05/31/05, 11h44 (CEST).
How'd you grow to be so hard...?
All through your life, you hear people saying that college was the best years of their lives. Since you were young, there was all this weight put on how fantastic these years are. How people find their soul mates and figure out what they want to do with their lives. So much pressure is put on "college" to be the peak of life...everything simply goes downhill from here, apparently. And yet, it seems to me to actually be the worst years of our lives.

It's an extremely awkward transitional time. Somehow you go from being a wet-behind-the-ears teenager, forced to strike out on "your own" (with mommy and daddy still sending food, money, and paying for everything). And somehow, in four years, something miraculous is supposed to happen. BAM! All of a sudden you have a total grip on what you want to do with the rest of your days on Earth, and you even manage to find a husband in your spare time.

Uh...time out? I'm no closer to knowing what I want to do with my life than I was 2 years ago. If anything, I'm more confused. And marriage? EEK! That is definitely not something on my current plate of concerns. And sure, I can live on my own, but I don't have the skills yet to support myself. My parents and banks giving out loans are still helping out with that. And 20 is that uber awkward age, where you are so close to being legal (in the US, at least), but not there. And you're no longer a "teen" and yet, you don't feel at all like an adult. I don't know about you, but I think high school was the best time. You have full financial support from your parents (because they are required by law) and you're not expected to know what you want from life. And certainly, marriage is not in your mind. And those smart kids, who realize that every little assignment isn't going to effect the rest of your life, have a nice relaxing time of it. There are friends that you see everyday and you swear you will never lose touch with. It was much simpler.

I suppose it's a good example of the "ignorance versus knowledge" argument. Is ignorance truly bliss? The time in your life when money is something you get from mommy to go see a movie on a Friday night, and it doesn't yet dictate every decision you make in your life. That was pretty blissful, as I recall. What's so great about eating the apple off the tree? You get a life of toil and hard work. Running around naked in a garden is sounding pretty damn good to me at the moment. With knowledge comes pain and uncertainty. The beauty of the world is lost in the hustle and bustle we are forced into. It becomes increasingly harder to stop and take a breath of fresh air. How does this translate to the best of our lives? I suppose binge drinking and wearing togas might be some peoples' ideas of a good time, but those chosen few will grow up to be "successful" business men and women who work 80 hours a week and smoke pot on the weekends to relax. They will have their spouse they never see (who is undoubtably having an affair with the cabana boy or personal trainer), kids who grow up knowing a nanny better than their own parents, and who will die at an early age (maybe 55) after having a heart attack from high cholesterol and stress. I guess if that's your life, college would seem pretty nice.

What happened to "the best is yet to come?" Maybe it's never right to look back and see something better. Maybe everything should be increasing in greatness until the day you die, the happiest person in the world. But then, I guess if your body starts to deteriorate at age 18, maybe your life is supposed to as well.

As uplifting as that was, I think I shall stop now. I just wanted to make the point that college years are incredibly awkward and I'm a little worried if life goes downhill from here. Thesis and conclusion. And I'm spent.

Current Music: I Spy - Guster

05/30/05, 13h29 (CEST).
Don't be afraid to face and break it, your secret stays...
As I sit listening to Jason Mraz (I had "Sleep All Day" in my head in the shower) I realize how unhappy I was at Indiana. I don't know if I could pin-point just one or two things, though...the entire feel was depressing. Mraz was something we listened to often, either on CD version, or Chad's guitar plus our own singing. I really liked the people there. But it just wasn't my fit, I guess. And then Lela left, and Annie was hardly around and things got especially sucky. But even Freshman year, it wasn't great. I hope UCF turns out to be much better, though I am highly skeptical and quite anxious about it. Maybe I'm not meant for college. Or maybe it's that I'm never content with what I have. Always restless and disgruntled, I suppose.

Anyway, still in Paris. Haven't done anything Parisian yet today. I've planned for the Louvre on Wednesday, and possibly chilling in Montmartre tomorrow, if the weather is decent. It rained last night, so now it's a bit chilly. I don't mind the chill, but sun is sparing. And rain just sucks when it's the cold kind.

