Sunday, July 30, 2006
2 days...
Woweee!!! So possible good news on my living arrangements while in London. I received a joyous email a couple hours ago from Ms. Meg stating that she may be able to arrange a place for me to stay. Which works out because the whole "where the hell am I staying" was the major reason for my anxiety issues.
***Ms. Meg attended graduate school with me in Houston and has a big personality to go along with her wonderful spirit. Ms. Meg was at times a co-conspirator in fighting the "MAN." LOL!!!
Then to top things off, The Critter sent an email that extended his length of time with me from a week to a possible month. Shite!!! This is not a bad thing at all, it just means that I will have to do some finangaling (never spelled this word before, oh well!) to make sure that we are all good before he goes back to the States. I have all my appendages crossed that this will work out and my entrance into London society will go off without a hitch.

On another note...so when you have broken up with someone amicably, you find out there getting married, and you want to celebrate their upcoming nuptials. Is it okay to call them at their new house that they just moved into with their fiancee to ask about where they have registered???? Y'all dwell on that one...

Things that I have accomplished...
1. Exercised--I ran through the house like a track star, while screaming like a banshee when I recieved Ms. Meg's email. I had my nieces thinking that I had plum lost my ever loving mind. I actually worked up a bit of a sweat.
2. Currently watching "Breakfast at Tiffany's" with NaNa (83 yrs old) and my 3 nieces. I love this line "It takes four seconds to walk to the door...I am going to give your 2."
 
posted by ReJoYcE at 11:54 pm | 0 comments
Saturday, July 29, 2006
3 days...
So, The Critter sent an email yesterday and basically told me that I was tripping for no reason. It is just lovely how friends can simplify your emotions down to a couple of sentences?

Today is actually one of the better days that I have had in the last couple of weeks. Reading The Critter's email took some of the stress off of me, but the company that is helping me get the job could have done a waaay better job of assisting with the transition.

Things that I have accomplished:
1. I bought one box from UHAUL but I later realized that I was giving myself way too much credit on my packing skills. So tomorrow I head back for more boxes.
2. Received my entry clearance from the British consulate in Los Angeles. I had some trepidation about this part of the process. I had to send my work permit, passport and other documents to a courier service that walks your application and documents into the consulate. I was afraid that I would not get my passport back before my flight. The process was actually pretty quick if you consider they received my documentation on Monday.

Okay so we are in the era of identity theft and your rights to privacy is a figment of your imagination. We all have a certain level of confidence in governments protecting our personal information from joe blow down the street. I may just be exhibiting my naivete. When I received my passport I noticed that there was an entry clearance sticker with a white man's face on it. I immediately checked to see if it was my passport. My passport...my picture...and another entry clearance with my picture on it. So not only do I have a voided entry clearance of a man, I also know his birthday and passport number. I wonder how much this information will go for on the black market? If anything I am more afraid that there is a man running around with a copy of my entry clearance in his passport.

Makes ya think...
 
posted by ReJoYcE at 7:32 am | 0 comments
Friday, July 28, 2006
4 days....
Okay, so I admit to feeling extreme anxiety about this move. I had a good talk with Ms. Tiff. who helped me to work through some of my mental bullshit. Some of my feelings are valid and other parts are just me attention-seeking. Have you ever had to admit to yourself that you were attention-seeking?
***Ms. Tiff I have known for 2002 and has had the privilege (or the torture) of being my supervisor twice as well as one of several close to my heart friends. She has three beautiful daughters (which are my nieces) who are the absolutely the greatest. Their ages are 7, 12, and 15, with the oldest clamoring to learn how to drive.
I sent a lengthy email to The Critter about me seeing him when I touched down and what to expect. I feel sorry for him, because he is about to meet a headcase.
***The Critter is another one of my close friends that has been on a trip around the world for the past year. He is one of of those Gen X or is he a Z (? he is 23/24) activist's that will always have a cause to fight for. His plan is to meet me in London two days after I get there. You know moral support and to catch up.

So why does it cost so much for a frickin backpack? I priced a couple the other day ranging from $100-$200. I can't believe that I am actually going to have to spend so much money on a backpack. Yeah, Yeah I know that the cheaper I go the quicker it will rip to shreds or decide to fall off my shoulders at the most inopportune time. That does not make me feel happy about the price.
Things that I have accomplished:
1. Checked in with some friends I have not spoken to in a while
2. Got my hair braided...at least I have two months to find a hairdresser
3. Did not pull any hair out

Things to do before I leave:
1. Get a manicure/pedicure...don't want those European folks to see my crusty feet not looking up to par. Who cares what their feet look like. LOL!
2. Buy some more draws, socks, clothes and pj's...if I have to be in a hostel, no one is going to want to see my air conditioned, yet comfy pj's.
3. Buy a backpack
4. Patiently wait for my entry clearance
5. Take my nieces to the Redwood forest so they can hug a tree
6. Sell my car
7. Box up clothes /shoes that I want shipped to me later
 
posted by ReJoYcE at 11:01 am | 2 comments
Monday, July 24, 2006
Welcome...Welcome...
So I am now about a week away from leaving the States and moving to London for the next 2-4yrs. My touchdown date is offically Aug. 2nd. My biggest problem is trying to figure out what the hell to pack into a backpack that I might have to live out of for the next month or so. This is coming from a woman with two boxes of shoes and who has a tendency to buying shoes for a specific outfit. Ugh...and double ugh. Let it be known that I am not punking out, but damn I am thinking that I can only take two pairs of shoes...tennis shoes and one pair of dress shoes. Another scary thought is having to do with hostels. I am not against hostels, but after growing up in poverty...I have a slight aversion to backpacking and sharing rooms with large groups of people. I promised myself to give it a go, plus being broke does not allow me to be picky.

For now I must leave and wonder what the hell I should do with my hair before I leave....
 
posted by ReJoYcE at 1:08 pm | 0 comments