Sometimes......its not about traveling....its about standing still. Utterly still. So still that you believe that the heaviness in your body, your heart, your soul, would keep gale force winds from moving you a single inch. I feel like my feet have been anchored in concrete slabs and I believe that nothing, absolutely nothing, is going to change for the better. And yes, inevitably things do, in fact, change. But I feel I am nowhere near that moment. I try to explain to those close to me, what it feels like inside....how my soul feels like a dark abyss of a black hole, and how my soul, quite literally, feels the need to vomit.....but no amount of adjectives or visionary words can get them to understand. And what I want is for them to understand more than anything, because it is these few people, and these alone, who are the reasons I use to convince my soul to not wish to end this existence. I make decisions, most recently out of sheer desperation for the basics of living, and yet even though these are the best decisions I can make at the time, I am still haunted by the thoughts and judgements of those who are the very same people whom I am choosing to live for. I am doing the one thing that
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Sunday, January 24, 2010
I'm BAAAAAAACK...
Hello to my 5...count 'em FIVE ... faithful readers =) haha seriously though...to anyone who reads my meager blog, i apologize for my damn near 5 month hiatus from writing. It's been a difficult, but enlightening, few months...and while I wish I could write about my experience these past few months, it cuts too "close to the bone" , so to speak...I just didnt feel I had it in me, to write of what has happened, especially as it comes to my family. Sometimes, situations become so impossibly personal, that to put them down in writing, for everyone to see, becomes too intimate. I hope you understand.
A few days ago, I was given a great gift...to fly with one of my closest, dearest friends...I didnt realize he had even read my blog! but when he came back to my galley, sat down and started telling me he had missed my writing, well...I knew I needed to exercise my 'creative muscle' and get back to it....that's the thing about friends like this....he sat down, and without so much as a hello, he said....'you need to start writing again'. BAM! then, he proceeded to tell me what he loved about my writing....i was stunned. i didnt know anyone even read my blog, let alone, remembered what was in it....it was almost as if I had been writing for myself, and no other. But to this dear friend, he remembered my $1 story, and it nearly made me cry. This friend of mine, you see, is one of those magnetic people you've ever met...someone that you are just drawn to....someone that makes you think about the world around you, but at the same time, makes you feel as if you and he are the only 2 people in the world who exist. He's magnanimous that way....and for him to encourage me to write again, .... well.....i will be forever grateful....he got me out of my slump, like no one else could do. And even though he and the boys DUMPED me for an 'all-boys club' last night, lol, I will always love him.
So here i sit, trying to warm my bones as the freezing cold arctic air of Leipzig Germany swirls around me. I actually just braved the elements an hour ago, and made my way to my favorite little italian trattoria a few blocks away...it was worth every frozen step. And yes, some of my friends wouldnt take 2 steps towards walking into this restaurant (yes, yes, I KNOW you dont like it!!) I absolutely CRAVE this small cafe's lasagna, and I simply had to have it. It's a great little place to watch the world float by, and this evening was not an exception....most intriguing to me was a couple, sitting at a little table for 2 on the balcony. This was one of those 'beautiful couples' that was impossible to ignore. But what I found so interesting was not their beauty, but their body language....try as I might, I couldnt figure out if this couple was on their FIRST date, or their TWENTY FIRST date....they were so locked in each other's gaze that to look at it, you would have known they were in love....but were they? it was also the same gaze you would give a new lover, as you hoped they were going to take you back to your home to ravage you after you enjoyed a long delicious dinner....I couldnt tell. But i was entranced, nonetheless... and then it made me sad. Sad, because it made me miss Chad so much.....made me miss the way he looks at me out of the corner of his eye, when he is thinking something that I am hoping to decipher... made me miss the way he strongly grabs hold of my hand, even when we are just shopping for groceries at 10 o'clock on a Saturday night....made me miss the fierce look in his eye, when he is singing his favorite song at karaoke, staring at me, and only me, with a fire that breathes through my soul.....yes, dear reader, I may seem to live a glamourous life of travel and exploration, but it can get very, very lonely.... and to love someone, and have them be 9,000 miles away, is tortuous at times. It's cold, lonely nights like this, that I can hardly bear it.... as much as I love to hear his voice over Skype, it shakes me to the core that I am so far away from him....I pretend sometimes that it is HE who is overseas, deployed like he has been many times before, to Iraq or some other foreign nation....but it only lasts so long. I know that sooner, rather than later, the tables will be reversed, and it WILL be him who is overseas, and it will be me, sitting at the computer, waiting for him to log on....And then the sheer torture of being alone ONE MORE DAY in this hotel room, really hits....and I pray, to the gods of the scheduling world, that they will PLEASE bring me home on the day they have promised. That i will ACTUALLY get to go home when they say I will, so that i can wrap my arms around my wonderful man, and forget that the world around us exists.....if only for a moment. For you see, I may have my wonderful friends, and crazy insane nights of running around whichever city I find myself in, but it only lasts so long.....yes, I have an insanely wonderful time when I am out on my trips...that is why I started this job.....but it is TRULY the little things in life, that make life worthwhile.....the feel of my down comforter as I snuggle into bed....a bite of something from my favorite little restaurant down the street from my house...the feel of my love's strong sinewy arms wrapped around me as he loves me like no other......it is the 'little things' .... but they are NOT little...they are oh-so-big...and they mean the world to me....
And so, dear friend, as I send this blog post out to the worldwide web of information, I hope that you know that I thank you for taking the time to read my crazy posts....that I thank you for taking the time to share in my life with you.....that I thank you, friends like Ray, that encourage me beyond a shadow of a doubt to write with the vim and vigor that God has granted me...that I love you, Chad, no matter where in the world we find ourselves - I will always come home to you, and no other......that I present you with me, with all my faults, failures and triumphs to be seen....that I thank you.....for being there even when I'm not.....that I THANK YOU.
A wonderful good night to you all......
