newfangled plan

we've hit a snag with the original plan. lkm and i were going to take the hobo can down south for some spanish lessons, good argentinean beef and wine, and some fresh patagonian air. turns out two people need at least 4 good feet to carry the can around the andes. 

so. revisit the old plan. soak it in some hot water, spit on the blood stains, scrub vigorously, wring thoroughly, hang it out to dry. same big idea, different approach. 

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most everything we were planning on doing in south america and new zealand centered around backpacking, hiking, tramping, walkabouts, or general bipedal motion. i figure in asia we can settle into the slow pace of life and teach english or volunteer somewhere. i can rehab my leg. we can relax on beaches. read books in hammocks. marinate in the slow life.

sage advice

got a nice email from moses about the ankle:

"jeez-o-pete. you better schedule your beach time up front, mountain summits for the second half of the trip."

might have to...

its crazy time

on thursday i hobbled off the bart a few seconds before lkm did. she had just finished the bar exam and was coming back into the city after 3 days of testing in oakland. when she got topside and saw me, she started in with the crazy: disbelief, confusion, excitement, exhilaration, and then some minor crying, hysterical laughing, convulsions, and finally tremor. the bar takes a lot of you.

this is a picture of her right between confusion and excitement. she's doing better now.

almost there

lkm is taking the california bar starting tomorrow. after 2.5 months of intensive studying (and 3 years of school) the payoff is 3 days of hellish, spirit-crushing examination.

she was doing her last weekend of 12 hour study days this weekend. and i was camping at kirby cove. not exactly fair to her, but to make her feel better, i wrecked on my bike on the way home and now have a sprained ankle, the joy of crutching around, and 4 holes in the back of my calf that match my pedal's cleats.

during the summer while lkm's been working overtime on the bar i've been able to get to death valley, vegas, big sur, desolation wilderness, friends' wedding in maryland, providence, and have some fun with some adventurous visitors. like i said, not fair. but thats gonna change soon.


3 days and she's done. can't wait.

the big idea

here's the big idea, as i understand it: quit your job or finish your school; cash out your savings or maximize your debt; get a map, a really big one with lots of countries and start scheming.

buy a one-way ticket and don't come back for a year.  


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