Another day… A Few More thoughts….

okay, so i have not written for quite some time, but i have been extremely busy lately.  I have started for flying again for Delta Airlines.  I started back as of 01Mar08.  I actually planned on not writing at the beginning because i did not want to make any misinformed comments on the status of affairs without having some flight time under my belt.

So, here it goes…  I try to stay positive on all my flights, becuase the travelling public goes through hell by the time they get to my door on the plane.  First they spend days upon days surfing the internet for the absolute cheapest ticket to their destination.  There are a million different websites detailing every little saving that somebody can get for a flight.  With very little loyalty to an airline, people look to save that extra $5 on their flight.  Okay, let’s talk about that for just a second.  I had a passenger that was on a flight from atlanta to tampa.  This passenger had the idea that it was a good idea to “file a complaint” with ME about the $119 fare that they had to pay for a round trip flight.  REALLY?  Current flight prices are about what they were in 1977.  That is a fact from a recent study done with the airlines.  Okay, so i asked the gentleman, in a very nice way if he has had a raise since 1977… he said “of course.”  So, i explained to him about the current pricing structure and that he could not drive to tampa and back for that amount of money with the price of gasoline…. let alone get a snack, a beverage, free television programming and my smiling face!  He then became a bit unpleasant… So at that point, I pointed out to him, that because of people like him that I have taken a yearly pay CUT since I have started working for the airline!  And yet, he wants the ultimate fliers experience for the price he paid?! YEAH, NO!

Next in my little adventure, the passenger has to get to the airport and park.  Again, I truly dont think people realize about the parking we have to endure not just once or twice a month for business, but on average 5 trips a month!  I wont dwell on this too much… but nontheless it is still a hassle…. Next SECURITY.

Yup, I said it… SECURITY.  Ugh, nobody like that process.  Again people, the airlines have nothing to do with security… TSA is a government agency.  It is that plain and simple.  I have nothing to do with it.  So again, the average business traveller will go through security 4 to 6 times a month. Yes, that is quite a bit, but for us poor airline folk, it is a part of our daily routine.  On average, I will be going through security in 15 different airports month.  While I was going through security, there was a “gentlman” that proceeded to yell at my crew for going through the crew security line.  He began yelling at us to “get back in line and wait like the rest of them.  It is total sh*^ that we have our own lines and we need to get to the airport just as early as everybody else and wait in line.”  Okay, so we all just looked at him and smiled.  I mean really, what does one do?  But needless to say I had quite the conversation in my head.  Think about it.  I had a 14 hour day scheduled for me.  Which is the legal maximum for Delta to schedule me.  So, if i had to get to security even another hour earlier, i could not work one of my flights.  That being done with all the crews worldwide would cancel thousands of flights.  Just think what this “gentleman” would have said to that!  REALLY?  Pick a fight you can win… 

Okay, we are now on the plane.  Let me tell you, some of these flight attendants have not changed.  I flew with a woman where nothing was good enough for her.  If nothing goes wrong on a flight, our job is relatively easy.  It is when things go wrong that our job becomes proportionately more difficult.  However, we are trained for almost any scenario.  That is what we do, take care of any situation that may arise with the given resources we have.  There are no options 6 miles up at 600 mph.  We have what we have and we will make it work if we can.  It is not like we have a secret hidden stash of stuff that we keep on the plane.   Anyway, I digress… This flight attendant compained that she was hungry.  We had to be at the plane before the restaurants in the airport opened.  So, the pilot, after his safety checks, volunteered to run to the restaurant and get breakfast sandwiches for us before we left.  Mind you, he REALLY does not have to do that, he was just being a good man and helping out a crew.  He went to the restaurant, bought a crew of 4 breakfast sandwiches and paid for them out of his pocket.  Again, you would think that would be considered a very nice gesture and thanks would be in order, no?  Well, this stewardess (oh yeah, i said it!)  had the nerve to say (in an area where the captain could hear her)”ugh…. i hate bagels, it was supposed to be a biscuit.  I am not going to eat this.”  She then proceeded to throw away her sandwich.   She did not pick off the eggs or bacon or any of the yummy stuff.   Just threw away the whole thing.  UHM…. Ungrateful BI$%H!  That is only one example of a fabulous 3 days with her.  Now do you all understand where some of my patience comes from?

Well, i am going to stop here with this story, although i have a few more.  I must save more for later!!!!  I truly just live in my own little happy world on the plane try to have a good of a time as possible.  Yeah, the situation may suck. But, really? do you think I can do more than i already am?  nope… sorry…. So, let’s all agree that there is a problem with modern aviation (caused by numerous factors which i may get into later) and suffer through it together as best as we can.  Okay?  If you pretend to love me for the duration of your flight, I will pretend to love you.  It is that simple.  

more to come later.