A few days ago, I was given a great gift...to fly with one of my closest, dearest friends...I didnt realize he had even read my blog! but when he came back to my galley, sat down and started telling me he had missed my writing, well...I knew I needed to exercise my 'creative muscle' and get back to it....that's the thing about friends like this....he sat down, and without so much as a hello, he said....'you need to start writing again'. BAM! then, he proceeded to tell me what he loved about my writing....i was stunned. i didnt know anyone even read my blog, let alone, remembered what was in it....it was almost as if I had been writing for myself, and no other. But to this dear friend, he remembered my $1 story, and it nearly made me cry. This friend of mine, you see, is one of those magnetic people you've ever met...someone that you are just drawn to....someone that makes you think about the world around you, but at the same time, makes you feel as if you and he are the only 2 people in the world who exist. He's magnanimous that way....and for him to encourage me to write again, .... well.....i will be forever grateful....he got me out of my slump, like no one else could do. And even though he and the boys DUMPED me for an 'all-boys club' last night, lol, I will always love him.
So here i sit, trying to warm my bones as the freezing cold arctic air of Leipzig Germany swirls around me. I actually just braved the elements an hour ago, and made my way to my favorite little italian trattoria a few blocks away...it was worth every frozen step. And yes, some of my friends wouldnt take 2 steps towards walking into this restaurant (yes, yes, I KNOW you dont like it!!) I absolutely CRAVE this small cafe's lasagna, and I simply had to have it. It's a great little place to watch the world float by, and this evening was not an exception....most intriguing to me was a couple, sitting at a little table for 2 on the balcony. This was one of those 'beautiful couples' that was impossible to ignore. But what I found so interesting was not their beauty, but their body language....try as I might, I couldnt figure out if this couple was on their FIRST date, or their TWENTY FIRST date....they were so locked in each other's gaze that to look at it, you would have known they were in love....but were they? it was also the same gaze you would give a new lover, as you hoped they were going to take you back to your home to ravage you after you enjoyed a long delicious dinner....I couldnt tell. But i was entranced, nonetheless... and then it made me sad. Sad, because it made me miss Chad so much.....made me miss the way he looks at me out of the corner of his eye, when he is thinking something that I am hoping to decipher... made me miss the way he strongly grabs hold of my hand, even when we are just shopping for groceries at 10 o'clock on a Saturday night....made me miss the fierce look in his eye, when he is singing his favorite song at karaoke, staring at me, and only me, with a fire that breathes through my soul.....yes, dear reader, I may seem to live a glamourous life of travel and exploration, but it can get very, very lonely.... and to love someone, and have them be 9,000 miles away, is tortuous at times. It's cold, lonely nights like this, that I can hardly bear it.... as much as I love to hear his voice over Skype, it shakes me to the core that I am so far away from him....I pretend sometimes that it is HE who is overseas, deployed like he has been many times before, to Iraq or some other foreign nation....but it only lasts so long. I know that sooner, rather than later, the tables will be reversed, and it WILL be him who is overseas, and it will be me, sitting at the computer, waiting for him to log on....And then the sheer torture of being alone ONE MORE DAY in this hotel room, really hits....and I pray, to the gods of the scheduling world, that they will PLEASE bring me home on the day they have promised. That i will ACTUALLY get to go home when they say I will, so that i can wrap my arms around my wonderful man, and forget that the world around us exists.....if only for a moment. For you see, I may have my wonderful friends, and crazy insane nights of running around whichever city I find myself in, but it only lasts so long.....yes, I have an insanely wonderful time when I am out on my trips...that is why I started this job.....but it is TRULY the little things in life, that make life worthwhile.....the feel of my down comforter as I snuggle into bed....a bite of something from my favorite little restaurant down the street from my house...the feel of my love's strong sinewy arms wrapped around me as he loves me like no other......it is the 'little things' .... but they are NOT little...they are oh-so-big...and they mean the world to me....
And so, dear friend, as I send this blog post out to the worldwide web of information, I hope that you know that I thank you for taking the time to read my crazy posts....that I thank you for taking the time to share in my life with you.....that I thank you, friends like Ray, that encourage me beyond a shadow of a doubt to write with the vim and vigor that God has granted me...that I love you, Chad, no matter where in the world we find ourselves - I will always come home to you, and no other......that I present you with me, with all my faults, failures and triumphs to be seen....that I thank you.....for being there even when I'm not.....that I THANK YOU.
A wonderful good night to you all......
Friday, August 7, 2009
The Waiting Traveler...yep, I'm STILL here
Well, its official. I've been sucked into the vortex and I can't get out. What vortex am I talking about? I'm talking about the nightmare assignment of Online Reserve, and it IS like a vortex... once you get sucked in, there's no getting out. After 19 days last month, of sitting and waiting in a hotel room in Germany, waiting for scheduling to call me for a trip assignment, they sent me home for a whopping 48hrs, only to immediately place Online Reserve back on my schedule for this month. So here I sit....again....and wait....and wait...and wait.
Don't get me wrong...there ARE a few positive aspects to this whole situation (this is me desperately trying to find a 'silver lining'). I'm getting paid to just sit here. How many people can say they get paid to sleep, read a book and watch TV. Not many, that's for sure. And I do have a number of great friends who are here with me, doing the same thing...and after our 'on call hours' are finished every day, we ARE able to get out and enjoy a nice meal in a beautiful city. There's only one catch......you see, we have multiple hotels that our company utilizes in every city where we layover. And they're ranked, 1st choice, 2nd choice, etc etc. Apparently, when our Travel department went to assign all of our hotel rooms (there's about 20 of us), they went down the queue and assigned everyone to our 1st choice hotel. Its BY FAR the best hotel in the city...best location, best amenities, best BEDS (very very important). Well, they got to my name...the very LAST flight attendant on the list, and our 1st choice hotel informed them that they were all booked up. As a result, out of 20 crewmembers, I am officially the ONLY person at our 2nd choice (and definitely 2nd rate) hotel.
