Paper paper everywhere and not a chance to think. I'm going through all the Cruise Connections papers because the trip may be about to happen, at last. I received the new travel document today, a catalogue of the truncated tour and its excursions. I have a pile of paper connected with it, including all my shots and pills and preparation and a whole file on what to pack. I must simplify and pare down and be ready to focus on each day as it comes. A blog is very good for that. It should be like a sundial, I think, counting only the sunny hours. Is that possible?

Well, I love paper in most of its forms but not this disparate heap of noodges, directions, information, instructions and reminders. My brain feels quite mushy from all the handling and decision-making. I'm trying to finish everything so I can go lightly.

It feels, in a way, as if I'm preparing to step off the edge of the earth. We'll see.

Another time I might deal with the moods (conditional and subjunctive) and the tenses (perfect and pluperfect). Right now I want to consider OF. I think I've complained before, wondering about "not that big of a deal" and "it's about the both of you". Why did OF start appearing in those phrases? "Big deal" is okay and so is "both of you" - no OF necessary. CORRECTION: I mean THE in both of you - gratuitous and unnecessary. Ohm, dear. that's careless of me. Ah well.... Then there's bored. You'll hear people saying they're "bored of something". I'm bored with hearing that. It should be WITH, not OF. I think at some time being tired was confused with being bored. You can be tired of something; I don't think you can be bored of something.

It's never-ending. The price of eternal vigilance is eternal vigilance.