Special Snowflake Stories

[KarenK]

I did it!!!!!! Finally got to the end!

It's been a long, strange trip.

Congratulations!  Now you can get your official Ehell Perseverance Devil Horns award! 

I'd like to thank the members of E-hell...

I'll have a story to post when I get on a real computer!

[oz diva]

The DVD is released in the UK in November, not sure if it'll air in the states as it's not being made by the BBC.

Coolness! I just googled it and it is all the original cast.

I don't know about everywhere else in the world but here in NZ to be a TV programmer you have to be lobotomised or have suffered a severe brain injury before they give you a job as it was on at something stupid like 1am on a Monday morning. That seems to be the slot they use for any decent shows while they fill the rest with dross.

Don't even get me started on the Australian ones (especially Channel 7). Brand new Castle, brand new Amazing Race, and as far as I can tell NO air date in remote sight.  Yet they get very cranky indeed if you download stuff off the internet. Apparently we're all supposed to wait very patiently until they deign to share things with us, on some timetable of their own. 

Two words - Downton Abbey

[Iris]

The DVD is released in the UK in November, not sure if it'll air in the states as it's not being made by the BBC.

Coolness! I just googled it and it is all the original cast.

I don't know about everywhere else in the world but here in NZ to be a TV programmer you have to be lobotomised or have suffered a severe brain injury before they give you a job as it was on at something stupid like 1am on a Monday morning. That seems to be the slot they use for any decent shows while they fill the rest with dross.

Don't even get me started on the Australian ones (especially Channel 7). Brand new Castle, brand new Amazing Race, and as far as I can tell NO air date in remote sight.  Yet they get very cranky indeed if you download stuff off the internet. Apparently we're all supposed to wait very patiently until they deign to share things with us, on some timetable of their own. 

Two words - Downton Abbey

Okay, I'll give you that one. But I'm still going to be cranky until I get my Nathan Fillion fix 

[Pippen]

The DVD is released in the UK in November, not sure if it'll air in the states as it's not being made by the BBC.

Coolness! I just googled it and it is all the original cast.

I don't know about everywhere else in the world but here in NZ to be a TV programmer you have to be lobotomised or have suffered a severe brain injury before they give you a job as it was on at something stupid like 1am on a Monday morning. That seems to be the slot they use for any decent shows while they fill the rest with dross.

It actually strikes me as a little SS to suggest that just because shows *you* like aren't mainstream that the TV programmers have got it wrong.   I know a couple of people who work for TVNZ and they're typically hard working, quite underpaid (only the talent and execs get the big $) and are just trying to do their job and meet the requirements of their bosses, advertisers and public demand.   I do happen to loathe some of the shows that are popular these days, but other people like them.  And I know there are shows I love that others detest.  It's not all about me.

Also, I'm sure that several of my wonderful clients who have suffered TBI / ABI would be delighted to know that you consider them suitable for a career in the TV industry. Considering the struggles they have in their daily lives to hold down jobs due to issues with memory, anxiety, and other psychosocial  impact, and the stress their injury causes to themselves and their loved ones.     I'm afraid using TBI as an insult - as you have done here - is no more appropriate than using the "*******" word as an insult, or mocking any other kind of disability.

That may well be the case but I am by no means the only person who is infuriated that the only decent shows on telly are shown at hours only an insomniac would appreciate. It is only through insomnia I would even have heard of Red Dwarf or Arrested Development. Don't even start me on Eek the Cat being shown on Saturday morning kids TV.

There is a hideous woman here in NZ that has almost single handedly destroy TV content to the lowest common denominator. It is not even worth turning it on to see which fresh horror she is unleashing on the public. I am just waiting for it to be finally distilled down to overweight out of control teenagers being marooned on a desert  island and forced to design their own range of cushions on their path redemption and some gift vouchers for the charity of their choice.

[Ceallach]

The DVD is released in the UK in November, not sure if it'll air in the states as it's not being made by the BBC.

Coolness! I just googled it and it is all the original cast.

I don't know about everywhere else in the world but here in NZ to be a TV programmer you have to be lobotomised or have suffered a severe brain injury before they give you a job as it was on at something stupid like 1am on a Monday morning. That seems to be the slot they use for any decent shows while they fill the rest with dross.

