'And we'll laugh all the way to hell'

   Well time is flying by as always. Work is work, although I've got a new assignment that I'm learning a lot from. I've been asked to do the presentation design layout for this huge competition for a major downtown building. That part is not new to me, and I have a weird thing for presentation layouts; however, I'm also working on the logo design for the building. I've never done logo design before. I like the challenge. Who knows? Maybe I'll end up being one of those graphic design nerds.

    In other news Nina is still sick. Apparently she’s also been acting super weird/acting out; which has led her to invade the trash cans where she ate something super funky. She’s a tough cookie so I know she’ll be fine (plus, my close friend S from back home is a super-vet-tech-extraordinaire and will take good care of her). However, hearing news that she’s been spending tons of time on the floor next to my side of the bed and hiding away in the closet (she’s a whore for the sun); nesting in the small pile of my laundry that didn’t manage to get washed before I came here has left me feeling a bit down and out. Many of you are probably thinking so what? You most likely haven’t rescued an animal from a shelter. If you have, you just haven’t met the hyper-sensitive, quirky ball of fluff and neck-fat that is Nina. Furthermore, she and I are pretty close. Obviously there isn’t anything I can do; clearly I’m not going home anytime soon. She’s only a dog yes, but that just means she can’t understand the situation, nor express herself. Basically, no Meggy smells means no Meggy in her mind. Plus, who wouldn’t miss this face?

     It’s hard to believe this week is almost over. I’m taking tomorrow off to head to Penang (a place up north) where I’ll be meeting the fams. Well, not all the fams, my brother declined to join on account of the fact that ‘school is hard as shit man, and dude, I have like, ya know…no free time…I’ve got a film sesh up at Mt Hood.’ Your loss little broseph, you’d love it here. I’ll see him soon enough though, for his 21^st I got him tickets to the Great American Beer Festival in D-town (read: Denver) this September. Anyways, I digress. This week has been quite fun. Monday was less blah than Mondays tend to be. I went over to A’s place for some good home cookin’. Spaghetti and red sauce, a staple, but none the less great. Since my idea of home cooking here has been whatever can be fried in a pan or heated in a toaster oven (my wages and western raw ingredients don’t exactly complement each other), a home cooked meal was just what I needed. Tuesday was yoga, Lebanese food, and shisha night with the usual crew. At dinner I met a Jordanian guy named A (again with this A thing) who is writing his thesis in English and asked if I could proof-read it for him. So I’ve found myself a second job (that will, in all likelihood, pay better than the one I currently have). Now I know many of you back home are laughing at the idea of me editing a paper. However, it’s much easier to correct someone else’s English than your own =).

     Last night C and I met up with a bunch of CSers at 21 for the ‘weekly meeting.’ Girls drink for free. Unfortunately, based upon the above paragraph I headed home early. With any luck, next week’s eminent all-nighter at the office will grant me a day off and I’ll be able to go out in a more proper fashion. However, no night out in Malaysia is ever complete without a stop at a street stall so A (a different A, I’ve noticed a large portion of my friends here have names that start with A…) took us to grab a bite of durian and some Thai food. If I told you what I ate I would simply butcher the name, but whatever the tasty concoction was I need to have it again…similar in addiction to banana leaf. How I’ve managed to actually stay in good shape here is somewhat of a miracle; I’m sure the 16+ flights of stairs I walk everyday helps. Tonight I’m headed to Sunway with H to see the new transformers movie. It’s been quite a while since I’ve actually gone to the movies (Netflix makes life so easy). It should be a good time.

     Once again, this is getting way too long.

Peace and love

-M

PS...One last thing for your enjoyment...

   Well time is flying by as always. Work is work, although I've got a new assignment that I'm learning a lot from. I've been asked to do the presentation design layout for this huge competition for a major downtown building. That part is not new to me, and I have a weird thing for presentation layouts; however, I'm also working on the logo design for the building. I've never done logo design before. I like the challenge. Who knows? Maybe I'll end up being one of those graphic design nerds.

