Why Geezer Butler Got Fired for Drinking on the Job

One thing people tend to know about Geezer is that he did have a drinking problem for a while. It was said that when he drank, he got violent and wanted to kill. He was actually fired for drinking on the job once.

When Geezer first started working, it was as a trainee accountant at the age of 15. He was fired from the job because he kept turning up to work intoxicated. He found this job to be so deadening and boring he relied on alcohol and uppers to keep him going through the day. In an interview on The Eddie Trunk Podcast, Butler stated "I left school when I was 15, and I apprenticed to be an accountant for three years. And I was absolutely awful at it. I hated it. I hated going to work from 9 until 5 every day. I just couldn't do it."

Eventually, the position got to be so bad that he took extended lunchtimes in nearby bars, getting "smashed out me brains just to go to work...So I used to go to the pub until 3 in the afternoon, then turn up at the office at 4 in the afternoon...and take black bombers to get me through." Not shockingly, the job didn't last long. "Eventually, the guy who ran the factory, the office called me into his office and said 'Butler, you're fired.'"

What some might consider a loss, others consider a gain as this gave him more of a chance to focus on music. He became a founding member of Black Sabbath at the age of 19 in 1968. "It was the only time that we never got ripped off! It's true. I used to get the £20 a night that we used to get and spend it on petrol. And then, if we had any money left, we'd go down to the chip shop."

13 things airlines will not tell you

There are a lot of things airlines will not tell you. Here are 13 of those things airlines won't tell you.

1. Here's what a safety demo doesn't cover...

-At night, the lights are dimmed for your eyes to adjust to the dark in case you need to get out. The tray tables are put up at takeoff and landing so passengers can escape if needed. Your window shade should be open in the case of a crash, firefighters can see inside.

2. We're stingy about fuel

-It's not only expensive, but heavy to carry. Keeping levels low saves $$$. It also means that if rough weather occurs, an emergency landing is in the future because we're running low on gas.

3. If your flight is overbooked...

-...don't accept the first $200 voucher offered. We keep increasing the offer until we have enough volunteers who want to give up their seats. If we don't get enough volunteers, we bump you involuntarily and please insist on a cash reimbursement. Department of Transportation rules say you're entitled to as much as $1300 in cash, depending on ticket price and how long you're delayed

-Because of COVID-19 and spacing rules, airlines are running with more empty planes. Passengers are taking advantage of booking policies that allow for refunds and last minute change of plans. This translates into the airline being more flexible in offering higher compensation for overbooking. You have rights as a passenger and you have the right to compensation for the airline overbooking

4. Going on a group trip?

-Search for only one ticket at a time. This will save you money. It may not sound like it, but if you are looking for, say, four tickets and three are available at the lowest price, all four automatically get bumped up in price. During COVID-19, it's important to guarantee that the airline offers refunds for last minute plan changes due to travel restrictions, illness or other issues for all members of your party. It's recommended to travel with a budget airline that travelers will recommend

5. Lost luggage?

-Don't put off reporting it, despite the long lines. Report it as soon as possible, because there is a very short window of time to report it. If you miss the deadline, your claim may be denied

6. Pilots can't eat together

-It might sound strange, but it's a rule. Some airlines do not allow pilots flying together to eat food from same the source within an hour of each other. They either have to eat at different restaurants or one has to wait at least an hour to ensure that the pilot doesn't get sick or poisoned

7. The seats are shrinking...

-You're not going crazy. The seats are getting tinier. For example, Boeing 777s, usually used for long haul international flights, the seats were shrunk by one inch to squeeze an extra seat into the rows. During COVID-19, many but not all of the airlines, are refusing to book the middle seat in an attempt to give passengers more space and peace of mind. Check with the airline ahead of time to get the airline policy on reduced capacity and middle seat booking

8. SANITIZE!

-Airplanes can be filthy places. Not everyone is so considerate of covering their mouths and noses when they cough and sneeze. And it's not just that. People also take off their socks and shoes and allow their foot germs to get into the floor of the plane. In the wake of COVID-19, everyone is sanitary-minded now; you honestly can't blame anyone for wanting to be a little more sanitation-minded. Cleaning standards have increased in the wake of COVID-19. The policy is now standard to wipe down tray tables between flights. Airlines are now using air filtration systems, disinfectant fog, UV lights, EPA-approved cleaners to disinfect and sanitize the whole inside of the plane. This is all done in the consideration of safety for the passengers, even if the passengers take it for granted. Most experts in health recommend bringing your own sanitization items to sanitize all objects you may touch

9. If your flight is cancelled...

-...get in line at the ticket desk at the gate counter. Also get on the phone. You'll be able to reach an airline agent before you get to the ticket counter, where the already frazzled desk agent is scrambling to satisfy all of the angry passengers. With COVID-19 behind us, airlines are a little more prone to cancellations due to a high number of various factors out of anyone's control. While some airlines are taking the courtesy to help passengers, others are not doing as much. Check your airline's policies about cancelled flights and for policies on "unforseen circumstances" to see what will merit a rebooking or refund

10. We don't like price-comparison sites

-Sure, those commercials for Trivago, Priceline, etc., all make it look so easy to book vacations and flights. But airlines don't always like those sites. Airlines pay a fee every time you make a booking through one of those price-comparison sites like TripAdvisor, Orbitz, Trivago, Priceline, etc. Airlines are making it harder for passengers to use them, in the hopes of discouragement from using them. Some airlines, such as Delta and Southwest don't release fares at all to third party vendors like Trivago, TripAdvisor, Orbitz, Priceline, etc.

11. There's a certain time to switch seats

-About 100 days before your flight, look at the map of seats for your flight. That's when upgrading fliers from coach to business and some of the best seats open up. If you want to change seats, learn to do it the right way without disturbing your neighbor

12. It's absolutely disgusting when...

-...airplane crews see you walking around in bare feet!! That carpet is not the cleanest in town. People bring babies on the airplane and sometimes they spit up on that carpet. That carpet has seen every body fluid produced by humans-vomit, blood, fecal matter / urine and more. 

13. Know your rights

-When your flight is cancelled, we'll offer to book you onto a new flight. But keep in mind that even if you have a "nonrefundable" fare, we will give you your money back if you ask.

Geezer Butler on why Black Sabbath's manager didn't want Ronnie James Dio

It's already well known that back then, Black Sabbath's manager Don Arden didn't want Ronnie James Dio fronting Black Sabbath. Geezer shares his memories of the time recording Vol. 4, The Mob Rules and Heaven and Hell.

1980's Heaven and Hell and 1981's The Mob Rules were the first two albums with new vocalist Ronnie James Dio. Ozzy Osbourne had, more or less, quit the band to pursue a solo career. It worked for him because he did have some success as a solo artist. It also worked out for Black Sabbath because with Dio up front, and his amazing vocals, the band could go in new directions. Butler talks about the sessions for Vol. 4, where the whole band was in a house in Los Angeles. In an interview with Billboard, Butler says "It was mental. Completely mental! We used to have bucketloads of cocaine there, and we had this big bowl in the middle of the table, full of cocaine. One day Ozzy noticed this button below one of the windows; He kept pressing it, wondering 'I wonder what this does?' The next thing, the police turned up - it was a panic button. And there was us with this great bowl of cocaine in the middle. So we dumped all the cocaine down the toilet and ran upstairs to get rid of our own stashes. The coppers went 'What's the problem?' 'Oh, nothing...' 'OK, see ya...' And we'd dumped about five grams of cocaine down the bog!"

