Time to vent...

Seeming as though I am considered a professional by my company and the industry as a whole, you wouldn't think your fellow flight attendants, who are training you, would belittle and embarrss you in front of the class. But that's exactly what happened. I volunteered, along with three others to demonstrate how we'd prepare the cabin and passengers for an emergency landing. I was the flight attendant assigned to brief the first class passengers.

I was standing in the assigend position and doing what I thought was correct. The instructor told me it wasn't, and I proceeded as he directed. No problem. The next step had us pointing out emergency exits, and for whatever reason, he felt I was mocking the procerdures and not taking them seriously, ordered me to sit down and replaced me with someone else in the class. I was doing exactly as told, but he felt I was being inappropriate. I don't know why. When there was the earlier confusion about what I was supposed to do, I corrected it but with a sense of humor, and everyone laughed. No big deal. It didn't take away from what we were doing, and I was simply acknowledging that I had made an error.

After being belittled and embarrassed in front of the whole class by being ordered to sit down and replacing me, I had a hard time paying attention to what was going on. I really felt embarrassed, and unjustly so. I decided to look up the procedure I had initially made the mistake on in our manual, and guess what, I was RIGHT! I really didn't expect to find that, but I did. I went up to him after class and explained to him I felt he was totally inappropriate, explained to him how he made me feel and also explained how the procedure is spelled out in the manual. He apologized, as insincerely as possible, and said he'd talk to curriculum about the correct procedure. I told him that wasn't good enough. I felt he owed me an apology in front of the class, and also a correction to what he had earlier said. His own inability to teach the material appropriately and correclty was turned around on me and took the fall for it.

Keep in mind this person is a flight attendant, just like me, someone who decided to not fly and train flight attendants for a few months. He is not a manager, and has no rank over me. I guess that's what gets me most. He is no better, or worse, than me, and felt he could treat a fellow co-worker like that. And I said that to him point blank. I have a feeling I haven't heard the end of this. Either he'll get back to me about the mistake or I'll go to the mananger of the training department and solve it there.

Thank you for letting me vent.

Finally, he speaks!

I am still in training in Dallas, but have had my laptop with me this whole time. I've thought a couple of times of sitting down and writing here but haven't really had the opportunity. Things here are going well, albeit very boring. Today is day number seven, and I have two more left. Yesterday was our day off, and it was a much needed break from what has become the daily grind. The training is very boring since it is all information we already know, but since we are going to be flying TWA's airplanes, the FAA requires so many hours of training. They're trying to fill that time as best they can, but it is very boring and extrememly repetitive.

Tomorrrow is when things start to pick up since we begin competency checks and exams. This is where the game is stepped up, and we have the FAA present, watching our every move. We met TWA's FAA Cabin Safety Inspector today, a very nice woman who has over 20 years experience as a flight attendant. It's nice to know the person in the enforcement area has real world experience in the area in which she enforces.

I am sore as hell as we've played beach volleyball every night, but one, and play on average three to six games a night. The muscles in my butt, abs, calves and thighs are killing me. My feet, ankles, writst and forearms are killing me from contact with the ground and ball. We've had a great time playing and I've enjoyed the exercise. The night off was a night we spent in the hot tub, soaking those sore muscles. Tomorrow night will be spent doing the same. On Saturday, our last day, class begins at 6am, so it's gonna be an early one. No need to wear myself out the night before playing volley ball.

On my day off yesterday, Edie and I went to see "Bruce Almighty." Good, funny movie, but not the laugh out loud Jim Carrey-type movie. The movie actually had a plot and was "cute." Nothing profound. Also, we treated ourselves to a pedicure and manicure, something we both sorely needed. I talked to Beth tonight on the phone and she said she was giving herself a pedicure. I told her to pend the 25 bucks and treat herself on Saturday. Her reponse, "I'm too cheap.

In work news, I found out yesterday the company is expecting another round of layoffs in September. No word on how many, so we'll have to see how that goes. I should know my fate by the end of July.

I'll be back in Vegas Saturday afternoon and Beth's parents and uncle John (from Minneapolis) will be coming over for dinner. No idea yet on what I'm cooking. Figures it's the day I come home, and have been out of town for nine days.

Broken wings...

