Ok. Frustration. Every time I publish the new version of my website to the internet it all looks fine. It's not until I publish the blog that the calendar page looks wacky with a giant version of the bear I use in the logo for the Money Honey$ website. I don't even have a blog for that site and it has nothing to do with qqflyboy.com. Oh, now that I think of it, the graphic may be coming from the links page, but like I said, the problem doesn't arise until I publish the blog. Ugh! This has happened before and has just gone away after a while. The true limits to my technical limitations.

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The website has been updated with some fun facts and info on chocolate for Valentine's Day, including a yummy sounding recipe. The calendar page has a February calendar and a link to more information on Punxsutawney. The links page now includes a link to our house website, which will be updated very soon.

I am off tonight, back to Boston for a trip to London tomorrow. Should be nice... I haven't been there since mid-December. I love the Caribbean, but it's fun to mix the flying up and go to other places, New York will be great for that! There are also some flight attendants I like to fly with on the trip that I haven't seen in a while. Hopefully no mad dashes back to the states for any ills my wife may be facing. :-)

MIA, eh?

Had a very busy and intersting weekend and Monday, but not quite as much as my wife. I talked with Beth on Sunday while I was in San Juan and she was complaining about pain in the her right side, near her abdomen. After consulting with her mother and an aunt about apendicitis she found herself at Urgent Care. About four hours later, she found herself faced with an ambulence ride the the hospital. Her father stepped in and shuttled her to the hospital where she spent another four-plus hours being poked and probed in places you and I would never want it, and after undergoing a CT Scan the doctors were still not sure of the problem. It is now 2am in San Juan where I was instructed to get home ASAP, as Beth could be going in for emergency surgery at any moment. I called screw schedule to be removed from my trip and get emergency travel home. They were happy to remove me from the trip but, "Unless your wife is dying or near death, you're on your own to get home." What? I work for the largest airline in the world and you can't even get me home in an emergency? FUCK YOU!

I spent a very long, and extremely tiring ten hours getting from San Juan to Vegas, via Dallas. I had only slept an hour and a half...I was beat. The doctors released Beth from the hospital about midnight (Vegas time) and told her to see her primary care physician the next day. They had ruled out anything requiring surgery from the lab work and CT Scan, but still weren't sure where the pain was coming from. I arrived in Vegas about 2pm and went to Beth's parent's house where she spent the night. She had a doctor appointment set for 4pm. After receiving a physical exam from our doc, he told her should probably had ruptured or bruised the cartiledge in her ribs. Ow! Something easily done by a strenuous activity or simply leaning too hard on a counter. Her culprit? On Saturday night she had a blow out on the freeway and had to fight getting the jack out of the trunk. The jack is on the right side of trunk and she likely leaned up against the side of it a little too hard for a little too long. As we look at it now, that was one expensive blow out. The tire alone cost 98 bucks to replace, let alone the doctor bills. Beth said she felt a little silly about the whole to do, but the doc said, "You're 25 and healthy. You should come to the hospital when you have en unexplained pain." Today was her first day back to work, but she is still very sore. I, on the other hand, am now home until at least the first.

An interesting bit on the news tonight... A women here in Las Vegas who has several geese and hens living in her yard is mad as hell, and not without reason. The USDA at first told her they were going to come and test her birds for some disease, and then told her they weren't going to test them, rather just kill them. Keep in mind this lady legally has these animals and cares for them properly. She told the USDA they couldn't come back unless they had a court order. Their response, "No problem, we'll be back in a few day." We think the USDA is really here to protect us, but they rarely do and they never protect the animals. They are on PeTA's most wanted list, if you will, as one of the worst offenders for animal, especially farm animal, cruelty.