While Butler has good memories of all three albums, he describes Heaven and Hell as being a particularly challenging time for the band, especially with Ozzy leaving and Ronnie entering. During the subsequent tour for Heaven and Hell, Vinny Appice replaced drummer Bill Ward. "The manager at the time didn't want Ronnie in the band - he said he was too little! He used to call him "the dwarf" and all this stuff. And we said 'That's ridiculous. He's got a great voice, his songwriting's brilliant, he's doing great with the band and that's it. We're keeping him."

Geezer also mentions that both Ronnie and Vinny brought "massive enthusiasm back to the band. We were on our last legs kind of thing, after Ozzy went. We were almost thinking about breaking up. But Ronnie brought incredible enthusiasm with him; He could play guitar, bass and put over his ideas instrumentally as well as vocally. He was brilliant to write with, too... Vinnie was the same way. Ronnie knew him and asked him to come down and rehearse with us, and he fitted in straight away, so we carried on."

As everyone knows, Black Sabbath is no longer touring. Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler and Tony Iommi carried the band through their The End tour in 2016-2017. The final show was in their hometown of Birmingham, England. These days, Butler is more at home with his wife of 40+ years Gloria and their multitude of dogs and cats and he writes music at his leisure. He's also written a memoir called Into the Void. He describes Black Sabbath as a thing of the past. "We went out on top - why ruin it? We're all old - really old. I don't think we could last a tour these days [laughs]. Tony had his cancer; He's in remission but he doesn't want to chance going out on the road. God knows what Ozzy's doing; He was waiting to do his final tour for the past three years. I don't know if he'll ever go out on the road again. So no, Sabbath, it's definitely the end for us."

The most recommended headphones for noise cancelling on a travel trip

This is one thing you must bring on a flight unless you're able to ignore all noise around you. Noise cancelling headphones. According to the magazine Jetsetter.com, here are their recommended choices for noise-cancelling headphones

Also, if these are out of your budget, never fear! These are only what Jetsetter.com thinks are good. I'm sure you can find more affordable options elsewhere. But do be aware that you will have to pay a little extra $$$ to find good quality noise cancelling headphones. Just think of it as an investment for future trips. There are even noise cancelling earbuds too!! Take that into consideration as well. If you don't like something covering your whole ear, there are tons of noise-cancelling earbuds out there as well.

1. UrbanEars Plattan ADV Bluetooth Wireless Headphones

-It has a collapsible design, they're hassle free and have a built-in mic and has everything you could need

2. Bose QuietComfort 36

-Bose is known for making good quality equipment, from stereos to headphones. Jetsetter.com considers these the OG (original gangster for those who are unaware) of air travel.

3. Panasonic HTX80B Bluetooth Headphones

-Panasonic makes good stuff. They make good cameras and more. These retro-inspired headphones are all modern with a retro look. When fully charged, they can be used for 24 hours

4. Bang & Olufsen Play Headphones

-A rechargeable battery lasts 14 hours, the cushions for your ears are made of soft leather and they cancel noise

5. UrbanEars Humlan On-Ear Headphones

-Relatively affordable, only $49 compared to its more expensive rivals, they have a simple profile that hides the powerful sounds it can provide. Looks can be deceiving with this one

6. Pryma Headphones

-Those into high fashion will love these. They not only have great sound quality, but the buckle accents are perfect for those fashionistas

7. Frends Layla Headphones

-Made exclusively for women, the rose gold headphones are designed in such a way that women can wear these in addition to earrings and you can even remove the caps to go with your outfit

8. Symphonized Wraith with Premium Wood Headphones

-These are a combination of Art Deco and vintage appearance with all the modern technology you expect. They're durable, adjustable, with in-line microphone for taking phone calls and a remote to allow users to Play or Pause music and Answer or End calls

9. Master & Dynamic MW60 Wireless Headphones

-Master & Dynamic are one of the top names in cool tech. They not only make the most modern, most successful technology, they also make it with a retro flair. These are inspired by the leather headphones of the 1970s and 1980s

10. Audio Technica SonicFuel Wireless Headphones

-Simply put, they are durable with full range sound techology, incredible sound and simple white color

Reimbursement for lost luggage, damaged luggage or delayed luggage

Everyone has, at one point or another, suffered the tragic problem known as lost luggage, delayed luggage or damaged luggage. Because there are always going to be those idiots that bring too much junk back from a trip and cause someone else's luggage to be put onto another flight, causing delays. Here are some tips about how to get reimbursed for it

Do airlines have to compensate you for lost luggage?

-Yes. The airline has to reimburse you for the cost of your bag and its contents. They can reimburse you up to the maximum amount of liability set for domestic / international flights. You can also be reimbursed for checked-bag fees. The maximum amount of reimbursement for domestic flights is around $3,800 while international flights is around $1,780 according to DOT regulations. The airlines can reimburse you more than that, but they are not required to do so.

Do airlines have to compensate you for delayed luggage?

-Airlines have gotten more advanced in years past. If your luggage is lost at a busy airport or small airport, it is eventually found. You should file a missing luggage report ASAP. The airline must compensate you for incidental expenses. According to DOT regulations, for domestic flights, the maximum liability is $3,800 and for international flights it's $1,780.

How to get a refund if luggage is lost?

-The second you realize your bag is missing, go to the baggage claim desk and file a claim for lost luggage. Put in a request to have delivery to your home, hotel or airline. Also ask for a baggage-fee refund and ask about policies for incidental compensation (only do this if you need toiletry items and other items until your bag arrives). Many airlines allow this after 24 hours

-Get the tracking number for your bag, go onto your airlines' site and track your missing luggage. If it doesn't arrive, contact the airline after a few days and inquire about its whereabouts and if it's lost and ask about how to file a claim. Yes, you have to file another claim. It was initially considered delayed, now it's lost. In this new claim, detail everything in the bag for reimbursement. If you have receipts for items you lost, include those as well

-Check credit cards and travel insurance to see what benefits you have. Also check homeowners insurance. Keep receipts of any incidentals for reimbursement. When and if your bag does arrive, check it for any damage or missing items and file a claim for damaged luggage. It takes about a week to receive the reimbursement while during the COVID-19 pandemic it took only 24 hours to receive these funds

How long does it take to get lost luggage returned?

-Many factors go into account here. How many airlines are involved? If you're dealing with multiple airlines because of connecting flights, this could make a sticky situation out of your trip. Another factor is the individual airline's tracking system. The better the system, the faster they find your luggage.

-Your bag could be anywhere. Maybe it never got on the flight? Maybe it was placed on the wrong plane? Most airlines will consider your luggage officially lost between 5-14 days post flight

What's the best way to prevent lost luggage?

-Skip checking your bags all together and bring them as carry-ons. This is the smartest thing to do, if possible. Label your luggage inside and outside. Make direct flights if possible, no layovers. Use the apps Tile or Apple AirTag to track the luggage yourself.

-Prior to going to the airport, take pictures of your luggage and the contents of your suitcase. That way, when you file lost luggage reimbursement claims, the airline can identify those suitcases and the contents within.

