i believe in the love that grows.

So here I am again. Alone in a hotel room, bored as hell  (at least I have a laptop and internet in my room now!). Let’s just say that lately the job hasn’t been the most exciting thing in my life. I can only hold domestic flying and end up mostly in 3 cities: Vancouver, Edmonton and St-John’s. Not so glamourous eh? I am getting so sick of seeing these same places over and over again…

Despite all of this, last month I finally got my first layover downtown Vancouver (I usually stay at an airport hotel in Richmond). I had been to the city a few times on my own, but it was different to have a hotel paid for and some free time to shop and walk around. It was a beautiful day ( very telling of the summer they had) and I was more than happy to be on my own, just wandering the streets. I got myself a delicious burrito dinner at Steamrollers and a delightful cupcake from Cupcakes. Did a little bit of shopping and very much enjoyed my adorable colorful hotel room.

So my schedule has drastically changed since the same period last year. With the many layoffs and restructuring of the company that means that the most junior employees suffer the most. Just when we were staring to see the light at the end of the domestic flying tunnel, we got thrown back a thousand feet into it. It’s like when you have that dream where you walk but you are not actually moving forward. Yeah, that’s my career right now.

Then again, being a junior flight attendant also means being assigned things that I did not ask for (like 5am flights) but also getting things I would never get normally (like two long downtown Montreal layovers in the same week). And that actually made me very happy. I got to spend time with my best friend and my mom. Again, the weather was on my side and revisiting my hometown made me miss it oh so much. I love my life in Toronto, but it actually stung a little when I had to depart YUL this time. I truly felt sad that I was leaving this amazing place behind. I think it’s been long enough now that I’ve been gone, that I can start appreciating it again. I rediscover things I had forgotten about this metropolis.  My heart will always belong to it.

Yesterday I was in Chicago. I had never been there before so this was quite inviting. I wasn’t expecting much from that city, or mostly didn’t know what to expect at all. And I found myself to be quite fond of it.  Granted I was there in 29 degrees weather and not in winter…but still. Between the deep dish pizza and Oprah’s season kickoff show taking up most of the downtown streets, there wasn’t a lot of time left to wander (I only had half a day to walk around) so I tried to see as much as I could but I certainly need to come back on my own time and explore. By the way, what a stunning view it is to have a river running through the city!  And they take much pride in it. Also check out the architecture while you are there. It feels like you are in an old black and white gangster movie.

So I guess my job isn’t so bad after all. I tend to complain because I miss my American layovers and all the shopping. But I can’t forget that the little things are what matter most.

On a different note, this past weekend welcomed our first wedding anniversary and I can tell you I was quite pleased with it. The last year was such wedded bliss. I find we have grown so much already since getting married and I love the man more and more every day. I can’t emphasize any more how fortunate I am to have a partner, lover and best friend that complements me so well. Our story was not an easy one. We both had enormous baggage from previous relationships mixed with fear and caution, but we let our guard down and opened up to eachother and that made it work in the end. We try to stay connected to one another because it does make things less painful, trust me! I feel we are ready to move forward. Continue on the path we are slowly building together. We now have a foundation and that paves the way for new adventures.

So profess your love today. Tell at least one person what they mean to you and cherish that relationship. We need those people around us.

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start to fade like footprints worn away.

Wow. Time does fly (no pun intended!). Since I’ve been back to work, I feel like I am caught in a twister of time. I forget what day it is, what city I am in, the things I need to do….and so my blog is suffering. I constantly think about writing, but then I go down the list of things I have to do and focus on something else or when I do find the time I can’t find a computer. When I was working for the Government, I was sitting in front of a computer all day and since I had to find my own ways of keeping busy, I would catch up on the news and write. I loved it! Now I feel so removed from society. I litterally live in a parallel world up in the sky. So please forgive my brief disappearance.

I had some time off to reflect on life. I really do not want to end up like my mother and watch life pass me by, so I have decided to kick myself in the butt and get started on the things I want to do!

I began by painting our bathroom. It wasn’t an easy task but I managed to do it alone and did a pretty good job at it too. I am very proud of myself!

I also spent some quality time with a good friend of mine.  She is also a flight attendant so sometimes our schedule don’t match up and it takes months before we see eachother again. This was a nice treat. I try to help out one of my best friends with her twins as well. She is very courageous let me tell you! Dealing with double the trouble every day. Kudos to her!

