Calling It A Night
Topic: Airline Industry

Fellow F/A came in, we chatted,  had a cigarrette,  vented, feel a little better and decided to stay in the Crew Room tonight as opposed to going to that crummy "Trash Pad!"  (Aw Damn!  I'm getting a charlie horse in my left leg!  OOOOWWW!).

The Crew Room Christmas tree is being set up tonight and it sure is pretty to stare at.  I only wish the lights could go down so we could enjoy it more!

Surfed a few forums just to see what's up.  Nothing much in the F/A one except the Charter Operation's.  Pilots?  Lots going on and trying to keep up is almost next to impossible.

Checked my schedule.  Still nothing for someone who's on call for two days.  We'll see what's in store when I get up.  Bid packets for F/A's open the first week of December.  I'm anxious to see where I stand as far as even getting a relief line.  Keep your fingers crossed!  If not?  I'll still accept it.

Time to go to la-la land now and dream of better things to come!

M

Back in EWR waiting for a fellow F/A to arrive so we can hang out until she leaves on her trip tomorrow.

The past few days haven't been the easiest.  It's been very hard on me.  And now, if anything I'm feeling hurt, angry, irritated and just flat out lied to!  Guess I might as well just stamp "Clueless" on my forehead.  UGH!!!!!!!

I've had fellow F/A's ask me if I wanted to apply for the Charter Operation.  Honestly, I haven't given it much consideration because I'm still new to this aspect of the industry.  The deadline is soon and well, I need to have  my resume e-mailed to me here or I do it when I get home.

So, to my fellow crew members to whom I've flown with in the past, best of luck when you interview.  For those that make it there you will be missed.  Please keep in touch!

Off for now until friend gets here!

Mood:  mischievious

It's that time of year again!

 Enjoy!

 

 

TIRED!

What a day!  It came and went so quickly!

I'm tired!  Was awakened by some unnecessary crap going!  Didn't accomplish nearly what I wanted to.  But I did manage to get my cell phone taken care of.  It's been acting up the past few weeks and it was becoming more frequent.  Problem resolved!

While waiting for my cell phone to be serviced I went searching new work shoes.  However, all but the last store I went to didn't have my size in stock.  Guess I'm an "Average Jane".  I finally found them at JC Penney's.

Tomorrow I head back to base.  Before heading back I have to pick up the uniform from the cleaners, drop off the water bill, get some cash, cigarrettes come home, take a bath, get ready to leave for the airport, say "Later" to the animals so they can be pissed off at me for leaving them again so soon, see mom and dad before I leave, gas up and head for the airport so I can be ready for two days of work on Wednesday and Thursday before I'm off again for three more days.

And lets not forget, study and take my six month probationary exam!

Just another average day here I guess!  :^)

Mood:  hungry
Topic: Airline Industry

Ah yes, back  home for two days off after this past week of work.  Amazing I even made it considering the load factors and possible weight and balance issues that could have kept me from coming home sooner.  No biggie, If I didn't make a flight tonight I probably would have caught a flight out early tomorrow morning.

Left the pad earlier in the day to head to the airport, get something to eat and hang out in the crewroom.

Every time I go there I check my employee file for anything that needs to be brought to my attention.  Well, I see something sticking out of the file and hope it's something good, like say a "great service" letter from a passenger.  Nope!  Just a note from my supervisor saying it's time for my six month probationary exam and comptency report along with the test questions and answer sheet.  It's due December 8th.  Guess what I'm doing with the spare time I have between now and then?  Yep, studying, testing.  Can't wait for recurrent!  

Ran in to another fellow F/A I graduated wtih and caught up on sooooo much!  I told her although I worked Thanksgiving I hung out at the Holiday Inn in EWR during my pairing.  She lives in Jersey and nearly ripped my head off because I didn't call her so I could hang with her family for the day.  I laughed and said "I DIDN'T know you were off!"  She about thwapped me upside the head (all in kidding ofcourse), and warned me if I'm stuck in Newark on Christmas that I'd better call her.  We'll see how things work out.

