Floor swept.
Fridge empty.
Bag packed.
Passport copied.
Mr. Bubba to the dogsitters.
Chicken and cat care in the bag.
Laundry done (washer broke) for housesitters.
Five cartons of eggs given to friends and neighbors.
Snacks and journal and books packed.
Alarm set for 3:15 a.m.....
Off to France in the morning!
To see Minou and my beloved boys...and a taste of forgotten adventure.
I'm so, so, so excited. Not sure if I'll be able to sleep, but I'd better try.
Friday, June 22, 2012
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Monday, June 18, 2012
monday morning goodbyes
Off went the minous this morning. So early it was almost still the night. I miss them already.I can't wait to be reunited, across the ocean, in a few days. It feels unreal.
But our connection is real. More real than separation. Love is most real.
I'm sniffly and sick today. For the past few days. Feeling tired and achy.
May my loved ones travel safely.
But our connection is real. More real than separation. Love is most real.
I'm sniffly and sick today. For the past few days. Feeling tired and achy.
May my loved ones travel safely.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
egg thief
I left the basket of eggs on the kitchen steps this morning while I went inside to turn off the whistling teakettle.
It looked like this:
When I came back just a moment later, the basket looked like this:
Can you see the toothmark?
It also didn't take long to find the culprit.
Ten minutes later, he is still looking guilty and avoiding eye contact:
We have an egg thief in the house.
It looked like this:
When I came back just a moment later, the basket looked like this:
One egg was missing. It didn't take me long to find it, but the egg looked like this:
It also didn't take long to find the culprit.
Ten minutes later, he is still looking guilty and avoiding eye contact:
We have an egg thief in the house.
Saturday, June 16, 2012
minimal packing
It's so, so much easier to pack for a trip when your basic wardrobe is small.
I was recently talking about this with my mother, who enjoys the process of laying clothing out on a card table in her bedroom, looking at options, weighing her clothing choices. Although she likes the selecting and reviewing, it's also time-consuming and can be a little stressful (like when you're leaving for a five-week trip in five days).
My packing process for the Trip to France is made easier by three main factors (which is good, because I'm anxious enough about the flight and being separated from Minou and the p'tit minous for the first week without adding to the nerves!)
1) I have relatively few clothing items. (I've never counted them, but may someday).
2) I will be mainly in one area of southern France, where it is likely to be HOT. For the few days when I'm travelling further north, I will be with my mother and can glean from her wardrobe if something warmer is needed (hi Mom!).
3) I'm mostly taking clothes that my mother-in-law and sister-in-law have gifted me with over the past years.
Here's what is planned so far:
I was recently talking about this with my mother, who enjoys the process of laying clothing out on a card table in her bedroom, looking at options, weighing her clothing choices. Although she likes the selecting and reviewing, it's also time-consuming and can be a little stressful (like when you're leaving for a five-week trip in five days).
My packing process for the Trip to France is made easier by three main factors (which is good, because I'm anxious enough about the flight and being separated from Minou and the p'tit minous for the first week without adding to the nerves!)
1) I have relatively few clothing items. (I've never counted them, but may someday).
2) I will be mainly in one area of southern France, where it is likely to be HOT. For the few days when I'm travelling further north, I will be with my mother and can glean from her wardrobe if something warmer is needed (hi Mom!).
3) I'm mostly taking clothes that my mother-in-law and sister-in-law have gifted me with over the past years.
Here's what is planned so far:
dresses inherited from M1
interchangeable brown clothing makes four outfits
brown cardigan for airplane & evenings
black below-knee skirt, black t-shirt and two sheer tops for over (blue from M1)
two more summer tops from Mamie & M1
In addition, I will be taking:
- a bathing suit and pareo wrap
- a nightgown
- "intimate apparel"
- black sandals, brown sandals (both good for walking)
- light jogging sneakers & quick-dry tshirt, sports bra, shorts
- toiletries & medications
- a sketchbook/journal, small camera, and reading material
- sadly, my laptop. I would be happy to leave this behind (the boys are all amply electrified) but I will be continuing with an online class starting late June
- a small black bag/purse
- and of course gifts! I don't want to show those here just in case it would spoil a surprise, but Minou and I had a lot of fun selecting small, light ones that we hope will please.
