Happy 40th Anniversary Southwest Airlines!

Southwest Airlines = continued milestones.  June 18th marked the 40th anniversary for SWA.  Fare specials for travel are just one way that the company is celebrating.  One way fares of $59 are available in select markets.  Tickets must be purchased before July 14 for travel between August 23rd and December 14th.  You can go to http://www.southwest.com/ to get your travel reserved!  It's such a great deal! 



An employee in Denver celebrating the big milestone.

At one of the gates in Denver, a little cake with candles! 

I remember my second year with SWA.  It was our 25th anniversary.  Fare specials were $25 one way.  Even employees were buying tickets just so they would have confirmed seating and not have to fly on a space available basis.  It was crazy!  Our ticket counter had a line so long it went half way down the terminal! 
We've also began a big transition.  Southwest and Airtran are becoming "One Luv!"  May 2nd was the day that Southwest began the acquisition of Airtran.  There will be many more months of work ahead and in the meantime, each airline will operate as they always have.  In celebration around our system, food was brought in for all employees to enjoy and cookies were served at the gates for our customers. 



In Little Rock, AR, the ramp agents are smiling big!

The Little Rock ticket counter is excited too!

The two airlines airplanes in Dallas in front of SWA hangar. 

This has been an exciting journey for me with Southwest Airlines.  I've seen many changes and many different employees come and go.  Friendships have been made that I'll value always, no matter what city we all work in.  I'm proud to be part of such a great corporation.  I'll be celebrating 16 years with them in October.  Congratulations to SWA and all the employees for a job well done!

Ronald McDonald House Summer Picnic 2011

It's once again summer and the smell of grilling is a typical scent around town these days.  This is no exception at the Ronald McDonald House.  Each year employees of Southwest Airlines serve a couple different meals to the guests of the RMH; a summer picnic which usually involves barbecuing and then again in November, a traditional Thanksgiving meal.  The RMH is our largest charity.
So last night we gathered at the local RMH and brought all the makings for a BBQ:  hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salad, buns, chips, soda and cookies for dessert.  Nothing complicated. 
Six employees from our local station here in Omaha were there to grill the dogs and burgers and also to set up the buffet-style counter top with the rest of the food and serving items.  A couple of friends also attended to lend support, one of which was a former SWA employee.  The volunteers of the RMH called each room to notify the guests that the meal was ready to eat and they slowly trickled in to join us.  It's always fun to look at the large map of the USA that hangs on the wall in the dining room.  On it, names of the guests are placed on their respective home towns, which shows just how far they travel just to receive the necessary treatment needed for their children, here in Omaha.  Some even come from other countries! 
But meeting the guests and seeing all the little babies and kids is fun as well.  Seeing them with their little IV's and oxygen bottles, or even cosmetic scars from surgery makes us realize how lucky we are not to have the issues they are dealing with on a daily basis.  

Employees and a couple friends that helped serve our meal.

The weather cooperated and even though it was a bit warm, the clouds helped to shade the patio where the grill stands.  Thanks go out to all the people that helped to make the meal a success. 

Class of 2011

It's Memorial Day weekend and many high school graduations are taking place around the city of Omaha as well.  Millard South High School is no exception.  If you remember, back in January, news spread of gun shots being fired in a high school.  Well, that happened at Millard South, merely a couple miles from my own home.  It was a very sad day as one of the two victims that had been shot, died from her wounds, as well as the shooter who took his own life. 

After working overtime today I would be celebrating with a young lady, Rachel Smith, at her graduation open house.  The actual ceremony took place yesterday at the Civic Auditorium located down town.  It was bittersweet for the senior class as they had a moment of silence to remember the day of the incident involving the shooting. 

The high schools have so many students in the senior classes that the school gymnasiums would never be large enough to hold all the people in attendance.  So they usually take place at the Civic.   

So after arriving home, I took a short nap, and then got cleaned up.  Rachel, the daughter of one of my co-workers on the ramp at Southwest Airlines, has grown up before my eyes.   I've known Rachel for the better part of 14 years as I've worked with her Mom for at least that long. 

I went to their house and found everyone outside on the driveway or just inside the garage.  There was a long table of food and beverages for all to enjoy as well as a long table of photos featuring Rachel as she grew up through the years.  It also had her diploma and several yearbooks for anyone to browse through. 



Rachel

Her grandparents from Iowa, her aunt and uncle from Iowa and the east coast, her boyfriend and many school friends were there to help her celebrate.  The weather was perfect even though the humidity was a bit high.  The sun was hidden behind some clouds and aided in keeping the temperature at a comfortable setting.  After enjoying some food and company, I congratulated Rachel on her accomplishment and decided to head for home.  Another successful education.  Congratulations Rachel!  A job well done!

Overtime Galore!

Over the years of my employment with Southwest Airlines, I've seen a lot of ramp agents either quit, get fired or simply promote to supervisor.  Whichever of those things happens, a position on the ramp opens up which in turn creates over time.  I'm not usually one to turn down the extra pay or the extra hours.  I'll work over time pretty much anytime I can if I have nothing else happening. 
This spring has been no exception.  All of a sudden we had three positions open up on the ramp.  Wow!  Over time hours were in abundance!  I decided to cash in. 
I signed up to work overtime on both my days off, Sunday and Monday, for the next two weekends.  And I knew I would get it too.  There were so many shifts available that they actually had to mandatory agents if there weren't enough people volunteering to work it. 
I remember one year, maybe about 14 years back, having worked a month straight without a day off.  Some of it was voluntary and some of it was mandatory.  But I raked in any hours I could because it definitely enhances the paycheck!  We get paid time and a half on our first day off and double time on our second consecutive day off.  So it's worth it to put in the time.  I knew I was in for a long couple of weeks by doing this but I wanted to take whatever I could get. 
I'm so used to getting up early that even when I do have a day off, I'm up by 6AM, as a rule.  So why not just work and make some extra money? 
I was ready for the long haul....bring it on! 

