Zoe: Jayne. This is something the Captain has to do for himself. Mal: No! No, it's not!

'War Stories'


Natter 61*  

Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.


Sue - Oct 29, 2008 12:30:37 pm PDT #7276 of 10001
hip deep in pie

He's sniffing up a storm. Everywhere the cats like to be has been deeply inhaled.

I'm a little worried about cat introductions, but we'll give him a couple of hours before he has to deal with another actual cat.


DavidS - Oct 29, 2008 12:31:10 pm PDT #7277 of 10001
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."

But there's no inherent reason that you couldn't read a pile of magazines on a flight just because you have kids.

Yeah, you're not going to be doing anything except keeping the kid entertained on a flight. It's like three hours of jazz hands topped with a diaper change in a broom closet.


Jesse - Oct 29, 2008 12:33:45 pm PDT #7278 of 10001
Sometimes I trip on how happy we could be.

Yay for big orange kitties! Good times.


tommyrot - Oct 29, 2008 12:34:54 pm PDT #7279 of 10001
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.

Sometimes I think that kids just aren't worth the trouble. Then I realize that if everyone were like me, the human race would have died out way back in caveperson days....


megan walker - Oct 29, 2008 12:38:03 pm PDT #7280 of 10001
"What kind of magical sunshine and lollipop world do you live in? Because you need to be medicated."-SFist

Once they get to a certain age, sure.

Under 10? Good luck.

I see people on flights managing kids just fine. And I traveled a lot with my parents, who basically did their thing, including my father, who took long breaks at the back of plane to smoke. And we also did plenty of long car trips at all ages. I'm not saying its always like that, I just feel sorry for people that think that's impossible.


DavidS - Oct 29, 2008 12:40:49 pm PDT #7281 of 10001
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."

Sometimes I think that kids just aren't worth the trouble.

It's effortful. But probably 7 out of the top 10 instances of pure joy I've felt in my life are all parenting related.

This guy just came into the office for a meeting, and since the reception area is under construction he didn't know where to go. So I came out to great him and he sounded exactly like Jon Lovitz.

He even looked a little like him. The only thing that was weird was that he didn't start muttering "tartlets, tartlets" or "yeah, that's right" or "It stinks!"


Jesse - Oct 29, 2008 12:41:49 pm PDT #7282 of 10001
Sometimes I trip on how happy we could be.

I just think there's a distance between "managing just fine" and "big stack of magazines." Before a kid can read to themselves, they need a fair amount of entertainment -- and even after they can read to themselves, they may not want to for hours on end.


flea - Oct 29, 2008 12:42:10 pm PDT #7283 of 10001
information libertarian

I could probably read magazines on a plane with a 4-5 year old, at least, the one I have. The last time I was on a plane, though, I had my VERY EXCITED ABOUT PLANES 18 month old in my lap. That was exhausting.


tommyrot - Oct 29, 2008 12:43:17 pm PDT #7284 of 10001
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.

Are more parents flying with kids bringing portable DVD players now? I'd think that'd be pretty good at occupying them.


P.M. Marc - Oct 29, 2008 12:44:38 pm PDT #7285 of 10001
So come, my friends, be not afraid/We are so lightly here/It is in love that we are made; In love we disappear

With most kids that I know, who, granted, are the under 5 set, it *is* impossible.

Hell, I have a hard time keeping my child occupied for the amount of time it takes to eat a meal out. A flight's out of the question. And on road trips, very little gets done (not that we've taken one since she got out of diapers--wow, having to stop for potty breaks is going to suck) in terms of zoning or reading, because I can't get into Deep Thought or Reading mode with external distractions who want crackers or a story.

I just think there's a distance between "managing just fine" and "big stack of magazines." Before a kid can read to themselves, they need a fair amount of entertainment -- and even after they can read to themselves, they may not want to for hours on end.

Yep. This.

Are more parents flying with kids bringing portable DVD players now? I'd think that'd be pretty good at occupying them.

I wish.