I know I must be excited if....

So I slept for three hours last night. From 2 ish to 2:45, and then 5:45 is to 7:30. It was ridiculous. At least it was not one of those times when I really really want to sleep and can't. This time, I was just super excited. I spent the whole night daydreaming about my time in Wales and then in Canada.

I thought about every part of my upcoming trip, from what I would do in the Amsterdam airport, to how many castles I would see. I contemplated the sandy beaches of Tenby, ready to bask in the sun. Then again, its hard to imagine that beach being warm considering the amount of sweaters I have so far packed.

I spent some time considering how much internet access I would have, and decided that I would have about 2 and a half weeks worth. Looks like some of the pictures/posts will have to wait until I return home. This us unfortunate, as the last two weeks are when I am going to Tenby and then Snowdonia.

This is how I spent my time into the wee hours of the morning. I tried listening to quiet music, counting and focusing my breaths, I even tried counting sheep. I gave up. I was enjoying my thoughts too much. But when I finally could not take the excitement, I read a book. There is nothing better then having a hungry growling stomach at 4 in the morning when you know that you can not get any food for fear of waking the rest of the household. When I walk, I am as graceful as an elephant.

Hopefully tonight I will get some sleep. Hopefully.

And soon I will be off....

I have been planning this fantastic trip to Wales for so long.

Here is my original email to my Aunt and Uncle--

Sent: 17 August 2007 02:28
To: Aunty K
Subject: Hey Aunty K! Its Erika

Hey,

I had a ridiculous idea. I doubt that it would work, but it is an idea none of the less.

I was wondering if maybe next summer I could come and visit you guys. I would sleep on the couch/boys room and would be there mostly to watch the boys. This way, you adults could have some time to your self and I could have fun playing with the boys.

So yes, it is just an idea.

Love,

Erika

And an excerpt from the reply (it went on for several pages)--

Dear Erika,

Good to hear from you. An interesting idea… have you mentioned it to your parents? When K spoke to grandma and grandpa on Saturday they hadn't heard about it so I suspect that you may not have explored the implications with your parents. Best to discuss it with them. Perhaps your mother is counting on you to be around to look after John, or to help in some other way - or perhaps your parents would be exceedingly pleased to banish you abroad for a while!
.....

But to bring you back down to Earth - what do your parents think, how will they manage without you, and how will you save for the airplane ticket? Also, it would be best not to discuss this possible trip with your cousins until plans firm up (if they firm up, that is) as we wouldn't wish anyone to think that there was a degree of favouritism for you over anyone else - we'd love to see all our nieces and nephews. Your parents and grandma and grandpa can give you some guidance on that - we'll discuss the implications with grandma and grandpa - who are arriving tommorrow!

Anyway, its an interesting idea and well worth exploring further - but please discuss it with your parents!

Best wishes,

Uncle R, Aunt K, H & R

I actually had discussed it with my parents before hand. Its a good thing that I did to, or they would have been very displeased to find out that I had been making cross continental plans without their knowledge.

So almost two years after the idea was created, I am almost ready to head off. I leave on July 7th and arrive on the 8th. I have most of my packing to do, (baggage rules are ridiculous!!), but it should not be too difficult or time consuming. What is going to take the most time and effort is cleaning my room. Oops.

When I get back from Wales on August 13th, I will have about two weeks before I am off to Canada to begin my college adventuring. My brother will be kind of taking over my room. It will not be his, per se, but he will be sleeping in my bed at night, and most likely making a mess in it. He will still have his own room though. Lucky boy.

Unfortunately, I have so much stuff, and no idea what to do with most of it. I tend to be a bit of a pack rat, so most of the things I have would not be useful or desirable to most other people. I am planning on having a garage sale in August though, along with some other graduates who are also preparing to move out of their home.

Must start planning. And cleaning.