On the bright side, I have "days of the week" socks. Monday's are like pink with a darker pink "Monday" on the bottom of my foot. They are amazing, and I got them at H&M in Madrid, though I had also seen them in Paris, and I'm sure they're in the states somewhere too. But still. I bought them in Madrid. Ha.

I was going to go to the Centre Georges Pompidou today, but I'm still trying to decide if I want to be that productive. The lack of funds is also putting quite a damper on my situation. It's modern art, so it wouldn't take me very long. Look longingly at the wonderful Picasso's, then scoff at the crazy installation art and other absurdities...like messages in neon lights or National Geographic videos shown in a crazy wooden box that you have to climb up a ladder to see into. LAME. So I definitely have the time. Maybe I'll plan to go down there around 3pm (or 15.00, for those of you playing along at home. Even better...8am Central Standard Time). That will give me a good 2 hours before Allie gets out of class. Should be plenty of time.

Can't think of much else to write, so I guess I'll end it there.

Current Music: Hey Love - Jason Mraz

05/29/05, 19h51 (CEST).
I'll be subservient and spineless...
Today I have spend most of my day (about 6 hours) in a slightly chilly room of Reed Hall, where Allie has her classes here in Paris. There is wireless internet that I can steal to use, which is quite excellent and free. Bunches of people have been in and out, though mostly camped out working on various papers due this week, or studying, I suppose. They have finals. As for me, I've been chilling and doing a whole lot of nothing. Saving some stories to occupy myself later, and getting through a bunch of email and tasks that I've been having to do for a while but never had my computer near an internet source.

Allie had to leave to have dinner with her French family, but we have plans to meet tomorrow for a "Memorial Day" dinner, though it's not Memorial Day in France. Actually, today is mother's day. Talk about confusing, eh?

However, I believe I will be joining some of her friends in going to dinner. I'm really not in the mood to cook anything and I don't want to go out somewhere alone. So good. I have company. They seem really nice, and I feel comfortable around them even without Allie here. Opa.

And that's about that. I'm an uber bad kid and I've purchased some music on the iTunes Music Store, despite being beyond broke. I might be able to break even when I get home though...I'm still holding my breath on that. The next week might be a little tough though. I'm either going to have to take out a cash advance on my American Express card, or change some traveler's checks. I'm thinking the Traveler's checks might be the best bet, but I've heard they get a crappy exchange rate. Oh well.

Food!

Current Music: Spineless - Alanis Morissette

05/28/05, 12h41 (CEST).
I'll always be true, so please love me do...
Second laundry excursion going much better than the first, though the knob on the washer still perplexes me. Oh well...hopefully all my colors won't bleed together. I'll be going back a little before 1pm to toss them in the super quick dryer that doesn't work really well. It only takes 7 minutes, and everything comes out damp...but I guess that's what I have a clothes rack for. It can all finish drying in the apartment with the lovely breeze that is flowing through here today. It's wunderbar.

Well, since last I updated, I have been to Spain. Quite a nice place. Madrid was nice, and had a couple really good museums. Barcelona was beautiful and I loved it. Food there was also cheaper than France, which is good, because I'm definitely broke at the moment. Still trying to figure out a plan of action to remedy that...but nothing is coming to mind. I plan to hit up the supermarket to get foods that I'll be able to cook and eat at home. My second plan is to stick with one meal a day. I've done it before, but that's really not so fulfilling and would make my trip sad.

Anyway...I have pictures, of course. Not many of Spain, actually. But before leaving, I visited the Musee D'Orsay, Eiffle Tower and Versailles, so I have a bunch of those pictures up as well.
http://www.poofgone.com/paris2005.html
http://www.poofgone.com/spain2005.html

Now that I'm back in the country, I should be able to use my cell phone to call mi madre. I tried from Spain, but it didn't work. I could text people, but not place calls. Not really sure what that's all about, but oh well. When I get back from laundry, or perhaps after grocery shopping, I'll give her a ring. It's only 7am in Florida, I'll give them some time.

