Big real-world news of the now: I'm working on getting my passport! I have completed my DS-11 and I'm looking to get photos taken the first week of January.

I think most people dread paperwork, but honestly doing the form gave me a weird kinda glee of officiality I can't describe. Having to gather all my information and get it filled out and filed really makes you feel like it's getting closer, something that I stopped feeling a long while ago, sadly.

Then I just file everything at the post office and send off the money to Uncle Sam and in a month and a half, I can fly to Wales! It's gonna be...highly surreal having one of these, but this is happening. When that comes, I'll start warning people at work that I'll be gone for a whole three weeks and looking at planes and when Caby's folks can come pick me up.

Also starting in January, I get a raise! A whole $12 an hour, ooh!