columbus

I got sent out on a trip yesterday which took me to CMH. We worked the flight there and then deadheaded back. The take off was pretty exciting since we are experiencing 30-40 mile/hour winds. So I am hanging out in my HI hotel room talking to Janene and my friend Carlos calls. He is at the same hotel so we ended up going out with a guy that drove an hour and half to come and see him. I am sure that he enjoyed me being the third wheel. It is halloween weekend and let me tell you, the gays sure like to dress up. I spent the night checking out guys, having a few drinks, dancing with the date so Carlos could cruise, and chit chatting with the masses. My favorite costume of the night was a slender black man wearing a Rupunzile like wig (blonde and to his calves), a box of Godiva chocolates around his neck, black high heels and a fox tail covering his...well unit. And that was it, nothing else. He had a rockin' body though. He was "Lady Godiva". On the way back to the hotel we saw a White Castle and yelled until the date pulled over. I got my first experience with the tiny burgers, they gave me heartburn and I laid in the back seat wishing the boys would stop fighting about the damn directions and find the hotel. Gratefully I got an extra hour of sleep this morning and got to sleep on the way home.

loraine

I have decided to take my destiny of meeting a good guy here from fate and give it a little nudge by joining eharmony. I was speaking with Dave May about being unable to find someone to hang out with that doesn't give me the he-be-jebes. I will admit that I am very picky in what I find attractive and who I would consider dating. The fact that you would have to align all these wants I have, my heart being open, being in the right place, right time, someone who finds me attractive and whose heart is in the right "mindset" as well. So the other night the girls helped me do my profile, it took about an hour. I received a few matches right off the bat so I sent them five predetermined questions to see what happens. Wish me luck or at least some more good date stories.

Speaking of stories, you know how I am always good at attracting crazies...This pretty cute guy asked for my number on the way home from Portland when I went to pick up George. His name was George as well. So he calls, I can't go out because I was on call, then he texts, and texts, and texts. Finally I stopped texting him back because I got irritated about his pushiness. He calls me several weeks after the communication stopped from a restricted number demanding to know when I was free and going to go out with him. I got off the phone and then texted him that I didn't want to see him and if he wanted to know why it is because of his pushiness. Get what he text me back, "When I c something or someone that requires a closer look, i become voracious 4 more information. I didn't mean 2 b so agressive, i have recently re-entered the dating scence so forgive my assertivness. Ultimately, i pity your loss. Much love to George (my girl), goodbye Loraine!" That is not even my name jackass!!

take off

The up side to this job is that it is not that much work. The downside for someone who likes to be productive, is that there is not a lot of work. After having six days off from flying an assignment was dropped into my schedule. I had to refer to airportcode.com to find out where they were sending me. I memorized 180 city codes for training, these were not among them. I regonized as a charter flight, however and speculated that is was a college team going somewhere to play a game. I was correct. We headed up to Syracuse to pick up the football team and take then to CVG. I was able to sit up in the cockpit for take off and we wrapped around the Hudson in order to see the Statue of Liberty and the city line. These boys were very demanding and like children while I was offering candy. They were a lot of fun but had a hard time having shit flicked back at them. BTW, the head coaches wife is from Oregon...small world. There were onlly six people on the plane for the ride back and I took a nice nap in first class seats, after I had eaten candy, ice cream, cheese and crackers, and drank gatorade. I woke up just as we were beginning our decent and wandered up to the cockpit to watch the landing. Those boys work hard up there with all the calls, buttons, and aligning the plane in the clouds. It was so cool to watch!

Today they are sending me to CMH and then deadheading me home tomorrow. I have racked up 15 hours of deadheading this month and am two hours short of my guarantee to get paid for them. I only have the 30th to fly those two hours as I have Halloween off. Well, I best hop in the shower and look pretty for my second trip to Ohio.

oregon

Going home always has it's negative and positive sides. The negative is that I long to be there all the time, to be with my friends, sit in the park, eat great food, have my own, beautiful space, and...it's Oregon for Christsake! The positive is that I get to get away and renew my love for home, I get to see my friends and celebrate their lives with them, I got to sit in the park and enjoy the beautiful fall colors, I was able to have down time in my loft, I got to sit on 23rd with a favorite friend and drink milkshakes, I spent the day with my favorite friends and renewed my strength to carry on. The beautiful thing about these friends of mine is that sometimes I don't have to say a word, it is just being with them that makes my life at peace.

I am now back in Jersey and awaiting a trip from crew scheduling, it is getting pretty late so the chances of working today are slim. I have offered to make dinner for my girlfriends here and we are going to watch movies, and enjoy laziness while it is avaliable. I have motivation to not sit around and eat junk because I leave for the Bahamas in 13 days. I am so looking forward to the sun, the wedding, and hanging out with the Nener. No offense, Nichole...I don't think we will have much one on one time!!

