There's No Place Like Home...

In case you've been living under a rock, you heard that the east coast got pummeled with a blizzard Sunday night. Well, we were supposed to fly back from Florida on Monday afternoon. "Supposed to" obviously gives away the rest of the story...

But for those of you who need things spelled out...

We were told that our plane was at the airport and we were only delayed 30 minutes, which would work out perfectly because Newark was supposed to open its runways at 4. So on the basis of that solid information from my dad's special airline connections (he surpassed being platinum probably 4 months ago and is now like presidential elite super status), we checked out of the hotel and headed to the airport.

We checked our bags. Got through security. Made our way to the gate. This, of course, was no small feat with my 80 year old grandmother who had to keep stopping because her legs hurt, my uncle who is still in a boot and his leg is all fucked up, his wife, their two kids, my parents, husband and our son who likes to run freely around the airport making everyone chase after him. He's a fast little bugger. (Hubby's brother says Andrew DEFINITELY does not get speed or athletic ability from his dad) But it takes awhile to go anywhere when there are 10 of you...

So when we got to the gate, our flight was canceled.

While waiting on line to talk to someone at the gate, we got on our respective laptops, iPads, or cell phones - only to learn that the next flight we were eligible to take into Newark would leave Orlando on JANUARY 1!

The good people at Continental were able to get us onto a flight into DC the next day. As we wandered back to baggage claim to reclaim our 9 million suitcases, we were able to make reservations at a hotel. Of course, my uncle's family's reservation got booted twice - so they weren't able to make it onto the same flight as us.

DC is only a short train ride from home. We booked our tickets and hopped on a plane today into Dulles. Yeah... It took the freaking airline AN HOUR to get our bags off the plane. Which meant we had a whopping 40 minutes left to get from the airport to Union Station to claim our tickets and get on the train.

Yeah... We didn't make it. Not even close. And - of course - all the trains and cars and buses are booked for the rest of tonight.

So here I am. Sitting in my third hotel room in 2 days. (We managed to snag the last couple rooms left in the hotel, which is full of Carolina fans eager to root against my Terps) I could have driven back from Florida faster than I will arrive back home. We're set to take a train tomorrow afternoon.

Cross your fingers for me that we get back home tomorrow. We need all the good luck we can get!

(Meanwhile, I'd also like to thank the good people at Marriott and Continental, who have made a bloody fortune off my family this trip... But at least they got us on flights before next year and into hotel rooms, despite us apparently following the college bowl game circuit)