People are strange

As Jim Morrison says … People are strange!

By no means am I a seasoned traveler, however I just can’t understand a few things.

1. Why do people line up and rush to get on the plane? It seems to me that they do it just to crowd the area for those that are suppose to be boarding the plane. Zones don’t seem to make sense but there is an order to follow.

2. When on the plane why do people feel compelled to call everyone they know to tell them they are sitting on the plane? Ok I called Lisa to let her know we were going to take off, that was it.

3. When they announce that all electronic devices should be turned off, why do people rush to call more people? I actually saw some one get yelled at today like a third grade kid who did not listen to the teacher …. it was great.

4. This may be the strangest of all. As I sat in seat 21 D waiting on the runway for 30 minutes (no big deal given the weather) the people sitting in 21 E and F who did not know each other strike up a conversation. The person in 21 E is a male rock star and the woman in 21 F appears to be a grown up beatnik from the 60’s. The conversation started and never stopped. It ranged from work, world travel, performing, music, jewelry making, dogs and marriage. I sat there as these people appeared to pour their souls out to each other. This struck me as strange but you know I guess you can find therapy anywhere and this was free.

The really strange part for me was when we were preparing to leave the plane. Shane and Barbara grew to know each other so well that they proceeded to hug full on as a good bye. Once again these people did not know each other before this flight and I know that for a fact because Shane was hitting me up for conversation before Barbara filled the last standby seat in 21 F. Thank goodness for that, most of you that know me well know that conversation is not my strong suit and I really have all the friends I want in my life.

I have to admit though at the end when I saw them embrace, I could not help but think that hug was meant for me, and a feeling of emptiness came over me …….

Those of you who believe the above paragraph really don’t know me as all I wanted to do is smack both of them in the back of the head and remind them that people are strange.

5. The last thing I found strange in my travels today could be viewed as a sensitive topic. I am talking about breastfeeding! No big deal right! I am a grown-up, I know how they work! So when I get on the plane the woman behind me in 22 F is feeding her baby on pump #1 while apparently priming pump #2 … I keep my cool as I put my carry-on in the overhead. Now I should say they are in plain sight and she is apparently very comfortable with this as was the woman next to her who was with her.

Now for the strange part … once again, as we are getting ready to deplane I was standing near my seat facing in the general direction of seat 22 F where the mother and child seat waiting to get off the plane. The formerly exposed mother notices that her bra is showing to which she turns to her travel companion and states “why didn’t you tell me that my bra was showing, I am so embarrassed.” Go figure? I could only imaging that her embarrassment was due to the fact that she was not wearing an $80 Victoria Secret lift and form special???

 

Once again, People are Strange.

So that was my flight experience today and I was only 40 minutes late getting back to New York.

When in doubt Beer is the constant

There are moments in everyone’s life where things are uncertain. Where odd is the norm and familiar is needed just to get to the dawn.

Don’t get me wrong, there is a great deal that is certain here and makes perfect sense but some things just don’t work for me yet!

The news is driving me crazy!

I have tried NBC, CBS, and ABC …. by the way they are not on 4, 2 and 7 respectively which is just problematic as I am use to saying put on channel 4, for NBC and 2 for CBS and so on … now that just does not work! Here CBS is on 3, NBC is on 7, and ABC is on 8 …. how does that work?!?!?!?

Well, lets get to the real issue … Chuck and Sue don’t do the news here!! I can’t get use to the broadcast that always looks like channel 12, not that there is anything wrong with that. I have just had enough of potholes, recycling and the complaint of growing taxes in and around Charlotte … another by the way … the taxes are about $2500 a year!!

While I have committed to myself that I would focus on the similarities and embrace the differences I just can’t get past this news thing … where do I get my comfort from? … Beer!

Beer … tastes the same here, is available at many stores, you can find it a short distance from the Aleve at the CVS and Walgreens what a pleasant surprise.

It has not helped the news but it does help me fall asleep before the news comes on so I guess it is working!

Back to NY tomorrow into the teeth of the Snowicane!

Light on the Horizon

Today was the first day that the new office felt like my office. The atmosphere left behind by the prior manager is fading and this is only natural. Feels like progress in so many ways.

Did a great deal of driving around today after work hours to see neighborhoods. The houses are very nice and by my standards big, big, big…. Looking forward to Lisa and the girls to see what I see as it will become even more realistic.