    In other news Nina is still sick. Apparently she’s also been acting super weird/acting out; which has led her to invade the trash cans where she ate something super funky. She’s a tough cookie so I know she’ll be fine (plus, my close friend S from back home is a super-vet-tech-extraordinaire and will take good care of her). However, hearing news that she’s been spending tons of time on the floor next to my side of the bed and hiding away in the closet (she’s a whore for the sun); nesting in the small pile of my laundry that didn’t manage to get washed before I came here has left me feeling a bit down and out. Many of you are probably thinking so what? You most likely haven’t rescued an animal from a shelter. If you have, you just haven’t met the hyper-sensitive, quirky ball of fluff and neck-fat that is Nina. Furthermore, she and I are pretty close. Obviously there isn’t anything I can do; clearly I’m not going home anytime soon. She’s only a dog yes, but that just means she can’t understand the situation, nor express herself. Basically, no Meggy smells means no Meggy in her mind. Plus, who wouldn’t miss this face?

     It’s hard to believe this week is almost over. I’m taking tomorrow off to head to Penang (a place up north) where I’ll be meeting the fams. Well, not all the fams, my brother declined to join on account of the fact that ‘school is hard as shit man, and dude, I have like, ya know…no free time…I’ve got a film sesh up at Mt Hood.’ Your loss little broseph, you’d love it here. I’ll see him soon enough though, for his 21^st I got him tickets to the Great American Beer Festival in D-town (read: Denver) this September. Anyways, I digress. This week has been quite fun. Monday was less blah than Mondays tend to be. I went over to A’s place for some good home cookin’. Spaghetti and red sauce, a staple, but none the less great. Since my idea of home cooking here has been whatever can be fried in a pan or heated in a toaster oven (my wages and western raw ingredients don’t exactly complement each other), a home cooked meal was just what I needed. Tuesday was yoga, Lebanese food, and shisha night with the usual crew. At dinner I met a Jordanian guy named A (again with this A thing) who is writing his thesis in English and asked if I could proof-read it for him. So I’ve found myself a second job (that will, in all likelihood, pay better than the one I currently have). Now I know many of you back home are laughing at the idea of me editing a paper. However, it’s much easier to correct someone else’s English than your own =).

     Last night C and I met up with a bunch of CSers at 21 for the ‘weekly meeting.’ Girls drink for free. Unfortunately, based upon the above paragraph I headed home early. With any luck, next week’s eminent all-nighter at the office will grant me a day off and I’ll be able to go out in a more proper fashion. However, no night out in Malaysia is ever complete without a stop at a street stall so A (a different A, I’ve noticed a large portion of my friends here have names that start with A…) took us to grab a bite of durian and some Thai food. If I told you what I ate I would simply butcher the name, but whatever the tasty concoction was I need to have it again…similar in addiction to banana leaf. How I’ve managed to actually stay in good shape here is somewhat of a miracle; I’m sure the 16+ flights of stairs I walk everyday helps. Tonight I’m headed to Sunway with H to see the new transformers movie. It’s been quite a while since I’ve actually gone to the movies (Netflix makes life so easy). It should be a good time.

     Once again, this is getting way too long.

Peace and love

-M

PS...One last thing for your enjoyment...

   Well time is flying by as always. Work is work, although I've got a new assignment that I'm learning a lot from. I've been asked to do the presentation design layout for this huge competition for a major downtown building. That part is not new to me, and I have a weird thing for presentation layouts; however, I'm also working on the logo design for the building. I've never done logo design before. I like the challenge. Who knows? Maybe I'll end up being one of those graphic design nerds.

    In other news Nina is still sick. Apparently she’s also been acting super weird/acting out; which has led her to invade the trash cans where she ate something super funky. She’s a tough cookie so I know she’ll be fine (plus, my close friend S from back home is a super-vet-tech-extraordinaire and will take good care of her). However, hearing news that she’s been spending tons of time on the floor next to my side of the bed and hiding away in the closet (she’s a whore for the sun); nesting in the small pile of my laundry that didn’t manage to get washed before I came here has left me feeling a bit down and out. Many of you are probably thinking so what? You most likely haven’t rescued an animal from a shelter. If you have, you just haven’t met the hyper-sensitive, quirky ball of fluff and neck-fat that is Nina. Furthermore, she and I are pretty close. Obviously there isn’t anything I can do; clearly I’m not going home anytime soon. She’s only a dog yes, but that just means she can’t understand the situation, nor express herself. Basically, no Meggy smells means no Meggy in her mind. Plus, who wouldn’t miss this face?