Normally, I'm never one to raise hell about anything having to do with our hotels. For the most part, they're all usually quite nice (many times 5 star), and I don't really care, because once I get to a city, I drop off my stuff and head out the door to explore. I don't really care about the hotels, because I usually just use them to sleep, and the rest of the time , I"m out on the town. But this is a VERY different circumstance. I'm here for 20 days....and I'm confined/quarantined/imprisoned in this room for a minimum of 12 hrs every day. I did EVERYTHING I possibly could to get myself moved to the other hotel. Short of threatening a One person strike, lol, I did everything I could think of, with absolutley no results. Overall, the hotel isn't bad. The location kind of sucks (its a bit of a walk to the city center), but there's one thing that's horrible and unacceptable....the BEDS. OMG. I'm actually (no joke) in physical pain down my legs and hips from the poor quality mattress. And when I got to the room, there were 2...count 'em...TWO pillows. That's it. What makes it worse is knowing that I should be at the 1st choice hotel, where the beds are hands-down, absolutely DIVINE. So, I broke down. And did something I'm embarassed to admit......I decided to act like a TOURIST. Yep, you read that right - imagine the hypocrisy - but there you go. I dropped the Traveler mentality and acted like a good ol' ugly American Tourist. I decided that SOMETHING had to be done about my bed, so I called downstairs to the reception desk, and proudly asked for SIX extra pillows and TWO extra down comforters. You should have heard the tone in the receptionist's voice - she was quite honestly appalled. I had to keep from laughing at myself out loud, as I knew my request was about as high-maintenanced as it comes. She asked me 3 times to repeat myself, and repeat to her how many items I was actually requesting. She was incredulous and when she realized I was being serious, she became quite annoyed and haughty. Yep, that's it - the perfect response to someone acting like a Tourist! But I didn't back down. I stood my ground, and about 30 mins later, 2 staffmembers arrived, weighted down by my requests. A very nice sized tip was granted, and I began my process of turning my sucky bed into as much of an oasis as possible. I used the 2 extra down comforters, plus one from my room, to create a down cushion of sorts on top of the mattress, on which to lay. Saving the last down comforter to curl up under when i go to sleep. Then, I took all 10 pillows (I found 2 extra in my room, so i had 4 to start with) and I created a "moat" of pillows surrounding me. Final result?? Not too shabby, if I do say so myself! Its not the 1st choice hotel, but it will do for now. But enough about my bed. I hope I haven't bored you to death! But hey, like I've said before, you work with what you've got, and since I can't leave this hotel room and have any adventures to write about, I've got to work with the material right in front of me.
On a more interesting note......I mentioned earlier that I have a number of friends who are staying at the other hotel, sitting Online Reserve along with me. There's one friend in particular who I'm planning on spending some quality time with over the weekend. I can't wait. Its been over a year since we've seen each other, and saying that alot has changed with her, is the understatement of the year. ( I do hope that when she reads this, she will know that I'm writing about her because she's just one of the most fabulous, loving, caring, thoughtful people I have ever been blessed to know). So the big change since I last saw her? The last time I saw her....SHE was a HE. In this past year, we were both out on extended leave....during that time, she was finally able to complete her years-long journey of becoming the woman she so very much desired to be. The process, from what I understand, takes years....years of psychological introspection, years of medical procedures, years of countless surgeries....but here she is....and she's finally done it!!! I couldn't be more happy for her, and I couldn't be more blessed to call someone like her, my friend. She absolutely amazes me....everything she has gone through to get to this point. The strength and the courage its taken.....I simply can't imagine it. The reason I wanted to write about her is this......I know many many people who have dreams and desires....people who talk about changing something they don't like for years, but never doing it. I, too, have been victim of this lackadaisical attitude at times in my life. But my friend (I'm refraining from using her name, for obvious reasons of privacy) went for it.....ALL OUT. Talk about taking some guts. Especially knowing that the after effects of this change would probably cause her a great deal of grief from unaccepting people and people who are too narrow-minded to see the wonderful person that she is, and always has been. So to her, I say 'BRAVO'!!! When I saw her on our plane the other day, I was absolutely blown away......she is outstandingly beautiful, carrying herself with a dignity and grace that is rarely seen. And on a lighter note, I have a new 'shopping buddy'!!! :) She's already asked me to go with her - to help be a kind of 'personal stylist', which is such a compliment!!! Like I said before, some of you might wonder why I chose to write about this friend of mine in my blog....but here's the crux of the situation..... living the life of a Traveler, is not just about seeing the world. Being a true Traveler, is about living a life of immersion, adventure and dedication in the place you find yourself to be in. It can be anything from seeing the Colloseum in Rome, to going to the grocery store in your hometown. It doesn't matter where you are...its about living the life you've been given to its fullest, and always, no matter what, being true to yourself. Its about going after your goals, desires and dreams. And that is why, I decided to write about this dear friend of mine. She is a true Traveler in every sense of the word, and I am blessed to call her my friend. We can all take a cue from her.....be courageous. be daring. go for what you want. and always, no matter what, be true to your inner self.
So get out there and enjoy your day, everyone!! get out there and be DARING!!!
Don't get me wrong...there ARE a few positive aspects to this whole situation (this is me desperately trying to find a 'silver lining'). I'm getting paid to just sit here. How many people can say they get paid to sleep, read a book and watch TV. Not many, that's for sure. And I do have a number of great friends who are here with me, doing the same thing...and after our 'on call hours' are finished every day, we ARE able to get out and enjoy a nice meal in a beautiful city. There's only one catch......you see, we have multiple hotels that our company utilizes in every city where we layover. And they're ranked, 1st choice, 2nd choice, etc etc. Apparently, when our Travel department went to assign all of our hotel rooms (there's about 20 of us), they went down the queue and assigned everyone to our 1st choice hotel. Its BY FAR the best hotel in the city...best location, best amenities, best BEDS (very very important). Well, they got to my name...the very LAST flight attendant on the list, and our 1st choice hotel informed them that they were all booked up. As a result, out of 20 crewmembers, I am officially the ONLY person at our 2nd choice (and definitely 2nd rate) hotel.
