Okay, I'm on the road again, in my frantic, I'm about to leave stress pressure/relief mode. Perhaps some of this I thrive on.

I live in Boston, why? Well I could say because the federal building is located on the T in North Station. It happens to be a convenient place to get your passport renewed on the way to the airport. And of course, it's even nicer when you realize that you've been told that they'd like you to go to Korea, next week, on Friday afternoon. And of course me, having the laid back, "no problem" attitude that I do agrees, knowing that my passport expires in May of 2003 (of course I haven't renewed it, that would be too much forsight). Only when I got home did I read the that didn't say May 2003, it said 13 Mai/May 03.

Part of me said, "ah... well... It's only a few days I should be able to get away with it." I had already booked a ticket leaving Boston at 5:30PM. So... given that... Although the story from Chris and Shikky, was inclining me to say, well I gotta just go anyways, because it's not like I can get the passport in a day. But after a somewhat pleasant story from Clara, and checking the state department web site again. I called in, got an appointment, and decided to skip work in the morning so I can renew my passport. I prop my coolpix on my chair, to make a passport photo.

I run down the the CVS, give them the memory card, the technician takes a bit to figure out whether to use the digital minilab, or the picture station. In the end decides to go with the kiosk. I emerge seven dollars poorer with eighteen passport sized photos.

I head over to the Tip O'neal federal building, go through the metal detectors, and renew my pasport. It's surprisingly easy, show them my old passport, show them the plane ticket, write a cheque for a hundred fifteen. And they tell me to come back at 3pm. Great, just in time to show up for a 5pm flight out of Boston. Just for kicks, I ask for the double sized passport. I'll never use 48 pages of visas.

I head home, find my housemate is still home (it's noon on a weekday) re-install the dial up network client on my computer. Clean my room a little bit, pack the rest of my stuff, head to the gym for a dip in the pool, take a shower. Then head back and prep the rest of my stuff for the trip.

I get back on the T, go back to the Federal Building, pick up my passport, and find that it's only 3:45pm. Dang... Flight doesn't leave till 5:35. If I leave now I'll be earlier than I usually am, but having nothing else to do, I go to the airport anyways. Perhaps I'll hang out in the executive lounge for a bit, and surf. I arrive find the terminal packed. Note to self... It's graduation season, and everyone, their parents, grandparents and siblings has been in town, and they all seem to be in Terminal C. I've never seen lines like this outside Disneyland. The ticketing agent, says she would have let me through even with an expired passport, and I might have gotten to Korea anyhow.

The flight is delayed for 45 mins, because the TSA is taking it's sweet time scanning people. They re-scan my computer and my shoes, must be the chocolate bar in my Although I'm through security with 40 mins to spare. Half the plane is still back there.

I get on the plane. I'm not in business class, and realize that I am pretty spoiled, but I'm not really complaining. I'm off to Seoul. I can taste the sushi now.