&$#%ing Rita!
I thought I was being so smart when I booked a direct flight from Paris to Houston for my return...ha ha, very funny Rita.
Actually, things are working out alright. I arrived in Paris at noon today and stood in line with about two dozen very cranky Americans who were each going up to the Continental Airlines counter and angrily explaining that their flight to Houston had been cancelled as if this was going to be news to the lady working the counter. I can summarize each of the twenty plus conversations I heard as such:
Customer: I need to get back to Houston today!
Nice French Lady: Sir, the airport in Houston is closed.
C: Well then put me on another airline!
NFL: Sir, it is the airport which is closed, not the airline.
C: Then can you fly me somewhere else close to Houston!?
NFL: Sir, the airports around Houston are closed as well.
I have a feeling her inner monologue would have been very interesting to hear during this process. In any case, when it was my turn, I asked her how her day was going, offered to bring her some lunch and did everything in French - the next thing I knew, I was rebooked on an American Airlines flight to New York. I have a free ticket with Southwest Airlines, so I booked a flight from New York to Oklahoma tomorrow and should be home with my mother by 6pm. All in all, things are working out well - I wish everyone else out there could be as fortunate.
So currently, I am sitting in a hotel in Long Island, New York just next to the airport trying to find out where all my friends are. As far as I can tell, Sarah, Becca and Cari are in Conroe with Gavin and Jen's parents being fed and cared for like family; Curt and Sara White are in Dallas; Tiffany, Josh and Erin (brother and sister-in-law) are in some town which has the word 'Alaska' in it about a hundred miles north - northeast of Houston having managed to travel about a hundred miles over the course of 14 hours. It seems I picked a good week to go to Lebanon.
So, if anyone was worrying about me - I'm fine...and if everyone who reads this could please leave a comment on my blog or e-mail me telling me where you are and how you are, I would worry a little bit less. Hope to see you all soon.
Actually, things are working out alright. I arrived in Paris at noon today and stood in line with about two dozen very cranky Americans who were each going up to the Continental Airlines counter and angrily explaining that their flight to Houston had been cancelled as if this was going to be news to the lady working the counter. I can summarize each of the twenty plus conversations I heard as such:
Customer: I need to get back to Houston today!
Nice French Lady: Sir, the airport in Houston is closed.
C: Well then put me on another airline!
NFL: Sir, it is the airport which is closed, not the airline.
C: Then can you fly me somewhere else close to Houston!?
NFL: Sir, the airports around Houston are closed as well.
I have a feeling her inner monologue would have been very interesting to hear during this process. In any case, when it was my turn, I asked her how her day was going, offered to bring her some lunch and did everything in French - the next thing I knew, I was rebooked on an American Airlines flight to New York. I have a free ticket with Southwest Airlines, so I booked a flight from New York to Oklahoma tomorrow and should be home with my mother by 6pm. All in all, things are working out well - I wish everyone else out there could be as fortunate.
So currently, I am sitting in a hotel in Long Island, New York just next to the airport trying to find out where all my friends are. As far as I can tell, Sarah, Becca and Cari are in Conroe with Gavin and Jen's parents being fed and cared for like family; Curt and Sara White are in Dallas; Tiffany, Josh and Erin (brother and sister-in-law) are in some town which has the word 'Alaska' in it about a hundred miles north - northeast of Houston having managed to travel about a hundred miles over the course of 14 hours. It seems I picked a good week to go to Lebanon.
So, if anyone was worrying about me - I'm fine...and if everyone who reads this could please leave a comment on my blog or e-mail me telling me where you are and how you are, I would worry a little bit less. Hope to see you all soon.
posted by Nicholas at 11:45 PM
2 Comments:
Sarah, Becca, Cari, Gavin, George, Ginger, and I are all back home. We all have power, water, cable, and internet access. The houses and pets are all fine.
I got blown away by the hurricane. Whoosh, whoosh.
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