All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go...

They say a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step...and it looks like I'm about to take that first leap.  I've been planning this trip for over a year now, but it somehow doesn't feel quite real yet.  I know full well that my plane leaves from O'Hare at 7:15 tonight; I've got the passport, the paperwork, the solid proof that I am, in fact, going to be across the Atlantic for a sizeable chunk of time...  No butterflies yet, thankfully!  I'm sure when I get to the terminal that might be a different story, haha...

And as you may have guessed (thanks to my oh-so-clever title), that damn John Denver song keeps rolling through my head...although the "I'm so lonesome, I could cry" bit doesn't really apply...or the wedding ring bit...or the whole dawn/taxi thing...haha, so I suppose it's not really applicable at all, save for the jet plane and the unsure return date.  But somehow the song, nonetheless, seems apt.  Cliche, no? :)

First stop:  Ireland.  The motherland.  Honestly, for those who really know me, you know this is the truth.  It's been joked before by my friends that when I get off the plane and step out onto Irish soil, I'll throw my arms up in the air and cry "CONSUME MEEE!!!"...  I'm not discounting that possibility.  It may be entirely probable at this point.  HA!

So after 4 blissful days of wonderfulness there, we head on to our real destination:  London.  This will be incredible...  The concept of not being just another tourist, but an actual Londoner (of sorts), is amazing.  Talk about experiencing culture!

This whole experience is the chance of a lifetime--I can't even begin to imagine what I'll see and do.  I'm planning on doing as much as I can when I'm over there, that's for sure!  I will, however, do my bestest to keep up on this travel blog while I'm away...otherwise, my mother might kill me. :)  Haha, only joking, Ma!

I have some last minute packing to do, so I'll say a fond farewell to you all--stay safe, keep in touch, and love to you all!

Chris