I am hooked! I must agree, this whole reality tv thing is WAY far fetched! Let's really get real, how many of the shows have anything to do with reality? I know that is now one of the age old questions. But, I can't help but get sucked into one of them, and that's "American Idol 2". I watched last season from about where the top ten were chosen. This season, I am watching it from the beginning. I guess my appeal is this: I have been an actor in the past on stage, and always wanted to do more with my voice. I wish now, looking back, that I didn't learn to play the trumpet, or the tuba, or the drums and had gone to music instead of band. But I didn't know then I had a slight opportunity of having a descent voice. I know that now, and kind of new it in college where I wanted to take voice lessons, but couldn't fit it in the schedule since it required a three hundred dollar fee on top of the credits and I had to enrole in choir. Not to say I ever want to be an American Idol, but I'd love to do more with acting and singing. I am often encourage to do so by coworkers who find me crooning away in the galley when I think no one is around. But how would I do it with the schedule I have now? So, I live, as they say, vicariously through others. That is how "Idol" has tapped my interest. Silly, huh?

I flew another lesson today, one less on my way to my private license. My instructor told me today in the next two weeks I should have it. I am definitely looking forward to that! I flew in a brand new airplane today, a 2002 Cessna 172SP, complete with mutli-function display screen, full color GPS and dual-axis auto pilot. Those are all fun, fancy tools to have in your airplane, especially when you are flying cross country. Today we played around with the auto pilot, sat back, and enjoyed the ride. That was nice. I have planned some cross country flights since I need 30 more hours of cross country time by the end of April. This airplane will help make it that much more enjoyable. Jenn, Portland is on my list!

My parents aren't going to make it down this weekend. They've got a lot going on right now, especially with all the controversy surrounding Question 4, which passed on the Douglas County ballot back in November. Huge deal. Of course this has a direct and immediate impact on my parents and their business.

We're not alone for long!

Yeah! Brad and Kanako are moving to Las Vegas! Better yet, they're buying a house in the community right next to ours! Yeah! Yeah! Brad was offered a promotion within his company which will bring him to Las Vegas. Their house will be done in mid-March. Brad and Kanako are here now doing all the "sign on the dotted line" stuff and are flying home later today. I hope to have lunch with them before they go... Beth is back in school.

I flew yesterday and today... getting ever closer to that license. All my work now is focused on passing the check-ride. I also have to study for the oral exam that comes along with that. On top of all that, my Spring semester has begun and I really need to get going on all that work. Ugh...I've got a full plate again.

My parents were planning on coming this weekend, however I don't think they're going to make it now. They still haven't ruled it out, but I wish they'd make up their minds so I can figure out my work and flying schedules. I am planning on them not coming, but I really hope they do.

What a slacker!

I am home again... this weekend Dan and Rene will be here, through Monday. Actually, Dan arrived this morning but is taknig a nap, Rene will be here late tonight. Our friends Brad and Kanako will be here on Monday and Tuesday... Brad just accepted a new position in Summerlin (here in Las Vegas) and they'll be moving here within the next month or so. We are so excited to have them here in Vegas -- Kanako has wanted to move here for some time.

My parents are still working on coming here next weekend. I hope it works out. I am looking forward to it. Have a great weekend!

Oh so tired!

After having sat in a middle seat over night from Las Vegas to Boston, and then working from Boston to San Juan and then to Philadelphia, I am exhausted! But here I am, never too tired to write to y'all. I heard through the grapevine my transfer to New York is a done deal and set for March 1st. Since today is Sunday, I imagine I will hear from Crew Planning tomorrow about the transfer. My friend Edie, who is already in New York, got a trip to Zurich tomorrow on reserve. Another reason why New York is so appealing. I can't wait to fly their trips!

Unusually, there is plenty of rest for the weary. My layover here in Philly is 32 hours long -- I won't be leaving until Tuesday morning. I will be in Miami Tuesday night and back in Vegas Wednesday night. Then I'll be home for 10+ days! What a life... I know it's rough but I'll keep doing it!

