Butterfly

One of my favorite things to do is go for a walk.  I find it relaxing and it is always a good time to reflect on the day’s events.   I love the New Hope / Lambertville area for walking.  They both have the tow paths that go along the Delaware River.  I really like the Lambertville side because the canal is running with water and there is more places to access the river.    A few days ago I had worked a night shift playing airplane and had most of the day to just relax so I thought I would just take a long walk and just explore areas I have not been before.  I decided to walk along the Lambertville tow path because I thought I would walk on the wing dam that I have seen so many people on before but never done myself.   Along the way I decided to stop and see this old abandoned rail car. 

I have not ever really been interested in it because it is all sprayed up with graffiti and figure what it can offer me.   Little did I know that it was going to be probably the highlight of my week.   As I get closer to it you can see that people have been putting their marks on it for a real long time.  It is a real shame that this rail car has given a long service of carrying people around and is in such bad shape, it really does deserve better.  As it make my way to the end of the car to climb up the stairs not really knowing what to expect other then thinking it is a shame that people are tagging it though.   As I get to the top of the stairs I see a half open door and the empty inside.

 I wonder how many people this car has carried.  What kind of trials in life have people had as they have ridden this car?  I start to walk through the car reading some of the interesting things people have written on the walls.   There is a really weird calmness that car seems to be giving off, not really sure how to describe it at all.  I finally get to the back of the car and walk through the door and was looking at the markings.  This is where my eyes lead me to a small area with this saying.

WOW this saying hit home with me. It made some tears come out; I am kind of sappy that way though. It has so much reference in my life in so many ways especially over the last few years though.  As I look back on my life for the last few years I have really been like a butterfly just emerging out of the cocoon.

Eagle Scouts

I have been pondering the Boy Scouts of America’s ban on gay membership and leadership.   Being part of the LGBT community I take it to heart that they are discriminating against a selected class of people. 

I have been watching the movement on how more and more Eagle Scouts are renouncing there Eagle Scout Awards.   This is a very powerful statement I think, and I am hoping that BSA is not taking this lightly.  I think that currently only 5% of the boys will obtain an Eagle Scout award.   For these boys it involves a lot of time and dedication and huge amount of work.  The boys must have been in some form of leadership, earn 21 different merit badges,  plan and work a service project for the award, and make it through a board of review.    This is why I say that renouncing ones Eagle Scout Award is a big deal.

As an Eagle Scout I personally don’t know where I sit on renouncing the Eagle Scout Award.   I have 2 differing views on the situation.

My first view is that by renouncing my Eagle Scout I am making a onetime statement to the BSA.  I am not sure at this point how effective it is to the organization.

My second though is to not renounce it and try to become more actively involved in the organization and groups to try to make positive changes in the BSA policies.

Being an Eagle Scout has given me the strength and courage and skills, to drive through so many of life’s though roads.   

Being a trans women I don’t talk that much about my scouting experiences now, but it has given my great usable life skills that I have used throughout my adult life and continue to use to this day.   I think that every boy should have that chance regardless of their sexuality or gender.

Traveling Home

I made it home early am yesterday.   My inter kid self keep saying “Are we there yet?  ARE WE THERE YET?” 

My day started out as I got up Friday at 6am to get showered and make it for a breakfast at the hotel at 7am as the open up.  I always stay at hotels that have free breakfast, because our $30 a day for per diem just doesn’t really go too far when you are trying to eat healthy.  The night before I had talked with corporate office and they said that I was going to get home so I was really excited because I have been out traveling from the 19^th of last month.  I figured I was going to have to stay because I still didn’t have travel and I was originally thinking that I was going to have a 1120am dept.  I made a few calls and got my travel so I really didn’t have much time to pack and get my rental car gassed and returned.  After breakfast I rushed back to my room and packed all my stuff and it made my suitcase bulge for sure.  It take 2 trip to the car to get everything down.  I had to laugh, I tried to stuff my suitcase in the trunk and it just wouldn’t go so I had to put it in the front seat.  Darn Camaro, but it was fun to drive, just not practical.

I returned the car in will out any issue and made my way to the airport, SEATAC’s rental car return is about a mile from the airport.  The facility was being built when we were moving to Charleston area.  It is a nice and gives the rental companies the room they so desperately needed to grow. 

I am really out of practice traveling my commercial airlines because most of the time I drive or fly on our own planes.  I get to the counter and put my bag down the the scales and check in.  It bugs me that as a customer you should have to pay for checking in a bag.  That’s why people try to take so much on as a carry on and hit you with their bags as they walk down the aisles.  So I pay for the bag and get my boarding pass that the CSR freaks because my bag weighs 58 pounds.  I looked at him in this questioning look.  Airlines are such hogs, that 8lbs cost an additional $90.  When I was a customer service agent I would have just let it slip by, but back then it was 75lbs that was overweight not 50lbs.

I was glad that I made it to the airport 2 hours before my flight because the line for security took me a hour to get through.  I feel so much safer with the gentleman looking at my ID with a magnifying glass.  He was giving off the vibe of “I’m the gate keeper and maybe I will let you in or maybe not”.   I got past the gate keeper and now confronted the agent yelling orders to pull your liquids computer out and take off your shoes and such.  And yes I called him a “ agent”  not a officer as they would prefer,  they are not law enforcement so they don’t deserve being called a officer.   I make it out feeling like I’m a criminal, our government can do so much better than this! 

