge hug and a kiss. Spent some time with George's godparents before retiring to my second home and my oh so comfy bed.

Got craploads of stuff done with every parking space I needed magically appearing as I neared my destination. My day was centered around going to the doctor for this cold which has now become a sinus infecton and the doctor for George's anti-anxiety pills. The doctor explained why everything tasted blah, so I may give that milkshake diner another try. My day was perfectly ended with a two glasses of wine (yes, I was buzzed), my fav soup, and convos with two of my favorite people.

All the great timing of the day seemed shot to shit when I got to the airport. I wasn't thinking about anything more than getting the girl through secuirty. Well, I have my crew luggage which has tons of liquids. I can't bring it on unless I am in uniform. I got escorted out of security after being pat down, of course the alarm went off due to my cute shirt, and went to the bathroom to change and go back through. This is exactly why you get to airport early. I went and changed back into my cute outfit and waiting to see if the fortune had returned and I would get on the flight home. George joined me in the waiting with glazed eyes and didn't seem to give two cares about where she was. Must have been some good shit. I was blessed with a first class ticket and was about to relaxed until TSA decided to do random bag checks at the gate. I had to go back in unifom again. Good God! The five hour flight home was pretty good with the girl sleeping until 0330 when the setative wore off slightly and she wanted to get out. Two and half hours I held her on my lap rubbing her head as she did gymnastic like moves in her case. She made it all up to me by taking a nap beside me once we were home and situated.

My spirits are lifted by this thirteen pounds of pure love currently rubbing its head on my computer. I am so happy to have her with me.

turns

My second evening of being home alone has granted me some peace and time to check out the fall edition of Vogue. I sat four hours of airport alert today with no trip given. I did see five people I knew though, so it made the time pass very quickly. Tomorrow my assignement is two turns, one to DC and the other to Chicago. I was hoping for a three day trip but I am happy just to be working.

I don't even have any good stories since I have been to myself lately. Hopefully a good one will drum up tomorrow. Hittin' the hay for a an early check in tomorrow.

miss george

Well it finally happened. I had my breakdown of doubt and wonderment of why I was here. I was fortunate enough to get a ride home from the airport from my fellow FA, and came home to an empty house. It was nice not to talk to anyone or listen to anything but my own thoughts. Well I guess my thoughts got the best of me this evening. I am not too happy about the current living situation because of promises about bills, internet, etc have not been kept. I honestly don't enjoy living with a bunch of people, I don't enjoy the struggle of getting to and from the airport, and I miss George terribly. I wish I would have brought her out before but I hadn't ask the landlady and now I am not sure that I want to live here much longer. I would love to live in Mahattan with George and just take one bus/train to work. Can I financially do that right now? Nope! I have to be patient and plan what to do with my loft, car, and current apartment. But don't you just wish sometimes that something could change automatically? If I had George here, I would feel much better. She is always sympathetic when I cry and will always cuddle on demand. I am sure things will seem better in the light of day tomorrow, but this mind of mine will keep figuring out ways to be content where I live. I wipe away the tears and make some theraflu and hope for a better day tomorrow.

in the big D...again

I am back in DFW again, they must have thought I enjoyed my restless sleep last Friday. This time we have 16 hours to hang out and I have spent most of mine in bed. I am trying to kick this cold/crap that has plaqued me for a week. Airborne and Theraflu have been my buddies but my enemy is the airplane and all the people coughing and sneezing. It is that time of year when kids go back to school and the sniffles are passed around. I am lucky to be in first class on this short journey as people don't tend to cough as much up there.

I am on for four more days after I return tonight and am not sure where they are going to send me. I am hoping for a long trip because desention is starting to happen at home and it is always nice to be in my own space. I like being at work more than I do at home. Don't get me wrong, I love my girls and we are having a good time being young and carefree but I am starting to go a little stir crazy. There isn't a gym and it's been a little chilly outside as fall is making an early arrival in the NE. It is my roommate, M that gets me all stirred up against the boy/girl who hasn't opened any of the utility bills that are passed due. I think she does it because I am the only one that will say anything to him about what idiot he is. I am not sure how much longer I want to live there and would love to have a rent controlled apartment on the Upper West Side fall into my lap. I am going back with a positive attitude and finding a gym nearby even if I am the one teaching classes.

Here's to a great trip home from Texas!

ode to the beverage cart

You must be the bearer of people's decisions they way they so longingly stare at you when asked what they would like to drink. Turbulance makes you sway to and fro as I hope you don't spill anything on the aisle customers. I hold you tightly down the aisle while trying to keep my balance. Orange juice comes from the top and is ordered with with ice. I am not sure whose ideas that was, must be an East Coast thing. But my favorite thing about you, besides the gazing up and down of the cart for answers to one's own thirst, is the order for "coffee". This is like ordering a martini...could you be a little more specific please? The West Coasters tend to take it black while the North Easterners take it with cream and two sugars. Somehow they think I should know. The activity that keeps me the most occuppied is the wathching of the foam slowly decending into soda. Diet Coke is worst, you can pour three other drinks while you wait. I am becoming a better driver of you each time, my average for knocking you into the passangers has gone down tremenously. Now it is just my hips that run into those people who pour out into the aisle watching that damn cart. Until we meet again on Tuesday, my beverage cart.

_________________________________________

My two day trip has been good although I am in the ending stage of a cold thanks to my roomie. The hurricane that is making its way up the East Coast caused a short delay yesterday and is causing quite a few bumps on the way home from DFW. It was the first time I had gotten a drink with the crew. Last night we all met at the Lonestar Tavern for a cocktail. A double screwdriver for me and then I hit the hay for a 0630 show. Hoping to get released to my two upcoming days off. The captain already offered me a ride home so the day is already looking better.