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Don's Galley: Continuing Adventures of a Pretzel SlingerSTATUS: Don is Home / Mood: Happy
June 02 Home Again!! Hi there everyone!
After a long hiatus, I have decided to bring the blog back. I have just been neglecting it for a while and having a good ol time....but after browsing through the archives of past posts and laughing my ass off at some of it, I decided to go ahead and resurrect my (semi) daily blog.
I am home right now, sitting outside my beloved Sheetz, on a beautiful day! I am especially loving this as I was pretty much stuck in the house for the last 2 days fighting off a nasty sinus infection. The only blight on my day is this NASTY DIRTY OLD MAN who, despite 20 open tables, decided to sit RIGHT NEXT TO ME and smoke these incredibly foul cigarellos. The smell is just disgusting. I just want to 'shoo' him away like a dirty pidgeon or something..... 
UGH!
but I digress.....good trip home this month. With the new jumpseat agreements in place, I was able to completely avoid Philly (GOOD THING) and instead commuted home through Washington DC (Dulles)......hopping onto a United Express commuter flight straight into Altoona. It was Sah-Weeeet!! :) I am absolutely loving how easymy commute just became!
Unfortunately, I came home nursing a nasty sinus infection....I was running a fever for the last couple of days and just felt terrible. Despite this.....Mitchell and I went to the drive in first night home to see "Night at the Museum: Smithsonian" and "Terminator: Salvation" Museum was GREAT! (I'd seen it the night before at the Starlight Six in Atanta with Michael) Terminator was a huge dissapointment. Definately not worth going to the theater for...wait for the dvd.
I aso took a ride down to Aunt Debs and the Center to pick up some dog food and see Deb who had just arrived from a week in Las Vegas. It was a short, but very pleasant visit......until Wheezy decided to find the biggest...nastiest...stinky MUDHOLE near the pond and ROLL IN IT!!
OMG!!! FILTH!!!!!!
WHile she was getting clened off by Daddy with the garden hose...Mitchell looked at her and says...." Daddy's not mad at you....I'm mad at the DIRT!" I damn near peed myself laughing! OMG...she was SO NASTY and STANK!! SO yesterday we spent the rest of the day home...me napping on and off trying to get the fever to break.......he running errands and stuff...... It's been a good trip home so far. Ok thats all I have for y'all today. Talk at ya tomorrow. May 25 it's time to post this again.....Basic Rules for Air Travel on a Discount Airline------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ OK. I have been bombarded with passengers who just don't get it... so I feel it's time for a lesson in basic passenger rules.
So, gentle reader....read, learn, and apply the following rules and lessons to your next flight experience.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AIR TRAVEL 101 (Basic Rules to Follow When Flying a Discount Airline)
1) DON'T BE LATE - Airlines live and breathe "On Time" and REQUIRE you to be on board NO LATER THAN TEN MINUTES PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. So don't cut it so close that a delay in security will make you miss your check in. GO EARLY. And just so you know, NO the plane will not "hold" for you.
2) DON'T COME UNPREPARED - We do not have microwave ovens aboard to heat up your baby's bottle, nor do we have refrigerators to keep things cold in. We also do not have closets to hang up your coat, pillows and blankets for your red-eye flight, and a ton of other random needs you will demand us to accomidate.... PLAN ACCORDINGLY AND PACK WHAT YOU NEED!
3) DON'T EXPECT A MEAL TO BE SERVED - The best you are going to get these days is a small bag of snack pretzels or crackers. The days of the inflight meal are Looooong gone......If you are hungry bring along something to eat!! No discount airline will deny you boarding because the Wendy's bag in your hand takes you over the "One Carryon" limit.
4) BRING A CREDIT / DEBIT CARD - Discount Airlines are moving away from cash purchases onboard for drinks and other items. If you want a cocktail, better bring your card.
5) DON'T TRY TO BOARD INTOXICATED - OK....we've all been there....it's a 4 hour weather delay and you decide to knock a few back at the airport bar while you wait. Thats OK...but as with all things in life, moderation is the key. Airlines are NOT ALLOWED to board an intoxicated passenger. It's a Federal Air Regulation...and F.A.R.'s are like the word of God himself to an airline. There will be no discussion, no negotiation, you will be removed by Police officers and that will be that. So don't be stupid....don't even try it.
