Held hostage in Buffalo

I am Patty Hearst.

I always thought it would be interesting to be snowed in. You know, an airport closed, a hotel nearby, pristine snow falling out the window, friendly people, cackling logs and a burning fire.

Man, was I wrong. My flight from Buffalo to Charlotte Friday was delayed once, delayed twice and then, after U.S. Airways had my luggage, canceled. By early afternoon, everything out of Buffalo was canceled. This was about 6:30 p.m. We had watched the snow in the distance and soon it was not in the distance anymore and we were in it. Should of worn a winter coat. But, it's March.

The first two hotels I tried were booked and then I found one. Despite the custom chopper workshop scheduled today, it had a room.

Ha! The cool thing about having no luggage is there's nothing to unpack. Wake up Saturday and you don't have to think, what should I wear? You don't have to feel guilty about not working out because you have no clothes to work out in. You also have no Internet access, despite what the advertisement claims, until you walk to the lobby and get on the computer system, limit 15 minutes per person, which is reasonable.

Without a chopper to customize, I spent my time walking around. Since the only place within walking distance is the gas station, I walked there. They sell the essentials, unless you consider hair gel an essential, which I no longer do.

The only thing to do Friday night was eat, drink and watch basketball. Since 45 of the 50 people in the hotel bar were watching the Buffalo Sabres, who like our Hurricanes are fighting for a playoff spot, I almost had the NCAA tournament to myself. I was pulling for Villanova against Kentucky, but have a friend who loves the Wildcats, so I could live with it.

That's the only game I missed Friday. I missed three games Thursday. I picked Winthrop in the picks I made in the Observer Sunday, but missed the Eagles' victory against Notre Dame. It took me more than two hours to reach the US Air ticket counter, and I did not see a single play.

Friends would call while I waited or text message with updates, but I did not see Winthrop win. And that's was the first-round game I wanted to see most, although Maryland-Davidson was compelling and, in its way, so was Virgina Commonwealth-Duke.

I had a convoluted Buffalo to Chicago to Spokane flight, 7 1/2 hours, worked out. But it didn't work out. Few flights out of Buffalo worked out Friday, the snow canceling flights to New York and Philadelphia and eventually almost everywhere else.

It's impossible to get through to USAirways, but Orbitz says I will leave Buffalo late Saturday afternoon on a direct flight to Charlotte. There's nothing available earlier. Not sure what I'll do today. There's always the gas station, the Sabres and the choppers.

The longer Patty Hearst was held hostage, the more she liked her captors. I don't see that happening.

Comments

[Beach Music Fan]

THE LONGER BUFFALO HAS YOU THE BETTER OFF CHARLOTTE WILL BE. YOU ARE A PERFECT FIT FOR BUFFALO. COLD AND BORING, TOM AND BUFFALO A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN.

[Don]

Tom,

I was going to defend your need in Charlotte until I noticed the poster's name
Beach Music Fan. I think that pretty much says how valid this comment is in relation to the opinion of sports fans here in Charlotte. Have a safe return and many more.

Don