The Argument Clinic

So I got back from my trip to phoenix on friday evening.  Trip wasn’t bad, no delays and the flights were ok, with the exception of a few bumpy spots. 

Have to say I am not a big fan of pilots saying stuff like “its smooth now, but we expect the flight to deteriorate in the next 15-20 minutes as we fly over albuquerque.”  Seriously, saying words like deteriorate to someone who is afraid of flying is not very nice.  Can’t you just say “will get a little bumpy” (which is what happened?)?  Why did the pilot, instead, have to talk like the plane was going to fall apart or something?  Sure, after my initial panic attack (which I hold inside so people around me can’t usually tell I am having one), I realize he just means turbulence is coming up….but I don’t think very clearly when on planes, am always expecting the worst, and can usually only make out a fraction of what the pilot is saying to begin with, so can’t he just say we are expecting some turbulence?

Telling me that it will be bumpy in 15 mins is good in some ways and very frustrating in others…nice to know that the bumps are expected so that I don’t worry when they come…but knowing that it is scheduled to get bumpy in 15 minutes just makes me think “ok…7 minutes 30 seconds until it gets bumpy….5 minutes until it gets bumpy….47 seconds until it gets bumpy…etc…”.  Not very pleasant. 

Anyways, my mom was staying at my apartment to watch my cats and she helped me decorate for christmas on saturday.  I know, its early.  But I like to decorate early, partially because I get a little depressed this time of year with the seasonal changes and the christmas tree helps and partially because, well, I feel like it and making those decisions when I want to is one of the benefits of being single   My cats are pretty cute around the tree and manger scene (ladi especially…thea thinks she is too cool to pose for photos sometimes), got some cute photos of them.  You can see them here.

Still waiting on my mid-term results and have part 2 of the 4 part discussion of moby-dick tonight.  That’s it for now…