Monday, December 14, 2009

Getting the message out

A- A's! So far I've got confirmed A's in three of my four classes. I'm still waiting (and waiting and waiting) for a final paper to be graded in my fourth class, but I've been holding steady at an A- the entire term. The two weeks prior to Thanksgiving were crazy with midterms, quizzes and papers. Then after the four day break we hit the final crunch with quizzes, papers and finals. But this round I got to do while sick. I'm glad to be done and having a break. Now I can do all those things that piled up because I didn't have time to do them during the term.

C- CIRP- I compiled a list of questions for the critical incident committee and passed that on to them. They are working on gathering answers and then we'll begin the formatting. I'm hoping to meet up with some committee members while I am in Houston. Also, I was talking to my professor who runs the disaster relief specialist program and got recruited to do a presentation on CIRP and airline response to air disasters next term. Not so much looking forward to the extra work that will require, but I'm flattered nonetheless.

A- Awesome! For those of you who think your pilot already has everything aviation related they could possibly want, may I present to you the ultimate stocking stuffer- Airplane paperclips! I totally want some! (Along with the Happytape I've been craving)

R-Roadtrip! The past few years, since we've been in Florida, we've been celebrating Christmas all alone. Although we've been fortunate to have A with us every year, it just isn't the same without family. So I made an executive decision that since I have a nice long winter break, we are road-tripping out to spend some time with some relatives. It will also be a little "Someday's Heritage Trip" as we'll be passing through the tiny (i.e. barely on Google maps) towns in Arkansas where my grandparents were born and lived. Our 2,600 mile route will be: Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas (stops in Wynne, Vandale, Cherry Valley), Oklahoma (stops in Oklahoma City, Tulsa), Texas (stops in Dallas, Houston), Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida. As kids, A and I did major road trips with our parents frequently, without the benefits of video games or DVD's and Kidzilla will be following the same standards.

S-Socializing! We will be making several stops to see friends and acquaintances along the way. Along with the relatives, I've got a sorority sister, a pilot friend of A's that I originally met on Jetcareers, two blogger Jetgirl friends, and some other pilot friends of A's if they are in town. I'm looking forward to meeting up with people I haven't seen in ages or have never met in person.

Friday, December 4, 2009

Romantic recaps

Today is our anniversary.

Five years ago, I snuck up behind A while he was waiting for me at the BART (public transit train) station for our first date. We headed off to a feisty session of ice skating that included us egging each other on in daring stunts, my trying to give him every opportunity to hold my hand (which he didn't use), him trying to find us someplace to eat b/c he forgot to plan ahead (we had to settle for Subway b/c it was the only thing open, me throwing out big words like equidistant and ostentatious and him countering with circumnavigation. We walked around a bit after skating, made our way home and said an awkward good-bye at the BART station. I left wondering why he never made a move a touch me. He left hoping I thought he was a gentleman.

Four years ago, we relived that first date and again took BART into the city for a trip to the outdoor rink. We reminisced, we egged each other on, we held hands. We finished up with dinner on the outdoor terrace at The Cheesecake Factory on the seventh floor of Macy's in downtown San Francisco. We had a great view of the city Christmas Tree in Union Square, just below us. I was expecting him to propose that day-as a testament to his acceptance of my quirks, he knew I wanted a single anniversary to celebrate and indulged me. He kept excusing himself during dinner so I knew something was up. I was suprised when we concluded dinner with no ring. We headed down to Union Square and it was there, next to the Christmas Tree, that he proposed. It was no big surprise, I had already committed to moving to FL with him and told him there had better be a ring on my finger first, but still, it was romantic and memorable. Everything a girl could want.

Three years ago, after much planning (not really) we got married in Florida. On a Monday, to indulge me in my date obsession again. It's not easy to have a reception on a Monday. Our wedding was wonderful, turned out better than I had even hoped for and was attended by our closest friends. A cousin of mine anonymously paid half of our catering bill; I didn't find out who it was until a year later.

Looking back on the past three years, we have had a lot of ups and downs and been through quite a few changes but we are still holding strong. Five years ago, as a newly single mom, I thought I'd be single for five years before I met someone I would want to marry again. I fought against committal with A because I met him so early on, but he stuck with me and here we are. Today we are both sick with colds so we'll be having a small celebration of take out food and netflix.

Last year's anniversary post

Our first anniversary post

A romantic recap of our wedding post