Safely in Stara Zagora

I have arrived safely in Stara Zagora and will update with a thorough (and, dare I say, exciting) account of my adventures thus far. It is so great to see Ryan and to explore my new environment and I can't wait to share more details!

However, as I have a job interview in Sofia tomorrow, for now I will leave you with a belated Merry Christmas. We hope your holidays were happy ones!

48 Hours

In less than 48 hours I leave for Bulgaria.

Holy crap.

Needless to say the past few days have been a bit of a whirlwind.

Last Wednesday was spent packing... praising Jenn for somehow managing to fit absolutely everything into my car (you were right, Brent)... and, of course, freaking out. Sometimes all three at the same time. My last night in Orlando would not have been complete without also joining Laura, Jenn, Sherri, Thera and Michelle at the Melting Pot for dinner, conversation and wine.

Thursday I boarded the Auto Train. For those of you that are unfamiliar with this, the Auto Train is a beautiful invention brought to you by Amtrack. For a low, low price you can load both you and your vehicle onto the train and cut out all those tedious driving hours between Sanford, Florida and Lorton, Virginia. It features a tasty dinner, large, comfy seats and plenty of older folks to get your grandparents fix. Except this time it seemed there were an awful lot of college kids coming home for the holidays and because I am a card carrying member of the Lollipop Guild the staff evidently thought I should be sitting in the same car with all of them. I was instantly on alert since the last time I rode with fellow young people aboard the Auto Train I experienced a tremendous adventure worthy of a true pioneer.

Picture it: it was August 1997 and I was returning from my second internship with the Walt Disney World College Program. To my delight, I found myself sitting across from a young, attractive lawyer and after some conversation, wound up sharing dinner and more than a few drinks with him and a female medical student seated a few rows in front of us. After several hours, the doctor-to-be left us. Undaunted, the lawyer and I continued chatting until the wee hours. Recognizing, as they were closing down the lounge, that we were tired... and more than a little drunk... we stumbled back to our car. As I settled in to my seat I found myself pondering some of life's greater mysteries (If a tree falls in the woods and no one is around to hear it, does it make a noise? How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? What is the square root of 3,786 and, more importantly, why does anyone care?) I also spent an inordinate amount of time staring dizzily at the ceiling. It was spinning. That's probably why I didn't immediately notice the young, attractive lawyer was tucking his blanket into the overhead bin, creating a curtain of sorts. Once this caught my attention, I was understandably a bit mystified. Why, I wondered, would my new friend be doing this? Why? Then he took off his shirt. This was a man who looked good without his shirt and I confess I could not tear my eyes away. Then he took off his pants. He was wearing a G-string. He. Was. Wearing. A. G-string! He proceeded to sit down... toss me a grin... and motion for me to join him in his little... um... Nest O' Amtrack Love.

This, you understand, was a most unexpected turn of events.

Now, I was undeniably intoxicated and, okay, definitely intrigued... but I was also amused in a horrified sort of way. I mean, come on... a G-string? This was the Auto Train, not the Thunder From Down Under. No one... and I do mean no one... is that hot. So I politely declined his very generous offer. I did this by mutely shaking my head in a frantic manner and clinging to my armrests. Suave, yes? Naturally, he was not happy with me and proceeded to ignore me for the rest of the trip.

But I digress.

Nothing quite so interesting happened this time around. Instead, during the 19 hours that it took for me to get home, I rented a video player and watched several movies I had missed in the theater, read a little and tried to sleep for a few hours stretched out across two seats. Not an easy feat... and I was exhausted when I arrived in Virginia. However, I was rewarded with an Amtrack mug as my car was the second to last to emerge from the bowels of the train and I feel satisfied with the experience. After all, last time I did not get a mug.

Anyway, in the days since I returned to the DC area, I have spent a lot of time hanging out with my family and friends, as well as tying up loose ends and packing my suitcases.

And in less than 48 hours I will be on a plane bound for Bulgaria... and Ryan... I anticipate neither mugs nor G-string clad lawyers... but regardless, I am headed for a terrific adventure.

Uh Oh Or Why I Love My Roommate Jenn

Yeah, so ordinarily I don't post twice in one day. But today I am so moved because I sold, threw away or donated a lot of stuff. I mean a lot . At least 20 bags of trash made their way down to the dumpster. Salvation Army came twice and picked up about 10 boxes and 10 bags each time. I accepted money for my knick knacks, CDs and furniture and gave away what was leftover.

This is all I own in the world... right here in this picture. You'd think this is not a lot, right? You'd be so wrong.

That is why I must now compose a horrifically bad, but totally inspired poem entitled:

Ode to Jenn

Jennifer, Jennifer
You're so great!
You've helped me pack
Without complaint!

You make me smile!
You make me cheer!
Please help me fit
All of this stuff into my Chevy Cavalier!

I know, I know. Not gonna happen. I will now take suggestions, please.

Celebration

Throughout the month of December, it snows every night in Celebration. Yes, that would be Celebration, Florida... and as you've probably ascertained all on your very own, it is not real snow. Soap bubble snow, though, can still be very fun - particularly when it is 70 degrees and breezy outside. As I expect I am trading it in for the real thing, I will sorely miss it. In fact, there are a lot of things I will miss about Celebration. The fabulous sushi restaurant. The lakes and the running paths. The post office that boasts pleasant employees and rarely has a line. Even the Farmer's Market (even though I've only been once and only recently learned it actually takes place every Sunday). From its annual Pie Festival to 4th of July festivities to the Taste of Celebration, this little town is truly unique... family friendly... and a heck of a lot of fun.

This past weekend Celebration's own Town Tavern hosted my going away party. It was a really great time and I enjoyed hanging out with all of you who truly have become my surrogate family here in Florida. I want to extend a very big THANK YOU to everyone who showed up to help me say my goodbyes.

Celebration is not the only thing I will miss by far.

However, I am very much looking forward to a Celebration of another kind. I depart for Bulgaria in 9 days... 9 days!!... and if a reunion with someone I love very much is not a cause for celebration, I don't know what is.

If I Could Save Time in a Bottle

Alot of my energy as I prepare to leave for Bulgaria has been expended on slightly less than fun things. Trying to find a job in a country in which I am not currently located. Paying off my car. Attempting to sell or give away all my worldly possessions. Completing graduate school. Flooding my kitchen.

However, even with all the craziness, I am constantly reminded that I have a truly amazing family. What's more, I've made a lot of incredible friends over the years. So now that the majority of the logistics are out of the way, a good deal of what I will find myself doing in the coming days is saying "see you later" to people who mean so much to me that I can't imagine my life without them. (This means they had darn well better stay in touch. And come visit. And send care packages. Haha! Just kidding. Except not really!)

I must also bid farewell for now to Orlando... a town that has provided a fabulous backdrop for some outstanding experiences. Last night Laura, Jenn, Sherri and I went to the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at the Disney MGM Studios, rode Tower of Terror - my favorite Disney ride, and indulged in appetizers and adult beverages at the Outer Rim Lounge in the Contemporary. And there's yet more in store! Thanks to everyone who will help make my remaining days in the States spectacular and unforgettable...

And Ryan, gear up babe! I can't wait to get there to start creating some new memories...