the long and winding road

As I have done a few times over the last 6 or so years, I fly down to visit my sister and her family in San Diego for Christmas. And in doing so, I fly buddy pass because my brother in law is a pilot for Delta Airlines. For those who don't know what that means, I'll try to explain.

It means he can purchase discounted tickets for friends and family and they can fly places.

Hm, I guess that was easier to explain than I thought.

However, there is one catch. You are considered a "non rev(enue)", and will almost always go behind paying customers on standby. The vast majority of the time, that plays little in the trip. I usually make the flights on the day I was assigned. This time, I wasn't so lucky.

It started on Friday. I told people at work (including those who deal with our scheduling) that I was going to fly down on Friday, and therefore, miss work. That was my first mistake, it meant I couldn't call at 3 AM, "coughing" and claim I wanted to take a sick day. That's not the end of the world, and considering I get the next two + weeks off (I work in a school), whats one less days pay in an already small paycheck for December?

So, I get to the airport around 9. Go through security, and say goodbye to my checked in bag. So I'm left with my carry on bag, with 1 change of clothes plus my cameras and not much else. I also have my laptop bag and iPod.

The first plan arrives, and I'm waiting for my name to be called. Nothing. I keep waiting, and keep waiting. I call my sister, who can access the information I need to see what my chances are of making the flight. Turns out I was the last person on the list, and missed it by 1 person.

No big deal. Until my sister tells me had I made that flight, I would've made 1st class on the second half of the flight (Delta doesn't fly directly from Portland to San Diego, but instead makes a stop in Salt Lake City. SLC is one of Deltas hubs, and almost all of their flights seem to stop in SLC).

So I go over to where the next flight will be leaving from. The flight leaving from D5 is headed for Japan. I would like to point out that I was listening to selected pieces from The Mikado, and that it did make me chuckle.

After that flight leaves, I now prepare myself for the next flight, which should come in around 12:45 or so. I go over to the message board which shows incoming flights and departing flights. I notice that the incoming flight from SLC, which is the plane I'm going to take TO SLC, is delayed. So I call my brother in law, who tells me that it could be a major mechanical error, or a minor error. Could be 30 minutes, could be 3 hours.

Because I had only eaten a quick McDonalds breakfast, and didn't think of bringing anything to eat WITH me, I break down and buy a Wendys lunch. Their "Spicy" chicken. Not spicy at all.

And I sit.

And sit.

Thankfully, I have my iPod with me and PDX offers free wifi. That way I can listen to a couple local Portland stations, and keep in contact with friends and family on Facebook. I can even do a little stalking, since the IP address won't be mine but from an airport...but I realize saying that just outed myself (but since I didn't actually do it...).

And I sit. I do a little people watching. There's a strange looking guy who is following another guy around and even went into the bathroom after the one guy said he was going to the bathroom. There was a gentleman who kept passing gas repeatedly to my left. Finally, the plane takes off from SLC and is on its way to PDX. 3 hours after it's initial departure time, it is seen driving up to our gate.

The gate attendants let us know it's arrived, and that they will be loading us as quick as possible. It even turns out that chances are really good I might make the flight! Woo!!!

And so it starts..."Delta flight # 1731 is ready to announce pre-loading for our Medallion members and 1st class"...some people start to head up to the doors. But the attendants are all looking intently at the computer screen. They're picking up the red phone...

The departure time all the sudden changes from 3:00 to 3:45. Ok, 45 minutes, no big deal . So I call my sister, and she checks on the flight. And as she's doing it, it changes again. This time to 6:30. Then 7:30.

Then they announce that they can't be loading and that for those who are headed for a second destination (and not just SLC) to check in and they would try to transfer you to another flight that leaves around 6:30. For me, that'd be perfect because I'd be able to get into SLC early enough that I could run to make the 2nd leg of my flight. So I transfer myself over to the later flight and head over to the new gate.

And wait. And sit. And wait and sit. Finally, the time approaches. It's time for pre-boarding! they make the announcement for Medallion members and 1st class...no mechanical issues announced. Hazah! Things might be going good!

