off to my tropical paradise beach vacation, side of rats in the shower

hello all. so tomorrow is the big day - i leave for my fanatastic fiji voyage. most of me still can't believe i'm actually going (and i blame that part of me for not starting to pack yet). i'm beginning to realize that this is one of those moments in life that i will look back on often as the years go by - and something emily and i will have many laughs about when we're little old ladies traveling the world after our husbands die. it's something i will have to keep referring back to over the next year, and especially over the next 5 months as connecticut becomes less and less of a tropical paradise and more and more of a winter wonderland.

it's rare to know when a life-enriching moment is coming - more often than not they take us by suprise, and it is that spontaneity that makes them so special. but that almost makes these moments, the ones you've been planning for over a year, seem so unique and even more defining. it was my decision to do this, my hard earned ndn and swim lesson money which purchased my ticket and it will be my recent work which will cover the small joys i'll experience over there. it's my first real grown-up vacation and i couldn't be more excited, and it couldn't come at a more appropriate time.

yesterday i went to the mall to pick up my freshly tailored power suit. i walked through the mall, passing stores whose california counterparts i spent hours staring into during my days at hot dog on a stick, passed the mall santa, this year sponsered by the disney movie, chronicles of narnia, which i was reminded i own stock in. as i walked through visions of time gone by my head was clouded with thoughts of what i needed to still do at work and what i would be doing in 3 days time in fiji. one of those moments where reality hits you - and sometimes you gotta love it.

this blog is probably way too corny for everyone, and not nearly full enough of my usual political outrage, but sometimes you have to step back and look at where you stand. as much as connecticut isn't my dream habitat i love what i'm doing here, and i love the people i'm meeting here, and i've got such a strong support system from everyone from home and dc - and lord knows i couldn't be doing this without them. if i couldn't crash on mulli's couch random weekends, or laugh about the whole situation with blythe, bitch about kinkos with sarah, or have a family that understand why i can only come home for 3 days for christmas, i would be in a much worse situation. so thanks.

that's all from america folks. i will try to post one or two times from the wilds of fiji - otherwise watch and wait for pictures!

and big ups to blythe purdin for explaining the whole 610 bond so well in her recent blog posts - www.blythepurdin.blogspot.com.

peace - i'm out.