Pop Culture Testosterone & Getting Older

I have my computer set up in a corner of my kitchen by a window and I can look out to see the trees blowing in the wind and the clouds roll by. The sounds of Rocky 4 are playing in the background and my boys are experiencing all of the wonders of pugilism and the testosterone is at work.

Seems funny that my boys are getting into these movies that are what? 20 years old at least? The Rocky movies are definitely a blast from the past, but what I find interesting is that what was old is new for the next generation. So many POP Culture references are used in Family Guy, (I personally don't like Family Guy) Youtube, Weird Al, etc. and our kids are experiencing these things from a different perspective and LOVING it! It's wild. I don't know whether to feel old, or strangely refreshed and young again. I do have to say though, it is a chance for them to catch a glimpse of my generation and understand me better.

Getting Older Sucks....
I had to go for my yearly physical yesterday and when the doc asked me how I was doing, I honestly felt old. I told him, "I wake up and I hurt in places that never use to hurt. I play trombone when reading and my arms are beginning to not be long enough. My metabolism has not just slowed down but has come to a screeching halt. Getting older sucks." He laughed and agreed, but that was little consolation to me. He put me on a diet and meds for my weight, ran some bloodwork and sent me on my way with a "oh, and BTW, it is time for you to have a mammogram." He handed me a name & number for the clinic he prefers, "because they don't hurt you like some of the others. " and I was on my way. The thought have having my breasts smashed and poked (wasn't it bad enough to have to lay there and have the doc do it?) isn't my idea of a good time. Getting older really does suck.


Another Day Another Dollar...
I am on reserve today (which means I am on call) so I have my makeup on, bags packed and by the door in case crew scheduling calls me in to work. I had my uniform dry cleaned yesterday. So, if I get called in to fly, all I have to do is get dressed and go. I am not at liberty to tell ya'll who I work for, but I am a Flight Attendant on a small commuter line of air crafts. I went away for 3 1/2 weeks for training, which was gruelling. I don't think I have been pushed that hard or had so much homework and tests to take as I did in that time. I came home, did some training flights and got cleared to start working. Now it is where the rubber meets the road...or maybe I should say, the plane meets the sky. I have been working for a couple of weeks now and can honestly say, I am not sure I altogether like this job. I love meeting the people on the planes, the pilots are really great to work with, the other FA's are very sweet, but it's the staying overnight in strange hotels (have I got some stories about that!) being gone for 2, 3, 4 even 6 days at a time and living out of suit case.

I knew it would not be a glamour job, I had a very clear understanding of that. I am just seeing that my kids are really needing me at home and truthfully? I need my kids, I MISS my kids, I miss being home at night, and sleeping in my own bed. I have invested a lot of time in training and money to get this job and I am going to keep working until something else comes along.

I am discovering that you can't paint yourself into a hole when it comes to jobs. Now, I don't think that people who have a new job everytime they turn around is so good either, or like your crazy, good for nothing, cousin's brother in law that can't hold down a job for more than 6 weeks at a time because he didn't like the boss, work or whatever. I have learned a lot about myself from this experience. Like, I am pretty smart, I can work under pressure, I am great with people, I am more confident in myself and my abilities. I also have learned, I REALLY don't like stress and this job has more than its share. I won't go into everything right now, but I'm sure we can all agree, anytime you work with the public in a high profile travel industry like Air Travel...THERE WILL BE STRESS. (hey, that sounds like a movie title...I should write a script!)

I have put in applications for some other jobs and am waiting to hear back from them. Right now, I get paid only for what I work ( that means from the time we take off, to the time we touch down, + per diem, which is not that much...trust me). You work holidays, weekends, your birthday, your wedding anniversary, your kids birthdays...you also never know when you will get called to go and fly. You can't really plan for anything and can never get too far away from the house. You are constantly checking your phone, your caller ID, your messages. I don't like it and I always thought of myself as a "fly by the seat of my pants kind of gal " but maybe it is because I like having my freedom to do what I want. Maybe I like to be able to plan things better...I don't know, I can't put my finger on it, but I am sure I will figure it out sooner or later.

I did put in an application for a job that would be a "normal" 40 hours a week job, with less pay, BUT I would make more money because I would have more hours. It would be regular 10 - 6 hours (kind of like when I owned the shop), 20 minutes from home, (I can sleep in my own bed every night and come home to my kids), get government holidays off AND be able to take my kids to work with me a couple of days out of the week. That would be a plus considering we home school. I also can see some potential for growth, maybe even make a job or niche for myself. If they call, I will take it. The kids are thrilled, but I just can't see myself being a FA for the next 10 - 20 years. Usually, there is little chance for advancement and even though I am doing great for new hire and am getting good marks, it doesn't increase your paycheck. I feel kind of fickle about it all but can't help but think how this whole FA job has been hard on the kids...they are very supportive and realize that I have no choice but to work right now, but being away from them for as long as I am, is not good. I am just lucky to have a job right now so in the immortal words of Forest Gump, "That's all I have to say about that."

I need to close out today's post and to me that is the hardest thing about blogging (or any writing for that matter), when, where and how to stop writing. But hey, that is the story of my life...it is what it is.

kat