Welcome to our fleet, tail # BK763!!

Hello again, HAPPY FRIDAY!!! 2/20/09

As promised, I wanted to post some pictures of our brand NEW 767 we just added to our fleet this week!! Today I had the privelage of flying not ONE but TWO (long) legs on it... spending a total of 11+ hours on this beautiful new bird and getting to know the ins and outs of it before most of my fellow crew members. :-) Lucky me!



























Welcome to the new aircraft, from the L2 Door. Aircraft LEFT (facing the cockpit, forward), 2nd door from the front. Usually the doors are manual... but when I was assigned this I was shocked to find that I had a "MAIN DOOR UP" button"!!! Meaning that when we cross-check our doors to make sure they are armed/disarmed, or clear to open/not clear to open.. All I have to do is PUSH A BUTTON!! Seems so simple, but a simple mistake would cost me my company thousands of dollars (a blown slide), or me (my JOB!) Blown slides are a death threat in our company. Can't stress that enough!

This is a shot of C/D zones in the aircraft... everything from L2 to the back. Look at those seatcovers... classy, eh? I like them! Unlike our other 767's, we have 4 seats in the middle instead of 3. Still 2 on each aisle.

Here's the forward door to the cockpit. (FLIGHT DECK DOOR.) All cockpits on 767's apparently look the same, so when we got this NEW a/c, the pilots weren't even phased. BUT WE WERE!!! Where was the coffee?? Extra Dr. Pepper? Crew Meals?? ICE? Meal carts? Beverage carts? PICKUP BAGS??? Ahhh--- the adaptations we had to make to the new aircraft were tough... but we managed. :-)


The flight deck is obviously the most important part of the aircraft....

Usually, (L1) fixes the pilots up with beverages as theyre doing paperwork before we take off, and an extra garbage bag for their trash.. then we feed them first with their own seperate meals (avoiding food poisoning of any sorts), set them up with coffee or anything they need, and we ALSO gladly offer to take the most valuable seat in the house up front while one of them takes a break to stretch their legs (or take a leak, either or... :-)

These jumpseats are the most uncomfortable straps you could ever put on your shoulders, hands down. When that 10,000 ft. DING goes off, (where the fasten seatbelt sign is STILL on, but the flight attendants are free to roam about the cabin...) it's music to our ears so we're not death-strapped in anymore! (This is in the forward galley... where I was today!)

Taking a stroll back to the AFT galley... You thought YOUR kitchen had alot of cupboards? Try working in this galley!!! (And serving 205 troops!) CHEERS to my crew members that were assigned to this position and executed their duties without a flaw.. for the first time EVER on a new aircraft with NO immediate training!
Every simple request requires you to open and shut a different galley door. But... IT KEEPS US AWAKE!!!! We love it!!! Would you like a snack???

"Business Class"... aka, Section A/part 2. Still a great movie screen... not quite commanders of the troops but those almost as important and also in need of more comfortable seats. Either way... first class passengers in my eyes! Just easy as pie. All of them like orange juice with no ice? Do you KNOW how easy it is to walk through the cabin with just a quart of orange juice and a smile? ;-)

FIRST CLASS... for Commanders and VIP's only. Beverages and meals served by HAND by the lead and the R1 flight attendant.

EEK!!! R1A and R1 flight attendant jump seats up front on the new 767. SO TIGHT! 30 second review of emergency equipment and procedures is a necessity! In case we're stuck in our jumpseats. (KIDDING... we're trained for the worst, I promise.)

Hope you get a nice visual of our new A/C and what we're working with every day! I personally love it, and hope it stays around. We're taking it home tomorrow to RFD apparently... depending on this snow storm thats supposed to hit overnight?

I LOVE the spontaneous layovers in random cities...

CHEERS!

-Lisa

P.S. You will LOVE my new pics from NEW BERN, NC... Just wait!!!

STILL RED HOT!

I was surfing YouTube tonight and came across this brilliant British Virgin Atlantic TV commercial for their 25th Anniversary!



Wow. I wonder if when we start wearing OUR new uniforms the paparazzi will stop and stare at us??? :-)

CHEERS!
-Lisa

Five Cabin Checks is BACK!!

"Flight attendants, please perform the Five Cabin Checks now."

"Flight Attendants, HELLO, anyone there?"





Here I am! Hi guys!



Nice to see you all again! I can't believe I haven't updated at ALL so far this year. So, to begin... HAPPY 2009, I hope it finds you all happy and well!! I'm writing this now from, believe it or not, only my THIRD short trip I've had so far this year.


