Gloryfades.org

It’s been one of those weeks! I don’t know about your part of the world but spring has really come along this week. It’s been bouncing from April showers to cool, sunny days (like today!) all week and I am loving it. This winter has been TOO long and it so needs to go, lol. So I have several good pieces of news to mention:

1. I’m moving at the end of April! G and I found a place in Toronto and we’re finally taking the plunge by moving in together. It’s exhilarating and nerve-wracking all at once. I’m going from living at home to living with my boyfriend? I would have liked an adjustment period (i.e. living on my own for awhile to “test the waters”, so to speak), but it just doesn’t make sense to move out on my own for a year and then move again to another place with G. Plus, I think we can both handle the changes that will come through living together.

2. I’ve been accepted to Centennial College for the Book and Magazine Publishing programme! I have not decided whether I’ll be going yet, though, because I might have a job with a publishing house already … more details to come once I know things have been finalized.

3. I went to Philadelphia last weekend for a wedding and had a lot of fun. This was my first visit to a major American city and it was a blast! We saw the Liberty Bell, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Eastern State Penitentiary, just to name a few. You’re welcome to see the photo galleries here, here, and here.

So that’s been my life for the past little while. I have been way too busy for my own good and it’s likely not going to change in the next little while either. This week I also made the decision to cut down on my duties at TFL. You’ll likely see the posting soon but I’ll mention it here - I am giving up the FUC and Troubles role for the Movies category. These are the most time-consuming parts of the Movies category and I can feel my control slipping away as I let things build up and up before I update. I don’t want this category to get back-logged so the time has come to step down in that role. I still want to do applications, though, because I still find them a lot of fun! Sometimes you just gotta know when to fold ‘em, though.

Well, I officially broke tfl.org, which sucks cause I’m trying to update the Movies category. Oh well, it gives me time to write.

I wish it wasn’t Sunday. I wish it was Monday and I was on holiday for like five weeks. I’m so tired of this winter. I know I keep saying that but I really need spring to finally grace us with its presence. I’m liable to fly away to somewhere warm and blissfully sunny if it doesn’t soon. I dreamed of Ibiza sunrises each night this week.

Speaking of sunny destinations, I’m nearly done writing up my trip to Central America. I need to post the photos on flickr and everything will be ready for posting. I think I’ll post it in a few installments like the last trip to give everyone a chance to actually read it. If you read it in one setting I think you would go blind. I’ve tried keeping it succinct but that’s just not in the cards. How do you sum up three weeks of travel in like two pages? It’s just impossible. I think I’m doing very well, though. I’m halfway through and it’s about seven pages on Word.

In other news, I’m in a play at the synagogue for Purim. I thought it would be scary and bad but so far it looks good. The songs are appropriately funny enough (they’re just famous Broadway tunes with altered lyrics) and they don’t seem to be too upset with a goy nosing in. Plus, in one of the numbers I get to wear a wedding dress, which should be hilarious and nothing short of spectacular cause I’ll get to freak G out, except now the cat is out of the bag… Oops!

Man, everyone should back up their iTunes library if they haven’t done it yet. Honestly, both G and I lost ours this week (mine intentionally, his not so much) and it’s been chaos. With 23 gigs of music how do you find your favourites?!

Thank you, everyone, for your kind words and sympathy for Diefenbaker’s passing. He was an awesome bunny and he will be missed dearly.

Just wanted to leave a quick note to say Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and all the best in the new year for everyone who passes by my little spot on the web. I will be gone from December 23 to January 12. I will see you when I return!

When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money. Then take half the clothes and twice the money. ~ Susan Heller

Oh how the time flies, doesn’t it? Two nights ago I did a lot of Christmas shopping. In fact, I’m nearly done! I have a few more things to buy in Toronto tonight and I think I’ll be all set for the holidays. You know, for a day that I’m not even going to be in the country for, I’ve really gone all out. I certainly don’t regret spending the amount of money I have spent but it’s a little mind-blowing just how quickly it adds up.

As for the trip planning, I still have nothing new to report. I do have a list of things I aim to have completed by mid-week:

- Traveller’s cheques purchased.
- Hiking boots purchased.
- Hostel for first night booked.
- List of things to take created (and possibly packed).

