<p>So sorry to hear the weather threaten your (and others, I am sure) family holiday and your sons well deserved and much anticipated trip home. The photo's are great. I am a CA kid so seeing those photos is pretty cool. My prayers are with you, your family and even the weather! My d is AFA bound next year so it is nice for me to get a little idea of what she'll be up against weather wise! The kids that drove may have a "screw loose!". I think that may have been a bad idea! (But what do I know about driving in the snow since I'm from CA!) Thanks for sharing the photo's and I am sure he'll be home soon.</p>
<p>This is one of those storms that occurs once every 4 years or so...we typically have the best weather in the nation :) - except when you have a $500 plane ticket booked.</p>
<p>AFA is right down the road from us...she will LOVE it there. if there's ever a need, you've got help here.</p>
<p>Thanks to all for the good thoughts and prayers....we'll get there</p>
<p>btw - the car? that's the boy's car...wonder if he'll be able to find it if and when he gets here???</p>
<p>I can't change the weather, but we are here in Western Mass and any Kings Pointer that finds themselves trapped on Long Island during Christmas is welcome at our place. It's about a three hour train ride north. Our Mid is on his way to the far east and will not be home for the holidays. If anyone is interested, just get back to me on this thread. We have plenty of room for one or more (Midshipman, Midshipwomen, Plebes, whatever) and I know that the accomodations here are better than the airport lounge. Happy holidays and don't be afraid to contact us.</p>
<p>I was going to suggest Amtrak, but checking schedules all trains to Denver are sold out until after Christmas. Bummer.</p>
<p>That might be a good contingency in the future to have an reservation on Amtrak as a back up. Nice thing about Amtrak is that everything is always fully refundable. Young Plebe 4him would be on the Lakeshore Limited getting into Chicago at 9:30 this morning; have a few hours to wander around Chicago and then get on the California Zephyr and be home by 7:15 tonight.</p>
<p>The old school way home. Actually, sounds like fun.</p>
<p>Well - he's officially stuck in NYC. The 8 folks actually took a car last night (pray for them). The one remaining person got a flight to Charlotte where her boyfriend lives. </p>
<p>Frontier did what they could - tried to route him anywhere, to no avail...and he's stuck in the airport.</p>
<p>We're trying to get him to DC where some friends are...pray hard.</p>
<p>Also thanks for the offers from everybody</p>
<p>another update (are you sick of these yet)</p>
<p>I spoke with Shirley Anthony - the KP Parents Coordinator....Capt Allee is working a plan to get these kids taken care of. Apparently, everybody is scared to call the school...go figure.</p>
<p>It could very well be a KP Christmas for some of these guys...</p>
<p>Best of luck to all who are stuck. Hope you find your way home soon. I'm doing a "snow away" dance as we speak.</p>
<p>I am in Lancaster, PA... just a short 3 hr train ride from NYC, Penn Station. Please send anyone to me! We would LOVE it!</p>
<p>And if they need a flight out, Philadelphia is just an hour away.</p>
<p>What ever is needed for the KP family, we got ya covered!</p>
<p>Poor, poor kids. Some day, in the distant future, theyll look back on this & perhaps laugh? What a mess. Amtrak would have been a great idea had it worked out. You know, there are all kinds of good & kind people in the world. Hopefully a few are at the airport willing to give their seat to a kid in uniform to get him home for Xmas. Im keeping faith! Keep us updated JRH. Offer stands here as well. A train south will get him to me & all the chocolate cake he can hold.</p>
<p>I spoke with Gunny Hauser - he let me know that they would allow kids to sleep at KP, but that there was no food service, etc...and that it probably wouldn't be much better there than anywhere else.</p>
<p>My boys advisor drove to LGA, picked him up, and opened his home until Sunday morning (when he and his family have to leave). That's a pretty amazing thing for him to do - don't you think?</p>
<p>The storm is still swirling here (new pics at <a href="http://lafaminit.blogspot.com/2006/12/winter-wonderlandnot-good.html%5B/url%5D">http://lafaminit.blogspot.com/2006/12/winter-wonderlandnot-good.html</a> if you care) but there's a light at the end of the tunnel. It looks like it's going to be pushing out by mid-afternoon...then the cleanup begins ;)</p>
