Thanks God We're Off!!!

YIKES - it's 3:00 PM and Laura will be here at 4:30 to pick us up.

Now, the fun begins - if being locked in a metal tin can for 22 hours can be called fun!!!!

I was packed last weekend, I packed Tom on Monday (I know, I need a wife like me!!) and we have been very organized and calm. Even went to the Faculty Club for dinner last night - really chilled!!!

Well, except for the suitcase Nazi! That would be Tom! My gawd, I made the worst mistake.

When I was at McLaren's Luggage (the best luggage store in town - say hi to Dave!!) I bought a new case, some accessories, and, stupid me, a neat little hook and scale gizmo that WEIGHS YOUR SUITCASE!!!!

Crap, had I known where that would go I wouldn't have toched it. On Thursday night, my suitcase all zipped up, Tom "steams" up to me it INFORM me that my case is 72 pounds - we are allowed 70 in business!!!! So crucify me - we are actually allowed 3 checked bags totalling 150 pounds - 2 pounds, big friggin' deal!!!!

Nope, the stress of leaving the business when the market was PLUMMETING down got to him, and it came out in the weigh scale!!!! Now that the market in down 1,000 points, it has been hell here.

For 2 days Tom has just walked around and weighed every damn case as it was packed. Laura was here last night and had to calm Big Daddy down!!!

Her suggestion - why don't you take one of the 50 suitcases you have in the basement, put all the gift crap you are taking over in it, lighten your cases CONSIDERABLY, and then chuck it there if you have to!!!!

That's my girl - from my gene pool! It worked wonderfully - took the extra weight off and I thought everyone was sooooo happy!!!

Today has been bedlam again - first Togo has gone to The Spa - that would be the vet clinic, for $30 a day (anyone want this job - it is a hell of a lot of money for a month!!) and Tom RE-WEIGHTED EVERYTHING - the boy has to settle down!!!!!

All is done, I'm calm, Laura is laughing hysterically at us, but tearing up a bit - we are very close and miss each other a lot. That's what phones are for - what the hell - so I have to call her a lot - only $$$$$$$!!!!!!

First to Heathrow - about 8-9 hours, we have a day room at the Hilton at terminal 4 for the day tomorroow (get the London tomorrow morning) and then tomorrow evening get on South African Airways for the 13+ hours to Capetown!!

I am ready to kill the cabin crew after 7 hours from Van. to Maui - this is like doing that trip and turning around and coming back to Van. - YIIIIKES - no telling what I will morph into after all that time.

But we have beds in bussiness - YUP BEDS - so maybe we'll survive!!!! Gotta go get dressed. Please remember us in your prayers (sign of anxiety???)

I have 5 rosaries with me, the 20 religious medals my dad gave me are pinned to my bra (will be interesting in security - hell, I'll just pull up my shirt and show them!!!) and I will be saying a LOT of Hail Mary's!!! I'm a rebel Catholic until I have surgery or travel, then I am hard core.

Here we go - oh no - Tom just walked down the hall with the weigh scale..............

Who is Khuluma Umfazi?

 

I meant to tell you about this on my first post, but I was so freaked just trying to get it working that I forgot!!

So, is she a black South African woman that we are going to visit in Zululand? No, but the Zulu thing is close!

Her picture is here (not that I was wanting you all to have my picture - I just need picture posting experience so that I won't get upside down ones again!!!!)

Yup, it's me N-J, but I needed a name much more exotic than my present "formerly Marilyn Monroe's" name. In my first blog I told you that in Scotland I am known as a "Bletherer" - person who loves to talk - and does a good job of it, I must say!

Sooooo, Khuluma Umfazi is (loosely translated) the zulu words for "Talking Woman" - fits, doesn't it????

Ooooh, Aaaaw, comments on the pic accepted - cheap shots on my talking also accepted!!!!!!!