month, homeless era, streak of bad luck? All of the above?
Tomorrow I move into my new apartment in Charlotte with my 3 flight attendant roommates! I'm very, very, very happy about this after a month of living in hotels by the airport feeling like I was half alive. I'm also working on finishing up my Turkish final tonight. So, I guess there is another thing ending.
This week has actually been great. A friend flew through Charlotte and I got to hang out with him at the airport, I got this apartment and then all my potential roommates agreed to the price and living there, I got a really good trip-- a 35 hour layover in Phoenix. Even though I hate being in the desert, having a full 35 hrs to luxuriate in a Sheraton was great. I got a good start on my Turkish paper AND a good tan. The flights were easy--especially the red eye back where everyone was sleeping. I'm pretty sure I drank more cans of soda and juice in the back than all the passengers combined, ha ha.
Right now I'm hanging out for the last night in the Ramada with my friends. We are actually here for free tonight because I had 5 punches on my points card-- amazing.
So, tomorrow we move into the new place... and I begin another move, my stuff from Florida to Charlotte, NC. This new apartment is probably the nicest place I've lived since my mom's place... its going to be so nice not to have to pack up all my stuff every morning and have a life.
April 26, 2013
Change of luck?
After a month of living in hotels and get dumped and getting shit-canned by my old office...
Side story: remember the post the other week about getting that surprise email telling me that I was no longer needed? Well, I went in to the office to confront my old boss and ask her why this was done, why I was not given an explanation and why I was let go so unceremoniously. Her response left me dumbstruck---she said that she heard a rumor that I had be bragging about logging hours for the office without doing any work. WHATATATAT??! I didn't see that coming--mostly because I would never and had never done or said these things. Apparently a rumor heard 2nd-hand is enough to fire someone without even investigating whether or not the implications could be correct and take away their email account of 7 years with NO notice. Man, I had STUFF in there. I'm not sure what, but I would have liked to be given the chance to transfer any info or contacts.
Merely the fact that my former employer could even believe that I was a liar and a thief (I am not--I might be 1/2 insane most of the time, but I maintain that my work ethic is very good) cut me to the core. I cried for 2 days over it.
But in perspective-- I guess if suffering an injustice results in being relieved of duties at a job I didn't like working for people I didn't like at an institution I didn't believe in isn't the worst thing in the world. I don't need them. Plus, if being homeless means hanging out with friends in hotel rooms, that's not all that horrible either.
BUT! Things are looking up! I found an apartment that I really like in a great location and I was able to get it! Yes, that means I now have my name on a 3rd apartment lease (I should be stressed, maybe, right?), but this signals the end of being a total homeless gyspsy-airport-rat come May 1. Now I won't have to go and hang about the Charlotte Airport all day just because I have no where else to be. Also, this might be the nicest place I've ever lived (certainly the most expensive); it has a washer&dryer AND a dishwasher INSIDE the apartment! Oh, the unbelievable luxuries! Plus the rooms are painted colors (my first non-all white wall living space EVER)
I just set up the electric, the gas and the internet. Now I just have to secure roommate(s) and start the moving process again...for the 5th time this year. yea!
April 13, 2013
anniversary
With all my complaining I forgot about my eye-anniversary. April 11th was one year since the surgery. Its been wonderful to be contact and glasses-free for the past year. But personally, I like to think of this as the event that marks the change in my life... from going to a person who was mostly happy just to sit at home and wait for her husband to get home with the car and dream about buying a home.... to now..... new everything; new job, new city, new life.
Too much change for one year if you ask me
playing through the sand
This is the part that sucks, I guess. The transition. I was in a poor mood most of the day today. I've been in Charlotte (my base) on duty, waiting to get a call for a flight for the past 3 nights. No luck. So I'm just here wasting time and NOT working. Meanwhile my friends are all at a birthday party together. I don't mind missing things as much when I'm working, but I'm not actually working and I can't go anywhere either. I hate the feeling that I am just wasting time, paying for a hotel room and not getting anything done.
I've been dragging my friends around town all yesterday and today trying to find a place to live. It is very frustrating. I really, really need to find a place here for my mental health though. On top of that, I got my first paycheck and it was a very small surprise and I got a casually worded email from the girl who replaced me at work that I'm not needed any more. Thanks for showing me NO respect, old workplace. And if I'm not needed then... why is there still all this work I'm getting?? And why wouldn't the boss email me. Just poor disrespect.
