Since I live in Arizona and the FGS2011 conference is in Illinois, I have been making plans for some time. I have had my hotel reservations, conference registration and flight plans for a few months. Now, since I'm leaving in less than one week, I need to make all of those last minute arrangements.
I can't forget an umbrella. (Arizona rain storms don't last long enough to need one here.) I also need to bring a jacket. And not just one for sitting inside. The high temperatures in Springfield during the past week have been lower than the low temperatures in Phoenix. So I'll need a jacket for mornings and evenings.
Since I won't have a car, I need to be sure I have all of those little extras: over-the-counter meds; pens/pencils; sticky notes; snacks (to keep up my energy). I'll be taking the train from Chicago, so I need to have a map of how to get to the hotel from the train station. (I don't mind a few blocks walk and I have a roll-on suitcase. Of course, I'll also have my computer case so I'll need to make sure I don't make it too heavy.) Oh, yes. I need to make plans for getting my notes and anything (Anything? Everything!) else I purchase from the vendors into the two cases on Sunday when it's time to leave Springfield.
I received the syllabus online. Now I need to decide exactly what sessions I want to attend. Of course, I may make changes once I arrive. But I want to have a basic plan. Unfortunately, I found conflicts at some time periods; two or three sessions I want to attend at the same time. Well, that's what CDs are for. And I know I can purchase some at the conference. I just need to decide which session to attend and which one to get a CD for.
I think I'm ready. I'm a list-maker, so I have a list started. During the next few days I'll cross off items as I pack them and add items as I think of something else I'll need. I'm looking forward to the trip (except perhaps for the security at the airport), but the conference is worth it. Definitely!!
