New “Shop PWC” link

Well, after much thought and consideration, I decided to open a Cafe Press shop for Pilot Wives Club. It’s going to be your one stop shop for getting all of your Pilot Wives Club gear! Previously, I when I ordered merchandise for you all, I was having to store the items and mail them out myself. As a busy mother of four (and one on the way), I just didn’t have the time or means to do that anymore. Plus, Cafe Press gives us tons more options for loot!

Also, for some custom made designs by yours truly, go here. Here’s a little preview:

So, head on over here and here, check out the merchandise and then make your Christmas List!

Catching up

Well, this blog has been so neglected. When I originally planned for this blog, I naively thought that I would have help with the content. Surely other wives would want to put a message out. Besides, so many pilot wives have personal blogs, it will be easy peasy to find someone to help, right???? Well . . . not so much! And so, here the blog sits all lonely and uninformed. I’m ashamed. I really should be banned for ever owning a blog again. Can the blog forgive me? Can you, the readers (all two of you) forgive me for the neglect? I really do have good intentions on blogging and keeping everyone informed. But, life - well, life just really gets in the way. And when you’re married to a pilot, there is a lot of weight on your shoulders to hold everything together while he’s gone. And I try . . . but some things get dropped along the way. Four kids . . . well, that’s enough to wear anyone out, not to mention my other responsibilities. (que pity party)

Anyhow . . . ALL of that to say, I’m sorry. And I’m really going to try to do better. So, now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, here are some things that you need to know:

1) I’m working on an order for long sleeve Pilot Wives Club tshirts. I’m hoping to open up ordering the week of November 13th or sooner. Price estimate is around $18 or $19 plus shipping.

2) Our next Pilot Wives Club chat is scheduled for November 19, 2011 at 8 p.m. central. If you’ve never attended, you’re missing out on a GREAT time. RSVP on our private page under events.

3) It’s open enrollment on benefits at several airline companies right now. Be sure to poke, prod and remind your pilot to get that information for you so that you can be informed!

4) If you’re not a “fan” of our Facebook page, please head on over there and “like” us now!

5) We’re now at 1,130 members — thank you to all of the members — your participation is GREATLY appreciated!

Hope to see all of you at the chat!

Thankful Tuesday

Happy Thankful Tuesday!  Here is what I’m thankful for today:

• I’m thankful for my mother, who picked my two older children up from school yesterday, took them to a fun picnic, kept them for the night and took them to school this morning.
• I’m thankful for my other set of parents (in-laws) who are making a 13 hour drive to come visit us on Wednesday and spend time with my 4 little monkeys.
• I’m thankful for friends who let me vent when I need to and recognize when to listen and when to give advice.
• I’m thankful for a huge group of pilot wives that understand the challenges of raising children with a part-time husband.
• I’m thankful for an awesome God — who in the midst of a frustrating moment shows me that I can still receive a blessing.
• I’m thankful for the smell of a newborn babies head. Is it just me or does that smell seem to calm a frazzled mama! Someone definitely needs to bottle that smell.
• And I’m thankful for a wonderful husband who rarely angers me — BUT when he does, he looks for a way to apologize and make up for it!

What are you thankful for today?

Stay tuned . . . tomorrow, you can read about the REAL drama of being a pilot’s wife!

Pilot Wife Law #4356: When the Pilot is away, someone is going to get sick!

Ugh!  This is the Pilot Wife Law that I absolutely hate!  It never fails that the day the pilot is supposed to fly out, someone in the house is going to get sick.  However, in my case, it was all three children at.the.same.time!  Yes, you heard me — THREE children.  I’m talking about ear infections, croup cough, snotty nose — you name it and that germ took up residence in my house.  And the pilot, well he just jet-setted himself right outta here without a second thought.

Now, you may think I’m being a little hard on the pilot, BUT he NEVER has to deal with this type of situation.  Don’t worry - eventually I’ll start my list of “events that the pilot never has to deal with!”  But, that’s a whole other post in and of itself! 