All these things add up and make me feel very disposable... in relationships and career wise.
ah, two tears in a buket
Here's a video that is perfect. Two Koreas and great lyrics; "I'd rather be alone"
April 11, 2013
two days in town
Besides all the other errands I had to run while I was home, I replaced my shower curtain and bath mats, I washed my sheets, my comforter, my throw blanket, the other blanket, my pillow case and the case that was on the second pillow that I bought because of him... even the mattress liner. I washed all of them and rotated the mattress so that not even the slightest indent or particle would remain.
And now I'll make the sandwiches.
April 4, 2013
The end of training... and the beginning of this crazy new life
After the last test (aka the last chance to get kicked out) was over, everyone started to relax. The pressure was mostly off and people were actually having a little fun. I would either gulp down my 3 free drinks at the hotel before the 7 pm deadline and then hop in the jacuzzi OR the most fun was to drink 2, take one for the road and catch the shuttle to Target.
Yes, living in a hotel room for a month with little escape made even a trip to Target seem like the most fun event ever.
We continued to wear our uniforms through week 4. Here I am with Martin at the receiving end of first class service training. :)
Finally, it was graduation day. Everyone was so happy. I must have taken about 1000 photos for people. Because I am completely unable to deal with change and goodbyes, I've never really been able to enjoy graduations. Actually, I hate them. I sulked and avoided people. Hence, NO 1000 photos with all my friends for me.
We received our wings at the ceremony. This may have been my proudest graduation to date. Maybe it was because training was so hard or maybe it was because I would be moving on to a job with this graduation (unlike the pit of despair and part-time employment I was looking at after college and grad school)
At any rate, I finally felt like I had accomplished something.
Here I am with one of my besties, Brian.
OK, I found another version of our graduation performance on youtube:
don't laugh. They made us do it!
Our graduation cake, which was awesome!
Our graduation portrait. I'm 4th from the left 2nd row
After having just arrived in Phoenix the night before from my practice flight, I was once again back at the airport ready to go to Charlotte for more training. MORE training after graduation. Argh.
In Charlotte, my mood lifted. I met the CEO, Doug Parker above, by being in the right place at the right time, the trees were all in bloom (below), and I wouldn't have to say goodbye to all my friends for a couple more days.
Plus, we found this great Mexican place by the airport with $2 beers. AWESOME
We all had enough beer that playing with the wall decorations seemed like an appropriate idea.
Everything was fine until the last day. We all had to haul our our stuff to the van AGAIN then check it all in at the airport again. I was beginning to feel like a pack mule. Now I really had to say goodbye to all my friends. It was awful. The worst part is the almost all of my favorite people from training are based in Philadelphia, while I am in Charlotte.
Me, on my first commute back to Gainesville. I'm smiling here, but in about 10 minutes I would be crying like a baby on the plane with some Rilo Kiley playing on my iphone.
I got back in time to totally surprise my friend, Buket. I lied and told her I would miss her birthday, but then burst through the door to surprise her and eat some cake with friends. It was great.
The next day, I stopped into Viva Europe, the festival my old workplace at the University was putting on. Here I am with a Scotsman, because, as you know, I am now Scottish.... and kilts are hot
The festivities continued later with some Turkish folk music
I am not a Turkish folk musician (yet), but I love this instrument-- the Saz
My time at home should have been a lot of fun, but unfortunately it was filled with drama and emotion for me. I'm sure I've stained my public image forever, but hopefully my friends will forgive and forget and I can go back to being the fun party girl that I identify myself as.... I hope.
On Wednesday, it was back up to Charlotte for a day of orientation and then I was to be "on duty" I had no idea what to expect, but I was in one of those moods where I didn't want to be anywhere. I didn't want to be in Gainesville, I didn't want to be in Charlotte and I couldn't think of a single place I wanted to be. Luckily the universe knew the answer was Las VEGAS!!!
My sadness over my week in Gainesville and partings of ways coupled with my stress over not having a salary yet OR a place to live OR any idea how much I would be paid melted away when I stepped on the runway and saw 'The Strip' in the distance.
This job is awesome, I thought. I was already lucky enough to get to take the 4-day trip with my training friend Natalie, but Brian was also in Vegas that night. Amazing luck!
We started the night with Brian's captain buying us all beer and shots and then hit The Strip.
Since none of us have any money to spare, we didn't really gamble (except for me at this penny slot machine), but we did have fun walking around and seeing the sights while drinking giant skull-shaped mugs of liquor.
Stingray sighting!!
It was my first time in Vegas, so it was pretty incredible. I hope I get to go back if and when I ever get some money.
After that we stayed overnight in Ft. Lauderdale and Orlando.
