Ready to take off from Dulles

Sitting in a 777 about to take off for Germany. Next post will be in Europe.

All packed (99%)

It's after midnight and I'm finally packed up. I had to use a second backpack to fit everything. The second one will be my carry-on. I think I have everything. Now I just need to write down a bunch of addresses so I can send some post cards when I'm over there and run a few more little errands tomorrow morning before I leave.

New pack, some clothes, gloves, hiking socks, etc.

Made a run to EMS after work today. Bought a 2200 cu. in. pack which should fit three weeks of stuff no problem. Only pain is that I don't trust hiking packs making it through baggage with all those straps and stuff hanging off. Haven't lost one yet, but it makes you worry. I'll tie the straps in close with some bands or string and hope for the best.

Just have to pack everything now and I'll be all set. Will probably do some last minute clothes shopping on Saturday, though. Need a new watch battery. Oh, money belt. Can't forget that. Where the hell do you find those?

Euros Obtained - Happy New Year

Went to the bank today and grabbed some euros. Funny looking things, but foreign money usually is. The different bills are all different sizes, and they decided to use monopoly money colors. I only got enough to hold me over for a little while, since I plan on getting cash from ATM's most of the time.

It's New Year's eve. I'm still worn out from Christmas so I'm probably staying in, but you never know. 2007 has been an interesting year, and I don't see why the last 6 hours of it should be any different.

Cell Phone Post Test #2

Apparently, my blackberry has two different web browsers: one that doesn't work, and one that does.

I think I am now using the one that does.

cell phone post test

9:07 am Christmas Eve

It's 0907 hours on Christmas Eve and I'm eating breakfast with spiked egg nog (Silk nog in my case, but it's remarkably close to the real thing). Merry Christmas!

Final French Lesson

Well, I've gotten as good as I can get before the trip. Busy with Christmas next weekend and then I have a lot of friends home for the New Year, so tonight was my final french lesson. I'm not quite back to a conversational level yet, but I can understand it pretty well. Actually, I can understand it better than ever. I still have some Berlitz CD's that I will listen to for a couple weeks and a few more movies to watch in french, so that should help a little before I leave. I think I may continue taking lessons here and there with my tutor after I return. I think it would be a waste to forget french again.

Radio Shack had the transformer I wanted, so I'm all set with that. I put it under my spider plant Christmas tree as a gift to myself. New phone will be here tomorrow or the next day. Taking some vacation this week to spend time with a friend. I'm off to the Fastnet for whiskey...

Merci beaucoup, Julia!

Solidification Level 1

General idea for the trip thus far:

1. Leimen and Heidelberg in Germany with Gramps and Joel for about a week
2. Possibly Ischgl, Austria with Joel and friends for a few days
3. Aix-Les-Bains, France for three days or more
4. TGV to Rennes, France, rail to Portorson, France
5. Walk to Mont Saint Michel, stay on Mont St. Michel for a day or two
6. Walk along coast for a day or two to St. Suliac? Stay in St. Suliac for a day or two
7. Train to Paris, stay in Paris one night
8. Fly home from Paris (have to change my return flight origin from Frankfurt to Paris)

Or.... just play it totally by ear after Aix Les Bains depending on the direction of the wind, and the alignment of the stars.

Must start buying stuff...

Might buy a new pack this weekend. Should probably figure out just how much stuff I'm going to bring before doing that. Just ordered a new cellphone... well, a Blackberry 8800 to be precise. I can't believe I'm going to own one of those things. I'm getting it because it has a built-in GPS and will automatically work in Europe. I will also be able to update this blog with it, which is another good feature for the trip. Other than that, it's an over-designed, over-complicated, 85% unnecessary object. It was only $130 to upgrade to it, and seeing as it's $350 retail, it didn't feel like a bad deal. Maybe people will think I'm cool when they see me using it, too lol.

Also heading to radio shack today and buying a 220 V - 120 V transformer so I can charge the phone in Europe. They probably won't have one in the store and I'll have to order it, that is, if they even know what I'm talking about. "Radio Shack -- You've Got Questions... So do We."