I am a tad late in wishing everyone a Happy New Year…..so here it is…HAPPY NEW YEAR! I for one am pleased as punch to bid adieu to 2009 while at the same time completely excited for what 2010 has in store for each and every one of us.
As you can see, this new, bright year started off with a bang, in Las Vegas no less. I would like to introduce “Korbie”, the latest addition to our family. We met him at a fine Cantina at Lake Las Vegas where he decided to relocate to SoCal. We were more than happy to help him out, even offering up a prime location in our home to call his home. Unfortunately, while stowing away in the baggage compartment of our airplane, Korbie met his untimely demise (aircraft pressurization or lack thereof and inflatable Korbels don’t mix), and he never made it to his new home. RIP Korbie, you will live on in our memory.
Aside from the “Korbie Incident”, good times were had by all to kick off the New Year and cheers to many more great memories in 2010!
Somehow, this summer is almost at its end. Once again, I am shocked at how quickly it went by, but am always excited for the Fall to show up. This summer was different for me as I was at home in California for most of it instead of traveling around the country spending my summer in different cities four or five days a week. In summers past, I would fly all over the place and when I finally made it home, I was too jet-lagged to truly enjoy where I live. Although unemployment is not the most enjoyable thing, I do appreciate the strange gifts it has given me.
I am now well into my third month of unemployment and am proud to say that I have no idea if there’s anything good on on daytime television. Aside from a minor identity crisis and the aggravating toll that job hunting takes, this time off has been very rewarding and completely needed. The most surprising part of this experience for me has been how crazy busy I have been. I haven’t even begun my preconceived list of things to do once unemployed…you know, file those piles of papers, clean out the closets, finish the wedding photo album that was started a year and a half ago, etc. Instead, I am pleased to report that I am outside and exercising on a much regular basis now as well as spending time with loved ones and friends that I never had the time to spend before.
Life could definitely be worse!
With only two days left in this journey, I am facing a bit of an identity crisis. This blog, I’m afraid, has been a bit neglected simply because what do I do with a blog from an airline pilot’s perspective once you strip away the airline pilot? Officially, my new title becomes “Furloughed Airline Pilot”….does that leave me with a nugget of my former identity?
The big question is now “In what direction do I take this blog?”. Is a travel-less travel blog appropriate?
Ideas? Anyone?
The mailman was kind enough to bring my certified letter from the company informing me that I am officially laid off on April 1st. April Fool’s Day???? Seriously?
Since then I have hit the ground running….on the phone, emailing, filling out job applications, sending out resumes, and of course, lest we not forget “Networking”. I have almost become a permanent fixture at the airport chatting with people I know, engaging the people I don’t know.
I am entering the end of one era, and the beginning of another. Should be interesting!
Anyone know of anyone hiring? 
I walked up to my favorite Starbucks in the Phoenix airport today where my trusty, loyal and always working barista says “Hi Andrea, do you want your Cinnamon Dolce hot or iced today?”. Um….wow. I realize that I do frequent that particular Starbucks every chance I get when I am in Phoenix (the other locations in the airport just don’t make the drinks correctly!), but it appears that I just might indeed have a problem. Or I need to come up with a new drink selection, and fast! Any suggestions? And, no “Tall Coffee” does NOT cut it with me-I am not truly happy until I have parted with the $5 burning a hole in my pocket. Mind you, this weird must-have Starbucks fixation that I have only happens when I am working. I rarely go there on my off time.
When the barista at Starbucks knows you by the $5 frou-frou drink you order, is that a bad thing?
There is nothing worse than hearing that a plane has gone down. Those few minutes clawing at any information you can get are gut-wrenching. Yet, somehow out on the Hudson river last week while floating along there were many people who managed to barely get wet. Call it what you will, a miracle, luck, act of God- at the end of the day we are all grateful that what was most probable to happen did not happen that day.
As I sit around the airports killing time and people watching, it is so nice to overhear conversations of thanks and gratefulness and respect- something we airline pilots have not experienced in quite some time. On one hand, it is really sad that it takes an accident like this one to earn some respect amongst the traveling public…on the other hand, I’ll take what I can get!
Today I am finishing up a four day trip and will hopefully make it back home tonight. Standing in my way? A winter storm in Boston, where I happen to be at the moment. Boston….love this town. The buildings, the history, and so much to do. Even the accent makes me smile. I love every chance I get to spend some time in this town.
At the moment, I am a dorky cliche’ sitting here watching the snow fall outside my hotel window with a cup of hot cocoa. Being a Californian, it is a treat to be able to experience the snow a couple of times per year. That is, until I am the one in my dorky pilot’s uniform (seriously, a suit? Can we please move on?) going outside in the ten degree or less weather to preflight the airplane. I trudge through the snow, sand, and sometimes de-icing fluid with the wind usually whipping at my face trying to pay attention to my duty at hand instead of trying to finish as fast as possible to get back to the relative comfort of my aluminum chariot. As I run back up the jetway stairs from my preflight adventure, I am reminded of why I don’t live back East and am appreciative of my mild California home. Once inside the chariot, I will proceed to make myself a cup of hot cocoa…obviously a big thing with me in the winter. Oh, and that would be on top of my coffee intake which of course, is a requirement to be able to do my job
Wish me luck tonight!
I am going to go out on a limb here and wish everyone a Merry Christmas! Very un-PC of me, but no matter which holiday you celebrate, I believe a good old fashion Merry Christmas is in order
I will be frolicking around our great nation (Canada too on this trip) taking people to here from there in order to be with their loved ones for the Holidays. My goal is to bring a little cheer to the masses at the airports and hotels wherever I go. First, I will start here:
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!
I witnessed a rare display of gratefulness and humanity that I just have to share…it made my day, quite possibly my month.
I was standing around in one of the concourses at the Phoenix airport while waiting for my airplane to arrive. Meanwhile, an airplane had parked a few gates down and the majority of the passengers getting off that airplane were military personnel coming home on leave. As these “kids” (they are definitely getting younger, because I am surely not getting older!) were streaming into the terminal in the uniform of the various branches, I watched as every other passenger in that particular building stood up and applauded until the very last one came off that airplane. I was completely moved and in awe that we, as Americans with all of our faults still have a deep sense of patriotism no matter what. I was so proud to witness and be a part of a small gesture to show our troops that they are appreciated.
