home and away.

I find that my life is always one of two options: Extremely chaotically busy, or completely uneventful. There is never a perfect balance between the two. However, as somebody who hates the very thought of being bored, I'll happily choose the first option.  As of late, that's been my life... busy, busy, busy!  

I've been a flight attendant for 3 years now, but only recently have I truly had it all... the job, the home, the husband, the puppy. I've got everything that I could ask for, but I'm still learning how to find the perfect balance.  It's not easy going away for days at a time. When I lived in Dubai, layovers were my solace from the sandpit and I shuddered at the thought of turnaround flights that brought me right back at the end of the day. Now that I've got this little family of mine, I actually enjoy going to work and coming home to sleep. So far, that's been the extent of my job.  I've done a few flights in which I left early in the morning and returned later that afternoon or evening.  Tomorrow, that changes. My bags are packed for a few days away and I'm feeling a mixture of excitement and impending homesickness. It's a tough life, having everything that you've ever wished for.  

The last week has been a blur of flying and fun and time going by too fast for my comfort. 

On Friday, for the first time since July, it was the weekend for me! I'd bid for the long weekend off with low expectations, but managed to get every single day off. I was thrilled to have the chance to finally go camping.  We packed our stuff, buckled Niko's kennel into the car, and headed for the mountains. 

We met with Ryan's parents and aunt and uncle, and had a fantastic weekend of food (smores), campfire, and hiking. Niko absolutely loved it.  He ran up and down the mountains, burning off just enough energy to sleep much more soundly in the tent that he shared with Ryan and I.  It was a great weekend that ended too soon, much like this entire summer.  

We headed back home and I called it an early night in preparation for the next day and my return to work.  

On Tuesday I worked my first flight without a trainer... just me, as an official working crew member without being walked through every step of the flight.  It went well, and I feel far more confident now that I've got past it. A month from now, I'll have this thing down pat. It was a great day, with a couple of easy charter flights to the oilsands.  Between flights we had a 3 hour gap in Edmonton, so for the first time in my flight attendant career, I went home for lunch. That was very strange to me, but I wasn't complaining. I took my dog for a walk and had a 30 minute nap! On the drive back to the airport my stupid brain managed to convince myself that I was supposed to be back at 1:00 pm rather than 1:30 pm that I'd been thinking all along. It was 1:08 pm and I was 10 minutes away. I went into panic mode, driving a tiny bit faster than I should have, only to make it to the airport and realize that I was right the first time. I was relieved, yet annoyed that I'd endured such stress thanks to the fact that I always second guess myself.  We flew another plane full of people to work, and then back home to Edmonton. It's good to be back to the skies, but it's even better coming home!

Now, it's off to bed in preparation for another early start tomorrow.  I'm one of the few people that prefers red eyed flights, and the only one to never get them. This waking up at 4:30 am stuff makes me rethink my career every morning... until I get to work and remember how much I love my job.