In all my neglectfulness I forgot to mention that I actually DID make it through training and am halfway through my first official month as a Southwest Flight Attendant.  I'm having a blast!  I've met lots of great people and can't wait to explore more cities and see more things. 

Anyway, off to the airport in a few so that I can with God's good grace get to Baltimore in time for work.

Ok, so I've been a bit neglectful of the ol' journal... Life has been kind of crazy.  I have been updating my My Space page however.  So, eventhough we're missing an entry or two here's the latest, nice and long... if anyone is still checking in that is. ;)

Well, week one is over!  Last weekend was my first trip and in a few hours I leave for trip 2.  It's pretty nice having 4 days off!  I've spent the week exploring Baltimore with friends. So here's a breakdown of the week. sorry a bit long, but I hope entertaining : 

Monday: Went to the Inner Harbor on a mission to find a seafood restraunt where we good eat some 'famous' Maryland blue crabs.  We stopped and talked to the guy selling pretzels on the sidewalk, whom it turns out has a wife who works for Southwest.  Anyway, he tells us that the best place is about 7 blocks away.  So we start walking... and walking. We walk through a little Italy, yet no sign of Oberickie's.  The one thing we do notice is that the houses seem to be getting more dilapitated.  Dann says, " I smell projects!"  So Cassandra runs into a real estate office and asks the guy there how much further until the resteraunt.  "About 7 more blocks."  OYE! He kind of shakes his head... "and in about 2 blocks you're going to be in a REALLY bad part of town. But, it's daylight, so you should be ok, just walk fast."  I think us three white folks set a new speed walking record.  On our way we pass by a Mexican street, Dann suggests that on the way back if we go up a block maybe it will be the Mexican projects which he'll be much  more comfortable with... .  Anyway, we finally found the place. Ordered some beers and a few crabs and chowed down for nearly 3 hours.  It was fun. There is something about being able to use a mallet on your own food that is quite releasing.  Anwyay, the walk back... so we did as Dann suggested and boy was that a mistake!  Now, we're most DEFINATELY in the middle of the projects.  It doesn't help when Cassandra panicks and thinks that a gang of street thugs starts to follow us -- talk about speed walking!  Luckily they weren't and in a few short blocks we were in the safe confines of "Little Italy." 

We found a really good pastry shop that had the most awesome cannolies I have ever tasted in my life!  I bought some gelati and a Napolean to take home... heaven!   On our way back to the Harbor we stopped at the Hard Rock for a pit stop and a refill on beers.  From there Cass and I were in the drinking mood so we forced Dann to go with us back to this bar that the cabbie had told me was the 'flight attendent' hang out.  When we got there we ordered some more food had some beers and pretty soon some more classmates showed up.  Next thing you know Cass and I are howling to DMB's "Granny" and "It's the Time of the Season". I'm sure it wasn't pretty.  Anyway, we stayed there till close and then I went with some other girls back to another FA's apartment where they grilled some steaks and we drank more beer.  Don't know when I got home but when I woke up in the morning my light was still on and my iPod was still playing.

Tuesday:  Woke up with helacious headache!  Didn't do much, but finally got someone to go to the baseball game with me.  The Tiger's were in town and I was just itching to check out Camden Yards.  So hopped on the Light Rail to head downtown.  On our ride I noticed this guy decked out in Cardinal's gear from head to toe.  So, I asked him if he was from St.Louis, he wasn't.  He was just a big fan who has been going to games whenever he can and loves games in St.Louis. He said we were the best fans by far.   When we got there this lady asked us if we needed tickets.  She sold the 3 of us 4 for $50.  They were good seats too, right on the 3rd base line, just above the box seats.  I tried to get rid of the 4th ticket but didn't have much luck, so as we're walking in I went up to an usher and said, "We've got an extra ticket, send us a cute guy!"  He laughed and started talking to me.  I started to walk in when he asked me where I usually get my tickets, I tell him it's my first game and he says, "come here.  He writes his name and number on a piece of paper and says, "Next time you need tickets call me.  I like you're sense of humor I'll help you out!" Oh yeah!

Anyway, the game was great.  A couple right behind was from St. Louis so we talked some baseball.  The Tiger's lost, but it was a good game to watch.

After the game we attempted to find this place called Federal Hill which has a bunch of bars and is supposed to be pretty cool.  It was a really neat historic neighborhood but by the time we got there we only had time to enjoy one beer before we had to leave to get the train back.  I'm definately going back when I can spend some more time there.

