and the winner is...

I have picked a book. It's called "The Scientists" and is a large and long book on the history of science. Yes, nerdy, I know. I read it a couple years ago and it took me nearly all summer to get through it all.

The 2nd book is a paperback copy of Les Liasons Dangereuses. It's actually in English, and is the book off of which the movie Cruel Intentions is based. It is my trashy novel to be traded in at the book trading opportunities advertised by several hostels.

I packed tonight... only to discover that the backpack I bought, while holding everything I need to take and only weighing 23 lbs while fully loaded, does not leave me any room to bring any souvenirs home. Mom and I are going to swing by MEC tomorrow to exchange it for the next size up. It won't weigh any significant amount more since I don't plan to bring any more stuff, but it will let me bring home presents!

5 nights

I'm starting to get nervous! The magnitude of what I'm doing is starting to become very apparent. Oh my.

on all things literary

My oldest cousin asked me a very important question today. What is The Book? What book will come along on my trip? Her younger sister chose War and Peace when she went. Long enough that it takes a significant amount of time to get through.

Qualities to be sought:
-length. It should be something that will take me a while to read.
-readability. I have to like it, since I won't have my whole bookshelf of options available to me. It can't be something I'll get bored with or sick of
-I can't mind too much if it gets lost, which means that if it's a book I like, it has to be replaceable

Thoughts?

what the dickens?

Welcome to my travel blog! In about a week and a half, I will be setting off to Europe for 2 and a half months of traveling, seeing old things, and just generally having a good time as a reward for finishing my degree. I'm feeling that mix of nervous and excited.

Now some of you might be wondering, what the dickens? Why is my blog's address "in1492"? Some of you will pick up on the reference immediately. It is the first line of a poem telling the story of Columbus' first journey to the New World. Now I am neither Spanish nor sailing (but will be kayaking! not TO Europe, obviously, but around Crete), but it seemed fitting, since Columbus is my camp name. This is my first time going overseas, and I hope it will be just as exciting for me. Yes, cheesy, I know.

Here is the text of it:


In fourteen hundred ninety-two
Columbus sailed the ocean blue.

He had three ships and left from Spain;
He sailed through sunshine, wind and rain.

He sailed by night; he sailed by day;
He used the stars to find his way.

A compass also helped him know
How to find the way to go.

Ninety sailors were on board;
Some men worked while others snored.

Then the workers went to sleep;
And others watched the ocean deep.

Day after day they looked for land;
They dreamed of trees and rocks and sand.

October 12 their dream came true,
You never saw a happier crew!

"Indians! Indians!" Columbus cried;
His heart was filled with joyful pride.

But "India" the land was not;
It was the Bahamas, and it was hot.

The Arakawa natives were very nice;
They gave the sailors food and spice.

Columbus sailed on to find some gold
To bring back home, as he'd been told.

He made the trip again and again,
Trading gold to bring to Spain.

The first American? No, not quite.
But Columbus was brave, and he was bright.