Well, I am a day behind schedule but thats par the course.
It is Sunday, Oct. 28th at 10am and I am fully packed and ready to leave the house for Texas. I wanted to leave yesterday but was feeling under the weather and was behind on my packing anyhow. Ultimately, I really do not have to be anywhere until Thursday when my flight heads to London. I think I should make it to that in time. :)
So, I have most of my favorite belongings packed in the truck and kutya is very anxious to get going. Seriously, the guy can not sit still. He knows something is up.
It is a nice sunny day and the air is dry and cool. Feels really great. I woke up at 5 am this morning and started packing. Also, had to run to Menards at 8am to make a key and get a little screw driver thingy to take apart my most valued piece of furniture, my desk. It is now nicely packed.
I sure hope I am not forgetting anything. I feel like I am but what can ya do? Also, its funny cause I keep feeling like I am leaving here forever and I keep saying goodbye to the house and the memories I had here. I have to keep reminding myself that I will be back here in March at the latest (possibly even January). But nonetheless, my excitement to finally be hitting the road (something I have been counting down for months) is somewhat tempered by a sadness of the things I leave behind.
Also, while I was packing my truck, I had to ask myself how many more moves like this I have in me? How many more opportunities will I have to make a move like this? And though it can be a bit stressful, its times like these - when I am making a big move - that I often desire and wish for while I am settled. Overall, besides my pondering the past this morning, I am happy.
Time to hit the road!
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Friday, October 26, 2007
Full Travel Mental Mode!
Really hard to believe that in less than one week I will be in Europe.
I still have so much to do... Also working heavily on election projects coming up so I haven't much time to focus on packing and preparation. I have been joking with my family that I might be sleeping on a park bench in London when I get there. Well, that doesn't sound too far off right now. I still have no idea where I am going to stay. I am pretty much convinced that I will be staying in a hostel when I get there and worst case scenerio I will spend a fortune and stay in a nice hotel the first couple nights.
Meanwhile I will either be hunting for rooms to rent or making plans to jump around Europe the first couple weeks to scout out exactly what city I might want to stay in. I mean I think I will stay in London, but I might get to Dublin and find it cheaper and more my style.
So today, I am plugging away on online election projects for the elections on Nov. 6th. Wherever I am at, I must be working that night with a good internet connection.
Also, I am really excited about the Colts vs. Patriots game scheduled for Nov. 4th. I am sure hoping I can find some good pubs with NFL football games on. That should be fun!
I was planning on leaving tomorrow for Fort Worth, Texas to head to my brothers (Mike). My dad and stepmother are there already and are meeting his future in-laws. They are having a cookout Sunday and so I am hoping to make that but am starting to wonder. Most likely I will head to Texas tomorrow in the afternoon. Get as far as I can Saturday night, then hit up a cheap hotel along the way somewhere. Then arrive at my brothers Sunday. Thats probably best case scenario at this point. But I really want to make that cookout.
After I get to Mike's I will unpack my vehicle and stay there until Thursday Nov. 1st, when I fly out. Here is my flight info:
Its a Boeing 777. Sure hope I can power my laptop!
Also, I arrive in London early. That will give me more time to find accommodations before night time. Am also curious as to how the time difference will affect me. I have been getting up much earlier then usual lately and am usually up by 8am. This forces me to start to wear out by midnight. I have even gone to bed at 11pm a couple times recently. Crazy.
Anyhow, very excited now. I am in full travel mental mode for the most part!
T-minus 6 days and counting.
I still have so much to do... Also working heavily on election projects coming up so I haven't much time to focus on packing and preparation. I have been joking with my family that I might be sleeping on a park bench in London when I get there. Well, that doesn't sound too far off right now. I still have no idea where I am going to stay. I am pretty much convinced that I will be staying in a hostel when I get there and worst case scenerio I will spend a fortune and stay in a nice hotel the first couple nights.
