As this picture indicates, I’m living in the midst of chaos. There is stuff everywhere: maps, scraps of paper with scribbled phone numbers and web sites, manuals, guide books, first aid kits, three compasses (???), a tent…it’s as if my closets regurgitated similtaneously, spilling camping gear and notebooks from one end of my apartment to the other.

And I’ve realized that this chaotic environment is an accurate reflection of the craziness of trying to get a trip off the ground in a limited period of time (of course, while trying to tackle several projects, a couple of jobs, and occasionally showering and combing my hair).

My brain is just as messy and disorganized, as I run around making endless lists (phone calls, emails, medication, travel tips, places to see, problems, things I need to get done) and trying not to panic.

Wouldn’t it be nice if travel magazines showed pictures like this one, instead of glossy shots of white sand beaches? Next time I’m tempted to travel, perhaps I’ll re-read this blog entry and plan to stay home instead.