While I suddenly feel an overwhelming sense of calm after reading Daniel’s entry I can NOT allow it to lull me into a sense of complacency…

I’ll just go ahead and throw this out there since all wll be revealed in a couple of days: I am pregnant. Not the cute kind of little bump in the front, happy and glowing pregnant but smack in the middle of week 29 and starting to get a liiiiiittttllle bit on the grumpy side.

I dicovered this morning that in honor of my departure my feet decided to expand sometime over the past couple months and the boots I purchased to trudge my bulk through the slush/snow are now a bit on the tight side. Hmmm.  An emergency? Not really but definitely an inconvenience. If I arrive with wellingtons on you’ll know I was unsuccessful in exchanging winter boots during the spring.

On to more newsworthy topics!

I am really looking forward to meeting with everyone at MSU who is partcipating in the collaboration.  Now that finals are over I’ve been able to think more about the proposed stories and am getting my head wrapped around the project. I just wish I had more quotes!!! I’ve been trying to get people to talk with me the past week and a half while juggling the finals schedule and it has been a a bit of a challenge.  Fingers crossed I can get some people to respond via email over the next week while we’re there.

Well, better sign off and head to the department store. Though my boots may not be white patent leather, I know Nancy Sinatra would be sympathetic all the same.

What to do before arriving in Moscow:

1. Start “To-Do” List (whew! Glad I got that out of the way!)

2. Pack suit case

3. Agonize over choice of shirts. (“I don’t care if it can’t be understood in Russian, my ‘Pen Fifteen’ tee is a classic!”)

4. Pack toiletries. You can NEVER have too many toiletries.

5. Stop exploding shaving cream from staining ‘Pen Fifteen’ shirt. “F&*#ing too many toiletries…”

6. Marvel at packing job.

7. Let Dad, a seasoned traveler, admire your packing skillz. “That’s WAY too small for nine days. Let me get you my suitcase.”

8. Move items to Gigantor, the suitcase from the Humongorealm. Marvel at how pro your suitcase is.

9. Realize that you’re not riding in a limo, you’re riding in a European-style (read: clown) car.

10. Move items back to small suitcase.

11. Pick books for airplane ride.

12. “Oh, man, I’ll look so impressive if I exit the plane with a dog-eared copy of Dostoyevsky!”

13. “Oh, man, I’m going to look like such a sycophantic prick if I exit the plane with a dog-eared copy of Dostoyevsky.”

14. Pack Michael Chrichton.

15. Remind self to wear winter coat to airport.

16. Leave for airport.

17. Realize you forgot winter coat.

18. As long as you’re back home, print off hard-copies of articles.

19. Printer is out of ink.

20. “Screw hard copies! I gots a mind like a steel trap!”

21. Leave for airport again.

22. “What were my topics?”

23. Buy airport breakfast. Congratulations! Half your travel money is now spent!

24. Learn Russian.