Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Thanksgiving Prep

So here we are the day before Thanksgiving. We wanted to go to D.C. and visit grandpa but as usual the flights are way too full and we'd get stuck in non-rev hell if we try. I guess that's a double edge sword because as far as my husband's job goes it's good they're full, but it would be nice to fly when and where we wanted to a little easier, like in the "olden days" of more flights and less kids in tow. ;)

But luckily we are once again living in the state where the majority of our families are so it's not that we have a lack of things to do. Stopping by each of our mother's houses on Thursday, deciding if we want to stay in town (we live a little out of the city) and hit the malls for stupid crazy early sales and leave the kids with his mom, go to my nieces hockey tournament and hook up with my dad for dinner on Friday and then up to the cabin for the weekend since he actually has the weekend (and Monday) off, which is only because Thanksgiving falls during the week since he is still low man on the seniority list of this airplane and base. But, that is one of the many things you get used to in this pilot's wife lifestyle.

We have only lived back in our home state for about a year and a half. We are about 45 min away from the airport and most of our family and friends. The kids, of course, have found friends fast and easy with school and activities but it is harder for my husband and myself to do that. Since his "office" is not here and I don't work outside the home adult contact to meet people is more limited. So to try and meet more "guys to hang with" my husband has decided to try out for the volunteer fire department (whoo hoo! two uniforms to drool over...lol). He passed the physical test last week and they will begin interviewing after Thanksgiving. He told me he had to laugh when the chief was giving his speech about making sure the wife/girlfriend was on board with this because there is quite a training program that the city taxes pays for and overall this could mean missing holidays, birthdays and family time in general. He said he knew my comment would be "what else is new? that's normal life around here!" Though I think it will be good for him. Funny thing is at the testing, he found out one of his F/O's lives here too and must be close to us as you have to be within 4 miles of the firehouse in order to qualify, so the world is indeed a small place!

But to all of you here's hoping your Thanksgiving holiday is full of fun, laughter, great food and good company!

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Blogging 101

Well here I am adding to my already long list of "on the computer too much already" stuff and adding a blog to my resume. I have been writing my own little memoir for awhile and even forwarded some of it to Oprah once, obviously she (or her staff actually) didn't see it worthy enough to be used on the show. Go figure! So now I have to figure when and what to write on every day.

Since we are coming up to the holidays I guess I will focus on that now. The holidays and being the wife of a pilot. Funny things is, for those of us who lie this life the holidays aren't always really much different than most other days. They are either home to join in or they are not. When we were first starting out on the great journey of life I will have to admit I felt guilty and didn't always make plans because I wasn't sure if he would be able to come. Then I came to my senses and realized if I did that then the kids and I wouldn't ever do anything either. So here was come upon Thanksgiving and, as usual, he is on call (or on reserve for those who want the "real" aviation terminology). We (meaning the kids and I) were going to try and go out to D.C. and visit with my husband's father, but as usual, we can't non-rev as the flights are all too full and can't afford to buy four tickets so we are not going to make it out there. Nice thing is though now that we've moved back to our hometown we still have lot's of family here to spend time with.

That's when I could get into that debate with people who give me crap saying things like "well you get to fly for free" to which I respond with, "yes, we can, but we can't always get on the flight we want. Then that means either giving up and going back home or sitting at the terminal for sometimes hours waiting for one we can get one...with three kids 10 and under...not fun. Then when we can get on all of our seats are usually spread all over the plane and my children are still too young to be too far away from my view so we then have to take time to ask people to move around. Sometimes they are nice about it but many times the sigh and roll their eyes."

Non-reving. That in itself could be it's own book. Funny things is I find that when my husband meets us on the flight from work (i.e. in uniform) people are always a lot nicer and more cooperative about switching seats. So I guess that's a good thing because that means the uniform still has some respect anyway. Funny story with that for another time. So that's all for today and hopefully I'll remember I have this! haha