Like my brother’s new guitar? It’ll be much easier for traveling than a full sized acoustic, and that odd little body packs a surprisingly full sound.

I’m traveling lighter, too: I decided to get a compact digital camera rather than lug around my not-so-subtle DSLR. And by bringing my laptop, I hope to avoid the dreaded “it’s been six months and I still haven’t uploaded any photos” phenomenon.

It’s been two years since my field school and I still haven’t posted all of those yet.

We’ve done some preliminary packing and a whole lot of clothes shopping this week. Making a list, checking it twice, you know the deal. We’ve been shopping for my sister as well: she’ll be spending two weeks in California while my brother and I are in Africa. So that sound you hear?

It’s the rejoicing of two parents who will have the house all to themselves.