6) DON'T BE GREEDY - Do you REALLY need 3 cans of coke, 2 cans of Cranberry juice, 3 cups of coffee, 10 bags of pretzels, and a bottle of water for a 1:15 minute flight? Inflight service is NOT an all-you-can-eat buffet. There are also 116 other passengers who want something too...And please don't pester us for multiple pre-departure drinks in business class...with the short amount of ground time and everything we have to do, sometimes you are lucky if we can get ONE drink to you.
7) DON'T BLOCK THE AISLE DURING BOARDING - with 20 minutes or less to get 117 passengers on the plane, bags stowed, and seated....why would you stand in the aisle for 15 of those minutes folding your coat, digging in your bag for mints and your bottle of water, and a book? While you are taking your good ol sweet time, the 116 other passengers are still standing there and now you will delay the flight. Just SIT...please...get all that AFTER takeoff....
8) DON'T ASK THE CREW TO STOW YOUR BAGS - This is a common one. We ARE NOT required to lift your bags into the overhead bin. In fact, the airline strongly encourages us NOT to. The risk of us being injured is too high and Workers Compensation DOES NOT cover us if we are. If it's too heavy for you to lift..it's gettin' checked.
9) DON'T BRING 900 POUNDS OF CRAP - The new Federal Rules are ONE...thats ONE....UNO...1...1...1...1.... ONE....carryon item and a purse/laptop/shopping bag...etc. So don't argue when we take 3 of your 6 bags of crap and tag them to your destination.
10) DON'T HIDE YOUR BAGS BEHIND YOUR LEGS IN ROW 1 - We caught on to that long ago. It's a Federal Regulation...no gettin around it...if it can't go under the seat...it's got to go up! (Or we can check it...<insert evil grin here>...)
11) OVERHEAD BIN SPACE IS NOT ASSIGNED TO YOUR SEAT - I HATE this one....The bin space is first-come first serve, if the bin above your seat is full...FIND ANOTHER ONE!! The bin space is NOT assigned by seat.....Again we are trying to go on time and standing in the aisle complaining because you can't put your bags above you when the bin in front and behind your seat has room is just STUPID. Just stow the damn bag wherever it will fit and SIT DOWN!.
12) STOW YOUR BAGS PROPERLY ON THE FLOOR - his is another Flight Attendant pet peeve...if you have one of your items on the floor MAKE SURE it fits ALL THE WAY under the seat in front of you. Bags CANNOT ride between, beside, or behind your feet. It's another Federal Air Regulation....if we had an emergency evacuation, and the cabin filled with smoke...that bag you have stuffed around your feet will BLOCK YOUR WAY OUT!! Think about it....do you REALLY want ANYTHING to block your way to the exit in an emergency?
13) DON'T ARGUE OR REFUSE TO CHECK YOUR BAG - We really will not argue with you....2 choices, check the bag...or stay behind with it. Pick one..we really don't care which.
(If you give it to us voluntarily, we will check it to your choice of destinations....if you get nasty, we will check it to OUR choice of destinations <re-insert evil grin here>)
14) DON'T ASK US TO HANG YOUR GARMENT BAG - Our planes DO NOT have closets! (and...duh...I can't magically make one, nor is there a "secret" one hidden somewhere that only we know about)
15) TURN YOUR CELLPHONE OFF - Duh!
16) DON'T GET UP TO USE THE LAV WHILE WE ARE TAXIING - You just sat in the airport 12 feet away from a bathroom for four hours and you pick NOW to go potty? We can't move the plane with you out of your seat on the ground...so now we have to get out of the departure line and pull over to the side so you can pee and wait another 45 minutes till takeoff. Way to go....dumbass.
17) DON'T ASK TO BE SEATED IN BUSINESS CLASS - Unless you are active military in uniform...don't bother....not going to happen. If you wanted to upgrade...do it at the gate.
18) DON'T REFUSE TO FOLLOW CREW INSTRUCTIONS - one, it's ILLEGAL...two, WE WILL HAVE YOU REMOVED AND/OR ARRESTED.....no B.S. here.....
19) DON'T BLAME US FOR BAD WEATHER - 'NUFF SAID!!
