Too Good to Be True?!?!?

I heard a rumor today, that I am hoping is true...

Ladies... I heard from a source (who knows where it came from) that only 40 something people got laid off and if u got laid off u would have gotten a phone call today... if u didnt get called u r fine and they r expecting everyone to come back by the end of the year... we r supposed to get an e-mail about it tomorrow... dont quote me!!! but im still celebrating tonight = )!!!!!

I am so excited! I did not get a phone call, and I am 72 people from the bottom on the seniority list. I will be crushed if this isn't true.

I've almost got the entire top two floors of the house organized (I just need to finish the "snoring room" closet and my desk area in the office), and I am SO TIRED of throwing things out and cleaning. But it does feel good to have a nice, neat and organized home. But I'll be taking a break starting tomorrow!

My sister, Diane and her family are going to attempt to fly out here tomorrow (they're flying standby). We have got a great week planned - alligator wrestling, sand dune surfing, white water rafting, Mesa Verde touring, and Four Corners spread-eagleing! So I hope they get here!

Once they leave, I've got a week or so to get back to organizing - though I'll just be doing accounting-type stuff...and then Jen will come home for 10 days!!! She'll leave on 8/26 and I'll have a day to "get back into the swing of things" and I'll start duty again on 8/28!!!

Woo Hoo!!! It will feel so good to be back at work...

Dogs at Play

I should probably rename this blog for my dogs since I don't seem to be doing much flying these days...however, I did get the go ahead from my doctor to start flying again on...

August 28, 2008!

In the meantime, I have been doing lots of things to get the house organized for my eventual return to flying. Today, I was out and about running a bunch of errands, and when I returned to the house, my neat piles of color-separated laundry didn't quite look the way that I left them...

I am not too crazy about the mess that greeted me, but at least it was the dirty clothes instead of the clean ones!

The boys continue to play together nicely - I caught this video of all three of them playing yesterday afternoon...

Doggie Update

Hi! This is Kikko speaking...I thought I'd let you know how my new brother is fitting into our family. Here are a few pictures:

He likes to sit on the hearth...

He steals all my toys and hides them under the dining room table (I'm not too crazy about this behavior)...

He likes to climb on top of things - like the outdoor table...

And he likes to watch TV (he's watching a cricket game on "The Wedding Date").

Mom and Dad are pretty attached to him, and I guess I am too. Every morning when we first go outside he runs over to me and pushes me to try and get me to chase him. But I have a reputation to uphold...though I eventually do give in. Boy, is he fast! And we have so many rocks and bushes in the backyard - it's amazing how he just leaps over them. But I always catch him...cause I'm the alpha male when Dad's not around!

More Memos...

The senior flight attendants now have the opportunity for early retirement, with the ability to retain flight benefits for a length of time determined by their years of service. This is another attempt by management to reduce the number of employees...

Also, a handbook revision went out regarding furloughs - I haven't seen it yet, but I've seen a Q&A memo about it. It seems that if I'm furloughed, I'll get 90 days of flight benefits and I'll be kept on the rehire list for five years. Though after 23 months on the list, if I'm called back I'll have to attend initial training again. Hmmmmmm.

These memos today have made it seem all too real, and have really dragged me down. That, coupled with the fact that Jen's dancing in a show tomorrow in NYC - the culmination of her summer intensive with the Rockettes...and I'm missing it. But she's there and I'm here. My heart hurts.

JUNK

To keep my mind busy, I've been sorting through JUNK. The Disabled American Veterans came by on Monday and picked up a ton of JUNK that we aren't using anymore. There was furniture, bags of clothing, and miscellaneous JUNK. (You get the picture.) I still have a a room upstairs and a couple rooms in the basement that I need to go through. If we haven't used it in a year, then it's JUNK.

This morning, though, I took a break from JUNK. I rearranged our den - there's not a whole lot we can do with it, but I wanted a "cozier" feel and I wanted a view of the stream from most of the seats on the sofa. In moving stuff around, I still found more JUNK. Does this stuff breed when we're not looking?

Life is a Game

No one really knows what is going on with our jobs...I know that at least 169 flight attendants received WARN letters on 6/30/08, and rumor has it that another 60-70 received them recently (I don't think that this rumor was true).

Special "packages" are being offered to the more senior flight attendants - part-time and 6 or 12 month voluntary leaves of absence. Each of these packages offer a variety of benefits, including medical and flights. Not bad.

Soon, we will know if enough senior flight attendants took advantage of these packages, allowing us junior flight attendants to keep our jobs. Nonetheless, I was told that we should find out this week if there are any benefits offered during a furlough.

It's a waiting game. Be patient.

Lions and Skunks and Bears, Oh My!