G. is dead set on going with only one backpack, which means creative packing skills. I’m really good at packing light and making it stretch for a long time. My pack weighed a grand total of 10 kg when I left for Italy last year. I spent a grand total of 16 days reusing my clothes. Of course, it was a bit heavier on the way home but that was because of the souvenirs. I have a much larger pack this time around (did I mention it only cost me 25 whole dollars?) but it’s still not as big as G.’s.

If he expects to take only one pack it will probably be only his and I’m not certain I’ll be able to carry that thing. It will be heavy and, although I have been going to the gym for three weeks now to gain a little muscle strength for the journey (I aim to get to the top of Tikal even if it kills me!), I’m probably not going to be able to take it for long stretches of time.

I know it’s going to be hot and it’s going to be difficult trying to find a hostel when you’ve got thirty pounds on your back. However, relying on only one backpack still means that thirty pounds will slow one of us down.

G. is on a business trip right now but when he comes home we’re going to have a chat about this. It doesn’t worry me too much (not much does when it comes to travel. C’est la vie!), but I don’t want us to get snippy with each other due to one backpack. Plus, if we’re both frugal with the things we take we can spread the weight through two backpacks making it easier for both of us.

Similarly on the topic, would anyone be interested in a photo post of how I pack my backpack? Like I said, I’m quite good at making very little stretch for a long while. Maybe I can inspire someone to cut the amount of stuff they take on their next vacation!

This morning I couldn’t wake up. I didn’t go to bed very late last night but it wasn’t until G. stomped into the room and gave me a shake that I finally realized it was time to get up. I think the dead of winter is beginning to set in.

Speaking of winter, it’s supposed to snow tomorrow! It’ll only be five centimeters but I’m already anticipating the hell that is going to be my commute tomorrow morning.

Despite this, I have good news to report! I’m going to Central America for my holiday! G. and I are leaving the morning of December 23rd for Cancun, Mexico and coming back January 12th from Guatemala City. Woo! My hope is that we see some of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. FIVE countries in three weeks. Do you think we can make it? We don’t intend on racing our way down but it would be fun to see that many countries. If nothing at all we’ll be able to put them on our Facebook “Where I’ve Been” maps (and in my case, my big old world map on my wall)!

In the coming weeks I’m sure I’ll probably talk more about the trip. There’s a lot of planning to be done. We don’t have any hostels booked, I need a new backpack and hiking boots, and we don’t actually have an itinerary. That last part isn’t as important because it’s pretty easy just to make your way down south. We just need to read up on the countries we intend on seeing. The border crossings will likely be the trickiest parts but I’m sure they won’t be that tricky.

Thank you to those of you who have wished me a happy birthday in the past few days. You’re all amazing people. I actually had a truly exceptional birthday this year — lots of friends, family and food! What more can you ask for? Oh yeah, a really great sign that Kya made, of course (not that I really asked for one, that is … she was sweet enough to make it for me just because!)! Thanks, Kya!

PS: if you’re interested, I’ve put up photos from the night on my flickr account.

Break time! I’m cleaning again this afternoon. My b-day dinner shindig extravaganza is tonight and Daniela will be staying the night. Melba, unfortunately, has contracted some unfortunate illness and has to miss out on the festivities. Get better, Melbs! I hold no grudges!

So what else is new? Well, I have good news: I have a permanent position at my job. AND I have time off to go traveling!! I couldn’t stop jumping up and down last night after work like a little kid on Christmas. Maybe that’s why I’m listening to Christmas music now? My Christmas wish has come true! I’m going on holiday!!

The next step is to actually figure out where, though. G. and I know we want to do something warm but G. also suggested Tokyo. Japan would be a great holiday spot, I think, but not very warm… we’d still have to wear coats which I would rather not do. Still, it’s worth looking in to. Has anyone ever gone on vacation around Christmastime? Got any stories? Was it worth it/a nightmare?

I wouldn’t mind doing the resort thing for awhile but I don’t think G. will want to do it for the whole trip. We’d rather see some of the actual country as well rather than a tiny portion set aside for vacationers.

