I'm Sick

I have a confession. You know those boys that sit under their covers with a flashlight and a National Geographic magazine at night? Well, what I've done is WAY more weird. Last night, I spent almost an hour looking at photos of airliners. That's right...airliners. I think I must be sick. Ever since I was little, I've been obsessed with airplanes of every kind, and last night proved that I still am. I can point out the differences between a Boeing 737, 757, 767, and 777 (the 747s are a given), MD-80s and MD90s, as well as most of the Airbus models. I've spent hours drawing pictures of jets—trying to get the pictures right with my limited artistic abilities means it takes even longer. I like to go to the airport two hours before my flights not so that I can be on time, but so that I can walk around the airport, take pictures, and quiz myself on the different models of airplanes. And you know the little toy stores at the airport that sell model airliners? I have to talk myself out of buying the overpriced junk every time I walk by. I've seriously considered redecorating my room to an airplane motif (as an almost-21-year-old), and I think I just might. Oh, and I hope you don't have to drive by me as I'm going South on I-215, because my head is almost definitely going to be turned to the right, trying to spot the neat planes on the tarmac. Another confession—I've contemplated becoming a flight attendant after I graduate from college (and before I go to grad school) just so that I can spend a little extra time on an airplane. I'd be a pilot, but that costs WAY too much money (although if any of you reading this want to offer me a flight school scholarship and the use of a plane, I'd be more than willing to accept).
Oh, and every day I have to check the USA Today Sky Blog, the Delta Airlines Blog, and the Southwest Airlines Blog—just so that I can be up-to-date on their happenings. I've also been known to spend hours of my time reading Wikipedia to learn more about the different models of aircraft and exploring different airports around the globe. I can tell you which airport has the most on-time arrivals (SLC), I can tell you which airport is the largest airport in the world with only one runway (SAN), and in case you didn't notice, I can tell you most of the airport codes in the US (SFO, LAX, PDX, GEG, ABQ, JFK, LGA, IGA, SNA, PHX, etc). By the way, anyone that can tell me what GEG stands for without looking online gets a prize...although the prize may just be my praise, but we'll see.

I also spend way too much time online filling out surveys and looking for deals, just so that I can add Skymiles to my account. In fact, I applied for the Southwest Airlines Visa just because it would give me enough Rapid Rewards Points for a free round trip. I won't ever use the card, and I know that it's probably not the best idea to just apply for a credit card, but it was worth it. I just used those points to get a round trip to New York City! Oh, and I'm not going with anyone...just meeting some people for part of the time. Am I looking forward to my trip? Oh yes, but I'm mostly looking forward to spending four hours on a plane, and I'm really looking forward to my two hour layover at BWI. I remember every trip I've ever taken on an airplane, and I even have the boarding passes from some of my first flights! I've also been known to design fake boarding passes on the computer for my family, and we had a "flight" for family home evening where we watched a movie and I made the safety announcements.

So what do you say? Am I sick? Do I need some kind of shot or pill? If you give me one, I probably won't take it...I like this disease.