Travel

Never in the history of packing has there been a trunk more impeccably packed. I might post a picture of it. I'm particularly proud of the fact that since the little nook in the far side of the trunk didn't quite fit my sewing machine, I turned the machine on its side so that the hinge of the trunk lowers into the space in the center when I close it. I was also able to fit all my paintings in the trunk, on top of my suitcase and boxes, which I didn't think I was going to be able to do. Now I just have to pack the inside of the car as well. I hope I don't have to leave anything behind.

I had to delay my trip a day. I was supposed to leave at about 10 this morning, but it took me so long to do everything I had to do lately--sell all my stuff, make three trips to Goodwill to drop off the rest, paint my apartment back to white and clean the whole place, plus picking up my last paycheck and faxing my last set of documents to South Korea. I just couldn't get it done. I didn't even start painting my bedroom until this morning, since I spent all of yesterday doing everything else, and the day before yesterday painting the living room (I think it really took 12 hours).

Luckily, I made reservations at motels that probably don't book up, so it was no problem calling and advancing my reservation a day at each place. Today I'm trying to get my landlady to give me my security deposit back before I go. She was supposed to come by yesterday so I could check out and get the check, but she forgot. She also forgot about the appointment when I signed the lease. It's annoying. She said she could mail it to me if I gave her a forwarding address, but frankly, I don't trust her. I had to call the housing department on her twice since I've been here for negligence, and I wouldn't be surprised if it took months to get the money out of here if I don't get it today. I talked to her husband today, and he said to call her after 4:30, so I'm hoping it'll happen.

At least now I have time to get everything done without stressing too much over it, and I'll be able to do my ten hour drive tomorrow on more than four or five hours of sleep.

My cats are wondering what's going on. There is one piece of furniture left in the apartment, and I have all this junk strewn about. I've been trying to give them attention before I go, but it's been hard with everything I've been doing. I hope I'll have time to relax with them tonight. I gave them new collars with tags last night. They weren't too keen on them when I put them on, since they're used to being naked, but they don't seem to mind them too much now. I haven't seen them trying to get them off.

Anyway, beyond my `trip, I'm pretty much all set for now with South Korea. My friends got my a going away present, which involved a guidebook, so that'll be useful. I've sent all my documents now, too, so I'll just have to go through the visa process when I get to Maine. It's too bad the process didn't start earlier. If I had been able to apply here, I could have walked to the Korean consulate, but now I'll have to mail the application in to Boston.

By the way, thanks for the offers to let me stay in Indiana. The way my trip runs this time, it doesn't work out very well for me to stop there, though. Maybe one of these days I'll do a cross-country trip in which I'm not speeding through without doing anything interesting.