Another flight...another blog.

It's a b-e-a-utiful day in Santa Jorge today...and, here I am, leaving it behind for Denver by way of Salt Lake.

Woke up early this morning...packed my overnight backpack, grabbed some breakfast, and ran errands. It feels pretty good to have all the laundry done, a clean room, so on and so forth before doing anything else for once. Put up a curtain last night...making my room even darker. Lovin' it.

After the errands, I had a dentist appointment. (I'm such a weirdo in the fact that I kinda enjoy going to the dentist. I attribute this to the fact that I had a great dentist when I was a little kid and a mother who was pretty hardcore about making us go.) Just a routine cleaning and checkup. On the way there, I stopped at the airport and checked in on the kiosk...so I could haul from the dentist to my 1:10pm flight...and I made sure to tell the hygenist that I needed to get going ASAP. She knocked out the x-rays, cleaning, etc. in record time...even with stops in between for her to ask questions about my job (ok, mainly the flight benefits part). Of course, all said and done...I have this funky waxy flouride treatment on my teeth right now that kinda takes away that fresh, clean feeling you expect when you leave the dentist. Bummer...but, hey, fluoride is good, right? Hygenist Brooke and the good Dr. got me out juuuuust in time to get to the airport, clear security, and catch my flight with time to spare. Awesome. I always complain about the customer service in SGU, but that doesn't go for the health/dental folks...haven't met an un-accomadating Dr./dentist yet.

I woke up in the middle of the night last night...my right calf was tight/pulling/straining/whatever to the point that my foot was immovable.. Hurt like hell. Of course, when that happens in my sleep, I barely remember it the next morning...'til I step out of bed. Holy hell, I early fell over when I stepped onto that leg. I've been walking with a limp and am wearing my cowboy boots for a little extra support. Truth be told, I've been wearing the cowboy boots a lot lately strictly because they're damn comfortable. One of the best, most comfortable Christmas gifts I've ever got...coming up on 5 years.

So, I'm headed to Denver for "Thanksgiving Dinner", so to speak, with my "airline family"...Brian, Chuck, and Kaycee. Shevon is overnighting in DEN, so she might come, too....which would be awesome. ;). I kinda miss her gorgeous smile.

I was originally going to fly out of Vegas, but this flight (SKW7772) was wide open...as is the DEN flight (knock on wood)...so I figure I'll fly through Vegas on the return since it will be in the middle of one of the busiest travel weeks of the year. Thank the deity of your choosing for CASS and the jumpseat...again, knock on wood. With any luck, I will have a little time on the connection to visit with Marie in SLC Ops...she rocks.

Did I mention it's a beautiful day? We're just a little over halfway between SGU and SLC right now...probably just north of Delta...and it's just perfect out there. No snow yet...but such a "clear and a million" kinda day. If SGU was cool like it has been year around...I'd never leave. OK, maybe not...LOL!

Gonna close up and enjoy the view on descent...if I don't post anything before then...I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving. I much prefer Thanksgiving to Christmas...it is a solid reminder of how our lives aren't as bad as many of us think they are. I know I'm pretty content with mine... ;).

Down the road...

Blackberry?...or iPhone?

I'm torn. Ever since I got this Blackberry, I've come to understand why they call them "Crackberry". I'm a million times more organized now that I have my life easily in the palm of my hand. I've owned a PDA, even had another "smartphone" before this one...but the ease of use and customization (once you figure it out) is awesome.

That said, I'm a sucker for a new high-tech toy. I've played with iPhones and I like them, but I'm unsure about the touchscreen texting. I'm a text junkie and the Crackberry allows for that.

Long story short, I'm asking you to give me some opinions. Should I go iPhone? Or go with an updated version of my addiction...

Denver...and Portland.

I managed to snag the absolute last seat out of Salt Lake City over to Denver and got there, on-time, around 11pm on Sunday night.

When we landed, I got a reply to a text I had sent earlier...and in the ensuing conversation, I learned that Tiffany was sitting in the Denver airport. I was almost to the train to baggage claim and went back to say hi. I hadn't seen her in a month and I, based on the month she and I have both had, I figured we both needed a hug. It was great to see her...

