a flight attendant's wild flight from "the OC" to hobbs, new mexico with a layover in sin city

Be Still My 'PlantStrong' Heart!

2011-05-17T11:43:00.000-07:00

Move over Hugh Jackman. There's a new 'fantasy man' for women who probably is the object of many a 'bromance' for men as well. Rip Esselstyn is his name and he is a true American hero.

What qualifies him for this distinction in my eyes? Rip is a solid family man who recognizes the value of his wife Jill's love and support so that's a start. Firefighters (like flight attendants) share the designation of first responders. I always make a mental note of where a firefighter is seated on my plane and they often will identify themselves to us so we can quickly call on them if we need helpers in an evacuation or to help 'take down' a bad guy/gal in this new age of travel after 911.

Physical fitness is important in their profession as it is in mine and Rip is a buff triathlete who helped change the eating habits of his own firehouse and has written his book "Engine 2 Diet". Coining the term "plantstrong", he is helping change the image of vegetarian food. He has recently retired from firefighting and his influence is 'on the road' to saving many more lives than he ever could back in the Austin Fire Dept.

Last night I went to the San Diego premiere of "Forks Over Knives" and was pleased to meet Rip and briefly talk to him. Told him he's going to have to start wearing a disguise as more people become aware of the huge impact possible with a plant based diet coupled with exercise.

Traveling brings special challenges to remaining healthy. Confinement, food availability, TSA guidelines and biorhythm disruption are all things frequent fliers must deal with and it is my intention to share how I am incorporating plants into my lifestyle in the friendly skies.

The Flying Treehugger's Latest Passion

2011-05-15T12:18:00.000-07:00

Plants are my current obsession. Not being eaten by plants but eating only plants! Recently completed a certificate program in Plant Based Nutrition offered through Cornell University. It is entirely online and is an excellent series of courses put together by T. Colin Campbell PhD Professor Emeritus of Nutritional Biochemistry. His book based on decades long research is called "The China Study". The New York Times has called it the "Grand Prix of Epidemiology.

The attendees of his courses are mostly from the health field; physicians, dietitians and an occasional flight attendant ;) There are excellent lectures, interactive discussions, written assignments and scheduled live chats. What was really refreshing is that students are encouraged to use creativity in their own approach to the subject matter. Lewis Freedman was my instructor/moderator for "Diseases of Affluence" and "Principles in Practice." Rebecca Michaelides did my first course of "Nutrition Fundamentals". There is sometimes spirited debate between the online egos which makes it all the more interesting. Thank you Dr. Campbell for allowing people outside the medical community to partake of your outstanding program!

Every Woman's Fantasy Man Ziplines From the Sydney Opera House!

2010-12-15T15:02:00.000-08:00

Hugh Jackman gets a big thrill and delights thousands as he ziplines from the top of the Sydney's famed landmark. It has actually been renamed the "Oprah house' due to the filming of Ms. Winfrey's show which won't be broadcast until mid January. Mr. Jackman was apparently so overcome by his experience
that he applied the brake a little too late and had a bit of a crash landing. True to his manly image, he brushed himself off and the whole event added to the showbiz spectacle.

It will be interesting to observe "the Oprah Effect" on Australian tourism after these shows hit the airwaves in over 145 countries. It is advertising that money can't buy and it couldn't happen to a more beautiful country. Being in Sydney and watching their news, one couldn't help but get caught up in the excitement of this Ozzie lovefest which included Nicole Kidman & Keith Urban, Russell Crowe and the late Steve Irwin's daughter, Bindy among others.

FLY Hobbs From Here To ANYWHERE

2010-12-03T11:25:00.000-08:00

Sydney by United flight attendant Robert Gallant

Great news arrived on a flier in my Hobbs water bill! My favorite Hobbs agency , the Economic Development Corporation of Lea County has launched flyhobbs.com What is so great is that one can now easily connect to Hobbs from the rest of the world. When I first discovered Hobbs, part of the appeal was that I could fly directly into Hobbs on a I.A.T.A. member airline. That service was replaced by a smaller company that was slower, more expensive and offered no reciprocal airline agreements with the larger carriers. Starting March 3rd, that all changes and I am thrilled to be able to once again fly directly into Hobbs connecting from major destinations all over the world.

There is a mistake on the website and flier that I must point out. ExpressJet is the regional airline that will serve Hobbs and they used to be under the umbrella of Continental Airlines. As of October 1, 2010; Continental was merged into United Airlines. Therefore, it is United Express who will be serving HOB.
Great job by the EDC making all this happen but time to update the website!!!

Hobbs to Hollywood

2010-03-29T12:16:00.000-07:00

Since I bought the house on eBay which was the topic of my first blog posting, I have been talking about the special community of Hobbs, New Mexico.

I moved there for a while and loved their great 'kick ass' country music.

Back in SoCal, I watched the Academy Awards especially enamored of the the film "Up in the Air" since I have followed the progress of the movie before it was filmed. The lead character played by George Clooney is named Ryan Bingham. That Ryan is just a fictional character. The great coincidence is that a very real Ryan Bingham born in Hobbs was a very real Oscar winner that night. He wrote the song 'The Weary Kind' and won for best original song for the movie Crazy Heart. Ryan is a true and deserving artist that grew up with a lot of character building experiences which are reflected in his music.

"The lighter your rollerboard, the better!"

2009-07-15T10:57:00.000-07:00

One of my personal quests in the last year has been to "die while alive". When my mom passed away , I was surprised by a gift she gave me. She had given me this gift all along but I didn't realize it until she was gone.

This 'dying while living' sounds a bit wacko until you delve deeper. Wayne Dyer writes about the concept which he lifted from the Tao Te Ching. My mom Sparky was a woman of surrender and material things were at the bottom of her priority list. I have a hard time following this act. I'm not sure if buying a kindle while giving away my books fits this concept but I have been simplifying and downsizing. I'm used to living out of a suitcase and having to lug that thing around, the less it weighs, the better.

The task that has driven me to lighten my material load was going through my mom's possessions after her death. It was difficult emotionally but in no other way because my mom didn't accumulate things like I have and would give away things easily. In a few hours, I had 2 bags of clothes to donate, one photo album and a few momentos. It occurred to me if my daughter had the same task, it would be horrific.