How to Survive a Long Flight

Everyone wants to and loves to travel. There are places in this world that are only accessible by long haul flights. Here is how to survive a long flight, according to a woman named Lindsey Olander.

Depending on where you're going, you're going to have to make a layover somewhere. For example, if you're going to anywhere in the South Pacific or Asia, you might have to have a layover in Los Angeles at LAX and catch your connecting flight to your destination. Or if you're going to anywhere in Europe, you would have to fly to either O'Hare Airport in Chicago or JFK Airport in New York to catch your connecting flight. Or if you're lucky enough, you can catch a one way trip to your destination. But the cool thing is that a lot of foreign airlines are establishing hubs in the major US airports and providing one way, non stop flights to their country of origin. As a side note, recently British Airways has established a hub at the Northern Kentucky / Greater Cincinnati International Airport or CVG. They now provide one way trips to London for very affordable prices (you can bet I'm taking advantage of this in the next 10 years!)

1. Buy your ticket as early as possible

-Waiting for that drop in price is not worth the hassle. Buying early not only gives you peace of mind in the weeks and months to come, it will also allow a window of possibility to remain open that you can pick where you want to sit. You can pick the choice window seat, where you can see the outside world, the middle seat or the choice aisle seat. Waiting until the last minute works for some people, but not if you don't want to be the meat in a human sandwich. If you're a frequent flyer, cash in some miles and put them to good use

2. Wear comfortable clothing

-Wearing skin tight jeans and that cute blouse might make you feel 20 years old again, but you'll come to regret that decision in no time. Long distance travelling suggests that wearing something comfy will make things easier. Wear loose fitting clothing you can move around in and will be comfortable in. And because you'll be sitting for long periods, you put yourself at increased risk of deep vein thrombosis, a serious condition aggravated by not moving for long periods. Get up every now and again to get the blood circulating. Wear compression socks if you have to. And if you're actually comfortable in jeans, then wear them

3. Invest in a travel pillow or neck pillow, earplugs, sleeping mask

-If you're going on a 12+ hour flight, invest in a good set of earplugs, sleeping mask, travel / neck pillow so you can sleep. Sleeping is not only good for you, but also helps pass the time. The best kind of earplugs to get are the foam ones that mold to the inside of your ears. The higher the number on the box, the higher the protection you'll have and thus the more noise that gets blocked out. A foam bead neck pillow will not only support your neck, but give you a good nap. Sleeping masks are also good to block out the light so you can catch some z's

4. Pack your own headphones

-There are tons of headphones and earbuds out there. There are even noise cancelling earbuds. Yes, you read that right. Flying can always bring about some noise outside of your earbuds-a crying toddler, the roar of the engines. Bring your own noise cancelling headphones / earbuds to block noise while you either sleep or watch something on the TV or your personal tablet

5. Take the smallest personal item you can

-Every inch of leg room is holy. Don't suck up that room with a large bag. That should have gone into the overhead compartment. And if you're lucky enough to get a large bag through security without paying oversize bag fees, still put that large bag in the overhead compartment. Best suggestion would be to bring a backpack you can stow under the seat in front of you and access easily without bothering your seat mate, who might be asleep, reading a book or watching something on their tablet

6. Bring your own snacks or buy some before boarding

-Long haul flights often provide breakfast, lunch or dinner. Airline food is sometimes questionable, depending on the airline. When the lights are out and flight attendants are not visible, and hunger decides to strike, be prepared!! Bring your own food and bring water to drink. Airlines do allow people to bring food into their planes, as long as you clean up after yourself

7. Be respectful of / to your seatmate - you're in this together

-This should be common sense and self-explanatory. Learn the rules of the airplane. Unless you're in the middle seat, hogging the armrests is a class A jerk move. If you can, peek through the space between chairs to see what the person behind you is doing. And ask politely if it's okay to recline your chair. Don't do it during meal services. Also understand, that no matter what seat you're in, everyone will need to use the bathroom a few times. Throughout the flight, you might even make a new friend

8. No to makeup, Yes to moisturizer

-While there's nothing wrong with wanting to look beautiful on an airplane, that beautiful makeup won't last. There are things that your skin and body are going to be fighting against, such as 30,000 feet pressure, dry air, decreased blood flow, etc. Don't throw makeup into the mix because it will clog your pores. Make sure that any serum or moisturizer you bring will be under 100 ml to pass through security and also that it's lightweight enough to not block pores. Bring soothing eyedrops for irritation and lip balm for your lips.

-My recommendations for lip balm include Burt's Bees Lip Balm. It's all natural, smells good and has no major allergy-inducing chemicals in them. There's also Vaseline Lip Balm. It'll keep your lips moist for hours with no major chemicals in them. Then there's Aquaphor, which is essentially the lip care company for lotion maker Eucerin. This one in particular has a slightly waxy, thick feel, but the lip balm will adhere to your lips and keep them soft and moisturized. But then again, it all comes down to your personal preference and what works best for you

9. Choose your in-flight food and drinks very carefully

-It's important to choose your food carefully. That cheesy enchilada aroma wafting down the aisle might have your mouth watering, but think again. Heavy meals keep you awake and are harder to digest. Avoid consuming foods and drinks with high salt, sugar or caffeine content. The same goes for alcohol. It might work as a knockout solution for nervous fliers, it doesn't always work. It's dehydrating. Teas are often a better choice to drink. Herbal teas in particular induce drowsiness without the backlash effects of liquor. Not only that, but with a lot of caffeine, you'll find you'll be making more trips to the bathroom than most people, which might irritate your seat mate, depending on where you're sitting 

10. Stay hydrated

-The plane is frequently refreshing the cabin air with air outside. Eventually, the inside of the plane will take on the environment of a desert - bone dry. This will lead to negative effects on the body. It will dull the skin, leading to dehydration, leading to worsened jet lag. Keep hydrated by drinking water, 8 oz per hour according to some experts

11. Brush your teeth

-It might sound strange, but this will trick your mind to think it's time to sleep. This will help, in addition to noise cancelling headphones, a sleeping mask and a travel pillow, to block out your seat mate's reading light, crying babies and the roar of the engine

12. Get up every now and again to keep the blood flowing

-This is important. You must get up every now and again to keep the blood flowing. Stagnant blood leads to deep vein thrombosis and varicose veins, both of which you don't want. Being in a highly pressurized cabin leads to decreased oxygen levels and can lead to fatigue, headaches, swollen limbs and dehydration. Get up and walk around, just to get the blood flowing. Do yoga in the aisles if you're into it. Do some easy exercises. Anything to get the blood flowing

Into the Void by Geezer Butler

This is the new book released by Black Sabbath bassist / lyricist Terence "Geezer" Butler. It only came out last month and I just now bought it. I only started it reading it around 1pm today and already I can tell it's going to be a good book

-Terence Michael Joseph Butler was born on 7/17/1949, in Aston, Birmingham, England. He was the seventh child to Dublin, Ireland-born citizens Mary and James Butler. He has six siblings, sisters Eileen, Maura, Sheila and brothers Patrick, James and Peter. He often describes seven as being his lucky number because that number appears so frequently in his life. He says that his sister Eileen tried to throw him out a window when he was young. He talks about growing up lower class to poor in Aston, including how he woke up many nights fighting bedbugs that infested his home and woke up many mornings covered in bites. Holidays to Dublin were occasional, but not all the time. One time while on holiday with his family in Dublin, he was made fun of by Irish kids for having an English accent. He states he couldn't win. He is a firm supporter of Aston Villa FC, the local football club and that he thinks the locals only support teams like Manchester City, Chelsea or Liverpool because they win a lot. Like most post World War II kids, he grew up with not a lot of money; he lived in a Victoria-style home that involved taking baths in a tin tub in front of the stove. He laughs about an incident that occurred when he was six. He was playing with marbles in another room and had accidentally seen his sister Maureen naked while trying to retrieve a marble that rolled under the tub.

