Friday, July 25, 2008

How Appropriate!!!

Friday Five: What You Absolutely, Positively, Can't Leave Home Without
We will be at a chaplain's convention when you all are answering the Friday Five Questions. I'll look forward to reading your answers next week when I get home. At the moment we are trying to get the car loaded so we can hit the road, so this will be a simple F.F. This running around madly in order to leave has me wondering: what are the five things you simply must have when you are away from home? And why? Any history or goofy things, or stories?

I say "How Appropriate" because I myself am away, and I myself had the frenzied moments of getting everything pulled together before hitting the airport {along with the list of online stuff like bills to tend to once I'm mooching my parents' computer!}. This current excursion involves a couple days at my parents' house in the DC area before heading off with them and the 82,000 siblings, siblings-in-law, & nieces/nephews to the Delaware beaches for a week {purely coincidental timing .... had no idea .... quite upset that I have to go along with them .....}. Thusly, this trip is a little different than others, in that I know I can mooch off fambly for stuff .... but, it provides a framework!

Basic and most honest answer to what I feel I must have and therefore try to pack: WAAAAYYYY more than necessary. Even this time, I tried to do better, but .... ummmm .....

But, in no particular order .... some things currently with me and others not ....
1. Journal ~ Comes with me, everywhere in fact (even in my schoolbag), yet rarely gets opened. Hmmmm. It's kinda like all those blog posts I've been creating in my head over this past year — and yet, if you look back at my archives .....
2. Stuffed animal ~ Some, often small, variety of furriness. Not really sure why {maybe because I still sleep with my big teddy bear}, but there's always something tucked into a backpack pocket.
3. Camera ~ Old-school all-manual Pentax K1000, with a favorite lens of a 75-300 mm zoom. I'm all official-looking, what with my photo vest with 82,000 pockets {ok, so maybe it's more dork-looking, but whatever}. Unfortunately, I've gotten out of the photog-thing, and really need to get back into it .... but, if you think about the concept of inertia .... well, it seems to just travel so cozily in its little case that it never even emerges. Didn't even come with me this time, although a smaller point-and-shoot {SIGH!} digital did. So, we'll see. But you can't do photography with a point-and-shoot. Take pictures, yes. Create a shot, not quite. Yes, I admit it, I'm a camera snob!
4. Books ~ Again, generally far more than necessary. Tried to do better this time, though. And, with it being beach time, there's a good chance they might actually get opened. Generally, too, I'd bring some semi-holyish book that I end up not even pulling out of the bag because of company or whatever, so I didn't even bother with those this time. We'll see the progress and/or success/failure of the current journey's book selection. {Though I DID get more than halfway through one just on the plane!}
5. Tunesy & Palmy ~ Palmy's especially great with its WiFi abilities .... and will be even greater once I ever achieve my goal of figuring out the best way to configure it so that it will really help me get all organized and orchestrated. {Because, of course, it has to be perfectly set up, with no changes as time passes!} But it will happen. Maybe I can brainstorm it while on the beach.....

So, that's my off-the-top-of-the-head list. And yes, you may have noticed an absence of things like underwear and toothbrushes, but ..... well ..... that should give you a sense of my priorities, no?

Peace out .... I'll eat some ice cream & fries for you!

11 comments:

Cathy said...

I just love your candidness - great sense of humor!

However, my old eyes have trouble reading the different color fonts on the dark background! You must be a young'n.

Have fun at the beach with the family!

Di said...

Thank heavens you said you sleep with a bear-- I do, too (even though I didn't put it on my list).

Oh, and Steph-- if you're going to Rehoboth, there's a restaurant there called Cafe Sole whose Vegetable Thai Red Curry is on my top 10 list of favorite meals EVER.

Sister Juliet, RSCJ said...

Steph! Good to see you online! I hope your having fun in DC/Delaware. I'm off to New Orleans--I'll say Hi to ML for you!

Auntie Knickers said...

I used not to believe in Delaware but I guess I have to now. And I understand your choices -- after all, there are few places we would travel that we couldn't buy underwear and toothbrushes.

lorem ipsum said...

How appropriate indeed--82,000 pockets, one for each relative to hang out in. You're so thoughtful!

p.s. Did you get my e-mail?

Anonymous said...

Wonderful play, Steph - hope you enjoy the beach!

Jan said...

So much fun to read! Thanks.

I totally agree with you about books.

Have fun!

Unknown said...

What a great list for the beach. I hope you have a great time, get relaxed. I take too much too.

SisterChrister said...

don't forget to use sunscreen!

Anonymous said...

Have a good time!

Garpu said...

I don't remember where I read it, but there's a significant percentage of adults that need to sleep with a stuffed animal, baby blanket, etc. It's far more common than people think.