Practice Makes Perfect

Its late...I just finished packing.  Not really the best move.  I got home late because Tuesday nights are the nights when I have class.  Instead of immediately starting to pack I decided to pay some bills and watch a little TV.  The TV thing....probably a poor move cause I didn't start packing until just a little after midnight.  But I am finished and ready for a short trip back to the East Coast...my true home.

Orange Line

I have decided to use this "blog" as my primary journal.  For quite some time now I have used a LiveJournal account...with no complaints.  However, I think I should get into the habit of using this website.  It also gives me the excuses to add another pin to my map...actually two pins after this upcoming weekend.

My flight leaves just before 6pm tomorrow out of Midway.  One of my friends from class is an air traffic controller and I have been told that I will be "taken care of".  I don't completely know what that means...but hopefully it will work towards my advantage.  At the least I know that good and capable hands will be watching over me.  I get in just after 9pm and most likely will not do too much that night...although I have had vague conversations about going out for a drink with friends.  I plan on playing it by ear...gaugeing what time it is now....work I will have to finish tomorrow before I leave...and the flight back east,  I am thinking that I will be pretty tied and only want to say hello to the family and then sleep.

Over the last year I have headed back east quite often...and have become pretty good at the whole airport travel thing...or at least I like to think so.  I learned early on to move away from the big suitcase and for that matter, checking luggage.  By avoiding carrying big bulky luggage and checking my bags, I am able to fluidly move through the nightmare that can be called the airport.  I also save about half an hour when I get off the plane.  I have gone to the "garment" bag for my travels back east.  It easily holds all my needed clothes...including dress shirts and folds nicely in half.  Traveling light is truly an advantage.  Looking to the future...I will most likely switch to a travel pack over the garment bag.  A travel back pack is much better for the back and can hold more...plus once i start traveling I will not have great need for dress shirts.

I have been reading my friend peacefrogs blog for the last couple weeks.  I have been able to glean lots of good advice and insight from his travelogue.  I still need to put together an itinerary and check out "Round the World" air travel companies.  Peacefrog has been using OneWorld....because of the service they offered to Australia and South America.  I will have to look into the whole thing much more...but will most likely use the same air package since the places I'd like to visit are similar to places he already has.

getting back to....well...east.  I am heading back east for a couple of reasons.  The first is it is a handful of my friends birthdays.  Uri, Liz, Joe, and Havi all have a birthday this upcoming week.  My plans are after getting into Philly and spending some time, to head down to Baltimore to visit Joe for his birthday and head to a horse race, Preakness.  I will try make another entry later...when I am back in Philly to detail more about the mini-trip down to Baltimore...of which Uri and Josh will be joining me.  The second reason that I am heading back is that my good friends Pete and Steve, the brothers Zielinski, will be graduating from college.  Kinda Amazing.  The party is on Sunday the 20th.  I also plan on talking with them more about traveling with me since they have expressed interest.  I also must remember to have a conversation with my friend Saul, whose brother is currently living in Argentina.  This connection may prove to be very useful later down the road.  The final reason for heading back is East is of course...to see the family.