Sidelined

A 24-hour layover in the Big Apple!!! I should be out with the crew, running around Manhattan, trying new foods and drinks, watching people, seeing the sights, and trying not to get raped, mugged, or murdered after mistakenly taking a wrong turn.

What I am doing instead is working on my online resume, gathering references, and breaking down my flight time into excruciatingly precise categories between now and the first time I stepped into an airplane over 13 years ago.

I'd like to blame my discontent with my current employer. However, while it is true that the majority of our pilot group is angrier than a midget with a yo-yo, my motivation to work on airlineapps.com stems from the fact that I feel the need to do something productive and I can't do what I desperately want to do any more - Run.

Last year when I was building my mileage, I encountered shin splints. In fact, over the course of my love affair with running, I've dealt with injuries - plantar fasciitis, illiotibial band syndrome, shin splints, runner's knee..... I've had them all. A running store analyzed my gait and said, "you're a heel striker. Change your stride to more of a forefoot stride, and those problems will go away." I started with drills and eventually changed my stride. They were right - my problems went away! However, a new problem arose. I noticed that the balls of my feet felt like they were on fire after a few miles. "No problem," I thought. "My feet will get used to this new stride in time. After all, all the running forums and literature say this is a natural stride and those Kenyans who are natural athletes run BAREFOOT, for hundreds of miles, for Christ's sake!"

When I was training for the half marathon, I developed a problem in my left foot that had symptoms similar to Morton's Neuroma. It started off as an annoying numbness in the 3rd and 4th toes after about 3 miles, progressing to an electric, shooting pain with every step. When this showed up, I'd walk a few minutes, and I was able to resume running for about another 3 miles. My normal problem-solving strategy of "Ignore the problem and it will go away," didn't work in this case.

I went to a podiatrist. He did an MRI. Couldn't find a neuroma. He said, "that doesn't mean there's NOT one, it just means that if there is a neuroma, it's too small. Try ibuprofen."

Well, it feels pretty big to me. Incidentally, ibuprofen doesn't work. Lots and lots of alcohol is what works! I digress.

After the race, I took some time off. I dedicated myself into studying for captain upgrade. I didn't run a step. Know what? The problem only got worse! It got to where I couldn't walk without an explosion of shooting pain up my toes with every step. My podiatrist gave me a Cortisone shot, which made my foot "Comfortably numb" for a day. The next day? Pain was back, and it was PISSED! Now, he's recommending surgery to remove the nerve. AAAACK!!! No WAY do I want to do that! I'm afraid it might be my only option.

Mom suggested a chiropractor.

I was skeptical, but hopeful. I walked in, and Dr. Chiropractor Lady adjusted my back and made me pop in ways that hurt SO GOOD! She then took a percussive pen-shaped thingy and "adjusted" my foot. For the rest of that day..... no pain!

Such is the success of each visit, yet it always comes back. I'm told that because my foot was out of whack for so long, it will take multiple treatments. Before leaving for my 6 days of work, I went back to the Chiropractor (she was unavailable, I instead was treated by her husband, Dr. Chiropractor Man). He used his hands to adjust my foot and it "popped" in some way. It felt good at the time, but started screaming at me the moment I walked away. Why didn't I go back in and have him undo what he just did? I was running late for my commute to work, and hoped that if I ignored the problem, it would go away <wrong again>. By the time I got to the airport, every step was excruciating. I wondered if he broke something. I almost called in sick.

I will finish the recommended 10 visits with the greatest of hopes and insist on Dr. Lady as my sole foot adjuster. I will also begin the physical therapy recommended by my podiatrist. However, if the pain gets any worse, I might just take a hacksaw to the whole damned foot and instead get one of those springy prosthetic things you see amputees using to complete the Ironman.

I've put on most of the weight I lost this time last year. I can't run, I can't walk, I can't use the elliptical - and it makes me sad. I suppose I could get into biking - but I'm home about 2 nights a week if I'm lucky. I could try swimming, but I must first have the confidence to wear a swimsuit!  Honestly, I just lack motivation to do any cross training when I can't run and these are convenient, even if they are petty, excuses to not work out.

I'm hoping this is just a lesson that life needs me to learn. I'm hoping that this is just an experience I will remember when I'm finally able to run again, or even walk without pain, to use as motivation on those mornings when I am physically capable of, yet too lazy to run. I see my friends' postings on Facebook, using their fitness software, proudly announcing to the world how far or how long they've run. I feel the bittersweet emotions of simultaneously applauding and envying them, and I miss the days when I used to post the same things on my Facebook.. I miss the way people looked at me when I was drenched with sweat, wearing my dripping clothes like a badge of honor. I miss the endorphins and the feeling of accomplishment after a 10 mile run. I miss the scenery and peace of the long runs, and the achy exhaustion after tackling hills and speed drills. I miss having a butt you could bounce a quarter off of. Mostly, I miss the confidence running gave me.

I will get it back, somehow. Keep those quarters handy.

Back to finding those references for airlineapps.com.

Cleveland Rocks!

I haven't been at our company sanctioned Cleveland hotel in YEARS.

As an FO, I was based here in CLE after our company saw fit to close our sacred STL base. I made a fine home at the Crowne Plaza, and have many wonderful  memories there. I found a family there. I am currently in the process of being transferred there, because while a two hour drive to STL only to commute on Trans States to CLE to reserve is dismal, it is still a fabulous improvement over the 20 minute drive to Columbia, MO to 2 leg it through Memphis to Columbus, OH to sit reserve that I'm currently doing.

Anyway, as I've stated, I haven't been here at our CLE hotel in years. I do remember, however fuzzy, one of the most fun times of my life at this very hotel.

It was the Tuesday before the Thanksgiving Holiday, 2007. I was on a four-day trip with a fantastic crew. We fly to CLE, fly to JAX (Jacksonville, FL), and return to CLE. We were supposed to fly to Providence, RI, but never made it due to the extreme weather. I remember telling the passengers on the taxi out of the JAX airport, "wave bye-bye to Mr. Sunshine, folks.... not much of THAT where you're headed this evening." Sure enough, we get to Cleveland, and there is a blizzard!! We taxi up to the gate, there is a message from crew scheduling - we are canceled until further notice. We are to proceed to our Cleveland hotel and wait for further assignment - who knows when?

As we stroll through the airport on our way to the ground transportation area, we come upon our passengers - gathered around a gate agent as if it was a revival in southern Mississippi. Our flight attendant notices a 16 year old girl traveling alone - face all torn up in tears. "What's wrong?" she asks. The girl responds with, "I'm trying to get to Providence, RI. My flight's been canceled. I don't have any money. I don't know what to do!! I can't get a voucher because I'm a minor!" My flight attendant and I exchange glances, and she says, "We can't just leave her. Should I call my manager of inflight?" I say, "NO!!! Better to ask forgiveness than permission." We take the poor stranded passenger with us. We buy her dinner, she stays in the flight attendant's hotel room for the night. We buy her breakfast. She ends up making a flight home in time for Thanksgiving! It was a holiday miracle! We are still stuck at our Cleveland hotel for another night - with a hotel full of stranded Southwest crews and distressed passengers. A friendly smile and a wink is all it takes to earn a drink courtesy of Southwest Airlines. And the wine flowed like..... well..... wine.

It was a party I barely remember, but will never forget!!

I remember a packed bar full of our crews, Southwest crews, stranded passengers, and hotel staff. I remember having a BLAST, but little else.

God, I love this career.

I am reminded of that special week every time I come here to this special hotel. I can't wait for the stories to come, and the adventures that await!