It is officially one week until I leave on what is without doubt going to be the trip of a lifetime! To say that the last 2 weeks have been a whirlwind is indeed an understatement. :-) Ever since I received that amazing call on December 19, 2003, telling me I was to arrive in Kazakhstan on January 6, I have been scrambling around trying to make sure I get everything done. I have been steadily marking things off my to do list. Most things are simply a matter of planning and have not been too bad. Well, unless you count my visa picture which made Michael Jackson's mug shot look like a cover for People Magazine. The visa picture lady diplomatically asked if I would prefer to have another picture taken but after I had already waited for 40 minutes for the first one, I firmly declined. The good news is I did receive my visa and passport back on December 24, so I guess the good people at the Kazakhstan Consulate office must not have been too frightened.

I truly don't know how people manage to continue to work after receiving travel dates. Thank goodness I had already taken vacation this week, but I seriously could not have finished everything I had to do if I had been working. As it is, I am having to carefully plan each day so as not to waste any time. I think I have now bought all the cold weather paraphernalia I need. I have become a regular at REI! The guy selling me the bulk of the stuff asked where in Siberia I was going. Ahh, he was quite surprised to find out just how close I am going to be!

Ok - so back to my big ole' list of things to get done. Just had to see if I could get this up and working. More tomorrow. Did I mention that I leave in one week?? :-)