30 April 2010

In one week from today I will once again climb on board an airplane. I haven’t flown since sometime in 1994 or 1995. All of these changes to the rules and such have been a bit of a shock to me, but I want to be safe and not end up dead, you know? So I’m packing wisely and putting things in the carry-on that will pass muster with the guys at the security check point.

I’m half tempted to do a minimum pack with the carry-on, but I was burned once when my luggage was lost and I had nothing to wear or clean-up with… Luckily it was at home when it was lost, so I had stuff at the house, but I’d have been screwed if it had happened at the other end of the journey.

So now I pack a complete set of clothes and a shave kit with the laptop, iPod, cell phone, camera and all the cords and wires associated with the various electronics that I can’t live without. And packing for a two month stay is much more complex then I would have thought…

There are so many things you just don’t know if you can find in a foreign country, so I ended up taking so much crap. Oh, you’re gonna love this: I’m packing two telescoping fishing poles and a small tackle box. The company is renting a farm house on an old orchard from one of the employees at the Netherlands plant and the house is just off of a river that is supposed to be the best fishing in the country. So I’m packing fishing poles! Cheap entertainment! Save them Euros and bring ‘em home!

On a completely side note, I had been told I would have to start back at the base pay scale when I was re-hired back at work. I had a problem with my first paycheck so I went up and talked with the payroll person. I guess someone must have had a change of heart because I am getting the full pay package, which is actually over a dollar more than what I was making when I was laid off! I not only got re-hired, but I got a raise too! I love it!!!!

Since I’m not used to this money I thought I’d fix it so I can save some cash too. So I re-started my 401k and bumped my percentage up that I’m putting in it. If I never see it, I won’t miss it. You know, trying to be responsible and all that stuff. Odd feeling, that. Ha!

Nothing massive or major going on right now. I have Finals coming up next week. Everything should be fine, except with Chemistry. I have to get a good grade on that one in order to pass the class. It’s funny, I’ve been reviewing the lecture notes and I actually understand what is being said now, after the fact, and it’s like I’m taking the class all over again, just compressed into a few days! I hope I can remember all of this. Heck, I need to remember this!

Well, I gotta go out and cut the grass before I go bowling tonight.

I’m Alive… So Far…