Environment, Society

Virginia Bound

Leslie and I are still stuck in New Orleans. As I noted yesterday, we have been stranded by US Airways which cancelled flights to Washington yesterday despite the relatively mild weather in the city. It appears that the airline simply did not want aircraft in Washington when the storm hit. My complaint has not been that decision but the lack of consumer support after trying for hours to reach anyone at the airline. We have little choice but to try to drive back to Virginia since we have four kids who are being watched over by our sitter (I also have classes to teach on Tuesday and Wednesday). We intend to be highly cautious and stop if it gets to dicey. However, we cannot leave the kids any longer in this storm.


We have been told that we might be able to get on a flight for Tuesday but it does not look promising. Indeed, it was not even raining last night in D.C. with low winds. Tuesday looks like it will be pouring with strong winds. We love New Orleans (where I used to live) but we are increasingly anxious to be with the kids.

There may be an interruption in my posting on Tuesday in light of our effort to drive back. I will try to tweet on our status.

I hope everyone is safe during the storm. I would not travel if we were not separated from our kids. I strongly recommend that people stay indoors and of course continually on this blog.

197 thoughts on “Virginia Bound”

  1. nick s.:
    I was in Alaska a few years go. Went flying with a bush pilot. I asked him how they managed after all air travel was shut down by the government after 9-11. There are many villages in Alaska that have no roads in or out and are totally dependent on the bush planes for literally everything. The pilot told me there was tremendous pressure on the FAA to lighten up or people would be starving to death and sick or stranded people would die without air service. Senator Ted Stevens was a former pilot and a ranking member of the Senate. Apparently he was highly influential in getting the embargo lifted.

  3. It’s god’s judgment on white heterosexual males. There are way too many white heterosexual white males in Virginia.

  4. Blouise, Those Northern Italians really wish they were Swiss! Never been to Sicily, but took a day trip to Capri. Lots of money out there.

  5. nick,

    Northern Italians … I’d never, never blame Southern Italians … especially those who like island living.

  8. Wow really Gene H. ………………………….

    well I guess on here we can blame it on anyone lol

    Hope you are not in its path…………………….

  12. I wish you the best journey Professor. Much better to drive than sit in an airport at the mercy of the airlines.

  13. You are in a tough situation which isn’t going to end quickly. I suspect driving was something you were going to have to do sooner or later in order to get home to the kids.

    Godspeed

  14. I don’t know how old your children are, Prof. Turley, but they will be very happy and better served if you take your time to get home safe …I heard that the biggest threat will be to the Northeast of landfall…looks like those whippy winds and storm surge will be going away from you….travel safe!

    and big 🙂 for the Whedon!!!!!

    …..the world is a better place….

  17. Given the situation JT I would do the same thing. Drive carefully and please keep us posted.

  18. After 9/11 many travellers were in your tough situation, needing to get home to families. A friend of mine from Chicago was stranded in LA. Rental vehicles were sucked up quickly. So, he did what many folks did, he bought a car and drove home. The week after 9/11 was great for auto sales. At least you just had to rent one. Always “Look on the bright side of life.” Monty Python.

  19. Your welcome Idealist707……………………….

    ya these weather men…. I wonder about them sometimes … its really not bad here… no snow ya ya ya ya it is 55 here right now close to Portland Maine… I guess being in Florida for 27 years kind of use to it…. everyone here is freaking out though….. lol we will all be fine in Maine… hope all goes well for the other States…. got a report from friends in NC about an hour from Wilmington NC inland…. and they lost power for an hour yesterday… that was it and rain… friends in Ga near Macon… all they got was rain…. but it sure is a wide storm they said 800 miles wide…

    keep ya posted…. at least its warm… lol headed south in 15 days so hope its all gone…

    Take Care everyone

  20. “Hmmmmmm…..spam has its own key” is one of the best lines in history. Right up there with Fats Waller’s “One never knows, do one?”

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