Stay up and make some memories here with us now, to roll red carpet out with friends

Current mood:accomplished

What's up my homies? OK, maybe I'm too caucasian for that, but it's the best I could come up with. I'm back in Louisville after a quick trip down south. I'm always kinda sad when I come back north, this time it was doubly so. Add to that a slight tinge of anger, and you have the perfect attitude to go to work with.

I always feel like I'm slighting some one when I go to Atlanta. There's never enough time or matching schedules to get in the amount of socializing I need to do. And unfortunately the same people always seem the get the short end of time with Jamie. I'm really trying to be better, but all you "normal" people that work monday through friday don't help. I did enjoy all the time and friends I was able to see, and I wish I could have gotten together with more.

I'd like to thank Gracey for being a fabulous host, and J for doing the same. I arrived bright and early Tuesday morning in desparate need of a nap. I was whisked from the HJIA (which apparently is the preferred abbreviation since ATL is to well known and doesn't pay homage to all the people who have a name on the building) to J's high rise apartment where I crashed in a very comfortable bed with fantastic sheets and luxurious comforter (perhaps I need to turn off the Queer Eye and HGTV decorating shows). Who ever picked that stuff out has good taste. I spent the week just doing a lot of random nothing with lots of good friends. It was good to visit with Amie, both at the bar in her BF's building and at chic-fil-a while she watched her "child" sley dragons in the play ground.

I stuffed myself on La Parilla with Jersey and Grace, watched the tornadic weather out the windows at Taco Mac with Ed, Sheri, Grace, Tanya, and CHarity with beer accompaniment for good measure. Luckily Charity made it home through the fallen trees and blocked roads. I'm assuming Tanya made it no problem since she cancelled her trivia outing the next day to spend time with Joe. I wanted to spin time with Joe and that... woman is keeping him from me. I think she may be jealous of what we have together.

We did make a triumphant return to Thursday night trivia at the bar formerly known as B-52's. But woe, our triumph was short lived when the sports categor was announced. But it was a fine time. We even dragged Mr. Jones away from his "SHoot Em in the Face" game and let him be a social creature.

Friday, I jetted off on the long air journey from ATL to BHM. Yes I know, i was a masterful feat of aviation that allowed me to traverse such great distances. I made it safely, and was spared from riding in the oh so comfortable cockpit jumpseat of the CRJ900. I got the last seat in the back and we head off into the sunset. Well, it wasn't quite setting, but it was headed that way I'm sure.

Susan, rescued me from the airport, and we went off to run some errands, pick out a tie, and find sustenance. She found me a wonderfully stylish te to wear to her school gala. It was great seeing her on a weekend and not have to worry about the 6 AM wake up. Saturday night, we ventured to the Vestavia Hills COuntry Club for the 2009 Gala. And while we were ecrtainly not underdressed (Susan looked Faaabbbbbuuuulous), we were not nearly as pretentious as some that attended.

Here's the part where I tell you about the angry part. The gala included a silent auction of many different and random things, and the one that caught my eye was a 7 night stay at a home on Key Largo. IN a nice beach community with lots of fun aorund it, and a short drive to Key West. I want to visit Key West sometime for more than a few hours. It looks like a fun place to kick back and party one's posterior off. And the bid on this particular item was very reasonable. So I ponied up some money (it's for charity after all, gotta think about the children) and put in a high bid right as the auction was finishing up. I mean the lady was literally pulling the sheet from my hands. And at about $100 a night, I was stoked.

However, some one seems to have slightly more clout than I and was able to whisk my vacation away and drive my dreams into the ground with a spiked heel. I'll just say this. This person probably doesn't read my blog, but they know who they are, they know that what they did was dishonest and reeks of a lack of personal integrity, and that makes me sad for you.. It's not the losing the really aggrevates me, it's the disingenious way it happened. May you be inflicted with a very painful jelly fish sting with no one around who will pee on you.

