It's pronounced "mill-e-wah-que" which is Algonquin for "the good land."

I hate flying.

I'm not afraid of flying; in fact, I like the flying part. At one point in my life, i flew a single engine plane with a couple friends of mine, who were pilots. Now, when I say that i flew the plane, they let me monkey with the pedals and pull up and down on the yoke. It was fun, so were the stalls that we did, as i was weightless for a few seconds at a time.

but that's a whole other story; one of the Apostle Islands, mopeds, cliff jumping and failed relationships. it's a good'en.

unfortunately the most recent flight was on a commercial airline from Spokane to Milwaukee, via Denver...

I hate waiting at the airport. I hate lines. I hate security. I hate the people that just don't get it...

"You're really going to try to shove that bag in the overhead bin? How did they let you bring that monstrosity on the plane?!?!"

and the people who just can't seem to understand how to efficiently put a bag away and sit down. Don't worry, ma'am, about the gigantic line building behind you as you fiddle with your bags and spend unnecessary time in the aisle, doing things that you could do in your seat.

I hate how we're herded into the plane... like bums onto a glorified greyhound bus; one with unbelievably high prices....

"Can I get you something to drink?"

No, no I'm not thirsty, nor are 70% of these people, but for some reason, we take your 6 oz cup of soda, which is mostly ice.

I don't anymore... I just wish someone would slip me a roofie, so i could sleep the flight away. but, as it turns out, I'm not an attractive girl, and this is not a creepy bar... so I'm out of luck.

who gets the armrests? when you're in the middle seat, i think you should get both, and the aisle and window seat should get just the one armrest.... how do we resolve this situation? and how the hell is it possible for you to be kicking my seat so much?!?! what could you possibly be doing back there to cause such a ruckus!?!? we are on the same flight, yeah? what could you possibly need to do that would cause this? i mean, you're not physically flapping your arms to keep us in flight, are you? maybe you're building a fort? or are you telling a story of the great 1906 earthquake of San Francisco, complete with an emphatic reenactment involving my chair.... or maybe you're a little chil--- nope... nope, you're a full grown adult.

HOW are you so oblivious?

finally, make it to milwaukee, hating flying as usual.

my friend andy is waiting for me in the terminal... i'm feeling better already... good to see a familiar face, an old friend. one that i might be working with in the future. He's a PA in the ER where I'll be interviewing tomorrow.

Interview goes well, really well. Got an offer... it's a great deal all around.

I get home, and I decide to take a few days to think it over.

In the end, I decide I'd be stupid not to take it, though it's in Milwaukee WI, not exactly where I want to end up... everything else is ideal. and, milwaukee pleasantly surprised me.

I then, last night, get a call from the surgeon I worked with in CV surgery in Portland. We talk for a few minutes, which was great... I really like this guy. Which is, in part, why I asked him to be a reference for me.

"Chris, I'd be happy to be a reference for you, wherever you decide to apply, but I'd be happier if you tore up your resume, and came to work for us."

crap.

i really loved it there. it's time to make some decisions, and as my oh so favorite president once said, "I'm the decider, and I decide what's best."

Thanks W, I'm going to try and channel your wisdom and decisiveness to make the right call.