Jetlag sucks.

It's 8:35pm CT and I'm still up, I can't believe it. Technically I've been up since 3:30am ET but Terri and I officially sat up and turned the lights on a little bit before 5am ET. Jetlag is taking over though and I'm fading, fading very quickly, fading faster that I ever would have imagined. No amount of caffeine, light, television, Internet surfing, food, etc. can stop me from falling asleep right now. If it weren't for the fact that American Airlines LOST MY LUGGAGE on my way back from Toronto today I'm not sure I would still be awake and not in my bed, let alone alive to the world around me. Still waiting for their call, which should have come over an hour ago. UGH! I want my bags!!!!

I'm not sure I'm going to be able to stay up much longer. Just....need....to....

ZZzzzzzZZzzzzzZZZzzzzz

O' Canada

Well the day has finally arrived. Terri and I are sitting in the Maple Leaf lounge of the Toronto airport enjoying comfy chairs, free food/drink, free wi-fi and all the comforts that traveling first class brings you. For me, perhaps, the best part is the free wi-fi. YAY Internet! Man, it's kind of sad that free wi-fi makes me happy. :)

Getting to Toronto last night was fine. Thankfully the screaming annoying kids I kept trying to avoid at O'Hare were sitting in the back of the plane so the only thing I really had to deal with was the poor puppy in cargo barking right before take off and after landing. Poor little guy. I wouldn't want to fly in cargo either. And for perhaps the first time ever, if not in a really long time, I was quite happy with my seat-mate. If I remember correctly his name was Randy and although he was probably a few years short of 50 he was a joy to talk to. In the hour we had in the air we talked about everything from where we were from/going to, the travels ahead of us, and what we do for a living. An outsider probably would have thought we were old friends from the way we kept going on and on. In fact the flight attendant thought we were traveling together and only offered us one customs form.

Randy, an MRI tech who taught me all about how they work, was a cool guy. He had been traveling all day from Alaska (thru Juno, Seattle and then Chicago) on his way here to Toronto where he's beginning a 3 week bicycle trip through the country, eventually ending in Boston where he'll fly home. All he had with him was a single small duffel bag (that included a tent in it) and his bike, both to which he checked. He was doing the entire journey by himself, I couldn't believe it. He's biked all over the US/Canada like that for the past 10 years. And where I found myself a little green with envy that he can just take off like that and go, he was totally jealous that I would be 1/2 way around the world in only a few short hours. It was kind of funny.

This morning Terri and I basically got up, lounged around for a little bit, finished packing up and then grabbed lunch at the hotel restaurant before hoping on the airport tram to Terminal 1. After a smooth executive first class check in, and an uber smooth security check (didn't have to take my shoes or my coat off), we find ourselves comfortably relaxing. In approximately 2 hours we'll start the boarding process for our 13 hour journey to China. Crazy. I still can't believe I'll be in China by tomorrow afternoon. And for the few of you who knew how nervous I had been, let's just say I'm much much better now. Like I said, as soon as I made it thru customs, got to the hotel and saw Terri when she opened the room door, all of those nerves went out the window. I actually got a full nights sleep. :)

So in case this is the last time I post for a day or so b/c of the whole plane ride and all, happy 4th of July to all of you in the States. Eat a hot dog and watch some fireworks for me.

2 going on 1

It's almost 1:30am already and I think I can finally say I'm about 85% packed. I have a few small things that I use on a daily basis that cannot be packed until the last minute (like my phone charger and computer, hair brush, etc.) still left along with the clothes that are still drying from my last minute laundry session. Everything else is ready to be shoved into a bag if it's not there already. Poor Boots Boots is freaking out. There's stuff every where and the suitcases are out. Never a good sign in his book.

I feel like I've packed more than enough, and that I'm probably over-packing, but the last thing I want to do is be unprepared in a foreign country. That might sound silly but anyone who knows me knows I'm a planner. I plan for EVERYTHING. Just ask Helen one day about my emergency wedding kit I had packed in May...and it wasn't even my wedding, lol.

Tomorrow all I've have left to do is backup/pack my computer and camera, fold up the last few pieces of clothes and pick out probably 1-2 more pairs of shoes (one pair to which I'll be wearing on the plane). Not bad. All in all I'll have 3 bags, each which would fit or work as a carry-on if necessary. 1 small weekend type suitcase, an even smaller suitcase/carry bag and finally my laptop bag. The 2 red suitcases will be checked. For a 10-11 day trip I think that's pretty good. Especially for me.

Okay time to put some heat on my aching back and go to bed. I think I've finally worn myself out enough tonight that I'll actually be able to sleep through the nerves.

3

Three nights from tonight I'll be sitting in a Toronto hotel room most likely watching the clock slowly tick the hours away until go time. That thought actually kind of scares me, in a good way of course. I'm not sure if I'm ready for this trip, and judging my the pile of clothes and random items stacked on my dining room table I'm sure as heck not packed. So much to do and so little time to do it all. It's a shame that laundry doesn't do itself and suitcases aren't packed by happy little elves while you sleep.

But other than packing, which is no small feat, I think things are starting to come together. I've slowly been making all of the necessary arrangements, calling and notifying banks/credit card companies/etc. of my upcoming travel and have a final little shopping list of things I need to pick up before I go. If any of you out there in blog land have suggestions of things I might need to do, pick up or pack for my travels, please don't be shy.

Hopefully come Wed. night I'll be ready. Fingers crossed I can do it all b/c really, I'm not sure I have any other choice.

Now if only the nerves would fade so I could get some sleep...

China countdown - T minus 4 days...

My trip to China is almost here, I can't believe it. I still remember reading my older brother's email about the possibility of me going and responding with, "you have got to be kidding me". Well he wasn't, and several shots and 1 Chinese visa later the trip is finally becoming a reality. Wow...

Today it really started to hit me as I was shopping at Target picking up all the different travel items I'm going to need. I'm going to China. I'm actually going to China. This will be my first real official, passport needing trip outside of the states, and I'm both nervous and excited. Other than quick border hoping trips to Toronto and, well, Tijuana, I've never left the states. So this trip is a really big deal for me and I want to share every part of it with all of you.

So since I'll most likely be out of touch with most of you while I'm away I plan on blogging about my experience. This blog will not only be a way to keep an active journal/record of all that I'll be doing and encountering, but it will also be a way to tell all of you about it shortly (hopefully) after it happens. I plan on posting as often as I can (aka when wifi is available) and will include photos and videos whenever I get a chance so check back often. I'll also be posting, hopefully, on Twitter and Facebook and will unlock my profile for any of you who choose to follow. I've also set up a Skype account (rad1je) just in case any of you would like to chat.

Well I better get packing. I've got a lot to do and only 4 days left. Wish me luck.