Seattle Language Academy on the canal in Fremont (used to be on Capitol Hill on 15th) is a really good school with evening classes. I pursued a different language there and so don't know the Japanese language faculty, but study was definitely oriented toward the kind of immersion you are describing and also toward grown-ups with jobs.

I agree with everyone's winter warnings, and Northern California and Oregon are probably the best choice to tackle the snowy mountain part, but don't be surprised if it's difficult getting through the mountains. I have been stuck in snowy mountains on interstates 3 times during winter driving out west. In Idaho I managed to pull off to the nearest hotel, ditto once outside Aspen, Colorado ($$$), but another time in Colorado when the snow came so fast that all vehicles were snowbound overnight along the interstate. A family in an RV invited me and my friend inside to sleep the night (lucky!). They turned out to be metal detector aficionados and showed us their display cases of finds from all over. Which leads me to my second bit of advice: be open to side adventures, serendipity, eccentricities.

And check the timeline on this one. Will there be a return trip too? It's hard to imagine making it with any less than 3 weeks if you are taking the southern route.

Make a wish and wait.

Caffeine wears off in about 3 hours. I bet you slept great after that.

Unless it's impossible (like with green beans), I take it home loose and at home I put it in those green bags, the ones you buy but that make the stuff last about 4 times longer. No kidding they really work.

I sure do like mine.

I've been seeing this question up for a few days and then all of a sudden it hit me: are heterosexual women—"women seeking men"—not the most common selling point in all advertising everywhere? Should we expect something different from The Stranger? Do you think advertising editors (gay or straight) think about it consciously like that, or do you suppose they just gravitate that way because it feels right?