Wednesday, December 30, 2009

FLORIDA PREP 2010!

Well, the holidays are almost over. Tomorrow is "Amateur Nite" for drinkers. We will be spending New Years Eve at home and to bed by 10 or 10:30. We'll take a quick trip to Homewood to see the boys play basketball on Saturday. Then it's to Indy for Ally's birthday the following weekend.

On January 14th Mark and I will get the "Villa" out of storage and take it to Dan's Hitch to have a Tongue Jack installed. The tongue jack is an electric hitch that raises and lowers with the push of a button; much easier than cranking by hand. Once this is done, we will begin preparing the Villa for our trip south. Packing both the Villa and the truck is a real art. We probably pack more than we need, especially when it comes to clothes. We do need to deal with the temperature variances in February.

I've become obsessed with list making. I keep thinking I'll forget some critical item that we just can't find in Florida. I don't know what that would be, but I'm sure there is something we'll regret not having with us. Things are further complicated this year since I have to take the necessary materials and clothing for my speaking engagement in Wichita, KS on February 22nd. I'm speaking at the International Convention of the Grain Elevator and Processing Systems (GEAPS). There are 2000 registrants, and will have some 500 attending my kickoff address on Developing Your Future Leadership. The theme of their entire convention is leadership.

I will be flying out of Pensacola to Wichita and I'm not looking forward to all the additional screening. It means that creative packing is a must. Of course my laptop is a must since I will be using Google Presentation Slides during my talk. I'll have my Nook e book reader by then. These things plus cell phone and charger, power sources etc. means a lot of wires and gadgetry to be searched since I will be carrying the electronic gear on board. I certainly don't want to check this stuff since I might never see it again.

So we're planning to be on the road during the week of the 18th. We allow a seven day window in order to work around the unpredictable weather. When the window opens, we're out of here.

I'm trying to find an explanation for my recent worrying. I never used to worry. Since I've been "semi-retired" I guess I have more time available for worrying. I don't worry about myself, just others and stuff. Stuff that I can't control. The weather, packing, lost lists, the truck, the Villa, campgrounds, propane, and almost anything else you can think of. Maybe worrying has become my new hobby. This hobby I'm very good at. Anyway, I'm working on it. So far I only end up worrying about finding time to work on it!

Gave blood this morning. The Knights of Columbus at our church sponsored a blood drive, and since it had been three years, I decided this was a good time to start. I owe the Red Cross about 17 units they pumped into me after my surgery in 2007. I couldn't give for 12 months after Chemotherapy. I passed their stringent questioning and testing. I remember back in the 1960's giving blood was a quick process; just a few questions, a hemoglobin and blood pressure and they start the blood-letting. Now it's a thirty minute process just to be ruled acceptable. It reminds me of the continuing improvement and delay of airport screening. Eventually I'll have to take a day off to give a unit of blood. Oh, wait a minute. All my days are days off! I guess I'll have time.

It's back to list making and maybe a nap. I'm getting good at naps!

jim doyle