It's 11:30 now . . . about 3:30 in the morning in Morocco. I feel largely unprepaired. Sean bought me a travel guide to Morocco. I was in Barnes & Nobel's on Saturday and it didn't even occur to me to check such a book out.

I'll tell you the one thing I am worried about: whether my skin condition will cause problems at customs. Most doctors aren't familiar with my condition, never mind customs agents. Would you let someone into your country with half a dozen blisters visible and they can't offer any documentation as to what it is? On the bright side, there aren't really any large blisters visible--I have one or two on each hand at the moment, but they're small and being treated so I doubt anyone will think much of them. But it's one of those last-minute things that I'm realzing may cause complications.

Packing went easily enough, I mostly tranfered the laundry I did this morning from the basket to the suitcase. Tomorrow I show up to work in beat-up slacks and a t-shirt. (I'd like to push my luck and make it one of my concert T's, but I'm thinking one of my "nice" t-shirts will be the better choice.) I still have to pack toiletries, and I'm debating whether I want to bring ne of my duffle bags on top of the suitcase. All my clothes fit in the suitcase with enough room to spare, but I really don't have a medium-sized travel bag--the closest I have is my workbag, and that's probably going to be loaded with books for the plane ride.

Nothing like waiting to the last minute to realize all the little things. And it's not like if I forget something I can just go to the local K-Mart and pick something up.

Would now be a good time to admit how frickin' nervous I am? I know it'll be great, don't get me wrong. But I'm traveling, solo, out of the country. At least it's all business and not a vacation.

. . .

And how bizarre a world has it become when I can write a sentence like that and be glad?

Well, it's now midnight. I may stay up half an hour more so I can be nice and tired by the time I get on the plane. Next time I write it'll be next Sunday, or perhaps Monday.

Wish me luck....