closing of 2008

I sit here on the edge of my bed as the morning ticks towards the afternoon. It is the 31st of December. I am sitting here thinking about the year 2008 is fast forward motion, thinking about the mistakes which were made. I am also listing things I have learned directly or indirectly from those falls in life.

Failures:

Allowing myself to be manipulated
Failing Brooklyn
Falling as a mother to George
Failing in my spirit to travel
Failing relationship with a boy

What I have learned:

I am a strong woman who can handle just about anything with the right people behind me or by my side, thank you Carol
I am better than anyone I deem to be “wonderful”
I have learned karma does reward a good heart in the end
I have learned sometimes being with one person that you love is better than being pulled in every direction
I have learned where the best steak in the city is and had a grand time doing so
I have learned it is okay to say what you want and go after it even if the result is not what you had planned
I have learned that an unhappy living situation landfalls to the rest of your being and it is okay to get out
I learned I had the strength to get out…of many things
I learned sometimes the most love you can share with someone is to let them go
I learned that an open heart usually spots the good things before the mind can
I have re affirmed that miles don’t separate true friendships
I have learned therapist are a god send!
I have learned that I need to allow people to take care of me…ok, ok I am still working on that one
I have learned that I can have friends here and actually do...I just looked around
I have learned that Jack and I don’t belong together, shouldn’t even court him even when I am lonely and everyone else is with him
I have learned to follow adventures and make my own
I learned that sometimes it is just better to walk away
I learned that the looks don't make a man
I learned that living with a dork is better than living with a fake friend
I have learned that when you least expect it, you get assigned HNL
I have learned that the universe rewards a good heart


I am unsure where I will be when the clock strikes midnight here in New York, my home. But I have an openness like never before and when I start to get anxious or want to plan my “what if they don’t call”, I stop and be.

Being in the moment, that something I want to learn in 2009.

19B

I am back on board the plane after a fantastic layover. I have been warned this is a difficult flight to work because it is a true "red eye". The sun would not be up for at least eight hours of the flight. The ladies in the back who had now begun to turn on each other informed me that we would be getting the service done in rapid time so we could take longer breaks. Fine by me.

So as I am walking back after take off this lady stops me and complains that the seat in front of her reclined.
Visual for a moment: we are on a 2-3-2 configuration and the guy in seats in front of her had both reclined and managed to find a way to be comfortable. He had the fortune of not having a seat mate.

I informed the lady that her seat reclines as well and I can't ask a passenger to unrecline his seat because that was his option just as it was hers. She then tells me that his not his seat and why should he have two seats and that I need to make him put the seat up. I glance at the guy who informed me that he had already been in a fight with the lady. My response to this was "so, we are adults here, yes?". He laughed at that but the lady...holy moly, she went off. I told her that I wasn't going to make the guy put up his seat and that was that.

I look over and she had another flight attendants ear. She ended up complaining about me and the calling of her a child. "That's not what I said." I replied when informed of my bad attitude.

So we start the service and I am on top of the bar cart. The guy orders 2 wines which I comp and tell him he has been through enough already. I get to the husband who orders an ice water.
And what would you like ma'am?
She glares at me.
Would you care for something to drink with dinner? I ask in my nicest flight attendant voice.
Diet coke, half!
Are you sure you won't like a full can?
No! I don't appreciate your attitude. And he doesn't own that seat. He has no right to that seat.
Your right, you don't own your seat either, the bank does.
He shouldn't be able to have two seats, that's unfair...
I am sorry about that ma'am and I would be happy to have the service manager speak with you when the service is complete.
As I am pouring the soda I am talking to her, and I place the soda down on her tray table.
I SAID HALF!
I am so sorry about that ma'am, as I re-pour a half a soda.

The next service is about 20 minutes later. "Something more to drink?" This woman has encouraged me to be flight attendant of the year to everyone around her. I am smiling, pleasant, cheerful, anything you want. Mind you I am working in economy and you know how much I despise economy!

I get to the husband.
Something more to drink sir?, in my most flirtatious voice.
No, Thank you as he smiles at me.
You ma'am?
She just glares.
I move the cart down a couple of rows to hear her yelling at her husband at first smiling at me and not finding out where the service manager is. I went up to explain the situation right off the bat to our manager and he told me to "fuck them'. I agreed with the advice.

Eight hours goes by and we are doing our last service and this time she won't even look at me. God, this woman can hold a grudge. I have already had a nap, dinner, and read a book. Her, she has done nothing but glare ahead.

I am the door "good-byer". "Have a good day", "Thank you" "Bye Bye". Over and over again. I sometimes have to stop for a drink of water on the big planes.

Here comes the guy, I just chuckle as I said good bye.
The husband, I flip my hair and smile Have a good day sir.
The troublemaker, Have a WONDERFUL day ma'am! Fake smile, fake smile.

all i want for christmas is...

I was invited on a four day trip with my pilot friend Jim but couldn't fathom getting Christmas eve off work plus I had a few commitments back here. I sadly sent my rvsp of no and continued on with my day. I called up Carol to have her pick up a trip for me as I was walking dogs and she is a hell of a lot faster at it. I sent her my list, AMS, MAD, CDG..all these great trips were there in my reach so I could know where I would be spending my holiday. Four o'clock came around and I the computer locked her out, I tried but we were both logged on, I tried again and nothing. All the trips were gone. I burst into tears at the Fed-Ex. Not only did I miss something that was in my reach, I now will be on call for six days not knowing where I will end up.
I met up with a friend for a celebratory cocktail as she had just ended her semester. I called it quits around one and headed home.
The phone rang at 0730 to let me know I had been assigned airport alert at noon. "You're going to send me somewhere good right?" I asked. He laughed and told me we'd see what happened.
Since my roommate is gone (place here a figure dancing in the hall) I got up and made myself a cup of coffee and took my time getting ready. I allowed myself extra time thinking there maybe traffic for the holiday but rolled up to the airport with no problem. I checked in early and looked around to see the crew room practically empty which never happens this time of day. I read my paper and then the phone rang for me. I skipped up to the bat phone to see what it was. A pre-board to HNL, I didn't get excited as I walked to the gate, I wanted to but these have fallen through majority of the time in the past. I get there and make small talk with the crew, only one of which I knew and the #5 gal showed up. I walked back to the crew room and people looked surprisingly at my return, It was only a pre-board, I say, HNL is a little out of my league. I went to the restroom and had to ask someone to listen for my name. As I was walking back to take a seat the phone was being waved at me. HNL he said, it's a go. "Are you messing with me?" and then I shrieked happily, told the scheduler Merry Christmas and darted back to the gate.

The crew laughed as I walked back on among the passengers. And for the next ten hours I was headed for the islands.

I had called Jim to let him know I was on my way to HNL thinking he was the outbound crew and I would just get a chance to say hello and get a holiday hug. When we landed, I had a text to come outside as he had a luxury car and a fresh lay waiting for me! We went to the hotel and on the way I figured out he would be one of our pilots home. He took me out to dinner and then we met up with his sister, After a drink at Dukes we walked along the Waikiki Beach and finally at 0100 local time I was exhausted.
I got up at 0630 to walk the beach and watch the sun rise. I grabbed some souvies and coffee and decided it was time for Jim to get up and take me around. I dialed his room and woke him up, "let's go!" I said excitedly!
Breakfast fueled our day of exploring. We started driving and saw Diamond Head Point, Mokapu, visited his friend Glenn in his 20 million dollar hours, saw Bellows, Blow hole and Sandy Beach, Pali Lookout, stopped by a private hanger at the airport to see his friend Bob and cute son Dane, and then headed to his dad's house for Turkey dinner. I had three helpings and apologized for my piggyness as I hadn't had a Christmas dinner with anyone in four years. After we headed back for another walk along Waikiki this time it was filled with people and even a Christmas tree. A short nap preceded the long flight home.
All in all, a pretty damn great Christmas if I do say so myself!!!

really?

I went to bed at 2100 last night due to shear exhaustion. My roommate must have thought I either departed for the evening or was dead because he decided to play house music as loud as possible. I awoke at four am to have a sip of water and then rolled over back to dream ville. Next thing I know, the phone is ringing that song from John Denver. I answer groggy and trying to figure out what time it is. I figured out pretty damn quickly that it is 0600 and they are calling to tell me to be at the airport at 0800. That doesn't leave time for a shower and still puts me in a tight squeeze on public transport. I call a car service as I am going pee and arrange for a 0645 pickup.
I am not happy!
The temperature is 14 degrees and I am getting hotter by the minute about not only the long day ahead of me but also that I will be $70 in the hole for the day as I am not really getting paid for the trip. It is just going against my guarantee.
I get to the airport check in and they ask if I was the lead. No, I told them that I was the "speaker" I get my extra shot latte and stomp to the gate like a child. They had me the paperwork. I am not the lead, I explain once more. I get on board and meet the crew, I am not the lead, I am the speaker and I am not happy, I am NTA. These people didn't care. I came to find out I was the lead. Damn it.
So the flight boarded as I stood in now 16 degree weather "welcoming" people and there luggage, tv's garbage bags, tons and tons of luggage. It was nothing like I had ever seen prior. There was 15 bags that had to be gate checked. I heard stories about these flights to the Caribbean, horror stories non the least. I was just grateful no one was trying to bring on a chicken as I have heard tale of. I did the service and practiced all the Spanish words I knew related to drinking beverages. Not so bad, cause if I can't understand you, you get Coke. That's my rule.
At one point in time the real speaker had to make an announcement about how to flush the toilet. Really? And people want to holiday here why?
I finally mellowed out and accepted my tragedy for what it was, just a day. A long interesting day where my high school Spanish helped quench some thirst.

my middle name should be jackass

Thursday night I was assigned airport alert at 2045. I had no problem going and figured I wouldn't be sent out due to the latest of it all. I brought my computer to occupy the four hours and dinked around. It is amazing how much a time such facebook is! I popped over to the crew site to look at what may be around the corner for me and found out I already had an assignment for the next day. My anger of still having to sit for another two hours when both they and I know that I am assigned something tomorrow made me acknowledge and delete the 1300 assignment quickly. I was furious, airport alert again! It would be 12 hours and 15 minutes in between them. I walked to the phone at 0040 to ask to be released five minutes early so I would ensure I could catch the bus home, the last bus home at 0100. When the scheduler hymned and ha'ed about it, I almost lost it, "I have to be back here in 12 hours you dumb bitch!" is what is running through my head.
With it was how long will it take to get home, if I take a cab how much time can I save before I am in bed?
What time do I need to get up tomorrow because there is a snow storm coming?
Should I take the train versus the bus?
But I wanted to take pictures of the snow fall in CP and bake cookies, now it is all ruined.
I hate my job.
This is absolute bullshit!