     It’s hard to believe this week is almost over. I’m taking tomorrow off to head to Penang (a place up north) where I’ll be meeting the fams. Well, not all the fams, my brother declined to join on account of the fact that ‘school is hard as shit man, and dude, I have like, ya know…no free time…I’ve got a film sesh up at Mt Hood.’ Your loss little broseph, you’d love it here. I’ll see him soon enough though, for his 21^st I got him tickets to the Great American Beer Festival in D-town (read: Denver) this September. Anyways, I digress. This week has been quite fun. Monday was less blah than Mondays tend to be. I went over to A’s place for some good home cookin’. Spaghetti and red sauce, a staple, but none the less great. Since my idea of home cooking here has been whatever can be fried in a pan or heated in a toaster oven (my wages and western raw ingredients don’t exactly complement each other), a home cooked meal was just what I needed. Tuesday was yoga, Lebanese food, and shisha night with the usual crew. At dinner I met a Jordanian guy named A (again with this A thing) who is writing his thesis in English and asked if I could proof-read it for him. So I’ve found myself a second job (that will, in all likelihood, pay better than the one I currently have). Now I know many of you back home are laughing at the idea of me editing a paper. However, it’s much easier to correct someone else’s English than your own =).

     Last night C and I met up with a bunch of CSers at 21 for the ‘weekly meeting.’ Girls drink for free. Unfortunately, based upon the above paragraph I headed home early. With any luck, next week’s eminent all-nighter at the office will grant me a day off and I’ll be able to go out in a more proper fashion. However, no night out in Malaysia is ever complete without a stop at a street stall so A (a different A, I’ve noticed a large portion of my friends here have names that start with A…) took us to grab a bite of durian and some Thai food. If I told you what I ate I would simply butcher the name, but whatever the tasty concoction was I need to have it again…similar in addiction to banana leaf. How I’ve managed to actually stay in good shape here is somewhat of a miracle; I’m sure the 16+ flights of stairs I walk everyday helps. Tonight I’m headed to Sunway with H to see the new transformers movie. It’s been quite a while since I’ve actually gone to the movies (Netflix makes life so easy). It should be a good time.

     Once again, this is getting way too long.

Peace and love

-M

PS...One last thing for your enjoyment...

   Well time is flying by as always. Work is work, although I've got a new assignment that I'm learning a lot from. I've been asked to do the presentation design layout for this huge competition for a major downtown building. That part is not new to me, and I have a weird thing for presentation layouts; however, I'm also working on the logo design for the building. I've never done logo design before. I like the challenge. Who knows? Maybe I'll end up being one of those graphic design nerds.

    In other news Nina is still sick. Apparently she’s also been acting super weird/acting out; which has led her to invade the trash cans where she ate something super funky. She’s a tough cookie so I know she’ll be fine (plus, my close friend S from back home is a super-vet-tech-extraordinaire and will take good care of her). However, hearing news that she’s been spending tons of time on the floor next to my side of the bed and hiding away in the closet (she’s a whore for the sun); nesting in the small pile of my laundry that didn’t manage to get washed before I came here has left me feeling a bit down and out. Many of you are probably thinking so what? You most likely haven’t rescued an animal from a shelter. If you have, you just haven’t met the hyper-sensitive, quirky ball of fluff and neck-fat that is Nina. Furthermore, she and I are pretty close. Obviously there isn’t anything I can do; clearly I’m not going home anytime soon. She’s only a dog yes, but that just means she can’t understand the situation, nor express herself. Basically, no Meggy smells means no Meggy in her mind. Plus, who wouldn’t miss this face?

     It’s hard to believe this week is almost over. I’m taking tomorrow off to head to Penang (a place up north) where I’ll be meeting the fams. Well, not all the fams, my brother declined to join on account of the fact that ‘school is hard as shit man, and dude, I have like, ya know…no free time…I’ve got a film sesh up at Mt Hood.’ Your loss little broseph, you’d love it here. I’ll see him soon enough though, for his 21^st I got him tickets to the Great American Beer Festival in D-town (read: Denver) this September. Anyways, I digress. This week has been quite fun. Monday was less blah than Mondays tend to be. I went over to A’s place for some good home cookin’. Spaghetti and red sauce, a staple, but none the less great. Since my idea of home cooking here has been whatever can be fried in a pan or heated in a toaster oven (my wages and western raw ingredients don’t exactly complement each other), a home cooked meal was just what I needed. Tuesday was yoga, Lebanese food, and shisha night with the usual crew. At dinner I met a Jordanian guy named A (again with this A thing) who is writing his thesis in English and asked if I could proof-read it for him. So I’ve found myself a second job (that will, in all likelihood, pay better than the one I currently have). Now I know many of you back home are laughing at the idea of me editing a paper. However, it’s much easier to correct someone else’s English than your own =).

