Alternate Title: Why I hope to have boys because the world is a cruel, cruel place for women when it comes to packing.
Readers of My Mundane Life In Song know that the bane of my existence is packing. I was quite pleased with myself last night as I packed, proud of how little I am bringing on my 11 day trip to Europe.
Until, of course, I found out what D is bringing, and then I wanted to cry. D can fit everything in an average sized backpack. Everything!
This is what D packed:
1. 10 pairs of socks
2. 10 boxers
3. 5 t-shirts (am trying to convince him to bring one nice shirt in case we go out, which we will, because we'll be on vacation)
4. two pairs of shorts
5. one bathing suit
6. one pair of pants
7. sunglasses
8. dop kit
9. eyeglasses
10. two books
11. magazine
12. flip flops
13. passport
14. guide books
This is what I packed:
1. 11 pairs of socks
2. 11 pairs of underwear
3. 5 short-sleeved shirts (down from 7 short-sleeved shirts)
4. 3 long-sleeved shirts (down from 4 long-sleeved shirts)
5. 5 tank tops
6. 1 hoodie (down from 2 hoodies)
7. one pair of shorts
8. two skirts
9. two dresses
10. two bathing suits
11. two dresses to wear over bathing suits
12. shorts/tank tops for the beach
13. bag to put stuff in at the beach
14. one pair corduroys
15. two pairs jeans
16. sunglasses
17. collection of toiletries - which, of course, is vast compared to a boy's and contains things like hair products, facial cleanser (because I don't want to break out while on vacation!), tampons, and, well, other girl things
18. two pairs extra eyeglasses
19. three books
20. sandals for beach
21. saucony's (for when feet hurt)
22. chucks (for when feet don't hurt)
23. cute purple ballet slipper-like shoes for dresses and night's out
24. hair dryer
25. hair straightener
26. IPod
27. IPod charger
28. fabulous new Le Sportsac bag for transporting cameras etc.
29. Canon camera bag
30. Canon camera
31. zoom lens
32. battery charger
33. Olympus camera bag
34. Olympus camera
35. battery charger
36. makeup, makeup, makeup
37. hair accessories - headbands, elastics, barrettes to deal with unpredictable new haircut
38. Advils, Peptos, other goodies in case of kidney stones
39. passport
40. phone numbers, paperwork for flights, paperwork for hotels, restaurant listings, etc.
Is that it? Yes, I think so. D said "Can you make it so you don't have to check in any luggage?" A girl cannot pack a small carry-on suitcase for 11 days. It is impossible.
And with that, folks, I'm off to LondonandValencia! My Mundane Life In Song will be on hiatus until July 10th.
Until then...
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
And Oh How Prepared I Was For A Fight
My heart was practically jumping out of my chest as I rounded the corner. In my head I practiced my potential responses, and then whispered "May I please speak with your manager? Please let me speak with your manager. Is your manager here? I would like to speak to him/her. I want to speak with your manager right now. Or else. This dress is ruined and you are responsible. I am very upset. I am livid. I am very, very, very upset." Etc.
I hoped that the dress would be fine. I prepared myself for it to be destroyed.
When I walked in, in combat pose, I was relieved to see that it was a different girl behind the counter. She looked nice.
I presented my ticket to her.
It took her a while to find the dress. I practiced the new speech, which went something like "First you destroy my dress and then you lose it. I demand the cost of the dress, right now! Or else!"
She found the dress and handed it to me. I removed the wrapper and explained "I just need to investigate this because this is the second time I'm having it cleaned because it was ruined the first time."
And.... drum roll.... the dress was fine (well, not completely fine - there are still ashy marks but less so and unnoticeable to the casual observer).
Now. My predicted response was one of relief and thrill. My dress back! Money saved! No drama with the laundromat! Yes!
But no. I was pissed.
I was ready for a fight, and had so much residual anger from the first time that now had no outlet.
