Pre-Trip Part III: Getting Ready To Go

  Brooklyn, New York, United States
Wednesday, July 19, 2006

01 - Packing

Today was a pretty hectic day.  When I first started planning this trip I was unbelievably excited.  Then, as time went on, I didn't think about it much.  I had my first year of college, friends, and other issues to keep me busy.  I thought about it once in a while, but I didn't go nearly as crazy with the planning as I did last year.  It was a good thing because it actually made the time go by faster... but it was a bad thing because I was stuck doing all of our last minute planning today.

02 - Packing

I woke up at 8:00 but fell back asleep until 9:15.  I've been on the worst schedule.  In the summer I just stay up until all hours of the night and this summer has been no different.  I've been going to sleep at 4:30 and waking up at 1:30.  I didn't want to be up until 4:30 on Friday morning when I had to get up at 4:30.  I made that mistake last year and felt like crap all day.  So on Tuesday I started to try to get myself back on a normal schedule.  I went to sleep really late on Monday night and woke up at 8:00 on Tuesday morning.  I was ridiculously exhausted all day, but at least I was tired enough to fall asleep at around 1:00 that night.  I again woke up early today, and I plan on doing so again tomorrow in hopes of being able to fall asleep early tomorrow night.  Will it work?  Who knows, but it's worth a shot.

03 - Packing

Anyway, I woke up early, watched "Step By Step" on the Tivo in my room while I got ready, and then went down to the basement.  I signed on to Travelpod to finish working on my trip report for last year's trip and I finished typing it all up but I still wanted to finish uploading my pictures.  I didn't want to be stuck doing it when we got back and I knew I'd want to put together my trip report for this trip.  It took me three hours and was a big pain.  I eventually finished it, though, as mom decided which suitcases she was going to use.  Dad took the suitcases down on Monday and they've been sitting in the basement.  Mom then walked up the block to MetFood to get herself, Mike and I turkey and cheese sandwiches for dinner.  Dad had to work late tonight so he would be eating in the city.  In between uploading pictures I finally finished planning out our trip... I got directions to Busch Gardens and the two museums we'll be visiting, printed out the menu's for the restaurants we'll be eating at, and researched what there was to do at all of the resorts we'll be visiting.  I don't want to miss anything!  When I was halfway done with that, at 2:00, I went upstairs to eat half of my sandwich for lunch.  I hadn't had breakfast and was pretty hungry.

05 - Packing

When I was done eating I brought my suitcase up to my room and watched "The Real World" and "The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency," both of which I Tivo'd last night.  As I was doing so mom started packing dad and Mike's stuff.  Dad wasn't home to do his and Mike could care less about packing so mom just did it and got it done.  I took some pictures of the packing process for good measure.  Then I went downstairs and finished with the planning and gathering of information.  In the middle of doing so, at around 4:00, Aunt Debbie and Cari came over.  They were leaving for Rocky Point in a few minutes so we wouldn't see them again until we came back.  We all talked for a while and said our goodbyes.  They're going on a cruise with my Uncle Ted, cousin Ryan and Uncle Ted's entire side of the family the first week in August, and we'll all get back on the same day.  We already planned on a "Welcome Home" party for all of us in my Grandma and Grandpa's backyard on August 13th!  Pina colatas, vacation stories, and lots of pictures.  It should be fun!

08 - Packing

I then went back to my planning until we had dinner at 5:30.  Mom and Mike had their sandwiches while I had my other half.  Then I finished up the planning before dad got home and we all watched "So You Think You Can Dance."  I love that show way too much!  I love watching cute guys do dances I know nothing about... it's very addicting!  Then we watched the episode of "America's Got Talent" that we had taped on the other tuner.  We fast-forwarded through it and got through the entire two-hour show in a half hour.  Then I came upstairs and took a shower.  I really wanted to pack tonight like I did last year since I have a lot to do tomorrow and I know it's going to be hectic.  When we first started planning this vacation I couldn't wait to pack.  Now that it's here, I just don't want to do it!  I really didn't have the energy for it so I watched the episode of "Rock Star Supernova" that I had Tivo'd earlier and looked around online for a bit.

09 - Packing

It's now 1:30 in the morning and I'm exhausted!  I'm watching the end of "Rock Star" in my bed with the air conditioner on.  I have to get up in a few hours for a big day of packing and getting everything ready, so I'm gonna go.  I'll have another update tomorrow!