whats happening in Cincinnati??? I am so desolate

i would definitely say that's safe to assume :) how wonderful it will be for you to all be together!!! BTW, I'd love to hear how the UT player turned out! LOL. night;)

oh God, he drove me absolutely crazy, thank God he had two breaks (too short for my liking) but then when he was done at 10:30, a guy at one of the tables who was singing along with him, begged him to stay, I was glad to see that the UT player is principled and didnt overstay his welcome. The dinner was nice, traditional turkish dinner that started about 7:30 and lasted till past midnight. We had mezes (appetizers - cold ones) then a sald course, then fish, then birthday cake, then coffee and liquer, and still we were sitting there. I like to be in bed by 9, or 9:30 at the very latest...I was tired, strung out, and not happy about the UT player anyway.....and just wanted to go home and go to bed, plus, I kept thinking that Alex would call....
Oh well, I guess it passed the time.

Hi Pebble,

Just wanted to say hello, while everybody's asleep in the US :-)

I grew up in Greenland and have been stuck in airports due to snowstorms way too often. I know from experience that the other ladies here are right: When these things happen, people tend to be very helpful and kind.

I'm sure your sweet son will be fine.

frk, thank u for your encouraging words. I'm sure you're right, people will be helpful.....I just worry. I am hoping that flights have left on time, at this point I dont even know what flight he is on going where....all I know is that he will arrive in Istanbul on the morning of the 25th. But I have checked the website for the airport, and they are saying that flights are delayed only 15 minutes.
Oh well, never mind....He will get here, sooner or later.
How cold is it in Aarhus today? any snowstorms?

By the way, welcome to Daves FRK, I havent seen u here before. this is a most wonderful site, as you can see, none of these people have met me, but they are willing to go out of their way to go get my son, and offering so much support etc., they (the members) have kept me sane these past two years since I moved here, but also kept me in plants and what not when I was back in the states...
Its a great bunch of people we have here, I am so fortunate that I found this site way back in the beginning, and have watched it grow into a world in itself.

well, I still havent heard anything, so I cant stay home and fret myself, so I will go shopping.....

cheers everyone and thanks again for all your support and encouragement.

Nightowl checking in from Ohio here...I'm heading to bed. Your son will probably be there with you guys by the time I check in next. Have a *wonderful* Christmas together. I can't believe you've borne this freaky ordeal with your family clueless about any of it. Bless your heart!

We want pictures. :)

Pebble -- I posted this in the nightowls 27 thread, but here it is again just in case you didn't watch that thread:

Pebble, our cable is still out and we don't have any antenna for broadcast TV. I looked at the same site you did -- http://www.fly.faa.gov/flyfaa/flyfaaindex.jsp?ARPT=cvg&p=0 -- and read pretty much what you posted in your other thread. Have you any waya to phone a Delta ticket agent, or are phone calls not practical with you out of the country? Their ticketing phone number is listed at http://www.cvgairport.com/flight/index.shtml and their website at http://www.delta.com/care/index.jsp

Here are news links regarding Delta flights in Cincinnati:
http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=mozclient&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&hl=en&edition=&q=delta+flights+cincinnati

You might be able to get more info at http://www.delta.com/schedules/travel/reservations/flight_sched/index.jsp There, you may download complete flight schedules in PDF format, or search for specific flights. Looks like there are a lot of flights from Cinci to Istanbul, though.

If you contact them and explain the situation, that he is a minor traveling alone, handicapped, etc., maybe someone can help and give you his flight information?

This message was edited Dec 24, 2004 3:47 AM

Pebbles--just wanted to check in and see how things were going for you. The storm is over here and things are getting back to normal so I am assuming your son is on his way, or will be soon...Let me know if I can do anything for him...I will check in to this thread again today. t.

I heard in the night that Cinci has run out of de-icing chemical.....(we keep news on all night to sleep by)

There were flights that got away before this happened, and they are having more chemical brought in today. They used up a month's worth of de-ice in 24 hours.

I was groggy at the time, but got the impression that planes were getting out of there before that happened....let's hope he calls from Istambul.

They said that the reason they ran out is because the trucks bringing the deicing chemicals to them were stuck in the traffic. 3 major interstates, all major thoroughfares from Louisville were jammed and no one moving as of last night.

Now they are saying with this frigid cold (it was below zero this morning and will be colder tomorrow) the salt that they use on the roads does not work.

I feel confident though that Pebble's son is on his way to her.

