The needles didn't hurt, but my delts are aching all the way to my fingertips. The doctor warned me the tetanus shot would ache for a few days, but I don't remember the aching last time. I've had every recommended shot and will be picking up a host of prescriptions at the pharmacy tomorrow.

I think I've narrowed myself down to a hotel, Rahul in Mumbai is calling on the cheap one he found for me to check on things when it becomes day over there.

In the meantime I need to wrap things up at work. I can't keep my mind on the office at all. My roof needs to be redone at the house. I hope it doesn't rain for the entire month of December or my basement will flood. Mr. Poopy, the best cat ever, needs to set things up with his sitter. I need to buy a months worth of his favorite foods, pay all my bills in advance, work out the issues with my fix it ticket gone bad, get a visa, arrange for the money I'll take with me, decide where I'm going to go, pick up my stove that is sitting in some guy's garage, pick up my laundry, wash the stuff that hasn't been drycleaned, clean the house so the pet sitter won't know that I'm a slob, figure out who I'm going to ask to take me to the airport, and pick me up, pack....

I think that would be a good cottage industry, tidying up details for people who are going to travel and don't have the time or energy to do it for themselves.

Despite the mountain of things that need doing, anticipation clings to me like a misty bliss.

Thank goodness for Gay.com. The India chat room allowed me to do great research with actual locals. I'm really looking forward to meeting Vikram, Rahul, and Sumit. Vikram is mad at me because I'm not going to spend more time with him. He forgets he told me he wouldn't have time for me. I figure its just part of the moodiness of being 20 for him. Rahul, a healthy 34, is more even keeled, but a hard nut to crack. He's evasive on several issues which makes me want to dig in and find out what its all about. They're both in Mumbai.

Sumit is in Delhi and seems to have it all together. He works in the family business and has a great sense of humor. I'm sure we'll get on well together.

Right now I'm torn between the negative feedback I've heard about Goa and my desire to destress on a beach before I hit the travel trail hard and mean. I've been told by some that Kerala is a much more authentic experience. It certainly looks interesting in official webpage, but Goa is easy and Rahul has found us a cheap hotel on the beach near the gay area. That should be interesting in itself. He wants to go to Goa and since everything will be new to me there, I can hardly go wrong. If I hate, it I'll know not to return, but even palces you don't like can yield life evolving adventure. I'm up for the challenge.

My mission today is to find the first three seasons of Queer as Folk on DVD for Rahul who brings it up every day.

I'll try to keep posting until the actual dates arrive and I'm on the ground. I'm not taking the news reports today that Mumbai may be a target for terrorism too seriously. I'll keep my eyes open, but there is danger everywhere and choices everywhere. I'll make the best choices I can.