I became even more upset with the original girl, because how dare she insist that the dress was damaged when I originally left it when all they had to do was finish cleaning it? It was totally their fault, and not even an accident. They just didn't finish (so it seems), and she blamed me! Rage, folks.
And how dare they? They just ruin or fail to finish cleaning clothes and expect people to just pay for them? What a scam!
I calmly took the dress and wanted to tell the woman behind the counter about the saga, and have her say "I can't believe I work at a place that would do such a thing."
I left and skipped home, thrilled about not having to spend another $100 but upset at not having had the opportunity to shove the now-clean dress in the original girl's face.
But it's over, and I have a mostly clean dress for only $6 instead of another $100. My new dress is sewn, the memory cards are cleared, the batteries are charged, the clothes are in piles, the laundry is not done, the suitcases are not packed, but who cares? London soon! Woo!
I hoped that the dress would be fine. I prepared myself for it to be destroyed.
When I walked in, in combat pose, I was relieved to see that it was a different girl behind the counter. She looked nice.
I presented my ticket to her.
It took her a while to find the dress. I practiced the new speech, which went something like "First you destroy my dress and then you lose it. I demand the cost of the dress, right now! Or else!"
She found the dress and handed it to me. I removed the wrapper and explained "I just need to investigate this because this is the second time I'm having it cleaned because it was ruined the first time."
And.... drum roll.... the dress was fine (well, not completely fine - there are still ashy marks but less so and unnoticeable to the casual observer).
Now. My predicted response was one of relief and thrill. My dress back! Money saved! No drama with the laundromat! Yes!
But no. I was pissed.
I was ready for a fight, and had so much residual anger from the first time that now had no outlet.
I became even more upset with the original girl, because how dare she insist that the dress was damaged when I originally left it when all they had to do was finish cleaning it? It was totally their fault, and not even an accident. They just didn't finish (so it seems), and she blamed me! Rage, folks.
And how dare they? They just ruin or fail to finish cleaning clothes and expect people to just pay for them? What a scam!
I calmly took the dress and wanted to tell the woman behind the counter about the saga, and have her say "I can't believe I work at a place that would do such a thing."
I left and skipped home, thrilled about not having to spend another $100 but upset at not having had the opportunity to shove the now-clean dress in the original girl's face.
But it's over, and I have a mostly clean dress for only $6 instead of another $100. My new dress is sewn, the memory cards are cleared, the batteries are charged, the clothes are in piles, the laundry is not done, the suitcases are not packed, but who cares? London soon! Woo!
Monday, June 26, 2006
Could've Been
Oh my. The Tiffany version of I Think We're Alone Now is on the radio right now.
This makes me strangely happy. I think I would sell my soul to be 7 years old again, but would I go back to middle school? When I hear I Think We're Alone Now I think that maybe, just maybe, I would.
This makes me strangely happy. I think I would sell my soul to be 7 years old again, but would I go back to middle school? When I hear I Think We're Alone Now I think that maybe, just maybe, I would.
Anxiously Awaiting the Meltdown
Ah, folks, another Monday, another atrocious mood. I'm not sure where this one has come from. It could be for a variety of reasons, which I shall now present in list form as I am a lover of lists and as I have been very unsucessful at attacking lists as of late.
Possible causes of bad mood:
1. Still reeling from subway incident from Friday.
2. Still reeling from dress issue from Thursday and dreading picking up the dress tonight and scene that might ensue.
3. Being charged for something that the menu indicated came with my meal.
4. Being hit in the head with umbrella a zillion times on Canal Street on Saturday.
5. Nothing fitting on Saturday.
6. The rain.
7. Not trying items on because of a plan that never happened and then having to return said items on Sunday.
8. The rain, oh, the rain.
9. The smallest size being a 6 everywhere.
10. People who do not call when they say they're going to.
11. People who do not have their phones on/with them when they haven't called and you are trying to call them to find out wtf is going on.
12. People who just fall asleep instead of calling you when they're supposed to.
13. People who don't have their phones nearby when they are sleeping when they are supposed to be meeting you.
14. People who have no remorse for not calling you, for not meeting you, and for causing you to carry home all the groceries yourself in torrential downpours.
