An Eaton Layover in the Middle of Reserve Days

Once again, I've been on call for 5 days now and I'll have a total of 5 days in the air. No at home reserve days for Kelly, as usual! I'm smiling as I write that, though, because it is December, after all, and flying every day when your rsv days start on Saturday is to be expected I think.

Since my post the other day regarding my SAT turn, I've spent the night in the crew lounge, gone on a Kansas City overnight with a 20 hour layover, a San Jose turn, then home to Eaton for 13 hours before returning to the airport for a 20 hour layover in Tucson. I got home at 4 pm yesterday afternoon, had dinner (at the table, no less!) with my family, went to Hanna's Band Concert, had some (ahem) alone time with my hubby, went to bed at 10 pm and was on the road back to DIA by 5 am this morning. I got to be awake at home for all of 6 hours before heading out again, which is why Erik and I decided it was an Eaton layover. Too funny...

That being shared, today's been sort of a rough day nevertheless. I left my food at home this morning then found out our checking account is overdrawn. Thank goodness I have a little cash in my pocket so at least I can eat as long as I'm frugal about it. Then, after we got to Tucson I decided to enjoy what was only a slightly cool day by walking a mile down the road to Denny's for lunch. By the time I finished eating, however, the day had turn 10 degrees cooler and gotten a lot windier. Brrrr....warmer than Denver, yes, but still cooler than I wanted to walk in. And to add the perfect touch on an already disappointing day, I was just turning (finally) into the hotel driveway when I realized I had left my glasses on the table at Denny's. Crap! The hotel shuttle driver took pity on me and drove me back to retrieve them - God bless him. If he hadn't been willing to do that, I was going to write them up as a loss - too cold to walk another 2 mile round trip!

Hopefully good news is on the way, though: Erik had more cash than I thought he did so he's deposited enough in our account to bring us back in the black, so I can use the debit card for dinner tonight; the whole crew is planning to meet and go to dinner together so I'm hoping that will be fun (and to be honest, hoping the Capt. will buy); and our hotel here in Tucson has a pretty good continental breakfast in the morning, which we will have time to enjoy before our showtime. Yay! I love free breakfast!

And before I go, I just have to share two quick stories from this morning's flight. The first person on the plane this morning was blocking the aisle forever while she took her slow, sweet time getting her things situated. She asked the guy behind her if he needed to get in her row and when he politely answered, "No, ma'am," she continued doing what she was doing, not getting out of the way. At least 30 MORE seconds went by (a long time if you're waiting for someone to sit the heck down) before I said, "Actually, ma'am, I believe he needs to get by you, if you don't mind." She sneered up at me from where she was methodically untangling her seat belt and growled, "Well, then, he ought to say something!" Being the consummate professional I am, I merely smiled and said - while looking at him - "No, no, it's okay! He's waiting very patiently like the gentleman he is. His mama raised him right!" She plopped down and he gave me a grateful smile before finally being free to head to his own seat. During flight, she was pleasant as can be when she asked for her water, but the snarl was back during my final compliance check just prior to landing. "Ma'am - when you're finished with your purse, please make sure you stow it under the seat in front of you for landing, ok?" Big smile. "I PLAN ON THAT, THANK YOU!" Big snarl. Sigh.....

The other funny thing was the couple talking loudly during the safety demo, and I got caught by another passenger as I was trying to hint to them to pay attention. As I stepped forward my 3 steps, safety card in hand, I purposefully swiped it very close to their faces, snapped the seat belt closed and open in front of them, smiled many times in their direction, loudly tapped the side of their seat showing emergency lighting, etc. all to no avail. I finally realized a lady just a row behind them was laughing at my vain efforts. I'm glad she had a good sense of humor about it, and once the demo was done whispered to me how rude she thinks it is when people chatter during announcements. Her comment was one that warms the cockles of flight attendant hearts worldwide: "I know they probably travel a lot and hear this stuff a lot, but what if there is someone nearby who doesn't travel much and is hearing it for the first time?" God bless her, too.

And with this entirely too windy post, I'm off to dinner....Bon appetit!