"Booze and hookers."

That is PDM's standard answer when I ask him what he is going to do while I am away from home on a trip without him. I think he will probably enjoy a few days to himself. Privacy is hard to get when you are married. Sometimes a short time apart can be refreshing to both.

I am leaving tomorrow for another business trip. Going to La Jolla, CA on a site visit to UCSD. I'm staying a few extra days because I love the San Diego area, and know it well. Besides, if you are going to fly all the way across the country, why wouldn't you want to stay a few extra days? I will be able to visit my sister in Encinitas on Saturday, in between her trips (she is a flight attendant, recently returned from furlough). She tells me that the desert is blooming this time of year and it is lovely. I'm bringing my camera! And I am looking forward to (a)what I will learn from the site visit, (b)the beautiful scenery, (c)seeing my sister and her family, and (d)some California downtime. I am planning to return to Torrey Pines State Reserve to hike the trails by the sea.

As usual, the worst part of traveling is packing for the trip. I hate packing and then some. Always worried that I will forget something crucial. Sure, I guess I can always buy something if I need it and didn't bring it, but what a hassle. I also don't like to commit days in advance, in an unfamiliar climate, to what I will wear. And there is the shoe thing-- trying to minimize the number of pairs needed. *SIGH* Hate it. Mixing business travel with pleasure just makes it worse. Business travel is easy -- no question about what to wear. It is the pleasure part that has no rules and cannot easily be figured out. Aside from knowing that I will hike, I have no idea what kind of "going out" I will do. Makes it damn hard to plan ahead.

Progress on our screened-in porch is sure to go on without me. I am leaving my crappy old digital camera for PDM to use to document each day's changes. Today's photos have been added to the Flickr "porch construction" set. We ran into a snag in the permit process with our county. They sure don't encourage compliance by putting stupid obstacles in place. Makes us just want to say "screw dat" and do it without a permit. Do they want our money, or not? This is a simple change, and they are asking for a ridiculous amount of documentation. I am wondering if it is worth it. They should not make it so hard to do the right thing.

I'll be gone until Sunday. Posting between now and then depends on my locating some free wireless internet access and having something to say. (Ditto for reading and commenting on your blogs.) I'm not paying $9.95 per day to get it at the hotel. "Screw dat!"

I Still Hate Packing

At least it's for a fun trip this time.

Tomorrow evening PDM and I are flying to southern California for some much needed R&R. We're renting a convertible and driving up the coast to the beach towns north of San Diego. We'll spend two nights in Encinitas visiting my sister and her family, then the next five in Rancho Santa Fe.

And no matter what they might think, the cats are staying home.

I hate packing.

I'm flying to Minneapolis tomorrow evening for a professional meeting. I'm taking a review class on Saturday-Sunday that will be helpful when I take the next part of the Board Exams. Then I will be attending presentations and poster sessions and the like until Thursday morning. I'll get back home by rush hour that day. I am feeling very tired and stressed. Unrested. Unsettled. Not exactly the best frame of mind (or body) for going on a trip. I woke up this morning with a headache not unlike a hangover, and kept it for most of the day, but I didn't have any wine last night. Hmpf.

I'm supposed to be all packed by now. It is 8pm, and all I have gotten together for the trip is my gadgets, software, books and DVDs. Not a lick of clothing has gone into a suitcase. What should be packed? I'm always afraid I will forget something crucial. It doesn't matter how many lists I try to make, it will feel like I'm forgetting something. I'm not much of a plan ahead person. Trying to figure out what I want to wear for the next week is not easy for me. I haven't been to one of these meetings before. I will probably err to the conservative side, i.e. boring business attire. According to the weather sites it will be hotter there than it is here. Hope those skyways are air conditioned... I don't fancy walking through a greenhouse-like tube for blocks and blocks in 95 degree heat. Maybe I'll make the employer spring for a cab ride here or there. Again, here is the lack of a plan showing it's ugly head. There are some other people from work going, but we are all in different hotels. It will probably work out alright.

I'm taking my notebook computer and camera, so there might be some posts while I'm gone. At the very least, I will be keeping up with your blogs. Have a good weekend, everyone!