Don't even get me started on the Australian ones (especially Channel 7). Brand new Castle, brand new Amazing Race, and as far as I can tell NO air date in remote sight.  Yet they get very cranky indeed if you download stuff off the internet. Apparently we're all supposed to wait very patiently until they deign to share things with us, on some timetable of their own. 

Two words - Downton Abbey

I have to agree, Australian TV is remarkably slow at introducing new shows from overseas.   And it's not because of local content, it's because they play so many reruns!   I do wonder if demand will eventually catchup and force them to pay the money for the big shows, but there seem to be plenty of people content to wait.    Doesn't work for me - the new season of SOA just started in the US and I've already caught a major spoiler by accident in amongst an unrelated news article!    On the bright side, because Australian tv is so many years behind on most shows it means I no longer spend much of my time watching it - they've saved me from a lot of ad time.   I'm watching DVDs or tv online instead!

[MariaE]

Could the TV show posts please be taken to a spin-off thread?

[JonGirl]

The DVD is released in the UK in November, not sure if it'll air in the states as it's not being made by the BBC.

Coolness! I just googled it and it is all the original cast.

I don't know about everywhere else in the world but here in NZ to be a TV programmer you have to be lobotomised or have suffered a severe brain injury before they give you a job as it was on at something stupid like 1am on a Monday morning. That seems to be the slot they use for any decent shows while they fill the rest with dross.

Don't even get me started on the Australian ones (especially Channel 7). Brand new Castle, brand new Amazing Race, and as far as I can tell NO air date in remote sight.  Yet they get very cranky indeed if you download stuff off the internet. Apparently we're all supposed to wait very patiently until they deign to share things with us, on some timetable of their own. 

I'm still waiting for that bloody Julian Assange movie!!! 

[twiggy]

I'm a bit late to the SS parent parking at the school idea, I see that it's been discussed in this thread for years. But my son just started preschool, so this is my first real experience with it. DS's school is in a neighborhood. I get on the through street about a mile and a half from his school and actually pass another school to get to his. I typically set my cruise control because it is sooo easy to speed down that street. Several times I've had people riding my bumper and one guy in a big truck was actually revving his engine at me when I had the nerve to slow down at the school crossing (15mph speed limit). On another occasion a driver went into the bike lane (on this street it's as wide as a car lane) to pass me on the right.

Then we get to the school itself. To get our preschoolers, we have to park on the street, walk to the classroom and sign them in/out. On the corner there is a fire hydrant, so clearly you can't park there right? Am I the only one who thinks parking in front of a fire hydrant is not allowed? Even if its only 5 min. Today we got a flyer reminding parents not to park under the no parking signs

[BarensMom]

I'm a bit late to the SS parent parking at the school idea, I see that it's been discussed in this thread for years. But my son just started preschool, so this is my first real experience with it. DS's school is in a neighborhood. I get on the through street about a mile and a half from his school and actually pass another school to get to his. I typically set my cruise control because it is sooo easy to speed down that street. Several times I've had people riding my bumper and one guy in a big truck was actually revving his engine at me when I had the nerve to slow down at the school crossing (15mph speed limit). On another occasion a driver went into the bike lane (on this street it's as wide as a car lane) to pass me on the right.

Then we get to the school itself. To get our preschoolers, we have to park on the street, walk to the classroom and sign them in/out. On the corner there is a fire hydrant, so clearly you can't park there right? Am I the only one who thinks parking in front of a fire hydrant is not allowed? Even if its only 5 min. Today we got a flyer reminding parents not to park under the no parking signs

Sounds like a call to the friendly neighborhood police station is in order. 

[kherbert05]

I'm a bit late to the SS parent parking at the school idea, I see that it's been discussed in this thread for years. But my son just started preschool, so this is my first real experience with it. DS's school is in a neighborhood. I get on the through street about a mile and a half from his school and actually pass another school to get to his. I typically set my cruise control because it is sooo easy to speed down that street. Several times I've had people riding my bumper and one guy in a big truck was actually revving his engine at me when I had the nerve to slow down at the school crossing (15mph speed limit). On another occasion a driver went into the bike lane (on this street it's as wide as a car lane) to pass me on the right.