I set my alarm and drug myself out of bed. I was also upset because my holiday postcards where not here yet and they needed to be sent out. Turiya ventured up to have a quick coffee with me and allow me to vent my frustration with the unpredictability of my life. Off to the airport I go. I get there around 1230 and grab some bad Chinese food because I knew I would be hungry at some point of my incarceration. I had not brought my computer in case I was sent to Central or South America both of which were an option at that point during the day. I also discovered on the way in that I forgot my mobile. Stupid rush to get out of the apartment and to work on time. So I went to the crew computers to see if they had an early assignment already on my line. I looked at my schedule wondering where the airport alert had went.
It all clicked together much to my dismay at that moment...I had mistaken my call out line (which goes from 1330-2100) for airport alert. Shit, shit, shit!!! So I went to call scheduling as the snow began to build outside to explain my dilemma and beg them for an assignment. I only did it because I could not be without my mobile for more than 20 minutes because now I was on call and it took 1.5 hours to get back home. And more than likely with the weather, I would have been called back out any way.
So I was assigned airport alert (for real this time) at 1530. I sat until 1800 listening to the phone ringing off the hook as flights were cancelled and moved about. The airport was a clusterfuck to say the least. Finally it was for me and in good time too as my old roommate (old backstabber) had just came in for her airport alert. Off to GLA. Okay I can do that. So I grab a salad and head towards the gate.
Here is the next 44 hours in short:
an hour delay in getting the plane
quick boarding
did I mention I had to work the back/economy galley?
an hour to de-ice the engines before we could move from the gate to the de-icer for the wings
long line for the de-icer told by atc to wait at the gate
completed two water services, snack service, beverage and dinners service, picked up, and another beverage service
still on the ground, still at the gate
four hours later, get de-iced
de-iced for an hour
finally take off six hours after scheduled departure
spend the next 6 hours trying to stay awake
nodded off a few times

Get to the hotel
four hour nap
meet crew for dinner and a well deserved beer
go to bed
wake up at 0430 (wake is at 0615)
get into shower at 0600
get phone call that wake up is now 0815
get two hours of sleep
flight time ended up being 8.5 hours
we are supposed to get crew rest but family refused to move out of our assigned seats
bad service given to family with a lot of dirty looks
land
make it home three hours later than expected to walk through the slush

now sitting here in a fog as I do laundry and as my roommate runs his mouth despite how many blank stares I give him

This ladies and gentlemen was all self imposed torture for reading my schedule incorrectly.

lisbon plus sintra

I arrived with the crew at the layover hotel and checked in. After a quick nap, which just came natural since my body believed I was on a layover, I made my way into the old city. Fabulous camera in hand along with my guide book, I wondered the streets for hours. The hotel clerk told me to keep walking downhill till I got there. There are old cobblestone streets, Portgauges shops, churro stands, the water kisses the shoe beside a large square. There are seven hills which make up the city and it felt like I climbed all of them. They were gloriously taken in when i cruised to the top of the tower of Justa. The red rooftops spotted the hills while the pale sides glowed in the sunlight. I would compare this city to Barcelona in its outlay although there was different feeling, it did not capture my heart like Barcelona did.
The sun was setting and I walked uphill back to the hotel and happily met the flight deck for dinner as I was wanting company. I changed into heels to look nice for dinner but after re walking the path back to old town and up a few cobblestone street slick with fresh ran, I was missing my old touristy tennis shoes. Dinner was awesome, I had a traditional dish of codfish along with wine and great conversation. We finished with a port wine and then headed to the Chinese Pavilion for a night cap.

Sintra
The next morning I set off for a small coastal town highly recommended by not only my guidebook, but also previous visitors to Portugal.
I always have this theory that riding a city's public transportation makes you a real traveler. Deciphering what the hell is going on and which way to go when there is no English and the knowledge of Spanish is actually working against me. After a couple of changes I was on the correct train. This town was gorgeous and so full of history, I couldn't wait to start exploring but first I had to go to the bathroom. There are no Starbucks, no public restrooms, no Barnes and Noble...all of my NY trips were not available. And el bano is not how you say toilet. So I found a place and ordered lunch even though I wasn't hungry just so I could scan the restaurant for the bathroom. After that I was on my path up the hill to this small village. I had been advised to take a bus up to the Moorish castle but I thought it would be a great idea to walk. That coupled with the fact I had been eating a little too much lately and was hoping to lose some of it on the way up the hill. Well I walked for about a mile with buses passing me and sweat pouring out even though it was only 50 degrees out. I stopped to catch my breath and see how much longer I had. I looked up and then even higher. It seemed like the damn mountain had grown during my journey, that or I was looking at the wrong hill when I started out. So I found the next bus stop and waited. The bus ride was fifteen minutes winding up the mountain. I got off at the very top and bought a ticket to tour the palace.
After another ten minute walk straight up hill, I reached a pastel castle. Each section was a different color. It looked like something a little girl would color in out of a fairy tale coloring book. I wandering around looking at the views of the ocean and imaging what it would be like to live in my very own castle, in the purple wing back in the 14th century.
I headed back to the train station and was delighted to discover the bus took me right there. I went back to old town to pick up a lace something or other for Carol...not what you are thinking...a lace thing to wrap around your head. Don't ask me.
I ran into the pilots and headed out for dinner once again. We ate at a traditional Portgauges place where they come around with every kind of meat you can think of and slice onto your plate. It was a vegetarian's worse nightmare but oh, so good.

First class took me home and the three glasses of wine I had at 0600 my time aided my drifting off.

lisbon

The flight to Dubai didn't pan out and much to my dismay, I was started suffering from cabin fever early in the season. I awoke Saturday morning with my head spinning, " I shouldn't be waking up in this bed." I walked around my room trying to avoid the squeaky board which haunts me when I am tired and for get to long jump into my bedroom. I grabbed my ipod and running shoes and headed south to the park. I started off at a full on pace and quickly tired before I made it to CP. I stopped to stretch and warm my lungs back up by breathing into my gloves. I walked for a bit mesmerized by the amount of people out for a run in 30 degree weather. And then I found it, my perfect pace. I didn't want to fall over and die or go back to a walk like I usually do after running for ten minutes. I found this pace that didn't want to let go of, so I ran and ran. I lost all track of time as well as my previous frustration. By the time I made it back to the apartment, my thoughts were clear.
I booked a flight to Lisbon for that evening. My bag was already packed so why not? Why not take advantage of an incredible gift I have. I can get on any open flight for free (vacation pass) and go. So why the hell not? And that is what I did.

misplaced the bug

I was all set to go to Dubai, bags packed, party planned, lonely planet guide in hand. I just needed to pick up my "zed fare" and I would be on the stand by list ready to go. I called our travel office to get an idea of the cost and ask them if I could purchase it at JFK. I had purchased such tickets prior from other airports but I called again today to ask the same question. I guess I had doubt in my mind for a reason. Off I go to JFK which is a bit of a hike from home but I was ready, left in plenty of time to get there, get my ticket, and chat with Turiya prior to the twelve and half hour journey.
Well apparently my airline no longer flying out of JFK which means there is no desk to purchase said ticket. I called up the staff office to bitch at them to find they were closed already. There was not enough time to make it to my airport and back before the flight so I humbly drug my bags back home.
On the way home I decided to take my already packed bag somewhere. Hell, I have the time off and free passes on my own damn airline. I will try once more for Dubai but the loads are not in my favor. Where will I go otherwise? Cities popped in and out of my head. Lisbon, Amsterdam, Lima? I checked the weather on each and then came home to check the flight possibilities. Two places can welcome me aboard the flight tomorrow. But now sitting here, I don't want to go. I have no idea why, I haven't traveled since June to Istanbul. I have no idea where my travel bug has gone. I long for it, I long for the sense of adventure I once had. I don't know if is the need to work or because my loft is empty or that I have figured out that traveling alone is not always fun.

I want it back and I want it back soon!

finding a new way for a heart to sink

Technology, is convenient for staying in touch with people, warming your food up quickly or saving that show you enjoy for later. Although I don't express to be a genius at technology, only enough to get me by. However when I was younger I was the only one who could change the time on the VCR and even years after leaving home I would still receive bi-annual calls on how to change it.
Changing times have brought around myspace and facebook which are both great tools for keeping in touch with friends and reconnecting with old friends from high school and what not. It is also a good stocker tool. I'll admit it, I have studied someones profile before and tried to find out if I was significant to them with photos or the changing of the status from single. And I am sure others have done the same to me. Not necessarily guys per say, stocking is more of a girl sport.
So as days go by from my separation from the last, it gets easier not to think about him and soon as usual, he will be just a pleasant memory.
What is not easier to think about is when you log on to old facebook and see he is no longer listed as single...

envy

So Rob is here...you know Rob, I could write a whole blog just devoted to him. He is inspiration to be a better conversationalist, a better writer, to view to world through knowledgeable eyes and then challenge what you find. Rob...fabulous, we can sit together in silence for an hour and then have an intellectual conversation over a couple of beers, Rob.

Well he is sitting next to me right now and is replacing my need for my therapist this week. He is my Mary for the moment. I can talk to him about anything and nothing at the same time. He is a piece of home and past and undoubtedly a piece of my future.

He is embarking on a journey around the world for a year and was going to begin in NY and then off somewhere with me before ideas and plans changed. He is now back to LA soon but not before I get to use him for comfort and a cure to my homesickness this time of year. He is then off to Australia and has no idea what lies in front of him after. I express my admiration of his journey and willingness to see where life will take him. He reminds me that I was a form of inspiration.