OK, so moving on. I left Susan Sunday morning and was very sad. I hate leaving her, and it was made even worse that I had a great week and weekend before hand that was ending. BUt we did look nice all dressed up.

Other goings on, it seems I'm slated for another year of working weekends and midnight hours. That wasn't ideally what I wanted, but it beats the 24% pay cut. The other downer is I have to go back to domestic desks, which ar emuch more tedious and lack the challenge of the international desks. But oh well, being a weekend midnight shift means I should have lots of free time at work. What to do???

Well, I've decided it may be time to go back to school and work on a degree. So I applied to the local campus of (and this hurts to admit) Embry-Riddle. After so much time of making fun of riddlers, looks like I'll be joining their ranks. I'm waiting now for my transcripts to show up and see how much I have to take. I hopefull will be some reasonable hours transferred, on top of the 1 credits I get for having a dispatch license. And while not the most ideal degree, it is a degree and I'll have the "receipt". And then, maybe I'll do something else that seems like it may interst me. So, here goes nothing.

I was also alerted at work with the news that we get a killer discount at one of the local fitness places. It's basically the people who took over and modernized all the Gold's Gyms in the Louisville area. And for less than $10 a month, I figured what the hell. So I'm joining. I just need motivation, and thats where all you people come into play. Motivate me!

Membership doesn't start for a couple weeks, but I'm looking forward to feeling better. Not old and tired.

There's nothing much else to pontificate about. I'm looking forward to some upcoming events, and hoping that folks will come up for Derby. I think it will be a good time. Plus Susan i coming up for a few days soon :-). It's about time :-p

I'm off to Target for socks and pots. Later!

One I get you up there, where the air is rarified, we'll just glide, starry eyed

Current mood:okay

Hello world. It's 6 AM on the east coast and I'm feeling restless. So I thought I would pontificate. First off, let me say this... I've watched Hannity and Bill O'Rielly 3 times at work tonight. I'm sick of hearing about stimulus and porkbarrel and how we're all doomed to economic hell. So yes the US Government is spending $1 Trillion on stuff (with a T). Yes, some of said stuff is crap. But come on, our government has been spending ridiculous money on crap for my entire lifetime, both sides. And now the proof that the "stimulus" isn't going to work is the reaction on Wall Street. Yes, the same experts that drove oil sky high for no reason and who crashed the banking system in America (and maybe the world) is saying the "stimulus" isn't going to work. Forgive me if I'm skeptical.

Could said bill be better, most likely. WIll it work? Who knows?? I hope so. And really, high speed rail I think is a good idea, ask anyone who's been to Europe.

Ok, enough ranting, I took a snapshot of my flights tonight at the point I think I had the most flying. I'm allegedly working one particular region of the world, though I can't seem to figure out which particular region I'm assigned. But I do like variety. I'll try and attach said photo to said blog for reference, but I'm not sure if I can make it work.



I think it worked. Look Ryan, I really do play airline now!

I just returned from a quick visit to Susan's place. It always seems to be a quick visit these days. And I'll be back next weekend for her school Gala (which I'm informed is not pronounce gal-uh but Gay-luh) which I'm thinking will be much fun. We get to dress up and hobnob with the wealthy of Liberty Park. This past week I met some of her fellow teachers, all seemed very nice and I'm happy she has good people to work with.

Well, I can't think of anything else to ramble on about. Hope everyone is having a fantastic weekend!

Randomness

SO, I just flew into BHM and I'm waiting on Suzie to come get here after her school open house, and I thought I would share some opinions and observations:

1. Are flight attendants checking to see if my seatbelt is buckled or are they doing a crotch check of the particular cross section fo the public that's on their plane today? I know I could ask Grace personally this question, but I thought the public forum for the inquiry and response would be much more amusing.

2. Why do people lose their ability to drive when water is thrown into the mix? Louisville traffic was horrible today, and all from just a little rain. We just finished with snow catastophe and you would think we would have learned a little about inclement driving from it... wrong!

