Scheduling Nightmares

For the first time in a long while, I had a nightmare about crew scheduling.

Bastards.

I dreamt I was on a month of company business - that's what they call flight attendants on special assignments like teaching at the training center or working at the duty desk. And without my knowledge, scheduling put a late LHR on my line. I saw it, suited up and showed up at 10:40 in the morning instead of at night and had a total breakdown in the crew room. Completely lost it, lying on the floor, screaming, crying, carrying on, and was quite a mess over being "forced" to fly a trip. Part of the insanity stems from not being able to tell scheduling no. If you choose to refuse a trip, you are thereby choosing to turn in your company issued badge and manual (resigning, quiting, etc). It. Was. Awful. (Off the record, you can call in sick; however, that can lead to disciplinary action if abused). Thankfully in my present to near future, I'll be safe and sound downstairs at the training center. Where at the moment, I belong.

Benjamin David

Well, this Benjamin David most certainly be an important person for me to re-activate my account on the book. He's the first of my close friends' offspring; a big congrats to Allison and Brian. When I first decided to delete the book, I knew I would miss his arrival. And I did, someone had to text me. But I don't miss the book and I'm kind of glad I did it and proud that I'm sticking to it. So now if you want to talk to me, you have to do it the old fashion way - via email. Or even snail mail! Imagine that.

Of Monsters and Men - Love Love Love (Live on KEXP)

Here's a sweet video of my new favorite band! This is the slow, girly song; the rest of the EP is most enjoyable and I highly suggest you check them out!

Things I Should Not Be Doing in January...

January has historically marked the beginning of "real" winter. Some climatic event takes place between Christmas and New Years that means I have to pull out my long puffy coat, my real gloves, and my various hats and scarves. January means its cold outside, especially at night, meaning I get to wear my slowly enlarging fleece and sweatpants collection.

But this January hasn't been cold here in New Jersey. I went bike riding down the D&R Canal for two hours - I was fine until the very end when my toes got cold. I've been sleeping with the windows wide open, and NOT in any piece of fleece. I went to work in just my turtle neck, uniform polo, sweater, and vest. VEST. January isn't supposed to be vest season... In looking to next week's forecast, the cold is approaching but there might not be snow this year. I welcome the cold, and would like to send the snow to NY/VT for a ski trip next month, please.

Resolving and Resoluting

Last year, I made five new year's resolutions... or is it New Year resolutions... New Years' Resolutions... Proper capitalization and punctuation aside, I'm quite certain that they're going to remain the same for this year but my priorities have changed.

For 2011, my top goal was to be the best instructor that I could be. I seized as many opportunities as the department threw at me, challenged myself to be before a crowd in a different way, and cheer on the flight attendants in a professional, positive, and constructive manner. There are a few skills that I know I need to work on - such as how (non-east coast) people perceive me (I apparently come off as a raging Yankee bitch'o'saurus to mid-westerners and foreigners), and how to get a class to go from disinterested to engaged. But this year, 2012, I'm thinking this is headed down the list. While instructing will continue to make me grow as a person, in light of everything that went down in December - read - my grandfather died - there are other things I want to accomplish.

This year's top goal is going to be making sure I spend time doing the things I want to do, which is studying German, continuing to write, and reading. I want to continue pursuing my dream of being a German speaker. Spend some quality time with Rosetta and her rocks, continuing to take German class in the city. Come April, I'm headed back to the Deutschland for a few weeks and I'm hoping to squeeze being there for a month out of my two weeks of vacation; the most unnerving part about that is packing. I can't tell you the last time I wrote personally, in my journal. I love writing, even if it is just for me. There are also four titles on my Kindle left unread and it is unacceptable to watch the movie instead.

My other goals were personal - I want to continue to be conscious of maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle. I flew two trips in December, and I felt fat and unhealthy. I haven't been to the gym in I can't tell you how long, and have let my diet go. I have the slow cooker, a George Forman, an empty freezer, and the skills to plan a successful diet. For 2012, I'd also like to add giving back as an important part of "healthy lifestyle". I found a soup kitchen that's nearby and am looking forward to adding volunteer to who I am and what's important.

I want to make sure I continue to actually live in my apartment and make this my home as best as I can. Last year, I bought a $500 couch that I practically live on, new bedding, and even hung up a bulletin board in the kitchen all by myself. My next project is to hang shit on the walls in my sitting room; the current project is making a wall collage of my Europe pictures. I'm also thinking of some sort of decoupage project of all the greeting cards I've been given over the years.

And lastly, most certainly leastly as well, is to be credit card debt free. Meh, I'm sure I'll get there eventually.

So, in short, here's a manageable list of goals for 2012:

1. Studying German. Reading. Writing.

2. Healthy lifestyle: diet, exercise, volunteering.

3. Best instructor I can be (perhaps I should start by learning the new program I have to teach next week...)

4. My home

5. Finances. (does this rule out my $30 manicure every two weeks...? love that gel!)