Another beautiful thing about unloading stuff and not easily acquiring new things is the time it frees up. Warren Buffet talked about the fact that he could have the big, fancy yacht but then you have to manage the staff that goes with it. My friend Hal Spolerich is fond of saying that "even a book requires maintenance" so I'm trying to use that one to justify my own purchase of a Kindle and dusting off one device instead of an entire library.

My Clooney Convergence

2009-03-12T08:59:00.000-07:00

Sometimes that whole 'synchronicity' thing knocks me out! A few weeks ago, My daughter tells me she met George Clooney and shook his hand. The very next day, I'm on an airplane after a visit to Hobbs and then a stop in Vegas. I happen to be seated next to the director and producers' of Clooney's next film which was about to start filming. It's called "Up in the Air" and is about a corporate hatchet man who is on a quest to build his frequent flier miles. The day after that, my friend calls and tells me her husband was heading to Darfur with guess who?

On the flight seated next to the filmmakers, Jason Reitman told me he recently took a trip from LAX to ORD just to keep his mileage status. He bought a Chicago pizza which the TSA tried to confiscate and immediately returned home with his goal accomplished, retaining his 1K status which would have been short a few hundred miles if not for that pizza trip. Mr. Reitman is an acclaimed director "Juno" and the son of another acclaimed director, Ivan Reitman, who directed "Ghostbusters". In fact, he was wearing a Ghostbusters t-shirt on the flight. It is hard for me to believe but that film was done 25 years ago. I'm one of those movie fans who always stays for the credits. Can't wait to see this film after talking to these three gentlemen.

Bite Me!

2009-02-16T17:05:00.000-08:00

Went last week to my 'One on One' at the Apple Store and had a discussion with my teacher about my favorite website. Ted.com Ted has a conference every year that I have so longed to attend but it's a bit costly and certainly the airline business doesn't pay enough for me to attend. One of the teacher's customers had just been to the conference and she told him about Bill Gate's talk. Both my teacher Josh and I agreed that although we both love Apple products, Bill Gates has set the world on fire. Anyway, at the TED conference, he actually let loose a jar of mosquitoes into the audience. He had showed a map of the countries where malaria is a major killer and they are all poor countries. He was just trying to even the score and naturally the mosquitoes were malaria-free! Too funny and such an example of guerrilla marketing. His foundation is fighting malaria and his talk is inspiring. I have mentioned him in an earlier post when he was a passenger on one of my flights. He is good buddies with Warren Buffet, another personal favorite of mine who has advised him in his philanthropy efforts. Gotta' love people trying to make a difference!

Shoes & Stem Cells

2009-02-16T15:31:00.000-08:00

Now it may appear I'm on some sort of a shoe obsession but I don't usually notice shoes that much, unlike my pal Rebecca who claims that "Shoes make life more fun!" and has the shoes and experiences to prove it. That said, you can see that Rebecca must have influenced me because I seem to be taking more note of shoes these days! The shoes pictured here belong to a scientist that completely changed my image of the scientific community. I was commuting to work on a 6am flight. Didn't have to work until that night but flying space available, didn't want to chance a later flight. Had no makeup on and flat shoes and as luck would have it, got seated in first class next to the owner of these incredibly stylish shoes. This picture which I asked him to send me, does not do them justice. The gentleman, Chris Airrless; is a brilliant Phd and the head of CA Stem Cell . He is also a flight instructor, and bears a slight resemblance to the motivational guru, James Ray. (James, you could take some fashion advice from Mr. Stem Cell.) He was so charming and said he thought me a female counterpart to Sir Richard Branson. Obviously, the man can "talk the talk" as far as women goes and what I admired even more about him was the high regard with which he spoke of his wife. (Ladies, you knew a man like this would be married!) His wife is a blogger and I suspect might have influenced him in his clothing selection. His shirt also did not fit the culture, I have come to picture of your typical scientist. The potential in Stem cells provide hope to those with ALS, SMA and cardiovascular disease. To top it off, an article about his company was published that day on the front page of my hometown newspaper, The Orange County Register. My close friend, Allison and I were journalism students in high school and have that newspaper on a pedestal in our hearts.

Cowgirl Airplane Cupholder

2009-02-13T11:45:00.000-08:00

Creative genius with huge style points given to this passenger for her water bottle holder! Turbulence! Not a problem since you can stabilize the boots with your feet. For those of you with embarrassing foot odor ( you know who you are), I recommend some thick socks if you're going to give this a go. That was not the case for this beautiful Oklahoma cowgirl who had just visited California for the first time. Met her on a flight from San Diego to Dallas. She had obviously had a very special time with her sweetheart who sadly was being deployed to Iraq.

There is always someone who doesn't pay attention to the safety demonstration.

2009-01-23T06:08:00.000-08:00

One of my flying partner's from our heydays' at the long gone Hawaii Express sent me this photo which has been bouncing around the internet. The successful ditching of USAir's flight into the Hudson River made anyone who has ever been a part of the flight attendant profession so proud. While our job has it's share of mundane tasks, we all have the training and have proved ourselves in plenty of practice scenarios so we are ready to conduct an evacuation should the need arise during any takeoff or landing. Kudos to FA's Sheila Dail, Doreen Welsh and Donna Dent for directing a textbook perfect event and of course the expert piloting skills of Capt Sully and FO Jeff Skiles for making it possible for there to be an intact aircraft to get out of in the first place.

"Life is Like a Roll of Toilet Paper."

2009-01-01T16:09:00.000-08:00

"The closer you get to the end, the faster it goes! says a friend from my inner circle in his best Forest Gump voice. Here we are ripping off another sheet and what I now know for sure is each moment must be relished. Got to get it right in life because don't want to waste time on retakes. Make only new mistakes and take big smart risks to eliminate regrets. Life truly is a fabulous adventure. Make this year count.

Legacy Airlines Offers Selected Passengers the Ultimate Spa Experience!

2008-07-20T16:38:00.000-07:00

It seems the only airline stories one hears these days are those of miserable service and higher costs for everything. My personal experience contrasts with those tales of woe. At Legasy, I have pampered and been pampered with Fijian coconut oil skin treatments. Here's how you can live the high life! You need to bring from home: 1 small vial of coconut oil (up to 3 ounces are allowed as carry-on) , and 2 plastic bags (recycled from the grocery store). When offered an inflight beverage, ask for a packet of sugar and you are ready to begin.

