Finding Time to Write

Finding the time to write is sometimes difficult. I have an erratic schedule, sometimes flying days, sometimes nights. I cross time zones, and my body clock is frequently not the same as the time clock. I sleep strange hours, sometimes for short periods of time and then will turn around and sleep for an entire day.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining one bit. It’s that variety, and sense of no two days ever being the same, that draws me to the job. I’m just struggling with finding the best time to write.

Accomplished writers say that you just have to write every day. Most writers have some sort of routine to their writing, whether it’s on a time schedule every day or achieving a particular output every day. Neither of those options seems to fit my lifestyle as a flight attendant.

For now, I think I’ll try the idea of writing when I’m on a layover. I’m in a hotel room, so there is no laundry staring me in the face, nor is there a list of household chores waiting for me to get to. I can keep my own schedule, without consideration for anyone else, as long as I get enough rest to show up and work productively for my next flight. I travel with a laptop, and most hotels have high speed access. I love it when it’s wi-fi (right now I’m laying in bed and typing this post), even better when it’s free. This may be the routine that works for me right now.

I’m going to spend some time reading and researching other writers to learn how they schedule their writing time. If I’m lucky, I’ll find a routine that will work for me in the long run.

PDA Separation Anxiety

I like my electronic gadgets as much as the next gal, and understand the growing dependence we’ve all come to have with these items. I can’t imagine leaving home without my cell phone and PDA in my purse, my laptop in my carryon, and certain battery operated devices in my suitcase.

But what I don’t understand is the inability of people to turn these items off for the few minutes that it takes us to close the aircraft door, taxi out, take off, and get up to cruising altitude, when most items can once again be turned back on. Blackberry and Treo users seem to be the worst offenders, so will refer to this problem as PDA separation anxiety.

Like all forms of separation anxiety, it is a deep and abiding belief that the earth as we know it will not continue to rotate on its axis if the individual is not at all times electronically available. Really and truly, this is not the case.

It is okay to turn off your phone, PDA and computer before the Flight Attendants ask you to do so. In fact, it is preferable to do so. However, it is mandatory that you turn them off before you are asked for the third time. I think of this as the three-strikes rule.

Just turn the damn thing off so we can get going. You are not that important. You are causing a delay for an entire cabin of passengers who will soon become surly because I am going to tell them that the reason we are still sitting at the gate is because we have a passenger that is too important to be unavailable to their clamoring public.

If this seems too difficult for you to master, or you believe it is an unreasonable request, may I suggest a therapist before your next flight.

Jumpseat Library

Most Flight Attendants are readers. Newspapers, magazines, books, it really doesn’t matter. When we finish with what we’re reading, we leave it behind for other Flight Attendants in the jumpseat. We call this the Jumpseat Library.

While doing a little online surfing today, I came across I Guess We’ll Just Have to Adjust written by Sharelle, from Toronto, Ontario. She has a wicked sense of humor, and an eye for the absurdities in life.

On her site today, she shared information about a project called BookCrossing . The basic theory is that after you read a book, you “release” it into the world for another reader to find. Before doing so, you register the book at the BookCrossing site and list exactly where you are planning to leave it. This will generate an ID number, which, when the book is “found” will allow the finder to enter the ID number on the website and learn about the book’s journey to date. The site lists over 400,000 books traveling around the world, and you can search for a book that may be waiting to be found in your city.

I’m reading a borrowed book right now, but the next time that I have a book that I can pass on, I’ll be using the BookCrossing site to send it on it’s journey. Who knows? The book may wind up traveling more miles than I do.

Schedule Flexibility

Schedule flexibility. It’s a good thing; it’s a bad thing. It’s one of the benefits most highly touted about our job. It’s also what keeps us in front of a computer, on a day off, for hours and hours at a time.

When it comes to scheduling, flight attendants use a seniority system to request or bid their monthly schedule preferences. After schedules are awarded, you are then free to trade your trips and days off. Trades may be made either to another flight attendant or through an open flying system that lists all uncovered flying for the month. Trades are generally processed on a first come, first served basis, so when the trading begins, it’s a fast and furious process. It’s also a time when good computer skills, high-speed access, and fast reflexes matter a lot.

Although I was awarded a schedule for next month, one that reflected one of my highest preferences, I still couldn’t resist the lure of the trade. I wanted to see what else was out there. I wanted to take a perfectly good schedule and see if I could make it perfectly, well, uh, perfect.

