You must be pretty excited about your trip to Europe . When is it that you are leaving ?   In just three weeks , and I am excited . But there are still a few things I need to do before I go .   Like what ?   Like renewing my passport , going to the travel agency to buy my plane ticket and figuring out what to do with my apartment while I'm gone .   You are not going to give it up , are you ?   No way . I'll never find another apartment around here . But I don't like the idea of paying three months ' rent on an empty apartment , either .   I don't blame you . Perhaps you could sublet it .   Yes , but whom to ?   Mmm ... let me think . Oh , I know just a person . An old colleague of mine , Jim Thomas , is coming here to do some research this summer , from June to August .   That's exactly when I'll be away . It sounds ideal , as long as the landlord agrees .   Tell you what , I'll be calling Jim late this week anyway , so I'll mention it to him then . 