Normally, I'm never one to raise hell about anything having to do with our hotels. For the most part, they're all usually quite nice (many times 5 star), and I don't really care, because once I get to a city, I drop off my stuff and head out the door to explore. I don't really care about the hotels, because I usually just use them to sleep, and the rest of the time , I"m out on the town. But this is a VERY different circumstance. I'm here for 20 days....and I'm confined/quarantined/imprisoned in this room for a minimum of 12 hrs every day. I did EVERYTHING I possibly could to get myself moved to the other hotel. Short of threatening a One person strike, lol, I did everything I could think of, with absolutley no results. Overall, the hotel isn't bad. The location kind of sucks (its a bit of a walk to the city center), but there's one thing that's horrible and unacceptable....the BEDS. OMG. I'm actually (no joke) in physical pain down my legs and hips from the poor quality mattress. And when I got to the room, there were 2...count 'em...TWO pillows. That's it. What makes it worse is knowing that I should be at the 1st choice hotel, where the beds are hands-down, absolutely DIVINE. So, I broke down. And did something I'm embarassed to admit......I decided to act like a TOURIST. Yep, you read that right - imagine the hypocrisy - but there you go. I dropped the Traveler mentality and acted like a good ol' ugly American Tourist. I decided that SOMETHING had to be done about my bed, so I called downstairs to the reception desk, and proudly asked for SIX extra pillows and TWO extra down comforters. You should have heard the tone in the receptionist's voice - she was quite honestly appalled. I had to keep from laughing at myself out loud, as I knew my request was about as high-maintenanced as it comes. She asked me 3 times to repeat myself, and repeat to her how many items I was actually requesting. She was incredulous and when she realized I was being serious, she became quite annoyed and haughty. Yep, that's it - the perfect response to someone acting like a Tourist! But I didn't back down. I stood my ground, and about 30 mins later, 2 staffmembers arrived, weighted down by my requests. A very nice sized tip was granted, and I began my process of turning my sucky bed into as much of an oasis as possible. I used the 2 extra down comforters, plus one from my room, to create a down cushion of sorts on top of the mattress, on which to lay. Saving the last down comforter to curl up under when i go to sleep. Then, I took all 10 pillows (I found 2 extra in my room, so i had 4 to start with) and I created a "moat" of pillows surrounding me. Final result?? Not too shabby, if I do say so myself! Its not the 1st choice hotel, but it will do for now. But enough about my bed. I hope I haven't bored you to death! But hey, like I've said before, you work with what you've got, and since I can't leave this hotel room and have any adventures to write about, I've got to work with the material right in front of me.
On a more interesting note......I mentioned earlier that I have a number of friends who are staying at the other hotel, sitting Online Reserve along with me. There's one friend in particular who I'm planning on spending some quality time with over the weekend. I can't wait. Its been over a year since we've seen each other, and saying that alot has changed with her, is the understatement of the year. ( I do hope that when she reads this, she will know that I'm writing about her because she's just one of the most fabulous, loving, caring, thoughtful people I have ever been blessed to know). So the big change since I last saw her? The last time I saw her....SHE was a HE. In this past year, we were both out on extended leave....during that time, she was finally able to complete her years-long journey of becoming the woman she so very much desired to be. The process, from what I understand, takes years....years of psychological introspection, years of medical procedures, years of countless surgeries....but here she is....and she's finally done it!!! I couldn't be more happy for her, and I couldn't be more blessed to call someone like her, my friend. She absolutely amazes me....everything she has gone through to get to this point. The strength and the courage its taken.....I simply can't imagine it. The reason I wanted to write about her is this......I know many many people who have dreams and desires....people who talk about changing something they don't like for years, but never doing it. I, too, have been victim of this lackadaisical attitude at times in my life. But my friend (I'm refraining from using her name, for obvious reasons of privacy) went for it.....ALL OUT. Talk about taking some guts. Especially knowing that the after effects of this change would probably cause her a great deal of grief from unaccepting people and people who are too narrow-minded to see the wonderful person that she is, and always has been. So to her, I say 'BRAVO'!!! When I saw her on our plane the other day, I was absolutely blown away......she is outstandingly beautiful, carrying herself with a dignity and grace that is rarely seen. And on a lighter note, I have a new 'shopping buddy'!!! :) She's already asked me to go with her - to help be a kind of 'personal stylist', which is such a compliment!!! Like I said before, some of you might wonder why I chose to write about this friend of mine in my blog....but here's the crux of the situation..... living the life of a Traveler, is not just about seeing the world. Being a true Traveler, is about living a life of immersion, adventure and dedication in the place you find yourself to be in. It can be anything from seeing the Colloseum in Rome, to going to the grocery store in your hometown. It doesn't matter where you are...its about living the life you've been given to its fullest, and always, no matter what, being true to yourself. Its about going after your goals, desires and dreams. And that is why, I decided to write about this dear friend of mine. She is a true Traveler in every sense of the word, and I am blessed to call her my friend. We can all take a cue from her.....be courageous. be daring. go for what you want. and always, no matter what, be true to your inner self.
So get out there and enjoy your day, everyone!! get out there and be DARING!!!
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
I'm BA-A-A-A-A-C-K
Its official. Its known as "Online Reserve" and along with my company's scheduling department, its become the bane of my existence. From what I've been told (all hearsay, of course), we aren't supposed to be assigned 'online reserve' 2 months in a row. And yet, here I sit. And sit. And need I say? SIT. I'm not good at just 'sitting'. I'm a get out there and 'do it' kind of girl. So this whole being trapped in a hotel room for 12 hours a day, chained to the hotel room's telephone is not my kind of gig. Especially when my friends are all running around Italy and Vienna, Austria on this month's schedule of trips. That's where I want to be!!! The only silver lining is the fact that I'm currently fighting off a wicked sinus infection, and being stuck in this hotel room gives me all the opportunity to sleep, sleep and sleep some more, all the while getting paid to do it.
