Looking at the Thames with a rainbow over it

Yes - I finally arrived in London. And had a very pleasant surprise when boarding the plane - the flight attendant advised me that I had been "bumped" up to first class. Needless to say I was a pretty happy camper with that. The seat was a"pod" so I didn't have to worry about anyone sitting next to me. After we took off I had my "quick meal" and immediately went to sleep. Woke up about an hour outside London - had some cereal and tea and then we landed. And yes my luggage made it. The driver was there and off we went to Marc's fantastic apartment. I am actually starting to feel human again and am looking forward to our dinner at Amalfi in Soho. So perhaps my fortune is turning because I gotta tell ya - I was really starting to have second thoughts :)

Just got back from dinner and Marc has this really cool piece of technology call Slingbox so we're watching Desparate Housewives and then I'll get to see the season premeire of Cashmere Mafia. This will be it for me for American tv for awhile. It's all going to be about Bollywood moving forward.

I'll post again in the morning when I can upload a picture of the great view from his apartment. I took one late this afternoon but with the reflection you can't see anything.

The car is coming to get me at 10am....geez what a trip!!!

The Weather Did Not Permit

So here I thought I was being so good changing my flight from SFO to LAX to an earlier one to ensure I would make that LAX to London flight and all I wound up doing was sitting in the Admiral's Club waiting, waiting and waiting some more to see if I would get out of here in time. Needless to say that didn't happen. So I decided to come home and sleep in my own bed but my luggage - which by the way weighed 75 pounds for the big bag and about 40 pounds for the other one went to LA. And you know what - that's just fine with me - it will go on the LAX to London flight tomorrow and when I got back to the airport in the morning at least I don't have to deal with it.

Had to cancel my meeting with my client in London as that was to take place Monday morning and I won't be arriving until Monday afternoon. Even though my flight to India isnt' till Tuesday afternoon - 1:50pm to be precise - I have no intention of having to put on "work clothes" and deal with the luggage etc. I'm starting to think I packed too much but half of it really is sundries - the shampoo - the body lotion I like blah blah blah.

So I'm going to crawl into bed now. I am exhausted and guess what it started raining again.

Well let's see what happens next - the adventure is not off to a good start but that's my fault for flying American - see that's what happens when you're sucked in to those frequent flyer programs - gotta get those miles so you can maintain your "executive" status. If I had stuck with British Airways I'd be in London but I'd be missing out on 10,000 some odd miles. GOD FORBID!!!!!

Today I flee - weather permitting

so for those of you who live in the Bay Area you know that yesterday we had one of the worst storms in years - trees down, flooding not too mention the airport was a complete madhouse with delayed and canceled flights. Even though it's not raining now it is supposed to so I have changed my flight to be on the 2pm to LAX - I connect there to London - had to give up my first class seat to do it but I'd rather do that than miss my flight.

After having my "last burger" for awhile - I still think the Bell Tower on Polk and jackson has the best burger in the city I came home and spent the next three hours packing and panicking. My giant suitcase weighs more than I do and there better be a porter around or i'm going to be in big trouble. No way will I be able to manage the 3 bags.

I can't believe this is it - if i could quit hyperventilating and going over everything in mind - you know the what did i forget maybe i'll start to enjoy the adventure - will also help when i get to LAX so i'm not panicked about weather and flight delays

this is it till i arrive in london

Since it's after midnight it's officially one day till I flee the country

Okay so now I'm really to starting to flip out. I gave Chester to Abe tonight and Chester did not want to get in Abe's car. I'm telling you he knew something was up - he had been especially clingy since I got back from seeing my dad. I know he's in good hands but that didn't stop the tears - mine not his - from flowing as I looked at his little face through the car window. My friend Victoria once said she rescued her dog, Coop (RIP), and he rescued her. I don't think truer words have ever been spoken because after Richard died Chester was the only reason I bothered getting out of bed for a very long time. As if y'all already didn't know how much Chester means to me.

Anyway, I came back upstairs and started making lists - what I need to do tomorrow - make copies, pick up dry cleaning, shoes etc. Make the taxi reservation so a car will be waiting to pick me up when I arrive in London to take me to my destination. Oh yeah and let's not forget I have to work - conference calls starting at 8am but once they end at 10am that's it for me for the rest of the day. And I really need to get to the gym for one last round of boxing. I don't think they have any boxing gyms in Bangalore - at least I couldn't find any on the internet. Yoga here I come.

Not sure if Heidi will be "house sitting" while I'm gone - seriously doubt that will happen but regardless I want to come home to as clean a place as possible so some major cleaning will need to take place tommorrow as well. Throw everything out of the refrigerator. For those of you who know me well I know you're thinking - oh yeah that should take about 3 seconds - she'll get rid of her water and bag of carrots. But hey don't forget then I'll need to wipe down the fridge as well.

I really have to get some sleep now and I'm actually so tired I don't think I'll need to go into an Ambien coma tonight.

11 days to departure

Wow - 11 days and I'm off. It still hasn't dawned on me yet. I've not even begun to pack and honestly I think I'll be taking more medications, sunblock, and mosquito repellent than clothes. I'm so used to working from home I essentially have no clothes. What a great excuse to go shopping once I get my relo money. Nothing like waiting till the last minute :)


Well at least I've got my gifts for Warren and Shirley in the Bangalore office who have been most helpful and patient with my gazillion questions. If they thought I drove them crazy with instant messaging and emails wait till they meet me :)

So I'm in Florida right now visiting the father parental unit one last time before the big departure. The brother is arriving on the 26th. I've got all the icky paperwork - updated will, advance health care directive, power of attorney blah blah blah stuff all taken care of and copies will be left with both of them.

I will have to instruct my father - yet once again - in how to view and reply to email. He's so used to me calling twice a day. And as most of my friends know my father has a hard time dealing with any technology developed after 1943 - part of the Altman charm.

That's it for now. The countdown will continue.