Revel in the envy of your seat partners as you apply the fragrant oil to your palms followed by the sugar packet. Rubbing your hands together creates a wonderful exfoliate scrub and the smell is great for masking stale airplane odors. Place your hands in the plastic bags for 10 min. Follow up by a trip to the lavatory and wash your hands with warm water. Be sure and allow enough time before the fasten seat belt sign is turned on in order to complete the task.

Where Else But in Hobbs?

2008-06-23T13:27:00.000-07:00

Earlier in the year, I took this picture of NMJC found in lovely Hobbs, New Mexico. There are not many who would call Hobbs a lovely place...even the Hobbs natives. It is a grassland area, decorated liberally with oil pump jacks. Often, there is the smell of oil in the air, air that is frequently filled with dust. My view of Hobbs is admittedly rose colored due to my personal experiences such as one on this very campus. The campus is nicely landscaped and has a perimeter road of exactly one mile, perfect for running. My friend Marty had just moved to town and we decided to go for a walk with her Chocolate Labrador Retriever, Snickers. I suggested we go to the NMJC campus. We walked through the campus admiring the plantings and are approached by security. "Busted!" I mutter to Marty figuring dogs and non students are probably not welcome. "Hi officer!" we say and explain we definitely pick up after the dog and got quite a different response than expected. Officer JJ inquired about us and said he would be happy to give us a tour. He said the dog had to remain outside but the computer center was open to us. The President of the school encouraged citizens to use the facilities since "their tax dollars helped provide them". It is very state of the art and since that time have attended an event at the other college in town "The College of the Southwest". Marty & I met the President of that school and were equally impressed with the public accessibility and the commitment to higher education afforded the Hobbsans.

SHOW YOUR MOVIE STAR QUALITY! Your Treehugger Picture Is Past Due!

2008-04-22T22:25:00.000-07:00

Meet Derry and Marty Leafe. They are integral members of my green team and we've been working to turn the "Almost oneredpaperclip house" into a green paperclip. Lots of work has been done including recycled insulation,a water saving commode, energy star appliances and oh so much more! An earth day open house was planned but our ecotrain has had a major derailment. Due to forces beyond our control, the green dreamer team may be returning to the OC where it's easier to be green without going into the red. Also, the website, askgreengirl.com is still under contruction. Do not fear or Be very afraid! It will happen and photos of you hugging a tree are needed for the launch of that site. So...support your local greenovators and send your shots. If you do not, Demi will be forced to show up and pull a paparazzi on you!

Hobbs Flashbacks: Amelia Earhart Comes to Town! circa 1928

2008-02-19T03:19:00.001-08:00

Amelia Earhart was flying on her famed transcontinental flight and due to the open air cockpit, lost her map as it was blown from it's safety pinned location on the knee of her trousers. Originally headed for Pecos, TX; she lost her bearings and followed a road leading to a cluster of houses built around an oil well. This was the small boom town of Hobbs and she managed to land on Main Street. The people of Hobbs, true to their welcoming nature, took her in and gave her food and shelter. Today, if you mention the town of Hobbs to most pilots, they are familiar with it's location because there is a VOR (VHF Omni-Directional Range) located there, that aids in aircraft radio navigation. Back in the day that Amelia flew, that wasn't available and the area was mile after mile of grassland and provided a much greater challenge with a compass and dead reckoning as her primary tools. Read more about Amelia's experience in Hobbs at: www.hobbshistory.com, an active link is above this post.

If you are visiting Hobbs today, try soaring! Hobbs is a major mecca for soaring enthusiasts and the proud home of the Soaring Society of America! A modern day aviator of the soaring variety, Joann Shaw holds the women's free distance record of 344.4 miles.

Announcing: The Almost ONE RED PAPERCLIP House turned GREEN!

2008-01-31T21:30:00.000-08:00

Unless you live under a rock, it's hard to have missed the trend that is sweeping the planet, changing the policies and practices of entire industries. Green is in and it has come to the heart of Hobbs. The house which was purchased on Ebay a couple of years ago and passed over by Kyle MacDonald of www.oneredpaperclip.com is being morphed into a concept house of green ideas and technologies. Call Demi a treehugger if you will but even if you aren't a zealot, it is difficult to argue with the potential. Demi joined the USGBC last year and has been hitting the books . She has assembled a green team and they are making it happen! Extra special kudos to her mentor Jan McAdams of The McAdams Group for her suggestions and contacts. Check her out at www.fundinggreenbuildings.com . Stay tuned for the upcoming launch of Demi's new website Askgreengirl.com which will have videos showing cost effective renovations that are also health protective and environmentally low impact.

The Art of Travel

2008-01-27T09:37:00.000-08:00

Pictured above is a cockpit view on approach into Las Vegas of Red Rock National Park (photo by FO Wheels Bauder). There are often beautiful sights while inflight but let's get real about other parts of the experience. The conditions that surround us when traveling can be trying at best. In an airplane cabin, the only humidity present is that which comes from bodily respiration. Space is confined and our bodies are subject to forces and pressures that create added stress on even the most healthy. Add to this the fact the environment has so many factors out of our control from weather and mechanical factors to the mix of individuals that invade our personal space.

On a recent flight, I met Bert Snow who is the founder of a business called 10,000 Feet. Learn more at:www.tenthousandfeet.com The slogan on his business card says "Perspective changes everything". Profound, eh?

On the top of a mountain or when immersed in nature's surroundings of all types, we are reminded of what is important in life and that we are mere mortals. As the website mentions, when below you can not see what is above but when above you can see below and when you descend, you can remember what you saw. Those peak experiences we gain while traveling are also why we put ourselves through some of the torture!

Often a passenger myself, I use my mind to affect my experience. When I start feeling claustrophobic while stuck in a center seat, I think cozy. When the temperture is too hot and we are in the sterile cockpit stage of flight, I remember times I have paid for the spa experience of sweating in a Finnish sauna. I'll remark to my seat companions "Too bad they can't crank up the heat so we can have the full spa experience". Our minds are powerful and while we can sometimes change some conditions, when it's not possible, changing our mental outlook can be an effective tool.