15. Freezing to death in the rain while carrying soaked groceries.
16. Someone not calling you again as scheduled, this time forcing you to wander around Macy's in the freezing cold air conditioning for over two hours because you don't really know if you should do something else because you're not sure when they're going to call you because they won't answer their phone.
17. Someone saying the cute coat that you've picked out for yourself "looks dirty" and then saying "but don't let me discourage you from buying it..."
18. Someone not liking anything you've picked out.
19. The flights being way less frequent or nonexistent and the tickets being way more expensive than anticipated, most likely because of waiting until the last minute.
20. Not being able to have keys made which means coordinating and more coordinating and dragging around luggage for hours and not being able to be free while on vacation.
21. Being sick before going on vacation.
22. Dreading being sick while on vacation.
23. Being unable to take time to go to the doctor.
24. Coming to terms with getting up insanely early while sick to go to the doctor and then the doctor won't call you back.
25. Putting a hole in the new dress you bought for London.
26. Not having thread (or the know-how) to sew it.
27. Trying to find someone to sew it last minute.
28. Looking for a bag during lunch, knowing that they won't have the one you want.
29. Being tired after a weekend.
30. Being stressed about vacation.
31. Only being able to eat 1/4 cup cooked risotto.
32. Being stressed and wanting nothing more than a cookie.
33. Wanting to cry but not being able to because you will be judged.
34. NYC in general.
35. My bedroom is too hot.
36. Not sleeping together because of A/C and temperature issues.
37. Nobody sleeping well at all because of A/C and temperature issues and the cushions are not comfortable enough and "This apartment is ridiculous because we cannot open windows!" and wanting to make the living room the bedroom but that makes no sense.
38. Nobody sleeping well and therefore being in bad moods on Monday morning.
39. Planning a night of crying and laundry and thinking that this will actually be fun.
40. Parents who want to plan Italy this minute but dear god I haven't even planned the trip I'm going on in two days and really, is there anything to plan this far in advance or really at all? and starting to dread having a conversation with Mother along the lines of "Look, please do not stress me out in Italy and if this means we have to be separate during the days you have to respect that."
Although there are good things:
1. Going on vacation! Soon! Sun! Beach! Stonehenge!
2. NR is moving to NYC and I can't contain my excitement.
3. Being told that you have a happy face.
4. Strangers telling the truth.
5. Warming of former roommate's house.
6. Meeting new people.
7. Reminding someone of someone.
8. Giving dating advice, having something to root for, holding out hope for the nice guy.
9. Snuggling on rainy days.
10. Avocado.
11. $600 shoes for $60!
13. Potential good news this week.
14. Great data.
15. Good stress at work, but stress nonetheless.
16. Finally reading a magazine from April.
17. Val Kilmer in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.
18. Getting out of the city, soon, and then getting out again in August.
19. And maybe once and for all in less than a year.
20. And maybe a new bag in a few minutes.
21. And laundry tonight.
22. And hopefully sleep tonight.
23. And tomorrow.
24. And hopefully antibiotics.
25. And no jet lag.
26. And no rain.
27. Toys!
28. Buying a ViewMaster and Play Dough restaurant (for kids who have never seen Play Dough!) and being way too excited about playing with them.
29. Asking "Can we please have a baby soon?" if only to buy it a tube o' dinosaurs or pink miniature mermaid sets.
30. Mary Poppins, and you better believe I am going to be singing "Portobello Road," Bedknobs-style, NONSTOP.
Possible causes of bad mood:
1. Still reeling from subway incident from Friday.
2. Still reeling from dress issue from Thursday and dreading picking up the dress tonight and scene that might ensue.
3. Being charged for something that the menu indicated came with my meal.
4. Being hit in the head with umbrella a zillion times on Canal Street on Saturday.
5. Nothing fitting on Saturday.
6. The rain.
7. Not trying items on because of a plan that never happened and then having to return said items on Sunday.
8. The rain, oh, the rain.
9. The smallest size being a 6 everywhere.
10. People who do not call when they say they're going to.
11. People who do not have their phones on/with them when they haven't called and you are trying to call them to find out wtf is going on.