     Last night C and I met up with a bunch of CSers at 21 for the ‘weekly meeting.’ Girls drink for free. Unfortunately, based upon the above paragraph I headed home early. With any luck, next week’s eminent all-nighter at the office will grant me a day off and I’ll be able to go out in a more proper fashion. However, no night out in Malaysia is ever complete without a stop at a street stall so A (a different A, I’ve noticed a large portion of my friends here have names that start with A…) took us to grab a bite of durian and some Thai food. If I told you what I ate I would simply butcher the name, but whatever the tasty concoction was I need to have it again…similar in addiction to banana leaf. How I’ve managed to actually stay in good shape here is somewhat of a miracle; I’m sure the 16+ flights of stairs I walk everyday helps. Tonight I’m headed to Sunway with H to see the new transformers movie. It’s been quite a while since I’ve actually gone to the movies (Netflix makes life so easy). It should be a good time.

     Once again, this is getting way too long.

Peace and love

-M

PS...One last thing for your enjoyment...

2 months and counting...

     Today marks exactly 2 months until I leave for LA. I will be taking the early red eye (think 12:45) the next day. Then, magically, a day disappears, I wake up briefly for a re-fuel in Taipei and arrive in KL on the afternoon of the 20th of May.

     Before I get into the meat of today's ramblings, I'll give a quick update on logistics. I tend to get disorganized easily, mostly due to my inability to remember where I put things, so I make lists. Lots and lots of lists. It's kind of interesting because sometimes I write these lists in my sketchbooks and journals so I get to see them so far after the fact I'm not really sure what they are for. Needless to say there lots of lists in my life right now. I've decided to do something a little different this time around. I am so used to traveling, it was once so common (and frequently still is when I return to my family's place) that I always had a bag packed or partially unpacked. Those days are over, but one habit has lingered around; packing at the very last minute. However, this time around, I'm determined to get my shopping done way ahead of time, so I can actually enjoy the 5 days I have between finals and departure. Thus I've got a shopping list/packing list, list of things to get done over spring break, list of things to do before school gets out, list of things to do/'teach' the boyfriend before I leave, and the list goes on (ugh...puns...my apologies). Aside from lists I've been poked quite a few times. I had an appointment with a travel doctor, nothing new for me. Except this time it was less about why to avoid swimming in the Amazon (which I did anyway) and more about expat life and things I need to have because I will be there for significantly longer. I got a few shots (thankfully I got half of them done for the Amazon), taking an oral vaccine for Typhoid, and made an appointment to finish the stabbings at a later date.

    Enough of the boring logistics, I am going to miss my dog. Now, before you go and think that I hate people, I will obviously miss my friends, family, and boyfriend. It also shouldn't be surprising that I would miss my dog as well. There's just more to it than meets the eye.

     I knew that once I graduated college I would get a dog. I figured I'd wait a year so I could get settled. However, it only took me three weeks to acquire Nina. The whole thing was, contrary to my boyfriend's belief, more or less whim. He visited before moving. I couldn't get a job for the summer so I started looking at volunteering at an animal shelter in order to get out and do something for the summer. We stopped by the shelter and the next thing you know we were filling out adoption papers for a dog. It was a huge gamble to say yes. In fact, I really wouldn't recommend getting a pet without having an honest conversation about the responsibilities, costs, and potential for things to go wrong. Since I am one to frequently carve my own path, I went for it.

