On Reserve @ Arlington

Today was my first real day of regular reserve. This is where I have to be able to get to the airport, ready to fly, in 90 minutes. Luckily, Arlington Cemetery is only a few Metro stops away from my crashpad. It was very very hot and full of tourists (of course) but I had a great time - and got paid for it too!

Oh, and look what's in the middle of this cross;

Out with the Girls

About Town

Outdoor Cinema with Tom in Mt. Pleasant = The Brave Little Toaster!

(with subtitles in Spanish)

Typical Day: Hot Reserve DCA

A Tiny birthday at the Kennedy Center

If you're in the DC area there's one cool thing you should know: The lovely Kennedy Center has FREE performances everyday between 6 and 7pm. I went to one last night with Birthday Boy Tom. The performing act was 2 women named the "Hula Honeys." They were a pleasant combo of Hawaiian music and vintage jazz sensibilities. I think they should tour with Jack Johnson. They'd be a big hit.

The Art of being Fab

-Thornton Dial Sr.

Well, I finally made it "out on the town" in DC. I went to the Smithsonian American Art Museum. They had a folk art exhibit. I love folk art so I was inspired. They also had Steven Speilburg's and George Lucas's collections of Norman Rockwell art. It was interesting to hear their reasons for collecting his art. He was, after all, a master storyteller. 

My favorite part of the museum though, may be the Artomatic -  it's an art vending machine. You put in your money, choose a lever to pull and out comes a little piece of real art. I got one as a birthday gift for my friend, Tom. Below are photos of the art I got.

These glasses are replicas of a pair that Jackie O wore. NOW, I'm Fabulous.

A day off in DC!

(Peephole view from when we landed in Burlington, VT. -  You can't tell but it was a beautiful view)

I have had a total of 7 days off so far. The first 3 I spent in Annapolis, MD at my brother's house. My mom was there and it was nice to just hang out and do everyday things, like errands and watch tv. It's a busy household.  The other two days off I sprinted to Seattle and back. Because of the time consuming nature of the commute I was in town for less than 24 hours but it was great to be back and sleep in my own bed. 

Now I have 2 days off and I couldn't decide if I wanted to try and go anywhere so I am resting it up in DC.  First on the Agenda is breakfast at local bakery, blog update and then maybe a trip to one of the Smithsonians - or Alexandria. It feels so luxurious to have 2 whole days to fill at my discretion - AND to NOT sit around in an airport.

Not sure how I'm going to like this job. I get motion sick in turbulence and I hate sitting around in airports. I haven't been to a grocery store for over a month and airport food is dang expensive. 

Otherwise, it's alright. It's really the people/crew that you work with on trips that make or break the experience. And if I thought that ground school had it's drama . . . !  On my  last 4 day trip, one of the first things the other flight attendant said to me was, "Here's a piece of advice - don't sleep with pilots." I told her she had nothing to worry about and then soon found out that she was talking about herself (As was most of her conversation) and our current captain. Yes, I imagine their drama to be something that most people grow out of in high school - not sure -  but it was ridiculous. - and I was with them for four days.

Alright, I'm rambling. I'm kind of in a daze. I constantly have the physical feeling that I'm still on a plane and I get a little dizzy when I bend over. I hear that this feeling is normal for people who fist start flying a lot and that it will go away (along with the motion sickness). I hope so - it's really weird.

If anybody wants to be a flight attendant, let me know. I think we're still hiring and I'll put a good word in for you. 

And it's so glamorous. 

Aloft and Adrift

So, I have a lot of catching up to do.

First: After graduating from ground school I got send on my IOE (In-flight Operational Experience, or something) to get checked off working a real flight. It was nerve wracking, of course, but I did it.

It took something like 5 days:
Day 1: Deadhead to Pittsburgh, overnight
Day 2: Fly from Pit to Philly to Burlington VT to Philly to Nashville, overnight
Day 3: Fly from Nashville to PHL (This is the flight I got tested on) PASS and spend 23 hours in PHL (see Liberty Bell - the one that doesn't ring)
Day 4: Deadhead to Mikwaukee and train on the Embraer 190 (got to take out the over wing emergency window)
Day 5: Deadhead back to Seattle.

Then I had 3 days in Seattle I had to head to DC to start my new job/life as a lowly reserve flight attendant.

I can't remember being more stressed in my entire life. Every other hour I was going to stay in Seattle. Then every opposite hour I was going to go to DC and be a flight attendant.

I think I chose coming to DC merely to overcome the intense fear of doing so. At least I can't think of any other reason for doing so, at the moment.

So, I haven't been writing because I've been so wacked out by sleep deprivation, stress, and environMENTAL disorientation. But I'll write more again soon.

sigh.