Gassy is a part of Legasy

2008-01-23T05:38:00.000-08:00

For the past year, I have flown out of the Las Vegas base for Gassy. It is a lower cost (all coach) part of the larger operation of Legacy Airlines. Flight attendants sometimes refer to the passengers as "gassy people". I have to let you in on a secret. The passengers are no more gassy than some of the flight attendants. I flew with a guy who would pass out water but said he had to go "crop dusting." So if you didn't have enough to worry about when aloft, add something else to your list.

I only have one trip left in the Gassy operation since I've transferred to the San Francisco domicile. This will enable me to fly International once again and fulfill my dream of actually living in Hobbs! It's a bit of a commute but not that uncommon.

(Update as of June 5, 2011...that gassy flight attendant has since retired and the entire Gassy operation no longer exists. Join me in a deep breath of relief).

"I'm a librarian for the Santa Ana Public Library."

2007-12-12T03:03:00.000-08:00

That is what my evil twin used to answer when asked where she worked. In her youth, she wasn't comfortable with the stereotypes and line of questioning that followed the truth. It's amazing the difference a few decades can make. She no longer cares so much about what other people think. Our mom Sparky would have asked "Who gives a rat's ****?" and she had the right idea. Years ago, that twin actually carried on this librarian hoax for 6 months with what was to become a most life changing relationship. It was a case of "when two personalities meet and there is a reaction, both are transformed". Having actually spent a lot of time in the Santa Ana Public Library, it was an easy con to pull off. She's always been a fan of librarians who Stewart Brand referred to as subversive because they share all kinds of information. Their image is every bit as inaccurate as the one of flight attendants.

Speaking of books, I'm always hauling a few around. Since I have to hoist my own bag sometimes multiple times a day, they contribute to a heavy load. Passing through O'Hare in the concourse between terminals, I saw this ad which I had to photograph. It reminded me of that stereotype of librarians which is so wrong. Seems like a cool product and I know Amazon makes a similar product called the Kindle which they have advertised on my blog. It is actually possible to own one of these devices and carry 200 books and still not have to check your bag! Amazing! You know the technology will only improve. You can also subscribe to several newspapers and access all the information on this machine. I must admit I like the feel of a real newspaper or book but as these devices become closer to replicating an actual book or paper, it seems like they may change the face of publishing.

Legacy Airlines Flight Attendants Way Hotter Than Virgin American Super Models!

2007-12-03T08:20:00.000-08:00

Richard Branson, my dander is fired up! So you hired supermodels for an inflight fashion show. What a PR gimmick! Many non-airline bloggers are so impressed dissing the "legacy carriers" for their lack of sex appeal. I've seen your billboards in London and Sydney that compare me and my fellow flight attendants to grandmas! You would have an age discrimination lawsuit if you tried that one in this country. There are plenty of HOT babes that are actually providing service and security in our aisles. This picture is proof! What do you know? I'm sure you only fly on Virgin , a private jet or one of your hot air balloons.

HELP!!! Hollywood Calls On A Former Flight Attendant's Classroom!

2007-11-17T20:14:00.000-08:00

Paramount Pictures is about to release a new film based on the best selling novel, "The Kiterunner" by Khaled Hosseini. They are holding a classroom competition which requires adding your email to join the online club. A friend of this blog (educator, artist and former flight attendant) is currently the team captain in the #1 spot. The "Showgirl Demi" photo on the left sidebar is her contribution and it would be much appreciated if any of you readers would join her club and help keep her classroom in the top spot! Click on the link at the top of this blog (just above the date Nov 17) that says "Reading Runners" and you can help out this Las Vegas classroom. If you would like to read this outstanding novel, it is available from the Amazon link on the sidebar.

Thank you and GO READING RUNNERS!!!

Update on 1-1-09

My friend has a new website and her project revenues are donated to help save Orangutans. She has talent and is working to benefit a great cause. I have replaced the club website with her personal one of http://www.rebeccareeder.com Check it out!

Airplane Flashbacks: "You have something on your nose."

2007-11-02T12:51:00.000-07:00

Revealed here is a self portrait that leaves nothing to the imagination. It is a disgusting vision, that is certain. You may wonder why a woman would want to project such an image and how she has been able to maintain employment when you learn she has been seen in uniform wearing a similar decoration on her nose.

It is actually a therapeutic technique I have developed known as "Booger Therapy". I have used this effectively with males of all ages who are fearsome fliers. The booger is actually a piece of lime. Sometimes, I'll fall back on it out of boredom (mine or passengers) because it always causes somewhat of an uproar. Those that get the biggest kick out of this are boys in the age range of 5 to 12. I'll show them the trick and let them spring it on the unsuspecting.

There was once a precocious boy of about 10, traveling with his mother in first class to Maui. He was not having a good flight,so I showed him the joke. I asked the boy if he was going to try it on his mother. His reply "It would be a lot funnier if you did it." I thought the better of it but he would not let up. Toward the end of the flight I relented and when they left the mother said it was the best flight she ever had because her son had such a fun time.
DISCLAIMER: If any of my readers are probationary flight attendants, I would wait until you are on the line for 6 months before you attempt it because it is certainly not management sanctioned.

Over many years, I have conducted a study using the lime booger. Flight attendants, who are not lime-booger savvy will say "You have something on your nose" to warn you not to walk out in the aisle. When I have visited the cockpit, male pilots will say NOTHING! Female pilots will usually warn me using the subtle "something on the nose" approach but if all the pilots are men, not a word! I have asked them the reason and they usually clam up. Never have been able to understand the reason for this.

Update as of June 2011... Booger therapy does not convey a professional image of authority that is needed in today's world so it was grounded some time ago. You may see it reappear in some earthbound restaurant locations.

HOBBS COULD HAVE BEEN A CONTENDER!

2007-11-01T13:10:00.000-07:00

In the trading game of oneredpaperclip, which became an internet sensation, Hobbs lost out to a small Canadian town of Kipling. There is no doubt in my mind that the folks of Hobbs would have rallied in some kind of similiar competition had the backstory been public knowledge. When the offer was first presented to Kyle, he did not immediately respond so I contacted Stone Phillips of NBC, who had interviewed Kyle about the game. It was then that I discovered the Hobbs house was one of several offers and Kyle was taking time attempting to sort out everything. A lot of people became inspired by the simple and fun story. Now Kyle is the author of a book and is on tour. I am hopeful he will visit our town and see what he passed up!