What? I ask. How am I an inspiration?

I am so jealous of his journey of him getting to see the world.

And then I am reminded by both him and myself, I am an inspiration and I am the lucky one who is living a dream of seeing the world. Yes I am in more of controlled environment but what the hell do I have to be jealous about?

my harem

My first flight in a month. I was so excited when scheduling called I didn't even ask where to or what position I was assigned. I was stoked. It turned out to be Manchester which isn't the worst place in the world, I like the hotel and it is familiar enough that I can get some rest and do a little shopping without the guilt of not exploring.
I head to airport in uniform, this time with a defined destination and it feels good. I check in with enthusiasm and look at all the others on airport alert with sadness for them as they will probably just pack up and head home at the end of the four hour shift.
I head to my gate and introduce myself to the guy waiting, as the time nears more and more of the crew approach and I quickly learn that I am the only girl. Eight men and me...just the way I like it!
I am working in the back which doesn't thrill me but I set up the galley and greet people at the door as I am supposed to. I glance longingly up to Business first and remind myself that I am happy to be working.
The morning rolls around and I am surprised I am not dead tired as my body has fallen out of the flight routine and eased into a NY server routine. It's almost time for the service I am told. I get up to prepare the cart and automatically have hatred for the passengers who are not going to tell me how they take their coffee or tea. My irritation shows on the cart and my partner is laughing at my frustration of people and my smart ass comments towards the end.
"I didn't wake up with you sir, I don't know how you take your coffee."
"I am not a mind reader ma'am."
"Coffee..." "Milk" "Then that is a white coffee" "Sugar" "Then ask for it all at once!"
"Hmmm" "Did you just start drinking coffee this morning?"
I have no idea why It bothers me so much...people's stupidity I guess.
What's comical is that when I work in BF, I automatically ask my passengers and then I remember for the whole flight. Their stupidity doesn't bother me. I think it because there are less of them and they paid good money to be stupid.

What is great about working with guys is that they all adored me and asked me what it felt like to be princess on the flight. I looked around at the gay men and replied that title is up for debate here boys.
The boys loved me so much that on the last service, they let ME work up in BF....where I belong!

turkey day in the big apple

My favorite real holiday is Thanksgiving.
Going off my two last Turkey Days spent as a flight attendant I had the idea that I would be somewhere great. The first year I was fortunate enough to have a trip that landed me in Portland for the night and was able to make dinner at my house. The following year luck was on my side once more and I was in Rome on a five-day trip. My luck this year was not in place. I even moved my days around so I could be available for a five-day trip somewhere fabulous. I even signed up for airport alert on Monday with a positive attitude and was sent home empty handed mirroring the three other times I have warmed the couch this month.
So today, I was on page two of the list and as I woke up croggy from my night prior, I started looking around my room and got sad not to be at home. What was worse it that I had no idea where I would end up for the day or how I would get some much needed turkey in my tummy. I went to the coffee shop and sat hoping I could magically be home. When I returned I found my roommate leaving to enjoy with his family. After a teary eyed call from Carol, I decided to take a shower and get all dressed up and have a nice Turkey dinner at some swank place. Well I returned to my room to hear the tune. Airport alert was assigned at 1930. I made some mac and cheese and sat in the living room sad. I took a much-needed nap and then headed towards the subway. I stopped by a diner next to Port Authority and begged them to let me take turkey dinner to go. And I sat in the crew room and ate my turkey and pumpkin pie.
I got back home at 0100 and am still sad but at least my tummy is happy!

8

Great thing about being a New Yorker with a couple connections: Being invited to Tao’s 8th anniversary, getting to the door and knowing the doorman, running into Brooke Shields, Lance Bass, and Jeremy Pivan, meeting the owner, sitting at his table, and dancing the night away at Marquee. All while finishing off in my tradition of Cafeteria.

real world

The great thing about New Yorkers is that they don't give a crap about celebs. They wander the streets among us not bothered and usually completely un-noticed as everyone is in a hurry to get some where. On Friday I covered a familiar shift for a friend at Brother Jimmy's but they put me in a different section. Pretty soon here comes tons of cameras and a group of people who ended up to be The Real World Brooklyn. Granted when I was 13 I watched it but now, I could give a crap. With that said, if you happen to be a fan, watch for the waitress in the background in the red "classic" tee shirt!

early date

Of all the strange dates I have had this one goes down as the earliest date ever.
I play volleyball for a city league and we are not very good, in fact we suck. The main purpose for us getting together every Wednesday night is to have cocktails after. Well my first game with the team was on the UWS the day I moved into my apartment so I just told the crew I would meet them there versus going all the way down to the EV and back up. Ellie told me to go to the school on 79th and Amsterdam. Ok, so I show up ten early and begin to wander through the school to look for the gym. I am not seeing anyone but cleaners and noticing how the hallways lock up. I decided it best to go back to the lobby and wait as I could see myself spending the night trapped. Finally a teacher comes down and I ask her where the gym is explaining I was there to play volleyball. She was stunned and then told me that there was no gym there. First what the hell kind of school doesn’t have a gym, and what do I do now? She was kind enough to walk me to a rec center around the corner explaining that she thought I was Gwyneth Paltrow. I don’t think she has time to hang around closed schools looking for volleyball teams, but whatever! So I hear the squeak of shoes against a gym floor and bound up the stairs to find guys playing basketball. Piss! However they were able to direct me to the correct school, gave me the address and everything. So I ran over there in time to play a game and a half and then go out for drinks.
We go to this bar around the corner and after my friends ditch me I move to another table and watch the end of the Phillies win over the Rays. Upon leaving a guy gives me his card and tells me to do what I would like with it. Two weeks later I text him and then we set up this date. So yesterday morning I wake up at 715 in order to meet him at 745 at a coffee shop three blocks down the road. I brushed my teeth and hair and bundled up. I didn’t have the energy for sox and shoes and just figured sandals would be okay for a short walk. I get there 5 early to discover that this coffee shop doesn’t open until 1000. Yay, right?! So I stand there and make small talk with the lady guarding the construction sight next door. Finally Kurt shows up and is just as surprised as I am. He suggested another place on 112th and Broadway so off we go, through Morningside Park up flights of stairs and two more long blocks. And just when I think my toes are going to fall off we arrive at a great little café for breakfast. In retrospect the date was good, he is cute and funny, intelligent, and adventurous and I will see him again for sure. After tracing my steps back home at a fairly rapid pace, I climbed back into bed until 1130.

all for a good night's sleep

So my first day moved back onto the island, I spent ironically in Brooklyn. Now understand there are all sorts of areas in Brooklyn, just like there are in Manhattan. I lived in the not so fabulous part. My therapist whom I adore lives in this great are of Brooklyn called Park Slope. I walk around this area at time envisioning myself married with kids, that’s how nice it is. Proudly I figure out my way there via four train changes and we do our thing. Then following I have a dermatologist appointment right down the block. Lunch in between while still picturing a nice life here in the neighborhood. See the doctor and then decide that I am going to head to IKEA since I don’t have any form of a bed and sleeping in the recliner was all well and good last night while I was drunk however the fat that it will not stay back will become a problem while sober. I hop on the B train after calling the automated voice of BK IKEA and keep looking for the stop. And looking. Well I end up in Coney Island. I get off the train and ask the MTA guy where the hell IKEA is and he laughs and tells me to enjoy the long ride back. Ready for this: it was one stop in the other direction from where I started! Almost wanting to give up and go home, I pause re-gather myself and get off at the correct stop. Another questioning of the tollbooth to find out that I need to cross the street and hop on a “shuttle bus” to IKEA. I get on and ask if it s the right one and forty five minutes of standing in rush hour bus stops and gos I see the holy land. First thing I do is hit the bathroom then begin to wander about. I have inherited this cheapness thing from my father and not like to think about spending lots of money; therefore I sought out the less expensive bed frame I could find. My roommate said he knew a mattress guy so this was all I really needed. To get a clear picture of this scenario now, here I am with a 1 x 7 box hauling to the check out making a game plan for the overcrowded bus and two subway changes home. I paid my $40 plus tax and exited. A man approached me and asked if I was taking the bus home. I proudly said yes as I was determined to tackle this. He told me he could give me a ride home for $40…SOLD!
I assemble my bed and Jase comes up with cushions from the couch as my mattress until he can find the guys number. So for two nights I do that. Then this girl appears whom he is apparently dating but asking me if I yell at my boyfriend all the time. To which I just replied no, and he tells me that she yells at him all the time. Good relationship, I reply. So this girl shows up and hands me an air mattress. Either she feels sorry for me or wants the couch cushions back were they belong. Whatever ii is, while listening to her yell at him, my air mattress is losing air. Apparently she punched a hole in it…I am not quite sure how that did anything to him, just me. I visit this “mattress guy” and boy is he creepy. He is doing his sales pitch and I call him out on it and tell him that I am just looking for something cheap. I got a hell of a deal and delivery this time. And when he asked for my phone number I faked it and got the hell out of there. Three days later heaven arrived and I have been sleeping like a baby ever since. The mattress combined with Jase wising up about the girl makes for quite evenings.

preference of destiny

I am changing my reserve preference to request to fly to try and work on Thursday. While on the page I had the option to also change it for the Thanksgiving week. I started to change it and wondered if I was changing my destiny. I always play these games to guess what scheduling will do with me if...I never win so I just left it alone...for now that is.

ipod

My ipod is my lifesaver on the subway as well as bus rides to and from the airport. I constantly have it on shuffle and will sometimes forward to a more upbeat song or something which matches my mood at the moment. The other day I was spacing out and the song from Love Actually , "Love is all you need" came on. Immediately following was The Beatles, "Love is all you need". Do you think this little device is trying to tell me something?