Meanwhile I will either be hunting for rooms to rent or making plans to jump around Europe the first couple weeks to scout out exactly what city I might want to stay in. I mean I think I will stay in London, but I might get to Dublin and find it cheaper and more my style.
So today, I am plugging away on online election projects for the elections on Nov. 6th. Wherever I am at, I must be working that night with a good internet connection.
Also, I am really excited about the Colts vs. Patriots game scheduled for Nov. 4th. I am sure hoping I can find some good pubs with NFL football games on. That should be fun!
I was planning on leaving tomorrow for Fort Worth, Texas to head to my brothers (Mike). My dad and stepmother are there already and are meeting his future in-laws. They are having a cookout Sunday and so I am hoping to make that but am starting to wonder. Most likely I will head to Texas tomorrow in the afternoon. Get as far as I can Saturday night, then hit up a cheap hotel along the way somewhere. Then arrive at my brothers Sunday. Thats probably best case scenario at this point. But I really want to make that cookout.
After I get to Mike's I will unpack my vehicle and stay there until Thursday Nov. 1st, when I fly out. Here is my flight info:
Flight number: BA2192
From: Dallas Fort Worth (Dallas) Terminal D
To: Gatwick (London)
Depart: 1 Nov 2007 17:15
Arrive: 2 Nov 2007 07:00
Class: World Traveller
Operated by: British Airways
Booking status: ConfirmedConfirmed it says!Its a Boeing 777. Sure hope I can power my laptop!
Also, I arrive in London early. That will give me more time to find accommodations before night time. Am also curious as to how the time difference will affect me. I have been getting up much earlier then usual lately and am usually up by 8am. This forces me to start to wear out by midnight. I have even gone to bed at 11pm a couple times recently. Crazy.
Anyhow, very excited now. I am in full travel mental mode for the most part!
T-minus 6 days and counting.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
T-minus 9 days
At the advice of a referred friend in London (who I have yet to meet) I have been looking on gumtree.com under FLATS: Short Term Offered. I have sent the following email probably 35 times so far with very little response:
Hello,
I am writing you about your room for rent.
My name is Chris, I am a US citizen staying in London for 7 weeks starting Nov. 1st.
I have a job that allows me to work from anywhere (computers) and so I have decided it is time to check out London.
I am a clean, easy going professional and plan to have a lot of fun exploring the city.
Also, I should be away several weekends during this time exploring other parts of Europe.
If this sounds good to you or you require more info, please let me know. :)
Thanks!
Chris
I did get an email from what sounded like a perfect room, but shortly there after I saw another post about the poster and how they are a crook. The lack of response is making me think that I will probably NOT find a place before I get to London. I am going to keep looking, but I pretty sure that will be the plan... Find a place in London when i get to London.
Another thing I like about this. It allows me to keep my options open. I would hate to rent a place for the full 7 weeks only to get to London and find out its not that great of a location. I want to make the most out of my trip. I want to stay at just the right place. So, if I wait and find a place when I get there, I will be able to see the neighborhood, see the flat and see the people I would be living with. All three are important.
Also, there is another thing. I am sure I will love London. But, I think there is a chance I will get to Europe and as I travel to other cities, I will find that there are other places in Europe that are cheaper and possibly suite me better then London might. So, I might try to travel quiet aggressively the first couple weeks just to scout out where I REALLY want to stay the remainder 5 or 6 weeks.
Who knows.
I found a new home for my cat Georgia today. She has been with me and Kutya for 3 years. A friend I ran into at Starbucks agreed to take her. He lives in the country and was actually looking to get a new cat. I was getting worried as I only had 4 more days before I was leaving to find her a new home. Anyhow, me and Georgia really never got along too much. I am definitely not a cat person and she really didnt want to have much to do with me. But now that she is gone I have to admit, I miss her a bit. She is orange kind of like kutya and she liked to walk with us down the road. People would laugh cause there i was with my two orange animals walkin down the road.
Anyhow I got her the day Ray Charles died. I was going to name her 'Ray Charles' but figured it wasnt a good female cat name, so I named her Georgia. Goodbye Georgia, hope you enjoy your new home.
