Let's start
with the suitcase itself. Big Red (named in honor of the Big Red suitcase
that bit the dust on my first travel season when I attempted to lug
approximately 2000lbs of Corban materials with me in my trusty ginormous red
suitcase- I used to be much much stronger than I am present day) is in the
garage, behind a step ladder and a 5 foot tall roll of couch plastic and card
board that I keep forgetting to break down and throw away/recycle. No
matter, I climb up and over the step ladder to reach over said waiting waste
products to claim BR. Next comes the spider check. This is the
process wherein I kick and slap the large traveling case to "scare"
away any eight-legged creatures brought to us courtesy of the
fall of man. After a careful inspection for movement, BR is cleared for
house entry.
Now we've
moved on to the easy portion of the packing process, right? Wrong. Carrying
in BR reminds me that I really need to take out my recyclables sitting in my
garage. So why not clean out under the sink for any and all plastic and
glass that has been placed there when I'm too timid to tackle the corner of the
garage knows to house enormous spiders that cause me to shriek like an eight
year old child. Now seems like a good a time as any, after all, I braved
a different corner of the garage. So like a good Oregonian I gather materials
like a squirrel gathering nuts or the winter. While I'm under the sink,
maybe I ought to rearrange the cleaning products stored under there. I
make quick time cataloging what I'm running low on then I move on to smelling
all of the different hand soaps I have from bath and body and determine that
the fresh summer pear is my current favorite. I spot my duster and you
know, while I'm thinking of it, I really should dust off all surfaces in the
house- I'll be gone for 15 days after all, let's make sure I'm coming
back to only 15 days of dust not 22 because that will make such a difference in
my life I'll be so thankful.
Dusting near
the TV reminds me that I need to put my DVD's sitting out away, can't leave
those out. Oh look- Modern Family. I love that show, so funny. I'll
just watch one episode. Then two. Oh man, really need to
pack. I jump up, wash my hands (need to smell the fresh summer pear
again) and rush to my room with Big Red.
Ok, pack...
Thus begins the process where I cover my entire bed with outfit possibilities
that all compliment my black boots (because I wore them today so they're out
and working as my inspiration). Outfit after outfit lays on the bed
displayed as though an actual human was inside warming them. Sounds simple,
but I have to strategically lay them out because the reds laying next to the
pink/rose colors causes me to wrinkle my nose in distaste so I move them around
so they don't offend me. Much better. While arranging clothes I
pull out skirts that bring out the great debate- nylons or tights? So I
pull out every pair of tights I own to see all the possibilities. You
know what these gray tights would look good with? My BROWN boots. Now
I have made a commitment to myself during AK travel season which requires
warmer (i.e. literally heavier) clothing- black OR brown, not both. Packing
is lighter this way and I don't get stuck near the end of the trip with a shirt
that looks bad with my pants because I forgot which color scheme I was going
for... etc. But MAYBE just this once... so now I pull out the myriad of
brown themed clothing options for AK- it is after all, fall. Why jump
straight to my winter clothes? So more piles on the bed. I stand
back and assess the work and decide I'm too distracted to make actual decisions
because I know I need to run a load of laundry before I can feel like I've
completed all of my weekly "to-do's." Besides, why come home to
another load of laundry. This seems like a good break time.
Now the
laundry is running and I take this opportunity to clean out the dryer filter. You
know... with these front loaders I feel like you can't get ALL the lint and I
try to squeeze my fingers into the tiny space carved out for the actual filter
to get the bit of lint I can see trapped in the space. Fingers too fat,
too fat... I spot a clothes pin- perfect! That should give me the extra
two inches I need to reach the lint I am spotting. So I just pinch the
lint when my fat sausage fingers fail me and drop the clothes pin into said tiny
(but deep) space. Dang it. Ok. Plan B, ignore the lint, get
that clothespin out. After a failed attempt with a flyswatter, I get the
salad tongs- too short. I try to fight once again with the reality that
my hand really won't fit in this small space, but clearly not from the lack of
sheer will power to try and smash one's hand through the tight space. Man
I really need to pack, It's getting late and I'm getting tired. I gave up
on the clothespin and headed back into my new walk-in closet formerly known as
my bedroom.
The amount of
clothes piled up in various mannequin-like positions on my bed was ridiculous. I
wasn't MOVING to Alaska, I'm spending two weeks there. Ok, I shoulder the
courage to remove all traces of brown from the bed. this helps. Next
I spot three tops I never wear but apparently thought would be so nice for
Alaska. My closet already has to bear the burden of their persistent
presence, why should my suitcase join the party? Ok, This is it. I'm
really packing. I just start counting for each day of work obligations
and college fairs (it's nice to change in-between those day and evening
sessions, you know?). I hit the magic number and everything else left was
banished back to the closet no matter how much I loved them. Please. We
all know I would rather wear yoga clothes 24/7 if
it was appropriate. I think I'll do without a few favorite dresses. Plus
remember the tights vs. nylons debate? No time, let's be practical. Ok.
Suitcase packed.
Next stop
toiletries. Oh wait... I never did put my latest Group Ride CD onto my
iPod (plus isn't it time to back up my new phone?), let's take a break and do
that. Oh hey, I wonder what my Alaskan friends all up to? I should
remind them I'm coming. So naturally, a quick Facebook check-in. An
hour later after "liking" the status of people I may or may not have
gone to high school with in the 90's (no really... that part isn't intended to
be funny or hyperbole, I went to HS in the 90's.), I checked my CD. Oh
great, ready to go. Now how do I get these songs onto my specific song
lists again... hmmm. Where is that button... EVERY TIME. Ok, back
on FB to ask these people (they obviously have time on their hands to help
me...). Three suggestions later I was ready to eject my iPod so happy and
updated. Ok... where was I? Toiletries. Oh that's right.
Back to the
bathroom in my reclaimed bedroom. Thankfully I keep a pre-packed
toiletry bag. I'm not being sarcastic here. If someone says,
"free trip to Paris for a whole new wardrobe if you can leave this house
in 15 seconds" I can literally open my hall closet to grab my coat, purse,
toiletry and bonus- fully packed spare bag of make-up- and head out the door to
claim my new clothes. BUT... why not check it to make sure the contact
solution hasn't spilled or to see how close I am to running out of floss? So
the adventure continues. No big deal really, I just now am obsessed with
pairing down things I don't think I'll need (mouse- nope, that's for humid
weather- not snow...) and swapping my lightweight SPF moisturizers for the
thicker "Alaska proof" creams. Why not open the make up bag and
see if I want anything special for this trip. Really Stowman? Does
anyone really care if you're wearing the purple eyeliner as opposed to the
brown? News flash- NO ONE WILL KNOW OR CARE. I finally give up and
toss it in for good measure (I care). Ok. I'm done.
Packing
really isn't a skill of mine. But at least I always have dental floss and
enough work-out clothes to last me 8 different sessions if I can't do any
laundry. Oh wait... what if I want to go for a run outside? Just
kidding
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