Can I take a nap yet?

It's funny how we can fill up our lives so quickly with the "little" things that pop up each day. And then those little things (and good ideas) can turn into bigger things.

This spring I was certain that life would slow down for Ryan and me because I would only be taking one course (the FINAL course) at HGSE before graduating in June. I suppose in some ways life *has* slowed up quite a bit.

But then I think about the next few days ahead of me and I cringe.

Today is Thursday. After waking up early, meeting with my professor, studying, and working the remainder of the day, I will head home to do some laundry and pack for a business trip to LA.


Friday I will fly to LA after working for most of the day. When I land I have the luxury of being picked up by a private car....the driver will be waiting at the airport with my name on a sign.

I thought of saying my last name was something like "Aniston", "Jolie", or "Crawford" but I don't look like any of those famous people. Although that name on a sign would probably make a few hopeful "star gazers" wait around to see who the driver picked up. It may not be too late to change the sign....!

I am getting a private car to pick me up because, according to the hotel concierge, Super Shuttle only costs $19, but it will take 2-3 HOURS before I arrive at the hotel. The private car is $100 but I'll be there in less than an hour. My manager endorses the cost, so private car it is. You won't hear me complain, especially since it will be nearly 11:30 PM to my body by the time I arrive at the hotel.

Saturday, Sunday, and Monday I will spend the each day inside the Anaheim Convention Center at the "booth" for our office. I will be with a coworker which should be fun, but then again it is work, I will not see the sun and I will be standing and smiling all day long at strangers.

The good part is that I will get to see my parents every evening (they are driving to LA - God bless them) which will be fun. I just hope my body will quickly adjust to the time change enough so that I can stay up past 7:30 PM each night. This is an actual concern of mine.

On Monday I will wait around until 10PM and take a red-eye flight home. Hoooo-ray. I love to stay awake all night on planes (sarcasm). I will land in Boston at 6:30 AM on Tuesday and go home to nap and pack for Jamaica.

24 hours after landing in Boston I will return to the airport so I can fly to Jamaica. I will have:
2 checked bags (no more than 50lbs each)
1 carry-on
1 personal item

In this luggage I will be hauling:
3 laptops
my clothes
donations of software, art supplies, books, clothes, etc.
food that I will eat for 2 weeks
camera equipment
large-ish CD player


Can someone please call a porter for me?
After clearing customs (and hopefully not losing my temper or luggage) I will spend 2 weeks in inland Jamaica with dual purposes - 1) working on a project for school and 2) volunteering at the Clarendon Infirmary.

When I get back I will probably hit the ground running since there will only be 1 month left of school and I'll have to show something for this supposed "school project" in Jamaica.

I think that some folks imagine I'll REALLY be on the beach guzzling pina coladas, or possibly straight rum.

I wish!

I could use a good tan (and a sweet drink) since it takes a while for me to brown. In fact, I would actually need the 2 full weeks of beach time to have a modest glow.

In the meantime we have been weighing PhD options for Ryan which involves a lot of conversations and a school visit, we've done some dogsitting for friends, and as always, watched a lot of movies at home dreaming of one day owning a projector so we can watch them on the wall.

I know I'm technically "going on vacation" for 2 weeks....but I really do need a REAL vacation soon. A vacation where my luggage contains only a swimsuit & flip-flops.

I don't mean to whine - but I do wonder why these things always seem to converge at once? I am the only one to blame I suppose (except for the work trip to LA and the red-eye flight) but it is time for me to learn a lesson, isn't it?

I think the hard part is that when all of these projects and adventures are completed, I will be wiped out but I will also remember how fun and rewarding they were, and then I'll want to do them all over again. Well, except for the red-eye flight.