Meara, I always try to bring a lot of stuff I won't bring back: magazines, books, shoes that are about to die, etc.

Also bring a lot of multipurpose stuff: dresses that can double as beachwear, stuff that goes from day to night easily, etc.

And remember, you'll be moving around a lot and the same people won't see you, probably, from one night to the next. So you can wear the same outfit over and over and over, and just wash it a few times in between. Don't forget to bring some delicate laundry soap for sink washing.

Where exactly are you going?

How go your wedding plans?

Very nicely, when my family doesn't try to get involved. When they do, my patience is tried.

Right now I'm working on music. The string quartet we were gonna use kinda turned me off when they said I should really pick major-key pieces because they're "happier." So now I have to find someone else, or just cave and use these people because easier.

Hapy birthday, Amy! Happy first birthday, Annabel!

meara, I'm so impressed by the round-the-world stuff. I need details -- where are you going?

My Latina students taught me all about quincineras today.

Aren't they *awesome*? I think they sound way better than anything in anglo culture. (Maybe it's like a bat mitzvah, but bat mitzvah girls don't get such frilly dresses as far as I know.)

Meara, Travelsmith.com has lots of versatile, thin, hard-to-wrinkle clothes for just this sort of trip. Even if you don't buy their stuff, the site is worth looking at if only for ideas.

Luggage-wise, I have an Eagle Creek (EagleCreek.com) backpack that can carry a TON but zips apart into a carry-on size bag and a personal bag sized bag-- it works great if you're trying to not check anything (which might be a good idea since they'll have so many opportunities to lose your luggage on this trip). The thing is also sturdy as hell.

It's kinda like a bat mitzvah crossed with a coming out.

Happy birthday, Annabel!

Are we sure that you can't transmit diseases through the internet? I have also had itchy bumps for the last couple of days. I'm taking antihistamines and putting on cortisone cream, but they're still there. Since I haven't been anywhere except in front of the computer and walking around my neighborhood and I don't have any new soap or detergent, I'm not sure what's going on. A rash is a fairly rare side effect of some medicaton I'm on, but why would it start two weeks after I started the medicine? And why would it only be on my legs? My current theories are: the medication, a new response to spring pollen or I've suddenly become allergic to jeans and sweatpants.

Meara's going around the world! I presume you know about TravelSmith [link] the source of all kinds of travel clothes and gear. My only advice comes from the time I came down with a really bad cold in Great Britain: Take with you the medications you'd normally take at home if you got sick. You don't want to be hunting up a pharmacy and trying to figure out the local equivalents.

eta: TravelSmith crosspost

Trudy, I think the first one of those is Halcion - not sure about the others. I'm not one to ask, but my impression is that Ambien is quite different from most other sleep-aids - I'd try to find out more before trying one of them.

For what reason?

Rio, I just wanted to see ya! That's the best reason I know of. No specific one though. I attempted to INVOKE THROUGH ASSCAPS AND PRETENDING I WAS A ROBOT BEEP.

Next time I shall just start making out with everyone.

Brenda, that's what I thought. I'm very unhappy with my plan at the moment.

Actually, it's not ENTIRELY uncovered, but it's $50 a throw. I might decide that its worth it since I only use it two or three times a week anyway. sighhhhh

Halcion is OLD. Yeah, all of those meds are old-school, and not as effective as Ambien. It works in a totally different way, but since I'm not a doc or chemist, I can't break it down for you.

I can't belive your insurance co. won't cover it! That's crazy. Ask about Sonata, then.