Thursday, August 14, 2008

How Long is Four hours?

First of all I am glad to be back from vacation but have been very busy and blogging has been down on the list of things to do. Thank you very much to my buddy Mt. Cat for picking up the slack in my absence. I will post about the rest of our family vacation later but I had to share this story.

Last Sunday we were scheduled to fly back from New York's JFK airport at 2:25 pm to arrive home before 5 pm after our wonderful vacation. We had decided that we needed to get to the airport early because not only is JFK very busy but my wife had lost her drivers license and we were concerned that she might have trouble at security. So got there plenty early. The security was not too bad and so we found ourselves able to relax for a bit and get a bit to eat and have an hour and a half before our flight was to board. Cool.

We had Patrick with us of course and we decided to let him stretch his legs and get some energy out so he ran around the terminal and tried to mess with peoples things. We chased after him and had some fun. It gets to be 2 pm and we find out that our flight is going to be delayed boarding due to another late flight coming in that they were holding a plane at our gate for. At this point we get a bit concerned because there is weather out to the west that will be arriving later and we don't want to get stuck. We are still OK though and Patrick seems to be alright.

We keep hearing delay after delay announcements for our flight which are not all that bad we finally get in line to board about 3:45 pm. Everything is still OK because they are telling us that we will still get out before the weather and get back home to Charlotte by 6 pm. No problem right? WRONG !

I checked my watch when we were seated on the airplane and it was exactly 4 pm. The crew goes through the normal pre-flight stuff and then the captain comes on the intercom and advises that we are in for a bit of delay because of the weather we are 65th in line to take off. Yes 65th in line to take off. At this point Patrick whose "seat" is either my wife's or my lap is starting to get a bit antsy. There simply is no room on an airplane for a 14 month old to do his thing and move around and he doesn't understand why he is being trapped there.

The time starts to drag on. We are going nowhere fast and the captain keeps coming on to tell us about the weather and they are hoping to take off soon. Oh and did I mention that the free satellite TV wasn't working even though they restarted it twice? Yep we were just stuck there. At one point they even turned the engines off and the exasperated captain tells us that we "aren't going anywhere any time soon."
Now I don't want to sound like I am blaming Jet Blue. It wasn't their fault and they did try to make us comfortable giving out water and chips but it was flat out miserable in there. People were agitated. Patrick was restless but you can't really blame him, he was hungry, had diaper rash and was cutting new teeth. The really nice lady who we shared a row with was a saint. She even took turns holding Patrick and one time even walked up and down the isles with him. I want to publicly thank Eleanor Grant who is a gospel singer and who we shared a row with. She has a new CD coming out and was on her way to Miami to do publicity photos. We might not have made it without her.

Well if you have managed to read this far you may figure out by the title of this post that we didn't take off until just after 8 pm. Yes we sat on the runway at JFK for FOUR HOURS. How long is four hours? Long enough for an average NASCAR race, or the movie Titanic (if you sit through the credits), an hour longer than the average NFL game, or half of an average work day. I submit that the longest four hours possible to be experienced is sitting on an airplane with a teething, hungry, and antsy 14 month old who just wants to run around. I never want to do that again! What is your idea of the longest possible 4 hours you could ever experience?

-Doc

36 comments:

Leighann said...

How about 3 adults and 4 kids in ONE exam room at the docs office?

Doc said...

That sounds like bad business too... WELCOME BACK LEIGHANN !!

Leighann said...

It's not much fun :)

Thanks babe!

Karen said...

I do not get why they put people on the plane when they know you are just going to sit and wait. That sounds like a nightmare.

And to be honest, I am not sure I could be as wonderful as Elanor Grant. When I see kids sitting near me on a plane, I automatically cringe.

Fly out of Newark next time. They tend to be better. But I don't think they have Jet Blue, do they?

Unknown said...

It took me 21 hours to get from here to Providence. The actual flying time: 2hrs 30 mins.

I HATE FLYING!

I used to love it, but it is now a huge nightmare. From now on I will only be flying on early morning flights. My salesmen won't take anything after 9am and NOW I know why. Sheesh!

ps - Missed you!!!

Leighann said...

I think I'm going to be sick.... John Mayer is currently spewing out a ridiculous version of "Free Fallin'"

*gag*

Leighann said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Doc said...