After four hours in front of the computer, looking at trades, processing trades, and communicating with other flight attendants about possible trades, I have made a few minor changes to my perfectly good schedule. For the hours of time I took out of today’s plans, my schedule is only nominally better. To be honest, it’s neither better, nor worse. It’s merely different.

The lure of the trade is like any other compulsive behavior. It sucks you in with a promise of perfection, consumes too much time, and, at the end of the day, leaves you the worse for wear. But hey – the job is all about the flexibility.

Pop Culture Update

What I’m reading: 3 Nights in August. I actually meant to read this in August, but better late than never. Not my typical chit-lit reading, but I do love baseball, and Tony La Russa has always been a favorite.

What I’m watching: Wicker Park. A thriller dealing with an obsessive love. Josh Hartnett is supposed to be really hot in this one.

What I’m listening to: Possibilities by Herbie Hancock. Great background music -- for drinks, for dinner, for making love.

Boarding Music

When you get on and off and airplane, do you ever listen closely to the boarding music?

Airlines spend a fair amount of time and money researching appropriate music choices for the boarding and deplaning process. It’s a search for the ultimate mix tape. A tape that will soothe your nerves if you are feeling harried. One that will cheer you up if you are depressed. Songs with beats that will make you step lively, yet with lyrics that will not offend.

Before a mix tape can be approved, lots of people must be involved. This may include focus groups, an inflight committee (or two), and some sort of management review process. The music will then be recorded, and additional people will be involved to review the quality of the production, get the music onboard the airplanes, and the lively tunes “sold” to the Flight Attendant group.

Once the new music arrives on the airplanes, we play it. Over, and over again, we play it. Within a week we are sick of it. It’s not calming our nerves, it’s making us cranky. We’re not cheerful, we’re growing more and more anxious every time we hear these songs. After two weeks, we’d just as soon turn the music off as listen to it, and by the third week we have turned it off.

I’ve never really been certain if passengers appreciate or even like the boarding music. All I know is that I’ve been off the plane for a couple hours now, and I still can’t get “New York, New York” out of my mind.

Blogs I'm Reading

I love reading other blogs. I keep up with business and world events, and read the requisite blogs that keep me informed. But I also have some deliciously guilty pleasures. The stuff I read because it makes me smile, or reflect, or laugh. Good writers, good people, good times.

Here are some of the other non-business blogs that are currently on my not-to-be-missed list. And remember, I'm always looking for a few (more) good blogs.

Queen of the Sky. (http://queenofsky.journalspace.com/) This one-time Delta Flight Attendant was fired for posting supposedly risqué photos on her blog.

Greek Tragedy. (http://stephanieklein.blogs.com/greek_tragedy/) A single 30-year-old’s view of life and love in New York City. Filled with fun and angst.

Manolo’s Shoe Blog. (http://www.shoeblogs.com/wordpress/) Shoes. Need I say more?

The Princess Diaries. (http://prncess674.blogspot.com/) A New Orleans woman working in NYC.

This Fish Needs a Bicycle. (http://thisfish.com/) Written by an independent feminist who is not afraid to admit that she needs a man in her life.

Trashionista. (http://www.trashionista.com/) All about chick lit, which is the perfect travel and layover read.

Waiter Rant. (http://waiterrant.net/) Discover life through the eyes of a waiter in NYC.

Happy Anniversary

Sometimes you have the nicest people on your airplane. Take today, for instance. A very nice couple was seated in the forward part of the aircraft. For the entire flight they sat in their seats reading, accepting what was offered them without complaint or special requests. They were polite and friendly, and not the least bit demanding.

About an hour before we were scheduled to land, the gentleman approached me in the galley and said he had a favor to ask. Since it was getting near the end of a very long day, I was a little apprehensive about what he might want.

He explained that he and his wife were on the flight as part of a vacation to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary. He waxed poetic for quite a few moments as he told me all about his wife, and how fortunate he was to have her in his life. He then reached in his pocket and brought out a jewelry box, showing me a beautiful (and large) diamond necklace that he had bought to give to her.

“I’d like to find a way to give this to her that would surprise her,” he said, and asked if I had any suggestions. With a big smile on my face, I assured him that I could think of something. After all, these are the kind of favors that flight attendants love to grant.

