Category Archives: personal

Bethany sent along this great link to Zagat’s latest survey of customer satisfaction in the airline industry. Really funny stuff here. Choice quotes:

“Need air marshals to protect passengers from crew.”

“Cabin staff treats you like a stranger crashing a dinner party – only they don’t serve food.”

“Economy class is like the Bataan Death March with carry-on luggage.”

“I’ll start with the good: Web site easy to navigate. That’s the end of the good.”

That is just a few, there are many more equally funny. This is a must read.

I also find it somewhat sad that it has gotten so bad. When I was a kid, I used to fly all the time. My Grandmother flew a lot and very often took me on trips with her. I even would fly alone sometimes, under the care of the stewardesses (yes, that is what they were then). I remember everyone being so friendly. They always gave me the chance to see the cockpit and talk to the captain. I lived for the little tin wings he would pin on my lapel, which I had of course, because people still dressed up to travel. I remember the food being pretty good and served on real plates with real silverware which I would sometimes sneak in my pocket for an extra souvenir. I must have had a full set of silverware from every airline we flew for a while.

And the planes! Braniff painted each one of their 727 Whisperjets a different bright seventies color. I always tried to guess the color of the jet we would be flying on before we got to the terminal. Then, one day, I saw across the tarmac a Braniff that had been painted like a Mondrian. Oh my god! I have to ride that plane. I prayed for several trips afterwards that I would get to ride that plane. I never did but it has stuck with me for a long time. There were other airlines of course. Republic, Piedmont, Northwest Orient, Delta, we flew them too. Not quite Braniff, but still, it was always fun to fly.

Short version:

This past weekend (Saturday November 5th for those keeping score) I asked Bethany to marry me. She said yes. No date has been set but I will post about if here as soon as we have one (with all appropriate registry details and links of course).

Long version:

This past Saturday, Bethany and I had a couple of parties to go to in the evening. The first being a wedding reception and the second being a birthday party. We were at the wedding reception and we were talking about something (I can’t remember what) but the subject of proposals came up. Bethany reminded me, which she has done frequently for a while now as patience is not one of her stronger traits, that I had not yet asked her to marry me. I explained that, while that was true, I certainly would not do so at someone else’s wedding reception because that would be tacky and steal the spotlight away from the people we were there to celebrate. Bethany wholeheartedly agreed and the subject was dropped.

We left the reception party not too long after and continued to the birthday party. After arriving, while putting our coats on the bed in the bedroom as directed by the host, I casually mentioned to Bethany…

“While it would have been tacky for me to propose at the last party it would not be tacky here since this is not a wedding reception”

“You’re right.” she said “It would be O.K. to ask here.”

With this she turned to walk into the party. I then took the ring box out of my pocket and…

“Honey, wait. I am serious.”

She turned around and there I was holding the box, open now, with ring enclosed.

“Oh my god!” She exclaimed. She stood there, hands over mouth in a state of shock for several seconds.

“Well?” I asked.

“Well, you have not actually asked me yet!” rule-bound Bethany said, half jokingly.

“Will you marry me? I have already spent every day of the last year telling you how I feel and how much you mean to me. I don’t know what more I can say.” I returned.

“Yes, of course I’ll marry you.”

So, there you have it. I am officially engaged to Bethany Gladhill, the smartest, sweetest most beautiful human being I have ever been blessed with having in my life. She is my best friend and the only person I have ever been with that I never tire of. She means the world to me and I can’t wait to spend every day of the rest of my life letting her know exactly that in every possible way.

If you have not already noticed by the little red comment links beneath the posts, I have finally gotten comments enabled on the site. There is still a little work yet to be done. For instance the “Thank you for your post” page needs to be prettied up to match the site. Otherwise, things should just work. Please feel free to put your two cents in on anything that strikes your fancy.