To Turkey Next Tuesday

I have barely given one thought to this trans-Atlantic jaunt next week. What with the bachelorette hooplah in Austin, the minutiae of nuptial planning plaguing almost all of my thoughts, the attempt to find a place to live  post-wedding, and last but definitely not least, the impending doom I feel coming upon me as I prepare to take the first of two major  exams meant to finally shed myself of the "substitute teacher" moniker. Oh, and then there is the pesky little matter of a certain volcano spewing ash hither and yon over important parts of Europe. Parts that I must fly through to get to Istanbul. So what do I decide to do at work today? Spend 45 minutes looking for non-existent peacock-themed cupcake liners. Try to find them, I dare you. When my wrist felt as if carpal-tunnel was setting in and the liners in quest were nowhere to be found, I gave up. 45 minutes of my life I will never get back.

I can safely say that perhaps scheduling a trip to Europe so close to my wedding and exams has not been one of my most brilliant ideas, but what's done is done. Besides, I occasionally like to live on the edge. At least I have my passport, which as of yesterday, at least one member of our little group still did not have. As in, it has not yet been issued by the U.S Department of State.  Now that is living dangerously.

And speaking of walking the wild side, brace yourselves. I have not purchased a Lonely Planet guidebook to Istanbul/Turkey (gasp!) to accompany me on this trip.  Those of you who know me, know that I rarely leave the U.S without said guide. You just never know when that thing will come in handy. For example, in a crowded Tanzanian bus station last November, in the midst of teeming throngs of over-zealous cab drivers,  fumes of a bajillion buses,  eager touts waiting to sell me something I didn't need, and a no-show ride, I was able to somewhat calmly pull my guide out and find the nearest spot to access the internet.  Of course, communicating this to someone proved to be another issue, but no matter, thanks to Lonely Planet, we had a PLAN!  I digress. You get the idea of my passionate feelings on LP. So now,  throwing caution and all responsibilities to the hopefully ash-free wind next Tuesday, I will depart for a quick trip to Turkey. I will, I hope, return with the following:
1. A wedding ring
2. Ideas for future lesson plans to inspire my minions of young minds
3. Shoes! I never need an excuse to purchase footwear, but certainly going to another country always qualifies.
4. A calm outlook on life that will last for at least the next 6 weeks. 

Speaking of calm-brace yourself for a rant completely off the topic of this blog.  This is fresh, which is why this tangent begins....now.  WHY do people lose all sense of politeness and decorum and ETIQUETTE when it comes to weddings??!! I have just arrived home after a very long day to find yet another rsvp card in which the person has graciously responded with a "plus one" where none was given. READ THE ENVELOPE!  There are budget and space issues. You didn't get a "plus one" for a very good reason. If you are not dating anyone and you are already going to know a bunch of people there, then just come and enjoy yourself-no date really necessary right? good grief.

Am I being unreasonable here?

If you have any thoughts on anything mentioned in this post, please weigh in. From ash, to weddings, to your own tales of stress and woe,  wedding or travel, let me hear from you. It may serve to calm me down just a tad. I am normally a very calm person. Some people even  go so far as to call me "stoic."  Not today though.

Oh, and if you should happen to know where I can find peacock cupcake liners, tell me and  make a girl happy.