The only "light" coat that I have is a fairly inappropriate waterproof purple windbreaker, hence the brown cardigan. My other concern is shoes--the black sandals are simple but a little dressy, but the brown ones are Keens--rather technical looking and definately not dressy--p'tit Minou un informed me they were "butt-ugly" (thank you, son--especially since he had to have them four years ago). They look like this:
source: Google images from ebay.com
I've never packed quite this lightly before and frankly, I'm a little nervous. What do you think--is it enough? Any suggestions from seasoned travellers?
Friday, June 15, 2012
frugal friday:wants and needs
I am working on a cognitive retraining project.
Tuesday, lying in the dentist's chair during a cleaning, I drifted off into mentally packing my luggage for the upcoming Trip To France. I'm hoping to take just one small carry-on, since I hate dealing with luggage on trains and such. Minou and the boys are leaving one week ahead and are planning to check a bag, so they are in charge of transporting gifts. If I can pack lightly, everything should fit into one shoulder bag and I'll be able to help my mom with her luggage during the few days we travel together to Brittany.
The last two times I went to France, my wardrobe shifted from my usual home "uniform" of jeans or workout clothing. First, it's hot where my mother-in-law and sister-in-law live. Second, people are much more fashion conscious and tend to dress up more than in my small city. I kind of enjoy this, especially when on vacation. I found myself wearing skirts and dresses a lot more than I do at home (also thanks to my sister-in-law M1, who has exquisite taste and enjoyed sorting her closet and generously passing on discarded items, though what is roomy on her is form-fitting on me) . However, I find pants more comfortable for airplane trips. I don't want to take jeans--too hot and bulky. I have two pairs of black pants for work, but both are long, plus if I'm not at work, I don't want to see them (you know how it is with uniforms).
For a minute, I thought "I need to get a new pair of black capri pants". The thought instantly evoked anxiety and a chain of associated nervous thoughts. Likely they would cost under $20, but...the dog just went to the vet for an eye infection, leading to an unexpected bill. Our clothing budget is $25 a month for the four of us (technically), so if I buy pants, it empties coffers needed for my rapidly growing sons (p'tit minou un grew almost two inches in the last few months). Plus I hate, hate, hate with a passion going to the mall or big box stores, but don't have much time to do the thrift store rounds in the next week and a half. And I am really trying to only use the car when I have to, so when and where could I bike to the store...
Mental noise. I stopped myself. What is the point of all this stress? It's silly.
I do not need a new pair of black capri pants (or any other item of clothing). I have enough clothing to cover myself, even if it is not just exactly what I am wishing for. I know that more fashionable minimalists might find this unacceptable, and as things wear out I will replace them with functionable, fitting, interchangable items, but might it not be a good reality check to practice making do with what I have? Yes, I think so too.
Tuesday, lying in the dentist's chair during a cleaning, I drifted off into mentally packing my luggage for the upcoming Trip To France. I'm hoping to take just one small carry-on, since I hate dealing with luggage on trains and such. Minou and the boys are leaving one week ahead and are planning to check a bag, so they are in charge of transporting gifts. If I can pack lightly, everything should fit into one shoulder bag and I'll be able to help my mom with her luggage during the few days we travel together to Brittany.