This leads me to the ever more important issue of.......the hotel bed. When it comes to hotel rooms, give me all, or none, of the fanciest, newest gadgets in the world in my hotel room and I dont care. Give me tacky retro chic decor, or simply elegant and understated decor...I dont care. Give me a plasma High Def TV or a 15" set from the 80's...don't care. For me, its ALL ABOUT THE BED. Our normal layover hotel in downtown Leipzig has simply the most fabulous beds you've ever slept in. Down everything, 500 thread count sheets, a mattress to die for... you quite simply, NEVER want to get out of bed! But (insert pity party here), I'm not at THAT hotel this time. It seems that when they went to assign hotel rooms to all of us sitting online reserve, that I was the very last person in the assignment queue. They went through the whole list, and everyone was placed at our 1st choice hotel (with THE BEDS). And when they got to me, and the hotel was completely booked (or rather, its not that the hotel is booked up, the hotel just doesnt want to give out any more rooms to my company at the discounted rate), they had to send me to our 2nd choice hotel, and whaaaaahhhhhhh (insert crying jag here) the beds absolutely suck. I'm sad. I tried everything in my power to get assigned to the other hotel.....i talked to my supervisor, the scheduling supervisor, the travel department supervisor, but NO luck. Don't they understand that its ALL about the BED??? Don't they get it??? Apparently not.... so, I did the unthinkable - I acted like a (gulp)...Tourist. At least I tried to act like a GRACIOUS Tourist, albeit a Tourist. I know, I know...the hypocrisy, right? But I did it anyway.....I proudly called down to the front desk of this 2nd rate hotel and requested 5.....count'em....FIVE extra pillows. And then I went one further, and requested 2 extra down comforters. The front desk clerk was, I can only gather from the tone in her voice, appalled. I expected this. But if they're going to give us sub-standard beds, then I needed to make some 'adjustments'....and fast. After they begrudgingly delivered my requested items, I proceeded to create a 'mini oasis' on my bed. I have 2 beds in my room, so I took one of the down comforters, added that to the 2 they brought me, and created a down "cushion" on which to lay. Then I took the last comforter and am using that to cover up with. I took the 5 extra pillows (along with the 4, already in the room) and created a "pillow moat", if you will, surrounding myself with a sea of pillows. Its not the same as the bed at our regular hotel, but it will work in a pinch.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
A cup of tea changed my life
Yep! you read that correctly - I'M FREE!!!!!! YAY and YEE-HAW!!!! Goodbye to you , my 4-walled prison of a hotel room...i'm outta here!!! well, not for a few days, but heck - just KNOWING that i'm finally going to be on the road again sends shivers down my spine and has thrown me into a tailspin of packing, organizing and planning. Yes, I'm not leaving for 3 days, but one can never be TOO prepared :). Plus, the packing and the organizing and everything else gives me something to do to help pass the time....
Here's the tricky part though.....its a great trip.....lots of flying as a passenger on other airlines, and VERY little actual working...but you see, I'm in a rather small city known as Leipzig, Germany, right now, and I have to get to an equally smaller city known as Adana, Turkey. Ahh...there's the rub. Neither city is an airline 'hub', so in order to travel from one to the other, I have to make a trip damn-near halfway around the world, to go what is approximately 1500 miles. Usually, a trip of 1500 miles would take around 3 hours or so....but not this trip....THIS trip is going to take me more like 16 hours! I have to start in Leipzig, fly to Frankfurt, Germany on Lufthansa, switch to Turkish Airlines, get on another plane and fly to Istanbul, Turkey, then switch planes once again, to finally make it to Adana, Turkey. I don't mind the flying so much - I'm getting paid the same as if I were actually WORKING all those flight hours (a little bonus thanks to our wonderful union contract). What I DO mind, and worry myself sick over, is the whole "checked baggage issue". You see, when you travel for what could end up being a 6 week long trip, you tend to carry a decent amount of luggage with you (I mentioned this before). And while I do have some flight atttendant friends who, bless their little old efficient souls, are able to get everything they need into 2 smart, carry-on size bags.......I, dear friends, am not one of those people. I have STUFF. and LOTS of it. I'm not ashamed to admit that I carry what we lovingly refer to in the biz as a "Big Bertha" bag. The name explains it all......it's a honkin' big, clunky and overstuffed piece of luggage wonderfulness. I swear by mine....and let me tell you folks....it is PACKED. and then some. I don't know why I've never had the presence of mind to downsize, but everything I bring with me always seems so important and "can't live without". So, "Big Bertha" stays by my side........usually. And ahhhh, there's the rub.....again.......you see, when you travel with a 'big bertha', you have one huge hurdle (and sometimes your worst nightmare)...you have to CHECK your bag. Normally, this isn't a huge deal. 99% of the time, your baggage will arrive with you, just as it's supposed to. But think about it.....I'm transiting 4 airports, on 3 different airplanes, and 2 different airlines.....the odds are against me. BIG TIME. Needless to say, the praying to the 'luggage gods' has already begun. With any luck (and trust me, there's a LOT of luck involved in the whole process), Big Bertha will be there with her fine self, wobbly wheels and all, waiting for me when I arrive in Adana. I'm not Catholic, but I think its about time to start busting out some 'Hail Mary's". Anyone got a rosary I can borrow???
So I'm heading to Adana.....I'm excited since I haven't been there in awhile.....Turkey is such an ecclectic, magical place.....A frenetic mix of VERY old world charm and the newest of new technologies. Its nothing to see a pack-mule, weighed down with a peasant's day's worth of wares to be sold at market, waiting at a traffic light while a fresh from the showroom, brand new Ferrari, rumbles its engines beside it. A glittering, mirrored Hilton Hotel, shining brightly in the sun, standing right next to one of the oldest Mosques in the region....hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of years old. Its common to see the latest fashions on so many finely, immpecably dressed women on the street, and yet, if I want to enter any of the Mosques in the city, I am required to don the 'hijab' (or headdress/veil of the Muslim culture). Without it, I am not allowed to step inside. Such a fantastic combination of the Old World and the New....
One of my very favorite things to study and learn, as I travel this great Globe of ours, is the customs and culture of a place I'm going to be visiting. The little nuances, the idiosyncracies, the requirements, the expected and the unexpected.....This is always so surprising, and enticing to me....to learn how and why a land of people live as they do.....Culture and Custom are always this delightful melange of historical fact and fable, tales that found their way into tradition, and so on....These things never cease to amaze and entice me...and I can never get enough of it. It all goes back to the Traveler vs. Tourist mindset. As a true Traveler, I want to get in with the people of a country and learn not only the history of their place, but to learn more importantly, how and why they live their lives the way they do. This is the TRUE essence of a place and I love every bit of it.
