Contract Airline Services


"We are the protagonists of our stories called life, and there is no limit to how high we can fly."


PHD. MBA. MHS. Type rated on A350, A330, B777, B747-400, B747-200, B757, B767, B737, B727. International Airline Pilot / Author / Speaker. Dedicated to giving the gift of wings to anyone following their dreams. Supporting Aviation Safety through training, writing, and inspiration. Fighting for Aviation Safety and Airline Employee Advocacy. Safety Culture and SMS change agent.

Friday, November 8, 2013

Thank God it's Friday!


Fabulous Friday Update...

We are still in the hospital, but the surgery was a success and Dick is doing great! We were moved out of the IMCU unit yesterday and hope to go home tomorrow. They pulled the tubes out of his nose, he is off oxygen, and walking. Today they'll pull the epidural and if he can tolerate oral pain medication, and food...we're on our way. He'll need a great deal of help for a couple months, but I will put on my nurses hat. We've been here before and we can do it again.



Flight For Safety

Late one night while machines beeped and nurses gossiped in the hall, I finished the FINAL EDIT of Flight For Safety. Yesterday afternoon I slipped home and printed 547 pages, and will do a final proofread this weekend. I also sent it to two additional proofreaders. Three sets of eyes are better than one! And in no time we should see it live. To read the current synopsis click on Flight For Safety.


Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

I officially applied for graduate school to continue with the next phase of the plan! Yes... late one night, after I finished my book, I filled out the application for my PH.D in Aviation Safety/ Human Factors. There is a great deal of studying to be done before I take my GRE. But I will do it.

Recurrent ground school Complete!

I finished my recurrent training disk Wednesday night. I'm good for another quarter. This is a huge relief to get have it out of the way. Something I put off for a month due to a crazy schedule. 

Panic Attack...

Yes, I officially had my first panic attack yesterday. Having lived in a hospital before, I know all the precautions of excessive fatigue. One of which is parking in the same spot to find your car. Groundhog day effect is in play and it helps to do the same thing, each day.

I packed my computer in my backpack and threw my purse over my shoulder. I went down the elevator to the lobby and set it down to pay for parking. I carried it out to my car and set it down to unlock the door to my car. I drove 30 minutes south to my house and parked my car. I reached for my computer and it was gone! 

Oh God...where did I leave it???


I suspect the excessive fatigue, the complete loss of memory and the stress of the situation helped to create the panic. But my body literally shook. Yes, I panicked. Reality was, I never took it out of the room. Fatigue plays with your brain and the memory of taking it was from the day prior. 

We should not fly drunk with fatigue... maybe we should not drive, or be responsible for our computers with fatigue either. But one thing I know.... that when you are hanging out in the hospital and have a computer... you can get a lot of work done. 

Enjoy the journey! And may all your days be special wherever you are. 

XO Karlene

8 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Thank you! As it turns out the day is progressing to be the toughest for him. But something he has to go through to get out. He's going to be fine! He's like a cat with 9 lives... He's down to three or four so we'll keep an eye on him.

      Delete
  2. glad to hear you diagnosed and recovered from the panic attack, and that you're both doing well - I look at your relationship with your husband as an example to live by - my wife and I are off for a spa weekend away - our first trip (alone) together with out our daughter - we both have mixed emotions about it. regards, Steve

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh Steve, you and your wife will have a great time talking about your daughter while you're away for the first time. We've all been there. We go away but talk about home. :)

      But this alone time is something you both need. I think sometimes we lose the together because we spend all our time with the kids, work the house...etc. And we lose the person we married. We run parallel lives.

      The best relationship is to like each other as a friend, accept each others faults as they usually mirror our own, laugh at the good times and hard times alike, cry together, forgive each other, and always be there for the other person. No matter how hard it gets.

      Life is tough. But if you can survive the tough...you can survive anything. And at the end of the day... over that 30 year mark you sit back and smile and know that the other person is the only person in the world who knows you completely, understands your family, kids, grand kids, and all that built who you are. It's a great place to be.

      Thank you so much for the comment and have a wonderful time together! Your daughter will be fine! And she needs her time too. :)

      Delete
  3. Weeheee! Everything is fine now! Thank God!

    I don't know what I would do without my computer, but I leave the most important files in an exterior hardrive. The good news is you didn't loose your computer.


    ALX.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Alex. You know...it's just a computer and I need a new one. But..the weird thing was the body reaction. I think I was just on the edge of my emotional and physical ledge with all that's going on. And... I was losing my mind too. But other than that, all good!

      Delete
  4. Glad to hear everything was a success!!

    Looking so forward to Flight for Safety!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Mark!!! All is great. We made it through the night! And today I am reading!!

      Delete

Thank you for your comment! If your comment doesn't appear immediately, it will after I land. Enjoy the journey!