The longest day never felt so short

This story begins in a room filled with lots of screaming little girls, their daddy's, my daughter (Megan) and me.

Last Saturday night Megan sat in the living room of my apt feeling dissapointed that she couldn't go to the father/daughter dance. She hasn't missed one yet. Last year my dad took her while I was in SLC for new hire training.
I couldn't stand letting her down, so I asked if she'd like me to take her. I thought she would object since it might feel awkward having the only mom there. She lite up and eagerly said, "yes"!
It was 5pm and I knew I would still be on reserve until 9pm, but I figured they wouldn't call me. Just in case, I kept my phone with me and on vibrate so I wouldn't miss it in the loud room. By 8:30 I assumed I was safe and even left it on the table for a bit. Luckily I glanced at my phone at just the right time, because it was ringing. Immediately after I saw the crew support number, I looked at the clock. I wasn't going to make the same mistake I had made on Easter! The time was 8:55. I had to answer.
They notified me for a 5:05 am show the next day. Crap. The dance wasn't supposed to be over until 9:30, but Megan understood and we left. I feverishly tried making arrangments for the girls as we drove back to the apt. By the time I got into bed it was after 11pm and I still didn't have anywhere for the girls to go. Luckily it was Sunday and they didn't have school. I decided they would be fine on there own and I would be home by 6pm anyway.

Well...it didn't happen that way.
On the third leg of the day, we were ontime (early infact) coming into SFO from Boise, when we got forced into a holding pattern. Tower said it was going to be at least 25 more minutes. The problem was we didn't have enough fuel to do that. We diverted to Sacramento. It was a quick stop just to get gas and then we were back in the air headed to SFO.
Still, it put us a little more than an hour behind. Which normally isn't a big deal, but for our crew it was. We were already scheduled 5 flights, which translated into a 12 hour day with no breaks and 7 hours of actual flight time. Pilots aren't allowed to go over 8 hours of actual flight time unless it is due to weather, but they can't take off KNOWING they are going to go over the 8 hours. It's tricky.
Anyway- when we landed in SFO I called crew support. We still had a round trip to do to Eugene, Or. and I knew that if I did it, I would miss my deadhead back to Sacramento and the next flight isn't for 4 more hours. I was concerned for the girls. Also I'm not legally supposed to go over 16 hours of duty time.
Crew support said that I had to do it and they didn't think I'd go over 16 hours.
I knew I could probably refuse, but the gate agents already the passengers on the jetway to board and rather than delay the flight anymore, I agreed and hung up.
By this time, the pilots were wondering if they were legal to fly the trip. We spent a few more minutes while the captain called crew support to see if they should fly or not.
Meanwhile I got a call back from crew support telling me that they would hold my deadhead flight so that I wouldn't miss it. Wow! I didn't expect that and I wondered how long they could hold it for me? I didn't know how long our round trip would take. You never know what could happen.
Finally we were on our way. The captain tried his best to set up a quick turn by talking with flight operations before we got there. It worked. Everyone was ready and working hard to help me out.
I turned on my phone and listened to a message from crew support. While I was in the air, they pulled me off my deadhead and possitive spaced me on the later one. I was NOT happy. Neither was my captain.
He bugged operations so much on the way back to SFO to the point that they were getting mad at him. In the end I missed my deadhead by 10 minutes and I waited 4 hours for the next one which ended up being late. My first meal of the day came at 7pm. Beef terriaki rice bowl! I was in Heaven.
I finally got back into Sacramento a little after 9pm. I had gone over the 16 hours just like I thought I would. However, I'm not in trouble because it was due to weather and my chief flight attendant told me that deadheads aren't included with duty time. I don't know if I believe that.

Anyway- the best part of this story is this...in the whole mess I hadn't been able to call the girls until 5pm and I wondered how they were doing. God turned my babies into Angels. I was so proud of them. Kaytee stepped up and acted responsibly by doing dishes, preparing meals and getting along with Megan. Megan didn't hit Kaytee once all day!
Niether one of them were mad at me.