On my very first trip to Turkey 5 years ago, I was waiting for a coworker friend of mine in the lobby, and struck up a conversation with a local woman who had just begun working at a nearby shop. (I've found that conversing with locals is the absolute BEST way to find out about a place - forget the guide books - the locals are "where its at"!) I asked her if there was any advice or suggestions that she would give to me, being that I was not just new to the city, but new to the entire country. After telling me of some local historical monuments I should explore, I asked her if there was anything, culturally speaking, that I should know of, before I headed out to see her fair city. She said "Yes. There is one very important thing. If you are ever offered a beverage, such as tea, in a shop, you should ALWAYS accept this offer and sit down to enjoy your beverage with the shopkeeper. It is considered a rude, 'slap in the face' - so to speak - if you decline this offer of refreshment. Always remember this.", she said. I thanked her for her suggestions, met my friend, and departed for my exploration. As we were leaving, I thought of this woman's advice, and since I had spent NO time, thus far, in this part of the world (I was new to my airline and the cities we travel to), I began to think of a typical shopping experience back in the States. When, had I EVER been offered a beverage by a shopkeeper? maybe once? twice? in my lifetime? So in my mind, it seemed to reason, that such an offer would probably be few and far between here in Turkey, as well. Boy, was I WRONG. Our first stop was a Turkish rug store I had heard a great deal about from my coworkers, and wouldn't you know it? We weren't in the front door 2 seconds, before the owner of the shop was ushering us to the back room, which doubled as a 2nd showroom, and was offering us tea, coffee, Coca-Colas and little cakes to go along with our liquid refreshment. I smiled at the thought of my "new" friend I had met at the hotel and her advice, and thankfully accepted a delicious cup of tea and a little cake. Instantly, EVERY single worker in the store was lining up in front of us, each with his own personal choices of different rugs, in every color and style.....it was like Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive....We sat, enjoyed our refreshments, and THEY brought the store to US. I was in heaven. And then, something even more surprising happened....the owner offered us his nephew to be our tour guide for the day. Insisted, actually. Our meager attempts at a "No, thank you, that won't be necessary" fell on deaf ears. It was decided. The nephew was going to be our escort for the rest of the day, and that was all there was to it! When we mentioned that we wanted to visit the beautiful mosque down the street, the owner of the shop quickly jumped into action, returning quickly with 2 of the most beautiful silk scarves I had ever seen (gifts, he stated, as a "welcome to his Country"), so that we would have something to wear on our heads, so that we would be allowed to enter the mosque. I was beyond touched. And what was so interesting to me was that all of this just seemed to be the 'norm' for the owner, his nephew, and the other employees of the shop. Just another day to them. Not for us, though. Not at all. People say "Its the little things in life that make the difference". These were "little" things to our new friends...."little" acts of generosity, kindness and friendship. But they were SO not "little" things to my friend and me. I was once again, forever changed. And all because of a cup of tea.
So, with Ahmed (the nephew) as our tour guide, we set out to venture around Adana, and wouldn't you know it? EVERY SINGLE TIME we stepped foot in another shop, the same offer of refreshments was bestowed upon us. I was blown away. What a lovely tradition. And one thing is for certain....it made me re-evaluate how I have, and forever will, greet and welcome foreigners to my OWN country, the USA, and how I only hope I can bestow upon these "new friends" the same amount of kindness, generosity and friendship, that was so unselfishly bestowed upon me.....in one of my newest, favorite 'little' cities - Adana, Turkey. But enough about that....i've been in 6 shops and have had 6 cups of tea and DESPERATELY need to find a Ladies Room!!!! :) Damn, i wish i knew how to speak Turkish!!!!
Ta ta for now....
Here's the tricky part though.....its a great trip.....lots of flying as a passenger on other airlines, and VERY little actual working...but you see, I'm in a rather small city known as Leipzig, Germany, right now, and I have to get to an equally smaller city known as Adana, Turkey. Ahh...there's the rub. Neither city is an airline 'hub', so in order to travel from one to the other, I have to make a trip damn-near halfway around the world, to go what is approximately 1500 miles. Usually, a trip of 1500 miles would take around 3 hours or so....but not this trip....THIS trip is going to take me more like 16 hours! I have to start in Leipzig, fly to Frankfurt, Germany on Lufthansa, switch to Turkish Airlines, get on another plane and fly to Istanbul, Turkey, then switch planes once again, to finally make it to Adana, Turkey. I don't mind the flying so much - I'm getting paid the same as if I were actually WORKING all those flight hours (a little bonus thanks to our wonderful union contract). What I DO mind, and worry myself sick over, is the whole "checked baggage issue". You see, when you travel for what could end up being a 6 week long trip, you tend to carry a decent amount of luggage with you (I mentioned this before). And while I do have some flight atttendant friends who, bless their little old efficient souls, are able to get everything they need into 2 smart, carry-on size bags.......I, dear friends, am not one of those people. I have STUFF. and LOTS of it. I'm not ashamed to admit that I carry what we lovingly refer to in the biz as a "Big Bertha" bag. The name explains it all......it's a honkin' big, clunky and overstuffed piece of luggage wonderfulness. I swear by mine....and let me tell you folks....it is PACKED. and then some. I don't know why I've never had the presence of mind to downsize, but everything I bring with me always seems so important and "can't live without". So, "Big Bertha" stays by my side........usually. And ahhhh, there's the rub.....again.......you see, when you travel with a 'big bertha', you have one huge hurdle (and sometimes your worst nightmare)...you have to CHECK your bag. Normally, this isn't a huge deal. 99% of the time, your baggage will arrive with you, just as it's supposed to. But think about it.....I'm transiting 4 airports, on 3 different airplanes, and 2 different airlines.....the odds are against me. BIG TIME. Needless to say, the praying to the 'luggage gods' has already begun. With any luck (and trust me, there's a LOT of luck involved in the whole process), Big Bertha will be there with her fine self, wobbly wheels and all, waiting for me when I arrive in Adana. I'm not Catholic, but I think its about time to start busting out some 'Hail Mary's". Anyone got a rosary I can borrow???