I’d like to take a moment and thank the makers of Infant/Children’s Tylenol and Ibuprofen — mama finally got some sleep.  After a good dose of some antibiotics, my girls (atleast two of them) seem to be on the mend — just in time for the pilot to fly back in.

In other happenings, I’ve been diligently working — in my spare time — to update this site, the private site and schedule an event or two.  I’m excited to bring back Pilot Wives Club “Girls Night In”.  If you’re a new member to the site, you’ve just GOT to attend.  I can’t disclose the happenings of the previous events . . . however, let’s just say that some people may or may not drink too much wine and act a little silly during chat!  In any case, it’s great fun and you get to know quite a few pilot wives.  Check out the private site for details. 

Well . . . I hear a coughing child that I must attend to.  Y’all pray for me!

Headed in a new direction . . .

Well, as you can see, this blog has been rather lonely for months.  What can I say?  Life is busy.  Managing three kids, three real estate properties, several blogs and websites . . . and well, there you have it.  Not enough of me to go around.  So, in an effort to keep this site going, I’m consolidating.  This blog will now become my own personal blog.  My account of living the life of a pilot’s wife.  So, get ready to know me and my family!  From time to time, I will call on other pilot wives to guest post here.  But for now, this is where you’ll find me.  Now, here comes the disclaimer:  please keep in mind that I have three children ages 5 and under and I’m currently 23 weeks pregnant with child #4.  That in and of itself is a full time job.  I’m going to ease into this thing slowly.  So, you may not see a post everyday from me.  BUT, I will do my best to try and keep up. 

Check back tomorrow for my first REAL post . . .

Petitioning for a Day Off

My husband, like so many pilots, is a double pilot. Double pilot? What’s that you ask - you’ve never heard of that?!? Well, that’s because I’m making up my own pilot’s wife lingo.

We kindly interrupt this blog post for a Pilot’s Wife Lingo lesson . . . (que chessey gameshow music)

Double Pilot is a pilot who works two jobs. Example, My husband teaches flight instruction for the military and also flies commercially.

Ok, now that we’re on the same page . . . where was I? Oh yes, double pilot. My husband is a double pilot. What’s my point? I guess my point is that we NEVER have a day off. He’s my relief - so if he never has a day off, well, then neither do I.  When he’s not flying commercially, he’s flying for the military. His days off from his commercial job are spent serving our country teaching flight students how to fly helicopters. Which, I could say, is admirable. However, I am the wife behind the pilot who desperately needs a DAY off. While I am super blessed to have the opportunity to stay home and parent our three children, I also wear many, many, many hats. And my job . . . well, it almost NEVER involves sitting in a restuarant ALONE enjoying a nice quiet dinner. Heck, I’m lucky most days to get to have a sit down dinner. Three children under the age of five years old — now that’s a handful and half. And if I’m being honest, I rarely complain. I usually suck it up and go about my business, swirling in the mass chaos that IS my life, trying to get an unimaginable, impossible amount of tasks completed. But today, ladies . . . TODAY is my day when I just about snapped. Today is the day when I realized my human constraints. Today is the day that I realized I CAN’T do it all. And I’m mad. I’m “spit fire” mad. Because I don’t want help. I don’t want to ask anyone for help. I want to be able to “do it all”. I mean, isn’t that what were expected to do? I guess going from a working environment to being at home, I’ve just never adjusted to that scenario very well. And I do so much here, that the pilot, well . . . he’s come to expect a lot. Everytime I push myself and I do more, more becomes expected. Not only from him, but from others.

What’s the solution, you ask? Well, I’m doing some soul searching. I’m going to do some list building. And I’m going to start setting realistic goals for myself. Some things are going to fall by the way side and that’s just going to have to be the way it is for now. Unless someone has some sort of secret about cloning.

Tell me ladies, anyone else ever had this feeling? And if so, how did you organize the chaos?

Stay tuned for more of my infinite wisdom . . . I’m sure there is more to come.  Lucky you!

I live off of this stuff . . .

I thought I’d share this freebie with my readers . . .

