The "Less-Than-Friendly" Skies

I don't usually worry much.  I don't have time for it.  And worry tends to take years off ones life.

 

My anxiety level has been stedily increasing while I wait to see how the men and women who make the big decisions at the top to decide what our collective fates are going to be.  It's not a very desireable position to find oneself in, yet this is the very stark reality of the airline employee.

 

I tend to look at my timing and years of employment at the airlines as being serendipitous, somewhat similar to my timing with the military draft in the United States.

 

Growing up, I worried about the real possibility that I would be forced into military service, like so many before me had done.  Don't misunderstand me.  I have a profound and deeply seeded repect and admiration for my fellow Americans who have served and continue to serve to protect the interests and freedoms of America.  I just knew, even as a child, that military service was not for me.  Growing up in a military family, that desire to serve as my father had, proudly and without question, did not translate to me.  Over the years, I have joked that I did "serve" as a military dependant for 18 years!

 

When I was 14 years old, the draft was disbanded, but the registration for the draft continued, and I never once hesitated to comply.  Ironically, as a senior in high school, I came within weeks of actually enlisting, with the understanding that I would complete college and then attend flight training as an officer.  But just before I signed on the dotted line, the Marine Corps had scrapped it's orginal plans for the F-18 (due to continuing design flaws with the bird) and that decision dashed any hopes I had to attend flight training school.

 

In the 80's, I made several attempts to become a flight attendant.  My language skills in Japanese, I thought, were my golden ticket to acceptance, but for whatever reason, I could never get past the final level of interviews.  My attempts to get hired on at Western, Delta and American all went sour.  And for whatever reason, I never applied at United, my current employer.  Fate has a funny sense of humor.

 

When I hired on in 1998, it was the upside of a real financial boon for the airlines.  Thousands of people were hired after me and I was feeling confident that things would continue to go well for us.  Then 9/11 happened, and we were one of the targeted airlines.  Within 15 months, UAL filed for Chapter 11 bankruptsy protection and my whole world went into a tailspin.  Suddenly, my future was unclear, my plans were all placed in jeopardy and what was waiting around the corner for me was completely unknown.

 

In the three years that I endured my airline's bankruptsy, I survived the paycuts and the job cuts and the base closures.  Every week, there was some other cut being made - some other service that was being changed or reduced or discontinued.  It was a very volitile time in my work history.  I felt that once again I had skirted danger by being "senior" enough to be able to keep my job and not have to experience the craziness of furloughs.  I still thank the fates that I'm still here.  Knock on wood.

 

This morning, I heard on the radio that Frontier Airlines (F9) had been forced by, of all things, its credit card processor into Chapter 11 bankruptsy protection.  I have some good friend who work there, some I knew here at UAL prior to our own bankruptsy, who left for greener pastures at F9.  This announcement must have everyone over there totally on edge -- just as I was when UAL filed in 2002.  Those of us still here endured deep paycuts, job reductions, benefit reductions and the uncertainty that bankruptsy generates.  It causes added stress and that anxiety that I spoke of earlier, more so now that the US economy is in recession.

 

To my friends at F9 -- hang in there.  Plan for the worst, hope for the best and try to keep everything in perspective.  Continue to go to work and stay focused on you job (man, I sound like a freakin' CEO trying to calm down the employee base).  This is how I made it through.  F9 is a great airline and I really don't see it going under.  My heart tells me that and I trust my heart and my instincts.  I hope I'm not wrong so I focus positive energy and thoughts your way.

 

You will survive!

The plight of the doughboy

If you are a fitness person, physically active most of the time, or really into sports, I would especially love to hear from you on this one. . .

I am the eldest son of a retired US Marine, a Master Gunnery Sergeant nonetheless! From a very early age, I watched my father work toward becoming strong and maintaining his physical health and stamina through exercise, sports and running. I remember how lean, trim and (hoping not to sound too freakish here) handsome his healthy body made him. While I am sure that he went through all the effort out of the compulsion that passing a USMC physical every six months was part of the requirements to stay in the military, I also believe that he enjoyed his good health and the agility, flexibility and endurance that it provided him.

