Break Free

This picture speaks volumes.

When's the last time you danced?

Randomly.

When no one is looking while you're cleaning and singing in to a broom?

I was having a super good day today which was the first time in awhile for me and I was so happy I just cranked the stereo and started dancing! I looked like a complete idiot....I know this because the cat was looking at me with this look on his face like "WTF Are you doing crazy human?!"

So I'm encouraging everyone to dance. Grab your cat that's looking at you like you need a straight jacket and disco with him!

Grab your kid and teach them that letting loose every now and then and just boogying is healthy.

When I look at this picture it's almost like I can feel the music with this little girl.

She's so into it. She's so....free.

Be free.

R.I.P

Sally Ride passed away today from pancreatic cancer.

She was the first US female to go into space.

I got the opportunity to meet this incredible woman at the Sally Ride Festival.

Thank you Sally Ride for paving the way for future generations of women.

You are a hero!

<3

"I can't remember a single time [my parents] ever told me not to do something I wanted to do." - Sally Ride

POTS

I'd like this post to be dedicated to a very good friend of mine, Sarah.

Though I have never met her, she is a great friend of mine.

Sarah is a Marine Corps Wife.

She is a mother to two beautiful little boys.

She supports other Marine Wives, Fiances, and Girlfriends.

She's an OUTSTANDING photographer.

She is the most positive person I know.

Sarah has Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome.

What is P.O.T.S? I honestly had never heard of it before until I met Sarah.

According to http://pots-disease.webs.com/ , P.O.T.S "is a rare disorder that is characterized by the body's inability to make the necessary adjustments to counteract gravity when standing up. The defining symptom of POTS is an excessive heart rate increment upon standing. The hallmark symptom of POTS is an increase in heart rate from the supine to upright position of more than 30 beats per minute or to a heart rate greater than 120 beats per minute within 10 minutes of head-up tilt."

This applies to the theme of my blog, You Can Do Anything, in several ways.

Even though Sarah has P.O.T.S, she never complains. She always posts her hospital trip updates on FaceBook and I swear she's so positive there's smiley faces in her posts. She has told herself she could do anything. She can be a mom despite this. She can be a wife despite this.

I'm posting this today because #1. we need to raise awarness about this syndrome. #2. Sarah is currently in the operating room having an esophagogastroduodenoscopy done. and #3. She is proof that people can do anything if they want it bad enough.

She is truly an inspiration and I am so lucky to know her.

http://p-o-t-s-andplans.blogspot.com/2011/10/still-trying.html

Please comment if you or someone you know has P.O.T.S.

Friends

I FINALLY GOT TO SEE ALLIE AFTER TWO YEARS!!!

I went down to the San Diego area to see her and her Marine. I stayed the night with them and we spent the entire next day shopping and having a blast! It's crazy how the first time we met, we only spent a few hours together, then I didn't see her for two years, and it's like we're best friends. I'm overwhelmed with joy!

So that had me crazy busy, and now I'm working 5 graveyard shifts. Ughhh. Last night at work someone really upset me. The person asked me what I wanted to do with my helicopter license and what my goals were. So I told them that eventually I'd like to fly for LAPD. The individual then became really snappy with me and was like "So you're not going to stay around here? How long are you planning on staying with this department?" It made me so defensive. To make matters worse, I really look up to this person. They're a role model for me. All I could say in response was "I'm 20 years old, I believe there's time for me to do everything I want to do, even if I have to do it all at the same time." At first I was so defensive and confused. Am I supposed to want to stay at this department forever?!?! During my interview here, they asked what my goals were and I told them straight up what my future would be like...and they still hired me. So obviously its not a bad thing right?

I love my job, don't get me wrong. But I can't truly say it is my "calling" in life. Or it might be, if I could do both at the same time. What's everyone elses opinion on this? Feel free to share please!

Comments???

Rant for the day:


     I received a rather disturbing email last night that I'd like to vent about. First, here's the back ground info. The Ninety-Nines is an international organization for female pilots that was created by Amelia Earhart back in the day. This organization allows female pilots to network with other pilots and even win scholarships.


     After I received my private pilot's license, I joined this organization. Shortly after, I started receiving a newsletter called the Aviatrix Aerogram by Laura Smith. I assumed this was created by a women who was a Ninety-Nine because that's the only contact with other female pilots that I have. For a year, I have received this outstanding monthly newsletters. Laura does monthly surveys on various topics and asks her subscribers to answer the questions. A few months ago the question was something along the lines of "Do you  think Civil Air Patrol is a good ole boys flying club?" This survey, and other people's answers really attack CAP for not being "chick friendly". This really upset me so I answered the survey positively. She loved my submission and published it. This month the survey was about Amelia Earhart. She personally emailed me to ask me to write a submission for it, so I did! Remember, I thought this was a Ninety-Nine's thing so I geared all of my answers to the Ninety-Nine's and how Amelia Earhart founded the organization.


