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Straight From the Bottle

Our Plan Backfired. Like, Whoa.

Archer didn't sleep on the airplane. He didn't want to play with any of his toys either. He didn't want to watch his DVDs or play with his Etch O' Sketch. He didn't want to play with his spinny yoyo thingy or his Magna-Doodle or read any of his books. He didn't want to do anything but try to stand on my face and open and slam the window shade while simultaneously pressing the reading lights on and off. On and off and on and on and, yeah-- for five hours.

 

IMG_4471

Archer, pictured above: the calm before the storm, gate 47A, LAX.

 

We arrived in Ft. Lauderdale at 5am yesterday morning after THE most uncomfortable flight of all time, exhausted and just plain ol' sad. Because it sucks staying up all night. Especially when you WANT to sleep and you're sick with a weeklong head cold that (shock!) does not feel any better after a cross-country Red-Eye flight with a titty-twistering toddler who thinks late-night airplane rides mean party-time. Ugh.


I would also like to take this opportunity to let American Airlines know that their decision to play High School Musical 2 on a Red-Eye is by far the lamest most idiotic thing ever. High School Musical 2 is not Red-Eye material. High School Musical 2 should not be screened on a plane at 2am, or anywhere for that matter when the only people who aren't fast asleep are parents of young children not amused by singing, dancing candy-coated tweens. And no offense to Zac Efron, but you're no Shia Labeouf, dude. Not even close.

 

Oh and the bag? The super-huge way-cute bag that I very proudly fit all of our airplane stuff in? Ha! Well! The damn thing was so heavy that Hal had to carry it to keep it from breaking completely. Because the straps did not appreciate being weighed down by so much unnecessary crap and tore significantly on both sides. The bag was as pathetic and broken as we... Oh, dear. 

 

Of course, this is what I get for having a "plan".... To hell with what I said in my last post. What an amateur I was! An optimistic, naïve, amateur! Next time = No Red-Eye. No giant bag. No nothing.

 

IMG_4469

Our family seen here during happier times: Lot B Shuttle, LAX

 

In fact, screw flying. I'm walking home to Los Angeles next week. The thought of another flight makes me want to cry. In fact, I did (cry). On the beach this morning. Right before I passed out in the sand, exhausted, sick and totally beyond frustrated. 

 

Wah, sigh, poop, wah, plth, wah, poop. Sigh. Agahkjsdgakjhjdhkjhsflajw acsnau3o828u41op923p1 !!!

 

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Comments

 

LogicalMama said:

Yikes, yeah... well....hmmmm.... happy thanksgiving!

November 22, 2007 12:20 AM
 

addknitter said:

Oh wow I feel your pain as you have just described every flight I ever took with my daughter (now 12) when she was under 4...I know how disheartening it can be. Maybe you and Hal can take turns watching him on the return flight?

November 22, 2007 6:25 AM
 

JenRobbins said:

So...I'm sure that I'm gonna get flamed here, but seriously?  Gravol.  Everyone I know told me: travelling with a 2-yr-old?  Gravol.  I was like, "I AM NOT DRUGGING MY CHILD".  On the Vancouver-Calgary flight I was almost physically removed from the plane before take-off.  Yeah, it's only 1.5 hour flight but straight kicking and screaming through the midnight flight felt like hours, not to mention the sequel 4-hour flight to London...flying solo and 5 months pregnant...

By the return flight had secured some Gravol and the boy slept like a baby.  Like, what people mean when they say "sleep like a baby" and not what babies really sleep like.

Sounds like Archer was having some fun though, and not in complete distress (and causing severe distress to the entire plane)

Non-drug solutions include play-dough...and finding another baby to play peek-a-boo with (not to mention a mom to exchange pity sighs with)

November 22, 2007 10:42 AM
 

knockedup said:

Oh, that sucks.  I can't believe Archer snubbed the Etch a Sketch.

November 26, 2007 6:54 PM

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rebecca woolf

Rebecca Woolf in LA

Who says becoming a mom means succumbing to laser tattoo removal and moving to the suburbs? This young writer and mother of one gives it to you Straight From the Bottle.

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