What got into me?

So in sticking to New Year Resolutions, I know I may have skipped a blog. So to make up for it I will have another posted by Sunday!

This is about my other resolution... I have kept to my resolution of trying to get back into shape. As blogged before I have been doing the Jillian Michaels DVD and decided that was just not enough for me. Don't get me wrong that is a tough workout but at this point for me I need more. I get impatient when I do not see results. I know, I know it takes time to see results. I have just noticed that this body is not 20 anymore and wont snap back into shape like it once did. I use to be able to run for a week or two and things would start to feel back to normal. Now, not so much.... soooooo.....

I am starting to run 6 days a week and either yoga or my DVD's. I had done some yoga at home 2 nights ago and it was not easy. I attended a yoga flow class last night and it felt great, but still not easy. I left a little mad at myself for not keeping up with my fitness and yoga. I am definitely not as flexible as I was and the poses were/are challenging. I think I had forgotten or maybe not realized how much yoga helps.

What really made me realize how much it helps... well I think maybe this had something to do with it... was today I went for a run, 30 min was what I had planned on doing. Recently while running I have had no desire to go any further than my normal 3 miles or 30 min. I also would put off running to the very last part of my day. It was painful to think about. Today I set out to run 30 min and finished my run an hour later. It felt great! I finally got that feeling again, I enjoyed my run. Maybe it was the perfect weather, the perfect temp, the perfect surroundings, maybe it was yoga and the mindset it gives you, or maybe it was the fact that I have to get into a bathing suit in about a month. Only time will tell!

I am very excited to have this feeling of motivation back!!!

Simply Meg

Shredded?

So I have been spending 20 min a day with the lovely Jillian Michaels. In my last blog I vowed to get back in better shape. She vows that if I do her workout for 30 days straight I will be SHREDDED!!! Well so far I am 12 days in and have had a sore ass all the way to sore elbows. I thought that I was in pretty good shape..... well for running I guess. I am working muscles that might not have been worked since college... Which sad to say was a few few years ago... 

When I first bought the dvd I was in Costco. A friend of mine had been raving about Jillian so when I saw her videos I wanted them. While contemplating my purchase a woman walked up. I asked if she liked the videos and she said, " Oh my god I looked phenomenal when I went to the dominion republic!" I stepped back and looked at her, wondering.... What happened... I bought 3 of the DVDs.

So I have been doing it for 12 days and only have missed one day.... I thought that by now I would be feeling great..... I have gained weight.....the opposite of what I wanted..... How does that happen? They do say muscle weighs more than fat....geez.

So as of today I am going to run and do the workout and see how that works for me.... Keep your fingers crossed and I will def keep you posted!!!!

Resolutions

A new year brings new resolutions..... What really is a resolution? Is it something you want to become better at, is it a promise to yourself, is it some sort of bucket list for the year? Well by definition:

New Years Resolution: is a commitment that a person makes to one or more lasting personal goals, projects, or the reforming of a habit.

I want to look at it as a promise, goals, improvements, and bucket list thrown all together!

Last year was an amazing year. My resolution was that I was to put 2010 behind me and discover who I really was, simply make myself happy. Accomplished! I think that was the first resolution that lasted more than the month of January. So this year I have a few more things on my list. 

In 2012 I want to:
Get back in shape
Run and beat Oprah in a marathon
Budget better and save
Blog at least once a week
Finish my new cookbook
Not to sweat the small stuff... As Dan Blank would say, "control the controlables" - and you thought I never listened...

So not too outrageous and completely accomplishable.... Last year was awesome and I am looking to make 2012 even better.....

What a difference a year makes!!!

No Mariscos......

What a crazy, busy, yet wonderful summer so far and it is not even over yet! I have not blogged in quite sometime and I am in the process of writing about my recent trip to Costa Rica! In the mean time I have been convinced to continue to write about all the other amazing things this summer and keep you in suspense until I have finished my Costa Rica blogs!

