<p>My son was supposed to fly back today from JFK. I have been a wreck, watching the status updates (minimal) on the airline page, and getting the occasional texts and Facebook status updates. They keep saying the plane has left, and it hasn't - stuck on the tarmac, getting de-iced. Who knows when he'll get back. Probably tomorrow sometime. I should have made him pick USC Thornton! Enough of this East Coast blizzard stuff!</p>
<p>Sorry, had to share with my online friends...</p>
<p>So glad my D came home yesterday!</p>
<p>S in DC and S in NYC still have to get home. They are driving (together) on Wednesday, so I hope the roads are clear by then!</p>
<p>Hope your S gets home soon, and safely.</p>
<p>SpiritManager, I wish him luck. At least he’s on a flight. It actually started snowing about 3-4 hours later here than they anticipated. For future reference, if the ground transport works, try looking into flights out of LaGuardia (LGA) or Westchester (HPN) or Newburgh (SWF). You might not have non-stops out of Westchester or Newburgh, but should be able to find a direct from LGA.</p>
<p>Just a thought for future reference if you want options.</p>
<p>He just called, all mad at me for not having booked him on a flight yesterday! As if I would have known (and he did have a class.) Tried to reach the Virgin agent to talk about alternatives but “your call cannot be completed at this time.” He said they’re stuck on the tarmac - no gate available, and they haven’t had food for the 5.5 hours he’s been on board (or been able to use the bathrooms.) He hasn’t eaten today and he was a pill on the phone! I’m assuming they’ll get him home somehow, yes? After all, this storm should pass through by tomorrow afternoon…</p>
<p>Flight just cancelled. Changed to 7:30am tomorrow. Still will be alot of snow, yes? But at least they’ve got a spot for him! Deep breath, deep breath.</p>
<p>DS came got off the bus this morning at 12:37 AM (Sat). Announced when he awoke this afternoon that all this is no different than Potsdam and way less cold to boot. Little does he know that he has yet to receive his last Chanukah surprise tomorrow morning… got him a new snow shovel, I might even wrap it and put a pretty bow on top. I guess that will make this a little different than Potsdam … here he has to shovel :-))</p>
<p>Nice to have some low brass in the house though.</p>
<p>Hope everyone’s kids get home safely…</p>
<p>Oh I know what you mean.
It took me an hour to drive to my voice lesson today, when it would normally take me around 13-15 minutes.</p>
<p>Terrible weather will not keep me from furthering my studies :P.</p>
<p>I’m sorry, folks. My D made it back from Interlochen Thursday. The snow had stopped there Wednesday–we got lucky. Today I walked on the beach–it was 82. :)</p>
<p>Just spoke with my son on the phone - he’s splayed out in baggage claim with nothing to do until 4:45am - so talking to mom passes the time. Told me that Bard is so perfect for him he wonders why he even bothered to apply anywhere else. Now that makes me feel good for the first time today. Guess we’ll just have to put up with the weather.</p>
<p>Wow, I just had a look at today’s weather in the northeast. I sure hope everyone is getting home okay. Drivers, please don’t take any chances–stay where you are until it’s safe to travel. Any instrumentalists stranded at the airport? Try cheering up the travelers by playing your instrument in the airport? I’m picturing stranded conservatory kids getting their practice in, and stranded travelers finally returning home and saying, “Yeah, we were stranded for hours, but what great music performances we heard at the airport!”</p>
<p>I made that suggestion to my son - maybe earn a little traveling money? Plane’s delayed again, and he’s back on the tarmac. No idea when he’ll be back!</p>
<p>Hope he went to the bathroom and stocked up on food before boarding this time! (The part about 5.5 hours without a bathroom really bothers me! 
)</p>
<p>Picked up D2 a day early from Bard (had to go get her in a blizzard last year when she was the only student left on campus) and she’s at home trying to finish her last assignments to email in on Monday morning.</p>
<p>And D3 is now regretting her decision to apply only to schools where it snows. Why, oh why, didn’t she apply to the University of Hawaii? The audition trip alone would have been worth it!</p>
<p>Now now…Our DD goes to a wonderful college in CA where the weather is nearly perfect (unless you like cold weather and snow). BUT she still has to fly to get home. Sometimes the air traffic system gets so snarled that even traveling from a warm climate presents problems. Been there…done that…On this trip home, her flight was delayed and she was going to miss the last connection out of BWI. Luckily this flight was also delayed. And there was NO bad weather!!</p>
<p>Say no to the snow Thumper…next year meet up with her here in Sunny Cal.</p>
<p>Next year, she won’t BE in SoCal…she graduates in June!!</p>
<p>SpiritManager, did your son ever make it home?</p>
<p>Thanks Violadad for asking. Yes, yesterday afternoon he finally landed! With a plane load of new friends from every college in New England, it seemed!</p>
<p>Good news, SpiritManager! Thanks for keeping us posted. S is flying out of LGA today, so I have my fingers crossed that things are cleared up and no delays.</p>
<p>As of today, the government decided to get involved in yet another place and will be “limiting” waits on the tarmac in the “Passenger’s Bill of Rights”
<a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/22/business/22passengers.html[/url]”>http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/22/business/22passengers.html</a></p>
<p>Here is the main point of the bill:
" Under the rule, airlines that do not provide food and water after two hours or a chance to disembark after three hours will face penalties of $27,500 a passenger, the secretary of transportation announced on Monday."</p>
<p>I have to wonder how many planes will still sit out on the runway, with the flight attendants helpless, not knowing anything about this! Glad your son finally made it home, SpiritManager!</p>