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!