Long Valley, NJ (GMT- 5)

Has it really been a week?  It's been a whirlwind of activity between Texas and New Jersey getting ready for my adventure.

After a meeting packed 3 days in Texas, returned to NJ mid-day Thursday, 10/28, to start pulling everything together for the next 2-3 months in APJ.  Of course that little thing 'work' kept getting in the way of departure prep and, between Rosie and I (she took off Friday to spend time with me and help), we took numerous mini-trips to pick up the remaining items I'd need for my trip.

At home the evening before the trip begins

In summary:  my passport and China visas arrived as promised on Thursday from CIBT; Rose picked up my new, tailored sports coats from Joseph A Banks; Fred and I submitted and got approved for International roaming with our Blackberries - I'm extremely pleased by that, particularly since I've yet to receive my AT&T calling card; worked all day Friday - mostly on escalations; Meg and Mike came over to see me off on Friday night and we did dinner, and finally; we laid out all of the possible clothes I might need and packed 2 suitcases for my trip.  I'll be carrying on my photography back-pack and work laptop roller.

My boss, Will, called me today to ask if I'd been upgraded to BusinessFirst yet on CO Flt#87 - he had just been alerted to his upgrade... of course, he's a platinum level traveler.  I just made Silver but, due to Continental Airlines' lag times updating individual OnePass programs, I still look like 'Joe' the traveler and therefore don't rate!  I paid 30,000 miles and $400 to upgrade - they took my miles/money - and let me know today that my upgrade could not be confirmed (read, not gonna get it), that I could not check-in online, would have to do so at the airport tomorrow with my bags and, at that time would be put on a waiting list to upgrade to the remaining - if any - BusinessFirst seats...  I'm not holding my breath.  It's going to be a loooonnng, 15hr flight to Shanghai. :-(

I haven't been able to relax today.  Work has been encroaching on my time, still have a lot of packing to do, friends to call, and checklists to check and double-check.  It's also felt strangely like days gone by when I was in the Navy and getting ready to deploy... both Rosie and I have been a little 'peckish' to each other, easy to irritate or snap at the slightest thing - a clear indicator that I'm going away.  It's always easier to leave someone when you're mad at them!  So, we know that, and have tried to laugh about it.  Regardless, I am going to miss her.

Will be getting up early tomorrow to get to the airport in Newark.  The flight doesn't take off until 11am-ish so, my thin thread of a hope for an upgrade is motivating me to leave the house between 0700 and 0730 to check in and get on the standby list as soon as possible.  I purposely tried to change my seat to the very back but, I was not allowed to do so since I have to check in, in person, tomorrow morning.  Oh well... quite the inauspicious start to a highly visible trip!

More later friends and family.