Thrice I've attempted to fly this week, thrice I've been grounded. I have launched full forward into my instrument training, but not without difficulty. On Tuesday, a higher than normal oil temp forced a return to the airport. On Wednesday we didn't even leave the parking spot as our plane had a dead battery. And today would see a pesky fuel pressure guage with abnormally low and unsafe pressure levels. Again, we were forced to return to the airport. Although I got off the ground twice, both flights ended within 20 minutes of taking off. I chalk it all up to experience. And, as it was said to me today, "I'd rather be on the ground wishing I were up there, than being up there and wishing I were on the ground." A lesson wel learned.

Tomorrow I head off to Dallas for training so that I can fly on TWA airplanes. Although their MD-80s and 757s are nearly identical to American's, the FAA requires "differences" training. I know throwing TWA in to the mix is confusing, so let me explain. American bought TWA about two years ago and has completely integrated TWAs route network into ours, and has aligned TWAs procedures with ours. It takes years, however, to put to rest the operating certificate (issued by the FAA, often the "brith" of the airline) and it is for that reason all this training is necessary. Although TWA ceased to exist a year ago, American still operates the former TWA flights under the TWA operating certificate. I am still an AA employee, with the same seniority, I just will now be flying out of St. Louis on former TWA airplanes. The TWA planes even look like ours, having undergone stripping and repainting several months ago. To the passenger, you'd never know the difference. It's all confusing legal jargon and red tape that make these requirements so confusing. Would we honestly expect anything different from the feds?

Eventually, the TWA operating certificate will be retired and then the TWA fleet of airplanes will truly be integrated into AA's fleet. All of this is necessary since after the latest round of furloughs, every former TWA flight attendant has been layed off. That is why AA suddenly needs to train people on TWA's aircraft. Make sense? I am looking forward to something new and different, and believe it or not, I am looking forward to laying over at US cities again. I loved flying international, and am sure I'll return in the next year or so, but for now I am glad to have a slightly easier and shorter commute.

So much to do, so little time to do it...

Of course, it's all fun stuff. I need to head over to Old Navy this morning. I am looking for some trousers... I'm tired of khakis. Beth and I, Brad and Kanako went to Primm yesterday to the Fashion Outlet Mall and did some shopping at the Pottery Barn/Williams Sonoma Outlet, Banana Republic Outlet, Old Navy Outlet and the Gap Outlet. We were disappointed to see the J. Crew Outlet is gone, but we're hoping they'll open one in the new outlet mall set to open in Vegas in August. The new mall is owned by the same outlet company, so it too will feature mostly high end clothes stores. I am about to attend nine days of training and need casual business attire, and am tired of what I have. Never turn down a good bargain!

Need to go to Trader Joe's and Wild Oats to do some grocery shopping and go to Old Navy, all before going to the flight school at 3p for a flight around Vegas with some friends. The weather is nice today, and not windy, so it should be a nice ride. I am looking forward to it. Tonight, I am going to make Mimi's corn chowder and carrot bread for dinner. Always a favorite, and should be good to share with company. On top of all that, I need to study my instrument manual as I have three flight lessons this week and need to prepare for them. Although it is work, school work at that, it's fun. I wish all school work could be that fun.

On Saturday night we celebrated Kanako's 27th birthday with a dinner at Little Budha's, inside the Palms. Great food and great plum sake (they call it wine, but it really is sake) with good friends. We topped of the evening with a trip to Leatherby's, a local home made ice cream shop with the biggest and most delicious sundaes any one could imagine. How big? Four of us had a hard time finishing off one sundae... several scoops of homemade vanilla ice cream with hot fudge, melted peanut butter and peanut butter cups topped with the proverbial whipped cream, nuts and cherry. Very delicious. All for seven bucks!

Last night, after shopping in Primm we went to the new Fry's electronics store. It's the first one in Vegas, and it's HUGE! I have been to several in the Bay Area, but none bigger than this one. Perhaps the only one larger that I've seen is in Sacramento, formerly Amazing Universe. After that, we headed over to a local ramen shop called Togoshi Ramen for some authentic Japanese ramen. Delicious. It reminded me of a chain I frequented in London called Wagamama. I wish they'd open here in Vegas. I'd love to be the one to get that franchise license. Once they issue a franchise license to one company, you are the only one who'll get one in that territory, ie, country. I'd never have to work another day in my life! New York, Seattle, Portland, Chicago, Dallas... oh, the possibilities. Any business partners?

In case you missed it...

If you didn't catch yesterday's post, I'll abbreviate it here: I still have a job. I will be flying domestic rather than international. I will be based in St. Louis instead of New York. I will be off the entire month of June, but with full pay. I am done flying for this month, but will need to attend training in Dallas from May 23 through the 31st. Long time, but I'll be there with friends, so it shouldn't be too bad. The only bad thing about it all is my parents were coming to Las Vegas for the Memorial Day weekend. Now, I leave Friday, the day before, for the training and won't be here. We knew it was a possibility, but I am still bumbed. The bright side? I am off all of June so they better make it here then.