Awww G. I missed you too. I didn't see Papa G at shea... Even though Mt. CAt and I did discuss you... He referred to you as 'WGN' I said... I am gonna tell her you referred to her as a TV network!

Leighann... You hatin' on John Mayer too??

Doc said...

Hey Karen... hows the HP going?

Unknown said...

A crappy chicago network??? Wow. Thanks, Mt Cat...

sniffle...

pout...

(starts planning stewie-like revenge)

The Mountain Cat said...

Ouch sorry to hear Doc. Well at least you got to see New York for a few more hours I guess. eek

Knight said...

I am flying places all the time and I think I might be bad luck for all of the other passengers because I always end up with ridiculous delays and usually end up staying in random cities overnight. Coming back from the Bahamas they wouldn't let us off the plane when they had to detour to Baltimore. A two 1/2 hour plane trip ended up taking over 8 hours trapped in our seats.

Schmoop said...

Answer: 240 Hours. Boo Yah...What do I win? Cheers!!

Ken said...

Our version is a last minute decision to leave the peace and serenity of 81 North to go through New York on 95 North on a Sunday afternoon. We usually go over the Tappan Zee to stay out of the heavy traffic. After missing the NJ turnpike north we found ourselfes on 95 North through Philly, not bad for a Sunday afternoon but made it tougher to get over to the George Washington Bridge. THATS where it all went hell....two friggen hours just about stopped to get over the 8 dollar son of a fri%#$ bridge, then another hour through the Bronx. Oh what a beautiful Sunday afternoon!

Doc said...

Mic...Sounds like there must have been a wreck on Jerome Ave. We always take the GW to across the Bronx to the Throgs Neck on teh way to LI... sometimes you roll snake eyes though.

Ken said...

Yea Doc, I've been over GW on Sundays before, never that bad. It had to be double snake eyes, one for the bridge and then another in the Bronx.

The Mountain Cat said...

Doc, what is this NASCAR you speak of?

Anonymous said...

I live in the Bronx and I NEVER take 95 to the GW...you're just asking for trouble - no matter what day, what time! Actually, I avoid 95 at almost all cost!

As a New Yorker, I have absolutely no patience for traffic. I live right off the the Henry Hudson, so I jump on that and pay the $2.25 toll to get to the GW (or vice versa)...it's worth it!

...and Doc, so sorry - that really sucks! God Bless Eleanor Grant!!

Unknown said...

sniffle...

i miss living in the Bronx...

sniffle...

Anonymous said...

Awww, G...don't cry! You can take the girl outta the Bronx, but not the Bronx outta the girl..!! ; )

The Mountain Cat said...

Is NASCAR the name of a new hockey league?

Anonymous said...

Ooooo...I think the Cat is lookin' for a fight! (...as he runs off to Starbucks for a late afternoon pick-me-up!)

Doc said...

Don't be fooled by the Rocks that she got... She's still (she's still) G from the Bronx.

Anonymous said...

LOL, Doc!

Doc said...

Vin has been to NASCAR races before - He has no room to talk.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, like that's gonna stop him...

Unknown said...

You're right. I'm going to flip people off and yell obscenities out the window on my drive home.

That'll make me feel better.

Anonymous said...

Atta girl, G...! ; )

As American as Apple Pie said...

I've never been to NYC and am dying to go. However, I don't think I want to drive or fly after reading this.

Can somebody PLEASE hurry up and invent teleporting?

Jeff B said...

How about sitting on the tarmack for four hours in the middle seat with Rosie O'Donnel in the isle seat and Rosann Barr in the window seat?

j said...

Glad you are back Doc. Hope your vacation took a turn for the better once y'all were in the air.

Jen

Jay said...

That's pretty brutal dude!

I would recommend a shot of NyQuil and a nap in that situation. For the kid. You would want something stronger. haaha ;-)

Phfrankie Bondo said...

I understand Al Gore is working on inventing teleporting....and none too soon!

Aunt Becky said...

You poor people! Poor kidlet.

Lu' said...

Doc, I don't think I can think of a longer 4 hrs except maybe to have been a non-parent, very impatient as a general rule, easily overheated woman; me. One way I descibe my self is, doesn't wait well.

Unknown said...

My God! You had to sit on the plan for THAT long???? Oh, you poor thing.