Five days from now, I'll be in Denver. But, before I go, there are a few things I need to take care of: packing, getting things squared away at work and figuring out whether it's better to leave a six-week-old car in an airport garage for four days or take a shuttle service that will pick me up at 4:15 a.m. and drop me off at the airport (that's 12 miles away) two hours later.

First, the packing: I went to weather.com to check the 10-day forecast. On one of the five day's I'd be in the Mile High City, the words "scattered snow showers" were in a little box, just to the right of the box that told me the temperature would be between the low 30s and high 50s. I guess this means I'm going to have to break out my heavy sweaters!

Next, work stuff: I'll only be gone three days, and of those, only the first day will be really rough on those left to put out the paper. I can't control the pace at which the reporters file their stories, but here's hoping that they file early and often.

And, finally, the great transportation dilemma: My flight to Denver departs at 7:09 a.m. My parents usually are good for drop-off and pick-up, but I think this flight's a little to early for them. (I had no choice, really, as this was the only nonstop to Denver on that day.) I can take a shared-ride shuttle that will pick me up three hours in advance, and get me to the airport an hour in advance for $16. Sure, it's inexpensive, but I really don't feel like I should pay for a ride that I could do in 15 minutes myself. Which leads to option No. 2: leave my car in the airport garage. I'm fine with this idea, but my mom can't believe I'd leave my new car somewhere other than in front of my residence for four days. She'd be willing to let me drive her car to the airport and leave it there, but that would mean she would be driving my new car for four days. Frankly, I don't think she or I would like that option.

So, that's what's on my mind today. I know -- it's not earth-shaking, but it's all mine.