lazy sunday

t minus 9 days! off to germany for WOMEX soon soon. my plane ticket is still not here cause they had my old address in the system when i booked my frequent flyer ticket. but apparently i can still get a ticket if i fill out an affidavit at the airport. we'll see.
and i have to get my passport back from the malian embassy before i get on any plane. hopefully that comes back early this week so i have one less thing to worry about.
basically, i think it's a question now of packing the right bags and making sure i have all the presents i need for people. my folks are being very good about making sure i'm remembering all those details.
that and trying to not think about the red sox and our position in the alcs. not pretty. and no less painful than last year. damn those mfys.

testing comments

so anyone is supposed to be able to comment on my blog now. but this is still in the testing phase. this is supposed to be so that when i'm away and post something, anyone can comment or reply to my post. but we'll see what actually happens. last trip i was going to use my yahoo account, but found out it took forever to actually load yahoo in Mali, but that hotmail worked quickly. so we'll see if blogger is even an option in germany, fiji and mali. it would be fun . . . .

getting ready to go!

i'm getting all ready to go. sent in my visa application for mali today. buying voltage converters and thinking about what else i need to get before i leave. all very exciting! and a bit nerve wracking as well.

So this space will soon be occupied by my travel journal . . .
I'm going to try getting on this site from foreign lands and updating my family and friends with this site, rather than the emails I sent last time via my father (bless him for his work!).
Also, this should be a fun, interactive way to share the travel with a whole group of friends. Gave the 2 week notice today, going to Germany in 21 days, Fiji in 44 days, and Mali in 60 (inshallah). Got to get the visa machine crankin'
to bed to bed now.

here is a real blog -
Daily Kos :: Political Analysis and other daily rants on the state of the nation.

Cost of War
as if anyone needed more rationale as to why we should not have gone to war in iraq and why we need to refocus on building a better country and better society and let that be our weapon to fight terrorism and hate.

Soul Revival presents: BETTERDAYS
the best party in boston. check it out.

* News Update *
>SPAIN: Police identify five new Moroccan suspects in Madrid train bombings that killed 201 people.
>GAZA STRIP: Israeli helicopters fire missiles at building & two cars in Gaza City, killing at least two people.
>OH: Police are searching for 28-yr-old man they believe was gunman in two dozen highway shootings.
>BORDER FIGHT: Pakistani troops kill 24 suspects in crackdown on al-Qaida & Taliban fugitives in tribal regions bordering Afghanistan.
>FRANCE: Reports say officials are investigating threats against country by radical Islamic group.
>IRAQ: Two U.S. Army medics apply for conscientious objector status & want to be honorably discharged from military.
(c)2004 DATACAST(R)

* News Update *
>SPAIN: Police reportedly now suspect at least six Moroccans took part in Madrid train bombings that killed over 200 people.
>GAZA STRIP: Israeli helicopter fires missiles at building, killing two Palestinians & wounding 14.
>OH: Authorities say man wanted by police in string of highway sniper attacks has history of mental illness.
>PAKISTAN: Paramilitary troops storm compound w/ machine-gun fire, killing 24 suspects in crackdown on al-Qaida & Taliban fugitives.
>IRAQ: Drive-by gunmen kill two Europeans working on water project south of Baghdad.
>D.C.: Pres. Bush argues in new campaign ad that John Kerry has turned his back on U.S. soldiers engaged in war.
(c)2004 DATACAST(R)

* News Update *
>TALKS: European Union will hold security talks on Fri. to assess what additional anti-terrorism measures to take in wake of bombings in Spain.
>N.Y.: Martha Stewart resigns from board & as chief creative officer of Martha Stewart Living.
>Two Unitarian Universalist ministers are charged for marrying 13 same-sex couples.
>ISRAEL: PM Ariel Sharon rules out peace negotiations w/ Palestinians.
>D.C.: White House suggests that John Kerry had lied when he said some foreign leaders privately back his candidacy.
>SPAIN: Leader of victorious Socialists says he will withdraw his nation's support for U.S.-led occupation of Iraq.
(c)2004 DATACAST(R)