300

My 300th post doesn't come with any great stories or updates. It is that time of year in flight attendant reserve life in which I sit airport alert unused and then around on call. The big difference between this year and last is that I realize this fact and have found things to occupy my time. I have been walking the pooches, playing volleyball for a city league, and picked up some shift at Brother Jimmy's for some spending money since my paycheck next month will be shit!
Today finds me hanging out at home on call listening to the rain and now watching the sun struggle to break free from its barrier of clouds. The Ducks are playing at 630 and it is sad to think it is the second to last game of the regular season. Where did the fall go?


So I went on a date with this guy the other night. I have known him for about a year, met him at the old watering hole of the UES. And he suggested bowling, which I love the idea and when a guy has actually taken the time to think about what to do. So we meet up at a bar, have a beer and head down there. He wins by one point. Afterwards we hit the Coffee Shop for a milkshake (my idea) and we are talking. We are talking about past party days and I said that I have fun in my life and he said he was a little more low key. I reply that he was a good guy then! He goes off on how nice guys are always getting the shaft and blah, blah. I was just sitting there trying to defuse the situation with no accord and finally told him he wasn't being a nice guy at the moment, he was being an asshole. And this is why it sucks to date!

elevators

I was speaking with my doorman this morning after returning from a coffee run followed by a brisk walk around the neighborhood. I expressed my love of the neighborhood in the perfect combination of old and new New York. Everything from the buildings to the stores to the people have the mix of modern and raw. He agreed on the idea and then went on to tell me about how our building is a perfect compliment to the neighborhood. He did tell me to watch out because it is a fertile building. A new mom came home on Sunday and two more are expected this week. I told him that I didn't want any of that and he warned me to be careful of those fertile elevators. To which I replied...I will be taking the stairs then!

change

Change is inevitable and most of the time unwelcome. But in my case I embraced the hell out of it and used it for motivation to get my butt in gear and to get the hell out of, not only Brooklyn but my funk. A week ago the movers pulled up (one from the previous time) and took my perfectly packed room and we journeyed across the bridge and uptown.
I have moved into a fantastic new building with a doorman (how NY is that?) and into a room which over looks the city and from which I can see my favorite building in the world...the Chrysler Building. The other night I returned home to see the little lit up and fireworks going off south of the city. It is such a wave of relief to be back into the city! I will admit that learning the ins and out of the west side subway system or how to get to the East Village in a timely manner are presenting me with challenges but this time they are not overwhelming. And do you know what else is great? It took me..count them 75 minutes to get from my room through security! The old route took upwards to three hours sometimes with two trains along with the bus ride. Love living on the westside...when it comes to flying that is. I am realizing that I have built me life around being an East side girl. But again there is always room for change!

history

This day in history has found me in Dublin, watching the television with great interest and hope. I left the tv on as I sleep because the polls were not closed as it was time for bed. I awoke to find we have a new president-elect. When asked were I was when change was elected, I can answer...in a hotel room in Dublin after many a pint of Guinness!

been a long time...

It is not that I haven't wanted to write but I always find myself short on time, resources, or inspiration. I will say this past month has been a blur when it comes to life. I made some big decisions to move me forward and to a better place, I was bombard with friends and family, and said good bye to the love of my life.
I spent the first three trips of the month in Ireland, which I love and then in between entertained not one, not two, but three friends in one weekend. Nichole was a planned visited and I managed to actually get on the good side of my supervisor to ask for some days off during her second visit to the big apple. She came and crashed with me in BK after a three hour bus ride into the city because some idiot planted a suspicious package in the outbound Lincoln Tunnel. Apparently he did it the Wednesday prior on my way to work which would explain why I looked up from The Post to find the bus in some neighborhood. The great thing about Nichole's visit is that she had been here prior and did all the tourist crap so she was happy to hang out and do my life routine. We caught a Ducks game at the local bar and ended up at Cafeteria where our server was from Oregon...we fell in love with him immediately!! The second day we were joined by Dave May and went to an amazing restaurant for dinner and then out on the town for cocktails. The third day Turiya made her appearance and we all went to Girmaldi's for the best pizza I have ever had outside of Italy. I could only convenience one of them to go walking with Willie and me.
Carol was my second visitor and was keen to take a trip with me to Belfast where I showed her around the city and of course around the bars as well. She came to help me with the decision to find a new home for George as this place is god-awful for both of us and she deserves a better life. That being said, the girl packed up her belongings and took up her Oregon residency once more. Yes, I am very sad and no the breakdown still has yet to arrive.
I made the amazing choice to move back to the city and have found a great two bedroom share in the UWS/South Harlem/Columbia/Morningside...depending on your audience. The big move is tomorrow morning and I literally counted the days until it was here. I would think..."this is the last time I have to haul my bags to this subway line" or "this is last time I have to change trains four times to get home". I am super excited for the move and hope to get everything put away and make it a home asap. My new roommate is a whole nother blog!
What else...I finally fell down the stairs to the subway today with my bags. My roller board went flying as I slipped down at least eight stairs. My backpack stopped me finally along with my left forearm with is already showing the war wounds. What actually surprised me is how many people stopped and asked if I was okay.
I am sure there is much, much more to talk about but this girl is hitting the hay and moving back to civilization tomorrow!

a reason

After my bitching and freaking out over scheduling rolling my day off and sending me to Dublin to work economy no less, I understand why things happen for a reason. I was given the gift of a new day off, I did earn it by flying in, walking dogs, and then running to end the evening waitressing. Saturday was all mine to sleep in, AND my good friend Turiya was in town on a layover. We had lunch, caught up, had a beer or two and then I outfit her in Duck gear and we went to watch the game! Following we had some more cocktails at work and she was in hog heaven. I got to spend the night in the city and have breakfast before sadly saying good bye and headed back home. Where I found, I am going to Paris, working the galley and with a dear friend of mine who defines Paris....See things do happen for a reason!!

hate it

I loathe my job for how much it messes with my mind! Of course I had all of my days lined up so I could work trips and not have them mess with me, but what did those motherfuckers do? They made me sit around on call all day yesterday wondering if the phone would ring. And nothing. Today I hope to just fly under the radar so I can keep my commitment to Beth and take over all the pooches on Friday so she can leave town.. But NO now I have to go to Dublin and they rolled my day off to Saturday and my whole entire next month is fucked up because of scheduling!!! In my mental list of good and bad things about being here this is definitely bad!!

field trip

So I have the whole day off, I have tried in vain to work but no one needs me. So I decided to go into the city and see what I had been missing out on. With a to-do list in hand and my ipod in, I set out across the East river. I went to visit my old super and stopped in to my old dry cleaners and starbucks to say hi. (Mind you these were some of the kindest people to me). I then took a bus cross town to see if I could pick up some shifts and to get some paychecks. I then walked around the UWS and checked out the neighborhood. I ran into a card shop and then printed out my taxes and then hopped on another bus and walked across Park Avenue and got on the subway down to Murray Hill to try and pick up some work. I then walked down to Union Square through Gramercy Park and decided I would like to live on Irving St. Went DSW and bought some work shoes, Virgin Megastore to pick up the fourth season of Greys, and then over to Trader Joes to find a line of twenty people just to get into the store...humm NO! I then went to dinner at Japonis where a table of gentleman badgered me until I joined them. They were very pleasant and it was nice to have some one to talk to you as I ate sushi and drank cucumber martinis. Having a taste for dessert i ended up walking through the Village and over to the restaurant in Washington Square of that guy who had the Ben Harper tickets last year. Man alive! Fantastic dessert, hit the spot. Then I walked down to Houston and through SoHo a bit before I decided to call it a day and hop in a cab across the bridge.

hurt once more

I sit in a stranger’s apartment. My clothes are hung over the shower to dry. I just walk back and forth not knowing where to rest. At least I am out of the rain. I have found temporary shelter from the tropical storm but not from my emotions.
A week of intuition told me there was something wrong but I placed it to the side as paranoia. As I stood huddled under an awing outside the liquor store where my thoughts were not only confirmed but also laid out in front of me without regard. My old neighborhood, the one I long for along with the simplicity of prior months in all ways, was the setting for the cliché’ ending to the relationship which caught me so off guard in the first place.
After the conversation I just walked and let the monsoon fall down upon me hoping it would take to the earth my heartache with the rainfall. Hope for the disbelief to be washed away in the gutter with the pools of water. I walked to shelter and felt no relief, I walked towards the bus to have it pull away at my approach, I rode another bus only to get off again, another subway to get away from the pain. A familiar face handed me keys to pull it together. I walked to the building and walked six flights not realizing I had taken a single step.
Now I lay awake in my bed not believing what I have been told, wondering what it all means, allowing myself to hurt before closing the heart up once again.

what next?

I am among the “they-s” who say all things happen for a reason. Hearts are let down, expectations fail at the time of want; things don’t go according to plan. But those lessons, which are often learned the hard way, are still lessons non-the least and that is what we call growing up. That doesn’t come with age per say as some people think. Some think they need to be married by a certain age and let society dictate what step should be next as the calendar progresses. I am clearly not one of those people.
I don’t believe I am grown up for my age and that may come from the lack of a real career and my filler jobs which surround me with girls in their twenties. I believe I have made this reference prior to feeling like I am away at college. Now I have my two roommates and being a flight attendant feels like school. London is my hated calculus class that I just fail to understand no matter how many times I attend. Paris is that early morning chemistry class which is a bitch to get to but so enjoyable once you make it. Rome is that cakewalk class that you only get to take once maybe twice in your academia. Manchester is like the psychology class I was dying to take but once involved it was interesting but I failed to see the relevance. Narita and Hong Kong constitute the senior project that seems so far away but the golden ring as long as I don’t suffer too hard from senioritis.
The point is I never intended to make this job my career. Maybe I will endure long enough to get a degree or two but I don’t see myself as a full time student. One must grab onto something at some point and decide this is going to be it, this is where I plan to end up and what usually goes along with that is who you end up with. Well at the stage of lacking the later once more, I am free to think again about my future solely.
I was in the crew room here in my chemistry class, much like my favorite class in college with the professor who wore the yellow, faded tee with the periodic table, and a girl from the crew came up and started talking to me. For some reason I thought it acceptable to talk about every job under the sun I have had and my loss for knowing what I should do next. Well she explained to me how she has lived in five countries while teaching English in each. I replied that sounds like a really cool thing to me and within a minutes’ time she had a website pulled up with pages of opportunities. They range from three months to two years depending on the country. It is defiantly something to think about.