As I grew up, my father tried on numerous occasions to interest me in sports of all kinds: running, basketball, football, baseball, swimming, track & field, even bowling. Through all of his efforts, the only sports that I really took any interest in were basketball and swimming. Unfortunately, for all the endless hours of one-on-one, H-O-R-S-E and just free throw practices, I was not blessed with the athletic prowess to pursue the sport anywhere past community league. Swimming was enjoyable for a short time as I learned the four basic strokes of competitive swimming. But the only two strokes I was any good at where freestyle and backstroke. Breast stroke was tough at best, and I was never agile enough or skilled enough to make it more than 10 yards attempting the floundering I thought was the butterfly stroke.

By the time I reached high school, I had pretty much given up on any form of sports participation, other than that of spectator. Gym class was boring most of the time and torture on the worst days. Because I attended mostly military schools, gym always started with a jog or walk around the entire perimeter of the school grounds, which was usually just over a mile in length. Most days, I found myself jogging the first third of the course and then walking the rest. Of course, this was somewhat deliberate since our gym teachers wouldn’t let us participate in the rest of the class activities until that lap was completed, and some of those activities were nothing short of excruciating for me, since I was so uncoordinated.

In many respects, I felt that I disappointed my dad, not being an athlete. I took to my studies and stuck my nose into books, but never felt motivated enough to excel at anything in particular. By the time I graduated from high school and tried my best to muddle through my first year of college, I was pretty much useless and unfocused – totally disenfranchised and unmotivated. And physical activity was my least favorite pastime.

Since I am both my father AND mother’s son, my father’s genetic makeup helped keep my slim and trim all throughout secondary school and my first years of college. I could easily maintain my weight at 140 and had a slim 30" waist! But when I hit 26, mother’s genes began to awaken within me and I began to put on the weight. Now don’t get me wrong, my mom if far from obese, but her side of the family tended to be on the heavy side, especially my grandmother. By the time I was 30, I was forced to diet and try different things to get my weight down. Year after year, that number continued to increase and yo-yo. When I hit 40, I reached a milestone I am embarrassed to admit: 200 pounds!

Since that time, I have been sliding up and down between 205 and 215 and no matter how hard I try, or how much I diet or exercise I seem to accomplish, I have failed to fall below that 200 mark. And the frustrating part of it is that I can’t seem to keep enough motivational energy to make it past 30 days of solid commitment and staying power when it comes to aerobic and/or anaerobic exercising. My mind is SO ready to try, but the flesh is SO not!

My partner has been so patient and understanding but now he’s starting to be in the same boat as I, in that his average weight has increased too and he’s become frustrated that he can’t seem to keep it below 168 (don’t I WISH I could get down there). My doctor says that my ideal weight is between 170-175. . .so for all intents and purposes, I need to lose 30-35 pounds. My blood pressure is still good and my cholesterol is improving, although my LDL levels are elevated and can be reversed through better food consumption.

So the question really lies in the area of fitness and exercise. I see these great bodies on men and women and they seem to enjoy the physical activity that they put their bodies through in order to maintain that toned and lean physique. How do they get and stay motivated? I don’t want my motivation to come from a heart attack or stroke. I’m entering my later 40s now and I really want to move to a new level in my life. I’ve been the "Stay-Puft" marshmallow man long enough. So what do I do?

I thought that by my watching The Biggest Loser on television it would help to inspire me, and to some extent it does. But I don’t have the luxury of having trainer Bob or Jillian there to guide and direct me, not to mention physically motivate me in person!

To be clear, if I COULD run, I would. But I suffer from fallen arches and as a flight attendant I am on my feet almost the entire day, 14-16 hours a day. Attempting to run on top of that seems nearly impossible. But I continue to hear about new shoe technology that would allow someone like me to actually run without so much pain and agony. While I enjoy elliptical training, it can get boring rather quickly and I tend to lose interest. Weights would also be beneficial, but improper usage causes imbalanced muscular development and can also cause injury (I’m a total wimp when it comes to pain and if I tore a ligament or sprained an ankle attempting these things, I know that I would lose my motivation and it’d be tough to get re-started again.

I don’t want to come across as a totally helpless and hapless individual, but my inner strength is marginal at best when it comes to issues of physical health and development – I know myself very well in this regard and it’s something I want and need to change.

