Work Stress?

This week was rough at work. I'm not sure I signed up for stress after grad school. A 12 hour days back to back, plus dealing with the Boeing company flight test people, plus dealing with "Elmer Fudd" and the messes he creates for me daily made it one rough week.

That was only 4 days long, thankfully.

Now I'm off on a "mini-break" skiing in Park City, Utah!

Welcome Home

This will be the view from my second home. I must say, it's a nice consolation for the sucky situation.

I'm going to be so tan!

Just a Girl In A Corporate World

Just when I think I have the hang of working in this big corporate environment, things surprise me. Like listening to the webconference of the earnings results and not understanding half the words that are being said (which is ok, cause neither did my boss), wondering if I should get an mba, deciding I never want to be that high up in a company and resenting all the stock holders asking the questions who probably make more than everyone in the room combined.

Then there's always the feeling that I'm well cared for, more recently in the form of a huge lunch in the hanger. Which was awesome, especially since all of TechOps participated.

Then there's seeing my work in the form of actual cost savings, being able to answer questions.

It'll be difficult to give up, especially since I'm loving it right now.

Cloudy

The past few days at work have been pretty good (a just short of stellar performance review, TechOps appreciation day, and seeing results from my efforts), but they've been overshadowed by the cloud that has now settled all around me. I don't have the energy to fight it right now, so I'll just let it sink down.

On Notice, For the Heck of It

Since I haven't done one in a while. This might change as I give it more thought.

Let it Snow, Part 2

Saturday brought even more snow. I got to play with Alden and Kaya, which was definitely a wish list item that was fulfilled, but at the same time snow ball fights aren't quite as fun without my boy. I'm afraid that I'll become incredibly lame and start missing out on life when he moves simply because I want to share most experiences with him.

Some events have totally flipped around my travel plans and schedule for the next few months, and not necessarily in a bad way. I'm just sad I can't hop over to Japan sooner like I was hoping.

I've been hibernating due to the cold weather. Or the bad sinuses. Or the slump I'm in. Or the exhaustion for the past few weeks (how long can I use that one as an excuse?)

I should figure out which. Back to the tv.

Let it Snow

Atlanta was dusted with some snow today. The weather people predicted nothing would happen in the city, but as it was the front came from the south so it first started dumping snow at work at about 4pm. It then proceeded to follow me home.

I love standing in the falling snow. Looking up makes me feel like I'm in my own little snow globe. John, Danny and I had a snow ball fight and made a snow man.

For a few moments, fun and the way the world looks covered in the pure white was all that was on my mind.

Inertia

I've been dealing with a serious case of inertia. After all the craziness that was Christmas, New Years, and Danny's stay at the hospital, and too much to do at work, maybe it's just my body dying for some down time.

But then again, I wasn't exactly moving at the speed of light before all of those events. In fact, I haven't been my usual 150mph self in quite some time. And when I attempted to be everywhere in the past few weeks, I struggled. It's as if my body knows that pushing myself at those limits causes problems and damage that takes months of rest, medication and treatment to recover from.

Meanwhile, I don't feel like myself. I hated leaving the hospital early one night because I was simply exhausted. I hate looking forward to activity in the afternoon then coming home exhausted and plopping down on the couch with some Gilmore girls for the evening.

Maybe this is my new self. It's hard to become accustomed to, especially since I feel so lazy. And since I've haven't participated or done tons of the things that I usually enjoy and that sustain me.

Maybe things will change when the stress of the unknown dies down and I settle into my new altered life.

2007: Year in Review

1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
Went out west, lived with a boy, worked a real job, graduated with my masters

2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Last year’s resolutions: stress less, lose the last 10-12 pounds, put myself first, do all those things I've always wanted to

I successfully stressed less (by leaving ASDL), I lost more than 10 lbs (and proceeded to regain it all through depression), and traveled a lot

This year: keep my house clean, eat better, be more active

3. Did someone close to you give birth?
Nope!

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Does my kitty cougar count?

5. What countries did you visit?
Bahamas, Brazil
Citis: Cinci, Philly, NYC, Denver

6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
more discipline

7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
May 2, Dec 2, Benazir Bhutto’s death

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Graduating (again), kickin ass and taking names at Delta

9. What was your biggest failure?
Being bullied by the ignorant, letting it get to me

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I was healthier than ever, but kept falling and skinning my knees when drunk.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
MY SKIS!!!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Danny, who always accepted me even when all I could do was cry

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Will Evans (my how things change)

14. Where did most of your money go?
traveling, going out, paying off debt

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
traveling, going out west, going to NYC, skiing, my boy

16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
Kanye Stronger

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or hardened? happier.
ii. thinner or fatter? fatter
iii. richer or poorer? richer!