So last month was quite the month for me. The first week I was in Sandbridge Beach, Va. Every year since I was probably 2 or 3 yrs old we have been going to the beach with the Maeyer family. During college it was a little harder to make it to the beach and especially difficult when I entered the real world and started flying. It was always such a special week and something I still do look forward to. Quite a few memories from that beach. This year was going to be fun since my whole family was going to be able to come and the entire Maeyer family would be there. I do not think Mike has been able to make it to the beach in about 6 or 7 yrs.

So I got home from work and gathered all my things. Mike and I had decided not to wait till the morning to leave so we could get an extra day in! The drive was nice and brought back even more memories. Sitting in the back seat of the jeep building car forts and drawing lines of whose side was whose. It was always fun until someone got hurt! We were getting close and all the sudden I received a text…. Hmm.. who could that be? All I saw was ONION… oh it was game on. The onion is the Sandbridge water tower and it looked like a ginormous onion. Every drive growing up there was a competition on who could spot the onion first. Mike always lost growing up! So I quickly texted back… GAME ON. He was sitting right next to me driving… It was dark out and a little bit tougher to see since the trees had grown up so much. As we came around the curve I heard Mike yell Onion Onion Onion….. damn it.. he finally won one.

We knew we were close now! That was always our sign. We ended up getting to the beach house at the same time as Jonathan and Jenine. The kids were passed out and they were taking them up to bed. As we walked in the house all you could smell was fresh cookies being baked. Pud was there behind the kitchen counter cooking away! The cookies were amazing! After some catching up it was off to bed. We wanted an early day at the beach tomorrow.

We finally made it down to the beach, it can take awhile with lots of kids and packing coolers. There was a nice sea breeze so there were no flies and the water was a perfect temperature. I was glad that we had come down early not only to get the day at the beach but to spend time with Jonathan’s kids. I had never really gotten the chance to spend time with them when not a lot of people and things were going on. By the end of the day we had caught a crab and Cassidy had shown me some new dance moves!

Over the next few days everyone finally arrived! There would be a total of 16 people staying at the house this year. I was nice and tanned and feeling completely relaxed! After numerous delicious dinners it was finally crab and shrimp night. I have never been informed by a doctor that I am allergic to shellfish. It is more of a self diagnosis but every time I am near it or if my food touches it things swell, I want to barf and get blotchy. So on crab night I always cook my own meal and the kids and well actually everyone usually eats it. This year I started cooking before anyone else was in the kitchen so I would not be in the way. I made chicken with artichokes, capers and sun dried tomatoes with pasta. Ended up being pretty good, not to toot my own horn. I will add the recipe to the blog!

 My dinner had finished cooking and I had set it aside and covered so it could not be contaminated by the poor crabs being dumped into the pot and the shrimp steaming away. Everyone was starting to gather around the table and the first round of crabs were dumped out. I was out on the porch eating with everyone else as I usually do every year. As I sat there more and more crabs were brought out and people were eating them just as fast as they were dumped. I finished my meal and went outside to call Adam. While on the phone my eyes really started to itch, badly. I would rub them and noticed my nose was becoming very stuffy. Adam and I joked about it and he wanted me to take a picture so he could see what was really going on. After more rubbing and sniffling I decided I should maybe get off the phone and get some eye drops or benadryl. When I walked in the house everyone was in shock. After a little bit of talk it was decided that I should head up to the fire department and be looked at. So my Mom and Heidi drove me up there. We walked up to the door and rang the bell. Immediately someone came to the door and took one look at me and called the EMT. They sat me down and hooked me up to an IV. They took my blood pressure and it was very high especially for me. We were advised that I head to the emergency room via ambulance. When all this talk started my chest started to feel extremely heavy and I felt as if I was about to pass out. Mom said I was slumped over in the chair and my eyes were rolling back….. I think that scared her quite a bit. They loaded me into the ambulance and off we went. I was starting to feel better on the way. They had given me medicine to stop the reaction. By the time I arrived at the hospital I felt a lot better. Just very tired. There they gave me a few more drugs, checked to make sure I was stable and sent me home.

