It's been a busy busy week

And it's not over yet.

My life, I have to admit, is usually fairly dull. I suppose that's how most of us feel about our little corners of the world. We rise each morning, ready ourselves for a day's work, maybe eat breakfast, head out for our normal week day routine, come back hime, eat dinner and crash, only to restart and repeat the process the next day at the sound of the morning alarm. Some of us have habits and occurences in our lives that cause others to find them interesting. I'd say those are the lucky few, but I think it's a matter of perspective, point of view and personal attitude. We can, after all, if we put in the effort and set our mind and heart on the right path, accomplish just about anything we want in this life.

Occassionally I get a chance to experience one of those unusual happenings. Yesterday was just such a day. I and eight other employees sat down to a round table of free discussion with the CEO of our company. Much was discussed that really doesn't need to be shared here. the one thing we were all curious about is how each of us had been chosen. The CEO did not know, of course, though he thought HR and our guardian angels had something to do with it. My guess, actually that of the entire group, after noting that we were all among the most outspoken employees at our site, was that it had something to do with the size of our mouths and the fact that none of us is afraid to speak our mind. :-) There are no hero worshippers in this crowd. No doubt our managers had a great deal to do with the decision as well.

It is nice to know though, that I was one of two people in the room whose name badge the CEO did not have to read. Hmmm, maybe that's not such a good thing??

Progress

Step one is completed. My travelling companions and I have all booked our flights. Ok, so that really isn't step one. Step one is daydreaming and preliminary planning, and wondering if the trip is ever really going to take place.

The trip to France is becoming more of a raality with each passing day, though, for me at least, it won't actually feel real until I am there.

Right now, I have so much to do before we leave, that the departure seems to be an eternity from now. Still, progress has been made. I finally booked my flight--the last of my group to do so. And our trek through the foothills of the Pyranees has been paid for.

I have made my preliminary packing list and tested my sleeping bag. It will do. I still wish I could have found a left handed bag, but for the price, I can deal with such a small inconvenience. Besides, it stuffs up so small that the compression caps I bought to decrease the packing size even more are far too large. Not to worry, I'll find another use for them.

The three of us have also begun to discuss our possible trip plans as a group for the week before the Cathar trek, and the week after.

We will all be flying into Toulouse. Since our group is split over two flights that are supposed to arrive within an hour of each other, we will most likely all meet at the airport and travel to the hotel together. The current thought, at least last I heard, is to spend two nights in Toulouse, then move on to Carcassonne where we will have two days to on our own and a third day with the trek group. I don't know if anyone has arranged for us to meet up with the group in Carcassone yet. The original meeting is supposed to be at Montpellier Airport, but at least we know the hotel the group will be staying at.

Then it's off on the trek for a little over a week, ending in Montpellier. And here is where we have more than one option.

a) Stay in Montpellier for a night or two, then rent a car and drive for approximately 5 hours to Rocamadour and Sarlat,
spend two nights there, say goodbye to one member of our three person group and then rush back to Montpellier
(another 5 hour drive) so that the remaining two can catch an early flight the next morning.

b) Base out of Montpellier and take day trips to the surrounding area by train or car. Some of the current suggestions are
Narbonne, Nimes and the Pont du Gard. And say goodbye to the same member of our group, perhaps a day earlier.

We all have our hearts set on a), but is it fair to ask anyone to do that much driving (especially when I can't contribute to the task)? And it seems like such a rushed trip with not enough time allowed to really investigate the sites. On the other hand, b) has just as much to see, though of a different nature, and would offer a much more leisurely and relaxed time.

Decisions, decisions....

Which one to choose???

It should all fall out in the next few days.

Stuff

It's been a very busy few weeks, and it looks like it's going to get worse.

The trip to France is finally starting to feel real. It's about time, since we only have about a month and a half before we leave. My sleeping bag should arrive soon. It compresses down fairly small, but I picked up a set of compression caps to see if I could make it just a wee bit smaller yet. I still have a lot of things to gather together for the trip. Did you know it's possible to wear out hiking socks? I didn't. But I have done just that, so I will need to buy new ones for the trip.

And then there's the camera equipment. How many lenses to take...as few as possible with as much range as possible. The ideal would be one, but I think it will be two. And, since I won't have my laptop along to download my memory cards every night, I will need to figure out how much memory to take along as well. Luckily, compact flash cards are very light.

All I have really managed to do so far is make a list of everything that I will need to take on the trip. I still have to double check that list. I will need a new travelling bag. The bulk of my sleeping bag will determine what size.

I haven't had much time to think about the trip at all, to be honest. I decided last week to accept a new position at work. One of my coworkers is moving to Montana to teach high school, and a replacement was needed for his position. I feel a bit like a vulture, but they needed someone who was at least familiar with the job, was willing to work very hard, and was willing to study until their brain was raw and still study even more. That, apparently, is me. So for now, and for some long time in the future, the first thing I think about in the morning, the last thing I think about at night, and, unfortunately, the only thing I dream about all night will be what I need to do next for the new position.

Meanwhile, I have 6 days left to pick my almost former coworker's brain dry. And he, in turn, is in the process of training my backup--a new employee who is basically panicked. Do you suppose I should have waited a few more weeks to tell the poor guy that come September he's going to be on his own for nearly a month? :-)

Next week I have to attend an awards banquet, and I have a round table with the head of our company. I have no idea how I ended up on that round table panel, but I have a sneaking suspicion that my manager had something to do with it.

I have no idea why the speed limit on my life suddenly decided to aim at breaking the light barrier, but it has.

What would I really like to have right now? Sleep, lot's of sleep. Oh, and someone to manage and organize my life outside of work. Yes, I know, I'm not going to get either, and I probably would hate the latter, but I can dream can't I? Oh, well, I guess I can't--I'd be dreaming about work. :-)