CNN SPOILS THE LOST FINALE: I'm frustratedly trying to get my wife and myself into Europe for a long-scheduled trip. Adam's bleak summation: "they let Smokey out of Iceland."
The new Icelandic joke is that due to the banking snafu, the UK & EU were demanding cash from Iceland. Since there is no 'C' in hte Icelandinc alphabet, they sent ash instead.
Anyway, listen: I am likely to be available to give lectures in the New England area over the next few days at a massively reduced fee. Your people won't even need to call my people. Just get in touch by email (you know how). We can deal. Forget the usual fee, the limo, the other contract details, all of it. The package only has to include one thing: overnight accommodation. A bed. Or at least a bench of some kind. In fact a blanket is all it will take to beat what Logan has to offer. I do not want to spend this weekend in Terminal E. (By the way, it might be more than a weekend. In 1821, the volcano under Eyjafjallajoekull was active for two years.)
I just spoke for a while to a TV reporter covering the developing story in the departure hall here (Boston area viewers: does my hair look OK?), and he asked me if this experience had given me "a new respect for volcanoes". Where do they get these insane questions? I told him I despise volcanoes. Most of all the one under Eyjafjallajoekull.
What a bummer, Spacepeople - sorry your trip is getting mucked up. A colleague of mine who has similar vacation-related troubles is also getting screwed by this volcano. The ALOTT5MA commentariat can only hope it results in a post as hysterical as Isaac's account of being stranded at Reagan.
So, are you stuck in your home city? Or some intermediate destination? Sucks either way, but maybe a little less if at home? (We had a similar incident last summer, flying to Germany. We got delayed, delayed, delayed, then the plane finally took off, but after 45 minutes or so in the air, they turned around because an altimeter wasn't working. Got back to DC after midnight and had to wait for a flight the next day. Having dealt with the logistical nightmare of getting to the gate and having to turn around and go home, with kid(s), I feel for you!)
Stuck at home. It could be worse -- apparently, if you get stuck in a German airport without a visa, in the German airport you stay. So I'm actually a lot happier to be home with the spacies than sleeping on a cot in Frankfurt.
I think you may end up seeing a spacewoman rant. It's like an isaac rant, only about 16 times as long, not as funny, and likely to make extremely excessive use of the word "fuck."
That would be utterly understandable. I'm pissed off on your behalf, and it's not my vacation (and I know how upset I've gotten over far, far tinier plans getting scuppered, when I've looked forward to them). Can we wreak vengeance on the volcano for you?
I'm pleased Iceland has developed a major source of revenue other than fishing, dragons, and screaming.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry, spacepeople! I hope that you make your trip!
ReplyDeleteThe new Icelandic joke is that due to the banking snafu, the UK & EU were demanding cash from Iceland. Since there is no 'C' in hte Icelandinc alphabet, they sent ash instead.
ReplyDeleteSuch a bummer for you guys.
ReplyDeleteThanks. I'm having the mother of all meltdowns at the moment. Sadly, this is actually typical for a spacepeople vacation.
ReplyDeleteLuke Burbank (from wait, wait don't tell me and TBTL and formerly of the Bryant Park project) blames Sigur Ros.
ReplyDeleteSee disastrous music interviews:
http://www.youtube.com/v/OIMGPlH4XPo" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="170" height="140
A linguist is stuck in Boston (Language Log):
ReplyDeleteAnyway, listen: I am likely to be available to give lectures in the New England area over the next few days at a massively reduced fee. Your people won't even need to call my people. Just get in touch by email (you know how). We can deal. Forget the usual fee, the limo, the other contract details, all of it. The package only has to include one thing: overnight accommodation. A bed. Or at least a bench of some kind. In fact a blanket is all it will take to beat what Logan has to offer. I do not want to spend this weekend in Terminal E. (By the way, it might be more than a weekend. In 1821, the volcano under Eyjafjallajoekull was active for two years.)
I just spoke for a while to a TV reporter covering the developing story in the departure hall here (Boston area viewers: does my hair look OK?), and he asked me if this experience had given me "a new respect for volcanoes". Where do they get these insane questions? I told him I despise volcanoes. Most of all the one under Eyjafjallajoekull.
can there be a not like button for the spacepeople's situation? that is awful, I would be melting down too!
ReplyDeleteGosh, Isaac, it's so unlike you to have travel-related difficulties.
ReplyDeleteSo so sorry - that is a rotten situation!
ReplyDeleteWhat a bummer, Spacepeople - sorry your trip is getting mucked up. A colleague of mine who has similar vacation-related troubles is also getting screwed by this volcano. The ALOTT5MA commentariat can only hope it results in a post as hysterical as Isaac's account of being stranded at Reagan.
ReplyDeleteHeh. I did love the Reagan posts.
ReplyDeleteWould some inspirational songs cheer you up?
So, are you stuck in your home city? Or some intermediate destination? Sucks either way, but maybe a little less if at home? (We had a similar incident last summer, flying to Germany. We got delayed, delayed, delayed, then the plane finally took off, but after 45 minutes or so in the air, they turned around because an altimeter wasn't working. Got back to DC after midnight and had to wait for a flight the next day. Having dealt with the logistical nightmare of getting to the gate and having to turn around and go home, with kid(s), I feel for you!)
ReplyDeleteI'm so time-tweaked right now, I haven't followed closely, but last I saw the Iberian peninsula was still open.
ReplyDeleteStuck at home. It could be worse -- apparently, if you get stuck in a German airport without a visa, in the German airport you stay. So I'm actually a lot happier to be home with the spacies than sleeping on a cot in Frankfurt.
ReplyDeleteOpen but fully booked.
ReplyDeleteBut if that happened to you, Tom Hanks could make a lame movie of it. Just think--you could be played by Catherine Zeta-Jones. That's not all bad.
ReplyDeleteDislike! Though, I'm also secretly hopeful that some good Isaac rants will come out of this.
ReplyDeleteI think you may end up seeing a spacewoman rant. It's like an isaac rant, only about 16 times as long, not as funny, and likely to make extremely excessive use of the word "fuck."
ReplyDeleteThat would be utterly understandable. I'm pissed off on your behalf, and it's not my vacation (and I know how upset I've gotten over far, far tinier plans getting scuppered, when I've looked forward to them). Can we wreak vengeance on the volcano for you?
ReplyDeleteAny spacepeople updates?
ReplyDelete