Okay, today… sometimes i am in such a good mood, sometimes not.  the past few days have been so awkward so i cant really say if i have been in a good mood or not.  i have had a wonderful time with all of my friends lately, as well as with jonathan.  the time i spend with everybody has been just what i need lately.  a lot of time just spent being with each other and enjoying what life has to offer.  i truly cherish all of my friends and family and the time i get with them. 

i know i have been in a personally strange bi-polar place lately.  i mainly chalk it up to personal issues that dont affect anybody but me.  i have had a rough couple of months lately.  then on top of all of that i go back to flying for delta again on 02march.  so, i am not against the idea, but i am not for it either.  i would love to find a job in the spa industry where i could make a good living and have benefits.  i have my own office, but that is not currently enough to support my family.  so, i welcome the chance to go back flying.  i just dont know how long i will stay with it.  that really depends on how things are with the airline nowadays….

so, back to today, or at least the most recent past.  so many of my friends have  had such negativity in their lives lately and i am not sure if they  notice it or if they have just become numb to it.  there is always some issue or problem.  now, we all have problems and issues, but this is really getting excessive.  i love being there for all of my friends, but everybody collectively is begining to weigh in on me.  i truly enjoy the fact that everybody finds me as someone they can come to, and i truly do cherish that trust people have given me.  so, please dont think anything to the contrary.

i just wonder, what about these people attracts so much perceived negativity.  i truly try to live my life as conflict free and happily as possible.  i truly believe there are things we can control and things we cant and we just need to remember which is which and live our lives accordingly.  before i go any further i really want to emphasize that i am not trying to sound above anybody else.  that is truly not my intention.  if anything else, i consider myself quite humble, although only my true friends would ever see that part of me! (hehehe)

so, i want to start bringing more comfort to my friends.  i want to really share with them what it is like to have a quiet mind and a warm heart.  so, any friends who are reading this, or even anybody who is, let me help you find that quiet content place in life.  i am blessed to have found that place in my life at a young age.  most people in todays society never find that place. 

again, today.  i kind of came to a point today and noticed that everybody in my life is so stressed out over something or another.  this is kind of cliche, but remember that today, right now, is all that we have.  the past has already happened and we can not change that.  so either learn from it or dont, that is up to you.  the future is not here yet.  so, it is really of not much consequence.  it may never come, so dont worry too much about it yet.  again, dont ignore it, but keep it in perspective. 

so, that leaves us… today.  enjoy every minute of today and the right now.  we can spend so much time worrying and fussing that we forget about what we do have.  remember what is important in life and embrace that.  do what you can to help somebody else find that in themselves as well.  i dont want to get too deep here.  so, i just want to say to my friends, if you need help finding today and the peace you so rightly deserve, ask somebody… if it is me, great!  if not, find somebody who is the right person for you.  and then pass on what you have learned. 

only once we have overcome all the small insignificant intricacies of our lives that do nothing but complicate it will we find true peace in today.

okay… i just had to mention this.  today while i was in the grocery i noticed that there was a larger selection of organic produce choices.  this being a major chain grocery, i was appreciative and surprised to see such a large choice.  i try to buy organically what i can.  of course, finances are a challenge for now so, i do what i can. 

having said all of this,  on each piece of organic food… i am talking each individual piece there was a piece of tape encircling it as a label indicating it is organice.  okay… now, the produce was grown and met usda organic standards to be labled as organic, but what about all that tape around each piece of produce?  i pulled off that tape and it did not seem like the biodegradeable and edible stickers found on standard produce.  so, let me think about this for a minute.  i am sure the tape is not a petroleum based tape (let’s hope.)  but really?  what did it take to produce the tape that circled each fruit or vegetable? 

i kind of equate that to bottled water.  the majority of united states based bottled water is nothing more than local municipal water that has been filtered with minerals added for taste.  so, in some states, such as georgia, you are paying municipal taxes for water that they use to make that bottled dasani that you buy.  now think about this… they pay on average $2 per 1000 gallons.  how much do you pay?  think about it.  then, on top of all that, it is in a plastic bottle.  the bottle is a petroleum product that uses fossil fuel oils.  so, that has to be converted using energy resources into that bottle.  that process, as we all know, contributes to numerous problems world wide.  plus…. those plastic bottles can leak toxins into that bottled water that is supposedly good for you.   when those bottles heat up, they release the petroleum based toxins into that filtered and mineralized water.  and no, those storage facilities and delivery trucks are not temperature controlled.  then when you are done with that bottle of water, where does that bottle go?  plus the amount of plastic grocery bags that is used to carry that bottle of water home….  plus what percentages of americans truly recycle?  think about it. 

