Cancelled Christmas plans due to weather check-in

[cilla4progress]

Highway between us and Grandma is closed in 4 places due to crashes.

Daughter's plane has been delayed 5 hours so far - can only de-ice down to munus 20 and it was minus 37.

So, it's just the 2 of us, the critters, our new exercise bike we gave each other for Christmas, and a giant pumpkin cheesecake I made to bring to family dinner!

Could be worse.

Still..disappointing.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

1. Do you have neighbors who do not have family coming for the same reasons?

I am sure that the Pumpkin Cheesecake(sounds utterly heavenly), could be shared with others.

Stay safe and warm this Christmas. Bummer about the rest of your plans. Our daughter lives but 10 minutes away. The son and DIL are 75 miles away or 90 minutes depending on traffic on I-494. We will see them in January.

[cilla4progress]

5. We are hoping to postpone just till January.

Husband's mom is declining (94 and in assisted living) so strong motivation to get over to see her!

There are 2 mountain passes between us, and frrezing rain is forecast starting on Christmas for several days.

Today was supposed to be the good weather window to drive!

So many more crashes closing the interstate highways this year. Don't know why!

I don't know about local friends and neighbors...that's another story. I've lived in this ruby red area for 40 years and it's no more fun, friendly, or welcoming than it's ever been. Not a happy, fun or interesting place, socially. But I'm stuck here for now.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

8. Where are you located?

[cilla4progress]

11. North central Washington state.

The republican part.

Beautiful and spacious here. Not crazy busy. We make great use of the vast outdoors here. Still kind of a secret!

[Hortensis]

18. It is beautiful. I remember one special year the road we

drove W-E passed little lakes everywhere, all magically with parents and baby ducks.

Happy cozy holiday from us. And pumpkin cheesecake. Husband needs cancer treatment so are hiding from the crowd so he'll be well for it, sans cheesecake. Wonder if I could do something about that...?

[cilla4progress]

20. I would mail you some

if I could.

[Hortensis]

22. Thanks, Cilla! You sent the idea. The other day the market

accidentally contributed a second pack of cream cheese, enough for a half recipe, so earlier I went and hid the cinnamon grahams my husband wanted cream cheese for. It'll be a nice surprise.

Been listening to reports of plunging temps and blizzard snows -- wow! Great time to be home.

[Kaleva]

2. Many in my family are sick so it could be a sparse Xmas

[yorkster]

3. Sorry to hear. May they get well soon. n/t

[cilla4progress]

6. Yes, sorry to hear -

hope it's not to serious and over quickly!

[A HERETIC I AM]

4. That airline needs to take some lessons from Nolinor!

Hell, they fly to the far north all year round!

The Canadian carrier Nolinor flys to all sorts of unimproved and interesting airports with Boeing 737's. Their YouTube and TikTok vids are really cool.

The aircraft that fly into unimproved facilities are equipped with a fascinating gravel runway kit.

https://youtube.com/shorts/_2S-AWHfUZU?feature=share

Here's hoping all your family stays safe!


(I realize US Domestic carriers operate with different rules)

[cilla4progress]

7. But I did read that airline passengers in Iceland

are grounded due to weather there.

Snip:

Severe weather grounds flights, strands passengers in Iceland

Blizzard conditions throughout Iceland grounded flights and stranded thousands of holiday travelers, who were forced to sleep on the floor at Keflavik Airport for a second day. Photo courtesy of Iceland parliament member Gisli Olafsson


https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2022/12/20/iceland-severe-weather-strands-airport-travelers/2391671574336/

[Raven]

9. High winds and heavy rain predicted for me in SE NH, then a flash freeze and

black ice. The last time I met up with black ice, I broke my hip, so I'm sticking close to home.

[cilla4progress]

13. Stay safe for sure,

Raven!

[Raven]

14. You Too!

[bottomofthehill]

10. Same boat here, 3rd year without being Home for Christmas

the last 2 years as we did not want to risk Covid with my 80 year old parents and this year, work schedule kept changing and we can not get ahead of the storm.

[halobeam]

19. Oh! I'm so sorry to hear this. That is pretty tough.

I hope you get to see them right soon after!

Warmest wishes..

[bottomofthehill]

25. We have seen them a couple times in the past few years but

There is something about being home for Christmas, even when you are all grown up.

Thanks for the kind warm wishes. It looks like we will all need them this weekend.

[moonshinegnomie]

12. my brother is supposed to be flying in tomorrow from chicago

we'll see

[ProfessorGAC]

15. Not Turning Out Bad Here

Western Michigan & NW Indiana might get pounded, but it's been snowing 7 hours here and only about an inch & a half & barely coming down.
Flights however, may be heavily restricted due to winds. 30-35mph sustained with gusts to 50.
Just watched WGN news & so far cancelations are low & delays moderate. Found this;

Chicago OHare International Airport (ORD)

General Arrival Delays: Arrival traffic is experiencing airborne delays of 15 minutes or less.

Traffic on the roads to the airports is bad though.

[cilla4progress]

16. Good

to hear!

[ProfessorGAC]

17. Bad News

Just now I heard 548 flights have been canceled. I heard that while I was reading your reply.
I've had the local news on TV (on & off) for the last hour, and this is the first I've heard of this.
Sorry for the unwarranted optimism.

[cilla4progress]

21. No problem.

...

[spanone]

23. We're waiting to see....

We have around 300 miles north to drive....not looking good.

Supposed to leave tomorrow...that's off until Saturday... if at all.

[cilla4progress]

24. Yikes !

Where are you?

[spanone]

27. Nashville ...going to Indianapolis.

[LeftInTX]

26. I'm putting off going to Big Lots and CVS. I've put it off for an hour cuz it's 23 degrees here

I'm in San Antonio.
There really is no bad weather to ruin our plans.
Windy and cold, but that's the extent of it.

I don't have a heater or defroster in my vehicle. If I need to defrost, I have to turn on the AC. LOL

[FakeNoose]

28. You know what? Celebrate Christmas with your family in March or April

December 25th is an arbitrary date because nobody actually knows WHEN Jesus was born. The date is unknown, and at some point in the distant past, the Catholic Church decided "OK, let's say December 25th." Does it matter? Heck no!

Our winter weather is a mess, and the cost of traveling is so much higher in December than in March. Don't believe me? Check it out for yourself.

Your family - ALL of our families - can do its own thing and nobody else should have an opinion about it.

[cilla4progress]

30. Absolutely! That's my bias as well.

We have an elder who is in steep decline right now. She needs us.

[Dorian Gray]

29. I'm sorry. Hopefully plans will pick up and you'll see your loved ones

Ours are local, and I think we're in good shape. But my heart goes out to everyone who won't see their loved ones this holiday season. xoxoxo