Soaring.

If you like planes at all, I think you'll like this video.  Some really pretty shots.  Makes me want to become a pilot.  I recommend watching the whole thing, but carve out some time because it's kinda long.

alphajet et mirage 2000
by racerboat

Private jets are where its at!

[taken from Moleskine I use as a journal... written plane ride back to Tulsa. this will explain why I want a private jet.]

Airlines are getting ridiculous! Well, you would know that unless you haven't flown in the past 20 years. See, you don't really remember the flights that went smoothly, if you ever even had one anyway.

Airlines think they own the world. What can we do? It was my spring break, vaca time. Weather screwed up plans to get into Philly on Friday evening.

Long story short... if we wanted to get into Philly, we would have to wait until Tuesday night. Now, that was only for American Airlines... I don't know about the rest of the airlines.

I'm sitting here, writing this, hot and sweaty. I mean, turn the A/C on! You don't give me the option to open my window so at least put some air on! They won't let me sit in an emergency row anymore because of one little incident... look, for the last time, I was hot and we were just sitting on the runway. I didn't know that cracking the door open would open a raft! (just kidding, I'm not that naive.)!

There are a million and one things you can say bad about airlines. We all have our vacation horror stories. And some of us are bold enough to take them on to get at least some kind of compensation. They try and fix our problems with their little band aid they call a "$250 voucher..."

But the truth is, can anyone say anything really good about the airlines? Also, this is not an attack on any airline employees. I know people that work at the airlines and they do a great job. It's usually corporate that has the problem. It's mostly the industry as a whole.

Anyway, when you fly, it's best to be an informed consumer. Below are some links about how to fly the best you can.

**Typical conversation from pilot/stewardess while flying on almost any airline today... modified for my blog...**

Sorry we are taking so long to take off folks. It appears as if the machine that breaks all the zippers and handles off your luggage is having some problems. We are going to have to do everything manually.

...

We are about to finish this blog post, please put your seats and tray tables in their upright and locked position and discontinue the use of any approved electronic devices.

I said seat up mister!!

Thank you for flying with us, we look forward to canceling your flight again soon.

I will now tell you what gate you need to go to for your connecting flight, and if you are dumb enough to go to it without checking the big tv's when you deplane, then may God have mercy on your soul.

_____________________

[links taken from Best Life magazine, Dec. 06/Jan 07]

- Research your flight. US DOT publishes info with the worst time records in America -- by route, airline, and flight number.
www.flightstats.com

- Invoke Rule 240. Basically what it is, is that if there is a cancellation, not due to weather, the airline has to put you on THE next available flight, not necessarily THEIR next available flight.
www.mytravelrights.com

- Seat Guru. Find the best seat on almost any plane and airline.
www.seatguru.com

There are plenty of different websites that tell you how to not get screwed over by the airlines and I suggest just doing some good ol' fashioned research!

Go. Fly prepared!

Thanks for reading!

Spring Break

If I was to fly into Philadelphia, I would be home for Spring Break later tonight. Yes Tuesday night! Here is some info on the flight situation if you don't know already.

Friday morning, I check the American Airlines website and our flight from St. Louis to Philadelphia is cancelled. Bad weather on the east coast. So Nick gets on the horn and manages to re route us into Baltimore from St. Louis, but the earliest time is on Saturday evening. A day later. The one time my Dad tries to get us in a day early, and have a full Saturday to relax. But nope, not this time.

It wasn't a problem though, we got to spend the night in St. Louis, with my grandparents. It was fun seeing some relatives for a little while.

Then, our flight from St. Louis was delayed. We eventually got into Baltimore around 12:30 or 1 and back home by 2:30. Long day.

I really miss my room in Tulsa because I have my nice big computer with dual monitors, my bed by the window with an 8 story view, and my mountain bike. But actually, for once, there is probably more to do here in Delaware than in Tulsa on break.

It seems as if the weather in Tulsa is going to be pretty rainy all week, so I would get much biking in. But the weather here in Delaware should be 50's and 60's.

I brought my running clothes and shoes so I can do a little running while here.

I'm trying to catch up on my TV while I'm here. I watched all the episodes of Andy Barker PI online, and I'm trying to get caught up on my missed episodes of Lost. Oh, I've watched all of 30 Rock too. Pretty funny stuff.

There is also only 60 days till my wedding. I can't believe it!
The end of the school year is going to really fly by as soon as I go back. I can't wait to get this show on the road. Graduate, wedding, honeymoon, drive to Tulsa, start my job, and get on with my life.

We have some wedding planning stuff to do over break. So that will keep me a little busy. Also, I have a paper I need to write before the end of the year and I think I'll write it over break.

I also am taking measurements of all the furniture that is going to be going with us when we drive to Tulsa and I got all of my stuff done, just need to measure Jenni's stuff.

Jenni also has the invitations done, but not mailed out yet. And we are working on making the programs and other little stuff.

My birthday is in about 3 weeks. I can't wait! Not that I want a party or any big thing, because I don't, but I just want to turn 22. Not for any big reason, but it will be fun not being 21 anymore.

I got my first birthday present the other day too. While at my grandmas house, she took Nick and I to R.E.I. Mostly for me to pick out a birthday present. I got a new bike lock. It's a really tough u-lock from OnGuard. I'm really excited about it because I wanted a good one. I had a simple cable lock that would be really easy to break into, but this one is much, much stronger.

Oh and yesterday, Nick showed me what he got me. Mostly because he got it yesterday. It's a Pedros floor pump. Bright green. I have craving a good floor pump and this one is perfect. I hate relying on other people for a floor pump whenever I go on a bike trip and now I have my own. It's also really hard to pump up a tire to full pressure with just a little hand pump.

I can't believe how long this post is. I haven't written this much in a long time!

Well, one episode of Lost done, 3 more to go! I'm getting kind of thirsty, I'll think I'll go get some water.

Also, sorry there are no pictures, but I don't have Photoshop on my laptop and I don't have a real mouse. Laptop mice are hard to use with any photo editing software. So, pictures on here (my laptop) take longer. Maybe I'll really try and put some pics on here because I do have some I can post. That's about it, see ya!