Marching Band season upon us

Hard to believe that Drum Corps season has come and gone, and we're in the thick of High School Marching Band competitions across the Country. From small local contests to large regional contests, many high school kids are spending many hours throughout the school day, and after school to learn a 10-15 minute half-time type show.

I've been extremely busy with work that I haven't had time to actually go to any competitions, or keep track of the normal shows I normally would follow. Either way, I continue to root for my favorites back home, and have come to enjoy a few new ones around the country.

It also amazes me how after the season comes to a close, we start seeing shows from Japan, and it's amazing how competitive their music programs are and the level of musicality. It's a shame that our own Country can't keep up with the level of Education as the Musical Arts is extremely important in our society.

Anyway, best of luck to all Marching Bands out there!

Until next time,
Sluggo

Looking for good news in next couple of days

Been a while since I've written a post, just trying to stay under the radar with so many things going on. This past week I had an interview down at headquarters for a new position. Hopefully I'll know something early part of next week if I got the position.

Other news: my niece got married in May, and my nephew will be renewing his vows with his wife in September. It's been a very busy summer for the Nebraska Valentines (my brothers family) and I'll hopefully be seeing my youngest nephew next week in Minneapolis.

Drum corps season is well underway, and it's been a very interesting year. The top 3 corps are really battling it out switching places it seems every night, while the 4th-6th corps are very close to each other as well. Seven through twelve is very tight too, but in their own rights. I truly hope that DCi crowns a new winner this year, but it truly must be deserved without a shadow of a doubt. Personally, I'm not 100% sold on the top seeded corps, but they seem to be selling their show extremely well to the judges, and that's all the matters.

One corps has been climbing strong, and could finally be a contender for the top 3 spots in the next few weeks. It would be great to see them win since its been over 20yrs since their last trophy.

I'm finally flying some Europe trips, and have been enjoying working with these great crews. Would be great to be able to hold these trips all the time. Thankfully, my company has been hiring and seniority has been inching higher and higher. (Feels good after being stagnate for so long)

Not much else has been happening, just hopes this update finds everyone well.

2013 Outstanding Employee

For many years now, we have seen the different plaques on the planes acknowledging a wide range of people for their outstanding contribution to the airline. Whether it's a Flight Attendant, Pilot, Mechanic, Agent, someone in Reservations, or even a group/station for significantly improving their job.

In the past, I have been selected to join a group of employees to have lunch with one of the airlines Vice Presidents. It was a great honor to say the least, and also to be part of one of our turn-around plans and being on a committee to improve our Customer Satisfaction scores when I was based in New York City.

For the the past year and a half, I have been based in Miami, flying mostly Caribbean flying. So, it cam as a surprise when I found out my Miami manager selected me one of Miami's Outstanding Employee for 2012. Of nearly 3,000 Flight Attendants in Miami, only 24 were selected for this prestigious award, and I was one of them.

I didn't know what the complete process was, but after being selected, I understood it was a rigorous process where other managers and the base manager sit down and go over performance records on all the selected individuals. They look at attendance records, customer letters, peer letters, etc. 

Those who were selected were invited to attend an Award Ceremony, where a lovely reception was to follow.  The Vice President of Flight Service was in attendance, along with Miami's managing force for Flight Service.

The ceremony was quick and efficient. We soon found out that all of our plaques would be on the airlines 777-200 planes. I soon found out that my plaque would be on nose # 7AD (picture at left). The great thing I can do in our computer, is look up the routes 'my' plane is flying.  (right now, it's currently doing some light maintenance in Dallas) This aircraft is also the fourth 777 that American Airlines acquired. Planespotters.net also gives me a little more info on the airplane too!

Next time you're flying overseas, or on American's 777-200 airplane, be sure to look for my plaque!

Honored to be an American Airlines Flight Attendant,
Purser  Sluggo

What to do when on vacation, and not going anywhere

Here I am, almost 3 weeks of vacation and literally no place to go. Usually for my vacation, I like to head down to Puerto Vallarta for the warm sunny beaches, but this year, I'm not going.

I have decided to go to the February camp for The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps and help out where I may be needed, but that's just over a weekend....I know, I know...I'll see some awesome people and get a glimpse of the music for the summer, but it's not the warm sunny beaches I so long for.

I've also thought about heading home to Virginia and visit with family and maybe meet up with some friends, but I haven't decided yet if and when I want to go. I only have to work 1 trip this month with work, as my 2nd trip has been removed as I will be transferring bases from Miami to New York in March.

Nothing else to really report from my end. So, this year is starting off uneventful so far!!!