Not sure what I'm going to do for the next few days. I have a week in Paris (amazing) and so I need to go to the Louvre, the Centre Georges Pompidou, as well as the Arc du Triomphe and the Champes-Elysees. But I don't think I want to do any of those on a weekend, so maybe I'll take in a movie. I might call Allie a little later to see if she has free time, or if she's too busy studying for finals.

Well, going to head back to the laundromat with a book to read during the few minutes the dryer spins and pretends to actually dry my clothes. Boo. But it's only .50E, so not a huge deal.

Current Music: Love Me Do - The Beatles

05/20/05, 17h00 (CEST).
She can't hold anybody this way...
My first experience with a French laundromat and I made an utter fool of myself. Thankfully the woman there tried to explain it to me very slowly. I definitely felt really dumb, but my clothes are washing (yay!). I am to go back in 35 minutes (5:30-ish) to switch it to the dryer. I'm out of euro coins though...it took 3.50 to do the wash...I assume drying will be another 3.50. I used up my coins at the cafe where I got ice cream today. The waiter was rude so I decided to leave the bill in all coins. It helped to rid me of some of the 10 and 20 cent pieces that have been plaguing my wallet, but also took away 3 1-euro coins. Booooo. Maybe I'll go buy a candy bar or something with a 5 and get change. Not a bad idea actually.

As for the rest of the evening (after laundry, of course) I'm thinking I'll cook some macaroni. Ooo...salt. I could go buy salt with a 5 euro and get change. That's probably not too expensive. Anyway. Macaroni and movie night...not sure what film yet, but I had a long day today, so relaxing now.

This morning I went to the Musee D'Orsay. Seriously...I was a kid in a candy store, I was so giddy about everything. So much prettyness. I went through way too fast, it was kinda crowded so I moved quickly, but I bought a couple books, one on the exhibition of Seurat and Neo-Impressionism, and the other is a book on Impressionist works in the Musee D'Orsay. I figure I can go back through and look at them more in depth at my own leisure.

After that, I got lunch "a emporter" (to go) and ate it on a bridge over the Seine. I walked through the Tulleries (pretty garden) and Metro'ed over to Le Marais to visit the Musee Picasso. I know...two museums in one day??? Am I crazy?? Yes. But that's okay. At first I was disappointed. It looked like the collection was not that big, and it was a 5.20E admission, plus there were less than 5 works from his blue and rose period...combined. Boo. But they did have a lot of collage, cubist, found object, sculpture and works fauvist works of his. There was even a room of his painted pottery, plates, etc. Very slick. A famous one of Dora Maar, plus the sculptures of the goat and the baboon with young. Nifty to see those up close. They had some of his sketches, but none were anti-Franco or depicting bulls/minotaurs. I was actually surprised that I think there was only one or two pieces in the entire collection that featured a minotaur...I stood and stared at it a while, but still. I'm hoping the Museo Picasso in Barcelona will have these, since they are more Spanish paraphanalia anyhow. The Centre George Pompadou would also have more of his works...but the abstract once, not the classical.

Oh, and last night, Allie and I went to see the Cirque Du Soleil: Saltimbanco. Very good show. Wonderful because they don't really speak in a real language anyway, so it didn't matter that it was in France. And it was pretty, and funny, and awe-inspiring. Excellent.

Also, Nice pictures are up. Nice is paradise on Earth, in case you wanted to know.

http://www.poofgone.com/nice2005.html

Current Music: Rinse - Vanessa Carlton

05/16/05, 15h26 (CEST).
How long can a girl be tortured by you...
Very productive day...which unfortunately means I had to spend quite a bit of money. Bugger.

Started by meeting Allie early at the train station to try and get me a cell phone. Store was closed, so we metro'ed to her school where I gacked wireless internet for my computer and was able to post my London pictures and the updates I had written, but not yet actually put up online. I also was able to check email and other fun internet-y stuff. I was contemplating getting on AIM, but it was 2:30am Central Standard Time. Oh well.