Went into work today. It will be the last time for a long time. Strange... Saw my ex there as well. I had to wonder if it will be the last time I see her. Very sad but probably very healthy.
I still have sooo much to do. Pack, bills, work, work work.... lots of projects that I need to keep working on. I realize my situation with work is a rare opportunity that will allow me to continue to do amazing things like work from London. I am determined to make it such a success that they will be very happy to continue this arrangement. That being said, I have much to do!
T-minus 9 days.
Hello,
I am writing you about your room for rent.
My name is Chris, I am a US citizen staying in London for 7 weeks starting Nov. 1st.
I have a job that allows me to work from anywhere (computers) and so I have decided it is time to check out London.
I am a clean, easy going professional and plan to have a lot of fun exploring the city.
Also, I should be away several weekends during this time exploring other parts of Europe.
If this sounds good to you or you require more info, please let me know. :)
Thanks!
Chris
I did get an email from what sounded like a perfect room, but shortly there after I saw another post about the poster and how they are a crook. The lack of response is making me think that I will probably NOT find a place before I get to London. I am going to keep looking, but I pretty sure that will be the plan... Find a place in London when i get to London.
Another thing I like about this. It allows me to keep my options open. I would hate to rent a place for the full 7 weeks only to get to London and find out its not that great of a location. I want to make the most out of my trip. I want to stay at just the right place. So, if I wait and find a place when I get there, I will be able to see the neighborhood, see the flat and see the people I would be living with. All three are important.
Also, there is another thing. I am sure I will love London. But, I think there is a chance I will get to Europe and as I travel to other cities, I will find that there are other places in Europe that are cheaper and possibly suite me better then London might. So, I might try to travel quiet aggressively the first couple weeks just to scout out where I REALLY want to stay the remainder 5 or 6 weeks.
Who knows.
I found a new home for my cat Georgia today. She has been with me and Kutya for 3 years. A friend I ran into at Starbucks agreed to take her. He lives in the country and was actually looking to get a new cat. I was getting worried as I only had 4 more days before I was leaving to find her a new home. Anyhow, me and Georgia really never got along too much. I am definitely not a cat person and she really didnt want to have much to do with me. But now that she is gone I have to admit, I miss her a bit. She is orange kind of like kutya and she liked to walk with us down the road. People would laugh cause there i was with my two orange animals walkin down the road.Anyhow I got her the day Ray Charles died. I was going to name her 'Ray Charles' but figured it wasnt a good female cat name, so I named her Georgia. Goodbye Georgia, hope you enjoy your new home.
Went into work today. It will be the last time for a long time. Strange... Saw my ex there as well. I had to wonder if it will be the last time I see her. Very sad but probably very healthy.
I still have sooo much to do. Pack, bills, work, work work.... lots of projects that I need to keep working on. I realize my situation with work is a rare opportunity that will allow me to continue to do amazing things like work from London. I am determined to make it such a success that they will be very happy to continue this arrangement. That being said, I have much to do!
T-minus 9 days.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
T-minus 10 days
It just doesn't seem real yet. I mean, I know I am leaving where I am currently at. But its almost as if my life just ends there. Its like a big dark nothingness after that point. Wow, that sounds so negative... OK, let me explain a bit more. My flight to London is in 10 days. I will be alone, in Europe for about 7 weeks. I have never been to Europe. I have no concrete plans what-so-ever for when I get there. I have no idea what to expect. I have no idea where I will be staying and I have no idea how it is all going to come together. But, I have no doubt it will be good. It will definitely be better then where I am at now. It will be better then anyplace I have been for a long time. Its calling to me with open arms... and I simply can not wait until I am deep within its embrace.
I will be honest, I am nervous and stressed. Mainly I am just trying to get everything together so that I am fully prepared for my departure. T-minus 10 days and counting...
I will be honest, I am nervous and stressed. Mainly I am just trying to get everything together so that I am fully prepared for my departure. T-minus 10 days and counting...
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