Queues are one way!

Just do it! Sometimes when you know you want to do something, but have the common worries, you just gotta do it. In this case, I just scored my ticket to Melbourne! Kinda reminds me of one of my friends, Harrison. He mentioned that when he was a page for Congress back in like 8th grade, that to get up early in the morning, he had a neat trick, he would stick a pencil under his butt and if he layed down, would impale himself. So, while no pencils were involved in the booking of the flight, I just basically freaked myself out and did it! Thanks Harry.

I have been really afraid about this whole move to Melbourne deal. Just worried about cash, and being physically separated from friends and family, and of course going to a place I have never been. Sure, I guess those are all common worries, and I know, going to a place I have never been before seems a little insane; but bleh it keeps things interesting.

One-way ticket. Yeah, thats kinda scary, and probably put me on some kind of watch list. But, possibly I'll make it a double-ended queue, dequeue, and come back to the US; possibly to pursue research!

So according to the ticket: July, 14th I leave, and according to the other piece of the ticket, I should arrive in Melbourne on Friday the 16th. So some quick stats:
Norfolk, VA to Charlotte, NC
Charlotte, NC to Los Angeles, CA
Los, Angeles CA to Sydney, Australia
Sydney, Australia to Melbourne, Australia

So I get 4 breaks to rest my legs. But the deal from LA to Sydney is ummmm 14 hours and 45 minutes. Not sure if that includes the dateline change or not. I'm guessing not.

If the ticket holds and I don't baby-out, I should leave on Wednesday the 14th at 3:40PM and arrive in Melbourne Friday at 9:15 AM

-Matt

push 0xd0d0

So I've had a few of these pics I started taking.  One might question, why am I even considering this jump?  Work offers a educational-leave-of-absence, and well... why not?  I find this jump as an excuse to simplify my belongings.  I have a house and car I want to be free of.  That kind of stuff just requires maintenance and provides stress.  In addition, I want to be debt free, however the car is paid for, but maintenance is non-deterministic.  One caveat: I guess I'll have student debt, I wonder if schools repossess degrees?.  This educational journey provides me an out for both of those (car/house).  Granted, it now ads some stress, as I have to figure out how to rid myself of these possessions.  Likewise, I have furniture that needs to go.  Of course, some stuff I am keeping in storage, like my guitars, some pictures, music collection, and books.  I'll probably hang on to a few desks and my bed.

Luckily, I have some family members so cordial to store stuff for me.  But, the goal here is to push the crap on the stack, and pop it off at a later time.  Possibly pop it to a donation register or to others at a low cost.  If I don't like Melbourne, at least I'll have some of my old stuff I can resurrect as I assume I would reestablish back here in that case.

Anyways, here are some shots for my move preparation (i.e. The recycle, keep, or donate phase):

Check it out! This box is big enough to hold a baby, Skinner would be happy.

Oh, yeah I need one of these too... just got it in the mail like a week or two ago:

-Matt

Robots are not Static

Ah, well I have been wanting to start a blog describing my future endeavor.  The latter being my pursuit towards a PhD in computer science from the University of Melbourne (Australia not Florida).  Mainly, this blog will document my journeys to the land down under, aka the upside down continent.

Well, such a big move isn't really me.  I'm a curmudgeon in the sense that I am very robotic.  So, any big change is totally not me.  Anyways, life is short, and I have to see what other hackings must be done.  For the past 5 or so years I've been a robot, working full-time, living alone, and also acquiring a Masters of Science degree.  So I guess its time to test the waters elsewhere.  Why not?

Anyways, I suppose I'll bust out and see what the planet has.  The other hemisphere might be pretty slick.  Plus, I'm sure I might feel lonely and I figure this blog will be a form of therapy; likewise an excuse to go out and do things while I'm inverted from your perspective.

So gather round ye friends, family, and stalkers.  Listen to my journeys (or at least pretend to be interested).