I survived the night in case anyone was nervous and it is safe to say, yes I am allergic to shellfish. I now have to carry an Epi pen around and benedryl. I am not quite use to having it and forgot to bring it to Costa Rica. Adam was not very happy about that one and learned how to say allergic to shellfish very quickly! No mariscos allergico! Then we just returned from the beach and I had forgotten to bring it there and had a very mild reaction to Calamari. I think he reaction was, “ The two places we have been that is all about shellfish and you forget it…” Ooops.

Simply,
Meg

Stick to the "System"

I am back tracking just a little bit to catch you up on some things!

So a few days after I was reunited with my bag, it was my last day of reserve and of course I was not able to be released from work early… The weather was not the best in NY or DC so I thought there may be some cancellations but didn’t put too much thought into it.

Finally I got out of bed at my crash pad and started getting my things together. I was about to walk out the door and for some reason I decided that I wanted to put my car keys in my pocket. I figured I could get to them quicker when I get to my car in DC. I remember standing in the middle of the room and having a conversation with myself about this.

See I normally always place my keys in my purse, that is part of my “system”. For some reason not today. I guess I finally talked myself into placing my keys in the pocket of my jacket and off to the airport I walked.

I was trying to catch a flight on Delta so I made my way over to the Marine Air Terminal, known as the MAT. As I am walking up to security I see that my flight has been cancelled. I immediately turn around and race over to the US Airways Terminal. I had only 30 min before the flight took off. I head through security and see a screen that is now telling me  that this flight is also cancelled… You have got to be kidding. So I turn around and head back to the MAT  and again only having 30 min to make it. I get to the MAT and look at the screen, thank god my flight is on time. I was almost to the point of throwing some pennies if this one was cancelled. I was all worked up, but pretty motivated to get back home!

I land in DC and made my way to the car. On the bus to the parking lot I reached in my pocket for my keys...nothing…. Aw nooo… I frantically start searching through everything. Nothing. Then I start to think if I have a spare and I quickly remember that I was already using my spare. I had a little key incident in Colorado and my clicky keys are no longer programmed to my car. I am using my hide a key as the main entry into my car…. Ahhhhhh….. So I dread it but I call home… mom answers and I explain what happened and of course she is asking obvious questions… Did you look through your bag? I mean did you really look through your bag? Are you kidding me of course I did. She is not happy because now she is going to have to drive about 3 hours round trip to deal with my dumbass. Then I start thinking that she is also going to have to find my keys that are packed away in that black hole I have above the garage, tow my car to a dealership and reprogram my keys… All this would take a lot of time and a lot of money. I felt really bad.

After a minute I pull my head out of my ass and decide that I was going to head back to NY and find my keys. I was going to start with making sure I hadn't lost them on the plane I had just flown to DC in. I called some of the crew that I had known and none of them had their phones on… Ah.. So I got to the gate and asked the gate agent if the cleaning crew had found any keys. NO. So I knew I had to head back and was in for some more of my fantastic detective work!

While waiting for my flight back to NY a familiar face walks by. It was one of those people that you think that you may know or have seen before but you cant really put a finger on it.  I just knew that I had seen him before. Boarding begins and the gate agents cannot believe that I am actually heading back to NY. I get on and find a seat. Guess who sits right across the isle from me? The mystery man! But I have figured out how I know him. Are any of you top chef fans? Well it was Spike from top chef…. I couldn’t believe it. I had so many questions, so many things I wanted to talk about. Once everyone was on board I look over at him and whisper “ Hi!.... You were on top chef”. Smooth Meg real smooth. He laughs and says yes. Then we begin talking, I ask him everything about the show, cooking, you name it! Then the dreaded question of what I did and then it got real embarrassing really quick when he was wondering if I was coming or going to work.....

So I get to NY and sprint off the plane. If all goes well I can find my keys and make it on the last flight home that leaves in 45 min. I sprint to the MAT TSA checkpoint… no keys. Then I run outside and wait for either the Route A bus or the employee bus since I did take them both. First bus that rounds the corner was the employee bus and I was in luck because it was the same bus that I had been on earlier. The doors open and I ask the nice gentleman driving if he had found any car keys…. He looks at me and asks what kind of car do you drive? My heart starts pounding… a Jetta I reply. Ya, I found them let me go and get them. Oh my god!!!!!!!!! So lucky right now. The man returns and hands me my sweet sweet keys. I thought about, for just a second, planting a huge smooch on him, but that thought was quickly gone! I think I even said to him, “ OMG, I could make out with you right now!” His response (in a deep voice), “ Well suga thad be just alright with me!” So I said my thank yous and sprinted to catch the last flight home. I made it and instead of getting back nice and early, I believe I pulled into the driveway around midnight. What a day… what an IDIOT! Needless to say I definitely am sticking to my system. The next time I have a conversation with myself I will not stray from my routine!

