In the meantime, I’m trying to figure out how, exactly, I’m going to leave for San Francisco tomorrow, and if the sinus pressure in my brain coupled with the pressurized cabin of the plane will somehow cause my brain to explode. I’m undecided, but leaning towards yes.

And since I’ve been doing nothing but watching reruns of What Not to Wear on demand, I can’t really tell you of anything interesting that’s been going on in the world of travel. But I can tell you that empire-waisted tops elongate your legs. So … that’s something.

And here’s some more stuff that might be helpful or interesting to you. I’m too clouded by a NyQuil hangover to assess their value objectively …

• Yesterday, our local chapter of the Make-a-Wish foundation helped a Seattle boy be a superhero for a day. And gave me one more reason why, despite the rain and crappy weather, I would never want to live anywhere else.
• In yet more Seattle awesomeness, check out this video of the Glee flash mob that assembled in Westlake Center a few weeks ago.
• Alaska Air and Horizon Airlines are now charging for checked baggage. For the record, my suitcase is smaller than most standard carry-ons, and doesn’t always fit in their overhead compartments. Oh, and they have yet to reply to my inquiry about this.
• In an ultimate example of NOT UNDERSTANDING IRONY, KFC is selling pink buckets of chicken to help donate money towards breast cancer research. Because obesity and heart disease are preferable to cancer, I guess. Also, the buckets don’t actually translate to donations. That’s so lame, I’m speechless.
• Sigh … I don’t even know how to explain this. On the one hand, it’s far less scary than other fan-related art that’s been created with my husband in mind. On the other hand … it’s weird. Apparently a billboard in New Zealand (advertising Dove for Men) featured a model that bears a resemblance to my husband. And folks had some fun with the idea.  Just click on the link. I can’t explain it any better than that.
• The blogatrix behind Solo Female Traveler has some great tips for visiting the Pyramids on your own, without getting hassled … too much.
• I made this for my friend Chrissy’s 30th birthday present. Have a fantastic day, babe. I’m sorry my sudden outbreak of consumption is prevent me from hanging out with you.

Blogging may be sporadic next week, on account of my computer getting sick. I’ll keep you posted …

We’re off for San Diego next week, and New Orleans after that, with Rand hopping on planes throughout for meetings all over the damn place. He’s important like that.

It was 10 years ago this week that he and I first met. I used to have a photo with the two of us in it from that night, but I think the boy I was dating at the time has it. Just as well – we’re far lovelier in my memory.

The week that went was far more bittersweet …

London Fashion Week opened with a moment of silence for Alexander McQueen, who hung himself last week, several days after his mother’s death. Personally, I always loved the tartan dress he made for Sarah Jessica Parker, even though I might be in the minority. I happened to be in Scotland when I heard of his death, and it was all over the press there and in the U.K.

In far cheerier news, a Canadian ship sunk off the coast of Brazil – but everyone on board is safe and accounted for. The ship is owned by a Canadian school, and was full of students who are part of a program that allows them to study while sailing around the world (which sounds friggin awesome). I hate that I’m so jaded I find good news like this downright shocking, but hell, I’ll take it.

And for those of you living in a cave, the Olympics are going on. But the only thing I’ll note about that (since there’s far, far too much to say) is that David Moeller, the German silver medalist in the luge, chipped his tooth pretending to bite his medal. Which I find adorable.

Finally, a passenger on Jazz Air (a regional Canadian airline) was recently kicked off his flight when his au natural man musk became too much for other passengers. And by now you’ve heard about the hefty (but by no means ‘safety-of-fellow-passengers-is-now-at-risk hefty’) Kevin Smith getting kicked off a Southwest Airlines flight. If only the underwear bomber had been obese. Or stinky.

That’s all in travel news for this week, folks. If you’ve got anything to note that I missed, please post a link in the comments.

See you next week!

Besides, this week was kind of nifty.

First off, Congrats to my hubby’s colleagues at Distilled, for the opening of their new U.S.-based satellite. They’ll also be taking over the consulting portion of SEOmoz, which everyone is crazy excited about, and of which I have a rudimentary understanding. But I’ll drink to anything.

And congrats to the lovely Lucy Langdon (formerly of Distilled) whose article just appeared on Londonist.com this week. I’m going to assume this means I know famous people from across the pond.

Oh, and the Chinese political activist who’d been sleeping in a Tokyo airport finally gets to go home and take a bath, which is nice. One can only hope he receives a warm welcome.

And speaking of warm – or not so warm – welcomes, thousands gathered in freezing weather to see whether or not that fuzzy little bastard could see his shadow (and, no, I’m not talking about Wolf Blitzer). According to Puxatawney Phil, we have 6 more weeks of winter.

Oh, and in the travel blogosphere:

Candice Walsh covers cathedrals with her usual potty-mouth. It’s fantastic.

The Oyster blog shares the 5 ways tourists get swindled in NYC. They forget to include the d-bags who act like they’re giving you directions, then hit you up for money.

JoAnna over at KaleidoscopicWandering.com gives 7 tips for people taking their very first cruise. Helpful stuff, but she omits information about avoiding the Bermuda triangle, pirates, and old people who like to swing (and I don’t mean dance). I assume she’s got a follow-up article in the works.

Plus, I think Alaska Airlines might be messing with me. How else can you explain this?

And, perhaps my favorite happening of the week (and proof that, as I said, you should be nice to everyone because you never know who you might bump into), our friend Cindy Krum caught a cab on the Isle of Man … that was driven by our friend Will’s dad. Don’t say life isn’t amazing.

Because it totally is.

That’s all for this week, folks. I’ll be blogging sporadically from the U.K. for the next couple of weeks, while struggling to keep warm and dry.