I’m checked in and ready to go

I said I wouldn’t talk about it, but here I go again… I just checked in for my flight(s), and I’m mostly packed.  I’m writing this on Monday afternoon because I know tomorrow morning will not provide me with a good opportunity to blog.  I’m also going to blog in advance for Wednesday just due to travel.  You’ll hear from me “live” again on Thursday, and I’m going to assume that it will be a blog of happiness and joy from making it OK to Brighton and seeing Duran Duran the night before.  Let’s hope.

I’ve been trading tweets on twitter today, and checking just about every Heathrow airport website imaginable.  I’ve been reading the BBC site with vigor, and holding appropriate sacrifices to calm the apparently angry travel gods out there.  (No children or live animals were harmed in the sacrifices.  Hmm…no adults or dead animals were harmed either.  Just in case you were worrying!)  Aside from making odd chants to the tune of “Is it REALLY too much to ask for this tour to work out correctly?”, I have been packing, planning for my absence here at home, and even doing some laundry.

You all would laugh if you could see the bag I am taking for a 6 day trip.  It’s delightfully small and ORANGE.  Its a smallish backpack on wheels. There’s no way I’m going to lose it – and if someone tries to snatch it, the color will blind them.  I mean that.  I’ve never really learned how to pack lightly, but after my little excursion six months ago, I’ve turned a new leaf.  Small is key.  Lightweight is the only way.  Wheels are a requirement.   Sure, it’d be nice to take 5 pairs of shoes, but I’m taking two.  I’m living in my Ugg boots during the day (and I don’t care if anyone laughs – they’re only laughing at themselves for not having their own pair), and at night I’ve got another pair of boots for the shows.  I’ve got a down coat, gloves and a couple scarves. (I’m from California.  We freeze when it’s not at least 70 degrees F.  It’s a fact.)  Then I’ve got a few pairs of jeans and more than a few shirts.  Since Amanda and I are kind of flying by the seat of our pants – we agreed that we had to do carry on bags only, so that if we needed to change plans quickly, we could do so without trouble.  Even my expert business traveler husband is impressed with my packing this time.

Speaking of being prepared, I think we’re following every single UK news outlet, airport information twitter account, and of course our own American Airlines.  I’ve got apps for trains, the tube, currency converters…and pretty much any other form of transportation there is, including cabs.  We may not have any control over what the strike does or what happens at Heathrow when we land, but we are certainly informed.

I honestly can’t believe this day has arrived.  I’ve put the trip out of my mind as much as possible and in many ways I really don’t think I would really end up going.  I’ll also share that lately I have had the worst unease about leaving home.  I made sure to decorate our entire house for Christmas and get a lot of our holiday shopping done – just in case.  In case of what?  I don’t know.  I just feel weird about leaving this time.  Its probably just one of those bizarre things that happen when you’re a parent.  Either that or its just insanity.  (Don’t tell me. I don’t want to know!)

Until tomorrow…be good Duranies!

-R