20) DON'T TELL STUPID JOKES - "I'll have my steak medium rare...ha ha ha...." GOD.....do you really think we haven't heard this one before? It takes all our control not to slap you every time we hear this.....
21) DON'T POKE, PROD, TAP, OR MAKE PHYSICAL CONTACT WITH YOUR CREW - A simple "Excuse me..." will do nicely thank you. How would you like it if I came up and POKED you in the behind to get your attention?
22) DON'T EVER SIT IN A FLIGHT ATTENDANTS JUMPSEAT - We could hurt you for this....really....we are VERY territorial about this....
23) YOU ARE NOT AT A RESAURANT - You are on an AIRPLANE ...we do not have utensils, ketchup, mustard, salt, pepper, plates, bowls, or anything else. The service we provide is a minimal drink service to make your ride more pleasant.
24) DON'T STICK YOUR FEET/LEGS/ELBOWS IN THE AISLE - The beverage carts just barely fit down the aisle and weigh well over 400 pounds. it can hurt you...and it can hurt ME when I trip over your feet backing down the aisle.
25) DON'T MUMBLE WHEN ORDERING DRINKS - We work between two 45,000 lb. thrust jet engines for more than 12 hours a day, every day. Airplanes are loud....speak up a little, please.
26) CONTROL YOUR CHILD - We are not babysitters. YOU are the PARENT...control your children. It is NOT our job or responsibility to correct or babysit your children....
27) DON'T BELIEVE BABIES CAN BOUNCE OFF OF THE CEILING - why....WHY....WHY...would you snug your seatbelt on tight in turbulence and then proceed to bounce your baby over your head? Or let Junior use the seat next to you as a Trampolene? Don't you see the STUPIDITY of this?
28) DON'T IGNORE THE ANNOUNCEMENTS - Again, nuff' said.
29) WEAR YOUR SEATBELT!!! - Do you honestly think they are there for decoration? You would be shocked and amazed at just how many STUPID people don't wear it. You are not on a bus...you are on an AIRPLANE....THOUSANDS of crews and passengers are injured every year due to turbulence. Just how stupid do you have to be to have your seatbelt off and wandering around the plane when your flight crew is strapped down tight to their jumpseats??? This one just amazes me every time....
30) DON'T ASK US STUPID QUESTIONS - ( see examples below....)
Q - "What city is that down there?"
A - " (looking out window)....Hmmmm...Nope...I just cant read the little signs....don't know...."
Q - "How can you be out of Coke with Lime? That's what I want..."
A - "Sorry we only carry so much of each item and I can't pull over to get more..."
Q - "What do you have?"
A - "CokeDietCokeSpriteDietSpriteAppleJuiceOrangeJuiceCranappleJuiceBloodyMaryMixGingerAleClubSodaTonicWaterCoffeeTeaand BottledWater....(yes, we can do this in one breath...we get a lot of practice at it)
Q - "I'll take Doctor Pepper or Diet Pepsi"
A - (Deep Breath...) "We do not have Doctor Pepper or Pepsi Products. We have Coke Products."
Q - "Oh........can I have a Mountain Dew then?"
A - (deep inward sigh and sad look at the pathetic moron I am waiting on)
"CokeDietCokeSpriteDietSpriteAppleJuiceOrangeJuiceCranappleJuiceBloodyMaryMixGingerAleClubSodaTonicWaterCoffeeTeaandBottledWater."
*this next question is a real question I personally had a passenger ask me...no lie....*
Q - "How do you open this window?...I need a little fresh air....."
A - (Silent dumbstruck stare)
Q - "What you serving for lunch?"
A - "What did you bring?"
Q - (After a few mild bumps of turbulence) "Excuse me...What was that?"
A - "The Captain just hit the curb making a turn...."
Q - "What state are we in right now?"
A - "The state of confusion...."
Q - "When do I get my Steak and Eggs?? Ha Ha Ha...."
A - (Sad pathetic look with slight shaking of head) "That's a good one...(mumbling under breath) If I only had a dollar for every time I heard that...."