oregon, lovely oregon

Hmmmm, it is so nice to be home. In fact my attitude immediately shifts the second I land. The self protect mode falls to the ground and I know that I am safe. I will grant that I have kept the "not putting up with bullshit" mode but I think that is just good sense.
Yoder, the life-saver was there to greet me and drive me down to ol' Roseburg where Carol had Abby's pizza and conversation awaiting. Dr appointments with doctors who could only survive in Roseburg took up the morning and lunch with Minda, Yoder, and Marilyn took up the afternoon pre-post taxes. Yes, I just filed my 2007 taxes.
A bbq at Nene's was the perfect way to be welcomed back to P-town and I was in complete bliss being surrounded by dear friends. BBQ's in NY, virtually unheard of.
Next day after a complimenting doctors appointment and therapy with wax, I set off shopping with Nichole and she took me to my favorite restaurant for salad and a glass of wine, another bliss moment. We met up with Yoder for a fabulous dinner and then wound up at a strip club with the boys.
Friday was getting ready for the wedding festivities and figuring out rides to get everywhere. Luckily I am not in town too often and people are actually okay with me bumming rides. The rehearsal bbq was good fun as we all prank called Craytie and then set up a game of kickball. After a shower and dramatic costume change we met for cocktails and then went out on the town. Taco Bell, not cafeteria ended our evening, that and a whole bunch of giggling.
The big day was upon us but first thing was first with Duck football. I met Nene at a lousy excuse for a sports bar that would serve pancakes but not nachos while the game was on for the first half. During half time I busted back to change and bum yet another ride. We arrived for a wedding pre-funk and I immediately found the owner of the house to ask him to turn on the Duck game. It wasn't even on a minute before the guys joined me to watch the nail bitting, double overtime win to the game. Just in time for the ceremony.
The wedding was ideal, perfect down the last detail.
Sadly my stay ended Monday morning and Brooklyn and George welcomed me home. This time I had no feelings about staying or going, it just seemed routine.

open heart

So I have made the decision to have an open heart and mind no matter what. I long to keep the peacefulness that Oregon allotted me throughout these four months and see what good things will come to me. The last time I made this decision I was set up with a wonderful guy who opened my heart and mind. So here I am once more deciding what path to take and ultimately where I should end up. I was waiting on fate to decide that for me the whole time, by either meeting a guy or just knowing what was right when the strike of lighting hit. Well, what is that saying...got to take matters into your own hands. So here I am in London of all damn places keeping my mood alift.
On the way to my bus, Beth called and told me she signed me up for a volleyball league which made my day. Alright a good thing, interaction and working out. I was able to work first class aisle on the way over and had Kelly Osbourne as a passenger. She was totally sweet and very polite.
Nothing much else going on here because I choose to keep a low profile and just catch up on rest. My boycott of London is still standing! : )

this crew

I off to work yet again after taking almost a week off flying I am out the routine. Today I lack the excitement to be back in the air to deal with people and to go off once more to Manchester. I made to work and checked in then headed off for a salad. While waiting for the plane, we did the usual meet and greet of the crew. I had actually flown with most of them prior.
The captain with his 10 minute brief.
One of our oldest flight attendants at 70 with strangely a lot hair and who feels it's okay to keep hitting on me. He told me he just finished filming a Ballywood movie and I look exactly Denise Richards. So he continued to call me Denise the whole flight.
The ISM is a cool guy I had gone somewhere with before, cool dude. He did find it necessary to give me a play by play on his love life while we were taxing.
The back galley gal is one of the headaches from the last time I signed up to babysit (play ISM). Nice but that whole trip sat uneasy with me so I just avoided her.
The FO is new to me but totally cool.
The first class galley girl, the one whom I am to work with....She is a Chinese speaker and it totally new to international period. She asked me if I would teach her how to do the galley. Sidenote: If you know me, you know that I have little tolerance for stupid questions. I offered to just take the postion from her since we didn't have all night to get things done and I was already in a bad mood. I got to the ISM first and briefed him on her proximity to pushing me over the edge. I became "cook" as she called it. And then the questions: how long you cook? how you work? how many flights you learn? how spell mimosia? (why are you asking me that?) how long you cook fish? I will say that she if very sweet and has really nice intentions but man o'live! She was constantly up in my space and trying to help me instead of doing her job. I ended up doing a third of hers as well as my "cooking" job. All I can do is laugh now...that is until we are on the plane for an hour longer tomorrow.

prior vs present

Prior Neighborhood Present Neighborhood

abundance of healthy food options /abundance of crap/fried food
fun bars/my watering hole /I don't go out after dark
Ready, willing, & able street cleaning /trash? just throw it on the ground
lots of nanny pushing strollers /lots of pregnant minorities
blocks from Madison Avenue /99 cent stores on every corner
dropped off my laundry /people asking me for money while I do laundry
I could be somewhere in 15 minutes /have to leave at least an hour
sounds of cabs honking /loud latino music and car alarms
fresh flowers at delis /people selling bodywash and watches from tables
fast paced/get there /all the time in the world and taking up the whole sidewalk
Post office and post box /have yet to see anyplace to send mail
movie theaters /99 cent stores
starbucks /fried chicken (that they insist you eat with ketchup)
taste-d-lite /unconditioned bodegas with freeze dried popsicles

lotto

I bought my first NY lottery ticket today, the jackpot is $132M, with the thought that if I win I could move back into Manhattan. I am not saying my apartment is not great, it is, once you get to it. My roommates are very kind and have once saved my ass when I was running late for work. As a 31 year old it is odd to have to return to sharing a space and not really feeling like it is my own. I am considerably homesick and this is attributing to my thoughts of my fantastic large loft in which George feels at home as well. I am sure that my impending trip home is aiding in this longing I have.
I changed my bedding today to brand new sheets and duvet cover after getting my duvet from the dry cleaner since this cat (which is about to get shipped home in a box) decided to take her homesickness out on my bed. Suffice to say, it is miracle she is still alive right now. We are now working on tough love in which she is not allowed in my bedroom unless I am here. Luckily the roomies are very loving to her while I am away on trips and such. I am not sure how long it will take to get her adjusted and what to do if she doesn't.
While I am ranting on, I also have to say that it is a pain in the ass just to run home to change or just grab something so I wander around the city like a nomad sometimes when I have multiple things happening in one day. I am sure Chris loves that I always bring my shopping bags over!
I realize that is has only been a month and there are adjustment periods for everything so I am going to be patient with ol' Brooklyn and remember that I am saving half in rent. Plus my new bed is fantastically making me smile at the moment.

what the hell?

Explain to me this: I am usually the one who text/calls Chris to figure out how to fit him in my week. Granted I am never worried about can I call and all the bullshit that goes along with dating, it just doesn’t apply to us. He always gets back to me and usually within minutes of contact. So after our great date Monday I just haven’t called him mostly because I don’t have a day next week to give him yet. Plus, I wanted to see if he would call me. Well Wednesday night after getting off work and looking at my phone on my way up the stairs, the bouncer tells me there is a guy here to see me. I immediately thought it was Chris since he knew I was working that night. It was the St Patty’s guy, Dave and you’ll never guess who I missed a call from twenty minutes earlier. The message was that he took his softball team to the new store (where he thought I was working) and was sorry to have missed me. I asked my manager whom I love, what the fuck? He told me guys seem to have a sixth sense when they should make a move. My response was, so you guys are smarter than we give you credit for? Nah, just enough to mess with you girls, was his response.

my week...

So I have been working my tail end off lately even with the dog walking taking the month off as any good New York does. I have picking up shift with the waitress/hostess gig. On Sunday after surviving the day but in much need of a hug, I worked 1700 til 0100 at the new store and then met the roomie for after work drink and to split a cab home.
Monday I did nothing all day and met up with Chris for dinner. We went to an excellent tapas place and then I introduced him to Laurant. And there was a moment as he poured me another glass of Sangria that I thought, “I could defiantly do this for a while”. We even got into a heated discussion about the politics of cultures agreeing to disagree.
Tuesday I was back at my favorite store on the Westside playing the part of hostess. Getting off at 2300, changing and then hiting a friends birthday party at Mansion. I was showing a new flight attendant friend the in’s and outs of nightlife in the city as she just had moved. After hanging at Mansion for a bit, we headed over to Marquee and then Bungalow 8 finishing, of course, at my favorite Cafeteria.
Five hours of sleep was rewarded with pressed coffee and conversation with Laurant the next morning. I dinked around the house and spent some q.t. with Jorge who is still adjusting but getting better with her three roommates. Finally I drug myself up and back into the city. Since I never spent any real amount of time on the Westside, the plethora of trains is a bit of a mystery but according to hopstop.com I was to take the j to the f transfer at 14th to the 1 and walk a couple of blocks. Simple enough if I was paying attention at 14th and had more patience at 66th I finally got into work and ordered up a burger to curb the hangover I knew would be arriving soon. We spent the first hour of my hostess then waitress shift trying new shots. I swapped shirts and shoes and then hit the floor to wait. We had a good amount of people and I didn’t feel as overwhelmed this time. I sat a couple of guys out of my section just so I didn’t get too swamped and then ended up staying forever. Since they were a table I passed by a bunch I stopped and bantered a bit every once and a while.
I had no tables so I went back to talk to these guys and one of them asked me what I would give him if he could guess my last name. Not wanting to explain to my manager that I had to comp a drink because I lost a bet. So I told him that I would give him a kiss. He took the offer which must have surprised him and then said it. I looked down to see if I was wearing a nametag. And then I really looked at him and with wide eyed surprise figured out who his was. The guys Yoder and I were hanging out with on St Patty’s Day! I immediately blurted out, wow you fell off the face of the earth. We texted for about a month and never seemed to meet up. So with advice from Craytie and a bruised ego, I stopped trying. He thought the same about me. So some quick apologizes proceeded catching up.
Friday I headed out to LHR after meeting the lady I met on the flight home from NRT (Bali) in SoHo for lunch. I worked the first class galley on the 777 for the first time and rocked the hell out of it! My aisle girls are absolute idiots but that’s ok because it just makes me look better! Headed home tomorrow and then picked up the closing waitress shift at the Westside. Currently dancing around my hotel room to the new Rihanna, great song!

the ride

The 15th of this month held the answer to whether or not I would have a job still, whether or not I could walk away from this crazy world of going, gong, going but wait, there is a weather delay or we are totally full, or aren't you too new to know what you are doing?
Added to all of this day to day bullshit that people don't consider when you are "glamorously" walking through the airport in uniform with luggage, is when you are stuck working with a person you don't like. I was assigned this trip and immediately cringed when I saw the ISM. I hadn't worked with her before but I knew that she was friends with the ex. I went to work with that on my mind and who do you think got on the bus at Port Authority? I can't begin to tell you how uncomfortable it made me. The trip was fine and I kept to myself most the time intentional dodging the personal questions expect to relay that I am fantastically happy now. She will her "power" to tell me how unprofessional I was to be playing cards with some of my passengers. I intern told the customers the message and they wrote in three letters of compliments. And to top off the trip she along with the ex were on the bus home gossiping away. It was sure a trip I would like to forget and hope doesn't occur for quite some time if ever.