It's not that business is slowing, troops are pulling out of Iraq (they're actually only ADDING more to Afghanistan, ironically...as if you haven't heard), or that my beloved company is going under. (Ha! They're only GAINING business with our NEW 767 aircraft we just added to our fleet this week! EXCITED is an understatement!)


I just happened to get 'stuck' with a schedule for this 56-day bid period that's only 9 days on/5 days off, which doesn't leave much time for the long layovers that I LOVE. So instead of them sending me out overseas for 18 days at a time, I've spent alot of time at home on reserve and doing what we call 'domestic turns', ferrying out the aircraft to pick up these troops we keep sending overseas. Then once we get back to Rockford with said troops, other crews will pick up the aircraft and continue on overseas. Have I grown kinda bored at home, YES! Have I been extremely jealous of the others on international trips?? ABSOLUTELY!! But hey, EVERYONE I work with has to get their chance to travel as much as I have so far! I just can't wait for the NEW bid period to be assigned in the next couple weeks. Hopefully I'll be getting back to my normal schedule of being out 18 days a month, and most importantly, seeing new parts of the world I've never seen before.


Right now, I'm in my hotel room in Leipzig, Germany, sadly getting ready to pack my bags and head home tomorrow to begin yet ANOTHER 5 days off. I've been here since February 14th and had a really difficult time with jetlag this time around! It must be since I'm not quite used to it anymore. I spent my 24/7 (DAY OFF) sleeping for about 18 hours on and off, then the next day flew an easy 4 hour leg to Keflavik, Iceland. My layover there was so quick that we were only there for 5 hours, and before I knew it we were back in Leipzig, Germany for another night!


Tomorrow I have an EXTREMELY long duty day ahead of me... beginning at 0815 Germany time (0215 RFD time), and I'm not due to be home in Rockford until around 2230. My crew is working 3 legs... from Leipzig, Germany to Keflavik, Iceland (4 hours)... from Keflavik, Iceland to Goose Bay, Canada (4 hours)... and from Goose Bay, Canada to Cherry Point, North Carolina (3 hours). From North Carolina, we ferry the empty aircraft back to Rockford, IL and I can finally (hopefully!) squeeze a nap in! But the GOOD news is that we're on the NEW Boeing 767 aircraft that just joined our fleet this week that we acquired from an airline that just recently went out of business. From what I gather, it's very similar, yet different to the other 2 767's we operate now. I am so anxious to see the new 'bird'. Pictures to follow!


Hope you come back soon to check for updates! The new aircraft and brand new uniforms aren't the only tricks that Ryan has up their sleeve for this NEW YEAR!! Five Cabin Checks is DEFINITELY still up and running, just in case any of you were worrying. :-)


CHEERS!
-Lisa :-)

Bringing the Last of the Bulgaria Troops HOME FROM IRAQ

Hello again!

From another new country... My last trip I had scheduled was from Leipzig, Germany-Kuwait, and Kuwait- Sofia, Bulgaria. It's always nice taking non-U.S troops because they usually don't speak english and don't throw a fuss when they get stuck with pasta instead of chicken. :-)



This trip was different, however... this just happened to be the LAST load of Bulgaria troops to come home after spending 18 months in Iraq. When we arrived on December 17th, they had a ceremony set up to welcome them home!

The Prime Minister of Bulgaria was there to give them a speech upon their return. The ground handler that was on our plane translated that he mentioned how proud he was of their courage, dedication, and it was so nice to welcome the last of them HOME to Bulgaria. (A ROAR went through the crowd when he said that... gave me chills.)

This band started playing the minute we opened the doors... how proud they were to welcome their troops home!

All in line. Ok now, judging by how obedient they are in line here... IMAGINE how good they are on the plane with us. I'm not kidding when I say I am blessed with flying the most POLITE passengers you could ever imagine in the entire world...

PAPARAZZI!!!!!!

The commercial flight I took yesterday (Austrian Arrows) from Bulgaria-Germany actually handed out free Bulgarian newspapers when we boarded. I happened to see a picture of the troops we took home on the FRONT PAGE next to the Prime Minister. I was so proud because the Bulgarian-speaking man next to me on the flight was trying to tell me how happy he was that they were all home safe. Imagine how great that made me feel to know that I had a part of bringing the last of his troops home safe FOR GOOD!!! Can't wait til all of our U.S. Soldiers are home for good... What a glorious day in history THAT will be!

CHEERS!

-Lisa :-)

The Lindner Hotel & Resort: LEIPZIG, GERMANY

Greetings from Leipzig, Germany!!!!

We are staying at the cutest little German Hotel ever and I HAD to share it with you. It's called the Lindner Hotel & Resort and it's one of about 30 in Germany. We arrived early in the morning and I was SO impressed with it from the minute I walked into the lobby!


