Getting the ball rolling

Taken on with my Colorsplash Flash

So I woke up and read for a bit. Than grabbed some breakfast and read till I finished the book. It was really interesting to read about some of the history of the region I will be heading to soon. Granted, it was a heavily leftist view, but I am a pretty leftist person. Then I started a movies that I was interested in seeing in theaters but never got the chance. The movie is one called Moon starring Sam Rockwell and directed by David Bowie's son.

After this, my mom and I talked and I tried to get a reservation for a hotel in Buenos Aires and I have chosen one called Five Cool Rooms. It was not bad, for as my mom puts it, getting barrings. I also joined a club called South American Explorers Club that have lots of information on different places like arranging trips and transportation etc. They will also hopefully help me store my stuff but first I need to get confirmation from them. After this, I had to go the dentist to get my teeth cleaned which was not so fun. Flossing and blogging/journaling are apparently going to have to be my biggest hobbies this year. YAY! but not. Then I headed into the Columbia City where I knew of a used bookstore but it turns out that they had too many copies of the book I was trying to sell so they would not take it. This book is impossible to sell. So I headed home. There I chilled and talked to Abbey while she was in the country still (she is about to study in London!). I helped my mom with the pictures of mine that she purchased through my website. She ordered one big in canvas and two to be framed. I also got my crazy new color flash that works with most camera. I have only tried out three of the colors (It appears to be a slightly complicated process to change colors).

Eventually, we headed to my grandparents' house for dinner. We talked about my travels and whatnot since they had been to most of where I am planning to go. It was nice to have their perspective. After dinner and cake, we headed home where I have cleaned up the room I stay in and then watched some Modern Family (which is very funny, generally) and Cougartown (which is hit or miss). Then I watched a creepy French filmed called Martyrs. Then off to bed

Tomorrow's agenda is go into Seattle to try to resell this book, maybe go to REI to get some stuff, try to go Glazer's for camera gear and then go back to the travel clinic because they forgot to fill out my card

The Day of Band Aids

Today started off with my Remicade treatment. Got to the hospital in Bellevue where I chilled than met with doctor here where we talked about study abroad and socialized medicine and how it pretty much kicks ass. Then I during my two and a half hours of Remicade, I read a good portion of my book, probably will finish tomorrow morning before my dentist appointment (UGH). Afterwards, I went to drop my prescription and film. Than grabbed lunch before I left for the travel clinic. There I learned a lot about the places I am going and what to watch out for. It shall be interesting. I have to stay clear of the jungle so I don't get yellow fever. I ended up getting 6 shots, three per arm which sucked but they only lasted for like 5 minutes.

After I got back, I went bowling where I pretty decent considering my arms were stiff from the shots. After three games, I went home only to get texted by my cousin Hank. We met up at his house and him, his sister, Ellis and I went to a restaurant/bar where Hank's friends met us. It was really chill. Ellis, who is going Brazil, and I talked about our respected trips. Then we all met this older couple from North Carolina. The man is a big basketball person who coached Stephen Curry and some others. Pretty cool. Even cooler is that the guy, Joe Frazier, went to Greensboro College. So we talked Guilford basketball. Such a small world. We all talked for like 30-45 minutes and he and his wife bought us all a round of whatever. It was really chill. Then I had a Skype date. Then bed.

"Beside the ashes of the fire"

Today, was the first step in getting ready for my time away. I talked to a girl who seemed pretty chill. She goes down earlier than when I start because she didn't want to sit around for a month. Which is reasonable. After this, my mom and I worked magic and started to figure out health things like my pills and Remicade treatments. After lunch, my mom and I went to the bank to set up an account for me to get money. After I failed to get photos from my new Holga. I am in the process of getting a roll shot and processed. Then I talked to Hallie for a bit. Then I tried to fetch Nicky but I had to wait so I listened to ESPN radio. After getting back I read most, and later finished, my book, Angler, by Barton Gellman. It was real interesting. Now to read the controversial book, Open Veins of Latin America by Eduardo Galeano. It looks real interested and I am excited to read it. Later after dinner and a good game of Jeopardy, I watched Heroes, one of many shows I will not see live for sometime. Then I skyped with Abbey and imed with my friend Rachel. A pretty relaxing night considering I have my Remicade treatment in the morning and getting shots in the afternoon.
Wish me luck.
Now some soothing music

Beginning of the Beginning

I am slowly getting my stuff ready for my study abroad. This is so weird that it is coming so soon. I am preparing a budget, organizing dates, and getting my gap between January 11th and February 26th. If you got suggestions, let me know.

Another book down

Today, I started and finished Bruce Chatwin's In Patagonia. It was interesting as I prepare to embark my journey to South America. I leave LA tomorrow, or I guess today, to go back to cold Seattle for a week. Trying to figure out my 6 weeks. I am thinking 3-4 days in most destinations.
So tentative schedule.
Buenos Aires: January 11th-15th
Lima: January 15th-19th
Cusco: January 19th-22nd
Macho Picchu: January 22nd
Cusco: January 23rd
Puno: January 23rd-24th
Crossing Lake Titicaca: January 25th-26th
Getting to La Paz: 26th-27th
La Paz: 27th-30th.
Figuring out the rests and costs.
Wish me luck

Broken Flash Drive

Today was rather uneventful.
I slept into around 11, which is late for me. After watching some of the bowl games, I went to my brother's track practice. There I finished off the book I was reading, The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein. It was a good book. Really sad for the vast majority but the ending was sweet. After getting back, I had to clean up because a former babysitter and her family came to visit. It was nice seeing her again. Afterward, I realized my flash drive, containing some of the original files of photos I have taken here, broke in a way I couldn't get my files off. This was majorly frustrating. After watching part of the Sugar Bowl, my brother and dad and I went out to rent a movie. We chose District 9, a real good movie and commentary on humanity, and grabbed food from Baja Fresh. After watching the movie, I pretty much downloaded all my jpeg files from Flickr, so it was better than nothing.
Pretty meh day.

Twenty Ten - Starting Again A Year Later

Being that this New Years, I shall announce my resolution here.
I will either blog or write or both every day of this year of 2010 (no matter if you call it twenty ten or two thousand ten). Because of my planned travels, I will not be able to blog for periods on end. I will write in my journal, but I plan to write in my journal even when I can a blog. I am slowly preparing myself for my time abroad. It is slowly hitting me.
Anywho, this is only the beginning. I hope to be still at this in 365 days from now.
Good luck to all and Happy New Years.