Gettin' Ready

So the past week or so has pretty much been a whirlwind. Moving out of my apartment in Boston, going home to Connecticut to do everything from connecting with family and friends to getting my wisdom teeth yanked out, packing, and preparing in any number of ways has had me pretty much beat.

It hasn't been the easiest of times. Be it the stress of so many transitions, the stress of trying to get together with all the family/friends (no offense guys - well worth it), or the constant driving from doctor's appointment to various errands to doctor's appointment again, this past week has left me tired, emotional, and (no small thanks to the constant pain in my jaw, I'm sure) kind of a bitch. So, if any of you readers have been negatively effected in any way by mood swings or childish temper tantrums or anything of the like, I apologize, and I assure you I greatly appreciate your support.

However, I think the worst is over. I no longer feel that I require my Vicodin prescription for the pain in my mouth nor for the extreme emotional distress brought on by my least favorite thing on earth - packing (arrrghh). Suitcases are packed, I've immersed myself in assorted projects and endeavors (not the least of which is this blog) intended to get me into the proper head-space for this next journey of mine. While home, the multitude of waiting that I endured - waiting for doctors in waiting rooms, waiting for AAA to start my car for me, waiting for friends to be able to go out - allowed me to blow through what will be the first of several Irish literary explorations, Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt. I've since started (at a slower pace) on Joyce's Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, to be followed eventually by his short story collection Dubliners. Cliché? Perhaps, but these are literary classics that should be read regardless, so what better time than now? My belongings are all appropriately relocated or stored, and I'm set to enjoy a few short days back in Boston with some of my favorite people who I unfortunately may not be seeing for a very, very long time.

That being said, if you are in town this week, there is nothing I would like more than to get together and have some good times before I take off. It's been a long and generally empty summer, sometimes disappointing enough to actually make me resistant to the idea of leaving all of you for so long. I feel that I'm not quite as ready this time as I was before I left for Argentina last year. I need to make this week count, so that I can have enough of a push to get me through the first leg of the journey - the hard, lonely, and kinda crappy part that I have to get through before I can settle down and really sink my teeth into my time there. There are already some exciting plans in place for before I depart, which I'm looking forward to very much. For those who I haven't seen yet, I can't wait. Help me make this week special :)

Love to you all.