31) DON'T IGNORE THE CREW - You complained about the wait for your drink because we serve back to front, then when we get to you...obviously parking the cart next to you....and ask you 7 times for your drink order before moving on because you can't put your paper down......you have thouroughly givin up your right to be annoyed at not being served 'fast enough'
32) DON'T COMPLAIN ABOUT NO WINDOW IN ROW 31 - We didn't build it, or design it, so we can't magically make a window appear where the engine is...next time show up ON TIME and get a better seat assignment!
33) AIRLINES NO LONGER SUPPLY AMENITIES - OK pay attention....we DO NOT, repeat DO NOT have the following items aboard to give you :
Playing cards, magazines, newspapers, aspirin, tylenol, tums, pillows, blankets, diapers, earplugs, flavored coffee creamer, fresh lemon or lime, dramamine, safety pins, baby wipes, inflight meals, pens, pencils, crayons, coloring books, power bars, carb-free Atkins approved snacks, red bull, eye masks, and chewing gum.
*and yes, I personally have been asked for each and every one of those things*
34) DON'T COMPLAIN WHEN YOU FLY STANDBY AND ARE REMOVED FROM THE FLIGHT FOR A REVENUE PASSENGER - You CHOOSE to fly STANDBY... just what exactally did you think that 'standby' meant?
35) DO NOT...EVER...HAND CREW TRASH UNLESS WE HAVE A TRASH BAG - We HATE this...It truly is one of the top pet peeves...we will walk up and down the aisle 10 bazillion times with a bag asking for trash and the ONE time we walk past you we get "Excuse me...here..." and you drop a dirty diaper, or a half-chewed sandwich, or gum your child just spit out, or napkins you just wiped your baby's vomit up with....do you have ANY CLUE how NASTY AND GROSS that is???? Wait 30 seconds...the plane isn't that big..I'll go get a bag and be right back...really I will...because if I don't you are going to shove it in the seak back pocket for me to find later.....which brings me to,
36) DO NOT...EVER....PUT NASTY GARBAGE IN THE SEAT POCKET - EEwwwwwwww!!Again, Nuff Said.
37) FOR CHRISTSAKE, GIVE UP THE DAMN NEWSPAPER YOU ARE DONE WITH - This is a HUGE annoyance. If you are FINISHED reading it....DO NOT throw it on the floor, shove it between the seat and the wall, stuff it in the seatback pocket...and then look us right in the eye and LIE...."I want to keep it". YOU KNOW you are not and WE KNOW you are not...I will Cuss you out something fierce after you leave and I have to pick up that same damn paper off the floor or pull it out of a seatback pocket. For God Sakes...just GIVE US THE DAMN THING!
38) STAY OUT OF THE GALLEY!!! - OK, service is over and it seems like all 3 flight attendants have dissapeared...we didn't go anywhere you know, we didn't leave...(God if we only could!) If you decide to wander up to the galley and stick your head in.....Be AFRAID...be VERY AFRAID....and don't be suprised at the 3 snarls and bared teeth you encounter because you are now in "our territory"...That tiny 3 X 5 area is the ONLY place on the entire aircraft we can go for a moments peace and quiet and maybe try to grab a quick sandwich. We are on the plane for 12 to 14 hours NON STOP. We do not get meal breaks, nor do we have the oppertunity to even GET OFF the plane...that galley is our oasis, our fortress of solitude, and more importantly OUR WORKSPACE! How would you respond if I came to your office and sat right in the middle of your desk while you were working and start a stupid conversation? PLEASE...show a little respect!! And even more importantly...in the post 9/11 world passengers have NO BUSINESS lingering in the galley or cockpit door areas....
39) LEAVE US ALONE WHEN WE ARE TRYING TO EAT - Maybe you are not familliar with airline crew scheduling...so here is a quick version...flight crews are only paid when the door of the plane is CLOSED! This is VERY IMPORTANT, as we are only tracked for duty time WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSED. When we are at the gate prepping the flight, pre-flighting the plane and galley, boarding, deplaning, NONE of that time counts toward our "Duty Day". We could very easily be assigned 12 to 14 hours of CONTINOUS "DUTY TIME" WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSED....the rest of our day, the 6 to 8 hours boarding, deplaning, etc. can make our day sometimes 16 to 22 hours WITHOUT A BREAK WHATSOEVER. Most, if not all days, the ONLY time we have to stop for a few minutes is DURING THE FLIGHT . So.....if we are cowering on the aft jumpseat, chewing on a stale,soggy tuna sandwich between the potties.....PLEASE...LEAVE US ALONE FOR A FEW MINUTES.....Don't come up and interrupt the precious few minutes we have to eat with stupid conversation or questions...