I finished up my 4 day trip and hopped on the first plane back to Gainesville on Monday night. I was only there for 2 nights, but it was nice to sleep in my own bed and do some laundry. I still don't feel like I have my legs under me yet, so to speak. I have to figure out how to live this new life where I'm basically a nomad. I still haven't managed to find a place in Charlotte. I probably could have, but now I've made this agreement to live with some other friends...so I'm kind of waiting for them to come around. The problem is, we probably will never be in the same place at the same time....maybe, I mean, what do I know about this stuff?
I spent last night in a hotel and luckily got called for another 4 day trip this morning. Hooray! That is 3 more nights I can sleep for free This time I'll be in West Palm Beach, DC and Tampa. YES!
Nomad life!
March 15, 2013
crash!
So today was our official last day of class. We rehearsed graduation and then went to the airport. Oh! I have lots of cool photos to post (later). Then I went to this great Peruvian restaurant for lunch with friends and had a wonderful time, took a nap and then joined my friends for dinner and drinks by the pool.
Everything was going GREAT until I found out that my 3 favorite people that are going to be based in Charlotte with me all got an apartment together... without me. I talked to them about getting something too. Maybe I should have been more aggressive? But... I really had plans (I thought) to look for a place together with my one good friend.
So I don't know, I'm trying not to be a cry-baby about this, but I was already stressed out about finding a crash pad. Now the 3 people that were potential roommates are suddenly all together. Now I have no potentials and I'll be looking on my own. I'm sure it will be fine, I always seem to land on my feet, but... it hurts being left out. I really wanted to live with at least one of my friends.
Sometimes I feel like because I always seem so happy and independent or whatever that people forget to worry about me. NOT the case. I'm just as nervous and insecure as everyone else.
OK-- just needed to vent. Everyone on the east coast is either asleep or out partying now and I can't really bring this up around here.
March 12, 2013
Week 3--done! Out of the woods
Saturday was a relatively fun day. We got to wear casual clothes and after a couple of lectures, we had to jump down the slide so we would know what to expect during an emergency evacuation. I found this kind of terrifying, I'm not the biggest fan of heights and going downhill, so there you go. Here I am pictured above paralyzed with fear.
Next we changed clothes and got bused over to ASU's campus for a life raft exercise in the pool.
I thought this would be really fun, but it was 60 degrees outside and we ALL crammed on the same raft shivering and complaining. ha ha ha.... (me far left and then far right)
I was so much looking forward to our day off that I didn't even care about freezing in the water. One of my best friends from undergrad lives in Yuma, AZ right now and she drove up to visit me!! We went out in a big group for another trainees' birthday and then danced all night like we were 22. It was a great way to blow off some steam.
The next day we headed over the Phoenix's Desert Botanical Gardens
I finally got to see something nice in Arizona!
Of course there were plenty of cacti, which was cool
But they had this great butterfly house too
On the way there, a little out of order, but look how cool this looks!! I felt like I was in a Wiley Coyote/ Road runner cartoon the whole time. WOW! It really looks like this out here.
I learned about Seguara Cacti. I like these now.
Yea for my friend Michele!
cool plant sculpture
two cacti, two friends
I really loved whatever birds these were...
So I finally got to enjoy some local sights and nature in this god-forsaken city. It was a super great day. Then I went back to the hotel to cram for our last test!
Me with my friend Natalie in our first day of uniforms!
Everyone was excited about wearing uniforms so we took 100s of photos yesterday
Gina and I happened to pick the same combo.
Today's combo!
My friend, Brian picked the guy version of this combo today, so here we are.
**In other news I found out that my base assignment is going to be Charlotte!!! I JUST, just eeked by with enough seniority to get my first choice. Even though I got my choice of bases, a lot of my friends are going to be in Philadelphia. That combined with the all-too-real realization that I was going to have to think about setting up yet another life in Charlotte was overwhelming. I cried.
Today I was a bit more stable. We got our assignments for our practice run that we have to do to graduate. I will fly out to Philadelphia on the 17th (St. Patty's Day party in my hotel room!!!) Then from there to Fort Lauderdale and back and then back to Phoenix on the 18th... then our big graduation on the 19th! I'm so lucky too-- I get to go with my friend Natalie (pictured above). She has been a flight attendant before, so she knows a lot of what to do and she is also really, really cool, so hooray!
Now that we've all got through the last of the tests, no one is in danger of being kicked out any more. It is a great feeling... just one more week of training! Wow
March 8, 2013
Day in the life... of training
I leave the door and have to remember to take out my nose ring, have my badge on and other things that will put me up to code (panty hose, makeup, hair back..)
Then I get to practice disaster preparedness for about 10-12 hours a day
raft!
The hotel food is getting (always was) pretty miserable. The most nutritious meal of the day comes from the food truck at lunch. My friend Nikki and I show off our green.