Knowing what I know about flying standby, I know not to expect much. I know to be super polite (I am anyway) and thank the attendants for the help they offer (even if I get screwed). More and more people are loading on the plane, and they start making the "final boarding call" for people.

Some people are showing up, some aren't. Those who are ahead of me on the standby list are making the flight. The closer we get to the take off time, the better my chances are becoming. Before I know it, they're announcing the "Final Boarding call" for 2 paid customers. Nothing....

I quickly call my sister, and have her check the flights. She says if these people don't show up, I make the flight! And the flight into San Diego is WIIIIIDE open.

So they make another announcement. "This is your final boarding call, Mr and Mrs Sven Svenson..."

I go look into the concourse, and I see an elder couple walking towards our gate.

Yep, that's they're the two seats left.

So once they get on the plane, they try to figure out who can transfer over the the next flight, but I tell them there is no way I can because I wouldn't make the flight out to San Diego in time. So...I go home and try it again the next day.

Spent 10 hours at the airport, AND missed out on work (we had a Christmas party too).

Finally

After many months, and countless newly created swear words, I finally have a working Volvo.

Turns out, the starter I had bought (which was re-manufactured) was a piece of crap. And, furthermore, a friend of mine gave me the starter he had from his 45 year old Volvo Amazon, and it works fine.

I did, however, fry my radio. Which sucks because it was a nice radio. And on top of that, the one I replaced (while nice) isn't as nice as the one I had. But I couldn't afford the one that was as nice as mine. I just needed to have music again on my way into work. Listening to the car engine, or the music coming out of the small speaker on my iPod, was just too much.

I'd like to figure out how to get my old stereo fixed, but in the process of seeing if I could fix it, a spring came out. And I'm not sure where it came from. I have the number of a place that might be able to fix it, but it might not be worth the cost.

Why do I have a picture of my truck on this blog? Well, simple reader, it's because I was bored and I wanted to add a photo of my 2nd vehicle I ever owned (and drove no more than 5 miles). Why is it up at the top instead of down here? Because I sure as hell can't figure out how to move it. Also, it's not my current truck.

That and I can't fin any other pictures of the other cars I've owned (I have none of my first car).

Thanksgiving and the Ice Age

So thanksgiving was this week. I think it went pretty well. Or pretty good, whatever one is proper English.

Here are some funny things.

I went to the Muppets movie with my sister and her family. It was a good movie, and very much like the TV show. Well worth the money (I didn't spend, since it was my sisters treat).

The other day (in fact, yesterday) I was at Fred Meyer with my sister. We weren't shopping at FM for "Black Friday", but because it's nice to sometimes just people watch. Of course, I ended up buying crap (including a present for my niece, who didn't want it).

As we were walking by the board games, I noticed "Scategories". So I mused "Sweet, a game about animal poop". There was some guy there who laughed and said he was upset that he didn't think of it. So I said he was welcome to take credit for it with his family. So if any of you had a father say that to you recently, it was because of me!

You're welcome.

I think it would be neat to take a week long (or maybe longer) trip around Oregon this summer. Although god knows I've talked about doing this EVERY summer for the last like 5. I think this summer though, I might actually do it. I have a tent, my car, a camera and hopefully gas won't be 5 bucks a gallon then.

Of course, hopefully my car will be starting by then...

Sounds like the NBA lockout has ended (and for those who are reading this months from now, the NBA was on a lockout in 2011). Although there are still a few hurdles to jump. But I just can't get myself that excited about it. I had secretly (well, not so secretly) hoped they cancelled the whole season. I actually haven't missed it at all. It afforded me the chance to fake giving a crap about other things.

I'll end on this.

Futurama was brought back. Family Guy was brought back. Mystery Science Theatre should be brought back too.

It's been a long year

I'm real good at starting blogs and not finishing them, or in the case of this one, forgetting about it.

So, in the last year I cleaned up my truck a bit, put in carpeting, replaced a lot of the steering components, and because of my Volvo needing a new clutch (again) and a rear main seal (again), I've been driving it to work the last month or so. Mostly because I did the repairs myself.