From there, Allie went to class and I was left on my own to discover the wonders of Montparnasse. I found an H&M where I bought socks (to help cut down on the blister damage). Then I wandered for a very long time before I finally found Gare Montparnasse, the train station. It was hidden behind a huge shopping mall, who knew? There were also signs pointing in the exact opposite direction of the station. Possibly for drivers to navigate through one-way streets, etc, but for me the walker, it was just kinda frustrating. Oh well.

I finally found it and got in a rather slow-moving, but not terribly long line at the international ticket booth. Struggled my way through the reservations, but thanks to my written plan of what trains to take when, it wasn't too bad. Cost me 130E ($164-ish), on top of the $317 for my Eurail pass to begin with...but I think it ends up being a good deal. I'm not really sure. But I have my tickets. Tomorrow I leave at 9.34 to travel down to Nice, and I return on Thursday at 15.07 (3:07pm). That evening, Allie and I have tickets to Cirque du Soleil: Saltimbanco. Then I have Friday through Sunday here in Paris. Sunday night, I'm taking a "couchette" (sleeping train) to Madrid. It leaves at 7:43pm.

After getting all of my tickets, I bought another "carnet" (10 Metro tickets) and went up to Chatelet where I found a phone store selling "Orange". Orange is a phone company that uses refillable phone cards...so kinda pay-as-you-go. I got a wicked cool phone, that wasn't the cheapest, but not too expensive considering some of them. Then I had to go to a "tabac" (tobacco store/magazine kiosk) to get a "mobicarte" phone card. I have a little less than 3 hours of talk time...I think. I don't know if it changes based on where you call. I called Allie and left her a voice mail message, so it works. But I tried to call my Mom back in the States, and it wasn't working. I don't know if it's a network problem or an international dialing issue. I'm going to read through the manual to see if I can't straighten it out. It's kinda confusing as to when you have to dial +1 versus 011 or if perhaps I can just call 1 to get to the US. Blarg.

I really have to go do laundry today, but I can't seem to find the laundrette that is apparently "right across the street". I should go explore that...since my clothes are all pretty dirty at this point. Worst comes to worst, I guess I try to wash everything in my apartment sink and bathtub and hope for everything to dry by tomorrow morning. If not...I have a blow-dryer.

Well, that's about it from me for today. Feel free to try and call me, but I don't know if it will work. My number for calling within France is [06 72 49 11 17] so to get me from the US, I think you would dial [011 33 6 72 49 11 17]. Don't quote me on that though.

Current Music: Flinch - Alanis Morissette

05/15/05, 20h26 (CEST).
...
I'm back from my first successful trip out of Paris. London was absolutely fabulous. I really liked it, and we were able to do a lot of great tourist-y things. Plus, our hostel was really nice and had a great staff.

Things I saw (in chronological order):
- Millennium bridge (walked over)
- St. Paul's Cathedral (from the outside)
- A British bar (from the inside)
- Green Park
- Buckingham Palace
- The fountain near Buckingham Palace
- The guards with silly hats at Buckingham Palace
- Big Ben clock tower
- The House of Parliament
- Westminster Abbey (we toured it inside!)
- Trafalgar Square
- The National Gallery (art museum)
- Excellent works of art at the National Gallery
- Piccadilly Circus (the Times Square of London)
- Harrod's
- Hyde Park
- Portobello Road (the street market in Notting Hill)
- Tate Britain (art Museum)
- Tower of London (and the Crown Jewels)
- Tower Bridge
- Piccadilly Circus (again)
- London from the "London Eye" ferris wheel
- Tate Modern (art museum)

That should be it. I took pictures of most of it (none of Harrods', Portobello Road, or any of the museums). But I've got all the landmarks. I will spare you the 118 pictures I took, but 36 are posted on my site.