Top ten worst wedding songs. Hmm... I was nervous to look at the list, hoping that ours wouldn't be there. Truth be told we didn't have a song, and it took right up until the wedding day for us to pick one for the first dance. We chose one by Allen Jackson (I think that's who sang it... I can't even remember the title). That was a tough one for me since I am not usually into country. However, I do like some cross over artists like the Dixie Chicks, Shania Twain and Faith Hill. That Allen Jackson song was a cross over hit. Thankfully, it didn't make the list. Do you have any favorites or worsts?

Safe!

The official word is out... I've dodged the bullet, or ax, for now. Out of the 5,000 flight attendants that were given furlough notices, some 18-hundred will keep there jobs. That's good new for me. However, there is now only 750 flight attendants below me system wide, which means if the ax is to fall again, I probably won't escape. So why the change in numbers? Well, the company is required by labor law to give a 60-day notice that you're subject to furlough. Our contract states that before the company can furlough a flight attendant, the company must offer voluntary leaves and partner flying (two flight attendants sharing one schedule). Taking those into account, plus the large number of retirees due to wage and benefit concessions, the original overage of five thousand has been reduced. I know it's all very complicated, but, believe it or not, it all makes sense.

The only thing I don't yet know is whether or not I will remain in New York flying international or in St. Louis flying domestic. That I should know by tomorrow. Either would be fine for me. Although I'd miss flying international, St. Louis would be a shorter and easier commute than New York. Plus, there's the chance at laying over in some favorite domestic cities again like Portland, Seattle and Chicago. Also, I will be able to pick layovers in Sacramento, where my brother is about to move. That would be nice. Why St. Louis? Well, all the St. Louis flights, formerly TWA, are all flown by TWA flight attendants. Since TWA flight attendants are at the bottom of the seniority list, they all will be furloughed. So, the company needs to staff the St. Louis base, and will do so by taking the flight attendants now at the bottom of the list. The company can do this because, even though a bunch were just layed off, there are still too many flight attendants at the various bases. The company allowed this on purpose, knowing that eventually the excess would be moving to St. Louis to cover the operation there. If I am sent to St. Louis, there is great news. Although I will be required to attend eight days of training sometime this month or next, I will otherwise have the entire month of June off, with full pay! Not bad...

BREAKING NEWS @ 6:37pm

I will be transferred to St. Louis with an effective date of July 2, 2003.

On the run...

>Goodbye Jane Pauley
>Even newer US currency? Looks cool... very foreign... now with more colors
>Amber is off to New York... hopefully we can meet up
>Brother Brian calls this work? Scuba dives and water rafting... all in a weeks work
>Lunar eclipse
>It's getting hot in hear... Vegas finally warming up
>Funnel clouds in Sacramento

In Memory


Little Mokey died Sunday, May 3 at about 12-noon. It is so hard to sit down and write about her, but I suppose that is because she was such a huge part of our lives. Because of that, I feel compelled to share how that little bundle of joy came to be in our lives, and how she made such an impact on who we've become.

I first met Mokey sometime in high school. It is unknown how old she was, and where exactly she came from, as she was an alley cat who hung around my parents’ house. We have figured over the years she may have come from the owners of a print shop next to my parents’ house. We used to see a Calico kitty sitting in the window all the time. One day, the owners up and left the print shop, and we assume, that cute little Calico. When we would sit in the hot tub, she would come and drink the hot water, purr like crazy and rub up against your neck, begging for attention and love.

Over time, my parents made a bed for her in the garage, and also put food and water out there for her. Although she roamed the alley freely, she always made her home at my parents’ house. In the summer, when mom would work in the office with the door open, she'd help herself and come right in. She'd jump up on the keyboard and start-up that loud motor of hers. You couldn't help but fall in love with her. She needed so little, and seemed so happy. We named her Mokey, deriving it from a similar sounding foul name my father called her. The name Mokey actually comes from Jim Henson's Fraggles, of Fraggle Rock.

Mokey became somewhat of a celebrity around the house, usually being referred to as "that damn cat." My parents used to have a large dirt parking lot in the back of the house, and whenever it rained, the water would form what people would call “Lake Hickey.” Of course, Mokey would get her little paws wet walking around and would always retreat to the warmth of the car hood. It was not hard to follow her path as you could see the paw prints go up your hood, up your windshield, across the roof, down the back window, across the trunk and poof... she’d jump to the ground and move onto the next warm.