3. Why is every bar at the BHM airport closed before 8 pm? My alcohol low light is illuminated and it's annoying.

4. An interesting observation. You know how lot of places have the the three recycle bins for your refuse, one for plastic, on for paper, and one for aluminum? I just wached the gentleman here empty the three (which looked to have been well separated and containing the correct types of items) into one bag. Why bother with the recycling cans if you're just throwing them away?? or why the need to separate if you just mix it and thens end to recycling centers? Makes me wonde how many other shams are out there being purported on us unwitting people who just try to do the right thing.

5. I'm unimpressed with my Sham-wow. I have yet to say "wow!" at all. It's a towel. BFD! It absorbs water at the smae rate as any other towel in my house. But lets say it does have some super German absorbing technology involved and its machine washable. Last I checked, a washing machine poured water into it, wouldn't the Shamwow jut absorb all the water until being saturated and becoming a 60 lb lump of wetness thumping around in the washer?

6. I was wrong, there is one open bar. Time to go talk to Jack. Later!

not proofread, deal with it

Current mood:cold

Snow has fallen yet again. luckily this time i wasn't proceeded and followed by ice. But on the down side, after a couple days a warmish weather (meaning above freezing) the snow and ice has only melted and frozen again in a nice solid ice sheet. I have enough issues walking, lets throw ice into the mix! yay!

There's not a lot going on really. I'm feeling a little lonely and bored here. For some reaons I've become quite miserly over the last few weeks. Apparently that makes me part of the problem since I'm not wildly spending on things. I did just buy a TV a few weeks ago, so I'm thinking I'm up for the year.

I'm becoming fascinated by HGTV lately. I almost want to go out and buy a house. Unfortunately I tend to gravitate to House Hunters International, so the house (or flat in some cases) is either in Paris, on a beach in Belize, or down under in Oz. I like Louisville, but I'll always haver Paris. ANyways, one of the non international shows ealier focused a famliy house shopping in Fayetteville and PTC. A wave of homesickness rushed over me. But in all fairness, I really didn't like any of the subdivision houses. I think I'm more a urban neighborhood and old house with character type.

Of course, since I feel guilty for buying a martini (don't worry, the guilt is gone by the time I eat the second olive) I doubt a $250,000 house is on the books for a while. Holy crap, this little apartment is going for $300,000... but it is in Paris. All about location I suppose.

It's a short weekend for me, I have recurrent on Thursday and Friday, which means I have to not only get up early, but have to stay awake for the whole time. No offense to the instrutors, but it can get kind of tedious.

I'm waiting to hear the result of some work stuff, which has direct bearing on my life. The vote on our new contract is on Friday, and the results will determine my pay for the next 12 months. And on Saturday, Jimmy Buffett tickets go on sale. I would liekt o see a show this year, and revive my urge to live my life like a character in a Buffett song. You know, drinking margaritas on a beach all day. It's not that I don't like my job, but who would pass up a well funded beach bum lifestyle?

I feel like I should say somehting inspiring or motivating or even thought provoking, but I'm just not feeling ranty at the moment. Maybe I'll pour another drink and that will help. Stay tuned for great political debates. I will say this, thanx to Susan for recommending Netflix. I've become a fan. I just watched Charlie WIlson's War... it made me laugh.

Well, as I'm now having an online conversation with 2 ifferent people, I can no longer focus on this. Hope everyone is well. Come visit!

take 2

Current mood:mellow

I wrote this earlier, and accidentally deleted it. Let's see if I can capture the whimsy again.

So, I'm calling on all my good friends to go out and spray some aerosol or run your cars needlessly. Lets get that global warming thing going, because it doesn't seem to be taking hold. Oh wait, it's now called climate change, cause apparently not everything causes warming.

At any rate, since Monday we've had sleet, then snow, then more sleet, then freezing rain, then finally.. more snow. So outside, on most surfaces, there an 1/2" of ice covered with 2" of snow covered with another ice layer, and then 4-5" of snow. Not only has it seemingly shut down most the town, but t's really jacked up work. I got called in for OT today, and I trudged in about 0530 this morning. Luckily the roads were mostly just wet by this point, except my little street which was all slushy. The freezing rain overnight put a nice glaze of ice on most everything. And while prettyish to look at, its unnerving to hear trees cracking and falling over. Usually taking a powerline, or worse cable line, with it.

