Monday, December 18, 2006

One thing about me i wish wasn't true

I am an anxious pre-traveler. We are flying to Washington DC on Wednesday at o'fuck thirty to visit some good friends over Christmas. This has the advantage that 1) i won't be spending Christmas with my family, and 2) i don't have to do ANY Christmas shopping until we get back after Christmas. HA!

But the down side is that i get anxious before leaving for a trip. I make lists and worry about the cats and worry about the house. Got to remember to run the dishwasher and take out the food scraps and blah blah blah. Like the world will come to an end if i forget to do one of these things. Well, it might! Can't be too sure about these things.

Oh yeah, and the house needs to be locked and the furnace set on away and the cat box cleaned...See, i started up again.

Once we get to the airport i am fine, since i am no longer in charge of my destiny. i can sit back and relax and enjoy the show.

Isn't that silly?

Wonder if i should pack us an edible lunch to take on the plane. I need to buy a new book. Does Em have enough of her medicine?

Auuugghh.

32 comments:

Sonia Wetzel Photography said...

Isn't that the truth?! I do the same thing. Nothing a big, fat, $12 martini can't help, once you get to the airport. If you're a morning drinker. Or Naughty Coffee! That works too. Have a great trip, and I'm jealous that you get to Christmas shop during the mongo sales.

egan said...

I share your pain on this one Meno. I kind of blogged about this last week. I'm fine once I get through security. I always feel like I lose something when I pass through the scanner. Maybe my coat has too many damn pockets. Good luck traveling.

Anonymous said...

That sounds like a LOVELY christmas, I am completely jealous. Have a wonderful holiday!

Anonymous said...

Well, if you're settling down AT the airport, that's pretty good. I always calm my pre-trip jitters with the mantra, "they sell anything I've forgotten there." But the at-home stuff! Lists and lists. And my husband always dragging his feet so that by the time I get to do the last run-through to make sure everything is as I want it to be, I DON'T CARE ANYMORE I JUST WANT TO GO!! I have found plane food has gotten better now that you pay for it, and on a long flight like yours, you might actually get served. Pack food anyway.

karmic said...

I hear ya, I worry about some of these things too. But once I am out of the house am done. Some alcohol always helps though, esp if you are not driving. Enjoy your upcoming trip.

lu said...

I get OCD when I travel. I'm certain I look like I have terrets, with all the repeated checks for boarding passes and wallets. I hope once you're in the air, you have fun.

QT said...

Oh meno, Count me in as another nervous traveller! Ever since I forgot tickets once I now do a "visual check" for my ID, etc in my purse once I am in the car.

Have a safe trip and see if you can sneak a bottle of that new Caramel Baileys on the plane...mmm.

Susanne said...

I hear you. I make lists and think about the traveling weeks in advance. Sometimes I make lists and think about it weeks in advance even when I'm only seeing someone for coffee. Control freak not getting out of the house enough. My husband on the other hand likes to pretend he is not going so he doesn't have to stress out beforehand.

Once he packed everything for a week in Greece in 15 minutes (no kidding). Good thing I had that list for him, don't you think?

(My mantra is very much like De's, "If I have my wallet and the ticket everything is alright." It's not like I were flying to the moon.)

sari said...

Have a wonderful trip, a great Christmas, and at least know, once you leave, you leave your worrying behind.

I always get halfway wherever I'm going and think "Did I lock the door?"

SUEB0B said...

Me too. I always worry to death THEN make some huge omission, like forgetting my glasses (so I am blind in a hotel room when I go to bed) or my wallet...the little things.

Lynnea said...

I worry more about the flying and customs part. Ever since my husband lost our passports and we got held up in customs one time, I get all freaky about it. Nothing like worrying about missing a plane or being sent for a cavity search. Ha.

I have one question for you: You don't eat inedible lunches do you? Just teasing. Have a great trip!

Cagey (Kelli Oliver George) said...

No, you are not alone - I totally stress out PRE-trip. Not surprising considering everything is done by ME. All my husband has to "stress" over is packing his teeny,tiny carryon suitcase while I am left to worry about the mail,petsitter, maps, and ohyeah, our son. Argh. ;-)

Gretchen said...

I can't calm down until I'm on the plane.

Lists and more lists. I did forget once to run the dishwasher before we left, and it was truly disgusting by the time we got home.

Also, I have to have all the trash cans empty in the house.

By the time I get on the plane and drink service has started, I treat myself to a cocktail (or two)...

Have fun and enjoy shopping after Christmas!

Bob said...

If we are going to be gone longer than an afternoon we have to clean the house as if it were being sold. My wife gets crazy stressed and is SO much fun to be around. Once the bags are in the car and we've left the driveway everything finally gets positive. Forget something? Too late, we'll buy one when we get there.

Enjoy the trip. We lived near Baltimore for a couple of years and there is plenty to do around there.

Josephine said...

I can't calm down - ever. So, at least you let go once you're on your way...

I hope you have a wonderful trip, and that your kitties have a pleasant few days without you there, doing whatever kitties do.

Wishing you peace today!!

Girlplustwo said...

it's not silly. we have learned to be controlling beings in order to stay on top of all the things presented to us. and that part goes with us on vacation, too.

(although I wish i could leave it's sorry ass home)

Tink said...

