Thursday thots

Janice, sending you calming vibes.  My blood pressure is rising on your behalf!  By the way -- I thought I was the only person who used a TracPhone!  I probably add minutes once or twice a year (and not very many at that)!

Callie, I appreciate what you're saying.  Normally I'm a very logical, fact-based, analytical person (I do work in accounting, after all!).  My head knows all the things you said.  However, no amount of rational thought quells an irrational fear.  It's kind of the same thing when people tell me that a garden snake won't hurt me, but I nearly die of fright when I see one -- it makes no difference that it's small, non-poisonous, afraid of me, whatever.

My response to the idea that the risk of an airplane crash is miniscule compared to an auto crash is, "Yeah, but you're far more likely to survive a car crash than a plane crash!"  It's also a control thing for me.  I feel I have some control when I'm driving (realizing I can't control other drivers, but maybe I can try to avoid something they do).  In a plane, I feel like I'm sitting in this zillion pound tube of metal that by some miracle is floating in the air, and if it suddenly falls out of the sky, there's nothing I can do about it but watch my life pass before my eyes.  The thought of what it'd be like to experience those few seconds or minutes of terror totally freaks me out.  It's one of the many things about 9/11 that haunted me when I thought of those passengers.

Tracy, you're so right about irrational fears not being helped by using logic.  I can't say I love to fly but I've learned to deal with the anxiety I feel on take off and landing.  I like to do the early check in so I can try and get near an emergency exit (more leg room too) and so I don't feel rushed when we're boarding because that adds to my anxiety.  The first time I sat near one of the emergency exits and the flight attendant was saying how those people in those seats had to do such and such in case of emergency I kind of felt better because then I had a job. :)  I hope you have a good flight and a great visit. 

Jan, you get the customer service patience award for the day.  What a waste of your time.

We got word on the bid today.  It's good and not so good.  Mostly good though. :)  There's still some kinks to be worked out but at least the suspense is over.

Cathy, I'll come and help you with the move if I can stay an extra week or two at the new place.  :)  I'll keep Shane entertained while you do the packing and unpacking stuff.

tacran

  It's kind of the same thing when people tell me that a garden snake won't hurt me, but I nearly die of fright when I see one -- it makes no difference that it's small, non-poisonous, afraid of me, whatever.

Tracy -- to Glenda and I that doesn't sound irrational at all -- snakes are just "wrong". And people that like them are just ... different. LOL The way you are about flying I am about what happened to the people in Moore -- Yep, I'm claustrophobic. I'm not hassling you -- trust me, I've been there. But that *is* how I got myself thru it. And I'm ok with them having "control" because I couldn't fly the thing to save my own life. Most of us are a bit phobic about some things -- some of us more than others. But I've had to learn to laugh at myself. You ain't heard nuffing until you have seen me cussing out a snake verbally brandishing a big old "deadly" broad floor sweeping broom. Cussing only because otherwise I would have been purely hysterical, but at least I accomplished keeping myself glued together (with anger) which otherwise I wouldn't have. coping mechanism 101, Tracy. They work. LOL

JackieG

We got word on the bid today.  It's good and not so good.  Mostly good though. :)  There's still some kinks to be worked out but at least the suspense is over.

YAY!!! I've got no "little icons" with Chrome, but Jackie that is great!! Suspense is NO fun - particularly with regard to a job. I agree with you -- I wasn't trying to be logical - I literally have to schmooze myself into certain things, and like you -- build in 99 coping mechanisms (like going HOURS early, over-planning, etc.). *smile* but I can think up an amazing number of "logical" reasons why I need to do this, this, and THIS in order to make things like air-travel "do-able" for myself (and remember me? the claustrophobic one?? and you know how tiny airplane potties are? ugh .... )

Yikes Jan!!! I hope it's been resolved by now and you taught me something I'd never thought of (the screen shot). I hope I won't need to use it but that's good to know.