Colorado. What a great place to live. The land of the unexpected. Three days ago, out on the plains east of the city, there was a report phoned in that an African lion was roaming a neighborhood. All kinds of people with all kinds of weapons showed up, but all they had to go on was a picture that someone took with a cell phone. I still think it was 'big foot.'

Then two days ago, on the north side of our fair city, a bear got lost and wandered into the front doors of a Circuit City store!

One day ago, we had a bear in our neighborhood. It must have walked through our front yard, and fortunately did not stop to lounge by our waterfall. Instead, he headed three doors down, and hung out in a tree in their front yard.

So, tonight I decided to bring the boys inside early. Just as I was getting ready to do that, the neighbors who had the bears last night called and said that a skunk was heading our way!

I wonder what it'll be tomorrow?

Puppy Pictures

...2 days old...........2 weeks old.....

......2 months old........Almost 5 months old

Personality Test

My Mom sent me a link to a personality test (http://DNA.imagini.net/friends), and it was so true, that I just had to include it here. My results are as follows:

Personality: Mood - Dreamer

You're romantic in your outlook with a bit of a taste for the exotic. You love feeling the sea breeze in your hair, sun on your skin... You always take the first dip. When it comes to art, you find beauty in the world around you. Nothing is more precious than natural treasures. As for music, it's the sountrack to your world. An open road, your favorite tracks - just sit back, put your foot on the gas and enjoy!

Personality: Fun - Escape Artist

You love to be far away from your everyday life. There's nothing like catching some rays and slowing down - you know how to take things nice and easy! For kicks, you like to switch off and immerse yourself in another world. You are thoughtful and imaginative, cultured and creative. You like to look at life from a different perspective. When it comes to holidays, you reckon they should always be indulgent - a very special treat and a chance to recharge your batteries in luxurious surroundings, as well as spending quality time with family and friends. And what turns you off? You can't stand vanity. When you scratch beneath the surface you need to find something else.

Personality: Habits - Back to Basics

You're never happier than when you are snuggled up, eyes shut. So whether you're worn out, or just plain lazy, lay back, relax and catch up on some zzzzzzs! When it comes to drinking, you have a taste for the exotic. You're always up for trying the local tipple when you're on holdiay - it's all about fuelling the fun! As for the home, you have an expressive personality. You like your surroundings to be simple and comfortable - with a really romantic feel.

Personality: Social - Nostalgic

You're a bit of a nostalgic deep down. Nothing beats the good times that you and your friends have shared. You're always up for a trip down memory lane. When you think of freedom - the great outdoors spring to mind. Getting back to nature is a big draw. It's the perfect place to find peace and quiet.

Playtime!

Peace...

I am happy to announce that Kikko and Kodi actually started PLAYING together yesterday! Yippee!


Before playing together... ("Mr. Please Play With Me" and "Mr. Grumpypants")

Kikko has had such a sour expression on his face since we brought Kodi home and he realized that Kodi was here to stay...so yesterday, I tried an experiment. Since Kikko snaps or growls at Kodi every time that he gets near him, I figured out a way to get them both close to me - training treats!

I had them sit side by side, and said their name as I gave them a morsel. Then I graduated to putting both morsels on my hand at the same time and having them eat at the same time. Risky, I know, but I still have all my fingers!

Next, I took them outside and told them to play together. I told Kikko to "go get Kodi!" and the next thing I knew, Kikko took off after Kodi and chased him around the side of the house! I didn't hear any yipes or growls, and the next thing I see, they're on the grass, tumbling, using karate kicks, just having a grand old time!

Can we play some more?

A Walk Down Memory Lane

Today I drove to DIA and visited the crewroom...I got manual updates out of my file, sat and talked with several friends/classmates and really got sad. I want so much to be back at work. But the atmosphere is pretty somber. No one knows what's going on, how many are going to be laid off, whether or not there will be any benefits...it's probably for the best that I'm at home organizing my closets.

However, there is one thing that I don't miss...THE COMMUTE to Denver! Whew. Coloradans do not know how to drive. I, of course, do know fall into that category because I am PERFECT.

Those Svihla Women!

People often wonder where I get my "crazy genes" from...


My Mom and the Naked Cowboy!

Getting a little closer!

Yeeeeeehaaaaaaaaaaw! Go for it, Mom!

New Camera

Greg & Jen gave me a new camera for Mother's Day...and I'm still trying to figure it out. It's got all kinds of bells and whistles! But here is my handiwork so far:


Jen tallying her sales at her "In the Heights" mechandise booth.


A close-up picture of the "In the Heights" CD


Busy Times Square.


This is my "Color Accent" photo...I taught the camera to keep just the yellow and make everything else black & white! Cool, huh?


Kodi...


Kikko...