The Volvo: I actually was able to buy a much nicer stereo for my Volvo at a garage sale. It was only 5 bucks, but was a significantly better stereo then what I had, and it was a nice one too. Although I'm not sure I bought this since I last blogged, I did buy a (used) Bazooka tube for the Volvo. So at least the sound in the car is nice.

I bought the SMiLE sessions Box Set and I plan on doing a review of it (for what reason, I'm not sure).

For Halloween this year, I shaved the top of my hair off, so it looked like I was balding. I even wore the glasses I used to use in high school, and they actually looked good and were clearer then my current ones. That's rather bothersome.

These are the glasses I picked because a cute girl in school wore a similar style, and are John Lennon like in design. They were cutting edge (well, sorta) back in the mid 90's, and then became really out of date in the late 90's. Occasionally I'll put them on and they look HUGE on my face (which is saying a lot considering I have a fat head). But this time, they looked ok.

Random comment:
It's funny how something you liked the appearance of when you were younger, you don't much anymore. For example, I liked how Hondas looked when I was in High School, but now looking back at them (and seeing pictures of them now), not so much. Obviously preferences change over time. But then again, I like the stylings of my Volvo and truck, and they're very 80's.

And of course, I'm really talking about Hondas here. There isn't some secret other thing I'm talking about.

Oh yeah, since I last wrote in my blog, I was thinking of returning to Grad School, and recently I was re-accepted back to GS. Which is nice.

I'm sure there's more, but I'll probably wait a year to say anything.

Operation Blue Oval

I ended up buying the 1983 F250 I had previously talked about. My brother and I picked it up last Sunday, and I'm slowly detailing it.

It's surprisingly in good shape and I think it's fair to say that it legitimately has 113K miles on it. Right now my brother and I are restoring the paint job, and it's turning out really really nice. The orange (it's a two tone) is really really nice. There's obviously some rust on it, after all it is a truck and almost 30 years old, but not a lot. The door panels aren't too bad, but the sun damage on them is noticeable so I've sanded them off a bit.

One thing I had to do was buy a new battery. The one that came with the truck was really for a small car. How it got it started, I don't know. Today I found out I need to eventually replace the locking gas caps or see if I can figure out how to clean/fix them. It could be that I'm just tired and not smart enough to figure it out.

I also have to fix the power steering pump hose, not sure how that will go.

I think all in all, I got a really good deal for this truck. The paint is solid, it has almost new tires, it rides smooth and my brother actually thought it was nice.

Eventually I'll take it up to Council Crest and do the predictable pictures of the rig over looking Portland.

Absence makes the heart...

Fondue?

Roughly 5-6 years ago, my brother came up with a good idea. He and I would join forces and buy a Bronco for our cabin. It wasn't necessarily for the cabin, so to speak, but it would go up there.

The first attempt at it stopped short. I didn't see the point in it because of the main people who would gain from having a 2nd vehicle up there, didn't include me. So I had a hard time justifying spending that much money so my brother could have the benefit of driving up in the woods with his family, let alone other people in the family using it and not paying anything for it.

Not that I expected it to be fully beneficial for me to have a Bronco up there, but that realistically, he would benefit significantly more than I would. He having a family, and a pet, me having a cat.

Then a few years later during the tail end of Bush's 2nd term, we thought about doing it again. This time, he figured, the economy would get so bad and gas prices so high, that people would be DESPERATE to get rid of these gas hogs. He started to send me several links on craigslist for Broncos, and I even went to test drive one of them. I think I was more serious about it than he was (imho for the same reason he initially wanted to do this in the first place). This time it was him who changed his mind.

Fast forward to the last 7-8 months. I started getting interested in buying an older Ford truck. Partially because I liked a certain style (the older Supercab look), but mostly because I wanted a truck of "my own", that would be able to tow my boat (which I never use) and the families utility trailer. Right now, the vehicle that is used for that is an old clunker suburban that has been my dads for over 20 years. So not only is it a 24 year old suburban, with 24 year old suburban technology, but it has 315,000 miles on the body and hasn't been well maintained for...well, since he bought it truthfully. And the worst part of it all? He's a smoker. So anytime you borrow it, you smell of smoke.

