Getting ready to go back to Utah.

Getting ready to go...waiting on my last load of laundry to dry so I can pack up and get out to the airport. My flight doesn't leave for hours, but I'm going to play the charm card and try to get the the nice lady I used to know at the DL ticket counter in Dallas to let me go early...and not through ATL.

Had fun out in Denton the other night. Went and picked up Barnett in Mansfield and grabbed some Krystal Burgers before we went out. Hung at Tavern all night. Stebo and Courtney came out. Always great to see my bro. They really are getting married...crazy! Phil showed up and we had a great time being total weirdos. Sammy and Alan were there, too. Tack that onto Dearing and the beautiful Lori working the bar and Jarrod working the door...it was almost like old times.

There were 2 girls at the end of the bar who started talking to me...they were pretty nice. The brown haired girl got about 2.3 drinks in her and was flashing her breasts to anyone that asked to see them. Who knew it was that easy?

Sammy was talking to some random girls over by where he was sitting and he mentioned in passing that I was in town from Utah. One of them freaked out. Turns out, she grew up Mormon and had family in St. George. That's nice. Just don't become clingy, non-nonsensical, drunken girl on me because of it. Oh wait...she did. I couldn't talk to anyone without her clinging onto my arm after that.

While being followed by crazy girl, I started talking to my old friend Jen and her (really hot) friend. My joke of the night was coming up to girls I knew and saying "Hey, um, can I stick my tongue down your throat?". So crazy girl heard me say this to Jen...and sticks HER tongue down my throat. Ugggghhhhh...bad enough I wasn't attracted to her. The breath was pretty bad, too. Grrrr.

Phil and I escaped to another bar for a while to get away from her. When we came back...there she was...waiting for me. I ignored her until she started hugging me and wouldn't let go. Told her I needed to pay my tab, pretended to pay said tab (seriously...I never have a tab at that bar...ha!), said my goodbyes and ran like hell. Once I finally found Barnett...he was somehow several miles away...it was off to Gainesville. (For the record, yes I drove. I only had 2 alcoholic beverages over the course of 5 hours. I've become a water drinker.)

Fairly unproductive day yesterday until towards the end. Just watched TV (got caught up on South Park), messed around on the internet, and got my iPod somewhat updated. Wound up going out to Pawless Guitars to visit with Vince and have him give my Martin acoustic a check up before I took it home to UT. Vince is such a cool guy. I learned alot about guitars over the couple hours I was there. It was a 20 minute job working on the guitar. But somehow I was there almost 2 hours. The guitar sounds beautiful now...better than ever. Thanks Vince!

So...uh...yeah. Almost time to head to DFW. Hoping like hell I can get somewhere early. I don't want to have to drive at midnight tonight...got work at 6am Tuesday.

It was great to be home...great to see everyone...and good times were had. I really don't want to leave Texas right now. Utah is where I lay my head...my heart is in Texas. It probably always will be.

Yeah I like Texas, Ain't it fine here,
Like to pick my guitar down in Luckenbach, and drink that Shiner Bock beer,
Yeah I like Texas, man there ain't no doubt,
just listen to me 'cause I know what I'm talkin' about.

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Current Music: Hootie and the Blowfish - Let Her Cry

Good Times...

Well, I finally got the rental car. Or shall I say, rental truck. The first thing that came in was a fairly badass Nissan Titan quadcab. Pretty exciting. Except for the $46.50 gas bill I paid to fill it up.

Went over to Shaun's for a bit, then my grandparents' house to eat some leftovers (then to get into a nice political/religious debate that I LOVE to get into with them).

Went to Deiter Bros. for some EXCELLENT Texas BBQ sandwiches. That SO hit the spot. It's what I've been craving since day 2 in Utah. It was me, Shaun, Rocky, Ta'Sauna Laurence (and her little 2 year old...possibly the only kid I'd ever consider "cute"), Stephen Monahan, Ginger Dieter, and the Krahl brothers. Pretty much the last of the great Tom Thumb office employees. We shot the shit and had BBQ and Shiners for a couple of hours. Good times.

After that...me, Shaun and Rocky went out to the casino and blew about $80 of Rocky's money on the slots. Yup, that took a whopping 20 minutes.

I wound up staying in Denton after that and now I'm over a Dearing's apt in Lewisville thinking about taking a shower. It's weird, I saw the planes landing on the 17's and 18's into DFW and just had to smile. Anyway, I think tonight's the night for Fry St. Tavern..then back to the 'Ville for Sunday with family and friends there.

