COUNTDOWN TIME! -- TOMORROW I FLY!!!!!!

TICK TICK TICK... WHEEEE!!!!!

All packed and ready to go!  I have come to realize that being smaller myself, means my clothes are smaller, so my suitcase can be smaller too.  I got all my stuff into my son's suitcase, AND there is still room for Brian!!!

Yes, that is an elephant, a big old stuffed elephant, my travel companion, my nightly sleep companian.  And given most of my flist is fairly new, there's probably a few of you wondering why a grown woman carries a stuffed elephant with her everywhere she travels.

See, Brian is special. Very special, and I sleep with him every night. He was given to me by Nick, the first birthday that I had that we knew each other.  This was Before Everything, and we were just friends, had only chatted on the 'nets, exchanged emails.  Back then...four years ago in May...it took packages a very long time to get from Germany to the US.  He went by boat, with other things (I think) that I can't remember. Chocolate, I am pretty sure.  He is named Brian, because Nick has Steve and Stefan--yes, named after Placebo. And that would be Steve the First of course, not Steve the Second.  We had a bit of Placebo fun together, back in the day.  LOL. Crazy times.

Anyway--Brian used to be absolutely gorgeous, and I was so thrilled to get him from Nick. LOL he's honestly the best present I've been given by Nick...and I mean it when I say I love that darn elephant, and love having him.  He'll be reunited with Stef and Steve for the first time since October 2006.  How about that!  We'll take pictures!

So, am all ready to go. Going to bed in a little while, with my alarm set early.  Since my flight is an overnight flight (have to fly to Newark, NJ first--arrive at 1:50, leave for Hamburg at 5:30) I imagine they'll hit the lights-out button around 7ish my time.  I really need to get some sleep. I've got a little something to help with that.  Even if I could get 5 hours, that would be enough.  I'll arrive 7:30ish in Hamburg (7 hours ahead of my time) and meet up with Nick at last  and I'd prefer not to be half-dead on my feet when I get there (esp. with us flying on to London and seeing a show).

We'll be in London by Friday night. It's a real shame we won't have much time in London, but we opted to spend our time in Cardiff, and tromping around Wales.  Maybe someday we can do London again, and properly (looks like one needs a week or more to see it right). But I dunno, I mean, WALES!  It kinda rules, you know? :)

Nine months! We've been waiting for this for nine long tough months, but we know we are super-fortunate to be able to do what we do.  The places we've been! The things we've seen! The friends we've met (waves to KL) and had fun with!  It's been, so far, an amazing ride...and this trip will add even more amazing memories to this crazy life we lead.

Life is a rather splendid thing, I think!

Y'all take care and stay tuned here...I *will* be posting here and there. I am pretty sure. LOL.