Packing, re-packing, packing, re-packing . . .

What a day.

The airline's limit for baggage is 2 pieces, up to 50 pounds each (unless you want to pay another $25 a bag). I'm already paying $80 for an extra bag, and today I decided to weigh them -- withough bags, all the 'stuff' came to 160 pounds. And since each suitcase weighs 10 lbs. empty, that means I can only take 120 pounds (40 per bag). More sorting, and more stuff piled up for the Great Yard Sale on Saturday morning.

Also, you can't have one bag at 52 and another at 48 -- you have to have all of them under 50 lbs. Finally managed that, too.

The final step -- since the 'no-liquids-in-carry-on' rule, I figure people will now be shoving all that stuff into their checked luggage. I don't want to arrive and find all my clothes soaked in mouthwash or whatever, so I got those massive Ziploc storage bags (20-gallon size), and using two per suitcase, put everything into those. (The worst soaking my luggage ever got -- I flew out of Boston, and some seafood that was being shipped apparently had a leak. My luggage was soaked with fishy-smelling water. Horrid mess.)

Feeling good after an email from my future landlady/co-worker. The flat is almost ready -- carpeting is being laid today, plumber is finishing up, mattress will be there . . . and she (co-worker) has offered to spend the day with me on Wednesday, shopping and running errands, seeing the school, finding my way around town, that sort of thing. I feel less alone, and she seems so nice (she's also one of those who sent me the reassuring email about the school situation).

Six days to go.