Brian picked me up and, since my chunky ass was starving, we went to one of the 3 places that is open that late...Del-Frickin'-Taco. Picked up a fish taco and headed back to Brian and Chuck's place. We hung out for an hour and I passed out on the couch.

We got up eaaaaarly (for an off-day) and were just lazy ass coffe drinkers 'til Kaycee landed from Grand Junction. As soon as she escaped the airport and managed to get changed out of her uniform, we grabbed lunch.

Had Olive Garden...I forgot how much that place requires a nap afterward...and instead we went shopping. Of course, I tried on new jeans and none fit. A pretty good sign that it is time to drop 65 lbs or so... (Hopefully, I can regain the motivation I had before and get back in the gym everyday. I need it, badly, in order to really be happy with myself.)

After shopping, we went back to the apartment and Brian made chicken stir-fry...'twas excellent. We watched "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" and I realized why so many have mentioned to me that the main character reminded them of me. Hell, it felt like one of my breakups all over again...and the type of stupidity I'm capable of when a girl is involved. I loved that she realized what she had and he wouldn't take her back. The level to which that warmed my soul, seeing a a chick treat a nice guy like dirt and get hersin the end, was immeasurable. ;)

Speaking of the stupidity that women cause me...I haven't blogged about it, but there has been this girl that has been giving me fits. OK, really, they all give me fits...but this one in particular. We met months ago and have managed to get together a few times since then (she lives in Northern Utah). She's incredibly gorgeous, sweet as can be, seemingly has things together. We seem to "click" when we do talk, she understands where I'm coming from and the crazy life the profession provides...but it's been so long...hell, possibly never...since I've had a semi-normal dating relationship without some kind of almost immediate exclusivity. I'm not complaining about that. It's not even that we're dating seeing that we've barely hung out but here and there...but she's just that kind of girl with whom you really hope things might progress to something awesome.

I guess my complaint is this...I've never played "the game", nor do I plan on starting. Perhaps this is why I'm single...but, if it is, screw it. Yet, when I mention the fact that I like the girl to close friends, they insist on giving me all this stupid advice like "don't make yourself too available" and "let her call you first". I make myself as available as I am...no more, no less. If she calls, she calls...if I have something to say, I say it. On the flip side, I don't want to drive the girl away if she is indeed interested, either. It's an odd position to be in. Whatever happens, happens, I suppose.

So, I'm sitting in 12C on United 369 to PDX. Listening to Townes again...blogging away. Brian got TDY'd to Portland and I've never been to the PacNW at all...so I figured I'd go up there with him, hang around, and then find my way home from there.

The creepy lady in 10D just spent 10 minutes staring at the back of the plane. She looks like the type that likely owns 47 cats.

Watching the E! True Hollywood Story of Heath Ledger...and am loving all the random Australian actresses they're interviewing. MMMmmm, hot Aussie girls.

In my last blog, I mentioned that "Waiting Around To Die" wasn't a good song for my "flight playlist". I take that back...it's a solid song no matter where you listen to it. Absolutely excellent...as are the vast majority of Townes' writing. Such wonderful story telling in all of them. Don't have any Townes in your iTunes playlist? Do it...now. I'll wait. ;)

Headed to Denver...

Sitting on another Brozilla, this time to Salt Lake. Hoping to catch a flt to Denver to go hang with Brian and Chuck (and, perhaps, my future wife...Kaycee...LOL).

I'm zoned out with a little Metallica blasting in the glorious QC2s (still my best purchase in, perhaps, forever)...sitting on the aisle between the lovely wife of one of our maintenance controllers and some random cute girl (who I've never seen before, but has a SkyWest I'd). Cute as hell...wow. Everyone who knows "what I like" probably has at least an idea of what she probably looks like...

As I sit waiting for my spicy tomato w/ ice, I'm thinking how much these peanuts are really getting old...I miss the Plane Cheesy crackers. These are ridiculous things that only I think of. I'm also thinking that, as much as I love Townes Van Zandt's music, I've really gotta take "Waiting Around To Die" out of my flying playlist. One of the greatest songs of all-time in my opinion, but doesn't play well at 25,000 feet...especially after Metallica.

