Last night in Louisville

Really, I should be finalizing my packing, but here I am on my laptop whom I have named Evie. I know
that is probably an annoying habit--to name inanimate objects. But I like to do that with the big things
I am around the most. My car is named Jean-Pierre Parfait, in case you're curious. Haha, probably not.

Anyway, I've got quite a bit of packing under the belt but have a fair about to go, still. So, until
next (when I'll almost certainly be posting from Ithaca), goodbye! Take care.

Note about the drive

Did I mention that this 12-ish hour drive will be in a car with no air conditioning, no cd player, and
poor gas mileage? Haha, but I would not have it any other way. I love my Jean-Pierre Parfait. He's
got the biggest personality of any inanimate object I've ever seen.

Anyway, I have the day off Thursday and I will spend it PACKING. I cleaned my car out for the most
part today. Also got to have lunch with a friend. I'm glad we got to hang out since I won't see her
again until late August! Practically every time I look at Joe I get quite sad. I will miss him.

I have a beautiful (new) laptop (never had a laptop before) and a spiffy, new digital camera to tide
me through the summer away from my stuff. Well, my last digital camera just up and died, so I would
have needed it anyway. And I've really wanted a laptop for a few years now.

All right, that's all for this update. Are we there yet? Hah! Take care.

Introduction: Cornell Bodell

Well, if you're reading this there is a good chance you know me and probably know that I am spending
the summer of 2009 in Ithaca, New York attending Cornell University (hence Cornell Bodell). I am in the
FALCON Mandarin Chinese Program there and classes begin the first week of June. I'm leaving for Ithaca
on Sunday, May 31st bright and early from Louisville and driving the 12-ish hour drive all in one day.
Yikes! Luckily (I guess), I drove half of this drive this past October when I drove to Cleveland for a
bioethics conference. So, through Ohio, I know where to get gas and such. I'm dreading Columbus--
that was pretty rough. Last time, though, it was the weekend of the OSU-Michigan football game there in
Columbus. It was terrible. It should be better this go-around. :P

I'm taking it slow on the packing front--a little here, a little there. I'll get it all together one day!
Right now I'm focusing on my last week of work at NAMI Louisville.

I have various plans to distract myself on weekends. I plan at least to go to Jamestown and the Lucy-Desi
Museum on one weekend and Niagara Falls and Toronto on another weekend. I will leave on August 6th
(bright and early again, I think) to drive to Virginia and North Carolina (Charlottesville, Williamsburg,
Durham, and Chapel Hill) to check out law schools. Then I plan to be back in Louisville on August 10th.
Not sure how I'm going to afford that!

Anyway, until June 12th things are out of pocket for me which stinks. I'm practically broke as it is.
That day I should get my stipend check. Phew, I'll be glad to get it!

Wow, just reflecting on this, it is still difficult for me to believe I'm getting the opportunity to do this.
I'm looking forward to learning Chinese but I'm so nervous about how difficult it will be. Hopefully
everyone in the program will be friendly and we can help one another to do well. :) Well, that's
the first post of the blog! I will keep you all updated on the goings-ons of this journey. Take care!