Hey World, is this supposed to be a warning?? :)

For those of us born on October 16:

Thinking of learning something new? This birthday year offers you a number of opportunities to expand your mind and awareness. This is an excellent time to return to school or begin a training of some kind. Though you might face some challenges at first, once you get going you may be surprised at how quickly you start picking up new information and ideas. As long as you stay focused and work hard, you will find great success in your educational efforts. By January you will likely have a number of opportunities offered to you that will depend on all the information that you have been working so hard to learn. Make the most of these opportunities, as they may not last forever.

Strange! Anyway, Happy Birthday to Me! Off to Galway for my bday weekend to see the family...

Busy, busy, busy....

The countdown has officially started. Two weeks from tomorrow and I will be on a plane to Dublin. I can't believe how much there is left to do.

1. Finalize things at work and the possibility of working from home.
2. Pack and sell the reminder of my things. (thank you craigslist!)
3. Renewing my passport.
4. Cancelling all my services, magazines, changing all my addresses....
   
5. Did I mention packing? :)
   
6. Trying to see everyone before I leave, which is getting pretty difficult.
7. Keeping my emotional and mental sanity through this process.

So I'm just going to apologize now to all my friends, family and co-workers for any sudden breakdowns and freak-outs over the next two weeks. I'm all over the place. One minute, I'm excited. Next, I'm terrified I am making a huge mistake and overwhelmed by all that I have to do. Then I just get emotional for all that I am leaving behind. But I know in my heart this decision was a long time coming and ultimately, I have to do what is going to make me happy. This road will long and hard at times, but the end result will be worth it. I will have a masters and hopefully a PhD from a great school in an amazing new city with a new world of possibilities. What more could I ask for?

Chances and Changes....

Today, I said goodbye one of my dear friends who is moving back to Colorado. While I am very happy for her, it was harder than expected to say goodbye. Even harder knowing that in less than 6 weeks, I will be saying farewell to my life here in Boston. It's strange. I spent most of my college life traveling, jumping from one study abroad experience to the next. But this time it feels different. I've finally built a life here. Most of my friends and family are in Boston. I have a decent paying job and a great apartment. And here I am ready to give all that up. I didn't doubt my decision until I was at the airport today. The ramifications of my decision suddenly became crystal clear. I am leaving. I'm packing up my life without knowing whether or not I am coming back. And here I am standing in the middle of Logan airport when all this emotion just hit me like a freight train...And I just lost it.

Don't get me wrong. I know in my heart this is going to be an amazing experience. A once in a life time opportunity. It's what I have always wanted and has been a long time coming. I guess I never expected leaving to be so difficult. For now, I have too much to do to get worked up about this. I have to sell almost everything I have. It's just crazy how things have turned out...