Packing lists

As I get older I understand more the importance of a thorough packing list. Not only does it organize your packing efforts and make it less stressful, but an extra list printed out ensures that you don't leave your favourite clothing item in a cabin outside of Venice.
So I'm packing, as I'm sure you can see (please ignore the Always on the bed), and it's going much more smoothly than I thought it would. Some things need to be laundered before I put them in a suitcase, but that's fine. I have time. I dragged the biggest and the smallest suitcases upstairs after breakfast today and whipped out my trusty glue gun to affix some Canadian flag patches on them and my MEC pod. I felt very Martha Stewart while doing it :) I did it because I don't want to be mistaken for an American; not that I dislike Americans or anything, but a lot of people abroad seem to dislike them so no sense in bringing it on myself.
I've been reading my travel books and I discovered, much to my chagrin, that in Paris the Louvre museum is closed on Tuesdays. The only full day I will be in Paris is a Tuesday. I'm hoping that we have some time to explore the Louvre on Monday after we get to Paris; I guess that's something I'll have to ask my tour manager at the group meeting before the tour.

I'm just listening to 90s music while I take a break from packing and talk to my friend Rachel, who lives in London, about meeting her for dinner in Covent Garden while I'm in London. Thank goodness for friends abroad! I am also thinking about making region-specific playlists for my iPod. I can do Britain no problem, and France, even, but I don't know about Italy, Germany or the Netherlands. I'll have to do some research.

I have to go to the gym soon. Mom is off work in 15 minutes and I think I'll meet her there. Work tonight at 6.

Ever more excited,

-Laur