Most of all, I started taking Burlesque classes. At first, I wasn’t sure I would be able to make it. As much as I dream of being a dancer, I am really bad at it.  I have no coordination and trip on my own feet. So the first week, I felt like crying after each class. But I also took it as a challenge. And now, almost 1 month in, I can honestly say that the pinup in me is taking her place. My teacher even took me aside after the last class and demanded that I start building an act because she wants me to perform. She thinks I have the spark.  I am more than flattered. I will work hard on this and I promise there will be a show at the end of this.

As for now, well it’s back to work…. I did a rescue flight today from Milwaukee to Vancouver. The crew had a burning smell in the cabin so the pilots landed in the US just to be safe. We had to go “rescue” the stranded passengers and take them to their original destination which was Vancouver. The people were great considering the situation.

So I have to go to bed soon just so I can be up and on a plane again in about 8 hours.

Have a good night y’all.

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life at 35000 feet.

I know. I know. I’ve neglected you.
I had forgotten how much of a whirlwind my life is when I am back on the line. I’ve been away flying for 7 days now and it seems like it’s been longer than that. I am not used to this anymore. My body gets tired much faster. My feet swell and I get all bloated. Still, it’s so good to be back! Seeing old friends again, inquiring about each’s next destination, the frenzy before departure, sitting in my jumpseat and silently reviewing my commands, walking in a new hotel room for the first time, the familiar sightings of a city I’ve been to before, the overwhelming feeling of liberty when all alone in a new place in the world…

It’s the 9th of May and I’ve spent time in Newfoundland twice, San Francisco and Edmonton already. I’ve crossed the country too many times to count in the last week -in the last 48 hours-. I have worked a whole hell of a lot since I left the Government offices.

I’m so happy I get two weeks off after this. I really need it! Ah the joys of working the friendly skies. Not always as glamourous as it seems.

I also really miss my hubby. I usually always have a thought for him no matter where I go or am, but these last few days, I especially have been missing him. I do not particularly enjoy being in cities we both love dearly (i.e. SanFran) without him. I feel like a widow revisiting past memories and it makes me sad. I wish he was here.

All in all, I do have the best job in the world and I know it.

Ok. More later. Time for bed now. I am getting picked up at 4:45am after all. Good night darlings.

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prepare to launch.

And so the countdown has begun.
Exactly 7 days until I return to real life. To my career. To my true love. I have this feeling of anticipation mixed with nervousness about going back after so long.  I have to review my manuals because I am not sure I remember all my safety procedures…However, I am determined to give it all my best. That’s the good thing about being away from your job, you start missing it and want to be good at it all over again. No more blasé attitude, no more annoyance with the little details. You get to like it all over again. Which brings me to the question that I constantly get when I tell people I am a flight attendant: “Doesn’t your marriage suffer from you being gone all the time?”  The answer is NO. It actually benefits from it (I think at least!). When I am away for days at a time, I really miss my husband and I have time to appreciate all the good things we bring eachother. When I get back home, there is more love to give and receive (and lots of sex) and a renewal of the feelings that too often get drowned under the routine of a more conservative lifestyle.  It’s been good to me and I am grateful for that.

Speaking of travel, if Mexico is part of your plans make sure you are aware and protected as best you can against the swine flu that is happening over there right now. Mexico is one of my favourite places to be and I sure hope that they recover quickly.

Summer is heading quickly our way and the festival lineups coming out are always a good reminder of that. Lollapalooza is looking pretty good this year! I think I might just want to go. I have friends who go almost every year, so maybe I could be part of the trip this time. I am usually not a big fan of younger crowds (especially when they are in the 100 000s!) but come on, it’s Lolla!!  This is the first festival I ever attended at the dear age of 13 (a friend and I managed to sneak in, because we didn’t have the money for tickets). Ah the memories.

Can you believe this guy?  He just won’t stop. I know he’s always been a little strange, but wow, he is just surpassing himself now. And just for the record; I looooooove mashed potatoes.

After reading and writing abuot the Canjet hijack this week, I stumbled on a link to a documentary that was made about one of the first hijackings that actively involved the US and opened their eyes to terrorism. It happened on September 6th 1970 and was quite a lesson in things to come. Read about it  if you’d like, I found it all in all interesting and informing.

So there you go darlings. I am not exactly sure when I will write again since next week I will be busy training the person who is taking over my position at the office and running around to get all the last minute details done so I am allowed back in the dark hallways of the airport. Of course, I will try to make an appearance and let you know what’s happening. Wouldn’t want to leave you in the dark after all!

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