Hell has frozen over!

In 12 hours I'll start my trip to Sydney, Australia.  Boyfriend and I are flying from JFK to LAX, spending the day in L.A., then flying to Sydney.  Basically our travels start ass early on Saturday morning and we don't reach our destination till Monday morning.

To prepare for THE LONGEST FLIGHT EVER, I bought 2 seasons of Mad Men.  When else am I going to have time to catch up on that show?  Other than that I hadn't really done anything prepared...i.e. packing.

All week I've been dreading packing for this trip.  I just knew it would be a disaster.  Ughhhh where do I even start?!  The weather is spring-like over there.  I don't even remember how to dress for spring.  That was months ago.  I don't want to be too hot or too cold.  So, I've been procrastinating...till right now.

I decided to just bring jeans and t-shirts, a blazer, a few dresses (for the wedding we are going to and if we go out to dinner), some clothes to work-out in (wishful thinking), and tons of underwear.  Worst comes to worst at least I will have clean underwear.  Also, I'm only bring 3 pairs of shoes: pumas, heels, and my work-out shoes.  I still haven't gotten together any toiletries or carry-on stuff but already this is my most successful packing experience to date (knock on wood).

If I end up with not enough or totally inappropriate clothes then I'll just have to go shopping.  This could work out in my favor....

Update: You need a visa to go to Australia.  You can get it online and it takes 30 seconds but don't wait till the very last minute to do it.  Kinda stressful.

You Learn Something New Every Summer

I've been visiting my family in Anguilla (heaven in island form) every summer my entire life.  The island doesn't change much but I learned a few new things when I was there a few weeks ago.

1. I'm an over-packer for life.  I have a tendency to over-pack.  I know this about myself.  Every time I pack I try and combat this....and fail.  Packing for Anguilla was no different.  I labored over every article of clothing.  I thought really hard about whether I needed 15 tank tops for a 10 day trip.  I even put some things back in the drawer (a big step for me).  I asked my boyfriend for advice about how many dresses I should bring.  He said yes to a couple (not knowing I had already said yes to 5 more I wasn't showing him).  I just can't shut up the voice in my head that whispers, "Just in case you spill on your shirt, fall in the ocean, trip, and get dirty hand prints (little brother) on you all in one day, you'll need a ridiculous number of outfits."  That sounds logical.  Well, I guess it's good to be prepared.

2. Non-drowsy Dramamine is truly God's gift to earth.  My older sister has given me many things.  Clothes, advice, the list goes on.  I'm not sure if anything can stand up to the greatness of her gift of non-drowsy Dramamine.  To get to Anguilla I fly in and out from St. Maarten.  There is a ferry that goes between Anguilla and St. Maarten.  The ferry is only a 20min ride....from hell.  It didn't always bother me but, in the past few years, it has made me feel like I'm going to throw up all over myself then slowly die.  I tried Dramamine and I didn't feel nauseous...I felt unconscious!  That stuff totally knocks you out.  Not good when you are traveling.  Hence, my new found love for non-drowsy Dramamine.

3. I'm a horrible bartender.  Good thing is I always test drinks out on myself.  Bad thing is that I am myself!  What kind of person keeps accidentally getting themselves obliterated.  Ridiculous.  Island living means drinking basically all day (at least it does for me).  That combined with my heavy handed pouring is trouble.  Lets just say that after this summer's trip to Anguilla I have enforced a two drink maximum for myself - neither drink to me made by me.

The best things about Anguilla I already knew: it has the best beaches in the world, it is the perfect place to relax/do absolutely nothing, and sibling time = awesome time.