propriety

as some of you know i'm a member of Delta Air Lines' airport lounge circuit, the Crown Room Club. as a member you're able to go to their lounges in various cities and sit in a much less chaotic atmosphere than the normal departures area. in addition there are Delta agents there to help you with flight information and they've been a godsend more times than i can count when weather has hit and delays/cancellations are abound. most lounges have staffed bars and i take FULL advantage of this perk. i'm a nervous flyer and a drink or six before a flight helps take the edges off. i pay a hefty sum every year to be a member of this club and enjoy all the benefits. Delta extends lounge access to traveling military personnel, without a fee. i'm all for this. no qualms whatsoever. why not extend these brave people a little comfort and relaxation? HOWEVER. i do have a problem when people wearing the uniforms members of my family have worn with pride and honor get sloshed at the bar because they got in the door for free. not classy and very disrespectful to those of us who pay for membership and pay your salaries! i understand you're defending my rights as an American and i implore you to find another person more thankful than myself for that service. but don't come in to the club and get shit-faced on my dime wearing a uniform that commands respect!

(side note: i know these guys aren't in uniform and i regret not getting a picture of the tens of others of soldiers i've seen in my various trips drinking cocktails in BDU's!)

"life after paris"

well i'm back. i thought it was just going to be another trip to Europe, but I was so wrong. i've been to Munich a few times and always thought that it was my favorite city but Paris has taken that title. i don't kid myself in thinking that i lived like a local but we did stay in an apartment, cooked our own meals and spoke the language. i think it would be quite something to live in Paris and as of my return, I've decided that's exactly what i want to do. this city embodies everything i love. the french culture, liberal thought, fashion, love of food and wine, the list goes on. never in my life have i been to a place where i felt so comfortable and i felt genuine regret when it was time to leave. i'll most likely be forced to give up my dream of working in the aviation industry, as Air France has a basic monopoly on that in Paris and they're quite preferential to French/EU citizens. so any American company (like Apple, American Apparel, etc.) or UN organization (ICAO, UNESCO, etc.) hiring in downtown Paris will be getting my resume by next summer. i may change my mind as life goes on, but as of today I want to be a Parisian!