Otherwise, I'm off for two days, head back Tuesday evening to report for two more days (please, no day trips), then off for three.  That's probably when I'll try to get started on my Christmas shopping because I really don't see much opportunity to get home after the December schedule starts.

The two days I have so much to do between now and when I go back and "so little time" to get it all done.  The list is big and It'll be a marathon to do. 

Just some of the things I need to do.......

Drop off the uniform to the cleaners, Buy new shoes both heels and flat, serving shoes (a.k.a. "Cinderalla Slippers" I jokingly call them), pick up some more "Airborne".  Works wonders, trust me!, see Mom and Dad (they love it when I come home with stories of how each week of work went), do bills and maybe, just MAYBE after all is said and done, treat myself to a manicure and pedicure.  Something to which I haven't had the opportunity to do in a very long time.

Anywho, just finishing up some potato soup, cuddle the kitties, puppy and then begin worshiping my pillow!

Ah Yes!
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: Airline Industry

Yesterday's weather was so damn gorgeous!  Perfect for flying!  And this time around I had the oppportunity to enjoy the weather and the view while working.

The CVG turn was one of the pretties ones I've experienced while working.  The flight from EWR to CVG on had 9 people on board.  We all joked around that they were all going to get First Class Service.  To which I gave them anyway.  Well all joked, laughed and had a great time.  Then after that I had the chance to take some time to look out the window to enjoy the incredible view.  Breath taking!

CVG back to EWR, pretty much the same thing.  I did have a flying phobic onboard to whom I helped out by explaining her every little noise the plane made to the speeding up and slowing down of the aircraft which made her more comfortable.

EWR to DAY I had an unaccompanied minor who sat in 1A and happily showed her what it takes to be an FA from the training to what I have to do to get the flight ready, serve the pax and take care of prepairing for landing including my paperwork.  Half way in to the flight she stopped me and said of all of the flying she's done by herself I was the nicest Flight Attendant she's ever had.  The others would just ask her if she wanted anything to eat and then leave her without checking on her.  Burns me up when I hear shit like that!

Anywho, gotta go meet the crew for lunch.

I'm Back!
Mood:  flirty

Yep!  All fresh and squeeky clean!

Shower's all done, I've had a beer or two and am just chillin' out watching the planes land and take-off out of Newark Airport.

In the process of chillin' I took some time to check my schedule and after I'm done with my CVG turn, oh, did I forget to mention that I have another CVG turn tomorrow?  We'll see how this goes!  Anyway, when I'm done with that turn I'm scheduled to take another flight from EWR to DAY at 8:50 tomorrow night.  Overnight in Dayton and return to EWR on Saturday departing Dayton at 5:25pm arriving around 8:30pm.  Then, I'm good for yet one more day on Sunday and then off for two days!  YAY!  Now, what to do with that time!

In the mean time, last week proved to be just as interesting as this week if not more.  The trips were not too bad just the usual delays because of the weather.  Only one bad weather day and the crew and I wound up staying at the HOJO in EWR for a 7 hour stop over time to get some rest before we headed to Richmond, VA for the night.   (Hey Jeannie!  Grilled Cheese, Tomato Soup and a pickle on the side! 

Not too bad.  Nice time to chill out.  Then from Richmond, VA we deadheaded to Cleveland to pick up a flight to Montreal, QC, Canada.  That's an overnight I'll never forget.  Had the best time!  ;^)  I think this past trip I had the best Captain and First Officer since I started working.  I worked with the First Officer on a Dayton overnight before and she's really quite the sweetheart.  The Captain I've heard of and read about before and is most definatly a "spitfire" and definatly fun to be around!  Can't wait to work with both again!  And the sooner the better!  Makes it really worth while when you've had some bad days!

Otherwise, not much else interesting going on.  Had the turkey dinner at operations earlier this evening.  Chatted with the crew tracker while I ate and met with a few folks that I've run in to before in ops but never had the opportunity to fly with yet.

Well, off I go to surf a little while longer before calling it a night!

