Storm Strands WI Resident in Florida

just can't catch a break. 

McDermott, a West Islip resident and producing artistic director/founder of the Airmid Theatre Company, might want to ponder a new production called "The Canceled Crowd," starring herself and thousands of other East Coast travelers.  With a special guest appearance by , of course.

She was enjoying a brief holiday vacation down in Clearwater, Fla., staying at her father's house and visiting with friends and family.  But her Monday morning flight that was scheduled to fly out of Tampa at 9:45 a.m. --and was delayed till 3 p.m.-- never made it off the runway, although it was awfully close.

"We were revving the engines, on the runway, literally about to takeoff when they shut down the plane," she said.  "Then they told us we had to hold on the tarmac for an hour.  Then they told us we weren't able to take off till 6:15."

Okay, so no big deal.  Wait a couple hours and then head home to Long Island, right?  She was even told not to go too far just in case they were ready earlier than expected.    

Well when the plane began boarding at 6 p.m.--even getting through the first round of passengers--McDermott heard a message over the loudspeaker.  

"They got on the intercom and said 'ladies and gentleman, I'm sorry to say that I have bad news, they have canceled all flights into JFK,'" she said.  "I went to rebook and the earliest they could get was for Sunday but over the last 24 hours I was able to rebook twice."

She was, however, able to find a flight for this Friday, but not after having the misfortune of being first person shy of making an outgoing flight for Tuesday morning. 

"I was next person on standby," she said.  "Missed by one spot.  There were seven open spots and I was eight.

Because of the weather delay, she's had to miss a few days from her finance job in Manhattan.   But she did say that everyone at the airport was helpful and that for the most part all passengers remained calm.

"It actually hasn't been awful," she said.   "The people and staff I've been dealing with here have basically been very supportive of each other.  Every once in a while someone would get nasty or grumpy, but for the most part everyone kept their spirits up.  And tried to just roll with it.  There's not a whole lot you can do."

She'll test her luck again on Friday morning, which is next scheduled flight.  Barring any unforeseen blizzard 2.0, she'll be back in time for 2011.

"My plan is to be home for New Years Eve," she said.  "That would be a great New Years present.

"Knock on wood."