-One night, he saw a sphere appear in front of him showing a man on stage with long hair and boots doing something. He says it wasn't exactly clear what this long haired man, wearing silver boots, was doing, but he would have this dream pretty frequently. As a child, he said that the Catholic faith was strong with him. He would buy all manner of religious items, such as rosaries and the like. This comes from being raised in a strict Irish Catholic family. The Catholic rituals fell out of practice with him when he started growing his hair long and attending church and someone there called him "miss" frequently, thinking he was a woman. Geezer says that because swearing was frowned upon in his house, anyone who said a swear word was punished. Even now, Geezer seldom swears because of his strict Irish Catholic upbringing.

-What started his interest in music was the huge skiffle craze of the 1950s. With Lonnie Donnegan covering the old Leadbelly song "Rock Island Line", all manner of kids jumped on this new craze. He also said Cliff Richard and the Drifters were big in his house, until they changed their name to The Shadows. Geezer laughs as mentions how, in one interview, Cliff Richard said he hated his song "Living Doll" and how one of his brothers put "I did too" next to it to anger one of their sisters.

Growing up in Aston, you were, more or less, a firm supporter of Aston Villa FC. He went to every game he could, since he lived near the stadium in which they played. When playing football (soccer to everyone else) in his backyard, any time he heard a cheer, he pretended it was for him. As he got older, he started attending grammar schools. His first school was Sacred Heart until he finished school there and moved onto Holte Grammar School. Fights there were constant between Holte Grammar and the Prince Albert School nearby, where future Black Sabbath vocalist Ozzy Osbourne attended school. While attending Holte, the discipline was strict. It was caning on the hands on backside and often called "six of the best", where you would be given a choice of hand or backside.

-His brother James, who he calls Jimmy, is the one who gave him the nickname "Geezer". His brother was stationed somewhere with a lot of Londoners, called "Cockneys" who would often use the slang term "geezer" as a way of saying "bloke, man, dude, etc.". Terence started using that term and thus became known as "Geezer", only after stating his proper first name is Terence. He mentioned the diversity in Aston, all the interesting cultures that came to live there, including Pakistani, Indian, black residents from the West Indies, Africa and more. Terence's father, who spent time in India, got along great with his Indian neighbors. They would talk incessantly and as such, both families became friends. Terence witnessed the other side of that friendly world of diversity-the ugly racism towards those who were different. His mother cradled a West Indian man who was beaten until an ambulance arrived. There was such ugly racism towards the black and brown population in those areas. And it was not just the Pakistani, Indian, Caribbean and African populations that were getting harassed. The Irish population of Aston faced discrimination too, including Geezer and his family. One of his sisters tried to book a stay in a bed and breakfast somewhere one time and there was a sign saying NO BLACKS. NO IRISH. NO DOGS. Turning tail, she came right back home.

-Not everyone knows that Geezer Butler is vegan. He made the conscious decision to pursue a vegan life when he was seven. His mother had put his dinner on the table and when he went to cut his meat, blood spurted out. He was disgusted. When he asked what it was, his mother told him it was from an animal. Suddenly, he thought of his dog and best friend Scamp. He decided from then on, not to eat meat or any animal by product. Later on, during his says in Black Sabbath, they went to a Chinese restaurant and Geezer told him he only wanted rice, the waiter said "Ah, a vegetarian". Geezer had never heard that term before.

-It was also his brother Patrick or Paddy who helped inspire a dream of becoming a musician to Geezer. He bought his younger brother a guitar after seeing how huge a fan of the Beatles young Terence was. He himself describes himself as an okay bassist, but not perfect. When he joined the band Mythology, which had then guitarist Tony Iommi and Bill Ward, he switched over to bass. Meeting Ozzy Osbourne for the first time was a real head turner. He said Osbourne walked around with a shaved head, dragging around a sneaker on a leash and was dressed in the skinhead attire of the day-tight jeans, dress shirt and Doc Marten boots. One of Geezer's siblings said "Something is at the door for you." And when Geezer answered, there was Ozzy.

Geezer was put in charge of money because he had gone to school for accountancy and the band trusted him the most with money. Prior to becoming Black Sabbath, the band was known as Mythology, then Polka Tulk Blues Band after a sari shop called Polka Tulk. Then Earth. They had to change their name after an accidental booking at a dance hall where the owners thought they were a pop band. That's when the band realized they needed a new name and fast. Suddenly, the horror movie Black Sabbath with Boris Karloff sounded right. They officially changed their name to Black Sabbath on 8/30/1969. Their debut album came out on Friday the 13th in 1969. He was horrified when he opened the album and seen an inverted cross on the inside. His parents were, not surprisingly, horrified. He had to tell them the record label did that, not him.

-One thing hardly anyone knows about Geezer Butler is that in his younger years, he suffered with depression and mental health. He worked at a steel factory called Spartan Steel, but he ended up getting fired for showing up later and later each day. After being fired, he went on the dole (unemployment for those who don't know what "the dole" is). His father was raging. "No Butler ever has been on the dole!" said his father. After getting fired, his depression pushed him to the point of self mutilation. He would cut himself with razor blades or stick himself with safety pins. He contemplated ending his life quite frequently. When the band came to record their album Paranoid, hardly anyone knew what that term meant back then. He wrote the lyrics while Tony wrote the iconic riff. The words are about depression, mental health. He wrote those lyrics because that's what he felt then. He was suffering from depression. Geezer says that some people called him a miserable guy, but he also says that you couldn't really talk about depression or mental health back then because the suggested solution was to get over it, walk a dog or something, just get over it. And it's not as simple as that.

-To this day, unlike most rock stars, Geezer has no tattoos. What stopped him from going under the needle and getting inked is one of his brothers had gotten a swastika and dagger tattoo because of his affinity for Nazi memorabilia. Their father was horrified and asked that he get something else. This brother did get something else and an infection set in because he didn't care for it properly. That is what stopped and has kept Geezer from getting a tattoo. And, because he was always reading, he was made the lyricist in the band because he could come up with lyrics that no one else could. He also, like most in the sixties, flirted with drug use. He would often buy hash and Black Bombers (a type of amphetamine) and he would be high out of his head. He laughs as he recalls the various adventures and misadventures of being in a band. Like one time, Tony Iommi was so drunk he threw up on Geezer's boots. And how a run-in with skinheads inspired "Fairies Wear Boots" or how he was inspired to write "Behind the Wall of Sleep" after reading a story called Beyond the Wall of Sleep by H.P. Lovecraft.