Wednesday:  We were supposed to go the baseball game but people baled on me. Instead we went to the Inner Harbor again.  From there we walked to this place called "Fell's Point" which is a neighborhood with a ton of bars.  I mean a we're talking bar, after bar, after bar.  We met up with some other friends and stopped at three places.  The first place was a hole.  The 2nd was this place called Max's which had 90 beers on tap.  Their list of beers was sorted by alcohol content.  We had a couple (9%) there.  When I went to get my card, the bartender says, "OK Southwest..."  Apparently the locals can spot us from a mile away.  From there we went to this place called Shucker's and had some more food and drinks.  By this time it's getting late and we're all ready to really get things going, but we have to leave to get back on the train.  We do and then called a cab to take us back to Howards.  When we walked in some more of our classmates were there.  They had just spent 3 days in Vegas.  So once again lots of money on the jukebox and a morning with another headache.

Yesterday was low key... It was rainy and I ended up just going to the grocery store and watching tv. 

Tonight I leave for San Diego and my 3 day.  I think next week we're going to another baseball game as the BoSox are in town.  I'm probably going to head back to Detroit as there are a few things I HAVE to take care of.  The week after that is the Spirit Party in St. Louis at the Brewery!  Then the next two weeks I've got two DMB concerts to attend, in STL and Detroit! Woohoo!

OK, just a quick (I hope) entry.  Been pretty busy socially lately.  Lots of stuff going on.  Went to Coldplay Wednesday. They were good but I don't think I care to see them again anytime soon.  They basically put on the exact same show I saw this summer.  It was fun though, I went with my friend Mike from work.

Saturday night I went out with a bunch of girls from work for a friend's bachelorette party.  It was crazy, no more need be said.  Her wedding is March 17th so looking forward to that as well.

I'm expecting that this month will fly by.  I've got something going on pretty much every weekend and then March 26th I'm flying to Dallas to begin my training for Southwest AIrlines!  I can't wait!  I'm really looking forward to being able to travel this summer.  DMB released their tour dates today and it looks like I'll have plenty of shows to hit up, hopefully I'll have some friends that will want to go.  I've got people in FL, MO, MI, and New England all DMB fans so I'm sure SOMEONE will want to go.

Let's see... Arrested Development aired it's last episdoes on FOX in the beginning of Febuary.  It was bittersweet to watch the episodes all in one sitting.  The show went out in a blaze of hilarity, but I didn't really expect anything less.  There does appear to be hope on the horizon however... rumors are running rampant that the show has been picked up for 26 episodes by Showtime.  Although I don't currently subscribe I may have to do just that... or at least purchase them from iTunes.  I'm not ready to 'taste the happy' just yet but things are certainly looking brighter for my favorite TV show than they did a few weeks ago.

Well, enough for now.  I've got a paper that I HAVE to finish tonight.  I should have turned it in last month but getting over the psychological hurdle of finishing my very last paper seems about 10 stories high right now...

 

Well, time to give the report on Saturday night in Detroit for Super Bowl weekend.  To sum it all up, I had a GREAT time and this will be a bit long…

 

I picked up my brother and then my friend Cricket around 9:00… I figured that if we got there a bit later that it might save us all some money.  From Cricket’s house we headed to Wayne State where I was hoping I could park with my One Card and save the $10 they were charging everyone else to park there.  And luckily it paid it off! We trudged across the snow to find the shuttle pick up spot that would take us down to the festivities.  It was snowing pretty good, so by the time we finally got on the bus my hair was soaked, but the bus was nicely heated so I was fairly dry by the time we finally arrived to the overly crowded and hectic corner of Cass and Fort.  From there we tried to call my friend Jackie but I wasn’t able to get through to her. So we literally squeezed onto the People Mover.  After a couple stops we were able to get in touch with her.  She was the Renaissance Center so we got off, one stop too early and made our way to meet her there.

 

The first stop was, of course, to get the three of some alcohol.  Though a bit over priced it was nice to quench the thirst.  We walked around the Ren Cen a bit and even watched the end of ESPN Sportscenter being broadcast.  (See picture of ESPN set in photos).  Once that was done Jackie suggested we head back to Woodward and find some more of her friends and a bar.  As we were walking to the People Mover (PM) station my brother spotted Scott VanPlume (sp?- the Sportscenter broadcaster), we waited a minute or two and he asked him to take a picture, which I snapped. Anyway, after THREE attempts to get the five us (see other pic in My photos) on the PM we finally managed to squeeze in.  It was so tight that I was a bit worried my bro was going to get pushed out.  I literally could NOT move it was so tight.  Cricket suggested I take a picture but I couldn’t even move to reach my pocket.  After a few stops the PM got to be a bit roomier, I could at least lift my arms, if needed.

