Planes, Trains

I'm sitting on an Empire Service Amtrak train, headed from Penn to upstate where one of my oldest friends will collect me for a weekend of skiing and shenanigans. I know the conductors for NJ Transit are only out during the day/night and work in shifts like normal people. I couldn't help but ask the Amtrak conductor if they had layovers. And they do. So whilst the airlines might not be hiring, you can gain a similar experience collecting the tickets on the train around the country. I guess it's kind of like working for a regional carrier, only there's more room in the cabin!!!

Via iPhone

Quote of the Day

"The saying "Getting there is half the fun" became obsolete with the advent of commercial airlines."

Henry J. Tillman

With Love, Crew Scheduling

I was to go on call for three days. After the whirlwind holiday season I had, I thought I'd let the pieces fall where they may and see what happened. And this is how it went down.

Sunday I was assigned airport alert from 10:35 to 14:35... Instead of calling me in the crew room, scheduling rang my cell at 14:15 to tell me I had been assigned the two day IAH trip that checks in AFTER my alert ends. I sat for 4 hours, got paid for two, and worked to IAH. I went to sleep right away, and hit the breakfast buffet in the morning prior to our departure. I made it home sometime after 7 and had no desire to do anything.

The next morning, I woke up with an agenda! I accomplished NOTHING I had planned, as scheduling called to tell me my day off had been rolled so I could work to Mexico City, layover for 14 hours, and deadhead back. Sweet. At least a bunch of my cool flight attendant bff's were headed down too. We hung out the night we got in, had a lovely breakfast buffet together and then it was back to Newark.

I got on the plane at 14:00... flight time was 4 hours... I got off the plane at 21:30.

Just like Fight Club, we're not going to talk about it.

I'm back in the bay now, in my happy pants and I'm not leaving til Friday. I'm ordering my groceries on line and that's that.

Blizzard Watch 2011

Last winter, we had three blizzards and for every one of them I was safe at home. This season, I had 4 day Dublin over Christmas which became a 6 day due to the weather in Newark. Being snowed in in Dublin was awesome, I love that layover and our Christmas hotel is right off Grafton Street (the usual hotel closes for a few days over the holiday).

At the moment, they are predicting 10-12 inches of snow for the NY metro area starting tonight and scheduling is sending me to Mexico City for an overnight. I don't mind that they rolled my day, its just that there was MUC and SNN in there and I would have MUCH preferred them to roll me for Europe and then I'd have the weekend off. On the sort of bright side, I'm scheduled to return tomorrow at 19:45, and I hope with all my heart I make it back. Upon my return, I'll be off for one day, in the training center Friday, off Saturday because I was rolled, reserve for a day, three days downstairs and THEN 4 off to go skiing in Vermont.

I kind of wanted to be left alone because I wanted to mop. Can you even believe it??? I wanted to wash my floors. Clean my apartment. Pretend like I live here, cook myself a meal. No worries, I'm sure there will be more snow this season...

Bucket List #27

It was right around this time last year that I decided I was going to vacation in Germany and go to German language school. That was probably one of the most amazing experiences of my life; moreover, I turned 26 there and had a wonderful birthday. And a special thanks to the three of you who were there to celebrate ;)

So this year I decided I'm going to turn 27 in Peru.

Machu Picchu.

Hiking the Andes with my cousin Allie and Aunt Pam, the anticipated altitude sickness and lack of general hygiene. This is going to be an epic journey outside of my little Alyssa box by challenging myself physically and mentally.

Oh, I'm game.

E-A-G-L-E-S... EAGLES!!!

A few weeks ago, I was on a layover during the very important Eagles/Giants game. The Eagles had defeated the Giants at home and with the intense rivalry, many thought the Giants would pull through on their home field. And the did for a while.

So I'm out to dinner with a friend in Belfast when I hear one of the waiters talking about the game. I went flying over to him and asked what the score was - 7-3 Giants. This Northern Irish boy is of course a Giants fan. I'm dining, socializing with my friend who I hadn't seen in months and much to my chagrin, this waiter keeps walking by announcing the score! The last I hear, Giants are totally kicking ass and its half time.

I continue my evening out on the town in Belfast, and return home to find that the Eagles did indeed win by scoring 4 touchdowns in the last 7 minutes of the game - 3 of which were in the last two minutes! It was the game of the season!!! My dad found it on the NFL channel, so I actually watched it and was amazed at how exciting it was.

And wouldn't you know two weeks later I'm back in Belfast???

All's I had to say to the waiter was how about them Eagles and he knew. Oh, he knew. And since I've been state side the Giants have ended their season as the Eagles will go on to the Packers this Sunday. Awesomesauce.

Daft Punk

Since I know you don't read this, and even if you did I doubt you'd say anything to me, I figured this was a reasonably safe way to put it out there.

This is the song that popped up on my Pandora when I was getting ready for work; I know its your favorite band and it made me think of you.

Thank you, yet again, for everything and I hope our paths cross again soon. Alas, it won't be this week as I'll be on the island east of yours for the next four days. But hopefully soon, kid.

Digital Love by Daft Punk

Last night I had a dream about you
In this dream I'm dancing right beside you
And it looked like everyone was having fun
The kind of feeling I've waited so long

Don't stop come a little closer
As we jam the rhythm gets stronger
There's nothing wrong with just a little little fun
We were dancing all night long

The time is right to put my arms around you
You're feeling right
You wrap your arms around too
But suddenly I feel the shining sun
Before I knew it this dream was all gone

Ooh I don't know what to do
About this dream and you
I wish this dream comes true

Ooh I don't know what to do
About this dream and you
We'll make this dream come true

Why don't you play the game ?
Why don't you play the game ?