Travel Plans
April 3, 2008 by mrschili
I leave tomorrow for a weekend with my blogging/book-clubbing buddies Bo and SaintSeester!! To say that I’m giddy with excitement would be a gross understatement.
I fly out of my New England airport at 20 past 11:00 tomorrow morning. I’ll arrive at Reagan National around lunchtime, and I’ve managed to swing a date with Steve from The Hygiene Chronicles for said lunch - he’s agreed to spend his afternoon with me in an airport restaurant - isn’t that GREAT?! I LOVE serendipity; I’m going to be in his town at the same time that he’s going to be free to meet with me! I get THREE blogging buddies for the price of two!
After what I’m certain will be a wonderful few hours with my friend - likely the most fun I’ve ever had during an extended airport layover - I’ll take off for Alabama around 4:00 and, given the time change between the Eastern and Central zones, I’ll arrive just in time for dinner! Magic! I’ve been promised veggie lasagna and Krispy Kreme bread pudding at Seester’s house - guess which I’m most looking forward to? - and I can’t wait to be in the company of two of my best blogging friends.
I’m staying with my brother-in-law, who lives in essentially the same neighborhood as Bo and Seester. He had a scheduling snafu, though, so he’s not going to be available for hanging out with us on Saturday night; he’ll be taking his SCUBA certification so he can go diving when he goes to the Carribean later this spring (jerk! - no, not really; I love the man to the ends of the earth, but I AM jealous of his travels. He just recently returned from Rome, for crying out loud).
We three are planning on doing our monthly podcast of the Dark and Stormy Book Club on Saturday, April 5th, at 10 a.m. Central time. This is the first (but, hopefully, not the last) time that we’ll be all together in the same room for the show, and I’m VERY much looking forward to the dynamic. We’re good on the phone - we’re going to be GREAT in person! Seester thinks that we might be able to handle a call-in or two - keep checking the Dark and Stormy blog to get updates on that and, if we think we can make it work, the phone number for you to call in to.
I get to stay through about dinner time on Sunday - around 5:30 or so - then I do the whole trip in reverse. Because I’m leaving later and going against the clock, though, I don’t arrive back home in New England until around 11:00 on Sunday night. My stay in Reagan National is much shorter on the way home, too - I’ll only be there for about an hour - so I won’t have any visiting opportunities.
I’m bringing my computer and my camera, and my cell phone and my iPod, both loaded with a movie or two and some West Wing episodes to keep me entertained on the planes - for as much as I love the convenience of flying, I do get nervous in the air. Depending on whether or not I have internet access in the terminals, I may do some live-blogging, too. I have to remember to pack my bathing suit (Seester’s got a hot tub!) and I’m bringing some archetypically New England gifts to give to my southern friends; beyond that, my suitcase will be pretty light - I’m only going to need two days’ worth of clothes, and I don’t have to pack anything more than my toothbrush and my contact solution; Bruder’s got pretty much everything else I’ll need, which is great, because the 3-oz, zip-bag, TSA bullshit is really a pain in the ass. The smallest bottles of contact stuff I could find are FOUR ounces - not three - and I’m going to be some kind of pissed off if the security monkeys confiscate them…
I CAN’T WAIT!
I hope you have a wonderful time! Just wonderful. I’m so behind in the book club, but I’ve already read this month’s selection….so perhaps I’ll listen in!
we expect a full report with charts and graphs!
hey I’m excited and I’m not even going…
Yay! I suppose I ***really*** ought to start cleaning now. And going to Krispy Kreme. That recipe only needs 2 dozen of them.
Have a good trip.
I have no experience at all in Alabama. Drove through once coming home from Illinois. Lengthened the drive, but I just wanted a change of scene, so I split off from my usual route at Nashville. Some beautiful scenery. Of course, for my troubles, I ran into foul weather as I neared Florida. It was a hurricane stirring things up.
Travel safely!
Southern hospitality is hard to beat. You will be well fed.
Now I really have to hurry and finish the book before I listen to the Dark and Stormy gang.
Have a great time.
I’m excited for you !! Have fun : )
that krispy kreme bread pudding is INSANE.
i wish you were coming to GA. boo.
sounds like we both have fun filled traveling weekends, although you get to go farther. Post pictures! I will!
Sounds like a lot of fun. Enjoy your trip and your visits with blogging buddies. At least you have someone to spend time with on your 3 hour layover.
Krispy Kreme bread pudding? Sounds fabulous.
So does your trip- have fun!
We’re really looking forward to it, Mrs. Chili. See you tomorrow evening!
As I told Seester on her blog, I am SO jealous! And it’s killing me that I live only 3 or so hours away!
You MUST get pictures.
Have fun!
OH darling, you are going to have a great time in Alabama. I wish I was in Birmingham this weekend, because I’d have to drive up and give you a four-blogger-friend weekend! Travel safe, and leave your sweaters and wooly mittens at home. Because April in Alabama is spring in full bloom: the wisteria is hanging off everything, the redbuds are bright pink, and the honeysuckle is soon to pop.
xo
have loads of fun and I can’t wait to read about all about it!