Beth's parents picked up their newest edition to the family on Saturday. They adopted an Italian Greyhound that had been rescued from a puppy mill in Missouri. Zeppi is the name, short Guissepi (sp?). Apparently, Beth's parents new a guy by that name from Italy, so they named the little one after him. I think that's how the story goes. If not, I'll have one of them correct in the comments. Cute name though. Maybe the guy was German... but that doesn't fit the story... hmm.

I am off to work in an hour...

Back to Boston I go. I went to purchase our entertainment center and found out the floor model was the only one left. After mulling it around awhile, I decided the 20% discount was not enough to sacrifice a warranty. The doors were a little crooked from being open and closed so much, problems the salesman said could be fixed. Also, one of the door handles was falling off. We decided too many things could go wrong with it in the first year, and have no recourse. The unit's original price was $1100. We didn't want to get somethign that would be worth ten in a matter of months. We were both very dissapointed because after an exhaustive search, it is the only one we really liked. Bummer!

We went to Macy's Home Store tonight to check out what they had in the way of entertainment centers. We are looking for a mission style unit. Mission style seems to be very popular in every form of furniture but entertainment centers. RC Willey is the only place that has true mission style with three examples. Unfortunately for us, the other two were not the right color to match our existing furniture. While at Macy's, however, we found Ralph Lauren 300-thread count sheets on sale -- big time! We have been looking for sheets for our bedroom for a year now and finally found them! The sheets, fitted and flat, were both regularly $100 EACH! We got them for $32 each. We also bought two king pillow cases and two standard shams to go with the pillows we have for the bed. In all, we spent $132 on what would have otherwise cost us nearly $300. What a deal! Macy's wasn't a bust afterall.

I never did make it home Wednesday night...

Instead I had to come home yesterday morning. Of course, the powers that be made our arrival into Boston 20-minutes late, preventing any chance in hell of making my already *really* tight connection. But I am home. When I arrived in Vegas yesterday I met some friends for lunch at In and Out Burger. I haven't been there in a while, so it tasted especially good. My friend Edie got the protein wrap. Although not on the menu (as a lot of the things they make aren't) it is one of their more popular offerings. It's a hamburger wrapped in lettuce instead of placed on a bun, exactly like a lettuce wrap you might find at PF Changs, only there is a hamburger patty, cheese, tomato and thousand island dressing inside. It seemed very interesting... Edie said it tasted really good. Food for thought!

I was able to get a vacation day tomorrow so I do not have to fly back to Boston tonight like I thought I would. Instead, I am leaving tomorrow night. I have a four day trip on Sunday that has me laying over in Philadelphia and Miami. You're prolly saying, "That's not international?" Congratulations, you know your geography! The designation "international flight attendant" means I am FAA certified to fly over water more than 50 miles from land. On Sunday I am flying to San Juan, then to Philly, layover 32 hours and fly back to San Juan then to Miami. Day four has me flying from Miami to San Juan back to Boston. All those flights take me more than 50 miles from land. Because of these rules, Hawaii flights are crewed with international flight attendants, whereas Mexico and Canada are staffed with domestic flight attendants. There is an exception though (isn't there always?). All flights from Miami, New York and Boston to Mexico are staffed with international crews because they cross the Gulf of Mexico. More food for thought!

I am headed to RC Willey today to purchase our new entertainment center. Beth and I picked it out last night but wanted to come home and measure to make sure it's not too tall. We are positive it isn't, but wanted to check anyway. We have picked out new paint for the entertainment niche and will be painting it tomorrow. I imagine the entertainment center will be delivered sometime next week. We are trying to get the house in order for our company next weekend.

Walking in a winter wonder land...

Literally. I arrived here in Boston this morning from Las Vegas to a light snow fall. It is absolutely beautiful! I miss the snow living in Las Vegas. Fortunately for me, it snows a fair amount here. This is probably the fifth or sixth snow fall of the winter so far. I love it; however, I am headed to warmer climes later today -- San Juan. I have a short layover there and return to Boston tomorrow night, hopefully in time to catch a flight home to Vegas.