"SO...do you like being a flight attendant?"
"Where are we right now?"
"Where are you based?"
"DO you live in (insert city here)?"
You get the point. WAIT a few minutes until we are DONE eating...THEN ask your questions...THEN we will have recovered from our abyssmaly low blood sugar to be pleasant and engage you in conversation.
40) MY PURPOSE ABOARD IS NOT TO BE YOUR PERSONAL WHIPPING BOY/SERVANT - A Flight Attendants job is to ensure the SECURITY AND SAFETY of the flight. I should not, and will not tlerate being treated as your personal valet....waiter....manservant...etc. You are one of HUNDEREDS of passengers in my charge. I will take care of you, serve you, smile, and if needed.....evecuate the plane, fight fires aboard, provide medical attention, DO WHATEVER IS NEEDED TO PROVIDE SECURITY ONBOARD...(meaning we have DAYS of hand-to-hand heavy duty combat training readyand won't hesitate to use it).......don't treat your Flight Crew like garbage. We deserve way better than that. Show a little respect. If you can't travel in public and behave in a civillized manner...you have no business being on a plane. Drive next time. April 30 Another Big ol' BLOG! Another BIG OL' BLOG!
Current mood:  mellow Good Evening everyone!!
I certainlly hope this finds you all well and happy!
Well.......I certainlly have A LOT to share with you all! I apologize for the delay with the blog, SO MUCH has been happening I just have not had the time.
I am home now, sitting at Sheetz, enjoying a jalapino-cheese pretzel.....(OMG! SOOOO GOOD! no wonder Im FAT! LOL) and have a little bit of time to get y'all caught up on all the goings-on of late....
So let's just jump right in, shall we?
When I last blogged, I was in Los Angeles and had enjoyed a WONDERFUL day with my crew out and about. It was a really good trip. I forgot to mention that I had another star-sighting on that trip! Those of you who follow my adventures on facebook already know what I am talking about, for the rest of you I had Andrew "Dice" Clay on my LA flight! Sitting in seat 2A with his wife! OMG!! The DICEMAN!! He was extremely nice and we very much enjoyed him aboard.
So.....I finished up my trip and headed back to the Poodlepad. I had the place to myself which was a bit of a suprise. Donnie had been staying up in Michigan with his mother. I am very very sad to say the wonderful beloved Poodlemom left us for the next life during this time. She had been in a rapid decline in her fight with cancer and the end was merciful and she did not suffer too long or much. Donnie was with her as was her husband Larry. All my thoughts and love go out to both of them. If any of you have the oppertunity, please make a call or talk to Donnie. Even though he had been preparing for this for many years, the reality is always more of a challenge. He will need all of us on "Team Poodle" for a while. :)
My next trip was one I was greatly looking foreward to. My first layover was in Pensacola....15 hrs! We got there and headed to the beach! I did not take my iphone (left it in the room) so I did not upload any pics of my beach time. The next day we were in San Antonio and all headed downtown to enjoy the wek-long "FIESTA" festival. We had a great crew and a really good time.
 
Well the next day we had 18 hours in Washington DC. I, being the dumbass I am, left my cord for my iphone in the hotel roiom in San Antonio....so I had to go up to the Pentagon City mall on METRO and get another one. I then took a quick ride up to the Smithsonian before heading back to the hotel for the night. The phone DIED before I got up to the Smithsonian, so no pics there. (sorry) I did manage to enjoy the Air & Space Museum for a little bit before heading back to the hotel for the night and charging up the iphone again. :) 
It was a really good trip. :) After getting back to Atlanta I packed up the car and decided to drive home this time. I had a lot of stuff to haul north and I wanted to get the car worked on too. I drove 10 hours and 41 minutes and had BEAUTIFUL weather the whole way! It was an extremely pleasant drive I enjoyed very much........70+ MPA....both windows down.....jamming out to 80's music and singing my little heart out the whole way. I LOVE road trips!! :) I got home early evening and was suprised I made such good time. I had a couple of suprises waiting for me too! One of the biggest suprises was the new puppy! Mitchell's friend Paul had gotten a little puppy (Named "Cush") and we were puppy-sitting.
