Hopefully, my next Yellowstone photos will contain something more than this tree and snow . . . wolves, elk, river otters, me in a hot spring, drinking dandelion wine . . . ok, strike the dandelion part.

I have done all that I can to prepare for this trip - I have down filled clothes, thinsulate clothes, polartec clothes and garish handknit wool clothes. I have clavas, gloves, boots, long underwear and heat packs. What this all means, is that the temperature will be mild and I will look like an idiot walking around in insulated pants.

My amazon order of cheesey british crime thrillers failed to arrive, so I will be bringing Jane Eyre along with a Henry James doubleheader of Turn of the Screw and the Aspern Papers. Instead of reading either, I will likely pick up some page turner at the airport, or left at the cabins by a past guest, or watch missed episodes of the Office and 30 Rock downloaded on my iPod.

I don't have a portable in progress knitting project, so I will bring along some sock yarn and double pointed needles. I did have one sock half done, but realized as I was turning the heel (LA will understand) that the pattern was wrong, and, thus, the turn was off-center, so I "frogged" it (rip-it, rip-it) and need to start over.

My brother and the guy downstairs will be dog-sitting the girls for me, so they get to stay at home while I am gone. Oh, and there are only 10 shopping days left for Hanna's 7th birthday on the 26th. Gift ideas include food, toys, bones, and food.

I'll be back on the 22nd, and I assume I won't have internet access before then, so until then, be happy all! And remember that it is "Practice Random Acts of Kindness Week."