Archive for May, 2008

TODAY!

is the day I’ve been planning for over the last 9 months. I can’t believe it’s actually here and we’re really going to Australia. I’m past the freak-out mode and into excited mode! It’s such a relief to be traveling to a country where they speak English (plus some weird slang). Last night Alex and I talked about what “optional excursions” we want to do on our tour and it’s gonna be awesome! Sailing around islands on a catamaran and snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef, yes please. Now for all that flying, eck. I know when I am old I will look back on this vacation and even wish for the long flights, but now it seems so daunting. I will spend almost 24 hours on a plane. Intense. Thankfully I have some stuff to help me sleep and am sitting next to someone I like.

Okay lots to do! Thank all of you for the well-wishes and traveling prayers! I will do my best to update from down under!

LOVE!

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PEOPLE!

I am leaving for Australia the DAY AFTER TOMORROW! HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? I should have at least a month left to prepare. Why am I freaking out rather than jumping for joy? Perhaps because I spent the weekend at the Lake relaxing or because I haven’t packed A STITCH of clothing? Perhaps. I’ll tell you this much, tomorrow is going to be C-R-A-Z-Y! My to-do list is a million items long. I keep having these calm-down sessions with myself where I am reminded that AT least there is no train travel involved (not that I didn’t love my last trip through Europe) and how nice it will be to be a part of a tour, where someone ELSE will be in charge. Eventually my heart rate goes back to normal, if only for a little bit. I keep making the same mistake before going on a big trip. When I say “keep making”, I mean the last two times. I MOVE right before commencing the trip, so everything is already a big mess and not unpacked and then BAM! it’s time to go. Must try to stay put before next big trip.

Okay I can’t say much more because my brain is so scattered at the moment. OH! Wait! Okay so we leave May 28th and don’t arrive in Australia until May 30th, stealing ONE WHOLE DAY OF OUR LIVES! How do I account for that day? I have no alibi. Should someone ask me where I was May 29th do I tell them that I lost that day, it didn’t exist for me? I mean I am absolutely willing to give that day up for the divine enjoyment that will be my Australian vacation, but it’s so odd. The cool thing will be landing in L.A. 4 hours before we left Sydney. AHA! Still doesn’t make up for ONE WHOLE DAY. but oh well.

Okay back to the scattered frantic freak-out-ing.

LOVE!

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auf/off

We’re headed to the Lake, woohoo! Turns out my cousin Tim is going down too and that makes me very happy. I’m getting a bit overwhelmed with all the Australia planning and whatnot. I still don’t feel like it’s really “hit” me that we’re going, maybe once I’m on the plane? I was weird about seeing NYC for the first time like this too. I don’t like this, anticipation is half the fun! Whether or not I’m ready or fully realize that I am indeed going, come Wednesday afternoon it’s HAPPENING! Maybe the 20-hour plane ride will give me enough time to soak it in. Right now I have a picture of Fraser Island as my background and I’m a-liking it.

Thank you for all the book suggestions, I will check them out! I started my book club book last night and so far it’s pretty good, but I doubt it’ll last me until or through Australia. We shall see.

Okay must go pack car.

Happy Memorial Day!

LOVE!

ps Sorry for spoiling A.I. Kate, I didn’t mean to.

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little known

facts you may or may not have heard

1. I have recently begun listening to Death Cab for Cutie thanks to a generous lady who is wise in the ways of music and I like it!
2. Alex just moved back home and I’m glad
3. I miss people in Virginia (don’t know if I’d mentioned it yet)
4. I had a mild panic attack when I looked up the Drudge Report today and saw in BIG RED LETTERS “$12 a gallon for gas inevitable”
5. The new American Idol is from Kansas City, and I have no feelings about this
6. I want to buy everything Apple is selling
7. Speaking of, I forgot to tell you guys I got a new (refurb’d) ipod. Her name is Maeby (from Arrested Development) (I stole that idea from someone else)
8. I gave my mom my old ipod mini (Squitch Jr.) and now I’ll find her listening to it with just one earbud in (she’s deaf in one ear) while she’s doing stuff around the house.
9. I LOOOOOVE driving golf carts
10. I leave for Australia in A WEEK! I can’t believe it but I’ve been practicing saying, “Put another shrimp on the barbie!” and “no vegemite for me thank you”
11. I may have too many books
12. What book should I read while in Australia? Something that will last 3 weeks but not too intense methinks
13. I cannot believe I graduated from high school 6 years ago
14. There is a 90% chance I’m going to the Lake this weekend, though I may have to bike there if gas is indeed $12 a gallon
15. I’m mortified that I’m going to run into someone I went to high school with while home. no thank you