-He also describes how Tony Iommi became the sort-of, de facto leader of the band. He was tall, physically imposing and would often give someone a vicious tongue lashing if something went wrong. For example, when the band's transit van broke down, Tony opened the hood and was blasted in the face with brown, oily water. Ozzy burst out laughing until Tony gave him the tongue lashing of a lifetime and then Ozzy quit right there. When Tony had told the band that Jethro Tull had asked him to join the band, Geezer supported him and told him to go for it and see what happens. Not long afterwards, Tony came back and told the band how they were going to run things. They were going to show up at a certain time each morning and put their noses to the grindstone and really work. Tony had seen, first hand, how disciplined Jethro Tull was and he felt that Black Sabbath needed to be the same way, while secretly Geezer was thrilled to have Tony back.

-September 16, 1978 is a very important day in Geezer's life. It was the day he first saw his future wife Gloria. He was initially taking a bus with Ozzy, Bill and Bill's brother Jim from gig to gig. But, because of Ozzy and Bill's drinking being out of control, he had to break up fights between them frequently. Geezer took an air pistol and threatened them with it. They stopped fighting immediately. Because of Bill's ridiculous lack of hygiene, Geezer started taking a plane from gig to gig. He went into detail about how Bill would vomit and leave it there to foul up the air on the bus. Or how he'd hardly shower. Or how he would have bowel movements in the bus bathroom when you were not supposed to. He states that when he landed at the airport in St. Louis on the date mentioned above, he seen a beautiful woman waiting for a friend. She got in a Porsche and Geezer told his limo driver to follow her. Once at a stoplight, he rolled his window down and asked her out for lunch. She immediately said Yes. They went out more and more often because they got along so well.

-When making some of their albums in the 1970s, Geezer talks about the adventures and misadventures that took place. He says that it was Ozzy who pushed the panic button in the Bel Air mansion where they were recording one of their albums. Not realizing what the button did, they quickly found out that panic button alerted the Bel Air police. Quickly rushing to hide any drugs in case they came in, it was all for naught-Geezer told the maid to stall the police and they didn't even come in. They just responded to inquire about what happened and the maid told them someone hit the button by mistake. In Tony's book, Iron Man: My Journey Through Heaven and Hell with Black Sabbath, he says it was Bill who pushed the button and that the police DID come in to find a group of wide eyed men sitting there. After explaining the error, they walked out and suddenly someone was on the phone to order more drugs. It was after the Never Say Die! tour that Geezer strongly contemplated quitting. He was just not in it as much as he used to be.

-Geezer describes Tony as being the leader and, as such, was at a habit of doing long guitar solos. He talks about some of the bands travelling with Sabbath, including Black Oak Arkansas, Yes, Van Halen. He said that the guys in Van Halen were nice guys, but Tony was getting irritated that resident guitarist Eddie Van Halen would do ridiculously long solos and Tony would tell him to quit. Geezer honestly started wondering if they were becoming old fashioned with this new band sweeping the music charts. He also notes that he came very close to punching Ozzy. He said that Ozzy always did have a cruel streak to animals and one night, he was flicking off the eyes of a lobster.

-Geezer sets the record straight about the story involving him pulling a knife on Malcolm Young, since AC/DC was travelling with Black Sabbath. He didn't pull a knife on Malcolm; he had a flick knife that also had a comb on it and he was showing people this item and someone said he pulled a knife on Malcolm. Then there's the famous story of Ozzy going missing before a concert. In Tony's book, they were somewhere in Tennessee to do a concert and Ozzy went missing, only to turn up several hours later. The band thought he had been kidnapped and had issued missing person alerts on the news. It turns out that Ozzy had a cold and, instead of taking a spoonful of Night Nurse cold medicine, which is what you're supposed to do, he drank the whole bottle. Instead of going to his room, he went into the first room he found and passed out. In Geezer's book, the story is the same. The band was touring with Van Halen and their gig was in Nashville. Van Halen played, Black Sabbath didn't and, as a result, the venue was smashed to bits.

-When he and Gloria had their first child, Geezer was overjoyed. He named the child Terence Damien (after his first name and one of his cousin's first names). He called his son Biff as a nickname due to the fact that when he was born, he appeared to have no neck and looked like a boxer. It's also because of Gloria that he got clean and sober; he quit drinking and using drugs because she hardly even drank. Ozzy also quit the band, and as a result, left Sabbath wondering what was their next step. Tony, who had been talking to former Rainbow front man Ronnie James Dio, suggested him as their next vocalist. Contrary to popular belief, Geezer actually didn't care if Ronnie wrote lyrics because it freed him up to focus on his bass playing. At first, it was all roses with Ronnie in the band. It was like a breath of fresh air because instead of singing with the riff, as Ozzy would do, Ronnie would sing across it. He would also make suggestions about where to put guitar lines and bass lines since Ronnie knew how to play guitar and bass.

Geezer and son "Biff"

-After a while, tension started building in the band. Ronnie would not be the kind of person to simply address concerns with that person at a a good time; he would simply state, right then and there, what the problems were. He came to Geezer about all of his complaints. Eventually, his wife Gloria grabbed Ronnie and pinned him to the wall, shouting "You're upsetting my husband!" because Geezer's depression was setting back in. Geezer confirms the story about Ronnie coming in after hours to fiddle with the tunings on the master tapes. Geezer confirms with Lee De Carlo, who was working on the album, that Ronnie was in deed coming in after hours and tuning down the bass and guitar because he thought they were too loud. And, eventually, Ronnie quit Sabbath to form his own band Dio. Geezer is not too upset about this; he is happy that Dio went on to become a successful heavy metal band, with Holy Diver being their biggest selling album. But with Ronnie out of the band, they were back at square 1 with no singer.

-After Ronnie left, in came Ian Gillan, formerly of Deep Purple. At the time, the band was renting a mansion owned by Virgin exec Richard Branson. Ian would sleep in a tent outside and cook on a little campfire, claiming the cool air was better for his voice. Geezer describes the songs on what would become Born Again at so-so. Around this time, he and Gloria welcomed their second child James, named after Geezer's father. He named his son James because it was also around this time that his father passed away. When Geezer quit the band, he formed his own band called g/z/r and recorded one album called Plastic Planet. Later on, he would change the band name to GZR and record albums like Ohmwork and Black Science.

Lineup of GZR around the time of Plastic Planet

-As the 1980s gave rise to the 1990s, things in the music world changed. And with Sabbath, came more and more tension. This caused Geezer's depression to go into overdrive to the point where he was drinking again and causing issues with his wife. As the 1990s gave rise to the 2000s, the line up of Black Sabbath would change frequently. It was eventually in the mid to late 2000s when Geezer finally had a mental breakdown from all of the stress and had to go to the doctors to get prescribed antidepressants. He said they are a life changer and have been on antidepressants ever since. He does say that the only downside to antidepressants is that they do make you gain weight. After the band recorded 13, their most recent album with Rick Rubin they retired from touring. He does make a small mention of his recent arrest for a drunk and disorderly in a Death Valley, California bar. He doesn't go into too much detail about. You can find those details elsewhere on the internet. Now, Geezer lives in LA with his wife Gloria and two sons James and Biff. He and Gloria dote on their grandkids. He even laughed as he said one of his granddaughters is now playing music and went to a music class with her guitar and wearing a Black Sabbath shirt and how she got the class to play "Iron Man". He smiles with a kind of pride as he describes how his granddaughter is almost proud of the fact her grandfather is one of the people who played "Iron Man" on a regular basis

The Flight Attendant's 12 Rules of Etiquette

We all know that not everyone has the most etiquette on an airplane. They leave messes for the flight staff to attend to. Here, according to the New York Times, are the 12 rules of etiquette for summer travel. And this article was composed by a flight attendant. She seems to have some snappy retorts for those who break the rules.