While I can say there is light on the horizon … there are absolutely no lights on the rural roads. Takes a great deal of getting use to … boy was a driving like a little old lady tonight. It is very different. I passed more cows than I did stores … I guess I will get use to it.

Organized Chaos

Well as would be expected the first week of dual living has posed some challenges, but nothing that we can’t overcome.

As for the relocation, that will be another story. It seems like we have more “help” then we need. Realtors are everywhere, finance people are everywhere and the formal relocation person assigned to me is ready to go even though we are not.

It seems that the only agenda that should count is ours but it appears that all others have their own agenda and want to push those through. I am usually a patient person (in some cases) but I can see that I will have to define clearly what help is and make sure that all my new resources understand that clearly.

If I hear one more time that we have to start moving on this because we don’t want you to miss the spring sale season I will poke my own ear drum with a pen!

Let me make it clear, I understand and I know the pace I want to move. I want to sell my house just as much as the next person but we need a place to live for the time being.

On top of all of this Charlotte took on 2-3 inches of snow yesterday. Not a great deal by northern standards but crippling to the Queen city. They are expecting ice tonight and more snow possible. Glad I made it out when I did …. this is not the south I expected weather wise!

Toto, we are not in Kansas anymore!

This is the first day of many that I will be navigating two lives, one here in Charlotte and one in New York. Well let’s face it, Lisa will really handle the New York life.

So my NY to Charlotte flight was cancelled this morning and when I ask why I get the abrupt answer that the crew was unavailable. I asked if they got caught up in the weather somewhere and the answer was I don’t know. I asked if this was a regular thing? and the person behind the counter responds with a resounding “I hope not!” I was surprised at the offering but took it and moved on.

So I hit the ground in Charlotte some two hours late, no big deal until my luggage does not show up at baggage area B2. I wait, and wait and wait still no bag. Now I have to go to the dreaded baggage counter, good news there is no line and I am greeted by a smiling person behind the counter and she offers her help. I give her my claim check and she immediately says “I just to this bag from the sky cap, it is right over here.” She gets the bag for me and off to the rental counter.

Well, my car is ready and I get on the shuttle bus and the driver makes small talk. She comments that the ride will be about 2 –3 minutes. We pull from the curb and she proceeds to the next cross walk. A person is in the cross walk and she stops, rolls down the window and starts to ask the person how he was doing, She clearly knew the person and she took a very short time to say hello and move on.

I get to the office and am greeted with great energy. They have a cake for me and take time to introduce themselves. Great first day.

I get to the hotel and the clerk, calls me “darlin” about 5 times at check in. She never stops smiling!

Maybe it is all the press that I heard about southern hospitality …. I think I can get use to this!

Had a nice dinner with my new boss and a good run.

Spoke to all the girls in NY via cell and video chat and now ready for a good night sleep.

Failure has never entered my mind!

Today was very odd!

I have made many changes in my work life all within NY. It was always difficult to make the transition but I always knew that I had the support of those around me. The familiar faces and names and locations all brought great comfort and reassurance. Failure never entered my mind.

Well today was different, I walked out of my office knowing that after almost 20 years of working in New York I will no longer do so! I will be back later to transition but it will never be mine again.

I had a great sense of pride in all that I have been able to accomplish. More so I was grateful for all the wonderful people that supported me, challenged me and guide me along the way.

Monday I walk into a completely different world but I already know that I have the support of those that will be around me. So many people have offered their support. I have spoken to some of the years on the phone, met some in conferences and trips and some I have never met before. Despite this they have all reached out and made an offer, a warm welcome and assurances that I will do great. Failure has never entered my mind.

Ready, Set …. Ready, Set ….

Well the go will come Monday morning and my feet will touch ground in Charlotte NC around 10:30 am. I have never been there before and look forward to my first taste of the deep south … well deep for me.

It will be tough to leave the girls behind each week but I expect that it will go fast … learning something new always does for me.

Looking forward to this weekend, I get to spend some time with my parents and friends. Super Bowl Sunday is always a blast and yes I will have to be responsible to get on a plane early Monday.

While I am not sure anyone will care I am starting this blog, well really starting it again as you will see some earlier posts to chronicle our journey south.

I am certain there will be much to express about the experience.

I will leave it at this for now.