So I reach out to those of you who have either been physically active all your lives, or have been able to overcome a similar roadblock that I am facing now: what can I do to surpass it and move to a level that will once and for all shed this weight and also give me the internal fortitude to stick with it, not because I need to, but because I enjoy it enough to do so?

Your thoughts and ideas helping to reshape this "Play-doh™" body is gratefully appreciated and humbly accepted!

ˌpændəˈmoʊniəm

I believe in forgiveness. For the most part, I have been a person who can forgive, but I will admit, that it comes with conditions. 99% of it has to do with the genuineness and authenticity of the one who is seeking it from me. Perhaps that condition alone is enough to condemn me to hell, but this is my true nature. Therefore, I believe that I can forgive pretty much anyone, so long as their heart is sincere.

What is sincerity? How do we know when someone is truly genuine and sincere? Are there people out there who know exactly how to manipulate there appearance to convince me and the masses that their penance is real?

This week, another high-profile, powerful individual, was publicly indicted for being involved in a prostitution scandal. Governor Elliott Spitzer of New York spent several days in conference with his attorneys as they tried to work out damage control that ultimately forced him to offer his resignation from office. Had he not, there would definitely have been impeachment hearings held to remove him from office.

In the midst of this media circus, I witnessed two separate, yet painful addresses that Gov. Spitzer conducted. Both times, he "apologized" for his behavior and stated that he was remorseful and that this would remain with him for the rest of his days.

I couldn't help but notice that his wife was at his side. The pain she is suffering at the moment is, to me, unimaginable. But she is not unlike many other spouses that have had to stand aside while a powerful leader has publicly apologized for infidelity, breach of contract, destruction of trust, or a myriad of other transgressions, all of which have had severe unintended consequences when it came to the family of the transgressor.

At other, similar events, I recall the faithful spouses of people such as Senator Larry Craig, Pastor Ted Haggard, Senator Mark Foley, Reverend Jim Bakker, Governor Jim McGreevey and so on. There they stood, with their dignity shattered, but forced to put up a "strong front" in front of the entire world while their life partner airs their dirty laundry to the magnifying glass of rabid reporters, pundants and paparazzi and the spectacle of public humiliation.

My observation in each and every case concluded in a single, unified conclusion: Not ONE of these men projected any ounce of true, heartfelt and total attrition. As I watched these men justify their actions through slick speech-writing and hours of legal wrangling, the words spoken ring hollow with me. And that destitution was readily reflected in the faces of those who stood by their sides.

These latest public scandals, and their accompanying public displays of false contrition along with the media frenzy and circus atmosphere that is sure to follow reminds me of public history where the masses become rabid participants and as such, encourage the escalation of the mania. In Roman times, it was the Christians and the lions in the Colosseum; in early American history, the witch trials were the rage. Even as recently as the O.J. Simpson or Michael Jackson trial, the public's need to feed on the chum of every horrific detail reflects how badly our society has debased itself.

As I work day to day at 35,000 feet, how often would you think I come across copies of discarded US Weekly, People, or InTouch magazine found on the plane after our passengers have left? I could fill hundreds of waste bins with these rags. Sadly, I can count on one hand how many copies of National Geographic, Scientific American or even Reader's Digest that I have discovered left behind.

Rather than turn from the spectacle, the public rallying cry has morphed into "Love the train wreck - hate the conductor!"

I weep for society.

Working together, growing together. . .

I am amazed at the time that has past since I last blogged. There have been so many things that I wanted to do and share here, but I have really found it difficult to spend anytime doing it.

As a writer, it is an almost unwritten law that one must write everyday - to stay sharp, to hone one's skills and to keep the creative juices flowing. Some believe that it helps to avoid the dreaded writer's block. I never seem to be at a loss for words - my problem is simply taking the time to do it, much like taking the time to actually exercise.

It has occurred to me that blogging, in general, is not only a soapbox for anyone to spout off from, but it is also a chance for us as a society to compare notes, learn from others' experiences, debate issues, support one another and build each other up.

Sometimes, I feel as if none of this matters. Where is all of this wealth of ideas, thoughts and feelings being stored? Where will it end up? Is this blogging thing a permanent record? It's similar to a journal, but is it really the same thing? Will someone discover these musings 50...75...100 years down the road? Or is the whole thing disposable, gone at the press of the 'delete' button?