As always, I have no real plan...and this was, as always, a last minute "throw some crap in a bag and haul up to SGU airport" kinda trip. I haven't seen the boys in months...so that's gonna be cool. From there, I'm thinking of roadtripping back to SGU. Yes, airline boy is gonna drive...

My co-worker, Jenn, is picking up a new car in Grand Junction on Tuesday...so I'm probably gonna fly down to GJT from DEN and roadtrip back with her. 10+ hours in a car with Jenn...that oughta be entertaining. With any luck, we will hit a FedEx truck or something...LOL!

Oh yeah, I forgot...I called about my jury duty last night and found that I don't have to appear. As awesome as that is, I had already reserved a rental car and traded into the earliest shift possible...which I forgot how much I actually like working at 0200.

The early morning dispatchers like to get breakfast at one of the 4 usual options...the hospital cafeteria, Vior's (awesome breakfast burritos), Alvaro's (greasier, slightly unholier, yet equally awesome breakfast burritos), or Mickey D's. Today, we went to he hospital...they do up a pretty good spread and, since I've done pretty well this week as far as eating better, I decided to get "the works". Biscuits and gravy, sausage, scrambled eggs w/ cheese, and a small chicken fried steak. It all looked spectacular...up until I started eating it. I'm sure it was fine, but I realized that I hadn't eaten hospital breakfast since before the overnight stay for my appendectomy. Mid-bite of some biscuits and gravy, I flashed back to sitting up in my hospital bed and trying to choke down the absolutely awful, greenish tinted, chicken broth they served me for lunch that day. I couldn't eat anymore. The eggs were fine, as were the sausage...but I had to toss anything with gravy in the trash. There was something mental about the gravy that associated with that broth. Needless to say, I think it's Vior's burritos from now on when I work that shift...

Time to close up shop...getting close to SLC. Despite telling the story of that nasty broth...I'm hungry. I just realized that I haven't eaten since this morning...with exception of my little package of peanuts I just finished. Might have to forage for food at SLC...wish I had time for Squatter's.

Maybe I will work up a little courage and talk to the girl next to me, too. Riiiiight. Did I mention she's cute as can be?

Descending now...gotta run. More later.

Some Might Say...

Ever since Richard and Adam picked up the new Guitar Hero: World Tour, I've been somewhat obsessed with Oasis' "Some Might Say". I vaguely remember it from "(What's the Story) Morning Glory?"...but middle school was forever ago, so the memory is a bit fuzzy.

Either way, it's one of those songs that, when you take another look at it, you realize how awesome it is. I share...because I love it...

Back to SGU

So, our plan to go to Boston kinda fell through. Due to unforseen circumstances, the only way to get home was going to be on the butt-crack of dawn early flights...and we weren't going to get to BOS til late as it was...thus making BOS a less than stellar option.

Instead, we hauled over to Delta an caught flt. 85...BACK TO LAX. The Jew is from Studio City, so it made sense to go there and crash at his parents' house (which I'd like to steal the blueprints for if I ever build a house...loved it).

We landed almost any hour early since, by some miracle of the deity of your choosing, the normal 1 hr+ taxi delays were non-existent. Not bad, considering the President was flying out on Air Force One just a couple hours before.

Since we were early, we caught an earlier FlyAway bus to Van Nuys and were picked up by Adam's 'rents. For the person that told me to behave myself...it should be noted that I was dead asleep within the hour.

Grabbed breakfast/lunch with Adam's dad...whom I really had to resist calling "Mr. Broslovski". Good Mexican joint called Bronco...tasty enchiladas that will likely catch up to me later this evening.

So, here we are, on 580SW on the way back to SGU. We ran into Blair in the terminal...wound up having a few drinks in the airport bar (enough to force me to re-type that statement 3 times to correct spelling errors). Ready to get home, have a beer, run some errands, and clean up my room...finally. Work at 0300...so its early to bed if possible.

Back to my Coke and iPod...

My arse is asleep...and other scattershoots from UAL22.

We made it onto United 22 to JFK with a few minutes to spare...very few. When we got to the gate, we were told that there was one First Class seat...and, since I'm senior to Adam, I could have that or we could have 2 coach seats together. I opted for the 2 seats together, being the nice guy that I am.