So I'm heading to Adana.....I'm excited since I haven't been there in awhile.....Turkey is such an ecclectic, magical place.....A frenetic mix of VERY old world charm and the newest of new technologies. Its nothing to see a pack-mule, weighed down with a peasant's day's worth of wares to be sold at market, waiting at a traffic light while a fresh from the showroom, brand new Ferrari, rumbles its engines beside it. A glittering, mirrored Hilton Hotel, shining brightly in the sun, standing right next to one of the oldest Mosques in the region....hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of years old. Its common to see the latest fashions on so many finely, immpecably dressed women on the street, and yet, if I want to enter any of the Mosques in the city, I am required to don the 'hijab' (or headdress/veil of the Muslim culture). Without it, I am not allowed to step inside. Such a fantastic combination of the Old World and the New....
One of my very favorite things to study and learn, as I travel this great Globe of ours, is the customs and culture of a place I'm going to be visiting. The little nuances, the idiosyncracies, the requirements, the expected and the unexpected.....This is always so surprising, and enticing to me....to learn how and why a land of people live as they do.....Culture and Custom are always this delightful melange of historical fact and fable, tales that found their way into tradition, and so on....These things never cease to amaze and entice me...and I can never get enough of it. It all goes back to the Traveler vs. Tourist mindset. As a true Traveler, I want to get in with the people of a country and learn not only the history of their place, but to learn more importantly, how and why they live their lives the way they do. This is the TRUE essence of a place and I love every bit of it.
On my very first trip to Turkey 5 years ago, I was waiting for a coworker friend of mine in the lobby, and struck up a conversation with a local woman who had just begun working at a nearby shop. (I've found that conversing with locals is the absolute BEST way to find out about a place - forget the guide books - the locals are "where its at"!) I asked her if there was any advice or suggestions that she would give to me, being that I was not just new to the city, but new to the entire country. After telling me of some local historical monuments I should explore, I asked her if there was anything, culturally speaking, that I should know of, before I headed out to see her fair city. She said "Yes. There is one very important thing. If you are ever offered a beverage, such as tea, in a shop, you should ALWAYS accept this offer and sit down to enjoy your beverage with the shopkeeper. It is considered a rude, 'slap in the face' - so to speak - if you decline this offer of refreshment. Always remember this.", she said. I thanked her for her suggestions, met my friend, and departed for my exploration. As we were leaving, I thought of this woman's advice, and since I had spent NO time, thus far, in this part of the world (I was new to my airline and the cities we travel to), I began to think of a typical shopping experience back in the States. When, had I EVER been offered a beverage by a shopkeeper? maybe once? twice? in my lifetime? So in my mind, it seemed to reason, that such an offer would probably be few and far between here in Turkey, as well. Boy, was I WRONG. Our first stop was a Turkish rug store I had heard a great deal about from my coworkers, and wouldn't you know it? We weren't in the front door 2 seconds, before the owner of the shop was ushering us to the back room, which doubled as a 2nd showroom, and was offering us tea, coffee, Coca-Colas and little cakes to go along with our liquid refreshment. I smiled at the thought of my "new" friend I had met at the hotel and her advice, and thankfully accepted a delicious cup of tea and a little cake. Instantly, EVERY single worker in the store was lining up in front of us, each with his own personal choices of different rugs, in every color and style.....it was like Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive....We sat, enjoyed our refreshments, and THEY brought the store to US. I was in heaven. And then, something even more surprising happened....the owner offered us his nephew to be our tour guide for the day. Insisted, actually. Our meager attempts at a "No, thank you, that won't be necessary" fell on deaf ears. It was decided. The nephew was going to be our escort for the rest of the day, and that was all there was to it! When we mentioned that we wanted to visit the beautiful mosque down the street, the owner of the shop quickly jumped into action, returning quickly with 2 of the most beautiful silk scarves I had ever seen (gifts, he stated, as a "welcome to his Country"), so that we would have something to wear on our heads, so that we would be allowed to enter the mosque. I was beyond touched. And what was so interesting to me was that all of this just seemed to be the 'norm' for the owner, his nephew, and the other employees of the shop. Just another day to them. Not for us, though. Not at all. People say "Its the little things in life that make the difference". These were "little" things to our new friends...."little" acts of generosity, kindness and friendship. But they were SO not "little" things to my friend and me. I was once again, forever changed. And all because of a cup of tea.
So, with Ahmed (the nephew) as our tour guide, we set out to venture around Adana, and wouldn't you know it? EVERY SINGLE TIME we stepped foot in another shop, the same offer of refreshments was bestowed upon us. I was blown away. What a lovely tradition. And one thing is for certain....it made me re-evaluate how I have, and forever will, greet and welcome foreigners to my OWN country, the USA, and how I only hope I can bestow upon these "new friends" the same amount of kindness, generosity and friendship, that was so unselfishly bestowed upon me.....in one of my newest, favorite 'little' cities - Adana, Turkey. But enough about that....i've been in 6 shops and have had 6 cups of tea and DESPERATELY need to find a Ladies Room!!!! :) Damn, i wish i knew how to speak Turkish!!!!
Ta ta for now....
Sunday, July 19, 2009
The waiting Traveler...part Two...2am to be exact
Hello from Leipzig Germany! yep....STILL here. Still waiting....I keep looking and looking at my company's scheduling website, hoping and praying that something, ANYTHING will pop up in the 'open trips' section. But so far...nada...zero....less than zero. There are actually some wonderful trips in there (Larnaca, Cyprus; Vienna, Austria; et al) but none that actually WORK out of Leipzig. Although they could 'position' me (that's airline code for flying me as a passenger on another airline to whatever city they need me in) to another fine city and actually put me to work, they have yet to do so. On our scheduling website, there's an ominous, bright red notice that will pop up, stating "YOU HAVE CHANGES TO YOUR SCHEDULE", that depending on who you're talking to, and what they're wanting (or NOT wanting) to do, will bring a huge smile to our face, our tears to our eyes. Some people would rather sit at home and get paid to just be 'on call'. Others (myself included) want to be out there, working our way around the world, seeing the sights and taking care of all my military boys & gals. Don't get me wrong, I love Leipzig. But we spend SO much time here, and I've seen all the 'sights' around town. I'm ready to explore someplace new. Hell, I just want to get out of this hotel room!