The last two times I went to France, my wardrobe shifted from my usual home "uniform" of jeans or workout clothing. First, it's hot where my mother-in-law and sister-in-law live. Second, people are much more fashion conscious and tend to dress up more than in my small city. I kind of enjoy this, especially when on vacation. I found myself wearing skirts and dresses a lot more than I do at home (also thanks to my sister-in-law M1, who has exquisite taste and enjoyed sorting her closet and generously passing on discarded items, though what is roomy on her is form-fitting on me) . However, I find pants more comfortable for airplane trips. I don't want to take jeans--too hot and bulky. I have two pairs of black pants for work, but both are long, plus if I'm not at work, I don't want to see them (you know how it is with uniforms).
For a minute, I thought "I need to get a new pair of black capri pants". The thought instantly evoked anxiety and a chain of associated nervous thoughts. Likely they would cost under $20, but...the dog just went to the vet for an eye infection, leading to an unexpected bill. Our clothing budget is $25 a month for the four of us (technically), so if I buy pants, it empties coffers needed for my rapidly growing sons (p'tit minou un grew almost two inches in the last few months). Plus I hate, hate, hate with a passion going to the mall or big box stores, but don't have much time to do the thrift store rounds in the next week and a half. And I am really trying to only use the car when I have to, so when and where could I bike to the store...
Mental noise. I stopped myself. What is the point of all this stress? It's silly.
I do not need a new pair of black capri pants (or any other item of clothing). I have enough clothing to cover myself, even if it is not just exactly what I am wishing for. I know that more fashionable minimalists might find this unacceptable, and as things wear out I will replace them with functionable, fitting, interchangable items, but might it not be a good reality check to practice making do with what I have? Yes, I think so too.
Source: google images retrieved from target.site.com
necessary? no.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
paper progress
I'm feeling very proud of myself for all of my progress with physical paper this week.
I managed to cut our family file drawers almost in half, by culling and sending to the shred pile many, many unnecessary items (last year's dental bills?!)
Also, and this was a big step, I recycled a large chunk of the files/notes from my master's degree coursework. Gulp. I still worry "But what if I neeeeed it someday?" However, as I mentioned before, I have switched careers and am pretty passionate about my new one. Also, what I recycled were hand-written notes (volumes of them, gulp) that would have needed to be scanned page by page, standing over the scanner...which was my first thought. My heart cringed from the project and then I realized I didn't really need to keep them.
All those papers represent an amazing amount of work and learning. I'd like to say all the learning is still in my brain, but as I looked through my old notes I was surprised and disappointed how much of the theory and academic vocabulary I had forgotten or relegated to the far recesses of memory. However, keeping them taking up half a standard file drawer does not make me smarter, and would not make me a better ESL teacher if I teach again one day. As Minou noted, professional and academic knowledge marches onward, and information can become outdated.
Oh, and did I mention that I have a whole shelf of language-teaching books from the program that I'm not parting with anytime soon?
So. Three grocery bags of recycling and a whole lot more space later, I'm feeling good about the decision.
Step by step.
I managed to cut our family file drawers almost in half, by culling and sending to the shred pile many, many unnecessary items (last year's dental bills?!)
Also, and this was a big step, I recycled a large chunk of the files/notes from my master's degree coursework. Gulp. I still worry "But what if I neeeeed it someday?" However, as I mentioned before, I have switched careers and am pretty passionate about my new one. Also, what I recycled were hand-written notes (volumes of them, gulp) that would have needed to be scanned page by page, standing over the scanner...which was my first thought. My heart cringed from the project and then I realized I didn't really need to keep them.
All those papers represent an amazing amount of work and learning. I'd like to say all the learning is still in my brain, but as I looked through my old notes I was surprised and disappointed how much of the theory and academic vocabulary I had forgotten or relegated to the far recesses of memory. However, keeping them taking up half a standard file drawer does not make me smarter, and would not make me a better ESL teacher if I teach again one day. As Minou noted, professional and academic knowledge marches onward, and information can become outdated.
Oh, and did I mention that I have a whole shelf of language-teaching books from the program that I'm not parting with anytime soon?
So. Three grocery bags of recycling and a whole lot more space later, I'm feeling good about the decision.
Step by step.
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