Please. Thank You. Stewardess.: 2011

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Aviation style BDay bash

Last week I celebrated my 28th birthday! WoW! 30 is really creeping up fast! But I can honestly say that I'm really ready & excited for it. I'm extremely proud of the things I've been involved with and accomplished up to now. The relationships with people that are in my life, family, friends, and of course my live- in best friend and my new four legged furry baby! ;)
And, believe it or not- I don't have one single regret as of yet! I don't believe in regretting anything. I was once told by an old soul (in the body of a 16 year old) that "Mistakes are sometimes the best memories". If you loved and lost, cherish that love and those memories for what they were. Cherish your pain also, and let it always remind you of where you've been.
What a wise little cookie! And today, because of that, I have TONS of memories and no regrets!

Speaking of tons of memories- my PARTAY is going to be one of them- it was amazing... and it will stand out in my mind for a long time!!!

I thought I'd share a couple pictures here, for you aviation geeks to see how it all went down:

First, it all started with a birthday 'boarding pass" invite! I LOVE that I have a graphic designer for a husband!

Outside our house, our door was decorated with a huge poster indicating our house as "Gate 18".

Then on the door, a faux sign by 'Canadian Air Transport Security' warning that if shoes weren't taken off in the lobby they may be selected for a "random pat down".

Right inside the door in our entrance were pin-on wings (again in the theme of the invitation) for every 'crew member' who showed up.

On Friday, we all worked for Jenn Airlines! ;)

One partygoer with their wings on!! ;)

Then, the decorations started to go up indoors. I found this alternative to balloons for an 'grown-up party' on a DIY craft website, and dyed them different shades of blue to give them a clouds & sky feel!

Decorations were ALL over the inside of the house. All within the theme of the invitation. Above the television it says 'In flight entertainment', in front of the tv & sound system is brown paper bags filled with pretzels or German gummy bears. There is a sign right above saying 'economy snacks.'

There was also a 'first class lounge' which I didn't get a very clear picture of that served up olives, cocktails, nuts in ramkins & dip with tortillas.

(This was taken during the party so it doesn't look like how I set it up- but you get it right? With the sign above!)

Where's the Lav??

The galley, obviously! ;)

The 'mid-galley' with floating cotton ball clouds, and the drinks that weren't being refrigerated at the time.

The 'mid-galley' in full swing once everything came out of the fridge!!

A selection of the imported beer I brought in from Germany!

My main table was set up in two parts- 1st class and economy (actually separated by a divider- true to life). You can see the little sign on the right side saying 'economy' and in front of the table it says: Chicken or Beef.

1st class!
What I used for the table cloth was two actual flight maps from two pervious flights to Germany that some pilots had given me! It really added a cool touch to the party.

So what was served in 1st class and economy?? Well each side of the table was VERY different. Different food, theme and even different style serving dishes!
(Yes! I had a LOT of time to plan this and spent almost a month putting this party together.)
1st Class:
-Garlic & Butter grilled shrimp
-Cesar salad served on a leaf of Romain
-Melon wrapped prosciutto
-Smoked Salmon on crostini
-Camembert & a cheese log with crackers
-Bruschetta on crostini

Economy:
-mini burgers
-mini hot dogs
-mini quesadillas
-Taco Salad
-Potato, bacon & cheddar salad

For dessert:
Red velvet cupcakes and a 'Knock you naked' chocolate caramel trifle!

My husband hooked up our sound system with a sub, and I had a PARTAY playlist! Check it out:
You know I'm no good
-Amy Winehouse
Rehab
-Amy Winehouse
Till the world ends
-Britney
Hold it against me
-Britney
Don't stop believing
-Journey
California girls
-Katy perry
E.T
-Katy perry
We R who we R
-Ke$ha
Bad Romance
-Lady Gaga
Part Rock Anthem
-Lmfao
Super Bass
-Nicki Minaj
Give me everything
-Ne-yo
Just can't get enough
-Black eyed peas
Last Friday night
-Katy Perry
Do it like a Dude
-Jesse J
Price Tag
-Jesse J
Ect.

Here's some snap shots:

So as guests eventually started leaving well into the morning, they first had to stop by the 'baggage claim' to pick up a thank you gift!

Gift bags were filled with different flavors of Merci chocolates.

The tag attached to the gift also follows the parties theme and said "Thanks for celebrating with me, Buh-bye!"

Even though I ended up 'falling asleep' in the crew rest area and didn't get to say 'Buh-bye' to all my guests, it was a GREAT party with a great turnout of about 25 awesome people! Thanks to everyone who came and participated in the paper airplane games were crew members for the evening and thanks for making it fun!!!!

Xoxox

Friday, July 15, 2011

Greenland from 36,000 Ft

On a Recent trip over the Atlantic I was summoned up to the flight deck by the captain, a good friend of mine. He wanted to point out one of the best views of Greenland he had seen in awhile. It was a beautiful day for flying, no clouds and the pictures I took came out beautifully. When he tried to call up some of the more 'senior' flight attendants to see the view they quickly said "Seen it before a thousand times!" "I'm eating, or I'm busy". Only one other flight attendant was brave enough to come up to the menacing cockpit to come look at the spectacular view with me. :P

As we all stood there, or sat their in silence, I was clicking away taking pictures, the captain told us the most remarkable story. He told us this :