The second day I was here I joined the Benders on a geocaching trip out to Chimney Rocks. I took Wheezy and Daisy along. They LOVED it! After the hike and finding the geocache we visited Meadows frozen custard where the flavor fo the day was RASBERRY!! MY ALL TIME FAVORITE!! We had a GREAT time!!
Yesterday however, was a double-whammy. The tree pollen up here is KILLING me! Seriously...it was BAD. I curled up on the couch yesterday and that was that. Pumped full of drugs and feeling AWFUL. It of course did nothing to improve my mood when Mitchell came home and told me he'd wrecked my car! Now to be honest It wasn't his fault. An elderly woman turned right and then STOPPED on the expressway and he tried to avoid her but ended up bumping her. There was no damage to her at all and the Police even rolled their eyes when they heard the story and didn't give Mitchell a citation. They "got it". This woman was a 91 year old widower who was confused and stopped to figure out where she was. Seriously....she has no buisness driving....none at all. Well....unfortunately, the bumper on the Neon was all jacked up and rubbing on the tire. There was no way I could drive this thing out to walmart let alone all the way back to Atlanta!! Fortunately Daddy Bender was able to do some "Creative Engineering" and fir it so the bumper was stable and wouldn't fall off the first time I went over 50 mph. I was NOT happy. NOT HAPPY at ALL. But I couldn't be mad at Mitchell, It was not his fault. So now I am in a holding pattern to see if I can get enough of our s**t together to drive back to Atlanta saturday. It might or might not still happen. We have to get a few more parts from the junkyard first. I cant take it in its current condition. I'll keep y'all updated. :) In other news...my friend Kelli and her Hubby Will have a HOUSE! They found a perfect house in Nashville and are making plans to move in very soon! CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH OF THEM!! I'm VERY HAPPY for them and hope to go up there and see them and the house soon. LOVE YA GUYS!
Ok...thats just about all I have for y'all today. I'll have more tomorrow. :)
April 21 Los Angeles Fun
Hi there everyone!
I have been quite lax with my blog lately, and since I am chilling here in Atlanta without much else to do, I thought now would be a good time to update it.
I headed home for a week. I was more than ready to go too! I actually flew home on Easter Sunday to Pittsburgh and Mike, Treva, and Mitchell picked me up at the airport on their way home from a Mixed Martial Arts fight where one of Mike's friends was fighting. I was very happy they could pick me up! We stopped at the Quaker Steak & Lube for lunch and helped ourself to the all you can eat easter buffet.......which included the fameous Lube wings and ribs! OMG!! SOOOOO GOOD!
After a tour of Pittsburgh and Mike's old stomping grounds, we headed home to change before driving to Mitchell's Parents and a big ol easter dinner. We went home after dinner stuffed and happy.
OMG! The puppies were so happy to see daddy! I spent the evening all curled up on the couch with Mitchell and the puppies....it was GREAT!
I spent the rest of my time at home spending time with the dogs and Mitchell. I returned to Atlanta rested and happy.
I returned to Atlanta and headed to Donnie's place. I ended up having the place to myself! I worked a 4 day trip with a short layover in Milwaulkee before my long layover in Los Angeles.
I headed out with my crew to chinatown for lunch, and as we were walking back to the METRO....we walked right into a live demonstration/show by Shaolin Monks!
Check out the video:
Ok...thats all I have today. ttyl.
April 10 Back out west and LOVING IT!! Back Out West and LOVING IT
Current mood:  content Ahhhhh.........that feels so much better!!!
:)
Sorry y'all, I'm just LOVING the fact that after months of up and down HELL flights back and forth to f***ing Florida....I am back on my west coast long haul trips!
I am in Las Vegas for a absolutely delicious 21 hour layover, and have been walking up and down the strip until my feet hurt! I am SO COMPLETELY HAPPY right now!
After checking into the hotel and changing clothes I headed out to see my beloved Las Vegas.......
