Thanks for all your excellent suggestion. Going to sea is a little different from trips on land. For one thing, cell phones do not work! Why? Because we are too far out to sea. I'll communicate via email and internet with you and with my family. The ship has a special internet connection that uses a satellite dish antenna. So what am I bringing?

So many of you reminded me to bring a tooth-brush that I'm sure I won't forget! That's important because there is no where to buy one once we are out at sea if I don't remember to bring my own.

I'll bring my camera equipment, my computer, sweat shirts and coats. I also have a special kind of rain gear called foul weather gear that is waiting for me on the ship. Gloves as well, hard hats and flotation devices. Here is a photo of what we usually wear on deck. It was taken on an earlier trip. You can see a lot of the different kinds of equipment we wear to keep safe while we are on deck.

I am also going to bring some cups that several classes decorated. We will send them to the bottom of the sea and bring them back up and see what happens!

Yes, I will bring a stuffed animal. Two actually. Snuggy the bear, and ZEE!

Keep your suggestions coming! I leave in just a few days.