Newsy-type Fireside Chat

Ummm...so, wow. Well, I'm going to Omaha now. Seem abrupt? Well, it was. Hope called me on Wednesday morning and told me that it was suddenly possible for her family to chip in to fly me up there. I was gone for the next two days on a trip to Austin with my family (yes, another abrupt decision) and then when I got back on Friday, we bought a plane ticket for the following Monday. I have two days (well, now only one day) to get ready for a ten day trip to Omaha and then when I get back I will have a week to get ready for a semester long trip to Australia. Where did my summer go? All of sudden I went from having two weeks left to prepare myself to be ready-emotionally, mentally, and in the actual details of traveling-as soon as I possibly can. Was that a really dumb decision I just made? Actually, I feel rather overwhelmed and scared by what I've done. It all happened so fast, and what with the money and the time that I'll be spending, I'm afraid that I just jumped into this situation like a big dumb fool and I'm not going to be able to handle it-logistically or mentally. But in a way, it seems so appropriate that before I go forward on my plans for Australia, I return to my Nebraskan roots (eliciting a shudder, but hey, I'm from where I'm from). I feel like I haven't been able to do the preparation for I thought I would have time and clear-headedness to perform this summer, but maybe this is preparation of a different sort, though valid just the same. And furthermore, I've been aching to see my friends all summer, so I guess that would explain why I basically just followed my gut without really thinking about it too much. So this is just to say, if you haven't heard from me in a while, you probably won't hear from me for a while longer, cause things are going to be awfully busy until I leave. And hey, if you live in Omaha, watch out, because the kid is coming back!

Also, I guess this is to notify that at this point in time this blog is going to be serving another purpose. I'm doing an independent study on travel writing while I'm in Australia, and this blog is going to serve as my journal to keep all of my notes and observations on what I'm seeing and experiencing in Australia. So, basically, the blog is going to stay pretty much as I'd envisioned it would when I started this, but now I'll get class credit for it as well! But at this point I'm supposed to start recording my impressions and expectations and thoughts leading up to the trip, so we're kind of moving into "Shannon's Blog: Part 2." Hopefully, as part of this second phase I'll be able to keep posting occassionally while I'm in Omaha, so stay tuned. Soon, I'll also hopefully have some things that I'd like you to keep in your prayers for me while I'm gone. So, I guess I just wanted to say thanks to those of you who've been reading and hey, don't stop, because it ought to be more interesting while I'm in Oz than when I'm at home, right?