As always (I say always since this is the 2nd time in a week I've declined First to sit with a friend...and the millionth time overall...), I'm halfway across the country and really wishing I had that legroom. At least Adam got the middle seat...hahaha.

Since we were some of the last to board, and partially because of the general public's average drop of 15-45 IQ points the moment they walk into an airport/onto an airplane, there was no overhead bin space with 110 people onboard an aircraft that normally carries 180 people (if a rollaboard does not fit in the bin wheels-first, check it or buy one that does...grrrrr) . I had to cram my backpack under the seat and, despite the "extra legroom" in "Economy Plus", the backpack is keeping me from stretching my right leg. Oh well, free ride, right?

We've been getting rocked for a while...continuous chop for at least the last hour...probably the remnants of the convective crap that gave us fits last night. If I could stretch out, I would so be passed out right now. Wait...we just climbed to FL370 and things are smooth again.

A couple things of note...

• I shelled out $9 for the smoked turkey and swiss club wrap...and, I must say, it was quite excellent. Almost worth the $9. I would have to highly recommend it if you fly United.

• Listening to Channel 9 (because I'm a total airplane geek)...I just heard Southwest 3409 get cleared "direct JDUBB". This excited me to no end. It is somewhere around Indy Center airspace and plan on building some kind of routing that utilizes it.

• The little old lady 3 rows ahead of me just headed to the lav for the 7th time. Kill me before I get that old.

• They are showing the TV show "Monk" right now and, no matter how much I try, Tony Shaloub will always be the cab driver from "Wings" to me. Also, Joely Fisher has really fallen off...she used to be kinda hot. What happened? For some reason, she looks like Kaley Cuoco + 45 years...and, as hot as Kaley is...that just ain't right. ;)

• Here goes the little old lady's husband for the 3rd time this hour. Once again, kill me before I get that old. ;)

• Did I mention my ass is asleep?

I think we are about an hour or so out...looks like they're knocking out one last beverage service...good thing too since I'm frickin' parched.

More later...

Another week...another trip.

Sitting in my usual spot...9A on United Express/SkyWest 5711 from SGU to LAX. It should be noted that we have some pretty awesome crews. My glass of ginger ale hasn't been even half empty the entire flight. I know that shouldn't be something that is notable...but in this day and age of service cutbacks, our inflight folks just do it right. Now if only United hadn't cut snacks out of the service on shorter hops...I'm starving and could go for some peanuts right now.

Last time I blogged, I was headed home from voting in Texas. Most of my candidates won...including President-Elect Obama. Man, it feels cool to know that, in 70 days or so, our nation will be headed in a new direction...one that I feel will put us on the right track again. I do hope the Democrat controlled congress don't go too wild and crazy with power...because, while I lean a little more to the left than I used to, there are some conservative ideals that I'd like to see adopted in the spirit of bipartisanship. Time will tell. All I can say is this: after seeing Barack's first press conference as President-Elect...I know deep down that we chose the right guy. Something about his calm demeanor and ability to even pick on himself that makes it easy to call the guy "my leader" (not to be confused with "dear leader"...LOL).

So, back to the trip. Adam hasn't exactly got the whole "non-rev" thing down...and, domestically at least, I'm a borderline professional at it. So we're headed to LAX right now...then to the east coast. Where better to learn the ropes of getting home under crappy circumstances as a space available standby than the clusterf&#k that is New York-JFK? So it's United to JFK...then maybe JetBlue down to Boston...Delta back to SLC tomorrow. At least that's the tentative plan...you know I love to change those. ;). Hoping to stay in Boston tonight with one of oldest friends in the world from back home...Lenzie. We shall see.

Looks like we're nose-down and on the arrival into LAX...time to close up shop to be ready to haul tail to our JFK gate (we got out of the gate in SGU a bit late thanks the the fueler throwing on a bunch of extra, unnecessary fuel).

Here's to hoping for First or Business class to JFK...I've been trying to get it on the United P.S. Service 757s for a while...to no avail.

And now I wait...

Sitting at gate E84 in SLC hoping they call my name...not banking on it since there were only 8 open seats when I checked earlier.

