like a taffy-pulling machine

apparently, you don't need to be a Facebook subscriber to see these pictures here (from New England). i leave the East Coast tomorrow afternoon - and then spend a few days in the Olympic Peninsula for some quality time with staff.

while we're at it, here's the Hawaii album. i wish i had more pictures to share, but i didn't really get to see the sights.

but speaking of traveling, i have purchased plane tickets. yes indeedy - i'm less than 4 weeks away from my sojourn to Asia. i leave on 10/4 for Seoul. after dropping off my stuff and reconnecting with Alan, i head for Beijing on 10/10. i return to Seoul (via Hong Kong) on 11/8. no return date (or even return month) to the states as of yet. i'm thinking about March or April, depending on my next career/education/life choice - but definitely after more traveling!

Japan looks less and less possible, as the likelihood that i can earn/save enough while in Korea to make it a worthwhile trip seems slim. i have one friend in Japan, but he's not a close friend (met him while traveling in Hanoi); i can't imagine putting him out for more than a few days. so i'm currently pondering other less expensive alternatives: Laos, Malaysia, Bali, Singapore, Mongolia, Philippines, or Russia (which is also on the pricier side, but has been one of my top travel destinations since high school.)

lots of stuff going on, and to be honest - i've been super-crazy-in-shock. so much has changed so quickly over the past six weeks; my life looks nothing like it did two months ago. not in a million years would i have guessed the direction my _______ (job/career, geographic location, heart) is heading. not that i'm unhappy. i am definitely excited about where life has taken me recently, but wow it's a lot - even for me! and the next 3.5 weeks promises to be just as much as whirlwind - if not on hyper-drive. i think i'm going to need some Valium.