I went to first class and got a couple of wine glasses and some champagne. I draped a small tray with a linen napkin, placed the bottle of champagne and glass onto it, and placed the jewelry box on the tray next to everything. With all the other flight attendants surreptitiously looking on, I walked up to the couple and said that I had a surprise for them. As I sat down the tray, the wife could only see the champagne, as the jewelry was tucked behind the bottle.

“May I pour you a glass of champagne?” I asked. She smiled brightly, and said of course. As I picked up the bottle to pour, she saw the jewelry box. I smiled and said, “that is for you as well.” I finished pouring the champagne as she opened the box and saw the necklace.

With tears in her eyes, she turned to her husband for a kiss, and whispered her thank yous to him.

I returned to the galley and the other flight attendants who had been watching the entire time. There were tears in more than one set of eyes.

To that special couple: Happy Anniversary!

LAX Emergency Landing

Like half the country, I watched the landing of the Jet Blue airplane at LAX last night. The phone was ringing off the hook. Family and friends all had questions and comments:

Whew! Good! I was hoping you weren’t on that flight.
I don’t fly for Jet Blue, and never have. You’d think family and friends would remember which airline I work for, but when a drama is playing out in front of them, all they can think about is knowing that you are on the ground and safe.

Can you believe it? The pilots landed the plane and everything is fine.
Yes, I can believe it. I fly with these people all the time. While we joke and kid, and occasionally argue, they are exactly who I want flying the plane when there’s a dicey situation. These men and women know their stuff, and are worth every penny (and more) that they make.

How come nobody went down the slides?
It’s always a good thing when people get to walk off of a plane, rather than slide down the emergency evacuation slides. People get hurt coming off slides, either because they aren’t following instructions on how and when to evacuate or because they aren’t getting the help they need at the end of the slide. I was VERY glad to see the stairs roll up to the plane for people to walk off.

How come the flight attendants were chanting “Brace, Brace?”
Because that, or a similar command, is what we are trained to do. It's been shown to be the most effective way to get people to follow instructions and assume a position that's safe for an emergency landing. We continue shouting it out to remind you to stay in the brace position. If we stop, people may stop bracing and think it’s okay to stand up and leave the plane.

So how about those flight attendants?
Yeah! How about ‘em! Every day we pass out peanuts and sodas, worry about pay cuts, and fend off comments about how lucky we are to even have a job. On those days that an emergency demands our attention aren't you lucky that we have our job. In an emergency, the pilot’s job is to put the plane on the ground; the flight attendant’s job is to get everyone safely off the plane. And aren’t you glad we do.

Kudos to the flight and cabin crew of Jet Blue flight #292. I am very proud to share the sky with you!

Travel Size

I keep a full set of toiletries packed in my suitcase at all times. This toiletry kit only comes out of my bag when I need to replenish supplies, and since I pack full size containers of virtually everything, this isn’t very often.

A good friend swears by a company called “Minimus” (www.minimus.biz) for locating individual sizes of almost everything. I tried packing the miniature or travel size items for about a year. For the occasional traveler, I think these smaller sizes are wonderful, but I was forever running out and forgetting to refill or repack my toiletry bag. The smaller size are handy, but I probably won’t make the switch for working. For pleasure travel, however, t’s all about packing light, and I'm always envious that her bag weighs so much less than mine.

New Uniform Styles

Courtesy of Gridskipper, comes this post about what would make a good flight attendant uniform (http://www.gridskipper.com/travel/flights/flight-attendant-fashion-check-126629.php). You can find the photos and commentary of proposed designs for uniforms via a link on that site, or go directly to: http://www.travelandleisure.com/uniforms/index.cfm.

As someone who wears a uniform every day to work, I’d offer my two cents worth.

The Red Dress (Richard Tyler for Delta): I love red. I wear red well. I know too many other people for whom this is not true, and a uniform is about finding something that works well for the overwhelming majority of flight attendants. This dress is also cut too low in the front; practically guaranteeing that it will gap for those who are large busted and will flop open for those who aren’t. The tie belt is likely to get caught on something and the ¾ sleeves are going to be a bit too chilly for working an all night flight (meaning a sweater would be worn over the dress, thereby eliminating all of its cuteness). Overall: cute dress, impractical uniform.

The Black Quasi-Suit (Kate Spade for Song): Not bad, although the green belt thing is a little odd. The ¾ sleeves are again a problem though, and this time wearing a sweater over it will not be an option. Overall: neutral.

