Just for fun, a collage from last weekend. Most of the pics were taken with Clint, Hank, Marissa, and Taylor at Fat Matt's Rib Shack. Don't forget to get the "RUM" baked beans (which we can't quite figure out why they call 'em "RUM" beans, because apparently they don't taste like rum)
Also, in the left bottom corner is a restaurant we saw called NickieMotos. It sounds like just the place for me!
1. Go to the Motown Museum
2. Tour the Ford Rouge Factory and Greenfield Village
3. Eat a sandwich at Zingermanns
4. Have a GNO with all the ladies I love
5. Chill in Royal Oak and Ferndale
6. See a concert at the Fillmore Detroit
7. Bridge jump naked from the Ambassador Bridge into Canada (just kidding!)
If interested in assisting me fulfill this list, please let me know!
There is a monster in my existence that torments me incessantly. Demanding, assuming the worst, and jumping to conclusions. And I just have to follow and tolerate this monster without question.
To combat the torment today, I went to my car, shut the door, and started to scream. Nothing held back, full of angst, vocally piercing, bloodcurdling screaming. I screamed until my tonsils were inflamed, ears were throbbing, lungs wheezed and eyes were streaming with tears. I didn't have the words to express my gut-wrenching frustration, just pure volume. Then I wiped my eyes, and nose, and drove home.
I'd never done it before. But it felt so good.
I sometimes text while driving, and floss my teeth while waiting at stoplights
I love pictures of kids crying...with squinty eyes, red cheeks, desperate expressions and tear stains
Every gray hair found on my head is greeted with tweezers or a black Sharpie
I follow over 100 blogs, and can easily spend 2 hours a day reading them
I occasionally watch R-rated movies (and I'd only watched 5 ever when I met my husband)
I'll accept any offer for lunch/dinner/dessert, even if I've already eaten for that meal
I only clean my house when someone's coming over, including when my husband comes home from a trip
This morning Taylor and I caught the early showing of Madagascar 2. The pilot penguins totally make the movie! From the "Flaps Up!" comment, to the union contract representative ("No maternity leave!"), you may catch yourself laughing so hard your eyes tear up....it happened for Taylor. I recommend this for the whole family, especially those that love aviation movies.
Yesterday I had my interview at Emory. I hate to get my hopes up prematurely, but I really think I've got the job. I was impressed by the people that I met with, had comments ranging from acceptable-to-stunning for every question, had a lot in common with the interviewers, and just had a good gut feeling. I am CERTAIN that I am qualified for the position, it is a position that INTERESTS me, and I would have a TALENT for. I was told they are going to interview a few other candidates for comparison, but the director also mentioned making an appointment next week to discuss salary. I don't want to be crushed emotionally if I don't get the job, but I'm cautiously and enthusiastically optimistic.
After the interview, Taylor and I checked out a few apartments and condos in the Decatur/North Druid Hills area. We have our top two places selected, both with immediate availability, with the same top-ranked elementary school assigned to the units. We had dinner at Fat Matt's Rib Shack with Clint, Hank, and Marissa. We followed Clint onto the wrong way on a one-way street and narrowly missed a major crash. Today Taylor is on reserve from 11a-11p, and I hope that he doesn't get called so I can get some quality hubby time.
I've been following many blogs of people that I'm only slightly acquainted with. Maybe we went to high school, maybe we went to a common party, maybe we commented on the same blog and I laughed so hard I had to "stalk" your blog. I've been amazed at the recent influx of privatizing blogs. There are blogs that I look forward to reading, even though I'm not a close friend. I've been sad that about 10 of the blogs I love, but probably am not close friends enough to ask for an invite, have decided to go private this week. It's probably good that I'll have less posts to wade through, but still...it feels like a good friend moving away and not being given a forwarding address. For those that have gone private, and I still follow your blog...I appreciate the glimpse in reality into your life.
Maybe I'm a little too liberal with the details of my life that I post. My life is an open book. I've done guest posts on blogs (anonymously) to talk about some of my difficult life experiences in hopes that it may help another. I don't give out my home address or social security number. Anything my husband isn't comfortable with, he asks me to revise and take down. I have a private blog (that only I have access to) for reposting blogs that have been too controversial or have hurt people's feelings, or really are the private feelings of my heart or spiritual manifestations that definitely aren't for public consumption).