The Offer: One Two Bedroom House for One Movie Role

2007-07-13T21:43:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Hobbs, New Mexico, site of the Lea County Cowboy Museum
and your new home, if you accept my offer...Today, the city of Hobbs
unveiled the city's new slogan, "It All Happens Here," so apparently,
it does all happen here.

In trade for "One Movie Role", you will receive the free and clear deed
to "One 2 Bedroom House" in Hobbs, New Mexico.

The house, which is undergoing renovation in the heart of Hobbs, is on
S. Dalmont St. It's a diamond (not quite yet out of the rough) that is
only 15 minutes from Lea County Airport served by Mesa Airlines. Lea
County Airport will begin complete renovation in October of this year.

The people here are Hobbs greatest asset. Having traveled worldwide in
my job as a flight attendant, I can honestly say I have not encountered
a kinder, more welcoming and civic-minded group of folks than the
Hobbsans.

I acquired "One 2 Bedroom House" when I was looking for an affordable
yet desirable community in which to relocate. The airline I have been
employed by for 21 years, declared bankruptcy and my pension was lost.

Recently having been inspired by a library book; 'Life 2.0' by Rich
Karlgaard, I was seeking a community that matched the parameters
mentioned by the author but undiscovered by most of the world. Hobbs is
clearly a growing community with strong employment and in the midst of
a street beautification project 2 blocks from "One 2 bedroom House".

An aficionado of Ebay, I discovered the house and community when it was
listed for sale by a bail bondsman from Carlsbad, New Mexico. I talked
to him about the circumstance since I was not entirely comfortable with
the situation. He allayed my fears and as the winning bidder, my
friends now call me the land baroness. They have suggested I form an
alliance with Donald Trump.

As a subscriber to the local newspaper, the Hobbs News Sun, I read of
the community's efforts to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. I
became acquainted with one of the community's volunteers, who
generously shared her contacts with me and put me in touch with other
local citizens who have been so helpful, even though I am a complete
outsider.

Although I am emotionally attached to this community, my airline has
now emerged from bankruptcy and since I still enjoy my job, the timing
for my relocation is no longer imminent. While on a layover in Sydney,
Australia, I learned of Kyle MacDonald and his creative trading of "One
Red Paperclip" so I considered the possibility of my house in Hobbs
fulfilling Kyle MacDonald's ultimate quest, should the right trade be
ventured.

"One Movie Role" will go to a deserving young woman (who happens to be
my daughter) named Jillian "Jillz" Trevors. Since at least the age of
5, she has declared her intention to have a life on the silver screen.
She has performed and taken various classes for the last 12 years. As
her mother, I have expressed concerns about the down side to this dream
but it is clearly her passion. I trust her level of maturity and have
heard how tough it is to get a break in the movie business.

Acceptance of this offer will rescue "Jillz" from relocation (when not
at school) to Hobbs. Her other true love, besides acting, is for Julian
"Julz". They were high school sweethearts and now attend college
together in Santa Barbara. Julz' only passion greater than his love of
Jillz, is for surfing and Hobbs is a long way from the ocean.

Just for clarification, the name Demi Kutcher is an identity I used for
an Academy Awards themed party. Everyone was supposed to impersonate a
celebrity and I chose Demi since passengers sometimes tell me I bear a
striking resemblance to Demi Moore. It could be that the lights were
low or the comments motivated in an effort to receive a free drink.
Just for the record, I am a HUGE fan of Corbin Bernsen.
________________________________________________________________________

The Saga, Part 2: The Layover in Sydney That Resulted In An Obsession With A Small Metal Office Supply

2007-06-28T09:44:00.000-07:00

Here is a picture taken out the window of Door 2R of a 747-400 by flight attendant Robert Gallant of beautiful Sydney, one of the world's grand cities.

About a year and a half ago, I was in a hotel room in Sydney. It was early morning and I turned on the television and was watching the Australian version of the Today show. Kyle MacDonald was being interviewed and spoke of his intention to trade a red paperclip for bigger and better things until he eventually traded up to a house. His first trade was for a fish pen and at the time of the interview, he was up to a snowmobile. It occured to me that I could fulfill his dream. I started following his blog, oneredpaperclip.com and became hooked by the sheer fun of the crazy idea. There were lots of skeptics about Kyle's ability to accomplish the task. I was never one of them and was poised to offer up my Ebay house in Hobbs, NM if the right trade was offered. When I heard about a movie role, paid and credited complete with a SAG card; I knew it was something worth consideration. In spite of using a movie star alias, I personally do not aspire to such fame. My daughter has more talent and ambition in that area but when I presented the idea to her, she thought it might be percieved as paying for a role and she was skeptical. When we had a conversation with Kyle, she had a change of heart. He told us he wanted to make sure whoever got the role had a sincere interest. He announced that he wanted to complete the trade within one year. So 2 weeks before that year was up, I made the following offer which you can read in the next post.

The Saga, Part 1: "How Did You End Up In Hobbs?"

2007-06-27T20:19:00.000-07:00

This is the question I am asked everytime I meet someone new. The answer is that I bought a house on Ebay that was located here. A listing was posted by a bailbondsman from Carlsbad and having never heard of an entire house for sale for $27,500, it seemed like a bargain. I searched on the internet and found that there were plans for a casino and racetrack and I decided to go for it and put in my bid. It was 2 years ago when I first drove to Hobbs to inspect my purchase. A tiny bit of buyer's remorse sat in as I stepped through a missing window and first toured the home. That remorse faded away and I've met the most welcoming group of people that live in this town. Even so, at one point, I thought I may have gotten in over my head since there are a lot of needed repairs and not as much available time as I would like to devote to the project. A opportunity nearly changed all that...

Airplane Flashbacks: DO YOU HAVE A FORBES MAGAZINE?

2007-06-04T15:04:00.000-07:00

Flying out of Chicago (ORD) as a reserve, sometime in the mid 80's, I was on a 727 working a Coach aisle position to Lincoln, Nebraska. We served meals on domestic flights in those days and the service was finished. I was securing the galley in preparation for landing. A call light illuminates and I make my way to seat 15D where a gentleman asks me "Do you have a Forbes magazine?" (Before it was determined that a lot of jet fuel could be saved by removing them due to the weight, we used to have a selection of magazines.) I grabbed a Forbes and returned to the passenger. He said "Look at the cover". I asked "What about the cover?" Pictured was Bill Gates. "Look at Mr. 15C". In 15C, was a sleeping Bill Gates with his mouth wide open and body sprawled, contorted in the space. I could not contain myself and broke into a gut wrenching laugh along with everyone around. Mr. Gates slept soundly through the commotion. Mr. 15C said "Just wanted to see the look on your face!". I asked him why they were flying Coach and he told me it was the company policy and they always flew coach.

