Packers.

These…are so tempting.


Then I read through the reviews (99.9% rated five-stars) and realized that 100% of the people that use them are between the ages of 35-70.

But still. Very tempting, and another thing I don't need/can't afford. Yet I think they may have the potential to kick a bad packing habit. Possibly.

My OCD is screaming "YES, YES!" but my credit card is shaking its head.

Oh, snap! I did it!

I bought a camera today! Hooray.

I also put my conditioner into a travel-sized bottle — a baby step toward packing!

Almostttt therrrrrre!

I can't even believe
what's about to happen to me.

Cam someone please just…do this for me?

I'm sad to say I'll be leaving my EOS Rebel at home during the trip. It is, unfortunately, too chunky for the journey and not very travel-friendly (not to mention I lost the lens cap…oopie).

What's the exciting news? Is there exciting news?! Of course. I can buy a new camera! Spending money is FUN, especially when you're shelling out cash for a new camera.

So I've been scavenging the interweb all day for a digital point and shoot, with little to moderate success. Yikes! There are too many to choose from — too many letters and number combinations. The reviews have been somewhat helpful, but I still can't keep the Cameraname OMG 92349 IS straight from the Othercamera LOL 4780 IS. Like, what?

Ashton's been trying to sell me a Nikon Koolpix for months now, but it really isn't going to happen. I've got my eyes set on a Canon Powershot. Inconvenience: there's about 28 models, all with a slight variation in features. I don't care about the color. Whatevs. I just want quality, something sleek and pretty. Oh, and it's got to outlive my old POJ (that's Piece Of Junk) Sony Cybershot (the first digital camera I bought back in '05, that didn't make it past '06…)

I go to Rick Steves when I need travel advice. I go to my mom when I need to smile. I go to my sister when I need a ride. I go to my best friend when I need to be weird. But trying to buy a camera? I just don't know where to go. I need a freaking elf, or gnome, or some divine photographic guru to choose a camera for me. I don't. Want. To do it!

Maybe I should just go with this:



It looks sturdy and kid friendly. And if I drop it say, down the stairs of the Duomo, I'm sure the chunky plastic would save it's high-tech insides.

So-long!
jc

To the Next Two Months:

Dear Next Two Months of My Life,

I hope you’re ready for this, the great change that is to be established in the midst of your time. You are a set number of days with an infinite amount of memories, a sculptor of the woman who lives within your minutes, destined to prolong your means. There are places that are beyond her greatest dreams, buildings that are taller than clouds and higher than birds, soils more ancient than the juncture of history that surrounds them. Take her there. Show her that the world is a marvelous, grand, strange and beautiful place.

Take this woman to her bearings, in countries foreign with awe. Watch as she witnesses the splendor of culture and keep her eyes wide and her mind awake. Make certain she takes photographs and writes words that convey her wonderment and gratitude, and forgo the negativity that manifests beneath a person’s satisfaction.

Be kind, and be inspiring, and change her life…
…but first, get in here:


Love.

Happy Travel "Gear"

It's antsy time. Not that it hasn't been for the past six months, but now I am getting really anxious.

I [finally] purchased a little travel treat for my laptop today. I had to go to Best Buy to find it, and dodge about 42 over-eager employees. I'd say the shiny neoprene and fuzzy white lining made it well work the mission. (Unfortunately there are a shitton of way cool colors available on the incase site, but I am too cheap to pay for shipping at this point.)


I've been hearing all sorts of clamor about bringing my Mac along, but I think I've decided it would be beneficial to dump my photos on, blogging every step of the way to K.I.T. (that's keep in touch, folks), etc. As far as phone service goes, I am turning to trusty Skype for most —or all— of my long distance calling. If you'd like to hear my voice in the upcoming months I suggest the download (don't all run to skype.com at once now)! Not to mention, how on earth would I live without Schroeder (my computer) for two months? I'd rather not pay my sister to babysit.




My birthday raked in all sorts of travel treats, but a favorite was this awesome travel journal. AHH! I'd been drooling over them at Barnes & Noble for the past…eternity. The cover is sturdy plastic-coated (convenient for all of my coffee spills and drop-kickings) and the pages are a psychadelic collage of travel euphoria. Very cool, also very hard to hold off journaling. I actually bought my trip purse today, and placed the journal inside it, as if I could just grab the bag and go to Europe. I am that ready.

And this! I circled the Moleskines at B&N like a vulture. They are so sleek and classic, not to mention they smell really good. A friend gifted one to me for my trip! Whoa. Flipping through the pages makes me feel inspired. This is also a difficult one to hold off writing in until my ventures. Now all I need is a fancy pen…

That's all. I'm going to attempt to fit in my suitcase now. Cheers!

jc

Oh, the beautiful places I will go…