Down to the Wire!

First, THANK YOU! to my friends and family who have become followers.

Second, I'd love all of you to become a follower by clicking on "Follow" at the bottom of the first blog. A box will appear and you can click on Google, Twitter, Yahoo, or create a Google account (this blog is a Google app) to use for following.  You don't have to use the account, and can delete it when you don't need it any more.

Third, anyone can make comments and I'll get to see them as I travel to all the exotic places I'll be visiting.

So, now that I have that said, it's Down to the Wire!

Yesterday I had my last workout with my personal trainer for a month.  This is a shame, since I just managed to get strong enough to do a side plank, pull-ups, and curls with a 10-lb weight.

I have clothes set aside, created pages of information for each place I'm staying and a list of reminders of sights I want to see in each area, and loaded the iPhone with lots of music.  Last night I ordered a waterproof pouch on a belt for passport, etc while I'm floating on the Dead Sea and frolicking in Mediterranean waves in Tel Aviv.  I think it will hold my small camera, too.  All the hotels have safes in the room and security lockers in the reception areas.  My new dSLR is insured, so if I put the SD card in the aforementioned pouch, at least I won't lose the photos. Short of padlocking a locked suitcase to a fixed object in each room, I've done what I can. I'm determined to be cautiously optimistic that my stuff will be safe (smile).

Also, I've decided (unless I change my mind - smile, again - at the last minute) to take my laptop.  The backpack I'll be using is for my that, and a review of each hotel shows they have wi-fi, but not necessarily computers.  It could turn out I'll be sorry, but I think it will come in handy since I won't want to make phone calls.  Cath and I have been able to chat throughout her trip because she had Andy's laptop, and that's been a treat.  Speaking of Andy, he arrived this morning, and I'm sure it was a VERY happy reunion!

Now I'm off to get a mani-pedi so my toe-sies will look pretty in sandals.  Then I'm going to see a one-man play, in which Buckminster Fuller regales the audience with his brilliant views of creativity and how we humans fit into the world.

Monday is for packing, and Thursday my friends Mike and Karen will get me to the airport on time.

That's all for now.  I probably won't write again till I get to Jerusalem, and will catch you up on the adventure in Rome.

Ciao for niao!