I started heading south on the strip, visiting Paris for a while then exploring the new Planet Hollywood. (AWESOME BTW), I then made my way down to the MGM Grand and took the skywalk over to New York New York, where I treated myself to a ride on the roller coaster! (IT WAS GREAT!! LOL) I then wandered through the Luxor and Mandalay Bay before hiking nearly a mile south of the strip to the famous "Welcome to Las Vegas" Sign! I'd never been there before and am certainlly happy I went today! (It was a lot smaller than I thought it would be)
On my hike back north toward the strip, I saw the infamous "white tail" unmarked 737 with the big red stripe down the side taking off from McCarran. Now....according to different sources.....that plane carries personnel to the legendary "Area 51" in Groom Lake north of Las Vegas. There have been many stories about this mystery plane over the years and there is plenty of stuff on the 'net about it. Is it true? Who knows...but its certainlly a fun story to tell. :) The "Mystery Plane to Nowhere" that flies in and out of a secure section of McCarran twice a day......hmmmmmm makes you wonder, doesn't it?
For those of you interested in Area 51....here's a link to a Wiki site: http://tinwiki.org/wiki/Area_51
But back to my adventures on the Vegas strip....
After my trip out to the sign, the battery on my iphone was nearly dead...so I stopped taking pics to preserve what little bit of power it had, poor thing! LOL!
On my way back I stopped into Excalibur and wandered around a bit....I saw some of the "Knights of the Round Table" walking through the casino :) It was cool.
By now my feet were starting to hurt a bit so I hopped onto "The Deuce" double decker bus and rode it up the strip to Treasure Island...or simply "TI" now I guess....I then slowly walked back down the strip past Mirage...where I had to go in and see the massive salt water aquarium behind the hotel registration desk....I wandered around Mirage and finally headed over and through Caesars Palace and the Forum Shops, where I ate lunch while watching the "Living Fountains" before calling it a day and heading back to my hotel.
It was a very good day. It made me remember why I love my job. :)
I've been a little bitter and irritable lately, and it mostly comes from the awful Florida flights and feeling more than a little homesick.
THANK GOD the flights going west start ramping back up this month and I can get the hell away from the effin' Florida flights! ENOUGH already! LOL! Every winter and early spring AirTran cuts back the west coast flying and doubles the north to south florida flights, so for 4 months of the year my job just SUCKS.
Adding to that....the fact that I am pretty much the sole source of income for my household and pay all the bills month after month.....I pretty much HAVE TO fly at least 100 hours a month. That translates to, if I am lucky, maybe 5 to 7 days at home a month. Meaning I am in Atlanta way more than I want to be and a huge amount of stress each month I have to deal with. It's not easy eating nothing but chicken salad and tuna and food you can stuff into your lunchbox day after day after day and sleeping on someone's couch and constantly being lonely and homesick and worrying about what is going on at home. Sometimes I really HATE the fact that I have to work so f***ing MUCH.
That all makes me a little....well......cranky. :)
So if you wonder why I have been a little more irritable than normal the last few months, thats why.
Hopefully it will get better now. The west coast flying will ramp up meaning I will be able to earn more and actually fly less. If the trips are worth more, I dont have to work as many days to earn the back-breaking 100+ hour minimum I have to do.
On to other quick news.....Donnie is in Michigan with the PoodleMom. Reports of her health have been a little sketchy lately....so all of you send happy loving thoughts their way, and I hope all turns out ok up there. I'm sure we will all get an update soon. :)
Ok... I'm tired...it's been a long day and I want a hot shower and a good nights sleep. :)
April 08 Life is GoodLife is Good
Current mood:  blah Hi there everyone!
It's been a busy week! I had one of the most horrible trips ever last week!
I was on a 3 day last week that should have been easy....but ended up being the trip from hell! It all started last thursday when terrible storms rolled through the Southeast, causing massive delays. Without going into a 20 minute narration, lets summarize the horrible 3 day trip.....
2 days of reduced rest, 6 hours of sleep (total over 3 days), 1 mechanical, 2 screaming vomiting toddlers, 1 call to airport police because of an unruly passenger, 7.5 hours worth of weather delays, 1 crew scheduling "reassignment", 1 BWI-BOS turn added to our longest day, 2 flights turbulence was so bad we never left our jumpseats, 34 gate checked bags (total), 2 Sky Bites Buy on Board Snack flights (UGH! Pain in the ass), and 1 passenger who...for unknown reasons...shat himself and proceeded to leave the shat-in undergarments in the aft lav trash.
