Completely unrelated to the trip.

In fact, I can't even utilize this on the trip (except for very short periods when I'm uploading things to the site or emailing). But I just had to point out Pandora, a new service for finding music based on music you already like. It's free, it runs in your browser, and it works extremely well. Check it out.

Another similar site: Last.fm. I like Last.fm's organization scheme better, but Pandora works in your browser, and Last.fm requires you to download their software.

Miami Beach

Miami Beach lifeguard
Originally uploaded by Gaz Errant.

Over the weekend I spent an afternoon on Miami Beach. It was a gorgeous day - 80 degrees, breezy, and the water was perfect. Here's a few pictures.

More new gear

More new gear
Originally uploaded by Gaz Errant.

And here's another exciting entry in the "stuff Gaz bought" saga. Although this one includes items that were either "borrowed" from my parents or bought by them. Thanks, Mom and Dad!

As before, click on the photo to head to Flickr and see details on all the items.

Where's Gaz?

Well, it's been over a week since the last post - I've been down in sunny Florida relaxing on a long weekend. Got a few pictures to share and a few new items of gear, so look for a couple updates later this week.

A monster of a tripod alternative?

One of the items I've been thinking of purchasing for the trip is a mini tripod,as I'd like to get the best photos I can on the trip. Now, however, I'm considering this instead. As you can see from this Gizmodo review, Monsterpod is a small lump of goo that apparently replaces your tripod. It can stick to any hard surface (or so they claim). I'm going to do a bit more research on this product, but if it actually performs as well as it claims, I'll probably buy one for the trip.

Mmmm, delicious.

New link on the sidebar - my del.icio.us links. del.icio.us is a social bookmarking site - you add your bookmarks and tag them with appropriate words (for example, travel, rtw, and blog would be some appropriate tags for gazerrant). Others can view your bookmarks and search for sites by their tags. My del.icio.us bookmarks will be here. There's nothing there yet, but as I find new sites related to travel, gear, or anything else I find interesting, I'll be posting them.

Paragon shopping spree!

Paragon shopping spree
Originally uploaded by Gaz Errant.

Yesterday I went to Paragon Sporting Goods in Manhattan to purchase some gear - here you can see the results. I got a towel, a sleep sheet, a travel shirt, and several other items. Click on the photo to go to Flickr, where I've tagged the photo with information on each piece of gear.

More technical difficulties.

Unfortunately, I made a small error while updating the site, and as a result I had to re-load my template. So now the links, my countdown clock, my visitor counter, etc., etc., have to be added back onto the site. This will happen in the next few days. I've learned my lesson: ALWAYS BACKUP!

New banner, obviously.

I fully expect that the first thing you notice upon visiting today or later is the new banner at the top. Please feel free to give me your comments on it! And if you don't see it, let me know so I can fix it.

Technical Difficulties...

Just so anyone reading knows, www.gazerrant.com may be down for the next few days, as I do a little work on the web presence. The blog will still be accessible at gazerrant.blogspot.com.

*UPDATED* www.gazerrant.com should now redirect you back to the blog.

Wayfaring Maps

Wayfaring seems like an interesting resource. Right now it's still a little wonky - I could not get the map to show my route going west from L.A. to Seoul (apparently Wayfaring has problems with the International Date Line right now). Hopefully it will get the bugs worked out, though, and I'll be using it to display a routemap and points of interest from the trip.

SCUBA

For a while now, I've been planning on getting SCUBA certification before my trip. However, time and money have both been an issue lately. I think I may have stumbled upon a solution, though: I'm just going to get certified on my trip.

And this is where I'm going to do it.

Dashboard test

Just a quick test post to see if my new Dashboard Blogger widget works correctly.

The List

So I've used Google's new GooglePages function to put up a quick pack list. It's incomplete, and I'll be updating it more this weekend. But go ahead and check it out! I've also added a link on the sidebar.

the iBook

the iBook
Originally uploaded by Gaz Errant.

More new gear - this time it's my new laptop! The old laptop, though still great, was at the end of its warranty, so I decided to get something newer, faster, and with a 3-year warranty. Applecare is great, as they have technicians all over the world. If my iBook goes crazy in Malaysia, it's no problem.

The Specs: 12" screen, 4.9 pounds, 1.33 Ghz G4 processor.

New gear!

IMGP1149
Originally uploaded by Gaz Errant.

Behold my new travel sandals, sitting on my mess of a desk. They're Keen Newports (Keen is the brand name, not an adjective. Though they are indeed keen). I'm only bringing two pairs of shoes on my trip, and this is one of them. The other is a pair of Timberland trail shoes.

I just quit my job.

Well, I gave notice, really. I wanted to end things on very good terms with my employer, so I just gave what amounts to 3 months' notice. My bosses took it very well - they seemed rather jealous of the trip. And they were both very supportive.

Between the doctor visits, talking to my building management, and giving notice at my job, things are happening very quickly now. May's going to be here before I know it. The trip has always had somewhat of an unreal, dreamlike quality to it. That quality is fast fading, and it's being replaced with the knowledge that this is real, and that I'm leaving the country for most of a year in only three months.

Good news and bad news.

Well, bad news first (always the best way to go): due to various circumstances, I'm having to put myself on a much more stringent budget until May in order to save the amount of money I was expecting to save. In fact, I may not actually save quite as much as I expected by the time I leave. It's unfortunate but unavoidable.

So I'm cutting back on any costs I can. No more eating out, no more Netflix, no more buying ANYTHING that isn't for the trip. I have two short trips planned between now and May that I'm still going to go on - but only because I've already made the plans and paid for the tickets.

Now, the good news: I started getting my vaccinations this morning. Wonder of wonders, my insurance apparently covers them. I had heard horror stories about the cost of vaccinations, and that insurance generally didn't cover them. But mine does. I got a Polio booster, Tetanus booster, Typhoid, and the first Hep B shot. I go back in a month to get the second Hep B (I might get Yellow Fever and Meningitis then just because my insurance covers it).

I've also bought a pair of pants! Ex Officio Fatigue travel pants - REI.com was having an amazing clearance sale, so the (normally $100) pants were $17. Of course, since I bought them online, I didn't have a chance to try them on, but at that price I'm not too worried. I can always send them back if they really don't fit.

Meerkats!

Meerkats!
Originally uploaded by Gaz Ebo.

Thought I'd spice things up with a post from my Disney photos. The weekend was great - hit all the parks, plus we saw La Nouba (the Cirque du Soleil show at Disney). At Animal Kingdom, not only did we get a GREAT safari (see all the pictures on Flickr), but we got to ride the new Expedition Everest ride (which doesn't officially open until April).

A world of difference from what my upcoming trip will be like, but it was a great weekend nonetheless.

100 Days, Part III

Ok, so 100 days (once again) passed over the weekend. I was at Disney World, so I couldn't post. But things are progressing nicely.

This morning I had my physical. I'll be waiting for bloodwork results for a few days, but otherwise I'm in great shape (although I could stand to lose a little weight). I've got an appointment with a travel health specialist this Friday to start getting my vaccinations out of the way.

I've contacted my apartment building's leasing office, and it seems like breaking my lease may be my best option. They confirmed that they wouldn't give me any problems subletting, but I think that it would be far more trouble than it's worth (unless I find out that someone I know well needs an apartment). The building is full, so it's likely my apartment would get rented as soon as I moved out. I'd just end up losing my security deposit.