Heard this morning Stebo's getting married to Courtney next month in LAS. Holy shit...that poor nice girl. She has no clue what she's done. :) Just kidding.

Time to go clean up. I feel like a greaseball. Thanks alot Italian heritage.

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Current TV: Dearing playing Madden '07

Post Turkey Day..

Well, Thanksgiving was great. Lots of food and family. Not seeing those people all the time kinda makes you appreciate them.

Flew in to DFW yesterday morning after a red-eye from Vegas to ATL.

For future reference, Delta Air Lines legroom in coach sucks. Service was fine...the new interiors they're installing on the 757's look great with the indirect lighting...but I felt like I've been hit by a truck after sitting awkwardly just to be comfortable enough to sleep. Maybe I'm just a first class snob now...thank God I had the legroom of the exit row from ATL to DFW.


Ate lots of turkey, ham, stuffing, sausage balls, spinach dip, coconut pie, etc. I still had enough room for a Shiner Bock (exciting, eh?) later.

Went out with Margaret to Stoolie's to see Ben Smith play. Met up with Kayla and her boyfriend John and just hung out for a few hours...swapping stories, old memories, and lots of laughs. To paraphrase Jen, I can think of no better way to spend an evening.

Was supposed to get my rental car at 1030 this morning...got there and they told me they tried to call and they had no car for me yet. So, I'm sitting here waiting for a phone call so they can have a car for me. They're gonna give me whatever they have at the time...I'm hoping for the Dodge Charger or the Cadillac DTS. :) Either way, they need to hurry up, I'm starting to get pissed.

Hopefully, I'll be able to go see some friends soon...maybe?

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Current TV: Texas A&M - t.u. Game

My Epic Trip (In Audio)...All Gone.

Well, apparently AudioBlogger no longer exists and my AudioBlogs documenting my trip to SGU were pretty much gone. I never saved the mp3 files of them...so hopefully someone has them(?). Stebo, I'm looking in your direction.

Oh well.

I'm off to Texas tomorrow night. Taking a red-eye from Vegas to ATL then on to DFW on the earliest flight on Delta. My first positive space ticket in a couple years. I get to wear ratty jeans! YES! Unfortunately, I'll be getting back to St. George LATE on Monday...with a 7am (mst) shift on Tuesday.

I did get my "check-out" date this past week. December 12th, I have my EMB120 Brasilia competency check. After that, I do my 5 hours jumpseat time, then I start working as an actual dispatcher.

Well, hopefully I'll get to see lots of you when I get home Thursday. I'll be there Thursday (23rd) - Monday (27th). Feel free to call my cell. Don't know the number? Comment with your number and I'll call you.

Be good and see you soon. Texas, I'm coming home to you!

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Current Music: Foo Fighters - Learn To Fly

24 Hours, 15 Minutes

That's how long it took me to fly from St. George, UT to Boston, Mass. and back...connecting in LAX both ways.

And that's not just flight time...that's from walking out the front door to walking back in the front door and diving onto the couch.

Here's some quick facts.

• The trip was four flight segments. SGU-LAX-BOS-LAX-SGU.
• The SGU legs were on an EMB 120 Brasilia.

• The LAX-BOS legs were on a Boeing 757.

• Total Miles Flown : 6222
• Total Block Flight Time: 15 hrs. 2 min.
• Total Beers Consumed in First Class Enroute LAX-BOS (in one hour at 37,000 ft.): 5
• Headaches Caused By Drinking at Altitude: 1
  
• Times an Air Traffic Controller Lost His Cool While I Listened to United Channel 9 (ATC Feed): 1 ...All flights checking in with him kept asking if the turbulence was going to get better. After the 20th time he told them it wasn't getting any better at any flight level, he went on a tirade. It was....awesome.

It was an adventure. I'm a little pissed though. I was going to get a new Red Sox hat at the Boston Airport. Apparently, the concessionaires in Boston are morons because they don't stock Sox hats. Grrr...

A little somber moment this morning on pushback. We pushed from Gate C-18. On pushback, I saw the flag on top of the jetway on C-19 that memorializes United 175, the 767 that crashed into the WTC on September 11th. Got chills.

I'm sure there's other stuff I could tell you about this adventure....but I'm tired. Time to pass out.
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Current Music: Bob Schneider - Mudhouse

Will Update Very Soon.

Going on "Dub's 'Stay in the Air As Much As Possible In 36 Hours' Non-Rev Extravaganza". St. George to LAX to Boston and back again in less than 36 hours. Hopefully :)

Will Update Soon! I PROMISE!

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Current Music: Reckless Kelly - Break My Heart Tonight