At any rate, I broke the shell of ice on my poor car, and let her warm up for about 30 minutes. Enough of the ice shell melted to make the rest easily broken up. I have to say, my 12 year old Honda is really soldiering on. I crank her up, let here warm up, knock off the snow and ice.. and head out. Only to jump the foot high pile of snow to park in front of the house. I imagine some melting needs to be accomplished before driving off again. The only flaw was a 4 foot crack in the windshield that developed Monday morning. But that has been since remedied.

Nothing new on the work front, and frankly I'm tired of thinking about it. It'll suck to be demoted and lose the pay, but I'll manage. I did it before. It may mean I have to cut back splurging on outings, and no more super sizing meals for Susan on dates. I think she'll understand, but that extra $.99 can break me :-p.

So, as I gazed out on the front glacier, um, I mean lawn, I was quite happy to discover I still have electricity amd cable. My lucky day! Lets hope it keeps up Tomorrow is supposed to be above freezing, so maybe some melting will occur and my car be freed. I'm not entirely sure how I got it parked where I did.

Well, I think that just about covers everything on any interest. Hope everyone is doing well. Be in touch!

I'll go crazy if I don't go crazy tonight

Current mood:optimistic

Apologies to all, I've been a slacker when it comes to writing. And since I know everyone out there in internet land needs to know every detail of my life, I'm truly sorry to have left you all hanging. Let's see, whats happened since.. New Years???

Well, the big stuff, we seem to have a new president. And there was a big parade. You can't have a new leader without a big parade. Luckily in this country, the big parade doesn't involve tanks rolling into you're capital and shooting at the old leader. While that makes for better TV, it's really kind of messy and should just be skipped. So, anyways, new president, yadda yadda. I have high hopes for the future and his administration, but we'll see. Some people say I'm a dreamer.

In more mundane news, I worked 11 days in a row last week. Well, over the last 2 weeks, it would be a real feat to work 11 days in a 7 day space. I'm fairly certain that I won't be doing that again for a while. I start getting a bit grumpy around day 6, and by day 8 I'm just tired of seeing most the people I work with. I did however score 2 double time days, so I'm looking forward to using those hours for something fun.

Add on top of the standard misery brought on my 11 continuous days of working the news I'm most likely going to lose my dispatcher status and return to the ranks of the assistants. And with that change I also lose 24% of my pay. Why? Well apparently the economy is bad and we're cutting flights, so less for us to do. And since we only made about $3 Billion (yes with a B) profit last year, we need to cut my salary by $15,000 to stay solvent. No, i'm not bitter... now wheres my table for one?

It wouldn't bother me as much if we were A) losing money and B) trying to run a decently efficient airline. But when you see your salary blown out the exhaust on a near daily basis, it kind of makes you want to run away to a tropical island and live day after day walking on the beach and snorkelling. Luckily, I know where there hiring for just such a position. I may need to borrow the TanJoe's video camera to create a video resume. Hopefully I want send them a special... personal... video of the TanJoe making.

So add to that Susan's been a bit under the gun with her job, things have been fairly craptastic (yes I stole that word from her) over the last couple weeks. I'm thus far not so impressd with 2009.

But, hey, we did get a new president and a big parade.

The point of hope on the Jamie not getting a ridiculous pay cut front is we have a new Tentative Agreement for a union contract at work, and one of the hopes was to create training and ATC jobs, so maybe I won't be downgraded just yet. However, we don't actually know what the TA says, and won't until Saturday (which kind of throws my weekend plans for a loop). The you have to vote it in, and that's no small feat.

So keep a finger crossed.

