<p>D was able to fly out of O’Hare alright this morning, so I guess the Chicago airports are fine for now. I think they are past the worst of the snow, and the cold and wind will be the story for airports tomorrow. Do flights get delayed because it is cold? (I know the wind is another story).</p>
<p>I’m worried about S2 and his GF in Madison on Monday. The high will be -12, and they both have to stand outside and wait for the bus. I hope they’re clever enough to wear everything they own.</p>
<p>Thank you. S has a connection at O’Hare this morning. Everything looks good.<br>
Last night a friend was flying through Midway and had to land in Milwaukee and take a bus to Chicago. Not fun, but at least she got there.
I have been on flights where they needed to de-ice before take off. That makes me a little nervous.
Safe travel wishes to all your loved ones.</p>
<p>VeryHappy, where do they have to go? I heard a bus driver talking yesterday about how 50% of the buses might not run in that weather (or break down). Obviously, that would put a lot of people at risk. </p>
<p>I am hoping our office officially closes so people don’t have to worry about it. Not many take the bus, but it would be a bad day to have a car break down or be in an accident and end up exposed to the elements for too long.</p>
<p>hrh, I think a lot of us with kids in far-flung places are frustrated with this. My son’s friend had to get back to NYC yesterday. Somehow he made it but he said it took as long to get his bags as it did to fly from here to there. When my son was looking at colleges I knew travel could be an occasional headache but we didn’t let that stop him from applying where he wanted to, regardless of distance. This year has been especially awful (although, knock on wood, he has not been affected personally yet). We have two more weeks with him home so we’ll see what happens by then.</p>
<p>ETA: Also, don’t freak about the de-icing. I used to (especially when I had a seat over the wing and could see them doing it). It’s common in weather far milder than this.</p>
<p>The weather is a big story. I would hope that anyone who gets delayed getting back home, to college, to work or whatever will have the understanding and sympathy of their superiors. As long as everyone has a good dose of common sense, this problem will be history Ina few days. Best of luck!!!</p>
<p>Florida governor Rick Scott and his leading rival, former governor Charlie Crist, will both be in California Monday…not because it is warmer there, but to watch FSU beat Auburn in the BCS Championship game…and to raise some cash for next election.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/legislature/rick-scott-charlie-crist-using-florida-state-football-game-to-raise/2159537[/url]”>http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/legislature/rick-scott-charlie-crist-using-florida-state-football-game-to-raise/2159537</a></p>
<p>Thanks also to romanigypsyeyes! I will keep you and 2016BarnardMom posted via IM if the need arises. This is why I like this website! People who care about other peoples’ children!</p>
<p>sally305, re: Post #84: I will advise them to check on the buses before they leave their apartment. Do you live in that neck of the woods??</p>
<p>AHS- I am closer to DTW than abasket and had said I could help if needed. I would consider trying to reschedule them though, now, before the flight is actually canceled, if the airline will work with you at this point and waive the fees for changing flights. Most are doing that at this point, I think.</p>
<p>^^^that is good advice. Sunday late afternoon is going to be a very, very, snowy time. And the bitter cold and winds are going to kick in in the evening.</p>
<p>Yes, VH. I’m happy to help if there’s any way I can.</p>
<p>I’ve sent a text to encourage a change in flights. If they do get stuck, I’m hoping it would be LAX instead of DTW (no offense to Detroit) as they don’t have coats. It’s easier to sleep on floors when you’re 20/22. Get’s a little tougher as one ages.</p>
<p>The Detroit airport is quite nice inside and will be plenty warm . :)</p>
<p>S2’s GF’s office is closed on Monday, so she won’t need to be standing in -12 degree weather waiting for the bus. I’ve suggested to S2 that he might be able to work from home. </p>
<p>Thanks, sally.</p>
<p>It’s been 80 degrees and nice all week in South Florida. This weekend is going to be a little cold for our standards - about 70 degrees.</p>
<p>We already have a frozen pipe. The shower wouldn’t drain this morning and we just took the drain off and looked with a flashlight and it’s full of ice. Oh no… 
I have no idea what to do. There is no way to get under this part of the house.</p>
<p>It is 25 degrees here now with wind chill of 12, if our pipes are already frozen I don’t know what will happen the next three days when actual temps go into the negatives. The other sinks and things seem to be working right now but the hall bathroom shower is completely plugged with ice.</p>
<p>ETA: It looks like the trap for this drain is actually in the crawl. My dad said to pour boiling water down it to melt the ice and then use a turkey baster to get all the water out of the trap so it doesn’t just keep refreezing… I don’t understand because it is just not that cold today, are we stuck just not using this shower all winter!? Will dumping hot water in a frozen pipe damage the pipe? I’m not sure if a turkey baster is long enough to get the water out of the drain. When we turn our faucets on we only get 5-10 minutes of warm water to begin with, I can’t keep warm water running through all the taps…</p>
<p>Ema- is that one on an outside wall? Everything I’ve ever heard or read said to keep the cold water dripping, although something with slightly more flow than a drip. It does not have to be the hot water left on. If you can get the shower drain unplugged and go without that shower for a few days, what about pouring RV antifreeze into it? It’s the pink stuff and is at Walmart, auto parts store, etc. We put it in our swimming pool lines every year. Make sure it is the RV kind and not the regular antifreeze. You should check this advice with a plumber, your dad, someone better than me…but that is what I would do.</p>
<p>It is on an outside wall. We are trying to pour hot water with salt to melt the ice, but this is a shower stall and not a tub and it’s not draining, so I have to figure out how to get the water back out once it gets cold to put more in… I wasn’t sure that the salt was a good idea but fiance thought it would be…</p>
<p>My dad sounded like he was guessing, so maybe I’ll see if I can find a plumber that’s open to get advice. My dad has a basement and has never had this problem. He didn’t believe me that the crawl was inaccessible. </p>
<p>As long as the master bath doesn’t do this we can go without this shower for a while. We didn’t use it at all last winter, I wonder if it was frozen all winter and didn’t burst and we just didn’t know. Or we weren’t using it enough at all and the trap dried out before winter.</p>
<p>My apartment is cold. I am wearing a heavy sweater and socks. I normally walk around with short sleeves or I would be too hot. I haven’t been outside, so I think it must be very cold in the city. </p>
<p>D2 has been down in FL all week visiting her best friend. She is flying back tomorrow. I think it is suppose to get up to 40s tomorrow here, so she should be ok.</p>
<p>It’s now up to a whopping 22 degrees here (it was -4 when I got up around 7:30 AM) so I guess I have to take the dogs to the woods for their daily romp. But we’re not going to stay long!!</p>