12. People who just fall asleep instead of calling you when they're supposed to.
13. People who don't have their phones nearby when they are sleeping when they are supposed to be meeting you.
14. People who have no remorse for not calling you, for not meeting you, and for causing you to carry home all the groceries yourself in torrential downpours.
15. Freezing to death in the rain while carrying soaked groceries.
16. Someone not calling you again as scheduled, this time forcing you to wander around Macy's in the freezing cold air conditioning for over two hours because you don't really know if you should do something else because you're not sure when they're going to call you because they won't answer their phone.
17. Someone saying the cute coat that you've picked out for yourself "looks dirty" and then saying "but don't let me discourage you from buying it..."
18. Someone not liking anything you've picked out.
19. The flights being way less frequent or nonexistent and the tickets being way more expensive than anticipated, most likely because of waiting until the last minute.
20. Not being able to have keys made which means coordinating and more coordinating and dragging around luggage for hours and not being able to be free while on vacation.
21. Being sick before going on vacation.
22. Dreading being sick while on vacation.
23. Being unable to take time to go to the doctor.
24. Coming to terms with getting up insanely early while sick to go to the doctor and then the doctor won't call you back.
25. Putting a hole in the new dress you bought for London.
26. Not having thread (or the know-how) to sew it.
27. Trying to find someone to sew it last minute.
28. Looking for a bag during lunch, knowing that they won't have the one you want.
29. Being tired after a weekend.
30. Being stressed about vacation.
31. Only being able to eat 1/4 cup cooked risotto.
32. Being stressed and wanting nothing more than a cookie.
33. Wanting to cry but not being able to because you will be judged.
34. NYC in general.
35. My bedroom is too hot.
36. Not sleeping together because of A/C and temperature issues.
37. Nobody sleeping well at all because of A/C and temperature issues and the cushions are not comfortable enough and "This apartment is ridiculous because we cannot open windows!" and wanting to make the living room the bedroom but that makes no sense.
38. Nobody sleeping well and therefore being in bad moods on Monday morning.
39. Planning a night of crying and laundry and thinking that this will actually be fun.
40. Parents who want to plan Italy this minute but dear god I haven't even planned the trip I'm going on in two days and really, is there anything to plan this far in advance or really at all? and starting to dread having a conversation with Mother along the lines of "Look, please do not stress me out in Italy and if this means we have to be separate during the days you have to respect that."
Although there are good things:
1. Going on vacation! Soon! Sun! Beach! Stonehenge!
2. NR is moving to NYC and I can't contain my excitement.
3. Being told that you have a happy face.
4. Strangers telling the truth.
5. Warming of former roommate's house.
6. Meeting new people.
7. Reminding someone of someone.
8. Giving dating advice, having something to root for, holding out hope for the nice guy.
9. Snuggling on rainy days.
10. Avocado.
11. $600 shoes for $60!
13. Potential good news this week.
14. Great data.
15. Good stress at work, but stress nonetheless.
16. Finally reading a magazine from April.
17. Val Kilmer in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.
18. Getting out of the city, soon, and then getting out again in August.
19. And maybe once and for all in less than a year.
20. And maybe a new bag in a few minutes.
21. And laundry tonight.
22. And hopefully sleep tonight.
23. And tomorrow.
24. And hopefully antibiotics.
25. And no jet lag.
26. And no rain.
27. Toys!
28. Buying a ViewMaster and Play Dough restaurant (for kids who have never seen Play Dough!) and being way too excited about playing with them.
29. Asking "Can we please have a baby soon?" if only to buy it a tube o' dinosaurs or pink miniature mermaid sets.
30. Mary Poppins, and you better believe I am going to be singing "Portobello Road," Bedknobs-style, NONSTOP.
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