Five weeks and one day. That’s how long it takes to get an “expedited” passport, which is just a hair outside the “two to five weeks” I was told at the P.O. July 16.

So plan accordingly, world travelers, if you’re putting together a fall itinerary that includes a trip to the Freindly Fun Franks hostel in Riga, Latvia—-”Party Captial of the Baltics.” It won a Hoscar in 2005. I’m just saying.