Mood:  mischievious
Topic: Airline Industry

Ah yes!  The sweet revelry of being able to "FINALLY" get connected to the internet.

Here I sit in the Holiday Inn in Newark, NJ on Thanksgiving kicking it up with a few beers and winding down.  Let me put it simply, it's been crazy these past two days in the industry.  Hense the start of the "Holiday Travel Season!"  Yep!  Let the madness begin!

Let's start by saying that the first day started off pretty good.  Just a Minneapolis turn and then overnight in Pittsburg.  Went smoothly.  The next day was suppose to go from PIT to EWR to CVG (Cincinnatti).  Well, we did manage that trip but wound up laning in CVG at just after midnight the next day but not after sitting on the tarmac in PIT for two hours before we finally finalized our wheels up time.

After finally getting airborn we were put in to a holding pattern for almost another hour before we were finally cleared to land in EWR.  What was suppose to be a total flight time of 1 hour 1 minute turned in to a four and a half hour flight time because of ATC and weather in EWR.

After landing in EWR we had to turn the plane quickly so we could get to CVG for our now very short overnight.  We were suppose to land in CVG at shortly after 8:00pm.  Our early showtime of 5:40a.m. for today was moved by a few hours to 8:20a.m. thus taking away our Ashville, NC overnight because of the delay.  Good thing because we wound up in yet another holding pattern for EWR for this trip as well and wound up diverting to ABE (Allentown, PA), for refuling.  The fun part of the diversion was having two young boys with curious eyes wide open wanting to take a look at the flight deck.  We happily abliged and what a thrill it was to see the looks on thier faces when they had the opportunity to sit in the Captains seat and test out the equiptment!  When they finished I took my little plastic wings out and pinned each one of them as they exited the flight deck after thier experience.  The looks on thier faces was precious and priceless!

tAfter arriving in EWR the CA, who lives in Jersey, took off the minute we were on the jetway leaving the FO and I to get the shuttle to the hotel. Then we waited and waited for the shuttle where the hotel told us to wait. Took freakin' forever and still no bus. The FO decided to head for the Crew Room and would meet me at the hotel later. Dah-dah! Never happened and I wasn't too suprised either. 

After waiting a while longer for the shuttle I decided to say "S@rew it!", hauled my a$$ to P4, called the hotel again and asked how long before the shuttle now? "He's on his way!" Yah, how long of a wait this time?

So, I spent Turkey Day by myself. No biggie really! The family knew I wasn't going to be there but at least I had a chance to talk with them. I rather welcomed the chance for a nice, long hot shower, a few beers and the sweet solitude but was just a little bored so I caught up on my Blog. 

So here I sit in the EWR the Holiday Inn for a much longer overnight that is very much welcomed!  Hense the beers and time to kick it up!  I'm enjoying this!  But, not after having to take an hour plus of relaxing to re-format my Internet Explorer and wait for the wireless network to decide it was finally going to work.  UGH!  I need my internet!  Sad, sad, sad!  Guess I need to get a life!

Anywho, time for me to hop in the shower and relax.  If the internet cooperates I'll be back later for more!

Mood:  spacey

Well, I just came back to Newark after two glorious days off that went by too quick!  For that much, you could have four days off in a row and it would go by fast!

 Anywho, I'm sitting here in a very full Crew Pad tonight with all of my stuff layed out for tomorrow when I get called.  I haven't checked my schedule for the last hour but I'm sure that I'll get called for a trip sometime tomorrow.

 Everyone's here so you can only say that it's not going to be a quiet evening.  So, I took my helpful little sleeping pill and will be off to La-La-Land here shortly!  I was pretty tired before I came back.  Dad had surgery today, minor of the sort but he still had to go under general anasthesia for the procedure that should have been out-patient.  They decided it would be best if they kept him overnight for observation.  I just called home and he seems to be doing good.

Didn't sleep a wink on the plane back like I usually do.  Just have alot going through my little head at the moment.  Concerned about dad, wondering what my schedule is going to be like this week and wishing I could get trips like the one I had last week!  Think that'll happen again?  Not for a long time.  I couldn't be so lucky being the Reserve that I am!

