Everything Tastes More Or Less Like Chicken

Adventures of Flying

2008-12-18T12:35:00.000-08:00

Getting back to Spokane after Thanksgiving break, was quite the adventure. Due to weather conditions, my plane flight was delayed for three hours. I was anxious and determined to get back to Spokane THAT NIGHT, so I actually waited the whole three hours in the Boise airport. Finally, the plane flight was officially cancelled, I had to rebook a flight for the next morning and then call my mom to come and pick me up.
The next morning, I got to the airport late and the people checking my bags, for some reason, were having a bit of a struggle, which only delayed me further. Of course, it didn't help that my luggage once again, weighed too much and I had to start pulling stuff out of my big suit case and stuffing it into my already over packed carry on. I’m sure I looked like a pathetic “inexperienced traveler” to all those who patiently waited behind me in line. After frantically yanking things out of my bag, I was still unable to reduce the remaining pound which put me over the weight limit. The man checking my luggage must have either felt some sort of compassion on my desperate state, or perhaps he became irritated by my delaying the line because he finally said “don’t worry about it, it’s good enough!” Gratefully he let me check my bag despite being over the weight limit. I had fifteen minutes to board my plane once my bags were checked, and I still had to go through security! I was quite panicked; I really didn’t want to miss my flight and have to pay for a whole other ticket! I picked up my remaining bag which looked and felt bigger than my entire body mass, and I booked it to the security checkpoint. The reason I couldn’t check my duffel bag was because it was carrying a brand new printer which I didn’t want to get broken. So, as you can imagine, I had some difficulty trying to lug that huge thing through the airport.
Knowing my luck as it were on this particular day, after running my bag though security, I was told I would have to have my bag checked by a security guard because they couldn’t identify some of the objects in my bag. I thought to myself “Oh this is just great! Now, I’m really going to miss my flight.” As I stood at the table and watched the security guard rummage through my bag, I thought to myself “good thing I didn’t pack my underwear in this bag!” I then watched the security guard pull out a brown paper bag and say “yeah, this is one of the objects we couldn’t identify.” Of course you can guess what that was, the ice my mom INSISTED on sneaking in my bag along with two chicken bakes (even after I told her not to pack the ice). Yup, that would pretty much be a “no, no” considering LIQUIDS are not allowed on the plane! The man going through my bag said, "I'm going to have to take this away” I said “I really don't care, as long as I make my plane that is leaving in less than 15 minutes!" Finally, the security guard finished the check and I booked it to my Gate. If anyone stood out like a sore thumb, it was me with my attempt at an awkward half run half walk while trying to simultaneously support the weight of my bag which was becoming increasingly heavy.
Once boarded on the plane I realized there was absolutely no way my over sized bag was going to fit in one of the cubbies. Considering it was my only choice, I very reluctantly asked the flight attendant to check my bag. I hoped my bag would somehow miraculously make it to the Spokane air terminal undamaged. My next task was to identify an empty seat on the plane. Considering the plane was almost full, I was excited when I discovered, an open outside seat. However, little did I know my excitement would be short lived. About fifteen minutes into the plane flight I discovered the mother sitting next to me was tending to her very sick little son sitting on the opposite side of her. It wasn't long before her son started throwing up. I quickly summoned the flight attendant to get the lady some paper towels. Unfortunately, the throw up episodes lasted throughout the entire rest of the plane ride. I tried to be helpful by gathering throw up bags from other passenger’s sitting around us (as of course, the lady sitting next to me had already used up all the bags in our seats. I’ll just say it was an interesting journey and you better believe the adventures didn't end upon arrival.
I went to get my bags and found the first one successfully; I then waited and waited for the second bag to arrive. I was feeling really bad at this point because all my new clothes I had just bought were in the missing bag, plus my ride had left work to pick me up and she had already waited an extra 30 minutes!
When it looked as if all the bags had been put on the carousal, I finally decided I should go to the baggage claim office. Unfortunately, the lady working in the office was very short with me. I thought to myself “excuse me, lady but the airport lost MY BAG, why are you being rude to me?” I was a bit irritated with her, although I was somehow able to hold it back. The “rude” lady took my name and number and gave me a one eight hundred number to call the next day to check if my bag had been located. As I left the office I had the thought “I should go and check the carousel one more time.” I was so relieved to find my bag hiding on the opposite end or the carousel. I’m guessing because I checked it once on the plane they must have had it in a different spot. It must have been the very last bag they put out. I was so grateful it wasn’t lost for good! Hopefully my next plane flight doesn't include so much drama. I’ll just say, one can never tell what adventures await them when flying!

