Today, in the Summer road trip prep saga, was NOT an easy day. If anyone ever thinks for a second that I make it seem “easy”, let me just state unequivocally, it’s a crap ton of work and while it’s worth it overall, there are definitely some days that it gives me serious pause.
For some reason this time the suitcases seem extra small. I really am baffled how last year I brought a small suitcase (carry on size) for 7 weeks. I have a medium this time (I used the argument that I have to take “family” stuff in addition to my stuff so I need a bigger bag.). While this is true for sure, I’ve already pawned some of this “family stuff” off to the suitcases of Gia and Romeo. I have gone thru my stuff at least 5 times today trying to prune…trying to wheedle it down so that I don’t have to sit on my suitcase to close it. It’s been brutal, and even though I took stuff out it didn’t seem to make a dent (except that I no longer have certain items that I’m certain I actually WILL miss.)
I tried to do the same with Romeo & Gia’s suitcases and they are still filled to the max despite my efforts. The problem is that the suitcases seem to “fluff” out as we travel. It’s the same stuff, it just expands with air and disorganization so unless there is extra room to begin with, we might official be in a pickle. It makes it hard if they are too heavy, some of the places we are staying are up 2 or 3 flights of stairs with no elevators in the building. Just lugging them in and out of the car is hard, so it would help if they weren’t 100 lbs each.
Everything feels fairly essential. I can’t not take a clutch. I mean, it’s not something I’ll use a ton, but I can’t take my beach bag, or travel backpack or cross body leather bag to go see Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty’s Theater, right? That would just be wrong. So now you see my problem. That kind of dilemma x 20. I could reduce jog bras to 2 instead of 3, but what if I find great yoga studios and I do sprints every morning like I aspire to do? Ugh, I know…it’s annoying to read my first world packing issues, I’m annoyed writing it. I realize none of this is important, yet somehow it still managed to get me all whipped up today.
The other issue is that I’m moody and skipped my period randomly (about a week ago). John keeps asking me if I’m pregnant which is beyond annoying since the most likely explanation is menopause and stress from fighting with his mother. He regularly suggests I buy a pregnancy test and I literally wanted to head butt him today when he brought it up for the 10th time. That has got to be PMS right?
John and the kids leave Friday, late afternoon, and then I will follow and meet them in LA on Sunday (and we all fly out Monday) . He’s taking them to San Diego to see his family first, and although I originally had a ticket to go, after a particularly grueling blow up with his mom, I felt like we’d both be better off having a nice long cooling off period where we don’t have to see each other’s faces. My sister said, “hasn’t she gotten the memo, everyone loves you??” Alas, she has NOT gotten that memo, turns out everyone does NOT love me, and I’m in the daughter-in-law dog house. The good news is that once I shove John and the kids out the door, I’ll have about 56 hours of solo time to catch up on stuff, and relax. I’ve got a facial booked, plan on getting a pedi/mani and having dinner with friends both nights. No sense in wallowing in my blacksheep status. This current situation might be a win-win because she wins not seeing me, and I win getting some solo time. Plus I don’t have to go to Lego Land, and let me tell you, right now there are very few things I would like to do LESS than going to Lego Land.
I also think the lack of sleep is getting to me and making me more insane than normal. We’ve had 98 degree weather the past two days and our house has no air conditioning. Yeah, I know, completely ridiculous. It’s a home from the 1920’s, with three floors and a furnace on the lowest level. We had it bid last summer and we really need a dual system in order for it to be effective and cover the whole house. Long story short, it’s crazy expensive, and we only get motivated when it’s hot. Couple that with being gone a big chunk of the summer, it means by the time we get back all the heating/cooling companies are booked up and although it’s miserable, we also know we only have so long left to deal with it. ANYWAY….the last two nights it’s been 90 degrees IN OUR ROOM at night. Even with the fans it maybe dipped to 80 by the wee hours of the morning, but not cooler. I was dying. The dog was dying…he wouldn’t go to the first floor where it was cooler, instead he sat right next to my side of the bed and panted so hard I thought he was going to have a heart attack. Milo naturally hates the heat, and he’s probably packing an extra 15 lbs of “table scraps” weight which doesn’t make it any easier.
So that’s it….we’re so close to kickoff. Packing dramas aside, in less than 24 hours whatever bad decisions are made will become cemented in and I can breathe a big sigh of relief because what will be, will be.
Signed, ME {lv}
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