I would hate to lose the camaraderie of new pilot wives that start blogs or find mine. Blogging is a great way to keep tabs on old friends and distant family members. I think I have a particularly interesting life, and am a funny enough or relatable enough to get a good following in my readership. I want to make a difference in the world in my life. Blogging may not be the avenue of building up nations or crumbling governments, but it's my place in space to get things off my chest. I want to be your friend. I want to entertain you. And that is why my blog will never go private.
I was just reading about a birdstrike on a Ryanair flight in Rome today. Last November, on Taylor's first trip off O.E., he had his first birdstrike. I blogged about it last year here, but its one of the aviation experiences that Taylor loves to retell. Of all my blog entries that get searched on Google, this experience has the highest search rate. A lot of pilot SO's now read my blog, and I was curious how many of your pilots have experienced a birdstrike??
Here are some pictures from last years birdstrike incident...
Just for fun, here's the story again:
(11/27/07) Yesterday was Taylor's first flight out of O.E. training. He was on reserve for the day with a three-day trip planned for Tuesday. He got called in for a quick out-and-back to Wausau, Wisconsin. It was a cold, snowy day in Detroit...but after an hour and a half of delays and de-icing they took off no problem. But as they came in for the landing approach, Taylor and the captain saw a flash of birds. Within half a second, a group of ducks crashed into the plane. They lost control of the nose wheel door and lost hydraulic system 3. It smashed the radome, went through the nose cone, then the radar, then the bulkhead, ending up in the forward avionics bay. Warnings and error messages were flashing, and luckily they were able to get down the landing gear before the hydraulic system bled out. Passengers snapped pictures of the plane after deplaning on the tarmac. It was one of those "once in a career" moments...and it was on Taylor's first flight out of training.
Another thing we've recently cut back on is our gym membership. Although our loyalty is with 24 Hour Fitness, which isn't available in MI, we've been with Lifetime Fitness through our time in MI. Their closest location is practically a palace. It has a salon, dayspa, massage area, and all sorts of other amenities that I could never afford. We've been paying $106/mo, which has included the kid's center for Rosie. Unfortunately, we haven't used it enough to make it worth the money. On a good week I'll make it 3-5 times, but usually it's only 1-2. Since Taylor was going to Atlanta, we decided to end our membership at the end of October.
I typically work out every Saturday (unless I'm sick or out of town) and last Saturday I decided to do some non-gym exercise. I donned my thick sweats, thick socks, gloves, and beanie and trudged out into the 37 degree morning. I brought along my iPod and 5 lb hand weights. It was raining and windy, and my cheeks were burning quickly. After 25 minutes, I felt chilled to the bone and the rain was coming at me horizontally. I hopped into a hot shower afterwards, and still was shivering an hour later.
I need to find a friend with a treadmill or elliptical in their home so I don't lose my motivation to exercise. I do a lot of walking in the hospital, but I rarely walk more than 10 minutes at a time. I'm hoping to have good, convenient access to a gym in Atlanta...I need to work off all this extra Michigan weight I've gained. This place is so depressing...
Your Personality Cluster is Extraverted Intuition |
 You are: You are a true wordsmith and a master of words. You are original, spontaneous, and a true inspiration. Highly energetic, you are up for any challenge. You are entertaining and engaging... both to friends and strangers. |
Recently, I've been getting into a blog called Cheaplander that gives tips on ways to save money, living within your means, making informed purchases, and other ways to deal with this depressed Eeekonomy. Since I've lived in MI, I've been the most broke that I've been since being married to my husband. We started out thinking that I'd be a full-time student here, and took out a student loan large enough to cover the expenses that we anticipated for 6 months that his income could not cover. We knew that the cost of living in MI was much lower than CA, and we tried to pay for our move and expenses to get our home set up as frugally as possible.
Then the student loans hit. We knew that they would eventually, but they all came at once. Suddenly we had a $1700 monthly burden to include in our monthly expenses. Taylor's first-year FO pay was only occasionally high enough to cover his loans. I got a job in March, and we've been trying to break even financially and cutting out unnecessary expenses.
First, we cut our cable. We did a package deal through Comcast (phone, internet, cable) for $99...but it actually ended up being $127 per month. We never used the home phone, and we realized that most of the shows we watch are on the main networks. So we trimmed our services to high-speed internet only for $56 per month. A few months later, they had a promotion running where we could add basic cable for $3/month...totaling $59 per month for cable and internet. I figure that the cost was worth is just so Rosie could get engrossed in Disney Channel and I needed mommy-alone time.
