Raw travel journal - Cairo, day one (plane day)

Typically, there are too many memories, ideas and stories on a good journey.  To remember as much as I can, I always keep a notebook and pen handy to jot down all the fleeting thoughts that occur during a trip.  Some of those thoughts could easily become longer essays; others are as fleeting as the amount of time it takes to write them.  Everything here is in raw form, transcribed from my journal.
This journal documents a trip to Cairo, March 26 - April 5, 2009.

• Packing - pitfalls of being a houseguest
  •  Over 900 dog treats
  • All the things that "you can't get in Egypt" tell me something about Egypt.
    • Fabric softener
    • Land's End cotton robes
    • Talbot's womens clothing
    • Scrunchies
    • Eye shadow
    • Aleve
  • Panic - It won't all fit.  Even in these gigantic bags.
    • What to leave behind?
      • Guidebooks
      • Shoes
      • Reading materials
    • What if there is an extra baggage charge?
      • EgyptAir website is very strict.
  • Only two books make the cut.
    • Wallpaper City Guide:  Cairo
    • American University in Cairo's Cairo:  The Practical Guide
  • Counts
    • Pants:  6
    • Shorts:  2
    • Swim trunks:  3
    • Socks:  4 pair
    • Long-sleeve tees:  2
    • Short-sleeve tees:  3
    • Shoes:  2 pair
    • Underwear:  8  (4 boxers/4 briefs)
    • Cameras: 3
    • Wallets:  2
      • Travel wallet is ultimate dykecessory:  For women, by women
• Airport
• • All that packing anxiety?  For naught.
  • Flirt with counter girl.  Given own row on the plane.
  • EgyptAir:  Two hour flight delay
    • Text out to friends:  "Hello, bar."
    • Text from Ahmed:  "You must be flying EgyptAir"
    • Airport bars filled with bad food and assholes talking about "marketing plans"
  • EgyptAir flight attendants are not veiled women!  Dyed hair and three-inch heels!

• In the air
  
  • EgyptAir flights are "dry":  no booze.
  • That row to myself?  Some Minnesotan woman talks to me about her aneurisms and knee problems.  Invades my domain!
  • Post-dinner (not bad), AmbienCR. 
    
    • Does not take effect immediately!
    • Damn you Controlled Release!
    • Forced to watch predictable Eagle Eye, but finally fall asleep.
  • Wake up during Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Two (WTF?)
    • The Minnesotan has taken three seats.  Three!
    • Can't sleep. 
    • Eventually lay on floor of "my row", cursing Minnesotan, Minnesota, dairy products.