Uneventful day

Listening to - Sara Evans - As If

Today ended up being a lazy day. I didn't get nearly half the work I needed to get done, completed. On the plus side, I am feeling much better sinus wise. It's still not an infection **knock no wood** and hopefully it stays that way since I can't afford to miss any more work trying to knock this.

Well my trip was fun. I left LGA after a not so bad 25min delay for aircraft departing via COATE. We got a good shortcut direct LHY shortly after initial climb out. It was my first time on an A319. It looked like it was a relatively new aircraft and despite my dislike for Airbus, it was a nice flight into ORD.

I had about 20mins to get something for breakfast and get to my next gate. I'm learning that airport food isn't great and is expensive. I guess I got used to DTWs diner that was cheap and tasted good! Note to self - work for Northwest!

Left ORD and was something like 20th in line for departure. Oh well, another 25minute delay and we were off. ORD did a great job sequencing everyone out of there so my hats off to them.

Once enroute it was a normal flight and we got direct Des Moines pretty early on it seemed. We had to extend a bit so a 172 could do a practice ILS. Glad to see that even out west they're good about sequencing in the small guys and the big guys. That's one thing I think the N90 controllers do very well. They mix SWA with us little guys and make it all work without making it difficult for anyone.

It was also good to listen to the ATC throughout the flights to see that yes, ATC really is the same everywhere it's not just what they tell you. In reality, I've never piloted an aircraft outside of the NYC-Metro area (well..Martha's Vineyard doesn't count but it's still close enough to Boston for me to consider it busy). But yes, they do s p e a k a l ot s l oooooo wer out theeeeeeere.

Coming back from OMA I think the captain had the ADF tuned onto CH9 in addition to whatever was in Comm1. I heard something about AMXXXX from Des Moines and then AMXXXX from Minneapolis and then AMXXXX from Chicago. Was interesting but it was Christian Rock, then conservative radio, then progressive radio. Not exactly my choice ADF listening.

I managed to find a Micky D's in ORD and even though it's not the greatest, when you're on a tight schedule it works. Waited around for boarding and made sure that the row I picked out earlier was still empty. When I checked in at OMA I saw the back half of the aircraft was empty so I made the decision to go get a row to myself. Good choice and mistake all at the same time. I wound up with the family that has two youngin's that evidently don't like flying. Granted I just listened to the ATC anyway but with this cold I had, it wasn't helping my sinus headache.

We did three turns over MLT and got back on the arrival. Not too bad all things considered.

Anyway I have a lot of analysis homework to do plus studying for my exams. Lame.

- Matt