Date: 2007-02-27
To: Prep #80--Stuff To Do--Long One
Miles today: 0.0

As promised, here's a discussion about some of those last minute things that I think can sneak up on you and make you go crazy. Right now, I'm feeling really good. I've accomplished many tasks and am kind of finding myself "looking" for things that maybe I forgot? So here's some stuff I've been up to lately, in preparation to leave my life in Michigan in only 11 DAYS!!! (OMG...where's my depends!!) Oh...and I do think it was complicated a bit more due to just moving, so if you don't have to move, then that helps:1. Purchased/got ready to mail birthday cards for all family members whose birthdays occur while I'm gone. For me..that's everyone but my mom.2. Upload more music on my MP3 player (but I had to figure out why it wasn't consistently working...and that's only taken me about 2 years--not joking here. I DID figure it out last night and so tonight will be a music download night...like I said before, NEVER tell me I can't do something! LOL)3. Set up all my bills to be paid automatically while I'm gone. This required calling utility companies and getting the monthly averaging plan so the amounts would be the same each month4. Copy important documents: driver's license, credit card, VA card, debit card that I'll be taking. The copy is to leave home w/Rachael just in case I lose something, she'll still be able to purchase things online if need be.5. Since I'm not driving my truck for 6 months, I'm calling my insurance company and giving them my odometer reading right before I leave. They're dropping my mileage to the lowest allowable, which while I'm gone, means my auto insurance will be lower...a money saving tactic here6. (Still need to) purchase anti-virus software for my computer, which will expire in May7. Did my taxes8. Add email addresses to pocketmail address book, add phone #'s to cell phone. I've been given a lot of #'s from many of you wonderful people already! Don't be surprised if I call you! 9. I got all my gear out, evaluated again, packed everything up, weighed my pack, etc. I've removed the fleece jacket, added the Montbell down jacket AND my micropuff vest back in. Both items weigh slightly more than my fleece alone, but give me more options. Hoping I can mail home the vest, but I need to be warm, so we'll see. IF my food/water weighs 10 lbs total for the first 3 days, my pack will be at 32 lbs 6 oz. I'm happy w/that, and will hopefully be able to mail un-needed gear home w/in a few weeks. Only the trail can teach me that.10. (Still need to) teach Rachael how to get on my journal and upload pics, etc. 11. (Still need to) adjust the fit of my hammock underquilt12. Create a list of reminders/things to do (organized by month) for Rachael, who is having to take on my normal responsibilities. An example is purchasing the tag for my truck, which is due in July. Things like that. I also included all my account #'s and passwords so she can access anything she needs to. If I get back and the apartment is empty and my $ is gone....I'll also know who to come after!--JUST KIDDING RACHAEL!!! LOL!!! 13. Go to various medical appointments (got my teeth checked to make sure I didn't have a disaster waiting to happen, my VA doc gave me a script of doxycycline in case Lyme Disease becomes an issue..I had to ask him for it and he made me promise I'd have a doctor diagnose it before I took the stuff...he's awesome!)14. Collected several small boxes and large envelopes so if Rachael needs to mail me something, everything she needs is right there15. Created "fill in" mailing lables so all my mom or Rachael has to do is fill in the town, state, zip and my estimated date of arrival, peel and stick the mailing label (again..I think we owe it to our families to make this as easy as possible for them)16. Made a box of gear that I "might" want at some point in time (small sudoku book for example). Included is a list of the gear as well as contact info for other gear that will need to be replaced (such as my superfeet insoles, aqua mira) and stuff that may need to be replaced (nalgene collapsible canteens, etc., so if I can't seem to find what I need out there, Rachael can just easily hop on line and order it for me).17. *****BIG ONE HERE****** It occured to me last week that I didn't really know how I was going to keep track of my spending out there. My bank account w/my hiking $ would be the same account w/my bill $ and I'd have no way to track my hiking budget unless I wanted to be anal enough to write everything down...which I might be that anal in the real world...but not out there. So, I opened a second checking account, transferred only my hiking $ into it and will have a debit/credit card for ONLY that account. This way, I can get on-line or call to check my balance to make sure I'm not going to run out of $. I can still transfer $ to it from my other account, but my living $ while on the trail is separate. I highly recommend this for others who are on a tight budget.18. Informed bank/credit card company of my upcoming trip so they wouldn't think my cards had been stolen and then block them19.   (Still need to) go grocery shopping for the Springer to Neel's Gap first leg of the trip20. This is unique to us, but because I normally repair all the vehicles in the household, and I won't be around, I purchased a AAA membership for Rachael and located a reputable repair shop that she can go to if need be. BTW, if you're a man/woman who doesn't know how to find a good independent repair shop in your town, go to the parts store (NAPA, Murray's, O'Reilly, ACDelco, or whomever) and ask the manager. These stores deliver/deal w/all the local repair shops and they can tell you who is trustworthy and professional. 21. Plan some quality time w/Rachael. It's so easy for us hikers to get totally wrapped up in this, that it's easy to forget that our significant others need some attention and encouragement too. Well...I think that's all I can think of right now. Whew....I'm tired from just typing! )What? Did I just type 11 DAYS? I don't believe it...I won't believe it until I'm driving to Georgia. My countdown clock on my computer states that I have 1 day, 4 hours, 11 min, 28 sec until I'm done working. Can't believe that either.