california part 1

On Friday we left for California to visit the Knight family. 

On our flight there one of the pilots was helping the flight attendants - I thought it was so nice of him. I love Southwest Airlines :)  We also got to see Shamu One out of our window. I really want to fly on a specialty plane!

Funny story. We rode the same plane from Dallas to Houston and Houston to LA so after the first flight we moved up to the very front row. While passengers started coming on a man asked us if anyone was sitting in the aisle seat. We told him no so he put his coffee mug down next to Paul's seat and went back to find a place to put his luggage. As people came by, at least 20 of them asked if anyone was sitting there. We kept telling them all that the guy had put his mug there so we were assuming he would come back. We started getting some really weird looks when so many people had walked by and no one was in the seat. Still. Finally I looked back and the guy was no where to be found. We started getting some really dirty looks. People were assuming that we were trying to have the row to ourselves. Uh, no. We don't do that. The flight attendant came up and asked if anyone was sitting there, she probably thought the same thing, but we told her it wasn't ours so she grabbed it and threw it away. Then the second to last person got on the plane and asked if she could take the seat and we just started laughing and sure enough, she got to sit there. Everyone around us probably thought we were so rude but really, it was just the guy and his stupid coffee mug. Thanks, man. We were probably a good conversation started for the people around us. "Did you see those stupid kids in the front trying to save that seat?" Oh well, we laughed about it.

It is the first time everyone has been together since our wedding. While they are all originally from Kentucky, Paul's brother, Pete, and his family are living in California and his parents are also there serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Paul's sister, Martha, and her husband are in Utah. Over Christmas we saw Paul's parents and his brother's family. Jayda wouldn't touch me or Paul the whole trip. I got her to play with me within 10 minutes this time. Thank you, iPhone and Tangled photo app!

After visiting together on Friday night and watching "The Hunger Games" we had some good rest. and then headed out for Santa Monica Pier on Saturday morning. It was lovely!

 Martha and Seth - they got married just a few months before us.

Weather was perfect, everything was beautiful.

Look at that manly face.

Once upon a time when I was a senior in high school I watched the movie "Charly" with a good friend of mine named Ethan. For those of you who haven't seen "Charly," there is a lot in there about Ferris Wheels. We were talking about how I hadn't ever been on a Ferris Wheel before (yes, never had been one one) because they were always broken down. Every time I went to a theme park they either didn't have one or it was broken down. Tragedy. Anyway, I'd always wanted to go on one and he told me I probably wouldn't go on one until I was with my husband. 

Who would have thought he'd be right?

August 18, 2012. Lindsay's first experience on a Ferris Wheel. With her husband.

I loved it.

 It was such a beautiful view.

Cute little Jayda girl and her daddy.

What a cutie, right?

 I love this boy!!

 We went under the pier and it was really cool down there!

 The pool in the backyard was so much fun.

Jayda loves the pool now. 

She has two tricks she likes to show her friends. Doggie paddle and back float. 

 We never knew whether or not Uncle Paul was going to be scary or her best friend. It changed every day.

On Sunday we went to church for the blessing of Pete and Lora's baby, Aaron. It was a great experience. Can't wait until we have our little ones! (Okay, yes, I can wait. But it'll be fun in 5 or 6 or 10 years..)

Look at that cute smile. 

We were matching in pink.

Luv, Lindsay and Paul

on we go.

Do you remember my Milwaukee story from yesterday? Well today, the day after I end my internship, it was published on Nuts About Southwest and the employee website. It was a good end to the internship, but a little sad. My company email has officially been shut off and internal posting privileges are gone. I really wanted to stay with this company. I don't like to talk a lot about my disappointing stories, but I'm going to open up and share this one.

Last week I had an interview for an independent contractor position with Southwest. It was basically my last hope to stay with the company. At first I thought it wouldn't be hard to get because I didn't know of anyone else applying and the position was never posted online, I had just been contacted by the recruiter in charge for the interview. I also knew everyone that was going to be in the interview. Once I found out that one other person was interviewing, my confidence fell because I knew it had to either be another intern or a current contractor. The interview went very well, I felt so good about it. Unfortunately, this morning when I got my rejection call, I found out that the other applicant was in fact an intern who had actually already been working with the team. It was a little bit of a let down and the recruiter told me that it was really the only differentiating factor between the two of us, but I was still pretty devastated. Still am. I haven't had too many in-person interviews that I haven't been offered a job for. I guess this is just my sign that maybe Southwest isn't where I'm supposed to be. And on I go. Bigger and better things? I guess we'll see. 

Until I find whatever is next, I will keep applying everywhere and taking any interview I can. Don't worry, I still love Southwest. And I will jump at any opportunity to go back.

This is what I wore to that last interview - not as professional as I would usually go but being at Southwest, a current employee, and knowing everyone in there, I thought it was still appropriate and fun. I wouldn't recommend wearing this to an interview with an accounting firm or bank.

Paul and I love puzzles. We just finished our 6th one!

Isn't it pretty? It was Paul's birthday present.

