Ten Things Tuesday

You’re getting my to-do list this week; I’ve got a lot to accomplish, and I don’t want to forget anything.

1.  Pack and prepare for our departure for D.C. on Saturday. Or, rather, oversee the packing and preparing.  This really is my primary objective for the week.  We decided to rent a car rather than take the train, which simplifies things A LOT.  I can bring several clothing choices for everyone, we don’t have to worry about our lugging our crap through trains and subways and buses, no one has to cart us around once we arrive, and we’ll get to Dudley and Squeaky’s faster by car than we would have by train.

2.  Assemble gratitude presents for the people who’ll be putting us up for the long weekend. I’ve got some ideas for what these will be, but since both Dudley and Steve read here, I’m not going to give it away.  You’ll just have to wait until we get there for your goodies, Boys.

3.  Arrange for someone to take care of the kitties while we’re gone. I’ve already arranged to have the driveway plowed if it snows while we’re away (even though the ten-day crystal-ball forecast says no snow, I want to make sure we’re covered; this IS New England, after all!).  I’m pretty sure the neighbors will return the cat-care favor I did for them while they were in the Bahamas last weekend.

4.  Send some money to my dentist.  I still owe him a ridiculous amount of money for my wisdom-teeth extractions last summer.

5.  Turn 40. Oh, yeah; that’s happening this week.  Thursday at 10:15 a.m., to be exact.  The day isn’t going to be much out of the ordinary, I’m afraid; the extent of my celebratory activities will be a lunch and afternoon with O’Mama (not to discount that at all, mind you; I’m very much looking forward to strolling Quaint Coastal City with her – I’m just sayin’ there won’t be a Kizz-style bash, is all).  Besides, Mr. Chili’s got jury duty Thursday and Friday, and there’s a film-and-discussion session that I want to attend Thursday night.  My hope is to have the big bash at a later date; I’ll be 40 all year, after all.

6.  Teach two English classes and two yoga classes. I got someone to cover the Thursday yoga class at Local U. so that O’Mama and I could enjoy an uninterrupted afternoon.  I’ve got most of the English class week planned out already.

7.  Have dinner with Emily! This woman used to live across the street from me, and she and I developed a lovely friendship.  Then she moved (clear across town!!) and we’ve been lucky to manage to be in each other’s presence two or three times a year.  We’re going out on Tuesday night, and I’m dying to see her.

8.  Register Fraulein. The Jetta is registered with me as the primary owner, so her registration is due this month.  I’ll probably take a run to City Hall to do this in person this morning, then call my favorite mechanic to schedule her inspection.  I’m hoping we can leave the car with Ed while we’re in DC and pick her up on our way home, but even if it doesn’t work out that conveniently, I’m certain it won’t be too much of a hassle; Ed treats me like a favorite daughter and practically orders me to come in as soon as I hang up the phone with him.  Ed is one of the people in my life for whom I am regularly grateful.

9.  Give the house a quick once-over before we leave. I can’t stand leaving a dirty house when we go on vacation (or, more to the point, I can’t stand coming home to one).  Fortunately, this isn’t going to be a major deal because the house looks pretty damned good as it is.  I’m going to drag the vacuum around, maybe give the wood floors a quick damp-mop (winter is HELL on the floors; between the sand and the salt and the muddy cat prints, it’s a wonder I’m not washing the floors every day from December until mud season ends in May).  I’ll try to get to the bottom of the laundry piles, and I’ll make sure that all the plants are watered before we go.

10.  Write letters to the girls’ teachers and set the TiVo. The ladies have already told their teachers that they’re going to be attending the inauguration (and Punkin’ Pie tells me her social studies teacher is practically beside herself with jealousy), but I want to get an official notice out for why the girls won’t be in school on Tuesday and Wednesday.  Also, we’re coming to the realization that, even with tickets from our Congressperson, the liklihood of our being able to see much of the actual festivities might be limited by the fact that we’ll be in attendance with, oh, about three million of our fellow Americans, so I’m going to set the TiVo to catch the afternoon for us, as well.  It will be interesting, too, I think, to compare the experience as we had it with what the rest of the country saw on CNN.

What are YOU up to this week?