How do you pass the time on a long airplane ride? Yesterday, I accompanied my husband on a business trip to San Francisco. The 35 minute flight from Lake Charles to Houston was easy. Read the newspaper and I'm there. But from Houston to the Bay Area -- 4.5 hours -- I had to get a bit creative. I'm not much of a sitter. For some reason, Bob and I weren't even sitting next to each other, so I had no one to lean my head against or talk to. I generally don't talk to strangers. Though the couple sitting next to me made a little friendly conversation.
I start out closing my eyes and resting. But I've never been able to sleep on a plane. The plane's movie system is out of order. I re-peruse the newspaper, attempt the crossword -- always fun in pen. I complete all but one square, and it's a tennis question. Where's my guy when I need him. He'd know the answer. Then the sudoku -- challenging if not impossible in pen. I don't finish. Soon the snack and beverage carts rattle down the aisle. I request the same drink I always do -- club soda with lemon. I never drink this anywhere else, but always on a plane. Always have. And I drink it reeaallly slow in an attempt to NOT have to pass the time using the aircraft lavatory. Yuck. I'm not even hungry, but I eat the snack anyway -- a turkey dog wrapped in bread -- why don't they just call it a kolache -- and a Twix bar. Eating helps pass the time.
Three more hours to go. I've exhausted the paper and pick up my book. After several minutes of reading, I start to feel a bit airsick. So I'm back to closing my eyes and resting. The drink cart passes through again and I haven't finished my first can yet. I decline.
Two more hours. I'll never make it. So I climb over the couple next to me, walk to the back of the plane, and wait in the long lav line. (Sip sloooower) After squeezing past way too many people on the return down the aisle to my seat, I pick up the book again and get about half of it read.
The highlight of the flight was at twilight, watching out the window, the plane skimming over an endless baby blue blanket of clouds, then descending through to the underside and over the twinkling lights of San Francisco. One can see the most amazing pictures from the sky.
How do you pass the time on a plane?
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5 comments:
Wow, I wouldn't have guessed the flight is that long. The portable DVD player came in very handy with Alex. I like to read. Books on tape would be nice too. Hope you are having a wonderful time!
i doze a little or at least pretend i am dozing. i take something to read and extra food to munch on. Also hope you are having a wonderful time!!
m
I usually like to take a Sudoku book with me when I fly. But, I also take a book to read. I read a little of the flight magazine and then attack the crossword puzzle and the sudoku in the mag. I am with you, Angie, I like to work a crossword puzzle in ink, I can see the letters better. I work sudoku up through the hard and then resort to a pencil for the really hard ones. That doesn't mean I don't just x out a puzzle every so often when I really get it messed up.
Occasionally I talk to the person next to me. One time I met a man who had graduated from the same college as I did. He was English and came to the states on a track scholarship because he wasn't quite good enough for the university he wanted to attend in England.
Another time I met an ice skater traveling with her father. She was hoping to qualify for the Olympics. So sometimes it is interesting to talk to the people next to you.
Have a safe trip home and a great Christmas.
bev
I love plane rides...though I get motion sickness like crazy...i load up in my backpack all the goodies I will need. I'm traveling tomorrow to paris 9 hr plane ride..then taking a train from paris to barcelona..hence I need things to do so I'm not climbing the walls. My backpack contains: 2 unread book and 1 half read book, travel journal, writing journal if the mood strikes me, 5 magazines, playing cards (can I play solitaire on the train ride maybe??), an ipod, ...and 2 skeins of yarn for a current baby blanket work in progress...hmmm so what will i do for the second half of the trip - coming home..lol!
miss you ang. its good to read about u and the family out and about!
Thanks, Mindy! Have a great trip to France. Can't wait to read your upcoming blogs!
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