Five more days until the next international trip. Grand European Tour And tomorrow there is out of town company coming to stay over for one of them! Jean, Joe, and the kids are coming on their way back home from Disney World. All my kids are coming to spend tine with our old neighbor who grew up with them in Chicago and is really like another daughter. It will be a late night after a busy day of getting the house ready and actually cooking dinner. Something I seldom do.
So what about getting me and my house ready for a three week tour of Europe. Luckily my girls pitch in and take care of making sure bills are paid and the Skeeter dog is cared for. I am pretty sure that Karen is anxious to drop me off at the airport on Saturday afternoon. Katie will keep Skeeter company and the little wiener dog will return the favor while her Dave is still in Afghanistan. Christine will maybe miss me as much as I will miss her and the kids., I will miss out on so many things with them this month.
I will not be here to help see Jamie packed off to college. Very exciting milestone for the whole family. Christian and Maddie each have birthday parties. This is Christian's last childhood year. Next year he will become a teenager. He and his friends will be celebrating at the computer game venue and at the Cubs - Braves game. Maddie's gang of girls will be celebrating at Monster Mini Golf. I still have to make VIP passes for them. I will miss so much while enjoying sights I never thought I would see.
So how do I get some clothes in my suitcase? I resurrected the rolling duffel because it is slim enough to store under the river boat bed. So one suitcase and a small carry on to get through 22 days in the glittering capitals of Europe from Amsterdam to BudaPest and on to Prague. First problem is that every pair of slacks must be tried on. Can't afford space to carry along something that might not fit right. Then to match up tops. I need something pretty to wear in the evenings for dinners and the opera, and symphony. In my head I believe that in Europe people must dress nicer than we do. I KNOW that this is not true, and besides, everyone I will be traveling with is probably from America!
I am thinking of this as the Castles and Cathedral Tour. I know that every city or town will have one, the other, or both. So skorts are added to my wardrobe. Can't wear shorts into churches so I have that covered - no pun intended. Unfortunately each one needs to be tailored before dropping into the suitcase. In order to fit over my hips and rear I need a size that is way too large for my waist! My slacks need to be hemmed too. Guess that will be Tuesday.
Can't take too much but need to be ready for lots of walking, lots of hills, lots of uneven surfaces, ready for rain, cool, hot, and abbeys. The e-reader will save lots of space. So I really have to think this whole thing through. Guess I should go get busy about it!
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Saturday, July 16, 2011
The value of the digital camera...
I am beginning to think that the digital camera may not be the best invention for the indecisive. On my recent trip from China to Seattle by way of Japan, Russia, Alaska and Canada I took some 3,400 pictures. But the picture in my mind that I regret not capturing is the one of the Russian immigration officers. I did not have camera in hand when the elevator doors on our ship opened and some fifteen ladies in combat fatigues, Ushanka hats and bright smiles pointed skywards and repeated 'ate-che, ate-che.' Caught totally off guard and with my hands full I could only point to the ceiling. The doors closed just as my brain was registering to hand my stuff to my friend and raise the camera. All happened in a swift moment as time slowed down just enough for me to realize that I had been caught totally off guard.
The women were looking for the ship buffet. .. on Deck Eight (ate-che). My need to be helpful superseded my need to record every single moment of my adventure. This would have been the best picture of the trip. It would have let me tell the viewer the story of the long waits to get off the boat to tour Vladivostock or the endless line to re-board in the Petropavlovskian snow. Of the incredible delight these Russian soldiers were experiencing being on our luxury liner. Their eyes wide with wonder how they went on to the bufet and cautiously took small servings of a few essentials. After a few moments one was overheard telling the others that yes, they could go back and get more - as many times as they wanted. And they did!
The digital camera is to blame for me missing this picture which is still so vivid in my head. When I used to carry a somewhat cumbersome film camera I was always conscious of having it. I always knew exactly where it was and how many shots I had left. I composed the picture in my head, moved people and tree branches around, and made sure that it was exactly the most telling scene. I did not want to waste film or the money to develop the final product. Now my lightweight, GPS smart camera is ALWAYS with me; usually in a pocket for easy access. This time, this one time, the handy carrying strap was around my wrist over which also hung my jacket, a bag of souvenirs, and a rather damp and dangly umbrella! My other hand had a cup of hot tea and two cookies! I totally forgot where the camera was. I actually thought a little too late, to put down the cup and reach in my pocket for the Casio but when it wasn't there, the fleeting moment was gone. My always helpful self had told them "8, up, 8" as my hand both searched for the camera and pointed skyward!
Now I know what needs to be invented next. A digital, GPS, camera that is fastened to your head like a singers microphone and operates by mind thought processes. I'll buy it for sure.
The women were looking for the ship buffet. .. on Deck Eight (ate-che). My need to be helpful superseded my need to record every single moment of my adventure. This would have been the best picture of the trip. It would have let me tell the viewer the story of the long waits to get off the boat to tour Vladivostock or the endless line to re-board in the Petropavlovskian snow. Of the incredible delight these Russian soldiers were experiencing being on our luxury liner. Their eyes wide with wonder how they went on to the bufet and cautiously took small servings of a few essentials. After a few moments one was overheard telling the others that yes, they could go back and get more - as many times as they wanted. And they did!
The digital camera is to blame for me missing this picture which is still so vivid in my head. When I used to carry a somewhat cumbersome film camera I was always conscious of having it. I always knew exactly where it was and how many shots I had left. I composed the picture in my head, moved people and tree branches around, and made sure that it was exactly the most telling scene. I did not want to waste film or the money to develop the final product. Now my lightweight, GPS smart camera is ALWAYS with me; usually in a pocket for easy access. This time, this one time, the handy carrying strap was around my wrist over which also hung my jacket, a bag of souvenirs, and a rather damp and dangly umbrella! My other hand had a cup of hot tea and two cookies! I totally forgot where the camera was. I actually thought a little too late, to put down the cup and reach in my pocket for the Casio but when it wasn't there, the fleeting moment was gone. My always helpful self had told them "8, up, 8" as my hand both searched for the camera and pointed skyward!
Now I know what needs to be invented next. A digital, GPS, camera that is fastened to your head like a singers microphone and operates by mind thought processes. I'll buy it for sure.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
July 13, 2011
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