2012 ends, 2013 starts!

Hard to believe that 2012 is now at a close. It feels like just yesterday we were saying the same thing about 2011...but here we are, getting ready to reign in a New Year.

What happened this year that made it go by so fast for me? January was my annual recurrent training for work (which I will be going to next month. Man, I have to really study the new evacuation commands) I know it started with another awesome trip to Puerto Vallarta in March, followed by a visit back home in Virginia visiting family and friends, while enjoying the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival in May.

June ended with beautiful weather for Minneapolis Pride, followed by outstanding performances by various Drum & Bugle Corps for the DCI Minnesota Drum & Bugle contest.  July-August I had a very bad cold which kept me from flying for nearly a month. In September, was able to enjoy the MN State Fair with friends, and for flying I was able to go to several new destinations which I really enjoyed working to in Brazil, but mostly my flying kept me in the confines of the Caribbean.

November was (in my opinion) a huge success in Politics. Thankfully President Obama was re-elected and the VOTE-NO on the marriage amendment (defining marriage between man and woman) here in Minnesota won. This, as well as three other states saying Who cares in who marries, as long as they are happy.

Over-all, I had some amazing crews I worked with, and on occasion, some pretty amazing passengers too. I did help in save a life to one of our passengers which just goes with the territory, but of course, it was soon over-shadowed by the craziness of the holiday travelers demanding to not have their over-sized bags checked at the door when it wouldn't fit in the bag sizer.

Sadly, I ended this year with a bout of flu, thankfully, I was able to spend the holiday with great friends who invited me to share their time with their families. I was able to enjoy a day with one of my siblings before having a lovely dinner with his family and friends.

I'm very amazed at how quickly this year has gone by. I just hope that at some point, I will be able to stop and smell the roses....well, maybe I'll have a chance to do that during my nieces wedding in May.

Until next time,

Happy New Year!
Sluggo

Flight Attendants.org chat forum Closing

For over 10yrs, I have enjoyed being, not only a member of a Flight Attendant chat forum, but also a moderator and Administrator. The site helped me make many great friends from many different airlines around the world.

Recently, the sites administrator has chosen to put the site up for sale, and because the site hasn't been extremely active in the past year, and/or bought, he has chosen to close it's doors earlier than when the sites domain name is due for renewal. (it will be closed sometime in the coming weeks)

It has been amazing to be a part of a site where I was able to watch it grow into something spectacular, helping many individuals (both young and old) come together, not only here in the United States, but world-wide, answering questions about what it's like to be a Flight Attendant, or even helping those who strive to be a Steward/Stewardess/Flight Attendant.

We have laughed, cried, fought, and bonded over many aspects of our careers. We saw some sad days on the site from losing members, or know of Flight Attendants who have lost lives either from accidents and/or incidents involving crashes or from other events.

FlightAttendants.org was a site where we could all go and share stories with one another about the crazy antics we saw during our flights, or walking through the terminals. We could all come together and complain about how the TSA treated us, or what we saw on our layovers. Of course, this could be anything from bed-bugs, dirty beds/sheets/towels/bathrooms/remotes/glasses, to having wild parties.

This was a place we could ask questions amongst each other about Federal Aviation Regulations, Airline Policies, or just complain about what our respective airlines were doing to our Unionized contracts. With these complaints, often brought with them arguments between members.

The one thing about being a flight attendant is the aspect of not being bogged down in a cubicle and not having a supervisor breathing down your neck require work to be done. Being a flight attendant requires one to be driven to work well with others, and to step up to the plate during emergency situations without thinking twice.

I will miss the great chats we had with each other, and hope sometime soon there will be another great chat forum we can once again call 'home'

Until then, keep flying the friendly skies!
Sluggo

American Airlines will be hiring

After 11 years, looks like one of the legacy carriers is finally going to be hiring for Flight Attendants.

After another type of scare tactic of up to 2,500 possible layoffs during contract negotiations, the airline was able to get over 2,200 Flight Attendants to take an early out to retirement.

With that, American just announced that come November 5th, they will be opening up their aacareers.com website and will be looking for 1,500-2,000 new hires in the next year.

Interviews would start sometime in December, with the first class starting in January, then approximately 45 new hires per class, a new class would be starting every Monday there after.

This is great news, however many are concerned that both the Union and airline mislead their members, similar to the possibility of an earlier bankruptcy in 2003, if they didn't take this early out and retire.

Whether it was a scare tactic, or a way to get the most Senior flight attendants to retire, those still flying are finally able to slightly move up the seniority ranks after a 11 year stall.