CALLING ALL PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE MARATHONERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD! Impersonate Elvis or Get Hitched or just Groove to the Blue Man Group!

2007-05-29T08:54:00.000-07:00

DECEMBER 2, 2007 is the date for the next Las Vegas Marathon which means it's time to get off our bums and get the lead out! If you've ever wanted to run a marathon or if you've run several, the Vegas one is different. No matter where you live,if you start now, just follow a training plan and you can do it. There's now a half and a full to suit your preference. Only runners are allowed on the famous Vegas strip that morning and it is a wild & crazy party you won't have a hangover from!

It's a good thing to join a group because once a week, you can do a long run with coaching, in preparation for the big day. If you're local, you can join the Las Vegas Roadrunners who meet on Sunday mornings at the strip mall at the corner of Stephanie & American Pacific. Pictured above are a just a few of the people you can meet. Photos from left to right and top to bottom are: Dr. Hill, the medical director;Pam Hall, LV track club newsletter editor;Shelley Hovaniec and Lil' Bit (who will do the shorter training runs);Betty Cook, mega-athlete; Amanda Wing, moved from Maine and now training for her 2ND marathon;Reverend Bill Peterson,age 64 marathoner who did the marriage ceremony at mile 5 in 2005 and Demi (she told him if she ever finds the man of her dreams who can go the distance, wants to get married at the marathon); Sista Social, glamorous runner who embodies the spirit of LV(check out those medals!)

As the "rockstar"leader of the pack, Tim Kelly (bottom photo) says "We are not just a bunch of skinny whippets. We come in all shapes and sizes". Where can you experience this? Only in Vegas,baby!

Airplane Flashbacks: Hulk Hogan Bubblebath

2007-05-17T08:50:00.000-07:00

In the good ole' days of aviation, before blogs, cellphones and a flight attendant's need to be an adept Kung Fu Fighter, I was boarding a flight from PHL to LAX. It was a 767 and I was the greeter and it was my job to create a welcoming impression and direct passengers to their seats. Life was much simpler then. There may have been a few problems to diffuse or an occasional medical issue to deal with but it was a more carefree time. It may have been March or thereabouts.

That holiday season (before Xmas was politically incorrect), I found the coolest present to give my girlfriends at Sav-on Drug Store in SoCal. On a display shelf with bronzed biceps and Wrestlemania belt was a plastic replica of Hulk Hogan containing bubble bath. Wouldn't have been happier with a gold Oscar! Swooped up several and kept one for myself.

Back to Philadelphia and the agent is almost ready to shut the door. A final passenger is sprinting up the jetway. My mouth falls open. Can it be? Hulk Hogan?
Yes! Clad in Snakeskin pants, a headband, and straight from Wrestlemania.

Let's get something straight here. I have met a lot of celebrities and most of the time, to respect their right to have some normalcy in their life, I treat them with no special deference except to protect their privacy and keep them from unwanted attention.

I open my mouth and say "Hulk!!! I just gave your bubblebath to all my girlfriends!
He replied, "Bubblebath? I didn't know I had bubblebath. I have sheets and underwear but I didn't know about the bubblebath."

We take off and I'm working first class aisle. Services are finished. It is a late night flight. I had just perfected a practical joke I call "the cup trick". I would place a plastic glass under my armpit and crunch it while twisting my neck. Kids loved it but it wouldn't work in today's environment! Anyway, Hulk enters the lavatory and I don't know what possessed me but...when he comes out, I am poised with my cup and ask him "You're an athlete. Do you know any good exercises for stiff necks? I crunch the cup while twisting my neck and then bust out laughing. He calmly says in his deep voice "You are too much" and takes his seat. He is definitely a good sport and made my plastic bubblebath even more valuable to me!

1971 Airstream Sovereign Land Yacht (International Model) Docks in Hobbs!

2007-05-16T15:01:00.000-07:00

As a child, my parents had friends who caravanned the world in their Airstream. Giant cranes would actually lift the trailer aboard ships and the couple would travel with other Airstreamer's to exotic locations all over the world. Their slide shows sparked my personal desire to travel internationally. While I've been privileged to do so in 4 and 5 star hotels (one of my great airline benefits), I have always loved Airstreams. My Hobbs house is still a work in progress, so thanks again to the power of Ebay and my vision board, this well-traveled model is now at home and my home in Hobbs. This particular trailer has quite a history and could write a book if it were human.

We will miss you, Richard Jeni!

2007-04-08T14:26:00.000-07:00

Depression claimed the life of Richard Jeni on March 10th.

A memorial fund has been started on his website @ www.richardjeni.com

Thank you Richard, for all the memorable moments, great comedy and making your O.C. "groupies" feel so special. We love you and will never forget you.

THE STORY OF THE RICHARD JENI MOBILE

2007-02-09T13:33:00.000-08:00

Here you see a picture of my favorite car of all time, my Dodge K car.I made the decision to buy it and get rid of a late model Honda Accord (and the payments that went with it) in order to help lower my expenses. It had low miles and made it possible for me to get in a better financial position. The ownership of it turned into somewhat of a social experiment for me. It is not just a stereotype that Californians place a lot of value on the type of car one drives. My daughter would request I drop her on the corner, rather than in front of her school and I grew to love the challenge of visiting a friend in a posh "OC' neighborhood and getting out of this beauty!

One really fun evening was at the Improv in Irvine. My friend LR and I went to see the comedian Richard Jeni, right after I bought the car. He is a regular customer at my airline and my friend has volunteered as a hostess when he does comedy benefits in LA. After his show, he asked if we would give him a ride to where he was staying. Excusing myself to visit the ladie's room, I took the picture you see here (above), which was an 8x10 off the Improv wall and ran to my car and taped it on the rear window of the K car. I ran back into the Improv and said I would drive him and then drop LR back to her car. We are walking and he asks "What kind of a car are we looking for?" I said it was a specialty celebrity limo. LR had not yet seen my "new" car, either. We arrive and I announce "Here it is!" LR yells "It's a "June Cleaver" car and Richard, your face is already in it!" It was known ever after as "The RICHARDJENIMOBILE!" It is no coincidence that one of my favorite songs is the BareNaked Ladies "If I had a Million Dollars". The lyrics say "If I had a million dollars, I'd buy you a Dodge K Car!" At the time I didn't really realize how fortunate I was that I already had one, even if I didn't have a million dollars.