<p>All roads are closed, airport remains closed, even the mail isn't running (so I guess they don't mean the snow part in the "rain, snow, sleet, hail" piece, eh?) I think once DIA opens up, things will start moving at a rapid clip, so hopefully we'll have good news.</p>
<p>All in all, it's not that miserable - and JM hit the nail on the head....what a story this will be in a few months/years. I can hear him now - "you guys don't have any idea...when I was a Plebe, I got stranded in a blizzard....."</p>
<p>thanks again for all the nice notes...now send some warm dry air!!!</p>
<p>My son is waiting on his acceptance letter but I already feel apart of the family going through the process with him over the last few years. We are in the Asheville NC (AVL) area (only rain this year for Christmas) and only 45 min from the Greenville SC (GSP). Anyone stranded who can make it this way is welcomed to a warm bed and plenty of food at our house. We have opened our house over the years for various college kids and love it! Send me a message and we can make arrangements to pick you up.</p>
<p>If you or any of your Mids are still stuck in NY and don't think you will be making it home for Christmas, you are more then welcome to come on down to Philly. My parents are offering space for 4-5 people (first come, first serve). Gauranteeing hot meals, private showers, and a warm bed. Philly is a 1.5-2 hour train ride from Penn Station, and I live 15 minutes from the Philadelphia International Airport. Anyone that is interested, please give me a call or send me an IM (usmmakid2009). My cell phone number is (484) 343-0570. If I don't answer, please leave a message where I can reach you back. </p>
<p>If your not stuck, but know someone else who is, please pass on this information to them.</p>
<p>Good luck and Happy Holidays!!</p>
<p>We live three miles from the academy and can pick up and look after as many Coloradans as need help. Our Christmas table can be extended if need be. I don't usually put personal info on line, but under the circumstances....
Joan and Terry Gray
718 229-5312 (home)
516 229 4418 (work)
718 344-3818 (cell)
I'm sure Capt Alee, Shirley Anthony or Admiral Stewart would vouch for us. Let us know if we can help.</p>
<p>You guys are all awesome! I can't believe the offers of support that have been flooding us (and the other Colorado folks as well)!!!!!</p>
<p>We're ok at this point. We made some great friends over the Parents Weekend/Acceptance Day that have take is2day4him into their home and are feeding him and keeping him warm. We're working the machine to try to get a quick flight out, hopefully before Christmas.</p>
<p>The snow has stopped, and we understand that the crews are working 24 hours to clear the runways/streets/etc. Looks like things are on track to open DIA tomorrow at noon - and hopefully flights will start on time.</p>
<p>Ok you guys... I had first dibs on those kids. I'm the inn keeper around here. :D As usual, the KP family is awesome. NFODad & WYTL, you guys are just the best. I'm thinking about sending my Mid & his pals up to you with all their geeky world of war craft & dungeons & dragons gear along with them. There's peices & parts & empty coke cans all over my house this morning... Any news on the kids who took off in the car? Especially looking for Plebe Vandenburg?? I'm growing warts over that one so any news would be much appreciated. Watching them clear the runways at the airport is truly a welcome sight this morning. Hot chocolate & Xmas cookies to all those folks running the big snow blower thingees in CO!!</p>
<p>Oooops. I forgot to add that SUPPORTMOM is awesome too!</p>
<p>i found out that the drivers were better prepared than first thought. It was pretty organized, and they had a lead vehicle about 10 hours ahead of them reporting back conditions...talked to one of 'ems mom yesterday and they were safe and warm getting some sleep in a Kansas hotel, waiting for I-70 to open up (which should be done by now)</p>
<p>Let the digging begin.</p>
<p>whoooo hooooooooooo!!! He's confirmed on a flight leaving LGA at 9:30 tonight!!!!! Arrival at DIA - 11:59pm!!!</p>
<p>Alright!!!!!!</p>
<p>That it great news.</p>
<p>YAY!!! i'm coming home!!!</p>