Now my insurance company says they won't cover any travel vaccinations no matter what my doctor says. It seems to depend on which operator you get when you call. She said it wouldn't be covered because it's a preventative measure. Good thing Cigna's taking a stand against that no-good preventative medicine stuff. I think we can all sleep better at night because of their selfless crusade. Hopefully this won't matter since my doctor friend says he can hook me up for little to nothing.

I also asked the operator whether they'd cover Malaria prophalaxys. It's Malaria prevention pills; I just enjoy talking like that to insurance company weasels. I'm pretty sure she thought I was talking about some strange condom used to prevent Malaria. You should have heard how she said, "no, sir, I don't think we cover that, either."

I've started thinking about Africa. I'd love to get to at least west Africa... like Benin, Mali, Burkina Faso, Nigeria. Maybe also Ethiopia straight down to South Africa on the east side, too. The only problem is that if you're planning on getting anywhere remote, you have to schedule around the weather. During the rainy seasons, many dirt roads apparantly become uselsess. West Africa is good in the late and early months of the year. East Africa during the middle months, and I'm still confused about central Africa. Maybe I'll start keeping track of what times of year are best for each part of the world. Actually, that sounds like work. Maybe not.

I think I finally talked Mom out of renting me a self-storage thing for my stuff. She said I could put my stuff in her barn, but that my TV and stuff must go somewhere drier and cleaner. I think she's agreed we'll sneak the TV and computer into my grandmothers unused garage and put the rest of my stuff in the barn. I don't want anybody funding my irresponibility... unless, of course, it's a cash contribution to the cause.

I also think I have Mom conviced to go with me to see Neil Diamond kick off his first tour in years.... WOO HOO... we're coming to America, baby! It's September in Columbus. Sounds like a movie starring Richard Gere.|