I'm going where voices fill the air

I had a dream last night that I'm not supposed to try and finish a rough draft before vacation, I am only supposed to focus all my attention on my fellowship application -- the original plan was rewrite and revise the first chapter as part of this draft-finishing, but it hasn't been coming together as quickly which has made me scared to write, which then puts me further behind. When I woke and realized, it would be much better and more useful to make a perfect 30 page opening chapter, as it might land me a great fellowship, I felt much more relaxed and open and I got started right away. This fellowship would be for next year, and its sort of unexpected for my current plan, but maybe it would also be perfect. Its specifically geared towards writers with an advanced degree in creative writing who have not yet been published in their genre. I would only have to teach one workshop per term and give one reading. I think its definitely smart to spend these next two weeks polishing up an application to them, since its almost solely based on writing sample. I'm also wanting to submit two short stories before I leave on vacation next Friday too, but that's not even as hard, since those stories are done, I just need to research a place to send them and do it.

I leave for Miami in 11 days! I just faxed off the lease agreement for the condo I'm renting! Its a studio with a nice bed and leather couch and tv with cable and a full kitchen, and its the rate that I was willing to pay for less-nice hotel room. And there's a pool in the condo complex. I realized recently, this is really my first real vacation totally alone. I have travelled alone to places but usually crashed at someone's house -- sometimes I barely knew the person and we didn't interact much (or we became crash-course friends while I slept at their house), other times the purpose of my trip is to spend time with the people I'm staying with (i.e. every trip to California). But this time its me, and only me, for five days. I'm still contemplating whether I'll take the laptop or not. Except I know I'd just end up going to an internet cafe to check in and paying money, so I should just bring it. I think it will be handy if nothing else for googling places to go and getting directions. And maybe buying a used bike off craigslist for cheaper than the cost of a rental. Then I can sell it back before I leave for 2/3 of the price I paid.

I need to buy sunscreen! And start planning outfits! Or rather, my two nice outfits, since most of the time I'm going to be in swim trunks and flip flops. Vacation. Oh man.