Well, looks like summer's drawing to a close, which means that I can look forward to being able to shut my bedroom windows soon so the bugs can stop getting in at night and eating me raw. 

And WHY do the bugs come in at night? Because of the giant gaping hole Tom clawed out of my window screen ("I'll make my own pet door!"). Granted, that thing gets lots of use-- I'm on the second floor, but he still manages to get in/out just fine daily. Cats, man. 

Well, I'll be away for a little bit. I hope for smooth sailin'. 

Latest update on the ole painting: 

Oh yeah. I have a blog. This thing is still here. Okay then. 

I've been admittedly neglecting working on the ole painting because 
1) I've been busy
2) I've been frustrated (with it)
3) I've been itinerary planning

August is going to be crazy. Internship ends at the end of the week, and then my body will physically be traveling for thousands and thousands of miles, which I guess is good, seeing as how it's been a while since I've traveled (unless if to NJ or MA or MD or PA counts... I guess it's been a while since I've left this coast). 

Going upstate to Potsdam mid-next week (probably Wednesday night-- like, a literal 9-hour bus ride, according to trailwaysny.com's bus schedule) to meet up with Colin. 
Driving down to Cape Cod on Friday morning for the weekend. 
Driving to Reading on Sunday. 
Driving to NYC either Monday or Tuesday. 
Then we have to PACK. Our flight to Israel is on Tuesday night, arrival in the Netherlands to spend a looovely day lay-overing on Wednesday early afternoon, arrival in Tel Aviv eeeeearly Thursday morning (like, 2:30AM). 

From there we've planned one night in Tel Aviv (and when I say "we've", I mean "I've," haha-- but it's totally mutually beneficial, having me plan everything. I enjoy the HELL out of planning, and Colin hates planning anything). Then 2 nights in Eilat. 3 nights in Masada (with day trip to the Dead Sean/Ein Gedi). 4 nights in Jerusalem. 1 more night in Tel Aviv, and flight back late the next day. 

Get back on the same day as I flew out, thanks to the magic of time-zones. Recover for a day. Go to first day of fall classes the next morning!


This thing miiiight be on hold for a while, but here's how it's been progressing:

But alas, the dog was just... no good. So here's one last sight of it...

...Before I took wiped him out. 

I tried again in a few days (okay, more like a week): 

So yeah... very very very much still a work in progress.