Flying...

Well I finally made it out of town. Every time I leave New York City I spend my last night wallowing in nostalgia. There's so much I take for granted there and for some reason it takes leaving (and coming back) to remember those things.
I'm flying over the Atlantic as I write this though obviously I'll be sending it later. I mention that because right now I'm having my traditional panic over my equipment. Did it make it onto the plane (I show up super early for my flights figuring that increases my chances)? Will it all function properly when I get there (this one freaks me out a bit. My setup is weird. If something breaks the entire tour is screwed. Some of my equipment is not easy to come by. One time I got my baggage and the guy who had checked my electronics case for bombs or whatever obviously couldn't figure out how to get the lid back on properly so it was barely shut. I got real lucky it didn't come off completely. My tuba case isn't so hot either but what's a few more dents in that thing. It's already banged to hell)? I'm really not sure what to expect on this tour. In addition to doing my solo thing I'll be playing in this guy Steve Mackay's band. I have no idea what the music will be. I'm not even sure of the instruments. Are we gonna get together and write stuff or are there already song ideas. There had been talk of receiving mp3's of music to learn but that never materialized. We shall see. For now I'm just hoping and praying all my stuff makes it to Paris intact and functional. Everything else after that is just icing...