Packing for One?

I'm a bit at a loss. How do I only pack for one person? Not sure I know how. Before family vacations, I have lists upon lists reminding me what I need to be sure to pack for everyone.

Two days before I leave, and I have nothing packed. I haven't even made sure my clothes are washed and ready.

You'd think this would be easy, but it isn't. I always pack for me last when packing up the family. I'm used to only havinh about 30 minutes to figure out what I'm bringing for me. I'm used to being an afterthought. Planning for myself just feels..wrong.

Also, I'm going to the COLD. I don't know how to pack for the COLD. Scarves, hats, gloves, sure..I pick those up from my sister tomorrow. But should I buy some long underwear? Should I take lots of extra socks? Sweaters? How many layers should be enough to keep me warm? I, honestly, do not know the answers to these. So, I'm open to any suggestions!

According to forecasts..there will be a couple days while I'm in Ohio, when the temperatures won't reach double digits. Just how cold does that feel anyway?

Come Away With Me...

I've been known to do crazy things now and then.

Like the time when I was eight years-old...I ran away from home. See, I wasn't very good at keeping it a secret and my younger brother and sister discovered I was going. I didn't want them to tell on me, so naturally, I took them along. We wandered around the neighborhood until we ended up at a corner 7-11. It was really crazy as I look back on it. I have the comfort of at least being able to say, "I was only eight!".

Not crazy enough?

How about the time when I was 18 and I almost ran away from home... See, saying, "I was only eighteen" isn't quite the same thing, is it. (Remainder of this story will stay undisclosed for now as I have children who might read this some day).

I like to be spontaneous. Lately, however, this has taken the form of waiting until the last minute to decide what vegetable to add to dinner. Not so exciting. As grown ups, especially grown ups with kids, we don't get the same freedom to drop everything and run away from home like we may desperately want to some days.

(Leaving all Mommy-guilt aside, you know you can relate to what I'm saying here.)

So, it may not be entirely spontaneous, but I have kept it largely a secret until just recently. I am running away from home! No excuses about age needed this time. (I can just point to the five kids and people knowingly nod in agreement.) I have a friend in Ohio who has invited me to come visit for five nights. She even bought me the plane ticket! Yeah, some planning was needed for this escape, but I still get to label it as completely crazy.

How can it be crazy? I carefully compromised dates for the trip with my husband so he could take the days off work. I am not putting my families finances in jeopardy, because someone else bought the ticket. All sounds pretty rational doesn't it?

Except...

I live in Phoenix. The sky today is clear and sunny and it's 66F out there right this second! This is winter heaven..or at least local tourist numbers suggest it is. And here I am about to head off to OHIO where right this moment it is 28F and they are expecting snow overnight. I only own, maybe, three pairs of long pants. Capris are my friends all winter long. I don't own boots or gloves or hats or scarves. I was born in this sunny city..While I have been in the snow for longer than a few hours before...It's been many years. Top it off, I will have to help drive while I'm visiting...and well..would you want to ride with me when it's snowing?

So, yup, completely nuts. And I am sooo excited to get to run away anyway! I'm borrowing boots and gloves and hats and scarves from my sister and I get to buy a couple pairs of pants and long sleeve shirts. And I plan to only drive if the roads are pretty clear. No sense in putting anyone's life in jeopardy. ooo I like Jeopardy! Great game show!.

ahem...back on topic....

Thanks to my sweet friend in Ohio and thanks to my sweet husband who even gets to home school for me! Thanks to my sister for the cold weather survival clothes.

I was looking over the last trip I shared with the blogosphere.. My trip to Seattle with my mom. I thought I should share pictures from my trip! Maybe I'll even get a few photos of Amish snow-topped buggies as we're planning a visit to Amish country. And next year, I'll invite my friend to Phoenix just to even the score..she can come with me to visit um...cactus!

So, tell your friends! Oshee is back and might even have Amish pictures on an upcoming post! Wooo hooo!!

So, come away with me..take your own mental break, whether you get it for an hour or a day. Let me know how you get away, without having to run away.

San Diego Through My Camera Lens Part One

I am tired. My youngest has been sick and I have Cub Scout Pack Meeting tonight. But, I wanted to share some of my vacation happiness. So, for now, I give you pictures to enjoy until my mind can focus again.






These are traveling pictures.
The kids (even the little ones) all did so well traveling. Thank goodness for videos with headphones!







These are at (and just outside of) The San Diego Museum of Man. Balboa Park has some wonderful museums that on a rotating basis are free on Tuesdays. So, can you guess what day of the trip this was?



We ate lunch on a grassy area by where we parked. My little boys LOVED the flowers. It was tough to keep the flowers safe from little hands.



Then we went to the beach. My husband had the camera with our boys out on Crystal Pier.







Some of the rest of us actually ventured into the very cold water. The afternoon was overcast, windy and chilly. But still we had the most wonderful time at the beach!

That was day one and two of the trip. I'll call it part one. Sea World will come in part two.

A Brief Vacation Note

It has been cloudy, chilly and even rainy one day here in San Diego this week. Even so, this has been a wonderful vacation. I highly recommend the Maritime Museum. The kids absolutely loved exploring the old ships. (We adults were rightly impressed too). My little boys got sick yesterday and missed the first day at Sea World (my husband stayed at the hotel with them..isn't he WONDRERFUL??). THey are well today and I look forward to showing them all the excitement.

Oh, and let me just say, even chilly and windy, I LOVE the Beach.

Two more days of fun and then back into Phoenix just in time for soccer games.

Video Break...Wishes and Escapes

If I had a million dollars, I'd hire someone to pack for this trip to San Diego for me.

What would you do? Here's what BNL would do.




Now another video just because I have so been in a Depeche Mode mood lately...
They are great when I need to just escape for a moment or two.




I love youtube...when all else fails for blogging...show you what I am thinking through song. I often think in lyrics. Of course, I sometimes think in Spanish too. But never Spanish lyrics..hmmm.


It hit 99F today. I am very glad I decided to turn the AC on..