It occurred to me while walking around Edinburgh, a city transformed by annual festivals, that this ride I am currently on is not over, nor is it stopping to let me off. Like it or not.

next wave of boarding

So last night was the first night I was on the floor as a waitress. I took the shift at the store mostly because I was excited to work but also because the golf outing (which Chris participated in) and I wanted to check it out. Well, I could have picked a better store to throw myself into the action. Mind you, besides the two private parties, the store just opened so for four solid hours I ran around with my head cut off. My 11 tables would all be sat at once, and then they wanted to order at once, then they wanted their check at the same time. Finally I just went from one table to the next taking orders and then dropping off drinks. I didn't have time to be overly friendly and to be the waitress that I would like to be. I didn't even have time to pee. I would take my deep breaths while standing at the computer inputting 11 orders at a time. I had the thought that being a flight attendant and waitress...pretty much the same thing with 35,000 feet difference. Well, here is the main difference: once people are served that's it, the doors don't open and reseat people.
I made it back home at 0130 with my cab driver telling me how bad my neighborhood was and that I should move to Staton Island. How bout you mind your business and just drive motherfucker...the Brooklyn is rubbing off! ; )
So today, I am doing nothing. My legs hurt from working, I bathed then in the sunshine and they are about to get a pedicure. I have no plans to leave the hood today. The roomies are home as well and the four cats, yes I said four are trying desperately to get along. Organized chaos, right here in Brooklyn.

bella roma

Even though the other aisle gal was the New Yorker that I hope to never end up like, the ISM hated me, the other reserve under minded me and told everyone that I was new and didn't know what I was doing, I had a great layover which erased the bullshit of the flight. I got to go Rome!!! The first officer and my galley gal set off and saw everything you are supposed to while in Rome while finding time for gelato, pizza, and Italian beer. We even hit the supermarket and picked up wine coffee, chocolate, and stuff to make Chris dinner. I even got a tan while checking out the sights.
These are the trips I live for and pay the dues of UK flights for months on end, crazy crews, and rude passengers. Yes, this is my silver lining for the summer.
Love, love Italy and can't wait to go back!

sending out an s.o.s.

I land from my long ass trip with the slow crew of the year and do the exact opposite to get into the city. The guys I met on St Patty's Day while waiting for Yoder have come into town and invited me to a tv taping. I changed in the back of a cab, dropped my luggage off at their hotel, and hopped another cab up to Harlem. I arrived at the Apollo just in time to meet the guys and walk in before the door shut. None of us really knew what was going on but sitting twenty feet from the stage, we learned this was tv taping for a new show on Sundance. Elvis Costello is interviewing musicians while adding in his music and stories. Mind you I knew who he was and I knew his songs but I never linked them prior. We were instructed to clap on clue although the performances required no fakeness what so ever. So the band....THE POLICE in their very last appearance of television together. First interview was Andy then Stewart, and then Sting, and then all together. After the amazing, intimate conversations, with a few versus of chorus between Elvis and Sting their bands got together and started jamming.
Definitely one of those, Holy Shit moments in life.

my role model

I was given trip to EDI and was super excited first to return to one of my favorite cities but also to see Pam Ann. She is a comedian who makes fun of flight attendants. We were a poor showing compared to Zoom and Easy Jet but still got pulled up on stage to end the show with a dance. It pretty much consisted of us with our arms out like airplanes "flying around". Good fun with the only two people on the crew I could handle to be around voluntarily. The crew in the back, the ones I had to work with because I signed myself up for the purser position, I was about to kill them because of their slowness and unnecessary drama. Old goodie-to-shoes in the back convinced an anorexic girl that she needed an ambulance to meet the aircraft. I asked her why she didn't just give her something to eat? Thank goodness the day got better....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ge_x1U2rYBo&feature=related

toto (george), i don't think we are on the upper east side anymore

I seem to pick the hottest days on record to do my moving but this time I spent the best $170 ever by hiring movers. The day prior I was blessed with getting a personal drop so I could spend the whole day packing and cleaning. The movers came at the bright early time of 0800 and I greeted them with donuts and water. Within 45 minutes they had my life loaded and I hopped in the truck with them and their absolutely looney boss. We drove to my new home in Brooklyn. Even though I had been here once to check the place out and knew that I would be "down grading" from the UES, it was still funny to see how much different my neighborhoods were. No Starbucks in sight, it was throw back to ol' Kearny but luckily within five minutes of the city, the city is within viewing of the rooftop.
I unpacked a bunch of stuff and then went home to finish cleaning up and get the rest of my stuff which snowballed into five damn bags plus George. I called a car because I couldn't begin to tell a cab where the hell I moved to and I didn't want any fuss about the other passenger. So we drove in style to the new neighborhood, leaving the strollers, nannies, and jews behind. I now live in raw Brooklyn with two French guy roommates and three other cats.
Should have some good stories coming up....

i have to go where?

My dumb luck doesn’t seem to extend to work. I was good for one day and was assigned airport alert at 1055, which means I was covering NRT, PEK, etc. Well, genius here who does not operate well in the mornings left my blackberry home by accident. This wouldn’t have been a big deal if I would have brought my second phone or my computer but I left them because if I were sent to Central or South America they would be taken. So I get a call around 1130 to monitor a flight, I am sorry, do what? So I go up to the gate to find out the flight to LAX isn’t leaving until 1400. So I walk back down to the crew room and pass the domestic reserve that came in right after me. I asked her what she got and almost strangled her when she replied, Honolulu. I call back to scheduling to pick up an AMS and figure out what the hell I am really supposed to be doing. They put the LAX trip on my line so I had to work domestic. LAX wouldn’t have been the worse thing to happen to me as I have a plethora of men to choose from, however I didn’t have anyone’s numbers. So I am on the pay phone to Carol almost crying at the clusterfuck of my day when my name is announced over the pa. I call and go back to the crew room. I was the second to be called again and this time they gave me a flight that left at 1600 to PHX. I flipped out once more and cursed my fortune. Well the ol’ flight didn’t end up leaving until 1900. At least the crew, minus the fat-ass working first calls was cool.
It was our FO’s birthday so we made him some crew juice and ordered up some apps for our quick overnight. I knew it was time to leave when the quite, shy FO ended up telling all of us that he was a swinger. Weirdness aside we started our three-leg day with sit time in IAH and AUS. Getting home at 1230, I realized how grateful I was to be international. I have no idea how I survived the year I did in domestic.
While heading for the gate in PHX and going to get a salad, I ran into my good friend Chris whom we have done a couple of trips together and had an absolute blast. I ran and jumped on him declaring he just made my day so much better. As we were chatting, he says hello to people passing. Then he tells me that it was Steffi Graff and Andre Agassi. We set off to hunt them down and say hello. We found them at the Brookstone store and finally I walked up and introduced myself.
“I was such a huge fan growing up”
A: “of me or Steffi?”
“Both, your both great but I had you plastered all over my walls”
A: “I am sorry bout that” he said with a grin
“I am not, you are hot” to the amusement of his wife
Small chitchat and a couple more handshakes later, we walked away. I was shaking from the experience of meeting one of my childhood idols.

cdg to man

Sitting here in Manchester, glad to have a familiar place which I can rest and get caught up on my sanity. The trip prior was Paris and it was awesome because I worked first class galley, the crew was awesome, and I didn't have to deal with any passengers. Ended up shopping on the Champs Ellysses and hanging out in the crew room drinking wine till the late hours. The flight home was fun and the relief pilot was super hot so the aisle guy and I spent our time staring at his body and taking photos of him while he slept. Lucky for me, wine gave me enough courage to kiss him the night prior! No one to kiss here in jolly ol' England so I think I will call it a night and hit the hay.

three plus volunteering please

As if having two jobs isn't enough for me, I added volunteering to my life this month as well as getting a job at my favorite watering hole. During my week off "work" I walked pooches in the day and in between trained or volunteered in the morning with the opposing during the evening. All this and finding time for a date with Chris. It was sort of a relief to go back to flying and just have to hang out in Paris all day shopping!
So, Brother Jimmy's...well I am officially the fill-in girl since my schedule is so damn sporadic. I feel in love with the Westside Jimmys during my six day training period. I will be able to be either a hostess or waitress but that whole seating table bit throws me for a loop. My niche is defiantly with people and serving, shocking! The very first day of waitress training, one of the tables was three guys interning for the summer in NYC from U of O.
I haven't worked a shift yet but imagine as soon as I can tell someone what is happening in my life tomorrow and the new store opens up that I will be busy working away.
I am honestly getting tired of flying, the not knowing, the supervisor up my ass all the time, and the feeling of being held captive.
I am really hoping to be granted the leave of absence and be able to enjoy NYC fully, just as I did during my crazy, wonderful week of last.

