Airport and Pending Hotel

Just a quick quack before I head off.

This is the hotel I'll be staying at, the Hotel Armada. It looks to be very nice, right on the water and with fantastic views. And of course, no trip is without last minute hitches, right? Through a clerical error, the conference organizers have me staying at one hotel (which also seems very nice but doesn't meet DoD security standards or something) and then my travel office at work put me up in a second. I went to cancel the former, and they're still wanting to charge me for a night's stay! So it looks like if I can't get it sorted out, I will have successfully mastered cloning or time travel and be staying in two places at once. ARGH.

Downloaded my currency converter to my phone this morning (and set it to no dynamic updates, so I don't get a surprise cell phone bill). I've packed - though have the suitcase still hidden safely upstairs so our dog Halo doesn't do the math and become squeaktastic as she realizes we're going on a trip. I've put my Kindle (how did I ever live without that thing?) and my needlework in my carry on case, all set to go. Ian and I had a fantastic breakfast of French toast (with fresh eggs of course), and will enjoy a couple more hours together before he has to take me off to the airport.

Unfortunately, today will be the last time I see him until the end of the month! The day I arrive back in town, June 23rd, he leaves that morning to go off to Montana and participate on a cattle drive. Hmmm, maybe he can write a few entries about that here! It sounds like a fantastic trip, and I can't wait to hear about Cowboy Ian when I return. But yes, the poor timing is that he flies out the afternoon I arrive, and will be gone for a week himself. So we'll save our reunion for early July, and have lots to tell each other about our adventures when we're together again. :)

In the meantime, not at all related to my conferences or a cattle drive - but for those geeks out there, how fun does this look? (Special note to my parents, this is the singer we went to see while you were out visiting - sponsoring a cruise!)

So a bientot, and the next time I write, I'll be in Istanbul-not-Constantinople! (staying at two hotels)