T-minus 1 week and counting. I now have a pile of techy stuff on my dining room table ready to pack: camera, check; netbook, check; i-pod, check; usb cords ( 5, retractable and non), check; solar charger, check; headphone/mic, check; oh, yeah - battery charger, check; converter/adapter, check; coffee grinder (don't laugh), check; french press, check; glow-in-the-dark scorpions, check - wait a second - I must have hit the wrong pile...; still need: batteries, phone charger, first aid kit, guide book, toiletries, clothes, knitting... gotta make sure I can take knitting on the Air New Zealand flights...okay, as long as it is on plastic needles ( yuck). I guess that is enough for today.