Scribblings from the Mitchy Side

So I'm baaack! Flew in on Monday morning. Monday afternoon and most of Tuesday were cancelled due to lack of interest. Yesterday was my first day back at work: I managed to last until 4.30 and then called time on grounds of being about to faceplant onto my keyboard. :)

Work are suitably jealous of my tan and were rather worried by my postcard (which arrived before I did! *gasps*) in which I casually mentioned going to a gun range :D

Talking of which, while I haven't uploaded my photos yet, I do have gun range pics courtesy of the ever lovely katatomic and some pics from Bouchercon. Here's 3 to whet your appetite.

( Pics! )

So today is the last day of my holiday and I'm packing up and getting ready for my flight home from San Francisco. It has been a fabulous two weeks and I've been blessed with great company and hot, sunny weather. Lots to tell about what I got up to but I'll have time to type up random thoughts when I get home. Wisely, I booked an extra day off so I don't go back to work until Wednesday, which is just as well because if the jet lag is as bad as it was when I got here, I'm not going to be conscious most of Monday (flight lands Monday at around 11am).

Now I must give jenni411 her shiny, shiny iPad back (*wah!*) and force myself to do some packing. Bleh! See you all later on Monday :)

Arrived safely in San Fran on Saturday, after an uncomfortable flight - memo to self, do not fly Virgin Airlines for flights longer than 7 hours ever again. I was more comfy on the tiny puddle jumper I took from SF to Seattle on Sunday.

Anyway, here in Seattle now and jenni411 has also arrived safely. The weather is being unseasonably sunny, much to the pleased bemusement of the locals. Yesterday we did the hop on hop off open top bus tour and explored the aquarium (otters are very cute!) and Pike Market (ZOMG the food! And the second hand book stores!). Today we're tackling the Space Needle and doing a DuckTour, and doing a lil' shopping in downtown. Already I foresee I may have problems packing :P

Oh and on Sunday, katatomic and her lovely hubby Jim took me to a gun range where I got to fire real, live guns for the very first time! Therre was much happy squeaking and yes, you should all be afraid. Photos and a vid will be forthcoming *weg*

*surfaces from holiday plotting*

Right, quick update on all things in my Mitchy-shaped world :)

( Birmingham Trip )

I'm sure I did stuff at the weekend but what I did escapes me. There was football and baseball and American Football watching. Oh and I bought the DVD of Robin Hood with Russell Crowe, so there was happy squeaking over that at some point :)

This week is all about the last minute holiday stuff. This morning, I've bought my train tix to get to and from Heathrow. It was the cheapest and quickest option this time around - normally I leave the car in long term parking but I baulked at paying current prices for a 17 day stay! Tonight 'm going shopping for a new shiny phone, possibly an Android. More about that if I find something. Tomorrow I must buy a rucksack. I had a great rucksack that would be perfect for this trip but I can't find the blasted thing anywhere. Harrumph. You can bet your boots it'll show up roughly five minutes after I bring a new one home :P Friday afternoon I've booked off work so I can go get a haircut and buy one or two bits and bobs.

Friday evening will be packing, which won't take long as yet again 'm attempting an international trip on hand luggage only. I maaay have to check the rucksack in on the two internal flights I'll be taking, but that's ok. I know it'll be fine for the international part of the trip and really it's baggage claim at Heathrow that I hate so much.

And then I fly off to the US West Coast for 2 weeks! I think this is the longest holiday I've had abroad since I was a teen - most of the big US trips have been 13 days or so. Eee! Really looking forward to it. *happy bounce*