She's worked as a flight attendant for 21 years and she's seen / heard it all. She's seen small spats increase over to violence. With tensions rising because of the pandemic and more, violence against flight crew and passengers have been increasing quickly

1. While everyone has a right to recline, there's a polite way to do it

-If you want to recline, simply ask the person behind you if it's okay. If you don't, that's bad. The wrong way to go about it is to just go ahead and slam back as if you're in an easy chair at home. Those seats have flip down tables and the person behind you may have been working on something related to work because this might be a work trip for them. The slamming back of a recliner has broken laptops, spilled drinks, caused fistfights, resulting in flights being diverted. Not only that, if the person behind you has to use the bathroom, they can't get up because you're essentially in their lap. Prior to reclining, peek behind you and see what it going on and ask politely if the person minds if you recline.

2. Clean up after your kids

-The flight attendants are not maids. The planes do not come equipped with mops, vacuums or other cleaning supplies. In fact, their "cleaning supplies" go as far as hand soap, wet wipes and air freshener. You are not required to clean up, but it makes their jobs easier and faster when you do. It's also considerate. The other side of the clean up coin is that messes present a safety hazard; and they can delay the next flight of people. Think ahead: if you're bringing children, can they handle a large bag of snacks without making messes? Do they make a lot of messes with large bags of snacks at home? If the answer is no to either of those questions, bring a smaller, more easily controllable container of snacks for them. Once they're gone, they're gone. They don't get any more

3. The overhead bins are not your own personal Tetris game

-The overhead bins are to be shared by people in your row and immediate vicinity. In economy class, aka regular flying class, it's first come, first serve. With that said, still be considerate of others. Don't think that whole bin belongs to you. It's not acceptable to take out someone else's bag to make yours fit. Sliding them to the side is fine. Larger bags belong in overhead bins while smaller bags are told be stored under the seats. They go over this during the safety and rules of flying

4. No one wants to hear your conversation

-If you're on the phone, please be considerate of those around you. Use wireless earbuds or keep the conversation PG-13. No one wants to hear about the drama of someone having a family member arrested for something or hear an XXX-rated conversation. Plus, being on the airplane is no time for goodbyes. It's time to find your seat, stow your bags in either the overhead bin or under the seat in front you ASAP so people behind you can do the same thing. Also, no one wants to hear your music, movies, TikTok or video games. Bring headphones or earbuds, especially kids. It don't matter if the flight attendants can see what you're watching. They don't care; they just don't want to hear it.

(A personal example of mine is from a couple of years ago, me and my family were going to Mexico and the woman in the seat across the aisle from me was watching Fifty Shades of Grey on her Kindle. Thank God she had earbuds; I would have laughed myself sick hearing the moans of passion coming from that Kindle, lol. I told my sister and we were snickering so hard we were shaking)

5. The middle seat gets both armrests

-This is not arm wrestling; the middle seat gets both armests. That's the prize for being squished like sardines in between two people

6. Headphones are a perfect conversation ender

-Do you have an overly chatty seatmate who is just dying to tell you things you could care less about? Put those headphones on and signal conversation over. Headphones are the perfect way to signal to that diarrhea of the mouth seatmate you don't want to talk. And if you want to read, they should also take a hint. If they put their hand on your book to force you to listen, politely tell them that you are not interested in talking. If they still don't get the hint, be a little more forceful in letting them know you don't wish to communicate with them. Not everyone wants to talk with their seatmate, unless it's a sibling, friend or family member

7. Keep your socks on

-Foot smell is inescapable. An airplane is, more or less, a giant metal tube. If a smell escapes, the whole cabin will smell that smell.  You can take off your shoes, but keep your socks on. Also, keep your feet to yourself. It's not acceptable to put your feet on the armrest of the person in front of you; you may as well put your feet in their face because that's what it's like. Also, put your shoes on when using the bathroom

8. The call button is not a toy

-The call button is to be used only if you need a coffee refill, a medical issue or a disruptive passenger. It's not to be played with. Prior to pressing it, look around. Make sure the flight attendants are not already in the aisle passing out food and drinks. Only hit the button several times if it's an urgently dire emergency

9. Don't discipline other people's children

-That's the responsibility of that child's parents to discipline them. Nothing makes a flight more annoying than when a child behind you treats the seat as a personal punching bag. If a child is being disruptive, seek out the child's parents and ask that they do something about their child being disruptive. You don't have to yell and argue; calmly and nicely ask them to please have their child stop doing that. Tell them that it is beginning to annoy you. Ask them if they can make it stop. That way, you come off as nice and respectful and it does not come off as an accusatory tone

10. Seating issues are to be done before getting on the plane

-Airlines, by law, are not required to seat families together. You can ask to be seated together when checking in at your airline's front desk. The gate agents have access to the seating chart and family reservations. Ask them first if it's possible to change seats. Some airlines have a rule that families with kids under 13 must sit together. Contact the gate agent before boarding, or better yet, contact the airline prior to coming to the airport to save you frustration

11. You don't have to switch seats if someone asks you

-This will make a lot of people angry only because you have a choice seat and they got a crappy seat. It's completely fine to say No when someone asks you to switch seats with them. If you paid extra for your seat, then by all means, you should get to keep that seat. But if it is a good chance, such as getting a window seat or aisle seat, then go ahead and switch, as long as it's okay to move about the cabin

12. Flush. Please

-We all go to the bathroom on the airplane. We all have had to have a BM on the plane. Sometimes it's unavoidable. Please flush after you are done. This is complete common sense. No one else wants to flush what you've left behind. Not only that, but like foot smell, BM smell can spread throughout the cabin and no one wants to smell that. Look for the button and use it

A few bits of my own advice...

Don't clip your nails on the plane

-For the love of God, please do not do this. Not only is it inconsiderate, it's plain unsanitary. If your nails need to be clipped, do it BEFORE getting on the plane. No one wants to hear the rhythmic click click of a nail clipper. Because that means that that person's nails could risk getting in someone's hair, in someone's food or drink. And if you're clipping your toenails, there's something wrong with you. That's even more unsanitary because of foot conditions like athlete's foot, foot fungus and more. No one wants nails infected with foot fungus or other foot conditions getting on them; they're contagious. Not only that, it'll also be a miracle you got through security with a nail clipper considering they usually have a sharp nail file attached and could be considered a weapon.

Don't push your way through the airplane

-Everyone wants to sit down just like you. Don't push your way through the airplane because that could cause someone to fall and get seriously injured. Be patient because if there are people on the plane with babies or small children, they have to get them situated first.