 

We got off near Comerica Park and decided to walk down Woodward and look at some of the sites.  They had some really cool ice sculptures on display.  One was a car (see pics).  They also had the logos of each NFL team carved in ice.  Although it was pretty late by this time, somewhere around 12, there were people everywhere with drinks in hand.  We attempted to get into Jackie’s friend’s bar but as they weren’t letting ANYONE in because of the crowd we decided to head to the larger Hockeytown Café, which we got into after a short wait.  We stayed in Hockeytown, surrounded by Steelers fans, until close and then walked our way back to Fort and Cass to catch the shuttle back to WSU.

 

It was 2:30 by this time and as the shuttles were supposed to stop running at 3am, our bus driver decided to wait around until after 3 before heading back to campus.  So finally, with a full bus of tired and drunk people we made our way back.  I had a very loud girl behind me arguing with a boyfriend (I think).  In an attempt to bring peace and camaraderie to the bus I tried to get a sing along of Kum-by-ah (sp?) started. That didn’t work so I tried out a few other ‘peaceful’ songs including “Give Peace a Chance” and “All You Need is Love”.  One of the guys sitting near us said to me, “You’re evil!”  A bit hurt by this comment I said, “What are you talking about?” Pointing to my heart,  “I am filled with love. Love!”  For some reason he didn’t seem to believe me.

 

Anyway, we finally made it back to my car, after getting to know our fellow passengers, whom were all very nice, sometime between 3:30 and 4am.  Handing my keys to my brother he drove us home.  I think I finally landed in my bed around 4:30-5am. Whew, what a long, but very fun night.  It was neat to see Detroit actually looking half-way decent and filled with people.  Most people we met (with the exception of a crabby worker or two) were super nice.  Everyone seemed in a good, festive move and just excited to be there for the celebration.

 

Although the Super Bowl is now over, Detroit is still buzzing with talk of the event.  I for one was surprised that Detroit was able to pull off such a large event.  I know, that I, and many others were worried that it was going to be an embarrassment and were pleased to see that it was put together so well.  Kudos to Detroit, now how about keeping up the good work and make it respectable once again?  One can only hope…

 

 

So it's been pretty exciting here in the metro-Detroit area.  All anyone is talking about is the Super Bowl.  We've had pretty warm weather so far this year, but as we all know that is never going to last long.  Tonight we're expecting 6-10 inches of snow tonight.  And of course this is the night that everyone wants to go downtown to check things out.  And me being incredibly curious just couldn't pass it up when one of my friends said she'd work for me!! 

I called one of my buddies that works in Detroit... she's been down there ALL week.  She tried to get me to go last night but since I didn't have anoyone else to go I just stayed in with another friend and we watched Arrested Development on DVD.  Anyway, when I called her it sounded insane in the background...very tempting.  I'm not really looking forward to spending money or driving in the snow but I figure that the Super Bowl doesn't exactly come around on a regular basis.

Other than that. Not much else going on.  As I've already mentioned I've got the computer back up and running.  A lot lighter in the pocket but at least I'm connected again.  I called my Prof on Thursday and told him how it crashed and I lost my journal.  He said to do the best I can, after saying, "Always back up!"  yeah, yeah... we all say but do we actually all do it?  So, I've got the paper and the journal to write this week.   Then hopefully I can get motivated to study for the comprehensive exam. 

Well, enough for now!  I've got a few things to do and then time to get ready to join America's biggest sporting event.

Well, got the computer back today.  Although I'm quite a bit lighter in the wallet, I've got 10 more Gigs!It's nice to have everything up and running (almost).  I've still got to install quite a few programs on to the new hard drive.  Plus I'm trying to remember all my usernames and passwords on the various sites I've visted over the years.... sigh, not fun.  I can't even remember all the sites I HAD on my computer.  There are some that I didn't visit often but were somewhat useful... Oh well...