Yay for good news Jackie!! I'm sure you're relieved even if it wasn't 100% good news. I'd love for you to come hang out with Shane (and me) while we pack up. I'm already planning for the way to do this in the least-stressful way for him. Having an auntie to spoil him would be perfect :)

Yeah - I've got my own bag of phobias and agree that they may not be rational but that doesn't matter a twit when I'm faced with them. My biggest fear is of heights and once the panic sets in, I have a really hard time calming myself down. I've pushed through at times but given the choice, I avoid situations that I know will scare the heck out of me. Oddly, I have a huge fear of being hurt (not necessarily dying) in a car accident but I don't fear dying in a plane crash. Logical, right? ;)

Happy Birthday Karen and Lisa!!!  Congrats to Cathy and Jackie!!  I miss you guys.  How is the new dog.com service coming along.  Do we have a possibility of reminders notices yet.  Seems I just cant keep up anymore. 

Storms are going to roll thru here tonight so I am hoping they will be brief.  

We had a tragic loss in our family last week, not going to go into it here but even tho the loss was human I will post at the bridge for this special person.

Hope every one stays safe from the storms..

I hope the storms aren't too bad and pass over quickly.  Stay safe.  I'm so sorry to hear about the loss in the family. 

Ginger, you've been on my mind a lot with the scary storm patterns in the middle of the country.  I'm sorry your family has suffered the loss of a loved one.

Cathy, I'm really good at organizing closets and cupboards (I've moved way too many times, so I have lots of practice).  I can help with that in exchange for a couple relaxing days by your pool afterwards.  And I think you're well within driving distance, so no flying! :-)

Jackie, it's funny you said you like the emergency rows because they gave you a "job."  One time when we got those seats and the flight attendant said to let them know if you didn't think you could handle the tasks and they'd move your seat.  I told DH we should move since I'd be useless in an emergency.  He said, "No way, I love this extra legroom!"  I said, "Are you sure you could open the door and help people while I'm screaming like a banshee next to you?"  He said, "Sure.  First I'd knock you out cold, then help everyone else off the plane, then carry you out last."  He would never do anything like hit or push me, of course, but it was pretty funny when he said it. 

Actually, he's great in emergencies (it's that Marine thing), so if he's flying with me, I'm less anxious.  But flying alone means if we go down in flames, I have to face my final moments with some stranger beside me.  I will say it's MUCH better now with the hi-tech gadgets to keep me occupied.  Watching a movie is much more distracting than flipping through a magazine!

I hope I can remember everything I just read. Here goes :

Tracy I am so with you on the flyer phobia and yep, it's a control thing for me. Not to mention car crashes happen all the time and you don't die. If a plane crash happens you're toast. So yeah, less chance but greater impact. I can't take drugs for the anxiety because I also get motion sick. I would rather treat that than my anxiety so my best hope every time I fly is to get the most direct flight possible, pay extra for a better seat and hope I can sleep the entire time. I always look at the price of first class tickets but can never afford them heh.

The escaped hamster story gives me the heebie jeebies! I can't imagine a rodent (even a pet one) running around my house lol I am glad it was found though and you didn't have to use the dog :)

Lisa, I work in pretty much an all male office so bdays are never recognized which is fine with me actually. I don't like celebrating that i am a year older. Now if I gota year younger, tthat'd be something to celebrate hehe. Anyway, try not to let the lack of acknowledgement bother you and keep up the good work with treating others how you like to be treated. that's what makes you such a good person. Maybe it will rub off on one of them someday.

Cathy Yay for the closing moving along so quickly! I totally agree on how nice things are in our digital age. My refinance went so easy and fast it was amazing. Nothing like what I expected.

