Ninth week out of the country

I'm heading out tonight for Sao Paulo. This will be my ninth week out of the country, or eleventh if you count two weeks in Canada. Also gets me to my fifth continent this year and will get me to platinum elite on Continental.

Although it's been mostly a blast visiting all these places, I'm tired now. I didn't book this trip to give me any extra time on the ground in Brasil. I arrive mid-day on Sunday, about a 9 hour flight with a four hour time change. The flight is direct so no extra time wasted passing through extra airports. I will be teaching Monday to Friday and booked my return flight for 11pm on Friday.

I'm ready to be home for a while.

I've discovered that I cannot pack without a packing list. On the trip to Vancouver a couple of weeks ago I decided I didn't need no steenkeeng list and just started in packing. There are really only three things that can't be replaced easily: my laptop (because of the contents, not the machine itself), my passport, and my Ambien prescription. Especially just now when I'm heading for my 6th time zone in as many weeks, my sleeping patterns are totally wrecked. So I use Ambien to jump start myself into the new timezone.

Well, packing for the Vancouver trip I first planned to work from home on the Monday that I traveled. Then discovered that I had forgotten a vital bit of equipment at the office. Then I changed plans, packed and went to the office intending to go directly from the office to the airport. While at the office I realized I had forgotten to pack the Ambien so ... back home. And finally to the airport. All for the want of using my packing list.