Time to Pack

I've been waiting for today for quite some time now. I told myself that I couldn't start packing until two days before my flight, because I knew I would get too excited about leaving if I started any earlier. Now that it's actually time to pack, the task is a bit daunting. I thought packing for a three week stay at my sister's was challenging, and now I'm packing for three and a half months! Wish me luck...

Saying goodbye to immediate family members this weekend was a lot harder than I thought, especially since Lexi wanted nothing to do with giving kisses or leaving on a happy note. She's been sick, much like everyone else, so I can't blame her.

In order to keep myself from getting sick before heading out, a friend of mine told me to pour a cap full of hydrogen peroxide in my ear. Although I was extremely hesitant to try this (side note: the warning on the bottle says: FOR EXTERNAL USE ONLY), my friend said he wouldn't tell me to do it if he hadn't already tried it himself. I'm sure it wouldn't have been a lot less scary had I not been by myself, but I decided to do it anyway. It bubbled like crazy, as it was supposed to, and I the worst part was when I tilted my head over and the remaining peroxide glugged out of my ear.

My mom stayed home sick from work today, so I decided to share this home remedy with her. She was even more nervous about doing this than I had been, so she made me pour it in her ear and hold her hand while the peroxide was doing it's job.

I decided to research this remedy a bit. You'll be happy to know that my 84-year-old (?) grandma said she's used this trick since she first became a mom. And if that isn't testimony enough, please take a look at this website for further information.

Departure = t - 40 hours!

Absentmindedness

I have been suffering from a heavy case of absentmindedness for the past several days, and I've decided the cause is my inability to concentrate on anything unrelated to DC. Though this may be a bit far-fetched, it's the best reason I've been able to come up with.

The specific symptoms of my absentmindedness are irrelevant, but they have caused me to be without my cell phone for the past two days, to go out on Thursday night wearing my work attire, to get ready for work in the bathroom at work, and to resort to watching reality tv at work (a law firm, for those of you who might not know) to pass the time. If you think you're glad it's Friday, I think I'm bringing a whole new meaning to the acronym TGIF.

This weekend I will be shopping for a few last minute items, having a going away dinner with family, and starting to pack...FINALLY!

Departure: t - 5 days, 17 hours, and 10 minutes!

Waiting With Eager Anticipation

EDITED VERSION

With my departure less than 9 days away, it's hard to think about anything other than leaving for DC. I had a great time with my friends during my farewell frenzy at Simpson last weekend, and now I'm ready to go! Although I have enjoyed spending a lot of quality time with my family at the farm and in Omaha, it's time.

A fellow CHIPmate recently posted pics of our living space. To be honest, I'm nervous about having less space than I've ever had at Simpson, especially knowing I will be living with total strangers. I'm optimistic that everything will go well, but I've got to be nervous about something!

I've been in communication with one of the girls interning in my office, and she said she's been enjoying herself so far. I'm taking that as a positive sign that I will also enjoy my time in the office. Only time will tell.

Finally, I wore my red, power tie to work (in Omaha) today. A few of the attorneys shot some interesting looks at me this morning, and only one of their assistants said anything about it. I'm just trying to practice dressing for success on The Hill, but I guess I caught a few people off guard. Let's keep our fingers crossed that my seniors in DC have a more positive response...