I like to pack early, so I'm not in a rush at the last minute and forget something. That reminds me, I need to remember my toothbrush. It's always the things you use right up until the last minute that you are most likely to forget, like Christmas ornaments. (Joke).
I attached my ID labels to my carry on and hand bag. I tried on different pairs of shorts and decided which to pack. I want to make sure to wear something that doesn't make my butt look big. I'm taking the 200 mm lens and flash, though I may not use them. The carry on can't weigh more than 35 pounds. I weighed myself, then picked up the bag, and so far, it's only me plus 20 pounds, even with the 200 mm, which is quite heavy. I packed my plastic jar for getting some white sand. I downloaded five MP3 albums of piano and trumpet jazz to listen to on the plane, and I made sure I have enough reading material on my kindle.
I bought canned dog food so that Phyllis doesn't have to make rice and eggs for the dogs, to add to their frozen food that I make. Today, I'm going to get a haircut. Also later, when it's within 24 hours before my flight, I am going to print my boarding pass. Flying procedures have changed quite a bit since back in the day, when you needed a real ticket. Now, according to Daughter, you just need an ID. I hope to God she's right, or I'll be spending my vacation in stupid Denver, Colorado, where there aren't any glass bottom boats.
Little Brother and I are going to visit Older Brother, who doesn't know I'm coming. Older Brother is a retired state trooper, and frowns on drug use, so I think I'll leave my "medicinal" marijuana at home. I may get boat sick, but I can deal with that. It's the no smoking three and a half hour flight that could cause withdrawals, so I will bring my nicotine gum. If that doesn't work, I'll just take out the first person who greets me cordially. Someone has to pay for my discomfort, and Phyllis isn't going to be there.
I think I might see if Little Brother will go on a deep sea fishing excursion, and I will try to hook a sailfish. I can have it stuffed and shipped home, and surprise Phyllis with a new living room wall piece. It will be a memorable souvenir and an ice-breaker at our cocktail parties. It will be a "conversation piece," and I will regale our guests with the story of how it took me seven hours to reel it in. Maybe, instead, I'll catch a swordfish, and tell of how I got impaled and (obviously) lived to tell about it.
All in all, I'm sure it will be a great trip, and I hope I remember to bring a daily change of underwear. Little Brother has a washer and dryer, but I may be too tired to do laundry after all of that fishing. Also, if I see any water moccasins, I may need to change my underwear a lot.