For thousands of years, we human beings have put our minds to record through cave drawings, carvings, artwork, letters, books and manuscripts -- all of these things physical tangible things that, although not permanent, they can be studied and accessed at will, using the physical senses to interpret and analyse. What of this medium? How permanent is cyberspace? Will it remain accessible when mankind develops a new medium in which to communicate, rendering the Internet obsolete?

This human race, of which you and I are participants, rises or falls on its ability to understand the past, learn from previous experience, and expand on former ideas and ingenuity. Without our past - without the ability to access the talents and intelligences of those who've gone before us, we throw ourselves into a vicious cycle of repeating that which has already been attained, for good or ill, and it becomes difficult to expand, improve and innovate from there. Our knowledge plateaus and we cease to explore, to question and ultimately, to grow.

Although these thoughts may seem deep to you, they've caught me off-guard. I have been derelict in my human responsibility to share and to record, thus putting my own self worth into that very large pile of "who cares" that we are so quick to turn to. To those who read these thoughts of mine, I hope there is some value in the meaning behind the words expressed here. To those who share their own selves through the blog-o-sphere, continue to do so, and thank you for allowing yourselves to not be ordinary.

From this, we can improve, expand and explore as a race.

Christmas Movie Questions and Quips

• WHEN did My Favorite Things from "The Sound of Music" become a song for the holidays?

DID YOU KNOW:

• that the song White Christmas was written for the musical "Holiday Inn," which was released for wide distribution on August 4, 1942? Also, that it is the only Christmas song to have won an Academy Award for best song and was written by Irving Berlin? And did you know that the songs Happy Holidays and Easter Parade were also written for this movie? And did you also know that White Christmas is still, to this day, the number one selling holiday song of all time?
• that the film "White Christmas," released 12 years later in 1954, has no other memorable holiday songs that are currently sung today, other than the title song, which was originally written for "Holiday Inn?"
• that the film "It's a Wonderful Life" wasn't released in movie theatres until January 7, 1947 - two weeks after the holidays? AND that this movie was shot on the RKO studio lot in the middle of a heat wave in the Los Angeles summer, where temperatures reached into the upper 90's, even though the majority of the film is depicted in the days just before Christmas? AND that this film was overlooked at the Academy Awards in 1948, but is considered to be the #1 most powerful film of all time by the American Film Institute and also ranks as the #2o greatest film of all time?
• that the film "Miracle on 34th Street" was released in theatres on May 2, 1947, at the insistance of Darryl Zanuck, the head of 20th Century Fox. He thought the film was too corny to actually get made first, and then demanded a May release because he said more people went to the movies during warmer months and he felt this was the only way he could make back his initial filming investment on the picture. AND that Maureen O'Hara was adamantly opposed to starring in the picture and was forced by the studio through her contract with 20th Century Fox. She was later quoted that "Miracle" was one her most beloved roles. AND that Macy's closed all of its stores on the day the film debuted so that all of its employees could go to see the movie?
• that the song We Need A Little Christmas was written for the broadway musical "Mame," played by Angela Landsbury on the stage, and Lucille Ball on the screen?
• that the voice of Rudolf, the Red-Nosed Reindeer was that of Billie Mae Richards, a female actor, AND that she currently lives in Ontario, Canada, just a few houses down with one of her castmates, Paul Soles, who voiced the part of 'Hermey' the dentist elf.
• that in the original "Rudolf, the Red-Nosed Reindeer," the toys on the Island for Misfit Toys were not actually rescued by Santa. But because of the huge number negative letters that General Electric (the original sponsor of the television classic) received because of their being overlooked again, GE required that the ending be rewritten to show them being rescued by Santa.
• that the movie "A Christmas Story" was written by Jean Shepherd (who also narrated the film) and was based on his short story collection "In God We Trust--All Others Pay Cash" which were published for Playboy Magazine during the 1960's.
• that the woman who played the role of Aunt Bethany in "National Lapoon's Christmas Vacation" (remember she recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag as the blessing on the food?) is none other than Mae Questel, who was best known as the original voice of both Olive Oyl and Betty Boop.