Still packing, still planning, still fretting

My last day of work before I leave was yesterday.  As anyone with a job and a huge impending vacation knows, it has been very busy at work trying to get a bit ahead.  So much fun writing out comments on policy because you won't be in the meeting.  Actually, that is fun but that might just be me.  

(Shout out to Robynne who is covering for me at the busiest time of the term while I'm away, and the rest of the team who will also be living the chaos. Sorry!)  

Packing:  bah!  I just rummaged around in my storage closet to find my bigger backpack.  I haven't used it in years because I never need this much stuff.  Plus,  it is too heavy when it is full.  It's just on the packing bed, not in use yet.  We'll see.  I'm not too worried about the packing.  It is just a matter of getting the majority into the bags and the minority out of the bags.  

Planning:  Amy came over the other night for a 'planning session'.  There are two sources of stress for me.  Technology and flight connections

Planning session.
Pigeon is helping by standing in for the Thurple.  

Amy, who is technologically wiser than me (not hard to be but also part of her actual job), She has discovered this cool site called Google.  On this site, she discovered that there is a BlogSpot App which I can download to my phone and Chromebook.  As I mentioned before, I bought a  little laptop which apparently isn't a laptop at all, or even a tablet, it is a Chromebook which is something else altogether and has NO storage.  Amy did the same but she just cut bait and started again with a different little computer.  I am way too cheap for that.  I will make this stupid Chromebook work if it drives me crazy and risks the blog (aka my trip memories).  

I uploaded all of the pictures in this post from my phone to the BlogSpot app.  Saved, and then had access to the updated post on my computer.   So, so far so good.  

When we are on the cruise, no wifi!  NO WIFI!!!  So, I can't upload my blog.  I can't even access it.  So, my plan was use Word docs.  Nope, you need wifi to save word docs to google cloud if you are using Chromebook.  Bah!  but I can access the blog with the app.  I can't save though. What I don't know is how much storage the app has.  It is the level of storage on my computer?  If so, hmm, not great. 

I can close the app and the draft post is still there (at least the little bits I have created so far sans wifi)  but I can't access it from any other device (aka my phone). As soon as I have a scrap of wifi, I can go in and save.  That won't take much so maybe in the Falklands, and fingers crossed for South Georgia.  Uploading takes a lot more power, so is unlikely until we are in Ushuaia. 

(update, last night I tried uploading some giant pictures on the app and it let me and they were still there when I closed it and reopened it without signing onto wifi - cautiously optimistic)

We leave in 4 days, almost to the hour!

Back from a trip to the mall.  A pedicure and a few supplies (mainly a silicone water bottle cause I can't fine my collapsible bottle).  

Next day.  Yesterday got away from me a bit there.  Now we are down to three days!  

This is it, the end of time (or at least time is running out), I have resorted to writing lists!  I'm gonna say when 'make decisions' is the first thing on your 'to do' list, it's not a great organizational tool.  

This is how bad I am at lists.  I started this one at work on Thursday.  I got a few things done and then I lost the list.  This photo is my only record.  

We're already well into Fretting but my last thought before I go off and 'make decisions' is to mention my new plan about my flight connections.  Two hours in Vancouver with US Immigration is making me very nervous.  I am going to go to try to speak to an actual Air Canada person to try to get my 10 am flight (Vic->Van) moved to 9am.  

There is nothing to be done about the one hour layover in Houston.  Amy is choosing her bags based on how easy they are to carry while running.    One last shout out to how much Air Canada sucks.  Actually, doubtful that is the last but let's hope.  This is all their fault for cancelling the Calgary to Houston connection.  

United, on the other hand, sent me an email asking if I wanted to pre-choose my meals.  Oh, I was so excited!  Business class meals!  

so exciting! 

And then I signed it.  And discovered that the meals are really nothing better than I've ever gotten at the back of the plane.  Boo.  I chose 'I'll choose on the plane' hoping their will be better options.  Now I see that things are even worse (sold out!).  They're going to feed us right?  It's an 8 hour flight!  I bought some tootsie rolls and babybels just in case.  

So not exciting

Ok, I'm off to try to finalize some packing decisions/actions.  I'm sure I will be able to get one more post in before I go (although someone may have to remind me why I bought a ticket to the opera for Monday...)