Well, to say that Chatty is innervated would be to put it mildly.

    She is ALMOST ready to head for new frontiers (read Cancun), but at the moment she is bouncing around like a ping pong ball that fell off the table long ago, and is now just looking for a place to come to rest. 

    Which will be in the darkest, most inaccessible corner, of course.

    The Wiz has just been out in the garage, spray-painting his favorite black plastic sandals. Why? Because he likes them, but they were looking a bit shabby. The Wiz HATES to buy new shoes. He finds a pair he likes, and he wears them until they fall off his feet. He is wearing his "heavy" shoes on the plane (because Chatty has drilled into him the 50-pound limit for checked bags), and he is totally copacetic with taking only two pairs of shoes for seven days. The second pair being spray-painted plastic ones. 

    Gotta love The Wiz. He knows what he likes - but he also wants to look good (hence the spray paint). Chatty is wondering how good spray painted sandals will be in hot, humid conditions. Guess we'll find out! When she mentioned this to The Wiz, he shrugged and said "Well, I could just buy new sandals in Cancun."

    The Wiz is pretty smart, and very laid-back.

    Chatty, meanwhile, is angsting over whether or not to take her cute, jewelled sandals in case we go "someplace nice" for dinner one night - or whether she should jettison them in favor of more practical footwear. Considering that The Wiz will be swanning around in spray-painted plastic sandals, Chatty is leaning toward leaving her cute, jewelled sandals at home.

    Chatty got up at 6:50 am on Friday.

    Yes.

    This was because you can "check in" 24 hours before your flight.

    Her dear friend - who is not only looking after our puppies but is also a travel agent - got on the phone with her to talk her through the computer check-in process at the crack of dawn. Because Chatty has not flown for over 4 years within the country - and it's been WAY longer than that since she has gone outside the country - on a plane.

    So, with his help, Chatty inputs the information about herself first. Name, passport number, etc.

    All goes well.

    Then, she inputs the information for The Wiz.

    We get started, and then the computer screen announces "Cannot complete automatic boarding process. Please report to the airport and request assistance". Or something along those lines.

    Naturally, Chatty freaks thinks nothing of this.

    Her travel agent friend talks Chatty down off of the ledge and makes soothing noises about "just random, probably" and "worst case scenario, The Wiz has a name that is similar to one on the "no-fly" list..."

    Uh-huh.

    Chatty asks if she should re-enter the information. He advises her that it probably won't make any difference - if the name is flagged, it's flagged.

    *sigh*

    Now we are looking at three people with boarding passes, and...The Wiz.

    The Wiz is still asleep, resting comfortably. He has NO idea what is in store for him.

    Chatty knows that her travel agent friend is right. But, Chatty is - well, the polite term would probably be "anal-retentive". So, even though she knows it is probably in vain, she waits 20 minutes, and inputs the information for The Wiz again.

    Wonder of wonders - it goes through.

    *big sigh of relief"

    She calls her friend back, and he is surprised, but very pleased for her.

    Chatty has not even TOLD The Wiz about the hour she spent going crazy, thinking their trip would be ruined because his name (or whatever) would keep us from getting on the plane. She just let him sleep. And then, when he woke up, she just didn't mention it.

    Because Chatty CAN be cool, right?

    Uh-huh.

    As much as Chatty could go on about the packing in progress (and how she HATES to pack), she must close, because, well...she still has to pack!

    Chatty fully intends to check in from Mexico - she won't be able to post, but if anyone wants to contact her - please feel free.

    Actually, she might be able to post - but don't count on her figuring out how in the mere 7 days she has to figure it out.

    We will be back on the 6th of June.

    Until then...

    Later, alligators!