Marooned...

Well today has been quite an adventure... Was all packed and ready to head home today!  Alarm set for 2am, we were out of the house at 3am on our way to Billund to fly home through Amsterdam...  We were a little worried with the fresh snow that was on the ground but things seemed to be going alright on the roads to the airport so thought we would still be alright... No such luck.  First stressful situation of the day... phone navigation thought it would be tricky and take us some sneaky back route (off main road and through small towns where it would have been sooooo easy to miss a turn).  Whole time we were wondering where on earth we were and why we were driving through small towns and neighborhoods with no signs to the airport or to Billund the city we were to be flying out of.  Panic was setting in... where on earth are we and are we even going to make it to the airport... magically we still did (and probably wouldn't have taken so long if it weren't for having to drive slow on the small streets in the dark.. with the snow)!  So step one down.  Then we get into the airport and it is total mayhem.  People everywhere, lines almost out the door. Machines breaking, and the general lack of urgency by everyone around.  an hour later we had managed to check in for the flight (barely in time) - after I somehow pressed the wrong button that said I am a US citizen but do not have a passport from the US (I suck!!!).  I think I was in full on panic by the time I finally managed to get someone to help and I was all checked in, and my bags checked through to PDX.

Oh but wait... the flight is delayed 2 hours (leaving at a more reasonable time of 8am instead of 6).  So now it is 5am and we have 3 hours to spare.  Lucky for us we were going to have a couple hour layover in Amsterdam so we were still going to make our connections... 2 hours later (at about 7:30am) an announcement comes over the loud speaker "if you are on the flight to Amsterdam please come to the information counter for re booking of a flight as we are not allowed to take you to Amsterdam if that is not your final destination.  Ummm, what???  Freak out #3 of the morning begins.  So we get shepherded downstairs where we get given our bags back and told that our flights in Amsterdam have been canceled due to the major winter storm which has hit.  Later we find out that is not necessarily true, they just will not let anyone else be brought into the airport because there are thousands stranded already and they are just trying to get all of them out of there (so our seats are gone and we have to find alternative arrangements).

Step 1. Call BCD Travel (or company travel agency where we have to book/change our tickets through), sit on hold for an hour and a half I think?? But hey got plenty of time because we had to take a number (like at the DMV) and were numbers 346 and 347 and the current number they are on is 318... and moving about as fast as the DMV does. Not fast at all!!!  But I guess that is understandable when really there are thousands stranded in Amsterdam, and Frankfurt, and London as all England flights are shut down all together.. Everyone trying to figure out how to get home.  Well finally talked to the travel people and there are no more flights out till Monday.  And I can take a flight from Copenhagen through JFK in New York instead of trying to go through Amsterdam.  Hopefully the weather will clear up and I will be able to make it home that way!!  But alas now I have to still sit in line to talk to the KLM airport people since my flight wasn't officially "cancelled", as it was still going to Portland, but just with other people  :(
Several more hours later we finally get in to talk to the airport people and I am squared away on my Monday flight... FINGERS CROSSED

Sooo my great love for snow not quite so great today.  Bright spot at least we are not one of the thousands that are stranded at the airports.  I am at least sitting on my couch in pj's instead of sleeping on the floor.  Get to enjoy the Christmas decorations a little longer  ;-p
As long as I actually get home on Monday...

Fur monster thing!  Don't think Nate loves him nearly as much as I do, but I think he is so cute!  He replaced a tree for me this year.  Figured I didn't need to buy decorations for him ;-p



Gnomes  ;-D

Check out all that snow  ;-p

Snow covering the skylights over my bed

View off my upstairs balcony.  It will be a white Christmas here :-)

Here's to safe travels on MONDAY... never spent Christmas away from all friends and family.  Not prepared to start now!  Miss you all so much!