-A great example of this. Me and my family had gone to the Dominican Republic a couple of years ago on vacation. We didn't know there was a wedding party on board where both the bride and groom had also brought their families. One person in the wedding party was a very overweight child complaining about having to walk too slow and he was pushing his way through the plane so he could sit down as soon as possible. As a result, he fell into my mom, who fell in to me and I fell into my sister, who fell into her airplane seat and got a nasty bruise shaped like the armrest on her lower back. My mother sought out his parents and told them what he was doing, but they didn't seem to do anything. They were just as preoccupied with sitting down as everyone else was

Don't knock someone over as soon as the bathroom door opens

-The flight staff only allow one person at a time to stand outside the bathroom. As soon as that person comes out, do not knock them over and practically push them out of your way. This can cause tempers to flare, words to be uttered, and before you know it, a fist fight. Be patient. Also to tie in with this, do not start banging on the door, demanding that person hurry up. Even though the planes do serve alcohol, do not consume tons of it; you'll have plenty of opportunity to get sloshed when you get to your destination. Until then, do not drink heavily on the airplane and then start banging on the door, telling the occupant to hurry up. It's 100% YOUR FAULT you have to relieve yourself; you shouldn't have drank all that booze. Not only that, but if a parent is in the bathroom with their young child, a child young enough to still be in diapers, that parent has to attend to those needs so that child doesn't get a urinary tract infection. That will take time to change and clean the child to get them into a clean diaper. Also, if a woman is experiencing Mother Nature, if you know what I mean, it takes time to attend to those needs as well. Be patient. Just wait your turn!

Don't overdrink on the airplane

-You'll have plenty of opportunity to get hammered when you arrive at your destination. Not only is it mind bogglingly expensive to drink alcohol on the airplane, but if you consume too much, you're either going to throw up or have to keep using the bathroom. And if you're in the middle, you don't want to bother your aisle seatmate, who might be asleep or doing something else, to keep getting up to use the bathroom. And they will be absolutely repulsed if you end up throwing up into one of those air sick bags right next to them, or worse, throwing up on yourself. So save yourself some issue and don't overdrink on the airplane. You'll be saving yourself not only $$$, but also the trouble of constant bathroom visits and/or throwing up

If you're with someone you love, don't start making out in the seats

-It's completely fine to be in love and sitting next to the one you love. It's a completely different game when you start making out so hard that it's only a matter of time before clothes start shedding. Save the passion for the bedroom at your hotel

-My parents witnessed this on the way home from Tahiti one year. They were on the airplane with a bunch of French residents, since a lot of French residents catch a connecting flight to De Gaulle Airport in France through CVG, the major airport serving the Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati area. My mom and stepdad were coming home from Tahiti and this French couple in front of them started making out and then they really got into it. According to my mom, they were one step from shedding clothes and going down on each other right there. A flight attendant had to tell them to knock it off because there was a little French girl sitting next to my mother. She was in the middle of a custody battle with her parents; her mother lived in Paris and her dad lived in Tahiti and she had just gotten done having time with her dad, so she was going back to Paris.

40 Useful Tips for Travelling by Plane

Anyone who has travelled via plane knows what works and what does not. They know what to bring and what not to bring. Here are 40 useful tips for travelling by plane.

1. Arrive at the airport ahead of time

-If you're flying internationally, it's best to be at the airport at least three hours in advance. This will give you time to get checked in at the front desk of the airline you're flying through, get through security with TSA and find your gate. This also applies to domestic (not international) flights as well. It's always a good idea to get to the airport at least three hours ahead of time because the lines will be long and you want to have enough time to get through security, get checked in at the front desk of the airline you're flying through and find your gate, especially if the airport is a big one serving multiple areas.

2. Don't lose sight of your luggage

-Keep your luggage with you at all times. Most if not all the time, the big luggage you bring, the checked in bags, will already be on the airplane because when you check in at the airline front desk that you're flying through, they'll weigh your bag to see if it is considered overweight bag fees. And if it's clear, they print out a tag, put it on your suitcase and put it on the conveyor belt behind them to get loaded on to the plane. Don't lose your luggage or take care of other people's luggage. They can accuse you of theft, drug trafficking or some other illicit crime

3. Check-in

-The most important step. This is the first step on your vacation. You must check in at the front desk of the airline you're flying through. When you arrive at the airport, you'll see a long counter broken down into different areas. These "areas" are check in desks for different airlines. Make sure to check in with the correct one. This is where you can confirm whether you want an aisle or window seat, get your luggage tagged and loaded on to the airplane, confirm whether you are travelling solo or part of a group, get luggage weighed to see if overweight bag fees are in your future and you can check in up to 48 hours prior to your flight. There are two ways to do it. 1.) Traditional. Arrive at the airport at least 3 hours (the site this link is from says 2, but it's better to do it 3 hours) before your flight. It's always better to have more than enough time than not enough. Go to the check in desk to confirm information, register your luggage, and once everything is confirmed and accurate, will issue your boarding pass. 2.) Online. Check in online through the airline's website. This will save you time and keep you from going through the long lines and allow you to choose seats yourself.

4. Go to security control and exercise caution

-This is your next step. With your boarding pass, you have to go to security control, where your luggage is checked for prohibited items. After getting checked, proceed to the departure lounge for your flight. When you're in line for this, take off your shoes and take off any belts, chains, watches or any other metal item. Put them in a bin provided. Push the bin with your items through the scanner when it comes time for you to go through the metal detector. Once you're in and get the all clear, get your belongings from the bin. Wear flip flops and put those in the bin to save TSA some extra time on having to search your shoes and also save you time by just slipping into them. Not recommended if you have to run through the airport, though

5. Enter the boarding area and complete all the necessary forms

-If you have to wait for someone, do it outside the boarding area because once you enter this area, you can't go back outside. Go to the migration area as soon as possible in case your trip is international. It is here that you carry out the legal requirements of your trip, such as passport check, boarding pass, digital photo, fingerprints, the reason for travel and other reasons

6. Migration is only for international flights, not domestic flights

-If you are travelling outside the country, then you must go through migration. If you are flying domestically, you don't have to go to migration. Just sit back, relax and wait for your flight to announce the beginning of boarding

7. Find your boarding gate

-This is where you'll board the plane. Normally, boarding passes indicate your boarding gate. If not, locate the screens listing departing / arriving flights and locate it that way. And, if need be, ask someone who works at the airport. After locating it, stay close to it otherwise you risk missing your flight. Make sure to find it as soon as possible because the boarding gates are usually at the end of the airport and if it's a large airport, could take some time to get there

8. Look through the shops in the departure lounge

-Only if you have time, you can look through the shops in the departure lounge and buy items, such as food, clothing, etc., without paying taxes

9. Not everything tax free is cheaper

-Despite being tax free, some items are not cheaper. Don't buy too much; you're only allowed one carry on and as much as two bags

10. VIP lounges can be considered

-Flights can be delayed. It's the natural thing to happen sometimes. It's good to be prepared if your flight is delayed 12+ hours. There are private boarding rooms that have a single bath, wifi, comfortable seats, refreshments and also fewer passengers in the VIP lounge so you can emerge recharged

11. When leaving your seat, verify you have everything

-Passengers often forget things in the departure lounge. When it's time to board, verify you have everything and have not forgotten anything

12. Choosing your seat

-The "best seat" depends on your needs. If you don't want to be surrounded by strangers, choose the back of the plane (or like my stepdad jokingly says "Whoever heard of an airplane backing into a mountain?" My stepdad is goofy). This area is usually quieter when the flights aren't full. You might even manage to get 2-3 seats by yourself. If you want space to stretch your legs, the seats next to the emergency exit are for you. These rows are separated a little more than the others. The window seat is ideal for sleeping and relaxing and also perfect for those flying for their first time. If you suffer from vertigo and know you need to get up and stretch your legs, might we recommend choosing the aisle seat. Also, if you have to use the bathroom pretty frequently, the aisle seat is also recommended

13. Locate your seat

-The time has come to board the plane. Finding your seat is not hard; the seat numbers are listed above your head on the bottom of the overhead compartments. Locate your seat and sit down unless there is someone else in your row; then get up and let them in to sit down.