Don't fret Pebble, I just know Alex is on his way!!!!!! Merry Christmas!!!!!!!

aaarrgghhh - if it's not one thing, it's another.
I got a call from him about an hour ago, he was in the hotel, waiting for a cab to take him to the airport.
All I can do is hope and pray that he gets on a plane and get him out of that miserable storm.

I hope all you people in the storm path are doing ok and that you have your power restored. that's no way to spend Christmas is it?
Thanks guys for giving me updates and information. Our internet was down all afternoon, evening. this is the first place I checked into. (LOL - what priorities huh??)

I'll keep you all posted, In the meantime, Merry Christmas to you all.

Pebble, How far ahead in time are you than us? I am Eastern Time in kentucky. it is noon here right now. :)

Is he just now leaving Cincinnati? And where does he go to from there? Paris? We have DGers all around the world so any number of people may be able to help from time to time. What is your son's name?

right now it is a few minutes after 7 pm on Christmas eve night
LOL Misty...we have a world wide gardening club just waiting for him....
his name is alex.
I dont know what his itinerary is anymore, it has been changed several times.
and besides, now I have lost all hope, because of the de-icing thing.
If they dont have the de-icing chemical, what chance do they stand?
another thing i thought of, they will get people that are on scheduled flights first, he is probably on standby on an overcrowded flight anyway; I am just hoping time will pass and I will know something. and to top it off, his cell phone battery has died, i dont know if he doesnt have the charger with him or what. so he cant call me :(

Ugh! And I just read you post about airport security - that's terrible. Thankfully he was able to rest comfortably in a hotel before another day of travel.

pebble, sorry to say all the news I have heard is not so good regarding flights out of Cincy. they still have canceld flights and a lot of delayed ones, I would think since your son is only 16 he would be able to get special help, if you talk to him again tell him to try and talk to the airport athorities about his problem.
Wishing you the best.

Doris

I think at some point you are going to have to tell your husband what's going on. What a wonderful thing you've done and tried to do. Wish we could have gotten our son-in-law home for Christmas. He sits with almost no one at the post at Ft. Wainwright, Alaska and knows no one. :( But he is not stuck at an airport. (I wasn't trying to minimize what you and your son are going through.)

When I flew to Germany, I had only flown once before and I was scared to death. We had such an awful flight, I was just grateful to land in JFK. Little did I know that I had almost a whole day ahead of me to be there. I kissed the ground when we got off. LOL

I don't think there is a problem with deicing now. the sun is shining bright, although it is bitter cold. The wings won't be icing up without precipitation. I think now, they just had so many travelers and so many flights that couldn't go that they are just trying to get them off the ground. And consider all the airports around here that are having the same problem. They have to synchronize flights, I think.

And remember, there is a reason for everything. God is in control and it will be okay. :)

Let us know if you hear more from him. Kathy

It's really cold here today, but very bright and sunny. Kim Komando's newsletter had this link for flight info: http://www.flightarrivals.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/Flights

Pebble,

Are you aware that "Badseed" has offered to help your son and she lives in the same town as the airport??? See her postings above, but here is the first one. Email her direct through DG and see what you can work out.

Badseed
Cincinnati, OH
Zone 6a
Dec 23, 2004
3:27 PM
Pebble, I will go back and read the thread in a minute. If your son is stuck at CVG and needs help, please answer right away. I am 20 mins from the airport and can go get him. Someone E'd this to me and I would be glad to help!!

pebble, have you heard anymore from your son. Prayers going up for his safe trip.

this is the last email i got from my sister, she would have written it in her daytime, my nighttime

quote
yep, fiasco is the word...........poor Alex - I just
feel so bad for him.........one thing after another,
this am I talked to him, and they had cancelled
the 1:35pm Cinci-JFK flight........put him on a 2:40p
it should be taking off in 50 min--insallah. In
between stuff - the fire alarm went off in Cinci
and they had to evacuate -- he called me
back and advised that it was a false alarm
and he was headed back thru security......
if he could just get out of Cinci...............

I'll keep you posted, kiz, he's going to call me
from JFK.........if he gets there.....

hang in there, kiz.............he'll be there soon.

unquote.

Badseed has offered to go get him (God bless her little cotton socks) but I dont know where he is,
I cant very well send her off to the airport looking for a boy on crutches, can I??? there must be a million stranded passengers. she would spend an entire day looking for him.
I am still hoping against hope that he is on that plane to JFK

Thanks guys for hanging in there with me.
I still havent told my husband. If I dont hear from Alex by noon I will have to tell my hubsand, because at that point, I will need someone else to worry with me....

