come on, baby, do the locomotion...

Trainees would do well to remove any facial piercings and cover any tattoos as these prevent them from adapting well to their communities.

Blah.

Dan In Real Life was the in-flight movie from Phoenix to Philly. My row was one of the only two on the plane whose audio didn't work. I had to close my eyes and force myself to sleep. I would've been far more fussy about it had there been someone there to complain to.

I think I must've been overly tired on my way to the airport this morning because I heard something about J-Lo and her twins...(I guess I've been living under a rock, because apparently they were born three weeks ago. Who was gonna tell me?!)...and I almost started bawling. Weird. Still tired. Awaiting the arrival of my Philly roommate. The first stranger out of a series of strangers to come...

Tomorrow will be good. I can't believe this is finally here.

ps - the GRE is a big, fat jerk.

everybody's free to wear sunscreen...

Don't go overboard. There is no reason for you to spend a lot of money packing for the Peace Corps. Brand-name outdoor gear will not make you a more effective or happy Volunteer.

When it comes to packing, "overboard" is all I know how to do. This is a practice in self-control and discernment and it feels suspiciously similar to shopping for a kid from one of those angel trees at Christmas. I know it's a boy and he's 7. Period. My understanding of what I should be bringing can be described as vague at best. Yesterday, I went shopping for a pair of shoes. I came home with six shirts and a pair of pants. I lack focus.

I'm taking the GRE Thursday morning. 24 hours before my flight leaves for Philadelphia.

Understand that friends come and go, but for the precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you knew when you were young.

I found a pile of cds I've been looking for. Just in time.

countdown to what?

The GRE?
Tax time?
Part 1 of the Project Runway finale?
Staging in Philadelphia?
Oh wait, what? Morocco?

My flight to Morocco leaves in approximately 8 days. And somehow, that's like...last...on my list of things to do. I've had months to sign up for the GRE and here I am annoyed that the registration website is down for scheduled maintenance because I need to sign up for it at least three days in advance and I leave Phoenix on Friday morning, so... That window of opportunity that was once wide open seems to have slid down and now is only open just a sliver. I like how I say "slid down" as if the window did it on its own. Have I not had access to ETS.org for the past...however long ago it was that I decided that I want to take the GRE before I leave for Morocco? I feel like the GRE is that person in the room I don't want to talk to so I just keep avoiding eye contact...

And then I remember that I have to file my taxes within the next five days and it seems that there are actually two people in the room that I don't want to talk to... I forget that tax filing season even exists until it shows up again year after year. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I usually have until midnight on April 15. And you better believe that I wait until at least 11:57 to click "Submit" on TurboTax.com. Not this year. I'm filing them early. And not at all because I am disciplined. For all intents and purposes, today might as well be April 11.

As for Project Runway, all I can say is that I consider it a personal affront that Part 2 of the finale is airing 48 hours after my flight leaves for a land that Bravo doesn't reach.

I'm getting pretty excited for my staging in Philadelphia. For one thing, I haven't spent any time there before and like going to new places, even if it is only for three nights. Also, I was pretty much summer camp obsessed when I was a kid and I kind of feel like I'm about to go to big kid summer camp. I'm going to be meeting 60 new people in Philly and going through training sessions like "Crossing Cultures" and "A Slice of Life: Coping with Unwanted Attention". I mean, they have the potential to be just as fun and productive as like, I don't know, campfire building and arts and crafts, right? However, I think I'd prefer a swimming test to the 5 vaccinations I have coming my way.

And then, oh yeah, I'm moving to Morocco. And although I have a very limited idea as to what that's going to entail, I really am incredibly excited.