17 Mar 2008 ›  8:01pm

I haven’t been in my new position long enough to take a single day off, which is why all of my upcoming Bloke visits must be quick Friday-to-Sunday in-and-outs. That adds up to two nights, one full day and some change. And I know this. So how I ended up with a 300 pound bag of luggage is as much a mystery to me as anyone. I’ve been staring at it for an hour, and I don’t see a single item I can do without. Please don’t ask me to explain how eight pairs of shoes are absolutely essential (don’t even ask me about boots.) Nor can I explain why I’m bringing two or three bizarro pieces I’ve never managed to wear in my regular life. But I know that if I were to decide to edit ruthlessly and leave something behind, I guarantee that something would be on my mind for the entire trip. Listen, I know myself—I am hip to the inner workings of my crazy brain. “Damn it!” I’d think as I enjoyed a lazy breakfast in bed with Bloke. “This would have been the perfect time to wear those snakeskin jodhpurs.” Ugh. I’ll never get out the door with this behemoth!