Then we get to the school itself. To get our preschoolers, we have to park on the street, walk to the classroom and sign them in/out. On the corner there is a fire hydrant, so clearly you can't park there right? Am I the only one who thinks parking in front of a fire hydrant is not allowed? Even if its only 5 min. Today we got a flyer reminding parents not to park under the no parking signs

For the bolded - try putting on your hazard lights. I've done before when people were trying to force me to speed in a school zone. They backed off.

[Nornster]

I don't fly much, so I've never seen anything like what I witnessed this weekend...

After the drink service was over on our flight, a passenger in the middle of the plane started having chest pains.  They did the whole, "Are there any doctors or nurses onboard?" query over the PA, all of the flight attendants are huddled around trying to help - scary, right?  Then a nurse steps forward, and one flight attendant is heading to the back of the plane to get the medical kit - until she's waylaid by the woman in front of me, who stops her to ask, "Can I get some coffee, please?"  The flight attendant is flustered and demures - "After we've dealt with this MEDICAL EMERGENCY, I'll see what I can do," and tries to continue on, but crazy passenger lady interrupts her to ask, "Well, can I just go pour some myself while you're busy?"  FA quickly says, "No," and hustles away, coming back with the stethoscope and blood pressure cuff the nurse needs.

Wouldn't you know it?  While all of the attendents are still distracted, the passenger goes back to the galley and tries to pour herself some coffee anyway, but for some reason, the carafe wouldn't come out of the machine.  (Security, maybe?  Probably best not to let random crazy passengers have access to boiling hot liquids.)  This lady had loudly been discussing Xanax with my uncomfortable husband before the plane took off - I was sure she was going to pull a Kristen Wiig-in-Bridesmaids freak-out, and we'd have to land the plane early so that she could be escorted off by air marshalls.  But once the stricken passenger was somewhat settled (laid out in the aisle, not out of the woods but nothing else left to do), the flight attendant actually did ask, "What was it you wanted again?  Coffee?  Okay, I'll get you some now."

It wasn't just the complete self-centeredness, it was the lack of empathy, too.  When the incident first started, the chestpains guy's companion was crying and near-to-panic, and nutty Coffee Xanax women was chatting and laughing loudly to/at the poor person next to her.  I'm sure she was a nervous flyer and on medication, but if you're that myopic that you can't see how anyone else might be going through something, maybe it's best to just take the train.

[blue2000]

I don't fly much, so I've never seen anything like what I witnessed this weekend...

<snip>

Wouldn't you know it?  While all of the attendents are still distracted, the passenger goes back to the galley and tries to pour herself some coffee anyway, but for some reason, the carafe wouldn't come out of the machine.  (Security, maybe?  Probably best not to let random crazy passengers have access to boiling hot liquids.) This lady had loudly been discussing Xanax with my uncomfortable husband before the plane took off - I was sure she was going to pull a Kristen Wiig-in-Bridesmaids freak-out, and we'd have to land the plane early so that she could be escorted off by air marshalls.  But once the stricken passenger was somewhat settled (laid out in the aisle, not out of the woods but nothing else left to do), the flight attendant actually did ask, "What was it you wanted again?  Coffee?  Okay, I'll get you some now."

It might have a safety latch, both for insanity and turbulence. You don't want boiling hot coffee flying out if there is a bump.

[PastryGoddess]

I don't fly much, so I've never seen anything like what I witnessed this weekend...

<snip>

Wouldn't you know it?  While all of the attendents are still distracted, the passenger goes back to the galley and tries to pour herself some coffee anyway, but for some reason, the carafe wouldn't come out of the machine.  (Security, maybe?  Probably best not to let random crazy passengers have access to boiling hot liquids.) This lady had loudly been discussing Xanax with my uncomfortable husband before the plane took off - I was sure she was going to pull a Kristen Wiig-in-Bridesmaids freak-out, and we'd have to land the plane early so that she could be escorted off by air marshalls.  But once the stricken passenger was somewhat settled (laid out in the aisle, not out of the woods but nothing else left to do), the flight attendant actually did ask, "What was it you wanted again?  Coffee?  Okay, I'll get you some now."