Kodi the Klee Kai

We are happy to announce an addition to our family! His name is Kodi and he is a Klee Kai (miniature husky). He is 7 months old, born on 11/13/07 (mark that date on your calendars!), and he is a semi-rescue. Here are some pics:


Greg holding Kodi for the first time.


Kodi in the play yard at the breeder's home.


Kikko and Kodi meeting for the first time.


Kodi getting brushed for the first time!


He's probably happy that brushing is over!

Happy to be home.

Cruise, anyone?

Quick!!! Pack your bags and meet me in London on Sunday! Hurry! There's a 13 day cruise on the Norwegian Star around the British Isles, with stops in Ireland, Scotland, England, The Netherlands and Belgium. The cost (for airline employees and their guests) is $299 for an inside cabin, $399 for an outside cabin and $499 for a cabin with a balcony? Any takers?

Just for the record, there was some fine print saying that there were taxes and a fuel charge that total about $300...plus, there's the issue of somehow getting to London. Since I'm on medical leave, I have no flight benefits. Man...kick a girl when she's down!

I asked Greg how much he loved me, and his immediate response was "How much is it going to cost?"

Am I that predictable?

Living the Dream

Well...not quite the dream! If I was back at work traveling all over the place, staying at nice hotels, THEN I'd be living the dream.

But now I am slowly organizing, sorting, de-cluttering - something I had planned on doing before I started flying, but never got around to. I've also got a TON of bookkeeping to catch up on...but I'm finding it really difficult to even start that project.

I have managed to see several friends in recent days, and have a couple more outings scheduled soon. That's been the nice part of not traveling so much. But then again I haven't seen my flying buddies. It's a tradeoff, I guess. Though I do need to go to the crewroom one of these days to pick up the manual revisions that are in my file...maybe I'll do that next week.

I fell in love yesterday with a little pug named Colin. He was at the Humane Society and someone adopted him right out from under me. Now that I'm home, we figured it'd be a good time to get a companion for Kikko and get him acclimated before it's time for me to take off again. Klee Kai and Shiba Inu puppies are WAY out of our price range, so we're focusing on rescues. We're on a list to get a dog towards the end of the month - a group from COS is heading to MO to pick up 50 dogs at a puppy mill. We'll foster for awhile, and if all works out, he'll join the family!

Oh, What a Night!

A 4th of July with no plans turned into a rather fun afternoon/evening!

Greg & I were on our way to Harbor Freight, when we noticed our neighbors Cindy, Randy and Cameron in their front yard working on their pop-up camper. Another neighbor, Bruce, was supervising from a nearby lawn chair.

As we drove by, Greg slowed and I rolled down my window and yelled out that I loved the campsite that they picked! And that we didn't realize that the gas prices were having such an effect on them.

Next thing you know, we got out of the car to admire their handiwork (they were repainting the pop-up), lawn chairs were set up and beer was passed out. That was where I stayed for the next four hours! Bruce's family joined us - his wife, two daughters, one son-in-law, two grandsons, one sister-in-law, one sister and one father-in-law. We all just hung out in an impromptu party until it was time to go to our respective homes to eat dinner.

We met again an hour or so later on the grounds of the nearby country club - on a hill overlooking the lake, with the fireworks station on the other side. We all sat around eating watermelon, talking, oooooing and ahhhhhhhhing. What a great vantage point we had!

Time to Snap out of it!

I'm not used to being "down" for so long, so I must kick myself in the butt and get moving on with life...

There are a few job openings at the Broadmoor Hotel (a 5 star resort) nearby, but I would rather wait until after Jen's 10 day visit in August. I will start perusing the Sunday classified section to see what my options are.

I have set up "dates" with my girlfriends...a couple for lunch and one for a pot of tea. It will be nice reconnecting with them again.

I received the packet of information about medical insurance from the Colorado Dental Association...our monthly cost is going to jump from $350/mo (Frontier's policy with a $500 deductible) to around $1000/mo (with a $2500 deductible). OUCH. Maybe I should look into a job at McDonald's where I can flip burgers and get medical insurance coverage...

Lastly, I have literally tons of projects to do in my home...cleaning out closets, sorting through files, etc. I have enough stuff to keep me occupied until the end of the year.

Dem's de Breaks!

It is official...I have a "triquetral fracture" of my right wrist. It is a very common fracture, and an easy one to heal. It'll just take time. Here's what it looks like on x-rays (they look just like mine - notice the little bitty piece of bone next to the red arrow...that's the break):

I was given a choice - a cast or a splint, and I chose the splint. I had to promise to keep it on 24/7, except for when I shower, and will have to keep it on a minimum of a month, possibly more.

The doctor wrote me a Work Excuse for two months - so it looks as if I will go from medical leave to a furlough. No more flying for me.

I am sad.