Zmayhem has no Winnie the Pooh, but we do have Wolves in the Walls, so, Fay, don't worry about packing it. I'll make sure that our copy is at the HS waiting for you.

Cool! Bless you, JZ - and Deena! Because I'm packing Right Now, AINotFG, I can tell you. I fear I may need 2 suitcases. Damn it. And I'm currently asking myself whether it isn't utterly stupid to take my laptop all the way to MEET MY VIRTUAL FRIENDS IN THE FLESH. What, am I planning on sitting in a corner and typing to you all, rather than eating candy off you making out with smalltalk with you all? No. (Or, you know, if I need to, I bet I can cadge a go on somebody else's machine. Insh'allah.)

So...laptop stays here. Which leaves me with honkin' big suitcase, sheesha bag and hand luggage. And a heap of things that presently haven't been crushed into any of the above. Including shoes.

Crap. This SO isn't one of those take-a-change-of-knickers-and-a-toothbrush trips. In my head, at least. And I'm already being ruthless about handbags and hats. (No hats.)

So...28 hours or so before I head to the airport!!!!

David's input

Heheheheheheheheheheh. Deliberate or not, that was very good indeed.

And yep - tenses/form. Have had/had. All of which would be totally relevant if my tongue hadn't firmy socketed into my cheek...

beth, excellent. We'll hook up.

but David's original statement was "I'll have a baby by then," rather than "I'll have had a baby by then."

Yup. It's still kind of mindboggling. Here we are, right now, with our home life composed of Hec, me, Emmett, and a bulgy spot just below my bellybutton that is playing havoc with my wardrobe choices. And we can look ahead just a few months to Jon and FAQ!Wife's visit and say, "Ah. By that time, we'll have a completely new human living with us." It's one thing to say "A hundred years from now, all new people!" But "Five months from now, an all new person! Right here in our apartment!"

We're both kinda boggly.

In re packing: multipurpose clothing is your friend, or anyhow mine. Three skirts and three tops of varying degrees of fancitude that all work with each other = 9 days' worth of clothing, at least two weeks' if you know you'll have access to washing machines and you don't mind wearing the same thing several times. Also, the smallest number of shoes possible, and strappy sandals are wonderful because they take up so blessedly little space.

Also also, wear as much as possible while actually traveling. If you have a hat or a big foofy-skirted dress or some other elaborate item you want to bring, wear it on the plane both coming and going. That way you never have to worry about how to pack it.

Signed, Took 5 costume changes plus a vintage dress with full crinolines to Vegas with just one carry-on and no checked luggage. Also spent two weeks in Spain with one carry-on.

And I'm currently asking myself whether it isn't utterly stupid to take my laptop all the way to MEET MY VIRTUAL FRIENDS IN THE FLESH. What, am I planning on sitting in a corner and typing to you all

Fay. You've been to an F2F before. There are laptops aplenty. It is laptop-o-rama.

Signed, Took 5 costume changes plus a vintage dress with full crinolines to Vegas with just one carry-on and no checked luggage.

No ... checked ... luggage ...

Nope, I don't understand those words.

I'm debating checking or carrying on. regrettably, one of the reasons to consider checking is shoes. When you wear an 11, they take up a lot of room in your suitcase.

No ... checked ... luggage ...

Nope, I don't understand those words.

My hatred of baggage claim knows no bounds. Comes of going to college back east and several times having to head up to school with nothing but the clothes on my back and a vague promise that my luggage would follow once they deiced the baggage hold door. Also having to wait a full day to get my sweet bunny back because they misdirected him to Memphis (he was fine -- slept and munched alfalfa nonstop for 36 hours; I was a wreck).

Signed, Took 5 costume changes plus a vintage dress with full crinolines to Vegas with just one carry-on and no checked luggage.

It doesn't count if your carry-on luggage is a TARDIS.

If I check one bag, I can carry my laptop and my purse more easily. And bring more shoes.

It doesn't count if your carry-on luggae is a TARDIS.

Pffft. Duffel bag. Plus one of those nice sturdy vintage makeup cases instead of a purse (big enough to hold the actual purse, makeup, meds and toiletries plus a paperback or Everyman novel, but still small enough to slip under the seat in front of me).

I am a MASTER of stripped-down, no-nonsense, Clean Sweep-style packing. Tremble before my fu.