I have been waiting for the temp to drop a few degrees so I could take the dogs for a bike run but now a severe tstorm has popped up. Crazy weather.

tacran

I said, "Are you sure you could open the door and help people while I'm screaming like a banshee next to you?"  He said, "Sure.  First I'd knock you out cold, then help everyone else off the plane, then carry you out last."

hahahaha my DH would certainly say something similar. I feel fortunate that flying doesn't bother me - I am such a blah person at times, my thought is, "if its my time, its my time, no sense worrying about it" LOL

However I am not OK in enclosed places so I would be the person on the news being carried out in a straight jacket if I was trapped in a plane on a runway for hours. I am not joking. no way no how I could handle that. I have claustrophobia and even when they closed the doors and then you have to wait your turn to take off I start sweating and have a mild anxiety attack. now that I have asthma I notice that I get very close to an attack during those times. I am embarrassed to admit these things but its true!

Hmm Cathy you've got Jackie entertaining Shane and Tracy sorting out your closets and cupboards. Not sure what I can offer - those are two areas I've got down - but I can move boxes well. Happy to help and photograph that beautiful yard :)

Sigh. Its been a strange day. Some good and some sad. Some times I take it for granted but isn't the unconditional love of a dog just amazing? Bugsy is up in my office right now, sound asleep. He could be on a bed but I've been gone all week (other than our road trip) and he's attached to me when I'm here.

this is a pic I took this morning  - I keep looking at it (made it the background on my phone) makes me smile each time

 

shadowsgin

Happy Birthday Karen and Lisa!!!  Congrats to Cathy and Jackie!! 

I'll ditto this!^

Marlania, I can't believe Addisen is about to finish kindergarten already.  You need to post some pics!

My sister is a nervous flier.  You'll find her in the bar about an hour before take-off and after landing. I'm more nervous on the freeway but flying doesn't bother me at all.  My favorite part is lift off ... that screaming race down the tarmac and "zip" - we're up. They revised our weekend weather report.  Now they say it's only going to be 99 on Saturday and cool down to 96 on Sunday.  Yippee!! I don't think there's really a heck of a lot of difference between 99 and 102.

Karen, I LOVE that pic of Bugs.

Joyce

Love that pic of b! What a happy face! Yes, the unconditional dog love is awesome. Dogs are awesome in general. They just have that ability to warm our hearts. I took the dogs biking after all and found myself smiling like a fool a few times at how much each dog and I were enjoying it. Those little things are sometimes the best moments of the day. I suppose it is the same way if you have kids. But then again dogs never hate you (like teenagers lol)

Jewlieee

I suppose it is the same way if you have kids. But then again dogs never hate you (like teenagers lol)

And you don't have to put them through college!

Karen, wasn't your husband in law enforcement?  Maybe having backgrounds in law and/or the military is why they'd react similarly in that situation.  I can totally see how the anxiety of waiting too long in the plane could trigger an asthma attack.  Those multi-hour waits on the tarmac would send me over the edge!  Like you, Julie, I've looked at first class fares -- but they're outrageous.  I got bumped into first class a couple times, and I did feel a little less anxious -- it seemed calmer up there, probably because it's quieter and more roomy.

That photo of Bugsy is terrific.  Of course, his happy face is enough to make anyone grin, but the background of the lake and the misty look of the tree line is just gorgeous. 

Maybe before I go on my trip, I'll have to make a huge photo collection of all the cute, goofy, smiley iDog pups.  I can continually scroll through the pics to help me feel better when I get on the plane!

tacran

My response to the idea that the risk of an airplane crash is miniscule compared to an auto crash is, "Yeah, but you're far more likely to survive a car crash than a plane crash!"  It's also a control thing for me.  I feel I have some control when I'm driving (realizing I can't control other drivers, but maybe I can try to avoid something they do).  In a plane, I feel like I'm sitting in this zillion pound tube of metal that by some miracle is floating in the air, and if it suddenly falls out of the sky, there's nothing I can do about it but watch my life pass before my eyes.  The thought of what it'd be like to experience those few seconds or minutes of terror totally freaks me out.  It's one of the many things about 9/11 that haunted me when I thought of those passengers.

 

My exact feelings Tracy. I solve it by just not flying.

Love the photo of Bugsy

Happy Birthday to Karen and Lisa. I'm posting this at almost midnight. Guess I'd better say I hope you had a good birthday.