Couple of things...

I have an answer to the mp3 problem: my phone. It plays mp3's, which is good. I just thought it'd be impractical because it doesn't store that many mp3's (up to 100, currently), and I can't use it for anything but while I'm away because the roaming charges would be out-of-this-world expensive.

And then I thought...micro SD cards. My phone takes them. They're ridiculously cheap, for what they are. I DON'T HAVE TO BUY A NEW MP3 PLAYER.

Awesome.

I would love to get new Magnum Boots, too...they make them with memory foam insoles now, and mine are four years old and started to loose their comfort. However, even though they're ratty and smell something fierce, they are still waterproff to a spectacular degree. I've never had shoes last this long. I recommend them for EVERYONE.

So, I'm thinking - instead of buying/breaking in new ones, I might as well just hang on to these ones and get some doctor shoals insoles or something, and some waterproofing spray just to be sure. They're not elegant, and they're not pretty, but they're black and wonderfully comfy.

There you have it...insoles and micro SD cards will save me nearly $300 in trip preparation monies. YAY.

If I GET $300 in trip preparation monies, then, I'll probably get a decent camera, or something.

Also...

I bought a small sketch book thingy from the Dollar Store. Not to sketch in (I've got those) but so I can tape down several wallet sized pictures that I've been printing. Like a scrap book, only small. The pictures I can print with the photo printers at the office (which is what I've been doing), and double-sided tape works wonders. I can't scrap book worth a damn, but that's not what I'm aiming at. I just want to be able to take pictures with me for those nights when I'm feeling nostalgic and lonely.

Aaaaand, finally, I've been looking up hostels in Cardiff. Apparently, you can get a decent bed for $30/night. Bit steep, but...I suppose it's better than a ditch/mooching off family friends.

Little Something, Anyway

I got my passport picture taken today...finally. Aunty Joan gave me $50 for my birthday, and so far, that's what I've gotten with it.

It's not the best picture, and it won't actually get my any closer to getting my passport renewed without the money to pay for that, but it's a step that makes me feel at least somewhat accomplished.

Not the best picture, though I've seen worse:




The reason the quality sucks is two fold: it's a picture of a picture, and I took it on a shutter speed of 1 1/3 of a second with no flash and no tripod. Not too worried about it, though, because that just means it'll be harder for anyone else to tinker with.

With the rest of my birthday money, I hope to acquire some little things. I'm thinking a giant bag of socks, or a groundsheet-tarpaulin-backpack cover, or maybe a jumbo pack of disposible razors. Very glamarous birthday presents, that...I'm betting it's not what Aunty Joan had in mind.

Speaking of Aunty Joan, she was saying that she and Nan are probably moving back soon - to England, I mean, and once they have a place I can stay for as long as I want. I'm liking the sounds of this, because it means that when I decide to go for my citizenship, I will have a place to stay. I suspect that I'd have to pay room and board if that were the case, provided I got a job with the Ancestry Visa and all that, but...definitely a plus.

Things I Still Need To Do:

• win the lottery
• stop panicking
• start figuring out what will fit in my backpack and what won't
• start printing off those maps and directions, and figure out wtf I'm going to be storing them in when I do
• figure out wtf I'm going to do about Darwin
• breathe

Update...

Still no job...

Still no plan...

Still panicking.

Only, now I'm 25 and hating myself.

I'm going to end up living under a bridge in Aberystwyth, I just know it.

Oh god.