The Road is Life

Hittin' the Road
Hittin' the Road

So I leave tomorrow for London.

Let me explain exactly what I’ll be doing in the UK:

“The Rotary Foundation’s Group Study Exchange (GSE) program is a unique cultural and vocational exchange opportunity for businesspeople and professionals between the ages of 25 and 40 who are in the early stages of their careers. The program provides travel grants for teams to exchange visits in paired areas of different countries. For four to six weeks, team members experience the host country’s culture and institutions, observe how their vocations are practiced abroad, develop personal and professional relationships, and exchange ideas.

In a typical four-week tour, applicants participate in five full days of vocational visits, 15 to 20 club presentations, 10 to 15 formal visits and social events, two to three days at the district conference, three to four hours per day of cultural and site tours, and three to four hours per day of free time with host families.”

To learn about this amazing opportunity, click here.

And stay tuned for more details about my adventures with Rotarians, Brits, and infamous English food. And beer.

Ascending into Quarter Life

I leave for London on Saturday.

And all I’ve got to show so far is a suitcase overflowing with “maybes” and “this might work” and “god, I hope this fits.”

Scratch that.

I’ve also got a toaster that I set on fire this morning. And a sugar buzz that still hasn’t worn out from last night’s Finale binge session. And an evening planned that includes dinner, drinks and a mean game of Cranium.

Happy Birthday Kimmy!

Happy Birthday, Dear Kimmy
Kickin' off the quarter-life crisis with chocolate.


Somewhere Over The Rainbow

I’m leaving for London in about a week. Obviously the best time for my camera to die.

Let me re-phrase: Not just die. Slowly spiral downward in a progression so pathetic that I just want to put the stupid camera out of its misery. After all, its pretty old. And the camera’s most wonderful feature right now is the screen color shifting back and forth between neon pink and puke green. Perfect if I was heading over the rainbow for Oz. Not London.

But we had a good run, my little Canon. And now it’s time for a Nikon.

So I head for big box Best Buy to spend an evening in utter confusion. Seriously Best Buy. Why?

  • Why would an employee watch me dissect the features of the Nikon of my choice for 20 minutes before informing me that there are no more in stock? (“Oh my god, I totally just sold the last one.”)
  • Why won’t Best Buy put an item on hold? Ever? (“We’ll get a shipment Friday. But, no, we can’t put anything on hold. Just come Friday night around 8:30 and, if the truck comes on time, then we’ll just grab it off the truck for you.”)  What is this, a drug deal?!
  • Why is the price of the same camera $30 more expensive at Target? Especially when Target and Best Buy are right next door to each other.  I’m not sure I understand corporate retail pricing . . .

But as much as I despise shopping for electronics, the idea of flying to London with a camera that’s apparently tripping on acid is slightly nerve-wracking.

Scratch that. It’s insane.

Guess I’ll be spending my Friday night hanging out at Best Buy, waiting for my camera to “fall off a truck.”