Shir, your post and your happiness make me teary and giggly at the same time.

Erin, kudos to you for doing what you needed to do, even though it must have been a really hard thing to decide.

I am still awake at 1:30am, I have to leave the house at about 4:30am to get to the airport (in another city!) for my flight that leaves at 7:30, and I still have not packed a suitcase. Unless I totally flake out and miss my plane and have to tell my boss I crashed in the Andes, I'll get to the hotel about 9am, and won't be able to check in until 3pm, so I'll sit in the lobby like a zombie and try to work for six hours, and hope they don't chase me out. I did not plan this well. I knew the entire week that I was not planning this well, and still! Didn't plan well. Or plan much at all. Now I'm paying the price, because I'm getting sleepy and this day is gonna suck. I really really don't want to go to this meeting. Today I am failing entirely at being a grown-up.

Zen, most hotels keep some rooms free for early arrivals. It does not hurt to ask if a room is ready when you get there. Nine times out of 10, I've been accommodated.

Then take a cat nap. Set the alarm and have the front desk set up a wakeup call for two hours later. You then get some sleep, but still have time to get some work done. Can't tell you how many times I've done that.

What Maria said. Even if they don't let you check in right away, they'll usually let you do it sooner. And they'll almost always be happy to hold your bags while you go work at Starbucks if they can't.

Shir, you're a star (as ever). That was a great post.

Erin, when I gave up teaching I felt similarly guilty. I, too, gave it up for my health. It was a good decision. I hope you find a next move that works for you, job-wise. And I hope that things improve with your health too.

I'm hoping for early check-in! Argh.

I hope you get early check it, Zen!

I forgot to re-set my alarm this morning, but luckily I woke up at 6:08.

Well, reading all the set you guys wrote has given me the confidence to swing into school today with a pretty decent attitude. I left my my bag there two days ago, so my classes have nothing to do, but I'm not all that fussed about it.

See y'all on the flip side! Hope everyone has a good day.

I'll get to the hotel about 9am, and won't be able to check in until 3pm, so I'll sit in the lobby like a zombie and try to work for six hours, and hope they don't chase me out.

probably too late for this advice to be helpful, but you can call and ask for an early checkin, if they know that you're coming, they can sometimes arrange for it to happen.

Zen, here's hoping your trip goes a bit more smoothly than you expect, that you get some semblance of rest soonish, and that you can catch up on your rest at some time in the near future.

I'm proud of you too, Erin.

Hang tough. Maybe we'll do a l'il countdown clock.

::snuggles zen::

Looks like another pretty big one just hit Japan.

Yoko checked in, that's how I know about it. Off to find the seizemic stuff. Oh those poor souls.