Week 2 was seriously rough. We lost a bunch of really cool people and I had a couple of really bad days personally. By the time Saturday came around, I was dying to blow off some steam and get some real food and beer.
where have you been, my lovely?
It was a super fun night. It was nice to get to know some of my classmates better outside the training center and the hotel.
With the help of some social lubricant, of course
View from the Top!! (subtle flight attendant reference)
I found this rooftop bar which I dragged my friends too. It was nice and reminded me a little of the beer gardens in Japan.
This is what I feel like in this terrible, terrible, terrible state. Why would anyone want to live in the desert? why!?! My skin is so dry. Everything is bleeding. I look like I fell off a bike-- my skin is so dry that I have like a red scrapy looking rash. Nothing helps. I need to be dipped back into the humidity of Florida. I have never hated a location as much as I hate Phoenix.
...and back to disaster training! Here my friend wears the PBE (protective breathing equipment)
Also, a large portion of the class is still sick. The teacher brought in masks for us to wear. The challenges to this program are endless.
I feel so relieved now that we are over "the hump" of week 2 and the three tests in a row at the beginning of week 3. Now we are on a roll. At night, students gather in the hotel lobby to study and practice "choreography" like the safety demo above, which we have to perform perfectly (no worries, I did)
Me, earlier this week practicing my shouts at the passengers
to jump out of the plane onto the slide in the event of an evacuation. I get tested on this tomorrow... wish me luck!
We did CPR too.... nailed it!
about to do something in the equipment room today
Oh yeah, we went over O2 systems, including the pilots' mask (above)
Thankfully, I realized that my friend from grad school, Leah, became a prof at ASU, which is in Phoenix!
She picked me up and took me to a delicious restaurant (with these cool murals)
and a millions different Tequilas to choose from. ha ha ha
It was so, so nice to get out and away from the hotel and training and ride in a car and talk to someone NOT involved with USAirways. Phew, I really needed that. Really looking forward to some more R&R this weekend.
In other news.... I've become sort of the class comedian and quite popular! Just by being my weird-ass hyper self If we ever get our base city assignments, it won't be hard to find some roommates. Also, it is rumored that a couple of dudes have crushes on me. I guess they are not all gay after all. I'm really not used to this level of attention. Must.run.back.to.Florida!
Oh would you look at that, it is already 11pm, I cannot believe I am not sleeping, argh!
February 26, 2013
Those last two weeks in photos!
Just in case you don't stalk me on facebook and foursquare and instagram (like I wish you would) ha ha jk, not really...
Here are some photos from my recent life:
This flower arrangement is pretty, so it must have been done before all the barfy pink and red carnation vase arrangements took over.
The owner of the flower shop recently got really into backyard farming, so he has been raising all sorts of animals; quails, geese, rabbits, etc etc. Here I am with a baby duck.
...and then a week when I guess I was too stressed out to take any photos AND here I am looking out at my first desert sunset in Phoenix a week ago. Look at the mountains in the background! Living in Florida for the past 7 years really makes me appreciate any changes in topography. If I am really, really tired after class and I kind of squint my eyes, it almost looks like I am in Japan. Wow... I really want to go back to Japan for a visit soon.
This is what I saw when I first landed in Pheonix! Welcome to the company! Actually, come to think of it, the gate agent welcomed me to the company and with a broad smile on his face, waved my bags through to security without even weighing them. Oh... the benefits are already kicking in!
This is one of the demo planes we sit in and practice different things. I love walking past rooms full of equipment and half airplanes. The novelty of this all still hasn't worn off.
We learned a lot of company history the first day... I found that the smaller airlines that eventually merged to become USAir (then USAirways) got their start in Pittsburgh! I'm so proud of my home-region. Go Western PA!
I've gotten pretty creative with food... here is my cereal-to-go one morning.
In I went to the mall on Sunday! Our only day off is Sundays.... and there a shuttle to the mall. I needed to go and find some company-approved footwear and knee highs... but it was fun looking around. OMG, I keep thinking, I am SO in 'The West'!
This is totally different from Florida in every way. One, it's really dry. Yes, everyone at the mall is speaking Spanish, but they are Mexican, not Cuban. SOOOO different out here.
The other trainees are really cool. Here's a photo of me and some of them today. There are 72 people in my class, but we are divided up into 2 groups. I think I have everyone's name down... maybe
The instructors are nice! It was someone's birthday today so we all got cake! Hooray for cake!
Now I have no potentials and I'll be looking on my own. I'm sure it will be fine, I always seem to land on my feet, but... it hurts being left out. I really wanted to live with at least one of my friends. 
