Flying and Cheese

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This is a two fold poll! Now I have to get on a plane...I don't want to check myself into prison to do it, but I have commitments, so I will. Would you guys fly right now?

Secondly, I want to bring some of the fabulous goat cheese that Amanda gave the recipes for awhile back, but I don't want to put it through the xray machines. Do you think they will have me eat bites of each of the cheeses to prove it isn't plastique?

That will surely ruin my presentation!!!

-- Doreen (animalwaitress@yahoo.com), November 12, 2001

Answers

Doreen--Our daughter is a mechanical engineer for Shell Oil in New Orleans and is required to travel often. Last week she flew from New Orleans to St. Louis, purchased a bottle of water just before she entered security at New Orleans airport. The security person said "Open the bottle"--it was still sealed--then said "OK, take a drink." Teresa did and they passed her right through! She said the planes were nowhere near capacity. Since she is a frequent flyer on Continental, they bumped her up to first class both ways. From Houston to St. Louis there were 3 passengers in first class.

-- gibson girl (bobtravous@email.com), November 12, 2001.

My husband was scheduled to go to NJ for a special computer class that his business worked on. He told his manager he would prefer not to go after this latest disaster. (It was just another straw, but it adds up) You just never know, and why fly if you do not need to?

-- notnow (notnow05@yahoo.com), November 13, 2001.

I wouldn't fly, but then again, I have never liked flying in those large monstrous things they call planes. Too many near vertical takeoffs with a sharp bank to the left at Newark International I guess...

I know if it's your time to go, it's your time to go, and there isn't much you can do about it. But to me, why hurry things along?

-- Eric in TN (eric_m_stone@yahoo.com), November 13, 2001.


OK, time to tell my "plane story"...years ago I had to fly from Boston to Ohio. I didn't look at the ticket, so I didn't know that the plane was going to stop in NYC and then go to Ohio.....so, being a total white-knuckle flyer, I was attuned to every single noise on the aircraft, and spent the first 30 minutes of the flight imagining loosening screws on the wings, etc. For those of you who fly, you know how the jet engine noise is always there in the background, sort of a low hummmmmm thing? Well, I was content until I heard it "shut off"..I knew it was a 2 hour flight to where I was going, not a mere 45 minutes or so...how was I to know they had slowed the plane because they would be landing in NYC??? Anyway, I assumed that the engines had failed..when I saw the "no smoking" sign go on and the "fasten your seatbelt", I lost it..I screamed at the top of my voice, "WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE!!!!"...nice huh? I have now noted that in a crowd of folks, when some idiot screams out anything, the crowd automatically believes it to be true...two woman right behind me threw up, one guy in the back of the plane started hyperventilating and having chest pains....the flight attendants were bopping all up and down the aisle trying to calm folks....we circled for several minutes while the pilots demanded over the intercom for calm..finally, the co-pilot came to my seat after I was identified as the hysterical moron who had shouted.He told me that the plane was merely preparing to land. He also told me I was getting OFF his plane in NYC. Furthermore, he was submitting my name to the authorities of TWA.....humbled, grossly embarassed, I took a greyhound to Ohio and back home again. A week later, I got a nice letter from TWA saying that I would not be allowed on any of their planes again unless I had documented proof of a psychiatric overhaul..no problem since I have never set foot on an airplane again and do not intend to (doesn't that make all you fliers happy?)..so, Doreeen, pray that there will be no neurotic folks on your plane and you will be just fine...God bless.

-- lesley (martchas@bellsouth.net), November 13, 2001.

I take back all the slightly inaccurate things I have ever said about your opinions. That had me laughing so hard, the Admin came in and asked if I was ok. Thanks for saving a crappy tuesday...

-- bill (bill@bill.com), November 13, 2001.


Oh my...That was so so so so so funny!!!! thanks!

I am not afraid of flying after my first non stop from LA to Frankfurt, I was cured. I just don't like the idea of giving my cheese up to irradiation!

Anyway, my business partner is too nervous about both of us being on the same flight so we are driving now.....hmmm...Those semis are awful big...(lol).

-- Doreen (bisquit@here.com), November 13, 2001.


Lesley!!!!! I've never been on a plane, but somehow I suspect I'd do just what you did!!! They make me nervous when they just fly over lower than usual.

-- Green (ratdogs10@yahoo.com), November 14, 2001.

Lesley -- I love it -- I can just imagine -- being PERSONA NON GRATA on TWA -- I didn't realize that they did that!

My very first flight was when I was about 18 -- I flew to the east coast to visit a friend. I was very nervous, and was doing the white knuckle thing. A very kind older gentleman in the seat next to me was patting my hand telling me he did this flight at least three times a year to visit his daughter and had never had a problem when -- WHAM -- something collided with the plane at the VERY POINT when the wheels leave the ground. Looking out my window I noticed the entire wing appeared to be covered in blood -- now there is a ringing recommendation to fly -- especially for a first time flyer!

Turned out a seagull got sucked into the engine just as we were leaving the ground. I'll never forget the way that old guy's hand clamped on my wrist -- or the color of his face when the plane shook. I figure that was probably the last time his daughter got a visit!

-- Tracy (trimmer31@hotmail.com), November 15, 2001.


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