Areas of Unrest

19 March 2006 - Backlog

First, let me mention that I won't be updating the next couple of weeks. Despite cold windy weather this weekend that left me unmotivated to go out for a Volksmarch, I haven't gotten through the backlog that I'd hoped to clear up before my vacation. I had a bunch of odds and ends of shopping to do, which occupied far more time than I had expected. I was reasonably successful, at least. The last item I wanted was a new lightweight cotton skirt. I found exactly what I was looking for at Old Navy (beige, below the knee) - after searching a dozen or so other stores which had nothing quite right and were far more pricy. I can't imagine why I've never been in there before. Now I know where to start looking for basics like that.

I also managed to buy something I've wanted for a long time. See, there's one of those dollar discount places at a shopping center I frequently go to. (Well, really up to $5 an item.) And I hadn't been in there for ages, but I was walking past and a few things caught my eye. None of which I bought, but they did have a rubber chicken. I cannot tell you how excited I was. There's actually a serious reason for this. See, one of my storytelling programs involves a bunch of stories that feature chickens and I've always thought it would be fun to have a rubber chicken along when I tell those.

It also looks like I've got a good idea of what my next trip will be. When I was talking to my mother on the phone, I told her that one of the reasons I travel is that I don't want to look back when I'm her age and regret never having been places. She said that there are only two places she regrets not having been to. One of them I knew about. Her lungs probably really aren't up to going to Macchu Picchu. But I didn't know she had always wanted to go to Poland and see where her parents came from. The thing that's stopped her there is feeling like she can't handle schlepping luggage around. "Oh, that's easy, Mom," I said. "I'll go with you and carry your suitcase." That also means that I'll end up having to do all the planning and arrange hotels and transportation and everything, but that's stuff I'm good at. And, more to the point, I enjoy that. So it seems likely that I'll be taking my mother to do the whole roots thing late this summer.

So, all in all, it's been a successful weekend. But I still have to clear up a bunch of household paperwork and finish my taxes and do a ton of other stuff. I don't even want to mention all the things I'd planned to get done at work that I doubt I'll finish before I leave.