Well, I'm starting to get droopy-eyed here and my stomach is grumbling for a light snack to help me sleep better!

 More later!

UGH!
Topic: Airline Industry

Well, I just compiled a complete composition of what's been going on for the past few month's and totally lost it because of a little "finger fidget" on my behalf!  I'm totally beside myself!  UGH!

 Anywho,

Had pneumonia last month (September), probably had it for more than a month, was diagnosed with it three weeks ago, was off for at least ten days per doctor's orders, got a written notice from inflight management for extending my "Sick Call" notices and was put on notice.  Can't be sick between now and May 12, 2007.  Light a Candle of protection and health, please?"  Otherwise, I'm on notice for termination if I call in sick one more time.  Hello?  Airborne?

Anywho, I still love my job!  Despite the fact that every time I'm on call I still get the short layovers, 10hours or less.  That's what they call "Paying Your Dues" in the airline industry!  Hope  I can hold out for much longer!

Recovered from the pneumonia and reported back to duty.  Six days straight of work.

When I returned to the base I decided to stay at one of the airport hotels because  I grew tired of going back to the "Crashpad" a.k.a. the "Trashpad", because of the "younger gals" either staying up late, drinking, stealing either your money or food and just taking advantage of whomever they felt.

Staying at the airport hotel was "Glorious" compared to what I've endured over the past few months.  Peace and quiet (guess I'm showing my age), was spectactular compared to the past two months!

Call me "Cranky" lately!  Guess being on "Reserve" longer than I was told is taking it's toll along with recovering from the pneumonia.  I "FINALLY" got to go to two places I've wanted to where we fly.  Savanah, Georgia and St. John's, Newfoundland!  YAY!  But!  Yet again!  Each place, each time I've gone there I've flown in when It's dark and left when it's dark!  DAMN!  One of these days it'll all pay off! (sigh)

One of the fringe benefits of this industry?  Well, having someone noteable on your flights.  I've had actor Arte Johnson of "Laugh-In" fame and his wife on one of my flights.  They were both so sweet and genuine!  (Gosh. I'm feeling old!)  Then on my "MARATHON" set of six days of flight's after my pneumonia, to which I was calling crew scheduling to give me "ANYTHING" with a layover to make up for time lost I managed to have someone to whom I'd never thought I'd ever get on one of my flights!  Mr. Randolph Mantooth himself!  "Fireman John Gage" of "EMERGENCY!" fame!He was on my flight from Buffalo, NY to Cleveland, OH!

 I "LOVED" that show!  Grew up to it!  Fact of the matter is, I didn't even notice he was on my flight until after we were in the air on the way to Cleveland until I was passing out he embarrising "Pretzels" before the beverage serivce on short 40 minute flight on the way to Cleveland.  I'm so embarrased to say that I was so busy getting the galley ready for the flight, greeting the passengers boarding the flight that I didn't even notice that he was a passenger on my flight!

More embarrasing is the fact that I had bandages on my thumb, forefinger and middle finger to protect them from the cart drawers because they were worked raw from working five days prior and I think he noticed!  If you read this Randy, I'm sorry!  Just trying to protect my fingers from the wrenching they've experienced over the past days!  I can only hope you understand!  It was a pleasure and a great and wonderful opportunity to have you on my flight!  You're a great inspiration for all that you do for the cause you are working for!  Bless you and all of your efforts!  They will all be fruitful!

Anywho!  I'm off for now!  I need to try and arrange getting from home back to work on the 26th.  Will update you with more later!

Flying Time?

What can I say?  There's alot!  Just look at the following cities I've been to over the past two and a half months, not including where I've been this past week.

