to do;;

- oil change and/or pour a gallon of bleach inside the car and hope it gets out that mystery smell
- pack; the general things like socks, and pants, but perhaps also a dress appropriate for a baby shower, and an extra shirt for when you spill Mexican food on yourself
- BATHING SUIT -- your family has a hot tub, and a pool, and you never remember your bathing suit. it may be Alabama, but you're not comfortable being that 'nekked' around yer 'kin' ;)
- medicine is good, especially if you want to b r e a t h e while in Alabama's rather polluted air
- a book, or two, to keep you occupied; it is rude to read a book at a restaurant, though, keep that in mind
- cameras are nice to capture memories -- but remember, NO MORE FILM. after last night's developing disaster, you've given up film fo' lyfe. yer fingers are pretty, but not in every. single. photo.
- music. is good. a thirteen hour car ride spent scanning radio stations - ESPECIALLY IN THE DEEP SOUTH - could break your heart, so do your best and find a CD or two worth taking along. i'd recommend a Zune, but Momma darlin' has an old fashioned car that doesn't like your new fangled mp3's..
- last, but certainly not least. keep yer head on straight. don't drink cheap beer and drive. cockroaches will NOT actually kill you. Tuscaloosa is WEST of B'Ham, not EAST, please don't make that mistake again. Yes, there was a Checker's near your old high school. Might want to drive by it for memory's sake..