We leave for the airport in 90 minutes or so. I’m all packed up and pissed off that the travel blow-dryer is broken. Oh, well. I won’t be stylish. I’m also extremely stressed right now since EVERYONE is on my back… I just want them all to shut up, drive to the airport in silence, and have the three of us get on the plane in continued silence. Then I want to sleep the whole time and wake up when the plane lands. I have sleeping pills for this precise purpose if the need arises.

Back to being stressed: I absolutely feel like I’m going to vomit. I’m just so queasy and dizzy and icky. Not getting sick - it’s a different feeling. I know this one, and it’s definitely stress. I couldn’t even eat dinner… well, for two reasons.

Reason #1: Stress makes my stomach feel like it’s the size of a ping-pong ball and I have no appetite whatsoever. I choked down some raisin bran.

Reason #2: Of all the things my mother could have prepared for dinner tonight, she made a dinner composed entirely of foods that I cannot abide - grilled chicken thighs (I’m a white-meat only girl… and NO SKIN), SCALLOP stir fry (scallops are a huge no - the smell, the texture, the taste - UGH), and a Polish dish called “mizeria” which is sliced cucumbers with sour cream and dill. I hate cucumbers, I dislike sour cream and I like dill - but not in combination with those other two items. So… nothing for me to eat at the table for our last pre-departure dinner. My mother got angry, but I hadn’t said a word. I just got myself cereal and sat and ate with everyone else. I didn’t complain… nothing. Sigh.

In all likelihood, I’ll be able to complete a rant entry or two when I get back to Poland from Tunisia. My family there is relatively wired and I can probably pop online fairly easily.

I haven’t seen my family there since August 2001, so I wouldn’t count on me getting online to rant during the precious hours I have with family.

Last few things to pack - chewing gum for ear-popping help and my iPod which is currently charging. I’m going to get on iTunes right now and make sure I have the latest podcasts with me… perhaps providing me with a few hours of listening pleasure.

Until June…