 Newark, NJ, Houston, Texas, Lafayette, Lousiana, Richmond, Virginia, Charleston, South Carolina, Saint Louis, Missouri, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Corpus Christie, Texas, Buffalo, New York, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Louisville, Kentucky, Cleveland, Ohio, Kansas City, Missouri, Rochester, New York, Minneapolis St. Paul, Minnesota, Norfolk, Virginia, Madison, Wisconsin, Indianapolis, Indiana, Toronto, Ontario - Canada (like that's anything new?), Greenville-Spartanburg, Raleih-Durham (sp?), North Carolina, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Mexico City, Mexico, Dayton, Ohio, Albany, New York, Providence, Rhode Island, Grand Rapids, Michigan, Witchita, Kansas, Dallas, Texas, Montrose, Colorado, Memphis, Tennessee, Washington D.C., Charlotte, North Carolina, Asheville, North Carolina, Leon, Mexico.......

 And that's just the starters.  Some of these places I've been to multiple times already calculating to an accumulated time of flight hours equalling to approximately 200+ flight hours (not including duty time), alone.

Definition of "THUMP"?  Read above!

To Be A Flight Attendant - Stewardess, Stew, Etc.
Mood:  cool
Topic: Airline Industry

Okay, so, as promised, here's what I've been up to for the past two and a half months.

 Yes, busy as a Flight Attendant.  And in the process I've managed to lose apporximately 15 pounds.  That can be a good thing and a bad thing at the same time.  Good thing:  Because I put on weight after my surgery last June.  Bad thing:  Because when you're working 16 hour days and have early show times/report times to the airport and the hotel ('s) you're staying at don't have restaurants open at 5:00am and you need some sort of sustinance to keep you moving for those 16 hour days.  Yet, I still like what I'm doing despite it all.

 Being a "Reserve" Flight Attendant means that you are under, as most call it in our industry "Under Satan's Grasp", means that they can call you  2 hours prior to a flight or pairings ahead of time.  I.E. your cell phone rings at 3:40am and scheduling is on the other line saying that you have a report time of 5:40am for a flight that leaves at 6:40am for a four or five day group of flights that can take you all over the country in that span of time.

 Is it hard?  Hell Yes!  Do I Like It?  Hell Yes!  Why?  Well, I guess you have to love what you're doing to just take it with a grain of salt.

 Is it glamorous?  Not like it use to be.  The unfortuneate thing is that alot of younger girls come in to this industry with the idea that being a "Flight Attendant" means going to great places, to which you do some times, and have alot of wonderful stories and sights to see.

 Well, for the most part you DO go to alot of cities and see alot of great things.  But, as it goes with anything you do, you have to pay your dues before you get that far.  And when you start off, and before you advance, alot of what you are doing is seeing the inside of the aircraft, inside of the jetway of the airport you're going to, closing the door to the aircraft, seeing the inside of the aircraft and then seeing the inside of the jetway, inside of the airport, inside of a hotel van, inside of the hotel room, inside of the hotel van, inside of the jetway, inside of the aircraft, before you're off again.

 Allbeit, the past two and a half months I've come across the most INTERESTING things (more on that later), anyone could ever possibly think of ever doing in thier lives.  And for this, all though I'm exhausted at times, I'm greatful for.  Why?  Because who can say they've done this and actually appreciated it?  Sounds crazy, I know, but it's just chalking it up to another of life's experiences and only enriches the memories and stories they can tell those who are curious about what you do.

Afraid of flying?

Okay, I know there are those of you who know me and what stories I've told from past experiences of flying.  Yes, it's still there.  But, it only comes to mind, while working, after I'm done with my service and I'm wiping down the galley floor thinking to myself "Um, okay, there's 36,000 feet between me and the ground."  Then I quickly dismiss it when I start to do my paperwork.  I get so busy with work that I have no time to think about it any more.

My fear came from a very bad experience I had on a flight from Miami to Cleveland to Detroit some 15 years ago when we flew from Miami to Cleveland through REALLY BAD storms all the way up the east coast.

Needless to say, I've had flying phobics, chlostriphobics, etc., on my flights to whom I've had conversations with on why I do what I do and how I'm overcoming my fear and how.  Because I've been taught on how the aircraft works, what turbulence is and that it's okay!  But, told them that I'm overcoming it and understanding how the aircraft works and am more comfortable with the idea.  Yes, I'm slowly getting over it.

