Another airline update!!! Rumor has it that TSA (travel safety administration) and/or FAA (federal airline administration) are going to change the ruling to only ONE (1) carryon per passenger. Why?? Not sure, but it may be because so many are taking more than 2 through on a daily basis. Its our job to make sure that each passenger can only carry on 2 bags (and ladies, PUHLEEEZE!!! purses are considered CARRY ON). I had a fun time last Sunday with a couple of well heeled passengers. The gentleman was dragging through 3 large wheeled bags. I explained to him that its only 2 per passenger. Behind me came a loud whiney voice saying "that's MY bag, if you don't mind!!" I turned around and there should a lady, dressed in pearls and mink, with a hateful expression on her face. Oh boy....She was dragging a bag also, plus a purse the size of a sofa cushion. Again, I explained that its only 2 per passenger, and her purse counted as one. She went off in a tirade about how ABSURD it was, and how STUPID it was to count purses, and how INCONVENIENT it was to fly through Kansas City. Her husband stood back with a slightly amused look on his face as if he was thinking "you tell this underling, pumpkin....put her in her place". I finally got the "lady" to stick her purse in the side pocket of the bag and let them through. Shortly after it was my turn to go inside the boarding area. There they sat (she had removed her purse and was smiling smugly at the Southwest employee), her mink draped like a bed sheet over her bags (like we couldn't TELL how many was under there!). Her husband paced the boarding area, drinking bottled water and looking like he owned the place. He came by me as I was sitting and watching for incoming planes. He gave me a hard look, to which I did my usual big sloppy grin. His face darkened when he saw he was not intimidating me (guess he expected me to either challenge him, or drop to the floor and cry "I'm not worthy!") and he stomped off to join "Pumpkin" in their perusal to see if any other passengers were as rich as they. I doubt they found any others worthy of their attention. Most people would get all huffy with people like that. Not I...my grandmother always said "You catch more flies with honey than vinegar". True...true.... Also, it really ticks them off to see you're in no way affected by their churlish behavior.

Sunday is my Monday...I owe, I owe, its off to work I go. The worst part of the day, for me, is hitching the ride to the terminal on the employee bus. It reminds me too much of the school bus days. This past Sunday was no exception; my son and I boarded, lumbered to our seats (its his Monday too) and crouched down in our seats, already waiting for the day to be over. The bus driver that day was a 20ish blonde who be-bopped in her seat to music only she could hear. When we arrived to our terminal, she chirped "Have a good day!!" Reminded me of a mother sending her young ones off to grade school, the only problems for the day was coloring in the lines and getting the most out of recess. Instead, we were all more like the sullen teens, clomping off the bus towards our dreaded stations. Even the chitchat behind me was reminiscent of my high school years, "Yeah, she goes....and I was all like no way!...and then I busted a move like I was Snoop Dawg himself.....so I called her and she was talking about that guy who her sister's ex boyfriend's cousin's wife was doing the horizontal mambo with...." I expected to see the principal (our floor supervisor) standing at the entrance and mumbling "get to class...get to class...quit clowning around...."

It sure sucks not being able to stand very long without hanging on to something. I stand on my tip toes to relieve some of the pressure off my heels (bone spurs....lovely ailment for one who stands on their feet all day) and I nearly fall on my face. Sigh............ Lately the fluid build up in my inner ears is so great I can barely hear. Sure brings out the worst in seemingly mousey people. I had trouble hearing an older lady who kept mumbling the same thing over. After the 3rd time asking her to repeat (and showing her my hearing aids as an added bonus), she snapped her hand down on the podium and spoke in what for her could only be a shout (although it was what is usually a normal toned voice) "I SAID...DO I HAVE TO PUT MY COIN PURSE IN THE TUB TO GO THROUGH THE SCANNER???" I was pissed...I tried not to be, but geez...I told her "Ma'am, you will have to ask security that. I assume you will, but since I don't do the scanning, I really don't know" She stomped off in a snit. At that time it was time to rotate. Kim, my coworker, asked "Do you want to go in or shall I?" I said as I pulled off my jacket for the scanner, "I'm going in!!!" I was hoping to find the woman and let her know that while it is annoying for HER to repeat, its even MORE annoying for me to have someone treat me like I'm stupid. Lucky for her (and for me, as I surely would have gotten wrote up about it) she was hiding in the ladies room until her flight came in. Wonder if I had "that look" on my face????