This week the Super Bowl in town... I'm curious to see what downtown looks like. I might head there tomorrow to get some stuff taken care of for school.  I've heard that downtown is practically spit-shined.  Too bad they can't take more care of it any other time...   Apparently a lot of the vacant store fronts actually have false fronts put in place, kind of like a movie set.  Detroit has apparently done it's best to trick... or as Gob Bluth might say perform an "iilllluusssion" for all the visitors they're expecting this week.

Anyway, enough for now.  Think maybe I'll hit try to hit the hay so I have a somewhat productive day tomorrow.

I'm feeling lonely, lost, and cut off from the outside world... (well, as long as I don't count cable tv, 24 hour news, my cellular phone, and brief snatches of computer time on my brother's computer). 

And WHY would I need brief snatches of time on my bro's computer, you may ask?

Well, that's a good question and one that brings a very sad and depressing answer on my part.  For you see, last Friday I went out with some friends.  I finally made myself get off the couch after transferring some pictures off of my digital camera to my laptop.  The ol' laptop (3 years old) has been a bit finicky lately but seemed to be performing just fine.  I left to meet my friends for much drinking, eating, and comraderie.  We had a great time.  So much fun in fact that I invited about 6 people to come over to my house, watch Wedding Crashers, and if need be to also crash at my place.  As we're watching the movie a debate started on who a certain actress was in the movie.  I tell my bro to look on IMDB.com and look up the cast list.  He picks up my laptop... nothing.  It's frozen.  No biggie, sometimes it does this, so I restarted the computer.  It started to load XP, but when it should have started to show me the desktop what comes up?  A beep and "Harddisk 0 Cannont be found"!!!  ARGHHHH!!!  It appears that weddings aren't the only things to be crashed.

Anyway, basically my laptop is currently out of commission.  It's even more depressing when I think about the fact that my 3 1/2 months of my internship journal are on the drive that can't be read.  One of my friends said he would have someone take a look at it for me but after waiting for a week to hopefully hear something positive I was told tonight that the friend couldn't fix it. 

So I guess tomorrow I'll take it to another place and hope that they can at least retrieve some info off my hard drive.  I wasn't really planning on purchasing a laptop anytime soon so I hope the whole thing can be salvaged. 

I miss my computer!!

Anyway, if you don't hear from me for a while longer... that's why.  Stupid computer problems. 

Not a whole lot going on around these parts... 

A couple weeks ago I watched a program on "Edgar Cayce: American's Nostrodamus".  I've always been fascinated by the whole idea of intuition, clairvoyence, etc.  Cayce would go into a trance, while lying down, and then answer any and all questions put to him.  He gave readings to anyone who asked, never charging them on everything from the future, to the whereabouts of Atlantis, buisiness decisions, and even medical matters.  He consulted President Roosevelt and numerous other notables of the 1st half of the twentieth centurty.  He predicted the Great Depression, World War II, the discovery of the Red Sea Scrolls, any many other events, discoveries, etc. 

One of his predictions for the future is that we would see a shifting of the poles and the adjustment of the Earth's axis.  This he argues will signal the end of the current period and the 2nd coming.  He predicted that much of Japan will be gone, as well as most of England, France, New York, the coasts of Georgia, the Carolinas, California, and that the Great Lakes would flow into the Gulf of Mexico. Pretty scary stuff and if one believes his predictions along with similiar ones made Nostradamus, and the Mayans (who end their calendar in 2012) it's not something that is too far off.  Although, both he and Nostradamus say that things can be changed if humans basically discard our selfish, sinful ways.

While I remain skepitical I do find the human mind intriguing.  I've never had visions of the future but almost everyone has the experience where you think of someone and the next thing you know they call you, or walk in the door, or maybe you run into them later that day.  How many times have you heard, 'Hey I was just thinking about you?" after calling up a friend?  There's just a whole realm of being human, and of the mind, that I don't think we have even begun to figure out.

What's really interesting about Cayce and Nostrodamus and even other 'clairvoyents' is their common belief in God.  Lot's of people believe in God but it seems to me that this would in many ways come in to conflict with traditional religion.  I don't know... it's all very interesting.  Perhaps, there is something to it?  Maybe like Joan Of Arc God is using these people as a way to communicate with us, to relay messages about what awaits us or a wrong path that we as humans are taking. 

----

Anyway, enough deep thoughts...  I called the Southwest hotline the other day to get an update on the current flight attendant status.  It said that they were currently contacting people to join a class at the end of this month and that everyone they contacted had their one on one interviews on or before March 25th.  So, I checked my planner to see when I had my interview and saw that it was March 29.  So, looks like I will most definately be in the NEXT class.  This actually gives me time to study for the Comprehensive Exam for my Master's, so hopefully I will have everything complete! Woohoo!  I even got a letter the other day telling me I need to change my status to 'candidate for degree'. 