Schedules:

Being on "Reserve" means a few things.  Yes, some think that being a "Reserve" means being a "Slave" to the schedulers and the airline that you work for.  But at the same time I look at it this way.  It means that, like anyone else in the industry, you've had to "Pay You Dues" to earn what you want when it comes to a relatively normal schedule in the future.

So, no whining here.  Yes, it's damn hard at times.  And there are times where I sometimes hope that scheduling doesn't call me because I'm tired and I miss home.  But, that's the way it is.  Face it!  The days you work go by so fast that you sometimes don't have time to think about being away from home or when you're going to be there next.  You just do it!  Before you know it, you're home with the family for your days off.  Funny thing is, especially today, my daughter asked me "Mom, when do you go back to work?"  I lifted an eyebrow and said "What?  You want me to leave already?"  She's liking the idea of Mom being away so she can have the vehicle and free-time.

I'll end this post here!  Next post will sound like that hotel comercial with "Johnny Cash" of "I've been to......." 'Cause that's pretty much the case.

Ciao' for now!

Days Off!
Mood:  chillin'

Been a while since I've had the chance to update.  Flying on reserve takes alot of time out of the day and by the time you're done you have no energy to even push the power button to the computer.  All you want to do is take a nice hot shower, dry off, plop in to bed, wind down and then examine the inside of your eye lids until the 4:30am wake-up call for a 5:30am show time at the airport for the first flight of the day.

 As soon as I get some more things done this afternoon I'll post where I've been and when.  Be prepared for a LONG update!

Ciao'

We've Lost Chessie!
Mood:  sad


For those that may or may not remember.

I've been taking care of my sister's two dogs Chessie and Max (one of
Chessie's offspring), for almost two years since her eviction. Well,
yesterday while I was flying (between Cleveland and Madison
Wisconsin)/working I made the usual call home to see how things were going.
I found out that Chessie, who was 11 (I think), was bleeding all over the
place. Joe called my sister to come over and have a look at her and see
what was going on. By the time she got her to the vet she had been bleeding
profusly and her abdomen was distended extenxively and having a hard time
breathing.

The vet had no questions in letting her know that she was hemorhaging
(cancer/tumor), and there was only one option. To put her down. Well, sis
went in to the room with her. As Chessie laid her head on Sis' arm she went
quickly in crossing the rainbow bridge. I can only be thankful that she
didn't suffer too long.

I came home tonight in preperation for Krista's graduation party and Max is
still looking for his mommy and the cats are being quite dossile and looking
for her as well. I'm still trying to come to terms and realize that she's
not here but know that when I'm working and I look at the clouds that she's
there with every other animal I've known playing and chasing rainbows.

Thanks everyone for taking the time to read this!

Mary

Back To Work!
Mood:  a-ok


Hi Everone,

Well, I've had a few glorious days home for my daughter's graduation this past Thursday. Yep, she's done with high school and will starting college next September. To top it off, she turned 18 this past Wednesday. Yep, both of my kids are adults now. Talk about feeling old? I can't begin to tell you!

Work has been very interesting. Because I'm on reserve I'm either Airport ready or they call and say I have 2 hours to report for duty. Sounds military? Well, in a way it is! Can't say any more than that.

I've already had a few two and three day trips with absolultely wonderful crews to work with! We've hade a blast on every leg of the trips! Already dealt with "passengers" who have thier own thing to say about the flights and dealt with it all with regard to my job. That's what I'm there for after all.

The oddest thing to happen so far is when the captian comes over the com and tells me to take my seat in preperation for landing and I'm already in my jumpseat: "Mary, please be seated or landing!".......and "EVERYONE" leans out towrds the aisle and stares at you as if......."Well, is she seated?" Um, yeah!

Anywho, gotta get ready to go here soon!

Anyone have anything to say or comment? Let me know.

Chat with you all soon!

Cheers,

Mary