my all-star week

I had planned my whole summer around volunteering for the All-Star week with landed at Yankee Stadium this year. Months ago I put in my application, then went to an interview, and finally got the letter of acceptance. I was assigned to work FanFest in the Javits Center which many have proclaimed (myself included) to be baseball heaven on Earth. We were given a tour the evening prior to the opening and it was amazing. Our uniform consisted of a red baseball hat, bright yellow polo, and the ultimate topper of a MLB fannie pack...yes, you read correctly! No worries because all of us looked like dorks. I accented my outfit with khaki shorts and red velvet tinnies. My assignment was to work the You Call the Play booth where you could make a dvd with your favorite play and your voice doing the announcing. Instead I got stuck at the Cover Photo which was broke for the first hour so I spent the time watching the Home Run derby and eating free Taco Bell from the neighboring booth.
The next day Chris and I went to enjoy as baseball fans and spent some time actually playing. The Home Run Derby was fun but the damn ball dropped too fast and made me look like an idiot while ol' softball man was hitting them out of the park. On Monday I worked a private party and thus had to decline tickets to the actually Home Run Derby but I did get to work my assigned booth and we had loads of fun goofing around. The last day was Tuesday and I got to work the main attraction The Diamond where legends came out to do clinics with kids and give autographs. Even though I was a day off from Jeter and Bernie Williams, it was sure great to see David Wright, hottie!!
So the perks to this giving of my time included the cool uniform, tickets to Fan Fest, the ability to volunteer next year in St. Louis, a commemorative baseball, the joy of hanging out in such a cool venue, and getting to go to a party and the game.
I was invited to Tao' by my friend Reach to a private party and while trying to grab his attention in the dj booth to thank him, I look to the left and see Shaq. I met him later in the evening and his hand enveloped mine plus half my arm. Amazing party!! Can't even describe how fortunate I feel with my dumb luck.
Even more dumb luck...you remember the guy who ticket I inadvertently scalped a while back? Well he stopped by Fan Fest to see me and offered me a ticket to the All-Star game. I jumped on the chance and come Tuesday around 2000, I was standing in Yankee Stadium watching in awe as baseball greats walked onto the field. Hands down, one of THE BEST MOMENTS in my life Even though the game was the longest all-star game in history, I survived thanks to 2 seventh inning stretches, a beer, and my absolute love for the game.

i'll have a third please

As if having two jobs is not enough, I have just started a third. My local watering hole is opening a new joint and I have been hired to be a waitress/hostess. My training began today followed by orientation for the new place.

a kiss

Aries
March 20 - April 19
Unfortunately you can't measure love the way you would the stock market, dear Aries. And it's all right if that scares you a little, because you know that you have to work at something if you want to make it happen in your life. We all need to have the courage to try new things. So, yes you will find love in your life, but as to whom you will 'invest' with and how much you will 'invest,' you won't find out until the big day. Be patient, you won't be disappointed.

Given my history with blind dates and bad dates in general I was willing to try it once again when my local bartender and friend Larry asked to set me up with his friend. I didn't ask any questions about my upcoming date, I just said yes. He called me and we set up a date and then he actually called me later in the week when he said he was going to. We met at an Irish pub on Mother's day after my flight from OSL. I was nervous at first but then fell into talking to him over Guinness about work, movies, and sports. I called it a night after a couple hours due to exhaustion. He left for Mexico and took over the pooch patrol. We made plans for dinner prior to my departure for Turkey but I had to change it to coffee.
I've got to tell you, he isn't my type and there was no fireworks. But I am realizing that "my type" is no good for me and who have I actually had a relationship with in five years? No one. So I stuck with it. About a month after our first meeting we had our third date bowling and an irish bar. Something that night shifted for me, I became comfortable and less pre-occupied. While we were at the pub, Guinness in hand, Yankee game to the right, Celtic game ahead, live band to the right, I told him that I was pretty close to heaven. Then he kissed me. I was like, oh...OH!
Come to find out, he had the same reservations about me during our first two dates. But he admitted to feel the shift as well that evening.
We ended up spending the fourth of July together first at his softball game, lunch, and then I took him to Lance's party. And then last night I took him on a date to an outdoor cafe and then to a bar with board games. We spend hours playing connect four, checkers, and jenga. Hands down one of my best dates. And the thing is that I am myself around him, no front, no games, me. I have no idea what to think about it, I know that I am not sick to my stomach or worried about whether I can call him or any of the usual bullshit that goes with dating.
I guess a kiss can change everything.

cph

With my crazy schedule lately, I have been unable to find 15 minutes to hit the tanning bed, sometimes the thought of it overwhelms me. Luckily I have been building a nice tan thanks to open roof busses in London, a glorious day at Wimbledon, gay softball tournament in Central Park, dog walking, and today in Copenhagen.
I had my fingers crossed for a good trip knowing that people would call in sick for the holiday weekend. And low and behold, here I am in Scandinavia! Although it was an early check-in I was able to nurse my hang over from the evening prior where I celebrated the 4th of July in my new tradition of a penthouse party. I actually brought friends along this time and was able to enjoy the fireworks with Chris, who is slowly finding a way to my heart.
Besides the back galley gal who wore driving gloves the whole time, the loud ISM, and the other gal who I schooled on the beverage cart, it has been a great trip. We even got to take a nap on the way over (which helped out the hang-over as well). My room is right up against the bank of the river and boast fantastic views of Christiana.
I can’t begin to tell you how beautiful this city is. Gorgeous buildings everywhere you turn and gorgeous people to boot. I wandered for hours before setting off to find the statue of the Little Mermaid. After a wrong turn and thirty minutes of walking, I found the damn thing and got my photo with it. I headed back to go to the Tivoli gardens that were featured in my 501 MSD book. It was a prettier version of Disneyland with outrages prices so I just wandered about and then said what the hell and rode a giant swing set.
Back in my room and looking forward to my bed while across the bank Copenhagen Jazz Fest is playing live. I can’t begin to tell you how much I love this job when trips like this occur!

strawberries and cream please

For the second time in three days, Carol and I were off to London. This time on the 777 headed to LHR. We ended up taking the Tube into the city (which is way more complex than it needs to be) and then after a quick catnap headed on the tube once more to Wimbledon. A couple other crewmembers joined us as we sat on the Hill and watched Venus play on the big screen and then checked out the grounds were legends once walked, played, and won championships.
Although we had a three hour bus ride back to the airport, ground delay because the police shutdown all departures at Heathrow, it was a pretty great trip, especially for Carol who sipped champagne and enjoyed first class. She has become quite spoiled lately!

trip from hell

Good thing the crew was so great. And I was glad Carol was there to actually witness some of the stories, which happen to me. To start off we were four hours delayed due to hydraulics and a plane swap. The crew just sat together and made the most of our time joking around. Well once we boarded the plane, the pain in the ass people started. Everyone on that flight was mad at us and so rude that after our service we just ignored them. Horrible, horrible people. One lady told me I missed her meal on purpose and had a shit fit when all the was left was chicken, She yelled at me, then the lead and then the other guy until the back galley (straight from Harlem) went and straightened her out. The other lady we hated was 14F who tried to take another seat then bitched about it not reclining then was mad because we didn’t know about her connection on another carrier. Another guy refused to put his elbow in for the carts so we made it a game to hit him every single time. Because Carol was with me I had to go through regular customs. I was taking off my sweater and breathing a sigh of relief when ol’ 14F came marching up to me and asked if I was still working. “I am finished working” I said. “That’s been everyone’s attitude the whole flight, the other girl told me that you have been working for 12 hours and got paid for 6” “She is right and I am done working and ma'am a crew’s attitude is a reflection of how passengers treat us” “Well I am going to write a letter” “Knock yourself out lady!” All the while Carol is telling me to stop and I went and told customs that they need to hold that lady because she was mean. What a bitch!!!
And oh, on the way home I had to break up a fight between two grown men one of which (the instigator) was wearing a "Holy Ghost" tee-shirt. Real godly of you jackass!

time is running out

I am sad today because it feels like a deadline is looming over me. I am embracing this summer as if my current life will end when the leaves change and begin to fall. The news about work is getting worse and the chance to keep seeing the world grows shorter with each passing day. I have been extremely disappointed not to be as busy as I thought I should be this month. I am also disappointed that there are amazing trips in open time and I don't get to go because I picked up LGW just to work and now there are dream places that someone else gets to experience. I was able to change my trip to Manchester but it is definitely not Madrid or Berlin or Geneva. Time is running out and luck doesn't seem to be in my corner with work right now. It is sad to think of my comfortable, fantastic life changing without my say or knowledge of what the next season will bring to me.
This I do know for sure, I am moving to a less expensive place out in Brooklyn, formally know as BK for further blogging purposes. I am excited to move to another borough and see what else NY has to offer. Change in any form is always a hesitation for me even though good things usually do eventually happen.
My friend Jim has been in town and takes me to do NY stuff with him because he likes the company. I like that he realizes I am broke and drags me out of the house anyway. We went to Curtains on Wednesday and then out for cheesecake. The show was amazing!! Yesterday with my day off, I embraced the sunshine and headed out to Yankee Stadium. I had to scalp a ticket but ended up sitting with some guys who bought my beers and kept me entertained. I was even offered tickets to the All-Star game. Yes, I got his number just in case! : ) An afternoon nap followed my afternoon ballpark buzz and then we headed off to a comedy show in the village. Good stuff! I enjoy hanging out with Jim because he calls me out on all my bullshit neuroses and asks me the tough questions. We have figured out that I smitten with a boy who lives way too far away. But isn't that me? Wanting what I can't have easily?