It might have a safety latch, both for insanity and turbulence. You don't want boiling hot coffee flying out if there is a bump.

That was both a hilarious and painful mental image

[exitzero]

I don't fly much, so I've never seen anything like what I witnessed this weekend...

After the drink service was over on our flight, a passenger in the middle of the plane started having chest pains.  They did the whole, "Are there any doctors or nurses on board?" query over the PA, all of the flight attendants are huddled around trying to help - scary, right?  Then a nurse steps forward, and one flight attendant is heading to the back of the plane to get the medical kit - until she's waylaid by the woman in front of me, who stops her to ask, "Can I get some coffee, please?"  The flight attendant is flustered and demures - "After we've dealt with this MEDICAL EMERGENCY, I'll see what I can do," and tries to continue on, but crazy passenger lady interrupts her to ask, "Well, can I just go pour some myself while you're busy?"  FA quickly says, "No," and hustles away, coming back with the stethoscope and blood pressure cuff the nurse needs.

Wouldn't you know it?  While all of the attendents are still distracted, the passenger goes back to the galley and tries to pour herself some coffee anyway, but for some reason, the carafe wouldn't come out of the machine.  (Security, maybe?  Probably best not to let random crazy passengers have access to boiling hot liquids.)  This lady had loudly been discussing Xanax with my uncomfortable husband before the plane took off - I was sure she was going to pull a Kristen Wiig-in-Bridesmaids freak-out, and we'd have to land the plane early so that she could be escorted off by air marshalls.  But once the stricken passenger was somewhat settled (laid out in the aisle, not out of the woods but nothing else left to do), the flight attendant actually did ask, "What was it you wanted again?  Coffee?  Okay, I'll get you some now."

It wasn't just the complete self-centeredness, it was the lack of empathy, too.  When the incident first started, the chestpains guy's companion was crying and near-to-panic, and nutty Coffee Xanax women was chatting and laughing loudly to/at the poor person next to her.  I'm sure she was a nervous flyer and on medication, but if you're that myopic that you can't see how anyone else might be going through something, maybe it's best to just take the train.

I can't remember if I told this story on here before, but a friend of mine was flying when a 12 year old child had a grand mal seizure...he had never had one before, so it was a serious emergency.

The flight attendant asked if there was a doctor on board...no answer. She went down the aisle and said to a woman, "Isn't he (pointing towards a man sitting next to her) a doctor?"
The woman, "Yes, but he's asleep."
FA: (through gritted teeth) "Well, let's just wake him up, shall we?"

They had to make an emergency landing in an out of the way airport, where they were going to be stuck for several hours, until they could refuel. A special snowflake complained loudly that this was unacceptable, he had an important meeting to go, how dare they inconvenience him like this, etc.

My friend (not being to shy, and probably not ehell approved) asked him, "You have kids?" "yes" "Are they healthy?" "yes". "THEN SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP."  The rest of the passangers broke into applause. He sat down and shut up.

[Kiara]

I don't know if I've told this one before.....

My parents and I were flying back from London.  Call goes over the intercom asking for a doctor or a nurse.  (Aside: my dad has been flying extensively for 40+ years, and this was the first time he'd ever actually heard that.)  We see two men head up to first class.  After a while, one heads back to coach, grabs all their stuff, and moves BACK to first class.  So clearly something is pretty wrong.  The way BA's business class is set up, we all saw this.  We're privately figuring heart attack.  (Which, to me....that would be scary on a transatlantic.  There's no great place to divert when you're in the middle of the ocean.)

We land at Dulles like normal.  The captain comes over the intercom as we're taxiing and announces that medical crews will be meeting us at the gate, so exiting will be delayed a little, please wait until he gives the all clear to stand up.  And.....the entire SS business section minus us and the family next to my dad STAND UP and line up at the door.  The door where the paramedics are coming in.  For goodness sake, people.  You can wait 10 minutes.  Bus to the terminal will wait.  We promise.

(Aside....there were also SSs on the cruise we were coming home from.  First cruise where we had a helicopter evacuation.  On that ship, they do it off the back buffet area.  Our steward told us there were people taking pictures of the man being evacuated and trying to get outside to get closer.  I believe it, since the captain kept making announcements to get off the deck.  I officially don't get some people.)