So I started looking for old trucks. My brother and I test drove a few, and I test drove a few on my own. Some were absolute clunkers, and one in particular was nice. One in particular was kind of nice. A woman in Corvallis (Or) was selling an 83 F250, with a 460 in it for X dollars.

Yes it is older than the Suburban, but it has far fewer miles on the body and it's a non smoker car and it has more towing ability and hauling capability. And yes, it's going to get worse gas mileage than the suburban does.

In theory I have come to an agreement with the owner of the truck, and should pick it up in a week or more. Her schedule and my schedule aren't conducive.

There are a few funny things about my potentially buying this truck. But most of all, it's that my dad *hates* Ford, as does one of my sisters. My brother is the only "Blue Oval" in the family, and he actually wants to eventually get a truck for his family. And it'll be funny if this truck works out that I'll have gotten one before him. Especially considering I have no real need for one.

But it should last for a long time, it's a usable truck and my dad, myself and my brother should all get use out of it. And it could eventually migrate its way up to Idaho to replace the suburban which is (in theory) heading up to Idaho because it will have no use in Portland and my dad doesn't want to get rid of it.

It's funny how you can see someone years later and think to yourself "wow, they look just as good as I remember" and sometimes you can look at a picture of someone years later and think "I distinctly remember her looking a lot better when we were in high school" and wonder if you had blinders on.

Not saying this person resembled Doc Brown, but the aging process has both altered my memory and changed features I remember being interested in.

Of course, when you look at yourself in pictures and then in person and think "woah....why didn't anyone tell me that was a bad look?" you ain't got much room to talk.

Work makes a person forgetful.

So, in the time since I made my last blog, I did get the job I thought I wasn't getting.

Last night, I talked crap about how the Beavers defense and offense was inept so far, and then blammo...they start kicking butt.

Hm, that gets me thinking...you know, I could joke about getting married..

Anyways, it's been a while since I posted here. Not a long time, but just about a month. In that time, I started working back in the district I've worked in since 2007. It's really fun, and more meaningful than what I did last year. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed my time. It, however, felt like my Voltron analogy.

What's my Voltron analogy you ask?

In the 1980's, a great new cartoon was introduced to all boys (and some girls) under the age of 15. Although I'm sure some of them were over 15 too. This great cartoon was Voltron (Defender of the Universe) . It was was about 5 robot lions and together they would create Voltron, a Robot that would defend the Universe from....You know what? If you don't know what Voltron is, google it.

So as I was saying, there was Voltron. Kids grew up watching Voltron, and loved it. Well, liked it. One day, a new Voltron show was put on the air. This time it wasn't about Lions, but instead cars. You read that right, cars. Together they would form Voltron, Defender of a different portion of the Universe.

And to kids, it was like someone showing you Transformers, and then Go-Bots.

So the Car Voltron, while still Voltron, just seemed wrong. They had a shared name, shared concept and in some cases, shared characters (well, they looked a lot like other characters. Surprisingly, many of the main characters looked alike). But it was lame ass.

For those who are still reading but have no idea what I'm talking about, it's like when Beau and Luke replaced Coy and Vance. Sure, they're still "Duke" boys, but "Beau" and "Luke"? Laaaaame.

Or, it's like seeing the facebook pages of friends you went to high school with and seeing the middle school or elementary school pictures. You realize that it's still a school, and they probably had similar cliques and groups, etc, but it's almost like you're watching a foreign film without subtitles. The difference is their horrible 4th grade teacher wasn't named Mr. Novitsky, their middle school didn't change names in the 8th grade, and they didn't have an awesome shop teacher like Mr. Anderson.

I guess my point is that last year, when I returned to the Middle School I worked at, felt a lot like Voltron (or Dukes, or grade school comparisons). I knew where I was. I knew a lot of the students, and I knew a few of the teachers. But the plot changed a bit, and some of the characters resembled ones in the previous show, and it was just strange.

This year, it's like I'm back watching Voltron, even though the students I know/recognized were all from my initial job at the high school and not the middle school. However, it is a job I like a TON more than last year even though I absolutely loved working at the MS two years ago.

This blog was random because I hope to edit it later.