Once Upon A Blind Date

2008-12-15T22:18:00.000-08:00

Over Thanksgiving break my sister in law, Holly, set me up on a blind date with a guy named Adam. Adam was staying at his mother’s house during the break. He called me and arranged everything. He told me he was going to take me to the Botanical Gardens to see all the Christmas lights, he then let me know what time he would pick me up. I gave him directions to my parent’s house and it was a done deal. After I hung up the phone with him I plugged his name and number into my cell phone just in case I needed to contact him for any reason. However, a couple hours later I realized he was coming all the way across Boise to pick me up and then we would drive all the way back the same direction, in order to get to the Botanical Gardens. I decided it would make better sense to have him pick me up from Jerek and Holly’s house (the sister –in-law) that set me up. I decided to grab my phone and make a quick phone call and suggest my “more convenient” plan to Adam. I opened my cell phone, punched my phonebook function and then clicked on Adam’s number. Sure enough, Adam answered and I said, “Hey Adam,” and then proceeded to explain my thoughts of meeting elsewhere. After explaining my idea, I waited to hear a reply. Instead, I experienced a long, very awkward silence. In fact it was so awkward; I started searching my brain and questioning everything which had just come out of my mouth. I wondered, “Did I say something wrong?” Why is he not talking? I then heard from the other end of the line; “Now what’s going on? Do you know who this is?” To which I replied “Yeah, your Adam, this is Ashley, I just talked to you a couple of hours ago about our date tonight” and then I repeated exactly what I had told him one minute earlier, just as if he didn’t hear me correctly the first time. Again, I experienced another long pause. Suddenly, it all came home to me. I was not talking to the right Adam! I was talking to the Adam from Spokane, the one in my social work program, the MARRIED ADAM!!!! I thought I would die! Talk about embarrassing! I said “Oh my goodness, Adam! I totally thought you were someone else! I have this blind date tonight . . . anyway, uh, so how is your Thanksgiving break going? I just wanted to call ya and make sure you were having an enjoyable time.” (That was my lame attempt at a quick “save”) Adam just laughed. He said, “So when do I see you next? Oh that’s right, this Thursday in class. Well, now I have some good blackmail on you!” He then finished by saying, “You’ll have to tell me how the date goes.”

To Flash or Not to Flash

2008-12-15T18:34:00.000-08:00

Within my social work program I’ve met a bunch of wonderful friends who are not of my same faith. On more than one occasion I’ve had opportunity to answer questions about the LDS church. My friend April is in my same singles ward and shares the commonality of serving a mission. One day April was talking to some of our friends from our social work program. She was answering some questions in regards to the temple. Of course the topic of “special underwear” came up. One of our friends asked April to explain a little about garments. When April was done explaining, the girl said with great excitement as if she had discovered something big; “I was wondering why you and Ashley always wear the same underwear!!!” I had a good laugh when April told me the story, and yet, on the other hand . . . HOW EMBARRESSING! I realized April and I both may not be as careful as we think. . . . Our friend, who made the comment, is the same friend who sits behind us in one of our classes. Perhaps we need to be more careful when we sit down and bend over. I believe we may be flashing and not even know it.

Finding A Match Has Proven Quite Difficult Even In The Most Deliberate Circumstances

2008-12-15T13:14:00.000-08:00

Despite my initial thought of never sharing this incident with anyone, I’ve since changed my mind as I believe it may supply a bit of entertainment for another.

Last night I went over to Sheryl’s house to spend some time with her. We had our normal “catch up” conversation. She told me about the happenings in her life and I told her mine which of course included the latest in my very NON-eventful dating scene. Sadly, the conversation on my behalf mostly consisted of discouragement and complaints as to the lack of men which I presently face in the dating world. As a result Sheryl, being the “resourceful”, “problem-solver” best friend that she is, reverted to her normal spiel which consists of major encouragement in trying to convince me to sign up for e-harmony.com, an online dating service. First of all, I’m very much opposed to online dating, for MANY reasons, but suffice to say, it’s just not for me. Therefore, I completely refuse to sign up despite Sheryl's continual persistence in trying to convince me to do so. Those of you who know Sheryl, must know my refusal was not enough. She proceeded to log onto her computer and do as she pleased . . . she began filling out a personality profile on me. I figured, my many refusals had not worked thus far, so why tell her “no” one last time? So, I just stared at her, while watching her fingers typed away on the keyboard. Pretty soon I became curious as to what it was she was putting under MY profile. I decided it may not be a bad idea to scoot my chair over so I could peer over her shoulder and watch what she was doing. After all it was MY profile. I must admit, it was a bit entertaining, watching how my best friend interpreted my personality. I observed, she was taking the whole thing very seriously as she very dutifully filled out the profile (this only made the whole thing even more comical to me). Finally, with little consciousness of my own actions, I started participating. Yes, I actually started helping Sheryl fill out my profile. As much as I hate to admit it, I was kind of enjoying it! Once we finished the lengthy questionnaire, e-harmony asks the user to select states in which they would be willing to meet people. Once again, I was not taking it seriously, so I let Sheryl do as she pleased. Sheryl first selected Idaho and a couple of surrounding states. She then hit the "submit" button and waited for the program to automatically upload all the profiles of people who would match my profile. We both waited a couple of seconds in great suspense and; . . . NOTHING came up! Sheryl said, "uh maybe we should go country wide,” she then clicked the submit button once again and, guess what? NOTHING came up for a second time! Sheryl looked at me as she tried to keep a straight face and said, "no one in the WHOLE country matches your profile." We both busted up laughing!

