The countdown begins.....

It is exactly 14 days before I leave my family for more than 3 days since 1997.....and then it was only for 8 days. I will be alone in a big city for 42 days.....I won't even have my BFF with me.....I will arrive by myself with mass quantities of luggage. I will have to get myself onto the metro and get to my living quarters. I will have to figure out how I'm going to get bedding and a lamp there. I will be over 460 miles from home. And I only know two people there....through phone conversations....kinda scary.....It's like going off to college...COMPLETELY by yourself....And at 41 years old...that is SOME kind of adventure..

I know I'll work everyday from 9:30-5:30....but what will I do in the evenings??? I'm so used to hanging out with all my guys...who keep me entertained....how will I handle being by myself so much....Funny thought coming from an only child.....

Will I end up enjoying the solitude too much?? How nice it will be to not have an 8 month old puppy chewing up EVERYTHING I own....clothes, sunglasses, cosmetics, mail....but I will also miss snuggling on the purple couch with him..

Will I enjoy not reminding someone to load the dishwasher.....for the 18th time that hour...or to pick up all the clothes off the floor....feed the dog....get the mail....take out the trash....sort the laundry....hmmmmmmmmm.....maybe they will view this as a vacation from ME!

As of this moment, I have dealt with government papework to be hired by the Smithsonian....I've learned words like DUNS numbers, deliverables, and been in contact with the very friendly and helpful people (using Melissa's sarcasm font) at CCR-also known as Central Contracting Registry....or as I like to call it The Red Tape Facility.....For the last 3 weeks I've submitted paperwork, resubmitted it, corrected it, resubmitted it, and just got an urgent email to fax a confirmation page because the CCR STILL isn't showing that I'm registered.....so as of this minute.....I'm still not technically hired....so maybe I won't get to go....who knows....

So many things to do....so many things to think about...all while finishing out this school year with my fifth graders....and prepping to teach summer school the Monday after my return on July 10th...

I'm already exhausted....and I haven't even started..