This definitely gives a new meaning to “bring your child to work with you” day

“Child Directed Traffic at NY’s JFK Airport, Air Traffic Controller Suspended”  Foxnews.com

An air traffic controller at New York’s Kennedy Airport was suspended for allowing his young son to radio instructions to several pilots.  Read more . . .

A Pilot’s Wife take on “The Bachelor” Finale

Want to hear what an actual Pilot’s Wife thinks about the highly leaked, totally expected ending to this seasons “The Bachelor”?  Head over  here and Cute Culture Chick will give you the “low” down!

Sound off ladies . . . do you agree with her?  If not, what are your predictions for their future?

Let’s Get Our Priorities Straight . . .

The news articles are all over the internet and television reporting on The National Transportation Safety Board’s recommendation to use the “black box” voice recordings to monitor pilots and their conversations/activities in the cockpit.  The recommendation has been put forth due to recent pilot distractions that have led to airline mishaps (the Buffalo crash and the Northwest crew that flew 100 miles past their intended destination).  The National Transportation Safety Board is convinced that if the government monitors pilot conversation in the cockpit, our flights would be safer.  *** Pilot Wife rant begins** . . .

Really?  So the cause of the fatal Buffalo crash was due to the conversation taking place in the cockpit — not the fact that the pilots were paid less than $25,000/year, which in turn facilitated a need to work a second job, which in turn makes for an exhausted pilot who enters the cock pit, tired, underpaid and overworked.  No — let’s just say all conditions were perfect and the pilots were talking in the cockpit.  Seriously?  Is anyone else buying this theory?  I, by no means, am discounting the fact that people lost their lives.  No one . . hear me. . . NO ONE, including the pilots, want that to happen.  No pilot enters the cockpit and says, “I’m going to distract myself and fly this plane into the ground.”  Accidents happen . . . ACCIDENTS.  And I think it is unfair to put all of the blame on the pilots.

Pilots go through rigorous training.  My husband is subjected to at least two “check rides” a year to test his flight knowledge and provide additional training.  If a pilot fails these “check rides” the company provides additional training to the pilot.  If the pilot’s performance does not improve, the pilot can be fired.  Ask any pilot and they’ll tell you these check rides are taken very seriously. 

Pilots are required to have a physical performed by a physician once a year.  Pilots must have a medical certificate stating that they are fit to fly.  Medications are monitored by the physician.  Some pilots are afraid to take medications for fear that it may affect their medical certification.

Now . . . I’m a smart woman and I can see the need for change in the industry.  With that being said, let’s get our priorities straight.  Instead of concentrating on pilot conversation in the cockpit, why don’t we look at more pressing issues such as Pilot and Crew rest rules.  Let’s start asking the question of how much time in the cockpit in a twenty four hour period is too much?  Is a pilot flying several legs a day rested enough to make critical decisions?

And why don’t we take a look at pilot pay?  Airlines are constantly lowering the price of tickets –  But, at what cost to you, the passenger?  If pilots, who are clearly not living beyond their means, but have racked up nearly $50-$75,000 in student loans, have to take on a second  or even third job just to pay the bills - should we not consider that this could be a problem?  Take a look people . . . becoming a pilot is expensive. 

People put their lives in the hands of doctors every day.  Medical malpractice is rampant.  Cost of healthcare is through the roof.  What’s next?  Are we going to start putting voice recorders in the operating room?  How about on the public transportation buses?  They have accidents that can potentially take lives — will we install a voice recorder for them?  I know, it sounds ridiculous and people are going to tell me that it’s not a fair comparison . . . but really?  Why not?

So, what do you think?  Feel free to comment, but keep it respectful!  I’m willing to hear both sides of the coin . . . but again, keep it respectful! 

In the next few days, I’m going to begin a series addressing the real truth about being a pilot as told by his wife.  The truth about pilot pay.  The truth about the glamorous life that most people assume pilot’s live. 

Stay tuned . . . you won’t want to miss this!

Until next time, keep the wheels down and leave the flying up to him!

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