http://www.poofgone.com/london2005.html

Back in Paris now, but not for long. I'm in at the apartment for the night...not really hungry for dinner, so I'll just get breakfast tomorrow before meeting Allie. We are attempting to get me a mobile phone in the morning, before her classes. Then later, I'll be at her school, gacking off the internet access that I can use to update my site, check my email, etc. Tomorrow I will also be going to a train station (probably Gare Montparnasse) to validate my Eurail Pass and reserve my seats on the trains to and from Nice, as well as from Paris to Madrid, Madrid to Barcelona, and Barcelona back to Paris. I also need to buy socks. And possibly a new pair of feet. Mine seem to be broken. Knees too. Very stiff, I need new ones. Anyway, hoping to get a train to Nice for 9:30am on Tuesday. More pictures to be taken there, I can assure you. My camera card is now completely empty, and the first battery (which died last night on the London Eye) is charging, and the second is in my camera.

I'm going to get pajamas on, and possibly watch a DVD on my computer before calling it a night. My alarm is set for 7:30am, and this morning, I was so tired...so lots of sleep sounds wonderful.

Current Music: Miles and Maya - Rolfe Kent (Sideways soundtrack)

05/11/05, 17h00 (CEST).
And a homeless guy who only wants to buy something to eat...
Greetings from Paris!

I think I've been through all the emotions today. I started to cry when I talked to my Mom on the phone (I know...right?) and I sulked because I have no phone or internet in my apartment. My calling card wasn't (and still isn't) working, and I am getting blisters from walking in my flip flops, because stupid me...I forgot to pack real shoes.

Well, let's start from the beginning. Flight wasn't too bad. It was my first time having a meal served to me on a plane, and it actually wasn't bad. A good salad dressing and tiramisu for dessert. The main tray was pasta with chicken, which was good, but had yellow peppers in it, so was a bit on the spicy side.
The guy sitting next to me was a bit of a pompous ass. A law professor at Loyola, he's been traveling to France since 1968. He felt the need to tell me every place I should visit, and me being who I am, allowed him to ramble about the Musee d'Orsay and Musee Picasso, both of which I know plenty about. He advised me to take a day trip to London and Barcelona (I didn't inform him that I already planned 3-day trips to both of these places) and he said a Eurail pass was a good idea (yeah...bought mine months ago). But he eventually went to sleep, and so I read Wicked for a bit before sleeping myself. Not very comfortably, especially coming up on that 7th hour when your tailbone starts screaming that it hasn't felt this way since seeing Return of the King, which was only half as long. But I made it to France. The first glimpse I caught of the French country side out my window and I melted. It was so beautiful. Puts to shame the farm land of the midwest with colors and patterns like a patch-work quilt. The airport was a little intimidating, but I walked right through customs without even having to stop. A girl checked my passport before I got my luggage, but that was it. My driver was there (which I had arranged through my apartment agency), though it took me a while to find him. After paying an arm and a leg, I realized that it was worth it to not have to worry about getting a cab, or worse...catching the bus to Gare du Nord then hopping on Metro line 4, then transferring to line 2 before walking to my apartment. Door to door service was worth 75E today.

The owners of the apartment are wonderfully nice Brits. They are currently living in Normandy, and the apartment actually belongs to their son, who is between University and Grad school, who is taking a 3 month trip to Thailand. Awesome. The apartment is really nice, despite the lack of phone or internet. My view is of the courtyard between the two buildings of this complex. Tres belle. And there's a dog who's been hanging around there...a pretty yellow lab (I think). I'm on the 4th floor (3eme etage) so 3 flights of stairs, but not too bad, actually. I've hiked them several times today.

After the Brits left, I crashed for a couple hours, against better judgment. When I woke up, I had enough courage to venture out into the great unknown...and I was hungry as hell. I walked around and oriented myself with the neighborhood (I like it...it's not high class, but it's not slummy. And there's an elementary and junior high nearby, so lots of kids around). I passed many cafes and bistros, but had no guts to enter. I finally walked into a bakery and got a long loaf of bread and a chocolate flan. The woman there didn't speak english, so I was forced to use French. And I was glad I did.