Simply,
Meg

Thank you..

Sorry I have not blogged in quite some time… been very busy and maybe a little distracted from writing…. I have a few blogs almost finished and will share them shortly, but today I wanted to post a quick blog.

I woke up today to the news of the death of Osama Bin Laden. Some may believe a huge day in the war against terror, others may believe this may have woken a giant. I hope this news can bring many people closure.

We taxied into DCA today and I got out of cockpit to do my walk around. Next to our parked plane I watched a family gather around the cargo bin of a Delta MD88, accompanying them were military personnel. Carefully the ground crew loaded a coffin decorated with an American flag onto the luggage belt. With soldiers in full dress saluting the coffin as it passed by, the coffin was carefully loaded into the back of a hearse. The family was bringing their son/daughter to DC to be buried in Arlington Cemetary.

I felt deeply for the mother, a mother should never have to bury a child. I could not imagine the pain and grief that comes with that. Watching this touched me very much. As a tear came down my cheek, I couldn’t help but think how honored I am that this soldier and many others are fighting for my freedom I would like to take the time to thank the men and women who are overseas serving in our armed forces.

Simply,

Meg

IDIOT.....

The last few weeks of my life have been out of control. Let me just say before I start that I am not usually forgetful. I do have a “system” and rarely lose things. I would consider myself fairly responsible but.... my life can get crazy!

So it all started at the end of a 5 day stretch of reserve. I was hoping to be home early on my last day and was really looking forward to a nice evening with my dad, Sebastian, Oliver and Hannah. All day Friday I would be in DC renewing my passport, I had an 8 am appointment and in the evening I was getting together with some old friends. But… pretty standard move, scheduling was nice enough to give me a Chicago turn with bad weather. I was not happy and I let them know.
Me: You have sat me here for 5 days and on my last day you give me this.
Them: Well you will be able to make it home tonight.
Me: You and I both know I will not get home tonight. We will be delayed and probably sit in the penalty box for hours.
Them: We have no one else.
So I fly out to Chicago and of course on the way back we were delayed for two hours. While sitting in the penatly box I started to wonder if I will even get back in time to make the last flight home. We finally make it to La Guardia and I didn’t have to make the choice of whether or not I would be able to go home, it was made for me.

On our flights we have to leave our bags in the back with the passengers. I walked back to retrieve my bag and it is no where to be seen. I begin to panic, no actually freak out. Then it hits me, some IDIOT took my bag instead of theirs. I calm down enough to see straight and see a bag still in the overhead. It must be the "Idiots" and I am holding that damn thing hostage until I get mine back. First off the lone bag was not even on the same side as I had placed mine. Yes they were both black but this one was much lighter, uglier and shittier than mine. I even had a green crew tag on my bag. Who is this complete moron and how far is this dumbass going to get before he figures it out? I frantically search the outside of the bag for a name, number, anything. I found a name, the great, smart and intelligent Tim Boylan took my bag. There was a number, I am too frantic at this point so my captain calls the number and its probably better because my message would not have been as polite as his. I sprint up the jet bridge screaming at the gate agent to page Tim Boylan. Tell that idiot he has my bag…..

I am going to have to hunt him down myself and at this point he better hope he is nowhere near the airport. I am scurrying around checking everyones bag. I probably looked like a lunatic with a serious mental issue. I run outside and searched the taxi cab line, weaving in and out of people. No bag and no Tim Boylan. So I walk over to baggage claim and tell a man named Fritz what happened. He felt horrible for me and after a lot of thought my mind begins to wonder. Why is his bag so light? Did he steal my bag on purpose? Is he going through my things? All my underwear better be there……

So the 3 phone numbers we found on the bag did not work. Freak out mode. I ask Fritz if his information was with his booking information. So Fritz looks it up and there is no record of Tim Boylan even on the flight from Chicago to NY. Oh dear god….. Call the cops. I am reporting everything stolen. I start going through everything that is in my bag. Favorite shoes, shirts, jeans, makeup, jewelry… I am about to lose it.