I am the same way. Only to add insult to injury, worrying makes me have to "go" a lot. And then once we've left, I can't "go"... Oh forget it. I can't POOP until we get home. There, I said. it. That should make you feel tons better!

Oh and don't forget to take out the trash and make sure the coffee pot is off. Have a great trip!

thailandchani said...

"O'fuck thirty". Well, that gave me my much needed laugh for today! LOL

Travel safe :)


Peace,

~Chani

Mother of Invention said...

Not silly at all. I make a list of lists! I too worry about whether we've cobered everything and for me, mostly that I've got all my meds and supplies for all that ails me! oh yeah, if we're flying, that I have the doctor's note that I'm allowed to carry very sharp needles to shoot up insulin!

Have a great trip and Merry Christmas! Hey, you get to come back and buy gifts at the 1/2 price sales!

Lisa @ The Plain-Spoken Pen said...

I'm right there with ya. The whole time I'm out of town, there's this little niggling worry at the back of my mind: "Did I leave the stove turned on? Did I remember to unplug the coffeemaker? What if it gets freakishly cold and my pipes freeze?" And on and on. I don't rest truly easy until I'm back home and everything is fine.

I hope you have a wonderful trip!

meno said...

ddm, maybe a martini instead of the morning tea? I like it.

egan, and look what kinds of things happen when you DO leave town.

kerewin, i will be with some of my favorite people. I am so looking forward to being there.

de, the Mister looks at my with my lists and thinks i'm crazy. He wouldn't really care if we left home with the heat blasting and the doors wide open and the iron on. Although he might be upset if the house did burn down while we were gone.

sanjay, thanks. i plan to have a lovely relaxed happy time.

lu, i relax pretty much once we are at the airport, and through security. What if i accidently left my Uzi in my purse?

qt, oh no, no liquids more than three ounces. And they all have to be in a clear plastic bag. Think i'll pack one full of prep H and condoms and Vagisil for their enjoyment.

hi suzanne, i'll bet he forgot the sunscreen too didn't he? We always say if we don't have it, we'll either buy it, or we don't need it.

sari, we have had to turn around at the top of the driveway to check on the doors once more. i will have a great time, thanks.

suebob, i used to obsess over my contact case and solution. I don't wear them anymore so that's one less thing to forget.

mombat, aren't you nice! Over prepared, that's me.

meno said...

maggie, we aren't going through customs, thank god. He lost your passports!!! Oh no! (I actually will eat pretty much anything when i am bored, even a cardboard sandwich.)

cagey, (i tried to leave you a comment this morning, but for some reason the word verification word was hiding.) It is all done by me, you are right. I arranged the pet sitter, stopped the paper, etc. Traveling with a young child adds another dimension of anxiety too. Ugh.

gretchen, i don't care much for being on the plane either, i feel claustrophobic because i can't really stretch out at all, my knees are smack up against the seat in front of me. But drink service will help. :)

bob, i'm not that bad! At least i don't think so. Am i? I'm looking forward to being in DC. Lots to do there.

josephine, I worry over leaving my kitties. What if they get lonely or hungry? Of course someone is coming by daily to care for them, but they are so spoiled.

jen, it may or may not be silly, but there's just not a whole lot i can do about it, other than take drugs. I sometimes wish i was a happy-go-lucky person, but it's just not in the cards. I'll have to settle for being a happy control freak.

tink, as you can see, we both have lots of company. (I also have trouble pooping on vacation. It's going to be a long 8 days!) Coffee pot...thanks.

chani, i am not the sort of person who leaps out of bed with a song in my heart and a smile on my face. Tomorrow at 4 am it ain't gonna be pretty.

MOI, oh boy, adding the meds worry would probably send me over the top. I can just see someone trying to take over a plane with "Get back! I have a sharp needle and i know how to use it!"

lisa, i usually manage to relax until we are almost home, then i can't wait to see if my house is still standing.

Anonymous said...

Have a great trip.

Anonymous said...

Have a safe journey, Meno, and a lovely Christmas!

AC said...

I've been known to hyperventilate, just leaving the county.

Princess in Galoshes said...

Oooh! Me too! I am like that, too! Except not just pre-travel. Like, just getting out of bed involves, "Aaauugh! Am I really awake? Or still dreaming?" "Are my eyes open enough to not stub my toe?" "Am I still wearing underwear?" etc. etc.

I feel your pain.

Anonymous said...

Meno, this entry could be used as evidence to prove that WE ARE THE SAME PERSON......

Bobealia... said...

I'm a pre-everything worrier. My happiest moments occurs once I'm on the road. I totally understand.

Anonymous said...

I LOVE to make lists. I live to list, if you will. And, well, I will. I hope you have an awesome trip! Pack some liquor to sneak on the plane! ;)

Anonymous said...

Have a happy one meno. Glad you're excited about your holiday plans. Missus Chic is completely empathetic about your airport anxiety. Seven different airports this year...seven different security protocols.

Your cats will forgive you....eventually. Chances are if they don't shit in your favorite pumps, they will be so grateful for your return, they won't allow you to leave their site. At least that's the way things work here.

Anonymous said...

I think this is a very common phenom. But the best feeling is the finally giving in and letting go, isn't it? I mean, I think that's what the whole build up is for in the first place; just so we can have the immensely intense satisfaction of letting it go....

urban-urchin said...

i am the same wauy. I know if I don't then I'll forget something. Have a safe trip.