Lovely weather here today. Sunny and cool.
wildlife photography
what to worry about?
Spent an hour in Sherpa-mode this morning. I used the backpack. Guess I’ll take it to Japan. But, the tote bag is still in the running. I might give it a Sherpa test. Or I might just use the tote as a really big-ass purse.
Mainly today, I am worried about what to worry about. I am worried about my first squatty potty encounter. Maybe, I should just hope that I am not suffering from a bad case diarrhea when I encounter it.
And, I am worried about not being able to get money out of ATM machines. I had a really bad experience with ATMs in Brugge five years ago. (See my tale of woe) ATM machines in Europe are normally traveler friendly. ATM machines in Japan are normally traveler hostile. I am considering going into DC to convert some dollars. If it was just me – I wouldn’t be too worried. But, I feel some obligation to the kid traveling companion.
In my experience – the stuff you worry about doesn’t happen. What you didn’t think about comes along and kicks you in the butt.
Possessions…
Possession does not convey value.
An interesting concept. Had an interesting discussion along those lines today with a cardiologist today. He had come up to get some of our “old” pig flu vaccine. He is still trying to get his patients vaccinated. He thinks that the pig flu might come back before this year’s “regular” flu vaccine comes out. I don’t share his concern… But, nevertheless, we have lots of pig flu vaccine. The doctor said “possession does not convey value”. Meaning the flu vaccine wasn’t doing any good in our fridge.
The doc went on to say that has lots of patients who say “I have a stationary bike”. Having a stationary bike doesn’t do squat for your cardio system.
It is an altogether fine concept. Possession does not convey value.
Adopt a Portapotty…
Montgomery County’s parks department is moving ahead with plans to seek private donors to endow portable toilets in the county’s public parks, complete with a laminated plaque identifying the sponsor.
Parks chief Mary Bradford said Friday that she needs about $150,000 annually to keep the toilets, or about $65 a month per toilet, which covers rental, maintenance and other costs. Otherwise, when the fiscal year begins Thursday, the agency will begin to jettison 80 portable toilets.
Now will this not be a suitable memorial for your friends and loved ones. In honor of my current husband’s first wife, I could endow a portapotty. What’s not to love?
Did my trip clothing “final” edit today. 1 bra, 1 cami, 4 panty, 5 shirts, 1 jeans skirt, 1 crop pants, 1 belt, 2 pair shoes, 1 ball cap (so american). That would be all the clothes. might add big scarf or pareau. Don’t see what else I can cut. Maybe one of the shirts.
Tomorrow – the rest of the stuff.
Monday or Tuesday will be time for the “pack test”.
I guess I’ll do a Field Test. Say a 2 mile hike with all my stuff. And, I am hoping that my load will be less than 20 pounds. I can hike my stuff to the hospital and weigh it on a baby scale. That should do it.
Is Japan expensive???
Depends on what you call “expensive”. 32 nights in hotel is costing about $5,700. Tax included. And maybe 5 of the nights come with a “free” breakfast.
General McChrystal, is this going to be like the MacArthur mess in the 50’s. Or General McClellan in the 60’s – 1860’s that is. What’s it with the Mac-Generals?
Can anyone spell quagmire. Rhymes with Afghanistan.
Birdzzzzz
Rule Three – I forgot – in addition to no Sherpas – no taxis.
Rule Three
In my world – There are no Sherpas. No bearers. No porters. And darn few bellmen.
Rule Three: Everywoman, young and old, schleps her own stuff. And gets it into the overhead compartment. But, a little help with the lifting by a nice young man can be appreciated.
Today, I finished making hotel reservations. Along the way I found out some things about Japanese hotels.
First, no matter how much you pay, if they have a swimming pool (1) you must wear a swimsuit and a CAP and (2) you will be charged 10 to 20 dollars. Now, if they have a huge community “bath”, that is usually free and you must be buck naked. Go figure. The swim togs have been deleted from my packing list.
Second, check in time. In Japan if check in time is 1500 hours – you are expected to be there to check in at 1500 hours. Not 1400 hours and by 1630 hours your room might be gone.
Speaking of schlepping – Carlton just asked “Why are you taking your computer?” Why indeed? The Airness travel weight is about 3.5 pounds.
At the farm market
For Father’s Day – I went on public transportation and sprung Carlton’s car out of the shop. He liked that a lot better than a tie!
Yawn…
Looking around Japan for where we are going to spend our last unreserved 5 nights in Japan. One is a Saturday. Saturday is a hard day to find a hotel in Japan. Every Japanese must leave home on Saturday morning.
And, I finally made my Japan2do list – and even started 2-doing some of the the items.
Mr C dented his beloved car – he took it to the shop today and is having a “car free” few days. At least until Monday.
Even as I am doing this – up in our apartment building party room – there is a going away party under way – with refreshments – for a dog. What can I say???
busy as a bee?
Finally starting to get satisfactory results from the travel camera.
According to the calendar widget – three weeks from today – I’ll be hating life on a very long hopefully very boring plane ride to Japan.
I think I should make a 2do list. I am sure there are things 2do.
Most un-Peg like, I think I am going to end up with hotel reservations for everywhere we are going to be in Japan before we leave. It seems to be the preferred Japanese way to do things. Organized, planned, orderly, polite. Not like Peg at all.
Summer note. They have Popsicles every Saturday at our pool. Spiderman Popsicles aren’t bad. Better than grape Popsicles.
Its all about weight
Revised List:
Revised from last Saturday’s first cut.
- Five four short sleeved shirts
- One brown dress – a black pencil skirt might be better. Pencil skirt still in the running
- One brown linen skirt
- One jeans skirt – maybe too short for an old woman.
- One black cotton cardigan Replaced by long sleeve silk tee.
- One black linen shirt, with long sleeves. Sort of jacket.
- 2 1 camis
- 2 bras
- handful of pantie
- swim suit
- pareu
- sandals
- belt
- one pair of sox.
And the shirts were subjected to my drying test….
The one on the right almost flunked. The one on the left was good to go in 3 hours. Maybe I should just take one shirt? Extreme packing???
Next move is to pack it all up along with my travel electronic toys and pack it to work. That would be one bus trip and one 1.5 mile walk … should be a good test of it’s schlep-ablity.
Rule Two
Rule Two – No Whining. When you travel things go wrong. Things don’t work out like you want or planned. Things are late. Things get lost. Reservations get eaten by the forces of evil. Squatty-Potties appear. Buses don’t appear. It rains. You get lost. You get tired. Your feet hurt. You get hungry. You get hot. Your suitcase becomes simultaneously too small and too heavy. NO WHINING.
Whatever happens is what you planned.