11 Days in America

The Aug. 4 departure from Portland is fast approaching, and this week in Corvallis is all about the Great Separation. I'm going through the vast expanses of Stuff I have come to own over 24 years, deciding what will come to Japan and what shall be left behind.

While I imagined that this would be difficult, I'm finding it fairly easy. Basically, all I'm bringing is clothes, music, DVDs, books (most to be shipped), my computer, an iPod, toiletries, and a few other small items. I can find most everything else, like sheets or lamps or TVs, in Japan.

Meanwhile, I'm throwing away a lot of stuff. Lots of old school materials, magazines that were kept for unknown reasons, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

I know this is most likely too exciting to handle (please note the level of dry humor included in this sentence and apply to nearly all other comments you might not be sure reflect my true meaning).

For me, the trip taker, about to embark on a journey and a job, it is exiting. I dislike the chore of going through everything I own, but at the same time, I'm finding lots of old funny items, writings, pictures, or other such archival material. And it is quite refreshing to lighten my holdings. Do I really need two wicker baskets?

Plus, the act of packing makes real the idea that I'm finally approaching departure. My jobless summer, in addition to being a bad fiscal choice, proved to allow long days lounging around, which while nice, are also boring at times. Now that Aug. 4 is 11 days away I'm finding myself busy.

My current task is importing various songs from CDs onto the MacBook to get a new playlist going on the iPod. Tomorrow I'll import more songs from the family CD collection. I've thrown out my DVD cases and placed the discs directly in a case along with the CDs. I've picked up my new black suit and I now have almost all of the clothing I think I'll need in Japan.

Now it's just more sorting. I regret at this time that this post was not made to be humorous, or really engaging at all. Just a quick dumping of where I am now. A historical record, if nothing more. I'll return to the blog in the next few days, and hopefully I'll have some new solid material. Any ideas? Comment.