Monthly Archives: September 2008

You are browsing the site archives by month.

It’s almost time

September 21, 2008 00:21 | 2 Comments |

Well, it’s officially Sunday 21st of September (by 15 minutes). So today’s the day I’ll be going to the airport. 15 months in the planning. Lots of scrimping and saving. Plenty of wondering if the day would ever come. I’ve sat at work, looking at the damn calendar since the start of the year, willing the days to count down.

And here we are.

I’ve packed my bags and I think I’m all organised. Right now I’m backing up my data to my removable drive (worse case scenario stuff). I’ve tried to think of everything. I’m sure I’ve forgotten something but hopefully it’s not something expensive and I can get whatever it is once I’m there.

Squee!

Posted in: Travel

Eeep! moment number two

September 12, 2008 17:05 | Leave a Comment |

I have no savings. None at all. All the money I had saved has been converted into American dollars. Nothing, nada, zip. Eeeeeep! I keep thinking oh, I’ll just get money from my ING account and then have to remind myself there’s nothing in it and there won’t be money going into it until October. It feels very peculiar.

Only four more days at work and nine days until I leave. I really need to write myself a list of all the things I need to get before I go. Shopping day next Friday.

Posted in: Travel

Nine lives

September 9, 2008 11:52 | Leave a Comment |

photo title: Nine lives

I’m going through a creative lull at the moment so I’ve been flicking through some of my older photos. And on occasion I find something I like. Not sure why I didn’t pick this photo the first time around. I like the tilt of her head and her face in sharply in focus unlike some of my other Catwoman photos. There’s another shot I like as well but the background is proving particularly problematic and I haven’t found a solution I like for it as yet.

Anyhoo… only 12 days until I go. Very excited. I’m starting to think about things like packing so I can weight my suitcase and what I actually want to take with me. It feels a little surreal, I’ve been planning this for so long and now it’s almost here. My brother has started asking me how many days to go when he sees me. Actually, I think I’m also excited because I get two weeks off work. I think I’m already in holiday mode because I find myself not caring about any of the projects I’m supposed to working on. Oops. Can’t help it though. It’s my first overseas trip so it’s natural that I’m going to be a little excited.

It’s just a pity the Aussie dollar has tumbled against the American one so I’m losing more cash than I thought I would. But I keep telling myself it’s nowhere near as bad as it was a few years ago when I would’ve lost half my savings in the currency conversion. As it was, I only lost $300. Could’ve been a lot worse. I’m hoping that the dollar will rally and I’ll get more bang for my buck when I do my second conversion.

And I still haven’t bought any sunscreen, a second sketchpad, power plug adaptor, tim tams or the majority of the things I had on my list.

Posted in: Photos, Travel | Tagged: , , ,

Mental note to self

September 4, 2008 10:37 | Leave a Comment |

Must remember to buy new sunscreen.

I’ll be in sunny California for several days and my Melbourne winterised skin will probably get burnt to a crisp without it. And to be honest, American sunscreens just don’t cut it when compared to the ones made here.

Posted in: Travel

Having an eep! moment

September 1, 2008 11:05 | Leave a Comment |

I am travelling 14 hours, about 20,000 kilometres to a country where I don’t know anyone. I will be on my own for nine days, relying on the kindness of people I’ve never meet before. My thought this morning  before dragging my sorry arse out of bed was I’m going to be staying with people who I’ve never spoken to or seen in real life – I must be crazy.

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep!!

But really, isn’t that what all overseas travel is about? You’re in a country where you essentially have none of the usual supports. I’ll really be on my own and that is a little freaky.

But all this still can’t overwhelm the excitement I feel. I’m going overseas! I’m going to meet some people who I spend more time communicating with then my friends who live two blocks away from me. It’s going to be brilliant, fantastic.

Oohh… QANTAS lets you check out what the inflight entertainment might be and I can watch Iron Man again. My god, I’m nerdy! I get distracted from freaking out by the fact I’ll be able to watch Iron Man.

Posted in: Travel