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
sleep, ride my bike, party, enjoy life

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
stress out, work

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
family and friends

22. Did you fall in love in 2007?
Yes

24. What was your favorite TV program?
Top Gear, Colbert Report, Daily Show, Ugly Betty

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I’d go with am extremely appalled by and disappointed in, but hate implies caring enough to feel strongly, and I don’t think that’s the case

26. What was the best book you read?
Something Borrowed, Daughter of Fortune

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Fall Out Boy?

28. What did you want and get?
new skis! Ski boots, helmet and pants… see a theme

29. What did you want and not get?
One of those ipod alarm clock things (was on the list last year!), a tassimo coffee machine, a Bissell healthy home vacuum

30. Favorite film of this year?
Becoming Jane

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 24on March 13. I had to travel on my birthday, so I went out the night before. I was very upset that afternoon, and danny showed up at my door with gifts in tow and totally saved the day

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Less debt, a bigger apartment

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
AHHH! I don’t have enough clothes for work!!!

34. What kept you sane?
I must admit that I was insane for a while. A combination of Celexa and the best boy ever brought me back.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
George Hincapie (ok, so no one knows who he is)

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
This question is always difficult…. The corruption gets me the most

37. Who do you miss?
My soulmate Melissa, my friend Sarah, Katina

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Danielle Thompson and others from work!

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007:
I suffer from depression, which doesn’t make me a bad person. And I don’t always have to be happy.

Non-rev chronicles, continued

My non-reving karma must be completely gone. Aaron finally made it to New York while Danny and I ended up in Atlanta. We couldn't get to LGA that night, so we went home just to try again the next day. Our luggage went, though.

Sunday morning the flight was pretty booked. Due to re-booking by some not so bright TYS ladies, we were no longer listed together. We told the guy we were in a party, but that didin't prevent him from cancelling and clearning one or the other a couple of times. Finally he just tells danny to get on the plane and find his own seat.

I end up in first class, which is great since daddy d owes me, but I'm sitting next to possibly the most disgusting person on the planet. Dressed and smelling like a bum, this guy obviously had a cold since he insisted on loudly snorting back his snot despite my donation of my entire pack of tissues to him. Not only that, but at one point he begins to cough, spits up his bagel, wipes it off and eats it again. Classy.

The way back was no better. This time both of us were in steerage, and I was sitting next to a nice oal captain until the most enormous black man I've ever seen squeezes himself down the aisle with his wife to the back of the 757. He won't fit in the seat, so much so that when the armrests are down the best he can do is sit on top of them. His wife ends up in the window, him the middle and me on the aisle, armrest-less. This guy proves to be just as enormous of a jackass as he is in size, from telling the flight attendents how to do their jobs, complaining about having to hold his breathe that the seat is too small, and pulling the racism card on several subjects. Not only that, but he tries to impress by sharing all of his aerospace knowledge, including wake turbulence and shear ("man, did you feel that wind shear?") His poor wife wasn't feeling well, evidently due to "altitude sickness."

I'm pretty sure the airplane didn't fail to pressurize.

I'm glad to be home and in the ATL for a few days.

Non-rev Sucky Experience #1

Danny, Aaron and I are currently sitting in the Knoxville airport. We've been here since 5:30am and it's likely we won't leave until 5:45. 12 hours.

Our 6 am direct flight to la guardia was overweight, so they left us off. Since then, between some great planning by Delta Connection and some awesome shafting by some gate agents, we've missed each flight since. Each flight has been oversold and/or overweight, and when there were two seats the awesome agent Bell offered them to a family (who declined) but refused to give them to us. No rewards points from me are coming her way.

The 545 flight is wide open, which will put us into LaGuardia at 12am. And to bed at around 1 or 1:30. After we got up at 4:30 to catch our wide open, overweight flight.

I blame CRJs. And Wendy Boone. And the best gate agent ever.

Ny, Ny... I'm trying!

February

So this is what it will be like come February. Just me and Piper. All of the things that I tell myself to make myself feel better will turn into things I miss. I won't come home anymore to a boy collecting coke and beer cans on my coffee table. No more grocery shopping and cooking dinner together, no more spooning, no more personal heater and no more big smile in the morning.

And I tell myself that it'll be nice to have a clean apartment, to not have a reason to rush home from work everyday, that it'll free up time for hobbies, reading, friends.

But the truth is, nothing will make up for the absence of my beloved squatter. And, until February, I have lots of time to dwell on that.

