Yes, I have a bunch of Willie CD's for the truck....no better road music than the Red Headed Stranger, in my book. Besides, we're headin' west.....what should we listen to? Lady Gaga? No, I've got Willie and Reba and Linda Rondstat....and maybe just a few opera CD's as well!
The clothes are all but packed...just have to make a trip to the cleaner's for some cotton slacks. (Why, yes, I get my cotton slacks dry cleaned....I admit to being seriously crease challenged! They just look, and stay, so much crisper when I don't wash them myself. So, I don't get my nails done, and this is my little luxury.) I have always known the truth of the old saying that stuff expands to fit the space allowed, and my bags are proof. But, understand, we are going to be experiencing temperature ranges from 100º in southern Utah to 45º in Montana, so we have to be prepared for just about anything. I've got some polar fleece, and a couple of sweaters, even a Gore Tex rain jacket. Still, I'm hoping that summer does make an appearance in the more northern reaches of our itinerary: I remember how unpleasantly cold it was in Yellowstone last time we were there! Besides, we have the entire back end of a huge Toyota Tundra pickup. Why not?
Shelley liked my packing system, so I'll share it here. I'm using my big rolling duffle (Costco, about $40) with all my shoes (four pairs: hiking shoes, Merrill sandals, Tevas and some dressy sandals) and outerwear packed on the lower level for easy access. The main compartment has most of the clothes I'm bringing, but what I do is to pack things by "outfit". I lay out slacks or jeans, for example, folded along the crease line, and lay a neatly folded tee shirt or shirt on top. I then fold in half and roll up. Things stay amazingly wrinkle-free this way and I can reach in and just grab the roll of clothes for the next day. See, the big duffle is staying in the back of the truck. I have another smaller (only slightly) duffle that will get dragged into the motel at night. In that I have packed all my craft items (more about that in a minute), my cosmetics, body wash, shampoo, underoos, jammies, etc, etc. There is room on top, so the next day's clothes will just get transferred, when we stop for the night, from the bag that stays to the bag that goes in. That's the theory, anyway. We'll see how it works in practice.
As for those crafts. I have car knitting, of course. I've changed my mind several times, but have finallysettled on a cute garter stitch jacket/cardigan by Black Pearl. I had already wound up all the skeins of charcoal Cascade 220 and decided it would be perfect car knitting: garter stitch, no patterns, pretty straight up to the armholes, five pieces...perfect. When we get back it will get the contrast trim around the edges. The grown-up version has a pocket, but I will eliminate that for now, as I've always wanted to try an EZ afterthought pocket, anyway. Good opportunity! But, I know that won't be enough to keep me interested for the whole trip, so I've also packed my little Weavette 4" loom and a few skeins of Noro. I have a bag of squares that were the start of an afghan and hope to add a few on the trip, although I'm not sure that big old weaving needle is the safest thing to be using in the truck at 80 mph! Good for the hotels, and especially once we get to Park City where we plan to, well, park it for a few days! I also have my beautiful

Golding silver ring spindle with the inlay turquoise and some of Anne's Wooly Wonka roving to play with. Do you think I need more? I am bringing the iPhone with games and books and Facebook and Typepad, and will have the MacBook, too.
Now, the question I'm facing today is, to "carry" or not to "carry". And by that I mean gun, of course. We both have our Utah CC permits, and with the exception of New York, Kansas, and New Mexico, all the states we are traveling through westbound, honor either our CT permit or the UT permit. For those exceptions, we will have to stop and revert to federal transport laws which involve locking the unloaded weapon with a trigger lock and putting in a locked case in the trunk (in this case the back of the truck). Already I'm wondering if it's worth it. I have an additional problem, and that is the concealing part of "concealed carry". Guys have it easier than women, what with jackets and open shirts, etc. I still haven't figured this out yet. I almost bought a fanny pack specifically designed for concealed carry at Hoffman's last weekend, but then I decided against it because I never wear a fanny pack! So, I probably won't, but I'm still thinking about it. I might just lock up my cute little Browning "plinker"...the Ruger New Bearcat revolver, just in case a shooting opportunity, such as a range somewhere, presents itself.
Here's the strange thing, though. It is now legal, in theory, to "carry" in National Parks. Obama said so. However. You cannot carry into visitor centers or ranger posts. See above for securing the guns in the car/truck. In addition, I learned that you may not discharge the weapon (not that we had plans to go hooting through the parks shooting at the sky, don't you know) except during hunting season. And, my personal favorite, at least in Grand Teton NP, you may not use your weapon as defense against the wildlife. So, what? You're supposed to THROW it at the oncoming angry bear? Not that I could hit a bear, either way, but sheesh. What is the point? I guess to defend yourself against the human kind of predator, who probably doesn't frequent the parks anymore now that he knows he might not have defenseless victims since Obama signed the bill that lets people carry in National Parks to defend themselves. Some of this crap really has me scratching my head, I tell you. So, gun friends, what would you do? Take something just in case? Let the Old Man defend us from the dangers that lurk ahead? (It all sort of begs the question, though, why did I go through that four hour safety course and spend all that money for a permit that would allow me to take my gun out to Utah only to leave it home?)
Better get moving....still lots to do before we point it west. Updates from the road when possible!