     I still can't tell you to this day what made me so sure of my decision, but I felt confident that this was the move to make. It later occurred to me that she chose me. Instead of boring you with a sappy description of my dog's personality just take my word for it, she is a quirky dog. She makes you earn her trust. At that time in my life I was struggling with the adjustments to the 'real world' (whatever that is supposed to mean). I graduated, packed a car, and headed cross-country to Denver. I did not go home, I did not pass go and collect $200. I just plopped myself down in Denver, living out of my car until I found a place (which only took about a week, thankfully). I didn't know a soul. As a woman, I found it odd to just go to the local watering hole alone and try to make actual friends. The best that would bring is some creeper bothering me all night. Many of my college friends were headed off to other countries or staying east so I was far from my friends. I also applied to a countless number of summer jobs, but showing up in June and having zero connections in a cruddy economy the job search turned out to be futile. Nina forced me to get out and wander. I met a lot of people through her (my building is 70% dog owners). She had been living in a shelter for months and although nothing is known from her (she was transferred to the a no-kill shelter called MaxFund after being on the euthanize list at DMAS) she has had a rough past. She needed me as much as I needed her.

     The striking similarities between moving to Denver and moving to KL (sub a totally new culture and language for no job) leave me knowing I will miss her more than I think. The last time I spent a significant amount of time away from Nina was last year's trip to Mongolia, and that was only a week. I can't imagine three months.

So here's to you Nina (her drink of choice is cheap beer)! Even though you can't read, and even for a dog, really aren't that smart, you're a woman's best friend.

     Today marks exactly 2 months until I leave for LA. I will be taking the early red eye (think 12:45) the next day. Then, magically, a day disappears, I wake up briefly for a re-fuel in Taipei and arrive in KL on the afternoon of the 20th of May.

     Before I get into the meat of today's ramblings, I'll give a quick update on logistics. I tend to get disorganized easily, mostly due to my inability to remember where I put things, so I make lists. Lots and lots of lists. It's kind of interesting because sometimes I write these lists in my sketchbooks and journals so I get to see them so far after the fact I'm not really sure what they are for. Needless to say there lots of lists in my life right now. I've decided to do something a little different this time around. I am so used to traveling, it was once so common (and frequently still is when I return to my family's place) that I always had a bag packed or partially unpacked. Those days are over, but one habit has lingered around; packing at the very last minute. However, this time around, I'm determined to get my shopping done way ahead of time, so I can actually enjoy the 5 days I have between finals and departure. Thus I've got a shopping list/packing list, list of things to get done over spring break, list of things to do before school gets out, list of things to do/'teach' the boyfriend before I leave, and the list goes on (ugh...puns...my apologies). Aside from lists I've been poked quite a few times. I had an appointment with a travel doctor, nothing new for me. Except this time it was less about why to avoid swimming in the Amazon (which I did anyway) and more about expat life and things I need to have because I will be there for significantly longer. I got a few shots (thankfully I got half of them done for the Amazon), taking an oral vaccine for Typhoid, and made an appointment to finish the stabbings at a later date.

    Enough of the boring logistics, I am going to miss my dog. Now, before you go and think that I hate people, I will obviously miss my friends, family, and boyfriend. It also shouldn't be surprising that I would miss my dog as well. There's just more to it than meets the eye.

     I knew that once I graduated college I would get a dog. I figured I'd wait a year so I could get settled. However, it only took me three weeks to acquire Nina. The whole thing was, contrary to my boyfriend's belief, more or less whim. He visited before moving. I couldn't get a job for the summer so I started looking at volunteering at an animal shelter in order to get out and do something for the summer. We stopped by the shelter and the next thing you know we were filling out adoption papers for a dog. It was a huge gamble to say yes. In fact, I really wouldn't recommend getting a pet without having an honest conversation about the responsibilities, costs, and potential for things to go wrong. Since I am one to frequently carve my own path, I went for it.

     I still can't tell you to this day what made me so sure of my decision, but I felt confident that this was the move to make. It later occurred to me that she chose me. Instead of boring you with a sappy description of my dog's personality just take my word for it, she is a quirky dog. She makes you earn her trust. At that time in my life I was struggling with the adjustments to the 'real world' (whatever that is supposed to mean). I graduated, packed a car, and headed cross-country to Denver. I did not go home, I did not pass go and collect $200. I just plopped myself down in Denver, living out of my car until I found a place (which only took about a week, thankfully). I didn't know a soul. As a woman, I found it odd to just go to the local watering hole alone and try to make actual friends. The best that would bring is some creeper bothering me all night. Many of my college friends were headed off to other countries or staying east so I was far from my friends. I also applied to a countless number of summer jobs, but showing up in June and having zero connections in a cruddy economy the job search turned out to be futile. Nina forced me to get out and wander. I met a lot of people through her (my building is 70% dog owners). She had been living in a shelter for months and although nothing is known from her (she was transferred to the a no-kill shelter called MaxFund after being on the euthanize list at DMAS) she has had a rough past. She needed me as much as I needed her.