It was absolutely HORRIBLE......and NO I am not making this crap up.
So, I got in from the trip from hell and had the next 3 days off before beginning the trip I am on now. The plan was for me to use my new Delta flight benefits and go up to Nashville and see Kelli. Well.......that didn't exactally go as planned. On sunday, the loads were all full...so I deferred to monday for my Nashville adventure and stayed in Atlanta. It actually turned out good that I did, because Ritchie (Donnie's Boyfriend) was planning on moving sunday and the friends he lined up to help flaked on him....so I happily helped hm move. :) It was a good day, but GOD was I TIRED after all that! : I did get some puppy time with his 2 girls...Josie (the rottweiler SUCH A BABY!) and Bee-Bee the Lab mix. They LOVED Uncle Don! After all, Uncle Don gives AWESOME belly rubs! LOL!!
I got up early monday morning and headed into the airport to go up to Nashville. Unfortunately, there were delays in and out of Atlanta causing problems...along with big time delays in the northeast causing issues as well. My Nashville flights quickly filled up as delayed passengers missed their original flights and rolled over onto the next flight, eliminating the open seats I was counting on to get there. I called Kelli and sadly told her it was a good try but a no-go. :(
I spent the entire day then monday puttering around the crashpad....watching TV and gettin' some kitty lovin' from Miss Penny.....who was all cuddly and purring...
Since my Nashville plans fell through, had all day yesterday off as well. So I cooked a big ol breakfast for Donnie and Ritchie and myself before we headed over to the salon to get me a new do!
Ritchie got rid of the grey (YEA!) and gave me one KICKIN' DO!!! It was a good day. The rest of the afternoon I packed up and got ready for my trip. It was COLD in Atlanta yesterday and there were SNOW FLURRIES!! I brought in my sleeping bag and slept in it all snuggled up and warm.
Im in Houston tonight, and New York tomorrow. I will be happy when this trip is over...i will GO HOME!! YEA!! I've been really homesick and miss Mitchell and the puppies. I'm going home sunday.
Ok....thats it. I going to go watch a movie and then take a hotshower and head to bed. 4am comes mighty early you know!
April 02 ANother Rainy, Stormy day in ATLAnother rainy stormy day in Atlanta
Current mood: blessed Well, it's that time of year....spring storms! NASTY weather brewing.... I got in yesterday and was chilling at the apartment (LOVE it here btw..) when Donnie called me and invited me to join him at Amsterdam for dinner....we had a very pleasant evening together and then headed home so I could watch the UFC fight on Spike TV. :) It was nice...I needed some Poodle time and he needed some muffin time. :) The weather all across the southeast is downright NASTY today! There were a couple of big boom booms last night that woke me up in the middle of the night. And I am expecting Atlanta to get some nasty weather later this evening and tonight. I slept so well last night! I LOVE the new place! OMG!! I have yet to be woken up in the morning! I never hear Donnie or Tom having coffee or breakfast or on the phone...it so QUIET! :) I am so happy to be here too....I remember when I was crashing with James and didn't really have a place to go some nights and had to sleep in my car. It was HORRIBLE! I am blessed...truly blessed to have friends like Donnie and Tom. LOVE YA GUYS!! :) I even got a big ol bunch of kitty lovin' from Miss Penny! She came right up...curled up with me and just purrred away! :) Awwwwww......she really has turned into a love kitty. :) I am also making plans to use my new Delta travel benefits and fly up to Nashville sunday to see Kelli. It's been a while since I was there last and I really miss her. I had this odd 3 days off in a row and thats not enough to go home, but I didn't want to sit in Atlanta...so Nashville here I come! I am going to try very hard to use my new travel benefits this year. I can now jumpseat on Delta, Northwest, Southwest, Frontier, JetBlue, USAir Express, ASA, SkyWest,OMNI, and Virgin America! I can go ANYWHERE! LOL It's been a while since life has been this good in so many ways. Ok time to get ready and head out to the airport.....I expect delays tonight. We'll see how it plays out. |
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