aaa to the third

I am usually a live in the moment gal. Whether it is a joyous moment or one of angry or irritation, the feeling is powerful but soon dismissed say with another event or sleep. I awoke this morning still peeved about my "evening" at work.
I realize that airport alert is part of being a reserve. I actually don't mind it because my best trips have come as a result of sitting on the couch waiting for the bat phone to ring. But to have this assignment three times in a month (so far) is absurd! What sucks even more about not making any money and wasting my time going back and forth the the airport is not having a clue what is going on with my life. I don't even know what time I am on call today, my name isn't even on the list. The three times I have been almost going on great trips, teases if you will. The first was after 3:45 hours of sit time, they called me to go to ZRH, which I was super happy about since last time I was there I didn't feel good and a friend of mine was strangely enough there on business. Yet, the guy walked on at the last minute and gave me a hug for my trouble. The next airport alert, same thing about 3:30 into it, I got called for LIM and I was soooooo excited as it is in my top 5 and another friend of mine was down there for a stint. The girl walked nastily in and told me that is was her flight and I needed to go.
Airport alert number three. This call came about two hours in and they told me I was going to Spain, MAD to be exact. I actually squealed on the phone and ran to the gate. The weather of course caused massive delays and the 2300 flight didn't even end up boarding until 0015. We were about to button up and push when another flight attendant walked on board...she actually made it after being four hours late. Guess who got to go to MAD. I walked all the way back to the crew room and the phone rang again. This time sending another FA and myself back to the other side of the airport to go to AUS. We get there with no direction after ending up in Texas to find the crew had changed their mind, they were going to waive legality and go. So all the way back the crew room to wait five more minutes and get released. Mind you it's after 0130 in the morning now. I look at the train schedule, I can make the last train at 0200. I get up to the rail-link to find the trains are only running every 15 minutes. PISS!!!! Now I have to take a cab to the city. $85 and an hour later I am home and I am reeling at this stupid job.

random nyc

I rushed in the door and gingerly sat down my tasti-d-lite and my purse and ran to the bathroom. George just recently up from a nap approached the ice cream as if I brought it home for her. She was a good eight licks into before I could shew her away.
The day has been a little all over the place I managed to make it to brunch at a lovely little Italian place. I had to wait for the rain to stop so I could sit outside and drink mimosas and eat eggs benedict. Later I wandered around the city in search of a swimsuit I had orginally seen in SFO. Five Gaps I have been to today to find the pieces separately but it was the happiest thing that happened all day. The last Gap set me in the West Village so I ended up walking around enjoying the sights and stumbling upon the best pizza in the city. Famous Ray's Pizza on 11th and 6th, great stuff!! Now as I try to write about my NYC weekend, George is laying on my hands begging for attention, or maybe just another ice cream!

ny has beaches?

With a weekend off to myself, I had many options, I thought about visiting a friend, or going to the beach. But the one thing I so want to do is enjoy Sunday brunch. So that is exactly what I plan to do tomorrow. Today however was spent in bed and then leisurely getting coffee an my dry cleaning. Finally I got a wild hair, packed a beach bag, and headed for Brighton Beach. About an hour away on the subway, who knew that there was a beach? Tons of people were out as it was a hot, humid day. I walked up and down the ocean just taking in the scene before heading up to the boardwalk. I had to go pee and with no Starbucks or an other 20th century place in sight, I finally ducked into a Jewish restaurant and ordered up some knish so I could use the potty. This town I was in was a mix of Russians and Jews, it was very odd to see them living in harmony and to feel like I was walking the streets of 1970.
I made it back to the island of Manhattan and to my apartment just in time as the humidity broke into rain, Right now I am sitting in my place with all the lights off to watch the lighting striking my street, listening to the earth shattering thunder, and watching the heavens dump onto the ground. I have nothing but admiration for Mother Nature and all of her force and glory.

tribute

I am tired but yet I lay in bed wide-awake wondering what is not taken care of in my thoughts. Then it hits me...the calendar has changed its day to the 13th. I cheered on the Celtics win this evening in his honor. I recommended a friend stop by the war memorial which stands proudly with his name engraved. I thought about it earlier today but tonight it becomes over powering.

To the man who taught me the love of sports,
To the man who taught me to be tough and get through things.
To the man who taught me to conserve energy,
To the man who taught how to change the oil, a flat tire, and to care for my car
To the man who taught me the value of a hard days work,
To the man who taught me to suck it up,
To the man who taught me the value of my word,
To the man who taught me how to live from the earth,
To the man who watch every World Series with me as a kid,
To the man who taught me the perfect hook shot like Larry Bird,
To the man who played house and restaurant with me because I was an only child,
To the man who ate my grilled cheese over and over again,
To the man who took me fishing,
To the man who taught me how to play black jack well,
To the man who will always be strong in my eyes even though the last years took his physical strength away,
To the man who tough exterior faded away and who could finally tell us he loved us.
To my father and my friend, you are dearly missed.
In memory of Ray 15.Feb.26~13.Jun.07

end?

Cut backs in the industry have been announced. The price of fuel is causing a once profitable company to make the business decision to eliminate flights and offer to its employees volunteer leaves of absence to reduce the number of furloughs. These changes will take affect at the end of August. So what does this mean for me? I am in the danger zone of being furloughed because of my youth with the company. Full information came out today about our options, which are apply for the COLA or take our chances about getting laid off. When the news broke, I immediately knew that I would apply for the COLA and see what happens with the company. The beauty of this leave business is that I keep my flight benefits. You and I know that is only reason I am working so it seems crazy not to apply for this time off. Of course there is the question of what I will do while on my leave. I still have the pooches but I think it will be a great time to find a fun, well paying job in NYC. Life is changing, it will changing without my lead and it worried me at first. But now there is a calm about staying here and seeing how it will all unfold.

brs with no diversion

I was given a second chance to see a place in my 501 Must-Visit book when getting a trip to Bristol. The town of Bath is located right next door and I was determined to see it this go around. I had previously flown with the first officer so we decided to go together. He decided we were going to ride bikes. Seventeens miles later we found the quaint town after a couple water stops. We grabbed a sandwich and had a nice picnic near the water. Afterwards we locked the bikes up and took a stroll around a city that makes the USA look like today's new iphone. I was on the search for great photo ops and a magnet. Being that it was a Sunday and after six o'clock in the UK, everything was closed except the pubs. Finally I tried one last place for a magnet, my spirits sunk about the prospect of not adding to my collect, I walked into a book store. I asked the guy because I didn't see any, and then...he had some. I got so excited I ran over and gave him a kiss.

a helping of Turkey with side of nightlife please

My top five is constantly changing when it comes to travel. This not because I waiver in my want to see the world, it is joyfully, because I am able to see places and quickly move others up.
Current top 5
Greek Islands, Morocco, Cuba, Lima, Dubai

I had read a book, some fluff easy read in which the main character goes to Turkey for some party yatta-yatta. It sparked my interested with her description and then to find ten pages of the country in my 501 Must See Places. It had moved into my top ten. While in BCN and meeting my Turkish friend, he suggested I move Turkey up as Barcelona had just fallen out. I agreed and as of purchasing my Lonely Planet book at Powells, I was set to go.

With a bag of cupcakes in hand from Crumbs, I set off to JFK. I was so excited to be going on holiday, it was great, no fuss, everything was lined out, it was perfect. Being unassuming, I brought eyeshades, a blanket, and a Xanex for the 11-hour flight. Much to my surprise, I was put in Business Elite and let me tell you, it was wonderful! Granted I spent the first hour of the experience comparing it to our service to the travel agent who sat next to me, but after dinner and a movie (27 Dresses, thanks for the recommend Nichole) my down blanket and I were fast asleep.

It is my habit to take a nap upon arriving in a foreign city just to reward my body for making it there. I ended up sleeping a little too long but according to my new friend, introduced on facebook, it was a good thing. Atinc had me meet him in front of a hotel in non-tourist side of Istanbul. My hotel manager decided to escort me all the way there just make sure I got there okay and I think he was excited about having a hotel guest under the age of 50. I met my new friend and we immediately hit it off. He had lived with Mehmet in NYC previously and had heard about the bodyguard story in Spain. We took a quick tour of the streets watching the vendors and people before stopping in for a drink at a restaurant his friend owned. A few meters later we walked into the club Angelic where we danced the night away on the edge of the Bosphurous. It was a fantastic open air club and the owners loved me for some reason.

The next day, I slept in to recover from our 0500 end to the evening and decided to check out my area of town, Sultamaytah. I walked around in awe of the gorgeous buildings, the Blue Mosque, the Aya Sophia, and spent the evening wandering the welcoming streets. It was that moment that you love when you travel and realize that you are on the other side of the world…just hanging out!

Day three, it’s about damn time I am back to normal if you consider normal waking at 0330. I dinked around my hotel until 0600 watching the sunrise from my roof top terrace before I made my way down to the city. The temples were untouched by people and tourist at that hour and it was the perfect time to reflect on the long history that lay before me. I sat for a cup of Turkish tea and toast before wandering on some more. My favorite thing to do is to get lost in a city and that I did. It took two hours to get to the water; I wound in and out of streets with the company of a dog from the Aya Sophia. I finally bought my pooch breakfast and some water before crossing the Golden Horn. I walked and walked stopping for a coffee or water, taking pictures and walking towards the Bosphurous Bridge where I had been prior. Now the great unique thing about this bridge it that is connects Europe with Asia, This was a detail of this city which thrilled me to death. As I walked, I saw a billboard for Sex and the City. Disappointed not to go to either the premier or the opening, I stepped in to find out if it was playing in English. I set my clock to return for the matinee. So onward, I went checking out life in Turkey. I must tell you this is a beautiful population of people so it made my people watching even more enjoyable. I finally made it to the bridge and the harbor below to find a movie being filmed. I took the necessary photos and grabbed a stuffed potato and laid in the sunshine near the water. My movie and an hour more of walking lead me to the public transport back to my side of town. A quick nap and then I met my fellas for a cocktail and some chatting on the terrace overlooking the Bosphorous.

The next day I went out to buy the remaining souvenirs and see what else I had maybe missed in my journey. I finally ended up purchasing a ring from all the catcalls and toughed up enough to stop being nice and start being my NY self in defense. I met Atinc at another secret local, I felt like I was given Mission Impossible journeys all week with him, and this time we boarded a boat to a man made island. He had been invited to a jewelry line launch fashion show and party. Now this is what I call living! We watched the show, sipped on wine, and mingled with the elite of Istanbul social scene before we were on another boat headed to Reina. This gorgeous nightclub was also open air and was the perfect way to end my holiday.