I moved off to college, met Beth and we started dating. Beth met Mokey when she came out to my parents’ house for the first time. From then on, Mokey wormed her way into Beth's heart, too. Beth and I moved in together in August of 1998. Beth had talked about bringing Mokey to live with us, if my parents would allow it. Of course, we joke now, but my response at the time was, "That damn cat? She's crazy!" I was worried about my allergies, but decided to give it a go. Beth went to get her in October when I was out of town with my family in Southern California. I'll let her tell that story:

“I remember begging and pleading with Kevin to bring the little Miss home. I saw so much potential. She had so much love to give, but seemed unhappy with her current living conditions. I wanted a cat, but it had to be a rescued cat. We had talked about going to the Humane Society, but I had a feeling Mokey would be a perfect addition to our home if we gave her time to adjust.

“I drove out to Gardnerville to pick her up on my day off. Kevin’s Aunt Kathy was babysitting Sammy and helped me catch Mokey. The second we put her in the cage and shut the door, the crying started. No I should say the SCREAMING started. I drove an hour back to Reno with Mokey screaming in the cage. She was so afraid. I think I cried, too. I kept thinking, “Oh no, Kevin might be right.” What was I thinking? The next few days were rough. She was scared to death of me. All she did was cry and hide from me. When Kevin came home, I lied and said it was a perfect match—I didn’t want him to say, “I told you so.”

“Soon after I took her to the vet for a check up. The vet told me Mokey was very lucky. “She is getting a second chance to love someone. Help her embrace it by giving her all the love and trust and support you can. Make it clear she is the light of your life and she will calm down and fall in love with you.” It was the best thing she could have said. Throughout the four and a half years she was with us, we always reassured her and gave her all we had to give. She loved us and became so trusting. She gave us everything she had to give. For that I am forever thankful. She made me a loyal cat lover and an advocate for animals. She taught me so much more then I thought was possible. I wish every animal had the chance to be loved and to love the way she did.”

It was tough adapting, tough for Mokey, and tough for me. I slept with a cold rag on my eyes for a month to help keep the swelling down and loaded up on my Zyrtec. The allergies, over time, relieved somewhat and the reactions became much more subtle. Eventually, I was able to pick her up and hold her close to my face without having problems. The first few months, even year, were tough for Mokey. She seemed happy, but was slow to allow herself to get the love and attention we so desperately wanted to give her. There were a lot of nights she slept under the guest room bed, or behind the sofa. We grew as a family every day. She became more comfortable with each passing day and allowed us to show our affection in so many ways.

Among our most favorite affections were her head butts. When she wanted attention and love, she'd walk up and head butt you. Either on the side, or the arm, the leg, wherever she could get you. The moment your hand touched her fur, the motor fired up. She loved getting kisses on her forehead and getting her chin rubbed.

She had several favorite places around the house to sleep. At night, it was in our bed. During the day, it was anywhere we placed a blanket, towel or sheet for her to lay on. We always knew where we could find her. As we grew together, so didn’t the number of names we called her. Officially, she was Mokey Fleener-Hickey. Unofficially, she was Mona, Monessa, Moni, Icklekins, Little Icklekins, Pumpkin Pie, Pumpkin Butter, Peanut Butter, Peanut Butter Pie, Little Kitty, Kitty Kitty, Beauty, Beauty Queen, Baby, Lo-ni and Lovey. Of course, she knew every one of them, and responded to them all.

As she grew older, so didn’t the habits. Lately, her habits included removing food from her food bowl and placing it on the kitchen floor. Of course, she’d never finish all that she took out of her bowl, so, bare feet beware, there were little hard pebbles all over the floor. She also liked to drink water out of our cup, and not just any water. The water had to be from the reverse osmosis, and had to be iced. She’d whine for it until she got it. Every night before we went to sleep we needed to ensure there was a glass of ice-cold water on my night stand for her.

We found out in November she was in the early stages of kidney failure. Our vet indicated she’d be happy and healthy for a month or so, and that we could expect things to deteriorate sometime in February. Fortunately, she was able to hang in there a few extra months. We are so thankful for all the memories she’s left us with. She was our baby… she grew with us as Bethany and I grew together as a couple.

We will forever miss her cute, puffy face, her jingling collar, the grunts and meows and her funny little habits. She will always be our baby, and will always have a special place in our heart. We love you Mokey.