Now here's a surprising statement...I had the best day ever. Long, but awesome! My passengers were unforgettable and the day flew by. I was glad I did the round trip to EUG because I met Vanessa. I could have easily sterotyped her with those two humungous diamond rings and the designer sportswear outfit, but I didn't. It only took seconds to realize that she was a kind hearted beautiful wealthy black woman who shared my belief that happiness is a choice you make daily and just may very well be the secret to looking young.
I loved her. She was 52 years old, but looked out the window with a child-like amazement gleaming on her face. She watched her husband as he slept. You could see how much she admired him. They have 3 boys (all grown) who have gone through or currently going through the Air Force Acadamy. I bet she'll get some nice mother's day gifts this year!

When my passengers smile, I know I've done my job. Lately, they tell me I shoud be a stand up comic. I guess I've added a lot more jokes...but not to many. I change it up. I know that everyday I have the chance to make someone happy...and I want to do that. So it doesn't matter if I'm tired or hungry or if I have to go to the bathroom. Even if I'm worried about the girls...I can say a prayer and trust that He's got it under control.

Did I really just work 16:07 hours? Hmmm, it sure didn't feel like it.

I'm in Oakland right now. It's the third day of a 4 day trip. I think I need more rest. Later!

Oh so much info!!!

Oh my gosh...where do I start? I almost dread posting now, because I know I have so much to write about. Okay, let's break this down...

1.) Kaytee broke her toe on Monday. Well, it might be sprained. I'm not sure because I didn't take her to the doctor. I don't have medical insurance at the moment and I know there is nothing they can do anyway for a broken toe. It is black and blue and hurts her. How did it happen? She kicked her locker.

2.) I got a line!!!! Oh yeah, you have no idea how happy I am about this!! Bouncing off the walls happy. Lines came up today and it looks like I have a sweet month coming up for May, except none of my trips include Bob. (Yes, I still like him. but who can see the future?) Some of my overnights include Colorado Springs, Calgary & Redmond, Oregon. No locals. Nice. Reserve really sucks, and I sure hope I don't have to do to much more of it.

3.) The house is up for sale. Anyone want to move to Cool? $429,000. can get you a modest 3 bedroom/2 bath home with 2.6 acres of recently cleared horse property. The good news is that Brydon and I have been getting along pretty well the last 2 weeks which makes this painful process easier. No fighting, no death threats, no calling the police. I don't even think he's been drinking. I hope this time he'll be able to stop for good. He's working on getting his job back (it might happen) and he's been trying to work around the house to make it more appealing. I sure hope it doesn't sit on the market forever.

4.) Portugal. My dad just called and we talked a bunch about our upcoming trip to Portugal. We really need to get started on the details!! Passports, flights & a possible time share?? There is so much to do!! I'm excited, but dreading the process at the same time.

5.) My writing. I'm sure you are wondering if I still manage to write with all my crazy real life dramas. Well, yes and no. I did write another article for SIA, it will be in the June/July publishing. Did I already tell you that? I don't remember. I woke up the other day with 2 more ideas for articles in my head. One idea will be funny. It has to do with all the embarrassing things I've done on the job (yes, there are many!)
I do spend little bits of time writing on Annie. I WILL GET THAT DONE THIS YEAR!! It's my goal. I know...it was my goal last year too. However, I spend more time thinking about it then actually writing it.

Oh yeah, I never told you about my insult to SkyWest President, Jerry Atkin. It went like this...

We were told in training that SkyWest has an open door policy. If you want to talk with anyone in management, just go ahead and do it.
So, I wanted to put that policy to the test.

To make a long story not so long...I sent an email to the President and VP. I told them that even though I am going through the most difficult times of my life and struggling at the bottom of the company, I am happy. I asked them...now that you are at the top of a sucessful company...do you ever miss the bottom? ( I think my wording was a bit different.) I also let them both know that I had recently written a funny article in the SIA flyer, inviting them to read it.

They both sent a reply message within 30 minutes.

They VP gave me a real "yes, I miss the rubber meets the road" type answer. But Jerry gave me what I felt was a brush off answer and welcomed me to SkyWest.

It didn't sit with me very well. He had said that he didn't think in terms of top and bottom.