He is so good at puzzles. I mostly just do it so I can hang out with him! And I enjoy it, I'm just not the most patient.

It's a blurry picture, but we're basically in love. He's what keeps me going when I'm disappointed, the one who holds me when I cry, the one who calms me when I'm mad, and kisses me whenever I want. He's what's going to get me through to finding a job!

On we go.

Luv, Lindsay

Planes planes and three more planes

Travel to Australia aside, I have never been in the air as long as I was yesterday. More air time than traveling to England, my friends. My awesome cube-mate, Carrie, and I flew from Dallas to Kansas City to Milwaukee. Here's the story of Milwaukee from the write-up..

Here at Southwest, we do things a little differently. And we are SO okay with it. This past weekend was filled with inaugural flights and new adventures and included a little celebrating. When our Los Angeles bound Milwaukee passengers woke up this morning, they had no idea what they were in for. They were each greeted on the plane with a glammed-out necklace and a “Welcome to the first non-stop flight from Milwaukee to LA!”  Streamers and stars lined the plane, giving a Hollywood feel. 

We were thrilled with the pleasantly surprised look on everyone’s faces and most gladly participated, wearing their necklace on our journey. Flight attendants did not fail to make sure everyone knew how special they were being on this kick-off flight. 

Four hour flights can feel so long sometimes, but we helped pass the time with sunglasses, movie trivia, and, of course, lots of Southwest style prizes. By pushing their call buttons, passengers became contestants, winning inflatable planes, bag tags, and movie award replicas. The response and participation made the experience fun and gave our flyers a little taste of Hollywood. It may have been a little unconventional as far as airlines go, but that’s the way we like it.

Welcome to Hollywood.

6 am to 11:30 pm. That's a lot of airport and flying time! Especially the flying time since we didn't change planes all the way from Dallas to Kansas City to Milwaukee to LAX..woo! Travel time according to Southwest = 12 hours and 40 minutes. Plus a delay. But it was so worth it and an amazing way to spend our last full day as interns.

Today at work we had to turn in our cards and our time sheets and say goodbye to our wonderful summer at Southwest Airlines. I still can't believe it's over. I'm going to miss everyone I got to work with. Hoping I get better at keeping in touch to keep those friendships going.

The only things I ate today were airplane snacks and California Pizza Kitchen - I love CPK.
Yes, it's airport food, but doesn't this look delicious?

And you know you have good flight attendants when they give you the whole can.

Then your DP doesn't get all watered-down :)

Happy Left Handed Day. I'm enjoying my time as a righty.

Job search intensifies. Now.

Luv, Lindsay

Graduation. Again.

Post #100! Kind of crazy.

I'm in the process of organizing all of my documents and things so everything is in order when I leave and my fellow teammates can find any documents I may have worked on for them. It's kind of sad knowing I won't be on these projects anymore.

Animal Crackers are over halfway gone. This picture was from yesterday before I had some visitors :)

My cute husband who gets to sleep in now took me to lunch today. Fuzzy's Taco Shop is cheap and delicious.

We were putting on my new license plates (yes, I have had them for over a week, don't judge) and the front one is on so tight that we couldn't get it off. So my car is going through an identity crisis and is sporting a plate from each state. That's probably super illegal.

It just doesn't want to let go of Utah I guess! Don't worry, it'll be all Texas soon. Excuse my squinty eyes - it was so bright today.

Today was the day we all graduated from the No Limits Internship Program here at Southwest Airlines. Most people are going back to school but a few fellow graduates are sticking around either as Independent Contractors or full-time employees. For some interns today was their last day and for some it's not until the end of the month. Monday will be my last day to come in. It's really weird saying goodbye. Again. I just graduated.

Sadly after all of this time I still didn't know everyone in our class. We do all work in different departments, but it still would have been nice to have known everyone.

Paul came to support me. What a great cheerleader I have :)

 We each got a cute little certificate and they read off some things about each of us. Here's what they had about me:

Lindsay Knight

Brigham Young University

Graduated April 2012

Customer Engagement Intern

Top3 internship highlights:

·         Partnership events including Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Freedom Over  Texas, 1310 The Ticket, and University of Texas Athletics

·         Radio Promotions and Sweepstakes in Atlanta, California, Boston, Dallas, and Nashville

·         Had 4 posts published on "Nuts About Southwest" about Sports Illustrated at the Majors event and Denver partnerships

Fun Fact about your Internship: I got to be on the radio, fly in the simulator, see a concert, travel, and paint-all for my internship!

They had a slideshow of intern pictures and a video of intern interviews and more pictures. It was nice and a good way to look back on the last few months.

This is Laura, my awesome manager. She made sure I had lots of fun on my internship and gave me a lot of opportunities to travel and learn about how partnerships work. You can tell she truly cares about everyone she works with and wants to see others succeed. I have never met someone so passionate about a company than Laura is about Southwest.

I graduated! Just a few more days and I will be done with my internship. I can't believe how fast it all went. I will miss it for sure.

Luv, Lindsay