"You know, it bothers me a little when I want the flight attendants to come up and get a great view of something spectacular and they couldn't be bothered, because 'they've seen it before'! I'll never forget a couple of years ago when I used to be a captain on a much small aircraft and fly to the US, we were flying into LGA (Laguardia Airport NYC) and we had one of the most amazing approaches into the airport... right over Manhattan so close to the twin towers that my breath caught in my throat. I couldn't keep it to my self, I had to call the In-charge flight attendant to see the spectacular view. I called her up before it was too late and told her to run up to see how amazing it was. She responded with "no, i've seen it already, maybe next time, thanks!" and I was disappointed, but didn't think twice about it. Until 4 days later... when on September 11th- they were no longer standing. I've always wondered how much or little that flight attendant regretted her decision to not just pop her head around the door for 5 seconds to see something she would NEVER have the opportunity to see again! That has stuck with me for life! Lesson of the story girls, if ever the pilots call you up for something as simple as a seeing a gorgeous view, my advice: Do it! Every time! "

We all had goosebumps listening to that story. Leave it to a pilot to steal Greenland's thunder! Ha!Ha!

Still ended up with some awesome shots though, check them out!

Greenland and surrounding icebergs

Pictures of Greenland from the flight deck

Right over Greenland! If you can zoom In, the dark streak is from another aircraft beside us that you can see as a tiny pinprick

Again another picture of the aircraft beside us. This time you can see the aircraft if you zoom in! Picture taken over Greenland from the flight deck

Pictures of Greenland and surrounding icebergs from the flight deck

Partial views of Greenland (behind us) from the tail and engine mounted cameras
Kind of looks like a gremlin face! :)

Pictures of Greenland and surrounding icebergs from the Flight deck

Lat and Long coordinates

Pictures of Greenland and surrounding icebergs from the

Flight Deck

Pictures of Greenland and surrounding icebergs from the flight deck

Pictures of Greenland and surrounding icebergs from the Flight deck

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Coffee? Tea? What... You have a secret to tell me?

My last couple of flights have been exhausting! Sometimes I feel like I was hired to just consistently repeat myself until some part of my face falls off. I think the worst example of this is if your doing a coffee & tea service on the plane. Even if your a really bubbly positive person, once you get to the 250th passenger you contemplate jabbing a pen into your skull!

It starts with "Coffee Or Tea?" (don't forget your big smile and direct eye contact) your lucky if one person from the row looks away from the screen long enough to nod. What the heck is that? What does a nod mean? I've offered you two things. Nodding either means your acknowledging my presence (which I thank you very much for, but is still not the right answer), or you would like a coffee, or you would like a tea. So I stand there and stare at you and wait for you to decided which of the three options it is. When you finally feel my daggers bearing into you and glance up from your captivating inflight entertainment, you sit bolt up right, rip the ear phones off your ears and say "I'm sorry I guess I didn't hear you!" (or alternatively, keep them on and stare at me blankly and say very loudly over the sound of whatever your listening to, "Whhhhattttt??!"). To which I reply smoothly "Coffeeee or Teaaa?", and you look at me and slump back in your chair and say "oh, ya... coffee (sometimes please)."

As I pour your coffee I go for round two of my in depth interrogation, "Cream and/or sugar?" and once again I let my stare penetrate deep into the back of your head. "huh?! Ya sure." you say to me. Of course I won't make the rookie mistake of just taking your 'ya,sure' at face value and preparing a coffee with cream and sugar... noooo! Because surely as I move onto the next passenger you will take your first sip and tell me "Uhhhh, I didn't ask for sugar (alternatively, cream)!" So, I repeat myself, and then repeat myself again... because DUH! you can't hear me! So I hand your coffee to you with cream and sugar packets on the side and proceed to trying to get the attention of your neighbor at the window.

When they finally notice me, I hear the faintest "wtishtalokler....". What now?

"Pardon me? Coffee or tea?". They continue to do a neck twist which I'm not sure is a nod, shake, shrug, or seizure. Again, "wtishtalokler...." *Big Smiles*

"I'm really sorry- I can't hear you? Was it coffee or tea?"

"wtishtalokler! wtishtalokler! wtishtalokler! ".

"I'm so very sorry, the plane is so loud can you speak up?" (YOU KNOW YOU ARE ON A PLANE THAT HAS 2 OR MORE JET ENGINES PROPELLING IT THROUGH THE SKY!)

"Hurmpf,wtishtalokler! ". What the hell? Are you in the coffee witness protection?

"I apologize, (even though I'm 27 y.o) I must be losing my hearing!".

"Ughhh, she said she wants a coffee!" says the first guy I just served. Oh, a coffee! Ya, sure! Sounds exactly like 'wtishtalokler! ' ! I prepare the coffee, and dread the next bit.

"Cream and/or sugar?", "yrqodu!". I'M NOT ASKING YOU YOUR SEXUAL ORIENTATION! JUST CREAM OR SUGAR-SIMPLE STUFF! I smile really widely, and give 4 packets of everything and move along to the last person in the row. "Coffee Or Tea Sir?" , no reply. "Pardon me, Coffee or tea?" (In my head: coffee or tea, coffee or tea, coffee or tea, coffee or tea). No reply, "ok Sir, I'm guessing no coffee or tea for yourself this morning!" *big smiles*. I take the break off the trolley and start to inch forward when I feel two firm whacks to my thigh, "Ummm, ya- excuse me Miss, but you skipped me... can I have a coffee?" says the guy I was just asking.

*softly weeping inside* "Yes, sure, no problem...".

3 passengers down, 247 to go!

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Paris Je T'aime!!

Paris April,27 2011

David (my husband) & I were so fortunate to be able to do this trip together. And so incredibly lucky how smooth everything went and what amazing weather we had.
I thought I would share some of my photos with you all!