Disbelief and Awe

I am a mixture of disbelief and awe. Disbelief that the powers that be are going to pay me to work in France. Disbelief that those powers are letting ME teach their future generation. Disbelief that I'm leaving tomorrow. Awe that I am so calm.

See you in France.

And The Countdown Continues.

The Waffle: 3 more shifts.
Big Expensive Coffee Company: 8 more shifts.
Days until I find myself in Paris: 16.

Hours of sleep I plan on getting tonight: at least 10.
Hours of sleep I've gotten on the past few consecutive nights combined: about 10.

One should never keep track of days, it makes one feel old.

Butterflies

We're leaving for Baltimore in a few hours. I have butterflies in my stomach. I'm extremely excited for this trip! Why? Well because after we do our thing in Baltimore, we're heading to Washington for my visa. Can you believe it?!? I'm positively going to France! The excitement is starting to build. It's hard to contain myself. Woot. Woot.

A Household First

My parents are installing satellite tv this morning. Until today we used the television exclusively for movies. No cable. No satellite. No transmission. This Thursday marks the first time that we will be able to channel surf in the comforts of our home.

Honestly, I don't know how this experiment in television will work out. We (read: I) signed up for a month-to-month contract in case the parents hate it. Perhaps it won't be worth the money. Perhaps movie watching is sufficient. Perhaps their active, outdoor lifestyle will clash with 100 channels. I don't know if the household can handle the sudden addition of both DSL and satellite tv in the same month. But of course time will tell.

Uber Coffee World, The Waffle and The Move Home

I officially have two jobs: peon at Uber Coffee World and server at The Waffle (names changed to protect the guilty). I must commend all you who work more than 50 hours in a week! I have never been more tired than I am now. I remind myself continually that all the toil will be worth it in the end - which is eight weeks away.

I have started budgeting and have grand plans to be debt free by 30.

Gone are my plans to read a book everyday. Instead I try to read one book every 3 days.

Life at home with my parents is wonderful. My 12X13 bedroom now holds a bed, futon, executive desk, amoire, coffee table, bookcase, and chair. Imagine such a spectacle! We grilled dijon mustard glazed chicken last night and watched the Princess Bride. I do like being home.

Dylan Thomas' under milk wood thrills me beyond words. It's a play. Please do check it out.

Moving Blues

After three years on my own, I am moving in with my folks. Somehow three years of odds and ends are going to be stuffed into my tiny room at home. My large executive desk is going in the living room. The amoire, bed, futon, bookcase, chair, and rocker are going in my room along with the already present desk from high school.

Moving logistics aside, I'm going to miss my little room in this fantastic apartment overlooking the trees. I'll miss the proximity to town and all its conveniences. The work commute will take me a half hour rather than 8 minutes. Sigh. The perks win out in the end though. At mom and dad's I'll be able to save more money and be fed on a regular basis. We'll spend more time together. The animals will be closer. I won't have to dodge golf balls while jogging. All in all, not a bad deal.

I need to be out by July 31.

Toilet Paper Roll

Kittens left to their own devices will do cute little kitten things, such as remove all the tissue from an entire (new) roll of toilet paper.