Friday, September 25, 2009

A Weekend Getaway, A Clarification, and (way too many) Parenthetical Ramblings.

I'm leaving in a little while for a scrapbooking weekend in the mountains. Yippee!

My church does this twice a year and I've pretty much decided that the only way I'm going to chip away at my family albums is to go on these retreats because I just don't find the time or motivation to work on them at home. I've been preparing all week in an effort to maximize my time and productivity! I printed out pics for all of 2007. I would love to finish most of that year's album. Stay tuned...

I brought my suitcase upstairs earlier (in addition to my huge scrapbook haul, I must also pack clothes and toiletries for the weekend) and it reminded me that I've been meaning to clarify something.

I made a rather bold statement in June about being Queen of the Carry On Luggage. It's true, I can fit everything I need for a week in my carry on bag (the reason I do this is two-fold: I do NOT want to pay extra to check a bag, and I am paranoid about my bag not arriving at my destination with me).

My dad died on a Sunday morning and John was in Phoenix at the time. I booked a flight to Arkansas (via Atlanta...and yes, I know that it makes absolutely NO sense to fly to Atlanta, then back to Arkansas, but whatever) and I had about 45 minutes to pack, get my kids squared away and leave for the airport.

I went downstairs to get my regulation size carry on bag only to realize that it was in Phoenix with John.

I called my dearest friend, Debbie (who is a gift from God! and who was picking me up and driving me to the airport) and asked her if I could borrow a carry-on bag (with wheels and a handle because I had a layover in Atlanta and there was NO way I wanted to haul one of my four remaining wheel-and-handle-less bags around the ATL airport for 2 hours).

She graciously let me borrow her bag and I threw my stuff in it once she got here.

And here's the clarification I need to make. Her regulation size bag was smaller (MUCH smaller) than mine. I could NOT fit everything I needed in it. It was a good 6 inches shorter than mine, and at least two inches narrower (if my math skills are up to par that's about one foot of area that her bag was lacking.) Makes a difference. A huge difference.

So...now I'll just say that I'm the queen of MY (slightly larger, but still regulation size) Samsonite carry on. Just thought I should clarify that for those of you (ahem, Kellie) who thought I was an amazing packing guru (or slightly crazy).

I intend to have a GREAT weekend and I hope the same for you!

12 comments:

Leah Belle said...

a scrapbook weekend sounds wonderful. i reeeally need to go on one of those! have lots of fun in the mountains.

Chloe m said...

I hope you have a weekend that is filled with creative energy and relaxation! I need to catch up on scrapbooking as well. My sister told me that I could print out my blog. Hmmm. That could work.
Rosey

The Bowden's said...

Wow! Does sound like a great weekend. I am TERRIBLE with scrapbooking! :)

Gretchen said...

I'm just impressed that you figured out the missing square footage. You rule.

Anonymous said...

Gretchen said, "You rule." As in "ruler." As in measuring the missing square footage.

Never mind.

Moriah @ Please Pass the Salt said...

I claim all credit for your overuse of parentheticals. :) You know I love it!

I need to finish up the book of Adelaide's first life. That seems like a reasonable goal, yes?

Unknown said...

You are still a packing guru in my eyes! And I keep meaning to thank you for giving me your fantastic advice....i made it through almost a month of travel (literally from the East coast to the West!) on one carry on! It was awesome...I need to post on it this week!

Have a fantastic weekend! I really need to scrap...I am behind 7 or 8 years.

Gina said...

I can do that (and I often do). I hope you have fun on your scrappy weekend (and I hope you got your Hot Tamales).

Carpool Queen said...

I only pack in black, white, and tan now. I'm getting SOOO much better at packing lighter.

Have fun scrappin'!

Amber said...

I'm just as impressed with your math skills as your packing skills.

Enjoy your scrappy weekend....I'm so far behind now that I'm all depressed. I'll be anxious to hear how much you got done!!!

Michele said...

Sounds like such a fun weekend! I am SOOOOO behind on scrapbooking. I'm hoping my blog will at least keep our memories recorded if nothing else. Have fun !

Tiffani said...

What I wouldn't give for an entire weekend of scrapbooking...how wonderful.

I seriously think we need to plan a blogger girl weekend, don't you?!