Booked!

Yup, it's even more official. Booked my ticket. Santiago, return. Leaving October 10th (departure for adventure = best birthday present ever), returning December 22, with a jaunt to Easter Island for five days just before the end. In between I anticipate an epic overland loop to San Pedro de Atacama, Salta, Cordoba, Buenos Aires, Peninsula Valdes, Ushuaia, and various unspeakably spectacular Patagonian locales. You are strongly encouraged to join me (lobbying will commence in earnest over the coming weeks and months), and failing that to send my way recommendations and connections of any and all sorts.

Now... to learn me some Spanish.

Rock over London.

Signed, sealed, delivered!

Today I got official approval from my director to take extended time off this fall. Eleven weeks in all. From Thanksgiving through to Christmas, to be precise. Mostly unpaid, obviously. Such is the working life. In any case I anticipate I'll be visiting Flight Centre tomorrow.

It was remarkably straightforward. Like, super simple. One of those situations where the matter-of-factness of how it all transpires, the lack of obstacles, is completely at odds with your conception of the situation and how complicated it must be. Nope. Easy. There weren't even any HR forms to fill out. Mention to manager, hear back from manager, formally submit request to director, hear back from director. Done and done. What? "Human Resources". Yes, I work in a cubicle. No, I can't see outside. What can I say. Today, at least, it's totally worth it.

I am super, super pumped.