The Razor's Edge

I left work early with the late autumn day feeling heavy of winter, with blustery gray wetness making me wish for snow. 

I borrowed Rachel's car and drove to the public health office to get vaccinations for Typhoid and Hep. A.  The cost was $190. I took a tetanus vaccination six weeks ago.

I finished reading The Razor's Edge, the ending left me disappointed but I still enjoyed reading the book. In my Thailand guidebook Maugham is mentioned because he visited SE Asia numerous times, once catching malaria while in Bangkok.

The two girls who want to rent my apartment still have not signed the lease. Signing day is to be this Thursday, if they don't sign I will need to look for someone else. 

Photography and Writing

With my time in the USA approaching its end, I have been spending my days studying maps and reading books related to travel. 

I sometimes find myself attempting to clarify my vision of travel, and how I should spend my time while on the road. The few trips I have taken (New York City, Montreal, Paris) revolved around wandering the streets with camera and notebook in hand. 

I have decided that making digital photos and writing about my experiences will impart a pleasant meaning to my travels. I will bring a digital camera and laptop computer, wandering by day and writing and editing pictures by night.

A few days ago I had a request from someone who owns a few of my photographs. He recently returned from a long stay in Japan and he asked if I would print some old b/w negatives that he picked up while there. It is too large a project (forty negatives) with too little time, unfortunately.

New Life

Since making the decision to quit my job and leave the country for an extended period of time, my life has regained some of its old magic. 

Irish Whiskey Jam

Returning home from an afternoon walk on Friday, Joseph saw me crossing Vine Street as he passed in his UPD truck. He circled back and found me on a side street and asked if I wanted to jam on Saturday night. 

I am waiting to hear back from the property manager about the two girls who agreed to rent my apartment. Hopefully in a day or two they will sign the lease, and I can begin preparing for the exciting days which will soon be upon me.

Changing Strings

I have decided to travel long term. I will give up my apartment and fit my possessions into a backpack. 

I don't think of myself as a seeker of adventure, but perhaps that is due to a limited imagination. 

We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face... we must do that which we think we cannot. - Eleanor Roosevelt

Today I showed my apartment to two young ladies, and later in evening they let me know they would like to rent it beginning in January.

In two months I will be moving my belongings into Rachel's basement. I will stay at her house until January 19th, which is when she will return from her African adventure. I will ride a bus to Chicago, and then fly to Bangkok, Thailand via Hong Kong.

I need to apply for a travel visa which will allow me to remain in Thailand for up to three months. The visa duration is two months, with an option to extend an additional thirty days. I am uncertain where I will go after Thailand.