Lori,
I'm reading Ribbons now and love it. I feel like I'm there with you. It's makikng me want to take off again.
I will be anxiously awaiting information about your Russia trip. I have been wanting to visit Russia since I took a Russian history course a while back. Boy do they ever have a colorful history. If you can find it, the book about the last Czar of Russia, Czar Nicholas (not sure of the exact title) might be a good reference for the trip and it's a great read too.
I am convinced that our road trip helped heal the trauma of my surgery and I swear I'm feeling much better (now that I've just about recovered from the inertia hangover from the trip that is).

You're one of us now so you have to check in often. I can't wait to hear more.
smile