I promise you a real entry sometime soon, but I’m all over the place these days. Unpacking reminds me of Virginia, going through stuff in my room reminds me of the past, all while I’m living now and planning for tomorrow. You try to collect a coherent, yet witty entry after all that, seriously.

LOVE!

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a lot

I’ve been quite a bit busier than I had anticipated. So much so that there are still many-a-box occupying the precious little free space in my room. I also have approximately 3 pieces of clothing available to wear. The good news is that I haven’t been nearly as idle as I am prone to be. I’ve been to the Commissary, visited my brother, watched him graduate then helped him move. Tomorrow I am volunteering at the PKD Golf Tournament all day. I’ve also researched nursing programs and now have a plan. I like having a plan. It makes me feel more legit. That’s right, legit. OH! and I was in the paper! I’ll just give you the link for that in case you are overcome with curiosity or doubt (I’m quoted at the end, last word ha!). here is your proof Just because I’m busy, well it doesn’t mean I’m not missing lots of people in Virginia. Because I AM missing lots of people in Virginia. Is it wrong to wish the world just a tad bit smaller so everyone I love could be in the same place?

Here are a few pictures for your viewing pleasure:

classic

we’re both done with undergrad, woo!

more later when I am not posting from my old imac and it’s cantankerous iphoto.

LOVE!

ps 8 days til Australia!
pss Where is my stimulus check?

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to do

1. miss friends (check)
2. unpack the 10 million boxes of my belongings
3. take old iMac into Apple store to get fixed
4. find knitting store around these parts
5. miss friends some more
6. catch up on LOST and The Office
7. repaint my nails blue
8. get. Starbucks. soon. (it’s been a while)
9. visit best brother this week
10. get haircut

LOVE!

Oh and ps 15 days til we leave for Australia!

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been a while, eh

I don’t know whether I’ve avoided blogging for over a week now because I don’t have much to say or because I have lots to say. I’m leaving Sunday morning. Almost all of my belongings are now loaded into my grandfather’s minivan (we didn’t need a trailer, YES!). I guess I’m approaching this with more of a “see ya later” attitude rather than “I will never again see you and nothing will be the same” attitude. Because the latter? would kill me. Seriously how many times can you breakdown? Because I’ve broken that record. I’m nothing if not sincerely emotional. I feel like maybe this will all hit me hard after I’ve moved. I hate that. What can you do when it’s already done and over? I guess do what I did before it was over, cry and feel sad.
There is a lot to look forward to though, things that I don’t feel too guilty about because I would have looked forward to them and done them even if I weren’t moving. I leave for Australia in 19 days with the greatest guy I’ve ever known. I even got our “free” cell phones from AAA today as well as our tour documents.

Last night I had an insane amount of fun with a few of my Starbucks coworkers. Why couldn’t we get together when I was here and not getting ready to leave? Hanging out with those kids makes me feel young, er younger, as in college-age, probably because all of them are college-age, well except Josh. We went to a midnight showing of “Speed Racer”, 75% of which I slept through. I’m really that old. I even tried a Red Bull for the first time in order to stay awake, no luck.
It’s been a week-long goodbye tour though. Last Saturday was the party Cecilia had for me. It was a perfect picture of our time together in the past 16 months, we played Apple to Apples, laughed illegal amounts of laughter and reveled in our friends’ company. It’s hard to say goodbye when you’re having fun. Tonight I will meet with my small group girls and say goodbye, which will be very hard. Nothing like being a blubbering fool in the middle of P.F. Chang’s. But I will not apologize for being emotional, it’s who I am and it means I feel things deeply and that’s OKAY!

So this is my last post from Northern Virginia as my state of residence. The last chronicle of my life as a nanny.

LOVE!

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