Trapped in Buffalo, NY

[bjarvis]

F*ck. That's all I can say at this point. F*ck.

We discovered last night that my passport was MIA. Despite looking high & low for it then and this morning, I could find nothing. Nevertheless, we could use my birth certificate to get into Canada and my green card to get back into the US when we returned, so we headed to BWI and flew to Buffalo where we met cuyahogarvr driving up from Cleveland.

We met at the airport, loaded our luggage into the car and dug out our documentation so we would have everything on hand when we got to the border. And I couldn't find my green card.

The envelope in which my card is normally housed is still in my wallet where it has always lived. That my card is missing is a complete surprise to me, especially since the envelope is still present. All I can think is that I pulled out both to show to border officials with my passport last June, and they are still together somewhere. As to their location, I am completely baffled.

We quickly checked with border security and were told (by a rather hot guy in uniform: shaved head, strawberry blond mustache, nice arms...) that while I could get into Canada, I'd likely be delayed for processing coming into the US and charged a $500 fine for being without my green card. Even now, I'm technically in breach of the law as a non-citizen without proper documentation on my person.

In light of this and the possibility that I'd be refused entry to the US, possibly even blacklisted for a period of years, we decided against the attempt. I have informed the family that we're not going to make it for my sister's wedding and we're spending the weekend in Buffalo instead. I'll have to make amends later somehow.

So, we're stuck in Buffalo & vicinity since our return flights to the DC area are out of Buffalo's airport. Anyone have ideas of where to go and what to see?

Comments

[rexsteed.livejournal.com]

"To commit suicide in Buffalo would be redundant."

Sorry, that's all I know about Buffalo.

[bjarvis.livejournal.com]

Pretty accurate so far...

[brunorepublic.livejournal.com]

I was there two weeks ago. It's actually not that bad.

[apparentparadox]

Sorry to hear about your problems! At least you're there with people you like, and presumably have internet access :-)

[bjarvis.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I have kent4str and cuyahogarvr here to suffer with me. And internet access is nice... at least I can keep track of the real world while being apart from it involuntarily.

[paigemom.livejournal.com]

Holy crap! What a mess!

At least you're there with your family.

Will your sister forgive you?

[tdjohnsn.livejournal.com]

Have you called the border stations that you last crossed at?

I'm surprised that they didn't call you (or send you a letter) if that is where they are though. (though maybe I am not surprised, that would require effort on the part of a government employee...)

They are in a drawer waiting for you somewhere. (Or they have been sold on the black market and a case of mistaken identity will cause you to flee across the world pursued by factions out to stop the wrong man at any price.)

[dr-scott.livejournal.com]

The Jarvis Identity! I'll round up financing.

This snafu points out how tough it is to cling to the US ideal of not requiring identity documents ("papers") as was long true in Europe. It's becoming impossible to accomplish much without them. Makes me wish for an implanted RFID chip so I can't leave home without it.

[bjarvis.livejournal.com]

I'm sure I got the documents back from the border guards when I crossed last. I just don't know what happened to them after that. Budget says they have nothing so I didn't leave them in the car.

[tdjohnsn.livejournal.com]

Did you think to check jacket pockets when you were looking for your passport at home? Your last trip was early enough in the spring that you may have been wearing a light jacket and your passport and green card are now safely tucked into the breast pocket and hanging on a hook at home.

You are really good at creating systems to keep things like this from happening. You might have gotten distracted and reflexively used the system you used before the one you use now. Where would you have tucked them away when you were 30?

When I was really little, my dad locked us out of our camper trailer. I had seen him put the keys in the chest pocket of his shirt, but he would not believe me because he doesn't put things there. In fact, I got in trouble for repeating it after I had been told that was not where they were. He finally broke a window to get into the trailer. The keys were, of course, in his chest pocket.

They are either someplace that was convenient when you pulled away from the border crossing, or zipped into a pocket of something that was convenient when you got out of the car to return it. But it is someplace you wouldn't have put it if you had not been distracted or in a hurry, but that seemed like a good, quick solution at the time. A jacket pocket that you would not normally use, or a never used because "what would anyone use that for" zipper pocket on a backpack/duffel/suitcase are my guesses.

Of course, I am sure you have already gone down this particular logic path. I'm just thinking real hard since I can't be there to rummage through things for you. Of course, none of this helps now anyway.

[bjarvis.livejournal.com]

The last trip was June 26-29; I didn't take a jacket and kicked myself for doing so. Nevertheless, I did search the pockets of every coat and jacket --kent4str's too-- out of desperation. I had my suit with me on that trip so I check its pockets too despite it having been to the cleaners since.

I check every suitcase and bag in the house, including side pockets and cases I know I never took to Toronto the last two trips, just in case. One thing I didn't do was check every shirt pocket in my closet... I'll try that when I get home.

During dinner tonight, I had a sudden recollection of a fragment of a memory from about that time, something about being home and seeing my passport was damp. The fragment was momentary... it might well have been only a portion of some forgotten dream. Or it could be that I accidentally laundered my passport and put it somewhere to dry, then entirely forgot about it because of other distractions and commitments. In any case, I'll ransack the laundry room when we return.

As you noted, I usually avoid this sort of situation by having well-defined and consistent systems. And in case the system fails, I usually have backups (I have three copies of my birth certificate currently), just in case. This time, all has failed. In fact, I've realized I've failed so thoroughly that I don't even have emergency contact information for the INS or the Canadian gov't in my Palm Pilot. At least I have a photocopy of my green card at home so I have a record of my file number. *sigh*

Failure sucks.

[tdjohnsn.livejournal.com]

Don't kick yourself too hard. (especially since you are already down...it will leave a mark.)

You are more organized and under control than 99% of the rest of the people in the world. You have been under a lot of stress at work, and have more things going on in the rest of your life than any three people put together. You had a tiny brain-fart while busy and doing a bunch of stuff at once and misplaced some things that you use once or twice a year. The fact that you had a system and routine for both items, even though they fell out of it, still puts you above most people's organizational abilities. In this case, the consequences of the misstep are big and showy, so it stings more than some other blond-moment would have, but you know as well as everyone else that this is incredible rare and unusual for you.

You're still wonderful, and everyone still loves you (especially me), and your PDA can still kick anyone else's PDA's ass.

[excessor.livejournal.com]

What a royal pain in the ass. I'm so sorry you all have to go through this. At least you're with two handsome men.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Shea Theatre in Buffalo is an historic theatre that hosts touring productions. You might find something there. I'm sure you've done Niagara Falls, but it might be worth a visit. Other than that, I'm fresh out of ideas.... Sorry to hear that your plans were quashed.

42nd Street

[redbearmark.livejournal.com]

I guess the cheery Shuffle off to Buffalo doesn't apply here huh?

but if you got across the border you might be safe from the coming torturous presidential election.

So nice to know others can have an entire election cycle in six weeks versus eighteen months!

Just cuddle together for warmth! Check with AAA for ideas of local things or the chamber of commerce

the buffalo city site

[redbearmark.livejournal.com]

http://ci.buffalo.ny.us

some general info you might find helpful under the Our City link along the top

[snowboardjoe.livejournal.com]

Damn, that sucks. It made me go check to see where my passport was and make sure it was still safe. Hoping you find it in your luggage somewhere and still might be able to make it.

[ajdesq.livejournal.com]

Hmmm... surely if you laundered it you'd remember? Anyway, I hope you find it when you get home. Oh, and enjoy Buffalo. Remember, adventures suck while you're having them.

[madknits.livejournal.com]

Well, doesn't that suck green monkey dicks?

Good luck.

And why the hell don't you live in a civilised country? Like Canada? Eh?