Sheryl had once filled out an e-harmony profile before she married Dave, so I asked her; "Did you get matches right after you submitted yours?" She looked at me and said, (while wiping away tears, from laughing so hard) “Yeah, like twelve." Once again, we were rolling! It was just too funny thinking of all the thousands of people who have completed e-harmony profiles, NONE of them match my personality profile. What are the odds? I have since learned, I’m a really hard case . . . finding a match for me may be much more difficult than I even realized! Sheryl said, "Uh, maybe we should give it some time, something might show up?" I’m not counting on it, and gratefully I really don’t care. However, there is a moral to the story; don’t try and match people up, cuz sometimes try as you might . . . . . . . it just ain’t happenin!!!!

No Legacy is so Rich as Honesty~ William Shakespeare

2008-08-22T01:04:00.000-07:00

Recently, I worked in one room along side two other male workers who discussed their "findings" at the hotel in which we all work. One co-worker had found and kept a couple of valuable pocket knifes while the other co-worker had apparently found a large sum of money, in the thousands to be specific. The co-worker who found the money told his sad tale of reluctantly turning in the money. The only security he found in his "good deed" was the fact that he was told he he would be "taken care of" as if it were a huge triumph that he had turned it in. He then spoke of their neglect in not doing anything to reward him for turning in someone else's money! He also admitted he wouldn't even have turned in the money had he not worried about being caught. I must say it is a sad day when a person demands a reward in exchange for mere honesty. May I add, a character trait which is and should always be expected of anyone. My goodness! How disappointing to witness such a mindset! I had a few words for him, but my better self said to refrain.

Encounters of a Single Sister

2008-08-10T14:05:00.000-07:00

Today at church, (Dad and Mom's ward) I was approached after church first by brother Corden who started questioning me. His inquiry a direct result of my records being read into the ward today (along with the announcement that I would only in the ward for another couple of weeks before leaving to school). It was only a couple of minutes before Brother Lister walked up and joined in only he was a little more direct and right to the point. The conversation went something like this "So you aren't married, engaged or dating?" "Well, I have a single son, you'd be perfect for him." Then brother Corden said "No I was first, she can date my son!" Needless to say they offered me entertainment, as they both jokingly vied for me, all for the sake of their single sons whom they so desperately wish to marry off. I was flattered by both invitations, but not at all interested (one man's son is divorced and quite a bit older than me and the other man's son is also quite a bit older than me and not active in the church). However, it was quite amusing as one father looked in his 60's and the other 50's and they jokingly suggested I take a good look at both of them and decide which son I would prefer to date depending on which father I deemed to be more attractive in his older age (as of course the sons would most likely follow their father's aging).

Oops, I really didn't mean that. . .

2008-08-10T14:00:00.000-07:00

The other night one of my coworkers and I were left to finish the work. As we were about done, I was finishing up cleaning a few things and I told my co-worker he could leave (because I knew he had been anxious all night to be done with work and get on to his other plans). He told me, "You are a hard worker." I didn't want to come across as being conceited so I did not respond. He must thought I didn't hear him so he repeated himself. "Did anyone tell you you are a hard worker?" This time I knew I needed to say something. Wanting to be polite I decided I would empathize with how he and his other coworker/friends must have felt after working in Catering for almost a year. I responded by saying "Well, you guys are probably just really burnt out after working here so long." He immediately burst out in laughter and it wasn't until much later when I realized why he had found occasion to laugh when I was being so empathetic. Unfortunately, it was much later when I realized to my great surprise rather than being polite, I had actually told my co-worker he was lazy! Poor guy!

Flirting With Disaster

2008-08-10T12:16:00.000-07:00

Not too long ago, I witnessed one co-worker as she very openly flirted with her young male boss whom was married. The co-worker jokingly suggested that they go to a movie together and then topped it off with saying "I won't tell if you won't tell." She then continued to make similar comments all the while taking every opportunity to stand in very close proximity to her boss as a means to further the message of her interest. The whole thing repulsed me! How sad that she was so willing to openly suggest such a thing of a man who is obviously committed to someone else. I found the whole thing to be rather upsetting. If people are going to be like that, what is the point of wearing wedding rings or taking wedding vows? Obviously, I know why for myself. . . but to them it means nothing. That frustrates me big time! I suppose it is to be expected by those who succumb to the continual false notions of mainstream Hollywood and television which portray such behavior as acceptable and even normal.