Another thing we cut was our clothing budget. I had a slew of lovely places in CA that I could find terrific clothing deals, especially at thrift stores. I love getting new clothes, but I had a closet full and tried to get by with what I had. For the first 7 months of my job, I got by on only one black pair of slacks. I'd wear them 2-4 times per week, and they were getting faded and threadbare. I treated myself to a new work outfit a few weeks ago, and I felt like a new person! My confidence at work really went up...just having another option to wear. Then two weeks ago I found another pair of pants I liked on sale, normally $54 for $20. I paired it up with a 40% off coupon, and walked out of the store for $13. Yesterday, I went to sale and got two dresses and a fancy white blouse. I got all the items off the clearance rack, got another 25% off for "friends and family day" plus used a $10 off text message coupon (that I signed up for while waiting in line) Three new items for $34 (normally $124). Then we went across the street to the kids clothing consignment shop and got Rosie 3 gently-used shirts, a sweater with matching scarf , and a book for $13.
My food spending still needs improvement. I eat out way too much, especially on my lunch breaks and while traveling. I need to curb my non-healthy eating so I can continue to fit into my new dress featured below.
If anyone wants to find out more of my bargain shopping tips and tricks, let me know. I'd love to go out shopping with you.
Take the Quiz and Share Your Results! You are intelligent, outgoing & stylish. A true girly girl, you love shopping & makeovers. Although you are a generous friend, you can be coy, tricky & very persuasive in order to get your way. You are known to zone out occasionally during conversations, but your friends forgive you because you are understanding, supportive & know how to throw one heck of a party!
Friday:
...Turning in the bottles and cans for recycling (Rosie collects $4.80)
...Eating at a new restaurant that makes their own root beer
...Hanging out with Erin
Saturday:
...Making sausage, ham, and 3-cheese breakfast casserole
...Seeing High School Musical 3 with Hillary
...Buying a few new clothing items each (for next to nothing)
...Rosie lasertagging at Zap Zone for a birthday party, while I enjoy gelato at the cafe next door
...Reading Dr. Seuss books together
Sunday:
...Sleeping in late
...Eating homemade raisin spice oatmeal
...Going to church
...Going to ward choir (WebKinz club downstairs, adults singing upstairs)
...Eating a simple dinner of corn, green beans, and leftover breakfast casserole
...Getting into pajamas at 5:30 pm to relax and prepare for the week ahead
So far, Taylor's 5 for 5 on working reserve days this week. When his other pilot friends transferred to ATL, they only got called once or twice during the whole month. Taylor's had to work every day, and usually only has 90 minutes get dressed, drive, and report to the airport. He is lucky if his schedule is updated online before he gets the crew sched call. It's going to be a long month if his schedule continues this way. I hope he gets a decent line next month.
I just downloaded the new version of iTunes. One of the new features is called Genius - you select a song you like, and Genius will scan through your library to find a custom playlist similar to the song you chose. I've made quite a few Genius lists, and everyone has been spectacular! Here are a few examples- I entered a song I love, and these artists were immediately linked:
Landed - Ben Folds :Aqualung, Jason Mraz, Sufjan Stevens, Beck, Howie Day, Dave Matthews Band, Damien Rice, The Fray, John Mayer, Regina Spektor, Jet, Snow Patrol, Better Than Ezra
Dig - Incubus: Angels and Airwaves, Deathcab for Cutie, Paramore, Stone Temple Pilots, OAR, Muse, Frou Frou, Pearl Jam, Smashing Pumpkins, Fall Out Boy, Muse
The Special Two - Missy Higgins: Sarah McLachlan, Holly Brook, Sara Bareilles, Josh Kelly, Kelly Clarkson, Ingrid Michaelson, Colbie Callait, Imogen Heap, Justin Nouzuka, Annie Lennox
Every Breath You Take - The Police: The Cure, Depeche Mode, The Clash, Duran Duran, Journey, Sting, U2, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Barenaked Ladies, The Cars, Matchbox Twenty
Some of the combinations may sound odd at first, but it matches upbeat songs to others upbeat songs, and ballads to ballads. It's apparently based on feedback from listeners in the iTunes store, for what songs other people purchased. You can also link it up to purchase new stuff, but since I've got over 900 albums in my iTunes (yeah, I know I'm insane!) it helps me rediscover songs and artists I haven't listened to in a while. It doesn't always work like magic, but it's worth a try!
