I think I have everything.  I had to get mom and Gerry’s giant suitcase, which I’ve filled with gifts, and then I have a carry-on as well.  I hate people who come onto planes dragging a suitcase, and now I’m going to be one of them!  But I need it, as I’m only allowed to check in 50 pounds, and can carry on 15, so I’ll have to do that.

My clothes could easily fit into a grocery shopping bag, but I need the suitcases due to all the chocolate, maple syrup, and other made-in-Canada items I’m bringing to the tiny village at the border of Laos.  Can you imagine?  By the time I arrive, I’ll be like Kathleen Turner in Romancing the Stone, when she makes the trek to Cartagena.

You know, the bus breaks down, she has to walk with one broken heel and a suitcase that weighs a ton and is disgorging much of its contents.  Maybe I’ll find my own Michael Douglas to rescue me?  I’m not going to hold my breath.

I’ve been discussing the running of the house with Nicky for the past several weeks.  Today I wrote things down, so hopefully the pets will still be alive when I get home.  He’s never adjusted the thermostat or loaded the dishwasher, so it’s going to be a great experience for us all.

I bought a few extra copies of Country Woman magazine, and will take one with me to show the fam in Thailand.  They won’t know what the heck it means, but it’s a magazine, and my name’s in it, so that’s really all they need to know.  Needless to say, I’m taking a fruitcake for them as well.

What a traumatic experience it’s been installing an auto reply on my e mail.  I have a ghastly program called Windows Live Mail, and I had no idea of the rigmarole involved.  For example, the instruction sheet is about six pages long, and it involves going into the computer to create a message.

I got to step 2 and felt like throwing the laptop, but fortunately Nicky figured it out, and now I appear to have auto reply.  Or not.  But I’m leaving in two hours, so there’s little I’m able to do at this point other than to chant, and to leave it up to the mystic law.

Imagine all the chanting I’m going to be exposed to over the next two weeks!  I don’t have a lot of time in Bangkok, but hope to see a temple or two there.  I researched Koh Samui, and there are at least 3 wots (temples) worth seeing there.

And then of course there’s the shopping.  One article said Koh Samui has one area of stores that is six kilometres long!  It says you can’t get through that in one week, but I’m sure going to give that my very best try.

Alrighty, then, good bye.  I’m off to meet my new daughter-in-law and family, learn something new, and hopefully return a better person.  Talk to you then!