Old People Are Cool

This passenger is holding up his
flight log book containing his lifetime of flights. He had asked our captain to sign it where he had listed EWR - GLA B757, and he was happy to do so. The captain spent quite a bit of time reading through it and was amazed to see all the cool destinations and HRM Air Force missions he had flown during WWII. What a treat on Memorial Day.

Love, Lovers, and the Lack Thereof

The following is an excerpt from "Are You Somebody?" by Nuala O'Faolain:

What can I do but take my chances? I was thinking incoherently, coming out of the chapel into the midday light. And what else can I do? Look after my teeth, listen to all the music I can, and keep going. Keep working on my escape tunnels out of the past. Keep hoping to break through to the here-and-now. To be just myself, like the cat, which is so perfectly and unself-consciously a cat and does not know it will perish. What can I do, when everything is so various and so beyond me, but cling on, and thank the God I don't believe in for the miracles showered on me?

This final passage in her book moved me to tears. Here's this stunningly beautiful woman who's lived - and it still living - a life so full of passion, travel, education and learnedness yet her heart cries out for something more. She knows this, she knows she should be thankful and fulfilled, grateful for this life and all her experiences - good, bad, ugly, indifferent. And yet. That's just it - yet. Her heart cries out for something more and it pains me so.

Dirty

Yesterday was my last day of vacation. I stayed in my pajamas for most of it, watched a movie in the middle of the day, went for a walk, and then had a friend over. Still unshowered and mildly stinky. And it was glorious. That's how you know who your true friends are - the level of stank they'll tolerate.

So now I'm all clean and ready to go back to work. I'm flying with my best friend, we're off to Edinburgh, Scotland.

Then I'm off for two days - one of which will be a dirty day. Sigh :)

Swinging Through the PHL

On my way home from vacation, I opted to fly from Orlando to Newark and then down to Philly as opposed to taking the train (my car was at my parents' house). This was the first time I can recall in my entire life that my father wasn't waiting for me either at the gate, you know, back in the day when that was allowed, or on the other side of security. I understand - the man was at work and as soon as I landed he was en route. As I was making my way out of the terminal, I stopped to go to the bathroom and was greeted with the most glorious of airport bathrooms that I have ever seen in my life! Each stall was HUGE - all were handicapped size with a changing table, sink, and enough room to fit a frat party. It was as if all my years of complaining about the horrors that are airport bathrooms finally paid off and someone heard my prayers. Had I not been in a rush, I would have snapped a million pictures, but as soon as I was curbside, there he was. Next time... There's always a next time.

Irish Bikini Fail

Having shopped all over the states and Europe, I have come to find that Irish/British clothing fits me best. It's curvy-er, cut bigger/differently in differing proportions and is more often than not, of higher quality. I discovered bathing suits at Debenhams two summers ago and fell madly in love. I bought two that year, one last season, and another at the beginning of this season. So pumped.

A few weeks ago I was in Dublin, just shopping about and fell hook line and sinker for this little blue and white number. I tried it on and this bikini made me feel beautiful. For $80 USD, I figured I'd treat myself - Happy Birthday to me - and hold on to that feeling of utter grace and beauty.

Which I did, til I unpacked it here on vacation and saw I bought the bottoms a size too big. It's not the end of the world - it fits just fine. The size smaller would have just fit more snug and been more appropriate for intense aquatic activity. Perhaps I'll invest in them as well because it's a really sweet suit and I love it. Certainly suits it's purpose.

Via iPhone

Moderately Impressed

My current suitor took me out to birthday lunch, and when we were walking back to my car he pulled me in the opposite direction. The next thing I knew, we were at a florist shop and I was holding these. I love them. They smell amazing, are so beautiful. The best part is I didn't get them as an apology. Happy Birthday to me, from a *moderately* impressive suitor.

How To Introduce Yourself 101

First Officer: Hi, I'm Paul.

Flight Attendant: Hi, its nice to meet you. I'm Alyssa.

Paul: You look like my ex-fiancee.

Alyssa: Awesome. She's your ex for a reason.

Paul: No no, its a good thing.

Alyssa: Oh. Well, you look like Minnesota.

And yes, Paul actually commutes out of the MSP. He was rather Marshall-esque, surprisingly enough. He was a sweet, genuine person and we had a lot of fun tearing it up in Dublin.

Ah, its good to be out online.

Exhaustion Is Cute!

April was my first *real* full pull teaching in my own base, balancing living in my humble abode, family obligations, and quality time with my peeps.

I. Am. Exhausted.

My schedule went something along the lines of teach for six days, off one, teach one, off one, teach six, off one, teach one. Off six - that was Easter. Teach two, off two. Fly, because its now May. Don't get me wrong - I loved every minute of being in the classroom and evaluating the "students". There were so many rewarding moments clearly depicting, in my mind, how valuable the skills of a teacher truly are. I'm looking forward to the break and flying again; I get such cabin fever.

Totally looking forward to feeling jet lagged all the time; its a whole different type of exhaustion.