To Pack or Not To Pack?

  So you are going on a trip and everything is booked and ready, except your luggage.  What do you do?  Do you start packing well in advance so that there are no worries leading up to the day.  Or do you wait until the day you leave to throw a bunch of things together and hope it all matches once you get there?

Now what am I missing?



  If it is the middle of winter and you are headed for a tropical hot spot then go ahead and pack.  After all, you won't be wearing those shorts or t-shirts any time soon.  But what if you are headed to somewhere warm and you are living somewhere warm, oh what to do.  If I pack to early I won't get to wear my favorite shorts and tank top (wife beater is another name for top, although I don't know why.  I wear it and my wife beats me down, should be called a, in my wife's words "you look like an idiot top").  The problem is if I don't pack now I may spill grape juice on my beige shorts with the eight pockets, (no wonder we don't need fanny packs) and that will never come out.  Either way there are serious risks to be taken and no right answer.  You probably fall under one of three categories, which are the following;

1. Pack, packers, & re packers -these are the people that pack their bags well in advance, sometimes weeks, and yet they go back through the bags two, three sometimes four times before the departure date arrives.  In fact this person will ultimate pack more then needed and probably forget something.  These people have tendencies to be very organized and want everything planned to the minute, or they could be My Parents.  Either way they are shocked when people put off packing.

My wife's under garment bag



2. What, we leave tomorrow packers -these are the people that know they have a trip coming up, but are so focused on their day to day lives that packing is left until the end.  They wait til the end so that they can wear their favorite clothing throughout the week and still take it with them.  They wait until the end because they know if they started early they would keep packing every day and that would not be okay with their spouse, primarily the husband.  They also wait because they know what is going and this is second nature for them, plus they could have four kids that keep them busy enough.  These people are generally very intelligent, good looking and calm and cool no matter the situation.   

3. Pack, forget about it, buy new once there -these are the people that have money, or don't have the money, but lack a number of brain cells.  These people don't even make their own booking because they probably already own the place they are going to.  In fact many of these people end up at nude beaches because they forgot or lost their wallet and can't buy clothing.  I pity the ones on the Alaskan cruise.  These people are the ones that are always in fashion, but have forgotten their wallets when the tab is due at the bar.  These are the people we all strive to be one day.

  My wife and I fall into #2 category, although we would like to move up to #3 as it would be so much easier.  I would even consider the nude beach, if I can get over my fear of taking my clothes off in public.  I am working on it, but the bus driver didn't appreciate me offering my shorts as payment the other day.  In fairness, I did pay $25 for them and the bus fair was only $1.50.  My wife would be good at #3 as well, but she would be off shopping the whole time and I would not see her until it was time to come back home.  That would leave me with the clothes I arrived in and a new outfit to go home in.  You can see why the nude beach sounds better all the time.  Don't worry I will send pictures.  Anyway it is time for me to go work on my full body tan since you want pictures. 

  Oh, one last thing.  People that pack early, unpack quickly.  People that wait to pack, wait to unpack, sometimes days.  People in #3 get home and can't remember what they were wearing because the expensive champagne still hasn't worn off.  Happy packing to all those going on trips this summer.

My Birthday

  The other night we watched the fireworks celebrating Canada Day, although I always thought they were for my birthday, only a day late.  As a kid having my birthday the day before Canada's was the coolest thing.  As an adult, late teens, I realized just how cool it was as my birthday celebration was extended an extra day and I got fireworks to finish things off.
  On Thursday we celebrated my birthday in fine form as I was allowed to lie with my daughter at 2am until she fell asleep, and upon return to my bed I discovered my oldest boy spread out in my spot on the bed.  This left one option, the couch.  From there I was woke up by four kids giving me hugs and kisses and birthday wishes.  After completing my birthday chores, (dishes, laundry, cutting the grass, trimming the trees and feeding the kids), I finally sat in the backyard with a birthday beverage, water, only to be bombarded by the rest of the family.  In fairness, they did come bearing gifts.  I loved my gifts, at least the ones I kept, and the day was great, even though any day with family is great. 

  ¨Happy birthday to you, would you like a cold brew, happy birthday dear dad, there`s many more for you¨.  Now this is a birthday song that could sound good no matter who is singing.  After all a birthday celebrates getting older and yet there comes a time when we don`t want to celebrate getting older.  I tried, ¨Happy birthday to you, you`re held together with glue, happy birthday dear ______, I`ve got some duct tape for you¨.  This didn`t go over so well, although there are days where it fits how I feel.

  I am happy to celebrate my birthday because my kids enjoy the celebration, but in truth it is their birthdays that matter to me.  It is also their birthdays that I measure my years by, so why keep track of my own.  No matter, I will continue to celebrate my 39 birthday until I have to move to my 49 birthday, which is years away no matter what my wife says.  And speaking of my wife, thanks for the special night, movie, drinks and your snoring on the couch.  It was almost a perfect night, if I had been able to sleep as well.

Look Out Mickey, Here We Come

  Planning a vacation should be fun, somewhat easy, very little stress, and have had some thought put into it.  If that's what you think then you need to spend some time around our family, as we do not do anything the easy or normal way.
  It all started about mid May when we knew that we would have a couple weeks together as a family.  In the beginning we thought two weeks at home doing day trips with the kids would be great, although that was a fleeting thought as we really wanted to get away to a cottage on the beach somewhere, anywhere.  Of course renting anything in cottage country on a late decision is not easy as these places get rented out months, sometimes a year in advance.  So now what?  How about a week away for just mom and dad?  Now this has got me excited.  The idea of my wife and I away for 5-7 days on our own, no kids, no worries this has not happened since our honeymoon, 13 years ago.  This could have been a great vacation, if it had come to fruition.  At this time I have become so stressed about finding something, anything that the idea of not going somewhere may cause me to snap.

  So how about Florida with the kids and maybe even a trip to Disney World?  We would have to be crazy to think that we could control four kids in Disney when we struggle to do it in our own home.  Then again, since when did we do the smart, practical thing.  We are the family that flies by the seat of our pants, if we're wearing any (that would be the kids), and makes decisions based on what we need at that moment.  And we need a vacation.  Besides, we duct tape the kids to the rental strollers and don't tell them about rides and we will be just fine.
  When planning a vacation did you know that if you plan to go to the US it is a good idea to have your passports up to date?  And did you know that if you are sending your wife at 6:30 am to the passport office, you should make certain everything is in order and nothing forgotten.  My suggestion is that if you forget something do not admit to it.  Say "I double checked everything, it was all there, you must have lost it."  Or you can be a dumb ass like me and just admit your error and then sulk all day.  No matter, passports are ordered and we leave in one week.  One week and I will be sitting by a pool with a cold drink in hand that I may even drink before having to get snacks for the kids.