I came back to the apartment, ate some flan and some bread, started to daze horribly and almost fell asleep again. It was finally 3pm, so I could attempt to call my mom. I had issues with my calling card, and had to use my credit card...so hopefully it won't be an outrageous charge. I tried to call Allie (since we are going to London tomorrow) but the calling card still didn't work, and I couldn't but the call on my Visa. I panicked. Came and went from my apartment another 2 times. Tried 3 times at 2 different pay phones. Talked to 3 different AT&T operators. No luck.

I decided I would try to email her by finding an internet location. The man there didn't speak english either, so instead of explaining my problem with the calling card, when he asked if I needed to use a telephone, I just said yes and finally got a hold of Allie. Only 1.75E and I got to use a nifty 2E coin I received as change at the boulangerie. She's on her way right now to the Menilmontant metro stop, where I will meet her. We will discuss plans for tomorrow and get food. All is good and I feel so much relief after being terrified to step outside and having issues with the phone. It's all falling into place, as I knew it could. And now, I must venture out of my apartment for the many-ith time today to meet her. Oh, and I smell really bad because I haven't showered since before the airplane. And I just killed a bug with my shoe. Rock on.

Chao!

Current Music: There is Life Outside Your Apartment - Avenue Q

05/10/05, 12:19am.
...
My flight takes off in 18 hours. Is it odd that I never actually thought this day would come? It still hasn't entirely sunk in. Perhaps it's morbid, or just utterly depressing, but I was sure something would have happened by now to prevent this trip from ever happening. There's still time, I suppose, for things to go horribly wrong.

I have not yet received the money I ordered from American Express. I'm getting quite worried, as it has only another 12 hours to get here. After that, I will be leaving for lunch with Caitlin and Zoe. Worst comes to worst, we have lunch at the house and stick around until 2pm, but that only give UPS 14 hours for my Euros and Euro Travelers Checks to arrive. I need those. It's my taxi fare from CDG to my apartment, and the other half of my rent due upon arrival. Fuuuuuck. I also need to go out tomorrow to buy $1200 in US Traveler's Checks. Oh, no problems there. *panic*

Well, back to my laundry. I'll need clean clothes if I'm to go to France. Oh god, I'm going to France. I need to finish packing.
- Towels
- Down blanket
- Pillow case
- DVDs chosen to accompany me for one month in Europe
- Jacket
[Sorry, mental notes...]
- Laundry detergent???
- Tampons
- bankone.com/balance checkbook
- Travelers Checks...call bank
- House key for Zoe (niece)
- Nalgene (wash and fill)
- Mail Netflix (2)
I changed the message on my voice mail earlier today. My phone will technically be with me, but off. This is for when I return to the US and need to call for my daddy to come get me from the airport.

I have to go, I feel a hernia coming on. I think I shall fall asleep to Gilmore Girls, and hopefully not wake up for at least 6 hours. Oh god.

Current Music: Dryer tumbling.

05/09/05, 8:57pm.
I've been too long in the wind, too long in the rain...
It's been a while since I've updated this, and not for lack of material. In fact I think I might have so much that I could write about, that it would absolutely panic me to the point of tears. The current countdown to my flight is 33 1/2 hours away. At that time, I will be on the plane, waiting for the last passengers to be seated before take off. In much less time than that, I'll be at the airport, making everything all a little too real. Going through customs and security and utterly freaking out.

I have to pack today. I always pack the day before I leave, so that as I remember things that I will need but hadn't yet thought of, I can toss it in. And anything that I'll need to use the next day, but have to bring with (toothbrush, etc), I set aside and as I use them the next day, they get packed. Yesterday I emptied my wallet of everything I wouldn't need overseas. Blockbuster card, movie tickets to various films, gift cards to AMC theatres. I'm left with a calling card, two credit cards, a debit card, my driver's license and student ID. Oh, and my insurance cards. It's so empty. Today, I should be getting the Euros and Euro Traveler's Checks that I ordered from American Express. If I don't...I guess I have to hope and pray that they get here by 1pm tomorrow. Today I have to go get US dollar traveler's checks to use as a housing deposit for my apartment. One more thing to add to the list.