Last Saturday, I met up with my cousin Thomas for breakfast in Orange County. He was the winner of my blog giveaway...which gave me a great opportunity to get "caught" up with him. He's a few years younger than me, and I don't know him as well as his older sisters Alaina and Jillian. When I lived in Oregon, he lived in Arizona. Then he moved to Oregon, and I moved to Utah. He recently graduated from BYU and moved to California with his wife this summer. His wife's parents live in Michigan, but we missed them on their trip here a few months ago. So this breakfast was my chance to "catch" the infamous Thomas.
A funny story about Thomas: I was at the SLC Olympics Medals Plaza for the Barenaked Ladies concert in 2002. I went with my sister, and a guy caught my eye...smiled really big....and ran over and gave me a hug. He was obviously very excited to see me. He looked vaguely familiar, but I couldn't place him. So I played along and chatted for a few minutes, racking my brain with recognition for who I was talking to. Then Mary said, "Aren't my cousin from Oregon?" and it hit me! It was Thomas! I hadn't seen him since a trip to Oregon in 1998. In those 4 years, he'd gotten so tall and good looking. I can't remember if I told him at the time that I didn't recognize him right off, but the memory makes me laugh.
Can you tell we've both got the Watson baby blues?
Yesterday I had my first interview for a job in Atlanta at Emory University. It was a phone interview, but it went really well, and they want me to come down next week to interview in person. The interviewer said, "We've gotten a lot of applications on this position, but you were the only one we've wanted to actually interview." The position sounds right up my alley, even though it's less healthcare-focused than I'd intended. It's still administrative, but it's with the med school.
Since I gave my notice at work in Michigan last week, there's been a marked change in my happiness there. The past few weeks had actually been under control, as far as my workload, and I was feeling a tinge of sadness that I was leaving. But after a difficult experience Monday, and a ridiculous meeting Wednesday...I'm having a hard time imagining staying through the next few weeks. The surgeon who I've been working with since March leaves this week (for Atlanta, consequently) and I've been given a lot of the office's grunt work to fill my time. I'm so glad it's Friday!
Taylor's on reserve in Atlanta this week. He got to play with Clint for two days after returning from California. Yesterday he got called on a ferry flight to Cincy, and then got extended overnight for a few more legs. He didn't bring any extra clothes or his toiletry bag because when he left for the airport, he was supposed to be back in 6 hours. Hopefully he won't have to work much this month....he really needs to finish his algebra class.
There's a lot of things I've wanted to blog about lately:
- My trip to CA last weekend, and they hellish non-revving return home (7 times a charm!)
-My feelings on Prop 8
-Breakfast with my cousin Thomas (blog contest winner!)
-How I spent my Halloween
-My recent obsession with Pop Rocks and peanut M&Ms (not together!)
-My love/hate relationship with the docs I work with
-My husband moving to ATL and spending all his free time having fun with Clint while I'm stuck in DTW working
But for tonight...I'm focused on my job search. And a little bit of election results in between.
Rosie had such a blast getting ready for the concert! I let her wear her sparkly shirt, makeup, and jewelry. She made the poster, but unfortunately the ticket-takers said no posters were allowed, so we had to put it back in the car.
I was actually pretty impressed with the Palace at Auburn Hills. It looks like it probably received some recent upgrades, because there are restaurants and more-modern-looking features than some other arenas I've visited. This pic was taken between Natasha Bedingfield and NKOTB.
Look at my grown-up little girl! She says that Joe is her favorite. Probably because I showed her the original video to "Please Don't Go Girl," where Joey is only about 3 years older than she is now.
Even with all the concerts I've been to, I have to rate this as one of the most entertaining. It brought back so many nostalgic memories, and I created some new ones with Rosie. The lady sitting next to us couldn't believe that Rosie knew the words to so many of the songs!
There's quite a few videos on YouTube from this concert tour, including I'll be Loving You Forever, Step by Step, and bare-chested Jordan singing Baby I Believe in You.
This weekend I’ll be in California. It’s time to see my family and friends, and soak up some sun. As I was looking at rental cars, I found a super deal on my rental car, and gas prices are down dramatically. I’m not totally broke after paying bills this time. I’m feeling generous…so my first giveaway is now! And what is the fabulous prize?
Just like Donnie punches into his Blackberry at the beginning of the "Summertime" music video....it's on. I just won my ebay auction for tickets to the NKOTB concert tonight. I got the pair for $75, which is actually one dollar less than face value before convenience fees would be. I'm glad I didn't buy them on Ticketmaster yesterday...my patience saved me $24. Rosie and I are so excited. She wants to make posters and wear makeup.
