Three Days Till Ireland

Preston and I bought our airfare to Ireland in September and started our countdown at 179 days. It felt so far away at the time, but now there are only three days until we board our plane to the land of glorious cloudy skies, rain, history, and green.

We have been slowly packing and buying out the travel-sized section at Target for the last week. We've had shipments from Amazon almost everyday filled with items from rain boots to portable chargers to flushable moist wipes (those are Preston's). There was even a $20 two-day shipping fee to make sure that Preston got his transport cover for his backpack in time. Unfortunately, we will be the cute couple with the matching transport covers because that was all that was available for a 70L travel pack.

Now why do we need transport covers for 70L? Since Preston and I first

became an item, I have dragged him into traveling to several places. Even though it was only Utah, Arizona, and parts of California, I have had aspirations for much larger travels. At one point I was even going to go on a solo dog-sledding trip (it was a travel package and I was single and I was desperate to go somewhere). Needless to say, I'm sure my parents were pleased when that trip didn't go through and they could rest their worries that I wouldn't fall into a hole while ice fishing. So because of this travel bug that has infected me, I have dragged Preston, not only onto random trips, but the planning of potential trips and the purchase of an expensive backpacking backpack.

I must say, I do feel pretty badass when we walk around with our backpacks filled and shoes strung onto a carabiner. Even though we have only been to ski at Solitude, to hike the Grand Canyon, to camp in Santa Barbara, or to swim in Lake Tahoe--we have been "practicing" for bigger trips: like Ireland.

It's the first time either of us are traveling internationally, and the first time we will be on a plane together. We are excited for take-off, excited for landing, and excited for 12+ hours of reading, knitting, and setting up our new town on Animal Crossing: New Leaf for the 3DS.

I've tested my backpack since I bought a new, more convenient, front-loading pack. Preston had a broken zipper replaced on his pack to gain back the extra storage he lost because of ridiculous discounts on a dysfunctional product. I've mastered the mechanics of driving a stick shift in case, for whatever reason, we get stuck renting a manual car. However, it still doesn't feel like we are actually going to be thousands of miles away in just three days.

Just three days. Holy shit. Hope we don't forget to pack Farkle.