Last night, I "cleaned out" my TiVo. I took off a lot of season passes that would just accumulate to mass chaos (the 6 episodes of M*A*S*H that get recorded everyday, and That 70's Show, that is only slightly less syndicated). And it's only keeping 5 episodes of Gilmore Girls at a time. Anything first run is staying. Especially American Idol and Survivor, because they are in their final episodes anyway. I don't know if I'll cheat and look up who wins online before coming home and actually watching them. We'll have to see. 34 days is a long time to see who wins. I'm less concerned about Survivor, now that Stephanie got kicked off...though I am rooting for Ian. But with Idol...I'm quite confident that Vonzell should be the next American Idol, but if the people don't vote that way...I don't know. Anthony should be the next kicked off, then probably Carrie. But Bo could give Vonzell a run for her money. Quite stressful.

It's the petty stuff that keeps my mind off of the important.

Yesterday, I saw Kingdom of Heaven with Zoe and Caitlin. It was good, as far as historic battle epics go. Nothing overly memorable, but 20 billion times better than Troy...the worst movie ever made. Excellent directing, and Orlando Bloom was not only hot, but had amazing depth to his character. We did end up laughing through some of it, because it's one of those stereotypical battle epics. You can't escape it. And it's just funny that he starts out as a blacksmith (hee hee...PIRATES!) and at one point, Liam Nieson totally makes a "your mama" joke, but in 12th Century style. We hung around and chatted afterwards for quite some time, which was fabulous. Tonight, we might be doing dinner with their parents.

Okay, I really have to start being productive. Packing time...or something. Maybe shower first. Ease into the packing. Eeeeek.

Current Music: Loving Arms - Dixie Chicks

05/02/05, 9:31pm.
...
I think it is physically impossible for me to relax anytime over the next 8 days. And the funny thing is, I think I have everything set to go. I can't think of anything that I have left to buy or get organized. Maybe a new pair of shower flip-flops for the hostels if I can't find mine...but $2.50 at Old Navy is nothing. But I bought my peanut butter. It was the last thing on my list and it's sitting on the table. Reduced Fat Skippy peanut butter. To eat with baguettes, if all else fails. And it's right there. Sitting 3 feet away, next to my Spanish, Italian and French phrasebooks, and two piles away from my Let's Go Italy, Let's Go Spain and map of London (oh, and Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy). I have a prepaid phone card so my mother doesn't die of a heart attack while I'm far away and alone being adventurous. I emailed the hostels I booked to inform them that the expiration date on my credit card changed from April 2005 to April 2007. I ordered a voltage converter so I can charge my camera batteries and take billions of pictures of the most wonderful places on earth. I have been corresponding with my landlord and have only to wait for her to send me a copy of the lease. I even have my transportation lined up from the airport to my apartment already...through the agency with whom I booked my apartment.

There's nothing left but to pack. Which might be worse than if I were panicking up until the end, because at least that way I could keep busy by making numerous runs to Wal-Mart everyday and making lists of things yet to accomplish. Now I'm just sitting...twiddling my thumbs. Trying to distract myself by watching TiVo'ed shows and Netflix. Currently running (actually, it's paused) is Il Postino. It has to be paused, because if I'm updating my site, there is no way to read the subtitles. At least once an hour I press F12 to have my Dashboard appear, where there are two clocks directly in the middle...one on Chicago time, the other on Paris time. They are surrounded by a currency converter set from Euros to Dollars and a translator going from English to French. There is also the weather, a calculator, tic-tac-toe and a Hula Jesus in heaven...but those aren't trip-related. Oh! And I have my ride to the airport all set up. My darling Zoe will be driving up to the boondocks of Antioch and we'll do lunch before sending me off on my way.

I'm going to have an aneurysm before I even get off the ground. Oy!

Well, I should stop thinking about this and go back to watching the movie. </panic>

Current Music: Nada.