I can’t help but wonder as I am waiting in line who I will be sitting next to on the plane.  My bad side is like I hope they don’t spill out of their seat into mine because I have a window seat and don’t want to be squished into the wall like in the past.  I get seated and the couple sits next to me with a child that is one big lap child.  I was glad I had brought my ear plugs because that kid could scream.  So for 2 ½ hours I enjoyed reading my book in peace and quiet.  My next flight was nice because I didn’t have anyone sitting next to me, however I had these 2 younger ladies that got way goofy drinking.  I once again had to put in the ear plugs to quiet them.  I almost finished my book on that flight.  I am not a big book reader at all, but I have fell in love the this series of Fifty Shades of Grey. 

I arrive at JFK at 1130pm and get my bag.  I’m pretty tired, weird how flying makes you tired because is was sitting all day.  I get my bag and make my way on the train to Federal Way circle stop.  I was hoping that someone was in our office that lake because I really didn’t want to walk the couple of blocks to our office carrying my bags.  The last time I flew commercially they broke one of my wheels on my 58 pound bag and I really didn’t want to carry it a few blocks.  I was thankful that Pleasant answered the phone and he came and got me and dropped me off at my car.  He is such a sweet and nice person.   I drove a hour and made it to my 2^nd home.  It was such a nice feeling to pull in the driveway, just like coming home.  I got my key they left for me and went to my favorite room J  The Captain Brynne’s room as I call it when I’m there.  Its real name is called the Capt Reeder room.   By now it is 2am so I am pretty tired and ready for sleep.  The next day I had a wonderful breakfast and got myself together and headed out for my drive home.   It really was a uneventful drive home.  Halfway into the 12 hour drive I stopped for lunch/dinner.  I usually don’t stop but I thought I would try something new, I always feel like it is slowing the process up when I do that, but it was nice today to do it.  My next stop was at the border on NC and SC rest stop.  I really hate stopping at South Carolina rest areas because they usually are not clean.  As usual I was not disappointed it was way dirty, and this is a rest area that has a welcoming facility for South Carolina.  Not a very good way of welcoming people to our state for sure.  What bothered me the most is as I pull in there was so many stray cats.  The parking stall I was pulling into had these 2 scared cats cuddling up with each other.  They were so scared and pathetic, I just wanted to scoop them up and take them home.  The poor things, what kind of person would let poor helpless animals off at a rest stop.  I’m really not a huge animal lover, but I do have a heart and would never do that; but as a state why don’t they take then to a shelter so they can be adapted to a family that would care for them too.  Shame on you South Carolina!

I finally made it home at 130am on Saturday morning.  I was so glad to be home and my family warmly met me at the door, even though I was trying to sneak in quietly.

Seattle trip so far :)

I have had a packed few weeks here in Seattle.  I have done so many wonderful things plus work I almost don’t know where to start.   I started my trip here on the 19^th driving to JFK and flew out the 20^th.   I rode in on our aircraft N490EV, it is the most uncomfortable plane we have in our fleet.   The upper deck is cramped in nice terms.  The 3 seats don’t recline so it was a long ride for sure.  We land in SEATAC and unload some pallets and the ramp crew loads the plane.  Then I finally get to the hotel way early am and pretty tired.

It was really cool that for the 1^st few days here I was able to work with Krystie a fellow loadmaster as well.  We really have a great time together; she is so fun to be around.   About the 3^rd day into the trip we didn’t have a airplane so we drove up to the Canadian border.  She has never been to Canada so she wanted her passport stamped.  The border guard was full of question of why we wanted to come to Canada, and I think he was shocked that we just wanted dinner and a stamp in the passport.  

 He said that they normally don’t stamp the passports but with a little flirting we managed a stamp and off we went to a Starbucks to get a Canadian mug for her collection.   After getting the 2 things we need we were off to Seattle again.  We stopped at the Tulalip Casino on the way back for some gaming and dinner.  As usual I lost but Krystie did well only losing $5. 

 Krystie had to leave me in Seattle but she left me her rental car the “Beast” a 2012 Camaro.  It is real fun to drive J

On the 24^th I really had a cool experience.  My friend Violet was going out to see a horse rescue called Serenity Equine Resuce.  She wanted to look and talk to them because she wants to volunteer for them.  It was a cool place, one of the volunteers gave us a tour and I fell in love with it.  If I was here I would work out there any day for sure.  I have not had much experience with horses but they are just beautiful animals.

The 28^th I had a canceled plane so I headed to the Oregon coast.  Our family has a beach house there and I have not been in 5 ½ years.  It felt so good to be back, I only got to spend a day there but I so enjoyed it. I had a great night of food, then some wine and reading a book in front of the fireplace with a nice fire. 

I am hoping I can go back once more before I leave back to the East Coast.  On the way honme on Sunday I got to stop in Portland and see my friend that I have not seen in about 22 years.  He is a Baptist pastor now Lincoln Street Baptist Church.  We went for some coffee and talked for a few hours and then went to meet his wife and family.  I am going to take the trip down this Sunday to catch one of his worship services.  I am excited to attend his churches service.

The 31^st Violet and I and her grand baby went to take a ride in the Farris Wheel on the pier downtown Seattle.  That is a cool thing to do.  The line was not long to wait in and it was such a nice day with so much blue sky.   Today we went to the King County fair in Enumclaw.  It was a perfect day to go, it was the 1^st day and the weather was just right.  We had a great time taking in all the animals and exhibits.  I am so enjoying the great cool weather it is such a change from the hot east coast for sure.

I  did work several planes in-between thing though.  I do feel spoiled with the commercial side of the air cargo though.  The rampers are so sweet and load the plane for you, that doesn’t happen when I deal with the military flight that I usually work.  I think that I am getting spoiled J