Packing Tips

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In lieu of a regular class, last Thursday night our Egypt group met at Sharon Luggage. The woman who gave the talk was a teacher by day and Sharon Luggage employee by night. She started off saying she enjoyed doing these presentations because it was the only time during the day anyone paid attention to her. I liked her instantly.

The deal with Egypt is we're gone 10 days and allowed only a 22" suitcase plus carryon. For those new to this blog, let me share my initial reaction to this news: "Oh. My. God." Followed closely by, "Forget it. I'm not going." I am a horrible packer. Always have been.

But I picked up some good tips, which I thought I would share here. In no particuclar order, here's a mini-version of HOW TO PACK:

  • If using a garment bag, hang clothes facing each other and cover them in plastic.
  • Limit yourself to three pairs of shoes, plus ones you're wearing on plane. Wear chunkiest shoes on plane. And bring comfortable tennis shoes. Everyone knows you're American anyway.
  • STUFF your shoes. If taking one pair of fancy shoes, stuff them w/jewlery, hose, slip so you can take the shoes out and have everything there for your outfit in hand.
  • Shoes go in bottom of suitcase first - put in shoe bags or plastic bags.
  • Always take extra underwear and socks. It's what you'll always run out of first.
  • Wear travel pouch around your neck and under your shirt. Leave wallet at home. Men - do NOT think carrying your wallet in your front pocket will save you from pickpockets.
  • Need a high voltage convertor AND a converter outlet plug for hair dryers, etc. Can only use 10 minutes at a time or they'll literally melt down (styling wands)
  • Put dryer sheets in dirty clothes bag. Store dirty clothes in one of those vented bags that you roll and air-packs the clothes.
  • Pants - stop rolling at the zipper. Create a shelft with 2 pairs of rolled pants to store shirts in between.
  • Turn clothes inside out to dry faster.
  • Bring pillows and blanket for plane.
  • Always carry simple change of clothes in carryon - T-shirt and pants in case spill food on you during flight.
  • Rolling and folding can work equally well, depending on what you're bringing.
  • Get a travel debit card.
  • Evening wear or sparkles - turn inside out and fold with tissue paper inside.
  • Movement causes wrinkles. Zip and button everything and pack your suitcase FULL so nothing moves. 
  • Remember 3-1-1. 3 oz bottles in a 1 quart ziplock bag, 1 per person.

Dog Transport

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Dino the Dalmation. Click to enlarge.I had a busy weekend, to say the least. It started with a dog transport on Saturday. No, wait. That's a lie. It started by my being so worried about how the dog transport would go that I made myself physically sick enough on Saturday morning that I had to leave my yoga class early, come home, throw up, and sleep two hours in order to stagger out of bed and deal with the transport.

Which was pointless, as the transport was flawless. I participated in a a transport chain that moved 4 dogs from Anderson, SC to Roanoke, VA. One dog was going to his Forever Home. The other dogs were being transferred to new shelters. I didn't ask why. Could be they were going to no-kill shelters, could be the shelter specializes in their breed, could be they have a better chance of being adopted at the new kennel. What matters is that every weekend volunteers across the nation take part in these moving chains in the hopes of bringing new hope into the lives of animals.

So I borrow 3 carriers from a friend, Blair put down a plastic tarp in the back of the Explorer, and off I went. The handoffs were flawless. Met the prior transport at a pre-arranged location, watered the dogs, encouraged them to pee (only 2 out of 4 did, which concerned me), then loaded them into my car and off we went.

Misty and Linus. Click to enlarge.The dogs were angels. Not a peep. A few whines from Dino the Dalmatian when we came to a stop because his cage was on a bit of a slant and he kept sliding backward. But misty, the Cavalier mix, was tethered in the front seat and let me pet her the entire way, looking up at me with warm brown eyes that just melted my heart. SO SWEET.

I just look at these dogs and think, "How is it possible no one wants you?" They're so eager to give love and affection. So ready to be your best friend, no questions asked. I just love them. I think I'm going to double up on my allergy shots, fence our yard, and invite all the shelter dogs to move in.

Sigh. Someday...

OMG, I Freaking Did It Again

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Lost ANOTHER blog entry due to owner stupidity, yet again. The Squarespace site locked up on me, so I copied my as yet unposted blog entry. Then, not thinking, I quickly cut and pasted a link, THEN hit escape to get out of the locked situation. The result? My last copy was a link, not my text. Rrrrrrrrr.....

I'll quickly recreate it. The original title was: AMERICAN FLAG - BEST GIFT EVER. The text was a slightly longer version of this:

A few months ago I reconnected with a friend from high school via Facebook. He and his wife now live in Alaska (the lengths people will go to to escape Ohio) and he is stationed through the Airforce in Joint Base Balad in Iraq. Discovering that he and wife are cat lovers, I sent them a signed copy of one of my books. In return, my friend asked for my address to send me a small gift. That was weeks ago, but on Wednesday a package was waiting for me when I got home. Inside was a note from my friend and a boxed American Flag. "How sweet," I thought. I lifted the flag up and discovered a certificate at the bottom of the box that reads, in part:

This is to certify this American Flag was flown over the skies of Iraq on a combat mission in direct support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Flown in an F-16CG, Aircraft #88-0528, Mission #I-6045 on the 16th of February, 2009.

It's signed by a Captain in the USAF.

How awesome is that? I love this gift! The best gifts are the ones you didn't even know you wanted until someone gave them to you. I'm looking forward to buying a flag holder, flying the flag, and taking a picture of it waving in front of our house to send to my friend. 

Reconnecting with a friend and a gift with such thought and meaning behind it that it left me breathless. Today is a good day.