 

 

So yesterday I went over to my Mom's house to finally have our 'Christmas' or Merry New Years!

It was nice, we exchanged presents.  We bought my parents a new tv.  The one they had was super old and rather pathetic.  Now they've got a nice flat-screen 27' tv.  It's not HD or anything but it's a major step up.  Along with a new TV my Mom has Season 1 & 2 of Arrested Development, my little sisters have 1 & 2 of the Harry Potter movies, and Madgascar.

My brother's I gave the gift of music, by taking them to Paul McCartney and Dave Matthews Band respectively.  It was nice to get my shopping done early for them.

I came home with a crock pot, a new DVD player, a book on the history of the Cardinals and St. Louis Browns, a set of sheets, a DVD of Paul McCartney's concert in the Red Square, and some jewelry.  I'm excited about the crock pot, much better than using a big ol' pot to cook in all the time!

For New Years Eve I went to my parents' house. It was really nice, although a bit boring.   We had salmon for dinner (delicious!), I fixed bruschetta with goat cheese, which turned out awesome! Everyone really liked it.  About 11:30 I remembered that the local PBS station was showing some of the Dave Matthews Band performance at Red Rocks from this summer.  So I went down to watch it and pretty soon my little sister, who was determined to "stay up until 2006!" came down to sit with me.  Both my little sisters think I'm crazy for thinking Dave Matthews is good looking, so as we're sitting there I say to her, "Boy isn't he cute! Look at him, how can you say he's not good looking??" She just keeps reading her book, "uugllly..." Then a little bit later I hear, "Bor-rring."  Brat!

When midnight hit she told me Happy New Year, gave me a hug and was immediately off to bed.  I'm surprised she made it the whole time.  Yesterday I asked her if she slept in and she said she did... all the way until 8:30.   To say she was a bit tired and crabby yesterday would be a bit of an understatement.

Anyway, I think that catches up everything.  Tomorrow I am back to finishing up my internship.  I also am starting to work a few more shifts at Crapplebee's, money is getting a bit low and I really need to catch up on bills and saving some more money.  Hopefully that call from Southwest will arrive soon...

 

 

 

2005 - A Year in Review

Hard to belive another year has already come to pass.  Overall, I think 2005 was pretty good to me, certainly better than 2004... So here's a quick review...

This year I traveled a lot, which is always fun. 

I Saw my favorite baseball team 4 times!  

Met friends I hadn't seen in years.  

Stayed with family I hadn't seen in several years as well as got in touch with one of my cousins online. 

Finished my last full time semester of Graduate School.  As well as finished my last 5 credits for my master's degree.

Interviewed and was hired by Southwest Airlines (though still waiting on training).

Got a new roommate.... who moved out and was replaced by my youngest brother.

Went to see the Dave Matthews Band twice (St. Louis in June and Detroit in December), each time with a friend from undergrad that I hadn't seen in several years.

Saw Coldplay in Indianapolis.

Saw Paul McCartney with my youngest brother.

Considering how bad 2004 stunk, I'm fairly happy with 2005... sure some things didn't go so great, but when do you not have some downsides??  2006 looks like it's going to be an eventful year.  I should be finished with my MPA as well as start at Southwest, which will also bring a move, to where I'm not sure...  I am excited for it though.  There are a lot of places I can't wait to explore, and lots of people I haven't seen that I'd like to visit.  I expect that I'll be catching a few more DMB shows, as well as a few more Cardinals games in a new stadium.  I also have a promise to fulfill to my littlest sister.  She's expecting me to take her on her first airplane trip and to see the Cardinals (thank goodness she likes baseball!).   So I say, come on 2006, I'm ready for ya!

Tonight I'm going to see the year out in a relatively low-key way.  Some of my friends were going to go out and do the whole dinner buffet, dj thing but I'm just not in the mood.  I also don't really want to spend that kind of money.  So, instead I'm going to go spend the night with my parents and little sisters.  They're fixing salmon and I fixed bruschetta with goat cheese for an appetizer.  Maybe we'll even have a little Arrested Development marathon.  Most years I'd feel like a complete loser for having a night like this, but I am comforted by the fact that I did have several people actually ask me if wanted to go out this year.

Anyway, Happy New Year!