In further news, I’ve discovered the wonderful simplicity and convenience of the RSS feed. I’ve added all of the blogs I read regularly to it and it’s so easy to use - it may even get me to read blogs even more regularly. I think a large part of my I stopped reading regular blogs and sort of shifted towards Livejournal for awhile was because at LJ I could read all of the posts in one place - I didn’t have to go searching. I know, I’m a lazy beast, but if the RSS Feed wasn’t so popular I would think it’s just me. It ain’t. Everyone and your mom seems to have an RSS Feed if they own a blog. I largely ignored mine (which automatically comes with Wordpress) until I figured out how to read an RSS Feed. I just assumed it was for blackberries or something. Boy, was I wrong!

Anyway, enough gushing. I should get back to the dust and the clutter… Can’t let Daniela think I live in a hovel!

Edit: Homg, did anyone else know that Prince William is going bald??? That’s tragic, he’s so handsome.

Source: Styledash.com

Two of my friends are going to Europe within three days of each other.  One on May 3 and the other on May 6.  Suffice it to say, I want to crawl up into one of their suitcases and tag along. 

I know that a majority of my posts now have been about travel but I can’t help it.  I want to goooooooo somewhere.  Anywhere.  Doesn’t matter.  I got excited when Gord and I drove down to Buffalo, New York for an afternoon, for crying out loud.  This is how much I love going places.  Perhaps that could be the reason why I’ve withstood commuting to Toronto for school for the past four years.  I can still watch the world whiz by while I’m on the bus instead of reading the paper as if it were like new.  That might sound a little sad (trust me, if you’ve seen the scenery between Toronto and Hamilton it DOES sound a bit sad and pathetic) but it’s just what I do. 

So, since I’m talking to Mary about her upcoming trip to England, France and Italy (Hello, can I come?) I’ve compiled a list of places where I want to go.  This involves staring up at my gigantic wall-size map of the world that is conveniently situated above my computer for perfect daydreaming purposes. 

The first place I want to visit is Romania.  I don’t know much about Romania other than the meagre stereotypes that are associated with it.  Dracula, wolves, peasants, etcetera.  However, despite the fact that I totally want to see Dracula’s castle there are other reasons why I want to visit!  First of all, it’s relatively cheap compared to other European countries, the countryside is beautiful, and there are castles everywhere.  It just seems like a really gorgeous place to visit.  Plus, it’s only a little ways away from Poland and I could probably go home to visit my family while there!

 

I also want to see India very much.  India is probably the most exotic place that I can possibly think of at this point to visit.  Of course there are more exotic places but India is a dream.  When I think of India I think of spices and sacred cattle, saris and teas.  So many people, so many things to see.  I keep teasing people by telling them I want to come home with a monkey’s paw.  I think I’ve offended a few animal lovers … For the record, I wouldn’t really bring home a monkey’s paw … Customs would never allow it.  Sigh.  :P  Plus, I want to visit Mumbai to get my fill of as much cheesy Bollywood as I can!

 

Madagascar is such an interesting mix.  It’s an African country, technically, but through colonization and the sheer luck of being an island it has attracted some of the most interesting souls in the world.  I want to see lemurs and I want to see pirate graves.  That’s all I really ask for! :) 

 

I’ve been told that Thailand is the most beautiful country in the world.  It’s like a mecca for backpackers right now and I totally want to join the throng.  I want to sit on a beach and just soak in the beautiful sunshine. 

 

There’s a reason they call Neuschewanstein the fairytale castle.  It’s absolutely grandiose and I fell in love with it the moment I discovered it.  This is only one reason why I want to see Germany really, really badly.  The second involves copious amounts of beer and sausages.  There’s no way I would lose weight in this country.  I would simply be devouring too much yummy food.  Six hour walking tours be damned!  If this list were in any sort of order this would be pretty high up there but it’s not so Germany’s last on the list, lol.

Anyway, these are only a few of the places I want to visit.  I have big dreams but a very small wallet so all I can really do is live vicariously through other people’s journeys and wish for one day.  Damn these itching feet.  There isn’t a large enough bottle of Gold Bond’s to cure it, either!