I had a nice surprise earlier this evening.....my Mom and I realized the other day that she pays a flat fee every month to have unlimited international calling from her home phone to Europe (how we didn't figure this out sooner, I have NO idea). So when my room phone rang earlier tonight, and I saw her phone number on the caller id, I was thrilled! We chatted for nearly an hour, and after all this time I've spent in my room (4 days now, going on 5), it was so wonderfully nice to hear her voice and catch up on all the 'goings on' back home. I know I've only been gone a few days, but my Mom is going through SO much right now, with her severe back pain and deciding to take the quarter off from teaching school this term. We usually talk every single day (I love my Mom SO much. She's the best. Hands down), so when we don't talk for a few days, it seems like forever. It pains me to no end that I'm not there right now to help her with everything....but being the wonderful Mom (and friend) that she is, she reminds me that I have to go out and live my life, make a living, and see the world, and that she has friends, and thankfully, my brother Reid, who can help her with anything she needs. I'm truly thankful for that. Plus, I'm lucky enough to have 11 days off every month, so next month, I'll be able to be there for her, if only for 11 days. Its better than nothing.
My brother Reid is quite a character. He's actually one of the coolest guys I've ever met, or ever WILL meet, for that matter. After nearly 10 years of us not living in the same state as the other, he's FINALLY found his way back to Atlanta; something that makes me very happy. Besides the obvious 'fun' factor, of being able to pal around with my brother again, I love that he's nearby my Mom, as well....I know it makes my Mom really happy to have both her 'kids' :) living near her again, and its great that we can both help her out, whenever she needs it. My brother is a high-flying corporate jet pilot, who's been working his way up the ladder of corporate "pilotdom" for the past 8 years. He's finally made captain, and seems to be enjoying the good life of great friends, great career, great girlfriend, etc, etc, that he all so rightfully deserves. I couldn't be happier for him. He's a treasure and I'm blessed to have such a fantastic, cool brother.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
The waiting Traveler....part one....
So here I am....the Traveler 'on the road'....out seeing the world of adventures and experiences that await me.....oh wait, that's someone else. Me? I'm exploring the world of the Renasissance Hotel in Leipzig, Germany. Room 342, to be exact. And what wonders abound! Little soaps, a TV that has ONE English channel - CNN (which I hate), and an air conditioner that refuses to cool below 80 degrees Farenheit. Oh, the fun that is my life. No, I'm not complaining...well not ALOT....you see, my airline has this wonderful assignment that I've been thrilled to accept - its called "Online Reserve". We all cringe when we see it placed on our schedule. Its so bad that they have to 'rotate out' people to do it, that way no one is assigned it more than once every few months. The requirements? You SIT. And WAIT. Then SIT and WAIT some more. And you have to be within (literally) 10 feet of the room's telephone at all times, as you're required to answer the phone on the first call (no voicemail or callbacks allowed). You're at the mercy of our airline's scheduling department. Want to step out for a bite to eat? You have to call and get PERMISSION. Need some items at the drugstore? PERMISSION. Want to get even a tiny whiff of fresh air? PERMISSION, PERMISSION, PERMISSION. And even then, you're only allowed about a half hour, before you have to be back in your room.
This assignment causes us flight attendants to go to some drastic measures for entertainment and 'creature comforts'. You can always tell if a flight attendant has been assigned Online Reserve by the mountains of luggage which accompany them. Me? I'm packed to the rafters with so many magazines and books that I could open my own Barnes & Noble. I literally need BOTH hands to hoist my 3 suitcases up a single step (to be fair, its not QUITE as bad as it sounds...its a monstrous suitcase and 2 very large carry-ons). I have enough salon products and toiletries to last me a month (I'm on call this time for 40 days straight - yep, you read that right - 40 days). I have with me every possible clothing ensemble that I could stretch into my suitcase. I have 7 pairs of shoes with me (yes, the 'girlie-girl' in me is beginning to show, I know). I even have my stuffed animal puppy dog with me (I can't sleep without it).
After 10 years of international travel, I've come to carry what some might consider somewhat odd items with me in my mountains of luggage. So for those of you non-flight attendants, I will give you a glimpse into the rarely seen world of flight attendant baggage (actual baggage, not 'mental baggage', which, speaking for myself, I have a lot of THAT, as well. Hell, I'll admit it. I'm self -aware enough - I've got baggage from Samsonite, baggage in my brain, and baggage (or rather puffy bags) under my eyes). Want to know what to pack for your next international trip? Forget the "Travel Tip" websites out there......If you REALLY want to know what 'must haves' you need to take, ask a flight attendant! (And by the way, I'm sorry that this post isn't going to fill your thoughts with all the wonders of the sites and sounds of Leipzig Germany....I've got to work with what I've got....and I've got to write this post within 10 feet of the telephone at all times....so here goes....)
This assignment causes us flight attendants to go to some drastic measures for entertainment and 'creature comforts'. You can always tell if a flight attendant has been assigned Online Reserve by the mountains of luggage which accompany them. Me? I'm packed to the rafters with so many magazines and books that I could open my own Barnes & Noble. I literally need BOTH hands to hoist my 3 suitcases up a single step (to be fair, its not QUITE as bad as it sounds...its a monstrous suitcase and 2 very large carry-ons). I have enough salon products and toiletries to last me a month (I'm on call this time for 40 days straight - yep, you read that right - 40 days). I have with me every possible clothing ensemble that I could stretch into my suitcase. I have 7 pairs of shoes with me (yes, the 'girlie-girl' in me is beginning to show, I know). I even have my stuffed animal puppy dog with me (I can't sleep without it).
After 10 years of international travel, I've come to carry what some might consider somewhat odd items with me in my mountains of luggage. So for those of you non-flight attendants, I will give you a glimpse into the rarely seen world of flight attendant baggage (actual baggage, not 'mental baggage', which, speaking for myself, I have a lot of THAT, as well. Hell, I'll admit it. I'm self -aware enough - I've got baggage from Samsonite, baggage in my brain, and baggage (or rather puffy bags) under my eyes). Want to know what to pack for your next international trip? Forget the "Travel Tip" websites out there......If you REALLY want to know what 'must haves' you need to take, ask a flight attendant! (And by the way, I'm sorry that this post isn't going to fill your thoughts with all the wonders of the sites and sounds of Leipzig Germany....I've got to work with what I've got....and I've got to write this post within 10 feet of the telephone at all times....so here goes....)
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