14. Relate to the environment

-Once you find your seat, talk to your seatmate. They might have interesting stories. If they speak a different language, use the apps Google Talk or Hello Talk.

15. Make sure everything is correctly functioning

-Make sure the seat belts work, that your carry on is under the seat in front of you and if something doesn't work, let one of the staff know

16. Get comfortable for take-off

-While it won't be a long wait for take off, get comfortable. Look around. Observe the interesting people getting on and what they're wearing. Listen to their excited conversations about where they're from and where they're going and what they plan on doing

17. Be observant when filling out the immigration form

-The staff on international flights will give an immigration form for passengers to fill out during the flight. Enter all the required information such as passport number, reason for trip, return date and any item that requires prior declaration. Be honest when filling it out otherwise you could run into trouble entering your destination country.

How does it feel to be travelling by plane for the first time?

-It can be scary or nerve wracking if you've never flown by plane before. You have nothing to worry about. That is why extensive examinations of airplanes are done prior to flight. The first thing that will occur is that the plane will take to the runway. The captain turns on the engines and you begin moving. Suddenly, a force will push you back as the engines reach full power and you start to rise. You'll start to feel as though you're floating. Of course, your ears will pop because your ears are trying to adjust to a change in altitude. Once the aircraft stabilizes, a calm will wash over you as you enjoy your flight

18. Despite being scared, enjoy the takeoff

-It's a highly unique sensation. The force that pushes you back is like some rollercoasters that start off by shooting you off at high speeds. It's exciting

19. Chewing gum

-This often helps. And if you don't have gum, just move your jaws around as if chewing gum. The motion of your jaws helps decrease the intensity of your ears popping. The only reason your ears pop is because they are trying to adjust to a change in altitude. After a few minutes, and the plane stabilizes, your ears will stop popping. They'll start popping again when you are in the landing process of landing at the airport of your destination

20. Don't read during takeoff / landing

-Reading, plus a feeling of emptiness, the change in pressure can work against you. It will possibly cause you to feel dizzy or a strong urge to vomit. Don't do it

21. When landing, be observant and enjoy it

-It's important to remain seated until the plane comes to a complete stop, as the captain usually suggests. Look out the window to see the area of your destination, the airport, what other airplanes are there from foreign / domestic airlines. When you are given the all clear, unbuckle your seat, fold up your tray and enjoy the arrival

22. Carry receipts / invoices of any purchases

-Security checks will always ask for some sort of proof of purchase upon entering your destination country and board the plane. If you bought nothing on the plane, you're good

23. Eat prior to boarding the plane

-Sometimes airlines offer free snacks and food to its passengers, depending on the length of the flight or the airline. Lately, a lot of airlines have started charging for some food to make up for lost revenue during COVID-19. You want to make sure your stomach is somewhat filled before boarding. Eat somewhere in the airport. Airports ALWAYS have restaurants and stores open early to make sure you are nourished before boarding

24. Avoid coffee or alcohol prior to boarding

-Don't drink coffee or alcoholic beverages prior to flight because they will cause some discomfort. Try to stay hydrated prior to flight and also use the bathroom before boarding. While the airplanes do have multiple bathrooms, passengers hardly listen to the flight staff who say that only one person at a time is allowed outside of the bathroom

25. Take advantage of your carry on

-Put as much as you need in there. This will save on weight for your checked in luggage. And if it does not fit in the container that the airports / airlines say is a max size for a carry on, please do not force it in to the shape required; airlines / airports are not stupid. They will charge you for oversize bags

26. Always have your passport handy

-If you've ever seen any of those To Catch a Smuggler shows, you'll see that airport security is always roving around, keeping an eye out for suspicious activity. They will be standing at the end of the boarding gate to screen incoming passengers for any suspicious activity. If you have your passport in a place that's easily accessible, and they ask for it, you can quickly hand it to them if they ask

27. Wrap luggage in plastic sheeting

-This might seem strange, but it's not altogether unusual. People have witnessed the horror of how airport employees treat other people's luggage. "Not my luggage, not my problem" seems to be the mantra. Wrapping your luggage in plastic protects them from damage and also protects them from being opened and illicit items being put in or being stolen

28. Protect your valuables

-Wrap your fragile items, such as breakable souvenirs, bottles of perfume / cologne in clothes to protect them from the horrible luggage treatment at the airport

29. Plan your entertainment

-You must keep yourself entertained on flights. Some flights offer in-flight TV or movies, music, etc on long flights. Take something to occupy your time, such as a book or two, magazines, a table preloaded with TV shows or movies, anything to pass the time

30. Try and sleep

-Invest in one of those foam bead neck pillows. They are one of the most commonly seen items on people's luggage at the airport. Use one of these around your neck and sleep on the flight.

31. What to do if your seatmate wants to talk constantly?

-Some of us are unlucky enough to get a seatmate who wants to talk. Constantly. Show them you are busy by wearing earphones or reading a book. If they put their hands on your book to put it down and make you listen to whatever they are rambling on about, speak up. Tell them you don't care what they have to say and you'd like to read or listen to music or watch something on a laptop / phone / tablet.

32. Invest in earplugs

-These little handy devices will cut down on noise in a crowded plane. Go for the highest decibel rating you can get. The higher the rating, the more protection you'll have and also the more noise blocked. These can help you sleep on a noisy airplane

33. Bring a travel pillow

-Take a travel pillow with you, especially on long flights so you can catch some sleep. This is similar to the advice about trying to sleep on the airplane. Invest in a foam bead neck pillow. They button and unbutton so all you have to do is button it around your neck and lean back against the seat to sleep

34. Bring a sleeping mask

-Like the earplugs and travel pillow, sleeping masks will block out light and let you sleep on the plane

35. Stand up occasionally to stretch your legs

-After a while, the captain will say that it is safe to move about the cabin. Some people get up and walk around. Some people just stand to wake up their numb muscles. Some even do yoga or exercises in the aisles. This allows your body to start circulating blood again throughout your body

36. Before leaving the plane, check that you have everything

-It's common for a passenger to leave something on the airplane when exiting the plane. Make sure you have everything you brought with you before you leave

37. Bring items to sanitize and kill bacteria

-Tons of people have sat in those seats you're sitting in now. Wipe them down with sanitizing wipes to avoid picking up bacteria

38. Never go in flip flops

-Wear comfortable shoes that cover the whole foot. You not only want to be comfortable, but when the plane gets up in the air, it's going to be cold. Your feet will freeze in flip flops and you'll be uncomfortable

39. Bring a long sleeve shirt or jacket

-It's suggested that wearing a long sleeved shirt or jacket before, during and after the flight will help you warm

40. Long trip? Avoid jeans

-If you're going on a long trip, avoid jeans. They have metal buttons and rivets on them which can cut into skin and thus, make you uncomfortable. Wear loose fitting, comfortable clothing. But not clothing that makes you look like you just rolled out of bed or even your pajamas. But, if wearing jeans on long flights doesn't bother you, then do what you feel is best. One advantage of jeans is they are thick and will keep you warm up in the chill air