B, M, and I went to our first diner last night. Jersey is apparently known for them. The portions are huge (no wonder why these people are too), but it was good to experience something new. Let me tell you though, nothing I order will come close to how amazing the Kobe steak from Ringside was.

mets

Just got back from my two day trip to have my heart broke by the Mets. It is not necessarily that I am a Met's fan, I just wanted the chance to watch a world series game. I doubt I will be sent to Detriot of St. Louis for a two day layover.

I got the call at 2230 telling me that I shouled probably go to bed. My check in wat 0445 or what I like to refer to as o'dark thirty. My sleep was only an hour and half long before my alarm went off at 0300. I was given a load pairing which means I go from plane to plane helping out crews. My first flight was to IAH, and because of the crew, I worked first class aisle. It was great because a. I enjoy first class, and b. the galley guy was the most laid back guy I have ever met, I had to explain to him what he needed to prepare. Any woo ended up chatting with him on the jumpseat and confirmed that he was straight...not by any actions, just conversation. So I gave him my number at the end of the flight while we was waiting for me at the end of the jetway. We'll see what happens. So I get to IAH and hold up in the Mariott for ten hours sleeping and subconsciencely listening to the thunder hit right outside my window. I went to catch my next flight to PHX which was two and half hours delayed which pushed my crew rest into illegial. What that means is that I didn't have to work a 15 hour day, I just had to work and eight hour day and got home in time to watch the fifth inning on.

Tommorow is airport alert, or what I call sleeping in the crew room.

home

I returned from SEA this morning to the freezing cold tempetures very willing to get off the plane. The passangers were strange complaining about the air saying it was making them sick. I had two pukes, one lady who wanted two seats and had to deal with the agents on whether or not she was going to stay on the plane. It was a very long trip. I felt bad calling B to give me a ride home at 0600 but the sweetheart she is, she came willing. I went and grabbed a bid packet and sat in the cold waiting for her arrival. I checked my messages and found out that a dear friend (my strength in coming to Portland) is having a baby and moving to Seattle. I also found out that my "big sis" got engaged. Both of these friends once dined with me once a month to catch up on life. I sat on my rollerboard and tears flowed freely. I can't believe how much I am missing at home. B joined me in tears on the ride home as we expressed our frustration with our situations here. I climbed in bed for much needed sleep and set my alarm for 1430 so I could get up and watch the Duck game. I called a bar with satelite and got my gear on. I was feeling better after some rest but after driving to six different bars, my heart was broken when Applebees found the game but didn't have the chanel ordered. I am now here watching up to the minute stats wishing I was home. Home at the game, home celebrating huge life things with the people I love, home with those I owe my time to, home with my friends, my family, home where I can have a beer while I watch the game, home where I can feel at home.

Before I left I expresed concern to Anne about when I came back everyone would have moved on with their lives. She gave me the perfect response of "that will happen whether you are there or not". I understand and it made me feel better until those message. I wish I could be there to celebrate the moving on.

"blooood"

It went like this. B and I decided to go to Hoboken for the day to check it out. We asked the sub guy for directions and we were on our way. The turnpikes, parkways, and routes of the NE make absolutely no sense. They fade into other ones with no warning and on top of the confusion, have the audacity to charge tolls. I would say we left the house around 1330 for our adventure which took us past Giants stadium three separate times. We had to stop at Starbucks for a little refueling up north even though we needed to be heading east. Around 1630 we arrived at the small town which reminds me of the Pearl only with a view of the Manhattan skyline. We stopped by our classmates adorable apartment and hung out watching MTV. We ended up going out to Mexican and since I had to work the next day I only had two drinks. At 2100 I called C to have her look up my trip the next day. I had a 1430 check in, with that information I informed her we would probably not make it home that night and I prompty ordered another beer. We moved our party to a great bar, Maddisons, and I drank and danced with the girls even though there was no dance floor. Some of the girls faded away but B and I held strong. Next thing I know, a glass breaks and my foot is bleeding everywhere. I am not as phased as I should have been but I do remember standing on one leg, saying "blooood" over and over again. Men came to my rescue with towels while my friend who caused my bleeding went off to get herself, not me another drink. The gentlemen asked me if I wanted to go to the ER and I said no, I wanted to dance so let's just wrap it up and how about another drink. Twelve hours later, I sit on a plane working until 0200 wishing I had not drank so much. My stomach is grugerling, my head hurts, and I am unable to do my PA's intelligently. And my damn foot is still bleeding.

My trip following my hang over has been a tough one because of all the ups and downs, weather, turbulence, and flights getting in late. My schedule was as follows home-DFW-IAH-SAT-layover-IAH-SAT-IAH-SEA-layover at the Red Lion (currently here)-home on the red eye.