Then it hits me…. Tim Boylan could have been on the flight from NY to Chicago. Fritz looks it up and there that idiot is. So Fritz tracks down all his information. In the mean time I decided I am going to search his bag. In the bag was a pair of dress pants, a dress shirt, belt, shoes, boxers, overnight kit and a jacket. So maybe Mr. Boylan had a meeting, serves him right, I hope it was really important one and all he has is panties, bras and gold boat shoes! Fritz finds his number but for some reason it is missing the last digit. So I sit there and call every number 0-9. Finally on the last number I dial I  reach his answering machine, I leave a very nice message to call me back. I wait a little bit and no call. I would think that if I had grabbed the wrong bag I would be doing some research to find mine. Guess guys are wired a little differently.

So I turn psycho and after the 10^th call and googling him, I hear back from him.
Tim: “Oh hi… um I am very sorry about the mix up.”
Me: Well where is my bag now?
Tim: Oh well it is back in my hotel room.
Me:You made it all the way to the hotel room before you noticed it was not your bag.
Tim: Yea I am just really sorry.
I wanted to go postal on this guy.
Me: So when are you coming back to NY?
Tim: Oh I will be back tomorrow at 5 pm.
Me:Ok well your bag is with Delta baggage claim please go there and exchange bags.
Tim: Ok no problem. Thank you very much.

So I headed back to the crash pad and decided that I will get up early and catch the first flight back to DC. It will get me in before my meeting and I can just spend the entire day in my uniform since that is all I have and its my favorite thing to wear. I get up, shower and brush my teeth with my finger. I know gross but what in the world am I suppose to do at this point. I make it to my appointment and was told that my passport would be ready around 2 pm. Great, so now I have to spend hours in this monkey suit. I decided that I need a haircut, manicure and pedicure. Three things I never thought I would be doing dressed in uniform, people were definitely staring and I think I gave the Asian ladies something to really talk about. Too bad you never know what they are saying.

I get my passport and I was actually able to make it home, shower, pull something together to wear and found some makeup. It ended up being  a great night despite everything that had gone on in the last 24 hours!

I had to spend the next few days without my bag. I was really starting to miss my electric toothbrush Ali had gotten me for my birthday and I had never wanted to see my bag so badly in my entire life. It was time to head to work and I was commuting up the same morning as my first day of reserve. I show up at the airport and both of my flights on two separate airlines cancel… You have got to be kidding me. So I call scheduling and explain what is going on. They tell me to just get on the first flight to NY and if something comes up they will call me. So I sit and wait, from 5 am to 930 am. I had a bit of entertainment. I must of watch for at least a good hour a few elderly ladies and their morning activities.

930 finally came and I boarded the plane. Scheduling had not called so I was in the clear! I called them to let them know I was on the flight and if they needed me I would be in the air but would do whatever they needed me to do. All the sudden I hear them telling me to get off the plane. Get off right now. I sit there stunned and stuttering.
Me: Y y y you want me to get off the plane?
Them: YES NOW. We are going to get you a limo and have you taken to dulles. From there you will fly to Toronto then over night in Denver.
All I can think about is my bag patiently waiting for me to come and save her.
Me: Um… I do not have my flight case or even my overnight bag.
Them: Well that is fine I will make sure you get back to NY tomorrow.

So thank god Lucas and Jen saved me. They gave me a toothbrush and I was able to wear a pair of Jen’s jeans. The next day I made it back to NY and I swear I might of shed a tear when I saw my little bag. I hugged it and didn’t want to let go. First thing I did when I got back to my crash pad was brush my teeth and count my panties. All accounted for! Now my bag is covered in pink ribbon, but something tells me that would not of stopped Mr Boylan……

Simpy,
Meg