So the battery has run out on the cell phone, and the charger is in Mike's baggage. I have extinguished my collection of new, clean, Kazakhstani clothing and am now stealing socks from the radiation suits at the facility. But none of this really matters anymore, since....

They Found Our Luggage.

Mike's two bags will arrive at the airport tomorrow morning. For whatever reason, my two bags and Heather's one will arrive Friday morning. Whatever... The thought of clean clothes is a welcome one... and having all the hardware I brought to do the measurements I'm here to do will be a step forward.

Since arriving in Almaty with no luggage several days ago, the following story has been told and retold many times:

Several years ago, a guy in our group took a trip here and his luggage disappeared. After about a week and a half, the airline called to say they had found his bag. He drove to the airport, where they handed him a paper bag containing a pair of socks, a pair of underwear, and a coconut. The story has become embellished to the point where no one seems to know whether or not all (or any) of the items were his, but there have been numerous comments and speculations regarding what portion of our belongings will be there for us, what condition they will be in, and the quantity of coconuts that await us.