Holiday Stress

This holiday season was stressful. I usually enjoy Christmas shopping and wrapping. I'm on top of it all, finished weeks ahead of time, nothing missing.

Not this time. If it weren't for my sister, I wouldn't have finished at all. Between work and graduation and seeing everyone, I only had one evening to go shopping before leaving town. I had to leave her and my mom a list.

I also now understand why people worry about gaining weight. This is also the first time that I've felt like I've been eating for the past few weeks. There was food at work everywhere everyday between "grazing" and lunches with all different groups.

To be honest, I'm glad it's over with. Now I'm ready for the New Year!

Hey Sonny! Get a Clue!

I voted for Mark Taylor last year. The current governor, who won instead, CONTINUES to give me reasons to despise him.

1. What? Surplus? Yeah, let's keep reducing HOPE benefits. Especially since we know the lottery isn't profitable.
2. What? Surplus? No, the kids don't need healthcare.
3. What? No water??? Should we do something about it? Nah! We'll just pray!
4. What? No water? Economy heading towards recession? Should I work on it? No, I'm going to complain about football instead.

O Christmas Tree

If Danny and I were to have a christmas tree, it would be this one.

1 Year

It was a drzzly day many moons ago when some friends decided to take a trip to Jacksonville to support their football team. They stayed in a creepy hotel, got wet at the exciting 9-6 loss, and got drunk at the Landing.

And two found out they liked each other.

The rest is history.


1st Year Anniversary Flowers (accompanied by chocolate and a nice fondue dinner!

Good News Football

Today featured Chan Gailey (finally) being fired and me acquiring awesome tickets to the SEC Championship on Saturday.

YAY!

I have the best job ever

Yes, I get 2% towards my 401k then they match 100% of the next 5% that I contribute. Yes, the flight benefits are awesome. Yes, most of my coworkers are awesome. But those aren't the only reasons my job is awesome. For an aviation nerd, it doesn't get any better than this.

This past Monday, after going straight to work from the flight back from Brazil (in business class), a coworker informed me in the morning of a flight test on an airplane in my fleet an asked if I wanted to go. I almost turned them down: I'd just spent the entire night on a plane. But, what the heck.

It ended up being a great experience. I got to sit in the cockpit for takeoff, run around (which made me a little motionsick, especially during the turns) to help troubleshoot, and after that was done enjoy some peanuts (which I tasted for the rest of the day) and Sex and the City reruns in the comfort of business class.

And to think I get paid for this. To have fun. It's better than I could have hoped for.

The Motherland

I have returned from the Motherland. The trip was rushed, I didn't even get a chance to visit my hometown or any of the numerous Jesuses that Brasil is so famous for. I did however get to use my portuguese, eat til I was sick, enjoy those foods that I miss and meet family and friends that I adored.

I was sad to leave and I can't wait to go back.

Carnival here I come!

Inagural International Non-rev Attempt: Mission Accomplished

The ticket guy in the employe service center confirmed that we would be in business class, but I still didn't want to count my chickens, considering how unlucky I tend to be. Upon arrival I checked the ship number and sure enough, it was one of mine. Funny... I somewhat remembered that tail number for some reason. Some research told me that this was the plane that diverted last week for oil loss. Goody. At least it was fixed! Anyway, off we went in seat 1F and 1G. Everyone was right. There's no other way to go.

I was a little emotional. All that work, all that time busting my ass. Never an idea that it would lead to flying first class for free to visit my family for the first time in two decades. Life is good.

We were handed champagne when we sat down, we had a five course meal complete with a menu, wine, a linen table cloth for the tray table, real china and silverware, linen napkins and even our own personal salt and pepper shakers. And you're given a little travel kit with eye shades, socks, toothbrush and toothpaste, lotion and chapstick. So, following many glasses of champagne, red wine and port, I passed out (fully reclined, no less) in the middle of Hairspray.

I awoke over cloudy Brasil. I didn't see a thing until final approach. A little trip to the duty free shops and the acquisition of some cubans for boy and we were on our way. 5 hours, some traffic and a lot of ghetto later we arrived in the town that most of my family lives in, called Pouso Alegre. Following a massive lunch with some friends of my Grandma, we went to my great grandma's house to say hello. Four generations of the women in my family, sitting there all together. That was something else, even though she's not completely lucid.

A nap and dinner with my great uncle and aunt finished out the day. Now this whole time difference and not sleeping thing is catching up to me, so it's bedtime.

I'm still investigating that whole toilet flushing backwards thing. Thanks to boy for the reminder. And it seems that every town features a "big Jesus," aka a large "Cristo Redentor" statue. I still want to see the real one, though.

And back comes my native language...