I am in a semi-state of packedness — the killer these days is shoes. Now that I am the workout monster I feel compelled to fly with my trail running/gym shoes and have to ram a pair of loafers into my duffel bag (I never check a bag, I refuse to use a wheeled sarcophagus). And I am old and wise enough to anticipate forgetting something.
The big thing is the laptop sleeve and insuring it’s four little pouches contain:
- Laptop
- iPod and headphones
- sleeping pills
- ear plugs
- contact lens case and wetting solution
That’s all I need for inflight amenities. The other big need is books. Inflight reading this time will be Landing Page Optimization by Tim Ash (a good book and relatively up to date) and The Wind-up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Mirakami (at the suggestion of my son Eliot, and a book underway long before Tokyo came into focus).
I downloaded a Maria Callas rendition of Tosca from the early 50s, I think it is a very classic performance from Rome on BMI. Anyway, waiting for iTunes to download it, then will synch it onto the iPod.
My drill is to settle in, shoes off, noise-cancelling headphones plugged into the music, read and eat for a couple hours, then get up, stretch, perform my ablutions, pop out the contact, stick in the earplugs (with the headphones over it, unplugged but on and cancelling the engine noise), take the pill, blanket, pillow, seatbelt loose as possible around the outside of the blanket ….
Then 12 hours of restless limbo — never sleeping because I am exactly two inches longer than the allotted space, but not motivated enough to clear out my inbox and arrange my desktop icons into some clever shape ….
I’m taking the little point-and-shoot Canon, so no big honking Nikon shots, I just can’t abide hauling that such a long distance only to spend most of the time in my backpack in a conference room. So, some blogging from Tokyo, hopefully more fruitful than my last expedition there in September 2006.
David,
Hopefully you get business class. The trip to san fran found me in coach and also being several inches too tall, compounded by the person in front who reclined their seat. Maybe I need drugs too. I was going stir crazy on just that length of flight – I can’t image the flight to the land of the rising sun.
Best wishes on your lattest endeavors – hope you packed the flip cam too. Maybe something cool will present itself.
Regards,
David –
Haruki Murakami is one of my favorite authors, i hope you enjoy! You might also want to try Norweigan Wood or Kafka on the Shore if you like Wind Up Bird Chronicle. I just got back from Africa – direct flight from Atlanta to Jo-burg, though a fuel stop in Dakar. I read Midnight’s Children by Rushdie and Bel Canto by Patchett. Both were great. I’m sure you’ve read the Rushdie. You may not have landed on Bel Canto yet though? I’d recommend for you and / or Daphne & B. (Its a love story so could be seen as too sappy for you).
All the best, Bri