AETW: 263

Ken got the computers talking again! He totally rocks!

So, it’s 9:30 a.m. I should be on my way to the airport by 12:30 p.m. Things to do before I leave:

* transfer computer files to the laptop
* shower
* finish packing/transfer heavy things to the second carry-on laptop so I can actually lift the suitcase. (I’m taking our old scanner for Sarah. If I weren’t, I could fit everything I’m taking into the larger of our small suitcases. With the scanner, I don’t have enough stuff to warrant two small suitcases, and once I’m there I won’t need the second suitcase at all. So I’m taking another backpack as a second carry-on, because I can just throw it in the suitcase for the trip home. I don’t want to load the backpack down because I’ll have to schlep it through O’Hare, but I have to be able to lift the suitcase a little!)
* buy cat food and litter

There are smaller things in there, like get the laundry out of the dryer because some of it is to be packed. But, ack. It’s not a lot to do in three hours, and transferring the files can be happening while I’m doing other stuff. But, ack. I didn’t sleep well (Ken’s ear started hurting so he tossed and turned a lot) so I’m feeling a bit anxious.

10:30 a.m. It feels like a lot of time has passed. Huh. Anyway, the main load of laundry is put away and I’ve transferred all the writing files (which took a lot less time than I expected). I’m going to have Ken get the cat stuff tonight; he’ll have the evening to himself, after all.

11:30. Showered, ate something. Time to start re-packing.

Whew! On the plane to Chicago. Had a brief panic when I couldn’t get the e-mail data to copy over, and then a minor annoyance when they scanned the second backpack and swore there was something long and metal in it (all the security folks were quite pleasant; it was stuffing everything back in afterwards that was challenging). So now I’m watching “About a Boy” and working on e-mail.

On second plane. Crowded, chilly. There was nowhere to plug in the laptop at O’Hare so I don’t have a lot of time left on the battery. I’ve answered e-mail and done a little work on the novel; I’ve read RT Book Club and Locus. Less than an hour until we land. Life is pretty good.