how much would it take to get a filtration system at home and either a glass, steel or polycarbonate reusable water bottle?  a good filtration system costs less than $100 and that water bottle costs maybe $10….  average that over the amount of bottled water that you drink a year.  then take into account the impact that you will have on the world and its ecosystem.  now think about if just 25% of the population would do that. 

imagine the difference that would make….  now think about all those organic, “healthy,” and whatever other all natural descriptors you may think of and take in to account more than what is in that package and the marketing involved in it.  now, think about what impact you can make by making a truly educated and informed decision.  if we each do just a little….  it just pains me to see what is happening to our world and our bodies based on marketing….

i encourage everybody to use the resources available to them to educate themselves and not just blindly listen to what you are told.  just think about the american media and compare that to what is really happening in the world (that is a whole other conversation.)

Well, this blog is going to be a bit random i feel.  I truly think that people today are starving in our world.  I know that may mean many things to many people, but it really means so many different things at the same time.  The human creature has certain requirements to just function… Among those are touch, and that is what I am talking about.   I believe with the advent of modern technology and societal “advancement” it is practically taboo to enjoy touch. 

I am not talking sex, but just simple physical interaction.  The act of holding somebodys hand, placing your hand on their shoulder or even just resting your leg on theirs can be absolutely electric.  That simple personal connection can awaken so many things in both people.  There is almost a magic that happens when two people touch. 

I love to hug people when I greet them.  I truly miss the cheek kisses of a greeting that is a custom in a large part of the world.  Not only does it feel special for you, but shares an intimacy with the one you are sharing it with.  You cant do that over your cell phone, over the internet or even via video chat.  I think that so many people are just missing that one aspect of their life and just starving for touch. 

I have a job where I touch people for a living.  My spa services are almost all based on the touch.  A touch without expectation. A touch that is caring and familiar.  I find it a way to feed the inner being of a person.  I know that sounds a bit deep, but imagine a time and place where it was okay to just touch freely without expectation or judgement.  The touch does not have to lead to anything, but is there just for the simple pleasure of knowing somebody is there with you.

I am trying to get more people comfortable with the touch.  Giving hugs, kisses on the cheek, and a simple touch of the leg.  It makes me feel special that I can share that with my friends.  My friends are my family and I need them all to know they are special to me.  I dont have a lot of money and I dont have a big apartment to entertain.   But, I do have a hug and a kiss.  I encourage everybody to just share a touch with somebody and see the magic it can make.  Once you see what your touch can do, I think you will be amazed….

Well, this is my second first post.  I posted last night when I uploaded my new website, but then the blog software was out of date.  So, instead of trying to save the single post while doing the whole ftp upgrade thing, I just figured it would be easier to start over.  So…

First, if anybody has any ideas or suggestions for me about my website or blog, I invite all comments and suggestions.  I plan to work on the web page as often as I can.  I really want to post a lot of my pictures from my travels and talk about them.

So far as my blog, this is my first attempt at doing this regularly.  Occasionally I have posted things on other sites, but never have I attempted to do this regularly.  So, if your don’t see anything from me for a while, shoot me an email!  I know that I have a different view on the world and many different opinions contrary to what may be considered popular.  I hope to use this as a forum for discussion and thought for both myself and those who chose to read what I have to say.

I touched on a topic yesterday that I find very interesting when it comes to conversation, so I thought I would repost in as much as I can remember.  The main concept I am talking about is, Who are You?  Now, we may know what you do, what you like, who your friends are and other things that make up your daily life, but who are you?  I truly think that most people in contemporary society have never been asked that question or delved that deeply into what that may mean.  Today, when somebody asks, who are you? you may answer, oh I am flight attendant.   You describe yourself as to what your job title is, or even what  social circle you fall into, or what your hobbies might be.  That really does not tell me who YOU are, just what path you have chosen in life.  What is it that makes up your heart, soul, feelings and self?  This concept may not even be thinkable for some people nowadays.  With labels for everything and everybody, how can we ever identify as an idividual? 

So, I will ask you, Who are you?  Try to think about that with out all the descriptors that are associated with you. 

I promise not all my entries will be like this.  It is just a concept I have been talking about with a few people in my life now that seemed to intrigue them, as I hope it may you.  If you can’t tell yet, I like conversation for the artful sake of it.  So, enjoy or dismiss as you like, it is still an art.