Beth and I spent this past weekend painting the entire downstairs of our house. What a project! We are happy with the end results, for the most part. We painted the living room area a medium beige called Wheatfield (Behr paint) and the kitchen a muddy green called Ocean Olive or something like that. It is really a pretty color, and it contrasts well with our light colored cabinets and white appliances. We painted our entertainment nitch what we thought was going to be a deep cranberry color, but turned out to be more like an eggplant. We really like the color, but it doesn't match our new curtains like we thought it would. So we went to Home Depot last night and picked out more colors to try and match, and we plan on repainting it this week. It is a fairly small space and shouldn't take us more than two hours to do, so it's not that big of a deal. Otherwise we think it looks great! By the way Jenn, we finally ditched that damned entertainment center! We plan on buying another one as soon as the paint is dry.

We purchased some new framed art work to go in the living room from Z Gallerie, a great store for the home. We also bought our curtains there. They have a lot of Pottery Barn-esque things at non-Pottery Barn prices. Our curtain panels we bought are taffeta-like (made of polyester instead of silk) but cost $26 each as opposed to Pottery Barn's real deal for $100 each. Tough decision. The framed art is also nicely priced. We bought three pieces... two we brought home and the other one had to be ordered. We can't wait to get it all together. Now we are anxious to start painting upstairs! Boy are we cruisin'!

We might as well call the house the Inn of Las Vegas since we have several guests coming to town this month. Dan and Rene will be here over the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, as well as Brad and Kanako (although they are staying at Green Valley Ranch Station). My parents will hopefully be able to make it down the weekend after. They are both anxious to come down to Vegas, but working out the work schedule for me and them can often times be impossible. We'll have to see how it goes.

Happy New Year!

The rest of my time in Brazil was relaxing, thank goodness. I did walk around the hotel a little after I wrote in my blog, but I didn't want to venture too far since I really didn't know the area. After walking around a bit, I went back to the hotel and slept for an hour or so. I went downstairs at about four to watch the parade, but no one else showed up. So I went alone. I don't know when the parade ever really started, since I waited about half an hour and saw nothing. I decided it was time to go back and maybe get more sleep.

I ran into two other flight attendants in the hotel lobby lounge and joined them. We had a nice conversation and eventually went to dinner in the hotel resteraunt. I never did get to sleep again. When I went back to my room I had about two hours before pick-up. I got my room in order, repacked my bag and ironed a shirt for work. The whole time I was watching "Up Close" starring Michelle Pfieffer and Robert Redford. Fortunately it was in English with Portuguese subtitles.

The flight home was normal. We had a light load which made the work easy. I had to chase two people out of business class who decided they were entitled to one of the open seats. Too bad for them we do regular walks through the cabin and don't tolerate such behavior. Here are there excuses: Pax #1, "My one year-old is all over me and I am trying to get away from him" and Pax #2, "I have a sunburn all over my body." Here are my responses (in my head of course): To Pax #1, "Maybe you should think twice about traveling with him, or maybe you shouldn't have had him at all" and to Pax #2, "Your lack of responsibility does not entitle you to a seat that costs several thousands of dollars, which you didn't pay. Besides, your sunburn will hurt no less here than it did in coach." Gotta love people!

Needless to say I was pretty tired when we arrived in New York. I caught a flight to Dallas and arrived home in Vegas about 12:30 in the afternoon. Beth and I went to lunch at the Olive Garden where we enjoyed their "All you can eat" soup and salad. My favourite soup is the Zupa Tuscana. Then we came home and I slept.

I have updated the website with a new recipe for Brazilian Empenadas, as well as other information about food in Brazil. Check it out, it's very interesting. For example, I learned the type of the resteraunt I ate dinner at is called a churrascarria. All this is on the recipe page. A new calendar for January has been added with interesting info and links about the history of the calendar. Jenn, I have finally updated the link on my links page for your blog.