Still not back to my normal, if I even know what that is, self.

chicago

I am in Chicago and I am drunk. I woke up this morning in Miami and dead-headed to Newark to sit around for three hours. When we finally made it MID our crew was picked up in a limo and driven downtown. Our long layover is at this amazing hotel in the heart of the city called the Palmer House. The lobby is like something you would see in Venice and the rooms are so quaint. When I reach my room, I immediately turn on the tv and look for the Duck game. No dice, there is regional action only. I meet up with the pilots and head to a sports bar next door. I ask them to change one tv to the Duck game from the Mets playoffs and they deny me. I eat my steak and drink my wine say goodbye to the pilots and hop in a cab. I am told that Timothy O'Tooles is where I need to go. I arrive in time for the second half and saddle up at the bar with a Guiness next to a Tennesse fan. I cheer loud for the few plays that go our way and drink more beer. After watching the Mets reach the next stage of the playoffs, I retreat back to the hotel and think for a few minutes that I should crash the wedding in the hotel. Common sense takes over at midnight and I rest my head on the down pillows which surround me.

chill

There is a chill in the air, you know the one which you feel when during a football game or the post season of baseball. It is the chill that has one reaching for a blanket as they read a book on a day off. My day off was wonderful, sleeping in till noon and just lying around the house. I had good intentions to get laundry done, go to the bank, and the market. None of those things seemed as important as my down time with my book. I am reading A Million Little Pieces, I realize that I am a year behind the craze but it is an excellent book. C and I just hung out on our matching chairs with George in between us and read. We finally got out of the house to get something to eat and pick up B from her turn. We also went and saw All the King's Men this evening (still without a shower), excellent movie. As we were driving to the nearby town for some civilization, I had this huge desire for Christmas and the warm feelings that once exsisted with the holiday. I remembered how it felt to look at lights on Christmas Eve after dinner out with the rents. It made me sad but at the same time hopeful, hopeful in building new holiday memories. I guess that this is my coming to terms with living here. I will be glad to get my car out here to have freedom and go explore some more of this state that I am trying to make my home. My car will give me the ability to find a much needed gym. I am not getting fat, I am losing my self esteem...something gain from going to the gym on a reguiar basis. Change is in the air and it is for the better.

Got a three day trip, no red eyes like the last one was chalked full of. This one takes me to YYZ, MIA, MDW, and ORD. I am just hoping to find a tv between trip to watch the Ducks continue their winning streak. p.s. flew with a Sooners fan (captian) and he wasn't to happy to have me and my Duck gear in his cock pit, excuse me, the new "p.c" word is flight deck.

military charter

I think I had the best day of my flying career thus far. I was assigned to a military charter which took troops home from Kuwiat to Kentucky. We got the short leg. The hassel of running back and forth between gate 55 and 68 in the unfamilar B terminal was a bit annoying but once that 777 pulled up and the troops came off to stretch their leg, tears were instantly in my eyes. It was my first time on the triple 7, working that is. It such a huge plane with the perspective of an FA. I was in charge of a door, the manual safety demo (our ISM has no clue what he was doing), and the mid galley. There was so much food on this flight and I just walked up and down the never-ending aisle offering things to everyone. Our two hour flight ended in a flat area of nothing but black hawks, buildings, and old planes. We were invited in to join the ceramony welcoming the troops home. When our large crew walked in, the crowd cheered for us. The troops marched in and the crowd went crazy along with all of us. It was such an emotional experience to watch them be reunited with their families and to see the babies which were non-exsistant when they were deployed. We got a chance to hang out while our flight was delayed for two hours. I got my picture taken in the engine of the 777 and then we ate first class meals while lounging in the first class section and running up and down the aisles. Our captain was so great and sang songs over the intercom. I was able to sit in the cockpit for take off and he let me turn on the auto-pilot button. So techicnally I was flying the plane. I felt like a kid up there with all the pictures I took and all the questions I asked.

On the way home flying 43,000 feet, a light caught my eye and then another. I cupped my eyes and looked out to see the most amazing lighting show I have ever seen in my life. This show was about 50 miles from us and followed us all the way home, As I sit here now, at home, the lighting is flashing through the windows and the thunder is almost shaking the house. Besides the Yankee game being delayed, it has been an amazing day.

A special thank you to those who have volunteered their lives to protect our freedom. Welcome home boys, and thank you.

midtown driving

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

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

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

so many noodles

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


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

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

the cousin

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

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

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

old hood versus new

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


OLD HOOD
NEW HOOD

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

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

couuffee?

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

last season

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

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

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

chair on a wall

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

westin beds

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

ode to the care package

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

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

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

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

thirteen pounds

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

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

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

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

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

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

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