The excitement starts to build....
I bought a plane ticket last night to Madrid, Spain. I'm going to visit Harper in Austria and combine that with my wish to backpack across Europe. I meant to backpack across Europe when I was younger but I think I can manage. It's good and bad. I think I'm more mature and handle things much better but the energy level isn't quite what it used to be. I'll just have to see what happens.
I went over on my lunch hour and transferred $500 from my savings to my credit card to help pay for the plane ticket. I'm hoping to get the plane ticket paid off by March or April and pay cash for the Eurorail ticket in April or May. It'll take care of all of my transportation. Well... that and my legs which are not in bad shape. I still maintain the figure of a distance runner (somewhat) and I still think I can walk for several miles without getting really tired. And if the architecture or landscape fascinates and distracts me enough, I probably won't even notice the distances.
I was checking into hostels and they are not as expensive as I thought! They are anywhere from $15 to $25 euro. Quite a deal if you don't mind barracks-style living. I don't mind at all and it helps to make advance reservations but not really necessary. I don't know where I'll be or where I'll stay. I was thinking I'd find an Internet cafe, print out the hostels, consult a map, and that's where I'll stay. I am hoping to travel light and fast so I can spend a few days with Harper and then a few days back across Europe checking out some more sights. :-) It's all very tentative right now.
There are, of course, unforeseen financial emergencies, the boys need their vet visits, Strider needs his trimmings, and I have to make sure everything will be okay before I leave. Rodant has graciously volunteered to house and dog sit. I'm going to stock the fridge and give him a bit of cash as a thank you. I feel much better leaving Pippin in his capable and competent hands. (I was somewhat worried leaving it up to my old roommate as she liked to roam around on weekends herself. I also felt bad for asking her since she liked to wonder around on weekends and enjoy her time off.) My new roommate has also told me that it's okay for Rodant to stay and she's not uncomfortable with it. I'm glad that Pippin will be taken care of! (Pippin already has his vet visit set up for the beginning of March.)
I also have to be careful to see how much Uncle Sam wants this year. I'm going to use $200 from my roommate's rent to pay for the plane ticket but the other $225 will be set aside as a starting payment to Uncle Sam. I need to make some phone calls about my interest rates and call Home Depot to see if I can pick up my W-2. I think it's the only thing missing....
Back to work!
I went over on my lunch hour and transferred $500 from my savings to my credit card to help pay for the plane ticket. I'm hoping to get the plane ticket paid off by March or April and pay cash for the Eurorail ticket in April or May. It'll take care of all of my transportation. Well... that and my legs which are not in bad shape. I still maintain the figure of a distance runner (somewhat) and I still think I can walk for several miles without getting really tired. And if the architecture or landscape fascinates and distracts me enough, I probably won't even notice the distances.
I was checking into hostels and they are not as expensive as I thought! They are anywhere from $15 to $25 euro. Quite a deal if you don't mind barracks-style living. I don't mind at all and it helps to make advance reservations but not really necessary. I don't know where I'll be or where I'll stay. I was thinking I'd find an Internet cafe, print out the hostels, consult a map, and that's where I'll stay. I am hoping to travel light and fast so I can spend a few days with Harper and then a few days back across Europe checking out some more sights. :-) It's all very tentative right now.
There are, of course, unforeseen financial emergencies, the boys need their vet visits, Strider needs his trimmings, and I have to make sure everything will be okay before I leave. Rodant has graciously volunteered to house and dog sit. I'm going to stock the fridge and give him a bit of cash as a thank you. I feel much better leaving Pippin in his capable and competent hands. (I was somewhat worried leaving it up to my old roommate as she liked to roam around on weekends herself. I also felt bad for asking her since she liked to wonder around on weekends and enjoy her time off.) My new roommate has also told me that it's okay for Rodant to stay and she's not uncomfortable with it. I'm glad that Pippin will be taken care of! (Pippin already has his vet visit set up for the beginning of March.)
I also have to be careful to see how much Uncle Sam wants this year. I'm going to use $200 from my roommate's rent to pay for the plane ticket but the other $225 will be set aside as a starting payment to Uncle Sam. I need to make some phone calls about my interest rates and call Home Depot to see if I can pick up my W-2. I think it's the only thing missing....
Back to work!