THE STICKER ON THE SIDE OF THE CHEST WAS PUT THERE DURING IRAQ WAR DAYS WHEN I LIVED IN SAN FRANCISCO.

It was 60° in Narsarsuaq, Greenland today, our home away from home for almost a week starting July 7th. And it was sunny. Which is not what I want to hear—I am longing for a modest amount of weather drama. But I cannot hope for clouds because they would surely block out the distant glacier and the dazzling flotilla of icebergs posing in icy brilliance just for us. London may have to satisfy my rainy-day desires.

Last errand done; biggest share of stuff—lots of stuff—packed; Surfy, my Surface laptop/tablet has had a tune-up; most of what I needed to do at work got done; and the books and snacks have been acquired. About the snacks…seems silly yes? Where is a place in the world that doesn’t have all manner of munchies for sale? You would be amazed at how often you wind up with your stomach emitting pleading little growls for sustenance when everything is closed or weird or too far away. And what if we are weak from hunger and find ourselves on a domestic flight in the U.S.? You can see why Nature Valley’s peanut bars are getting in suitcase and backpack corners. And a Costco size package of dried mangoes from the Philippines, though bulky and heavy is coming along; Teresa is bringing gummy bears; they will go especially well after raw seal intestines.

Then there are the books. The serious book which may take all vacation is One of Us: The Story of a Massacre in Norway—And Its Aftermath. The story of Breivik rampage that killed 77 people in peaceful Norway, a country always considered at the top of the ‘good’ list in every category of well-being. This book by Asne Seierstad is highly recommended and could be considered a must-read for anyone as obsessed with Norway as I am. Of course sociopaths come in all nationalities so the curious part is how did he get the weapons and how is the country dealing with it all  given their humane approach to criminal justice.

Then as my backup reads for Greenland I will have my Nook along and that fine history of Peter the Great that I was reading last summer on the train through Siberia. The truth is Peter the Great may be with me for several more Big Trips—reading on Nook is a sort of pokey process.

And then for a bit of mindless fun, should I need such a thing, there’s Six and a Half Deadly Sins by Colin Cotterill about an aging coroner in Laos who solves the odd murder mystery or two. I’ve only read one or two of these before and they are perfect for a crankyish evening at the end of a traveler’s day gone awry.

I did pick up Hamilton today. The one by Ron Chernow that Lin-Manuel Miranda read on vacation—and the rest is Broadway history.  I’ve decided not to take it along though. What’s the use…it’s already been done. May as well save it for the winter months when it gets cold and dark early and I can huddle under the covers and read all night.

I can’t seem to write about anything but books lately. Not a bad thing exactly. But it’s travel writing time. Right now I have to figure out how to make the Nook work again which is making me impatient and surly. Maybe I can find a pretty picture to put here.

Yay, it is raining out. Please let it rain now and then on me during this trip. No one from New Mexico needs sunny travel, except to see the icebergs of course.

BACK IN THE DAY…JUST SOMETHING TO REMIND ME I MUST WORK HARD FOR HILLARY WHEN I RETURN.