Approaching escape velocity

I'm packed. I *think* I have everything I need (though honestly, what I really NEED need on the trip is pretty small - my tickets, an ID to prove I am the person whose name is on the tickets, some cash (meals are provided for sleeping-car passengers but it's nice to tip the attendants. And to tip the man (or woman) who makes up your bed in the sleeping car and helps with luggage). And this trip, my tax information*.)

Nice but not "I'm not going to be able to travel without it" things include the basic stuff like toothbrush, makeup (actually, that would be harder to replace than some other things as I use a specialized kind), a book to read.... And yeah, I have my clothes. (Laura, if you're reading this: I remembered to pack enough shirts.) And I have the Ropes and Picots cardigan AND its pattern. And the Jaywalker socks. And a couple of balls of self-patterning sockyarn just in case. And the Little Ice Age socks, which I really want to start. And some little odds and ends of critter-yarn, and the Teeny Tiny Mochimochi book.

And more books.

 (*Yeah, I have to do my taxes over break. I didn't have time before, and besides, I didn't even have all the information...the place that handles my investments** is slow to send out the forms)

(**Yeah, I'm one of THOSE. I mean, I'm pretty solidly in the U.S. 99% (though globally I'd be in the 1%, and there are online tests that verify that) and I have investment income. Which is why I look with a slightly jaundiced eye on some of the populist types who would bash those who have investments as "the 1%" Granted, most of my investments come in the form of things I inherited from relatives (which I suppose in the populists' eyes, makes it even worse), but I do have investment income. Not that I ever spend it...it's all tied up as either "This is how I will be able to retire" or "This is a hedge against some major emergency, like my car going kaput in a way that insurance won't cover")

So I think I'm ready in terms of logistics. (In terms of emotion/psychology, I'm kind of already on break. Teaching is going to be a challenge today). This has been a rough semester. It's not that I'm teaching any MORE than I normally do; I think it's the arrangement of classes - three or four days a week (four days when I'm holding down the fort for Senior Seminar), I'm in class from 11 am to 3 pm (or 2 pm, on Fridays, with Senior Seminar). Not having a break between classes to relax a bit, get a drink of water, and look over my notes for the next class is NO BUENO.

(I'm also really not liking the "eat lunch at 10:30 am" bit. Because it means I'm ready to eat dinner at 4 pm, and that just seems nutty to me.) At least next week is break. And I have something green to wear for tomorrow (shirt with green in the print, and green socks) just in case there's some joker around who wants to pinch people who aren't wearing green. (Another St. Patrick's Day tradition that just makes me go, "Why?")