We had a little excitement on approach into SLC...the gear was down, so we only had about 7 miles to go, when the pilots pushed the throttles up to go around power and pulled the gear up. Apparently, the hotshots at SLC approach didn't get the landing sequence right and they asked us to go around and resequence. Of course, I knew exactly what happened...but the guy next to me was about to freeeeak out. I got a chuckle.

Whoohoo! I got a seat...time to board.

On my way back...

I'm so pumped after last night. I truly believe, no matter what the conservative Christians might try to tell you, that Obama is the right man for the job at this time in American history. It's time to put away the divisive nature of partisan politics. Let's get behind this president and hope he can steer us in the right direction.

So we left Gainesville a little late for OKC this morning...thus missing any chance at the 0830 to SLC or the 0900 to LAX. Honestly, though...I think this works better. Took the 1108 flt to DEN and met Kaycee for lunch. I hadn't seen her I ages...so it was great to see her always smiling face. We got burritos on concourse B and she had to be on her way. Not before injecting a little positivity into my day...encouraging me to be more assertive in persuing a certain someone.

I wound up catching the 1400 to SLC...which I'm on right now. Rory at the office told me it was heavy snow and low visibility in SLC...and all I wanted to do before leaving was change into some shorts...LOL! We are making a slow descent from FL360...it has been pretty bumpy and there are ominous clouds out ahead. I'm honestly ready for winter...Adam has me interested in learning to snowboard. We shall see.

Our shallow descent just got steeper...judging from what I can see through the clouds, I think we're about 20 minutes from SLC (booyah, captain came on after I typed this to say we are 18 minutes from landing...I rule!). Time to finish my orange juice and close up shop.

Maybe a little more from SLC.

In ATL...

Made it to Atlanta...this place is nicer than I last saw it.

I had 4 hours to kill, so I wound up getting something to eat with Courtney. She was bored and had nothing better to do...not to mention she's a weirdo like me when it comes to sleeping better on airplanes and enjoying a breakfast at random airports...so, she came with me. And, like a curse that follows me...I was of course, offered first class at the last minute and declined it to sit with her (it seems like anytime I've gone anywhere with Courtney, I wind up getting first and feeling bad about leaving her by herself...so I decline the upgrade). My back hates me for it right now.

Off to find some foodstuffs...I'm praying for first to DFW in hopes of some sleep. I'm such a first/biz class snob these days. Sleeeeeepy...

On my way home to vote...

As I type this, I'm sitting in seat 8A in a SkyWest Brasilia...enjoying the cool, dry air in the cabin, kicking back a spicy tomato w/ ice, listening to The Killers on the ol' iPod. The pilots just pulled back to cruise power and we're just above the clouds, the moon is reflecting on the clouds like it does on the ocean, and we're starting to pick up a little moderate turbulence.. I have my awesome new Bose QC2's on...so it is a sort of serenity that, anyone that knows me, would consider to be my "happy place".

Flying to Salt Lake...then catching the redeye to Atlanta...the the early morning flight to DFW...then a 1 hour drive to Gainesville. All of this just to vote.

I'm not doing it because I want to say I voted in this historic election...where we are probably going to elect our first black (or, at least half-black) president. It is because I have the right to vote...a right that so few in this world have...and, at least in national and state elections, I want to exercise that right. The long trek is a result of forgetting to take care of my absentee stuff and the fact that, with airline capacity and schedule cuts, the logistics of getting to DFW on any airline but American Airlines is a somewhat daunting task.

So, speaking of voting, I talked to my mom last night about my coming home to vote in the town of my legal residence. She tried to convince me to just not vote rather than vote for "that liberalist"...LOL! Here's my mom...a teacher that hates "No Child Left Behind"...voting for the regime that brought that stinking turd of a program to us. More disturbingly, here was my mom spouting off the GOP talking points...the ones that spread through email like "Obama is a socialist" and "Obama is a secret Muslim". That bothered me a little. I'm not going to ridicule anyone's vote...so long as they get out to the polls...yet, my mom was advocating my skipping the most historic election of my life. Sad. (I love ya, mom...but I'll be there in the morning to cancel your vote).

Picking up some icing and turbulence on descent into SLC. I gotta run for now...time to turn off all electronics and put our seats and tray tables in the upright and locked position.