WARREN BUFFET HAS HIS OMAHA, DEMI HAS HER HOBBS

2007-02-09T13:11:00.000-08:00

Both Warren & Demi used to own properties in Laguna Beach, CA. They weren't exactly neighbors but Demi heard Mr. Buffet decided to sell his property. She was having a little remorse for having done the same but took some comfort in this tycoon's proclamation that the timing was right to do so. When asked why this man who could afford to live anywhere chose Omaha as his base of operations, he replied that there in other areas, there was "Over stimulation". He said in New York City, for example, he would get 15 great ideas proposed to him by noon. "All you need is one great idea in a year" and that's why Omaha suits him. I knew exactly what he meant and feel it is easier to focus on what is meaningful when there is less hustle-bustle.

DEMI & DOG ARE PACKING UP AND MOVING TO HOBBS!

2007-01-31T19:51:00.000-08:00

The decision has been made. After a fun-filled road trip, Demi has decided to leave Vegas behind and explore the opportunities to be found in the Land of Enchantment! After visiting the Lea County museum, she bought a copy of a book "The Grandma Hobbs Affair , Remembering the Love Affair Between A Little Old Lady and Her City." It put her over the top since she is also in love with the place and eventually may be a little old lady there. The book speaks of how Grandma Hobbs loved the "boomtown" of Hobbs and could see the future and believed it would yield much opportunity. Demi feels the same way and wants to be a part of the upcoming action.

DEMI GETS BOTH A LIBRARY CARD & A PLAYER'S CARD!

2007-01-27T20:35:00.001-08:00

Pictured here is Joyce of the Zia Park Casino & Racetrack in Hobbs, New Mexico with a beaming Demi after she presented her with a player's card. Referring to the previous post of Dec 5, Demi risks being called a hypocrite after blogging about the evils of gambling!

Earlier in the day, Demi was nearly denied a library card from the Hobbs Public library. The application process for the library included a utility bill and ID which was not sufficient. A local reference was also a requirement! Demi was tempted to try & use her celebrity status but it was not a sure thing. She managed to find a local's #. Demi was overheard commenting that Hobbs has the greatest respect for books of all her libraries she holds cards from; Las Vegas, Newport Beach, Co. of Orange and Mason Co.

SARAN WRAP PRANK SPREADS TO NEW MEXICO!

2007-01-25T20:46:00.000-08:00

As predicted, New Mexico appears to be the next state to have vehicles wrapped with plastic wrap. This truck parked at the Zia Park Casino & Racetrack was a victim of the disturbing trend. On a day when the temperture was only 20 degrees faranheit, this question is raised; "Who in their right mind would brave such wintery conditions for a practical joke?

SARAN WRAP A JAGUAR!

2007-01-13T13:13:00.000-08:00

As predicted, the trend mentioned in the last post has migrated east. First stop is near Las Vegas where you are the first to view this phenomonen or evidence, depending on your world view. Where will it emerge next?

SARAN WRAP A MERCEDES & MISS THE OC MARATHON!

2007-01-08T01:26:00.000-08:00

Southern California has always been a leader when it comes to trends. The latest was spotted by daughter Jillz at Newport Beach's Fashion Island. She reports seeing a vehicle completely wrapped in plastic wrap. Consider the beauty of this prank! No damage to the car but one is unable to even open the door. Since I was in town for the OC marathon, I visited a valet at the mall and he agreed to allow me to wrap a car for a photo op. His good judgment prevailed by the time I returned with the roll and he changed his mind. Didn't want to be in the OC Jail and risk missing the marathon so I repressed the urge.

It is expected that this trend will be spreading across the country, probably first to Las Vegas followed by New Mexico. To quote a pilot friend, "What's the fastest way to spread any news? TELEGRAPH! TELEPHONE! TELL A FLIGHT ATTENDANT!" Because of the "jumpseat wireless", you may see it in your own community before I get around to accomplishing the task and posting the picture.

Pictured here are a trio of Orange County marathon (5K) participants. Woman on the far left (J.P.) set a personal record, "bad ass" in the middle was surprised by her time and D.K. on the right remarked that this 5K (which is the last 3.1 of the 26.2 event) felt as difficult this year as last year when she did the entire distance.

Elvis Live at the Las Vegas Marathon 2006!

2006-12-13T10:11:00.000-08:00

Pictured is but one of the "Elvi" runners from this years LV marathon. Because I tripped while training on a downhill course, I chose to volunteer this year, working the info booth at the Expo and serving waters at mile 21. It gave me a different perspective.

At the info booth, I was surprised to discover a half marathoner who is actually blind and needed to know what to expect as far as directional markers. Turns out they were only visual and I suggested she ask another runner of her same pace to tell her when the point was reached. There are so many different stories and it is inspiring to realize how determination can conquer what seems to be a disability. From the participants in wheelchairs, those that that prevail over heart conditions and missing limbs or cancer to the "average" person, everyone has there own challenge and reason for wanting to go that formidable distance.

Reinforces the famous line "If you believe you can or you can't, either way, you're right". The overwhelming and powerful energy you can feel are thousands of people WHO BELIEVE THEY CAN. That is what keeps me running and is the reason that I intend keep going as long as I can still move. It is nothing short of a religious experience and seeps into other parts of ones life.

This is kind of serious stuff but ENTER THE "ELVI"! The beauty of them and the running showgirls and the other craziness is that it can also just be a ton of light hearted fun. We all need some light hearted fun and the LV marathon has no shortage!

