I am finally down to packing. I have spent more time looking for silly gifts and making obsessive crafts than I have thinking about what to wear. I am ashamed but I am bringing one whole suitcase of CRAP. Presents that are inside jokes, food that I hope I will be able to carry in under the personal import guidelines that is critical to what I plan to cook while I am there, books to read and to give away, CD booklets to get signed, other nonsense.

Unfortunately I have already read 1/3 of my airplane book, so I will have to find another one. This is called A Year of Living Biblically and it is wonderful. The author was raised nominally Jewish but with no real religious upbringing, and decides - really as a gimmick to get a book deal - to try to follow every rule in the Bible for a year. I think he ended up with 72 pages of rules. But it is very funny, and much more thoughtful that I had imagined. He is respectful to everyone he interviews or visits for his projects, even when they are loony, and comes away with a better understanding of the biblical rules vs the teachings of justice and mercy. I have the last 100 pages of Cryptonomicon to go, and I have been dragging them out and savoring them, and then all I have left are cheap thrillers.

I bought an easy knitting project - no more making humungous sweaters because I was travelling and didn't have a ruler. I can do this one in my sleep, jet lagged, or otherwise incapacitated.

Tomorrow I go to physical therapy in the morning for my last visit (totally cured anyway) then I am going to go download every journal article by the scientists I am visiting and print them out for cramming. I have read them through the years, but not all at once and I need to do this to get the big picture of what they are working on now. I cannot stand people who don't do their homework for meetings like this, and I am going to have my act together. Tuesday I tie up loose ends at work, pay bills, etc. at home, and get totally packed. Then Wednesday evening I am off. I am going to fast during the day Wednesday to reset my biorhythms, per research on jet lag. Viagra is also supposed to help jet lag (I kid you not) but I don't believe I am going to go to my doctor and ask for any of that. A friend who is a physician gave my husband some as a joke in a meds gift basket for his birthday a few years ago - the you're getting old sampler - but I immediately tossed it. Look who's sorry now.

I am wearing basic stuff for my meetings, but I cannot decide about the shows. My typical attire is so boring, and I have a dress in my closet that is calling my name. It is not a granny dress per se, but it looks like something Laura Petrie would've worn. I need to try it on, as with all this non-running I am getting chunky :( But I wear black for a reason - it doesn't show coffee spills or draw attention to itself, and I don't know if I could really wear a lavender dress without someone else similarly attired along for moral support, or several people. Maybe we all need to wear dresses in Adelaide? Look like we are going to a proper tea party. And behave like it too, of course.

I am going to bed now, but must thing that it is really afternoon and get myself psyched for the time change. Next time I am going to leave on a Monday so I can spend all weekend staying up all night and resynching myself. 72 more hours till flight leaves LA to Melbourne!!! Woohoo!!!