I was shocked to receive this email in return from Larua Smith (I''ve underlined what I find most offensive
:
     "Hello Emily. I am happy that you are having a good experience with the Ninety-Nines. I'm sure that you know very little about the politics and some of the nasty history of the organization. I personally have had an absolutely horrendous experience with the 99s (I am no longer a member). It is a very long and involved story. At some point, do take a look at the bylaws and standing rules of the organization and ask yourself how supportive all of that "discipline" content is. Most of that content was put into place so the bullies could go after me. It didn't pass by a valid vote, but they went ahead and put it in anyway. There are some very corrupt and evil women in the organization now. They certainly do not have the sense of integrity that Amelia Earhart did. On the flip side, I know that there are still some very kind and supportive chapters and individuals in the organization. While the scholarship program has some real flaws, I do very much want to see good, hard-working women receive the financial support of the scholarships. Because of that, I do tend to be careful about my commentary about the Ninety-Nines in Aviatrix Aerogram."


#1. "I'm sure that you know very little about the politics..." Wow, that's a little insulting coming from a "professional" woman to someone she doesn't know. I know all about the organization and its great, so don't be rude.


#2. "Most of that content was put into place so the bullies could go after me." Seriously, how concerted are you to think that an INTERNATIONAL organization would make their bylaws to target you!?!? That's insane!


#3. "... corrupt and evil women in the organization now" I don't know what chapter she was involved with, but my chapter has some elderly women in it. I'm the youngest one by probably 30 years...so yes..I can see how "evil" a bunch of badass elderly pilots could be...NOT!


#4. "While the scholarship program has some real flaws..." AND THERE WE HAVE IT! You didn't win a scholarship through the Ninety-Nines so now you hate the entire organization.


#5. "I do tend to be careful about my commentary about the Ninety-Nines..." Really? Is this you being careful with your commentary?!?!


I would NEVER speak poorly of an organization to someone I knew was in that organization. I emailed her back once trying to be sympathetic to her situation but I kept re-reading the email and getting so frustrated. I then emailed her and asked her how she initially got my email in the first place....no response. She did however have the time to send me another email regarding a biography or something.


Can you say crazy?

Struggle

My old flight instructor always said "If it wasn't hard, it wouldn't be worth it." 

     Right now I'm struggling with 12 hour graveyard shifts. It's so hard to stay awake! When I'm not at work, I'm sleeping. I never get to talk to my friends or spend time with my family. My laundry and dishes are piling up but I wont be able to get to it until I'm off work again and it's driving me insane! Algebra final is coming up VERY quickly. I'm overwhelmed. But I keep hearing my flight instructor say "If it wasn't hard, It wouldn't be worth it."

     I'm on the road to getting up in the air again. I've been so busy lately it's almost impossible. This is a small step to my dream but I'm struggling. I'm exhausted. I'm stressed. People come and people go. But I know that it will all be worth it. When I'm sitting on the helipad for the first time in awhile. When I pull the helicopter up into a hover and get that "Pilot Smile" on my face...I'll realize that it was all completely worth it.

     For those who are struggling on the way to reaching your goals and dreams...it's gonna be hard. At times it's going to suck. But you will live and you will make it.

"I can't remember a single time [my parents] ever told me not to do something I wanted to do." - Sally Ride

Update:

When I started flight school, I promised my mother that I would continue my education afterwards by getting my bachelors degree. Yesterday I found out I was accepted to the University that I applied to!!! I am so excited!!!

Today, I had the opportunity to wash a Merlin (some sort of big, pretty airplane) with some friends, the pilot and a friend who is a 16 years old and a cadet in CAP. This cadets wants to fly planes and eventually helicopters so she is getting a lot of experience just by being exposed to it all. I sat there watching the pilot explain things and answer questions and I am just amazed at the people in this world that want others to succeed. I'm not the only one!!! It's a relief to know that there are people that are willing to help you reach your dream . Yes, sometimes you're going to find the mean people who are so self-absorbed they can't help other. But know that there ARE people out there that want you to live your dream. If it wasn't for these people...we wouldn't get anywhere.

Sally Ride, the first US female to go into space, said "I can't remember a single time [my parents] ever told me not to do something I wanted to do." This obviously altered the way she lived her life. Just because someone told her she could. Two little words "you can!" make the difference to someone.

I want people to believe it. Write a stick-it note to yourself and leave it on your bathroom mirror. "I CAN!"

Don't be stingy with it. Pass it on. Tell someone else that "They Can!"

My mom use to take me to airshows and point to fighter jets and say "You could do that! You could fly that!" This made such a difference for me.

Tell a child "They Can!"... Recently my grandfather was in the hospital and all of my family was there and I was watching my cousin's daughters. One of the Med-Evac helicopters landed on the heliport on the hospital and we had a birds eye view of it. I noticed that the oldest girl was particularly interested in it so I asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up. She said she didn't know. So I said, "You know you could fly helicopters if you wanted." Her response was "No I couldn't silly! Only boys can fly!" About that time the female pilot stepped out of the whirly bird and the little girl's eyes lit up. It was a magical thing to watch.

So the lesson of the day (haha) is to encourage someone else and encourage yourself!!!

"I can't remember a single time [my parents] ever told me not to do something I wanted to do." - Sally Ride

First US Female In Space