Well, I'm officially within the 10-day countdown to The Global Trip 2. The past couple of weeks has been less about planning the trip and more about finishing up things in New York -- including being a tourist in my own home city and seeing things that I wouldn't be able to see abroad, like the newly renovated Hall of Ocean Life at the American Museum of Natural History. I have fond childhood memories of the great hall and its big lifesize model of a blue whale, and I just had to see it one more time in its new "underwater hall" environment.

Other than that, I've gone to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, done more barhopping in the Village, and even attended the last outdoor roller disco of the year in Central Park. In a way, my tour around the world has already begun.

I've been finishing up projects this week and taking care of loose business ends, the major one being the sale of my car. Today, I just sold my ol' 1994 Honda Civic to my friend Shea, and now I am officially carless. That car's been with me on many a roadtrip -- as far north as Montreal and as far south as Key West. But now, I've passed it on, and know it will be in good hands.

For the past couple of months, everyone's been asking me if I'm excited about my trip and I've been really indifferent. "No, not really." This is mainly because I've been so busy that I haven't had a moment to let it sink in. But now, with my car gone, "sinking in" just took a nosedive down to another depth.

Just about eight days left! Wow. Perhaps I should start to think about packing soon? Nah...

Special Thanks to Paul Respicio for pledging The Global Trip 2004 Pledge Drive! Paul, send me your address and you get a postcard from the road!