Beginnings

Hello, Blogging World,

For months, I have exploited others' blogs, acknowledging the need for and contemplating starting my own. Well, the day has finally arrived! Thanks to a dear friend in North Carolina, I bit the bullet and signed my self up.

Today (tonight) is January 9, 2012. I am starting an adventure tomorrow afternoon! I am headed to Ireland for a month and five days.

Here's the low down:
When: January 10 to February 15
Where: Ireland, Paris for "a weekend", London for "a weekend", Scotland for a week.
Who: (saved the best for last) I am traveling with 2 special ladies. Jananne and Brooke. Mother and daughter. Dynamic duo. I guess we shall become a terrific trio. I know these ladies will make for a memorable and exciting trip. I get to play tour guide! (I'll be staying one step ahead and reading mass amounts of blogs and travel guides each night. Nah, I'm a little bit more organized than that!)

Tidbits extremely relevant: (probably only to me)
I am (mostly) packed. I was very strict in what I packed. I am ALWAYS and HUMONGOUSLY guilty of packing wayyyy toooo much STUFF. One coat, one pair of boots, one pair of heels, one Sunday outfit...you get the picture. It's quiet impressive, actually. I even purchased a new suitcase because all of ours were far too big for what I had in mind. (I made myself not unzip the expandable section, this side of the Atlantic) I also downgraded what has been lovingly referred to as "Jane's Minivan". A shout out to Becka Kingston for hooking me up with the most-perfect-traveling-in-Europe-sized-pocketbook ever!
Oh, and just weighed my suitcase...38 pounds. (Yay!)

The real excitement:
Tomorrow, my mom and I are to meet Jananne and Brooke at their house a little before 2pm. We will then drive to Boston, and hop on an airplane to cross the Atlantic. We depart at 6:15.

I guess this is the real excitement:
When our Airbus 330 touches down again, we will be breathing Irish air, (sharp and frigid). After we anxiously pass inspection (I'm leaving my prize produce, seeds, and personally distill beverages stateside) we will walk through revolving doors and out onto Dublin City pavement!!! (almost)

How am I gonna sleep tonight?!