Countdown!

So it’s countdown time….finally! 10 more sleeps and we are off on our epic adventure! I can’t wait! So unfortunately…if you are reading my blog…the next few entries are going to be holiday filled! I will try to limit entries to the highlights of each city, and hopefully it will be of some interest to you, but until then…..it’s countdown time!

I have to admit I hate the few days/weeks leading up to a holiday, or anything exciting. Mainly because, as hard as I try, my brain switches into holiday mode FAR too early, making concentrating on current projects and any type of work extremely difficult! I have no motivation, except to pack my suitcase. The problem with being only a few days away is that all the major things have been done. At least with a few weeks to go, you can still be organising and booking things to keep the excitement going but now – we have picked up all our documents, our money is converted (and at a great rate I might add! Thank you world economy!), everything is booked/paid for/deposits put down, our itinerary is all done, I have made my packing list (see Luggagitis) so except for a few small jobs we are all ready to go now I just have to sit….and work…and wait….

Now, so this blog isn’t completely about me complaining about waiting to go on a holiday – because I know you all have so much sympathy for that – I thought I would send you some links to some interesting blogs I am currently following that you may also want to have a look into:

London Still – penned by the gorgeous and multi-talented Al Silber – currently based in NYC she is a writer/actor/singer/photographer – you name it – well worth a read!

Miss K Goes Forth – one of my best friends – she has just moved to London to make a career for herself in ‘the biz’ – so follow along with her epic adventures making it in the business!

Screen Writing 101 or Misadventures in WA Film – talented Perth Screen Writer Richard W Hyde – a fellow West Wing/Aaron Sorkin fan – check out his views on the industry from the Screen Writer point of view!

FLIP SIMMONS – Yes it’s in capitols – because his title is in capitols – but he has totally earned the capitols – awesome vocalist/performer – this blog is also his webpage – check out some of his tunes you won’t be sorry!

Ok, they are my plugs for this week! Now off to plan for the Andrews Sisters gig this weekend in Geraldton – if I get time next week I may pen a quick entry on how it went!

Luggagitis

I suffer from Luggagitis.

Yes it’s true.

What is Luggagitis you might ask? Well, it is the inability to be able to pack light when I travel. It’s a curse. I always seem to over pack, no matter where I go. Even if it’s just an overnight stay. I pack for any possible occasion that may arise – I make sure I have some kind of outfit/shoes/bag/underwear/jewellery to match , so that I am always prepared, but this ends up with my luggage overflowing, me stressing over weight restrictions and being charged at the airport – and no room for possible purchases on trips! It is stressful. I hate it!

I must admit, I am getting better over the years, not much, but I have made a slight improvement….so I am determined, for my upcoming trip, to break free of this disease and pack minimal, light and with only the bare essentials….no….really…I will! I have a plan……

It all starts with the shoes.

Shoes are the heaviest/bulkiest part of the packing. So I figure if I can narrow this part down, the others things should be easy! Right? It’s all about mixing and matching and, as we will be doing a LOT of walking, comfort. So I have narrowed it down to 4 pairs:

Black Sketchers
Black Boots
Black and Silver Sandals
Black Thongs (Flip Flops)

I figure black goes with everything, and it keeps all possible occasions covered. All these shoes are comfortable, the latter 2 are thin and light and will pack well and I will wear my boots on the plane…..leaving room to buy more on holiday (along with bags and hats – my downfall).

So that’s the shoes done – which pretty much means I can’t take any clothes that don’t go with these shoes! So the clothes plan – well that is going to be where, hopefully, the mix and match theory comes into play! I am going to try, like in the magazines, to take a small amount of items that can be mixed and matched to create a multiple amount of out fits – and will take up hardly any room in my suitcase. Throw in a jacket to cover possibly cool weather, and anything else I can buy on the trip. I guess the great thing about going to/from the US is the luggage allowance is so much better!

So, this is the plan to avoid another case of Luggagitis. Will it work? Will I be tearing my hair out? Will I actually be able to make a decision about what NOT to take ‘just in case I need it’, will I end up letting my husband pack for me? Stay tuned to find out…..the holiday is still 4 weeks away, but these are things I need to start planning now to avoid complete meltdown hours before boarding the plane!

Wish me luck!