Girls Night Out

Every once in a while, some of my friends and I will have a girls night out.  We go for drinks and then dinner.  This is usually just an excuse to share with each other, some of the details of our lives that we may need advice on.  Tammy, Trisa, Susan Mortensen and myself met tonight for our monthly night out.  We met at a place called The Upstream in West Omaha.  There are two locations in town and this was the easiest one to get to for all of us.
We ordered cocktails, appetizers for all to share and then our own individual selection for the main course.  We proceeded to talk non stop while we waited for all the food to be brought to our table.  Typically we each take a turn at venting about whatever is happening with work, relationships or kids.  There's never a dull moment or a silent moment for that matter!  I know, four women and no silence.  Shocking, right? 
We had asked for a table that was in a more secluded area so as not to disturb those around us.  But we were actually right in the middle of the main dining area.  So much for that idea!  But we did manage to keep our volume down to a low roar and the other patrons didn't seem to notice us.....much! 
Our food arrived and we dug in but it didn't slow our conversation at all.  We were eating as fast as we were talking.  This is pretty typical for us.  The waiter kept coming back to check on us and even though we picked on him a bit he didn't seem to mind. 
A few hours later we seemed to have talked everything out and decided it was time to go home.  We all had to work the next day anyway or I think we would have sat there for a few more hours! 
Our girl time is special to us even though our huge group of friends gets together pretty often at someones home.  But the nights we can gather without the men or children is much more productive!  I love you girls!!! Thanks for the great night! 

Happy "10" Anniversary Trisa and Jamie!

May 5th marked 10 years married for my good friends Trisa and Jamie.  I had told them several weeks before that they should do something special, just the two of them.  Because they have a young son in school, I told them that I would even take care of him while they were gone.  Then it wouldn't upset his schedule and the dog would be taken care of at the same time.  So the planning began and for them the biggest challenge was to figure out just where to go.  Jamie wanted to be somewhat close by yet out of town was okay too.  Trisa was game to go anywhere.  But going somewhere they hadn't been before was a must. 
After making the decision to go to Nebraska City, NE., I arranged to have an extra day off for the weekend. 
Gavin, their son, had a soccer game on Saturday morning.  I went to watch him play along with Trisa and Jamie and Judy, Trisa's Mom.  From there Trisa and Jamie left for their overnight trip.  Gavin had a birthday party to attend at noon immediately following his game.  I took him to Chuck E. Cheese Pizza where he found his friends and I stayed to have a little bite to eat myself.  The Grandma of one of his friends came by to pick up both boys and take them to an outdoor amphitheater for a couple of hours.  So I had time to go to my house and change clothes, take care of my cats for the rest of the day and go to Gavin's house in time for him to be dropped off.  He had been a very busy little guy for the whole day up to this point.  He was glad to be home and changed clothes. 
He relaxed for quite a while and played his XBox 360.  After awhile we went outside and played soccer on the driveway.  I saw another friend of mine (that is a neighbor of Trisa and Jamie) sitting outside with her kids and enjoying the outside air.  We walked to her house and visited with her for awhile. 
That night, after getting to say hi to his Mom and Dad via a phone call, Gavin fell asleep pretty early.  I turned in myself shortly afterwards. 
The next morning after sleeping in, Gavin and I had some cereal for breakfast.  It wasn't long after that the Jamie and Trisa arrived home.  It was a short 45 minute drive for them.  I made my way home and being it was also Mother's Day, made a call to my step Mom Beverly to wish her a good day. 

Southwest Airlines Goes Bowling!

Our local station likes to have fun with our employees.  Not just on the job but away from work as well.  It's been awhile since we've done it but last night, we went bowling!  It's a great way to get out and have some fun. 

My co-worker, Tim Wald, operations supervisor, was in charge of arranging our night out.  He spoke with the owners of Sempeck's Bowling Center.  We were able to do some trading with them; buddy passes for travel in exchange for some of the services they offered.   This night was an employee and spouse/date night only.  Typically, we try to have "family oriented" events set up.  But sometimes you just need to leave those kids at home, right?!  

Each person from our group that bowled, was given a free pair of nifty socks with a design of a bowling ball and pins around the ankle.  How neat!  The women's varied slightly from the men's.   We had 4 lanes reserved just for us and at each lane there were chips and salsa for our enjoyment.  Alcohol had to be purchased and it seemed to be flowing quite easily for some.  We had such a great time! 

Co-workers Lori, Nanci and Tim

Nanci and Lori



Me, Tim and Lori



Me and my gear.  Do I look professional? 



Me walking like an Egyptian!



Our entire group that came out....so much fun!



Co-worker Don and his wife Kathy

Co-worker Scott and his wife Cindy

Co-workers Lisa, Don and I



Co-worker Lori having just bowled a strike.  The proof is on the computer moniter over her head! 



Co-worker Tim being a geek with cowboy boots and a drink in his hand.  Only Tim can pull this off.....


We had 2 hours to bowl as many games as we could or wanted to.  After most everyone left, Tim, Lisa and I stuck around for one more cocktail at the bar and then headed home.  I still had to work the next day bright and early so I couldn't over do anything!  Thanks to all the employees that were able to make it out!