I sent a reply message with these exact words..."With all due respsect, bullshit." I was a bit mad. It was easy for him to say that being the president of SkyWest. He doesn't have to deal with being a reserve and not getting paid a decent monthly wage. I thought...how dare you patronize me? I was after an honest answer, but offered up something one would expect from a sleezy politition.

Even though the rest of my email was quite complimentary...I had major email remorse. I even wondered...he can't fire me for this can he? After 2 days I sent another message apologizing for my foul language.

He simply replied that it was fine and that we all get frustrated.

I wanted to write back and say, HEY YOU JERK...I MEANT IT!!! ANSWER THE QUESTION ALREADY!!

But that WOULD be horrible and I'm NOT that stupid.

I brought closure to the incident, by sending him a copy of the SIA flyer that my article appeared in.

He sent me a message, thanking me for the copy. He said that he enjoyed reading it adding that it was funny and I'm a very talented writer.

I'm just glad I still have a job!!

From my phone to you

Just testing how to get picture from my phone to my computer, etc...

One Year Today

It was exactly one year ago today that I sat among 12 other females in a slightly cold training room with the hope that I would not go home within the next 24 days.

April 11th is my SkyWest anniversary. ONE YEAR!!

You know what this means?

PAY INCREASE!! Also I will start getting those performance rewards bonus checks that everybody else gets. Actually those checks are in two parts. You get some of it after one year, the bigger portion is after 2 years. Who cares right? It's free money that I wasn't getting before.

Now for the sentimental part.

I'm still a Flight Attendant! You probably have some idea how happy I am to say that. All through training, I knew I could do it. I am smart enough and I had enough determination mixed with stubborn desire. I just hoped and prayed that my personal life would permit me the opportunity to actually fly.

Now here it is a year later. I am so grateful for all that I have been blessed with. The memories and friends I have made will be charished in my heart forever.

I look forward to more of both.

A Glimpse of Glory

Hi Folks,

For those of you who haven't given up on me by now...I offer up my lastest drama.

Hardly dramatic, rather, my life has been nice and mostly calm. I haven't been able to write on here because I don't have internet access anymore and during those rare times that I do get my hands on a computer which allows a social cyber life, I don't have time to write a post...or even respond to email. I used to write on my overnights. But lately I haven't been getting overnight trips. Just a lot of locals.

Right now I'm in my car near a local cafe that offers free wi-fi. I am so broke all the time that I don't want to go in to use the internet so I won't feel like I have to buy anything. I'd rather mooch off of them in the parking lot. It's slower, but the signal does reach out here. I guess I'm the kinda customer they hate. O'well.

As for Brydon...we have been getting along better this week. He hasn't called me any names or threatened my life and I haven't had to hang up on him. I even went over to the house yesterday so the girls could clean their rooms before the house goes on the market, which should be today or tomorrow.

On an entirely different note: Spring is here! I think someone must have gathered up all the pollen, mixed it with water, formed it into a ball and shoved it right up my nose. I'm absolutely miserable! And for some God aweful reason, pills don't seem to help. My eyes look more like those frozen meatballs with the added red sauce after I've been rubbing them a while.

Speaking of God...
I had a nice glimpse of him today. I dropped off the girls at school and decided to go running in the canyon. I took the Quarry Trail. The further I got from my car, the happier I felt. I was running outside in the world that God made. I can't describe in words that you would understand. Their simply aren't any to do it justice. At one point I lifted my head and imagined myself running to God. I thought, if only I could reach up, grab onto his shirt tale, I could swing in the Heavens and all that I pray for healing would happen...just like it did in the Bible when Jesus told the lady in the crowd that her faith healed her.

After the ressurection, Jesus revealed himself to his deciples among others. Fourty days later He acended into Heaven. Many people had proof that Jesus had truely been raised from the dead. They saw with their own eyes the holes in his hands and side. I have not seen, but I know it's true. Jesus said, "Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet believe."

I ran 7 miles today and hardly felt any pain. The last 2 miles I ran without music because my ipod ran out of power. I didn't mind though. The birds were singing and the sound of the rushing river almost covered the pounding of my feet. This morning the dirt called my name and I swear, it never looked so good.