Essentials

Can't leave town without:
-A book. Thank goodness for the Twilight series and my addiction to the teen fantasy/romance books.
-Snacks. Lord knows I have to have my snacks. I graze on the contents of my snack drawer all day long. A little trip to England isn't gonna get the way of my snackage.
-My cherry chapstick. Don't worry, I've bought extras.
-A journal. Gotta document my journey. A journey journal. HA.
-iPod. Music, sweet music.
-LOTS of clean underwear. Can't have enough. Didn't momma always say to make sure to wear your best underwear in case you get in an accident? I'm sure that applies to plane travel as well.

A glimpse at my world right now

Packing my life into four weeks' worth of luggage and contents.
Doing laundry.
Doing dry cleaning.
Remembering I need something from Wal-Mart. Going to the madhouse that is Wal-Mart to purchase said trip necessity.
Packing some more.
Walking about in a daze, trying to concentrate on the ten bazillion things I still have to do at work.
Not being successful at concentrating on much of anything, except for the fact that I'm flying into LONDON on Friday.
Remembering something else I forgot from Wal-Mart and desperately need. Facing the crowds once again.
Packing some more.
Weighing my luggage. Being pleasantly surprised I haven't surpassed weight limits.
Realizing my head is swimming and my stomach is in knots with anticipation.
Forgetting to breathe.
Remembering that life is freakin awesome, and I'm unbelievably blessed.

Immediate to-do list

-Finish doing laundry, so I'll have clean stuff to wear this wedding weekend. Clean stuff to wear is always a plus.
-Decide on a dress to wear to Friday's rehearsal. Decide on a backup dress. You can never have too many dresses.
-Decide what shoes to wear with chosen dress. I know, I've got some WEIGHTY decisions to make.
-Pack.
-Say a prayer Hanna and her pals Ike and Josephine stay far, far away.
-Get up at the buttcrack of dawn on Friday to drive to Spartanburg. Gotta get there early to get manis, pedis and try to help keep poor Lee sane!

Inadaquacies

We all have areas we feel we fall short; it's only human nature. But what if you feel inadequate with the thing you're supposed to do best? I'm supposed to be a writer, but at times, I feel I fall so short of the mark. I want to be one of those writers whose words leap from the paper, paint a picture, draw a reader in and leave them begging for more. I find myself lusting after the words and phrases of other writers, better writers, longing to be as effective with the written word as they are. I've heard of envying another for their looks, their money, their possessions, but who knew there could talent envy?

I study the way other people write. I read certain journalists, certain authors regularly, and I try to take cues from them. I certainly don't want to thieve someone else's style, but I hope to take elements from those I admire and create my own. I long for a writing style, one that's all my own, one that people can recognize as Mary's signature writing voice. And then I want people to crave my words like I crave the words of those whom I think have figured it out. I want you to love my words as much as I do.

Countdown continues

Ten days and I'll be boarding a ginormous airplane bound for London! I'm so excited I can hardly stand it.