I have arrived in Moscow and, after a breif foray on the subway this morning, am now sans wallet and camera. Thanks.

I'm not in any real trouble as a result of this; I got my debit card cancelled more or less immediately, and I'm working on getting the credit card cancelled (it has considerably more financial protection and is thus less of a risk). It's really just a big pain in the ass and I'm out a couple hundred bucks. Luckily, the pickpocket in question left me with my passport and my lab cellphone. They did, however, take the stick of gum I got with the receipt at breakfast. Damn them!

I am so pissed off at myself, as this was entirely preventable and I just wasn't thinking. For starters, I usually empty my wallet of anything non-essential before going on travel and just spaced it this time (likely because I started packing for the trip at 5:00am the day I left). Second, I know better than to carry valuables in external pockets onto the subway. Especially a packed subway. So I was a dumbass and have now paid the price.

I think the worst part is that I hadn't dumped the photos off my camera, so I lost all of my shots from Nina's presentation in New York and the associated Explorer's Club shenaniganry. Also lost were all of the step-by-step photos on how to disassemble the dash trim panels in my Tacoma and install a fog lamp indicator LED. I'm sure this and all the camel/llama/penguin shots will confuse and disorient the theif.

Doug is going to provide me with a loan to get me through the rest of the trip, so this unfortunate occurrance really has little bearing on the remainder of my time here (we took care of all the souvenier shopping yesterday afternoon anyway). So, in summary... I'm alive and well. I'm just annoyed. I think the hotel hot tub is looking mighty appealing right about now.

Hopefully I can get some of Doug's pictures to upload.