My "layover" in Sin City

2006-12-05T09:20:00.000-08:00

Las Vegas has always been a place I've avoided. I have associated it with smoking, heavy drinking and gambling. It pains me to imagine people putting their families at risk by gambling away their grocery money and since my mom died of smoking related causes, it's just not for me, I thought. When I was looking to take flight from California to be able to better live within my means, settling in Las Vegas didn't cross my mind. However, a dear friend changed all that with a phone call. She told me she had a neighbor selling and I should check it out. Someone asked the question "Does Disneyland impact your daily living in Orange County?" The answer was the same...for residents, it's most often a place you frequent when you have visitors. I made the move a year ago and have changed my attitude.

About 6 months before my Vegas condo purchase, I read in the OC Register about a training program for the OC marathon. I had always wanted to do a marathon and had tried years ago to train on my own but got injured and never did one. I signed up for Coach Bill Sumner's program, which taught me injury avoidance and offered group support, which made all the difference. My Vegas friend sent me an email about the Las Vegas marathon but since it was a full month before the OC event, I dismissed it. I was only up to 16 miles at the time and didn't see how it was possible. At the OC (actually Corona Del Mar High School) training site, a couple of runners were talking about their plans for the Vegas marathon. I asked them how they could manage it and they explained that our group's long run would be up to 20 miles by then and they just intended to walk the last 6, if they were too tired. These gals had had several marathons under their belt but I still had never done one.

I drove from OC to Vegas 2 weeks prior to the LV marathon and saw the giant digital billboard of the Mandalay Bay promoting the run. It was very inspiring but between flying trips, preparing the new place and keeping up with my daughter Jillz and our animal & plant menagerie, it didn't seem manageable. I went running while in Vegas and it was beautiful and the weather at that time was a lot like OC in late Nov, around 60 degrees F.

Fast forward to a few days before the event and I made plans for Jillz to come to Vegas to see our condo for the 1st time. I decided (while In OC) to enter the marathon with the attitude I could always drop out. I entered online @ www.lvmarathon.com I was up to 18 miles as my longest run. I drove to Vegas and was shocked that the temperture had dropped to 31 degrees with the winds. Dressed totally inappropriately, Jillz dropped me off at 5am. It was surreal. Coming down in the elevator of the Mandalay Bay were partyers just leaving the casino. Going up the elevator were scores of runners (some dressed as Elvis or showgirls). Who were the sanest? I'm still not sure. To my own disbelief, I finished with the help of the 2 OC runners (LS & CC) who passed me at about mile 22 and offered encouraging words which helped pulled me along. Anyone who has done that 1st marathon knows what an exhilarating, life changing experience it is for the mind although my body was somewhat numb from the cold!

Flickr

2006-12-02T15:53:00.001-08:00

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

My Most Heartfelt Apology to Demi Moore

2006-12-02T15:01:00.000-08:00

I have no delusions or desire to be anyone other than the real me but I would like to minimize the likelyhood of following the path of the author of "Diary of a Fired Flight Attendant". If I seem a little paranoid, there is a basis for it. That said, I have a compulsion to surge forward no matter what the outcome. My identity as Demi Kutcher came from an OC party celebrating last year's Oscar awards. The guests had to come as a celebrity and the invite was from Evite.com . I wanted to respond with an email address that would fit the theme. Although my appearance is probably closer to that of Angelica Huston, her name was not available so i don't have to apologize to her. Pictured in this photo, the OC versions of "Demi, Angelina Jolie, Jon Stewart and Jill St John". Was a totally fun event even though I had arrived from Sydney a few hours before.

Jillz and riley red paper clip.jpg

2006-12-02T14:47:00.001-08:00

Jillz and riley red paper clip.jpg, originally uploaded by kylemac.

Here is my daughter and her dog, Riley, sporting their their oneredpaperclip shirts. The dog has had his rabies shots but Jillz and I are rabid fans of oneredpaperclip and were delighted with the posting of her picture on the website.

2006-11-28T12:34:00.000-08:00

My love story with Hobbs began with the first kiss which was called "Buy It Now" on Ebay. It was a cross between gambling, insanity and real estate investing for dummies.
That translated into home ownership and living the American dream for a price of $27,500. Yes, I actually bought a house on ebay from a bailbondman. That was maybe part of the allure and started me on one of my craziest adventures to date. There is a lot more to the story and I'll be sharing it as time goes on.

Having lived most of my life in the expensive bubble of Orange County, California; reality dropped a bomb and my bubble was burst when my airline declared bankruptcy, dumped my pension and lowered wages which don't go that far in the OC. That is the reality of a lot of corporations today and I state this not to whine about it but to explain my motivation.

Lots of friends have suggested I pursue another career path but anyone who has ever loved the flying life, knows the seductive power of the time off, camaraderie and the ease of talking to the variety of personalities that travel in metal tubes. Travel privileges provide learning experiences for family members that can't be learned in classrooms.

As a woman with some serious committment issues and a fierce independence, I have chosen to marry adventure, rather than an individual (except once for 15 years at age 20). I have come close since then but haven't felt there has been a "match made in heaven". Blessed with a beautiful daughter, my intention was to provide her a solid home base but the truth is probably closer to that of "Auntie Mame's. She is the light of my life and is now in college providing me with an opportunity to help find creative methods of financing her education. Of course, she has grown up in "the OC" with wealthy friends and the human condition being what it is, I have learned that appearances are only that and that everyone has a "biggest problem". We are so fortunate to have our biggest be miniscule and live lives that are the polar opposites of "quiet desperation".

"Daughter Jillz" fast forwarded her high school years and acquired her diploma at 16. Scotty MacDonald of www.hitch50.com asked me if she was a "Doogie Howser" and I explained she is determined but the sort that is strongest in creativity and the traits that go with it.

Both Jillz and I find the MacDonald brothers an inspiration that our world so needs! Inspiration can not be underestimated. "Boldness has genius" and there is no lack of boldness among these guys. I have been toying with the idea of keeping a blog and Scotty's friend Fiddy suggested I "go for it" and try this blogging thing, suggesting that he too, is a amateur. NOT!!! If Fiddy was new to the process, I am certain he got the most accelerated learning method possible with www.hitch50.com .

I hereby declare my intention to the blogosphere universe to join your fray! I will be divulging some wacky, true stories which you hopefully will find entertaining. Lots of people have told me to write a book but I have become such a huge fan of this medium, I had to give it a go! More will follow in the near future but Jillz is in town from school in Santa Barbara for only one more day. She wants to use a discount coupon for Flyaway Indoor Skydiving if it can be fit in before she leaves. Carpe Diem!