Counting down the hours!

What a crazy week! Some of my last minute preparations included:

1. Getting my visa!!

In case you are ever in the situation, it IS possible to obtain a visa within a week of applying (perhaps less!), but I certainly don't recommend it!

2. Donating parts of my body for money.

Ok, fine. It was JUST plasma, but it sounds more generous if I say I was donating body parts (makes me think of David Sedaris's story, Christmas Means Giving, from Holidays on Ice. Anyone?). But anyway, one of the main ways that I've saved for my trip has been by donating plasma twice a week. Some people thought this was ridiculous and weird (ok, maybe a bit weird), but I was determined to get those 40-50 bones per week! I actually enjoyed the experience (it allowed for about an hour of relaxation and "fun" reading twice a week) and I will likely continue to use it as a source of supplemental income (overworked/underpaid grad student perhaps?)! People could make a living off this. Just saying.

3. Squeezing in one more run in "cool" temperatures.

I was hoping to get in a long 8-9 miler, but the rain cut things short after about 3. I'm going to be ambitious and bring my running shoes with me to India, though I'm not convinced that the 100+ degree heat will be so conducive to distance running. I've packed Jillian Michaels into my suitcase though (DVDs that is) in hopes of avoiding turning into a complete slacker on exercise.

4. Eating salad and raw veggies to my heart's content.

I've been warned to stay away from many raw produce in India due to water contamination. Although I'm pretty excited to try all kinds of wonderful vegan meals in India, at home, I pretty much only eat raw veggies because a) I never cook and b) they're my favorite food. Goodbye, lettuce, tomatoes, and peppers!