In defense of disorganization....

So Mikey's a bit of a planner; I'm definitely not, much to the chagrin of my travel companion, my girlfriend Megan, my family and pretty much everyone else who's had to live with me in a non-professional setting. However, for a trip like this, I think there's something to be said for improvisation.

Yes, we're two ignorant Americans who have never been to Spain, France or the UK before and barely speak any of the native languages, English included.

And yes, we have little clue how to get anywhere aside from that the Paris subway is supposed to rock and I can generally walk without hurting myself. Plus, I'm pretty sure "taxi" is pretty universally understood.

But to two complete newbies overseas, we have the benefit that everything is new. Made a wrong turn? Oh, look, another awesome new street to explore. Can't find the cafe we were pointed to? Probably another around the corner. Can't find our hotel again? Sleep is overrated anyway.

Or perhaps my lonely planet Paris guide book put it better:

Above all [Paris] is a city to discover...Leave [the book] in your hotel or packed away in your rucksack from time to time, and go out and find your own Paris. Jump on the metro or a bus and gt off at a place you've never heard of. Wander through a neighborhood where French mixes easily with Arabic, Bengali or Vietnamese, poke your head into little shops, invite yourself to play basket (basketball) in a park or just lounge on a cafe terrace with a glass of wine and watch Paris pass by. It won't be long before you fall in love with your own Paris and discover that it is enchanting almost everywhere, at any time...

That's how I like to roll.

That said, it's T-3.5 hours and I should probably go pack.

Momma told me...

So far, im about 19 hours out from leaving for my first international trip, and ive accomplished about as much as a quadripalegic in the high jump. I was supposed to be doing something with my boy, but his girl went all psycho again, so i got sold out, and dpm is over at his place arguing with his tivo, named fido. We have nothing planned for the trip, except stupid shit we wish to accomplish: ordering freedom fries instead of french fries, etc. We dont even know how we're getting to the airport tomorrow. I can think of better ways for a trip to start, but heres the positives: I have two great and beautiful tour guides if i have any problems while over there, and both of which have bank accounts that i can beg for access to, My boy dpm looks to be more relaxed then ive seen in years, so hopefully that continues into the trip, and Besides a power converter, ive bought everything a guy could possibly want for a trip to Europe, or at least i think... SO, Since most of the people who would read this have probably traveled more than I, i shall use you guys to my advantage: Here's a list of everything i plan to pack so you can inform me what i am missing....

Jeans, T-shirts, dress shirts, slacks, Leather Jacket, 2 sweat shirts, pair of sleeping shorts, 2 pairs of sneakers, underarmor, boxers, thermal underwear, socks, Ipod, Ipod wall charger, Ipod extra battery, headphones, passport, deoderant, toothbrush, toothpaste, hairgel, sudoku book, comfort stuff for plane, sleeping pills for plane, 480 in Euro, camera, celly, celly charger, magazine, gum, and a partridge in a pear treeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

So, i ask the audience (yeah, im using one of my lifelines, screw you for judging me) what in the hell am i missing. Also, if you guys know of anything i should go see while over there, fill me in, with nothing planned and the continent of Europe at my disposal, im thinking i might need some advice... Fill me in people, i would love for yall to lend a hand before the fun REALLY begins....