Air Time

It’s hard to believe that in just a couple more hours I will be landing in Orlando and ready to start my new career working for the mouse.  Currently we are somewhere over the United States…not sure where.  I’m flying Delta and they seem to be a little out-dated compared to other air companies I’ve flown with.  They are currently showing the movie The Life of Bee’s on one of the 5 TV Monitors hanging down on the aisle.  I was spoiled on my flights to/from France/Africa, as we had TV’s in front of us on every seat that were interactive when you touched them – enabling you to change channels, movies, and play games.  Oh well, thankfully I have my laptop, zune and book for entertainment.  This girl I know recommended I read “Under The Banner of Heaven.”  So far it’s really good, but also pretty creepy and gross.  What’s it about you may ask?  The Church of LDS (i.e. Mormons), but it primarily discusses the extreme fundamentalist mormons (FLDS). These are the ones that still practice polygamy and such.  It’s a sad book because quite frankly, everything in it is about how girls are mistreated and how it’s a “guys religion.”  Ironically, I just had a layover in Salt Lake City.

But yes, it is true, I am finally on my way (literally) to Florida finally.  I don’t know if it’s hit me yet though…I mean, I know I am on my way, but I’ve never even seen the cruise ship before or been on any cruise.  I’ve worked with Disney before, I’ve worked with kids before, and I have sailed on a yacht in Tahiti…so I suppose I blend all those together in a grande scale and voila!  The flight captain just announced that we are actually ahead of schedule by 10 minutes, so we’ll be arriving in Orlando at 4:20.  I figure I’ll make it to the hotel by 6, grab dinner (I’m starving), and maybe head to downtown disney. 

I had a great visit in Bend for the last few months.  Made a ton of great new friends that I hope can come visit and had many great “adventures” around Central Oregon.  It was so nice also to spend so much time with my Parents – although they are complete Dorks, I can openly and honestly say that I wouldn’t them any other way.  I’m not exactly sure when the next time I’ll be in Bend will be…could be in 18 weeks, or could be in a year or two.  Just depends on what doors open with this new career. 

I’m really not sure what to write and I feel like I’m just rambling.  I really just want to kill time and do something while sitting here in my tiny little airplane seat.  I’ve been lucky though on the previous flight and this flight.  On the previous flight I had no one next to me and on this flight I have a little boy who’s probably 7 years old and is plugged into watching Scooby Doo on his I-pod.  He makes these seats look huge, so I can take up most of the elbow room.  He did almost fall asleep leaning on my shoulder however…oh well, kids are kids.  I thought Lunch would be served on this flight too, but it’s only if you want to fork over like $12 for a deli sandwich on stale bread.  I’ll just starve myself and get greasy food at the hotel.  I feel like I’m kind of coming full circle with disney world too because my very first visit with my family years ago we stayed at the All Star Music Resort, and now I am employed by disney world and that is where they are putting me for Traditions for a few nights. 

I was sitting here thinking about flying and what I would change if I could.  First, when I checked in I was 2lb’s over the limit and that would’ve cost me an additional $80 on top of the already paid baggage cost of $15.  So, I simply removed the 3.5lb' white tennis shoes I got for disney and moved them to my carry-on.  But what if they charged by pound?  If $15 is what it costs for a piece of luggage up to 50lb’s that is 30 cents a pound.  That way it rewards the people for packing light…Or why not maybe make it a little higher so it encourages people to pack lighter and then remove the $80 fine for going over 50lb’s?  I just think they could do something more efficient about this situation.  The other thing I was thinking about was having power for laptops and such while flying.  We are traveling at 400mph through the air, why not have some type of wind-powered electricity conductor on the plane that could generate power for us?  I’m no engineer, but it seems possible to me.  I did see a sign at the airport that some airlines are now offering internet wi-fi on some flights…I’m sure it’s extremely expensive and is paid by the minute, but a laptop’s life expectancy without external power is now only about an hour or so…Well imagine business man Bob on a trip from Oregon to Florida, air time of approximately 6-7 hours, uses internet for one hour, laptop dies and then no more income via internet for airline companies.  Now install Eric’s new wind-mill for airplanes device, it keeps his laptop charged, allows him to then purchase more minutes and facebook all his friends online.  It’s a win-win situation.  I have a few other ideas, but they’re pretty unrealistic – hot tubs, guitar hero, and a bed, if not a bed then maybe one of those beds that are on the wall like astronauts sleep in, but have an anesthesiologist available for those (like me) who find it impossible to sleep on planes to assist. 

I just adjusted the clock on my computer so if I’m correct it is 1:40pm in Orlando…and if we are scheduled to arrive at 4:20pm that means I still have 2 hours and 40 minutes left…UGH!  And my laptop has 62% of the battery remaining.  I would hate to live at wherever we’re flying over right now….miles and miles of farmland as far as the eye can see.  I see a small little city, probably with a bar or two where all the locals gather to talk about their crops and complain about the crows and economy.

They are selling mini shots of alcohol and such on the plane, I could always buy 5 or 6 of those to help make time go by quicker.  But I have a feeling that stumbling into the Disney World Resort for my new job as a Youth Activities counselor reeking of Booze wouldn’t be a wise decision. The terminal next to my Orlando flight was heading to Cancun, on that plane you could get away with that.  I was daydreaming in my head while waiting for my flight on ways to get on the Cancun plane and just find a hut on the beach that I could live in and somehow make substantial amounts of money by doing nothing…It was a pleasant daydream. 

Alright, well I think I am done rambling and will probably use the remaining 52% battery life on Mah-Jong or Solitaire.  I’m not on a flight that has Internet and I wouldn’t want to spend the money on it anyways, so I’m just saving this post and uploading it when I have access – so yes I am currently on the plane, but no I am not online and this won’t be posted until I’m off the plane.  Best of luck to all my friends in Bend, I wish the best for you guys and miss you all!

UPDATE:  The Captain said good and bad news…Bad news – we are heading into a storm so expect bumpiness…Good news – we have a new arrival time of 3:45!  35 minutes difference from original, we must be hauling!