The Red Bow Dress (Christian LaCroix for Air France): Cute! As long as the airline does individual tailoring to get a precision fit, this is a marvelous option. Maybe that’s happening with foreign carriers who are subsidized by their governments, but it’s not happening for U.S. carriers. This means that this beautiful garment is going to look fabulous on 5% of the work force, and will just hang and look like hell on everyone else. Overall: Gorgeous, but impractical.

The Traditional Suit (Debbie Chuchat for Air Canada): This suit can be worn by anyone, regardless of shape or size, and this is important. The turned up cuff, and nipped in waist, tries to give it a little fashion appeal, although again, I question whether the nipped in waist will really be tailored for each individual flight attendant. Overall: Nothing wrong with it. But nothing really right about it either.

The Light Colored Suit (Gianfranco Ferre’ for Korean Air): Most impractical in such a light color. Even on dark colors, at the end of a flight we are spot- cleaning Coke, tomato juice and who knows what else in the way of spills. Overall: This suit wouldn’t make it through one flight, let alone a multi-day trip.

The Other Traditional Suit (Julien McDonald for British Airways): Traditional looking with clean lines and slight tailoring at the waist, this will look good on anyone. It’s practical, yet has style without details to date the look. It looks like a uniform, which, after all, is the point. The look commands authority without looking frumpy. Overall: This one got my vote!

The Chink in his Armor

Today is the third time that Mr. Amazingly Gorgeous has had to reschedule meeting for drinks.  AHA!  This may be the chink in his armor.

Every time he has had to reschedule it seems like it has been for a legitimately important work-related reason.  He always calls, is apologetic, tells me how disappointed he is, thanks me for being so understanding, and sets up a future date.

But enough is enough!  No one is THAT important!  And after awhile, I can no longer be THAT understanding.  I don’t need to be front and center in anyone’s life all the time, but I also don’t want to waste time with someone who won’t make me a priority once in awhile.  

Simply put:  I’m not willing to make anyone a priority in my life who only views me as an option.

Culture Update

What I’m reading: Bring Your A Game, Robert J. Mc Govern. I’m sure this book will tell me all the reasons why if I’d made different choices in my life that I could be richer, more successful, more whatever. Maybe. But I couldn’t be any happier.

What I’m listening to: Brazilian Girls. Some of these lyrics are a little risqué, but I do like the beat.

What I’m Watching: The Triplets of Belleville. A foreign animated movie with very few words. The music delivers the message. Should be fun, and a welcomed difference from my usual fare.

Woulda. . . C oulda. . . Shoulda. . . .

Woulda written a post. . . .

Coulda written a post. . . .

Shoulda written a post. . . .

. . . but I didn't.

Girls trip was just too much fun! As soon as I get caught up on my sleep, I'll write all about it.

Is he the real deal?

Just because we live in different parts of the country, doesn’t mean that it can’t work.  Or at least so says Mr. Amazingly Gorgeous.  I have layovers in his city, and he has business trips to mine.  So, at least on paper, it do-able.

I googled him.  I’m not terribly proud of it, but I did.  Let’s just say that I have trust issues.  So far, everything he has told me is true:  his job, his life, his background.  He’s a few years younger than I thought, but that’s not a deal breaker.  He’s single – and were he not that would be a deal breaker.  So what’s the problem, then?

As I said before, I have trust issues.  I’ll get a better feel for things when I see him again.  Until then, the emails have been fast and furious.

Did I mention that he is amazingly gorgeous?

Things To Do

What I’m reading:  How to be Idle by Tom Hodgkinson.  Recommended by a friend.  Not she if she was suggesting that I needed to be idle more, or that it was a concept that I had already mastered.

What I’m listening:  Fuego de Luna, Andre Feriante.  Another recommend from a friend.  Very sexy music.

What I’m watching:  Rear Window.  A classic.  No matter how many times I watch it, I’m always on the edge of the chair.

T-Shirts

On my flight yesterday I saw a funny t-shirt.

First of all, let’s get it right up front:  I think most of the t-shirts and hats and jackets and all that stuff with those stupid sayings on them are just that --- stupid.  Half the time I don’t understand them.  And those that I do understand are just not funny.

Yesterday was an exception.  It said:

“It seemed like a good idea at the time.”

That could become my new mantra, as it pretty much sums up the better part of life.

Silly personality profile quiz

Quizzes are always fun, even if not accurate. I'd rate this one about 60% on the money.