It's about 15 minutes away from the airport... literally 'over the river and through the woods'! It was such a beautiful, SNOWY drive the entire way.


As you walk into the lobby, the reception desk is to the right and the cozy bar and cocktail lounge is to the left! Just right of the Christmas tree is the restaurant... very cute as well!

I love how the lobby is exposed by those levels of guest rooms! (See, there's the restaurant I was talking about... ha!)

This is the entrance to my cozy little room! (Obviously I'm NOT a light packer... Hahaha! BUSTED!!!! Look at my suitcase... expanded! What do you expect, being out for 30+ days??)

This bed, although they only gave me one comforter and 2 pillows, was the most comfortable bed I could have ever found in Germany!! (Notice I don't say ANYWHERE... THE MOST comfortable bed award STILL goes to the Marriott in Budapest, and will ALWAYS be #1 in my book!!)

I don't know about you, but this scene reminds me of 'A Christmas Story' when Ralphie & Randy wake up Christmas morning, and look out the window to see the snow! Hahaha! I didn't keep the window open like this, obviously, but it was a gorgeous view!

Good morning, Leipzig! :-)

I've REALLY enjoyed my stay in Leipzig so far! I better get used to it, because just recently my company has announced that Leipzig is the 'NEW' Budapest. We will no longer be laying over in Budapest due to high grounds fees costs and the fact that there (still is, I believe) a strike going on with the Ground Handlers at the Airport. It's such a shame, everyone LOVED Budapest. At least I got to spend the time there that I did! I'll never forget it! :-)

I'm sure I'll make MANY more memories here though, and I can't wait!!!

CHEERS TO LEIPZIG!!!

-Lisa :-)

Get your Authentic Budapest Christmas gifts HERE!!

The holiday season is HERE!!!!

No other time of year would it be OK for a creepy man in a Santa suit and his reindeer to be driving through the Fashion Square of Budapest on a motor bike looking for attention without getting arrested...

However, on December 10th, everyone LOVED it and cheered!!!! BRING HIM ON!!!!! Happy Holidays, ALL!



You'd think these people had never seen a crazy guy dressed in a Santa suit before. Come on... come to any wild and crazy work Christmas party in the U.S. with strong eggnog and you might think differently! Ha! This was SO cute and funny... I had to take a picture too, of course...


The 'Fashion Square' of Budapest has now been transformed into a 'Budapest Souvenir' Paradise. All these booths are set up until Christmas with purses, vases, jewely, handmade items, scarves, pottery, and things you or I can't really classify. :-)


It's great to walk around and look at all the outrageously priced stuff... I can't help but think of tourists (like me... before) that take out 10,000 hungarian forints (equal to about $60 American money) and blow it on a couple glass souvenirs or a kitty mug that will end up collecting dust someday. Me, on the other hand... I'd rather take it across the street and buy some cute Euro clothes or boots at H & M or Bershka. At least I'll look good and get a good season of fashion out of MY purchase!

This tree is HUGE and is standing tall in the middle of the square... Merry Christmas, Budapest!!

What else ya got here??? (Err... What DON'T you have...??) :-)

CHEERS!

-Lisa :-)

Sushi Dinner @ KYOTO in Budapest!

Hello again!!!

Ahhh... a peaceful, slightly rainy December night in Budapest. What a great night to treat myself and go grab a GREAT sushi dinner at my favorite restaurant within walking distance from my hotel: Kyoto! (Literally... it's kitty-corner from the doors of the front lobby. Perfect!)

I took a couple extra minutes to enjoy this beautiful lit-up solo walk on my way to Kyoto. The rain wasn't even enough for an umbrella... it was such a beautiful and calm Saturday evening!

"Table for One, please... And, I'll start with a glass of Pinot Grigio." :-)

I love the ambience of this restaurant! Philippe and I have eaten here twice before and have had EXCELLENT sushi both times. I couldn't WAIT to order my own sushi/sashimi combination!

Drumroll, please...

WOW. Now, is that not the FRESHEST sushi/sashimi you've ever seen, or what!?? This was the combo for ONE, including salmon, yellowtail, and tuna and a salmon/avocado roll. Absolute heaven. I ate every last bite!

This was the little view from my table in the corner. I love the lights!

After my delicious dinner, I decided to take the long way home and walk down by the Cathedral to take some snaps of the Christmas tree. SO relaxing and beautiful! Just another Saturday evening in Budapest, Hungary... :-)

I truly am the LUCKIEST girl to be seeing how Christmas is celebrated around the globe. What a special holiday season it is!

The walk back to my hotel through Fashion Square of Budapest! What an enjoyable night. I love this city!

CHEERS!

-Lisa :-)