Thanks for all the comments. I hope it won't be too hot, but right now it's only in the 60's here and I wouldn't mind a bit warmer. I'm typing with a hoodie on. :)
I'll fly over on the 21st and come back two weeks later. I will fly into Phoenix (so yes, it will be hot!) and then over to SC and then to FL before coming back.
About three years ago we (DH and I) flew over for a conference to the states and just returned back to Poland without seeing my sons who were in college and my parents (who are getting older), and I decided at that time, if I ever get to fly over again, I don't want to to skip the visit--never again. We don't make it back to the states very often. IT felt so weird to be so close and not stop in and say hi and visit.
I'll be flying on Delta using my AE card, so I can get a piece of luggage on each flight at no extra charge, so if I do pick up some sale things in AZ, I'll take 'em with me to FL--shouldn't be any charge for one suitcase. DH has FF status, so he gets luggage anyway. But it's true. We tend to fly with only carry on bags--til the final flight back here when we will bring extra, even...it's worth it to pay $50 and get 50 lbs of stuff over here. It's the cheapest way to get things to Poland now.
I'm probably going to get an Olfa mat--a big one (the 24x36 size) and the rotating mat 12x12. Then, you've all given me some great advice and I want to read about some of those rulers you've mentioned. I've read before about the June Tailor ruler that apparently lets you cut multiple rows without moving it--that sounds intriguing.
I've got to read about the squaring up ruler. I've recently done some HST (I feel so "quilty-smart" when I use the abbreviations that I've only recently learned). :) I was using some of my scraps and using Bonnie Hunter's scrap patterns--a lot of which use the HST. Squaring them up seemed to take forever! But I had to trim half and then flip them and trim the other sides.