Your Personality Profile

You are dignified, spiritual, and wise. Always unsatisfied, you constantly try to better yourself. You are also a seeker of knowledge and often buried in books. You tend to be philosophical, looking for the big picture in life. You dream of inner peace for yourself, your friends, and the world. A good friend, you always give of yourself first.

The World's Shortest Personality Test

Mr. Amazingly Gorgeous

Well, I had dinner with Mr. Amazingly Gorgeous last night.  It wasn’t under the best of circumstances, after all, I’d just soaked his shirt with red wine.  However, after some twists and turns to the evening, I have to say that it all turned out just fine.

I was on a layover, and despite the fact that he seemed very nice, I wasn’t willing to give out the name and location of our crew hotel.  You just can’t be too careful these days, and we guard our personal information zealously.  Instead, he gave me the name and address of a conveniently located bar and I agreed to meet him there.

It was a quick-change operation for me.  Get to the hotel, shower, change, realize that I have no sexy, adorable, hot looking clothes packed with me, do hair and make up, and resolve myself to having to pull off the evening in a moderately cute black outfit.  It’s either that or my birthday suit, as there is nothing else in my suitcase.

I grabbed a cab, walked into the bar, didn’t see Mr. A.G., so found a table, ordered a glass of wine and waited for him to arrive.  Not for a moment did I think he wouldn’t show up.  My only worry was would I recognize him without the wine-stained shirt.

When he walked into the bar, the first thing that I noticed was the air of confidence that he exuded.  That, and his beautiful eyes.  And, after he ordered a bottle of wine for us, his exceedingly good taste in wine.  We talked and talked over the bottle of wine, then moved into dinner and another bottle of wine.

I learned:  That his name was Patrick, that he had moved to the city within the last year for his job (something to do with sports), that he was a great conversationalist, and had a good sense of humor.  Before we knew it, we had blown through an evening of drinks, dinner, and were now winding down.  I’d been having a GREAT time, but noticed that he hadn’t engaged in any of those little flirtatious moves (touching my arm or leg, brushing up against me, holding my hand, etc.), so figured that I had just met someone who could become a very good friend.

As we walked out of the restaurant, he hailed a cab, and as the car was pulling over to the curb, he put his arms around me and kissed me – slowly and sweetly, yet so very sexy.  He took his thumb and ran it over my lips, whispering that he would like to see me again.

“Give me your phone number,” he said.  I hesitated for a moment, wondering if giving it out would be okay.  I think he realized that I was having a sudden moment of concern, however foolish that might have seen.  “Your email then,” he added, “until you’re sure that I’m not some psycho.”  I wrote my email address on the back of his business card and got into the cab.  He leaned in and gave the driver some money, telling him to take me wherever I needed to go, then gave me a final kiss on the cheek and closed the door.

I got back to my hotel and into my room about half an hour later.  There was already an email from Mr. A.G. wanting to know when we could get together again.

A great evening, and all because of a terrible-two toddler and a bottle of red wine.

Red, Red Wine

I was working a flight today and spilled red wine all over the beautiful white dress shirt of the most amazingly gorgeous man.  

It wasn’t my fault.  As I was pouring the wine into his glass, holding it out over the aisle so it wouldn’t splash on him, a terrible-two toddler darted between my legs, knocking me, the wine glass and bottle, off balance.  With a look of horror on my face, I watched the wine slosh out of the glass and onto the passenger.

Fact of life:  stuff gets spilled on airplanes.  As careful as we are, bouncing along in the sky is not always a smooth path.  Most of the time this results in minor little spills, the kind of spill that is easily spotted with club soda and then washed clean when the passenger gets home.  We feel badly, but we also know that it’s not a permanent problem.

Today’s spill, however, was the kind that nightmares are made of.  There was not enough club soda on the plane that would get out this kind of spill.  In fact, it would be easier to just think of the shirt as pink, not white.  It matched the color of my face.

I grabbed paper towel to soak up the excess liquid, apologized profusely, made the futile offer of club soda, offered a certificate to cover cleaning costs (this shirt was never going to come clean), and finally admitted, “I’m so sorry.  You’re shirt is ruined; I don’t know how to fix this problem.”

Mr. Amazingly Gorgeous turns out to also be Mr. Extraordinarily Kind and Gracious.  He simply went into the lav and cleaned himself up as best he could.  When he returned to his seat, I showered him again with apologies, and asked him, “What can I do to make this right for you?”

With the greenest eyes that I have ever seen penetrating into my own, he smiled and said, “Have dinner with me tonight.”

