Today, Thursday, April 20
- work til 5
- go to Nancy's after work and help her move
- pasta food after moving

Friday April 21
- work til 5
- 7pm VKC classroom session

Saturday April 22
- am - clean and vaccuum
- afternoon - Shannon?
- pedicure
- birthday dinner with grandparents

Sunday April 23
- clean and organize
- shop for remaining items (for the love of God make a list)

Monday April 24
- work

Tuesday April 25
- work,
- get ready for formal
- FAS Formal

Wednesday April 26
- VKC pool session

Thursday April 27
- work
- start packing

Friday April 28
- work

Saturday April 29
- Open water day

Sunday April 30
- whitewater day
- go to parents' with all paraphernalia

Monday May 1
- last minute scramble:
- confirm flights
- gather important documents

Monday May 2
- sleep in
- check in online in the morning
- leave for airport 4:30ish
- take off!

Notice how the only things I've accomplished are the ones that have nothing to do with my trip? I'm going to the mall with Nancy today to do the shopping I didn't get around to yesterday. Then maybe I'll do some packing. Actually I definitely need to do some packing since I now have to go to my parents' Sunday night if I want a ride to the airport.

So in under 2 weeks I will be landing in Zurich. How crazy is that?

I'm still a bit baffled that it is now less than two weeks away, two weeks that are going to fly by if my schedule is any indication. I've pretty much finished what I needed to get done. The most important things certainly and I'm pretty sure I've got most of the stuff I still needed to buy. So as long as I can find the time to pack I'm set. Of course I won't be sleeping much but meh, who needs that.

Here's something funny, I'm almost as excited about the flight as I am about anything else. I love flying, or at least I love flying in big commercial jets. I enjoy the whole process, getting to the airport, checking in so on and so forth. I've been taking flights since I was very young, under a year old I think so it's never occurred to be to be nervous about it. This will be the most time I've spent en route. 12 hours altogether. With no one to keep me company. How will I amuse myself?

18 Days to take off, how time flies.

9 months sure felt like a long time at the beginning and in some ways, it feels like forever since I started planning this trip. A lot has happened in those 9 months, some good, some not so good. At time's it has felt like the universe was plotting to make this trip impossible but I think the things I have experienced the last few months, the obstacles I have faced have made me more prepared to embark on 2 months of backpacking by myself.

A lot of people are making a big deal out of the fact that I'm going alone. Some think I'm really brave, others think I'm really stupid. I never thought of it as such a big deal but lately I guess I'm started to realize that it is a pretty big thing. I am going to be spending the better part of two months without any real contact with the people, places and things that are familiar to me. I am venturing well outside my comfort zone, literally into unknown territory. Wow, I'm going to learn so much.

I've done almost everything that absolutely needs to get done, in other words I have bought my plane ticket, railpass and insurance. I have money and just about everything I need minus a few small items. Most of what's left is to back and get on the plane! Can you believe it's almost here?