It's Christmas morning here, but it sure feels empty....

I really really wish I could help somehow.

Please keep us posted when you hear from him, or have an update!

Hang in there, Pebble.

Thanks Shoe. believe me, the minute I hear from him, I will post, and I will post a photo of him when he gets here......

Pebble, Can't someone call the airlines and find out where/when they sent him. He is, after all, still a minor! I'm thinking irresponsibility on the airlines part and I'm afraid I'd have to take some serious action. My goodness, if this were a mother leaving her 16 yo alone for 3 days, the Dept for Children would be after her like stink on "stink weed"!

Not to add insult to injury, but I've wondered if he has money for food, etc. I think/hope the Red Cross is helping people out in that aspect. Gosh, we can run around the world helping everybody else, charity begins at home!

Not that it's any of my business, but why is he on crutches anyway?

Gosh, I hope you hear something soon and that he's on his way to you. I'm so sorry you are going through this. What a damper this has put on so many holiday plans!

Peace, Kathy

Oh and Pebble, Merry Christmas.

Kathy, alex has cerebral palsy. but other than the walking issue he is a brilliant kid. sometimes shy though...

I just talked to my sister. and alex is on a plane to jfk, and hopefully then onwards to istanbul
the surprise is still on
we opened our presents, then i called my sis, pretended alex was out for the evening with friends,
then after we hung up, i propmtly burst into tears, (relief i imagine) so the family here suspects nuttin.......

I feel like the wieght of the world is off my shouldres (for now)
let's just hope all goes ok from here. let's keep praying for his safe arrival in bodrum.

thanks for all your support.

by the way Kath, if I were in the states, I'd be in their face 24 hrs till I knew something. but from here, you really are cut off from the world.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

Any more news since your post, Pebble? I've been watching and praying for Alex's safe travels. Between our ice storm and your longsuffering son's journey home, this is definitely a Christmas to remember!

no kidding GW, no, all I know is that he should have been on the flight to JFK, I'm waiting for my husband to go to the pharmacy, then I will call Delta here and see if they will tell me if he was on the passenger list, but I am nt even sure if he is ona delta flight...lol....
what a comedy or errors this has been.
My turkey is in the oven, stuffing is made as are my dips, now Im going to start chopping vegetables and such.

Merry Christmas

Gee pebble what a time you have had .Don't know how you are carrying on.
thinking of you. and your Alex. and waiting on a joyful reunion.

The eagle has landed!!!!! He just called me from Istanbul, they have of course lost his baggage. Oh well, at least they havent lost him!!
He is wait listed on a 1 oclock flight to izmir, then tke a bus to bodrum. if that happens, then he will he in bodrum around 7:30 or 8:00 - if not, he is confirmed on a three oclock flight, which means he will be here around 9thirty or 10

I am so relieved. now just worrying about which flight....
Let's all hope he makes it on the 1 oclock flight......

thanks guys for your support

Woo Hoo!!!!! It looks like somebody's Christmas just got a whole lot brighter... *smiles*

Merry Christmas from one of the lurkers who's been following your threads!
Donna

YIPPEE! Break out the fatted calf!

let's not count our chickens yet, they have lost his reservation for today, they show that he flew from istanbul to bodrum yesterday.....
egads...It's a waiting game from here on out.

Here, have a white Christmas, on me. http://www.flickr.com/photos/gardenwife/sets/63151/ I'll check back later this morning -- praying still. :)

oh pebble....I tell ya - I think dozens of us have lived (and cared) vicariously through this with you - so many challenges. Almost makes me not want to fly to New Mexico today. *grin*

Give Alex a hug for all of us... :-)

Promise me it doesn't always take days to get to Bodrum....I'm still considering February or March...*grin*

Oh Pebble, I know this waiting is awful for you. Hoping he is there soon.

... and praying

pebble, have you called the american embassy in turkey? surely they can do something. good luck.

Pebble, I've been following this whole saga/adventure and anxiously await with all of DG to hear he has arrived!

I'll check back in later, going over to friends' house for Christmas Breakfast.

Pebble, Alex will be in your arms soon!
All of us at DG will rejoice with you! What a Christmas you will have and what stories he will be able to share with his friends. Alex's Great Adventure.....
Gary/Louisville

an hour and a half to go guys....i still have a housefull of guests, i just wanted to givve you all an update. I cant wait.....
thanks again guys, i know one day we may have a cuckle over this, but not yet....