How could I turn down an offer like that?  After all, we’re all about customer service.  Must get ready for dinner now.

What I'm Doing

WHAT I’M READING: Exact Revenge by Tim Green. I know nothing about this book or this author. I saw him on a television interview and he was adorable. I’ve read books for worse reasons. He is the host of A Current Affair, if you want to check him out.

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO: When the Sun Goes Down, Kenny Chesney. Not usually my cup of tea, but can Renee Zellweger be all wrong.

WHAT I’M WATCHING: Million Dollar Baby. I know, I know, I’m probably the only person who still hasn’t seen it.

Boston College

On a recent layover in Boston, I managed to escape the violence of a thunderstorm by hanging out at Boston College. What a beautiful campus – even in a downpour.

Since I wasn’t familiar with the campus, I had to rely on the kindness of students in pointing me in the direction of the library, bookstore, and computer center. They sure are making college guys a lot cuter and more interesting than when I was that age. Who knew that 20 year olds could look so hot. It’s almost enough to make me want to go back to school. I wonder if they'll notice that I'm old enough to be their. . . older sister.

When the rain stopped, I ventured out for a look at the remainder of the grounds, and then headed back downtown for cocktails and dinner. While walking along the Commons, I saw a young woman walking a dog. She immediately caught my eye. OK, it was the dog that caught my eye – an Italian greyhound named Valentina. I spoke with the young woman and learned about owning this breed and how they differ from their full-sized relatives.

What a doll! Valentina, that is.

Happy Labor Day

A very happy Labor Day to all the hard-working men and women who help to make this nation great.

We have become a nation of 24/7, which means people working round the clock, weekends and holidays.

I’m not working this holiday, yet I know many of you are. Not just flight attendants, but doctors and nurses, grocery store clerks, taxi drivers, shopkeepers, food servers, telephone operators – all of you -- without whom the rest of us would not get to enjoy our holiday.

For what you do for all of us, I thank you!

Books, Movies & Music

I never want to be caught without something to occupy my time, whether that’s at the airport, on an airplane, or in a hotel room. For me this means a good book, some music, and a movie. Those items, in conjunction with my laptop, will provide me hours of entertainment and diversion whether I’m on a layover, traveling on a flight myself, or stuck at an airport waiting for something to happen.

In the side bar of this blog, I’ve decided to list a book, CD, and DVD movie of the week. It will likely be something that I’ve discovered (or re-discovered) the previous week, and I was impressed enough to want to share the information with you. The link will take you to Amazon where you can get more information or make a purchase.

If you have favorites in any of these categories, feel free to pass them along. It may be awhile before I get to your recommendation, but if I love it as much as you, I’ll share the info with other readers.

So cheers – and here’s to good books, movies, and music.


-------------------------------

WHAT I'M READING: Reading Lolita in Tehran

WHAT I'M WATCHING: Gone With the Wind

WHAT I'M LISTENING TO: John Mayer, Room for Squares

Delays

Delays.

Passengers hate them. It means that they are late arriving for a business meeting, starting their vacation, or inconveniencing family or friends. It means they get to their destination a little more tired, weary and disheveled. They are no longer at their best, good humor have flown out the window hours before.

Flight attendants hate them as well. It means that we are late going into our crew rest, which often means that we return to work with little sleep. It may mean that our workday has been extended to 12-14 hours, with no breaks, not even for meals. It may mean that we are late returning home to our families and friends. It means that we are working a little more tired, weary and disheveled. We are no longer at our best, good humor having flown out the window hours before.

Nobody on either side of the traveling equation wants a delay. We work hard to make sure they don’t happen, and when they do, we work even harder to make the best of a bad situation. Unfortunately, delays are simply a fact of life in a world governed by both human and Mother Nature.

This holiday weekend, when more of you are out traveling rather than reading this blog, crowded airports, oversold flights, cancellations, delays, and even jammed highways, and parking lots, will be the norm. I hope you will pack some patience, good humor, and kindness along with your other carryon items. It will serve you, and those around you, well.

Hurricane Katrina

Like most of the rest of the world, I’ve spent the last few days glued to the television and internet listening to and viewing reports and images of Hurricane Katrina’s damage.

It is all beyond my comprehension. I try to picture my own city underwater. I cannot do it. I cannot imagine building and offices and highways and life in general so completely devastated.

I’ve added a link to the Red Cross site at the top of this blog. Please consider making a donation. It’s something that we all can do, and small amounts add up fast.