so much to say!

first, let me start by saying a happy {belated} birthday to Alex over at The Sugar Tree.

I hope it was a wonderful day for you!

Ok - Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannnndddd..

I made it back to New York last night!

I did have to sit in the Atlanta airport for an extra hour because the original plane we were boarding had some mechanical issues.  Which I don't really understand why people get so worked up and angry when there are delays like that... I mean, do you really want to take a plane that has mechanical problems??

And then when I saw Jackie at the airport, I hugged her for a good five minutes.

After claiming my bags,

which by the way,

went from this...

to this...

yeah, I know...

amazing, right?

it's my mad packing skills.

yeah, no.

I don't have any of those.

As much as I was able to get into the bag

(it even has a zipper to expand the lid)

I did have to leave some stuff there for the next visit.

So, after picking up my bag,

got home and gave Dad a big hug, too.

Then - had to return my {overdue} library books...

oops.

And picked up hoagies.

mmmmmm..

I missed those.

And theeennnnnn...

braved the snowstorm with my buddy, Sean for a few beers.

oh, New York, how I've missed you!

#5 - I'm leaving on a jet plane... with one checked bag for freeeeee

- Recap -
List of things to do this week:

1 - visit family
2 - visit the Tanzanian embassy for my visa's
3 - photo shoot with Jac
4 - spend time with good friends
5 - pack for cali
6 - figure out how to take a train to JFK

Let's first start out by saying that I was more conscientious in my flight purchase this time when considering what airline I'll be flying. JetBlue allows you to check one bag at no additional cost in addition to one carryon item and a personal item as well. As you might remember from a previous post of mine, I was horrified to learn that airlines no longer allow you to check a bag as part of your flight premium. So when starting to pack (at 11:36pm on Friday before I leave on Saturday), I was happily reminded that I get to check a bag for free - which means, I don't have to lug it through the airport, and that I can pack whatever I want.... Now the question is... what to pack...

I am not my stuff

"You can't depend on your judgement when your imagination is out of focus" - Mark Twain

What do you do when you can't think straight because of all the stuff in your room, your house, your life? You start over. Sell it, give it, donate it if you have to. Get rid of everything you don't absolutely need.

Easily said. Not so easy to do.

I've sorted clothing, and books, and shoes, and boots, and furniture, and bedding, and kitchen stuff, and photos, and letters from old boyfriends, and the cards that come with the flowers they send.... the lists go on and on. I'm sure I could spend days making lists of what I need to get rid of. I'm pretty much to the point where I just want to throw it all away. Why do I have so much stuff? Where did it all come from? How much money have I spent???

I have to say it's daunting to look at everything that I own and realize that it all has to go. If I'm going to do this right, I have to let it go. I have to let it go to move on. I need to move on and get up and get out. I need to go 'be'.

Every now and then, I'll run across a photo, or letter or note from a friend or boyfriend and I'll think, well, I could just keep this one thing. This one keepsake. Knowing myself well enough, somehow, I'll wind up with 3 boxes of 'keepsakes.'

But slowly, ok, very slowly... I'm letting it go. An old friend, C., was kind enough to remind me that 'you are not your stuff.' I'll be sure to repeat that while I clean out my keepsake boxes.

I have a flight to catch.

I have a flight to catch.

Worked from 7am to 815pm yesterday. Did I mention that my work is time
consuming? Oh, I have, eh? Hmm. Taking a week off is stressful.
What will change in the week that I'm gone? Enough about that.

Got home around nine. There was a pizza waiting with a friend,
who had come to see me off.
Sweet thoughts. Brought me dinner and his computer so that I can
update my iPhone music. He knew that I hadn't even packed yet.

Packed and in bed by 1230a. Not bad, considering I haven't flown in a
couple of years. Wake up at 5am. Shower, blowdry hair, coffee with
Dad. He drops me at the airport at 6:09am. He's off to a school field
trip.. Rafting. First time I've missed it in years.

Wait in line for 10 minutes to check my bag. It's not big, but I'd
rather check it. She hands me my boarding pass in just minutes.

"Miss Pfeffer,are you sure that you want to check your bag?it's $20
for each bag checked."

"Oh.my. No thanks, i'll just take that back and carry it on."

$20?? Per bag??? When did that start??? Oh, the lovely attendant is
already explaining that it started in 2008.

So now security. I forgot you have to take your shoes off. Even if
they are flips. I sure did not pack the 'Michelle' way. (another
sister, extremely well organized. Packs everything in clear ziploc
bags.). I'd say my technique is a cross between that and Allisens way-
throw everything you see in a bag and if it doesn't fit, grab another
bag. I have a happy medium, I think. And a problem. Security guard
tells me I look confused. Reading a sign... No liquids over
3ounces? Uh-oh.

Rifled through my bag. Pulled out my toiletry bag.
Deoderant 2.6 oz
Static guard 1.4 oz
Opcon-A 1.0 oz
Lip balm tub 0.25 oz
Toothpaste 1.5 oz
Purell 1 oz
Cortisone-10 1 oz
Hand lotion 3.1 oz
Razor. ( hmm. Is that allowed??)
Mascara, more lip balm, more lotion, you get the idea.

Hand lotion 3.1 oz... Oops. Maybe I'll just push that to the bottom of
the bag... Everything on the conveyor belt... Even my shoes.

They didn't stop me. And nor should they have, either. I'm not
dangerous. I don't look suspicious. Why do I feel suspicious? Why do I
feel like I'm hiding something? Oh, the lotion. It's just over. It'll
be fine.

More on my trip later... I have a flight to catch.

Sent from my iPhone