I've been hearing a lot on the news about "bloggers" and their reports/opinions/ideas/etc... and I'm wondering how those bloggers get TV time and I don't, and neither does anyone else I know who maintains a blog? Apparenly I need to do more self promotion so I can be mentioned, and maybe even interviewed, on Fox News. I, too, can be an "expert" on something!

I'm exploring collegiate options for finishing a degree. Why?? I dunno really, other than I want to be able to check the box on all the forms I have to fill out. I'm looking at Riddle, which holds a certain sense of irony considering how much I don't usually care for the arrogance of a Riddle grad. But at least its stuff I'm interested in (airplanes and running an airline). And I need to up my level of arrogance anyways.

I don't much else interesting to say. I'm down in BHM at the moment and passing the time while Susan herds kids. I'm feeling much more positive and relaxed just being here. The potential of a pay cut and continuing debt (how about a bailout COngress?!?!?) don't seem so bad with her around. And there's always that island job... would y'all come visit?

I'm looking for a big party soon, something that ends in hangover. I've been feeling kind of old and frumpy of late and could use a jolt of youthful dumbassery to keep me young... so some one plan something! And if anyone is interested, I'll be lending out space for Derby weekend should anyone want to come up. Make reservations now, Villa Dees fills fast.

That's about all I can think to type up, hopefully things will work out, I'm staying hopeful. Later!

(P.S. the subject line is the title of a song from a new U2 album, maybe a concert tour will come soon!)

Thoughts from an Insomnamaniac

Current mood:awake

Has anyone else noticed that you always seem to see a show or movie on TV that you like, and when you turn to that channel its always the same part? It's happened three times to me today. Maybe I'm just special.

Since this is the time of night that I am usually awake and at work, I am of course wide awake now on my night off. I was asleep earlier, more like just worn down and full. I crashed on the couch. Now it looks like I'll be up till the sun comes again. ON th upside, I did do something productive, I cleaned the bathroom and mopped the kitchen. (By mop I mean Swiffered). So now I'm awake and watching TV.

ANd about my TV, I made a small purchase in that area last week and finally have all the pieces put together and I think I have a fairly respectable home theater. I've moved my life into high definition. I don'tknow if anyone has made the switch, but the TV picture is like watching real life. I noticed this during the last World Cup while watching the same game on 2 different TVs, one was in HD, one not... You can't get a full idea of the difference until you have them side by side.

SO, in an effort to get my cable upgraded, I've gottn little sleep over the last couple days waiting on the Cable guy to come. Through a mistaken address and a just lack of paperwork by the provider, I finally had the box installed this afternoon. At least the cable people ehre are nice enough to give me a credit for both most appointments. And now here I sit.

In other news, there;s a little concer on the work front. Anyone who's seen any form of news media knows the economy is in the crapper by some ones definition. Thus, we are cutting back flights, and thusly cutting back the need for people flight contorlling. There's been no mention of a manpower reduction, but theres a chance I coul be sent back down to the minors. If not for the paycut that comes with it, I wouldn't be bothered. And even then I can manage on the lower pay, just will take longer to pay off balances I was working on. I should have some kind of clue in the next week how it's all going to play out.

Not much else is shaking in my world. We've gotten back to life after the holidays. I do prefer being on vacation so much more. It was a lot more fun spedning time with Susan and getting to hang out with some pals.

Through the miracle of Facebook, I've been reconnecting with a lot of old pals. Mostly from the Southwind Era, but som high school folks too. It's interesting to see how we've turned out. I notice the trend that most people are married and one their second child. Maybe I'm a little slow on the uptake, but then again I've a great time. There's not too much I would change around.

There's also been a Facebook group formed in honor of the Pharoah Deesenkhamen. Now I didn't build his page, but I'm very appreciative that Woff did. It makes me feel a little special, and we all need that every now and then.

Well, I'm gonna pop in a DVD or rent a pay per view or something to entertain msyelf till i fall asleep again. Maybe it'll wake the neighbors downstairs, suitable annoyance for their trepasses against me.

I've got nothing else to throw at y'all. Good night!