Soon.

I leave tomorrow at 6 a.m. on a flight to Boston, and will be flying through here:





Wish me luck.

This is the first of two trips to Boston I will be making in the next month--one to scope out some jobs and an apartment, and the other to actually haul the kitties and stuff across the country. So really, this is kind of like a vacation with some obligation attached. I am looking forward to First Night, some Lord of the Rings video gaming, food, friends etc. And, of course, apartment and job hunting.

I have an interview on January 4th at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical center for a job in HIV vaccine development. I am very, very excited about the prospect of working in this field. There are now almost 40 million people living with AIDS worldwide, which is insane to me.

I am going crazy with all of the little things that need to get done before I leave. I think I probably won't sleep tonight (much to the chagrin of my mother, who is staying at my house tonight to take me to the airport at 5 a.m.). I also had to say goodby to some people at Bibo this morning, which was not awesome.

Today is also my last day of work. I have learned a lot during my short stay here, but I can't say that I am sorry to be leaving. This place is mad (Like the time that I got yelled at for my data being a papercut hazard). It still hasn't set in that I won't be coming back-- I still haven't taken my toothbrush, tampons, and oatmeal out of my desk yet. I guess I had better go do that now.

I'm feeling kind of numb at the moment because I have way too much overloading my brain. I'll update everyone when the dust settles a little bit. Catch you on the flipside.

A Taxing Social Agenda.

With little more than a week left till the reconnaissance mission, I have found that I have no time and too many friends. The downside (or upside, depending on the mood) of living here is that I know freaking everyone. I literally cannot go anywhere in Reno where I don't see someone I know. It is comforting at times, but I am looking forward to being semi-anonymous for once in my life. And, with precious little time before I leave, I have many, many people to touch base with--so many that I keep forgetting where I'm supposed to be with whom at any particular moment (sorry Grammie, I didn't mean to forget to come help you clean your house). Grrrr. I fear that I am becoming flaky (or that I always was flaky and just didn't notice it until now). So, I guess I'm off to go get 1) dinner with friends followed by 2) beers with the co-workers followed by 3) beers with other friends followed by...I don't even know anymore. Book now while you can--tickets are going fast.

T-minus two weeks and counting...

An update on the move:

It is two weeks until I fly out for the reconnaissance mission to Boston and I still haven't packed anything but the books. Most of the books will be going to Slander house because I'm sick of constantly packing/unpacking/hauling/storing/toting them around with me. I have had many of them for years and have not read them. And, isn't that what they make library cards for anyway?

The scary closet remains, um, scary. I'm not looking forward to peeling away the layers of bags and boxes and otherwise useless crap that have been sitting there for over a year now (and mostly sat in the scary closet of my previous home). How the hell do I acquire so much stuff? I mean, is it really so difficult to just let go? My mother had several scary closets at her house, so I think I come by it honestly, but sheesh. When I move, I'm resolving to not have a scary closet. If I don't need it, it has to go.

Some friends of mine have started this little tradition known as the clothing exchange, one I hope to continue when I get to Boston. Basically, a bunch of us girls get together to drink beer and sift through all the clothes that we don't wear and/or don't fit into anymore. Like treasure hunting in someone else's closet, its a really good way to get new and cute clothes on the cheap (or on the free, as the case may be). All of the extras go to the Salvation Army. This time though, I've decided that I can't come home with any new clothes. I already have too many for my own good, and I don't want to lug a whole car load of outfits to the east coast (I mean, come on...who needs like 20 pajama shirts to lounge around in anyway?). Besides, I have to have room for the cats...

Speaking of the cats, I had to take Rosie to the vet the other day because she decided it would be a good idea to eat tinsel. Let me tell you, accidentally stepping on kitty tinsel barf while barefoot is no good way to start a Sunday morning. Stupid cats. To make matters worse, when we got there, the vet was about to close and told me that they needed to keep her overnight (read: charge me to babysit my cat). Grrrrr. Anyway, when I went to pick her up the next day, I decided that the short little trip would be the perfect opportunity to get my other cat, Miles, acclimated to riding in the car. Poor sensitive Miles...he screamed. He cried. He screamed some more. He cried some more. And then he howled. You would have thought I was about to murder him or something. This was probably the most miserable 5 minutes in the car I have ever spent (other than the time I vomited all over my mom at the drive-in movies). My cat has serious issues, and if he doesn't get them worked out, it is going to be a LONG trip to Boston...

And...I might have a new roommate. I generally don't like roommates (I'm too accustomed to living alone), but Will rules--I've known him since the 5th grade. Looks like we are starting a mini-Reno-diaspora in the Greater Boston area. Word.