     The striking similarities between moving to Denver and moving to KL (sub a totally new culture and language for no job) leave me knowing I will miss her more than I think. The last time I spent a significant amount of time away from Nina was last year's trip to Mongolia, and that was only a week. I can't imagine three months.

So here's to you Nina (her drink of choice is cheap beer)! Even though you can't read, and even for a dog, really aren't that smart, you're a woman's best friend.

     Today marks exactly 2 months until I leave for LA. I will be taking the early red eye (think 12:45) the next day. Then, magically, a day disappears, I wake up briefly for a re-fuel in Taipei and arrive in KL on the afternoon of the 20th of May.

     Before I get into the meat of today's ramblings, I'll give a quick update on logistics. I tend to get disorganized easily, mostly due to my inability to remember where I put things, so I make lists. Lots and lots of lists. It's kind of interesting because sometimes I write these lists in my sketchbooks and journals so I get to see them so far after the fact I'm not really sure what they are for. Needless to say there lots of lists in my life right now. I've decided to do something a little different this time around. I am so used to traveling, it was once so common (and frequently still is when I return to my family's place) that I always had a bag packed or partially unpacked. Those days are over, but one habit has lingered around; packing at the very last minute. However, this time around, I'm determined to get my shopping done way ahead of time, so I can actually enjoy the 5 days I have between finals and departure. Thus I've got a shopping list/packing list, list of things to get done over spring break, list of things to do before school gets out, list of things to do/'teach' the boyfriend before I leave, and the list goes on (ugh...puns...my apologies). Aside from lists I've been poked quite a few times. I had an appointment with a travel doctor, nothing new for me. Except this time it was less about why to avoid swimming in the Amazon (which I did anyway) and more about expat life and things I need to have because I will be there for significantly longer. I got a few shots (thankfully I got half of them done for the Amazon), taking an oral vaccine for Typhoid, and made an appointment to finish the stabbings at a later date.

    Enough of the boring logistics, I am going to miss my dog. Now, before you go and think that I hate people, I will obviously miss my friends, family, and boyfriend. It also shouldn't be surprising that I would miss my dog as well. There's just more to it than meets the eye.

     I knew that once I graduated college I would get a dog. I figured I'd wait a year so I could get settled. However, it only took me three weeks to acquire Nina. The whole thing was, contrary to my boyfriend's belief, more or less whim. He visited before moving. I couldn't get a job for the summer so I started looking at volunteering at an animal shelter in order to get out and do something for the summer. We stopped by the shelter and the next thing you know we were filling out adoption papers for a dog. It was a huge gamble to say yes. In fact, I really wouldn't recommend getting a pet without having an honest conversation about the responsibilities, costs, and potential for things to go wrong. Since I am one to frequently carve my own path, I went for it.

     I still can't tell you to this day what made me so sure of my decision, but I felt confident that this was the move to make. It later occurred to me that she chose me. Instead of boring you with a sappy description of my dog's personality just take my word for it, she is a quirky dog. She makes you earn her trust. At that time in my life I was struggling with the adjustments to the 'real world' (whatever that is supposed to mean). I graduated, packed a car, and headed cross-country to Denver. I did not go home, I did not pass go and collect $200. I just plopped myself down in Denver, living out of my car until I found a place (which only took about a week, thankfully). I didn't know a soul. As a woman, I found it odd to just go to the local watering hole alone and try to make actual friends. The best that would bring is some creeper bothering me all night. Many of my college friends were headed off to other countries or staying east so I was far from my friends. I also applied to a countless number of summer jobs, but showing up in June and having zero connections in a cruddy economy the job search turned out to be futile. Nina forced me to get out and wander. I met a lot of people through her (my building is 70% dog owners). She had been living in a shelter for months and although nothing is known from her (she was transferred to the a no-kill shelter called MaxFund after being on the euthanize list at DMAS) she has had a rough past. She needed me as much as I needed her.

