Orlando

Linda, a friend I flew with at my former airline, and I are grabbing a couple of girl days in Orlando.  Yesterday, we hung out at Universal's CityWalk.  Today, we went skydiving (sorta!) at SkyVenture.  It was a blast!

In Tampa tonight...

Worked a flight from Washington (IAD) to Tampa (TPA) tonight.

These three young ladies are friends of  my niece--they all attend the same college.  I just started talking to them when I saw the sweatshirts they were wearing.  I love it when there are fewer than six degrees of separation!

In TPA tonight, to Denver (DEN) tomorrow night, then the redeye back to IAD early Sunday morning.






Update: I packed my swimsuit, just in case...but it's a bit windy and chilly today.  Perfect for a walk, just not a swim.  Oh, well...

Notes from the cocktail napkins

I found these stuffed in my pocket before I washed my uniform dress a couple days ago.

I already told you about Joe Frazier on our flight a couple of weeks ago.

On a recent late evening flight from Denver (DEN) to Baltimore (BWI), we had only 70 passengers on the flight.  It made for a really comfortable flight for everyone onboard.  On that flight,  I happened to be in the forward galley, by the entry door, talking to the Purser for a minute.

Prior to closing the flight, the Gate Agent came down to the aircraft door, and she reported to the Purser and me that the passenger sitting in 12C was a Big-Time Frequent Flyer (BTFF), and he was traveling with his lady friend.  At the gate, he had requested an upgrade.  Fine for him, the BTFF, an upgrade is no problem.  His lady friend, however, was traveling on an award ticket--one that was purchased using earned miles--and that ticket was ineligible for an upgrade.  He was not a happy camper!  (I was glad she informed us of this!)

A few minutes later, I made my way to  back to Rows 11 and 12, to brief Mr. BTFF and a few others sitting in the Exit Rows.  I started to ask, "Are you willing and able...." and Mr. BTFF interrupted with "I want to know if there are any seats in First Class?"  I said, "Yes, there are."  "Why wasn't I upgraded?  I am a BTFF and I requested an upgrade!"  I told him the same thing the Gate Agent had told us...that we would be happy to upgrade him, but the award ticket was not upgradable.  I added something like "No worries, you are back here with us-we'll have a great flight!"  That seemed to settle him down and he seemed okay with things.

As I finished my briefing, our Captain came back to the Exit Row area, where several men sat--apparently military in civilian clothes.  The Captain spoke with them, then asked the one in charge, "Is it okay if I upgrade your enlisted men?"  Of course the military officer said yes, and our Captain upgraded four enlisted Navy men, part of a P3 crew.  Well...you gotta know that Mr. BTFF went into a tailspin over this.  Raising his voice, talking smack about the upgraded men, trying to get ugly with me--he wanted to know why they were upgraded and he wasn't.  All I could say was that I don't ever question the Captain's authority.  That seemed to settle him down again...and not that I like to encourage bad behavior, but I did understand where he was coming from.  I brought him a glass of wine from First Class for him and his lady friend, and never heard another peep from him the rest of the night.
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The Flight Attendant I was working with in the back carried a small bottle of perfume with her.  The guy sitting in the next to the last row was having some....smelly issues.  She would surreptitiously spray her perfume.  I hated her perfume--it was so heavy and sweet and cheap smelling--I almost gagged.  Had to ask her to stop spraying it.  I lied and told her I was allergic to it-I didn't want to hurt her feelings.  She stopped, but the smell lingered.  Ugh!
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Finally, my mysterious, famous lady.  On the same flight was a pretty, dark-haired model-looking woman.  She paid for a couple Tanqueray and tonics, and we started talking.  She looked like a significantly younger Marilu Henner. So, I asked her, "Who are you?"  And, we got to chatting about blogs (she has three) and some of her work...but, she wouldn't tell me who she was!  I told her I would look her name up on the manifest and find out...then she told me she worked under a stage name and traveled under her real name.  Grrrrrrr!  Then she promised she would visit my blog and leave a message for me and link me to HER blogs.



A couple hours later, she came back to the galley and gave me her "biography"  (as she called it) on a napkin.  As you can see, she promised to e-mail me and tell me who she is.  To date...nuthin'!  So, I'm officially calling you out, Mysterious Famous Lady--you promised an e-mail and a reveal...where is it??

Flying Recliner

Yesterday, after sitting Standby at the airport from 5 a.m. - 9 a.m., I wasn't "used" so I headed home.  No matter how early I get to bed, it is never enough sleep when I have to get up at 2:30 a.m. to go to work!  I walked around in a zombie-like state afterwards while running some errands.

Today, I'm at the back of the Reserve List and there are no trips in Open Flying--so, I doubt I will go to work today.  Guess I'll just hang out and fly the recliner today.  Tomorrow, who knows?

Airport Standby

I'm sitting  5 a.m. Standby this morning.  At the airport.  I am on for six days...and The Voice called last night and gave me the assignment.  I appreciated it because she called earlier, rather than later.

So far, all's quiet here.  There are three Flight Attendants sleeping in the Crew Lounge.  They could be commuters who couldn't get out on a flight home yesterday; or have an early sign-in today and didn't want to pay for a hotel room.  I just picked up our newly revamped Flight Attendant Manual--looks like they've made some nice changes to it.  Flight Attendants are trickling in for their early morning check-ins, and so far there are no trips to be had for a lowly standby person.

I have to stay here until 9 a.m. or they assign a trip to me, whichever comes first.  Until then, I think I am going to find a La-Z-Boy and take a nap.