I’m leaving on a jet plane - don’t know when I’ll be back again. Actually, that’ll be a week from now. Yes, we’re headed out of town in a few hours - taking one of those airplane thingies up north. I don’t mind flying, as long as we’re not up in the air for too long. After about five minutes, I start to get really nervous (which is fine, provided I’m not gassy). We didn’t have to coordinate the flight to Gnomedex, though. Originally, we were going to drive. However, I got invited to a very exclusive roundtable discussion up in Redmond on Sunday (right after the conference). So, we’re hopping from the dreaded LAX to Reno, Reno to Seattle, then Seattle back to LAX. It’s going to be a very long week, and it all starts when most of you will still be in bed. Instead of trying to catch a few Zs, Ponzarelli and I decided to stay up all night and head out in the wee hours of the morning (before the crack of dawn). AM flights aren’t exactly up our alley, but we’d rather take this time to go over any last minute trip details (as well as to review our itinerary and schedules). I’ve never been on this particular airline, but I can’t imagine it being any different from the rest. Wish it was JetBlue… but it’s definitely not.

We’ve got to drive to the airport and park in one of those dedicated long-term lots. It’s too far to take a taxi, and I hate those “service everybody in a thousand mile radius” shuttle services. We’re packing light, too: one jumbo suitcase and then a mini whale. Not to mention, my digital camcorder (a Canon GL-2, which I had purchased for Gnomedex II). It’s only a little more than an hour jaunt with no layovers, so I don’t anticipate too many headaches. We’re leaving extra early, in case the airport security folks think my gadgets look suspicious. Once there, we’re renting a car and driving to the hotel. Fly, drive, sleep - that’s the plan. At least I don’t have to worry about being hit with air sickness! Turbulence doesn’t bother me too much, so long as I don’t bump my head more than twice. When was the last time you were on a nasty flight? Or, are you one of those who won’t come within fifty feet of an airplane? I remember, as a kid, being invited into the cabin by the pilots; that was neat. They don’t ask me to do that anymore, though. The flight attendants only offer partially hydrogenated snacks, which keeps me from eating anything other than the aglets on my jacket. Oh, but to be on the other runway right now! Yep. I’m trippin’.