28 days earlier

to set the scene, a hardcover first edition of the art of travel by alain de botton--author of the moment--lies just to my left. a chicago to oakland boarding pass holds my page, 85 to be precise. an upward glance leads to shelves packed with lonely planet guides and pocket phrasebooks. (note to self: get the arabic version). haven't been to all of those places, but i collect them just in case. and ok, maybe because it makes me feel all worldly. but, i'm planning on getting to them all...

twenty-eight days from today i depart* for twenty-eight days in the desert. fully aware that it's not every day one is offered a month-long all expenses-paid jaunt to egypt and libya, i figured i'd start a blog about it.

i like to go places. this is where i will tell you all about them.

* maybe. there's a slight visa sitch with the libyans: they don't want us in their country. i'll find out feb 14/15 if this is for sure. until then, i'm just writing for kicks. you know, getting my hopes all up for the crushing.