Just caught up reading on CNN about how badly the gulf coast has been hit.

My heart goes out to everyone that has been touched by this.

Nope. Is it likely to be lower than $130?

I dunno, but it's worth a look -- you have to prove you're a student to actually buy a ticket, but you can search the site for free. (Edit: Not that it costs money to join, but you have to fax them your ID and stuff.) Which reminds me I need to get my Thanksgiving ticket.

If I were just going for a weekend, I'd probably fly, just because Amtrak is so ridiculously expensive these days.

Not to mention last year they jacked up their internet publicized price for the Boston-DC trip from $83 to $117 when I actually got to the station and bought a ticket. Oh, and the dining car won't accept credit cards.

I was checking the local paper to see how they covered Katrina. They had some information about Pensacola, I know they closed some bridges. Also the work that had been started to restore the beaches (mostly moving the sand from roadways and parking lots back to the beach) was all undone by Katrina.

There was a quote from a man who had evacuated from Louisana to this hotel in Pensacola and the hotel took some minor damaage from Katrina.

I have done Alexandria-to-Boston in 7.5 hours, but my foot is like unto lead, and also, they weren't enforcing the limit on the Garden State Parkway back then. Ed has reported of late that the Tappan Zee traffic is pretty bad, although I don't know in which direction (or both).

If the wedding is in Old Town Alex, and the hotel is in same, then public transit will work. If one is in Old Town and the other is in Arlandria, different story. Then again, there is always day-of carpooling at weddings, right? I am always doing that.

I used up a lot of shoe leather, walking from Braddock Road station into and around Old Town.

The prices on studentuniverse were really high, actually, but that may be particular to this trip. Also, I lost my student ID with my credit cards (although of course I'll replace it just as soon as I remember).

The prices on studentuniverse were really high, actually, but that may be particular to this trip.

I think the deal with them is that you can get good prices, but only wicked far ahead of time. Last Thanksgiving, I flew home for $100, but bought the tickets around this time of year.

Not to mention last year they jacked up their internet publicized price for the Boston-DC trip from $83 to $117 when I actually got to the station and bought a ticket.

Different prices for buying ahead of time online as opposed to day-of at the station are pretty common.

The train might well be shorter, but also more expensive than flying. Flying's not too expensive, but necessitates renting a car once I get there. Put that together with a hotel...

Emily, I live in Alexandria, so feel free to email at my profile addy for questions, etc. I can also give you advice on airports and whatnot, possibly even crash space or a ride to/from the airport or train.

The hotel is booked and I'm fairly sure of getting rides (if nothing else, my roommate will be driving down, so I think he'd probably let me ride to the wedding with him). Tomorrow -- plane tickets! Although I'm thinking of attempting to wheedle frequent flyer miles from my dad -- he did just go to Cairo again, after all.

Emily, flying is so much easier and you shouldn't have too much trouble with getting around.

So, I have entered all of my students into my gradebook on my new district-issued computer. Which means, YAY! I can check their homework for five minutes before I go to sleep. Or maybe I'll just go sleep.