Rain, Overweight Baggage, Foreign Currency Exchange

The first attempt at packing my bag and including the folded up rolling duffel that I want to use for the train part of the journey resulted in a bag with an ambiguous weight of about 48 pounds. It is too big to sit on the scale, so I wasn't sure if it was off balance. I made my husband stand on the scale, then pick up the bag. Again 'about' 48 pounds. But what if the scale was inaccurate... so I have made all the hard decisions. For example, will I really finish the book I haven't started in addition to reading the guidebook and reading my lesson materials? And I do have three books to listen to on my iPod in addition. So the extra book is now sitting on the dresser waiting for me to make the grand decision - is it making the trip, or keeping the home fires burning as it were. I decided that the small bottle of contact solution will be large enough. Indeed these are the challenges of the air traveler.

No wonder I love traveling by car. Need that extra book, toss it in. Need the Riverside Shakespeare, no problem, stuff it in a corner. It is possible that you are thinking 'is she perhaps just a bit obsessive'? Not really, it is the analytical mind at work.

I have checked in for my flight and to my surprise, the flight leaves from Terminal 1 instead of the International Terminal. Next issue to obsess over. Is there a foreign currency exchange in Terminal 1? Well, according to the O'Hare information page there is, on the lower level. And there are carts at the gates where international flights depart as well. And of course, worst case would be that I have to change money in London at Heathrow. So perhaps that is not something I need to worry about either. I will have to look for something else. There are a couple of things left on the to-do list, and they fall into the optional category. I have tomorrow morning to finish off last tasks, so I think I am ready.

I am glad that the last couple of days were totally busy at work, with all day workshops on an interesting project. It made the time go quickly. It was gray and rainy, on the chilly side. A lot what I expect to find in the UK... I have a waterproof jacket with a hood and a folding umbrella. I don't think I will mind if it is somewhat rainy, but I wouldn't mind if there was some sunny weather as well.

Most likely the next post will be a few days out and will come from London and will include travels other than within my convoluted mind . . . .