Thats a pretty rad map Les!

I guess I should introduce myself (Les and Mudge, you should too!). I'm Louise, I've taken up residency at http://not.rocketgirl.org, but I don't think I'll be there long. It was supposed to be a big joke about my best friend Shae and I was going to use pictures of her on the blog and just be like, "No, really, I'm not Shae!" to everybody who came to my blog. But then I sobered up and it wasn't really all that funny of an idea anymore. HEH.

I'm not actually sure what I should be writing here. This isn't my journal, and so I don't want to write journal entries here. I guess I'll just ramble.

I bought plane tickets this morning to Edmonton, Canada. I'll be visiting Shae and her boyfriend Trevor for 10 days. I'm nervous for a lot of reasons. Flying these days is more of a risk than ever, and also more of a pain than ever. Airport security checks, combined with the fact that I'm not an American citizen (I'm British, yo!) are going to make travelling a real joy. I'm not worried about our plane being hijacked and sent hurtling into a national landmark, but I am worried about being hassled for the contents of my suitcases, my family's Irish heritage, or my red hair.

I'm nervous because Shae and I haven't seen eachother in a long time (six months is a long time for two girls who just spent 2 years glued to eachother's sides) and we've taken such different paths in life since we last parted. I'm worried that Trevor and I won't get along, or that I'll hatehatehate Canada.

But, for some reason, I think that all of my anxieties will crumble away the moment I tackle Shae in the bus station, screaming and jumping and falling on the ground and generally making an insane fool of myself.

Josh left this morning at around 10 am for the long drive down to Portland. His mom just called me. He's at Glennallen, and if all goes as planned, they'll spend the night at Tok tonight. Here's a map: I've underlined Kenai, the closest city to where Josh started from, put a pretty green rectangle around Glennallen, and a beautiful red circle around Tok.

It's about a 510 mile drive from Sterling, AK (where Josh started from), to Tok, AK.

Tomorrow morning I will get in my vehicle and drive away. Watching my family in the rearview mirror, my mom crying. It will probably be a couple of weeks, at least, before I am set up for the internet again. So, I have convinced a few people to fill in for me while I am gone. Make sure you visit their sites, as they are regulars for me and I have found them quite interesting. And they are doing a great favor for me.

So, until we meet again. Farewell, my friend.

I really need to stop pouring myself on to paper.

So, its christmas.

Do I feel different? Well, lets see. Ten years ago I would get up at 5 o'clock in the morning to open presents, simulating a marathon runner at the end of his race, slamming open my parents door and diving toward their bed. It was a routine. They got mad. I got mad. We opened presents. I got happy again. It's just not that easy anymore.

Why the hell is it so difficult now? To let that overcoming feeling of bliss sweep over me and engulf me in its warmth. It seems like everything is funneling toward the 27th, the day I leave. Christmas sort-of fell by the wayside, while I focused on getting ready and visiting friends. It's quite sad actually.

My parents did a great thing for my brother, the same thing they did for me at his age. The entire time I had this great smile on my face, because I knew exactly how it felt.

They gave him a christmas card, which only revealed a clue as to where the next clue was, ultimately leading to the grand finale. At one point he had to call my grandpa to get the next clue, who told him to go check the woodpile outside. There, in all of its shining and vibrant glory, was a brand-spanking new bicycle. Quite a nice peace of work if I do say so myself.

This was nearly identicle to the scenario that befell me when I was his age. It was a great to see the magic of christmas, a magic that at one time pulled me in to its power. But it fell short this year.

Thanks for all of the great writings from the previous entry. Keep them coming! They are great.

Ok. Its time for some audience interaction.

You've all read my thoughts that I so readily display for the world to devour, criticise, and empathise with. Now its your turn. You see that comment link just below this entry? Well, in a second you will click it. But first, here are the guidelines: There are no guidelines. Close your eyes. Shut your door. Open your window (where temperatures allow). Take a nice long drink of your coffee, and write. Just let it come out. Don't put too much effort in to it, because I have found that when I am too critical it only deteriorates my potential. If needed, analyze it when you are done, but not while writing.

It's just a thought. I am truly interested in what you have to say. Beautiful or mundane, I don't care.