     The striking similarities between moving to Denver and moving to KL (sub a totally new culture and language for no job) leave me knowing I will miss her more than I think. The last time I spent a significant amount of time away from Nina was last year's trip to Mongolia, and that was only a week. I can't imagine three months.

So here's to you Nina (her drink of choice is cheap beer)! Even though you can't read, and even for a dog, really aren't that smart, you're a woman's best friend.

     Today marks exactly 2 months until I leave for LA. I will be taking the early red eye (think 12:45) the next day. Then, magically, a day disappears, I wake up briefly for a re-fuel in Taipei and arrive in KL on the afternoon of the 20th of May.

     Before I get into the meat of today's ramblings, I'll give a quick update on logistics. I tend to get disorganized easily, mostly due to my inability to remember where I put things, so I make lists. Lots and lots of lists. It's kind of interesting because sometimes I write these lists in my sketchbooks and journals so I get to see them so far after the fact I'm not really sure what they are for. Needless to say there lots of lists in my life right now. I've decided to do something a little different this time around. I am so used to traveling, it was once so common (and frequently still is when I return to my family's place) that I always had a bag packed or partially unpacked. Those days are over, but one habit has lingered around; packing at the very last minute. However, this time around, I'm determined to get my shopping done way ahead of time, so I can actually enjoy the 5 days I have between finals and departure. Thus I've got a shopping list/packing list, list of things to get done over spring break, list of things to do before school gets out, list of things to do/'teach' the boyfriend before I leave, and the list goes on (ugh...puns...my apologies). Aside from lists I've been poked quite a few times. I had an appointment with a travel doctor, nothing new for me. Except this time it was less about why to avoid swimming in the Amazon (which I did anyway) and more about expat life and things I need to have because I will be there for significantly longer. I got a few shots (thankfully I got half of them done for the Amazon), taking an oral vaccine for Typhoid, and made an appointment to finish the stabbings at a later date.

    Enough of the boring logistics, I am going to miss my dog. Now, before you go and think that I hate people, I will obviously miss my friends, family, and boyfriend. It also shouldn't be surprising that I would miss my dog as well. There's just more to it than meets the eye.

     I knew that once I graduated college I would get a dog. I figured I'd wait a year so I could get settled. However, it only took me three weeks to acquire Nina. The whole thing was, contrary to my boyfriend's belief, more or less whim. He visited before moving. I couldn't get a job for the summer so I started looking at volunteering at an animal shelter in order to get out and do something for the summer. We stopped by the shelter and the next thing you know we were filling out adoption papers for a dog. It was a huge gamble to say yes. In fact, I really wouldn't recommend getting a pet without having an honest conversation about the responsibilities, costs, and potential for things to go wrong. Since I am one to frequently carve my own path, I went for it.

     I still can't tell you to this day what made me so sure of my decision, but I felt confident that this was the move to make. It later occurred to me that she chose me. Instead of boring you with a sappy description of my dog's personality just take my word for it, she is a quirky dog. She makes you earn her trust. At that time in my life I was struggling with the adjustments to the 'real world' (whatever that is supposed to mean). I graduated, packed a car, and headed cross-country to Denver. I did not go home, I did not pass go and collect $200. I just plopped myself down in Denver, living out of my car until I found a place (which only took about a week, thankfully). I didn't know a soul. As a woman, I found it odd to just go to the local watering hole alone and try to make actual friends. The best that would bring is some creeper bothering me all night. Many of my college friends were headed off to other countries or staying east so I was far from my friends. I also applied to a countless number of summer jobs, but showing up in June and having zero connections in a cruddy economy the job search turned out to be futile. Nina forced me to get out and wander. I met a lot of people through her (my building is 70% dog owners). She had been living in a shelter for months and although nothing is known from her (she was transferred to the a no-kill shelter called MaxFund after being on the euthanize list at DMAS) she has had a rough past. She needed me as much as I needed her.

     The striking similarities between moving to Denver and moving to KL (sub a totally new culture and language for no job) leave me knowing I will miss her more than I think. The last time I spent a significant amount of time away from Nina was last year's trip to Mongolia, and that was only a week. I can't imagine three months.

So here's to you Nina (her drink of choice is cheap beer)! Even though you can't read, and even for a dog, really aren't that smart, you're a woman's best friend.